Pipeline Pig With Internal Flow Cavity
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorAli Ateyeh Mohammad Mousa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pig for movement within a pipeline comprising a cylindrical housing with annular seals circumferentially mounted to the housing and extending outwards for sealing engagement between the pipeline and the housing. An internal flow cavity passes through the housing, with a gate positioned within the internal flow cavity, initially obstructing flow through the cavity. A locking device, connected to the gate, prevents the gate opening. A sensing device is capable of receiving a signal and is connected to an unlocking device. The sensing device receives a signal activating the unlocking device, thereby removing the locking device, permitting the gate to open and flow to pass through the cavity.
Claims20
A pig for movement within a pipeline comprising:
- a cylindrical housing;
- at least first and second annular elements circumferentially mounted to the housing and extending outwards for engagement with a pipeline;
- an internal flow cavity passing longitudinally through the housing;
- a gate capable of being opened, positioned within the internal flow cavity, obstructing flow through the internal flow cavity;
- and
- a locking device connected to the gate, preventing it from being opened, the locking device being releasable to open the gate in the event the pig becomes stuck.
A pig for movement within a pipeline comprising:
- a cylindrical housing;
- at least first and second annular elements circumferentially mounted to the housing and extending outwards for engagement with the pipeline;
- an internal flow cavity passing longitudinally through the housing;
- a gate positioned within the internal flow cavity and mounted to a shaft that is perpendicular to the internal flow cavity, the gate and shaft being capable of rotation;
- a locking device that engages the gate to prevent the gate from rotating and opening;
- an unlocking device adjacent the locking device;
- and
- a sensing device that senses when the pig is stuck in the pipeline and causes the unlocking device to release the locking device.
A method for deploying a pig within a pipeline comprising:
- (a) providing an internal cavity extending through the pig and placing a gate in the cavity;
- (b) placing the pig in the pipeline with the gate closed, allowing the flow of the fluid to drive the pig through the pipeline;
- and
- (c) if the pig becomes stuck in the pipeline, opening the gate to allow fluid to flow through the internal cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.