Coiled tubing · Intervention
Coiled Tubing Reel
A large spool carrying one continuous string of steel pipe, from about 2,000 to more than 15,000 ft long.
What it does
Feeds pipe to the injector and takes it back. Because the string has no connections, fluid can be pumped through it while it moves in a live well.
Basics
| Pipe size | 1 to 4 1/2 in OD |
| Length | About 2,000 to 15,000 ft or more |
| Key feature | Pump while moving, no connections to make up |
| Wear | Each bend over the reel and gooseneck fatigues the pipe |
Common failures
- Fatigue crack or pinhole in the coiled tubing
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Fluid leak at the reel or loss of pump pressure
- Likely cause
- Pinhole from fatigue or corrosion
- What to check
- Stop, pull out of hole, cut the damaged section and track fatigue life