SPE-173661-MS

Challenging Conventional Fluid Practices for Coiled Tubing Drilling

James Myatt, Stephen Lynn, Steven Craig, Stuart Murphy, Pedro Correa, and Tomas Padron, Baker Hughes

Copyright 2015, Society of Petroleum Engineers

This paper was prepared for presentation at the SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing & Well Intervention Conference & Exhibition held in The Woodlands, Texas, USA, 24 25
March 2015.
This paper was selected for presentation by an SPE program committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents
of the paper have not been reviewed by the Society of Petroleum Engineers and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material does not necessarily reflect
any position of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, its officers, or members. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper without the written
consent of the Society of Petroleum Engineers is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may
not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of SPE copyright.

Abstract
The Buda formation in Texas presents extreme challenges to prevent formation damage during drilling
operations. After using many fluid selection variations, several operators have determined that underbalanced drilling with native crude is the most optimum method. The initial startup project for coiled
tubing drilling (CTD) operations in this formation has been completed, with more activity to come.
However, as the preferred recirculation of the native crude drilling fluid presents two major challenges.
First, the formation is up to 2% sour, and the native crude is relatively volatile with a low flash point and
high vapor pressure.
Recirculation of sour crude will lead to double-sided exposure of the coiled tubing, which historically
has resulted in extremely short fatigue life. The use of active fluid property testing, in addition to
scavengers and inhibitors with defined mitigation plans, reduces the risk to an acceptable level. Significant
laboratory testing of the fluid properties as the material degrades with time, temperature, and mixing have
been completed. Additional mitigation actions are utilized in conjunction with the laboratory results to
further reduce the volatility properties. Internal technical and operational reviews, along with additional
sourced subject matter expertise, have challenged existing safety, operational, and technical limits.
Operational procedures have been continuously monitored and adjusted to compensate for the adverse
dynamic wellbore conditions encountered during the campaign.
The discussions within this paper detail the background challenges, laboratory testing, operational/HSE
planning and mitigation practices to allow operations to commence. Additionally, the paper covers
operational results as the wells are drilled. These results may provide a basis for future operations utilizing
extreme fluid conditions in other applications within the industry due to the economic benefits from native
crude.

Introduction
Fluid selection is an integral part of every drilling or well service operation. The optimized selection can
make the difference between an economically or technically successful operation and a failure. Increasing
well development costs and a seemingly perpetual trend toward more complex hydrocarbon deposits
drives operators and service providers to seek the best available solutions. At the same time, the industry
is focused on driving improved safety and environmental performance. At times, these drivers do not

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align, and technical compromises are made to achieve the desired solution while ensuring HSE considerations.
A fundamental consideration in fluid selection for drilling or well service operations is the elimination
of formation damage caused by incompatibility between the fluid and the reservoir. While some damage
mechanisms are reversible through clean-up and stimulation techniques, there is a cost to this, and results
are not guaranteed. The use of non-damaging fluid is another option, and requires technical and economic
analysis. One such option involves the use of a fluid native to the reservoir being accessed, or a native
crude. Although this choice significantly reduces reservoir damage, the potential presence of hydrogen
sulfide, water, and carbon dioxide introduces a new level of complexity that impacts risk management.
These factors must be duly considered relative to the application being performed.

