Under the Energy Resources Act 2000 and Energy Resources Regulations 2013, Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) and draft Statements of Environmental Objectives (SEOs) classified as relating to medium impact activities must be published for public comment. These EIRs and draft SEOs are published on the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM) website and in state and regional newspapers.

All written submissions made in response to an invitation for public comment will be made available on the Environmental Register, and during office hours at the public office determined by the Minister.

Guidance on making a public submission on EIRs and draft SEOs (PDF 207 KB)

Onshore exploration and production is administered under the Energy Resources Act 2000 and Energy Resources Regulations 2013.

The area to which this Act applies covers all of onshore South Australia exclusive of Commonwealth lands. It extends south to the State territorial sea baseline and includes the waters of Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent.

• Onshore exploration guidelines
• Onshore production guidelines

Licensing and activity approvals under the Energy Resources Act 2000 (ER Act) and Energy Resources Regulations 2013 (regulations) consists of three stages:

• licensing;
• environmental assessment and approval of environmental objectives; and
• activity notification and approval.

There are differences between the processes for exploration, retention, production and associated activities; and the pipeline activities which include transmission pipeline projects.

The steps involved in these two categories of approvals processes are detailed in the following two flow-charts:

• Licensing and Approvals Process for Exploration, Retention and Production Activities Guideline (PDF 175 KB)
• Licensing and Approvals Process for Transmission Pipelines Guidelines (PDF 87.3 KB)

In South Australia, any pipeline proponent proposing to construct and operate transmission pipelines and associated facilities is required to seek a Preliminary Survey License to conduct surveys to establish likely routes, and to perform initial geotechnical, ecological and heritage surveys to confirm the suitability of the pipeline alignment.

The criteria for classifying the level of environmental impact of regulated activities (PDF 232 KB)  outlines the criteria and framework upon which the level of impact of a regulated activity will be assessed and subsequently classified. Guidelines for the application of these criteria are also included.

Activity notifications for all activities whether classified as requiring high or low level official surveillance, are required to include or be accompanied by information and material specific to the proposed activity pursuant to various sections of the ER Act and associated regulations. DEM has provided guidance on the requirements for activity notifications in the activity application assessment checklist (DOC 165 KB).

Regulation 19 requires an activity notification for high-level official surveillance activities to be provided to the Minister at least 35 days before the proposed commencement of regulated activities. One of the items of information that this notice must include, or be accompanied by, is detailed information on the licensee’s proposals in respect of the effectiveness of the licensee's management system and requirements of Regulation 20.

The operator assessment factor reporting guidelines for high-level official surveillance activity notifications (PDF 1.9 MB) provides guidance to licensees on how these requirements can be met and aids DEM in reviewing and validating the submitted report.

Section 74 of the ER Act requires a licence to include mandatory conditions dividing the regulated activities to be carried out under the licences into those requiring high-level official surveillance or those requiring low-level official surveillance. The Minister may change the classification of activities if the licensee has satisfied the Minster that, in view of the licensee’s demonstrated competency to comply with the requirements of this Act, the activities should be classified as requiring low-level official surveillance. The operator classification and activity notification factors, detailed in regulation 16, are relevant to determining whether a licensee can be classified as a licensee who is carrying out activities requiring low-level official surveillance.

The guidelines on criteria used to classify level of licensee surveillance required (PDF 1.67 MB) outlines the criteria that will be used to assess a licensee’s operator assessment factors for the purpose of section 74 and subregulation 17(1), as required by subregulation 17(2).

The process safety management framework for assessing compliance (PDF 1.43 MB) outlines the philosophy adopted by DEM regarding its assessments of submissions made under relevant requirements of the ER Act and regulations. In particular, regulations 16 (operator assessment factors), 30 (fitness-for-purpose assessments) and 32 (incident reports).

DEM has also prepared a tool to assist Licensees and operators to self-assess the effectiveness and maturity of their management systems in delivering acceptable Process Safety and Environmental (PSE) performance, specifically in the context of the Energy Resources Act 2000 (the Act) and Regulation 16 – Operator Assessment Factors. A guidance document is available with more information on the tool, and a proforma is available for use by both DEM and Licensees to complete the self-assessment process.

Section 86A of the ER Act requires the licensees of a prescribed licence to carry out a fitness-for-purpose (FFP) assessment of their facilities within the area of that licence to assess the risks imposed by the facilities on public health and safety, the environment and the security of production or supply of natural gas (so far as this may be relevant). Section 86A(4) requires the licensee to prepare a report on the FFP assessment of facilities in a manner and form determined by the Minister. The fitness-for-purpose assessment reporting guidelines (PDF 262 KB) outline the manner and form required, and provides guidance to licensees on how the requirements of the regulations can be met

Energy resources exploration and production activities are licensed and regulated in South Australia under the Energy Resources Act 2000 (ER Act) and associated regulations. The Department for Energy and Mining administers the ER Act on the behalf of the Minister for Energy and Mining.

The incident reporting guidance note (PDF 248KB) provides information for ER Act licensees and the community on the licensees’ legislative requirements for reporting incidents that occur in the course of carrying out regulated activities under the ER Act.

