By Myriah V. Jaworski
Valves, pumps, connectors, and other component parts are the crucial joints in an industrial plant’s skeletal system. Without them, movement—or in the case of a refinery or chemical manufacturing facility, processing—would be impossible. And, just as with skeletal joints, without proper care and maintenance, normal wear and tear can cause component parts to become arthritic and leak, releasing contained gas and liquids into the environment. Leaking parts are particularly problematic to the expansion of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), as they may undermine the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction otherwise gained by transitioning to natural gas.