December 2009

The years 2008 and 2009 have seen the industrial, commercial and financial sectors turned upside down with the collapse of the US economy and, subsequently, others around the World. This has affected projects already commenced, with staff and budget cuts, and contracts shaved even closer. In Australia, and particularly in Queensland, Energen’s largest clients, the GOC Generators, were ordered to cut current budgets and, as a result, most contractors were removed from major sites as soon as practicable. This has created a challenge to find new work for Energen’s team.

In Biloela, the Callide A Oxy-Fuel Project wound down after a very successful refurbishment and trial firing at the end of March 2009, this was to prove the reliability of #4 Unit for the future testing of “clean coal” technology. The Energen team, consisting of Shift Managers Tim Butters, Barry Smith, Len Klip and Jeff Powe, and Shift Operators Colin Etwell, Graham West, Mal Keeley and Colin Garth, was instrumental in the success of the trial because of their ‘can do’ attitude, meeting every obstacle with enthusiasm and just plain common sense.

Our PTW Co-ordinator, Bevan Rossow, had the unenviable position of meeting the demands of the refurbishment program, as well as the unexpected problems associated with 40+ year-old plant which has been mothballed for 7 years. With the help of the other members of the team, and his background in the PTW System and in maintenance planning with Mt Isa Mines, Bevan made it look easy. Many thanks to all involved for a job well done.

Mid-March saw the end of our contracts with Callide B/C Power Stations, due to the GFC and Government cutbacks in spending. Alan Thwaite almost had his 3-year anniversary (May 2009) at Callide, and Roy Jones and Paul Parry were also part of the furniture and thought they may be entitled to long service leave (sorry boys, wrong!).

Derick Hetherington (Deeks), and Peter Chadwick (Chad), who both thought they had retired from NRG Gladstone Power Station, instead formed a great team by job-sharing, month-about (finally, after several months of full-time shiftwork).

Don Carter, a former friend and colleague, with over 40 years experience in the industry, unfortunately joined the team late and only worked with us for a month before the end. Roy, Derick and Chad think they have retired again (fat chance), and Alan seems to spend a lot of time in Katherine NT with his family.

For the past 10 years, CS Energy Callide has been one of Energen’s best Clients, and we would like to say thanks to the Management, Operations and Maintenance Staff for the support given to our contracted Operators, both individually and to Energen collectively. Thanks everyone, all contracts must come to an end eventually.

In January 2009, we were engaged by Geodynamics Ltd to provide commissioning support for their Hot Fractured Rock (HFR) Geothermal Power Project sited at Innamincka in the remotest corner of North-East South Australia. This is an extremely interesting and challenging project for all parties, not merely for the fact that the concept and technology is completely new and unique to all of us, but also because of the many “unknowns” associated with such new territory.

The project has involved drilling holes down to depths of 4-5000 metres to obtain heat from the hot rocks which can be found closer to the Earth’s core. Water is pumped down to the rock layer at very high pressures, causing horizontal fractures through the rock formation, through which the water then flows, gathering heat as it does so. The heated water returns to the surface via an extraction pipe, and the heat is used to produce steam for power generation. The energy produced is renewable and has the potential to provide base load electricity with zero emissions.

Initially, our assignment was to produce a process description, commissioning and operating procedures, isolation and restoration procedures, and training resources to support the project. These tasks were undertaken by Graeme Jorgensen and Owen Brischke, later assisted by Ludwig Hirche, Mal Keeley and Jeff Powe.

Mal Keeley then undertook the role of Commissioning Manager for the pilot plant, and has been based at Innamincka on several occasions through the year to lead commissioning activities, and to conduct training and assessment activities for the Geodynamics' project staff. Tim Butters also enjoyed a brief visit to the site to assist Mal during the commissioning phase.  
Energen is proud to partner with Geodynamics in its HFR Power Projects. The opportunity has proven to be an excellent test of our faculties, and one which has demanded thinking well “outside the square”. We have endeavoured to be both flexible and innovative, as well as competent and professional, and trust that our efforts have made a meaningful and valued contribution to the project.

At CS Energy’s new Kogan Creek Power Station, starting in November 2008, Jeff Denley, Tim Dalton and Clive Dudman completed the mammoth task of developing operating procedures in June 2009. Jeff left to catch up with family in the US for a short while, and now, together with wife Lois, is touring Oz in a caravan.

Peter Smith, fresh from the Condong and Broadwater cogen projects, contributed to the work for several months, finishing early in January. Tragically, Peter succumbed to a massive heart attack at his home in late January and his death was both a huge shock and a tragic loss for all of us. It has also been a salutary lesson for all of us to be much more vigilant in monitoring our health on a very regular basis.

Tim and Mal were then asked to stay on at Kogan to develop Training Modules, which they expect to finish towards the end of February 2010. Clive Dudman has been on Special Projects since early 2009, and is expected to be there for some months yet. The continuing extension of the contracts says volumes for the quality of the work they are producing. Thanks guys and well done.

In April 2009 we were approached by Engineering Consulting firm CH2M-Hill to supply a senior commissioning engineer to support the Darling Downs Power Project, under construction near Dalby in SE Queensland, for a short-term assignment. Fresh from both the Goro (New Caledonia) and Geodynamics projects, this was a role perfectly suited to Ludwig Hirche, and one which he has mastered in a highly competent and professional manner, despite some unusual and very extreme challenges.

