Montauk Services — one of North America’s most experienced pigging and testing companies over the last 37 years — reports that it has heard continual requests by engineers and municipalities for a free-flowing pig that can determine wall degradation in cast iron, ductile and steel mains.
Montauk Services SmartFoam Tool is a specialized smart pig with the same characteristics as the foam poly pig. It can run long lengths of pipe, navigate T-intersections and elbows (up to 1.5 feet in diameter) and can be retrieved in an excavation or terminus manhole.
The critical information generated by the SmartFoam Tool identifies pipe wall anomalies and wall degradation, precise locations, pipe wall ID change, all fittings and valves, and overhead bird’s-eye views of the entire main.
A familiar process
The SmartFoam Tool is run similar to a cleaning pig, and uses a system’s pressure and flows. These innovative tools combine the benefits of advanced electromagnetic sensors with simple and easy-to-deploy foam pigs. The result is a highly capable in-line inspection tool that can negotiate complex geometry pipelines while inspecting for internal corrosion and cracking.
Montauk is working with similar technology for identification and location of leaks as small as 1 gpm and will produce the same data minus wall degradation as the SmartFoam Tool. This tool is primarily for water distribution systems and can be launched and retrieved through fire hydrants. It can also be used in force mains up to 12 inches.
Recent case studies
For over 37 years, Montauk has delivered exceptional water and force main cleaning services as well as hydrostatic testing and chlorination. Montauk is known in the pipeline industry for complex and large-diameter intakes and outfall cleaning, transmission mains and wastewater treatment plant typing.
In 2018, Montauk worked with the city of Toronto to clean three 60-inch diameter HDPE raw water intakes at the Island Water Treatment Plant. Quagga mussels adhering to the interior wall of the HDPE pipe created flow turbulence, which diminished the volume of water delivered to the facility and caused increased pumping costs.
After the pigging, C-factor analyses performed by the city demonstrated water flow conditions that were better than when the pipelines were new. The quagga mussels and any other buildup reducing water flow had been completely cleared.
In another recent project for Charlotte, North Carolina, Montauk pigged 14 miles of an 8-inch sludge line, which decreased operational pressures by 50%. This decreased the chances of main breaks and restored the pipe condition to the original start-up flows and pressure.
Montauk Services has been known among municipalities since 1986 for its unique combination of institutional knowledge, expertise and innovation. The company specializes in pipeline pigging services and equipment for pressure pipeline cleaning, focusing on water and wastewater. The company offers turnkey, joint venture and technical support on a time and material basis. Launchers, receivers, tracking equipment and foam pigs are also available for rent and purchase. The company was founded by CEO Rex Murphey.
800-632-8893 | sales@montaukservices.net | www.montaukservices.net