Greenhouse Gas Storage Regulation 2021

This regulation may be cited as the Greenhouse Gas Storage Regulation 2021.

The dictionary in schedule 3 defines particular words used in this regulation.

For section 53(1)(g) of the Act, the following matters are prescribed—

a description of the geological model for the area of the proposed GHG permit;

an assessment of the potential for the discovery of a GHG storage site in the area of the proposed GHG permit;

the rationale, in relation to the geological model for the area, for the activities proposed to be carried out under the proposed GHG permit.

For section 141(1)(g) of the Act, the following matters are prescribed—

any likely conflict between an authorised activity to be carried out under the proposed GHG lease and another authorised activity carried out under an authority, however called, under another resource Act;

details, including the location, type and size, of any planned infrastructure intended to be located within the area of the proposed GHG lease.

Examples of infrastructure—

• plant or works, including, for example, communication systems, compressors, powerlines, pumping stations, reservoirs, roads, evaporation or storage ponds and tanks

• temporary structures or structures of an industrial or technical nature, including, for example, mobile and temporary camps

For section 142(3) of the Act, the following information is prescribed—

details of—

each petroleum well (a relevant well), other than a petroleum well mentioned in section 143 of the Act, that intersects or may intersect the site; and

each water bore (a relevant bore) that intersects or may intersect the site;

the impacts GHG stream storage may have on a relevant well or relevant bore;

how the impacts on a relevant well or relevant bore will be mitigated or prevented.

For sections 80(3) and 161(3) of the Act, a proposed test plan for GHG storage injection testing must include the following information—

where and how the proposed testing will be carried out;

details of the substance proposed to be injected, including—

whether the substance is composed of a GHG stream or water; and

if a GHG stream is proposed to be injected—information about the composition of the GHG stream; and

the proposed volume of the substance to be injected; and

the proposed rate of injection of the substance; and

the expected migration pathway of the substance after its injection;

the operations and techniques to be used to monitor and verify the behaviour of the substance during the proposed testing;

an assessment of whether there is any risk to public health or the environment associated with the proposed testing;

how any risks mentioned in paragraph (d) will be mitigated or prevented.

For section 255(1)(b) of the Act, the following information is prescribed—

the permit information for the report;

the general area information for the report;

if the relinquished area for the permit has been used for GHG storage injection testing—

a description of the methods used for the testing; and

information about the substance injected for the testing, including the volume of water or GHG stream injected;

a description of the geological model for the relinquished area and an assessment of the potential for discovering a GHG stream storage site in the area;

a summary of the results of all authorised activities for the GHG permit carried out in the relinquished area since the permit took effect and the conclusions drawn by the holder based on the results;

the hazard information for the report;

the volume of water produced for the authorised activities carried out in the relinquished area from each GHG well or water bore in the area for each year since the GHG permit took effect;

if a GHG well has been made in the relinquished area since the permit took effect—all data or other information held by the holder that, in the holder’s reasonable opinion, may help a person to identify in the future any use that may be made of the well;

the reason the holder has relinquished the area;

any other information stated in the relevant direction for the report.

In this section—

general area information, for a relinquishment report for a GHG permit, means the following information—

spatial information showing the location of—

the area of the permit immediately before the relinquishment (the previous permit area); and

the relinquished area;

spatial information showing the location in the relinquished area of—

each GHG well and water bore drilled under the permit; and

each seismic line used for a seismic survey carried out under the permit;

structure contour spatial information showing the seismic horizons (seismic reflectors) in the relinquished area;

spatial information showing the leads and prospects in the relinquished area;

a general description of the topographical features of the previous permit area and the relinquished area, including, for example, access to the areas.

permit information, for a relinquishment report for a GHG permit, means the following information—

the day the permit was granted;

the day the relinquishment takes effect;

the period of the work program for the GHG permit;

the blocks or sub-blocks that make up the relinquished area.

relinquished area, for a relinquishment report for a GHG permit, means the part of the area of the permit that is relinquished.

For section 256(b) of the Act, the following information is prescribed—

any information, other than the information mentioned in section 256(a) of the Act, required for a report under—

for a GHG permit—section 7; or

for a GHG lease—section 9;

any other information stated in the relevant direction for the report.

For subsection (1)—

a reference in section 7 to the relinquished area is taken to be a reference to the area of the GHG permit immediately before it ended; and

a reference in section 9 to the GHG lease being surrendered is taken to be a reference to the lease immediately before it ended.

Subsection (1) does not apply to the extent the information has been included in a relinquishment report or a report for a surrender application given for the tenure.

For section 177(2)(g) of the Act, the following information is prescribed—

information about the amount and location of—

GHG stream storage carried out in the area of the GHG lease; and

water produced for an authorised activity carried out in the area of the lease from each GHG well or water bore in the area;

other information related to the information mentioned in paragraph (a) that helps to show or describe—

the size and location of any GHG stream storage sites in the area of the lease; and

the amount and location of water that may be produced for an authorised activity carried out in the area of the lease from each GHG well or water bore in the area;

a description of the geological features of each GHG stream storage reservoir in the area of the lease in which a GHG stream has been stored;

a description of the methods used to store each GHG stream;

the hazard information for the report;

how the impacts or potential impacts on petroleum wells or water bores that intersect GHG stream storage sites in the area of the lease have been mitigated or prevented;

any information required to be reported under the Act for the lease that has not been previously reported;

any other information stated in the relevant direction for the report.

This part prescribes, for section 257(1)(b) of the Act, notices and reports required to be given to the chief executive by the holder of a GHG authority.

If the holder of a GHG tenure intends to drill a GHG well, the holder must give the chief executive a notice about the proposed drilling of the well.

The notice must—

be given to the chief executive in the required way at least 10 business days before the drilling starts; and

state a proposed identifying name for the GHG well.

The proposed identifying name must not be the same, or substantially the same, as an identifying name for another well recorded in the register.

If any of the following events happens, the relevant holder must give the chief executive a notice about the event—

drilling of a GHG well is completed;

the completion configuration of a GHG well changes;

a GHG well is abandoned.

For subsection (1)(a), drilling of a GHG well is completed if—

the drilling rig last used to drill the well is moved so it is no longer above the well; and

the relevant holder intends no further drilling of the well to occur.

For subsection (1)(b), the completion configuration of a GHG well changes if, after drilling of the well is completed—

additional casing is installed in the well; or

any part of the well is plugged, other than for decommissioning the well; or

an interval in the well is altered in another way.

The notice must be given to the chief executive in the required way within 10 business days after the event happens.

In this section—

relevant holder means the holder of the GHG tenure under which the GHG well was drilled.