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SOGO 2024 – 2025 Speaker
and Activity Schedule
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1
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October 17, 2024: Mark Bridgers,
Continuum Consulting
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Transformation…Let
Me Count the Ways!
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COVID19
is demarcation point that we will forever use as a before and after
date. The transformation wrought,
while it feels extreme already, is only just beginning. In this session, Mark looks forward
1-2 years economically, politically, and market wise followed by a 10-year
future depiction of what the decade ahead will hold. Hang on tight as we explore the next
decade and speak to the US role in the world; global economic conditions;
the push toward full electrification; ascendancy or collapse of China and
India; Middle East & Africa influences; accelerating pressure on fossil
fuels; the application and use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine
Learning; among other topics.
All of these transformations will shape the North American pipeline
market and Mark will provide insights into where the markets are headed to
assist attendees as they shape their firm’s strategy over the next
business cycle.
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2
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November 21, 2024: Kevin Gross
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The Sniff Test…..We Need to
Talk – A modern look at Odorant Detection in the U.S.
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Although
olfactory determination of the presence of odorant in natural gas systems
is important, most operators find it difficult to produce accurate and
repeatable results. Human
olfactory senses vary widely and make it difficult to rely on the results
delivered by technicians. Emerging technologies make it easier to test and
produce significantly better results whilst still accommodating some level
of olfactory testing. A
discussion of this technology as well as techniques and equipment used in
other developed countries will ensure a lively debate!
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3
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December
19, 2024 – Holiday Gathering
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4
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January
16, 2025: Jim Francis
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The
PSMS Leads to Safety Culture Enhancement
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Jim will discuss how
an effective pipeline safety management system will enable an organization
to improve operating and safety processes to mitigate risks. As a result of proactively
mitigating risk, the pipeline safety management system will drive positive
enhancements to a company's safety culture.
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5
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February
20, 2025: Combined meeting with Society of Gas Lighters
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Topic: To
Be Determined
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6
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March 20, 2025: Andy Lawton & Nick Villar,
Pond Company
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NPRM -Safety of Gas
Distribution Pipelines
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Andy
& Nick will provide an overview of PHMSA’s latest Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from PHMSA regarding Distribution Integrity
Management Plans (DIMP). We will focus on PHMSA’s proposed safety revisions
and how they could impact gas distribution pipeline operators.
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7
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April
17, 2025: Paul Pirro, NYSEARCH
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NGA-NYSEARCH
Development of Non-Destructive Evaluations of PE Pipe Joints Using
X-Ray/Phased Array
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Over
the years, the only way to prove that a PE pipe joint, whether produced by electrofusion or butt fusion, was defective after being
installed in the field involved destructive testing by excavating, cutting
out and dissecting. If a gas
utility was found to have a defective PE joint after a major gas leak or
incident, state regulators would request for additional joints to be
excavated, cut out and dissected to determine whether they were
acceptable.
Within
the past 10 years, advancements in radiographic technology has made it
possible to perform non-destructive evaluations (NDE) using 3 separate
types of technology that have the capability of producing internal images
and data to prove whether PE pipe joints are viable or contain a flaw. The
three technologies are X-Ray testing, Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing
(PAUT), and Terahertz (Microwave) Testing. Each NYSEARCH NDE project
involved fabrication of sample PE pipe joints with embedded defects for
early trials, development, testing and verification of NDE tools and
techniques.
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8
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May
15, 2025
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Presentation of the Dick Morgan Heroism Award
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