2017 CGA Operations, Engineering and Integrity Conference

Sunday, April 2nd, 2017-Tuesday, April 4th, 2017
The Westin Nova Scotian

 
Halifax, NS

 

2017 CGA Operations, Engineering, and Integrity Conference Program

Seizing the Natural Gas Opportunity

Sunday, April 2nd, 2017
Special Thanks to our Gold Sponsors C.R. Wall & Co Inc. and Foothills Industrial Products

 

  

12:00 pm - 7:00 pmEarly Registration
Coat Check

2:00 pm - 4:00 pmExhibitor Set Up Only
Commonwealth AB

6:00 pm - 6:30 pmHistoric Walk to Earlybird Function (pre-registration mandatory to participate)
Coat Check
Meet with one of our tour guides at the registration desk. Your guide will provide you with a historic jaunt to the Earlybird function, allowing you to take in some of the highlights of the history of Halifax.
Delegates must registered for the tour before March 16th. Delegates may proceed to the Earlybird function on their own without participating in the tour if they wish. Preregistration for attending the Earlybird function itself is mandatory.
6:00 pm - 9:00 pmEarlybird Meet and Greet



5136 Prince St, Halifax


Delegates must retrieve their name tag at registration before attending the Earlybird function.

Monday, April 3rd, 2017
Special Thanks to our Gold Sponsors C.R. Wall & Co Inc. and Foothills Industrial Products

 

8:00 am - 5:00 pmRegistration
Coat Check

8:00 am - 9:00 amBreakfast with Exhibitors
Commonwealth AB
Breakfast sponsored by:

9:00 am - 9:15 amChair's Opening Remarks & CGA Welcome
Atlantic Ballroom
Chris MacAulay, Conference Chair
Jim Tweedie, Canadian Gas Association

9:15 am - 9:30 amHost Welcome
Atlantic Ballroom
John Hawkins, Heritage Gas Limited

9:30 am - 10:00 amSafety Awards
Atlantic Ballroom

-- Our Value, Our Purpose, Our Legacy --
10:00 am - 10:45 amPlenary 1 - Realities and Absurdities in Canadian Energy Policies
Atlantic Ballroom
Jeffrey Simpson, National Affairs, The Globe and Mail
Can Canada find its way through the thicket of political, economic, regulatory, environmental and aboriginal obstacles to finding an energy policy that acknowledges the reality of climate change and the need for energy, including the essential role for natural gas? The author of a book on climate change and much- decorated columnist for The Globe and Mail will explore these issues.
10:45 am - 11:00 amRefreshments with Exhibitors
Commonwealth AB
Refreshment Break sponsored by :

11:00 am - 11:45 amPlenary 2 – The Natural Gas Opportunity
Atlantic Ballroom
Moderator: Timothy Egan, President & CEO, Canadian Gas Association
John Hawkins, Heritage Gas Limited
Nathan Carter, Vice President, Edmonton Region Operations, Gas Distribution, ATCO Pipelines & Liquids Global Business Unit
Roger Dall'Antonia, Executive Vice President, Customer Service & Technology , FortisBC
The focus of this executive panel would be the industry’s future, the opportunities, challenges & threats facing us & the value of our industry is a key enabler of renewables, technologies, wind & solar alternatives & the resilience of the power grid as well as a foundational fuel for prosperity, quality of life & lower emissions.
11:45 am - 12:15 pmWhat’s Current Session
Atlantic Ballroom

12:15 pm - 1:30 pmLunch with Exhibitors
Commonwealth AB
Lunch sponsored by:

