How long have you been working in the pipeline industry for and what industry were you in prior to working in the pipeline industry?
33 years. Prior to my work commitments in the pipeline industry, I was involved in earthworks and general construction activities.
What is your favourite aspect of working in the pipeline industry?
I enjoy the challenge pipeline projects provide and overcoming these challenges with innovative solutions.
I have also enjoyed working with many people from many different cultures.
What has been your favourite project to work on and why?
There have been many great projects, but the Australia Pacific LNG EPC Pipelines Project in Queensland would have to be a memorable highlight.
To be involved in the project from conception through to completion was a first for me and I enjoyed the project thoroughly.
What projects are you working on at present and has there been anything interesting/different about working on this project?
Currently, I am working on the Fourth Transmission Pipeline (FTP) Stage 2 project in Thailand.
This challenging pipeline project with multiple directional drills and other various trenchless technologies is extremely complex.
The FTP is a 42 inch gas pipeline in a restricted right of way mostly in the drains on the side of major highways and existing power line easements with high water tables and poor ground conditions, during the middle of Thailand’s wet season.
Can you outline a typical day in the field?
Typically I would meet with the local superintendents first and attend a safety pre-start meeting.
After the pre-start I would investigate any problem areas that may have arisen.
Usually, there will be some potential areas that need some forward planning.
Generally, during the day I will be called upon to discuss any concerns with landowners or other stakeholders.
Who do you look up to in the industry and why? Or, who have you found to be a role model and why?
Mainly, the people I look up to the most are the people that came before me and mentored me in my early career: Fred Robothom, Alby and Phil Prentice, Peter Anderson, John Bristow, Jeff Shepherd and Mark Twycross, just to name a few.
Really there are too many to mention in addition to the guys coming up through the industry now.
Do you have any anecdotes of activities in the field?
I remember working on a marine project in Indonesia where we were living on boats in fairly isolated conditions.
I was at one end of the job and a relatively new expat supervisor was completing further project works a couple of hours boat ride from me.
I had received a phone call earlier to suggest there had been some trouble at the other end of the project, so after a brief conversation, the expat supervisor informed me that the boat drivers had been stealing fuel so he had sacked them all.
My response was to say “Well done! How are you planning to get to work now?”.
There was no response. I asked the question again which was also met with silence.
He’d obviously not thought this through.
Do you have any advice for those just beginning their careers in the pipeline industry?
I would say look for challenges and tackle them head on, try to avoid the unfortunate political battles and strive for honesty and integrity.
