Variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL8 (Mackerel A to Halibut A)

Administered by Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Legislation au C2020G00825 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/PL8

(MACKEREL A TO HALIBUT A)

 

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/PL8, dated 20 July 1990 (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/PL8, to have effect for a period of twenty-one (21) years from and including the 20th day of September 1989.”

 

and replacing with:

 

the renewal of Pipeline Licence VIC/P28, 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 20th day of September 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 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 Mackerel platform and terminating at the first flange upstream of the First Valve On (FVO) on the Halibut platform. Coordinates are based on Geodetic Datum of Australia (GDA94).

 

ID

DESCRIPTION

EASTING

NORTHING

1

LVO Mackerel Manifold

617112.65

5740149.89

2

Inflection Point 01

617103.28

5740144.71

3

Inflection Point 02

616925.68

5740153.00

4

Inflection Point 03

617234.51

5744105.63

5

Inflection Point 04

617273.69

5744107.11

6

Inflection Point 05

617222.86

5747499.34

7

Inflection Point 06

615316.11

5748501.76

8

Inflection Point 07

615311.94

5748505.64

9

FVO Halibut Manifold

615298.45

5748508.58

 

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 –

(i)     one 300 mm nominal diameter pipeline for the conveyance of liquid hydrocarbons;

(ii)      a flow rate of 15899 sm3/d (0.100 MMbbl/d) of liquid hydrocarbons;

(iii)    a maximum internal design pressure of 14,893 kPag;

(iv)    a pipeline length of approximately 9.4 km.

 

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

 

The materials used in the pipeline shall meet the following specifications.

 

c)      Deleting the current text 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 5LX, 35th Edition for Grade X52 seamless pipe and Esso Australia Limited Supplemental pipe specification accompanying the pipeline licence application. There is a 4 km replacement section beginning at MKA and terminating at the flexible jumper. All replacement rigid linepipe has an external diameter of 323.9 mm and a wall thickness of 12.7 mm.

 

The original section of pipeline starts at the other side of the flexible jumper to HLA. This section of pipeline has an outer diameter of 323.9 mm and a wall thickness of 9.53 mm.

 

The tie-in spool has an external diameter 323.9 mm and a wall thickness of 12.7 mm thick. It also has a corrosion coating of 0.5 mm thick FBE and a 25 mm CWC. The CWC extended from the riser to tie-in spool flange connection to the tie-in spool to pipeline connection.

 

The first sections of both the export riser on MKA and the import riser on HLA are fabricated from A106 Grade B sour service seamless CS line-pipe between the pig launcher/receiver and the first riser flange. The first sections have an external diameter of 323.9 mm and a wall thickness of 21.44 mm. The rest of the riser section are made from API-X52 sour service seamless CS line-pipe, have a diameter of 323.9 mm and a wall thickness of 19.05 mm.

 

The lower sections of the risers have 1-1.5 mm UHB epoxy coating. The export riser splash zone at MKA is wrapped in a 12.7 mm CS sleeve and a 5 mm Monel sleeve. The import riser splash zone at HLA is wrapped in a 12.7 mm CS sleeve.

 

The flexible jumpers are fabricated from composite material manufactured by Coflexip and have a Nylon-11 pressure containing sheath. The flexible jumper is 65.8 mm long, has an internal diameter of 305 mm and a wall thickness of 55.2 mm.

 

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

 

e)      deleting the 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

 

Primary external corrosion protection for the pipeline is provided by a CTE coating and a high density polyethylene coating called Yellow Jacket.

 

Protection of the riser pipework shall be maintained with a coating in accordance with the coating Specification No. 4.3 – Protective Coatings for Onshore Plants, Offshore Platforms and other Marine Structures or other systems.

 

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

 

“(ii) Protective Coating”

 

g)     amending the numbering of ‘SPECIFICATION’, Section (B) Materials of Construction, subsection (iv) Weight Coating to be:

 

“(iii) Weight Coating”

 

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

 

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

 

“(C) Cathodic Protection”

 

j)       deleting ‘SPECIFICATION,’ Section (D) Cathodic Protection, subsection (a)

 

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

 

“(a)”

 

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

 

(b)

 

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

 

“(C) Cathodic Protection”

 

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

 

o)     deleting all Part II Further Conditions, Sections (A) to (E).

 

 

Overview

The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 was enacted to provide a comprehensive legislative framework for the regulation of offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities in Australian waters. This Act was introduced to address the need for a unified and robust legal structure to manage the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gas, ensuring environmental protection, safety, and efficient use of resources. The Act was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament, with the objective of facilitating sustainable and responsible offshore petroleum operations while safeguarding the marine environment. The Act enables the regulation of activities related to the exploration, production, and storage of petroleum and greenhouse gas, including the issuance and management of licenses and permits, and the imposition of conditions to ensure compliance with environmental and safety standards. The Act establishes the legal basis for the Commonwealth–Victoria Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority to administer and regulate pipeline licences, as demonstrated by the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL8 to VIC/P28. This legislative framework ensures that all offshore petroleum activities are conducted in a manner that minimises environmental impact and adheres to stringent safety and operational standards. The policy objective of the Act is to balance the economic benefits of offshore petroleum activities with the need to protect the marine environment and ensure the safety of operations.

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 the Commonwealth of Australia, including offshore areas and prescribed locations. The Act provides the legislative framework for regulating these activities, ensuring they are conducted in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. Specifically, the Act applies to the registered titleholders of the pipeline licence, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and BHP Billiton (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd., and governs their operations within the specified offshore area of Victoria. The Act's geographic reach encompasses the Commonwealth's jurisdiction over offshore petroleum activities, and the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL8 under this Act adjusts the terms and conditions of the licence to reflect current regulatory standards and operational requirements. The variation ensures compliance with the provisions of the Act and any associated regulations, which are made under the authority of this Act. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in the provided text, though the application of the Act and its regulations may be further defined through subordinate instruments that extend or restrict the Act's application.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the Act) pertain to the variation of Pipeline Licence VIC/PL8, which is now referred to as VIC/P28. This variation is effective from 20th September 1989 and includes amendments to the interpretation, route, and specifications of the pipeline. Specifically, Section 226 addresses the variation of the licence, while Section 264 outlines the conditions under which the pipeline may be constructed and operated. Section 708 references the regulations that must be adhered to by the licensees, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd and BHP Billiton (Bass Strait) Pty. Ltd. The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties governed by it. The licensees must comply with all provisions of the Act and the relevant regulations, ensuring that the pipeline is constructed and operated in accordance with the specified design, size, and capacity. They must also adhere to the route of the pipeline, which is detailed in the First Schedule of the Licence, and must ensure that the pipeline materials and construction meet the specifications outlined in the Second Schedule. This includes adhering to the requirements for the pipeline's design, materials of construction, and protective coatings. Additionally, the licensees must ensure that all connections to the pipeline and the cathodic protection systems are in compliance with the specified standards. Breach of any of the provisions of the Act or the regulations can lead to various consequences. While the document does not explicitly detail the offences, penalties, or consequences for breach, it is clear that failure to comply with the requirements could result in legal action. Such actions could include enforcement actions by the relevant authorities, fines, or even the suspension or revocation of the pipeline licence. The maximum penalties for offences under the Act could potentially include substantial fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity and nature of the breach. It is essential for the licensees to ensure strict compliance to avoid any adverse legal and financial repercussions.

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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.