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KICKER LINE (PIG LAUNCHER / RECEIVER) SIZING

CRITERIA

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Sampath Kumar R
Upstream Process Engineer at Technip
Dear Friends,
Could you tell me what is the criteria for sizing KICKER line (in Pig
Launcher/ Receiver).
I noticed that few clients design the kicker line considering 50% of the
production and others simply fix 4" or 6".
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Mojtaba Habibi
Process Engineer at Wood Group
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Regards

Sampath Kumar R

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Like (1) Comment (9) Unfollow Reply Privately September 30, 2011

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Thai D. Pham
STAFF CONSULTANT
Sampath,
Thai

you might find sufficient information regarding your concern in SHELL design & engineering
practice DEP 31.40.10.13-Gen or several other guidelines available on the internet. I could
understand the size of the line is to limit the pigging velocity in pipeline and the pig movement not
to hit the barrel end too hard so that the pig can be damaged especially the Intelligent pig.
Cheers,T
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Sampath Kumar R
Upstream Process Engineer at Technip
Thanks for ur prompt resposne Mr.Pham. Let me check Shell DEP.
Sampath

Regards
Sampath
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amirabbas jalali
JAHAN PARS Engineering Company(JPC), DRAGOIL Compony
Dear,what is the pig maximum velocity in pipeline. is there any criteria?
amirabbas

Mario

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Hi, I read that pigging velocity should be 1-3 ft/s, I can't find the reference. Hope this could be of
help.

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Sampath

Sampath Kumar R
Upstream Process Engineer at Technip

in petroleum... more
23h ago

Dear Mario,
I too came across that average pig velocity in a pipeline will be around 2 m/s. however, few flow
assurance study indicates that pig velocity in the range of 2 to 15 m/sec.

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i dont have clear idea about this issue.. can anybody help????
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Saeid Rahimi Mofrad
Senior Specialty Process Engineer at Fluor

Gas Process Engineer

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1d ago

The size of kicker line can be specified based on the velocity up to double of common velocity
criteria for gas and liquid (or 50% of normal production flow). Kicker line size is not critical
because it is going to be used for short period of time for filling the pig trap and moving the pig for
couple of meters under control. There should be no problem as long as kicker line is not
exteremly undersized.
Pig speed in pipeline in normally controlled through charge pump, globe valve or other
mechanisms.
Pig speed is generally depends on:
1- Type of pig
Conventional type: 0.5 -2.5 m/sec
Intelligent type: 1-2.5 m/sec (the capability of data logging device should be considered in
selecting pig speed )
By-pass type: 3-5 m/sec (product flow velocity can be up to 10 m/sec)
2- Pigging fluid (gas or liquid)

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For gas service, no lubrication is available and being compressible fluid pigging usually occurs in
a series of high speed excursions between localized restrictions. Aside from the safety aspects,
this causes inefficient pigging (sealing failure) and increased wear. That is why lower velocity limit
is recommended for gas services.
Delete October 2, 2011
Thai D. Pham
STAFF CONSULTANT
Thai

Saeid, you're definitely right by the explanation of the kicker line that installed on a pig launcher.
For a receiver, time involved much longer than that of launching the pig, we ought to open the
bypass line to catch the pig without knowing exactly when it arrives. Early opening of the bypass
line can make changes to the pipeline operation.
Folks, please be noted that we normally use the same word "kicker line" which installed either a
launcher or receiver, this has made a world well-known engineering company provide a launcher
instead of a receiver. the kicker line on launcher and bypass line on receiver are positioned
differently on a pig trap while the trap don't have both functions.
As for the pig velocity, there are number of rules of thumb, however, this should be confirmed by a
Flow Assurance study in conjunction with preferred pigging vendors' recommendation.
However, as Saied said, this may not be a big deal.
Like Reply privately Flag as inappropriate October 2, 2011
Galih Pandu Atmaja
Facility Engineer at Chevron
Dear Sampath,

Galih
Pandu

I personally suggest you to check with the client's company standard, first in which the project
you are working on; see if they have reference for the pig barrel fitting size. As like Pham has
indicated that Shell might had this reference; I suppose, they are for their own design basis.
I, myself, had seen a company standard which provides "rule-of-thumb" for dimension of pig
launcher, receiver, or both -for bidirectional flow-; including the fittings size, and they are all listed
based on the size of main pipeline (so, it is related indirectly also with the flow in the main line as
the sizing basis).
Hope this helps
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Sampath Kumar R
Upstream Process Engineer at Technip
Sampath

Dear Friends,
Thanks for all for ur responses.. Finally I could get idea to fix Pig Velocity and size the Kicker
Line. As Mr.Pham told, I have referred Shell DEP and its clearly given about the Kicker Line
Sizing basis.
Thanks once again.
Regards
Sampath
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