There is a lot of mystery around what happens below the deep. Few people ever get to see the subsea technology deployed off Australia’s coastline in operation, or the workings of offshore energy and petroleum industry.
The Western Australian Museum in partnership with the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) decided it was time that this fascinating industry got some exposure, and after two and a half years of planning the new exhibition Immerse: Exploring the Deep was born.
The exhibition was officially launched by Culture and Arts Minister John Day this month, along with the Professor Lyn Beazley, Chief Scientist of Western Australia, Dr Peter Moore, Executive Vice President of Exploration Woodside, Alec Coles, CEO of the West Australian Museum and Dr Bob Allwood, CEO of the Society of Underwater Technology.
The exhibition offers an inspiring insight into the amazing technology that enables humans to survive and work underwater.
Culture and Arts Minister John Day said “Since hard-hat diving was introduced to the pearling industry in the 1860s, Western Australia has been at the forefront of innovation when it comes to developing tools and equipment to work underwater.”
“The activity of people that work beneath the surface has for a long time been a mystery.”
“This exhibition will reveal what it is like to live and work in an underwater environment, opening up people’s imaginations to challenge what is possible and encouraging our next generation to consider interesting and given career paths.”
“Underwater technology is used in a variety of fields ranging from the oil and gas industry, to investigating the flora and fauna of the world’s oceans and river systems and even to understanding maritime history through exploring shipwrecks.”
There are over 40 sponsors and object donors who have generously contributed to the exhibition but it could not have happened without the dedication and commitment of the very passionate Terry Griffiths Chairman SUT WA Branch.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean, even from a young age. Being on the water, either on a boat or surfing, always reminded me of how powerful the ocean is and how little influence we have over it,” Mr Griffiths said.
WA Museum CEO Alec Coles said a lot of the ground-breaking developments in subsea technology were happening in Western Australia.
Mr Coles said the applications of underwater technology on display at the exhibition were varied.
“Many relate to the oil and gas sector but there are also technologies developed here in WA that have been used for searching for the shipwreck HMAS Sydney, investigating the flora and fauna of the world’s oceans and finding a renewable source of energy offshore.”
For the WA Museum the experience of getting this exhibition above the ground has involved unprecedented commitment from corporate partners.
Principal partners Woodside have been vital in the development of the exhibition and have also loaned objects that are on display.
Dr Peter Moore Executive VP Exploration at Woodside Energy said Immerse was just the latest chapter in a strong relationship with the WA Museum.
“Our company’s past, present and future are closely tied to developments in marine technology and I am very pleased that pieces from our own museum will be seen by a wide audience in the coming months,” Dr Moore said.
“Woodside made a name for itself in the 1950s by drilling in the Bass Strait in water up to 60 metres deep – an unremarkable feat today, but a world-record depth at the time. Our business is of course focused on exploration below the seabed, and visitors to this exhibition will gain a great insight into the technology and expertise employed by the oil and gas industry in Western Australia.”
So what about the future of subsea technology? Terry Griffiths shares his thoughts.
“We are doing a great job of producing gas as a lower carbon transition fuel for Australia and for export to Asia, but sustainability isn’t just about greenhouse gas emissions and a low carbon future, it’s also about financial sustainability and security of energy supply,” he said.
“The key role of underwater technology is to help us access our gas reserves, which are increasingly found in deeper water off the WA coast, and also to help us develop the vast reserve of carbon free marine renewable energy from the oceans around Australia.”
Immerse: Exploring the Deep will completely immerse the viewer in an underwater world, using contemporary technological displays. The gallery is a dark and watery interactive space that the visitor can explore with the assistance of the subsea technology on display.
Immerse: Exploring the Deep is on display from now until 2 March 2012 at the WA Maritime Museum. Admission is free.
Alec Coles, CEO WA Museum, Culture and the Arts Minister John Day, Dr Peter Moore, Executive Vice President Exploration Woodside, Dr Bob Allwood, CEO Society of Underwater Technology and Professor Lyn Beazley, Chief Scientist of Western Australia.