Feds increased, but state cut gas-safety funding

Gas utility assessments cover pipeline inspections, but is funding enough to protect the public?

February 26, 2011|By Tim Darragh and Scott Kraus, OF THE MORNING CALL

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  KEVIN MINGORA, THE MORNING CALL

Fatal gas pipeline explosions in Allentown and Philadelphia this year are casting light on whether the nation's pipeline-inspection system, funded by state and federal assessments on gas utilities, is adequate to keep the public safe.

Pipeline safety became an increasing federal responsibility in recent years, after a deadly 1999 blast in Bellingham, Wash. Since then, Congress created a new federal agency to oversee pipeline safety and Washington has promised more money to states.

But as Washington shouldered more of the cost, assessing more fees on utilities to cover safety inspections, Pennsylvania cut back on its financial demands on utilities. So even as federal funding for safety inspections in Pennsylvania doubled between 2006 and 2010, the state cut its share by 30 percent.

Despite that cut, and thanks to the federal government's bolstering of safety-inspection funding, the total budget for inspections in Pennsylvania has grown about 4 percent a year since 2006.

SOURCE: The Morning Call

Lightning Damage

Wrapping tracer wire around plastic pipe is sometimes done to ensure accurate locates, but you run the risk of lightning strikes running down the tracer wire and melting holes in the pipe.

CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE OBTAINS AN IMPORTANT PATENT FOR A GPS DRIVEN UTILITY ASSET MANAGEMENT AND DAMAGE PREVENTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

LOS ANGELES -- Second graph, second sentence of release, patent number should read: 7,834,806 (sted 7,482,973).

The corrected release reads:

CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE OBTAINS AN IMPORTANT PATENT FOR A GPS DRIVEN UTILITY ASSET MANAGEMENT AND DAMAGE PREVENTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Christie, Parker & Hale LLP, one of Southern California's leading intellectual property law firms, announced today that the firm prosecuted another major patent application through issuance, for its client, Guardian ProStar, Inc. of Grand Junction, Colorado.

“We are excited to have played a significant role in the issuance of this patent for our client,” said Raymond R. Tabandeh, the CPH partner who prosecuted the patent. The patent, U.S. Pat. No. 7,834,806, pertains to collecting and managing data and information about utility assets buried under the ground. This data is required to make numerous business decisions like how, when and where excavators should or should not be digging the ground. The asset data is collected and integrated with GIS landbase and topography data in a precision grid, in real time. The data may then be stored to be utilized by the utility, construction, government, and other organizations. The extensive data may be integrated with commercially available map data, such as Google Map™.

"Inaccurate mapping and lack of sharing of buried asset location management information continues to be a major problem throughout the U.S. and abroad. Events, including the recent gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California, which resulted in several loss of lives and significant damage to the environment, are directly related to ineffective asset data management practices and inaccurate data," Tabandeh added.

ProStar’s Chief Executive Officer, Page Tucker stated: "The nation’s infrastructure highway and roadway, as well as the buried infrastructure that includes the gas lines, fiber optic, sewer and water lines are aging. Additionally, the increased construction activities in congested underground corridors add significant concerns to an already problematic situation. When coupled with poor planning and inaccurate asset location practices that have existed for several decades, you have a serious problem on your hands. This problem must be addressed, otherwise, recent catastrophic events that we have witnessed will continue to occur."

This latest patent adds increased value to a growing IP portfolio of ProStar that offers unique processes for precision data collection, storage and distribution, as well as excavation guidance systems.

Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2010/11/16/2642811/christie-parker-hale-obtains-an.html#ixzz15eRqnOtC






Source: SunHerald.com

Public Awareness Manager Patent

August 9, 2010 - Overland Park, KS

Celeritas is excited to announce that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has examined and formally issued a notice of allowance as a patent the invention known as the Public Awareness Manager.


"We're thrilled the USPTO has reached this conclusion and the PAM patent will serve as a tremendous asset and benefit to Celeritas customers for a long time," commented Brett Lester, Celeritas president. "Additionally, the patent will allow Celeritas to protect its intellectual property and expand on its web-based geographic information systems that support the energy marketplace."

The Public Awareness Manager was originally put into production back in 2003. Over 500 pipeline companies and thousands of individual users access the system from all across the country in support of energy related regulatory and compliance activities. The PAM now acts as the centerpiece for a number of complimentary GIS systems that support energy companies compliance activities dealing in large part with RP 1162 and CFR 49 parts 192 and 195.

Celeritas is especially happy that despite a recent legal decision that went against the company, the USPTO sided with Celeritas in acknowledging its invention and awarding this patent.

Source: Damage Prevention PROfessional- Fall 2010

New goal-based safety regulations will affect all stakeholders in Canada

September 2010

The National Energy Board (the NEB or "the Board") regulates more than 40,000 kilometers of pipelines throughout Canada under the authority provided to it within the National Energy Board Act. These pipelines operate continuously and safely delivering energy to satisfy the needs of Canadians and export markets.

Pipelines are often invisible. After their initial construction, all that may be left to indicate their presence are signs at fence lines and road crossings or clearings along the pipeline right of way. The NEV believes that the safety and integrity of Canada's pipelines depend on public awareness and industry involvement. Activities which occur near pipelines and which have the potential to damage pipelines regulated by the Board in the public interest. Currently, these activities are governed by the National Energy Board Pipeline Crossing Regulations.

The National Energy Board Damage Prevention Regulations were released in the Canada Gazette in mid-August with a 30 day comment period which ended on September 13, 2010. These regulations are goal-based and are a significant departure from the existing and prescriptive Pipeline Crossing Regulations, Part l and Part ll which have been in place since 1988.

The change in regulation will affect all stakeholders of buried utilities in Canada from owners and operatirs of federally-regulated pipeline systems to the digging community and landowners. If you fall into one of these NEB websites at http://www.neb-one.gc.ca.

Source: Damage Prevention PROfessional Fall 2010

It's the law!

Last month we were shaken by the tragic San Bruno gas line explosion.  It rattled our nation raising suspicions that our pipelines are aging and corroding.  I address this a bit in my recent blog,Gas line explosion triggers nationwide pipeline regulation, which reveals new regulations may soon impact pipeline inspections.  While pipeline corrosion is currently under serious scrutiny, the single greatest cause of gas pipeline accidents is not corrosion related.  According to the Office of Pipeline Safety, the leading origin of pipeline accidents is digging by third party excavators.  In fact, in June this year two back-to-back explosions occurred when contractors excavated near pipelines in Texas, resulting in many injuries and three deaths.  Many years ago, Congress passed the national “Call Before You Dig” or “One –Call” program, also known as 811.  Its message started to take off in 2007 when CGA (Common Ground Alliance) launched a national program, however public awareness of the program still needs to be augmented.  For this reason, I’vedevoted our October and November newsletters to explore Damage Prevention.  Helping to increase awareness of the “One-Call” program seems like a good place to begin.  How does the 811 program work?  Read more in Call 811 before digging – it’s the law! This month, we’re showcasing two companies which specialize in damage prevention.  We’re thrilled to announce that we now offer Rhino line markers and products.  We’re also featuring Sensit gas leak detection equipment which offers state-of-the art instrumentation.  Of course visit our website to view our other fine manufacturers and products or view/print our product line. Source: LincEnergy e-newsletter

Acquisition Positions Caterpillar to Deliver Subsurface Imaging and Mapping Services

Summer 2010

Caterpillar Inc. has acquired all assets of Underground Imaging Technologies, Inc. (UTI) through its majority owned affiliate. Underground Imaging Technologies LCC. UIT is advanced geophysical services company and technology developer based in Latham, N.Y. The acquisition will give Caterpillar the capability to provide geophysical services, specializing in providing three-dimensional representations of underground utilities and other targets.

"UIT's geophysical expertise and advanced technologies will add dynamic new subsurface infrastructure capabilities to our Connected Worksite offerings," said Hans Haefeli, vice president with responsibility for the Caterpillar Advanced Systems Division. "But most important, this service provides detailed information that enables design engineers and contractors to proceed on underground projects with a clearer picture of the subsurface environment, contributing to both project cost savings and increased safety on the worksite."

"The use of advanced near-surface geophysical tools provides highly accurate three-dimensional images and digital maps of subsurface utilities and unknown objects," said Mark R. Wallbom, VEO of UIT. "Our portfolio of proprietary software and geophysical means and methods has high proprietary software and geophysical means and methods has high value for both design and construction projects. Identifying underground impediments- before design and construction begin- speeds the work, saves money and enhances safety. The technology also has potential applications in road building quality control, site evaluation, environmental surveys, and mapping geologic layers for mining applications."



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