World's first 4.5-in. coiled-tubing pipeline

Coiled tubing (CT) is a rapidly growing pipeline technology. Use of CT as pipeline is a new application to an existing technology. Until recently, CT was primarily used by service companies for CT workovers. As the technology expanded, the industry began using CT for other applications such as drilling, coring, logging, well cleanout operations, and artificial lift. As the tubing mills began producing larger sizes, the use of CT as pipelines was considered possible. The application of CT as a pipeline began in the Gulf of Mexico. The early results supported the application as being a low cost, time saving, economic alternative to conventional welded pipe for flowlines. CT applications have been used in 4 to 100 ft of water in the Gulf of Mexico area and the installation techniques have varied significantly. In 1994, the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Co. (Gupco), a joint venture company between Amoco Production Co. and the Egyptian Petroleum Co., embarked on the first international application of the 3.5-in. coiled pipe with a dynamic lay procedure. The cost savings from the first two jobs were estimated to be in excess of 70% when compared to the traditional lay vessel charges. Ref. 1 presents engineering design and field experience. Subsequently, Gupco has taken a leading role in the application of CT technology with the 1996 installations of the first production of 4.5-in. coiled pipe, one of which is a record-setting 62,000-ft high-pressure water supply line. Cost savings of this larger diameter pipe are still yielding 55% over the conventional barge lay techniques. In this paper, we will cover the significant findings of that engineering work and present actual field case histories on Egypt's first 4.5-in. coiled pipeline projects.