Variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL1 (Barracouta to Shore)

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2018G00584 In force Gazette

Legislation content

 

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

 

Sections 226, 264 and 708

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006

 

VARIATION OF PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL1

(BARRACOUTA TO SHORE)

 

I, STEVEN ROBERT TAYLOR, Delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority hereby vary Pipeline Licence VIC/PL1, dated 25 August 1988 (the Licence), for which:

 

BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd.

(ABN 29 004 228 004)

 

Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd

(ABN 62 091 829 819)

 

are the registered titleholders, as set out below.

 

The variation takes effect on the day on which a notice of the variation is published in the Commonwealth Government Gazette.

 

Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
of the Commonwealth of Australia

 

STEVEN ROBERT TAYLOR

DELEGATE OF THE TITLES ADMINISTRATOR

ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH–VICTORIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY

 

 


  1. The text of the Renewal of Pipeline Licence on Page 1 is varied by:

 

a)        deleting the words:

 

“and subject to the conditions set out hereunder”

 

b)        deleting the words:

 

“the renewal of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL1, to have effect for a period of twenty-one years from and including the 25th day of August 1988”.

 

and replacing with:

 

“the renewal of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL1, in the offshore area of Victoria, subject to:

 

a)     the conditions set out in this licence;

b)     the provisions of the Act; and

c)      the provisions of the Regulations;

 

to construct and operate a pipeline for the conveyance of petroleum, of the design, size and capacity specified herein, along the route specified herein, in relation to the seabed specified herein, and to operate the pumping stations, tank stations and valve stations specified in the positions herein, to have effect from and including the 25th day of August 1988.
 

The licensee shall at all times comply with the provisions of the Act and Regulations (as amended from time to time).

 

2.      The ‘INTERPRETATION’ on Page 2 of the Licence is varied by deleting the current text under the heading ‘INTERPRETATION’

 

and

 

substituting under the heading the following:

“In this document:

 

“the Act” means the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, and includes any Act with which that Act is incorporated, and words used in this document have the same respective meanings as in the Act.

 

“the Regulations” means regulations made under the Act.

 

“Pipeline” has the meaning given in the Act.

 

3.      The FIRST SCHEDULE of the Licence is varied by deleting the current text below the heading ‘FIRST SCHEDULE’, ‘ROUTE OF PIPELINE’

 

and

 

substituting under the heading the following:

 

The route of the pipeline is described in the table below, and displayed in the map below, commencing at the pipeline pig launcher at the Barracouta platform and proceeding in a straight line, with some minor deflections towards a point which intersects the boundary of Commonwealth offshore waters at the 3 nautical mile limit at or about Easting 543223 m and Northing 5770767 m. Coordinates are based on Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).

 

ID

DESCRIPTION

EASTING

NORTHING

0

Launcher at Barracouta Platform

559101

5761058

1

Barracouta Platform

558974

5760899

2

Deflection point

559097

5761057

C1

Crossing at VIC/SL7 (TWA65)

559102

5761058

C2

Crossing at VIC/PL23 (TWA200)

559094

5761058

3

Deflection point

559070

5761068

4

Deflection point

558832

5761132

5

Deflection point

555961

5762952

6

Deflection point

553792

5764203

7

Deflection point

547797

5767982

8

Deflection point

544640

5769898

9

Deflection point

544275

5770058

10

3 Nautical Mile Point

543223

5770767

 

Coordinate set above is based on GDA94 / MGA Zone 55, survey of pipeline centreline.

4.      The SECOND SCHEDULE of the Licence is varied by:

 

a)      deleting the current text under Part I Specification, Section (A) Design

 

and

 

substituting under the heading Section (A) Design the following:

 

“The pipeline design is based on the following parameters –

(a)   one 450 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of liquid hydrocarbons;

(b)   a flow rate of 6.2 million standard cubic metres (219 million standard cubic feet) per day of gaseous hydrocarbons;

(c)   an internal maximum design pressure of 12,514 kPag (1815 psig);

(d)   a specific gravity of 1.34 for the 450 mm (18 inch) weight coated pipeline (including contents);

(e)   a pipeline length of approximately 18.9 km.”

 

b)     deleting from Part I Specification, Section (B) Materials of Construction, the words:

 

“The materials used in the pipeline shall meet the following specifications-”

 

c)      deleting the current text under Part I Specification, Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (i) Steel Pipe

 

and

 

substituting under the heading subsection (i) Steel Pipe the following:

 

“The line pipe shall be in accordance with the requirements of the American Petroleum Institute Specification – API X-52 sour service seamless carbon steel, and except for the riser pipework, the pipeline shall have the dimensions 457 mm O.D. x 12.7 mm W.T.

 

The said riser pipework shall be API X‑52 sour service seamless carbon steel pipe and have the dimensions 457 mm O.D. x 19.1 mm W.T.”

