Innovation

  • INNOVATION

    3-D model shows off the insides of a giant permafrost crater

    Researchers from the Oil and Gas Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (OGRI) and the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have surveyed the newest known 30-meter deep gas blo... more

  • INNOVATION

    The ‘Internet of Things’ goes underwater

    James Cook University (JCU) scientists believe the emerging ‘Internet of Underwater Things’ has significant potential – but serious issues need to be overcome first. Dr Mostafa Rahimi Azghadi is a Seni... more

  • INNOVATION

    Addressing wellbore instability for safer operations

    In Australia, wells are typically between 2,000 and 4,000 metres deep, but globally, wells beyond 10,000 metres are gradually becoming more common. These depths are demanding innovative measures to ensure the s... more

  • INNOVATION

    Drilling Australia’s first offshore CO2 appraisal well

    The CarbonNet Project, jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian Governments, is investigating the potential for a commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) network. Should the CarbonNet Project pr... more

  • 3-D model shows off the insides of a giant permafrost crater
    22 Feb, 2021
  • The ‘Internet of Things’ goes underwater
    18 Feb, 2021
  • Addressing wellbore instability for safer operations
    04 Dec, 2020
  • Drilling Australia’s first offshore CO2 appraisal well
    04 Dec, 2020

Protecting hazardous sites from risks

From onshore pipelines, refineries and office buildings to offshore platforms and vessels, the oil and gas industry has a range of expensive and critical assets which require protection from unwanted damage or intrusion. Operators commonly use a range of security measures including closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to safeguard their sites. For oil and gas facilities, operators may employ intrusion detection which uses a variety of technologies, such as active fences equipped with fibre-optic and microphonic cable to detect vibrations and sound; infrared and m... more

Pushing the limit of subsea technology

The emergence of new offshore exploration targets at depths of 3,000 metres or more is putting increasing pressure on operators to maintain their deepwater assets, which requires the industry to keep pushing the limits of current technology. While oil and gas structures, equipment and other high-value components located above the surface require regular inspection and monitoring, subsea assets, located in increasingly deeper water require the same treatment. While certain subsea inspections can be carried out by professional scuba divers, operators may need to conduct inspections in water that is not clear... more

Operators increase adoption of power alternatives

Due to increasing pressure from stakeholders, governments, communities and environmental groups to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, oil and gas operators around the globe are turning to renewables to power their operations. According to a new database and analysis by IHS Markit, oil and gas companies are starting to utilise alternative sources to reduce carbon emissions associated with their operations. “There has been a striking pace of growth over the past few years and a dynamic commercial environment for delivering renewable energy to oil and gas operations,” detailed Judson Jacobs, executive... more

Drawing inspiration from nature to detect corrosion

Engineers in the United Kingdom have developed a new scanning technique inspired by the natural world that can detect corroding metals in oil and gas pipelines. By mimicking how bats use differing wavelengths of ultrasound to detect objects, hunt, and avoid predators, the engineers have developed a new system that combines two separate types of radiation - fast neutrons and gamma rays – to detect corrosion, which is something the oil and gas industry is all too familiar with. According to a study by NACE International, the annual cost of corrosion in the U.S. oil and gas production industry is estimated ... more

Industry gets invaluable aerial spectrum

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are having a profound impact on both offshore and onshore oil and gas projects around the world – assisting operators to conduct inspections of hard to reach areas and across lengthy distances in record times, while reducing costs and risks to personnel safety. UAVs provide enormously precise aerial intelligence that simplifies and improves a wide range of oil and gas processes. Whether inspecting hundreds of kilometres of oil or gas pipelines for leaks, helping operators comply with regulations or enabling companies to construct infrastructure more efficiently, UAVs have q... more

Real-time monitoring increases transparency

With a growing number of companies under scrutiny from investors and the community, the oil and gas industry has been one of the leading sectors to implement measures that aim to improve and increase transparency of operations. Oil and gas operators have a significant amount of critical equipment which needs to be monitored and analysed to comply with regulatory requirements, and to identify problems that could risk the safety of workers, cause damage to the environment, result in loss of product, and as a result, lead to unplanned downtime. In recent times, advanced sensor technologies have assisted the i... more

Getting a bigger picture of subsea assets

While oil and gas operations have multiple critical assets above ground that require attention, there are also plenty below the surface that need to be maintained, such as offshore platforms and drilling equipment, pipelines, communication and other cables. Subsea inspections are generally performed during the installation and decommissioning stages of a project, but they are also critical during the operational phase. During these inspections, operators will examine assets for leaks, cracks and other damage that may occur as a result of corrosion, aging, seismic events, installation issues or damage caused b... more