Pig Launching & Receiving

Procedures
Pig launchers are used to launch the pig into the pipeline, and pig receivers are used
to receive the pigs after they have made a successful run. The choice of these pig traps
will depend on the type of pig to be run and pipeline design conditions. Provisions in the
station design should include handling equipment for pigs 20" and larger. Caution
should be taken for liquid spillage from the pig traps.

Typical Pig Launching Procedures

The operational sequence described below is for general information only. It is not
intended, nor should it be used, to train pigging system operators. Operating procedures
will vary from one pipeline company to another. The following pig launching procedures
can be used as a guideline for developing operating procedures.

Since company policies vary regarding whether the pig launcher is left on stream or
isolated from the pipeline after the pig is launched, the operator should verify that the
trap is isolated from the pipeline and depressurized before commencing any part of the
launch procedure.

1. Make sure that the isolation valve and the kicker valve are closed.

2. In liquid systems, open the drain valve and allow air to displace the liquid by
opening the vent valve. In natural gas systems, open the vent and vent the
launcher to atmospheric pressure.

3. When the pig launcher is completely drained (0 psig), with the vent and drain
valves still open, open the trap (quick opening closure) door.
 4. Install the pig with the nose firmly in contact with the reducer between the barrel
and the nominal bore section of the launcher.

5. Clean the closure seal and other sealing surfaces, lubricate if necessary, and
close and secure the closure door.

6. Close the drain valve. Slowly fill the trap by gradually opening the kicker valve
and venting through the vent valve.

7. When filling is complete, close the vent valve to allow pressure to equalize
across the isolation valve.

8. Open the isolation valve. The pig is ready for launching.

9. Partially close the main line valve. This will increase the flow through the kicker
valve and behind the pig. Continue to close the main line valve until the pig
leaves the trap into the main line as indicated by the pig signaler.

10. After the pig leaves the trap and enters the main line, fully open the main line
valve. Close the isolation valve and the kicker valve.

11. The pig launching is complete.

Typical Pig Receiving Procedures

The operational sequence described below is for general information only. It is not
intended, nor should it be used, to train pigging system operators. Operating procedures
will vary from one pipeline company to another. The following pig receiving procedures
can be used as a guideline for developing operating procedures.

Since company policies vary regarding whether the pig receiver is left on stream or
isolated from the pipeline, the operator should verify whether there is any internal
pressure in the receiving trap before starting any part of the receiving procedures.
 1. Make sure the receiver is pressurized.

2. Fully open the bypass valve.

3. Fully open the isolation valve and partially close the main line valve.

4. Monitor the pig signaler for pig arrival.

5. Close the isolation valve and bypass valve.

6. Open the drain valve and the vent valve.

7. Check the pressure gauge on the receiver to assure the trap is depressurized (0
psi).

8. Open the trap closure and remove the pig from the receiver.

9. Clean the closure seal and other sealing surfaces, lubricate if necessary, and
close and secure the trap (quick opening closure) door.

10. Return the receiver to the original condition.

Standard Pig Launcher / Receiver

 All launchers are primed.

 All launchers are hydrostatically tested.

 Valves on launchers & receivers must be round.

 Full port with a 100% pipe size opening.

Launching & Receiving Configurations

Conventional Pig Launching

Launching Pig in Water Main Section

 Trapping Pig with Slotted Tray

Conventional Pig Trapping

Pigging

Pigging in the context of pipelines refers to the practice of using pipeline inspection gauges or
'pigs' to perform various maintenance operations on a pipeline. This is done without stopping the
flow of the product in the pipeline.

These operations include but are not limited to cleaning and inspecting of the pipeline. This is
accomplished by inserting the pig into a 'pig launcher' (or 'launching station') - a funnel shaped Y
section in the pipeline. The launcher / launching station is then closed and the pressure driven
flow of the product in the pipeline is used to push it along down the pipe until it reaches the
receiving trap - the 'pig catcher' (or receiving station).

If the pipeline contains butterfly valves, or reduced port ball valves, the pipeline cannot be
pigged. Full port (or full bore) ball valves cause no problems because the inside diameter of the
ball is the same as that of the pipe.
Pigging has been used for many years to clean larger 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.

