A word from The Boss

Delivering Assurance

Welcome to Summer’s GeoSolutions News

In this edition, we share some interesting use case scenarios of X-Info Suite software solutions from a few clients; introduce some new Wantoks who have joined the Mipela team recently; present another X-InFocus tech tip and update of our teams’ activities in connecting people with information.

We welcome the following two new Support Specialist team members in our Support team in Brisbane, Chris Berry and Jane Wong.

It also gives me great pleasure to congratulate two long term clients – Epic Energy who recently completed the migration and modernisation project of their X-Info Suite of solutions into our cloud hosted environment in November and Powerlink Queensland with their on-premise X-Info Suite modernisation project that went live over the last weekend. Both amazing projects due to the collaborative nature of the work undertaken for all involved and in positioning their future securely in simplifying their day-to-day activities and technical assurance of their people, processes, and systems in these significant solutions that support their respective businesses.

2022 has been a busy year. With the end in sight, it has been great to catch up with so many clients personally – whether it was in meetings, an event, sharing a bite to eat or a coffee across the country over the last few weeks, I am reminded of how privileged we are to live in this part of the world. To service the dynamic energy and infrastructure sectors at such a significant time, as we all look to navigate the hugely complex and challenging energy transition – where hiring and retaining the resources to deliver on our commitments, while keeping up to date with the risks of cyber incidents, business interruption, changes in legislation and regulation. This has accelerated our digital Transformation Stages with the recent release of the X-Info suite’s product roadmap taking us through to 2032 and our new Modern Hosted Platform coming in 2023 is certainly exciting to be heading into the new year.

To close I would like to acknowledge several extraordinary Wantoks (teammates) for their significant years of service milestone in 2022, who’s passion and initiative to go above and beyond to see their teams succeed and to make our clients happy is second to none. Craig Williams our Products Team Architect and X-Info Suite wizard recently celebrated twenty years of service in November. Our Products Support & Training Coordinator, Kirsty Beer who in May acclaimed fifteen years of service. Carol Higson our Finance Team Manager, Dirk Craigie (recently moved onto Fyfe) and Neil Briton (Solution Specialist and inhouse GIS guru) ten years of service are all proudly recognised on the Cirina Di Pierro Wantoks honour board along with Sebastien Hansmar (promoted to Senior Support Specialist in July) who we observed over five years of service in October this year. We take pride in all your achievements and commitment as Wantoks to be emulated, as it is great people that make great companies – thank you.

On behalf of the Mipela team thank you for your trust and support throughout 2022. I wish you ‘Compliments of the Season’, safe travels to wherever you might be with family and friends, best wishes for a rewarding and successful New Year which we look forward too with excitement and confidence, stay safe!

Hayden McDonald
Founder and Managing Director

APGA POG Incident database

The overarching Standard that applies to the pipeline industry in Australia is AS 2885. AS 2885 relates to design, construction, testing, operations and maintenance of gas and petroleum pipelines that operate at pressures in excess of 1050kpa.

In 2013 the APGA Pipeline Operations Group (POG) selected X-Info Suite to host the Pipeline Incident database. This database is used to record all near misses and incidents of pipelines designed and constructed in accordance with the scope of AS 2885.1 (and superseded Standards) and operated and maintained in accordance with AS 2885.3.

The work the POG members do in this space enables owners and operators to generate relevant information and, in turn, knowledge to support and strengthen the operational risk management of this network of essential infrastructure. It assists in developing mitigation strategies (such as efficient emergency and contingency procedures) and on reliability of operating system through each pipelines lifecycle at a time that is so important in the energy transition.

More information on the APGA POG Incident database is available here.

What integration with SPEAR means to Jemena

In the version 6.5 release of X-Info Connect a few months ago, we introduced an integration between X-Info Connect with the Victoria Government SPEAR System.

SPEAR is an online system that allows subdivision planning permits, certification applications and other land administration dealings to be compiled, lodged, managed, referred, approved and tracked online. Complete end to end workflows are built into SPEAR allowing applications to be lodged online with Land Use Victoria for registration.

As a Referral Authority, Jemena uses SPEAR to receive and respond to Council referrals in the planning and subdivision application process.

X-Info Connect has been configured to integrate with the SPEAR system via an API and connector to capture records of online applications for plans of subdivision.

Gail Ervine, Subdivisional Officer, Strategy & Commercial – Electrical Distribution at Jemena relies heavily on regularly receiving information to support plans of subdivision within the Jemena Electricity Distribution network using X-Info Connect.

Previously Gail would manually update this information into their subdivision solution, X-Info Connect. The information is now automatically fed into X-Info Connect from SPEAR via an API and a connector on an hourly basis or pushed import, as required. Since the release of this new functionality, reviewing subdivisions has become much more timely and efficient with automation reducing input errors.

“Not only has the time taken to manage applications reduced dramatically, there is also no room for human error or omissions.” said Gail.

Jemena plans in taking this functionality into other areas of its operations.

Sentanil product focus

It has been a busy few months for Sentanil’s CMS (Construction Management System). Sentanil Systems is Mipela’s sister company.

CMS, a QA based gas and water pipeline data management system, has been and is currently being used on the following projects:

Pipecraft DBNGP Loop 1 Extension and WHR Interconnect pipelines for AGIG

• These two pipelines (16 km and 1 km respectively), which were constructed in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, achieved practical completion in early November
• CMS was used to ensure pipeline quality compliance with AS 2885 and the associated MDR and third party validation requirements
• The CMS QA data was merged with the as-built survey pipe/weld data, and imported into X-Info Connect, where it will form the mapping and pipeline integrity baseline of AGIG’s on-going operation and maintenance of these 2 pipelines.

Nacap NGI pipeline construction for APA

• Nacap commenced construction of the 600km long pipeline from CS 7 on the DBNGP, just east of Geraldton, heading east to the goldfields area of Western Australia, early this year
• It is a complex project that involves CMS field data collection at four locations that are remote from the main CMS processing location
• The field data capture module of CMS is also being used by Nacap’s environment team to capture fauna sightings and capture during the pipeline ROW clearing and trenching construction process.

MPC Kinetic slurry and raw water pipeline construction for FMG

The construction of MPK’s concentrate and return pipelines for FMG’s Iron Bridge project in Pilbara, WA is nearing its completion after construction commenced in late 2021. CMS has used been used extensively by MPK to meet the strict quality requirements of the project.

Nacap Port Kembla Pipeline Project for Jemena

This 12km pipeline project has just commenced, and CMS is being used by Nacap for pipe/weld traceability and MDR requirements of the project.