A recently developed 2 ⅛-in. intelligent coiled tubing (ICT) system combines real-time downhole data monitoring with the capability to simultaneously provide downhole power, significantly improving operational efficiency and accelerating well recovery in all types of CT operations. From milling, stimulation, and well cleanouts to gas lifting, camera services, logging and perforating operations, this novel system can provide accurate, real-time downhole monitoring of high-resolution depth correlation, differential pressure, and temperature data. The novel real-time downhole communication system consists of a non-intrusive electrical conductor wire, surface hardware and software, and a versatile 2 ⅛-in. bottomhole assembly (BHA) that incorporates the conductor release assembly, casing collar locator (CCL), pressure, and temperature sensor package, and BHA release function. Switching between different applications is as simple as changing out the BHA, which reduces the need to rig-up and rig-down and leads to operational time and cost savings. The main advantage of this system is that it eliminates the downhole uncertainties. For instance, using the real-time downhole depth, pressure, and temperature data, the CT field crew can react to changing conditions, make decisions based on dynamic downhole events, and eliminate missed or wasted runs. Several case studies are presented in this paper. First, an ICT conveyed camera operation was effectively performed in an onshore lateral well in North America to locate the damaged casing. Previously, several unsuccessful attempts with a wireline, camera, and tractor system resulted in 50 hours of total lost time to the operator. Second, a complex cement milling, cleanout, and perforating operation was performed to kick off an onshore well in Netherlands. The real-time CT communication system was used to perforate the well and to have control over its bottomhole pressure, especially during the kick off stage. Third, an ICT system was used in a mature offshore well in Brazil with increasing water cut to run inflatable plugs to isolate the water zone. Fourth, a complex drifting, logging, jetting, zonal isolation, and scale removal operation was performed in a mature offshore well in Brazil to decrease its water cut. Fifth, a matrix acidizing operation was performed in a deepwater cased well in Brazil. The logging profiles showed that the well had low well productivity. Using the ICT system, the perforations were accurately located due to the CCL data and the acid treatment was enhanced due to the downhole pressure and temperature data. Placing the acid at the right spot significantly increased the well productivity. The paper describes the novel real-time data monitoring system and discusses the data acquired during these field operations. The system performance and benefits confirmed during the five operations are presented. These findings outline the versatility of the 2 ⅛-in. ICT system, the predictability of successful operations resulting from using this system, and the cost and time savings for operators.

A newly-developed 3 ½-in. coiled tubing telemetry (CTT) system has been used for the real-time operational optimization of such coiled tubing (CT) applications as milling, cleanout, logging, and perforation, in an offshore multi-well campaign in Norway. The CTT system consists of surface hardware and software, a dual-purpose wire inside the carrying CT, and the multi-function bottom hole assembly (BHA). The wire transmits electrical power from surface to the downhole sensors located in the BHA and the downhole data from these sensors to surface. The BHA, designed in one of three sizes (i.e., 2 ⅛-, 2 ⅞-, and 3 ½-in.), contains a casing collar locator (CCL) and two pressure and temperature transducers that are capable to measure downhole data inside and outside the BHA. One of the main advantages of the CTT system is its versatility. For instance, switching between applications is as simple as only changing a certain part of the BHA. This reduces the need to rig-up and rig-down and leads to operational time and cost savings to operators. Another main advantage stems from its real-time downhole data certainty, as the CT field crew can immediately make decisions based on dynamic downhole events. A few papers have been published recently regarding a similar 2 ⅛ and 2 ⅞-in. CTT systems (SPE-174850, IPTC-18294, SPE-179101, and SPE-183026). In this paper, several case studies are presented for the 3 ½-in. CTT system for the first time. For instance, in the first well, the CTT system helped remove approximately 26,500 lb of scale through a complex wiper trip schedule, effectively preparing the well for re-completion by the main rig. In the second well, the CTT system helped pull all shallow and deep plugs and perforate three intervals in one run. In the third well, the CTT system helped clean out the well, set a plug, and re-perforate it. In addition to successfully performing all these operations, several other benefits resulted due to the real-time downhole data monitoring provided by the CTT system. For instance, the fluid friction reducer (used for reducing the fluid frictional pressure drop) was effectively used at volumes of 70-75% lower than those recommended when the CTT system is not used. Also, all these operations were performed without the need to mobilize most of the wireline and tractor equipment and crew, saving an estimated time per well of six days of wireline logistics and work. The paper briefly describes the 3 ½-in. CTT system and discusses the data acquired during these field operations. The system performance and operational benefits confirmed are presented. These findings outline the versatility of the 3 ½-in. CTT system, the predictability of successful operations resulting from using this system, and the cost and time savings to operators.

