Project overview
SunWater’s Woleebee Creek to Glebe Weir Pipeline project comprises a pipeline approximately 120 km in length, designed to transport treated coal seam gas (CSG) water from QGC’s Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) Project. Treated water will be made available for beneficial use for customers along the pipeline route, and for river customers taking supply within the Dawson Valley Water Supply Scheme.
Each day, the steel rubber ring jointed pipeline will transport up to 100 megalitres (ML) of treated CSG water from QGC’s
state-of-the-art Woleebee Creek water treatment plant to the Glebe Weir and into the Dawson River for use by irrigation and industrial customers.
The water will be treated to a high standard using the reverse osmosis process at the water treatment plant, with the treated water to be monitored by QGC and SunWater to ensure it meets strict approval requirements.
This project will deliver an efficient solution for the use of water associated with the production of natural gas, with the potential to provide economic benefits for the region related to increased agricultural production.
Construction and commissioning of the pipeline is scheduled for completion by June 2014, with the first supply of treated water expected to be available by late 2014.
Introducing the Trench Master EF 450
While working on the Woleebee Creek to Glebe Weir Project, Murphy Pipe and Civil saw an opportunity to deliver increased project efficiencies through the development of a range of purpose-built machinery.
A star performer on the project was the two Trench Master EF 450s, which were designed and developed from scratch in the company’s Brisbane Maintenance Facility.
“Our company is always looking for ways to better deliver on our client commitments and we saw an opportunity to improve the way in which we can backfill the open trenches required during pipeline construction on the Woleebee Project,” said Murphy Pipe and Civil Director Tom Dermody.
“SunWater were very open to trialling this new machine on this project as they are similarly focused on ensuring the delivery of the most optimum outcomes possible, particularly if they also provide enhanced safety benefits for workers.”
The Trench Master EF 450 was designed to streamline the backfilling process by replacing the fleet of excavators and their crews with a remote-controlled machine that can be operated by one person.
Built on tracks and powered by a 470 horsepower CAT C15 engine, the 45 tt machine’s hopper can take on board sand and other materials from a 40 t dump truck in 45 seconds and, via its conveyor belt, can quickly disperse this material into pipeline trenches.
According to Mr Dermody, the fitting of remote controls means the sole operator can efficiently manoeuvre the Trench Master EF 450 to gain precise placement of materials in trenches, with full vision of the entire operation to ensure safety of crews.
“It is significantly quicker than the conventional method of using excavators, and it enabled our work crews to achieve a far more consistent and increased rate of pipeline installation,” said Mr Dermody.
Safety considerations
While increased productivity is key, safety continues to be another major driver for this type of innovation, says Mr Dermody.
“While we strive to gain more industry efficiency when developing our innovative machinery, it’s not all about productivity. There is just as much, if not more, focus placed on improving the safety of our machines and the operations they perform.
“There is no point in developing innovative machinery that delivers efficiency but puts your employees at risk – you need to find a positive balance that delivers both elements.
Mr Dermody said he was pleased that Australia’s pipeline industry and the resource industries that it supports were embracing this renewed focus on developing more efficient, but also far safer equipment, for use in the field.
“We have spent decades using the same pipelining methods and to good effect, but just like any industry, we need to be able to adapt to the changing nature and focus of the resource sector that we support.
“We need to develop and deliver continuous industry improvement so we can continue to provide our clients with the very best results – to do otherwise would result in our pipeline industry being left behind,” he said.
Pipe laying achievements
In September 2013 Murphy Pipe and Civil’s 380-strong crew successfully laid 4.6 km of steel pipeline in a single day.
While no official record exists for this type of feat, the hardworking crew was ecstatic with the result, which from available industry information surpassed a previous effort of 3.1 km during the Burdekin to Moranbah Pipeline Project
in 2006.
According to Project Manager Barry Heverin, crews set a cracking pace throughout the 12-hour day and managed to lay a total of 358 pipe – an average of one pipe every two minutes.
“With most steel pipes 13.5 m long, weighing 4 t with a diameter of just over 1 m, putting in this number of pipe in a day takes some effort,” Mr Heverin said.
“We put in plenty of prior planning to give our crew the best possible chance and the crew pulled out all stops on the day to achieve this impressive lay rate.
“It really came down to having a good straight run, plenty of pipe, plenty of open trench and sand, and a crew with plenty of energy and drive.”
While the actual pipeline in the ground was impressive, the crew also managed to backfill 3.6 km of the trench with more than 10,000 t of sand using the Trench Master EF 450, complete 11 air valve risers, two scour outlets, a couple of difficult pipeline bends and a thrust block, and creek crossing, all by the end of the day.
Mr Heverin said he was extremely pleased with his crew’s outstanding effort.
“It’s a great feeling when everyone can come together with their various pipeline skills and achieve so much in a single day, but also ensure all the work is done with the highest level of safety as well,” said Mr Heverin.
Woleebee creek to glebe weir pipeline project
Project type: Onshore pipeline
Project status: Under construction
Pipe length: 120 km
Pipe diameter: 914-1,404 mm
Material: Steel
Coating: External coating fusion-bonded medium density polyethylene, internal cement mortar lining (16 mm thick)
Total pipeline crew: 380