Case studies

The QSN Link gas pipeline contains 17,000 tonnes of BlueScope Steel's special API grade pipeline steel and transports natural gas – on behalf of its owner, Epic Energy – from vast Queensland reserves to homes and businesses in South Australia and New South Wales.

Location

The QSN (or Queensland to South Australia/NSW) Link, draws on eastern Queensland gas fields, which are some of the most productive in Australia.

At a total cost of $155 million, the 180 kilometre pipeline extends from Ballera in south-west Queensland to Moomba in north-eastern South Australia.

The QSN pipeline links Epic Energy's existing South West Queensland Pipeline in the Bowen/Surat basin in eastern Queensland and delivers gas to South Australia and New South Wales via the Moomba to Adelaide pipeline and the Moomba to Sydney pipeline.

Construction

The pipe steel grade supplied by BlueScope Steel for this project was manufactured from a low carbon, manganese, molybdenum, niobium and titanium chemistry. It was specially developed to meet the stringent mechanical properties and field weldability requirements of high-strength, high-pressure, oil and gas pipeline applications.

With stringent requirements for steel to withstand the forces of high-pressure gas distribution, BlueScope Steel closely monitors its quality control process to achieve the necessary chemical composition of pipeline steel during steel making.

The hot rolling process for the steel is also carefully controlled to ensure the end pipeline steel product delivers the 'through-coil' and 'coil-to-coil' consistency that pipe makers require.

BlueScope Steel delivered the steel feed coil to pipe manufacturer Orrcon, an Australian company specialising in the manufacture of precision tubing, structural pipe and rectangular hollow sections, water pipe and API accredited oil and gas linepipe.

BlueScope Steel coils (1,300mm wide and weighing 27 tonnes each) were transported by road from BlueScope Steel's Port Kembla Steel works to Orrcon's Pipe and Large Tube mill at Unanderra.

The QSN Link construction was undertaken by Nacap, a global company specialising in underground infrastructure construction.

The advantages of Australian product

Epic Energy's Project Manager, Mr Daniel Wallace, said, "We like our pipelines to be made from Australian steel whenever possible because of its quality. BlueScope Steel was the only steel manufacturer in Australia which could produce and supply to the specifications required."

BlueScope Steel's production flexibility and responsiveness to the needs of Epic Energy meant the pipeline was easily increased in diameter from the original specification of 350mm, to a revised specification of 406mm. An alteration of this type is not always possible when the steel is sourced, fabricated and shipped from an offshore steel mill, especially if restricted timeframes need to be met.

"The diameter increase of the pipeline will enable Epic Energy to deliver a greater volume of gas to our customers," Mr Wallace said.

BlueScope Steel is the only Australian certified manufacturer of API grade steel. Adhering to high quality production standards, and a commitment to continued steel R&D, has allowed BlueScope Steel to continually support the Australian oil and gas line pipe industry.