WESTERN AUSTRALIA—A TECHNOLOGY BASE FOR THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Abstract

Oil and gas production is characterised by a truly international industry, and yet a unique local environment. Solutions developed elsewhere cannot always be imported directly for Australian use. For this reason alone, a strong local technology base is of value to the Australian oil and gas industry. Other benefits include the ability to provide high quality education and training for people entering, and already in, the industry.

A case study is described where the Western Australian technology base is facilitating solutions to a specific challenge faced on the North West Shelf (NWS); namely, that the criteria for reliable development and operation of its offshore infrastructure for oil and gas production are more severe than other petroleum provinces, requiring new analytical tools to be developed.