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Smart Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) for Control of Fugitive Emissions

API LDAR – Smart Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) for Control of Fugitive Emissions

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The Smart LDAR project is aimed at developing more efficient procedures and technologies for the control of fugitive emissions from process piping components (e.g. valves, pumps, connectors, etc.).A large refinery in the U.S. can spend over $1MM annually in monitoring, control measures, record keeping and reporting.Most of this effort appears to be wasted, since the vast majority of piping components (generally over 98%) do not leak.A recent API study showed that over 90% of controllable emissions come from about 0.13% of the components.A Smart LDAR program would focus efforts on these high leaking components.

This report presents a summary of the Smart LDAR concept, potential technologies, plant demonstrations and laboratory test results.Smart LDAR focuses on locating and repairing the most significant leaking components more cost effectively than existing practices while providing environmental protection equivalent or better than the current programs. While current LDAR programs have been successful in identifying and significantly reducing fugitive emissions from regulated components at industrial facilities, they are time consuming, labor intensive and costly.An operator must visit and measure each potential leak site; of which there are hundreds-of-thousands at an industrial plant. A Smart LDAR program that focuses on finding and repairing this minority of high “leakers” could achieve equivalent or better environmental protection at a lower cost.