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Revolutionary O-Tube and Remote Survey technology developed by scientists at The University of Western Australia claimed two prizes at the Australian Gas Technology (AGT) Awards held in Perth this week.

The University's Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems and School of Civil and Resource Engineering have been making valuable breakthroughs for the Liquefied Natural Gas industry.

The Director of UWA's Energy and Minerals Institute, Tim Shanahan, congratulated the scientists for their work on world-class research that could potentially change the LNG industry.

"UWA is leading research that delivers safe, sustainable value to the world for the LNG industry," Mr Shanahan said. "It is clear that our scientists are selected widely to partner with industry based on our strengths and our reputation as a research-intensive university."

Recognised in the pre-commercial category were Winthrop Professors Liang Cheng and David White, who both received awards on behalf of their research teams for UWA's O-Tube Program and Remote Intelligent Geotechnical Seabed Survey technology (RIGSS).

O-Tube Research Team Leader Professor Cheng said he was delighted to accept the award.

"The O-Tube program is developing new methods for the design of subsea pipelines. It is globally unique and allows the seabed conditions during cyclones to be mimicked on a large-scale in the laboratory," Professor Cheng said.

The second winning project was the RIGSS technology, which the UWA's Shell EMI Chair, Professor David White, announced was taking a new approach to seabed characterisation.

"We are developing better tools that include our hemiball and toroidal penetrometers, and new technology derived from our centrifuge facilities to control these tools robotically at the seabed," he said.

"It allows our engineers to determine the behaviour of pipelines and other infrastructure on soft, fine-grained seabeds," he said.

Media references

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