Regulatory Guidance

Definition(s)

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Facility

Installation, plant and other equipment for petroleum activities, however not supply and support vessels or ships that transport petroleum in bulk. Facility also comprises pipeline and cable unless otherwise provided. Source: Act 29 November 1996 No. 72 Relating to Petroleum Activities, Norway, amended June 2011. Legislation Source: Regulations relating to health, safety and the environment in the petroleum activities and at certain onshore facilities (the Framework Regulations), Norway, February 2010 (amended December 2011). Regulations  

Facility

Ships used for stationary drilling are regarded as a facility. Ships used for storage of petroleum in conjunction with production facilities are regarded as part of the facility. The same applies to ships for transport of petroleum during the time when loading from the facility takes place. Source: Act 29 November 1996 No. 72 Relating to Petroleum Activities, Norway, amended June 2011. Legislation

Facility

Any artificial island, installation, or other device permanently or temporarily attached to the subsoil or seabed of offshore locations, erected for the purpose of exploring for, developing, or producing oil, natural gas or mineral resources. This definition includes mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs), but does not include pipelines or deepwater ports. Source: API RP 70, Security for Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Operations, Downstream Segment, First Edition, March 2003. Global Standards  

Facility

Any artificial island, installation, or other device permanently or temporarily attached to the subsoil or seabed of offshore locations, erected for the purpose of exploring for, developing, or producing oil, natural gas or mineral resources. This definition includes mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs). Source: API RP 70I, Security for Worldwide Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Operations, Upstream Segment, First Edition, May 2004. Global Standards  

Facility

Wells, structures, living quarters, drilling and workover packages, process equipment, utilities, pipelines, and mobile offshore units (except as noted in 1.3.1.1). Source: API RP 75, Recommended Practice for Development of a Safety and Environmental Management Program for Offshore Operations and Facilities: Upstream Segment, Third Edition, May 2004. Global Standards  

Facility

A facility comprises the buildings, containers, and equipment that could reasonably be expected to participate in a catastrophic release as a result of their being physically interconnected or of their proximity and in which dangerous substances are used, stored, manufactured, handled, or moved. Source: API RP 750, Management of Process Hazards, First Edition, January 1990. Global Standards  

Facility

"Facility" means, for the purposes of 165:10-21-15, any building(s), parts of a building, equipment, property, or vehicles that are actively engaged in the reuse, recycling, or ultimate destruction of deleterious substances pursuant to 68 O.S. Supp. 1986, §2357.14-§2357.20. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. Regulations  

Facility

Part or all of a tangible asset that comprises single or multiple-engineered structures and equipment to execute an activity at a specific location. Source: IOGP Report No. 510, Operating Management System Framework for controlling risk and delivering high performance in the oil and gas industry, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, June 2014. Global Standards  

Facility

“Facility” means a structure, installation, operation, storage tank, transmission line, access road, motor vehicle, rolling stock or activity of any kind, whether stationary or mobile. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. Regulations  

Facility

All contiguous land, including structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land, used for recycling, reclaiming, treating, storing, or disposing of hazardous waste. A facility may consist of several treatment, storage, or disposal operational units (e.g., one or more landfills, surface impoundments, or combinations thereof). Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. Regulations  

Facility

Facility means:

