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Specialist Gas Analysis

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 21:57:57 GMT

Analysis of H2S, Mercaptan and Mercury in LPG

IPL has the capability to measure hydrogen sulphide, mercaptan and mercury contamination in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and gas streams. We can supply Sulfinert coated pressure vessels in which to take your samples and can offer urgency of analysis to meet all your requirements.

We tailor the analytical methodology to your sample type and can reach virtually any detection level you require.

Energy and Industrial Group

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 21:33:37 GMT

IPL as a member of the Energy and Industrial Group (EIG)

The Energy and Industrial Group (EIG) is a multi-disciplined group of New Zealand companies who provide a range of technical specialist and support services to the energy and industrial sectors, facilitated by the regional development agency, Venture Taranaki.

IPL joined the group in 2014 in the hope of developing long term relationships & partnerships with the EIG members. Over the years, IPL has taken part to many of the group initiatives and brought a fresh set of expertise and skills from which the group has been able to benefit. Our proven expertise in petroleum testing has grown tremendously since IPL's inception in 1999 and so has our analysis portfolio. IPL expanded its testing offer to include environmental testing, biofuels analysis, contamination & purity testing and other services such as laboratory management, training and auditing as well as calibration and maintenance of laboratory equipment.

In a changing environment, EIG has had to adapt. IPL keeps supporting the group and its members by growing its testing offer, researching how they can contribute to the emergence of technologies specific to the Energy industry and by developing testing solutions for them. Being part of EIG has been an unique opportunity for IPL as we can benefit from each of the members core competencies, keep our finger on the pulse and grown our overall knowledge of the Energy industry, its upcoming challenges and identify how we can best help.

View the latest video about the group's capabilities .

Our people is our greatest resource

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 20:07:04 GMT

Kicking off the new year/new decade by acknowledging why People are at the center of all that we do. Follow the below link to find out more about the good things that our People achieved last year.

To recognise the importance of our People, we also included them as part of our strategic pillars and further defined how we are hoping to support them in their journeys.

R ead More

Ending this blog by wishing you a very happy New Year 2020.

Health and Safety at Work

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 21:42:52 GMT

The Making of IPL's Health and Safety Video

Sarah Raniera and the Fuels Team have put together an awesome video about the importance of safety at work. The idea of putting this video together emerge following a meeting in which all staff were called into.

"We had started noticing a few near misses and incidents, so I asked the team to go back and really focus on safety. I wanted them to have discussions with their colleagues, especially coming up to Christmas when everyone starts to wind down a little" said Russell Baddeley.

The Fuels Team decided to take that a step further and create a visual which could illustrate why safety was so important to them, especially now since we are closely approaching Christmas and the summer holidays.

The video is fantastic, and a really timely reminder of our need to continually raise the safety standard of our practice for ourselves, for our colleagues, and for our loved ones at home.

Fostering Kids NZ fun day

Mon, 25 Nov 2019 23:09:46 GMT

IPL sponsors the Fostering Kids Northland Family Fun Day

On behalf of the IPL team we have again sponsored $200 this Christmas to the Fostering Kids Northland Family Fun Day for deserving Northland families of children that are vulnerable or from less fortunate backgrounds in the region.

The Family Fun Day is an event that is provided absolutely free of charge through donation. All the food, activities and entertainment for this fantastic day out have been provided free of cost to those attending. Funds raised also assist Fostering Kids New Zealand to provide continued support to fostering families in the community.

The children and families have been selected with the aid and support of numerous organisations, agencies and schools in the community that work directly with the families. For many of them a fun day out like this is just not realistic due to the financial, physical and medical restrictions the family may have. The annual Family Fun Day gives them the opportunity to meet other families like themselves and to have a relaxing time together in a fantastic group atmosphere.

Oil Weathering Processes

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 21:00:51 GMT

Understanding Oil Weathering Processes in Open Ocean Spills

There are several processes which effect how an oil weathers in the event of an open ocean spill. Each of these processes are largely dependent on sea state and prevailing weather conditions at the time of a spill but all have the ability to affect the chemical and physical properties of the oil and furthermore how that oil will then interact with the marine environment.

Evaporation
Loss of volatiles in the initial stages of an oil spill – these can reduce the volume of oil in a spill, particularly for that of light petroleum products. Evaporation will increase oil properties such as density and viscosity.

