TransCanada Freedom
Update
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TransCanada
Freedom is a wireless, pipeline customer service application
that provides secure, reliable wireless access to your
information - making it easier to do business with TransCanada.
Since
the launch of TransCanada Freedom in May, 42 companies
have adopted the service and are enjoying the reliability
and convenience it provides. Things will get even easier
as we release additional phases of TransCanada Freedom.
TransCanada
is now in the process of preparing for the launch of the
second phase of TransCanada Freedom, scheduled for early
2002. Although updates have been made to the application
throughout it's release, several significant enhancements
are planned for the next phase. With the launch of "Phase
Two", Mainline System customers will have the ability
to adopt TransCanada Freedom and several reports, and
Alberta System customers will have access to even more
wireless reports. Some of these can be seen below.
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Alberta
System
- GSO18
(supply and demand module version
- Updated
GDSR (30 minute updates instead of 17 / day)
- GS031
- Monthly account summary
Mainline
System
- Daily
Account Location Detail
- Daily
Account Location Summary
- Custody
Transfer Detail
- Custody
Transfer Summary
- Transportation
Summary
- Electronic
Nom Status
- Mainline
Gas Day Summary
For more
information on TransCanada Freedom, please visit our Website
or contact Sean
Meilleur at (403) 920-5825.
Online
is a link to the "Telus Communicator", a newsletter provided
by Telus. Although this newsletter primarily focuses on the
cellular aspect of Telus, it also provides information on the
network used by TransCanada Freedom.
The
New Pocket PC 2002
The
Compaq iPAQ is the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) of choice
for TransCanada Freedom. Since the launch of TransCanada Freedom,
a new version of the iPAQ, iPAQ 3870, has been introduced. It
has a great new look and feel with up to 10 hours of battery
use between charges, a Secure Digital expansion slot for add-ons,
and a new stylus that pops into its slot easily.
For
a review on the new iPAQ 3870, check out this link from PC Magazine;
http://www.pcmag.com/article/0,2997,s%3D1566%26a%3D15733,00.asp.
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As well, Microsoft has released their new Pocket PC
2002 Operating system for the Compaq iPAQ. It is even
easier to navigate and use. Some improvements to the operating
system include:
-
The new Pocket Internet Explorer lets you browse
different types of Websites, including standard HTML
and WAP sites.
-
Updated Pocket Word and Excel.
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Use File Explorer the same way you do on your
desktop PC to browse, locate, and download files directly
from network servers.
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Instant Messaging which allows you to instantly
swap messages with family, friends, or co-workers.
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The new Pocket Outlook Inbox allows you to
read, write, and send corporate and personal e-mail
with Word and Excel attachments. You can even use
multiple accounts. You can now reply to any e-mail
message simply by speaking into the built-in voice
recorder. When the message is complete, the recording
is automatically attached to the e-mail.
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Enhanced Security. Enhancements such as encrypted
passwords help you and your company protects critical
corporate and personal information.
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Built-in Virtual Private Network (VPN) support
provides secure access via corporate networks from
different types of connections such as an ISP or public
wireless LAN.
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Logon to a remote server via the Terminal Services
Client to run a business application or for IT management
of that server. The Terminal Services Client enables
easy access to corporate applications, extending remote
interaction with enterprise applications, services,
and data. Both data processing and storage occur directly
on the Windows 2000 and soon-to-be released Windows
XP servers.
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For
more information on this new iPAQ operating system, please visit
the Microsoft Website at http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/h3760.html.
If you have already purchased your iPAQ Pocket PC, you may qualify
for a free upgrade.
Please visit the Microsoft Website at
http://www.compaqordercenter.com/ipaq2002upgrade/secdefault.asp
for details.
For reviews and articles on other versions of the iPAQ and Pocket
PCs, check out the following links:
For more information on TransCanada Freedom, please visit our
Website
at or
contact
Sean Meilleur
at (403) 920-5825.
TransCanada Adopts Flow Orders on the Alberta
System
Small,
short term operational outages can be costly and disruptive
for customers, but they are necessary from time to time to ensure
safe and efficient operation of our pipeline system.
TransCanada
has identified the need to create a standardized process around
these necessary short term operational outages to better serve
our customer community. As a result the concept of Flow Orders
was presented to the Tolls, Tariff & Procedures Committee (TTP).