Volatile Fluids
History / Reservoir Review
In certain geographies, the use of hydrocarbons for drilling and well service operations has been practiced
for multiple decades. The majority of these operations have been conducted using refined fluids such as
diesel or other less-refined fluids commonly referred to as frac fluids. Because their properties were
known and consistant, these fluid types enabled the users to understand and manage the safety risks
associated with their storage and use. In some cases industry groups have prepared recommended
practices to support these efforts.
The naturally fractured Buda lime is bound by the prolific Eagleford shale, and the collapse-prone Del
Rio shale. The Buda lime has shown high initial production rates in highly fractured areas, owing to initial
fracture drainage prior to the onset of reservoir matrix drainage. Production success has been dependent
on intercepting maximum fracture contact with horizontal wellbores and minimizing formation damage
with the drilling fluid selection. As laterals are drilled with native crude, volumes are returned to surface
and transported for sales or added to the active fluid system. The recirculated fluid system allows for
removal of any contaminated crude during operations. Additionally, when compared to a brine-based mud
system, underbalanced conditions are more easily achieved in the low reservoir pressure encountered
while drilling. The native fluid also provides the additional benefit of not affecting the relative permeability in the fracture throats should the pressure system inadvertently enter an overbalanced state. These
economic benefits, however, contain operational risks.
Fluid properties provide insight into many safety risks associated with these operations, where
flammability is the primary concern. These properties include fluid density, flash point, open/closed cup
vapor pressure, and reid vapor pressure (RVP). Fluid selection using these properties as guidelines
provides a strong basis for risk management. However, when recirculated the process could involve
controlled inflow from the well, causing the true fluid properties to vary over time. In these cases, onsite
fluid testing is used to ensure the fluid properties remain within a desired scope and follow appropriate
safety management.
Current Standards and Pre-job Fluid Analysis
Although existing industry standards vary by region, general recommendations were reviewed by the
service company when evaluating the risk involved with using native crude. RVP is an evaluation method
to establish the relationship between flammability and the lighter hydrocarbon molecular content of the
native crude. The increase in lighter hydrocarbons increases the fluid RVP. The adopted criteria for the
service company defines any hydrocarbon or stabilized hydrocarbon mixture with a RVP greater than 2.0
psi as needing special consideration for pumping. (DACC, 2009)
In effort to minimize the risk involved with volatility and to better understand the adopted standards,
live samples have been collected and analyzed to identify the characteristics of the native well fluid. Lab
results are presented in Fig. 1.

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Figure 1Pre-operation analysis of native crude from nearby wells

The lab results displayed show both live well and treated samples. The samples have been treated by
heat, dilution, and weathering to better reflect daily operations. The live (100 % non-treated) and diluted
(10-20 % non-treated) fluid from nearby reservoirs yielded RVP values exceeding the recommended
standards. The diluted crude showed very little effect in reducing the overall volatility of the fluid.
Although more stabilized, the treated samples still exceeded the recommended standards.
Quantifying and Challenging Standards
The primary indicators used for classifying the produced crude as a volatile liquid were flashpoint and
RVP. Table 1 shows the relative properties between the native crude and other, more-common hydrocarbons.
Table 1Fluid property comparison between various hydrocarbons
Component

RVP (psi)

Auto Ignition F

Flash Point (closed cup) F

Native Crude
Gasoline
Military Jet Fuel (JP-4)
Ethanol
N0. 2 Diesel

7.1 - 8.0
7.8 15.0 (regulated)
3
2.3
0.2

473
495
464
793
~600

35
45
0
55
165

The natural state of the native crude yielded results more similar to conventional gasoline. It is worth
mentioning that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) volatility regulations establish the
maximum allowable RVP for gasoline in various geographical areas during the summer season to be less
than 7.8 psi in the southern states during the summer season and less than 9.0 psi in other areas (EPA,
2010). To better understand the implications of the variance in a fluids RVP, a peer review by an
established underbalanced drilling consulting firm was requested by the service company, in addition to
analysis by internal subject matter experts.
The firm that performed the peer review has previous experience and data from more than 80 wells
which used crude oil as the circulating fluid in Canadian CTD operations. The firm drew on its historical

