COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006

NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR WORK-BID GREENHOUSE GAS ASSESSMENT PERMIT APPLICATION - 2021

 

I, KEITH JOHN PITT, the responsible Commonwealth Minister (the RCM), pursuant to section 296(1) of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (the OPGGS Act), hereby invite applications for the grant of work-bid greenhouse gas assessment permits in respect of the blocks and within the areas described below.

 

Applications must be received, in the manner prescribed below, from Friday 4 March 2022 9:00 am local time at the place of submission to Thursday 10 March 4:00 pm local time at the place of submission.

 

Applications for the 2021 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release will not be accepted prior to Friday 4 March 2022 9:00 am local time at the place of submission.

 

Provisions and requirements of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Titles Administration and Other Measures) Act 2021 (the Titles Administration Act) will come into effect from 2 March 2022. Applicants are encouraged to review the Titles Administration Act to ensure they are familiar with these requirements.

 

Where applicable, applicants are encouraged to include information or documents which will be required following commencement of these provisions in any application.  The relevant provisions of the Titles Administration Act are:

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

When preparing a bid and planning, applicants should:

 

Public consultation comments

Applicants are advised to review public consultation feedback comments received in relation to the 2021 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release areas they intend to bid on via Consultation Hub at https://consult.industry.gov.au/2021-ghg-acreage-release.

 

Trailing liability

Potential bidders should be aware that amendments to the OPGGS Act which implement the Australian Government’s expanded trailing liability policy will come into effect on 2 March 2022. Provisions and requirements of the Titles Administration Act provide that past titleholders that held a title on or after 1 January 2021, or related persons, may be called back to undertake remedial works in the former title area should issues arise in future.

 

Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981

Waters surrounding Australia's coastlines are protected from wastes and pollution dumped at sea by the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 (the Sea Dumping Act). The Sea Dumping Act regulates the dumping of controlled waste materials at sea, including carbon dioxide (CO2) for sequestration into the sub-seabed. The Sea Dumping Act fulfils Australia's international obligations as a contracting party under the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972.

 

Proponents that wish to sequester CO2 in the sub-seabed in Australian waters may require a permit under the Sea Dumping Act. Proponents are recommended to contact the sea dumping section at seadumping@awe.gov.au early in their project planning to understand their obligations under the Sea Dumping Act. More information on sea dumping and Australian waters is available at

https://www.awe.gov.au/environment/marine/marine-pollution/sea-dumping.

 

Australian Marine Parks, Biologically Important Areas and Key Ecological Features

Investors should note that some of the gazetted areas overlap Australian Marine Parks, Biologically Important Areas (BIAs) and Key Ecological Features. For more information in relation to these areas please refer to the following:

 

The Australian Heritage Database provides information on the National Heritage values protected as Matters of National Environmental Significance under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

 

Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH)

The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) administers the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 (UCH Act). The requirements of the UCH Act are separate to those of the EPBC Act. Any potential titleholder who is planning to undertake works in the offshore environment should consult heritage@awe.gov.au for advice on how to mitigate risks associated with UCH.

 

Unexploded ordnance

There is potential for unexploded ordnance (UXO) on or in the sea floor in areas where Defence operates and especially in Air Weapons Range Areas. Proponents should be aware of the risks involved in conducting offshore exploration and development activities. The potential presence of UXO carries with it an associated risk of detonation. Defence takes no responsibility for:

 

As a consequence, the Australian Government provides no guarantee or indemnity regarding the safety or whereabouts of UXO.

 

Storage Formation Integrity

Potential bidders should be aware that the integrity of a storage formation may be affected by the presence of wells drilled within the title area or surrounding area, regardless of whether they intersect a storage formation or not. This includes any pre-title petroleum, greenhouse gas storage or stratigraphic wells and any wells drilled under an active GHG assessment permit.

 

Potential bidders may need to consider the impact of wells on the integrity of the storage formation and how this affects the fundamental suitability determinants of a storage formation under the OPGGS Act.

 

Potential bidders may be required to remediate wells to a suitable standard to allow for the safe injection and permanent storage of CO2 into a storage formation.

 

Foreign Investment Review Board

International investors may need to seek approval from the Australian Treasurer. See the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) website (https://firb.gov.au/) for more information. If FIRB approval is not available at the time of submission, it will need to be provided separately before any new permit award.

 

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009

A ‘greenhouse gas activity’ is defined in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 (Environment Regulations).

 

‘Seismic or exploratory drilling activity’ is also a term defined in the Environment Regulations and includes some greenhouse gas activities.

 

The Environment Regulations require that an environment plan (EP) for a greenhouse gas activity must be accepted by the National Offshore Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) before the activity can commence. EPs for seismic or exploratory drilling activities are subject to a 30 day public comment period before NOPSEMA can commence assessment of those environment plans. A titleholder commits an offence if they undertake an activity and there is no environment plan in force for the activity.

