It’s International Day of Women & Girls in Science (11 February), this year recognising the role of women and girls in science, not only as beneficiaries but also as agents of change. With this in mind, we caught up with Nancy Thomson, LTS Futures Lead, to find out more about her role in making SGN fit for the future.
I’ve always been interested in numbers and solving problems which lead me to study Maths, Biology and Chemistry A levels. I really enjoyed Maths and continued to degree level at the University of Leeds. Nearing the end of my degree I was thinking about future job opportunities and a lot of my coursemates were looking into economics or accountancy. Neither of these appealed to me – I wanted to be able to apply Maths and logic to solving problems.
I secured a place on the GE Oil and Gas graduate scheme and was placed at PII Pipeline Solutions (now known as Baker Hughes). At PII I learned about the inspection tools, analysing the data, pipeline threats and determining the remnant life of pipelines, leaving as a Pipeline Integrity Engineer. After three years, I moved to London where I worked for Penspen (Oil and Gas Consultants) working in the Asset Integrity Department. Over the next five years, I worked all over the world in places such as Thailand, Houston, Perth, Mexico, Italy and the Netherlands on onshore and offshore oil and gas high-pressure pipelines. While working full time I completed a Master (MSc) part-time in Pipeline Integrity Management from Northumbria University and worked on a huge range of projects including Risk-Based Inspection (RBI) assessments, Life Extension studies, Integrity Assessments and Failure Analysis.
I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of pipeline asset integrity from inspection to operation of high-pressure pipelines. I was interested in innovation and how we could improve the methods we had to determine asset life and how could we maximise assets for a net zero future. SGN are leaders in innovation and energy futures projects, and I was inspired by the industry-leading work SGN were doing in these areas and I wanted to be a part of that team.
I lead the Local Transmission System (LTS) Futures Programme which is investigating the feasibility of repurposing and uprating the LTS for hydrogen. The LTS is the high-pressure network in the Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) and the Programme will develop a blueprint on how to and which GB LTS assets can be repurposed and uprated for hydrogen, as well as a cost assessment to understand how much it would cost to repurpose and uprate the LTS for hydrogen. We’re currently waiting for the funding decision from Ofgem and if successful the project will start in April and conclude before the heat policy decision in 2026.
I really enjoy working with our Energy Futures team and the company as a whole is full of incredibly supportive people who believe in a decarbonised future and the work we are doing to achieve this. I would recommend anyone of any gender, race or sexuality to work for SGN, the company and people are supportive, empowering and we are delivering critical projects that will influence the world’s fights against climate change.