ARRC Australian Resources Research Centre Industry and Research Report 2008-09 3D Mineral Mapping Centre of Excellence Contents
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ARRC Australian Resources Research Centre Industry and Research Report 2008-09 3D Mineral Mapping Centre of Excellence Contents Foreword 2 Chairman’s Report 4 General Highlights 6 Research Highlights 10 Mineral Exploration 11 Petroleum Exploration, Production and Processing 19 Environment and Health 26 High Performance Computing 32 Education and Training 36 Outreach and Engagement 40 Awards and Recognition 42 Industry Clients 44 Financial Report 45 ARRC Metrics 46 ARRC Advisory Committee 48 ARRC, a state-of-the-art technology hub, bringing together research institutions, universities, industry and government to deliver innovative solutions for the petroleum and minerals sector. 2 Foreword Industry and Research Report 2008-09 ARRC The Australian Resources Research Centre (ARRC) Australian Resources Research Centre Australian Resources Research Centre continues to expand its pool of leading researchers from CSIRO’s Petroleum Resources and Exploration and Mining divisions, Curtin’s Departments of Exploration Geophysics and Petroleum Engineering and other industry and government research collaborators. The Centre is a major initiative of the Western Australian Government, CSIRO and Curtin University of Technology, developed in conjunction with the petroleum and mining industries. The location of this leading global research institution in Western Australia is fitting, given that the State produces two-thirds of Australia’s non-fuel minerals and about half of its petroleum. ‘Growth in the sector is underpinned by high levels of investment with the total value of new capital expenditure by the State’s mining industry amounting to $22.8 billion in 2008-09, up 34 per cent from the previous fi nancial year.’ Foreword 3 Western Australia is one of the The Government will allocate $80 Industry and Research Report 2008-09 ARRC great mineral provinces of the world million to establish The Pawsey and our thriving resources sector High Performance Computing Australian Resources Research Centre Australian Resources Research Centre continues to drive the Australian Centre for SKA Science, as part of economy. the $160 million Super Science – Space and Astronomy package. The State resources industry demonstrated resilience in 2008-09 The Centre will be part of iVEC, amid challenging economic the advanced computing hub conditions and was worth $71.3 for Western Australia’s research billion, up 19 per cent from 2007-08. community and built on CSIRO land next to ARRC. iVEC is a joint Over the past decade the value venture between CSIRO and WA’s of Western Australia’s resources four public universities, with support These examples are only a small industry has grown on average from the State Government. by a healthy 15 per cent annually fraction of the research that is and now accounts for almost This year CSIRO and the Western taking place at ARRC to enhance 90 per cent of the State’s total Australian Department of Mines the effectiveness of petroleum and merchandise exports. and Petroleum (DMP) joined to mineral exploration and extraction generate a database on West in Western Australia and around Growth in the sector is underpinned Australian iron ore deposits the world. by high levels of investment with (WAIOD) that is a unique point of Demand for new petroleum and the total value of new capital reference optimising iron ore target mineral exploration and extraction expenditure by the State’s mining definition. industry amounting to $22.8 billion technologies continues to grow. in 2008-09, up 34 per cent from the The database is interactive With access to a vast global previous financial year. and user-friendly and compiles research network, scientists at locations, stratigraphy, tonnage, ARRC can interact, exchange The performance of the State’s mineralogy and grade with a focus information and explore new resources industry was outstanding on phosphorus levels and provides ideas in partnership with industry during a difficult period which saw industry such as exploration and research collaborators to commodity prices fall sharply as companies with the actual figures ensure the ongoing sustainability a result of the global economic on iron ore resources based on of our resources industry, our downturn. phosphorus levels. environment and our way of life. While key challenges remain, Another successful project Research conducted at ARRC is growth prospects for the resources was realised by the Integrated meeting industry expectations, industry are strong with a number Predictive Evaluation of Traps and providing greater efficiencies and of significant projects under Seals (IPETS) Consortium who increasing environmental and development across