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May 2008

Gas Today

May 2008

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News in Brief

Exploration & Production

News in Brief

Transmission

News in Brief

Generation

News in Brief

Policy

News in Brief

Technology, R&D

Climate change on the agenda

Australia’s gas industry representatives are championing natural gas as the low emissions resource that will lead Australia and the industry into a carbon constrained, environmentally aware and sustainable future.

Natural gas - high on the national agenda

Natural gas - high on the national agenda

Since the Hon Martin Ferguson has taken office as the Federal Minister for Resources and Energy, gas has been elevated to prime position on the national energy agenda. Gas Today spoke with Mr Ferguson about the exciting and prosperous years ahead for Australia’s natural gas industry.

Barry - the hapless face of a serious gas campaign

Barry - the hapless face of a serious gas campaign

Barry’s Got Gas. This is not an embarrassing problem Barry has, but a campaign to promote the benefits of natural gas use to New South Wales’ consumers and reduce carbon emissions.

CSG - firing up Australia’s gas industry

CSG - firing up Australia’s gas industry

In the last year, coal seam gas (CSG) production in Queensland and NSW grew by 40.2 per cent to reach a record 113 petajoules (PJ). While this accounts for only 9 per cent of Australian gas consumption, the nascent CSG industry has a bright future amid the start up of drilling programs, expansion of existing CSG projects and the tantalising prospect of exporting the gas as LNG.

Lucas Energy - tapping NSW CSG

Queensland is known as Australia’s most lucrative coal seam gas (CSG) province, however New South Wales is also contributing to the nation’s growing reserves. Gas Today spoke with Lucas Energy’s General Manager Paul Bilston about the company’s Gloucester Basin project, the east coast gas market and new opportunities for an emerging CSG company.

Monitoring solutions for the gas industry

Monitoring solutions for the gas industry

Utilising methane for power generation can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, however monitoring methane levels in power station engines is crucial. A new methane analyser enables real time monitoring, ensuring accurate methane levels and optimum engine efficiency.

Pipeline business moves into CSG

The rapidly developing coal seam gas industry in Australia has seen a growth in opportunities for pipeline companies.

CSG may give new wings to the Australian economy

CSG may give new wings to the Australian economy

Belinda Robinson

Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) Chief Executive Belinda Robinson reviews the rise of coal seam gas (CSG), from canaries to mass production. She identifies some of the sector’s major achievements and the key issues it faces as Australia moves towards a carbon constrained future.

National energy safety rules key to the future

National energy safety rules key to the future

Energy Networks Association Chief Executive Andrew Blyth

In April the Energy Networks Association launched a policy supporting a common approach to energy safety in Australia, including the creation of a single national energy safety regulatory agency.

Darling Downs - Australia’s biggest combined-cycle power station

Darling Downs - Australia’s biggest combined-cycle power station

Using Queensland’s rich source of coal seam gas (CSG) reserves, the Darling Downs Power Station is set to become Australia’s largest combined-cycle power station.

Ceramic Fuel Cells - complementing the gas sector

Ceramic Fuel Cells - complementing the gas sector

With double the efficiency of coal-fired electricity generation, gas-powered ceramic fuel cells have the potential to provide a whole new market for natural gas.

Gas turbine asset management research

Gas turbine asset management research

Dr David Knowles

A three-year research project is aiming to ensure the effective asset management of gas turbines through increased knowledge of hot gas path component degradation processes, life prediction methods and effective repair/refurbishment strategies.

APPEA 2008 shows gas is energising change

APPEA 2008 shows gas is energising change

‘Energising change’ was the timely theme of the 2008 APPEA conference and Exhibition in Perth, Western Australia, where gas was centre stage as a fuel to secure Australia’s energy security.

Gas the talk of the town

Gas the talk of the town

With oil prices spiking above $US100, gas is emerging as the focus of energy discussion. The 2008 South East Asia Australia Offshore Conference (SEAAOC) will provide a unique and timely opportunity to discuss the latest advances in gas exploration and development.

AGIT 2008 Activities

Moira Lawler, Secretary, Australian Gas Industry Trust

The Australian Gas Industry Trust (AGIT) is offering three Overseas Study Tour awards in 2008 to Europe. In alternate years the Study Tour focuses on Europe, North America or the Asia/Pacific.

AGA launches cylinder certification scheme

AGA Senior Engineer Billy Tabourlos

The Australian Gas Association (AGA) has recently launched a new product certification scheme that is designed to benefit importers, manufacturers and retailers of gas cylinders serving the Australian marketplace.

Analysing Australia’s gas industry

Analysing Australia’s gas industry

Australian and international consultants imparted their wisdom at the recent APPEA conference in Perth, with key issues addressed at the conference including skills and migration and rising global gas demand.

CSG - next generation legal issues

Tony Nunan, Hopgood Ganim Lawyers

A strong, reliable and, most importantly, bankable coal seam gas (CSG) industry in Australia is no longer just a pipe dream. It is a reality.

Actuators for critical mainline natural gas valves

Actuators for critical mainline natural gas valves

Regional Sales Manager for Emerson Process Management in Australia and New Zealand Spencer Jenner reviews the actuator techniques available for mainline gas valves used in critical applications.

Safe and practical field calibration

A new intrinsically safe calibrator is ensuring safety on the field, while offering the functionality and performance of an industrial calibrator.

Protecting SCADA systems

Protecting SCADA systems

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are a critical component of all gas infrastructure. While there has been considerable emphasis on the physical security of these systems, it is important to recognise and manage electronic threats to security.

NGERS - implications for the transmission sector

APIA Policy Adviser Danielle Kellahan

The Australian Pipeline Industry Association (APIA) has been working with the Federal Government to inform them of the issues peculiar to the transmission industry’s greenhouse gas emissions in the lead up to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System’s (NGERS) implementation in July.

Young Pipeliners - developing the future, today

Young Pipeliners - developing the future, today

The gas transmission industry’s younger members are certainly demonstrating how pro-active they can be!

Selling gas to New Zealand’s mass market

Selling gas to New Zealand’s mass market

Currently, New Zealand homes use less than 3 per cent of all natural gas produced in the country. In an effort to respond to this, Powerco has successfully launched the GetGas campaign.

Review of Taranaki Basin

Review of Taranaki Basin

Over the last five years, New Zealand’s gas reserves have grown substantially, with the country having considerably more than the OECD average. This is in no small part due to the considerable exploration being done in the Taranaki Basin, which covers an area of 100,000 sq km, and includes both onshore and offshore fields.

Pluto LNG Project

Pluto LNG Project

Last November marked the official start of construction at Woodside Petroleum’s $11.2 billion Pluto LNG Project. Poised to increase Australia’s LNG output by between 5 and 6 million tonnes per annum (MMt/a), the Pluto gas development represents a significant opportunity to further develop its valuable gas resources and access LNG markets in the Asia Pacific region.

Kupe Gas Project

Kupe Gas Project

Though the Kupe gas field has long been the neglected little sister of the massive Maui gas field, this late-blooming development is poised to play a major role in New Zealand’s future energy security over the next 15 to 20 years.

North Rankin - 2 Project

North Rankin - 2 Project

The North West Shelf Joint Venture has given the green light to the $5 billion North Rankin-2 (NR2) Project, which aims to deliver high-value gas from the North West Shelf for another 25 years.

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