The common name for an instrumented ILI tool, as opposed to plain cleaning pigs. It travels with the flow from a launcher to a receiver, carrying magnets, ultrasonic sensors or calipers plus odometer wheels and data recorders. Running one needs a clean, piggable line with suitable bends, valves and traps, and a stuck tool means a very expensive day.
Cleaning pigs all week first, then we send the smart pig once the line quits bringing back black powder.
Also heard as
- intelligent pig
- ILI tool
- instrumented pig
Related terms
ILI
In-line inspection: sending instrumented tools through a pipeline to measure wall loss, dents and cracks.
Black powder
Fine black dust of iron sulfides and oxides that forms inside gas pipelines and fouls filters, meters and valves.
Bell hole
Excavation dug around a short section of buried pipe so crews can inspect, repair or connect to it.