1 / 11

Infrastructure Challenges

Infrastructure Challenges. Eric T. Belle Manager, Field Engineering Columbia Gas of Kentucky Columbia Gas of Ohio Governor's Conference on Energy and The Environment October 8, 2014. Presentation Talking Points. Define Columbia’s natural g as distribution infrastructure

fay-christian
Download Presentation

Infrastructure Challenges

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Infrastructure Challenges Eric T. Belle Manager, Field Engineering Columbia Gas of Kentucky Columbia Gas of Ohio Governor's Conference on Energy and The Environment October 8, 2014

  2. Presentation Talking Points • Define Columbia’s natural gas distribution infrastructure • Discuss the challenges with natural gas infrastructure • Describe Columbia’s plan to address natural gas infrastructure • Detail Columbia’s progress with replacing its aging infrastructure • Questions

  3. Columbia’s Distribution Infrastructure 2013 Calendar Year Annual DOT Report • Columbia operates 2,564 miles of distribution gas mainlines • These distribution gas mainlines have various characteristics: • Vintage* • Material type* • Diameter • Pipe Wall Thickness • Pipe Wall Coating • Operating Pressure • Distribution gas mainlines play critical role in providing safe, reliable service to approximately 140,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Columbia’s service areas. Underground Network of Integrated Mainlines

  4. Columbia’s Distribution Infrastructure

  5. Columbia’s Distribution Infrastructure

  6. Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Challenges Aging infrastructure • Columbia monitors and evaluates the condition of its aging infrastructure • Defined “priority pipe” as bare steel and cast/wrought iron • Priority pipe has a greater probability to leak due to accelerated corrosion • Cast iron distribution mainlines have the greater probability to leak at bell joints due to earth movement or ground disturbance • 44% of distribution mainlines were installed prior to 1969 • 17% of distribution mainlines are bare steel or cast/wrought iron Increased Operation and Maintenance Activity

  7. Columbia’s Grade 2 Leaks

  8. Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Challenges

  9. Columbia’s Infrastructure Plans Accelerated Main Replacement Program • In 2008, Columbia began its accelerated main replacement program • Program targets the replacement of priority pipe, ineffectively coated steel, service lines, and associated appurtenances • 30 year program to replace approximately 520 miles • Total program cost estimated at $210 million dollars • Supports goal of providing safe reliable service Evaluation and Prioritization

  10. Columbia’s Infrastructure Replacement Progress 2008 - 2013 Status Report • Columbia retired approximately 83 miles of bare steel and cast/wrought iron pipe and related appurtenances • Columbia spent approximately $61 million dollars on its accelerated infrastructure replacement program • Columbia continues its effort to work with municipalities to replace bare steel and cast/wrought iron infrastructure in conjunction municipal improvement projects • Minimizes additional construction which impacts roadway and public sentiment Sustained Execution Excellence

  11. Questions

More Related