-- Paving our Path to our Future --
1:30 pm - 1:45 pmRecap of Morning Session
Atlantic Ballroom
Chris MacAulay, Conference Chair
1:45 pm - 2:30 pmPlenary 3 – Atlantic Canada Common Ground Alliance
Atlantic Ballroom
Denis Courchesne, President, InfoExcavation
Todd Scott, Manager, Safety and Operational Reliability, EGNB
Over the last 15 to 20 years, Atlantic Canada has seen significant change in our attitudes and approach to protecting our buried infrastructure. The development of regional natural gas resources, the construction of processing/transmission facilities and the installation of municipal distribution infrastructure has been a positive influence towards this change. Atlantic Canada finds itself moving to a positive direction with regards to protection and safe operation of our underground utilities. Lately we joined Info-Excavation as an One Call service for all Atlantic provinces. Info-Excavation have proved its efficiency and its use of advanced technologies in Quebec, being a leader for the damage prevention activities.
2:30 pm - 2:45 pmMove to concurrents (coffee service will be provided at 3:30 pm – please proceed directly to your concurrent session).
2:45 pm - 3:30 pm
Environment: Methane Emissions Reduction
Bedford Room
Richard Waller, Foothills Industrial Products
Bryden Berkvens, Union Gas
Reducing methane emissions has emerged to become a key focus of the natural gas industry. This session will explore the innovative methods currently being employed to achieve reduction targets, and the new technologies that will help in the near future.
2:45 pm - 3:30 pmDesign: Union Gas’ Asset Plan
Maritime Room
Angela Scott, Manager of Pipeline Engineering , Union Gas
Todd Piercey, Union Gas
Recently, the Ontario Energy Board decided that future rate applications require an asset plan as part of the filing. An asset plan is a 5-10 year forecast of all the required capital spend for the company and includes the following engineering-related categories: system reinforcement due to growth and system integrity spend. Union Gas has spent over a year developing their first Asset Plan and will review the process of creating the plan, the outcomes and benefits of completing a plan.
2:45 pm - 3:30 pmBuild: ATCO's Urban Pipeline Replacement Program - Executing Complex HDD
Lunenberg Room
Rob Love, Engineer, Urban Pipeline Replacement Calgary, ATCO Pipelines & Liquids Global Business Unit, ATCO
Horizontal directional drilling, or HDD, is a steerable trenchless method of pipe installation common in the pipeline industry. HDDs can present risks with serious implications to both cost and schedule to a project. Through proper planning and execution, these risks can be mitigated. This presentation examines real world HDDs encountered during ATCO’s Urban Pipeline Replacement Program and how they were successfully completed.
2:45 pm - 3:30 pmOperate: It’s a Bird It’s a Plane, its AMR
Northumberland Room
Nathan Lesage, AltaGas Utilities
AltaGas will share ways they have been innovative in their approach to collecting Automated Meter Reading (AMR) information to improve meter reading accuracy and become more operationally efficient. In this session AltaGas will share how they are leveraging Itron AMR in collaboration with Stratocom Solutions, a North American-based aerial data collection contractor, to collect data across their expansive service territory. They will share lessons learned and ways they have been able to automate meter reading across a large service territory that includes a number of geographical challenges and hard-to-read meters.
2:45 pm - 3:30 pm(Vendors and Exhibitors Only) Operator panel discussion on 5 year utility outlook
Atlantic Ballroom
We invite all vendors and exhibitors attending the CGA Operations, Engineering, and Integrity Conference to attend a panel discussion featuring three operator perspectives on natural gas distribution operations over the next 5 years. Topics of discussion may include operational impacts relative to cap and trade/carbon levy, emissions reductions, and the evolving government policy environment.
3:30 pm - 3:45 pmRefreshments with Exhibitors
Commonwealth AB
Refreshment Break sponsored by:

3:45 pm - 4:45 pmPlenary 4 – The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels
Atlantic Ballroom
Dr. Pierre Desrochers, Senior Fellow, Center for Industrial Progress
In the last two centuries every indicator of human well-being (e.g. life expectancy, income per capita, hunger and infant mortality) has improved dramatically as a direct result of greater use of carbon fuels. By replacing resources harvested on the surface of our planet by coal, petroleum and natural gas, humans have also dramatically improved air and water quality and expanded the forest cover in developed economies. Dr. Desrochers will explain why, in the absence of truly superior alternatives, curtailing carbon fuel use will harm both human society and the environment. Far from being an addiction, carbon fuels have delivered benefits that greatly exceed any potential risk associated with their use.
4:45 pmClosing Remarks
Atlantic Ballroom
5:00 pm - 6:30 pmReception with Exhibitors
Commonwealth AB

6:30 pm - 8:30 pmOEI Dinner and Entertainment
Atlantic Ballroom
Dinner sponsored by:


Tuesday, April 4th, 2017
Special Thanks to our Gold Sponsors C.R. Wall & Co Inc. and Foothills Industrial Products

 

8:00 am - 1:00 pmRegistration
Coat Check
8:00 am - 9:00 amBreakfast with Exhibitors
Commonwealth AB
Breakfast sponsored by:

