Digital transformation in the gas safety industry
Your Safety...Our Commitment
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H E AT H C O N S U LTA N T S
As the company focuses on digitally transforming its operations,Heath Consultants prioritizes sustainability across its functions
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stablished 86 years ago, Heath Consultants is now run by the third generation of the Heath family. The business is the premier
leader in the natural gas leak detection industry, servicing utility companies “all the way from the 04
well head to the burner tip”, explains Paul Wehnert, Senior Vice President of the Sales and Marketing unit. “Primarily, we’re a leak detection, underground utility locating service, and products manufacturing firm,” adds Wehnert. The company employs around 1,500 people across 44 states in the US, but has earned an international presence through the distribution of its products. A main aspect of the company’s operations is conducting leak surveys. “A leak survey primarily consists of a person walking around documenting on paper where they went and what they found. However, the industry is currently going through a transition from paper documentation to digital documentation,” remarks Jeff Tuttle, CEO of Heath Consultants. “The way in which we conduct these surveys is now all in
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H E AT H C O N S U LTA N T S
“ The industry is currently going through a transition from paper documentation to digital documentation” — Jeff Tuttle, CEO, Heath Consultants 06
transition – whether the person is walking or driving by vehicle, the instrument readings, position of the person and detections are all recorded.” Heath is also expanding its technological footprint with the launch of its DP-IR Trainer, software that uses augmented reality to train workers how to conduct leak surveys. Beyond how the information is acquired and stored, the company is also expanding its analytics capabilities through a partnership with software development company Silicus. Heath is now able to evaluate
CLICK TO WATCH : ‘HEATH 2018 WORLD GAS CONFERENCE PRODUCT SHOWCASE’ 07 the leak information, such as methane
technology that is connected to the
readings and pipe quality. “We can ask:
internet, such as data logging, GPS
‘Where are the risky sections of pipe?
and the cloud. “We still have portable
Where are they located?’ We can then
platforms, but connected portable
provide a thesis or data source to that,”
platforms. We have mobile platforms
continues Tuttle.
where we have vehicles that drive
The company has leveraged its core
around a city network, and we have
gas detection technology and con-
aerial platforms like drones and UAVs,”
nected it with a cloud analytics
says Tuttle. The CEO highlights the
package. This enables oil producers to
introduction of connected methane
then conduct Leak Detection and
sensors placed amongst city grids,
Repair (LDAR) work, which often takes
available on a 24/7 basis.
places in remote areas. The industry is
However, the role of analytics has
shifting from using portable technolo-
a much greater presence in the
gies that an individual would carry to
company’s overall business strategy. w w w.he a t h u s . com
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“ It’s also important from a digital transformation perspective to collect data on the performance of our technicians” — Ken Cowher, Vice President of Operations for the Service unit, Heath Consultants
“For us on the operations side, it’s also important from a digital transformation perspective to collect data on the performance of our technicians,” notes Ken Cowher, Vice President of Operations for Heath’s Service unit. “It is important we have a standardized and automated way of doing that to ensure we get good quality data we can run predictive analytics on. This allows us to proactively manage our crews and make them as efficient as possible.” Cowher explains that all service operations lie within a competitive bid industry, which in turn means that efficiency is key.
E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
Jeffrey Tuttle, CEO Jeffrey Tuttle has worked in various capacities within the utilities sector for over 30 years. Prior to joining Heath he served as General Manager for Greer Commission of Public Works where he directed the company’s day-to-day operations and long-term direction of all utility operations.
He has served on various association’s Board of Directors including Piedmont Municipal Power Agency (PMPA), American Public Gas Association (APGA), Blue Ridge Scouting Council, and Greer Relief. From 2011 to 2012, he served as the Chairman of American Public Gas Association (APGA) and Texas Gas Association.
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The company uses Microsoft’s Azure cloud to host many of its systems, including RMLD-Remote Emissions Monitoring. Heath is piloting the sensor-based technology that enables it to monitor for leaks 24/7. The firm is almost ready to introduce its Leak Survey Analytic, also based in Azure, which harbors the data from thousands of surveys. “Every detail over time is captured and made available at a click so we can analyze the quality of the survey, the completeness of the survey and provide some of the risk factors that feed into some of these pipeline risk models,” Tuttle comments. Heath has also partnered with Novara Geosolutions, the asset management products and services company. “We’re working with them to develop a field application for our leak survey technicians to use. It will integrate with customer facility mapping and track breadcrumb indications of the leak surveyor and the path that they take over the pipeline. It will include indications that we find, abnormal operating conditions – anything that would be a reportable situation from the survey – and feed that information back to the customer whilst connecting with our w w w.he a t h u s . com
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billing system,” explains Tuttle.
1933
As well as addressing technology transformation within its operations,
Year founded
Heath Consultants is also becoming very aware of sustainability issues in its industry. “The industry is really going through a major transition with emission reduction – it grew up doing the surveys from a safety standpoint, assessing the potential hazards of gas
1,500
Approximate number of employees
leaks in homes and buildings. Heath grew up with the paramount mission to find the dangerous leaks, help utilities and mitigate them by repairing the pipe.
HQ
Houston, Texas
Now with the concerns over climate
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E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
Ken Cowher, Vice President, Operations Ken Cowher joined Heath in 1992 as a Field Technician with a degree in Earth Sciences from Clarion University of Pennsylvania. Ken managed the Northeast Division for Heath for nearly twenty years and created a successful corporate culture that other regions in the company strive to imitate. After promotion in 2017 to Vice President of Process Improvement and Service Business Unit Support, Ken’s clear understanding of Heath’s values, corporate mission and excellent leadership skills made him the clear choice for another promotion to his current position. Ken is responsible for all aspects of our field service division including safety, training & development,
quality assurance and field operations.
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“ The industry is really going through a major transition with emission reduction” — Jeff Tuttle, CEO, Heath Consultants
change, methane is one of the gasses that is of most concern – this gas can leak from any point along the chain. We’re trying to reduce that,” says Tuttle. Working from the well pad up, the company goes through various processes in moving and producing the gas which emits the most greenhouse gases. “The well head, the well and the tank battery which the oil is stored in are all prone to emitting the
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gasses that come along with the oil.
exploring a lot of that with vehicles and
There’s quite a bit of focus, activity and
UAVs, with autonomy providing safety
research on gas detection and we are
inspections of these safety grids within
participating in that emerging technol-
these smart cities,” says Paul.
ogy,” Tuttle says. With Heath focusing on its digital transformation journey, the firm sees itself at the centre of a digital future. “Our company’s operations will us more
Your Safety...Our Commitment
fix sensor technologies and more autonomous type activities. We’ll be w w w.he a t h u s . com
Your Safety...Our Commitment
Heath Consultants 9030 Monroe Road Houston, TX 77061 T 713-844-1300 www.heathus.com