Four U.S., Canadian and British organization formed a $5.3 million venture to develop ultrasonic tools for detecting stress corrosion in natural gas an liquid pipelines. The consortium includes the Gas Research Institute, British Gas plc, the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, and PRC International. The new device will allow inspection of a wider range of gas pipelines. Field testing was expected to begin in 1998.
Conoco Global Power, Inc. and Western Resources' The Wing Group are among investors in a 160-megawatt (MW), natural gas-fired power plant in Columbia. The $80 million plant was set to begin operating in December. The plant developer is Merrill International, Ltd. Construction will be done by Westinghouse, supervising work by Tipiel, a Columbian contractor.
Johnson Controls, Inc. will upgrade water systems for The University of Stirling in the United Kingdom. Under the contract, medium-pressure hot-water distribution mains will be replaced and main boiler rooms upgraded. Energy controls also will be installed. Johnson will maintain the boiler rooms until 2006.