| Notice: A381705 | |
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Commonwealth of Australia OFFSHORE PETROLEUM AND GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE ACT 2006 PROHIBITION OF ENTRY INTO A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE | |
I, Jeremy Dunster, a representative of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority [NOPSEMA], pursuant to section 616 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, hereby prohibit all vessels other than vessels under the control of INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd the registered holders of WA-50-L and vessels operated by authorised persons who are exercising powers under section 615(1) of Division 1 of Part 6.6 of the above Act from entering or being present in the area of the petroleum safety zones without the consent in writing of NOPSEMA.
The petroleum safety zones extend to a distance of 500 metres, measured from each point of the outer edge of the Brewster Drill Centres (BDC) as described in Table 1 and shown in Figure 1 below.
Table 1 – Brewster Drill Centre Petroleum Safety Zones
Petroleum Safety Zone Centres (GDA94) |
Drill Centre | LATITUDE S | LONGITUDE E |
BDC-1A | 13° 51’ 42.32” | 123° 16’ 22.23” |
BDC-1B | 13° 50’ 48.66” | 123° 19’ 13.67” |
BDC-1C | 13° 52’ 46.44” | 123° 19’ 04.33” |
BDC-4 | 13° 54’ 17.84” | 123° 09’ 53.01” |
BDC-5 | 13° 49’ 29.27” | 123° 12’ 47.85” |
Legend |
MDB | Mid Depth Buoy |
RSS | Riser Support Structure |
CPF | Central Processing Facility |
MDB | Mid Depth Buoy |
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Figure 1 – Brewster Drill Centre Petroleum Safety Zones
A petroleum safety zone also extends to a distance of 500 metres, measured from each point of the outer edge of the equipment and structures contained within the area identified by coordinates in Table 2 and shown in Figure 2 below including the:
- lchthys permanently moored Semi- Submersible Central Processing Facility (CPF) (136m x 165m), and;
- Subsea infrastructure supporting and connecting flexibles to the permanently moored Floating, Storage and Offtake Facility (FPSO) turret (from CPF), and;
- Flexible Risers connecting Flowlines to CPF topsides, supported at mid- length by 130m tall Riser Support Structure (RSS), and;
- FLETs connecting seabed flexible section of condensate transfer line which rises to the FPSO turret via MDB to rigid lines, and;
- Hydrocarbon Transfer lines between CPF and FPSO.
Table 2 – Ichthys Production Facilities Petroleum Safety Zone Boundary
Petroleum Safety Zone Boundary (GDA94) |
No. | LATITUDE S | LONGITUDE E |
PSZ1 | 13° 58’ 07.75” | 123° 19’ 16.73” |
PSZ2 | 13° 57’ 41.25” | 123° 19’ 21.76” |
PSZ3 | 13° 56’ 56.01” | 123° 18’ 41.47” |
PSZ4 | 13° 56’ 11.66” | 123° 18’ 08.46” |
PSZ5 | 13° 55’ 48.22” | 123° 17’ 54.85” |
PSZ6 | 13° 55’ 40.58” | 123° 17’ 32.34” |
PSZ7 | 13° 56’ 01.85” | 123° 17’ 24.58” |
PSZ8 | 13° 56’ 27.29” | 123° 17’ 35.15” |
PSZ9 | 13° 57’ 12.23” | 123° 18’ 03.91” |
PSZ10 | 13° 58’ 06.82” | 123° 18’ 42.08” |
Legend |
FLETS | Flow Line End Terminations |
PRB | Production riser Base |
CPF | Central Processing Facility |
FPSO | Floating Production, Storage and Offload facility |
MDB | Mid Depth Buoy |
Table 2 – Ichthys Production Facilities Petroleum Safety Zone Boundary
The petroleum safety zones will be valid from 15 October 2014, and continue until revoked by notice published in the gazette.
