Liu Xuquan, Hu Qiangfa, Yu Xunxing, et al. Development status and prospects of coiled tubing technology in China[J]. ACTA PETROLEI SINICA, 2026, 47(9): 1898-1908.
Liu Xuquan, Hu Qiangfa, Yu Xunxing, et al. Development status and prospects of coiled tubing technology in China[J]. ACTA PETROLEI SINICA, 2026, 47(9): 1898-1908.DOI: 10.7623/syxb202609012.
Development status and prospects of coiled tubing technology in China
To systematically review the current development status of coiled tubing (CT) technology in China
identify the technological gaps between domestic and international levels
and define future research priorities
this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the research and application progress of CT technology across the entire industrial chain
including equipment
strings
downhole tools and operational processes
as well as digital software systems. China’s CT intervention capacity has exceeded 10.000 well services annually
with 53 process technologies established across five major application fields
namely workover
fracturing
completion
logging
and drilling. The core technologies
such as CT150 ultra-high-strength coiled tubing
Φ60.3.mm-8.000.m ultra-large-capacity equipment
and electrically driven automated coiled tubing units
have attained globally recognized performance benchmarks. However
China’s CT technology still lags behind international benchmarks in several key aspects
including insufficient operational capabilities for ultra-deep wells exceeding 10.000.m and ultra-long horizontal sections longer than 3.000.m
high failure rates of downhole tools under extreme conditions of 200.℃ and 105.MPa
relatively low maturity of coiled tubing drilling technology
and adoption rate of intelligent wired coiled tubing less than 20% of the global benchmark. In response to these challenges
this study identifies the critical technical bottlenecks
encompassing nonlinear mechanics of CT strings
material failure mechanisms under extreme operating conditions
and intelligent downhole sensing and control technologies. Five strategic recommendations are proposed:continuously enhancing extreme operation capabilities
improving and advancing CT drilling technologies
accelerating digital and intelligent transformation
expanding applications in new energy sectors
and strengthening international exchanges and cooperation. These recommendations provide valuable guidance for propelling China’s CT technology from parallel development to global leadership.
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