Warren King was first approached in 1980 to join the surveying team of Fluor Maunsell, principal consultants for the State Energy Commission of Western Australia’s Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP). During this time, Mr King witnessed many groundbreaking changes in pipeline surveying technology.

“I like to think that we were the first to use geographic information systems (GIS) on this project. We developed and used a system for recording the pipe and built data on PC computers for the first time. We purchased one of the first IBM PC computers in Perth for the job. We also developed a computerised system for generating the chainages prior to construction,” Mr King says.

A chainage refers to a location along a pipeline or road from a start point.

“It was funny, in that the expat American engineers did not trust the computerised system, and wanted us to ‘slack chain’ the whole centreline. After construction was completed, we worked out that the computerised method was only about 200 m out over 1,500 km.”

Mr King counts himself lucky to have been able to witness the technological changes to the industry, having “seen the whole change from the chain and the theodolite, through to the latest electronic wizardry available these days”.

“Funnily, I often pine for the good old days when clients were prepared to wait for the plans. Now with the instantaneous ability of the technology, they want the plans almost before the field work is complete!”

The company

Mr King ventured into his own business in July 1985, with wife Maura acting as “chainman and office manager for quite some time”. Warren King & Company (WKC) now has a dedicated core of surveyors and engineers, with a combined experience totalling more than 100 years.

“With our experience and background, we are able to hit the ground running. The client does not have to hold our hand, as such,” Mr King says.

He says that these days, WKC is “limited only by its imagination”. The company employs the latest land engineering surveying and data gathering technology using “high end computer systems”, which run the latest versions of MapInfo, ArcGIS, MicroStation and AutoCAD.

WKC also has in-house programs such as specialised pipeline GIS software, alignment sheet generators and risk assessment software. In the field, the company has the latest GPS systems, software and equipment, all backed up with management systems and satellite communications.

“We can provide a total service for a pipeline. We can gather together all the mapping data required, select a route for the pipeline, get all the approvals, assist with risk assessments, carry out surveys, prepare the alignment sheets, do all the construction and as-built data and surveys, carry out all easement surveys and prepare final easement drawings,” Mr King says.

WKC has certified quality assessment (QA) and health, safety and environment (HSE) systems in place for all its operations, and prides itself on providing what the client wants and needs. Mr King believes that training is important in promoting awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace.

“We train our employees to use the technology available, and in the use of our QA and HSE systems. We have a very good safety record when you consider the remote work we do and I put this down to the culture of our employees and the systems in place,” Mr King says. Projects

The company has worked on pipeline projects across Australia, with the exception of New South Wales, and Mr King believes that the biggest challenges faced have always been the logistics for the longer pipelines such as the DBNGP and the 690 km SEA Gas Pipeline, which runs through Victoria and South Australia.

“I suppose you could say we have been working on the DBNGP for 29 years,” Mr King says.

WKC continues its association with the DBNGP, and has been working on the looping project over the past few years with the pipeline’s various owners.

WKC provided up to three crews to meet the clients’ construction timetable, and carried out a detailed feature survey of the existing pipeline easement in which the new pipe was to be built. This involved re-marking the existing easement and locating all features and vegetation within the easement. As the easement was only 16 m wide and the new pipeline was to remain inside the easement, it was critical that this work was done accurately.

The company also assisted AJ Lucas on the 280 km Bonaparte Gas Pipeline, located in the Northern Territory, and the 83 km Mortlake Pipeline in southwestern Victoria. WKC is currently working with AJ Lucas on the looping of the Queensland Gas Pipeline Expansion. Looking ahead

The future looks bright for the company, with numerous projects on the horizon. Mr King believes that in terms of complexity and logistics, the Extension Hill Magnetite Project, which includes a 278 km, 500 mm diameter slurry pipeline to transport magnetite from the Extension Hill Magnetite mine to Geraldton Port in Western Australia, will be the most challenging project to date.

“We have been involved in this project for five years now, and our tasks have involved all facets of the project,” Mr King says.

The development also includes a 280 km, 450 mm diameter return water pipeline and a 38 km freshwater pipeline, and the mine will also require a 220 km high voltage power line to connect to the state electricity grid.

“There are several smaller pipeline projects associated with the mid-Western Australian mining start-ups and we are actively looking for opportunities in Queensland and other states,” Mr King says.