Coiled Tubing Used as a
Continuous-Sucker-Rod
System in Slim Holes
The need to reduce the costs of new
oil wells in the San Jorge basin led
YPF S.A. to study the option of reduc-
ing wellbore diameters. For an effec-
tive cost reduction, it was necessary
to use casing with diameters less
than 41/2 in. Completions with cas-
ing smaller than 31/2 in. in diameter
led to the inability to lift the produc-
tion efficiently with traditional meth-
ods. Introduction of a mechanical
pumping system to lift fluids through
coiled tubing (CT) have solved prob-
lems of pump depth and efficiency.
Introduction
Well economics in the San Jorge basin
indicates a tight margin between cost
and revenue. As with many projects,
well economics is very sensitive to oil
price and well-construction cost;
therefore, a small reduction in the
costs may provide a large increase in
profit or make an uneconomical proj-
ect economical.
The reservoirs consist of thin layers
of sandstone isolated by shale. Each
producing zone is poor, but commin-
gling several producing zones in each
well can be profitable. An average of
five zones/well can provide enough oil
production to pay the cost of the well.
Well depth varies throughout the basin
from 2,000 to 8,000 ft, and the difference
between the shallowest and deepest pro-
ducing zone averages 1,300 ft. Most of
these wells produce by use of a sucker-
rod system. However, alternative sys-
tems, such as progressing-cavity pumps
and plunger lift, have been introduced.
First Attempt
Standard configuration in the area is
51/2-in. casing with 27/8-in. produc-
This article is a synopsis of paper SPE
56671, “Coiled Tubing Used as a
Continuous-Sucker-Rod System in Slim
Holes: Successful Field Experience,”
Fernando Solanet, SPE, and Luis
Paz, SPE, YPF S.A., and Humberto
Leniek, SPE, Coiled Tubing Americas,
originally presented at the 1999 SPE
Annual Technical Conference and
Exhibition, Houston, 3–6 October.
MAY 2000
tion tubing. After testing a smaller
configuration of 41/2-in. casing and
23/8-in. tubing, potential savings
could not justify the cost of introduc-
ing new standard sizes in the region.
For instance, drilling contractors
would need extra tools (e.g., drillpipe,
drill collars, crossovers, casing tongs,
fishing tools, packers, and bridge
plugs) for the smaller-diameter wells.
Therefore, the company studied the
idea of casing wells with 31/2-in. tub-
ing, which leaves no room for produc-
tion tubing. The casing must carry the
fluids to the surface without an annu-
lus for releasing gas.
Well G-418 (1,800-ft total depth)
was selected, expecting a low gas/oil
ratio (GOR). The well was perforated
Coiled Tubing
PUMP
ANCHOR
31/2-in. Casing
Fig. 1—Hollow-type pump with
CT installation.
with through-tubing charges. Three
zones across 800 ft were completed.
Each zone was perforated, stimulated
and bled off, then plugged with sand
before starting the procedure on the
next zone. The well then was jet
cleaned with a CT unit, but perforat-
ing-charge debris was difficult to
remove and a fish was left in the well,
immediately below the second zone.
The pump was set above the shal-
lowest perforations and was screwed
onto the top of an anchor/packer that
provided the seal between the pump
chamber and the fluid being lifted.
With this configuration, all the fluids
had to pass through the pump,
including the gas. The GOR was
much higher than expected, and the
pump became gas locked. Also, the
configuration did not allow use of
additives through an annulus, as was
Artificial Lift
normal to prevent wax deposition in
the production string.
Hollow-Rod System
In the 1950’s, several wells in west
Texas and New Mexico were cased
with 27/8-in. pipe and pumped by use
of 11/2-in. tubing used as hollow suck-
er rods. Although the system worked
well, the project was abandoned
because of fatigue-failure problems in
the couplings.
This technique was updated by
replacing the jointed tubing with CT
to minimize the number of connec-
tions. As Fig. 1 shows, the hollow
string is attached to the pump piston
with no side paths; therefore, the fluid
stays inside the string when pumped.
