Underground tank leak detection in Jubail: for companies (annual contract)

Prepared by the technical team · editorial review · last updated 13 November 2026 · Sources

Before we start: what we know about Jubail

Team note on Jubail: Kashf teams serve this city and its nearby districts with the same documented inspection standard: device-based leak detection without demolition, a written report, and a clear scope before any work begins.. The centre of Jubail sits about 4 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data).

Jubail is about 0.9 km from the sea coast (OpenStreetMap).

A company that runs a fuel depot, workshop or fleet yard in Jubail may only learn about an underground tank problem when stock records stop adding up or a nearby drain smells of fuel. By then the leak may have been running for some time. An owner in this position usually wants to know whether the tank is still safe to use, what it will cost to find the fault, and how to plan repairs without shutting the site for longer than necessary. The annual check is meant to catch these issues early, while the damage is still small and the options are wider.

The local facts matter here. The centre of Jubail sits about 4 m above sea level, which is low-lying ground, and the town is about 0.9 km from the sea coast. Low, coastal ground means the water table can sit close to the base of a buried tank, so any leak has a real chance of reaching groundwater rather than staying in the soil. For a company, that raises the stakes: a small loss of product can become a clean-up and reporting problem. It also means that detection should not rely on a single method. Looking at stock reconciliation alongside physical testing gives a fuller picture of what is happening underground.

A practical sequence helps keep the work orderly. First, compare delivery records, dispensing logs and dipstick readings over the past period to find any gap that cannot be explained by normal use. Second, arrange a tightness test or monitoring check on the tank and its pipework, and look at the monitoring wells if the site has them. Third, if a fault is found, plan the repair and budget for the internal coating work, which in this market is priced at SAR 25–60 per m², so the tank's surface area is the figure to measure before requesting quotes. Fourth, record each result and the actions taken, so that the findings can be shown to the authorities if they are asked for. Finally, set the next annual check date while the results are fresh, so that the routine becomes part of the site's normal maintenance rather than a response to an emergency.

For companies, an annual contract sets the scope, the visit schedule and the reports in writing.

Signs that call for underground tank leak detection

The following signs are worth checking before they grow:

• A noticeable drop in the water level overnight
• The pump runs for longer periods
• The tank needs refilling faster than usual
• Damp or salt marks on the tiles above the tank

Causes we see in the field

• A float valve that does not close, so water is wasted — we check this before anything else.
• Construction joints and corners — we check this before anything else.
• A common cause: cracks in the concrete tank walls or floor.

Tools we use in Jubail

The steps in order

1. Safety first: Tank lids and confined spaces are handled with ventilation and a second person on site.
2. Documented level test: Filling and use are stopped and the level is recorded against time.
3. Isolating the tank from the network: This tells us whether the loss is from the tank body or from the supply line.
4. Checking the body and connections: Inlet, outlet and overflow connections are inspected.
5. Recommendation: You get the next step in writing: repair, waterproofing or a line test.

Jubail in facts and sources

Common questions about underground tank leak detection in Jubail

Common mistakes we see

• Waterproofing the tank before confirming the loss is from the tank and not the line
• Ignoring the float valve

What you receive

You receive: the written level-test result and the recommended next step, in a technical report with a verification code.