COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Section 708
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF A PIPELINE LICENCE
I, STEVEN ROBERT TAYLOR, delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority hereby give notice pursuant to section 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 that an application has been received from
Cooper Energy (Sole) Pty Ltd
(ABN 613 951 429)
for the grant of a pipeline licence for the conveyance of petroleum in the offshore area of Victoria, as set out below.
This notice takes effect on the day in which it appears in the
Australian Government Gazette.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
of the Commonwealth of Australia.
STEVEN ROBERT TAYLOR
DELEGATE OF THE TITLES ADMINISTRATOR
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH-VICTORIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY
PROPOSED ROUTE OF THE PIPELINE
The proposed pipeline route is described in the table hereunder, commencing at the Sole-3 and
Sole-4 wellheads and ending at the 3 nautical mile (nm) State coastal waters boundary. Coordinates are based on Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94). See map at Attachment 1.
| Feature Name | KP* | UTM Zone | Easting (mE) | Northing (mN) | Bend Radius (m) |
1 | Start point (Sole-3 wellhead) | 0 | 55S | 676 114 | 5 781 148 | |
1 | Start point (Sole-4 wellhead) | 0 | 55S | 676 136 | 5 781 182 | |
2 | Turning point 1 | - | 55S | 626 494 | 5 807 784 | 1000 |
3 | End point of pipeline section within Commonwealth offshore waters (at 3 nm State coastal waters boundary). | 57.9 | 55S | 626 515 | 5 809 530 | |
*KP=Kilometre Point
SPECIFICATIONS
Design and Construction
The offshore pipeline must be designed and constructed in accordance with DNV Offshore Standard DNV-OS-F101 – Submarine Pipeline Systems (Offshore Pipeline), which is incorporated in its entirety in Australian Standard AS2885.4 – Pipelines, Gas and Liquid Petroleum (Part 4: Submarine Pipelines). Specifically, the design and construction phase of the pipeline must comply with DNV-OS-F101.
Basis of Design
The pipeline design is based on the following parameters:
Item | Item Description | Details |
1 | Design and Construction | Offshore Standard DNV-OS-F101 – Submarine Pipeline Systems (Offshore Pipeline), which is incorporated in its entirety in Australian Standard AS2885.4 – Pipelines, Gas and Liquid Petroleum (Part 4: Submarine Pipelines) |
2 | Outside diameter of pipe | 12” rigid pipeline: 305 mm |
3 | Wall thickness of pipe (carbon steel) | 12” rigid pipeline: 17–19.4 mm |
4 | Length | 62.5 km (approximate) |
5 | Design life | 15 years (approximate) |
6 | Pipeline Material | Carbon Steel |
7 | Pipeline Steel Grade | DNV-OS-F101 Grade 450 |
8 | Minimum yield strength of pipe steel | 450 MPa |
9 | Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure | 12” rigid pipeline: 13.2 MPa 6” tie-in spools: 13.2 MPa |
10 | Design Capacity | Gas flow: 67.5 mmscfd. |
11 | Maximum Operating Temperature | 12” rigid pipeline: 40°C |
12 | Maximum Design Temperature | 12” rigid pipeline: 50°C 6” tie-in spools: 50°C |
13 | Minimum Design Temperature | 12” rigid pipeline: 0°C 6” tie-in spools: -10°C |
14 | Characteristics of substance proposed to be conveyed | Gas and condensate (water saturated). |
15 | General plans and descriptions of pump stations, tank stations or valve stations and their equipment | A PLEM will be installed adjacent to the Sole-3 wellhead and welded to the end of the 12” pipeline. The PLEM will facilitate the connection of up to two subsea wells to the 12” pipeline via 6” alloy tie-in spools. The offshore section of the Sole pipeline does not include any further in-line facilities. |
16 | General plans and description of pigging facilities | Temporary pig launchers and receivers will be installed at the PLEM and onshore plant. |
17 | Cathodic Protection | External corrosion management shall be via sacrificial anode systems, designed to be maintenance free and monitored via ROV inspection and measurement where required as part of regulatory surveys. |
Attachment A: Proposed Offshore Pipeline Layout
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to provide a comprehensive legislative framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum exploration, production, and storage, including greenhouse gas storage. This Act addresses the need for a unified regulatory scheme governing the offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas sectors, aiming to facilitate the sustainable and environmentally responsible exploitation of Australia's offshore resources. The policy objective of the Act is to ensure the protection of the marine environment while promoting the development of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities. The Act establishes a licensing system for offshore activities, setting out the criteria and processes for the grant of various types of licences, including pipeline licences as notified by the delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator.
