Northern Australia oil and gas: a new engine for Australia’s prosperity?
Nicholas Heyes A and Robbert de Weijer BA Accenture.
B Armour Energy.
The APPEA Journal 55(2) 405-405 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ14040
Published: 2015
Abstract
The region of Australia comprising the area of the NT and northwest Queensland has significant conventional and shale resources that can see it emerge as the next major global oil and gas hub. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), in the Asia-Pacific region, the natural gas production-consumption shortfall is expected to grow from 99.8 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) in 2012 to 251.7 mtpa in 2025 (IEA, 2014). Australia is well-positioned to cater to this growing demand, and is set to become the world’s largest LNG exporter by 2020. The northern Australia region can help to meet this growing global demand and also serve domestic east coast demand. Development of these resources would significantly accelerate the regional and national economy, but success will depend on doing it at a cost that is competitive with new sources of hydrocarbons from around the world.
This extended abstract outlines the natural advantages and challenges being faced by operators seeking to develop this region of northern Australia. Drawing on insights from global experiences, it identifies the key success factors and challenges faced in different regions during their development and commercialisation. It provides guidance and recommendations for maximising the development potential in northern Australia including:
new ways of working;
industry collaboration including sharing of infrastructure and data;
service provider development;
commercial partnerships;
better access to capital; and,
government support in tenure reform, incentives, tax benefits, capability development and investments in infrastructure.
Nicholas Heyes is a leader in Accenture’s Energy Practice and manages the Unconventional Energy group across the Asia-Pacific. He has more than 27 years of global consulting experience and has worked with clients in the energy industry on major transformational work in Europe, North America and now the Asia-Pacific. Nick focuses on helping his clients set up and manage efficient and sustainable upstream development and operations capabilities. Nick is based in Brisbane and advises CSG companies on how to set up and run their operations. This has entailed the development of new operating models, processes and technologies to support the capabilities required to efficiently develop reserves and to manage those production operations profitably. Nick has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering and business management from Birmingham University in the UK. Member: Society of Petroleum Engineers. |
Robbert de Weijer is an all-round international oil and gas executive, experienced in all aspects of exploration and production. Robbert has a strong track record for creating motivated, delivery-focused, high-performance teams. Robbert’s career with Shell International spanned 23 years during which time he gained extensive experience within the oil and gas industry, and held a variety of senior roles in multiple countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, culminating in managing Shell’s North Sea assets, including 53 offshore gas platforms and two major gas terminals in The Netherlands and England, 1,500 Shell and contractor staff and capital, and operating budgets in excess of US$1.6 billion per annum. Robbert arrived in Australia in 2009 where he, under secondment from Shell, held the position of Chief Operating Officer at Arrow Energy. While at Arrow Energy, Robbert was instrumental in the company achieving a number of major project milestones during a period of rapid expansion, including substantial reserves upgrades, increasing gas production, improvements in drilling and development activities and improving safety performance across the company. After Arrow was acquired by Shell and PetroChina in 2010, Robbert became the Chief Executive Officer (Australia) for Dart Energy Ltd, an international CSG company. Robbert is now with Armour Energy, which he joined in July 2013, as Chief Executive Officer to drive the company’s project and corporate development initiatives. Robbert has a BSc in mechanical engineering, a BSc in business administration, and is a chartered engineer with FEANI. He is based in Brisbane. |
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