Pipeline Filming Pigging Program & Products
A combination of pigging and chemical treatments is an effective way to keep corrosion in check. Pigging is a complex science with many variables that come into play. Every line has unique characteristics, influenced by factors such as system design, production, pressure, temperature, flow rates and chemical application. In terms of the pig selection, variations in size, design, material and special modifications are employed to cope with system conditions.
Prior to conducting a chemical filming program, it is necessary to brush clean a pipeline to bare steel to enable the inhibitor to form a molecular bond with the steel. If the pipe has no pigging history or has been pigged with inefficient pigs like balls, a progressive approach is recommended to reduce the chance of plugging the pipeline with solids.
A batch film of chemical inhibitor is applied between pigs, so that the chemical batch is kept in a solid column. Inhibitor batch trains are designed solely to apply corrosion inhibitors. The Lead and Filming pigs are run as a matched set and are customized according to the ID, curvature or wall thickness of the pipeline. The Lead pig holds the batch or “pill” in place. The Filming pig is designed to displace inhibitor behind the pig in an even film on the pipe wall. Contact time between the inhibitor and the pipe is important for molecular bonding. Since it’s rarely practical to run a long enough batch to ensure adequate contact time, a controlled amount of inhibitor left behind will ensure minimum contact time with full pipe coverage. Such a batch pigging is also applying to additional cleaning, debris desolation or gel contacting program.
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