 

Information regarding environment plans, including but not limited to assessment policy, content requirements and decision-making, is available on the environmental management section of NOPSEMA’s website.

 

In February 2014, NOPSEMA’s environmental management authorisations process was endorsed by the Commonwealth Environment Minister as a Program that meets the requirements of Part 10 of the EPBC Act. This endorsement of the NOPSEMA Program streamlines the environmental approval processes for most offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas activities proposed in Commonwealth waters.

 

While titleholders for greenhouse gas exploration activities can access the streamlined environmental management authorisation arrangements under the endorsed NOPSEMA Program, titleholders of activities that include injection and/or storage of greenhouse gas cannot access the streamlined arrangements.

 

This means that additional environmental approvals under the EPBC Act may be required in addition to an environment plan accepted by NOPSEMA for greenhouse gas injection and / or storage activities. The NOPSEMA website provides additional information regarding the NOPSEMA EPBC Act Program, including further details on activities included within, and excluded from, the endorsed streamlined arrangements.

 

Duty holders should also be aware that additional safety and integrity authorisations from NOPSEMA may be required for greenhouse gas activities and associated facilities.

 

Seismic survey data

Potential bidders are strongly encouraged consider all available seismic data over an area to determine if further seismic acquisition is necessary in order to form a more targeted work program bid. If required potential bidders are encouraged to use new technology to formulate a more targeted proposal for work in the area.

 

Investors are encouraged to consider all available seismic data over an area to determine if further seismic acquisition is necessary in and to form a more targeted work program bid. Geoscience Australia’s National Offshore Petroleum Information Management System (NOPIMS) can assist with determining what data is available. NOPIMS is available at

https://www.ga.gov.au/nopims.

 

 

Map Sheet SC52 (Melville Island)

3406

3407

3408

3409

3410

3411

3412

3413

3414

3415

3416

3417

3418

3419

3420

3421

3422

3423

3424

3425

3426

3427

3428

3429

3430

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map Sheet SD52 (Darwin)

0023

0024

0025

0026

0027

0028

0029

0030

0031

0032

0033

0034

0035

0036

0037

0038

0039

0040

0041

0042

0043

0044

0045

0046

0095

0096

0097

0098

0099

0100

0101

0102

0103

0104

0105

0106

0107

0108

0109

0110

0111

0112

0113

0114

0115

0116

0117

0118

0168

0169

0170

0171

0172

0173

0174

0175

0176

0177

0178

0179

0180

0181

0182

0183

0184

0185

0186

0187

0188

0189

0190

0240

0241

0242

0243

0244

0245

0246

0247

0248

0249

0250

0251

0252

0253

0254

0255

0256

0257

0258

0259

0260

0261

0262

0313

0314

0315

0316

0317

0318

0319

0320

0321

0322

0323

0324

0325

0326

0327

0328

0329

0330

0331

0332

0333

0334

0386

0387

0388

0389

0390

0391

0392

0393

0394

0395

0396

0397

0398

0399

0400

0401

0402

0403

0404

0405

0406

0458

0459

0460

0461

0462

0463

0464

0465

0466

0467

0468

0469

0470

0471

0472

0473

0474

0475

0476

0477

0478

0531

0532

0533

0534

0535

0536

0537

0538

0539

0540

0541

0542

0543

0544

0545

0546

0547

0548

0549

0550

0607

0608

0609

0610

0611

0612

0613

0614

0615

0616

0617

0618

0619

0620

0621

0622

0680

0681

0682

0683

0684

0685

0686

0687

0688

0689

0690

0691

0692

0693

0694

0753

0754

0755

0756

0757

0758

0759

0760

0761

0762

0763

0764

0765

0766

0825

0826

0827

0828

0829

0830

0831

0832

0833

0834

0835

0836

0837

0838

0894

0895

0896

0897

0898

0899

0900

0901

0902

0903

0904

0905

0906

0907

0908

0909

0910

0966

0967

0968

0969

0970

0971

0972

0973

0974

0975

0976

0977

0978

0979

0980

0981

0982

1038

1039

1040

1041

1042

1043

1044

1045

1046

1047

1048

1049

1050

1051

1052

1053

1054

1110

1111

1112

1113

1114

1115

1116

1117

1118

1119

1120

1121

1122

1123

1124

1125

1126

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed to contain 330 full blocks.

 

Australian Marine Parks

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-1 was known to overlap the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park Multiple Use Zone (IUCN VI).

 

Biologically Important Areas

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-1 was known to overlap the following BIAs (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Key Ecological Features

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-1 was known to overlap the following key ecological features (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Department of Defence (Defence)

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-1 was known to overlap the North Australia Exercise Area (NAXA) and the Darwin Air Weapons Range (Central & West). GHG21-1 also coincides with military restricted airspace. Non-Defence flying operations in these areas are required to be conducted in accordance with Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restrictions.