1. As used in § 250.130, all installations permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed on the OCS (including manmade islands and bottom-sitting structures). They include mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs) or other vessels engaged in drilling or downhole operations, used for oil, gas or sulphur drilling, production, or related activities. They include all floating production systems (FPSs), variously described as column-stabilized-units (CSUs); floating production, storage and offloading facilities (FPSOs); tension-leg platforms (TLPs); spars, etc. They also include facilities for product measurement and royalty determination (e.g., lease Automatic Custody Transfer Units, gas meters) of OCS production on installations not on the OCS. Any group of OCS installations interconnected with walkways, or any group of installations that includes a central or primary installation with processing equipment and one or more satellite or secondary installations is a single facility. The Regional Supervisor may decide that the complexity of the individual installations justifies their classification as separate facilities.
2. As used in 30 CFR 550.303, means all installations or devices permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed. They include mobile offshore drilling units (MODUs), even while operating in the “tender assist” mode ( i.e., with skid-off drilling units) or other vessels engaged in drilling or downhole operations. They are used for exploration, development, and production activities for oil, gas, or sulphur and emit or have the potential to emit any air pollutant from one or more sources. They include all floating production systems (FPSs), including column-stabilized-units (CSUs); floating production, storage and offloading facilities (FPSOs); tension-leg platforms (TLPs); spars, etc. During production, multiple installations or devices are a single facility if the installations or devices are at a single site. Any vessel used to transfer production from an offshore facility is part of the facility while it is physically attached to the facility.
3. As used in § 250.490(b), means a vessel, a structure, or an artificial island used for drilling, well completion, well-workover, or production operations.
4. As used in §§ 250.900 through 250.921, means all installations or devices permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed. They are used for exploration, development, and production activities for oil, gas, or sulphur and emit or have the potential to emit any air pollutant from one or more sources. They include all floating production systems (FPSs), including column-stabilized-units (CSUs); floating production, storage and offloading facilities (FPSOs); tension-leg platforms (TLPs); spars, etc. During production, multiple installations or devices are a single facility if the installations or devices are at a single site. Any vessel used to transfer production from an offshore facility is part of the facility while it is physically attached to the facility.

Facility means a vessel, a structure, or an artificial island used for drilling, well-completion, well-workover, and/or production operations. Source: Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf, 30 CFR 250 (2013). Regulations  

Facility

Clause 3 of Schedule 3 to the OPGGSA indicates that a facility is a facility as defined by Schedule 3 Clause 4, and includes:

• A facility being constructed or installed; and
• An associated offshore place.

Clause 4 defines a facility as a vessel or structure (whether floating or fixed) whether or not it is capable of independent navigation, while the vessel or structure is located in Commonwealth waters and is being used, or is being prepared for use, at the site (Schedule 3, Clause 4) for the recovery, processing, storage, offloading of petroleum (Clause 4(1)(b)(i)). In accordance with Clause 4(4)(3), this includes:

• any wells, associated plant, equipment by which petroleum processed or stored at the vessel or structure is recovered; and
• any pipes from a well, or secondary lines associated with the facility.

Other activities that cause vessels or structures to be facilities include activity categories covered in Clause 4(1)(b)(ii)–(v), and include:

• Accommodation for persons working on another facility;
• Drilling or servicing a well for petroleum or work associated with drilling or servicing;
• Laying pipes for petroleum, including any manufacturing of such pipes, or for doing work on an existing pipe; and
• Erection, dismantling or decommissioning of a facility.

The definition of facility was chosen on the basis that it included vessels and structures that present a safety risk to a significant number of people because of the presence of hydrocarbons [Explanatory Memorandum]. Categories of activities cause relevant vessels or structures to be defined as facilities and the Clause 4 definition lists these activities. Clause 4(6) lists the following that are not facilities: off-take tankers; tugs or anchor handling vessels; vessels used for supplying facilities or for travelling to or from a facility; any vessel or structure declared by regulations not to be a facility. Clause 4(7) notes that a vessel or structure is considered a facility not only when it is being used for offshore petroleum activities, but from the time it arrives at the site where it is to be used, until it has ceased its operations and is in a navigable or other state that enables it to relocate from the site. The main objective of the facility definition is to specify the physical boundaries of the regulatory regime. Hardware is drawn into the regime based on the type of activity and a general duty of care and a safety case/PSMP obligation are imposed to ensure risks are reduced as low as reasonably practicable. Obligations if a vessel is a facility A vessel which is determined to be a facility is subject to obligations of Schedule 3 and applicable regulations (including the requirement to have a Safety Case covering the vessel and the activity). In general, a facility comprises:

• Hardware: vessel or structure;
• Activity: recovering petroleum;
• Extension: wells, associated plant; and
• Associated offshore place: place near facility where related activities occur.

