Petroleum Regulations 2021

The well operation management plan included in an operation plan under regulation 22(1)(a)(vi) must, in relation to each well to which it relates—

contain the name and number of the well; and

set out the elevation, easting and northing coordinates of the well and the basin and sub-basin (if applicable) in which the well is located; and

describe each of the proposed stages of any well activity carried out during the petroleum operation including, if appropriate, the design, construction, operation, suspension, care, maintenance and decommissioning of the well; and

be appropriate for the nature and scale of each well activity to be carried out under the operation plan; and

include details of the design of the well and ancillary equipment, including details of how the well is to protect petroleum resources and aquifers; and

set out the authority holder's proposed timetable for carrying out each well activity; and

describe how the holder of the authority is to keep records and conduct inspections, including but not limited to leak detections, well-head inspections, well-head maintenance, workovers, and downhole inspections; and

describe the process by which a connection is to be made between the well and a petroleum reservoir so that fluids can be produced from, or injected into, the reservoir; and

include details of how modifications, maintenance and repairs to the well and ancillary equipment are to be managed; and

include details of how any suspension or decommissioning of the well is to be managed, including specifications for all materials that are to be used to maintain well integrity, including but not limited to casings, tubing, mud, cement, and well‑heads; and

describe the equipment and facilities to be used in connection with the well and ancillary equipment; and

identify the risks associated with each well activity during each stage and state how the holder of the authority proposes to eliminate or minimise those risks as far as is reasonably practicable; and

include details of when and how the holder of the authority is to give the Minister reports and information about—

each well activity; and

any well integrity hazards; and

progression from one stage to another during the well operation; and

significant increases in existing risks in relation to the well; and

other matters relevant to the conduct of each well activity; and

demonstrate that the holder of the authority has a well integrity management system in place, or a process for managing well integrity during the life of the well that complies with relevant industry standards.

The well operation management plan must include the following details, unless the Minister gives the holder of the authority written permission for any details specified in that permission not to be included—

information about the conduct of each well activity;

an explanation of the philosophy of and criteria for the design, construction, operational activity and management of the well and ancillary equipment;

the possible petroleum production and storage activities of the well;

details of—

which logs will be run; and

how those logs will be run;

proposals for testing of the well and ancillary equipment;

proposed sampling and testing methods for petroleum;

performance objectives against which the performance of each well activity is to be measured;

measurement methods for determining whether the performance objectives have been met;

the controls, systems, practices and procedures to be used to deal with—

a well integrity hazard; and

a significant increase in an existing risk in relation to the well, including if an activity must continue to be carried out for the purpose of dealing with the risk; and

the protection of any aquifers;

how the holder of the authority will ensure that the design of the well is verified by a person suitably qualified or experienced to verify the well design;

the qualifications or experience of the person referred to in paragraph (j), and that person's work telephone number, email and postal address;

how the holder of the authority will ensure that the construction of the well is supervised by a person suitably qualified or experienced to verify that the well construction—

is completed in accordance with the design of the well; and

complies with any relevant requirements and standards;

how the holder of the authority will ensure that the decommissioning of the well is supervised by a person suitably qualified or experienced to verify that the well decommissioning—

is completed in accordance with the design of the well; and

complies with any relevant requirements and standards;

details of how the holder of the authority will ensure well integrity;

how the holder of the authority will ensure that any contractors or subcontractors involved in managing the operation of the well are suitably qualified or experienced;

how the holder of the authority will, during the life of the well—

maintain 2 verified well barriers at all times; and

keep records containing details of any well interventions, well-head maintenance activities, workovers and well testing.

The holder of the authority must give the following details to the Minister at least 10 days before construction of the well commences—

the qualifications or experience of the person referred to in subregulation (2)(l);

the work telephone number, email address and postal address of the person referred to in subregulation (2)(l).

The holder of the authority must give the following details to the Minister at least 10 days before the well is decommissioned—

the qualifications or experience of the person referred to in subregulation (2)(m);

the work telephone number, email address and postal address of the person referred to in subregulation (2)(m).