Considerations For Designing Workover Operations With Continuous Coiled Tubing

McReynolds, A.S.

doi:10.2118/11340-ms

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

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Challenges and Practices for Recovering Stuck Coiled Tubing Pipe

Fonseca

Torres²,

Liu³

et al. 2023

SPE Production &Amp; Operations

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Summary Stuck coiled tubing (CT) is a main operational risk leading to delays, deferred production, or even the loss of a well. Despite general commonalities, each CT recovery can face unique challenges, including managing high pressure, working under limited spatial or lifting constraints, establishing well control, or handling a cable inside the CT. This study consolidates learnings and proposes a general workflow for a basic stuck pipe scenario, rig up, recovery pressure control equipment (RPCE) and well control, CT free point evaluation, bottomhole assemblies (BHAs) and workflows for cutting and freeing the CT pipe downhole, and recovery of the CT at the surface. A consolidation of published case studies provides specific examples of the hardware, workflows, and operational considerations. In addition, the presentation of a recent case study extends the discussion to the challenges introduced by the presence of a cable in the stuck CT and its respective solution. The case study reviews the planning and execution of a CT recovery, including the use of decision trees to guide the decision-making process. It details fit-for-purpose hardware for safely anchoring the cable; packoffs for accessing, tensioning, and recovering it with slickline (SLK); an opening for deploying the wireline (WL) cutting BHA; and valves for pressure testing and well control. That workflow successfully freed 6,818 ft of stuck CT and allowed recovery of the pipe without a workover rig on location, eliminating 11 days of rig time during subsequent tubing pulling. This is the first such documented recovery case worldwide based on a thorough literature review.

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Challenges and Practices for Recovering Stuck Coiled Tubing Pipe

Fonseca

Torres²,

Liu³

et al. 2023

SPE Production &Amp; Operations

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Collapse Pressure of Coiled Tubing Under Axial Tension

Yang

1997

SPE Journal

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As the coiled tubing is cycled on and off the reel and over the gooseneck, initially nearly perfectly round CT becomes oval. This ovality significantly decreases the collapse failure pressure as compared to perfectly round tubing. An analytical model of collapse pressure for oval tubing under tension load is developed based on elastic instability theory and the von Mises criterion. The theoretical model shows satisfactory agreement with experimental data for 3.5" OD and 0.190" wall thickness tubes with small ovality. Introduction The collapse pressure is a measure of an external force required to collapse a tube in the absence of internal pressure. It is defined as the minimum pressure required to yield the tube in the absence of internal pressure. From this definition, "collapse pressure" should be "collapse yield". In coiled tubing, the ratio of outer diameter to wall thickness is typically around 15. Thin-walled theory is adequate to apply to coiled tubing and "collapse pressure" or "collapse yield" can be used without distinction. Coiled tubing is sometimes used in high-pressure wells. If the pressure becomes too high, the coiled tubing will collapse. This could not only lead to serious well-control problems, but may result in extensive fishing operations. A reliable safety criterion of collapse pressure is needed by the coiled tubing operators. Theoretical models of collapse pressure are well developed for perfectly round coiled tubing but not for oval coiled tubing. Coiled tubing is initially manufactured with nearly perfect roundness, sometimes having a small ovality (typically = 0.5%). Perfectly round CT can become oval owing to the plastic mechanical deformation of the coiled tubing as it is spooled on and off the reel and over the gooseneck. As the cycling continues, the ovality may increase. This ovality can significantly decrease the collapse failure pressure as compared to perfectly round CT. An analytical model of collapse failure pressure for oval CT is then developed based on elastic instability theory and the von Mises criterion.

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Challenges and Best Practices for Recovering Stuck Coiled Tubing Pipe Conveying a Cable

Fonseca¹,

Torres²,

Liu³

et al. 2023

Day 2 Thu, March 02, 2023

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Stuck coiled tubing (CT) is a main operational risk leading to delays, deferred production, or even loss of a well. Despite general commonalities, each CT recovery can face unique challenges including managing high pressure, working under limited spatial or lifting constraints, establishing well control, or handling a cable inside the CT. This study consolidates learnings and proposes a general workflow for a basic stuck pipe scenario, rig-up, recovery pressure control equipment and well control, CT free point evaluation, bottomhole assemblies (BHAs) and workflows for cutting and freeing the CT pipe downhole, and recovery of the CT at surface. A consolidation of published case studies provides specific examples of the hardware, workflows, and operational considerations. In addition, presentation of a recent case study extends the discussion to the challenges introduced by the presence of a cable in the stuck CT and its respective solution. This case study reviews the planning and execution of a CT recovery, including the use of decision trees to guide the decision-making process. It details fit-for-purpose hardware for safely anchoring the cable; packoffs for accessing, tensioning, and recovering it with slickline; an opening for deploying the wireline cutting BHA; and valves for pressure testing and well control. That workflow successfully freed 6,818 ft of stuck CT and allowed recovering the pipe without a workover rig on location, eliminating 11 days of rig time during subsequent tubing pulling. This is the first documented such recovery case worldwide based on a thorough literature review.

show abstract

Considerations For Designing Workover Operations With Continuous Coiled Tubing

Cited by 3 publications

References 3 publications

Challenges and Practices for Recovering Stuck Coiled Tubing Pipe

Challenges and Practices for Recovering Stuck Coiled Tubing Pipe

Collapse Pressure of Coiled Tubing Under Axial Tension

Challenges and Best Practices for Recovering Stuck Coiled Tubing Pipe Conveying a Cable

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