South West Queensland Pipeline (SWQP)
SWQP is a bi-directional gas pipeline connecting Wallumbilla and Moomba. Built in 1996 and extended in 2008, it supports economic growth in Queensland.
The SWQP is adjacent to compression facilities at Moomba and Wallumbilla. These facilities largely provide compression to support transport on the SWQP (raising gas to the necessary pressure for transport on the pipeline), but can also provide stand-alone compression services. The Moomba and Wallumbilla Hubs can also provide redirection services into other pipelines as needed.
Moomba Hub
The Moomba Hub is the interconnection point for 3 key pipelines in north-east South Australia.These pipelines connect gas from the Cooper Basin gas fields at the Moomba Gas Plant to various demand centres in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.
APA offers services at the Moomba Hub that facilitate gas market liquidity and seamless transfer of gas between pipelines operating at different pressures. Further information about APA's Moomba services can be found in the Moomba Hub Services Book.
Wallumbilla Hub
Wallumbilla Hub is the interconnection point for 9 key APA and non-APA owned pipelines in QLD. These pipelines connect gas from the Surat and Bowen supply regions to various demand centres in Greater Brisbane, Gladstone, as well as southern markets via the South West Queensland Pipeline (SWQP).
APA offers services at the Wallumbilla Hub that facilitate gas market liquidity and seamless transfer of gas between pipelines operating at different pressures. Further information about APA’s Wallumbilla services can be found in the Wallumbilla Hub Services Book.
- Firm Transport
- Interruptible Transport
- Firm Park
- Interruptible Park
- Firm Loan
- Interruptible Loan
- Redirection
- In Pipe Trade
- Operational Capacity Transfer
- Firm Compression
- Interruptible Compression
- In Pipe Trade
- Redirection
- Operational Capacity Transfer
A description of these services, including the Standard Gas Transportation Agreement (SGTA) can be found on the gas transmission services page.
Relevant tariffs for these standard services can be found on the tariffs and terms page.
Non-standard services or alternative terms may be available by negotiation.
Notes on services
Firm services are available over varying terms as set out on the gas transmission services page.
Interruptible services are only available while the pipeline is fully contracted in respect of the corresponding firm service.
Steps to find 12 month Medium Term Capacity Outlook data via the Gas Bulletin Board
- Click this link to navigate to the Capacity Outlooks section of the GBB Data Board 'https://aemo.com.au/energy-systems/gas/gas-bulletin-board-gbb/data-gbb/gas-flows'
- Navigate to file Medium Term Capacity Outlook (future)
- Open downloaded spreadsheet titled 'GasBBMediumTermCapacityOutlookFuture.csv'
- Filter ‘Column A - Facility Name' and select only relevant asset
Steps to find 36 month Uncontracted Capacity data via the Gas Bulletin Board
- Click this link to navigate to the Capacity Outlooks section of the GBB Data Board 'https://aemo.com.au/energy-systems/gas/gas-bulletin-board-gbb/data-gbb/gas-flows'
- Navigate to file Uncontracted Capacity Outlook (future)
- Open downloaded spreadsheet titled 'GasBBUncontractedCapacityOutlookFuture.csv'
- Filter ‘Column A - Facility Name' and select only relevant asset
Notes on available capacity
The amount of firm park or loan capacity available may be different to the amount of firm transport capacity on the pipeline that is reported in the 36-month uncontracted capacity outlook.
Access to westernhaul transport services on the SWQP requires gas be delivered to APA at the high pressure side of Wallumbilla (see Wallumbilla Hub diagram). A shipper may access westernhaul transport services from the low pressure side of Wallumbilla provided compression capacity is available at the Wallumbilla Hub to move to the high pressure side. Westernhaul transport from the low pressure side of Wallumbilla requires compression; please refer to our tariffs and terms page.
