Episode 8: Jim Rike - “Father” of Coiled Tubing Technology

Jim Rike was a pioneer inventor and developer of drilling and completion technology. He is best known as the “Father” of coiled tubing technology, which initially involved winding a long continuous length of small diameter steel pipe on a large spool (as fishing line on a reel) and injecting the length into a well that may or may not be under well pressure. The end of the injected tubing was fitted with various tools to do work in the well. He was awarded several of the initial patents for coiled tubing, which has grown into a major part of oil and gas completion technology. He played a key role in development of many other completion and workover techniques and trained thousands of professionals throughout the world via his seminars and short courses. He authored many articles and technical papers (over 16), obtained 14 patents, served or chaired many technical committees and sessions, gave numerous speeches and lectures in his field of expertise, received numerous awards and was an international ambassador of upstream oil and gas technology.