TransCanada’s Environment group, in partnership with NOVA Chemical’s Research and Technology Centre, have invented a device to catch and reclaim natural gas (methane) that always leaks from dry seals in compressor stations. Known as a supersonic ejector, the device fits onto TransCanada’s centrifugal pipeline compressors where it captures leakage from the dry gas seals and then recompresses the gas and ejects it back into the system. A greenhouse gas, the captured methane would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere. The ejector system is a low cost method of reducing natural gas emissions from pipeline compressors as it consumes no energy and has minimal maintenance.

“It’s an exciting development for TransCanada and potentially the oil and gas industry as a whole,” says Anthony Tse, program manager, Technology Development. “We will fit these ejectors to all compressors with dry gas seals in our natural gas system, but the technology also has wide application for other pipelines shipping a variety of gases.”

Anthony says they’re currently working on plans to fit the ejectors on compressors across TransCanada’s system and plan to license the technology in order to market it widely to the gas transmission industry. TransCanada has applied for its Canadian and U.S. patent, and is in the process of applying for a European patent.

“This is yet another way TransCanada demonstrates its industry leadership in technology development and application,” adds Anthony. “The supersonic ejector is another company-supported employee idea in technology innovation that helps improve the way we do business.”

Research and development to eliminate engineered natural gas leakage from pipeline compressors began in 2000 and crews completed the successful commercial testing of the unit on June 23, 2007 at the Clearwater station, near Calgary, Alberta.

For more information on the supersonic ejectors, contact Hasan Imran at 403.920.7270 or Anthony Tse at 403.920.5698.