What is pigging a water line?
“Pigging” to clean pipelines is an accepted procedure used by utility pipeline owners. The process is relatively simple: a device (pig) is inserted into a pipe where pressure forces it through the pipe, scraping the inside sidewalls and carrying debris to an exit point out of the pipe.
How does pigging a pipeline work?
The maintenance tool, pipeline pigs are introduced into the line via a pig trap, which includes a launcher and receiver. Without interrupting flow, the pig is then forced through it by product flow, or it can be towed by another device or cable.
Why is it called a pipeline pig?
What are pipeline pigs? Early pigs were made from materials such as straw, barbed wire and leather and made a squealing sound while traveling through the pipes – for this reason, they were eventually called “pigs”. The name eventually became an acronym for “Pipeline Inspection Gauge” or “Pipeline Intervention Gauge”.
What is pigging and Decoking?
USA DeBusk offers pigging and decoking services for refining and chemical processing applications. This mechanical cleaning service removes fouling that accumulates on the inner walls of furnace coils, boilers and piping systems.
How does a pigging system work?
In its simplest form, a pigging system consists of a solid projectile or plug (the ‘pig’) with a diameter slightly larger than the pipeline or tubing that is transporting the liquid. Pigging works by introducing this pig into the pipeline and pushing it through the pipe.
Why is pigging operation required?
It allows pipelines to be cleaned and inspected without having to stop the flow of product. It also allows the a pipeline to be completely inspected without having to send inspectors down its entire length. Finally, it provides cleaning and inspection services at the same time, saving companies both time and money.
What are pigging operations?
In pipeline transportation, pigging is the practice of using pipeline inspection gauges, devices generally referred to as pigs or scrapers, to perform various maintenance operations. This is done without stopping the flow of the product in the pipeline.
What is pig in pipeline pigging?
What is meant by pigging?
Pigging refers to a technique of cleaning or inspection of pipeline through recovering trapped products in the pipelines without stopping operation. It is done through inserting a device known as pigging pigs into the process pipelines. It is also used to clean oil and gas pipelines.
What is the purpose of pigging?
Pigging is an integral part of pipeline construction. Usually, the first application is when the contractor runs a cleaning pig to clean short sections of pipe to remove dirt and other construction debris that may be inside the pipe as the pipeline is being assembled.
What are the components of pigging system?
A pigging system is made up of a variety of different parts and components. These include pig launchers, receivers, detectors, storage, housings, propellant sources, PLCs, HMI’s, control software, and various valves, supports and fittings.
What is the use of pigging?
Applications. Pigging has been used for many years to clean large diameter pipelines in the oil industry. Today, however, the use of smaller diameter pigging systems is now increasing in many continuous and batch process plants as plant operators search for increased efficiencies and reduced costs.
What do you use a pig for in a pipeline?
Pipeline Pigging is used to perform various cleaning, clearing, dimensioning, maintenance, inspection, process and pipeline testing operations on new and existing pipelines. A pipeline pigging system includes Pigs. Pig Launcher. Pig Receiver.
Do you need to dewater a pig in a pipeline?
Dewatering after pipeline rehabilitation or after new construction. They should never be run in lines that do not have special flow tees installed. They are normally manufactured in a bullet shape. Coated pigs may have a spiral coating of polyurethane, various brush materials, or silicon carbide coating.
Can you change seals on a Pipeline pig?
The seals and brushes can be replaced to make the pig reusable. These pigs are designed for long runs. The cost of redressing the pig is high, and larger pigs require special handling equipment to load and unload the pig. Occasionally the wire brush bristles break off and get into instrumentation and other unwanted places.
What kind of materials are used in piggable pipelines?
Most of the pipelines constructed of materials like Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel, Duplex Stainless Steel, AC, GRP, HDPE, DICL, Cast Iron, Plastic, PVC, and others can all be pigged. Additional considerations for piggable pipelines are: handling of flow and debris downstream.