The Australian Pipeliner September 2023

TECHNOLOGY BEHIND STATS’ TEMPORARY LINE PLUGGING SOLUTION – page 22

X marks the spot for Mipela 46

Harnessing the power of AI 106

Introducing the SafeVac Lifting Systems™ SV400: the Perfect Marriage of Safety and Productivity.

Austrack’s SafeVac SV400 delivers improved lifting capacity and visibility in vacuum lifting. Featuring a large in-cabin control screen which improves operator control and overall safety, it is also equipped with extensive data logging capabilities.

Timed sequence dual action joystick buttons improve productivity, reduce operator fatigue and improve safety, and the machine’s vacuum latch/release valve means instantaneous vacuum latch/release. The SV400 is also equipped with a reserve vacuum tank with non-return valve assembly at the spreader bar, ensuring the pipe will not release even in a catastrophic destruction of the main vac line. The machine also features an over rotation warning to prevent pipe from colliding with the cabin.

All of these features combine to deliver more for less:

• More Productivity

• More Safety Features

• More Lifting Capacity

• And Less Stress for your Project

CEO John Murphy

COO

Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au

MANAGING EDITOR

Molly Hancock molly.hancock@primecreative.com.au

EDITORIAL

Clemence Carayol clemence.carayol@primecreative.com.au

Vivien Topalovic vivien.topalovic@primecreative.com.au

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Nick Lovering nick.lovering@primecreative.com.au

DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER

Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au

ART DIRECTOR

Blake Storey blake.storey@primecreative.com.au

DESIGNERS

Kerry Pert, Louis Romero

COPYRIGHT

The Australian Pipeliner is owned by Prime Creative Media and published by John Murphy. All material in The Australian Pipeliner is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in The Australian Pipeliner are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

© Copyright Prime Creative Media, 2021

ARTICLES

All articles submitted for publication become the property of the publisher. The Editor reserves the right to adjust any article to conform with the magazine format.

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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. However, neither the publishers nor APGA accept responsibility for the content of these contributions and the views contained therein are not necessarily the views of the publishers or APGA. Neither the publishers nor APGA accept responsibility for any claims made by advertisers. All communications should be directed to the publishers.

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President’s Message

I’ve liked being President. It’s different from being a Director, and different again to being a member. It’s a position that you feel honoured to have as you drive the strategy forward, representing all the members that make up this great Association. Don’t get me wrong, you all made me work hard… (some more than others!), but to see us go headfirst against a narrative with a negative discourse on our industry and to pull out of COVID-19 to get our swagger on again at events, has been a big responsibility… with lots of fun.

You have a great Board and Secretariat. Above all, we are a great family… so don’t let me down. Let’s blow this Perth Convention up!

Now down to dos & don’ts. Do make new contacts, do listen to the speakers, do have an open mind, do chat to the exhibitors and do eat & drink and be merry. Don’t go to bed early, don’t miss out on the fancy dress, don’t let the YPF’ers lead you astray at 3:00am in the morning and just don’t miss out. If you do, you’ll regret it.

In this special conference edition, it is exciting to look at the program for this year and see many interesting topics. There are some good case studies on projects completed this year, safety lessons and new to the agenda are Young Pipeliners and Advocacy panels. We continue the discussion and be real to what we are doing to decarbonise, the governance in procurement, and approaches to construction.

As I write this, there are 48 exhibitors, and we thank them for their continued support. The gratitude we can extend is to walk the exhibition hall and see the latest on offer.

In August, APGA hosted the inaugural ESG (Environment, Social Governance) Forum. A day that brought to the industry another piece of our sustainability jigsaw puzzle. ESG is a framework encapsulating many things, but relevant for our industry, it captures those activities we’ve been implementing such as community engagement, environment, safety and human resources. There are also emerging ESG factors that are, and will, impact our industry including carbon emissions, modern slavery and sustainable procurement. I am excited as President, to have opened this dialogue as an industry. ESG as a business alone contributes a small piece, but as an industry coming together, we can really shift the needle in this space. It’s certainly about

collaboration and partnering, just like safety was 50 years ago, and with time it will make our industry more sustainable financially and champion our social licence to operate.

In this edition, you’ll find a personal story of a person I have been fortunate to meet over the last four months, Chis Croylon. Chris bares his soul on a medical issue which was brought about because of the dedication to his job. Completely unavoidable, but then ignored the warning signs. Having spent time with him, he is passionate about this industry and so he has built up the courage to tell his story so others can learn. Please read.

We also say goodbye to one of our Directors, Wendy Oldham, who has been on the APGA Board since 2016. Notably, Wendy was Treasurer for a good many of these years and led us from the red to the black. As she heads to retirement, we wish her all the very best and hope life finds her pots of gold.

As this is my last President’s address, I’d like to thank everyone for having trust in their voting of me and appointing me as APGA’s first female President. It is a badge I will always wear with honour and appreciate the friendship and support over the last two years. I’ll see you at the bar.

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

E: apga@apga.org.au

W: www.apga.org.au

Chief Executive Officer

Steve Davies

Corporate Services Manager

Michelle Wickson

National Policy Manager

Jordan McCollum

Communications Manager

Lawrence Shelton

Engagement Manager

Gayle Burns

Membership Officer

Katy Spence

Events Coordinator

Matthew Freeborough

Policy Manager

Catriona Rafael

Government Relations Manager

Paul Purcell

Reference

1. ‘New Energy Outlook Australia’, Bloomberg Finance May 2023

DONNA MCDOWALL APGA PRESIDENT

The leading innovator supplying cutting-edge integrity solutions. Together we can ensure sustainable decision-making. Our combination of advanced inspection systems and expert consultants delivers a comprehensive understanding of asset safety, lifetime, and performance.

Comprehensive Asset Integrity Management

Pioneer pipeline project complete

TasWater’s $5 million pipeline project to deliver safe and reliable drinking water to the residents of Pioneer, Tasmania is now complete.

Water now flows from TasWater’s extended Ringarooma Valley Water Scheme which services other towns in the region.

As part of the works, a new reticulated network has been installed through Pioneer as well as an extension of the water main from Winnaleah.

TasWater acting chief executive officer Tony Willmott said the new works will have a significant impact on the residents of Pioneer. “I’ve met with residents several times over the

years, and I know what a difference this will make to them,” Willmott said.

“We’re committed to delivering high-quality

Surat Basin to provide much needed gas supply

This agreement with Senex is an important step forward in supplying reliable, affordable energy to retail and business customers in the future.

Senex and EnergyAustralia have signed a conditional agreement for the supply of 24 petajoules (PJ) of natural gas from January

2025 from Senex’s proposed Atlas expansion in Queensland’s Surat Basin. While the Australian Competition and

potential shortfalls in New South Wales and Victoria.

“Senex’s $1 billion investment to boost gas supply for Australia’s east coast is exactly the type of project required to address supply concerns,” said Senex chief executive officer Ian Davies. EnergyAustralia trading and transition executive Ross Edwards concurred, saying this agreement with Senex was an important step forward in supplying reliable, affordable energy to retail and business customers in the future.

The new gas deal between Senex and EnergyAustralia is conditional only on the timely recommencement of Senex’s Atlas expansion which was put on hold in

APA completes first stage construction on east coast gas grid

APA Group has completed construction on the first stage of its east coast grid expansion to boost gas security and reliability. The company first made the decision in 2021 to invest in a 25 per cent expansion of the grid, to deliver more capacity to customers.

“The first stage of our East Coast Grid expansion is now complete, with the second stage under construction and expected to be complete in readiness for the growing winter demand in 2024,” APA Group chief executive officer and managing director Adam Watson said.

Over the next few weeks, construction is expected to complete on the South West

“When completed, these projects will further enhance system capacity, reliability and

backing in and backing up renewables,” Watson said.

A new reticulated network has been installed through Pioneer as well as an extension of the water main from Winnaleah.

The new gas deal between Senex and EnergyAustralia is conditional only on the timely recommencement of Senex’s Atlas expansion.

APA Group has completed construction on the first stage of its east coast grid expansion.

Major water main work begins at Monarto

Major work in Monarto has started, with more than 7000m of new water main being laid in the area over the next 12 months.

The work is part of SA Water’s $3.9 million investment in upgrading capacity within the local water network.

The project also includes an upgrade to SA Water’s pump station in White Hill, along with construction of a new chlorine booster station. SA Water’s senior manager of capital delivery Peter Seltsikas said the new upgrades along Monarto Road, and areas of Monarto Safari Park will support further business and residential growth.

“As our regions develop and grow, it’s our role to invest in evolving our infrastructure’s capacity to keep them in step with the changing demands from businesses and households,” Seltsikas said.

First pipes arrive for Fitzroy-to-Gladstone Pipeline

The first pipes for the $983 million Fitzroy-to-Gladstone Pipeline arrived in Rockhampton, signalling that preparations are well underway for the start of construction.

Water Minister and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the 117km pipeline will deliver long-term water security to the Gladstone region to support more job creating industries.

“The funding locked in as part of the Big Build is proof of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to central Queenslanders,” he said.

“The Bradfield panel recommended investing in the use of water closer to where it falls as well as developing Regional Water Grids, and we are doing just that.”

The pipeline will have the capacity to transport 30 gigalitres per annum from the Fitzroy River to Gladstone.

The pipeline will run from the Lower Fitzroy River in Rockhampton and connect to Gladstone Area Water Board’s existing water network at Yarwun, providing long-term water security to Gladstone’s industry and will support ongoing economic development in the region.

The project also includes an upgrade to SA Water’s pump station in White Hill.

The pipeline will run from the Lower Fitzroy River in Rockhampton and connect to Gladstone Area Water Board’s existing water network at Yarwun.

A story no bloke should ignore

Chris Corlyon’s life turned upside down when he was diagnosed with a rare condition. This is his story, plus a few tips on how to avoid being in the same position.

Many will know Chris Corlyon as “that welding guy” who’s been piping industry for years and just loves to talk about, well, welding.

But what people probably didn’t know is that for past 11 years the resident welding expert ignored a medical issue which, unfortunately, has come home to roost and forced him to dramatically change his lifestyle to manage his illness – for the rest of his life.

The question on everyone’s mind is, of course, what’s Corlyon got?

The answer is an ailment many wouldn’t have heard of: atonic bladder. This is a condition that means his bladder muscle doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do, which is primarily to squeeze out pee to empty his bladder when full.

According to Corlyon, he started to notice the health issue when things like taking longer to pee and peeing less stared to occur, followed by signs of infection.

But Corlyon believed it would just go away.

“Basically, I was your typical bloke who thought there was no need to see a doctor,” he said.

“Over the years it got progressively worse, to the extent that I could only pee just a little bit at a time, regardless of how much I drank.

“But, in my head, I thought, ‘Nah I’ll be right, there’s no need for a doctor’.

“A little further down the track, the missus forced me to go to the doctor and he gave me the bad news, I had an atonic bladder, and because I’d left it for so long I needed to be on a handful of tablets every day, immediately.

“It wasn’t a good day, and unfortunately it didn’t get any better for me, as the medication he prescribed was more a preventive measure and I’d simply left it way too late.”

Corlyon ended up having to take eight weeks off work and needed an operation to address the issue.

“But unfortunately the op didn’t work either because, again, I’d let it go for too long and it had got gradually worse,” he said.

“In late-2020, after several more problems, I was working in the Cooper Basin and noticed myself progressively getting sicker and sicker and on my return home I got off the plane and went straight to the emergency unit.”

Corlyon was admitted for two weeks due to the infections throughout his body.

“The doctors monitored me, but things went

from bad to worse and I ended up losing my natural function to take a pee,” he said.

“The complication with not being able to pee, is you either have a catheter leg bag, or a hole in your stomach with a pipe and valve, to enable you take a leak.”

Corlyon’s options weren’t pretty, and both were uncomfortable.

“Take a quick moment to imagine having a bag of pee resting on your leg with a permanent catheter jammed into it, or the alternative, a permanent open wound in your gut and changing a pee pipe every five to six weeks,” he said.

In the end, Corlyon opted for the hole in the stomach with a pipe and valve, not because he liked the option, but he had now become resistant to most antibiotics, so this method was deemed the safest.

With all of this going on, coupled with the prospect of losing his career and livelihood, Corlyon spiralled into a dark hole.

“It wasn’t a great place to be, but while I was unlucky in the health stakes, the good news is I won the lottery in the support stakes,” he said.

Despite a huge amount of support from colleagues, friends and family, it initially wasn’t

easy for Corlyon to open up about the issue.

“I couldn’t even talk to family members about it as I felt embarrassed and ashamed that a grown bloke like me couldn’t deal with it,” he said. “So to be talking about it here is quite an achievement for me.

“I see telling my story as part of my recovery process, but I also see it as an opportunity to get a health message out to my work mates, in the hope it doesn’t become an issue for them.

Corlyon’s story can serve as an example and encourage anyone affected by such a condition to not delay visiting their GP.

“My message to all the MPK blokes out there, and to our MPK ladies with husbands and partners, don’t turn a blind eye to health issues and get to a doctor much earlier,” he said.

“Please don’t think, ‘Oh, I’ll just have that pee later’, which ends up being at the end of a 12hour shift. Because I can tell you now, that was the root cause of my problem.

“I don’t mind being Exhibit A if it means someone doesn’t end up with a lifetime medical condition like I have now.

“The moral of the story is look after yourself as life can change very quickly, and sometimes it’s not for the better.”

Chris Corlyon is battling with a rare condition.

“I don’t mind being Exhibit A if it means someone doesn’t end up with a lifetime medical condition like I have now.”

Gas and energy policy

By Jordan McCollum, National Policy Manager, APGA

Victoria’s new gas connection ban – politics is winning against physics and prices at the cost of future energy consumers. But why would the Victorian Government pursue the misleading narrative of electrification being cheaper for households than renewable gas?

Energy markets are typically governed by the three Ps – physics, prices, and politics. Physics can’t be broken; prices drive customer choice within the boundaries of physics; and politics help or hinder efficient market outcomes.

In the case of the Victorian ban on new gas connections, the politics of climate urgency have forced an unnecessary and backward step in spite of physics and prices – and it will be Victorian households that pay a much higher price for energy. But how does this happen, and why?

After three studies concluded households need to be urgently electrified and new gas connections banned, it may seem that the political choice to ban new household gas connections was based on physics and prices. However, a closer look shows that it could be the other way around.

The first signs of political motivations were in the Victorian Gas Substitution Roadmap (VGSR). Despite modelling predicting 35 to 70 per cent of future gas use decarbonisation being best achieved through renewable gas uptake, the Victorian Government continued to push for household electrification.

Ironically, this seemingly popular move is anything but. By all indications, through multiple surveys, the majority of Victorians are against the move, and Labor voters feel the most aggrieved.

In fact, two in three Victorian Labor voters are in favour of using renewable gases in the home.

Nonetheless subsequent VGSR fact sheets showed the pro-electrification case was based on heroically low electric appliance cost estimates, inclusive of electric appliance rebates. The Victorian Government’s $14,500 electric appliance replacement cost assumption would come as a surprise to anyone who has undertaken home renovations in 2023.

The Victorian Government stands by this number despite acknowledging the 2022 Frontier Economics study Cost of switching from gas to electric appliances in the home. This study found real world electrification costs for existing households of between $14,000 and $42,000. Considering VGSR quoted bill savings of $1,110 per annum, it would only take electrification costs of $22,500 before electrified households would be paying more in combined energy and appliance costs.

The Grattan Institute’s recent Getting Off Gas

study called for a ban on new residential gas connections. This report chose to continue using artificially low appliance cost figures in its study despite referencing the abovementioned Frontier Economics study for other purposes.

The Grattan Institute justified its gas ban on analysis showing electrified household gas demand having a net present value of -$169 to $13,908 compared to renewable gas uptake. It is likely that they would have come to the opposite conclusion had Grattan considered Frontier Economics’ realworld appliance cost data with its median electrification cost of $28,000.

Alongside artificially low appliance costs, unachievably high emissions reduction targets can also skew decarbonisation pathway choices. This is seen in the work of the Independent Expert Panel for the Victorian 2035 emissions reduction target which recommended Victoria significantly step up the ambition, urgency and scope of actions to electrify homes and buildings and to electrify or deploy alternatives in other sectors.

This may only be necessary due to the Panel’s recommendation of an 80 per cent emissions reduction target by 2035 – a move they acknowledge as being among the most ambitious in the world and puts Victoria ahead in the global race to net zero emissions.

It is clear that, in setting one of the highest emissions reduction targets in the world, the Victorian community will have to bear the cost of faster emissions reduction in contrast to their global equals. But who could the Victorian Government convince to do more – and pay more – than necessary for the energy transition?

In the VGSR, the Victorian Government identifies public education as one of its actions. In this action, the government states that it will target households in winter noting that they can free up significant gas demand at peak time by educating them that using reverse cycle air conditioning to heat

homes will help them save on household energy bills.

If its analysis does not stack up, why would the Victorian Government want to convince its citizens through an education program to spend their hard-earned cash – in the midst of a cost-ofliving crisis – on a more costly gas use decarbonisation pathway?

Victorian businesses and industries take emissions reduction advice from energy experts. They have the ability to undertake their own analysis. The Victorian Government knows the broader business community will not pay more to decarbonise quicker than their peers if it is irrational to do so.

The only sector left to bear the economic burden – the cost – of the state’s world-leading emissions reduction targets is the residential sector.

Could it be that Victorian households will have to bear the cost burden of the government’s high decarbonisation targets rather than the state’s taxpaying businesses and industries?

If so, this would allow business and industrial gas customers to delay taking action on emissions reduction options that cost less per emissions reduced than household electrification.

There is a better way. All gas users – be they household, business or industrial – can access lower cost gas use decarbonisation if governments enable a domestic renewable gas industry.

The gas industry knows this because the physics of a gas-based energy system can deliver firm, reliable renewable energy at lower prices compared to a firm and reliable electricity-based renewable energy system – and no level of political imposition can change that.

The other states get this reality. Every other Australian state that has commented on the Victorian ban have dismissed such a move because physics and prices should always trump politics.

We can only hope the Victorian Government has the same realisation.

“It is clear that, in setting one of the highest emissions reduction targets in the world, the Victorian community will have to bear the cost of faster emissions reduction in contrast to their global equals.”

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The Emerging Fuels Symposium 2023 – the future of pipelines in Australia, US and Europe

Australia’s pipeline engineering experts met their counterparts from the US and Europe in Florida to share the technical knowledge that is unlocking the future of pipelines as new fuels move to large scale deployment.

The US and Europe already have biomethane networks and hydrogen infrastructure that in Australia are still only at the development stage, but much of our technology innovation is matching or leading the world. I must acknowledge the hard work and technical leadership of all the Australian’s who made the trip, including three of Future Fuels CRC’s PhD students. The range of research was impressive, with so much compelling work coming from Australia:

Amrita Kambo, University of Queensland highlighted the role of safety as the most important factor the public considers, based on their latest research.

Jeremy Harris and I shared the enormous potential for future energy pipelines, using Future Fuels CRC’s own focused technoeconomic research work as well as Net Zero Australia’s economic modelling as a demonstration. As soon as any form of production at scale occurs or long duration energy storage is required, then pipelines become very advantageous, with long pipelines allowing significant linepack with minimal pressure cycling.

Craig Clarke, GHD and Bradley Davis, University of Wollongong outlined the progress of the Parmelia Gas Pipeline hydrogen conversion, with the testing to date showing that the existing pipeline steel could deliver satisfactory performance to provide a safe operating envelope with 10-year maximum inline re-inspection intervals.

Josh Wickham, GPA detailed Australia’s world-leading work on our Hydrogen Pipeline Code of Practice. This document is the first step in a journey to incorporate hydrogen ultimately into the existing AS2885 series standard, and brings together a comprehensive list of issues, knowledge and existing gaps into one reference material. It was widely discussed that all regions in the world are rapidly moving to codifying hydrogen, but this work puts Australia ahead of others at this stage.

Nolene Byrne and Sebastian Espinosa of Deakin University presented on the response of polyethylene and other polymer pipelines to hydrogen, including the effect on elastomer seals’ performance. Also from Deakin, Bob Varela covered how varying the CP current in response to rain can increase the local pH and prevent corrosion, creating new opportunities to better protect steel in-ground pipelines.

From the University of Adelaide, Douglas Proud highlighted the existing limit of noncombustible gases in natural gas and its future relevance for biomethane. And Peter Ashman presented on their wide-ranging research into the limits of hydrogen blends in existing gas appliances.

My highlights from the international presentations

Bill Caram from the US Pipeline Safety Trust delivered the opening presentation, imploring the industry to consider a safe energy transition and insuring we do not regress on pipeline safety. He highlighted that industry must be prepared to share and engage even more with the public. Bill also noted that the US’s massive IRA energy incentives appear to be ahead of regulation and the industry must take this opportunity to act strongly on safety in every step it takes.

An array of interesting and positive results from several testing locations working on small scale laboratory testing of tensile samples of steels in hydrogen atmospheres. This included work from Sandia in the US, Australia, Gasunie and several other locations in Europe.

Anders Johnson’s review of underground gas storage emphasised the potential for hydrogen storage which allows low-cost, large-scale storage, reinforcing the need to quantify the business cases that are competitive for underground storage and prioritise and action the research needs ahead of further commercialisation.

While in the USA for the Symposium, the

team and I got to catch up with some of the key contacts in future fuels. We saw the fast growth of biomethane in California’s gas networks, the potential conversion of LA’s Scattergood 830MW gas power station to hydrogen, large operational hydrogen powered bus fleets and liquid hydrogen already being rolled out to refuelling stations across Los Angeles. It gives us all a view of what’s possible in Australia.

Many thanks to all the Australian team and to our hosts the US’s Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI), Australian Pipeline & Gas Association (APGA), the European Gas Research Group (GERG) and the European Pipeline Research Group (EPRG). These interactions are vital. By sharing technical knowledge across the globe we can create a safer, faster and more reliable future for the pipeline industry.

DAVID NORMAN CEO, FUTURE FUELS CRC

Significant New Zealand pipeline contracts awarded

While the past 12 months have seen difficult challenges for the pipeline industry in New Zealand, various companies have received significant pipeline infrastructure contracts.

Australian engineering services company Verbrec was awarded the contract for the Wharf Line Replacement at Mount Maunganui in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Similarly in June 2023, the company was also awarded the Broadlands Biogas Upgrade design for First Renewables Limited (FRL), as part of the Firstgas Group.

Leading global supplier of pipeline intervention solution, STATS Group, allowed for the safe replacement of an ESD valve onshore at the Production Station in New Zealand.

In water pipelines, Wellington Water and Watercare reached significant milestones on projects such as the Kaitoke Pipe Bridge and Dunkirk Road wastewater upgrade.

Verbrec secures significant NZ projects

Numerous projects will be completed by Verbrec’s Engineering Services division in New Zealand, which provides innovative engineering and project delivery solutions to clients through its technical specialties, including digital industry, power, process plant, pipelines, and asset management.

The Wharf Line Replacement scope of work includes multi-discipline engineering design, pipe stress analysis, pipe support and foundation design, SMS validation workshops and third-party consultations.

For the Broadlands Biogas Upgrade, the

team will carry out the detailed design engineering contract for the balance of the plant.

This also includes linking the biogas upgrading unit and RTO with Firstgas metering to enable it to be safely injected into the gas transmission system.

The company will also complete engineering design to upgrade three Firstgas transmission facilities to be able facilitate biomethane injection.

“We are delighted to be able to work together with Firstgas in their support of their development of New Zealand’s first large-scale biogas upgrading facility at Ecogas’ Organics Processing Facility in Reporoa,” Verbrec NZ General Manager Peter May said.

Both contracts are an important step for Verbrec in the company’s strategy to diversify its New Zealand client base.

Tecno Plug finds success in New Zealand

STATS Group provided double block and bleed isolation of a 12-inch gas pipeline while at an operating pressure of 72 barG.