In accordance with the Act, the delegate of the Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, has issued a public notice regarding an application for the grant of a pipeline licence by Cooper Energy (Sole) Pty Ltd. The proposed pipeline is intended for the conveyance of petroleum in the offshore area of Victoria, with specific details regarding its design, construction, and operational parameters. The design and construction of the pipeline must comply with the stringent standards set out in DNV Offshore Standard DNV-OS-F101 – Submarine Pipeline Systems, which is incorporated into Australian Standard AS2885.4 – Pipelines, Gas and Liquid Petroleum. The pipeline is designed to transport gas and condensate, with detailed specifications regarding its diameter, wall thickness, length, and operating conditions. The Act ensures that all offshore activities are subject to rigorous regulatory oversight to safeguard both the environment and the economic interests of the Commonwealth.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the application for the grant of a pipeline licence for the conveyance of petroleum in the offshore area of Victoria, specifically to Cooper Energy (Sole) Pty Ltd. This legislation is enacted at the Commonwealth level, thereby holding jurisdictional reach over activities within the Commonwealth offshore waters, including the proposed pipeline route which extends from the Sole-3 and Sole-4 wellheads to the 3 nautical mile (nm) State coastal waters boundary. The application process and the pipeline's design and construction are governed by stringent standards, incorporating DNV Offshore Standard DNV-OS-F101 and Australian Standard AS2885.4, which detail specifications such as the pipeline's outside diameter, wall thickness, design life, and operating pressures. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions within the provided notice, though it is understood that compliance with specified standards and the regulatory framework is mandatory for all offshore petroleum activities under this Act. The Act may extend its application through subordinate instruments, which are not detailed in the provided excerpt but would likely include regulations or guidelines that further specify operational and safety requirements for offshore pipelines.
Key Provisions
Section 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 outlines the requirements for an application for a pipeline licence. In this case, the application, submitted by Cooper Energy (Sole) Pty Ltd, pertains to the grant of a pipeline licence for the conveyance of petroleum in the offshore area of Victoria. The proposed pipeline route is described in detail, including the coordinates based on the Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94) and a map is provided at Attachment 1. The specifications for the design and construction of the pipeline are also outlined, with a requirement to comply with DNV Offshore Standard DNV-OS-F101 – Submarine Pipeline Systems (Offshore Pipeline), which is incorporated in its entirety in Australian Standard AS2885.4 – Pipelines, Gas and Liquid Petroleum (Part 4: Submarine Pipelines).
The obligations and requirements imposed by the Act on the applicant, Cooper Energy (Sole) Pty Ltd, include the provision of detailed information about the proposed pipeline, including its route, specifications, and design and construction parameters. The pipeline must be designed and constructed in accordance with the specified offshore standard and Australian standard, and must comply with various design parameters such as outside diameter of pipe, wall thickness of pipe, length, design life, pipeline material, pipeline steel grade, minimum yield strength of pipe steel, maximum allowable operating pressure, design capacity, maximum operating temperature, maximum design temperature, and minimum design temperature. The applicant must also provide general plans and descriptions of pump stations, tank stations or valve stations and their equipment, as well as pigging facilities, and cathodic protection measures.
The Act does not specify any particular offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach of its provisions. However, failure to comply with the requirements of the Act or the conditions of the pipeline licence may result in the licence being revoked or not being granted in the first place. In addition, any non-compliance with the design and construction specifications may result in safety hazards or environmental damage, which could lead to legal action or other consequences. The maximum penalties for offences under the Act are not specified in the text, but may be found in other sections of the Act or in related legislation.