This system is able to pump from
below the perforations and provides
an annulus to allow gas separation and
fluid treatments, usually to prevent
precipitation of wax in the string and
on the casing wall. As Fig. 2 shows,
the polished rod is connected to the
hollow CT, allowing fluid to move out
of the wellbore. Attached to the top of
the hollow polished rod are an elbow
and a hose, which provide flexibility
between the moving upper end of the
rod string and the fixed standpipe of
the production line. Because the trav-
23

Fast Safe
Connector
Coiled Tubing
Connector
Hollow
Polished
Rod
Pulling
Tube
Hollow-Type
Pump
Connector
Fig. 2—Schematic of the hollow-sucker-rod pumping system.
eling valve of the pump is closed dur-
ing the upstroke and open during the
downstroke, production occurs during
the downstroke.
Artificial Lift
Lubrication. Conventional systems
are lubricated with the oil produced
by the well. In the hollow system, oil
must be applied to the polished rod to
lubricate and improve the seal at the
stuffing box. Friction between the CT
and casing is critical because lubricat-
ing fluid may not be present in part of
the annulus. To improve lubrication
in this area, the authors suggest regu-
lar venting of gas from the annulus
until a spray of oil occurs. This mist of
oil will wet both the casing inner wall
and the CT outer wall.
Fatigue. When solid materials are
subject to cyclic efforts, fatigue is an
issue. However, steel may work an
infinite number of cycles if the fatigue
limit is not exceeded. The fatigue-
limit value can be between one-third
and two-thirds of the yield point of
the steel. When designing the string,
it is important to account for the envi-
ronmental influence. A corrosive
environment will lower the fatigue-
limit value.
Field Test
The first CT hollow-sucker-rod system
was tested in Well P-88, a convention-
al wellbore originally equipped with
24
Elbow
11/2-in. Hose
Stand
Pipe
Production Bridge
Coiled Tubing
51/2-in. casing, 27/8-in. tubing, and
7/8-in. sucker rods. The production
tubing was set below the producing
intervals with an anchor and had a seat
for the pump. The tubing was left in
place with the hollow system run
inside and the pump set on the exist-
ing pump seat. The pump was a hol-
low type, with a 11/2-in. piston and a
pulling tube connected to the CT.
Stabilized production matched that
of the conventional system. Dyna-
mometer tests showed the behavior at
the top of the string to be essentially
the same as that of conventional wells.
At the time this paper was written, the
well had been producing for approxi-
mately 1 year without problems.
Next Step
Because Well G-418 had 31/2-in. cas-
ing and was experiencing gas-locking
problems, it was converted to a CT
hollow-sucker-rod system. The clear-
ance between the anchor and inside
diameter of the casing is very tight,
and the wax buildup on the casing
wall made it difficult to push the sys-
tem downhole. Once the pump was at
depth, the anchor was set and the
pump was spaced out. The system
worked initially, but produced for
only a few hours.
Sand-Production Problems. Before
production stabilized, the pump
stuck. Wax buildup in the pump was
thought to be the problem; therefore,
solvent treatments were applied.
When the pump did release, it
stopped operating shortly afterward.
It was observed that fracture-treat-
ment sand had been produced.
The pump was stuck severely and
attempts to free it by pulling the CT at
its approximate yield strength did not
succeed. Fracture-treatment sand was
plugging the annulus between the
moving parts and the casing. The well
had not been cleaned out, and the
production rate was too low to pro-
vide a liquid velocity capable of mov-
ing sand to the surface.
Solving the problem required clean-
ing the sand out of the annulus. Direct
circulation was not possible because
of the valves in the pump. Reverse cir-
culation was not possible because of
the sand compaction. Unscrewing the
CT from the pump was unsuccessful
because the crimped connection with
the CT rotated freely. This connector
was designed to be stronger than the
body of the CT; therefore, it was
unlikely to be pulled apart by pulling
the string.
Conclusions
Even with the problems encountered,
the success was sufficient to encour-
age more investigation of the CT hol-
low-sucker-rod system. The research
cost is justified by the savings from
drilling and completing smaller well-
bores. The system can be successful
with commingled production of mar-
ginal wells with 31/2-in. casing. More
pumping time with the system is
needed to determine its final success.
Connectors need to be redesigned
to restrict rotation. Also, the lower
connector needs a weak point for CT
removal if the pump becomes stuck. A
completion procedure should be
developed to minimize fracture-treat-
ment-sand production with the hol-
low system. Care should be taken to
choose a perforating system where
debris, if any, can be cleaned easily.
Although the system was developed
for pumping slim holes, it could be
installed in larger wells; however,
proper centralization of the CT may
be required. JPT
Please read the full-length paper for
additional detail, illustrations, and ref-
erences. The paper from which the
synopsis has been taken has not been
peer reviewed.
MAY 2000