Coiled Tubing Real-Time Monitoring:

A New Era of Well Intervention &

Workover Optimization
Pierre Ramondenc

Society of Petroleum Engineers

Distinguished Lecturer Program
www.spe.org/dl
 Presentation Outline

• Background on coiled tubing

• Why the need for real-time downhole data?
• Review of available measurements
• A wealth of applications
• Summary
• Q&A
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Background on coiled tubing

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 What is coiled tubing?
“Coiled Tubing (CT) is any continuously-milled
tubular product manufactured in lengths that
requires spooling onto a take-up reel, during the
primary milling or manufacturing process”.

Operation PLUTO, 1944

www.histomil.com 4
 What is coiled tubing?
• Straightened prior to being
inserted into the wellbore
• External diameter from 0.75
to 4 in.
• Reel lengths in excess of
30,000 ft available
• Steel yield strength ranging
from 55,000 to 135,000 psi
Present day coiled tubing string

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A wide range of applications
• Fluid conveyance
• Tool conveyance
• Completions

Perforating

Matrix stimulation
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Gravel pack
Why the need for real-time
downhole data?

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Limitations of conventional CT…

CT weight:
Hang off
CT depth:
Spooled CT length

Wellhead:
P, T, Q

Conventional CT: Only surface readouts 8

 … Prevent true optimization
• Need to increase safety
– Have the charges detonated?
– Are we getting stuck at depth?
• Need to increase treatment effectiveness
– Have we pumped fluid at the right place?
– Are we effectively actuating the sleeve?
• Need to increase efficiency
– Can we combine services in one run?
– Can we save time?
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Monitoring as a first step

See what happens downhole

to take corrective actions

Everything starts with a

measurement!
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 Which data do we need?

Intervene at Watch for the

the right place reservoir
Accurate Monitoring response
Real-time
BHA
positioning
of downhole
flow
downhole
data
Monitoring of
wellbore &
tool responses

Perform the right action 11

Review of available measurements

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 Available measurements
• Real-time (RT) telemetry first available with
wired coiled tubing, but
– Reach limitations (size and weight of wired cable)
– Pumping limitations (chemical compatibility)
– Maintenance issues
• Two telemetry systems developed since 2005
– Fiber optics
– Thin electrical conductor
• Compatible with logging tools and cameras 13
 Available measurements

Braided logging cable 0.071-in. fiber-optics tube 0.125-in. tube wire

IPTC 18294 Adapted from SPE 130365 IPTC 18294

• Fiber optics provides distributed measurements

• Thin conductor cable provides power
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Downhole point measurements
• Typical tools operational specifications
– Downhole pressure: 12,500 psi
– Downhole temperature: -13 to 350 F
– Maximum pump rate: 8 bpm
– Drop ball compatible
– Resistant to corrosive and abrasive fluids

Adapted from
SPE 179063 15
 Distributed measurements
• Use of optical fiber as a sensor
Distributed temperature sensing Distributed acoustic sensing
(DTS) (DAS)

IPTC 16873

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SPE 173686
 Distributed measurements

• Performance of optical fiber depends on

– Glass core type
– Glass coating
– Packaging
• Can resist temperatures up to 450 F
• Resistance to acid depends on fiber type
• Mode of acquisition depends on fiber type
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A wealth of applications

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 Some basic applications
• CCL and GR for accurate depth control (SPE 106567)
• Temperature for treatment evaluation (SPE 184804)
• Pressure for: (SPE 143318, SPE 157379, IPTC 18294)
– Control of gas lifting procedure
– Tool actuation (e.g., jetting nozzles, packer setting)
– Condition assessment (under- / over-balanced)
• Load and torque for: (SPE 153956, SPE 163908)
– Sleeve actuation confirmation
– Downhole motor stall prevention 19
Pipe extension for gas control
SPE 179063

• Precise depth control (CCL, GR)

– To adjust length of tubing tail extension to be cut
– To accurately place the hanging mechanism

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Pipe extension for gas control
SPE 179063

• Control of guns hydraulic activation

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Pipe extension for gas control
SPE 179063

• Weight and
torque to confirm
anchoring
• Pressure to
control setting
process

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 Pipe extension for gas control
SPE 179063

Qliquid, bpd Qgas, MMcf/D

6,000 40

30
4,000
20
2,000
10
0 0
Well A Well B Well C Well D Well A Well B Well C Well D
Before Intervention After Intervention Before Intervention After Intervention

• Faster than recompletion (1 week vs. 3 weeks)

• Producing life extended by at least 2 years
• Investment recovered in 1 month
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 Matrix acidizing IPTC 18362

• Flow
measurement
Y,600

to control fluid
X,500

placement
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 Matrix acidizing IPTC 18362

• Combined DTS and flow profiling to adjust

treatment strategy

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 Matrix acidizing IPTC 18362

• Point flow measurement complemented DTS

• Real-time downhole flow monitoring allowed
controlling fluid placement
• Optimized pumping strategy improved
injectivity nearly 300%
• Results saved drilling of additional injectors

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 Water shutoff CMP 2016

Real-time Analysis of
detonation reservoir
confirmation response

• Control of fiber-optic compatible firing heads 27

 Water shutoff CMP 2016

Puncher holes

Next interval

Newly perforated

• DTS to confirm interval opening and optimize

subsequent fluid placement strategy
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 Water shutoff CMP 2016

• Doubled oil production

• Controlled water production
• Minimized deferred production (live well)
• Combination of services in one run
– Perforating
– Chemical diversion
– Selective stimulation
– Nitrogen kickoff
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 Untapped potential

• DAS to evaluate step rate test

What can you think of?

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 Untapped potential
• Distributed strain sensing for pipe integrity
and fatigue management
• Support to fracturing operations:
– Selective activation for plug & perf
– Fracturing fluid placement optimization
– Flowback evaluation
• Fiber optics and electrical power combination
• RT automated intervention steering
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Summary

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 Summary
CT RT telemetry has opened a new
era of operational optimization
• Measurements unlocks new efficiency gains
• Optimization occurs at different level
– Safer, faster, and more effective services
– Possibility to combine services in one single run
• Application limits still have not been reached
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Society of Petroleum Engineers

Distinguished Lecturer Program
www.spe.org/dl 34
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