2022 APGA Operations Conference: Oct 11-13



Thank you to 2021 APGA Operations Conference attendees! Save the date for the 2022 APGA Operations Conference which will be held October 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Georgia.

The in-person 2019 APGA Operations Conference attracted over 250 natural gas distribution industry professionals from more than 70 public gas systems to learn about topics such as integrity management, regulatory compliance, research and development, and new technology along with an exhibitor hall. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 APGA Operations Conference was hosted online and had over 24 hours of content! 

The Operations Conference will be preceded by the APGA Fall Board & Committee Meetings held October 24-26 in Memphis, Tenn., for our members serving on APGA's board, committees, and task groups.
 
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Registration & Pricing


Attendee and Exhibitor registration for the 2022 APGA Operations Conference will open in the summer of 2022.
 

2021 Operations Conference Presentations

APGA has posted the presentation materials from the 2021 Operations Conference in the community library. The presentations are available only to registered attendees and exhibitors.

View Presentations


*NEW!* Virtual Highlights and Encore Presentations

Can't make it to Memphis? Join us November 10-19 for the APGA Operations Conference's Virtual Highlights and Encore Presentations webinar series! Attendees can participate in four sessions of highly anticipated topics presented in Memphis.

Attendees of our in-person October 26-28 Operations Conference will be automatically registered for the online sessions at no additional cost as a benefit of their registration..

Conference Location

The 2021 APGA Fall Board and Committee Meetings and Operations Conference will take place October 24-28 at The Guest House at Graceland Memphis, Tennessee. The APGA Group Rate is $149 plus state & local taxes. Please book your room by October 1 to receive this rate. 

Book Your Room

Our hotel and conference space will follow state and local health guidelines regarding mask requirements and social distancing. Effective August 20, 2021, Shelby County is requiring masks for all indoor public settings such as event venues, common areas of hotels, restaurants, and bars. On September 30, Shelby County advised masks continue to be worn indoors through October 31. Please be aware that guidance may change as the situation evolves.

Agenda & Session Schedule

    APGA is hard at work on the 2021 Operations Conference agenda. You can now view the 2021 Operations Conference preliminary agenda!


    The 2021 APGA Operations Conference had speakers and panels of experts on topics such as leak detection, regulatory compliance, integrity management, and new technology. The conference will also include an exhibitor hall of the latest in products and services for natural gas distribution operations. Attendees will get to hear and participate in:
    • Three concurrent tracks that include 30 sessions for attendees on topics such as pipeline safety regulations, pipeline safety management system (PSMS), and leak detection & repair programs
    • Environmental and Workforce Development topic tracks are new in 2021
    • Best Practices from your publicly-owned utility peers
    • Updates on safety regulations
     

     



    Professional Development Hours


    The 2021 APGA Operations Conference provides 10.5 professional development hours (PDH) for the entire conference with seven general track sessions and 30 concurrent track sessions options for attendees.  PDHs are required by many states to maintain professional engineering licensure. 

    Schedule At A Glance

    Download a PDF of the program with breakout session descriptions.

     Tuesday, October 26 - Opening Session

    1:00 PM Opening Remarks
    Jocelyn McInturff, Knoxville Utilities Board and APGA Operations & Safety Committee Chair

    1:15 PM Welcome To Memphis

    1:45 PM APGA Welcome, Association Update
    Dave Schryver, President and CEO, American Public Gas Association
    From advocating for public gas systems to Congress to providing resources to help members succeed, APGA has been hard at work. Hear some of the recent initiatives undertaken by the association and how your system can get involved. Dave will also share some of the early insights from the recent strategic planning session undertaken by the APGA Board of Directors.

    2:00 PM PHMSA Perspective: Implementing Congressional Mandates & Pipeline Safety In 2020 And Beyond
    Alan Mayberry, Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
    Hear how the Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is addressing the mandates within the Congressional PIPES Act of 2020. Better understand how these directives are driving their regulatory agenda. Alan will discuss how the change of administration has impacted both current rulemakings and expectations for pipeline safety efforts in the future.

    2:45 PM Networking Break & Vendor Exhibits

    3:15 PM State Pipeline Safety Regulator Perspectives 

    Mary Friend, National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) Chair and Director, Pipeline Safety for West Virginia Public Service Commission
    State pipeline safety regulators serve as important partners to natural gas distribution systems in their efforts to construct, operate and maintain safe pipeline systems. Hear some perspectives on where operators should be focusing and what new priorities might be around the next corner.  

    4:00 PM Pipeline Security: Recent Threats Against Distribution Infrastructure and FBI's Role in Incident Response 
    Joshua Otters and Jason Middleton from the Memphis Field Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
    Hear from personnel from the Memphis Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) field office on how the Bureau supports pipeline operators in responding to security incidents. Mr. Otters and Mr. Middleton will also share intelligence on threats to distribution infrastructure will be provided to ensure public natural gas utilities are taking appropriate steps in protecting assets.  

