NOTICE: A795110
VARIATION OF A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE – NOTICE A795110 – INPEX OPERATIONS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Commonwealth of Australia OFFSHORE PETROLEUM AND GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE ACT 2006 PROHIBITION OF ENTRY INTO A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE | |
I, Percy Dhanbhoora, 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 the registered operator of CPF Ichthys Explorer 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 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-1D | 13° 54’ 03.17” | 123° 16’ 22.93” |
BDC-2 | 13° 56’ 40.25” | 123° 12’ 36.55” |
BDC-3 | 13° 58’ 00.50” | 123° 08’ 41.64” |
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 |
|
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)
- Subsea infrastructure supporting and connecting flexibles to the permanently moored Floating, Storage and Offtake Facility (FPSO) turret (from CPF)
- Flexible Risers connecting Flowlines to CPF topsides, supported at mid- length by 130m tall Riser Support Structure (RSS)
- FLETs connecting seabed flexible section of condensate transfer line which rises to the FPSO turret via MDB to rigid lines
- 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 |
Figure 2 – Ichthys Production Facilities Petroleum Safety Zone Boundary
The safety zone will be valid from 27 May 2021 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.
REVOCATION OF A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE
The previous Notice A784948 dated 27 May 2021, which appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Government Gazette on 8 June 2021, C2021G00414, is revoked as at 9 August 2021.
Dated this 9th day of August 2021.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Percy Dhanbhoora, A/Manager – Assessment and Inspection
Pursuant to the Instrument of delegation dated 14 May 2021
National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to regulate the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gases in Australia's offshore areas. The Act aims to ensure that offshore petroleum activities are conducted safely and with minimal environmental impact. It establishes the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to oversee compliance with safety and environmental standards. This legislation was introduced to address the need for stringent regulatory frameworks governing offshore activities, particularly in light of the potential risks to the environment and human safety. The policy objective of the Act is to protect the marine environment, ensure the safety of offshore operations, and promote efficient and sustainable development of offshore resources.
The gazetted notice issued under the Act prohibits unauthorised vessels from entering a specified petroleum safety zone around the Brewster Drill Centres and the Ichthys production facilities, extending 500 metres from the outer edges of these areas. This prohibition is intended to safeguard the integrity of the offshore infrastructure and to prevent incidents that could lead to environmental damage or endanger personnel. The notice outlines the severe penalties for unauthorised entry into these zones, reflecting the seriousness with which breaches of safety regulations are treated. The safety zone remains in effect until revoked by a subsequent notice, underscoring the dynamic nature of offshore safety management in response to operational changes and evolving risks.
Scope and Application
The notice A795110 issued by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) under section 616 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 aims to establish a petroleum safety zone around specific areas associated with the Ichthys project operated by INPEX Operations Australia Pty Ltd. This prohibition applies to all vessels that are not under the control of the registered operator of the CPF Ichthys Explorer or vessels operated by authorised persons exercising powers under section 615(1) of Division 1 of Part 6.6 of the Act. The safety zone extends to a distance of 500 metres from the outer edge of the specified drill centres and equipment, as detailed in Tables 1 and 2 and shown in Figures 1 and 2. The safety zone is in place from 27 May 2021 and will remain in effect until revoked by a notice published in the gazette. Violation of this prohibition is an offence, with penalties including imprisonment, varying in duration based on the nature of the breach. This notice also revokes the previous Notice A784948 dated 27 May 2021, which was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Government Gazette on 8 June 2021.
Key Provisions
Under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, the primary operative section in this notice (section 616) prohibits any vessel other than those under the control of the registered operator of CPF Ichthys Explorer and vessels operated by authorised persons exercising powers under section 615(1) from entering or being present in the designated petroleum safety zone. This safety zone extends to a distance of 500 metres from each point of the outer edge of the Brewster Drill Centres and the equipment and structures within the area identified by coordinates in Table 2. The prohibition is intended to ensure the safety and environmental protection of the petroleum operations being conducted in these areas.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the parties and entities governed by this notice. Vessels other than those specified in the notice are strictly prohibited from entering the safety zone without written consent from NOPSEMA. This requirement aims to prevent unauthorised access that could compromise the safety and integrity of the operations taking place within the safety zone. The safety zone boundaries are clearly defined, and the coordinates provided in Table 1 and Table 2 offer precise geographical locations for compliance purposes.
Breaching the prohibition outlined in this notice carries significant legal consequences. Under section 616 of the Act, both the owner of an unauthorised vessel and the person in command or in charge of the vessel are liable for an offence. The penalties vary depending on the nature of the breach, with maximum imprisonment terms ranging from five to fifteen years. If the breach is intentional, the maximum penalty is fifteen years; for recklessness, it is twelve and a half years; for negligence, it is ten years; and for strict liability offences, it is five years. These severe penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the safety zone regulations to protect the safety and environmental considerations of the petroleum operations.