Description
Pipeline Gel Pigs
Gel Pigs are designed to perform some of the functions of a traditional pig without requiring a receiver and extrusion is easy.
Gel Pigs are chemically constructed with a rigid or semi-rigid structure. Consequently, these pigs are the only option to use where conventional pigging is not possible, usually because of no launching or receiving hardware. As they are a gel, they can accommodate tight bends and significant changes in ID.
Gel pigs will not remove hard scale, sand or wax deposits in isolation; for this application gels are best used in conjunction with a conventional pig. Gels do not have a hard scraping edge. They are a fluid consequently they do not have a scraping action similar to a conventional pig. However, the addition of a pipeline gel to a conventional pigging operation can have a number of benefits as outlined below:
- Decreased fluid or gas bypass
- Increased drive efficiency
- Improved capacity to carry loose solids
- Safe removal of potentially combustible products, such as black powder
- Black Powder Progel for inert, safely disposing of black powder removed by mechanical pigs
The Gel Pigs have numerous applications including:
- Loose debris removal
- Flooding, dewatering, swabbing, de-oiling
- Fluid separation & contact treatment
- Enhanced sealing of mechanical pigs
Launching Gel Pigs
Gel pigs can offer a solution for unpiggable pipelines as they can be launched without the need for a launcher. iNPIPE PRORUCTS Portable Temporary Pig Launcher can be used as an effective way of introducing the gel pig to the line without the need to fix launching hardware.
Speciality Pigging Solutions for Unpiggable Pipelines
iNPIPE PRODUCTS™ has developed a whole range of products and services for pigging “unpiggable pipelines”, typically pipelines are designed without the traditional launching and receiving facilities. The company has a range of traditional launchers and receivers for hire together with temporary launchers/receivers incorporating the innovative tyre sealing connection detail. In addition to the various temporary plant application details the company has also developed unique processes/materials, including gels, abrasive ice slurries and fibre additives, which can be introduced to the pipeline through smaller nozzles and then subsequently removed further downstream.
Our ice volume calculation provides indicative ice volumes based on pipe internal diameter, length of pipe, ambient temperature amongst other critical design consideration. Please contact our Engineering team to gain access to the calculator application software.
