Contractor: AJ Lucas Managing Director and Chief Executive Russell Eggers said that the new contract with APA Group builds on their long term relationship of delivering their gas pipelines, which was highlighted recently with the completion on-time and on-budget of the 293 km Eastern Goldfields Gas Pipeline in Western Australia.
"This contract win is a further demonstration of our industry-leading experience, excellent safety record and strong client focus. It also extends our already established strategic partnership with Spiecapag Australia, which has been in place for more than 20 years.”
For the construction of Loop 6 - 9, Spiecapag Lucas’ full service execution will provide trench excavation, pipe welding, pipe placement and lay-in, surface protection and remediation of the right of way.
Loopings 6 - 9 for VNIE (originally appeared on the Australian Pipeliner): The looping follows APA Group signing a gas transportation agreement to expand capacity of the Victoria – New South Wales Interconnect in July 2015. The multi-services agreement provides for the delivery of gas sourced from Victoria to the eastern Australian gas market for a term of seven years and will require looping on both the Moomba to Sydney Pipeline and the Victorian Transmission System, with the total cost of the expansion expected to be approximately AU$85 million.
Qube Energy has already commenced deliveries to the Benalla laydown yard, following the arrival of the first shipment of pipe at South Wharf, Victoria.
Victorian Northern Interconnect Expansion (originally appeared on the Australian Pipeliner): Running through grazing and cropping paddocks, across creeks, under roads and through small towns, the Victorian Northern Interconnect Expansion (VNIE) project is centred on the looping of sections of the existing 269 km 300NB Wollert to Wodonga Pipeline and is one of APA’s key projects in securing its east coast gas network.
The VNIE Project is comprised of three separable portions and installation of two valve station facilities:
- Separable Portion 1: Construction of a 68.4 km pipeline loop from the Euroa Compressor Station Discharge to Glenrowan, including the installation of cross tie connections at Euroa and Glenrowan.
- Separable Portion 2: Construction of a 17.4 km pipeline loop from Wandong to Broadford, including a tie-in at Wandong to the first looping of the VNIE project and cross tie connection at Broadford.
- Separable Portion 3: Construction of a 49.8 km pipeline loop from Mangalore to Euroa Compressor Station Suction, including the installation of cross tie connections at Mangalore and Euroa Compressor Station Suction side.
- Installation of the Glenrowan pressure regulator station and installation of a class break valve station facility at Euroa.
The pipeline looping’s and associated facilities have been designed, constructed and will be operated in accordance with AS 2885.
The expansion project involves the construction of looping sections of the existing 300 mm Wollert to Wodonga Pipeline, with a new 400 mm transmission pipeline within APA’s existing gas pipeline easement.
