Dominion’s management cultivates a culture of integrity
management in order to align itself with the spirit of the regulation.
Dominion has created an Integrity Management Program (IMP)
that it believes meets or exceeds the intent of the integrity
management regulations. The IMP will be refined continually as it moves
from its framework to a comprehensive program. Conformance to the processes
required by Dominion’s IMP is thoroughly documented and communicated throughout
the organization.
Dominion’s liquids pipeline integrity management program
addresses the following components:
High-Consequence Areas (HCAs)
The integrity management regulation was designed to address areas of a pipeline
that are located in high-consequence areas (HCAs).
Threat Identification and Risk
Assessment
Dominion has adopted a threat-based methodology for managing liquids pipeline
risk.
Baseline Assessment Plan
Segments with the highest potential for risk are given priority.
Remediation/Prevention
Remediation is the action taken by Dominion to mitigate the danger of a potential
integrity concern. Remediation includes pressure reduction and/or repair and
preventive measures that halt a potential integrity problem so it does not proceed
to failure.
All Dominion liquids pipelines are equipped with low-pressure
alarms and are monitored 24 hours a day by operators for abnormal operating
conditions. In addition, leak detection is installed on Dominion Transmission’s
natural gasoline pipeline. Highly accurate flow meters are installed on the
inlet and outlet of the pipeline, and leak-detection software is used to monitor
the inlet/outlet flows on the pipeline for discrepancies in the flows.
Performance and Quality Assurance
The company’s Integrity Management Program is evaluated to ensure that
the program effectively assesses integrity and protects high-consequence areas.
A Quality Assurance Plan provides documented proof that the operator meets all
requirements of its Integrity Management Plan.
Management of Change
Management of change procedures identify changes to pipeline systems and consider
the impact of those changes on the integrity of the pipeline.
Communications
Dominion has developed and implemented a communications plan to inform company
personnel, jurisdictional authorities and the public about its integrity management
efforts and the results of its integrity management activities.
