BackGPS Verification for Leak Detection and Repair
14 Jan 2011
Introduction
In striving to solve the critical issues facing today’s society, one would consider pollution, climate change, financial losses, and threats to health and safety as legitimate concerns. In efforts to reduce impact of the aforementioned issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed fugitive emissions compliance programs in which companies in the refining and chemical industry are legally bound to run compliant Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) programs. These programs specify criteria for record keeping and reporting, which may in turn be audited by enforcement agencies to ensure that chemical processing equipment is being consistently monitored and proper measurements are being taken.
Many companies face the critical problem of not being able to verify and prove that data was taken correctly and accurately by field technicians, and that false numbers were not recorded in an attempt to cheat the system. The industry needs a method that proves the technicians were where they said they were, performing the tests they said they were performing, with trackable, tangible data. The solution to this problem is GPS capability within the data management software and hardware system used to perform LDAR functions.
The Challenge of Verifying LDAR Data
The inability to verify that accurate data was recorded has been a major problem in the LDAR industry for years. State and federal agencies that enforce environmental air compliance regulations know this and have been proactively auditing facilities to determine if data recorded was accurate and honest. If the auditor questions the information in any way, the company has to prove the who, what, when, where, and how for each component that was inspected. LDAR program managers can examine inspection results for each reading that is logged in the field, but there has not been a conclusive way to validate that the technician was where he or she was supposed to be when the reading was taken.
Pen and paper, as well as barcode scanners with handheld computers, have been used in the past to record locations and times, but that information can be easily falsified. Submitting false information can result in expensive fines, extra costs, redundant work, decreased productivity, and an increased amount of dangerous fugitive emissions being leaked into the environment.
GPS as a Solution
Handheld computers and software have been able to record the who, what, when, and how, but validating where a field technician was at the time a reading was taken has been elusive. Integrating GPS capabilities within the data management software and hardware system being used to perform LDAR functions fills in the missing link. This idea is fairly new to the industry and is just beginning to be offered as a verifiable solution to LDAR accountability. The only way to obtain accurate GPS coordinates is to actually be at a particular location, which increases verifiability because there is simply no way to enter false GPS information. With those coordinates, technicians are able to provide the distance between components and the route traveled by the technician, literally leaving a breadcrumb trail to verify that monitoring was performed.
When looking for a GPS solution for LDAR verification, it is important to keep in mind several features of the software and handheld computer that will dramatically improve the data collection experience.
- Be sure that the software selected includes compatible integrated GPS in order to perform at the utmost level of accuracy and reliability.
- A mobile version of software is required for on-site, real-time data collection.
- Select a rugged handheld computer that is built to IP67 standards by being waterproof and dustproof, as well as Class I Div 2 certified for use in hazardous conditions.
- In order to provide accurate GPS coordinates, select at least 2-5 meter GPS accuracy.
Archer Field PC® with LeakDAS® Mobile Edition
With the use of the Archer Field PC® and LeakDAS® Mobile Edition software, LDAR with GPS verification becomes a reality. The Archer integrated with the GlobalSat CF GPS Receiver is one of the only Class I Div 2 certified solutions on the market, while LeakDAS Mobile Edition allows field technicians to perform the very same functions that previously had to be done back in the office. By providing 2-5 meter accuracy, unsurpassed ruggedness, and the world’s leading LDAR mobile software, this solution will undoubtedly solve any verification problem encountered by managers responsible for Leak Detection and Repair program compliance.
LeakDAS® software and LeakDAS® Mobile Edition, developed by InspectionLogic Corp., are the world’s most widely used software tools for managing any size or type of LDAR program, regardless of whether it is mandated or a voluntary initiative to schedule and track equipment inspections, repairs, and all related record keeping. LeakDAS is used for programs that are in-house or contracted to a service provider, and it has proven adaptable to regulatory interpretations and the challenging operational aspects of running a compliant LDAR program. Eighteen of the top twenty refineries in the U.S., plus many hundreds of others facilities, have chosen LeakDAS and LeakDAS Mobile as the software solutions to run compliant LDAR programs. For more information on LeakDAS, please visit www.inspectionlogic.com, or call 502-244-4505.
The Archer Field PC®, designed and manufactured by Juniper Systems of Logan, UT, is the ideal handheld computer for extremely demanding conditions in refineries, chemical plants, pharmaceutical facilities, etc. In addition to being built to IP67 and MIL-STD-810F standards, the Archer is also Class I Div 2 certified for use in hazardous conditions. The Archer is compact and built with ergonomics in mind, fitting comfortably in the hand with its curved body and narrow waist. Designed to keep data safe at all costs, the Archer Field PC is the number one choice for a rugged and reliable field companion. For more information on the Archer, please visit www.junipersys.com, or call 435-753-1881.
Conclusion
For companies looking for a conclusive means to validate Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) data collected in the field, no other solution delivers peace of mind like the Archer with integrated GlobalSat GPS and LeakDAS® Mobile Edition software. Companies can rest assured knowing that accurate and defendable air compliance information has been submitted to regulatory agencies, fines will be avoided, operational efficiencies will be realized, and productivity will increase while harmful emissions are reduced.