Emulsification
Emulsification occurs at the air/water interface where the oil sits. Emulsion formation is dependent on a range of factors such as sea state, weather conditions and the salinity of the water. Emulsions occur as the spilled oil uptakes water and air from the spill areas. Emulsions can be stable or unstable and as well as increasing the oil volume they also have significant effects on the chemical and physical properties of the oil such as density, viscosity and water content. Resins and waxes present in the oils work to stabilise the emulsion.

Spreading and Drift
Spreading occurs immediately after oil is spilled into the open ocean. How the oil spreads is often dictated by the release conditions. Light oils with low viscosities will travel quickly to form a thin layer on the ocean surface, whereas heavy oils with higher viscosities will move slower and tend to be thicker. Most oils display a variation in spreading, where part of the slick will be thick with the larger thin layer trailing behind it. Once the spill is on the surface, water currents and the wind direction cause the spill to drift.

Dispersion and Dissolution
Most components of crude oils are not soluble in water and dissolution and natural dispersion are minimal. Some of the lighter aromatics and alkanes do have some degree of solubility with water and may be absorbed (by dispersion) into the water column. Alternatively the oil as a whole can enter the water column if the conditions of the sea simulate enough mixing to break the oil into small enough droplets.

Biodegradation
Micro-organisms that are naturally present in the water column work to biodegrade the oil. When an oil spill occurs there is an increase of these organisms around the spill.

Sedimentation
Occasionally oil droplets can adhere to sediment present in the water column and they eventually sink to the sea floor. Here they can also be biodegraded by micro-organisms.

Oxidation
UV light radiated by the sun over longer time periods can alter the chemical composition of the oil.

IPL uses a MNS (Mackay/Nadeau/Steelman) Test rig to simulate many of these processes in order to make predictions as to how an oil changes and behaves. This testing is very useful in the Discharge Management Process.

For more information on oil weathering simulation and testing of physical and chemical properties of weathered oil, click here .

Discharge Consent Monitoring

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 19:41:41 GMT

IPL analytical capabilities can help you monitor compliance with your resource consent conditions.

IPL currently offers many methods involved with aqueous discharge consent.

Businesses that have industrial waste water will often require council consent before any discharge is permitted and thus, they have to follow a monitoring programme to ensure the quality of the water that is being discharged meets required levels.

IPL has a team of people who specialise in water testing. This testing can range from a basic pH to more in depth testing such as TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons) and metals.

Find out more on how we can help you gain insight into the quality of your water via our Resource Consent Monitoring testing.

Rising Star Award

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 19:57:34 GMT

Stephanie Echavez is awarded the Rising Star award by RNZ

What a well deserved achievement for one of IPL's employee last week. Stephanie joined IPL's Fuels Team back in April and has made quite an impression on her workmates and supervisors. Last week, all her efforts and positive energy were acknowledged by being awarded the Rising Star Award by Refining NZ.

How has Stephanie shown her Rising Star qualities?
Stephanie as a new comer has shown qualities that exceed the expectation of the company. She has shown 100% dedication & professionalism in all the work/tasks given to her. Stephanie can be very flexible to move from one area of testing to another. She is always able to finish the given task within the scheduled time. Stephanie is always focused on the customer service and service delivery without compromising quality. Stephanie always puts an extra effort, is very proactive in bringing new ideas and contributing to the continuous improvement process in Bitumen Rheology testing and is always eager to learn new things in the laboratory.

Congratulations Stephanie and thank you for contributing to IPL's own success story.

Laboratory Management Services

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 19:27:02 GMT

Did you know that we can help you manage your lab?

Operating laboratories efficiently is what IPL does best, let us help you with the daily management of your lab so you can concentrate on your core business.

We can tailor laboratory management packages to suit your needs. As a company you benefit from a wealth of experience from a specialised team that can help cover some or a wide variety of activities linked to your lab operations.

Read more about how we can help

New look out and about

Thu, 24 Oct 2019 19:06:00 GMT

Looking sharp IPL

Earlier in the year we revamped our website and marketing material. We thought it was now time to apply our new style to the ute purchased for the IPL New Plymouth lab. Looking fabulous isn't it!

