Definition(s)

Associated offshore place

As noted above a facility includes an associated offshore place.

Clause 3 of Schedule 3 to the OPGGSA defines associated offshore place as any offshore place near the facility where activities (including diving activities) relating to construction, operation, maintenance or decommissioning of the facility takes place.

The associated offshore place in relation to a facility can vary depending on the nature of the activities undertaken. Parties undertaking activities relating to the construction, operation, maintenance or decommissioning of the facility are in an associated offshore place and included in the facility.

Obligations if a vessel is an associated offshore place

A vessel determined to be an associated offshore place is subject to obligations of Schedule 3 and applicable regulations, including the existing (host) facility safety case. If the vessel and activity are not covered by the existing safety case, a revision to the host safety case will be required.

Source: NOPSEMA Guideline: Facility definition includes an associated offshore place, N-01000-GL0253, Australia, Revision 4, December 2011. Regulatory Guidance

 

Associated offshore places

Vessels and structures that are not associated offshore places

  1. For the definition of associated offshore place in clause 3 of Schedule 3 of the Act, the vessels and structures in the following table are not associated offshore places.
    1. Vessel supporting a remotely-operated vehicle that is being used in connection with:
      1. inspection; or
      2. cleaning; or
      3. non-disturbing span rectification (for example, grout bagging); or
      4. the operation of a valve; or
      5. the recovery of debris; or
      6. valve control unit change out
    2. Vessel supporting a remotely-operated vehicle that is being used in connection with the removal of weight coating from a pipe before hydro-testing
    3. Vessel laying an umbilical or a cable
    4. Vessel:
      1. laying a clump weight anchor or mattress; or
      2. conducting rock dumping on a pipe during its construction (before hydro-testing)
    5. Vessel placing support structures or foundations on the sea bed for the purpose of a facility, including:
      1. foundation supports for a platform jacket, pipe end manifold or another manifold; or
      2. foundation piles
    6. Vessel undertaking pipe trenching and burial during the construction of a facility (before hydro-testing)
    7. Vessel installing and attaching a short length flexible pipe or jumper if there is no petroleum or greenhouse gas substance contained in the pipe or equipment to which the flexible pipe or jumper is being connected
    8. Vessel placing a subsea pipe manifold or pipe end manifold during the construction of a facility (before hydro-testing)
    9. Vessel attaching a cathodic protection anode to a pipe if welding is not required
  2. However, subregulation (1) does not apply to a vessel in circumstances in which a facility is causing a risk (other than an ordinary marine risk) to the vessel or to persons on the vessel.

Note: The exclusion of a vessel mentioned in an item in the table does not necessarily mean that a pipe, plant or equipment mentioned in the item is also excluded from the definition of associated offshore place.

Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety) Regulations 2009 (Select Legislative Instrument 2009 No. 382 as amended), Australia, prepared on 1 January 2012. Regulations

 

Associated offshore place

Associated offshore place, in relation to a facility, means any offshore place near the facility where activities (including diving activities) relating to the construction, installation, operation, maintenance or decommissioning of the facility take place, but does not include:

  1. another facility; or
  2. a supply vessel, offtake tanker, anchor handler or tugboat; or
  3. a vessel, or structure, that is declared by the regulations not to be an associated offshore place.

Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Australia, amended 2012. Legislation

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