Interlaminar modelling to predict composite coiled tube failure

In a field operation that uses coiled tubing in its applications, fibre-reinforced polymer matrix composite tubing is seldom used. Fibre-composite coiled tubes offer advantages, compared to steel material, through a reduction in weight and improvement in fatigue life. The stiffness of composite material degrades progressively when increasing the number of cyclic loading. The fatigue damage and failure criteria of fibre-reinforced composite coiled tubes are more complex than that of steel; hence, failure predictions are somewhat unreliable. Among the defects in composite materials, interlaminar delamination is the foremost problem in fibre-reinforced composite material, and it leads to a reduction in strength and stiffness especially in cyclic-load conditions. Delamination causes a redistribution of the load path along the composite structure, which is unpredictable; therefore, delamination in a composite coiled tube in an oil and gas field eventually leads to final failure, which could be catastrophic. A-ply-by-ply mathematical modelling and numerical simulation method was developed to predict interlaminar delamination of filament-wound composite coiled tubes under a combination of different loading scenarios with consideration to low-cycle fatigue. The objective of this paper is to explain interlaminar delamination as an initial crack and source of stress concentration in composite coiled tubes in the framework of meso-cracking progression of matrix damage modelling of composite laminates. The paper focuses on delamination failure because the largest span of the composite lifecycle is at the crack propagation phase, which manifests itself in the form of delamination. The analysis shows that the crack front tip is not uniform, and also shows that carbon fibre possesses higher stiffness values compared to glass fibre. The paper confirms that 2D modelling cannot express the real release strain energy rate at the crack front tip. Mode-I testing, however, showed that the double cantilever beam (DCB) only represents the normal stress from the release strain energy rate. The results also indicated that there were other sources contributing to the strain energy release rate, such as inter-layer frictions and normal stress in the end notched flexure (ENF) testing mode

Utilizing Coiled tube rig for mineral exploration application

Mineral exploration is in a race to employ drilling technology that can perform the exploration and drilling investigation in a fast and inexpensive manner. After an extensive study of the available drilling technologies in the market, coiled tubing was chosen as a tool to be employed for mineral exploration due to its flexible mobility and ease of operation with minimum number of personnel. Since coiled tubing technology is primarily used in oil and gas industry, it was important to re-design the coiled tube rig to drill hard rocks in a fast and feasible manner. The main requirements were to drill the smallest feasible hole diameter and go as deep in the ground as possible, in the shortest reasonable time. The drilled rock particles, cuttings, are to be collected and analysed at the surface for their metal mineral contents. The process also needs to be repeated multiple times at different locations for mapping, without the need to change the tube on the rig due to failure or potential failure. The focus of the new designed coiled tube, for drilling and mineral exploration, is three fold. First is to increase the rate of penetration (ROP) in drilling by designing a small high speed turbo motor. Second is to determine the controlling parameters of cuttings transport to effectively lift the cuttings to the surface for analysis and third is to minimize the overall weight of the rig for manoeuvring and to prolong the life span of the coiled tube string. In this paper, a small downhole turbo motor, 5cm outer diameter, is designed to achieve a rotation speed of up to 10,000 rpm to fit on a small bit, coiled tube drilling assembly. The motor design utilised multiple finite volume and finite element analysis software for fluid flow study and fluid structural interaction analysis.The paper is also introducing the concept of flow slurry loop that is designed to lift the cutting particles to the surface for mineralisation analysis. The controlling parameters of the cuttings transportation are the particles physical properties such as size, density, concentration and shape, as well as the rheological properties of the carrying fluid, drilled hole angle, as well as the fluid flow rate and flow dynamics within the annulus gap between the coiled tube and drilled hole. Such parameters are addressed via experimental work as well as numerical analysis. The paper is also presenting the selection and testing procedure of the material type for the coiled tube string. The tube needs to be light in weight for rig transportation and to drill few dozens of drill investigations holes before failing due to fatigue. A fatigue bending machine is designed to test the endurance limit of candidate materials for coiled tube string and performance index methodology is followed for material selection of the optimum material. The coiled tube rig is designed to be light in weight for transportation and relocation. It is also required to speed the drilling operation with the minimum foot print and will reclaim the drilled rock particles for mineral composition analysis at the surface

