Introducing front-end technology qualification and experiences from deepwater and LNG projects worldwide are key drivers behind the strong growth experienced in Australia by Det Norske Veritas (DNV), an independent risk management company. “The large gas developments off the coast of West Australia and in Queensland, pick the best available technologies, and we act as a competence bridge for such technologies,” said Hans Kristian Danielsen, head of DNV’s operations in Perth, at the opening of DNV’s new offices Thursday.

“Based on DNV’s experience and involvement in deepwater oil and gas developments in the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Brazil we are supporting the fast growing offshore activities in Australia to identify and deploy proven, but still front-end technologies. The office is being expanded by senior DNV recourses that hold expertise in LNG, pipelines, subsea and Carbon Capture and Storage, to support the mega LNG developments” said Mr Danielsen.

“As conventional oil reserves tighten and carbon mitigation efforts pick up pace, focus is shifting towards natural gas, which is a more readily abundant and more climate-friendly fossil fuel,” says Remi Eriksen, COO of DNV’s Asia Pacific & Middle East Division. “Australia is where it is happening now with close to 50% of the global LNG production investments. That is why we have decided to move some of our most competent people closer to where the big LNG projects are being developed,” Mr Eriksen says.

Facilitation of Technology Qualification is one DNV service in demand from the mega LNG developments in Australia. DNV’s standard for Technology Qualification helps the field developers to identify risks related to the introduction of specific technologies in a structured and systematic way, and to manage the risks in a controlled manner.

“At one of the major LNG projects here in Australia, we identified 170 different technologies being included in the project,” said Mr Danielsen. “We screened them according to our technology qualification standard, and identified some 15 technologies that were regarded as critical. Further screening and analysis reduced the number to three technologies that the operator needed to evaluate and assess very closely to ensure successful implementation.

Among the critical technologies where DNV has supported the project with independent reviews and competence transfer are Direct Electrical Heating, TLP technology and Offshore pipeline design. Our Technology Qualification gives the operator a better overview of the total risk exposure, and a mechanism to address the critical elements more targeted,” says Hans Kristian Danielsen.

This year, DNV’s team of risk experts in Perth has more than doubled, and DNV is planning to expand it’s presence in Perth. The staff will, within a year, represent some 20 man-years. The Perth office is supported by resources at DNV’s Asia Pacific head office in Singapore and from Oslo, Aberdeen and Houston offshore offices.