Rulings
Rulings allow petroleum operators to continue with activities that existed before the EEZ Act came into force.
You can see the rulings requested by these petroleum operators below.
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Rulings allow petroleum operators to continue with activities that existed before the EEZ Act came into force.
You can see the rulings requested by these petroleum operators below.
BW Offshore (BWO) is an international company that owns the FPSO (floating production storage and offtake facility) Umuroa. The FPSO has been operating in the Tui Field within PMP 38158, approximately 50 kilometres off the coast of Taranaki. BWO wishes to disconnect the FPSO Umuroa from the oil wells operated by Tamarind Taranaki Ltd (in receivership) and remove it from the Tui Field.
In order to do so, BWO have lodged two ruling requests with the EPA:
Both rulings are required before BWO can fully disconnect and sail the FPSO Umuroa away.
On 23 April 2020, we did not provide the parts of the second ruling (Ruling 2, EEZ500029) to BW Offshore to disconnect the offshore installation the FPSO Umuroa from the subsea equipment (SSE) and placement of it on the seabed. The uncertainty in the effects on the environment and existing interests of the proposed activities prevented us from being assured they would be minor or less than minor. We provided part of Ruling 2, EEZ500029 for the use of Remotely Operated Vehicles.
In effect, BWO are not authorised to undertake the other disconnection activities (including activities authorised under its initial ruling) unless the disconnection of the subsea equipment is lawfully authorised.
Decision memorandum EEZ500029 (pdf 552KB)
Ruling certificate EEZ500029 (pdf 209KB)
Decision memorandum EEZ500029 - Appendix 2 - adequacy of information (pdf 137KB)
Decision memorandum EEZ500029 - Appendix 3 – section 59 assessment (pdf 362KB)
Decision memorandum EEZ500029 - Appendix 4 - Further information table (pdf 206KB)
Decision memorandum EEZ500029 - Appendix 5 - NIWA Assessment tool (pdf 200KB)
On 27 March 2020, we provided a ruling (Ruling 1, EEZ500028) to BW Offshore for the disconnection and retrieval of the mooring lines and temporary placement of the anchors until BWO can retrieve them before February 2021.
Decision memorandum EEZ500028 (pdf 515KB)
Ruling Certificate EEZ500028 (pdf 200KB)
Decision memorandum EEZ500028 - Appendix 2 - adequacy of information (pdf 141KB)
Decision memorandum EEZ500028 - Appendix 3 - section 59 assessment (pdf 405KB)
Decision memorandum EEZ500028 - Appendix 4 - Ruling 1 further information table (pdf 211KB)
Decision memorandum EEZ500028 - Appendix 5 - NIWA Assessment tool (pdf 200KB)
Beach Energy Limited was formerly Lattice Energy.
On 22 May 2019, we provide a ruling to Beach Energy Resources NZ (Kupe) Limited for the installation and removal of a subsea assembly and the associated equipment at KS-2 well.
Ruling Certificate EEZ500027 (PDF, 89KB)
On 25 February 2019, we provided a ruling to Beach Energy Resources NZ (Kupe) Limited for the placement and removal of a subsea assembly and associated anchoring equipment to monitor the KS-2 well.
Ruling Certificate EEZ500026 (pdf 1.25MB)
On 20 November 2014, we provided a ruling to Beach Energy Resources NZ (Kupe) Limited (formerly Origin Energy New Zealand Limited) for the placement and removal of the wireline Blow Out Preventers, lubricators and associated equipment onto the Kupe wellheads.
On 22 July 2021, the EPA provided OMV New Zealand Limited with a ruling for activities associated with the placement of retrofit anode clamps on subsea flowlines between the Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel, Raroa, and Wellhead Platform, Tiro Tiro Moana, in the Maari Field.
Ruling Certificate EEZ500031(PDF, 115KB)
On 7 March 2018, the EPA provided OMV New Zealand Limited with a ruling for activities associated with coil tubing drilling from the TiroTiro Moana well head platform in the Maari field.
Ruling Certificate EEZ500024 (pdf 274KB)
On 21 September 2017, the EPA provided OMV New Zealand Limited with a ruling for activities associated with the placement and removal of a new wave rider buoy mooring system and the long-term placement of the existing mooring block.
Ruling Certificate EEZ500023 (pdf 102KB)
On 16 December 2017, the EPA provided OMV New Zealand Limited with a ruling for activities associated with the maintenance of flowlines connecting the Floating Production, Storage and Offtake facility, Raroa, and the Maari Wellhead Platform
Ruling Certificate EEZ500020-1-R (pdf 82KB)
On 9 November 2016, the EPA provided OMV New Zealand Limited with a ruling for activities associated with the maintenance of the flowlines connecting the Floating Production, Storage and Offtake facility, Raroa.
Ruling Certificate EEZ500020-R (pdf 981KB)
On 3 November 2015, the EPA provided OMV New Zealand Limited with a ruling for activities associated with the maintenance of the mooring lines anchoring the Floating Production, Storage and Offtake facility, Raroa, and water injection flowline replacement works.
Ruling Certificate EEZ0119-R (pdf 149KB)
On 18 September 2015, the EPA provided OMV New Zealand Limited with a ruling for activities associated with the intervention of the Maari wellhead platform Tiro Tiro Moana.
Ruling Certificate EEZ0116 - R (pdf 1.39MB)
On 30 July 2014, the EPA provided OMV New Zealand Limited with a ruling for activities associated with the placement and removal of a wave rider buoy, 1km southwest of the Maari wellhead platform Tiro Tiro Moana.
OMV Taranaki Limited was formerly Shell Taranaki Limited (which was formerly Shell Todd Oil Services).
On 16 March 2015, we provided Shell Todd Oil Services with a ruling for activities associated with the placement and removal of Remotely Operated Vehicles and accompanying tool basket during J-Tube sampling at the Māui A platform.
Shell Todd Oil Services Ruling Certificate EEZ0117STO-R (pdf 83KB)
On 2 December 2014, we provided Shell Todd Oil Services with a ruling for activities associated with well intervention at both Māui A and B platforms including the placement and removal of equipment and the alteration of sub-seabed production structures.
Tamarind Taranaki Limited was formerly AWE Limited.
On 16 February 2018, the EPA provided Tamarind Taranaki Limited with a ruling for the replacement of retrofitted anode skids in the vicinity of sub-sea structures identified as needing protection.
Ruling certificate EEZ500025 (pdf 318KB)
On 31 October 2017, the EPA provided Tamarind Taranaki Limited with a ruling for activities associated with the disconnection of the FPSO Umuroa from its sub-sea risers and mooring lines and their placement on the seabed.
Ruling certificate EEZ500022 (pdf 1.87MB)
On 14 March 2014, the EPA provided AWE with a ruling for activities associated with the installation of equipment at the Pateke-4H wellhead in the Tui Field in the South Taranaki Bight.