AUMTOMATIC MULTIPLE PIG

LAUNCHING
IN MULTIPRODUCT PIPELINES

TODAYS DISCUSSION
PIG LAUNCHING PROCEDURE
PIG RECEVING PROCEDURE
DEMO(VD) FOR L&R
AMPL PIGGING SYSTEM
DEMO(VD) FOR AMPL

PIGGING FACILITY.

LAUNCHING & RECEIVING.

Commonly used in upstream & oil & gas industry for a
periodic cleaning of pipelines carried oil, gas or water from
oil wells.
Pig is a bullet shaped object, which fitted into the pipelines.
Pig launcher launches the pig into pipeline
Upstream pressure pushes the pig to the other end of
pipeline
Where it is received in pig receiver.
Normally PIG L & R are the same assembly but only
difference with the position of kicker Line position for L &
R.
The sample drawing presents this general arrangement
common to pig launchers and receivers.

Sample Drawing

Connections
1. Kicker Line: In Case of Launcher it is Used to pressurized to
upstream side of Pig. In Case of Receiver, it is act as an outlet
to provide fluid into the trap.
2. Balancing line: It is connecting to KL to minor barrel of PL,
helps lower the pressure differential so that sudden shooting
of the pig will not damage downstream automatic valves.
3. By-Pass Line: It is the normal route for the fluids when
pigging is not taking place. This section upstream to the
shutdown valve at beginning of pipeline can be protected
against overpressure.
4. HOV: It is on the bypass line, used to create the differential
pressure for launching or receiving the PIG.
5. PDI:Available to the HOV operator to monitor the pressure
differential.

Others
1. On the outlet of PIG launcher, another HOV is provided
to open up the launcher upon pressurization.
2. PIG L & R are also protected against the over pressure
with PSV which discharge to flare.
3. Isolation valves, spectacle blinds, spacers etc. to be
used for maintenance should be drawn up next, on
various lines to and from the pig trap.
4. The spectacle blinds, spacers etc. are usually connected
right next to the isolation valves and equipment
nozzles.
5. Drains should be provided either on major or minor
barrel or on both for complete draining of the pig trap
after the pig is launched or received.

PIGGING
Launching
&
Receiving
Procedures..

Launching
1. Make sure that isolation
Procedure
valve & kicker valve are
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

closed.
Open the drain valve &
allow air to displace the
liquid by opening the vent
valve.
When the pig launcher is
completely drain(0 psi)
with vent valve & drain
valve is still open, Open
the PIG TRAP.
Install the PIG with nose
firmly in contact with
reducer & nominal bore
section.
Clean the closure seal &
other sealing surfaces,
lubricate if necessary and
close the closure door.
Close the drain valve &
slowly fill the trap by
opening a kicker valve &
venting thru the vent
valve.

Launching
Procedure
7. When Filling is complete
then 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
valve. This will increase the
flow thru kicker line & behind
the PIG.
10. Continue to close the main
valve until PIG leave the TRAP
into the mainline.
11. Launching will be verified
by the PIG signaler.
12. After the PIG launches to
mainline,
fully
open
the
mainline valve. Close the
isolation valve & kicker valve.
13. The PIG launching is
complete.

1.
Make sure Procedur
receiver is
Receiving
e pressurized.
2. Fully open the bypass
valve.
3. Fully open the isolation
valve & partially close the
main line valve.
4. Monitor the PIG signaler
for PIG arrival.
5. When PIG is arrived, Close
the
isolation
valve
&
bypass valve.
6. Open the drain valve &
vent valve.
7. Check the pressure gauge
on receiving to assure the
trap is depressurized.
8. Open the trap closure &
remove the PIG
from
receiver.
9. Clean the closure seal &
other
sealing
area,
lubricant if necessary and
close the trap.
10. Return the receiver to the
original position.

Automatic Multiple PIG launcher(AMPL)

Its a multiple PIG launching system

that allows the independent launching
of one or more PIGs
for either a
regular
or
irregular
programme
without the need
for
launcher
intervention every time.
Its operated in a similar way to
standard pigging equipment.
PIGs are either pre-loaded into a
specially designed cassettes, which is
then inserted into the standard TRAP
Or
They are loaded into the TRAP where
cassettes are already been fitted.
Number of PIGs are pre-determined by
the length of the TRAP.

Features

Incorporates fail safe mechanism that only allows the control

mechanism to operate when the launcher is depressurized after
the previous launch.
Uses a specifically designed PIG launching control mechanism.
Once launched the PIG behaves as a bi-directional pig.
Can be fitted with all equipment that can be mounted on standard
pigs, such as brushes, magnets, isotopes and pingers etc.
Internal profile with in the cassette are used to locate the PIGs
correctly and enable preset pressure for successful pig launching.
The cassette has segmented supports to allow circulation of fluid
and control flow rate.
The number of pigs in AMPL is determined by the length of the
launcher.
To allow planned pig launches, AMPL
is mechanical/hydro
mechanical does not required an external power supply.

Suitable for

Remote land based locations such as desert

pigging stations.
Unmanned platforms.
Subsea launchers for commissioning & tieins.
Standard pipelines that requires frequent
pigging.

AMPL Benefits for operator

Increases levels of safety.

Reduction in spillage due to reduces numbers of line interventions.
Lowering of pollutant emissions, as the amount of flaring is reduced.
Less men power is required for pigging.
Can be easily removed for non-routine pigging.
Reduced number of launched intervention required to launch a
series of pigs.
Can be retrospectively fitted to the most pig launchers, with no
costly adaption to the configurations or the addition of extra valving
or control system.
Pigging installation are required less and installation staff have
more time to focus on other requirement.
Required no extra personnel interventions, other than that required
for a standard pig launch after loading of cassette.
Utilizes line pressure to arm itself for launch, resulting in no
external power sources or batteries.
Suitable for a wide range of pigging requirements.