Gas Today

November 2008

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WA Energy Minister excited about gas

Lyndsie Mewett

The newly elected Western Australian Government has highlighted the importance of gas use both within the state and as an exportable commodity. Gas Today caught up with the Minister for Energy Peter Collier to talk about the Liberal Government’s plans to shore up the state’s gas industry.

Confiming gas’ place under a CPRS

Lyndsie Mewett

With the Government due to release its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper before the year is out, there have been mixed reactions as to what an emissions trading scheme will mean for the natural gas industry and whether the resource will emerge as a winner or loser in the Australian energy sector.

Networking natural gas

Lyndsie Mewett

This year has seen both the proposal and enactment a number of legislative changes that will affect Australia’s natural gas distribution system. Gas Today looks at how the natural gas distribution systems have developed to become what they are today and how they will be shaped by future issues.

Australia’s gas sector - challenges and issues for the future

At the recent AGIT Gas Speak Colloquium in Canberra, Energy Networks Association CEO Andrew Blyth, spoke about anticipated future challenges facing Australia’s gas industry.

AEMC launces energy market review

Michelle Perl

The Chairman of the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC), Dr John Tamblyn, recently announced the Review of electricity and gas market frameworks in the light of new climate change policies.

Gas speak shines the spotlight on the industry’s rising stars

John Williams

The 2008 AGIT Gas Speak Colloquium was a great success, bringing together many young industry representatives from diverse industry sectors and drawing them to the state. IGEM CEO John Williams reflects on the successful event.

LNG fuels Tasmanian trucks

Stephanie Mizzi

LNG will soon drive Tasmanian trucks in a plan that will see an LNG refuelling network laid out across the state. Stephanie Mizzi reports.

The FLNG market - a legal perspective

Michael Debney

Drawing on experience with significant LNG and offshore developments, Michael Debney provides a legal perspective of some of the benefits and challenges that await the Floating Liquefied Natural Gas market.

Improving LNG plant process design, simulation and operation

Eric F May

A project funded by Chevron, ARC Linkage and the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance is aiming to improve the process design, simulation and operation of LNG plants by measuring the thermodynamic properties of multi-component LNG fluids at cryogenic conditions and developing new models to describe that data.

Enerflex delivers Mila gas early

Lyndsie Mewett

Enerflex has completed the new Mila gas compressor station at Bombala over a month ahead of time and with zero lost time injuries in partnership with Jemena East.

United Group delivering Tamar power

Lyndsie Mewett

United Group Infrastructure recently began works on the 210 megawatt (MW) Tamar Valley Power Station for Aurora Energy. The project is set to introduce an alternative power generation source into Tasmania and fire up the grid. Lyndsie Mewett reports.

BBS powers up Australia

Lyndsie Mewett

Bilfinger Berger Services (BBS) is currently completing construction works on the Neerabup, Braemar 2 and Uranquinty power stations. BBS project managers spoke with Gas Today and explained the specific advantages, opportunities and challenges posed by each of these projects. Lyndsie Mewett reports.

Watering down CSG

Sarah Robertson

Once considered a wasteful by-product, natural gas from coal seams is now used to extract coal. In the same vein, coal seam gas (CSG) producers are now investigating how to best use the water produced from their wells. Sarah Robertson reports.

Wellhead management - key to successful CSG implementation

Selecting the right technology with the right integration partner ensures lower maintenance costs for the life of a wellhead.

Strength and flexibility - delivering PE pipe for the gas industry

As the coal seam gas sector and the demand for gas fired power stations continue to grow and develop, the low pressure pipe material of choice is PE100 Polyethylene.

Captialising on a growing CSG industry

Manufacturer and supplier of pipe systems, Vinidex, has been developing its products to service the coal seam gas industry through its implementation of programs to examine new materials, processing technologies and manufacturing equipment.

Epic gas project nears completion

Peter Sardelis, Daniel Wallace and Carole Hourston

The construction of the QSN Link, which will connect Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales’ gas transmission systems, has continued on track despite heavy rain in June which closed all unsealed roads and flooded parts of the pipeline right of way, delaying construction by 20 days.

CSG - a shining light for Eastern Star Gas

Sarah Robertson

Holding one of Australia’s largest onshore gas resources, Eastern Star Gas has emerged as a major coal seam gas player in the Australian gas market. Sarah Robertson reports on the company’s project developments and prospects for growth.

Appliances get ‘smart’

Lyndsie Mewett

A ‘smart’ energy research project being undertaken by La Trobe University and Semitech Innovations, is set to revolutionise the way consumers use their gas, water and electricity appliances.

Gas detection made easy

The latest portable multi-gas solution by BW Technologies by Honeywell has arrived, monitoring simultaneously for hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO), oxygen (O2) and combustibles.

Appliance energy efficiency high on the cards for CoAG

Lyndsie Mewett

The Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) has agreed to develop a National Strategy for Energy Efficiency, to help households and businesses prepare for the introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

APIA and the current policy climate

Cheryl Cartwright

The Australian Pipeline Industry Association has its work cut out representing the gas transmission sector under the new legislative framework. Chief Executive Cheryl Cartwright discusses the challenges faced by the industry in light of these new policies.

APIA Convention a gas!

The Australian Pipeline Industry Association celebrated its 40th Anniversary in style last month with over 450 delegates and partners convening in Perth for a landmark Convention.

The Cooper Basin - Australia’s central gas hub

Michelle Perl and Lyndsie Mewett

Since a large gas resource was first discovered in the Cooper/Eromanga Basin in 1963, the area has developed into a major production and processing hub, with approximately 630 producing gas wells.