A Hydraulically Activated Power Launching Method for Pigs for Gas-Gathering Pipeline Networks in Gas Fields

Abstract

In the gas-gathering pipeline networks in gas fields, launching pigs in the downstream pipeline causes dramatic fluctuations in the gas transportation volume and pressure in upstream pipelines. It is important to shorten the launching period of pigs for the safe and smooth production of pipeline networks. In this study, a hydraulically activated power launching (HAPL) method was proposed based on the hydraulically activated power pigging (HAPP) method. Based on the proposed HAPL method, the launcher structure was designed. Then, a nonlinear dynamics model for launching pigs was established and relevant parameters were simulated. The simulation results showed that the launching period with the HAPL method was 76.5% shorter than that of the pneumatically activated power launching (PAPL) method under the same conditions.