Naphthenic Acid Number (NAN) Analysis

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 19:27:05 GMT

Naphthenic Acid Number (NAN) Analysis

Along with our analysis of Total Acid Number (TAN), IPL has the capability to analyse for Naphthenic Acid Number (NAN). NAN relates to the organic acids present in crude oils. The determination of NAN is an important parameter for the petroleum industry as it allows for the evaluation of corrosive properties prior to their processing of the crude oils.

Naphthenic Acids, are carboxylic acids, naturally occurring in crude oil, and contribute to the Total Acidity. Naphthenic acids are known to cause corrosion in Refinery Distillation units, particularly between 230ºC and 400ºC. They are also responsible for causing desalting issues, and increasing heat stable salts hence the importance of testing for NAN.

For further information on how you could best benefit from Naphthenic Acid Number analysis, please CONTACT US

TPH Analysis

Thu, 10 Oct 2019 20:43:19 GMT

Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (THP) Analysis

Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) is defined as the summation of all the hydrocarbons, present in a sample, that originate from a petroleum source. Examples of chemical compounds that may be found through TPH analysis may include hexane, benzene, toluene, xylenes, naphthalene as well as other petroleum products and gasoline components.

When petroleum products are released into the environment through spills or leaks, soil and groundwater contamination of a site may occur. Many regulatory authorities relate the extent of site contamination to the TPH concentration in the soil or water. TPH analysis of the site soil and water samples gives information about the amount of petroleum hydrocarbon present and thus can be used to quantify the extent of the contamination so the remediation can be targeted in the correct areas. TPH also gives information about the volatility of the hydrocarbon present enabling the correct remediation techniques to be chosen.

IPL currently carry out TPH analysis on water and groundwater samples. to find out more CONTACT US

Our People

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 21:00:41 GMT

What allows us to succeed as a company is our PEOPLE

The IPL team is made up of more than 45 experienced and highly qualified professionals who are dedicated to providing sound, innovative solutions to the analytical needs of their customers.

We are fortunate to have employees who are committed to strive and succeed and work towards continuous improvement in all aspects of our business. We have a strong focus on quality and ongoing training to support our staff.

As it is the case for any business, we are excited about the new opportunities that the future holds for us. So much is currently happening in the background to ensure that we deliver for all the People that make us who we are including: customers, staff and community.

Watch this space!

Supporting Local Children

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 23:26:48 GMT

IPL sponsors the "Going Bananas Stage Show"

It is with delight that IPL is supporting four children and/or caregivers living with special needs or from disadvantaged backgrounds by sponsoring four tickets to attend the Going Bananas Stage Show that will be held at Whangarei Intermediate School in October.

We are aware of the daily challenges that living with a family member with special needs or a family that may in some way be disadvantaged whether that be financially or through circumstances and we hope that those children find a lot of joy in watching this annual event that is organised in support to the Brain Injured Children Trust.

For further information about this show: www.thegoingbananasshow.co.nz

Maori Language Week

Mon, 16 Sep 2019 20:31:13 GMT

Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori

Monday 9 September to Sunday 15 September saw New Zealand celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori (Maori Language Week). This occurs every year, with the focus being to encourage the use and understanding of Te Reo Maori right throughout New Zealand.

This year, the focus was for people to give it a go. No matter the pronunciation, people were encouraged to try the language, and applauded for their use of it.

IPL took part in recognising and celebrating Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori with daily lessons distributed to all staff. These lessons ranged from basic greetings, introductions and asking after the wellbeing of each other, through to using various Maori words in every day New Zealand English conversation.

The lessons also gave the phonetic way to correctly pronounce the various Maori words, which staff found helpful, and made them more confident to give Te Reo Maori a try.

Support for the staff was given in the way of Cory Abrahams from Refining New Zealand, and Sarah Raniera and Denese Gallagher from IPL.

To round off the week, the staff were given a fun crossword puzzle where the clues were presented in New Zealand English, and the answers were to be translated into Te Reo Maori. The words and phrases within the crossword were all taken from what was contained within the lessons from throughout the week, which cemented the lessons, and provided a fun and educational way to embrace the language.

Finally, each lesson was rounded out by a whakatauki, which is a Maori proverb that provides inspiration through the deeper meaning within the whakatauki. Many of these focused on achieving together as a team, and our values of our people being the most important part of IPL.

