Thursday, October 4, 2012

World's largest dinosaur footprint found in area for proposed gas precinct - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The Strategic Report's assessment of dinosaur footprints near James Price Point has been criticised. The preliminary report on palaeontology concluded that dinosaur footprints would be destroyed by the construction of the gas precinct but that they were "...not of museum grade quality." But Dr Steve Salisbury from the University of Queensland says that the footprints in the James Price Point area are part of "...one of the most spectacular dinosaur coastlines in the world." He went on to say that destruction of any part of this would be a "tragedy". In February 2011, Ms McGowan, from the WA Department of State Development said "no dinosaur footprints had been found at James Price Point, but a small number of what were possibly fossilised impressions left by dinosaur feet had". I really hope Ms McGowan tunes in tonight for the following program. World's largest dinosaur footprint found in area for proposed gas precinct - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation:

ABC TV's Catalyst science program will show the discovery of the worlds largest dinosaur footprint by scientists in the area Woodside Petroleum is investigating for an LNG processing facility north of Broome.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-04/kimberley-dinosaur-track-sites-threatened/4293052

A leading palaeontologist says the integrity of globally unique dinosaur track sites in the Kimberley is being threatened by a proposed gas plant. 

Dr Steve Salisbury from the University of Queensland reveals discoveries of dinosaur footprints for the first time on ABC's Catalyst program tonight.

"It's a unique glimpse of an ancient ecosystem unmatched anywhere in the world," he said.
"This is our only window on Australia during the age of dinosaurs 130 million years ago."

Over the past year, Dr Salisbury has been working with the local Aboriginal community and Broome dinosaur enthusiasts to document the fossils near Woodside's proposed plant near James Price Point.
"Every time we come back there are new things emerging," he said.

"It would be very naive to believe that in a year we can figure it all out."

In July, WA's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) recommended the State Government approve Woodside's gas hub on the condition that "if fossils are found, disturbance should be avoided wherever possible".


5 comments:

  1. The irony is stunning.

    http://www.pennenergy.com/index/petroleum/display/5643757985/articles/pennenergy/petroleum/pipelines/2012/october/gazprom-discusses.html

    LNG tankers can now sail to Asia from the Atlantic to the Pacific via the new northern route - thanks to the Arctic sea ice melt.

    The SCF Amur vessel covered the NSR in record time for 2012 summer navigation – 7 days. Therefore, energy resources are shipped significantly faster via the Northern Sea Route than via the traditional route, i.e. the Suez Canal.

    The August passage of the SCF Amur vessel became the fourth transit passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean through the Arctic for Sovcomflot. The Sovcomflot passages along the Northern Sea Route that commenced in 2010 went down to the world navigation history. In 2010 the SCF Baltica vessel became the first large-capacity vessel that ever passed through the Northern Sea Route loaded with petroleum products. In 2011 the Vladimir Tikhonov vessel of 163 thousand tons deadweight discovered a new high-latitude route within the Northern Sea Route and became the largest vessel ever navigated along the Arctic routes.

    .........................

    Hopefully this is correct - 500,000 tonne oil supertankers sailing the Arctic - hope not!

    Oil tanker industry to be hit by rise of U.S. shale oil

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  2. Maybe we are well on our way to becoming fossils.
    Our only hope of survival is that corporate greed somehow fails.

    http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/us-europe-nowhere-close-to-ending-crisis-says-krugman-20121004-27091.html

    In Europe, the risk of protracted and extreme austerity measures may lead to “political upheavals, radicalization” and “terrible things happening,” he said. “It's not difficult to see the decades ahead looking like the 1930s.”

    ...........................

    http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/oil-falls-4pc-as-china-fears-grow/story-e6frg9df-1226487886791


    CRUDE-oil futures tumbled 4.1 per cent yesterday, as data out of China showed slowing economic growth and added a new worry to investors' concerns about global fuel demand.

    Light, sweet crude for November delivery settled $US3.75 lower at $US88.14 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, a two-month low. Europe's benchmark Brent crude fell $US3.66 to $US107.91 a barrel.

