Pigging Services
Ensure the Performance and Integrity of Your Pipeline: Pipeline Pigging Companies Can Provide Cleaning, Inspection and More
What if you could get into your pipeline to take measurements, see any early-stage structural problems and just get a better sense of its structural health? Unfortunately, this kind of ‘pipeline checkup’ is typically not possible. If you want to inspect your pipeline, you will need to rely on pipeline pigging services.
Fortunately, today’s pipeline pigs are incredibly versatile and sophisticated. They can collect and analyse a wide range of data, which you can then use to assess the health of your pipeline and make plans for maintenance and upkeep. At Pipe Tek, we are proud of our status as one of Australia’s intelligent pigging companies.
What our Pipeline Pigs can do
What can pipeline pigs do, you may ask? The answer will vary depending on the type of pig. Pigging tools have evolved over the years, from their early days as cleaning tools to their modern role as pipeline inspectors. Here are a few of the pipeline pigging services available at Pipe Tek:
- Pipeline Cleaning: Buildups in your pipeline can range from disruptive to disastrous. They can slow the flow of oil or gas through the pipeline, thereby hampering the pipe’s efficiency and causing you money. They can also lead to complete blockages, pressure build-ups, and catastrophic cracks or leaks. Pipe Tek uses pipeline cleaning pigs to remove debris from the pipeline, maximising flow and efficiency. We use a variety of brush, bi-directional, decoking and foam pigs to clean pipes effectively and thoroughly.
- Pipeline Gauging: Gauge pigs are used to detect excessive weld dags on newly constructed pipelines, to make sure there are no obstructions in the pipeline.
- Pipeline Filling: Before you place a new pipeline into commission, it’s essential to test it thoroughly for leaks or other issues with structural integrity. This process usually involves hydrostatic testing, wherein your pipeline is filled with water and pressurized. Getting water into the pipeline for hydrostatic testing without allowing air to pass into the pipes is a key responsibility for all pipeline pigging companies. At Pipe Tek, we are proud to have an average air inclusion rate of 0.08%. For reference, the maximum air allowance is 5%, while the standard ‘recommended’ rate is 0.2%. By keeping our numbers low, we provide practical pigging services without compromising on safety.
- Pipeline Dewatering and Drying: Unless it is a water pipeline, it’s important to remove the water from the pipeline to make way for the liquid or gas that will be moved through the pipeline going forward. Among our pipeline pigging services at Pipe Tek are dewatering and drying. Using a mix of foam pigs, refrigerant dryers and desiccant, we can eliminate water from the pipeline to dew points of -40°C. This process will prevent corrosion and will keep moisture out of the product flow.
Learn more about our Pigging Services
Whether you need help with pipeline cleaning pigs or want to know more about the capabilities of our pipeline inspection pigs, a representative from Pipe Tek would be happy to speak with you. Call us on +61 417 707 729 to get in contact.