griffin pipeline tpl/10 environment plan summary

GRIFFIN PIPELINE TPL/10 ENVIRONMENT PLAN SUMMARY

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This document is a controlled document. BHP Billiton Petroleum | 2

Contents

1 INTRODUCTION 3

2 LOCATION OF THE FACILITY 3

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION 5 3.1 Infrastructure .............................................................................................................................. 5 3.2 Activities ..................................................................................................................................... 5 3.3 Timing ........................................................................................................................................ 6

4 DESCRIPTION OF RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT 6 4.1 Natural Environment .................................................................................................................. 6 4.2 Biological Environment .............................................................................................................. 7 4.3 Socio-Economic Environment.................................................................................................... 8

5 MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND CONTROLS 10

6 MANAGEMENT APPROACH 11

7 CONSULTATION 11

8 CONTACT DETAILS 12




1 INTRODUCTION BHP Billiton Petroleum Pty Ltd (BHP Billiton) is the designated operator on behalf of a joint venture comprising BHP Billiton Petroleum (Australia) Pty Ltd, INPEX Corporation Ltd, and Exxon-Mobil Australia Pty Ltd, that are the holders of Petroleum Exploration Permit WA-10-L. Production operations in WA-10-L (Griffin Field) ceased production with the departure of the Griffin Venture (GV FPSO) in September 2009. All subsea infrastructure was left in-situ, the wells and infrastructure were depressurised and flushed of hydrocarbons.

The Environment Plan (EP) was prepared in accordance with the requirements under Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982 (WA), [P(SL)A], and supporting Petroleum Pipelines (Environment) Regulations 2012 (Environment Regulations). The EP was accepted by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) to cover the pipeline in State waters on 3December 2014.

This EP summary document has been prepared as per the requirements of Environment Regulations r. 11(7), which states that within ten (10) days after receiving notification that the Department has accepted an EP, the operator must submit a summary of the plan to the Department for public disclosure. It has also been prepared using the Department’s Guidelines for the Preparation and Submission of an Environment Plan (DMP, 28 August 2012).

This document summarises the findings and conclusions of the environmental risk assessment undertaken for the presence of the export pipeline in WA state waters, and the controls developed and implemented to reduce the impact and risk of the pipeline to as low as reasonably practicable.

2 LOCATION OF THE FACILITY The Griffin Development is situated within Permit Area WA-10-L and WA-12-L located on the North West Shelf (Latitude 21°13.4’S and Longitude 114°38.7’E) approximately 68 kilometres offshore in a water depth of 130 metres. The export pipeline extends from the RTM in Commonwealth waters (Pipeline licence WA-3-PL) through WA State waters (pipeline licence TPL/10) to the shore, crossing the outer and inner North West Shelf. The surrounding area includes Barrow Island and Dampier, 80 kilometres and 235 kilometres north-east respectively and the town of Onslow 70 kilometres to the east. The field location is shown Figure 1.




Figure 1: Griffin Wells in Permit Area WA-10-L and WA-12-L and State Waters Pipeline TPL/10 (red line)




3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION 3.1 Infrastructure The operational area applicable to the scope of this EP is shown Figure 1. Infrastructure in the operational area is as follows:

• Griffin 7.75’’ Export Pipeline (Licence No. TPL-10 State Offshore) in West Australian State waters (approximately 32.5km from the Commonwealth/State waters boundary to landfall).

The current status of the pipeline can be summarised as follows:

• The pipeline does not contain hydrocarbons; • The pipeline is no longer connected to a source of hydrocarbons; • In September 2009 the infrastructure was flushed (cleared) of hydrocarbons, depressurised and

purged (displaced) with nitrogen ; • Pipeline seabed stability has been proven over numerous surveys conducted annually from 1994 to

2008 where no deviation from the original pipeline route has been identified; and • The pipeline pressure is 15 bar.

