• Before an ILI inspection 
• Reduced flow 
• Black powder buildup 
• Paraffin deposits 
• Construction debris 
• Hydrotesting 
• Product changes 
• Routine maintenance

 Cleaning pigs can be configured with a variety of components to match your pipeline conditions and cleaning objectives. Understanding what each component does can help operators select the right pig for the job.  

• Cups: Cups create a tight seal against the inside wall of the pipeline, allowing the cleaning pig to move efficiently with the product flow. They are commonly used for cleaning, batching, displacement, and liquid removal, while also helping carry debris through the pipeline.  
• Discs: Discs provide flexibility when navigating bends, changes in pipe diameter, and pipeline fittings while maintaining an effective seal. Multiple disc configurations can improve debris removal and are often selected for pipelines with varying operating conditions. 
• Brushes (Brush Pigs): Brush-equipped cleaning pigs use steel or polymer brushes to provide additional mechanical cleaning action. Brush pigs are commonly used to remove mill scale, rust, welding slag, hardened deposits, and other debris that standard cups or discs may not remove. Brush selection depends on the pipeline material, debris type, and the level of cleaning required. 
• Magnets (Magnetic Cleaning Pigs): Magnetic assemblies capture ferrous debris such as black powder, mill scale, and metal particles that accumulate inside pipelines. As magnets become saturated, additional cleaning runs may be recommended to continue removing magnetic contaminants and prepare the pipeline for inspection. 
• Scraper Blades: Scraper blades provide aggressive cleaning for pipelines with heavy paraffin, wax buildup, or hardened deposits. They are commonly incorporated into cleaning pigs when standard cups or brushes alone are not sufficient to restore pipeline efficiency. 
• Gauging Plates: Gauging plates verify that the pipeline has sufficient internal clearance before running expensive inline inspection tools. A damaged or bent gauge plate may indicate restrictions, dents, or obstructions that should be investigated before proceeding with additional pigging operations. 
• Transmitters: Transmitters allow operators to track the location of a cleaning pig as it travels through the pipeline. They are especially valuable on longer or more complex pipelines, helping field crews locate the pig during launches, tracking operations, and receiving activities. 

Every pipeline presents unique cleaning challenges. Identifying the type of debris inside your pipeline is the first step in selecting the right cleaning pig and developing an effective cleaning program. Below are some of the most common contaminants encountered in pipeline operations.

• Black powder:  Black powder is one of the most common contaminants found in natural gas pipelines. This fine, magnetic debris can interfere with inline inspection (ILI) tools, accelerate equipment wear, and reduce inspection data quality. Magnetic cleaning pigs are commonly used to capture black powder, although multiple cleaning runs may be required depending on the amount of buildup. 
• Paraffin: Paraffin(wax) gradually builds up on the inside of crude oil pipelines, restricting flow and increasing operating pressure. Depending on the severity of the deposits, scraper blades, studded cups, brushes, or specialized cleaning pig configurations may be recommended to restore pipeline capacity and improve efficiency. 
• Mill scale: Mill scale is a hard, flaky residue that can remain inside pipelines following manufacturing, construction, or repair activities. Because it adheres tightly to the pipe wall, removing mill scale often requires aggressive cleaning pigs equipped with brushes, scraper blades, or other specialized cleaning components. 
• Rust: Rust and corrosion products can accumulate over time, creating loose debris that affects flow and interferes with inspection tools. Routine cleaning helps remove these materials before they damage equipment or reduce the accuracy of inline inspection data. 
• Sand: Sand, dirt, and other abrasive materials may enter pipelines during construction, maintenance, or normal operations. Left untreated, these materials can increase wear on pumps, valves, and pigging equipment. Proper cleaning programs help remove sediment before it causes unnecessary damage or operational issues. 
• Liquids: Liquids, condensate, and other accumulated fluids can reduce pipeline efficiency and create unfavorable operating conditions. Swabbing pigs and displacement pigs are commonly used to remove liquids and restore normal pipeline operation. 
• Construction debris: Following new construction or maintenance work, pipelines may contain weld slag, rocks, scale, wood, or other foreign materials. These contaminants should be removed before placing the pipeline into service or running an inline inspection tool to reduce the risk of equipment damage and ensure reliable inspection results. 

Different debris types require different cleaning strategies. Learn more about black powder in pipelines, mill scale in pipelines and paraffin and wax removal when evaluating the source and type of material being recovered.

• Less debris
  
• Cleaner magnets
  
• Brush wear
  
• Pressure stabilization
  
• Successful gauge plate
  
• ILI contractor approval

There is no universal answer to how many cleaning pig runs a pipeline requires. The number of runs depends on factors such as pipeline length, product being transported, the type and amount of debris present, pigging history, and whether the goal is routine maintenance or preparing for an inline inspection (ILI). Some pipelines may be ready after just a few runs, while others require a carefully planned cleaning program using multiple pig configurations.

