Oil & Gas Processing

CSIRO Petroleum Resources Division has world class researchers working on improving Australia's oil and gas self-sufficiency.

We provide the solutions that keep Australia’s minerals industry on the world stage.

Just weeks out from the Olympics, the CSIRO and its Chinese partners have officially launched a post-combustion capture (PCC) pilot plant in Beijing that strips carbon dioxide from power station flue gases in an effort to stem climate change.

The release of the Garnaut Review and the government’s Green Paper have highlighted the need for further research into safe and economical technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture and storage.

The first Southern Hemisphere International Rock Mechanics Symposium (SHIRMS) will be held in Perth, Western Australia, 16-19 September 2008. SHIRMS will feature four main technical streams in rock mechanics including: mining, civil, fundamental and petroleum.

The fifth international conference on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) will provide a forum to explore the breadth and application of CFD modelling in the process industries.

The Shale Research Centre conducts experimental and theoretical research on shale properties and problems.

CSIRO’s alternative transport fuels research explores the feasibility of alternatives to traditional fuel types, such as petrol or diesel, and looks at the possible biophysical, social and economic impacts of their production and adoption.

CSIRO Petroleum’s Rock Mechanics Laboratory undertakes research and testing for exploration, development and production scenarios in the oil industry as well as for geological storage of CO₂.

The demand for natural gas is growing and Australia’s large reserves generate research and development challenges that CSIRO is helping to meet with expertise in gas processing, conversion and a research base geared to meet the evolving needs of the methane economy.

New plastics developed by CSIRO, Hanyang University Korea and the University of Texas have the potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and help purify water and CSIRO research leader Dr Anita Hill discusses this research in this vodcast. (2:20)

A video about better prediction of oil and gas deposits for which CSIRO Petroleum’s Characterisation Team received a CSIRO Medal in 2004. (2:30)

Dr Cedric Griffiths is a geologist with a fascination for using computers to predict what lies underground in the Earth’s strata.

The Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies (QCAT) is a joint venture between CSIRO and the Queensland Government. It is a multi-divisional research site where innovative solutions for the mining, manufacturing and energy sectors are produced.

CSIRO’s capabilities in petroleum hydrogeology are applied to industry challenges including fault and top seal capacity for oil, gas and CO₂ hydrocarbon migration, depletion studies, geological storage of CO₂, submarine groundwater discharge and geothermal energy. (2 pages)

CSIRO Petroleum’s organic geochemistry group conducts research into reservoir geochemistry, source rock quality and thermal maturity evaluation and environmental geochemistry. (2 pages)

This fact sheet overviews the flow assurance program that is part of the Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship. (2 pages)

Strontium Isotope Stratigraphy (SIS) is used for high resolution chronostratigraphic control of sedimentary sequences.