Back to Contents

Rape and pillage? I don't think so!
After several decades, it finally looks like the Greater Gorgon gas province is crawling inexorably towards an A$11 billion development. Discovered over 30 years ago, the Gorgon field hosts 12.9 Tcf of proven reserves, with the larger region believed to hold in excess of 40 Tcf and expected to contribute around A$21 billion to Australia's Gross Domestic Product over the next 30 years.

The problem is, it appears, that the development will only go ahead if the production facility can be located on Barrow Island, which is an 'A' class nature reserve. Barrow Island's uniqueness was first recognised in 1908 when it became a public reserve for flora and fauna, a classification that was upgraded to Class A Nature Reserve in 1910. After that, visits to Barrow Island were mainly related to scientific studies of its flora and fauna. However, these visits ceased with the British atomic tests on the Montebello Islands because Barrow Island was included in the restricted zone. Limited access to the island was allowed again from 1962, and in 1964 the Barrow Island oil field was discovered. Since then, a strict environmental program, which protects the island's unique flora and fauna, has enabled the petroleum development to successfully coexist with the island's Class A Nature Reserve status. And, thanks to the care and protection offered by the operators of the oil field, there are species on the island which have long since become extinct on the mainland. In fact, there is a program in place which is attempting to repopulate the mainland with animals taken from the island.

Contrast this against the other islands in the area on which there has been no development, and on which introduced weeds and predators such as rats, cats and foxes have wiped out native populations, and you would have to at least consider the possibility that the oil and gas industry just might not rape and pillage the environment in pursuit of the all-important dollar, but could even contribute to its conservation.

As a bumper sticker that I spotted recently reads: "The only true wilderness is between a greenies ears"!

As for what you will find between the covers of this edition of PESA News…

Plan your travel now
2003 has been a good year for conferences and by the number listed in the Conferences & Courses section, 2004 is going to be another bumper year.

Canals maps and a few beers
One of our members, Don Poynton, had the opportunity while in England, during one of their best summers on record, to retrace the footsteps of William 'Strata' Smith. And what is this chap famous for do I hear you ask? Just that he created the map that it is claimed changed the world. Read Don's informative and amusing article (and record of the many pints he drank).

Comet set to strike (pun intended)
There have been a number of strikes of late in the west, but the only one PESA News is reporting on is Perth based junior explorer, Strike Oil. Strike has quietly gone about building itself an impressive exploration portfolio and even surprised some by selling off its share in the Casino development. The company has also recognised the importance (and potential) of CSM to Queensland and the company's subsidiary, Comet, looks set to strike in that state.

The Earth is pulsing— and it ain't to rap music
In this edition we have two technical articles to get the brain cells working. The first of these by PSI's John Davidson, informs us that NASA has confirmed what Sputnik indicated—that the Earth is pulsing. Belief it or not, it is a good read. Resolution Revolution, by PGS' Andrew Long demonstrates that very high resolution is only achievable when tight 3D spatial sampling is the centre piece of acquisition.

Hammies? Sounds like Buffalo to me
As usual, at the far end of the magazine (in more ways than one), our own Peter Purcell delights us with his take on the English language. As he says, "I don't make them up; I just report them." But, as we all know, it's the way you tell 'em Peter.

Adrian Williams