Experimental investigation of steel coiled tubes performance under cyclic bending

Research is currently being undertaken in Australia to develop new drilling technologies for deep mineral exploration. The Deep Exploration Technologies Cooperative Research Centre (DET CRC) has carried out a comprehensive review of the available drilling technologies in the market. Following the study, coiled tube drilling technology has been suggested as a faster and cheaper method than conventional pipe drilling. This is primarily due to its smaller footprint relative to the standard rotary method, ease of unit mobility, less operating personnel, faster rate of penetration, and faster rig up and rig down times. The steel coiled tubing technology has traditionally been used in the petroleum industry. While there have been several attempts to evaluate the performance of coiled tubes in the oil and gas industry, limited or no attempts have been made to assess its performance in deep hard rock mineral exploration drilling. Therefore, DET CRC is in the process of re-designing the coiled tube rig approach to enable fast and efficient drilling of deep micro-holes in hard rocks. Cyclic bending of the coiled tubing past the yield strength point of the material leads to progressive weakening of the tube, which accordingly leads to rapid reduction of the tube service life [1]. Hence fatigue is an important parameter that needs to be considered in material selection for coiled tube and rig design. A bending machine was designed and manufactured to evaluate the fatigue bending strength of conventional HSLA steel tubes. The machine is capable of measuring and recording the bending/flattening resistant forces of the tubes along with the number of bend/flatten events. It can also measure the strain applied on the tube if needed. In this study, several HSLA steel grades and thicknesses of coiled tubes were tested for fatigue bending strength. Fatigued and non-fatigued tubes had their mechanical property alteration tested using tensile test methods. This paper presents the fatigue bending machine. The machine is designed to test most material types of coiled tubes. The paper also reports results of the cyclic bending experiments that were performed on selected grades and sizes of conventional HSLA steel coiled tubes. The paper complements and enhances the understanding of the performance of conventional coiled tube material under fatigue bending conditions

Signaling for lymphangiogenesis via VEGFR-3 is required for the early events of metastasis

Metastasis to regional lymph nodes is an important and early event in many tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), VEGF-D and their receptor VEGFR-3, play a role in tumor spread via the lymphatics, although the timing of their involvement is not understood. In contrast, VEGFR-2, activated by VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D, is a mediator of angiogenesis and drives primary tumor growth. We demonstrate the critical role for VEGFR-3, but not VEGFR-2, in the early events of metastasis. In a tumor model exhibiting both VEGF-D-dependent angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, an antibody to VEGFR-2 (DC101) was capable of inhibiting angiogenesis (79 % reduction in PECAM + blood vessels) and growth (93 % reduction in tumor volume). However, unlike an anti-VEGFR-3 Mab (mF4-31C1), DC101 was not capable of eliminating either tumor lymphangiogenesis or lymphogenous metastasis (60 % reduction of lymph node metastasis by DC101 vs 95 % by mF4-31C1). Early excision of the primary tumors demonstrated that VEGF-D-mediated tumor spread precedes angiogenesis-induced growth. Small but highly metastatic primary human breast cancers had significantly higher lymphatic vessel density (23.1 vessels/mm(2)) than size-matched (11.7) or larger non-metastatic tumors (12.4) thus supporting the importance of lymphatic vessels, as opposed to angiogenesis-mediated primary tumor growth, for nodal metastasis. These results suggest that lymphangiogenesis via VEGF-D is more critical than angiogenesis for nodal metastasis

Calcium, vitamin D, and risk for colorectal adenoma: dependency on vitamin D receptor Bsml polymorphism and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use?