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operations to provide recommendations for improving the safety process of the operation with regard to
the circulating system and fluid treatment. The recommendations that were made centered on a singular
concept: ensuring the crude is adequately weathered prior to circulating it through drilling equipment. By
weathering the crude to a point where its RVP was less than 5 psi, it was deemed that the fluids overall
level of volatility would be reduced to an acceptable level, allowing operations to be executed safely using
the closed-loop circulation system that the service company designed for the project. Using 5 psi as the
limit point, a management of change (MOC) was created and reviewed by technical and non-technical
management.
The two primary recommended methods for weathering the crude were the addition of an indirect
heating source and agitation of the liquid. The ambient temperature in south Texas is much greater than
temperatures experienced in Canada, so the use of a line heater was not necessary to assist flashing the
light-ends. However, contingency arrangements were made in preparation for produced crude having a
higher RVP than expected. Due to operational logistics, necessary adaptations were made to ensure the
crude was adequately agitated and exposed to atmospheric pressure for a time period long enough to
ensure C1 C5 molecules could flash out of the crude.
Prior to operations, 367 bbl of 38 API crude oil were delivered for testing the effect of circulating the
fluid with the use of a transfer pump in south Texas ambient temperatures. For more than 22 hours, the
crude oil was rolled through a single tank by use of a transfer pump plumbed into the top and bottom of
the tank. The crude delivered had an initial RVP of 5.4 psi. As the crude was rolled through the tank, its
RVP decreased on a slight exponential decline rate to 3.45 psi, following the expected trend seen in RVP
values. The more light ends the fluid contained, the larger the initial decline as they flashed off until the
decline became asymptotic. After three samples with RVP readings below 4 psi, the test was ended and
the weathering effects were deemed adequate. Fig. 2 plots the results of the weathering test.

Figure 2Pre-operation test on weathering effects

Methods to Mitigating Risk and Contingencies

The system implemented to aid in mitigating the risk of the fluid volatility comprised of time, ambient
temperature, and agitation. Fig. 3 shows the flow path of the recirculated system.

SPE-173661-MS

Figure 3Recirculated system to lower RVP

The increased fluid surface volume allowed adequate time for the fluid to lose enough light ends,
reducing the overall RVP prior to pumping it down hole. In addition to the system, another more
non-conventional method used to lower the RVP is by reducing the hydrocarbon partial pressure in the
system with the addition of N2 that is used to maintain underbalanced conditions.
To manage operational risk, contingencies were put in place in the event the RVP began to increase.
These contingencies, in the form of a sequenced response plan, were implemented to provide adequate
time for continuing operations. The engineered mitigations within the sequenced response plan were
approved by a peer review board and distributed accordingly to operations. The color-coded response plan
below was used, in addition to the frequent testing during operations:

Green (RVP 4.0 psi)

Yellow (4.0 RVP 4.5 psi)

Check all equipment

Verify sampling and analyze trends.
If available, increase tank volume for longer retention time.
If available, increase temperature of fluid.

Orange (4.5 RVP 5.0 psi)

No corrective action required

Maintain surveillance

Decrease separator pressure and circulate fluid with pump to create agitation.
Dilute active system with dead crude from sweet tanks to help stabilize.
If available, increase tank volume for longer retention time.
If available, increase temperature of fluid.

Red (RVP 5.0)

1. Take suction on dead crude in storage tanks while active system weathers and continue
drilling.
2. After draining one sweet tank if RVP does not decrease, pick up off bottom and circulate up
to four hole volumes.