The principles for engagement with communities and stakeholders (PDF 484 KB) provides information for effective liaison between the resources sector, the community and stakeholders. It is intended as a guide for anyone associated with the exploration and development of mineral, coal, oil and gas resources. Genuine engagement with stakeholders is essential for promoting and achieving sustainable development.

The South Australian Chamber of Mines & Energy (SACOME) has prepared the SACOME Land Access Guide 2020 (PDF 746 KB) to assist South Australian resources companies undertake land access in a ‘best practice’ manner. This resource provides checklists as a practical guide for use ‘in field’ to assist explorers work through their responsibilities and obligations to landholders; as well as advice on understanding landowner concerns and questions ahead of time to assist in best practice engagement (for more information see the Exploration Land Access Guide page)

The Aboriginal heritage guidelines for resource projects in South Australia (PDF 5.7 MB) sets out the responsibilities required of mineral and energy resource companies operating in South Australia to protect Aboriginal heritage.

The field guide for environmental assessment of abandoned seismic lines in the Cooper Basin (PDF 2.1 MB) sets out the goal attainment scaling (GAS) scoring criteria for seismic lines on abandonment.

The field guide for environmental assessment of abandoned well sites in the Cooper Basin (PDF 4.9 MB) sets out the GAS scoring criteria for wellsites on abandonment.

Well Naming

The naming of wells must conform to conventions agreed by the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) and Geoscience Australia in 1996. The guideline for naming of wells under Regulation 25 details these conventions.

Location Surveys

Under Regulation 26 of the Energy Resources Regulations 2013, well location surveys must be submitted to the Energy Regulation Branch. The guideline for well location survey under Regulation 26 includes information about accuracy requirements, who should perform the survey and what type of information needs to be submitted.

Well Completion Reports

Under Regulation 40 of the Energy Resources Regulations 2013, a well completion report must be submitted within six months after rig release.

• Guideline for petroleum well completion reports
• Guideline for geothermal well completion reports

Well evaluation programs

The guideline for well evaluation programs outlines the well logging and sample programs for infill and development wells, and for exploration wells.

Well abandonment

When abandoning wells the Statement of Environmental Objectives (SEO) must be complied with. The Cooper Basin well abandonment SEO checker (XLS 141 KB) provides a guide to compliance.

Under the Energy Resources Act 2000 (the Act) licence holders are required to submit various data and reports to the Department for Energy and Mining (DEM). Guidelines are provided to ensure that data and reports comply with the requirements under the Act.

In addition to the guidelines provided here, liaison between company staff and DEM personnel is encouraged to facilitate effective and efficient information submission.

Geological and engineering data

The approved form of digital data submissions (PDF 66 KB) provides the requirements for the submission of text-based reports of any kind (e.g. well completion reports, environmental impact reports). This guideline covers text, format, plans, figures, plates, images, file name conventions, photographs, tabular data, wireline logs (plot files and digital data) and daily drilling reports.

Geophysical data

Regulation 37 of the Act requires the holder of a petroleum licence to submit to DEM geophysical data collected during exploration and development activities. This includes all field recordings and supporting documentation necessary to allow future explorers to reprocess the original data and all processed data, which should allow future explorers to reinterpret the original data.

Guidelines for submission of geophysical data (PDF 2.17MB) provides information on the preparation and submission of basic geophysical data appropriate to petroleum licences within South Australia.

In addition to the submission of geophysical data, licensees are required to submit a geophysical report. The submission of any geophysical data should coincide with the submission of the geophysical operations report which discusses the acquisition of the data.

Geophysical reports

Regulations 34, 35 and 36 of the Act requires that the following reports are submitted to the Minister:

- Geophysical progress reports;
- Geophysical operations reports; and
- Geophysical interpretation reports

The Licence Annual Report template (DOC 138 KB) has been provided by the Department for Energy and Mining to assist companies in the preparation of annual reports.

Two checklists are available for download providing a guide to preparing such reports. They are based on Regulation 33 of the Energy Resources Act 2000.

• Annual Report review checklist (DOC 153 KB)
• Annual Report checklist - Pipeline Licences only (DOC 161 KB)

More information on Annual Reports

Exploration companies in South Australia are required by law to provide representative samples of any core and/or cuttings taken during tenure.

The Guidelines for submission of petroleum core and cuttings form (PDF 856 KB) includes information on specifications for containers and labelling requirements, and must be forwarded to DEM when submitting samples.

All petroleum core and cuttings submission must adhere to the sampling restrictions guideline (PDF 150 KB).

All open-file drillhole samples held by DEM's Core Storage Facility are available for inspection on completion of the request to inspect drillhole samples (PDF 628 KB) form.

Guidelines for calculation and payment of petroleum royalties on the sale of petroleum recovered onshore and offshore in South Australia.

Guidelines for payment of royalty and provision of information (PDF 429KB)

Stress Corrosion Cracking

Regulation 29 requires that pipelines and flowlines are designed, manufactured, constructed, operated, maintained, tested and decommissioned in accordance with the relevant requirements of AS 2885 Pipelines – Gas and Liquid Petroleum. DEM has prepared a note to provide guidance on the available industry recommended practices for preventing, detecting and managing stress corrosion cracking in pipelines.