Offshore LNG development leads to partnership with Curtin, UWA and Challenger
Prelude Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) Project
As recently stated by the Premier of Western Australia, LNG production in Western Australia is set to treble over the next decade to something in excess of 60Mtpa. As part of the most recently announced LNG project to feed into this increase in production, Shell Australia is to partner with Curtin University, the University of Western Australia and Challenger Institute of Technology in order to provide research and training for the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, the offshore Prelude project.
This project will enable gas to be processed on the facility directly over the offshore gas field in the Browse basin off Western Australia. The development is predicted to generate more than $45 billion for the Australian economy.
Curtin University will establish the Global Centre for Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) Learning and Research on its Bentley Campus. In partnership with the Challenger Institute of Technology, the Centre will provide technical training and degree-level education in offshore LNG operations to future employees.
The Vice-Chancellor of Curtin University, Professor Jeanette Hacket said that “this is another example of Curtin’s commitment to providing industry with highly relevant education and research that can support such new and innovative technology,”
Meanwhile, the University of Western Australia (UWA) is in the process of forming a research hub within its Energy and Mineral Institute. The research team, comprising of a professor, two research assistant professors and two PhD students, will specialise in ‘metocean’ (meteorology and oceanography) engineering and offshore foundations. This will ensure that Shell keeps up to date with cutting edge scientific research of the physical environment surrounding offshore platforms.
It is anticipated that the Shell Prelude will begin operation in 2016 – 2017.
This expansion in LNG is occurring at the same time as an expansion in iron ore projects in Western Australia leading to a doubling of iron ore production from 391 million tonnes in 2010 to reach 700 to 800 million tonnes per annum by the end of the decade.
