The policy statement for the Commonwealth Government’s regulation of venting and flaring activities is part of a commitment under the government’s Future Gas Strategy. It is also reflected in the Resources Sector Plan, supporting progress towards Australia’s emissions reduction targets.
The statement outlines the government’s expectations of how:
- titleholders manage venting and flaring of gas associated with offshore petroleum facilities
- regulators support the delivery of the Future Gas Strategy commitment under existing offshore regulations including the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006.
Venting and flaring are activities that release gases into the atmosphere as part of petroleum exploration, development and production.
- Venting is the intentional or unintentional release of gas streams or process by-products into the atmosphere, including emergency discharges.
- Flaring involves igniting the released hydrocarbons and process by-products, converting methane to mostly carbon dioxide.
This policy statement only applies to offshore petroleum facilities.
The statement includes stakeholder feedback on the existing venting and flaring regulatory framework, obtained as part of the Future Gas Strategy: draft offshore guidelines consultation. Separately, our department is considering submissions around the offshore guidelines component of the consultation.