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SPE 1592
Using Nit
Mohamed Fia
Copyright 2012, Society
This paper was prepare
This paper was selecte
eviewed by the Society
fficers, or members. E
eproduce in print is res
Abstract
In the oil indu
operate without
ike cementing,
of the jointed
flexibility. Unf
ntervention. T
been invented a
This paper intr
concept behind
pumping a very
ubular fluids.
against the we
ransverse wave
of the tubing he
Each well may
echnologies ca
for use that is e
ntroduction
Coiled tubing i
services. Coiled
faster well inte
stiffness make
deviated wells,
sinusoidal wave
There are many
at the end of th
both the tubing
strings. This str
for other jobs.
minimum adde
frictional drag a
This paper wil
calculations beh
269
trogen fo
azudeen, SPE
y of Petroleum Enginee
ed for presentation at t
d for presentation by a
y of Petroleum Engine
Electronic reproduction
stricted to an abstract o
ustry, there is a
t a rig, cutting
, stimulation, c
string, the ne
fortunately, du
o extend its re
and been used.
oduces buoyan
d this techniqu
y light fluid int
The higher de
ell floor. More
e pattern, simil
elp it to wriggl
y need a differ
an be used to r
easily implemen
is a fast growin
d tubing uses s
ervention. How
s the tubing m
, the tubing fa
e pattern.
y tools availab
he tubing, pullin
g and the well
ring can be spe
Buoyancy red
ed cost. It uses
against the wel
ll discuss a ca
hind it.
r Extende
E, Cairn India
ers
he SPE Annual Techn
an SPE program comm
eers and are subject to
n, distribution, or stora
of not more than 300 w
always a need
costs and time
cleanouts, drilli
ed for its ver
ue to its small
each, a number
However, thes
ncy reduction,
ue is to reduce
to the tubing w
ensity of the a
eover, the low
lar to that of a
e its way into t
rent technique
reach the plann
ntable at minim
ng means for w
smaller diamet
wever, this ad
more susceptib
aces high frict
le to achieve e
ng the tubing d
bore. If the jo
ecifically desig
duction is anoth
a lower densit
ll floor, thus in
se where buoy
ed Reach
Limited
ical Conference and E
mittee following review
o correction by the aut
age of any part of this
words; illustrations may
d to go deeper
e by a great ext
ing, production
satility also in
l size, there a
r of tools and t
se tools and tec
one other tech
e the net weig
while interventi
annular fluid c
w density fluid
free flowing g
the well. In thi
for extended r
ned measured d
mal added cost
well services b
ter tubing whic
dvantage come
ble to bucklin
tional forces w
extended reach
deeper into the
ob was at the e
gned for each w
her tool which
ty fluid in the t
ncreasing the re
yancy reductio
h in Coile
Exhibition held in San A
of information contain
thor(s). The material d
s paper without the wr
y not be copied. The ab
and cheaper.
tent. To this da
n, perforation e
ncreases. Coile
are higher chan
techniques like
chniques can o
hnique to exten
ght of the tubi
on to create a l
creates a buoya
d also increase
garden hose. Bo
s case, simulat
reach. As per
depth. Buoyan
t.
ecause of its f
ch allows it to
es at the cost
ng. Especially
while being dra
h. Tractor techn
hole. Friction
earlier stages o
well. Of course
h can be imple
tubing to reduc
each of the tub
on was used to
ed Tubing
Antonio, Texas, USA, 8
ned in an abstract subm
does not necessarily re
ritten consent of the S
bstract must contain co
Coiled tubing
ay, coiled tubin
etc. As this tec
ed tubing is h
nces of tubing
e friction reduc
only be used on
nd the reach of
ing by creatin
large differenc
ancy effect on
es the rigidity
oth the lower w
tions showed a
the requireme
ncy reduction is
fast rig up and
be spooled ar
of stiffness. D
with its incre
agged against
nology and rol
reducers decre
of planning, th
e, this means t
emented even a
ce the buoyant
ing before it bu
o achieve exte
g Operatio
8-10 October 2012.
mitted by the author(s)
eflect any position of t
Society of Petroleum E
onspicuous acknowled
gs greatest ad
ng has been use
chnology gains
highly used in
g getting lock
cers, tapering
n a case by cas
f coiled tubing
ng a buoyancy
ce in the densit
n the tubing an
of the tubing
weight and the
an extended rea
ent of the case
s one other tec
its ability to b
round a reel fo
During well in
easing usage i
the wellbore
llers achieve th
ease the effect
he simplest tec
that the tubing
at the final sta
t weight of the
uckles.
ended reach an
ons
). Contents of the pape
he Society of Petroleu
Engineers is prohibite
dgment of SPE copyrig
dvantage is bei
ed for many we
fame and take
n horizontal w
ked up in the
tubing, tractor
e basis.
g in horizontal
y effect. This i
ies of the annu
nd thus reduce
g and makes i
transversal wa
ach of 23%.
e, a combinatio
chnology that i
be used for dep
or easy transpo
ntervention, th
in horizontal a
and starts buc
his by giving a
of friction by
chnique is to u
may or may n
ages of the plan
e tubing. This r
nd the principl