    THAT WILL HURT WOODSIDES PLANS FOR THE VERY PRICEY JPP.

    ....................

    THIS STORY CONTINUES TO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO HURT THEM.

    Wednesday, 03 October 2012


    Tanzania is moving towards being an LNG exporter after US engineering company KBR was awarded a contract for pre-front end engineering and design studies for a prospective liquefaction plant in the East African country.

    ....

    India has sought an exception from the US to the rule which bans shale gas exports to those countries with which it does not enjoy free-trade agreements.

    If the US agrees to this demand, Indian companies like Reliance Industries and GAIL can source the hydrocarbon at cheaper costs.

    Reliance Industries has invested $3.8 billion in US shale assets and is exploring opportunities to buy stakes in LNG terminals to ship the gas to India. GAIL India last year bought a 20% stake in a US shale asset for $300 million and is planning to buy a stake in an LNG export terminal, too. While India, in past few weeks, has sped-up reforms, it now wants developed nations like the US to reciprocate by relaxing trade rule and investment flows.
    ...
    Indian companies like GAIL has asked the ministry of external affairs to push its case with the US as it would be many times cheaper to get liquefied shale gas from the US than to buy LNG from countries like Qatar. Shale gas can be shipped at less than $10 per million British thermal units in 2011, while LNG imports cost from countries like Qatar costs as much as $15-17 per mmBtu.

    Apart from shale gas, Kanoria said India has also discussed issues pertaining to nuclear and renewable energy with the US officials

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More people in Australia are convinced the GFC is about to hit us as the GFC Mk 2.

      The China slowdown is picking up speed ('scuse me)

      Back in 2009 when Chinese exports collapsed they responded with a huge stimulus aimed at infrastructure.Roads,airports,trains etc.
      It is now certain these projects will not pay back the debt incurred for a very long time.

      A lot of the money was wasted,spent on overpriced apartments etc. creating a bubble.This debt will not be repaid any time soon.

      The Chinese were hoping stimulating consumption would take the place of the infrastructure spending - it is now certain it cannot.

      Analysts are now predicting even the most bearish forecasts are too high and Chinese growth could set down at 3% - 4% for several years.

      The Chinese continue to put jobs ahead of profits and are still mining iron ore and producing steel - most of which is being stockpiled.

      Australia is now entering dangerous waters.

      Our record terms of trade have come off but the dollar is still high.
      Our trade deficit is soaring.
      Foreign debt is high.
      Productivity is dropping.
      (This will be blamed by many on Aus workers,but it goes to transport,ports,airports,slow internet - you name it)

      The great Aussie consumer is debt ridden.
      Average household debt is around 170% compared to 30% 50 years ago.

      WA debt is skyrocketing - falling commodity prices could lead to a downgrade,which would push up the interest rate we borrow at.

      IT'S NOT A DONE DEAL!!!

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  3. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/15048865/chief-spent-161-000-on-card/

    Most transaction details were removed from the statements under the FOI process, but it is apparent significant spending relates to Mr Prattley's travel.

    Several four-figure transactions were billed to an address in Mascot, NSW, the home of Qantas, and various hotels and hire car companies in Australia and Asia.

    _The West Australian _reported last month that Mr Prattley spent more than $230,000 on travel in less than three years to December 31, 2011.

    Just over $59,000 was spent in the period covered by the credit card statements but he apparently incurred expenses in the first six months of 2012 in places including Sydney, Melbourne, BROOME, Kununurra and Auckland.

    It appears Mr Prattley regularly used his credit card to pay for parking in Perth, including valet parking at Perth Airport.

    The statements reveal other spending that appears not to be travel related, including $691 at a restaurant in West Perth and two identical transactions of $4938.42 on December 22 and 23 to an address in Bassendean.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The WA Planning Commission chairman,Gary Prattley, whose travel expenses are being investigated by the Public Sector Commission spent at least $161,000 on his corporate credit card last financial year.

      Delete