 

d)     deleting Part I Specification, Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (ii), Valves and Fittings

 

e)      deleting the current text under Part I Specification, Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (iii) Protective Coating:

 

and

 

substituting under the heading subsection (iii) Protective Coating the following:

 

“The line pipe shall be protected by a coating of Coal Tar Enamel to a thickness of not less than 2.38 mm and spirally wrapped with one ply of 6.81 kg (15 lb) coal tar saturated wrap and in accordance with the Esso Australia Limited Protective Coatings Specifications accompanying the original pipeline licence application.

 

Protection of the riser pipework shall be maintained with a coating in accordance with the coating specification No. 4.3 – Protective Coatings for Onshore Plants, Offshore Platforms and other Marine Structures. Each riser shall be protected by a 12.7 mm thick carbon steel and a 5 mm thick Monel sleeve.”

 

f)       amending the numbering of Part I Specification, Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (iii) Protective Coating to be:

 

“(ii) Protective Coating”

 

g)     amending the numbering of Part I Specification, Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (iv) Weight Coating to be:

 

“(iii) Weight Coating”

 

h)     deleting Part I Specification, Section (C) Connection to Pipeline, Pipeline Scraper Sender

 

i)       amending the numbering of Part I Specification, Section (D) Cathodic Protection to be:

 

“(C) Cathodic Protection”

 

j)       deleting Part I Specification, Section (E) Pressure Control

 

k)     deleting all Part II Further Conditions, Sections A to E.

 

The rest of the Second Schedule remains as stated in the licence instrument dated 25 August 1988.

 

The variation takes effect on the day on which a notice of the variation is published in the Commonwealth Government Gazette.

 

Made under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
of the Commonwealth of Australia

 

STEVEN ROBERT TAYLOR

DELEGATE OF THE TITLES ADMINISTRATOR

ON BEHALF OF THE COMMONWEALTH–VICTORIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY

 

 

Overview

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to provide a framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage in Australia. This legislation was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive regulatory system that ensures the sustainable and environmentally responsible development of offshore petroleum resources while also facilitating the storage of greenhouse gases. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of Australia, with the policy objective of balancing the economic benefits of offshore petroleum activities with the need to protect the marine environment and public interest. The Act empowers the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator and the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority to issue licences and manage the offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities within Australian jurisdiction. This specific variation of the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL1 under the Act is aimed at updating and clarifying the terms and conditions of the pipeline operations, ensuring compliance with the Act and its regulations, and maintaining the integrity and safety of the pipeline infrastructure.

Scope and Application

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, under which the variation of the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL1 has been made, applies to the persons and entities engaged in the offshore petroleum activities and the greenhouse gas storage activities in Australia. Specifically, this Act applies to the licensees, BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. and Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, who are the registered titleholders of the pipeline licence in question. The Act encompasses the regulation of the construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore pipelines for the conveyance of petroleum and greenhouse gas storage, ensuring that these activities comply with the provisions of the Act and its regulations. The geographic reach of this legislation is within the Commonwealth offshore waters, specifically in the offshore area of Victoria, extending from the Barracouta platform to the shore. The Act’s provisions apply nationally, as it is a Commonwealth Act, but its specific application here pertains to offshore Victoria. The variation does not introduce any new exclusions or exemptions; rather, it refines the conditions under which the pipeline operations can occur, ensuring they align with updated regulatory standards. The Act allows for further extension or restriction of its application through subordinate instruments such as regulations, which can provide additional detail and specificity to the operational requirements of the pipeline licence.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the variation to the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL1 involve several key changes. Firstly, the variation removes the phrase "and subject to the conditions set out hereunder" and replaces it with a new set of conditions that include compliance with the Act and Regulations (Section 226). Secondly, the variation replaces the renewal period of the licence, which was originally set for twenty-one years from 25 August 1988, with a new clause that specifies the licence renewal in the offshore area of Victoria, subject to certain conditions and provisions (Section 264). Lastly, the variation alters the First and Second Schedules of the licence to reflect updated details concerning the pipeline's route and design specifications (Section 708). The obligations imposed by this variation require the licensees, BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. and Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, to adhere strictly to the new conditions set forth in the Act and Regulations, as well as to the provisions of the Regulations. The licensees must also ensure that the pipeline is constructed and operated in accordance with the updated design parameters and materials specifications outlined in the varied licence. This includes the use of specific pipeline materials and protective coatings, as well as compliance with the pipeline's designated route and operational parameters. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, or with the terms and conditions of the varied licence, can lead to various legal consequences. Under the Act, breaches may result in the imposition of fines and other penalties. For instance, Section 226 outlines the penalties for non-compliance, which can include substantial fines for individuals and corporations. The exact amount of these fines can vary based on the severity and nature of the breach, but they are designed to enforce compliance and deter non-compliance. Additionally, persistent or severe breaches could potentially lead to the suspension or revocation of the pipeline licence, further impacting the operations of the licensees.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.