APPEA 2021: The Road to Net Zero

The 2021 Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA) conference was dominated by the net zero recommendations of the recent International Energy Agency (IEA) report, although a new offshore acreage round was released, and the LNG export market is expected to grow substantially. I discuss the implications of the net zero goals for decarbonization of a global-scale natural gas and coal exporter, the opportunities and challenges to developing a hydrogen economy, perspectives on carbon capture and storage (CCS), the ever-present specter of environmental approvals for all energy suppliers, and the economic implications to petroleum companies of all scales from the responsibilities of infrastructure decommissioning.