 

Proposed bidders should follow all procedures and restrictions relating to Notices to Mariners (NOTMAR) and NOTAM. Further information is available from the Australian Hydrographic Service and Airservices Australia.

 

Proponents are advised that the Minister for Defence has the authority, under the Defence Force Regulations 1952, to gazette any area of sea or airspace as a Defence Practice Area (DPA) for carrying out Defence operations or practices. Operations in these areas are required to be conducted in accordance with NOTMAR restrictions. A deed of access may be required by Defence when operating within a DPA.

 

To mitigate any potential risk to the safety of personnel conducting defence activities and of defence assets, the following preventable control conditions may need to be satisfied by any potential titleholders of GHG21-1:

 

Wells within the area

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-1 was known to overlap the following wells (noting that this list may not be exhaustive) (source: NOPIMS):

 

Map Sheet SC52 (Melville Island)

 3398

3399

3400

3401

3402

3403

3404

3405

Map Sheet SD52 (Darwin)

0014

0015

0016

0017

0018

0019

0020

0021

0022

0086

0087

0088

0089

0090

0091

0092

0093

0094

0158

0159

0160

0161

0162

0163

0164

0165

0166

0167

0230

0231

0232

0233

0234

0235

0236

0237

0238

0239

0302

0303

0304

0305

0306

0307

0308

0309

0310

0311

0312

0374

0375

0376

0377

0378

0379

0380

0381

0382

0383

0384

0385

0446

0447

0448

0449

0450

0451

0452

0453

0454

0455

0456

0457

0518

0519

0520

0521

0522

0523

0524

0525

0526

0527

0528

0529

0530

0590

0591

0592

0593

0594

0595

0596

0597

0598

0599

0600

0601

0602

0603

0662

0663

0664

0665

0666

0667

0668

0669

0670

0671

0672

0673

0674

0675

0730

0731

0732

0733

0734

0735

0736

0737

0738

0739

0740

0741

0742

0743

0744

0745

0746

0747

0802

0803

0804

0805

0806

0807

0808

0809

0810

0811

0812

0813

0814

0815

0816

0817

0818

0819

0820

0821

0874

0875

0876

0877

0878

0879

0880

0881

0882

0883

0884

0885

0886

0887

0888

0889

0890

0891

0892

0893

0946

0947

0948

0949

0950

0951

0952

0953

0954

0955

0956

0957

0958

0959

0960

0961

0962

0963

0964

0965

1019

1020

1021

1022

1023

1024

1025

1026

1027

1028

1029

1030

1031

1032

1033

1034

1035

1036

1037

1092

1093

1094

1095

1096

1097

1098

1099

1100

1101

1102

1103

1104

1105

1106

1107

1108

1109

1167

1168

1169

1170

1171

1172

1173

1174

1175

1176

1177

1178

1179

1180

1181

1241

1242

1243

1244

1245

1246

1247

1248

1249

1250

1251

1252

1253

1314

1315

1316

1317

1318

1319

1320

1321

1322

1323

1324

1325

1388

1389

1390

1391

1392

1393

1394

1395

1396

1397

1461

1462

1463

1464

1465

1466

1467

1468

1469

1534

1535

1536

1537

1538

1539

1540

1541

Assessed to contain 304 full blocks.

 

Marine parks

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-2 was known to overlap the Oceanic Shoals Marine Park Multiple Use Zone (IUCN VI).

 

Biological important areas

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-2 was known to overlap the following BIAs (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Key Ecological Features

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-2 was known overlap the following key ecological features (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Department of Defence

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-2 was known to overlap the NAXA and the Darwin Air Weapons Range (West). GHG21-2 coincides with military restricted airspace. Non-Defence flying operations in these areas are required to be conducted in accordance with NOTAM restrictions.

 

Proposed bidders should follow all procedures and restrictions relating to NOTMAR and NOTAM. Further information is available from the Australian Hydrographic Service and Airservices Australia.

 

Proponents are advised that the Minister for Defence has the authority, under the Defence Force Regulations 1952, to gazette any area of sea or airspace as a DPA for carrying out Defence operations or practices. Operations in these areas are required to be conducted in accordance with NOTMAR restrictions. A deed of access may be required by Defence when operating within a DPA.

