Variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL24 (Whiting to Snapper)

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2020G00826 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/PL24

(WHITING TO SNAPPER)

 

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/PL24, dated 30 August 1996 (the Licence), for which:

 

Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd

(ABN 62 091 829 819)

 

BHP Billiton (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd.

(ABN 29 004 228 004)

 

 

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:

 

a)        deleting the words:

 

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

 

b)        deleting the words:

 

“the renewal of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL24, to have effect for a period of twenty-one years from and including the 30th day of August 1996.”

 

and replacing with:

 

“The renewal of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL24, 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 30th day of August 1996.

 

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 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) on the Whiting platform and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Snapper platform. Coordinates are based on Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).

 

ID

DESCRIPTION

EASTING

NORTHING

1

LVO Whiting Manifold

576455.12

5767198.71

2

Inflection Point 01

576470.64

5767188.51

3

Inflection Point 02

576476.35

5767182.10

4

Inflection Point 03

576477.24

5767187.62

5

Inflection Point 04

578905.00

5769627.67

6

Inflection Point 05

589635.00

5772160.00

7

Inflection Point 06

589761.69

5772176.96

8

Inflection Point 07

589765.60

5772183.01

9

Inflection Point 08

589772.64

5772184.81

10

SNA600 Gas Pipeline Crossing

589772.94

5772183.70

11

MLB450 Gas Pipeline Crossing

589774.80

5772180.77

12

Inflection Point 09

589776.15

5772178.23

13

FVO Snapper Manifold

589784.40

5772179.25

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

a)      Deleting the current text under ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (A) Design

 

and

 

substituting under the heading ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (A) Design the following:

 

“The pipeline design is based on the following parameters –

(a)     one 250 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of liquid hydrocarbons;

(b)     a flow rate of 2600 sm3/d (0.016 MMbbl/d) of liquid hydrocarbons;

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

(d)     a design temperature of 60⁰C;

(e)     a specific gravity of 2.6 for the 273.1 mm x 20.6 mm pipeline (including contents);

(f)      a pipeline length of approximately 14.6 km.

 

b)     deleting the following text under ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (B) Materials of Construction

 

“The materials used in any repair, addition or alteration to the pipeline shall conform to the following specifications.”

 

c)      deleting the current text from under the heading ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (i) Steel Pipe

 

and

 

substituting under the heading ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (i) 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 except for the riser pipework, the pipeline shall have the dimensions 273.1 mm O.D. with 20.6 mm W.T.

 

The said riser pipework shall be API Spec 5LX, Grade X-60 seamless pipe and have the dimensions 273.1 mm O.D, and 20.6 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 original pipeline licence application. The flexible jumpers are fabricated from composite material manufactured by Coflexip and have a Nylon-11 pressure containing sheath.”

 

d)     deleting ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (ii) Valves and Fittings

 

e)      deleting the current text from under the heading ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (iii) Protective Coating

 

and

 

substituting under the heading ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (iii) Protective Coating

 

“Protection of the riser pipework by an epoxy coating 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 10 mm carbon steel sleeve and a 4.75 mm Monel sheath.”

 

f)       amending the numbering of ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (iii) Protective Coating to be:

 

“(ii) Protective Coating”

 

g)     deleting ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (C) Connections to Pipeline

 

h)     amending the numbering of ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (D) Cathodic Protection to be:

 

“(C) Cathodic Protection”

 

i)       deleting ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (E) Pressure Control

 

j)       deleting all Part II Further Conditions, Sections (A) to (F).

 

 

Overview

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to address the need for a comprehensive legal framework governing the exploration, development, and production of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage in Australian waters. This Act was introduced by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia with the policy objective of ensuring the sustainable and environmentally responsible management of offshore petroleum activities. The Act provides the legislative basis for the regulation of offshore petroleum operations, including the issuance of licences and the imposition of conditions to protect the marine environment, ensure safety, and manage the economic benefits of offshore resources. The Act also facilitates the regulation of greenhouse gas storage, reflecting Australia’s commitment to addressing climate change through the safe and effective storage of greenhouse gases. By establishing clear regulatory requirements and mechanisms for oversight, the Act aims to balance the economic interests of the petroleum industry with the need to protect the environment and public interest.

Scope and Application

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to entities involved in offshore petroleum activities and greenhouse gas storage operations in Australia. Specifically, the Act governs the regulation of pipeline licences, such as the one for the pipeline between the Whiting and Snapper platforms, which are issued to companies like Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and BHP Billiton (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. The Act outlines the conditions under which these licences are granted, including the construction, operation, and maintenance of pipelines, and ensures compliance with national standards and safety regulations. The Act's jurisdiction extends to Commonwealth waters, including offshore areas like the one specified in the pipeline licence variation. The Act incorporates provisions that can be further detailed through subordinate regulations, which may include specific technical standards, environmental protections, and operational protocols. Notably, the Act excludes certain activities that fall under other regulatory frameworks, such as those governed by state legislation or specific industry codes.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, as varied by the gazetted document, concern the alteration of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL24 (sections 226 and 264). Section 226 involves the renewal of the licence for the construction and operation of a pipeline for the conveyance of petroleum, while section 264 addresses the conditions and specifications that govern the pipeline's operation. Section 708 provides the overarching authority for these variations. The obligations imposed on the parties, specifically Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and BHP Billiton (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd, include compliance with the provisions of the Act, the Regulations, and the specific conditions set out in the Licence. This encompasses adherence to the design, size, and capacity of the pipeline, the route along the seabed, and the operation of pumping, tank, and valve stations as specified. Additionally, the titleholders must ensure that all materials used in the pipeline comply with specified standards, including the American Petroleum Institute specifications and other relevant technical requirements. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act, Regulations, or the specific conditions of the Licence can result in various consequences. The Act provides for both civil and criminal penalties for breaches. Civil penalties may include fines, while criminal penalties could involve imprisonment, reflecting the seriousness of non-compliance with safety and operational standards in offshore petroleum activities. The exact penalties are not specified in the gazetted document but are typically detailed in the primary Act and associated Regulations. These provisions underscore the regulatory framework designed to ensure safe and environmentally responsible operations in Australia's offshore petroleum sector.

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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.