The Australian Government's Innovation Report

New techniques assist exploration companies: Techniques developed by CSIRO Petroleum are revealing
in detail the migration of oil into reservoirs, helping exploration companies to better manage risk when drilling
exploration wells for gas and oil.
The fluid history analysis techniques are finding global acceptance as seen by their widespread use already in
south-east Asia, licences sold to major international petroleum companies and the adoption of the analysis
techniques by the major petroleum companies in Australia.
The techniques reveal – in previously unseen detail – the geochemical development and movement history of
hydrocarbons in sedimentary basins, from the early generation of hydrocarbons in deeply buried organic
matter through to present day petroleum accumulations. The techniques were devised in response to discussions
and suggestions from geoscientists and executives in oil exploration companies.
The techniques analyse samples of oil preserved within mineral grains that are retained when the reservoir fluid
changes to gas or water. These microscopic samples are not visible at the well site and are investigated in the laboratory
using microscopy, spectroscopy and geochemistry.
CSIRO is also researching ways to increase the level of detail that can be revealed using fluid history analysis methods,
in particular to investigate features such as reservoir fluid properties and fluid compartments in reservoirs.
Responding to climate change and variability
Cutting edge technology for coral reef monitoring: Scientists around the world are keeping a close eye on
corals with climate change predicted to heavily impact coral reefs. In March 2006, the AIMS hosted a workshop
for the Coral Reef Environmental Observatory Network to facilitate the development and deployment of an
environmental monitoring network for the Great Barrier Reef.
The network is a global collaboration of scientists and engineers designing and building sensor networks for
observing biophysical conditions in the tropical marine environment.
One hundred sensors were primed and tested by AIMS before being deployed on the reef. In the first stage of
the project, sensors will be installed across an area of 400 square kilometres off Townsville and will link into
a global monitoring system. The sensors will transmit digital data from the reef back to AIMS.
The network is also collaborating with international scientists to develop sensors in French Polynesia, Taiwan
and the Florida Keys.
Analysing Perth’s water options: Perth’s demand for water is growing at the
same time that the climate appears to be getting hotter and drier, resulting in an
urgent need to develop new water sources, increase recycling and better manage
consumption.
It is a significant scientific challenge – and one that has been taken up by the
CSIRO through its Water for a Healthy Country Flagship. In collaboration with
the Western Australian Government, the flagship has undertaken a wholeof-system
review of existing and potential water resources for the region and
also detailed future demand for drinking water and non-potable water.
The research found that the diversity of water sources provides the region
with a resilience that will help it to adapt to climate change. In addition, the
study has found that the groundwater reserves in the Perth Basin represent
a substantial water resource, which could help meet future water needs.
Water for a Healthy Country team member,
Simon Higginson, collects a sample of recycled
water from the trial site before analysing in the
laboratory. Photo credits: David McClenaghan
The flagship has also trialled a system known as Managed Aquifer Recharge in
which treated wastewater is returned to the underground aquifer where it is
biologically cleaned by natural processes (essentially the absence of oxygen in
an aquifer environment) and can subsequently be reused for irrigating parks
and gardens and for horticulture. The research has shown that up to 100
gigalitres of water could be returned to Perth’s water supply in this way.
100 Backing Australia’s Ability