er have not been
um Engineers, its
ed. Permission to
ght.
ing able to
ell services
es the place
ells for its
process of
rs etc. have
wells. The
is done by
ular and the
es the drag
it follow a
ave motion
on of these
is available
pth specific
rtation and
he reduced
and highly
ckling in a
added force
lubricating
use tapered
not be used
nning with
reduces the
les and the
2
W
W
T
p
p
im
T
s



E
T
d


F

E



I
o
c
2
Well Interven
Well interventi
Tubular fluids
pressures in the
pressure of the
mportant to no
Thus, while de
scale) of a typic
Effects of De
The Darcy-We
derived from th
From the above
1) Pressu
2) Flow r
Effect of Densi
It can be concl
outlet. Thus, p
coefficient. In o
ntion
on is always p
are highly imp
e well. If the p
fluid inside th
ote that if the p
signing a well
cal well interve
ensity Variati
eisbach equatio
his equation.
e equation, two
ure difference a
rate is inversely
ity on Pressur
luded from Eq
pumping a low
other words, tu
Tubular flu
performed with
portant becaus
ressure in the w
he tubing can b
pressure inside
intervention jo
ention operatio
Fi
on
on relates the p
P
1,
P
2
P
SC
, T
SC
q

D
L
T
f
f

Z
o facts can be c
across the pipe
y proportional
re Difference
q. 2 that a high
wer density flu
ubing filled wit
uid
h fluid present i
e it fills up th
wellbore signi
be increased or
the tubing is h
ob, this is an i
on.
ig. 1: Sketch of
pressure loss d

: Inl
C
: Pre
: Flo
: De
: Dia
: Len
: Tem
: Fri
: Ga
concluded:
is directly pro
to the density
her density flu
uid will retain
th a lower dens
in the tubing. T
e void within
ficantly exceed
r decreased to c
higher than the
mportant criter
well interventio
due to friction
let and Outlet P
essure and Tem
ow Rate
ensity
ameter of Pipe
ngth of Pipe
mperature
iction Coefficie
as Deviation Fa
oportional to th
uid will show a
n more pressur
sity fluid will h
Annular f
The most comm
the tubing and
ds the pressure
counter act the
pressure outsi
rion to keep a
on operation
n along a pipe

Pressure
mperature at St
e
ent
actor
he density

a larger differe
re within the
have a more un
fluid
monly used tub
d thus making
e inside the tub
e wellbore pres
ide the tubing,
note of. Fig. 1

to the velocity
.
tandard Condit

ence in pressu
tubing despite
niform pressur
S
bular fluid is fr
it more resista
bing, it will col
ssure. Howeve
the tubing wil
1 depicts a ske
y of fluid flow

tions

ure between th
e the length an
re across the le
SPE 159269
fresh water.
ant to high
llapse. The
er, it is also
ll burst out.
etch (not to
w. Eq. 1 is
(1)
(2)
he inlet and
nd friction
ngth of the
S
tu
th
th

