The new pig signaller recently introduced by PE has been developed with an omni-directional trigger mechanism, making it easy to use and fit. It is supplied as flange mounted, conventional welded boss mounted, mounted via an isolation valve or compatible with a hot tap boss.

Pig signallers are installed on pipelines to detect the passage of pipeline pigging tools or pipeline spheres as it is critical in pigging operations to know that a pigging tool has passed key points such as pig launchers in pipeline systems.
The PE pig signaller is suitable for all pipe sizes over 2” and can be specified for subsea use.

Pipeline Engineering has won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise which is the most prestigious award in the United Kingdom for business performance. This is based on our exports in recent years, which have grown 150% since 2004, representing over £50m of export business over the period.

We specialise in the supply of equipment and services for the maintenance and cleaning of high pressure oil and gas pipelines. Since 1997, when the Company was bought out by the management team, it has grown to become the leading company in the niche market known as “utility pigging”. This is the process of sending “pigs” down pipelines up to 1.5m in diameter over distances as far as 1000km, both on and offshore. These pigs are sent down new pipelines to ensure they are clear of any debris and sent down operational pipelines to clean and inspect the insides of the pipewall and ensure that pipelines operate efficiently to maximise product flow.

Pipeline Engineering has been able to differentiate itself in the market by uniquely designing each pigging tool for maximum efficiency in the pipeline. In addition to manufacturing the pigs, we make the pig launchers and pig receivers necessary to launch the “pigs” into the pipeline and receive the “pigs” from the pipeline.

We provide a specialist team of service engineers ready to travel anywhere in the world, not only to provide a pipeline cleaning service, but also to assist in locating and unblocking of pipelines.

Pipeline Engineering has kept ahead of the game through technical innovation, leading the industry with state of the art specialist pigging tools for pigging difficult lines, and products such as AMPL, for automated multiple pig launching, Acoustek®, for locating blockages & leaks, even in remote locations, and PECAT, for locating and measuring debris build up pipelines. In addition, the Company has recently entered the offshore wind farm market providing cable protection systems, building on their expertise in polyurethane products and subsea capability.

Over the years the Company has expanding globally and today have offices and service centres in Aberdeen, Houston, Abu Dhabi, Nigeria, Spain, Singapore and Australia. In October 2009 the Company was acquired by Circor International Inc a Wall Street quoted international engineering business specialising in flow technology.

Pipeline Engineering has been accredited to many international standards including the quality standard ISO9001, environmental standard ISO14001, health and safety standard OHSAS 18001, (subject to Technical Review), and the specialist oil and gas equipment quality standard ISO/TS 29001.

In the words of the Managing Director, Willy Watson, “winning this prestigious award is the icing on the cake and reflects the considerable effort all the employees of Pipeline Engineering have put into the Company to raise it from a small North Yorkshire business providing equipment to the North Sea to a major player in the international pipeline industry with an exceptional professional image for quality products and services.”

If regular pipeline pigging operations have not been carried out as mentioned in ‘A Good Investment’  blog or historical pigging routines have lapsed due to operational changes, it would then be necessary, prior to any inline inspection programme being carried out, to execute a specialised cleaning programme.

 

This type of operation is normally referred to as a ‘Progressive Cleaning Programme’ .

In executing this type of activity several different pipeline pigging tools are required to be used.

 

These are (but not limited too) the following types of pigging tools:

• Low density foam pigging tools
• Medium density polyurethane coated foam pigging tools (Criss Cross, Wire Brush, etc.)
• Conical cup pigging tools
• Disc type pigging tools

Both the conical cup and disc type tools can be fitted with the following attachments

• Seals and support discs
•  Cleaning brushes
•  Bypass facilities
•  Gauging plates

 Note: Tracking equipment can be fitted to any of the above pipeline pigging tools excluding the low density foams if  required.

 

Initial sizing of the pipeline pigging tools needs to be incremental as does the operational running sequence. This is to take into account any reduction in pipe bore that may have developed over time due to the accumulation of debris that would prove problematic should a more conventional approach to the operation be undertaken.

 

Carrying out this type of operation minimises the amount of debris being removed at any one time which greatly reduces the possibility of the ‘stuck pig syndrome’ and  handling difficulties of the debris removed  from the pipeline.

 

 

Progressive Pipeline Cleaning Part 2 to follow

When designing a pipeline pigging tool for a specific operation it is essential that, as a minimum, the following parameters of the pipeline are known:

 

·         Maximum and minimum pipeline internal diameter

·         Minimum bend radii

·         Maximum bore of branch connections

·         Operational parameters

·         Pig launching / Pig receiving facilities  (if any)

·         Pipeline medium

·         Pigging propellant

·         Service conditions i.e.             flowrates

                                                         maximum and minimum

                                                         operational temperature

 

Additional information will aid in the design process although non related data or data with spurious links to the operation can sometimes detract from the actual pigging requirements.

However it has to be said that too much information is better than too little as the lack of information can result in a higher probability of the pigging tool being inefficient and not fulfilling the operational expectations.

 

With the above information it is possible to design a pipeline pigging tool that will meet both the client’s operational requirements and comply with the manufacturers in-house design criteria. It will also ensure that the pigging tool is fit for purpose both operationally and fulfil the commercial requirements of the client.

At the present time pipeline systems are the most efficient method for the bulk transportation of both liquids and gases.

 

 However to maintain a pipelines efficiency the following two basic rules need to be followed.

 

 1/ The pipeline needs to run continuously.

 2/ Pipeline throughput must be obtained at both the lowest capital investment and lowest  operational cost.

 

To maintain the two basic rules a pipeline should be ‘pigged’ on a regular basis using one or more types of pipeline pigging tool, depending upon the operational parameters.

 

 The running of pipeline pigging tools helps to maintain the two basic rules as follows:

 

• Removes any harmful media.
• Removes liquid and solid debris.
• Prevents build up of flow restrictions.
• Prevents the need for long term, costly shutdown periods.

 

Regular pipeline pigging operations should form part of a pre-determined maintenance plan to be carried out at set time intervals and culminating in a inspection programme utilising an inline inspection tool that with provide definitive wall thickness measurement data.