For decades, GTI has been a leader in developing solutions designed to add resources to the U.S. energy portfolio, extend the availability of cost-competitive gas supplies, reduce the cost of gas delivery and storage, improve industrial processes, and expand the cost-effective use of natural gas. Some of these advances include –
- Coalbed Methane – GTI has developed and managed technology programs for U.S. unconventional gas, which now contributes to more than 46% of domestic gas production. Over the past several decades, GTI, working with dozens of partner organizations, led a comprehensive program to document regions with the greatest coalbed methane potential and to develop tools for boosting gas production and reducing production costs. GTI was also able to apply the results of this program to the successful development of shale and tight sands resources.
- Plastic Pipe – Over the years, GTI has been a leader in the research, development, and testing of plastic pipe and piping products and has published more than 300 reports, technical papers, and studies on plastic pipe topics. Estimates put savings for the gas industry (since 1994) from GTI research at nearly $600 million. Today, we offer clients a comprehensive menu of ASTM tests and custom testing procedures.
- Directional Drilling – GTI has a long history of developing gas distribution technologies that reduce energy delivery costs. Today, nearly every directional drilling system used by gas utilities for installing polyethylene pipes has GTI technology inside.
- Keyhole Technologies – GTI is the industry’s source for the development, testing, and introduction of innovative keyhole technologies for utility system installations and repairs. Excavation and restoration expenses cost North American natural gas utilities more than $1 billion annually. Keyhole technology research at GTI is focused on substantially decreasing excavation and restoration costs, while reducing public inconveniences and increasing safety. One recent success is the official approval for keyhole coring and reinstatement on state right-of-ways from the Illinois Department of Transporation.
- Industrial Burners – GTI has made significant contributions to the fact that industrial gas use now accounts for nearly 30% of total U.S. consumption. A proven technology developer, we now have more than 65 patents on high-efficiency, low-NOx burners and systems to control emissions.
- Natural Gas Vehicles – GTI has been instrumental in developing many of the technological advances that have made natural gas vehicle (NGVs) – vehicles with lower emissions and fuel costs – a reality. Today, with more than 7.5 million NGVs on the road worldwide and more than 10,000 U.S. transit buses operating on natural gas, we’re applying our extensive experience with compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles and engines to advance this technology and to develop and deploy NGV fueling stations. Specifically, we helped reduce engine emissions to meet California’s low-emission-vehicle (LEV) air-quality standards. We also pioneered advances in composite materials and high-strength metal alloys for lighter-weight, on-board cylinders to store compressed natural gas, and helped develop a vehicle refueling system for residential and commercial use.
- Aiding Compliance and Ensuring Equity with Codes and Standards – Interacting with a wide range of stakeholders, GTI has made significant contributions to codes and standards issues affecting gas use in key markets and applications –
- Water Heaters – GTI developed data to support a U.S. Deptartment of Energy decision to recommend only three of 11 proposed design changes to achieve desired efficiency improvements, at a cost premium of only $25 per unit. GTI also worked with California regulators to refine methods for measuring NOx emissions from gas water heaters. This program helped ensure the continued viability of gas water heaters in that state.
- Use of Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) – Although CSST can reduce the cost of gas distribution inside buildings by 50%, compared with rigid iron pipe, U.S. code officials rejected it because it was not approved in five “model plumbing codes.” GTI worked with the model-code organizations to demonstrate the value and safety of CSST, leading to code changes that opened the way for today's widespread use.
