1. Know where your pigs are.
During the flooding and cleaning of a newly laid pipeline, it is vital that the chosen pig train can travel continuously through the pipeline and into the receiver. Pig Detectors placed at critical points and a suitable pig tracking and locating system ensure that you can quickly and confidently identify the location of the pig at each stage from launch to receipt and/or if the pig has stalled in the pipeline.
Confirming a stationary pig’s location in the receiver is normally a routine operation but locating a pig that is stalled at an unknown location is more difficult and could have large cost implications. Therefore, an effective and advanced detection system along with a clear strategy is necessary to ensure speedy locating and recovery of the pig.
2. Determine the condition of your gauge plate BEFORE the pig is recovered.
A standard gauging pig will advise you of the presence of a pipeline intrusion. Often this will need to be followed up with a caliper pig run, an unscheduled and expensive operation, to determine the intrusion location. A more cost-effective solution is to run a gauging system that includes an acoustic pinger or electromagnetic transmitter. This system can monitor the condition of the gauge plate and transmit this information remotely. This data can be used to determine the approximate location of the defect without having to run a caliper. All of this can be done without having to recover the gauge plate leading to further time and cost savings.
3. Autonomously monitor pressure and temperature during the hydrotest.
Subsea Dataloggers such as the 6000SD, can monitor, display, and record pressure and temperature data that can be viewed by an ROV or diver or communicated remotely. As the unit is continuously logging, the vessel or diver can use this time to perform other tasks, providing more operational flexibility and resulting in work being completed on or ahead of schedule.
The unit can also examine the data received during a set time period and display the time and date of the hydrotest pass. Again, all this information can be obtained without having to recover the unit.
4. Monitor the dewatering & conditioning operation in real-time and don’t rely on theoretical data and/or analysis of sampled MEG.
Verifying that a pipeline has been properly conditioned throughout its length can be a time-consuming and costly process, especially since it is carried out so close to start-up. A system such as Online’s MEG ARTS Analyser and Sampler measures the density of flowing MEG (or other chemicals) at the receipt end of the pipeline and displays and logs this data, proving a real-time account of the progress of the dewatering operation.
There may still be a requirement to provide samples for additional confirmation and/or to support the data obtained. Up to seven samples can be taken by ROV and costs can be reduced further by taking automatic samples at pre-determined density levels, eliminating the need for a vessel to transit to the receipt location.
Get in touch to find out how we can provide assurance and cost savings during pipeline pre-comissioning.