Alaska Arc User Group: Calendar

Next Meeting

April 21

Presenter:
Justin Crowther

Topic:
Monitoring Natural Gas Pipelines Using ESRI’s ArcGIS Mobile and Web Applications

Abstract:
Alaska Pipeline Company (APC), a division of SEMCO Energy Inc., is the sister company of ENSTAR Natural Gas Company (ENSTAR), a local gas utility servicing southcentral, Alaska. APC, operated by ENSTAR employees, constructs, maintains and operates the High Pressure Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline system for natural gas delivery to Alaska residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Both APC and ENSTAR are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) under 49 CFR 192.

Among the many PHMSA requirements, APC is required to regularly analyze our transmission pipeline system and identify segments that pose elevated risk to human life, property, and the environment. Once identified, pipeline operators are required to devote additional focus, efforts and analysis within these segments to ensure the integrity of the pipeline and the safety of the public and property. The pipeline segment categories that APC must identify in accordance with 49 CFR 192 is called High Consequence Areas (HCA).

HCAs are locales or areas along segments of the transmission pipeline system located within the pipeline’s Potential Impact Radius (PIR), and contain 20 or more structures intended for human occupancy; buildings housing populations of limited mobility; buildings that would be hard to evacuate (e.g., nursing homes, schools); or buildings and outside areas occupied by more than 20 persons on a specified minimum number of days each year. HCAs require yearly verification that identified sites, per PHMSA regulation, still meet the HCA requirements. Identifying, confirming, and managing HCAs is a core function of APC since the rule was published in the Federal Register in 2003, but previous to 2019 this process was entirely completed with paper surveys.

In order to comply with the Federal Pipeline Safety Regulations and increase efficiencies, ENSTAR’s GIS team developed tools for HCA’s to effectively and efficiently identify and verify HCAs. ENSTAR used ArcGIS Collector and Survey123 that provided field crews with historical documentation in the field and collection tools to survey/document HCA sites. In addition, ENSTAR GIS developed web application for managers and office staff to track progress and verify that identified HCA sites meet PHMSA requirements.

Attend Remotely:
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Call-in Number
+1 339-545-2547
PIN: 843 242 460#

Please see the AAUG Calendar for upcoming meeting dates!

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