McConnell Dowell and GasNet Australia have partnered to build the 442km Telfer Pipeline. The pipeline links Port Hedland on the northwest coast of Western Australia to the Telfer Gold-Copper mine operated by Newcrest Mining and may also service other mining projects in the future. This is a major infrastructure project to increase the reliability and reduce the cost of electricity generation to the site area.
McConnell Dowell have enlisted Camms Process Control to supply services to develop the pipeline control and safety system involving a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System, Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU) Data Acquisition, and Emergency Shut Down (ESD) System. Together, these control system components will enable the pipeline operations management group to remotely monitor and control all aspects of the pipeline gas flow from a centralised control room established in Melbourne.
The system designed for the Melbourne-based control room will monitor and control plant equipment and provide flow monitoring facilities based on data transmitted from the Boodarie Compressor Station, 3 Mainline Valve Stations, the Scraper Station, and the Receiver Station at the Telfer Mine Site. The control system operators will be able to regulate gas flow, shut down sections of the pipeline and supervise maintenance programs using the control system information. The Boodarie Control Room will be equipped with a computer interface to provide operators with a graphical representation of the pipeline status. Camms’ role involved system design, supply of equipment, system programming, testing, installation and commissioning.
Factory Acceptance Testing
The system under went extensive Factory Acceptance Testing at the Camms head office, in South Australia. The team worked thoroughly and extensively to eliminate any potential problems.
The FAT test allowed Camms, McConnell Dowell and GasNet to fully test the system in a controlled environment which simulated the operational environment as far as possible.
On-site System Commissioning
The system commissioning has commenced at Boodarie and the quality of results has been excellent. The successful commissioning process is attributed to a thorough FAT testing regime and ongoing involvement by the McConnell Dowell and GasNet teams.