Testing of the LHC Magnets in Cryogenic Conditions: Operation Challenges, Status and Outlook

For the Large Hadron Collider under construction at CERN and the testing of its 1706 Cryo-magnets in cryogenic conditions, considerable challenges had to be overcome since 2002 to arrive at the situation of today, with semi-routine operation of the purpose built tests facility. With the setting up of an Operation Team comprising of few non-expert CERN Accelerator operation staff, and a large external collaboration, it was essential to develop the methodology of working in light of external collaboration limits and base it on CERN-known techniques and experience in accelerator running-in, commissioning and routine operation. A flavour of the operation tools that were necessary or developed will be given, i.e., web-based tests follow-up management & information systems, development of precisely defined 'to do list' of tests sequences, associated methods, procedures and strict check-lists, electronic logbooks and so forth. The presentation will briefly outline the tests operation programme and its context & constraints, give a summary of the accomplishments so far, together with the outlook for the successful completion of the whole programme within the project goals.