Global Asia Pacific Completes a Challenging Project
Global Industries Asia Pacific Region recently completed the Jan De Nul-Boskalis’s PGN/PowerGas Pipeline Project crossing the Singapore Straits between Sakra Island in Singapore and Palau Pemping (Island) in Indonesia, a distance of 26.2 kilometres. The pipeline crosses three shipping channels in the Singapore Straits, with the Philip Channel reputed to be the busiest shipping channel in the world. According to visiting Global barge superintendent Dave Nichols, “While visiting the DLB 264 on the PGN project, I witnessed first hand the unbelievable amount of shipping traffic passing the barge in the Philip Channel. This was one of the most technical and potentially dangerous operations I have ever been involved in. With intense planning and proper execution, the task went very well. The operation was impressive.”
Cable Horseshoe Roller – One unique aspect of this project is that the fibre optic cable is attached to the pipe as it is laid. The cable goes over the horseshoe frame and then is attached to the pipe after the last welding station. The Serimer automatic welding equipment and procedures were used on the DLB 264.
For the technically minded, the X-70 pipe, 28 inches in diameter, was welded to specification DNV (2000), a very stringent standard, by Global welding engineers led by Ian Sykes. An additional scope to the project included the deployment of an optical fibre communication cable, which was to be strapped to the pipeline during pipelay.
By Gordon Duzevich
The crossing of borders (Singapore/Indonesia) with the plethora of regulations and government certifications that had to be met, two tricky beach pulls, and a midline tie-in with very strong currents posed significant challenges for project manager Amar Umap, senior project engineer Phanindhar C, and the project management team. The real work, however, is on the barge laying the pipeline. Hats off to barge superintendents Jeff Johannsen and Greg Daigle, and their team of able hands. The entire installation was completed safely, ahead of schedule, and to the satisfaction of our customers. “Technically, operationally, logistically…this project had lots of excitement. Despite the all challenges this project has clearly proven that with sound engineering, thorough planning, teamwork, sincere efforts, and commitment from everyone, we can together overcome any challenge in this industry,” said Project Manager Amar Umap.
Pemping Cable Tanks - The spool of cable on the top of the pipe is the fibre optic cable that was installed along with the pipeline. Buoyancy tanks were installed on the pipe to allow it to be floated into the beach in Pemping, Indonesia from the DLB 264. These are temporary tanks to provide floatation of the pipe while it was being pulled to the beach.
Prior to the past three years as quality manager for Global Industries’ Eastern Hemisphere operations, Gordon Duzevich was quality manager with Telstra’s Network Design and Construction division in Australia and had some involvement with the SE-ME-WE 3 telecommunications cable when it came ashore in Perth, Western Australia. As Quality Manager of Eastern Hemisphere at Global Industries, he actively supports the drive for continuous improvement in the Eastern Hemisphere and throughout the organization.