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2011 South Dakota/North Dakota Pipeline Safety Operator Training
Presentation Abstracts
Presentation Abstracts, PDF (109 KB)
Tuesday Morning, March 15, 2011
Where's Everyone Digging: Pipeline Activity in the Upper Great Plains, Doug Lee
In spite of the Great Recession, new pipeline construction activity is barreling along at an unheard of pace. Learn about the significant increase in pipeline activity in the Upper Great Plains region resulting from increased Bakken and Three Forks formation production in North Dakota and Montana. Since the revitalization of the Bakken, the region's petroleum industry has been on a fast-paced journey to unlock the vast resources held deep inside this challenging formation. The Three Forks formation is also generating a great deal of excitement as area producers have had early success utilizing similar well completion techniques.
Tuesday Afternoon, March 15, 2011
Damage Prevention Track
Federal Damage Prevention Update, Sam Hall
Damage prevention has become a high priority issue for PHMSA, the states and Congress. Excavation damage remains a leading cause of pipeline incidents, particularly for distribution pipelines. PHMSA has undertaken a number of initiatives to address the issue. This presentation will give an overview of those initiatives as well as plans for the future of damage prevention.
Damage Prevention Practice at Xcel Energy, Tim Mahedy
Xcel Energy will be discussing the use of a small centralized dispatching group called the Critical Events Desk that compiles and disseminates information from all locating resources, internal and contractor. The purpose of the desk is to manage critical event notifications discovered by locators in the field. These include exposed pipe, un-locatable gas, mapping errors, etc. One of the primary focuses of the desk is compliance with
CFR 192.459, which includes a watch and protect program for transmission facilities and large diameter distribution pipe.
South Dakota Damage Prevention Improvement Process Update, Nathan Solem
PHMSA conducted a survey of all state damage prevention programs in June of 2010. The survey identified areas where states had not fully implemented PHMSA's recommended best practices. In response to the survey, the South Dakota pipeline safety program hired a contractor to identify mechanisms to fully implement best practices in South Dakota. The contractor reviewed damage prevention programs in other states to ascertain potential improvements that may be successful in South Dakota. The contractor identified at least three methods for each incomplete implementation.
The second phase of the assessment relies on stakeholder input regarding the effects of the identified implementation method. Representative stakeholder groups will be surveyed to determine which, if any, method identified by the contractor could be effective in South Dakota. Based on stakeholder input, the pipeline safety program may recommend to the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission that a rulemaking docket be opened to implement change. This presentation will provide an update on project status.
Tuesday Afternoon, March 15, 2011
Eclectic Track
South Dakota Pipeline Administrative Rules, Kara Semmler
After extensive comment from the pipeline industry, the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission passed a chapter of pipeline safety rules in 2009, South Dakota Administrative Rules 20:10:37:01.The rules are intended to clarify process and expectations of the PUC, pipeline safety inspectors and regulated pipelines during and after an inspection. This presentation will address the details, intent and purpose of the rules.
Sioux Falls Landfill Gas Pipeline, Dave McElroy
The City of Sioux Falls owns and operates the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill, serving a five-county area with a service population of approximately 245,000. As part of the solid waste decomposition process methane gas is generated within the landfill. To capture this renewable energy resource, the city installed more than 100 landfill gas wells, a landfill gas compression/conditioning system and an 11-mile intrastate transmission pipeline to the POET Biorefining-Chancellor ethanol plant. This pipeline is a win-win situation for both the city and POET. The city collects revenue from its landfill gas and POET uses the landfill gas, which is considered a renewable energy source, to make ethanol, another renewable energy product. This presentation will focus on the path the city took to evaluate its options and the construction of the landfill gas infrastructure and pipeline. There will be a brief discussion of compliance with the natural gas safety standards in 49 CFR Parts 191 and 192.
WinDOT, The Pipeline Safety Encyclopedia, Dave Bull
This presentation will address how to effectively use WinDOT, The Pipeline Safety Encyclopedia to view regulations, interpretations and reference material. Users will be shown how to modify search settings to provide more useful results when searching for specific information.
Revised Incident Reports/New Distribution Annual Report, DeWitt Burdeaux
This session is a detailed review of the revised annual and incident report forms for distribution systems, including revisions to the instructions and submission process. A discussion of the anticipated form for reporting failures of mechanical fittings will be provided to the extent allowed.
Tuesday Afternoon, March 15, 2011
DIMP Track
DIMP Mini Course, DeWitt Burdeaux
This session will cover the required elements of a Distribution IM plan/program. Included will be discussions regarding DIMP frequently asked questions, inspection questionnaires and available resources. Lessons learned from DIMP pilot inspections will be reviewed.
