Connecting the dots

Across Australia, the energy industry is directing its attention to critical decarbonisation projects that will pave the way for future sustainable operations. Much like other regions around the world, operators here are striving to achieve the delicate balance between ensuring energy security to provide power to local communities while enabling the energy transition.

Regulation, both previously enacted and anticipated, is playing a leading role in the net-zero goals operators are setting for themselves. For example, Australia’s National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act is driving a reduction in emissions baselines by 4.9% each year before 2030. For energy leaders to achieve these ambitious targets, they are seeking ways to reduce their emissions with digital and decarbonisation solutions.

The critical role pipelines play

While LNG is considered a sustainable energy source by the United Nations, there are still some emissions associated with LNG production. Carbon capture, transport and storage (CCS) is one such method of reducing those emissions.

“We see CCS as a big growth area in Australia and are currently working on several projects, like the conceptual design phase in CCS hubs”, said Enda O’Sullivan, Director of Oil and Gas for Wood’s Asia Pacific region.

Another low carbon method of producing energy that is becoming increasingly more common is green hydrogen. Since no emissions are produced in the production of green hydrogen, there is a big initiative to create an export industry from Australia. Pipelines play a critical part of the infrastructure required to support this push.

“At Wood, we specialise in capturing and transporting gases through pipelines,” said O’Sullivan. “While the molecule that’s being transported may change from methane to carbon dioxide to hydrogen, the fundamental design of the facilities required remains the same, and our industry expertise is transferrable from one energy source to another.”

Digitalising before decarbonising

Decarbonisation is inextricably linked to digitalisation; we cannot decarbonise without digital solutions. Existing technologies house the potential to cut three-quarters of methane emissions from oil and gas production at no net cost to operators. By first using digital tools to actively identify and manage sources of greenhouse gas emissions in real-time, operators can harness data to identify the optimum pathway for an asset to achieve its carbon reduction goals.

Wood has applied its proprietary decarbonisation SCORE methodology (Figure 1) to clients around the world, delivering roadmaps that enable 15 - 20% reductions in Scope 1 and 2 carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. This decarbonisation SCORE methodology assesses…

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