NiGen International specializes in applications utilizing on-site nitrogen generators for the pipeline industry. We have successfully provided our services for thousands of pipeline miles using the latest nitrogen membrane technology. We provide services for pigging, purging, inerting, pneumatic testing, drying/dehydrating, commissioning and decommissioning, leak detection and chemical cleaning.
During our pipeline maintenance services, we use dry air for pigging services, nitrogen services where we’re either propelling a SMART pig, a cleaning pig, a displacement pig (where we’re just moving product out of the line), or batching pigs to clean a pipeline. It’ll mostly always be nitrogen or dry air that we’re using to propel these pigs through the pipeline.
The NiGen Systems are lightweight, reliable, containerized and highly portable for onshore and offshore operations and available for rental for short- and long-term projects. We even offer process services outside of the normal scope of most pipeline maintenance companies for purging tanks or providing nitrogen where it’s not necessarily related to the pipeline, but you still require nitrogen.
We offer the following equipment rentals:
- portable diesel air compressors
- air dryers (desiccant)
- booster compressors
- atmospheric vent silencers
- air coolers and portable fuel tanks
- nitrogen generator rentals
NiGen International has the staff and experience to help pipeline companies develop procedures for the commissioning and decommissioning of pipelines, station facilities, and other petrochemical-related installations. We have successfully completed both onshore and offshore projects for major pipeline companies.
Past pipeline projects have ranged from 1 to 1,100 miles in length with sizes ranging from 2″ to 42″ in diameter, traversing terrain with elevations from below sea level to >7,000′. The nitrogen used for a typical pipeline displacement may range from a purity of 92% up to 100%, depending on the customer’s specific requirements and/or needs of the particular product to be displaced. For example, the purity required to displace an ethylene or butadiene pipeline will range from 99%-99.9%, whereas a typical crude oil or products pipeline application will range from 94%-98%.
We’ve done pipelines all over the country. We dewater and dry pipelines. We’ve even engaged in last-minute jobs where a pipeline needed cleared, inerted, and dried. Gas needs to be dry, inert, and run a pigging program to carry moisture out first. Once dry to the touch, we must continue purging the pipeline out. We aim for a negative dew point reading.
With our on-site nitrogen generators using membrane technology, NiGen International has the capacity to supply on-site (often in remote locations) membrane-generated nitrogen with a purity ranging from 92%-99% with moisture contents of <60°F. We’ve worked with projects that needed a -20°F dew point. Depending on the product in your pipeline, we can reach a -80°F dew point in most instances, and our purging process has even produced dew points less than -100°F. Contact us for a quote on your unique job.
Membrane-generated nitrogen has proven to be a very cost-effective way of commissioning or decommissioning pipelines where large volumes of nitrogen are required. In some remote locations, the traditional liquid nitrogen supply may either be unavailable or not the most desirable option. In these situations, NiGen International is ready to fulfill your on-site generated nitrogen requirements.
During our initial discovery of your pipeline maintenance needs, we’ll need to learn the following:
- Will we need to clear the pipeline?
- From there, we’ll do an evaluation:
- Is the line piggable?
- Can it hold water?
- Can we get it dry after it has been tested?
- Where are you located?
- Do we have access to these facilities?
- What type of connections can we make to your system?
Contact NiGen International today for more information on our pipeline services and equipment.