We have a number of research projects and programs. Our research has a strong industry focus and concentrates mainly on oil and gas production, with a particular emphasis on LNG. However we also have ongoing research collaborations with mining, water treatment and other heavy industry sectors. We have four complementary research themes 1) Advance Thermodynamics 2) Flow Assurance 3) Magnetic Resonance Engineering and 4) Gas Separations.
Hydrates & Flow Assurance
The global demand for energy is expected to increase 50% by 2030, requiring the production of remote oil and gas fields in deep water. To succeed in meeting this demand we must deepen our understanding of how high-value fluids travel under these extreme conditions. Flow assurance entails the management and avoidance, when possible, of solid…
More InfoAdvanced Thermodynamics for Gas Processing & LNG
A major ongoing effort of the Fluid Science and Resources Laboratory is measuring the thermodynamic properties of fluid mixtures at industrially relevant conditions, in particular those relevant to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. Using a suite of precision measurement tools, we provide reference-quality data for vapour-liquid equilibria, solid-liquid equilibria, density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, heat…
More InfoGas Separations & Adsorption
Gas is much “cleaner” than coal as the combustion of gas emits 47% less carbon dioxide for the equivalent energy output, and virtually no sulphur dioxide or mercury pollutants. Methane is the primary component of gas but it is also present with significant quantities of contaminants such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide and other minor impurities, depending…
More InfoOilfield Emulsions
Unwanted emulsions of (crude) oil and water are frequently encountered during oil production across the world including in Western Australia, which is now Australia’s main liquid fuel provider. Such emulsions add significantly to operating (e.g. pumping) and capital (e.g. processing vessel size) costs, accentuate corrosion and generally adversely affect product quality. Essential to processes that…
More InfoWater Management
The Fluid Science and Resources Laboratory applies NMR techniques to the study of water management over a range of applied projects: (i) The moisture content of iron ore deposits is a critical parameter for their subsequent extraction and processing. There is extensive industrial interest in the mining industry in the use of NMR logging tools…
More InfoCO2 and Enhanced Recovery Research
Western Australia will soon be the world-leader in the geo-sequestration of carbon dioxide. Both the Gorgon project and the South West CCS Hub will store several million tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide in saline aquifers. Two of the most important but least understood mechanisms by which carbon dioxide remains trapped in these aquifers are…
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