Technology Street
Find out how ITF is facilitating innovation & technology developments in the global oil, gas and energy industry.
ITF to invest A$9 million in Asia-Pacific oil and gas technology development
ITF is increasing its international footprint by opening two new offices in the Asia-Pacific region to drive new technology solutions to tackle global oil and gas challenges.The Aberdeen headquartered organisation is opening bases in Perth and Kuala Lumpur to unite technology developers with its membership of major oil and gas operators and has revealed plans to invest A$9 million in groundbreaking solutions there by 2015.
Peter Brazier has been appointed as regional manager for Australia, and will head up the office in Perth. With 30 years' industry experience, Mr Brazier will promote the organisation in the region and encourage more operators and service companies to join ITF.
He said: "ITF currently has a good position with major companies such as Woodside and Chevron already signed up as members, who see the benefits of collaborating on funding new technoogies. However, there is growing demand for next generation technologies that will recover hydrocarbons from increasingly challenging environments and I want to make sure that local companies benefit from the funding being offered. I'm looking forward to building strong relationships with oil and gas operators, innovative technology companies and academic institutions."
Mr Brazier joins ITF following eight years at the Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organisation (CSIRO), where he held several prominent research managerial positions. This included secondment as chief executive of the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance (WA:ERA) and secondment as CEO of the research joint venture between WA:ERA and Woodside Energy.
Prior to this he also worked for companies including Woodside Energy and Halliburton Energy. Mr Brazier is a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, the Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists, and Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association.
ITF's regional director for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Ryan McPherson will oversee the Kuala Lumpur base with plans to appoint a full time technology analyst there next year.
Mr McPherson said: "There is definitely an appetite for concerted technology development in Australia and Malaysia and our aim is to invest A$9 million in new technologies over the next four years. We are extremely pleased to welcome Peter to the team and are certain his extensive network of contacts and industry knowledge will enable us to successfully bring more technology to market."
The new offices come as ITF also issues a Call for Proposals for subsea technologies. This was the result of a Technology Challenge Workshop which took place in Perth in June.
The call is an open invitation for organisations to submit technology solutions to address the challenges identified by ITF's member companies, with the opportunity for developers to secure 100% funding. Specific areas of interest include:
- Subsea Power
- Flow Assurance
- Subsea Separation
- Temperature Management
- Pipeline Integrity Management / Cost Reduction
- Low Cost Intervention
- Specific Australian Regional Challenges
ITF has already facilitated research and development projects in Australia and helped to establish the Pipeline Repair Operators Forum Australasia (PROFA). ITF was approached by Chevron, INPEX and Woodside last year, to help set up a pipeline repair club in the region.
PROFA's objectives are to connect developers and vendors of pipeline technology with the PROFA members, to identify technology gaps in relation to pipeline repair and to purchase hardware and intervention tooling that would then be shared amongst participating companies.
Share this article: