IPS-M-PI-170

MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT STANDARD

FOR
PIGS
ORIGINAL EDITION
JULY 1997

This standard specification is reviewed and

updated by the relevant technical committee on
Dec. 2000. The approved modifications are
included in the present issue of IPS.

This Standard is the property of Iranian Ministry of Petroleum. All rights are reserved to the owner.
Neither whole nor any part of this document may be disclosed to any third party, reproduced, stored in
any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of
the Iranian Ministry of Petroleum.

July 1997
CONTENTS :

IPS-M-PI-170
PAGE No.

1. SCOPE ............................................................................................................................................ 2
2. REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................ 2
3. DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY ............................................................................................. 3
4. GENERAL ....................................................................................................................................... 3
5. PURCHASERS ACCESS TO MANUFACTURING PLANT(S) ..................................................... 4
6. TESTING ......................................................................................................................................... 4
7. INSPECTION................................................................................................................................... 4
8. FINISHING, PAINTING AND/OR COATING .................................................................................. 4
9. IDENTIFICATION............................................................................................................................ 4
10. PACKING ...................................................................................................................................... 5
11. HANDLING AND SHIPPING ........................................................................................................ 5
12. REJECT CAUSES ........................................................................................................................ 5
13. DOCUMENTATION AND LANGUAGE ........................................................................................ 5
14. APPROPRIATE PIGS SPECIFICATION(S) ................................................................................. 5
15. DOUBLE-DIAMETER PIPELINE PIG(S)...................................................................................... 6

ATTACHMENT

DATA SHEET .................................................................................................. 8

July 1997

IPS-M-PI-170

1. SCOPE

1.1 This Standard specification covers minimum requirement(s) for purchasing various types of nonintelligent pigs generally used in Iranian Oil and Gas Industries.
1.2 The pig(s) offered shall be in compliance with the requirement(s) of this Standard. If
requirement(s) of this Standard differs from or is in conflict with purchasing document / vendors
offer, the Vendor shall clearly indicate points of conflict and request the Purchaser for Clarification
and comments.
1.3 The Purchaser comments shall be fully considered and incorporated in the final specification. In
case no comment(s) is given by the Purchaser, the following will take precedence in the order of
priority as indicated hereunder:

a) Purchase order
b) Data sheets and drawings
c) This Standard specification

1.4 The size and temperature/pressure rating of the pig shall fall within the range of the
manufacturers actual experience, only equipment which has proven its-reliability in service is
acceptable. Manufacturer shall prepare a list showing the same type and size of pig previously
manufactured and operated under similar condition of pigging.

Note:
This standard specification is reviewed and updated by the relevant technical committee on
Dec. 2000. The approved modifications by T.C. were sent to IPS users as amendment No. 1
by circular No 128 on Dec. 2000. These modifications are included in the present issue of
IPS.

2. REFERENCES
Throughout this Standard the following dated and undated standards/codes are referred to. These
referenced documents shall, to the extent specified herein, form a part of this standard. For dated
references, the edition cited applies. The applicability of changes in dated references that occur
after the cited date shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Vendor. For undated
references, the latest edition of the referenced documents (including any supplements and
amendments) applies.

ASTM (AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS)

A 193

"Alloy Steel and Stainless Steel Bolting Materials

for High-Temperature Services"

A 194

"Carbon and Alloy Steel Nuts for Bolts for HighPressure and High-Temperature Service"

A 216

"Carbon-Steel Castings Suitable for

Welding for High-Temperature Service"

A 217

"Martensitic Stainless Steel and Alloy Steel

Castings Pressure Containing Parts Suitable for
High-Temperature Service"

A 307

"Carbon Steel Externally Threaded Standard

Fasteners"

Fusion

July 1997

SIS

A 351

"Austenitic Steel Castings for High-Temperature

Service"

A 488

"Steel Casting Welding Qualification of Procedure

and Welder"

A 488 M

"Steel Casting Welding Qualification of Procedure

and Welder (Metric)"

(STANDARDISERINGS-KOMMISSIONEN I SVERIGE)
SIS-05-5900

BSI

"Swedish Standards Institution Practice, Surface

Preparation Standard for Painting Steel Surface"

(BRITISH STANDARDS INSTITUTION)

BS 1133

NACE

IPS-M-PI-170

"Packaging Code"

(NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORROSION ENGINEERS)

NACE RP 0175 - 84

"Sulfide Stress Cracking Resistant

Materials for Oil Field Equipment"

Metallic

3. DEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY

3.1 Manufacturer
The party that manufactures or produces a pig or its Components covered by this Standard.

3.2 Purchaser
The party or parties entering into a contract or agreement to purchase a pig in accordance with the
provision of this Standard.

4. GENERAL

4.1 Each pig shall withstand the temperature limits as, specified in the data sheet.
4.2 The manufacturer should state in his proposal, the maximum continuous safe running for the
pig.
4.3 Pigs shall be able to travel the sharp bends stated in data sheet with sufficient sealing activity.
4.4 The pig shall be so designed that specified line pressure keeps the pig centered and sealed in
the pipeline.
4.5 Different parts of metallic pig body (if applicable) shall be full welded.

