6 - Pigging, Cleaning & Drying

6 - Pigging, Cleaning & Drying

Air locks

Brush pig run

Chemical cleaning

Cleaning pipelines

Dew-point readings

Dewatering

Drying with natural gas

Drying with nitrogen

Internal sand blasting

Methanol drying

Methanol run

Pipeline drying

Purging with gas

This chapter reviews pipeline dewatering, cleaning, and drying. Dewatering can be a simple process or, if the procedure is not properly planned, a difficult one. Pipelines used to transport crude oil and/or refined products will probably only require removal of the test water before the line is placed in service. If the pipeline will be used to transport materials that must meet a specified dryness requirement, the pipeline will need to be dewatered, cleaned, and dried. Pipelines used to transport natural gas will need some drying, depending on the operating pressure and the location of the line, to prevent the formation of hydrates. Other pipelines may require drying to protect the pipe from internal corrosion caused by the formation of corrosive acids, such as carbonic acid in the case of carbon dioxide pipelines.

217-246

Kaiser, Mark J.

McAllister, E.W.

Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook (Ninth Edition)

2023

bookSection

978-0-12-822788-6