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/PL18 (ZD6KQJ)
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 (the Act) 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/PL18 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/PL18
The application seeks to affect the following amendments to the licence:
- The FIRST SCHEDULE (Route of the Pipeline) is varied by deleting all the current text and replacing with the following:
The route of the pipeline is described in the table below, and displayed in the map below (Attachment A), commencing at the cut spool location at the Flounder platform and terminating at the flange upstream of the First Valve Off (FVO) on the Tuna platform.
ID | DESCRIPTION | Easting (m) | Northing (m) |
1 | Cut spool location at the Flounder platform | 625859.58 | 5758703.21 |
2 | Inflection Point 01 | 625872.38 | 5758703.79 |
3 | Inflection Point 02 | 625939.09 | 5759035.67 |
4 | Inflection Point 03 | 626163.92 | 5765269.69 |
5 | Inflection Point 04 | 625615.17 | 5770983.94 |
6 | Inflection Point 05 | 626630.81 | 5771109.54 |
7 | West Tuna Fluid Umbilical Crossing | 625623.46 | 5772200.20 |
8 | KPA350 South Gas Pipeline Crossing | 625623.22 | 5772222.48 |
9 | KPA350 North Gas Pipeline Crossing | 625623.33 | 5772272.70 |
10 | West Tuna Electrical Umbilical Crossing | 625623.23 | 5772300.92 |
11 | Inflection Point 06 | 625618.73 | 5773573.59 |
12 | Inflection Point 07 | 624365.90 | 5774390.58 |
13 | FVO Tuna Manifold | 624358.16 | 5774390.34 |
Coordinate set above is based on GDA 94/MGA Zone 55, survey of pipeline centreline.
2. The SECOND SCHEDULE of the Licence is varied by:
- deleting the text under item (i), Part B - Materials of Construction - Steel Pipe and replace with the following text:
The line pipe shall be in accordance with the requirements of the American Petroleum Institute Specification - AP/Spec 5L, 38th Edition 1990 for Grade X52 seamless pipe and Esso Australia Limited Supplemental pipe specification accompanying the pipeline licence application and the pipeline shall have the dimensions 273.1 mm O.D. and 12. 7 mm W.T.
b. deleting the following text under item (ii), Part B - Protective Coating:
Protection of the riser pipework shall be maintained with a coating in accordance with the Coating Specification No 4.3 - Protective Coatings for Onshore Plants, Offshore Platforms and other Marine Structures and shall be protected in the splash zone area with 4.7 mm thick monel sheeting as detailed in the specifications accompanying the original pipeline licence application.
c. deleting the text under Part C - Cathodic Protection
(a) Insulating joints and gaskets shall be maintained on the pipeline in accordance with the construction specifications accompanying the original pipeline licence application.
(b) Transformer rectifier units on the Tuna platform and the Flounder platform shall provide protection to the subsea portion of the pipeline.
(c) Sacrificial anodes in the form of zinc bracelets shall be installed, spaced and maintained as detailed in the construction specifications and cathodic protection design.
The rest of the SECOND SCHEDULE remains as stated in the licence instrument dated 10 August 1983 and as varied 19 May 2020.
Attachment A
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide a legislative framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities within Australian jurisdiction. This legislation was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive regulatory scheme to manage the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum resources offshore, while also considering the environmental impacts and ensuring the sustainable development of Australia's offshore energy resources. The policy objective of the Act is to balance the economic benefits of offshore petroleum activities with the protection of the marine environment and the interests of stakeholders. Under this Act, the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, on behalf of the Commonwealth, has the authority to grant and manage pipeline licences, including the variation of such licences as required. This application notice under sections 226 and 708 of the Act provides for public consultation on the proposed variation of a pipeline licence by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd, highlighting the changes to the pipeline route and materials of construction.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the licensing and regulation of activities associated with offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage operations within Australia, specifically under the purview of the Commonwealth. This Act governs the application process for pipeline licences, including variations to existing licences, and is applicable to entities involved in offshore petroleum operations, such as Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd. The Act ensures that these entities comply with specified standards and requirements for pipeline construction, maintenance, and operations within the offshore area of Victoria. The geographical reach of this Act is national, with specific jurisdictional authority vested in the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority for the offshore area of Victoria. The Act provides for the submission of written submissions by interested parties, thus enabling public participation in the regulatory process. The Act's application is not limited to the primary legislation but can be extended or modified through subordinate instruments, which may include regulations or guidelines issued under the authority of the Act.
Key Provisions
Sections 226 and 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) pertain to the process for varying a pipeline licence. Pursuant to section 226, an application for such a variation has been received from Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd for the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL18, which pertains to the offshore area of Victoria. Section 708 mandates the notice of this application, and the notice published in the Australian Government Gazette specifies the details of the proposed variation, including changes to the pipeline route and materials of construction. This notice allows the public and stakeholders to review the application and make submissions within 30 days from the date of publication.
The obligations imposed by the Act on the parties involved include the requirement to submit detailed plans and specifications for the proposed changes to the pipeline. These changes must be thoroughly documented, including modifications to the pipeline's route, materials, and protective coatings. Specifically, the First Schedule (Route of the Pipeline) outlines the new pipeline route, and the Second Schedule details the modifications to the materials of construction and protective coatings. The applicants must ensure that these changes adhere to the specifications outlined in the American Petroleum Institute Specification (API Spec 5L) and other relevant standards, such as the Esso Australia Limited Supplemental pipe specification and Coating Specification No 4.3.
Non-compliance with the Act’s provisions can result in significant consequences. Under section 226(3), the Titles Administrator can reject an application if it fails to meet the statutory requirements or if it poses risks to safety, the environment, or other stakeholders. Additionally, breaches of the Act may lead to civil or criminal penalties. For instance, section 336 of the Act provides for fines and imprisonment for serious breaches, with maximum penalties for individuals being up to $330,000 or five years imprisonment, or both, and for corporations, fines can reach up to $1.65 million. These penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the regulatory requirements and ensuring that all modifications to the pipeline licence are thoroughly vetted and approved.