Barry Goldstein

Barry Alan Goldstein is a senior executive civil servant employed by the Government of South Australia. He joined the public sector in 2002 as the Director of Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA)'s Petroleum Group following a successful career as a petroleum exploration geologist. He previously held the position of Exploration Manager and Chief Geologist for oil and gas company, Santos Ltd. Since beginning work in the industry with Phillips Petroleum in 1977, Goldstein has discovered oil and gas in the North Sea, in Indonesia, both offshore and onshore in Australia, in Papua New Guinea and in South America.^[1][2] In 2014, Goldstein was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM)^[3][4] for his contribution to the development of South Australia's unconventional gas resources, geothermal energy and carbon sequestration potential.^[5] As of 2014, Goldstein currently holds the position of Executive Director of Energy Resources for the Government of South Australia's Department of State Development.^[6]

Unconventional oil and gas

Goldstein believes that extra effort is required in the early engagement of communities unfamiliar with petroleum operations, especially those in proximity to proposed fracking for unconventional oil and gas resources. He believes that considerable engagement with both people and enterprises best occurs well before any proposal for operations is made. He considers this to be the best way to minimize "potentially ill-informed perceptions."^[7]

Goldstein believes that problems encountered in developing coal seam gas resources in New South Wales and Queensland have been the result of many wells being established with low gas extraction rates, and often on agricultural land. By comparison, Goldstein says that South Australia's wells will be deeper with a smaller footprint. He described the targets in South Australia as deep shale gas and tight gas, and are typically found 2000–3000 metres below the surface.^[8]

Goldstein has been critical of prior public engagement efforts during the establishment of the coal seam gas industry in eastern Australia. He has said that "instead of actually having a conversation with potentially affected people and enterprises at the get go, there was a creeping expansion... Playing 'catch-up' on public engagement is just wrong."

Goldstein is a lead author of one of South Australia's key planning documents, the Roadmap for Unconventional Gas Projects in South Australia.^[9]

Regulation & policy

He has claimed that in South Australia "No operations are approved unless statements of environmental objectives are established to assure that regulatory requirements equal or exceed community expectations for net outcomes, and operators can demonstrate capabilities to meet or exceed those regulatory requirements."^[7]

He also believes that fit-for-purpose licence terms are "the most direct way to recognize the more extensive nature of unconventional energy resource plays." He believes that South Australia created "precisely the sort of retention licences industry needs" with bi-partisan support through the passage of the Petroleum & Geothermal Energy Act in September 2000.^[7]

Philosophy

Goldstein lists his personal "mantras" as including:

• “Build trust, reduce uncertainty and have fun.”
• “The only good surprise is no surprise.”
• "Keep a focus on early, transparent engagement."
• “Minimise doing business with ourselves.”
• "Maximise a focus on our customers who include the public, our elected masters, industry, and our co-regulatory colleagues."

Education

Goldstein was a chemistry major at the University of New York and completed an undergraduate degree in geology. He then completed a Masters in Geology at the University of Missouri (Columbia).

External links

• Roadmap for unconventional gas projects in South Australia

References

1. ↑ Thomas, Colin (2003-04-30). "Interview with Barry Goldstein". MESA Journal (29). Retrieved 2014-10-19. 
2. ↑ "Barry Goldstein". LinkedIn. Retrieved 2014-10-19. 
3. ↑ "Barry Goldstein awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM)". Petroleum News Review. 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-10-19. 
4. ↑ "Barry Goldstein". It's an honour. Australian Government. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2014-10-19. 
5. ↑ "Awarded for Australia Day 2014". Department of Premier & Cabinet. Government of South Australia. 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-18. 
6. ↑ "Petroleum". Department of State Development. Government of South Australia. 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-19. 
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "A South Australian serviceman: Barry Goldstein". The Australian Pipeliner. 2014-07-30. Retrieved 2014-10-19. 
8. ↑ Sutton, Malcolm (2013-06-06). "Target South Australia: Farmers ready?". West Coast Sentinel. Retrieved 2014-10-19. 
9. ↑ Goldstein, Barry (2012-12-01). "Roadmap for unconventional gas projects in South Australia". Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources & Energy. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 2014-10-19.