Building Momentum—15 years of coal seam gas
Paul ZealandChief Executive Officer, Upstream, Origin Energy Limited
The APPEA Journal 52(3) - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ11134
Published: 30 June 2012
Abstract
Rapidly growing international demand for low carbon energy solutions will continue to escalate with natural gas consumption forecast to grow robustly through the next 20 years. With an intense and ongoing debate about the exploration and development of CSG, this address will explore narratives across jurisdictions particularly in Australia and the Asia Pacific. It argues the public debate has been skewed thereby escalating societal concerns and not adequately conveying the development of this vital, cleaner energy industry for Australia and the Asian region and the world.
The address highlights the building momentum and opportunities being pursued to create shared value with the communities in which we operate. It demonstrates the upsides available in partnership with local constituents, which ranges from up-skilling local farmers to diversify their farm revenue base to improved rural productivity from irrigation projects putting CSG water to good use through to new technologies that minimise the environmental footprint.
To that end, this address outlines the need for industry and industry stakeholders to contribute to the debate, by not only illustrating the facts, but also by demonstrating sustainable development opportunities on the ground in regard to the major issues.
Paul Zealand manages Origin’s portfolio of oil and gas assets in Australia and New Zealand, including Australia’s largest coal seam gas resources in Central Queensland. He is also responsible for Origin’s exploration activities focused on the long-term growth and development of the upstream business. Prior to joining Origin in 2005, Paul was Country Chairman for the Shell Companies in New Zealand, and also General Manager for the Shell Todd Operating Services (STOS) Company. During his 25 years with Shell, Paul also held positions in various locations in Europe and Australia. In each role, Paul applied his experience and expertise to deliver business improvement, growth and opportunity for organisations and projects under his stewardship. While at Shell, he designed and led major change programs to improve organisational effectiveness in many of his assignments. The restructuring programs and business improvements Paul developed for Shell UK Expro (Aberdeen) achieved impressive results across core indicators including costs, production, safety, environment, and reliability. This structure has since become a Shell global model and is implemented throughout the world. As a leader in the industry, Paul is a director on the board of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and a member of key industry bodies including Engineers Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Paul has a MBA (Masters of Business Administration with distinction) and a Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering (Hons). Prior to Shell, Paul started his career as a Marine Engineer with a UK shipping company. Before settling permanently in Australia in 2005, Paul had worked in Australia from 1992–98 as the LNG Engineering Manager for Woodside Petroleum and the Supply Operations Manager at the Shell Clyde Refinery. |
