How Delays in Data Center Projects Are Causing Odor Fade in Oversized Pipelines

Recent delays in Data Center construction projects have led to an unexpected challenge in natural gas infrastructure: oversized pipelines operating at lower-than-expected flow rates. These conditions can increase the potential for odor fade—a condition in which odorant concentration or perceived intensity can decline downstream.

At Burgess Pipeline Services, we specialize in pickling solutions that help investigate and manage odor-fade risk through controlled conditioning and verification. Here’s why oversized pipelines can require additional review.

Why Oversized Pipelines Can Face Odor-Fade Challenges

1. Low Flow Can Change Odorant Behavior

   • When pipelines are designed for high-capacity flows but operate at lower rates, the gas moves more slowly.

   • This slow movement allows odorants (like mercaptan) to adsorb onto or be absorbed by pipeline materials or react with moisture and rust, reducing detectability.

2. Extended Construction Delays Increase Risk

   • Data-center projects can be delayed, leaving pipelines stagnant or operating below design flow and increasing the need for representative verification.

3. Regulatory and Safety Consequences

   • Federal regulations (e.g., 49 CFR § 192.625) includes odorization provisions for covered systems and exceptions; operators must determine applicability and required sampling.

   • Odor fade can lead to reduced leak detectability and additional investigation or corrective action.

Burgess Pipeline Services’ Pickling Solution

Our proactive pickling process uses controlled odorant exposure and downstream verification to address surface-related odorant demand. It does not eliminate all causes of odor fade. Here’s how BPS can support the operator:

• Odorant Injection Review – Review flow, dose basis, delivery evidence, and downstream results before adjusting injection.

• Monitoring and Verification – Use representative sample locations and documented trends to evaluate response.

Managing Odor Fade in Delayed Projects

Data-center pipeline projects can experience delays, leaving oversized steel pipes vulnerable to odor fade. BPS can support a project-specific conditioning and verification strategy, including:

• Pre-commissioning pickling to reduce surface-related odorant demand before startup.

• Representative verification to support operator-defined acceptance and turnover decisions.

• Contingency planning for unexpected downstream changes or odorizer interruptions.

Verification objective: Project teams can evaluate stabilized downstream trends, documented limitations, and operator-defined acceptance criteria; no result is guaranteed.

Plan Odor-Fade Controls Around Actual Operating Conditions

When data-center demand is delayed and a pipeline is underutilized, conditioning should be evaluated from pipeline material, history, flow, source configuration, and downstream evidence.

Related Reading

• What Is Odor Fade?

Data Center Commissioning Support

When planned demand is delayed or initial gas flow is far below design conditions, commissioning should include a project-specific conditioning and downstream verification plan. Review pipeline pickling and conditioning support for new or modified data-center gas infrastructure. BPS provides operational support and documentation, not legal advice.