APIA Chief Executive Cheryl Cartwright opened the dinner by mentioning how well-received and appreciated the AS2885.3 seminars had been. This was followed by a few words from sponsoring companies’ representatives APIA President and AJ Lucas Manager Pipelines and Infrastructure Kevin Lester and OSD Pipelines Managing Director Brian O’Sullivan, before Oil Gas CBM Services Principal Engineer Don McMillan took to the stage to speak about the pioneer Australian installation.
Mr McMillan started off by describing spoolable glass-reinforced epoxy (SGRE) pipe, which features a thermoplastic layer that reinforces the pipe’s structural integrity while maintaining a degree of flexibility. SGRE pipe has been used in North America since 1999, but has only recently been introduced to Australia as part of a project for Beach Energy and its joint venture partner Drillsearch.
In November 2011, Fiberspar supplied and installed approximately 48 km of 203 mm diameter SGRE pipe from Middelton to Brownlow in South Australia’s Cooper Basin.
The project met some challenges. These included the fact that the Australian contractors were unfamiliar with the product; the 25 per cent aromatic content of the gas to be transported; the logistics of transporting the large spools from Houston; and, the need to contact the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions to ensure that the project was correctly regulated, as the AS2885 pipeline standard does not cover spoolable product.
