Pipeline Integrity, Hot Tapping &

Plugging Seminar
Sol Elite Marbella, Anyer
10 May 2007

Selecting The Right Pig

Iman Y Rahman
Pipeline Integrity Engineer
The Purpose of Pigging
What Is Pigging & Why Pig
Pigging
Pigging During Pipeline Construction
Pigging During Operation
Cleaning
Batching
Displacement
How Often Should You Pig
 What is Pigging ?
A widely utilized process which is the act of
propelling a properly sized Spherical or
cylindrical device through the interior of a
pipeline by manipulating the pressure & flow of
the existing media, or by artificially introduced
media or by mechanically pulling the device
through the pipeline for the specific purpose of
cleaning, inspecting or distributing inhibitor
throughout the pipeline.
 Why Pig a Pipeline ?
• Cleaning - Removal of undesirable materials from a pipeline
(H20, Oils, solids, acids, ferrite dust, salts, CO2, O2 etc.)
• Clean to improve pipeline operating efficiency
• To Inspect a pipeline to locate & remove Anomalies/Defects
(metal loss, dents, cracks, etc.)
• Mapping a pipeline to assist in bending strain calculations
• Application of corrosion inhibitors as preventative maintenance
• Introduction & removal of Hydrostatic Test water
• Line Dehydration/Drying
• To gauge a Pipeline before as Go or No Go for Intelligent Pigging
 Selecting A Pig For Cleaning Applications
• The best choice is a pig with discs, conical cups, spring mounted brushes and
bypass ports.
• Discs are effective at pushing out solids while also providing good support for
the pig.
• Conical cups provide excellent sealing characteristics, good support and long
wear.
• Spring mounted brushes provide continuous forceful scraping for removal of
rust, scale and other build-ups on the pipe wall.
• Bypass ports allow some of the flow to bypass through the pig and helps
minimize solids build-up in front of the pig.
 Pigging During Construction
During pipeline construction it is not uncommon that a
certain amount of debris will find its way into the pipeline.
This debris must be removed prior to commissioning the
pipeline and it is normally removed by pigs that the
contractor will run after construction with compressed air.

Providing the pipeline is free of any major abnormalities the

contractor will then use some aggressive wire brush pigs to
remove any rust, scale, weld slag, etc., to clean the line prior
to hydrostatic testing.
 Might Use :
Vantage V or OptionAll DC/DC-BR
Ideal for removing hard deposits :
( Rust )
( Scale )
( Hard Wax )

Vantage V OptionAll
Pipeline Pigging During Operation
Essentially there are four main reasons why a
pipeline needs to be pigged during operation :
Cleaning
Batching
Displacement
Inspection
 Cleaning
Cleaning a pipeline during operation is considered to
be a maintenance procedure that needs to be done on
a regular predetermined frequency using pigs
adequately designed for the proper cleaning
application. The pigging operation will almost always
increase the flow efficiency and reduce operating
costs.
 Might Use :
The best choice is a pig with discs, conical cups, spring mounted
brushes/blades and or bypass ports

WCK-3

Vantage V OptionAll
PitBoss
 Batching
Batching is the process of moving different products
through the same pipeline. It is much more economical
to move several products in one pipeline than to lay
dedicated pipelines for each product. Batching pigs are
used to separate the products and are normally made up
of either two or four cups. Cups are flexible and provide a
better seal than discs for product separation.
 Might Use :
The best choice would be a four or two cup pig with RealSeal conical
cups or a bi-directional disc pig.

BiDirectionAll Pigs
OptionAll Pigs
 Displacement
The most common displacement activity occurs in the
hydro test phase of the pipeline. A pig is inserted and
moved through the pipeline with the testing medium
while displacing air in the pipeline. Once the pipeline
has been tested, the pig direction is reversed and the
water is displaced with air.
 Might Use :
The best choice would be a bi-direction pig with multiple
discs.

