The Australian Pipeliner October 2020

ISSUE 184 | OCTOBER 2020

VIRTUAL CONVENTION EDITION

In focus How Phil Woodhouse combines site work with artistic endeavours – page 60

Delivering the Big Build during COVID-19

42

QGP hits 30-year milestone

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Influential women in the pipeline sector

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CONTENTS

Braving higher forces STATS grows with Santos An increase in SUPERIORity Casting a Worldwide net Two driving forces unite Victoria's Big Build continues under Stage 4 Launch of PSSS' Rental Pig Test Headers receives rousing reception No porkies about pig train capabilities A theme for the times Sentanil enhances popular system Never compromise on safety 50 years of Burns Anode amps up pipeline monitoring

PIPELINES IN QUEENSLAND 30 years strong Keeping energy levels high

60 COVER STORY

A pipeline between industry and the arts Phil Woodhouse compliments his career health and safety work at Spiecapag with a talent behind the camera and a burgeoning production company.

Cover: Lowering in a section of HDPE pipe into a trench with a slight curve. Captured on the Mardi to Warnervale Pipeline Project in 2020.

EXECUTIVE REPORTS President’s message Chief Executive Officer’s report

10 12

POLICY Gas and energy policy

18

FFCRC Hydrogen in high-pressure pipelines

20

TRAINING Useful PECS tips: Incorporating APGA's PECS into corporate processes

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APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION Distinguished event goes digital APGA Virtual Convention and Exhibition sponsors 2020 APGA virtual exhibitors APGA 2020 Virtual Convention The industry's leading media brand since 1969 ASME steps forward with new partnership A global pipeline of experience Investigating pipeline corrosion management and prevention technologies

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24 25 26 27 29 30 31 32

PROJECTS In search of new offshore gas PIPELINE PEOPLE A pipeline between industry and the arts 50 years in the industry PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION Moving forward in pipeline technology Higher productivity for the industry Proactive management keeps a cap on COVID-19

34 36 37 38 40 42 44 46 48 49 50 52 53 54 56 58 60 64 66 68 70

CORROSION AND CATHODIC PROTECTION A PSA about ICA 72 Reducing the corrosion risk from hydrotesting new pipelines 75 WOMEN IN PIPELINES Qenos quicksteps towards equality Celebrating women in pipelines and gas A diverse approach to innovation Paving the industry’s path to equality PIPELINE AND GAS JOBS Labour hire laws adjusted COMPANY NEWS AMS eyes continued growth Industry coupling offers LNG innovations Wilmot delivers rehab success for AGL APGA EVENTS APGA virtual events still hitting the mark YPF continues to deliver for young pipeliners REGULARS Members and memos AGPA membership Advertisers’ index Features and deadlines

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76 78 82 84 86 88 90 93 94 95 14 96 100 100

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The Australian Pipeliner is audited by the Audited Media Association of Australia. Average net distribution is 2,656 for the period ending September 2019.

The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association’s (APGA) vision is to lead the sustainable growth in pipeline infrastructure for Australasia’s energy. APGA is a non-profit organisation formed to represent the interests of its members involved in: the ownership, operation, maintenance, design, engineering, supply and construction of pipelines, platforms and all other structures used in or in connection with the drilling for, extraction and transmission of hydrocarbons, solids, slurries and similar substances both onshore and offshore. As a single voice representing the collective interests of its members, APGA is dedicated to encouraging the extension and development of the industry.

The Australian Pipeliner is the official journal of the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) and is distributed to members without charge and circulated to interested organisations throughout Australia and overseas. It is also available on subscription. The publishers welcome editorial contributions from interested parties.

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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EXECUTIVE REPORTS

President’s message

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elcome to the Convention edition of The Australian Pipeliner, heralding our 52nd Convention.

Who says pipeliners can’t change? Who would have thought we would have our flagship event virtually this year?

Over the last few years, when the secretariat has sought views and feedback from members on what was valued from the association, networking events consistently appeared very high on what people valued most. Certainly, for me the hardest part of a virtual event is that I miss real time together and catching up with old friends, which is at the heart of our convention.

No doubt this year’s convention will be different, but let’s make the best of it since it is the reality of the world we live in now. As the impact of COVID-19 continues to impact in one form or another, it is amazing how our industry has adapted and kept delivering the critical resource and services we are proud to be part of.

I am encouraged by the continued discussion within the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) and government that gas and pipelines will be an integral part of the recovery to get the economy going again.

With this optimism and future for our industry, it is a good reminder for us all to continue to highlight the important message of how critical gas currently is to the economy and how it will continue to be, as we transition to a low carbon future.

What is not seen by the public is the work and effort by our sector to keep the lights on, industry going and our thought leadership in a changing world. As Steve Davies often says to me, we have a critical role to lobby for our industry and right now we have never been more relevant.

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Building pipelines and flowing gas is key to our country’s economic recovery and I would like to thank members for being active on this and supportive of the secretariat as we strive to gain the right government support for our industry and the jobs we bring.

A key part of the APGA Board’s role is also to oversee the financial position of the association and I am very encouraged by the results for the 2020 financial year. As with all business and organisations, the recovery from the pandemic will be long and challenging, and the board will ensure we continue to focus on the services and support we provide to members.

I must congratulate the secretariat for doing a tremendous job to ensure we have a convention that keeps our members informed of the latest technology and up to date with what is happening in our industry. From when we made the difficult decision to cancel the physical event this year, Virtual Convention Manager Steve Dobbie and the secretariat have worked tirelessly to ensure we have an event that provides members with a high-quality event. Once again, our thanks to Steve Dobbie for agreeing to help the association through this period even as he transitions out of his role with us.

Please stay safe and I certainly look forward to meeting up with everyone virtually during the convention, but more so in person at events around the country once restrictions are sufficiently relaxed.

TONY O’SULLIVAN PRESIDENT The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

APGA Board President Tony O’Sullivan MPC Kinetic Vice President Donna McDowall Quanta Services Australia Treasurer Wendy Oldham SEA Gas Immediate Past President Dave Maloney CNC Project Management Board members Peter Cox Worley Mark Dayman Fyfe Lou Guevara Vacuworx Australia Kevin Lester APA Group Leon Richards McConnell Dowell John Stuart-Robertson HDI Lucas

A complete APGA membership list is printed on pages 96 and 97

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EXECUTIVE REPORTS

Chief Executive Officer’s report

W

elcome to the October edition of The Australian Pipeliner. As with so many things in 2020, our convention edition is a little different this year.

The shift to a virtual convention means there won’t really be an exhibition this year, so the information about our exhibitors in this edition is more important than ever and I encourage you to have a close look.

I am very happy with the program we are delivering for the 2020 Virtual Convention. One good thing to come out of this crazy year is the widespread adoption of video conferencing technology and the association is finding it a valuable tool for knowledge sharing.

From this perspective alone, the Virtual Convention offers our members a great opportunity to see what is going on in the industry, what a range of our leaders think about the current operating environment and our future and to also learn from industry experts on a range of topics covering the breadth of our membership. I am especially looking forward to the Industry Leaders Panel on Day 1, and I hope the virtual delivery of the event means more of you than ever can see the discussion and take part with your questions.

Of course, a great part of our normal event is the social side of things, both through our social program and the interactions that occur across the four days in and around the exhibition halls and conference rooms. Virtual events don’t necessarily lend themselves to this kind of interaction, but we have been running a few networking events and, if you come to them with the right attitude, they are pretty good.

I am confident many of you will come to the Virtual Convention’s social events in pipeliner spirit and we will all have a great time. I am especially looking forward to our fancy dress event this year and hope you all come along and give it a try too. Also be sure to check out the Meeting Hub facility in the conference app between sessions, which we think will be a great way to touch base with other participants during the week.

I know many of you are wondering when APGA will return to face-to-face events. While virtual events are proving great for knowledge sharing and will certainly be a permanent

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fixture in our events program in the future, there’s nothing quite like an APGA dinner!

As you can all appreciate, with the changing circumstances of COVID-19 management around the country and the reluctance of most states to open borders at the moment, it is very difficult to predict when APGA’s event program will start delivering face-to-face events again.

We are committed to holding a Christmas function this year in each city where they are normally held.

Naturally, each function will be held in accordance with the requirements of their location at the time and, of course, we don’t know if anyone will be travelling to any of them.

Looking at our industry and how it has navigated the past six months, I am very proud of the great work that has been done. The gas transmission industry has delivered energy around the country reliably, safely and efficiently throughout this crisis, despite the challenges that have come from lockdowns, restrictions and border closures.

It is a great testament to everyone in this industry that this vital task has been done in the most challenging of circumstances with absolutely no impact on major energy users, the electricity industry or households.

Of course, we have had a lot of attention in the past couple of months with the Federal Government’s focus on a gas-fired recovery, the gas market recommendations from the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission and the talk of government involvement in pipeline projects.

This attention is welcome, as it is a great demonstration of the vital role natural gas plays and the continuing importance of affordable gas for Australia’s economy. I am very conscious that there is a lot of work being done across the country by many APGA members to get new projects covering gas, water and slurry over the line.

This is great news for our industry and our members, but is critical that we work with government to ensure that whatever it does do in the gas market space doesn’t pick winners and interfere with the commercial processes underway around the country.

When we engage with governments, APGA

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

ABN: 29 098 754 324 APGA Secretariat Registered Office: 7 National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 (PO Box 5416, Kingston ACT 2604) T: +61 2 6273 0577 F: +61 2 6273 0588 E: apga@apga.org.au W: www.apga.org.au Chief Executive Officer Steve Davies Manager, Virtual Convention or Virtual Convention Manager Steve Dobbie Communications Manager Karen Polglaze National Policy Manager Andrew Robertson Membership Officer Katy Spence Corporate Service Manager Peter Heffernan Administration and Events Officer Charmaine Ogilvie

is very clear that a stable and enabling environment for investment is critical.

Governments have a big role to play in getting the environment right. Our National Policy Manager’s article in this edition covers some of the issues we are talking to government about in this regard and we will continue to work with all governments to get the settings right to deliver a lot of investment in pipelines in the coming years.

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MEMBERS AND MEMOS

Not quite retired Although he stepped down as the full-time Business Manager for APGA earlier in 2020, Steve Dobbie has yet to commence his retirement as he continues to be actively involved in the association as Virtual Convention Manager.

Steve will hold this role after the Virtual Convention in October, as things are looking a little different this year with COVID-19 necessitating a digital event. Despite the changes, Steve continues to stay connected with APGA members from his new home on the New South Wales coast.

Steve is pictured here in his new office. Behind him is the caricature that was gifted to him at his 10-year anniversary with APGA as well as a framed copy of his farewell article from the July edition of the Pipeliner.

HAWK launches new website The global leader in industrial management and monitoring solutions released a newly designed website, www.hawkmeasurement. com, in August. The website includes brand new features such as a product selection tool, request-a-quote cart, a product configurator, interactive distributor locator and much more.

HAWK CEO Les Richards says the decision to update the website was based on customer feedback and the anticipated company

growth, explaining the recreation of the website coincides with HAWK’s growth as a global strategy and a demonstration of its strategic vision for the future.

The company expects the new website will elevate its brand and market awareness as well as providing easy access to essential information through fresh content, application success stories and customer testimonials.

NOPSEMA announces new chair In August, Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt announced the appointment of Ken Fitzpatrick to Chair of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) Advisory Board.

Mr Fitzpatrick has previously served as CEO of PTTEP Australasia, has held senior roles at Ampolex, Mobil, Nexen and Woodside, and has served as Western Australia’s state chairman of the Australian Petroleum Production and

Exploration Association (APPEA).

He will serve a three-year term in his new position that commenced on 5 September. Mr Pitt says Mr Fitzpatrick was ideal to lead the NOPSEMA Board thanks to his strong stakeholder engagement skills and knowledge of the industry.

Mr Pitt also thanked departing Chair Dr Erica Smyth for her substantial contribution in the role, which she had held since March 2017.

Major hydrogen agreement signed Fortescue Metals Group, Hyundai Motor Company and the CSIRO have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the development of renewable hydrogen.

The MoU outlines areas of cooperation involving the development and future commercialisation of the metal membrane technology (MMT) that has been developed by the CSIRO – supported by a partnership with Fortescue – and would provide the potential for bulk transportation of

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hydrogen through ammonia.

Hyundai will also seek to demonstrate the viability of this technology for renewable hydrogen production and vehicle fuelling in Korea. Fortescue Deputy CEO Julie Shuttleworth says this partnership was important in the pursuit of a low carbon future and builds on the company’s investment in new hydrogen technologies to ensure hydrogen can play a role in supporting low emissions transport.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

MEMBERS AND MEMOS

AGL to acquire Click Energy AGL Energy has entered into an agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Click Energy Group for $15 million. Click is a wholly owned subsidiary of Australia Limited that sells gas and electricity to retail customers in New South Wales and Victoria, along with electricity in South Australia and Queensland.

AGL Managing Director and CEO Brett Redman says the

purchase was another step towards the company’s goal of achieving 4.5 million customer services by 2024, with the acquisition including approximately 215,000 energy services to customers. This addition would increase AGL’s total services provided to almost 4.2 million to homes and business across Australia, building on the strong growth the company already achieved in FY20.

Mick McCormack joins Central Petroleum Former APA Group CEO Mick McCormack has been appointed to the Central Petroleum Board as a Non-Executive Director. After leaving APA in 2019 after nearly 15 years, Mr McCormack says he was happy to now be joining Central as it develops a number of gas projects, including the Amadeus to Moomba Gas Pipeline.

“I am very enthused to be joining the board of Central Petroleum.

Gas has been and will continue to be a lifelong passion of mine; having developed the east coast gas grid, I know the importance of investment in pipelines and of course,

getting more gas to market. There is now a real opportunity around national-building infrastructure projects like the Amadeus to Moomba Gas Pipeline which Central is actively pursuing,” he says.

Central Petroleum Chair Wrix Gasteen adds he is delighted to welcome Mr McCormack to the board and says Central is certain his insight into the Australian domestic energy sector and hands-on experience in developing gas pipelines and gas processing infrastructure across the country will be invaluable to the company.

MVC becomes APGA Member MVC Services is an Australian specialist consultancy providing geospatial and project approvals services for complex infrastructure projects across energy, water and infrastructure sectors in both metropolitan and regional locations across Australia.

Established by innovative infrastructure specialists with decades of experience, MCV prides itself on providing outstanding results for clients and projects of all sizes, great and small. With a pivotal aim of collaborating with clients to identify, define and deliver their projects through tailored solutions and strategies using innovative tools, MVC has joined the APGA members list to continue growing its

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brand awareness and providing industry-leading solutions to its clients.

When opening MVC’s APGA members pack, Approvals Manager Tim Vesey says he saw a photo attached with his own face smiling back at him.

“It was rather humbling to receive the pack and then have your face smiling back at you with the tag line ‘Young pipeliners helping to shape the future of the pipeline industry’,” says Mr Vesey. “I was awarded the APGA YPF Young Achievement Award in 2015, so [the photo] was a great little nod to becoming a member of the APGA.”

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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MEMBERS AND MEMOS

Jemena signs hydrogen supply deal Jemena, Hyundai Australia and Coregas have entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the production and supply of green hydrogen for vehicle fuel.

The MOU will see the production and delivery of hydrogen gas to Hyundai’s Macquarie Park headquarters from early 2021 for use in its hydrogen-powered vehicle refuelling station.

The hydrogen will be generated from solar and wind power through Jemena’s $15 million Western Sydney Green Gas project, which is also testing the storage of hydrogen in the New South Wales natural gas network.

Coregas will provide hydrogen compression installation, pipework and connectors for filling and discharging, as well as hydrogen packaging, transportation and quality control services.

Jemena Managing Director Frank Tudor says the lack of critical refuelling infrastructure had been regularly cited as a handbrake to hydrogen vehicle sales.

“Our agreement with Hyundai and Coregas releases some of that pressure and is an opportunity to demonstrate that renewably generated hydrogen gas can be made directly available to the vehicle and transport sectors,” he says.

“The MOU also signals the wider community benefits of our Western Sydney Green Gas project and demonstrates the value of renewable gas to Australia’s transport industry.”

Coregas Executive General Manager Alan Watkins says the partnership was a step towards Australia becoming a world leader in the hydrogen powered vehicle industry.

“This is the first of many small steps needed to accelerate the use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for transportation in Australia,” he says.

“Coregas looks forward to contributing to the future of clean energy and green transportation in Australia.”

Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles have an official range of more than 650 km and can be refuelled in less than five minutes.

AGIG joins IPLOCA Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) is now a Corresponding Member of the International Pipe Line and Offshore Contractors Association (IPLOCA), which has members in more than 40 countries around the world.

IPLOCA says its mission is to “provide value to members through a forum for retaining and sharing knowledge globally, facilitating business opportunities, and promoting the highest standards in safety, innovation, quality, business ethics, and sustainability throughout the pipe line construction industry”.

IPLOCA’s Corresponding Member list is made up of oil and gas onshore and offshore owners and operators who wish to work with the association and benefit from its technical guidance and briefings, which AGIG is now a part of. AGIG is one of Australia’s largest pipeline operators, with more than 34,000 km of distribution networks around the country, with assets including the Dampier to Bunbury Pipeline (DBP).

Running 1,530 km across Western Australia, the DBP is Australia’s longest natural gas pipeline as well as one of its largest in terms of capacity.

Get ready for the APGA Member Directory 2021 Preparations for the production of the APGA Member Directory 2021 are underway and it will soon be time for members to update their listing.

The Directory is published annually and contains contact information for all members of the association. The printed handbook also features information on the APGA and its secretariat; key details of pipeline regulators and relevant

industry associations; and a valuable reference list of all pipeline infrastructure in Australia, including specifications and licence information.

The 2021 edition will be the 30th incarnation of the Directory and advertising opportunities are still available. Parties interested in exploring these opportunities can contact Business Development Manager Nick Lovering at nlovering@gs-press.com.au

New chair for ARENA Board Federal Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor has announced a new chair and new members to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) Board.

Appointed for a two-year term, ARENA’s new Chair is Justin Punch, an environmental investor with a strong focus on climate and energy, who was previously a partner at Archer Capital.

The other new board members include ANZ Banking Group

Executive Director of Resources, Energy and Infrastructure John Hirjee; Northbridge Consulting Services Founder and Managing Director Anna Matysek; and MXA Consulting Founder and CEO Justin Butcher.

Previous board members Stephanie Unwin and Dougal McOmish have also been reappointed and will serve an additional 12-month term.

Interested in submitting an item to Members and Memos?

Email The Australian Pipeliner Managing Editor David Convery with your pipeline company news at dconvery@gs-press.com.au

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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POLICY

Gas and energy policy

by Andrew Robertson, National Policy Manager, APGA

A modified greenfield exemption from economic regulation for new pipelines built in a competitive environment will incentivise new private sector-led gas pipeline investment.

I

t’s increasingly apparent from media articles about a gas-led economic recovery, and APGA’s own discussions with government, that an immediate uptick in gas infrastructure investment to bring new gas supply to the east coast is a key government priority and one APGA is wholly supportive of.

However, as APGA continues to make clear, the best way to incentivise new investment is for government to focus on providing a stable investment environment and let the industry focus on making it happen. Government policy incentives to encourage investment should therefore apply equally to all new projects commissioned in a competitive market environment and not seek to ‘pick winners’.

There are many options to get new gas supply to the east coast, all of which require coordination between transmission pipelines and upstream producers, and there is no easy way to identify the best projects. This alone is a key reason that these types of investment decisions should be made by active market participants, i.e. those with the most sophisticated and up to date market knowledge and a direct stake in the outcomes.

The critical role of government in providing a stable investment environment, and the risk of policy makers taking a different path, is illustrated by the continuing rollout of gas market reform processes – the most important of which is the gas pipeline regulation Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS). The RIS includes a wide range of policy proposals, some of which – if adopted – could lead to heavier-handed regulation and a consequent loss of market flexibility and less favourable investment climate.

To reduce the risk of such counter-productive outcomes, APGA is working hard to emphasise to policy makers the importance of retaining strong incentives for pipeline infrastructure investment and maintaining the flexibility and speed of the commercial investment process – and avoiding additional government intervention.

A key APGA proposal for helping achieve this is a modified greenfield exemption from economic regulation for new investment made in a competitive environment. This is more important than ever; this month we have seen the latest Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) analysis of pipeline

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Andrew Robertson.

markets and it is clear it is pushing for greater economic regulation of pipelines.

This is not surprising – regulators will always see regulation as an optimal solution. APGA has been working with governments and major gas users alike and have made it clear that increased regulation will only damage the investment environment and will not deliver the increased investment desired.

To support our position, APGA commissioned a report from Synergies Economic Consulting setting out the economic arguments in support of a modified greenfield exemption as well as presenting its key design features. We have provided the report to government as a contribution the ongoing RIS deliberations on this topic.

Key features of APGA’s modified greenfield exemption proposal.

The core feature of APGA’s proposal is a ‘statutory’ greenfield exemption, whereby if a proposed pipeline meets certain eligibility criteria it will receive the exemption. The role of the regulator in this process will be to facilitate the application of the law; it will have no discretion to deny the exemption if the eligibility criteria are met.

Rationale for exemption The application, or threat of application, of economic regulation in the form of price or revenue controls can adversely affect incentives for new pipeline investment by reducing the expected returns from a project and thus increasing project risks. This is untenable for projects delivered in a competitive environment.

Scope of exemption Pipelines with a greenfield exemption will be exempt from all aspects of Part 23 of the NGR (except for posted pricing, capacity and availability reporting), the capacity trading platform and day-ahead auction if the pipeline is not fully contracted and could not become subject to full regulation during the exemption term. A default 15-year period will apply for the exemption – a period that reflects the current greenfield exemption provisions.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

Eligibility criteria It is widely accepted that the Australian market for open access pipelines is workably competitive; as a result, where a new open access pipeline is built, terms and conditions will reflect the outcome of a competitive process and should not be subject to regulatory intervention.

Under APGA’s proposal, the greenfield exemption should be automatically granted to new pipelines that meet the following eligibility criteria: • the pipeline is a new pipeline • the pipeline is an open access pipeline from its commissioning • the pipeline is not vertically integrated with gas production, wholesale or retail businesses, and • the pipeline provides relevant undertakings on pricing to subsequent shippers (i.e. a commitment to offer posted pricing for subsequent non-foundation shippers that is ‘commercially referable’ to foundation contract pricing).

The requirement to provide relevant undertakings on pricing to subsequent or nonfoundation shippers provides much greater protection for these shippers than the current greenfield exemption regime.

Given the overarching assumption that pipelines are developed in a workably competitive environment, there is no need to include a specific eligibility criterion on the competitiveness of the process.

Market power-based greenfield exemption application process It is possible circumstances could arise in the future where a pipeline development opportunity does not fully satisfy the eligibility criteria for a statutory exemption, but for which there is merit in conferring a greenfield exemption. For example, it is foreseeable a project that includes an expansion of existing infrastructure may compete with an entirely greenfield project to bring a major new source of gas to market. In such cases, a separate market power-based greenfield application process will apply.

A copy of the full greenfield exemption report is available on APGA’s website www.apga.org.au

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FFCRC

Hydrogen in high-pressure pipelines

by Nick Kastelein, Future Fuels CRC and GPA Engineering

Hydrogen has emerged as a high-profile ‘future fuel’ being considered by the Future Fuels CRC’s research programs.

H

ydrogen is a simple, clean fuel that has potential to support an increase in the use of renewable energy in Australia’s energy markets. For this reason, development of hydrogen has strong government support, including the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) national hydrogen strategy and in the recently stated ambition of reducing costs below $2/kg – #H2under2.

A significant factor that will affect the uptake of hydrogen is the infrastructure that will be used to store and transport it. Hydrogen provides good energy density compared with batteries and other storage technology, but low energy density compared with other fuels (at least, in its gaseous form). If hydrogen is going to underwrite the most ambitious targets for sustainable, decarbonised energy use, a very large hydrogen inventory will be required.

This problem is solved neatly if we can use existing gas infrastructure. According to Energy Networks Australia (ENA), if Australia’s gas network were filled with hydrogen it could store the equivalent of six billion Tesla Powerwalls1.

As Gas Vision 2050 (prepared by ENA, APGA, GAMAA, and other industry partners) is realised, hydrogen could emerge as a dominant force in the Australian energy mix. As hydrogen use increases, usage of existing infrastructure will immediately be required to accept blending of hydrogen with natural gas.

This is already progressing in Australian lowpressure distribution networks, with two pilot plants planning to inject hydrogen in the imminent future. In the medium- to long-term, there will be a greater volume of hydrogen available. Hydrogen hubs will develop, and pure hydrogen pipelines will be required.

Research to support the use of existing infrastructure in future fuel service is both a high priority and a core competency of the Future Fuels CRC. Hydrogen blending is relatively straightforward in the low-pressure gas distribution infrastructure; however, in the case of high-pressure ring mains and transmission 1

pipelines, there is one prominent issue that requires further research and development.

Hydrogen embrittlement ‘Embrittlement’ is a reduction in material toughness, which means a reduction in the ability of a material to resist cracking. Hydrogen is known to contribute to material cracking, and available evidence suggests it can contribute to every step of the process – crack formation, stable crack growth, rupture (when a crack in a pipe is large enough that the pipe ‘bursts’), rapid crack growth and crack arrest (when the crack stops growing).

Stable crack growth mechanisms include fatigue, which is gradual growth of a crack accumulating from repeated load cycles.