    4:45 PM Adjournment

    5:30 PM Networking Reception


     Wednesday, October 27

    Operations
    & Engineering

    8 AM

    Preparation, Planning & Product Providers Panel

    8:50 AM

    Member Panel Discussion: Leak Management

    9:35 AM

    Networking Break With Exhibitors

    10:05 AM

    Overpressure Protection – Eliminating A Common Mode Of Failure

    10:40 AM

    Damage Prevention – Ground Penetrating Radar

    11:15 AM

    Quality Control Considerations for Distribution Pipeline Projects

    11:45 AM

    Lunch

    1:00 PM

    Analytics-Driven Advanced Leak Detection (ALD) Technology Helping Gas Utilities Address Network Risk And Emissions

    1:50 PM

    Member Case Study: Implementing Tracking & Traceability


    2:35 PM

    Networking Break With Exhibitors

    3:05 PM

    Meter Bypass Technology


    3:40 PM

    Meter Bypass Technology (Continued from 3:05 PM)

    4:15 PM

    PE Pipe: Understanding Allowable Scratch Depths

    5:15 PM

    Networking Reception

     

    Compliance
    & Safety

    8 AM

    Panel Discussion: How Do Utility Managers Influence Safety Culture?

    8:50 AM

    Current Challenges In PSMS Implementation

    9:35 AM

    Networking Break With Exhibitors

    10:05 AM

    Design And Installation Best Practices For Non-Standard Meter Sets

    10:40 AM

    Residential Methane Detection



    11:15 AM

    Residential Methane Detection (Continued from 10:40 AM)

    11:45 AM

    Lunch

    1:00 PM

    Use Of Pipeline Safety Key Performance Indicators

    1:50 PM

    A Practical Way To Make DIMP Work For You

    2:35 PM

    Networking Break With Exhibitors

    3:05 PM

    Operator Case Study – Large Scale Outage Planning

    3:40 PM

    Implementing Measures To Protect Pipelines Under The New TSA Guidelines For Pipeline Security

    4:15 PM

    APGA Pipeline Safety Legislative And Regulatory Update

    5:15 PM

    Networking Reception

     

    Environmental &
    Workforce Development

    8 AM  (E)

    Emission Mitigation Technologies: A Crash Course

    8:50 AM  (E)

    Using Vacuum Purging To Reduce Methane Emissions

    9:35 AM

    Networking Break With Exhibitors

    10:05 AM  (E)

    Introducing RNG & Hydrogen In Gas Distribution Systems

    10:40 AM  (E)

    Member Panel Discussion: APGA’S Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

    11:15 AM  (E)

    Member Panel Discussion & Roundtable (Continued from 10:40 AM)

    11:45 AM

    Lunch

    1:00 PM  (WF)

    Industry & Community Partnerships


    1:50 PM  (WF)

    Advanced Training Technologies


    2:35 PM

    Networking Break With Exhibitors

    3:05 PM  (WF)

    Employee Recruitment Strategies

    3:40 PM  (WF)

    Successful Practices for Employee Development

    4:15 PM  (WF)

    Successful Practices for Employee Development (Continued from 3:40 PM)

    5:15 PM

    Networking Reception

     

     Thursday, October 28

    7:00 AM Coffee & Vendor Exhibits

    8:00 AM Kickstart Your Culture of Inclusivity
    James Cross & Chris Isaacson, Energy Worldnet Moderated by Stuart Saulters, APGA
    Culture. Culture. Culture. It is one of the buzziest of buzzwords. With organizations thrust into a remote (or, at the very least, hybrid) workplace, everyone is trying to crack the culture code these days. This casual session dives deep into the successes of Energy Worldnet, it’s inclusive culture, and the catalysts behind “the movement”. Join APGA’s Stuart Saulters, as he speaks with leadership at Energy Worldnet and learn the tips to kickstarting your culture of inclusivity. 

    8:45 AM 2021 SOAR Gold Winners: Member Best Practices Panel

    Moderated by Stephen Mayfield, City of Tallahassee and SOAR Task Group Chair

    Hear from the three APGA 2021 System Operational Achievement Recognition Program Gold Winners. Each will discuss a program they have implemented at their system in an attempt to achieve operational excellence.
    1. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - Salina Douglas, Knoxville Utilities Board
    2. Employee Development Systems - Durk Tyson, Greenville Utilities Commission
    3. Pipeline Safety Management Systems - Bradley Walters, City of Rocky Mount

    10:00 AM Networking Break

    10:30 AM SIF Update: Shrimp 4.0 Release
    Daniel Pate, RCP and Todd Brady, APGA SIF
    A new user interface for the SIF SHRIMP tool for Distribution Integrity Management was unveiled this fall. View the new features and learn about next steps for SHRIMP. 

    11:00 AM Roundtable: Reflection
    Moderator: John Lunde, Watertown Municipal Utilities Gas Department, APGA Operations & Safety Vice Chair
    This interactive roundtable is an opportunity to share your challenges related to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of natural gas distribution systems.

    11:30 AM Conference Wrap-Up & Adjournment


    Questions?

    If you have any questions on registering for the event, please contact us!

    Contact APGA