Recompletions Using Large-Diameter Coiled Tubing: Prudhoe Bay Case History and Discussion

Blount, C.G.; Ward, Stephen L.; Weiss, Tomáš; Hightower, C.M.

doi:10.2118/22821-ms

All Days 1991

DOI: 10.2118/22821-ms

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Recompletions Using Large-Diameter Coiled Tubing: Prudhoe Bay Case History and Discussion

C.G. Blount¹,

Stephen L. Ward²,

Tomáš Weiss³

et al.

Abstract: The paper describes the recompletion of an oil well in the Prudhoe Bay field using coiled tubing (CT) in the first use of two inch outside diameter (OD) CT. The CT and currently available auxiliary equipment were installed inside of the existing production tubing to improve flowing tubing hydraulics. The feasibility of relatively large CT for production tubing is demonstrated. In the example well, installation of coiled tubing enabled a "dead" well to be restored to production at a rate of several hundred barr… Show more

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Emerging Coiled-Tubing Applications at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Blount

Ward

Hightower

et al. 1993

SPE Western Regional Meeting

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Coiled tubing (CT) has been used at Prudhoe Bay since the early 1980’s, saving hundreds of millions of dollars in well servicing costs for such operations as cement squeezing, well cleanouts, stimulation, inflatable packers and plug placements, fishing, and temporary artificial lift applications previously performed by drilling/workover rigs. The majority of these CT jobs are currently conducted with 1-3/4″ OD CT which has proven to have excellent strength, capacity, and durability for typical field operations. With the recent availability of 2.0″, 2-3/8″, 2-7/8″ and 3-1/2″ OD CT, additional drilling and production applications once thought improbable to impossible have been achieved.

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Emerging Coiled-Tubing Applications at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Blount

Ward

Hightower

et al. 1993

SPE Western Regional Meeting

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A Spoolable Coiled-Tubing Gas-Lift Completion System

Walker¹,

Hendrix²,

Humphrey³

et al. 1993

All Days

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BP Exploration and Nowcam Services have recompleted a well in the Western Operating Area (WOA) of the Prudhoe Bay Unit with a spoolable coiled tubing gas lifted completion. This completion is unique in that gas lift valves are inside the coiled tubing. Their design allows them to bend as the coil is run into the well, and prevents damage to the valve or the coiled tubing. Advantages of this system are low cost (68% below average rig workover cost) and the ability to run and pull the gas lift valves without stopping to install or remove them. Actual running time for this re-completion was about 18 hours, with 6 of those hours needed to install the Subsurface Safety Valve (SSSV) landing nipple and 4 hours down time due to the Coiled Tubing (CT) injector chains icing up from blowing snow. After completion, the well produced 1060 bpd fluid (320 bopd) at a 1.5 mmscf/d lift gas rate. Current gross production is 750 bpd (260 bopd net) with a gas lift rate of 1.5 mmscf/d. This re-completion is just the first step in the development of a completely spoolable coiled tubing completion system. While this job required cutting the coiled tubing to install a landing nipple for a SSSV, it is an objective to have in place by year end a spoolable SSSV system and any other necessary equipment needed to achieve a completely "slick" completion. Once achieved, it will be possible to run this system in a well without having to stop to cut the coil and install equipment. Introduction Prudhoe Bay wells are on decline. More wells require smaller tubing to ensure continuous, stable production. After several years of production, wells may also have corroded tubing that eventually develop leaks. Until now, viable solutions to these problems included electric line or coiled tubing conveyed tubing patches and straddles, and rig workovers to downsize the tubing, sidetrack to a new location, or plug and abandon the well. An alternative now exists using the spoolable coiled tubing gas lifted completion system. Costing 60 - 70% less than a conventional rig workover, a well can have a new, and smaller, gas lifted completion. P. 291^

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An Evaluation of Large Diameter Coiled Tubing for Subsurface Production Tubulars

Adams

Smith²

1995

All Days

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SPE Members Abstract This paper provides an economic and technological perspective for use of large diameter coiled tubing' relative to threaded tubulars for subsurface production tubing. This new advancement in coiled tubing technology can significantly reduce the expense for purchasing and installing production tubing while increasing hydrocarbon reserve recovery and providing a safer, more desirable ecosystem interrelation. Introduction Since 1990 the world Oil & Gas industry has spent an estimated $3.1 billion annually for the purchase and utilization of new and used threaded production tubing. A breakdown of this annual cost shows that 71%, or $2.2 billion annually, is for installation of tubulars and 29%, or $900 million annually, is for the purchase of subsurface production tubing. Small savings in this area can mean large rewards, especially considering the industry's current economic climate. The recent introduction of large diameter coiled tubing to the industry has generated an alternative to threaded tubulars (Figure 1). Although in its infancy, large diameter coiled tubing technology is poised as a "major impact technology" in reducing the industry's expense of purchasing and installing subsurface production tubulars. Significant indications of growth in use of large diameter coiled production tubing are occurring. Coiled tubing manufacturers indicate that during 1994, 5% of coiled tubing footage produced was devoted toward large diameter production tubulars, a 2% increase versus 1993. Based on a survey of coiled tubing injector head manufacturers, injector heads capable of handling the demands of large diameter coiled tubing have had a tremendous growth rate. In 1992 only four injector heads capable of loads over 60,000 ft-lbs were available, versus 23 by year end 1993. During 1994, 50 units were produced, a 117% increase versus 1993. It is important to define the term "coiled tubing technology" since no industry standard definition exists. This paper uses "coiled tubing technology" to mean technology focusing on coiled tubing. The term "overall coiled tubing technology" means all facets of coiled tubing and its support technologies. LARGE DIAMETER COILED TUBING The coiled tubing manufacturers are currently designating "large diameter" coiled tubing as 2 in. through 3 1/2 in. outside diameter (Table 1). Figure 2 illustrates typical large diameter coiled tubing shipping spool capacities. P. 133

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Recompletions Using Large-Diameter Coiled Tubing: Prudhoe Bay Case History and Discussion

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Emerging Coiled-Tubing Applications at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Emerging Coiled-Tubing Applications at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

A Spoolable Coiled-Tubing Gas-Lift Completion System

An Evaluation of Large Diameter Coiled Tubing for Subsurface Production Tubulars

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