The requirement for the Code arose during early 2009, initially in response to several incidents during pressure testing within the coal seam gas (CSG) industry.

“Several of these were significant, with one involving a substantial lost time injury,” says Hugh.

Informal discussions at management level revealed that all companies had experienced some “problems” mainly discussed in-house. CSG operators requested APIA convene a meeting in mid-2009, at which it was agreed that the Association – as many parties involved in CSG are APIA members – was the preferred industry body to co-ordinate an industry response. At a subsequent meeting, it was agreed to establish a committee to work on a Code of Practice, which could be the precursor to a future Australian Standard.

Nominations for the group included representatives from CSG operators, design consultants, constructors and polyethylene (PE) manufacturers and suppliers, with Hugh selected as the committee Chair.

Hugh says that a significant initial step occurred when the Plastics Industry Pipe Association (PIPA) became formally involved with the task. “This brought experienced industry PE professionals with very considerable ISO and SAA committee expertise and experience [to the project],” he says.

A Code in the making

Over the next 18 months, a core group of 12–15 industry personnel worked hard to develop and incorporate input from a wide range of industry participants into the Code.

Hugh says “A key success factor was (under a confidentiality agreement) the willingness of all industry personnel to share their knowledge and experience, particularly in relation to test incidents.”

An early decision to model the Code’s format on AS2885 was made and vindicated during the process. Despite pressure to expand the brief, the committee concentrated solely on the use of PE pipe and fittings in CSG fields.

The challenges of the Chair

Hugh says he faced a number of challenges within his role as Chair. A significant challenge was the workload, which ended up being several times greater than expected. Maintaining the enthusiasm of all section teams was also a challenge, but editorial timetables were met.

In addition, Hugh was required to manage a number of ‘spin off’ activities, which included a technical seminar held in February 2010 with attendance three to four times larger than predicted – providing evidence of the interest in, and need for, such a Code – as well as preparation of conference and seminar papers.

The CSG industry is indebted to the willingness of industry employers – producers, consultants, constructors, suppliers – to release senior technical staff to contribute the time needed for this task, as acknowledged by APIA Chief Executive Cheryl Cartwright at the Code’s launch.

“These challenges were absorbed, but lessened greatly during the past nine months by the professionalism and hard work of the (honorary) Technical Editor, John Fleming, and his technical writers, the support of the APIA Secretariat and– especially on PE technical matters – the PIPA team, lead by Mark Heathcote,” says Hugh.

Benefits to the pipeline industry

When asked how he thought the Code would benefit the Australian pipeline industry, Hugh says “The principal focus of the Code is safety, both direct and indirect. The Code specifically recommends a greater focus on the need for involved staff to demonstrate competency in their CSG-related activities which, in part, is related to the mandatory requirement for enhanced training in two key areas: PE welding techniques and PE testing.”

Hugh says that some companies have already initiated this training, and a range of courses is proposed during 2011–12.

“The other major initiative is related to formalised design processes, appropriate for CSG gathering systems (life, location, operating pressures, construction methodologies and other aspects),” Hugh says.

“While these processes continue to evolve under risk-based models, it is anticipated that over the next decade related savings in excess of $200 million may be achievable, in addition to a reduced carbon footprint by the CSG industry as a whole.

“The Code is a ‘live’ document, and during the latter half of 2011 several additional sections are proposed to be added.”