The Australian Pipeliner

October 2004

President’s Message

It is my great pleasure to welcome delegates and partners to the Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast for APIA’s 36th Annual Convention and Exhibition. Let me extend a very special welcome to our many international speakers and delegates - your presence and active participation in our annual gathering adds great value to our Association.

CEO’s Report

It is a very great pleasure to welcome delegates and guests to APIA’s 2004 Convention on the Gold Coast.

Santos addresses APIA Dinner in Adelaide

Mr Bruce Wood, Vice President Strategic Operations, Santos Limited made a very informative presentation to over 80 APIA members and guests on August 24 in Adelaide.

Pipeline industry and Technical Regulator meet in Sydney

As part of the APIA’s objective of ensuring regular contact between the industry and the respective State Technical Regulators, a meeting was held on August 25 at the Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS) in Sydney.

Improving asset integrity and information confidence

Julian Wilson - Manager, Inspection - NATA

All assets and asset systems - from pipelines to power stations and from aircraft to expressways - have a life history.

NATA audits NDT on pipeline sites

Brett Hyland - Manager, Non-destructive Testing - NATA

The importance of pipeline construction projects to the Australian economy, and to the stakeholders involved, has recently been re-emphasised by NATA, the National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia.

Major projects on the horizon

While the Australian pipeline industry enjoys a brief respite after a few very busy years, a number of major projects are looming on the horizon which should ensure the good health of the industry for years to come. First up is the Trans-Territory Pipeline.

Australian becomes President-Elect of the International Institute of Welding

At the recent International Institute of Welding (IIW) Annual Assembly in Osaka, Japan, Mr Chris Smallbone, WTIA Executive Director and a Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Welded Structures, was unanimously appointed as President-Elect of the 45 member-country Institute. Once endorsed as President by the 2005 General Assembly in Prague, he will take up office through to mid 2008, succeeding Mr Bertil Pekkari, Technical Director of ESAB International.

Tinker & Rasor - quality holiday testers now available from Anode Engineering

Major USA based instrument supplier Tinker & Rasor, an ISO 9001:2000 registered company, recently signed a Master Distributors agreement with Brisbane-headquartered Anode Engineering Pty Ltd.

New products added to the Boddingtons range

Boddingtons manufactures and distributes plastic warning tapes and extruded meshes for both detection and protection of underground cable and pipelines for gas, electricity, water and optic fibre communication lines. These products give pipeline owners the peace of mind that their assets are safe and protected from third-party damage.

Nixon Communications completes another successful year

During 2004 Nixon Communications has continued to provide its total construction communication package to both contractors and clients on projects throughout Australia. The company has also continued to diversify into providing communications solutions for similar remote projects in the power and rail sectors, often serviced by the same contractors as the pipeline industry.

Worley & SECON introduce SWIM – Pipeline GIS

Worley have joined forces with SECON Surveys and developed a comprehensive Geographic Information System called SECON Worley Information Manager for Pipelines (SWIM - Pipeline) catering for the total life cycle of a pipeline.

Radcliffe – “More than wood and wire”

You may think that a couple of planks of wood and a few bits of wire make a fence, but Radcliffe Rural Fencing know that isn’t the case.

Managing easements - by bringing the field to your desktop!

Gyrovision is a company that is relatively new to the pipeline industry, but has an established product in the environmental industry.

A coating for all seasons

Bob & Chris Alliston – President & Vice President (respectively) Specialty Polymer Coatings, Inc.

There are many possibilities for the selection of pipeline anti-corrosion materials; sleeves, FBE, tape, and liquid epoxy or polyurethane coatings, to name but a few. There have been significant developments made in the past decade with respect to 100 per cent solids liquid epoxy coating, both in terms of performance as well as application methods. This article describes the versatility, performance and application methods of one particular 100 per cent solids liquid epoxy coating SP-2888® R.G.

Lester Franks announces new deal with AGIS Technology

Following the release of Lester Franks’ GASlite GIS software in October last year they have announced an agreement for Houston based AGIS Technology to market GASlite GIS in the lucrative North American pipeline market.

