The closer an industrial company is to supplying consumers with products, the further downstream it is said to be in the industry. Downstream operations in oil and gas terms occur after the production phase to the point of sale. Companies engaged in the downstream process include Liquified natural gas plants, oil refineries, petroleum product distributors, petrochemical plants, natural gas distributors, and retail outlets.
Vertech’s Downstream team includes highly specialised, technically experienced management staff supported by high-performing, multi-skilled site-based teams. Our team has the latest technology, proprietary inspection tools, and cutting-edge software solutions. We consistently strive for excellence through our commitment to innovation, having the best people, and putting our clients first.
Natural gas is one of the world’s most important sources of energy supplying approximately 30% of the world’s energy demand. LNG is natural gas in its liquid form which has been cooled to cryogenic temperatures of approximately -160°C to form liquid that occupies only 1/600 of the volume for more economic and practical storage which is completed in the complex processes of an LNG plant.
LNG facilities in Australia Include Inpex’s ILNG, Woodside energy’s Karratha Gas plant (KGP) and Pluto facilities, Chevrons Gorgon and Wheatstone assets, Shell’s QGC, the Santos Gladstone (GLNG) and Darwin (DLNG) facilities, and the Conoco Phillips operated Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG)
Imports of crude oil increased gradually over the past twenty years as production from Australia’s producing fields declined making import terminals critical to Australian innovation, industry and commerce. Australia has 67 import terminals, or bulk fuel storage terminals. Like most of Australia’s population, all 67 bulk terminals are in coastal areas with exception to BP’s terminal in Kalgoorlie in Western Australia.
With the Australian and New Zealand reliance on coastal infrastructure and imports of refined product growing year on year integrity, inspection and maintenance of these assets is more critical to our nation than ever before.
The design, construction, testing, operations, and maintenance of high-pressure gas transmission pipelines made of steel are underpinned by Australian Standard (AS) 2885, Pipelines – Gas & Liquid Petroleum. Australia has more than 39,000 kilometres of 300mm diameter (or more) natural gas transmission pipelines that efficiently transport gas under high pressure.
A fun fact Australia’s first pipeline was commissioned in the late 1800s to transport water to the Coolgardie gold fields setting a worldwide precedent by being more than 10 times longer than any other existing pipeline in the world.
Storage terminals are becoming critical as Australia relies on refined fuel imports, having closed the majority of its local refineries and converted them to import terminals. This makes effective inspection and maintenance routines of our storage facilities more critical than ever which is why we have invested heavily in our Tank testing division.
An oil terminal is an industrial facility for the storage of oil, petroleum, and petrochemical products either short term or long term before distribution to retail or end customer outlets. An oil terminal typically has a variety of large above or below ground tankage; facilities for inter-tank transfer; pumping facilities; loading facilities for filling transportation vehicles and or pipeline connections.
Petroleum refineries convert crude oil and other liquids into many petroleum products that people use every day. To refine the crude oil a three-step process involving separation, conversion and treatment occurs through complex processes. Australia only has two refineries remaining located in Lytton (Brisbane) and Geelong (VIC). The owners of the Geelong refineries have announced plans to convert that facility into an import terminal adding to the 67 current import terminals across the country.
Many people don’t realise the broad use of petroleum products in our everyday lives including surprising items like deodorant, lip sticks, Anaesthetics, shampoo and even clothes.
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