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Natural Gas Leak Survey Glossary

​Anode - A form of cathodic protection , to protect steel subterrenean piping from corrosion. An anode absorbs a charge and mitigates electro-chemical corrosion. 
Anticorrosion Wax Tape Wrap - A form of pipe protection that stops chemical oxidation. 
Backfill - The refilling of a hole excavated for the purpose of inspection, potholing, or daylighting. 
Bell Hole - A bell-shaped hole dug beneath a pipeline to provide room for use of tools.
Boring - Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), is a minimal impact trenchless method of installing underground pipe by drilling horizontally
Cathodic Protection - A technique used to control the corrosion of a metal surface by making it the cathode of an electrochemical cell.
CGI Leak Test - Combustible Gas Indicator leak test - testing for combustible gases like butane, methane, propane, etc.
Clock Testing - Method of leak testing that looks for leaks by the loss of pressure. 
Compaction - Soil getting compact. 
Corrosion - The breakdown of materials through electro-chemical exposure. 
Curb Valve - Underground valve on branch service lines, for the power utility. Not every branch line has one. 
Custom Gas Line Fabrication - Making a tailored gas line. 
DP-IR - Detecto-Pak Infrared. Methane detector without false alarming other hydrocarbon ggases. DP-IR functions by using infrared optics. 
Electrofusion - A method of joining MDPE, HDPE and other plastic pipes using special fittings that have built-in electric heating elements which are used to weld the joint together.
Electrolysis Test Station - Tracer wire leads converge here; you can test the continuity of the tracer wire. 
Electronic Marker Balls - Ball buried at intervals to aid in locating gas lines. 
Excavation - Digging out. 
Excess Flow Valve - A gas line valve that stops gas flow when there is a sudden, dramatic, loss of gas pressure (as in a line break). 
Gas Bury Tape - Line of tape indicating a gas line below, so in the event someone is digging, they'll hit that first. 
Gas Filters - Remove particulates from gas. 
Gas Line Slitting - Trenchless method of installing a gas line; you take an existing line, slit it, and pull the new line through it. Doing this with steel lines is called 'bursting'. 
Gas Line Surveying - Mapping out gas lines on a property. 
Gas Main (Line) - Delivery method of gas from a natural gas utility to a region. 
Gas Meter - Device that measures gas flow to a unit or residence. 
Gas Service Line - Delivery method of gas from a natural gas utility to a property. 
Gas Turbines - Small power-generating device that burns natural gas to power an electric generator. 
Gate Valve - Valve that retracts a gate into the body of a valve to open or close flow. 
Heat Fusion (Hydraulic/Mechanical) - A welding process used to join two different pieces of a thermoplastic.
Hot Tapping/Hot Tie-In - Connecting a new gas line to a gas line that is actively transporting gas, vs. one that has been disconnected. 
Hydrogen Flame Ionizer - HFI is a detector that  detect and measure the level of hydrocarbons. 
Infrared gas Leak Test - Gas survey (leak) test tool that uses infrared to detect leaking gas. 
Inlet Gas Piping - Point at which gas enters a component. 
Isolation Valves - Shut-off valve placed in a way so as to isolate a portion of the system, so that a leak can be isolated and leave gas flowing elsewhere. 
Laser Gas Leak Test - A gas leak test that uses a laser light. 
Outlet Piping From Natural Gas Meter - Point at which gas exits a component. 
Pipe Fitting - A union, elbow, step-up, coupler, or reducer - that joins or modifies pipe. 
Pipe Squeezing - Method of stopping gas flow that clamps down on plastic pipe to stop the flow of gas, when a shut-off valve is not accessible or available. 
Polyethelene Piping - Synthetic piping that does not corrode as quickly as steel, when underground. 
Potholing/Daylighting - Removing earth to inspect piping. 
Pressure Testing - A method of leak test that detects leaks by determining whether gas pressure in a line is lost. 
Regulator - A device that maintains pressure at a predetermined level along a gas system. Natural gas goes through several steps of pressure on its way to the consumer. 
Relief Valve - A type of over-pressure protection that is installed downstream and adjacent to the main regulator. 
Repiping - New piping of corroded or outmoded piping. May happen in an existing trench or require a new trench or route. 
