Members & memos

Northern Endeavour decommissioning contract signed

The decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour, offshore in the Timor Sea, is set to enter its next stage with a $325 million contract being signed with Petrofac Facilities Management. Petrofac has extensive global experience in successfully leading and delivering large-scale and complex offshore decommissioning projects. In December 2020, the Australian Government confirmed that the Northern Endeavour and associated oil fields will be decommissioned to remove potential risks to the environment. The government has been responsible for maintaining the Northern Endeavour and associated subsea facilities since February 2020 after its owners, the Northern Oil and Gas Australia (NOGA) group of companies, were placed in liquidation. Northern Endeavour stopped producing oil in 2019.

Verbrec plays key role in realignment of NZ Maui pipeline

OSD, a Verbrec company, has provided key support to New Zealand gas infrastructure operator, First Gas, on critical gas pipeline projects to ensure the ongoing reliability, integrity and safe operation of New Zealand’s gas supply. First Gas needed some support to execute two projects at different locations in North Taranaki, on the west coast of the North Island in New Zealand. The Gilbert Stream Realignment involved realigning the Maui Pipeline due to coastal erosion, while the Pariroa Buckle Repair project involved the removal of a temporary bypass and implementation of a permanent repair. Both projects required newly constructed sections of pipeline to be reconnected, or ‘tied-in’, to the existing Maui Pipeline. This required the pipeline to be cut in four locations north of Taranaki, within a tight, 55-hour window to prevent a disruption to the gas supply on the upper North Island.

The Gilbert Stream Realignment involved realigning the Maui Pipeline.

POSCO takeover of Senex one step closer

The Federal Court of Australia has made orders approving the scheme of arrangement under which K-A Energy 1, subsidiary of POSCO International Corporation, will acquire 100 per cent of the shares in Senex Energy. The scheme is now legally effective, and it is expected that quotation of Senex shares on the ASX were suspended from the close of trading on Friday, March 18. Senex confirmed that its shareholders had approved the scheme of arrangement under which K-A Energy 1 acquiring 100 per cent of the issued shares in Senex. In addition, Senex announced receipt of approval on 3 February 2022 following the recent update that the company had successfully acquired two gas fields adjacent to its Atlas site from Australia Pacific LNG. Korean Foreign Exchange later approved POSCO International’s proposed acquisition of Senex, satisfying another precondition for the deal.

Pluto gas makes headway at North West Shelf

Woodside has commenced processing gas from the offshore Pluto fields ahead of schedule at the North West Shelf Project’s (NWS) Karratha Gas Plant (KGP). This follows the company’s announcement confirming the accelerated production of Pluto gas to the start-up of the Pluto-KGP Interconnector. The interconnector is a 3.2-kilometre pipeline, constructed and operated by AGI Operations, that connects Pluto LNG with KGP, enabling other resource owners’ gas to be processed at KGP. The accelerated production of gas from the first phase of Pluto’s Pyxis Hub is supported by the start-up interconnector, allowing it to be processed at KGP. KGP is expected to process approximately 2.5 million tonnes of LNG in aggregate and approximately 20 petajoules of domestic gas from Pluto in the period 2022 to 2025.

Pluto LNG, Western Australia.

AGIG recognised for hydrogen work

The Australian Gas Infrastructure Group's (AGIG) Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA) has received the Hydrogen Project of the Year Award at the Connecting Green Hydrogen MENA 2022 Hydrogen Future Awards in Dubai. Since May 2021, HyP SA has been servicing approximately 700 residential homes on our network providing Australia’s first delivery of a 5 per cent blended renewable hydrogen gas. Located at the Tonsley Innovation District, HyP SA is an Australian first project that produces renewable hydrogen gas. Supported by the South Australian Government with grant funding of $4.9 million, the $14.5m HyP SA project is aligned with the State’s vision to leverage its wind, sun, land, infrastructure and skills to be a world-class renewable hydrogen supplier and to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

AGIG's Hydrogen Park South Australia.

ARENA funds Viva Geelong hydrogen station

On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced $22.8 million in funding to Viva Energy Group to build and operate the New Energy Services Station in Geelong. The New Energy Service Station will be a $51.4 million demonstration project and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) hydrogen refuelling station to support the uptake of hydrogen FCEVs in heavy fleets. The demonstration project will be built opposite Viva Energy’s petroleum refinery and incorporate a 2 MW electrolyser along with hydrogen compression, storage and dispensing infrastructure. The service station will also include 150 kW electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities alongside green hydrogen refuelling, bringing together the zero emission technologies that will support Australia’s energy transition. With operations expected to commence in late 2023, the service station will be the first publicly accessible commercial hydrogen refuelling station in Australia.

Hydrogen study provides clarity for Pilot

Pilot Energy has completed its renewable energy and hydrogen technology feasibility studies for the Mid West region, confirming viability to produce clean hydrogen. The Mid West Integrated Renewables and Hydrogen Project study results has Pilot in a position to develop clean energy projects to produce hydrogen and renewable energy on a globally competitive basis, leveraging existing operations in Mid West region. The study included the Mid West Blue Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage study (CCS and Blue H2 Study) focused on the Cliff Head Oil field, the Mid West Renewable Energy Study (Renewables Study), the 8 Rivers Blue Hydrogen Technology Study (8 Rivers Study) and the WA 481P CCS Study (WA 481P CCS Study). Pilot advised that each of these feasibility studies have confirmed the opportunity to develop a large-scale clean hydrogen production project integrating CCS and renewable energy generation to produce hydrogen and electricity for both domestic and export markets.

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