Agostini wins WA Gas Industry Award

Former Woodside executive and Neptune Marine director David Agostini has been named the winner of the WA Gas Industry Development Award.

Mr Agostini has had an illustrious career within the industry spanning more than 50 years.

He began work in 1957 for Texaco as a petroleum engineer before joining Woodside.

Mr Agostini managed Woodside's LNG business and was involved in marketing gas into Asia.

Last year, Mr Agostini led a comprehensive inquiry into the effectiveness of regulation for upstream petroleum operations.

He was also appointed as an inspector to coordinate finalisation of the technical investigation into the Varanus Island gas explosions in June, 2008.

Chamber of Minerals and Energy chief executive Reg Howard-Smith said Mr Agostini was a worthy winner playing an important role in establishing WA as one of the worlds leading gas provinces.

"David has a long and distinguished career, guiding Woodside's LNG interests during an important development phase," Mr Howard-Smith said.

See statement from Chamber of Minerals and Energy below:

A long and productive career within WA's energy sector has seen David Agostini today announced as the winner of the WA Gas Industry Development Award for 2010.

Mr Agostini has played an important role in helping establish Western Australia as one of the world's leading gas provinces.

Joining the industry in 1957, Mr Agostini worked for Texaco as a petroleum engineer and production specialist, and later joined Woodside in a similar capacity. He subsequently managed drilling operations and offshore production. On secondment to Shell in The Hague, he worked as deputy strategy manager for downstream oil and gas.

Mr Agostini managed Woodside's LNG business, and was involved in marketing gas into Asia. As Woodside's General Manager, Operations, he oversaw the three-train LNG Plant, domestic gas plant, North Rankin and Goodwin offshore platforms, the Cossack Pioneer floating production system and offshore drilling rigs.

Mr Agostini is a non executive director of Neptune Marine, Chairman of the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance, and Chairman of the Australian Resources Research Centre (ARRC) advisory group. He chaired the state government Electricity Industry Reference Group (EIRG) and was a member of the COAG Energy Markets Review Panel.

Last year, Mr Agostini led a comprehensive inquiry into the effectiveness of regulation for upstream petroleum operations. He was also appointed as an inspector to coordinate finalisation of the technical investigation into the Varanus Island gas explosions in June, 2008.

Mr Agostini holds engineering qualifications from the North Carolina State University, and is an Adjunct Professor in Oil & Gas Engineering at the University of Western Australia.

Jointly sponsored by North West Shelf Gas and the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME), the Gas Development Award recognises an outstanding contribution by an individual or company towards development of the domestic gas industry in WA.

CME Chief Executive Reg Howard-Smith said Mr Agostini was a worthy winner.

"David has a long and distinguished career, guiding Woodside's LNG interests during an important development phase," Mr Howard-Smith said.

"Today, he continues to make a contribution to the industry, providing expertise to recent safety and regulation inquiries and in his role at the Australian Resources Research Centre."

Past winners include Sir Charles Court, Stuart Hohnen, Eve Howell, Phil Harvey, Des Kelly, Tim Shanahan and Harry Butler.