DP News 2012 - Issue 1

Energy & Resources QCLNG Upstream Project, QLD

The Queensland Curtis Island Liquefied Natural Gas (QCLNG) Project will supply coal seam gas from Queensland Gas Company’s (QGC) tenements in the Surat Basin to the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant located on Curtis Island, Gladstone, Queensland.

The gas field is located in the Surat Basin on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in Central Queensland. The LNG tenements are divided into various, uniquely named, 8 km x 9 km blocks. Transport of gas from the new tenement blocks will be firstly via Field Compression Stations and Central Processing Plants, and associated water storage facilities as well as trunkline and gathering facilities. LNG transport from the fields will then be via a 540 km long, 1m diameter, buried natural gas pipeline network linking the gas fields near Miles to Gladstone, making it the longest pipeline of its size laid in Australia.

The QCLNG Project will produce new supplies of natural gas, a relatively clean and efficient source of energy with about 40% lower carbon dioxide emissions than coal for the same amount of energy.

In July 2011, Douglas Partners (DP) was awarded the “Upstream Geotechnical Field Investigation” contract by WorleyParsons Services Pty Ltd. Initially projected to be

completed in late 2011, the geotechnical scope of work for DP continues to increase to meet QCLNG Upstream Project demands due to client satisfaction of performance.

Since July 2011, DP’s contract has increased to seven times the original contract value. As part of the geotechnical field work, DP is reviewing existing soil information, conducting subsurface investigations, installing groundwater monitoring wells, performing geophysical testing (multi-channel analysis of surface waves and surface-to-downhole seismic velocity logging), conducting geological mapping of the proposed pipeline network and proposed borrow pits, and completing laboratory testing. Geotechnical design parameters are being provided for the new pumping stations and associated plant, access roads, and for conventional trenching as well as trenchless pipe instalations. With up to four rigs, a geophysical team, and mapping services, to date DP has completed over 400 boreholes, the total drill

length of which equates to three times the length of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, for seventeen gas field sites. DP has have also completed geophysical surveys for almost the same number of sites, and mapped over 50 km of the pipeline network.

Sport & Recreation Great Keppel Island, QLD

Douglas Partners (DP) initially carried out hydrogeological investigations in 2006 and 2007 with the objective of augmenting the former resort’s water supply with groundwater. DP was then engaged in 2010 and 2011 to prepare the geotechnical, geological and groundwater sections of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GKI Revitalisation Plan. The plan will create a low rise, eco-tourism resort comprising a hotel and spa with villas and apartments, a golf course, and a marina.

DP’s groundwater team designed and supervised the hydrogeological investigations

comprising EM-34 geophysical surveys, drilling and installation of monitoring bores, bore census, groundwater quality monitoring, installation of two new production bores, test pumping and analysis, borefield design, development of aquifer and groundwater management plans, as well as numerical modelling and assessment of aquifer sustainable yields.

To assess potential impacts from the revitalisation plan for the EIS, DP carried out geotechnical, geological, acid sulfate soil and additional groundwater investigations across the proposed new resort areas of GKI.

Located 12 km off the Central Queensland coast, Great Keppel Island (GKI) is one of only 28 islands in the Great Barrier Reef that have purpose-built tourism resorts.

Awards & Recognitions Douglas Partners, a finalist in 2012 BRW Client Choice Awards.

Douglas Partners has been named a finalist in the 2012 BRW Client Choice Awards, which confirms its achievement in providing clients with the highest level of engineering consultancy services.

The BRW Client Choice Awards are Australia’s most prestigious awards for the professional services market. Now in its ninth year, the Awards recognise those firms that stand apart for the excellent client care they provide and the quality of their service. The Awards are based on quantitative research into buyers of professional services, conducted independently by Beaton Consulting. The selection of the finalists and winners is determined exclusively by the opinions of over 20,000 clients of professional services organisations who participated in the research

DP’s Managing Director, Mike Nash, said:

“DP’s geo-environmental consulting services provide our clients with a range of integrated and specialist skills with the aim of delivering practical solutions across a large number of business sectors (Property & Buildings; Transport; Land Development; Energy and Resources; Water; Telecommunications; Mining; Sport & Recreational; Healthcare) as well as for various government bodies. DP was very pleased to be selected by our clients as a BRW finalist in 6 separate categories, which suggests that our clients appreciate not only the quality of our services but the technical value we provide.”

These investigations were completed together efficiently and cost-effectively for the client.

Practical management and mitigation measures were recommended by DP and incorporated into the plan to reduce any potential impacts to the environment from the construction of the proposed new resort. The revitalisation plan will also address and mitigate many of the environmental issues caused by previous activities at the island.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE) released Health Screening Levels (HSLs) for Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soil and Groundwater in September 2011. The new HSLs are applicable to the assessment of vapour intrusion risks arising from soil and/or groundwater sources and direct contact risks from exposure to contaminated soil. The new methodology includes a greater range of site specific conditions such as soil texture and depth to soil or groundwater contamination.

The HSLs have been incorporated in Schedule B1 of the draft Assessment of Site Contamination NEPM in the context of a wider site assessment framework for petroleum hydrocarbon contamination.

