Definisi Flow Assurance

 The term was coined by Petrobras in the early 1990s in Portuguese as Garantia do
Escoamento (pt::Garantia do Escoamento), meaning literally “Guarantee of Flow”,
or Flow Assurance. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_assurance)
 Flow assurance is another term for multiphase transport, which covers the
transmission of oil, gas and water in the same pipeline from the reservoir to the
processing plant.
(http://www.statoil.com/en/TechnologyInnovation/FieldDevelopment/FlowAssuran
ce/Pages/default.aspx)
 Flow assurance studies are carried out to permit reliable and safe fluid transport
from wells to processing facilities. Such studies entail analysis of thermal,
hydraulic and production issues arising from design, operation and maintenance of
the total systems over the lifecycle of the field.
(http://www.akersolutions.com/en/Global-menu/Products-and-
Services/technology-segment/Maintenance-modifications-and-
operations/Technology-services/Flow-assurance/)
 Flow Assurance is the engineering and science of predicting and managing
production behavior as it moves from a reservoir to market through the changing
environment of the production system. (Tulsa University & RPSEA Flow
Assurance Workshop)
Definisi Flow Assurance

Figure 1. Aspects of Flow Assurance

(Taken from http://www.oslconsulting.com/pages/6)
Definisi Pigging
 Pigging in the context of pipelines refers to the
practice of using Pipeline Inspection Gauges (PIG)
or 'pigs' to perform various maintenance operations
on a pipeline. This is done without stopping the
flow of the product in the pipeline
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigging)
 A pig is defined as "A device that moves through
the inside of a pipeline for the purpose of cleaning,
dimensioning, or inspecting
(http://www.girardind.com/technical.cfm?cat=1)
Fungsi Pigging
Pada dasarnya terdapat 4 macam fungsi PIG
 Physical separation between different liquids being

transported in pipelines;
 Internal cleaning of pipelines;

 Inspection of the condition of pipeline walls (also

known as an Inline Inspection (ILI) tool);
 Capturing and recording geometric information

relating to pipelines (e.g. size, position).

Types of Pigging

Figure 2. Types of Pigs

(Taken from Girard Industry Product Lines)
Types of Pigging

Are used during hydrostatic testing of pipelines to fill the line with water and then de-water the
line. Removing condensate and water in wet gas systems, water from product pipelines or
separating dissimilar products in a products pipeline, are other applications
Types of Pigging

have a metal body (steel or aluminum) and are equipped with seals (scraper cups or discs) to
provide the differential pressure to propel the pig in the pipeline. For cleaning the line the pig is
equipped with wire brushes or polyurethane blades.
Types of Pigging

solid and inflatable polyurethane spheres, commonly used for Liquid Batch Separation, Line
Testing, Line Maintenance, Meter Prover Spheres
Types of Pigging

The unique cup design allows smooth transition with full wall seal through tees, check valves and
full opening valves. The hollow core allows expansion while under pressure for maximum
performance at all times
Types of Pigging

Inline Inspection Tools; Data sets for conducting Advanced ILI, offers both
metal loss, deformation, and inertial surveys, radius point readings and
along with internal/external discrimination and diametrical cross-sectional
residual field data are taken in a single pass of the analysis
inspection tool.
 Pig Detecting

is a bi-directional intrusive devices attached to the pipeline via a Weld-on Base. A trigger protrudes
slightly into the line enough to come into contact with a pig or sphere, but have little to no effect on
flow
Pig Tracking

Pig Tracking is a method of verifying either the pigs location or movement through the
line. Tracking the movement reduces the search area in the event a pig does become lost or stuck
in the line
How Pig Works (Launcher)

1. Make sure that the isolation valve and the kicker valve are closed.
2. In liquid systems, open the drain valve and allow air to displace the liquid by
opening the vent valve. In natural gas systems, open the vent and vent the launcher
to atmospheric pressure.
3. When the pig launcher is completely drained (0 psi), with the vent and drain valves
still open, open the trap (closure) door.
4. Install the pig with the nose firmly in contact with the reducer between the barrel
and the nominal bore section of the launcher.
5. Clean the closure seal and other sealing surfaces, lubricate if necessary, and close
and secure the closure door.
How Pig Works (Launcher)

6. Close the drain valve. Slowly fill the trap by gradually opening the kicker valve and
venting through the vent valve.
7. When filling is complete, close the vent valve to allow pressure to equalize across
the isolation valve.
8. Open the isolation valve. The pig is ready for launching.
9. Partially close the main line valve. This will increase the flow through the kicker
valve and behind the pig. Continue to close the main line valve until the pig leaves
the trap into the main line as indicated by the pig signaler.
10. After the pig leaves the trap and enters the main line, fully open the main line valve.
Close the isolation valve and the kicker valve.
11. The pig launching is complete.
 How Pig Works (Receiver)

1. Make sure the receiver is pressurized.

2. Fully open the bypass valve.
3. Fully open the isolation valve and partially close the main line valve.
4. Monitor the pig signaler for pig arrival.
5. Close the isolation valve and bypass valve.
6. Open the drain valve and the vent valve.
7. Check the pressure gauge on the receiver to assure the trap is depressurized (0 psi).
8. Open the trap closure and remove the pig from the receiver.
9. Clean the closure seal and other sealing surfaces, lubricate if necessary, and close and secure the
trap (closure) door.
10. Return the receiver to the original condition.
How Smart Pig Works
 Pigging Frequency

Pigging as a Flow Assurance Solution – Estimating Pigging Frequency for Dewaxing

Aidan O'Donoghue, Pipeline Research Limited, Glasgow, UK
 Pigging Frequency

Pigging as a Flow Assurance Solution – Estimating Pigging Frequency for Dewaxing

Aidan O'Donoghue, Pipeline Research Limited, Glasgow, UK
Pigging Frequency