For over 20 years Enserve has been providing world class engineering solutions to the Petrochemical and Steel Industries in South Africa. Enserve also boasts a division wholly dedicated to giving you control of gaseous emissions, making your company safer, more environmentally friendly, and keeping you within legislated limits.
Utilising state-of-the-art detection technology, Enserve offers a leak detection and repair programme designed specifically to locate, quantify, and reduce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Worldwide there is a drive to reduce VOC emissions as they are:
• Harmful to the environment
• A significant fire risk
• A health risk
• Excessive leaks contravene environmental legislation
Such emissions emanate from a variety of sources including process valves, pumps, and compressor seals at refineries, chemical plants, and pipeline transfer stations. Within minutes, our sophisticated FLIR camera can detect a wide range of gases.
Typical Refinery Survey Results
| Valves Inspected | Total Leaks above 500ppm | 500 < ppm <10 000 | Potential Loss ton/a | 10 000 < ppm < 100 000 | Potential Loss ton/a | > 100 000 ppm | Potential Loss ton/a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 123 | 3668 | 3418 | 2 | 223 | 11 | 27 | 42 |
| Percentage | 8.1% | 93.2% | 3.6% | 6.1% | 20% | 0.8% | 76.4% |
Smart LDAR
This technique utilises a specially-adapted FLIR Infrared (GF320) camera to identify leaks via thermographic imaging in conjunction with conventional leak concentration measurement techniques.
Enserve has also developed a unique software package called EnsoftLDAR that allows you to capture data on site using a tablet interface thus allowing you to create leak reports on the spot which included plant/valve description, leak data, potential loss per annum as well as a photo. These reports can be uploaded onto the customers database the same day.
What can you expect from us?
- Identification of leaking valves and equipment.
- Video clips taken of leaking equipment to pinpoint leak source.
- Tagging of leaking equipment for easy relocation.
- Physical measurement of emission concentration in PPM, % LEL, or % Gas.
- EnsoftLDAR allows the customer to tailor the recording/reporting format to their requirements.
- On-site, in-line, and on-line leak repair using state-of-the-art packing extraction and sealant injection equipment.
- Valve gland management programme, including in-line gland adjustment and repackaging.
- Regular monitoring and auditing of entire sites to ensure legal compliance.
- Electronic data management, including data capture, third-party storage, and reporting.
LDAR Test Results
| Compound | G/HR |
|---|---|
| Benzene | 3.5 |
| Ethanol | 0.7 |
| Ethylbenzene | 1.5 |
| Heptane | 1.8 |
| Hexane | 1.7 |
| Isoprene | 8.1 |
| Methanol | 3.8 |
| MEK | 3.5 |
| MIBK | 2.1 |
| Octane | 1.2 |
| Pentane | 3.0 |
| 1-Pentane | 5.6 |
| Toluene | 3.8 |
| Xylene | 1.9 |
| Butane | 0.4 |
| Ethane | 0.6 |
| Methane | 0.8 |
| Propane | 0.4 |
| Ethylene | 4.4 |
| Propylene | 2.9 |
Background Gas Survey
Background gas surveys play a vital role in detecting emissions and potential leaks before they escalate into safety or compliance issues. Enserve Environmental Services offers precise, dependable surveying for industrial and environmental zones across South Africa.
Since 2015, our team has supported refineries during partial shutdowns—monitoring gas levels in hotwork areas, working with HSSE teams, and identifying high-emission zones in operational sectors. By pinpointing emission sources early, we help improve safety and maintenance planning.
Pre and Post Start-up Survey
Pre-shutdown surveys are essential for refineries and industrial plants preparing for a turnaround. These surveys help identify the exact scope of work by pinpointing leaking components (leakers) that require repacking or repair. This approach reduces costs by eliminating unnecessary maintenance, improves planning accuracy, and saves time by allowing for in-situ valve repairs where possible.
Post-shutdown surveys are conducted to assess the effectiveness and quality of the maintenance work completed during the shutdown. They provide a clear indication of plant integrity during start-up, ensuring that emissions are within acceptable limits and confirming that the shutdown objectives have been successfully achieved.