Here's a bit of stuff for you in preparedness to all the queries that will be appearing on here soon. The quote below is an explanation of looping. The picture below that is an example of looping. I bring this up for a few reasons. Firstly I understand that Jemena will be making an ann shortly on the diameter of the pipe whether 12 or 14 inches. It is an important consideration but it no way limits our growth prospects going forward with whatever option they pick.
Off hand I think that there is 26pj spare capacity in the pipe right now when it its built. If we were to find and prove up more gas which we undoubtedly will we would not want to be restricted by the pipe dimension. This is where looping and other techniques come into play. As you read the quote below you will see that in the Dampier to Bunbury pipeline they almost tripled the throughput of gas. Looping is one technique so is compression as well to increase the throughput of gas to the end user. The point being that whatever decision that Jemena make we shouldn't get too hung up on it, we should be thankful that they are building it and taking quite a punt. I think you will find that going forward we will be putting significantly more than 26pj down the pipe a year.
"Looping is a pipeline section laid parallel to the main gas pipeline. It is connected to the linepipe constructively and technologically. It is tied-in for increasing flow efficiency of the linepipe or for reducing (decreasing) the pipeline pressure loss, as well as for spacing extension – the distance between the neighboring compressor stations and their reduction in number. The gas pipeline section with a looping has a lower flow rate of the product being conveyed via the main gas pipeline, which leads to the reduction of the total gas pressure loss for flow resistance overcoming. That is why, with original gas pressure remaining constant, an increase in the flow efficiency of a gas pipeline in general is directly related to the looping length. As a rule, the length of a looping being laid is a multiple of the pipeline valves spacing (distance): 25 to 30 kilometers. With the looping development, its length increases and finally equals the total length of the main pipeline, therefore becoming its second string.
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The quote below is in relation to the Dampier to Bunbury pipeline.
When first constructed, the capacity of the system was 360 TJ/day. A $150m enhancement carried out in 1991 increased the capacity to 450 TJ/day.[2] The current capacity of the pipeline is approximately 785 TJ/day.[7] The pipeline is currently undergoing a series of significant expansions in its capacity which are intended to increase the maximum throughput of the pipeline to 895 TJ/day.[8] The expansion project consists of two types of upgrade. Several of the pipeline's compressor stations will be upgraded with higher capacity gas turbines, thus increasing the actual pressure of the gas inside the line. In addition, the expansion involves a process of 'looping' the pipeline. This is the installation of additional lengths of pipe alongside, and connected to, the existing pipeline. The effect of looping is to provide additional capacity at critical sections of the main trunkline, thus increasing the total possible throughput.
"The expansions were designed and built to meet DBP’s contractual obligations. As a result of the expansions, 83% of the pipeline has now been duplicated – effectively creating a second pipeline. This was achieved via a process known as looping. Looping involves installation of pipe lengths parallel to the existing asset. The expansion projects also required upgrade works on the pipeline’s compressor stations, control and communications systems and metering equipment.
The three expansions have increased the capacity of the pipeline by over 300 terajoules per day as well as enhancing the reliability of the pipeline and improving security of supply for customers."
Now where is that stranded oil in the North Sea?