To undertake this operation safely and efficiently, STATS Group proposed the use of a remotely operated Tecno Plug.

A STATS Group isolation technician visited the production station prior to the activities and carried out a site survey to gather critical information, completed a noise survey and aided with the selection of the tool configuration.

The Tecno Plug was configured in a fourmodule arrangement with a full factory acceptance test (FAT) performed in a purposebuilt test-fixture.

On location, the Tecno Plug was hydraulically set to activate the locks and dual seals.

The dual seals of the Tecno Plug were then independently tested with full pipeline pressure in the correct direction to confirm leak-tight isolation, which allowed the pipeline to be bled down to ambient from the platform launcher to the rear of the Tecno Plug.

With the isolation in place and double block and bleed isolation verified, the valve replacement workscope was safely conducted.

Kaitoke Pipe Bridge

In early 2023, Wellington Water completed works on the southern bridge foundation of its Kaitoke Pipe Bridge upgrade.

Works began on a bridge replacement to ensure the supply of safe drinking water continued for the Wellington region.

Greater Wellington councillor Ros Connelly said she was pleased to see work get underway on an important project for the security of the water network.

“This impressive bridge will support a vital pipeline that supplies almost 50 per cent of the Wellington region’s raw water,” she said.

“The current pipe bridge is ageing and in need of replacement. I’m delighted the new bridge will not only secure our water supply but be a place where we can come to admire a magnificent landscape.”

Dunkirk Wastewater upgrade

Stage one of the Dunkirk Road wastewater upgrade progressed well with four storage tanks underground and the gravity main over halfway complete.

The $52 million joint project between Watercare and Kāinga Ora is set to reduce wastewater overflows and cater for population growth in the Panmure area in New Zealand.

The gravity main, which travels between the wastewater pump station and Johnson Reserve, has had significant progress.

Four storage tanks have also been installed, which was a significant milestone for stage one of the project.

“Each of the 24-metre-long storage tanks weighed 5.3 tonnes each and had to be individually lifted in and placed six metres down into the underground structure to perfectly align with the manholes and inlet pipes managing flows received via the gravity main,” Project Manager Jason Salmon said.

“For me, this was the most significant achievement in the project as we safely installed the storage tanks in two days rather than the four, we anticipated, enabling us to maintain good momentum on the project.”

With these significant milestones now reached, Watercare estimates that stage one of the project is on track to meet its completion in October next year.

Australian engineering services company Verbrec was awarded significant contracts in New Zealand.

GAS

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info@alltypeengineering.com.au

www.alltypeengineering.com.au

Emerging leaders showcase Australian talent at global hydrogen conference

By Caitlin Grant, Graduate

Energy Consultant, Advisian

Some 11,000 global leaders from the energy industry, across government, research, and private sectors,

new technologies through decarbonisation, electrification, and circularisation. Hydrogen is considered a key player in the energy transition with multiple projects in Australia approaching final investment decision (FID).

A developing concern discussed at the summit was the skills shortage throughout the entire hydrogen supply chain. This has led to the key concern of how to effectively assemble the teams required to bring ambitious projects to life.

We need to have the expertise on hand now at all levels, with a deliberate focus on equity and inclusion from the start. Engineers, researchers, business developers and policymakers are required to deliver successful projects and bring down costs of electrolysers, storage systems and hydrogen-fed engines and processes.

FEmaleena and Caitlin. These women received scholarships from the Australian Gas Industry Trust (AGIT) to attend the summit, with support from their companies, who regard each of them as rising stars in a rapidly changing industry.

Carina Nixon Project Engineer, GPA Engineering

Carina Nixon joined GPA in 2019 as an undergraduate and has proven herself to be an outstanding engineer in her contribution to GPA projects including the Bulwer Island ENEOS Direct MCH® Demonstration Plant. Nixon’s excellence both in the engineering field and as an ambassador for women in the engineering industry made her a standout applicant to receive the scholarship.

Parul Tangri Operations Manager, Ausnet Services

Joining AusNet as an engineer more than four years ago, Parul Tangri has been actively involved in feasibility studies, collaborating with industry peers and exploring new technologies to support the energy transition.

At the summit, Tangri networked with global industry experts, gained invaluable insights into emerging technologies and business models, and developed new partnerships that will ultimately drive innovation and growth for AusNet to stay

Emaleena Baker Strategic Advisor, AGIG

Emaleena Baker’s strategic vision and innovative thinking has guided AGIG since she joined in March 2022. Baker has helped position AGIG to pave the way for renewable hydrogen in Australia. Gaining a global perspective at the conference has both deepened Baker’s appreciation for the sector and reinforced the work she is doing in Australia as part of AGIG.

Caitlin Grant Graduate Energy Consultant, Advisian

Caitlin Grant joined Advisian in February 2022 and has experience in a variety of engineering advisory services including feasibility studies and options analysis, which has provided her with a solid foundation to tackle the challenges of decarbonising the chemicals and fuels industries. The Summit was a formative career experience where Grant extended her network and gained insights into hydrogen developments on a global scale.

Time for change

A shift in the gas industry is fast approaching with increasing social and environmental pressures. There is no silver bullet when it comes to achieving net zero. It will require leveraging a mix of existing and

We need to plan for the expertise of the future by offering hydrogen training to gas fitters, plumbers, plant operators, truck and bus drivers, and mechanics. We need to inspire the next generation from an early age, through educational programs for school children, visible role models and ongoing engagement. We need to build partnerships with diverse groups and institutions to draw from a wide pool.

Due to the synergies between the natural gas and hydrogen sectors, upskilling those already in the gas and pipeline industry will also be an important step as the industry transitions to net zero. Giving the next generation of pipeliners the rare opportunity to attend national and global conferences, which are nominally reserved for more senior leaders, enables our emerging leaders to appreciate decision making at a higher level and be empowered to rise to the challenge of changing the industry.

The Women’s Pipeline Forum was established with the purpose of promoting collaboration, contribution, and development of women in the pipeline industry – a key part of ensuring a just transition to net zero.

These topics and more will be discussed at the APGA Convention in Perth in October.

Members of the WPF are able to access discounted conference registration and are encouraged to attend the WPF event on Sunday 15 October.

For more information contact wpf@apga.org.au

Emerging leaders from the Australian gas industry at the World Hydrogen Summit 2023. From L-R Parul Tangri, Caitlin Grant, Carina Nixon and Emaleena Baker.

BOOTH NUMBER 14

The right tool for hot tapping and line stopping

ipeline hot tapping and line stopping are critical techniques to ensure the safety and reliability of pipelines.

One of the primary benefits of these techniques is the ability to minimise downtime and maintain product flow. Shutting down a pipeline for maintenance or repair can be a time-consuming and costly process, and can result in significant product losses, adverse environmental effects, and

Hot tapping and line stopping allows operators to perform necessary work while the product is still flowing, reducing the requirement to depressurise, vent and purge large

STATS’ BISEP is a temporary line plugging tool available in 3–56 inches and pressures up to

Achieved using patented and DNV-type approved technology, the BISEP provides a failsafe double block and bleed isolation deployed through a single hot tap penetration, without the need for additional hot tapped bleed or

The solution offers safety advantages over traditional line stop technologies, with the hydraulically activated dual seals providing leak-

The dual seal isolation barrier is confirmed once each seal is independently tested with full pipeline pressure in the correct direction and the pressure between the seals is vented, creating a

The zero-energy zone between the seals is monitored throughout the work scope, confirming the isolation integrity with zero leakage which increases worksite safety.

The BISEP provides a fail-safe isolation as the seals are activated and maintained by two independent mechanisms, hydraulic activation and pressure differential across the seals provided by the pipeline pressure. The differential pressure maintains self-energisation of the seals, ensuring isolation integrity independent of the hydraulic

The BISEP can be configured with an integrated bypass through the launcher, which ensures no interruption to flow, maintaining production throughout the maintenance activities.

The fact it is installed into the pipeline unset allows deployment into a flowing pipeline, resulting in no interruption to production and

12” class 600 extended reach hot tap tie-in, Queensland.

This configuration includes many of the benefits of the standard BISEP; however, the addition of an integrated bypass reduces the work area and number of fittings required, reducing project costs and timescales.

Reducing venting and flaring

Pipeline operators face challenges associated with eliminating greenhouse gas emissions during pipeline maintenance and facility upgrades.

STATS’ double block and bleed pipeline isolation technology reduces carbon emissions by minimising the length of pipeline that needs to be depressurised during repair and maintenance work. This prevents entire pipelines being depressurised, thereby avoiding the need to discharge significant quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

With investment in carbon capture and storage and hydrogen accelerating, there is a growing focus on how existing infrastructure can be repurposed. This makes isolation and intervention technology to isolate critical energy pipelines safely and efficiently for repair, maintenance and modifications is increasingly important.

STATS Group's double block and bleed isolation technology is already proven to provide high integrity isolation in both hydrogen and high-pressure liquid CO2 pipelines.

STATS strives to drive higher levels of safety to the energy industry while supporting the transition to a low-carbon future.

For more information visit www.statsgroup.com

“Achieved using patented and DNV-type approved technology, the BISEP provides a fail-safe double block and bleed isolation deployed through a single hot tap penetration, without the need for additional hot tapped bleed or vent ports.”

14” Fittings manufactured for Western Australia.

BISEP® Seal Test Sequence.

HOST SPONSORS

2023 APGA Annual Convention & Exhibition

SPONSORS

14–17 October 2023

PERTH Convention & Exhibition Centre

MAJOR SPONSORS CONVENTION SPONSORS

POWER OF THE PRESENT F FORCE OF THE FUTURE

Unleashing the power of industry insights

Attending conventions has become an integral part of career development, and the APGA Convention shines with benefits for professionals seeking growth and success.

Bconvention experience and eagerly downloading all of the industry information on hand, attendees of the APGA Convention can gain unparalleled knowledge, spark inspiration, and pave the way for remarkable professional achievements.

Embracing expertise and connections

A unique opportunity to interact with industry experts and thought leaders lies at the heart of the APGA Convention.

Over the course of two days, attendees have the opportunity to engage directly with luminaries who have made significant contributions to their respective fields. These interactions enable professionals to tap into a wealth of wisdom, gather insights, and gain a fresh perspective on their industry.

By actively participating in sessions, panel discussions, and Q&A sessions, attendees can build valuable connections and forge relationships with influential individuals who can become mentors, collaborators, or even future employers.

Staying informed about the latest industry developments is vital for professional success, and the APGA Convention offers a condensed and focused learning experience that is designed to surpass traditional methods of knowledge acquisition.

concentrated dose of industry information. From joining enlightening keynote speeches to participating in specialised workshops and seminars, professionals can swiftly acquire new skills, discover best practices, and identify emerging opportunities.

This accelerated knowledge transfer helps to ensure attendees can promptly apply what they have learnt, gaining a competitive edge in their respective fields.

Igniting inspiration

The APGA Convention is a hub of inspiration and innovation. The vibrant atmosphere, brimming with passionate professionals, cultivates an environment primed for creativity.

In being surrounded by like-minded individuals sharing their experiences and success stories, attendees can be stimulated to think beyond traditional boundaries. The exchange of ideas and the exposure to diverse perspectives can also spark inspiration and ignite the imagination.

Professionals who embrace the convention experience often find themselves infused with fresh ideas that can revolutionise their work and propel their careers forward.

Amplified networking

Beyond the acquisition of industry insights, the

networking opportunity.

Being immersed in the convention allows professionals to engage in focused and intentional networking. By actively seeking out like-minded individuals, joining networking events, and participating in informal discussions, attendees can expand their professional network. And these connections hold the potential for collaborations, job prospects, mentorship opportunities and even long-term friendships.

The immersive nature of the convention environment amplifies the chances of forging meaningful connections within a short span of time.

Diving into the APGA Convention and taking in all the information available can be a gamechanger for professional growth.

The convention serves as a gateway to expert knowledge, inspiring ideas, and invaluable networking opportunities. Fully embracing the experience allows professionals to gain direct access to industry experts, stay up-to-date with the latest trends, accelerate their learning process, ignite their creativity, and expand their network exponentially.

The APGA Convention has the power to transform careers and pave the way for success. It may be the catalyst that propels you to new heights in your professional journey.

The annual convention and exhibition will be held at the at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 14–17 October.

Unlocking career advancement –The power of the APGA Convention

In today's fast-paced world, professionals are constantly seeking opportunities to enhance their careers and stay ahead in their respective industries. While technological advancements and online networking platforms have revolutionised the way we connect, there is still something unique and invaluable about attending conventions. Among these, the APGA Convention stands out as a premier event that offers a multitude of benefits, empowering individuals to forge meaningful connections and catapult their careers to new heights.

conventions provide an immersive environment for learning and self-improvement. These enhanced skills can translate into improved job performance, increased job satisfaction, and even promotions.

Industry insights and trends

Staying up to date with industry trends is crucial for career success. The APGA Convention offers a unique opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of emerging technologies, market shifts, and industry breakthroughs. Attendees can attend keynote speeches, panel discussions, and specialised sessions dedicated to exploring the latest developments within their field. Such exposure allows professionals to stay ahead of the curve, make informed decisions, and contribute to their organisations' growth and success.

Inspiring and motivational environment

Networking opportunities

One of the most compelling reasons to attend the APGA Convention is the unparalleled networking opportunities it presents. Interacting face-to-face with like-minded professionals, industry leaders, and potential mentors can open doors that would otherwise remain closed. The convention acts as a hub, bringing together experts from various backgrounds and allowing attendees to tap into a vast pool of knowledge and experience. Conversations over coffee breaks, panel discussions, and workshops can lead to valuable connections that may prove instrumental in future collaborations, job prospects, or even business ventures.

Learning from industry experts

The APGA Convention offers a treasure trove of knowledge through its line-up of renowned speakers and thought leaders. Attending insightful sessions and discussions led by

industry experts provides an unparalleled opportunity for professional growth. Participants can gain insights into the latest trends, innovations, and best practices relevant to their field. Moreover, the convention offers a platform for thought-provoking discussions, where attendees can challenge their assumptions, broaden their perspectives, and gain a competitive edge in their careers.

Personal development and skill enhancement

Conventions such as the APGA Convention are not just about professional networking; they are also platforms for personal growth and skill enhancement. The diverse range of discussions, seminars, and interactive sessions available allows attendees to expand their skill sets and acquire new competencies. Whether it's honing industry skills, learning new techniques, or developing effective environmental, social and governance communication strategies,

Conventions like the APGA one serve as catalysts for inspiration and motivation. The electric atmosphere, filled with like-minded individuals passionate about their respective industries, fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. Engaging with successful professionals who have overcome challenges and achieved great heights can ignite the spark within attendees, encouraging them to push their boundaries and reach for new goals. The positive energy and contagious enthusiasm at the convention can leave a lasting impact, re-energising professionals to approach their careers with renewed vigour.

The Convention stands as a beacon of opportunity, offering a wealth of benefits to professionals seeking to elevate their careers. From networking with industry leaders to acquiring new skills and staying abreast of industry trends, attending conventions is a powerful tool for career advancement. By embracing the transformative power of conventions like the APGA Convention, professionals can unlock new avenues, broaden their horizons, and pave the way for a brighter future. So pack your business cards, and get ready to embark on a journey that could transform your career trajectory forever.

The APGA Convention stands as a beacon of opportunity, offering a wealth of benefits to professionals seeking to elevate their careers.

PE ISOLATION has changed for the better.

Part of the comprehensive gas distribution systems offering from TDW, the revolutionary POLYSTOPP® Quick Connect system makes it easy to safely perform tapping, plugging and branching on polyethylene (PE) pipelines — faster than other methods of isolating and using significantly less excavation space.

One person lift. | For 4-inch through 8-inch pipelines. Pressure rated to 10 bar (150 psi). | Covers multiple standard dimension ratios. 2-inch bypass capable. | Plugging or branching fittings available.

SAFE. QUICK. RELIABLE.

How much faster is it? Watch the speed comparison video:

Exhibitor list

2023 APGA Annual Convention program

Day 1: Saturday 14 October 2023

07:00 – 13:00

17:30 – 18:30

19:00 – 22:00

Vermeer Golf Classic

Golf Classic 18-hole competition, Maylands Public Golf Course

WA Young Pipeliners Forum Social Function

Bells Functions

Welcome Reception

Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA), Perth Cultural Centre

Day 2: Sunday 15 October 2023

10:30 – 14:30

15:00 – 17:00

18:00 – 19:30

19:30 – 23:00

23:00 – 00:00

Sunday Get Together

Bathers Beach House, Freemantle

Women in Pipelines Function

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Exhibition Opening

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Opening Dinner

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Happy Hour

Metro Bar & Bistro, Adina Hotel

Day 3: Monday 16 October 2023

08:00

08:30

08:50

09:10

09:55

10:25

11:00

11:45

12:15

14:00

14:25

14:45

15:05

15:25

15:50

16:15

16:35

16:55

17:20

19:00 – 23:00

Arrival & Registration

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Convention Opening Day 1

Donna McDowall, President, Australian Pipelines and Gas Association

Welcome to Country

Opening Address

Milton Catelin, Secretary General, IGU

State of the Industry

A discussion between Donna McDowall, President, APGA and Steve Davies, Chief Executive Officer, APGA

APGA Awards Presentation

Recognition and presentation of the prestigious 2023 APGA awards

Morning Tea – Exhibition Hall

Leaders Panel

A leaders panel, comprising industry CEOs, will engage in discussion on industry topics and provide insight into the future of pipelines and gas

Keynote Speaker: Michelle Cowan

Michelle Cowan, a trailblazer in breaking down barriers for women in business and sport, is an engaging and empowering speaker, known for her energetic and inspirational approach to empowering women to achieve their goals

Lunch – Exhibition Hall

Keynote Speaker: David Norman Chief Executive Officer, Future Fuels CRC

Harnessing Decades of International Pipeline Research Collaboration to Support the Development of our Future Energy Grid

Klaas van Alphen, APA

Learning Lessons from the North West Shelf and other Gas Projects to Support the Delivery of Excellence for Australian Hydrogen Projects

Thomas Jackson, GPA Engineering

Hydrogen Pipeline: Technical Challenges

Robin Gordon, Microalloying

Afternoon Tea – Exhibition Hall

Surviving the Storm – Gas Pipeline Emergency Management in NZ

Ryan Phipps, First Gas

ILI Validations – What are they good for? An Operators Perspective

Gary Brown, Exxon Mobil

Balancing Compliance with Practicality in Emergency Response

Daisy So, APA Group

Drone ROW Survey (TBC)

Andrew Bambridge, Tas Gas

Convention Close Day 1

Recap of the day’s activities and highlights of the evening’s social events

Fancy Dress Dinner

Optus Stadium, Perth

Pollard’s Sawdust Supplies has been a trusted national supplier of graded and bagged sawdust and wood shavings products for over 50 years. The pipeline construction industry has been entrusting our business to provide support for their pipe assets for many decades.

Pollard’s PACK TUFF bags are:

• The perfect pipeline bedding solution

• Lightweight – up to 80% lighter than equivalent sandbags

• Eco-friendly from sustainable sources

• Chemical free

• 3 sizes to suit all pipe diameters

• Won’t explode or balloon under pressure

Day 4: Tuesday 17 October 2023

08:00

08:50

09:00

09:45

10:05

10:25

10:45

11:05

Arrival & Registration

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Convention Opening Day 2

Welcome and Acknowledgement

Young Pipeliners Panel Discussion

Hosted by Carina Nixon with Jeanette Rose (AGIG), Matt Nash (PAC), Sam Galofaro (Veris), Mikayla Rousham (APA), Dan Schneke (ROSEN)

Gender diversity in pipelines

Carol Bond, RMIT

People of the Present, Looking after our Future

Elizabeth Wheeler, APA

Organisational Accident Prevention, School of Property, Construction and Project Management

Prof Jan Hayes, Modester Chawirah, Enscope

Putting Stakeholders at the Heart of Transformation – so no-one is left behind. The Human Side of Energy Transition

Louise Pogmore, KPMG

Morning Tea – Exhibition Hall

Post Morning Tea sessions will be split across the Main Auditorium and the Breakout room. Please note the location of the presentation you wish to attend.

Main Auditorium

11:35

Green Gas: The Economic Regulation Challenge – How can we change regulatory culture to remove barriers to a green gas pathway

James Turnley, JT Economics

Meeting Rooms 1&2

New Approach to HDPE Pipe Fusion

Sergio Arellano, McElroy Australia

11:55

CO2 Transmission Pipelines for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage; Recommendations of Overcoming the Challenges

Marzieh Amanababi, GPA Engineering

The role of green HDD for pipeline construction

Andrea Fluck, Herrenknecht

12:15

12:35

12:55

The Role of Biomethane in Australia’s Net Zero Emissions Future

Jarrod Irving, AGIG

Requalifying existing gas pipelines for hydrogen service

Jason Amiri, Nacap

An Approach to Weld Design on Hydrogen Service.

Luke Ludwig, CRC Evans

The effect of accurate HDD pilot drilling on pulling forces, pipe stress and hydrogen safety

Hans Blok, Brownline Australia Pty Ltd

Australian Hydrogen Centre Statewide Feasibility Studies, Owen Sharpe, AGIG

Kewdale White Oil Pipeline

John Stuart Robertson, Spiecapag

SUCCESS IN WATER TRANSPORTATION STARTS WITH THE RIGHT PIPELINE

Achieving excellence in the water industry is your number one priority. Helping you get there is ours. Steel Mains’ manufactures high quality steel pipelines but what makes us a leader is the partnerships we develop with our customers. By understanding your business needs, we are able to provide agile solutions and service. Which means you can focus all your energy on achieving success, while we deliver it.

Through our cutting edge corrosion systems, our Sintakote Steel Pipeline System® has an enviable 150 years’ service life. Choose Steel Mains, the leader in pipeline manufacturing for your next pipeline project.

www.steelmains.com

13:15

14:15

14:35

14:55

15:15

15:30

16:15

16:35

16:55

17:15

19:00-23:00

23:00-00:00

Lunch – Exhibition Hall

Ensuring Safe Isolation of Plants and Equipment in Piping Industry: All Isolation Methods and Related Technologies.

Charly Ribeiro, ONIS Line Blind

By Data, Be Driven: Improving Decision Making in the Safety Management Process.

Simon Braun, Rosen Group

Researching the Aggressive Internal Corrosion of CO2 Pipelines. Tom Seeber, Atteris.

Afternoon Tea – Exhibition Hall

Policy and Advocacy Panel

Jordan McCollum (APGA – Chair), Paul Purcell (APGA), Ian Israelsohn (Jemena), Liz McNamara (APA), Cathryn McArthur (AGIG)

Environmental Excellence at Ironbridge, Daniel Bromley, Consultant

Western Outer Ring Main

TBA, Spiecapag

Challenges and Solution of Northern Goldfield Interconnect Pipeline

Daniel Wallace, APA Group and Mark McLeod, Nacap

Convention Close Day 2

Recap of the day’s activities and highlights of the evenings social events

APGA Annual Gala Dinner

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

Happy Hour

Metro Bar & Bistro, Adina Hotel

Please be aware that errors may occur as changes can happen after the program has gone to print.

• First to move the vacuum reservoir from the excavator stick to the counterweight

• First to use the excavator hydraulics to power the vacuum pump

• First to remove radio remote control

• First to introduce dedicated excavator operator controls

• First to introduce 360˚ rotation

• First to develop an in-trench pipe assembly apparatus

• First to develop an hydraulically assisted multiple o ring jointed pipe assembly tool

• First to develop a remote controlled in pipe inspection tool

• First to develop a VacLift that will only release a pipe when the pipe is on a solid surface

• First to increase the range of diameters able to be handled by each pipe shoe

• First to develop a fully adjustable attachment pickup.

We know the industry better than anyone, talk to us about all your pipeline plant hire needs first.

