NOTICE: A1261754
VARIATION OF A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE – NOTICE A1261754 – ESSO AUSTRALIA RESOURCES PTY LTD - VIC/L5 & VIC/L3 - HALIBUT 1 AND MARLIN 1 WELLS
Commonwealth of Australia OFFSHORE PETROLEUM AND GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE ACT 2006 PROHIBITION OF ENTRY INTO A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE |
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I, Rafael Flores, 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 (the Act), hereby prohibit all vessels other than vessels under the control of the registered holders of VIC/L5 & VIC/L3 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 safety zone without the consent in writing of NOPSEMA.
This petroleum safety zone extends to a distance of 500 metres, measured from each point of the outer edge of the wells known as the Halibut 1 (latitude 38° 23' 51.92" South, longitude 148° 18' 56.81" East*) and Marlin 1 (latitude 38° 13' 53.95" South, longitude 148° 13' 32.14" East*).
*Note: the above are GDA94 coordinates.
The safety zone will be valid from:
- 29 September 2025 to 30 November 2025 for Halibut 1
- 30 October 2025 to 19 December 2025 for Marlin 1
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.
REVOCATION OF A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE
The previous Variation Notice A1238552 dated 14 July 2025, which appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Government Gazette on 15 July 2025, Gazette Number C2025G00356, is revoked as at 29 September 2025.
Dated this 26 day of September 2025.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Rafael Flores, Director – A/g Exploration & Development Safety
Pursuant to the Instrument of delegation dated 31 January 2024
National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority