Variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL22 (Seahorse to Barracouta Pipeline)

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2020G00390 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/PL22

(SEAHORSE TO BARRACOUTA 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/PL22, dated 31 August 1989 (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:

 

  1. deleting the words:

 

“for a term from 31 August 1989 to 24 August 2009 a licence to construct and operate a pipeline for the conveyance of liquid hydrocarbons along the route described in the First Schedule hereto

 

and replacing with:

 

“Pipeline Licence VIC/PL22, 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 31st day of August 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 1 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 Seahorse to Barracouta pipeline is described in the table below, and displayed in the map below, commencing at the tie-in spool at the Seahorse Subsea Facility and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Barracouta platform. Coordinates are based on Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).

 

 

ID

DESCRIPTION

EASTING

NORTHING

1

Seahorse Wellhead

559032.57

5772320.71

2

Inflection Point 01

559035.82

5772317.85

3

Inflection Point 02

559048.81

5772316.14

4

Inflection Point 03

559042.89

5772303.75

5

Inflection Point 04

559109.30

5761119.36

6

Inflection Point 05

559118.17

5761091.86

7

Inflection Point 06

559116.55

5761083.81

8

BTA EHU Umbilical Crossing

559116.83

5761094.90

9

FVO Barracouta Manifold

559117.23

5761075.68

 

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 150 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of liquid hydrocarbons;

(b)   a flow rate of 1,100 sm3/d (0.007 MMbbl/d) of liquid hydrocarbons;

(c)   an internal design pressure of 21,000 kPag;

(d)   a design temperature of 39⁰C;

(e)   a specific gravity of 3.7 for the 168 mm X 12.7 mm pipeline (including contents);

(f)     a maximum water depth during pipelaying of 47 m;

(g)   a pipeline length of 11.259 km.

(h)   a maximum allowable total strain on the line pipe during the reeling operation of two percent.”

 

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

 

“The materials used in the pipeline shall conform to 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 5L, 36th Edition for Grade X42 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      168 mm O.D. with 12.7 mm W.T. and provide thermal insulation with the use of a 10 mm thick polyurethane foam.

 

The said riser pipework shall be API Spec. 5LX, Grade X-60 seamless pipe and have the dimensions 168 mm O.D. and 12.7 mm W.T.

 

The connection of the said riser pipework to the line pipe shall be made by flexible jumpers as detailed in the specifications accompanying the pipeline licence application.

 

The carrier pipe shall be in accordance with the requirements of the American Petroleum Institution Specification – API Spec 5L, 36th Edition for Grade B Seamless pipe and Esso Australia Limited Supplemental pipe specification accompanying the pipeline licence application and shall have the dimensions 250.8 mm O.D. with 23.8 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 Taubmans HB3005 Fusion Bonded Epoxy 400-500 Microns thick, and shall be insulated by a coating of Aptane AP8809/6/8900 closed cell Polyurethane Foam Insulation 9.8 – 11 mm thick and in accordance with the Esso Australia Limited Protective Coatings Specifications accompanying the pipeline licence application.

 

Protection of the riser pipework by UHB epoxy and epoxy MIO coating systems shall be in accordance with the Coating Specification No. 4.3 Protective Coatings for Onshore Plants, Offshore Platforms and other Marine Structures.

 

In the splash zones, the risers are wrapped in a 12 mm thick carbon steel and a 4.75 mm thick Monel sleeve. Below the splash zone, the riser is coated with 1-1.5 mm UHB epoxy.”

 

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

 

“(ii) Protective Coating”

 

g.      deleting Part I Specification, Section (C) Connection to Pipeline, Pipeline Scraper Sender and Scraper Receiver.

 

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

 

“(C) Cathodic Protection”

 

i.        deleting Part I Specification, Section (E) Pressure Control.

 

j.        deleting Part 1 Specification, Section (F) Pressure Test.

 

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

 

The rest of the Second Schedule remains as stated in the licence instrument dated 31 August 1989.

 

 

 

 

Overview

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to provide a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities in Australia. This Act was introduced to address the need for effective management and oversight of offshore petroleum operations, including the licensing and regulation of activities such as the construction and operation of pipelines for the conveyance of petroleum. The Act was enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia with the policy objective of ensuring that offshore petroleum activities are conducted in a safe, environmentally responsible, and economically efficient manner. The Act allows the relevant authority to issue licenses and impose conditions to regulate such activities, ensuring compliance with national and international standards. Under the authority of this Act, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, has varied Pipeline Licence VIC/PL22. The variation updates the terms of the licence to reflect current regulatory requirements and operational specifications, ensuring that the pipeline for the conveyance of petroleum continues to operate within the legal framework established by the Act. This includes aligning the licence with the provisions of the Act and relevant regulations, thereby maintaining the integrity and safety of the offshore petroleum infrastructure.

Scope and Application

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to entities involved in the exploration, production, storage, and transportation of petroleum and greenhouse gas within Australian offshore areas. Specifically, this legislation governs the licensing and operational activities of companies holding titles to offshore petroleum activities, such as BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. and Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, who are subject to the provisions and conditions stipulated within the Act. This Act provides a framework for managing the environmental, safety, and technical aspects of offshore petroleum operations. The geographic reach of the Act encompasses all Commonwealth offshore areas, including state and territory waters, extending to the outer edge of the Australian continental shelf. The Act also includes provisions for the regulation of greenhouse gas storage, thereby extending its application to activities associated with carbon capture and storage projects. Subordinate instruments, such as regulations and guidelines, may further define or refine the application of the Act, ensuring it remains adaptable to new technologies and industry practices. The Act, however, does not apply to activities within the territorial sea of Australia unless these are specifically related to offshore petroleum operations or greenhouse gas storage.

Key Provisions

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) includes provisions that allow for the variation of pipeline licences. In this instance, the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, Graeme Albert Waters, has varied Pipeline Licence VIC/PL22, which pertains to the Seahorse to Barracouta Pipeline (Sections 226, 264, 708). The variation modifies the existing terms of the licence, particularly in relation to the pipeline's design, materials, and operational conditions. The obligations imposed by the Act on the licensees, BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. and Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd., include compliance with the Act and its regulations. This involves adhering to the detailed specifications for the pipeline's design, materials of construction, and protective coatings, as outlined in the varied sections of the licence. The licensees must ensure that the pipeline is constructed and operated according to the specifications and conditions set out in the Act, the Regulations, and the varied licence itself. Breaches of the Act or the conditions of the licence can lead to various consequences. The Act provides for both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. Civil penalties may include fines and the potential revocation of the licence, which could disrupt operations and result in significant financial loss. Criminal penalties can include imprisonment, with the severity of the penalty depending on the nature and extent of the breach. The maximum penalties are not explicitly stated in the document but would be determined according to the relevant provisions of the Act and any applicable regulations.

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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.