Patent ID: 7284618

Claim:
An automatic control method for use in coil pipe operations including a coil pipe that is coiled upon on a reel and that is to be uncoiled from and recoiled thereupon, the coil pipe having an axial centerline and the reel having a longitudinal axis, an injector for affecting the coiling/uncoiling of the coil pipe, the reel being positioned and aligned with respect to the injector such that axial centerline of the coil is passed through the injector approximate a center point so that the axial centerline creates a tangential line extending from the reel to the injector, the method comprising the steps of: measuring the displacement of the coil pipe axial centerline with respect to the center point as the coil pipe is uncoiled from or coiled onto the reel; and tilting the reel about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reel based upon the measured displacement to bring the axial centerline within a predetermined distance from the center point.