Mechanical cleaning versus chemical cleaning
Mechanical cleaning
Mechanical cleaning of pipelines is still one of the most commonly used methods among pipeline owners. There are a number of disadvantages and risks that one should take into consideration when applying mechanical cleaning. Dry pigging displaces the debris from the 6 o’clock position to 360° around the pipe wall, coating the pipeline wall with a thin layer of deposit. Additional mechanical pigging will compact this layer, which can lead to a number of problems.
Possible risks:
- Under deposit corrosion;
- Nuisances downstream;
- Less accurate readings from the inspection tool.
Advanced chemical cleaning
Advanced chemical cleaning is quickly becoming an industry standard. Chemical cleaning in conjunction with the use of mechanical pigs removes a greater volume of debris with fewer runs.
The advantages:
- Cost reduction;
- More reliable integrity checks;
- Increased operating capacity;
- Improved condition of your pipeline network.
What are the options?
Chemical cleaning, by definition, means the use of liquid cleaners mixed in a diluent (water, diesel, methanol, iso-propyl-alcohol and the like) to form a cleaning solution that can be pushed through a pipeline by pigs. There are various manufacturers of cleaners. However, a careful choice of designed pipeline cleaners should be based upon the following characteristics:
- A neutral pH;
- Deposit permeating and penetrating capabilities ;
- Original design parameters of the cleaner and its case histories.
N-SPEC® advanced chemical cleaning agents provide a more effective and environmentally friendly solution than most current chemical cleaners such as diesel, benzene, aceton, toluene or xylene. N-SPEC products have no effect on any metallurgy. Caustic flushing is not required thanks to its neutral pH.
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