Glossary of Terms

Pipeline Safety Program
Glossary of Terms

(For common natural gas terms, click here.)

Baseline Messages – The minimum standard program recommendations set forth in RP 1162.

Call Centers – Also known as “One-Call Centers,” this term refers to the clearinghouse for excavation notifications that are planned near pipelines and other underground utilities. One call centers around the country handle between 15 and 20 million calls a year from excavators and direct those calls to the affected pipeline operators to help ensure that underground utilities are located and properly marked.

CFR – Code of Federal Regulations

Dig Safely – A nationally recognized campaign to reduce underground facility damage through damage prevention education. Used by pipeline companies, one-call centers and other groups throughout the country, the program was developed through the joint efforts of the Office of Pipeline Safety and various damage prevention organizations. Dig Safely is a centerpiece of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA).

Excavation Damage – Sometimes referred to as “third-party damage,” this type of damage and/or occurs when required One-Call notifications are not made prior to beginning excavation, digging or plowing activities. When the location of underground facilities is not properly determined, the excavator my inadvertently – and sometimes unknowingly – damage the pipeline and its protective coating.

DOT – The Department of Transportation, the regulatory body that has regulatory oversight for pipelines in the United States.

High Consequence Area (HCA) – A specifically defined location in pipeline regulations where releases or operational impacts could have greater impacts to health, safety or the environment. Regulations require pipeline operators to take specific measures to ensure the integrity of a pipeline in a high consequence area.

HVL – Highly volatile liquid

Integrity Management Program – Okaloosa Gas District, in accordance with the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration's (PHMSA), 49 CFR Part 192, Subpart O, a program for managing the integrity of natural gas pipelines in high consequence areas (HCA).

LDC – Local Distribution Company for natural gas

Media – For purposes of this plan, “media” refers to the vehicle (print, video, advertising, etc.) utilized to communicate to the targeted stakeholders.

Operator – The District shall operate pipelines within the scope of this plan

OPS – The Office of Pipeline Safety, located within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation that has regulatory oversight for pipelines in the United States. OPS develops and enforces safety regulations for pipeline operators.

Rights-of-Way (ROW) – Long, continuous stretches of land on which an operator has the rights to construct, operate and/or maintain a pipeline. The operator may own ROW outright, or an easement may be acquired for specific use of the ROW.

RP 1162 – Recommended Practice 1162, adopted from standards developed by the American Petroleum Institute (API), that calls for pipeline operators to develop and maintain a public awareness program with specific guidelines on audiences, messages and frequency of message. An overview and history of RP 1162 is provided on the sidebar on Page 6 of the Plan.

Stakeholder – Also known as “target audience,” this term encompasses the various groups or constituencies that our company will communicate with as part of this Plan. Examples of stakeholders include the affected public, emergency responders, public officials, excavators, etc.

Supplemental Messages – The concept developed in RP 1162 for assessing particular situations where it is appropriate to enhance or supplement the baseline messages.

Natural Gas Terms and Definitions

British thermal unit (Btu) - The amount of heat required 1) to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit or 2) to raise the temperature of 1 cubic foot of air 55 degrees Fahrenheit or 3) to raise the temperature of 55 cubic feet of air 1 degree Fahrenheit.

Btu Factor - The heat within natural gas. This factor, which is determined by the supplier, changes daily and is a measurement of gas quality. This number is printed on the customer's bill each month.

Cubic feet (cf) - A measurement used for volume or capacity at sea level and 60 degrees.

Efficiency rating - The percentage of effective or useful energy output from the total energy input.

Energy Codes and Manual J's - An Energy Code and Manual J consist of several structural calculations that measure the energy efficient the home is. The amount of exposed wall, the square footage, the amount of window/glass and the R value of the insulation are among these calculations. The state of Florida requires both to be done before a building permit will be issued. Okaloosa Gas will provide a residential Energy Code and Manual J free of charge to anyone that request one, all that is needed is a full set of building plans/blueprints.

MMBtu - 1 MMBtu is equal to 1,000,000 Btu's or 10 therms.

Kilowatt hour (kwh) - The energy equivalent of 3,412 Btu's of power used in one hour or one thousand watts of power being used in one hour.

Rick - A measurement used for a stack of wood, hay or straw.

Therm - The equivalent of 100,000 Btu's or 95 cubic feet of natural gas.

Return To Top of Page