Alan Whittle, Jim Campbell
Papers # 2014 Chicago
The coal seam gas industry in Australia is currently undergoing a major expansion with over 50,000 km or 30,000 mile of PE100 pipes to be installed in diameters ranging from DN110 to DN710. The pipes are being used to carry produced water, gas and treated water. The considerable quantity of pipe to be installed in mainly flat or undulating open countryside has made ploughing a prime option. The default position of the Code of Practice for coal seam gas gathering systems with respect to ploughing is that the pipe is to be derated by 10% unless a risk assessment supports a lower value. The procedure adopted as part of the risk assessment is described. Also the larger diameter pipes are beyond the traditional ploughing experience and new techniques and equipment had to be developed. Thus far the plough capability has been extended to DN630 and twin strands of DN315.
