The art of pigging

Conference · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997

OSTI ID:460704

Fisher, H

The Pigging Products and Suppliers Association was founded in 1990 to promote the knowledge of pigging and its related products and services by providing a channel of communications between the members themselves and with users and other interested parties. The Association currently has more than 50 members. The PPSA plays a major role in providing information and sourcing pigging equipment and services for pipeline operators and the industry in general. Is pigging a science or an art? After years of being involved in the pigging industry, the author believes it is more of an art. A pig as defined by the PPSA pigging primer is a device that moves through the inside of a pipeline for inspecting, dimensioning, or cleaning. There are many reasons to pig, removal of debris from new construction, hydrostatic testing, routine maintenance, special cleaning applications, inspection for dents and buckles or internal corrosion. This paper will discuss the reasons for pigging, types of pigs, and some of the precautions that should be taken in running pigs and designing the pipelines they are run in. Its focus will be on the conventional or utility pigs. Only brief mention will be made of in-line inspection tools.

• OSTI ID: 460704
• Report Number(s): CONF-970146--; ISBN 1-890277-01-0
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
DESIGN
IN-SERVICE INSPECTION
MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE FACILITIES
OPERATION
PIPELINES
SURFACE CLEANING