Pipeline Stabilisation

• Petroleum Act 1998
• Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA)

Guidelines for the Completion of Pipeline Works Authorisations. 

Also see the following topics for additional guidance: Decommissioning of Pipelines and Inteference with Navigation.

Deposit of Materials Consent (DepCon) is required for deposit of materials e.g. rock dumping or mattresses. This forms part of the Pipeline Works Authorisation (PWA) application process.

For pipelines which do not have a PWA (e.g. pipelines constructed pre 1975), any deposition would require a licence under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (FEPA).

Note: If any preparatory work is planned, for example pipeline crossings, before the construction of the pipeline, the PWA should either be requested early enough to undertake this work; otherwise a FEPA licence may be required.

DepCon/PWA

Apply for the certificate by completing the application form (DepCon1) and attaching a covering letter. Guidance on completion of the DepCon is available in Appendix B of the Guidelines for the Completion of Pipeline Works Authorisations. The following information must be provided on the application for consent (DepCon1):

• Description of material to be deposited;
• Quantity to be deposited;
• In the case of rock dumping, the maximum size to be deposited;
• Location of the proposed site;
• Length, width and height above seabed level which the material will attain when deposited;
• Description of any consultations undertaken or planned; and
• Approximate date on which deposition is proposed to begin and the approximate duration of the operation.

FEPA Licence

Application for consent is made by submitting Form FEP5. The following information is to be provided on the form.

• Details of applicant (name and address);
• Duration of project;
• Location of proposed project (including maps);
• Details of material to be deposited;
• Details of the applicants consultations with the conservation bodies.

A charge is levied for the processing of the application, the issue of the licence, the monitoring of the licensed operation and enforcement of the conditions applied to the licence. Charges are reviewed annually and the current rates are set out in a separate schedule enclosed with the application forms.

DepCon/PWA

Application to be sent to DECC EDU-LED (Pipeline Consents Team) and copied to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

FEPA Licence

Application to be sent to FRS in Scotland or DEFRA in England & Wales. Three copies of the application form are to be submitted. FRS administers the FEPA application system on behalf of DECC and DECC will be consulted and notified of all applications. It is recommended that initially DECC EDU-OED are notified of the planned application.

DepCon/PWA

Consent must be secured prior to commencement of deposition of material. Where there are no objections it takes approximately four months from receipt of the application to issuing the authorisation.

In the case of pipelines in respect of which an Environmental Statement is required under the Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipelines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 199, the procedure may take longer in order for all the environmental issues to be properly considered.

FEPA Licence

Applications normally require at least 10 weeks to process but exceptionally a longer period may be required.

When an application or a varation to a PWA is submitted to the EDU-LED (Pipeline Consents Team) or in the unlikely event of a standalone FEPA application through FRS/DEFRA, these are copied to the DECC EDU-OED (Environmental Management Team) who will review and confirm the requirements for an EIA to support an application (see EIA).

In cases relating to works or deposits within an already established safety zone it is unlikely that an EIA (or PON15C EIA Direction) would be required.

Consent stipulates that if the SoS is of the opinion that the deposited materials is, or is likely to, cause obstruction or hazard the SoS may require the removal of those materials. 

There is no requirement to monitor / sample the deposited material.

Not Applicable

Consent stipulates that if the Secretary of State is of the opinion that the deposited materials are, or are likely to, cause obstruction or hazard the SoS may require the removal of those materials.

A PWA will not be approved until approval of a submitted ES or a Direction that an ES is not required has been issued (see Offshore EIA).