9:00 am - 9:15 amRecap of Day One
Atlantic Ballroom
Chris MacAulay, Conference Chair
-- From Concept to Creation - Building Visions, Creating Reality --
9:15 am - 10:00 amPlenary 5 - Fundamentals of Strong Safety Culture
Atlantic Ballroom
Stephen Sayle, CEO, SayleGroup Inc. /, President & Managing Director, SayleHSE Inc.
Stop Searching for a Safety Culture – You Already Have One. Whether you know it or not, you already have a Safety Culture. It is either strong or weak, helpful or harmful, but it is there underlying everything your organization does.
10:00 am - 10:15 amMove to concurrents (coffee service will be provided at 11 am – please proceed directly to your concurrent session).
10:15 am - 11:00 am
Environment: Cap & Trade: Challenges and Opportunities
Bedford Room
Sarah Van Der Paelt, Director of Distribution Business Development and Strategic Accounts, Union Gas
Ontario has moved swiftly to implement a cap-and-trade system by January 1, 2017. This session will explore the impacts of implementing the cap and trade system on regulated natural gas utilities and its customers. It will also discuss the opportunities this has presented for natural gas to be part of the solution in the movement to a low-carbon economy.
10:15 am - 11:00 amDesign: Safety and Loss Management Workshop
Maritime Room
David Petursson, Manitoba Hydro
Safety remains at the core of all operations undertaken by organizations in the natural gas delivery industry. The safety of the public, employees, and the environment are of the highest concern. Natural gas delivery companies implement a variety of measures that mitigate against small and large-scale operational incidents. The CGA Continuous Improvement Task Force’s Fall Workshop 2016 examined Safety and Loss Management (SLM), as outlined in Clause 3 of CSA Z662. SLM is a structured, systematic approach to build commitment to a strong safety culture, to understand hazards and risks, to manage risks and learn from experience to prevent unintentional releases of natural gas.
10:15 am - 11:00 amBuild: Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline Project
Lunenberg Room
Michael Flaherty, FortisBC
FortisBC has since been actively developing a plan to expand its existing Vancouver Island Transmission System (Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline (“EGP”) Project). Environmental, public, First Nations, regulatory and construction challenges are present on almost every metre of the pipeline route for the EGP Project. Several possible solutions to the issues raised will be discussed.
10:15 am - 11:00 amOperate: Improving Efficiency in Pipeline Integrity Programs through Geospatial Analysis of Data
Northumberland Room
Kevin Morgenstern, Manitoba Hydro
Geospatially analyzing data has the potential to improve the efficiency and accuracy of pipeline integrity programs while reducing constraints on operating budgets. Where traditional methods of using spreadsheets can be cumbersome and prone to human error, software programs with geospatial capabilities can reliably overlap broad data sets. Specific examples that this presentation will discuss include: - Combining broad data sources for pipeline risk modeling - Analysis of in-line inspection and depth of cover report data overlayed with fittings, orthgraphic photos, etc. - Thematic mapping of below grade leak trends to monitor for pipeline system degradation The overall message of this presentation is that geospatial methods can enable painting a picture that can tell 1000 words while presenting an effectively clear view of pipeline system integrity.
10:15 am - 11:00 am(Vendors and Exhibitors Only) SMC-OSEC Town-Hall
Atlantic Ballroom
We invite all vendors and exhibitors attending the CGA Operations, Engineering, and Integrity Conference to attend a “town-hall” meeting with the Operations Supplier Executive Committee (OSEC). OSEC has been in operation since 2008 and has been increasing its activity on behalf of the CGA supplier, manufacture, contractor community. Come for the opportunity to hear what OSEC is currently working on and to add your voice to the conversation.
11:00 am - 11:15 amRefreshments with Exhibitors
Commonwealth AB
Refreshment Break sponsored by:

11:15 am - 12:00 pmPlenary 6 - The Natural Gas Innovation Fund- The Innovation Approach for Emission Reduction
Atlantic Ballroom
John Adams, Canadian Gas Association
The Natural Gas Innovation Fund™ will bring together utilities, government, academia, incubators, accelerators, and technology developers in the natural gas value chain to fund natural gas innovation (projects) that reduce emissions, drive energy efficiency, and ensure the availability of affordable energy for customers.
12:00 pm - 12:15 pmRecap of Morning Session
Atlantic Ballroom
Chris MacAulay, Conference Chair
12:15 pm - 1:30 pmLunch with Exhibitors
Commonwealth AB
Lunch sponsored by:

