Pipework cleaning

Ice Pigging™

This solution harnesses the complex properties of semi-solid ice, which can be pumped like a liquid, but acts like a solid when a ‘pig’ of ice is formed within a pipe. Under pressure this removes sediment and built-up deposits to leave the pipe clear and obstruction-free. A relatively quick process, it also leaves pipe walls undamaged.

Among its many advantages, Ice Pigging™ is:

Up to 1,000 times more effective than water flushing.
Effective for all diameters, flowing through fittings and bends of pipes.
Exceptionally low risk – if ice were ever to get stuck it would simply melt.
Harmless to public health.
A highly flexible solution applicable to multiple industries.

10,000

of pipes have been cleaned with Ice Pigging™ globally

Services

SUEZ offers an Ice Pigging™ service across the UK, Ireland and Northern Europe. Tankers of ice slurry are transported to a customers’ site to undertake one-off or periodic cleaning. This low-risk, no-dig process can be applied to a wide range of pipe systems in diverse industrial, water and wastewater applications.

A cleaner solution that is fast and versatile

Ice Pigging^TM uses less water and requires less clean-up than traditional pipe-flushing or other pigging techniques.

When the ice pig is inserted into the pipe, its semi-liquid form adapts to the topography of the pipes and any changes in diameter, making it an ideal solution to common pigging problems – while avoiding the risk of damage to pipe walls.

The duration of a typical operation will depend on the length, diameter and material of the pipe to be cleaned. A clean that might have taken six months can be done in two weeks and something that typically takes six hours can be done in four minutes

Ice Pigging^TM is a fast and powerful process for commissioning new, decommissioning old and maintaining existing pipe systems. It is ideal when you need to remove materials that impact process efficiency to improve flow performance and achieve quality requirements.