We have since been forced to revise the definition of “short-term”, as Ludwig is still on-the-job and, given that Project Management haven’t yet been willing to release him (despite his long-held wish to become a Grey Nomad and to explore Australia), Ludwig’s contribution is undoubtedly highly-valued.

Also in April 2009, we were asked by CH2M-Hill to supply a Contract PTW Co-ordinator for the Darling Downs Power Station. Who else would we send but Bevan Rossow (not quite recovered from his duties at Callide A, perhaps?). Bevan accepted the challenge but, in October, had to resign due to health problems which he couldn’t address because of the hours he was working away from home.

Bevan was replaced by our Kiwi mate, Tim Butters, who is enjoying himself now in the more hospitable weather of Queensland, despite the hours he works. Bevan soon had a clean bill of health, and is enjoying the time off by doing a bit of touring himself, both here in Australia and overseas to San Diego and Hawaii.

It is also good to welcome back Barry Smith, refreshed from a brief period of R&R after his excellent contribution to the Callide A Oxy-fuel Project. Barry will join Tim on PTW duties at the Darling Downs Power Project.

At Tarong North Power Station, and when David Knowles decided to stay a little longer in China, Neil Ross “volunteered” to take Ron Fraley’s place. The fact that Neil lives in Kingaroy didn’t escape Ron’s notice. Neil is now Acting Production Co-ordinator (also a fact that didn’t escape Ron), and is really enjoying the greater responsibility and involvement in power station management. David, on the other hand, is now spending time between family in China and his business interests in Brisbane.

Early in 2009, Terry Eichmann returned to Tarong Power Station to conduct another Operator training programme. Earlier, our Training Team spent a weekend together in Brisbane participating in a new Energen Trainers’ Workshop, an event which we intend to conduct on a regular basis. The aim of the workshops is to foster the professional development of our trainers, and the quality and value of our training services. We are extremely grateful to Owen Brischke for organising the workshop, and for ensuring the success that it was.

Tarong Power Station has finally released Frank Pritchard (October 2009), and he has now gone back to a happy and well-deserved retirement. We say enjoy it while you can Frank, as your popularity will not desert you, and we’ll want to help you stay fit and active in the New Year! Thanks for your efforts and enjoy your break while it lasts.

Alan Thwaite and Paul Parry were also engaged at Tarong Power Station in June 2009 to assist the Siemens team with the commissioning of field devices, following installation of the new control system on Units 1 & 2. With the completion of this task, Alan is partaking of some well-earned R&R, while Paul remains to update the KKS labelling on TEC’s drawings and field plant labels. Paul will possibly finish mid-December, but is expected to return next year to complete the project.

It will also be good to welcome back Colin Etwell, refreshed from a spot of R&R after his excellent contribution to the success of the first stage of the Callide A Oxy-fuel Project, is about to “go west” to Ergon Energy’s Barcaldine Power Station in a relief capacity over the Christmas-NY period.

Overall, 2009 has been a relatively quiet year for Energen, but the continuing work in the current economic climate is a testament to the flexibility, value and quality of service provided to our Clients. This in turn is a reflection of the calibre of our team, and to each of them we owe a debt of gratitude. Despite the dark clouds and the doomsayers, we have turned our attention to the opportunities which the “downturn” has presented, and to position ourselves strongly in readiness for the upturn which must come.

Back at “The Office”, the “quiet spell” has provided an opportunity for Graeme and Carole to finally make progress with a number of ventures which have been waiting on the back-burner for far too long. These include transferring all of our business applications and resources to a new terminal server, hosted by SystemCraft in Sydney NSW, and implementing some new and advanced business applications. This provides a secure environment (with off-site back-up), and a “Remote Desktop” which can be accessed and used by Energen personnel.

The task of designing, specifying, procuring and implementing the new systems and applications has been most competently and professionally undertaken by our new IT&C Manager, Maurie Esler (who, after so much time to-and-fro’ between our physical office on the Sunshine Coast, and the new “electronic office” in Sydney, now doesn’t really know where he belongs). An excellent effort, Maurie, and we hope that you do recover your bearings soon.

One of the most exciting developments has been the acquisition and commissioning of a new DCS-based Power Plant Simulator, which is now installed on the terminal server. This will provide remote access, via the high-speed broadband network, to advanced power plant simulator technology, and will greatly enhance the training and technical support services which we are able to deliver for the benefit of clients.

The task of implementing, proving and tuning the simulator has been a mammoth challenge which has required the combined efforts of a number of people, including Maurie Esler and Owen Brischke, the team at SystemCraft, and a range of specialists from the supplier Invensys.

Progress has also been made by Owen Brischke and Carol Francis in taking our training management system, VETtrack, to another level, and this effort will continue over the ensuing months. Throughout the year, Owen has also continued to manage our RTO services, and has conducted steam certification training and assessments for a number of clients.

Yes, and despite the Great GFC and its consequent economic downturn, overall we have managed to enjoy a productive, interesting and challenging year, and one which has featured some exciting engagements and new developments for Energen. We can confidently expect that this will contribute to new opportunities, and to the ongoing success of our very special team of highly talented people.

Thanks to all, and very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.