Coiled tubing

Microbial-Influenced-Corrosion-Related Coiled-Tubing Failures and Equipment Damage

Microbial-influenced corrosion (MIC) has been implicated in few corrosion-related challenges in the well-service industry in the past.

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Fig. 1—Pitting in 4-in. 1502 iron used in fracturing in the Haynesville shale.

Microbial-influenced corrosion (MIC) has been implicated in few corrosion-related challenges in the well-service industry in the past. Recently, however, the industry is observing an increase of MIC-related equipment damage. This upsurge of MIC coincides with a switch to unconventional water sources, including recycled water. This paper is an overview of premature coiled-tubing and other-well-servicing-equipment failures and pumping-equipment damage related to MIC.

Introduction

Recycled fracturing water has been found to contain high levels of bacteria, typically on the order of 106–109 colony-forming units (CFU) per mL. The bacteria can originate from essentially anywhere in the water-handling system: the water source, transportation, storage, pumps, or downhole.

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