The Australian Pipeliner

April 2009

President’s Message

Ashley Kellett

Firstly, I would like to focus on some important recent achievements. Being a little partisan, foremost in my mind is the fifth birthday of SEA Gas on 1 January 2009. The Directors and staff of SEA Gas enjoyed a celebratory dinner in early February to mark the occasion.

Chief Executive’s Report

Cheryl Cartwright

As members will probably be aware, I’m very enthusiastic about encouraging young people to further their careers and expand their knowledge and experience, and this industry has embraced those sentiments. The Young Pipeliners Forum (YPF) has become a successful group of achievers with plenty of ideas and no fear of sharing those ideas!

WA Chapter lunch tees off in style

Sponsored by McConnell Dowell, 12 February saw the first APIA WA Chapter lunch of 2009 held at the Parmelia Hilton.

Care, respect, focus: Lessons learnt at the APIA 4WD Safety Day

The APIA 4WD Safety Day proved to be as insightful as it was challenging, with attendees learning about safe driving and having

Jemena: Listening, hearing and thinking pipelines

A new, dynamic energy company, Jemena, has emerged form the sale of Alinta’s assets to a number of different owners. Jemena General Manager of Gas John van Weel spoke to The Australian Pipeliner about the company’s plans for the future.

The carbon footprint of a gas pipeline: putting it into perspective

Steve Fox, Associate Director, and Wendy Mathieson, Environmental Consaltant, Unidel Group Pty Ltd

Steve Fox and Wendy Mathieson from Unidel Group discuss the carbon footprint associated with the construction and operation of a gas pipeline and identify the main contributing components. The comparisons provide an insight into what the main carbon footprint items are and why the carbon released during the construction of a gas pipeline is a good ‘carbon investment’ when the carbon savings of gas-fired power generation relative to coal-fired generation are taken into account.

Howorth asserts the value of marketing in an economic downturn

By Craig Pearce, Practice Director, Howorth Communications

Pipeline companies that take a positive approach to marketing in an economic downturn are grabbing an opportunity too good to miss as doing so intelligently will lead to a stronger bottom line as well as increase the profile and credibility of a company’s brand.

Building the Amadeus Basin to Darwin Pipeline

Barry Wood

In the early hours of Sunday 9 November 1986 gas reached the Darwin City Gate after its 1,500 km journey from the gas fields of Palm Valley, marking the completion of one of Australia’s most successful pipeline projects.

Peter Wheelwright

Barry Wood

Peter Wheelwright is one of the long time pipeline industry construction engineers.

Pipeline marks 5 years of gas flows

Just over five years ago the SEA Gas pipeline system commenced operation in spectacular circumstances on New Years Day 2004.

Savcor expands Australian activities

Since completing major cathodic protection installation works on the South East Queensland Water Grid, Savcor has moved forward to upgrade their field testing technologies and equipment.

Tasman surge - EPCM opens an office in New Zealand

Building on its success in Australia, EPCM has opened an office in New Zealand, broadening the range of services it offers to the industry.

Momentum designs savings

Momentum Engineering aims to provide solutions to ensure cost effective projects while still maintaining project quality and integrity.

Climate change policies and the gas transmission industry

Steve Davies, APIA Policy Adviser

Australia’s pipeline industry, like all other industries, will be impacted by the Rudd Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS).

Delivering the Territory’s energy future

APA Group has ensured a long term, safe and secure energy supply for all of the Northern Territory by completing construction of its latest greenfield pipeline development on schedule.

PLM supplies reliable pipelayers for Bonaparte

Strict deadlines, like those on the fast-tracked Bonaparte Gas Pipeline project, make construction companies even more dependent on tough, reliable machines to get the work done.

Safe and sound on Bonaparte with Mediqs Away

Falling ill on the job is never fun for anyone – but being away from home, and in a remote location makes it even harder. Luckily, for workers on the Bonaparte Gas Pipeline, Mediqs Away provided onsite medical assistance.

AJ Lucas tackles the NT

Two key elements dominated AJ Lucas Group’s construction of the 287 km Bonaparte Gas Pipeline – climate and location. AJ Lucas Project Director Kevin Lester reports.

Australia’s largest ever gas storage bottle - the Colongra Lateral Pipeline

Jemena has completed the construction of one of the most unique and innovative projects of its kind in Australia – the Colongra Lateral Pipeline – Australia’s largest ever gas storage bottle.

Diona deliver: work on the 42 inch Colongra Lateral Pipeline

Diona constructed the 9 km, 42 inch storage pipeline as part of the Colongra Lateral Pipeline project, rising to new challenges in infrastructure construction.

Colongra peaks with Enerflex

Enerflex has successfully installed a metering station, a compressor station and a gas conditioning station as part of the new Colongra Gas Turbine Power Generation Plant on the New South Wales central coast.

Mechanised welding success on Colongra

Lonestar Automated Welding provided two mechanised welding Fill and Cap stations for the Colongra Lateral Pipeline project.

GHD designs firsts for Australia

GHD provided a detailed design for the unique requirements of the Colongra Lateral Pipeline, which posed significant technical and construction challenges, to provide sufficient energy available on demand for the Colongra Gas Turbine’s high-load peaking operations.

Efficent, responsive power production: the Colongra Lateral Pipeline meets the challenge

Lincoln Electric provided specialised welding services for the X70 grade Colongra Lateral Pipeline, which demanded a re-think on welding solutions to meet the unique challenges it presented.

MacDow invests in major plant for large diameter pipeline projects

McConnell Dowell has invested in new pipeline plant to improve its capability in delivering the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP) Stage 5B Expansion Project.

A Keystone conversion

TransCanada is undertaking an innovative, cost-competitive way to accommodate the expected growth in Canadian crude oil production during the next decade. The Keystone Pipeline project not only involves the construction of a 2,592 km oil pipeline but also the conversion of an 864 km existing natural gas pipeline.

ExxonMobil cuts welding costs

Heath Pipeline Services is distributing Lokring connections – a pipe connection that is equivalent to a weld but requires no hot work. Here, ExxonMobil details how the system has been successfully used on one of its UK projects.

Rehabilitating with carbon fibre

Savcor ART offers carbon fibre pipeline integrity rehabilitation, providing a strong and efficient repair method for corrosion damaged transmission pipelines.

Beyond mere scanning - inelligent laser technology

Vornel Walker, Marketing Manager, COADE

Laser scanning provides a more efficient and accurate method of data to be used for modifications or expansions of existing infrastructure. CADWorx fieldPipe - distributed in Australia by Cortex Resources - allows the operator to leave site with an intelligent 3D model of associated works.

Contracting strategies: successful project development

Lyndsie Mewett

When approaching a pipeline project, there are many different contracting strategies that can be entered into. The Australian Pipeliner caught up with industry leaders to discuss the issues that can arise when entering into contracts.

Vehicle safety drives away with APIA Safety Award

A Vehicle Safety and Speed Monitoring System has taken out the Australian Pipeline Industry Association’s annual industry-wide Safety Award for 2008.

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