Solutions Engine

Pig and Inline Tool Tracking

When pigs leave the launcher, the expectation is that they will travel smoothly through the pipeline and arrive at the receiver on schedule. Sometimes, however, pigs become lost inside the pipeline. This can be due to pipeline defects, abnormal pipeline conditions, or other problems.

By monitoring the location of pigs as they travel through the pipeline, Offshore Pipeline operators or service crews can respond rapidly to lost pigs, avoiding other time-consuming and costly pig locating processes. In addition, pig tracking technology enables operators to record any unexpected speed excursions or periods of stalling in the system.

Pig tracking is considered good practice, particularly when there’s a concern about a pig becoming stalled, stuck, or lost in the pipeline, such as during commissioning of a newly constructed system or when working on a line that has been infrequently or never pigged. 

TDW offers pig tracking solutions that detect passing pigs and the location of stationary pigs.



Designed for use with onshore Offshore Pipeline pipelines, TDW pig tracking equipment tracks and locates pigs with pinpoint accuracy. Transmitters fit inside, or can be towed behind, all types of foam, unicast, and metal pigs. Pig activity data is displayed, stored, easily recalled, and can be transferred to desktop PCs and printed.

  • TracMaster™ magnetic pig tracking and locating system – This TDW pig tracking system provides visual display and audible signal of moving or stopped pigs. The technology operates through a simple, user-friendly graphic menu system. Receiving antennas that reject false signals eliminate the time-consuming “walk and stop” associated with other tracking systems.



Because of its through-wall, two-way communication capabilities, TDW tracking equipment can provide Offshore Pipeline operators real-time monitoring of pigs and tools in all thick-wall buried or subsea pipes and any type of product. This improves the safety of pigging operations under even the most challenging conditions

  • SmartTrack™ two-way communication system – This technology has the ability to track and identify pigs and tools in thick-wall buried or subsea pipes. It allows for extremely precise pig or tool positioning, with accuracy of +/- 25 millimeters (approximately 1 inch), depending upon the environment. It can also be used to track and identify all SmartPlug® isolation tools. In addition to the basic transponder, transceiver/receiver, and personal digital assistant (PDA), optional components include a subsea communication skid, diver-held receiver, and a radio link for wireless remote monitoring.