MID-ATLANTIC CONTINGENCY PLANNING GROUP
Meeting - October 14, 2002
The fall meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Contingency Planning Group was held at the Springfield Operations Center of Washington Gas in Springfield, Virginia. Chairman, Bill Christian, called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m.
The following attended the meeting:
Chairman:
Bill Christian (Columbia TCO)
Vice Chairman: P. Scott Murphy (Washington Gas)
Secretary:
Gale Carovillano (Columbia TCO)
Others:
Drew Moncol (Virginia
Power)
Brian Stull (Roanoke Gas)
Jody Derrickson
(Dominion)
David Daughtry (City of Richmond)
Fred Trevino (Duke
Energy)
Steve Browder (Columbia TCO)
Barry Bond (Duke
Energy)
Gary Forman (Columbia TCO)
Barry Ranson
(Dominion)
Andrea Mills (Washington Gas)
James Crumpler (BGE)
Mark Pauley (Columbia TCO)
Chuck Jager (BGE)
Jim Cosgrove (Washington Gas)
Todd Smith (Roanoke
Gas)
Bruce Watkins (Washington Gas)
Tom Gibson (Columbia
MD/VA)
Kimberly Denbow (AGA)
Bill opened the meeting by thanking everyone for their continued participation in the group and briefly discussed the purpose and importance of maintaining a close relationship with members of the industry throughout the mid-Atlantic operating area.
Summer Operations Summary
Columbia TCO reported temperatures averaging 3° F higher than normal throughout
their operating area. Throughput was approximately 4.5% higher than 2001 summer
season at 393 MMDth. Customers are at 93% of SCQ. TCO expects a normal winter
season and customers to withdraw approximately 220 MMDth from storage. Parent
company recently announced leadership changes and consolidations throughout the
transmission segment and sale of the exploration and production segment. Mark
Pauley reviewed various mandated class change and remediation projects occurring
throughout the summer season and into late fall for TCO. Tom Gibson reported the
temperatures averaged 1 to 2° F higher than normal for Columbia MD and VA
operating areas. CMD averaged 334 MDth monthly throughput and CVA averaged 3,490
MDth monthly throughput. Both expect to be at 99.0% SCQ by November 1st.
Dave Daughtry with City of Richmond discussed the effects of the energy downturn from the procurement side of the business and the scarcity of credit worthy suppliers. Drew Moncol reported a strong summer season for Virginia Power with 500 MW higher peaks. Expect to burn more natural gas this winter season due to one of their nuclear plants being out of service until February. Todd Smith reported that Roanoke Gas should be at 95% SCQ by November 1st. Todd questioned other LDC members about pigging and hydro-testing of distribution lines. There is concern about compliance with proposed government mandates now under discussion in Congress.
Chuck Jager with BGE also reported higher than normal temperatures for the season but throughput was lower at 34 MMDth compared to 35 MMDth for the 2001 season. LNG and Propane inventories are full and SCQ is in the 90% range with Dominion and TCO. Jody Derrickson of Dominion discussed the continuing pigging and repair projects throughout their system. Power generation peak periods were the last week of June, July 15 through August 3 and the first week of September As of April 1st, customers were at 50% of SCQ and through September 30th, were at 96%. Dominion recently purchased the Cove Point LNG system from Williams Company. DTI now operates Loudoun (DTI/TCO) interconnect as well as the Williams interconnect at Pleasant Valley and the Cove Point facility.
Barry Bond with Duke Energy reported a loss in production of approximately 1 Bcf during the latest hurricane to hit the gulf coast. Their storage inventory position is at approximately 98%. Major expansion project on East Tennessee Gas, once completed, will double the capacity of that system. Washington Gas was approximately 3.2% below normal throughput for the season per Jim Cosgrove. Throughput this season was 44.2 Bcf compared to 46 Bcf for the same period 2001. Storage inventory is approximately 98%. WGL is keeping their propane segment in active condition in anticipation of seasonal demand. Construction projects include a 9 mile 24" line from Cove Point to downtown Washington and they are in the process of installing a Transco gate station at Rockville which will be completed early next year.
Forecast of Winter Operations
Jody indicated Dominion's Cove Point operations may be more prone to interruptions. Drew indicated that Virginia Power may use more natural gas due to nuclear plant out of service. Weather forecasters are predicting normal to warmer than normal temperatures for the Northeast this winter, per Tom Gibson.
Exit of Marketers - Effects
Group members discussed the short list of existing players due to lack of credit worthiness.
Website Discussion
The consensus of the group was to make our website a secure site with password access and to add an AGA link. Gale will check into our possibilities and inform all group members of available options before executing any changes. Also, Jody reminded everyone to keep Gale informed of any changes or updates to the contact lists. Columbia Gas agreed to continue maintaining the website.
AGA Security Update
Gary Forman, Chief Security Officer for Columbia Gas Transmission, provided an update on the latest AGA activities concerning pipeline security. On September 5th, DOT released to pipeline security personnel their Pipeline Security Information Circular and Pipeline Security Contingency Planning Guidance. By March 4, 2003, all natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline and liquefied natural gas facilities must report that they have reviewed the guidelines and developed a security plan and have started the implementation of the plan. (Contact Gale if you would like a copy of these guidelines). Gary also discussed briefly what companies are doing both locally and internationally to prepare for an incident.
Construction - Effects on Capacity
Steve Browder, Senior Engineer-Facility Planning with Columbia Gas Transmission gave a presentation on the benefits of the modeling group determining the effects of construction projects on throughput capacities.
Operator Qualification Status
Although the methods used varied from company to company, all group members are confident that they will be in compliance on Operator Qualification by October 28th.
Washington Gas is on target to complete qualifications on 3 identified tasks by the deadline. Columbia of MD/VA developed 100 plus essay type questions of which 10 questions are chosen randomly to evaluate controllers. Re-evaluation to occur in 3 year intervals. Roanoke Gas developed a testing process specific to their pipeline along with a written and oral review on basic gas control knowledge. BGE is evaluating controllers on 6 identified tasks and also plan to review in 3 year intervals. Duke Energy used an outside consultant to help in the development of their evaluation process. Approximately 120 essay type questions were developed on 5 identified tasks. Controllers are evaluated on all 120 questions. Dominion has completed their qualification process by evaluating controllers on operating and reacting to abnormal conditions by use of a simulator. Virginia Power also used simulation to evaluate their power operators.
Planning Winter Drill
Bill Christian/TCO and Jody Derrickson/Dominion agreed to develop a scenario for the 2002/2003 winter drill. The drill will involve a security threat or incident and all group members will be informed of the scenario on a timely basis.
New Officers
Scott Murphy will move into the position of Chairman, Gale Carovillano will move into the position of Vice Chairman, and Todd Smith graciously volunteered to take over the position of Secretary. All group members agreed to the nomination.
Spring 2003 Meeting
Plans are tentative for the spring meeting. All group members will be notified when plans are finalized and the website will be updated with the information.
All business concluded, the meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
_______________________
William J. Christian, Chairman
_______________________
P. Scott Murphy, Vice Chairman
_______________________
Gale Carovillano, Secretary