Construction of major LNG pipelines in Queensland—challenges, achievements, and lessons

Abstract

Introduction The Queensland economy has experienced a significant surge in investment in recent years through the unprecedented level of capital investment in the LNG sector. These major projects have required major pipeline connections between the Surat Basin and processing facilities on Curtis Island, near Gladstone. McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd (in joint venture with Consolidated Contracting Company Australia Pty Ltd) have constructed the major pipeline infrastructure for the QCLNG and APLNG projects. This extended abstract and its presentation explore the challenges, achievements, and lessons through these projects including early contractor engagement, engineering, procurement, resourcing, safety, environment, stakeholder engagement, and construction. The challenge The team faced the challenge of delivering three significant construction projects concurrent with an unprecedented level of design and construction activity associated with other packages associated with the LNG investment activity. This scope included: QCLNG Gas Collection Header (197 km, 42 inch) and QCLNG Export Pipeline (334 km, 42 inch) APLNG Condabri Lateral (56 km, 36 inch) and APLNG Export Pipeline (357 km, 42 inch), and; QCLNG Narrows Crossing was a challenging 13 km pipeline section spanning creeks, marshland, tidal areas and works on Curtis Island. Techniques for the 5.35 km tidal/marine section included a 1.5 km horizontal directional drill (HDD) section, a 1.56 km coffer dam, and a 2.45 km dredged sub-sea crossing as well as extensive temporary works.