Maloney Field Services

Since its inception in 1970, Maloney Field Services (MFS) has achieved an unequalled and envied prominence in Land Access, Land Procurement and Compensation Assessment Programs. Their proven track record and solid reputation has seen them involved in some of the most ambitious cross-country infrastructure projects undertaken in Australia over the last 33 years.

GasNet and Wesfarmers Kleenheat Gas commission Australia’s first commercial LNG truck facility

In February of this year GasNet Australia signed an agreement with Kleenheat Gas to design, procure, construct, commission and operate a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Truck Loading Facility at GasNet’s 12,000 tonne LNG storage facility in Melbourne.

SADB Directional Drilling

SADB Directional Drilling is an Australian company and has been providing civil construction to the public and private sector for over ten years. SADB was one of the first companies in Australia to adopt trenchless technology. Recently, the company acquired a Vermeer D100 rig, further increasing their capability on major pipeline projects.

“The Quiet Achievers”: Petro Coating Systems Pty Ltd (PCS)

PCS is an Australian company founded by Rod Hines, a long standing member of the Australian pipeline industry. Rod originally started his career 35 years ago with Shaw Pipe Protection, and after holding a number of senior positions with coating supply companies to the Oil & Gas Pipeline industry, identified the need for another quality supplier of pipeline coatings, and formed PCS in 1992. The Australian Pipeliner recently caught up with Nick Grenier, National Sales Manager, to find out the latest news from PCS.

Anode Engineering provides technical support for specialised products

Anode’s people have been in the oil, gas, water, mining and marine industries for almost 35 years.

Cervan Marine - Having a blast!

Port Hedland based Cervan Marine are Drill and Blast experts who have been using their specialist knowledge and experience for 25 years.

GasNet’s Telfer Pipeline sets benchmark in tackling Australian extremes

GasNet Australia’s Telfer Pipeline, which extends from Port Hedland to Newcrest Mining’s Telfer Gold and Copper mine, was always going to be a challenge with over 440 km traversing through some of Australia’s harshest and most remote environments. Constructing a pipeline through a desert where temperatures on some days exceed 50° C is difficult enough, without then being confronted with the effects of a weather event the likes of which have not been seen for perhaps hundreds of years.

Question: How do you get a 500 year flood in the desert? Answer: Start a pipeline project!

Just ask McConnell Dowell and GasNet. Their Port Hedland-Telfer pipeline project was recently swamped when a cyclone spun into the Pilbara and dropped 20 inches of rain. The result was a couple of new lakes in the desert, unfortunately over the pipeline spread!

Camms delivers on Port Hedland - Telfer Pipeline

Extensive and detailed factory acceptance testing provides excellent system readiness and paves the way for smooth commissioning.

Delco completes Coonarah gas gathering system at Narrabri

Delco Australia Pty Ltd has recently successfully completed its EPCC contract with Eastern Star Gas as part of the Wilga Park Power Project near Narrabri, New South Wales.

JP One Pipeline: A unique pipeline project

Thailand’s new Suvanabhumi (“Golden Land”) International Airport is being constructed to become a regional hub for aviation activities for Southeast Asia. Built on 8,000 acres of land, it is just 25 km from downtown Bangkok.

Centralised monitoring of nationwide pipeline systems

Pipelines have always been remote, and remote monitoring has always been a challenge for the pipeline industry. Traditionally, communications were from locations along the pipeline to a “local” control room, usually based in the capital city that the pipeline supplies.

Major river crossings for 42 inch oil and gas pipelines in Azerbaijan

McConnell Dowell key expat staff are managing the design and installation of the major river crossings on the BTC and SCP oil and gas pipelines in Azerbaijan where McConnell Dowell are working with CCCIC on the 442 km 42 inch oil and gas pipelines from Baku to the Georgia border.