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3. If the remaining dead volume is less than the required volume to circulate the well clean, pick
up to the shoe.
4. Re-condition surface volumes as per start-up protocols.
Testing Procedure
RVP testing was performed per ASTM D323. This method consisted of the following procedure
(ASTM, 2009):
1. With the sample at a temperature of 32 and 34F, fill the sample container to 70 to 80% of the
container capacity, and return the sample container to the cooling bath.
2. Completely immerse the open liquid chamber in an upright position in a bath at a temperature
between 32 and 34F for at least 10 min.
3. Immerse the vapor chamber to at least 1 in. above its top in the water bath maintained at 100
0.2F for not less than 10 min. prior to coupling it to the liquid chamber. Do not remove the vapor
chamber from the bath until the liquid chamber has been filled with sample.
4. Remove the liquid chamber from the cooling bath, and then place the chamber in an inverted
position over the top of the transfer tube. Invert the entire system rapidly so that the liquid chamber
is upright. Withdraw the transfer tube from the liquid chamber while allowing the sample to
continue flowing up to complete withdrawal.
5. When the vapor chamber is removed from the water bath, connect it to the liquid chamber without
undue movement that could promote exchange of room temperature air with the 100F air in the
chamber.
6. Turn the assembled apparatus upside down and allow the sample in the liquid chamber to drain
into the vapor chamber. With the apparatus still inverted, shake it vigorously up and down eight
times.
7. After the assembled apparatus has been in the water bath for at least 5 min., tap the pressure gauge
lightly and observe the reading. Continue this procedure, as necessary, until the last two consecutive gauge readings are the same, indicating equilibrium has been attained. Read the final gauge
pressure to the nearest 0.05 psi and record this value as the uncorrected vapor pressure of the
sample.
The standard procedure was slightly modified to accommodate field conditions. A cooled crude sample
was transferred into the RVP apparatus, shaken and then immersed in a hot water bath. The pressure
readings were taken at interval time measurements, then the apparatus shaken again, and reintroduced to
the hot water bath.
Case History
As the under-balanced CTD project transitioned from the planning phase and into operations, RVP data
were collected during drilling operations. The graphs in Attachment A represent the data collected over
four wells with varying production rates and gas-oil ratios. Samples of crude for testing were taken at
various points in the circulating system. The primary reason for sampling at least two positions was to
determine the effectiveness of the weathering process for the designed system. Samples were pulled from
the suction tank (fourth tank in line) and the first tank (directly after the separator) Fig. 4 provides a
simplified diagram of the circulating system and sample points for clarity.

SPE-173661-MS

Figure 4 Simplified circulation system design showing active system

Samples taken from the suction tank provided the necessary information to determine the process
effectiveness. This information provided operations the fluid properties as it heads toward the pump. The
tested RVP values from this data point were frequently monitored and analyzed according to the response
plan put in place. Should the RVP from this point exceed 4 psi, then the appropriate actions were taken
to ensure HSE compliance. The recorded data provided a trend to help anticipate the fluctuation of the
comingled produced and dead fluids. The data trends were then compared to the values after the separator
in the first tank.
The complete results of the RVP trends signified that the weathering component of the circulating
system was flawed. The results suggested that a larger percentage of crude with a lower RVP, therefore
considered to be less volatile, was actually contained in the first tank in line rather than the suction tank.
The most likely cause for this occurrence was gravity segregation. While a percentage of the light ends
flashed off as the crude was exposed to atmospheric pressure as it cascaded from tanks 1 through 3, the
existing crude in the frac tanks from the time of delivery, prior to any production, flashed off a larger
percentage and became more dense and settling toward the bottom of each tank. As production began, the
newly produced crude dumped into the first tank and flashed off a percentage of absorbed light ends, but
not to the extent of the crude that already existed in the tanks. Consequently, the newly produced crude
was lighter and remained in the upper portion of the tanks where the cascade lines were installed. The
lighter, more volatile crude then cascaded into the second tank and exhibited the same behavior, albeit
becoming slightly less volatile due to the extended time in which the liquid was exposed to atmospheric
pressure before it cascaded into the top of the third tank. As more crude was pulled from the third tank
into the suction tank, from the bottom of tank 3 the initial crude stores were exhausted as drilling
continued. As the initial, more highly weathered crude was pumped downhole, it was replaced with a
mixture of initial crude combined with produced, lighter oil. As a result, tank 1 contained a larger amount

SPE-173661-MS

of initial, weathered crude than anticipated and tank 4 was primarily filled with new crude that had
skimmed the tops of the first three cascading tanks. Attachment B illustrates the hypothesis for added
clarity. This hypothesis is further supported by the results from Well 4, a well with very little production
and no losses.
The differently applied mitigations provided various degrees of success. When the mitigations were
combined, the efforts of natural heating, agitation, and surface retention time produced crude that was
weathered to an acceptable level to satisfy the service companys safety standards.

