Variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16 (Fortescue to Halibut Pipeline)

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2020G00393 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/PL16

(FORTESCUE TO HALIBUT 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/PL16, dated 20 July 1990 (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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

  1. deleting the words:

 

“and subject to the conditions set out hereunder, grant to -”

 

b.        deleting the words:

 

“the renewal of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16, to have effect for a period of twenty-one (21) years from and including the 20th day of September 1989.”

 

and replacing with:

 

“the renewal of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16, 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 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 20th day of September 1989.
 

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 Fortescue to Halibut pipeline is described in the table below, and displayed in the map below, commencing at the flange immediately downstream of the Last Valve Off (LVO) at the Fortescue platform and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Halibut platform. Coordinates are based on Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).

 

ID

DESCRIPTION

EASTING

NORTHING

1

LVO Fortescue Manifold

611593.80

5748249.36

2

Inflection Point 01

611582.32

5748248.88

3

Inflection Point 02

611584.37

5748209.02

4

Inflection Point 03

611592.19

5748196.59

5

Inflection Point 04

611768.25

5748062.82

6

Inflection Point 05

615165.48

5748300.51

7

HLA600/650 Oil Pipeline Crossing

615228.18

5748482.05

8

Inflection Point 06

615243.79

5748520.50

9

FVO Halibut Manifold

615260.47

5748516.96

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

 

  1. 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 300 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of liquid hydrocarbons;

(b)   a flow rate of 12,874 sm3/d (0.081 MMbbl/d) of liquid hydrocarbons;

(c)   an internal maximum design pressure of 13,962 kPag (2025 psig);

(d)   a specific gravity of 1.3 for the 300 mm weight coated pipeline (excluding contents);

(e)   a pipeline length of approximately 3.903 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 Spec 5LX, 22nd Edition for Grade X52 seamless pipe and Esso Australia Limited Supplemental pipe specification accompanying the pipeline licence application, and except for the riser pipework, the pipeline shall have the dimensions 323.9 mm O.D. X 12.7 mm W.T., or other pipe.


The said riser pipework shall be API Spec. 5LX, Grade X52 seamless pipe and have the dimensions 323.8 mm O.D. X 19.01 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 fusion bonded black polyethylene having a minimum coating thickness of 2.2 mm and applied in accordance with the Esso Australia Limited specification accompanying the pipeline licence application or other coating systems.

 

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 or other systems.

 

In the splash zones, the export risers at FTA are wrapped in a 10 mm thick carbon steel sleeve and coated with a 6.00 mm thick Monel sheathing. The import riser at HLA has a 12 mm thick carbon steel sleeve and is coated with a 4.75 mm thick Monel sheathing. Below this, down to the tow coupling receiver, the risers are coated in a 6 mm thick Zebron polyurethane coating.”

 

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.

 

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 20 July 1990.

 

 

Overview

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to provide a legal framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities. This Act aimed to address the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to managing the environmental, economic, and social impacts of offshore petroleum exploration, production, and storage. It establishes the legislative basis for licensing and regulating these activities, ensuring they are conducted safely and responsibly while balancing the interests of industry, the environment, and the public. The Act includes provisions for the establishment of the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, which is responsible for the administration of pipeline licences within the offshore area of Victoria, among other duties. Under the authority granted by this Act, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, has varied Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16 to renew the licence for the Fortescue to Halibut pipeline. The variation aims to update the licence to reflect current legal requirements and conditions, ensuring continued compliance with the Act and associated regulations. The updated licence includes specific details about the pipeline's route, design, materials, and operational parameters, while also incorporating the necessary legal references and conditions under which the pipeline may be operated. This variation is intended to maintain the integrity and safety of the pipeline operations while facilitating ongoing petroleum activities within the offshore area of Victoria.

Scope and Application

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to entities involved in the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gas in Australia. Specifically, the Act governs the licensing and regulation of pipeline operations for the conveyance of petroleum in offshore areas, such as the Fortescue to Halibut pipeline mentioned in the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16. The Act extends to the Commonwealth and state/territory waters, providing a national framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum activities. The Act includes provisions that may be extended or restricted through subordinate regulations, which can specify detailed requirements and conditions for pipeline operations. The variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16, issued by the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator on behalf of the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, modifies the original licence to align with the current legal and regulatory framework established by the Act and its regulations. The variation includes changes to the licence conditions, the definition of terms used in the licence, and the specification of the pipeline's design and materials, ensuring compliance with the latest standards and requirements.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) as they pertain to the variation of the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16 are outlined in Sections 226, 264 and 708. Section 226 grants the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator the authority to vary pipeline licences, while Section 264 specifies the conditions and provisions under which the pipeline may operate. Section 708 addresses the regulatory framework, ensuring that the pipeline operations comply with the Act and any associated regulations. The obligations and requirements imposed by the Act on the entities governed by the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL16 include, but are not limited to, strict adherence to the revised specifications of the pipeline design and materials. The pipeline must now be constructed to the specifications outlined in the amended First and Second Schedules, which detail the pipeline's route, dimensions, materials, and protective coatings. The licensee must also ensure that all operations comply with the Act and the Regulations, which includes regular inspections and maintenance as required. Violations of the provisions set out in the Act or the Regulations can result in severe consequences. Under Section 264 of the Act, penalties for non-compliance can include fines and imprisonment, with maximum penalties varying depending on the severity of the breach. The specific monetary fines can be substantial, reflecting the serious nature of offshore petroleum activities and the need for stringent regulatory oversight. Furthermore, operational failures that lead to environmental damage or endanger public safety could result in additional civil liabilities and criminal charges, further emphasising the importance of strict adherence to the legislative requirements.

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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.