IPL's fun Health and Wellbeing initiative

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 19:41:32 GMT

Have you got it in you to be IPL's "Biggest Loser"?

Whether you want to get a head start on getting the summer body you always dreamed of, want to join a fun workplace initiative or are looking at implementing big or small lifestyle changes targeted at increasing your overall health and wellbeing, IPL has put together a cool challenge for the staff who may wish to become IPl’s “Biggest Loser”.

IPL’s “Biggest Loser” challenge will officially be launched on Monday September 2nd with initial weigh-in and participating staff will have 3 months to shed some kgs in the hope of becoming IPL’s “Biggest Loser”. If weight loss isn’t your goal, your chances might not be as high to win one of the 3 awesome prizes but all are welcome to be part of a programme where staff will be encouraged to include healthy, wholesome eating and exercise to their daily lives. A healthy corner has been set-up in the lunch room and we will be sharing healthy tips, recipes, exercises to help the staff get started.

The staff with the 3 largest percentage of total weight lost at the end of the challenge with be awarded:

- 1st Biggest Loser: $300 voucher (Rebel Sports)

- 2nd Biggest Loser: $200 voucher (Rebel Sports)

- 3rd Biggest Loser: $100 voucher (Rebel Sports)

This is a fun employee challenge aimed at developing healthier lifestyle habits. Therefore, unhealthy methods of weight loss won’t be accepted. The sign-up sheet is filling up quickly, we are looking forward to seeing the staff being a healthier version of their already awesome selves.

Good luck to all the participating staff!

Crude Assay Analysis

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 20:54:12 GMT

The Benefits of Performing Crude Assay Analysis

Maximising processing and plant efficiency is necessary in order for refineries to remain competitive. Crude Assays analysis can be a part of this process. IPL asserts that the more accurate the data, the better are the chances of making efficiency gains. Assay parameters such as density and True Boiling Point (TBP) data can be used to improve cost effectiveness consideration when blending different crude combinations and can also be used to predict problems such as corrosion.

IPL has been working with prominent refineries – some of which being the largest and most complex refineries in their country. IPL provided Crude Assay services to update their Crude Assay data, data used to maximise their opportunities of generating plant efficiency gains. IPL will continue to support these customers with laboratory services as they look to overcome some of the challenges associated with local manufacturing.

To find out more about IPL’s crude assay capabilities, please view our video .

The LIMS Project

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 23:19:52 GMT

What is LIMS and how critical is a LIMS system for a laboratory?

LIMS stands for Laboratory Information Management System. It’s a software system designed to service the needs of a laboratory. In the case of IPL, those needs are ever varied and ever changing.

The IPL LIMS Team is currently working on a collaborative LIMS Project with Refining NZ IT and Spark. Our current LIMS system is more than a decade old and is unsupported by the software manufacturer. We are working with a new manufacturer, Labware, to create a brand new LIMS to service the needs of IPL and its customers, including RNZ.

How critical can one piece of software be to the operation of a laboratory?

Well, it all starts with the samples. First, they’re logged in LIMS, by a scheduler, by the PC or panel workers, or by a technician in the lab. At every stage of the process, sample status is tracked in LIMS.

Then the samples are tested. IPL offers several hundred analyses, all of which are configured in LIMS. Some involve complex calculations, some have a dozen different variations, and some have more than a hundred parameters interfaced with a specific piece of lab equipment.

Our technicians are very good, but not one of us knows every single analysis. We are only able to enter results for analyses that we are fully competent in. Our training records are maintained within LIMS.

After testing is authorized, results are reported using LIMS. Reporting requirements vary between products and sample types, between one customer and another. Each type of report needs its own configuration.

After reporting, invoicing is completed in LIMS. Every customer, every account, and every contract need configuration. RNZ is IPL’s biggest customer with more than a dozen accounts. However, IPL serves the needs of up to a hundred customers at any given time.

So, how critical can one piece of software be to the operation of a laboratory?

It turns out…very.

Testing that meets your needs

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 23:20:53 GMT

Accredited ISO 17025 laboratories

IPL laboratories are IANZ/ISO 17025 accredited. Being accredited means that our labs are operating to high quality standards and following diligent quality processes. We have a wide range of test methods accredited across a variety of sample matrix. Find out more about the range of services we offer.