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

Facility

Facility includes a structure or installation of any kind. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 (Statutory Rules 1999 No. 228 as amended), Australia, prepared on 1 January 2012. Regulations  

Facility

Facility has the meaning given by clause 3 of Schedule 3 to the Act. 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  

Facility

Vessels and structures that are not facilities For paragraph 4 (6) (d) of Schedule 3 of the Act, the vessels and structures in the following table are not facilities. Note Under paragraph 4 (6) (d) of Schedule 3 to the Act, a vessel or structure is taken not to be a facility for the purposes of this Schedule if the vessel or structure is a vessel or structure used for any purpose such that it is declared by the regulations not to be a facility.

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 diving operation that relates to:
   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
3. Vessel supporting a remotely-operated vehicle that is being
4. used in connection with the removal of weight coating from a pipe before hydro-testing
5. Vessel supporting a diving operation that relates to the removal of weight coating from a pipe before hydro-testing
6. Vessel laying an umbilical or a cable
7. Vessel:
   1. laying a clump weight anchor or mattress; or
   2. conducting rock dumping on a pipe during its construction (before hydro-testing)
8. 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
9. Vessel undertaking pipe trenching and burial during the construction of a facility (before hydro-testing)
10. Dumb barge that is “hipped-up” to a facility
11. 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
12. Vessel placing a subsea pipe manifold or pipe end manifold during the construction of a facility (before hydro-testing)
13. Vessel attaching a cathodic protection anode to a pipe if welding is not required.

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  

Facility

Facility has the same meaning as in Schedule 3. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Australia, amended 2012. Legislation  

Facility

Facility:

1. in relation to safety case levy imposed by section 7 of the Regulatory Levies Act—has the same meaning as in that section; or
2. in relation to safety case levy imposed by section 8 of the Regulatory Levies Act—has the same meaning as in that section.

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

Facility

Facility means:

1. a facility (within the meaning of Schedule 3) located in Commonwealth waters; or
2. if there are provisions of a State or Territory PSLA that substantially correspond to Schedule 3 to this Act to the extent to which that Schedule relates to offshore petroleum operations—a vessel, structure or other thing that:
   1. is located in the designated coastal waters of the State or of the Northern Territory, as the case may be; and
   2. would have been a facility (within the meaning of Schedule 3 to this Act) if subclauses 4(5A) to (5E) of that Schedule had not been enacted and the vessel, structure, or thing had been located in Commonwealth waters; or
3. if there are provisions of a State or Territory PSLA that substantially correspond to Schedule 3 to this Act to the extent to which that Schedule relates to offshore greenhouse gas storage operations—a vessel, structure or other thing that:
   1. is located in the designated coastal waters of the State or of the Northern Territory, as the case may be; and
   2. would have been a facility (within the meaning of Schedule 3 to this Act) if subclauses 4(1) to (5) of that Schedule had not been enacted and the vessel, structure, or thing had been located in Commonwealth waters.

For the purposes of paragraphs (b) and (c), assume that a reference in Schedule 3 to this Act to a pipeline licence includes a reference to a pipeline licence under a State or Territory PSLA. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Australia, amended 2012. Legislation  

Facility

Facility means a facility as defined by clause 4, and:

1. includes a facility (as defined by clause 4) that is being constructed or installed; and
2. except in the definition of associated offshore place, includes an associated offshore place in relation to a facility (as defined by clause 4).

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

Facility

Vessels or structures that are facilities—offshore petroleum operations (1) A vessel or structure is taken to be a facility for the purposes of this Schedule while that vessel or structure:

1. is located at a site in Commonwealth waters; and
2. is being used, or prepared for use, at that site:
   1. for the recovery of petroleum, for the processing of petroleum, or for the storage and offloading of petroleum, or for any combination of those activities; or
   2. for the provision of accommodation for persons working on another facility, whether connected by a walkway to that other facility or not; or
   3. for drilling or servicing a well for petroleum or doing work associated with the drilling or servicing process; or
   4. for laying pipes for petroleum, including any manufacturing of such pipes, or for doing work on an existing pipe; or
   5. for the erection, dismantling or decommissioning of a vessel or structure referred to in a previous subparagraph of this paragraph; or
   6. for any other purpose related to offshore petroleum operations that is prescribed for the purposes of this subparagraph.

