Overview

Part 1: BP Refinery

Bulwer Island has been a bustling hub of engineering activity since the 1960s when the BP refinery was built and commissioned. The refinery saw many expansions over the years, and operated for half a century at peak capacities exceeding 100,000 barrels per day until geo-economic pressures forced its closure in 2015.

Michael Lynch is the DDI (Deinventory, De-engerise, Isolate) and Demolition Manager who managed the massive decommissioning effort, and will give an overview of the current status in transitioning the site to a full fuels import terminal. This will feature a 20 minutes guided tour of the history and assets on field. Due to manning levels, there will be no access to the MHF zone.

Part 2: BOC Air Separation Unit and Hydrogen Pilot Plant Site Tour

Following the tour of BP's demolition site, we will walk across the road to the BOC plant on 398 Tingira Street. BOC's Air Separation Unit was originally installed in 2000 as part of the refinery's Clean Fuels project, and produces 840 tonnes per day of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, which supply Queensland's industrial gas market.

Following the closure of the refinery, which included a BOC owned partial oxidation hydrogen plant, BOC had to import hydrogen from Victoria in order to service the Queensland market, a temporary fix which was both costly and high in CO2 emissions. The site is now at the forefront of technology, having just commissioned Queensland's first commercial green hydrogen facility featuring an 100 kW solar array and 220 kW Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyser. This pilot scale facility will serve existing hydrogen customers as well as a hydrogen vehicle fueling station located at QUT's Kelvin Grove Campus.

The site tour will be led by Shane Whalley, Project Manager responsible for the newly installed hydrogen plant. Note that the electrolysers and hydrogen compressors are within a containerised module which may not be accessible on the day.

PPE requirements

The event will require all participants to bring their own safety boots and wear long sleeve cotton shirt and trousers. Safety glasses, hi-vis, and hard-hat can be provided onsite.