Pipeline Pigs | Pipeline Pigging Products

Pipeline pigs, or just "pigs," are devices used in the pipeline industry for various maintenance and inspection tasks. They come in different types, such as cleaning pigs, gauging pigs, and smart pigs. Cleaning pigs remove debris and buildup from the pipeline walls, ensuring smooth operation and preventing blockages. Gauging pigs assess the internal condition of pipelines, detecting defects or damage. Smart pigs, equipped with advanced sensors and technology, perform detailed inspections to detect anomalies like cracks or corrosion, enhancing pipeline safety. Overall, pigs play a crucial role in maintaining pipeline integrity, minimizing downtime, and ensuring safe and efficient transportation of fluids like oil and gas.

Foam Pigs

Foam pigs are a versatile type of pipeline cleaning device. They are used for drying, cleaning, batching, and product removal operations. A few of the industries utilizing foam pigs are the oil and gas, municipality, food and beverage, mining, chemical and petrochemical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Because they are lightweight and flexible, foam pigs are able to negotiate uncommon piping, fittings, and valves. Standard sizes range from 2″ to 60″, with foam density options including light (1-2 lbs/ft3), medium (5-7 lbs/ft3), and heavy (8-10 lbs/ft3) density foam.

Common configurations include bare, criss-cross, wire-brush, plastic bristle, and silicon carbide. With various design options such as double-dish, double-nose, special coating patterns (single-spiral, turning pattern, totally coated, etc.), custom lengths and diameters, pulling/handling ropes or cables, bypass jets, and transmitter cavities. Special configurations can be designed for unique pigging applications. For more technical information, please review the downloadable specification sheets found in our technical data section.

Solid Cast Pigs

Solid-cast pigs, which have the flexibility and easy handling of foam pigs, coupled with the ruggedness and excellent sealing capabilities of cups and discs found on steel pigs, prove very efficient as general purpose pigs for batching, displacement, and routine pigging operations. With the addition of brushes, they can also be used for cleaning applications. Various configurations are available, including spherical, cup-type, disc-type, and combination cup-and-disc type. See technical specifications sheets under each product classification for more information.

Steel Mandrel Pigs

Steel pigs are a more long-term, long-life pig. They consist of a steel mandrel body with easily replaceable sealing elements (cups and discs) and can be equipped with various brush types (spring-loaded, circular, wrap-around) for removing deposits on the interior pipe wall. Standard configurations include cup, disc, multi-disc, conical cup, and various combinations. Various options are also available, such as adding or substituting a cup or disc, special lengths and diameters, gauging plates, articulated joints, transmitter cavities, and magnet packs. The advantage of steel pigs is the ability to replace the wearing components (cups, discs, brushes, etc.), thereby rendering it a new pig.