Previous epidemiological studies have been inconclusive in demonstrating an inverse association among calcium, vitamin D, and risk for colorectal adenoma. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the associations among calcium and vitamin D and risk for incident, sporadic colorectal adenoma according to the vitamin D receptor BsmI polymorphism and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use. We analyzed data from a colonoscopy-based case-control study (n = 177 cases, 228 controls) conducted in North Carolina between 1995 and 1997. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) comparing participants in the highest to those in the lowest tertiles of total calcium and vitamin D intakes were 0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.35–1.15], Ptrend = 0.14 and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.41–1.18), and Ptrend = 0.19, respectively. Adjusted ORs for those in the upper tertile of total calcium intake relative to those in the lower were 0.25 (95% CI, 0.08–0.80) among those who had a Bb genotype, 0.57 (95% CI, 0.18–1.82) among those who had a bb genotype, and 0.36 (95% CI, 0.15–0.85) among those who did not take NSAIDs. The ORs for the highest tertile of calcium intake was 0.05 (95% CI, 0.01–0.41), Ptrend \u3c 0.01 among those who were Bb and did not take NSAIDs, and 0.16 (95% CI, 0.02–1.36), Ptrend = 0.47 among those who were bb and did not take NSAIDs. These data support the hypotheses that higher calcium intakes may decrease risk for colorectal neoplasms, and that such a relationship is more readily detectable among those who do not take NSAIDs, and may be strongest among those who have at least one vitamin D receptor BsmI b allele

Folate intake, MTHFR C677T polymorphism, alcohol consumption, and risk for sporadic colorectal adenoma (United States)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether folate intake is associated with risk for incident sporadic colorectal adenoma, and whether the association differs according to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotypes or is modified by intakes of alcohol or other micronutrients in the folate metabolism pathway. Methods: The authors analyzed data from a colonoscopy-based case–control study (n = 177 cases, 228 controls) conducted in North Carolina between 1995 and 1997. Results: The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) comparing the highest to lowest tertile of total folate intake was 0.61 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35–1.05); for MTHFR C677T polymorphism CT and TT genotypes relative to the CC genotype they were, respectively, 1.09 (CI: 0.71–1.66) and 0.68 (CI: 0.29–1.61); and for heavy drinkers (\u3e3 drinks/week) compared to non-drinkers it was 1.67 (CI: 1.00–2.81). The multivariate-adjusted ORs comparing the highest to lowest tertile of total folate intake according to those with the MTHFR CC, CT, and TT genotypes, were, respectively, 0.65 (CI: 0.30–1.39), 0.57 (CI: 0.23–1.44), and 0.22 (CI: 0.02–3.19). For those in the lowest tertile of folate intake who drank more than three drinks a week compared to those who were in the highest tertile of folate intake and did not drink alcohol the OR was 6.54 (CI: 1.96–21.80). There was no substantial evidence for interactions of folate with intakes of methionine, vitamins B2, B6, or B12. Conclusions: These data are consistent with hypotheses and previous findings that higher folate intake may reduce risk for colorectal neoplasms, perhaps especially among those who consume more alcohol

Calcium, Vitamin D, and Risk for Colorectal Adenoma: Dependency on Vitamin D Receptor BsmI Polymorphism and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug Use?

Previous epidemiological studies have been inconclusive in demonstrating an inverse association among calcium, vitamin D, and risk for colorectal adenoma. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the associations among calcium and vitamin D and risk for incident, sporadic colorectal adenoma according to the vitamin D receptor BsmI polymorphism and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use. We analyzed data from a colonoscopy-based case-control study (n = 177 cases, 228 controls) conducted in North Carolina between 1995 and 1997. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) comparing participants in the highest to those in the lowest tertiles of total calcium and vitamin D intakes were 0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.35–1.15], Ptrend = 0.14 and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.41–1.18), and Ptrend = 0.19, respectively. Adjusted ORs for those in the upper tertile of total calcium intake relative to those in the lower were 0.25 (95% CI, 0.08–0.80) among those who had a Bb genotype, 0.57 (95% CI, 0.18–1.82) among those who had a bb genotype, and 0.36 (95% CI, 0.15–0.85) among those who did not take NSAIDs. The ORs for the highest tertile of calcium intake was 0.05 (95% CI, 0.01–0.41), Ptrend \u3c 0.01 among those who were Bb and did not take NSAIDs, and 0.16 (95% CI, 0.02–1.36), Ptrend = 0.47 among those who were bb and did not take NSAIDs. These data support the hypotheses that higher calcium intakes may decrease risk for colorectal neoplasms, and that such a relationship is more readily detectable among those who do not take NSAIDs, and may be strongest among those who have at least one vitamin D receptor BsmI b allele