[caption id="attachment_62759" align="alignnone" width="350"] Aggregate winners The ION team of Jeromy DePledge, Gerry Spanninga, Kim McInerney and Graeme Eastwood.[/caption] To mark the 30th anniversary of the annual Golf Classic, the organisers pulled out all the stops this year to secure the Cut Golf Course in Dawesville, just south of Mandurah, to give Adam Scott wannabees the chance to drive for show, putt for prizes and then strut their stuff on the fairways.
Dale
Geoscientist Employment Recovery Stalled: AIG Survey
The latest quarterly survey of Australian geoscientist employment, covering the third quarter of 2017 shows that employment prospects for geoscientists have remained unchanged since March 2017, despite anecdotal evidence pointing to an upturn in mining and exploration industry activity. The national unemployment rate at 30 September 2017 amongst Australia’s professional geoscientists was 12.2%, up slightly from the 30 June figure of 11.3%. Underemployment amongst self-employed geoscientists for the same period, however, fell to 18.0% from 19.0%. The combined figures point to no improvement in employment prospects for the geoscience professions as a whole since March 2017.
On board Fire Shuts-in Shell Platform
Shell’s Enchilada platform on the Gulf of Mexico has been shut in after two offshore workers were injured in a fire onboard the structure, located about 190km south of Vermillion Bay, Louisiana, This came after the United States Coast Guard and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) responded to a report at 1.20am that the fixed-leg platform was on fire as 46 crew evacuated took lifeboats before transferring to the nearby Salsa platform via the offshore supply vessel, C-Liberty.
IGC Travel Scheme Deadline Looms
The Australian Geoscience Council and the Australian Academy of Science have extended the deadline for the 34th International Geological Congress Travel Grant Scheme for Early-Career Australian and New Zealand Geoscientists. In terms of the scheme, funding has been made available for the early stages of their careers with opportunities to travel internationally to further their careers as geoscientists by, for example, undertaking field work in appropriate areas, visiting and working with appropriate international experts, inspecting appropriate mines or other geoscientific features such as type localities, participating in professionally-organised geoscientific conferences or conventions, etc.
APPEA embraces National Energy Guarantee
APPEA has welcomed the National Energy Guarantee announced last week as a new approach to the perennial policy challenge of cutting emissions from electricity generation without crudely picking winners or jeopardising reliability. “APPEA supports market-based policies which deliver least cost abatement, without putting at risk Australia’s trade-exposed industries. Our principles-based approach means that we are open to supporting different models, provided they deliver similar results,” said APPEA Chief Executive Dr Malcolm Roberts. “We have supported an emissions-intensity scheme and a clean energy target.
China scoops Bentley Systems Award in Singapore
CHINA’s Offshore Oil Engineering Company, a subsidiary of CNOOC, was the star oil and gas performer at the Bentley Be Inspired Awards Ceremony in Singapore where the company won the BIM Advancements in Mining and Offshore Engineering for innovation driving efficiencies. Bentley Systems Vice President Analytical Product Modelling Director Katherine Flesh said the award recognised excellence in the planning, design, structural engineering, construction, operations and commissioning of mines, mining facilities, marine and both offshore and onshore infrastructure.
Chevron cans Great Australian Bight exploration program.
Oil and gas supermajor Chevron described the Great Australian Bight as one of Australia’s most prospective frontier hydrocarbon regions, but said the suspension of its exploration endeavours in the area was because it could not compete in the current low oil price scenario. Chevron Australia managing director Nigel Hearne commented: “We appreciate the strong support from governments, regulators and the local community for our plans to explore for hydrocarbons offshore South Australia. We are confident the Great Australian Bight can be developed safely and responsibly, and we will work closely with the interested stakeholders to help realize its potential.
Natural gas driving down US CO2 emissions
Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions continue to decline in the United States thanks to increasing use of cleaner-burning natural gas. A new report by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) confirms the growing switch from coal to gas-fired electricity was the biggest contributor to a 1.7 per cent fall in US energy-related emissions last year. The report found that while electricity generation grew by about one percent between 2005 and 2016, related carbon emissions fell by 24 percent. More than 63 per cent of that reduction is due to the shift to natural gas.
Po Valley in proposed major re-organisation
Australian gas producer Po Valley Energy has announced a major re-organisation and asset ownership structure for all of its Italian oil and gas exploration and production interests. Po Valley said the initiative would give PVE shareholders a stake in a much enlarged and more liquid operator to be chaired by renowned UK energy executive, Mr James Parsons.
Chevron acquires exploration acreage offshore WA
Chevron Australia has announced its affiliate has successfully acquired exploration interests in three offshore blocks located in the Northern Carnarvon Basin off the Western Australia coast. Chevron Australia Managing Director Nigel Hearne said this new acreage strengthens Chevron’s position in Australia’s premier hydrocarbon basin where there is an established network of production infrastructure, including the Chevron-operated Gorgon and Wheatstone Projects. “Offshore Western Australia is a global focus area for Chevron and these new exploration blocks add to our already significant gas position as the largest resource holder and liquefaction owner.