Distribution Construction, Operations and Maintenance Round Table

Part of the SGA Operating Conference 2008

• July 22-24, 2008
• Hyatt Regency Downtown Hotel - Atlanta, GA

 

Chairmen

• Michael Fuentes, Supervisor-Pressure Control, CPS Energy (mrfuentes@cpsenergy.com)
• Lloyd Wallin, Texas Gas Service (lwallin@txgas.com)
• Butch Richter, Operations Manager, Piedmont Natural Gas (Charles.Richter@piedmontng.com)
• Kevin Murphy, Washington Gas Light (KMurphy@washgas.com)
• Jimmy McKelvey, Operations Manager - Atlanta Metro, Atlanta Gas Light Co. (jmckelve@aglresources.com)

 

Contribute to the Discussion 

This is your meeting!  Weigh in with the Round Table Chairmen to offer suggested topics for discussion.

 

Discussion Outline  

DIMP – Distribution Integrity Management Programs

Compression Couplings

EFV – Excess Flow Valves

Leak Survey

Distribution O&M - Damage Management

3rd Party Prevention

Working with one call-center on systems

Billing and Collection (possible outsourcing opportunities)

Special Causes Verification (operator qualifications)

Regulations

Damage Prevention Technology

Distribution O&M - Work Flow Management

Performance Management

Order Duplication

Technology (Software)

Technology (in-vehicle systems, handhelds, GPS, CAD units…)

Productivity Tracking

Benchmarks for scheduling (appointment windows)

Distribution O&M - Equipment Technology O&M

New Technology

RLMD

Key-hole (ideas for new applications)

Liners, pipe-bursting…Other non-traditional techniques?

Distribution O&M – Contracting

Opportunities

Lessens Learned

Hot tapping (total outsourcing) risk and rewards

Emergency response (How many companies utilize contractors to respond to emergencies?)

Locating

Distribution O&M – Inspection

In House/Out of House Inspectors

Percent of jobs inspected

Company Crews Inspected

Retention of Welders

Activities requiring mandatory inspection

Distribution O&M – Welding

API – 1104

Oxy/Act

Retention of Welders

Welding procedures (how many companies utilize a Low-Hydrogen arc up hill process for in-service welding)

Distribution O&M – Employee Staffing/Workforce Development

Staffing Models

How are gas operators planning for replacements of knowledgeable staff (secession planning)

How are you selling management to do replacements before loosing knowledge

Do you have a transition plan for this

Crew sizes (Maintenance versus Emergency)

Distribution O&M – Market Changes

Customer Retention

Vertical Subdivisions

Reallocations of new business construction resources

Reallocations of new business construction resources

Distribution O&M – Material Management

In House

Vendor Managed Inventory

Emergency Stocking

Purchases by (or consignment to) construction contractors

Distribution O&M – Safety

Programs

Incentives or Not

New Ideas or Technology

Homeland Security Issues

Other (Topics submitted by gas companies - add your topics to this list {email mgrubb@southerngas.org})

1. Pipe replacement programs - are companies being proactive, or only developing and executing replacement programs "as necessary", or as mandated by their state regulatory bodies.
2. Internal regulator inspections vs meeting the minimal inspections reguirements....lock off and relief valve setting etc.
3. How other companies determine which reg, stations may require an internal inspection. Criticality ranking, wet gas, historical information etc.
   

 

How to Register for this Meeting

SGA Operating Conference with Exhibits Web Page

 

Vendor Participation

Parts of this session may be open to vendors. Please check the sign outside this sessions meeting room for a "Open to Vendors" sign. Or check with the Chairs (listed above) for more details.

 

More details about this Conference

SGA Operating Conference with Exhibits Web Page

Visit the Distribution Construction, Operations & Maintenance Interest Group Web Page

 

Questions?

Mike Grubb

Southern Gas Association

mgrubb@southerngas.org

972-620-4022

 

This page updated: May 5, 2008