Conference Day One
Monday 15 July
08:30 Registration and welcome coffee
08:50 Opening remarks and welcome address from the Chair
Stefaan Simons, Director, International Energy Policy Institute
The global natural gas revolution, its benefits and the concerns
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE ADDRESS
09:00 The global implications of the natural gas revolution
- The critical role of fracking in bringing about the natural gas revolution
- Addressing the fracking misconception
- The implications of abundant natural gas for energy markets
- An analysis of the US energy market post shale boom
KEYNOTE ADDRESSES
09:40 APPEA Keynote
- Why does natural gas matter for the future?
- What is the Australian experience to date?
- What works and what doesn’t?
- Where to from here?
Rick Wilkinson, Chief Operating Officer - Eastern Australia, Australian Petroleum Production and Explration Association (APPEA)
10:10 The importance of a balanced decision in the national interest
- How can we balance the need for energy security and environmental concerns?
- The changing outlook for Australia’s economic make-up
- Australia’s changing role in the Asia-Pacific region
- Where can both the gas industry and those with concerns concede or better cooperate
Nathan Taylor, Chief Economist, Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)
10:40 Morning tea
11:10 Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism Keynote
Martin Hoffman, Deputy Secretary, Department of Resources Energy and Tourism
What is happening internationally in response to concerns surrounding gas development?
11:40 The UK market – how we are working with communities
- An overview of the UK market shale market and its reserves
- What are the challenges UK developers are facing in developing their resources?
- What is being done in the UK to alleviate community concerns surrounding fracking?
- What can Australian producers learn from the UK market?
Andy Lukas, Executive Director, Cuadrilla Resources
12:10 New Zealand’s report on fracking and its outcomes
- Why fracking was given the ‘all-clear’ when managed properly
- Why a ‘fragmented and complicated’ regulatory environment was the key concern of the report
- What management practices are needed for fracking to be safe in New Zealand?
Grant Blackwell, Principal Science Advisor, New Zealand Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
12:40 Lunch
Understanding the latest research and its implications for management practices
13:40 Why the environmental effects of fracking are still unclear
- What have been the challenges in developing the necessary research?
- How can stakeholders better collaborate to facilitate the process?
- What still needs to be done to develop a sound understanding of fracking and the environment?
Andrew Garret, Director – Centre for Coal Seam Gas, University of Queensland
14:10 Understanding and managing the impacts of unconventional gas development
- Managing unconventional resource development in a socially and environmentally responsible way
- What has GISERA identified as the key areas being impacted by the environment, how are these currently being addressed by industry and what further policies and practices are needed?
- The technological development outlook
Peter Stone, Director, Gas Industry Social & Environmental Research Alliance
14:40 What is the impact of CSG development on groundwater in Queensland?
- The challenges in managing the cumulative groundwater impacts of multiple CSG projects
- How the Surat Underground Water Impact Report (UWIR) is improving groundwater management in the Surat basin
- Learning’s from the implementation of cumulative management arrangements in the Surat Basin
- OGIA research to reduce uncertainty
Randall Cox, General Manager, QLD Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment
15:10 Afternoon tea
15:40 Why the mining and petroleum industries need special water regulatory requirements
- Why we need a cohesive national approach to Australia’s water resources
- What are the current regulatory requirements for water management by the petroleum industry?
- Is clause 34 of the National Water Initiative enough to cover the special requirements of the resources industry?
- Why the management of water by the CSG industry needs to be managed in an integrated way
Tina Hunter, Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland
CASE STUDY
16:10 Optimisation of fracture treatment at maximum revenue and minimal environmental effects in a Cooper Basin tight gas reservoir
- An overview of the study, it’s aims and process’
- Coupling production forecasting, fracture geometry and treatment scheduling to optimise fracture treatment design
- Analysing different combinations of fluid and proponent materials and their impact on fracture economics and the environment
- The results of the 3D modelling in Big Lake Field and how this can be applied in other gas fields
Manouchehr Haghighi, Senior Lecturer, The Australian School of Petroleum Science
PANEL DISCUSSION
16:40 Furthering research on the impacts of unconventional gas development
- Collaboration between researchers and industry
- What new research reports can we expect in the coming year?
- The key areas we need to develop more information
- When can expect a scientific consensus of the issue?
Moderator:
Prof. Stefaan Simons, Director, International Energy Policy Institute
Panellists:
Andrew Garnett, Director – Centre for Coal Seam Gas, University of Queensland
Peter Stone, Director, Gas Industry Social & Environmental Research Alliance
Randall Cox, General Manager, QLD Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment
Tina Hunter, Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland
17:30 Closing remarks from the chair
17:40 Close of day one – networking drinks