For WOC4, a global survey was issued with questions that covered the six key areas that formed the terms of reference: company profile; asset management strategies; leakage reduction and policies; regulatory issues; global issues; and, third party damage. Responses were received from 52 companies in 27 countries.

Barbara extended a warm thanks to those Australian companies that took part in answering the survey: SP Ausnet, the APA Group, Alinta and Multinet Gas.

The committee now has the most data that an IGU working committee has received. This has helped WOC4 stay ahead of schedule in terms of data collection and analysis.

Although the survey results are confidential, preliminary findings and observations have been noted and include:

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* There is an indication that pipeline damage to gas distribution networks has increased 20 per cent in the last two years. * On factors that influenced respondents’ acceptable leakage levels, 25 per cent stated that environmental issues were the least important and 10 per cent said they were the most important factor. For an industry that will need to become more ‘green’ going forward, this poses a challenge for the future. * Only 55 per cent of respondents have a specific policy on gas leakage reduction.

In addition to her WOC4 involvement since September 2006, Barbara was recently asked to assist IGU with their research on WOC3, which looks at the following three areas of gas transmission:

* Identification of the extent to which regulatory activities may influence gas transmission with respect to safety and security of supply. * Review of new technologies in pipeline and construction monitoring. * Assessment of the contribution of gas transmission to climate protection and sustainable development.

WOC3 issued a global survey early in 2007 to assess the effects of regulation of gas transmission, but had not received sufficient data to make firm conclusions.

The key preliminary finding from the survey is a common feeling that regulation (especially cost of service regulation) will jeopardise safety and security of supply in the next five to ten years.

Last week Barbara issued this survey to Australian gas transmission owners and operators, through the auspices of the APIA Regulatory Affairs Committee, and is passing responses back to IGU.

Regarding study areas 2 and 3, WOC 3 are currently in the process of selecting topics that will be investigated further on subjects that range from corrosion, unmanned aerial pipeline surveillance, IT-based pipeline integrity management systems (PIMPS) and systems of prediction of pipeline conditions. Factors that affect the environment have been identified as CO2, NOx, CH4 and noise.

For more information about the IGU and its research, or to assist with any of the above research, please contact Barbara at barbara.jinks@ghd.com.au