GE and Accenture said Wednesday that Columbia Pipeline Group (CPG) is the first company to deploy the Intelligent Pipeline Solution, a software solution that helps pipeline operators make informed decisions around pipeline safety and integrity.

 

Columbia Pipeline Group now has an enterprise-wide, near real-time view of their more than 15,000 miles of interstate pipelines, including monitoring of pipeline threats, improving risk management and providing situational awareness.

 

The Intelligent Pipeline Solution, from GE and Accenture, is designed to enable pipeline operators to prioritize where resources are best applied in order to help reduce the potential for unforeseen events.

 

“We are pleased to see data integration begin to come together for improved integrity management,” Shawn Patterson, COO, Columbia Pipeline Group, said. “The Intelligent Pipeline Solution provides an integrated, geospatial view of our pipeline assets aligned with critical factors related to pipeline integrity.”

 

Interstate pipelines

 

CPG is strategically located within the Marcellus and Utica shale areas and operates 15,000 miles of interstate natural gas pipelines. CPG is the first pipeline operator to deploy the Intelligent Pipeline Solution, which is comprised of GE’s Pipeline Management software combined with Accenture’s industry knowledge, digital capabilities and experience with business process and systems integration.

 

 “The global pipeline industry spends $40 billion a year to expand and maintain its network of assets. Given 60% of all U.S. pipelines were installed before 1970, safety is increasingly a driving factor for operators such as CPG to achieve real time and remote monitoring of their thousands of miles of pipeline,” said Peggy Kostial, senior managing director for Accenture’s North America resources operating group.  

 

The Intelligent Pipeline Solution is the first industry solution as part of a strategic global alliance formed by GE and Accenture in 2013 and launched in 2014.