COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Sections 226 and 708
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
VARIATION OF PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL17
(FLOUNDER TO TUNA) (MPZV8D)
I, STEVEN ROBERT TAYLOR, the Delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority hereby vary Pipeline Licence VIC/PL17, dated 10 August 1983 (the Licence), for which:
Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd
(ACN 091 829 819)
Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd
(ACN 004 228 004)
are the registered titleholders, as set out below.
The variation takes effect on the day on which this notice of variation is published in the Australian 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
VARIATION OF
PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL17
- The FIRST SCHEDULE of the Licence is varied by deleting the current text and replacing it with the following:
FIRST SCHEDULE
ROUTE OF PIPELINE
The route of the pipeline is described in the table below, and displayed in the map below (Attachment A), commencing at the subsea cut location near the Flounder platform and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Tuna platform.
ID | Description | Easting (mE) | Northing (mN) |
1 | Subsea cut location near the Flounder platform. Flexible Pipeline – Section 1 Begin | 625864.04 | 5758705.26 |
2 | Inflection Point 02 | 625873.3 | 5758735.3 |
3 | Inflection Point 03 | 625867.5 | 5758784.4 |
4 | Inflection Point 04 | 625833.0 | 5758787.0 |
5 | Inflection Point 05 | 625786.0 | 5758799.0 |
6 | Inflection Point 06 | 625783.0 | 5758817.0 |
7 | Flexible Pipeline – Section 1 End | 625783.0 | 5758820.5 |
8 | Flexible Pipeline – Section 2 Begin | 625829.0 | 5762200.6 |
9 | Inflection Point 07 | 625829.0 | 5762223.0 |
10 | Inflection Point 08 | 625863.0 | 5762244.0 |
11 | Flexible Pipeline – Section 2 End | 625863.7 | 5762252.3 |
12 | Flexible Pipeline – Section 3 Begin | 626088.7 | 5765623.2 |
13 | Inflection Point 09 | 626086.7 | 5765652.0 |
14 | Inflection Point 10 | 626118.3 | 5765644.9 |
15 | Flexible Pipeline – Section 3 End | 626115.6 | 5765674.0 |
16 | West Tuna Fluid Umbilical Crossing | 625459.8 | 5772194.2 |
17 | KPA350 South Gas Pipeline Crossing | 625455.8 | 5772214.9 |
18 | KPA350 North Gas Pipeline Crossing | 625446.1 | 5772265.8 |
19 | West Tuna Electrical Umbilical Crossing | 625441.2 | 5772291.4 |
20 | Inflection Point 11 | 625214.0 | 5773082.0 |
21 | Inflection Point 12 | 624587.1 | 5774202.3 |
22 | Inflection Point 13 | 624365.9 | 5774389.1 |
23 | FVO Tuna Manifold | 624358.2 | 5774389.1 |
Coordinate set above is based on GDA 94/MGA Zone 55, survey of pipeline centreline
- The VIC/PL17 Pipeline Route Map is deleted and replaced with the map at Attachment A.
- The SECOND SCHEDULE of the Licence remains unchanged.
SECOND SCHEDULE
SPECIFICATIONS
(A) Design
The pipeline design is based on the following parameters –
- a 250 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons;
- a flow rate of 8000 sm3/d (0.050 MMbbl/d) of liquid hydrocarbons & 0.85 MMsm3/d (30.02 MMscf/d) of gaseous hydrocarbons;
- an internal design pressure of 13,790 kPag;
- a flexible jumper design temperature of 85⁰C;
- a specific gravity of 2.2 for the 250 mm weight coated pipeline (including contents);
- a pipeline length of approximately 16.152 km.
(B) Materials of Construction
- Steel Pipe
The line pipe shall be in accordance with the requirements of the American Petroleum Institute Specification – API Spec 5L, 38th Edition 1990 for Grade X52 seamless pipe and Esso Australia Limited Supplemental pipe specification accompanying the pipeline licence application, and the pipeline shall have the dimensions 273.1 mm O.D. and 12.7 mm W.T.
- Protective Coating
The line pipe shall be protected by a coating of Coal Tar Enamel to a thickness of not less than 3.50 mm or Fusion Bonded Epoxy corrosion coating.
Primary external corrosion protection for the pipeline is provided by a 3.5 mm Coal Tar Enamel coating.
- Weight Coating
The specification for the steel mesh reinforced weight coating and the shop application of this material to the pipe shall be in accordance with the Esso Australia Limited Protective Coatings Specifications accompanying the original pipeline licence application.
Attachment A
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to regulate the exploration, development, and production of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage in Australian waters, including the management of pipelines and other infrastructure. The Act was introduced to address the need for comprehensive regulation of offshore petroleum activities to ensure they are conducted safely, efficiently, and in an environmentally responsible manner. The policy objective of the Act is to balance the economic benefits of offshore petroleum activities with the need to protect the marine environment and ensure the safety of operations. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of Australia and provides a framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum activities by the Commonwealth government. The variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL17, made under this Act, demonstrates the regulatory powers of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, who acts on behalf of the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, to manage and control the use of infrastructure such as pipelines for offshore petroleum activities.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the offshore petroleum industry, specifically governing activities such as the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gases in Commonwealth waters. This Act is of national scope, extending its jurisdiction over the entire offshore area of Australia, including territorial seas, the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone, and the continental shelf. The Act applies to entities engaged in these activities, such as Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd, which are the registered titleholders in this case. The legislation also regulates the licensing and operational requirements of pipelines, as evidenced by the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL17, which specifies the route, design, and materials for the pipeline from the Flounder platform to the Tuna platform. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or thresholds, but it provides for the issuance of subordinate instruments to further detail the application and enforcement of the legislation. The variation of the pipeline licence is an example of how the Act extends its reach through such instruments, ensuring compliance with national standards and environmental considerations.
Key Provisions
Sections 226 and 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 provide the legal basis for varying the terms of a pipeline licence, such as the VIC/PL17 pipeline licence between the Flounder and Tuna platforms. The variation specifies the pipeline route, design parameters, and materials of construction. The variation details the pipeline's new route, which starts at the subsea cut location near the Flounder platform and ends at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Tuna platform. The pipeline design includes a 250 mm nominal diameter for the conveyance of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons, a flow rate of 8000 sm3/d for liquid hydrocarbons and 0.85 MMsm3/d for gaseous hydrocarbons, an internal design pressure of 13,790 kPag, and a flexible jumper design temperature of 85⁰C.
The Act imposes obligations on the titleholders, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd, to adhere to the specified pipeline route, design parameters, and materials of construction. This includes ensuring that the pipeline is constructed according to the outlined specifications, such as using Grade X52 seamless pipe in accordance with API Spec 5L, 38th Edition 1990, and applying the specified protective coatings to prevent corrosion. The titleholders must also ensure that the pipeline is installed and maintained in a manner that complies with the variation and the terms of the original licence.
Breach of the provisions outlined in the variation or the terms of the original pipeline licence may result in civil or criminal penalties. Under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, potential consequences for non-compliance include fines and imprisonment. The maximum penalties for offences under the Act can vary depending on the severity of the breach, but they can include substantial fines for companies and/or imprisonment for individuals responsible for the breach. The specific penalties would be determined by the relevant authorities based on the nature and extent of the non-compliance.