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/PL26 (8F9PHF)
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/PL26 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/PL26
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 Bream B platform and terminating at the subsea cut location near the Bream A platform.”
ID | Description | Easting (mE) | Northing (mN) |
1 | Subsea cut location near the Bream B platform | 573167.06 | 5736363.66 |
2 | Inflection Point 01 | 573169.96 | 5736378.18 |
3 | Inflection Point 02 | 567311.66 | 5738412.31 |
4 | BMA350 Gas Pipeline Crossing | 567313.12 | 5738464.42 |
5 | Inflection Point 03 | 567313.23 | 5738467.90 |
6 | Subsea cut location near the Bream A platform | 567328.42 | 5738466.72 |
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 legislative framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities within Australian waters, addressing the need for comprehensive and coordinated governance of these resources. The Act was introduced by the Australian Parliament to ensure that offshore activities are conducted in a manner that balances economic interests with environmental protection and public safety. The policy objective of the Act is to facilitate the sustainable and responsible exploration and production of offshore petroleum resources, while also addressing the challenges posed by greenhouse gas storage. The Act empowers the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority to administer and oversee the activities of entities such as Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd, as demonstrated in the recent application for the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL26. This application highlights the ongoing need for regulatory flexibility and adaptation to new technical and operational realities in the offshore sector.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the regulation of offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage within Australian waters. This Act, enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia, pertains to entities and persons involved in offshore petroleum operations, including the variation of pipeline licences. The Act specifically covers the application for the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL26, which relates to the offshore area of Victoria. The application, made by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd, seeks to alter the route of the pipeline as outlined in the First Schedule of the Licence. This change involves the deletion of the existing pipeline route description and table, replacing it with a new description and map detailing the pipeline's path from the subsea cut location near the Bream B platform to the subsea cut location near the Bream A platform. The Act mandates that any person may submit written submissions to the Titles Administrator regarding this application within 30 days from the date of notice. The application's jurisdiction is confined to the offshore area of Victoria, and the notice of the application is published in the Australian Government Gazette to ensure transparency and public participation in the regulatory process.
Key Provisions
Pursuant to sections 226 and 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, the Delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator has announced that an application has been submitted by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd for the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL26, which covers 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 will replace the existing route description with a new one. This new route description begins at the subsea cut location near the Bream B platform and ends at the subsea cut location near the Bream A platform, with several inflection points and a gas pipeline crossing detailed in a table and map provided as Attachment A.
The obligations imposed by this legislation on the applicants, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd, include submitting a detailed application for the variation of the pipeline licence. The application must include precise descriptions of the pipeline's new route, as well as any relevant maps and technical details. The applicants are also required to ensure that the proposed changes comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including environmental and safety standards. Furthermore, the applicants must notify the public and allow a 30-day period for written submissions from interested parties, as mandated by subsection 226(3) of the Act. This ensures that all stakeholders have an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed changes before any decisions are made.
Breaches of the provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 can result in various civil or criminal consequences. If the applicants fail to comply with the obligations set out in their application or if they submit incomplete or inaccurate information, they may face legal action. Such action could include fines, court orders, or even the revocation of their pipeline licence. The specific penalties for non-compliance are not detailed in this notice, but the Act provides for significant penalties under sections 687 and 688, which can include substantial fines and imprisonment. These provisions ensure that the offshore petroleum activities are conducted in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and in accordance with the law.