Bass Strait Environment Plans and Oil Pollution Emergency Plan

Environment Plans (EP)

Esso carries out offshore petroleum activities in a manner consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development and in accordance with an accepted Environment Plan.

An Environment Plan is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGS Act) and Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 (OPGGS Regulations) for activities in Commonwealth Waters.

The overall aim of an Environment Plan is to demonstrate to the regulator, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), that Esso has a comprehensive understanding of how its operations interact with the environment, and to demonstrate the implementation of environmental safeguards to reduce the risks to as low as reasonably practicable.

Environment plans, including associated oil pollution emergency plans, are assessed by NOPSEMA, and once approved, form the document that outlines how Esso manages it activities in Bass Strait.

You can view the Environment Plan that covers Esso’s offshore activities on NOPSEMA’s website.

For activities in State Waters, an Environment Plan is prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Victorian Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (OPGGS) Act 2010 and the Victorian Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Regulations 2011 (Vic OPGGSR 2011).

The following Environment Plan covers Esso’s pipeline activities in Victorian State Waters. It has been submitted to the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) following a period of stakeholder consultation. If you would like to submit a question or concern about Esso’s pipeline activities in State Waters, please direct your question to information.australia@exxonmobil.com

Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (OPEP)

Numerous controls are put in place to prevent spills occurring and to limit their potential impact upon the environment if they occur.

Esso has long-established oil spill response plans for all our operations offshore and onshore, as well as our own oil spill response equipment.

We continuously assess the risks associated with our offshore operations and potential oil spill scenarios form the basis of our planned response strategies, which are documented in our Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (OPEP).

The OPEP demonstrates the capability to respond to spills that may result from activities identified in current offshore operations and is submitted to NOPSEMA with each offshore Environment Plan.

Esso regularly engages in practice exercises, which can include with government departments and agencies, to maintain response readiness. The OPEP will also detail the roles and responsibilities of Esso and other stakeholders involved in a spill response.

Esso’s parent company, ExxonMobil, is a founding member of the Australian Marine Oil Spill Centre , which is a co-operative enterprise established by the petroleum industry to provide response equipment and expertise in the event of a major oil spill.

Various external government departments, including the state department responsible for marine pollution and environmental protection authority, review strategies for oil spills that could reach state waters and/or the coastline.

Learn more about our approach to oil spill prevention.