COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Sections 226 and 708
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF A PIPELINE LICENCE
I, GRAEME ALBERT WATERS, 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
(ABN 62 091 829 819)
BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd.
(ABN 29 004 228 004)
for the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL15 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.
GRAEME ALBERT WATERS
TITLES ADMINISTRATOR
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH–VICTORIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY
APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF
PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL15
The application seeks to effect the following amendments to the licence to reflect the
‘as constructed’ coordinates for the Cobia DN150 flexible pipeline section of the Cobia to Halibut Oil Pipeline, following repair work in the Cobia Pipeline Repair Project.
Route of the Pipeline
- Update the DN150 (6”) Flexible Pipeline route description to reflect minor changes to the pipeline route resulting from the pipeline repair (see DN150 (6”) Flexible Pipeline Co-ordinates below).
2. Update the route map of the Cobia to Halibut Oil Pipeline (see Appendix A).
Pipeline Specifications
3. Update the existing ‘Basis of Design – Cobia and Halibut Platform risers’ specification table to change the Cobia CBA riser length to 100 m (approximate).
DN150 (6”) Flexible Pipeline Co-ordinates
The route of the pipeline is described in the table below, and displayed in the map below, commencing at the downstream flange on the Cobia platform riser Last Valve Off (LVO) isolation valve and terminating at the upstream flange to the Halibut platform riser First Valve On (FVO) isolation valve within a 20 m corridor (± 10 m centred on the pipeline). Coordinates are based on Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).
ID | DESCRIPTION* | 2D KP** | EASTING | NORTHING | Bend Radius (m) |
CBA Riser | Cobia riser tie-in | 0.0 | 614231.4 | 5743524.2 | |
TP7b | End of pipeline curve TP7b | 0.1 | 614131.7 | 5743452.4 | 45 |
IP7 | Intersection point IP7 | | 614082.6 | 5743417.1 |
TP7a | Start of pipeline curve TP7a | 0.2 | 614062.9 | 5743474.3 |
TP6b | End of pipeline curve TP6b | 0.3 | 614042.8 | 5743532.5 | 100 |
IP6 | Intersection point IP6 | | 614027.9 | 5743576.0 |
TP6a | Start of pipeline curve TP6a | 0.4 | 614051.1 | 5743615.6 |
TP5b | End of pipeline curve TP5b | 0.4 | 614063.7 | 5743637.1 | 50 |
IP5 | Intersection point IP5 | | 614066.8 | 5743642.5 |
TP5a | Start of pipeline curve TP5a | 0.4 | 614068.6 | 5743648.6 |
TP4b | End of pipeline curve TP4b | 2.6 | 614667.4 | 5745743.2 | 50 |
IP4 | Intersection point IP4 | | 614667.5 | 5745743.5 |
TP4a | Start of pipeline curve TP4a | 2.6 | 614667.6 | 5745743.9 |
TP3b | End of pipeline curve TP3b | 3.7 | 614948.5 | 5746786.8 | 50 |
IP3 | Intersection point IP3 | | 614948.7 | 5746787.6 |
TP3a | Start of pipeline curve TP3a | 3.7 | 614948.9 | 5746788.3 |
TP2b | End of pipeline curve TP2b | 4.2 | 615114.9 | 5747335.1 | 50 |
IP2 | Intersection point IP2 | | 615115.1 | 5747335.5 |
TP2a | Start of pipeline curve TP2a | 4.2 | 615115.2 | 5747336.0 |
Crossing | Crossing of redundant CBA300 pipeline and HLA100 fuel gas pipeline | 5.3 | 615400.7 | 5748346.4 | |
TP1b | End of pipeline curve TP1b | 5.3 | 615413.8 | 5748393.3 | 50 |
IP1 | Intersection point IP1 | | 615423.6 | 5748428.4 |
TP1a | Start of pipeline curve TP1a | 5.4 | 615393.1 | 5748448.5 |
HLA Riser | Halibut riser tie-in | 5.5 | 615309.6 | 5748503.4 | |
Coordinate set above is based on GDA94 / MGA Zone 55 and is the centreline for the pipeline corridor.
* The flexible pipeline was laid from the Halibut to Cobia platforms, hence the curves are in the reverse order from the KPs that start at the Cobia platform and which are in the direction of the process flow.
** KP = Kilometre Point (approximate. Start point defined as the riser tie-in location at Cobia.)
Appendix A: Cobia to Halibut Oil Pipeline Route
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to provide a legislative framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum activities, including the granting of licenses for the exploration, production, and transportation of petroleum and greenhouse gas. This Act was introduced to address the need for comprehensive regulation of offshore petroleum activities to ensure they are conducted in a safe, environmentally responsible, and economically efficient manner. The Act was passed by the Australian Parliament, with the objective of promoting the responsible development of Australia's offshore petroleum resources while safeguarding the environment and ensuring public safety.
The 2006 Act serves as the primary legislative instrument governing the offshore petroleum industry in Australia, establishing the regulatory framework for the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority. This notice, published under the authority of the Act, indicates that an application has been received for the variation of a pipeline licence in the offshore area of Victoria. The application seeks to update the pipeline coordinates following repair work, ensuring the pipeline's route description and specifications accurately reflect the current "as constructed" state. The notice also provides an opportunity for public submissions within 30 days, ensuring transparency and community involvement in the regulatory process.
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 of Australia. This includes companies such as Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd., who have applied for a variation of a pipeline licence under this Act. The application in question concerns Pipeline Licence VIC/PL15 in the offshore area of Victoria. The Act provides a framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum activities, including the management of pipelines used in these operations. Under this legislation, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, acting on behalf of the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, can receive and process applications for variations to pipeline licences. The Act’s jurisdictional reach is national, with specific applications managed within individual states, such as Victoria in this case. The application process allows for public submissions within a specified timeframe, ensuring transparency and stakeholder engagement. This particular application seeks to amend the pipeline licence to reflect the actual coordinates of a repaired pipeline section, ensuring regulatory compliance and safety.
Key Provisions
Pursuant to sections 226 and 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, an application has been submitted by Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. to vary Pipeline Licence VIC/PL15 in the offshore area of Victoria. The application seeks to update the pipeline route description to reflect changes made during the Cobia Pipeline Repair Project. This includes updating the DN150 (6”) Flexible Pipeline route description, the route map of the Cobia to Halibut Oil Pipeline, and the existing ‘Basis of Design – Cobia and Halibut Platform risers’ specification table. The pipeline coordinates provided are based on the Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).
The application imposes obligations on the applicants to provide accurate and updated information about the pipeline route and specifications. They must ensure that all changes made during the repair work are accurately reflected in the documentation submitted. The applicants are also required to update the route map to visually represent the pipeline's new configuration, ensuring that all relevant parties have a clear understanding of the pipeline's updated route.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Under section 708 of the Act, any person who contravenes a direction or fails to comply with the Act may be liable to a penalty. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Act can include fines of up to $1,100,000 for corporations and $220,000 for individuals, depending on the severity of the offence. Additionally, criminal charges may be pursued for serious or repeated breaches, which could lead to imprisonment. It is crucial for the applicants to ensure that all submissions are accurate and compliant to avoid these potential penalties.