SFE Global: Over 30 Years of Pigging Expertise

The pigging process can significantly increase pipeline capacity, decrease friction loss, improve pump efficiency, and reduce overall pumping costs. SFE Global is recognized as a leader in the water, wastewater, and industrial sectors for its advanced pipeline pigging technologies.

For more than three decades, SFE Global has specialized in pipeline pigging, helping clients enhance water quality, maintain clear pipelines, and assess potential deficiencies. By combining cleaning with pipeline condition assessments, we offer a comprehensive approach that ensures pipelines remain in optimal condition.

The Benefits of Pipeline Pigging

Pipeline pigging is a cost-effective solution that offers multiple benefits:

  • Increased Capacity: By removing debris, scale, and other obstructions, pigging restores pipelines to their full capacity, ensuring maximum flow rates.
  • Reduced Friction Loss: Clean pipelines reduce friction loss, allowing pumps to operate more efficiently and effectively.
  • Improved Water Quality: Regular pigging removes contaminants and prevents build-up, leading to better water quality.
  • Lower Pumping Costs: With reduced friction and improved flow, pumping costs are significantly lowered, resulting in substantial operational savings.
  • Preparation for Inline Inspection Tools: Progressive pig cleaning let’s pipeline owners know their critical infrastructure is ready to host inline condition assessment tools. 

Who Can Benefit from Pigging Services? 

Pipeline pigging is beneficial for a variety of stakeholders, including:

  • City Engineering and Utilities Departments: Ensuring municipal water and sewer systems are operating efficiently and meeting regulatory standards.
  • Engineering Consultants: Providing clients with solutions that enhance pipeline performance and extend infrastructure lifespan.
  • Industrial Facility Managers: Maintaining optimal operations in industrial pipelines, including water supply to waste discharge.

Preventative Maintenance and Emergency Services

At SFE Global, we typically receive two types of calls regarding pipeline pigging needs. 

  1. Preventative Maintenance: Regular pigging as a preventative measure helps maintain high C-Factors (a measure of flow efficiency), reduces friction loss, and ensures pumps operate as intended. This practice extends the pipeline lifecycle and reduces the total cost of operation.
  2. Emergency Circumstances: When pipeline capacity or water quality is abruptly compromised, our pigging services can quickly address blockages and restore the pipeline to its original flow capacity using a progressive pigging approach.

Wide Range of Pigging Applications

SFE Global has provided pigging services to various clients across North America, from Alaska to Georgia.

Our typical applications include:

  • Domestic Water Systems: Ensuring clean and efficient water delivery.
  • Sanitary Sewer Force Mains and Siphon Mains: Maintaining the efficiency of wastewater transport systems.
  • Agriculture Irrigation Pipelines: Optimizing water flow for agricultural needs.

  • Mine Tailings and Process Pipelines: Ensuring the efficient movement of mining by-products.
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  • Dedicated Fire Suppression Systems: Maintaining readiness and reliability of fire suppression infrastructure.
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant Pipelines: Ensuring the efficient flow of wastewater through treatment processes.

Contact Us for Expert Pigging SolutionsFor reliable and efficient pipeline pigging services, contact SFE Global. Our team is equipped to handle your pipeline cleaning needs, providing comprehensive solutions that ensure optimal performance and compliance with regulatory standards. Whether you are dealing with water, wastewater, or industrial pipelines, our pigging services can help maintain the integrity and efficiency of your infrastructure. Reach out today to learn more about how we can assist with your pipeline maintenance and cleaning requirements.

SFE Global’s progressive pigging together with SmartFoam are a winning approach to assess 19-miles of sewer force mains.

An Arizona city needed to ensure their twinned 24-inch 9.5-mile sewer force mains could handle increased inflow. SFE Global used the progressive pigging approach together with SmartFoam™ technology for a high-resolution condition assessment, identifying and addressing critical issues to enhance pipeline safety, reliability, and cost-effective maintenance.

SFE Global’s progressive pigging together with SmartFoam are a winning approach to assess 19-miles of sewer force mains.

An Arizona city needed to ensure their twinned 24-inch 9.5-mile sewer force mains could handle increased inflow. SFE Global used the progressive pigging approach together with SmartFoam™ technology for a high-resolution condition assessment, identifying and addressing critical issues to enhance pipeline safety, reliability, and cost-effective maintenance.

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Initial
Assessment

We begin with thorough consultations, understanding your unique needs and aligning with all stakeholders.

01
Proposal Development

We work with you to create detailed designs and specifications, helping you craft winning proposals for municipal projects.

02
Comprehensive Execution

We execute the project with rigorous quality assurance and continuous monitoring, ensuring compliance with municipal standards and preventing costly failures.

03

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Our Clients’ Experiences

Senior Water Resource Engineer, Associated Engineering
Larry Bodnaruk
"SFE has provided all our monitoring needs for the past 15 years. Their staff are experienced, knowledgeable, and responsive and a pleasure to work with, and I admire their attention to detail in a difficult and hostile environment. SFE has always delivered quality and value in our projects. What more can I say – quite simply the best in the business."
Project Manager, M.A.P. Water & Sewer Services Ltd.
Egidio Chiarello
“We have done several water transmission line swabbing projects with SFE Global for final commissioning. We were able to work closely with SFE staff on-site to successfully pig a large potable water transmission pipeline.”
i2i Pipelines, CEO
Steve Banks
"SFE Global is one of our go-to SmartFoam pipeline condition assessment partners in the water industry.  Their team brings the knowledge and experience needed to run our tools safely and effectively in water, wastewater, and industrial pipelines."
KGS Group, Urban Hydraulics Lead
Dave White
"SFE Global provided exceptional flow monitoring services, even under challenging site conditions. The professionalism, expertise, and response times of SFE Global’s team made the entire process seamless and efficient. Obtaining good quality data is paramount, and SFE Global has come through for us on multiple projects with high quality and accuracy. I would highly recommend their services for any flow monitoring needs."
S29-01 Weir water control in creek