Managing the pipeline control room requires a tremendous amount of logging and recordkeeping to support safety and to meet compliance requirements. The question is, what tools are you using to support this function? Paper recordkeeping, outdated software, or software that…

Managing the pipeline control room has proven to be a challenging task in 2020 due to the interruption of the COVID-19 global pandemic. At the peak of the pandemic in March and April, we took a deep dive into health…

Pipeline control room managers and supervisors have a unique perspective on pipeline safety that can be utilized across the operation. Specifically, how your control room has used technology to operate safely and in compliance with regulations and best practices. The…

Pipeline control room shifts are the subject of much debate and discussion in the industry. While the majority of pipeline controllers prefer a 12-hour shift schedule, other stakeholders in the control room may prefer their crews to work an 8-hour…

In February 2020, before the U.S. was disrupted by COVID-19, the PHMSA Office of Pipeline Safety held a series of meetings in Houston to discuss recent rulemaking and the impact on pipeline operations. One of the meetings was to discuss…

In 2019, the number of PHMSA Enforcement Actions increased significantly from 2018. Specifically, PHMSA initiated 223 enforcement cases, up 13 percent from 198 cases in 2018. Digging deeper into the PHMSA enforcement activity, there were 13 enforcement actions related to…

Microsoft SharePoint is a popular tool used throughout the oil and gas industry for document storage and management. However, SharePoint is not designed to support the intricate requirements of managing a pipeline control room. SharePoint is a broad-use tool that…

Our company is committed to education and staying ahead of the curve on the latest developments in pipeline safety and control room management to help pipeline operators maintain safe operations. When presented with an opportunity to share lessons learned with…

Pipeline operators can expect to have their control room audited at some point in the next three years, which highlights the importance of control room audit readiness. Following a recent AGA conversation with PHMSA, AGA communicated to its members that…

As we approach 2020, you may be viewing the new year as a fresh opportunity to address your Alarm Management program in the pipeline control room. Specifically, how to address Abnormal Operating Conditions (AOCs). We have heard from control room…