COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Section 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–Western Australia Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority hereby give notice pursuant to section 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 that an application has been received from
Quadrant Oil Australia Pty Limited
(ABN 63 050 611 688)
Quadrant East Spar Pty Limited
(ABN 82 008 674 413)
Quadrant Kersail Pty Ltd
(ABN 28 087 029 169)
Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd
(ABN 35 000 670 575)
for a variation of Pipeline Licence WA-5-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-5-PL
Pipeline Co-ordinates
The pipeline commences at the pipeline licence boundary of WA‐21‐PL and runs through the East Spar Manifold, a Z‐Spool, and a 14” Production Pipeline to the pipeline licence boundary of TPL‐12. Coordinates are based on Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).
Feature ID | Feature Name | UTM Zone | Easting (mE) | Northing (mN) |
1 | Boundary of WA‐21‐PL and WA‐5‐PL | Zone 50 | 290,101.15 | 7,707,290.78 |
2 | East Spar Manifold Tie‐in Flange (Connection to Z‐Spool Flange) | Zone 50 | 290,117.00 | 7,707,292.00 |
3 | 14” East Spar Pipeline Flange (Connection to Z‐Spool Flange) | Zone 50 | 290,128.92 | 7,707,316.25 |
4 | Intersection Point (IP) 1 | Zone 50 | 312,897.64 | 7,710,670.05 |
5 | IP 2 | Zone 50 | 315,961.70 | 7,711,378.97 |
6 | IP 3 | Zone 50 | 320,430.55 | 7,712,179.87 |
7 | Boundary of WA‐5‐PL and TPL‐12 | Zone 50 | 330,042.88 | 7,714,306.54 |
Pipeline Design Parameters
The pipeline is based on the following parameters:
Item | Item Description | Details |
a) | Outside diameter of pipeline (mm) Nominal wall thickness (mm) Length of pipeline (in WA‐5‐PL) (km) | 355.6 (14” NB) 15.9 (offshore) / 17.5 (onshore ‐ note not applicable in this licence) 40.8 (KP0 – KP40.8) |
b) | Pipe steel grade | API 5L X65 |
c) | Pipe specification | ERW (offshore) / seamless (onshore) |
d) | Joint type | Butt welded |
e) | Minimum yield strength (MPa) | 448.32 |
f) | Design pressure (MPa) | 20 |
g) | Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MPa) | 20 |
h) | Field test pressure (MPa) | 25 |
i) | Fittings and valves specification | ANSI Class 1500 |
j) | Water depth range (m) | 25 – 95 LAT |
k) | Corrosion coating | External Field joints | 4.5 mm thick (nominal) asphalt enamel Bituminous tape wrap |
l) | Weight coating | KP0‐KP23 KP23‐KP30 KP30‐KP63 | 30 mm thick reinforced concrete, 2400 S 90 mm thick reinforced concrete, 3040 S 30 mm thick reinforced concrete, 3040 S |
m) | Cathodic Protection | Sacrificial Aluminium Anodes |
n) | Maximum inlet temperature (˚C) | 69 |
o) | Minimum operating temperature (˚C) | 16 |
p) | Substance to be conveyed: Maximum CO2 content (%Vol) Maximum Water content (mg/m3) Maximum hydrogen sulphide (mg/m3) Maximum sulphur (mg/m3) | Corrosion inhibited 3‐phase wellstream 2.0 Mole % 7,000 2 2 |
q) | Pipeline specific gravity | KP0‐KP23 KP23‐KP30 KP30‐KP63 | 1.6 2.3 1.8 |
r) | Maximum allowable free span (m) | 21.0m (Kp 16‐21) to 30.3m (Kp 21‐23) |
s) | Design Capacity (Sm3/day at 15.6˚C & 1 atm) | 6.63×106 |
t) | Erosional velocity (m/s) | 14.6 (Actual 4.2 m/s at 2.83x106) |
u) | Design Environmental criteria. Marine growth allowance. | 50 year‐return cyclonic condition. 30mm hard growth, soft growth assumed removed in storm conditions. |
v) | Stabilisation | Refer attached ES‐14‐DX‐00020 |
w) | Thermal Offsets | 25m adjacent to the manifold |
x) | Corrosion allowance (mm) | 4.9 (internal) Nil (external) |
y) | General plans and descriptions of pump stations, tank stations or valve stations and their equipment | Subsea: Pipeline licence includes East Spar Manifold. All manifold piping and valves manufactured from corrosion resistant alloy (duplex) suitable for the produced fluids. |
| | Manifold piping sized to match the pipeline and designed in accordance with API 6A. Piping and valves are interconnected by means of flanges or hubs/clamps. Support structure designed in accordance with API RP 2A. Free standing and supported by mudmats. Last‐Off Valve Replacement Spool (Replacing Valve LOV‐2010) 14” Linepipe (355.6 mm OD, 1276mm Length, 15.9 mm WT) Material: API‐5LX‐65 Test Pressure 38MPa Onshore: Pipeline provided with pipeline isolation valve and emergency shutdown valves. |
z) | East Spar Manifold / Pipeline Tie‐in Spool | 14” Line pipe (355.6 mm OD, 37.2m Length, 15.9 mm WT) Material: API‐5LX‐65 Test Pressure: 25MPa |
aa) | Generals plans and description of pigging facilities | No permanent facilities installed. Temporary subsea pig launch and onshore receipt facilities fabricated as required. |
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Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to provide a legal framework for the regulation and management of offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage within Australia's jurisdiction. The Act aims to ensure the safe and environmentally responsible exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gases in Australia's offshore areas. This legislative measure was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive and integrated regulatory system to govern the offshore petroleum industry, thereby protecting both the environment and the economic interests of the nation. The Act facilitates the licensing and oversight of activities, ensuring they comply with safety standards and environmental protections.
