Increasing Lubricity of Downhole Fluids

for Coiled-Tubing Operations

W hile increasing coiled-tubing

(CT) diameter remains a
theoretical option to improve reach,
doing so creates logistical challenges.
Although fluid-hammer tools and
downhole tractors have extended
the reasonable operational range of
CT significantly, they also increase
circulating pressures and operational
complexity. To reach a 10,000-ft
lateral, the use of metal-on-metal
lubricants will be required to work in
conjunction with the other systems.
Arising from a series of trials is
a new lubricant that reduced the
linear coefficient of friction (CoF) by
approximately 40 to 60% (0.10 to
0.14) under downhole conditions.
Introduction
In this study, the results of an exten-
sive set of laboratory linear-friction
measurements aimed at mimicking
downhole conditions are reported. Tem-
perature was the factor identified to most
influence linear CoF. As far as the authors
of the complete paper are aware, the re-
lationship between temperature and CoF
has never been investigated before for
CT operations, either experimentally or
theoretically. Several in-house laboratory
rotational-friction tests were performed
in the past for understanding the wet-­
dynamic-friction mechanisms for CT op-
erations. CoF values as low as 0.05 were
obtained. Similar low values were also
reported by other investigators. How-
ever, none of these CoF values has been
confirmed in the field (typical field v­ alues
are closer to the generic CoF value of
This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights
of paper SPE 168298, “Increasing Lubricity of Downhole Fluids for Coiled-Tubing
Operations,” by Silviu Livescu, SPE, and Steven Craig, SPE, Baker Hughes, prepared
for the 2014 SPE/ICoTA Coiled Tubing and Well Intervention Conference and Exhibition,
The Woodlands, Texas, USA, 25–26 March. The paper has not been peer reviewed.
0.24 than to the aforementioned labora-
tory values).
Lubricants are used in CT operations
for two primary reasons. The first is the
prejob planned use of lubricant either
to reach farther in a lateral or to reduce
pulling weights. The second, and by far
the most common, application for lubri-
cants is to reduce the contact friction to
reach slightly farther in the well or to re-
lease tubing or tools stuck in hole. These
situations, termed operational recovery,
typically use small slugs of lubricant to
reduce frictional drag locally.
In both cases, engineers are fre-
quently asked to quantify the benefits
of using the lubricant. This is achieved
by post-job matching of the observed
weights to computer-model predictions.
This task is significantly easier and far
more accurate when used in the planned
phase. In these situations, a greater sec-
tion of the well is lubricated and steady-
state weight records are available over a
longer lateral section. Additionally, there
is often the chance to match the base-case
unlubricated results. A quantitative lu-
bricant benefit can be derived when this
level of data is available. In operational-
recovery situations, there are typically
multiple changes occurring over a short
period of time, making an accurate deriva-
tion of friction changes very challenging.
Operational Case Histories
Using Lubricants
The complete paper includes three
case histories covering CT operations
in a variety of situations. Three lubri-
cants, denoted as Lubricants 1, 2, and 3,
were used. All three case histories were
planned in such a way that sufficient lu-
bricant was used to cover the deviated
section of the wellbore fully. The first two
cases present CoF reduction of 33 and
39%, respectively. The third case, with
Lubricant 3, did not yield any change of
friction from the base case. In the first
two cases, the CoF reduction is signifi-
cantly greater than the usual 15 to 20%
observed when lubricants are used for
operational-recovery situations.
Post-job CoF in each case history
was determined by use of the follow-
ing method:
1. Running-in-hole (RIH) and
pulling-out-of-hole (POOH)
weights were extracted while
ensuring that they were from
similar well conditions.
2. The computer model was updated
with the actual circulating- and
producing-fluid/gas rates and
pressures.
3. The surface-equipment factors
that affect predicted and actual
observed weights were adjusted
(stripper drag, reel-back tension,
and goose-neck misalignment).
4. The CoF was modified to create
the best curve fit of predicted
weight to actual weight.
Unless some significant change in
well condition occurs, the CoF should be
the same value for both RIH and POOH
conditions. The most common changes
would be the introduction of lubricant
before POOH or changes in the amount of
solid debris present in the wellbore. Vari-
able factors such as composite-plug or
other debris at the bottomhole assembly
(BHA) would be modeled best as a tensile
or compressive change at the BHA.
Linear-Friction
Laboratory Measurements
The most important factors included in
the laboratory-testing procedure for this

For a limited time, the complete paper is free to SPE members at www.spe.org/jpt.

