Here, Mr Kurji speaks to The Australian Pipeliner about his research and its positive outcomes for the Australian pipeline industry, and how he is keen to get out into the field and experience the industry hands-on.
How did you come to be involved in research in the Australian pipeline industry?
I completed a Bachelor Degree in Aerospace Engineering and a Bachelor Degree in Economics at the University of Adelaide.
During my undergraduate years I completed my work experience at an aircraft engineering firm – ALS – in Nairobi, Kenya, which handled a fleet of aircraft for a United Nations development program and the Red Cross.
For my undergraduate thesis, I worked on the development of an autonomous hovercraft for mine detection, for which I was responsible for the design and manufacture of the hull of the craft.
Upon completion of my bachelor degrees, I completed a six-month internship as a research assistant with the University of Adelaide, where I worked with Dr Nicolas Coniglio on the effects of boron on weld metal hydrogen-assisted cold cracking and Dr Erwin Gamboa on simulating stress corrosion cracking in pipeline steel.
I spent the next eight months working with the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Energy Technology on developing a method for assessing the economic feasibility of wind turbines in urban environments. I was then offered a PhD position under the supervision of Professor Reza Ghomashchi.
What does your PhD focus on, and will it have any positive recommendations for the broader pipeline industry?
In Australia, as well as globally, there is a trend to use higher strength steels not only to improve infrastructural capacity but to reduce costs associated with a reduction in the tonnage of steel being used.
This, in conjunction with the use of the traditional shielded metal arc welding process and the use of high hydrogen yielding cellulosic electrodes, is expected to increase prevalence of hydrogen-assisted cold cracking in the weld metal and not the traditionally observed heat-affected zone (HAZ).
Unlike cracking in the HAZ, little is known about the phenomena as observed in the weld metal and no mitigating strategies exist. My work focuses on identifying the thermo mechanical properties influencing weld metal hydrogen-assisted cold cracking as observed in the root pass of a girth weld.
Hopefully, my PhD should be finished by mid-2014.
What are your areas of expertise that have been developed from this PhD?
I have had a chance to work with welding, acoustic emission, metallurgical analysis techniques, automation and instrumentation techniques to extract thermo mechanical data.
I hope to extend my work and be part of the development of a user friendly tool, which would give welders, contractors, asset managers, etc., the capacity to determine whether or not they are welding with conditions that may be detrimental to the structural integrity or longevity of the weld they are depositing.
Have you been involved in any practical applications of your research, with relevance to the pipeline industry?
My research is experimental-based and all work carried out is being done in conformance to current standards and practices with the aim of producing results that can be directly assimilated by industry.
Why is this sort of expertise necessary in the pipeline industry?
I believe that building up the capacity of the industry in terms of technical expertise in the area of optimising production (of oil and gas pipelines) will not only make Australia a global competitor, but is essential in ensuring the safety and security of critical national infrastructure.
What is your plan now that you have completed your PhD?
I am excited about working in industry and taking the skills and expertise I am developing and applying it in a hands-on role out in the field.
Are you involved in any associations within the Australian pipeline industry?
My PhD is sponsored by the Energy Pipeline Co-operative Research Centre and, as such, I am in very close collaboration with our industry partners. Our partners are not only available to give us regular feedback on our work, but have facilitated site visits and collaboration with experts embedded in industry.
What are your interests outside of research and development in the industry?
I love to rock climb and I also enjoy photography.