COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Sections 226 and 708
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006
VARIATION OF PIPELINE LICENCE WA-11-PL
(JOHN BROOKES (CTH))
I, STEVEN ROBERT TAYLOR, Delegate of the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator, on behalf of the Commonwealth–Western Australia Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority hereby vary Pipeline Licence WA-11-PL, dated 22 December 2004 (the Licence), for which:
Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd
(ACN 009 140 854)
Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd
(ACN 000 670 575)
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 Commonwealth 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–WESTERN AUSTRALIA
OFFSHORE PETROLEUM JOINT AUTHORITY
SPECIFICATION
- The Schedule under Specifications, the Basis of Design table is varied by updating the items in bold and italics:
(B) Basis of Design
The pipeline design is based on the following parameters:
Item | Item Description | Details |
1 | Outside diameter of pipe and riser | 457.2 mm (18 in) |
2 | Wall thickness of pipe inclusive of riser (only for carbon steel) | 15.9 mm (0.6 in) (KP21.2 to KP48.1 and pipeline riser); 17.5 mm (0.7 in) (KP48.1 to KP53.9); 15.9 mm (0.6 in) (KP53.9 to KP54.4) pipeline repair spools |
3 | Length | 33.2 km (approximate) |
4 | Design life | 20 years (approximate) 10 years for replacement spool installed as part of the John Brookes Replacement Project completed Q1 2023 |
5 | Pipeline Material | Carbon Steel |
6 | Pipeline and Riser Steel Grade | DNV-OS-F101 Grade 450 |
7 | Pipeline Specification | DNV-OS-F101 High Frequency Weld |
8 | Minimum yield strength of pipe steel | 450 MPa (65,267.0 psi) Specified Minimum Yield Strength (SMYS) |
9 | Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure | 13.75 MPag (1,994.3 psi) |
10 | Design Capacity | Maximum design flowrate of 260 MMscf/d |
11 | Characteristics of substance proposed to be conveyed | Wet gas (approximate 85.5% methane saturated with water at reservoir conditions) |
12 | General plans and descriptions of pump stations, tank stations or valve stations and their equipment | - Subsea isolation valve located adjacent to
John Brookes platform, which is provided with dropped object protection frame and
1 electrical cable and 1 hydraulic pack
|
13 | General plans and descriptions of pipeline repair | 2015 Replacement Project - The inclusion of a 520 m (1,706 ft) (nominal) length comprising straight spools and tie-in spools to form a cooling spool downstream of the Subsea Isolation Valve as the replacement for the existing Carbon Steel pipeline
- Straight spools American National Standards Institute (ANSI) flange jointed (Weld Neck/swivel-ring pairs) as 4 lengths (nominally 46 m (150.9 ft) long), externally coated with Thermally Sprayed Aluminium (TSA)
- Tie-in spools ANSI flange jointed (WN/swivel-ring pairs) as varying lengths, externally coated with TSA
- Straight spools, tie-in spools and flanges corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) (Inconel 625) clad internally
- Straight and tie-in spools stabilised by gravity anchors
- Cooling spool cathodic protection by sacrificial anodes affixed to the gravity anchors and cable connected to the straight and tie-in spools
- Straight and tie-in spool welded joints TSA coated
- Subsea Isolation Valve structural modification to accommodate the new spool configuration
- Downstream tie-in of the cooling spool via mechanical connector
- Removal of the existing Ring Pair Corrosion Monitoring (RPCM) probe and dummy spool immediately downstream of the Subsea Isolation Valve
- Installation of a retrievable temperature data logger in the vicinity of the mechanical connector.
2023 Tie-In Spool Replacement - Replacement of the tie-in spool directly upstream of the Subsea Isolation Valve
- Tie-in spool ANSI flange jointed (WN/swivel-ring pair) and externally coated with TSA
- Tie-in spool and flanges corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) (Inconel 625) clad internally
- Tie-in spool cathodic protection by sacrificial anodes affixed to the existing gravity anchor
|
14 | General plans and description of pigging facilities | Provision for offshore pig launcher located at the platform and an onshore pig receiver at Varanus Island |
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 Australia. This Act was introduced to address the need for a robust legal structure governing the exploration, development, and storage of petroleum resources offshore, while also considering the environmental implications, particularly in relation to greenhouse gas storage. The Act was passed by the Parliament of Australia, reflecting a policy objective to balance economic development with environmental protection. The Act aims to ensure that offshore petroleum activities are conducted in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and economically efficient, thereby contributing to the nation's energy security and economic growth. This legislation is critical for the regulation and oversight of offshore operations, ensuring that they comply with both national and international standards.
Scope and Application
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 applies to the regulation of activities related to offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage within the Commonwealth's jurisdiction. Specifically, this Act governs the licensing and operation of offshore petroleum activities, including the variation of pipeline licences as seen in the case of Pipeline Licence WA-11-PL. This legislation applies to entities such as Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd, which are the registered titleholders of the pipeline licence. The variation of the licence affects the specifications and design parameters of the pipeline, ensuring compliance with updated engineering standards and operational requirements. The Act's jurisdictional reach is limited to the Commonwealth and Western Australia, where the pipeline is situated. The Act allows for variations to be made through subordinate instruments, ensuring that operational standards and safety requirements are maintained. No specific exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds are mentioned in this particular variation, but the overarching legislation provides a framework for such regulatory actions.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of this variation of the Pipeline Licence WA-11-PL (John Brookes (CTH)) are concerned with the specific changes to the pipeline design as outlined in the Schedule under Specifications (sections 226 and 708 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006). The variation updates the Basis of Design table, specifically focusing on the outside diameter of the pipe and riser, wall thickness of the pipe, length of the pipeline, design life, pipeline material, steel grade, pipeline specification, minimum yield strength of the pipe steel, maximum allowable operating pressure, design capacity, and characteristics of the substance proposed to be conveyed. Additionally, it details the general plans and descriptions of pump stations, tank stations, valve stations, pipeline repair, and pigging facilities.
The obligations imposed by this Act on the titleholders, Santos WA Northwest Pty Ltd and Santos (BOL) Pty Ltd, include ensuring that all modifications to the pipeline design comply with the updated specifications as outlined in the Schedule. This involves adhering to the updated parameters such as the outside diameter of the pipe and riser, wall thickness, length, and design life. Furthermore, the titleholders must ensure that the pipeline material and steel grade meet the specified standards, including DNV-OS-F101 High Frequency Weld and DNV-OS-F101 Grade 450. They are also required to detail the general plans and descriptions of pump stations, tank stations, valve stations, pipeline repair, and pigging facilities as per the updated specifications.
Any breach of the obligations set out in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 may result in civil or criminal penalties. The Act does not explicitly state maximum penalties within the variation notice; however, it is implied that non-compliance could lead to enforcement actions by the Commonwealth–Western Australia Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority. This may include fines, revocation of the pipeline licence, or other legal consequences as deemed appropriate under the Act. The titleholders must ensure strict adherence to the specified requirements to avoid any adverse outcomes.