Port Pirie Lateral Pipeline to undergo scheduled assessment

Epic Energy will conduct an important assessment of the Port Pirie Lateral Pipeline (the Pipeline) in early 2025, which informs the long-term maintenance of the Pipeline.

The Pipeline supplies natural gas to industrial, commercial and residential gas customers in the Port Pirie and Whyalla region.

In early 2025 a routine internal assessment of the pipeline will be conducted to gather essential data to inform its maintenance.

What does the assessment involve?

“In-line inspection” is internationally recognised as the optimum way to assess underground pipelines. The assessment will involve:

• A specialist 5m long tool using ultrasonic technology (UT) travelling down the Pipeline to gather data
• The tool is propelled through the pipe in water and will take approximately two weeks to complete the exercise
• The assessment is routine work that is conducted as part of our pipeline operating license granted by our regulator, the South Australian Department of Energy and Mining (Energy Resources Division).

Maintaining the region’s gas supply

• The Pipeline will not operate while the assessment is conducted
• Epic Energy will arrange an alternative source of gas to ensure Port Pirie and Whyalla continue to receive gas through the existing gas distribution networks
• The towns will not notice any difference in their gas supply

Preparing the Pipeline

Once gas flows stop, the pipeline must be emptied of all residual gas.

Removing the gas will occur via burning (flaring) in the leadup to and post the assessment works.

Flaring burns the gas as it exits the Pipeline and is the environmentally preferred choice.  

The global warming potential is 25 times less when gas is flared rather than vented into the atmosphere, resulting in 90% fewer carbon emissions.

The gas will be flared from a 12 metre stack to be built at Bungama with a flame that can be expected to be between 8 to 12 metres high.

We are working with emergency services to ensure strict safety and environmental controls are in place.

Project Timeline

May 2024            Notice of entries and activity notifications issued to landowners and regulators

Late Sept 2024 Construction Environmental Management Plan completed

Oct – Dec 2024 Civil works conducted to support assessment process and temporary gas supply

Jan 2025             LNG storage vessels and flare stack assembled on site Inspection equipment arrives

Mid Jan 2025  Isolation of pipline

Temporary gas supplies to Whyalla and Port Pirie customers begins

Late Jan – Early Feb 2025   Assessment conducted

Early Feb 2025   Pipeline recommissioned and gas supply resumes