This legislation empowers the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator to manage the licensing process for offshore petroleum activities, including variations to existing licenses such as pipeline licenses. The notice published under section 708 of the Act informs the public of an application for a variation of Pipeline Licence WA-5-PL by Quadrant Oil Australia Pty Limited, Quadrant East Spar Pty Limited, Quadrant Kersail Pty Ltd, and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd. The public is invited to submit written submissions regarding the application within 30 days from the date of the notice, which becomes effective upon its publication in the Australian Government Gazette.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the entities Quadrant Oil Australia Pty Limited, Quadrant East Spar Pty Limited, Quadrant Kersail Pty Ltd, and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd, which have submitted an application for a variation of the Pipeline Licence WA-5-PL in the offshore area of Western Australia. The Act is a Commonwealth legislation, thus it applies nationwide but this particular application pertains to offshore activities within Western Australia. The Act governs the exploration, production, and storage of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas, and regulates the associated infrastructure, including pipelines. The application for variation of the pipeline licence is subject to the provisions of the Act and any relevant subordinate instruments, which may provide further details on the approval process and compliance requirements. There are no specific exclusions or exemptions mentioned in the notice, and the application is open for public submissions within the specified period. The notice is legally effective upon its publication in the Australian Government Gazette.
Key Provisions
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) governs various aspects of offshore petroleum activities, including the application process for a variation of a pipeline licence. Section 708 of the Act provides the mechanism for notifying the public and relevant stakeholders about an application for a variation of a pipeline licence, in this case, the Pipeline Licence WA-5-PL in Western Australia. According to the notice, Quadrant Oil Australia Pty Limited, Quadrant East Spar Pty Limited, Quadrant Kersail Pty Ltd, and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd have applied for a variation of this licence. The pipeline in question runs from the boundary of WA-21-PL through the East Spar Manifold, a Z-Spool, and a 14” Production Pipeline to the boundary of TPL-12, with coordinates based on the Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).
The Act imposes specific obligations on applicants seeking to vary a pipeline licence. These obligations include providing detailed information about the pipeline's design parameters, environmental criteria, and safety measures. For instance, the pipeline's outside diameter is 355.6 mm, with a nominal wall thickness of 15.9 mm offshore and 17.5 mm onshore. The pipeline is designed to a specification of API 5L X65, with joints being butt-welded and a minimum yield strength of 448.32 MPa. Additionally, the pipeline is designed to handle a substance with a maximum CO2 content of 2.0 Mole %, a maximum water content of 7,000 mg/m3, and a maximum hydrogen sulphide content of 22 mg/m3. The design also includes provisions for cathodic protection using sacrificial aluminium anodes and a maximum allowable free span of 21.0m to 30.3m.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act can result in various civil and criminal consequences. While the notice does not specify the exact penalties for non-compliance, breaches of the Act can lead to fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the violation. The maximum penalties can vary significantly based on the specific offence and the discretion of the court. For example, under section 669 of the Act, an individual can be fined up to $220,000 or imprisoned for up to five years, or both, for failing to comply with a direction given under the Act. Similarly, under section 672, an individual can be fined up to $1,100,000 or imprisoned for up to ten years, or both, for engaging in conduct that is intended to defraud the Commonwealth or a State.
In summary, the application for a variation of the Pipeline Licence WA-5-PL under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 involves detailed submissions about the pipeline's design, environmental, and safety parameters. The Act imposes obligations on applicants to provide comprehensive information and ensures compliance through potential civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance.