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Wireline Services

CONTENTS
1 SURFACE EQUIPMENT FOR WIRELINE
1.1 Wireline
1.2 Monitoring Equipment
1.3 Alignment Pulley System
1.4 Tool String Insertion Under Well Pressure
2 WIRELINE TOOL STRING
2.1 Stem
2.2 Jars
2.3 Knuckle Joint
3 WIRELINE OPERATING TOOLS
3.1 Gauge Cutter
3.2 Swage
3.3 Impression Tool
3.4 Wireline Spear
3.5 Blind Box
3.6 Wireline Bailer
3.7 Tubing Perforator
3.8 Positioning Tools
3.9 Running Tools
3.10 Pulling Tools
SUMMARY

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Having worked through this chapter the Student will be able to:
Describe the mechanisms of a slick wireline operation.
List and describe the commonly used downhole wireline equipment and tools.
List and describe the surface wireline equipment requirements; lubricator; BOP;
stuffing box.
Describe well pressure control and safety issues associated with wireline.
State the limitations on successful wireline operation imposed by depth, hole
angle and dog leg severity

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INTRODUCTION
The majority of well completions utilise one or more of the technique of downhole
wireline. Wireline can be used to accomplish the following:(1) the installation of completion equipment prior to running the production tubing
e.g. a packer and optionally a tailpipe assembly.
(2) the installation (and retrieval) of equipment within the tubing string e.g. valves,
pressure gauges, etc
(3) the operation of downhole tubular equipment to either divert or shut off fluid flow
(4) the removal of materials which can build up in the tubing string such as wax or sand.
In short, wireline can be used to accomplish a variety of tasks both in the wellbore and
the completion string. These tasks can either be to operate equipment or eliminate the
necessity to pull the completion string to replace certain key components when a
malfunction occurs.
The principle of downhole wireline is that of lowering a tool to perform a specific
function, as part of a tool string on either a single strand wire or a braided cable, down
the inside of the tubing string. Manipulation of the tool string either by raising or
lowering will impart a jarring effect on the tool and hence activate the setting or
retrieval mechanism.
Given the relative simplicity of wireline, in many cases it will be a quicker and more
economical alternative to pulling the tubing string to replace faulty equipment.
However, since wireline must be capable of being used deep in the well, the operator
is physically very remote from the location at which the tool is to operate. This
remoteness, when coupled with the uncertainty of cable stretch especially in deviated
wells and the small scale of the tools, make wireline a technique which requires highly
skilled personnel to ensure its effectiveness. However, when wireline techniques
can be successfully employed and are incorporated into the completion string design,
they provide a significant degree of flexibility in terms of well operations and
servicing capability.
The capabilities offered by wireline are numerous and a few are identified
below:-

(1) Isolation of the formation by setting a plug in a wireline nipple in the tubing string.
(2) Operation of sliding side doors to allow annulus communication or to isolate
zones in multi-zone selective completions.
(3) Installation and retrieval of subsurface safety valves (S.S.S.V.), downhole
chokes and regulators.

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(4) The ability to run in, land off and retrieve downhole pressure and temperature gauges.
(5) The installation and retrieval of valves in side pocket mandrel systems.
(6) Removal of wax from the inside walls of tubing and tubular component by scraping.
(7) Removal of sand and produced solids from the wellbore sump or above a restriction.
(8) Installation of through tubing bridge plugs to isolate zones or in well abandonment
operations.
(9) Using electrical conductor cable, packers can be run with or without a tail pipe
and set in the wellbore.
However, perhaps the greatest asset of downhole wireline is the ability to conduct
these operations on a live well i.e. one where communication between the reservoir
and the wellbore and tubing head pressure may exist.

1 SURFACE EQUIPMENT FOR WIRELINE

To enable downhole wireline operations to be performed, equipment must be
provided at surface to allow the following:(a) the lowering and retrieval of the tool string to the work location.
(b) monitoring of tool position and cable tension.
(c) handling and alignment pulleys so that the tool string can be positioned
vertically above the well for lowering through the Xmas tree and into the tubing string.
(d) the ability to insert the tool string into the live well and to prevent pressure from escaping.
(e) a blowout preventor which will seal off the annulus around the cable and if
required cut the wireline.
The components of a conventional wireline system is shown in figure 1.

Wireline Services

Stuffing Box

Gin Pole

Lubricator
Lifting Clamp

Bleed-Off Valve

Blow-Out Preventor
Tree Connection
Hay Pulley
Weight Indicator

Figure 1
Surface Equipment
Requirements for Wireline
Operations

Xmas Tree

1.1 Wireline
Conventional wireline or slick wireline as it is frequently referred to, utilises a single
strand high tensile wire. The wire is normally made from high tensile steel so that the
ratio of breaking strength (in lbs) to wire diameter (inches) can be maximised. This
will normally allow the minimum diameter of cable to be used, which is desirable
for the following reasons:(1) it reduces the total weight of the wireline itself.
(2) it is more pliable and can be bent over smaller diameter sheaves and drum reels.
(3) it minimises the upwards pressure force on the tool string due to the difference
in plain end areas at the top and bottom of the tool string.
A variety of wireline sizes are available and some are shown in table 1. Normally 50%
of the maximum breaking strength is used as a working limit. In some environments
where H5S may be present, the high tensile steel will be very susceptible to

hydrogen embrittlement and it may be necessary to add an additional safety

factor, limit the period of use, or alternatively use low tensile steels with a lower
breaking strength.
In cases where a higher breaking strength is required it is possible to use
braided cables which are available in sizes of 1/8", 9/64", 3/16" and 1/4". However,
it is more difficult to create a continuously effective high pressure seal around
a braided cable because of its construction.

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Single strand wireline is available in a range of lengths: 10000, 12000, 15000,
18000, 20000 and 25000 ft.
The wireline is normally wound onto a reel on a self contained skid which has
its own power supply for drum rotation and creating cable tension.

Wire Line Type

Size
(in)

Tensile
(Psi)

Breaking Strength
Min. (lbs)

Torsions
in 8 in.

Weight/
100 ft. (lbs)

Bright Steel

.082

234.000

1239

26

17.93

(Improved Plow Steel/

Carbon Steel)

.092

232.000

1547

23

22.58

API Wire

.105

237.000

2050

Monitor AA

.082

276.000

1460

20

17.93

.0932-

275.000

1830

17

22.58

Steel/Improved

.105

280.00

2420

Carbon Steel)

.108

280.000

2561

AISI 304

.082

240.000

1280

17.85

Super Tensile

.092

240.000

1582

22.62

.105

240.000

2070

30.24

290.000

2100

(Extra Improved Plow

AISI 304
Ultra Tensile

29.00

29.00

.082

17.875

.092

.105

22.62
30.24

AISI 316

.082

210.000

1110

17.85

Super Tensile

.092

210.000

1390

22.62

.105

210.000

1810

30.24

.108

210.000

1920

8-18-2

.082

190.000

1000

Super Tensile

.092

190.000

1280

.105

190.000

1645

.108

190.000

1740

17.85
3

22.62
30.24

Table 1
Wireline Data

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1.2 Monitoring Equipment

Given the remoteness of the operator from the tool string suspended on the
wireline downhole, the important parameters during the operation will be the
tool string location, or depth in the well, and the tension on the cable.
The length of cable used and accordingly the depth of the tool string with
reference to a datum point e.g. the tubing hanger in the wellhead, is measured
by allowing the cable to be held without slippage against a hardened wheel or
odometer.
The cable tension is continuously monitored to ensure that the breaking
strength of the cable is not exceeded. The cable tension will also be reduced
as tool string is lowered through restriction in the tubing string due to fluid
pressure and hence to a limited extent cable tension can also be used as an
approximate indication of tool position.
1.3 Alignment pulley system
In view of the length and rigidity of the tool string it is necessary for the cable
to be passed across a double sheave system which first of all changes the
orientation of the cable from the horizontal to the vertical plane and secondly
changes the orientation by 180 to lower the tool string into the well as shown
in fig. 1. The pulleys are selected to provide the minimum bending stress on
the wireline during use.
1.4 Tool string insertion under well pressure
To allow the tool string to be inserted into a live well, it is necessary to attach
to the Xmas tree, above the swab valve, a pressure tube known as a lubricator
into which the tool string can be inserted and lowered down the well through
the Xmas tree. Once the lubricator has been aligned vertically above the Xmas
tree and coupled to it using a quick release, high pressure coupling, the swab
valve can be opened to allow the well to pressurise the lubricator. To prevent
well pressure escaping from the top of the lubricator above where the wireline
is installed, the wire must be passed through a wireline stuffing box. The
assembly is depicted in figure 2. Attached to the top of the stuffing box unit
is the upper sheave which redirects the wireline through 180. The wireline
passes through the top of the stuffing box, through a series of washer type
packing units and culminates in a knot within a rope socket inside the
lubricator (Fig. 3). The rope socket has a female threaded section at its base
to which the tool string can be attached.

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Sheave
Guard

Sheave
Wheel

Oil Reservoir
Gland Nut

Top Gland
Packing
Swivel Bearings

Bottom Gland

Pressure Relief Valve

Internal B.O.P.
Quick Union

Figure 2
Wireline Lubricator
Stuffing Box

Internal B.O.P.
Retainer

Figure 3
Wireline Rope Socket

The length of the lubricator can be varied since the lubricator can be obtained
in sections which can be screwed together to give the required length. The
lubricator is available for working pressures up to 15000 psi and diameters
ranging from 25/8" to 51/8" for standard or sour (H2S) service.

Wireline Services

At the base of the lubricator just above the point of attachment to the Xmas tree,
it is necessary to instal a wireline B.O.P. valve. This valve can either be
manually or hydraulically activated and can either be a single or dual ram unit,
Figures 5 and 6 respectively. These rams are designed to close off around the
wireline and retain full well pressure below the ram.
After closure, well pressure above and below the ram must be equalised
through the equalising ports shown in Figures 4 and 5. Further, a vent valve
on the lubricator allows the depressurisation to take place, for example, when
the tool string has been recovered into the lubricator and the swab valve on the
Xmas tree closed.
Normally, the packing in the stuffing box is compressed upwards and inwards
around the wireline by the well pressure. However, in some cases a hydraulic
packing system is utilised whereby grease is injected into a flow tube immediately
beneath the stuffing box. The hydraulic pressure applied to the high viscosity
grease regulates the efficiency of pressure sealing in the stuffing box.
Prior to running any tools into the well, the lubricator and wireline B.O.P.
valves must be tested to the required pressure.

Ram Assembly
Left Hand

Ram Assembly
Right Hand

Equalising Valve
Assembly

Pin End
O-Ring

Figure 4
Single Ram Hydraulic
Wireline Valve

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Ram Assembly
Left Hand

Ram Assembly
Right Hand

Equalising Valve
Assembly

Pin End O-Ring

2 WIRELINE TOOL STRING

The tool string is attached to the rope socket at the end of the wireline. Besides
connecting to the wireline, the tool string must also provide:(1) the ability to provide weight so that the wireline is held in tension and can be
run into the well at an acceptable speed.
(2) the activity to accommodate fairly rapid changes in inclination within the
tubing string particularly in deviated wellbores.
(3) the ability to provide a jolt upwards or downwards on the work tool by upwards
of downwards jarring.
(4) the correct running or pulling tool to instal or retrieve the wireline component
within the tubing string. Alternatively an auxiliary function tool such as a
paraffin cutter may be conveyed.

A schematic of a tool string is shown in Figure 6.

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Figure 5
Dual Ram Hydraulic
Wireline Valve

Wireline Services

Rope
Socket

Stem

Power
Jars

Mechanical
Jars

Figure 6
Schematic of Wireline Tool
String

Knuckle
Joint

2.1 Stem
When a wireline tool string is run into the well, there are two forces which
oppose the tool string:(1) the frictional force as the wireline is pulled downwards through the packing
elements of the stuffing box.
(2) a differential force acting upwards on the tool string due to the difference in the
plane end areas of the top and bottom of the tool string due to the diameter of
the wireline itself. The force can be calculated as follows:

Maximum upwards force =

max. fluid pressure in the wellbore (psi) x

/4 d

where d = nominal wireline outside diameter in inches.

Thus based upon the anticipated well pressure and the nominal diameter of the
wireline, additional weight will be required to ensure tool string descent into
the well and this is provided by incorporating a length of stem bar in the tool
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string. This is only approximate as it neglects the effect of friction in the
stuffing box packing.
The stem bar is available in a range of nominal diameters from 3/4" to 17/8"
and in lengths of 2ft., 3ft. and 5ft. The stem bar is attached directly to the rope
socket using the thread connecting system (Fig. 7).

Figure 7
Stem Bar

2.2 Jars
Since the operation of all wireline equipment is affected by mechanical impact,
it is essential that the tool string can deliver the weight of the stem bar as a jolt
or jar to the operating tool. This is accomplished by placing a set of jars
immediately below the stem. Most frequently, mechanical jars, as depicted
in Fig. 9, are employed and these can be used to create a jarring force in either
the upwards or downwards direction. The action is such that these jars are
sometimes referred to as stroke jars.

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Wireline Services

Figure 8
Mechanical Jars

Figure 9
Hydraulic Jar (left)
Fgure 10
Accelerator (right)

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In addition, it is possible to run a set of hydraulic jars immediately above the
mechanical jars, but these only provide a jarring capability in the upwards
direction. If hydraulic jars are used in shallow well operations an accelerator
is frequently added which helps to maintain a steady pull on the hydraulic jar
as it starts to open, Fig. 10.

2.3 Knuckle Joint

The knuckle joint is a ball and socket joint which is run above the operating tool
and helps to align it with the tubing string, Fig. 11. The alignment is critical,
to assist in the centralisation of the operating tool in, for example, the nipple
prior to its installation by jarring downwards.

Figure 11
Knuckle Joint

At the base of the wireline tool string will be located the operating or service
tool which will perform the required function.
3 WIRELINE OPERATING TOOLS
A wide variety of tools exist, some of which are general in nature and simple
in design whilst others are highly specific in both design and function.

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3.1 Gauge cutter

Prior to conducting any specific wireline operation in the well it is good
practice to run the tool string into the well with a gauge cutter on the end to the
prescribed depth. This will determine:(1) if the tool string will have passage down the inside of the tubing.
(2) the top of individual landing nipples of specific sizes.

Gauge cutters are available for all tubing sizes up to 7" nominal diameter.

Figure 12
Gauge Cutter

3.2 Swage
If a minor obstruction is encountered in the tubing, then a swage can be lowered
on the tool string and used as a mash to open tubing or clear the obstruction.

Figure 13
Swage

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3.3 Impression tool
All wireline mandrels and tools are designed with a fishing neck on top, so that
if the wireline breaks, hopefully at the rope socket as intended, then a fishing
operating with an overshot should latch on to the tool and allow its retrieval
from the well. However, it will be necessary, prior to commencing a fishing
operation, to establish the condition and position of any obstruction on the top
of the fish. A lead impression block has a lead filled core at its base and when
lowered on to the fish will provide an imprint of the physical condition of the
top of the fish.
3.4 Wireline spear
The wireline in normally expected to break at the rope socket during normal
failure such that the wireline itself can be pulled from the hole. In the event that
the wireline breaks at a different location, the wire may form a birds nest in
the tubing which will need to be removed by a grapple known as a wireline
spear, Fig. 14.

Figure 14
Wireline Spear (left)

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Wireline Services

Figure 15
Blind Box (right)

3.5 Blind box

In operations where the tool string is required to jar down onto a fish or
obstruction, a blind box can be used at the base of the tool string, Fig. 15.
3.6 Wireline bailer
The build up of solid deposits e.g. sand in the wellbore or perhaps the
deposition of solids on top of a tubular component such as a mandrel, may
necessitate the use of bailers. Particularly in the latter case it may be necessary
to remove the solids prior to gaining access to the pulling neck of the mandrel.
A bailer can be run on a wireline tool string. Two general types are available,
the first is operated by jarring up and down on a piston bailer which acts to suck
sand into the bailer. The other design known as a hydraulic bailer, comprises
a chamber at atmospheric pressure, a shear disc and non-return ball valve.
Downwards jarring on the solids will shear the disc and the solids will be
sucked up into the low pressure chamber.
3.7 Tubing perforator
In cases where the facility to circulate between the annulus and the tubing is
either non existent or inoperable, it is possible to run a tubing perforator on a
wireline tubing string. The tubing punch can be used in both standard and
heavy weight tubings and is available in sizes from 11/4" nominal dia. to 5"
nominal dia. Again the punch is activated by jarring.
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Slips
Shear Pin
Punch

Double Tape
Wedge

Safety Catch
Safety Shear
Figure 16
Type 'A' Otis Tubing
Perforator

3.8 Positioning tools

The design of a sliding door, or sliding sleeve, incorporates two concentric
sleeves with seals between them, both sleeves having either ports or slots
which, when aligned, provides a communication path between the annulus and
the tubing. The operation of this device requires running a positioning tool on
a tool string which will engage into a recess in the inner sleeve. Jarring upwards
or downwards will move the inner sleeve to the required position and hence
operate the device, Fig. 17.

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Locking Screw
Top Sub
Coller
Steel Shearpin
Key Retainer

Spring
Standard Key
Self-Releasing
Profile
Lower Key
Retainer
Body
Figure 17
Type 'B' Otis (Halliburton)
Positioning Tool

3.9 Running Tools

A running tool is required to run and set a mandrel into the corresponding
wireline nipple. It is attached to the base of the tool string with the wireline
mandrel attached beneath it. The system is lowered into the required nipple
position and by jarring, the collets on the mandrel are released and expand
outwards into the recess profile in the base of the nipple. The mandrel is locked
in place within the nipple. Further jarring will allow the running tool to release
from the mandrel, Fig. 18. These running tools are available in sizes from 17/8"
dia. up to just under 6".

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Mandrel Sub Assembly

Shear Pin
Retainer Pin
Shear Pin
Spring
Spring Housing
Core
Spring
Dog Retainer
Split Ring
Dog Weldment
Lug Segment
Retainer Dog

Figure 18
Type 'X' Otis (Halliburton)
Running Tool

3.10 Pulling tools

The mandrel when mechanically locked within the nipple will also provide a
pressure seal due to the seals in the seal bore between the internal seal bore of
the nipple and the OD of the mandrel. In a number of cases, a pressure
differential across the mandrel may exist prior to its removal e.g. if a subsurface
safety valve or plug has been installed. To remove the mandrel it will be
necessary to run a pulling tool on a tool string down on to the pulling neck of
the mandrel. Jarring will allow the collets on the mandrel to retract once
differential pressure across the mandrel has been equalised and the packing
elements are relaxed. The pulling tool can be designed to operate either with
upwards, e.g. the Otis/Halliburton GR, or downwards jarring, e.g. the Otis/
Halliburton GS pulling tool, Fig. 19.

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Wireline Services

Fishing Neck
Lock Screw

Core
Top Sub
Shear Pin
Skirt
Main Spring
Spring Retainer
Dog Spring
Dog Retainer

Dog

Figure 19
Type 'GS' Pulling Tool

Summary
In this module you have been introduced to the practice of slick wireline. Key points
in a review of the material include: The importance of safety and efficient well control throughout the operation
achieved by the lubricator, stuffing box and BOP.
Wireline operation are constrained by hole angle and along hole length in addition
to the mechanical strength capacity of the wireline.
Tool operation is controlled solely by jarring or applying a hammer blow upwards
or downwards.
Wireline operations can be used in through tubing or casing operations.
The technique allows retrieval, replacement or operation of a range of reservoir
management or monitoring tools.

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