Focusing on the theme of ‘Planning and delivery of successful operations’, the Pipeline Operators Group (POG) Seminar provided an opportunity for industry experts to present knowledge gained from pipelines in Australia and New Zealand.

Following a welcome by APIA Chief Executive Cheryl Cartwright, international guest Tom Pesta spoke about pipeline asset management practices in Canada. Mr Pesta is the Senior Leader of Pipeliner Operations from the Canadian Compliance, Environment and Operations Branch of the Energy Resources Conservation Board.

Peter Tuft from Peter Tuft & Associates presented a comprehensive overview of safety management studies for existing pipelines. His presentation provided a good base for digesting the rest of the seminar, especially for the younger attendees in the audience.

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Liz Brierley from APA Group spoke about risk assessment for an in-service welding operation on the Palm Valley Pipeline in Northern Territory. NT Gas Field Liaison Officer Ron Rose then spoke about the challenges of land owner liaison in the Territory, and taking different groups of traditional owners into consideration.

Peter Owbridge from NZ Refining Company spoke about improvements to be made for the security of pipelines through environmental rectification, and Woodside Energy Principal Pipeline Engineer Roland Fricke touched on the development and successful deployment of subsea pipeline inspection tools, as used on the Wanaea Cossack and Echo Yodel Field pipelines.

After lunch, the audience listened to Mark Walker from Gorodok speak about intrusive works requests for pipelines in suburban areas. John Quigley from the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion project spoke about an operational geographic information system application used for the project, while DBP General Manager James Smith presented on the importance of upgrading asset management systems.

Invigorated with coffee after the afternoon tea break, attendees listened to APA Pipeline Engineer Jennifer Ward outline the process for a design life review for the 40 year old Roma to Brisbane Pipeline.

Fellow APA employee and Manager of Transmission Operations for New South Wales Michael Cave spoke about wet pigging on the Moomba to Sydney Pipeline, while WAG Pipeline Manager Colin Symonds detailed isolation management plans as part of an environmental plan for pipelines.

Craig Bonar, Manager of Asset Management and Engineering for APA, finished off the day with a presentation detailing the effects of the Victorian bushfires on APA’s Victorian assets.

Following the Seminar, the APIA Sydney dinner was held, sponsored by CNC Project Management and Canusa. Once again, Craig Bonar took to the stage to speak about the construction of APA Group’s Brooklyn to Lara Pipeline, located near Melbourne, Victoria.

Mr Bonar provided an interesting presentation, including details such as a murder case being solved due to the land acquisition process for the pipeline!

The Seminar and dinner attracted a large turn-out of young pipeliners, being the day before the ‘Gang at the Gong’ tour, taking place at Woollongong. This provided a great opportunity for pipeline operators to share their knowledge with both more experienced and younger pipeliners.