Pipeline Contamination Testing

Pipeline contamination analysis, identification, and testing

Pipeline contamination and unknown deposits occur in crude oil, petroleum, natural gas, fuel, and chemical pipelines. When pipeline contamination occurs operations can be disrupted, quality control suffers, and economic losses are taken. Intertek helps clients quickly solve pipeline contamination problems, providing the expert knowledge and capabilities needed to identify the contamination, help point to the contamination source, and identify the root-cause of the problem.

Pipeline contamination, unknown precipitates, and sludge can originate from incompatible product mixing (pipeline transmix), contaminated products, wall coatings, welds, additives, corrosion, and other sources. Laboratory expertise used to identify pipeline contamination include GC, GC/MS, ICP, ICP/MS, and more, with an ability to look at trace and ultra-trace pipeline contamination at ppm, ppb and ppt levels.

Pipeline contamination testing:

 

Pipeline Transmix Testing

Pipeline transmix products testing.

Pipeline transmix interfaces and related pipeline products are tested by Intertek for contamination and quality assessments.

Pipeline sample testing provides measurements for a wide range of chemical and physical properties in the transmix products, including sulfur content and molecular species, octane, cetane, FAME, and many other tests as required.

Pipeline testing includes trace level compound analysis and identification of unknown materials, precipitation, and contamination found in the transmix or on the pipeline wall, such as films, coatings, precipitates and more.

The client or Intertek personnel obtain samples of the transmix and related pipeline products in the field and deliver them to an appropriate Intertek laboratory for prompt testing, depending upon location and urgency. Samples are quickly and easily shipped to one of Intertek's global petroleum laboratories.

Various petroleum refined products are subject to co-mingling during shipment in a multi-product pipeline. Transmix often occurs at the beginning and end of a product shipment, since it is shipped in sequence with other products in order to keep the pipeline full and flowing. Products subject to potential transmix co-mingling include gasoline, diesel, and aviation-gasoline, home heating oil, biofuel blends, and other pipeline fuels. Intertek helps pipeline customers measure and determine the nature and amount of transmix products in the pipeline system.

 

Trace Metals in Petroleum

Trace metals analysis in petroleum, refined products, and chemicals.

Trace metals analysis in petroleum crude oils, refined products, and chemicals is available on a global basis. Intertek trace metal analysis laboratories are staffed by experienced chemists equipped with modern instrumentation. 

Trace metal detection levels range from trace to ultra-trace sensitivity, including ppm, ppb, and ppt levels.

Trace metal analytical techniques include ICP, ICP-MS, GC-ICP-MS, AA and other options. 

Trace metals analyzed in petroleum, fuels, chemicals, feedstocks and other refined products:

 

Biofuel Analysis

Biofuel laboratory analysis, testing, and research.

Intertek supports biofuel clients with global biofuels analysis, testing, and expertise for research, quality control testing, troubleshooting, sustainability programs, and other applications.

Biofuels analysis for biofuel products: