1. PORTABLE TEMPORARY PIG LAUNCHER thomas cornthwaite
Presentation of paper by Thomas Cornthwaite, International Pipeline Products Limited, Catterick UK
thomas cornthwaite
inpipe products limited

2. THE SITUATION pipeline pigging afterthought pipeline design
there are many occasions when pig launching can be difficult.
Initially pig launchers might not be placed in ideal locations along the pipeline
space is limited and conditions are not conducive to the fitting of a standard launcher.
Retrofitting pig launching equipment can also be extremely costly, particularly if the number of launches required are relatively few.
Temp launchers not common products
THE SITUATION

3. PTPL portable temporary pig launcher – inpipe products
IPP solution that allows straightforward, temporary and cost effective pig launching and receiving for low pressure functions.
cost effective - NOT pipe I/D but a pipe O/D,
O/D usually constant
portable temporary pig launcher – inpipe products
more flexible and cost effective temporary pig launching

4. Pipeline design and technology has not always been able to keep up with demand.
Tight timescales determined by market demands have in many cases caused consideration to pipeline pigging to be an afterthought.
Also with the process of pipeline pigging is still somewhat of a black art that many are not entirely familiar with, the general quality of pipeline design for pigging can at times lack the forward thinking required.
Pipeline design and technology has not always been able to keep up with demand.
Tight timescales = afterthought.
pipeline pigging = black art, general quality is poor
INTRODUCTION

5. THE PROBLEM permanent launchers are, costly very specific to purpose
difficult to add to live lines
ideal for regular use
costly and difficult to add to existing, live pipelines.
hot work required precision of manufacturing the launcher
cost of installation high, which does little to encourage installation.

6. THE PROBLEM A high pressure plug is not ideal for launching:
it has no reducer
it has no door
there is potential for internal damage
it is difficult to vent and drain
but it is cost effective
Launchers = similar
MPL? Little adaptability
high pressure plug can be used without a full launching system.
No reducer= difficult to load
vice-jaw damage
Intended additional launcher assembly on existing lines may also incur hot work
THE PROBLEM

7. THE SOLUTION: PTPL features of the PTPL pressure based fixing
re-usable launcher
cost effective
fast installation
adaptable product
standardised along pipeline
IPP Catterick UK have developed an alternative launching system
awkward situations where pigging is required but difficult to carry out.
The Portable Temporary Pig Launcher (PTPL) as it is known does this by utilising a pressure dependant fixing, rather than a fixed mechanical system such as a pair of flanges or a welded closure

8. PTPL has opening, pig area, reducer, kicker line and vent line.
Posi seal is patented, loads of benefits
PTPL ANATOMY

9. POSI-SEAL ASSEMBLY pressure gauge retaining flange
grit lined tyre – for gripping
ribbed tyre – for sealing
sealing flange
positive-seal system = tyres that sit within a housing and have a greater I/D than the O/D of the intended pipeline.
up to 25 bar of internal pressure.
Sealed, pig loaded, kicker line

10. ASSEMBLY pig passage indicator posi-seal assembly reducer
door (blind flange)
provision has been made to vent the trap before launching.
can also be received in the same way
same process that operators are already familiar with.
pig holding area
drain line out
kicker line in
ASSEMBLY

11. BENEFITS Design to pipe outside diameter + More useful along pipeline
+ Standardisation of components
+ More likely to be reliable
+ More cost effective
Advantages
launcher to suit a particular I/D rather to fit the O/D = standardised.
Easier for manufacturer
less parts
greater reliability
BENEFITS

12. TYRE BENEFITS + greater tolerance range
+ better on corroded/damaged pipes
+ quick and simple to fit
flexibility is allowed
a greater tolerance to the pipe O/D is permissible.
Corrosion/damaged
time required to install the PTPL
TYRE BENEFITS

13. MAINTENANCE + access to either end for cleaning
+ closure door optional
+ ease of pre-loading
easier to maintain and clean
A closure door is optional with this product - health and safety issues – blind flange is time consuming?.
pre-loaded, benefit little provision to the pig handling area

14. UNOBTRUSIVE The PTPL is an unobtrusive launcher
reduce the cost of line alteration by removing the necessity for a permanent pig trap, reducer and closure.
no damage is done to the pipeline.
potential applications when pigging during construction of a pipeline, no permanent pig station
sophisticated design = quicker to install on lines than other temporary devices
quicker to uninstall and reuse elsewhere
UNOBTRUSIVE

15. CASE STUDY
developed in answer to a customer scenario where a pig had to be launched into an open ended pipe under a platform where no hot work could commence.
new pipeline between platforms in Norwegian sector following a leakage in an existing line.
This meant that oil production had to be routed through another pipeline.
Upon completion it was the intention of the operators to pig and hydrotest the line from riser end to riser end.
The risers had been previously cut to avoid modifications during a layout reconstruction.
Initially it was the intention of the client that a pair of plugs would be used to pig and hydrotest the line, one internal and one external.
The location of the riser end on one platform was another consideration as it was located beneath the platform and difficult to reach, rendering significant installation work undesirable.
PTPL developed for pigging a new line in the Norwegian North Sea

