NGABar Code GPS / Scanning PilotCapturing & Integrating System

Information to Support DIMP

Who is Unitil?

Public Utility Holding Company

• Unitil Energy Systems (NH)29,600 (E) Capital44,300 (E) Seacoast

• Fitchburg Gas & Electric Light Company (MA)

28,500 (E)15,120 (G)

• Northern Utilities (NH and ME)54,200 (G)

• Granite State Gas Transmission87 miles of

Interstate Pipeline

Speakers

Mel CiullaManager, Gas Distribution Operations

John ClossonManager, Procurement & Supply Chain

Stacey KilroyProject Leader, Gas Operations

OVERVIEW

• GPS Program / Logistics• GPS Scanning Initiative / Pilot • Scanning / Construction Logistics• Procurement Asset Management• Data Risk Management

Evolution

• Evolution of GPS with Contractors / Company

• Oppositional to Learning Curve / Culture• Contractors, Multiple Year Contract, Massachusetts, Maine, New

Hampshire

• Mains & Services

• Company Workforce• Union environment

• Leak Investigation• Leak Repair• Relocations• Surveys• Valve Inspections

Evolution

• Concept• GPS

• One field Scanning Feature

Evolution

• GPS / Scanning

• NGA Fall Conference 2010

• Suppliers• Common Approach

• Pilot Main Renewal with Services

• 2013 Expectations

Evolution

• GPS Changes• Six Scanning fields Per GPS

Point• Main Connections• Services• Valve Installation• Maintenance Activities

• Capture Non-Scanning Features

• Type of facility• Existing Facility• Free Form Field

Evolution

Pilot GPS Scanning

• Wibird Street Portsmouth New Hampshire• Relay 2,600’ of 2” HDPE main & services

• Install 500’ of 2” HDPE 40’ stick pipe• Remaining 2” HDPE 2,100’ of coil pipe• Service Replacements

• Inserts• Relays• Reconnects

• GPS Points / Scans• Butt Fusion• Change of direction• Main Fitting / Component (GPS-Scan)• Services (GPS / Scan)

• Tees / Valves / Risers - Meter Fits

Wibird St & Orchard St Portsmouth NH

Wibird St Main GPS Scanning Data

Wibird St Main GPS Scanning Data

Wibird St Service GPS Scanning Data

Wibird St Service GPS Scanning Data

John Closson

2013 Expectations

• Full GPS / Scanning Implementation• Material Procurement / Validation /

Traceability • Unitil’s barcoding initiative has benefits that go beyond traceability and

Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP). Various back office functions have the opportunity for streamlining based on the data collected in the field. The back office functions of inventory management, project closeout, and plant asset allocation all rely on data associated with components and their installation within Unitil’s gas systems.

Approve Material Database (SAM)

All materials used in Unitil’s gas systems are subject to Engineering approval. Specific characteristics of an approved item are stored in Unitil’sSystem Approved Material Database (SAM). Some of these characteristics include :

• Item Description• Manufacture Part Number• Design Pressure• To be included Subset of the

item’s 16 Character Bar Code

Material Procurement / Validation / Traceability

Gas System Identification Data

Gas System Identification Data

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Component is installed in the field where barcode provides manufacture part number and lot information. Additionally, geospatial data and the identification of the gas system which the component is installed will also be collected.

Component is received into inventory with material cost, part number and lot number information recorded into "on-hand" inventory account.

Component Manufacturer Part Number and Lot Number DataGeospacial Data

Component receipt is electronically verified against the Engineering's System Approved Material Database for the receiving division.

Geospacial Data

Component Manufacturer Part Number and Lot Number Data

GIS Database

Inventory Database

System Approved Materials (SAM) Database

GIS Database

Inventory Database

System Approved Materials (SAM) Database

Component installation data is verified against System Approved Materials database to ensure component is approved for gas system to which the component is installed. Exceptions are reported for follow up action; otherwise, component material quantity and dollars are decremented from "on hand" inventory account and charged to the project account.

Verified componentinstallation data is electronically updated to AS-Built record for Operation's review and approval. Facilitating project "close out".

Approved AS-Built records electronically allocate dollars associated with component installation to Plant.

