FINAL 2011 BIENNIAL 

LEAK DETECTION TESTING 

REPORT 

OF 

BULK FIELD CONSTRUCTED 

UNDERGROUND STORAGE 

TANK 2 

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR – 

HICKAM / RED HILL, HAWAII 

Prepared for: 

Defense Logistics Agency Energy 

Ft. Belvoir, Virginia

Prepared under: 

NAVFAC Atlantic 

Contract N62470-10-D-3000-0004 

Submitted by: 

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. 

Virginia Beach, VA

Date: 

12 MARCH 2012 

Project: 119864 

Task: 4.1.41 
FINAL 2011 BIENNIAL LEAK DETECTION TESTING REPORT 

OF 

BULK FIELD CONSTRUCTED UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK 2 

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR - HICKAM / RED HILL, HAWAII 

Prepared for:

Defense Logistics Agency Energy 

Ft. Belvoir, VA

Prepared under:

NAVFAC Atlantic 

Contract N62470-10-D-3000-0004 

Prepared by:

Michael Baker Jr., Inc. 

Virginia Beach, Virginia 

12 MARCH 2012 
i 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page No.

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ........................................................................ ii

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER CERTIFICATION: ...................................................................... iii

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ iv

1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Purpose of Project .......................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Site Background and History ......................................................................................... 1

1.3 Historical Leak Detection Results .................................................................................. 1

1.4 Project Scope ................................................................................................................. 1

1.5 Project Team .................................................................................................................. 4

1.6 Qualifications of Testing Procedures Used .................................................................... 4

2.0 LEAK DETECTION TESTING AND RESULTS ............................................................ 5

3.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................. 5

3.1 Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 5

3.2 Recommendations .......................................................................................................... 5

4.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 6

List of Tables

Table 1-1 Items Tested .................................................................................................................... 2

Table 2-1 Test Results ..................................................................................................................... 5

List of Figures

Figure 1-1: Red Hill – System Layout ........................................................................................... 2

Figure 1-2: Typical Tank Bottom Access....................................................................................... 3

Figure 1-3: Typical Tank Top Access ............................................................................................ 3

List of Appendices

Appendix A Mass Technology Corporation Test Report 
ii 

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

Baker Michael Baker Jr., Inc. 

BFCUST Bulk Field-Constructed Underground Storage Tank 

BMP Best Management Practice 

DLA Defense Logistics Agency 

gph Gallons per hour 

JB Joint Base 

MDLR Minimum Detectable Leak Rate 

MTC Mass Technology Corporation 

NAVFAC Naval Facilities Engineering Command 

PMMS Precision Mass Measurement System 

(PD) Probability of detection 

(PFA) Probability of false alarm 

PSA Product Surface Area 

 

QA/QC Quality Assurance/Quality Control 

 
iii 

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER CERTIFICATION: 

Final 2011 Biennial Leak Detection Testing Report 

Of Bulk Field Constructed Underground Storage Tank 2 

Joint Base Pearl Harbor – Hickam / Red Hill, Hawaii 

This report has been reviewed by a professional engineer and has been prepared in accordance 

with good engineering practices. Laboratory results, field notes, and supporting data have been 

reviewed and referenced correctly. 

I hereby certify that I have examined this report and attest that it has been prepared in accordance 

with good engineering practices. 

Engineer: Christopher D. Caputi, P.E. 

Registration Number: 032382 

State: Virginia 

Date: 12 March 2012 

 
iv 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

The scope of this project is to perform biennial leak detection testing of Bulk Field Constructed 

Underground Storage Tank (BFCUST) 2 at Joint Base (JB) Pearl Harbor – Hickam / Red Hill, 

Hawaii. There are currently no regulations that outline test requirements for BFCUSTs at Red 

Hill. This test was performed as a Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy best management 

practice (BMP). 

BFCUST 2 was Mass Technology Corporation (MTC) leak detection tested from 1 February to 9 

February 2012 with no detectable leak above the test method’s minimum detectable leak rate of 

0.7 gallons per hour (gph) resulting in a passing test. 

BFCUST 2 was out of service during the initial test event in January through March 2011. 

BFCUST 2 was placed back in service in December 2012. BFCUST 2 should be retested on or 

before the original biennial anniversary date of February 2013. 
1 

1.0 INTRODUCTION 

1.1 Purpose of Project

The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy contracted Michael Baker Jr., Inc. (Baker) through 

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Atlantic Contract N62470-10-D-3000-0004 

to perform biennial leak detection testing of Bulk Field Constructed Underground Storage Tank 

(BFCUST) 2 at Joint Base (JB) Pearl Harbor – Hickam / Red Hill, Hawaii. There are currently 

no regulations that outline test requirements for BFCUSTs at Red Hill. This test was performed as 

a DLA Energy best management practice (BMP).

1.2 Site Background and History

BFCUST 2 is 100 feet in diameter, 250 feet in height and has a capacity of 12,600,000 gallons of 

JP-5. The BFCUSTs at Red Hill are constructed within Red Hill and are accessible through an 

underground tunnel system. The top tunnel is located approximately 60 feet below the top section 

of the tank. The bottom tunnel is located at the same elevation as the tank’s base. The issue / 

receipt and water drain pipelines are adjacent to the tank and immediately accessible from within 

the lower tunnel.

1.3 Historical Leak Detection Results

The first DLA Energy test was performed on the tank in 17 June 2009 with passing results. 

