The development of Apache’s Van Gogh Oil Field Development will create opportunities for the local community. There is potential for direct employment and indirect opportunities through the use or expansion of existing services in Exmouth.
For the Van Gogh Field Development, contracts are being evaluated and awarded with preference for Australian input. Where overseas vendors are engaged, contractual obligations are placed on them to look to Australian industry for opportunities to supply goods and services.
Apache intends to maximise Australian content on all its Australian projects. Apache has developed an Australian Industry Participation Plan (AIPP) that all suppliers for the Van Gogh Field Development are required to comply with. The deep waters of the Van Gogh Field require specialised sub-sea equipment that is not presently manufactured in Australia. In this instance, the AIPP overseas suppliers are required to:
- Investigate areas of Australian industry that can offer services such as engineering, validation, fabrication, packaging and assembly of a functional unit. This may be done through the Industrial Capability Network (ICN); additional information can be obtained from www.icnwa.org.au.
- Invite and allow Australian suppliers to tender for work or the supply of materials or sub-components where they can demonstrate they have the required technical expertise, infrastructure and resources.
- Ensure sub-suppliers do the same by giving Australian industry the opportunity to tender for work where they have the required resources and capacity.
All overseas suppliers are required to demonstrate compliance with these requirements by submitting suitable documentation. This may be in the form of documented procedures, implementation strategies, tender documents and evidence of preliminary negotiations with local suppliers or service providers. Strategic alliances with Australian companies and skills transfer during ‘whole-of-life’ operations would be favourably considered.
Australian industry is already benefiting from this requirement with the announcements of significant contracts and sub-contracts being awarded to Western Australian and Australian companies by Apache and its contractors.
The Van Gogh development, during both the installation and production phases, will be a great driver for further employment opportunities in Western Australia. Some of the many opportunities and benefits are:
- Increased flights into Exmouth by passenger aircraft;
- New support base for helicopters in Exmouth;
- Investment and redevelopment of the old Learmonth airport facilities;
- Personnel required for the operation of the12 month drilling campaign and FPSO;
- New opportunities for local suppliers;
- New opportunities for local service providers;
- Opportunities for logistics improvements and redevelopment within Exmouth; and,
- Skills transfer and training for local workforce on new technologies and works previously undertaken overseas.
Although the majority of direct jobs on the drill rig and FPSO will require specialist technical skills and expertise specific to the oil and gas industry, there are other opportunities available. Training opportunities for those interested in pursuing employment with Apache or its contractors, or in the oil and gas industry generally, are also available. Local businesses may also be able to provide goods and services. The following provides details of how you can find out more.
Employment Policy
Throughout its world-wide operations, Apache uses a combination of direct employment as well as the use of contractors to undertake various aspects of its business. For instance, offshore and onshore drilling operations are undertaken by companies that specialise in providing this service. Similarly, it uses the service of companies that own and operate helicopters to provide and manage the transport requirements of moving personnel to and from drill rigs and production facilities. Such firms are contracted to provide these services to Apache although their personnel and are not directly employed by Apache.
The use of companies contracted to provide essential services to Apache will also be used for both the initial drilling phase of the Van Gogh Field Development as well as the day-to-day operation of the FPSO off the Exmouth coast. Apache maintains the overall management and supervision of its contractors and people employed on its facilities to ensure they demonstrate a high level of skill and competency in undertaking their work.
