QLD Mining and Energy Bulletin
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/42546
HOW THE IS RISING TO THE CHALLENGE The Queensland pipeline industry looks set to rise to the challenge, meet the demand and deliver key industry projects on time. Peter Cox reports. Virtually no-one in the industry predicted that three coal seam gas (CSG) to liquefi ed natural gas (LNG) projects would achieve their Final Investment Decision independently and concurrently but that is what has happened with the Queensland Curtis LNG project, the Gladstone LNG project, the Australian Pacifi c LNG project. The fourth Arrow LNG project is heading in that direction also. If we simply consider the large diameter transmission pipelines required to deliver the gas to Gladstone, it is an unprecedented quantum of work for the pipeline industry to do within a compressed schedule. However, we must also add the laterals and headers from the gas processing facilities to the transmission pipelines, the steel gas trunk pipelines from the fi eld compressor stations to the gas processing facilities, the water pipelines from the ponds to the water treatment facilities then to the end users and lastly, but certainly not least, up to 6000 kilometres per project of Polyethylene (PE) gathering pipelines from the wellheads. The pipeline industry has to rise to this challenge and deliver these projects to very tight deadlines. Never before has there been this quantum of work ahead of the Australian Industry and naturally it has created a lot of interest from the major international players, several of whom are busy setting up bases in Brisbane. The competition to win this work is strong. Although Australian companies have the advantage of understanding local conditions and Australian standards and regulations, the strong Australian dollar and strong demand for experienced pipeliners resulting in upward pressure on rates are signifi cant challenges that need to be overcome. The good news is that there is a lot of work going on to prepare the industry to meet the demand. Energy Skills Qld has prepared strategies for the CSG to LNG industry in Queensland involving training indigenous and unemployed workers. The Federal Government has announced a $200 million Critical Skills Investment Fund to train an estimated 39,000 skilled workers over four years and EE-Oz has developed a national gas training package which is available for the pipeline industry. The Australian Pipeline Industry Association (APIA) is rolling out the Pipeline Engineering Training Program which includes two signifi cant documents. The Guide to AS 2885 came about as a result of requests from many APIA members to encourage more pipeline engineers to increase their skill levels and competency in the pipeline industry and to ensure that the next generation is prepared to take over from the senior pipeline engineers who are approaching retirement age. It contains several useful references such as text books on pipeline design, technical papers, APIA's knowledge base and the papers that were generated to support the current version of the Australian pipeline standard, AS 2885. It addresses the pipeline design process and documents lessons learnt from previous applications of the standard, as well as including responses from Standards Australia on past requests for interpretation of the Standard. The APIA Pipeline Engineer Competency Standards is the other signifi cant document and a great step forward in the area of pipeline engineer training. The document defi nes the range of engineering competencies that are required for pipeline design, construction and operations, creating the foundations for building effective and targeted training programs. It is assisting training organisations to structure their courses to address the specifi c competencies required. Young engineers are able to review these competencies to help them understand the role of a pipeline engineer and structure their careers in the direction that most interests them. These competencies will form the basis that will allow pipeline engineers to be assessed and accredited in the specialist areas and for pipeline engineering to become a fully recognised engineering discipline in Australia. Companies such as WorleyParsons have programs in place to attract international pipeline engineers to Australia and are utilising the APIA Pipeline Engineering Training Program to ensure that they are quickly trained to understand local conditions. With the burgeoning CSG to LNG industry, there has been a tendency to procure pipe from overseas mainly because the demand has been outside the size range that can be produced in Australia but there is also an increasing tendency to buy low cost pipe from countries such as India and China that traditionally have not supplied into Australia. To ensure that the quality of pipe coming into the country meets the high standards QLD Mining and Energy Bulletin Spring 2011 [59] CSG SUMMIT