Interruption Solutions - Live ECV, Meter, and Service Replacement (Stage 1)

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SGN

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 October 2015

01 May 2016

7 months

£166,800

Technical Consultancy

South East

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, SGN

The objectives for this project are to: Identify any existing gas industry technologies that could possibly reduce the number of unplanned customer interruptions. Identify any existing non-gas industry technologies that could possibly be transferred to reduce the number of unplanned customer interruptions. Identify any possible conceptual ideas that could possibly reduce the number of unplanned customer interruptions. Review and identify current UK Gas Industry Standards in relation to reducing the number of unplanned customer interruptions. To prepare a report confirming the findings from theGlobal Technology WatchPatents SearchesEngagement with PartnersConcept to Reality technical ReportProvide recommendations on products, processes and procedures for reducing the number of unplanned customer interruptions. Identify concepts for further development. A review of existing full or partial solutions, that are available both within the UK and elsewhere, to enable live service insertion without interruption or affecting the flow of gas through the meter. A gap analysis of solutions against existing SGN and UK industry specifications and standards. Selection of the most suitable existing solution to develop with conceptual design or conceptual design of new solution. Including an indication of expected full solution unit purchase cost and risk assessment and gap analysis against relevant SGN and UK specifications and standards. Conceptual design of solution and assessment. Including gap analysis of the design against relevant SGN and UK specifications and standards, in order to determine performance requirements for product testing. RevReview of regulatory and statutory requirements

Network Licensees endeavour to minimise interruption to customer supplies during engineering works wherever possible. This project aims to investigate the potential of reducing interruptions by reviewing the feasibility of Live Service and Live ECV renewal and replacement, allowing the potential to work on service pipes and emergency control valves (ECV) without turning off the gas flow to customers gas operated devices. Simply put the problem is to keep the customer on gas while working on their service pipe or ECV which carries the potential to improve customer satisfaction and reduce costs. This project will investigate the possibility of working on service pipes and ECV`s without interrupting gas flow by: Undertaking a detailed feasibility study to generate a ‘Concept to Reality’ study including: Global Technology WatchPatents SearchesEngagement with PartnersConcept to Reality Technical ReportUndertake a detailed review of operational procedures and gas standards to identify possibilities and blockers in moving to a Live Service Renewal System. Review of management information to identify high impact unplanned interruption solutionsReview existing technology from the global gas industry as well as existing technology from other industries. Develop possible conceptsProvide product and methodology recommendations based on cost benefit analysis, operational requirements and development restrictions. To provide a high level commercial and technical review of the process.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

31/08/18