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Text 8. Pipeline Inspection and Safety
To ensure efficient and safe operation of the extensive network of natural gas pipelines, pipeline companies routinely inspect their pipelines for corrosion and defects. This is done through the use of sophisticated pieces of equipment known as pigs (a pipeline inspection gauge). Pigs are intelligent robotic devices that are propelled down pipelines to evaluate the interior of the pipe. Pigs can test pipe thickness, and roundness, check for signs of corrosion, detect minute leaks, and any other defect along the interior of the pipeline that may either impede the flow of gas, or pose a potential safety risk for the operation of the pipeline. Sending a pig down a pipeline is known as ‘pigging’ the pipeline.
Although each pipeline has its own set of characteristics which affect how and why pigging is used, there are basically three reasons to pig a pipeline:
- to separate dissimilar products;
- for displacement purposes;
- for internal inspection.
The pigs which are used to accomplish these tasks can be divided into three categories:
- Utility Pigs, which are used to perform functions such as cleaning, separating or dewatering;
- In line Inspection Tools, which provide information on the condition of the line as well as the extent and location of any problems.
- Gel Pigs, which are used in conjunction with conventional pigs to optimize pipeline dewatering, cleaning and drying tasks.
One kind of pig is a soft, bullet shaped polyurethane plug that is forced through pipelines to separate products to reduce mixing. There are several types of pigs for cleaning. Some have tungsten studs or abrasive wire mesh on the outside to cut rust, scale, or paraffin deposits off the inside of the pipe. Others are plain plastic covered polyurethane. Pigs cannot be used in pipelines that have butterfly valves.
Inline inspection pigs use various methods for inspecting a pipeline. A sizing pig uses one (or more) notched round metal plates that are used as gauges. The notches allow different parts of the plate to bend when a bore restriction is encountered. More complex systems exist for inspecting various aspects of the pipeline. Intelligent pigs, also called smart pigs, are used to inspect the pipeline with sensors and record the data for later analysis. These pigs use technologies such as Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) and ultrasonics to inspect the pipeline. Intelligent pigs may also use calipers to measure the inside geometry of the pipeline.
In 1964 first intelligent pig was designed and run by Tuboscope. It used MFL technology to inspect the bottom portion of the pipeline. The system used a black box similar to those used on aircraft to record the information.
A few of the safety precautions associated with natural gas pipelines include:
- Aerial Patrols – Planes are used to ensure no construction activities are taking place too close to the route of the pipeline, particularly in residential areas. Unauthorized construction and dіgging is the primary threat to pipeline safety;
- Leak Detection – Natural gas detecting equipment is periodically used by pipeline personnel on the surface to check for leaks. This is especially important in areas where the natural gas is not odorized.
- Pipeline Markers – Signs on the surface above natural gas pipelines indicate the presence of underground pipelines to the public, to reduce the chance of any interference with the pipeline.
- Gas Sampling – Routine sampling of the natural gas in pipelines ensures its quality, and may also indicate corrosion of the interior of the pipeline, or the influx of contaminants.
- Preventative Maintenance – This involves the testing of valves and the removal of surface impediments to pipeline inspection.
- Emergency Response – Pipeline companies have extensive emergency response teams that train for the possibility of a wide range of potential accidents and emergencies.
Exercise 108. Translate the following words and word combinations. Use them in your own examples.
Forced through pipelines, abrasive wire mesh, paraffin deposits, inline inspection pigs, sizing pig, record the data, later analysis, measure the inside geometry, internal cleaning, intelligent robotic device, potential safety risk for the operation, natural gas detecting equipment.
Exercise 109. Make up sentences with Gerund.
| He She We You They | consider discuss insist on object to succeed in | - inspecting the pipeline for corrosion and defects. - sending a pig down the pipeline. - reducing the chance of any interference with the pipeline. - testing the valves and removing impediments to pipeline inspection. - digging too close to the route of the pipeline. - sending a pig down a pipeline. |
Exercise 110. Write nouns related to the following adjectives. Define the suffixes used to form nouns. Translate them.
Round, thick, corrosive, safe, aerial, constructional, extensive, natural, separate, different, intelligent, conventional.
Exercise 111. Find Gerund, define its function in the sentences and translate the sentences.
1. Evaluating the interior of the pipe is possible with the pipeline inspection tool. 2. The primary threat to pipeline safety is digging too close to the route of the pipeline. 3. Sending a pig down a pipeline is known as ‘pigging’ the pipeline. 4. The company began proving regular pipeline inspection. 5. Preventative maintenance involves testing valves and removing surface impediments to pipeline inspection. 6. Pig traps are used for inserting pigs into a pipeline, launching and removing them without flow interruption.
Exercise 112. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct Active or Passive tense forms.
