Unconventional Hydrocarbons Act 2015 (No. 41 of 2015).

This Act concerns the exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbon resources in Papua New Guinea. "Unconventional hydrocarbons" is defined as - (a) any naturally occurring hydrocarbons, whether in a gaseous, liquid or solid state; or (b) any naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbons, whether in a gaseous, liquid or solid state; or (c) any naturally occurring mixture of one or more hydrocarbons (whether in a gaseous, liquid or solid state) and any other substance, which is or are or may be extracted from coal, shale or other rock and includes processed unconventional hydrocarbons.
The Act also concerns the control of wells and drilling for water , the protection of water from pollution, and the construction of water pipelines for hydrocarbon exploitation purposes. A person shall not, except in accordance with such conditions as are determined by the Minister, or in accordance with the provisions of the Water Resources Act (Chapter 205), drill for water in any licence area. Prior to the first grant of a licence or licences in respect of an unconventional hydrocarbons project, the Minister shall convene a development forum at a place close to the proposed licence area to provide ease of access, being a meeting to which are invited persons who, in the view of the Minister, will be affected by that unconventional hydrocarbons project. A development forum shall not be convened in respect of a proposed unconventional hydrocarbons project until the applicant or intending applicant has submitted to the Minister, and to the Minister responsible for environmental matters, a socio-economic impact study as part of the environmental plan required under the Environmental Planning Act. Various other provisions of the Act concern protection of the environment and (compulsory acquisition of land and the protection of (customary) land rights.