MidAmerican Energy Company's Approach to Risk Prioritization, Dan Miller
Like many operators, MidAmerican Energy Co. is currently in development of its DIMP written plan and program. A major component of the DIMP plan is to prioritize threats on the distribution system. MidAmerican has purchased and implemented the Mains Replacement Prioritization Model from GL Noble Denton. This software will be utilized as the company's primary risk-mitigation tool and will be coupled with subject matter expert information to mitigate threats on the distribution system.
MidAmerican Energy Company's Experience with the DIMP Pilot Audit Inspection: Process and Audit Results, Dan Miller
MidAmerican Energy Co. was selected to participate in a DIMP pilot audit program. This program is a joint effort by PHMSA and the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives to develop the inspection form to be used in inspecting Operator DIMP plans. This presentation will review the process that was used, as well as the findings of an audit of MidAmerican's DIMP plan.
Gas Piping Technology Committee DIMP Guidance, Marti Marek
This presentation will introduce you to the Gas Piping Technology Committee and its work in developing guidance for complying with the DIMP Rule. We'll review how the guidance is structured and walk through key sections.
Wednesday Morning, March 16, 2011
State of the Art Cathodic Protection Practices and Equipment, Marty Iozzo
This presentation will cover the latest and standard equipment used for cathodic protection, including all materials used for sacrificial anode and impressed current cathodic protection systems. Other discussion topics include equipment used to test for cathodic protection and proper cathodic protection testing techniques.
Drug and Alcohol Program Mini Course, DeWitt Burdeaux
This session will review recent changes to the requirements for drug and alcohol testing of pipeline employees, as well as changes to the procedures under 49 CFR applicable to all modes of transportation.
Wednesday Afternoon, March 16, 2011
Pipeline Failure Investigation Track
Failure Investigation Process from Start to Finish, Dave Bull
This program will cover initial response to a pipeline related failure and development of an investigation process. The discussion will include structure of the investigation team, explosion characteristics, documentation, photography, sample and evidence collection, and pressure testing of in place piping. The six steps of an investigation will be reviewed, concluding with recommendations for an accident response kit.
Wednesday Afternoon, March 16, 2011
Eclectic Track
Gas Piping Technology Committee Guide Part 192, Marti Marek
This presentation will introduce you to the Gas Piping Technology Committee and its work in developing the Guide for Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems. We'll discuss the concept of guidance vs. regulation and how operators, regulators, and the authors interpret the guide. We'll review how the guidance is structured and walk through key sections.
Sewer Lateral Issue in Minnesota, Daniel J. Woehrle
This presentation will discuss how Xcel Energy is addressing the sewer line conflict issue in Minnesota. Discussion will include the steps being implemented to prevent sewer conflicts during construction, Xcel's approach to legacy installations, and public awareness programs for plumbers, sewer contractors, and the general public.
Locating Sewer Laterals for Trenchless Installations, Ron Blum
Ron will discuss the response from Montana-Dakota Utilities Co./Great Plains Natural Gas to the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety advisory on sewer lateral conflicts and locating requirements, reviewing the applicability to jurisdictional pipe and developing a compliance response.
Fire-safe Insulating Gaskets, Andrew Martin
Recent events affecting pipeline transmission systems are increasing the need for additional protection along pipelines. Until now, isolation gaskets were capable of providing cathodic protection only. With new innovated designs, the Pikotek VCFS insulating gasket allows the operator to add fire-safe capabilities to critical areas. This presentation introduces the world's only insulating gasket to pass the API 6FB, 3rd Edition Fire Test while providing complete flange electrical isolation based on proven designs.
Wednesday Afternoon, March 16, 2011
Case Studies Track
Construction Issues, DeWitt Burdeaux
Common deficiencies have been identified from recent inspections of transmission and distribution operators. Details with representative examples will be discussed.
What's Wrong with this Picture? DeWitt Burdeaux
This will be a highly interactive session where audience participants will play the role of regulator. Various scenarios will be presented and audience members must identify the appropriate regulation to "cite" the operator.
Thursday Morning, March 17, 2011
Control Room Management, DeWitt Burdeaux
This session will cover the final rule as published in December 2009 and the proposed expedited implementation timeframe. Insight into the development of the frequently asked questions and inspection criteria will be included.
Review of New and Upcoming Regulations, DeWitt Burdeaux
There are potentially several rulemaking activities under consideration or in the development stages. In light of several high profile accidents in 2010, reauthorization of PHMSA Pipeline Safety may be impacted.
Question and Answer Session, Training Wrap-Up, DeWitt Burdeaux
This open session invites plenty of discussion. No pipeline safety topic is off limits.
