The Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) and its kindred organisation, the European Pipeline Research Group (EPRG) have long led the world in innovative and targeted research into high pressure, long distance pipelines for oil and gas. As a result of this research, the world’s oil and gas pipelines are designed and built to exacting standards of integrity, safety and reliability at reasonable cost.

In 2002, APIA’s Research and Standards Committee (APIA-RSC) entered into a memorandum of understanding with PRCI and EPRG that established an arrangement to share the results of pipeline research and work on joint projects – and the obligation and privilege to host a biennial JTM from time to time.

Friends from the northern hemisphere regarded an Australian JTM with some trepidation – Australia is “down-under” and a long way away – but APIA is pleased to see that so many of them will brave the long journey and the time dislocation to share their pipeline research findings. The JTM also provides a chance for APIA to show its research projects to peers from PRCI and EPRG.

The APIA-RSC has 35 members from all sectors of the Australian pipeline industry, and provides around $1 million per year in cash and in-kind support to promote better, cheaper, safer and more reliable pipelines through targeted research and the progressive application of the results of research to practical Australian Standards.

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PRCI is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation with 42 energy pipeline company members from America, Europe and the Middle East. It puts a strong emphasis on practical research into pipeline integrity and solutions to design and operating problems for petroleum and gas pipelines.

EPRG is a cooperative of nine gas transmission companies and nine pipe manufacturing companies from eight European countries, and undertakes a wide range of research on gas transmission pipelines. EPRG facilitates multi-faceted research with the clear aim of improving quality, economics and safety standards of gas pipelines.

Max Kimber, the Chairman of APIA-RSC said “The Australian pipeline industry places a very high value on this JTM because it will enable APIA-RSC members from all sectors of the industry to share our experiences in pipeline research and to pick up new knowledge and skills from our friends from PRCI and EPRG. We hope that they will also take away with them an appreciation of the skills we bring to the meeting.”

Mr Kimber went on to say that as a result of research work and links with colleagues throughout the world, the Australian oil and gas pipeline industry has moved away from the ‘recipe book’ approach to the design, construction and operation of pipelines towards a sound technological basis that requires the industry to apply comprehensive skills to justify the way it designs, builds and operates its pipelines. The recent update of the Australian Standard for petroleum pipelines, AS2885, encapsulates this approach and demands a high level of skill and experience from those who apply it.

The common aims for all three pipeline research groups is to work together to make the world’s energy highways safer, more reliable, environmentally friendly and economical. The JTM provides a forum every two years to facilitate these aims. APIA is proud to be the host for the 16th Joint Technical Meeting.