Pipelines are critical assets that need long-term protection. To keep them reliable, operators must prevent hidden damage, avoid costly failures, and extend service life. One of the most effective ways to do this is with inline pigging, especially when combined with smart pig tracking tools like Propipe’s APEX AGM and PigView Web. Here are five key benefits inline pigging brings to pipeline integrity management.
1. Early Detection of Corrosion, Cracks & Wall Thinning
Inline inspection pigs (ILI) use sensors such as ultrasonic (UT), magnetic flux leakage (MFL), and electromagnetic transmitters. These detect corrosion, cracks, or thinning walls before problems escalate. Because pigs travel inside the pipe, they deliver more accurate data than external inspections. Catching corrosion early prevents leaks, reduces repair costs, and lowers safety and environmental risks.
2. Improved Uptime & Less Unplanned Downtime
Without inspection and cleaning, buildup and defects can disrupt flow, trigger shutdowns, or cause emergencies. Inline pigging allows proactive maintenance instead of reactive fixes. With Propipe North America’s tools, operators monitor runs in real time to ensure pigs don’t get stuck and that inspections stay on schedule.
3. Extended Pipeline Life & Stronger Asset Value
Pipelines constantly face internal wear from corrosion and deposits. Regular pigging slows this damage, supports targeted repairs, and helps preserve welds and joints. Over time, this extends pipeline lifespan, reduces replacement needs, and increases asset value.
4. Compliance & Environmental Protection
Regulators require regular inspections, especially in sensitive areas. Inline pigging provides the data needed for compliance reports and audits. With GPS time-synced AGMs, operators can document inspections more easily. At the same time, early detection lowers the risk of spills, methane release, or soil contamination—protecting both the environment and company reputation.
5. Data-Driven Decisions & Cost Savings
Every pig run generates valuable data. With PigView dashboards, operators can track corrosion rates, weld issues, and cleaning needs. This insight helps prioritize maintenance, avoid surprises, and improve budgeting. The long-term savings often outweigh the setup costs of modern pigging and tracking systems.
How Propipe North America Enhances Inline Pigging
Our APEX AGM (Above Ground Marker) adds advanced tracking and durability:
Operates in harsh conditions (−40 °C to +85 °C).
Tracks in real time via LTE, optional satellite, Bluetooth, and GPS sync.
Detects EM, magnets, vibration, and acoustic signals; logs offline events to SD card.
Long battery life: ~144 hours active, ~400 hours in low power.
Combining inline pigging with APEX AGM and PigView means no blind spots. You know where your pig is, what it detects, and when issues occur.
Inline pigging is central to pipeline integrity management. It helps operators reduce risks, lower lifecycle costs, and shift from reactive maintenance to proactive care.
Ready to strengthen your integrity program? Contact Propipe North America to build a custom inline pigging strategy, complete with APEX AGM tracking and PigView data integration.
