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(1) the minister in consultation with the commission may, grant, to a person, a petroleum reconnaissance licecese in respect of a defined area

(2) A reconnaissance licence grants to the licensed person a nonexclusive right to undertake

(a) data collection including seismic surveying and shallow. drilling, and

(b) processing and interpretation or evaluation of petroleum data in the area specified in the licence.

(3) The Munster may in a special case grant to a person an exclusive right to undertake reconnaissance activities in a defined area not covered by an existing reconnaissance licence, but the grant of that right does not affect any proprietary rights of the Republic to data or preclude the rights of the Commission or the Corporation to undertake reconnaissance or other petroleum activities within that area.

(4) The Republic may enter into a petroleum agreement with a person who has the requisite technical competence and financial capacity to fulfil the obligations of the reconnaissance activities and other requirements as prescribed.

(5) A reconnaissance licence shall be for a period of not more than three years but the Minister may, where necessary, extend the licence for a period not exceeding two years.

(6) A person shall not commence a reconnaissance activity in relation to petroleum unless that person has complied with

(a) the relevant statutory requirements on environmental protection prescribed in the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490); and

(b) any other applicable enactments.

(7) Subject to subsection (8), a reconnaissance licence shall not grant to a person a right to acquire data in an area covered by a petroleum agreement or an authorization.

(8) The Minister may, in consultation with the contractor, grant to a person other than the contractor a reconnaissance licence for the acquisition of data in an area covered by a petroleum agreement on condition that the reconnaissance activities of that person do not unreasonably interfere with the activities of the contractor.

(9) The Minister shall not be held liable by a third party for fees or for other losses that arise as a result of the reconnaissance licence granted to that third party under subsection (8).

(10) A petroleum agreement may be entered into with a third party in respect of an open area covered by a reconnaissance licence.

(11) Unless the Minister otherwise determines, the right granted under a reconnaissance licence to acquire new data in the open area referred to in subsection (10) shall terminate from the effective date of a petroleum agreement and an obligation to refund fees or liability for other losses shall not arise as a result of the termination.