The two-day Young Pipeliners Forum (YPF) tour incorporated a day at the Santos head office in Adelaide, and a trip to the company’s facilities at Moomba.

In the office

On arrival at the Santos head office, the YPF group were welcomed by Santos Project Leader Pipelines & Infrastructure John Gassner, who presented an overview of the Cooper Basin and Santos’ current projects. This was followed by a presentation from Mike Congreve on carbon capture and storage technologies.

The day then progressed, with members of the YPF group providing presentations on their areas of expertise. Epic Energy’s Clive D’Cruz provided an overview of the South West Queensland Pipeline Expansion and its importance to the industry. Santos’ Drew Coward then spoke about Santos’ integrity management systems used on its pipeline network in the Cooper Basin.

Santos provided a delicious lunch for the young pipeliners, as a buzz of activity began to stir in the foyer of the company’s head office. The YPF information sessions were occurring on the same day that Santos Chief Executive Officer David Knox was to make an announcement – the company’s sponsorship of the Tour Down Under, Australia’s premier cycling event.

As activity faded outside and the television cameras moved away, the YPF group returned to their information sessions.

Belinda Hayter from the South Australian Department of Primary Industry and Resources presented on the state’s petroleum regulatory systems, followed by Fyfe’s Clayton Warner explaining about flowlines and gathering systems, with reference to Fyfe’s work at Santos’ Fairview Coal Seam Gas Field.

John Elliot from GPA Engineering spoke about the control and monitoring process, used from the wellhead to pipeline.

After a day of presentations, the young pipeliners moved on from Santos’ head office for a tour of the control room at SEA Gas. The group witnessed real-time monitoring of the 690 km SEA Gas Pipeline, which transports natural gas from Port Campbell and Iona in Victoria to markets in South Australia and Victoria.

SEA Gas provided afternoon tea and the YPF group got to meet members of the Australian Pipeline Industry Association (APIA) board, who were meeting at the SEA Gas office. This provided a great opportunity for the younger group to talk shop with their peers.

Leaving the SEA Gas office, the young pipeliners ended a busy day with South Australian YPF drinks held at the Charlie’s Bar at the Hilton before attending the Adelaide APIA dinner. More information about the Adelaide dinner can be read on page 22.

In the field

The next day, 15 young pipeliners caught an 8:00 am flight to Moomba, leaving the mild Adelaide weather behind for a dry 32 degrees Celsius.

On arrival at the Moomba Gas Plant, Superintendent Kim Bailey gave the young pipeliners a thorough induction of the Moomba facility, emphasising the importance of safety and wearing personal protective gear while at the plant.

Following this, the group visited the operations room at the heart of the Moomba gas plant. Here, the group split into three and were able to talk to the Santos employees who make sure the plant is running smoothly.

The groups then toured the plant, viewing gas turbines, gas processing trains and gas refrigeration facilities.

The Moomba facility accepts production from 115 gas fields and 28 oil fields, containing 536 producing gas wells and 177 producing oil wells, through approximately 5,600 km of pipelines and flowlines via 24 oil and gas satellite facilities.

The young pipeliners reassembled and headed to a hearty lunch, touring the camp amenities on the way. Those working at the facility work hard, but the pipeliners were shown that they are well cared for with a pool, spa, cinema, bar and pool tables. The food wasn’t half bad either!

After lunch, the young pipeliners were taken out to see Santos’ oil and gas facilities in the surrounding area. The group visited the Big Lake field, viewing gas workover rig, Big Lake-2, a pad drill site and oil pump well, Big Lake-87.

Hopping on the bus once more, the pipeliners went to the Big Lake Satellite to see production and monitoring facilities working in the field.

Santos’ tour guides, Mr Gassner, Connections/Flowlines Engineer Tom Delaney, Pipeline Integrity Engineer Drew Coward, and Production Supervisor Peter Boulton provided invaluable explanations of the facilities and their function.

Santos success

All who went on the tour enjoyed the information sessions and learning about Santos’ Moomba facility. The co-ordination and time donated by Santos on behalf of the Cooper Basin joint venture partner to make the tour a success was greatly appreciated.