Pipeline Leakage Test
The challenges in pipeline leakage testing
Pipeline operators face several persistent challenges:
- Low-concentration and diffuse leaks: Gas leaks often migrate through soil and appear as low-level, spatially dispersed anomalies rather than obvious emissions.
- Complex gas mixtures: Leaks may involve methane, petroleum hydrocarbons, or other organic compounds, requiring selective detection to distinguish pipeline-related emissions from background sources.
- Influence of environmental conditions: Soil porosity, temperature, pressure, and atmospheric conditions significantly affect gas migration and measured concentrations.
- Need for precise localization: Leak detection must be supported by accurate positional data to enable efficient repair and verification.
How ECOPROBE 5 strengthens pipeline leakage testing
ECOPROBE 5 provides simultaneous in-situ measurement of methane, groups of petroleum hydrocarbons, and total organic contaminants using combined selective IR and PID technology. This enables reliable detection and differentiation of pipeline-related gases from natural background signals.
Automatic re-zeroing before each measurement ensures baseline stability, while real-time corrections for soil porosity, temperature, and pressure deliver consistent and comparable results across survey areas.
Smart solutions for pipeline leakage testing with ECOPROBE 5
- Selective methane IR analysis for natural gas pipelines
- Petroleum hydrocarbon group measurement for oil and fuel pipelines
- PID-based total VOC screening to detect diffuse organic emissions
- Reliable oxygen measurement to support interpretation of subsurface gas dynamics
- Integrated GPS logging for precise mapping of leak locations
The rugged, lightweight construction allows rapid movement along pipeline routes, while the graphic display and intuitive software support efficient field operation.
Designed for continuous monitoring and documentation
ECOPROBE 5 supports both mobile surveys and automatic monitoring station mode, enabling long-term leak observation without additional hardware. All data are automatically logged with time and position stamps and can be visualized in 2-D and 3-D formats using ECOPROBE_VIEW software.
Pipeline leakage testing outcomes
By combining sensitivity, selectivity, and advanced data management in one instrument, ECOPROBE 5 enables:
- Early detection of leaks before they escalate
- Accurate localization for targeted maintenance
- Reduced false positives from background gases
- Transparent, defensible documentation for regulators