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Oceans engineer Professor David White from The University of Western Australia has been appointed new Shell EMI Professorial Chair in Offshore Engineering to strengthen world-class research and education in WA's offshore petroleum industry.

The Australian Research Council Future Fellow joined UWA's Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems (COFS) in 2006 and was named WA Early Career Scientist of the Year in 2011.  Professor White's research focuses on engineering solutions for offshore systems such as pipelines, platforms and mooring systems, primarily for the offshore oil and gas industry.

As Shell EMI (Energy and Minerals Institute) Chair, Professor White will lead an enhanced research and education program focussing on offshore engineering, building on UWA's capabilities and serving the needs of local and international industry.  He will take up his appointment in January 2013.

UWA's Dean of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, Winthrop Professor John Dell, said Professor White's appointment to the Shell EMI Chair would strengthen the Faculty's research and education programs, and deliver positive results for the oil and gas industry in WA and internationally.

"David is an outstanding researcher who has achieved an international reputation for his work and leadership in areas of offshore engineering such as pipeline stability analysis, and he continues to develop ocean solutions for the benefit of us all," Professor Dell said.

UWA's Energy and Minerals Institute initiated the partnership between the University and Shell after identifying a need for continued research as WA becomes a leading world supplier of LNG.

"Shell is a world leader in innovation for the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) industry and WA will host the world's first floating LNG project," EMI Director Tim Shanahan said.  "UWA's research expertise and world-class research infrastructure will help Shell meet the technical challenges it faces and also provide the next generation of skilled engineers who will work to secure our future."

"We are very grateful for Shell's support in making this appointment possible."

Shell Australia Country Chair Ann Pickard said the appointment was an important part of building WA's offshore engineering capacity.

"With so much oil and gas activity happening in Western Australia and more in the pipeline, there is a very obvious need and opportunity for this state to become a leader in offshore engineering research and education," she said.  "We are delighted David has come on board and we look forward to working with him."

Professor White has authored more than 150 publications in the past 10 years and his research underpins aspects of international design codes for pipelines and foundations.  His papers have been awarded the Bishop Medal, the Telford Premium and the RM Quigley Honourable Mention, and he is a three-time winner of the British Geotechnical Association Prize.  Professor White was awarded the Australian Academy of Science's Anthon Hale Medal in 2010 for distinguished research in earth science.

His collaborative research projects with colleagues at UWA and overseas, which include the SAFEBUCK and STABLEpipe JIPs, have been awarded four industry prizes, including Engineers Australia's 2012 WA Research and Innovation Prize. Professor White is active in engineering practice and consults widely on foundation and pipeline design for the offshore industry.

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