IPL Celebrating 20 Years!

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 22:41:36 GMT

From one milestone to the next!

We are so incredibly proud of IPL for celebrating another important milestone this year. This week, IPL will be celebrating its 20th birthday.

It's been a fun ride growing IPL to what it is today and we are all looking forward to see what the future holds. We would like to thank our hard working employees for the fabulous services that they are providing to our customers. And to our loyal customers, we would like to thank you for trusting and choosing IPL, year after year, as your laboratory service provider.

Alongside this milestone, we have three (3) employees who are also reaching 20 years of service with IPL. Anna, Tony and Graham, massive congratulations to you as well.

On this note, CONGRATULATIONS IPL

Mercury Testing

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 23:02:51 GMT

How can you benefit from Mercury testing?

Mercury can be detrimental to both equipment and human health. Monitoring mercury levels is important to ensure exposure is minimised as it is toxic to life. It can also accumulate in process facilities and contributes to corrosion of some commonly used alloys - even at ppb levels.

Therefore, testing for mercury can help avoid significant costs linked to equipment failure and help ensure exposure levels are minimised.

Other reasons for Mercury analysis to be carried out:

- Screening for quality control

- Troubleshooting for mercury speciation

- Identifying unknowns to help establish product value

- Preventative maintenance in refineries and production plants to identify catalyst poisoning

Find out more about our M ercury analysis

Long service milestones for IPL

Tue, 28 May 2019 22:13:36 GMT

In the past couple of months, two of IPL’s employees have reached massive milestones!

Noel Frizelle and Robert Anderson (aka Bob) have reached 35 and 40 years of service, respectively, working in the Marsden Point laboratory. Both Noel and Bob started working in the lab, when the laboratory was part of Refining NZ activities. When Refining NZ and BP Oil NZ joined forces to establish Independent Petroleum Laboratory in 1999, they transitioned over and helped shape and grow IPL to what it is now.

To this day, Bob plays a critical role for IPL in managing the close relationship that the lab has with Refining NZ. Fair to say Bob has extensive technical knowledge of petroleum testing and he’s also helped develop many of our younger rising stars too. In recent years, Bob has helped implement and lead our Crude Assay technology and the NIR project.

Currently as our Reliability and Integrity Manager, Noel is our equipment and infrastructure maintenance wizard. Noel’s technical knowledge, versatility, initiative and practical skills have lead him into numerous lead roles in the Laboratory over the years. Noel is our ideas man who can always find a solution to a problem.

Noel, Bob, we want to acknowledge your dedication to providing excellent testing services, your incredible loyalty and for achieving what is an incredible milestone.

Congratulations Noel of reaching 35 years and Bob on reaching an impressive 40 years of service with IPL/RNZ and thank you for all your hard work.

New Zealand Petroleum Club

Tue, 21 May 2019 21:23:46 GMT

Two staff members will be attending the meeting held in May.

IPL will be attending the quarterly petroleum club meeting held in New Plymouth on Wednesday May 22nd. We will promoting our testing services, handing out our new corporate brochure and finding out all about the latest development in the region.

Our new brochure can be viewed here

IPL Beach Clean-Up

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 21:19:47 GMT

Checking out areas that would be suitable for quarterly monitoring

On April 9th, IPL checked-out a spot for our community beach clean-up initiative. First thigns first, a big THANK YOU to the people that were part of the beach clean up and a special mention to the people that attended during their dinner breaks.

IPL Community Team will soon meet to debrief on the first area we've scouted and determine where to next with our beach clean-up initiatives. We are hoping to monitor the same stretch of beach 4 times per year and tally up the results of our findings.

Watch this space, once we have developed our Beach Clean Up strategy, we will look at involving people in our community.

2019 NRC Environmental Awards

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 21:40:33 GMT

IPL submits its entry under the Leadership category

IPL recently submitted its entry details for the 2019 NRC Environmental Awards under the Leadership category. The finalists of each category are to be announced on the 29th of April so we invite you to watch this space!

We feel that everyone who contributes to looking after the environment is a winner in one way or another but we are eager to find out more about the cool initiatives that are taking place in our region.

