Smart pigs

Intelligent Pigging is an inspection method whereby an inspection probe (also known as a smart pig) is propelled through a pipeline.   
When the smart pig travels along the pipeline, it gathers information or data such as pipeline's diameter, curvature, bends, temperature, metal loss, general corrosion, erosion corrosion, pitting, anomalies on the pipe internal wall (such as misalignment, ovality, buckles, dents, wrinkles),  weld anomalies, hydrogen induced cracking, the presence and location of corrosion, internal diameter changes, and pipeline features such as girth weld, bends and elbows.


The advantage of the smart pig over traditional method of pipeline inspection is that, 


  1. Smart pig is able to clean and inspect the pipeline whiles it travels through the pipeline. 
  2. It allows pipelines to be cleaned and inspected without having to stop the flow of product. 
  3. Smarts pig saves companies both time and money, because it provides cleaning and inspection services at the same time.
  4. Some Smart pigs are equipped with GPS that can help in mapping a pipeline. This helps maintenance personnel to save time and money by showing the exact location of a defect, instead of having to excavate a large area to reach a specific location in the line.
 

http://smartpigs.net/media/smartpiginlineinspectiontool.png
Figure 1: A Smart Pig



Smart pigging is a non-destructive evaluation technique which uses the following methods of in-line inspection technology:

a.       Ultrasonic testing (UT)
b.      Magnetic flux leakage (MFL)

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