COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Section 708
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF A PETROLEUM PIPELINE LICENCE
I, GRAEME ALBERT WATERS, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth–Western Australia Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority hereby give notice pursuant to section 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) that an application has been received from
Apache Northwest Pty Ltd
(ABN 58 009 140 854)
Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd
(ABN 35 000 670 575)
for a variation of Petroleum Pipeline Licence WA-11-PL, located in the offshore area of Western Australia, as set out below.
Pursuant to subsection 226(3) of the Act, a person may make a written submission to the Titles Administrator about this application within 30 days from the date of this notice.
This notice takes effect on the day on which it appears in the Australian Government Gazette.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia.
GRAEME ALBERT WATERS
TITLES ADMINISTRATOR
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH-WESTERN AUSTRALIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY
APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF
PETROLEUM PIPELINE LICENCE WA-11-PL
John Brookes Pipeline
SCHEDULE
(B) Basis of Design
The pipeline design is based on the following parameters:
Item | Item Description | Details |
1 | Outside diameter of pipe and riser | 457.2 mm (18 in) |
2 | Wall thickness of pipe inclusive of riser (only for carbon steel) | 15.9 mm (KP21.2 to KP48.1 and pipeline riser); 17.5 mm (KP48.1 to KP53.9); 15.9 mm (KP53.9 to KP54.4) pipeline repair spools |
3 | Length | 33.2 km (approximate) |
4 | Internal Corrosion Allowance | 5.5 mm (except for the riser and spools up to the subsea isolation valve where 2.5 mm 316L cladding is provided) and the pipeline repair spools (where
2.5 mm Inconel 625 cladding is provided) |
| External Corrosion Allowance | 3 mm (applies only to the riser in the splash zone) |
5 | Pipeline and Riser Steel Grade | DNV-OS-F101 Grade 450 |
6 | Pipeline Specification | DNV-OS-F101 High Frequency Weld |
7 | Minimum yield strength of pipe steel | 450 MPa (SMYS) |
8 | Pipeline Design Pressure | 13.75 MPag |
9 | Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure | 13.75 MPag |
10 | Normal Operating Pressure | 8.7 MPag |
11 | Minimum field test pressure | Hydrotest pressure (minimum) for the existing pipeline is Design Pressure x 1.05 x 1.1 = 15.89 MPag |
12 | Normal Maximum Inlet Pressure | 10 MPag |
13 | Normal Minimum Outlet Pressure (Varanus Island) | 6 MPag |
14 | Maximum Pipeline Design Temperature | 100°C upstream of the repair connector and 55°C at the repair connector |
15 | Maximum Riser and Spool Design Temperature | 120°C |
16 | Design Capacity | The pipeline capacity is a function of the available pressure drop, fluids and any future tie-ins at a distance down the pipeline. The current capacity based on: known likely fluids; current maximum offshore export pressures, is 235 mmscfd (240 TJ/d). The design capacity for the Pipeline Repair Project is 267 mmscfd (273 TJ/d) |
17 | Stabilisation | KP21.2 to KP53.9 – Concrete Weight Coat KP53.9 to KP54.4 – Gravity Anchors Existing Tie-in Spool – Gravity Anchors |
18 | External Coating Specification | KP21.2 to KP48.1 – 5.5 mm Asphalt Enamel Coating KP48.1 to KP53.9 – 2.5 mm 3 Layer Polypropylene Tie-in Spool and Repair Spools – 350 microns Thermally Sprayed Aluminium Riser Submerged Zone – 350 microns Thermally Sprayed Aluminium Riser Splash Zone – 13 mm EPDM Riser Atmospheric Zone – 350 microns Thermally Sprayed Aluminium |
19 | Field Weld Joint Coating | The existing pipeline field joints have heat shrink sleeve or cold applied tape wrap overlaid by either marine mastic or high density polyurethane foam and the existing riser and tie-in spools have TSA coated field joints. The repair spools to be fabricated onshore will be TSA coated at each joint forming the straight and tie-in spools. |
20 | Weight Coating Design and Specification | Concrete density 3040 kg/m3 KP21.2 to KP23.0 – 120 mm KP23.0 to KP48.1 – 70 mm KP48.1 to KP53.9 – 70 mm |
21 | Characteristics of substance proposed to be conveyed | Wet gas (approximate 85.5% methane saturated with water at reservoir conditions) |
22 | General plans and descriptions of pump stations, tank stations or valve stations and their equipment | - Subsea isolation valve located adjacent to
John Brooked platform, which is provided with dropped object protection frame and
1 electrical cable and 1 hydraulic pack
|
| General plans and descriptions of pipeline repair | - The inclusion of a 520 m (nominal) length comprising straight spools and tie-in spools to form a cooling spool downstream of the SSIV as the replacement for the existing CS pipeline
- Straight spools to be ANSI flange jointed (WN/swivel-ring pairs) as 4 joint lengths (nominally 46 m long), externally coated with TSA
- Tie-in spools to be ANSI flange jointed (WN/swivel-ring pairs) as varying lengths, externally coated with TSA
- Straight spools, tie-in spools and flanges to be CRA (Inconel 625) clad internally
- Straight and tie-in spools to be stabilised by gravity anchors
- Cooling spool cathodic protection by sacrificial anodes affixed to the gravity anchors and cable connected to the straight and tie-in spools
- Straight and tie-in spool welded joints to be TSA coated
- SSIV structural modification to accommodate the new spool configuration
- Downstream tie-in of the cooling spool via mechanical connector
- Removal of the existing RPCM probe and dummy spool immediately downstream of the SSIV
- Installation of a temperature probe in the vicinity of the mechanical connector
|
