Application for Variation of a Pipeline Licence – WA-4-PL

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2021G00675 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 WA-4-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

 

Woodside Energy Ltd

(ACN 005 482 986)

 

BHP Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd

(ACN 004 514 489)

 

BP Developments Australia Pty. Ltd.

(ACN 081 102 856)

 

Chevron Australia Pty Ltd

(ACN 086 197 757)

 

Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty. Ltd.

(ACN 006 303 180)

 

Shell Australia Pty Ltd

(ACN 009 663 576)

 

 for the variation of Pipeline Licence WA-4-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 COMMONWEALTHWESTERN AUSTRALIA

OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY

 

APPLICATION FOR VARIATION OF

PIPELINE LICENCE WA-4-PL

 

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

First Schedule - Route of Pipeline

 

1. The Route of The Pipeline is varied by:

a) deleting the words:

“The route of the pipeline shall be from the Wanaea field Riser Turret Mooring (RTM) at or about coordinates 441850mE, 7833740mN to the SE1 conductor on the North Rankin ‘A’ (NRA) platform at or about 409474mE, 7834167mN and tie-in connection on the Goodwyn A (GWA) to NRA interfield pipeline at or about 409445mE, 7834051mN, along a line no point of which shall be more than 125 metres from the proposed pipeline route shown in the drawing attached to this Licence as annexure ‘A’.”

b) and replacing with:

“The route of the pipeline shall be from the Wanaea Field Riser Turret Mooring (RTM) at or about coordinates 441850mE, 7833740mN to the SSIV tie-in point on Trunkline 1 (1TL) at or about 409712mE, 7834142mN (GDA94 MGA Zone 50) and tie-in connection on the Goodwyn A (GWA) to NRA interfield pipeline at or about 409445mE, 7834051mN, along a line no point of which shall be more than 125 metres from the proposed pipeline route shown in the drawing attached to this Licence as annexure ‘A’.”

Second Schedule - Specifications

2. In the Schedule under Specifications, Section (A) System Description is varied by deleting the words in dot point 4 and replacing with:

“A rigid spool connecting the North Rankin A Pipeline End (NRAPE) to the SSIV tie-in point on 1TL.”

3. In the Schedule under Specifications, Section (B) Design is varied by deleting the words in item (i) and replacing with:

“Except as otherwise specified in this Schedule the pipeline shall be designed, constructed, tested and operated in accordance with DNV-ST-F101 Submarine Pipeline Systems Standard.”

4. In the Schedule under Specifications, Section (B) Design is varied by deleting the words in item (p) and replacing with:

Minimum operating temperature (°C) 

- Between the flexible riser and flowline (from Okha Floating Production, Storage and Offloading [FPSO] Facility Riser Base Assembly [RBA] to the Wanaea Pipeline End [WANPE]): -30°C integrity limit;

- Between the rigid pipeline, in-line structures and rigid spool (North Rankin A Pipeline End [NRAPE] to 1TL): 0°C integrity limit; and

- Between the flexible jumpers (from the NRAPE to the Goodwyn Alpha Inter Field Pipeline [GWAIFLTI]): normal operating limit is 18.95°C with an integrity limit of -3.5°C which may occur during a Subsea Isolation Valve (SSIV) leak-off testing.

5. In the Schedule under Specifications, Section (B) Design is varied by deleting the text in item (q) and replacing with:

“Substance to be conveyed: Dehydrated dry natural gas in compressed phase.”

6.  In the Schedule under Specifications, Section (B) Design is varied by deleting item (s).

7.  In the Schedule under Specifications, Section (B) Design is varied by adding:

Life of pipeline: 2031 (approximate).”

8. The WA-4-PL Pipeline Route Map at Annexure A is deleted and replaced with the map at Attachment 1.

 


Attachment 1

Overview

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to regulate the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gas in Australia's offshore areas. The Act was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive legal framework governing offshore petroleum activities, ensuring environmental protection, safety, and efficient management of resources. The policy objective of the Act is to balance the economic benefits of offshore petroleum activities with the need to protect the marine environment and ensure the safety of operations. The Act provides for the licensing and regulation of offshore petroleum activities, including the granting of pipeline licences, and the management of greenhouse gas storage projects. This specific gazette notice under the Act pertains to an application for the variation of Pipeline Licence WA-4-PL by several entities, including Woodside Energy Ltd, BHP Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd, and others, to modify aspects of the pipeline route and specifications, and is subject to public submission within 30 days from the date of the notice.

Scope and Application

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities within the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically in the offshore area of Western Australia. This legislation governs the regulation and administration of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities, including the licensing and management of pipelines used for such purposes. The Act provides the framework under which the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, acting on behalf of the Commonwealth-Western Australia Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, administers offshore petroleum titles and manages the environmental and safety aspects of these activities. The Act's scope encompasses the entities involved in these activities, including Woodside Energy Ltd, BHP Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd, BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd, Chevron Australia Pty Ltd, Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd, and Shell Australia Pty Ltd, as evidenced by their application for the variation of Pipeline Licence WA-4-PL. The Act's application is specifically focused on the offshore area of Western Australia, highlighting its jurisdictional reach within this region. The notice of the application for the variation of the pipeline licence is published in the Australian Government Gazette, making it accessible to the public and inviting written submissions within a specified timeframe. The Act allows for further specification and regulation through subordinate instruments, which can provide additional detail and enforce specific conditions or requirements related to pipeline operations.

Key Provisions

The main sections of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 relevant to this gazetted notice involve sections 226 and 708. Section 226(3) allows for the submission of written comments regarding a variation application for a pipeline licence, while section 708 facilitates the process of varying the terms and conditions of a pipeline licence. This notice indicates that an application has been received from Woodside Energy Ltd, BHP Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd, BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd, Chevron Australia Pty Ltd, Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd, and Shell Australia Pty Ltd for a variation to the existing Pipeline Licence WA-4-PL. The obligations imposed on the parties involved include ensuring that the application for the variation of the pipeline licence is made in accordance with the relevant sections of the Act. The applicants must provide detailed and accurate information about the proposed changes, including the new route of the pipeline, updated specifications, and design standards. The Title Administrator, Graeme Albert Waters, has a duty to publish this notice in the Australian Government Gazette to allow for public submissions within the stipulated timeframe. The Act also outlines potential consequences for non-compliance or breaches. While the notice does not explicitly mention penalties, the Act generally provides for both civil and criminal penalties for breaches of its provisions. Civil penalties may include fines and other monetary penalties, while criminal penalties can result in imprisonment. The maximum penalties depend on the specific breach and are defined elsewhere in the Act, but they serve to deter non-compliance and ensure adherence to the regulations governing offshore petroleum activities.

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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.