PESA WA Branch and SPE WA Section 2024 Annual Joint Event

Date: Thursday, 18 July
Time: 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm (Australia/Perth time)
Location: Parmelia Hilton, 14 Mill Street, Perth

PESA WA Branch and SPE WA Section, two of the largest O&G and renewable energy professional organizations in Perth, held their annual joint event on Thursday, 18 July. The event, hosted at the Parmelia Hilton in Perth, was a resounding success with about 100 attendees from government bodies, oil and gas companies, and universities.

The evening began with a networking session, followed by engaging presentations. The presenters addressed questions from the excited audience, contributing to the dynamic and interactive atmosphere.

SPE WA Section Chair Jeff Zhang and PESA WA President Adam Craig made the opening speech.

Presenters and Topics:

Rosie Johnstone (Geovault)

Rosie Johnstone, a sedimentologist and geoscientist with over 25 years of experience in oil and gas exploration and carbon capture and storage (CCS), currently works with Geovault. Rosie was Shell’s focal point for CCS sink identification in the Australia/Asia-Pacific region, from high-level screening to injection site planning in the Petrel Sub-Basin.

In her presentation, Rosie provided a comprehensive overview of the maturation of CCS projects in Australia since the GEODISC study in 1999. She discussed the evolving government support and market forces that have influenced CCS activities, noting the significant increase in interest during the 2020s driven by corporate, state, and national Net Zero 2050 targets. Rosie also highlighted the current status of CCS projects and potential future trends in the field.

Trey Meckel (Groundbreaking Energy)

Dr. Trey Meckel, with over 30 years of experience in the global energy sector, is the Head of Subsurface for Earth’s Energy and Chief Exploration Officer for Groundbreaking Energy. He is also involved in other geothermal projects through his consultancy, Monteverde Energy.

Dr. Meckel’s presentation focused on the potential of geothermal energy as a reliable, zero-emissions resource that can significantly contribute to Australia’s net-zero emissions target by 2050. He discussed the role of geothermal energy in providing flexible, dispatchable baseload power, complementing intermittent renewable resources like solar and wind. Dr. Meckel also covered advancements in geothermal technologies, the benefits and challenges of the sector, and the key factors driving its future success in Australia.

The event concluded with a discussion session, allowing attendees to connect with peers and discuss the presentations in more detail. The joint event showcased the collaborative spirit and commitment of both PESA and SPE to advance knowledge and practices within the oil and gas industry.

We look forward to more such collaborative events that foster knowledge sharing and professional growth within the industry.