PSSP In Depth

America’s 2.3 million miles of gas, oil, and hazardous liquid serve as the foundation for our energy supply and link critical facilities such as power plants, military bases, and airports.

The country’s pipeline infrastructure—and the volume of petroleum, chemicals, and energy pipeline transport—continues to grow with our increasing demand for these products, which is projected to reach record levels during the next two decades. The ongoing expansion of industry, cities, and suburban areas requires our pipeline infrastructure not only to expand, but also to increase its ability to reliably and safely deliver the energy services that help keep the nation’s economy moving forward.

The goal of PSSP is to develop a safe and secure pipeline network in the eastern and central regions of the United States. A partnership between Rutgers’ Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation (CAIT) and West Virginia University’s Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, PSSP provides:

• Workforce training and technology transfer through statewide and regional programs
• Communication of national, state, and local safety information for pipeline operators
• Distribution of technical resources
• Provision of training to support current and future federal mandates
  Evaluation of program outcomes

PSSP partners with the Common Ground Alliance to provide industry guidance in the development of training activities, acquisition of technical resources for distribution, and contribution to newsletter articles. This informal network for sharing technologies and resources also supports workforce development through the promotion of best practices within the industry.

In the near future, Rutgers’ CAIT and West Virginia University will be working on a regional needs assessment. The information gathered will be shared with local operators for review. Findings that result from the assessment will govern future training and technical support being developed specifically for pipeline operators.

Training and Technology Transfer

PSSP offers programs in all regions of New Jersey and West Virginia on topics of critical importance to the safety and security of pipeline systems. Programs cover important topics such as assessment and response, incident and risk management, integrity management, consequence modeling, system control (including detection of encroachments and monitoring of rights of way), and vulnerability assessment at both project and network levels. The West Virginia University faculty and federal representatives serve as program instructors for these technical workshops.

Technology Transfer Sharing research and discoveries through technology transfer activities leads to use new products in the field and procedures that support federally mandated Operator Public Awareness programs by:

• Improving safety and security of the national pipeline network through local compliance, assessment of response, risk management, integrity management, consequence modeling, system control, and vulnerability assessment
• Promoting adoption of “best practices” within the industry
• Organizing a strong regional network that enhances communications between federal agencies, state agencies, and local operators
• Providing training to improve the quality of local security plans and public awareness sessions
• Helping to implement new technologies that improve job performance