# nrcenvironmentalawards # iplcommunityinitiative

Lab plastic waste recycling

Thu, 14 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Simple but efficient company recycling initiative

In laboratories, various single use plastic items are used to maintain sample integrity, to avoid cross contamination and to ensure the highest levels of accuracy in the results provided to the customers. IPL has a strong desire to be environmentally friendly and as a user of single use plastic items, we have been looking at ways to manage our plastic waste in line with sustainable end-of-life options.

After exploring a variety of options, IPL has landed on a solution and has started implementing new processes to better manage their plastic waste. IPL recently introduced dedicated recycling bins throughout the lab that will allow for the recycling of a large portion of the #1 and #2 recycling items used to perform their testing. We are also currently working with our suppliers to help identify the plastic recycling codes of other single use plastic items used in the lab. By including our suppliers to this process, we are hoping to add more items to our current plastic recycling list.

Whilst the recycling is currently limited to the #1 and #2 plastic items, this is a massive first step for the lab. By separating those items from the rest of our waste, we are allowing for a huge portion of the single use plastic items to be handled efficiently and most importantly to be handled following sustainable practices. Weekly, it is roughly 2.4m3 of plastic that will be going through the correct channels and saved from landfill.

By collecting and storing the plastic items in separate bags, we are also simplifying the triage of our recycled waste for our waste management contactor. Implementing this new process is a win/win solution on so many levels.

For this recycling initiative, IPL has been really fortunate to count on the full support of their LT and the staff has jumped on board with so much enthusiasm, it’s all really quite neat to see. The next step is to look at ways to extend this solution to other recycling identification codes. Watch this space!

Petroleum Product Testing

Mon, 11 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Providing Quality Assurance Petroleum Product Testing

From analysis of Crude Oil, Gases and Condensates, to testing the fuels that drive New Zealand and the South West Pacific, IPL offers the largest range of fuel testing services.

New WDXRF Commissioned

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

A great tool for the analysis of Sulphur in petroleum products.

IPL has recently purchased a new Wavelenght Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence or WDXRF which enables accurate determination of elemental concentrations.

The WDXRF purchased specialises in elemental analysis from crude oil to petrochemicals and fuels. The WDXRF will be used for application such as:

- Analysis of sulphur in petroleum products

- Analysis of additives and wear metals in used lube oils

Relying on the latest technology, IPL can offer faster fuel and oil analysis at excellent detection limits.

Why Test Produced Water

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Testing on produced water is carried out for various purposes such as consent monitoring.

Produced water is a by-product of the oil and gas industry. It is a combination of the injected water used to force the hydrocarbons out of the ground, as well as the naturally occurring water from the hydrocarbon reservoir.

Testing on produced water is carried out for various purposes such as consent monitoring. If reused, testing needs to be carried out to determine and maximise its treatment efficiency or to make sure that reusing the produced water won’t cause any other issues.

Produced water testing can assist with your decision making to:

- Avoid plugging of wells
- Avoid scaling of lines, valves and orifices
- Prevent corrosion due to acid gases
- Ensure the produced water is within consent range (monitoring)
- Avoid the growth of bacteria that plug lines and valves

Examples of what produced water can look like:

IPL’s produced waters test suite is tailored to your requirements and can include:

- PH
- Chloride
- Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons
- Salinity
- Total suspended solids
- Total Dissolved solids
- Bicarbonate
- Conductivity/resistivity
- Specific gravity
- Oil and grease
- Dissolved metals
- Total Iron
- Anions
- Total and dissolved sulphide
- Volatile Fatty acid profile
- Trace Mercury
- Sulphate reducing bacteria
- Unknown compound identification

Fire Fighting Foams testing

Mon, 18 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

IPL provides Fire Fighting Foam testing to help you determine the safety and compliance of your foams.

We offer a range of different firefighting foams testing such as AR AFFF, AR FFFP, FP, ATC RF & RF. The tests and limits required on foams are specified by the latest BS EN 1568-3:2008 and DEF(AUST)5706.

The test methods we offer are:
- pH
- Sediment
- Foam Expansion
- Drainage
- Specific Gravity
- Viscosity
- Surface Tension
- Refractive Index.

As per industry best practices, your foams should be tested yearly. IPL can assist in establishing a yearly testing schedule.

IPL LIMS Upgrade Project

Thu, 07 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

IPL is embarking on a project to upgrade and replace their lab information management system (LIMS).

