Experimental and Numerical Study on the Impact of Sand-Carrying Liquid Erosion on Coiled Tubing Wall

Coiled tubing endures significant pressure and fluid impact throughout the oil and gas production and transportation processes. The abrasive action of sand-carrying liquids against the pipe wall leads to gradual thinning, compromising its ability to bear pressure and tension, ultimately resulting in fractures and leaks. To address this concern, this study conducts liquid–solid two-phase steady-state erosion experiments on coiled tubing flushed with sand-carrying liquids. The experiments choose CT110, TS110 and QT1100 tubing samples, explore various particle properties, fluid factors, and pipeline conditions to investigate the thinning rate caused by erosion. The CT110 coiled tubing exhibits a higher erosion rate when subjected to sand-laden fluid erosion in the experiment. This characteristic proves beneficial in numerical simulations, as it allows for a more pronounced demonstration of the effectiveness of erosion prediction models under equivalent conditions. A predictive model for coiled tubing erosion and thinning has been established by incorporating erosion theory and the discrete phase model. The discrete phase model adeptly comprehends and describes the experimental phenomena associated with sand-carrying fluid erosion. By providing comprehensive experimental data and theoretical analysis, this article facilitates the prediction of the uniform thinning rate of the oil pipe wall and enables the estimation of its service life.