Stress-free Pressure Test Compliance & Validation
Save time and money. Confirm your test is leak-free and code compliant before bleeding down.
What is TestOp®?
TestOp® is the industry-leading online application for Pipeline Pressure Test Validation. TestOp uses engineering mass balance analysis to monitor real-time pressure test data, detecting possible leaks and ensuring compliance per US federal regulations (49 CFR 192 & 195). One-click report generation lets you create comprehensive pressure test reports, complete with charts and calculations, in seconds.
In addition to real-time leak detection, the Excel upload function enables TestOp users to upload and validate historical pressure tests with ease. TestOp can be used to certify both hydrostatic tests and pneumatic tests.
[TestOp] is very helpful in identifying issues in tests that may otherwise have been swept under the rug. The software’s ability to detect slow leaks that still stay within test pressure range, yielding older pipe, or discrepancies in length on acquired lines has been extremely helpful.
– Senior Pipeline Engineer & TestOp User
Calling the wrong result can be costly. Avoid damages and lost revenues.
Pressure tests are costly, but not as costly as erroneously passing or failing them.
If an operator passes a bad pressure test, the ignored leak(s) might grow over time and result in a pipeline rupture that causes significant health, property, and environmental damages. Fines and payments for damages can easily exceed the cost of a pressure test by orders of magnitude (e.g. San Bruno incident).
If an operator incorrectly fails a good pressure test, it will cost them additional money to have the pipeline retested, not to mention loss of revenue due to the pipeline being out of commission.
Why do we need mass balance? Is visual inspection not enough?
Visually inspecting pipelines for leaks only works if the pipe is fully exposed and visible. If your pressure test contains buried pipe, which is the case for most pipeline pressure tests, then visually looking for leaks is simply not adequate.
In our pressure testing experience over the past 25 years, pinhole leaks on a pipeline can often be so small that the leaked water never makes it to the ground surface. This is exactly what happened in our highlighted case study. Other times, your pipe could be located in a muddy area, or it could rain on the day of the test; this would render visual inspection ineffective. Mass/volume balance is required to ensure that there was no loss of test medium due to leaks during a test.
What about setting a hold period and looking for loss of pressure?
Our industry is slowly, and correctly, moving away from using hold periods as a leak acceptance criteria. As an example, an operator who chooses this method might specify that a pipeline pressure test must have a period of 2 hours (out of 8 hours) with no pressure drop. One obvious problem with this method is that it does not address the rest of the test. Is the pipeline allowed to leak for the other 6 hours?
The other issue is that pressure is only one out of many variables in mass balance equations. Temperature and volume must also be taken into account. Temperature gains can often result in enough pressure gains to mask pressure losses due to leaks. And pressure losses can sometimes be a result of temperature losses, not leaks.
TestOp Benefits
Code Compliance
TestOp satisfies code requirements for: -49 CFR 192 Subpart J gas lines -49 CFR 195 Subpart E hazardous liquid lines -ASME B31.3 Process Piping
Proven Accuracy
-6,000 validated tests and counting. -Trusted by gas and liquid operators of all sizes since 2011. -Thanks to TestOp, our clients have been able to identify leaks which were missed by other pressure test validation models.
Online / Offline Modes
-Enter live pressure test data for real-time validation or upload historical data from a past test. -No cell signal? No problem. TestOp has the ability to capture data offline and analyze whether the test was acceptable once service is restored.
Remote Access
-TestOp is entirely web-based. No special software installation is needed. -Access the world’s best pressure test certification software at the office, home, or in the field. Remotely monitor pressure tests from any location.
Multiple Test Mediums & Objectives
-Test Mediums: water (hydro test), nitrogen, air, or gas. -Test Objectives: new construction, pre-testing, repairs & replacements, MAOP/MOP establishment or reconfirmation, integrity assessments, class location changes, spike testing, etc.
Traceable, Verifiable, and Complete Reports
-Generate comprehensive TVC pressure test reports for record-keeping or in preparation for a PHMSA/internal audit. -Report layout is consistent no matter who performs the test. Report contents include RCP’s certification letter, calculations, charts, uploaded documents, and more.
Record Retention for All Project Documents
-Upload test charts, site photos, pipe drawings, etc. to TestOp and include them as part of the test report. -All pressure test data are maintained in our secure cloud database. Reports can also be downloaded for your own records.
Case Study:
How TestOp helped an operator detect a leak which was missed by another pressure test validation model and initial tracer gas test
Need to monitor pressure tests on your phone?
TestApp is a complete mobile application and hardware solution for gas distribution operators to simplify how pressure tests are conducted for service lines, plastic pipelines, and pipelines operating less than 100 psig.
Key Contacts
Brochure Download
TestOp is a trademark powered by RCP.
Empowering operators and contractors nationwide to take their work to the next level.