What factors have influenced the resurgence and efficiency of coiled tubing in the oil and gas sector?

The resurgence and efficiency of coiled tubing are influenced by several factors including cost reduction through streamlined operations, technological innovation to enhance productivity, and strategic planning to optimize resource use. These are critical for meeting current demands and challenges in the oil and gas industry.

How have rising costs and reduced returns impacted the activity levels in the coiled tubing sector compared to previous years?

Despite challenges such as rising costs and reduced returns, activity levels in the coiled tubing sector remain above those seen in 2005. Data indicates an ongoing decrease in activity alongside increasing costs, but the underlying demand continues to show an upward trend, supported by the rise in world petroleum consumption.

What role does technological innovation play in enhancing the productivity and cost-effectiveness of coiled tubing applications within the oil and gas industry?

Technological innovation is a crucial factor in enhancing the productivity and cost-effectiveness of coiled tubing applications. Implementing new technologies helps streamline operations, optimize resource use, and improve overall efficiency, enabling companies to unlock new possibilities and ensure a sustainable future in the evolving oil and gas industry.

Considering the fluctuations in oil prices and employment trends, how has the global deployment of coiled tubing units changed over the past decade, and what does this indicate about the sector's resilience?

The global deployment of coiled tubing units increased from 1,163 in 2005 to 1,951 in 2016, peaking at 2,096 units in 2015. This increase, despite fluctuations in oil prices and employment, highlights the sector's resilience and its increasing importance in driving efficiency and reducing costs. It demonstrates the sector's ability to adapt and innovate in response to changing economic conditions.

Advanced coiled tubing operations in a modern oil field.

Coiled Tubing's Comeback: How Innovation Drives Efficiency in Oil & Gas

Q: In what specific ways is efficiency being improved in coiled tubing operations, and what is the impact of these improvements?

Efficiency in coiled tubing operations is improving through problem-solving techniques on-site, ensuring equipment is fit for purpose, refining coiled-tubing-string selection, optimizing processes, and implementing more effective treatment placements. These improvements are important steps toward a more efficient and sustainable future for the sector by reducing operational costs and increasing productivity.

Samir D’Costa in Tech & Innovation September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the resurgence of coiled tubing technology and its impact on the oil and gas industry's quest for greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness."

A year ago, the oil and gas industry faced profound uncertainty. The future of coiled tubing, a specialized sector within oil and gas, was particularly unclear. Predictions leaned heavily towards a prolonged period of lower prices and reduced activity. But has this forecast truly materialized?

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on West Texas Intermediate and Brent spot crude oil prices reveal a turning point in 2005. That year marked a consistent rise above the $50 per barrel mark, a level that had previously seemed a distant memory. Despite a brief dip in 2008, prices largely remained above this threshold. Simultaneously, the U.S. Consumer Price Index, indexed to 1982, moved from 195 in 2005 to 240 in 2016, reflecting broader economic changes.

Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highlight employment trends in oil and gas extraction. Between 2005 and 2015, employment surged from 1,287,000 to 1,932,000, peaking in 2014. These numbers offer a snapshot of the coiled tubing sector within this economic context, where the global count of coiled tubing units increased from 1,163 in 2005 to 1,951 in 2016, hitting a high of 2,096 units in 2015, as reported by the Intervention and Coiled Tubing Association.

What's Driving Efficiency in Coiled Tubing?

Advanced coiled tubing operations in a modern oil field.

These statistics tell an interesting story. They suggest that current trends are revealing a decrease in activity alongside persistently rising costs and reduced returns. Yet, despite these challenges, activity levels remain above those seen in 2005. The underlying demand continues to show an upward trend, as evidenced by EIA data indicating world petroleum consumption rose from 84.7 million barrels per day in 2005 to 95.1 million barrels per day in 2016.

Efficiency and effectiveness are now more critical than ever in the coiled-tubing market. These factors are significantly shaping the sector's development.

Cost Reduction: Streamlining operations to minimize expenses.
Technological Innovation: Implementing new technologies to enhance productivity.
Strategic Planning: Developing effective strategies to optimize resource use.

Efficiency and effectiveness can be achieved in various ways. Recent studies offer insights into the efficiencies achieved in coiled-tubing operations. These studies demonstrate how problem-solving techniques are improving on-site processes, ensuring equipment is fit for its intended purpose, refining coiled-tubing-string selection, optimizing processes, and implementing more effective treatment placements. All these improvements are important steps toward a more efficient and sustainable future for the sector.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Coiled Tubing

As the oil and gas industry continues to evolve, the coiled tubing sector will likely play a pivotal role in driving efficiency and reducing costs. By embracing innovative technologies and refining operational strategies, companies can unlock new possibilities and ensure a sustainable future. Continued focus on research, development, and practical application will be essential to maximizing the potential of coiled tubing in the years to come.