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Setting up Gas Transaction Types

Gas transaction types are essential to gas tracking. The transaction type determines the information required on a transaction, when the transaction can be created, and how the transaction is processed.
We recommend the following transaction types as examples that you can implement to meet your organization’s requirements:
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Receipt – Records new or refilled containers sent from vendors or transferred from other locations.
Required
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Container ID
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Weight as measured
Optional
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Asset (location)
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Transaction description
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Scale used to weigh the container
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Supervisor
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Work order
The receipt transaction is always the first transaction to be entered for a new gas container.
Note: APM calculates the transaction and container gas weights for all transaction types that require it.
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Initial fill – Records the amount of gas used the first time that the equipment (for example, a circuit breaker) is filled.
Required
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Container ID
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Asset filled
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Weight as measured after the fill
Optional
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Transaction description
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Scale used to weigh the container
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Factory gas pressure
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Supervisor
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Work order
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Current weight – Records the weight of the container and its gas.
Required
•
Container ID
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Weight as measured
Optional
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Transaction description
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Asset (location)
•
Scale used to weigh the container
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In-service fill – Records the amount of gas applied to the asset (for example, a circuit breaker) while the asset is in service, after the initial fill.
Required
•
Container ID
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Asset filled
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Weight as measured after the fill
Optional
•
Transaction description
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Scale used to weigh the container
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Supervisor
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Work order
An in-service fill might represent a loss of gas that needs to be tracked and reported. In this example, APM creates an indicator reading with the transaction weight when the transaction is saved so that a supervisor is notified to investigate.
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Gas recovery – Records instances where gas is removed from the equipment and returned to the container.
Required
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Container ID
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Asset that the gas is recovered from
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Weight as measured after the recovered gas is added
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Recovery type
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Equipment capacity
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Decommissioning event
Optional
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Transaction description
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Scale used to weigh the container
Gas recovery can represent a loss of gas that needs to be reported. In this example, APM creates a gas loss transaction (leak to atmosphere) with the value “Gas weight loss” when the transaction is saved. Consequently, the user is also required to enter the equipment capacity in a Gas recovery transaction.
APM calculates the gas weight loss value by subtracting the transaction gas weight from the equipment capacity. The gas loss transaction (leak to atmosphere) shows the gas loss value in the Adjustment value box.
Alternatively, gas loss transactions can take their values from the original transaction’s container gas weight, adjustment value, or equipment capacity. Settings in the original transaction type must be appropriate. For example, if the gas loss value comes from the adjustment value, then Adjustment value and Equipment capacity should be set to “Required” on the Gas recovery type.
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Adjustment – Records an adjustment to the container or asset, typically to correct data-entry errors.
Required
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Transaction description
Optional
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Container ID
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Asset
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Weight as measured
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Adjustment value
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Scale used to weigh the container
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Return – Records when the container is returned to the vendor.
Required
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Container ID
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Weight as measured
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Transaction description
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Supervisor
Optional
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Asset (location)
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Scale used to weigh the container
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Work order
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Leak to atmosphere – Records instances where gas has leaked from the equipment into the atmosphere.
Optional
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Container ID
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Asset (location)
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Adjustment value
A leak to atmosphere transaction cannot be created manually. Rather it is created automatically in response to another transaction, such as gas recovery or in-service fill, that records an event related to a leak.
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Missing from inventory – Records a container for which a receipt transaction has not been created. For example, an inspector weighs a container but then finds that a current weight transaction cannot be created because the container’s return to inventory has not been recorded. The missing-from-inventory transaction resolves this problem.
Required
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Container ID
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Weight as measured
Optional
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Asset (location)
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Transaction description
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Scale used to weigh the container
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Transfer – Records when a container is moved from one location to another.
Required
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Container ID
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Asset (current location)
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Weight as measured
Optional
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Transaction description
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Scale used to weigh the container

To Set up a Gas Transaction Type

1.
In the Site window, select the Regulated Gas Management view and the Settings tab. Select the Regulated Gas Management Settings node in the tree.
Tip: You can also select the Administration menu and then Regulated Gas Management Settings. The Regulated Gas Management Settings dialog appears.
2.
Select the Transaction Types tab. This tab shows the transaction types defined for the enterprise.
Tip: You can change the sequence of transaction types by selecting a type’s row and clicking either Move Up or Move Down. The types’ sequence numbers change accordingly.
Tip: You can also reorganize the list, for example, using a column sort or filter, and then change the sequence numbers accordingly. Click Order as Sorted.
3.
Click New. The Gas Transaction Type Properties dialog appears:

General information

4.
Provide general identification for the type:
Setting Name
Description
Gas transaction type
Name for the type, for example, “Initial Fill”.
Abbreviation
Short form for the identifier, which appears in some locations.
Sequence
Its sequence number determines the object’s position in lists.
5.
To represent the transaction type with a different icon in tables, click Change Icon, select another image, and click OK.

