Mid-Atlantic Contingency Planning Group

October 23, 2007

Minutes

 

The fall 2007 meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Contingency Planning Group was held in Richmond, Va. and hosted by Virginia Power. 

 

Attendance:

 

Drew Moncol             Virginia Power                                  Chairman

David Blake               Columbia Gas Transmission           Vice Chairman

Ed Turowski               Baltimore Gas & Electric                 Secretary

 

Tom Gibson               Columbia Distribution

Ed Unger                    South Jersey

Nimmie Hickman      WGL

David Daughtry         City of Richmond

Bill Christian              Columbia Gas Transmission

Jody Derrickson        Dominion Transmission

Bill Rauscher             Baltimore Gas & Electric    

 

Chairman, Drew Moncol called the meeting to order at 8 am.

 

WGL:

Nimmie Hickman reported that the several portion of their distribution system have been up-rated this past summer.  WGL has constructed two (2) gas conditioning stations; one at Rockville and the other at Gardner to inject hexane into the gas stream. of 2006/2007 was also warmer than normal with the only colder than normal month being February 2007.

 

Columbia Distribution Companies:

Tom Gibson reported an overall warmer than normal summer in both Virginia and Maryland with increased Electric Generation load. Columbia Gas of Maryland and Virginia began the injection season with 21% and 14% in storage respectively.  Both the Maryland and Virginia distribution companies are predicting that storage will be 99% full by November 1, 2007.

 

Columbia Gas Transmission:

There were no major operational impacts related to weather for the summer of 2007.  The summer of 2007 was warmer than 2006 and an increase in gas for electric generation load was noted; 160MMCFD in 2006 vs. 220 MMCFD in 2007. Over-all deliveries 2007 were up in comparison to 2006 by 10 BCF.

 

Storage:

Columbia firm storage began the injection season at 20.6% full.  This is in contrast to the     41. % full for the same time in 2006.  As of the middle of October Firm storage was nearly 97% full which is about equal to the same time in 2006.

 

Projects:

Columbia Gas Smart Pigged approximately 500 miles of transmission pipe in 2007.  Columbia has purchased their own smart pigs so that they can better schedule outage maintenance.

 

The Hardy County Storage project began injection operations in 2007.  The Storage project will be phased in over the next 3 years.

 

Columbia is preparing for its Eastern Market expansion project, which will include the addition of transmission pipe, storage and compression to serve the Mid-Atlantic market area beginning in 2009.

 

Bill Christian reported an increase in the pipeline infrastructure in the Appalachian region    to provide access to the increased production from this area. The increase in natural gas value has made the Appalachian producing region more viable in recent years.

 

Miscellaneous:

 

Bill Christian reported that Columbia Gas conducted a 5-day Gas Control training course at their office in Charleston WV.  Columbia Gas created the course in conjunction with GTI.

 

Dominion Power:

Drew Moncol reported that Virginia Power consumed more gas for electric generation in August of 2007 than all of 2006.

 

South Jersey:

Ed Unger reported that South Jersey completed an up-rating of one of its major transmission pipeline from 350 to 700 psi.  He also reported an increased use of “smart pigging” in the summer of 2007 on South Jersey’s system.

 

Dominion Transmission Inc:

Storage:

“Working gas” storage inventories were 85 Bcf at the end of March 2007, which was 25 Bcf lower than the same period in 2006.  Currently, as of October 23rd, Dominion inventory is approximately 294 Bcf. 

 

Pipeline Activities:

“Smart pigged” approximately 425 miles of pipeline in he summer of 2007. Jody Derrickson reported that Dominion schedules it’s “smart pigging’ activities for the march through June period so that any anomalies can be correct prior to the next winter operating season. 

 

Projects:

Received FERC approval for Cove Point expansion project to increase storage by 6.8 Bcf and the daily withdrawal rate by 1.8 Bcf.  The project includes the installation of 36” loop of the existing Cove Point Pipeline and the in the installation of 81 miles of pipeline from Perulack to Leidy.

 

Jody also reported that DTI completed all routine maintenance in preparation for the winter operating season.

BGE:

Ed Turowski reported that BGE worked with Columbia Gas to upgrade one of its major Gate Stations. 

BGE reported increased electric generation load in 2007 vs. 2006.  This is a continuing trend and is coupled with less predictability of when the electric generators will run.

Gas Control Room Management

Ed Unger discussed the scheduled NOPR by PHMSA due in the 4th quarter of 2007.  Ed distributed a 29 page presentation that outlined all the issues impacting Gas Controllers. Ed reminded that group that the ruling is still due to go into effect in June 2008.

 

The Control Room Management issues discussed were:

 

·        Alarm management and the maximum number of alarms an operator should be able to effectively attend to in one hour.

 

·        Alarm management with respect to authorization for setting alarm limits, inhibiting alarms and the audit trail of such activities.

 

·        Shift-turn over process and the documentation of shift turnover activities.

 

·        The group also discussed the compensation policy for the time spent in shift turnover.

 

Weather:

Dominion Meteorologists Todd Wilson and Kerri Carro provided an update on the current warmer/drier than normal weather pattern and a forecast for the winter of 2007.  In fact the summer of 2007 was about the 10th warmest on record for the Mid-Atlantic.  The majority of all the forecast are predicting a warmer than normal November 2007 through March 2008.  Mr. Anderson cautioned that a warmer than normal winter can still be punctuated by short Arctic blasts.  There are several meteorological reasons for the warmer than normal forecast including; the prediction for a moderate La-Nina pacific sea surface pattern (cooler pacific), relatively low Canadian snow cover and a persistent warmer than normal North Atlantic Ocean.  If the winter follows the predicted pattern, the beginning of December should be colder than normal with an extended period of warmer than normal temperatures from mid-December through mid-February.  Temperatures will end the winter in a cooler than normal pattern.

 

Both Ms Carro and Mr. Anderson stated that the last time there was a moderate La-Nina event in the Pacific the Mid-Atlantic experience a series of ice storms.

 

The group discussed the use of contract weather services to provide local weather forecasting.  In light of all the “free” predictive information found on the “web” there is still a reliance on either in-house professional meteorologist or contact meteorologist.

 

Potential New Members:

Bill Christian presented two (2) companies for potential membership for the group. CNX is a small company headquartered in Claypool Va. It is connected to the Columbia Gas transmission pipeline and serves residential customers, a power plant and some small industrial load.  Equitable Resources is head quartered in Pittsburgh Pa. and is a large LDC.  It is connected to Columbia Gas, Texas Eastern and Tennessee pipeline.

 

The group voted to extend an invitation to join the Mid-Atlantic Contingency Planning Group to both CNX Gas and Equitable.  Bill Christian will contact both parties.

 

After lengthy discussion, the group decided to keep the Ohio Group and the Mid Atlantic group distinct. The Ohio group will be invited to the spring meeting to discuss common issues.

 

 The Meeting was adjourned at 12:00 noon.

 

 Cristie Neller of Dominion Power hosted a tour of the Dominion Power Bellemeade Power plant.

 

Election of Officers:

Ed Unger was unanimously elected to serve as Secretary of the Mid-Atlantic Contingency Planning Group in 2008.

Ed Turowski will serve as Vice President in 2008.

David Blake will serve as President 2008.

 

The group thanked Drew Moncol for his service as President in 2007 and for hosting the 2007 fall meeting.

 

2008 Spring Meeting:

Columbia Gas Transmission will host the Spring 2008 meeting at   Stonewall Resort in Roanoke WV.  Details on the specific date and time will be posted to the Website.

 

Ed Turowski

BGE

                                                                                                                       

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