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The GSTC Insider
News, announcements and ideas from the GSTC Archive

December 19 issue

Welcome to the GSTC on-line newsletter, the GSTC Insider. If you have comments, information or suggestions you would like to share, please feel free to contact us at gstc@ems.psu.edu

  1. 2007 GSTC Fall Meeting
  2. 2007 Projects Selected
  3. Project Mentoring Teams Identified
  4. Executive Council Nominations
  5. Software Training Completed
  6. Membership Support

 

2007 GSTC Fall Meeting

The GSTC held the 2007 Fall Meeting at the Vintage Plaza Hotel, Portland, OR on November 6-7, 2007. Forty people attended the meeting that included technology updates from 2005, 2006 and 2007 projects, as well as new funding requests. A strategic planning session was part of the general meeting session. Five proposals were submitted for co-funding requesting over $542,000 in funding. The Executive Council met immediately following the general meeting to select projects to go forward. Two projects were selected to go forward.

 

 

2007 Projects Selected

Five proposals were submitted for co-funding requesting over $542,000 in funding. The proposals were presented at the 2007 GSTC Fall Meeting and two projects were selected for co-funding. The projects are targeted to begin on February 1, 2008. The projects are:

 

Project Mentoring Teams Identified

The contracts for all the projects identified at the 2007 GSTC Spring Meeting are in place. At the Spring Meeting, the Executive Council recommended continuing the mentoring team call procedure that was established last year. Mentoring teams closely monitor individual projects, hence being more able to guide the research, making sure projects are on-task and on-track, and making timely corrections and suggestions. The first conference calls for selected projects was held on December 17. If you are interested in finding out how to be a mentor, contact the <gstc@psu.edu>.

 

Executive Council Nominations

The GSTC is soliciting members who are interested in serving on the Executive Council. The GSTC will elect 5 members to serve on the GSTC Executive Council for a two-year term (2008-2009). Full members are encouraged to apply for these positions. The Council's responsibilities include attending a 2-day proposal meeting to review and select proposals for GSTC funding, to participate, either in person or via teleconference, in other Council meetings at various locations throughout the year and are encouraged to serve on Ad hoc committees to steer the GSTC research projects.

Nominations were accepted through December 14, 2007. The ballots will be released in early January. The announcement of successful candidates will be February 4, 2008.

We would like to express a special thank you to the following 2006-2007 Council members:

  • Allen Bues, Ameren Corp.
  • Douglas Elenbaas, TransCanada
  • Timothy Habovick, Equitrans
  • David Burnett, Texas A&M
  • Richard Stocke, Texas Gas Transmission

Another special thank you those who will continue to serve until the end of 2008:

  • Gregory Theirl, Dominion Delivery
  • Todd Thomas, NW Natural Gas
  • Jim Mansdorfer, Southern California Gas
  • George Hodges, Southern Union

 

Software Training Completed

Twenty-five people attended the software training for the New Comprehensive Inventory Analysis Tool, (Schlumberger) and Gas Storage Field Deliverability Enhancement and Maintenance: an Intelligent Portfolio Management Approach (West Virginia University) on November 19, 2007 at the Waterfront Place Hotel, Morgantown, WV. Both projects were part of the 2005 project award portfolio. The GSTC is asking for input from those that attended as to whether a refresher follow-up via WebEx or a conference call is necessary. Any follow-up will occur early in 2008.

The New Comprehensive Inventory Analysis Tool significantly improves operators' ability to effectively monitor inventory and resolve gas loss issues by making inventory analysis processes much more automated and much more comprehensive. It also enhances the analysis process by guiding the engineer to the appropriate analysis techniques and away from the inappropriate analysis techniques via the on-line help tools.

The objective of Gas Storage Field Deliverability Enhancement and Maintenance is to apply the state-of-the-art in optimum portfolio management to the gas storage field in order to optimize the return on investment associated with well remedial operations. In order to make the best use of capabilities of the software package, it is recommended that the storage filed have a minimum of 75 wells (wells with data that can be used for analysis).

 

 

Membership Support

The end of 2007 fast approaching and the GSTC is positioning to begin the fifth year. The GSTC has awarded over $3M to co-fund 26 projects since inception. Many thanks to those that have guided the Consortium the past four years. The membership in 2007 expanded to 47 members. We are looking forward to your continued support. The GSTC is also seeking new members for 2008. We are specifically seeking members to suggest new technologies to improve the integrity, flexibility, deliverability, and cost-effectiveness of the nation's underground natural gas/hydrocarbon storage facilities. To become a member or for additional information on by-laws, meetings, list of members, projects, etc., visit the GSTC website.

 


To learn more about the GSTC, please contact:
Mr. Joel Morrison (814) 865-4802 or Ms. Sharon Elder (814) 865-9802 or e-mail us at gstc@ems.psu.edu.