Our instructor-led training courses provide manuals for students and PowerPoint presentations for instructors. All courses have exams and exercises, and many have or soon will have instructor guides. Courses typically take 8-24 hours to complete.
Our instructor-led training is currently only available to full GTA members. To find out more, please contact us.
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Drawing Sets and Print Reading |
Types of drawings and their specific uses ... commonly used symbols ... interpreting a plot plan ... proper drawing type to trace piping flows ... using a “Piping and Instrumentation Diagram” ... tracing instrument loops from input device to output device ... using schematics to find electrical connections ... reading alignment sheets ... comparing “construction drawings” to “as-built drawings” ... verifying bill of materials ... procedures for redlining drawings ... submitting drawing changes ... how drawings aid in troubleshooting problems. |
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Verification and Calibration |
Purpose of verification and calibration ... importance of traceability ... cost advantages of calibration ... calibrated devices in a metering system ... frequency and basis of routine calibrations ... calibration history trends ... flow meter performance changes over time ... methods and options for calibrating pressure, temperature, differential pressure, Electronic Flow Measurement (EFM), and gas chromatographs ... three natural gas calibration facilities and their unique characteristics ... typical calibration processes for orifice, ultrasonic, and turbine flow meters ... key calibration considerations ... interpreting calibration curves for orifice, ultrasonic, and turbine flow meters. |
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Basic Instruments and Control Loops |
Instrument control loop measurement units ... instrumentation terms ... common secondary devices used in instrument control loops ... methods of instrument loop calibration ... relationship between input, output, and calibration ... common test equipment for instrument loop maintenance and calibration, process control, cascade control, and feedback control ... the four modes of control ... operation of five different types of instrument loop controllers. |
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Basic Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) |
History of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) ... function and purpose of PLCs ... advantages of PLC systems over typical hardwired systems ... basic PLC operation (Block Diagram Level) ... basic PLC components ... PLC processor module function ... numbering systems and their use in PLCs ... logic symbols ... simple ladder diagram of a hardwired system ... configuring PLCs ... logic commands such as Examine if Open (XIO), Examine if Closed (XIC), Output Energized (OTE), Latches, Timers, Counters, Moves, Master Control Reset (MCR), and Subroutines. |
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Control Systems Process and Instrumentation Diagrams (PID) |
Control loop tuning terminology ... difference between dead time and time constant ... open-loop and closed-loop control system characteristics ... negative and positive feedback functions ... operating and tuning a control loop using a Process and Instrumentation Diagram (PID) controller, two-position controller, proportional controller and proportional and integral controller. |
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Fire and Gas Detection Systems |
The Department of Transportation (DOT) develops pipeline regulations for the transfer of natural gas. This course focuses on the use of building fire protection and detection systems for tying all system components to a relay-based control system, to the electrically operated portion of the emergency shutdown system (ESD), and fuel gas shutdown system (FGS). Only the individual sensors used for fire or gas detection are discussed on a basic knowledge level. Additional equipment and actual control logic are not covered. |
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Instrumentation Systems |
Purpose of instrumentation and control in the natural gas pipeline industry ... environmental and safety concerns ... the three commonly used measurement control variables ... instrumentation terms ... secondary measurement devices ... importance of need for calibrating instruments and control loops ... instrumentation testing and calibration ... examples of instrument and control loops ... use of instrument and control loops in process control. |
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Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) |
Concepts behind Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems ... SCADA system components ... evolution of SCADA ... SCADA trends ... SCADA security issues. |
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Electric Power Fundamentals |
Ohm’s law ... Alternating Current (AC) generator operation ... inductors and capacitors in series and parallel circuits ... operation and types of transformers ... operation of AC and Direct Current (DC) motors ... motor controllers ... operation of full-voltage and soft-voltage starters ... types of test equipment ... electric shock components ... grounding systems ... grounding problems. |
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Gas Quality Measurement |
Measuring moisture in process gas streams ... techniques for measuring moisture content in process gas ... operation of low-level, online, tunable diode, laser, moisture, and portable moisture analyzers ... purpose of measuring hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in process gas streams ... techniques for monitoring H2S in process gas streams ... operation of H2S gas analyzers ... importance of monitoring oxygen (O2) in process gas streams ... general operation and maintenance of online, portable percent, percent, portable trace O2 analyzers ... purpose, operation, and maintenance of chilled mirror hygrometers ... purpose of length of stain detectors ... how a length of stain detector/tube works ... measurement applications for length of stain detectors. |
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Gas Sampling |
Purpose of gas sampling systems ... key considerations for designing a gas sampling system ... standards that govern gas sample system design ... mechanisms of gas sample distortion ... gas sampling methods ... composite gas sampling systems ... basics of gas chromatography ... portable gas chromatography devices ... routine gas sampling systems maintenance. |
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Basic Measurement |
Fundamental measurement principles ... English and Metric measurement systems ... introduction to and proper use of precision mechanical measurement devices ... introduction to and proper use of common electrical measurement equipment. |
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Basics of Electronic Flow Measurement (EFM) |
Electronics basics and their use in today’s increasingly technical world ... flow computer installation and configuration ... references to established formulas and relationships ... and state-of-the-art technologies. |
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Intro to Gas Chromatography |
Background and theory of gas chromatography ... gas chromatography sampling principles ... types of columns and detectors used in gas chromatography ... gas chromatography industry standards. |
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Flow Measurement Fundamentals |
History of flow measurement ... fundamental measurement units ... natural gas properties ... basic gas laws ... calculating pressure, temperature, and volume ... types of meters used for natural gas flow measurement ... the three R’s of flow measurement ... Meter Station Drawings ... and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). |
