Oil & Gas Production

CSIRO Petroleum Resources Division has world class researchers working on improving Australia's oil and gas self-sufficiency.

We are playing an essential role in researching and developing technologies to achieve the objective of near zero emissions from the use of energy worldwide.

CSIRO joins an elite group to form a new strategic energy research alliance with PetroChina, one of the largest oil companies in the world.

CSIRO technologies are helping petroleum companies improve their exploration methods not only in Australia but worldwide. Chinese petroleum companies, including PetroChina, China’s largest oil and gas producer use CSIRO technologies to improve predictions on the presence and quantity of oil to reduce the risk of drilling dry wells.

The first Southern Hemisphere International Rock Mechanics Symposium (SHIRMS) will be held in Perth, Western Australia, 16-19 September 2008. SHIRMS will feature four main technical streams in rock mechanics including: mining, civil, fundamental and petroleum.

The Shale Research Centre conducts experimental and theoretical research on shale properties and problems.

CSIRO’s alternative transport fuels research explores the feasibility of alternatives to traditional fuel types, such as petrol or diesel, and looks at the possible biophysical, social and economic impacts of their production and adoption.

CSIRO Petroleum’s Rock Mechanics Laboratory undertakes research and testing for exploration, development and production scenarios in the oil industry as well as for geological storage of CO₂.

The demand for natural gas is growing and Australia’s large reserves generate research and development challenges that CSIRO is helping to meet with expertise in gas processing, conversion and a research base geared to meet the evolving needs of the methane economy.

New plastics developed by CSIRO, Hanyang University Korea and the University of Texas have the potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and help purify water and CSIRO research leader Dr Anita Hill discusses this research in this vodcast. (2:20)

A video about the Energy Transformed Flagship's work in energy futures. (0:30)

Dr Cedric Griffiths is a geologist with a fascination for using computers to predict what lies underground in the Earth’s strata.

Mr Dale Valiantino is researching and developing ways to optimise wellbore flow to enhance oil recovery from reservoirs.

The Coal Seam Reservoir Team is developing innovative ways to enhance coal seam methane production. (2 pages)

CSIRO's diagenesis team delivers capabilities in diagenetic studies and characterisation of reservoir rocks and minerals. (2 pages)

This fact sheet overviews the flow assurance program that is part of the Wealth from Oceans National Research Flagship. (2 pages)

Strontium Isotope Stratigraphy (SIS) is used for high resolution chronostratigraphic control of sedimentary sequences.