The Australian Pipeliner

April 2007

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President’s Message

On 21 February, in addition to our usual scheduled meeting, the Board held a half day annual review of the APIA Strategic Plan. This review is intended to check the ongoing viability of the plan, our progress towards its objectives and to highlight any areas for improvement. I am pleased to say that the review demonstrated that the Strategic Plan remains relevant and that your Secretariat is progressing well towards the objectives and goals contained therein.

Chief Executive’s Report

The times are a-changin’ – and APIA is making changes to meet the requirements of these a-changin’ times. You will recall that, last year, we restructured the Corporate Membership category to better reflect the great differences in size of our Corporate members.

WA gets into the swing for 2007

The annual APIA Western Australia Chapter Lunch and Golf Day was held on Thursday 15 February 2007 with a strong attendance of 130.

Infrastructure activity in Southeast Queensland

The Brisbane dinner broke all attendance records, with 209 members and guests booked on the night and others unable to attend because the Hilton could not extend the room any further.

Welcome to the new AS2885.1

Phil Colvin

Years of blood, sweat and (some) tears are about to conclude with the imminent release of the 2007 version of AS2885.1.

International pipeline research conference comes to Australia

Max Kimber, Chairman, APIA Research and Standards Committee

APIA is pleased to welcome delegates to the first Australian Joint Technical Meeting (JTM) between the international leaders of pipeline research.

A Canadian from Australian in South Africa: Pipeline standards in the global era

Leigh Fletcher

Globalisation in the workforce and marketplace is increasing the relevance and prominence of global standards. Australian pipeliner Susan Jaques is at the forefront of this rapidly evolving area through her unique ‘global’ position.

Water pipeline from Perth to Kalgoorlie: 1894 -1903

In this day and age of water shortages, requiring new water pipelines, it is extremely interesting to look back to the end of the nineteenth century and examine how C. Y. O’Connor’s ambitious Coolgardie Water Scheme overcame the political and engineering hurdles involved.

Jeff Shepherd

Jeff Shepherd is truly one of the legends of the Australian Pipeline Industry. Arguably the best pipeline construction manager Australia has produced. A colourful character, Jeff worked tirelessly introducing and implementing new ideas to increase production whilst retaining the loyalty and respect of his men.

UEA enters Maxi Rig market

UEA has purchased the 136 tonne Vermeer D300 x 500, marking the company’s entry into the Maxi Rig market.

Boddingtons introduces Protectamesh

Boddingtons, a leading manufacturer and supplier of plastic warning tapes and extruded meshes for detection and protection of underground cables and pipelines, has introduced Protectamesh to its product range.

Constructing a stronger future for OZ Excavator Buckets

Pete Theron has taken over as Managing Director of Oz Excavator Buckets, one of Australia’s leading suppliers of excavator buckets and attachments, after a takeover in March this year led to the restructuring of the organisation.

Formation and Deposition of ‘Elemental Sulphur’ in Pipelines

D. J. Pack & R. Trengove

The majority of natural gas processing plant and pipeline operators will readily identify with the most commonly reported pipe contamination related problem - that of the so-called ‘black powder’.

Skills and training: the magic bullet?

All across Australia people are talking about skills and training – its the proverbial BBQ stopper. Acutely felt in engineering and trades the issue has continuing prominence in the pipeline industry with asset sales, mergers, acquisitions and changing owner/operator models all adding to the complexity of the problem.

Cement mortar lining for water pipelines – Why it’s still the best!

Cement mortar lining has been used for internal protection of water pipes for over 150 years, and is the most commonly used lining for water pipelines around the world. It’s widely regarded as the best lining for water pipelines. Why is this so?

Locating pipe and cable: the essentials

Roy Montemarano, Technical Services Manager, Heath Consultants Incorporated, USA.

Locating underground facilities has become a high priority and expense for many companies. Many tools, instrumentation and training options are available in the fight to prevent damage to buried facilities and it is now just a matter of utilising these options effectively for optimum results.

New leak detector hits Australian market

Savcor Products, with USA-based Metrotech, a leader in the underground utility locating industry, have added a new leak locating instrument, the HL 5000, to their equipment range.

Who’d be a hydro tester?

It’s a question Gordon and Bev Robinson of Robinsons Welding asked themselves before they sent their Project Manager Jim Richardson, on a mission to establish a NATA-certified testing company.

