Case Studies

The SkyTRACE Solution for Major Pipeline Leak Detection

Introduction
EnviroTRACE, a pioneering environmental company specializing in sensitive leak testing services, was subcontracted by a prime contractor for a significant pipeline reactivation project. The objective was to use EnviroTRACE’s latest innovation, SkyTRACE, to detect potential leaks during the hydrotesting process.

The Challenge
The client was reactivating two inactive pipeline segments, covering approximately 192 kilometers. These segments were filled with water for hydrotesting, but if a failed reading occurred, pinpointing the exact location of the leak along the vast, challenging terrain would be an arduous task.

The diverse terrain was characterized by mountains, swamps, bodies of water, dense brush, and private properties. Further complicating the situation, the area was remote with limited cell coverage and inhabited by a variety of wildlife species. In addition, extreme weather conditions, wildfires, and landslides posed significant operational challenges.

The Solution
EnviroTRACE utilized its innovative SkyTRACE technology to rise above these challenges. A chemical marker was introduced into the pipeline, and atmospheric monitoring sensors were installed along the pipeline’s length. As the pipeline was filled with water for hydrotesting, the team was ready to collect and analyze sensor data to locate any potential leaks.

A dedicated team of full-time employees and several part-time staff braved the extreme weather and rugged terrain over six months, using an array of vehicles and even hiking when necessary. All sensor locations were GPS-located, ensuring precision and accuracy in the data collected.

The Result
Thanks to SkyTRACE’s sensitivity and the team’s dedication, EnviroTRACE successfully verified that the hydrotests were valid and that no integrity breaches had occurred. The pipeline sections were confirmed as “tight” and ready for reactivation.

The successful detection and verification process provided the prime contractor, the client and the regulating body with the confidence to proceed with the reactivation of the pipeline segments.

Conclusion
The SkyTRACE solution’s successful application on this significant pipeline reactivation project showcases its potential as a robust and reliable solution for leak detection in challenging environments. It stands as a testament to EnviroTRACE’s commitment to helping companies maintain regulatory compliance while prioritizing environmental responsibility.

10ft Deep Leak on Plastic Pipe is No Match for FIDO

The Challenge:

EnviroTrace, a FIDO value added partner, were tasked with locating a suspected leak in an extremely challenging environment in Canada – a 10-inch PVC pre-commissioned water line, with multiple offtakes, at a depth of 10ft below the surface.

A hydrostatic pressure test confirmed a consistent decline in pressure on the water line from 173 psi to 60 psi during an eight-hour period and that it could no longer sustain pressure.

The FIDO AI Solution:

With the line isolated and no water was flowing through it, the EnviroTrace team deployed seven FIDO Bugs on the five adjoining mains and two available fire hydrants. The Bugs were placed in ‘overnight mode’ whereby five acoustic recordings were taken during five consecutive hours.

FIDO AI confirmed both the presence of a leak and sized it as medium. Following this confirmation, FIDO Cloud Correlation was performed from the adjacent valves to the fire hydrant to determine that the leak was at the T connecting the hydrant to the main line.

What We Achieved:
The excavation crew carried out the dig with guidance from FIDO AI, and the 10ft deep leak was confirmed at the precise location as indicated.

Challenge:

A closed-loop glycol cooling system inside a power plant was losing 4.5L of coolant per hour. We needed to locate the leak accurately in order to minimize the amount of concrete being removed by the client to conduct repairs.

Constraints

The concrete floor thickness ranged from 1 to 6 feet in depth, and the lines were located inside the live plant. The lines were constructed of high-density poly piping, making line locating impossible.

Solution:

In order to reduce the impact on the concrete floor, the test was done in stages. We set sampling ports at the pipe joints and elbows, identified through the use of ‘As-Built’ drawings. Sampling was conducted at set intervals (24 hour/72 hour/14 day). At the 12 hour sample a leak was detected, and subsequent samplings also verified results.

Result

At the 12 hour sample a leak was detected, and subsequent samples also verified results. We contacted the client and disclosed the exact location of the leak. The client was then able to repair the small section of the coolant system with minimal disruption to operations.

Challenge

A 135-foot wide and 51-foot tall tank had fluid leaking from its base.

Constraints

The tank was imperative to plant operations and could not be taken off-line.

Solution

In order to reduce the impact on production, we set sampling ports under the floor of the tank in a designed array. Flow-through was calculated, and a QTA (Quantifiable Tagging Agent) was injected into the 24 inch inlet pipe upstream of the tank. Sampling was done at 12/24/72 hour intervals, followed by 7 and 10-day intervals.

Result

A leak was detected at the 24-hour mark, with subsequent sampling verifying the initial result. By triangulating the sample port results, the leak location area was determined. Three additional small leaks were found in the suspect area, and one intermittent leak was discovered on the 7 and 10-day data samples.

Challenge

A sump tank located at a facility had multiple underground inlet lines. A leak surfaced on location and the client needed to test and prove all lines were intact prior to recommissioning the facility.

Constraints

Not all inlet lines were owned by the client – a third-party line drained into the sump tank from an adjacent facility. All the lines had to be tested and proven tight prior to putting facility back to normal operations. Due to harsh weather conditions, several sample ports were covered with a thick layer of ice.

Solution

The sump tank was exposed to determine the orientation of a third-party line. We dosed the stagnant drain lines with a QTA (Quantifiable Tagging Agent), installed required monitoring wells, and sampled for the presence of QTA to determine if any line sections were leaking.

Results

Sampling was conducted on all drain lines owned by the client resulting in a pass certification. The third-party line was determined to be the cause of the leak, and the client’s site returned to normal operations.

Challenge

Air monitor alarms continued to be triggered in a process building, indicating dangerously-high concentrations of H2S. Numerous attempts to locate the source with hand-held devices were unsuccessful.

See video here.

Constraints

Given a complex system inside the building, piping was obstructive and made access to all areas difficult. Process vessels extended to 20 feet in height, hampering the use of handheld sniffers and exposing staff to potential danger.

Solution

GasFindIR cameras were used to locate the leaks from a safe distance. These cameras used a telephoto lens at a distance, finding and recording a <.8gr/hr leak.

Result

Stray gas emissions were seen at a flange near the top of a vessel and in the process piping. A post-repair scan showed the previous leak was repaired, but two new emission leaks were created when the piping was taken apart.