Pigging

Case Studies for Intelligent Pigging of Unpiggable’ Offshore Pipelines

Offshore pipelines are often challenging for pigging and inspection. Riser pipes are vulnerable and critical for the asset-owners, especially in the splash zone. Some pipelines end at a manifold (PLEM) or a buoy for loading ships. Sometimes wye-pieces are constructed in the line or different diameters occur.

Preparing for Unpiggable Pipelines

The simple truth is some pipelines may be piggable for certain applications and non-piggable for others.

Transmitter Signal Propagation Issues on Steel Mandrel Pigs

Over the years as a pig tracker, I have noticed that getting a good transmitter signal from a steel mandrel (cleaner type) pig has become increasingly difficult compared to smart pigs.

Michigan Governor Halts Great Lakes Oil Pipeline Tunnel

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered state departments and agencies to take no further action on legislation enacted in late 2018 authorizing construction of an oil pipeline tunnel beneath lakes Huron and Michigan. Whitmer made the move after Attorney General Dana Nessel issued an opinion st..

CDI

CDI CDI introduced the SoniTrack XLR, an acoustic geophone pipeline pig tracking system that includes a computer-controlled audio amplifier. This allows an operator to easily listen for pigs moving within a pipeline over several miles. In addition to industry-standard head..

What Everyone Needs to Know About Building Pig Launchers, Receivers

Having been engaged for many years in running pigs, inspecting sites, designing and building pig traps worldwide, we have seen a variety of applications, locations and product types, along with a wide array of designs – some good, some bad.

Preparing Pipelines for Successful In-Line Inspection

Gauge pigs provide insight into some conditions inside the pipe, but not all of them. They’re not intended to measure pipeline cleanliness or indicate if debris has built up to the point that it will impair the inspections tool’s data-gathering capabilities.

Making Simple Smart and Smart Simple: Cost-Effective, Low-Risk Pipeline Inspection

Three brief case studies highlight the challenge, solution and outcome where innovative pigging solutions have been successfully deployed to meet major offshore operator’s requirements.

In-Line Inspection of Low-Pressure, Low-Flow Gas Pipelines

Maintaining control of an In-Line Inspection (ILI) tool’s speed is one of the most critical elements in successfully assessing the condition of a pipeline. Success is defined as receiving an intact tool at the conclusion of the inspection and acquiring data of sufficient quality to achieve the vendor’s sizing and accuracy specifications.

Accessible Pipeline Data Becomes Focal Point of Safety

Many of the world’s most vulnerable pipelines are in developed and municipal areas, where it can be difficult to locate miles of gas pipelines in these regions. And where locations exist, the data may not be in an easily retrievable and shareable format.

Enbridge, Baker Hughes Partner on Enhanced Inspection for Pipeline Safety

Enbridge and G.E. company Baker Hughes launched testing of new, ultrasonic phased array pipeline inspection tool sensors designed to enhance accuracy and identification of crack features and to deliver greater detail on the condition of a pipeline.

Getting into the Pig Launcher Groove

Pipeline pigging is an important part of ensuring reliable pipelines and, when done as part of a larger maintenance program, can significantly reduce the risk of line failure and downtime. This process, however, can be costly and time consuming with traditional pigging equipment.

Integrity Management of Unpiggable Pipelines

The long-term integrity of pipelines often depends on the ability to inspect their entire lengths with ILI technologies. When construction or location specifics prevent use of ILI, however, managing the short-term integrity of the pipeline becomes a higher priority until it can be made piggable.

PPSA/PRCI Host ILI Demonstration for Young Pipeline Professionals

The Pigging Products and Services Association (PPSA) and the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) hosted a pull through ILI demonstration for Young Pipeline Professionals at the PRCI’s Technology Development Center (TDC) in Houston.

Pipeline Pigs – You Have Got to be Kidding!

Even today, a lot of people laugh when you talk about putting a pig in a pipeline. And it takes a good 15 minutes to explain what they do and what they look like! There are an estimated 18-20 manufactures of pipeline pigs, most residing in the United States, with an estimated annual global market s..

Inline Services

Inline Services has new tracking equipment that can be used to monitor a pig’s location or movement throughout a pipeline. The pig-tracking equipment consists of receivers, geophones and transmitters. Receivers are used to reveal distinctive pulsing patterns of passing pigs. Geophones detect low sou..

Automated Pigging Systems Prove Proficient in Savings, Energy Efficiencies

Pigging systems are installed on pipeline systems for the purpose of inserting a pipeline pig into the pipe without interruption of the pipeline flow. Pipeline pigs are typically sized to the nominal pipeline diameter and configured of different designs and materials to serve the purpose of cleaning..