The APIA Research and Standards Committee (APIA-RSC) will host the Joint Technical Meeting between its members and members of the US-based Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) and the European Pipeline Research Group (EPRG).

The APIA-RSC has 33 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.

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. As a result, PRCI is now a critical resource of soundly based, practical research for all energy 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 research on matters such as the development of higher strength steels and the use of higher hoop stress levels for pipelines in the ever-expanding European gas transmission grid, with the clear aim of improving quality, economics and safety standards of gas pipelines.

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Following a successful Joint Technical Meeting in Florida, USA, in 2005, the event is coming to Australia for the first time next year. From 16 to 19 April 2007, the world’s pre-eminent pipeline industry researchers and pipeline company representatives will gather in Canberra at the Hyatt Hotel for four days of interaction, research presentations and exchange of information designed to promote better, cheaper, safer and more reliable pipelines throughout the world.

International and Australian researchers and pipeline engineers will present around 35 papers during the meeting on subjects such as safety and risk, pipeline design, fracture control, stress corrosion cracking, corrosion control, development of high strength pipeline steels and management of mechanical damage.

This sharing of knowledge is done on a confidential basis among members of the three organisations. Attendance at the Joint Technical Meeting is limited to members of the three organisations and sponsors of the event. Ultimately, the results of the research work will be published and made available to the wider pipeline industry through papers to industry conferences, amendments to standards, and improved materials and techniques.

The APIA-RSC is privileged to be the host of this international event, and looks forward to strong support from its members to make this first Australian Joint Technical Meeting a success.