Pipeline Drying

Hydrotest Pros supplies dependable electronic and mechanical equipment to safeguard existing pipelines. Offshore solutions include services such as prep-crew, hydrostatic, and pipeline testing, construction, bolting and rigging crews, dewatering, flushing, and drying. Pipeline drying is one such service that is extremely important in the pipeline industry.

Performing Pipeline Drying

Drying of pipelines disrupts the decomposition of water creating a void for ground piping and flow rate changes. Pipeline drying is considered a simple task when done correctly, however, the aspect of pipeline drying is intricate and needs to be handled with extensive care when performed. If the pipelines are not handled properly, the dynamic of the process changes and becomes much more difficult to manage.

Dew Points and Swabbing

To understand pipeline drying, dew point must first be explained. Dew point is correlated with humidity-levels. Air begins to condense at one hundred percent relative humidity. It is important to foster a negative dew point to begin pipeline drying. There are multiple methods to successfully dry pipelines, yet two major pieces of equipment are used to activate the drying process.

First, a dryer is used to manage a pipeline’s dew point. Second, an oil-free air compressor is used to keep the line dry from moisture by blasting as much dry air as possible into the line. Physically opening the bottom of valves that hold in moisture will initiate the further reduction of dew-point levels.

Crews will aggressively swab pipelines to eliminate left-over materials and measure the dew-point throughout the entire drying process, which is comparable to a giant Q-tip. Swabbing a line picks up all the moisture and debris, aiding in its removal over time, which causes the line to achieve the correct dew point.

Drying of Pipelines Explained

Every pipeline has a pig launcher and receiver, yet sizes vary. For instance, if the pipeline is 10-inches wide, it is ideal to use 12-inch pigs. This is because the two extra inches will lift the moisture out of the line more efficiently than a 10-inch pig.

The elements of drying are based on geographic location. If a pipeline is located up north, where temperatures are typically colder, the pipelines will be dealing with more moisture. Pipelines that remain wet or soggy will signify a failed attempt at drying.