What is a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)?

LIMS is a software based solution which includes features such as:
• Sample workflow (Sample logging, Sample status, Sample results)
• Flexible architecture and data interface
• Calibration calendars
• Training records
• Document control
• Instrument integration
• SQCs
• Corrective action system
• Quote to invoicing
• ISO 17025 module

What will the new system be able to do?
LIMS have come a long way in the last decade, we are hoping to make good use of the latest ‘out of the box’ functionalities available to generate efficiencies. To achieve this, IPL is challenging the status quo. We are making the most of this opportunity to review our processes to further improve our over-all operations. Our customers’ will have access to a ‘customer portal’ with varying levels of functions available depending on their needs.

Jet Fuel Recertification Process

Tue, 15 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

In our industry, we understand that things are constantly on the go! Recently, we dug deeper into the jet fuel recertification process.

Putting things down on paper and looking at the whole process was a really good exercise to find out what's required and who's involved at each step. Find out more about this process and why IPL is the testing lab of choice in the South Pacific.

IPL's Aviation Fuels testing services

IPL's R enewable Jet Fuel testing services

New DEFSTAN 91-091

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

AVIATION FUELS: Testing to the new issue of DEFSTAN 91-091

What are the changes?

· Allowing "less than" reporting for freeze point below than -65 degree C

· FAME <50 mg/l and DRA (72ug/l 'undetectable') limits included as part of Product Integrity Management

· Inclusion of HiTec 4547 AvGuard SDA as an approved additive

· Added ASTM D7945 for viscosity measurement

· Inclusion of ASTM D7566 (additional requirements applicable to jet fuels containing synthetic fuel components)

· Added an Incidental Materials table similar to ASTM D1655

· Referencing EI/JIG for product quality management up-stream of airport.

https://www.ipl.co.nz/aviation-fuels-analysis

John Morris Aviation Conference

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

As one of the renowned laboratories providing Aviation Fuel testing in the South East Pacific, IPL was invited to take part in this first Aviation focus group, which included specialists from the whole network.

Throughout this conference, it was highlighted how important the role of testing plays in the Aviation Fuel life cycle. Testing establishes whether the Aviation Fuel meets the specifications and if it is fit for purpose, therefore highlighting any potential risks inherent in getting a plane from A to B.

There are currently 2 test methods in use to recertify Aviation Fuel, ASTM D1655 and DefStan 90-091. The differences between the two test methods were highlighted during this conference. The ASTM D7566 test method was also addressed as the blend stock regulation, for renewable jet fuel, which is also on the increase.

As people increase their travels, a 57% growth in the aviation industry is expected in the next 50 years. Currently being responsible for approximately 2% of the world CO2 emissions. The need for forward thinking and innovation is of primary importance. IPL was pleased to be part of this event addressing things like how to develop more fuel economic planes and how to work towards extending the use of green fuel to this industry.

Bioenergy Conference

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

In October, IPL attended the Bioenergy Conference in Australia.

By attending the conference, IPL were able to find out more about all the different projects that are taking shape in the Bioenergy sphere.

Attendees were clearly interested in noting how to factor in the environmental component when starting up projects. Whether it is making green energy/electricity for the grid or to get people places, bioenergy projects are definitely on the rise and more and more companies want to have a go at it. In order to carry out the R&D, better structures and support from governmental institutions are yet to be implemented but things are slowly moving forward particularly when big companies are making their position clear around incorporating bioenergy in their overall strategies.
A few interesting facts:

· Currently all LAX flights are flying on a 30:70 blend of synthetic to refined jet fuel

· An expected growth from 2.5% to 25% by 2050 in the use of biotreater type waste to produce electricity for the grid

· E-buses are in high demand to reduce particulate contamination in countries such as London, France and Germany

· Transport fleet such as Scania are modifying their offering to take advantage of Biodiesel, HVO, Ethanol – ED95, Biogas, CNG, Hybrids and Electrics.

This conference was very informative on the progress being made with new innovation development. As a lab that carries out a lot of testing for the transport industry (all types included), it was a perfect opportunity to find out first hand where things are heading and how best to move forwards to keep supporting this industry.

ExxonMobil Audit

Thu, 22 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

IPL was audited by ExxonMobil at the start of November.