BOOTH NUMBER 1,2,3 & Equipment

Star in the shutdown containers constellation

Piping Specialty Supply Service (PSSS) is aptly named, as evidenced by the company’s extensive range of shutdown containers.

PSSS is known for its ability to supply customer-focused and flexible solutions. These shutdown containers are the perfect example packed with… well… everything and more.

For example, the containers can house any tool for flange management and bolting, such as torque wrenches, tensioners, flange facers, spreaders, aligners, and nut splitters.

But that’s not all. The containers can also contain pipe-cutting and bevelling machinery such as clamshells, oxy/ascet machines and end prep such as line up and reforming clamps for welding.

Hiring PSSS’ shutdown containers also enables industry professionals to have their hot tapping machines, hot bolting clamps, repair clamps, weld neck testers, and line up and reforming clamps at their fingertips.

They offer deep and secure shelving options and a work bench with vice, as well as wallmounted documentation storage. All equipment comes certified and calibrated with document packs ready for QA.

Wcontainer? According to PSSS, it’s all about versatility and selection.

PSSS is truly every specialist’s one-stop-shop for their next shutdown, with years of experience

to the oil and gas, energy and chemical sectors. The company has propelled itself as an industry leader and knows what is needed to get the job done.

PSSS can further add value to the project with a complete range of poisoned pipeline execution (PPE), blast and coating machinery, tooling and consumables.

PSSS’ containers really are like a portable workshop, with optional lighting allowing users to work and store at the same time and place. For more information visit psssa.com.au

PSSS’ shutdown containers are versatile and can house all kinds of equipment.

The containers can house any tool in the flange management and bolting sector.

The containers can also contain pipecutting and bevelling machinery.

BOOTH NUMBER 62

kwik-ZIP puts mark on WORM

Texisting pipelines at Plumpton in Melbourne’s west and Wollert in the north.

Several different kwik-ZIP spacers - HDX38’s, HDX-125 and HDXT-63’s - were utilised on different cased crossings along the pipeline route.

The pipeline will address a key capacity constraint in the Victorian Transmission System (VTS) by providing a new high-pressure connection between existing sources of natural gas supply in Victoria.

Addressing this missing link will deliver improved network reliability by increasing the amount of gas that can be stored for times of peak demand.

It will also ensure sufficient volumes of gas can be moved where it is needed most.

Importantly, without the project being delivered, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has forecast that parts of Victoria may soon face natural gas supply shortages by 2023.

The

will be

pipeline

constructed from highstrength steel line pipe with an external epoxy

protective coating would not be damaged during

Without the project being delivered, the Australian Energy Market Operator has forecast that parts of Victoria may soon face natural gas supply shortages by 2023.

The pipeline will be constructed from highstrength steel line pipe with an external epoxy coating and be buried for its entire length to a minimum depth of 900 millimetres.

the pipe wouldn’t make contact with the enveloper during and after installation.

kwik-Zip was the right choice for the WORM project, as the company’s large range of spacers cater for a wide range of carrier and casing pipe size combinations as well as providing flexibility to deal with different project requirements.

kwik-ZIP’s HDXT & HDX Series spacers have been successfully appraised by the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA) with both products the only casing spacers on the market that have been approved as compliant by WSAA.

The use of kwik-ZIP products helps contractors to comply with the numerous regulations that require casing centralisers or pipe spacers - slippers or spiders - including wastewater and sewerage codes and well construction standards.

But the use of such advanced technology comes with prerequisites: it’s best to know everything about them to use them at their best capacity.

If you are a pipeline installer or engineering

consultant, kwik-ZIP technical sessions are made for you.

Paul Jeffreys, General Manager at kwik-ZIP, said the sessions are beneficial to improving the industries spacer and centraliser knowledge.

“Technical sessions are designed to provide an increased knowledge and understanding of the kwik-ZIP product range, when they are needed or required,” he said.

“The sessions are also focussed on the numerous benefits linked to spacers use, and an understanding of relevant industry standards and codes.

“The sessions also circle back to installation guidelines as well as some tips – all highlighted using real project examples.”

Sessions are provided on demand as requested, which ensure each session is a repository of knowledge for the participants and can be tailored to suit.

“We have done a number of sessions already to specific pipeline installers and engineering consultants,” Jeffreys said.

“We have also presented similar sessions in the

past to the Australasian Society for Trenchless Technology (ASTT) technical forums.”

The themes of these sessions include, but are not limited to:

• When are pipe spacers needed or required?

• Benefits of using pipe spacers.

• Industry standards and codes.

• Spacer installation guidelines and tips, including project examples.

According to Jeffreys, the technical sessions are always unique and varied, thanks to the participants’ input.

“Questions vary dependent on the focus of the session – for example engineering consultants are interested in the benefits of the products with respect to their design whereas installers or contractors are interested in guidelines and tips for installation when on site,” he said.

So far, the sessions have been a hit among the gas and oil professionals.

“Feedback has been positive, and attendees have indicated that the sessions have provided them with added knowledge and information that is relevant and useful,” Jeffreys said.

Overpipe was developed in France as a reliable, economical and environmentally friendly alternative to concrete slabs. Designed to provide a protective barrier for buried pipelines and a visual warning for machinery operators, Overpipe plates resist the assault of a 32-tonne shovel to protect buried pipes from any encroachment. Lightweight (30-40kg depending on the model), Overpipe plates are easy to install and easy to remove, to allow inspection or repair of the pipeline. Overpipe is designed to connect multiple plates together so that if one plate is pierced or hooked by an excavator, the plates it is connected to will also lift from the ground.

Overpipe Features and Benefits:

• Light weight, but tough 15mm thick HDPE

• High Vis Yellow, embossed warning

• Range of widths 500mm – 1800mm

• 30 sheets to a double pallet – low transport cost

• Overlapping plates with simple joiner

• Holes for drainage and CP monitoring

• Easy to install, 2-man lift

• Anti-slip surface

• 50-year warranty

• Custom sizes and colours

X marks the spot

Mipela GeoSolutions is making its mark with clients as it finalises the migration of its X-Info portal hosting platform in Amazon Web Services as part of a digital transformation.

Communication, customer service, innovation and creativity, teamwork and technical competence. These are the five values that drive Mipela GeoSolutions, a geographic information system (GIS) company that provides services and a range of desktop and web-based software offerings through its X-Info suite of products across the energy and infrastructure sectors.

The X-Info suite turns data collection and analysis into a streamlined process, as it can manage, share, visualise and capture data for clients – connecting people with information.

Mipela GeoSolutions is currently undertaking a digital transformation of the X-Info suite. The phases of this project are to migrate and modernise, so the Mipela team can in turn enhance security, improve reliability, and increase performance.

“We are continuing with our digital transformation, with the migration phase of our

new X-Info portal hosting platform in AWS (Amazon Web Services) now complete,” Mipela GeoSolutions Founder and Managing Director Hayden McDonald said.

“This has been one of our most significant projects Mipela has undertaken and we thank our valued clients for their continuous support.”

“We now move into the modernisation phase to leverage the new capabilities for our X-Info suite assurance solutions, with our focus on enhanced security, improved reliability, and increased performance for the clients we service.”

Having now migrated to AWS, the X-Info suite can introduce a variety of benefits for clients.

“By lowering our risk profile through improved reliability, we can now focus on increasing our performance and enhancing security,” McDonald said.

“This digital transformation will also leverage insights to improve sustainability and corporate transparency.”

The “Enhance Security” phase.

“Finally, the new hosting platform will improve employee and client experience to increase productivity, therefore reducing operating costs.”

To showcase the breadth of its solutions and new cloud computing services partnership with AWS, Mipela will exhibit at the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) Annual Convention and Exhibition.

“We’re really excited to showcase our cloud computing services partnership with AWS and the magnitude of cloud services available to us in AWS in an engaging way for convention goers,” McDonald said.

“Whether you’re just starting out with cloud or looking to migrate on-premise solutions to AWS, we help clients accelerate their cloud transformation, no matter where they are in their journey.”

We invite you to come visit us at the exhibition and learn about how we can provide you with the essential assurance solutions you should be expecting.

Cloudy outlook? Migrate & Modernise

The “Increase Performance” phase.

BOOTH NUMBER 26

Keeping natural gas an option

As the world transitions to a low-carbon future, Picarro emissions-mitigation technology plays a vital role in empowering carbon management strategies.

In the global effort to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning from traditional fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources has become a top priority.

According to Picarro’s Director of Gas Sales and Marketing Doug Ward, the company has become a driving force in the industry when it comes to achieving emissions reduction.

“Utilities around the world are using our technology to help them achieve their net-zero goals and, in many cases, ahead of targeted dates,” he said.

“Roughly five per cent of a utility’s largest emitters account for approximately 50 per cent of their total fugitive emissions.

“Utilising our emissions quantifications capabilities and other analytical tools allows them to prioritise addressing larger emitters to accelerate overall emissions reduction.”

By accurately measuring methane emissions, pipeline operators can quantify their carbon footprint, align with emission-reduction targets, and contribute to climate goals.

While there are suggestions of outright banning natural gas, an essential energy resource, this is a complex decision that requires careful consideration of economic, social, and energy security implications.

Amid this ongoing debate, however, Picarro technology has emerged as a powerful ally in the pipeline industry's mission to address fugitive gas leakage and reduce environmental impact. Innovative methane detection and monitoring solutions offered present an opportunity to address emissions proactively.

Picarro’s technology can revolutionise pipeline emissions mitigation, promoting a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.

By exploring the benefits and challenges of emissions mitigation through pipeline emissions mitigation, its role is crucial when it comes to achieving a balanced and environmentally responsible energy transition. This will enable Australian consumers to keep natural gas as an energy option.

Importance of natural gas

Natural gas has long been a crucial energy source, serving as a key fuel to meet global energy demands while transitioning towards a cleaner energy mix. It offers numerous benefits, such as lower carbon emissions compared to coal and oil, and acts as a reliable back-up for intermittent renewable energy sources.

An outright banning of natural gas could lead to energy supply challenges and may not be the most pragmatic solution,” Ward said.

Identifying and quantifying fugitive emissions using Picarro’s technology allows utilities to prioritise repair of larger emitters.

While natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, methane emissions from pipelines can undermine its environmental advantages. Addressing fugitive methane emissions is vital for minimising the overall climate impact of natural gas.

Harnessing the power of technology

Picarro offers cutting-edge solutions for detecting and measuring methane emissions with unparalleled accuracy. Its quantification capabilities are key to addressing network emissions.

“Integrating Picarro's technology into pipeline network monitoring and assessment processes empowers operators to proactively identify and address leaks or replace pipelines promptly, significantly reducing methane emissions,” Ward said.

By deploying Picarro technology, pipeline operators can enhance their integrity management practices. For gas network assessment and pipeline replacement optimisation applications, Picarro’s analytics, rather than identify individual leaks, estimate

leak density per kilometre and measure the actual, aggregated methane emissions along the pipe segments or areas in question.

This solution combines data analytics with a vehicle-based methane emissions data collection platform to assist with capital replacement decisions.

Picarro's advanced data analytics capabilities enable pipeline operators to harness vast amounts of real-time methane concentration data.

“By leveraging big data machine-learning algorithms, this data can be transformed into actionable insights, facilitating data-driven decision-making to optimise pipeline operations and maintenance efforts,” Ward said.

Collaborating for a sustainable energy future

According to Ward, energy companies have an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability by adopting emissions reduction goals and incorporating cleaner technologies into their operations.

“Embracing a transparent reporting mechanism for methane emissions can foster

For more information visit gas.picarro.com

trust and accountability among stakeholders,” he said.

Picarro's partnership with the pipeline industry and regulatory bodies fosters collaboration in advancing emissions mitigation efforts. Through shared data and insights, stakeholders can collectively work towards setting emissions reduction goals and implementing more effective environmental protection measures.

“By investing in innovative technologies, fostering collaboration between industry and governments, and demonstrating a commitment to sustainability, the pipeline industry can play a pivotal role in minimising methane emissions,” Ward said.

“As the pipeline industry navigates this complex landscape, Picarro technology stands as a game-changer.

“Embracing Picarro technology represents a significant step forward in fulfilling environmental commitments and fostering a cleaner, greener, and more responsible energy sector and ensuring the continued supply of natural gas as an essential energy resource.”

BOOTH NUMBER 78

Fueling the global energy demand: How FlexSteel flexible steel pipe can be used to rehabilitate and repurpose aging infrastructure

Aging oil and gas infrastructures necessitate innovative approaches to maintain pipeline integrity without substantial costs and production disruptions. FlexSteel’s Manager of Technical Services Engineering David Gregory told The Australian Pipeliner why FlexSteel flexible steel pipe is the go-to solution.

Challenges like rising material expenses, time-consuming installations, and permitting hurdles hinder full pipeline replacements and become a major concern for operators. The emergence of new energy markets and environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) standards drives operators to explore alternative revenue sources while meeting environmental standards.

While pull-in liners can aid pipeline restoration, most depend on the carrier pipeline's mechanical properties and cannot handle hoop stress or pipeline pressures independently.

Corrosion-related metal loss might render traditional liners ineffective. FlexSteel’s flexible steel pipelines emerge as an economical and viable solution to address these challenges, due to its extended lengths, high tensile strength, and flexible, unbonded design.

FlexSteel pipe is a steel-reinforced spoolable composite that can be pulled through existing pipelines in continuous lengths surpassing up to two miles. The inserted pipe relies on its inherent strength and mechanics instead of the host pipe’s integrity.

Since the 1970s, extensive flexible steel pipe installations have been successful onshore and offshore.

They offer several advantages:

• Faster and simpler installation compared to traditional steel pipes.

• Corrosion-resistant thermoplastic liner and shield.

• Multilayer pressure monitoring for integrity management.

• Proven service records under the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Regulations (192 and 195).

• Applicability in diverse fields such as hydrocarbon, CO2, H2O, fuels, and Renewable natural gas (RNG).

FlexSteel Pipe’s Structure

FlexSteel pipe is designed for installation from transportable reels or coils. The pipe consists of three functional layers in an unbonded structure:

1. Liner: The innermost layer is made of extruded thermoplastic, offering a primary seal to the conveyed fluid. It is resistant to corrosion and low-friction flow environments.

2. Steel reinforcement: This layer contains four helically wrapped carbon steel strips situated between the inner and outer thermoplastic layers. It's protected from transported fluid and external conditions, providing axial strength for pulling through corroded steel pipelines.

3. Shield: The outermost layer is a thick, extruded HDPE shield that safeguards underlying layers from mechanical damage and corrosive external environments.

Pipe insertion techniques.

Pipeline rehabilitation process

FlexSteel pipe can be inserted into an existing pipeline of slightly larger size to rehabilitate or repurpose it. Successful single pulls of up to two miles have been accomplished, while longer pipelines are installed in segments with bell holes at intervals. The rehabilitation process involves these steps:

1. Clearance determination: Assess the clearance within the carrier pipe, accommodating a nominal size step between the host and insert pipes.

2. Host pipe evaluation: Evaluate host pipe geometry, considering bends and surface obstacles, using construction alignment sheets or satellite imagery.

3. Maximum load analysis: Ensure that installation loads adhere to flexible steel pipe limits by estimating tension and comparing it to allowable design limits.

4. Finalisations and confirmation: Create a final issue for construction drawing after quantitative evaluations and confirm it through on-site inspections.

5. Site preparation and installation: Create bell holes at entry and exit points, connect a wireline unit to the host pipe, and attach the flexible steel pipe for insertion using mechanical equipment.

Pipeline integrity assessment

After inserting FlexSteel pipe, an inert gas test confirms shield integrity by injecting gas into the annular space. This test is conducted after each individual pull and again for the entire system post-installation.

Coupled with a hydrotest, this confirms the pipe's integrity inside and out. The annular space can also be used for real-time pressure monitoring during operation, identifying incursions into the shield in real-time.

Case studies

Two case studies illustrate the success of flexible steel pipe rehabilitation:

In southern Louisiana, a 4.4-mile 1960's era steel pipeline was rehabilitated using FlexSteel 6-inch 1500 pounds per square inch (PSI)

flexible steel pipe. A special permit was obtained, and the entire system was rehabilitated, tested, and hydrotested in two weeks.

In the Marcellus Shale basin, a 5.8-mile 1950s era bare steel pipeline was rehabilitated using FlexSteel 6-inch 1500 PSI flexible steel pipe. A special permit was granted, and the system was quickly rehabilitated, restoring gas service to the region.

To conclude, rehabilitating aging pipeline infrastructure offers a cost-effective, environmentally responsible solution for oil and gas operators. The pipe insertion process is rapid and minimally invasive, leveraging the inherent pressure-retaining capacity of FlexSteel pipe without relying on the carrier pipe's structural integrity.

These rehabilitated lines can handle higher pressures and new service applications, maintaining their performance over time without de-rating. The unique design also allows for efficient integrity assessments, making the pipe suitable for regulated applications.

» Quality and collaborative HDD design and construct services

» Expertise to advise at the right time in the project delivery cycle

» Gas, water and sewer, rail, road, power, telecommunications, mining, residential development, renewables and hydrogen

» Maxi-rigs capable of long and wide diameter bores in hard rock and difficult conditions

» Building a future we all look forward to

AUSTRALIA’S LEADING HDD SPECIALIST

Maxibor is using its design and construct expertise to deliver better project outcomes to asset owners and principal contractors alike

BOOTH NUMBER 75 & 76

Ten years of AJ Stack Solutions

This is a tale of success, a journey from one person to an international organisation: AJ Stack Solutions is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

AJ Stack Solutions (AJSS) is a company that provides technical and business solutions for industries focussing on performance improvement, the reduction in technical and commercial risk and of course cost reductions.

This year marks a milestone: it is the 10th anniversary of the company.

AJSS has just closed on 100 customers across the pipeline, oil and gas, power generation and mining industries across Australia and Southeast Asia.

AJSS started with the vision of one person, Arthur Stack, who arrived in Australia in 2008 to lead the regional aftermarket business of a major gas turbine manufacturer.

In 2013, after five years leading this regional business and with more than 25 years of service with the company, he decided to take early retirement and begin his new venture.

With little time for rest, Stack started AJ Stack Solutions to perform maintenance and field service activities.

Stack was soon joined at AJSS by experienced former colleagues, Tom Chapman, Ray Taylor, Bob Graf, Neil Walters and Murray Wigg helping guide AJSS to specialise in turbine maintenance and

operations offering advice, field services, repairs, and training.

After AJSS’s establishment, the company undertook its first power station audits in 2013 and first gas transmission audits in 2014.

The first AJSS office was opened in South Melbourne in 2015 and later relocated to Cheltenham in 2017, its current premises. Now in the 10th year of operations, AJSS purchased offices in Perth and Singapore staffed with dedicated teams of engineers and field maintenance professionals taking on projects across Australia and Southeast Asia.

Growth has been accompanied with opportunities to partner with the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) and equipment manufacturers, the first of which came in 2016.

As the company's reputation has grown, these opportunities have increased and now AJSS is partnered with more than a dozen companies including MJB, Eenergylink Int’l, Perron logistics and Union Hydraulics.

In 2015, AJSS formed a partnership with a national company in PNG and later that year were awarded their first long term service contract outside of Australia.

Two years later, the company won a

contract for the operations and maintenance of an FPSO, a contract that has continued despite a change of ownership.

That very same year, AJSS launched its first product, a transportation and storage container. Initially designed to solve a customer problem of transporting their equipment, AJSS has developed the concept into a product line available for hire or purchase.

In 2021, AJSS undertook the decommissioning of a power station in Western Australia and subsequent environmental remediation of the site, which finished in August of 2023.

As part of the contract, AJSS also preserved and subsequently brokered the resale of seven turbines and two gas engines.

That same year, the AJSS team started working on hydro plants winning three Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) operations and maintenance projects.

Through Stack’s leadership and vision in 2020, AJSS took another step in its growth and commitment to customers by attaining ISO 9001:2015 status, quality management, and further cemented its commitment to customers in February 2023 with the ISO 45001:2018 certification, health and safety management.

Both certifications demonstrate AJSS’ continuous improvement over its 10year journey.

A skilled provider

One recurring theme throughout the history of AJSS has been customer requests to supplement or replace their training on rotating equipment and balance of plant.

AJSS engineers have over 500 years of collective experience on the design, operation, and maintenance of rotating equipment, which provide customers with expert training techniques and strategies to improve their skills.

Since the company’s inception, operations and maintenance training has always been

The New AJSS Perth Office 28/12 Cowcher Place, Belmont 6104.

conducted on client sites as well as in AJSS offices, usually as a supplement to field services.

AJSS’ first international training appointments took place in Papua New Guinea in 2015, then in association with Yangon University and again in Malaysia to 40 young engineers in 2016.

Therefore, when AJSS opened its office in Cheltenham, it was an essential development for the company to have both a workshop for maintenance and a large training centre included in the design.

The training centres in Melbourne and now Perth, have been equipped with turbines, valves, electrical panels, control systems and models of significant rotating equipment components to assist with training for customers.

2016 was a significant year for AJSS training through the development of online training. The idea emerged over a coffee with the training manager of a pipeline company in Western Australia, following a face-to-face training course that was delivered on the company's site.

The conversation identified the issue of training people unable to be present at the scheduled event.

While online training discussions were taking place, digital twinning technology was an emerging area of interest and desktop computing power was sufficient to run complex animations and interactions such as those required to show the movement of engine components.

Thinking outside the box, AJSS decided to incorporate the emerging area of digital twinning with the decision to design an AJSS

gas turbine. Also, AJSS invested in computer engineers with gaming development experience to build a virtual world with its modelled rotating equipment, using control interactions accurate to the real world.

The approach of creating accurate representations of real equipment has proven to be successful as AJSS has modelled equipment on many oil and gas sites around the world.

In 2020, the company expanded beyond the resources industry with commissions from Pfizer pharmaceuticals to create critical technical training for operators in Europe that exactly simulates the tasks they perform in the real world.

If looking for a solution to a problem or requiring training for technical teams, AJSS’s unique ability to challenge the norms and never give up in finding a solution for a client, combined with its expertise and new and improving interactive training solutions, can

assist any company in taking their next steps to the future.

AJSS has developed a portfolio of highly interactive online driven training modules that accurately simulate the operation of equipment on many sites around the world.

This year has seen marked by a significant growth of AJSS’s online training business and the company has now more than 400 students enrolled in their online training courses which has led to their training business, Stacked Learning, becoming a separate company incorporated in Singapore.

The future of Stacked Learning is global and in 2023, AJSS appointed its first agents and partners in the US and Europe, to carry the AJSS brand around the world.

The company will continue building in the future by developing new strategies to add value, developing lasting solutions to problems and above all, seeking out new opportunities to grow the companies.

AJSS just celebrated a monumental milestone.

AJSS training at the company’s 7 Arnold Street Cheltenham main office.

BOOTH NUMBER 60 & 61

Lifting safety to new levels

Improved safety was the key driver when Austrack Equipment developed its SafeVac Lifting Systems™ vacuum lifter.

Austrack is no stranger to bringing innovative ideas and advanced technology to the table and the inhouse design and fabrication of its new lifting system’s SV400 Vac Lift unit comes as no surprise.

The Brisbane-based company has already put impressive industry runs on the board, partnering with Superior to be the Australian distributor for the company’s advanced range of crawlers and padders.

In the case of the SV400 Vac Lift, Austrack decided to go it alone and develop its own system after owner Michael Benson saw an

opportunity to bring a safer, more productive unit to the industry.

And Austrack efforts have paid off, with the SV400 Vac Lift unit already out in the field and being heralded as among the safest vacuum lifting systems on the market.

“For a long while, vacuum pipe lifting equipment represented a gap in Austrack service offering and we generally relied on hired-in units to meet our customers’ needs,” Benson said.

“And while those units did the job, we could clearly see there were areas where the vac lifts on the market could be improved, so we decided to build our own to meet that market need.”

According to Benson, building such a powerful machine took a village.

