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AGA/SGA Transmission Benchmarking/Best Practices Program

This program is co-sponsored with the American Gas Association

Online registration is closed.  Please register on site.

 

Program Topics - 2008

  • Internal Corrosion/ICDA
  • Cased Crossings
  • Interactive Threats


Program Participation Information

Program Contacts

 

2008 Best Practices Round Table

Round Table Registration

Attendance at this Round Table is restricted to those who have registered with AGA to participate in the 2008 AGA/SGA Transmission Benchmarking/Best Practices Program.

Registration fee $295 - Best Practices Round Table only (Includes Wednesday evening reception, the Best Practices Round Table and lunch on Thursday).

Registration fee $600 - Best Practices Round Table plus full attendance at the SGA Operating Conference (a $745 value).

Register on-line now.

Hotel Reservations

Hyatt Regency Downtown Atlanta
SGA Group Rate: $169 (Single or Double)
Phone: 800-233-1234
Cut-off date: June 21, 2008

Round Table Agenda

Thursday July 24, 2008    1:00 to 5:30

  • Internal Corrosion/ICDA
  • Cased Crossings

Business Mixer (5:30 to 6:30)


Friday July 25, 2008      7:30 to 11:30 am

Group Breakfast

  • Cased Crossings (continues if necessary)
  • Interactive Threats

Discussion Topics Submitted in Advance

  • What are other companies doing to comply and document with DOT ruling 192.476 Internal Corrosion Control: Design and Construction of transmission line? (Karen.M.Benner@dom.com)
  • Add to this list - submit your question to SGA (ffarmer@southerngas.org)
  • Based on current technology, coal tar (and other thick coated) encased carrier pipes may not be able to be assessed 100% by the 2012 deadline. We need a legal approach for a code change or variance to either extend or modify the requirements for theswe very difficult to assess coated carrier pipes within casings. We have 310 casings. We have done CP reads and checked for shorts, we do not have a solution to these cased portions of pipe. We need to make PHMSA realize that CP ECDA to ends of casings, checking for shorts and engineering procedures to make reasonable efforst to risk and rank and priortize inspections over a longer period is necessary. Costs are disproportionately high for these very small pipe segments.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM

Benchmarking/Best Practices Program Over View

1. Objective:

Identify superior-performing operators with innovative work-practices that can be used to continuously improve pipeline operations.

2. Process:


A. Selection of topics to study (Usually three).
B. Preparation of data packets.
C. Kick-off Meeting to discuss packets and clarify scope (early in the program year).
D. Data collection and publication of reports.
E. Questionnaire information collection.
F. Roundtables to discuss data and practices.

3. Kick-off Meeting:

The purpose of the Spring Meeting is to review both the Data Packets and the Questionnaires in detail prior to completing and submitting them. All attendees have an opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions for revisions. This assures a clear understanding of the scope and intent of the Packets and the Questionnaires. Participants submit completed Data Packets and Questionnaires approximately 60 days after the meeting.

4. Data Packets:

The packets detail the scope (statistics) of the study for each topic and focus primarily on cost of the operation. We try to have two “measures” for each topic – a cost (productivity) and an effectiveness (service level) measure.

5. Questionnaires:

While the focus of the data packets is on statistics related to cost, the Questionnaires are intended to gather practice information about the topic being studied. Questionnaires are distributed after data packets are completed.

6. Reports:

The information gathered in both the Data Packets and Questionnaires is summarized on spreadsheets and distributed to all who participated. In addition, Scatter Charts and Bar graphs are prepared and distributed for the measures in the Data Packets. Information is not shared with non participants. Company names are not used in reports. Codes are assigned to each company and a separate “Code Sheet” is distributed. These reports are published about 90 days after the Spring Meeting (30 days after completion of data).

7. Roundtables:

The objective of the Roundtable Conferences is to discuss the problems and practices connected with the operation we are benchmarking and to identify solutions that have worked for others. Each attendee has an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting to indicate any problem-areas he\she would like to discuss. Following each roundtable,, the “practices” which were identified are documented. The name of the contributing company and representative are identified for each practice. The group does not attempt to reach a consensus on the “Best Practices.” A listing of the practices which are developed at the Roundtable is distributed to all participants within 60 days after the meeting. Each operator can select from the practices which were identified and utilize those which are valuable to their company.

8. Anti-trust Compliance:

Guidelines are discussed at each meeting to ensure that we stay within law. Participants are advised not to discuss prices, terms of sale, profit margins, etc.

More information about the over-all program: Overall program

 

SGA Contact: Mike Grubb (mgrubb@southerngas.org)