Remote pig launcher

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9279533-B2
Application number	US-201113881668-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2011
Priority date	Oct 29, 2010
Publication date	Mar 8, 2016
Grant date	Mar 8, 2016

Abstract

A pig launching system comprising a first pipe portion connected to a second pipe portion at a pipe intersection; a pig carrier located at the pie intersection; and the pig carrier comprising a plurality of pigs in a cylinder, an opening in the carrier aligned with the first pipe portion, and an indexing system adapted to move one of the pigs to the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pig launching system comprising:
a storage cylinder having a storage chamber disposed therein, wherein the storage chamber comprises lower indexing piston arms;
a pig carrier disposed within the storage chamber, the pig carrier comprising a body having a plurality of bores disposed radially through the body and sides comprising a plurality of radially inwardly tapered surfaces disposed between a plurality of shoulders;
an indexing cylinder comprising an indexing piston disposed therein, wherein the indexing piston extends through an opening of a top end of the storage cylinder and wherein the indexing piston comprises upper indexing piston arms.

2. The pig launching system of claim 1 , wherein the sides comprise a plurality of maximum diameter portions disposed between the shoulders and the tapered surfaces.

3. The pig launching system of claim 1 , wherein the pig carrier comprises a plurality of pigs positioned radially in the plurality of bores.

4. The pig launching system of claim 1 , wherein the indexing piston comprises upper indexing grips and lower indexing grips.

5. The pig launching system of claim 4 , wherein the upper indexing grips are configured to engage one of the plurality of shoulders of the pig carrier.

6. The pig launching system of claim 4 , wherein the lower indexing grips are configured to engage one of the plurality of shoulders of the pig carrier.

7. The pig launching system of claim 1 , further comprising a compressible element contacting a lower end of the pig carrier.

8. The pig launching system of claim 1 , further comprising a launching piston extending through a side wall of the storage cylinder.

Assignees

• Burns Timothy Hamilton
• Tyrrell Charles Edward Higham
• Ward John Michael
• Shell Oil Co

Inventors

• Burns Timothy Hamilton
• Tyrrell Charles Edward Higham
• Ward John Michael

Classifications

• B08B9/055

  the cleaning devices conforming to, or being conformable to, substantially the same cross-section of the pipes, {e.g. pigs or moles (pigs or moles per se F16L55/26; their launching and detection F16L55/46; separating pigs in pipelines F17D3/00)} · CPC title

• F16L55/46 Primary

  Launching or retrieval of pigs or moles · CPC title

• E21B43/34

  Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well · CPC title

• E21B23/08 Primary

  Introducing or running tools by fluid pressure, e.g. through-the-flow-line tool systems · CPC title

• F16L2101/12

  Cleaning · CPC title