“We didn’t do it in isolation,” he said. “We went to the industry and collaborated with contractors, operators and engineers to ensure the significant safety, quality and productivity outcomes we believed could be achieved were specifically designed into our methodology and, ultimately, into our SV400 Vac Lift units.

“Our team has been around the pipeline business for a long time and knows what the market requires, and we believe our SafeVac Lifting Systems™ SV400 vacuum unit meets that need. From the clean lines of the dropped beam

spreader bar to the high-tech in-cabin control system right through to the precisely engineered vacuum shoes, we think it brings pipelifting to new level.”

This all-terrain lifting system is already an industry favourite.

“The whole unit speaks power and precision thanks to our integration of leading-edge design, and it is this focus that ensures our units can deliver best-practice form and functionality,” Benson said.

The SafeVac Lifting Systems™ has been designed to specifically meet European standard EN13155, which exceeds Australian Standard AS 4991.

The productivity benefits of the unit’s vacuum lifting pipes are fully complimented by a fail-safe control system.

The SV400 Vac Lift unit brings a new level of confidence in pipe lifting, rendering unintended pipe drops a thing of the past.

“The SV400 Vac Lift’s rear-mounted vacuum tank assembly is matched by additional vacuum storage in the lifting end spreader beam, and a non-return valve arrangement ensures, even in a catastrophic destruction of the main vacuum line, the lifted pipe will not be released,” Benson said.

“That’s the type of confidence I think will truly resonate in an industry that is always seeking systems that bring additional safety to operations and keeps people safe.”

But Benson believes the Austrack SV400 Vac Lift unit goes even further.

“During the design phase of its development, our team invested heavily into operator controls, because at the end of the day, and the pipe, there’s an operator and they are key,” he said.

The key features of the machine are many. The SV400 Vac Lift unit features a large cabin control screen that gives operators a clear display of reserve tank pressure, vacuum shoe pressures, pitch and

roll angles of spreader bar, and latch and release control icons to improve operator controls.

The screen also has extensive datalogging capabilities, including numbers of lifts for the life of the unit, by day or by shift.

“It’s also fully flexible, with the spreader bar at 4.5m in standard format," Benson said. “But through clever design it can provide a bolt-on 2m extension either side for when operators are moving longer HDPE pipes.

“In fact, the range of shoes available ensure all pipe sizes are catered for and depending on the size of the host excavator the vacuum unit is capable of lifting even the heaviest pipes.”

Austrack firmly believes that safety and productivity go hand in hand.

“And while safe operation is always our first consideration at Austrack, maintaining productivity and efficiency while vac lifting pipes has also been a key focus during our design,” Benson said.

“Our team’s design and development of this leading-edge vac lift unit has taken a lot of time and effort, but to now see these units in the field providing a higher level of safety for workers and instilling confidence in our customers, it makes the effort all worthwhile.

“The Safe Vac Lifting System is a new era in pipe lifting and the Austrack team is proud to be behind its introduction to our industry.”

For more information visit www.austrackequipment.com.au

The happy Austrack group. L-R: Kate Jones, Liam Brosnan, Matt Jones, Michael Benson, Donna Owens, Dylan Gamble, John Reid, Bailey Fletcher and Mike O’ Reilly.

At Austrack, safety and productivity go hand in hand.

BOOTH NUMBER 11

A match made in HDD heaven

Through its partnership with Prime Drilling, TRACTO Australia has delivered a new HDD rig to AHD Trenchless, a leading player in utilities infrastructure construction.

When AHD Trenchless was founded in 2009, by Anthony Doherty, it was with a passion for delivering the difficult jobs that are critical to providing essential infrastructure for our communities. And that’s a big part of the reason why AHD Trenchless specialises in the installation of large-diameter pipelines under rivers, designated heritage zones and major highways in continuous lengths up to 1.5km.

In addition to using its own technology, AHD prides itself on having the most advanced range of HDD drilling rigs, which is where TRACTO and Prime Drilling enter the picture.

“We had this dream of being able to solidly perform those longer shots on the same small footprint we use for our standard 250m+ bores,” AHD Trenchless General Manager Anthony Crowther said.

“The objective here is to drill 1.5km without surfacing, but still having the footprint of a machine that operates in that 200m to 500m range.”

In 2000, TRACTO and Prime Drilling entered into an agreement where TRACTO Australia would act as an agent for Prime’s machines in the local market.

Recently, TRACTO moved from agent status to a distributor, strengthening the partnership between the two organisations.

As a result of this progression, TRACTO delivered a PD150 HDD rig to AHD Trenchless,

which addressed the trenchless company’s needs for an efficient small footprint, high torque HDD rig.

The PD150 has 150 tonnes (t) of push-andpull capability and a high rotational torque of 95,000 newton metres (Nm), making it ideal for fast, economic and efficient operation.

Paired with its 430 kilowatts (kW) CAT engine, the machine delivers the flexibility of a smaller machine coupled with the performance of a Maxi drill rig.

“The high rotational torque will be able to work in hard rock conditions and also complements our use of optical wireline technology,” Crowther said.

drill rods and the connection points really facilitate our use of state-of-the-art guidance technology.”

TRACTO Australia Sales Manager Daniel Toms said the company’s pivot from agent to distributor has allowed it to provide the best results for AHD Trenchless.

“This extension of our partnership with Prime gives companies like AHD Trenchless a direct line to the factory and engineers in Germany,” Toms said.

“In addition to that, we provide the highest level of training and support for the machines, which the industry expects and demands.”

The machine delivers the flexibility of a smaller machine coupled with the performance of a Maxi drill rig.

The PD150 has 150 tonnes of push-and-pull capability.

Crowther agreed, noting the importance of having a presence in Australia.

“Our objective is to drill shots and deliver successful outcomes for our clients, so being able to delegate some of those interactive equipment support and software updates is really beneficial.”

“These are complex pieces of machinery that often require guidance and advice from manufacturers now more than ever with the use of technology underpinning their operation.

“You’re going to have teething problems but just knowing that we’ve got that support in Australia is definitely going to benefit us.”

The education around HDD and the machines associated with the technique will also continue to grow.

“There’s a lot of focus on microtunnelling in this space, and we definitely see that,” Crowther said.

“For the type of work that we do, there’s a really big opportunity for water authorities to deliver some improved value for money projects for their customers in adopting HDD.

“It’s not that we’re trying to replace

microtunnelling – they’ve got their place and we have ours. It’s that we believe we can free up capital for water authorities and utility’s by offering innovative solutions for pipeline installations that are efficient, use lower cost pipe and require less excavation and ground disturbance.

“They use our technology, which certainly

The whole world of HDD Technology

For AHD Trenchless, the partnership with TRACTO Australia provides opportunities to look at bigger projects.

“TRACTO has good relationships in different areas around Australia and we just started to broaden that network.”

The high rotational torque of 95,000 newton metres makes it ideal for fast, economic and efficient operation.

APGA 2023 Annual Convention & Exhibition

BOOTH NUMBER 30 & 71

A one-stop-shop solution

TFG Group is aiming to revolutionise the pipeline integrity and maintenance industry with a fresh solution.

solution, delivering a range of benefits that are set to revolutionise the industry.

The first notable advantage of TFG Group's one-stop shop solution is the significant effort reduction it offers.

By engaging a single company for its pipeline integrity needs, operators can avoid the inefficiencies and expenses associated with managing multiple subcontractors.

TFG Group's ability to handle the entire process, from supply to maintenance, ensures a streamlined workflow, optimising both time and resources, leading to cost savings that can be substantial in the long run.

TFG Group's integrated approach translates into reduced downtime for pipeline repairs.

Time is money in the oil and gas industry, and every moment of pipeline inactivity translates into substantial financial losses for operators.

By having a dedicated team proficient in all aspects of pipeline integrity and maintenance, TFG Group is able to respond swiftly to repair needs, minimising downtime and potentially saving owners and operators hundreds of

Urgent repairs demand swift action, and TFG Group is well-equipped to meet such demands ensuring pipeline operators can swiftly address critical issues, allowing for the seamless

“When it comes to urgent repairs, that’s where we really come into our own to ‘make it happen’,” TFG Group Oil and Gas Operations Manager Norm MacKinnon said.

Offering a split code design by combining ASME Section VIII (division 1 and division 2), with AS2885, TFG Group’s service offering ensures compliance and includes design verification by an independent thirdparty RPEng.

One of the critical aspects that sets TFG Group apart is the availability of qualified in-service welders for urgent repairs and maintenance.

In-service pipeline welding is a highly specialised skill, and TFG Group's teams of experienced welders are adept at handling the complexities and challenges associated with welding in active pipelines.

This expertise ensures that repairs are executed efficiently, accurately, and in compliance with industry standards.

Operating in a vast and diverse country like Australia presents unique challenges. However, TFG Group has established workshops and offices strategically located in Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria, enabling them to provide fabrication and installation support nationwide.

This extensive reach demonstrates its commitment to serving pipeline owners and operators across the country, regardless of the project's location or complexity.

Furthermore, TFG Group's status as a preferred supplier of the APA Group, one of Australia's largest pipeline operators, underscores its quality and reliability.

In an industry where efficiency, costeffectiveness, and safety are paramount, TFG Group is set to transform the landscape of pipeline integrity and maintenance in Australia. With its innovative one-stop shop solution, TFG Group offers a comprehensive suite of services that encompass supply, fabrication, installation, and maintenance, providing a seamless and streamlined experience for pipeline owners and operators across the country.

Traditionally, the task of ensuring pipeline integrity and maintaining its efficient operation has been fragmented, requiring the coordination of multiple sub-contractors.

TFG Group's new service offering eliminates this complexity by providing a single company

“Our rapid response teams have both fabrication and in-service installation capabilities and are ready to mobilise at a moment’s notice, Australia-wide.”

Supply, fabrication, and installation are integral parts of TFG Group's one-stop shop offering.

The company's fabrication capabilities include the construction of pig launchers and receivers, as well as the fabrication of sleeves and spools required for both urgent repairs and scheduled maintenance.

With stringent adherence to industry standards such as AS2885, B31.3 & B31.8 , TFG Group guarantees the highest levels of quality and traceability for all fabrication and installation services.

Being selected as a trusted partner by such a prominent industry player further validates TFG Group's expertise and industry standing, providing pipeline owners and operators with the confidence and reassurance they seek when choosing a service provider.

“By offering a comprehensive range of services, from supply to maintenance, TFG Group streamlines operations, reduces costs, and minimises downtime for pipeline owners and operators across the country,” TFG Managing Director Justin Anderson said.

“With our unwavering commitment to quality deliverables, expert teams of in-service welders, national reach, and endorsement from industry leaders, TFG Group is the go-to partner for those seeking an unparalleled pipeline integrity solution.”

For more information visit www.tfggroup.com.au

Supply products for pipeline repair and maintenance.

Installation teams with experienced in-service welding technicians.

Your Dedicated Project Partners

In-Service Repairs - Fabrication and Installation - Australia-wide

Your one-stop shop for Supply, Fabrication & Installation Services

Supply: Source and supply products for pipeline repairs & maintenance

Fabricate: Fabrication of pig launchers and receivers, as well as pipeline repair sleeves and spools required for both urgent repairs and scheduled maintenance

Install: Installation of components on site with experienced teams of inservice welding technicians

Maintain: Maintenance and urgent repair work, Australia-wide

Why choose TFG Group for your next project?

• One stop shop from supply to installation

• Australia-wide fabrication facilities and installation teams

• Split code design combining ASME Section VIII with AS2885

• Reduce down-time with rapid response mobilisation

• Stringent adherence to industry standards AS2885, B31.3 & B31.8

• Preferred supplier of the APA Group

BOOTH NUMBER 27

The ideal solution for isolating gas distribution pipelines

No matter where its operated or which products pipelines carry, integrity is non-negotiable. And while that’s true for the entire industry, gas distribution operators face elevated stakes. After all, when a pipeline literally runs through someone's backyard, any failure can have enormous consequences.

As the gas distribution industry has grown and regulatory requirements have increased, the technology for keeping systems running safely has advanced to keep pace.

And the effort has paid off: Australian pipelines have a strong safety record and operators know how to effectively manage risk during operations, maintenance and repair. That includes safely isolating their pipelines to create secure work zones without interrupting service to customers.

For decades, gas distribution operators worldwide have successfully isolated their pipelines using a plugging system equipped with a rigid rubber, or static seal.

The SHORTSTOPP® plugging system, for example, meets industry standards for isolating gas distribution mains and is compatible with pipelines operating at pressures up to 35 bar (500 psi).

In 2020, T.D. Williamson (TDW) introduced a new isolation tool, the ProStopp DS, that brought the security of double block and bleed technology to the gas distribution industry and features an energised, or expandable, plugging seal designed especially for low-pressure lines.

The tool also features an integrated chip sweep attachment that removes excess cutter shavings from the sealing area that could otherwise interfere with the sealing performance.

The advantage of the energised malleable rubber seal is that it can expand outward to adhere to the internal topography of the pipe, even if there are geometric anomalies like dents, gouges or irregular weld seams.

Or, in an exceptionally rare but real-life example, when corrosion coating has built up, hardened and become uneven over time. In this case, the corrosion coating created an internal diameter surface condition that would have been more challenging to seal using rigid technology, meaning shutdown might be required before the operators could proceed with their work

Complexity in overdrive

TDW technicians always prepare for the unexpected, and it’s rare when something surprises them.

Between training under rigorous field conditions and years of experience, they’ve seen just about everything, and they know how to mitigate risk and protect people, assets and the environment.

But when hot tapping and plugging crews arrived at the worksite where they would be isolating a 10-inch (25.4 cm) gas distribution pipeline before rerouting, they had no reason to expect the job would be out-of-the-ordinary.

They certainly didn’t think there would be

anything abnormal about the 0.375-inch-thick (0.9 cm) pipe wall.

Once they cut into the coupon to allow access into the pipeline, though, they immediately saw that something was not right. Instead of the pipe wall being smooth and uniform, it was covered with a thick substance that appeared to have passages cut through it.

This was likely the residue of an asphalt/ tar coating. Even more concerning, however, was that more than an inch (2.54 cm) of anticorrosion coating had pooled and hardened at the bottom of the pipeline interior, introducing ovality that could make isolation with a rigid seal more challenging.

When it comes to pipelines, safety is non-negotiable, which is why T.D. Williamson’s ProStopp® DS is a leading tool in pipeline isolation.

The interior surface of the coupon was covered with a thick and rocky substance that appeared to have passages cut through it.

Since the ProStopp DS tool’s energised seal is effective on irregular surfaces, the TDW field team knew it would be an appropriate choice for this tricky isolation. In fact, it was the only option for isolating a pipeline with such challenging surface conditions.

To ensure success, the crew contacted the TDW Applications Engineering team, a group of experienced technology professionals who understand every aspect of the design and operation of every valve, fitting, isolation plug and drilling and tapping machine in the TDW portfolio.

Application engineers are empowered to innovate and qualified to modify equipment to perform safely and effectively, even under the most extreme circumstances. In other words, they create inventive solutions that field technicians can actually accomplish. They also support on-site teams every step of the way.

Engineers advised the technicians to begin the isolation by expanding the plugging heads at standard hydraulic pressure and then incrementally increase the hydraulic operating pressure until it reached the maximum.

This would exert more force to compress the sealing elements against the pipeline’s rocky walls. The technician energised the plugging heads, and the operator blew down the isolated section.

More confident sealing wasn’t the only reason using ProStopp DS technology made sense. Its double block and bleed capabilities helped

overcome complex challenges related to hidden leak pathways.

Unconventional solution

After setting the ProStopp DS, the lower explosive limit (LEL) sensors monitoring for gas leakage detected a leak downstream of the plugging heads.

Because ProStopp DS technology is engineered so any product between the primary and secondary plugging head is safely bled off through a port, TDW engineers knew that’s not where the gas leak was coming from. They theorised the gas was traveling through the porous passages in the coating and getting between the coating and the internal diameter of the pipe.

To allow work to proceed safely without shutting down the pipeline, engineers recommended a customised and somewhat unconventional solution: creating a nitrogen vapor barrier between the plugging heads to reduce or eliminate hydrocarbon leakage.

That would involve reverse-engineering the ProStopp DS system, which normally flows outward, to flow inward instead.

In the ProStopp DS tool, product that is bled out from between the plugging heads goes up through the control bar of the actuator away from the work area to the control box used to activate (or energise) the plugging heads.

The control box is directly connected to each of the plugging heads on the isolation tool and to the area between the two plugging heads. This

setup means that technicians can access the area between the plugging heads, which was key to the vapor barrier approach working.

To create the vapor barrier, technicians plumbed a bank of nitrogen bottles into the bleed line through the hydraulic control box and started flowing the nitrogen back through the actuator, down the control bar and into the zone between the plugging heads. This way if there was a leak, it would be inert nitrogen, not hazardous natural gas.

The good news is that once the vapor barrier was in place between the plugging heads, the downstream LEL monitors didn’t detect any gas, and rerouting activities could continue.

Innovation is a priority

With millions of people depending on them every day for supply continuity, Australian gas distribution operators are always looking for new ways to help them run their networks more safely.

So are the regulators whose oversight ensures the protection of the general public, pipeline operating personnel and the environment.

The service providers who move technology along share the same interest, and the evidence is in ongoing innovation to meet the goals of business and society.

And as for the next big thing in pipeline integrity, it’s probably right around the corner.

For more information visit www.tdwilliamson.com

Over an inch (2.54 cm) of anti-corrosion coating had pooled and hardened at the bottom of the pipeline interior.

An internal anti-corrosion coating hardened and become uneven over time.

BOOTH NUMBER 28

Setting sight on growth

From expanding its team to working on major pipeline projects, Pro Pipe Services is continuing to thrive.

Since opening its doors in 2017, Pro Pipe Services has become one of the leading hot tapping and line isolation services in the nation’s pipeline industry.

Director Joe Buttigieg told The Australian Pipeliner how the growth has affected the business and the projects it has undertaken.

“The company was initially just Dean [Muscat, owner and director] and I,” Buttigieg said.

“We invested heavily in the start-up of the company, with acquisition of equipment and vehicles to provide services in the gas

pipeline industry.”

As workloads grew so did the number of team members, with the business currently having nine full-time employees on the books.

The company has executed some significant pipeline projects across Australia.

“In the past 18 months, we have executed two double 22-inch isolation jobs with 12-inch bypass for a major highway alteration to a major Australian airport,” Buttigieg said.

“We’ve also been involved with the removal of two 34-inch LOCK-O-RING plugs installed over 46 years ago, as well as many pipeline alterations for the Victorian Railway removal program.”

With this kind of extensive experience under the company’s belt, Pro Pipe Services is now undertaking work on the Western Outer Ring Main (WORM) pipeline project in Victoria.

The scope of works includes the hot tapping and line isolation of the 20-inch ANSI 600# transmission pipeline to enable the final tie-in of the WORM pipeline.

The WORM project is a high-pressure gas transmission pipeline that is approximately 51km long between Plumpton in Melbourne’s west and Wollert further north. The WORM pipeline will improve network reliability by increasing the amount of gas that can be stored for times of peak demand and ensuring sufficient volumes of gas can be moved where it is needed most.

While the work has been straightforward as far as execution is concerned, it has not been without its challenges.

“Due to the work taking place in the middle of winter, the higher-than-normal operating pressure meant that we had to use fully-rated ANSI 600# STOPPLE equipment to execute the safe isolation,” Buttigieg said.

“The equipment was based out of the TDW service centres in Belgium and Singapore, so logistically we had to coordinate some of the equipment coming in from Europe and Asia.”

The Pro Pipe Services is conducting the work successfully in the face of these issues, demonstrating its ability as an Australian-owned hot tapping and line isolation pipeline services company.

“Pro Pipe Services continues to grow,”

Buttigieg said. “We have been approached by a number of different asset and pipeline owners to provide other pipeline services.”

Apart from hot tapping and line isolation, the company provides pipe cutting, bolt tensioning, training, commissioning of new pipelines, and decommissioning of redundant and old pipelines, as well as equipment maintenance for pipeline equipment.

“Pro Pipe Services is Australia’s only fully Australian-owned hot tapping and line isolation pipeline services company, servicing the gas distribution, transmission and pipeline industries,” Buttigieg said.

“We continue to support all of our customers by providing safe and reliable services and advice.”

Apart from hot tapping and line isolation, the company provides an array of services for the pipeline industry.

Pro Pipe Services is an Australian-owned hot tapping and line isolation pipeline services company.

Australia-based operations with permanent local resources

Fully integrated with our global team at international headquarters

Multiple NASTT Project of the Year awards

Horizontal Directional Drilling

· Completed record breaking 4.7km long HDD

· 235 Intersect crossings completed since 2000

· 12 crossings completed over 3km since 2009

· Rigs available with push/pull capacity up to 815 tonne

· Pipe Installations up to 1.5m

Direct Pipe

· 26 projects completed in the US and Canada since 2010

· Foremost Direct Pipe Contractor

· Land-to-water outfalls

· Pipe Installations up to 1.5m

BOOTH NUMBER 44, 45, 46 & 47

A partnership 24 years in the making

As the Australian pipeline and gas communities gather in Perth for the 55th Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) Convention and Exhibition, Vermeer is once again partnering with the must-attend event for the gas, oil, water and slurry pipeline industries.

As one of the premier equipment suppliers to the Australian pipeline industry, Vermeer has been a proud partner of the annual convention since 1999, when its partnership with the APGA began.

The APGA Convention is legendary on the annual conference calendar, providing pipeliners and gas industry professionals with four days to network, mingle, learn and socialise with each other, establishing and deepening the partnerships that keep these industries turning.

At this year’s convention, Vermeer will be promoting track trencher equipment, as well as its leading horizontal directional drill technology.

As in previous years, the Australian team will also be joined on the stand and at the social events by product and pipeline specialists from the United States, who will be on hand to share the latest coaching techniques and productivity gains experienced by utilising Vermeer equipment worldwide.

Vermeer Australia’s General Manager Jeff Lawson has been involved in all of the APGA Conventions Vermeer has been a part of, and is looking forward to another fantastic four days of industry gatherings in Perth.

“For me, being a part of the APGA Convention every year, showcasing our marketleading track trenching equipment, is always a highlight on our calendar,” Lawson said.

“The APGA Golf Day, which we also support, stands out each year as a great opportunity for us to showcase a wide range of our equipment to the industry outdoors, where it is put to work in the field by our customers.

“Some of the equipment we’ve been able to showcase at the Golf Day has included our track trenchers, horizontal directional drills, vacuum excavators, rubber tyre trenchers, pile drivers, and mini skid steers.”

According to Lawson, the partnership between APGA and Vermeer is extremely important, not just at an Australian level, but on a global level as well.

“APGA attracts members of the global pipeline industry, as well as our own global

Vermeer will be promoting track trencher equipment, as well as its leading horizontal directional drill technology.

representatives, and year-on-year, provides invaluable networking opportunities, insights into the latest safety HSME and ESG policies and expectations of the pipeline industry, and most importantly, the event allows us to be at the forefront of the major upcoming projects,” Lawson said.

Having been involved with the APGA and

the Convention for more than 20 years, Lawson has enjoyed close relationships with a number of APGA Presidents and is grateful for the contribution each has made to the industry over the years.

“The last few Presidents, current President, Donna McDowall, and Immediate Past President, Tony O’Sullivan, have really pushed

the importance of gas for the Australian energy sector and to the greater Australian population,” Lawson said.

“In addition, their advocacy in the safety field is world-class, and has led to changes to Vermeer equipment, with the addition of some safety mechanisms which were designed in line with the APGA HSE Committee.

“From our point of view, we’ve also really appreciated the creation of the Suppliers Committee, which has brought the suppliers to the APGA together as one, with one voice which is represented by the APGA.”

According to Lawson, the Vermeer and APGA partnership has been beneficial since its inception, and it's one that Jeff sees continuing for many years to come.

