Mid-Atlantic Contingency Planning Group

May 1, 2007

Minutes

 

The Spring 2007 meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Contingency Planning Group was held in Roanoke, WV and hosted by Columbia Gas Transmission. 

 

Attendance:

Drew Moncol               Virginia Power                                      Chairman

David Blake                 Columbia Gas Transmission                  Vice Chairman

Ed Turowski                 Baltimore Gas & Electric                      Secretary

 

Tom Gibson                 Columbia Distribution

Skip Hall                      Columbia Distribution

Mike Ripley                  Columbia Distribution

Dan Scarberry              Dominion East Ohio

Tim Clark                     Columbia Gas Transmission

Geof Kimpel                 NGO Transmission

Ben Ware                     AGL Resources/VNG

Wayne Rutledge           AGL Resources/VNG

Bill Evens                     Columbia Gas Transmission

Todd Smith                  Roanoke Gas

Michael Gagnet            Roanoke Gas

Jim Hornsby                 Duke Energy

Joe Merritt                   Duke Energy

Barry Ranson               Dominion Transmission

John Richardson           VA Power

Danny Green                WGL

Nimmie Hickman          WGL

James Cosgrove           WGL

Bill Christian                 Columbia Gas Transmission

Jody Derrickson           Dominion Transmission

Wayne Page                 Spectra Energy/East Tennessee Gas     

 

Chairmen Drew Moncol called the meeting to order at 1 pm.

 

The meeting began with all participants offering a recap of the 2006/2007 winter operating season.

 

Winter Operating Season

 

Roanoke Gas:

Mike Gagnet reported that the winter was warmer than normal winter as evidenced by their 30 year Heating Degree day data.  On average, the winter in the Roanoke and Bluefield areas was approximately 14% and 16% warmer than normal respectively.    

 

 

 

VNG:

Reported that the winter 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 winter throughout the territories served by the Columbia Distribution companies ( Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio & Virginia)  Every month except for February turned out to be warmer than normal.  The end of March 2007 storage quantities were much less than at the same time in 2006.  February 2007, was considerably colder than normal and in some states was the 3rd or 4th coldest February on record.

 

Columbia Gas Transmission:

Winter was 8.2% warmer than normal in Columbia’s operating areas.  Peak day occurred on February 5th with a total through put of 7.0 BCF at an average daily temperature of 6 degrees.

Storage began the winter at 96.3% full and finished at 20.8% full. Withdrawals from storage were 40 BCF higher in 2006/2007 than in 2005/2006.

 

East Ohio:

Reported a system peak usage on February 5, 2007.  The peak was about 1% less than previous years given the same temperature.  This is evidence of continued conservation efforts.

 

East Tennessee Gas:

David Blake reported for East Tennessee Gas. Winter was steady with the peak occurring in February 2007.  Reported a peak day on February 16th with 912,000 Dth delivered. Utilized LNG and storage caverns extensively throughout the winter.

 

Dominion Transmission Inc:

Jody Derrickson reported that Dominion achieved its peak 2006/2007 winter day on February 5th.  Cove Point LNG achieved a peak on March 6th.

Barry Ranson discussed the preparation and precaution that DTI is taking to ensure they can meet the challenges of for a pandemic flu outbreak.

 

BGE:

Ed Turowski reported that the winter of 2006/2007 was 6.5% warmer than normal.  BGE set a record on February 5th when system usage was 840,107 Dth/Day.

 

Virginia Power:

Set a new Hourly Winter Peak of 18,000 MW on February 6, 2007.

 

WGL:

Set a system usage record on February 5, with a total of 1.6 BCF.

 

 

Discussion on Pipeline Integrity Program

The group discussed challenges meeting the Transmission and Distribution Pipeline Integrity regulation.  The Transmission members provided particular insight on their experiences with “smart pigging.”

 

Gas Control Room Management

Skip Hall led a discussion on the expected NOPR issued by PHMSA by the 4th quarter of 2007.  Skip distributed documents outlining the proposed NOPR and how Gas Control Rooms will need to conform.  Some of the discussion points were operator fatigue, SCADA Alarm management, shift turn-over procedures and education on circadian cycles.

Skip reminded the group of the upcoming Control Room Management Public workshop set for May 23, 2007 in Washington DC.

 

 

Summer Maintenance and Operations

 

Dominion Transmission Inc.

Scheduled to “smart pig” 400 miles of pipeline in 2007

Cove Point will be out of service for the month of June to accommodate expansion related construction activities.  

By the fall of 2008 Cove Point LNG will have a storage capacity of 14.5 BCF with a daily send out capability of 1.8 BCF.

 

Columbia Gas Transmission:

Columbia will continue with its pigging program this summer.  Construction schedule is posted on the navigator website.

 

Virginia Power:

Gas should remain competitive with No. 2 oil this summer.

Will be adding 2 peaking CT’s at the Ladysmith Power station

 

Columbia Distribution Companies:

NOAA is predicting a normal summer with respect to temperatures across the nation.  A warmer than normal anomaly is expected in the southeastern portion of the US.

The hurricane season is predicted to be an active one in 2007 with

 

2007 Fall Meeting:

The fall meeting will be hosted by Virginia Power in the Richmond area.  Details on dates, times and location will be posted to the Website and forwarded to all members when they become available.

 

Gas Control Room management will be the primary discussion topic at the fall meeting.

 

The Meeting was adjourned at 4:00pm

 

Ed Turowski

BGE

 

 

 

Suggestions for improvement:

 

How can the Meetings better serve your company?

 

 

 

 

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Any other improvement suggestion you have:

 

 

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