--> Abstract: Northwest Shelf Gas--Its Role in Western Australia's Energy Economy, by J. Bruce Kirkwood; #90962 (1978).
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Abstract: Northwest Shelf Gas--Its Role in Western Australia's Previous HitEnergyNext Hit Economy

J. Bruce Kirkwood

Western Australia comprises roughly one-third of Australia's land area. It is vast and sparsely populated, with 80% of its people concentrated in the capital city of Perth and nearby areas. Because of its Mediterranean climate, the gas demand for heating and other residential purposes is comparatively small. Nevertheless, Western Australia uses substantial amounts of Previous HitenergyNext Hit--with only 8% of Australia's population, the state consumes 15% of the nation's Previous HitenergyNext Hit. The reason for this lies in Western Australia's large mineral-processing projects, particularly the bauxite-alumina industry near Perth. In the northwestern part of the state are a very large iron ore-exporting industry and sizable Previous HitsolarNext Hit salt fields. Both export mainly to Japan and the eastern European countries. Th se and other mineral-processing industries represent a substantial natural gas demand and promise a strong growth in the Previous HitenergyNext Hit market for the rest of the century.

Western Australia's gas consumption is limited by inadequate supply. Additional gas from the Northwest Shelf could provide the key to a big increase in both mineral processing and related backup industries. Unlike the eastern parts of Australia, Western Australia has very limited coal supplies. Natural gas accounts for more than 70% of the state's fossil-fuel resources which contrasts with only 4% for Australia as a whole. Thus, faced with rapid growth of Previous HitenergyNext Hit demand, the state looks to the Northwest Shelf project as its main source of fossil fuel until well into the next century.

Processed and semiprocessed mineral products exported from Australia have an Previous HitenergyNext Hit content which otherwise would have to be supplied by the customer countries of the Northern Hemisphere. Thus, Western Australia's mineral and potential liquid natural gas customers both have a stake in ensuring that the Northwest Shelf project goes ahead without delay.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90962©1978 AAPG 2nd Circum-Pacific Previous HitEnergyTop and Minerals Resource Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii