The Australian Pipeliner

July 2008

President’s Message

Ashley Kellett, President

The year gallops on. If you have not already registered for the 2008 APIA Convention in Perth, I strongly urge you to do so. This year we celebrate forty years of APIA and we hope all members will join in the celebration of this milestone. In addition to an excellent range of papers, there are some exciting things planned to mark this very special anniversary, including an audio-visual overview of some of the challenges, triumphs, personalities and social occasions of our first forty years. The theme for the fancy dress night this year is ‘1968’ (for obvious reasons). Now, if that theme does not present you with a challenge, I don’t know what does. However, having said that, I must admit to no longer being amazed at the ingenuity of our pipelining fraternity in producing a fantastically diverse range of costumes each year.

Chief Executive’s Report

Cheryl Cartwright, Chief Executive

One of the most rewarding aspects of working for this Association is the enthusiastic support of the members for new initiatives.

MCS to create pipeline of projects?

Attendees of APIA’s March Melbourne Dinner listened to Santos Carbon Business Manager Mike Congreve speak about the Moomba Carbon Storage Project and the possible impact the project will have on the pipeline industry of Australia.

Operators meet to discuss above ground facilities and rotating machinery

By Steve Dobbie, Business Manager, APIA

The seventh annual APIA Pipeline Operators Group (POG) seminar brought together 50 of Australia and New Zealand’s most knowledgeable pipeliners to share their knowledge and experience in the management of above ground facilities, including rotating machinery.

WA dines on eco-concerns

The recent APIA Perth lunch saw attendees enjoy great food while getting down to the ‘nitty-gritty’ of sustaining the environment through business practices.

Deputy Premier highlights QLD opportunities

The Brisbane dinner provided a fitting end to a hard day’s work – pipeliners enjoyed a relaxing meal while listening to the Deputy Premier of Queensland Paul Lucas talk about the energy industry’s potential in the ‘Smart State’.

Youth and experience meet at APIA Brisbane seminar

The APIA Brisbane seminar was a ‘first’ for a number of reasons. Chief among them, the streamed seminar aimed to fulfil APIA’s continuing desire to provide services the members seek, from younger members to those experienced pipeliners, and across a range of different sectors within the industry.

YPF demonstrates industry depth

Lyndsie Mewett, Associate Editor

The Brisbane YPF proved a fantastic introduction to the pipeline industry as young pipeliners shared information about life in different sectors of the industry, while also voicing their opinions about innovations and challenges to be faced on the way forward.

Young Pipeliners Go West

Jacqui Yates, Functions & Administration Officer, APIA

On 1st May, 27 Young Pipeliners ventured to the Kwinana Region for a WA Young Pipeliners Forum (YPF) site visit.

Meanwhile in the east….

The New South Wales YPF has also been keeping active with a recent site tour.

Industry to gather for 2008 APIA Convention and Exhibition

The highlight of the ‘pipeline year’ is the annual APIA Convention and Exhibition. This year the Conference will head to Perth from 11 - 14 October.

No turning back: Peter Cox - In for the long haul with the pipeline industry

As APIA Treasurer and WorleyParsons National Pipeline Manager, Peter Cox has plenty on his plate. The Australian Pipeliner spoke with Mr Cox about his history as a pipeliner, his present work in both APIA and WorleyParsons and the future of the pipeline industry.

Tackling global gas issues

Barbara Jinks was recently granted funding by the Australian Gas Industry Trust (AGIT) to attend the third meeting of the Working Committee 3 Gas Transmission (WOC3) of the International Gas Union, held in March in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The climate for pipelines

Cheryl Cartwright, Chief Executive, APIA & Danielle Kellahan, Policy Advisor, APIA

APIA is closely monitoring the implementation of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System (NGER), the progress of the Garnaut Climate Change Review and raising awareness of the challenges of transporting carbon dioxide in pipelines. The introduction of the National Gas Laws in Parliaments around the nation will be monitored and work is underway on the proposed review of Weighted Average Cost of Capital.

Regulatory and Economic Policy

One of APIA’s most active committees, the Government and Regulatory Affairs Committee (now the Regulatory and Economic Policy Committee), had a rare face-to-face meeting in Melbourne in April.

APIA’s 2020 vision

Cheryl Cartwright, Chief Executive, APIA & Danielle Kellahan, Policy Advisor, APIA

APIA’s submission to Kevin Rudd’s 2020 Summit emphasised that Australia’s strength lies in its abundant natural resources.

Sydney to Newcastle Pipelines

Barry Wood

Building the dual pipeline system between Sydney and Newcastle involved the construction of twin oil and gas pipelines with the two pipelines sharing a common trench for a major part of the route. This pipeline system is probably best remembered for the excruciating delays in obtaining building approval and the nightmare of extended industrial unrest during construction.

Ron Black

Barry Wood

Despite having been retired for a number of years, Ron Black’s name remains legendary in the pipeline industry. Having been involved with nearly every major pipeline built in Australia from 1973 to 1996 Ron, has a formidable insight into the industry.

Romea offers free pipeline training for Indigenous Australians

Romea is embarking on an exciting training initiative designed to benefit Indigenous Australians in outback areas where gas transmission pipelines have been laid, by competency-based training to place them in real jobs at their doorstep.

A winning Alliance for SRWP

The Southern Regional Water Pipeline Alliance (SRWPA) efforts in delivering a technically challenging project, while maintaining high standards of safety and training, have been recognised by a spate of awards.

Denso celebrates 40 years of service to pipeline industry

Both Denso and its parent company, Winn and Coales International, are celebrating landmark birthdays this month, with the Australian company celebrating its 40th anniversary and its UK-based parent celebrating 125 years of service.

Bayside recruits with 457 Visas

Specialist recruiter, Bayside Personnel Australia, can now secure experienced overseas pipeline engineers and designers, as one of only a few Australian recruiters to be awarded an On-hire Labour Agreement by the Federal Government.

APC commissioned for QSN camp contract

Australian Portable Camps (APC) has been commissioned by Nacap Australia to set up the first of two camps for the Queensland to South Australia/New South Wales (QSN) Link.

Increasing productivity is no longer a pipe dream!

Keeping costs down and productivity up is a standard part of business and it’s no different when it comes to welding. As the resource market continues to grow, businesses must find ways to refine processes to keep up with demand, and of course to keep costs down to remain competitive.

Enerpac: Extreme force balanced with safety

Increased worker safety is a major feature of new bolting, pumping and safety technologies being introduced to Australasia by Enerpac, an international leader in extreme force tools.

AMS offers the right products for difficult applications

AMS Instrumentation & Calibration supplies a complete range of calibration equipment and industrial instrumentation suitable for a wide variety of industries.

New Zealand gas pipelines: past, present and future

Maryam Jahanshahi

For what it lacks in length, the pipeline network of our trans-Tasman neighbour makes up in volume. In this edition of The Australian Pipeliner we review the recent history of oil and gas pipeline networks in New Zealand and look to the future to see what potential developments are on the drawing board.

Product pipelines in New Zealand: the Refinery to Auckland Pipeline

Peter Owbridge, New Zealand Refining Company

The Refinery to Auckland Pipeline is one of New Zealand’s longest product pipelines and transports about 40 per cent of New Zealand’s fuel demand, 2.26 million tonnes per annum, of finished product to Auckland.

ITL surmounts obstacles for Cheal satellite pipeline

Unique high pressure, high temperature pipelines were required as part of the newly-commissioned $A21 million Cheal production station, located onshore Taranaki. Faced with tight timeframes and increasing steel prices, ITL looked to the newly revised version of AS2885.1 to provide a solution for their client.

Replacement Flows Project to help secure Sydney’s water future

Pipe and plant development work has started on one of Australia’s largest residential and industrial water recycling schemes - the Replacement Flows Project of the Western Sydney Recycled Water Initiative.

Delivering desalinated water to Sydney

The $650 million desalination water delivery infrastructure project, part of the Sydney’s Desalination Project, aims to secure Sydney’s water supply for future generations by constructing about 24 km of pipelines across Botany Bay.

Upper Blue Mountains – Priority Sewer Project

Engineering firm Codmah has recently completed the installation of a low pressure sewer system for the Upper Blue Mountains Priority Sewerage Program Alliance.

Tallawarra Gas Pipeline Project

An alliance between TRUenergy and Nacap Australia recently contracted UEA to install a 10 in. diameter steel gas main under the F6 Freeway, Duck Creek and the South Coast Railway Line for the Tallawarra Gas Pipeline Project.

Vermeer adds mammoth capacity through acquisition

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) equipment and tooling manufacturer Vermeer has added significant capacity to its HDD rig range through the acquisition of US company Horizontal Rig and Equipment (HRE).

Tunnelling in rock at small diameters on Queensland water projects

Small boring units (SBUs) are being used to install waterlines across main roads, railways and rivers on the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project and the Southern Regional Water Pipeline with great success.

BTB underground experience goes a long way

Offering 30 years of experience in pipeline construction from small diameter conduits to large diameter transmission, BTB Australia has established itself as one of the nation’s leading underground utility contractors.

Using HDD on the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project

Faced with an almost kilometre-wide crossing of the Brisbane River, Western Corridor Recycled Water Pty Ltd decided that using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to construct two pipelines under ecologically sensitive areas and critical infrastructure, provided the best safety, environmental and cost-effective option.

New lining system guards against sewer corrosion

Savcor ART’s award-winning Linabond® Co-lining™ Systems, which have been developed in conjunction with US-based water corporations, provides exceptional service life in large diameter sewer pipelines and are now available in Australia.

Realising the coal seam dream

Maryam Jahanshahi

Only a few years ago, the development of the coal seam gas (CSG) projects was considered mutually exclusive to construction of major long-distance gas pipelines, chief among them the PNG – Queensland pipeline. Nowadays, the CSG boom is spurring construction and expansion of a considerable amount of pipeline infrastructure, catering not only to the transport of gas but also water.

Coal seam gas propelling national growth for the Fyfe Alliance

The rapid development and expansion of the coal seam gas (CSG) industry has fuelled the national growth of engineering consultancy, the Fyfe Alliance.

PPI establishes itself in the CSG pipeline business

With over 30 years of experience in polyethylene (PE) pipe production, PPI Corporation has recently expanded its manufacturing capacity to capitalise on the coal seam gas (CSG) boom.

Coal seam gas and water management in Queensland

The coal seam gas (CSG) industry in Queensland is burgeoning with development and production growing at high rates across the state. However, as the CSG must be de-watered as part of gas production, long-term water management is a critical component of CSG development.

A New Lease of Life: Extending the working life of capital equipment

In a market hampered by supply constraints and tight project deadlines, an unexpected project win can leave you searching for answers when the lead time for new equipment doesn’t fit with your contractual obligations. With the number of large projects currently in the planning and approval stage, combined with the competition to win these projects, reviving old machinery is undergoing a renaissance.

Digging up solutions to the skills shortage

With the skills shortage currently a nationwide obsession, The Australian Pipeliner spoke to Pipeline Plant Hire’s Gerard O’Brien to look at how his company is overcoming the staffing challenges faced as a provider of excavators and skilled operators to projects throughout Australia.

Pipe lifting a breeze with new vacuum lifters

Vacuum pipe lifters are quickly becoming the pipeline industry’s preferred method of moving, placing and relocating lengths of pipe, with German-based company Schoenbeck Plant and Machine Techniques being at the forefront of this technology.

Fresh wave of projects buoy offshore pipeline industry

Maryam Jahanshahi

2008 has been witness to a mammoth year for Australian offshore pipeline developments, with the go-ahead being given on a number of major projects such as the Reindeer, Henry and North Rankin-2 developments and substantial progress being made on construction of pipelines for a range of other projects.

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The Australian Pipeliner

July 2008

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