Managing Director of Lean Field Developments, Cory Stevens, said the pipeline, to be constructed of Flexpipe spooled composite RTP, will replace road freight in transporting oil between processing facilities in the Cooper Basin.
“The project involves using the innovative SpiderPlowTM to simultaneously lay Flexpipe and fibre optic cable along with a detectable marker tape through close to 180 desert sand dunes and under the Cooper Creek,” Mr Stevens said.
“Flexpipe and the SpiderPlow methodology represent a game-changing technology for the Cooper Basin, and the onshore oil and gas industry, by providing a safe, fast, high quality and low cost solution that will make previously uneconomic assets viable.
“We have extensive experience with rapid-install ploughing and Flexpipe, a spooled, flexible, corrosion-resistant composite RTP pipe that has recently been accepted as AS2885 compliant.”
Following a successful pilot program last year followed by a comprehensive technical assessment program, Flexpipe proved an attractive solution to transport crude oil across the Cooper Basin’s sand dunes.
Unlike other more rigid and less durable pipeline materials, Flexpipe’s low minimum bend radius and high impact resistance will allow the pipeline to be ploughed without excessively levelling the environmentally sensitive dunes.
The contract with leading Australian energy company, Santos, is scheduled to take just three months, with completion due late 2012.
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Read the article as published on June 29, 2012 in Pipeline, Plant & Offshore (PPO). "LFD RTP pipeline installation contract an Australian first"