Everybody knows that oil is just so hard to clean out of everything, i.e. jeans, shirts, rags, garage floors. Even more difficult is the job of making sure petroleum pipelines insides are clean and free of debris so that oil can flow freely from retrieval point to distribution centers, but nonetheless, the job must be done. Because oil pipelines are out in the elements, whether underground or above ground, rust and other deposits can develop and congregate within the pipes, disrupting efficient flow, causing backups, or even worse, leaks and ruptures. The job of cleaning the inside of a 36-inch diameter pipe full of flowing crude is fit for no man nor woman; but perhaps beast? What better to get all dirty inside those pipes than a beast that loves sludge? Why send a human to do a job meant for a pig?
Of course this P.I.G. is no animal. Initially called “pigs” because of the squealing noises made as they forced their way through the tight pipeline enclosures, scouring and cleaning as they go, P.I.G. stands for “pipeline inspection gauges” which were predecessors to the thin robotic innovations that now carry the acronym. These pigs come in many shapes and sizes but are relatively slender robotic machines with little scrubbers along their lengths to manually (robotically) scrub the inside of long stretches of pipeline as their little motors and magnets push them along. Many of the newly designed, “smart” pigs include abilities to utilize new techniques such as magnetic flux leakage (MFL) and ultrasonic transduction (UT). Pigs with MFL capabilities use magnets to induce an intense magnetic fluctuation of the inside wall of the pipe, analyzing the data retrieved to calculate how much metal might be lost to age or corrosion, and sending that data to their masters above the surface. Pigs with UT technology project sound waves throughout the pipe, comparing the speed of the waves with the proper speed the waves should produce within an unobstructed, free-flowing pipe. These pigs can take as many as 625 readings per second, providing confident readings, assuring pipeline management of corrosion and debris free transport.
A fascinating fact about the use of this technology is that it can be performed at any time, with no disruption of service or crude flow. The pigs are merely powered up, inserted at a junction or valve, and then creep merrily along, completing their task while consumers continue to enjoy the fuels they have come to expect. Oil and natural gas outfitters such as Triple Diamond Energy Corp and others rely on new technology like the pigs to ensure proper flow of fuels, allowing for safe transport of oil and natural gas to homes and businesses within their territories.
About the Author: Robert Jent is the president of Triple Diamond Energy Corp. Triple Diamond Energy specializes in acquiring the highest quality prime oil and gas properties. For more information, visit www.triplediamondenergycorp.blogspot.com.
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