The final ROV survey of Griffin Field subsea systems was conducted in 2008. Surveys of this nature were undertaken annually from 1994 with a total of 15 surveys completed. Information collected from these surveys indicated that there had been little change in integrity of the subsea equipment over the survey period. The integrity of the pipeline is being maintained and corrosion of the pipeline is not considered a credible risk. The most recent scheduled subsea inspection of infrastructure took place on 22 May 2013. The condition of the subsea structures inspected was good and was considered not to pose an environmental risk.

3.2 Activities No maintenance or inspection activities are planned for the offshore state waters component of the pipeline subject to this EP.




3.3 Timing Historical and project key activities for Griffin Development (indicative timing) are shown Table 1. Supporting activities take place as required.

Table 1: Historical and projected key activities for Griffin Development (indicative timing)

Activity 1989 1994 1995 - 2009

2009 2012-2016

2014 - 2018

Field discovery Floating Production Storage and Offloading Vessel (FPSO) 'Griffin Venture' Commissioned FPSO production (~15 y)

FPSO stopped producing (September) FPSO sail-away to Asia (November) Field Cessation Activities (October, 1 week) Field Cessation (RTM inspections) Abandonment and Decommissioning (following technical studies)

4 DESCRIPTION OF RECEIVING ENVIRONMENT 4.1 Natural Environment The Griffin Field is located approximately 68 kilometres north west of Onslow (Figure 1). The seabed within the Griffin Pipeline area remains mostly undisturbed with a small portion that is categorised as disturbed due to the presence of sub-sea infrastructure of the Griffin Development.

The Griffin Permit area is located on the Outer Rowley Shelf1. The Outer Rowley Shelf, which is on the

middle shelf of the Northwest Shelf Province and covers 47% of the North-West Marine Bioregion2. The

general geomorphology of the Rowley Shelf seabed is gentle and smooth, although the Inner Rowley Shelf features a number of island reefs and other geomorphologic features

3. The range of habitats and species of

the Outer Rowley Shelf is much less diverse than the inner Rowley Shelf4.

The climate of the region experiences an arid sub-tropical climate and a distinct summer monsoonal “wet” season from November to February, followed by a typically cooler winter “dry” season

5. Cyclones can bring

vast amounts of rain to the area, with strong swell and rough seas common during these events. 1 Baker C, Potter A, Tran M and Heap A, 2008. Sedimentology and geomorphology of the North-west Marine Region: A

spatial analysis. Geoscience Australia, DEWHA, 2008. Accessed 19/06/2012. 2 Ibid,1. 3 Wilson, S.G., Taylor, J.G. and Pearce, A.F. (2001). The seasonal aggregation of Whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef,

Western Australia: currents, migrations and the El Niño/Southern Oscillation. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 61:1–11.

4 Ibid,1. 5 ANRA 2013 Pilbara Overview –Climatology Australian Government

http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/rangelands/overview/wa/ibra-pil.html




The average Sea Surface Temperature (SST) within the area ranges from 20°C to 24°C during winter and 24°C to 28°C during summer

6. The temperature of the sea surface is determined by solar energy and mixing

due to sea state and temperature declines with depth. The oceanography of the region is strongly influenced by the warm, low salinity waters of the Indonesian Through Flow (ITF), which influences the upper 1250 m of the water column

7.

Surface currents are subject to strong seasonal variations; the Eastern Gyral Current intensifies during July-September and the Leeuwin Current is strongest in autumn, and weakens during from December to March. As the pipeline is located up to 68 kilometres offshore, the oceanographic conditions are more likely to be influenced by large scale processes, localised eddies and vertical mixing. In addition to seasonal variability, the oceanography of the region exhibits inter-annual variability, with winds driving the thermocline to shallower depths, reducing sea level and sea surface temperature resulting in a weakening of the ITF and Leeuwin Current during El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and reversing in La Niña years

8.

