Beyond Data Storage: A Forecast of the GIS Needs and Drivers for Gathering and Production Pipeline Operators

Dating back to 1816, U.S. pipeline operators have relied on paper maps and records to know the location of their piping systems and associated components. With the dawning of the "computer era" a handful of larger companies anticipated the potential of moving these records to a digital format. Today, risk factors coupled with economic and regulatory drivers have all but mandated the use of digital storage of the huge amounts of data an operator is required to maintain. But, storing it achieves only a portion of the needs. The data must be available to a variety of stakeholders and used for a multitude of reasons.

Examples of these needs and drivers will be explored in this engaging presentation by Dewitt Burdeaux, a Pipeline Safety Specialist with PHMSA's Training & Qualifications division.

Speaker Biography

DeWitt began his career in the energy industry spending more than a decade with a transmission/distribution company in Louisiana serving in various operating functions including oversight of district compliance activities. From there, he joined the LA Department of Natural Resources’ Pipeline Safety enforcement group as an enforcement officer for five years. This led him to twelve plus years with the US DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) where he was responsible for training Federal, state, and industry personnel on pipeline safety compliance issues.

He was active on various agency initiatives, such as, implementation of Integrity Management for hazardous liquids pipelines, background research related to Integrity Management for distribution pipelines, and rulemaking for onshore natural gas gathering lines. Until recently, DeWitt served as Director of Safety and DOT Compliance for Quicksilver Resources, Inc., a Fort Worth, TX based exploration/production and gathering company. He rejoined PHMSA in March 2009 with similar responsibilities to his previous Federal service.

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