Third-party interference: an early warning system

Many different types of oil, gas and refined product pipelines are buried in rights-of-way and clearly marked with warning signs. Nevertheless, these pipelines are sometimes damaged by construction equipment not owned by the pipeline company.

Pipeline Inspection releases new holiday detector

Pipeline Inspection Company has released an addition to its portable holiday detector range, with the new SPY® Model 785 pulse unit complementing models 780 and 790 by providing a 1,000 to 15,000-voltage range.

Do you know where your pig is?

CDI is a worldwide supplier of pipeline pig location and tracking equipment based in Tulsa, Oklahoma USA. The team at CDI manufactures a large range of specialised products that are used in the oil and gas pipeline industry.

Australian concept builds confidence in technology

Sixty years ago, Australia developed a system of ensuring laboratory competence, which has now been adopted by more than 70 countries.

A flare to remember

As the sun begins its next eleven year cycle of sunspot activity, changes in the Earth’s magnetic field will affect a range of infrastructure including long pipelines as well as satellite communications such as GPS.

Landholder liaison – who cares?

The days of getting a bloke from the front bar of the Thargomindah Pub to look after landholder liaison during pipeline construction are well and truly over.

Innovation a key at Warren King and Co.

Warren King and Company is an Australian-based company at the forefront of the pipeline industry. With nearly 100 years of combined experience and a team of dedicated professionals providing surveying, drafting and GIS services, the company can offer a complete solution to any pipeline project.

Strong heritage backs Fyfe Alliance

Fyfe Engineers and Surveyors along with MJ Hedges Geomeasure Surveyors form part of the Fyfe Alliance group of companies that have been providing survey and pipeline route selection for 25 years in South Australia and 30 years in Queensland.

Mipela GIS revolutionises Dial Before You Dig

Automating the Pipeline Operators’ response process to the Dial Before You Dig Enquiry Service provides a simple solution that will save time, money and lives.

Safety continues to be top APIA priority

Mark Twycross, Chair, APIA Safety Committee

The charter of the APIA Safety Committee is to operate under the constitution and bylaws of APIA with the express intention of facilitating debate, discussion and formulation of guidelines for APIA members Health and Safety issues and concerns.

Tapex - A history of innovation

In 1881, two Italian migrants brought their skills to Australia and set about making hat bands. 125 years later, the company they created is one of Australia’s most innovative firms and a leading supplier of industrial plastic meshes and components for fibre optic cabling, power cabling and concrete piping.

Engineers provide simple solution to tricky pipeline lifts

One of the problems of lifting and shifting pipelines during installation and maintenance is often the restricted space in which to engineer the lift.

Safe and economical pipe movement with vacuum lifts

Vacuum lifts offer greater safety in pipelaying and provide a quicker, and therefore more economical, alternative to pipe hooks, pipe forks, pipe tongs and pipe slings.

Neil Mansell Transport - ready for any pipeline project

Neil Mansell Transport (NMT), a family owned company, has vast experience in the mining, energy and construction industries of Australia over the last 35 years. The company is proud that pipeline haulage is a key part of these services.

Four Wheel Drive delivers constantly evovling fleet

Four Wheel Drive Hire Service is a major supplier to the mining, construction, exploration and pipeline industries in Australia. The company is constantly updating its fleet of vehicles with different and varying safety features including the new range of Nissan Patrol Utes.

Australian Portable Camps: leading by innovation

Since 1968, Australian Portable Camps Chief Frank Martino has been involved in mining and construction camp services. After years of working in the most remote areas for large and small projects, his biggest frustration was always the limitations of infrastructure and facilities provided to service the personnel on site.

DBNGP Stage 4 Looping complete

The DBNGP Stage 4 Looping is now complete, with commissioning of the final loops occurring in late 2006.

Sydney Primary Loop: Meeting the urban challenge

Stretching across burgeoning southwestern Sydney, the Sydney Primary Loop (SPL) project is a challenging undertaking by Alinta, underscored by environmental, cultural and technical engineering obstacles. Yet despite the odds being stacked against the multi-million dollar development, construction works are on schedule, with completion due later this year.

Installing pipelines on soft land

There are different techniques to install pipelines on soft land, possibly the most interesting one is the mass stabilisation method.

Creation of a regional water supply network

The Southern Regional Water Pipeline (SRWP) is a vital piece of regional infrastructure that will provide a bulk fresh water supply network between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

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April 2007

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