Pipeline Pigging and In-Line Inspection

Overview

Pigging keeps pipelines clean, efficient and inspectable, and in-line inspection is the main way operators find corrosion, dents and cracks along hundreds of kilometres of buried pipe without digging it up. Yet pigging operations carry real risks, from stuck pigs and pressure trapped in traps to pyrophoric deposits and hydrocarbon releases, and inspection data are only useful if they are interpreted and acted on correctly. This course covers both the operational and the integrity sides of pigging. Participants learn the types of utility and cleaning pigs, launcher and receiver design, pig tracking and safe launching and receiving procedures. The second part explains in-line inspection technologies, including magnetic flux leakage, ultrasonic, geometry, mapping and crack tools, how to prepare a line for an inspection run, how to read ILI reports, and how to assess and prioritise reported features using recognised standards.

Objectives

• Explain the purposes of pigging and select appropriate pig types
• Describe launcher and receiver design and safety features
• Carry out safe launching and receiving procedures
• Plan cleaning programmes and handle pigging wastes safely
• Compare in-line inspection technologies and their capabilities
• Prepare a pipeline for an ILI run
• Interpret ILI reports and prioritise features for response

Who should attend

Training methodology

Pig types and trap designs are explained with photographs, animations and videos of real operations. Participants review launching and receiving procedures for errors and prepare a pigging plan for a sample line. ILI report extracts are interpreted in groups, and features are assessed and prioritised using ASME B31G and similar methods. Incident investigations involving stuck pigs and trap releases are analysed to draw lessons, and the course closes with a written assessment.

Programme outline

Dates and fees

Certificate

Frequently asked questions