WA Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is encouraging the use of the new HSLs before the draft NEPM is finalised (likely to occur sometime after April 2012) and has published interim guidance

New health screening levels for the assessment of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil and groundwater.

for consultants and auditors regarding their appropriate use. The new HSLs are proving to be a useful contaminated site assessment and management tool that DP has to assist our clients evaluating their complex petroleum hydrocarbon site contamination problems.

Awards & Recognitions Energy & ResourcesAssessment of petroleum hydrocarbons, WA

A major health, safety, security and environmental (HSSE) award was recently presented to DP by WorleyParsons Services Pty Ltd during geotechnical investigations on the QGC’s QCLNG Upstream Project in the Dalby/Chinchilla region of Queensland. Currently one of the largest projects on the company’s books, the Clients’ HSSE team conducted several safety audits without notice on Ground Test and three other DP contracted drill rigs and logging operations in remote locations.

The inspections identified that all safety requirements had been met and that the attitude towards safety displayed by the team members was positive, proactive and consistent across the teams. Tim Donovan is DP’s chief supervisor in the field ensuring that the project’s expectations for high standards of HSSE performance are being met in the field. In accordance with DP standards, and assisted by Patrick Endycott (National HR/OHS Manager), DP adopted a “zero harm” philosophy as a performance target. Tim’s actions demonstrate that he clearly understands his HSSE responsibilities as a supervisor and takes these seriously. Tim demonstrates at all times how important the role of supervisor is as an example to team members and for establishing a positive safety culture within a team. The Recognition Award was nominated by Peter Mitchell (WorleyParsons’ QCLNG Upstream Project HSSE Manager) which was then presented by Bill Shepard (WorleyParsons Project Director) and Lee Doley (QGC General Manager-EPCM) to Tim in the presence of Colin Turnbull (Project Manager) and Andrew Middleton (Project Principal) in October 2011.

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People

Chris joined DP in 2002 after completing a Master of Engineering Science. Initially working in the Sydney office, he moved to the Campbelltown Office in early 2010. As the Branch Manager, Chris has overseen the office grow to a staff of eighteen with five engineers and ten technicians, due to the large work load coming from subdivisions in the local area including Oran Park, Gregory Hills, Spring Farm, North Appin, and Gledswood Hills.

Chris KlineSenior Associate / Branch Manager

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For Further Information

If you would like further information regarding our projects or the subject of this Newsletter, or if you would like to subscribe to our DP News, please email marketing@douglaspartners.com.au

The Technical Seminar is an integral part of DP’s culture which is held as a group learning experience for all of DP’s professional staff. This year it was held at The Women’s College, University of Sydney. The three main aspects of the weekend are to meet with colleagues from other offices, learn about many of the significant projects completed in the previous year, and to have fun. A total of 48 presentations were made by a variety of staff in three main streams of geotechnics, environment and groundwater. This year 200 employees attended from 15 offices, a far cry from the 15 or so who attended

the first seminar in 1989.Over the years DP has had a number

of special guests at its seminars. This year, Mr John Cowland, an independent engineering consultant on geosynthetics from Hong Kong, and Dr. Jeff Dunn, Senior Geotechnical Engineer from Kleinfelder in California, shared their knowledge and experience. The Saturday evening dinner included the announcement of the promotions for the year and concluded with entertainment by Kerry O’Keefe who reminded everyone that test cricket is a serious business rather than a leisurely game.

Meet DP’s team in Campbelltown, NSW

What’s on DP Technical Seminar 2012

Tom has six years experience working as a geotechnical engineer within the Sydney region and elsewhere in NSW. He has worked in the consulting sector with a large focus on geotechnical site investigations for projects ranging from residential dwellings to high- rise developments and the BER project. Tom is currently involved in a number of large-scale subdivisions located within the Camden and Campbelltown LGA’s.

Tom MrdjenGeotechnical Engineer

David joined DP in November 2011. He gained his Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) after completing three months of university training for the company. His professional experience includes geotechnical investigations and inspections for multiple subdivisions across south western Sydney and the ACT, and geotechnical inspections for new foot tunnels and basement extensions for Parliament House.

David Metcalf Geotechnical Engineer

Michael joined DP in 2011 with five years experience comprising coordination and implementation of both geotechnical and environmental projects. A specialist in contaminated land assessment, he has planned and undertaken multiple environmental site assessments and remediation, groundwater monitoring programs, underground storage tank removal and remedial excavations for sites in the UK, Canada and Australia.

Michael GolEnvironmental Engineer

Brad joined DP in 2009 as a trainee Environmental Engineer, while he was completing a Bachelor of Environmental Engineering at the University of Wollongong, from which he graduated with honours in 2010. Brad has been involved in a broad range of contamination assessments and salinity investigations for large broadacre development sites such as Oran Park, Gregory Hills and Gledswood Hills.

Bradley HarrisEnvironmental Engineer

Tony has over 20 years’ experience with DP in earthworks and lab testing. He is a NATA technical assessor and signatory for Australian Standards. He has performed earthworks and materials control from regional bases and on-site laboratories for a variety of projects including roads, dams, railways, airports, water treatment plants, levee banks, schools, ports, shopping centres, quarries and subdivisions.

Anthony SweetlandAssociateLab Manager