Onshore Petroleum Centre of Excellence—collaboration by industry partners, government and TAFE to deliver trained staff for an expanding onshore petroleum industry

Abstract

Santos, Beach Energy and Senex Energy are collaborating with the SA Government and TAFE SA to set up a hub for onshore oil and gas training in Adelaide. The training facility provides a fully immersive simulated oil and gas production environment, as well as static equipment displays for demonstration and educational purposes. It is used for technical training, including safety, environmental and sustainable operational principles and key maintenance activities. The simulated production environment includes different pump types, gas compressors, a pig launcher and receiver, gas metering skid, field separator and small tanks, as well as associated pressure safety valves, flow valves and other instruments. Water is used to simulate oil and air is used to simulate gas flow. The static equipment display includes various valve types, flanges and a wellhead. Santos, as operator of the SA Cooper Basin joint venture (of which Beach Energy is a member), has committed significant oil and gas production and mechanical equipment, engineering design, transportation and installation of the training facility’s equipment. The SA Government, Senex Energy and Beach Energy have committed funding for fit-out, capital works and the running of the facility for the first two years. Industry partners GPA Engineering, Fyfe Engineering, Logicamms, Veolia Environmental Services, Toll Energy, Transfield Services, Ottoway Engineering, Bureau Veritas, MRC Group, Max Cranes, Whitham Media Australia, Inductabend, Toyota Australia, James Walker Australia, Coventry Fasteners, Centralian Controls and Central Diesel are providing expertise and services. The training facility officially opened on 16 February 2015