COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Sections 226 and 708
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF A PIPELINE LICENCE
(PIPELINE LICENCE WA-11-PL)
I, GRAEME ALBERT WATERS, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth–Western Australia 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
Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd
(ACN 009 140 854)
Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd
(ACN 000 670 575)
for the variation of Pipeline Licence WA-11-PL in the offshore area of Western Australia, 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.
GRAEME ALBERT WATERS
TITLES ADMINISTRATOR
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH–WESTERN AUSTRALIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY
APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF
PIPELINE LICENCE WA-11-PL
The application seeks to effect the following amendments to the licence:
- The Schedule under Specifications, the Basis of Design table is varied by updating the items in bold and italics:
(B) Basis of Design
The pipeline design is based on the following parameters:
Item | Item Description | Details |
1 | Outside diameter of pipe and riser | 457.2 mm (18 in) |
2 | Wall thickness of pipe inclusive of riser (only for carbon steel) | 15.9 mm (0.6 in) (KP21.2 to KP48.1 and pipeline riser); 17.5 mm (0.7 in) (KP48.1 to KP53.9); 15.9 mm (0.6 in) (KP53.9 to KP54.4) pipeline repair spools |
3 | Length | 33.2 km (approximate) |
4 | Design life | 20 years (approximate) 10 years for replacement spool installed as part of the John Brookes Replacement Project completed Q1 2023 |
5 | Pipeline Material | Carbon Steel |
6 | Pipeline and Riser Steel Grade | DNV-OS-F101 Grade 450 |
7 | Pipeline Specification | DNV-OS-F101 High Frequency Weld |
8 | Minimum yield strength of pipe steel | 450 MPa (65,267.0 psi) Specified Minimum Yield Strength (SMYS) |
9 | Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure | 13.75 MPag (1,994.3 psi) |
10 | Design Capacity | Maximum design flowrate of 260 MMscf/d |
11 | Characteristics of substance proposed to be conveyed | Wet gas (approximate 85.5% methane saturated with water at reservoir conditions) |
12 | General plans and descriptions of pump stations, tank stations or valve stations and their equipment | - Subsea isolation valve located adjacent to
John Brookes platform, which is provided with dropped object protection frame and
1 electrical cable and 1 hydraulic pack
|
13 | General plans and descriptions of pipeline repair | 2015 Replacement Project - The inclusion of a 520 m (1,706 ft) (nominal) length comprising straight spools and tie-in spools to form a cooling spool downstream of the Subsea Isolation Valve as the replacement for the existing Carbon Steel pipeline
- Straight spools American National Standards Institute (ANSI) flange jointed (Weld Neck/swivel-ring pairs) as 4 lengths (nominally 46 m (150.9 ft) long), externally coated with Thermally Sprayed Aluminium (TSA)
- Tie-in spools ANSI flange jointed (WN/swivel-ring pairs) as varying lengths, externally coated with TSA
- Straight spools, tie-in spools and flanges corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) (Inconel 625) clad internally
- Straight and tie-in spools stabilised by gravity anchors
- Cooling spool cathodic protection by sacrificial anodes affixed to the gravity anchors and cable connected to the straight and tie-in spools
- Straight and tie-in spool welded joints TSA coated
- Subsea Isolation Valve structural modification to accommodate the new spool configuration
- Downstream tie-in of the cooling spool via mechanical connector
- Removal of the existing Ring Pair Corrosion Monitoring (RPCM) probe and dummy spool immediately downstream of the Subsea Isolation Valve
- Installation of a retrievable temperature data logger in the vicinity of the mechanical connector.
2023 Tie-In Spool Replacement - Replacement of the tie-in spool directly upstream of the Subsea Isolation Valve
- Tie-in spool ANSI flange jointed (WN/swivel-ring pair) and externally coated with TSA
- Tie-in spool and flanges corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) (Inconel 625) clad internally
- Tie-in spool cathodic protection by sacrificial anodes affixed to the existing gravity anchor
|
14 | General plans and description of pigging facilities | Provision for offshore pig launcher located at the platform and an onshore pig receiver at Varanus Island |
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to address the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gas within Australia's offshore areas. The Act was designed to ensure that such activities are conducted in a safe, environmentally responsible, and economically efficient manner, balancing the interests of industry, the environment, and the public. Enacted by the Parliament of Australia, the Act sets out the legal foundation for the management of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas activities, including the licensing and regulation of pipelines. The policy objective of the Act is to facilitate the development of offshore resources while minimising environmental impacts and ensuring safety.
This specific application for the variation of a pipeline licence under the Act, as highlighted in the Australian Government Gazette, illustrates the ongoing regulatory oversight required to adapt to changes in operational requirements and technological advancements. The application by Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd seeks to update the design specifications of the pipeline, reflecting improvements in materials and methods to enhance safety and efficiency. The regulatory framework provided by the Act ensures that any proposed variations to the pipeline licence are subject to scrutiny and public consultation, maintaining the balance between industry needs and environmental protection.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to entities involved in offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage operations within the Commonwealth of Australia. Specifically, this Act governs the licensing and regulation of pipeline activities, including applications for variations to existing pipeline licences. The application for variation of Pipeline Licence WA-11-PL, submitted by Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd, pertains to the offshore area of Western Australia. The amendment concerns updating the Basis of Design table under Specifications, focusing on modifications to pipeline design parameters, materials, and operational specifications. This notice allows for public submissions within 30 days from the date of publication in the Australian Government Gazette. The Act’s application extends to the regulation of pipeline infrastructure critical for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities, thereby ensuring safety and environmental compliance within Australia's offshore petroleum jurisdiction.
Key Provisions
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, as outlined in sections 226 and 708, provides a framework for managing offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage in Australian waters. In this context, section 226 allows for the application of variations to pipeline licences, while section 708 details the administrative process for handling these applications. The specific application in question pertains to the variation of Pipeline Licence WA-11-PL, held by Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd, which seeks amendments to the existing licence specifications. This includes updates to the pipeline's design parameters, such as the outside diameter of the pipe and riser, the wall thickness, length, design life, material, and other technical specifications. Additionally, the application involves the inclusion of new components like the subsea isolation valve and modifications to existing infrastructure, such as the replacement of certain pipeline sections with corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) materials to enhance durability and safety.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved in the pipeline licence variation process. These obligations include ensuring that all proposed changes are technically sound and compliant with the standards set forth in the Act. Specifically, the applicants must provide detailed specifications and plans that demonstrate how the proposed modifications will be implemented. This includes providing information on the materials used, design life, and safety measures. Furthermore, the applicants must ensure that any changes do not compromise the integrity or safety of the pipeline, and they must adhere to all relevant environmental and safety regulations. Additionally, the applicants are required to submit their application in a timely manner and provide any additional information or clarification requested by the Titles Administrator.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 can result in significant penalties and legal consequences. For instance, if the applicants fail to submit a complete or accurate application, or if they proceed with modifications that do not meet the standards set by the Act, they may face civil penalties. These penalties can include fines, suspension, or revocation of the pipeline licence. Additionally, if the non-compliance results in an environmental incident or safety breach, the applicants could face criminal charges, which could lead to imprisonment. The specific penalties and consequences depend on the severity and impact of the non-compliance, but the Act provides for substantial deterrents to ensure adherence to its provisions.