Pre-Construction

During Construction

Post Construction

Benefits to the Back Office

• Improved Accuracy of Material Management

• Shortened project lifecycle from Project Estimate to Project Close Out (As-Built)

• Balanced Resource Allocation – Core Competencies

• KPI’s for Project Estimates

Material Replacement Post Installation

Items replaced in the field after installation due to maintenance or leak survey activity will also be recorded into our GIS applications. The replaced items data will be retired and archived, but not deleted. This approach will allows us to ensure our gas system information is accurate while providing data for trending component failures.

Next Steps

The path to accomplishing this important initiative is through strong partnerships with our vendors.

Risk Based Asset Management Stacey Kilroy

September, 2012

Risk Assessment Gas Service Territories

Code Requirements

• §192.1007 (a) (5) Provide for the capture and retention of data on any new pipeline installed. The data must include, at a minimum, the location where the new pipeline is installed and the material of which it is constructed.IS THE MINIMUM ENOUGH TO ASSESS

RISK?

GIS Risk Asset Management

Key Data Examples

Pipe Size & Sizing System

1” IPS

Wall Thickness SDR 11

Product Name Driscoplex

Series 8100

Pipe Material Designation

PE3408/PE4710

Manufacturing Standard

ASTM D 2513

Date of MFG July 1, 2012

Plant Code & Extrusion Line

KV-4 (Knoxville Tennessee)

Resin Code RN-B53m1

Shift & Operator No. 04-201

Unitil Installer Employee No. 7066

Key Data Examples

Pipe Size & Sizing System

1” IPS

Wall Thickness SDR 11

Product Name

Series

Pipe Material Designation

Plastic HDPE

Manufacturing Standard

Date of MFG

Plant Code & Extrusion Line

Resin Code

Shift & Operator No.

Unitil Installer

Aldyl A Example

Key Data Examples

Pipe Size & Sizing System

1” IPS

Wall Thickness SDR 11

Product Name Driscoplex

Series 8100

Pipe Material Designation

PE3408/PE4710

Manufacturing Standard

ASTM D 2513

Date of MFG July 1, 2012

Plant Code & Extrusion Line

KV-4 (Knoxville Tennessee)

Resin Code RN-B53m1

Shift & Operator No. 04-201

Unitil Installer Employee No. 7066

Key Data Examples

Install Date 1965-1984

Pipe Material Plastic

Pressure IP

Risk Based Initiatives

Pipe Replacement Dynamic Leak Survey

At Risk Pipe Analysis -- Dynamic

At Risk GIS ID #’s

Weekly/Monthly

DIMP Criteria

Work Orders CMS

DIMP Criteria

Automated Mobile Leak Surveying

Automated Survey Tracking

• Seeking to replace the antiquated process of highlighting maps of survey areas or “From/To Street Lists” that so many operators are using

• These antiquated methods do not offer definitive proof that the exercise was satisfied

Automated Survey Tracking Software Audit Trail

• Goal is to provide an audit trail of all pipe id #’s (Mains, Services, Valves) that have been surveyed. Trail can show GPS points paired with corresponding Gas Measurements.

• Records• When• Who• Gas Test Unit ID#• Observations

• Leaks, Field Notes

Partnership with Ubisense

• Ubisense formally known as InMaps• Expertise lies within GIS space• Provider of VeroTrack Automated Survey Tracking

Software

• Unitil: Client/Server application installed in May. • Excellent Preliminary Results• Building requirements for future releases

How Does the Software Work? Server

• Supervisors create Survey Definitions on VeroTrack Server

• Flexible tool that is leveraging GIS data

• Peridocity / Schedule• Attributes

Mobile Techs Process

Sniffer Cones

Senseit PMD

VeroTrack Mobile

VeroTrack Server Reporting

Benefits

• Operators can manage At Risk Pipe more effectively• Pre-VeroTrack Unitil had 3 survey definitions for Mains

• Cast Iron • Business District• Annual

• Post VeroTrack Unitil has increased survey definitions based on our DIMP analysis

• Weekly At Risk Pipe• Monthly At Risk Pipe• Aldyl A At Risk Pipe (annual)• Inside Business District• Outside Business District

Benefits Continued

• Audit Trail• Overtime can clean up any GIS anomolies• Reporting capability

Questions