1.4 Project Scope

A Mass Technology Corporation (MTC) leak detection test on BFCUST 2 was performed from 1 

February to 9 February 2012. Table 1-1 provides a description of the system tested. Figure 1-1 

provides a detail of the Red Hill system layout and location of BFCUST 2. Figures 1-2 and 1-3 

provide photographs of typical top and bottom of tank access. 
2 

Table 1-1 Items Tested 

Designation Product Volume 

(Gallons) 

Height 

(Feet) 

Diameter 

(Feet) Comments 

BFCUST 2 JP-5 12,600,000 250 100 Product Level @ Test – 211 Feet 

Figure 1-1: Red Hill – System Layout 

(Source: Baker, 2012) 
3 

Figure 1-2: Typical Tank Bottom Access 

(Source: Baker, 2009) 

Figure 1-3: Typical Tank Top Access 

(Source: Baker, 2009) 
4 

1.5 Project Team

Baker subcontracted MTC to perform leak detection testing. Oversight, coordination with facility 

fuels representatives, quality assurance/quality controls, and final report preparation and 

submission was provided by Baker personnel. 

1.6 Qualifications of Testing Procedures Used

The testing procedures used were those defined as the MTC - Precision Mass Measurement 

Systems (PMMS) SIM-1000 / CBU-1000 (72 hour test) leak detection method. Determination of 

leakage was based on the criteria established in the Ken Wilcox Associates third party evaluation. 

The MTC - PMMS (72 hour test) is certified with a capability to detect leaks on a tank with a 

product surface area of 7,850 square feet at a rate of 0.35 gallons per hour (gph), a probability of 

detection of 95 percent, and probability of a false alarm of 5 percent. Due to the extreme height of 

the tank a total of 168 hours of testing was performed. This time frame included 48 hour 

stabilization and two 72 hour test periods. The two 72 hour tests were averaged to achieve a 

conservative minimal detectable leak rate (MDLR) of 0.7 gph. 

The description of the National Work Group on Leak Detection Evaluations (NWGLDE, 2011) 

for MTC’s - PMMS 72 hour test is provided below: 

72 hour test 50,000 gallons or greater 

Leak rate is proportional to product surface area (PSA). 

For tanks with PSA of 14,200 ft2, leak rate is 0.638 gph with PD = 95% and PFA = 5%. 

For other tank sizes, leak rate equals [(PSA in ft2 ÷ 14,200 ft2) x 0.638 gph]. 

Example: 

For a tank with PSA = 20,000 ft2; leak rate = [(20,000 ft2 ÷ 14,200 ft2) x 0.638 gph] = 0.898 

gph. 
5 

2.0 LEAK DETECTION TESTING AND RESULTS 

MTC’s test report is provided in Appendix A. BFCUST 2 was leak detection tested with no 

detectable leak above the test method’s MDLR of 0.7 gph. Test results are listed in Table 2-1. 

Table 2-1 Test Results 

Designation Product 

Volume 

(Gallons) 

Height 

(Feet) 

Certified

MDLR 

(gph) 

Test 

Date Result 

BFCUST 2 JP-5 12,600,000 250 0.7 2/1 – 2/9/2012 Pass 

3.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

3.1 Conclusions

BFCUST 2 passed the 2011 biennial leak detection testing. 

3.2 Recommendations

As a DLA Energy BMP, BFCUST 20 should be retested on or before the biennial anniversary 

date of 1 February 2013. 
6 

4.0 REFERENCES 

NWGLDE, 2011 Eighteenth Addition, 2011, List of Leak Detection Evaluations 

for Storage Tank Systems. January 2011. 
Michael Baker Jr., Inc. 

TEST REPORT 

JB PEARL HARBOR- HICKAM / RED HILL, HAWAII 

APPENDIX A – 

MASS TECHNOLOGY CORP TEST REPORT 
 1 

176

FISC Red Hill Project Manager – Mr. Mark Caldon

Pearl Harbor, HI

Site Supervisor – Ricky Slaughter

Scope of Work: Furnish all required management, labor, services, materials and equipment 

to perform the required annual tightness testing of Tank # 02 an

underground fuel storage tank located at FISC Red Hill, Pearl Harbor, HI.

Report compiled by: Date: 02-15-2012

 Larry D. Speaks

Summary

Testing of Tank # 02 a 12,600,000 gal underground storage tank located at FISC Red Hill, Pearl 

Harbor, Hawaii commenced February 1, 2012 and was completed February 9, 2012. The tank was 

filled with JP-5 and a precision leak test was conducted. The result of that testing is that the tank 

system is determined to be tight to isolation. All tank valves were adequately secured such that no 

unusual readings were noted. Testing was performed using the Mass Technology Corporation 

protocols set out in the third party evaluations. All tank valves were adequately secured such that 

any fluid loss was isolated to leakage. Therefore, the containment integrity of the tank was not 

compromised and the test is considered conclusive.

Tank # 02: After 168 hours of testing the tank is certified to be tight.

Precision Leak Measurement Report

P.O. Box 1578

Kilgore, Texas 75662
 2 

Tank Data Tank # 02

Diameter: 100 ft. Height: 250 ft.

Tank Type: Vertical UST Contents: JP-5

Properties: 0.80 Specific Gravity Product Level: 211 ft.

Start Date: 02-01-2012 Completion Date: 02-09-2012

Unit Operator: Ricky Slaughter Test Results: Certified Tight

All dimensions, line locations, sizes and 

valve descriptions have been furnished 

by the facility operator.
 3 

Results

The fluid mass data was recorded over a 168-hour period. A linear regression of the recorded fluid 

mass data resulted in a leak rate detected below the minimum detection level of 0.7 gallons per 

hour. All tank valves were adequately secured such that any fluid loss was isolated to leakage. 

Therefore, the containment integrity of the tank was not compromised and the test is considered 

conclusive.

Tank # 02 is certified to be tight.