Enbridge collaborates with Microsoft to use AI for enhanced safety, emissions reduction, and asset optimisation
Published by Alfred Hamer,
Editorial Assistant
World Pipelines,
Enbridge Inc., in collaboration with Microsoft, is utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to drive advancements in safety, emissions reduction, and asset optimisation across its operations. The company began implementing AI over five years ago.
"Our long-term collaboration with Microsoft has enabled us to apply cutting-edge technology, which is helping to solve critical business problems and deliver powerful outcomes," said Bhushan Ivaturi, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Enbridge. "The investments we're making today will play a critical role in enabling technological solutions to the biggest challenges in the evolution of our energy systems as we transition to a lower-carbon future."
Enbridge began a digital transition in 2020, leading to a cloud migration programme, with over 80% of workloads moved to Microsoft Azure cloud platform within two years. Earlier this year, Enbridge rolled out Microsoft 365 Copilot to nearly one third of all employees, while the entire workforce has access to Bing Enterprise and ChatENB, an internal chat bot using Azure OpenAI Service.
"The Enbridge leadership team drove a cloud-first strategy, a big bet that opened the door to broader opportunity that positions Enbridge today to take full advantage of AI," said Tom Kubik, Enterprise Commercial Multi-Industry Lead at Microsoft Canada. "We are proud of the work we've done together and are working towards our common goals of supporting a more connected and collaborative workforce and increasing data and analytics capabilities."
Enbridge is using AI across its operations. Powered by Microsoft Azure Machine Learning, key examples include:
The Energy Optimiser tool leverages AI to provide real-time operational insights, enabling Control Center operators to make decisions about how to move the energy Enbridge transports in the most efficient way possible. By managing the amount of power required, Enbridge can achieve cost savings and GHG reductions, while ensuring the safe, reliable and efficient operations of its liquid pipelines.
Enbridge utilises aerial surveillance to patrol its pipelines, detecting potentially damaging activities, conditions, or loss of containment. With AI, the company can now monitor the right of way more efficiently, reviewing data and detecting issues quicker and more accurately. This AI-driven approach has improved threat detection and response, significantly reducing the risk of third-party damage.
Enbridge employs intelligent automation for pipeline integrity, using AI to identify potential maintenance needs. Through workflow automation, data controls, advanced analysis, and machine learning models.
"Looking forward, we see ongoing opportunities and benefits of AI, in terms of data analytics, asset and process optimisation, security and cost and emissions savings," said Ivaturi. "At Enbridge, we are enabling the accessibility, sustainability, and security of energy through applied technology and innovation, and our collaboration with Microsoft will continue to play a pivotal role in that."
Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/08102024/enbridge-collaborates-with-microsoft-to-use-ai-for-enhanced-safety-emissions-reduction-and-asset-optimisation/
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