The Code of Practice is a document which has been developed since 2009 to provide a set of guidelines on best practice for polyethylene (PE) pipe installation, covering areas such as PE pipe design, welding and testing.

At the launch, APIA Chief Executive Cheryl Cartwright thanked the review committee for their work in developing the Code, and presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Plastics Industry Pipe Association (PIPA) Executive General Manager Mark Heathcote for his involvement. Ms Cartwright also acknowledged special guests Queensland Minister for Employment, Skills and Mining Stirling Hinchliffe, Shadow Minister for Energy and Water Utilities Steve Dickson, and the Chief Inspector of Petroleum and Gas in the Queensland Mines and Energy Group Stephen Matheson.

Following this, APIA President Peter Cox took over proceedings, inviting Mr Hinchliffe to the stage to officially accept the Code of Practice. With Code in hand, the Minister spoke about the importance of the coal seam gas (CSG) industry in Queensland– which is generating much international interest with $US40 billion already invested – before moving on to discuss the need to support the industry with skills and training.

He said that the Code of Practice recognised this need for the installation of PE pipe, providing the industry with a one-stop document with which to assess its safety management. He also added that the Code would increase efficiency by providing industry-wide consistency, ensuring a safe, sustainable industry through best practice.

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APIA/PIPA CSG Seminar

To accompany the launch of the Code of Practice, two identical half-day seminars were held the following day at the Brisbane Hilton as a an introduction to the Code and how it can be used.

Following an introduction by Ms Cartwright, QGC Operations Interface Gathering Representative and Code Committee Chair Hugh Luckhurst-Smith gave some background on why the Code was developed (see page 116 for more details), before taking the position of session chair for the remainder of the seminar.

The first session of the seminar focused on the design aspects in the Code, with presentations from Santos Senior Staff Pipeline Integrity Engineer Lloyd Nicholls-Goffey and Georg Fisher Piping Systems National Sales and Marketing Manager Enzo Bova.

After a brief break for morning tea and networking, the seminar continued with the second session focusing on safety. Speakers included Origin Energy Lead Pipe Engineer Marshall Holmes and Polysmart Director Darren Poynton.

The seminar was concluded with a panel session for questions and a buffet lunch provided by sponsors Murphy Pipe and Civil and PPI Corporation.