4.2 Biological Environment A search of threatened and migratory species as listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), protected under international conventions and treaties, indicated twelve species have the potential to occur within a 10 kilometre radius the Griffin Pipeline

9. Eight of the twelve

threatened species under the EPBC Act are listed as Schedule 1 (fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct) under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950

10. An additional six marine species are also listed as

migratory under the EPBC Act. No Critical Habitats or Threatened Ecological Communities were identified.

The Griffin Pipeline area (the Outer Rowley Shelf) contains benthic assemblages comprising predominantly crustaceans, cephalopods and small fish that live within a structural habitat formed by a sparse community of sponges, soft corals, sea pens and gorgonians. Results of the 2009 Griffin Field Subsea Operations ROV Surveys identified epibiota such as oysters, barnacles and soft and hard corals colonies on the subsea infrastructure. Soft growth cover varied from 5 to 15% cover of seabed infrastructure, predominantly hydroids with entrapped sediment (up to 250 mm) in the deeper water sections, and up to 75% cover of soft corals and sponges (up to 1 m long) in shallow water up to 80 metres

11.

Five species of sea turtle are known to possibly occur in the region. These are Green turtles Chelonia mydas, Loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta, Hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata, Flatback turtles Natator depressus and Leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea.

The most common whale species in the North West Shelf region is the Humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae, which moves through the region during their migration along the Western Australian coast. Humpback whales are likely to traverse the Griffin Pipeline area.

In addition to the Humpback whale, the Blue whale Balaenoptera musculus, Minke whale Balaenoptera 6 BOM. 2012c Sea Surface Temperature in Western Australia – Climatology. http://www.bom.gov.au/. Australian

Government Bureau of Meteorology, Canberra, ACT. 7 DEWHA. 2007. A characterisation of the marine environment of the North-west Marine Region – A summary of an

expert workshop convened in Perth, Western Australia, 5-6 September 2007. A report prepared by the North-west Marine Bioregional Planning section, Marine Biodiversity Division, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra, ACT

8 Ibid, 7. 9 Department of Environment. Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of Environment, Canberra. Available

from: http://www.environment.gov.au/ Accessed 11/11/13. 10 Government Gazette 2012/204 Wildlife Conservation (Specially Protects Fauna ) Notice 2012(2), 6th November 2012. 11 Surespek, 2008. Griffin field Subsea Operations 2008 ROV Inspection Survey Report, No.: R-08-743-01-Rev-1.




bonaerensis and several other toothed whales may be sighted in the vicinity of the operational area. The abundance of the whales present in the vicinity is likely to vary seasonally, from low numbers during December to May, and low to moderate from June to November.

The region also supports diverse and abundant shark and ray populations. The Whale shark Rhincodon typus is known to frequent the region, and tend to migrate to and from the aggregation areas at Ningaloo Reef. The Shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus is an active offshore epipelagic species that occurs in both tropical and temperate waters and is cosmopolitan in its distribution. The Longfin mako (I. Paucus) is an oceanic cosmopolitan tropical species and is only rarely encountered globally

12. While these mako species

may transit the Griffin Pipeline area, the area is unlikely to represent critical habitat for the species (key feeding, breeding, pupping areas).

Dolphins are common inhabitants of the offshore waters of the region. Spinner dolphins Stenella longirostris and striped dolphins Stenella coeruleoalba are expected in deeper waters while Bottle-nosed dolphins Tursiops are common in shallow water areas of the North West Shelf.

A large number of seabird species migrate across the region, and may pass through the area, including ten species of migratory seabirds protected under international agreements. The Southern giant petrel Macronectes giganteus is a migratory species that breeds on sub-Antarctic and Antarctic islands over the summer months and then migrates north; with the northerly limit being the Tropic of Capricorn approximately

13. The Southern giant petrel is unlikely to be impacted by pipeline presence and its own

mobility. The Southern giant petrel is unlikely to be impacted by pipeline activities given the nature of the activities and its own mobility.