“APGA is a very important industry association that we will continue to support in years to come, and we look forward to a long and prospering partnership.”

The APGA Golf Day supported by Vermeer Australia.

Vermeer Australia has been a partner of the APGA Convention since 1999.

BOOTH NUMBER 40 & 42

Optimising throughput and pipeline performance: A framework approach

By Allan Browne, Global Business Line Manager Field Products and Services, ROSEN Group, UK

Pipelines are the primary oil and gas transportation mode due to the economic and safety benefits over alternate methods, with an average of more than two thirds of product transported in high-pressure pipelines around the world. In fact, they carry more than double the volume of product transported compared with ships and also significantly more than rail and road.

These valuable assets need to be maintained and replacement can be expensive, especially since many of today’s pipelines are more than 40 years old, meaning maintenance efforts and the associated costs are higher.

Operators need to transport medium from point A to B efficiently, continuously and at minimal cost while ensuring they achieve the best possible availability and throughput. When flow through a pipeline is restricted, there is a direct impact on operations and costs. Flow instabilities, thermal issues, blockages and restrictions, containment loss and operational fluctuations can all affect the safe and economical transportation through pipeline assets.

How can this be assessed? What potential improvements can be made and to what extent?

Who can assess this AND implement any changes required to achieve maximum efficiency? How can improvements be measured and monitored to ensure changes are effective?

ROSEN’s Pipeline Performance Framework (PPF) addresses these questions and recognises the importance of maintaining these assets and the challenges operators face daily.

The framework identifies areas that will improve pipeline throughput, performance and efficiency while reducing maintenance costs, thermal issues and blockages, by utilising consultancy, engineering, technological monitoring support and cleaning solutions services.

Situation analysis and data gathering

The first step of the PPF focuses on the current hydraulic efficiency of the pipeline system compared to what it was designed for. At the design stage, appropriate pipe materials, diameter, length and configurations are established with certain pressures, flow rates, product mixes and environmental and safety factors in mind.

In this consultancy phase, additional information such as historical and current data regarding operations, the product being transported, cleaning performance is also gathered to identify ways to optimise performance and realise potential efficiency gains.

Data assessment and analysis

In the second step an engineering assessment collects data which is securely stored in a data management warehouse and carefully reviewed and analysed by ROSEN experts. In addition to the hydraulic analysis – which may look at the measured flow rates, velocities and system pressures – additional flow assurance assessments and modelling, pigging feasibility studies, cleaning effectiveness evaluations and cleaning tool design reviews can also be undertaken.

Options identification and selection

The next step sees the reviewed data translated into options or identified areas for potential improvement, considering the gap between design and operational practice, as well as

current throughput and efficiency performance. Our experts may point to required changes in operation, pressure management, batching, cleaning frequency, cleaning tool design, cleaning approaches, etc.

Improvement implementation

Next comes the execution phase where one or more of the improvement process steps or system modification recommendations is implemented. Examples could include:

• A modification in pipeline cleaning services.

• Execution of field support services.

• Inventory management and refurbishment services.

• Pigging feasibility and optimisation.

• Pressure and flow management assurance monitoring, etc.

It’s one thing to analyse a system’s performance and efficiency, identify areas for improvement and implement changes to optimise system throughput, but it is another thing to see effects that enhance these elements in action. This is why steps five and six of the PPF provide monitoring support, real-time reporting and visualisation of performance in action.

An illustration showing the six key components of ROSEN’s PPF.

Trend monitoring

In step five, experts can collect, store and readily access pipeline cleaning data utilising an instrumentation and app-based service, providing a secure, organised repository for all cleaning data and making it easier for operators to monitor trends and ensure data is never lost – while also making data retrieval more efficient.

Each cleaning run in a pipeline presents an opportunity to collect tangible information about the type, volume and nature of debris removed out of the pipeline as well as about the condition of the utilised cleaning pig. When pigs are fitted with instrumentation like gauge plates or a pipeline data logger (PDL) more information can be gathered from within the pipeline and, if cleaning pigs run routinely, it becomes possible to trend changes over time.

Cleaning analytics for more performance

To optimise the process, an end-to-end solution to collect, process and analyse cleaning data can be used, ensuring confidence in the cleaning program and pipeline conditions. ROSEN’s Cleaning Analytic Service (CAS) uses a phone and tablet app to collect data at the launcher and receiver without the need for an internet connection. Once an internet connection is available, the data is uploaded to ROSEN’s Online Repository for storage and dashboard visualisation.

An integrated environment allows for a more proactive approach to maintenance by collecting valuable data during the cleaning program and cataloguing it for future use.

To ensure the needs of the operator are considered, CAS is provided in two levels:

Level 1 – Basic assessment

Data such as pipeline operating and trap conditions, pig configurations, post-run pig condition, debris type and volume, cup/disk wear, gauge plate measurements and photographic evidence is collected in the field via the app and uploaded to the Online Repository. Featuring a dashboard of predefined KPIs and automatically generated reports, the database provides an overview of all cleaning runs so operators can quickly view the data and draw their own conclusions.

Level 2 – Enhanced assessment

In addition to Level 1, intelligent cleaning pigs containing a PDL are also used, with the

purpose of capturing more-detailed information, such as system pressure, differential pressure across the pig in the pipeline, flow velocities, temperature profile, pig stalling, and pig rotation. Experts then analyse the captured data and identify trends, evaluate the efficiency of the cleaning campaign and offer opportunities for improvement, as well as recommend run frequencies and pig configurations, and conduct proactive flow-assurance modelling.

This makes CAS a key component of the PPF in the trend monitoring stage as it is in reporting and visualisation. We recognise the importance of quantifying improvement changes through monitoring, reporting and adjusting operational and maintenance parameters to sustain throughput, maintain savings and therefore decreasing downtime.

Reporting and visualisation

The last step of the framework provides essential feedback to ensure throughput optimisation is monitored so operators can see the effects of the improvements implemented in real time. Guidance is provided for any minor changes

required to stay on track and we can illustrate cost optimisation and performance increase in a dashboard report which trends data and key performance indicators over time.

In addition, the PPF ensures that where adjustments are implemented and ongoing monitoring is maintained to quantify improvements, operators can rely on continued support in the form of engineering and consultancy, and feasibility study services when required.

By analysing the captured data using the dashboard, judgements can be made about the efficiency and effectiveness of cleaning campaigns. It also makes it possible to identify optimisation needs and enables users to make the right decisions on cleaning tool configuration and cleaning campaigns.

This will ultimately improve throughput, cleaning efficiency and effectiveness. Throughput is more assured in the knowledge the pipeline conditions are suitable and provides a higher level of confidence that a line is ready for further inline inspections, ultimately increasing first-run success rates.

For more information visit www.rosen-group.com

A chart showing the Level 2: Enhanced assessment of CAS.

A chart showing the Level 1: Basic Assessment of CAS.

APGA 2023 Annual Convention & Exhibition

BOOTH NUMBER 58

A recipe for success

Mthree key ingredients: a state-of-theart product offering, outstanding project management expertise, and an unquestionable knowledge of the industry.

At Iplex, all projects are overseen from A to Z, from the tiniest details to the biggest ones.

And according to Iplex National Infrastructure and Assets Manager Michael Doyle, this level of involvement is what makes the company unique.

“Iplex is involved in all projects at a very early stage,” he said. “So quite often our customers are our contractors and consultants as well as Water Asset Owners.”

The Iplex service is a total package. The team will cover every detail regarding the delivery of a project, including unmatched technical expertise and superior program management.

“At Iplex, we pride ourselves on delivering projects on time and on budget,” Doyle said.

“We have a team of experts who provide our clients with a high level of project management expertise through every step of their projects, including regular progress updates through to completion.

contact throughout the entire project delivery phase.”

The company’s deep industry knowledge means Iplex understands how its products should adapt to potential challenges.

products such as the glass reinforced plastic pipe (GRP) is crucial in the delivery of projects such as the Haughton Pipeline stage 2 project,” Doyle said.

Regarded as Townsville City Council’s number-one infrastructure project, the Haughton Pipeline is designed to provide water security to the growing city for the next 50 years. Iplex was awarded the tender for the supply of 36km in stage 1 and 26.5km in stage 2 of DN1800 FLOWTITE® GRP to construct a pipeline to carry up to 234 megalitres (ML) of water per day into the Ross River Dam.

The pipeline itself will support the city’s Ross River Dam water catchment and, when complete, will provide greater capacity to deliver raw water into the Ross River Dam to top up water levels for the Townsville community and industry during periods of very low rainfall.

Another Iplex project in South Australia involved upgrades on the Northern Adelaide Irrigation Scheme (NAIS), as well as work on the Bolivar Treatment plant. This project generates an additional 12 gigalitres (GL) per year of recycled water suitable for irrigation, increasing reuse of treated water from the site by

An ability to deliver on monumental projects has positioned Iplex as a leader in the pipeline industry.

Arranging delivery of the product is a key component of Iplex’s recipe for success.

GRP Pipe being manufactured.

60 per cent. Iplex supplied the GRP pipe and fittings, ductile iron (DI) pipe and fittings, PVC, and polyethylene (PE) pipe and fittings required to deliver the project.

The same products and services were provided by the company on the Southern Rural Water Irrigation Modernisation Project. Southern Rural Water (SRW) is responsible for managing irrigation districts, the regulation of surface water and groundwater licensing, and storage dams across the southern third of Victoria.

Iplex is currently supplying pipe and fittings to SRW’s Newry pipeline project, which started in January 2023 and is expected to be finished by August, in time for the year’s irrigation season.

Iplex Project Delivery Manager Mark Brunning concurred with Doyle in the belief that the company’s success on these critically important water security projects, relied on its expertise in project delivery, wealth of technical knowledge and its state-of-the-art products.

“Iplex has a dedicated project team focused on delivering tailored solutions for every project,” he said.

“With a single-point-of-contact strategy for all its projects, relationships and trust are built effectively over the life of the project and, in many cases, are maintained beyond project completion.”

Iplex’s project delivery officers focus on the customer’s needs and goals when developing a strategy that ensures success.

“Working tirelessly in the background to align all divisions internally and externally to deliver a seamless efficient outcome for the customer,” Brunning said.

“With communication being a centrepiece for success, Iplex’s project delivery officers pride themselves on this and use this to safeguard customers from surprises.”

For Brunning, Iplex has earned its place at the forefront of pipeline specialists thanks to its outstanding project management strategy.

“Iplex’s project delivery officers are highly experienced in this field and continually look for opportunity to enhance the customer experience, whether it is a cost-saving opportunity for the project, playing their role in providing a safe working environment for the deliveries or anything in between,” he said.

“The team is always focused on a safe highly professional delivery model that will deliver success for all stakeholders.”

According to Brunning, Iplex will always approach each project in the same way and tailor

a strategic delivery program that suits that individual project.

“It is a specialty team focused on the customer,” Brunning said.

“It is the team’s drive for success, combined with the desire to partner with the customer and be part of the customer’s journey, that separates Iplex from its competition.

And it’s this manpower that allows Iplex to deliver on projects of such large scale.

“From huge logistical undertakings such as the Haughton Pipeline Duplication Project Stage 1 and Stage 2 or highly complex technical projects all the way down to the smallest project, they are all important and success comes in

different ways so that’s the challenge; finding the right solution for every customer,” Brunning said.

The Haughton Project, in particular, is a source of pride for Brunning.

“Our involvement was end-to-end, from design assistance, scheduling, trucks, vessels, on-ground logistics to construction and after sales support, we played a role or owned the process,” Brunning said.

“Pure scale also made it exciting, but what also makes you proud is the ‘why’.

“The fact that we can play our role in securing the water needs of the Townsville businesses and people is totally satisfying.”

For more information visit www.iplex.com.au

Delivery of the GRP to Townsville in preparation for the Haughton Project.

Handling the pressure: Cleaning and testing results from Pipe Tek

From remote locations in Western Australia and the Cooper Basin to sites with a limited footprint in Queensland, Pipe Tek is achieving fast results that deliver superior data and more confidence in the integrity of their customers’ gas, water and CO2 pipelines. The Australian Pipeliner spoke with Managing Director Myles Brannelly and Chief Operating Officer Taddam Farrant about the delivery of some of the company’s most important and challenging projects yet.

We’ve had our busiest year yet,” Brannelly said.

“But not only that, we’ve produced some great results for the projects that we’ve worked on.”

Below, Brannelly and Farrant run through a highlights reel of the results they’ve achieved for their clients over the last 12 months and how they achieved them.

Two-hour Caliper turnaround on the NGI Project

Pipe Tek completed a caliper project for NACAP on a 1,400m section of pipeline for the Northern Goldfields Interconnect (NGI), located near Ambania in the Goldfields Region of Western Australia.

Pipe Tek used Enduro’s Digital Data Logger (DdL™) to collect data and measure geometry along the route of the new pipeline and

associated aboveground facilities, verifying welds and identifying any anomalies or corrosion to ensure its safe and efficient operation.

To save NACAP time and money, the Pipe Tek team propelled the tool with air instead of water, which would have required the use of water trucks to transport water to the remote, arid location.

The tool ran at optimal speed and collected all data on the first pass.

“It was a fantastic result,” Farrant said.

“Thanks to the tool’s efficiency, we were able to inform the client that there were no major anomalies within two hours of retrieving the tool which is a really fast turnaround compared to some competitor tools and alternate pigging programs.”

The ultra-rugged, versatile DdL tool offers both radius point readings and diametrical-cross sectional analysis with multiple channels

provided to offer the ability to log pipeline anomalies in clock positions. The gyro inputs provide the ability to determine bend radii as well as bend directions.

The tool can detect dents, precise buckles and wrinkles as well as pipeline expansion detection and bend stress analysis. A Go/No-Go run with a gauge plate pig is conducted prior to any corrosion survey.

Custom-built hydrotest trailer succeeds in limited footprint worksite

Pipe Tek was engaged by Pensar for pigging and pressure testing on the 10km pipeline being constructed as part of Unitywater’s Wamuran Irrigation Scheme (WIS), which will provide Class A recycled water to Queensland farmers while sustainably managing wastewater from the Caboolture South Treatment Plant.

Dust exiting a pipeline from purging after a cleaning pig run.

The project involved many stakeholders and contractors working closely together on site.

Pipe Tek used medium density foam pigs on pipeline sections that had been constructed using horizontal directional drilling and trenching to remove air and debris prior to testing.

Some mainline sections couldn’t be pigged, leading Pipe Tek to use air valves in order to bleed out air at all high points of each section.

Pipe Tek then pressurised the pipeline to the required test pressure to ensure the structural integrity of the pipeline.

To complete the testing, Pipe Tek used its custom-built hydrotesting trailer, equipped with an inbuilt air actuated hydrotest pump. The trailer features calibrated pressure gauges and flow meters, and has a compact design to ensure manoeuvrability on testing sites with limited footprints, which Brannelly said was a key challenge on the project.

“Working so closely together on site was a challenge for everyone involved. We had to maintain strong communication and patience to ensure we got the job done right,” he said.

Cleaning acceptance criteria exceeded by 10mm for CO2 pipeline

Pipe Tek was engaged to test the pipeline and five aboveground facilities associated with Santos’ Moomba Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project, located in South Australia’s remote Cooper Basin.

The 53km, 10-inch diameter pipeline will transport compressed, dehydrated, dense-phase CO2 from the Moomba CCS facility to injection wells at depleted reservoirs at pressures between 10-15 megapascals (MPa).

The project required rigorous testing to meet the CO2 pipeline’s unique design and operational requirements. Importantly, a thorough drying process was required so that no free water remained in the pipeline which could lead to corrosion or the formation of CO2 hydrates across throttling valves at pipeline depressuring vents and the injection wells.

Before testing could occur, several cleaning runs were performed with an Enduro pig train to ensure the pipeline internal surfaces were burnished and substantially free of residual dust.

“We chose to use an Enduro bidirectional pig train and pig links. It included cups, brushes, gauge plates and magnets with bypass sealing discs to allow for optimal cleaning and reduce ferrous material left behind from the construction process,” Farrant said.

The pig train and a series of magnets were run through the pipeline until visual inspection showed the internal surfaces to be clean, bright and free from particulate rust and scale, and air exiting the pipeline ahead of the pig was clear and practically free of dust.

The pipeline was then filled using a bidirectional pig with high-wear discs before being strength and leak tested to 21,000 kilopascals (kPa) and AS2885.5 requirements.

The five aboveground facilities were leak tested as per ASME B31.3.

Once the pressure tests were approved, the dewatering and cleaning process began, taking into consideration the stringent requirements to ensure no free water remained in the pipeline.

“We ran a desiccant dryer with a stage of cleaning and drying pigs to ensure no further water, debris or particles were pushed in front of the pigs as they exited the pipeline,” Farrant said.

“We were working to an acceptance criteria of less than 15mm for the depth of discoloration of the foam pigs after being cut, but we managed to achieve less than 5mm penetration on the handover acceptance pig – which is an incredible achievement for a 53km pipeline.”

Following the drying process, a commissioning batch treatment was carried out to establish the pipeline corrosion inhibitor. The pipeline was then N2 purged with less than five per cent residual O2 content left in the pipeline with a blanket pressure of 350 kilopascal gauge (kPag).

Australian-based tools with global support

“We’re so proud to be experiencing our busiest year yet,” Brannelly said.

“Many of the projects that we’ve completed have been supported by our exclusive partnership deal with Enduro.”

Enduro’s product offering has allowed Pipe Tek to expand its services to offer a full turnkey solution. The company’s services now include non-destructive testing (NDT), pre-cleaning, gauging, filling, hydrostatic and pneumatic testing, dewatering, drying with either desiccant or refrigerant dryers, nitrogen purging, caliper pigging, inline inspection (ILI) with dig ups and verification by phase array.

Pipe Tek has a range of MFL, caliper and cleaning tools based on the east coast of Australia that can be calibrated and rebuilt to be used for future jobs. Pipe Tek personnel are also fully trained to run Enduro’s tools and stay onsite to ensure continuity throughout, meaning overseas technicians aren’t required.

“This reduces costs to our clients and saves a phenomenal amount of time in freight as we drive the tools straight to site with the team,” Brannelly said.

“We’re also extremely fortunate to have the support of Enduro’s highly experienced and knowledgeable engineering and design teams so we can design, and manufacture custom made tools for all our clients.”

For more information visit www.pipetek.com.au

Taddam Farrant handling Enduro’s Digital Data Logger (Caliper pig) on the NGI project.

A leader in supply chain services

Qube Energy’s capabalities were on full display when it recently completed a major gas pipes project.

As an established provider of supply chain and technical support services to the oil and gas sector, Qube Energy supports more than 3983 onshore wells, 1000 rig supply vessels, barges and offshore construction vessels at various locations throughout Australia each year.

Combined with its South-East Asian operations in Singapore and Indonesia, Qube provides a seamless link to its Australian facilities and operations.

Qube Energy maintains certification for ISO 9001, 45001 and 14001, and understands the oil and gas industry’s importance to the Australian economy. The company believes the provision of logistics support to this market is consistent with the growth of its service offering over the last 10 years.

Qube recently completed a project two of its clients that included the delivery of gas pipes from Tianjin, China, to the South Australian town of Moomba, about 770km north of Adelaide. The task involved the movement of 1635 pieces of 508mm-diameter pipe at lengths of 18m, for a total of 28km and 3750 tonnes.

“We were first contracted to ship the pipe from the load port, before unloading the pipe in Australia then transporting it to an intermediarty stockpile in Adelaide,” Qube Energy Project Manager Anthony Wells said.

“Following this, we then unloaded the pipe onto transport and delivered the pipes from Adelaide to Moomba.”

The requirements of the project meant the pipe arrived into the port of Adelaide in two shipments before being delivered up to Moomba. The transportation of the pipes was completed by using double extendable road trains with a total length of up to 46m.

But this posed some logistical challenges.

“Having appropriate escorts, rail track

supervision for oversize loads and navigating local curfews were just some of the challenges we faced,” Wells said.

“There were 208 trailers used to deliver the pipe from Adelaide to Moomba.

“Given the distance of the project from Adelaide, 24 individual extendable trailers were utilised on the project combining to make 12

The trucks travelled 360km of a one-way dirt road, with the total trip calculating 900km from the port of Adelaide.

The trucks travelled 360km of a one-way dirt road, with the total trip calculating 900km from the port of Adelaide.

extendable road trains in the rotation to deliver up to Moomba.”

The project’s short timeline also presented many challenges over the course of the delivery window. The most significant of these was the 360km of a one-way dirt road on which the trucks travelled, with the total trip calculating 900km from the port of Adelaide.

“Dirt-road travel has many unknown variables to come into play when driving,” Wells said.

“The speeds that can be travelled on a dirt road can vary from as low as 10km per hour to about a maximum of 60km per hour, depending on the corrugation in the road.

“All drivers have to drive to conditions in order to avoid unnecessarily damage to the vehicles and trailers.”

Rain also played a factor in the delivery process. Not surprinsgly, when dirt roads get too wet they are closed to avoid damage being caused by heavy vehicles – and they can stay closed for some time.

Despite these challenges, the Qube Energy team successfully delivered the project on time.

“Qube values the opportunities that these projects afford us to better our service offerings to customers and to continue to improve and learn from each of them,” Wells said.

“Whether the project is for one length of pipe or 100,000 lengths, Qube always endeavours to

provide our customers with a high-quality service.

“We continue to invest in our people and our equipment, ensuring our customers continue to receive the best service offering no matter which country or state or territory we are working in.”

For more information visit www.qube.com.au/ports/energy

INDUCTABEND INDUCTABEND

Shaping Australia for over

We specialise in applying our induction technology to solve seemingly intractable problems.

Induction bending of pipe up to DN900, wall thicknesses up to 100mm.

Carbon steels, stainless steels, clad pipe and other exotic alloys

High X grade bends

Compound bends

Helix bends

Custom OD mandrels

Structural steel section bending

Fully customizable bend geometry

Other specialist heating applications

Onsite induction bending (large diameter high volume projects)

Cold field bending machines also available for hire (up to DN1200)

The project involved the movement of 1635 pieces of 508mm-diameter pipe.

Combating modern slavery through procurement

As businesses grapple with eliminating the insidious issue of modern slavery, Peter Norman Personnel discusses the important role of procurement.

People may not always think about it, but slavery remains a major issue in today’s world.

Modern slavery describes situations where a person is coerced by an individual or group for the purpose of exploitation. Practices that can constitute as modern slavery include human trafficking, servitude, forced labour and debt bondage.

In 2019, the Australian Government’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 established a national reporting requirement that applies to large businesses with an annual consolidation revenue of at least $100 million. These entities must prepare annual modern slavery statements, setting out actions to assess and address risks in their operations and supply chains.

Peter Norman Personnel is a recruitment agency that helps to place industry-specific, project-driven contract professionals across the gas pipeline, utilities infrastructure, heavy vehicle transportation and manufacturing industries.

Senior Consultant for Contracting and Recruitment, Samantha Perera recently attended the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association’s (APGA) first environmental, social and governance (ESG) forum in Brisbane.

The event highlighted the importance of ESG practices specifically tailored to the pipelines and gas sector. It also provided a platform for engaging discussions, knowledgesharing and collaboration surrounding ESG and implementation, noting that this area is not limited to environmental issues.

Perera participated in a panel that discussed the unique challenges of modern slavery and how companies within the pipeline sector can approach them.

The Modern Slavery panel brought together distinguished industry experts, each specialising in their respective fields.

Together, they delved into crucial topics, encompassing present and anticipated transformations in legislation, efficient supply chain management, the role of third-party risk

managers, and the importance of educating procurement teams and internal staff.

Their combined expertise provided invaluable insights and solutions to combat the menace of modern slavery effectively.

Identifying modern slavery in the supply chain can be a complicated challenge.

“As modern slavery can affect multiple facets of the supply chain, businesses need to be equipped with the right tools to combat this issue,” Perera said.

“For procurement, there is a high level of responsibility to tackle this issue and prevent exploitation.