The number of cleaning runs cannot be determined by a standard formula. Learn how operators determine the number of cleaning pig runs a pipeline needs by evaluating the debris and results after each pass.

  Initial Cleaning: The first cleaning run establishes a baseline by removing loose debris, liquids, and accumulated buildup while helping operators evaluate the overall condition of the pipeline. The amount and type of debris recovered often determine the next steps in the cleaning program.
   

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  Aggressive Cleaning: If significant paraffin, mill scale, or stubborn deposits remain, a more aggressive cleaning pig equipped with scraper blades, studded cups, or other specialized components may be used to break up heavy buildup.
   

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  Brush Cleaning: Brush-equipped cleaning pigs provide additional scrubbing action to remove mill scale, rust, and debris that remains attached to the pipe wall after the initial cleaning runs.
   

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  Magnetic Cleaning: Magnetic cleaning pigs capture ferrous debris such as black powder, metal particles, and mill scale. Multiple magnetic runs may be required as magnets become saturated with collected material.
   

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  Gauge Pig: A gauge pig is often run to verify that the pipeline has sufficient internal clearance before launching valuable inline inspection tools. Any damage to the gauge plate may indicate restrictions or obstructions that should be investigated.
   

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  ILI Tool: Once cleaning objectives have been achieved and the pipeline is considered inspection-ready, the inline inspection tool can be deployed with greater confidence that debris will not interfere with inspection performance or data quality.
   

  Example Only: Every cleaning program is different. Additional brush, magnetic, gauging, or verification runs may be recommended depending on pipeline conditions and project objectives

Every successful pipeline cleaning program begins with understanding the pipeline, the debris being removed, and the overall cleaning objective. Learn how experienced operators plan cleaning sequences, select pig configurations, and prepare pipelines for inline inspection in our Ultimate Pipeline Cleaning Planning Guide.  

• Wrong pig
  
• Wrong cup hardness
  
• Running ILI too early
  
• Skipping magnetic cleaning
  
• Stopping after one run
  
• Using worn brushes

There is no single cleaning pig that is best for every pipeline. The proper cleaning pig depends on:

• Pipeline diameter 
• Product being transported 
• Type of debris 
• Flow conditions 
• Length 
• Previous pigging history 
• Receivers 
• Bends

Standard cleaning pigs solve most pipeline cleaning applications. However, some pipelines require a more specialized solution.

A custom cleaning pig may be the right choice if your pipeline has:

Hard-packed debris such as calcium carbonate, paraffin, wax, or mill scale

Multiple or changing internal diameters

Tight bends or complex pipeline geometry

Heavy debris loading that overwhelms standard cleaning pigs

Repeated cleaning runs that are not producing the desired results

Unique operating conditions or cleaning objectives

Enduro's Dedicated Cleaning Pig Division works directly with pipeline operators to engineer cleaning pigs for the specific conditions inside their pipeline. From custom cup and disc configurations to specialized brush systems, magnetic assemblies, hammer wheel designs, and complete pig trains, every solution is built around the application—not a standard catalog.

If your current cleaning program isn't achieving the results you need, we'd be happy to review your application and recommend a solution.

See Real Custom Cleaning Applications 

Cleaning pig cups and discs are both urethane sealing elements, but they perform differently inside the pipeline. The right configuration depends on the cleaning objective, pipeline geometry, operating conditions, and whether the pig needs to travel in one or both directions.

Cleaning Pig Cups

Cups are shaped to maintain contact with the pipe wall and create a strong seal as pressure moves the pig through the pipeline. Their directional shape generally makes them best suited for one-way travel.

Cleaning pig cups are commonly used for:

Moving liquids or separating products

Removing loose debris

Providing a strong pipeline seal

Supporting cleaning components such as brushes or magnets

Batching and displacement applications

Cups can also provide a wiping or scraping action against the pipe wall. The cup design, hardness, thickness, and diameter can be adjusted for the operating conditions and the amount of sealing or cleaning force required.

Cleaning Pig Discs

Discs are flat urethane sealing elements that flex as the pig travels through the pipeline. Because they do not have the same directional shape as cups, discs are frequently used on bi-directional cleaning pigs.

Cleaning pig discs are commonly used for:

Bi-directional pigging applications

Removing liquids and loose debris

Supporting brush, magnet, or scraper components

Negotiating changes in pipeline geometry

Cleaning pipelines where the pig may need to reverse direction

Disc configurations may include sealing discs, guide discs, or combinations designed to provide stability, cleaning contact, and effective differential pressure.

Should You Choose Cups or Discs?

Neither design is automatically better for every pipeline. Cups may be preferred when strong sealing and one-directional travel are priorities. Discs are often selected when flexibility or bi-directional operation is required.

