COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Section 271
Section 708
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
SURRENDER OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATION PERMIT WA-214-P
I, JOANNE JENNIFER BELL, Delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth-Western Australia Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority hereby give notice of the surrender of the whole of Petroleum Exploration Permit
WA-214-P as described by the blocks hereunder, of which
Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd
(ACN 009 140 854)
Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd
(ACN 000 670 575)
are the registered titleholders.
DESCRIPTION OF BLOCKS
The reference hereunder is to the name of the map sheet of the 1:1,000,000 series prepared and published for the purposes of the Act and to the numbers of graticular sections shown thereon.
Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)
Block No. | Block No. |
304 | 587 |
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.
JOANNE JENNIFER BELL DELEGATE OF THE TITLES ADMINISTRATOR
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH-WESTERN AUSTRALIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to provide a regulatory framework for the exploration and production of offshore petroleum and the storage of greenhouse gases in Australia. This legislation was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive regulatory system governing the exploration and production of offshore petroleum resources, as well as the storage of greenhouse gases, ensuring both environmental protection and the efficient use of natural resources. The policy objective of the Act is to facilitate the responsible development of Australia's offshore petroleum resources while minimising the environmental impact and ensuring the safe and sustainable storage of greenhouse gases. The enactment of this Act aimed to fill the gap in existing legislation that did not adequately address the complexities and environmental considerations associated with offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to all offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities within the Australian offshore area, which includes the territorial sea, the continental shelf, and the extended continental shelf of Australia as determined under the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973. The Act applies to various entities, including permit holders, licensees, and other operators involved in exploration, production, and storage activities of petroleum and greenhouse gas. It governs the conduct and transactions related to the exploration, production, storage, and transportation of these resources. The Act's jurisdiction extends to Commonwealth waters, and its application can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as regulations and determinations made under the Act.
The Act applies to specific entities, including Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd, who are the registered titleholders of the surrendered Petroleum Exploration Permit WA-214-P. The Act outlines the process for the surrender of such permits, which is demonstrated in the notice of surrender of Permit WA-214-P, involving specific blocks in the Hamersley Range as described in the Map Sheet SF50. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in the notice of surrender itself, but the Act may provide for such provisions in other sections or through subordinate instruments. The notice of surrender takes effect on the day it appears in the Australian Government Gazette, marking the official commencement of the surrender process.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, in this context, pertain to the surrender of Petroleum Exploration Permits. Specifically, section 708 outlines the procedure for surrendering a permit, while section 271 provides the authority for the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, through their delegate, to issue such notices. The Act mandates that the surrender of a permit, such as Petroleum Exploration Permit WA-214-P, must be formally notified by the delegate of the Titles Administrator and the Commonwealth-Western Australia Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority. This notice must detail the permit being surrendered and the registered titleholders, which, in this case, are Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd. The surrender becomes effective on the date it appears in the Australian Government Gazette.
The Act imposes certain obligations on the parties involved, particularly the titleholders of the surrendered permit. These obligations include ensuring that the surrender is properly notified and documented. The titleholders must cooperate with the Titles Administrator and the Joint Authority to facilitate the surrender process. Additionally, they are required to comply with all relevant provisions of the Act, including any environmental or safety regulations associated with the permit.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 can result in significant consequences. The Act provides for both civil and criminal penalties for breaches. Civil penalties may include fines, and in some cases, the permit may be revoked. Criminal offences, which can be prosecuted under the Act, may result in imprisonment. The maximum penalties vary depending on the nature and severity of the breach, but they are designed to ensure strict compliance with the Act's provisions to protect both the environment and the interests of the Commonwealth and the states.