COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Sections 226 and 708
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF A PIPELINE LICENCE - PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL16 (LFK7RJ)
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 sections 226 and 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 that an application has been received from
Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd
(ACN 091 829 819)
Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd
(ACN 004 228 004)
for the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16 in the offshore area of Victoria, 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.
STEVEN ROBERT TAYLOR
DELEGATE OF THE TITLES ADMINISTRATOR
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH–VICTORIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY
APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF
PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL16
The application seeks to effect the following amendments to the licence:
- The FIRST SCHEDULE of the Licence is varied by deleting the current text and table below the heading “FIRST SCHEDULE – ROUTE OF PIPELINE”
and
substituting under the heading the following:
“The route of the pipeline is described in the table below, and displayed in the map below (Attachment A), commencing at the subsea cut location near the Fortescue platform and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Halibut platform.”
ID | Description | Easting (mE) | Northing (mN) |
1 | Subsea cut location near the Fortescue platform | 611587.92 | 5748203.37 |
2 | Inflection Point 04 | 611768.25 | 5748062.82 |
3 | Inflection Point 05 | 615165.48 | 5748300.51 |
4 | HLA600/650 Oil Pipeline Crossing | 615228.18 | 5748482.05 |
5 | Inflection Point 06 | 615243.79 | 5748520.50 |
6 | FVO Halibut Manifold | 615260.47 | 5748516.96 |
Coordinate set above is based on GDA 94/MGA Zone 55, survey of pipeline centreline
Attachment A
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to address the need for regulation and management of offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage within Australia's jurisdiction. The Act provides a comprehensive framework to facilitate the exploration, production, and storage of offshore petroleum resources while ensuring environmental protection and sustainable practices. It was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, aiming to establish a balanced approach that encourages economic development while safeguarding the marine environment. The policy objective of the Act is to provide for the responsible management of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities, ensuring they are conducted in a manner that minimises risks to the environment, human health, and safety.
This Act empowers the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator to manage and regulate offshore petroleum activities, including the issuance and variation of pipeline licences. This includes the ability to receive and consider applications for variations to existing pipeline licences, such as the one filed by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd for the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16. The process involves public notification and the opportunity for written submissions from interested parties, ensuring transparency and community involvement in decision-making processes related to offshore activities.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the regulation and management of activities related to offshore petroleum exploration, production, and storage, as well as the regulation of greenhouse gas storage in Australia. Specifically, this Act pertains to the governance of offshore petroleum licences, including pipeline licences, and mandates the establishment of the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority to oversee these activities within the offshore area of Victoria. The application of this Act is confined to the offshore area of Victoria, and it does not extend to onshore areas or other states or territories. The application for the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16 by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd falls directly under this jurisdictional scope. The Act allows for public submissions regarding such applications, indicating a level of public interest and engagement in offshore petroleum activities. The Act may also extend its application through subordinate instruments, which can further define the specifics of licence variations and other regulatory details.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections relevant to this application for the variation of the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16 are sections 226 and 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006. Section 226(3) allows for written submissions to be made by any person regarding the application within 30 days from the date of the notice, which in this case was published in the Australian Government Gazette. Section 708 pertains to the process and requirements for variations of pipeline licences. Specifically, the application seeks to alter the route of the pipeline as detailed in the First Schedule of the licence, replacing the existing route description and table with a new set of coordinates and inflection points.
The obligations imposed by the Act on the applicants, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd, include providing detailed and accurate information regarding the proposed changes to the pipeline route. This involves submitting a comprehensive description of the new route, complete with a table and map, and ensuring that the new route adheres to all regulatory standards and safety requirements. Additionally, the applicants must respond to any submissions received from the public during the 30-day submission period.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act or to provide adequate information in the application can lead to various consequences. Under the Act, breaches may result in civil or criminal penalties, depending on the severity and intent of the non-compliance. Civil penalties can include fines, and in more serious cases, criminal penalties may be imposed. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Act are not explicitly stated in the text provided but generally could include substantial fines and, in extreme cases, imprisonment. The specific penalties would be determined by the relevant authorities following an investigation into the breach.