(2) Subclause (1) applies to a vessel or structure:

1. whether it is floating or fixed; and
2. whether or not it is capable of independent navigation.

(3) Subclause (1) has effect subject to subclauses (6) and (7). (4) A vessel or structure used for a purpose referred to in subparagraph (1)(b)(i) includes:

1. any wells and associated plant and equipment by means of which petroleum processed or stored at the vessel or structure is recovered; and
2. any pipe or system of pipes through which petroleum is conveyed from a well to the vessel or structure; and
3. any secondary line associated with the vessel or structure.

(5) For the purposes of subclause (1), a vessel or structure that is located offshore for the purpose of laying pipes as described in subparagraph (1)(b)(iv) is taken to be located at a site, despite the fact that the vessel or structure moves as the pipe laying process proceeds. Vessels or structures that are facilities—offshore greenhouse gas storage operations A vessel or structure is taken to be a facility for the purposes of this Schedule while that vessel or structure:

1. is located at a site in Commonwealth waters; and
2. is being used, or prepared for use, at that site:
   1. for the injection of a greenhouse gas substance into the seabed or subsoil; or
   2. for the storage of a greenhouse gas substance in the seabed or subsoil; or
   3. for the compression of a greenhouse gas substance; or
   4. for the processing of a greenhouse gas substance; or
   5. for the pre-injection storage of a greenhouse gas substance; or
   6. for the offloading of a greenhouse gas substance; or
   7. for the monitoring of a greenhouse gas substance stored in the seabed or subsoil; or
   8. for any combination of activities covered by any of the preceding subparagraphs; or
   9. for the provision of accommodation for persons working on another facility, whether connected by a walkway to that other facility or not; or
   10. for drilling or servicing a well for injecting a greenhouse gas substance into the seabed or subsoil or doing work associated with the drilling or servicing process; or
   11. for laying pipes for conveying a greenhouse gas substance, including any manufacturing of such pipes, or for doing work on an existing pipe; or
   12. for the erection, dismantling or decommissioning of a vessel or structure referred to in a previous subparagraph of this paragraph; or
   13. for any other purpose related to offshore greenhouse gas storage operations that is prescribed for the purposes of this subparagraph.

(5B) Subclause (5A) applies to a vessel or structure:

1. whether it is floating or fixed; and
2. whether or not it is capable of independent navigation.

(5C) Subclause (5A) has effect subject to subclauses (6) and (7). (5D) A vessel or structure used for a purpose referred to in subparagraph (5A)(b)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii) or (viii) includes:

1. any wells and associated plant and equipment by means of which a greenhouse gas substance processed or temporarily stored at the vessel or structure is injected into the seabed or subsoil; and
2. any pipe or system of pipes through which a greenhouse gas substance is conveyed from the vessel or structure to a well;and
3. any greenhouse gas injection line associated with the vessel or structure.

For the purposes of subclause (5A), a vessel or structure that is located offshore for the purpose of laying pipes as described in subparagraph (5A)(b)(xi) is taken to be located at a site, despite the fact that the vessel or structure moves as the pipe laying process proceeds. Vessels or structures that are not facilities Despite subclauses (1) and (5A), a vessel or structure is taken not to be a facility for the purposes of this Schedule if the vessel or structure is:

1. an offtake tanker; or
2. a tug or an anchor handler; or
3. a vessel or structure used for supplying a facility or otherwise travelling between a facility and the shore; or
4. a vessel or structure used for any purpose such that it is declared by the regulations not to be a facility.