23 | General plans and description of pigging facilities | Provision for offshore pig launcher located at the platform and an onshore pig receiver at Varanus Island |
24 | Design life | 20 years (approximate) |
25 | The provisions for cathodic protection of the proposed pipeline | - For pipeline, sacrificial Aluminium Zinc Indium bracelet anodes spaced at the following intervals:
KP21.2 to KP23.0 – Type A4, every 16 joints and double anode at every 1.0 km as
KP marker KP23.0 to KP48.1 – Type A3, every 15 joints and double anode at every 1.0 km as
KP marker KP48.1 to KP53.8 – Type A2, every 6 joints and double anode at every 1.0 km as
KP marker KP53.8 to KP53.9 – Type A2, every 3 joints and double anode as KP54 marker KP53.9 to KP54.4 – Cooling spool provided with cathodic protection via sacrificial anodes affixed to the gravity anchors and cable connected to the straight and tie-in spools - For each rock bolt anchor assembly, anode is provided on each assembly
|
26 | Crossings | None |
27 | Marine Growth Allowance | 30 mm |
28 | Location of offtake tees for future use | None |
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to provide a framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage within Australia's jurisdiction. This Act was introduced to address the need for comprehensive legislative oversight to ensure the sustainable and environmentally responsible exploitation of Australia's offshore energy resources. The Act was passed by the Parliament of Australia and aims to balance the economic benefits of offshore petroleum activities with the protection of the marine environment and the interests of Indigenous communities. The Act provides for the granting of titles and licences, the imposition of conditions, and the enforcement of compliance to ensure that offshore petroleum activities are conducted in a manner that minimises environmental harm and respects the rights of Indigenous peoples. The Notice of Application for Variation of a Petroleum Pipeline Licence under this Act, issued by the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator on behalf of the Commonwealth-Western Australia Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, exemplifies the Act's role in facilitating transparent and accountable decision-making in offshore petroleum operations.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to entities involved in offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage in Australian waters, including the variation of petroleum pipeline licences. Specifically, the Act governs the regulation of petroleum pipeline licences, such as the one held by Apache Northwest Pty Ltd and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd for the pipeline licence WA-11-PL, which is located in the offshore area of Western Australia. The Act’s jurisdiction extends to Commonwealth waters, and it allows for the variation of pipeline licences as long as the changes comply with the statutory requirements and are in the interest of the public and the environment. The Act provides a mechanism for public submissions on applications for variations, ensuring transparency and public participation in decision-making processes. Any exclusions, exemptions, or specific thresholds are not detailed in the notice itself but are generally governed by the overarching provisions and regulations of the Act, which may be further elaborated through subordinate instruments. This notice serves to inform relevant stakeholders of the application and provides them with an opportunity to comment within the specified timeframe.
Key Provisions
Section 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 outlines the procedure for the application of a variation to a petroleum pipeline licence, specifically Licence WA-11-PL, located offshore Western Australia. The application, made by Apache Northwest Pty Ltd and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd, pertains to the modification of the existing pipeline infrastructure to include a new cooling spool downstream of the subsea isolation valve. This variation involves the fabrication and installation of new straight and tie-in spools, external coating with thermally sprayed aluminium, and internal cladding with Inconel 625. Additionally, the proposal includes the removal of existing pipeline components and the installation of new cathodic protection systems and a temperature probe.
The Act imposes several obligations on the applicants, including the provision of detailed design specifications and operational parameters for the proposed pipeline modifications. These obligations encompass the adherence to specific steel grades, corrosion allowances, design pressures, and temperature limits. Furthermore, the applicants must ensure that the pipeline design meets the standards set forth by DNV-OS-F101 and includes provisions for stabilisation, weight coating, and marine growth allowance. Additionally, the applicants must provide general plans and descriptions of pump stations, valve stations, pigging facilities, and any proposed crossings.
The Act also delineates the potential consequences for non-compliance with its provisions. Section 708 specifies that any person may make a written submission to the Titles Administrator about the application within 30 days from the date of this notice. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Act or the conditions of the licence could result in legal actions, including fines and penalties. Although the exact penalties are not detailed in the provided text, the Act generally allows for substantial penalties for breaches, which could include both civil and criminal sanctions depending on the severity of the offence. Such penalties might encompass fines up to several hundred thousand Australian dollars and potential imprisonment for serious violations.