Origin’s General Manager Public and Government Affairs, Tony Wood said “The natural gas now flowing into the south east pipeline system from the eastern States - via the SEA Gas pipeline - provides additional supply options into the retail market and offers a sound basis for the continued strong growth of regional industry.”

The SEA Gas connection is near Poolaijelo in Victoria and the SESA pipeline terminates at Ladbroke Grove near Penola in South Australia. The 45 km, 200 mm pipeline covers cleared pasture and agricultural areas as well as cleared firebreaks through forestry plantations.

Origin Energy announced that it was starting construction of the SESA pipeline in March. With the support of its suppliers and the South Australian and Victorian Governments, Origin accelerated the project so that the pipeline could become operational by June 2005.

“Whilst originally forecast to be in service later in 2005, Origin decided earlier this year to commit additional resources to accelerate the construction of the SESA pipeline and its connections in response to the greater than anticipated decline in local gas supplies. Gas was expected to flow in early June, but favourable weather and a well managed construction program has seen gas flow ahead of time,” said Mr Wood.

Installation of temporary connection facilities at each end of the pipeline meant that natural gas could be available from the eastern Australia gas grid five months ahead of the original schedule. This was most important for the retail market in the south east of South Australia as we are now entering winter.

Pipeline construction activities commenced at the Ladbroke Grove end and were completed over a ten week period. The pipeline was built by NACAP Australia Pty Ltd. Mr Wood said “NACAP Australia and Origin’s employees who have worked on this project should be congratulated on completing this project in record time whilst maintaining an excellent environmental and safety performance.”

Origin Energy worked very closely with key stakeholders throughout the permitting, environmental assessment and easement acquisition stages of the project and is most appreciative of the support received from these groups. “Origin would like to thank the local community, the Wattle Range Council, West Wimmera Shire as well as the South Australian and Victorian Governments for their support during the approvals, construction and commissioning phases of the project,” said Mr Wood.

The SESA pipeline requires additional work at each end of the pipeline which is scheduled to be completed by October 2005. At that time, the present temporary meter stations at each end of the pipeline will be replaced with permanent facilities.

GPA Engineering

Origin Energy appointed GPA Engineering as principal consultant to provide project management, route selection, assistance with regulatory approvals in Victoria and South Australia, design and procurement, construction management, safety case preparation, commissioning and operational support.

Other project services included ECOS Consulting Pty Ltd for GIS and environmental, Maloney Field Services for land acquisition and Calder Harris Surveyors for route selection and survey.

According to regulators, the SESA Pipeline project has set a new bench mark in the pipeline industry for projects within Victoria and South Australia with accolades from regulators, the local community and landowners for level of consultation, environmental excellence and compliance with the project requirements.

To augment gas supplies prior to winter, the peak demand period for gas, Origin Energy sought to fast track supply from the yet to be constructed SESA Pipeline. This meant completing temporary “bypass” end of line facilities and commissioning the pipeline before winter, a significant alteration to the original construction schedule.

Purpose built bypass pressure reducing and metering stations at each end of the SESA Pipeline were proposed by GPA Engineering utilising their knowledge of pipeline systems particularly both SEA Gas and SEPS. The temporary facilities were designed to provide sufficient capacity to meet south east demand. They were constructed as regulated bypasses to the main facilities to deliver gas safely and in compliance with all regulations.

As principal consultant for Origin Energy, GPA Engineering with the cooperation of state Regulators, and equipment suppliers and fabricators, completed the bypass facilities ahead of schedule prior to winter.

Meanwhile the design, tendering, procurement, construction and commission of the permanent major facilities, which would also supply the power station, continued with commissioning scheduled for October 2005.

This is the third pipeline system that GPA has successfully managed to completion in the 2004 / 2005 period. GPA was previously hired as Principal’s Engineers to manage the tendering, engineering, interfacing and contractor management for the SEA Gas pipeline project which also provided gas to the Adelaide region in a timely fashion. GPA also undertakes Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Management (EPCM) Projects for large scale SCADA and compressor installations, and provides process and hazardous area assessment, instrumentation, electrical, operational and risk management services to the sugar, hydrocarbon, energy, chemical, mining and manufacturing industries.

Maloney Field Services

Maloney Field Services successfully undertook all land acquisition requirements on behalf of Origin Energy for the SESA Pipeline.

The pipeline traverses properties belonging to 28 different landowners, including holdings in South Australia’s Coonawarra wine region and Blue Gum and Pine Plantations in Victoria.

Maloney Field Services director, Jamahl Waddington, successfully negotiated pipeline easements with all landowners and completed agreements for ancillary facilities including pressure reducing meter stations, cathodic protection equipment and power supply easements.

The timely provision of a Right of Way within a challenging schedule underlines Maloney Field Services’ ability to deliver successful results to projects of critical importance to our clients.

Paul Frederick, Origin Energy’s SESA Project Manager said “Origin Energy is pleased with the quality of the work completed by all of its key consultants on the SESA pipeline project and the professionalism with which it was undertaken. MFS’s ability to secure land tenure over the pipeline corridor in a relatively short time-frame greatly facilitated achievement of the demanding schedule imposed for the project.”