TransCanada is constantly examining and investing in new technologies to make our operations more efficient. Great efficiency equals fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

One technology that has been used successfully in Canada and is now being implemented in the U.S. involves the use of pull-down compressors whenever we need to undertake routine maintenance on large diameter, high pressure pipelines. TransCanada performs about 30 pipeline pull-downs annually on its Canadian operations.

Historically, during certain maintenance procedures, pipeline companies like ours vented natural gas to the atmosphere, reducing pipeline pressure in order to create safe working conditions for our employees.

Pull-down compressors, both in-line and portable, allow us to lower gas line pressure while dramatically reducing venting. The compressors literally suck the gas from the pipeline segment under repair and inject it into the operating pipeline. In many cases, we are able to reduce the volume of gas discharged to the atmosphere by 90 per cent.

The higher costs for increased labour and for compressor purchase and operation are offset by the volume of undischarged gas that is able to be marketed.

Use of this technology is one more component of TransCanada's long-term strategy for increasing energy efficiency on a company-wide basis.

Pull-down compressors: good for our bottom line, good for the atmosphere.