The department of Industry and Resources (DoIR) sponsored the function, which was attended by 140 representatives of the local sub-sea industry. The focus was the development and use of sub-sea systems in local and overseas oil and gas projects.

About 1000 kilometres of offshore pipeline has already been laid in Australian waters and an equivalent length is proposed for coming years, so sub-sea to beach development concepts are a topical subject for operators, technologists and researchers.

Sub-sea systems offer the hope of reduced production costs but they pose challenges such as long-distance tiebacks, flow assurance, control systems and other issues associated with transporting gas and liquids long distances under the sea.

Simon Bingham, chief facilities engineer with Apache Energy, outlined Apache’s experience with sub-sea systems around Varanus Island on the North West Shelf.

Kevin Mullen, sub-sea controls engineer with Intec Engineering, provided an historical perspective of the development and use of umbilical systems and the increasing use of satellite communications in control systems

Drew Peoples, Gorgon sub-sea coordinator for Chevron Texaco, created considerable interest when he outlined plans for sub-sea systems to be used in the proposed Gorgon project, which will have one of the world’s longest sub-sea tiebacks.

Rob Parker, manager of DoIR’s Industry and Technology Development Team, chaired the meeting and introduced the speakers, saying innovation, technology development and diffusion were essential for economic growth and that DoIR was pleased to associate with and support the society and its what he said were excellent information sharing and networking activities

Further information on SUT activities can be obtained by emailing Wendy Buchanan at SUT@Imts-eng.com or by contacting Jim Leven at DoIR on 9222 5886.