1. Pipeline pigs are devices that (insert) into the pipe. 2. Pipeline inspection tool (travel) throughout the length of a pipeline driven by a product flow. 3. They (develop) originally to remove deposits which could obstruct flow through a pipeline. 4. Today pigs (use) during all phases in the life of a pipeline for many other reasons. 5. Sealing pigs can (provide) an interface between two dissimilar products within the pipeline. 6. The information which (provide) by pigs (cover) a wide range of inspection and troubleshooting. 7. Gel pigs are a series of gelled liquid systems which (develop) recently for use in pipeline operations.
Exercise 113. Put questions to the underlined words.
1. Pigs can test pipe thickness and roundness. 2. There are basically three reasons to pig a pipeline. 3. Utility Pigs are used to perform cleaning separating or dewatering. 4. Pipeline inspection provides information on its condition. 5. Safety is a major consideration in the selection of pipeline inspection tool. 6. In 1964 the first intelligent pig was designed and run by Tuboscope. 7. Gel pigs are a series of gelled liquid systems for use in pipeline operations.
Exercise 114. Translate into English.
1. Для забезпечення ефективної та безпечної роботи трубопроводів необхідно запровадити їх регулярну перевірку.
2. Пристрій для перевірки трубопроводу здатний виявити різні внутрішні пошкодження.
3. Пристрій для загальної перевірки трубопроводу усуває тверді відкладення та уламки з трубопроводу.
4. Нутроміри застосовуються для вимірювання внутрішньої поверхні та діаметру трубопроводу.
5. Крім засобів перевірки стану трубопроводу існують й інші запобіжні методи: патрулювання з повітря, попереджувальні знаки, регулярна перевірка кранів.
Exercise 115. Choose right answers to the following questions.
1. Why is Ukraine considered an “energy bridge” between the energy exporting countries and consumers in Europe?
a) due to fertile chernozem soils;
b) due to its suitable geographical location and its developed gas and oil network;
c) due to its domestic consumption.
2. What is the Ukraine’s priority energy supply?
a) iron;
b) polymetallic and magnesium ores;
c) gas.
3. What Ukraine’s deposits are considered the richest in the world?
a) coal deposits;
b) titanium ores;
c) iron and manganese ore deposits.
4. What mineral resources of Ukraine can be exported?
a) natural gas and oil;
b) coal;
c) ammonium, nickel, polymetallic and magnesium ores.
5. What does Ukraine’s gas transmission system consist of?
a) pipelines and compressor stations;
b) gas distribution and gas metering stations;
c) compressor stations, pipelines, gas distribution and gas metering stations.
6. Where is raw natural gas purified?
a) in on-site gas production;
b) in a pipe, using filters;
c) at gas processing plants.
7. What kind of gas is pipelined to the end-user markets?
a) the residual gas from sulfur recovery unit;
b) the residue gas from the natural gas liquids recovery section;
c) the residue gas after the incinerator.
8. How many and what types of pipelines are there along the transportation route?
a) one: the interstate pipeline;
b) two: the interstate pipeline and the distribution system;
c) three: the gathering system; the interstate pipeline and the distribution system.
9. How are main gas pipelines protected against ground and stray-current corrosion?
a) assembled as deep as possible;
b) placed on the ground surface to be served;
c) covered with bituminous insulation.
10. Where is natural gas stored?
a) in pipelines;
b) in underground storage facilities;
c) at gas distribution stations.
11. What storage is intended to meet sudden, short-term demand increases?
a) base load storage;
b) base load storage and peak load storage;
c) peak load storage.
12. Which of the types of underground storage is the cheapest and easiest to develop, operate and maintain?
a) aquifers;
b) depleted gas reservoirs;
c) salt caverns.
13. What underground storage facilities are operated within a single winter withdrawal period?
a) salt caverns;
b) depleted reservoirs;
c) aquifers.
14. What does the oil transportation system of Ukraine consist of?
a) trunk oil pipelines;
b) trunk oil pipelines and oil pumping stations;
c) trunk oil pipelines, oil pumping stations and oil refinery stations.
15. What project has opened up new possibilities to increase oil transit through the territory of Ukraine?
a) Prydniprovskij Magistralnij Naftoprovod;
b) oil pipelines reconstruction;
c) oil pipeline in the direction of Brody-Odesa-Pivdennyj terminal.
Exercise 116. Speak on the following topics.
1. Mineral and Fuel-Energy Resources of Ukraine.
2. Ukraine’s Gas Transmission System.
3. Natural Gas Processing.
4. Gas pipelines.
5. Gas Mains. Technical Conditions and Anticorrosion Protection.
6. Storage of Natural Gas.
7. Oil Transportation System of Ukraine.
8. Pipeline Inspection and Safety