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The Eungella Water Pipeline, a 123km critical water pipeline supplying Queensland’s coal industry and the township of Moranbah, faced ongoing failures at several air valve connections. Conventional repair methods required extensive excavation, pipeline drain-downs and prolonged shutdowns, increasing costs and operational disruption. To address these challenges, a Queensland bulk water authority looked for a faster, more efficient repair solution that would reduce downtime, conserve water and extend the life of the pipeline.
Location: Bowen Basin, QLD
The Plasson electrofusion solution significantly improved a Queensland bulk water authority’s pipeline maintenance operations:
The solution enabled more repairs to be completed within each shutdown window, helping reduce disruption and maximise pipeline availability.
Avoiding full pipeline drain-downs significantly reduced water wastage during repair activities.
The electrofusion saddle solution reduced overall project costs by minimising excavation requirements and avoiding full pipe replacement.
Reduced excavation requirements minimised ground disturbance and lowered the environmental impact along the pipeline route.
R & T Pumps developed specialist large-bore electrofusion installation capability, adding a valuable service offering for future projects.
Operating a critical 217km water pipeline across the Bowen Basin, a Queensland bulk water authority faced several operational challenges that required a reliable repair solution with minimal disruption:
Pipeline shutdowns were restricted to seven days every 30 days, requiring repairs to be completed quickly and efficiently.
Draining the pipeline for repairs would result in significant water loss and operational inefficiency.
Traditional repair methods required large excavations and full pipe replacement, increasing disruption and costs.
A reliable long-term solution was needed to minimise downtime and maintain water supply continuity.
“The Plasson solution was the best option for the project. The training and support they provided has helped our team develop the capability to carry out large-bore electrofusion installations ourselves, adding another specialised service to our offering.”
Robbie Warne — R & T Pumps
A Queensland bulk water authority selected Plasson’s electrofusion saddle solution, offering several advantages:
More repairs were completed within a seven-day shutdown window, getting the pipeline back into service faster.
Every electrofusion weld was pressure tested before commissioning, with SmartFuse digital QA records providing full traceability for each join.
The saddle repair needed a smaller excavation footprint than traditional pipe replacement, avoiding a full drain-down.
Plasson supplied an Electrofusion Repair Saddle and Electrofusion Branch Saddle, together with specialist tooling, installer training and on-site technical support for R & T Pumps.
Installed Fitting
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