Gas Today

August 2009

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40 years of gas from Bass Strait

Esso Australia, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil, is celebrating its 40th year of producing gas and oil from its Bass Strait fields.

Every pipe has a goldlining

Gas distribution asset owner, developer and service provider Jemena understands the challenges associated with providing development, maintenance and operation of vital gas infrastructure. The company outlines its rehabilitation and growth projects in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

APPEA takes Darwin by gas

The upstream petroleum industry’s annual event, the APPEA 2009 Conference and Exhibition, was once again a great success, with natural gas the focal point for many discussions.

Future research for IGU

GHD Business Development Manager Oil & Gas Barbara Jinks is involved with the International Gas Union’s (IGUs) research committee and is set to present a paper with Australian content at the World Gas Conference. Following on from the IGU featured article in the May issue, she explains future IGU research.

Capturing carbon – getting CCS projects on the drawing board

Lyndsie Mewett

As Australia strives to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, a number of carbon capture and storage projects have been proposed. Before they can be implemented, issues remain to be addressed. Industry experts explain.

Ichthys - a new horizon

Inpex has proposed to develop one of Australia’s largest undeveloped gas fields – the Ichthys Field, located offshore Western Australia in the Browse Basin.

Offshore unity: a PC recommendation

Lyndsie Mewett

The Productivity Commission recently concluded its study into the regulatory burden on the offshore upstream petroleum sector in Australia, calling for improved regulatory practice and the establishment of a new national offshore petroleum regulator.

Papuan possibilities

There has been much interest in Papua New Guinea’s vast gas reserves over the last decade, with a number of international companies proposing LNG projects in the country. Gas Today provides a snapshot of Papua New Guinea’s gas projects on the drawing board.

The right framework for gas distributors

Energy Networks Association Chief Executive Officer Andrew Blyth discusses the implementation of the National Energy Customer Framework, arguing that it should facilitate industry’s response to the climate challenge by being flexible and forward looking.

Budget for NSW distribution in the works

The New South Wales Government’s 2009-10 Budget sets aside $3.5 billion for an energy reform program that will contribute to improving the state’s gas distribution networks and connecting more customers.

Gas fitters: enhancing appliances

Plumbers not only deal with the planning, installation and repair of water piping, wastewater and sewerage systems, but also the fitting of gas appliances. Stephanie Mizzi caught up with Peter Lawson, co-owner of plumbing company Lawson Bros, to talk about the benefits of using gas appliances.

Green LPG wins design award

Standards Australia has recognised Elgas for the development of its lightweight and environmentally friendly LPG cylinder SWAP’n’GO GREEN with an Australian International Design Award.

New office for Gasco

Thermal and process engineering company Gasco has recently opened a new head office, located in Bayswater, Victoria, which is set to further enhance the company’s capability to supply the gas industry.

Bringing gas to shore: Van Oord

Offshore engineering, procurement and construction contractor Van Oord Offshore has opened an office in Perth to better service the Australian offshore gas industry. Area Representative for the Asia Pacific Pitrik Van der Wal talks about the industry's growing prospects.

Matching talent with demand

With major CSG and LNG projects on the drawing board, can Australia’s demand for gas engineers be met? Perhaps resolution in the continuous war for talent simply lies in thinking differently.

Detecting gas with iQguard

Austech Instruments is developing a new range of gas detection products – the iQguard series – offering extended flexibility and a broad range of application solutions for the gas industry.

Increasing plant pressure

Environmental, safety and energy conservation issues are placing new demands on gas plant pressure equipment. HRL Technology’s Dr Russell Coade discusses the increasing integrity demands on pressure equipment technology, as plant is required to operate at higher temperatures and pressures.

Detecting gas with Dräger

Natural gas and LPG are significant energy resources in Australia, with more industrial and private consumers using the fuels for heating, hot water and industrial applications. Dräger has a new non-invasive technology to measure pressures, leaks and volumes in gas supply pipelines.

Animalia at Wallumbilla pipeline

Armed with a variety of specialised trapping gear, a team of dedicated biologists unearthed some unusual animals while working with Nacap on the Walloons Development Pipeline Project.

CO2 pipelines – not so far away

Steve Davies

With the Federal Budget announcement of the $2.4 billion in funding for the Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships program, the CCS industry is a step closer to achieving industrial scale proportions in the next decade.

Fast-track development for Daandine

Arrow Energy’s Daandine Central Gas Processing Facility was completed ‘from go to gas’ in less than 12 months by WDS Oil & Gas. WDS explains how.

Wesfarmers opens Kwinana LNG Plant

In May, Western Australian Energy Minister Peter Collier officially opened Wesfarmers Energy’s Kwinana LNG Plant, which will supply LNG for heavy duty vehicles, and industrial gas and remote power station markets in the region.

Karratha Power Station underway

Canadian company ATCO Power has begun work on a new 86 megawatt power station in the Pilbara, Western Australia, which is set to be the most energy efficient in the region.

MEO plans Timor Sea LNG hub

MEO Australia is currently planning the Timor Sea LNG Project, which is expected to provide an LNG hub for regional gas fields. Lyndsie Mewett caught up with Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Jürgen Hendrich to discuss the project.

Browsing gas fields

Stephanie Mizzi

Located off the northwest coast of Australia, exploration activity in the Browse Basin is sparking further excitement about Western Australia’s gas reserves and production capability.

A hub of excitement in the Kimberley

The Western Australian Government is planning to develop a common-user LNG hub in the Kimberley region to process gas from the resource rich, offshore gas fields and reduce ‘ad-hoc’ development along the Kimberley coastline.

Reg Nelson awarded industry honour

The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association has awarded the Reg Sprigg medal for outstanding service to the industry to Beach Petroleum Managing Director Reg Nelson.

LNG for the future: discussions at APPEA 09

Liquefied natural gas was high on the agenda of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association’s 2009 Conference & Exhibition, with many industry figures commenting on the exciting domestic and export potential of the fuel sources.

SEAAOC – gas off South East Asian shores

The 15th annual South East Asia Australia Offshore Conference, to take place during NT Resources Week in Darwin from 9 to 11 September 2009, will bring together the resource sector’s leading buyers and sellers from across northern Australia and South East Asia.

Energy 21C hosts major gas stream

The Energy 21C Conference in Melbourne is set to explore the role of gas in the energy industry, in particular regulation, asset management, climate change solutions and customer relations.