2012 Pipeline Conference
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Concurrent Sessions
Situation Awareness – Convention Center Salon AB
While historically part of the Aviation community, learn what Situation Awareness (SA) is and how it has been or can be applied within the Oil & Gas sector to help improve personnel, system and process safety. Panel presentations and discussion will help inform the audience on the fundamentals of SA, as well as how it is practically being applied in operational (e.g., Control Rooms) and safety processes.
Moderator: Whitney Grande, Sr. Health & Safety Manager, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company
Topics/Speakers:
PHMSA After Reauthorization – Convention Center Salon J
How will PHMSA implement the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011? What is PHMSA's regulatory agenda for 2012? What are the recent trends in PHMSA enforcement? What are some evolving issues affecting oil pipeline industry safety regulation? Panelists will address these issues and field audience questions.
Moderator: Andy Black, President, Association of Oil Pipe Lines
Topics/Speakers:
- Enforcement Trends, Enforcement Do’s and Don’ts, Water Crossings - Vince Murchison, Partner, SNR
- Denton, US LLP
- Jeffrey Wiese, Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety, PHMSA
- Robert Hogfoss, Partner, Hunton & Williams, LLP
- Catherine Little, Partner, Hunton & Williams, LLP
- Carl Weimer, Pipeline Safety Trust
Natural Force Events – Preparation and Response – Convention Center Salon I
Hurricanes, Earthquakes, Flooding…OH MY! Be prepared for natural force events by hearing firsthand how pipeline industry operators prepare for these events and the lessons they have learned through experience. Hear how Shell keeps pipelines operating after a hurricane, how Kinder Morgan prepares and responds to earthquakes and the details of Enterprise’s 2011 Missouri River release. PHMSA’s Flooding Bulletin will also be reviewed and a question and answer period will be conducted after each speaker to provide participants with an opportunity to get additional information and share their experiences with natural force events.
Moderator: Miriam Kuhn, Damage Prevention Supervisor, Marathon Pipe Line LLC
Topics/Speakers:
- Hurricane Preparation, Response, and Lessons Learned - Larry Lamaison, Regional Operations Support Manager, Shell Pipeline Company LP
- Earthquake Preparedness and Response - Jim Giles, Director of Operations, Pacific Northern Region, Kinder Morgan Energy Partner
- Flooding – Lessons Learned from a Missouri River Release and Update on PHMSA Activities -Rick Fullmer, Regional Director, Western NGL Pipelines, Enterprise Products Operating, LLC
Upcoming API Document Releases for Pipeline Construction and the PHMSA Response – Convention Center Salon G
This session will focus on API Specifications and Recommended Practices that are being developed for pipeline construction. In particular, how API Q2 could be applied to pipeline service companies, and the development of an API RP for basic inspection requirements. We will also hear from PHMSA for an update on construction, and how they will consider these two documents and other guidance materials for incorporation into the regulations.
Moderator: Douglas Perkins, Sr. Project Engineer, NuStar Energy, L.P.
Speakers:
1:30 PM Concurrent Sessions
Pipeline Safety Improvement: An Ongoing Endeavor – Convention Center Salon AB
The hazardous liquid pipeline industry has enjoyed a decade of success in reducing the number of pipeline releases and the volumes released. This is in large part due to innovative industry programs and stringent federal regulations that set requirements for industry performance. In this session, the panelists will discuss what the safety record of the industry is, how we can continue to improve our record through enhanced industry programs and what we need to tell the public and policy makers so they can understand and support safe pipeline transportation of energy liquids.
Moderator: Peter Lidiak, Pipeline Director, API
Topics/Speakers:
Operator Qualification – Ten Years Later. What have we Learned about Complying with Performance Based Rules? -
Convention Center Salon J
Ten years ago, the OQ rule became the first performance-based pipeline regulation. Since then, Integrity Management, Public Awareness, and now Control Room Management have followed. These performance-based rules have altered the way Pipeline Operators and PHMSA approach compliance.
This session will focus on the triumphs and tribulations the industry experienced over the last 10 years in
developing compliant OQ Programs. It will describe how performance-based rules have led to
inconsistencies in both the development of Pipeline Operators’ Programs and in inspections of those
Programs. The session will also discuss the challenges the industry faces over the next 10 years and the
possible solutions that the API Operator Qualification Work Group (OQWG) is developing as it publishes the
revised OQ standard, API Recommended Practice 1161 and revised Covered Task standards.
Moderator: Jon Brown, Regulatory Compliance Coordinator, Sinclair Pipeline
Topics/Speakers:
Facility Integrity and Releases – Convention Center Salon I
The integrity of non-line pipe facilities continues to be an area with significant potential for improvement. Because releases from facilities have generally been low consequence and the causes diverse, this area has lagged behind others in the pursuit of Operational Excellence. However, the relatively high numbers of facility releases require us to refocus on facilities and find innovative ways to improve performance. This session will put the issue in perspective and look at solutions that operators are implementing to improve the record for facility integrity and releases.