Acceleration of fatigue is a significant effect of hydrogen and could limit the use of pipelines for storage. Using a pipeline for storage means having a ‘pack and deplete’ operation strategy, which involves large cycling of internal pressure.

Currently, the main standard available to design for hydrogen service is ASME B31.12.

Under this standard, the options available for pipeline design are to: design for low stress (keep the ‘design factor’ below 0.5 and lower for high strength steels) or to do extensive material testing (which currently no Australian laboratories are able to do) and to control weld hardness (which is not current industry practice for natural gas pipelines).

Satisfying these would pose significant cost hurdles to using hydrogen in high-pressure pipelines; however, the requirements of ASME B31.12 do not reflect the severity of hydrogen embrittlement but rather uncertainty around the magnitude of its effect.

This uncertainty is due to scarcity of data and the difficulty of testing in a hydrogen environment. The significance of hydrogen’s impact on toughness will depend on the amount of hydrogen that permeates into the pipeline steel and the stress in the steel.

This means the lower the pressure is, the less severe the effect will be. Embrittlement will also

page 7, https://www.energynetworks.com.au/resources/fact-sheets/guide-to-australias-energy-networks/

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

be less severe for lower blend concentrations.

Future Fuels CRC is undertaking a series of research projects that will obtain material data to answer this key question: how much are the material toughness and fatigue life reduced in hydrogen gas service?

In currently approved projects, the University of Queensland will undertake laboratory testing of steels using electrochemical hydrogen charging, while the University of Wollongong is developing a laboratory for gaseous hydrogen charging and work has commenced to scope out full-scale fracture initiation testing of hydrogenfilled pipe, to validate the laboratory-scale results.

All these programs will maximise their value by using a common set of steel samples provided by the pipeline industry, covering a range of steel types and vintages. There is cause to be optimistic that hydrogen embrittlement will be manageable in the transmission sector, and that ASME B31.12 will be found to be overconservative.

There are other mechanisms – such as ‘sour’ raw gas service and cathodic over-protection events – that also cause hydrogen to permeate into steels. Both of these mechanisms cause higher levels of hydrogen (in the steel) than transportation of gaseous hydrogen does but are already effectively managed by pipeline operators and designers.

The pipeline industry can only safely proceed with the introduction of hydrogen in high pressure pipeline systems, however, with more data. The Future Fuels CRC research efforts in this area aim to provide needed evidence to quantify the effect of hydrogen embrittlement.

This will enable industry to reduce conservatism in hydrogen-service design and will reduce barriers for the use of high-pressure pipelines to efficiently transport and store hydrogen in the future.

Hydrogen in Transmission Pipelines will be presented at the APGA Virtual Convention on Wednesday 21 October by Dr Bradley Davis University of Wollongong and Future Fuels CRC. For more information visit www.futurefuelscrc.com

ALL AROUND ONLINE MAGAZINE

BUILDING UP DOWN UNDER Pioneering infrastructures are booming in Australia and New Zealand.

Ambitious transport, supply and disposal projects are already being made a reality. Many new projects are in the planning pipeline. Learn more about innovative traffic and utility tunnelling in Oceania in the latest All Around Online Magazine by Herrenknecht. www.herrenknecht.com/aaom12

TRAINING

Useful PECS tips: Incorporating APGA's PECS into corporate processes

by Chris Harvey, Chair, PECS Committee

O

ver several editions of The Australian Pipeliner we have been introducing readers to the wide range of applications of APGA’s Pipeline Engineer Competency System (PECS). We hope you have found that helpful, but we felt it may be even more useful if we could show you how you can incorporate the PECS into a range of corporate processes using those applications.

To begin with we will do a brief recap on APGA’s PECS.

Competency standards At the core of the PECS is a library of 236 individual competencies in 21 competency areas for onshore pipelines and 57 individual competencies in 12 competency areas for offshore pipelines. The competency standards are in a standardised format, which is simple, logical and intuitive.

Tools The tools are comprised of Excel and Word templates, that facilitate: • assessment of and group individual competency • management of a ‘portfolio’ of competencies.

Resources The resources within the system are comprised of information for both individuals and organisations. They include databases of courses and guidelines for drafting and developing competency standards.

The criteria for obtaining Engineers Australia’s Chartered Professional Engineer credential are based on the APGA PECS competency standards.

Applications of PECS APGA has identified a number of applications of the system: • registration application • individual skills assessment • team competency assessment • individual training plans • team training plans • annual competency reviews • development of course curriculum • proof of meeting job requirements • regulatory approvals matrix • career path plans • clear PECS competency-based

22

• • • •

position descriptions contractor capability statements tailored job applications team position structure project organisation definition.

Incorporating PECS into corporate processes These applications can be combined to form some typical corporate processes that can benefit from a clear understanding of competency. The following are three examples of key processes and how the PECS applications can be employed together to ensure the desired outcomes.

Managing engineering team capability A key process at the heart of most pipeline operating and engineering companies is engineering team competency and capability management. The following applications can be used for this process: • individual skill assessment • PECS competency-based position descriptions • team skills assessment • team and individual training plans • annual competency reviews.

The process begins with the creation of position descriptions that identify all the PECS competencies required for each position in the engineering team.

Undertaking an individual skills assessment follows, which will identify gaps at an individual level. Using the team skills assessment, which incorporates the results of the individual’s skills assessments, then follows this.

The result is that a team leader will have a clear picture of the strengths and weaknesses of the team and the individuals who make up that team and can then base training and development plans at both a team and individual level, and can target training to optimise the outcome within a limited training budget.

The resulting assessment process is repeated regularly and at intervals of no more than a year.

Recruitment Another key related process is recruitment, and applications that are used are: • PECS competency-based The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

position descriptions PECS competency-based job applications • proof of meeting job requirements.

The process begins with creating a job description that includes all the PECS competencies required (as identified above), which can be the basis of job advertisements.

Applications can be required to include the PECS competencies held by candidates.

The position description and job application are brought together to assess whether the applicant meets the requirements of the position description. In addition, there will be a need to confirm that the candidate has actually achieved the competencies claimed and a well-prepared candidate will have a competency portfolio containing their evidence for the competencies claimed.

•

Technical assurance Another key process relates to technical assurance for pipeline projects. Applications that are used are: • project team organisation design • PECS competency-based position descriptions • approvals matrices • contractor/consultant capability statements.

This process begins using the competencies to design a project team where the positions and position descriptions set out what competencies are required in the team and the individual team members.

As part of ensuring key decisions and approvals are undertaken by competent personnel, an approvals matrix is developed where the approvers or decision makers are assigned to the range of key decisions and approvals on the basis of the competencies they hold. The result will be that – should there be any concern about the personnel making those decisions – the leader of the project team will have assurance about the assignments and will be able to demonstrate they are appropriate.

Examples of other processes complementary to these three that can employ the competencies are: • career development • annual performance reviews • engineering team design • contractor selection

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FOR CORROSION PREVENTION

A MEMBER OF WINN & COALES INTERNATIONAL

Distinguished event goes digital In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, APGA’s much-loved Annual Convention and Exhibition will take place as a virtual event in 2020. The leading APGA event of the year – and one of the most significant events for the pipeline and gas industry calendar – may be changing its delivery format, but attendees can rest assured it will remain as world-class as ever.

T

aking place from Monday 19 October to Friday 23 October, the APGA Virtual Convention and Exhibition will once again host an unbeatable schedule with a leading business program, an exhibitor showcase and, of course, the unmissable social events, all with a virtual twist.

With the coronavirus pandemic changing APGA’s yearly calendar, which would usually have upwards of 30 events spanned across 12 months, the association has continued to adapt and evolve to bring its busy calendar into members’ hands through online delivery. After hosting many successful webinars, interview sessions and social events over the past few months, there is no doubt this year’s virtual annual convention will go above and beyond industry expectations.

The convention program will be slimmer than usual but many key events remain, with APGA ensuring some will shine in the new virtual format.

APGA President Tony O'Sullivan at the 2019 Annual Dinner in Adelaide.

insights into the current and future state of the pipeline and gas industry.

Business program The annual convention will see a full business program take place with this year’s theme of New Decade: New Perspective. The business sessions will feature presentations focusing on the current and emerging challenges the industry faces and will take a specific look at new applications for pipelines and future fuels, pipeline operations and construction, safety, environment, competency and corporate culture.

There will also be an Industry Leaders Panel where attendees will hear from some of the foremost movers and shakers in the industry who will give their views and opinions on current hot topics as well as providing their

Exhibitors and social events Despite the virtual platform, exhibitors will still have the opportunity to showcase their products and services via a dedicated section of the online convention platform, which will include direct links to a wealth of information for attendees to take in.

However, the opportunity for exhibitors and attendees to network doesn’t end there!

This year’s conference will see two exciting social events take place, the first being the unmissable Fancy Dress. The emphasis will be on wigs, caps, hats and masks and, with the successful virtual networking

events run this year already setting a high-quality precedent, it is sure to be a night to remember.

On the final day of the convention, the APGA Annual Awards will take place with award recipients announced, followed by the second virtual networking event, the Friday Night Happy Hour.

APGA looks forward to sharing these new experiences with familiar faces at the 2020 APGA Virtual Convention in what has been a very unfamiliar year.

APGA would particularly like to thank all of the event sponsors who have committed so generously to the 2020 Virtual Convention. A list of these sponsors can be found on the opposite page.

To register and for more information visit conferenceco.eventsair.com/apga-2020

24

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

APGA Virtual Convention and Exhibition sponsors The generous support of the Australian pipeline industry stakeholders for the industry's premier event has carried through into the virtual sphere. APGA would like to thank and publicly acknowledge all the 2020 sponsors for their greatly appreciated support of this year's event.

HOST SPONSORS

NETWORKING EVENT SPONSORS Denso

SEA Gas

Jemena

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

MPC Kinetic 25

2020 APGA virtual exhibitors The following companies will be exhibiting at the APGA Virtual Convention and Exhibition. Be sure to jump onto the APGA Convention website to find more information about the products and services on offer from these industry leading businesses..

COMPANY

COMPANY

Aaro Group Pty Ltd

Polyfabrics Australasia

Aegis

Powered

Anode Engineering

Pro Pipe Services P/L

Anti Corrosion Technology

Prochem Pipeline Products Pty Ltd

ASME Projects

PSSS/CST Hire

AtlasGas Pty Ltd

Qenos Pty Ltd

Baker Hughes

ROSEN Australia Pty Ltd

Bao Australia Pty Ltd

Shipman King Pty Ltd

Brooks Hire Service Pty Ltd

Simply AUT

Brownline Australia Pty Ltd

Solar Turbines Australia

Control Equipment Pty Ltd

STATS Group

Corrosion Control Engineering

System Control Engineering

Delnorth Group Pty Ltd

TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia Pty Ltd

Denso (Australia) Pty Ltd

Truck Hire Australia

Energy Infrastructure Management P/L

Vacuworx Pty Ltd

Future Fuels CRC

Vermeer Equipment Holdings

GF Piping Systems

Viega Pty Ltd

Great Southern Press

Vinidex

HDI Lucas

Worldwide Machinery

Hills Rockslinger

ROSEN Australia Pty Ltd

Iplex Pipelines Aust Pty Ltd

Solar Turbines Australia

LocusView

STATS Group

McConnell Dowell

System Control Engineering

Mipela GeoSolutions

Truck Hire Australia Pty Ltd

MPC Kinetic

Vacuworx

NDT/Halfwave

Vermeer Equipment Holdings Pty Ltd

PAC

Vinidex

Pipe Tek

Vital Chemical + Vital Environment + QUB

PipeServ

Worldwide Machinery Pipeline Division

26

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

APGA 2020 Virtual Convention DAY 1 - 19 OCTOBER Sponsors – APA Group and Bao Steel Chair: Steve Davies, Chief Executive Officer, APGA 1.00 pm

Welcoming Address Tony O’Sullivan, President, APGA and Chief Operating Officer – Construction, MPC Kinetic

1.25 pm

Chief Executive Officer’s Report Steve Davies, Chief Executive Officer, APGA 10-minute break

1.55 pm

Industry Leaders’ Perspectives A panel of industry leaders providing their insights into the current and future state of the pipeline and gas industries

2.45 pm

From Transactional to Collaborative Multi-Organisational Relationships Gretchen Gagel, Managing Director and Evelyn Jonkman, Senior Consultant, Conversant Asia Pacific

DAY 2 - 20 OCTOBER Sponsors – CNC Project Management and Baker Hughes Chair: Donna McDowall, Vice President, Corporate Development and Strategy, Quanta Services Australia and Vice President, APGA 1.00 pm

Gas Forecasts for Australia Graeme Bethune, Managing Director, EnergyQuest

1.25 pm

Electricity Forecasts and the Implications for the East Coast Gas Market Michael Symes, Senior Consultant and Alan Smart, Principal, ACIL Allen Consulting 10-minute break

1.55 pm

Moving the Midstream Boundary: Opportunities and Challenges for Pipeliners in the New Decade Justin Anderson, Project Manager – NGP Operational Improvement Team, Jemena

2.20 pm

Research Driving New Opportunities David Norman, Chief Executive Officer, Future Fuels CRC

5.30 pm

Fancy Dress – Theme of Hats, Caps, Masks and Wigs Sponsors – SEA Gas and Denso

DAY 3 - 21 OCTOBER Sponsors – GPA Engineering and ITI International Chair: Tony O’Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, Construction, MOC Kinetic and President, APGA 1.00 pm

Natural Gas Hydrogen Mixtures in Gas Turbines Terry Tarver, High Hydrogen NPI Program Manager, Solar Turbines

1.25 pm

Hydrogen in Transmission Pipelines Dr Bradley Davis, Post-Doctoral Fellow, University of Wollongong/FFCRC

1.50 pm

Policy to Deliver Next Generation Gaseous Fuels Drew Pearman, Manager Policy and Government Relations, AGIG 10-minute break

2.20 pm

Improved Subsea Span Assessment for Marine Growth Wacek Lipski, General Manager – Power and Pipelines, Tasmanian Gas Pipeline Pty Ltd

2.45 pm

A Material Verification Process in FFP Assessments and MAOP Reconfirmation Jason Edwards, Project Manager, Region World-Wide, ROSEN Germany

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

27

DAY 4 - 22 OCTOBER Sponsors – McConnell Dowell and Peter Norman Personnel Chair: Ryan Phipps, Transmission Operations Manager, First Gas and Chair, APGA Pipeline Operators Group (POG) 1.00 pm POG

Reliability, Risk and Maintenance Innovation - How Recent AS 2885 code Changes Have Enabled APA to Implement World Class Maintenance Best Practices Claire Elkin, Facilities Engineering Manager, APA Group

1.25 pm POG

NGP: Operational Achievements and Challenges Mike Peoples, Gas Engineering Manager, Jemena

1.50 pm POG

Hydrogen – The Standards Challenge Josh Wickham, Lead Mechanical Engineer, GPA Engineering and James Czornohalan, Principal Pipeline Engineer, Epic Energy SA 10-minute break

2.20 pm

Challenges of Returning Old Pipelines to Service: A case study Soheil Taherian, Pipelines Manager – East, OSD Pipelines – A Division of LogiCamms

2.45 pm

Looking Over the Horizon from 2020 Phil Larson, Business Development Manager, Georgiou Group

DAY 4 - 23 OCTOBER Sponsors – Solar Turbines and Tremco Pipeline Equipment Chair: Steve Davies, Chief Executive Officer, APGA 2.00 pm

Towards Better Diversity Leon Richards, Group Technical Director- Pipelines, McConnell Dowell Corporation Limited

2.25 pm

Acting on Lessons Learned from Major Infrastructure Upgrades Dr Carol Bond, Lecturer in Management and Human Resources Management, RMIT University/ Future Fuels CRC

2.50 pm

Digital Technology for Capital Construction Andrew Foley, General Manager, Aust & NZ, and Shahar Levi, CEO, LocusView 10-minute break

3.15 pm

Atlas Pipeline Project John Walsh, Managing Director, Spiecapag Australia

3.40 pm

Northern Interceptor Pipeline Project John Stuart-Robertson, Executive General Manager, HDI Lucas

4.00 pm

Presentation of APGA Annual Awards

4.30 pm

Final Convention Happy Hour Sponsors – MPC Kinetic and Jemena

28

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

The industry's leading media brand since 1969 The challenges of 2020 haven't slowed down the Pipeliner team, with an experienced and passionate business development team working double time throughout the pandemic to deliver great marketing results.

G

reat Southern Press (GSP), has been producing publications for the Australian pipeline industry for decades, and maintains its position as a leader in the space.

The GSP and Pipeliner team have spent 2020 focused on developing an improved product offering that capitalises on the expertise of the in-house team.

New and familiar faces The key to great service is a highly skilled team with an innate understanding of the pipeline industry. With the recruitment of a new face, and the return of a familiar one, GSP's continues to build on this in-house industry knowledge.

Michael Usic joined Great Southern Press as a Sales Representative in January and could never have expected he would hardly be stepping into the office all year. Due to the ongoing pandemic, Michael finds himself making business calls from home, where he is quickly building the formations for long-lasting client relationships.

With a passion for helping clients achieve their best outcomes, Michael is looking forward to in-person events returning where he will be able to get to know clients better over some welldeserved drinks, put faces to names and continue to learn about the industry.

Another addition to the business development team is Lyndsie Clark, who returned to GSP in December last year as a Sales Contractor.

Already well known throughout the industry, Lyndsie has enjoyed catching up with old and new pipeliners and seeing how their businesses have grown over the years, along with discussing how GSP can continue to help them flourish in the ever-changing climate.

The new team is led by Business Development Manager Nick Lovering, who recently celebrated four years at GSP. Across that time, Nick has

been thoroughly involved in both the editorial and business development departments, where he continues to prioritise client needs to always provide a desired end-product.

With the challenges brought on by COVID-19, Nick says Lyndsie's experience and Michael's enthusiasm have both been beneficial.

"Lyndsie has more than 10 years under her belt at GSP, so her coming back as a contractor has been amazing,” he says.

“She has such a great knowledge of our business, and even better connections with many of our clients – especially in the pipeline sector – who have seen her grow up over the years.

"In contrast, seeing Michael's enthusiasm for a new industry has been exciting and he has already established relationships with our clients resulting in marketing partnerships”.

Industry-leading events In addition to its publications, GSP also offers specialty pipeline and infrastructure events at home and abroad. Taking place next year is the annual Pipeline Pigging and Integrity Maintenance (PPIM) Conference and Exhibition, No-Dig Down Under (NDDU) and the Technology for Future and Ageing Pipelines (TFAP).

PPIM is the industry’s only forum devoted exclusively to pigging for maintenance and inspection, held in Houston, Texas each February. Organised in conjunction with Clarion Technical Conferences, the 33rd edition of the event is scheduled to take place on 22-26 February 2021.

Taking place across the waters is TFAP, planned to take place in Gent, Belgium on the 19-21 October 2021. The last TFAP event was held in 2018, with the upcoming edition expected to see industry leaders from around the globe gather to discuss industry

trends, current challenges and expectations for the future.

Back on Australian soil will be NDDU 2021, the southern hemisphere’s only large-scale conference and exhibition dedicated to trenchless technology. Next year’s event is set to be held at the International Convention Centre Sydney from 5-8 October and is organised in partnership with the Australian Society for Trenchless Technology (ASTT).

These events are scheduled to go ahead in person on their respective dates; however, as the COVID-19 situation progresses, GSP ensures it will keep attendees, sponsors and exhibitors updated on any necessary changes.

For more information visit www.gs-press.com.au The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

29

ASME steps forward with new partnership ASME Projects has entered a Channel Partnership with TD Williamson that will see the company perform a series of contracted works throughout Australasia – primarily consisting of hot-tapping and plugging services – in association with the US giant.

A

SME Projects specialises in the management and delivery of asset construction and maintenance, providing fully integrated end-to-end engineering services to clients around Australasia. Its skilled and experienced team has the capability to deliver projects in remote locations and has a sizeable network of top-quality subcontractors who provide additional technical resources.

ASME’s principle activities include engineering services covering new facilities, refurbishments and extensions in the oil and gas, water, power and mining sectors, having undertaken projects such as production facilities, new infrastructure and equipment installations. Maintenance, repairs, overhauls, fabrication and shutdowns are all also well within the company’s skillset owed to its large number of skilled personnel on hand.

ASME’s work in the field is supported by its two 1,000 m2 workshops in Brisbane and Melbourne, where it provides its own fabrication and machining works including the inhouse completion of all manufacturing stages.

These workshops ensure high-quality results for clients and allows for direct tracking of critical path items for each project.

ASME provides a complete project service, from conception through to completion, with the expertise across both small and large scale projects ensuring the project scope and deliverables are understood and implemented to suit each client’s requirements.

The company’s highly skilled resources, coupled with its industry experience, means it can dovetail seamlessly into a client’s projects, allowing project managers to keep the works running continuously and without any major impacts on timelines.

Channel Partnership ASME and TD Williamson (TDW) officially entered its Channel Partnership in March 2020. Headquartered in the US, TDW has been delivering innovative solutions to the oil and gas industry for more than

The ASME and TDW partnership has already been contracted by Downer to complete works on Ausnet Services’ gas network.

100 years, with a global portfolio of products and services.

The partnership will allow both companies to develop the best solutions for clients in the most optimal way, combining multi-brand solutions with local equipment and resources.

Already taking advantage of this new agreement, Downer has contracted the partnership to carry out a series of works on AusNet Services’ gas network in metropolitan Melbourne.

ASME will perform all aspects of the work over the initial three year contract term, which will consist mainly of hot-tapping and plugging services. The company will also undertake other projects under the agreement with TDW, both domestically and further out in the Australasian region.

ASME has experienced and dedicated engineers, project managers, technicians at its disposal on all projects to ensure ultimate client satisfaction at the conclusion of all works.

For more information visit www.asmeprojects.com.au

30

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

ASME’s experienced and dedicated engineers are completing project works in Melbourne with the help of products and services from TDW.

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

A global pipeline of experience With more than 45 years of industry experience gained across the globe by the Pro Pipe Services team, the company says it can offer all the necessary equipment and expertise to handle a full range of pipeline projects, using all types of pipes and products.

B

y providing professional support and ancillary services to the industry, Pro Pipe Services has grown into a leader in pressurised pipeline equipment and services.

Although established in 2017, the company’s tight knit team have all individually been in the industry for decades.

In fact, Pro Pipe Services Owners and Directors Joe Buttigieg and Dean Muscat have over 45 years of experience in the gas and oil pipeline industry.

Starting as an apprentice fitter for gas and fuel back in 1989, Mr Buttigieg has held several key positions, as a master technician, service centre manager, trainer and global technical services manager.

Conversly, Mr Muscat joined the pipeline industry in 2006 as a field technician and was quickly promoted to master technician status. Mr Muscat was then again promoted to further management positions and worked as a subject matter expert for a global technical services group.

Having worked in North America, Europe and Asia, both Mr Buttigieg and Mr Muscat have gained extensive global experience, completing projects for companies such as Woodside, Santos, Exxon Mobil, APA and Jemena to name a few.

The company’s field technicians also have years of mechanical experience behind them after all working predominately in gas distribution systems as well as performing mechanical fitting operations across several industries.

Through this experience, Pro Pipe Services and its dedicated team can now consistently deliver safe and reliable solutions for onshore and offshore applications as well as 24/7 emergency services whenever required.

Pro Pipe Services prides itself on always delivering top-quality service both on time and on budget, while also always finding the most efficient way to do the job and maintaining the highest level of safety requirements – one of Pro Pipe Services top priorities.

Pro Pipe Services uses its hot tapping and line isolation equipment on a project site.

Hot tapping and line isolation As specialists in hot tapping and line isolating, isolation to take place without disrupting services. The company’s professional, highly skilled technicians can complete pipeline repairs and maintenance with industry-leading expertise, in addition to offering pipe cutting services that allow for diverting, moving or replacing pipelines for maximum efficiency.

“Through our solutions partners, Pro Pipe Services offers engineering and welding services to the industry. We have the equipment and expertise to handle a full range of pipeline projects on all types of pipe and product, including but not limited to steel, polyethylene, cast iron and PVC," the company says.

Depending on the project at hand, Pro Pipe Services uses varying equipment and technologies from industry-leading manufacturers.

Pro Pipe Services also offers full and comprehensive training covering all aspects of hot tapping and line isolation with a strong focus on safety and compliance.

“This training can be held at our premises in Tullamarine or can be performed at our customers location, either in the field or at the customers workshop,” says Mr Buttigieg.

Based in Victoria, Pro Pipe Services offers it services all across the country as well as regions in Asia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

For more information visit www.propipeservices.com The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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Investigating pipeline corrosion management and prevention technologies

by Alan Bryson, Principal Corrosion and Integrity Specialist, Corrosion Control Engineering

This paper provides an overview of recent major research and development activities from the Energy Pipeline Cooperative Research Centre relating to the technologies and materials for managing and protecting ageing pipelines in Australia, delivered from the perspective of a lead industry adviser.

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n late 2009, the Energy Pipelines Cooperative Research Centre (EPCRC) was established for the purposes of providing research and education to support and benefit the energy pipelines industry in Australia. It is a user-led CRC with its industry participants represented by the APGA Research and Standards Committee (APGA-RSC). The research participants were the University of Adelaide, the University of Wollongong, Deakin University and RMIT University.

