Pipe Line cleaning & Gauging

New Pipeline Construction Cleaning

Newly constructed pipelines are pigged to remove construction debris such as welding rods, weld bead slag and mill scale, rust, as well as to remove hydrostatic water. ECCO also supplies pigs used for drying pipelines in preparation for introduction of hydrocarbon products. We understand that not all pre-inspection pipeline cleaning needs are the same, so we carry a variety of solutions catered to specific cleaning requirements. These pigs include: Low-Density Pigs – Used to dry pipelines and remove lite dust. Foam Disc Pigs – Used for removing hydrostatic water and debris Wire Brush Pigs – Used to achieve a high degree of pipeline cleanliness by removing debris that could trap moisture. Gauging Pigs – To confirm that there are no restrictions in the pipeline for future running of cleaning and ILI pigs. This design has an aluminum plate to detect mechanical defect features

Black Powder Pipeline Prevention

What is Black Powder? Black powder consists of iron compounds including magnetite (mill scale), iron sulphide, sand, clay, salt, weld slag and even iron. The powder is created during gas production, or in wet gas pipelines where hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide or oxygen are present in the gas, or by bacterial corrosion of the steel. These deposits are normally black in color and can be in a dry, dust form or wet when combined with hydrocarbon liquids, compressor oils, etc. The powder is then distributed through the pipeline with the gas flow, but is deposited when the velocity is not high enough to keep it moving. As sediment is deposited, the flow in the pipeline is disrupted and reduced, thereby allowing more sediment to accumulate. System through puts are affected and energy costs increased to maintain design flow rates. Blockage can occur especially during cleaning and damage caused to plant such as compressors. How can ECCO Services help? Black powder is a significant problem in natural gas pipelines. Helping our clients take a more proactive approach to black powder removal is why ECCO remains an innovator in the pipeline pigging industry. It is essential to remove black powder and clean the pipeline thoroughly prior to running In Line Inspection Tools or “ILI” tools. Costly down time and line failures caused by the powder can be avoided by following a thorough cleaning procedure that includes using a variety of pipeline cleaning pigs. To ensure Black Powder doesn’t become a problem, ECCO can assist in developing a comprehensive pigging program to help avoid the potential for blocking the line or having to deal with large volumes of debris after cleaning.