Where an unauthorised vessel enters or remains in the safety zone specified in contravention of this notice, the owner and the person in command or in charge of the vessel are each guilty of an offence against Section 616 of the Act and are punishable, upon conviction, by imprisonment for a term:
- not exceeding 15 years if the breach is determined as intentional.
- not exceeding 12.5 years if the breach is determined as recklessness.
- not exceeding 10 years if the breach is determined as negligence.
- not exceeding 5 years if the breach is determined as an offence of strict liability.
Dated this 19th day of September 2014.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Jeremy Dunster, Manager – Assessment &Inspection
Pursuant to the Instrument of delegation dated 28 July 2014
National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to establish a regulatory framework for the exploration, production, and storage of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas in Australian waters. This legislation aimed to address the need for stringent regulation and management of offshore activities to ensure safety, environmental protection, and efficient resource management. The Act provides the legislative foundation for the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to oversee compliance and enforce regulations in the offshore petroleum industry. The policy objective of the Act is to balance the economic benefits of offshore petroleum activities with the imperative to protect the marine environment and ensure the safety of personnel involved in these operations.
In line with the Act, NOPSEMA has the authority to establish petroleum safety zones around specific offshore installations to prevent unauthorised access and mitigate risks associated with unauthorised vessels entering these areas. The notice issued under section 616 of the Act specifies the prohibition on vessels, other than those under the control of authorised operators or vessels operated by persons exercising powers under section 615(1), from entering or being present in designated petroleum safety zones without written consent from NOPSEMA. This measure is critical in maintaining the integrity and safety of offshore operations and preventing potential hazards and disruptions.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, as promulgated by the Commonwealth of Australia, outlines stringent regulations concerning the offshore petroleum industry, particularly focusing on safety zones to ensure operational integrity and environmental protection. The Act applies to all offshore petroleum activities and entities operating within Australian waters, including vessels, rigs, and other equipment involved in exploration and production. The legislation mandates the establishment of safety zones around designated offshore infrastructure, such as drill centres and processing facilities, to mitigate risks associated with hydrocarbon operations. These safety zones extend to a radius of 500 meters from the outer edges of specific equipment and structures, as delineated in the accompanying tables and figures. The prohibition on unauthorised entry into these zones is enforceable by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), with significant penalties for violations, including lengthy imprisonment terms based on the severity of the breach. The Act’s jurisdiction covers the entire Commonwealth of Australia, ensuring a uniform regulatory approach across federal waters. However, certain exclusions and exemptions may apply based on specific circumstances, and the application of the Act can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as authorised by the legislation.
Key Provisions
Section 616 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 mandates the prohibition of entry into designated petroleum safety zones by vessels other than those under the control of INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd, the registered holders of WA-50-L, or vessels operated by authorised persons exercising powers under section 615(1) of Division 1 of Part 6.6 of the Act. This prohibition is in effect for all vessels unless they have obtained written consent from NOPSEMA. The safety zones extend to a distance of 500 metres from the outer edges of the Brewster Drill Centres (BDC) and specific equipment and structures identified within the petroleum safety zone boundary, as detailed in Tables 1 and 2 and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. These zones are effective from 15 October 2014 until revoked by a notice published in the gazette.
The Act imposes strict obligations on vessels and their operators to ensure compliance with the safety zone restrictions. Specifically, vessels must not enter or remain within the designated safety zones without prior written consent from NOPSEMA. This requirement applies to all vessels, except those under the control of INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd, vessels operated by authorised persons exercising powers under section 615(1), and vessels otherwise exempted by NOPSEMA. Failure to comply with these provisions constitutes an offence under Section 616 of the Act.
The Act also outlines severe penalties for breaches of the safety zone restrictions. The maximum penalties vary depending on the nature of the breach: imprisonment for up to 15 years if the breach is intentional, up to 12.5 years if the breach is reckless, up to 10 years if the breach is negligent, and up to 5 years if the breach is an offence of strict liability. These penalties reflect the importance of maintaining strict adherence to the safety zone regulations to ensure the protection of personnel, equipment, and the marine environment.