COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Sections 226 and 708
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
VARIATION OF PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL24
(WHITING TO SNAPPER) (QH467Z)
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/PL24, dated 31 August 1989 (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/PL24
- 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 Whiting platform and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Snapper platform.
ID | Description | Easting (mE) | Northing (mN) |
1 | Subsea cut location near the Whiting Platform | 576467.40 | 5767190.31 |
2 | Inflection Point 04 | 578905.00 | 5769627.67 |
3 | Inflection Point 05 | 589635.00 | 5772160.00 |
4 | Inflection Point 06 | 589761.69 | 5772176.96 |
5 | Inflection Point 07 | 589765.60 | 5772183.01 |
6 | Inflection Point 08 | 589772.64 | 5772184.81 |
7 | SNA600 Gas Pipeline Crossing | 589772.94 | 5772183.70 |
8 | MLB450 Gas Pipeline Crossing | 589774.80 | 5772180.77 |
9 | Inflection Point 09 | 589776.15 | 5772178.23 |
10 | FVO Snapper Manifold | 589784.40 | 5772179.25 |
Coordinate set above is based on GDA 94/MGA Zone 55, survey of pipeline centreline
- The VIC/PL24 Pipeline Route Map is deleted and replaced with the map at Attachment A.
- The SECOND SCHEDULE of the Licence remains unchanged.
SECOND SCHEDULE
SPECIFICATION
- Design
The pipeline design is based on the following parameters –
- one 250 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of liquid hydrocarbons;
- a flow rate of 2600 sm3/d (0.016 MMbbl/d) of liquid hydrocarbons;
- a maximum internal design pressure of 21,000 kPag;
- a design temperature of 60⁰C;
- a specific gravity of 2.6 for the 273.1 mm x 20.6 mm pipeline (including contents);
- a pipeline length of approximately 14.6 km.
- Materials of Construction
- Steel Pipe
The line pipe shall be in accordance with the requirements of the American Petroleum Institute Specification – API Spec 5L, 36th Edition for Grade B 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. with 20.6 mm W.T.
Attachment A
Overview
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to establish a regulatory framework for the exploration, production, and storage of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas in Australian waters. This legislation was introduced to address the need for a comprehensive regulatory system that balances the development of Australia's offshore petroleum resources with the protection of the marine environment and the interests of the Commonwealth and the states. The Act was passed by the Australian Parliament with the policy objective of ensuring that offshore petroleum activities are managed in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and economically efficient. The Act empowers the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority to issue licences for offshore petroleum activities, including the variation of existing pipeline licences as demonstrated in the modification of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL24. This variation ensures that the pipeline operations comply with updated standards and requirements, thereby maintaining safety and environmental protection in offshore operations.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the regulation and management of offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage in Commonwealth waters of Australia. This Act extends to the entire Commonwealth, including territorial seas, the continental shelf, and other areas prescribed by the Governor-General. The legislation governs the licensing, exploration, production, and transportation of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage, including the variation of pipeline licenses. In this particular instance, the Act is applied to vary the pipeline licence VIC/PL24, which involves the conveyance of liquid hydrocarbons from the Whiting platform to the Snapper platform. The variation is effected by the Delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator on behalf of the Commonwealth-Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority, and it includes specific changes to the pipeline route as outlined in the First Schedule of the Licence. The Second Schedule, which includes the pipeline specifications, remains unchanged. This variation is effective from the date of publication in the Australian Government Gazette and is made under the authority granted by the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006.
Key Provisions
Section 226 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) enables the Delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator to vary a pipeline licence. In this instance, the Delegate has varied Pipeline Licence VIC/PL24, which pertains to the pipeline route from the Whiting platform to the Snapper platform. The variation specifically modifies the First Schedule, which details the pipeline route, by replacing the existing route description and map with a new set of coordinates and a new map, as provided in Attachment A. This change likely responds to operational adjustments or environmental considerations that necessitate a reconfiguration of the pipeline's path.
The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties governed by it. The variation mandates that Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and Woodside Energy (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd, as registered titleholders, must adhere to the new pipeline route specifications as outlined in the updated First Schedule. This includes ensuring that the pipeline construction, maintenance, and operation comply with the newly prescribed route and design parameters, such as the pipeline's nominal diameter, flow rate, internal design pressure, temperature, specific gravity, and overall length.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act or the terms of the varied licence may result in legal consequences. Section 708 of the Act outlines potential offences and penalties for breaches. While specific penalties are not detailed in the provided text, the Act generally provides for both civil and criminal sanctions for non-compliance, which can include substantial fines and imprisonment for individuals, reflecting the seriousness of ensuring safety and regulatory adherence in offshore petroleum operations. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach.