With the attitude of “let’s not blow it – good planets are hard to find,” the Linc Energy Blog is writing about energy. We’ll explore alternative energy and conventional energy. We’re interesting in providing an outlet to voice thoughts on bridging fossil fuels like natural gas to alternative energy.
Susan Bender started selling to the natural gas industry in 1980. In 1990 she founded Linc Energy Systems, where she remains as President and CEO. She attributes her success to her philosophy, “The customer is king (or queen),” which remains part of her company’s mission.
Operator Qualification Training (OQ) is a safeguard mandated through congress from 1992 and is currently enforced through Pipeline Safety Acts. To ensure the safe transportation of hazardous liquids and gases through pipelines, operators must be qualified. The burden of getting pipeline operators properly trained lies on private pipelines or pipeline contractors.
In a down economy, manufacturers are becoming more creative by suggesting the reuse, recycle, repair or even exchange of their existing equipment rather than investing in new products. I’m seeing more and more manufacturers offering renovation or exchange programs such as DUALCO, the manufacturer of hydraulic grease guns for valve maintenance.
If you have a DUALCO hydraulic grease gun (models: 11035 and 11000R) that is in need of repair or service, rather than spending nearly $700 on new equipment consider having your existing grease gun refurbished or exchanged for a fraction of the cost. If your equipment is not corroded or abused and all its components are fully assembled, it is a prime candidate for this program.
For those owning competitive lubricant guns, DUALCO can rebuild or repair most hydraulic guns as the parts are usually interchangeable.
After the equipment is received by DUALCO it is inspected. While most hydraulic guns can be repaired, if DUALCO cannot rebuild or repair it, the customer is contacted to discuss options. As part of the program the units are: disassembled, major parts are re-plated (for model 11035), the rebuilt gun is assembled, new fluid is added, it’s inspected, tested and repacked. Included in the parts which are replaced are all “O” rings, leather cups, fluid bag/bleeder assembly, plunger and check valve ball, spring, washer and filter.
There are some components not included in this program. However they can be replaced if missing or damaged at an additional cost. Those components are: body, fulcrum assembly, grease barrel, grease barrel cap, fluid bag barrel or the fluid bag barrel cap.
DUALCO warrants the work up to 90 days. The cost of the rebuilding or exchange program is $289 which offers 60% savings over the cost of acquiring new equipment. Should a customer require exchanging the gauge and hose that cost is $199. If both programs are exercised (standard plus gauge and hose), the savings is 30% versus the cost of new equipment.
While these programs appear to be hardly a windfall, they show how manufacturers like DUALCO are stepping up and offering creative solutions when budgets are tight. To learn more about this program, email
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
The latest natural gas explosion in Philadelphia sounds the alarm for immediate action in improving the safety of natural gas pipelines. Tuesday night's explosion resulted in the death of one Philadelphia Gas Works employee and has left five others wounded including a local fireman. Eyewitnesses saw a 50 foot fireball erupting into the air over a northeast Philly neighborhood resulting in the evacuation of nearby residents and businesses.
This event comes on the heels of the devastating natural gas pipeline explosion that leveled a San Bruno neighborhood this past September. That incident left eight people dead with 20 others injured. The blast created a crater at the epicenter damaging 173 homes. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a shock wave similar to a 1.1 magnitude earthquake. Following the event, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) was heavily scrutinized for ignoring the warnings of a state inspector in 2009 for failing to provide adequate safety procedures. The incident currently remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Sunday that erroneous record keeping by PG&E, the owner of the San Bruno pipeline, might have caused the deadly explosion. Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) agrees and expanded in an statement released earlier this month, “While the cause of the explosion is still under investigation, I believe the evidence is mounting that PG&E’s cursory review of an aging infrastructure coupled with operator error contributed to the explosion and fire that killed eight people,” she said in a statement released in early January.
Representative Speier has sponsored a new bill, H.R. 22 Pipeline Safety and Community Empowerment Act of 2011 aimed at improving the safety of natural gas pipelines. This bill follows legislation that California Senators Diannne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer introduced after the San Bruno tragedy. This bill would enhance pipeline safety by providing communities with access to improved information concerning the equipment and operations of pipeline facilities.
PG&E has been accused of temporarily spiking pressure on major gas transmission lines since 2003. Two of those were on the San Bruno line that exploded just two years after the surge. Some experts believe deliberate pressure surges can strain old lines and weaken welds of a pipeline. Critics suspect that PG&E began pinching off the weaker lines for short stretches and then spiking other lines to the legal limit in order to set a higher inspection threshold and avoid the need for expensive water-pressure tests should an accidental surge occur.
The most recent pipeline accident is well too reminiscent of the San Bruno disaster. How many other natural gas and retail energy providers are there in the U.S. that might follow risky and unsafe practices like PG&E and the Philadelphia Gas Works? Rep. Speier calls these events “Russian roulette” and feels as though natural gas carriers are grossly irresponsible in placing ratepayers at this kind of risk.
Since the San Bruno incident there have been nearly ten pipeline accidents. The Philadelphia explosion makes you wonder … where next? Isn’t it time we beef up the safety of our pipelines?
Why risk the lives of workers, or damage to the environment or incur litigation costs and penalties, when there are simple ways to promote damage prevention of your pipeline?
According to the Office of Pipeline Safety, the single greatest cause of accidents among natural gas distribution and transmission lines is digging by third party excavators.1 The PHMSA’s (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) website also suggests “a major cause of pipeline accidents is careless digging.”2
In June of this year, there were two back-to-back accidents in Cleburne and Darrouzett, Texas, where third party excavators damaged natural gas lines resulting in a rupture and explosion. Many were injured and three people died. In both accidents the pipelines were not clearly marked. At the Johnson County incident, there was only one permanent pipeline marker and it was about a quarter of a mile away, obscured by high vegetation. Enterprise Pipeline, the owner of the pipeline was found to be in violation of six pipeline safety rules and fined $120,000.3
The AGA (American Gas Association) states that the Natural Gas Industry spends in excess of six billion dollars each year in safety programs which include: 811 or “One-Call” program, marking pipelines, inspections and awareness. Yet, with all the programs and precautions taken, it comes down to one thing – pipeline safety begins with visibility. If you can see it – it’s more likely you won’t hit it and you’ll avoid an incident.
Improve visibility of pipelines to promote damage prevention
Keeping visibility in mind, there are some simple and relatively inexpensive ways to promote damage prevention of pipelines by improving the visibility of the underground utilities:
Pipeline Markers – the U.S. Department of Transportation requires that signs mark an approximate location of a pipeline. In general, they are placed at road, railroad and waterway crossings, except in urban areas where line locator services are available. Rhino Marking and Protection Systems revolutionized the Damage Prevention industry when they introduced their TriView marking system in 1997. The marker provides 360° visibility, is impact resistant, durable, weather resistant and green.
"Call Before You Dig” or “One-Call” Program – 811 is a relatively new federally-mandated program developed to provide an excavator a way to have the utilities marked prior to excavation.
Wrap Pipes for Visible Protection While Excavating – After calling 811 and the facilities have been marked, a contractor can carefully expose the pipeline and install a pipeline wrap which improves the visibility and protects the pipeline integrity during excavation. View the video below to demonstrate how Safety Wrap offers pipeline protection during excavation.
Damage prevention starts before digging
There is a proactive way companies can protect themselves from costly litigation and fines, like those penalties Enterprise Pipeline is currently facing. The CGA One-Call Systems and Damage Prevention Best Practices recommend that a contractor take and document the excavation site before digging. 4
“If locate markings are adequately documented through the use of photographs, video tape, or sketches before excavation work begins, it will be easier to resolve disputes if an underground facility is damaged due to improper marking, failure to mark, or markings that have been moved, removed, or covered. It is important for excavators and locators to document the location of markings before excavation work begins. The primary purpose of this best practice is to avoid unnecessary litigation and expensive legal fees for all parties involved.”
By following this CGA Best Practice by marking ines before a hit, the excavator protects themselves against expensive litigation and penalties like Enterprise is currently facing. There are commercial “hit kits” which provide contractors marking posts and measurement tools needed to create photographic documentation which can be used to keep you out of court.
Perhaps we can learn from the recent tragic accidents in Texas. There are simple and relatively inexpensive ways to improve visibility of underground facilities and prevent accidents. We could better use programs like the “Call Before You Dig.” We should comply with DOT line marker regulations. We could enhance excavation methods by wrapping pipelines during excavating, and we could proactively document excavation sites before digging.
Picture above: The Rhino HIT Kit is compliant with CGA Best Practices 5-11, where the contractor clearly documents markings and protect him or her from costly litigation.
SafetyWrap video:
1 Parfomak, P. CRS Report for Congress – Pipeline Safety and Secrurity: Federal Programs, 2008. Page 13.
2 PHMSA. Retrieved on October 6, 2010, from (http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/portal/site/PHMSA/menuitem.ebdc7a8a7e39f2e55cf2031050248a0c/?vgnextoid=2c6924cc45ea4110VgnVCM1000009ed07898RCRD&vgnextchannel=f7280665b91ac010VgnVCM1000008049a8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=print#QA_2
3 LUNA, T., September 1, 2010. Report: Human error caused June natural gas pipeline explosion that killed 1 in Johnson County. Retrieved October 6, 2010, from http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/090210dnmetexplosion.affe1b96.html
4 CGA Common Ground Alliance Best Practices Version 7.0. Retrieved October 6, 2010 from, http://www.commongroundalliance.com/Content/NavigationMenu/Best_Practices/Best_Practices_2010/BP_7.0_Final_March2010.pdf
We are currently booking OQ Training classes to train your employees to comply with PHMSA’s training requirements. Recommended course topics are: Corrosion Control, Leak Detection, Pipeline Repair, Pressure Regulators/Relief Devices, Gauges/Charts, Locating Underground Facilities and Tracer Wires, Valve Maintenance, Purging Pipelines, Patrolling & Continuing Surveillance and Abnormal Operating Conditions. Learn more.
Our Most Economical Flowmeter
The Sage Clear is the right choice for those customers who want the benefits of mass flow measurement without the bells and whistles of the Sage Prime or Prism. This is the most economical model, yet it is still packed with extensive features and benefits. It is housed in a NEMA 4 indoor enclosure and has the ability to be upgraded to include communications. (Read More)
If you have a DUALCO hydraulic grease gun (models: 11035 and 11000R) that is in need of repair or service, rather than spending nearly $700 on new equipment consider having your existing grease gun refurbished or exchanged for a fraction of the cost. If your equipment is not corroded or abused and all its components are fully assembled, it is a prime candidate for this program.
Keeping visibility in mind, there are some simple and relatively inexpensive ways to promote damage prevention of pipelines by improving the visibility of the underground utilities:
"
By following this CGA Best Practice by marking ines before a hit, the excavator protects themselves against expensive litigation and penalties like Enterprise is currently facing. There are commercial “hit kits” which provide contractors marking posts and measurement tools needed to create photographic documentation which can be used to keep you out of court.
