Pigging Control Systems

AMOT has partnered many trap

providers to offer safe and cost-
effective control solutions for varied
applications including:

l Horizontal Launch/Receive
l Vertical Launch/Receive
l Subsea
l Pin Control
l Flap Control

Environments

l Offshore
l Onshore refineries
l Downstream distribution A semi automatic multi pig launcher trap/
l Industrial Applications cradle & control system.

l 6” Dia Pipe to 54” Dia Pipe Safety system designed for SPX Flow
Technology for BP installation in Shah
Deniz, Azerbaijan (Caspian Sea).
Projectile Types

l Utility/Pigs
l Intelligent
l Sphere

Capabilities
l Trap Safety Control System Design
l Manual Flap Control
l Manual Pin Control
l Semi Automatic Control
l Fully Automatic Control
l With Single or Multi-Launch/Receive
Capabilities
l SIL Integrated Systems
(IEC 61508/61511)

Datasheet_Pigging_Control_Systems_0212_rev1 www.amot.com
 Pigging Control Systems
What is pigging?
Pigging is the ability to safely launch and receive
projectiles through a pipeline to achieve:-
l Product Separation
l Pipeline Cleaning
l Monitoring & Internal Inspection
The function of a Signaller is to indicate the
passage of a Pig past a given point. Signallers
are located at strategic points on the pipeline.
There are two types of signallers: intrusive
(mechanical operation); and non-intrusive
(electronic operation).
There are three main types of pigs or projectiles:
Utility Pigs
Functions are cleaning, separating, de-watering
etc
In-Line Inspection
Provision of pipeline condition monitoring data
Gel Pigs
Used in addition to utility pigs to optimise these
functions
The type to choose depends on the purpose, line
contents and characteristics of the pipeline.

Basic operation
l Trap depressurised. ESD and Control Valves closed
l Load pig through closure door
l Pressurise trap manually or automatically
l Control system to raise launch pin or flap
l Throttle valve is closed towards minimum to assist launch
l Pig signallers confirm launch past reducer and past tee
l Pin or flap is lowered
l Throttle valve opened to max. flow
l ESD and control valves closed
l Trap is depressurised awaiting next loading

Generic launcher setup

Pressurisation Pig Pig

Actuators Signaller Signaller

Door ESD Valves

Drain
Closure

Throttle
Manual Valve
Bypass
Valves

Pressurisation
Valves

Datasheet_Pigging_Control_Systems_0212_rev1 page 2
 Pigging Control Systems
Types of Systems
Manual Control
With manual control the operator sets the valve
position and loads and unloads the trap. The
operator also confirms the sphere flap position and
manually throttles the bypass to launch and receive.
Manual control is used where pigging is infrequently
required. Therefore the initial cost is the main concern.

Advantages
- Inexpensive control system
Disadvantages
- Relies on key exchange
- Time consuming
- Operator must be available

Semi-Automatic Control
With semi-automatic control the operator sets
the valve position, the key is interlocked with
electrical interlock at the local control panel.
The operator also loads and unloads the trap.
Semi-automatic control is used when pigging
is more frequent and with possibly a multi pig
trap.

Advantages
- Cost effective for multiple Launch / Receive
- Provide communications interface to remote
control and monitoring
Disadvantages
- Relies on key exchange
- Operator must be available

Automatic Control
Here the ‘Auto-LCP’ sets valve positions, elec-
trically interlocked at LCP. Operator via Se-
quence Control Loads/Unloads Trap. This can be
achieved with actuation at a future date. Trap
is pressurised and depressurised automatically.
Sequence Launch/Receive is automatic with no
operator if required. Control is available local
as a Sequence Launch or remotely via contact/
communications link. Automatic control is used
for infrequent operation conditions and unmanned
areas such as offshore.

Advantages
- Fully automatic control
- Unmanned operation
- Remote data management
- Launches communicates with receiver

Disadvantages
- Initial high cost

Datasheet_Pigging_Control_Systems_0212_rev1 page 3
 Pigging Control Systems
Brief Reference List
Type of System End User
Semi Automatic Launcher / Receiver BP Shah Deniz
Manual Receiver J Ray McDermott, Dolphine UAE
Automatic Receiver BP Kittiwake
Automatic Launcher BP Sth North Sea
Automatic Launcher / Receiver BP UK
Semi Automatic Launcher Maersk OLIE
Automatic Launcher / Receiver British Gas (UK)
Manual Launcher Total Carina (S. America)
Manual Launcher BP UK
Automatic Launcher Petrostar (Romania)
Semi Automatic Launcher Conoco Phillips Murdoch Platform

View of a GD Engineering (SPX Flow Technology)

trap closure (Bangkok). This shows the unique
features and safety interlocks.

Displays a manual valve. Key interlock for Smith

Flow Control. This allows correct sequencing.

Datasheet_Pigging_Control_Systems_0212_rev1 page 4
Americas Europe, Middle East and Africa

AMOT USA AMOT

8824 Fallbrook Dr Western Way
Houston, TX 77064 Bury St Edmunds
USA Suffolk, IP33 3SZ
United Kingdom
Tel +1 (281) 940 1800
Fax +1 (713) 559 9419 Tel +44 (0) 1284 762222
Email general: sales@amotusa.com Fax +44 (0) 1284 760256
orders: orders@amotusa.com Email info@amot.com
customer service: cs@amotusa.com

AMOT Controls GmbH

Rondenbarg 25
22525 Hamburg
Germany
Tel +49 (0) 40 8537 1298
Asia and Australasia Fax +49 (0) 40 8537 1331
Email germany@amot.com

AMOT Shanghai
Unit 4102-4104, United Plaza AMOT Russia
1468 NanJing Road West #34 Shabolovka Street
Shanghai 200040 Building 2
China Moscow 115419
Russia
Tel +86 (0) 21 6279 7700
Fax +86 (0) 21 5237 8560 Tel +7 495 617 12 93
Email shanghai@amot.com Fax +7 495 913 97 65
Email russia@amot.com

AMOT Singapore
10 Eunos Road 8 #12-06
Singapore Post Centre
Singapore 408600
Tel +65 6408 6265
Fax +65 6293 3307
Email singapore@amot.com

www.amot.com