| Eastern Gas pipeline | |
| Type: | natural gas |
| Country: | Australia |
| State: | Victoria and New South Wales |
| Direction: | northeast |
| Owner: | Jemena |
| Operator: | Jemena |
| Est: | 2000 |
| Length Km: | 797 |
| Diameter Mm: | 457.2 |
| Compressor Stations: | Longford, Orbost, Mila (near Bombala), Michelago |
The Eastern Gas Pipeline (EGP) is a 797km (495miles) natural gas pipeline.[1] It is a key supply artery between the Gippsland Basin in Victoria and New South Wales, Australia. The EGP is currently operated by Jemena.[1] [2]
The EGP supplies more than half the gas consumed in New South Wales and supports consumers in Sydney and regional centres, including Bairnsdale, Cooma, Canberra, Nowra, Bomaderry and Wollongong.[2] Gas is fed to the EGP at Longford and Orbost, and by the VicHub interconnect facility.[1] [2]
Capacity up to 2016 was 106 PJ per annum,[2] and during 2016 was increased by 22 PJ per annum. Current capacity in 2018 was 350+ TJ per day.[3]
A major user of the pipeline is AGL, who have contracted capacity from the pipeline for AGL's customers in the Australian Capital Territory and New south Wales.[4] [5]
Industrial EGP customers include BlueScope at Port Kembla.[6]
Power generation EGP customers include Marubeni’s power station at Smithfield, EnergyAustralia’s power station at Tallawarra,[2] and Alinta Energy’s Bairnsdale power station.[6]
The main pipeline is 797km (495miles) from Longford to Horsley Park.
| Section / Lateral[7] | Length | Diameter | |
|---|---|---|---|
| colspan 3 | Victoria | ||
| VicHub Pipeline | 2.3km (01.4miles) | 355.6mm/273mm | |
| Longford to Victoria/New South Wales border | 276.7km (171.9miles) | 457.2mm | |
| Bairnsdale Main Valve to Bairnsdale City Gate | 2.7km (01.7miles) | 168.3mm | |
| Longford suction pipeline from Esso Longford Gas Plant to Longford Compressor Station | 2.4km (01.5miles) | 610mm | |
| colspan 3 | New South Wales | ||
| 519.8km (323miles) | 457.2mm | ||
| Port Kembla lateral | 6.6km (04.1miles) | 219.1mm | |
| Smithfield lateral | 9.6km (06miles) | 219.1mm | |
| Wilton lateral | 4km (02miles) | 323.9mm |
Survey work and land access negotiations were undertaken by LandPartners.[8]
The EGP project was initiated by BHP Petroleum and West Coast Energy.[8] Design and construction were undertaken by Duke Energy. The initial design capacity was 65 PJ per annum, with an operating pressure of 14.9 MPa.[9]
The pipeline was commissioned in 2000[2] and owned and operated by Duke Energy.[1] Estimated cost was AUD450M.[9]
API 5L X70 and X65 grade steel pipe with a fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE) coating was used.[10] 90 kT of pipe was used for the pipeline.[9] 27.7 kT of this was processed by OneSteel Oil and Gas from BlueScope PS5200 pipesteel.[9]
Ownership passed to Alinta[1] in April 2004 when Alinta purchased Duke Energy's assets in Australia and New Zealand.[11]
Jemena took ownership and control in 2007.[1]
In 2008 a midline compressor was commissioned at Mila, near Bombala, New South Wales, increasing capacity by 15%.[12] Engineering constraints included snow zone operating conditions.[13] Capacity was then 98 PJ per annum.[10]
Local Rural Fire Service personnel are given response training by Jemena.[14]
The Wilton lateral was commissioned in 2016.[1] [15]
Planning for a compressor upgrade commenced in 2013.[6] In 2016 capacity was increased by 20%, 22 PJ per year, by the addition of two new midline compressor stations, at Michelago, and at Orbost.[15] [16]