Real-time depth, pressure, and temperature data monitoring is currently available for well interventions with coiled tubing (CT). A recently-developed extension for real-time forces (i.e., tension and compression) and torque data monitoring has been added to a robust CT telemetry (CTT) system, allowing further optimizations in operations such as milling, cleanouts, fishing, and extended-reach applications. The real-time CTT system consists of a non-intrusive electrical conductor wire inside the carrying CT, surface hardware and software, and three versions of bottom hole assemblies (BHAs) in different sizes: 2 ⅛-, 2 ⅞-, and 3 ½-in. Each BHA incorporates a conductor release assembly, a casing collar locator (CCL), pressure, and temperature sensors, and a BHA release function. In addition, the tension, compression and torque (TCT) assembly has been developed for the 2 ⅞-in. BHA. Switching between applications is as simple as changing out the BHA, which reduces the need to rig-up and rig-down and leads to operational time and cost savings. The main advantage of this system is that it eliminates the downhole uncertainties such that the CT field crew can react to changing conditions, making decisions based on dynamic downhole events and eliminating missed or wasted runs. Several CTT case studies have been recently presented (SPE-174850-MS and IPTC-18294-MS). The recently developed TCT assembly development and initial laboratory testing results have been also presented (SPE-179101-MS). In this paper the TCT assembly temperature calibration results and field testing are presented showing that combining the TCT data with depth, pressure, and temperature data in real-time increases the job efficiency and control. The paper describes the TCT assembly and its temperature calibration and discusses the TCT data acquired during the first field trial. The CTT system performance and benefits confirmed during the field trial are presented. These findings outline the predictability of successful operations resulting from using the CTT system and the cost and time savings for operators.

Real-time monitoring of downhole location, pressure, and temperature is currently available for many coiled tubing (CT) operations. A newly-developed tension, compression, and torque (TCT) data monitoring capability in real-time improves operational efficiency and accelerates well recovery in all types of CT operations. From milling, stimulation, and well cleanouts to gas lifting, camera services, logging and perforating operations, this intelligent coiled tubing (ICT) system can provide accurate, real-time downhole monitoring of high-resolution depth correlation, differential pressure and temperature, and TCT data. The real-time ICT system consists of a 1/8-in. non-intrusive electrical conductor wire inside the carrying CT, surface hardware and software, and three versions of bottomhole assemblies (BHAs) in different sizes: 2 ⅛-, 2 ⅞-, and 3 ½-in. Each BHA incorporates a conductor release assembly, a casing collar locator (CCL), pressure, and temperature sensor package, and a BHA release function. In addition, a new TCT assembly has been developed for the 2 ⅞-in. BHA. Switching between applications is as simple as changing out the BHA, which reduces the need to rig-up and rig-down and leads to operational time and cost savings. The main advantage of this system is that it eliminates the downhole uncertainties so the CT field crew can react to changing conditions, making decisions based on dynamic downhole events and eliminating missed or wasted runs. Several case studies have been recently presented (Livescu et al. 2015a,b) using the 2 ⅛-in. BHA. They involved ICT conveyed camera operations; complex cement milling, cleanout, and perforating operations; inflatable plug setting operations for water zone isolation; complex drifting, logging, jetting, zonal isolation, and scale removal operations; and matrix acidizing operations. In this paper the new TCT assembly development and testing are presented showing that combining the TCT data with location, pressure, and temperature data in real-time may increase the job efficiency and control. The new capabilities are important for the differentiation between frictional lock-up and potential obstruction tagging; the effectiveness of extended reach technologies such as fluid hammer tools, tractors, and lubricants related to the weight on bit (WOB); the confirmation of jar activation during fishing jobs; and the milling effectiveness over time, quantifying the mill aggressiveness from the back torque and WOB analysis. In addition, the new TCT data could be used to post-job validate in real-time the pre-job tubing force analysis (TFA).

A recently developed 2 1 ⁄8-in. intelligent coiled tubing (ICT) system combines real-time downhole data monitoring with the capability to simultaneously provide downhole power, significantly improving operational efficiency and accelerating well recovery in all types of CT operations. From milling, stimulation, and well cleanouts to gas lifting, camera services, logging and perforating operations, this novel system can provide accurate, real-time downhole monitoring of high-resolution depth correlation, differential pressure, and temperature data.The real-time ICT system consists of a non-intrusive electrical conductor wire, surface hardware and software, and a versatile 2 1 ⁄8-in. bottomhole assembly (BHA) that incorporates the conductor release assembly, casing collar locator (CCL), pressure, and temperature sensor package, and BHA release function. Switching between different applications is as simple as changing out the BHA, which reduces the need to rig-up and rig-down and leads to operational time and cost savings. The main advantage of this system is that it eliminates the downhole uncertainties. For instance, using the real-time downhole depth, pressure, and temperature data, the CT field crew can react to changing conditions, make decisions based on dynamic downhole events, and eliminate missed or wasted runs.Several case studies have been recently presented in an accompanying paper (SPE-174850). They involved an ICT conveyed camera operation in North America; a complex cement milling, cleanout, and perforating operation in Netherlands; an inflatable plugs setting operation in Brazil; a complex drifting, logging, jetting, zonal isolation, and scale removal operation in Brazil; and a matrix acidizing operation in Brazil. In this paper, several other representative cases are presented. First, an ICT system was used in a newly drilled well in Middle East to cut a stuck drill pipe. Second, an operation for creating a thief zone and matrix acidizing was performed in a deepwater well in Brazil. Third, a complex cleanout, milling, selective perforating, and acid stimulating operation was performed in a horizontal producer in North Sea.The paper reviews the real-time ICT system and discusses the data acquired during these field operations. The system performance and benefits confirmed during the three operations are presented. These findings outline the versatility of the 2 1 ⁄8-in. ICT system, the predictability of successful operations resulting from using this system, and the cost and time savings for operators.