At the April 10, 2001 committee meeting, the TTP approved a
resolution to institute Flow Orders on the TransCanada Alberta
System.
"The intent
of Flow Orders is to reduce the time and effort required by
customers in the administration of short term operational outages,"
says Pat Blixt, Senior Analyst. "Flow Orders will allow us to
override existing nominations for the duration of many of the
outages experienced on the Alberta system.
"Flow Orders
will be used in a number of circumstances including; outages
isolated to single meter station work requiring a reduction
in flow level for outages up to eight hours; situations where
zero flow is required at stations for an outage of any duration;
and to extend outages for limited time periods," said Pat. "We
estimate that 75 per cent of last year's Alberta System outages
could have been administered by the Flow Order process, resulting
in cost and time savings for our customers."
TransCanada
will ensure customers are aware of Flow Order conditions including
start and end dates, times, a description of the event requiring
the Flow Order, and a description of the action required by
the connecting customer. A
bulletin will be posted to announce the in-service date together
with a link to the online procedure.
If you
have questions about Flow Orders, please contact Pat Blixt at
(403) 920-5547. For more information or to direct questions
regarding the TTP, please contact Dave Hands at (403) 920-5838.
2002
Supply/Demand Outlook - a relatively calmer year?
Note:
Attached figures 1 through 4 missing from this article. Correct
image formats required.
Despite
significant volatility in gas prices, TransCanada continues
to stay the course in its prediction made in the spring of 2000
of up to 0.9 - 1.1 Bcf/d (Billion cubic feet per day) of supply
growth in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin over 2 years
(2001 & 2002). (Figure 1) Western Canada demand is expected
to show a decrease in 2001 from 2000 levels of 4.5 Bcf/d by
approximately 3%-5%. (Figure 2). However, demand is expected
to rebound significantly in 2002 due to stronger growth in power
generation, oil sands activity and the return of price-sensitive
demand lost in 2001.
Figure
1 - WCSB
Supply
Figure 2 - Western
Canada Gas Demand
Supply
growth in the basin is expected to be approximately 550 MMcf/d
and 450 MMcf/d in 2001 and 2002 gas years respectively. " With
AECO prices averaging near record levels of $4.70 Cdn/GJ in
2000-2002, and Ladyfern contributing 75% of this growth, some
may have expected the basin to perform better than it has."
comments Al Jamal, Manager Gas Supply.
With expectations of lower gas prices in 2002, the industry
is expecting up to a 20% reduction in capital spending which
will impact gas drilling levels into 2002 (Figure 3). In gas
year 2001/2002, we estimate over 9,000 gas wells will be drilled
which is approximately a 20% reduction from 2000/2001 level
of over 11,000 gas wells. According to Craig Yano, Senior Supply
Specialist, "The lower activity levels in 2002 will moderate
the 2002 production growth but will have more of an impact on
the 2003 production levels due to the lagged effect of gas price
on supply growth. The 2002 production growth will still be largely
influenced by additional volumes from Ladyfern and gas well
connections from last winter's high activity levels"
Figure
3 - WCSB
Gas Well/Production Forecast
Figure 4 - WCSB
Supply Fundamentals (1990 vs 2000)
The North
American supply/demand balance is expected to continue to
be tight over the long term. This year however, fuel switching,
a slowing economy, mild summer temperatures and a modest increase
in gas supply has loosened the supply/demand balance.
"There
is a consensus view that the economy will rebound towards the
second half of 2002, and U.S. gas supply growth will falter,
providing upward pressure on gas prices" forecasts Steve Dunn,
Senior Corporate Energy Economist.
Even
though the supply fundamentals have weakened significantly over
the last 10-years(figure 4), TransCanada continues to be cautiously
optimistic that Basin production will continue to grow over
the next 5 to 10 years. However, this is not a given and will
require higher gas prices than historical levels, increased
activity levels and an increased focus on exploration. "In the
early 90's, production increased by almost 1 Bcf/d annually
with 3000 gas wells and currently with over 3 times the number
of gas wells drilled, the annual production is struggling to
grow by half as much", concludes Al.
For
information on supply outlook, please contact Al
Jamal at (403) 920-2265. For more information on connecting
new supply, please contact Dave
Schultz at (403) 920-5574 or John
Dunn at (403) 920-5566.
TransCanada
Freedom Update
