Approval of resource management, activity and infrastructure plans

You must have a petroleum surface infrastructure plan (PSIP) before any production activities can begin on a petroleum licence.

A PSIP relates to all petroleum infrastructure on a title including flow and gathering lines, compressors, pumps and processing plant, but does not include wells.

What to include

A PSIP must:

• demonstrate that the infrastructure is, or will be appropriately designed, built and operated so that recovered petroleum is appropriately managed from the point of extraction at the wellhead to the point of removal from the title area
• be prepared and submitted for one or both of the following phases:
  • design and construction
  • operation and decommissioning.

PSIP applications are assessed and determined within 90 days from when the plan is submitted.

Security

A PSIP application must be accompanied by a proposal for a petroleum infrastructure decommissioning security.

Security must be paid before construction begins.

Reviews

An approved PSIP must be reviewed:

• every 5 years
• before the start of an activity which is not covered by, or is inconsistent with the PSIP
• before a significant change is made to the way risks to the integrity of surface infrastructure are managed or
• as soon as practicable after the integrity of surface infrastructure becomes subject to a significant new risk or increased level of risk.

Fees

There is a standard cost to submit a PSIP initially, with the cost for a revision based on the complexity.

Read more about fees and levies.