Access to easternhaul transport services on the SWQP requires gas be delivered to APA at the SWQP entry from Moomba Compression Facility delivery stream on the high pressure side of Moomba Hub (see Moomba Hub diagram). A shipper may access easternhaul transport services from the low pressure side of Moomba provided compression capacity is available at the Moomba Hub to move to the high pressure side. Due to this requirement, the above schematic depicts gas only being capable of flowing out of the SWQP to the Moomba Sydney Pipeline (MSP) or Moomba Adelaide Pipeline (MAPS). Gas coming on to the SWQP from either the MSP or MAPS must be transported via the Moomba Hub to be compressed. Easternhaul transport from the low pressure side of Moomba requires compression; please refer to our tariffs and terms page.
Available compression capacity can vary significantly depending on prevailing suction and discharge pressure at the time.
Metering and Measurement
Metering and Measurement obligations are outlined in APA’s SGTA for East and Central, and for this pipeline are set out in the Metering and Measurement Requirements.
Credit support
APA has minimum credit support requirements that are a pre-condition to gaining access to pipeline services.
If you are interested in acquiring services on the SWQP or at the Wallumbilla or Moomba hubs, you can contact us on 02 9275 0020 to discuss your requirements. Alternatively, you may wish to make an enquiry by emailing us at commercial.contracts@apa.com.au.
We encourage potential customers to contact APA early when considering their gas supply and transport needs. Early discussion of needs improves the likelihood that APA can tailor services to meet them.
Potential customers do not have to submit a Formal Access Request to gain access to an APA pipeline. If you are interested in acquiring services for this pipeline, you can contact us at the contact details above to discuss your requirements.
For APA's non-scheme pipelines, you have a right to make a Formal Access Request pursuant to Rule 559 of the National Gas Rules. Lodging a Formal Access Request triggers a formal process of Access Offer and information exchange between APA and the potential customer.
You can make a Formal Access Request by completing in full the relevant User Access Request Form for the BWP and emailing it to useraccessrequest@apa.com.au.
APA is reporting financial information for its pipelines under Part 10 of the National Gas Rules and the AER’s Pipeline Information Disclosure Guideline.
Financial information under Part 10 of the National Gas Rules and the AER’s Pipeline Information Disclosure Guideline will be reported from FY25.
APA is reporting information for its stand-alone compression facilities under Part 18A of the National Gas Rules and the AER’s Pipeline Information Disclosure Guideline.
APA is reporting financial information for its non-scheme pipelines — that is, pipelines that are not subject to full or light regulation, according to AER’s Financial Reporting Guideline for non-Scheme Pipelines. The financial information for the six months to 30 June 2018 and the years ending 30 June 2019 - 2024 includes Pipeline Financial Statements based on Australian Accounting Standards, the weighted average price for services on each of these pipelines, and the number derived using the AER recovered capital method (RCM).
Interested parties should read APA’s Basis of Preparation together with the completed financial information template that was developed by the AER.
In addition, APA advises in relation to RCM:
- The assumed initial capital structure is 40% equity and 60% debt. The level of equity will increase in circumstances where there is a shortfall in annual revenue.
- The return on equity is a commercial return applicable in a workably competitive market. Historically, this return for an established pipeline was in the range of 9-11%, depending on factors such as risk, terms and counterparty.
- The cost of debt is based on a 10-year rolling average of a market rate applicable for an entity whose business is solely the ownership and operatorship of the particular pipeline.
Facility Details referred to in clause 2 of the Facility Specific Terms
Supplier Curtailment Methodology:
This Supplier Curtailment Methodology is established in accordance with Rule 101B(2)(f) of the National Gas Rules.
Conditions for Curtailment of Covered Gas Injected at Receipt Points:
The service provider may curtail the injection of covered gas at a receipt point if it fails to conform with the gas specification requirements.
Protocol for the Curtailment of Covered Gas Injected at Receipt Points:
For a more comprehensive overview of the curtailment process, please see Section 10 of APA Precedent SGTA East Coast Grid & Central Region pipelines Sample, which encompasses our East Coast Grid & Central Region pipelines.
APA’s submissions to the AER’s South West Queensland Pipeline form of regulation review
The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) initiated a review of the form of regulation to apply to the South West Queensland Pipeline (SWQP) on 6 March 2024.
On 9 October the AER released a draft decision recommending that the SWQP should not be subject to full price regulation and that the existing light regulation regime should remain in place.
Below you will find APA’s submissions to the first round of consultation, along with fact sheets summarising key issues.