4.6 Material

4.6.1 Bodies shall normally be of carbon steel.

4.6.2 Unless otherwise specified, brushes should be made of high carbon tempered steel, stainless
steel or plastic as applicable.
4.6.3 Unless otherwise specified, gaging plate, in gaging pigs, should be brass, bronze or aluminum
alloy.
4.6.4 The following table should be followed for material selection of non-metallic cup.

July 1997
CUP MATERIAL
Cast polyurethane

IPS-M-PI-170

TEMPERATURE LIMIT (C)

- 18 to 60

FLUID
Natural gas, refined
hydrocarbon and water

Neoprene

- 29 to 138

General chemical and

hydrocarbons

Nitrile (e.g. Hycar)

- 7 to 138

Aromatics: crude and fuel oils

Note:
If the proposed material differs from the above table, the Vendor shall clearly state the points
of conflicts, the reason for selection of the material and his experience in using the alternate
cup material in actual services.

5. PURCHASERS ACCESS TO MANUFACTURING PLANT(S)

The Purchaser or his nominee(s) shall have free access to the manufacturing plant engaged in
fabrication of the pigs to carry out the necessary inspection at any stage of the fabrication and
witness the tests. The Vendor shall place at disposal of the Purchaser or his nominee(s), free of
charge, such instrument(s) and tool(s) as required at the inspection point to enable the Engineer or
his nominee(s) to carry out inspection in this respect; such inspections in no way relieve the
manufacturer of his responsibilities under the term of this Standard specification and/or other
applicable documents.

6. TESTING
6.1 All pigs shall be tested in accordance with manufacturers standard.

7. INSPECTION
Manufacturer shall be prepared for inspection of the pig by the Purchaser.

8. FINISHING, PAINTING AND/OR COATING

8.1 All pigs shall be thoroughly cleaned and suitably preserved on completion of manufacturing.
8.2 All machined or threaded surfaces shall be protected from corrosion with a rust-preventive
material which shall not become fluid and run-off at a temperature less than 80C. The shipment
and storage time shall be assumed to be 18 months.
8.3 Unless otherwise specified in purchase documents, non-ferrous parts, stainless steel and nonmetallic portion of the pig shall not be painted.

9. IDENTIFICATION
9.1 Manufacturers Marking
Each pig shall be marked in accordance with manufacturer standard.
9.2 Contract Tagging
9.2.1 Each metallic pig shall be fitted with a rust-resistant metal tag securely attached to it with
sufficient twist of stainless steel wire.

July 1997

IPS-M-PI-170

9.2.2 Tags shall not be attached through bolt holes of pig flanges.
9.2.3 Non-metallic pigs should be marked with an identification number and tag shall be stamped on
the appropriate storage box with same identification number.
9.2.4 The minimum dimension for tags and wires are as follows:
a) Size of tag
b) Thickness of tag
c) Lettering height
d) Wire diameter

Round 40 mm (1 inches)
Rectangular 12 70 mm ( 2 inches)
16 B & S Gage (1.3 mm) minimum
6 mm ( inches) minimum
16 B & S Gage (1.3 mm) minimum

Note:
B & S gage is the abbreviation of Brown and sharp gage stating the thickness of wire and
sheet metal.
10. PACKING
Pig packing shall meet the requirements of standard BS 1133.
11. HANDLING AND SHIPPING
Packing shall be such that, during handling, shipping (including overland transportation) and
storage pig(s) and accessories do not suffer any damage.
12. REJECT CAUSES
The pig may be rejected if measurement, inspection and/or testing reveals discrepancies between
quoted figures in purchase-documents and those obtained actually.
13. DOCUMENTATION AND LANGUAGE
All documents furnished by manufacturer shall be in English.
14. APPROPRIATE PIGS SPECIFICATION(S)
14.1 Flexible Bodied, Non-Metallic, One Piece Construction
14.1.1 They shall be adequately flexible, having conical cup with efficient sealing action as the
pressure differential across the pig increases.
14.2 Mechanical Pigs-Articulated Bodied (Multi-Use Pigs)
14.2.1 They shall have the swabbing, cleaning and liquid batching operating capability all together
or in consequent by using of different accessories as and when requested in the Purchase
documents.
14.2.2 Pig body shall be suitable for installation of electronic pig signaler.
14.2.3 Cup flange shall have suitable bolt circle diameter with adequate number of bolts to provide
the better sealing and flexibility for the cup.
14.2.4 Each pig shall have by pass ports based on the following table, unless otherwise specified.
14.2.5 Urethane cups should be fluid pressure expandable for wear compensation.
14.2.6 Wear compensating brushes are preferred. However, the type of brushes will be specified in
purchase document.
14.2.7 Scraper blades should be placed on the pig body about 30 to the direction of travel.

