Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
(OP)
Dear sirs,
We are designing a 2 inch / 3inch line on a new project which will require regular pigging (once very 1 year) due to a slow buildup of material. This is detected by increased pressure on the line.
Line length is approx 600 meters and carbon steel.
I am looking for advise on what critiera should be spec'd on the line to ensure it can be pigged easily?
Is there a max bend size ?
higher mawp of linework..?
maximum lenght for pigging ? (breaks every xx meters)?
specalist pig catchers to be installed?
We are designing a 2 inch / 3inch line on a new project which will require regular pigging (once very 1 year) due to a slow buildup of material. This is detected by increased pressure on the line.
Line length is approx 600 meters and carbon steel.
I am looking for advise on what critiera should be spec'd on the line to ensure it can be pigged easily?
Is there a max bend size ?
higher mawp of linework..?
maximum lenght for pigging ? (breaks every xx meters)?
specalist pig catchers to be installed?





RE: Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
I like the Argus Pigging Valves (http://www.argusmachine.com/pigging-valves.cfm)for lines that small. They are a bunch cheeper than stick built traps and work very well.
David
RE: Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
As zdas04 points out, length is not an issue in your case, some offshore lines are hundreds of miles.
Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website: www.oil-gas-consulting.com
RE: Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
Sorry for a dumb question. what is the definition of 20 D elbow and how much is it different froma normal 90 C elbow.
Would the pipework runs be a lot more complex ? these lines are going into a crowded rack so i am conserned about its design if we impose such a constraint ?
would it be better to go for 4 inch pipe and less complex elbows..
RE: Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
Not a dumb question at all. The D refers to the amount of radius in the bend, the lower the number the tighter the radius. I would not go to any larger pipe than you need (cost), the fittings referred to are off the shelf stuff. When you physically look at a 20D vs a standard bend, yes, you can tell a difference, but it should not radically change your runs.
Don't know what your pipe racks look like or how complicated the system is, you will need to get the take offs from the fittigns and look and see how it fits.
I would suggest you look at what kind of pigging needs to be done and get the requirements from the manufacturer, the 20D I gave is a general rule of thumb for pipe 4" & under. Technology in pig manufacturers changes rapidly, before boxing your self in, find out exactly what is required. And go from there.
Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website: www.oil-gas-consulting.com
RE: Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
James, If you are going that way (I wouldn't) make certain that you specify at least 18" tangent on both ends of the bend. On one project I didn't specify and got bends that were less than 90 degrees and a serious pain to line up for welds. The tangent just gives you straight pipe to connect to.
A few years ago the smallest smart pig you could find was 6-inch, I hadn't heard that anyone was marketing a 2 or 3-inch smart pig these days--the industry tends to think of 2 and 3-inch pipe as disposable. If you aren't thinking of smart pigging then I would use forged elbows (the long radius is 1.5D radius and the short radius is 1.0D).
David
RE: Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
We just installed a DOT regulated 3" and we used 7D bends. The best part of the project was the new DOT inspector was not going to let us cut a 7D 90 degree bend to a 58 degree to make a field turn in the ROW. He thought the cut would reduce the bend to under 7D.
RE: Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
David
RE: Pipeline design for pigging - general advise
Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website: www.oil-gas-consulting.com