Prior to the SEA Gas Pipeline, the majority of South Australia had been reliant on one gas supply and one gas pipeline for 35 years. On the very day that the $500 million, 690 km SEA Gas Pipeline from southwest Victoria was being commissioned, an explosion at Santos’ gas processing plant at Moomba effectively cut all supply from that source.

The SEA Gas Pipeline played an integral part in maintaining gas deliveries, supplying over 80 per cent of the state’s needs for many days, until some northern gas was able to flow again. It would be months before the Moomba plant would be back to full operation.

To celebrate its fifth anniversary of operation, the staff and directors of South East Australia (SEA) Gas partied at a well known Australian cuisine restaurant in Adelaide. A collage of photographs from the very early days of the project to the present were displayed continuously throughout the evening.

In his welcome speech, General Manager Ashley Kellett said that he still could not get over the amazing ‘happenstance’ of the availability of the pipeline on that day. He said that SEA Gas fast-tracked its commissioning requirements to ensure enough gas could be supplied to Adelaide to cover the shortfall the same day of the explosion. “We got there but a ‘chewing gum and chicken wire’ analogy would not be far off how we did it.”

Mr Kellett said that the commissioning had marked the completion of one of Australia’s most important energy infrastructure projects. The pipeline is a vital energy link, as the last piece to complete the southeastern Australia gas transmission grid linking Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide with gas supplies from fields in the Cooper-Eromanga Basin and offshore Victoria. The grid provides both security of supply and the opportunity for greater competition.

In listing SEA Gas’ achievements in its first five years, Mr Kellett observed “We are a small team but I think it is fair to say we punch above our weight.”

SEA Gas has completed a range of subsequent capital projects and many of its staff are integrally involved with the Australian Pipeline Industry Association (APIA) and other industry groups. The company has also won a number of awards and is particularly proud of winning the inaugural APIA Annual Safety Award in 2007.

Work began on the SEA Gas Pipeline in October 2002 using a ‘turnkey contract’ approach. A Spie Capag – Lucas Joint Venture was the pipeline construction contractor and HPS Technology built the compressor stations. The total project was completed on time and on budget, despite late major design changes required to accommodate the requirements of an additional shipper.

Ownership of the SEA Gas pipeline system is an equal partnership between APA Group, International Power and Retail Employees Superannuation Trust. Directors representing each of the partners; Stephen Ohl, Chris Kendall and Max Kimber respectively, spoke briefly at the anniversary dinner about their association with SEA Gas, each receiving a memento of the occasion.