WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE December 2013 – February 2014 $3 (inc GST) GOOD VIBRATIONS 3D seismic survey in the South West Print post approved PP 665002/00062 DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEVELOPMENT International Trade and Investment 1 Adelaide Terrace East Perth, Western Australia 6004 • AUSTRALIA Tel: +61 8 9222 0566 • Fax: +61 8 9222 6151 Email: [email protected] www.dsd.wa.gov.au INTERNATIONAL OFFICES Europe European Office • 5th floor, The Australia Centre Corner of Strand and Melbourne Place London WC2B 4LG • UNITED KINGDOM Tel: +44 20 7240 2881 • Fax: +44 20 7240 6637 The Western Australian resources sector may have come off its peak, but it continues to be the backbone of the State economy with a number of new India — Mumbai projects and expansions coming on stream in recent months. Western Australian Trade Office In 2012-13, the total value of the State’s mineral and petroleum industry was 93 Jolly Maker Chambers No 2 A$102 billion (story page 4). 9th floor, Nariman Point • Mumbai 400 021 • INDIA Tel: +91 22 6630 3973 • Fax: +91 22 6630 3977 This was the second-best year on record, and the third consecutive year the total value of the industry topped A$100 billion. Iron ore production was valued at Indonesia — Jakarta A$56.4 billion, and the value of the petroleum sector increased another 2.9 per cent Western Australia Trade Office to A$24.5 billion. Wisma Budi Building • floor 5 Suite 504 JI HR Rasuna Said Kav C-6 These figures demonstrate the robustness of the mineral and petroleum sectors on Kuningan, Jakarta 12940 • INDONESIA the back of strong support from the Western Australian Government. Tel: +62 21 5290 2860 • Fax: +62 21 5296 2722 A number of recently completed projects are also set to support further growth in Japan — Tokyo production and exports of iron ore. Government of Western Australia, Tokyo Office 14th floor, Imperial Tower Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Cape Lambert port expansion is among them and I was pleased 1-1-1 Uchisaiwai-cho Chiyoda-ku to officially open that project in October (story page 10). Tokyo 100-0011 • JAPAN In addition this quarter, the Western Australian Government finalised the acquisition Tel: +81 3 5157 8281 • Fax: +81 3 5157 8286 of land near James Price Point to support the development of nearby gas fields, Japan — Kobe delivering on a commitment to the Indigenous people of the Kimberley (story page 6). Western Australian Government Office As we enter 2014, the onshore Canning Basin is an exciting new frontier for the oil 6th floor, Golden Sun Building and gas sector and is likely to see further exploration. Construction will also continue 4-3-6 Nakayamate-dori Chuo-Ku • Kobe 650-0004 • JAPAN on major projects such as the Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG projects. Tel: +81 78 242 7705 • Fax: +81 78 242 7707 This activity, coupled with innovation in fields like geological surveying (story pages 2-3), point to the growing diversity of the Western Australian economy, and provide Middle East — Dubai the foundations for growth and success in 2014 and beyond. Western Australian Trade Office • 106, Emarat Atrium PO Box 58007 • Dubai • UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Tel: +971 4 343 3226 • Fax: +971 4 343 3238 Colin Barnett PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA & MINISTER FOR STATE DEVELOPMENT People’s Republic of China — Shanghai Western Australian Trade Office Bill Marmion Room 2204 • CITIC Square MINISTER FOR MINES AND PETROLEUM 1168 Nanjing Road West Shanghai 20004 • PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Tel: +86 21 5292 5899 • Fax: +86 21 5292 5889 People’s Republic of China — Hangzhou ISSN 1037-4590 Western Australian Trade and Investment Promotion Prospect Hangzhou Representative Office Room 1705 • World Trade Office Plaza Western Australian Prospect magazine is published quarterly by the Zhejiang World Trade Centre Western Australian Government’s Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) 122 Shuguang Road • Hangzhou 310007 and Department of State Development (DSD). PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA DSD Editorial management: Rebecca Atkinson, DSD Communications and Marketing Division. Tel: +86 571 8795 0296 • Fax: +86 571 8795 0295 Tel: +61 08 9222 0417 • Fax: +61 08 9222 0505 DMP Editorial management: Peter W. Lewis, DMP Communications and Marketing Division. Singapore Tel: +61 08 9222 3572 • Fax: +61 08 9222 3862 Western Australian Trade and Investment Office Subscriptions: Gerard O’Neill. Tel: +61 08 9222 3821 • Email: [email protected] Suntec Tower Four, #20-02 Disclaimer 6 Temasek Boulevard • SINGAPORE 038986 Prospect has been compiled in good faith by the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) and Department of State Development (DSD). Opinions Tel: +65 6836 5626 • Fax: +65 6836 5698 expressed in Prospect are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, or have the endorsement of DMP and DSD. DMP and DSD