PIGGING

PROCEDURE
 PRE-PIGGING ACTIVITIES
ENSURE THAT THE FOLLOWING VALVES ARE ON OPEN
POSITION.

 The pig receiver isolation valve at the metering station where

the pig will be received.

 All the line break valves along the pipeline

 DEPLOYMENT OF PIGGING
PERSONNEL
 Fire truck, four (4) fire men, one (1) safety officer, one (1)
medical.

 Officer and an ambulance at receceiving metering station.

 Two (2) operators and one instrument engineer each at

launching and receiving metering stations.

 Four (4) pigging team members to oversee the exercise.

PIGGING OPERATIONS
 LAUNCHING THE PIG
 Ensure that the pig launcher isolation valve, the kicker valve, vent valve and
the drain valve at station launcher barrel are fully closed.

 Open the vent valve and vent the launcher barrel to atmospheric pressure and
leave open.

 Open the pig launcher drain valve to drain off any liquid and leave open.

 When the pig launcher barrel is completely drained, with the vent and drain
valves still open, open the launcher door (closure).
 LAUNCHING THE PIG CONTD
 Insert the pig as far as possible into the nominal bore section of the barrel.

 Inspect and lubricate the launcher door seal, locking mechanism and hinges. Replace seal if
damaged.

 Close and lock the barrel door.

 Close the drain valve.

 Reset the pig signaler.

 LAUNCHING THE PIG CONTD
 Slowly fill the launcher barrel by gradually opening the kicker valve
and venting through the vent valve for at least 3-4 minutes to purge
out trapped air from the launcher barrel, then close the vent valve to
allow the launcher to pressurize to the line pressure.

 Confirm pig launcher pressure and line pressure are the same.

 Open the trap isolation valve

 Partially close the main line valve. This will increase the flow through
the kicker valve and behind the pig.
 LAUNCHING THE PIG CONTD
 Continue to close the main line valve until the pig
leaves the trap into the main line as indicated by
the pig signaler.

Record time and pressure of pig lunch

Fully open the mainline valve

 LAUNCHING THE PIG
CONTD

 Close the barrel isolation valve and the kicker valve

 Open the vent valve to depressurize the pig launcher to zero bar

 Close the vent valve

 The pig launching is complete.

RECEIVING THE PIG
 RECEIVING THE PIG CONTD
 Ensure that the following valves are in close position; Receiver trap isolation valve,
by pass valve, vent valve and drain valve at receiving station receiver barrel.

 Crack open the by-pass valve to gradually pressurize the receiver barrel, allowing
gas to vent for at least 3-5 minutes, then close the vent valve and allow pressure in
the receiver barrel to build up to the line pressure.

 Fully open the bypass valve .

 Fully open the barrel isolating valve

 RECEIVING THE PIG CONTD
 Gradually open the vent valve in a step wise manner as follows:

 20%

 40%

 50%

 Monitor pressure profile every 30minutes and ensure the pig travels at the
calculated speed

 Continue venting until liquid is seen at the outlet of the vent valve

 Close the vent valve immediately and open the drain valve to drain liquid
into the slop tank
 RECEIVING THE PIG CONTD
 Isolate the drain valve when slop tank is fille

 Commence evacuation of condensate into truck by the use

of 5HP diesel pumps or vacuum truck

 Continue operation 8, 9 and 10 until condensate evacuation

is complete

 Ensure that the pig signaller on the receiver barrel indicate

that the pig has arrived the receiver
 RECEIVING THE PIG CONTD
 Record pig arrival time and pressure

 Close the trap isolation valve

 Close the bypass valve

 Depressurise the receiver barrel to zero bar via the vent valve

 Open the barrel door and remove the pig

 Inspect pig and record observation

 RECEIVING THE PIG CONTD
 Clean out the pig receiver interior using high pressure
fire hydrant water to flush the internal walls of the
receiver

 Grease the barrel door, change seals if damaged, close

and lock the receiver door

 Close the trap drain valve and leave open the vent
valve for purging and line up
 RECEIVING THE PIG CONTD
 Close the vent valve after purging for 10minutes.

 Commission the pipeline.

 Demobilize.