Until recently, the removal of scale from highpressure wells in the Gulf of Mexico required the use of a conventional or hydraulic workover (snubbing) rig. The conventional methods, which mechanically removed the scale, were costly and time consuming. Although removal of scale with coiled tubing provided a cost-effective alternative, coiled tubing was only considered for applications with well pressures of 5,000 psi or less. Now, however, with the advent of high-strength coiled tubing, scale-removal operations in more hostile well conditions can be performed.The case histories presented in this paper will provide an overview of the significant benefits that the operator was able to obtain from the use of high-strength coiled tubing in scale-removal operations in high-pressure wells.

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