Construction of a new oil and gas research facility has begun in the Northern Territory.

 

The $6 million North Australia Centre for Oil and Gas is a collaborative research and training facility co-funded with the territory government and Charles Darwin University (CDU).

 

The centre is being built at CDU’s Casuarina campus within the School of Engineering and Information Technology.

 

CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Barney Glover said the centre would be a hub for training and education programs (both on campus and externally through distance learning) together with research capabilities targeted at the specific needs of oil and gas operations and developments in the region.

 

“Darwin sits adjacent to major offshore gas, oil and condensate reserves and is already a substantial gas processing, supply and service hub for projects off northern and north-western Australia,” Professor Glover said.

 

The centre will include specialised equipment for teaching, research, and tailored short courses for industry. It will also include state-of-the-art facilities aimed at process control simulation and training for the oil and gas sector.

 

The new centre is expected to attract and train up to 200 students annually when fully operational.