COIL Tubing
COIL Tubing
COIL Tubing
coiled tubing refers to a very long metal pipe, normally 1 to 3.25 in (25 to 83 mm) in diameter. It
is used for interventions in oil and gas wells and sometimes as production tubing in depleted gas
wells. Common coiled tubing steels have yield strengths ranging from 55,000 PSI to 120,000 PSI
so it can also be used to fracture the reservoir,
Uses[edit]
Circulation[edit]
The most typical use for coiled tubing is circulation or deliquification. A hydrostatic head (a
column of fluid in the well bore) may be inhibiting flow of formation fluids because of its weight
(the well is said to have been killed). The safest (though not the cheapest) solution would be to
attempt to circulate out the fluid, using a gas, frequently nitrogen (Often called a 'Nitrogen Kick').
By running coiled tubing into the bottom of the hole and pumping in the gas, the kill fluid can be
forced out to production. Circulating can also be used to clean out light debris, which may have
accumulated in the hole. Coiled tubing umbilicals can convey hydraulic submersible pumps and
jet pumps into wells. These pumps allow for inexpensive and noninvasive well cleanouts on low-
pressure CBM (coal bed methane) gas wells. These umbilicals can also be run into deviated
wells and horizontal laterals.
Pumping[edit]
Pumping through coiled tubing can also be used for dispersing fluids to a specific location in the
well such as for cementing perforations or performing chemical washes of downhole components
such as sandscreens. In the former case, coiled tubing is particularly advantageous compared to
simply pumping the cement from surface as allowing it to flow through the entire completion
could potentially damage important components, such as the downhole safety valve. Coiled
tubing umbilical technologies enable the deployment of complex pumps which require multiple
fluid strings on coiled tubing. In many cases, the use of coiled tubing to deploy a complex pump
can greatly reduce the cost of deployment by eliminating the number of units on site during the
deploy.
Production[edit]
Coiled tubing is often used as a production string in shallow gas wells that produce some water.
The narrow internal diameter results in a much higher velocity than would occur inside
conventional tubing or inside the casing. This higher velocity assists in lifting liquids to surface,
liquids which might otherwise accumulate in the wellbore and eventually "kill" the well. The coiled
tubing may be run inside the casing instead or inside conventional tubing. When coiled tubing is
run inside of conventional tubing it is often referred to as a "velocity string" and the space
between the outside of the coiled tubing and the inside of the conventional tubing is referred to
as the "micro annulus". In some cases gas is produced up into the micro annulus. Coiled tubing
umbilicals can convey hydraulic submersible pumps, electric submersible pumps and jet pumps
into wells for both permanent deliquification schemes and service applications.