Pigging can be used for almost any section of the transfer process between, for example,
blending, storage or filling systems. Pigging systems are already installed in industries handling
products as diverse as lubricating oils, paints, chemicals, toiletries, cosmetics and foodstuffs.

Pigs are used in lube oil or painting blending: they are used to clean the pipes to avoid cross-
contamination, and to empty the pipes into the product tanks (or sometimes to send a component
back to its tank). Usually pigging is done at the beginning and at the end of each batch, but
sometimes it is done in the midst of a batch, e.g. when producing a premix that will be used as an
intermediate component.

Pigs are also used in oil and gas pipelines: they are used to clean the pipes but there are also
"smart pigs" used to measure things like pipe thickness and corrosion along the pipeline. They
usually do not interrupt production, though some product can be lost when the pig is extracted.
They can also be used to separate different products in a multiproduct pipeline.

Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG)

A pipeline inspection gauge or "PIG" in the pipeline industry is a tool that is sent down a
pipeline and propelled by the pressure of the product in the pipeline itself. There are four main
uses for pigs:

1. Physical separation between different liquids being transported in pipelines;

2. Internal cleaning of pipelines;
3. Inspection of the condition of pipeline walls (also known as an Inline Inspection (ILI) tool);
4. Capturing and recording geometric information relating to pipelines (e.g. size, position).
One kind of pig is a soft, bullet shaped polyurethane foam plug that is forced through pipelines to
separate products to reduce mixing. There are several types of pigs for cleaning. Some have
tungsten studs or abrasive wire mesh on the outside to cut rust, scale, or paraffin deposits off the
inside of the pipe. Others are plain plastic covered polyurethane.

Inline inspection pigs use various methods for inspecting a pipeline. A sizing pig uses one (or
more) notched round metal plates that are used as gauges. The notches allow different parts of
the plate to bend when a bore restriction is encountered. More complex systems exist for
inspecting various aspects of the pipeline. Intelligent pigs, also called smart pigs, are used to
inspect the pipeline with sensors and record the data for later analysis. These pigs use
technologies such as MFL and ultrasonics to inspect the pipeline. Intelligent pigs may also use
calipers to measure the inside geometry of the pipeline.

Intelligent pigging

Modern intelligent pigs are highly sophisticated instruments that vary in technology and
complexity by the intended use and by manufacturer. An intelligent pig, or smart pig, includes
electronics and sensors that collects various forms of data during the trip through the pipeline.

The electronics are sealed to prevent leakage of the pipeline product into the electronics since
products can range from highly basic to highly acidic and can be of extremely high temperature.
Many pigs use specific materials according to the product in the pipeline. Power for the
electronics is provided by onboard batteries which are also sealed. Data recording may be by
various means ranging from analog tape, digital tape, or solid state memory in more modern
digital units.

The technology used to accomplish the service varies by the service required and the design of
the pig, each pigging service provider may have unique and proprietary technologies to
accomplish the service. Surface pitting and corrosion, as well as cracks and weld defects in
steel/ferrous pipelines are often detected using magnetic flux leakage (MFL) pigs. Other "smart"
pigs use electromagnetic acoustic transducers to detect pipe defects. Caliper pigs can measure the
"roundness" of the pipeline to determine areas of crushing or other deformations. Some smart
pigs can combine technologies such as MFL and Caliper into a single tool. Recent trials of pigs
using acoustic resonance technology have been reported.[7]

During the pigging run the pig is unable to directly communicate with the outside world due to
the distance underground or underwater and/or materials that the pipe is made of. For example,
steel pipelines effectively prevent any reliable radio communications outside the pipe. It is
therefore necessary that the pig use internal means to record its own movement during the trip.
This may be done by gyroscope-assisted tilt sensors, odometers and other technologies[8]. The pig
will record this positional data so that the distance it moves along with any bends can be
interpreted later to determine the exact path taken.