T
l

E
C
th
o
g

E
e
e
i

U
A
s















T
p
r
tu
f

A
tu
th

U
B
th

A
tu
H
r
SPE 159269
ubing. As the d
he inner wall o
he entire tubin
Taking this int
ess susceptible
Effect of Densi
Consider an un
he hose starts m
of the tubing. S
gives a gentle m
Eq. 3 states tha
environment, th
exhibit the sam
s capable of w
Using Lighte
Assume well in
shown in Fig. 2
The overall den
pebble sinks to
running into th
ubing acting o
frictional drag f
At this point, if
ubing would r
he tubing can g
Using Dense
By using a less
he fluid in the
Assuming the
ubings densit
However, incre
relative weight
density increas
of the tubing, p
ng stiffer.
o the well env
e to buckling.
ity on Flow R
nrestrained gard
moving in a tra
Since one end
motion in a dire
at a lower den
his phenomeno
me behavior. W
riggling its wa
r Fluid in Tu
ntervention in a
2. This sketch i
nsity of the tub
o the bottom o
he hole, the ma
on it from the
from the wellb
f the water (8.
reduce significa
go deeper into
r Fluid in An
s dense fluid in
annulus will in
case where th
ty is higher tha
easing the dens
of the tubing i
ses, there is a h
pushing against
vironment, the
ate
den hose with
ansverse wave
d of the hose is
ection perpend
nsity fluid will
on can be used
With the overall
ay into the well
bing
a horizontal we
is not to scale a
bing and water
of a pond, the
ass due to grav
surface. It rea
bore. This is wh
33ppg) was re
antly allowing
the well before
nnulus
n the tubing, th
ncrease the buo
he tubing cont
an the fluid in
sity of the fluid
in the fluid. Ta
higher pressure
t the tubing wa
tubing filled w
a low flow rat
pattern. This h
s restrained, th
dicular to the m
significantly i
d to our advant
weight of the
l.
ell in an open-h
and shows tubi
Fig. 2: Ske
r put together i
tubings densi
vity acting dow
aches a point
hen the tubing
eplaced with a
g less weight to
e the frictional
he net buoyant
oyancy acting o
tains nitrogen,
n the annulus
d in the annulu
able 1 shows de
e drop across th
all in an outwar
with less dense
te of water. It
happens becau
he other end st
movement of th


increase the flo
tage. Using nit
tubing acting d
hole section tha
ing in a well w

etch of tubing in
s much higher
ity makes it si
wnwards on the
where the pus
locks up.
less dense flui
o act downwar
l drag stops it.
weight of the t
on the tubing.
the average d
(oil is 7.1ppg
us increases th
ensities of com
Water
he length of th
rd direction. T
e fluid, will gi
can be observ
se the flowing
tarts moving f
he tubing.

ow rate. Takin
trogen instead
downward and
at is filled with
with a high dogl
n well
r than that of th
ink to the bott
e wellbore incr
shing weight f
id like nitrogen
rds and thus re

tubing is reduc
density of the
or water is 8
he buoyant forc
mmonly used fl
Oil
he tubing. This
Thus, it makes t
ve you a stron
ved that once th
fluid exerts pr
frantically in a

ng the garden h
of water, signi
d with this trans
h oil. A sketch
leg.
he oil in the w
tom of the oil
reases because
from the surfa
n (0.0097ppg)
educing the fri
ced. Similarly,
tubing would
.33ppg), the tu
ce on the tubin
luids in the we
l
retained press
the tubing wall
ng and stiff tub
he flow rate is
ressure on the i
a transverse pa

hose example
ificantly long t
sverse motion,
depicting this
well. Thus, just
on the well b
e there is more
ce cannot cou
, the weight of
ictional drag. A
increasing the
d be 17.5ppg.
ubing would n
ng and hence r
ll.
3
ure acts on
ls rigid and
bing that is
s increased,
inner walls
attern. This
(3)
in the well
tubing will
, the tubing
scenario is
like how a
bore. While
e weight of
unteract the
f the entire
As a result,
e density of
Since, the
never float.
reduces the
4



