The challenge
Deep and remote offshore environments
Some of the greatest challenges in oil and gas recovery are the economic and environmental issues associated with underwater extraction. More than 80 per cent of Australia's gas resources exist in deep and remote offshore reservoirs.
To realise the full potential of these reservoirs, we need to develop economically viable solutions to access and transportto onshore processing facilities over long distances.
Our response
Developing access, transportation and management solutions
We are developing sub-sea technologies for the production of gas resources, which may be 300 km offshore and more than 1 km deep.
Our production technologies research is delivering smart materials and engineering solutions for access to previously stranded gas reserves and to produce an uninterrupted flow of fluids in sub-sea pipelines. We are also developing methods to reduce the amount of water used in petroleum production, and water management strategies in general.
Additionally, we are improving technologies to optimise gas production and ensure efficient and secure transportation of fluids from sub-sea reservoirs to onshore processing facilities.
The results
A comprehensive research program
Our comprehensive research program is tackling these issues from various angles, looking at:
- compact systems to separate gas and liquids efficiently
- autonomous, remotely controlled robots to monitor production infrastructure and provide real-time data
- technologies to repair sub-sea infrastructure
- software and solutions to understand and mitigate sand production
- methods to prevent flow disruptions in sub-sea pipelines, particularly formation of gas hydrate crystals
- designer chemistries and fluids for production optimisation.
Accessing our huge reserves of deep water gas will contribute significantly to Australia's energy security and assist the transition to a low-emissions energy economy, providing real and sustained benefits to Australia.