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"It's taken about 15 years to fully automate the system, so retiring these last paper charts is a significant milestone for everyone who's been involved," says Ken Leier, Manager of Measurement and Integrity Projects, Plant Engineering.
"You can think of the 1,000-plus gas measurement facilities along our pipeline system as the cash registers for the company," says Randy Bradley, Measurement and Integrity Projects.
"To ensure accurate billing to our shippers and producers, we need to know exactly where the gas is going," says Randy. "We used to determine this by recording gas flow at the stations on hard copy measurement charts. Technology has allowed us to automate this process."
Gone are the days of charts gone astray, mice feasting on the paper, and chunks of information missing because the wind ripped the chart out of the measurement technician's hands.
Large groups of skilled individuals used to process the measurement charts and turn them into calculations for energy. Now, flow computers do the calculations and information is sent electronically to the TransCanada Tower every hour. This information is then rolled up to the daily level, where customers do their business.
This allows shippers and producers to view real-time information about their gas shipments. In the era of hard-copy charts, information could be as much as four weeks behind.
"Automation also means better quality control," says Randy, "and also tells us what equipment might need maintenance."
The face of the gas measurement team has also been changed by automation. At one time in the company's history, there were more than 60 people looking after gas measurement charts and data on the Alberta and Mainline Systems. Today, there are five.
For more information on this new system, please contact Randy Bradley at 403.920.5864.
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