Underground tank leak detection in Khafji: without breaking

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

What is specific about Khafji for underground tank leak detection

The centre of Khafji sits about 9 m above sea level (SRTM open elevation data). Khafji is about 2 km from the sea coast (OpenStreetMap).

Team note on Khafji: 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.. Main roads in or near Khafji: King Abdullah Road.

Underground tank leak detection in Khafji starts with the location itself. The centre of Khafji sits about 9 m above sea level, and the town is about 2 km from the sea coast. Because of this, the technician checks first how the land drains and where groundwater is likely to sit relative to the tank pit, since both affect how a leak would show up in monitoring readings and how much a tank's surroundings may already be affected. Before any equipment is set up, the local layout is reviewed so that the test method fits the ground conditions rather than a generic assumption.

Some matters cannot be settled from a desk and are left to the site visit. The technician needs to see the tank, its fill and vent pipework, the dispensing lines and the condition of the access chambers before deciding on a test. Ground cover, the state of any concrete or sealant around the pit, and signs of past repair also become clear only on site. Any cost of repairing or re-coating an internal tank surface depends on the area involved; a coating quote is priced at SAR 25–60 per m², so the technician measures the internal surface area on site before giving a figure. Nothing is assumed about the tank's condition until these checks are complete.

To help the technician prepare, it is useful to have the tank's age, its approximate capacity, the material it is made from, and the date of any previous repair or coating work. Records of recent stock reconciliation, any unexplained fuel loss, and details of the site's drainage and nearby buildings are also valuable. Please note the exact street or plot location in Khafji and whether the station is still operating during testing, because that decides how the tank can be isolated. With this information ready, the visit can focus on testing rather than on basic questions, and the results will be easier to read.

The aim is to locate the cause with instruments first, so any opening is limited to one point.

Signs worth paying attention to

If you notice one of these signs in Khafji, it is a good moment to talk to the team:

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

Causes we see in the field

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

Tools we use in Khafji

How the work is done, step by step

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.

Facts and costs — Khafji

Questions from Khafji

Common mistakes we see

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

The written outputs

The written output: the written level-test result and the recommended next step. The report is numbered and can be checked with its verification code.