Previous Events
WA YPF Full Day Site Visit – 3 June 2010
The WA APIA YPF group kicked off the day at Bells Café before travelling to the Midland Town Hall, where Warren King and Co. greeted us and provided morning tea. We were off to a good start!
Warren King and Co. were pleased demonstrate their new 3D laser scanner, capable of scanning entire 3D environments with millimeter accuracy. Geoff Warren, Warren King’s Laser Scanning Manager, impressed the crowd when he demonstrated a number of post processing options available for the data such as clash detection, photographic overlay, piping detection, online viewing and plotting detailed elevations and plans of the site. Geoff used a scan of the room we were sitting in to explain principles such as reflective intensity and also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the unit relative to traditional surveying methods.
The YPFers then moved on to the next site, Your DIY Spot, a weld training centre and “workshop for rent” which is available to the general public. Colin Salt, the workshop manager, and his team gave a live demonstration on various welding processes such as Stick Arc Welding, MiG Welding and Tig Welding, along with welding different materials. During the demonstration Colin’s team created a large (and heavy!) YPF logo and presented this to the group.
Next was Polymer Fusion Technology (PFT) and Kingston Bridge Engineering (KBE), where the group split in half to tour each venue separately. PFT is a training and testing centre for polyethylene pipework and the YPFers were given a hands on demonstration of PE butt welding, description of various QA processes and how they differ from steel piping. The group was also shown samples of pipe that had failed in the field and samples of some destructive tests.
Kingston Bridge Engineering is Australia’s largest single facility for manufacturing PE pipe and fittings and is also only one of two workshops in the world that can fabricate PE pipe up to 2 metres in diameter. During the tour, the group was shown the fabrication process and was lucky enough to see massive 1.8m diameter pipe being fabricated for transport to Hong Kong (one pipe length per sea container!).
At this stage, the YPFers were running well behind schedule, so a late lunch provided by Rosen was welcomed by the group. After lunch, Michelle Livesey, Neil Pain and Harry Nomikoudis demonstrated Rosen’s pigging and inspection capabilities, including gauge plate interpretation, cleaning pigs, intelligent pigs (including interpretation of their data) and a very informative video showing how pigging is completed in the field.
The final site visit was to XLT Industrial Training where it was planned for the group to see an underwater welding demonstration. Unfortunately the instructor had been called out to site, so instead (I don’t think anyone was complaining!) XLT provided us with drinks and nibbles, and a very entertaining talk on their experiences in the pipeline and construction industries.
With the formalities of the day behind us, the YPFers demonstrated their professionalism by boarding the party bus (yes, party bus – complete with a disco ball, neon lights and sound system!) to travel back to the Bell Tower, where a few members of the group caught up for drinks at the Lucky Shag bar.
The WA APIA YPF would like to thank XLT Industrial Training and KD.1 Pty Ltd for providing the bus and driver for the day – it would not have been possible without them. Also a big thank you goes to Warren King and Co for morning tea, Rosen for lunch (and ‘pig’ cupcakes!) and to all of the companies, staff and venues that volunteered their time.
APIA/YPF WA Quiz night – 9 March 2010
Do you know the combined mainline length of the DBNGP and GGP, or at least four permanent staff members of APIA?
ELEVEN tables of WA APIA members and WA YPF members put their heads together for 10 rounds of questions testing their knowledge in areas such as sports, arts, the world we live in and our industry. Meeting at the Perth Tattersalls Bowling Club, the night was the first official joint APIA and YPF event in Western Australia.
The lead up to the event involved the two committees working closely together, with the result being an entertaining and casual night for members to test their knowledge and network. The success of the evening will be followed my more formal ‘mentoring’ sessions that are planned for future APIA events.
The winning table for the night was originally announced as a tie, before Michelle Livesey from the Rosen table pointed out a spreadsheet decimal place rounding error that then put them in second place. The winning table consisted of Lisa Douglas and Spencer McSween from Denso (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mike and Diane Lauer from Project Consultancy Services Pty Ltd, Dean Solmundson and Ruth Brisbane from WestNet Energy, Peter and Marie Wilson from Project Consultancy Services Pty Ltd. Congratulations on their combined knowledge.
Although an all APIA table proved their overall knowledge, a group of YPF members used their critical thinking and practical skills to win the vertical pipeline challenge. Won by Samantha Haines, Julie Cheng, Suzan Devincentis and Dilan Ayik, the team had to build the highest free standing tower out of straws while defending “cunning” competition (cheating?) from more experience members.
The ample food and spirits helped oil the brain cogs into gear with remarkable results; one of our teams scoring stratospherically on naming the corporate logo’s, and most tables being on the mark with naming at least 4 of the APIA permanent staff members.
The prizes ranged from hampers and store certificates for the enlightened to “questionable” wine with appropriately affixed warning labels for wooden spooners.
Overall the night was a great success for both the WA APIA members and YPF members and we look forward to seeing you at future events.