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Pickling & Conditioning
Ensure the integrity of your gas pipeline with Burgess Pipeline Services, offering a comprehensive suite of services including pickling, conditioning, pre-odorization, and odorfade remediation – collectively referred to as "pickling."
When constructing a new pipeline, the pickling process becomes paramount. As natural gas, laden with entrained odorant, flows into the pipeline, absorption and reactions occur between the pipeline's inner wall and the odorant. Without proper pickling, the gas downstream of the new pipeline may become odorless, presenting a serious risk to customers.
During the construction of new steel pipe, the porous inner wall of the pipe contains metal oxides (rust) which react with the odorant. Less odorous TBM disulfides may then form. Therefore the steel pipe must be clean and free of oxides, otherwise gas downstream may be odorless and pose potential risk to customers. This effect occurs even when plastic pipes are used
This odorfade phenomenon demands heightened attention during pipeline commissioning, ensuring that sufficient odorant concentrations reach customers. Burgess Pipeline Services employs two effective methods to address and overcome this challenge through the meticulous execution of the pickling process.
Static Method
Our seasoned experts integrate pipeline pickling using the static method seamlessly into the early planning stages of your new steel pipe installation. Drawing from industry best practices, we ensure that your new pipeline segment is properly tied-in, equipped with main line valves, and all devices necessary to stop gas flow. Laterals or regulator stations connected to the isolated section are meticulously isolated.
For short pipeline segments exhibiting non-uniform odorant distribution, we employ the static method. Alternatively, the flowing method is recommended for long pipeline segments. Our project plans not only encompass the purging and conditioning procedure but also account for the duration the pipeline will remain isolated.
Under the guidance of Burgess Pipeline Services, odorant introduction occurs strategically after purging the pipeline to 100 percent gas or in accordance with company standards. Our experts ensure a gradual mixing of the desired quantity of liquid odorant with gas at the injection tap. The highly odorized gas is directed towards the downstream end through carefully implemented methods such as flaring.
Post-flow, our service allows sufficient time for the completion of chemical and physical processes required to pickle the pipe. This period, which can range for several days, ensures optimal absorption of some or all of the odorant by the pipe. The completion criteria is determined based on factors such as consistent odor-level readings, or other relevant metrics.
Flowing Method
At Burgess Pipeline Services, we are committed to delivering advanced solutions for optimizing the safety and efficiency of pipeline installations. Our Flowing Pickling Method is designed for the comprehensive conditioning of steel or plastic pipes, ensuring adherence to industry standards and minimizing potential challenges.
In the flowing method, odorized gas moves through the unconditioned pipe, consumed either in a flare, or within the downstream gas system. This method effectively isolates oxidation sites, making it ideal for conditioning long lengths of pipe or bi-directional systems with limited connections.
Prioritizing safety and compliance, our service incorporates odorant pickling into the early planning stages of new steel or plastic pipe installations. The pipeline segment is equipped to prevent gas flow using main line valves or other flow-stopping devices, anticipating potential challenges related to odorization rates. In populous areas, where an excessive amount of odorant injection may lead to nuisance calls, our experts implement strategies to mitigate such concerns.
Our experts follow a strategic approach to odorant introduction. After purging the pipeline to 100 percent gas or company standards, odorant is introduced into the gas stream at the desired injection rate. The injection point can be located at the front and tail end of the pipe to be conditioned. We emphasize a gradual increase in odorization rates until adequate odor intensity is achieved.
The front-end injection conditions the new pipe, while the tail-end injection maintains adequate odorant concentration downstream. For both methods, adjustments are made to the injection rates to meet target system levels, achieving breakthroughs and ensuring consistent odorization. Conditioning is considered complete when odor-intensity levels remain stable.
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