Variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL29 (Blackback to Mackerel Pipeline)

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2020G00821 In force Gazette

Legislation content

 

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

 

Sections 226 and 708

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006

 

VARIATION OF PIPELINE LICENCE VIC/PL29

(BLACKBACK TO MACKEREL)

 

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/PL29, dated 11 December 1998 (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 Grant of Pipeline Licence on Page 1 is varied by:

 

a)        deleting the words:

 

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

 

b)        deleting the words:

 

a Pipeline Licence in respect of the route described hereunder. This Pipeline Licence has effect for a period of fifteen (15) years from the date hereof.

 

and replacing with:

 

the grant of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL29, 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 11th day of December 1998.

 

The licensee shall at all times comply with the provisions of the Act and Regulations (amended from time to time).”

 

2.      The ‘ROUTE OF PIPELINE’ on Page 2 of the Licence is varied by deleting the current text under the heading ‘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 tie-in spool at the Blackback Subsea Facility and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Mackerel platform.

 

ID

DESCRIPTION

EASTING

NORTHING

1

Blackback Subsea Tie-in Spool

635485.00

5733081.00

2

Inflection Point 01

635500.14

5733067.29

3

Inflection Point 02

635447.18

5733075.04

4

Inflection Point 03

635481.00

5733046.00

5

Inflection Point 04

625025.28

5730540.03

6

Inflection Point 05

622296.47

5734420.09

7

Inflection Point 06

620792.03

5735110.66

8

Inflection Point 07

617196.88

5740187.72

9

Inflection Point 08

617157.83

5740175.00

10

FVO Mackerel Manifold

617126.00

5740174.00

 

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

 

 

 

3.      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.”

 

4.      The ‘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 –

(i)     one 200 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons and produced water;

(ii)      a flow rate of 2865 sm3/d (0.018 MMbbl/d) of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons and water;

(iii)    an maximum internal design pressure of 24,400 kPag;

(iv)    a design temperature of 77C;

(v)      a 219.1 mm O.D. x 12.7 mm wall thickness pipeline, which will be housed within a carrier pipe with an external diameter of 298.5 mm and a wall thickness of 14.3 mm;

(vi)    a pipeline length of approximately 23.0 km.

 

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

 

(i) The materials used in the pipeline shall conform to the following specifications -”

 

c)      deleting the current text under ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (B) Materials of Construction, Flexible Pipe

 

and substituting under the heading the following:

 

The 107 m long flexible riser is fabricated from Rilsan composite material and has a pressure containing sheath.

 

d)     deleting the current text under ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (B) Materials of Construction, Carrier Pipe

 

and substituting under the heading the following:

 

The carrier pipe shall be in accordance with the requirements of the American Petroleum Institution Specification – API Spec 5L, 41st Edition for Grade X65 seamless pipe and Esso Australia Limited’s supplemental pipe specification accompanying the pipeline licence application and shall have the dimensions 298.5 mm external diameter and 14.3 mm W.T.

 

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

 

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

 

“(ii) Protective Coating”

 

g)     deleting ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (D) Pressure Control

 

h)     deleting ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (E) Control

Overview

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to address the regulation of activities related to offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage, ensuring that these activities are conducted in a safe, environmentally responsible, and economically efficient manner. This Act was introduced by the Commonwealth Parliament with the policy objective of providing a legislative framework that balances the need to exploit Australia's offshore petroleum resources with the necessity to protect the marine environment and public interests. The legislation aims to facilitate the orderly development of offshore petroleum activities while also addressing potential environmental impacts. The Act provides for the licensing of activities and the setting of conditions to ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards. Through the Act, the Commonwealth of Australia seeks to promote sustainable development in the offshore petroleum sector, ensuring that economic benefits are realised while minimising potential risks to the marine environment and human health.

Scope and Application

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL29 for the construction and operation of a pipeline by the registered titleholders Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and BHP Billiton (Bass Strait) Pty Ltd. The Act governs the pipeline's route, design, materials, and operational standards, ensuring compliance with the provisions of the Act and any subordinate regulations. The geographic reach of this Act is limited to the Commonwealth of Australia, specifically within the offshore area of Victoria. The variation of the pipeline licence specifies the pipeline's new route, commencing at the Blackback Subsea Facility and terminating at the Mackerel platform, and includes detailed specifications for the pipeline's design, materials, and construction. The Act does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds for this particular variation of the pipeline licence. The application and enforcement of the Act and its regulations may be further defined or extended through subordinate instruments, which would detail additional operational requirements and standards.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the variation to Pipeline Licence VIC/PL29 under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (sections 226 and 708) focus on modifying the grant, route, interpretation, and specifications of the pipeline licence. The variation (section 1) modifies the grant by specifying that the pipeline licence is subject to the conditions set out in the licence, the provisions of the Act, and the Regulations. The route of the pipeline (section 2) is updated to reflect a new starting point at the Blackback Subsea Facility and a new endpoint at the Mackerel platform. The interpretation section (section 3) clarifies that "the Act" refers to the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 and "the Regulations" refer to the regulations made under the Act. Lastly, the specifications section (section 4) updates the design parameters, materials of construction, and other technical specifications for the pipeline. The obligations and requirements imposed by this variation on the titleholders, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and BHP Billiton (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd., include compliance with the provisions of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 and the Regulations as amended. This involves adhering to the new specifications and design parameters outlined in the variation, ensuring that the pipeline construction and operation meet the updated technical standards. The titleholders must also comply with any additional conditions set out in the licence and any further requirements imposed by the Act or Regulations. The variation does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, non-compliance with the Act or Regulations could lead to enforcement actions, including fines, revocation of the pipeline licence, and other penalties as determined by the relevant authorities. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Act or Regulations could vary, but typically include substantial fines and potential criminal charges for serious violations.

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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.