 

To mitigate any potential risk to the safety of personnel conducting defence activities and of defence assets, the following preventable control conditions will need to be satisfied by any potential titleholders of GHG21-2:

 

Wells within the area

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-2 was known to overlap the following wells (noting that this list may not be exhaustive) (source: NOPIMS):

 

Map Sheet SD51 (Brunswick Bay)

2033

2034

2035

2036

2037

2038

2105

2106

2107

2108

2109

2110

2177

2178

2179

2180

2181

2182

2249

2250

2251

2252

2253

2254

2321

2322

2323

2324

2325

2326

2393

2394

2395

2396

2397

2398

2465

2466

2467

2468

2469

2470

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed to contain 42 full blocks.

 

Biologically Important Areas

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-3 was known to overlap the following BIAs (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Key Ecological Features

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-3 was known overlap the following key ecological features (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Wells within the area

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-3 was known to overlap the following wells (noting that this list may not be exhaustive) (source: NOPIMS):

 

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

2910

2911

2912

2913

2914

2980

2981

2982

2983

2984

2985

2986

3052

3053

3054

3055

3056

3057

3058

3124

3125

3126

 

 

Assessed to contain 22 full blocks.

 

Biologically Important Areas

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-4 was known to overlap the following BIAs (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Key Ecological Features

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-4 was known overlap the following key ecological features (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Wells within the area

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-4 was known to overlap the following wells (noting that this list may not be exhaustive) (source: NOPIMS):

 

Map Sheet SE50 (Rowley Shoals)

3127

3197

3198

3199

3265

3266

3267

3268

3269

3270

3271

3272

3273

3337

3338

3339

3340

3341

3342

3343

3344

3345

3407

3408

3409

3410

3411

3412

3413

3414

3415

3416

3417

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Map Sheet SF50 (Hamersley Range)

0023

0024

0025

0026

0027

0029

0030

0031

0032

0033

0098

0099

 

 

 

 

Assessed to contain 45 full blocks.

 

Biologically Important Areas

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-5 was known to overlap the following BIAs (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Key Ecological Features

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-5 was known overlap the following key ecological features (noting that this list may not be exhaustive):

 

Wells within the area

At the time of gazettal, GHG21-5 was known to overlap the following wells (noting that this list may not be exhaustive) (source: NOPIMS):


APPLICATIONS

 

In accordance with subsection 296(3) of the OPGGS Act, applications must be accompanied by details of:

 

  1. the applicant’s proposals for work and expenditure in relation to the block or blocks specified in the application; and
  2. the technical qualifications of the applicant and of the applicant’s employees; and
  3. the technical advice available to the applicant; and
  4. the financial resources available to the applicant.

 

For further details of the expectations of the RCM in relation to the content of applications and used as the criteria for ranking of competing applicants in accordance with section 299 of the OPGGS Act, please refer to the Guideline: Offshore Greenhouse Gas Work-bid Assessment Permits, available at https://www.nopta.gov.au/guidelines-and-factsheets/index.html.

 

FEE

 

An application must be accompanied by the appropriate application fee and evidence of payment. The amount of the fee is prescribed in schedule 6 of the RMA regulations[1]. Details on how to pay the prescribed fee are on NOPTA’s website.

 

If paying by cheque, please write the full company name and Australian Business Number of each applicant and work-bid release area number on the back of the bank cheque. Cheques should be made payable to ‘NOPTA – Commonwealth of Australia’.

 

If paying by electronic funds transfer, please make payment to the following account:

 

Bank Name

Reserve Bank of Australia

Account Name

Dept of Industry Science Energy and Resources Official Administered Receipts Account Resources (RET)

BSB

092-009

Account Number

119585

Swift Code

RSBKAU2S

 

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

 

The application must be on the approved application form and signed by all applicants. The application form is available for download from the NOPTA website at

http://www.nopta.gov.au/forms/forms.html.

 

One bound paper copy and one electronic copy in text search format (on CD, DVD or USB) of the application, together with evidence of payment of the application fee, must be submitted to the NOPTA in the following manner:

 

 

To submit an application please make an appointment with the NOPTA by emailing ghg@nopta.gov.au or phoning (08) 6424 5317.

 

Please check the NOPTA website prior to submitting an application for further updates on submissions.

 

Location

Address

Date

Perth Office

National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator

Level 8, Alluvion Building

58 Mounts Bay Road
Perth WA 6000

+61 8 6424 5317

Bids are to be submitted between:

Friday 4 March 2022 9:00 am (AWST)

and

Thursday
10 March 2022 4:00 pm (AWST)

Melbourne Office

National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator

Level 25, 140 William Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

+61 3 8199 0300

Bids are to be submitted between:

Friday 4 March 2022 9:00 am (AEDT)

and

Thursday
10 March 2022 4:00 pm (AEDT)

 


[1] Please note that application fees are subject to change. Applicants should refer to the application fee stated in Schedule 6, Part 1 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Resource Management and Administration) Regulations 2011 or confirm with NOPTA prior to submitting an application https://www.nopta.gov.au/_documents/schedule-of-fees.pdf)