HERO Project delivers safer switching at Karratha Gas Plant  

In 2025, Woodside has a new HERO – a custom designed solution that has been successfully trialled at Karratha Gas Plant (KGP), Western Australia to help improve safety performance and reduce potential risk.

HERO stands for High Energy Remote Operator and its mission is to counter the risk of exposure for Senior Electrical Officers (SEOs) to arc flashes when older electrical switchboards are turned on and off.

Arc flashes are sudden high-energy electrical events that instantly create both extreme pressure and extreme heat (up to 19,000° Celsius), making it potentially dangerous for anyone nearby.

Such events can occur during faults or even switching, especially in ageing equipment. Though switching is a routine task, it becomes potentially risky when dealing with older or high-energy systems.

In some electrical substations, energy levels are so high that even the best protective gear doesn’t guarantee safety against arc flash. In others, ageing equipment makes manual switching unreliable or difficult due to the force required to turn the switch. HERO addresses both issues.

HERO was custom designed by our Operations, Technology and Engineering teams in collaboration with NASA to allow remote switching from up to 15 metres from the switchboard, helping reduce potential risk for operators.

The system includes a motorised actuator, pendant control with safety interlocks and a custom control box that incorporates the capabilities and features specified by the end users.

It also works standalone, which means there’s no need to integrate into existing control systems.

This project is an example of how working together as One Team will help reduce risk and keep our people safer.