2022 APGA Operations Conference: Oct 11-13



The 2022 APGA Operations Conference will be held October 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency in Savannah, Georgia!

This event typically attracts 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. 

The Operations Conference will be preceded by the APGA Fall Board & Committee Meetings held October 9-11 in Savanahh, Ga., 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.
 

SPEAKER NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

APGA is pleased to announce that we have officially opened our call for 2022 Operations Conference speaker submissions! The Operations Conference program will be developed using the volunteers, nominations, and recommendations through this form. You are free to nominate yourself, a colleague, or a great presenter you have seen at another conference. Note: Strong preference for presentation slots will be given to APGA members. If you are interested in becoming an APGA member, please contact Sheila Deringis (sderingis@apga.org).

Submit Session

Conference Location

The 2022 APGA Fall Board and Committee Meetings and Operations Conference will take place October 11-13 at Hyatt Regency Savannah in Savannah, Ga. The APGA attendee rate at the Hyatt Regency Savannah is $204 per night plus taxes. To make your reservations, please click here: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/group-booking/SAVRS/G-APG1

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Agenda & Session Schedule

    APGA is hard at work on the 2022 Operations Conference agenda. Take a look at our 2021 program to see the kind of topics and sessions this event offers its attendees! 


    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
     

     



    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


    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