Application for Variation of a Pipeline Licence - Pipeline Licence VIC/PL22 (Seahorse to Barracouta) (S69JX6)

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2026G00519 In force Gazette

Legislation content

 

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/PL22 (SEAHORSE TO BARRACOUTA) (S69JX6)

 

 

I, MONICA ELAINE ATSALIS, the 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/PL22 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.

 

MONICA ELAINE ATSALIS

DELEGATE OF THE TITLES ADMINISTRATOR

ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH–VICTORIA

OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY

 

 

 

 


APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF

PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL22

 

The application seeks to effect the following amendments to the licence: 

  1.       Removing the flexible jumper and the majority of the steel pipeline up until the intersection point with the 500m Petroleum Safety Zone at the Barracouta platform (approximately 10.8km in length), the pipeline remaining on the seabed will be plugged using an environmental plug and the remaining licensed pipeline will be decommissioned at a later date in accordance with the regulatory approvals in place for that decommissioning activity.

 

  1.       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 steel pipeline upstream of the BMA350 pipeline crossing and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Barracouta platform.”

 

ID

Description

Easting (mE)

Northing (mN)

1

Intersection point with 500m Petroleum Safety Zone for Barracouta platform

559108

5761582

2

Inflection Point 04

559109

5761119

3

Inflection Point 05

559112

5761092

4

SHA EHU Umbilical Crossing

559112

5761090

5

Inflection Point 06

559111

5761089

6

SHA EHU Umbilical Crossing

559115

5761084

7

Upstream flange of FVO on Barracouta platform

559117

5761076

Coordinate set above is based on GDA 94/MGA Zone 55, survey of pipeline centreline.

 

  1.       The SECOND SCHEDULE of the Licence is varied by deleting all current text as stated in the licence grant instrument dated 31 August 1989 and variation dated 12 May 2020, and substituting with the following:

 

SPECIFICATION 

 

(A) Design

 

The pipeline design is based on the following parameters:

 

  1.             one 150 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of liquid hydrocarbons;
  2.             a flow rate of 1,100 sm3/d (0.007 MMbbl/d) of liquid hydrocarbons;
  3.             an internal design pressure of 21,000 kPag;
  4.             a design temperature of 39°C;
  5.             a specific gravity of 3.7 for the 168 mm x 12.7 mm pipeline (including contents
  6.             a maximum water depth during pipelaying of 47 m;
  7.             a pipeline length of 0.54 km.

 

(B) Materials of Construction

 

  1.             Steel Pipe

 

The line pipe shall be in accordance with the requirements of the American Petroleum Institute Specification – API Spec 5LX for Grade X42 seamless pipe and Esso Australia Limited supplemental pipe specification accompanying the pipeline licence application, and except for the riser pipework, the pipeline shall have the dimensions 168 mm O.D. with 12.7 mm W.T.

 

The said riser pipework shall be API Spec. 5LX, Grade X-60 seamless pipe and have the dimensions 168 mm O.D. and 12.7 mm W.T.

 

The connection of the said riser pipework to the line pipe shall be made by flexible jumper as detailed in the specifications accompanying the pipeline licence application. The main pipeline sits within a carrier pipe which provides thermal insulation and is made from API-5L Grade B seamless line-pipe.

 

The carrier pipe shall be in accordance with the requirements of the American Petroleum Institution Specification – API Spec 5L for Grade B seamless pipe and Esso Australia Limited supplemental pipe specification accompanying the pipeline licence application and shall have the dimensions 250.8 mm O.D. with 23.8 mm W.T.

 

  1.             Protective Coating

 

The carrier line pipe shall be protected by a coating of Taubmans HD3005 Fusion Bonded Epoxy 400-500 Microns thick, and the main pipeline line pipe shall be insulated by a coating of Aptane AP8809/6/8900 closed cell Polyurethane Foam Insulation 9.8 – 11 mm thick and in accordance with the Esso Australia Limited Protective Coating Specifications accompanying the pipeline licence application.

 

Protection of the riser pipework by epoxy coating shall be in accordance with the Coating Specification No. 4.3 – Protective Coatings for Onshore Plants, Offshore Platforms and other Marine Structures.

 

In the splash zones, the risers are wrapped in a 12 mm thick carbon steel and a 4.75 mm thick Monel sleeve.

 

(C) Cathodic Protection

 

  1.             A transformer rectifier unit on Barracouta platform shall provide protection to the subsea portion of the pipeline.
  2.             Sacrificial anodes in the form of zinc bracelets 750 mm long X 460 mm OD., net weight 546 kg, shall be installed and spaced 940 metres apart on the pipeline, as detailed in the construction specifications and cathodic protection design.

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT A

 

 

 

 

Overview

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to provide a regulatory framework for the exploration, production, storage, and transportation of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas, addressing the need for comprehensive management of offshore energy resources. The Act was introduced by the Parliament of Australia to ensure that these activities are conducted in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and economically efficient. The policy objective of the Act is to facilitate the development of Australia's offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas resources while protecting the environment and ensuring the safety of operations. The Act empowers the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, acting on behalf of the relevant offshore petroleum joint authority, to grant and manage licences for activities such as the laying and operation of pipelines in offshore areas. This legislative framework is essential for maintaining regulatory oversight and ensuring that industry practices align with national safety and environmental standards.

Scope and Application

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to entities involved in offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities within the Commonwealth and its territories in Australia. This Act governs the regulation of pipeline licences and their variations, ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and operational standards. Specifically, the Act pertains to the application for the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL22 concerning the Seahorse to Barracouta pipeline, managed by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd. The application seeks to remove a flexible jumper and a significant portion of the steel pipeline up until its intersection with the 500-meter Petroleum Safety Zone at the Barracouta platform. The remaining pipeline on the seabed will be plugged using an environmental plug, and the decommissioned pipeline will be removed in accordance with regulatory approvals. The application is open for written submissions within 30 days from the date of the notice, which becomes effective upon its publication in the Australian Government Gazette. This notice serves as an official announcement under the Act, detailing the proposed variations to the existing pipeline licence.

Key Provisions

Sections 226 and 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) pertain to the application process for varying a pipeline licence. In this instance, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd have submitted an application to modify Pipeline Licence VIC/PL22, which is situated in the offshore area of Victoria. The proposed variation involves removing a flexible jumper and a significant portion of the steel pipeline, up to the intersection point with the 500m Petroleum Safety Zone at the Barracouta platform, which amounts to approximately 10.8km in length. The remaining pipeline will be plugged using an environmental plug, and the decommissioned section will be removed in accordance with existing regulatory approvals. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved in this application. They must provide detailed information about the proposed changes to the pipeline, including the new route and specifications of the pipeline design, materials of construction, and protective coatings. These details must be accurately reported to ensure the safety and environmental compliance of the operations. Furthermore, the applicants must ensure that the decommissioning process adheres to the regulatory framework, including obtaining necessary approvals before undertaking the decommissioning activities. Should any party breach the provisions of the Act or the conditions of the pipeline licence, they may face various penalties and consequences. For instance, failure to comply with the safety and environmental regulations could lead to enforcement actions, fines, or even the suspension or revocation of the pipeline licence. The maximum penalties for contravening the Act can vary based on the severity and nature of the breach, but they may include substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals found guilty of criminal offences. Civil penalties may also apply, and the court may order corrective actions or impose additional financial penalties to ensure compliance with the Act's requirements.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.