IPL was audited by ExxonMobil at the start of November. The purpose of the audit was to evaluate the quality assurance practices associated with the testing carried out by IPL and to determine the effectiveness of these practices with respect to ExxonMobil's data integrity framework.

As part of the audit, our staff were observed performing a range of test methods, our quality and safety procedures were assessed, the records of IPL's data were considered and interviews were carried out with our employees.

Following this audit, IPL obtained a great result therefore retaining its preferred status as a testing service provider. It was established that IPL is an organisation that pays great attention to safety in the lab, that the staff is well trained and very knowledgeable and that several improvements were made with their quality system.

This is something we are really proud of. We often mention that People are our most precious resources and we’d like to congratulate our staff once again for consistently working to such high quality and safety standards.

New Zealand Biofuels Roadmap

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

We've come across a very interesting information sheet about NZ's Biofuels Roadmap. As a lab delivering biofuels' testing, we thought it would be worth sharing this information with you.

Find out more about the Bioenergy Value Chain Model, the methods linked to biofuels' production, how the picture would change if 30% of the liquid fuels were to emerge from biofuels and what's required to make this happen.

BBC Students visit IPL lab

Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, IPL’s Northland lab hosted six Year 13 students from Bream Bay College.

For most students, this was their first working lab visit. They were all very captivated by some of the equipment we have including the very impressive Fischer Crude Assay unit. It was good for them to be able to relate some of the learnings they have acquired as part of the Science curriculum and notice how they translate into a working environment. Being able to observe that IPL scientist have well documented procedures for the equipment and test methods performed in the lab was reassuring for them and made the whole scientist career less scary.

5 out of our 7 visitors are intending to pursue a University degree in Sciences and we would like to wish them all the best with their future learnings.

Fun Sciences for Kids

Mon, 10 Sep 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Such fun we had experimenting with our kids from the Northpine Champion enrichment group.

What a jam pack day we had last Thursday experimenting with our kids from the Northpine Champion enrichment group. It was awesome to see the kids taking a huge interest in the science concepts we introduced. On Day 2 we addressed surface tension, acids and bases, had a lot of fun with dry ice and we finished the day talking about microorganisms.

This completed the first IPL community initiative with the local primary schools and we are excited to see where this initiative will lead us in the future. We will soon gather feedback from the 3 schools and the kids who were part of this program so we can fine tune our approach and material developed.

A big thank to all the members of IPL’s community team who helped make this initiative a success and a special thank you to our presenters who did a fabulous job over those 2 days: Nicole Burgess, Jean Maunder & Trudy Keith.

Special thanks to our local schools for welcoming this initiative with open arms:

- One Tree Point School

- Ruakaka Primary

- Waipu Primary

Testing for Performance Specification of Asphalt Binders (M1-A)

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMT

IPL has worked with NZTA, suppliers and customers to gain a good understanding of this new specification.

IPL has worked with NZTA, suppliers and customers to gain a good understanding of this new specification and have expanded their Bitumen testing capabilities to meet the suppliers and customers M1-A testing requirements.

The M1-A specification sets out the performance characteristics to be met by the binders used for asphalt manufacture. It supersedes the previous M1 specification which was based around the measurement of penetration and basic viscosity. Premature shoving and rutting of our roads has shown that these measures are insufficient to ensure asphalt performance in heavy traffic and high temperature conditions hence the decision to adopt the performance based M1-A specifications.

The M1-A performance specification of asphalt binders sets out four different performance levels which will vary depending on the traffic level and the traffic speed range. The specification addresses the need to predict binder performance in asphalt, therefore lowering the risk of premature ageing of our roads.

IPL attended rheology training and planning to allow for the development of bitumen testing to M1-A specifications. The Northland lab was also refurbished to convert existing lab space to house the equipment, HSNO and testing requirements set out by the test methods. Analysis to M1-A testing requirements began on the 1st of July 2018. The testing provided by IPL is part of our customers’ Quality Assurance plan to ensure that the bitumen manufactured or imported into NZ complies with the M1-A specs. The testing developed includes:

- ASTM D2872 - Rolling Thin Film Over Test

- AASHTO T315 - Rheology of Asphalt and Bitumen by DSR

- AASHTO T350 - Dynamic Shear Rheometer