Woodside to Cooperate with Oz Space Agency

Woodside and the Australian Space Agency March 26 signed a statement of strategic intent and cooperation aimed at enhancing the capability and competitiveness of Australian industry and promoting technology transfer between the space sector and the oil and gas sector, Woodside said the same day.

The agreement was signed in Perth by Dr Megan Clark AC, head of the Australian Space Agency, and Woodside vice president for technology Jason Crusan. Australia’s minister for industry, science and technology Karen Andrews said the Australian Space Agency’s signing with Woodside, the largest Australian natural gas producer, would strengthen the national space sector.

Woodside CEO Peter Coleman welcomed the signing and said collaborating with the space sector further demonstrated Woodside’s approach to innovation and technology. “By looking outside our industry to the Australian Space Agency, we can accelerate the development of technologies that allow us to safely and efficiently manage assets in remote and harsh environments.

“This initiative will build on Woodside’s work in remote sensors and data analytics, as well as our ongoing collaboration in robotics with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

“Signing this letter with the Australian Space Agency complements our ongoing engagement with governments, other LNG operators and the tertiary sector to create Australian jobs of the future in remote operating and automation capabilities.

“We want to ensure the Australian workforce is ready to leverage the opportunities these new technologies can bring - not only to the oil and gas sector, but to the community and the economy more broadly,” he said.