Tally-Tube: Petrospec’s Force Analysis and Fatigue Management System for Coiled Tubing Strings

Over the last couple years, Petrospec has developed and deployed their own coiled tubing force data acquisition and fatigue management system, Tally-Tube.

In real time, it can measure the pipe’s pressure, position, and running speed, in addition to well pressure, in-hole, and out-hole forces. It can also perform fatigue management for survey or work strings, and allows for history matching with tubing force analysis (TFA) modelling. Petrospec includes this service for every coiled tubing job at no additional cost to clients.

“Since adding this instrumentation to our trucks, we can record the actual forces required to land a string in a particular well, and compare those numbers against the TFA model. Based on that comparison, we make enhancements to the model that are valuable to clients during the planning stages of new well development,” says Clint Jones, Petrospec senior engineer.

Essentially, Tally-Tube is an integrated data acquisition, data storage, and coiled tubing analysis apparatus. It’s made up of both physical hardware and software located on the coiled tubing units (CTU’s) as well as cloud-based software that work in concert to provide information to their engineering team.

This operational data gets recorded in real time using Tally-Tube’s fatigue analysis, which helps the Petrospec team better decide when to retire a work string. Collecting this data also makes it easier to avoid bursting, collapse, or parting of the coiled tubing.

Petrospec uses the data (collected every meter the pipe is in motion) to prevent CT string failure potentially avoiding costly fishing operation. “When you’re using up to 80,000 pounds of force to pull a work string, it’s important to know exactly which meter of pipe has been subjected to fatigue damage (and how much) on an ongoing, real-time basis,” says Jones.

As a smaller coiled tubing operator, bringing this service in-house has allowed Petrospec to create an asset management tool that extends coiled tubing life and reduces operational costs—a win for everyone.

About Petrospec Engineering

Established in 1997, Petrospec is proud to be a leading provider of turn-key reservoir monitoring systems for oil and gas operators.  We strive to improve efficiency, meet high safety standards, and provide equipment and software for harsh environments.  Our Edmonton-based company is a global innovator in downhole instrumentation, production optimization, and the accurate measurement of temperature, pressure, acoustics, and flow.