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ICAM Frequently Asked Questions

• What is ICAM and how did it originate?

• How does ICAM differ from our company’s Integrity Management Program?

• What data does ICAM manage?

• How does ICAM support Management of Change?

• How does ICAM support continuous improvement?

• How does ICAM work?

• What are some of the specific features of the ICAM software?

• What does ICAM manage?

WHAT IS ICAM AND HOW DID IT ORIGINATE?

Created specifically for the pipeline industry, the ICAM platform was funded by a grant from the US Department of Transportation and was developed in collaboration with Panhandle Energy of Houston, Texas. ICAM is a workflow / process documentation management tool, with a compliance blueprint developed to address the requirements of 49CFR 192 Subpart O and the processes necessary to build a Distribution Integrity Program pursuant to the proposed 49CFR 192 Subpart P. The application is a recordkeeping tool with embedded management change, communications and quality assurance. ICAM delivers a comprehensive solution that will sustain your integrity program, support knowledge continuity, manage improvement and provide a performance based, up to date presentation for audit compliance.

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HOW DOES ICAM DIFFER FROM OUR COMPANY’S INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM?

Traditional Transmission Integrity Management Programs (IMP) restated the rule, included high level flow charts with no substance and rarely included actual processes. They typically did not detail the “Who, What, When, Where and Why” requirements of the protocols. ICAM allows the operator to create and update a “Plan” that might include positions, policy, strategy and/or interpretation of the rule. Additionally, ICAM is user configurable to create and update processes to support the plan. These processes are then scheduled and tracked with the implementation documented as well as any information required supporting your integrity objectives, including performance measurement. Whether you are addressing the requirements for Gas Transmission OR Gas Distribution, ICAM as a configurable solution will conform to your requirements.

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WHAT DATA DOES ICAM MANAGE?

ICAM manages data associated with the implementation of integrity activities as well as any supporting process documentation. ICAM serves as the BAP as its functionality includes an assessment scheduler, a dig tracker and a P&M scheduler. This data might be described as the Who, What, When, Where and Why of Integrity Management. ICAM may also be used to collect, aggregate and report performance based information for use in a distribution environment where the rule is more performance based. In all cases within ICAM, activities and their associated process documentation are scheduled against a specific asset for reporting purposes.

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HOW DOES ICAM SUPPORT MANAGEMENT OF CHANGE?

Management of Change represents a major disconnect with most pipeline operators, who have traditionally been very good at operations, yet, not as efficient at process management and record keeping. Most operators have MOC components within various procedures and/or manuals; however they are not connected and have been difficult to implement. Within the ICAM platform change management is addressed in three ways. 1) Through the scheduling of annual processes to manage change in areas such as HCA, Threat ID, Risk Assessment and the BAP, 2) Optionally at the end of each completed process, ICAM allows for change suggestions to be submitted through the companies form MOC process and 3) Management of Change may be embedded directly into the actual processes whereby proposed changes are documented, reviewed and approved, followed by implementation and communications.

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HOW DOES ICAM SUPPORT PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT?

Program improvement should be based on the results of a performance review. The performance review may include areas such as 1) the asset, 2) the program implementation, 3) data management and 4) risk management. The information required to measure the performance in these areas may be captured as process documentation following the implementation of the integrity activities. Additionally, an evaluation process suite may be developed to review the program itself with an eye toward improvement.

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HOW DOES ICAM WORK?

Within the ICAM platform, activities are defined and associated with process documentation as required for each operator. These activities are then scheduled against a specific asset, implemented and reported, followed by the creation of supporting documentation as required. Personnel with responsibility for the activities document the start and completion dates and the requirement for documentation is then routed to the responsible party. Upon completion of the documentation, processes are routed for approval (if required).

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WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SPECIFIC FEATURES OF THE ICAM SOFTWARE?

Function:

• Three levels of accountability (responsible, accountable, authority roles)

• Message board for tracking dialog between accountable parties

• Track all rejected processes by the accountable parties with associated dialog

• Track meetings associated with any integrity process on a specific segment of pipe

• Work flow with routing based on the results of any or all integrity processes

• Concurrent initiation of triggered processes

• Scheduling of all integrity processes against a specific segment of pipe

• Notifications when processes are open, routed, due and overdue

• Importation of pipe data, HCA data, and Jurisdictional data

• Collaborative environment whereby ICAM companies can share processes (optional)

• Document management including reference, supporting and those required by §192.947

• Process Grouping to minimize scheduling and ensure timely and orderly sequencing

• Email from the system to an individual or specific groups that become part of the permanent record

• Personnel Qualification management and association to the integrity processes

• Process Snapshots to ensure that EVERY aspect of a closed process is captured and viewable (including the associated references in place at the close)

• Personnel grouping to be used as a scheduling filter

• Lessons learned

• Integrity Personnel / Personnel Qualification Management

• Filtered Reporting Options

Reporting:

• Template - Processes / Tasks / Details

• Schedules Processes

• Closed Processes

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ICAM Puts It All Together

• Industry Influence

• Integrity Management Regulations

• Integrity Management Standards

• Integrity Management Knowledge (AGA, GPTC, API, CSA, SGA, INGAA, etc.)

• Regulatory Protocol Elements

• Process / Implementation Requirements and Guidance

• Process Management / Protocol Cross Reference

• Integrity Procedures

• Technical White Papers

• Process Management / Change Management / Communications / Quality Assurance / Record Keeping / Continuous Improvement

• Procedural Integration (How)

• Who, What, When, Where, Why of Integrity Management

• Integrity Management Program Documentation

• Supporting Documentation

• Accountability & Scheduling

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