Subsea pig launcher
OwnerPeter Stracke, William Clegg +1inventors
InventorsPeter Stracke, William Clegg, Michael Cunningham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiple pig subsea pig launcher is disclosed. The pig launcher can be assembled on a production pipeline subsea with the aid of an ROV. In the preferred embodiment, the pigs are connected to each other and spaced apart by a spine. The pig launcher is configured to capture the next pig to be launched in such a manner that the spine behind it is in alignment with a shearing valve; for example, coiled tubing or wireline. Sequential valve operation shears the spine and applies pressure behind the pig to launch it from the launcher past the pig detector and onto a platform for recapture.
Claims19
A pig launching apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of pigs initially attached to each other for placement in said housing;
- and
- a separator device to release one pig for launching.
A pig launching apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
- a plurality of undirectional pigs insertable in said housing for launching one at a time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.