Effect of deep-sea drilling on sustainability of deep-sea ecosystems. Offshore oil and gas production makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy and enhances our energy security. Australia's vast deep-sea reserves of hydrocarbons lie on the NW Shelf and in Bass Strait, ecological 'hot spots' that are extremely vulnerable to the impact of exploration, extraction and production. Using deep-sea equipment, we will conduct the field experiments that are essential to understanding the ....Effect of deep-sea drilling on sustainability of deep-sea ecosystems. Offshore oil and gas production makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy and enhances our energy security. Australia's vast deep-sea reserves of hydrocarbons lie on the NW Shelf and in Bass Strait, ecological 'hot spots' that are extremely vulnerable to the impact of exploration, extraction and production. Using deep-sea equipment, we will conduct the field experiments that are essential to understanding these ecosystems and the impact of deep-sea structures. Our advances will produce data and develop methodologies that will make Australia a world leader in reconciling our deep-sea energy and environmental needs.Read moreRead less
Reduction of risk in exploration for petroleum liquids. Australia has an urgent need to establish additional reserves of crude oil. A feature of petroleum exploration in recent decades has been discovery of vast reserves of natural gas but an inability to replace our diminishing reserves of crude oil. Clearly new technology is required to enhance our capability to recognise crude oil-prone rather than gas-prone source rocks. The proposed project will establish the fundamental geochemical pro ....Reduction of risk in exploration for petroleum liquids. Australia has an urgent need to establish additional reserves of crude oil. A feature of petroleum exploration in recent decades has been discovery of vast reserves of natural gas but an inability to replace our diminishing reserves of crude oil. Clearly new technology is required to enhance our capability to recognise crude oil-prone rather than gas-prone source rocks. The proposed project will establish the fundamental geochemical processes that will support the potential exploration techniques, developed with Woodside Energy Limited support.Read moreRead less
DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE DRILLING FLUIDS. An innovative technique of micro-emulsion of vegetable oils and water has been developed to create a new generation, low-toxicity drilling fluids for use by the petroleum exploration industry. The project aims at investigating the chronic toxicity of new generation drilling fluids to fish, and re-formulate the drilling fluids to minimize the toxic ingredients. Biomarkers of exposure and effects such as, but not limited to, EROD ind ....DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE DRILLING FLUIDS. An innovative technique of micro-emulsion of vegetable oils and water has been developed to create a new generation, low-toxicity drilling fluids for use by the petroleum exploration industry. The project aims at investigating the chronic toxicity of new generation drilling fluids to fish, and re-formulate the drilling fluids to minimize the toxic ingredients. Biomarkers of exposure and effects such as, but not limited to, EROD induction, DNA damage and stress proteins will be explored in fish exposed chronically to drilling fluids or their ingredients. Outcomes include environmentally acceptable drilling fluids, and will represent the start point for multi-million dollars agriculture and manufacturing industry in Australia.Read moreRead less