Former petroleum head receives Gas Industry Development Award

Bill Tinapple wins 2014 Gas Industry Development Award
Date: Thursday, 04 December 2014
Former Petroleum Executive Director Bill Tinapple has been recognised for developing Western Australia’s oil and gas sector.

Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) former Executive Director Petroleum Bill Tinapple has again been recognised for his contributions to the Western Australian oil and gas industry.

On Monday Mr Tinapple was awarded the prestigious Western Australia Gas Industry Development Award for 2014, which follows the John Doran Lifetime Achievement Award he received in September.

The Gas Industry Development Award recognises outstanding contribution by an individual or company toward development of the domestic gas industry in Western Australia.

DMP Director General Richard Sellers said Mr Tinapple’s contributions to oil and gas development in the State had been substantial.

“Bill was heavily involved in the development of the North West Shelf, from the initial engineering studies and 3D offshore surveying in the 1990s through to the development of floating liquefied natural gas production, storage and offloading units,” Mr Sellers said.

“During his time leading the department’s Petroleum Division he improved customer service, increased investment in Western Australia, and sustained production, seeing Western Australia develop into one of the world’s premier LNG production regions.”

Mr Tinapple spent over 15 years with DMP, moving to Western Australia in 1998 following his 12 years as a regulator in the Northern Territory.

Originally from Ohio, Mr Tinapple worked on oil and gas projects in the US, Libya, Indonesia, the North Sea, Norway, Nigeria, Japan, Australia and Abu Dhabi prior to settling in Australia in 1985.