S
T
a
f

T
w



F
a
a
d
d

D
s


4
Simulation R
To achieve the
annulus. To est
fluids in the tub
This theory wa
was chosen for
Firstly, a base
annulus was fil
and the tubing
density of the t
density of the tu
Different iterat
simulations can
Results
deepest reach
timate how mu
bing and annulu
s tested using c
the test becaus
simulation wa
lled with crude
faces a lot of
tubing comple
ubing will decr
tions of this s
n be seen in Fig
T
h into the well,
uch extended r
us.
coiled tubing s
se of its compl
as run in conve
e oil. The simu
frictional drag
te with its flui
rease significan
simulation wer
g. 4.
Table 1: Density
Fluid
Water
Oil
Brine
CO2
Nitrogen
, it would be b
reach can be a
simulation soft
lex well path.
Fig. 3: W
entional well in
lation showed
g against the w
id is much hig
ntly
re run with di
y of common oi
Density
8.3
7.
10
0.01
0.00
best to have th
chieved with t
tware. The wel
Well used for tes
ntervention con
a lockup at 8,1
wellbore. The d
gher. If the den
ifferent fluids
lfield fluids
y (ppg)
33
.1
0.3
165
097
he lightest fluid
this, a number
ll survey used f
sting
nditions i.e. th
164ft. At that d
density of the
nsity of the flu
in the tubing
d in the tubing
of simulations
for testing is sh
he tubing was
depth, the well
fluid in the we
uid in the tubin
g and annulus.
S
g and densest f
s were run wit
hown in Fig. 3

filled with wa
l is completely
ellbore is 7.1p
ng is reduced,
. The results f
SPE 159269
fluid in the
th different
3. This well
ater and the
y horizontal
ppg and the
the overall
from these
SPE 159269 5

Fig. 4: Variation of lockup depth with friction coefficient



Fig. 4 is a graph of the friction coefficient of the well plotted against depth of lockup. The friction coefficient of the well is a
factor that signifies the roughness of the well. A new well will have a lower friction coefficient whereas an older well will
have a much higher friction coefficient. This graph shows how the lockup depth would vary depending on the condition of
the wellbore. Also, the graph clearly shows that both decreasing the density of the fluid in the tubular and increasing the
density of the fluid in the annulus can achieve extended reach. Using a low density fluid in the tubing and high density fluid
like brine in the annulus, the tubing shows a lock up depth of 10,545ft in the well in this case study. This is a 23%
improvement over the initial 8,164ft. Table 2 shows the improvement in extended reach seen from the simulations in this
specific case.


Table 2: Lockup depth in different scenarios
Base case
Nitrogen in
Oil
Nitrogen in
Water
Nitrogen
in Brine
Lockup Depth 8,164 8,998 9,647 10,545
Percentage of Extended Reach 0 9 15 23


Variation with tubing size
It is common knowledge that larger tubing sizes have more stiffness and are capable of reaching deeper before lockup. It is
also common knowledge that a higher wall thickness makes the tubing achieve extended reach as well. However, in
buoyancy reduction operation, the opposite happens. If the tubing contains a fluid of lower density, it was seen that a lower
wall thickness can achieve increased extended reach. Simulations were run to test this theory and the irregularities can be
clearly seen in Fig. 5. In the specific cases shown below, decreasing the wall thickness achieved an average of 500ft extended
reach.





