2019-051 Atmos Energy UpdateDate: March 15, 2019 Report No. 2019-051
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Update relating to Atmos Energy’s efforts to detect gas leaks and improve infrastructure, including
information on how the City partners with Atmos to coordinate construction projects and
communications.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
In addition to increases in planned pipeline replacement projects, Atmos Energy has deployed leak
detection vehicles within the City of Denton to increase leak detection capabilities. With the
increase in planned and unplanned repair and replacement activities, continued staff coordination
with Atmos will be critical.
BACKGROUND:
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country's largest, fully-regulated,
natural-gas-only distributor, serving over 3 million natural gas distribution customers in over 1,400
communities in eight states. As a natural gas franchisee with the City of Denton, Atmos operates
and maintains 393 miles of pipeline serving 21,738 customer accounts.
Increased Investments and Leak Detection
Atmos has steadily increased its infrastructure within the City of Denton has seen a similar rise.
Of the $24 million that Atmos invested in its system within the city of Denton since 2011, $8.8
million occurred within the last year. Much of this capital investment activity is related to the
replacement of older distribution pipelines. Denton’s gas distribution system no longer includes
cast iron pipes, with Atmos reporting that the system is 69.8% plastic polyethylene, 22.4% coated
steel, and 7.8% bare steel.
Much of this investment is designed to reduce or prevent leaks in the pipeline system. Leaks are
primarily caused by accidental damage from a third-party, corrosion, or other environmental
factors. When a leak is reported or detected, Atmos will assign the leak a priority level in
accordance with state and federal guidelines. Leaks with the highest priority level receive
immediate attention. Atmos has launched a new leak detection technology system within the city
of Denton – Leak Detection Vehicles. As these leak detection vehicles drive throughout the city,
they detect faint plumes of methane in the air. The methane data is catalogued and mapped to
narrow down an approximate location of a possible leak. Field crews are then dispatched to do a
more thorough investigation. Additionally, leak detection vehicles will primarily drive at night due
to the ability to achieve more accurate data collection during that time.
Considering the planned increases in pipeline replacement, expected increases in repairs due to
enhanced leak detection capability, and overall development growth within Denton, residents and
businesses should expect to see a high level of Atmos activity for the foreseeable future.
Date: March 15, 2019 Report No. 2019-051
Partnering with Atmos
The coordination of construction and repair projects between City staff and Atmos is a critical and
ongoing component in our partnership. This coordination ensures that street and pipeline projects
are planned to minimize the adverse impact each organization’s projects have on the assets of the
other and to minimize the overall impact to the Denton community.
At the heart of this partnership is the sharing of the City’s long-term capital project plans with
Atmos. They are then re-engaged at different project design milestones and at project design
completion. With this information, Atmos can determine which of their assets require relocation
or can proactively plan to replace assets as the same time the City project is in active construction.
This is most advantageous for street construction projects where Atmos can replace older pipe
after the old pavement is removed, but before the new pavement is laid down. The City meets with
Atmos representatives, as with other franchise utilities, on a monthly basis to discuss active and
planned projects and coordinate construction schedules.
Communicating to the Denton Community
The City also partners with Atmos in communicating important information regarding road
closures, detours, and general gas infrastructure project updates to the public. The Public Affairs
and Capital Projects departments work with Atmos to gather project information one to three
weeks in advance of the actual start date so that a communications plan and language can be
prepared.
If an Atmos project is tied to a City construction project or is expected to have a significant impact
to traffic, it is included in the Street Construction Report that is available on the City of Denton
website and included in the Friday Report every week. In the cases of emergency closures, email
notifications are sent to Improving Denton subscribers and the information is posted on our social
media channels.
CONCLUSION:
Atmos Energy continues to increase its investment in capital infrastructure and deployment of leak
detection technologies within Denton. As Atmos activity increases, City staff will continue to work
closely to maintain project efficiency and to minimize the adverse impacts to the public.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Atmos 2018 Mid-Tex Operations Report (hardcopy provided in Council Packet)
STAFF CONTACT:
Ryan Adams
Assistant to the City Manager
(940) 349-8565
Ryan.Adams@cityofdenton.com