System and method for thermal ablation of pigging devices
US10189026B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jan 29, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16L55/48
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The present disclosure provides for a novel pig design and method of retrieval based on thermal ablation. The pig comprises an external layer and an inner core, where the inner core further comprises at least one incendiary charge comprising at least one exothermic material. When ignited via an ignition source, the incendiary charge releases the exothermic material into one or more thermal dispersion channels. The exothermic material melts the interior of these thermal dispersion channels thereby distributing the exothermic material throughout the pig device causing its destruction via thermal ablation. The destroyed pig can then be easily retrieved from its location in a pipe, as detected via radio signals, without the need for costly excavation of large sections of the pipe.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.