PG&E embraces NTSB’s safety recommendations for the gas pipeline industry

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) welcomes and embraces the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) new safety recommendations for the gas pipeline industry.

These recommendations were a result of a recent safety study on integrity management of gas transmission pipelines in urban areas completed by the NTSB. The study identified 28 recommendations that would expand and improve guidance on the application of the integrity management practices nationwide for gas operators, regulators and industry associations.

PG&E has already completed or is in the process of implementing many of these new safety recommendations that include:

• Completing the review of nearly 4 million records associated with all 6750 miles of PG&E’s transmission pipeline system to enhance knowledge of more than 400 000 pipeline components and associated attributes.
• Conducting a field survey of all 6750 miles of PG&E’s transmission pipeline system to verify the precise location of each line and to map its positional accuracy using high-precision GPS technology.
• Developing a comprehensive programme to consider all relevant pipeline condition data to help better evaluate and address risks to the integrity of the natural gas pipeline system.
• Launching an integrated gas transmission geographic information system to provide its gas professionals with multiple layers of pipeline data including material specifications, testing history, and maintenance and operations information that enhances PG&E’s integrity management capabilities.
• Establishing a multi-year plan to triple the ability for PG&E’s transmission pipelines to be inspected through inline inspections.
• Working across the natural gas pipeline industry to explore and leverage innovation in developing new inline inspection technologies to inspect pipelines previously considered ‘uninspectable’ with commercially available tools.
• Implementing enhanced training and qualifications of all personnel involved in the integrity management program.

“Over the past several years we have been building a safety-first culture, implementing best-in-class practices across gas operations and sharpening our focus to provide our customers with safe, reliable and affordable energy. These new NTSB recommendations will aid our industry and help keep our company on the path toward becoming the safest, most reliable gas system in the nation,” said Nick Stavropoulos, PG&E’s Executive Vice President of gas operations.

Additionally PG&E has closed nine out of 12 safety recommendations in response to the 2010 pipeline accident in San Bruno. Of the three remaining safety recommendations, the NTSB considers PG&E's progress "open-acceptable response," which means acceptable progress, pending completion.

"We continue to make real, measurable progress to improve our gas system. We are pleased to have completed nine out of 12 NTSB recommendations, but there is still more work to be done. We are focused not only on fulfilling the remaining three recommendations, but also continuing to implement these new NTSB safety recommendations as part of our commitment to provide our customers safe, reliable and affordable gas service,” said Stavropoulos.

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/19032015/pge-embraces-ntsbs-safety-recommendations-for-the-gas-pipeline-industry/