84 JPT • JUNE 2014

CT168298.indd 84 5/15/14 12:37 PM

 Fig. 1—Linear-friction instrument.
study are temperature, fluid type and
composition, and contact-surface type
and roughness.
The linear-friction tester is shown in
Fig. 1. It can measure wet dynamic fric-
tion at a constant speed of 150 mm/min
(6 in./min). Although this is considerably
lower than typical CT speeds, additional
testing with all the lubricants discussed
in a preceding section of the complete
paper shows that the CT speed does not
have a strong effect on friction.
The friction instrument features a
heating pad below the metal plate (pla-
nar or tubular) on which the CT cou-
pon is sliding. The tests reported here
used three thermocouples: two above the
metal plate at each end and one below the
metal plate (on the heating pad) for tem-
perature measurement and control. Al-
though the heating pad is rated at 300°C,
the maximum temperature at which mea-
surements could be performed was 70°C
because the fluids started to evaporate
at approximately 74°C. All laboratory re-
sults reported here were from tests per-
formed at room temperature (approxi-
mately 20°C), pressure, and humidity.
The instrument is directly connect-
ed to a computer and has its own soft-
ware that allows real-time data acquisi-
tion and visualization of the friction force
or CoF. Minimum, maximum, and aver-
age CoF values were recorded for each
measurement. Each measurement was
repeated 10 times, and standard devia-
tions (SDs) were calculated. For the re-
sults reported here, all SDs were lower
than 0.03, inspiring confidence in the re-
86
CT168298.indd 86
Fig. 2—Three tubular samples used. The first two from the
left are Cr-13. On the right is P-110. All samples were new
when first tested.
peatability and reliability of the labora-
tory results.
Several CT coupons were used. Three
tubular samples, shown in Fig. 2, and two
planar plates were also used. Two tubular
samples are Cr-13, with average rough-
ness of 5.68 and 11.83 µm, respectively,
and the third one is P-110, with an aver-
age roughness of 12.44 µm. The two pla-
nar plates have an average roughness of
0.67 and 9.85 µm, respectively. All sam-
ples were new when first tested.
For a discussion of linear-friction lab-
oratory results for different lubricants, in-
cluding the proposed lubricant (referred
to in the complete paper as the New Lubri-
cant), please see the complete paper.
Other Tests
A temperature test for the effect of the
synergy between the proposed lubricant
and friction reducers and a temperature
test for the effect on aging solutions of
1% proposed lubricant mixed in seawa-
ter were also performed. A regained-
permeability test revealed that the pro-
posed lubricant does not damage the for-
mation, with or without friction reducers.
The temperature-dependent CoFs
were tested for 1% proposed lubricant
mixed in seawater with three friction re-
ducers currently used in CT operations.
Although at 20°C the linear CoFs were
similar for all three solutions, they di-
verge at higher temperatures. For in-
stance, at 70°C, the linear CoF obtained
for the FR1 solution (0.11) was 15 and 21%
lower, respectively, than those for the FR2
and FR3 solutions (0.13 and 0.14, respec-
tively). These results show that the chem-
ical synergy between the proposed lubri-
cant and the friction reducers used in the
field can affect the downhole lubricity. Be-
fore using any friction reducer in the field,
laboratory tests should be performed to
determine the expected lubricity effects.
The temperature-dependent CoFs
were also tested for three solutions of 1%
proposed lubricant mixed in seawater.
The three tests were performed 30 min-
utes, 5 days, and 30 days, respectively,
after the solutions were mixed. Because
all three solutions had very similar CoFs,
it can be concluded that the proposed lu-
bricant is stable from the standpoint of
lubricity when mixed in seawater. This
test was necessary to demonstrate that
the lubricity properties of the proposed
lubricant are not altered if it is prepared
in the laboratory and shipped to the field.
Case History 1
for Proposed Lubricant
This operation was conducted in a 5½‑in.
J-shaped monobore well in the Perm-
ian basin. The lateral was approximate-
ly 3,500 ft in length, with the majority
of the inclination in the 88 to 92° range.
The operation was to perform an an-
nular fracture treatment, with diversion
achieved with a CT-deployed packer. Pre-
viously conducted preparation runs in
this well without the use of a lubricant
revealed a CoF of 0.24, as illustrated in
Fig. 3. When running the CT with a de-
ployment packer for the fracture treat-
ment, the proposed lubricant was in-
troduced at a concentration of 1% with
JPT • JUNE 2014
5/15/14 12:37 PM
 30,000
in this well with the use of an extended-
Weight-Gauge Reading, lbf reach fluid-hammer tool revealed a CoF
25,000 of 0.22 with 1,000-lbf tensile benefit
(Fig. 4). The slightly lower-than-expected
20,000 CoF (i.e., 0.22 vs. 0.24 in the previous op-
eration) was attributed to the vibrations
15,000 of the fluid-hammer tool. When running
the CT with a deployment packer for the
10,000 fracture treatment, the proposed lubri-
RIH Predicted
cant was introduced at a concentration of
RIH Actual 1% with a pump rate of 0.75 bbl/min while
5,000
POOH Predicted RIH at 45 ft/min. This ensured that the
POOH Actual new lubricant was distributed uniformly
0 in the lateral. Additional friction reducer
7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000 11,000 12,000 FR1 was added at 0.1 gal/1,000 gal. Both
Bottomhole Assembly Depth, ft lubricant and friction reducer were circu-
lated by constant-rate chemical-additive
Fig. 3—Case History 1 for the proposed lubricant; predicted and actual weight-
gauge curves during RIH and POOH with CoF of 0.24 (no lubricant present).
pumps to remove any human errors dur-
Excess drag was present between 9,000 and 10,000 ft owing to wellbore ing mixing. To allow post-job calculations
debris on POOH. of the CoFs for RIH and POOH, additional
pull tests were performed every 500 ft.
25,000 Again, post-job force matching revealed a
CoF in the lateral of 0.13, a friction reduc-
Weight-Gauge Reading, lbf

