NOTICE: A864944
VARIATION OF A PETROLEUM SAFETY ZONE – NOTICE A864944 – BEACH ENERGY (OPERATIONS) LIMITED – TITLE AREA T/L2
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 titleholder of T/L2 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 title area T/L2 wells, structure and equipment as described in Table 1 and shown in Figure 1 herein.
Petroleum Safety Zone Centres (GDA94) |
ID Point | Latitude | Longitude |
PSZ 1 | 39° 12’ 01.459” S | 142° 51' 39.622" E |
PSZ 2 | 39° 12’ 15.151” S | 142° 52’ 35.932” E |
PSZ 3 | 39° 12’ 21.013” S | 142° 52’ 46.498” E |
PSZ 4 | 39° 13’ 12.766” S | 142° 53’ 35.499” E |
PSZ 5 | 39° 14’ 04.513” S | 142° 54’ 24.521” E |
PSZ 6 | 39° 14’ 01.210” S | 142° 53’ 55.140” E |
PSZ 7 | 39° 14’ 24.102” S | 142° 53’ 51.293” E |
PSZ 8 | 39° 13’ 45.473” S | 142° 53’ 12.570” E |
PSZ 9 | 39° 13’ 06.841” S | 142° 52’ 33.858” E |
PSZ 10 | 39° 13’ 36.365” S | 142° 52’ 04.445” E |
PSZ 11 | 39° 13’ 26.208” S | 142° 51’ 30.135” E |
PSZ 12 | 39° 13’ 36.311” S | 142° 50’ 23.061” E |
PSZ 13 | 39° 13’ 23.470” S | 142° 49’ 58.632” E |
PSZ 14 | 39° 13’ 04.472” S | 142° 50’ 15.143” E |
PSZ 15 | 39° 12’ 58.255” S | 142° 50’ 56.483” E |
PSZ 16 | 39° 12’ 52.034” S | 142° 51’ 37.820” E |
PSZ 17 | 39° 12’ 55.572” S | 142° 51’ 49.770” E |
PSZ 18 | 39° 12’ 41.361” S | 142° 52’ 03.928” E |
PSZ 19 | 39° 12’ 32.408” S | 142° 51’ 27.175” E |
PSZ 20 | 39° 12’ 12.092” S | 142° 51’ 13.514” E |
Table 1 – T/L2 wells, flowlines, umbilicals, and subsea infrastructure Petroleum safety zones
Figure 1 - T/L2 wells, flowlines, umbilicals, and subsea infrastructure Petroleum Safety Zones
The safety zone will be valid from 30 September 2022 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 A771296 dated 02 March 2021, which appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Government Gazette on 04 March 2021, Gazette number C2021G00174, is revoked as at 30 September 2022
Dated this 23rd day of August 2022.
Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Percy Dhanbhoora
Pursuant to the Instrument of delegation dated 02 August 2022
National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to establish a regulatory framework for the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gas in Australian waters. This legislation was introduced to address the need for stringent safety and environmental management practices in the offshore petroleum industry, ensuring that operations are conducted in a manner that minimises risks to human health, safety, and the environment. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of Australia, with the policy objective of maintaining high safety and environmental standards in offshore petroleum activities. The Act empowers the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to implement regulations and safety measures, including the establishment of petroleum safety zones to control access and mitigate potential hazards.
Under this Act, NOPSEMA has the authority to prohibit unauthorised vessels from entering designated safety zones around offshore petroleum operations. This is evident in the recent notice issued by Percy Dhanbhoora, a representative of NOPSEMA, prohibiting vessels from entering a specified petroleum safety zone around the T/L2 title area without written consent. The safety zone extends to a distance of 500 metres from the outer edges of the wells, structure, and equipment. The notice also outlines the severe penalties for unauthorised entry, reflecting the Act's commitment to enforcing stringent safety protocols. The safety zone is effective from 30 September 2022 and will remain in place until revoked, highlighting the ongoing need for regulatory oversight in offshore petroleum activities.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, administered by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), governs the management and safety of petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities in Australia's offshore areas. This Act applies to all entities involved in offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities, including operators and service providers, and regulates their conduct, operations, and transactions. The geographic scope of the Act is national, extending to Australian offshore areas, and it includes provisions for the establishment and management of safety zones to protect the integrity of petroleum infrastructure and the safety of personnel. The Act also provides for the imposition of penalties and enforcement actions against non-compliance. The application of the Act can be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as notices and regulations, which may specify particular operational requirements, safety measures, or exclusions within the safety zones. In this case, the Notice A864944 specifies the parameters of a petroleum safety zone around the T/L2 title area, prohibiting unauthorised vessels from entering without written consent from NOPSEMA.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 in this context are sections 615 and 616. Section 615(1) of the Act provides authority for the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) to designate a petroleum safety zone around specific offshore petroleum operations. Section 616 prohibits unauthorised vessels from entering or remaining in the designated safety zone without written consent from NOPSEMA. This prohibition is in place to ensure the safety of personnel and the integrity of the operations within the zone.
The Act imposes specific obligations on parties and entities operating within or near the designated safety zone. The owner and the person in command or in charge of any vessel must ensure that their vessel does not enter or remain in the safety zone without the requisite written consent from NOPSEMA. This is a stringent requirement to maintain safety and operational integrity. The safety zone extends to a distance of 500 metres from the outer edge of the specified title area T/L2, as described in Table 1 and shown in Figure 1 of the notice. Entities must take detailed and precise measures to avoid entering this zone without authorisation.
Failure to comply with the prohibitions outlined in Section 616 of the Act can result in severe penalties. If a vessel enters or remains in the safety zone without authorisation, both the owner and the person in command or in charge of the vessel are guilty of an offence. The penalties vary based on the nature of the breach, with maximum penalties being: not exceeding 15 years for intentional breaches, not exceeding 12.5 years for reckless breaches, not exceeding 10 years for negligent breaches, and not exceeding 5 years for strict liability breaches. These stringent penalties underscore the importance of adhering to the safety zone regulations to prevent any risk to operations and personnel.