The Energy Pipelines CRC
Energy Pipelines
Cooperative
Research Centre
Background
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The Energy Pipelines CRC was established in early
2010 for the purposes of providing research and
education to support and benefit the energy pipelines
industry in Australia.
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Participants are the Australian Pipeline Industry
Association (APIA), the University of Adelaide, the
University of Wollongong, The Australian National
University and Deakin University.
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The Energy Pipelines CRC is supported by $27.48m
cash from the Commonwealth Government and
industry and about $50m in-kind from the Universities
and industry over its 10 year life.
Outcomes
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Safer, more efficient pipelines that will provide more
competitive energy costs and security of energy
supply;
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Assisting the Australian pipeline industry with the
specification and purchase of linepipe with the help of
new information and guidelines developed by the
Energy Pipelines CRC;
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Social and environmental benefits, stemming from
reduction in the risk of pipeline failure, in reduced risks
to safety and health of pipeline operators and the
community, and of environmental damage; and
Facilitation of carbon capture and storage (CCS),
essential to most “clean coal technology” solutions,
through safe, effective transportation of carbon dioxide,
hydrogen and other energy fluids.
The integrated industry wide approach to
innovation, education and Standards development
is a unique model and characterises the Australian
pipeline community. In summary, involvement with
the Energy Pipelines CRC provides significant
benefits not only to individual member companies
but contributes to the ongoing strength,
competitiveness and exemplary safety track record
of the Australian Pipeline Industry.
Companies have access to Energy Pipelines CRC
Research and education through their membership
of the APIA RSC.
Vision
For more information on the
Energy Pipelines CRC contact;
Energy Pipelines CRC CEO:
Valerie Linton
[email protected]
02 4298 1546; 0407 331129
Energy Pipelines CRC Communications Officer:
Matthew Byers
[email protected]
02 4239 2361
Companies gain access to Energy Pipelines CRC research
through membership of the APIA RSC. For further
information on APIA RSC membership contact;
APIA Business Manager:
Steve Dobbie
[email protected]
02 6273 0577
Enable safer, more efficient and reliable pipelines
to meet Australia’s growing energy needs.
Mission
Long Term
Value with
World Class
Research
Provide the Australian energy pipeline industry
with the technology necessary to extend the life of
the existing natural gas transmission network, and
to build better, cheaper networks necessary to
support increased demand for energy.
Goals
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Provide value to the Australian community
facilitating the development of safer, more
efficient and reliable energy pipelines
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Deliver outcomes that assist the pipeline
industry add value, grow its business and
improve its workforce
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Provide and assist with the adoption of research
outputs which result in tangible benefits for the
pipeline industry
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Be known as a world class provider of pipeline
related research
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Build a sustainable critical mass in Australian
pipeline related research
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Set a standout example for successful industry
- University research partnerships
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Be a supplier of targeted, quality, University
level pipeline related education
www.apia.asn.au
Access to Research
Input into AS2885
International Links
Cost Reductions and
Member Benefits
Gain exclusive access to world leading
research from the Energy Pipelines CRC.
The Energy Pipelines CRC takes on research
to address areas of concern in AS2885 and
provide research outcomes to support the
revision of the Standard. Incorporation of
research outcomes ensure AS2885 remains as
a benchmark Standard for pipelines.
APIA RSC members gain exclusive access
to world leading research from the Energy
Pipelines CRC as well as gaining access to
the research of both PRCI and EPRG through
APIA’s Tripartite Agreement with these
organisations.
Investment into the Energy Pipelines CRC is
leveraged 5 times through Government and
University co-investment. Additionally, the
outputs of the Energy Pipelines CRC research
have a demonstrated return of $3 for every
dollar the Energy Pipelines CRC spends.
APIA RSC member companies also have the
opportunity to send staff to the biennial Joint
Technical Meeting of APIA/Energy Pipelines CRC,
PRCI and EPRG.
The special and generalised knowledge gained
through Energy Pipelines CRC membership allows
for members to keep up with the latest technology
and practices before non-members get the chance.
