Page 262 - Pipeline Pigging Technology

Gels for commissioning and production

PIPELINE GEL TECHNOLOGY:

APPLICATIONS FOR COMMISSIONING

AND PRODUCTION

PIPELINE gels have been developed and utilized for numerous applica-
tions where a pipeline has been required to be cleaned to a high specification,
either during initial commissioning or as part of a continuing maintenance
programme.
The original concepts of gel cleaning allowed lines to be cleaned where
potentially large volumes of debris in the line may well have caused a pipeline
pig to become stuck. This technique has actually enabled long pipelines to be
cleaned in a single operation. These tasks have been undertaken cost
effectively, meeting the cleanliness standards specified.
Gel systems have many more applications and are used both in conjunc-
tion with mechanical pipeline pigs, and also with other viscous polymer gel
pigs. Simply by changing the characteristics of the gel it is possible to change
their suitability for a large number of different applications in widely varying
environments.

INTRODUCTION TO GEL TECHNOLOGY

Nowsco has developed significant operational experience in gels which
have been designed for use in very different pipeline operations. These
versatile fluids perform many of the functions of a conventional mechanical
pig and have the following characteristics:

1. they maintain a good seal over long lengths of pipeline;
2. the gels are capable of passing through lines of changing diameter;
3. they pass through partial obstructions in the line without becoming
stuck, and therefore can be used to locate obstructions in the line
using pressure build-up calculations;

243