Distribution Best Practices Program
The Distribution Best Practices Steering Committee and Program Contacts have selected the following topics for the 2012 Distribution Best Practices Program. A brief description of the items to be covered under each topic is provided as a starting point. The final topic content is determined by the participating companies at the Distribution Best Practices Kickoff Meeting to be held January 17-19, 2012,New Orleans, LA, hosted by Entergy .
Gas Control Room Management
The scope of this data packet is limited to the personnel and facilities defined in the Control Room Management (CRM) rule, § 192.63, and the following mandates specified in the rule:
- Alarm management
- Change Management and
- Fatigue Mitigation
All activities and responsibilities related to alarm management, change management and fatigue mitigation that are performed by a gas controller who works in a gas control center to monitor and control all or part of a pipeline facility through a SCADA system. In addition, this data packet will address gas controller and SCADA activities that relate to emergency response.
Operator Qualification and Training
Activities associated with qualifying and training front-line field personnel that are subject to operating qualification requirements of CFR Part 192 and their first-line supervisors.
Includes:
• All field operations employees and contractors
• Technical and operator qualification training, evaluation and testing
• Informal meetings related to OQ qualifications
• Includes training on documentation of field activities on electronic or hard copy
• Includes OQ record keeping
Excludes:
• Non-regulated business activities and training
• Internal safety meetings not related to OQ
• Safety and OSHA training
• General training not related to core technical skills; such as, diversity, computer, management, tuition reimbursement
System Regulation and Valve Inspection & Maintenance
Operations and maintenance activities associated with the inspection and maintenance of valves on distribution systems. This includes inspection and maintenance activities required by 192.747 Valve Maintenance-Distribution systems, as well as voluntary company valve inspection programs. Transmission valves or service valves are not part of this study with the exception of Question 9 on automatic shutoff valves and remote control valves.
All field activities associated with the operations and maintenance of pressure control stations requiring periodic inspections as per DOT Part 192. (Excludes Gas Control Personnel)
Company Profile
Includes information on miles of distribution main, operations and maintenance expenses, e.g. meter and house regulators expenses, customer installation expenses, number of gas metered customers, aggregated sales of natural gas, number of gas employees, aggregated gas operating and residential customer revenue, aggregated gas operating income, heating degree days, etc.
System Reliability
Activities related to providing safe, continuous gas energy and other related gas distribution services, while maintaining system integrity and protection of life and property for our customers.
Transmission Best Practices Program
The Transmission Best Practices Steering Committee and Program Contacts have selected the following topics for the 2012 Transmission Best Practices Program. A brief description of the items to be covered under each topic is provided as a starting point. The final topic content is determined by the participating companies at the Transmission Best Practices Kickoff Meeting to be held February 22, 2012, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, EST and March 14, 2012, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, EST, via Web Conference.
KPI Data Collection
In 2011, the Transmission Best Practices Program initiated an effort to collect data for the purpose of identifying trends in transmission pipeline operations. This data collection focuses on key performance indicators in the following areas: Damage Prevention, Compression, Meter & City Gate Station Operations and Maintenance and Pipeline Maintenance.
Transmission Roundtables
Roundtable discussions for the transmission program will address:
Gas Control Room Management (joint effort with the Distribution Best Practices Program)
MAOP Documentation, Collection & Control
Supplemental Gas Best Practices Program
The following topics have been selected for the 2012 Supplemental Gas Best Practices Program. A brief description of the items to be covered under each topic is provided as a starting point. The final topic content is determined by the participating companies at the Supplemental Gas Best Practices Kickoff Meeting to be held March 21, 2012, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, EST,via Web Conference.
Code Compliance Records Management
All activities, procedures and methods utilized to manage the collection, archiving and maintenance of O&M records and reports which document the results of activities/inspections mandated by regulatory agencies related to records management. (Excludes records related to new construction.)
OSHA, EPA, etc. information is not to be included. Only DOT, state PUCs, etc. are herein considered as “regulatory agencies.”
Facilities are defined as the physical facility subject to the regulatory inspection; i.e., storage tank, relief valve, control valve, alarms, intrusion system, boilers, piping, insulation, compressor, etc.
Examples of records include but are not limited to annual review of operating plans, ESD inspection reports, out-of-service reports, personnel training records, etc.
Disaster Preparation
This study will address how companies develop and document a comprehensive plan that will allow LNG and propane-air facilities to recover from a catastrophic event.