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 Eni must make safe the floating mid-depth buoy and to take steps to mitigate risks of it being a navigation hazard.
|
04/09/2020 | Eni Australia Limited (Eni) | Woollybutt | A746254.pdf | Complied with |
| General Direction Take appropriate action to ensure effective implementation of the fisheries compensation process, in accordance with environment plan commitments.
|
07/07/2020 | CGG Services (Australia) Pty Ltd | Gippsland multi-client 3D marine seismic survey | A738553-A737906.pdf | Complied with |
| OHS Improvement Notice Failure to complete required inspection and maintenance activity associated with two mid-depth buoy mooring systems, resulting in mooring system deficiencies. Extended to 31/12/2020.
|
04/05/2020 | Eni Australia Limited (Eni) | Woollybutt | A730702.pdf | Complied with |
| General Direction Increasing deficiencies with the Safety Management System in relation to the isolation of plant and equipment to conduct intrusive activities at the facility. NOPSEMA is conducting a verification inspection.
|
20/03/2020 | Shell Australia Pty Ltd | Prelude FLNG | A722042.pdf | Complied with |
| OHS Prohibition Notice Breaking-up threaded well piping using power tongs in an elevated work basket without implementing sufficient controls to reduce the risks to as low as reasonably practicable.
|
27/02/2020 | Vermilion Oil and Gas Australia Pty Ltd | Wandoo B | A719433.pdf | Complied with |
| OHS Improvement Notice Failure to prevent bullying behaviour and mitigate its consequences, unnecessarily exposing employees to the risk of psychological injury. Extended to 17/08/2020
|
19/02/2020 | Teekay Shipping (Australia) Pty Ltd | Dampier Spirit | A717587.pdf | Complied with |
| OHS Improvement Notice The operator has not taken all reasonably practicable steps to ensure, as a result of identified surface corrosion, plant and equipment is safe. Extended to 08/09/2020.
|
14/02/2020 | Vermilion Oil & Gas Australia Pty Ltd | Wandoo B | A717516.pdf | Complied with |
| OHS Improvement Notice Airborne hazardous chemical dust was not being controlled during chemical mixing at the manual hopper in the sack room and presented an occupational health risk to members of the work force.
|
31/12/2019 | Sedco Forex International Inc | Development Driller 1 | A710240.pdf | Complied with |
| OHS Prohibition Notice Airborne hazardous chemical dust was not being controlled during chemical mixing at the manual hopper in the sack room and presented an occupational health risk to members of the work force.
|
19/12/2019 | Sedco Forex International Inc | Sedco Forex International Inc | A709815.pdf | Complied with |
| Environmental Improvement Notice Riser Turret Mooring may become a navigation collision hazard.
|
23/10/2019 | Woodside Energy Ltd | Nganhurra Cessation of Operations | A700032.pdf | Complied with |