When a pig becomes lost, or jammed, the major problem is the location of the pig with a high degree of accuracy. During the last decade, there have been many companies who have produced devices which are intended to assist in tracking pigs in both land and marine operations. Each of these devices will work given the correct circumstances. It has many benefits in offshore pipelines for defining the pig's passage through a general area. Poor position accuracy.
Acoustics echo in all directions, and is therefore very difficult to pinpoint.
Requires a liquid interface and therefore cannot be utilized in a dry line i.e. gas pipeline. Cannot be utilized in land lines. Large physical size. The amount of overburden over the pipeline will prevent the passage of audio signals. The Radio Transmitter is a battery operated unit which is attached to the pig.