The CRC was supported by a combined $27.480 million from the Commonwealth and industry as well as a $50 million in kind contribution from the universities and the Australian pipeline industry. This funding was spread over the 10-year life span of the EPCRC. The four research programs of the EPCRC were Materials; Coatings and Corrosion; Design and Construction; and Public Safety and Security of Supply.

The research program primarily focusing on pipeline corrosion mitigation was research program 2 (RP2), extending the life of new and existing pipelines which focused primarily on life prediction, cathodic protection, performance of pipeline coatings and stress corrosion cracking (SCC).

Key projects undertaken by RP2 include: Quantifying corrosion rates because of short duration anodic transients as experienced from DC stray current traction systems and telluric currents This research project aimed to systematically categorise and quantify the level and nature of damage as a result of cathodic protection excursions, which may occur by the various modes of stray current, traction and telluric influences that can shift the pipeline potential significantly positive of the desired -850 mV CSE (protected) level for periods that may be long or short [3]. As a result of this research, the cathodic protection criteria for

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Adobe Stock © Eduard Isakov

short duration excursions in AS 2832.1 was modified.

Assessing cathodic shielding under disbonded coatings One of the greatest issues with nominally cathodically protected pipelines is shielding of cathodic protection by coatings that have disbonded. This issue has become more prevalent as pipelines have aged and coatings have deteriorated.

A greater understanding of the impact on corrosion of these coatings and the susceptibility of different coatings to disbond and shield have enabled industry to focus asset management programs on the most ‘at risk’ pipeline sections.

Assessing coating performance, particularly field joint coatings The notions of long-term durability and mitigation of pipeline corrosion were of critical importance and the subject of research in this project. The impact of poor joint coatings often culminates in corrosion, and the The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

mitigation of corrosion requires attention to corrosion rate, type and protection (via cathodic protection systems).

Overall, corrosion is an extremely costly and significant threat to the integrity of pipelines and potentially to the safety of the public. The failure of joint coatings is one of the major concerns in corrosion protection of pipelines.

Additionally, an area that also received specific attention in this project was the coating performance and possible deterioration during the pre-commissioning hydrotesting.

Development of real-time corrosion monitoring sensors This project aimed to develop, evaluate and practically apply a pipeline condition monitoring (PCM) system by installing suitably designed sensors on semi-field testing pipeline and on real life energy pipeline sections, in particular, on strategic and ‘worst-case scenario’ pipeline sections between cathodic protection units (CPUs), non-piggable pipeline and other high risk pipeline sites.

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

Pipeline life prediction and modelling and decision-based systems The aim of this project was to develop a system to benefit the industry by transforming the way pipeline asset management is undertaken by offering a more reliable prediction of pipeline degradation due to corrosion and coating durability, and hence service life, together with processes for integration of the predictive models into owner organisations’ asset management systems.

A predictive tool (based on empirical and deterministic modelling) may be used for life prediction, and for intervention planning and strategies for altering deterioration rates or remedial treatments.

Benchmarking Australian stress corrosion cracking (SCC) The SCC crack morphology in the Australian pipelines is known to be different to that reported for SCC occurring elsewhere in the world, rendering overseas SCC crack growth models potentially unsuitable for Australian conditions. The characterisation study allowed existing SCC models, both local or international, to be refined and be applicable to Australian conditions.

The tomography, mechanics and interaction of inclined SCC Previous work suggested a cause for the complex stress corrosion crack paths found on Australian pipelines could be due to local metallurgical conditions, particularly crystal orientation (texture). Additionally, the reasons why nominally identical adjacent pipes display different susceptibilities to SCC have not been explained.

The objective of this project was to increase the understanding of the role of pipe microstructure, chemical composition and pipe metallurgy on the SCC crack path in an Australian pipeline. Research was also undertaken to relate manufacturing processes to microstructures with a lower SCC susceptibility in a quantifiable manner, such that it will be possible to determine if modern pipes can offer increased SCC resistance if the coating fails.

Assessing pipeline and coating condition of pipelines installed using horizontal directional drilling Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is becoming a widely used method of pipeline installation. This project explored the improvement of existing methods of assessment of the coating of HDD installed pipelines. This resulted in the development of a new method based on the measurement of local

Adobe Stock © Corlaffra

electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) along an HDD pipeline that is able to estimate not only the area, but also the location of coating damage, before and after HDD pipeline construction.

Research was also undertaken to develop a standardised test method for assessing the expected gouge resistance performance of coatings that are used on pipelines installed via the HDD method, thereby allowing industry to rank the coatings performance. As a result, a new test methodology and test rig was developed that is now available for use at the National Facility for Pipeline Coating Assessment (NFPCA).

Establishment of the NFPCA The NFPCA is unique in Australia and is essential for building up a capability for pipeline coating selection, research and development.

The NFPCA performs standard and customdesigned pipeline coating testing to fulfil the needs of the Australian energy pipeline industry.

The further enhancement of the NFPCA was achieved by achieving NATA accreditation, by extending its research capabilities in coating flexibility assessment and in cathodic disbondment testing, and by meeting pipeline coating application and field-testing need. The EPCRC concluded its term in June 2019; however, research reports are available in its database for industry to search and use.

Future research and development activities On 1 June 2018, the Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation Senator the Hon Zed Seselja announced the Federal The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

Government’s CRC program will be co-funding Future Fuels CRC (FFCRC) with $26.25 million over its proposed seven-year research program. The combined investment from the Commonwealth, Australia’s Energy Industry and universities (cash and in-kind support) will total more than $90 million over the life of the program.

The three key program areas for the FFCRC are: • Research Program 1: Future Fuel Technologies, Systems and Markets • Research Program 2: Social Acceptance, Public Safety & Security of Supply • Research Program 3: Network Lifecycle Management The work of the FFCRC will support Australia’s energy infrastructure to equip for new emerging fuels and technologies.

Acknowledgments Much of the material in this paper has been sourced from the EPCRC, supported through the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program with funding and in-kind support from the APGA RSC and the Victorian Electrolysis Committee Resource Manual.

Thank you to Mike Tan of Deakin University, the EPCRC for permission to use information from their website and the Victorian Electrolysis Committee and Energy Safe Victoria for permission to use material from the VEC resource manual.

For more information visit www.cceng.com.au

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Braving higher forces Through its expertise in pipeline integrity, ROSEN Group used a combination of multiple technologies to save a subsea pipeline damaged by the strong forces of nature.

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n some cases, pipeline operators cannot consider the weather as a variable when building a new pipeline or what possible impact it can have on existing assets, especially ones that lie hundreds of metres below sea level.

In this particular case, a cyclone disrupted the construction plans of a subsea pipeline, causing unforeseeable damage. Consequently, the pipeline required inspection to guarantee the integrity and safety of the asset.

Keeping failure at bay A pipeline operator was in the process of installing a corrosion-resistant alloy (CRA) and carbon steel (CS) pipeline in the southern sea.

During the construction stage, a cyclone crossed the plans of the operator and brought construction to a stop.

When work resumed after the tropical

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cyclone, a close examination of the pipeline showed seawater had leaked inside the pipe because the sealing of the pipe plug was lost, resulting in severe damage to the inside pipe wall. When the operator withdrew a spool out from the subsea environment, the findings were substantial: severe metal loss had occurred on the layer of the CRA, posing a great threat to the pipeline’s integrity.

The operator needed to evaluate the general metal loss in the CRA via an inline inspection (ILI), so ROSEN was contracted to carry out the inspection of the 18 inch (457 mm) pipeline with a length of 5.9 km. Another factor to be considered was that, in the future, the pipeline would transport products containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a colorless hybrid gas that is highly toxic, corrosive and explosive when mixed with air.

Hence, precautions were in order and it was necessary to detect even the smallest defects in The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

the pipeline as the operator needed to guarantee the CRA would resist the product.

Guiding the way The solution ROSEN offered combines the evaluation of two different ILI inspection data sets. ROSEN’s technicians used a combination of its IEC (Internal Eddy Current) and MFL-A (Axial Magnetic Flux Leakage) technologies during this inspection. Although MFL-A has stood the test of time, and magnetisation levels can be very high – especially in offshore pipelines with high wall thickness – supporting the technology with IEC guarantees the best results.

ROSEN can merge different inspection technologies on one ILI inspection tool, making only one inspection necessary, which significantly reduces involved risks and efforts. Together the two technologies MFL-A and IEC detect:

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

IEC technology guarantees high-quality results in pipelines with high wall thickness.

The ILI delivered a comprehensive picture of the pipeline's status concerning all kinds of anomalies.

•

internal corrosion in heavy wall pipelines • general thinning and pitting corrosions • closely adjacent features ROSEN carried out the ILI during the construction phase of the subsea pipeline before it was put into production, using water to move the tool through the pipeline. In total, the onsite team ran four tools through the subsea asset – two for cleaning, one IEC and one MFL-A tool.

That means that prior to the ILI, the pipeline was sufficiently cleaned with a foam pig and an 18 inch (457 mm) multi-bolt cleaning pig with

guiding disc, sealing disc and gauge plate fit for short-distance lines. Cleaning the pipeline beforehand helped avoid product contamination upon initial start-up of the asset, while two tools equipped with the IEC and MFL-A technologies were individually launched afterwards.

The performance of the tools used is not influenced by the wall thickness of the pipeline, meaning they still collect high-resolution data irrespective of how thick the pipeline walls are.

The ILI delivered a comprehensive picture of the pipeline’s status concerning all kinds of anomalies, such as internal and external corrosion or geometry defects. In this case, ROSEN technicians and data analysts found severe anomalies in the inspected pipeline.

Two of the features were more than 7 mm deep, with the CRA only being 3 mm and the CS only 15 mm thick. With a total wall thickness of 18 mm, this means some features were almost halfway through the pipe wall.

After detecting the features, the operator

now plans to replace the spool containing severe metal loss. For the re-inspection of the line in the upcoming year, the combination of IEC and MFL-A technologies will again be applied, ensuring the pipeline will operate efficiently and safely.

The big picture Ensuring the integrity of this subsea pipeline prior to its commissioning not only allows for optimal operation and likely an extended lifetime but also guarantees its safety. Taking a comprehensive look at this line, especially after having faced the force of nature, means not just sending a pig through the line but also taking goals, operational needs and environmental circumstances into consideration.

All elements of this solution – the cleaning, the metal loss and geometry inspections and the future inspection – have their purpose, both to ensure the success of the inspection and to provide a solid foundation for this pipeline’s future lifetime.

For more information visit www.rosen-group.com The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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STATS grows with Santos STATS Group has been awarded a significant pipeline isolation services contract by leading independent Asia-Pacific oil and gas producer Santos.

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antos has one of the largest exploration and production acreages in Australia as well as extensive associated infrastructure, and is a company committed to supply homes, business and major industries with essential oil and gas needs throughout Australia and Asia.

Meanwhile, STATS Group has positioned itself as a market leader in the supply of pressured pipeline isolation, hot tapping and plugging services to the global oil, gas and petrochemical industries.

With its patented isolation tools that provide leak-tight double block and bleed isolation, safe and efficient maintenance and repair of pipeline infrastructure is assured, as well as a company-wide focus on reducing system downtime, minimising environmental impact and increasing worksite safety, STATS Group says its excited to take on Santos’ new contact.

BISEP DS provides leak-tight isolation while production is maintained through an integrated bypass.

Long-term agreement The long-term call-off contract covers all Santos assets in Queensland and South Australia, including pipelines and facilities in the Cooper Basin, Port Bonython and the GLNG Upstream and Downstream operations.

Process piping and pipeline isolation is a key requirement for safe and efficient maintenance, modification and repair of oil, gas and petrochemical facilities, with STATS Group’s extensive range of services and equipment allowing for temporary isolation and intervention to be undertaken safely and efficiently on piggable and unpiggable pipelines or pipework systems.

STATS Group’s Asia Pacific Regional Manager Gareth Campbell says the landmark contract award allows STATS to grow its Australian business, and it is delighted to receive the opportunity from Santos to showcase its technologies.

“This lays the foundation for further expansion of STATS Group to serve the Australian energy industry and we have attracted a good deal of interest in our advanced

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Dual BISEP DS providing double block and bleed isolation on a 20 inch (508 mm) pipeline.

technologies from potential clients across the extensive gas transmission sector,” he says.

“With revenues in Australia growing by up to 30 per cent year on year, we are in a strong position to build on our reputation of on time delivery and client responsiveness.”

STATS Group says with appropriate material selection and testing, pipeline isolation and line

stopping can be undertaken in any pipeline medium such as steam, hydrocarbon and gases.

The company’s extensive global track record of providing temporary pipeline isolation of onshore, topsides and subsea pipelines in sizes from 0.75-54 inches (19-1372 mm), provides significant global experience that the new contract will continue to add to.

About STATS Group STATS Group provides specialist engineering services for the maintenance, integrity and repair of oil, gas a petrochemical installations and infrastructure.

STATS has gained an excellent reputation for providing a responsive, client-centred approach combined with expertise and innovative products which enhance safety and environmental performance, reduce system or plant downtime, improve asset performance, and support decommissioning and abandonment. For more information visit www.statsgroup.com The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

Two ST220XR Crawler Carriers onsite in tough terrain.

An increase in SUPERIORity Superior Manufacturing has expanded its broad range of equipment and continues to explore new opportunities to enhance its products. The company’s new lines and machinery are set to meet and exceed the increasing demands of pipeliners who are taking their work to the next level.

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t’s no secret that having the right machine to complete pipeline work is essential in the pipeline construction industry. To exceed customer demands for productive equipment that is highly customisable, efficient and safe, Superior Manufacturing has made several improvements to its existing line-up of machinery.

Its increased manufacturing proficiencies include the new family of Superior crawler carriers and Superior’s redesigned line of padding machines. Superior’s crawler carriers feature changeable steel and rubber undercarriages, expandable cabins and swappable beds.

Customers have the ability to fully customise beds to fit project needs, including rock and material dump bed, sand blasting deck, welding deck, heavy-duty flat bed with dump capabilities and a personnel carrier coming soon.

The family of crawler carriers have load capacities ranging from 15,000 lbs (6,800 kg) to 30,000 lbs (13,600 kg), a CAT C-7.1 engine, travel speed of 5.6 miles/h (8 km/h) and an available model with rotating cab that

pivots over the centre bearing. In addition to Superior’s redesigned line of crawler carriers, the manufacturer has also made several enhancements to its line of padding machines to maximise safety, productivity and ease of operation and transport.

The upgraded design features a moveable cabin for increased visibility and requires no tear down or setup, which makes the machine ready to ramp-up as soon as it arrives on site.

Other enhancements include a reversible conveyor, three cameras on the machine to monitor the off-side and loading material and an upgraded undercarriage for more stability.

Superior continues to invest in ongoing

enhancements of all its products. The company is excited to release a line of reengineered pipelayers in the upcoming year, while continuing ongoing product improvements like adding pneumatic mandrel availability to be used with its bending machines.

Superior is committed to supplying the best, most productive equipment available. This means continuing to improve its Superior machines by investing in future upgrades to manufacture the preeminent pipeline equipment in the industry.

Superior is here to find clients the perfect machines for the job and offer an exceptional experience along the way.

About Superior Manufacturing Superior Manufacturing fabricates a wide range of specialty pipeline equipment. Between its two manufacturing facilities; one in America: Houston, TX, and one in Europe: Busseto, Italy, the company manufactures pipelayers, crawler carriers, padding machines, pipe bending machines, mandrels, line-up clamps, pipe facing machines, bending sets, padding machines, hydraulic conversion systems and more. For more information visit superiormftg.com The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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Superior Manufacturing pipelayers lined up in Onslow, Western Australia.

Casting a Worldwide net Worldwide Machinery provides heavy duty construction and pipeline equipment to suit even the toughest conditions. The company’s extensive range and global presence make it an easy choice for businesses looking for dependable machines and reliable service for upcoming projects.

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ipeline projects in the southern hemisphere can be some of the most challenging in the world. The projects tend to be more remote, have extreme weather conditions and securing the necessary equipment can be as big of a challenge as the job itself.

Worldwide Machinery partners with contractors to make sure they have the productive equipment they need for their job.

Accordingly, the company has a track record of supplying quality heavy earthmoving and pipeline equipment across the globe, including Australia, offering new and used equipment for sale, lease and long-term rental.

For 30 years, Worldwide has distributed innovative pipeline equipment built by Superior Manufacturing. It believes Superior Manufacturing offers one of the broadest ranges of pipeline equipment including crawler carriers, padding machines, padding buckets, pipelayers, vacuum lifts, pipe bending machines, welder tractors, pipe carriers, hydraulic conversion kits and more.

Worldwide has also expanded its equipment offering to include brands like Laurini Manufacturing, with this range, and others, allowing Worldwide to be the one stop shop preferred equipment supplier. The company can provide unique solutions through the Laurini Volcano Series of padding machines, hammer and grub crushing machines, pipe lifting beam, Muletrax units and other various specialty pieces of equipment.

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In addition to Superior Manufacturing and Laurini Equipment, Worldwide Machinery has a fleet of excavators, dozers, CAT pipelayers and much more available in its range.

In addition to productive pipeline specific machines, Worldwide offers a large quantity of late model Caterpillar and John Deere equipment, including dozers, excavators, motor graders, as well as fuel/lube trucks, water trucks, ditch pumps and more to lease, rent or buy. As a result, Worldwide is able to supply an unrivaled offering of equipment for everyone’s next job.

The company’s “true North” is to supply the best, most productive equipment to its

customers. Worldwide will continue to strengthen its value by investing in top quality equipment, knowledgeable and helpful staff and responsive service.

The company is focused on consistently delivering exceptional sales, leasing and longterm rental experience, and welcomes all companies in the pipeline industry to get in contact and start a new partnership for the next project.

Visit www.worldwidemachinery.com to view machines available for sale, or to get in touch about an upcoming project.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

A Single Carrier For Any Task

Introducing the all-new Crawler Carrier from Superior • Three load carrying capacities: 15,000, 22,000 and 30,000 lbs.

• Modular bed system: Change the bed to flatbed dump, welding unit, rock dump, and more.

• Swappable tracks: Install rubber or steel u/c depending on soil conditions.

Email us at contact@superiormftg.com or visit superiormftg.com/carrier

Crawler Carriers | Padding Machines | Padding Buckets | Pipelayers | Pipe Benders Vacuum Lifts | Pipe Facing Machines | Pipeline Accessories

The GRUNDORAM Kolloss machine on HDI Lucas’ recent project in Auckland.

Two driving forces unite TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia’s GRUNDORAM range of pipe ramming hammers have long been used by leading pipeline contractor HDI Lucas. TRACTO-TECHNIK says it is pleased to support the company on its recent projects as its working relationship continues to develop, while HDI Lucas Executive General Manager John Stuart-Robertson says TRACTO-TECHNIK’s service is “superior”.

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RACTO-TECHNIK Australia’s GRUNDORAM range is comprised of 10 standard pipe ramming machines, ranging from 95-800 mm, which are complimented by an additional three compact units that range from 125-270 mm.

HDI Lucas made its first purchase from this pipe hammer range in 2005, with its third purchase taking place this year.

Currently, the contractor runs both the GRUNDORAM Taurus and Kolloss.

With a one-piece casing that is both extremely solid and hardwearing, a GRUNDORAM machine has no seams of threaded sections that could be weak points.

Additionally, due to no threaded connection on the machine, all GRUNDORAM maintenance intervals are simple and easy.

TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia says to ensure machine longevity and maximum performance, the GRUNDORAM range has chromium-plated housing as well as front and rear tapered sections. While the machines are currently available for purchase,

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TRACTO-TECHNIK says there are hire options on the range also available.

A versatile machine The company’s pipe ramming tools are most commonly used on standard horizontal undercrossing projects, such as railway lines, buildings or rivers – with HDI Lucas recently using its Kolloss hammer on six crossings in Auckland as part of its Northern Interceptor Pipeline Project.

However, TRACTO-TECHNIK says the machinery can also install pipes up to 4 m in diameter with installation lengths up to 80 m and can be used on a variety of other applications. The company says horizontal directional drilling (HDD) assists are also quite common, as demonstrated by HDI Lucas – who also recently used its two GRUNDORAM machine on a conductor barrel installation to install a casing prior to commencing an HDD crossing on the Mardi to Warnervale water pipeline.

TRACTO-TECHNIK says by using the The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

GRUNDORAM on this kind of HDD assist, clients like HDI Lucas can drive the casing down through the softer ground formations to get to the relevant soil layers that they need to start drilling, while helping contain the drilling fluids during the process.

Mr Stuart-Robertson agrees, saying the machinery has dealt with a variety of materials without any issues.

“The GRUNDORAM hammer has been a perfect solution of installing conductor casings of up to 52 inch (132 cm) diameter at the entry points for our recent crossings,” he says, adding the system is “straightforward and simple to setup” with its ease of use being a major benefit.

TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia says it is pleased to have been given the opportunity to work with HDI Lucas on its recent project and looks forward to further developing this working relationship.

Other HDD assist applications achievable with the GRUNDRAM include pull back assist, HDD rod recovery and bore salvage.

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

Additional offerings TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia offers a large range of accessories that are often used in conjunction with each GRUNDORAM system.

“These consist of a range of different tapered ram cones and cotter segments which adjust the machine to fit many different variations of steel pipes,” says the company, adding that soil removal adaptors are also available for longer bores as they allow for soil to escape from the internal of the steel casing as progress is made.

On top of the additional accessories, TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia ensures its customers get the most out of their machinery purchases by offering ongoing training, support and maintenance of its systems as well as guaranteeing comprehensive and rapid repairs. For personal requirements, TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia says it can train its customers according to individual requirements.

“TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia have always made themselves available for any of our technical needs,” says Mr Stuart-Robertson.

“Their service is superior.”

HDI Lucas has used its two GRUNDORAM machines on an HDD crossing for the Mardi to Warnervale water pipeline.

For more information visit www.tracto-technik.com.au

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Victoria's Big Build continues under Stage 4 Established by the Victorian Government in 2015, the Level Crossing Removal Project is one of the largest rail infrastructure projects in the state’s history. The Western Program Alliance has been delivering a number of the program's projects in Melbourne's west, including Cherry Street, Werribee.

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he Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP) aims to eliminate 75 level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne by 2025, in addition to other rail network upgrades such as new train stations, track duplication and train stabling yards.

The project is part of the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority and falls under Victoria’s Big Build, which will see a total of approximately $70 billion in transport projects being delivered.

McConnell Dowell and its Western Program Alliance (WPA) project partners - Metro Trains Melbourne, Arup and Mott McDonald - were awarded the contract for Cherry Street in February 2020; however, project planning has been ongoing since 2017. The alliance team has since been installing large 1.8 m diameter water pipes in association with the LXRP.

with many innovative considerations taking place due to the large pipe size.

“As this is a gravity pipeline with fixed tie in points either ends, it meant the pipe had to be carefully laid on grade at about 2 m depth of cover. Given the very large diameter pipe, the depth of trench was up to 4 m,” says Mr Tsitas.

“The pipeline is predominately rubber ring jointed (RRJ-D) spigot and socket connection, with exception of the welded tie-ins either end.

A 60 t crawler crane was selected to handle each pipe which weighed 11,300 kgs per 13.5 m length.

“An engineered crane pad was constructed ensuring stability of the loaded crane to unload pipe trucks, manoeuvre and place the pipes in trench. Extended height shoring boxes were also used for the complete trenched length to ensure safety of our workers.”

A road over rail solution

A challenging climate

McConnell Dowell Senior Pipeline Engineer Andrew Tsitas says, at time of writing, the current Werribee project is 98 per cent completed with complex tie-ins near a live railway and the busy Princess Highway currently being undertaken.

“The level crossing removal project at Cherry Street in Werribee is a road over rail solution,” he says.

“This new diversion road is routed through an existing services easement currently occupied by a concrete lined open channel that transports raw water to market gardens.

“This channel is required to be diverted underground into a mild steel cement lined pipe for 250 m approximately 20 m to the west. The new MSCL pipeline is a 1753 mm OD x 12 mm w/t, 19 mm cement mortar lined.”

Mr Tsitas says all pipes and fittings used were manufactured by SteelMains in Melbourne using Australian manufactured hot rolled steel coil. "All pipes and fittings are externally coated with Sintakote, a medium density fusion bonded polyethylene coated," he says. "To extend design life, a sacrificial anode cathodic protection system was installed."

Mr Tsitas says the alliance faced various challenges throughout the project; however, these were all overcome through extensive planning, expert construction supervision and early engagement with other utility owners, adjacent homeowners and surrounding businesses.

The current project takes place on a brown fields site in an old part of metro Melbourne, which is laden with extensive known and unknown services.

“Two critical assets required extensive planning prior to relocation, including an existing interconnect between potable and raw water lines. A main Telstra communication route encased in concrete intersected at Princes Highway also required extensive planning and temporary support works, gas pipelines and low overhead services directly above relatively deep and complex tie-ins,” says Mr Tsitas, adding months of planning helped determine the exact location of buried assets for design input and to identify possible clashes.

Due to concurrent site works, the site’s main access was cut off, meaning the only alternative access was along the very tight right of way, including for deliveries, stringing and the removal of trench spoil. The alliance team

Combining traditional and innovative methods McConnell Dowell installed the pipes with the traditional open dig and lay technique,

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conducted careful daily planning to coordinate any deliveries and minimise both delays and disruption to the pipeline construction.