“Procurement officers can ensure their organisation supports positive change in the conduct of suppliers and market practices to

address potential modern slavery risks.”

According to Perera, there are many resources available to assist in mitigating these risks.

“There is a procurement toolkit, developed by the Australian Border Force, that provides guidance to procurement officers to identify and manage risks associated with modern slavery,” Perera said.

“Another important factor is education, as organisations cannot identify and assess modern slavery risks without properly educating their procurement officers.

“The Australian Government has developed online training modules which can help educate procurement officers on various aspects of modern slavery.”

For more information visit www.peternorman.com.au

Peter Norman Personnel Senior Consultant Contracting and Recruitment Samantha Perera.

PIPELINE INSTALLATION IN ONE STEP

With the Direct Pipe ® technology, Herrenknecht has pushed the boundaries of what is feasible in trenchless pipeline construction. Applicable in all kinds of ground conditions, in diameters of 24" to 60". Impressively proven in more than 170 crossing and landfall projects worldwide, with record lengths over 2,000 meters.

herrenknecht.com/directpipe

Nacap’s RAP journey

Energy infrastructure company Nacap is continuing to make meaningful progress through its ‘Innovate’ Reconciliation Action Plan.

Integrity. Teamwork. Strive to be better. These are the values that guide Nacap in its business and decision-making processes, as well as its communication with clients, partners and employees. And it is through these values that the company seeks to foster workplaces and projects that respect the cultural heritage of the places in which they operate.

These philosophies led to the launch of Nacap’s ‘Innovate’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which aims to assist the organisation in providing authentic and achievable actions to address the inequities between First Nations peoples and other Australians.

Endorsed by Reconciliation Australia, ‘Innovate’ is a continuation in Nacap’s RAP journey following the company’s previous ‘Reflect’ RAP in 2021.

“Reconciliation Action Plans enable organisations like Nacap to take meaningful action to advance reconciliation,” Nacap President Matthew O’Connell said.

“Our overriding objective for reconciliation is to support the development of an Australian culture where we all respect, recognise and are inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and their cultures.”

But how exactly does Nacap create change through meaningful engagement?

Nacap has developed cultural heritage

Clontarf Foundation and the Traditional Dancers of Dalby State High School put on a show including a traditional smoking ceremony during Reconciliation Week.

A message stick offered to Traditional Owner representatives at the beginning of each project.

management plans and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation plans for each of its projects. These plans are designed to protect areas of cultural significance and promote opportunities to support First Nations peoples’ business and employment outcomes.

One example of this can be seen through its work with Brolga Cranes in Dalby, Queensland.

In 2021, the CPECC Nacap Joint Venture (CNJV) proactively sought out local First Nations businesses to support project works in Dalby.

CNJV was introduced to Brolga Cranes Director and Founder Paul Olsen, a Wakka Wakka man whose country covers a large area from northern Brisbane to Nanango and Gayndah, and across to key ceremonial area, the Bunya Mountains just north of Dalby, where the CNJV is operating.

Brolga Cranes is a 100 per cent-Indigenousowned crane hire company, the first to achieve this status in Queensland.

Another example of meaningful engagement is Nacap’s involvement in the Northern Gas Interconnect (NGI) pipeline project in Western

Australia, where it has come together with Traditional Owners through whose country the pipeline passed.

The project spanned 580km. Along the way, to ensure the appropriate protection and recognition of cultural heritage material and places Nacap worked with Southern Yamatji, Mullewa Wadjari, Wadjari Yamatji, Widi Mob, Badimia, Badimaya Baran Guda, Wutha and Darlot peoples.

Nacap’s passage through the land was recognised through a message stick offering to each group, acknowledging country and its commitment to respecting those relationships.

A continued commitment

Across NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week for 2023, Nacap reaffirmed its commitment to change through engagement with local communities, and the company formally launched its ‘Innovate’ RAP to acknowledge National Reconciliation Week in late-May.

Nacap also hosted a number of events at its

sites and offices around the country, including a Welcome to Country from local elders, smoking ceremonies, toolbox talks, traditional dancing and culinary efforts of local Indigenous catering companies.

As part of NAIDOC Week, Nacap initiated a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony with Aunty Julie Kitto from Wurundjeri Woiwurrung Country at its Doncaster office in Victoria. The company hosted various events across the week to encourage education on all fronts.

“We acknowledge that our journey of learning does not conclude with the end of NAIDOC week, and we pledge to continue our educational efforts as a company,” O’Connell said.

“At Nacap, we recognise the significance of understanding First Nations cultures and history as a crucial aspect of our path towards reconciliation.

“We firmly believe that each employee has a role to play in the commitments outlined in our Reconciliation Action Plan and bringing them to life.”

Finding the right corrosion inhibitor

Savcor Products Australia provides some of the best corrosion protection for hydrostatic testing.

Making the right choice is vital when choosing any piece of equipment, and making the decision on corrosion

Fortunately, the convenience and performance of the VpCI®-649 Series from Savcor Products Australia helps to make that decision a little

That said, some applications may require varying doses of VpCI-649, or even a different

Here are some tips that can help to drill down

What type of metal and hydrotest

Some applications include ferrous and yellow metals and therefore require a product that will protect both, while others only need protection for

A dosing guide available from Cortec® lists applicable products according to metal type.

The next step is to identify whether hydrotesting will be done in fresh water or brine/salt water. The latter is often done to save money in locations where seawater is abundant; however, it requires a

Hydrostatic testing plays an essential role in many industries.

The key is to choose the right corrosion inhibitor at the proper dose for best results.

stronger dose of corrosion protection than normal.

Cortec’s dosing guide also notes appropriate products for this purpose.

How long is protection needed?

Length of preservation is another important consideration.

Some hydrotest additives protect only during the actual hydrotest process, while others offer enduring protection for six, 12 or 24 months after.

Sometimes all that is needed to meet that longterm requirement is to include a higher dose of inhibitor, while on some occasions it calls for applying a vapor-phase inhibitor after hydrotesting with a contact-only inhibitor.

Are there any special hydrotest features?

In addition to length and type of protection, end users should be aware of special requirements for low-conductivity, renewable raw materials, or contact with drinking water system components.

Cortec offers such additives as VpCI-648, EcoLine® VpCI-642, and VpCI-649 HP to cater to these needs.

The right product for the job?

It would be difficult to count all the industries where hydrostatic testing plays an essential role.

Whether you are hydrotesting valves at the manufacturing site, drinking-water components at the installation site, or oil and gas pipelines in an offshore environment, the key is to choose the right corrosion inhibitor at the proper dose for best results.

This product is available through Savcor Products Australia in Australia and New Zealand.

Savcor Products Australia provides some of the best corrosion protection.

Belzona composite repair system for pipes

As pipeline infrastructure continues to age and encounter various operational challenges, the demand for innovative and efficient repair technologies like Belzona SuperWrap II is expected to grow significantly.

Pipelines play a crucial role in transporting large volumes of liquids and gases efficiently over long distances.

However, these pipelines can be subjected to various factors that cause damage, which can lead to leaks and catastrophic consequences.

To mitigate these risks, the repair of pipelines has evolved, and the use of polymeric composite materials for pipe repairs has gained widespread acceptance.

Belzona SuperWrap II complies with ISO 24817 and ASME PCC-2 standards, making it the ideal composite repair system for pipes.

Traditional repair methods involved welding plates and sleeves or partial replacements, which were often time-consuming and costly. However, with the introduction of polymeric composite materials, a new set of advantages emerged.

Composite repairs can be based on engineered structural calculations. This ensures that the repair process is optimised and reliable, tailored to the specific requirements of the pipeline.

Unlike welding, composite repairs are a safe cold process that can be carried out in areas where hot work is prohibited. This enhances safety during repair operations, especially in environments with hazardous media or flammable substances.

Composite repairs offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional repair methods, resulting in significant savings for asset owners and operators.

The sufficient repair life provided by composite repairs allows them to be considered permanent solutions, ensuring the longevity of the repaired pipeline. This eliminates the need for frequent repair interventions, saving both time and resources.

Belzona SuperWrap II Composite Repair System

Belzona SuperWrap II is a composite repair technology based on a polymer-based composite of epoxy resin and reinforcing fibres. This wetwrapping technique involves wrapping resin-

impregnated reinforcing fibres directly around the pipe defect and curing them in place, creating a strong, durable, and corrosion-resistant repair layer.

Two crucial material properties for composite pipe repairs are mechanical strength and stiffness, both dependent on the properties of the reinforcing fibre.

In the case of Belzona SuperWrap II, a twocomponent epoxy resin with 100 per cent solids content was chosen due to its adhesion and mechanical strength compared to other polymer groups.

Belzona SuperWrap II uses a hybrid reinforcing fibre, a combination of carbon fibre and glass fibre.

This provides high mechanical strength, while the glass fibre acts as an insulator, preventing corrosion currents from flowing through the conductive carbon fibre. This hybrid reinforcing sheet, is designed for optimal physical properties and workability, ensuring ease of application and maximum performance.

To account for varying temperature conditions during application, three types of resins were developed for Belzona SuperWrap II: Belzona 1981, Belzona 1982, and Belzona 1983.

These resins allow users to select the most suitable material depending on the temperature conditions during the repair process and

Compliance with ISO and ASME

To ensure the reliability and compliance of Belzona SuperWrap II, a series of rigorous tests were conducted in accordance with ISO 24817 and ASME PCC-2 standards.

Tensile properties: These tests assess tensile strength, tensile modulus, Poisson's ratio, and strain to failure of the materials, evaluating their mechanical properties under various loading conditions.

Structural integrity: A short pipe spool with pseudo-defects of specified dimensions is repaired with the SuperWrap II system and subjected to pressure resistance tests to evaluate its durability.

Energy release rate: This test measures the toughness parameter for the repair/substrate interface, assessing the bonding strength and the ability of the repair to resist crack propagation.

Long-term strength: The long-term strength of the repair is evaluated to ensure its longevity,

Corroded and thin-walled pipeline.

Belzona SuperWrap II composite pad bonded to the pipeline.

Applying Belzona SuperWrap II resin to the substrate after surface preparation.

particularly in applications where sustained loading is expected.

Impact performance: Low velocity impact tests simulate real-world scenarios and assess the impact on the repair, examining its ability to withstand accidental impacts or external forces.

Thermal properties: The coefficient of thermal expansion and glass transition temperature are measured to understand the material's response to temperature changes.

Test results confirmed the mechanical properties and performance of Belzona SuperWrap II, making it a suitable solution for compliant pipe repairs. The robustness of the repair system is demonstrated through its ability to withstand internal pressure, resist crack propagation, and maintain structural integrity over the long term.

Belzona SuperWrap II is a reliable and compliant composite repair system for pipes, adhering to international standards and providing innovative solutions for pipeline maintenance and repair.

Its use of engineered structural calculations, cost-effectiveness, and ease of application make it

a preferred choice for asset owners and operators across various industries.

The stringent tests conducted to assess the mechanical properties and performance of Belzona SuperWrap II ensure that it meets the requirements set by ISO and ASME standards, providing a high level of confidence in its reliability and longevity.

The ability to select the most suitable material and resin based on temperature conditions offers

flexibility and adaptability for a wide range of applications, enhancing the versatility of the repair system.

With its track record of successful applications and ongoing advancements in composite technology, Belzona SuperWrap II continues to establish itself as a leading solution in the composite repair industry, contributing to the maintenance and integrity management of critical pipework worldwide.

Fabrication of composite pads made of Belzona SuperWrap II.

Completed application of Belzona SuperWrap II on a corroded pipeline.

Versatile tool in pipe rehabilitation

Primus Line’s flexible pipeline system is a leading rehabilitation method for many applications, including pipelines in industrial harbours.

Discharge pipelines, multi-buoy facilities, offshore docking stations and multi-purpose pipes are just some examples of pipelines used as part of this process.

When it comes to rehabilitation, these pipelines cannot be shut down for long periods of time, as transporting vessels often cannot be rescheduled. This means safety and flexibility must be considered to ensure efficient rehabilitation.

Primus Line’s flexible pipeline system can serve the rehabilitation of pressure pipes, while also functioning as a flexible stand-alone above-ground pipeline.

loads. In addition, minimal machinery is required for installation.

“For over 25 years, Primus Line has extensive experience in pipeline rehabilitation, particularly in the oil and gas industry,” Primus Line Director A-NZ Heiko Manzke said.

“This technology has been tested and trialled and it shows the bandwidth of what we do at Primus Line.”

The versatility of the system allows for multiple applications across different needs.

“For example, we rehabilitate a 20m water pipe crossing under a highway for a local utility, but renew a high-pressure and high-risk diesel

main for an international oil company as well.” Manzke said. “Primus Line manages this all with the same core technology.”

The flexible pipeline system has been tested in terms of product longevity, pressure cycles, negative pressure, abrasion resistance, aso.

“Everything we say is backed up by certificates and even independent laboratories performing those tests,” Manzke said. “It’s something we stand out with in terms of all of the data, tests and certificates we can provide to our clients.”

Primus Line is also confident enough to reject projects if their flexible system is not suitable for the intended purpose.

The company’s flexible pipeline system has been used in a number of different projects.

Diesel pipeline renovation in Italy

A renowned oil producer in southern Italy determined a sea line pipeline needed to be renovated to increase its longevity. Since it runs

Primus Line’s flexible system running from the reel on the floating platform.

Primus Line Director A-NZ Heiko Manzke.

Professional industrial divers assist with the installation offshore.

15m underwater, it is consistently exposed to salt water, accelerating the corrosion process.

The pipeline operator needed a solution that required minimal equipment and provided results quickly. They opted for a Primus Line DN 250 with a nominal design pressure of 19 bar.

Trained divers installed the insertion rollers and rope protection unit to protect the Primus Line system during the insertion process.

The flexible pipeline comes on site coiled on a transport spool. This spool was placed on a floating platform and got installed offshore to onshore by an experienced diving crew, as the starting point of the existing pipeline was several meters offshore in the Mediterranean Sea.

The insertion of the flexible Primus Line system was completed in just three hours.

Singapore refinery

When a DN 400 sub-sea steel pipe was inspected in Singapore in 2011, it was found that the host pipe had a remaining thickness of 1.7mm, and it was consequently removed from service later that year.

As the pipeline did not have any inside coating and had been filled with nitrogen from 2011 up until rehabilitation, there were no leaks. This led to the operator looking for an efficient solution to rehabilitate the pipeline. Enter Primus Line.

As the pipeline runs sub-sea and interconnects two sides of a harbour, the project presented significant challenges for the Primus Line team. But given the flexible Primus Line pipeline system has a small footprint and short

installation time, it for the client.

UK jetty pipeline

The Primus Line team delivered a successful project at a refinery’s wharf along the coast of Wales.

was installed in parallel to the wharf, which meant completed successfully.

For more information visit www.primusline.com

Primus Line’s system coming ashore.

The pipeline insertion in a seaside refinery.

A trusted partner in pipeline infrastructure projects

Momentum Engineering has showcased its capabilities as a leading pipeline infrastructure company through two recent pipeline projects.

engineering design (FEED) and detailed engineering work for the pipeline facilities along the APA Group Northern Goldfields Interconnect (NGI) pipeline project.

This new 580-kilometre buried pipeline connects the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline to the Goldfields Gas Pipeline, providing better access to existing and new natural gas production regions and gas storage infrastructure, especially in the emerging Perth Basin.

Design commenced initially on the Ambania Compressor Station, followed by the balance of the pipeline facilities along the NGI pipeline.

In July 2023, the pipeline was officially opened by Western Australia (WA) Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Energy; Hydrogen Industry and Industrial Relations, the Hon. Bill Johnston MLA, providing greater energy security and supporting growth and transition in the Western Australia

experience working and collaborating with APA’s engineering, construction and operations teams,” Clayton said.

An experienced team

In addition to the services the company provides to the pipeline industry, it also has a successful record in other services.

“Our engineering and design team has the experience and capability to perform feasibility studies, carry out early conceptual study works, complete FEED and detailed design through to maintenance and operations support across the oil, gas and emerging alternative energy industries,” Clayton said.

One is alternative energy solutions, which focuses on supporting the transition to a lower emissions energy industry. With Momentum Engineering, the following elements are guaranteed:

Australian-owned Momentum Engineering is an independent engineering and project management services provider, who has been providing flexible, practical, and efficient services to the energy and resource sector for nearly 20 years.

Momentum Engineering Managing Director Chris Clayton strongly believes: the company’s added value lies in its close-knit relationship with its clients.

“Our clients are companies seeking a collaborative, cooperative partner, who understands their needs and can provide an effective and personalised approach to meeting project objectives,” Clayton said.

“We’re a longtime supporter of the APGA and the pipeline industry and were proud to provide our services for two recent major pipeline projects undertaken by APA Group.”

Northern Goldfields Interconnect (NGI) pipeline project

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in mid2020, Momentum commenced the front-end

The NGI demonstrates APA Group’s commitment to WA’s resources sector, by investing ahead of demand, supporting the government’s long-term growth plans in areas like critical minerals and providing confidence to project owners that reliable energy is available to bring new projects to  market.

East Coast grid expansion compressor station facilities

APA Group’s East Coast grid expansion, which links Queensland to southern markets, will increase winter peak capacity by 25 per cent.

The project involves a staged approach to the installation of additional compression on both the South West Queensland Pipeline (SWQP) and Moomba Wilton Pipeline (MWP).

FEED and detailed engineering of the compressor stations that formed Stage 1 of the expansion were completed by Momentum in early 2022, and the new facilities have been recently commissioned ahead of forecast southern state winter supply risks. This expansion increases Wallumbilla to Wilton capacity by 12 per cent.

FEED and detailed engineering for the compressor stations for Stage 2 is now also complete.

“In completing these projects, we have leveraged efficiencies gained from our many years of

Alternative energy solutions: introducing new technology such as battery energy storage solutions (BESS) into existing facilities, assessment of renewable energy options (solar, wind, bio-thermal, BESS, hydrogen) for existing facilities, or the development of new facilities specifically in the emerging industry for production of renewable gases, power fuel cell vehicles and export offshore.

Greenfields and brownfields onshore projects: supporting tiers 2 and 3 oil and gas operators to realise production improvements on existing facilities, develop new facilities, or carry out integrity assessments to restart and re-life their assets.

Owners project management and engineering: providing project management, specialist engineering and discipline engineering and design services to operators in an operations support role.

Brownfields offshore projects and engineering services: providing multi-discipline engineering and design services for the modification of existing offshore facilities, such as fixed platforms and floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) facilities.

Maintenance engineering services: working closely with the maintenance implementation contractors to support typically “like-for-like” replacement of corroded piping, replacement of minor structures such as handrails, stairs, access platforms and walkways.

For more information visit www.momentumengineering.com.au

Ambania Compressor Station, used by permission from APA Group.

NEXT GENERATION LINE PIPE. FlexSteel’s unique spoolable steel-reinforced characteristic makes it the best and most versatile pipeline solution for challenging environments and applications. It delivers proven performance in situations where failure is not an option. You can’t put a premium on peace of mind.

Learn more at flexsteelpipe.com.

PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION

Building an Empire

Empire Infrastructure is continuing to showcase its position as a leading supplier of pipeline systems with Future Pipe Industries’ Fiberstrong™.

Since establishing its partnership with design and pipe manufacturing company Future

Pipe Industries (FPI), Empire Infrastructure has been delivering sustainable and efficient pipeline systems throughout Australia.

One of FPI’s flagship brands which is targeted at Australia’s transmission pipeline sector is Fiberstrong, a corrosion-resistant pipe system which can be used for a range of applications for surface or underground projects.

Developed by FPI at its industry-leading engineering and design facility in the Middle East, Fiberstrong pipes are manufactured from a thermosetting resin, polyester, vinylester and also epoxy resin.

As the pipes are reinforced by fibreglass, they are strong, flexible and efficient, making them the ideal choice for municipalities, waste treatment plants, storm and drainage networks, as well as water for power and desalination plants. Available for buried, above ground and also trenchless applications.

Available in sizes from 80 to 4100mm in diameter, and in pressures up to 35 bar, Fiberstrong is manufactured to the highest specifications and latest international standards.

The product has a proven track record in the field, and has been used in many innovative pipeline construction project, in different applications, around the world.

Common cooling seawater system

Developed by Qatar Petroleum, the Ras Laffan

common cooling seawater system provides cooling water supply to industries in Qatar.

FPI manufactured the above and underground seawater cooling lines, fire water, portable water and chlorination pipe systems, which was the largest single project in fiberglass pipe.

The Fiberstrong pipe system was designed and manufactured with a diameter range of 150 to 3450mm, in accordance with ISO 4692.

The corrosion-resistance of the system made it the ideal choice for the harsh conditions of the location of Ras Laffan, including the high temperatures in the Gulf.

Along with its light weight, ease of handling and lower energy cost due to its smooth inner lining, the Fiberstrong system was acknowledged as the advantageous option for this project.

Seawater intake lines

In the United Arab Emirates, a desalination plant project required installation of two new lines as well as the extension of six existing lines for seawater intake.

The FPI supplied 2000mm outer diameter (OD) Fiberstrong for the seawater lines and 100mm OD glass reinforced epoxy pipes for the chlorinating lines. Due to its durability and flexibility, the system once again proved to be successful for the client.

Drainage system expansion

Another project which featured the use of Fiberstrong was the construction of drainage system expansion in Jumeriah and Al Safa, Dubai.

The system consisted of a wide range of GRP for underground installation, with diameters ranging from 400 to 1600mm.

Fiberstrong’s resin-rich reinforced liner, structural wall and exterior layer, contributed to the success of the project.

Since securing the exclusive distribution rights for FPI products in Australia earlier this year, Empire Infrastructure now offers the industry a complete range of pipe systems to suit any application and product, including the extensive range of FPI products.

Empire has solidified its position as a leading supplier of pipeline systems.

“Developed by FPI at its industry-leading engineering and design facility in the Middle East, Fiberstrong pipes are manufactured from a thermosetting resin, polyester, vinylester and also epoxy resin."

Durable safeguarding solutions

Pollard’s provides a simple and reliable solution for pipeline bedding with its Pack Tuff bags.

Being light yet heavy-duty makes Pollard’s Pack Tuff bags an ideal solution for protecting your assets, not only on-site but also during transportation and storage in laydown yards.

Pollard’s is a leading manufacturer and distributor of sustainably sourced wood shavings and sawdust in Australia. The company’s primary material is Australian softwood and hardwood fibres, and its eco-friendly products are biodegradable and chemical free.

Pollard’s provides a reliable solution for pipeline bedding, and its Pack Tuff bags are supplied with timely service and competitive pricing.

“We’ve been told our bags are preferred, principally because they can withstand a lot of hammering,” Pollard’s director Peter Brennan said.

“Companies choose our bags because, unlike competitors’ products, they can take a great deal of rough handling and tossing about on job sites.”

Pollard’s Pack Tuff sawdust bags are a semipermanent foundation for pipelines, and each bag can be reused multiple times.

Hessian bags can tear easily which will render them useless; therefore, a tough, durable, heavyduty product like Pack Tuff is essential for multiple uses, particularly in a heavy industry like

generate excessive amounts of landfill.

Pack Tuff bags are ideal for medium-to-longterm storage (in your laydown yard), for transport applications, and for keeping pipes up off the ground.

Not only are Pollard’s Pack Tuff bags strong, durable and lightweight, they are also available in

of the pipe, with the largest Pack Tuff bags able to withstand up to 15 tonnes.

Pack Tuff bags are considerably lighter than hessian sandbags, making them better for manoeuvrability and lowering risk from an occupational health and safety perspective.

Pollard’s Pack Tuff bags are shipped across Australia and pallets arrive on-site stretchwrapped and weatherproof.

