Precise pig tracking from start to finish
The most common form of pipeline integrity used by oil and gas pipeline owners is inline inspection (ILI). Inspection pigs are widely used to clean pipelines, as well as identify areas of damage along the pipe wall to ensure the safe delivery of energy products.
Historically, once a pig is deployed in a pipeline, a technician confirms the tool’s arrival time at various tracking locations throughout the planned inspection distance. Once the tool has passed each location, it is out of sight until it reaches the next tracking point. However, recent technological advancements in tracking technology now allow for pigs to be tracked remotely throughout an entire ILI run.
Remote tracking combines the use of above ground markers (AGMs) and Remote Tracking Units (RTUs) that are deployed before an ILI run is scheduled to take place and are used to track the pig from a central location. When a pig approaches a tracking site, the RTU and AGM are activated to track the tool, which eliminates the need to have a field technician to be on site.
Consistent Live Tracking
PureHM has developed a web-based software called LiveMap that tracks a pig throughout the entire ILI run. LiveMap provides real-time updates via email or SMS with the pig’s location, speed, and estimated time of arrival to ensure that there is better visibility for stakeholders during a project. This advanced technology mitigates the risk of unexpected challenges in an ILI run, such as a stuck pig or speed excursion.
Live tracking offers more control throughout an inspection, and can help prevent costly incidents such as lost pigs by providing accurate information on a pig’s location. A lost pig can interrupt or stop product flow in a pipeline, and can lead to pipeline damage and unforeseen service disruptions.
During an ILI run, the time and speed information collected each time the pig passes the AGM is updated and presented in LiveMap. In traditional legacy tracking runs, this is completed and reported by the field tracker, while in remote tracking runs this is completed automatically with a defensible record of the passage.
To learn more about remote tracking, download PureHM’s pig tracking white paper.
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