Tenaris Coiled Tubes Reach New Depths

The following is an article from the Tenaris website, reproduced with permission. PDF version 1 page 30k.

June 27, 2008

Tenaris is working with Xtreme Coil Drilling to set a new record in drilling with coiled tubing.

Tenaris and Xtreme Coil are working together on a project that is pushing the limits of coiled tubing drilling technology while introducing deep coil drilling to the US Rocky Mountain area.

Xtreme Coil, a specialized Canadian coiled tubing drilling services company, is pioneering the use of coiled tubing in downhole drilling applications to 10,000 feet, beyond 3 ½-inch coiled tubing’s historical technical drilling limits.

As part of the project, Xtreme Coil asked Tenaris to produce the first strings of coiled tubing. The request required Tenaris to develop new 3 ½-inch outside diameter (OD) tubing capable of drilling a 10,000-foot well.

The coiled tubing strings that Xtreme Coil required to drill 10,000-ft wells had to be light enough to transport on trailers, yet thick enough to withstand the abrasions they would receive in drilling horizontally. Coiled tubing experts at Tenaris worked with Xtreme Coil’s engineers to develop pipe that could withstand the load, operating and external pressures, and fatigue that punishes the coiled tubes in the course of drilling deep wells.

“We examined different diameters, wall thicknesses and grades in order to produce pipe that would best fit their needs,” explains Bruce Reichert, Tenaris Coiled Tubes Technical and R&D Manager. “The final product is the result of a team effort by both companies.”

To date, Tenaris has produced 12 strings of the newly-developed coiled tubes for Xtreme Coil to use on the project, and it anticipates that demand for 10,000-ft well strings will increase as more experience is gained drilling the deeper wells.