DIALOG Fitzroy are currently constructing the Tauhara Geothermal Power Station in Taupo, working for the owner’s EPC contractor Sumitomo Corporation and Fuji Electric. As a part of our work scope, we are fabricating carbon steel steam pipe spools for the Tauhara power plant in our workshops in New Plymouth, and as we expected this has been an interesting undertaking. In total there is 511,000kg of pipe, plus flanges and fittings, which represents 4,730 diameter inches of weld for shop and site.
Working with large pipe sizes of 700NB, 1200NB and 1350NB presents unique challenges as we are unable to use regular pipe stands as we would for 600NB pipe and below. So we have adopted innovative methods of fitting up on the shop floor using dunnage supports, while maintaining the accuracy required for easy site installation later. Fortunately, DIALOG Fitzroy has some very heavy-duty pipe rotating equipment we have been able to use, and even this is testing given a 1350NB 90° bend weighs 1650kg for example!
With new learnings on board and a well skilled team of pipe fabricators hard at work, our progress on this crucial aspect of the Tauhara scope is going well, with regular deliveries of completed spools making their way to site.