Denso supplies joint coating for Bayu-Undan Pipeline

Denso Australia and Canusa-CPS have secured the contract to supply all joint coating material for the Bayu-Undan Subsea Pipeline Project in Darwin. Denso Australia is the sole distributor of Canusa-CPS Products in Australia and New Zealand.

NQGP another step closer to Townsville

The North Queensland Gas Pipeline (NQGP) Project, which will transport coal seam gas from the Bowen Basin Coalfields to Townsville, is nearing completion with the Compressor Station commencing commissioning and the main gas transmission pipeline installed. Part One of a two-part feature follows, Part Two will appear in the next edition and will cover issues such as the alliance arrangement, engineering, quality, safety, fauna protection and risk.

Environmental management on a pipeline project – a consultant’s perspective

The pipeline industry delivers essential energy and resources that support our way of life. But as a member of our society, the industry has a responsibility to meet the increasingly demanding expectations of government, landowners, community, indigenous and commercial stakeholders.

Longest ILUA in the country

Covering almost 400 km in length and including nine Traditional Owner groups, the three NQGP Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA) make up the longest contiguous ILUA registered in Australia to-date.

NQGP Alliance reaps benefits by making data available to all office and field staff

One of the challenges faced by the NQGP Project was the implementation of a Project Information Management System (PIMS) that would ensure data integrity and traceability of all the Project records. Particular emphasis was placed on spatially accurate records (preferably captured electronically) in a format that would allow excellent information flow to all stakeholders and management.

Constructing in an alliance

The traditional lump sum approach to pipeline construction generally results in constructors having little opportunity for detailed planning and preparation prior to mobilising to site and almost no opportunity for input during the design phase of a project.

Supplying the pipeline

Various contractors and processes were involved in supplying the pipeline for the North Queensland Gas Pipeline Project.

Queensland conditions no match for MISU

When a screening solution was required on the North Queensland Gas Pipeline Project, local excavation contractor R&J Lord Excavations turned to Wodonga based MISU.

The importance of quality pipe from a quality Australian manufacturer

As the sole supplier of 300 mm coated pipe for the North Queensland Gas Pipeline Project, Australian company OneSteel Oil & Gas Pipe™ has praised the project planning of Enertrade.

OneSteel Piping Systems delivers actuated and manual valves to Moranbah

OneSteel Piping Systems was awarded the supply contracts for actuated On/Off Ball Valves and Manual Valves for the gas gathering system, pipeline, the compression and metering plants at Moranbah and the metering stations at Yabulu and Stuart.

Camps R US….North Queensland and more for Frank, Gino Martino and crew

Once again Frank and Gino Martino with their specialised, patented accommodation system have received resounding praise from inhabitants at a remote location in North Queensland.

Constant Innovation

With the North Queensland Pipeline Project barely behind them, Frank and Gino Martino with their team at Australian Portable Camps are already forging ahead with new developments.

SCC detection improvement using high resolution EMAT technology

Thomas Beuker, ROSEN Technology and Research Center & Ron Alers, Sonic Sensors of EMAT Ultrasonics & Bryce Brown, ROSEN USA & Ge

Liquid filled pipelines can effectively accommodate mechanical piezoelectric transducers which couple to the pipe wall through the fluid being transported; a solution which would not work well for dry natural gas pipelines.

GE Energy’s data solution to help manage pipeline integrity

Chad Zamarin, GE Energy

Pipeline operators have long faced the challenge of managing complex systems with limited human and financial resources. One theme that has proven true throughout the years is that no matter what the media, regulators, or public demands, an operator is expected and strives to perform to a higher standard.

Evolving coatings

Bredero Shaw is committed to providing the industry with the latest coating systems. Fusion Bonded Epoxy powder coatings have been available for over 40 years with the availability of a range of dual layer systems to provide corrosion protection for steel pipelines, including high pressure gas transmission lines.

Savcor UHBE epoxy coatings made easy

SAVCOR UHBE epoxy has been custom designed with two key advantages in mind; ease of application and proven long term corrosion prevention performance.