Pipeline Specialist

Summary:

The Pipeline Specialist serves as the Division focal point and subject matter expert for pipeline facilities. The role is core to ensuring regulatory compliance in such areas as welding, repair procedures, HCA, MCA, and Class Location analysis & determination. The position is also essential to managing encroachment activities (e.g., road expansion/relocation projects, pipeline loading analysis of heavy equipment, blasting, and mining operations) by providing analysis and recommended remedial and/or mitigative measures to be implemented for continued safe, reliable operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Damage Prevention and Public Awareness; Work with area management and Houston Public Awareness manager to coordinate, administer and document contractor, utility, one-call, landowner and other public awareness issues.
• Integrity Management – Collaborative review and determination of High & Moderate Consequence Areas (HCA’s & MCA’s) via structure analysis and coordination with local Operations representatives and Pipeline Integrity Engineer.
• Class Location Process – Interaction with Area personnel and Division/Houston GIS to determine the existence of sites or population density that may trigger the extent of existing or creation of a new class location. Review and validate proposed class location changes to determine whether existing facilities will meet the criteria for the new Class Location or whether a project will be required.
• Encroachment Analysis and Remediation – Lead role in addressing proposed encroachment activities by outside parties including landowner actions, road and highway projects, municipal and utility projects, developer and residential projects, etc. Responsibilities will include direct interface beyond the initial contact to present clear and consistent company requirements; to enforce company requirements as needed; to ensure proper documentation and proposed plans are forwarded to appropriate departments within O&E; and to act as a liaison between the third party and O&E when company facility modifications are required.
• Right of Way Maintenance Coordination – Resource to area management for coordination of multi-year ROW maintenance programs including budget preparation, contracting and execution. 
• Shallow Cover and Exposed Pipe – Lead role in addressing shallow cover and exposed pipe across the Division. Responsibilities include reviewing shallow cover and exposed pipe locations, working with landowners and contractors to address shallow cover, mitigating creek crossing issues, and managing shallow cover remedial projects.
• PSSR & Pipeline Shut-out Procedure Review and Approval – Responsible for review and approval of pipeline shut-out procedures related to pipeline outages. Participates and may lead pre start-up safety reviews for new facilities.
• Long-Wall Mining Operations – Division focal point to review and address proposed and active mining operations that will affect pipeline related facilities. Serves as the project manager for mining subsidence activities related to long-wall mining operations.
• Employee Qualifications – Resource to area management in performing training and qualification evaluations for SPP and OQ.
• Pipeline engineering and maintenance technical support – Responsible for providing directly or indirectly, technical support to field operating personnel in the areas of:

1. Road and surface load calculations

2. Blasting calculations and precautions

3. Emergency response coordination (leaks/ruptures)

• Welding technical support
• Provides support for corrosion control, mitigation and in the ditch defect analysis
• Reports to the Director of Technical Operations