Coiled Tubing Fatigue

Fatigue Cycles
Bending Stress
+

22.3 ft Radius
 Force Analysis

• Axial Loading
• Column Stability
• Pressure Related
Stresses:
- Axial
- Radial
- Hoop
• Torsion
• Bending . . .
Fatigue Cycles
Bending Stress
+

3 or 4 ft Radius
 Coiled Tubing Fatigue

Plastic
Stress, lbs. (psi)

Yield
Elastic

Strain, in/in.
 Fatigue Cycles
• “Plastic Stress” Reversals

Gooseneck Curvature

Reel Bending
 Fatigue Cycles
• “Plastic Stress” Reversals

1
Gooseneck Curvature

Reel Bending
 Fatigue Cycles
• “Plastic Stress” Reversals

1
Gooseneck Curvature

Reel Bending
 Fatigue Cycles
• “Plastic Stress” Reversals

1
Gooseneck Curvature
3

Reel Bending
 Fatigue Cycles
• “Plastic Stress” Reversals

4 1
Gooseneck Curvature
3

Reel Bending
 Fatigue Cycles
• “Plastic Stress” Reversals

2 5

4 1
Gooseneck Curvature
3

Reel Bending
 Fatigue Cycles
• “Plastic Stress” Reversals

2 5

4 1 6
Gooseneck Curvature
3

Reel Bending
 Coiled Tubing Fatigue
Tension
1 3

0 - Before spooling
5 1 - On reel
2 - Unspooled,
Stress

0 between reel &

gooseneck
Strain
3 - On gooseneck
4 - Between gooseneck
& injector
2 4 5- Downhole

Compression
 Fatigue Cycles
• Bend Geometry
• CT Size and Wall Thickness
• Internal Pressure
• Ballooning Effects

• Economic Life vs Operating Limits

• Fatigue Modeling
• Accurate Performance Tracking
Factors Affecting Fatigue Life

TUBING DESIGN
Better
 Diameter Smaller
 Wall Thickness Thicker
 Grade (strength) Higher
 Section welds Strip bias
Factors Affecting Fatigue Life
Derating Factors for Welds

 Bias 80%
 Tapered Bias 50%

 Orbital Butt 45%

 Manual Butt 35%

 Tapered Orbital Butt 20%

 Tapered Manual Butt 15%

1 QT-1000, QT-900 not tested
Factors Affecting Fatigue Life
OPERATIONAL FACTORS
 Tubing Stresses
– Internal pressure applied to tubing while cycling
– Cycles across the gooseneck (guide arch) and reel
– Over pulls (stuck tubing)

 Mechanical damage
– Stress-riser conditions

 Equipment & Job Layout

– Bending radii

 Corrosive and abrasive fluids

– Reduction in wall thickness (strength)
– Stress-riser conditions
Factors Affecting Fatigue Life

CORROSION

 Inhibited HCl
– Insoluble in HCL solutions; continuous
agitation
– Affect of additives may reduce inhibitor
performance
– Spent acid more corrosive than original
formulation)
– Temperature (>275°F require use of
intensifiers)
– Mechanical vibration from oscillating tools
 TM
Cycle
Coiled Tubing Fatigue Model
• Fatigue Monitoring and Analysis
• Safety Aspects
• Optimization of CT Life
• Capable of Real-Time
Fatigue Tracking
 Operating Life Used for String #1836
140

120
Safe Operating Limit
100

80

60

40

20

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000
 Operating Life Used for String #1836
140

120
Safe Operating Limit
100

80

60

40

20

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000
 Operating Life Used for String #1836
140

120
Safe Operating Limit
100

80

60

40

20

0
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000
 CT Inspection

•Diameter & Ovality

•Wall Thickness
•Transverse & Longitudinal Cracks
•Internal & External Pitting
 Other CT Issues:
• Ballooning
• Ovality
• Thermal Effects
• Neutral Axis Shifting
• Permanent Lengthening
• ?