Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has established research and traning partnerships with the state's top universities as part of its strategy to lift local participation in its Prelude gas project.
Energy giant Royal Dutch Shell has established research and traning partnerships with the state's top universities as part of its strategy to lift local participation in its Prelude gas project.
Shell announced today a partnership with Curtin University to establish the Global Centre for Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) Learning and Research, which will provide leadership, management and technical education specific to the FLNG industry.
It has also formed an R&D partnership with the University of Western Australia.
The global energy giant announced earlier today it would go ahead with its Prelude FLNG project, which would be the first deployed in the world.
The Curtin partnership will develop FLNG-focused research at a PhD level as a means of enhancing the state's long-term FLNG capabilities.
The Curtin centre also will involve partnerships with Vocational Education and Training providers for training in liquefied natural gas (LNG) factory operations.
Curtin Vice-Chancellor Jeanette Hacket said she was delighted Curtin was partnering with Shell in this exciting venture.
"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," Professor Hacket said.
Challenger Institute of Technology will also become a member the new Centre, through the provision of VET programs and pathways to higher education.
Meanwhile, University of Western Australia vice-chancellor Alan Robson said a new
agreement between Shell and UWA would build on the university's commitment to WA's growing energy industry.
The agreement involves the appointment of a Shell EMI professorial chair in offshore foundations-metocean engineering, as well as two research assistant professors and two PhD students.
The chair aims to improve collaboration between research and industry, develop metocean and subsea engineering short courses, create a recruitment program and improve the readiness of UWA graduates for the oil and gas industry.
"Through our Energy and Minerals Institute (EMI), we provide a gateway for industry to engage with cutting-edge university research across the depth and breadth of resource-related issues," Mr Robson said.
"Our University strives for international excellence and the appointment of a professorial chair and research staff in metocean engineering and offshore foundations will further our aim of becoming a leader in the field of oil and gas."
Shell Australia chair Ann Pickard said the professorial chair was an important opportunity to contribute to research that would benmefit the whole offshore industry.
"Along with the deployment of what we hope will be the world's first Floating LNG facility off the coast of Western Australia, Shell believes this professorial chair will help reinforce Western Australia's position at the forefront of LNG technology."
