Pigging Operation and The Pig

Installation of Submarine Gas Pipelines
and Associated Facilities from

To Kwa Wan to North Point for Former Kai Tak Airport Development
Consultancy Services for Feasibility Study and Detailed Design
Environmental Impact Assessment Report
Appendix F2
Pigging Operation and the PIG

To Kwa Wan to North Point for
Former Kai Tak Airport Development
Consultancy Services for

Feasibility Study and Detailed Design
Description of Pigging Operation
The gas pigging station is to facilitate the launching and receiving of inspection tools, for which
HKCG usually described it as Pipe Inspection Gauge, PIG in short term. The pigging operation
involves the cleaning, inspection and integrity check (such as checking of gas pipe’s wall
thickness) of the submarine gas pipelines. This kind of inspection method is so far the most
reliable and comprehensive one for submarine gas pipelines. Here are the general procedures /
steps to describe the pigging operation.
Step Description
1 Inert gas (Nitrogen) is injected into the pig launcher after confirmation of
closing the isolation valve of the pig launcher to remove any residual town
gas inside the pig launcher. This step is to provide a gas free environment
when the pig launcher is opened in next step.
2 Upon the pig launcher is town gas free, the pig launcher is opened up.
Pipe Inspection Gauge (PIG) is then inserted into the pig launcher.
3 After insertion of the pig into the launcher, close the door of the pig
launcher and then purge the pig launcher with inert gas. The isolation valve
for the pig launcher and behind the PIG is opened and the pig launcher will
then fill up with town gas. The town gas flow will carry the PIG to pass
through the submarine gas pipelines upon the open of another isolation
valve of the pig launcher.
4 PIG arrives at the other end of the submarine gas pipeline at where a
pigging station is designed for receiving the PIG.
5 Inert gas (Nitrogen) is injected into the pig receiver after confirmation of
closing the isolation valve of the pig receiver to remove any residual town
gas inside the pig launcher. This step is to provide a gas free environment
when the pig receiver is opened in next step.
6 Upon the pig receiver is town gas free, the pig receiver is opened up. PIG
is then taken out from the pig receiver.
7 All the isolation valves are then closed. The pipe receiver will be isolated
from the main gas pipeline during normal situation.
Remark: The duration of each run of PIG for one submarine gas pipeline from the pig launcher to
the pig receiver is about 1-day.
237926/TNI/ENL/33/C April 2010

P:\Hong Kong\INF\Projects2\237926 Twin 400 Gas Main\Environmental\MM Report\EIA\Final\1st\Appendices\App F2\App F2.doc
1

Isolation Valve Isolation Valve
Isolation Valve
Setup of the Pigging Operation
Valve Open
Valve Closed
Valve Closed
Town gas flows from pigging station to the submarine gas pipeline (as shown by arrows)
under normal situation, pig launcher and pig receiver are isolated from the town gas
transmission system

2

Pigging Operation
Valve Closed
Valve Open
Valve Closed
Step 1: Use an inert gas (Nitrogen) to remove residual gas inside the pig launcher
Valve Closed
Valve Open
Valve Closed
Step 2: Open up the pig launcher and insert the pig

3

Valve Open
Valve Closed
Valve Open
Step 3: Use town gas flow to carry the pig into the submarine gas pipelines
Valve Closed Valve Open
Valve Open
Step 4: Pig arrives at the other end of the submarine gas pipeline at where a pigging
station is designed for receiving the Pig.

4

Valve Open Valve Closed
Valve Closed
Step 5: Use inert gas (Nitrogen) to remove residual gas inside the pig receiver
Valve Closed
Step 6: Open up the pig receiver and take out the pig

5

Valve Closed
Step 7: The pipe receiver will be isolated from the gas pipeline during normal situation.

6

Photo: Example of Pig
Photo: Installation of the pig during pigging operation

7

Photo: Installation of the pig during pigging operation

8

Pigging Operation and The Pig

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Pigging Operation and The Pig

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Installation of Submarine Gas Pipelines

and Associated Facilities from

Pigging Operation and the PIG

Consultancy Services for

Description of Pigging Operation

237926/TNI/ENL/33/C April 2010

Consultancy Services for

Isolation Valve Isolation Valve

Setup of the Pigging Operation

237926/TNI/ENL/33/C April 2010

Consultancy Services for

Step 2: Open up the pig launcher and insert the pig

237926/TNI/ENL/33/C April 2010

Consultancy Services for

Valve Closed Valve Open

237926/TNI/ENL/33/C April 2010

Consultancy Services for

Valve Open Valve Closed

Valve Open Valve Closed

237926/TNI/ENL/33/C April 2010

Consultancy Services for

Valve Open Valve Closed

237926/TNI/ENL/33/C April 2010

Consultancy Services for

Photo: Example of Pig

Photo: Installation of the pig during pigging operation

237926/TNI/ENL/33/C April 2010

Consultancy Services for

Photo: Installation of the pig during pigging operation

237926/TNI/ENL/33/C April 2010

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