Pickling & Conditioning

WHAT IS PIPELINE PICKLING?

 

Pipeline pickling, also called pipeline conditioning, is the process of saturating a new or modified natural gas pipeline's interior walls with odorant before it enters full service. When odorized gas first flows through new steel or plastic pipe, the odorant reacts with mill scale, rust, and other metal oxides on the pipe wall and is absorbed rather than carried downstream. This is called odor fade, and it can leave gas effectively undetectable by smell, the exact safety failure that odorization exists to prevent.

 

Pickling pre-saturates the pipe wall under controlled conditions so that, once the line is in normal service, odorant properly carries through to the end user at a detectable concentration. Federal regulation 49 CFR 192.625 requires that combustible gas in distribution lines, and many transmission lines, be detectable by smell at a concentration no greater than one-fifth of the lower explosive limit. Skipping or under-engineering the pickling process creates a genuine compliance and safety gap, not just a paperwork issue.

 

OUR ZERO EMISSION STATIC PICKLING METHOD​

Burgess Pipeline Services is the first to offer a Zero Emission Static Pickling Method, a proprietary, closed-loop approach engineered in-house to eliminate the flaring or venting traditionally used to manage excess gas during pickling.

 

This method works for both transmission and distribution pipelines of varying diameters and lengths, including large-diameter steel transmission mains and shorter distribution segments where the alternative was complete odor fade.

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- No flaring, no venting. Gas and odorant are captured in a closed loop instead of released to atmosphere.

- Automated, monitored injection. Odorant is introduced at a controlled, flow-proportional rate through automated systems with remote monitoring, so concentration stays accurate without manual adjustment.

- Regulatory positioning. Keeps your project ahead of tightening state and federal emissions requirements.

 

STATIC VS. DYNAMIC (FLOWING) PICKLING

 

Burgess offers both methods and will recommend the right one based on your pipeline's length, diameter, and odorant distribution needs.

 

- Static method: best for shorter segments or areas with non-uniform odorant distribution. The pipeline segment is isolated and purged to 100% gas, liquid odorant is introduced at a controlled rate, and the pipe is given sufficient dwell time to fully absorb odorant into the wall.

- Dynamic (flowing) method: best for longer pipeline runs requiring continuous conditioning, using continuous odorant injection as gas flows downstream. Our typical process: isolate and purge the pipeline segment to 100% gas, introduce liquid odorant at a controlled rate, generate flow to transmit odorant through the line, and monitor odorant concentration in real time across multiple cycles until the pipe reaches baseline concentration with no measurable odor fade​

WHY CHOOSE BURGESS PIPELINE SERVICES?

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- Engineering and automation team. Burgess Pipeline Services is built around an in-house engineering and automation team that designs, automates, and remotely monitors odorization systems rather than relying on off-the-shelf equipment.

- Proven at scale. Our team has completed pickling projects across a wide range of pipeline diameters and lengths.

- Engineered in-house. Our Zero Emission Static Pickling Method and our odorization systems were developed directly by our own engineering team.

- Nationwide service for both transmission and distribution pipelines, with full mobilization, automated odorant injection, remote monitoring, and demobilization included in every project.

- Custom-engineered strategy per project. Every pickling approach is designed around your pipe material (steel, plastic, coated), diameter, and flow conditions, not a one-size-fits-all process.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

What is the difference between pipeline pickling and pipeline conditioning?

The terms are used interchangeably in the industry. Both refer to the process of saturating a new or modified pipeline's interior with odorant before it enters full service, to prevent odor fade.

 

How long does pipeline pickling take?​

Timelines vary based on pipeline length, diameter, flow rate, material, and condition. Shorter distribution segments can take about a week, while longer transmission pipelines may take longer. Our engineering team designs each project's timeline around these specific factors rather than a fixed schedule.

 

What causes odor fade in new pipelines?

Odorant molecules are absorbed into new pipeline walls, react with mill scale and metal oxides in steel pipe, or are diluted by pipe materials, resulting in gas that's less detectable by smell than required.

 

Is Zero Emission Static Pickling available for large-diameter transmission lines?

Yes. We've applied this method to large-diameter steel transmission pipelines as well as smaller distribution lines.

 

Do you pickle both steel and plastic pipelines?

Yes. Pickling strategy is customized for steel, plastic, and internally coated pipe, each of which absorbs and reacts with odorant differently.

 

What regulations govern pipeline odorization and pickling?

49 CFR 192.625 requires that combustible gas in distribution lines, and many transmission lines, be detectable by smell at a concentration no greater than one-fifth of the lower explosive limit at all times.

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Related Reading

• Static vs. Dynamic Pipeline Pickling: How to Choose the Right Method

• What Is Odor Fade? Causes, Risks, and Prevention

• 49 CFR 192.625 Explained: Natural Gas Odorization Requirements

• Verifying Odorant Levels During Pipeline Commissioning and Startup

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