Considered as one of AGA’s signature and most valuable programs, the AGA Operations Best Practices Benchmarking is an effort to identify procedures of superior-performing gas industry companies and innovative work practices that can be used to improve participants' operations and reduce cost. The Program is comprised of three areas: Gas Distribution, Gas Transmission and Supplemental Gas (LNG and LPG).
The Best Practices Program for Gas Distribution is one of the oldest and most popular ones, having been started in 1994. Typically 70 or more gas distribution companies participate in this Utility Members Only program. We usually study 5 gas distribution operations topics, such as Leak Management, New Piping Construction, Damage Prevention, Employee Safety, External Corrosion Prevention, etc., per year. This program is one of our most popular member services.
The Gas Transmission Best Practices Program was started in 1995 and is conducted jointly with the Southern Gas Association (SGA). The Transmission Best Practices Program typically has 40 or so members, with about one-half of the participants being distribution companies with transmission lines. We usually study 3 topics such as Pipeline Integrity, Lost & Unaccounted for Gas, Pipeline Repair, Engine Compressor Analysis, Technical Training, etc., per year.
The Supplemental Gas Best Practices Program started in 2001 as the LNG Best Practices Program and was renamed the Supplemental Gas Best Practices Program in 2008 to more effectively incorporate data collected on propane-air plant operations. The Supplemental Gas Program has about 30 companies with over 40 LNG and propane-air facilities. Typical benchmarking topics include Facility Profile, Management of Change, Relief Valve Testing, Plant Maintenance, Employee Safety and Fire Fighting Safety.