What is a pigging station?
The oil and gas industry inspects and cleans pipelines by “pigging.” The name originates from either Pipeline Inspection Gadget, or the squealing sound pigging tools make as they pass through the pipeline.
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What does pigging mean in pipeline?
Pipeline Pigging Definition/Meaning Pipeline pigging refers to the use of pigging equipment/machines more specifically Pipeline Integrity Gauges or “PIGs” for the routine cleaning, maintenance, and inspection of pipelines. PIGs are propelled through the pipeline by differential pressure and product flow.
Why is it called pipeline pigging?
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 in the oilfield?
“Pigging” is a process in which highly viscous fluids are conveyed out of pipelines. The pig is a cleaning device that is pumped through the pipeline under pressure. Thus, contaminations are conveyed out of the piping. In the oil and gas industry, usually pipelines with large diameters are in use.
How does a pigging system work?
Pigging works by propelling a device with wiping discs (the pig) through the pipeline from the source to the destination. As the pig travels through the pipeline, it pushes out the trapped product and cleans the pipe walls leaving the pipeline ready for the next product transfer.
How many types of pigging are there?
There are four main uses for pigs: Physical separation between different fluids flowing through the pipeline. Internal cleaning of pipelines. Inspection of the condition of pipeline walls (also known as an Inline Inspection (ILI) tool)
How does pipe pigging work?
Propellants Used in Industrial Process Pigging.
The pipeline pigs (the projectiles that travel along the pipes or tubes to transfer residual product) are solid objects with no moving parts. They are unable to propel themselves, so instead are propelled along the pipes or tubing by a liquid or a gas.
How is pigging done?
HOW PIGGING WORKS. 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.
How fast does a pipeline pig travel?
In order to maintain a safe and reliable inspection, the speed of the PIG needs to stay low, and, according to [3], this speed is usually in the range of 1 to 5 m/s inside liquid pipelines and 2 to 7 m/s inside gas pipelines.
How many types of pigs are there in the pipeline?
Pipeline Pig Types
Three categories of pigs are used to accomplish the above-mentioned tasks. They are: Utility Pigs, are used to perform functions such as cleaning, separating, or dewatering. In-Line Inspection Pigs: They provide information on the line condition along with the extent and location of any problems.
What is the pigging process?
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.