1. n. [Well Workover and Intervention]

Also called a pig, a device with blades or brushes inserted in a pipeline for cleaning purposes. The pressure of the oil stream behind pushes the pig along the pipeline to clean out rust, wax, scale and debris. To clean downhole tubulars a similar device, called a casing scraper or paraffin scraper, may be used.

Synonyms: pig

See related terms: scraper trap