Advancing technology in oil and gas: collaboration and comparison with the space sector
Jason CrusanWoodside Energy, 11 Mount Street, Perth, WA 6000, Australia. Email: Jason.Crusan@woodside.com.au
The APPEA Journal 60(2) 421-423 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ19227
Accepted: 10 April 2020 Published: 15 May 2020
Abstract
Woodside led the development of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry in Australia, operating 6% of global supply in 2019. From the first LNG plant in the southern hemisphere, to the largest ‘not-normally crewed’ offshore platform, innovation is part of Woodside’s DNA. Woodside was the first Australian oil and gas company to start working with global space agencies on remote operations challenges. Through exchanging people, knowledge, experiences and ideas, the collective impact of individual responses to these challenges is enhanced. From a direct, collaborative partnership with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Australian Space Agency, to cross-sector collaborations such as the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth, the company’s approach to innovation is to adopt an open way of problem solving that does not presume that all the answers are in one place, nor that all solutions have only one application. This paper reviews experiences in collaborative partnerships within and beyond the space sector, documenting insights into the key ingredients for impactful collaboration.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, industrial internet of things, innovation, multi-sector collaboration, robotics.
As Vice President Technology of Woodside Energy, Jason Crusan is responsible for identifying, developing and maturing technologies that increase production, reduce costs and enable Woodside’s people to work even more safely and efficiently. Jason holds Bachelor Degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics, and a Masters Degree in Computing Information Systems. Jason has more than 20 years of experience in leveraging industry, academia and government partnerships to accelerate technology advancements across multiple industries. Before joining Woodside in 2019, Jason worked for the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, primarily in human spaceflight. Jason most recently served as the Director of the agency’s Advanced Exploration Systems. In this role, Jason led many partnerships with commercial industry, including the first flight to the International Space Station of a commercial human-rated expandable habitat, the development and sponsorship of the in-space manufacturing capabilities, and the establishment of the CubeSat Launch Initiative that provided access to over 100 satellite launches from educational entities across the US. Jason also led the strategy to partner with and acquire the next generation of human spaceflight capabilities to return to the moon. Jason has also previously served as the Chief Technologist for space operations, and successfully directed various technical and strategic initiatives as program or project manager. Jason was the founding Director of the Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation, formed to advance the utilisation of open innovation methodologies across the US Government. |
