Feature: Safety Case Revision in Australia
Safety Case Revision in Australia
Like all offshore production facilities operating in Australian Commonwealth Waters, Vermilion’s Wandoo Facilities are required to have a Safety Case and Environment Plan that are assessed and accepted by the Regulator, NOPSEMA. The Safety Case and Environment Plan are objective- and evidence-based assessments requiring the Regulator to be satisfied that:
- The identified hazards and potential impacts are suitable for the Wandoo Facilities
- Hazards are assessed and managed to as low as reasonably practical, and
- A management system is in place to support and monitor implementation of hazard controls on a continual basis.
The Safety Case and Environment Plan require review and resubmission at a minimum frequency of five years, with regular inspections by NOPSEMA to confirm compliance in the meantime.
The Safety Case is focused on the prevention of major accident events. Vermilion is required to identify, assess and manage major accident events through a series of formal safety assessments, including flammable hazards analysis, explosion risk assessment, and Escape, Temporary Refuge, Evacuation and Recovery Analysis. Throughout 2019, Vermilion undertook a five-yearly review, the outcomes of which were accepted by the Regulator in 2020.
The Environment Plan addresses the environmental impact from operations, well construction and oil spill response. We undertook a comprehensive environmental risk and impact assessment for all our activities within the Wandoo Field, and received NOPSEMA approval in 2021 for our:
The Safety Case and Environment Plans require engagement with relevant stakeholders. The Safety Case process regularly engages the workforce throughout the assessment processes. The Environment Plan requires consultation with stakeholders that may be directly impacted by our day to day activities.
