The Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) Project is the first of three major trunk pipelines transporting gas from the Surat Basin in southern Queensland to the new LNG facility at Gladstone. The project includes the construction of a 540 km buried natural gas pipeline network linking the gas field to the plant on Curtis Island, where it will be converted to LNG for export markets.

The pipeline project includes an export pipeline and a collection header for the transportation of gas linking the gas fields to the plant. The 42 inch diameter export pipeline starts near Wandoan in the Surat Basin and travels 340 km to northeast Gladstone. From there, the pipeline will take the gas to Curtis Island for processing to LNG.

The collection header is approximately 200 km of pipe including the northern collection header starting near the Woleebee Creek gas fields and east to the start point of the export pipeline, near Wandoan. The southern collection header starts near the Ruby gas field, heading northwest of the start point of the export pipeline near Wandoan.

The Consolidated Contractors Australia Pty Ltd Joint Venture (MCJV) between McConnell Dowell and Consolidated Contractors Australia, is building the gas pipeline. Providing additional Caterpillar equipment on the project is PipeLine Machinery (PLM) Australia, in conjunction with local dealer Hastings Deering.

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PLM Territory Manager Martin Williamson has been busy co-ordinating the influx of pipelayers and pipeline specific machines for this project and others developing around the LNG export project.

“There are approximately 30 of the large, new model pipelayers out there with the McConnell Dowell and Consolidated Contractor fleets and we have 10 more on order,” said Mr Williamson. “There are eight new 587Ts on the way and two more 572Rs, and it’s great to see that many quality new machines out there on the right-of-way.”

Mr Williamson also said that all of the pipelayers on the project are equipped with Cranesmart load monitoring systems that meet Australia’s strict safety guidelines. The Cranesmart Pipelayer System is the first wireless load moment indicator for pipelayers.

“We have researched the alternatives and this system provides the most reliable and maintenance-free pipelayer safety equipment in the industry” said Mr Williamson.

Importing machines to Australia brings its own set of challenges, as machines have to be quarantined until even miniscule amounts of foreign soil are removed. PLM Product Support Manager Asia Pacific John Masterton has been overseeing the import of PLM’s machines for sale and rent within Australia.

“We know just how seriously these machine inspections are taken. It is even more onerous when machines are headed for highly-sensitive areas such as for the Gorgon project at Barrow Island – a class A reserve,” said Mr Masterton. “Enclosed and sealed sheds where strip-down inspections occur are managed similar to an operating theatre – don’t ask to bring your water bottle and don’t even think about chewing gum!”