The bags have been used on a number of projects around the country involving companies such as McConnell Dowell, Steel Mains, MPC Kinetic, Spiecapag, John Holland, and Nacap. These projects include the Victorian Desalination Plant, Northern Gas Pipeline, Lake Way Gas. Pipeline, Agnew Gas Pipeline, Victorian North-South pipeline, W.O.R.M. project, as well as the Wentworth to Broken Hill Pipeline for which Pollard’s provided approximately 25,000 Pack Tuff bags.

The company provides hard and softwood products Australia wide.

Its variety of chemical free, graded sawdust products can be used for a range of applications in addition to pipe bedding, such as animal bedding, absorbing oil and chemical spills, horticultural applications, and as a composite component for a multitude of end products.

For more information visit www.sawdust.com.au

Road train despatching Pack Tuff bags bound for Western Australia.

Pack Tuff bags in situ.

Pack Tuff bags in situ.

Pipeline projects keep flowing to PPH

Pipeline Plant Hire (PPH) is a leading supplier of earthmoving equipment to the Australian pipeline industry, delivering customised product solutions to major contractors and government agencies across civil, rail and mining projects.

In 2013, the PPH fleet of Hitachi and John Deere equipment expanded from 60 to over 200 machines, including excavators from 8.5 up to 69 tonnes, wheel loaders, motor graders and bulldozers.

“Our business is built on relationships, and the relationship with our primary equipment supplier Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia (HCA) is integral to our success,” O’Brien said.

“To retain our strong industry reputation, we rely on having a reliable fleet backed by technical support, a strategic branch network and extensive parts availability.”

The recent purchase of its 400th Hitachi machine is a significant milestone for PPH.

“Our 400th Hitachi is a ZX360LC-5 excavator, the 80th unit of this type in our fleet,”

O’Brien said. “It’s an ideal size for our customers, either in standard digging form or fitted with our patented GPE VacLift attachment for pipe handling.”

The rapid expansion of the PPH fleet has been driven in part by the growth of the Australian LNG export industry, which has created high demand for modern equipment built to meet specific requirements, including PPH’s patented VacLift technology.

Designed and manufactured in Australia by Matthew Dridan, and built to enhance safety and improve productivity, VacLift attachments can be seamlessly integrated with Hitachi excavators.

They have already been fitted to over 60 machines in the PPH fleet in various configurations, and used to move everything from 200mm-diameter poly pipe and 1800mm GRP water pipe through to 1380mm-diameter steel high-pressure gas pipe weighing over 12 tonnes.

A significant part of PPH’s machinery worked on Saipem Australia’s Santos GLNG project under the watchful eye of PPH’s Project

Manager Mark Jones and his team of technicians, with support from HCA’s Dalby and Emerald branches.

This multi-million-dollar project, with pipelines stretching 420km between Roma and Gladstone in the central highlands region of Queensland, was keeping PPH busy on all sections of the network, including Fairview, Arcadia Valley, Bauhinia, Banana, Callide Range and Curtis Island off Gladstone.

VacLIft’s leading lifting ability is also much sought after by the water industry, with machines recently operating on the Wentworth to Broken Hill Pipeline in NSW, a project that saw PPH achieve a record-breaking rate of pipe laying for Australian-manufactured Steelmains MSCL ‘O’ ring jointed pipe.

The VacLift works by using a vacuum to suck pipe lengths into the grasp of an attachment fitted with rubber seals called a ‘shoe’, rather than employing traditional slings and hooks.

This results in enormous time savings for customers, as the VacLift cycle time is under 40 seconds per pipe length, whereas

The recent purchase of their 400th Hitachi machine is a significant milestone for PPH.

conventional methods take 5–10 minutes.

“Thanks to the proven reliability and safety record of our vacuum lifts, wide range of pipe diameters per shoe, in-trench assembly capability and many other industry firsts, we’ve contributed massively to efficiency gains in the pipeline industry,” O’Brien said.

Using PPH VacLifts means a number of benefits:

• Simplicity in design, which allows serviceability in remote locations.

• Low tare weight, which lowers transport costs, fuel consumption, and emissions.

• Australian design that gives 24-hour support and rapid supply of parts.

• An extensive inventory of VacLifts, pipe shoes and accessories quick response to project requirements.

• A proven track record over many years.

• Hydraulic power that means no additional fuel costs.

“No wonder that for gas, water and all major pipeline projects, Pipeline Plant Hire continues to be the connection everyone wants to make,” O’Brien said.

Designed and manufactured in Australia, VacLift attachments can be seamlessly integrated with Hitachi excavator.

Industry recognised pipeline specialist

Alltype Engineering continues to provide safe and reliable turnkey project solutions for the pipeline industry, after being founded over 35 years ago.

Secialising in piping, structural, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation disciplines, Alltype Engineering provides supply chain certainty to its clients for timely project delivery.

Alltype Engineering provides multidiscipline turnkey construction, fabrication, installation and maintenance services across the oil and gas, water and utility industries.

Founded in Western Australia (WA) in 1985 as a maintenance and fabrication service provider of high-pressure welding and insulation to the then State-owned power generation utility SECWA, Alltype Engineering is now a recognised tier two construction contractor with the capability to execute multimillion dollar projects.

Powering multidisciplinary success

Alltype Engineering combines a team of people who are experienced in mechanical, electrical and instrumentation disciplines within the pipeline industry, with gas

compression and processing, high pressure piping, hazardous area and remote site works. This skillset combination allowed the company to successfully deliver the APA Group Ambania Compressor Station Project, a fabrication and construction project encompassing civil and earthworks, camp and pipeline facilities works in the remote mid west of WA.

Historically, the company has delivered multiple contracts for gas pipeline facilities fabrication and installation, brownfield modifications and debottlenecking of gas transmission infrastructure and the supply, fabrication, assembly and pre-commissioning of multiple gas skids and piping.

Alltype Engineering Managing Director Kelvin Andrijich said the company continues to expand its market presence, particularly in remote area works across multiple industry  segments.

“By executing the skid package workshop fabrication, structural mechanical piping and electrical and instrumentation scopes and

partnering with key experienced and aligned partners, we provide a seamless end to end solution which de-risks project health, safety and environment and schedule delivery for our clients,” Andrijich  said.

“Very few companies can offer the complete supply chain solution in house, incorporating procurement, automated processing, fabrication, welding assembly, testing through to site construction and multidiscipline installation services.”

The company is now leveraging this experience and expanding to the east coast with a new major gas compression and delivery facility project award.

“Having recently successfully completed the Ambania Compressor Station, various pipeline facilities works on the NGI, GGT and DBP pipelines, we are excited to be awarded this contract for the Kurri Kurri gas project facilities that allows our project team to continue to deliver on their core strength and competence,” Andrijich said.

“The benefits of this seamless delivery

Alltype Engineering provides services across the oil and gas, water and utility industries.

capability is the elimination of interface risks, supply chain control and certainty, efficient project execution a consistent approach to HSE both on and offsite as well as managing the high risk mobilisation and travel  components.”

Structural, mechanical and pipeline works

Alltype Engineering has a significant presence in water infrastructure and has been on the Western Australian Water Corporation's panel for mild steel cement lined (MSLC) piping and fittings, supply, fabrication and installation for over 30 years.

The company's relationship with Water Corporation extends into the installation of water trunk mains and pipelines, with it completing a multitude of pipeline and utility re-routing services for infrastructure projects involving road, rail and bridges.

Other water related facilities works include valve and pump stations installation and construction and water treatment plant construction, repairs and maintenance.

Diversified market sectors

In ad involvement with the pipeline industry, the company is also involved in fabrication and construction services across mining and mineral processing, oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation and utilities, renewable energy, tanks and storage facilities, infrastructure and defence.

“Moving forward, working with existing or

Engineering will continue to deliver complete across a variety of industry sectors,” Andrijich  said.

“We congratulate the Australian Pipelines and Gas Association on 55 years of industry representation and look forward to increasing the company's visibility and contribution to

info@empire.team | 1300 116 664 www.empireinfrastructure.com.au

Alltype Engineering Managing Director Kelvin Andrijich.

Future Pipe Industries and Empire Infrastructure: working together to deliver water and energy to Australasia in the most efficient and sustainable way

Empire Infrastructure is now supplying Future Pipe Industries’ (FPI) range of composite pipe systems to pipeline and trenchless projects throughout Australasia.”

Contact Empire Infrastructure for more

information

about

FPI’s sustainable pipe products or to obtain a copy of the Future

Pipe

Environmental Product Declaration.

Pipeline protection served on a plate

As urban development increases, sections of gas and other utilities pipelines that were once beneath unoccupied land are now adjacent to existing infrastructure.

Tapex Industrial, part of the Tapex Group of companies, in an industry expert in excavation safety with a comprehensive suite of solutions available throughout Australasia.

The company will also be in attendance at the 2023 Australian Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) Annual Convention.

Tapex Business Manager Michelle Moreira is very much looking forward to attending the pinnacle event of the pipeline industry.

“Having been part of the APGA community for over 20 years, I have personally experienced the many benefits it offers to professionals in our field, while feeling part of a bigger community,” she said.

“The networking opportunities, access to industry resources, and continued education opportunities have been invaluable to my own professional growth.

“I look forward to many more years of attending this important yearly convention and catching up with friends and colleagues old and new.”

It is no surprise that Tapex has been such a primordial part of the industry for so long; the suite of solutions the company provides pipeline pros with is a show-stopper.

Overpipe is a prime example of this. The costs of moving or relaying pipelines that were once beneath unoccupied land is extremely expensive for asset owners, as they are normally protected by concrete slabs that can be up to 200mm thick.

Overpipe was developed in France as a reliable,

economical and environmentally friendly alternative to concrete slabs.

Designed to provide a protective barrier for buried pipelines and a visual warning for machinery operators, Overpipe plates resist the assault of a 32-tonne shovel to protect buried pipes from any encroachment.

Lightweight but tough (30-40 kg depending on the model), Overpipe plates are easy to install and easy to remove to allow for inspection or repair of the pipeline. The system is designed to connect multiple plates together so that if one plate is pierced or hooked by an excavator, the plates it is connected to will also lift from the ground.

Overpipe is made from injection moulded HDPE with bevelled edges and non-slip pins on both sides, to facilitate handling and avoid slip and

surface of the plates to reduce slip risk and facilitate grip during manual handling.

The plates come standard in UV-resistant hi-vis yellow with an embossed warning message (e.g. Danger Gas Pipeline Buried Below), but are fully customisable in size, colour and warning message.

Overpipe comes in various dimensions to suit different pipe and trench sizes and the plates are connected using HDPE clips or an Australian designed rope connection system.

Other features and benefits include:

• Range of widths 500mm – 1800m.

• Overlapping plates with simple joiner.

• Light weight, but tough 15mm thick HDPE.

• Hi-Vis Yellow, embossed warning.

• 30 sheets to a double pallet – low transport cost.

• Holes for drainage and CP monitoring.

• Easy to install, 2-man lift.

• Anti-slip surface.

• 50-year warranty.

Installation of Overpipe is quick and easy. Plates are laid in the trench once the appropriate volume of compacted, level cover has been backfilled onto the pipeline (to a minimum of 300mm).

The trench should be benched to a sufficient width for the Overpipe and so that the plates lay flat within the trench.

The plates should be positioned so that there is a minimum of 300mm overhang either side of the pipeline below. Spray-painted guidelines on the backfill will assist in correctly positioning the plates.

Overpipe is used by major gas, power, telecom and rail utilities in both Australia and overseas to protect critical buried infrastructure.

Overpipe installation diagram.

Overpipe plates are easy to install and easy to remove to allow for inspection or repair of a pipeline.

Design better with Vertex G4Plant

Vertex’s G4Plant is a versatile design software for all plant suppliers working with large plant models.

The software is based on powerful functions that allows users to build an intelligent plant model in an illustrative and streamlined fashion.

Vertex CAD/PDM Systems Pty Ltd, also known as Vertex Australia, will bring the Vertex G4Plant software solution to the Australian market, offering something new to the industry.

The speed of plant design and modelling in Vertex G4Plant software is based on powerful special functions for most plant design areas, together with all the functionality of Vertex G4 mechanical engineering software.

This allows users to quickly design even large facilities and related equipment and structures.

“Vertex G4Plant is a perfect solution, weather you are designing small or large-scale projects with one designer or a hundred,” Vertex Australia area manager Brett McDonaugh said.

Vertex G4Plant is an adaptable software which is currently used in Europe within a variety of industries, such as environmental and chemical engineering, energy generation and mining.

One example is through Finnish environmental engineering company Watrec, which implemented Vertex G4Plant and Vertex Flow software solutions to assist in the design and build of biogas plants.

A biogas plant uses waste as its raw material, which is then digested, resulting in both biogas and fertilisers.

Approximately two-thirds of biogas is methane and one-third is carbon dioxide, and can be used

as fuel for heat production or burned in a gas engine to produce heat and electricity.

Solutions director Juha-Pekka Sura at Watrec Oy says G4Plant’s user friendly system allowsfor a streamlined design of biogas plants.

“The deciding factor was G4Plant’s easy to use piping design,” Sura says.

“We also use Vertex Flow to support G4Plant, as well as in all our project management.

“We have many overlapping projects and previously we found it difficult to manage all the documentation and drawings.”

Most of Watrec’s projects are large scale ones, with physical documents for one project amounting to 20 folders of paper.

Sura praises G4Plant’s data compatibility, useful piping tools and extensive libraries.

“G4Plant is customised to our needs which makes design work easy,” he says.

“We have been very pleased with the quick response time from Vertex.

“Support is usually instant.

“We are also thinking of implementing Vertex Building Design software in our business.”

Biopower plant with steel frames.

Chemical storage tanks.

Papermill.

A reliable pipeline specialist

Rogers Energy Services has highlighted their capabilities as a pipeline specialist through a recent, high end pipeline replacement project.

manufacturer and end user to ensure all standards and expectations were met.

Welding

With the project pushing to make up time, Rogers Energy Services was tasked to assemble four high calibre welding teams to take on the more intricate works including tie ins, expansion loops and difficult connections.

Pulling pipeline welders from as far as Perth and even Canada, Rogers Energy Services completed the designated works with flying colours exceeding expectations in some challenging configurations.

Pigging and hydrotesting

Rogers Energy Services also successfully completed the pigging and hydrotesting for the project on line A. (Line B was still under construction at time of writing)

Wbecome “the pipeline specialists”.

While the company has proven itself consistently in the vacuum excavation space since 2019 with focus mainly in the CSG fields, in 2022 Rogers Energy Services was presented with the opportunity to give the industry a taste of what they can do.

The project included 9.5km of twin 8-inch lines with approximately 85 per cent of the project above ground and 15 per cent below ground where crossings were required.

The project had some challenges, most notably the narrow construction corridor and existing assets running in parallel for the entirety of the project.

Rogers Energy Services provided crews and equipment from the beginning of the project right until the end all while maintaining professionalism and reporting zero injuries or incidents.

“We have built strong relationships with our client, the end user and the local town,” Director Joel Rogers said.

Vacuum excavation

Given the project was a replacement project, there were numerous existing services.

Although Rogers Energy Services was not the

maintaining high standards.

As a through and through pipeline company, the operators knew what was needed and what to look for in order to find some of the more elusive assets. These skills came from thousands of hours on the hunt for what’s buried and allow operators to function without constant oversight.

Cold field bending

The original scope was to provide a cold field bending crew to complete bending for the project.

Given the project was above ground, bends had to be on target and replicated onto the second line while maintaining the separation. The bending team was able to calculate in the field and provide compliant bends over the course of the project.

Coating

The project used two coating methods. The three-part spray applied system for the above ground and a hand rolled epoxy system for the bellow ground.

Rogers Energy Services provided sand blasting, painting, inspection and supervision over the entire process.

The company worked tirelessly with the client,

“There was a great amount of joy that rattled through the crew as the strength and leak tests passed,” Rogers said.

have built until now, being able to showcase just a taste of what we can do excites me for the future of the company,” Rogers said.

For more information visit www.rogersenergyservices.com.au

The company worked on the on the Bayswater Slurry Pipeline Replacement project.

Rogers Energy Services provided crews and equipment from the start to the end of the project.

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Empowering the future with hydrogen

Teledyne and Heath Services are thrilled to announce the launch of its latest innovation – the hydrogen enabled GS700 portable gas leak detector.

The ATEX certified GS700-Hydrogen is highly configurable with a user-friendly interface allowing exceptional flexibility and performance to be delivered with ease.

This versatility makes the GS700-Hydrogen the ideal choice for a wide range of natural gas or hydrogen applications including surveying, outdoor and indoor leak detection, purging and bar holing.

GS700-Hydrogen

To help celebrate the launch, Teledyne GMI proudly presented Northern Gas Networks (NGN) Hydrogen Homes Coordinator Alex Brightman with one of the first GS700-Hydrogen production instruments.

The company’s cutting-edge sensor technology will support NGN's ongoing hydrogen activities and help pave the way for a safer hydrogenpowered future.

Teledyne GMI General Manager Ken McDermott shared his enthusiasm about this state-of-the-art innovation.

“For three years, we have been developing and evaluating our hydrogen variant of the GS700 in partnership with SGN and the H100 project,” he said.

The GS700-Hydrogen combines natural gas and hydrogen detection in one instrument.

“When NGN approached Teledyne GMI in July 2021, we were delighted to provide an ATEX certified beta GS700-Hydrogen, to allow hydrogen pipework on the new Tyneside site to be installed, tested, and purged,” McDermott said.

“Following installation, the GS700-Hydrogen was retained and used daily by NGN’s First Call Operatives (FCO) to perform typical gasutility tasks including: leak checking around the on-site hydrogen storage, surveying of the hydrogen mains and services and hydrogen leak detection inside the two properties.”

McDermott said that with the convenience of accurately measuring natural gas and hydrogen in one instrument, the GS700-Hydrogen has ensured reliable gas detection within NGN’s Hydrogen Home network.

“NGN’s continuous feedback played a significant role in refining the new instrument’s functionality and operation,” he said.

This enthusiasm around the launch of the new innovation was shared by NGN’s

H21 Senior Project Manager Russ Oxley.

“The project team found the device to be easy to use and immensely useful in ensuring safety from the initial commissioning to on-going daily use,” Oxley said.

“We were aware the device had undergone performance evaluations at multiple other sites in the United Kingdom and when we received it, performance was impressive, especially when it came to purging and reading 100 per cent hydrogen.”

Oxley said that the team at Teledyne GMI had continually supported the Hydrogen Homes team.

“They incorporated our feedback into the instrument,” he said.

“The latest feature that allows the user to display the hydrogen reading or the natural gas reading or the combined flammable reading, will be of significant benefit to the industry as networks move towards hydrogen blends or 100 per cent hydrogen.”

The Gas Flow Meter 2.0 is a portable, intrinsically safe, rechargeable, direct measurement tool designed to quickly quantify precise leak rates of 99 per cent of fugitive Methane emissions commonly found at typical natural gas compressor stations and facilities.

Leak rate measurements are made easy from compressor rod packing, dry/wet seals, blow down systems associated with main line unit, pressure and ESD valves, pneumatics, storage tanks and various other pipe connectors.

Advancements with the Gas Flow Meter 2.0 ensure measurement operators the best field experience due to size and weight, ease of operation, maintenance, calibration, and software enhancements which contribute to overall reliability and performance.

Why is the Gas Flow Meter 2.0 an absolute need when it comes to methane leak quantification?

Because environmental advocates, technology

The GS700-Hydrogen combines natural gas and hydrogen detection in one instrument.

deliberating the issue of methane emission factors for decades.

Emerging technologies offer fixed, drone, aerial and satellite leak analysis and continue in the race toward new solutions while sorting out sophisticated software with complex algorithms.

Accurate measurement of fugitive methane emissions in a moving apparatus of any type is full of challenges and variables that will likely continue to be of concern, at least for the immediate future.

For over 20 years, high volume sampling has proven worthy of providing accurate leak measurements, at least within the capacity and range the technology was developed for.

Owners and operators of natural gas facilities can easily acquire company specific emission factors through High Volume Sampling that will prove valuable for reporting purposes.

Direct measurement will also provide companies with defensible data compared to indirect measurement methods that are prone to scrutiny at a very high cost.

Direct measurement of leak rates through high volume sampling is still the fastest, most accurate and affordable method for quantification of over 95 per cent of typical equipment leaks.

Save Design Time and Costs

Using Vertex G4Plant makes design work easier and faster. Plan effectively with parametric components. Access our extensive pipe, profile and component libraries that come standard in G4Plant or customise the components to suit your needs.

Vertex G4Plant is a compatible software for plant, equipment, PI -diagram and instrumentation design, providing certainty for high-speed design.

The speed of plant design and modelling in Vertex G4Plant software is based on powerful special functions in different areas for most plant design requirements together with all the functionality of Vertex G4 mechanical design software

This allows you to quickly design even large facilities and related equipment and structures.

Vertex G4Plant contains several special functions in the following areas:

• piping

• isometrics

• support

• ducts

• steel structures and platforms

• structural analysis (FEA)

• visualisation

• animation

• collision inspections

• 2D drawings

• part lists

• and several other features

Saving time and money where it matters

McElroy Optimized Cooling™ is an ideal solution tailored to improving high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe fusion productivity in the field.

The field of HDPE pipe is rapidly expanding, especially in markets like Australia where municipalities and private companies are realising the advantages this piping material has over traditional metal or PVC pipe.

HDPE pipe, when fused according to an accepted standard using quality materials and equipment, is a piping solution that can last for a century with minimal corrosion, while also remaining durable and cost-effective.

But like any other job, the success of an HDPE project often comes down to efficiency, performance, and productivity. These standards must be met to consistently deliver quality results, whether working with a few metres of residential water line or a sewer line that stretches for several  kilometres.

During the fusion process, cooling time represents the largest time investment per joint. ASTM F2620 requires a cooling time of 11 minutes per inch of pipe wall, during which time the joint must remain under fusion pressure.

This allows the joint to gain enough strength to be removed from the machine. After removal, there is still a 30 minute “no rough handling” period that should be observed to allow the joint to cool and reach full strength.

McElroy Optimized Cooling can reduce the time investment required by using a real-time algorithm tailored to improving HDPE pipe fusion productivity in the field.

The hypothesis

Years ago, McElroy researchers determined there are four main factors at play when it comes to cooling time: ambient temperature, bulk pipe temperature, heat soak time, and wall thickness/OD (outer diameter).

Ambient temperature plays a significant role in HDPE cool times. When fusing in temperatures greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) notes that additional cooling time might be required to ensure joint integrity.

Working in partnership with the University of Tulsa, McElroy reexamined and tested standards for calculating cooling times. Using the DataLogger®, McElroy focused testing on fusion of pipe from 6 to 24-inch OD, with dimensional ratios (DR) ranging from 7 to 32.5.

During testing, pipe was fused under numerous

conditions with instrumentation to measure the temperature of the core wall, using varying cooling times, then destructively tested.

The algorithm developed based on the results of those tests – McElroy Optimized Cooling – reliably predicts the optimal amount of time required to cool the core of HDPE pipe before moving on to the next fusion.

To test how temperature affects the cooling process, McElroy performed test fusions in a variety of ambient temperatures, ranging from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

These tests involved 18-inch DR 32.5 HDPE and 18-inch DR 7 HDPE. All test fusions were performed in accordance with ASTM F2620.

McElroy Optimized Cooling calculates cooling times based on environmental conditions, pipe material properties and temperature, and heat soak time, while maintaining integrity of the joint itself.

The solution

McElroy Optimized Cooling can offer as much as a 55 per cent reduction in required cooling times, while still adhering to standards outlined in ASTM F2620.

Using Optimized Cooling is a simple process that utilises the DataLogger.

Before the fusion begins, the operator inputs the ambient temperature, the surface temperature of the pipe being fused, the DR of the pipe, the pipe material, and pipe diameter.

The DataLogger then provides graphical directions to the operator related to heat soak time and fusing/cooling times as calculated.

