Innovative Solution to Prevent Coiled Tubing Operational Failures Caused by Human Errors

Abstract

Abstract The impact of an operational failure during a coiled tubing (CT) intervention is typically more severe than that of other failures because of the nature of the activity. Failure of the tubing or any component of the well intervention process in a live well scenario can compromise well control and/or the safety of personnel. Statistics on causes of CT operational failures (OFs) indicate that a majority of these failures can be attributed to human error. Incorrect actions, or the lack of action, are very difficult to predict and therefore a major challenge to control. Running CT in and out of the well involves a high degree of human interaction and human fatigue, and short periods of inattention during this process are not uncommon. During such activities, inattention can lead to actions that damage, kink or part the CT, with potentially disastrous results. Other causes for OFs include unintentional tensile overloads, overpressuring, runaways and other such events. An electric over-ride device, developed for installation in the hydraulic circuitry of a CT unit, allows setting of limits on all pertinent operating parameters of the injector head. Setting equipment limits for weight, velocity and pressure gives the operator an extra set of eyes, greatly increasing operational safety and efficiency of the treatment. This paper discusses OFs caused by human error and presents case histories that contributed to the conclusion of which parameters require control. The over-ride device used in the control process is discussed in technical detail, and case histories demonstrate the impact of its use on overall safety and service quality in the CT industry.