BiDirectionAll Pigs
 Conclusion
In pipelines that have low flow conditions it is more
prevalent to see an increase in the collection of free
water in the bottom of the pipeline, even in crude oil
lines. In low flow conditions you need a mechanical
means (pigs) to remove both the solids and liquids that
collect in the bottom of the pipeline to help prevent the
process of internal corrosion.
Most pipelines designed today are designed for standard
pigging applications, including the in-line inspection
(ILI) tools. Pipeline maintenance programs are designed
to maximize flow conditions and prolong the life of the
pipeline by utilizing standard pigging applications and
chemical batch treatments.
 How Often Should You Pig ?
How much Liquid (gals/bls) are you removing from a pipeline
segment ?
How much particulate are you removing from filters on the
pipeline segment ?
How corrosive is the specific pipeline segment environment ?
What is the range of dew point in the gas stream of the pipeline
segment in question ?
How much corrosion already exists in the pipeline segment ?
 Routine Pigging
Pig Type & Frequency
Pigging Reports & Data Gathering
Determine Pigging Performance
Pig Maintenance & Storage
 Pig Type & Frequency
• Based on type & quantity of debris expected
• Normally hard bodied cup/disc pig
• Should be reviewed regularly based on results
 Pigging Reports & Data Gathering
• Pig Run report completed for each run
- Launch & Receive time, run duration
- Pig type, chemical treatments
- Debris received, pig condition
• Collect debris sample & analyse
• Compile database of pigging records
Determine Pigging Performance
• Measurable increase in line efficiency
• Measurable increase in through-put
• Pressure drop
• Dew point differential before and after pigging
• Amount of foreign matter removed
• Amount of liquids removed
• Reduced corrosion
 Pig Maintenance & Storage
• Check pig condition before each run
ƒ Bolts are tightened (nyloc, loctite)
ƒ Cups/discs in good condition, size
• Check the pig after run
ƒ Clean Disc/cups/body from debris, paraffin
ƒ Check damages or wear cups/disc
Pig storage important for long life
ƒ humidity, temperature, sunlight
ƒ “thumbnail test”
 Other Pigging
Batching & Displacement
Corrosion Mitigation
ILI Preparation
Pig Tracking & Locating
 Batching & Displacement
• Ultra lightweight batching pig
• BiDirectionAll batching pig
• Vantage + & Vantage V pigs
• RealSeal discs & cups
 Corrosion Mitigation
• PitBoss Cleaning Pig
- Cleans debris from corrosion pits
- Ideal for SRB deposits
• V-Jet Pig
- Top of the Line corrosion control
- Developed in conjunction with Total
- Sprays Corrosion Inhibitor to Top of Line
 ILI Preparation
• Preparation essential for good inspection
• Minimum of Three Runs
- Cup / disc pig with Gauge Plate
- Cup / disc pig with Brushes
- Magnetic Cleaning Pig
 Pig Tracking & Locating
• PigSigs on Launchers & Receivers
- Standard PigSig
- NI PigSig
• Pig Tracking vs Pig Locating
- Active (Trackmaster)
- Passive (Flow, Pressure Monitoring)
Pig Tracking (TrackMaster)
Metal Loss & Crack Detection
Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL)
Magpie MFL Tool
Defects & Features
Options for ILI Tools
Ultrasonics (UT)
 Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL)
• Induce Magnetic Flux in pipe wall
• In-direct measurement of remaining WT
• Permanent vs Electro Magnets
• Hall Sensors vs Coil Sensors
• Resolution (sensor spacing x sampling rate)
• Benchmarking with AGM’s
 Magpie MFL Tool
• Tool Specification Sheet ( 30” )
• Basics of MFL Tool
 Defects & Features
Types of defects & features identified by MFL tool
• Metal Loss or Corrosion
• Dents
• Fittings & attachments
• Flanges & Valves
Options for ILI Tools
• Speed Control
• Mapping (INS)
 Ultrasonics (UT)
• Direct measurement of WT
• Based option for Crack Detection
• Normally requires liquid couplant
• Low maximum speed ( 1 m/s )
 Thank You

Your Source for…

Global Pipeline Solutions
 Table 9-1 Anomaly Types and Tools to Detect Them

METAL LOSS TOOLS CRACK DETECTION TOOLS GEOMETRY

TOOLS MAPPING
ANOMALY TYPES
Ultrasonic (CALIPER TOOLS
MFL Ultrasonic Circumferential
(compression TOOLS)
SR HR (shear wave) MFL
wave)
detection1,
METAL LOSS (CORROSION)
sizing3 detection2, detection2, detection2, detection2
External Corrosion no detection no detection
no ID/OD sizing3 sizing3 sizing3 sizing3
Internal corrosion
discrimination
detection2, detection2,
Narrow Axial External Corrosion no detection no detection4 no detection4 no detection no detection
sizing3 sizing3
CRACKS AND CRACK-LIKE DEFECTS
(axial)
Stress Corrosion Cracking
detection2, detection2,5,
Fatigue cracks no detection no detection no detection sizing3 sizing3 no detection no detection
Longitudinal seam weld imperfections
Incomplete Fusion (Lack of fusion)
Toe-cracks
detection and detection2 and
Circumferential cracking no detection sizing with no detection sizing3 if no detection no detection no detection
reduced POD modified6
DENTS detection7 detection7 detection7 detection7
Dents Plain Dents detection7 sizing not sizing not sizing not sizing not detection8
detection,
Dents with a Stress Concentrator reliable reliable reliable reliable sizing not
sizing
Gouge reliable
in case of detection, circumferential position is given as w ell
Wrinkle Bends / Buckles
detection and detection and
LAMINATION OR INCLUSION no detection no detection no detection no detection no detection
sizing3 sizing3
detection only detection only
of steel of steel detection only
detection only of steel sleeves
PREVIOUS REPAIRS sleeves and sleeves and of steel sleeves
and patches
patches patches and patches
welded to pipe welded to pipe
MILL-RELATED ANOMALIES no detection no detection detection detection no detection no detection
detection and detection
OVALITIES no detection no detection no detection no detection no detection
sizing3 sizing3,9

1. Limited by the minimum detectable metal loss

2. Limited by the minimum detectable depth, length and width of the defects
3. Defined by the specified sizing accuracy of the tool
4. If the width is smaller than the minimum detectable defect width for the tool
5. Reduced POD for tight cracks
6. Transducers to be rotated by 90?
7. Reduced reliability depending on the size and shape of the dent
8. Depending on the configuration of the tool, also circumferential position
9. If the tool is equipped for ovality measurement

9- 3
PEER REVIEW DRAFT –– September 7, 2000