Workflows at Work: Sniffers for Leak Detection and Repair

HUVR offers a wide range of inspection solutions that expedite and simplify your processes. Every entry in the Workflows at Work series highlights one of the near-infinite workflows that HUVR optimizes. Would you like to know more about bringing more simplicity and savings to your operation? Reach out to an expert to ask about replicating this successful workflow and putting it to work for you.

With mounting global environmental regulations – like the EPA’s recent waste charge ruling or Southcoast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)’s PAR 1178, 1173, and 463 – and pressure from governing bodies across the globe to reduce emissions, adoption of new technologies and processes will be key to accommodating the coming influx of data and reporting measures. Leak detection and repair (LDAR) methods are a foundational inspection type driving the charge. Optical gas imaging (OGI) is an increasingly popular new method for detecting these highly regulated emissions as regional regulations change, but LDAR sniffers are an essential piece of the puzzle that drive leak quantification and final decisions for repair.

These sniffer devices – flame ionization detectors (FIDs) and photo ionization detectors (PIDs) – capture some of the most accurate information on emissions, detecting thresholds as low as four parts per million (PPM). FIDs capture this information by sucking in oxygen at the site and combusting to detect how much of a product is being emitted into the surrounding air. PIDs use mass spectrometers to produce instantaneous measurements close to the sampling area. Because of the required proximity to the component being examined and the bulky nature of some FIDs, LDAR sniffers can be less efficient than tools like OGI. However, many organizations still use this method to verify leaks initially detected by OGI and to get more accurate readings on a leak source. 

The data they bring in is essential to a well-rounded emissions detection workflow, and HUVR enables the process, compiling data from previous inspections and LDAR sniffer validation together in one centralized digital location. Let’s explore how technicians are supported by HUVR for their LDAR workflows, starting with project set-up. 

Set-Up

Projects in HUVR are asset-centric, compiling inspection and maintenance data for each asset or component in one place for informed inspection processes. For LDAR processes, components are usually defined by asset owners early on, often through OGI or Method 21 protocols completed in the past to identify problem areas. HUVR’s world-class service team creates the project hierarchy centered around these components, and empowers their teams to create any additional projects as needed to accommodate unexpected expansions in scope.

Each project is structured with standardized checklists, allowing technicians to seamlessly capture images and videos for any detected leaks, removing ambiguity in interpretation across teams and vendors. These checklists can be configured according to any asset owner or regulatory requirements, and adjusted as regulations or expectations change. 

Most asset owners use a mix of technicians from internal means and third-party services, so  access to projects and checklists within HUVR follows the Principle of Least Privilege, meaning each user only accesses data essential to their role. Permissions are easily granted and removed as needed, ensuring your data is always in the right hands at the right time. HUVR’s SOC-2 certification also ensures that all data stored and transmitted remains secure. 

Once setup is complete with the help of HUVR’s white-glove service, work is assigned and technicians are equipped to carry out LDAR inspections in the field. 

Execution

Sniffer-based inspections are performed on a regular basis, as defined by federal/state/local requirements, or as a follow-up to OGI inspections when a leak reaches a certain threshold of severity. In OGI screening inspections, the PPM of emissions in the area may be detected with OGI cameras, and the threshold of risk/size of the leak determines whether a sniffer needs to be deployed or not – and how often for future routine inspections.  When leaks exceed thresholds that may vary across organizations and regions, they are required to be monitored more often based on current regulations. Depending on the severity, checks may be completed in matters of weeks to days. Repair orders are made depending on the size of leaks found. Smaller leaks may not need a repair, but at every regularly scheduled inspection, teams must be able to prove that there has been no increase in size. Teams using HUVR can create automatic schedules that fit the needs of their asset health, automatically planning inspections and notifying teams at company-established intervals, and verify the status of the leak severity with data stored in HUVR from previous inspections. 

Sniffers are typically deployed when leak severity is high enough to need to know the precise volume and location of the leak. Technicians wielding LDAR sniffer devices will collect data at the site, checking each tag listed in the project that’s been prioritized for severity. Leaks are cataloged using HUVR’s Findings module, recording Findings in a tabular format that automatically checks to see if they exceed important thresholds. GPS-tagged photos and video can also be taken at the site, providing comprehensive context on leak location and severity, and removing guesswork to interpret findings from different vendors. This is also essential when staying compliant with regulations like those from SCAQMD which require footage be shared directly in reports. 

Once back from the field, inspection data is uploaded to the cloud for indefinite storage – this is when the HUVR system gets to work. 

Remediation

Upon completing inspections, HUVR generates comprehensive, configurable reports embedded with relevant images, videos, measurements, and Findings. Notifications are automatically sent to project managers and SMEs to review the data and reports. They can quickly assess the status of a component and plan necessary repairs without sifting through raw data or needing to transcribe data or reformat reports manually. When sniffer results indicate leak thresholds that require remediation, HUVR seamlessly integrates with existing systems of record to trigger repair orders directly, eliminating inefficiencies associated with manual data transfers and reducing transcription errors along the way.

Historical data for each component is then securely stored in the cloud within HUVR’s platform, establishing a long-term record of inspection outcomes to inform future and ongoing decision-making, identifying recurring issues and improving asset performance. If specific equipment exhibits repeated leaks, these patterns are flagged, enabling asset managers to proactively address potential equipment replacements or further investigate underlying issues.

Outcome

By centralizing data and eliminating cumbersome paper- or Excel-based data collection and PDF-only reporting, HUVR allows asset owners to track asset health efficiently while reducing time spent on data entry and its associated transcription (and subsequent re-inspection) errors. When conducting and analyzing inspection results, HUVR’s Findings module offers clear, actionable insights, enabling quick decision-making and improving responsiveness to leak detections. The platform’s near-unlimited cloud storage also allows for indefinite data retention and streaming, providing a rich historical record that guides future maintenance and enhances long-term asset performance.

HUVR’s Reliability Automation Platform empowers asset owners and operators to meet increasingly stringent compliance requirements, drive emissions reductions, and improve processes with a structured standardized data-driven approach. By simplifying each phase of the LDAR process, from setup to outcome, HUVR makes regulatory compliance straightforward, empowers technicians to be more efficient than ever, and helps asset-intensive industries achieve a more sustainable future with fewer violations and associated fines.

Find out how HUVR can help your team’s LDAR processes and reach out to an expert today.

Want to learn more about our other cost-reducing workflows or speak with an expert to learn more? Check out our Workflows at Work installment on OGI for fugitive emissions or schedule time with a HUVR expert here.