This year’s APPEA Conference & Exhibition has lived up to its overall theme of Lead, shape, innovate – accelerating to net zero, by examining the significant advances the industry is making to decarbonise the economy, and to be a leader in the energy transition.
Chief executive Samantha McCulloch said there was a lot of optimism for the future of the oil and gas industry, as well as how it can provide safer, more innovative workplaces, and improve the environmental practices engagement with Traditional Owners, and the broader community.
“The conference and exhibition have shown the importance of coming together as an industry to share these insights, challenge our perceptions, and shape our industry’s shared vision of where we want to be – and where we need to be – in the next 20, 30 years and beyond,” she said.
“APPEA plays a unique role in facilitating these discussions. And they are vital to APPEA’s work. Our advocacy, our ability to shape and inform the policies and regulatory environment that are important to you are guided and strengthened by your participation and your support.”
McCulloch also welcomed the recent news from the Federal Budget and its commitment to a Future Gas Strategy and review of the regulatory environment or greenhouse gas storage activities – the first step in unlocking the potential of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage in Australia.
Another key takeout from the event she said was that there isn’t enough talk about how important the oil and gas industry is, and how misunderstood its role is in some parts of the community.
“We need to do more to educate the Australian public about what our industry does,” she said. “That we provide reliable energy for Australian households and industries, supporting our transition to renewables.
How the industry is leading carbon capture technology
A hot topic throughout the course of the annual conference and exhibition was oil and gas companies are leading development of a key emissions reduction tool in the Asia Pacific region, according to a top analyst who says countries must provide incentives and regulatory frameworks to stimulate investment in carbon capture, utilisation and technology (CCUS).
S&P Global Commodity Insights Executive Director, Asia Pacific Upstream, Antonio Dimabuyu told the APPEA 2023 Conference and Exhibition that the sector was uniquely placed to enable CCUS, which has been recognised by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a tool required to get to net zero by 2050.
“Oil and gas companies lead CCUS deployment activity in APAC as they leverage technical capabilities, major capital project execution experience, ability to manage risk over long business cycles, and commercial market making skills gained from hydrocarbon development,” he said.
Dimabuyu told delegates in Adelaide that development of regional CCUS hubs was the next stage for the APAC region as was occurring in Europe. But he said cost remained the main barrier.
“Cost reduction efforts through better project management, collaboration to established shared facilities and utilising technology would be enablers,” he said. “Countries would also be required to provide incentives and strengthen regulatory and legal framework to stimulate CCS.”
The S&P Global presentation was one of several CCUS papers presented this afternoon, including by Santos about Australia’s next major storage project, Moomba, a joint venture with Beach Energy.
Low-emission hydrogen’s role in decarbonisation
The rise of renewables and future fuels and the role they will play in decarbonising the Australian economy was covered by Deloitte Partner Matthew Walden during his presentation at the conference.
Walden said hydrogen, presently, is a key global commodity used within the production of chemicals including ammonia and for refining activities, that could be used to compliment other emissions reduction innovations and technologies.
“Low-emission hydrogen is emerging as an integral building block for the decarbonisation of the global economy, serving as a complementary emission reduction solution to direct electrification and the use of other low emission technologies such as bioenergy,” he said.
Walden further highlighted that for a low-emission hydrogen industry to develop, the disconnect between consumer and producer expectations, high production and end use technology costs and regulatory challenges must be overcome.
“Important mechanisms to achieve this include the implementation of targets and mandates for low-emission hydrogen production and uptake, facilitation of product premiums by industry, targeted public funding and financing and revenue support mechanisms,” he said.
Celebrating environment, safety, workforce and community initiatives
To round out a jam-packed few days, a gala dinner was held in Adelaide during the conference and exhibition, recognising the ground-breaking initiatives by APPEA member companies.
Woodside Energy took out the top APPEA Chair’s Award for its Karratha Education Initiative – Enriching Educational Opportunities & Achievement.
The program has bridged the gap between resources and opportunities available to
metropolitan school students compared to those in remote regional centres, providing employment pathways support for Karratha secondary school students over the past 15 years.
A collaboration between the North West Shelf Project joint venture partners, St Luke’s College, Karratha Senior High School and the Department of Education, the partnership supports pathways through tertiary education or industry-based careers.
The initiative was one of three Woodside Energy projects recognised for their excellence in individual award categories alongside other initiatives by Beach Energy and ExxonMobil Australia.
The Karratha Education Initiative also took out the Community Development Award category.
The Safety Project Excellence Award went to Beach Energy for its Otway Offshore COVID & Mental Health Management conducted during the pandemic, overcoming the health and safety challenges and restrictions like border closures to continue as one of the few drilling campaigns operating.
The Workforce Development Award was awarded to joint winners, ExxonMobil Australia and Woodside Energy.
Woodside Energy was also recognised in the Workforce Development Award for its Navigator Leadership Development Program, improving staff development to support the energy transition. The company also took home the Environment Project Excellence Award for scientific innovation and collaboration enabling effective management of pygmy blue whales in Australia’s northwest.
“The APPEA Excellence Awards highlight the outstanding work undertaken across our member companies to constantly improve operations for the benefit of the environment, health and safety and the communities where we operate,” McCulloch said.
“Whether it’s COVID safety procedures, whale protection, education programs for youths or workforce upskilling, these companies are adopting new approaches and technologies to improve outcomes for their own operations and Australia.”
Check out what exhibitors had to share at this year’s APPEA Conference & Exhibition below:
Kent’s Nigel Salajan shares what Kent is all about.
Ebelio J. Espínola from Petrosys runs through their annual map they had on display.
Josie Philips, Petrofac Regional Director, spoke about the work they are doing in the world of decommissioning energy infrastructure.
Ventia’s Carly Gabel touches on how the company’s 60 year history has contributed to its ongoing success in the forever evolving energy industry.
Erik Vandenberg from Verbrec shares insights into his presentation on process safety.
Equinox Engineering Australia’s Logan Evans, discusses the work the company is doing in the CCS space, in particular at the Moomba project.
Trina Dreher from Veolia walks us through what they have on display.
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