Use for a particular purpose In determining when a vessel or structure that has the potential to be used for one or more of the purposes referred to in paragraph (1)(b) or (5A)(b) is in fact being so used, the vessel or structure is taken:

1. to commence to be so used only at the time when it arrives at the site where it is to be so used and any activities necessary to make it operational at that site are begun; and
2. to cease to be so used when operations cease, and the vessel or structure has been returned either to a navigable form or to a form in which it can be towed to another place.

Pipelines that are facilities Each of the following is taken to be a facility for the purposes of this Schedule:

1. a pipeline subject to a pipeline licence;
2. if a pipeline subject to a pipeline licence conveys petroleum recovered from a well without the petroleum having passed through another facility—that pipeline, together with:
   1. that well and associated plant and equipment; and
   2. any pipe or system of pipes through which petroleum is conveyed from that well to that pipeline;
3. if a pipeline subject to a pipeline licence conveys a greenhouse gas substance to a well without the greenhouse gas substance having passed through another facility—that pipeline, together with:
   1. that well and associated plant and equipment; and
   2. any pipe or system of pipes through which a greenhouse gas substance is conveyed to that well from that pipeline.

In paragraph (8)(b): facility does not include a pipeline. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Australia, amended 2012. Legislation  

Facility

Facility or parts thereof includes temporary equipment and third party equipment also. Source: Guidance Notes on Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules, 2008, Oil Industry Safety Directorate (India), 2012. Regulatory Guidance

Facility

Facilities or parts of facilities also mean temporary equipment. Source: Guidelines Regarding the Activities Regulations, Norway, updated December 2012. Regulatory Guidance  

Facility

The definition of facility is the same as in the Petroleum Act, cf. Section 1-6, litera d, with comments, but it is included because the Working Environment Act uses the term in a somewhat different way. It is specified that, among other things, detached well structures of various types that are placed on the seabed, for example subsea production facilities with e.g. a wellhead, christmas tree and subsea templates, are included under the facility term. The same applies for equipment in the well and the well itself. This means that, unless otherwise evident from the context, requirements for facilities will also apply for the mentioned equipment, etc. Source: Guidelines Regarding the Framework Regulations, Norway, updated December 2012. Regulatory Guidance  

Facility

The term facility includes permanently placed and mobile facilities. Source: Guidelines Regarding the Framework Regulations, Norway, updated December 2012. Regulatory Guidance  

Facility

Like the Petroleum Act, the Working Environment Act will apply to facilities in the petroleum activities. The term facility is the same as is used in the Petroleum Act, cf. the definition in Section 1-6, litera d of the Petroleum Act. The Working Environment Act has a different, narrower application for vessels than the Petroleum Act, but in the determination of what constitutes a facility and what constitutes a vessel, the same criteria as follow from the petroleum legislation form the basis. Reference is here made to the delimitation in the Petroleum Act in connection with Section 1-4 cf. Section 1-6 litera c, which further limits what vessels can be considered supply and standby vessels, cf. Odelsting Proposition No. 43 (1995-1996), pages 27 and 28. The term includes, in addition to vessels that transport personnel and equipment, crane barges and other service vessels, vessels used to carry out manned underwater operations, pipe-laying vessels, vessels that carry out seismic surveys, etc. On the other hand, e.g. mobile drilling facilities, drilling or production vessels, flotels, etc. will clearly be covered by the term facility. As follows from the second subsection, however, certain restrictions have been set in the actual scope in relation to the Petroleum Act, which entails that the Working Environment Act will have a somewhat more limited application as regards the vessel function. Source: Guidelines Regarding the Framework Regulations, Norway, updated December 2012. Regulatory Guidance  

Facility

Facility includes amenity and equipment. Source: Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Public Act 1992 No 96, New Zealand, as of 1 July 2011. Legislation  

Facility

“Facilities” means offshore installation, plant, associated pipelines and cables and other equipment for petroleum activities, but does not include supply and support vessels or ships that transport petroleum in bulk. Source: Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules, 2008, India, 18th June 2008. Regulations