APGA Innovation Submissions

APGA Convention & Exhibition 2025
18–21 October | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Overview

The APGA Innovation Award celebrates excellence in creativity, problem-solving, and forward-thinking solutions that strengthen the future of our industry. Each year, the award recognises innovations that introduce something new to the industry, clearly differentiate from existing tools, provide demonstrable impact in safety, cost, environment, or performance, and can be scaled and replicated across the sector.

We sincerely thank all the companies who have submitted entries for 2025. Your commitment to innovation drives the pipeline industry forward and ensures our members remain at the forefront of global best practice. We also extend our appreciation to the judging panel, who bring their time, expertise, and thoughtful assessment to this important process.

The final selection of the winner will take place during the APGA Convention weekend. Delegates are invited to participate by casting their vote exclusively through the APGA Convention App. Ahead of the event, the top four finalists will be unveiled on the App, and we encourage all attendees to review the entries carefully and have their say in recognising the innovation that best represents the spirit of our industry.

Anode Engineering

The Anode Engineering Buggy Innovation

Anode Engineering’s submission focuses on a practical innovation designed to improve efficiency and safety during field operations. The “Buggy Innovation” addresses the challenge of mobility and deployment of specialist equipment in difficult environments. By integrating a compact, versatile buggy system, Anode Engineering has created a solution that reduces manual handling, improves site safety, and ensures critical tasks can be undertaken with greater precision and less downtime.

This development introduces something genuinely new to the pipeline industry, not just to the company. It demonstrates a clear differentiation from existing tools by combining portability, stability, and adaptability in one package. The buggy is scalable and replicable across different projects, whether in construction, maintenance, or monitoring. Importantly, it provides demonstrable impact by lowering operational risk, cutting project costs associated with downtime or inefficiency, and reducing the environmental footprint of operations by limiting unnecessary vehicle and equipment use.

RESOURCES

The Anode Engineering Buggy Innovation Submission R2

Austrack Equipment

Dipper Arm Vacuum Chamber Conversion

Austrack Equipment’s SafeVac Lifting Systems™ represent a breakthrough in vacuum lifting technology. The “Dipper Arm Vacuum Chamber Conversion” re-engineers a standard excavator dipper arm to function as a vacuum chamber, eliminating the need for a spreader bar in single-shoe applications.

This innovation delivers a step-change in safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. By replacing slings, chains, and hooks with precision vacuum lifting, the system removes workers from high-risk zones, prevents pipe coating damage, and simplifies lifting operations. The relocation of the vacuum chamber into the dipper arm reduces component weight at the lifting end, directly increasing the safe working load.

The benefits extend to sustainability. With fewer components to manufacture, a reduced carbon footprint, and cost savings of up to 25%, the conversion provides both environmental and commercial advantages. The streamlined design also means fewer parts to maintain, enhancing long-term reliability.

Already proven in the SV200 model for gas gathering operations and scaled into the SV400i, the technology is patented, Australian-made, and compliant with EN13155:2020 standards. It is a scalable, practical innovation that strengthens industry safety, improves performance, and sets a new benchmark in vacuum lifting.

RESOURCES

Baker Hughes

RunCom™ Cluster Growth 3D (RCG3D) – Predictive Corrosion Modelling for Pipeline Integrity

Baker Hughes presents RunCom™ Cluster Growth 3D (RCG3D), an advanced predictive corrosion modelling tool that enhances pipeline integrity management. This solution uses three-dimensional modelling to simulate corrosion cluster growth over time, allowing operators to move beyond static inspection data and predict the future condition of pipelines with greater confidence. By providing insight into corrosion development and progression, RCG3D enables more informed maintenance decisions, optimises inspection schedules, and extends the safe operating life of assets.

This is a major step forward from existing modelling approaches, which often rely on limited datasets and two-dimensional analysis. The innovation introduces a truly novel capability to the industry, offering measurable improvements in safety, cost efficiency, and environmental performance by reducing unnecessary digs and prioritising interventions where they matter most. Scalable across diverse pipeline systems, RCG3D is replicable for operators of all sizes and asset types, making it a significant contribution to global pipeline integrity practices.

RESOURCES

RunCom™ Cluster Growth 3D (RCG3D) – Predictive Corrosion Modelling for Pipeline Integrity

Bridger Photonics

Methane Emissions Intelligence at Scale: Bridger’s LiDAR Breakthrough for Australia’s Pipelines

Bridger Photonics introduces its advanced LiDAR-based methane detection system, adapted for Australia’s pipeline networks. This breakthrough allows operators to measure methane emissions at scale with unprecedented accuracy and speed. Using airborne LiDAR, Bridger can scan extensive pipeline corridors, detect emission sources, and quantify leakage levels without requiring ground crews to cover long distances or difficult terrain.

This innovation clearly differentiates itself from existing detection methods, which are often time-intensive and limited in scope. By providing emissions intelligence at scale, Bridger’s solution reduces environmental impact, supports Australia’s net zero ambitions, and improves public and regulatory confidence in the industry’s sustainability commitments. The technology is replicable across regions and scalable to cover national pipeline networks, delivering cost savings and efficiency gains by targeting maintenance resources to precise emission hotspots.

