Distribution Network Information Modelling – Stage 1

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)
Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research(Other Supporting Data)

Applied Research and Development

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Geography and Environmental Studies)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Town and Country Planning)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Civil Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
SGN

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 March 2019

01 June 2019

ENA months

£23,331

Energy

South East

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, SGN

This first stage feasibility project will look to establish a sound cost benefit case for the new method. The approach to determining the potential business value of such data will be as follows: Agree the likely improvement in positional accuracy and other topological aspects of the network relative to existing data sources In collaboration with the different business areas, define and agree up to 6 business use cases based on existing Network operating practice over a range of Output Measures. Gather cost data and current operating practice for agreed processes. Agree revised operating practice and basis for value quantification. Build present value model for each new process and examine sensitivity to model assumptions. Perform qualitative assessment of environmental and social benefits where possible (Financial and non-financial). Draft models and summary output issued. Review output and revise value models where necessary. Issue final report documenting model assumptions together with working models for Stage 2 use. This will mature the project from TRL2 to TRL3, providing the foundations to scope out a likely research and development exercise forming Stage 2. The project will carry out a business value study to determine the potential benefit in being able to definitively locate and know the material makeup of the distribution networks and to derive a basic technology specification requirement. The objective is to determine the potential value in being able to definitively locate and know the material makeup of the distribution networks and to derive a basic technology specification requirement.The first task of Stage 1 is to look for processes and operations in the business that would benefit financially from having accurate location (+/- 3cm) and material information. Although these are yet to generated through a workshop exercise, initial thoughts are that a long list could include:1. Customer Service – Connections2. Safety – provision of asset location data to both SGN and 3rd party work forces3. Emergency – Mains leakage (keyhole/core positioning)4. Emergency - Managing water ingress (topographical)5. Repair – Mains repair6. Network Planning – Network reinforcement (capex) to maintain minimum pressures and 1-in-20 supply7. Network Planning – Replacement (Repex) planning and delivery8. Environment – Leakage management By developing 6 value case propositions in Stage 1 will inform the value that could be released from having accurate information as well as defining a high-level scope of the technology types and specifications that wed need to work to for the Stage 2 research and development exercise, likely to incorporate the concepts developed through Building Information Modelling (BIM), but utilising the inside of the pipes.

Accurate records are crucial to the successful operation of our business. Our current representation of the distribution network pipeline infrastructure is an amalgamation of historical paper maps along with drawing consolidation where projects to either replace old mains or added new ones for reinforcement have been undertaken. This means absolute location of the pipes unknown, generally working to +/- 1m.

09/11/22