Saturday, June 18, 2016

Important Tips And Procedures Of Pigging A Pipeline

By Kenneth Sullivan


Petroleum products, various types of gasses and steam among other products are the commonly known products to be transported through piping. The method is the most efficient one for the transportation of these fluids since large volumes of products or goods can be transported within a shorter period than any other of methods or means available. The method is as well very important in reducing the risks and accidents during the transportation. More to this, the method is also very prone to damages and therefore, for this reason, the entire pipeline system requires to be regularly inspected to fix any kind of possible damages. Such a method has been the commonly used method for such kind of inspection. In relation to this, there is the great need of the knowledge on some tips related to pigging a pipeline.

Transportation of pipeline products is always an ongoing business and since wearing out and tear is very prone on the inner side of such systems, an inspection should always be carried out on the inner side of the pipes. Pigging is the recent commonly known method used for such inspections as well as fixing the problems.

One of the uses of some pipeline pigging is for hydrostatic testing. The method inculcates pipeline drying as well as doing the internal cleaning. In the procedure, the pig is inserted into the pipe at the fill point. Water is then pumped behind the pig to help force air out of such pipes basically ahead of pigs. After the entire process, the pigs are used to remove the test waters inside the pipes.

To help detect and perform the various problems listed above, the entire method work by the use of sensors and electronics fitted with magnetic fields and ultrasounds systems. The pigs are inserted on one end of pipe or pipeline system and allowed to move to the next receiving end where they are collected. Before being inserted, they are fixed with recording devices that help in the collection of data in relation to the condition of these pipes, the location of a defect as well as how severe the defect is.

Pigging is as well used for batch transportation. There are no specific pipelines for a specific product just that the products are transported one at a time. To help separate the various products batching pigs are used, therefore, doing away with any contact of the various products that may occur within the system.

In the third place is the specialty pigging method. The method is mainly used to detach a section in the pipeline system to help allow maintenance work on the system to be performed. It works by maintaining the pressures in the pipeline from both of the sides till the entire remedial work in the system is concluded.

There are quite a number of pig techniques used all with the main aim of maintaining the smooth running of all pipeline products. Some of these methods include the inspection pigging, utility pigs, gel pigs as well as specialty pigs.

The various pigging method has as well been designed for all the diameters of the pipes. All that is needed is to have the knowledge on the best method that will help fix a specific damage in pipes.




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