PESA West Australia and SPE West Australia, the two largest oil and gas professional organizations
in Perth, held their annual joint event on Thursday, 18 July.
Zhang Xi Po was at the event, hosted at the Parmelia Hilton in Perth, and said it was a resounding success with about 100 attendees from government bodies, oil and gas companies, and universities in attendance.
The evening began with a networking session, followed by engaging presentations. The presenters
addressed questions from the excited audience, contributing to the dynamic and interactive
atmosphere.
SPE WA Section Charman Jeff Zhang and PESA WA President Adam Craig made the opening
speeches.
Rosie Johnstone, a sedimentologist and geoscientist with over 25 years of experience in oil and gas exploration and carbon capture and storage (CCS), currently works with Geovault. Rosie was Shell’s focal point for CCS sink identification in the Australia/Asia- Pacific region, from high-level screening to injection site planning in the Petrel Sub-Basin.
In her presentation, Rosie provided a comprehensive overview of the maturation of CCS projects in Australia since the GEODISC study in 1999. She discussed the fluctuating government support and market forces that have influenced CCS activities, noting the significant increase in interest during the 2020s driven by corporate, state, and national Net Zero 2050 targets. Rosie also highlighted the current status of CCS projects and potential future trends in the field.
Dr. Trey Meckel, with over 30 years of experience in the global energy sector, is the Head of
Subsurface for Earth’s Energy and Chief Exploration Officer for Groundbreaking Energy. He
is also involved in other geothermal projects through his consultancy, Monteverde Energy.
Dr. Meckel’s presentation focused on the potential of geothermal energy as a reliable, zero-emissions
resource that can significantly contribute to Australia’s net-zero emissions target by 2050. He discussed the role of geothermal energy in providing flexible, dispatchable baseload power, complementing intermittent renewable resources like solar and wind. Dr. Meckel also covered advancements in geothermal technologies, the benefits and challenges of the sector, and the key factors driving its future success in Australia.
The event concluded with a discussion session, allowing attendees to connect with peers and discuss
the presentations in more detail. The joint event showcased the collaborative spirit and commitment
of both PESA and SPE to advancing knowledge and practices within the oil and gas industry.
