OREANDA-NEWS. GE and Accenture (NYSE: ACN) have announced that Columbia Pipeline Group (CPG) is the first company to deploy the Intelligent Pipeline Solution, a breakthrough software solution that helps pipeline operators make informed decisions around pipeline safety and integrity. Columbia Pipeline Group (NYSE: CPGX) 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,” said Shawn Patterson, chief operating officer, Columbia Pipeline Group. “The Intelligent Pipeline Solution provides an integrated, geospatial view of our pipeline assets aligned with critical factors related to pipeline integrity. We look forward to the functionality that future releases of IPS will bring to our organization.”

The solution integrates data from multiple sources including geographic information systems (GIS), work management system, control center, and one-call system, as well as external sources such as NOAA and USGS. The solution also integrates data such as pipeline attributes, risk scores, inline inspection findings, planned assessments, HCA locations, leak history, one-call tickets, emergency valve location, precipitation and fault lines. A set of filters and layers enables users to examine data in different ways to quickly locate areas of interest and evaluate threats or remediation measures.

“Intelligent Pipeline Solution is the answer to the critical call from our transportation pipeline customers to address increased compliance regulations, safety concerns, maintenance and integrity management of their pipeline networks.” said Brian Palmer, president and CEO, GE Measurement & Control. “The advent of the Industrial Internet means we are collecting more data than ever before, and GE is uniquely positioned to make that data work for its customers. We’ve taken the first steps in delivering what will be a comprehensive software solution that helps operators make more-informed decisions.”

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 (an Industrial Internet software solution that is powered by the Predix* platform) combined with Accenture’s strong 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 percent of all US 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. “We are excited about applying our industry knowledge, including our understanding of the challenges of pipeline operators, to develop a global standard solution that will deliver value across the industry.”

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. Together they are developing technology and analytics applications that help wide-ranging industries take advantage of the massive amounts of data generated through business operations.