Vector Network News for week ending 6 October 2013

NETWORK SUMMARY for week ending 6 October 2013

ELECTRICITY

There were five car vs pole incidents last week in Penrose, Dairy Flat, Massey, Mt Albert and Ranui. In addition, cars struck roadside pillars in Glenfield and in New Lynn. In all cases the sites were made safe quickly and repairs made where necessary.

Fires were reported in four homes in Bucklands Beach, Kumeu, Karaka and Mangere. Our crews were called out to isolate the power at those homes to make them safe.

Lines were brought down by vegetation in Onehunga and Massey, and overheight vehicles brought down lines in Papatoetoe and Kumeu.

An underground cable fault took out power to isolated pockets of the CBD on Saturday. Once the fault was located, most customers were able to be reconnected.

GAS

Contractors struck a pipe in Remuera as they carried out work. In the neighbouring suburb of Glendowie contractors also struck a gas pipe. Gas was disconnected and repairs made as required.

Contractors in Hamilton also struck a gas pipe as they carried out work last week. Gas was disconnected and repairs quickly made.

PROJECTS

Vector’s Taranaki-based Gas Transmission Team has been carrying out “pigging” work on the 88 kilometre transmission line between Hawera and the Kaitoke compressor station, just outside Wanganui.

Pigging is an important operational practice for the gas business involving putting “pigs” into the pipeline to perform essential maintenance activities such as cleaning and inspecting the line, without interrupting the flow of gas. The pigs can also measure pipe thickness and corrosion along the pipeline.

The origin of the term “pig” is not clearly known. The most popular theory is that the original pigs used in US oil pipelines were made from straw wrapped in wire and used for cleaning. They made a squealing noise while traveling through the pipe, rather like a pig. 'PIG' is also used as an acronym derived from the initial letters of the term “Pipeline Inspection Gauge”.

Pigging is labour intensive involving a number of field crews - one to launch the pig and the other to receive it. Once the pig has been launched it is tracked by the field technicians to confirm that is moving down the line. The pig moves at a steady pace – around two metres per second. For this 88km stretch, the runs were about 12 to 13 hours in duration.

SHORTS

• Vector owns over 17,800 kilometres of overhead and underground lines in the greater Auckland area, and 12,752 of gas pipe lines, almost half of which supply gas to Auckland.

• Vector, proud sponsor of the Arena.

• Last week, Vector sponsored 100 kids to meet The Breakers at Vector Arena and then watch their hometown basketball heroes as they took on the Chinese team.

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