RESOURCES

Indratel

Remote Power Industrial Application Qnergy Indratel

Innovation Award - Judges Shortlist

Indratel’s submission highlights the use of Qnergy’s remote power systems for industrial pipeline applications. By integrating Stirling engine-based technology, Indratel provides a reliable, low-maintenance power source for critical remote operations, such as monitoring and communications infrastructure. This eliminates the reliance on diesel generators or solar arrays that can require frequent servicing and carry environmental trade-offs.

This approach introduces something new to the Australian industry by offering a power solution that is both highly efficient and practically maintenance-free. The innovation is differentiated by its long service life, fuel flexibility, and ability to operate in remote, harsh environments with minimal intervention. Its impact is demonstrable across safety (ensuring continuous operation of critical systems), cost (reducing site visits and refuelling logistics), environmental outcomes (cutting emissions compared to traditional systems), and performance (reliable, stable power delivery). Replicable across various pipeline and energy projects, Indratel’s application of Qnergy technology offers a scalable pathway to cleaner, more resilient operations.

RESOURCES

Intero Integrity Services Australia Pty Ltd

APA Group - First time Australian gas network owner to embrace robotic MFL pipeline inspection technology

Innovation Award - Judges Shortlist

Intero Integrity Services’ submission highlights a partnership with APA Group in deploying robotic Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) inspection technology in Australia for the first time. This innovation addresses the challenge of assessing critical pipelines previously considered “unpiggable” due to design or operational constraints. By introducing robotic inspection into the Australian market, the project provides operators with the ability to gain high-resolution integrity data without requiring major shutdowns or infrastructure modifications.

The technology represents a genuine step-change for the Australian industry, not just for APA Group. It offers clear differentiation from traditional inline inspection tools by combining robotic mobility with advanced data capture capabilities. The impact is significant: enhancing safety through improved asset knowledge, reducing costs associated with unplanned outages or infrastructure changes, and supporting environmental objectives by preventing leaks and extending the lifespan of critical pipelines. The approach is replicable and scalable, providing a pathway for other operators to adopt robotic inspection and improve pipeline integrity management across the nation.

RESOURCES

Changing the Definition of Unpiggable

MPK

MPK - Flare 360 Solution

Innovation Award - Judges Shortlist

MPK’s submission puts forward a unique approach designed to enhance operations within the pipeline industry. While the full technical detail is yet to be outlined, the entry positions itself as a new contribution to the sector, demonstrating innovation that moves beyond incremental improvements.

The MPK innovation introduces something not yet available in the industry, distinguishing itself from conventional tools or methods. Its value lies in addressing key challenges with practical solutions that deliver measurable improvements in safety, cost, environmental impact, and performance. Replicability and scalability are central to MPK’s concept, enabling the innovation to be applied across projects and organisations of varying sizes. This submission represents a proactive attempt to drive industry-wide improvement through fresh thinking and practical application.

RESOURCES

MPK 2025 APGA Innovation Award Submission

PAC – Pipeline Actuation Control

PAC presents Oxford Flow's ES Stemless Valve: Groundbreaking Technology for Net Zero

Innovation Award - Judges Shortlist

PAC’s submission introduces Oxford Flow’s ES Stemless Valve, a pioneering valve technology designed to support the industry’s pathway to net zero. Unlike traditional valves, the ES Stemless Valve eliminates a key leakage pathway by removing the stem, thereby reducing fugitive emissions while maintaining high-performance flow control. This design also reduces the number of moving parts, enhancing reliability and lowering maintenance costs.

This technology represents a significant departure from existing valve designs, offering a clear differentiation that aligns with global environmental targets. The demonstrable impact includes reduced methane emissions, improved safety, lower lifecycle costs, and more resilient performance under demanding conditions. As the energy sector works towards decarbonisation, the ES Stemless Valve provides a scalable and replicable solution with the potential to be deployed across both new projects and existing infrastructure.

RESOURCES

ROSEN Group

ILI Data Fusion

ROSEN Group’s submission, “ILI Data Fusion,” introduces a groundbreaking approach to pipeline integrity management by solving one of the fundamental challenges of magnetic flux leakage (MFL) inspection. Traditionally, MFL has been understood as a volumetric technology, offering indirect insights into metal loss. Through ROSEN’s innovative data fusion methodology, MFL is transformed into a direct measurement approach, unlocking a new level of accuracy and confidence in pipeline assessment.

This innovation moves well beyond simply combining datasets from different inline inspection (ILI) technologies. Instead, it redefines what MFL can deliver, providing operators with a direct, high-confidence view of pipeline condition. The result is a step-change in integrity management: improved anomaly characterization, greater certainty in decision-making, and the ability to prioritise maintenance with unprecedented precision.

The benefits are wide-reaching—enhanced safety through better risk assessment, reduced costs by avoiding unnecessary digs, environmental protection through early leak prevention, and overall stronger integrity performance. Scalable and adaptable across networks of all types, ROSEN’s ILI Data Fusion sets a new benchmark for pipeline operators worldwide.