Natural Gas System Enhancement Program

Liberty Utilities selected Weston & Sampson for a 3-year project to prepare construction plans and installation tie-in and abandonment procedures to support their Gas System Enhancement Program in Somerset, North Attleboro, and Fall River, Massachusetts.

After a severe incident that another gas utility in Massachusetts experienced, state regulators required all gas utilities to prepare construction plans and procedures under the direction of, and sealed by, a Professional Engineer (PE). During the first year, our team developed plans and procedures to replace 55,000-LF of existing low- and intermediate-pressure, cast iron and bare steel gas mains with new polyethylene plastic gas mains. We replaced existing low-pressure gas mains with intermediate-pressure gas mains where applicable, and developed construction plans using GIS information along with information from Liberty Utilities. We prepared comprehensive installation tie-in and abandonment procedures, in accordance with state and federal codes and standards, Liberty Utilities’ O&M plan, and industry best practices. One of our Massachusetts Registered PEs has and will continue to stamp all construction plans. Our next focus will be on assuring Liberty Utilities and state gas regulatory agencies that the natural gas systems in Somerset, North Attleboro, and Fall River will be designed and constructed in a competent and safe manner.