As the Western Australian oil and gas industry moves offshore into deeper waters, the need to gain a clearer understanding of the offshore environment is critical.  The Facilities Program focuses on the research and development needs of industry in the areas of offshore infrastructure on the seabed (subsea), through the water column and on the surface (floaters).  The research focus is on maintaining a reliable long-term gas supply whilst protecting the sensitive marine environments in which our offshore oil and gas fields are located.  The Facilities Program has four research themes to address specific challenges presented by the unique Western Australian offshore environment.  The main objective of the program is:

To deliver improved approaches to understanding Western Australian-specific environmental, health and safety, operational and construction issues in order to reduce whole-of-life infrastructure risks and costs.

Stability of the North West Shelf
One of the critical challenges facing the industry is the nature of the marine environment and its effect on facilities and infrastructure.  The safe and economic design and operation of subsea pipelines and risers is crucial to the development of oil and gas reserves in deep water.  Assessment of the North West Shelf's stability and the mitigation of geohazards such as submarine slides is necessary to reduce the risk of damage and to optimise design of deepwater pipelines, integrated riser systems and other operational infrastructure. 

Deepwater pipeline and integrated riser systems
The development of reliable well control procedures for safe drilling operations with riser and riserless systems is essential to prevent fatigue failure and blowouts.  Research and development into the control of dynamic stress/vibration in marine riser systems is being conducted to improve operational reliability, safety and cost-efficiency.  

Integrated floating facilities modelling
Floating facilities are used for drilling as well as for production in water depths greater than 400m when fixed structures are not economically and technically viable.  In deep and ultra-deepwater fields, dynamically positioned Semi-submersibles and Drillships are the only viable options for exploration.  Unlike the major oil provinces, most of WA’s offshore oil is produced through subsea tiebacks to Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSO). 

FPSOs and other floating systems are subject to harsh met-ocean conditions of the North West Shelf.  Understanding the impacts of disturbances due to wind, wave and current on the motions and performance of FPSOs is necessary to minimize the risk of damage to these floating facilities.  Research is the key to developing the most safe and cost-effective designs compatible for these environmental conditions to optimise the performance of deepwater drilling rigs and completion operations.
 
Asset Management
Asset management addresses technological and operational issues that influence productivity in the energy sector.  Human factors, efficiency and reliability of mechanisms and facilities are critical factors in the economic viability of resource development.  This research theme aims to optimise current technologies and work practices for monitoring and maintenance by improving the reliability and performance of existing facilities through more efficient and effective resource utilisation.

Reliable condition monitoring systems greatly reduce the occurrence of unplanned equipment failures and associated costs by more accurately determining the likelihood of failure and maintenance needs. 

Research Projects

See here for Research Projects under the Facilities Technologies theme