An $11 million collaboration between universities and the CSIRO to unlock stranded offshore oil and gas reserves through improved subsea pipeline design will be launched today at the University of Western Australia.
The research cluster consists of a $3.6 million grant through the Flagship Collaboration Fund and in-kind contributions totalling $7.4 million from the participating universities. The Fund enables the skills of the wider Australian research community to be applied to the major national challenges targeted by the National Research Flagship Program.
The full text of a CSIRO announcement is pasted below
An $11 million collaboration to unlock stranded offshore oil and gas reserves through improved subsea pipeline design will be launched today in Perth.
The Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship's Collaboration Cluster on Subsea Pipelines (CCSP) unites the research capabilities of The University of Western Australia, Curtin University of Technology, The University of Queensland, Monash University, The University of Sydney, Flinders University and CSIRO.
More than 80 per cent of Australia's gas resources exist in remote, offshore areas. They may lie as far as 300 kilometres offshore, at a depth greater than one kilometre.
According to Flagship Director, Dr Kate Wilson, realising the full potential of these resources requires the development of new, safe, economically viable and environmentally sound transportation technologies.
"Improved pipeline technology will also help achieve the flagship's vision of replacing traditional oil and gas rigs with platform-free fields," Dr Wilson says.
"It presents an enormous scientific challenge, so we created this cluster to harness the strength and breadth of relevant expertise from across Australia."
Cluster leader Professor Mark Cassidy of The University of Western Australia says transporting oil and gas in extra-long offshore pipelines is not easy. "We need to think about the stability of pipeline structures over decades in strong currents, a shifting seabed, steep seabed slopes and potential geo-hazards such as submarine landslides," he says.
"The cluster's research program spans the spectrum of pipeline design. Projects will investigate seabed characterisation and morphology, structural integrity, pipeline monitoring, geo-hazards and full-life reliability.
"This will involve everything from sophisticated computer modelling and sea-floor movement prediction, to understanding tsunami effects and exploring the use of autonomous underwater and remotely operated vehicles."
The University of Western Australia's Vice-Chancellor and CSIRO Board member, Professor Alan Robson, says the University is extremely pleased to host such a prestigious collaborative venture.
"In keeping with our university's aspirations of both achieving international excellence and serving the community, this new collaborative cluster will ensure Australia remains at the forefront of subsea pipeline research, ultimately bringing important benefits to the resources sector and the nation as a whole, " Professor Robson says.
The cluster consists of a $3.6 million grant through the Flagship Collaboration Fund and in-kind contributions totalling $7.4 million from the participating universities. The Fund enables the skills of the wider Australian research community to be applied to the major national challenges targeted by the National Research Flagship Program.
CSIRO initiated the National Research Flagships to provide science-based solutions in response to Australia's major research challenges and opportunities. The nine flagships form multidisciplinary teams with industry and the research community to deliver impact and benefits for Australia (www.csiro.au/flagships).
