Part 13 Release of information
(1) In this Part, a reference to a core, cutting or sample includes a reference to a portion of a core, cutting or sample.(2) For the purposes of this Part:(a) cores and cuttings, and well data logs, sample descriptions and other documents, relating to the drilling of a well, are taken to have been furnished to the Minister not later than one month after the drilling of the well was, in the opinion of the Minister, substantially completed, and(b) geophysical or geochemical data relating to geophysical or geochemical surveys are taken to have been furnished to the Minister not later than one year after the geophysical or geochemical field work was, in the opinion of the Minister, substantially completed.
The Minister may, at any time later than 2 years after being furnished with the information:(a) make publicly known, or(b) on request by a person and, if the Minister so requires, on payment of the appropriate fee, make available to that person,any information that has been furnished to the Minister under this Act, being information that relates to the subsoil, or to petroleum, in a block, but not including any matter contained in a report, return or document that, in the opinion of the Minister, is a conclusion drawn in whole or in part from, or an opinion based in whole or in part on, any such information.
The Minister may, at any time later than 2 years after being furnished with them:(a) make publicly known any particulars of, or(b) on request by a person and, if the Minister so requires, on payment of the appropriate fee, permit that person to inspect,any cores or cuttings from, or samples of, the subsoil in a block, or samples of petroleum recovered in a block, that have been furnished to the Minister under this Act.
The Minister may, at any time later than 5 years after being furnished with the information:(a) make publicly known, or(b) on request by a person and, if the Minister so requires, on payment of the appropriate fee, make available to that person,any information that has been furnished to the Minister under this Act, being information that relates to the subsoil, or to petroleum, in a block, and that, in the opinion of the Minister, is a conclusion drawn in whole or in part from, or an opinion based in whole or in part on, any such information.
121 Invitation of objections to release of assessments
Before the Minister or another Minister makes available or publicly known any information under section 120, the Minister or the other Minister, as the case may be, must:(a) cause to be published in the Gazette a notice:(i) stating that the Minister proposes to make the information available or publicly known, and(ii) inviting persons having a right to make an objection to give to the Minister, by such day as is specified in the notice (being a day not earlier than 45 days after the publication of the notice), a notice objecting to the whole or any part of the information being made available or publicly known, and(iii) stating that, if a person does not make an objection in accordance with the invitation, the person will be taken to have consented to the information being made available or publicly known, and(b) if it is practicable to do so, cause a copy of the notice so published in the Gazette to be served on the person who furnished the document containing the information.
A notice of objection must set out the reasons for making the objection.
A person has no right to make an objection to information being made available or publicly known under section 120 except on the grounds that to do so would disclose a trade secret or would disclose other information the disclosure of which would, or could reasonably be expected to, adversely affect the person in respect of his or her lawful business, commercial or financial affairs.
124 Consideration of objections
(1) The Minister must consider any objection received and must determine it by allowing the objection wholly or in part or by rejecting it.(2) The Minister is to notify the objector in writing of the decision.(3) The Minister cannot make available or make publicly known any information under section 120 while an objection is undetermined.
125 Information to be otherwise confidential
Except as provided by the preceding provisions of this Part or for the purposes of the administration of this Act and the regulations, the Minister must not:(a) make publicly known, or make available to any person any information contained in a report, return or other document referred to in any of those provisions, or(b) make publicly known any particulars of, or permit any person to inspect, any core, cutting or sample furnished to the Minister under this Act.