Page 43 - Gi flipbook May 2018

MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS

By Andy Middleton, North East & Greg’s presentation detailed a new
Yorkshire Section Section Chair investment decision optimisation tool
Copperleaf, which has recently been
ON TUESDAY, 7 March, the North implemented at NGN. This tool allows
East & Yorkshire Section held its for the evaluation of numerous
Asset Management: Making the Right scenarios with the aim of identifying
Decisions event, at the Holiday Inn, the optimal investment plan in
Garforth, Leeds. relation to ageing assets.
We were delighted to welcome two Correct asset management
guest speakers who are experts in the decisions can only be made through a
field of asset management decision combination of reliable data analytics
making: Dr Craig Mauelshagen, Head and organisational expertise, the latter
of Research: Risk Analytics at Business being a big challenge for the GDNs as
Modelling Associates, and Greg Dodd, much expertise is leaving the industry
Head of Asset Strategy at Northern due to retirement.
Gas Networks (NGN). The topics covered at the event
Craig talked through three case were highly relevant with RIIO GD2
studies in which he has been heavily business plans currently being
involved for both National Grid Gas compiled in advance of the next price
Transmission (NGGT) and NGN. These review period in 2021. They are sure
case studies outlined the modelling to be scrutinised by the regulator
undertaken to support asset Ofgem to ensure true value for money
investment decisions, including the is delivered for the customer.
simulation of huge numbers of Both presentations were very well
potential failures due to component received by the 15 attendees, who
interdependencies to ascertain where challenged both Greg and Craig with a
investment should take place to whole host of questions and
minimise risk and consequence. observations. ■

Gas Clouds on the horizon for North West Section

By Roy Peary, North West Section These would then show the effects
Committee Treasurer of wind on the gas cloud formation as
gas escaped from damaged PE
THE LATEST NORTH WEST Section services. Using this data, he was able
event took place on the evening of 14 to demonstrate it was possible to
March, at the Gomersal Park Hotel, formulate a safe working procedure
Cleckheaton. for the repair of damage services by
The event was hosted in partnership attendance of a single operative.
with the Yorkshire Gas Association His process was duly implemented,
(YGA) and the northern branch of the at the time significantly reducing the
Pipeline Industries Guild, with a good cost of repair operations on smaller
attendance of around 30 people. gas escapes.
Kevin Tattersall, Senior Operations Kevin is currently in the process of suggested how future work should
and Technical Manager at Future upgrading his IGEM membership to include studies of gas leakage
Energy Group, made a presentation on Chartered Engineer via the technical characteristics within excavations.
his experiences delivering single- report option, and he outlined this During the question and answer
person repairs for Transco during the process and his experiences with it. session, it was clear the audience had
1990s. The technical report has required appreciated the informative
Kevin explained how he went about him to revisit his work on gas cloud presentation, including the trip down
investigating the characteristics of formation. His presentation memory lane, the literature review
escaping gas at the sites of summarised his review of current and the discussion on opportunities
interference damage to PE gas service academic literature on gas formation for future work.
pipes. Using a purpose-built rig, he and compared this with his work Tommy Knott, the North West
undertook numerous experiments to undertaken in the 1990s. He explained Chair, thanked Kevin for his very
systematically collect data. a number of areas of correlation and interesting presentation. ■

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