Exercise Prelude
Paul Youngman
Exercise Prelude
Exercise Prelude took place on the 5th and 6th of November with the final
report being published by the HSE on their website last month.
 Overview of results
What was within scope for Prelude
Observations
 Key indicators
 Key responses
 Areas for further work
Transporter focussed actions
Shipper focussed actions
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Exercise Prelude
Scope of Exercise Prelude
 Prelude was focused on Network Emergency Management Team actions and
downstream load reduction
 Testing of Primary and Secondary Transporters and new control rooms
 Prelude was run to a script that went through each stage of a Gas Deficit
Emergency
 No development of strategy or time available for consideration of the “what if’s”
Upstream involvement and actions were limited to communication tests /
exchange of forms
 Wider interactions with DECC and external communications were also out of
scope
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Exercise Prelude – General Observations
New processes introduced for Moffat Interconnector worked well
Communications from NEMT to the Distribution Network Control rooms was
effective
Communications and processes need aligning to reflect changing industry
structure
All transporters reported that the quality of site contact details was poor
Improvement in the number of sites that when contacted would load shed
 Improvement by sites in understanding what is required of them
 Improvements by Transporters in call handling and the escalation of issues
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Firm load shedding - Overall
Percentage of Site SOQ Load Shed by LDZ
100%
Opus
Prelude
Percentage
80%
60%
40%
20%
LDZ
5
E
TO
TA
L
N
O
N
SW
W
N
W
S
SC
SE
SO
W
M
W
N
T
N
EM
EA
0%
Firm load shedding - Overall
Improvement compared to exercise
Opus in the percentage of SOQ Load
Shed

Percentage of Site SOQ Load Shed by LDZ
100%
Opus
 Performance of the top 4 LDZ was
 Action on all transporters to adopt the
best practice of the best performing
networks
Prelude
80%
Percentage
75% of the total SOQ contacted being
load shed
60%
40%
20%
LDZ
6
NE
TO
TA
L
NO
SW
WS
WN
SE
SC
SO
WM
NW
NT
EM
EA
0%
Firm load shedding – contact details
Firm Load Shedding Exercise Results
Successful (could turn off)
Could not turn off
Total sites where contact was made
Contact details incorrect
100%
90%
80%
Percentage
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Moscow
Neptune
Opus
Exercise
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Prelude
Firm load shedding – contact details

Contact details incorrect
Firm Load Shedding Exercise Results
Successful (could turn off)
 Consistently high 32.89 %. Every
Neptune
Opus
80%
70%
Percentage
and increase in “Successful - can
turn off”
Contact details incorrect
90%

 Decrease in “could not turn off”
Total sites where contact was made
100%
third phone call made was to an
incorrect number.
Improvement in action taken
where contact is made
Could not turn off
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Moscow
Exercise
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Prelude
Exercise Prelude - Observations
Shippers were frustrated by fax communications
 Duplicate faxes being sent by transporter control rooms during the exercise
 SC2004 fault resulted in restoration notices being repeatedly sent after the end
of the exercise
Some shippers unaware of new control room structure / effect on emergency
communications and processes
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Exercise Prelude - Actions
Working with Transporters to improve:
Communication with Shippers and Supplementary Transporters detailing the
changes to distribution network control rooms
Maintaining a commitment to “Best Practice” and adoption of it.
Establishing a better understanding of isolation and the restoration process
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Exercise Prelude - Actions
Working with Shippers to improve:
 Provision of emergency contact details
 Methods of communication and information provision
 Awareness of any process changes
 Understanding of the types and scopes of a Network Gas Supply Emergency
 Clear understanding of the commercial processes
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Summary of Section Q Emergency Contact
requirements.
In addition to User contact details the
User is responsible for providing the
following site emergency contacts.
(TPD Q 2.3 and 2.4)
Site Manned 24
Hours
Large Firm
>25000
therms
>50000
therms
Interruptible
24 hour Emergency
Contact and Job Title
1-5
1-5
1-4
Emergency Contact
Telephone Number
1-5
1-5
1-4
1
1
Fax
Site Not Manned 24
Hours
24 hour Emergency
Contact and Job Title
3-5
3-5
3-4
Emergency Contact
Telephone Number
3-5
3-5
3-4
1
1
Fax
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Contact Details
Responsibility of Users to update Emergency Contacts in line with the UNC
and their contract with consumers
Key Features:
 Fax and 24 hour where applicable
 Relevant individual at site
Has authority to act in accordance with instructions from Transporter
Alternate contacts where appropriate
Integration with site and organisational plans
Obligation for all to co-operate under GSMR to protect public safety
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Report and contact details
The full results of Exercise Prelude are now available from the HSE
website
http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/supply/information.htm
For further information please contact the emergency planning team
[email protected]
Paul Youngman – Emergency Planning Manager (GNCC) Tel: 01926 654151
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