On top of the difficult location, the works have also been undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic – with the project moving from Stage 3 to Stage 4 restrictions halfway through construction. Mr Tsitas says well before this change occurred, the movement of McConnell Dowell personnel from interstate was identified as impractical, so local pipeline staff were fully utilised to execute the works.

“Traditional factory inspections at the pipe and fitting plant in Melbourne were not allowed [and] visits inside McConnell Dowell’s Melbourne plant yard were also restricted and forced to ‘click and collect’ style transactions,” he says.

“Daily temperature checks at pre starts, QR code scanning prior to entering the work site and the COVID-19 safety message was reinforced each morning. On a functional level, the availability of specialist technicians coming to site required careful planning.

“Freighting by air and road of specialist equipment and tools from interstate has proved very difficult and slow.”

Once in Stage 4, the public curfew took place from 8pm to 5am, face masks were mandatory and individual work permits needed to be provided and signed off by both management and each individual worker for the hours and days intended to be worked.

Ongoing works Within the LXRP program, McConnell Dowell and the WPA have also previously completed rail bridges and a duplication of 800 m of track on the Altona Loop in Williamstown North and Road Bridges in Dandenong South and Laverton.

The alliance says it is currently working on a road bridge and a rail bridge in Werribee, a road bridge in Hoppers Crossing; and four level crossing removals, a new station and a duplication of the Cranbourne line in Dandenong; all of which are under construction and expected to be completed over the next few years.

For more information visit www.mcconnelldowell.com The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

A 1.8 m diameter pipe being installed in Werribee as part of the LXRP.

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION 2020

The new Pig Test Headers (Launchers/Receivers) available from PSSS.

Launch of PSSS' Rental Pig Test Headers receives rousing reception Piping Specialty Supply Service has used its innovative, customer-focused philosophy to bring brand new pig test headers (Launchers/Receiver) into its rental fleet for use in the Australasian market.

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nnovative, solution-based, forward thinking and customer-focused have always been terms associated with Piping Specialty Supply Services (PSSS), and are words Managing Director John Wilton and his team are committed to implementing in their day-to-day business connections with clients.

To that end, PSSS recently identified a gap in the market, and through consultation with customers and fabricators, the company is now excited to launch a brand-new rental option for clients and have added a range of Pig Test Headers to its rental fleet, offering a cost effective option to the pipeline industry.

Rental Pig Test Headers PSSS’ Pig Test Headers are designed to cover three pipe sizes and classes 150, 300, 600 and 900. The first kit – PSSS’ initial prototype – covers pipe sizes of 4 inch (101 mm), 6 inch (152 mm) and 8 inch (203 mm), and is equipped with a 10 inch (254 mm) barrel.

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The company says there are already plans for a second test header kit, which would cover 10 inch, 12 inch (304 mm) and 14 inch (355 mm) across all three classes.

“Our Rental Pig Test Headers (Launchers/ Receivers) are made for ease of operation and longevity of service, and as a rental unit the beauty of covering three pipe sizes and four classes is much improved utilisation, thus we can keep the hire rates down,” says Mr Wilton.

All sets are designed and fabricated

to AS2885.1 and AS4041MDR, and come with both design reports and MDR reports.

PSSS says additional key features of these launches/receivers are their practicality and simplicity to install, with flange adaptors for each of class and the ability to act as a simple leg support for use in the field.

The new product is available now for rent or purchase from PSSS.

About PSSS Based in Queensland, PSSS is a tight-knit, dedicated and committed team led by John Wilton. Proud to be the ‘go-to’ supplier for many regular customers, PSSS is backed by decades of experience in servicing and supporting the pipeline and construction industries.

PSSS says it prides itself on providing both high quality products and unbeatable service and is consistently adding new and innovative solutions and products to meet its clients requirements – such as the Pig Test Headers (Launchers/Receivers).

For more information contact PSSS on 1300 794 096 or sales@psssa.com.au The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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Pig trains, also known as pig links, offer a unique linking concept that allows for various configurations.

No porkies about pig train capabilities Pipe Tek is a dedicated pipeline testing firm based in Queensland that presents a direct approach to safety with project management services and large-scale project capabilities, offering its clients the full package. In addition to providing its services around Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, Pipe Tek also provides industry-leading pig trains on its projects.

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lso known as ‘pig links’, the unique linking concept allows various configurations and adaptations of cups, discs and body links. Due to a flexible polyurethane body link, the pig can pass bend radii as small as one diameter, even when attached to additional link sections.

As a leading cleaning pig, the pig links are suitable for line cleaning and scraping, as well as nitrogen purges, batching and hydrostatic fill, all completed with 360-degree coverage.

In addition to its flexibility and versatility, Pipe Tek says using the pig links also saves the environment by omitting the need to dispose of traditional brush pigs. There are also less passes required during cleaning, saving clients both time and money.

Tailored to client needs Pipe Tek says its pig links can be built to whatever configuration clients require, including with magnets to collect debris. For alternating needs, the pig links can then be rebuilt by

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Pipe Tek, or clients can be supplied with rebuild kits to reconfigure the pig themselves.

The pig links range can be tracked with Pipe Tek’s non-intrusive pig sensor (NIPS) units, which are designed to detect a change in magnetic field as the pig runs through a pipeline and under the unit.

Offering Enduro and endurance In April 2019, Pipe Tek secured an exclusive distribution agreement to supply Enduro’s extensive line of pipeline inspection technologies to the Australian oil and gas industry. In addition to Enduro’s extensive range of cleaning pigs – including pig links – available to assist with internal integrity management of pipelines and the NIPS units, Pipe Tek also offers Enduro’s Digital Flux Logger (DfL) range.

The DfL utilises axial magnetic flux leakage data to provide an assessment of metal loss

occurring within a pipeline, including deformation, inertial surveys, internal/external discrimination and residual field data – all taken with a single pass of the inspection tool. Not only does Pipe Tek offer these industry-leading tools, it is also known for its enduring safety record with no near miss incidents, no medically treated incidents and no lost time injuries.

The company says its policy is to always meet health and safety responsibilities and to continually strive to maintain a safe working environment at each location where work activities occur.

“The goal of the health and safety process is the prevention of accidents and injuries, the preservation of equipment and capital, and the achievement of safe working practices,” says Pipe Tek's Managing Director, Myles Brannelly.

“At Pipe Tek, our safety record speaks for itself.”

For more information visit www.pipetek.com.au The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

INTRODUCING ® EZIPIT 1000 (MH) THE PERFECT ANSWER TO ALL OF YOUR DESIGN AND INSTALLATION CHALLENGES The perfect plastic pipeline pit.

Having received its WSAA Appraisal, the highly sought-after EZIpit® 1000 Maintenance Hole (MH) is now available for purchase from Iplex Pipelines.

Available with or without the ladder, the recently launched EZIpit® 1000 (MH) enables safe access for inspection, cleaning and maintenance activities, providing greater flexibility for your pipeline projects.

The EZIpit® is your easy-to-assemble, modular solution providing years of corrosion free service.

With the launch of our latest and largest maintenance structure, the EZIpit® 1000 (MH), combined with our incumbent EZIpit® 425 (MS) and EZIpit® 600 (MC) systems, provides complete design and construction flexibility for any sewer project.

EZIpit® 425 Maintenance Shaft (MS)

EZIpit® 425 Maintenance Shaft (MS)

EZIpit® 425 Maintenance Shaft (MS)

THE EZIPIT® RANGE MAKES SEWER INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE SO MUCH EASIER Civil 13 10 86 • info@iplexpipelines.com.au • iplex.com.au/ezipit-mh

A theme for the times Mipela says this year’s APGA theme of 'New Decade: New Perspective' is both appropriate and timely given the company’s activities over recent months, with a strong focus on the power of communication.

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ith many businesses recognising that communication has fundamentally changed, there is now an opportunity to break down barries separating organisations – whether silos are professional, organisational or geographical.

Now, technology is enabling businesses to integrate specialists and their activities by providing a new framework for collaboration.

Mipela understands responsive engagement requires intuitive interactions that are driven by data, which is why its X-Info Suite software solutions connect people, processes and data through automated workflow tasks and activities. By doing so, the system clears a path through large volumes of data to the

information needed for day-to-day tasks, therefore simplifying the working process.

As Mipela moves its software towards the NexGen platform in 2021, the introduction of the activities function in the software – particularly the new map activity function – has made some significant changes in Mipela’s clients’ perspective towards their data.

By empowering people to identify insights, an organisation can get them to make more accurate decisions. Mipela also recognises that visualisation is an important aspect as a map or visual representation of information improves the speed of communicating tasks and outcomes. In turn, people work smarter and faster.

The company says through the power of communication, people can really see the world from a new perspective with Mipela’s X-Info Suite – now and into the future.

“It’s exciting times ahead in the future at Mipela," says Managing Director Hayden McDonald.

“Our participation of this virtual conference is just another sign of the times. It’s a great initiative from APGA and we’re proud to be a part. Even though we can’t get together face to face, we’re still here and keen to continue our long-term industry relationships.

“Don’t be shy, pick up the phone or organise an online F2F meeting, even if it’s just to say hey.”

For more information visit www.mipela.com.au

The power of communication See your world from a new perspective

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

Sentanil enhances popular system Sentanil Systems’ CMS database has been in operation across Australia for the past 25 years, used successfully in the construction phase of many pipelines. To continue improving on the popular system, Sentanil has made some recent enhancements which support the industry.

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sed to assist quality data traceability and management for gas, slurry and water pipeline construction, Sentanil Systems’ Construction Management System (CMS) database can support the requirements of a project’s quality system and field data capture.

CMS is primarily used in pipe transport, receipt and inspection as well as pipe stringing, welding, field joint coating, pipe body repair, lowering in and as-built survey phases of the project. The system has also been successfully used in the construction phase and associated facility construction for gas transmission pipelines that require strict adherence to AS 2885.

Enhancements

•

based on user defined rules (generally around AS 2885 welding and field joint coating parameters). For example, only the approved welding electrode batches are populated for the chosen weld procedure, which are in turn related to the chosen welder.

GPS connection to allow any feature to be geo-tagged in the field to allow increased scrutiny of QA traceability and construction progress. This also gives users the ability to check integrated alignment sheet data such as depth of cover and wall thickness in real time in the field.

Some of the recent enhances to CMS include: • Intelligent field-based lookup functions

•

•

MDR component to enable CMS to be used for generation of key components of the MDR. The ability to manage CMS off-site due to the creation of a Remote Management module.

Field Data Collection devices can be synchronised remotely via email to and from the site office to an offsite location where CMS can be managed. Appropriate daily reporting and communication with the Site QA Manager allows this feature to be successfully deployed.

For more information contact 07 3252 5589

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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Never compromise on safety Polyfabrics Australasia are a leading innovator in geosynthetic solutions for the civil engineering, landscape and building construction industries.

Polyfabrics DIGSAFE™ range offers Overpipe protection plates, used widely across Australia such as in this South Australian project.

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APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

DIGSAFE®: WARN, DETECT, PROTECT Polyfabrics’ DIGSAFE® product range provides customers with the unique advantage of sourcing a complete product solution for utility projects, from initial site set-up through to project completion. Dedicated to providing solutions that reduce maintenance costs and incidences of unintended pipelines strikes, the company has grown to be industry experts in excavation safety with a comprehensive suite of solutions available in Australasia.

Polyfabrics understands every dig-up presents a variety of excavation risks to both the excavation team onsite and the public, which is why it focuses on risk minimisation for every client. The company has assembled a comprehensive suite of innovative excavation safety solutions so utility and infrastructure owners can warn, detect, protect and manage buried assets using a combination of simple and smart technologies.

The DIGSAFE® range includes Overpipe® protection plates, which are 15 mm thick highdensity polyethylene plates developed in France as an alternative to the 150-200 mm thick concrete slabs that were previously used as protection

Polyfabrics

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Reliability you can build on

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warn. detect. protect.

barriers for high pressure gas pipelines.

Due to increasing urban developments, sections of gas pipelines that were once beneath unoccupied land are now adjacent to existing infrastructure, with the costs of moving or relaying these pipelines extremely expensive for asset owners.

Instead, Overpipe has been designed to protect the pipelines in these situations, acting as an effective safety barrier due to its bright colour and tough durability. Its plastic composition means it does not degrade underground and can be easily removed or reused following pipeline repairs and inspections.

Another leading DIGSAFE® solution is the Copperhead® tracer wire system, used to locate buried plastic pipes or conduit by combining the conductivity of copper with the strength of stainless steel. This results in six times the tensile strength of the equivalent copper tracer wires developed for trenching, which are prone to breaking when used in trenchless installations.

The DIGSAFE® range also includes polymeric cable covers and Wavelay® detectable tapes, safety tapes, barrier fencing, and bespoke signage.

Where possible, Polyfabrics uses recycled content

A LEADING PROVIDER OF GEOSYNTHETIC PRODUCTS AND SOLUTIONS TO THE CIVIL ENGINEERING, LANDSCAPE AND BUILDING CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES.

to promote sustainable solutions for all major gas, telecommunications, power, and water utility providers across Australasia to increase pipeline safety and reduce risk.

Tapex Group of Companies Polyfabrics is part of the Tapex Group of Companies, which provides world-class product solutions in agriculture, horticulture, civil and landscape construction as well as underground asset protection to resources and utilities markets across the Australasian region.

The Tapex group is an enterprising consortium of companies focusing on delivering leading product solutions and exceptional service to its customers, which Polyfabrics joined in 2015.

Since joining the group, Polyfabrics has leveraged the resources made available by the much larger entity to develop new concepts and work with its stakeholders in adapting its product ranges to better suit the changing climate conditions of the industry.

For more information visit www.polyfabrics.com.au

Michelle Moreira

BUSINESS MANAGER

PH: +61 0411104981

POLYFABRICS.COM.AU

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50 years of Burns After more than five decades as a corrosion engineer in the pipeline industry, Wayne Burns is stepping back as Director of Anode Engineering. The Australian Pipeliner sat down with the industry legend to discuss his career highlights, the industry’s changing landscape and what the future of Anode Engineering will look like.

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ayne started his professional career working for ETRS, which, shortly after, saw its parent company IEL become a joint partner with Wilson Walton International, which had 33 operations globally.

“I became one of three nominees to start off the joint venture company. From 1970 to 1998, we grew to the largest privately CIP company in the country as Wilson Walton International,” says Wayne.

With 50 people employed, Wilson Walton International then sold to an American corporation in 1998 and – after keeping busy in the interim – Wayne brought Anode Engineering to life.

“I started Anode Engineering in about 2000 and brokered the business until it was sold to Savcor and, after the sale, we rolled out as Anode Engineering, trading on our own from 2004 – and we’ve been here ever since.”

Adapting through changes In his 50 years in the industry, Wayne says the most important lesson he learned was the importance of sharing his knowledge and giving it back to others, rather than making them walk the hard road alone. Indeed, one of his career highlights was being accredited as a lecturer to the industry, where he can continuously give back to the young.

His long career meant Wayne was also privy to many changes, including in safety, permitting and relationships with landowners, which has helped him learn and adapt both his own work and his business to keep improving.

“It’s certainly taught me what to do and what not to do. In the early days, you could get away with things if you had to. Now, the attitude towards safety and individual company inductions [has changed],” with Wayne mentioning things such as stricter, more lengthy inductions and additional accreditations or permits required.

Not only has the industry changed over the past few decades, Wayne and the Anode Engineering team expect it will continue to – mostly with a stronger focus on heading towards unmanned electronic field data collection.

“That’s basically to take people out of the field because clients are worried about permits, landowner access, weed contamination issues and so on.”

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Wayne Burns (left) enjoying the social side of the pipeline industry at a recent APGA function.

With his strong views on the importance of giving back, Wayne says Anode Engineering has also grown alongside the industry changes.

“We’ve acknowledged the need to do all the things dictated by the industry,” says Wayne.

“We understand it’s important to always be involved in advancing technology, which is why we are now releasing our GreenAmp pipeline monitoring systems. It’s a game of always trying to be ahead.”

Career highlights Wayne says he has many, many career highlights he could fill pages with, including his guest lecturing positions allowing him to give back to the young and achievements like being part of the team that developed the direct current voltage gradient (DCVG) technique in Australia, which is a method now used and widely accepted by the global pipeline industry.

“I’ve also enjoyed the comradery, the industry, the APGA convention and everything people have given me over the past 50 years,” says Wayne.

Wayne mentions many individuals that have made an impact on his time in the industry, including his long association and time working with Ron and Kay Nicholas, Bob Gration, Roger Woodman, Bruce McCall, Peter Halliham and Mick McCormick – many of which have grown to be good friends.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

“I also consider Steve Dobbie and Cheryl Cartwright to be close confidants and friends, and Trevor Nichols who has been a good mentor to me throughout the years.”

Big shoes to fill Wayne will now be handing over the reins to his youngest son, Stuart Burns, who has been in the industry for 15 years.

Stuart will continue to fill his dad’s shoes as Anode Engineering’s General Manager, a position he has held for the past 18 months.

Meanwhile, Stuart’s sister, Gayle Burns continues to manage human resources and Anode Engineering’s ISO 9001 Quality systems compliance. Principal Engineer Isaac Isakovich heads up an experienced group of in-field corrosion technologists and engineers offering design, survey and reporting services to many pipeline operators.

This is complimented by the product and material sales side of the business, while our GreenAmp® team is busy developing our unique pipeline remote monitoring solutions.As he steps back from his role, Wayne says he knows his long-lasting friendships will continue, so the thing he will miss most about the industry is the various people in the field he got to meet and engage with, who really need and want the knowledge, are always down to earth and who “call a spade a spade”.

APGA VIRTUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION

Adobe Stock © Momentscatcher

Anode amps up pipeline monitoring Anode Engineering has extensive experience in completing in-field corrosion surveys on pipelines for many oil and gas majors – often in remote locations that present all kinds of challenges including weather, harsh terrain, reluctant landowners and even occasionally angry livestock. The company has now developed a new solution to minimise disturbance: the GreenAmp Pipeline Remote Monitoring System.

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ver the years, an increasing awareness has grown of the risks involved with remote workers driving long distances to job sites, with issues of fatigue and safety being important considerations. The pipeline industry is continually trying to mitigate these concerns by employing in-vehicle monitoring, restrictions on travel time and mandatory vehicle speeds.

There are additional safety considerations for pipeline asset owners who have right of ways located on private property, including dispersal of invasive weed species such as parthenium and rat tail grass from workers vehicles. Necessary strict biosecurity protocols have been developed; however, these can become a burden for workers when relocating from one property to another or having to travel back to town to complete weed wash downs – both of which can be time consuming and adds more driving time and more fatigue.

To counteract these issues, Anode’s new GreenAmp Pipeline Remote Monitoring System – offered in two variants – which will greatly reduce the need for in-field workers while also increasing the amount of information available to ensure pipelines remain cathodically protected from corrosion.

GreenAmp Single Channel The first variant of the units is the GreenAmp Single Channel that takes a reading of pipe

potential (at a cathodic protection level) once every hour and transmits those 24 readings once a day.

This data is then available to asset owners in a ‘raw’ format of their choice or via Anode’s intuitive web-based portal, featuring graphs of test point pipe potential data, configurable alarm states for out of range readings, geographic maps of a pipeline with the ability to interrogate individual points and a range of useful and easily interpreted customisable info graphics.

Anode says the main comms it uses to get pipeline data onto the portal is via LTE Cat M1, a 4G Internet of Things (IoT) technology that can be used in areas where phone reception often doesn’t reach. The GreenAmp unit also uses the Narrow Band IoT, with both standards being operational in Australia and New Zealand.

Additionally, if Wi-Fi is available – such as at a compressor station – Anode can also use it to connect to and send out data.

In areas lacking coverage for both systems, Anode uses its wireless Daisy Chain Data protocol to wirelessly share data from GreenAmp units along the pipeline. Each unit has a 5 km range to the next, and Anode can ‘daisy chain’ up to 10 units – meaning Anode can offer 50 km of coverage in such areas. Additionally, in areas of difficult topography, Anode’s Daisy Chain passive repeaters can also assist in getting data transferred between units.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

GreenAmp 4 Plus The second variant is Anode’s GreenAmp 4 Plus unit, which compliments the single channel units in locations with sacrificial anode beds, cathodic protection units and/or foreign structures. The 4 Plus unit features the same ability to interface with IoT networks, Wi-Fi and Daisy Chain Data as the single channel units with some important additional features.

The 4 Plus Unit can additionally monitor four channels of data, such as CPU output of volts, amps, pipe potential and a foreign structure for interference monitoring purposes. It also has a contactor to synchronously switch the cathodic protection unit of sacrificial system on or off to generate instant off potential readings with high resolution 0.5 second data logging, which is widely accepted as indicating the true polarised potential (protection level) of the pipe removing the ‘IR Drop’.

The use of these two powerful tools can greatly assist with efficient use of maintenance resources and reduce time in the field. By doing so, safety is increased for workers, better landholder relationships are enabled and greater levels of pipeline information for safer management of ongoing corrosion issues are provided.

For more information visit www.anodeengineering.com

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PIPELINES IN QUEENSLAND

30 years strong This year, the Queensland Gas Pipeline celebrates its 30th year of operation, having played an important role in the Sunshine State’s energy narrative. Now owned and operated by Jemena, the company told The Australian Pipeliner the pipeline’s work was far from done, as it continues its critical role supplying gas throughout Queensland.

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A series of images from the QGP’s original construction in 1988-1990.

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panning 672 km and connecting the Wallumbilla gas hub in southwest Queensland to industrial gas users in Gladstone and Rockhampton, the Queensland Gas Pipeline (QGP) was officially opened on 25 July 1990. The idea for the pipeline was originally conceived by the Queensland Government in the late 1980s as a way to foster the state’s then-burgeoning manufacturing sector, and the plans were formally announced in 1987.

A pipeline licence application submitted that year for the Denison Trough included two laterals running north and south coming together at a central junction, along with the construction of a pipeline at Gladstone, while another pipe link to Wallumbilla was planned for the future.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

“Around $90 million was invested to construct the pipeline – roughly $205 million in today’s dollars,” says Jemena Spokesperson Michael Pintabona.

“The role of the Queensland Government and in particular the then-Minister for Mines and Energy Martin Tenni should be called out for helping to drive the development and construction of the pipeline. Jemena acquired the QGP as part of a broader acquisition in 2008, reflecting the business’ ambition to build an integrated network of gas pipeline assets across northern Australia.”

With the 2008 energy landscape in Queensland significantly different to that of 1987 when the pipeline was first canvassed, following its purchase Jemena set about modifying the line to meet modern

PIPELINES IN QUEENSLAND

requirements and further underscore the asset’s importance to the state.

“In response to growing demand from Queensland industrial users, Jemena has invested more than $140 million to increase the capacity of the QGP since acquiring the asset in 2008,” says Mr Pintabona.

“These expansion activities saw us add new compression facilities and pipeline looping so that today the QGP is capable of transporting approximately 52 PJ/annum. The QGP is a critical piece of infrastructure not just for our customers who rely on it to power their operations, but for the whole of the Queensland and the Australian economy.

“As intended from the outset, the QGP continues to underpin Queensland’s manufacturing sector – a sector which has created many thousands of jobs, supported hundreds of communities across northern Australia, and is worth more than $20 billion to the Australian economy.”

Like so many other planned events in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic skittled Jemena’s original plans to commemorate the pipeline’s 30th anniversary, but the company was still able to recognise the occasion.

“While we were disappointed we were unable to celebrate face-to-face, we marked the occasion internally by sharing a series of stories written by people who worked on pipeline in its early days,” says Mr Pintabona.

“These stories provided great insight into life on the pipeline in the late 80s and early 90s and were accompanied by photos from that time which have held up well - despite the 80’s fashion!”

Mr Pintabona says it’s important to acknowledge the Queensland Government has continued to show the same strong support for the pipeline as it did when it was first constructed.

“We also want to recognise our people who have worked on the pipeline,” he says.

“Some of the original QGP team continue to work with us, and it is their dedication and commitment which has been the backbone of this incredible asset. We also want to acknowledge the efforts and contribution of the many, many stakeholders who have worked on, been involved with, or contributed

to the success of the QGP over the last three decades.

“Thanks should also be passed on to the communities surrounding the pipeline, who have consistently welcomed our people into their neighbourhoods.”

It’s certainly not 30 and out for the QGP, with the Queensland energy staple figuring to retain its place as a vital asset in the state’s gas industry for decades to come.

“In 2015, we started work on our Northern Growth Strategy which focuses on creating an interconnected network of pipeline assets across northern Australia,” says Mr Pintabona.

“The idea behind this strategy is simple: we can help place downward pressure on gas prices by connecting areas of supply to areas of demand through the most efficient and economic route available. The QGP as a large, well established and proven asset, will continue to play a key role in this strategy as we seek to connect new and existing pipelines to it and each other.”

For more information visit www.jemena.com.au

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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A worker stands in front of a gas well at Project Atlas. Image courtesy of Senex Energy.

Keeping energy levels high

by David Convery, Managing Editor, The Australian Pipeliner

Queensland continues to affirm itself as Australia’s gas stronghold on the east coast, shipping large volumes of LNG and encouraging consistent exploration of its vast outback lands. But it’s far from business as usual in the Sunshine State with the energy landscape throughout Queensland promising to be quite different in 2030 than 2020.

LNG Although LNG production remains strong and Australia is still one the world’s largest exporters of the energy source, slumping global oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic are having an effect. Despite its strength in this market, Queensland is not immune, and the negative impacts are expected to become more pronounced as the situation progresses.