Location verification is often accomplished by surface instruments that record the pig’s passage
by either audible, magnetic, or gravinometric[citation needed] (or other) means. The sensors will record
when they detect passage of the pig (time-of-arrival); this is then compared to the internal record
for verification or adjustment. The external sensors may have GPS capability[9] to assist in their
location. A few pig passage indicators transmit the pig’s passage, time and location, via
Orbcomm satellite uplink.[10] The pig itself cannot use GPS as the metal pipe blocks satellite
signals.

After the pigging run has been completed, the positional data from the external sensors is
combined with the pipeline evaluation data (corrosion, cracks, etc.) from the pig to provide a
location-specific defect map and characterization. In other words, the combined data will tell the
operator the location and type and size of each pipe defect. This is used to judge the severity of
the defect and help repair crews locate and repair the defect quickly without having to dig up
excessive amounts of pipeline. By evaluating the rate of change of a particular defect over
several years, proactive plans can be made to repair the pipeline before any leakage or
environmental damage occurs.

The inspection results are typically archived (perhaps in Pipeline Open Data Standard format) for
comparison with the results of later pigging runs on the same pipeline.

Frequently Asked Questions in Pigging:

Q. What are pigs and pipeline pigging?

A pig is a device inserted into a pipeline which travels freely through it, driven by the product flow to do a specific
task within the pipeline. These tasks fall into a number of different areas: (a) Utility pigs which perform a function
such as cleaning, separating products in-line or dewatering the line; (b) Inline inspection pigs which are used to
provide information on the condition of the pipeline and the extent and location of any problem (such as corrosion
for example) and (c) special duty pigs such as plugs for isolating pipelines.

Q. Why is it called “pigging”?

One theory is that two pipeliners were standing next to a line when a pig went past. As the pig travelled down the
line pushing out debris, one of them made the comment that it sounded like a pig squealing. The pig in question
consisted of leather sheets stacked together on a steel body. Without doubting the authenticity of the story, it does
indicate that these tools have been around for some time. Another theory is that PIG stands for Pipeline Intervention
Gadget.

Q. What is the purpose of pigging?

Pipelines represent a considerable investment on behalf of the operators and can often prove strategic to countries
and governments. They are generally accepted as being the most efficient method of transporting fluids across
distances. In order to protect these valuable investments, maintenance must be done and pigging is one such
maintenance tool.

During the construction of the line, pigs can be used to remove debris that accumulates. Testing the pipeline
involves hydro-testing and pigs are used to fill the line with water and subsequently to dewater the line after the
successful test. During operation, pigs can be used to remove liquid hold-up in the line, clean wax off the pipe wall
or apply corrosion inhibitors for example. They can work in conjunction with chemicals to clean pipeline from
various build-ups.

Inspection pigs are used to assess the remaining wall thickness and extent of corrosion in the line, thus providing
timely information for the operator regarding the safety and operability of the line. Pigs (or more specifically) plugs
can be used to isolate the pipeline during a repair.

Q. How is the correct pig selected for a given pipeline?

There are many different pigs available in the market place and many different suppliers (see PPSA membership
list). Choosing the correct pig is an involved process but if performed in a methodical way, the right choice can be
made. It is important to set the objective and define the task that the pig has to perform. This may be removal of a
hard scale in an 8” line for a cleaning pig or the location of corrosion pits in a 24” sour gas line for an inspection pig
for example. Operating conditional can sometimes dictate the type of pig that must be considered. For example, an
ultrasonic pig requires a liquid couplant around the pig and this may be difficult to achieve in a gas pipeline.

The pipeline layout and features will dictate the geometry of the pig largely. The pig must be long enough to span
features such as wyes and tees yet must be short enough to negotiate bends. Changes in internal line diameter will
influence the design effort required for the pig. In summary, the correct pig type is chosen for the task but then the
pipeline design and operating conditions will affect the actual design of the pig.

Q. What inspection Techniques are there?

The main inspection methods that are used are MFL (Magnetic Flux Leakage) and UT (Ultrasonics). MFL is an
inferred method where a strong magnetic flux is induced into the pipeline wall. Sensors then pick up any leakage of
this flux and the extent of this leakage indicates a flaw in the pipe wall. For instance, internal material loss in the line
will cause flux leakage that will be picked up by the sensors. Defect libraries are built up to distinguish one defect
from another.