4.3 Socio-Economic Environment There are no conservation reserves or parks located within the TPL/10 pipeline license. The closest sensitive environmental receptors to the Griffin Pipeline area are the Ningaloo Marine Park (World Heritage Site), Muiron Islands Marine Management Area, Cape Range National Park (National Heritage listed) and Barrow Island Marine Park and Management Area. The closest of marine management areas is the Muiron Islands Management Marine area which is approximately 48 kilometres south-west from the nearest section of the Pipeline.

Four state-managed fisheries overlap with the Griffin Pipeline Area:

• Mackerel Managed Fishery (State Department of Fisheries WA (DFWA); • Onslow Prawn Managed Fishery (State DFWA); • Pilbara Demersal Scale Fishery (State DFWA); • Northern Shark Fisheries (State DFWA);

Recreational fishing mostly occurs within State waters adjacent to populated coastal areas. The Griffin pipeline is located outside of these populated areas thereby avoiding popular recreational fishing locations. Due to the remoteness of the Griffin Pipeline area, recreational fishing areas are unlikely to be impacted by pipeline.

There are no national heritage places or shipwrecks within the Griffin pipeline area, and there are no other known sites of non-indigenous heritage or archaeological significance within the vicinity of the Griffin Development.

12 Reardon, M.B., Gerber, L. & Cavanagh, R.D. (2006). Isurus paucus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened

Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 12/6/12. 13 Ibid,.12.




The EPBC Act Protected Matters Search Tool did not identify areas of National Estate within the Griffin Pipeline area and its 10 kilometre buffer. The Griffin Pipeline area is located outside the main shipping fairways off the north coast of Western Australia

14. The nearest shipping lane to the Griffin Pipeline Area is

14.4 nautical miles.

Tourism activity in the North-West Marine Region includes a variety of marine-based activities including charter boats, diving, fishing and sailing. Due to access restrictions to the Griffin Pipeline area and distance from the coastline, recreational activities are unlikely to be impacted.

Finally, the presence of the pipeline will not impinge on any cautionary area associated with surrounding oil and gas production facilities in the Exmouth or Barrow sub-basins.

14 AMSA Marine Notice 15/2012 Shipping Fairways off the north-west coast of Australia.




5 MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND CONTROLS

BHP Billiton has undertaken an analysis of the environmental risks associated with activities at the Griffin pipeline TPL/10. The risk assessment methodology was consistent with the procedures outlined in the Australian and New Zealand Standards AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 (Risk Management – Principles and Guidelines).

These risks, potential impacts and preventative and mitigative controls are summarised below. All management and mitigation measures associated with risks will be used to reduce environmental risk to ALARP and will be of an acceptable level.

Risk

Source Impacts Management and Mitigation Measures

Planned Activities

Physical presence of subsea infrastructure

Location of pipeline on sea floor

Interference with fishing and/or shipping.

Location of pipeline will be lodged with Hydrographic Survey and indicated on hydrographic maps

Pipeline damage

Damage to pipeline causing release of nitrogen

Loss of nitrogen No mitigation measure proposed, refer comment15.

15 Nitrogen is an inert gas and so the only danger is through asphyxiation. If there was an unintended release in the

subsea pipeline there is a very low probability that migrating, filter feeding or transitory species will be exposed. It is expected if nitrogen was to be released, it would be rapidly diluted, dispersed and assimilated given strong currents. No measurable impact to surrounding water quality, outside of a very small localised mixing zone is expected based on the low volumes of discharge within an open ocean environment.




6 MANAGEMENT APPROACH

The Griffin Pipeline TPL/10 EP will be managed in compliance with the EP accepted by DMP under the regulations and the BHP Billiton HSEC Management System framework.

The objective of the EP is to ensure that potential adverse impacts on the environment associated with the presence of export pipeline in state waters during both routine and non-routine operations are identified, reduced to ALARP and of an acceptable level.

Specifically, the EP details the performance objectives, controls and performance standards to be implemented for each environmental risk identified and assessed for the export pipeline, as well as specific measurement criteria that will be used to demonstrate that the performance objectives are achieved.

