Intelligent Pigging of 16-inch dia ILBP Carried Out

NEWSThe 347 mile long Indus Left Bank pipeline from Sui to Karachi was laid down in 1954 and commissioned in 1955. In those days intelligent pigging method was not developed and therefore this pipeline was non-pigable. In order to determine the detail anomalies of this pipe it was planned to carry out its In-line survey whereby the pipeline from Sui to Karachi Terminal was rehabilitated to convert it into a pig- able line through implementing the replacement of all mainline reduced bore Plug valves by full bore Ball valves, replacing the elbows by long radius bends and installing Pig Traps at appropriate locations to render the pipeline fit for the intelligent pigging.

All these works were carried out by Transmission and P&C Department mutually and Internal cleaning of the pipeline was undertaken by the Transmission Department, thus saving an amount of $250,000 approx. as compared to internal Cleaning of 1893 dia pipeline carried out by the contractor in year 2000. After completion of internal cleaning In Line survey (Intelligent Pigging) was carried out by M/s. Rosen, Holland in year 2010 from HQ-2 to Karchi Terminal and the anomalies identified by Intelligent Pigging Tool were rectified to ensure the pipeline integrity for safe and secure operation and pipeline also came into original state. Simultaneously the throughput, efficiency and flow of pipeline were increased and line losses were reduced.

Intelligent pigging has several benefits including:

• No harm to pipe.
• Minimum interruption in gas flow.
• Verification of adequacy of line condition.
• Best source of pipeline data collection.
• Integrity assessment of pipeline fitness.
• Pigging safeguards from
  • Environmental damages.
  • Loss of investment / assets.
  • Posing hazard to lives.

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