Petroleum Engineers Association

Coiled Tubing
Coiled Tubing is usually defined as a continuous small diameter pipe string, which connects several
surface equipment and associates drilling, repair, completion, and hole refurbishment work, and can be
used in both terrestrial and marine environments. This pipe is usually constructed of a special carbon–
steel alloy, allowing it to be handled as PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) pipes that possess characteristics of
flexibility, antioxidation, fire resistance in some cases, among others.
The physical characteristics of the Coiled Tubing (CT) are the same as those of conventional pipe of
similar diameter, with the advantage that it is not necessary to stow it in a stretch to deploy or remove it
from the well, since it is unrolled or rolled into a mechanically driven reel as if it were a hose, thus allowing
for better and faster storage and transport (see Figure 1). Being a flexible rigid pipe can be introduced
into the well much more easily from the surface, this feature makes it attractive to be used in very deviated
and horizontal wells.

Figure 1 Coiled Tubing Unit (Source: Dynadrill).

The CT pipe can be 9,450 [m] (31000 [ft]) or longer, depending on the size of the reel or the diameter of
the pipe, ranging from 1 to 4 1/2 [in]. A hydraulic drive unit is controlled from the console installed in a
surface central control booth, which drives the injector head in the background to deploy and recover the
CT pipe. The large storage reel also applies weight to the pipe.
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Coiled Tubing's technology is beginning in the 1960s in the area of drilling, increasing its application over
time, now having, according to the Intervention and Coiled Tubing Association (ICOTA) in 2004, with
more than a thousand units worldwide, half of which are in North America.
Initially these units have been used in United States, as well as in Alaska, Oman, Canada, and the North
Sea. The Transnational Halliburton Energy Services, as well as Baker Hugues and other operational
services companies in Venezuela, have implemented pipeline construction projects using this material.
As technology advances, drilling wells using Coiled Tubing is increasing. On the offshore, because of its
high degree of flexibility, this equipment can be coupled relatively easily to drilling rigs.

Figure 2 Components of a Coiled Tubing Unit (Source Dynadrill).

The Coiled Tubing Unit has four basic components, which without any of them could not carry out
operations related to drilling, cementing, repair, and workover operations, so the components are listed
as follows (see Figure 2):
• Storage Reel: Used to store and transport the CT pipe in full.
• Injector Head: Provides traction effort to recover pipe.
• Control Cabin: Surface cabin from which the equipment is operated, and the operation being
carried out is monitored.
• Power Unit: It is responsible for generating the power required for the operation of the other
components.
The configuration of a coiled tubing unit is the following:
• Control cabin (see Figure 3)
• Continuous pipe reel
• Power Pack
• Injector Nozzle
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• Bop

Figure 3 Control Cabin of a Coiled Tubing Unit (Source: Dynadrill).

Figure 4 Control Cabin of a Coiled Tubing Unit (Source: Dynadrill).

Acceptance of CT operations is strongly related to the decrease in time and cost, since by not having to
connect the pipe one by one, it increases the speed of placing the pipe in the well to develop the different
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operations, among which can be noted: Cleaning wells, abandonment of wells, fishing, completion,
cementation, among others.

Advantages of Coiled Tubing

Operating:
• Jobs without the need for a well drowning
• Versatility for a wide range of jobs.
• Permanent development of new technologies.
• Possibility of realization of global solutions.
Economic:
• Operational and mobilization speed.
• Low location cost.
Environment and Safety:
• Decreased audio-visual impact.
• Low impact on the ground.
• Possibility of remote command, providing security to personnel.
• Decrease in the amount of waste.

Applications of Coiled Tubing

The use of flexible pipe in oil and gas well service operations has increased significantly over the past 10
years for applications such as shales and hydrocarbons in compact formations (tight gas/oil).
Perforation
The flexible pipe has achieved great success when performing re-entry drilling, in which a horizontal side
is drilled into an existing well with a flexible pipe carrying an engine and a mud sweep. Re-entry drilling
with flexible pipe can be performed through the existing production pipe and under low-balance
conditions. Drilling new wells from the surface with larger 3-1/2" and 4-1/2" flexible pipe has been
successful in certain markets, especially in shallow gas wells in Canada
Profile (Registers logging) / Perforation
Cables installed within the flexible pipe allow the deployment of profiling or drilling tools in highly deviated
wells. Flexible piping offers several advantages over traditional cable methods, including increased
tensile strength resistance and compression, as well as the ability to work in live wells
Fracture
The flexible pipe has advantages over traditional methods when fracturing relatively shallow wells with
multiple termination zones. Flexible pipe can transport zonal insulation tools to locate the fracture
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treatment and then the flexible pipe is used as a conduit for the fracturing fluid. The fracturing process
can be repeated several times in a single run
Milling/Grinding of Fracture Plugs
Large multi-stage fracture treatments common in horizontal shale gas terminations require the installation
of multiple fracture plugs for zonal insulation. Flexible pipe, along with bottom motor and bore or mill, is
used to mill or grind fracture plugs and clean the well.
Cleaning
Flexible pipe can be used to remove inlays, produced sand, fracture sand, and well debris. The flexible
pipe runs into the well, fluid is pumped through the coiled tubing and the returns are circulated through
the annular space. The flexible pipe can reach the depth quickly without having to kill the well or remove
the production pipe.
Stimulation
Flexible pipe matrix stimulation treatments are designed to restore the natural permeability of the
formation near the well by injecting treatment fluids into the well. Flexible pipe stimulation can be
performed in live wells and combined with other operations, such as nitrogen injection.
Speed String
Flexible pipe is fed into an existing production well to reduce the effective flow area, allowing the natural
pressure of the reservoir to lift water from the reservoir, allowing natural pressure to maintain production
in mature producing wells.
Installation of Submersible Electric Pump (ESP)
An ESP cable can be installed in the flexible pipe prior to deployment, allowing the flexible pipe to support
the ESP cable and facilitate the rapid installation and recovery of ESPs.
Applications with Nitrogen
Nitrogen is transported in its liquid state and then converted into gas at a controlled regime. Being
completely inert in its gaseous state, nitrogen does not react with any treatment fluid or formation, and is
slightly soluble in water, oil and other liquids. The physical characteristics of nitrogen allow its application
in many well services during drilling, completion, and workover work.
Displacement with N2
In circulation movements, nitrogen is pumped through tubing and/or coiled tubing, and fluids are
circulated from the well to the surface. Then the nitrogen can be purged and the well evaluated,
punctured, or put into production. It is usually necessary to pump nitrogen through the ring and into the
tubing and/or coiled tubing.
In injection displacements, the fluid is forced into the formation instead of being circulated outside the
ring. This technique is used to displace stimulation fluids or chemicals within the formation.
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Figure 5 Nitrogen Unit Used within Coiled Tubing (Source: Dynadrill).

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