A wave of asset write-downs have occurred across Australia’s energy industry in 2020 including on major projects in the northeast.

Santos said it would recognise non-cash impairments of Gladstone LNG (GLNG) of US$640-700 million before tax (AU$899984 million), while Shell reported a post-tax impairment of US$8.15 billion (AU$11.46 billion) relating to the Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) and Prelude Floating LNG projects.

Origin Energy also reported an impairment of US$720-770 million (AU$1.01-1.08 billion) at Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG), which celebrated the shipping of its 500th LNG cargo in June 2020. In its July report, analyst EnergyQuest says these asset write-downs, extended project maintenance operations and lower oil prices, along with cargo deferrals resulting from COVID-19 saw LNG revenues across Australia down by 52 per cent compared to the same month in 2019.

EnergyQuest says the next few years will be “characterised by economic disruption, uncertain energy demand and lower prices”, which would create opportunities for buyers but challenges for producers.

“We expect one and possibly two of the Gladstone LNG trains to be closed as increased gas volumes are diverted from the LNG projects to the domestic market,” the report says.

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“As we get into the 2030s the east coast LNG contracts will begin to tail-off. At the same time, as the closure of coal-fired power generation accelerates, the demand for natural gas to back-up renewables is likely to grow.”

New gas While a level of uncertainty surrounds the LNG export industry, Queensland hasn’t been deterred from its search for new gas supplies. Since 2015, the state government has released close to 80,000 km2 of land for gas exploration, more than a quarter of which is reserved for the Australian domestic market.

Queensland Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Dr Anthony Lynham says the sector has generated billions of dollars in economic stimulus over the past few decades.

“Queensland’s gas and manufacturing industries support more than 200,000 jobs now and have generated thousands more pay packets across the state since 1990,” he says.

“Government, industry, unions and health authorities have worked closely together throughout the pandemic to keep the resources sector operating and keep safe their people, and the communities they live and work in.”

Dr Lynham says Queensland has a plan for its COVID-19 economic recovery and “part of that plan is building on our traditional strengths like the resources industry and maintaining a pipeline of projects is essential.”

One example of the push for new gas is Senex Energy’s Surat Basin project, which the company marked as complete in June 2020. Following a final investment decision on the $400 million development in October 2018, Senex successfully built and commissioned natural gas facilities at Roma North and Project Atlas, before completing an 80 well drilling campaign in the region.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

The project also including the successful construction and commissioning of Jemena’s Atlas Gas Pipeline that was completed in October 2019 and connects to the Wallumbilla Hub. “We are proud to have worked closely with our partners Jemena and Easternwell, landholders, community and other stakeholders to successfully develop these critical natural gas resources for the east coast market,” says Senex Managing Director and CEO Ian Davies.

“Further, we are appreciative of the strong policy settings of successive Queensland Governments, enabling the development of these valuable resources. With proved and probable (2P) natural gas reserves in excess of 600 PJ across our Surat Basin acreage, Senex will be delivering natural gas to the domestic market for decades to come.”

The Mahalo Gas Project (MGP) in central Queensland is looking to follow a similar path, with joint venture partners Comet Ridge, Santos and APLNG granted more petroleum leases in July 2020. The new lease awards have been issued for a 30-year term and are the final regulatory approval required for the project to move forward to production following the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act approval in May and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science environmental approval in June.

Comet Ridge Chair James McKay says Comet Ridge and its partners have undertaken many years of exploration, appraisal and development planning activities with the MGP well positioned to deliver meaningful gas production into the domestic and export market.

“The streamlined approval process shows it has the support of the Queensland government and we look forward to working with our joint venture partners in progressing Mahalo towards a final investment decision,” he says.

Meanwhile, Arrow Energy announced a final investment decision on its $10 billion Surat Gas Project in April 2020, with Arrow CEO Cecile Wake saying the decision demonstrated the company’s confidence in the project, despite low oil prices and the COVID-19 pandemic causing other major projects to be deferred.

“Arrow recognises the current uncertainty caused by COVID-19 and oil-price volatility and will ensure that its development plans retain sufficient flexibility to manage these evolving

PIPELINES IN QUEENSLAND challenges while bringing more gas to market,” he says.

“The decision to sanction phase one of the Surat Gas Project and commence construction this year is good for Queensland.

“It will mean more jobs, more opportunities for local companies and other economic benefits for regional Queensland, which has been home to Arrow for more than 20 years.”

Phase one will consist of more than 600 wells in the Surat and Bowen basins where Arrow currently operates five gas fields, with the company aiming to deliver first gas in 2021.

Green gas A couple of major gas names took steps forward in the last six months in pursuit of cleaner energy. Australian Gas Infrastructure Group’s (AGIG) Australian Gas Networks (AGN) arm announced in March it would construct a $4.2 million hydrogen plant in Gladstone, which will be the first renewable hydrogen facility able to deliver up to 100 per cent blended hydrogen across the city’s customer base.

Hydrogen Park Gladstone will produce approximately 20 kg of hydrogen per day using certified green power from a local power grid, which will then be blended into the gas

network. The facility will include a 175 kW polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyser, water demineralisation system and process cooling equipment with a modular design that can be scaled up in future to produce for Gladstone’s increasing needs.

AGN CEO Ben Wilson says AGN is proud to partner on this project with the Queensland Government, which has set a target to be an Australian leader in renewable hydrogen production by 2030.

“The project supports Gladstone’s vision to be a key hub for Queensland’s domestic and hydrogen export industry, just as it is for natural gas today,” he says.

“Queensland, and Australia as a whole, has the potential to be a renewable hydrogen superpower, with jobs and economic growth from supplying clean energy to regional and eventual metropolitan wide markets.”

Elsewhere in the state, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced it will contribute $1.1 million in funding to APA Group’s renewable methane pilot project. In development with Southern Green Gas, the project aims to demonstrate the technical and commercial benefits of an integrated hydrogen electrolysis and renewable

methane production system, with the data generated to be used to assess the feasibility of a larger, commercial scale production.

The demonstration plant will be located at APA’s Wallumbilla Gas Hub near Roma, Queensland, and will produce approximately 620 kg of hydrogen per year, which will be converted into 74 GJ of methane that can be injected into the East Coast Gas Grid.

With a total project cost of $2.2 million, the renewable hydrogen will be produced using an anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyser that uses water from the atmosphere and is powered by solar photovoltaic (PV).

APA CEO and Managing Director Rob Wheals says the funding was a great example of government support for innovation in Australia’s energy industry.

“We know the science of producing methane.

This unique project is the first step in testing whether it is possible on an industrial scale to create methane using solar-generated electricity, water and CO2 from the atmosphere,” he says “With this project we’re aiming to determine whether this carbon neutral process might be part of a broader green energy solution for the future, and if our pipelines can be used to transport pure renewable energy domestically or for export.”

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To find the right machine for your job,visit www.mcelroy.com The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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PROJECTS

In search of new offshore gas

by Peter Milne, Freelance Energy and Resources Journalist

For investors to approve the vast expenditure to build Australia's LNG projects fed by offshore gas, they needed confidence there would be enough gas for decades. To fuel this need, the acquisition of gas from increasingly difficult sources is growing in popularity.

T

he industry logically developed the cheapest gas first. Only a year after the last project in the great LNG boom went into production – Shell's Prelude Floating LNG – the industry is busy moving to the next, more challenging, sources of gas.

INPEX is planning to install a 4000 t compression module on the Ichthys central processing platform to maintain flow as reservoir pressure declines. Shell wants to bring gas from the Crux field to Prelude with an unmanned platform and a 165 km pipeline, although the pandemic has put that development on hold.

Woodside is drilling the Julimar reservoir and tying it back to existing subsea infrastructure that feeds the Wheatstone LNG plant. In early 2019, Chevron engaged Aker to perform front end engineering to add subsea compression to the Jansz-Io field that feeds the Gorgon LNG project.

Aker designed the first such system, for Equinor's Asgard field offshore Norway in 2017.

Raw gas from the Asgard reservoir is cooled and separated into gas and liquid streams by machinery on the seabed. The two streams are compressed separately and recombined, and then have enough pressure to flow 40 km to shore.

Chevron wants to avoid the expense of an offshore compression platform at its US$54 billion ($74 billion) Gorgon project.

Instead, subsea electrical cables from Barrow Island 130 km away will power compressors on the seabed and a normally unmanned control station will float above the location of the compressors.

Such novelty and complexity is not only costly; it increases risk. With so much money and technology being deployed to maintain the gas supply to LNG plants, it makes sense that the west coast's most prominent operators are looking for cheaper, more straightforward solutions.

Dr Zachary Aman is the Chevron-Woodside Chair in long subsea tiebacks at the University of Western Australia.

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Adobe Stock © Dabarti

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

PROJECTS

"Putting in massive subsea compression structures and sinking all of it to the seafloor… the cost of doing that is not necessarily going to be viable," says Mr Aman, particularly in the current oil and gas market.

The centre he leads has the goal to enable gas to travel 250 km using the natural energy of the reservoir. It sounds simple, and it would be if not for a problem rarely encountered in onshore pipelines: gas hydrates.

When the surrounding seawater –which can be as cold as 4°C in deep water – cools, fluid flowing from a deep water well there are the perfect conditions for hydrates to form: high pressure and low temperature. The water forms thin layers of ice that surround gas molecules and behaves somewhat like regular ice.

Mr Aman says these molecular cages of water with gas inside start binding together to form particles that can range in size from the thickness of a human hair to a die. The hydrates build up in the wall of the pipeline and start to restrict flow.

The problem of hydrates is normally solved with the addition of antifreeze, usually methanol or mono ethylene glycol.

Unfortunately, while the additives stop hydrates forming, they also drive up the pressure required to move the fluid in the pipeline and so reducingthe distance gas can travel just driven by the pressure of the reservoir.

"Companies are up against a constraint where we can't put enough antifreeze in because in doing so, we burn the natural momentum energy of that reservoir," says Mr Aman.

"Our group specifically studies the physics of where these hydrates form, how quickly they buildup, and what is their location on the pipe wall as a function of time, pressure and temperature."

Operators need to understand hydrates very well, as their behaviour can be unexpected and hydrate can completely block a pipeline for lengths up to 500 m. Mr Aman says it is natural to think if one side of the hydrate plug was depressurised the hydrates, that require high

pressure and low temperatures, would gradually melt starting at the end with low pressure.

In fact, the whole plug melts from the wall inward, due to the thermal conductivity of the pipeline. Eventually, the 500 m long block of hydrate is no longer stuck to the pipeline wall and become a giant crystal bullet.

"These are the very infamous examples in North America where you've seen loss of life occur because these projectiles can accelerate up to 270 feet per second," says Mr Aman.

In late 2019, the centre opened a laboratory where less dangerous scenarios, such as the effect sand in the gas has on hydrate formation, can be investigated by the centre's staff and post-graduate students.

With Australian LNG facing fierce competition, such as huge low-cost developments in Qatar, technology will be vital to keeping the LNG plants in WA and the Northern Territory supplied with gas and economically viable.

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PIPELINE PEOPLE

Phil Woodhouse (left) with Simon Archibald.

A pipeline between industry and the arts Spiecapag Health and Safety Manager Phil Woodhouse finds himself in the rare and enviable position of being able to combine his professional life with his artistic passions, both juggling and fusing his work in the oil and gas industry with a pursuit in videography and photography. He sat down with The Australian Pipeliner to discuss his unique career path, some of his favourite works and pushing the boundaries of his potential.

M

any of us struggle to mix our working life with our passions, with the lures of financial stability often overcoming the desire to pursue a more creative outlet as time rolls on. While to the outside world a career working in the oil and gas pipeline industry doesn’t usually go hand in hand with an artistic interest, working at Spiecapag has allowed Phil to further explore a lifelong passion for videography and foster a burgeoning interest in still photography.

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“Ever since my dad purchased a Sony Handycam in 2002 for capturing family holidays, I became interested in capturing moments on film,” Phil says.

“I studied film and television in high school and thoroughly enjoyed the practical assignments. I was never particularly interested in photography, I found it hard to tell a story in one frame/shot.

“I was always making camera rigs to try to mimic cinematic shots such as boom and tracking dolly shots. I enjoyed exploring The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

camera movement and how music and colour grading can enhance the story being told.”

Unfortunately, like many of those with dreams in film and television, Phil says Hollywood didn’t come calling.

However, he eventually he found his way to working in field services on oil and gas rigs and, after completing a qualification in occupational health and safety, Phil took an opportunity to work on a pipeline construction joint venture with Spiecapag.

PIPELINE PEOPLE

“Starting on a pipeline project for QCLNG as a labourer, I asked John Walsh, who was the Project Director (now Spiecapag Managing Director) about applying for a safety adviser role, and he gave me my first break as a Safety Trainee,” he says.

“I was very fortunate to be working alongside a brilliant Safety Manager, Simon Archibald. Simon was a few years older than me and inadvertently became my mentor, working closely together for almost four years.

“Under his mentorship I was encouraged and given opportunities to use my creativity to solve health and safety issues, whether it be safety campaigns, training material or integrating new technologies into the business.”

Back behind the camera Although enjoying his work in the pipeline industry, Phil still harboured the desire to capture moments on video. So, on a 2015 holiday that crossed through Japan, the Arctic Circle and Iceland, Phil started publishing some of his work online after purchasing a GoPro and other camera equipment.

“I created my own YouTube channel, with the aim of posting my productions. Those adventures included some amazing experiences,

like diving in Iceland in winter, ice climbing, photographing the northern lights and completing a five day husky safari in Lapland, in northern Finland,” he says.

“While on the adventure, I found myself enjoying the process of capturing these moments, and once back home, even editing the videos and sharing them on YouTube had its moments. While I didn’t quite get millions of views on YouTube, it did catch the attention of some of the team members on a pipeline project I was working on at the time with Spiecapag, the Eastern Goldfields Pipeline Project (EGP) in Western Australia.”

When Project Manager Olivier Balloy asked him to make a video detailing the risk and controls specific to the project, Phil says he “jumped” at the opportunity. This first production spawned further work, and soon his work in health and safety was combining with his skills behind the camera.

Phil began upgrading his equipment and rediscovered his passion, filming content on DSLR cameras and learning how to properly take still photographs in 2016.

“Specifically, I love capturing and creating pipeline-themed content because it’s a job that so much of the time goes unseen,” he says.

A section of HDPE pipe being lowered into a trench with a slight curve. Captured in 2020 on the Mardi to Warnervale Pipeline Project.

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PIPELINE PEOPLE

Posing for a group photo after a two hour ascent on the Kokoda Trek. Captured in 2019.

“Crews work long rotations, away from their loved ones in remote locations. I love the idea that I can capture a moment for them to share with their family, and to say, “I was there, I built that”.

“Currently I am enjoying trying to capture the people instead of just the pipe or plant. I have shot a few portrait-style images over the last few years and I think they tell a more personal story instead of the success of the project – capturing those candid moments of concentration, mateship and dedication.”

Branching out It’s not just pipelines and energy projects that Phil enjoys shooting. After entering a Spiecapag project video titled ‘Vinny’ into the Australia Video Producer Awards, he was offered a membership into the Australia Institute of Professional Photographers (AIPP). This recognition gave Phil the confidence to form his own production company – Sonder Productions – aimed at helping small businesses make a digital footprint.

“I enjoy working with entrepreneurs and helping them showcase the business. I try to bring the feeling of a big budget production to a small budget,” he says.

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“Sonder Productions has also seen a lot of interest from individuals who want to tell their life story through the use of Digital Memoirs.

A passion project that I had been working on for a few years, we now provide a platform for people to share their life stories through interviews, which we then edit into a 45-minute production.

“The result? Something they can share easily with their family and grandchildren and leave a very deliberate digital footprint behind.”

Phil says his approach to shooting is the same across every scenario and he tries to make everyone comfortable in front of the camera.

Some of his favourite moments on film have come from his own travels and he recalls a pre-COVID-19 trip to France and Italy in 2020 that sticks in his mind.

Mates in Construction Kokoda Track walk.

“Like any holiday for me, my packing included 80 per cent camera equipment.

I spent three weeks filming and photographing the Alps in France, and ancient ruins in the south of Italy,” he says.

“I produced a short two minute travel video of a small town called Agrigento, and this video, to me, is one of my best travel videos I have made, where the colours, sound-scape and camera movement take me back to this place every time.

“Another favourite adventure I was able to capture was walking the Kokoda Track in 2019 for Mates in Construction, a not for-profit based suicide awareness charity that focuses on the construction sector. I completed the walk with my father and about 20 other people in construction.

Agrigento travel video.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

‘Vinny’.

PIPELINE PEOPLE

“It was a real challenge trying to capture content over a seven day hike, with no access to electricity to recharge batteries and crossing streams and climbing mountains.

The group raised over $150,000 and my documentary of the journey has helped promote the walk and the charity, as well as creating a memorable video to those who I walked with.”

Phil says he is equally happy to have not only rediscovered his passion for content creation over the last five years, but that he has been able to fuse this with his career in health and safety.

“I plan to keep capturing and sharing the moments with the crews, clients and Spiecapag.

Hopefully I can ease up on the purchasing of equipment over the next ten years, although I suspect with the technological advancements that won’t happen,” he says.

“Since 2013 and working with Spiecapag, I have been given many opportunities to advance my career and to pursue my passions.

Accepting opportunities and pushing yourself to go beyond what you think you are capable of is a key element to realising your potential and self-growth.

“Identifying people around you who can mentor you, but equally push you will ensure you become the best version of yourself, has been an eye-opener. The journey of self-growth and development never ends.”

More examples of Phil Woodhouse’s work can be found at www.sonderproductions.com.au The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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PIPELINE PEOPLE

50 years in the industry Patrick Joseph O’Dea, Field Superintendent and employee number three of South East Australia Gas is celebrating 50 years in the pipeline industry this year.

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at’s first involvement with gas pipelines started in September 1968 when he worked for Snamprogetti as a contractor on the construction of the Moomba to Adelaide Pipeline System (MAPS). His job was to inspect pipe welded joints at the Terowie welding Double Jointing Yard, where 13 m lengths of pipe were welded internally and externally into 26 m pipes, for road transportation into the field.

On 7 August 1970, he joined the Natural Gas Pipelines Authority of South Australia, which later became the Pipelines Authority of South Australia (PASA) – the then owner and operator of the MAPS. PASA was privatised in 1995, which was a difficult time for the employees; however, Pat opted to remain with the MAPS, during what was jokingly called the ‘Velcro name badge period’, where ownership changed from Tenneco Gas to Tenneco Energy to El Paso Energy and ultimately to Epic Energy.

The 781 km, 22 inch (558 mm) MAPS mainline was supplying gas to the largest gas-fired power station in Australia at Torrens Island, owned at the time by the Electricity Trust of South Australia and to the distribution network of the South Australia Gas Company, along with industrial users who, at that time, directly contracted with PASA. When the opportunity arose in 2003 to become part of the operations team of a new pipeline being constructed to bring natural gas from Victoria to Adelaide, Pat successfully applied for the role of Pipeline Superintendent on the SEA Gas pipeline system, owned by South East Australia Gas (SEA Gas), where he continues to play a key role in the maintenance of the pipeline facilities.

Pat was one of the industry pioneers in Australia, starting work as a Pipeline Operator “C” Class in the Peterborough Depot, where in the early days, with limited experience and access to only basic tools and facilities, operators in the field relied on their initiative to get things done and resilience to have another go.

There was no local history to call upon and little information to guide operators on how best to ensure gas was safely and efficiently transported.

Pat was trained in the use of the highly specialised TDW hot tapping and stoppling equipment. He applied himself and with his characteristic attention to detail gained Australia-wide recognition for his expertise in the safe use of this critical equipment.

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SEA Gas Field Superintendent Pat O’Dea.

Setting a 22 inch (558 mm) Stopple Plug on the MAP.

Preparing a 22 inch (558 mm) Lock-O-Ring Completion Plug.

Extensive experience

also conducted by British Gas in 1986 and 1993, with the Peterborough-based supervisors and operators managing the field project.

Back when Pat started his career, the first issue of field equipment was a safety bag and a swag, as there was no accommodation along the line at that time. Later this progressed to tents and caravans, then eventually, as the compressor stations were gradually installed, more permanent accommodation became available.

Back in the swag days, Pat recalls it was like being on an outback adventure with campfires,

Pat has worked on several pigging operations on the MAPS and liquid hydrocarbon pipeline systems, including the first intelligent pigging of the MAPS with AMF Tuboscope in the mid1970s, which was possibly the first intelligent pigging operation in Australia. He also worked with the American company VETCO to run the first intelligent pig down the Santos owned liquid hydrocarbons line from Moomba to Port Bonython.

Intelligent pigging runs on the MAPS were The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

Loading a pig into the Santos Liquids Line.

big starry skies to gaze at and great camaraderie with the operators. The dress code in the main was based around the temperature of the day, with all long clothing on cold days and all short clothing, such as singlets and shorts, on hot days.

There were no showers and the best options on offer to wash off the accumulated dust were under the overflow of a farmer’s water tank, to bathe in a sheep trough (always remembering to drain to remove the soap afterwards) or to fill the front bucket of the backhoe excavator with water and use that as a bath.

There was no refrigeration and fresh meat only lasted up to when the ice melted (a couple of days) and then it was tinned tucker, which was okay until the labels rubbed off and it became a lucky dip, Pat says.

Pat recalls a highlight from the early period was the joining of two lakes, Blanche and Callabona, after a significant rain event in 1974.

“In order to maintain fuel supply to the generators of the communication repeater stations, we had to row a dinghy across the fast flowing wide creek to set up a two point pulling system with a vehicle either side tied to the dinghy,” he says.

“In this way 200 L drums of diesel could be floated and pulled from side to side - a major achievement to maintain communications between Moomba and Adelaide.”

More recently, as part of the maintenance and project team at SEA Gas, Pat has worked on some interesting and in some cases novel projects on the SEA Gas owned pipelines, including a major pipeline cleaning pigging program, intelligent pigging programs,

water-bath heater tuning and management, major plant shutdowns for valve and compressor station maintenance and deep excavation work, all without interruption to gas supply.

Looking to the future Pat has not only worked hands on supervising critical pipeline activities (including pipeline construction, CP anode bed installations, hot tap and stoppling throughout Australia, excavation for stress corrosion crack cracking, pipeline repairs, pipeline coatings etc), he has also had substantial input into the development of safe work procedures for these activities over many years. He is the first to acknowledge the pipeline industry has come a long way since the formative days.

He was asked about the romanticism attached to self-reliance and the need to be able to make many more decisions on the run than is permitted nowadays, with work governed by policies and procedures and far greater regulation.

“I have seen a lot of changes in the industry over the past fifty years, a lot for the better but in some cases certainly overcooked to the point that much decision-making or allowing people to think for themselves has been taken away,” says Pat. “Back in the 1970s, work processes would be carried by the work group with discussion on how to do the work (but no written procedure), with the repetitive work being undertaken on memory alone. From the late seventies standard operating procedures were developed by the supervisors and field personnel to document work processes so that technicians had a

consistent pattern to follow.

“Certainly, a change for the better has been the formalised approach to using tools such as risk assessments and safe work management systems and the wearing of full PPE has come a long way to protect people on the job.

“The highlight for me over the 50 years in the industry has been the people that I have worked with; contractors and company employees, as well as the variation of the work (construction, maintenance and projects) and the chance to travel. I have worked with and admired good project managers who all became friends over the years, including Geoff Balmer, Ed De Prinse, Nathan Smaistrla and Damian Penneck, as well as all of the dedicated Maintenance Team personnel from both Epic Energy and APA Group.

“The other highlight is having had the opportunity to work on the earlier operating system of the MAPS (which was new when I started) and then working on the high-tech operating system of the SEA Gas pipeline and being part of the original team to set this pipeline up for operations.

“I have to make special mention of the wives, girlfriends and children of the gas pipeline personnel who work remotely. Without the home support it would be impossible for the gas industry personnel to continue to maintain pipelines at remote facilities.

“There have been so many highlights throughout my career in the industry it is overwhelming to try and get just a small portion down for this article.”

Bringing energy to the community www.seagas.com.au The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

Moving forward in pipeline technology Every year, around 380 km of new pipelines are installed worldwide using Herrenknecht technology.

Thanks to innovative technological developments like Direct Pipe®, pipelines can be installed quickly and securely even in difficult topologies.

D

irect Pipe® continues to show its quality as a pipe installation method across the world by becoming an increasingly popular choice for underground infrastructure projects.

In Auckland, New Zealand, Direct Pipe® proved itself in a wastewater treatment plant modernisation project, where the Herrenknecht utility machine set a new distance record by boring 1,930 m through the NZ subsoil into the sea at McConnell Dowell’s Army Bay Ocean Outfall Project in 2019. By using the innovative technology, harmful environmental effects on the underwater flora were minimised.

In mid-2020, the record was broken once more in NZ when McConnell Dowell completed an incredible 2,021 m drive at the Snells Algies wastewater pipe and outfall construction project with the help of Herrenknecht technology.

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) rigs from Herrenknecht are also part of contractors' standard repertoire for river crossings. In Anglesea, Victoria, Dunstans Construction Group used a Herrenknecht HK250C rig to replace a sea outfall pipeline for a water treatment plant that had been cut off by a collapsing cliff, with all works completed within a few months.

Workers at McConnell Dowell’s Army Bay Ocean Outfall Project.