Riser - The bending part of a gas line that brings a gas line from subgrade to above grade. Also can be a portion of pipe that elevates a line. 
RMLD - Remte Methane Leak Detector. Detects leaks from 2 to 100 feet, but usually only used to determine the presence of a leak. 
Seismic Shutoff Valve - A natural gas valve that turns off gas flow to a building or property in the event of an earthquake. 
Service Valve  - Located on the stell riser attached to the meter set at a customer property. A shut-off valve for the gas utility. 
Shutoff Valve - Valve used to shut off natural gas. Ususally a plug or ball style. 
Smart Meter - Utility meter on a home that broadcasts usage information to the power utility. 
Socket Fusion - Special type of fusion, contrasted with butt fusion, where the two male ends of a pipe are joined by a larger female connection. 
Steel Piping - Type of gas piping suitable for rooftop and above ground piping when galvanized. Older, non-galvanized piping often has been corroded. 
Subgrade - Below the ground. 
Tracer Wire - Metal wire that goes along plastic pipe so make it identifiable with an electric current. 
Trenching - The digging of a hole for a gas pipeline to sit in. 
Utility Locating - Locating underground utility lines, using detection equipment.
Valve Actuator - Valves can be opened manually or opened by means of electronic, pneumatic or hydraulic valve acutators. A solenoid actuator may be found in boiling room. 
Valve Exercising - The closing and reopening of valves 1/4 turn, so that they do not stick or freeze. 
MBS Engineering
12855 Alcosta Blvd.
San Ramon, CA 94583, USA
Phone ​(925) 334-7200
info@mbs.engineering

Hours: Monday - Friday,
8 am to 5 pm
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  • Home
  • Services
    • Gas Leak Detection & Repair >
      • Gas System Survey
      • Gas Pressure Regulators
      • Excess Gas Flow Valves
      • Leak Detection Technology
      • Natural Gas Leak Survey Glossary
    • Excavation, Trenching, Grading >
      • Excavation
    • Plumbing Services
    • Seismic Shut-Off Valve Installation >
      • How Seismic Shut-Off Valves Work
    • Gas Turbines >
      • About Gas Turbines >
        • Is A Turbine Right For My Company?
        • How To Get Your Gas Turbine Power Solution
      • Cogeneration or Combined Heat And Power
      • For Hemp Growers
      • For Breweries
      • For Refrigerated Storage And Food Processing
      • For Critical Infrastructure Emergency Power
      • For IT Data Centers
      • For Office Buildings, Stadia And Convention Centers
      • For Schools
      • For Manufacturing And Production
      • For Warehouses And Fulfillment Centers
      • For Agriculture
    • New Construction & Re-Piping >
      • Horizontal Drilling Or Directional Drilling And Directional Boring
      • Gas Bypass Line Construction
    • Custom Fabrication
    • Gas Line Maintenance
  • Regions
    • San Francisco Bay
    • Northern California
    • California Central Valley
    • California Central Coast
    • Greater Los Angeles
    • San Diego
  • Industries
    • Gas Services For Hotels
    • Gas Services For Hospitals
    • Gas Services For K-12 Schools
    • Gas Services For Colleges
    • Gas Services For JPAs And Insurers
    • Commercial Segments >
      • General Commercial
      • Municipal And Infrastructure Gas System Construction And Maintenance
      • Federal And Defense Gas System Construction And Maintenance
  • Resources
    • Library
    • Graphics >
      • Gas Safety Response Flow Chart
      • Gas Turbines
      • Problems With Older Gas Systems
      • How To Spot A Gas Leak
      • What Is A Seismic Shut-Off Valve?
      • How Does Natural Gas Get To Us?
      • Natural Gas Basics
      • Exercising Your Valves
      • The Road To Gas Safety
      • Sustainable Energy Comparison Chart
    • Natural Gas Free eBooks >
      • Are You Liable For A Gas Accident On Your Property?
      • Earthquakes And Natural Gas Fires
      • Natural Gas And School Safety
      • The Coming California Energy Shortage
      • JPA And Insurer eBook
  • Contact
  • About Us
    • Photo Gallery
    • Blog
    • MBS In The News
    • Our Company
  • Projects