Ultrasonic inspection is a direct measurement of the thickness of the pipe wall. A transducer emits a pulse of
ultrasonic sound that travels at a known speed. The time taken for the echo to return to the sensor is a measurement
of the thickness of the pipe wall. The technique needs a liquid through which the pulse can travel. The presence of
any gas will affect the output.

Q. What are the differences between offshore and onshore pipelines and their intelligent pigging
procedures?

Offshore pipelines are of thicker wall than onshore-sometimes up to 35mm thick.

Offshore pipelines can have greater operating pressures, particularly the deepwater pipelines offshore Angola, Brazil
or Gulf of Mexico. Maximum operating pressures onshore can be 100barg but offshore can be 300barg.
Flowrates of products both onshore and offshore are the same dependant upon the type of pipeline or its position
with regard to transporting product either between offshore platforms or from platform to shore.

Offshore pipelines tend to be protected by a concrete outer coating and sacrificial anodes fitted to the pipeline every
100 metres so the outside of offshore pipelines tend not to suffer corrosion but may get damaged by sea bed
movement or anchors from ships.

Inspection of offshore pipelines tends to look for internal problems.

The most favoured inspection methods are either ultrasonic or magnetic flux inspection.

Ultrasonic can inspect very thick wall pipe but magnetic flux is limited because of how strong the magnets need to
be to get enough magnetism in the wall of the pipe to enable good results to be obtained. Sometimes some pipelines
can only be inspected using ultrasonic techniques because of the wall thickness.

Generally running pigs in offshore pipelines is very similar to running in onshore lines, after the wall thickness and
higher pressures are taken in to consideration.

One very important thing to realise with offshore inspection is that the pig must not get stuck in the pipeline as
retrieving it will be much more expensive than from an onshore pipeline.

Q. What is a Plug?

A plug is a specialist pig that can be used to isolate a section of pipeline at pressure while some remedial work is
undertaken. For example, a valve can be changed out while the pipeline remains at pressure. This can be done by
setting two plugs either side of the valve. Work can then proceed on removing the existing valve and installing the
new one. In complex systems, this can allow production to continue while maintenance work proceeds at a platform
for example.

The plugs can withstand pressures up to 200 bars typically. The plug works by gripping into the line pipe and then
having a separate sealing system. Lower pressure techniques include High Friction pigs, which provide a barrier for
depressurised systems.

Q. Is it possible to pig multi-diameter pipelines?

For economic reasons, a number of dual diameter pipelines have been designed and built in recent years. An existing
riser or J-tube at a platform may require that there is a difference between the pipeline and the riser diameters. Tying
a line into an existing pipeline may result in a change in diameter from one to the next. Dual and Multi-diameter
pigs have had to be designed and tested to allow such systems to be pigged.

These include pre-commissioning pigs for dewatering the lines; operational pigs to allow liquid hold-up to be
removed from gas lines and inspection pigs to provide information on the line. Typical examples of dual diameter
lines include a 10” x 8” line, a 20” x 16” and a multi-diameter line 11” x 12” x 14”. The biggest line is the Åsgard
gas export line, which is 28” x 42” in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. This can be both pigged and inspected.

Q. How often should a pipeline be pigged?

Pigging frequency depends largely on the contents of the pipeline. Some sales gas pipelines for example are
normally never pigged. This is since there is little by way of liquid to remove or debris / corrosion products in the
line. On the other hand, production oil lines can suffer from wax deposition, which must be managed in order to
allow production to continue.
It is difficult to give general guidance on this, as the pigging frequency must be set for each specific pipeline. The
general advice would be that a pig is a valuable flow assurance tool and a decision should be reached with the
operator on the frequency of pigging based on the flow assurance analysis of the line and in conjunction with the
pigging specialists. Likewise, inspection intervals should be based on discussions between integrity management
and the pig vendors.

Types of Pigs in Rasgas:

1. Slotted Pig
2. Bi directional metallic Pig(Brush)
3. Bi directional magnetic Pig
4. Profile pig
5. Intelligent pig