Petroleum well drilling, completion and abandonment

What's new

A new practice direction and data submission templates are available below. Read more about new reporting requirements and implementation timelines.

You must notify us before you start drilling a petroleum well and when you complete drilling. You must also notify us and provide a report if you decommission or abandon the well. Special notices are required if you intend to conduct production testing, storage testing or hydraulic fracturing (fraccing).

Download a flowchart of reporting requirements for petroleum wells (PDF, 239KB) or a flowchart of requirements for hydraulic fracturing (PDF, 122KB).

Note: The information below does not cover information required in relation to safety at operating plant. Check requirements for safety and health reports before starting any petroleum and gas activities.

Who this applies to

These requirements apply to holders of the following resource authorities and statutory positions:

  • Authority to prospect
  • Petroleum lease
  • Water monitoring authority

Before starting activities

Check requirements for land access and other notices before starting petroleum and gas activities.

How to lodge your notices and reports

The tables below show what you need to submit and how to do it. If you need more help:

Drilling

Report/notice and legislation When to lodge How to lodge
PGGD-01 – Notice of intention to drill a petroleum well or bore
(P&G General Regs3 s. 29)
At least 10 business days before starting Complete online form in the GSQ Lodgement Portal
Survey plan to be submitted to the chief executive
(P&G Safety Reg2 s. 29)
No later than 3 months after completing the survey Email survey plan to the Permit Data team: MinesSpatialSupport@resources.qld.gov.au

1P&G Act: Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) 2004
2P&G Safety Reg: Petroleum and Gas (Safety) Regulation 2018
3P&G General Regs: Petroleum and Gas (General Provisions) Regulation 2017

Sample submission

Report/notice and legislation When to lodge How to lodge
Cutting samples
(P&G Act1 s. 548(1))
(Pet Act2 s. 76B(1)) (P&G General Regs3 s. 49)
CSG wells: You are only required to submit cuttings samples if we request them before the well is drilled.
All other petroleum wells: Supply cuttings samples within 6 months of the day the cuttings samples were acquired or the end of resource authority, whichever comes first if requested.
Send pre-lodgement notification to Geological_Info@resources.qld.gov.au
Cores
(P&G Act s. 548(1))
(Pet Act s. 76B(1)) (P&G General Regs s. 50)
CSG wells: You must notify us of available core within 5 months of recovering the core and we will tell you whether you need to submit.
All other petroleum wells: Supply core within 6 months of the day the core was acquired or the end of resource authority, whichever comes first if requested.
Send pre-lodgement notification to Geological_Info@resources.qld.gov.au
Fluid samples
(P&G General Regs s. 51)
All petroleum wells: You are only required to submit fluid samples if we request them within 5 months of the day the fluid sample was recovered. Send pre-lodgement notification to Geological_Info@resources.qld.gov.au

1P&G Act: Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004
2Pet Act: Petroleum Act 1923
3P&G General Regs: Petroleum and Gas (General Provisions) Regulation 2017

For further information about the process for submitting samples, refer to the Obligation to offer samples.

Production and storage testing

Report/notice and legislation When to lodge How to lodge
Notice about commencement of production/storage testing
(P&G General Regs1 s. 14 and 15)
Within 20 business days after the testing starts Submit online form in MyMinesOnline
Notice about stopping production/storage testing
(P&G General Regs s. 16)
Within 20 business days after stopping Submit online form in MyMinesOnline
Production testing report
(P&G General Regs s. 44)
No later than 40 days after finishing production testing

Follow the practice direction and use the data submission template above. Upload all files to the GSQ Lodgement Portal

1P&G General Regs: Petroleum and Gas (General Provisions) Regulation 2017

Hydraulic fracturing

Report/notice and legislation When to lodge How to lodge
PGGD-03 – Notice of intention to carry out hydraulic fracturing activities
(P&G General Regs1 s. 33)
At least 10 business days before starting Complete online form in the GSQ Lodgement Portal
PGGD-04 – Notice of completion of hydraulic fracturing activities
(P&G General Regs s. 34)
Within 10 business days after finishing Complete online form in the GSQ Lodgement Portal
Hydraulic fracturing activities completion report
(P&G General Regs s. 45)
Within 6 months after completing hydraulic fracturing activities

Follow the practice direction and use the data submission template above. Upload all files to the GSQ Lodgement Portal

1P&G General Regs: Petroleum and Gas (General Provisions) Regulation 2017

Well completion and abandonment

Report/notice and legislation When to lodge How to lodge
PGGD-02 – Notice of completion, alteration or abandonment of petroleum well or bore
(P&G General Regs1 s. 30)
Within 10 business days after completion, alteration or abandonment Complete online form in the GSQ Lodgement Portal
Well completion report
(P&G General Regs s. 36)
No later than 12 months after rig release day

Follow the practice direction and use the data submission template above. Upload all files to the GSQ Lodgement Portal

Daily drilling report
(P&G General Regs s. 35)
With well completion report

Follow the practice direction and use the data submission template above. Upload all files to the GSQ Lodgement Portal

Well abandonment report
(P&G General Regs s. 37)
Within 6 months after completion of plugging and abandonment of well

Follow the practice direction and use the data submission template above. Upload all files to the GSQ Lodgement Portal

1P&G General Regs: Petroleum and Gas (General Provisions) Regulation 2017