Data entry options

6.
Select data entry options. For each of the properties, you can select from the following:
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Required – The property must be supplied on each transaction
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Optional with warning – The property is not required on transactions, but a warning message is issued if the property is not entered
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Optional no warning – The property is not required and no warning message is issued
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Not entered – The property is not available on transactions of this type
The properties are:
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Gas container – ID of the container
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Weight as measured – Weight of the container and gas in the appropriate unit of measure
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Transaction description – For example, the adjustment transaction type might require the user to explain the need for the transaction
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Recovery type – Used in the gas recovery transaction type to specify whether the recovered gas stays in inventory or is returned to the vendor
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Decommissioning event – Used in the gas recovery transaction type to indicate whether the equipment is being taken out of operation
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Factory gas pressure – Indicates whether or not gas was in the container when it was received from the vendor
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Asset – The location of the container or the asset (for example, a circuit breaker) that is filled with gas
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Adjustment value – Gas weight to be noted. For example, adjustment value can be the gas lost to the atmosphere
•
Scale – The device used to measure the weight of the container
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Supervisor – Employee involved in the transaction
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Work order – Interop work order associated with the transaction
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Equipment capacity – Weight of the gas that the asset can hold

Gas types

7.
Set options to restrict the use of gas types if required for transactions of this type. You can select the supported types.
8.
Select the default gas type, if appropriate. The default gas type will be selected automatically on new transactions of this type.

Details – Gas loss transaction

9.
Select the Details tab. Here is an example of a Gas Recovery type:
10.
If the transaction signifies that gas has been lost to the atmosphere, you can have a second transaction created automatically to record the loss.
Setting Name
Description
Transaction type
Type of transaction (for example, leak to atmosphere) that is created when a transaction of this type is created in APM.
Transaction value
Value to be added to the gas loss transaction (for example, leak to atmosphere). The value appears in the transaction’s Adjustment value box.
The value can be one of the following:
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Gas weight – The original transaction’s container gas weight
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Gas weight loss – The original transaction’s equipment capacity minus the transaction gas weight
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Adjustment value – The original transaction’s adjustment value
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Transaction weight – APM calculates the transaction weight, for example, by subtracting the weight of the empty container (tare weight) from the weight as measured
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Equipment capacity – The original transaction’s equipment capacity value

Details – Indicator reading

11.
Some transactions require that an indicator reading be created to notify the appropriate personnel of potential problems.
Setting Name
Description
An indicator reading is created when a transaction is entered
Some transactions, for example, in-service fill, require that an indicator reading be created to notify the appropriate personnel of potential problems.
Note: The transaction’s gas type must be assigned an indicator template. If an indicator based on that template already exists for the transaction asset, APM enters a reading for the indicator. If an indicator does not exist, APM creates one, as well as the reading.
Reading value
Value assigned to generated indicator readings for transactions of this type. The reading value can be one of the following:
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Gas weight – The original transaction’s container gas weight
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Gas weight loss – The original transaction’s equipment capacity minus the transaction gas weight
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Adjustment value – The original transaction’s adjustment value
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Transaction weight – APM calculates the transaction weight, for example, by subtracting the weight of the empty container (tare weight) from the weight as measured
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Equipment capacity – The original transaction’s equipment capacity value

Details – Gas weight rule

12.
Calculate transaction weight is selected by default. Clear this option if appropriate, for example, for a Receipt transaction.
13.
The gas weight rule helps to prevent data entry errors. The options are:
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Weight cannot be lower than previous known weight
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Weight cannot be higher than previous known weight
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Weight can be higher or lower
If a user enters a weight that is outside the allowed range, APM displays a message and prevents the user from saving the transaction.
14.
The weight difference tolerance value allows for slight variances in the gas weight caused by scale or weighing differences. The default value is 10%, which means that the weight as measured is accepted if it is as much as 10% greater than the container’s maximum weight or 10% less than the container’s tare weight.
If a user enters a weight outside of the tolerances, APM displays a message and prevents the user from saving the transaction.
15.
Select Represents gas loss, if applicable, for reporting purposes.

Instructions

16.
Select the Instructions tab.
These settings allow you to enter detailed information about entering transactions. For example, you might explain the type of asset to select on a transaction, either a location (such as a substation) or equipment (such as a circuit breaker).
17.
Select settings and enter the instructions in the text box.
Setting Name
Description
Display these instructions on a transaction
When the user selects the transaction type in the Gas Transaction window, the instructions are copied to the Instructions tab.
User is required to acknowledge the instructions when entering a transaction
When the user selects the transaction type in the Gas Transaction window, the Instructions box is displayed. The user must click Acknowledge Instructions to continue with the transaction.

Sequencing

18.
Select the Sequencing tab to specify the order in which transactions must be completed. This tab lists the transaction types that have been defined for the enterprise. For example:
Tip: Define all of the transaction types and then return to this tab on each one to complete the sequencing settings.
19.
You can specify that transactions of this type can be the first for containers. Typically, the receipt transaction is first.
20.
Select the transaction types that can precede a transaction of this type.

Usage

21.
Select the Usage tab to specify the asset types and container types that are available to transactions for this type.
22.
To limit the transaction type to specific asset types, click A transaction can only be performed against the asset types selected below. Asset types that support gas management are shown in the table. Select the appropriate asset types.
23.
To limit the transaction type to specific container types, click Only container types selected may be used. Select the container types in the table.

Policies

24.
Select the Policies tab.
25.
You can restrict the use of transactions of this type to a specific site. Select the site in the list.
26.
Can be manually set is selected by default, meaning that users are allowed to select this transaction type when creating a transaction.
If this option is not selected, the transaction must be created in response to another transaction. For example, when a gas recovery transaction is saved, APM creates a leak to atmosphere transaction automatically.

Formatting

27.
Select the Formatting tab to set the font, text color, and background color for transactions of this type. The formatting options determine the appearance of transactions in tables and charts.

Description

28.
Select the Description tab to add more information.
29.
Click OK. The dialog closes and the transaction type is added to the tab.
Tip: The History tab shows the general information about the transaction type. It also lists actions performed on the type by element and data element.