The design of a coiled tubing cutter for use in subsea oil drilling applications

Abstract

A cutting device has been developed which can be used in conjunction with Schlumberger's SenTree product line to insure proper disconnect of an offshore system from a subsea wellhead during the testing of the well. Design requirements for the device were established by the requirements of the SenTree tool. Additional force requirements for the prototype were established through theoretical models and experimental tests. These goals were met with a prototype based upon a linear piston arrangement. This piston arrangement offers an advantage over other conventional methods of cutting because of its predictability and ease of use. This thesis explores issues relevant to the design including material considerations, cutting blade optimization, and the examination of prior work. In this thesis, the proposed prototype was manufactured and verified through experimental testing. Furthermore, the guidelines developed in this thesis can be used to design the future generations of subsea cutting tools.