One of the world’s largest oil and gas operators has chosen Curtin University to jointly study how to increase efficiency of logistics for its large scale Prelude FLNG facility.
Curtin University initiated the new industry-led alliance, called Curtin Advanced Technology Research and Innovation Alliance (CATRINA), in order to enhance collaboration between major clients, technology providers, contractors and academics to solve productivity issues in Australia. Foundation members of the alliance include Woodside.
Research projects under the CATRINA alliance will focus on issues faced by operators and contractors alike, including but not limited to asset maintenance, logistics, operations and management, with the aim to develop applications that can be applied industry wide and create opportunities for local companies to uptake the technology.
Curtin Professor Xiangyu Wang, Woodside Chair in the School of Built Environment, said Curtin was very proud to welcome Shell to the alliance.
“We anticipate that other oil and gas operators, contractors and suppliers will follow by example,” Professor Wang said.
Shell’s giant Prelude FLNG facility will be the largest offshore floating facility ever built. It will be located in the Browse Basin, approximately 475km north-northeast of Broome and more than 200km from the nearest point on the coast of the remote Kimberley region, in Western Australia.
The CATRINA industry alliance is a result of the previously successful ‘Project Echo’ initiated by Woodside and led by Professor Wang, with the participation of more than 40 industry companies. Initially, ‘Project Echo’ was focused on the LNG industry, but quickly was expanded to include civil and infrastructure, hotel and airport development projects. Professor Wang will also lead the CATRINA alliance.
Professor Graeme Wright, Curtin University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, said that at a time of declining productivity and rising cost pressures, the need for productivity solutions had become more evident.
“Our research teams have been trained by the global lean experts, enabled to recognise and remove waste and inefficiencies in any process,” Professor Wright said.
“Curtin has recently been recognised in the Academic Ranking of World Universities as one of the most rapidly emerging research institutions internationally and the level of support for the alliance reflects its position in the global research environment.”
The three year co-operation program between Shell Australia and Curtin University under CATRINA commences in January 2016.