Around the world Far across the world in the south of Paris, the 10 m deep Canal latéral à l'Oise running parallel to the river Oise was widened and deepened to accommodate large vessels as part of a canal extension. The existing gas pipeline had to be lowered by 8 m and replaced and, after only a week, the approximately 250 m long and 18 m deep river crossing was successfully completed.

A special feature of this project was the HK80CK rig used, a hybrid piece of machinery powered by both a diesel engine and an electric motor. Once the rig was in position, only the electric motor runs during the drilling process, resulting in lower exhaust emissions.

In urban areas, the compact rig stands out with its space-saving design, while its low noise levels can increase acceptance of construction work among surrounding urban populations.

Herrenknecht says for the extraction of resources, its mechanised excavation technology

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Retrieval of the Herrenknecht machine after project completion.

is also commonly used. With entry angles between a shallow 8 and a vertical 90 degrees, coal seam gases and oil sands at depths of up to 2,000 m can be tapped using slant directional drilling (SDD). In Zevenbergen in the Netherlands, renewable geothermal energy accessed by Herrenknecht deep drilling rigs is used to heat multiple greenhouses.

Always improving To drive advances in the pipeline market, Herrenknecht is constantly working to improve existing pipeline technologies. In close cooperation with HDD specialists, for example, innovative tools have been developed that significantly simplify the previously The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

multi-stage reaming process.

The Full Face Hole Opener (FFHO) is a milestone in HDD pipeline installation as it enables the efficient reaming of pilot holes in a single step. The Downhole Jetpump (DHJP) removes the drill cuttings in the drill string itself and not through the borehole, meaning HDD boreholes are cleaned much more effectively and safely than before.

The tools can be used individually or in combination to help to get the best results from any project.

For more information visit www.herrenknecht.com

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PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

Pipeline Plant Hire’s vacuum lifting equipment on a project in the Olympic Dam, South Australia.

Higher productivity for the industry When your largest customers are the industry’s major players, it’s necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of the sector you operate in to stand out. With more than 30 years working on pipeline projects, Pipeline Plant Hire has that experience and uses it to the benefit of all its clients.

P

ipeline Plant Hire ensures its modern fleet is suitable to the current project requirements its customers require to guarantee both availability and productivity are maximised. A key element of plant management is the ability to use hired equipment and integrate it into a project as if it is your own, something Pipeline Plant Hire can seamlessly achieve for its customers.

The company says while it does have a large fleet of new or like-new excavators, padding machines, wheel loaders, graders, dozers, articulated dump trucks, articulated water carts and other equipment needed to build a pipeline, its business is as much about the attachments fitted to the machines as it is about the machines themselves.

Vacuum lifting equipment One of the company’s most productive attachments is its large range of vacuum lifting equipment. Pipeline Plant Hire says over recent years, there have been few innovations that have contributed as much to the improvement of

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safety and construction productivity in the pipeline industry as the handling of pipe using vacuum lifting equipment.

During the manufacturing, shipping, distribution, stringing and laying of a pipeline, the pipe is moved several times. Traditionally, numerous people would attach and detach slings, pipe clamps and chains on and off the pipe to accommodate this movement.

Now, vacuum pipe handling equipment has removed personnel away from the pipe, reducing the risk of injury and dramatically reducing the cycle time for each pipe movement to seconds rather than minutes.

With small units used to feed poly pipe, to fusion welding machines lifting a few hundred kilograms, or large units capable of lifting large diameter, high-pressure pipe weighing more than 12 t, Pipeline Plant Hire has the largest range of vacuum lifting equipment in the Australian market. The company also has an extensive range of diameter and material adaptors, beams and shoes to cater for all project needs.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

Pipeline Plant Hire says many recent large pipeline projects that incorporated hundreds of thousands of pipe handling movements have used the company’s Australian-designed and manufactured vacuum lifting equipment to achieve world-leading performance in pipe handling.

Additional offerings Pipeline Plant Hire also offers other specialised attachments, including Montabert hammers, ALLU or REMU hydraulic screening buckets, augers, angle tilt excavator grader blades, side rippers, stick rakes and log grabs.

The company prides itself on its speed of delivery to solve project problems, saying it works closely with the Australian pipeline industry to improve safety and productivity in the workplace, wherever that may be.

For more information visit www.pipelineplanthire.com.au

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We can engineer a solution to suit your project needs Not just a hire company, our extensive industry experience will match the best equipment to your project needs. We are continually adding new machines to our fleet broadening the type, range and quantity.

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PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

Proactive management keeps a cap on COVID-19 Nacap puts the health and safety of its people as its highest priority. The company’s proactive management of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed it to make good on this ideology, responding to the challenge to both keep staff safe and keep work on track.

O

n 11 March 2020, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This triggered an unprecedented response around the world for social distancing and safety hygiene measures, impacting people, businesses and economies.

Well before WHO’s March announcement, Nacap was already responding to the outbreak.

At Nacap, the safety of its people – both physically and mentally – is the company’s number one priority and the pandemic presented a unique safety issue never experienced before by the team.

Nacap’s tried and tested safety management system, involving clear and structured risk assessment plus management of change procedures, was fully trusted to respond to and manage the impact of COVID-19.

Identifying the risk Nacap lives by its values – integrity, teamwork and strive to be better – in all situations and its decision making. Upon the first news reports on COVID-19 in February 2020, Nacap Management met to discuss the severity of a potential pandemic for the health and safety of employees.

While it was also acknowledged there would be a direct impact on profitability of halting any construction work, this was secondary to the health and safety of Nacap personnel.

With personnel spread across corporate offices in Melbourne, Brisbane and Dubbo and on project sites in Dalby and Moranbah in Queensland, Darwin in the Northern Territory, Agnew in Western Australia and the Highlands in Papua New Guinea, Nacap was not prepared to put them at risk while waiting for the situation to unfold. A proactive response was the best and only course of action.

Initial response As a result of Nacap’s early response, there was limited information immediately available on COVID-19 safety management. The team checked daily reports on the Australian Government Department of Health, WHO, and Smart Traveller websites; however, there

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Nacap implements social distancing at pre-starts onsite.

was no advice for responding to large groups of employees dispersed across various locations.

Driven by Nacap Head of HSE Paul Whyte and the Nacap Executive Management Team (EMT), internal meetings were initially established to assess the risk and impact to people across all Nacap sites. In these meetings, the company was aware that additional consideration was required for site-based personnel in remote locations, and so turned to the Nacap Non-Negotiables.

Management of Change and Risk Assessment was the first of the Nacap Non-Negotiables addressed, leading the project team to step back and risk assess the change to the project environment and, in consultation with the client and key stakeholders, conduct an in depth risk assessment relevant to all aspects, stages and tasks associated with the project.

Formal safety risk assessments were conducted, agreements on actions were made and communication to employees followed.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

Actions were tracked from one meeting to the next to ensure nothing previously agreed failed to be implemented.

“Referring to Nacap’s Fitness for Work Non-Negotiable, Nacap was acutely aware that mental, as well as physical health, was at risk,” says Mr Whyte.

“We therefore took the opportunity to leverage from Nacap’s national partnership with Mates in Construction (MIC) and appointed MIC to conduct awareness and connector refresher sessions throughout the company, including the CNJV Project.”

‘Leading Teams’ sessions were also conducted for senior management as well as weekly whole business dial in/toolbox meetings facilitated by Senior Management, who addressed COVID-19 topics with all employees.

These ongoing sessions also featured communication from Head of HR Brian Watson and Paul Whyte on mental health related topics and Employee Assistance Programs.

PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

The specifics: Taking COVID-19 safety action On 21 February 2020, Nacap developed a working group with a diverse range of people in different roles from the CNJV Project Group in Queensland. The actions emanating from the working group, such as the COVID-19 Contingency Management Plan, were also immediately applicable to corporate offices and the other project teams.

Demobilisation from site and corporate offices In March 2020, the working team assessed whether the steps that were taken above would be effective in managing the risk.

“At the time, cases of COVID-19 in Australia were growing exponentially and the team felt that the steps taken above were not enough to ensure the safety of its people,” says Mr Whyte.

“Therefore, the decision was made to demobilise from both Moranbah and Dalby and personnel working from Melbourne and Brisbane offices were encouraged to work from home. Darwin, Agnew and PNG sites continued due to minimal staff located at these locations and their isolation in comparison to other states.”

In accordance with its duty of care as an employer, Nacap rolled out a range of COVID-19 support initiatives to all employees.

These included free flu shots, complimentary face masks for all staff and household family members, ergonomic furniture, working from home safety compliance checklists and online presentations from MIC.

Temperature checks in the corporate environment are among Nacap’s proactive COVID-19 measures.

Planning for remobilisation to project In March and April 2020, the COVID-19 Queensland project working group established new processes and revised site conditions that would provide a safe environment for its employees to return to sites in Dalby and Moranbah. The spread of COVID-19 and the learnings on the best way to deal with the virus were evolving daily, and a number of actions were implemented including social distancing on charter flights, at pre-starts and in offices, hygiene items throughout site locations, the appointment of extra cleaners and self-isolation procedures for any camp member presenting with COVID-19 symptoms.

Nacap also worked proactively with its Queensland project client for workers to ensure ‘essential worker’ border exemptions were obtained for affected persons.

Proactive COVID-19 measures including temperature checks were enacted at projects.

Remobilisation to site

Safety statistics

At the end of April 2020, the Dalby and Moranbah teams both successfully remobilised back without incident. In May, a small proportion of Brisbane, Dubbo and Melbourne corporate personnel returned to work some days in the office and some days from home. The remainder of employees continued to work from home with the controls initiated by the Queensland project working group well in force.

The working group are still monitoring all COVID-19 developments and are constantly assessing whether the processes put in place continue to provide a safe working environment for all employees.

Nacap Chief Operating Officer Ben Rees is proud of the Nacap response, saying "Nacap has successfully achieved zero COVID-19 instances throughout all offices and project sites (QLD, WA, NSW, VIC, SA, NT and PNG) since the outbreak."

“Office and site specific COVID-19 risk assessments and plans have been developed and implemented at all locations. By referring to and implementing the Nacap Non-Negotiables this has ensured that a robust and systematic approach to the management of COVID-19 has been developed, implemented, monitored and reviewed.”

For more information visit www.nacap.com.au The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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CORROSION AND CATHODIC PROTECTION

Industrial Coatings and Access uses its highly skilled operative teams to complete all types of surface preparation and coating applications.

A PSA about ICA Industrial Coatings and Access provides expert industrial fabric maintenance services across a range of sectors, including oil and gas. The company prioritises extensive preparation before each project to guarantee all work proceeds safely, on schedule and within budget.

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ormed by Managing Director Tom Whittleton, Industrial Coatings and Access (ICA) capitalises on Mr Whittleton’s extensive international experience in surface preparation, coating application and access solutions. This experience allows the company to deliver a range of specified coating tasks, with a focus on safety and quality of execution.

Surface preparation Surface preparation is the process of treating the surface of a substance to increase its adhesion to coatings. The most important function that

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influences coating performance is the quality of this surface preparation, which can be done mechanically or chemically.

ICA supplies competent and qualified specialist resources to fulfil all methods of surface preparation and the use of applicable equipment on projects of new-build construction, full or partial refurbishment fabric maintenance, shutdown or turnaround and other campaigns. The company can perform slurry blasting, dry abrasive blasting, hydro blasting, eco-vapour blasting, mechanical preparation and hand preparation.

ICA says it delivers the best value asset The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

protection while consistently minimising risk to workers, the environment and process disruption.

Coating applications ICA supplies expert coating application and specialist coating applicators using equipment and techniques to suit each specific job. The company can provide a range of applications, including single component coatings, multicomponent coatings, fireproofing, thermal spray, heavy duty screed coatings and many more.

ICA’s equipment range is just as extensive, providing expertise implementation of airless

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CORROSION AND CATHODIC PROTECTION

spraying, conventional spraying, air-assisted spraying, thermal spraying and more. The company’s commitment to health and safety across all projects separates it from the pack, and clients know ICA will always provide a dedicated and thorough service to any project.

Technology ICA uses OAK-COAT™ pipeline protection technology – a three-part wet lay-up protective composite coating system, designed as a unique reinforced turnkey solution to protect critical and high-value infrastructure from the rigours of abrasive processes and corrosive environments.

OAK-COAT provides lifetime protection against carbon-based sulphides and hazardous down-hole chemical gasses, such as NH3, H2S and H2CO3, and also prevents corrosion, erosion and abrasion on new and existing buried pipe sections including road crossings, production tubing, drill casings, sleeves and transmissions.

OAK-COAT can be further reinforced by using carbon fibre as an alternative to fibreglass to enhance protection characteristics for application in abrasive environments. The technology can be applied for external corrosion protection, abrasion resistance overlay, downhole protection, girth wield protection and both onshore and offshore pipeline protection.

Passive fire protection Continuing its focus on safety of both personnel and assets, ICA’s approved applicators are suitable for a range of passive fire protection (PFP) products and services.

PFP is about containing the fire while active fire protection is about stopping the fire, as – while the systems work independently – both systems need to be functioning properly to suppress and stop a fire.

ICA possesses in-house technical knowledge that allows it to advise clients on how to best achieve their required specifications in the most cost-efficient manner.

Working with established manufacturers and suppliers, ICA manages every stage of a client’s project from product selection, installation and application. The company has been experienced in a number of PFP application projects over the last few years in oil and gas, industrial and petrochemical environments.

Inspections and personnel ICA uses certified competent managerial and inspection personnel from NACE, ICorr and IRATA to ensure the highest quality of work.

The company’s NACE/ICORR certified coating inspectors have the capability to carry out specification review, fault diagnosis and thirdparty inspections.

ICA inspectors and managerial personnel can undertake all project management, quality control and assurance deliverables of any newbuild project or refurbishment project. The company also offers full and partial asset surveys to record the visible external corrosion based on the RI or RE scale of risk-based surveys of the asset’s safety case, both onshore and offshore.

ICA is additionally in the process of developing relationships with industry recognised fixed access solution companies within Australia. It can supply certified rope access specialist personnel to undertake any survey or inspection, and tradespersons for surface preparation and coating application projects.

The company re-invests heavily in upskilling its operative teams that in turn bring added value to clients. ICA has also invested significantly in the V-Deck Suspended Platform System, which has multiple applications, with enormous safety and productivity advantages.

Being lightweight and made from high strength materials, it is a great choice to achieve cost effective working at heights on any project.

ICA continues to be committed to delivering a service with quality standards and effective solutions, providing cost-effective work for clients safely on and on schedule.

For more information visit www.icaccess.com.au

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

CORROSION AND CATHODIC PROTECTION

Reducing the corrosion risk from hydrotesting new pipelines Hydrostatic testing is a critical period when newly constructed pipelines are pressure tested with water to make sure there are no leaks before oil or gas starts flowing through the vessels. Savcor Products Australia provides practical corrosion inhibiting hydrotesting technologies to ensure pipelines can continue to operate safely and efficiently.

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ver the years, experience has shown that water alone will result in flash corrosion on the internal surfaces of a pipeline. The longer the hydrotesting or construction process, the greater the risk that the pipeline will start to rust inside prior to commissioning.

By the time crews finish hydrotesting the entire pipeline, they may even return to the first segment of pipeline only to discover it has rusted in the meantime, with the subsequent cleaning process requiring additional time and resources to meet specifications.

Dewatering is one way to reduce the risk of corrosion after hydrotesting by running pigs through to remove as much water as possible.

Using a corrosion inhibitor additive is another excellent solution as it minimises the need for dewatering and cleaning and can also provide extended protection after hydrotesting.

Cortec® Corporation is a leader in practical corrosion inhibiting technologies that are user friendly and minimise environmental impact, with one of its most popular hydrotesting technologies being VpCI®-649 for use in freshwater hydrotesting applications.

VpCI-649 is a unique concentrated liquid formulation that protects ferrous and nonferrous metals. It combines contact and vaporphase corrosion inhibitors to help reach all metal surfaces inside the pipeline, below and above the surface of the water.

VpCI-649 also leaves behind a corrosion inhibiting film that provides up to two years of corrosion protection after hydrotesting while the pipeline is waiting to come online. It does not contain nitrites, phosphates, or chromates, therefore presenting an overall friendlier profile for disposal.

Oftentimes, pipelines are constructed in coastal or offshore environments, where an abundance of seawater offers a convenient source of hydrotesting water – however, as saltwater is highly corrosive and may end up doing more harm than good, Cortec offers a couple of solutions to mitigate this problem.

VpCI-645 Marine Use Corrosion Inhibitor is a concentrated formula that provides effective corrosion protection against high chloride solutions, such as saltwater and brine. For those on a tighter budget, EcoLine® VpCI-642 is a more economical alternative specially designed for hydrotesting with seawater.

Both products contain 93 per cent USDA certified biobased content and have qualities that create a friendlier disposal profile. Pipeline hydrotesting is necessary but corrosion is not, and by using the right VpCI corrosion inhibitor additives, the need for post-hydrotesting cleaning and rust removal can be eliminated or greatly reduced.

These products are available through Savcor Products Australia in Australia and New Zealand.

Adobe Stock © Cortec®

For more information please contact your local Savcor Products representative on 1800 SAVCOR or visit www.savcorproducts.com.au

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Pipeline pigs and equipment including: Foam, Poly Coated & Wire Brush Pigs Monolithic Insulating Joints Hot Tapping Equipment

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T: 07 5549 2248 E: brisbane@savcor.com.au

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

Perth

T: 08 6240 3900 E: perth@savcor.com.au

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WOMEN IN PIPELINES

Qenos quicksteps towards equality As a woman in the pipeline workforce, Qenos’ Pipe and Roto Sales Manager Melissa Brewer says despite industry changes and challenges, her focus remains consistent: to achieve the best outcome for all.

Chemist with a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science, Ms Brewer is a great example of where passion, skills, hard work and expertise can take you in the industry.

At Qenos, Ms Brewer has access to a wide range of technical and commercial roles, ranging from working in the company’s technical centre on product quality assurance, through to product development, account management and now, in her current role as Sales Manager.

Excited by the amount of complexity, change, and the fast-paced environment, Ms Brewer has thrived in a constantly developing market, and enjoying the day-to-day contrasts and diversity in her work life has been particularly rewarding.

Ms Brewer says memorable projects include the development of Qenos’ PE100 low slump (HDF145B) and PE100HSCR (HCR193B), where she was able to highlight industry projects that exemplified the capabilities of these materials. In addition, visiting sites, meeting the crews and hearing all the stories from customers have been highlights.

“I’m really grateful to work with customers as well as teams within marketing, commercial and technical departments in Qenos to bring new product developments to the market,” says Ms Brewer.

“It’s a real team approach to what we all do, and the pipeline industry has been fantastic in supporting and pushing forward more smart people in their careers for the good of the industry.”

A bright future

Qenos Pipe and Roto Sales Manager Melissa Brewer.

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s Brewer has a key motto when it comes to working in the pipeline industry; whether it be within her organisation, Qenos, or when engaging with the broader outcome, Ms Brewer recognises that everyone is here to achieve the best result for both the business and the industry.

Speaking about women in the industry, Ms Brewer says, “I believe we need to communicate as if we are on the same team, on a level playing field, and demonstrate respect.

Irrespective of gender, race or otherwise, there

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should be no difference.”

This passion and attitude to stand for equality is one Qenos is proud to have and proud to demonstrate throughout the broadening scope of the pipeline industry. The company says it is also a good illustration of what direction future leaders will be taking the industry in the coming decade.

Embracing change in a complex sector Having started with Qenos as a Graduate The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

Ms Brewer says the future looks promising for women in the sector. In parallel with more females entering the industry, the most recent impact of COVID-19 has seen a total re-examination on how we work on a day-to-day basis.

Today, more than ever, the opportunity for flexible working arrangements could not be more present or relevant, which is great for women where traditionally time out or flexible working schedules have precluded them from positions in organisations.

In this new ‘future of working’ structure, Ms Brewer predicts that over the coming years the doors will be further widened to a more diverse talent pool, and she hopes employees and organisations will look to tap into a broader skillset and employee profile.

WOMEN IN PIPELINES

Fostering networks and empowering women Ms Brewer is a great advocate for encouraging and supporting women in pipe and the wider manufacturing and construction industries.

“Strong, driven, smart women are certainly present within the Qenos fold, and the wider pipe industry,” she says.

“I’m grateful that I’ve had such a broad

About Qenos Qenos is the sole manufacturer of polyethylene resin in Australia.

The company offers a full range of polyethylene pipe grades used in a wide variety of demanding applications including potable water and distribution, irrigation, sewerage and drainage, mining and coal seam gas. The Qenos range includes PE100 classified grades for use in pressure pipes and fittings.

For more information visit www.qenos.com

exposure to these females, who each in their own right have contributed to my personal development. Every day I am interacting and engaging with a diverse range of ladies: ranging from CEOs, marketing and corporate affairs, engineers and scientists to name a few.”

According to Ms Brewer, building networks of likeminded females is critical to fostering success.

“Empower each other. Recognise and celebrate success. Acknowledge the complexities of navigating life in the corporate manufacturing world. Set, strive and achieve your aspirations, and don’t be afraid to aim high,” she says.

Ms Brewer is a firm believer in recognising and supporting females in the sector and making sure the organisations they work with provide the very best career development and support in their workplaces.

“We are all here to achieve the best outcome for our business and the industry, and that remains my focus. While the current industry may be heavily male dominated, it’s up to us to not only take opportunities, but to create them,” she says.

“If you see the potential for contribution, improvement or change, step up and let others

know. Our industry has strong females emerging, and let’s continue to foster them across all levels.”

Keeping the momentum going The current era has put leaders in the pipeline industry in a great position to keep supporting and mentoring women throughout the sector. Qenos is a strong sponsor of women in industry, working closely with women both in and out of their organisations to support career advancement.

Alongside work with STEM programs and school children, Qenos is proud to have strong female leaders in all areas of its business including commercial, technical, finance and human resources. The company says helping women understand their industry value and providing strong career development structures and mentors is integral to its company values.

“If you are a female looking to advance, please make a point of seeking out challenging projects and roles,” Qenos says.

“Make sure that you shout about and reflect on your accomplishments. And ensure that you are getting all you need to progress in your career.”

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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WOMEN IN PIPELINES

Celebrating women in pipelines and gas If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that diversity of thought is crucial to building resilient and agile organisations.

Here, we celebrate the contributions of just a handful of the extraordinary women that are driving diversity, innovation and progress in the pipeline and gas sector.

Donna McDowall

Vice President – Corporate Development and Strategy, Quanta Services Australia Years in the industry: 14 years ongoing, but I started dabbling in 2002 when I worked for British Gas in Manchester, UK. What do you enjoy most about the pipeline industry?

I like the family aspect. I have good friends who on face value are competitors, but you would never know it. That is probably why I first participated and then wanted to continue to give back by becoming a director at APGA. How has the industry changed during your time?

People have got older, bellies have grown bigger, we all used to be young and could handle our drinking better. On a serious note, the industry is transitioning through enormous change as we speak with new fuels, climate concerns and continued global connectivity. It is an exciting time, perhaps more than ever, to be involved and to make a difference.

What advice would you give to the younger generations, particularly females, interested in a career in the industry?

It’s an interesting question this one. It doesn’t matter if you are a woman, it is about diversity of thought. Every person has doubts and insecurities and whether you think it’s being a woman in a man’s world, or something else entirely... You find what you’re good at within the parameters you want your career and shine at that. You don’t need to know everything, but diverse minds and diverse teams are what make companies more successful.

Nikki Gravestock Senior Engineer, Atteris

Years in the industry: 10 What inspired you to join the industry?

I wanted a career that would offer a chance to experience multiple roles and provide continuous learning opportunities. I grew up around the oil and gas industry; my father is a geophysicist working in exploration for an operator. His work provided me with some amazing experiences, I’ve lived in four different countries, seen the world and experienced many different cultures. I have very fond memories of growing up and when it came time to choose my own path this industry seemed the right way to go.

Do you have any predictions for the future of the industry?

Pipelines will be around for many years to come, but what is put in them will start to change. There is a push towards alternative energy sources and the pipeline industry plays a role in that. There is a lot of exciting work within the integrity management space for alternative energy sources. For example, understanding how the technical integrity risks change when hydrogen is introduced, what new technologies are required to detect these risks, how does that change asset management strategies.

What makes you proud to be a pipeliner?

I’m proud when I take my years of experience and use that to make a system more efficient and increase technical integrity, to be playing my part in creating systems which are safer for personnel and the environment.

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WOMEN IN PIPELINES

Susan Jaques

Founder and CEO, Sage Consulting Solutions Years in the industry: 27 What do you enjoy most about the pipeline industry?

It’s the people. There is something about pipeliners – we have to think beyond our little patch because our assets go through forests and lakes and people’s backyards. It’s different to a process plant where the assets are mostly contained behind a fence. Pipeliners work in the public domain with many present dangers, and I think that attracts a different type of person with a wider view, awareness and appreciation of the world.

How has the industry changed during your time?

When I started in the early 1990s, I was proud to work for the pipeline company. I’ve always loved being out onsite where the real work is done with the trenching and the welding and the pressure testing. It’s unfortunate that now it feels like I have to kind of shy away when I tell people what I do. The barbeque question “What do you do?” has become fraught lately. I’m also surprised that for 20 years I never really thought about who needed what was inside the pipe, or what it was used for, or where the market was and who might use more of it in the future. Now that is a huge question for the industry.