Hydrogen Sulfide Coiled Tubing Exposure

History
Between 2004 and 2009, a joint industry project (JIP) investigated the serviceability of high-strength
coiled tubing in sour environments, concentrating on the measurement of low-cycle bending-fatigue life
after sour exposure. The low-cycle bend fatigue testing was performed in two stages: sour pre-exposure
and low-cycle bend fatigue. The H2S concentration ranged from 1% to 100% and always at atmospheric
pressure (H2S partial pressures from 0.147 psi to 14.7 psi). The samples were placed in dry ice during
transportation to prevent atomic hydrogen from diffusing from the steel.
The sour environment exposure reduced fatigue life of the samples tested when compared with that
measured without sour exposure (i.e., sweet life). Several mechanisms were found associated with the
fatigue life reduction:

Internal hydrogen embrittlement reduced the ductility and the fatigue life performance of the
samples after being exposed to the sour environment. No internal cracking was observed for these
cases.
Hydrogen induced cracking (HIC), middle-wall thickness cracking formed by nucleation of atomic
hydrogen into molecular hydrogen, served as a source of fatigue cracks that propagated during the
bending fatigue testing. This irreversible damage significantly reduced the fatigue life.
Regardless of the H2S concentration used for the sour exposure, the average sour fatigue life for the
samples that did not fail by HIC was generally constant, with values between 50% and 60% of the sweet
life for all grades. The average sour fatigue life when HIC was present was between 12% and 27% of the
sweet life.
The double-sided exposure significantly increased the number of failures due to HIC (i.e., % HIC
occurrence) with the consequent drastic reduction of the sour fatigue life. All 90 grade samples failed by
HIC due to double exposure, with an average sour fatigue life of 9% of the sweet life. The exposed bias
welds failed in what is considered acceptable for sour coiled tubing operations. The application of
anti-cracking inhibitors improved performance by avoiding sulfide stress cracking (SSC) in the weldmetal (Padron, 2010).
Drilling operations were conducted with expectations of the native crude containing a maximum H2S
content of 40,000 ppm (4%) at an estimated bottom hole pressure (BHP) of 2,000 psi (sour service). As
the operations required recirculating the drilling fluid, sections of the string were double-sided exposed
to the sour crude, and others exposed to the sour crude from inside (single-sided exposure).
H2S in Crude vs. Aqueous
The base environment in which H2S is present plays a key factor in the reduction of material properties
of the coiled tubing workstring. In normal H2S operations, where the base fluid is aqueous, adequate
testing results were completed. The effects of double-sided exposure were detrimental to high strength
steel. In crude-based environments the level of severity was significantly reduced, due to increased
hydrogen atom bonding that reduced the potential of HIC in the material. Although HIC was reduced,
embrittlement still existed in the parent and bias weld material. Due to limited knowledge of the effects

