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/PL24 (QH467Z)
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/PL24 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 TITLES ADMINISTRATOR
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH–VICTORIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY
APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF
PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL24
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 Whiting platform and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Snapper platform.”
ID | Description | Easting (mE) | Northing (mN) |
1 | Subsea cut location near the Whiting Platform | 576467.40 | 5767190.31 |
2 | Inflection Point 04 | 578905.00 | 5769627.67 |
3 | Inflection Point 05 | 589635.00 | 5772160.00 |
4 | Inflection Point 06 | 589761.69 | 5772176.96 |
5 | Inflection Point 07 | 589765.60 | 5772183.01 |
6 | Inflection Point 08 | 589772.64 | 5772184.81 |
7 | SNA600 Gas Pipeline Crossing | 589772.94 | 5772183.70 |
8 | MLB450 Gas Pipeline Crossing | 589774.80 | 5772180.77 |
9 | Inflection Point 09 | 589776.15 | 5772178.23 |
10 | FVO Snapper Manifold | 589784.40 | 5772179.25 |
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 provide a comprehensive regulatory framework for the exploration, production, and storage of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas in Australian waters. This Act was introduced to address the need for effective regulation and management of offshore petroleum activities to ensure environmental protection, economic benefits, and national security. The Act is administered by the Commonwealth of Australia, with the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator playing a pivotal role in overseeing the licensing and operations of offshore petroleum activities. The policy objective of the Act is to balance the interests of resource development with environmental stewardship and community welfare.
This Gazette notice, issued under the authority of the Act, informs the public of an application by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd for the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL24. The application seeks to amend the pipeline route as detailed in the First Schedule of the licence, which outlines the specific coordinates and points of the pipeline from its subsea cut location near the Whiting platform to its termination at the Snapper platform. The notice provides a 30-day window for interested parties to submit written submissions to the Titles Administrator, allowing for public participation in the regulatory process. This transparency ensures that the interests of stakeholders are considered in the decision-making process regarding the variation of the pipeline licence.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 governs the application for the variation of a pipeline licence, specifically Pipeline Licence VIC/PL24, in the offshore area of Victoria. The Act applies to entities such as Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd, which have submitted an application for the licence variation. The application encompasses the modification of the pipeline's route details, as described in the First Schedule of the Licence. This legislative provision operates under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, and the application extends to the offshore region of Victoria, specifically impacting the pipeline's route. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or thresholds, but it does allow for public submissions within 30 days of the notice being published in the Australian Government Gazette, as per section 226(3). The Act's application may also be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, which are not detailed in the provided text.
Key Provisions
In accordance with sections 226 and 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Steven Robert Taylor, as the Delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, has issued a notice regarding an application by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd to vary Pipeline Licence VIC/PL24 in the offshore area of Victoria. The application proposes specific changes to the pipeline's route as detailed in the First Schedule of the Licence, which includes new coordinates and descriptions for various inflection points and pipeline crossings. This change involves the deletion of the existing route description and its replacement with a new description, accompanied by an updated map (Attachment A).
The application imposes certain obligations on the parties involved. Firstly, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd must provide detailed justification for the proposed changes to the pipeline route in their application. They must also ensure that any modifications comply with the regulations and requirements set forth in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006. Additionally, they must respond to any inquiries or requests for further information from the Titles Administrator during the review process.
Should there be any breach of the provisions under the Act, various offences and penalties may apply. The Act outlines both civil and criminal consequences for non-compliance. For instance, any failure to adhere to the specified requirements for pipeline operations could result in civil penalties, which may include fines. The maximum penalty for serious or repeated breaches can be substantial, reflecting the potential risks associated with non-compliance in offshore petroleum activities. Furthermore, in cases where there is a significant risk to health and safety or the environment, criminal penalties may apply, which could include imprisonment for individuals found guilty of contravening the Act. These penalties underscore the importance of strict adherence to the regulatory framework governing offshore petroleum operations in Australia.