What advice would you give to the younger generations, particularly females, interested in a career in the industry?

The uncertainty and unknowns of the future are a given. The opposite of uncertainty is to be reliable and predictable. So, when things are uncertain like this, be reliable and predictable. Be professional, strive for excellence, be the one people go to for help, and then use the mantra “Because I said I would”. Do something each day that makes you proud. Don’t get bogged down in office politics or gossip or worry about what others are doing. Do good work, be self-aware, don’t expect it to be easy, and finally, find work that gives you satisfaction and that which you want to excel at, regardless of what’s going on around you.

Teresa Latter

Resourcing Manager, rhi Years in the industry: 3 What do you enjoy most about the pipeline industry?

The pipeline industry has afforded me the opportunity to work with some exceptional professionals that I have both helped and learned from. There is so much opportunity and future within the pipeline industry and I am excited to be a part of such growth.

Do you have any predictions for the future of the industry?

I believe there is some uncertainty within our industry given the global pandemic. There will be some challenges to face over the coming months. However, the industry is strong and the people are stronger, so it will recover.

What advice would you give to the younger generations, particularly females, interested in a career in the industry?

One thing I wish I knew earlier is the importance of having a strong network of people, both professionally and personally. What has aided me in my successes is the strong network of people I have around me; without these partnerships and strong relationships, I do not believe I would be where I am today in my career. My advice is, embrace all the connections you make and take the chance to learn something from them. They influence growth in your position and pave the way for better opportunities in your career.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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WOMEN IN PIPELINES

Orla Gallagher

Engineering Manager, Spiecapag Years in the industry: I celebrated my 10 year anniversary as a pipeliner in September!

What do you enjoy most about the pipeline industry?

There’s a great sense of camaraderie and we’re all guided by a strong community spirit across the industry. In one recent example, the whole Spiecapag office got involved in the Brisbane marathon and raised $20,000 for Mates in Construction. It’s an industry where you are constantly pushed to deliver, and you can’t help but learn along the way. I guess I feel lucky to be part of a team that constantly pushes itself to perform at its best, delivering for an industry that makes a difference.

How has the industry changed during your time?

The role of women is more visible, even if you just look at the APGA Women’s Leadership Development Program, or the equivalent at Vinci (Spiecapag’s parent company). But it’s not only that. Safety and people’s broader wellbeing has gone beyond something we do, to now being part of our culture. It’s a non-negotiable. And of course the introduction of communication and handheld technology means we have the best information available no matter where we are, making it so much easier to comply with stakeholder requirements, be it land access rules or protecting cultural heritage, and of course, protecting the environment.

In the past 10 years, thanks to continuous work in the oil and gas industry, our local suppliers are now much attuned to the industry requirements in general, which is great news for the communities we work in.

What makes you proud to be in the pipeline industry?

Pride and excellence in how we do things makes a big difference to those around us: our customers, our landholders, our suppliers, and most certainly our colleagues and shareholders. This drives us to strive for that excellence, be it productivity, environmental protection or community involvement. We can all make a difference – and we do. We are truly essential workers, so often out of sight. Truckers may keep Australia moving, but nothing would move without pipeliners.

Samantha Oler

Engineering Services Manager, ATCO Years in the industry: 3 years in Australia and 8 years in Canada Do you have any predictions for the future of the industry?

I think the pipeline industry will only continue to grow. Immediately the driver is the quality of life petroleum products provide and in the long term this will transfer to alternative (green) fuels and continue to support a quality of life in a responsible fashion.

What advice would you give to the younger generations, particularly females, interested in a career in the industry?

I’m finding younger generations are more geared towards soft skills, networking and a place to be innovative. These are skills you will find in high demand in the pipeline industry and is what I have personally found very engaging. However, being an aging and wellestablished industry, it can be intimidating to break in.

My advice to younger generations, and particularly females, is to focus on resilience and learning how to not take feedback personally. There is a wealth of knowledge available in the pipeline industry and if you come in with the right attitude you will have many teachers. Think of it as their feedback is only to make your ideas stronger, not bring them down – so don’t give up!

What makes you proud to be in the pipeline industry?

What makes me want to stay in the pipeline industry is the evolving space into supporting green energy. At heart I’m an environmentalist and as the saying goes, reduce, reuse and recycle. I strongly believe we can reuse our pipeline networks in the future and look forward to being a part of that change.

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

Nerise Cook

Commercial Manager – Queensland Transmission Assets, Jemena Years in the industry: 12 years Are there other roles in the industry that you have experienced?

Prior to joining the Commercial and Operations Team I was fortunate to hold various roles within Jemena and its affiliated services business Zinfra. Predominantly I have been involved in the construction and acquisition of many of Jemena’s pipeline assets including most recently the Northern Gas Pipeline, the Atlas and Roma North Gas Processing Facilities. With my move to Commercial and Operations I have had the good fortune to join them on their integration journey and their transition to commercial operation.

Do you have any predictions for the future of the industry?

Over the next decade I expect we will continue to see significant evolution in the pipeline industry driven largely by market dynamics and the response to climate change. We will likely see the construction of an east coast LNG Import Terminal within a few years.

Increasing community concern and political focus on climate will shape the future of the pipeline industry and as we are already witnessing this is driving innovation. Trials to blend hydrogen with natural gas have commenced, including our own Western Sydney Green Gas demonstration, and there are a number of projects exploring the potential for biomethane as an alternate fuel source. It’s definitely an exciting time to be part of the pipeline industry.

What advice would you give to the younger generations, particularly females, interested in a career in the industry?

Get involved. The pipeline industry provides diverse and interesting opportunities in terms of roles and work arrangements and there is lots of scope for individuals who are motivated and able to work effectively as part of a diverse team.

In my opinion, there remain far too few women in the sector however organisations like APGA, through initiatives like its Women’s Leadership Development Program, have recognised this and are committed to improving the participation of women in the industry.

Jemena has also recognised that work place flexibility and gender are focus areas. Last year, the business identified a number of initiatives designed to encourage the recruitment and retention of females in the work force. There’s still a long way to go, but things are improving. I would certainly encourage the younger generations, both male and female, to consider a career pipeline industry.

The interviews published here are abridged versions.

To read the full interviews, visit www.pipeliner.com.au

Ongoing initiatives from APGA The APGA has placed a significant focus on supporting women in the industry over the past 12 months, spearheading some fantastic initiatives including the Women’s Leadership Development Program. Facilitated by Gretchen Gagel, President of Greatness Consulting, the program has had a waitlist since its launch, demonstrating the strong demand that exists in the sector. Over 75 women have gone through the program and it has continued to operate as a virtual program since the pandemic hit. Most recently Ms Gagel hosted a webinar looking at women’s perspectives on leading and excelling in the pipeline industry, which was well attended and well received.

For further information on initiatives like this, visit apga.org.au The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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A diverse approach to innovation After spending most of her career in and around traditionally male dominated industries, RDO Australia Group CEO Julie Whitcombe says every kind of diversity, be it gender, race, socio-economic status or age, is critical to a business and an industry’s long-term sustainability.

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DO Australia Group is one of the world’s largest Vermeer and John Deere equipment dealers, encompassing Vermeer Australia, Vanderfield and RDO Equipment. The group proudly employs more than 550 staff and operates out of 18 dealer locations providing sales, parts and service support for the agricultural, roads, civil construction, landscaping, mining and forestry sectors – with Ms Whitcombe stepping into the CEO role late last year.

Ms Whitcombe says she has always enjoyed the directness of primary industries and the feeling of being “part of a business that contributes something real and tangible to our society and economy, be it roads, infrastructure or raw materials for manufacturing or food”.

Speaking on equality, Ms Whitcombe says she has a front-row seat to recognising why diversity in these industries is so vital.

“I’ve learnt that diversity in these typically male dominated industries ensures that the ideas going into the hopper are as varied as possible, and this delivers when it comes to execution, because we are taking on the best ideas of everyone involved, and utilising diverse backgrounds and skillsets to ensure a successful outcome on projects,” she says.

“Seeing women step into non-traditional roles is just one sign that the pipeline industry, and many other male dominated industries, are evolving and opening their collective minds to new ideas and perspectives that continue to see them thrive.

“Women have a lot to offer in creating and leading high performing teams that harness the strengths and talents of an increasingly diverse, and sometimes transient workforce. In the end, all industries must innovate to thrive, and diversity of thought is critical to the ability to innovate.”

Long-standing customer of Vermeer Australia and Director of Pipe Pro Directional Drilling Dannielle James says she completely agrees with this notion after a similar career trajectory.

“I have worked in male dominated industries for nearly my whole career, in both the pipelining industry and the mining sector, and I’ve learnt that a diverse workforce gives you a team that has a great deal of

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depth, as they all bring different strengths and ideas to the table,” says Ms James.

“Throughout my years working in the mines in Western Australia, I saw more and more women take on roles and really owning them, and I try to promote that in my directional drilling business. The diversity I’ve seen has made each workforce more successful in productivity as well as creating an enjoyable place to work.

“I do see that a lot of women feel they need years of knowledge and experience before applying for an operator role, and that makes them reluctant to apply. So, I’m a big advocate of getting out and about and to speak to women about moving into this industry or any type of trade industry that they may think has traditionally been male dominated.”

Practicing what you preach RDO Group and Vermeer Australia don’t just say diversity is an important facet in organisational success, they act on it too.

Ms Whitcombe says the team at Vermeer Australia features great women who are making their mark in the company and has no doubts they will continue to do so.

“Our Operations Manager in Victoria, Christine Meilak, for example, worked her way through the ranks from administrative roles to take on a branch leadership position, and over recent months we’ve seen the benefit of her authentic leadership style especially as we navigate the daily challenges of COVID-19,” says Ms Whitcombe.

“Our National Parts Manager, Nellie Smit, similarly changed industries and has worked her way up in a short period to a senior national role in our business. Her respect for her team, willingness to get to the bottom of problems before proposing solutions and sharing her thoughts and perspectives are hallmarks of her style.

“We have many other talented women across our business that I don’t have the space here to call out separately – but I will say that I love the quality and authenticity of the conversations that flow from the different backgrounds coming together across our team, and I’m excited to continue to add and build to this to ensure we always are fostering innovation.”

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

RDO Australia Group – comprised of Vermeer Australia, Vanderfield and RDO Equipment – CEO Julie Whitcombe.

Pipe Pro Directional Drilling Director and long-time Vermeer Australia customer Dannielle James.

For more information visit www.vermeeraustralia.com.au

W E A L WAY S F I N D A WAY TO DELIVER CLOUGH IS A PIONEERING ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, FOUNDED IN PERTH, AUSTRALIA IN 1919.

We are Australia’s most experienced EPC oil and gas contractor. We successfully deliver challenging projects with a dedication to problem solving and getting the job done safely and efficiently.

ENGINEERING - CONSTRUCTION - COMMISSIONING

GENDER EQUALITY AT CLOUGH At Clough, we want to ensure that the engineering and construction industry provides a workplace where everyone feels valued through an inclusive environment that accepts every person, embracing their strengths and their differences, and providing opportunities for everyone to achieve their full potential. We are working hard to ensure our workplace culture embraces the expectations set by our society.

Clough is proud to be an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for 2019-20.

FOLLOW US AT

CLOUGHGROUP.COM

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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WOMEN IN PIPELINES

The women of Clough are unanimous in saying their workplace is one that continuously strived for equality.

Pictured here is (L-R) Martine Nordh, Rebecca Bicknell, Mahsa Goharfar, Jocelyn Munck and Amanda D’souza.

Paving the industry’s path to equality Workplace equality is imperative to the success of businesses and industries everywhere. Engineering and construction company Clough is committed to ensuring it provides an inclusive and supportive environment for all staff. The Australian Pipeliner spoke to women from the organisation to learn more about how Clough has helped them flourish in their careers.

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

WOMEN IN PIPELINES

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n February 2020, Clough was granted the Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) citation for 2019-20 by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, a formal recognition of the company’s commitment and continued efforts to drive gender equality.

119 organisations across Australia met the high standards and rigorous assessment process required to become an EOCGE citation holder, but only two engineering and construction organisations were granted the recognition, an achievement the staff at Clough are incredibly proud to see the company receive.

Longstanding employee Martine Nordh has been with Clough since 2009 and currently holds the position of Senior Planning Engineer.

Through her years working on countless pipeline projects with the company, Martine says the “Cloughies” have always supported her.

Martine takes pride in working for Clough, knowing that the company always hires based on who is the best candidate for the job.

“I love working with this great bunch of people from all walks of life to successfully deliver projects for Clough and our clients,” says Martine.

Mahsa Goharfar joined Clough in 2013 and currently leads the East Coast and Papua New Guinea (PNG) Process Engineering team.

Mahsa says Clough has always provided a supportive environment with flexible options to help staff achieve an appropriate work-life balance.

“Clough provides flexibility in work hours which give employees more choice and opportunity to determine how they blend work and family responsibilities.”

Mahsa says she particularly loves the people and the culture and especially appreciates the open communications across the company about how Clough progresses as a business on its values.

Rebecca Bicknell, a Structural, Mechanical and Piping Estimator at Clough, says the company has formalised its commitment to gender equality with a clear plan on how it will improve gender equality across the business.

“I am proud to see more women in senior roles in addition to male advocates for achieving gender equality in our industry,” says Rebecca.

“Senior leaders are tackling the ‘traditional’ gender norms head-on and the consolidated message from all the leadership team is that a gender equal workplace is not an aspirational concept, it is the norm.”

“A tool that supports this is our flexible approach to working, which allows everyone to adopt remote working and flexible work

hours which has obvious benefits to those of us with family commitments.”

“I have also been involved in a leadership mentoring program which has facilitated an open dialogue on all issues both operational and cultural with other leaders in the business.”

“To me, this open conversation has re-affirmed Clough’s commitment to women in our industry from the top down.”

Rebecca says she would tell young individuals aspiring towards a pipeline career they would have the opportunity to work in an exciting and diverse workplace at Clough, noting many different projects and sectors of the organisation the company offers.

“Perhaps the most exciting thing that a young person can be involved in is change,” says Rebecca.

“They will have the opportunity to work with a company that is committed to doing things differently and they might just even be the first generation to work in a truly gender equal workplace.”

Supporting the next generation Clough prides itself on being a company that values its graduates and invests in their training and professional development, with some of the executive managers in high levels of the organisation starting as graduates once themselves.

Current graduate Amanda D’souza is indicative of this investment, with her Clough career starting as an intern in 2018 and progressing to her position as a Graduate Electrical/Instrumentation Engineer in 2020.

Amanda was given the opportunity to be a part of a wellsites and gathering network project when she took on her Graduate Engineer role, which she says felt daunting at first, but Clough’s support helped her ease any nerves.

“The Clough team onsite were always so welcoming and supportive during my entire time there and made the entire experience one to remember,” says Amanda, adding that the

Clough support system is something she loves most about the company.

Amanda says Clough is engaged in a number of organisations that support women in the industry, and encourages staff to attend events that promote and honour excellence while making new connections and networking with others.

Jocelyn Munck is also a part of Clough’s Graduate Program, beginning her career with Clough as an engineering intern before transitioning to the graduate role. Jocelyn says Clough constantly provides interesting and different opportunities that allow her to expand her knowledge, and she considers herself lucky to have excellent female role models within the company, including her discipline engineering line manager.

“To be able to see women in positions of leadership and management is important for me as it inspires me to reach for those levels,” says Jocelyn.

“What I enjoy the most is the people and working culture that has been developed. I have been given the opportunity to work with great mentors and talented engineers that are willing to spend time working on my development. Clough values their graduates and takes the time to make sure that they are being heard and receiving the opportunities they want.”

Future steps Clough Regional Manager for Queensland and PNG Ivor Peries says he has seen lots positive changes across the industry as it works towards gender equality which will only accelerate and further improve in the future.

“At Clough, our business leaders have strong technical experience and enjoy mentoring and nurturing the next generation of engineers in their career development,” says Ivor.

“A workplace that fosters young talent and supports diversity has access to a much deeper talent pool and stimulates the sort of creativity that is the cornerstone of Clough’s delivery model.”

About Clough Clough is a pioneering engineering and construction company established in 1919. Clough delivers challenging high performing assets for the infrastructure, resources and energy industries underpinned by a dedication to problem solving and getting the job done safely and efficiently. Today, the company manages a global workforce of more than 2,000 people from operating centres across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Asia, Africa, UK and North America that strive for the best in everything, including setting new safety and performance benchmarks every single day. For more information visit www.cloughgroup.com The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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PIPELINE AND GAS JOBS

Labour hire laws adjusted States around Australia continue to amend and modify their labour hire regulations, with changes likely to impact some companies within the pipeline industry.

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abour hire licencing is a recently introduced regulatory scheme to protect workers from exploitation by labour hire providers and host employers, and to promote integrity in the industry. In July 2020, the South Australian Government amended its laws to narrow regulation to five high-risk sectors where workers are proven to be vulnerable to exploitation in horticulture, meat processing, seafood processing, cleaning and trolley collection.

SA Attorney-General Vickie Chapman says the reforms mean numerous businesses that are currently licensed will no longer need to be.

“The law as originally passed was simply not workable, and cast far too wide a net,” she says.

“These amendments will help ensure we’re targeting those areas where workers are most vulnerable and send a clear message that any business taking advantage of their workers will be held to account.”

“The new government reforms to the original broad-based scheme is welcome news – it’s not only confirmation of our sector’s great labour hire performance, but will reduce red tape and cost burden for our business and the businesses we work with in the state, especially now during COVID-19 conditions,” says Peter Norman Personnel Recruitment Manager Kate Cuic.

“As we do not operate in any of the five sectors, we have surrendered our license and

Adobe Stock © Wutzkoh

encourage all businesses to review the need to maintain a license via the SA government’s Consumer and Business Services (CBS) portal if they’ve not yet received an email about the changes.”

Meanwhile, earlier this year, the ACT Government passed its own Labour Hire Licensing Bill after a two-year inquiry that

Ms Cuic says initially appears to have broad and comprehensive coverage to protect vulnerable workers.

“We’re hopeful the ACT Government will follow South Australia’s lead to focus attention and resources to high-risk sectors before they finalise legislation and initiate their scheme from 1 January 2021,” she says.

For more information visit www.peternorman.com.au

www.peternorman.com.au

1300 THE KEY (1300 843 539)

pipework@peternorman.com.au

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PETER NORMAN PERSONNEL

The Key to Personnel - placements & payroll for 25+ years

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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www.pipeliner.com.au A Great Southern Press publication

COMPANY NEWS

AMS eyes continued growth Founded in 1978, AMS has since grown from a four-person organisation working solely in Melbourne to a large team with offices all over Australia. The Australian Pipeliner sat down with down with AMS CEO Dirk Kuiper to discuss the business growth, its present-day operations and what its aiming for in the future.

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r Kuiper says he purchased AMS in 1999 after identifying the growth potential of the company’s product range which included a niche product line in the instrumentation market that he envisaged could flourish over the years alongside the industry.

“When I purchased the company it only had four employees and with only an office in Melbourne,” says Mr Kuiper.

“The turnover since those early days has grown immensely. Now, the AMS team has grown to 25 people with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.”

Mr Kuiper says he believes in being ethical in the company’s work and instills this value in all employees.

“AMS will be the trusted partner by providing unique expertise in offering engineering and product selection advice for instrumentation and calibration solutions.”

A diverse range Under Mr Kuiper’s leadership, AMS has grown its product offerings to include a diverse range of instrumentation tools that can be broadly arranged into several categories, including calibration equipment, flow, pressure and level equipment and a range analytical instrumentation.

Mr Kuiper says the product range of instrumentation equipment offered by AMS is used in a diverse range of industries, such as power generation, mining, water and wastewater, oil and gas, food and beverage and pulp and paper.

“The hardware and software range of calibration equipment of Beamex would be our main product line,” says Mr Kuiper.

“Other major brands that AMS represents are FCI Thermal Dispersion Flowmeters, McCrometer Flow Devices, Michell Instruments analytical range of equipment, Bronkhorst range of low-flow instrumentation for liquids and gases and the Optek range of inline analysers.”

While its offices are based in Australian cities and the product range is also mainly used around the country, AMS also offers many of its products to New Zealand, Papua New

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AMS CEO Dirk Kuiper

Guinea and throughout the Pacific region.

Service offerings AMS’ customer experience does not end with product supply, with service, calibration and training also available. AMS understands that when process control instrumentation and measurement equipment go offline, everything goes offline – which is why it supports its customers by offering repair services to resolve these issues and keep organisations up and running.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

AMS’ team of highly trained technicians can repair and calibrate a wide range of instrumentation at its Melbourne head office facilities. Conversely, AMS also offers onsite calibration and service to get systems back on track with minimal downtime, where experienced service technicians will visit a facility of job site for calibration, troubleshooting and start-up assistance.

Mr Kuiper says the team offers a complete range of training courses for the equipment it represents, and these courses

COMPANY NEWS

can take place either onsite or at AMS’ head office in Melbourne.

Future steps Mr Kuiper says in the current COVID-19 situation, looking into the future feels “a little bit like crystal ball gazing”.

“However, I believe that due to the product lines AMS represents it will be able to continue to operate at the current levels.

“Once we will get back to some 'normality' the company will see further growth and I believe that we will a see our largest growth will be in our analytical division, as this is a relatively new part of our business,” he says.

Mr Kuiper says in his 55 years in the instrumentation business he has seen many changes, particular due to the advancements in technology. As the industry grows, he continues to be proud of all AMS’ achievements and the great team behind him and feels confident the business will continue grow alongside the industry into the future.

For more information visit www.ams-ic.com.au

AMS' ECD LQ800 Multi Channel Controller High Res.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

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COMPANY NEWS

An ARTA dry break coupling used on a system that was under working pressure.

Industry coupling offers LNG innovations Treloar Trading and its international partner ARTA are offering the global market new LNG products, including gas dry break and breakaway coupling technology as well as cryogenic equipment for loading and unloading.

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NG is a global commodity accounting for a significant percentage of worldwide gas consumption. To keep up the pace and follow demand, LNG infrastructure requires continuous innovation to align with its distribution needs.

With the global market needing LNG in smaller packages for land distribution as fuel or decentralised power plants – which may be isolated from LNG hubs – safe loading and

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unloading has become a major industry necessity.

Recognising this need, Treloar Trading and its international partner ARTA now offer industryleading gas coupling technology and cryogenic equipment. Treloar prides itself on providing access to the latest technology with solutions tailored to individual client needs and can continue its long history of supplying critical fluid solutions and services through these ARTA components.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

An impressive range ARTA’s dry break couplings are systems for the spill-free transport of liquid and gaseous media in discharge and suction lines by enabling fast, safe coupling and uncoupling of hoses and piping. This can be done while the system is under working pressure.

Conversely, its breakaway couplings are designed only to separate if a dangerous situation occurs – such as the sudden departure

COMPANY NEWS

of a tanker truck that is still connected to a hose line. In this instance, both halves of the separated coupling close with virtually zero product loss and by doing so, the system protects both the environment and the user and limits the risk of damage to the mechanical parts of the loading system.

ARTA’s coupling range has been in the industry for more than 50 years, and these products have been continuously upgraded to incorporate the latest technological advances to match current needs.

Built with the industry in mind, ARTA’s ASK-TT Dry Break Coupling guarantees safe and convenient coupling and uncoupling through its fast and easy operation from 1 to 8 inches (25-203 mm), thanks to the proven ARTA operating concept.

The design feats continue to be demonstrated across the range, with avoiding mistakes and minimising risks standing as the maxim for the NTS-TT Breakaway Coupling. The nondestructive separation mechanism is the leading choice to avoid force acting on a hose line or a loading arm, while the required separation force is independent of the operating pressure and pulling angle and is therefore reproducible.

Rounding off ARTA’s coupling product

The ARTA emergency breakaway used in a cryogenic application.

portfolio is the ADG-TT series, built with swivel joints for the small-mid scale area and the unique selling point of perfect ease of movement, even at cryogenic temperatures.

ARTA has furthered this unique ability by designing another product line, optimised for cryogenic applications. Built to withstand special requirements when handling media at low temperatures, the ARTA Cryofit Couplings

range is suitable for transporting media down to -230° C. Treloar Trading says by using ARTA components in combination with it's traditional loading systems, clients can achieve technically sophisticated loading stations “100 per cent LNG incident-free clearly shows ARTA is the better choice from the start,” says Treloar.

For more information visit www.treloar.com.au

TRELOAR TRADING PTY LTD 9 Paddock Place Rutherford NSW

Treloar and ARTA as partners in solutions for LNG and Cryogenic transfer equipment.

sales@treloar.com.au 1300 153 447 | www.treloar.com.au

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

ARTA Diez, Germany www.arta.com

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The Wilmot team dragging the CIP Liner into place at the AGL power station in NSW.

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COMPANY NEWS

Wilmot delivers rehab success for AGL Despite being faced with a tricky and challenging pipe relining project at a power station in New South Wales, Wilmot Pipelining successfully delivered the relining of three stormwater pipelines for client AGL Energy.

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he Wilmot team faced many hurdles on its recent AGL project in NSW, where pipelines were located in areas where digging would compromise the power plant’s operations – therefore requiring a non-destructive pipeline rehabilitation method.

To add to the challenge of achieving a no-dig solution, the existing pipelines were also completely deteriorated with the inverts washed away over time.