20,000 tion of 41% when no lubricant was used.

Similar CoF values were obtained in our
laboratory tests with the same lubricant
15,000 concentration at temperatures of 70°C.
RIH Predicted
For a discussion of the temperature-
RIH Actual dependent friction model, please see the
10,000
POOH Predicted complete paper.
POOH Actual
5,000 Conclusions
Laboratory data for wet dynamic friction
mimicking the downhole conditions dur-
0 ing CT operations were presented for the
7,000 8,000 9,000 10,000 11,000 12,000 13,000 first time.
Bottomhole Assembly Depth, ft ◗◗Rotational-friction data were
continually optimistic about CoF
Fig. 4—Case History 2 for the proposed lubricant; predicted and actual weight-
gauge curves during RIH and POOH with CoF of 0.22 (no lubricant present). reductions when compared with
An extended-reach fluid-hammer tool was used. post-job matched case histories.
◗◗A new temperature-dependent
a pump rate of 1.2 bbl/min while RIH at 0.13, a friction reduction of 46% when CoF model is proposed that
60 ft/min. This ensured that the new lu- no lubricant was used. Similar CoF values could be incorporated in CT
bricant was distributed uniformly in the (i.e., 0.10 to 0.14) were obtained in our software easily for more-accurate
lateral. Additional friction reducer FR1 laboratory tests with the same lubricant prediction of CT-job parameters
was added at 0.1 gal/1,000 gal. Both lu- concentration at temperatures of 70°C. in the planning stage.
bricant and friction reducer were circu- ◗◗A new lubricant has been
lated by constant-rate chemical-additive Case History 2 designed and tested to
pumps to remove any human errors dur- for Proposed Lubricant demonstrate increased CT
ing mixing. Note that in Fig. 3, excess This operation was also conducted in a 5½- lubricity by approximately
drag was present between 9,000 and in. J-shaped monobore well in the Perm- 40 to 60% under downhole
10,000 ft owing to wellbore debris on ian basin. The lateral was approximately conditions compared with older
POOH (the deviation between the actual 5,100 ft in length, with the majority of the CT lubricants.
and predicted weights during POOH). To inclination in the 89 to 93° range. This op- ◗◗Two field trials of this new
allow post-job calculations of the CoFs for eration was also conducted to perform an lubricant illustrate a close
RIH and POOH, additional pull tests were annular fracture treatment, with diver- match of field and laboratory
performed every 500 ft. Post-job force sion achieved with a CT-deployed packer. data (0.13 vs. 0.10 to 0.14,
matching revealed a CoF in the lateral of Previously conducted preparation runs respectively). JPT

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