16. SPECIFICS
The concept of an external plug using the posi-seals had been suggested at InPipe previously
but the concept leant itself to pig launching given the low pressures required
ease of application, the client chose InPipe and the concept put forward.
situation of temporary pig launcher below platform

17. TESTING
previously used on internal testers,
testing for proof of concept was crucial.
Initial sealing test before full test
full test - tyres were actually more effective than on an internal tester application,
customer requirement approximately 5/6 bar
maximum pressure of 25 bar achieved in testing.
Testing to prove external posi-seal tyre, tested successfully to 25 bar

18. PTPL specifically supplied with:
clamp
pair of safety harnesses
water pump for energising
pair of ribbed tyres
pair of grit lined tyres
supplied with a clamp and a pair of safety harnesses to meet customer safety requirements
posi-seals were energised by a water pump.
ribbed tyres for sealing sandwiched between a pair of gritted tyres for grip.
Pigging sucessfully completed
pigging on construction of new norwegian line successfully completed using ptpl

19. SUITABILITY Permanent launcher PTPL + day to day use
+ regular pigging
+ hydrostatic testing
PTPL
+ occasional pigging
+ awkward circumstances
+ pigging during pipeline construction
A PTPL is extremely practical
standard pig launcher/receiver system is still preferential.
Temp launchers have a need.
consideration to application of the pipeline and the constituent material that is used therein.
a standard launcher is better for pigging regularly + high pressures of day to day use and hydrostatic testing.

20. SUITABILITY Provision to avoid tyre slippage
Not a replacement for a permanent launcher
Whilst useful on corroded pipes, caution to breakage
Not to be pigged with gas/air
main concern = tyre slippage or failure
not designed to be a replacement for a standard, permanent launcher/receiver
designed to meet a customer specification in a low pressure setting.
made clear to customers when ordering or using a PTPL.
Supplementary safety systems - mechanical fixing such as a harness and clamp.
design could be altered for vice jaw mechanism
careful and considered use = VJ unnecessary.
Whilst it was pointed out that the device could be useful on lines that have corroded, caution should be given to badly corroded lines where the additional stress of energising the tyres on the line may cause line failure.
SUITABILITY

21. ACCUMULATION PTPL should not be used to receive in single, heavy runs
A strategy using low efficiency pigs should be used if this could be an issue
ACCUMULATION
used as part of a regular and controlled pigging program, the loads not be too severe.
receiver accumulation of wax or debris 
Care so not excessively demanding of the PTPL.
Excessive build up = loading/unloading issues.
use of a series of low-efficiency pigs or bypass pigs to reduce volume is the most straightforward strategy

22. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 25 bar maximum pressure
Access consideration for cranes and loading
Consideration in case of being overloaded
Suitability for use in other applications
Incorporation of safety equipment
not be used in pipelines over 25 bar. over 25 bar there could be safety issues.
overall space requirement and the potential need for access of cranes or lifting equipment.
The device is heavy and thus it is essential to ensure that the site is appropriate before installation.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

23. TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
External tyre system benefits pipeline maintenance
Standardisation of parts lowers costs
Larger tolerance band when using tyres.
external tyre system benefits pipeline maintenance,
standardised O/D,
larger tolerance band for factors such as corrosion.
potentially save manufacturers standardisation reliability
wider tolerance band. The unobtrusive nature can also be applicable in a range of applications.

24. TYRE APPLICATIONS + isolation + repair + testing + plugging
+ standardised design
+ cost saving
+ reliability
isolation and repair, hydrostatic testing, plugging.
room for development
allows the pipeline pigger to consider different types of launcher
greater flexibility in pipeline design.
‘Blank’ stations could potentially be added at reduced cost
PTPL is required to launch the pigs from any of these stations.

25. ADAPTABILITY + launcher adaptability + blank stations
+ compact launching
+ offline modification
+ multiple pig/sphere launching
adapted to suit the purpose of the job.
More compact launching systems could be built in for pipes that are awkward to reach.
potential to incorporate multiple pig launching applications (not high demand given the temporary nature of the product)
ADAPTABILITY

26. SUMMARY customer brief leads to product with many derived benefits
There are many avenues for development for pipeline pigging products; in this case a customer driven brief has allowed a company to develop a product which has many derived benefits as a result of its function.
By using externally acting tyres, the PTPL is more standardised, more cost effective, quicker to install and uninstall, suitable for areas where hot work can not be done and is more adaptable for the customer.
In general the PTPL is an interesting product in that it offers pipeline users an alternative solution in pipeline launching and receiving.
SUMMARY
customer brief leads to product with many derived benefits
the ptpl provides an alternative solution to pig launching and receiving

27. INTERNATIONAL PIPELINE PRODUCTS LTD
PTPL