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Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Two world-leading researchers from The University of Western Australia will discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the gas industry today at Australia's largest event in that field - the Australian Gas Technology Conference and Exhibition (AGT) to be held at the Perth Exhibition Centre on July 1-3.

Winthrop Professors David White and Matthew Tonts will join will join a strong line-up of gas experts to  underline Perth's growing status as an international centre of excellence for oil and gas projects, backed by UWA's outstanding research capabilities.

Professor David White holds the Shell EMI Chair of Offshore Engineering at UWA and is a leader in offshore geotechnics research with strong collaborations across pipeline engineering and hydrodynamics.

He has won four industry awards, including the Western Australian Engineers Australia 2012 award for research and innovation.  The Chair is a new initiative by UWA's Energy and Minerals Institute (EMI) and Shell to foster Australian research and development in local and global offshore engineering for economic gas projects.

"My presentation will highlight local research that is creating safe and economic solutions for gas project infrastructure," Professor White said.

"Our world-leading work is guiding the mooring of Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facilities, stabilisation of pipelines and characterisation of seabed conditions and hazards.

"This research, using UWA's geotechnical centrifuge and O-tube facilities, has not only influenced the design of North-West Shelf gas projects but is permeating international design codes and being applied worldwide."

Professor Tonts is Professor of Economic Geography at UWA and Head of the University's School of Earth and Environment.

His interests cover economic development, labour markets and regional competitiveness in Australia, China, North America, Africa and Europe.

He also leads the Committee for Perth-UWA joint research project Factbase which aims to uncover the economic, social and policy dynamics shaping Perth and its future.

Professor Tonts will discuss Perth as a global energy hub in a session on Australia's Gas Industry:  Regional and Global Competition.

"Over the past 30 years, Perth has transformed from what might be described as a "branch office economy" to a hub in the world energy economy," Professor Tonts said.

"My presentation will focus on this transformation and how it has reshaped the city's corporate structure, labour market, knowledge economy and even social fabric."

The presentation will raise further questions about how Perth can maintain and enhance its competitive position within the global resources economy.

AGT Committee Chair and EMI Deputy Director Mark Stickells described AGT as a tremendous opportunity to explore the talent and significant opportunities that exist in Australia's gas industry.

"I commend AGT 2013 for its innovative and commercial presentation, large-scale trade exhibition and innovation zone and most importantly, its series of events that integrate key education, career and training issues," Mr Stickells said.

The AGT Conference is chaired by UWA and EMI and put together by a select committee from industry, government and academia.  It will focus on three key theme areas - challenges, innovation and transformation in the Australian Gas Industry.

Further information is available at the Australian Gas Technology .

Media references

Nicola Holman (EMI Communications Coordinator)  (+61 8)  6488 7586  /  (+61 4) 19 716 311
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783

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