The implementation strategy details the management system framework in place to achieve the performance objectives, including systems for planning, implementation and operation, monitoring and record keeping, and improvement and change. The EP also details reporting requirements for environmental incidents (recordable and reportable incidents) defined under Part 3 of the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Environment) Regulations 2012 and Part 3 of Petroleum Pipelines (Environment) Regulations 2012, and additional compliance reporting requirements.

7 CONSULTATION

BHP Billiton has been actively involved in stakeholder engagement in the Onslow region since the development of the Griffin Joint Venture in the early 1990s. This project included the Griffin Gas Plant at Tubridgi, located approximately 20 kilometres south of Onslow. This development triggered the start of a long term relationship with the town of Onslow, local pastoralists, Shire of Ashburton and the Thalanyji (the recognised Native Title holders). This relationship has continued with BHP Billiton’s ongoing development in the region includes the Stybarrow and Pyrenees FPSO facilities and the Macedon domestic gas project.

In support of these operations the Exmouth Community Reference Group and the Onslow Community Reference Group (CRG) were established to facilitate consultation. The CRGs continue to meet every three to four months. The CRG forum aims for proactive and regular interaction to promote open and inclusive communication with relevant stakeholders. Meetings are minuted with actions recorded and tracked. BHP Billiton engages with the traditional owners, the Thalanyji, through representation on the CRG, the Macedon Thalanyji Liaison Committee and through Thalanyji heritage monitors who are present for all ground disturbing activities at the Macedon domestic gas plant.

BHP Billiton continuously engages with stakeholders through regular community reference group (CRG) meetings held in both in Exmouth and Onslow. CRG meetings are used to provide stakeholders with updates on petroleum activities and provide opportunities for relevant persons to raise any concerns or issues. The BHP Billiton Petroleum External Affairs toll-free 1800 number and email address is also made available to stakeholders as a direct line of communication to BHP Billiton Petroleum.

Consultation activities with relevant stakeholders included:

• A fact sheet;

• Face to face meetings;

• presentations to the Exmouth and Onslow Community Reference Groups meeting;




• follow-up telephone calls; and

• the BHP Billiton Petroleum External Affairs toll-free 1800 number and email address for to stakeholders as a direct line of communication to BHP Billiton Petroleum.

Through these activities stakeholders were provided with sufficient information to make an informed assessment of the activity and were provided with a reasonable period to respond to the consultation. Information provided to stakeholders included:

• the location of the proposed activity;

• a description of the activity including the timing and duration of the activity;

• a description of the socio-environmental risks;

• a description of the mitigation measures relevant to the socio-environment risks;

• a description of relevant BHP Billiton policies and experience; and

• details on where to obtain additional information if required.

All stakeholder engagements records are maintained by BHP Billiton Petroleum External Affairs.

In support of the resubmission of the Griffin Pipeline EP, and pursuant to Regulation 17(1)(b), BHP Billiton undertook an assessment of the proposed activities and potential environmental, social and economic impacts to determine relevant authorities, persons and organisations to be identified based on:

• A demonstrated interest in the proposed activity or potential environmental, social or economic impact;

• State or Local Government authorities with jurisdiction over the activity; • Organisations or individuals that undertake normal business activities in the vicinity of the proposed

activity; and

• Their potential involvement in responding to the unlikely event of loss of containment of chemicals or hydrocarbons.

No issues or concerns have been raised by stakeholder groups in relation to this EP. To ensure interested persons have the opportunity to enquire about the project, the BHP Billiton Petroleum External Affairs toll-free 1800 number and email address is available to stakeholders.

8 CONTACT DETAILS

To date, there has been no issues or concerns raised by stakeholder groups, however, to ensure interested persons have the opportunity to enquire about the project, BHP Billiton Petroleum Corporate Affairs team can be contact via email ([email protected]) or phone 1800 110 258.

mailto:[email protected]

griffin pipeline tpl/10 environment plan summary

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