US 12,194,514 B2 · Pipeline pig with retractable scraper

Abstract

Systems and methods for cleaning an internal bore of a tubular member with a pipeline pig include a pipeline pig having a pig body with a fore end and an aft end opposite the fore end. A cup circumscribes the pig body, where an outer diameter lip of the cup engages a surface of the internal bore of the tubular member. A scraper assembly includes a scraper arm extending radially outward from the pig body and a spring biasing the scraper arm in a radially outward direction. A load cell is positioned to measure a movement of the scraper arm in a radially inward direction. A treatment trigger is actuated by a treatment signal from the load cell to deliver a treatment system to the internal bore of the tubular member, where the treatment signal is generated by the movement of the scraper arm in the radially inward direction.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A pipeline pig for traveling through a tubular member, the pipeline pig including:

a pig body, the pig body sized to fit within an internal bore of the tubular member, the pig body further having a fore end pointed in a direction of travel through the tubular member, and an aft end opposite the fore end;
a cup circumscribing the pig body, where an outer diameter lip of the cup is sized to engage a surface of the internal bore of the tubular member;
a scraper assembly circumscribing the pig body, the scraper assembly having:
a scraper arm extending radially outward from the pig body;
a spring biasing the scraper arm in a radially outward direction;
a load cell positioned to measure a movement of the scraper arm in a radially inward direction;
and
a treatment trigger, the treatment trigger actuated by a treatment signal from the load cell to deliver a treatment system to the internal bore of the tubular member, where the treatment signal from the load cell is generated by the movement of the scraper arm in the radially inward direction.

5 more elements

A method for cleaning an internal bore of a tubular member with a pipeline pig, the method including:

delivering the pipeline pig into the internal bore of the tubular member, the pipeline pig having a pig body sized to fit within the internal bore of the tubular member;
pointing a fore end of the pig body in a direction of travel through the tubular member, where the pig body has an aft end opposite the fore end;
engaging a surface of the internal bore of the tubular member with an outer diameter lip of a cup that circumscribes the pig body;
removing a deposit within the internal bore of the tubular member with a scraper assembly that circumscribes the pig body, the scraper assembly having:
a scraper arm extending radially outward from the pig body;
a spring biasing the scraper arm in a radially outward direction;
a load cell positioned to measure a movement of the scraper arm in a radially inward direction;
and
a treatment trigger, the treatment trigger actuated by a treatment signal from the load cell to deliver a treatment system to the internal bore of the tubular member, where the treatment signal from the load cell is generated by the movement of the scraper arm in the radially inward direction.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pipeline pig with retractable scraper

Life of this patent

Pipeline pig with retractable scraper

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20