Patent ID: 8752229

Claim:
An apparatus ( 10 ) for launching one or more pigs ( 5 ) for cleaning of production flow lines, or tubing, on the sea bed, said apparatus comprising: a support frame ( 1 ) carrying a charging pipe ( 3 ) to carry a train of pigs ( 5 1 - 5 10 ) resting stand-by within the charging pipe ( 3 ); a plurality of valves (V 1 -V 4 ), which on one side are in fluid communication with the charging pipe ( 3 ), and on the other side are in fluid communication with a high pressure drive fluid different from the production flow; a connecting means ( 2 ) for connecting of the apparatus ( 10 ) to a pipe hub, leading to the production flow line to be pigged; an actuatable piston ( 4 ) to displace the train of pigs within the charging pipe ( 3 ); and a drive pig ( 6 ) arranged between the piston ( 4 ) and a closest adjacent pig ( 5 10 ), wherein the drive pig ( 6 ) is in sealing contact with an internal wall of the charging pipe ( 3 ); the drive pig ( 6 ) is remote controlled actuatable by operation of said plurality of valves (V 1 -V 4 ) that apply drive fluid in predetermined volume when the valves open for advancement of the train of pigs, and applies drive fluid during launching of the pig ( 5 1 ) in front; and during shifting functional activities the drive fluid can be communicated: a) into the charging pipe ( 3 ) in an area just behind the drive pig ( 6 ) when positioned in its initial position, b) into the charging pipe ( 3 ) in an area just behind a foremost pig ( 5 ), and c) into/out from the charging pipe ( 3 ) at both sides of the actuatable piston ( 4 ).