| Notice: A349027 | |
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Commonwealth of Australia OFFSHORE PETROLEUM AND GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE ACT 2006 REVOCATION OF A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE |
I Jeremy Dunster a representative of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority [NOPSEMA], hereby revoke the Notice which appeared in GN 7 of 2013 in the Commonwealth of Australia Government Gazette number C2013G00279, in relation to the Prohibition of Entry into a Safety Zone established in VIC/L26. Revocation effective as of 28 March 2014.
Dated this 20 day of March 2014.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Jeremy Dunster
Manager Technical Services
Pursuant to the Instrument of delegation dated 09 December 2013
National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority
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 ROC Oil (Vic) Pty Limited, the registered holders of VIC/L26, 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 zone without the consent in writing of NOPSEMA.
The petroleum safety zone specified in this notice extends to the following;
- A distance of 500 metres, around the Basker-Manta-Gummy Field Infrastructure,
- A distance of 360 metres, around the Basker-6 wellhead; and
- A distance of 300m around the exposed flowlines.
The petroleum safety zone is measured from each point of the outer edge of the wellheads, manifolds and exposed flowlines locations as represented in the following drawing and coordinate table.
The petroleum safety zone will be valid from 28 March 2014 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.
Petroleum Safety Zone Boundary- MGA Coordinates (GDA94) |
No. | LATITUDE S | LONGITUDE E | COMMENTS |
01 | 38° 16’ 23.21” | 148° 42’ 57.63” | |
02 | 38° 16’ 39.42” | 148° 42’ 58.01” | MANTA-2A, CNTR 500m RAD. |
03 | 38° 16’ 47.27” | 148° 43’ 16.02” | |
04 | 38° 17’ 00.48” | 148° 43’ 06.75” | |
05 | 38° 17’ 26.45” | 148° 43’ 07.36” | |
06 | 38° 17’ 23.47” | 148° 43’ 25.02” | |
07 | 38° 17’ 42.50” | 148° 43’ 30.18” | SAME AS 14, CNTR 600m RAD. |
08 | 38° 17’ 48.32” | 148° 43’ 53.75” | |
09 | 38° 18’ 02.21” | 148° 43’ 48.23” | |
10 | 38° 18’ 10.86” | 148° 43’ 50.38” | |
11 | 38° 18’ 12.72” | 148° 43’ 38.26” | CNTR 300m RAD. |
12 | 38° 18’ 14.59” | 148° 43’ 26.14” | |
13 | 38° 18’ 01.11” | 148° 43’ 22.79” | |
14 | 38° 17’ 42.50” | 148° 43’ 30.18” | SAME AS 07 |
15 | 38° 17’ 45.32” | 148° 43’ 13.44” | |
16 | 38° 18’ 01.06” | 148° 42’ 44.69” | |
17 | 38° 17’ 58.74” | 148° 42’ 24.32” | MANIFOLD, CNTR 500m RAD. |
18 | 38° 18’ 09.40” | 148° 42’ 08.80” | |
19 | 38° 17’ 48.07” | 148° 41’ 45.23” | |
20 | 38° 17’ 37.42” | 148° 42’ 00.75” | CNTR 500m RAD. |
21 | 38° 17’ 32.15” | 148° 41’ 41.28” | |
22 | 38° 16’ 45.22” | 148° 42’ 01.72” | |
23 | 38° 16’ 23.42” | 148° 42’ 42.63” | |
24 | 38° 19’ 17.54” | 148° 43’ 54.70” | BASKER-6, CNTR 360m RAD. |
Note: the above are GDA94 coordinates.
Dated this 20 day of March 2014.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Jeremy Dunster
Manager Technical Services
Pursuant to the Instrument of delegation dated 09 December 2013
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 address the need for comprehensive regulation of offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage operations, ensuring environmental protection and safety. This Act provides a framework for the management of these activities, including the establishment of safety zones to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of personnel and operations. The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) is responsible for implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Act, with a policy objective to balance the development of offshore resources with environmental sustainability and safety. The Act facilitates the establishment of safety zones around petroleum operations, as evidenced by the prohibition notices issued by NOPSEMA to regulate vessel entry and ensure operational safety.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the exploration, production, storage, and transportation of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities in Australian waters, including the Commonwealth territorial sea, the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, and the Australian continental shelf. The Act establishes a framework for the regulation and oversight of these activities to ensure environmental protection, safety, and the responsible management of resources. It applies to all persons, entities, and activities involved in these processes, including operators, licensees, and other stakeholders. The Act's jurisdictional reach extends to the Commonwealth, with specific provisions that may also involve state and territory authorities in areas of concurrent jurisdiction. The Act allows for the establishment of safety zones and the prohibition of entry into these zones to ensure the safety of operations and personnel. Exclusions or exemptions from the Act’s application may exist for certain activities or entities, often defined through subordinate instruments or specific provisions within the Act itself.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) relevant to the petroleum safety zone are sections 615 and 616. Section 615(1) of Division 1 of Part 6.6 of the Act allows NOPSEMA to exercise powers to enter, inspect, and authorise persons to enter a petroleum safety zone. Section 616 of the Act prohibits any vessel from entering or being present in a petroleum safety zone without the written consent of NOPSEMA. These sections establish the framework within which NOPSEMA can designate and enforce compliance with the safety zones.
The Act imposes several obligations on parties and entities governed by it. Firstly, it requires NOPSEMA to establish safety zones around specified petroleum infrastructure, such as wellheads and flowlines, to ensure the safety and environmental protection of offshore operations. Secondly, it mandates that vessels other than those under the control of the registered holder of the lease or operated by authorised persons must not enter these safety zones without NOPSEMA's consent. This prohibition aims to prevent unauthorised activities that could compromise safety or the environment. Thirdly, the Act requires the owner and the person in command or in charge of a vessel to ensure compliance with the prohibition on entering the safety zone, thereby assigning accountability to individuals and entities operating vessels.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act can result in serious offences and penalties. Specifically, any person who contravenes the prohibition on entering a petroleum safety zone without consent, as outlined in section 616, commits an offence. The penalties for such offences vary based on the nature of the breach. For an intentional breach, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to 15 years. For reckless breaches, the maximum penalty is up to 12.5 years. If the breach is due to negligence, the maximum penalty is up to 10 years. Lastly, for offences of strict liability, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to 5 years. These penalties underscore the seriousness with which the Act treats non-compliance with safety zone regulations.