At Energy Transfer, innovation isn’t just about building infrastructure – it’s about continuously improving how we operate it. One way we’re doing that is through artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. These technologies are transforming industries around the world, and at Energy Transfer, we are applying them in practical ways to make our operations safer, more efficient and more reliable. Across the Partnership, AI and machine learning are helping our employees analyze data more quickly, identify potential risks earlier and make more informed decisions that enhance the performance of our operations.
Damage Prevention
One example is our damage prevention program, where we have implemented an AI-based solution to reduce risks associated with incorrect pipeline marking, one of the leading causes of excavation-related damage, property loss and workplace injuries. Historically, team members manually reviewed approximately 1,500 photos each day to verify compliance. Today, AI uses computer vision, object detection and image classification to automatically analyze uploaded images for compliance and duplication issues. As a result, our Operations Damage Prevention team can process photos approximately 25 times faster while identifying opportunities for additional operator training and reducing the potential for incidents.
Incident Management
AI is also strengthening our Near Miss and Good Catch incident management program. The system analyzes reports submitted by employees and automatically categorizes the hazard exposures identified, providing near-real-time visibility into emerging safety trends across our operations. By helping teams quickly identify, track and prioritize potential hazards, the technology enables faster corrective actions and significantly shortens the time between hazard identification and elimination.
Predictive Maintenance
Energy Transfer has also implemented machine learning technologies across portions of our rotating equipment fleet to help predict potential equipment failures before they occur, detect abnormal operating conditions and identify performance anomalies. These predictive capabilities allow our teams to proactively address maintenance needs, improve equipment reliability and minimize unplanned downtime.
Pipeline Optimization and Integrity
We also leverage AI and machine learning to optimize pipeline operations and enhance pipeline integrity management. By analyzing large volumes of operational and inspection data, these technologies help identify patterns, improve system performance and support more informed decision-making, reinforcing our commitment to operating our infrastructure safely, responsibly and efficiently.
As AI and machine learning technologies continue to evolve, Energy Transfer is exploring additional opportunities to enhance safety, improve operational efficiency and better serve the communities that rely on our infrastructure. While these tools provide powerful insights, they complement – not replace – the expertise and judgment of our employees, whose knowledge and experience remain at the center of everything we do.
