194.0.1. The Minister may award a lease in respect of a territory that is not subject to an exploration licence, if the Minister considers that the territory presents an economically workable deposit or an economically operable underground reservoir, as the case may be.
The lease may not be awarded to a person who held a right relating to petroleum, natural gas or an underground reservoir that was subject to a revocation during the two years prior to the beginning of the awarding process.
The lessee must meet the conditions and pay the fee prescribed by regulation.