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58 CHARACTERIZATION AND TREATMENT OF SPENT HYDROSTATIC TEST WATER IN THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY Forrest R. Sprester, County Public Health Engineer City of El Paso El Paso, Texas 79936 Fernando Cadena, Associate Professor Civil Engineering Department New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003 Donald J. Fingleton, Project Manager Energy and Environmental Systems Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Illinois 60439 INTRODUCTION Meyer [1] estimates that over one million miles of collection and distribution pipelines are presently in use by the natural gas industry in the United States. These lines are used to transport natural gas from the production fields to the consumer. The Institute of Gas Technology [2] reports that gas pipelines are periodically tested for physical integrity using any one of the following procedures: acoustic, hydrostatic, isotopic, radiographic, and ultrasonic techniques. Hydrostatic testing of natural gas pipelines is one of the most popular means for leak detection since it offers the additional advantage of removing obstructions in the pipeline. The main intent of such testing is to identify weaknesses in the pipeline by hydrostatically pressurizing a segment of pipeline. Minimum test pressures have been established by industry associations and the U. S. Department of Transportation for various operating pressures. Water used in hydrostatic tests is often disposed without treatment into temporary infiltration (percolation) pits or into any nearby ditch or body of water. Land disposal of these wastes is usually followed by site recovery using a soil layer to cover the remaining sludge. Natural gas pipelines have been recently recognized as sources of contamination to groundwater [3]. Some preliminary guidelines to minimize the environmental impact of wastes generated by the natural gas industry during hydrostatic testing of transmission pipelines are presented in this document. HYDROSTATIC TEST DESCRIPTION Description of hydrostatic test procedures for natural gas pipelines have been reported in the literature beginning in the late 1950's and early 1960's by Brooks [4,5], Heineman [6], and Gray [7]. A more recent review of operational procedures is presented by the Institute of Gas Technology [2]. During a hydrostatic test, a pipeline is divided into a test section, or sections, ranging in lengths of up to 15 miles. The length of these sections depends upon the position of existing valves, availability of water, and differences in elevation along the pipeline. In order to minimize the amount of air in the pipeline, water is injected into the line behind a foam or rubber "pig" in the shape of a ball or bullet, as shown in Figure I. Following the filling of the line, the pressure in the line is increased to the pre- established test pressure using a positive displacement pump. Once test pressure is successfully reached, the pressure is maintained for a minimum of eight hours before discharging the water from the pipeline. In order to squeegee out as much water as possible, the Institute of Gas Technology [2] recommends discharge velocities greater than 3 to 5 miles per hour. Alcohol is oftentimes run between two pigs after test completion [2). This additive removes any remaining water from the line and prevents valve "freeze-ups" and hydrate formation. 488
Object Description
Purdue Identification Number | ETRIWC198658 |
Title | Characterization and treatment of spent hydrostatic test water in the natural gas industry |
Author |
Sprester, Forrest R. Cadena, Fernando Fingleton, Donald J. |
Date of Original | 1986 |
Conference Title | Proceedings of the 41st Industrial Waste Conference |
Conference Front Matter (copy and paste) | http://e-archives.lib.purdue.edu/u?/engext,37786 |
Extent of Original | p. 488-496 |
Collection Title | Engineering Technical Reports Collection, Purdue University |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Rights Statement | Digital object copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Language | eng |
Type (DCMI) | text |
Format | JP2 |
Date Digitized | 2009-07-13 |
Capture Device | Fujitsu fi-5650C |
Capture Details | ScandAll 21 |
Resolution | 300 ppi |
Color Depth | 8 bit |
Description
Title | page 488 |
Collection Title | Engineering Technical Reports Collection, Purdue University |
Repository | Purdue University Libraries |
Rights Statement | Digital copyright Purdue University. All rights reserved. |
Language | eng |
Type (DCMI) | text |
Format | JP2 |
Capture Device | Fujitsu fi-5650C |
Capture Details | ScandAll 21 |
Transcript | 58 CHARACTERIZATION AND TREATMENT OF SPENT HYDROSTATIC TEST WATER IN THE NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY Forrest R. Sprester, County Public Health Engineer City of El Paso El Paso, Texas 79936 Fernando Cadena, Associate Professor Civil Engineering Department New Mexico State University Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003 Donald J. Fingleton, Project Manager Energy and Environmental Systems Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne, Illinois 60439 INTRODUCTION Meyer [1] estimates that over one million miles of collection and distribution pipelines are presently in use by the natural gas industry in the United States. These lines are used to transport natural gas from the production fields to the consumer. The Institute of Gas Technology [2] reports that gas pipelines are periodically tested for physical integrity using any one of the following procedures: acoustic, hydrostatic, isotopic, radiographic, and ultrasonic techniques. Hydrostatic testing of natural gas pipelines is one of the most popular means for leak detection since it offers the additional advantage of removing obstructions in the pipeline. The main intent of such testing is to identify weaknesses in the pipeline by hydrostatically pressurizing a segment of pipeline. Minimum test pressures have been established by industry associations and the U. S. Department of Transportation for various operating pressures. Water used in hydrostatic tests is often disposed without treatment into temporary infiltration (percolation) pits or into any nearby ditch or body of water. Land disposal of these wastes is usually followed by site recovery using a soil layer to cover the remaining sludge. Natural gas pipelines have been recently recognized as sources of contamination to groundwater [3]. Some preliminary guidelines to minimize the environmental impact of wastes generated by the natural gas industry during hydrostatic testing of transmission pipelines are presented in this document. HYDROSTATIC TEST DESCRIPTION Description of hydrostatic test procedures for natural gas pipelines have been reported in the literature beginning in the late 1950's and early 1960's by Brooks [4,5], Heineman [6], and Gray [7]. A more recent review of operational procedures is presented by the Institute of Gas Technology [2]. During a hydrostatic test, a pipeline is divided into a test section, or sections, ranging in lengths of up to 15 miles. The length of these sections depends upon the position of existing valves, availability of water, and differences in elevation along the pipeline. In order to minimize the amount of air in the pipeline, water is injected into the line behind a foam or rubber "pig" in the shape of a ball or bullet, as shown in Figure I. Following the filling of the line, the pressure in the line is increased to the pre- established test pressure using a positive displacement pump. Once test pressure is successfully reached, the pressure is maintained for a minimum of eight hours before discharging the water from the pipeline. In order to squeegee out as much water as possible, the Institute of Gas Technology [2] recommends discharge velocities greater than 3 to 5 miles per hour. Alcohol is oftentimes run between two pigs after test completion [2). This additive removes any remaining water from the line and prevents valve "freeze-ups" and hydrate formation. 488 |
Resolution | 300 ppi |
Color Depth | 8 bit |
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