Western worked to reduce uncertainty in oil safety standards. Australia. and gas exploration. The project, The broad leadership presence now completed, was initiated Many exciting research projects at ARRC is helping to make in 2004 to investigate factors were initiated at ARRC in 2008-09, the Centre an internationally- controlling how oil and gas are some of which are highlighted in recognised focal point for research trapped underground in natural this Report. and development in Australia. reservoirs, essential for locating I congratulate all of the staff at In May 2009, The Australian hydrocarbons and making decisions ARRC for their efforts in lifting Government’s 2009-10 Budget on where to drill. the research profile of Western contained funding for a new The IPETS Consortium developed Australia and on delivering initiative that will contribute methods, tools and workflows, outcomes that will greatly benefit significantly to Australia’s role in the along with providing data on the industry in general. international Square Kilometre Array samples. While the research is (SKA) program. particularly relevant to exploration on the Australian Margin, it also has global applications. The Hon Norman Moore MLC Minister for Mines and Petroleum Chairman’s Report ARRC Australian Resources Research Centre Industry and Research Report 2008-09 4 Chairman’s Report 5 With access to a vast A recent review of the $130 million Industry and Research Report 2008-09 ARRC research network, CSIRO Energy Domain found the panel of external experts very Australian Resources Research Centre Australian Resources Research Centre ARRC’s development positive about the direction, impact in 2008-09 continued and science quality of CSIRO’s to champion an energy research activities. The environment in which purpose of the review was to ensure the research activities are scientists can interact, of suitable quality and scale and exchange information address the topics of greatest and explore new ideas potential value to Australia. in partnership with The Energy Review panel industry to ensure the commended CSIRO on having ongoing sustainability of a clear strategic direction in the energy area whilst still our resources industries, being flexible and responsive to our environment and our changing industry and government way of life in Australia. national needs. The panel was also impressed with the range It is a great honour to showcase Since ARRC was commissioned and depth of energy research the high quality work performed in 2001, the facility has more being carried out and found by our scientists at ARRC and I am than met its original objectives of the performance of Petroleum pleased to inform you that 2008-09 enhancing petroleum and mineral Resources in succession planning has been an outstanding success exploration and extraction R&D and mentoring exemplary and the for this Facility. in WA and facilitating technology capabilities world-class. transfer to the State’s resources industries. Construction of a new Gas-to- Liquids (GTL) facility that can Today, the facility is known as house several test rigs as well a world-class R&D centre built as analytical facilities began in David Agostini on strong collaboration between early 2009. Located in the ARRC CSIRO, universities, industry, Chairman, ARRC Advisory building, the project will allow the Committee Federal and State Government GTL team to investigate alternative agencies and the community. routes in gas-to-liquids processes. As ARRC now moves towards its A small-scale Fischer-Tropsch rig ‘Today, the facility second decade of operation, the with a fixed bed reactor is being strong geosciences focus will be built and will be commissioned is known as a enhanced through new initiatives early 2010, with plans for a second, world-class R&D to encompass geothermal energy bigger rig to be constructed and and carbon capture and storage commissioned in the same year. centre built on and state-of-the-art research A third rig, with a different reactor strong collaboration infrastructure, including a gas-to- configuration (slurry bubble liquids pilot plant and hydrates reactor), is planned for the next between CSIRO, flow-loop. phase of the project. The rigs will universities, run uninterrupted 24/7, producing The choice of ARRC as the site industrially significant data, a industry, Federal for the $80 million Pawsey High feature that makes the facility the Performance Computing Centre and State only one of its kind in Australia. for SKA Science will see the facility Government become a world-class hub for high- performance computing that will agencies and the support high-end research in many community.’ disciplines. General Highlights ARRC Australian Resources Research Centre Industry and Research Report 2008-09 6 General Highlights 7 Industry and Research Report 2008-09 ARRC Australian