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Flexible pipe puts oil well back in use

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6 REINFORCEDplastics February 2003 applications A LIGHTWEIGHT, flexible, fila- ment-wound carbon fibre com- posite drill pipe is entering commercial use after passing US Department of Energy (DoE) field tests. Based in Huntington Beach, California, Advanced Composite Products and Technology (ACPT) produces the pipe for drilling into deep and difficult- to-access oil reserves. Tubes are manufactured by winding carbon fibres and epoxy resins around a mandrel and the pipe system’s metal box and pin connections. Once cured, the mandrel is removed and the pipe machine finished and coated for abrasion resistance. According to the DoE, the flexible and tough nature of the composite drill pipe will enable users to re-enter existing vertical wells and drill horizontally to tap into new supplies of oil and gas. It says reaching these addi- tional reserves often requires the drill pipe to curve sharply at a radius of 6-24 m, which can cause stress and fatigue in a steel pipe and reduce its serviceable life. In contrast, the developers say the composite pipe can remain bent for extended peri- ods of time without being dam- aged. Despite having a higher initial cost than a steel pipe, the DoE says overall drilling costs are reduced because fewer pipe fail- ures occur, its flexibility makes shorter radii possible and there- fore less pipe is required to reach a reserve, and it can be reused many times. During recent tests, US oil company Grand Reserves used the pipe to reach a well that had stopped producing in 1923. After being fed to a depth of 365 m, a new borehole was drilled with a 6 cm diameter composite pipe. The hole curved in a 21 m radius until it became horizontal, then drill- ing continued for another 305 m until the pipe hit oil. The renewed well is expected to produce 30-50 barrels of oil per day for the forseeable future. Following the success of the 6 cm diameter pipe, the DoE says a larger 14 cm diameter version may be produced for deep water applications. In deep drilling, the weight of the drill pipe is extremely important. At less than half the weight of a steel pipe, the DoE says composite pipes create less torque and drag, and longer lengths can be stored on off- shore platforms where weight restrictions apply. Brad Tomer, DOE National Energy Technology Laboratory; tel: +1-304-285-4692; e-mail: brad. [email protected]; website: http:// fossil.energy.gov. RES No.306 – USE THE FAST NEW ENQUIRY SERVICE @ www.reinforcedplastics.com Flexible pipe puts oil well back in use
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Page 1: Flexible pipe puts oil well back in use

6 REINFORCEDplastics Februar y 2003

applications

A LIGHTWEIGHT, flexible, fila-ment-wound carbon fibre com-posite drill pipe is enteringcommercial use after passingUS Department of Energy (DoE)field tests.

Based in Huntington Beach,California, Advanced Composite

Products and Technology(ACPT) produces the pipe fordrilling into deep and difficult-to-access oil reserves.

Tubes are manufactured bywinding carbon fibres and epoxyresins around a mandrel and thepipe system’s metal box and pin

connections. Once cured, themandrel is removed and the pipemachine finished and coated forabrasion resistance.

According to the DoE, theflexible and tough nature of thecomposite drill pipe will enableusers to re-enter existing vertical

wells and drill horizontally totap into new supplies of oil andgas. It says reaching these addi-tional reserves often requires thedrill pipe to curve sharply at aradius of 6-24 m, which cancause stress and fatigue in a steelpipe and reduce its serviceablelife. In contrast, the developerssay the composite pipe canremain bent for extended peri-ods of time without being dam-aged. Despite having a higherinitial cost than a steel pipe, theDoE says overall drilling costs arereduced because fewer pipe fail-ures occur, its flexibility makesshorter radii possible and there-fore less pipe is required to reacha reserve, and it can be reusedmany times.

During recent tests, US oilcompany Grand Reserves usedthe pipe to reach a well thathad stopped producing in1923. After being fed to a depthof 365 m, a new borehole wasdrilled with a 6 cm diametercomposite pipe. The holecurved in a 21 m radius until itbecame horizontal, then drill-ing continued for another305 m until the pipe hit oil.The renewed well is expected toproduce 30-50 barrels of oil perday for the forseeable future.

Following the success of the6 cm diameter pipe, the DoEsays a larger 14 cm diameterversion may be produced fordeep water applications.

In deep drilling, the weightof the drill pipe is extremelyimportant. At less than half theweight of a steel pipe, the DoEsays composite pipes create lesstorque and drag, and longerlengths can be stored on off-shore platforms where weightrestrictions apply.

Brad Tomer, DOE NationalEnergy Technology Laboratory; tel:+1-304-285-4692; e-mail: [email protected]; website: http://fossil.energy.gov.RES No. 306 – USE THE FAST NEW ENQUIRY SERVICE @ www.reinforcedplastics.com

Flexible pipe puts oil well back in use

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