Pipeline Technology Conference, Ostend, 12-14 October 2009

Paper no: Ostend2009-012

Optimizing pigging results in

high velocity pipelines using a
speed reducing venturi pig
by P Elliott

TD Williamson (UK) Ltd, Swindon, UK

This paper is © copyright of the organizers of the Pipeline Technology Conference held in Ostend, Belgium, on 12-14 October, 2009, and of
the author(s). No copying (either electronic or otherwise), transmission electronically, or reproduction in any way is permitted without the
specific permission of the copyright holders.
 Optimizing Pigging Results
in High Velocity Pipelines
using a Speed Reducing
Venturi Pig

Paul Elliott
T.D. Williamson (UK) Limited, Swindon UK
***Patent Pending

Objectives

• What a speed reducing pig is and

how it works
• Generation I Speed Reducing Pig
• Gen II Features/benefits
• Equipment Testing and Application
• Summary and Conclusion

1
 What is it?

A pig that uses bypass in high flow

pipelines to reduce its speed so that
operators can optimize pigging
performance while maintaining a high flow
rate.

Benefits of Bypass
• Can be used to slow pigs to optimum speed
• Prevents debris pile up in front of the pig (riding
over it)
• Suspends debris ahead of the pig in the faster
flow
• Bypass in cups or discs jets / dislodges debris
• Continuously clears debris from the cleaning
elements on the pig

2
 Generation I Speed Reducing Pig
How does it work?
• Product flow is passed/bypassed through a fixed
annulus in the center of the pig thus reducing the
effective driving flow.

• Bypass percentage is adjusted by changing the

bypass plate to that with a larger or smaller annulus
thus respectively increasing or decreasing the pig
speed.

Generation I Speed Reducing Pig

What are it’s benefits to the customer?

• Inexpensive
• Simple – Minimal Components
• Provides some speed reduction
which allows pipeline operators to
pig at a higher flow rate than that
which would otherwise be
achievable with traditional pigs.

3
 Generation I Speed Reducing Pig
Customer Application

Field Proven Concept

and Design

In a short 24” cross-

country pipeline in the
Midwest USA, we were
able to achieve the
desired 8mph pig
speed in a 12mph flow
7 rate.

Generation I Speed Reducing Pig

What are it’s limitations?
• Abrupt changes in the product flow pattern
as it passes through the annulus create
turbulence/drag and drastically affect the
efficiency of speed reduction.
• Bypass percentage is fixed after the
chosen bypass plate is installed creating
the possibility of a stall during the course of
the run. This also can make it difficult to
overcome static friction and launch the pig.

4
 Generation II Speed Reducing Pig
What are the improvements?
• Bypass efficiency was increased
– 30% to 50% improvement
• Stall control feature was added to keep pig from
stalling during the course of the run and to
smooth out speed surges.
• Launch feature was added to close off bypass
during the launch phase allowing for an easy
launch.

Generation II Speed Reducing Pig

How was the efficiency improved?
• Efficiency improved with a venturi shaped
annulus
– Creates smooth transitions for gas flow, thus
reducing turbulence/drag.
– Venturi accelerates flow as the gas passes
through the annulus
– Shape of venturi customized to optimize
efficiency
• Efficiency of speed reduction is
dramatically improved.

10

5
 Generation II Speed Reducing Pig
Stall Control Feature
• Oscillating Bypass Valve
– A passive system functioning solely on differential pressure &
inertia
– When fully opened, maximum bypass (speed reduction) is
provided
– As pig experiences increase in differential (driving) pressure
that overcomes resisting spring force, valve begins to close
limiting bypass to less than 5% when fully closed
– Increase in differential pressure could be due to debris,
bends and heavier wall thickness.

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Generation II Speed Reducing Pig

Launch Feature
• This patent-pending mechanism holds the
bypass valve nearly closed while the pig is
being launched, which facilitates an easy
launch when utilizing large bypass in pipeline
launchers with a small kicker line.

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6
 Generation II Speed Reducing Pig
Speed Reduction Adjustment
• Bypass Valve is adjustable to limit
maximum percent bypass to
accommodate various flow conditions
and pig configurations.
• Pressure differential (thus through-flow)
changes the position of the Bypass
Valve and controls amount of bypass
through the venturi while the pig is in the
pipeline
• Maximum bypass is based on pipeline
flow rate & pig drag
13

Design Verification Through Scale

Testing (Wind Tunnel)

• Math model developed

• Wind tunnel verified function of bypass valve
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7
 Test Results for SR-21 Raptor™ Pig
• 16” Prototype Pig built and initial pipeline test runs
completed
• Results obtained provided sufficient evidence that
efficiency was improved over the Generation I
Speed Reducing Pig.
– Average speed reduction was roughly 10mph
• Launch mechanism cut launch time in half
• For a successful run it is necessary to know
accurate pipeline conditions
• Design and fabrication of the 24” Raptor is
complete.

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Conclusion

• With this pig operators can effectively

clean their pipeline while maintaining an
optimum pig speed with little or no
interruption to their flow, thus significantly
improving their bottom line.

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