Variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL13 (Snapper to 3nm Pipeline)

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2020G00420 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/PL13

(SNAPPER TO 3NM PIPELINE)

 

I, GRAEME ALBERT WATERS, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority hereby vary Pipeline Licence VIC/PL13, dated 30 August 1996 (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

 

 

 

GRAEME ALBERT WATERS

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/PL13, to have effect for a period of twenty-one years from and including the 30th day of August 1996.”

 

and replacing with:

 

“the renewal of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL13, 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 30th day of August 1996.

 

The licensee shall at all times comply with the provisions of the Act and Regulations (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; and

 

“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 Snapper to 3nm Gas Pipeline is described in the table below, and displayed in the map below, commencing at the downstream flange of the Last Valve Off (LVO) at the Snapper 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 564879.01 m and Northing 5789319.76 m.

 

Coordinates are based on Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).

 

 

ID

DESCRIPTION

EASTING

NORTHING

1

LVO Snapper Manifold

589787.75

5772162.94

2

Inflection Point 01

589779.30

5772161.87

3

WTA200 Gas Pipeline Crossing

589774.90

5772176.86

4

MLB450 Gas Pipeline Crossing

589773.96

5772180.13

5

WTA250 Oil Pipeline Crossing

589772.94

5772183.70

6

Inflection Point 02

589760.51

5772227.06

7

Inflection Point 03

589701.04

5772569.93

8

Inflection Point 04

590063.88

5775031.70

9

Inflection Point 05

579919.22

5779006.66

10

3 Nautical Mile Limit Crossing

564879.01

5789319.76

 

Coordinate set above is based on GDA/94 / MGA Zone 55, survey of pipeline centreline.

 

 

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

 

a)        deleting the current text under SPECIFICATION, Section (A) Design

 

and

 

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

 

“The pipeline design is based on the following parameters –

 

(a)   a 600 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of natural gas, condensate and crude oil;

(b)   a flow rate of 18.83 MMsm3/d (665 MMscf/d) of natural gas and condensate or 159 sm3/d (1000 bbl/d) of crude oil;

(c)   an internal design pressure of 11,030 kPag;

(d)   a design temperature of 93⁰C;

(e)   a specific gravity of 1.3 for the 50 mm weight coated pipeline;

(f)     a pipeline length of 36.6 km.”

 

b)        deleting from SPECIFICATION, Section (B) Materials of Construction;

 

“The materials used in any repair, addition or alternation to the pipeline shall conform to the following specifications –”

 

c)        deleting the current text under 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 Spec 5L, 38th Edition 1990 for Grade X60 submerged arc welded pipe and Esso Australia Limited Supplemental pipe specification accompanying the pipeline licence application, and except for the riser pipe shall have the dimensions 610 mm O.D. and 15.9 mm W.T. The said riser pipe shall have the dimensions 620 mm O.D. and 19.05 mm W.T.”

 

d)        deleting SPECFICATION, Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (ii) Valves and Fittings

 

e)        deleting the current text under SPECIFICATION, Section (B) Material 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 2.50 mm.

 

In the splash zones, the risers are wrapped in a carbon steel sleeve and a 5 mm thick Monel sheath. Heat shrink sleeves are installed over the ends of the sleeve to seal out moisture. Below the splash zone, the riser is coated with a 6mm thick Acalor coating in accordance with Esso specification for offshore structures.”

 

f)         amending the numbering of SPECIFICATION, Section (B) Material of Construction, subsection (iii) Protective Coating to be:

 

“(ii) Protective Coating”

 

g)        amending the numbering of SPECIFICATION, Section (B) Material of Construction, subsection (iv) Weight Coating to be:

 

“(iii) Weight Coating”

 

h)        deleting SPECIFICATION, Section (C) Connection to Pipeline

 

i)          amending the numbering of SPECIFICATION, Section (D) Cathodic Protection to be:

 

“(C) Cathodic Protection”

 

j)          deleting SPECIFICATION, Section (E) Pressure Control

 

k)        deleting all Part II FURTHER CONDITIONS, Sections (A) to (E).

 

Overview

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to regulate the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gas in offshore areas of Australia, aiming to ensure these activities are conducted in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. This Act addresses the need for a comprehensive legal framework governing offshore petroleum activities, ensuring that they are managed efficiently and sustainably while protecting the interests of both the industry and the environment. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of Australia, reflecting the policy objective to balance economic benefits with environmental protection and safety. The legislation provides the necessary legal authority for the regulation of offshore petroleum activities, including the issuance and variation of pipeline licenses, as seen in the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL13, which allows for the continued operation of the Snapper to 3nm pipeline under updated conditions and specifications.

Scope and Application

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, under which this variation is made, applies to the regulation of offshore petroleum activities, including the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gas in Australian waters. The Act governs the granting of licences for offshore petroleum activities and sets out the terms and conditions under which these activities can be carried out. In this specific case, the Act applies to the renewal and variation of the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL13, which permits the construction and operation of a pipeline for the conveyance of petroleum in the offshore area of Victoria. The Act's jurisdiction extends to the Commonwealth offshore area, including Victoria, and it includes provisions that can be incorporated into subordinate instruments such as regulations. The variation of the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL13 is subject to the conditions set out in the licence, the provisions of the Act, and any relevant regulations. The Act does not specify any exclusions or thresholds in this variation, but it does provide for compliance with both the Act and any applicable regulations.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 that pertain to this variation of the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL13 involve modifications to the licence's scope and conditions. Specifically, section 226 allows the Titles Administrator to vary a licence to ensure compliance with legislative requirements, as well as to adapt to changes in operational needs or regulatory standards. Section 264 deals with the conditions that must be met for the operation and construction of pipelines, and section 708 provides the framework for the administration and enforcement of the Act. The variation outlined in this document modifies the terms under which the pipeline licence operates, including its route, design specifications, and materials of construction. The obligations and requirements imposed on the parties governed by this Act include compliance with the Act’s provisions and the regulations made under it. The licensees, BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. and Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd., must adhere to the updated conditions set out in the licence variation. This includes ensuring that the pipeline is constructed and operated in accordance with the specified design, materials, and operational parameters, as well as meeting any additional conditions stipulated in the licence and the Act. They are also required to comply with environmental and safety regulations to mitigate any potential impacts on the marine environment and human health. The Act provides for various offences and penalties for non-compliance. Breaches of the Act or the licence conditions can result in both civil and criminal penalties. Civil penalties may include fines, while criminal penalties can include imprisonment. The maximum penalties are not explicitly stated in the document, but under the general provisions of the Act, significant fines and imprisonment terms can be imposed for serious breaches. It is also important to note that failure to comply with the Act and the licence conditions can result in the suspension or revocation of the licence, which would have severe operational and financial consequences for 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.