Engineering energy: Unconventional gas production

Securing Australia’s Future

SAF06: Engineering energy: unconventional gas production

Energy needs will require us to keep turning to opportunities for alternative sources such as shale oil gas and coal seam gas.

As technology and geological knowledge continue to advance, and the consequent economics of extracting unconventional natural gas become more feasible, Australia could be in a position to produce unconventional gas. This demands a comprehensive look at the scientific, social, cultural, technological, environmental and economic issues surrounding the reality of alternative energy sources such as unconventional gas.

Launch of the Unconventional gas production report

Engineering Energy: Unconventional Gas Production, a study of shale gas in Australia, was launched by the Chief Scientist, Prof Ian Chubb AC FTSE, at Parliament House on 5 June 2013.

Expert Working Group

ACOLA, for its established ability to deliver interdisciplinary evidence-based research that draws on specialist expertise from Australia’s Learned Academies, convenes the SAF06 Expert Working Group (EWG) to guide the development of a targeted study that draws input from several disciplines to create a well-considered, balanced and peer-reviewed report.

The role of the EWG is to provide strategic oversight and provide expert input, analysis and provocative thinking.

Professor Peter Cook (Chair)	Dr Vaughan Beck (Deputy)
Professor David Brereton	Professor Robert Clark
Dr Brian Fisher	Professor Sandra Kentish
Mr John Toomey	Dr John Williams

Authors

Professor Peter Cook	Dr Vaughan Beck
Professor David Brereton	Professor Robert Clark
Dr Brian Fisher	Professor Sandra Kentish
Mr John Toomey	Dr John Williams

Peer Reviewers

This report has been reviewed by an independent panel of experts. Members of this review panel were not asked to endorse the Report’s conclusions and findings. The Review Panel members acted in a personal, not organisational, capacity and were asked to declare any conflicts of interest.

ACOLA gratefully acknowledges their contribution.

Professor Hugh Possingham	Professor Lesley Head
Professor John Loughhead

Project Funding and Support

ACOLA gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the Australian Government through the Commonwealth Science Council; Australian Research Council and the Office of the Chief Scientist. This research was funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council.

Acknowledgements

The Expert Working Group wishes to express its gratitude to the experts who contributed to the Review either through meetings, responses to calls for input, or workshops. A call for input was sent to Fellows of all four Learned Academies, and identified key stakeholders. Meetings were held across Australia and two workshops were held in Canberra during the Review. The names of experts who were involved in providing input to the Review are listed in Evidence Gathering. The views expressed in the report do not necessarily reflect the views of the people and organisations listed in the acknowledgements.

Professor John Burgess, FTSE, was appointed as one of several consultants to the Expert Working Group (for details see entry under Evidence Gathering, Consultancy Reports) and in addition assisted the Expert Working Group in the compilation of the overall report. This important contribution is gratefully acknowledged with thanks.

Project services were provided by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) – Ms Harriet Harden-Davies and Dr Lauren Palmer – on behalf of ACOLA Secretariat. These contributions are gratefully acknowledged along with the support and advice provided by the staff at ACOLA Secretariat.

Project Management Support

Project Manager: Dr Lauren Palmer, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering

Project services provided by the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering on behalf of ACOLA

Engineering Energy Contributing Consultants Reports

The following reports were commissioned for Securing Australia’s Future: Engineering Energy: Unconventional Gas Production. (SAF06)
Views expressed in the consultants reports do not necessarily reflect the findings in the Final Report, nor those of ACOLA.

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Recommendations, Publications and Presentations

Recommendations by the Office of the Chief Scientist

Recommendations were developed by the Office of the Chief Scientist in consultation with relevant government departments and the expert working groups responsible for the reports.

Recommendations from the findings of the ACOLA report, Engineering Energy: Unconventional Gas Production (PDF).

Publications

The Conversation: Report questions economic benefits of shale gas extraction
The Guardian Australia: Australia has huge deposits of shale gas – but it won’t come cheap

Presentations

Unconventional Gas Production Opportunities and Challenges – Shale Gas(PDF)

Dr Vaughan Beck FTSE, Deputy-Chair of the ACOLA Expert Working Group on Engineering Energy presented the findings of the Engineering Energy: Unconventional Gas Production report on 21 August 2013 at the Grattan Institute event Unconventional gas – energy saviour or environmental problem? in Brisbane.

Professor Robert Clark AO FAA FRSN, ACOLA Expert Working Group on Engineering Energy presented the findings of the Engineering Energy: Unconventional Gas Production report on Tuesday 3 October 2013 at the the Grattan Institute event From offshore to onshore – the future of WA’s gas market? in Perth.