Published directions and notices
As part of its regulatory functions under the OPGGS Act and to increase transparency, NOPSEMA publishes directions, prohibition notices and improvement notices. These regulatory enforcement actions are published within 7 days and no later than 21 days of issuance and the provisions for publication do not apply to any other types of notices, letters or enforcement actions issued by NOPSEMA or NOPSEMA inspectors.
Published directions, improvement and prohibition notices will not be removed when they cease to have effect, however, in the event a direction/notice is the subject of external review it will be removed. Where a direction is revoked, the direction is cancelled from the date specified in the revocation notice. NOPSEMA will ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable all personal information as defined in the Privacy Act 1988 is redacted from these documents prior to publication. When a direction or notice is marked closed, it means that the duty holder has notified NOPSEMA that the direction or notice has been complied with.
Under Part 6.2 of the OPGGS Act, NOPSEMA and the responsible Commonwealth Minister have powers to issue directions to petroleum or greenhouse gas titleholders. NOPSEMA can issue three types of directions: general directions, significant incident directions and remedial directions. The directions powers are used by NOPSEMA for enforcing compliance with the OPGGS Act and associated regulations. Failure to comply with directions is an offence.
A prohibition notice may be issued if a NOPSEMA inspector is satisfied on reasonable grounds that there is an immediate threat to the health or safety of any person or an immediate and significant threat to the environment. A prohibition notice stops the duty holder from continuing their activity and will only cease to have effect when a NOPSEMA inspector is satisfied adequate action has been taken to remove the threat specified in the notice. Failure to comply with a prohibition notice is an offence.
An improvement notice may be issued if a NOPSEMA inspector believes the duty holder or titleholder is contravening or has contravened a provision of offshore petroleum Commonwealth OHS or environmental law and as a result there is, or could be, a risk to the health and safety of any person or a significant threat to the environment. The notice will cease to have effect when the responsible duty holder or titleholder takes the action specified in the notice. Failure to comply with an improvement notice is an offence.
Sort published directions and notices
| Type Of Notice | Date issued | Organisation | Facility / activity | Notice | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Direction
Jadestone is directed to improve its corrosion management system to ensure the facilities meet specifications and are safe and fit for purpose.
|
09/03/2021 | Jadestone Energy | Montara | A769881.pdf | Complied with |
| General Direction To plug or close off wells associated with Nganhurra offshore operations; remove property; provide for the conservation and protection of natural resources; and make good any damage to the seabed or subsoil in title area, to the satisfaction of NOPSEMA. Revoked – refer to General Direction 1913.
|
05/02/2021 | Woodside Energy Ltd. | Nganhurra (WA-28-L) | A763405.pdf | Revoked |
| General Direction Take appropriate actions to ensure that drilling operations at the Maersk Deliverer MODU facility, is safe without hazard to members of the workforce.
|
04/02/2021 | INPEX Ichthys Pty Ltd | Maersk Deliverer | A767302.pdf | Complied with |
| Remedial Direction To remove property; provide for the conservation and protection of natural resources; and make good any damage to the seabed or subsoil in title area, to the satisfaction of NOPSEMA. The Directions apply to title areas NT/PL2, NT/PL3, WA-15-PL, WA-33-L. The PDF associated with this direction relates to directions 806, 807, 808 and 809.
|
17/12/2020 | Eni Australia B.V. | Black tip (NT/PL2, NT/PL3, WA-15-PL, WA-33-L) | A762868 A768775.pdf | Revoked |
| General Direction To plug or close off wells; remove property; provide for the conservation and protection of natural resources; and make good any damage to the seabed or subsoil in title area, to the satisfaction of NOPSEMA.
|
17/12/2020 | Eni Australia Limited | Woollybutt (WA-25-L) | A762863.pdf | Complied with |
| General Direction Chevron must take appropriate action (including inspection, root cause identification and remediation activities) to ensure heavy wall pressure vessels on the Wheatstone Platform are safe and fit for service.
|
14/12/2020 | Chevron (TAPL) Pty Ltd | Wheatstone Platform | A761194.pdf | Complied with |
| General Direction Take appropriate measures to prevent a re-occurrence of the inadvertent parting of the Marine Breakaway Coupling, and updating, testing and providing further internal training with respect to the implementation of the Oil Pollution Emergency Plan.
|
27/11/2020 | Jadestone Energy (Australia) Pty Ltd | Stag Field Operations | A758979.pdf | Complied with |
| OHS Improvement Notice The Operator did not take all reasonably practicable steps, as a result of corrosion of critical structural elements to the facility crane, to ensure that the crane was safe and without risk to the health of persons at or near the facility.
|
24/11/2020 | Beach Energy (Operations) Limited | Yolla-A | A759195.pdf | Complied with |
| OHS Improvement Notice Risk of serious injury to personnel at the facility due to uncontrolled movement of equipment in the derrick whilst man-riding, and increased exposure to potential for serious injury or death to personnel at the facility, during man-riding work in the derrick as a result of work conducted aloft.
|
12/11/2020 | Woodside Energy Ltd | VALARIS DPS-1 | A756577.pdf | Complied with |
| OHS Improvement Notice Risk of serious injury to personnel at the facility due to uncontrolled movement of equipment in the derrick whilst man-riding, and increased exposure to potential for serious injury or death to personnel at the facility, during man-riding work in the derrick as a result of work conducted aloft.
|
12/11/2020 | Ensco Australia Pty Limited | VALARIS DPS-1 | A756565.pdf | Complied with |