Moderator: Larry Shelton, Manager, Asset Integrity, Sunoco Logistics
Topics/Speakers:
- A Look at the Data - Debbie Price, Integrity Management Engineer, Shell Pipeline Company
- API 2611 – An Industry’s Approach - Scott Olson, Asset Reliability & Integrity Lead, Shell Pipeline Company
- Facility Assessments – An Operator’s Approach - Leif Jensen, Manager, Operations Excellence, Sunoco Logistics, LP
Big Cool Projects – Convention Center Salon G
Big Cool Projects will be an informative and educational photo montage of large-scale projects spanning North America. From the Alberta Oil Sands to the Gulf of Mexico, attendees will have an opportunity to see firsthand the resources required to execute a multi-billion dollar project. The speakers will not only provide context to the photo gallery, but will share the many challenges and obstacles one might encounter. Attendees are encouraged to share their views as well as participate in an open dialogue as the photos will not only stimulate but provoke questions.
Moderator: Jim Crawford, Project Director, MP Wrangler, Enbridge Employee Services, Inc.
Topics/Speakers:
- Dan Plume, WKM Consultancy LLC
- Allan Schneider, Vice President Project Execution, Enbridge Energy Services
- Brian Fowler, Enbridge Energy Services
3:30 PM Concurrent Sessions
Major Pipeline Emergencies - First 48 Hours - Convention Center Salon AB
In the United States, it is estimated that 170,000 miles of interstate transmission pipelines transverse the nation transporting hazardous liquids of crude oil and other refined products. While pipelines are considered one of the safest modes of transporting energy in the United States, pipeline incidents have occurred. A significant pipeline failure can have negative consequences on the environment and the general public. In this session we will discuss what to expect during the first 48 hours of a pipeline incident. Representatives from industry, emergency response and government safety regulators will talk about incident management and ICS, roles and responsibilities of the various agencies and other related issues.
Moderator: Pat Hodgins, Director, HSSE, Buckeye Partners
Topics/Speakers:
Public Awareness – Lessons Learned – Convention Center Salon J
In the five years since the public awareness regulation (195.440) became effective, operators have learned considerable lessons on communicating with stakeholders along our pipeline rights-of-way. Some of those learnings have translated into changes in the second edition of API RP 1162, which has not yet been incorporated by reference into regulation. Through measurement and evaluation requirements, for example, we now have a clearer picture of how best to deliver information to people who live and work along the right-of-way, who may respond to a pipeline emergency or plan an excavation project on or near a pipeline right-of-way. And, in many cases, findings and other insights gained through execution of our programs have resulted in changes to our plans and how we implement those plans.
In this session, you will hear directly from PHMSA on the status of public awareness program inspections and evaluations, and the different approaches they see operators taking to public awareness. We will also discuss the benefits and challenges of TransCanada’s holistic public awareness program that can sustain their asset growth, attrition and overall change, and Enterprise Products’ web-based viewer that allows stakeholders to determine the general location of an Enterprise pipeline within one mile as well as specific attributes of that pipeline.
Moderator: Terri Larson, Manager, U.S. Public Affairs, Enbridge Energy Company
Topic/Speakers:
Discussion of Enhancements and Updates to API 1160 – Managing System Integrity for Hazardous Liquid Pipelines – Convention Center Salon I
This session will cover the proposed material changes to API 1160. Additionally, there will be an expanded discussion on the work of the API data integration team.
Moderator: Chad Haegelin, Senior Manager, Integrity Engineering, NuStar Energy
Topics/Speakers:
- Overview of Material Changes, including Background and Historical Review of API 1160 Development - Benny Mumme, IMP Preventive Measure Capability Leader, Koch Pipeline Company
- Enhancements to Hydro Testing and Reassessment Intervals Determination. Overview of Updates to Threat Categories - Dr. John Kiefner, Senior Advisor, Kiefner & Associates
- Review of Updates to Investigation/Repair Criteria - Jake Haase, Integrity Management Program Engineer, Colonial Pipeline Company
- Presentation of Updates to Management of SCC. Discussion of Data Integration and Update on API Data Integration Team Initiative - Bruce Dupuis, P.Eng., Program Manager, Liquid Pipeline Integrity, TransCanada
Global Business Strategies – Convention Center Salon G
The tectonic change rocking the Domestic oil and gas industry today has its epicenter in the Bakken and Three Forks formations in North Dakota. The successful application of horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing in the Bakken, Niobrara, Eagle Ford, Marcellus and other Shale Basins has permanently changed the supply, distribution and crude oil and natural gas markets across the United States, and the economic impacts go way beyond the local and regional level. Some of the lessons learned in North Dakota have valuable application to the challenges and opportunities faced in developing these critical resources in other parts of the United States. Policy recommendations for State and Federal governments to consider should help ensure that Shale Oil & Gas production continues to play an increasing role in the US and Global economy.
