American Gas - June 2010 - (Page 2)

President’s Message nothing but the Best From the Operations Best Practices Program to committee work, aGa strives to continuously raise industry safety and reliability. Given that among AGA’s chief missions and DaviD N. Parker President and CeO dparker@aga.org most valuable services is our role as a conduit to the sharing of information, and given that no information we or our members share is more important than information regarding the safety and reliability of our natural gas pipeline delivery infrastructure, then it follows that nothing we do is more important than our Operations Best Practices Program. not coincidentally, that is our cover story this month, which you can read starting on p. 14 in both the print and digital versions of American Gas. We began the program in 1994 to bring together interested members in a roundtable format to share ideas and tips on how to improve safety and reliability, yet at the same time do so cost-effectively. in 1994 we had about 60 members sign up. in 2009, some 135 companies participated in one of the program’s three segments: distribution, transmission (conducted jointly with the southern Gas Association) and supplemental gas. This increased participation not only more than doubles the number of companies that can benefit from an identified “best practice,” it also vastly increases the number of best practices identified, meaning that after a typical roundtable there is something for every member company to bring back to the office to test and, if successful, to implement. The best practices activity, an AGA member service, begins each year with data-collection and benchmarking exercises to identify superior-performing companies in specific operational areas. These companies then lead the subsequent roundtable meetings at which they explain to other participating companies the procedures and innovative work practices they have implemented that resulted in outstanding performance. Whether it is leak management, pipeline replacement, prevention of third-party damage, external corrosion prevention or literally countless other operational procedures, if there is a best practice that improves the process and the bottom line, it is identified and shared. And given that this year, both AGA and our members are working on implementation of the Distribution integrity management Program (DimP), while simultaneously preparing for reauthorization of the Pipeline safety Act, identifying cost-effective ways to improve safety is more important than ever. Which is saying something because safety has always been our highest priority. it is the foundation on which our entire industry rests, which is why when AGA was formed 92 years ago, so was the Operations and engineering section. in fact, it is fair to say the main reason AGA was formed was to meet our industry’s need to enhance safety and reliability. Over the years, of course, how we meet that need has taken on many forms and has necessitated the formation of many new committees, including—40 years ago this year—the Gas Piping Technology committee, which helps operators comply with federal regulations regarding pipeline transportation of natural gas. marti marek, the committee’s chairwoman, and the other members will be celebrating that anniversary at their July meeting (see p. 12), so we wish nothing but the best to a group that has helped give AGA a reputation for safety and reliability that truly is nothing but the best. 2 june 2010 AmericAn GAs

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - June 2010

American Gas - June 2010
Contents
President’s Message
In the Know
Industry News
Protecting Our Pipelines
AGA 2010 Membership Directory
Places to Be
Marketplace
Advertisers’ Index
Noteworthies
Jobline
Facts on Gas

American Gas - June 2010