Greener Hydrotesting

Hydrotesting is a critical step in evaluating the integrity of a pipeline. The pipeline is filled with water and pressurized beyond normal operating pressure. A pressure drop indicates a breach somewhere in the system.

The challenge is that hydrotest water is corrosive, and disposal of the water is costly. Hydrotest water contains micro-organisms, oxygen and sediment that are known to accelerate corrosion progression. Also, because of the large volume of water used, treatment can be very expensive. The water must be cleaned of any chemical contaminants prior to release or disposed down a well. In some cases, because of these added costs, the water is not treated at the expense of pipeline integrity.

1000 km

To address these issues, we began testing a new protocol. Post Hydrotest Inhibition (PHI) was designed to mitigate problems with conventional hydrotest procedures while maintaining the efficacy of hydrotesting in detecting pipeline leaks. Following the initial hydrotest application, residual water is collected and tested. The chemical concentration is adjusted to ensure desirable levels of corrosion inhibitor for the next pipeline segment. Less chemical and much less water is used, significantly reducing the cost of treatment and the environmental footprint.

•    Over 1000 kilometers of pipeline treated so far, representing a massive savings in water use and chemical costs
•    Water is responsibly reintroduced to source, minimizing changes to the water balance and environment
•    Most economical and environmentally friendly way to effectively preserve pipeline integrity