Moderator: Kelly Wilkins, Manager, Planning & Development, Enbridge Pipeline (ND), LLC
Topics/Speakers:
- Rick Ross, Whiting Petroleum
- John Felmy, Chief Economist, API
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
8:30 AM General Session – Highland Center
Ensuring Pipeline Safety into the Future; Regulation and Oversight of Pipeline Safety post Marshall, San Bruno and Allentown
While pipeline accidents have steadily declined for all causes in the last decade, accidents with significant impacts to the public and the environment have continued to occur and have been the focus of public concern, oversight investigations and hearings, Congressional reauthorization of pipeline safety laws and proposed regulations. In today’s session federal and state officials will discuss the challenges and opportunities that they and pipeline operators face following these high visibility accidents and what changes are being considered for their oversight, inspection and enforcement activities as a result.
Moderator: Peter Lidiak, Pipeline Director, API
Panelists:
- NTSB San Bruno Findings and Recommendations - Stephen Klejst, Director, Office of RR, Pipeline and Hazmat Investigations, NTSB
- No Balls, Two Strikes - Alan Mayberry, Deputy Associate Administrator for Field Operations, PHMSA
- Keeping up with current regulations and the impact of new regulations on States - Robert Miller, Pipeline Safety Supervisor, Arizona Office of Pipeline Safety
10:30 PM Concurrent Breakout Sessions
ROW Issues – Mitigating AC Interference with Technology and ROW Agreements/Increasing ROW Acquisition Costs/Land Use and Development Planning Near Pipelines (PIPA) – Convention Center Salon AB
During our first session we will learn more about what can happen when pipelines share rights-of-way (ROW) with high voltage AC electric transmission circuits and we’ll discuss the factors that must be considered which could impact the landowner, the pipeline and electric company. The second session will give some insight about the rapidly increasing costs associated with acquiring land rights for pipeline projects. Many factors, such as legislative and regulatory changes, the current state of the economy and a broad range of environmental concerns, are all contributing to a rapid increase in ROW acquisition costs. During our third and final session we will learn how regulators and industry have worked together to develop recommended best practices for Enhancing Pipeline Safety in Communities through Risk-Informed Land Use Planning. The Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA) report, published in December 2010, assists communities in becoming risk-informed about transmission pipelines and supports better land use planning and development decisions in close proximity to them.
Moderator: Dave Sommerfeld, R/W Team Leader, BP Pipelines, (North America)
Topics/Speakers:
Control Room Management – Convention Center Salon J
Control Room Management (CRM) continues to be industry’s newest arena for compliance and is directed toward improving control room operations. In this session you will hear from two industry leaders about how this new regulation has impacted their operations and what has transpired to meet the implementation phases for 2011 and 2012. Also, hear from PHMSA’s resident expert on CRM on the latest updates, inspection process and improvements being made by both industry and internal to DOT.
Moderator: John Page, DOT Coordinator, BP U.S. Pipelines & Logistics
Speakers:
Preventing Incidents Through Accelerated Industry Learning – Convention Center Salon I
Through learning from the experiences of other companies, industries and stakeholders, we have the opportunity to more rapidly improve many aspects of our business. Incident prevention is one of those key improvement opportunities. In recent years, the pipeline industry has been more aggressively seeking ways to improve our ability to learn from each other. This session looks at three different areas aimed at increasing the pace and quality of our learning. The session explores recent efforts in improved information sharing amongst pipeline companies, external stakeholders and other industries. With better information, we are all better positioned to advocate for company procedures, industry standards, codes and regulations that will drive performance improvements to the next level.
Moderator: Brian Sitterly, Integrity and Regulatory Services Manager, Shell Pipeline Company
Speakers:
- Kerrobert Station Electrocution - Michael Koby, Director, EH&S, Enbridge Employee Services, Inc.
- Highlights from a Recent Study of Safety Improvement Program Activities in Various Non-Pipeline Industries -W.R. (Bill) Byrd, P.E., President, RCP, Inc.
- St. James Tour – Operators and the pipeline Safety Trust Learn from Each Other -Steve Falgoust, Managing Director, Asset Integrity, Plains All American Pipeline
Catching the Improvement S-Curve Updraft – Convention Center Salon G
Technology advances enable safety and environmental improvements and are critical for improving efficiency and reliability. Both time and effort are required to move these improvements forward. This session looks at three areas poised to accelerate up the Improvement S-Curve and then surveys the next wave of technology tools currently under validation at PRCI.
Moderator: Tom Miesner, Principal, Pipeline Knowledge and Development
Speakers:
- Piggable Valves, an Emerging Alternative to Hot-Tapping - Rush Selden, Sr. Vice President, LineStar Services Dr. Chris Alexander, Principal, Stress Engineering Services, Inc.
- Advances in Data Collection, Viewing and Analysis- Rob McElroy, Principal, McElroy Consulting, LLC
- Technology Development for Pipeline Integrity- Mark Piazza, Senior Program Manager, Pipeline Programs, Pipeline Research Council International, Inc.