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Fluid Mechanics Fundamentals |
Fluid mechanics as practical science ... differential pressure as the driving force for mass flow ... laws of Conservation of Mass, Momentum, and Energy ... Bernoulli principle in theory and application to gas measurement ... physical property of viscosity ... how viscosity affects fluid flow ... fluid types ... flow types ... components of swirl and flow separation ... operation of flow conditioners and their impact on flow and flow measurement. |
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Measurement Systems |
The need for accurate gas flow measurement ... components of a gas measurement system. |
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Basics of Electronic Flow Measurement (EFM) |
Primary hardware requirements for Electronic Flow Measurement (EFM) ... real-time measurement applications ... 4-20 mA loop ... verification and calibration requirements and procedures ... American Petroleum Institute (API) Chapter 21 standards for electronic gas measurement ... how measurement errors occur ... communications requirements ... power system requirements. |
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Cone Type Meters |
Cone meter applications ... components ... principles of operation ... installation practices ... gas service installation options ... installation errors and effects to beware. |
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Coriolis Meters |
Major functional components of a Coriolis flowmeter ... how a flowmeter interfaces with peripherals ... how a Coriolis flowmeter measures mass flow ... volumetric flow and density ... various Coriolis flow tube geometries ... bent tube versus straight tube design ... operation of flow detectors ... importance of temperature sensors in Coriolis flowmeters ... best practices for Coriolis flowmeter installation ... Coriolis flowmeter proving and troubleshooting. |
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Installation Practices of Measurement Equipment |
General installation considerations for ultrasonic, turbine, orifice, Coriolis, positive and displacement meters ... gas quality assessment instruments ... secondary and tertiary instrumentation. |
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Gas Flow Computers |
Flow computer system components ... flow computer inputs, outputs, communication requirements and applications ... flow computer power source options ... physical installation considerations ... calibration procedures ... verification following installation and configuration ... operation of Bristol 3350-20B, Bristol 3350-25B, and Bristol 3335-RTU flow computers. |
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Orifice Meters |
Importance of accurate orifice measurement ... American Gas Association (AGA) 3 and American Petroleum Association (APA) 14.3 standards ... orifice measurement ... gas laws used in orifice measurement ... continuity of flow applied to gas flow, laminar flow and turbulent flow ... Reynolds number as it applies to gas flow ... functions of primary and secondary elements in orifice measurement ... common flow measurement problems with orifice plates ... meter tube inspection parameters. |
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Positive Displacement Meters (PD) |
Theory of PD meters ... how pressure, temperature, and specific gravity affect gas measurement ... how meter proving helps eliminate measurement errors ... importance of routine inspections and PD meter maintenance. |
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Turbine Meters |
Theory of operation of the various turbine meters, American Gas Association (AGA) 7 standards ... operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, design features and components of a turbine meter ... components of turbine meter runs ... accessories and requirements of field/factory proving and calibration. |
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Ultrasonic Meters |
Ultrasonic flow meter terminology ... American Gas Association (AGA) 9 and 7 standards ... principles and use of ultrasonic signals in measuring flow ... bounce-path and chordal-path ultrasonic flow meters ... maintenance and inspection requirements. |
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Verification and Calibration |
Pipe-work containing a primary element (the meter) ... secondary elements (pressure, temperature, density and gas composition) ... and tertiary elements (flow computer, Remote Terminal Unit [RTU], and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition [SCADA]) ... use of ancillary equipment (e.g. flow conditioner, gas sampler, filter, control valves, environmental shelter, heat tracing, etc.) ... importance of calibration and verification in keeping systems within specification. |
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Basics of Control Valves |
Theory of operation of natural gas pipeline control valves ... control valve types ... valve actuator types ... valve positioner types. |
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Basics of Overpressure Protection |
Pressure-relieving and safety valve categorization and characteristics ... pressure-relieving and safety valve construction and operating characteristics ... pressure relief and safety valve terminology ... identifications and markings ... federal regulations for pressure-relieving devices ... the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) procedures for inspection, maintenance, testing, and adjustment of relief valves. |
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Basics of Pressure Regulators |
Basic operation of pressure regulators ... operation and construction of direct-operated pressure regulators ... operation and construction of pilot-operated pressure regulators. |
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Department of Transportation (DOT) Considerations |
Department of Transportation (DOT) Considerations provides information about the major sections of US Federal Regulation 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 192, including: key definitions ... requirements for gas pressure regulators and overpressure protection ... operator requirements for maintenance and normal operations ... operator qualifications for natural gas operations ... maintenance requirements for transmission and distribution lines ... requirements for gas odorization ... code requirements for pipeline integrity management ... determining Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) classifications for pipeline locations ... 49 CFR 191 reporting requirements. |
Most Gas Training Association courses include a syllabus that provides an at-a-glance overview for instructors, learners, and supervisors.
All Gas Training Association Instructor-Led Training (ILT) courses provide clean, professional student manuals that comply with instructional design standards. They can be used in workshops, on-the-Job training, and even self study. Learning objectives are defined for each section, and discussion questions help ensure students meet objectives.
Many Gas Training Association courses feature instructor Guides designed to help experienced instructors and subject matter experts train in a consistent, structured manner. The guides suggest allotted time per topic, link information to slides, and offer course completion guidance.
Gas Training Association Instructor-Led Training (ILT) courses include PowerPoint slide presentations designed to facilitate instruction, guide students, and help facilitators drive home important points. Slides make generous use of illustrations and photographs. Facilitators can guide group and/or individual exercises using discussion questions and group activities designed to serve as reviews, engage students, and drive collaborative thinking. Each course includes an assessment for students to complete.
