As part of the regular Technical Regulator - Pipeline Industry coordination sessions a meeting was held in Brisbane with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines in September 2005.
The Queensland pipeline industry was well-represented at the meeting, which proved to be highly productive, covering a wide range of topics.
The possibility of raising the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of both new and existing pipelines from 72 per cent to 80 per cent SMYS was discussed in some detail.
It was agreed that this topic needed to remain with the Standards Committee ME38/1 and that it should be dealt with from an engineering perspective. It was recognised that this change would have a potential commercial benefit but that the review of this matter should always be based on engineering matters. It was agreed that the outcome of the ME38/1 deliberation needed to be accepted by all.
The Department of Natural Resources and Mines levies fees for safety and inspection activities undertaken by the Department and these were explained in detail to the industry representatives and accepted by all as being managed in an acceptable manner.
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The Department has a process for determining a ‘Strategic Pipeline’ for Queensland and this was discussed as well as the conditions that such a determination would impose. The principal condition would be the need for internal inspection using an intelligent pig seven years after commissioning.
There is a proposal for a new set of Safety Regulations for Queensland pipelines and after discussion it was agreed by the Department representative that these would be reviewed using the requirements of a Pipeline License that calls up AS2885 as a reference. The objective will be to ensure that the outcome of both documents is the same and that we all work towards a safe industry.
Auditing by the Department of Licensed Queensland Pipelines was discussed, as were the difficulties faced by in completing this task due to resource constraints. Industry representatives were reminded that the continued high standard of operation and maintenance ensures that the relationship between the two parties remains on a good footing.
It was agreed by all that these meetings prove to be most useful and as such there will be a further meeting in 2006.
Stress corrosion cracking training course held in Melbourne
As part of its Technology Transfer program, the Welding Technology Institute of Australia, with the support of the Australian Pipeline Industry Association, recently conducted a training course on stress corrosion cracking in high pressure pipelines.
The WTIA brought Dr Raymond Fessler to Melbourne from Evanston, Illinois to conduct the three day course during November 2005.
Dr Fessler has worked on Pipeline Research Committee projects covering stress corrosion cracking since 1965 and is recognised internationally as an expert on the issue.
The Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) Gas Research Institute and the US Department of Transportation regularly consult with Dr Fessler for advice on SCC.
Dr Fessler was also the SCC Forum Chairman at the APIA, PRCI and European Pipeline Research Group (EPRG) Joint Technical meeting held in Orlando, Florida in May 2005.
The training course was attended by more than 20 owners, operators and technical regulators and covered exactly what SCC is; the history of SCC in high pressure pipelines; the stages of SCC; test techniques to study SCC; environmental factors; stress factors; metallurgical factors; mechanisms of SCC; likely locations of SCC; SCC detection and integrity assurance; mitigating SCC; and, integrity management plans.
All participants were pleased with the standard of the training provided and the opportunity to discuss this topic which is increasingly pertinent to the Australian pipeline industry with an international expert in the field.
It is through programs such as this one that the industry is able to advance its specialist knowledge and APIA was pleased to be able to work with WTIA in staging such training courses.
Image caption:
James Mortimer, John Fleming, Adam Charley, Steve Livens, Cheryl Cartwright, Bob Allison, Vic McLeod, Ian Hume, Stephen Conimo, Ian Haddow,Steve Dykes and Peter Benham.
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