Chris Fielding, a current editor of Earth Science Reviews, was the guest speaker at the PESA WA Technical Lunch for August. The presentation showcased the critical importance of high quality field work in understanding depositional processes and environments of coastal to shallow marine sandstone bodies in the Cenomanian/Turonian succession of Utah and Wyoming. The talk included details on the mapping and interpretation of Frontier deltas across a 70km by 5km section in the Vernal area of northern Utah and left the audience keen to get out and about and look at some outcrops.
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Meet our Bright Sparks
Bright Sparks are people that light up our industry in ways you won’t expect. Read the unique stories of the extraordinary individuals powering our homes, towns and cities, every day. Find it here: www.bright-r.com.au/brightsparks Included in the initial group of Bright Sparks are the following 14 individuals, including several PESA members: Ishtar Barranco Mendoza, Senior Geologist Barrow Island & North West Shelf, CHEVRON (WA) Yazan Arouri, PhD Candidate – Petroleum Engineering, AUST.
ConocoPhillips files environmental plan for Barossa field development
ConocoPhillips and its joint partners SK E&S Australia and Santos have submitted an environment plan to NOPSEMA to develop the Barossa Gas Field, located 300km northwest of Darwin. The development includes bringing gas and condensate from subsea wells to a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) facility via a network of subsea flowlines and risers. Initial processing would occur on the FPSO to separate the gas, water, and condensate. The condensate would be transferred from the FPSO to specialised tankers for export.
Gorgon starts up massive CO2 injection system on Barrow Island
Chevron Australia and the Gorgon Joint Venture participants have announced the safe start-up and operation of the carbon dioxide injection system at the Chevron-led Gorgon natural gas facility on Barrow Island, off the northwest coast of Western Australia. Chevron Australia managing director Al Williams said: “We are pleased to reach the first milestone of safely starting the operation of the Gorgon carbon dioxide injection system, one of the world’s largest greenhouse gas mitigation projects ever undertaken by industry.
Beach submits plan to drill exploration well in the Otway
Lattice Energy, which is wholly owned by Beach Energy, has submitted an environment plan to drill a single exploration well in the Otway Basin, located approximately 32km off Victoria’s south west coast. The environment plan is under assessment with NOPSEMA and proposes that the Artisan-1 be drilled by the Ocean Onyx semi-submersible mobile offshore drilling rig. The Ocean Onyx is a conventionally moored, non-self-propelled, column-stabilised semi-submersible owned and operated by Diamond Offshore. The proposed Artisan-1 well location is at a water depth of approximately 71m.
AGS sets OBN production records in the North Sea
Norwegian ocean bottom node seismic company AGS has announced a number of seismic production records during an Utsira multi-client ocean-bottom node (OBN) seismic program. AGS said that this season’s Utsira multi-client ocean-bottom node (OBN) program, in conjunction with TGS, began on Saturday, July 3 and delivered a new company record marine source count in a single day. The crew achieved recording more than 50,000 marine sources in what was one milestone of a record seven-day acquisition window in all areas of the OBN program in the North Sea.
Australia launches largest offshore acreage release since 2000
Australia has released 64 areas for offshore oil and gas exploration in the 2019 Offshore Petroleum Acreage Release, representing the largest rollout of acreage in 19 years. Bidding will be open until 5 March 2020 with over 120,000km² released for a single round of work program bidding. Australia Minister for Resources Matt Canavan said the latest release was the first under a new streamlined system designed to deliver an annual investment cycle that “simplifies bidding, offers greater transparency and responds faster to the market demand”.
More gas will be needed to offset State’s renewable energy splurge, says Blue Energy
Queensland and NT explorer Blue Energy has weighed into Australia’s power struggle, saying the company believes the “misguided headlong rush” into renewable energy’s role in the national power grid will both stimulate gas exploration and spike energy prices in the country. In it’s June quarter activities report released recently, Blue Energy managing director John Phillips commented that despite the May federal election providing continuity of Government, the States still hold the balance of power when it comes to energy source, supply and distribution.
Oil and gas industry gives thumbs up to red tape reform
Australia’s oil and gas industry has welcomed the announcement that the Productivity Commission would undertake a comprehensive fact-based review of regulation in the resources sector to identify best practice reforms for Australia. APPEA Chief Executive Andrew McConville congratulated the Australian Government and Resources Minister Matt Canavan for launching the 12-month review to highlight unnecessary green and red tape. “This process is an important opportunity to develop and encourage regulatory reform as part of long-term policy approach for Australia’s resources sector, which is a key driver for the nation’s economic prosperity,” Mr McConville said.
Woodside energy stimulus for WA mining
Woodside has entered into a long-term gas sale and purchase agreement with Worsley Alumina Joint Venture for the supply of approximately 40 PJ of pipeline gas. The gas is being supplied to the joint venture from Woodside’s portfolio of domestic gas facilities, including the North West Shelf, Pluto and Wheatstone. Worsley Alumina Joint Venture is held by South32 (86%), Japan Alumina Associates (10%) and Sojitz (4%). Woodside Executive Vice President Marketing Trading & Shipping, Reinhardt Matisons welcomed the agreement to supply gas to the Worsley Alumina integrated mining and refining complex in Western Australia’s south west.