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CUSTOMER SITUATION:A mass gatherer and transporter of liquid crude oil owned a large number of pig launcher and receiver units that were predominantly purchased from T.D. Williamson, Inc. in the early 1980s for use in the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Though various databases and processes were in place to monitor and evaluate each trap’s condition, the information was scattered, making it difficult to ascertain which units needed preventive or scheduled maintenance or replacement prior to exceeding material corrosion criteria. It was also unclear whether there were, among the different pieces of pigging equipment, any trends or common elements requiring change, repair or replacement.

TDW SOLUTION:TDW developed and implemented a pig trap assessment program based on existing information from the customer’s databases and extensive on-site equipment inspections. The assessment team compiled a comprehensive report of its findings, including suggestions for equipment repair/replacement and possible pigging process changes. In addition, the assessment program identified which traps needed common alterations or experienced similar challenges, either materially or procedurally.

CUSTOMER BENEFIT: Faced with pig traps that had seen years of use from multiple owners, the customer thought, “Who better to assess the condition of these traps than the original manufacturer?” The three-person assessment team was composed of a project team leader with an engineering background, an authority on traps and pigging from TDW with more than 25 years of experience, and a non-destructive testing technician. The customer saw TDW as the ideal choice to develop and conduct these assessments based upon the company’s experience and knowledge base. During the on-site assessments, the customer had questions on topics ranging from pigging practices to closure specifications. If the members of the assessment team were unable to handle these issues directly, other TDW personnel were always just a phone call away. Best of all, it was evident to the assessment team that the customer greatly appreciated TDW’s presence on the North Slope of Alaska.

Aging fleet of pig launchers and receivers, Prudhoe Bay, AK.

TDW conducts Pig Trap Assessment Program.

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