The first Optimized Cooling joint was recorded in October 2017. Shortly after, a company installing 16.3 miles (26 km) of DR 9 HDPE water line utilised Optimized Cooling and recorded its results.

Using standard cooling times per the ASTM F2620, the project would have required 1,850 hours in cooling time alone. This new algorithm cut that projected time down to 1,140 – a more than 700hour reduction that could mean hundreds of thousands of dollars saved.

The results

Preparing for a joint using McElroy Optimized Cooling is simple. Before fusion begins, the operator inputs the ambient temperature, the surface temperature of the pipe to be joined, the DR of the pipe, pipe material, and pipe diameter into the DataLogger.

The DataLogger then provides graphical directions to the operator related to heat soak time and fusion/cooling time as calculated.

By reducing the amount of cooling time with each joint, operators and contractors are able to perform more fusions in less time while retaining the integrity of the fusion joint.

McElroy Optimized Cooling is a tested, proven, and efficient way to provide clients with an avenue to save both time and money.

For more information visit www.mcelroy.com

Optimized Cooling can offer a 55 per cent reduction in required cooling times.

Plastic – the material of choice for pipes

Have you ever thought about the role plastic pipes play in everyone’s life?

They deliver essential everyday services and utilities to homes and communities.

This includes drinking water, gas and electricity to everyone’s homes, protect the network of cables that deliver internet and other services, are used to in irrigation systems to that are essential for growing food and carry away sewerage, rainwater and stormwater protecting communities and the environment.

It's hard to comprehend the vast network of plastic pipelines installed and in operation here in Australia and around the world as the majority of them are buried and remain there in service for in excess of 100 years. Today’s plastic pipeline systems are still in their first life cycle.

“When you look at the three key principles to a circular economy - designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and material in use and regenerate natural systems, plastic pipe systems align with all three,” Bray stated.

“You can see why they are the preferred choice to replace and upgrade other pipe materials throughout the world.”

The sustainability story

Not all plastics are the same. Too often, plastic pipe systems are mistakenly put in the same category as short-lived, single-use plastics.

PIPA and its members are acutely aware of the real problem society faces with plastic pollution resulting from its inappropriate disposal.

It reflects the growing pressure to reduce reliance on short-lived, single-use products and the drive to increase post-consumer and preconsume plastic recycling levels.

“As an industry that converts large volumes of virgin material into long-life products that deliver our essential everyday services to homes and communities, it's important that we educate across a wide range of audiences on the role plastic pipes systems play,” Bray said.

“This includes how they are different to other plastic products and why the manufacture of virgin material is critical for people and the planet. Our sustainability story provides these insights and context supported with data and science.”

Engineered to last

The plastic material used to manufacture pipes is

engineered to be robust, reliable, and recyclable.

They are intended and designed to last a long time, more than 100 years. The engineered polymers used are stable materials. These properties are suitable for a product such as pipes requiring long life expectancy.

“Some people may be surprised by the production plants for the manufacture of plastic pipes are relatively simple,” Bray said.

The main inputs are the plastic pellets or powder and electricity. Production equipment is electrically powered, and heating is electric as temperatures required to melt the plastic are relatively low.

This results in a very clean and enclosed process.

“There is no combustion or chemical reaction required and therefore no smoke or emissions are produced,” Bray said.

PIPA and its members continue showing their commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. The members are program partners to Operation Clean Sweep, playing their role in working towards the prevention of pellet loss in Australia.

PIPA Executive General Manager Cindy Bray spoke to The Australian Pipeliner on the benefits of plastic when it comes to choosing material for pipes.

Plastic used to manufacture pipes is engineered to be robust, reliable, and recyclable.

Through manufacturing, scrap or re-work material generated is also re-used, designing out waste therefore aligning with circular economy principles.

Suitable post-consumer and pre-consumer materials can also be used to manufacture nonpressure plastic pipes.

It's also important for pipes manufactured with recycled content to confirm to the relevant Australian Product Standards, just as pipes manufactured from virgin materials do. Due to the important role plastic pipes play they must be fit for purpose, regardless of their composition.

Durability – a result of product design

Part of the circular economy is to design a product that can remain functional, without requiring excess maintenance or repair when installed correctly under normal operation over its lifetime.

“For plastic pipes it is intended that they can be installed and not require any maintenance or repair for decades, unlike other materials,” Bray said.

Plastic pipes withstand the forces they are subjected to, they do not corrode, resist chemical attack, they resist abrasion and maintain a smooth bore for easy fluid flow and better hydraulics.

They are also designed not to leach secondary material into the fluid flow which is important for drink water applications. Plastic pipes are safe for the people and the planet.

There have been many studies conducted in Australia and around the world showing long term performance of plastic pipes in operation, showing no chemical degradation and the

integrity of the pipe still intact.

“Plastic pipes offer clear advantages in terms of chemical resistance over other pipe options. They are not affected by soil environments that are highly corrosive to metal and concrete,” Bray said.

“They are not affected by compounds that form in wastewater such as acids that rapidly degrade iron and cement lines pipes, making them the ideal choice for long term infrastructure.

“They also have the lowest overall failure rates in water infrastructure compared to cast iron, ductile iron, steel and asbestos cement.”

Plastic pipes lighter weight compared to other pipe materials can have its advantages during transportation - more volume per truck load and when it comes to installation.

For open trench installation, the use of plant

equipment is minimised compared to heavier pipe materials, which can increase lay rates and reduce CO2 emissions.

Reuse before recover

At the end of their long service life, plastic pipe systems in buried infrastructure applications can be reused without removing them from under the ground.

“These services are likely to become a host for a new plastic pipe,” Bray said.

“There is a strong focus on recycling, but reusing the pipe significantly reduces the use of energy and resources.

“It also reduces the environmental impact of digging up a pipeline after 100 years.”

Protecting the environment

The long term, leak free integrity of plastic pipes prevent water loss, protecting the health of sensitive water ways and minimising flood risk.

As a leak free system, they eliminate the effect of erosion around the system.

Plastic pipes have the flexibility to cope with soil movements and subsidence and protect the nature pH of streams and estuarine environments, reducing the likelihood of algal blooms and fish kills.

Bray said from manufacture, design, installation and performance, it is visible why plastic is the material choice for pipe and supports a circular economy in a closed loop system.

“By using recourses responsibility through better design, we are working smarter. We’re committed. And we’re working towards creating a healthier environment and sustainable future,” Bray said.

For more information on PIPA visit www.pipa.com.au

Plastic pipes withstand the forces they are subjected to.

Plastic pipes resist chemical attack, abrasion and do not corrode.

Harnessing the power of AI

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and other trenchless drilling techniques have revolutionised underground infrastructure installations. As technology continues to evolve, the trenchless industry can benefit greatly from the integration of AI.

AI offers the potential to enhance engineering design and drilling operations, optimise performance and improve safety.

According to Maxibor CEO Rodney O’Meley, AI comes with its set of challenges and risks - all advantages and potential pitfalls must be carefully considered.

“AI technology provides the opportunity to better use specific data and efficiently access broader information to help optimise the design and delivery of HDD projects,” O’Meley said.

“Human experience will however always remain invaluable. The art of integrating AI technology with human experience will be one of the keys to the industry adding future value”.

Where AI technology is applied

Enhanced bore path planning and optimisation: AI-powered algorithms have the ability to analyse geological data, including soil composition and rock layers, to help predict potential challenges and optimise the drilling path.

By leveraging this information, HDD design

engineers, steerers and drill rig operators are able to plan more efficient and safer drilling routes.

This leads to reduced drilling time, minimised disruptions to the surface, and optimised borehole configurations.

Real-time data analysis and decision-making: AI-driven systems can process vast amounts of data from various sensors in real-time.

This capability allows for continuous monitoring of drilling parameters, equipment health, and environmental conditions.

AI can promptly identify deviations from optimal operating conditions and generate alerts, enabling proactive decision-making and reducing the risk of costly downtime or correction of bore alignment.

Predictive maintenance and equipment health monitoring: By analysing equipment data, AI can predict potential equipment failures before they occur.

This predictive maintenance approach optimises equipment uptime, reduces maintenance costs, and extends the lifespan of critical components.

Proactive scheduling of maintenance activities helps avoid unplanned downtime and maintain operational productivity.

Improved safety and risk management: AI can contribute significantly to safety management.

With real-time hazard detection, AI systems

can identify unsafe behaviours, trigger alerts for hazardous conditions, and enforce compliance with safety protocols.

Predictive risk analysis allows HDD companies to anticipate potential safety risks and take proactive measures to mitigate them.

Advances in intelligent plant technology including autosteer and collision avoidance technology are making workplaces safer and more productive.

Maxibor is proactively linking with leaders is these technologies such as FJ Dynamics and Nerospec SK to better understand how they can be utilised in the trenchless industry even with existing equipment.

Links with China Rail Construction Heavy Industry and other manufacturers of tunnelling equipment are further broadening Maxibor’s understanding of how AI and intelligent plant technology is, and can be applied, at both the design and construct phases of trenchless projects.

Data analytics and reporting: AI facilitates the analysis of drilling data, geological information, and historical records.

These data analytics offer valuable insights for better performance evaluation, trend analysis, and informed decision-making.

Additionally, AI can automate the generation of comprehensive drilling reports, inform risk management and streamline project

Maxibor Australia Chief Executive Officer Rodney O’Meley spoke with The Australian Pipeliner to decipher the Australian infrastructure sector while factoring the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the industry.

Maxibor Australia Chief Executive Officer Rodney O’Meley.

documentation, compliance and reporting processes.

Risks and challenges of AI

Data quality and bias: AI systems are highly reliant on high-quality and unbiased data for accurate predictions and decision-making.

If the training data is incomplete, inaccurate, or biased, it can lead to flawed results and potentially reinforce unsafe practices or jeopardise the efficiency of drilling operations. Technical complexity and integration: Implementing AI technologies into existing HDD operations requires substantial technical expertise, resources, and integration efforts.

Proper deployment and maintenance of AI systems may pose challenges to some HDD companies and the broader industry.

Over-reliance on AI reliability: Excessive trust in AI systems without human oversight can lead to complacency and reliance on potentially flawed predictions and processes.

Human operators must always validate AIdriven decisions and information, intervening when necessary to ensure safety and accuracy.

Cybersecurity risks: AI systems that collect and process sensitive data are susceptible to

cyberattacks and data breaches.

Protecting AI infrastructure and ensuring data privacy need to be paramount concerns. Having cyber security insurance is now essential.

Unintended consequences: AI algorithms may produce unexpected or unintended results, leading to undesired outcomes in drilling operations.

Continuous monitoring and validation are essential to detect and address any undesirable effects promptly.

Data sharing: The value of AI will be limited by the extent data is shared across the stakeholders in the infrastructure sector.

The industry will only optimise the benefit of the power of AI if key geological and drilling performance data in particular is available for collaborative analysis and problem-solving across the industry.

Maxibor is thus seeking to work much more closely with key players, both locally and internationally, to share and gain access to broader data for integration into the HDD project decision-making process. Ethical and social implications: The adoption of AI in the trenchless industry may lead to

workforce displacement and raise ethical concerns about job loss and societal impacts.

Responsible AI implementation and addressing social implications are vital for industry-wide acceptance.

This includes taking the older generations in the industry on the journey to help them understand how their wealth of experience can actually be better utilised through their proactive involvement in the AI world.

To conclude, O’Meley is adamant: The integration of AI in the trenchless industry offers a wealth of advantages, from improved drilling efficiency and safety to predictive maintenance and data-driven decision-making.

However, these benefits come with inherent risks that must be addressed. Responsible implementation, data quality assurance, and a collaborative approach that combines AI and intelligent equipment with human expertise are necessary to ensure AI's positive impact on the industry.

By embracing AI while acknowledging its challenges, the industry can continue to drive innovation and push the boundaries of trenchless drilling technologies for generations to come.

For more information visit www.maxibor.com.au

An artificial intelligent plant.

Australian Pipelines and Gas Association Membership

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR

National Australian Pipelines

Pipeline Plant Hire Pty Ltd

Moody Civil & Pipe Pty Ltd

Maxibor Australia

The Newham Group

Pipecraft

HH Civil Pty Ltd

P and G Welding Pty Ltd

Directhitt Pty Ltd

Mitchell Water Australia Pty Ltd

Service Stream

Michels Corporation

Altrad Services Pty Ltd

Alltype Engineering

Global Engineering & Construction

Pty Ltd

Nacap Pty Ltd

Spiecapag Australia Pty Ltd

McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust)

Pty Ltd

MPC Kinetic

Quanta Services Australia Pty Ltd

Enscope Pty Ltd

CONSULTANT

Energy Matrix Group Pty Ltd

JLL Infrastructure Advisory Pty Ltd

Veris

Plant & Platform Consultants Ltd

Sustech Engineering Pty Ltd

Jiva Consulting

Australasian Corrosion Consultants

Pty Ltd

Land Access & Management Services

Pty Ltd

EnergyQuest Pty Ltd

Pipeline Engineering Consultants

DNV GL Australia Pty Limited

Twycross and Partners Pty Ltd

Powered

Ted Metcalfe Independent Consultant

Sage Consulting Solutions Pty Ltd

OC Project Services Pty Ltd

Future-Proof Solutions

MVC Services Pty Ltd

ACIL Allen Consulting

dss+

CNC Project Management

ENERGY DISTRIBUTOR

ATCO Gas Australia

Powerco Limited

ENGINEERING/PROJECT MANAGER

A J Stack Solutions Pty Ltd AFS

Atteris Pty Ltd

Auscor Pty Ltd

Bamser Holdings Pty Ltd

Core Group Limited

Fyfe

GHD Pty Ltd

GPA Engineering Pty Ltd

Lidiar Group

Long Energy and Resources (Aust.) Pty Ltd

Momentum Engineering

Pipeline Drillers Group

Solarig Australia Pty Ltd

SPIE Plexal

Vaughan Civil Pty Ltd

Verbrec Ltd (ASX: VBC)

Worley Services Pty Ltd

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS/ REGULATORS

Department for Energy and Mining

Department of Planning and

Environment NSW

Energy Safe Victoria

Resources Safety and Health Queensland

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

Pipeline Research Council International, Inc

PIPELINE OWNER/OPERATOR

Ampol Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd

APA Group

Arrow Energy Pty Ltd

AusNet Services

Australian Energy Market Operator

Australian Gas Infrastructure Group

Beach Energy Limited

Brookfield Infrastructure Group

Epic Energy SA Pty Ltd

Esperance Pipeline Company

Esso Australia Pty Ltd

First Gas Ltd

Fortescue Future Industries Pty Ltd

GB Energy

Jemena

Methanex NZ Ltd

Mobil New Zealand Oil Limited

Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd

Origin Energy Limited

Power and Water Corporation

PowerGas Limited

Qenos Pty Ltd

QGC

Refining NZ

Santos

SEA Gas

South Australian Water Corporation

Tas Gas Holdings Pty Ltd

Tasmanian Gas Pipeline Pty Ltd

Vector Limited

Viva Energy Australia Ltd

WestSide Corporation

Woodside Energy Ltd

SERVICE PROVIDER

Atlas Copco Rental Oceania

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

Civil Geospatial Services Pty Ltd

Corrosion Control Engineering (Holdings)

Pty Limited

Deaton Enterprises Pty Ltd trading as CST Hire

Downer EDI Engineering Power Pty Ltd

DSQ Pty Ltd

ERIAS Group Pty Ltd

IntelliGas

ITI International

LandPartners Pty Ltd

Lochard Energy (Iona Operations) Pty Ltd

Locusview Ltd

Mipela GeoSolutions

NDT Global Pty Ltd

Oceaneering Australia Pty Limited

ORIX Commercial

Peter Norman Personnel Pty Ltd

Picarro, Inc

Pipe Tek Pty Ltd

Piping Specialty Supply Service Pty Ltd

Prime Creative Media

Pro Pipe Services Pty Ltd

Project Communications Australia

QIC Protective Coatings (Aust) Pty Ltd

Qube Energy Pty Ltd

Red Rock Oilfield Services

ROSEN Australia Pty Ltd

Scape Consulting Pty Ltd

SRG Global

STATS Group

T D Williamson Australia Pty Ltd

TFG Group Pty Ltd

Turbo Systems Australia Pty Ltd

Vertech Group Pty Ltd

Viega Pty Ltd

Wasco Energy Group

WRAP Resources Australia

Zinfra

SUPPLIER OF EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS

Denso (Australia) Pty Ltd

Inductabend Pty Ltd

Anode Engineering Pty Ltd

Heath Pipeline Services Pty Ltd

Jindal Saw Limited

PAC

LFF Australia

Western Process Controls

Techrite Controls Pty Ltd

PipeServ

Aquip Systems

Aegis Pty Ltd

Scapeworks Australia

TRACTO-TECHNIK Australia Pty Ltd

Pipeline Supplies Australia

Shawcor Pty Ltd

Universal Corrosion Coatings Pty Ltd

Savcor Products Australia Pty Ltd

Tremco Pipeline Equipment Pty Ltd

AtlasGas Pty Ltd

Pipeline Machinery International LP

Tapex Industrial

Anti Corrosion Technology Pty Ltd

Bao Australia Pty Ltd

Australian Pipeline Valve

Fast Fusion, LLC

McElroy Australia

Vlentec Australia Pty Ltd

PSAH Pty Ltd

Vacuworx Australia

iPipe Services

Austrack Equipment Sales and Rentals

Delnorth Pty Ltd

Pipeline Equipment Rentals

RazValve Pacific

RTi Asia Pacific PTY LTD

Horizon Industrial Pty Ltd

Pacific Valve Tech & Engineering Pty Ltd

Ozzies, Inc.

Vinidex Pty Ltd

Worldwide Group

SICK Pty Ltd

Richmond

GF Piping Systems

Laurini Officine Meccaniche Srl

EagleBurgmann Australasia Pty Ltd

CRC-Evans Pipeline International

Lincoln Electric Company (Australia) Pty Ltd

RDO Equipment Pty Ltd

Iplex Pipelines Australia Pty Ltd

Herrenknecht AG

Gasco Pty Ltd

Welspun Corp Limited

Man Industries India Ltd

EDMI Pty Ltd

Solar Turbines Australia

Australian Portable Camps

Future Fuels CRC

APGA would particularly like to acknowledge the generous support of its Owner Members

• APA Group

• Australian Gas Infrastructure Group

• Epic Energ y SA Pty Ltd

• Jemena

• SEA Gas

• Tasmanian Gas Pipeline Pty Ltd

APGA would also like to acknowledge the strong support of its Lead Members

• Australian Portable Camps

• Esso Australia Pty Ltd

• McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd

• MPC Kinetic

• Nacap Pty Ltd

• QGC

Honorary Life Members

• Ken Barker

• David Curry

• Keith Fitzgerald*

• D C Gore*

• Robert Gration

• Max Kimber

Individual Members

• Dean Barker

• John Blain

• Bevan Boocock

• Grant Bowley

• Stephen Callaghan

• Ken Cameron

• Chris Carter

• Mark Cooper

• Andy Lukas

• Tony Marletta

• Mick McCormack

• Stuart McDonald

• Jim McDonald*

• Allan Newham

• Quanta Services Australia Pty Ltd

• Solar Turbines Australia

• Spiecapag Australia Pty Ltd

• Worley Services Pty Ltd

• Geoff Cope

• John de Robillard

• Amy Farrugia

• JP Fortin

• Gretchen Gagel

• Chris Gatehouse

• Lynndon Harnell

• Mark Harris

Employee Members

• Michelle Andersen

• Eric Bardy

• Geoff Barton

• Lauren Beynon

• Rick Boreham

• Andrew Bourke

• Liz Brierley

• Peter Bucki

• Francis Carroll

• Philip Colvin

• Vera Corso

• Anne-Maree Corson

• Craig de Laine

• Edwin De Prinse

• Mark Dragar

• Yuyu Fang

• Daniel Faulkner

• Matt Felvus

• Sean Fleming

• Nick Flint

• Tom Forde

• Mark Fothergill

• Paul Frederick

• Tess Gardener

• Jarrod Gilby

• Calvin Gordon

• Peter Hanily

• Chris Harvey

• Justine Hyams

• Jeff Jones

• Ashley Kellett

• Steven Liddell

• Cameron MacDiarmid

• James McMahon

• Stephen Ohl

• Mark Twycross

• Phil Venton *deceased

• John Millett

• Mick Murphy

• Trevor Nichols

• John Piper

• David Pollock

• Brett Reay

• Shaun Smith

• Ian Spence

• Jasper Tieland

• Andrew Wood

• Peter Harcus

• Geoff Harrison

• Chris Hewson

• Ian Israelsohn

• Linda Johnson

• Hugo Kuhn

• Trent Leach

• David Levy

• Stephen Livens

• Nicole Lowndes

• Paul May

• Donna McDowall

• John Messent

• Stephen Mudge

• Matthew O'Connell

• Wnedy Oldham

• Brian O'Sullivan

• Neil Parry

• Tawake Rakai

• Ben Rees

• Darren Rogers

• Josh Row

• Craig Sheather

• James Smith

• Colin Symonds

• Soheil Taherian

• Warwick Tidswell

• Andrew Tsitas

• John Walsh

• Sean Ward

• Louise Watson

• Rob Wheals

• Paul Williamson

• Michael Xanthopoulos

People on the Move

In this new and regular column, The Australian Pipeliner is tracking new appointments in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific’s pipeline sector.

GARRICK ROLLASON - CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER - APA GROUP

Garrick Rollason has been appointed APA Group’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) following more than seven years as CFO of Victoria Power Networks and United Energy.

Leading teams across finance, insurance, revenue management, investment, risk, governance, procurement, and property, Rollason’s new role will greatly benefit the APA team.

“I’m pleased to announce that, after an extensive process, Garrick has been appointed APA’s new CFO,” said APA Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Adam Watson.

“Garrick’s career brings together a unique blend of deep financial experience in energy, infrastructure and capital markets, along with demonstrated growth and operational leadership. “

Watson said he had no doubt Rollason would be a valuable addition to the APA leadership team as the company pursues its growth ambitions.

“The ELT team positions APA well to deliver against our strategy to be the partner of choice in delivering energy infrastructure solutions for our customers."

ZIAD BUSHNAQ - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER WATER – UTILITIES, DOWNER

Ziad Bushnaq recently became Business Development Manager Water – Utilities at Downer, the leading provider of integrated services across Australia and New Zealand with a strong focus on relationship with community and customers.

“At Downer, we believe that relationships create success. That’s

why we are focussed on working collaboratively with the water industry to safely deliver long-term services that benefit our customers and community for many years to come,” said Bushnaq.

He has more than 15 years experience in the water industry and in water/ wastewater infrastructure projects.

“In my new role with Downer as Business Development Manager Water - Utilities, I will be working within the Strategy and Growth division to support the growth of the water portfolio across Australia and maintaining the great relationship that Downer has with our customers, delivery partners and the wider community.”

SOHEIL TAHERIAN – GENERAL MANAGER ENGINEERING EAST – VERBREC

Soheil Taherian was recently appointed as General Manager Engineering East at Verbrec, where he will lead the company’s engineering services team in eastern and northern Australia, Papua New Guinea, and parts of the Pacific.

Soheil has over 19 years of experience in petrochemical, oil and gas, and water infrastructure design, construction, and integrity management.

“In this new role, I'm excited to lead projects that bring fresh ideas to our engineering services,” Soheil said.

“I can't wait to work with our great team to deliver innovative solutions for our clients.

“I'm also looking forward to growing our services by building strong relationships with clients and exploring new

opportunities to expand.”

Verbrec is a leading engineering, asset management, infrastructure, and training services provider.

By combining its industry knowledge with a deep understanding of its clients’ priorities, Verbrec supports them in achieving their unique goals.

If your company has recently employed a new person within your business you would like profiled in ‘People on the Move’, send details of the career news alongside a high-res photo to Journalist Vivien Topalovic at vivien.topalovic@primecreative.com.au