Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act compliance
Offshore petroleum + gas operators regulated by NOPSEMA.
Who must comply
Registered operators of offshore facilities and holders of petroleum or greenhouse gas titles in Commonwealth waters (and in Victorian designated coastal waters for incident reporting). Facilities in other state or Northern Territory designated coastal waters report to the relevant state or NT agency.
What triggers it
Constructing, installing, operating, modifying or decommissioning an offshore facility, drilling or managing a well, or carrying out any petroleum or greenhouse gas activity under a title.
When due
Before each stage: safety case accepted (NOPSEMA has 90 days to decide a new safety case and 30 days for a revision) and environment plan accepted. Notify NOPSEMA at least 10 days before an activity starts and within 10 days after it ends. Reportable incidents: oral notice as soon as practicable (within 2 hours for a reportable environmental incident) and a written report within 3 days. Recordable environmental incidents: monthly report within 15 days after month end.
Evidence required
Operator registration and agreed scope of validation; accepted safety case and its five-yearly revisions; accepted environment plan; incident notifications and written reports; monthly death and injury summaries and recordable-incident reports (including nil reports); activity start and completion notices.
Max penalty
Contraventions are offences and civil penalty matters under the OPGGS Act. NOPSEMA can issue improvement, prohibition and do-not-disturb notices, give directions, withdraw acceptance of a safety case or environment plan, issue infringement notices, seek injunctions and adverse publicity orders, and bring civil or criminal proceedings.
Summary
The Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act) and its regulations govern offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas activities in Commonwealth waters. NOPSEMA regulates occupational health and safety, well integrity and environmental management. The regime is permission-based: a facility cannot be constructed, installed, operated, modified or decommissioned without a safety case in force for that stage, submitted by a registered operator and accepted by NOPSEMA under the OPGGS (Safety) Regulations 2024. Titleholders need an accepted environment plan before an activity starts. Accidents, dangerous occurrences, well integrity incidents and environmental incidents must be notified to NOPSEMA within fixed times. Safety cases must be revised on NOPSEMA's request, after five years or when circumstances change.
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Frequently asked questions
- Who must comply with Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act compliance?
- Registered operators of offshore facilities and holders of petroleum or greenhouse gas titles in Commonwealth waters (and in Victorian designated coastal waters for incident reporting). Facilities in other state or Northern Territory designated coastal waters report to the relevant state or NT agency.
- What triggers Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act compliance?
- Constructing, installing, operating, modifying or decommissioning an offshore facility, drilling or managing a well, or carrying out any petroleum or greenhouse gas activity under a title.
- When is Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act compliance due?
- Before each stage: safety case accepted (NOPSEMA has 90 days to decide a new safety case and 30 days for a revision) and environment plan accepted. Notify NOPSEMA at least 10 days before an activity starts and within 10 days after it ends. Reportable incidents: oral notice as soon as practicable (within 2 hours for a reportable environmental incident) and a written report within 3 days. Recordable environmental incidents: monthly report within 15 days after month end.
- What is the maximum penalty for Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act compliance?
- Contraventions are offences and civil penalty matters under the OPGGS Act. NOPSEMA can issue improvement, prohibition and do-not-disturb notices, give directions, withdraw acceptance of a safety case or environment plan, issue infringement notices, seek injunctions and adverse publicity orders, and bring civil or criminal proceedings.
- What evidence is required for Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act compliance?
- Operator registration and agreed scope of validation; accepted safety case and its five-yearly revisions; accepted environment plan; incident notifications and written reports; monthly death and injury summaries and recordable-incident reports (including nil reports); activity start and completion notices.
Source: https://www.nopsema.gov.au/offshore-industry/safety/safety-cases-and-validation. Rules Mate is not a law firm. Always verify against the live regulator source before acting.