(3) En cas d’impossibilité de terminer le forage d’un puits en raison de difficultés mécaniques ou techniques et si, dans les quatre-vingt-dix jours qui suivent l’interruption — ou tel délai supérieur fixé par le ministre — , le forage d’un autre puits est entrepris sur les terres domaniales visées, celui-ci est réputé être un puits en cours de forage au moment de l’expiration du permis de prospection.
(3) Where the drilling of a well referred to in subsection (1) cannot be completed by reason of mechanical or other technical problems and if, within ninety days after the cessation of drilling operations with respect to that well, or such longer period as the Minister determines, the drilling of another well is commenced on any frontier lands that were subject to the exploration licence, the drilling of that other well shall, for the purposes of subsection (1), be deemed to have commenced prior to the expiration of the term of the exploration licence.
