Variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL23 (Tarwhine to Barracouta Pipeline)

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2020G00394 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/PL23

(TARWHINE 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/PL23, 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/PL23, 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 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 Tarwhine to Barracouta pipeline is described in the table below, and displayed in the map below, commencing at the tie-in between the Tarwhine subsea facility and the first flexible jumper and terminates at the first valve 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

TWA Wellhead

546226.8

5749321.2

2

Inflection Point 01

546240.4

5749329.4

3

Inflection Point 02

546231.4

5749341.3

4

Inflection Point 03

546232.9

5749344.5

5

BTA TWA EHU Umbilical Crossing 01

546236.2

5749347.7

6

BTA TWA EHU Umbilical Crossing 02

546251.3

5749361.8

7

BMA350 Gas Pipeline Crossing

552622.6

5755167.2

8

Inflection Point 04

559088.3

5761047.9

9

BTA450 Gas Pipeline Crossing

559088.8

5761060.6

10

Inflection Point 05

559088.9

5761063.8

11

BTA150 Oil Pipeline Crossing

559093.5

5761064.6

12

BTA65 Gas Lift Pipeline Crossing

559097.6

5761065.3

13

FVO Barracouta Manifold

559106.1

5761066.7

 

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

(b)   a flow rate of 1,700 sm3/d (0.011 MMbbl/d) of liquid hydrocarbons;

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

(d)   a design temperature of 50⁰C;

(e)   a specific gravity of 2.9 for the 219.1 mm X 14.7 mm pipeline (including contents);

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

(g)   a pipeline length of 17.451 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 219.1 mm O.D. with 14.7 mm W.T.

 

The main pipeline sits within a carrier pipe which provides thermal insulation and is made from API-5L Grade B seamless line-pipe.

 

The said riser pipework shall be API Spec. 5LX, Grade X-60 seamless pipe and have the dimensions 219.1 mm O.D. and 14.7 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 298.5 mm O.D. with 15.7 mm W.T.”

 

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

 

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

 

“(ii) Protective Coating”

 

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

 

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

 

“(C) Cathodic Protection”

 

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

 

i.        deleting Part I Specification, Section (F) Pressure Test.

 

j.        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 by the Commonwealth Parliament to regulate the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gas in Australian waters. This Act addresses the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework governing offshore petroleum activities, ensuring that these activities are conducted in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and economically efficient. The policy objective of the Act is to balance the development of Australia's offshore petroleum resources with the need to protect the marine environment and ensure that the benefits of these resources are shared equitably among all Australians. The Act provides for the granting of titles and licences for offshore petroleum activities and establishes the administrative and regulatory mechanisms necessary to oversee these activities. The Act empowers the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator to vary pipeline licences as demonstrated in this variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL23. This variation, made under the authority granted by the Act, aims to update and refine the operational parameters and regulatory compliance requirements for the Tarwhine to Barracouta pipeline. The changes include modifications to the licence term, pipeline design specifications, and materials of construction to ensure continued safe and efficient operation in compliance with the Act and its Regulations.

Scope and Application

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL23, which concerns the Tarwhine to Barracouta Pipeline operated by BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. and Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd. This legislation governs the construction, operation, and maintenance of the pipeline for the conveyance of petroleum in the offshore area of Victoria, as set out in the varied terms of the licence. The Act applies to the entities mentioned, specifying their obligations to adhere to the provisions of the Act and the relevant regulations. The geographical scope of this Act is specific to the Commonwealth of Australia, particularly within the offshore area of Victoria. The variation extends to the pipeline's design, size, capacity, and the specified route, while ensuring compliance with the Act and the regulations. The legislation also delineates the specific conditions under which the pipeline can operate, including the materials of construction, the design parameters, and operational standards. The variation of the licence does not introduce new exclusions or exemptions but reaffirms the existing framework within which the licensees must operate. The application of the Act and its regulations is enforced through subordinate instruments, which provide detailed guidelines and standards for the pipeline's construction and operation.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (sections 226, 264, and 708) govern the variation of the Pipeline Licence VIC/PL23 for the Tarwhine to Barracouta pipeline. This variation modifies the original licence granted on 31 August 1989, to accommodate updated conditions and requirements for constructing and operating the pipeline in Victoria’s offshore area. The changes include specifying the pipeline’s design, size, capacity, and operational parameters, and ensuring compliance with the Act and any relevant regulations. The variation also updates the interpretation section to clarify the meaning of key terms and references within the licence document, ensuring consistency with the Act and associated regulations. The obligations imposed by the Act on the parties involved, particularly the registered titleholders BHP Billiton Petroleum (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. and Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd., include strict adherence to the amended conditions of the licence. They must ensure that the pipeline construction and operations comply with the specified design parameters, material specifications, and operational procedures. Additionally, they are required to maintain ongoing compliance with all provisions of the Act and any regulations that may be amended over time. The titleholders must also ensure that all pipeline operations are conducted in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and in accordance with the licence’s updated terms. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 and the amended Pipeline Licence can result in significant legal consequences. Breaches of the Act or the licence conditions can lead to enforcement actions by the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, acting on behalf of the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority. Penalties for non-compliance may include fines, licence suspension, or revocation, and in severe cases, criminal charges could be pursued against the titleholders or their representatives. The exact penalties depend on the nature and severity of the breach, but they are designed to ensure stringent adherence to regulatory standards and to protect public and environmental interests.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Environmental Law
Energy Law
Instrument
Gazette Notice
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Compliance Obligations
Regulatory Standards

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

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.