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Learning across generations for safe outcomes

There has been building concern in the pipeline industry about the ageing workforce, and the retirement of key experts. This ageing workforce brings with it many challenges, but the recruitment and retention of skilled professionals has been first in many minds.

TMS Consulting: working to ensure a safer drive-in/drive-out workforce

Over the past eight years in Australia, over 2,000 people have lost their lives due to work-related factors. Almost two-thirds of these worker fatalities involved a vehicle accident.

Building safety momentum with continuity

Failure to create continuity in a workplace is a hazard when considering workplace safety, writes behavioural scientist Thomas E. Boyce. Here, Dr Boyce writes about the behavioural workplace issues he has seen first-hand on pipeline sites and what can be done to mitigate them.

Navigating land access as regulation changes

Recent developments along the eastern seaboard highlight the constantly evolving regulatory environment energy companies face when it comes to land access.

Land policy shake-up – what’s next for your state?

There have been some big developments in the field of land access and management over the past year, with several state governments bowing to pressure from public concerns about coal seam gas exploration and implementing stringent new policies to further regulate the industry.

Reflecting on a career in PNG: Richard Robinson

Richard Robinson, a former APIA Director and recently retired Executive General Manager - Operations at Oil Search Ltd, has been involved with the Papua New Guinean hydrocarbon industry since his first visit to the country in January 1988. In this interview with The Australian Pipeliner, Mr Robinson reflects on his career in the highly prospective yet potentially volatile country and provides an informed perspective as to the future development of its oil and gas industry.

Methods for mitigation of corrosion under insulation and other crevice corrosion

Corrosion of steel operating equipment and piping under insulation has been recognised as an important problem in the ammonia refrigeration, chilled water, chemical and petroleum industry.

An update on APIA’s strategic activities

The focus of the last couple of articles has been on energy policy and some of the bigger policy issues the industry is contending with. This edition, I thought I’d provide some information about other important activities APIA has been managing.

LNG 17 scholarship recipients announced

Four Australian scholars have been selected by the Australian Gas Industry Trust to attend the LNG 17 Conference, which is being held from 16–19 April 2013 in Houston, Texas.

Great benefits from the APIA Pipeline Engineer Competency Standards

When APIA’s Pipeline Engineer Competency Standards were developed by the Reference Group led by Chris Harvey, APIA Project Manager for the Pipeline Engineer Training Project, they identified at least eight ways that members can use the Competency Standards.

An Epic journey

After almost 12 months to the day since launching its takeover bid in December 2011, APA Group became the new owner of Epic Energy. The Australian Pipeliner talks to APA about its epic journey to achieve the East Coast Grid.

David Curry

David’s introduction to the Australian Pipeline Contractors Association occurred in 1976 just after he had been appointed Superintendent Engineering BHP Petroleum (Oil and Gas).

Extend a hand to an Energy Pipelines CRC researcher

Over its three years of operations, the Energy Pipelines Co-operative Research Centre has put in place a strong research partnership between the four participating universities and the member companies of the APIA Research and Standards Committee.

From Kenya to thermo mechanical pipeline research: Rahim Kurji

Rahim Kurji, a student researcher at the Energy Pipelines Co-operative Research Centre, has had a diverse career so far – originally being involved in a Kenyan-based United Nations development program, Mr Kurji now focuses his attention on thermo mechanical properties in high strength steel in Australia’s pipeline industry.

Worker on the line: Craig Gladman

As a new entrant to the Australian pipeline industry, Monadelphous Pipeline Superintendent Craig Gladman has already gained some interesting experience on some of the country’s biggest pipeline projects, including the Queensland Curtis LNG Project’s gas pipeline. He speaks to The Australian Pipeliner about his experiences so far.

AS 2885.5 seminars attract big numbers

APIA is currently undertaking a seminar series on the Australian Standard AS 2885.5 module, which deals with field pressure testing on gas, liquid and petroleum pipelines. These seminars have attracted many interested members of the industry.

Class of 1976, Moomba to Sydney: a pipeliner reunion

Joe Ashton and Ted Jestin, who, in 1976 worked together on the Moomba to Sydney Pipeline on the Australian Pipeline Construction section, were recently reunited in Queensland.

Industry farewells Martin Ferguson

APIA bids farewell to Federal Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson who resigned after a tumultuous week of politics, which saw a non-challenge to the Prime Minister, and the departure of several senior Labor figures.

APIA officially open for business in New Zealand

After a Pipeline Operators Group meeting and an AS2885 seminar in the land of the long white cloud, APIA held its first “official” function, the APIA NZ Dinner, on 28 February in New Plymouth.

Jan Hayes reappointed to NOPSEMA board

Dr Jan Hayes, a Senior Research Fellow at the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences and researcher at the Energy Pipelines Co-operative Research Centre, has been reappointed by former Federal Minister for Resources and Energy Martin Ferguson for a further three-year term to the Board of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).

New manager for Diamantina Power Station

Mark Magnowski has been appointed Manager of Diamantina Power Station (DPS), located in Mount Isa, Queensland. DPS is being jointly developed by APA Group and AGL Energy.

APIA welcomes new Federal Energy Minister

Wed, 3 April 2013 APIA has welcomed Gary Gray as the new Federal Minister of Resources and Energy.

International experience in gas pricing should be heeded: APPEA

Wed, 20 March 2013 Manufacturing Australia Chair Sue Morphet has called for the establishment of two gas prices in Australia – one for domestic markets and one for international markets, on the grounds that this occurs in “all other gas-rich countries”.

New Federal CSG regulations to be implemented

Wed, 13 March 2013 The Federal Government is set to implement greater environmental protection for water resources impacted by CSG and large coal mining developments.