6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
11,000
12,000
13,000
14,000
0.21 0.25 0.29 0.33 0.37 0.41 0.45
L
o
c
k
u
p

D
e
p
t
h

(
f
t
)
FrictionCoefficient
WaterinOil
NitrogeninOil
NitrogeninWater
NitrogeninBrine
6

T
o
d

F
th
w

C
B
s
tu
th

B
a

D
v
li

A
T

R
A
A
B
G
M
M
P
K
S
T
6
The reason beh
overall weight
density is much
For example, a
hickness has a
weight of the tu
Conclusion
Buoyancy redu
simulations sho
ubing and dens
he tubing and b
Buoyancy redu
and allows for u
Depending on
vary. Along wi
imitless.
Acknowledge
This research w
References
Afghoul, A.C. C
An Introduction
Bigio, D. et al.
Gao, L. A Brief
Montecinos, C.
MIRARCO M
Portman, L. Hi
Kimloaz, C. So
Sameer, K.P. N
Tek, M.R. 1957
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
D
e
p
t
h

(
f
t
)
hind this irregu
of the tubing.
h lower and the
a 2-3/8in tubing
a capacity of 4
ubing is signifi
uction is an ea
own in this pap
ser fluid in the
brine in the ann
uction can also
using lighter d
factors like we
ith other tools l
ements
was done using
Coiled Tubing
n to Coiled Tub
Coiled Tubing
f Introduction
. and Wallace,
Mining Innovat
gh-End Coiled
obrien. T.A. Co
NPS CT Techno
7. Developmen
27/80.20
Fig.
ularity is that
. In other wor
e tubing is capa
g of 0.175in w
40in
3
. This me
icantly reduced
asily available
per is proof-of
e annulus would
nulus achieves
be aided with
ensity fluid.
ell conditions,
like tractors an
the resources
: The Next Gen
bing: History,
g Takes Center
into Coiled Tu
K. 2010. Equiv
tion, http://ww
d Tubing Evolu
oiled Tubing. 2
ology. 2008. N
nt of a Generali
03 27/8
5: Variation of
a lower wall t
ds, a heavier m
able of reachin
wall thickness h
eans 2in
3
of m
d, allowing for
e tool for exte
f-concept to th
d extend the tu
s 23% extended
h the choice of
dog-leg severi
nd rollers, the d
and support of
neration. Oilfie
Applications a
r Stage. Oilfield
ubing. What is
valent Roughn
ww.mvsenginee
ution The Las
2008.
National Petrole
ized Darcy Equ
0.188 23/
Tubing
lockup depth w
thickness incre
material is rep
ng deeper into t
has a capacity
metal is replace
higher buoyan
ended reach w
he dynamics of
ubings reach in
d reach.
f tubing. Using
ity, coiled tubin
disadvantages o
f National Petro
eld Review. Sp
and Benefits. In
d Review. Octo
it? What do we
ness for Pressur
ering.com/fileli
st and Next 10
eum Services.
uation. Journal
/80.175 2
gsize(in) Wal
with tubing size
eases the capac
placed by the
the well.
y of 38in
3
. How
ed by a lighter
ncy reduction.
which can be d
f the buoyancy
nto the well. A
g tubing with lo
ing thickness e
of coiled tubin
oleum Service
pring 2004.
ntervention and
ober 1994.
e do with it? 20
re Drop Calcul
ibrary/file_71.p
Years.
l of Petroleum
23/80.156
llThickness(in
city of the tub
lighter density
wever, a 2-3/8i
r density fluid
done with ver
y principle. Us
As shown in the
ower wall thick
etc., the achiev
ng can be overc
s.
d Coiled Tubin
007. Halliburto
lations in Mine
pdf (download
Technology 9
20.156
n)
S
ing and thus r
y fluid. Thus,
in tubing of 0.
. As a result,
ry little added
sing a lighter f
e paper, using
kness reduces
vable extended
come and its us
ng Association
on.
e Ventilation.
ded 13 March 2
(6):45-47. SPE
20.1
SPE 159269

reduces the
the overall
156in wall
the overall
d cost. The
fluid in the
nitrogen in
the weight
reach may
se could be
n.
2011)
E-741-G.
134

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