PR-472-144505-R02 Development of Guidance on Subsea Launchers and Receivers

Various subsea pig launching and receiving systems have been designed and built, and some of these have seen actual usage offshore. However, subsea pig launching / receiving on pipeline systems that have been in service remains rare, and there are concerns in the industry regarding the safety, operational reliability, technical complexity and environmental impact of subsea pig launching / receiving. This may have a negative effect on overall integrity management and maintenance strategies for subsea pipeline systems, and thus may lead to greater likelihood of pipeline failures. As a minimum, it causes a great deal of uncertainty in risk assessments. This document aims to provide guidance on the various aspects of a subsea pig launch-ing/receiving campaign, from conception to execution. This includes describing industry best practices for each phase of the project life cycle (design, execution, operation), as well as general project contracting and project management.