July 1997
PIG SIZE DN (NPS)
300 (12) and less
350 - 500 (14 - 20)
550 - 700 (22 - 28)
750 (30) and larger

PORT SIZE mm (inches)

12()
14(9/16)
20()
20()

IPS-M-PI-170
No. of PORTS
4
6
7
8

14.3 Foam Pigs

14.3.1 Foam pigs shall be tough, abrasion-resistant, polyurethane capable to travel successfully
through the bends, valves and tees specified in data sheet.
14.3.2 They shall have self-skinning feature.
14.3.3 They shall not become lodged when come into contact with obstructions in pipeline and
should have ability to be forced through by the application of increased fluid pressure.
14.3.4 Unless otherwise specified, low density foam pigs shall be from 16-48 kg/m (1-3 lbs/ft) and
high density pigs 96-192 kg/m (6-12 lbs/ft)
14.3.5 Low density foam pig should have an outside diameter from 12 to 100 mm ( to 4 inches)
larger than the pipe
bore depending on the nominal bore of the line.
14.3.6 High density foam pigs should be equal or not more than 12 mm ( inch) larger than the
pipe bore, irrespective of nominal pipe size.
14.4 Inflatable Unisphere Pig
14.4.1 Shall be seamless, liquid-cast polyurethane ball.
14.4.2 Pigs shall be equipped with two inflating one way valves and when specified with in flatting
pump.
14.4.3 For DN 350 (NPS 14) and smaller, diameter of the ball should be 2.0-2.2 percent higher than
nominal pipe inside diameter.
14.4.4 For larger than DN 350 (NPS 14), ball diameter should be 1.5-1.6 percent higher than pipe
inside diameter.
14.4.5 Inflated ball diameter shall be 6 to 6.5 percent higher than pipe inside diameters for 14
inches and less.
14.4.6 Inflated ball diameter shall be 5 to 5.7 percent higher than pipe inside diameter for 16 inches
and higher.
14.5 Solid (Non-Inflatable) Sphere Pig(s)
14.5.1 A vent hole shall be provided for pressure equalizing purpose.
14.5.2 Ball must be hydrocarbon resistant with minimum swelling, no blister and good tear strength.
14.6 Gaging Pig (Mechanical)
14.6.1 They should be equipped with urethane cups.
14.6.2 Gaging plates diameter shall be 95% of the minimum bore or 25 mm (1 inch) less than the
minimum bore of the
specified pipe as decided by the Purchaser.
14.6.3 Gaging plate construction and its installation shall be so arranged that the deformed portion
of the plate should not move back to the original configuration, with regard to pig sticking, propellant
properties and service temperature.
15. DOUBLE-DIAMETER PIPELINE PIG(S)
It shall traverse two or more line sizes. Manufacturer shall fully state the sealing characteristics in
the proposal for entire pipeline curvature.

July 1997

IPS-M-PI-170

15.1 Acceptable Configurations

15.1.1 Slotted disc
An elastomer disc sized for the smaller diameter, shall be installed in front of a pair of slotted disc(s)
to suit the larger diameter.
15.1.2 Slotted discs shall be radially positioned so that the flap of one disc covers the slot(s) of the
other.
15.2 Overlapped Segments or Flaps
This type shall be so designed that when mounted, form a conical-shaped Iris.
15.3 Collapsible diaphragm-type cup should not be used.
15.4 Consideration should be given to lightness of the pig to reduce the elastomer pants wear, also
keeping the pig more concentric in the pipe, simpler handling, reducing the risk of damage to the
pipe in the event that the pig becomes stuck.

July 1997

IPS-M-PI-170

ATTACHMENT 1
DATA SHEET

1. Type of The Required Pig: ........................................................................................

2. Purpose of Pig Operation:
.
.......................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................
3. Line Conditions:
Pipe Material:
Steel b
.................................
Nominal Pipe Size(s)

Cast Iron b

DN.
NPS

Concrete b

Other b

Maximum Pipe I.D. ...............................................

Total Pipe Length

Piping Connections

Aluminum b

Minimum Pipe I.D. .......................................

b Flanged

b Welded.

Line Contents .......................................................................................................................

(Crude, Gas, Products, Water, Etc.)
Line Contents while Pigging (if different from above) ........................................................
Fluid temp. during pigging ...................................................................................... C (F)
Design Press of the Pipeline .............................................................................. Bar (Psig)
Normal................................................ Bar (Psig)
Fluid pressure available for pig propulsion
Max..................................................... Bar (Psig)
Reducers (if any) ...............................,.............
I. PIPE BENDS: Specify Min. distance between bends ........................................ m (ft.)
Type of bend :.

Bends to be traversed: Inside Dia .Min. Radius Max. Angle_______________________________

(to be continued)

July 1997

IPS-M-PI-170

DATA SHEET (continued)

II. GATE VALVES:

Gate Valves to be Traversed: Seat Ring

Make Type Series Mat l. Fig. No. Min .I.D. Spacing_____________________________
III. CHECK VALVES:
What, if anything, projects from clapper face?
____________________________________
Depth and slope of bowl at outlet end.
_______________________________
SER MAKE Other Valves (Check or Plug
Valves, etc.) to be traversed:
Describe:............................................................

IV. TEES & BRANCHES:

Yes b Size of Bar _______ Spacing _______

No b
Side Openings to be passed: Max. Diameter ............... Angle to Pipe Run .......................................
Maximum Distance Pig must travel in single run .............................................................................
4. Other Special Requirements or pertinent information; ...............................................................