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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on October 6, 2009 at 3:13

Dion. The technology of the Play is fascinating but many of the mechanical problems to date have been related to coiled tubing. Are there inherent problems associated with it when used in the extreme conditions encountered in deep horizontal wells? I certainly find the prospect of "re-fracing" a well to be of interest. Past discussions seem to indicate a variance in opinions as to the ability to re-fracture a lateral and whether it would be cost effective. Good post.

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Permalink Reply by Dion Warr, CPL on October 6, 2009 at 3:46

Skip:

As I understand it, the positives of coiled tubing equipment include ease of setup and deployment, portability and smaller crew operation required, which should result in decreased mobilization and operations costs. The negatives include sometimes deleterious operator errors and hangups caused particularly from lack of tool experience and high-temperature and pressure environments (though this can affect any tool setup and use) and wellbore complications from downhole tool loss (fishing and recovery always seems to be more 'hairy' and less successful when dealing with coiled tubing setups, from what I have been exposed to).

I'd like to see what some of the views of our resident experts are on the subject. Halliburton and some of the other service cos. are continuing to make strides at supporting the HZ and unconventional realm, and this caught my attention. As with all things on the cutting edge, the proof may be in the pudding, but I figure some of our experienced folks may have some advance notions on these products and their design.

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