Held from 11–14 September at the Darwin Convention Centre, the Annual APIA Convention and Exhibition addressed technical, environmental and economic challenges as well as international issues, while offering attendees the most up-to-date information on current projects and new developments.

Industry challenges in focus

APIA President Peter Cox opened the Convention by saying that this was “an unprecedented time in the pipeline industry, with unprecedented opportunities”. The presentations that formed the two-day business sessions reflected Mr Cox’s remarks, outlining the challenges and opportunities for pipeline development in Australia and the surrounding region.

These challenges included the increase in Australia’s population, projected to grow to 36 million by 2050, and the subsequent encroachment on pipeline easements. New developments such as fluctuating loads, technology issues (increasing transportation of CO2 and slurries), and the fact that gas must remain affordable were also noted as set to influence current and future pipeline infrastructure in the country.

The development of a burgeoning coal seam gas (CSG) industry has spurred APIA to establish a CSG Working Group to develop a CSG gathering system code of practice for polyethylene (PE) pipe. At the Convention, Working Group Chairman Hugh Luckhurst-Smith of Fyfe Pty Ltd, and Mark Heathcote of the Plastics Industry Pipe Association of Australia outlined that the Working Group’s recommendations will include the retraining of skilled electrofusion personnel in large diameter pipelines; and, as there are no consistent pressure-testing methodologies currently available, the new code will recommend a minimum regime based on risk assessment for the use of this material.

There are numerous CSG to LNG projects proposed for development in Australia’s northeast, which include significant pipeline components. AJ Lucas’ Ben Cooper highlighted the significant differences between the construction of these proposed larger diameter pipelines to those previously constructed in Australia. Other speakers attested to the fact that the industry will need to make considerable changes in its approach once these projects come to fruition.

Other non-conventional gas opportunities were discussed, with Paul Beukelman of OSD Pipelines describing the various types of gas in this category and the issues involved in their extraction. “CSG developments will continue as a first priority, with further consideration of shale and tight gas projects. There will be many pipeline opportunities to connect [these reserves] to the existing mainlines,” Mr Beukelman said.

Chris Harvey gave a comprehensive review of APIA’s newly-introduced competency-based training initiative. He said “Competency-based training is recognised as the fastest and most efficient process to meet the demands of AS2885.”

Delegates heard a number of presentations on new technologies, including the replacement of an offshore valve, girth-weld inspection, and direct drilling for pipe installation. TD Williamson’s Rolf Lie described how his company’s Smart Plug technology has been used to replace an emergency shutdown valve on Shell’s Malampaya Pipeline in the Philippines. The system allows a plug to be remotely installed and precisely controlled, at differential pressures up to 200 bar. Jan van der Ent of Applus RTD provided a review of the present and future status of automated ultrasonic testing (AUT) of girth welds. The company is currently developing ‘advanced’ AUT and future developments include its Inverse Wave-field Extrapolation (IWEX), which produces a 3D seismic approach to girth-weld imagery. In addition, Herrenknecht’s René von Rautenkranz showed examples of the direct drill method of pipe installation, which is suitable for lengths up to 800 m and pipe diameters up to 56 inches.

A packed Exhibition

In addition to presentations on new technology, delegates were able to get hands-on with the latest products and services at the APIA Exhibition, held in conjunction with the Conference.

Not only did the Exhibition provide delegates with a comprehensive assemblage of suppliers – it also provided a platform for exhibitors to demonstrate their new innovations and showcase recent achievements.

Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea were served in the Exhibition area, ensuring maximum exposure of the exhibition, and allowing for the establishment of business contacts.

The social agenda

As the Convention business program and Exhibition get bigger and better, so do the social events.

In 2010, delegates were treated to a golf day at the Palmerston Golf and Country Club and a Sunday outing to Crocodylus Park, where delegates and their families enjoyed getting up close to crocodiles as well as lions, tigers, emus, monkeys, kangaroos and wombats.

The Welcoming Dinner, set on the lawns of the Sky City Casino, was a great opportunity to catch up with new and old pipeliners, as was the Opening Dinner held at the Convention Centre.

Delegates let their hair down at the Fancy Dress Dinner, dressing up as their favourite ‘Charlie’. There was a great range of costumes from Willy Wonka to Checkpoint Charlie, and Charlie Brown to Prince Charles and Charles Atlas.

The Annual Gala Dinner, held on the Tuesday night, capped off another great Convention. Attendees were given a special treat with a surprise performance by Opera by Disguise. The performers pretended to be dinner guests for most of the night, before serenading the audience.

Looking forward to next year

The 42nd Annual APIA Convention and Exhibition was another great success, with 436 delegates and 114 partners attending.

With the 2010 Convention over, pipeliners are now looking forward to next year’s event, which will be held in Sydney from 22–25 October 2011. The 2011 Convention will be themed ‘Pipelines – transporting energy for the world’, and will feature presentations and discussions that highlight the innovative and practical approach of Australia’s pipeline industry and its link with international developments.

Cox: Australia’s industry on the world map

In his address to the 2010 APIA Convention and Exhibition, APIA President Peter Cox said that Australia is now well and truly on the world pipeline map, with an increasing amount of attention from other countries on the development of our major coal seam gas (CSG) to LNG projects.

“For instance, in Queensland we have four large CSG-to-LNG projects progressing towards final investment decisions, with two of them already having announced LNG sales agreements in place,” he said.

“From our industry’s calculations, that means more than 1,900 km of large diameter high-pressure pipelines on the drawing board.

“There’s also over 2,000 km of intermediate steel or GRE pressure pipelines being considered and more than 10,000 km of polyethylene low-pressure lines.

“That potential is just based on those four major projects which are in the final stages of environmental approval. There are also other LNG projects slated for Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.”

Mr Cox said that the growing demand for energy provided a positive outlook for the gas industry.

“The likely outcome is more gas-fired power generation – both for peaking and base load electricity – and for us that means they are all going to need pipelines to supply them with gas,” he said.

“There is also potential for the Australian pipeline industry in the transmission of CO2 as part of the flagship carbon geo-sequestration projects currently being considered in this country.”

Mr Cox said a “crowning achievement” for APIA in the past year had been the EPCRC established by the Federal Government, which provides research fundamental to ensuring the nation’s energy future.

“This Government funding is going to be a step-change for research in Australia and it places our industry ahead of other industries in enabling us to move forward with research into the transmission of natural gas and other fluids,” he said.

“Importantly, the funding also contributes to pipeline safety, technology, materials, training and education – all important foundations for the growth of Australia’s pipeline industry.”

Mr Cox also stressed the need for a CSG Gathering Pipelines Code of Practice in tandem with the rapid development of the nation’s CSG industry.

He is pleased with APIA’s initiative of working with the upstream petroleum industry and the plastic pipes industry to participate in such a Code of Practice, which is currently in draft format and in the final stages of review.