NitroTech Project Case Studies
Real Jobs. Real Results. Real Documentation.
From Permian Basin gathering system commissioning to Marcellus post-hydrotest drying campaigns, these are examples of the kind of nitrogen work NitroTech executes — and the standard of documentation we deliver on every job.
Project Examples
Nitrogen Projects We Have Executed
16-Inch Gathering Main Commissioning — Post-Hydrotest Drying
📍 Permian Basin, West Texas
8.4-mile, 16-inch NPS OD gathering main. Post-hydrotest dewatering and nitrogen drying to -40°F dew point before natural gas introduction.
Pipeline had significant elevation change (600 ft drop over the route) with standing water in multiple low points after hydrotest. Tight commissioning window of 18 hours.
Two foam pig passes removed bulk water. Continuous nitrogen drying achieved -40°F outlet dew point in 14 hours. Dew point certificate delivered same day. Gas introduced on schedule.
Marcellus Shale Gathering Lateral Purge and Pressure Test
📍 Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania
12 new well laterals (4–6 inch NPS, 0.4–1.2 miles each) requiring nitrogen pressure testing at 1.5× MAOP and purge to below 1% O₂ before gas introduction.
Laterals were commissioned in sequence over 3 days to match pad completion schedule. Rapid mobilization between tie-in points across remote northeast PA terrain required.
All 12 laterals pressure tested and purged to specification over 3 days. Pressure tests completed to specification on each lateral. Zero failures, zero re-tests.
Compressor Station Pre-Commissioning — Suction and Discharge Circuit Inerting
📍 Utica Shale, Eastern Ohio
New 4-unit compressor station. Nitrogen purging of all suction manifold, discharge manifold, scrubber vessels, coolers, and interconnect piping before first gas operation.
Complex station piping with multiple dead legs, instrument connections, and buried scrubber vessel low points. Operator required O₂ below 0.5% throughout the circuit.
Full station circuit purged to 0.3% O₂ over 9 hours. Instrument connections individually verified. Completion report delivered within 2 hours of job completion.
Post-Hydrotest Drying — 20-Inch Gas Transmission Segment
📍 Louisiana Gulf Coast Corridor
22.5-mile, 20-inch NPS transmission line segment. Post-hydrotest nitrogen drying to -40°F with pigging support for dewatering phase.
Large internal volume (~60,000 SCF). Operator required drying to -40°F with continuous dew point logging. Winter ambient temperatures slowed pipe wall moisture release.
Three foam pig passes completed in 4 hours. Nitrogen drying achieved -40°F outlet dew point in 31 hours with continuous monitoring. Full dew point log and certificate delivered.
Haynesville Shale High-Pressure Gathering Line Commissioning
📍 DeSoto Parish, Louisiana
6.2-mile, 12-inch NPS gathering line operating at 1,200 psig. Nitrogen pressure test at 1,800 psig and purge to below 1% O₂.
Required high-pressure nitrogen delivery (1,800 psig test pressure) in a remote north Louisiana location. Standard low-pressure nitrogen equipment insufficient.
High-pressure nitrogen unit deployed. Pressure test completed at 1,800 psig with 8-hour hold. Purges completed to specification. Line commissioned on schedule.
Bakken Crude Oil Gathering System — Winter Commissioning Campaign
📍 Williams County, North Dakota
New crude oil gathering system: 18 segments, 4–8 inch NPS, ranging from 0.5 to 3.2 miles. Commissioned over 6 weeks during winter field conditions.
Sustained ambient temperatures of -10°F to -25°F during the commissioning campaign. Equipment required cold-weather operation without performance degradation.
All 18 segments commissioned to specification with no weather-related delays. Cold-weather-rated nitrogen units maintained full performance throughout. All documentation delivered per operator spec.
Refinery Process Unit Turnaround — Nitrogen Purging Campaign
📍 Gulf Coast Refinery (Texas)
Hydrotreater unit turnaround: nitrogen purging of 12 vessels, 2 fired heaters, 8 heat exchanger circuits, and associated piping. 72-hour turnaround window.
Parallel work streams required nitrogen at multiple locations simultaneously. Catalyst bed required continuous nitrogen blanket throughout turnaround.
All vessels purged to below 1% LEL on schedule. Catalyst blanket maintained without interruption. Unit restarted on schedule.
SCOOP Play Gathering Header Commissioning
📍 Garvin County, Oklahoma
14-mile, 10-inch NPS gathering header. Post-hydrotest dewatering, nitrogen drying to -40°F, and purge to below 1% O₂.
Remote SCOOP play location with limited road infrastructure. Operator had a 24-hour commissioning window tied to well pad completions in the area.
Single high-flow nitrogen unit mobilized. Dewatering and drying completed in 19 hours. Outlet dew point -43°F confirmed. Gas introduction completed within operator's 24-hour window.
Documentation Standard
What You Receive on Every
NitroTech Job
Every project — regardless of size — gets the same field execution and supervision. These records satisfy pipeline operator commissioning requirements, PHMSA inspections, and internal QA audits.
Job Completion Report
Date, location, pipeline description, service performed, specification achieved, personnel, and equipment used.
Purge Log
Timestamped oxygen concentration readings from start to specification, at defined intervals throughout the purge.
Dew Point Log
Complete trend curve showing outlet dew point from start through specification confirmation, with timestamps and final certified reading.
Dew Point Certificate
Signed document confirming outlet dew point achieved specification, with final reading, time, and supervisor signature.
Pressure Test Record
Test pressure, hold duration, temperature readings, pressure stability chart, and pass/fail determination per operator or regulatory specification.
Equipment Calibration Certs
Calibration records for the O₂ analyzer, dew point instrument, and pressure gauges used on your job, with calibration dates and traceability.
We've Worked In Every Major U.S. Basin
From the Williston Basin in the north to the Gulf Coast in the south — NitroTech has nitrogen equipment and field experience in the basins where the work actually happens.
Want Results Like These
on Your Next Project?
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Related Resources
Part of the HydroTech Family
Need Hydrostatic Testing Too?
NitroTech Rentals is part of the HydroTech Testing family of companies. If your project also requires hydrostatic pressure testing services, our sister company specializes in exactly that — with the same documentation standards and field experience you get from NitroTech.
hydrotechtesting.com