NW Shelf projects vulnerable [09may06]

AUSTRALIA'S $19 billion North West Shelf project remains vulnerable to terrorist attack, with "gaping holes" in its security, a respected defence consultant has warned.

John Oldfield, of Canberra-based Ball Solutions, said current patrols of Australia's lucrative oil and gas assets were "roughly the equivalent to having 50 police covering the entire landmass of Australia".
Speaking at the annual Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association conference in Queensland, Mr Oldfield said Australia's offshore oil and gas rigs were vulnerable to assaults by terrorists, naming the use of small wooden fishing boats laden with explosives as the most likely method of attack.

Mr Oldfield described the current security regime as "lamentable".

He pointed to a lack of information sharing and the absence of a co-ordinating body as key issues.









"This testifies to gaping holes in our knowledge, and hence in our ability to detect, to respond and to protect," he said.

The value of liquefied natural gas produced on the North West Shelf climbed to more than $3 billion last year.

Western Australia also has rich offshore oil fields that contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the economy.

The Federal Government committed $140 million in last year's Federal Budget to improving security of Australia's offshore energy assets.

It has also introduced new laws requiring oil and gas operators to implement security plans. But Mr Oldfield said yesterday current measures would "do little to improve or fill the surveillance gap".

He said a trial of unmanned spy planes -- part of last year's budget commitment -- had been delayed until at least September because the planes chosen by the government were not capable of maritime surveillance.

Analysts have highlighted the vulnerability of oil and gas assets across the globe as terrorists seek to damage Western economic interests.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson was contacted for comment but did not return calls last night.