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of H2S in crude versus an aqueous solution, a material deration was applied until further testing was
completed.
Mitigation and Contingencies
Due to the fracture networks in the Buda lime, the presence of H2S is difficult to predict prior to drilling.
The potential for H2S contamination is a significant safety concern to the people and surface equipment.
In addition to extra wear on the surface equipment, the coiled tubing metallurgy is directly affected by the
harsh environment of recirculating the native crude. Left unmanaged, the results could be expected to be
similar to the lab testing completed previous to operations. The contingencies and mitigating factors put
in place were based on the more-severe understanding of H2S in an aqueous solution.
Previous testing revealed the benefits of using inhibitors for reducing HIC that occurs when highstrength steel is exposed to H2S. Additionally, other methods are sometimes used to treat the fluid by the
use of scavengers or surface equipment such as an ammonia scrubber and flare stack. Although effective,
treating the fluid can become more challenging and less economical due to the constantly changing
content.
For this operation, both methods were utilized to mitigate the risk involved in the drilling operation.
Chemical injection points were planned at the oil leg of the separator, and a second point at the suction
tank to inject H2S scavenger to treat the produced, sour crude and maintain adequate retention time for
the scavenger to effectively treat the sour fluid. The initial stock of crude delivered to location was also
required to be sweet, however, as drilling commenced and new crude brought to surface, the potential
existed for H2S-saturated crude to be circulated through the fluid pumps and into the coil. Frequent testing
was conducted to ensure the applied mitigations were successful.
In addition to the mitigating practices applied, contingencies were also put in place should the H2S
concentrations exceed the acceptable limits of the coiled tubing. Two sweet crude tanks (900 bbl) were
placed in-line to provide non-hazard based fluid on demand throughout the operations.
Testing Procedure
The onsite method for recording H2S concentration used Drgar Tubes every two hours. The sampling
bottle must be filled with the test hydrocarbon and the temperature of the hydrocarbon must be measured.
The bottle must be shaken by hand for one minute. This ensures the hydrogen sulphide can separate from
the oil and migrate into the empty space of the container. The cap is then removed from the tube and
covered with foil paper. The detector tube is placed on the pump and pushed through the foil above the
oil. The oil is sampled with a stroke on the pump and the results recorded. Although commonly found
within the industry, reliability was questioned during drilling operations due to the erratic readings
observed during the second well.
Case History
While drilling the second well, it was discovered that flowback personnel had used the two contingency
sweet crude tanks for storing produced, sour crude due to high production rates and the inability to quickly
mobilize vacuum trucks to haul oil. This was discovered when the first value of 10,000 ppm concentration
was sampled from the suction tank. As a result, the coiled tubing was exposed to double-sided exposure
to H2S-saturated fluid. Because drilling in south Texas with crude oil as the drilling fluid was a new
technique to the service company, the embrittling effects of H2S in a non-aqueous solution were unknown.
Fatigue life of the coil could not be accurately modeled, especially in the case for double-sided exposure.
The H2S concentrations were greater than 1% in the suction tank, so the scavenger injection rates were
increased to the maximum rate at which the chemical injection pump could run. However, treatment of
such a large volume of highly saturated fluid proved difficult. Fig. 5 plots the results of H2S concentration
testing of the crude oil at surface. Samples recorded at the separator (tank 1) reflect un-scavenged liquid
volumes, while samples at the suction tank (tank 4) reflect liquid samples that had the maximum exposure
time to H2S scavenger and maximum time vented to an atmospheric ammonia scrubber. While H2S

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concentrations were lowered by venting and treating the active system with scavenger, the level still
remained undesirable.

Figure 5Well 2 H2S trends for untreated crude coming from the well and scavenged fluid in the suction tank

After drilling was completed on Well 2, several samples of coil were cut from the string and sent for
laboratory testing to determine the extent of damage H2S-saturated crude had on 90-grade pipe.
CT Sample Testing
The 22 samples were collected from various sections throughout the workstring, as illustrated in Fig. 6.
Fatigue testing was formed to determine if the exposure to the sour oil (single or double sided) had an
effect on the fatigue performance. Samples taken at section D on the reel end experienced internal
single-sided exposure. Samples taken at sections A C had been in the wellbore experiencing doublesided exposure.

Figure 6 Locations of coiled tubing sections taken for fatigue testing post operations

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The fatigue testing conditions used a bending radius of 59 in. and an internal pressure of 2,000 psi to
continue with similar pressures as seen in the field. After the fatigue testing, the sum of the measured
laboratory and observed field fatigue was compared with the expected mean sweet fatigue.
The bias welds failed prematurely, indicating sour exposure had an effect that caused a fatigue
reduction when compared to the expected mean sweet fatigue. Internal cracking historically seen with
double-sided exposure was not observed for these samples. However, the reduction in fatigue life could
have been associated with embrittlement caused by the sour exposure (i.e., hydrogen diffusing within
the bias welds). These results coincide with the historical fatigue testing performed on CT90 bias welds
when exposed to aqueous sour environments without internal cracking (Padron, 2010).
Pipe body samples were collected at different points on the string to determine the effects of single and
double-sided exposure. There was no variance in the fatigue reduction, regardless of the collection point.
The pipe body samples exhibited a shorter fatigue life than mean sweet fatigue. However, the fatigue life
(of both single-sided and double-sided exposures) was greater than historical single-sided H2S exposed
pipe. The variance for the comparisons could be associated with the out-gassing effect (i.e., hydrogen
diffusing out) historically observed (Padron, 2010) and the use of the more benign native crude.
Double-sided exposure was confirmed due to the collected pipe body samples C and D having the same
range of fatigue reduction, even though sample D was never exposed to the wellbore. The historical testing
of double-sided exposure in an aqueous environment historically showed large extreme reductions in
fatigue life when compared to sweet and single-sided exposure (Padron, 2010).

