Oil Pipeline Explosion Kills Three in Khuzestan

Three people were killed and four injured on Tuesday in an oil pipeline explosion in southwestern Khuzestan Province, the head of the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company, a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company, said.
According to the Oil Ministry’s website, Ramin Hatami added that the incident happened during pigging operations on a 20-inch pipeline that was transferring crude from Cheshmeh Khosh Oilfield in Ilam Province to Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province.
“Apparently, pig launcher explosion resulted in the deadly blast, but more investigations are underway,” he said.
Pipeline pigging refers to the practice of using devices or implements known as 'pigs' to perform various cleaning, clearing, maintenance, inspection, dimensioning, process and pipeline testing operations on pipelines. 
For operational pipelines, pigging is normally performed without stopping the flow of liquid in the pipeline. 
According to the official, engineers must consider a number of criteria when selecting the proper pig for a pipeline. First, it is important to define what task the pig will be performing. 
Size and operating conditions are important considerations, while pipeline layout is integral to the selection of a pig.
Because every pipeline is different, there is no set schedule for pigging a line, although the quantity of debris collected in a pipeline and the amount of wear and tear on it can increase the frequency of pigging.
Established in 1999, ICOFC has three subsidiaries, namely West Oil and Gas Production Company, East Oil and Gas Production Company and South Zagros Oil and Gas Production Company.