Issue Date: January 27, 2011

Revision Date: June 20, 2024

 

Leak Detection Technologies

 

Pipeline Hydrostatic Diagnostic Test Method (PHDleak Test)

 

Line Leak Detection Method for Airport Hydrant and Field Constructed Systems

 

 

Certification

Leak rate of 0.0017% of pipeline volume in pipeline segment being tested at a pressure of 150 psi with PD = 95% and PFA = 5%.

Leak Threshold

0.00085% of line volume in gph.

A pipeline system should not be declared tight if the test results indicate a loss that equals or exceeds the threshold.

Applicability

Gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel, fuel oil #4, solvents, waste oil, water.

Specification

System tests single or double-walled piping made of fiberglass, steel, and other materials.

Pipeline Capacity

The PHDleak Test 3rd party certified minimum detectable leak rate for bulk pipeline and hydrant systems is listed in the table below by maximum test section volume.

 

 

Leak Detection Rate Per Test Section Volume

 

(EPA maximum allowable/PHDleak Test 3rd party certified)

 

Test Section Volume (Gallons)

EPA Semiannual Test

Leak Detection Rate

Not to Exceed

(Gallons per Hour)

EPA Annual Test

Leak Detection Rate

Not to Exceed

(Gallons per Hour)

PHDleak Test 3rd party certified minimum detectable leak rate (Gallons per Hour)

 

5,001 to 29,412

1

0.5

0.5

 

29,413 to <50,000

1

0.5

1

 

50,000 to 58,824

1.5

0.75

1

 

58,825 to <75,000

1.5

0.75

1.5

 

75,000 to 88,236

2

1

1.5

 

88,237 to <100,000

2

1

2

 

100,000 to 117,648

3

1.5

2

 

117,649 to <125,000

3

1.5

2.5

 

125,000 to 147,060

3

1.5

2.5

 

147,061 to <150,000

3

1.5

3

 

150,000 to <175,000

3

1.5

3

 

175,000 to 176,472

3

1.5

3

 

* EPA semi-annual minimum detectable leak rate may be 6.0 gallons per hour until October 13, 2021 for pipe segments greater than 100,000 gallons. After October 13, 2021, the minimum detectable leak rate cannot exceed 3.0 gallons per hour.

Waiting Time

None between delivery and testing.

None between dispensing and testing.

Test Period

Minimum of 24 minutes after setup for data collection.

Pipeline segment being tested must be completely isolated and blocked during test.

System Features

System may be permanently installed on pipeline to perform monitoring or may be transported and set up to perform line tightness testing. Total minimum time for data collection and analysis is 35 minutes. System measures changes in pressure gradients and reports output quantity in gph, while compensating for thermal and pipeline "creeping" effects. Over pressurization is managed by using a backup pressure relief valve.

Calibration

System must be calibrated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions.

Comments

System may be used on large underground bulk pipelines such as airport hydrant fueling systems. Manufacturer claims system is applicable to any size of underground pressurized piping, typically between 2,000 and 1,128,206 gallons. The third-party evaluation is an update to the January 4, 2011 evaluation to verify the performance of the PHDleak Test system on lower volume lines between 5,001 and 50,000 gallons. An abbreviated set of 8 tests was performed on a pipeline with a volume of 25,438 gallons.

 

Leak Detection Technologies, Inc.

Evaluator: Ken Wilcox Associates

2765 East Wieding Road

Tel: (816) 443-2494

Tucson, AZ 85706

Date of Evaluation: 01/04/2011, 02/16/2024

Tel: (855) 255-5325 Ext 700 or 740

 

E-mail: info@LeakDetect.com

 

URL: www.LeakDetect.net

 

 

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