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ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE
Total investment in the U.S. energy sector was valued at USD 350 billion in 2018
As energy companies adopt technologies to equip themselves and their clients to take full advantage of the smart grid, they need to think about how to protect their native technologies and protect themselves against patent infringement lawsuits. Obtaining the advice and guidance of counsel is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to protect a company’s proprietary technology and avoid common pitfalls of such lawsuits.
Oil and natural gas provide the majority of the energy, and the energy infrastructure –including pipelines, railroads, highways, waterways and ports— to make sure this energy is available when needed. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), total investment in the U.S. energy sector was valued at $350 billion in 2018 (the second-largest in the world). That same year, total foreign direct investment in the U.S. reached $172.8 billion.
Smart meters are here. Solar panels are on rooftops. State energy laws now include energy storage provisions, and automobile manufacturers are working together with the energy industry to set up the next generation of vehicles powered by electricity. Miniaturized sensors and fiber optic sensors in the production system could be used to boost production or increase the overall recovery of oil and gas from a reservoir. Drones could also be used to inspect pipelines (which are often spread over extended areas) and hard-to-reach equipment such as flare stacks and remote offshore facilities.
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