-- Ever Forward, Ever Learning, Ever Improving --
1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Environment: Deploying RNG in the Grid and Investing in Novel RNG Technologies at Gaz Metro
Bedford Room
Don Beverly, Senior Advisor, Development and Renewable Energy, Gaz Metro
This presentation will discuss how policy development and regulatory framework influences the deployment of RNG projects. With successful deployment comes the need to invest in new technologies that permit expansion of RNG production capacity to exploit our forest biomass resource base.
1:30 pm - 2:15 pmDesign: Creating Realistic Cyber Security Policies for Industrial Control Systems
Maritime Room
David Blanco, SCADA Security Adviser, Autosol
Crafting a cyber security strategy that is simple enough to actually be implemented, yet nuanced enough to be effective is no easy task. By reconciling IT security solutions’ prioritization of confidentiality against ICS’s prioritization of availability, this session will present the principles that a successful cyber security policy can be built around.
1:30 pm - 2:15 pmBuild: The Benefits of Keyhole Technology
Lunenberg Room
Gerry Pumphrey, Enbridge Gas Distribution
Enbridge and it’s utilities contractors are employing the keyhole method daily for the use of exposing buried utilities under pavement versus the traditional jackhammer/backhoe/ street repair method. Major benefits include: a reduction in excavation; far less impact to surrounding pavement; a water-proof, maintenance-free, permanent street repair; and a reduction in impact to the motoring public. This is accomplished due to the significantly reduced repair time involved versus traditional excavation activity. Benefits to the utility and/or their contractor include significantly reduced street repair costs, reduced work crew and traffic control mobilization costs, and less damage to facilities.
1:30 pm - 2:15 pmOperate: Recent Developments/Outlook in Gas Distribution Technology
Northumberland Room
Nicholas Biederman, GOIA, LLC
The presentation first reviews recent innovations in gas operations’ tools, products and apps; and the outlook for cutting edge technologies. Near-term technologies that can potentially affect gas operations are reviewed. These technologies include augmented reality; 3D scanning for as-builts and installations; wireless sensors for asset management, condition monitoring and gas detection; potential use of UAVs; game-based learning for training; high-pressure plastic; robotics; 3D printing (additive manufacturing); and green technologies for gas operations.
2:15 pm - 2:30 pmMove to concurrents (coffee service will be provided in foyer at 3:15 pm – please proceed directly to your concurrent session).
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmExhibitor Tear Down
Commonwealth AB
2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
Environment: Advances in Vehicle-Based Leak Detection Technologies
Bedford Room
Dave Risk, Saint Francis Xavier University
The gas distribution industry has a longstanding commitment to leak detection and repair, and for many years vehicle-based gas sampling has been part of the survey process. However, traditional detection instruments cannot automatically geolocate sources, or differentiate on-the-fly between naturally occurring methane released from sewers or landfills from that of distribution pipelines. But, advances in measurement instrumentation, wind analysis, and real-time geomatics present new opportunities for distribution utilities. Although these new approaches are still not used on a widespread basis, they can help satisfy growing demands for transparency, and can also provide cost savings by reducing the need for foot surveys. This presentation will provide an overview of these new tools, explain how they work and how they have been tailored for the natural gas industry, and also what's on the horizon.
2:30 pm - 3:15 pmDesign: Paperless Engineering
Maritime Room
Sean Fitzpatrick, Principal, RKO Solutions
Automating Controlled Document Management in a Quality-Based Organization - How to Create and Retain Critical IP from a Retiring Workforce - Welcome to the NEW Enterprise: Your Controlled Documents Aren’t Within Your Control Anymore.
2:30 pm - 3:15 pmBuild: Best Practices for In-Service Welding and Hot Tapping
Lunenberg Room
Tran Mah-Paulson, Sr. Welding / Project Engineer, TD Williamson
In-Service welding and hot tapping require particular considerations from job preparation, to installation the fitting, inspecting the fitting and performing the hot tap. Particular significance should be given to the quality practices required to ensure appropriate documentation and proof of quality installation. This session will focus on the elements of a quality program that are necessary in order to ensure a safely installed hot tap connection.
2:30 pm - 3:15 pmOperate: How Increased Detection Precision Can Help Leak Survey
Northumberland Room
Jason Samara, Enbridge
For the past 3 years Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. (EGD) has been collaborating with Los Gatos Research Inc. (LGR) in the development and testing of a mobile leak detection system. In 2015, LGR completed the development of the software component of their Mobile Guard Natural Gas Detection System which includes a fast gas analyzer that utilizes a patented laser absorption technology called Off-Axis Integrated Cavity Output Spectroscopy (OA-ICOS). The analyzer allows for the precise measurement of gases down to parts per billion. The data combined with wind and GPS data streams are geospatially displayed with a calculated estimation of the surveyed area and locations of potential leak indication.
3:15 pm - 3:30 pmRefreshments
Foyer Atlantic Ballroom
Refreshment Break sponsored by:

3:30 pm - 4:15 pmPlenary 7 - Fort McMurray Wildfire Impacts, Response and Recovery: The ATCO Experience
Atlantic Ballroom
Mike Shaw, Vice President, Calgary Region Operations, Gas Distribution , ATCO Pipelines & Liquids Global Business Unit
In May 2016, wildfires ravaged the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and surrounding area during what would become the largest natural disaster in Canada’s history. As one of the organizations on the ground from beginning to end, ATCO experienced firsthand the challenges of operating in a crisis and in extreme conditions. Learn from ATCO about how they overcame obstacles around operating the natural gas system during a natural disaster, planning and securing resources to safely execute their emergency response plan and how the company contributed to the recovery effort of the gas distribution system, and perhaps more importantly, the community itself.
4:15 pm - 4:30 pmClosing Remarks and Evaluations
Atlantic Ballroom