Some cleaning pigs use a combination of cups and discs to balance sealing, stability, cleaning performance, and pipeline traversability. Pig selection should be based on the pipeline configuration, contaminants present, operating conditions, and the desired result of the cleaning run.

Need help comparing available designs? Review our Cleaning Pig Comparison Guide or contact Enduro to discuss the pipeline conditions and cleaning objective.

Brush cleaning pigs use wire brushes or other abrasive cleaning elements to loosen and remove deposits attached to the internal pipe wall. They are typically used when standard cups or discs alone cannot provide enough mechanical cleaning action.

Depending on the application, brush pigs may help remove:

Rust and loose corrosion products

Mill scale

Hardened or adhered debris

Construction debris

Some wax or paraffin deposits

Material collected around welds and internal pipe surfaces

As the pig moves through the pipeline, the brushes maintain contact with the pipe wall and disturb deposits so they can be carried downstream and recovered.

Types of Brush Configurations

Brushes can be incorporated into several cleaning pig designs. Enduro configurations may include:

Circular brushes

Wrap-around brushes

Replaceable brush components

Brushes combined with cups or discs

Brushes combined with magnets

Custom brush arrangements for unusual pipeline conditions

The appropriate brush configuration depends on the pipe diameter, wall contact required, bend radius, internal restrictions, type of debris, and condition of the pipeline.

When Should a Brush Pig Be Used?

Brush pigs are often introduced as part of a progressive cleaning program. Operators may begin with less aggressive pigs to remove loose material before using brushes to address deposits that remain attached to the pipe wall.

Introducing an aggressive brush pig too early can release a large amount of debris at once. This may increase differential pressure, overload the pig, or create operational challenges. Debris recovery should be evaluated after every run so the next pig can be selected based on actual pipeline conditions.

Brush pigs may also be paired with magnets when both adhered material and ferrous debris are expected. The brushes loosen deposits, while the magnetic components collect black powder, rust flakes, welding debris, and other loose ferrous particles.

Every cleaning program should be developed around the pipeline’s operating history, expected contaminants, restrictions, and final objective.

Planning a cleaning sequence? Use the Pipeline Cleaning Planning Guide to see how operators progress from initial cleaning runs to more aggressive brush, magnetic, gauging, or pre-ILI preparation runs.

Pipeline cleaning pigs are specialized tools inserted into pipelines to remove debris, wax, scale, or liquids. They maintain flow efficiency, reduce corrosion risk, and prepare lines for inline inspection (ILI).

Pipeline cleaning pigs are tools used to remove debris, reduce corrosion risk, and keep pipelines operating efficiently. They are also essential for preparing lines for in-line inspection (ILI), ensuring accurate inspection results and supporting long-term pipeline integrity.

Pipeline cleaning services involve removing debris, buildup, and contaminants from pipelines to improve flow efficiency and prepare for inline inspection (ILI). These services use specialized cleaning pigs and customized programs based on pipeline conditions, product type, and operational goals.

The choice depends on pipeline size, product type, debris load, and inspection prep needs. Enduro experts can help design pigs for your exact specs.

Magnetic and brush elements are both components that can be built into cleaning pigs. Magnetic elements capture ferrous debris that may interfere with inspections, while brush elements scrape away wax, scale, and other deposits. They can be used independently or combined in a single cleaning pig, depending on the specific cleaning objectives and pipeline conditions.

Yes — Enduro builds pigs to meet your exact operating conditions and project deadlines.

Enduro offers the fastest turnaround in the industry with bulk ordering and 24/7 Shopify store availability.

The right pig design depends on several factors — including product type, debris load, flow conditions, and whether the line is being prepared for inspection. Enduro’s Pipeline Cleaning Pig Division works directly with operators to evaluate these conditions and recommend the most effective configuration. Our cleaning pig experts can help you choose the right combination of cups, brushes, magnets, and gauge plates to meet your pipeline’s needs.

With over 30 years of expertise, Enduro’s dedicated Pipeline Cleaning Pig Division provides custom-built cleaning pigs, advanced configurations, and unmatched customer-first service. Our team of cleaning pig experts works directly with operators to deliver reliable results, fast turnaround, and innovative solutions trusted by pipeline companies worldwide.

Cleaning pig cups are directional sealing elements that provide strong contact with the pipe wall and are commonly used for one-way cleaning, batching, and displacement. Discs are flat, flexible sealing elements frequently used on bi-directional pigs or where greater flexibility is needed. Some cleaning pigs combine cups and discs to balance sealing, stability, and cleaning performance.

Brush cleaning pigs use wire brushes or similar cleaning elements to loosen rust, mill scale, corrosion products, construction debris, and other deposits attached to the internal pipe wall. They are often used as part of a progressive cleaning program after less aggressive pigs have removed loose debris.