Tina Soliman Hunter

1. Governments have long deployed incentives and policies to foster cooperation in the development of nation-building industries.1 In the energy transition, the scale and pace of infrastructure dev...

China regards shale gas as a key energy source for ensuring energy security, promoting the transformation of the energy structure, and addressing climate change. However, at this stage, the scarcity of land resources, coupled with various institutional restrictions, has brought numerous practical obstacles to the large-scale commercial development of shale gas. By analyzing the restrictive provisions concerning shale gas development in China’s current laws, this paper points out three major institutional constraints faced by the use of agricultural land for shale gas development: first, stringent land use control policies; second, the legal acquisition system for surface land remains unstable; third, institutional gaps in the supervision of subsurface space on collectively owned land. To overcome these institutional barriers, this study proposes fundamental reform measures for the current land legal framework. If comprehensive reform cannot be achieved immediately, partial breakthroughs may be sought within the existing institutional framework. The sequence has three phases. Near-term one to three years: negative-list quotas, refined land classification, land linkage, benefit balance, and community guidance. No law changes needed; provinces can act. Medium-term three to seven years: regulations and the mining land chapter in the revised Mineral Resources Law. Long-term beyond seven years: constitutional amendment for collective land transfer and dual-track supply reform. This study provides a theoretical reference for solving the land use issues in China’s shale gas development, and its conclusions also provide a reference for resolving the conflicts between shale gas development and agricultural land use in other jurisdictions.

Australia’s path to net-zero emissions by 2050 depends heavily on the development and commercialisation of hydrogen as a substitute for hydrocarbons across transport, power generation, and industrial heat sectors. With hydrocarbons currently supplying over 90% of national energy needs, hydrogen must scale rapidly to fill the gap. Existing low-carbon hydrogen production methods, blue hydrogen via steam methane reforming and green hydrogen via electrolysis, are constrained by high water requirements, posing a challenge in water-scarce regions targeted for hydrogen development. This paper investigates dry reforming of methane (DRM) as a water-independent alternative, using CO₂ as a reactant. DRM offers dual benefits: reduced reliance on freshwater resources and the utilisation of CO₂, supporting broader emissions reduction goals. Recent improvements in nickel-copper catalyst performance enhance the viability of DRM for industrial-scale hydrogen production. The Middle Arm Precinct in the Northern Territory is highlighted as an ideal site for implementation, given its access to offshore gas fields containing both methane and CO₂, presenting a unique opportunity for resource-integrated, low-emission hydrogen production.

Petroleum-producing countries are at particular economic and social risk during the energy transition, primarily due to the shift from petroleum revenues that can be used to stabilize the state to the development of renewable energy sources, which do not bring revenue to the state. Exploring this conundrum within the context of the national interest, this article examines petroleum-producing countries, focusing on Oman as an example of a non-democratic rentier state. Examining the national interest as both a concept and a practice within the energy sector, the study concludes that the energy transition will place certain challenges on the Omani government, but with a focus on establishing investment opportunities and energy justice, there are many positive experiences ahead for Oman.

For over a century fossil fuel, especially crude oil, has been utilised for the manufacture of synthetic plastics, commencing with the development of Bakelite in 1907. Such a scientific breakthrough enabled a plethora of applications, as well as the development of hundreds of thousands of different polymers that are used for the manufacture of many different types of plastics. The issue of petroleum and plastics is, however, complex, particularly given the non-renewable nature of petroleum, and the impact on the environment of the production of plastics, including the extraction of petroleum for that purpose. This chapter provides a detailed analysis of the complexity and challenges of regulating plastics derived from petroleum. Regulatory approaches to issues associated with petroleum and plastics on a global, regional, and national level are drawn together, and possible regulatory shifts as the energy transition progresses are considered. In undertaking the analysis, this chapter draws upon examples from several jurisdictions, especially Australia, the UK and Canada, which have been selected for being mature petroleum-producing countries.

This article focuses on the critical role of sedimentary basins in underground carbon storage. Focusing on both depleted petroleum reservoirs, as well as sedimentary reservoirs in the field’s petroleum stratigraphy (associated sedimentary reservoirs), it highlights the importance of complete CO2 storage in saline aquifers associated with petroleum reservoirs. This paper provides a novel approach to the understanding of underground carbon sequestration (UCS) by combining the examination of target reservoirs and regulation of activities in these reservoirs. By combining this consideration of physical characteristics with legal issues arising from the regulation of UCS, and their application to emerging Australian UCS projects, this novel evaluation of the progress in UCS provides a unique insight into Australian existing and planned UCS Projects. The findings of the research indicate that depleted petroleum reservoirs are more suited to enhanced oil recovery techniques, while associated sandstone reservoirs (saline aquifers) of the same formation are more suited to UCS. The suitability of a reservoir should be considered in the regulation of UCS activities. The example of Australia presented in this paper demonstrates the difficulties in such regulation.

"The North Sea System for Petroleum Production" published on 08 Mar 2024 by Edward Elgar Publishing.

The North Sea System for Petroleum Production unpacks the variation in state intervention in offshore petroleum activities on the British and Norwegian continental shelves. This astute book also examines the causes of various policy convergences and divergences.

This chapter consolidates trends and observations in offshore wind licensing based on the book’s contributions. The rapid technological development of offshore wind has been met with regulatory responses, leading to a significant increase in global installed capacity and the development of licensing systems. Licensing plays a pivotal role as it authorizes the development of projects. While its use is widespread, there are also national and regional particularities to consider. Moreover, licensing serves as an instrument for striking a balance between different concerns and interests, including environmental considerations, operating conditions, accommodating other sea users, state support, and determining the cost of energy. Licensing considerations should not remain static. For offshore wind to play a substantial role in the energy transition, aspects such as optimizing processes and allocating sea areas more effectively, planning for decommissioning of projects, and exploring sector coupling possibilities must be further explored.