Challenges in Planning, Installation, and Operation of Coiled-Tubing Drilling Equipmenton a North Sea Platform

摘要

Coiled-tubing drilling (CTD) is a well-established, commonapplication in some areas, particularly Western Canada.However this practice has not grown to similar activity levelsin the North Sea. Two CTD projects have been carried out onUK North Sea platforms since 1999 and it is over 4 years sincethe most recent operation.As a result of the sustained high oil price, North Seaoperators are looking for methods of sidetracking existingwells to access isolated or stranded oil reserves. The conditionof some North Sea drilling rigs is such that a significantfinancial investment is required if they are to return toconventional drilling. CTD is one option that enables operatorsto access these reserves, without the need to recommission theoriginal drilling facility.The extremely low activity levels of CTD in the UK has ledto the challenge faced by service companies of supplyingsuitable equipment and experienced personnel, to safely andeffectively manage and perform a CTD operation.This paper discusses the challenges faced and somesolutions developed for a recent CTD operation carried out onthe Gannet 'A' platform, located in the Central North Sea.In addition to the challenges mentioned above, to deliver asuccessful well, several new technologies and equipment wereincorporated into the application of CTD to the Gannet field.