Aside from their well known work as pipeline contractors, Lucas has consolidated its position as Australia’s only full-service coal seam gas provider. With the acquisition of Mitchell Drilling the company now has a fleet of 88 drilling rigs. This is in addition to a full range of services to plan and establish all field developments, gathering systems and community liaison. Lucas can take a coal seam gas project from initial exploration right through to delivery of gas to the market.
On the pipeline side of the business, Lucas has kept busy with work on key pipeline projects across Australia.
Western Corridor Recycled Water Project
Lucas, in alliance with Transfield Services and McCalls, are the Queensland government’s construction partners for the eastern part of this major water project.
The network is a $435 million project to deliver recycled water to Tarong and Swanbank power stations as well as other industrial and agricultural users. It will release more than 200 million litres of potable water per day for southeast Queensland.
Brooklyn to Lara Pipeline
The APA Group’s pipeline travels from Brooklyn, in Melbourne’s outer suburbs, to Lara, near Geelong in Victoria, and increases the Victorian Gas system’s overall capacity by around 10 per cent to ensure it can cope with winter peak demand. Construction commenced in early October 2007 and was completed earlier this year.
Bonaparte Pipeline
The APA Group’s Bonaparte Pipeline will carry natural gas 280 km from Eni Australia’s Blacktip gas plant near Wadeye to join the existing Amadeus Basin to Darwin gas pipeline at Ban Ban Springs station.
Construction of the 300 mm steel pipeline began in March 2008 and will be ready to deliver gas by 1 January 2009.