has used all reasonable endeavours to ensure the material contained in this publication is correct, but it is intended to be general in nature. No representation is made with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the information contained herein. DMP and DSD disclaims any or all liability for loss or damage whatsoever suffered or incurred resulting from the use of or reliance on information contained herein. Readers of this publication South Korea — Seoul should make and rely on their own enquiries, research and judgements in making decisions affecting their own or any other persons interest. Western Australian Trade and Investment Office Unit 702 • 7th Floor • Kwanghwamoon Building Cover photo: One of Curtin University’s new vibroseis trucks was part of a South West Hub 211 Sejongno, Jongno-gu project display at the Brunswick Show. Similar vibroseis trucks will be used for next year’s 3D seismic survey. Seoul • South Korea 110-730 • KOREA Tel: +82 2 722 1217 • Fax: +82 2 722 1218 Scan this QR code to view links to all the department’s publications In this issue 02 04 06 10 16 22 02 Seismic Surveying in the 10 Rio Tinto port expansion a South West boost for Pilbara iron ore Valuable geological data will be the target of a 3D Seismic Survey to Mining giant Rio Tinto completed the first phase of a major be conducted in the Harvey and Waroona shires in early 2014. expansion of its iron ore operations in the Pilbara region in October. 04 WA mining results remain strong 16 Q&A with Pankaj Savara Western Australia’s resources industry has experienced its second The Western Australian Government’s Commissioner for the Middle best financial year performance on record in 2012-13. East and Africa provides an insight into economic issues in the region. 06 Land secured for Kimberley 22 Mining rehabilitation fund gas precinct delivering data spin-off The Western Australian Government has completed the acquisition The introduction of the Mining Rehabilitation Fund earlier in 2013 of land for a gas precinct near James Price Point in the Kimberley. is already paying dividends through a new bank of knowledge. Department of Mines and Petroleum Department of Mines and Petroleum Department of State Development Department of State Development www.dmp.wa.gov.au www.dsd.wa.gov.au SEISMIC SURVEYING IN THE SOUTH WEST One of Curtin University’s new vibroseis trucks at the Brunswick Show. Valuable geological data will Department of Mines and Petroleum “The stratigraphic data collected will be be the target of a 3D Seismic (DMP) Coordinator Carbon Strategy used to create a three-dimensional model Dominique Van Gent said the of the area’s underground geology.” Survey to be conducted in the survey would cover approximately Harvey and Waroona shires Mr Van Gent said the survey would be 115 square kilometres. conducted by international exploration in early 2014 as a part of company Geokinetics. “The survey will be managed by the research into carbon capture department and is a part of the South “Seismic surveying is an environmentally and storage in the South West. West Hub project,” Mr Van Gent said. friendly method of mapping the DMP staff make an impression at the Brunswick Show The South West Hub team made an impression on the At six metres in length the Curtin University vibroseis truck public at the Brunswick Show with a display featuring is a smaller version of the vibroseis trucks which will be used one of Curtin University’s two new vibroseis trucks. for next year’s survey. These machines provide the seismic source, or low frequency During the show the team ran two hourly demonstrations sound waves, which are used to create three dimensional of the seismic operations from a site in the middle of the maps of the underground. machinery section, alongside the cattle judging. A 3D Seismic Survey of approximately 115 square kilometres This was a good opportunity to discuss the South West Hub will be conducted by the South West Hub in the Harvey research program with locals. Waroona area from February 2014. The department, the CSIRO and Curtin University teamed up to make the truck available for the show. 2 How is the survey conducted? The subsurface geological formations are mapped using seismic waves sent into the ground. The echoes reflecting off various Surveyor Geophone carrier Recording truck subsurface formations are received Vibroseis truck at the surface, using instruments Geophones known as geophones, and recorded for analysis. LEEDERVILLE FORMATION This method of seismic surveying CATTAMARRA COAL MEASURES has a low environmental impact. ENEABBA FORMATION A grid pattern is established UPPER LESUEUR which covers the entire survey area SEISMIC WAVE PATHS Yalgorup Member with survey lines approximately 200 metres apart. LESUEUR SANDSTONE During the survey seismic waves at LOWER LESUEUR Wonnerup Member various frequencies are sent down SABINA FORMATION from a vibroseis truck; vibroseis is a combination word derived from Underground formations are mapped vibration and seismic.