Stuck Pig Location

At a glance

PipeSense deployed PipeScan to locate four suspected stuck poly pigs within a Texas liquid propane pipeline. Using pressure pulse analysis, PipeSense successfully identified the obstruction location on two separate occasions, both later confirmed through X-ray verification.

Challenges

An operator needed to quickly locate four suspected stuck poly pigs within a multi-mile liquid propane pipeline segment. Following the initial location event, the pig train shifted downstream due to pressure differential, requiring additional testing to refine the obstruction location.

Solution

PipeSense deployed PipeScan utilizing portable FPUs, high-speed pressure sensors, and pressure pulse analysis to identify reflected pressure signatures and triangulate the obstruction location. Follow-up testing narrowed the excavation target area to an approximately 80-foot pipeline section.

Real-Time Monitoring

High-Resolution Data Analysis

Actionable Integrity Insight

Key Metrics

4 mile
pipeline section analyzed

4
stuck poly pigs identified

2
successful location events

~80 foot
target excavation window

Benefits

Verified Obstruction Location
PipeSense successfully identified the location of the fourpig train on two separate occasions, with both findings confirmed through X-ray inspection.

Reduced Excavation Uncertainty
The system narrowed the target excavation area to an approximately 80-foot pipeline section bounded by the outermost pigs helping reduce unnecessary excavation and trial-and-error recovery efforts.

Faster Operational Response
Real-time monitoring and rapid post-processing enabled PipeSense to quickly adapt to changing field conditions after the pig train migrated further downstream.