The Energy Pipelines CRC has an international
visitors program. In 2014, international experts Brian
Rothwell, Bob Andrews, Andrew Cosham and Brian
Leis have come to Australia to work with Energy
Pipelines CRC researchers.
APIA RSC members gain discounted access to the
internationally recognised decompression software
EPDECOM, developed by the Energy Pipelines CRC
along with free access to the hydrotesting
software Pipestrain.
Research highlights include;
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Fracture control in pipelines: Research
undertaken at the University of Wollongong has
made very significant strides in the understanding
and control of fracture in pipelines. This work
encompasses pipeline decompression and the
influence of pipe roughness and diameter,
fracture mechanism, toughness requirements for
fracture arrest and the measurement of
toughness in DWTT and Charpy tests. The work
has resulted in new recommended practices
for performing DWTT and the development of
decompression/arrest toughness software
called EPDECOM.
Sociology of safety: The work being undertaken
by the team led by Jan Hayes is raising serious
interest in how companies’ structure and
culture directly affect the safety of their assets.
Jan gave the keynote address at the
International Pipeline Conference 2014, a
prestigious honour and recognition of the
international standing of her work.
Coatings and Cathodic Protection: Research
undertaken at Deakin University has led to the
establishment of the National Facility for Pipeline
Coatings Assessment. The only independent
testing facility of its kind in Australia, the facility
provides both a testing and research platform.
APIA RSC members benefit from discounted
rates for using the facility.
Stress Corrosion Cracking: A team of
researchers at the University of Adelaide are
providing new insights into the mechanism and
sentencing of SCC. This form of cracking in
Australian pipelines has an unusual ‘inclined’
morphology, only reported elsewhere in
Canadian pipelines.
In addition to the Energy Pipelines CRC research,
APIA RSC members have full access to the
research results from the Pipeline Research
Council International (PRCI). They also have
access to the papers provided at the biennial
Joint Technical Meeting into pipeline research
held between the APIA RSC/Energy Pipelines
CRC, PRCI and EPRG.
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Energy Pipelines CRC Project RP6.3-04 ‘Pipeline
Uprating Project’ involved a workshop review of
the industry experience of the application of the
Section 9 Upgrade of MAOP. All State and NZ
regulators were invited to the workshop, which
was attended by WA, SA, Victoria, NSW and NZ
regulators. A number of recommendations were
made by the workshop, including that the upgrade
limit of 72% of SMYS be removed. The
recommendations of this report are currently
being addressed by the AS 2885.1 review subcommittee, and it is expected (though not
guaranteed, as it is subject to the Standards
Australia process) that this recommendation will
be incorporated into the next revision of Part 1.
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The fracture control plan process, as outlined by
the fracture control flowchart, has been reviewed
and recommendations made for improving it by a
team of Energy Pipelines CRC researchers and
industry advisors. The basis for the revision builds
on Energy Pipelines CRC research on the influence
of pipe diameter and roughness on decompression,
the results of a series of shock tube tests
evaluating gases of various compositions and a
new understanding of the ‘fudge factor’ correction
to arrest toughness values.
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Learnings from the Research Program 4, Public
Safety and Security of Supply are expected to be
incorporated into the Safety Management
provisions of AS 2885.1.
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AS 2885.1-2012 Appendix BB ‘Guidelines for the
Transport of CO2’ is a direct result of a suite of
Energy Pipelines CRC projects, externally funded
by the Commonwealth’s Department of
Resources, Energy and Tourism (now the
Department of Industry).
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Outcomes of RP6.3-01 ‘Geotechnical Guidelines’
will be incorporated into the next revision of Part 1.
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Research into pipeline venting with respect to
cold temperatures in vent stacks and station
pipework has application for station design.
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Work on ‘line pipe specification’ (Energy Pipelines
CRC project RP6.1-02) will be available to help
APIA RSC members better specify linepipe, and it
is possible that this work will be incorporated into
AS2885.1.
These pieces of software support the design and
commissioning of pipelines in compliance with
AS2885. EPDECOM is used for the development of
fracture control plans and Pipestrain is used in
ensuring the safe hydrotesting of pipelines.