Method of cleaning tubular with frozen layered gelatin pig
AssigneeAtlantic Richfield Company
InventorFrank E. Lowther
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and gelatin pig is provided for scraping and cleaning tubulars. The gelled, cleaning pig has a body comprised of gelled material, preferably technical gelatin, which has a hardened, frozen outer layer. The pig is molded in a size sufficient for the periphery of the body to contact the interior wall of the tubular to be cleaned. The frozen outer surface of the gelatin is formed by merely exposing the outer surface of the gelatin to (1) the atmosphere if the ambient temperature is above the freezing temperature of the gelatin or (2) artifical refrigeration. In operation, the gelatin pig is inserted into and passed through the pipeline to scrap and clean same. The gelatin pig is bio-degradable which can be accelerated by adding a bio-reactive agent, e.g. yeast, to the gelatin.
Claims9
A method for cleaning a tubular comprising:
- passing a gelled, cleaning pig through said tubular wherein said pig contacts the interior wall of said tubular to remove scale and push said scale and other debris ahead through said tubular, said cleaning pig comprising:
- a body of gelled material having an frozen layer on its outer surface and having a size sufficient for the periphery of said body to contact the interior wall of said tubular when said pig is positioned in and passes through said tubular;
- wherein said body of gelled material is formed from a mixture of (a) common gelatin of the type derived from collagen and (b) a heated liquid which is then allowed to cool ambient temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.