Pipe Specifications Coiled Tubing Operations

IRP If required by the coiled tubing string purchase specification, the coiled
tubing manufacturer should pressurize the coiled tubing string with
nitrogen after internal corrosion inhibitor coating.

Note: The positive nitrogen pressure will prevent evaporation of the

inhibitor, minimize the oxygen level inside the coiled tubing string
and prevent moisture and other contaminants from entering the
string. Oxygen is a primary contributor to internal corrosion

Managing Slack for Internal Electric Cable

IRP If a length of tubing is to be removed from a coiled tubing string containing

electrical cable, the end user should ensure the total length of electric cable
inside the coiled tubing string is at least 0.5 to 1.0% greater than the remaining
length of the coiled tubing.

IRP If electrical cable is protruding from the end of the coiled tubing string before a
coiled tubing operation, the end user should verify that the length of cable inside
the coiled tubing string is at least one percent greater than length of the coiled
tubing string before cutting back the excess. Otherwise, the end user should
attempt to pump the excess cable into the coiled tubing string to achieve at least
one percent excess length.

21.3.11 String-Life Management System

Well Servicing Category 1A and 1B/Drilling Class I and II

IRP The coiled tubing string-life management system for Well Servicing Class I and
Drilling Class I and II wells should be adequate to prevent a string failure of the
coiled tubing string due to accumulated low-cycle fatigue.

All Other Well Servicing Categories and Drilling Classes

IRP The coiled tubing string-life management system for all other Well
Servicing and Drilling classes shall be a computer-based system for
tracking the cumulative low-cycle fatigue in each segment of a coiled
tubing string.

IRP The maximum segment length for tracking the cumulative low-cycle fatigue
in each segment of a coiled tubing string shall be 15.2 m (50 ft.).

The fatigue limits outlined below apply to computer-based systems only.

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Coiled Tubing Operations Pipe Specifications

21.3.11.2.1 Fatigue Limits for Base Tubing

IRP A coiled tubing string should be removed from service if the accumulated fatigue
in the base tubing of any section of the string exceeds the applicable percentage
limit of its predicted working life as per Table 21.

Table 21. Fatigue Limits for Base Tubing

Service Type Fatigue Limit
Non-sour 100%
Sour with continuous application of H2S inhibitor 40%
Sour without continuous application of H2S inhibitor 15%

Note: It is recognized that work is ongoing to develop more accurate

fatigue limits for various coiled tubing grades, both with and
without inhibitor protection, in sour environments. As additional
data become available the fatigue limits applied may change.

21.3.11.2.2 Fatigue Limits for Welds

IRP A coiled tubing string should be removed from service if the accumulated fatigue
in a weld exceeds the applicable percentage limit of the predicted working life for
the adjacent base metal as per Table 22.

Table 22. Fatigue Limits for Welds

Fatigue Limit Effective Sour Limit12
(% of Predicted
Weld Type With Without
Working Life of
Adjacent Metal) Inhibitor Inhibitor
Bias weld with uniform wall thickness 90% 36% 13%
Bias weld with different wall thickness 80% 32% 12%
Tube-to-tube butt weld with uniform wall
45% 18% 7%
thickness – orbital
Tube-to-tube butt weld with uniform wall 35%
14% 5%
thickness – manual
Tube-to-tube butt weld with different wall
25% 10% 4%
thickness – orbital
Tube-to-tube butt weld with different wall 15% 6% 2%
thickness – manual

Note: Welds with fatigue limits falling in the shaded area are not
recommended.

12 The effective sour limit column applies the derating factors from Table 10 to the fatigue limits in Table 24
to reflect the degradation in sour conditions.

98 May 2017