Method and apparatus for installing strings of coiled tubing

Abstract

The present application discloses a system and method of guiding one or more strings of coiled tubing into a wellbore as the strings of coiled tubing are pulled into the wellbore by another coiled tubing string. The present application also discloses coiled tubing equipment for the insertion of the additional coiled tubing strings into the wellbore.

1 . A method of installing strings of coiled tubing into a wellbore comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first string of coiled tubing,    providing at least one other string of coiled tubing,    joining the first string of coiled tubing to the at least one other string of coiled tubing,    inserting the first string of coiled tubing into the wellbore whereby, the at least one other string of coiled tubing is inserted into the wellbore by the first string of coiled tubing.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one other string of coiled tubing includes a second and third string of coiled tubing.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the first, second and third strings of coiled tubing are joined by a common connector.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the first string of coiled tubing is inserted into the wellbore by an injector.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the common connector joins free ends of the first, second and third strings of coiled tubing.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  where the first string of coiled tubing is of larger diameter than the second or third strings of coiled tubing.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for installing strings of coiled tubing together into a wellbore comprising: 
 an injector for inserting a first string of coiled tubing into the wellbore,    a common connector for joining at least one other string of coiled tubing with the first string of coiled tubing and whereby, insertion of the first string of coiled tubing into a wellbore causes insertion of the at least second string of coiled tubing into the wellbore.    
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the common connector is adapted to join together a first, second and third string of coiled tubing and whereby, insertion of the first string of coiled tubing into a wellbore causes insertion of the second and third strings of coiled tubing into the wellbore.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the first string of coiled tubing is guided into the injector by a first guide attached to the injector.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein the second and third strings of coiled tubing are guided into the wellbore by at least a second guide attached to the injector.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein the common connector is a connector for connecting the strings of coiled tubing to a bottom hole assembly.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11  wherein the bottom hole assembly is a pump.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the pump connector includes two sections which are separable when subjected to a sufficient tensile loading.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein a first section of the pump connector joins the first, second and third coiled tubing sections and a second section is connectable to a bottom hole assembly.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14  further including a separate wellhead pressure controller for providing one or more barriers between the wellbore and the atmosphere.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for inserting at least three coiled tubing strings into a wellbore, the apparatus comprising: 
 an injector for inserting a master coiled tubing string into a wellbore,    a connector for affixing a master coiled tubing string to two slave coiled tubing strings whereby insertion of the master coiled tubing string into a wellbore causes the slave coiled tubing strings to be inserted together with the master coiled tubing string.    
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 16  further including a first guide connected to the injector for guiding the master coiled tubing string into the injector.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17  further including at least a second guide for guiding the slave coiled tubing strings into the injector.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18  further including a well head pressure control and hanging device for receiving the master and slave coiled tubing strings.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the pump connecting means includes a section for permitting sealing with a pressure sealing means to be activated against that section of common diameter.