| Notice: A443819 | |
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Commonwealth of Australia OFFSHORE PETROLEUM AND GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE ACT 2006 REVOCATION OF A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE |
I, Gavin Guyan, a representative of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority [NOPSEMA], hereby revoke the Notice which appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Government Gazette on 28 March 2014, Gazette Number C2014G00516, in relation to the Prohibition of Entry into a Safety Zone established in VIC/ L26. Revocation effective as of 15 October 2015.
Dated this 7th day of October 2015.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Gavin Guyan, Head of Division - Safety & Integrity
Pursuant to the Instrument of delegation dated 14 May 2015
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, Gavin Guyan, 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 Cooper Energy 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 flowline locations as represented in the following drawing and coordinate table.
The petroleum safety zone will be valid from 15 October 2015 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. |
Dated this 7th day of October 2015.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Gavin Guyan, Head of Division - Safety & Integrity
Pursuant to the Instrument of delegation dated 14 May 2015
National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to address the need for stringent safety and environmental management standards in the offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage industries in Australia. This legislation provides a comprehensive framework for regulating these industries, ensuring that activities are conducted in a manner that protects the health and safety of personnel, prevents environmental harm, and promotes efficient resource use. The Act was introduced by the Commonwealth Parliament to address regulatory gaps in offshore petroleum activities, particularly in relation to safety and environmental management. The policy objective of the Act is to establish a robust regulatory regime that balances the need for economic activity with the protection of the environment and public safety.
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 empowers the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to implement and enforce regulations. NOPSEMA is responsible for ensuring that operators comply with safety and environmental standards, including the establishment of safety zones where necessary. The Act includes provisions for the prohibition of entry into designated safety zones, as seen in the revocation and prohibition notices issued under section 616 of the Act. These measures are designed to prevent unauthorised vessels from entering areas where safety and operational integrity are critical, thereby mitigating risks associated with offshore petroleum activities.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to entities and individuals involved in offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage operations within the Commonwealth of Australia. This Act mandates the establishment of safety zones to protect the integrity of offshore operations and ensure the safety of personnel. The Act's jurisdiction extends to Australian offshore areas, as defined by the Act, encompassing both state and Commonwealth waters. The Act also empowers the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to issue notices regarding safety zones, as seen in the example where a safety zone around specific offshore infrastructure is established and later revoked. The Act allows for exclusions and exemptions through subordinate instruments, providing flexibility in its application. Violation of the safety zone restrictions can result in substantial penalties, including imprisonment, depending on the nature of the breach.
Key Provisions
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, as referenced in the notice published in the Commonwealth of Australia Government Gazette on 28 March 2014, includes provisions for the establishment of petroleum safety zones to ensure the safety of offshore petroleum activities. Section 616 of the Act allows the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to prohibit entry into designated safety zones to prevent unauthorised activities that could endanger lives, property, or the environment. The notice, which was effective until revoked, established a safety zone around specific offshore infrastructure, including the Basker-Manta-Gummy Field Infrastructure, the Basker-6 wellhead, and exposed flowlines, each with specific radii measured from the outer edges of these points.
Under this legislation, NOPSEMA has imposed obligations on parties involved in offshore petroleum activities. The primary obligation is to comply with the prohibition of entry into the specified safety zones without written consent from NOPSEMA. This requirement is intended to ensure that only authorised personnel and vessels, specifically those under the control of Cooper Energy Limited or operated by persons exercising powers under the Act, can access the safety zone. Such authorisation is contingent upon adherence to stringent safety protocols and procedures that mitigate risks associated with offshore petroleum operations.
The Act outlines severe penalties for breaches of the safety zone prohibition. If an unauthorised vessel enters or remains in the safety zone, the owner and the person in command or in charge of the vessel can be held liable under Section 616 of the Act. The penalties vary based on the nature of the breach, ranging from strict liability to intentional actions. For strict liability breaches, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to five years. If the breach is deemed reckless, the penalty increases to imprisonment for up to 12.5 years. For negligent breaches, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to 10 years, and for intentional breaches, the maximum penalty is imprisonment for up to 15 years. These stringent penalties underscore the importance of compliance with the safety regulations to protect the integrity of offshore petroleum activities.