A compact subsea pig launcher comprises a tubular magazine for holding a plurality of pipeline pigs in longitudinal succession ready for launching successively into a subsea pipeline. The magazine is shaped to define at least one turn such as a coil around an upright axis. Thus, a series of pigs are stored in longitudinal succession along a path that is curved in plan view around the upright axis. During launching, at least one of the series of pigs is advanced along the path with angular movement around the upright axis.

A cleaning system for cleaning a pneumatic conveyance system used to transport particulate material. The pneumatic conveyance system includes a material-introduction device for introducing particulate material into a convey line, and a motive air source for generating an air flow to propel the particulate material through the convey line. The cleaning system comprises a projectile comprising a cleaning surface for cleaning an interior of the convey line as the projectile travels through the convey line, a launcher for injecting the projectile into the convey line, with the launcher being coupled with the convey line at a position upstream from the material-introduction device, and a catcher vessel for receiving the projectile upon said projectile exiting the convey line.

The invention provides a flow system, a subsea valve (100), and a method of use in a subsea pipeline filling, flooding or pigging operation. The flow system comprises a subsea valve (100) comprising a valve inlet and a valve outlet configured to be coupled to a subsea pipeline (13). A pump (112) comprises a pump inlet connected to a fluid source and a pump outlet connected to the valve inlet. The pump is operable to pump fluid from the fluid source and into the subsea pipeline via the subsea valve. The subsea valve comprises a movable valve member and a biasing mechanism, by which the valve member is urged by a biasing force towards a closed position that prevents flow of fluid through the valve and into the subsea pipeline. The valve member is operable to be moved to an open position on activation of the pump to provide a pressure increase at the valve inlet sufficient to overcome the biasing force. In use, opposing sides of the valve member are exposed to ambient subsea pressure such that the subsea valve is pressure balanced.

The invention provides a flow system, a subsea valve (100), and a method of use in a subsea pipeline filling, flooding or pigging operation. The flow system comprises a subsea valve (100) comprising a valve inlet and a valve outlet configured to be coupled to a subsea pipeline (13). A pump (112) comprises a pump inlet connected to a fluid source and a pump outlet connected to the valve inlet. The pump is operable to pump fluid from the fluid source and into the subsea pipeline via the subsea valve. The subsea valve comprises a movable valve member and a biasing mechanism, by which the valve member is urged by a biasing force towards a closed position that prevents flow of fluid through the valve and into the subsea pipeline. The valve member is operable to be moved to an open position on activation of the pump to provide a pressure increase at the valve inlet sufficient to overcome the biasing force. In use, opposing sides of the valve member are exposed to ambient subsea pressure such that the subsea valve is pressure balanced.

A pig stopping device for stopping a pipeline inspection gauge in the receiving station of a pipeline is provided. The device provides a cylindrical frame sized to be inserted into the receiving station of a pipeline. The cylindrical frame includes a pair of opposing circular plates having inner surfaces connected by a plurality of elongated rods, thereby forming an interior volume within the cylindrical frame. The circular plates each comprise a plurality of apertures configured to allow the flow of liquid and debris therethrough and into the interior volume. A cage wraps around the exterior of the elongated rods, thereby enclosing the interior volume but allowing the flow of liquid therethrough. In this way, debris pushed into the interior volume of the pig stopping device by a pig or the flow of product in the pipeline is caught therein and prevented from flowing into a bypass line of the receiving station.

A pig stopping device for stopping a pipeline inspection gauge in the receiving station of a pipeline is provided. The device provides a cylindrical frame sized to be inserted into the receiving station of a pipeline. The cylindrical frame includes a pair of opposing circular plates having inner surfaces connected by a plurality of elongated rods, thereby forming an interior volume within the cylindrical frame. The circular plates each comprise a plurality of apertures configured to allow the flow of liquid and debris therethrough and into the interior volume. A cage wraps around the exterior of the elongated rods, thereby enclosing the interior volume but allowing the flow of liquid therethrough. In this way, debris pushed into the interior volume of the pig stopping device by a pig or the flow of product in the pipeline is caught therein and prevented from flowing into a bypass line of the receiving station.

The present invention proposes a resident station of launching and receiving subsea pigs installed in place of THE PLET, in order to enable the application of subsea rigid pipes and the full compliance with the routine internal inspection requirement for monitoring internal corrosion, through bi-directional pigging, mitigating existing operational risks in this type of operation. The invention enables the safe bi-directional pigging of a non-pigable pipe by installing the proposed equipment at the end of the subsea rigid pipe, connecting the pipeline to the main branch in order to ensure shutdown of the pig until the flow is reversed, importing gas from the main branch pipeline, causing the pig to return and be received in the launcher/receiver residing at the FPSO. Thus, the equipment can safely guarantee the periodic and instrumented bi-directional pigging of the pipeline, acting as a launcher/receiver (FIG. 1) residing and aligned to the pipe.

The present invention proposes a resident station of launching and receiving subsea pigs installed in place of THE PLET, in order to enable the application of subsea rigid pipes and the full compliance with the routine internal inspection requirement for monitoring internal corrosion, through bi-directional pigging, mitigating existing operational risks in this type of operation. The invention enables the safe bi-directional pigging of a non-pigable pipe by installing the proposed equipment at the end of the subsea rigid pipe, connecting the pipeline to the main branch in order to ensure shutdown of the pig until the flow is reversed, importing gas from the main branch pipeline, causing the pig to return and be received in the launcher/receiver residing at the FPSO. Thus, the equipment can safely guarantee the periodic and instrumented bi-directional pigging of the pipeline, acting as a launcher/receiver (FIG. 1) residing and aligned to the pipe.

A system and method is provided for traversing inside one or more pipes. In an embodiment, a fluid is injected into the one or more pipes thereby promoting a fluid flow. An inspection device is deployed into the one or more pipes at least partially filled with a flowing fluid. The inspection device comprises a housing wherein the housing is designed to exploit the hydrokinetic effects associated with a fluid flow in one or more pipes as well as maneuver past a variety of pipe configurations. The inspection device may contain one or more sensors capable of performing a variety of inspection tasks.

A vertical barrel of an internal diameter to receive a pig having a selected uncompressible diameter, a reducer to compress the pig to a compressed diameter and a fluid system to introduce fluid pressure into the upper end of the barrel to drive the pig through the reducer.