Marsden Point Refinery Pipeline Completed

Press, 28 June 1985, Page 13

Marsden Point Refinery Pipeline Completed

1964 saw the commissioning of the Marsden Point Refinery — the ushering in of a new energy era for New Zealand. The New Zealand Refining Company’s complex ended this country’s total reliance on costly, imported petroleum products. The demands of an increasingly fuel-hungry New Zealand could be met in part, at least, by local processing of imported crude.

Twenty one years later, the refinery “comes of age” with a 170 km pipeline that links Marsden Point and a new bulk storage depot at Wiri, South Auckland.

Together with the refinery expansion, the pipeline ensures a guaranteed, efficient supply of a wider range of oil products to the major market sector of New Zealand.

The pipeline project has been unique in New Zealand in a number of respects and one acknowledged as a model for planning, good industrial relations, budget efficiency and for simply being on time ... The concept of a pipeline linking Marsden Point and Auckland is as old as the refinery itself.

Technical and economic appraisals were carried out in the 1960 s and were forerunners to a 1971 feasibility study which finally established the viability of the proposal. When expansion of the refinery became a necessity so, too, did the pipeline. It was readily apparent that the existing coastal tanker fleet would not be able to cope with the increased refinery output, and a pipeline was to be preferred ahead of a new tanker.

The pipeline would not only be more efficient and more economical than an additional tanker — it would be safer. There were other advantages: ® Supply into Auckland would be more secure and reliable.

There would be less congestion at the refinery product jetty.

The risk of coastal pollution would be reduced.

Problems with the existing oil terminals in Auckland, on the waterfront at Freemans Bay, would be overcome.

The Freemans Bay installation was handling about onethird of the total requirements for the whole of New Zealand in the days of tanker delivery. It was badly sited for this volume, offered no room for expansion and, being old, needed increasing maintenance.

Overall responsibility for planning the pipeline and

bringing it to fruition fell to Pipetech-MN, a blend of international technology and local expertise comprising PLT Engineering Inc., and MurrayNorth Partners Ltd.

PLT Engineering Inc. is a Texas-based firm with worldwide involvement in energy and pipeline projects. MurrayNorth Partners Ltd is one of the largest consulting engineering firms in New Zealand. The partnership’s work on the large range of matters to be determined before construction could begin was under way by late 1980.

It was during the planning stage that the possibility of a dual pipeline emerged. The State-controlled Natural Gas Corporation — now the Natural Gas Division of Petrocorp — wished to extend its reticulation to Whangarei and it became obvious that there were advantages in a joint corridor, both to land owners and pipeline owners.

Government approval was granted after intensive study and the New Zealand Refining Company acted as principal for the total project, including the gas pipeline work.

OPENING CEREMONY

150 invited guests gathered at the Marsden Point Refinery to celebrate the official opening of the Whangarei to Auckland fuel pipeline. During a tour of the refinery the guests visited the sophisticated control room which is the “brain” of the pipeline. Chairman of the New Zealand Refining Company — Mr. Alan Revell spoke to the gathering before the pipeline was officially declared open.