Lessons Learned
The process of recirculating volatile native crude that is potentially laden with H2S gas posed a challenge.
Addressing each fluid characteristic individually was required due to the uncertainty of whether both
would be present. As originally anticipated, the RVP for the native crude was weathered over time by
circulation. The initial high values tended to decline relatively quickly to acceptable manageable ranges
below 5 psi. The H2S mitigation was partially successful. The setup for fluid retention time was less than
desired and could have been improved to provide more time for H2S removal by the surface equipment.
This setup resulted in the coiled tubing experiencing double-sided exposure, but with less-severe damage
when compared to an aqueous environment. The inhibitor prevented HIC from occurring as designed. The
use of native crude aided in reducing the harshness when compared to aqueous environments as well.
Future operations would suggest more efficient fluid retention time.

Conclusion
1. Pre-campaign testing was completed to better understand industry recommendations. Results
showed that the initial RVP values could be reduced to acceptable limits prior to operations.
2. On-site RVP management weathered the native crude during operations.
3. The weathering process can be improved by modifying the tank farm system.
4. The coiled tubing experienced some levels of double-sided exposure. The coiled tubing samples
not double-sided exposed to the wellbore failed at the same rate of single-sided exposed samples
during mechanical fatigue testing.
5. The use of native crude in comparison to an aqueous-based system was more favorable to fatigue
in H2S scenarios.
6. Corrosion inhibitors were successful in preventing HIC from occurring during operations, thereby
meeting expectations.

Acknowledgements
The authors greatly acknowledge Baker Hughes Incorporated for the opportunity to present this paper. We

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further wish to thank field operation crews, project management, sales, and engineering for the execution
and support of this operation. Their participation and assistance was invaluable to the project. The authors
would also like to thank Noel Atzmiller for assisting in reviewing and editing this paper.
Nomenclature
CTD coiled tubing drilling
RVP Reid Vapor Pressure
PSI
pounds per square inch
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
MOC management of change
hydrogen sulfide
H2S
JIP
joint industry project
HIC
hydrogen induced cracking
SSC sulfide induced cracking
BHP bottom hole pressure

References
ASTM Standard D323, 2008, Standard Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid
Method) 1, ASTM International, West Coshohocken, PA, 2009, DOI: 10.1520/D0323-08, www.astm.org.
DACC IRP Volume 8, 2009, Pumping of Flammable Fluids, Enform Canada, Calgary, AB, 2009,
Ed 2.1, www.enform.ca.
Environmental Protection Agency. Guide on Federal and State Summer RVP Standards for Conventional Gasoline Only. EPA-420-B-10-018, 2010.
Padron, Tomas. 2010. Sour Serviceability of Higher Strength Coiled Tubing: Final Results. Paper SPE
130279 prepared for theSPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing and Well Intervention Conference and Exhibition, 23-24 March 2010, Houston, Texas.

SPE-173661-MS

13

Attachment A

RVP trends at various points in the circulating system for four pilot wells

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Attachment B

Depiction of the example fluid levels in the active system. A) Initial crude delivery and weathering prior to production, B) Drilling and
production begins and tank 3 and 4 initial volumes beginning to drain, C) Initial crude drained from tank 4, replaced with produced
crude