360-degree stakeholder management driving successful CO2 storage research
Aaron De Fina A C , Marc Chable B and Cameron Wills BA CO2CRC, 11–15 Argyle Place South, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
B Upstream Production Solutions, Level 11, 607 Bourke Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: aaron.defina@co2crc.com.au
The APPEA Journal 59(2) 565-570 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ18215
Accepted: 2 April 2019 Published: 17 June 2019
Abstract
The CO2CRC Otway Project continues to demonstrate that carbon capture and storage is a viable option for CO2 mitigation. The CO2CRC Otway Project is Australia’s first CO2 demonstration project, with two projects completed, involving geological storage of some 80 000 tonnes of CO2 over the past 10 years. The project was initially authorised for a single stage with a finite life, but the growing requirements of the global carbon capture and storage community required further research on carbon capture and storage technologies and behaviour (via Stages 2 and 3), and so the project was extended. CO2CRC has undertaken 360-degree stakeholder engagement processes throughout the project, regularly consulting with regulators, governments, industry, partners, researchers and the community. This has been especially important as the project changed, operating in a niche space between Victorian environment, petroleum and water Acts. This process has allowed CO2CRC to contribute to alignment efforts within regulatory bodies, to enhance regulations to cover project activities, ensuring best practices are documented and observed to the satisfaction of the regulators and wider community. The Otway Basin in south-west Victoria is a region not immune to broader community concerns regarding the oil and gas and other industries. The surrounding area is predominately dairy farming, with locals relying heavily on the aquifers beneath their land. Although such a backdrop suggests potentially high levels of concern and scrutiny, especially when projects necessitate drilling or other invasive activities, the project has maintained strong local stakeholder engagement and support due to ongoing implementation and evaluation of the stakeholder management processes.
Keywords: carbon capture, carbon storage, CO2CRC Otway Project, CRC, Otway basin.
Aaron De Fina joined CO2CRC in 2016 as the Health, Safety, Environment and Compliance Manager. Prior to joining CO2CRC, Aaron gained 20 years’ experience in a variety of roles across several different industry sectors. These roles have included operational and management positions within medium to large organisations in the oil and gas (both upstream and downstream), energy, heavy industry and environmental and safety consulting to all sectors, as well as a management position within the Victorian Earth Resources Regulator. These roles have played a part in providing Aaron with insights into operations management health safety and environmental compliance, management systems and policy development. Aaron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geophysics and Biochemistry from Monash University and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Hydrogeology from The University of Melbourne. |
Marc Chable joined Upstream Production Solutions in 2010 as GM, Projects and Facilities Engineering before being appointed to Regional Manager for Victoria in 2013. Marc brings 20 years of oilfields experience in Australia, UK and India in addition to establishing project teams in Russia and Malaysia. Marc’s specific areas of expertise include oil and gas (onshore and offshore) engineering, operations management, project development and delivery. Marc holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Monash University. |
Cameron Wills joined Upstream Production Solutions (PS) in 2007 and is responsible for Upstream PS’s East division, a diverse business comprising coal seam gas (CSG), conventional oil and gas and carbon capture and storage across Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. Cameron has played a major role in the considerable growth of Upstream PS, particularly in the CSG sector, where he developed a business focused on the highest possible safety and productivity performance through innovation, team culture and client service excellence. Cameron has more than 20 years field services management experience and holds a Master of Business Administration. |
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