Transcript Integrity Management Upate

America’s
Natural Gas Utilities’
Distribution Pipelines
The Connection To the Customer
November 2, 2006
Topics Covered
 Fast Facts
 Gas Utility Pipeline Safety
Regulatory Oversight
 Excavation Damage Impacts
 Safety Priorities
 Managing Distribution Integrity
 We Are In This Together
Natural Gas Utilities
 Deliver 23% of energy used in the United States
 Distribute to 63 million homes and 5 million
businesses through 1.9 million miles of pipeline to
meet customer needs
 Work closely with emergency responders,
firefighters and communities to ensure safety
Natural Gas Pipeline System
Designed for
operational excellence
in the safe, secure,
environmentally-friendly
and cost-effective
delivery of natural gas
Gas Utility Pipeline Safety Regulatory Oversight
Congress
Pipeline Safety
Legislation
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety Administration
Office of Pipeline Safety
Sets Minimum
Regulation
State Agencies
Direct Oversight
May Be More
Stringent
Investigates Major Accidents
Makes Recommendations
Excavation Damage Causes Most Incidents
Number of Incidents
70
60
Excav/Mech Damage
50
Other Outside Force
Natural Force
40
Misc/Unknown
30
Mat'l/Weld Defect
20
Equip/Op Error
10
Corrosion
0
2001
2002
2003
Year
2004
2005
Number of Incidents
Excavation by 3rd party, earth movement, flooding, vandalism
Excavation by utility operator, corrosion, materials, welds
11
Natural Gas Utilities Safety Priorities
 Increased Focus on Excavation Damage Prevention
 Distribution Integrity Management Enhancements
 Transmission Integrity Management in Populated
Areas
 Operator Qualification
 Public Awareness of Pipelines and Safety
 Deliverability Continuity (Hurricane Preparedness,
Pandemic Flu, Infrastructure Security)
Managing Distribution Integrity
DOT Stakeholder teams formed in 2005
 State and federal regulators
 Utility operators
 Firefighter and public representation
 Multiple meetings held throughout 2005
 American Gas Foundation used as study
starting point
 DOT study completed January, 2006
 Proposed rule anticipated by year end
What We Have Learned
Distribution pipeline systems operations are SAFE,
but we can do more
Overall Approach
 Excavation damage nation-wide education program and federal
legislation to prevent excavation damage
 High-level regulation
 Implementation guidance
 Continue research and development
Operator written integrity management plan requirements
 Address leaks responsibly
 Perform a risk assessment to determine if excess flow valves
should be installed (if not already installing devices)
 Collect meaningful performance measures
We Are In This Together
Natural Gas Utilities, Regulators, Legislators and the Public
Should Support A Common Sense, Risk-Based, And
Technically Sound Approach To:
Maintain or rebuild infrastructure
Manage Increased excavation activity
Continue to deliver natural gas safely, reliably, and
efficiently, by not placing undue burden on consumer
Meet the energy needs today and in the future
Natural Gas Operations: Always In Focus
Questions?
Lori S. Traweek
Senior Vice President,
Operations & Engineering
202-824-7330
[email protected]