Thiess Quarterly News, Volume 1, 2005

New eraNQGP supportsregional NQ growthThe Moranbah Compressor Station – helping to facilitate commercial andindustrial growth in North Queensland.Completed in September2004, the North QueenslandGas Pipeline Project (NQGP)has significantly enhancedthe coal seam gas industryand launched a new era ofeconomic activity in regionalNorth Queensland.A strategic link betweenthe north Bowen BasinCoalfields and Townsville,the pipeline will delivercompetitively pricedcoal seam gas to theregion, facilitating newopportunities for new andexisting commercial andindustrial growth.The alliance team modified itsoriginal Horizontal DirectionalDrilling Technique to minimiseany potential damage to pipes.Delivered by the NQGPAlliance, consisting ofEnertrade (the owner),GHD (the engineer) and theThiess Nacap Joint Venture(constructor) - the projectinvolved the construction ofthe Moranbah CompressorStation and 392km of pipelineacross 25 major roads, railsor water bodies.Thiess Civil Manager (Qld/NT/Pacific) Peter Lyons said analliance approach was criticalto ensure the efficient deliveryof the project.“Generally with pipelineprojects, achieving timelyapprovals is a major frontendchallenge, and theNQGP Project was noexception to the rule. With 65individual landowners, majorenvironmental considerationsand a tight work schedule, anopen, robust approval systemwas needed,” Peter said.“Alliancing ensured a ‘noblame’ culture that allowedpeople to collaborate,discuss options and agree onbest-for-project solutions toprovide a focus on outcomes.“For example, as part ofthe project we needed todrill under bodies of water,which was a major challenge,and found that the originalHorizontal Directional DrillingTechnique damaged thepipes’ coating as a result ofthe cobbly strata.“As with other project issuesas they arose, the allianceapproach ensured theengineering, operations andconstruction personnel werebrought together into thevalue engineering, designdevelopment and reviewprocess, which facilitated theefficient identification andimplementation of a solutionwithout severe impact on thecritical project end date.“Alliancing was the mosteffective delivery methodfor this project as itencouraged involvement ofall people with an opinionin robust discussions, acommon focus, no claimsand ultimately, smootherand more efficient projectdelivery, which were integralfor the project’s successfulcompletion.”The project provides scopefor a future connection tocentral Queensland marketssuch as Gladstone andRockhampton.•THIESS l quarterly news l VOLUME 1 l 2005 11