To counteract these challenges, Wilmot carefully cleaned and used non-destructive vacuum technology alongside constant CCTV assessment to lean and remove debris from the pipeline. The team guided the equipment from each pipe and successfully completed the challenging rehabilitation of the power stations water drainage network.

Wilmot says the ability of its team to complete this relining project under difficult circumstances is a demonstration of how the company is continuing to grow in the Australian pipeline rehabilitation industry and mature its offerings into the municipal, energy and utility sectors.

Keeping clients happy Wilmot says AGL Energy were incredibly happy with the outcome and very grateful of the team’s effort to perform the non-destructive solution without interfering with the plant’s operations.

Wilmot’s engineers worked in collaboration with the liner manufacturer to ensure the custom designed liner would be suitable for AGL’s power station and the discharges on site.

For AGL, the importance was getting a liner to stand up to medium levels of abrasion and have a high chemical resistance. Wilmot worked closely with the manufacturer to ensure this high-performance cured-in-place (CIP) UV liner was exactly what AGL would receive.

The Wilmot team continues to deliver top levels of quality and with ISO accreditations under ISO 45001, Occupational Health and Safety; ISO 9001, Quality Management; and ISO 14001, Environmental Management Systems.

Growing in expertise In addition to its AGL project success, Wilmot provides top quality pipeline rehabilitation solutions for infrastructure owners up and down Australia’s east coast. The company

is growing into one of the country’s foremost leaders in pipe relining with the ability to renew failing assets through its various CIP lining technologies.

With decades of experience in Australia’s pipeline industry, Wilmot has established itself as an extremely capable player in the sector through its strong performance record and reliability in the services it provides to clients.

The Wilmot team has a strong background in pipeline construction and hydraulic services with this knowledge ensuring workers onsite are completely familiar with all necessary aspects of an asset and its workings.

A large amount of Wilmot’s services are used to upgrade and repair vital municipal assets like water, energy, wastewater, industrial facilities and refineries, which are often situated in locations where creating minimal disturbance during works is essential. The team has consistently delivered large-scale pipeline rehabilitation projects around the country and has been a domestic pioneer in its championing of trenchless technology methods.

Recently, Wilmot has made significant progress in CIP lining through its investment and development in UV CIP lining technology, used on all wastewater infrastructure. The UV liner has a high resistance to chemicals and abrasion due to its ECR glass fibre properties, putting it at the top of the line for liners when it comes to structural capabilities.

The installation of the UV lining system is carried out with two points of access for the liner equipment, while the UV liner tube is constructed of fibre glass and polyester resin pre-impregnated in the factory, before being delivered to site where it is installed and cured

by UV light train technology.

Once the pipeline is cleared and CCTV is carried out, a winch is sent through the pipeline and attached to the new UV liner at a manhole access point. The liner is then pulled into place and end caps are installed at either end of the new liner before being inflated by compressed air and pushed out to the host pipe.

The UV light train is then inserted at one end of the pipeline and slowly dragged through with the UV lights curing the liner as the light train passes through the pipeline. The UV liner provides a fully structural CIP solution with increased flow rates and pipelines restored.

Wilmot also offers clients the use of a The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

The UV Liner positioned in place for curing.

hot cure CIP lining technique through the installation of the hot cure inversion liner that can be carried out if only one point of access to the pipeline is available.

This liner is constructed with fibre glass or felt and impregnated with either epoxy resin or polyester before being cured by steam or hot water. Additionally, the hot cure inversion liner comes with a 50-year warranty and is applicable to all kinds of water assets.

The company’s consistent desire for optimum performance means Wilmot can remain at the forefront of the pipe rehabilitation industry, as it is always ready for new innovations and cuttingedge methodology.

For more information visit www.wilmotpipelining.com.au

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APGA EVENTS

Adobe Stock © Tierney

APGA virtual events still hitting the mark With face-to-face meetings remaining impossible at present, APGA’s calendar has kept strong with a consistent output of relevant and informative virtual events.

HS&E Series In 2020, APGA took its annual Health, Safety and Environment (HS&E) Seminar digital over three Wednesdays in July and August. When welcoming attendees to the inaugural digital session, APGA CEO Steve Davies acknowledged the difficulty Australians are dealing with, both professionally and personally, when battling the virus.

“Obviously, there are some major challenges that people have been facing with managing your organisations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how that impacts your operations,” he says.

“We’re probably also a little bit tired of talking about it all the time, so we’ve been conscious of not having the program too overloaded with that because, of course, health, safety and environment are critical issues for our industry all the time, not just now. It’s not just about COVID-19.”

Presenters in the health and safety section focused on the response to COVID-19, but other issues covered included lessons learned from recent safety incidents, fitness for work policies and a pipeline safety app. The environment section contained information on

carbon offsetting and potential co-benefits of pipeline assets, site planning and landscape guidelines and current practice and pointers toward continuous improvement in Aboriginal heritage issues.

A number of well credentialed speakers presented over the three week period with sessions chaired by HDI-Lucas General Manager and APGA HS&E Chair John Stuart-Robertson; APA Group Sustainability Manager and APGA Environment Subcommittee Chair Sean Helbig; and Mr Davies respectively.

The series was sponsored by Locusview and Nacap.

Engaging interview APGA’s ‘Interview’ webinar series returned in August with Mr Davies speaking to Jemena General Manager Major Projects Jonathan Spink. Mr Spink spoke about the Federal Government’s push for natural gas to lead Australia’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, indicating Jemena would continue to be involved in many major projects.

“The gas-led recovery that the [Federal Government] is talking about is huge for all of us,” he says.

For more information visit www.apga.org.au

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The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

“I think next year we’re going to see a lot more of the [gas] developments start to move and we’re certainly forecasting a pretty big order book over the next few years.”

Mr Spink says import terminals, new pipelines and the development of the Beetaloo Basin are among the new gas projects currently being progressed around the country, but says government support is important to help push out new infrastructure.

“Gas is important because it plays a transition role, but the other reason why gas is really important is because of the economy it stimulates with it, and the fact that we’ve got so much of it here in Australia,” he says.

“Being a bit more self-reliant, having lots of jobs, lots of contracts, lots of work for local people – that’s the ambition of what we need to get to. Having the government do these blanket moratoriums and bans on gas when the science doesn’t support that goes against that narrative.

“We need government to help us. They need to stop saying gas is bad and go along with the science and work with us.”

APGA plans to continue its webinar series into the future, with more interviews to be announced in due course.

Adobe Stock © nopporn

YPF continues to deliver for young pipeliners Following suit with the APGA, the YPF state chapters have adapted well to the new normal, holding a number of successful virtual events throughout the quarter.

Getting down to quizness in a virtual setting The Young Pipeliners Forum defied distance in 2020 by digitally holding one of its most popular events.

During July, the Western Australia YPF held its first online virtual quiz night, with the event attracting attendance from across the country and a total of nine teams participating.

The quiz night was well received by participants, ran smoothly and was an excellent proof of concept that we can still get together, network and have fun in these difficult times.

Congratulations to this year’s winning team ‘On-Time, On-Budget, Off-Chops’ and a big thank you to our returning Quiz Master Matt Nash for hosting on the night.

The WA YPF looks forward to having more virtual events in the future and continuing to network nationwide.

Interested in participating?

Contact WA YPF Chair Nikki Gravestock at Nikki.Gravestock@atteris.com

Digital webinar has green light In July, the Young Pipeliners Forum gathered online for an informative and topical webinar.

The Northern Territory, New South Wales and Queensland YPF branches joined together to present YPF Webinar: The Western Sydney Green Gas Project. The one-hour virtual event comprised of presentations from Jemena Project Manager Jarrod Irving and GPA Engineering Engineer Daniel Krosch about the

Interested in joining YPF? Visit www.apga.org.au/YPF to contact your state chair.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

hydrogen project, while Josh Wickham from GPA was also on hand to answer questions.

Currently, Jemena is undertaking a five-year trial to construct a power-to-gas facility at its existing high-pressure gas facility at Horsley Park, Sydney.

The trial will involve production of hydrogen via PEM electrolyser, compressed storage in a buried X52 carbon steel pipeline, injection into the Sydney gas network, supply for bus or cylinder refuelling and for power generation via microturbine and fuel cell back into the electrical grid.

The webinar saw the presenters give details about the project, including discussions on its compliance with the national pipeline standards, the regulatory approvals process, commissioning challenges and the operating and testing phase.

The event was well attended with many YPF members happy to have the opportunity to ask questions and gain a greater knowledge about such a prominent and interesting project.

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APGA MEMBERSHIP

Australian Pipelines and Gas Association Membership CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR Alltype Engineering Clough Coe Drilling Pty Ltd Comdain Infrastructure Enscope Pty Ltd Ferretti International (Aust) Global Engineering & Construction Pty Ltd HH Civil Pty Ltd Maxibor Australia McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd Michels Corporation Mitchell Water Australia Pty Ltd Moody Civil & Pipe Pty Ltd MPC Kinetic Nacap Pty Ltd National Australian Pipelines P and G Welding Pty Ltd Pipecraft Pipeline Plant Hire Pty Ltd Quanta Services Australia Pty Ltd Spiecapag Australia trading as HDI Lucas The Newham Group Trushape Engineering Pty Ltd Valmec Limited CONSULTANT Alltype Engineering Clough Coe Drilling Pty Ltd Comdain Infrastructure Enscope Pty Ltd Ferretti International (Aust) Global Engineering & Construction Pty Ltd HH Civil Pty Ltd Maxibor Australia McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd Michels Corporation Mitchell Water Australia Pty Ltd Moody Civil & Pipe Pty Ltd MPC Kinetic Nacap Pty Ltd National Australian Pipelines P and G Welding Pty Ltd Pipecraft Pipeline Plant Hire Pty Ltd Quanta Services Australia Pty Ltd Spiecapag Australia trading as HDI Lucas The Newham Group Trushape Engineering Pty Ltd Valmec Limited ENERGY DISTRIBUTOR ATCO Gas Australia

ENGINEERING/PROJECT MANAGER A J Stack Solutions Pty Ltd AFS Projects Pty Ltd Atteris Pty Ltd Fyfe GHD Pty Ltd GPA Engineering Pty Ltd Lidiar Group Momentum Engineering OSD SPIE Plexal Worley Services Pty Ltd GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS/ REGULATORS Department for Energy and Mining Department of Natural Resources and Mines Energy Safe Victoria Water Corporation INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION Pipeline Research Council International, Inc PIPELINE OWNER/OPERATOR AGL Energy Limited APA Group Arrow Energy Pty Ltd AusNet Services Australian Energy Market Operator Australian Gas Infrastructure Group Beach Energy Limited Brookfield Infrastructure Group Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd Energy Infrastructure Management Pty Ltd Epic Energy SA Pty Ltd Esperance Pipeline Company Esso Australia Pty Ltd First Gas Ltd Fortescue Metals Group GB Energy Halfwave AS Jemena Mobil New Zealand Oil Limited Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd Origin Energy Limited Papuan Oil Search Limited Power and Water Corporation Qenos Pty Ltd QGC Refining NZ Santos SEA Gas South Australian Water Corporation Tas Gas Holdings Pty Ltd Tasmanian Gas Pipeline Pty Ltd Viva Energy Australia Ltd

WestSide Corporation Woodside Energy Ltd SERVICE PROVIDER ABB Australia Pty Ltd ASME Projects Avmin Pty Ltd AXS Pty Ltd Baker Hughes Brooks Hire Service Pty Ltd Brownline Australia Pty Ltd Bureau Veritas Asset Integrity and Reliability Services Pty Ltd Contract Resources Ltd Corrosion Control Engineering Pty Ltd DSQ Pty Ltd EnerMech Pty Ltd ERIAS Group Pty Ltd Flowtran Pty Ltd Gameco Pty Ltd Great Southern Press Pty Ltd ITI International LandPartners Pty Ltd Lochard Energy (Iona Operations) Pty Ltd LogiCamms LW Survey Australia Pty Ltd Metropolis Services Pty Ltd Mipela GeoSolutions NDT Global Pty Ltd Neil Mansell Transport Pty Ltd Nixon Communications Pty Ltd NortecView Ltd Oceaneering Australia Pty Ltd ORIX Commercial Peter Norman Personnel Pty Ltd PIPE TEK Pty Ltd Piping Specialty Supply Service Pty Ltd Pro Pipe Services Pty Ltd QIC Protective Coatings (Aust) Pty Ltd Qube Energy Pty Ltd Rider Hunt International (RHI) ROSEN Australia Pty Ltd RTC Contracting Pty Ltd Scape Consulting Pty Ltd STATS Group T D Williamson Australia Pty Ltd TEAM Truck Hire Australia Pty Ltd Viega Pty Ltd Wasco Energy Group Zinfra

APGA New Membership Approvals CORPORATE MEMBERS Engineering/Project Manager

Scape Consulting Pty Ltd Metropolis Services Pty Ltd

Lidiar Group

Adviser/Consultant

Pipeline Owner/Operator

Jiva Consulting MVC Services Pty Ltd

GB Energy Fortescue Metals Group

Service Provider Lochard Energy (Iona Operations) Pty Ltd Pro Pipe Services Pty Ltd

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INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS Mark Harris

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

SUPPLIER OF EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS Aegis Pty Ltd Anode Engineering Pty Ltd Anti Corrosion Technology Pty Ltd AtlasGas Pty Ltd Australian Pipeline Valve Australian Portable Camps Bao Australia Pty Ltd Composite Pipe Systems Denso (Australia) Pty Ltd Edgen Murray Australia Pty Ltd EDMI Gas Pty Ltd Fast Fusion, LLC Gasco Pty Ltd GF Piping Systems Hard Metal Industries Hawk Measurement Systems Heath Pipeline Services Pty Ltd Herrenknecht AG Inductabend Pty Ltd iPipe Services Iplex Pipelines Australia Pty Ltd Jindal Saw Limited Laurini Officine Meccaniche Srl Lincoln Electric Company (Australia) Pty Ltd McElroy Australia Ozzie's Pipeline Padder Inc PAC Pipeline Machinery International LP PipeServ Polyfabrics Australasia Pty Ltd PSAH Pty Ltd RDO Australia Group Richmond Roadside Products Pty Ltd Savcor Products Australia Pty Ltd Shawcor (Singapore) Pte Ltd Shipman King SICK Pty Ltd Solar Turbines Australia System Control Engineering The Hills Rockslinger TIB Chemicals AG Tremco Pipeline Equipment Pty Ltd Tubi Pty Ltd Universal Corrosion Coatings Pty Ltd Vacuworx Australia Vinidex Pty Ltd Welspun Corp Limited Worldpoly Pty Ltd Worldwide Group

APGA MEMBERSHIP

Body.

APGA would particularly like to acknowledge the generous support of its Owner Members • •

APA Group Australian Gas Infrastructure Group

• •

Epic Energy SA Pty Ltd Jemena

• •

SEA Gas Tasmanian Gas Pipeline Pty Ltd

APGA would also like to acknowledge the strong support of its Lead Members • • • • • •

AGL Energy Limited Energy Infrastructure Management Pty Ltd Esso Australia Pty Ltd McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd MPC Kinetic Nacap Pty Ltd

• • • • • •

OSD QGC Quanta Services Australia Pty Ltd Solar Turbines Australia Spiecapag Australia trading as HDI Lucas Worley

Honorary Life Members • • • • • •

Ken Barker David Curry Keith Fitzgerald* Leigh Fletcher D C Gore* Robert Gration

• • • • • •

Max Kimber Andy Lukas Tony Marletta Mick McCormack Stuart McDonald Jim McDonald*

• • • •

Allan Newham Stephen Ohl Mark Twycross Phil Venton *deceased

Individual Members • • • • • • • •

Dean Barker John Blain Bevan Boocock Grant Bowley Ken Cameron Chris Carter Andrew Cook Mark Cooper

• • • • • • • •

Geoff Cope John de Robillard Stephen Dykes Yuyu Fang John Fleming Kenneth Flowers Tony Forde Gretchen Gagel

• • • • • • • •

Chris Gatehouse Lynndon Harnell Mark Harris Chris Harvey Graeme Hogarth Justine Hyams Jeff Jones Ashley Kellett

• • • • • • •

Steven Liddell John Lott Cameron MacDiarmid Jason Mansfield Mick Murphy David Nichols John Piper

• • • • • • •

Steve Polglase David Pollock Brett Reay Jasper Tieland Andrew Wood Howard Wright Ken Wyllie

Edwin De Prinse Jason de Ross Ross Demby Carlo DiCarlo Daniel Faulkner Matt Felvus John Ferguson Mike Flynn Tom Forde Mark Fothergill Paul Frederick Jarrod Gilby Calvin Gordon David Handsaker Peter Harcus Geoff Harrison

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Chris Hewson Ian Israelsohn Brett Johnstone Stuart Kamper Hugo Kuhn Trent Leach Benjy Lee Keith Lenghaus Stephen Livens Paul May John Messent Paul Miller Stephen Mudge Ashley Muldrew Matthew O'Connell Brian O'Sullivan

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Neil Parry Bob Paton Michael Peoples Jan Peric Janusz Podgorski Tawake Rakai Jim Reaman Josh Row John Rutherford Craig Sheather James Smith Reynard Smith Andrew Staniford Robert Strong Colin Symonds Soheil Taherian

• • • • • • • • • • •

Farrah Tan-Savva Warwick Tidswell Mark Turner Sean Ward Louise Watson Rob Wheals Robert White Paul Williamson Ben Wilson Alex Wong Michael Xanthopoulos

Employee Members • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Awais Ashraf Eric Bardy Geoff Barton Tony Bird Tom Bohacik Liz Brierley Peter Bucki Mark Bumpstead Ivan Byak Annette Cahill Geoff Callar Francis Carroll Philip Colvin Jeff Cooke Colin Cool Craig de Laine

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

97

APGA MEMBERSHIP

FULL MEMBERSHIP

(1)

OWNER MEMBER(2)(3)

LEAD MEMBER(4)

CORPORATE MEMBER

Category Applied for (please tick)

ORGANISATION NAME: ABN: POSTAL ADDRESS: SUBURB: STATE: POSTCODE: STREET ADDRESS: SUBURB: STATE: POSTCODE: PHONE: FAX: WEBSITE: APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE (5) NAME: POSITION: PHONE: FAX: MOBILE: EMAIL: ORGANISATION CHIEF EXECUTIVE (if different from above): NAME: TITLE: APGA POINT OF CONTACT – for distribution of APGA information within your organisation (if different from Appointed Representative) NAME: POSITION: POSTAL ADDRESS: SUBURB: STATE: POSTCODE: PHONE: FAX: MOBILE: EMAIL: ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT CONTACT: EMAIL: NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN ORGANISATION:

1-5

6-25

26-50

>51

ORGANISATION’S INTEREST IN THE PIPELINE INDUSTRY (Must tick ONE ONLY. If more than one applies, please tick the one most applicable to your business):

Adviser/Consultant

Construction Contractor

Energy Distributor

Engineering/Project Manager

Pipeline Owner/Operator

Service Provider

Manufacturer/Distributor of Equipment or Materials

Government Department/Regulator

Other Industry Association (Please Specify)

SECTOR Please indicate which of the following industry sectors you are primarily working in (please tick ONLY ONE box)

Gas

Water

Oil

Slurry

We hereby apply for Full Membership of the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association in the Category and Interest Group indicated above and agree to abide by the Association’s Constitution and any By-laws set from time to time. We attach our payment for the appropriate portion of the first year’s subscription.

SIGNED: DATE: NOTE

(1)

Upon payment of the relevant fees, an organisation may hold more than one category of full membership.

(2)

The appointed representative of an Owner Member should be the Chief Executive.

(3)

All Owner Members are entitled to nominate up to ten Employee Members without additional subscription.

(4)

All Lead members are entitled to nominate up to three Employee Members without additional subscription.

(5)

98

All correspondence will be sent to the appointed representative, who will hold the member’s voting rights. A member’s appointed representative may be changed at any time by advising the Association’s Secretary in writing.

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

APGA MEMBERSHIP

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP/EMPLOYEE MEMBERSHIP

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP(1)

EMPLOYEE MEMBERSHIP

APPLICANT’S NAME: ORGANISATION: POSITION: POSTAL ADDRESS: SUBURB: STATE: POSTCODE: STREET ADDRESS: SUBURB: STATE: POSTCODE: PHONE: FAX: MOBILE: EMAIL: I NDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: I hereby apply for Individual Membership of the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association and agree to abide by the Company’s Constitution and any By-laws set from time to time. Payment for the appropriate portion of the first year’s subscription is attached. NOTE (1): Open to any individual consultant with an interest in the pipeline or gas industries. This membership category is designed to accommodate the one-man consultants working within the pipeline and gas industries and will not be open to consulting organisations consisting of more than one person. Employees of a company will not be accepted as an Individual Member of the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association unless the company employing that person is a Full Member of APGA. E MPLOYEE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION: (Open to employees of full members of APGA) I hereby apply for Employee Membership of the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association and agree to abide by the Association’s Constitution and any By-laws set from time to time. Payment for the appropriate portion of the first year’s subscription is attached.

SIGNED: DATE: SUBSCRIPTION RATES (2019/2020 Membership year 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020)

AUSTRALIA Membership year 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020

OWNER Applicable to owners only – fee upon application

LEAD $11,780 (incl. GST)

CORPORATE 1-5 Employees 6-25 Employees 26-50 Employees >51 Employees (incl. GST)

AUD AUD AUD AUD

INDIVIDUAL $630 (incl. GST)

$2,360 $3,160 $3,980 $5,100

EMPLOYEE $230 (incl. GST)

New members joining after 1 October 2019, please contact APGA to discuss the appropriate pro-rate subscription rate.

(All applications received after 15 May 2020 will be issued with an invoice for the 2020/2021 membership year).

ALL PRICES QUOTED FOR AUSTRALIAN MEMBERS INCLUDE 10% GST.

INTERNATIONAL Membership year 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020

OWNER Applicable to owners only – fee upon application

LEAD AUD $10,710

CORPORATE 1-5 Employees 6-25 Employees 26-50 Employes >51 Employees (incl. GST)

AUD AUD AUD AUD

INDIVIDUAL AUD $580

$2,140 $2,880 $3,620 $4,640

EMPLOYEE AUD $220

New members joining after 1 October 2019, please contact APGA to discuss the appropriate pro-rate subscription rate.

(All applications received after 15 May 2020 will be issued with an invoice for the 2020/2021 membership year).

ALL PRICES ARE IN AUSTRALIAN DOLLARS. A TAX INVOICE WILL BE ISSUED.

PAYMENT

EFT Bank Westpac Banking Corporation, Swift/ABA/Routing# WPACAU2S. IBAN No. 032729162756.

BSB: 032-729. Account No: 16-2756.

I enclose my cheque made payable to The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association, or APGA.

Please debit my credit card (please tick)

Amex

Visa

MasterCard

Credit card processing fee applies.

CARD NUMBER:

EXPIRY DATE:

TOTAL AMOUNT AUD$

CARDHOLDER’S NAME: SIGNATURE: Please return completed form with payment to: AUSTRALIAN PIPELINES AND GAS ASSOCIATION (ABN: 29 098 754 324) PO BOX 5416, KINGSTON ACT 2604 | PHONE: 02 6273 0577 | FAX: 02 6273 0588 EMAIL: apga@apga.org.au | WEBSITE: www.apga.org.au The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

99

ADVERTISERS AND FEATURES

Advertisers' index AMS Instrumentation & Calibration 89 Anode Engineering IFC ASME Projects 1 Clough 83 Corrosion Control Engineering 15 Denso (Australia) 23 Herrenknecht 21 Inductabend 55 Industrial Coatings & Access 73 Iplex Pipelines Australia 47 McConnell Dowell 13 McElroy Manufacturing 57 Mipela GeoSolutions 48 Nacap Australia 9 Orix Australia Corporation 7 Peter Norman Personnel 86 PIPE TEK 2

Pipeline Plant Hire 69 Pipeline Specialty Supply Service 45 Polyfabrics 51 Prime Drilling 41 Pro Pipe Services 59 Qenos 77 ROSEN Group 11 Savcor Products Australia 75 Sentanil Systems 49 STATS Group 19 TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia 17 Treloar 91 Vacuworx Australia 61 Vermeer Equipment OBC Wilmot Civil 4 Worldwide Machinery/Superior Manufacturing 39

Features and deadlines 2021 MARCH 2021

MAY 2021

JULY 2021

OCTOBER 2021

FEATURES

Upstream Vacuum lifters NDT Pipeline cleaning Environment and land issues

Land issues Integrity and maintenance Construction equipment Coatings and linings Safety PE pipelines

Offshore Trenchless technology Rehabilitation and repair Unpiggable pipelines Hydrogen Valves and actuators

Women in pipelines and gas Pipeline construction projects and equipment Corrosion and cathodic protection Pigging and ILI Social licence to operate

REGIONAL FOCUS

Western Australia

South Australia

Papua New Guinea

Queensland

DISTRIBUTION

APGA functions OzWater

APGA functions APPEA Oil and Gas Conference

APGA functions

APGA functions

DEADLINE

15 January 2021

2 April 2021

TBC

TBC Features and deadlines are subject to change.

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100

www.pipeliner.com.au

The Australian Pipeliner | October 2020

A Great Southern Press publication

APGA Virtual Convention & Exhibition 2020

LIVE –19 to 23 OCTOBER 2020

NEW DECADE: NEW PERSPECTIVE For more information www.apga.org.au

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