TPi March 2018

business & market news

DTE Energy upgrades 2,000 miles of natural gas infrastructure

main in Petoskey to accommodate the energy needs of a growing population in southern Emmet County. “These infrastructure investments not only keep natural gas delivery reliable, they are also beneficial to local economies,” said Mr Stiers. “Overall, the effort employs more than 300 people – either directly by DTE or though Michigan-based companies – and invests $60mn in contractors, engineers and restoration teams.” From a modern control room, DTE gas controllers analyse a constant flow of data from more than 4,500 points along the system. Changes in pressure and other information are transmitted from pipeline sensors to computers and telemetry equipment in the control room. Should the need arise, within minutes controllers can close any of the more than 140 remote-control valves to shut the flow of gas at key locations in the pipeline system. DTE also performs inspections inside major pipeline sections, using a self- contained electronic device. This device emits a strong magnetic field to detect anomalies inside the pipe and is pushed through the gas system while recording detailed data about the condition of the line. Aerial surveys of the company’s 2,200 miles of transmission lines are conducted twice per month.

most of your investment. The same is true of our natural gas infrastructure that’s served our customers very well,” Mr Stiers explained. “We diligently monitor and maintain our delivery system and make repairs when necessary. At some point, however, we need to replace sections of our system to ensure the reliable and cost- effective delivery of energy to homes and businesses every day.” In 2017, DTE’s gas utility increased the pace of equipment upgrades state-wide by installing 165 miles of new main line; nearly 330 miles of service lines; and 20,000 advanced meters. Through other system improvement programmes, the company upgraded 72,000m for customers in Grand Rapids, and installed more than a mile of new

DTE Energy, the largest energy company in Michigan, USA, is continuing to improve the safety and reliability of its natural gas delivery system, ensuring ample heat for homes and businesses this winter. Over the last five years, DTE has upgraded more than 2,100 miles of gas lines, and installed thousands of advanced meters through its Gas Renewal Program. This planned work allows the company to improve infrastructure at a time when natural gas prices continue to fall, keeping overall energy costs affordable for customers. Mark Stiers, DTE Gas president and COO, compared the work to the efforts of owning a vehicle. “When you buy a car or truck, you maintain it to get the An employee of DTE Energy’s Gas Renewal Program team attaches a new service line from a customer’s home to a new main pipeline

DTE Energy – USA www.dteenergy.com

Funding on the radar for corrosion detection A company that develops remote sensors for monitoring corrosion in oil and gas pipelines has secured £250,000 of investment from early- stage technology investor Mercia Fund Managers. This has been met with a further £104,000 from Innovate UK through its investment accelerator pilot programme. and business to secure commercial partners for initial field tests. CorrosionRadar, a spin-out from Cranfield University, is seeking to address the problem of monitoring corrosion in pipelines, particularly in corrosion under insulation (CUI) or buried pipes. CorrosionRadar technology is permanently embedded and can accurately pinpoint the location of corrosion at any point along the full length of a pipeline. These capabilities support predictive maintenance programmes for the management of industrial assets, giving business owners the confidence to make real-time decisions. The main aim of the technology is to help companies reduce maintenance costs, while sustaining a high standard of safe and environmentally friendly operations. CorrosionRadar – UK www.corrosionradar.com The investment will support Corrosion- Radar with developing its technology

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