IADC Well Control

Operator and Supervisor Level

Prepared by
Amin Mohamed Amin
Certified International Training Manager
Certified IADC Well Cap Instructor
 Course Content

1. Completion Operations

2. Completion Equipment

3. Wireline

4. Coiled Tubing
Completion Operations
 WORK OVER
 It is the work conducted on wells after the initial
completion and for the purpose of maintaining or restoring
productivity of a well. The producing well is normally killed
before carrying a work-over job.
(Well Control) – 2 Barriers

 WELL INTERVENTION
 It is the work carried out on a flowing or a live well & is
preferred over dead well work-over as killing a well before
a remedial job can cause formation damage due to fluid
invasion.
(Pressure Control) – 3 Barriers
 Well Control Event/ Incident
 The following factors were repeatedly emphasized;

• Competence: theoretical competence vs. practical competence.

• Attention/awareness: warning signals were there, but not taken into

account.

• Compliance: procedures are generally perceived but not always followed.

• Planning: in relation to deficient reservoir/pressure predictions and

inadequate risk assessments.
• Culture for speaking up: having a culture where you can report and/or
stop if you are uncertain.
 Well Control Event/ Incident
 Several companies highlight the following causes:

• Deficient risk assessment, particularly in connection with changes

to plans.

• Deficient competence, communication and change management.

• Deficient planning and poor mapping of reservoir conditions.

• Unexpected shallow gas when drilling, shut-in gas under plugs,

behind casings and similar when re-opening existing
wells.
 Well Control Event/ Incident

 Impact of a Well Control Incident:

• Human Impact
• Environmental Impact
• Asset impact
• Over regulations
• Business disruptions
• Local and Public Image Impact
 Well Control Event/ Incident

 Avoiding Well Control Incidents:

• Improvement of procedures/ documentation
• Increased or improved control/check/verification
• Strengthening well control training and assessment
• Improved work practice/ operational follow-up of barriers
• Improved technical well design.
 Well Control Training &
Assessment
 Attending the IADC Well Control course will help to:

• Deepen theoretical and practical understanding of how to manage

well site operations and maintain well control at all times.

• Maintain trust of stack holders

• Avoid over regulations

• Raising the competence of drilling staff

• Act as an induction for new recruited staff and giving them the
information they need to work in the different positions.
Introduction to Well Control
• Formation Pressure:
 The formation pressure is defined as the pressure at which a fluid or
gas exists in the pores of a permeable rock. This is also called pore
pressure, OR, The pressure within the pore spaces
of the formation rock.
• Fracture Pressure
 Definition: The maximum amount of pressure a formation can
withstand before the formation breaks down as a fracture is initiated,
followed by loss of fluid, also defined as Formation breakdown
pressure.
Introduction to Barriers
 BARRIER
 What kind of Well Service disaster could happen caused by
pressure?
 Blow-out

 What causes Blow-out?

 Barrier Failure

 What is the equipment used to control a well from blow-out?

 Barrier

 What is barrier?
 Any device, Fluid or Substance that prevent flow of wellbore
fluids.
 Barrier Classification
I. Primary Barrier.
II. Secondary Barrier.
III. Tertiary Barrier.

Barrier ENVELOPES:

Barrier Envelope is a group of individual Barrier

Elements Like:
1) Stuffing Box is part of Lubricator Envelope.
2) X Tree is part of Packer Tubing Envelope.
3) Casing is part of production casing Envelope.
 Barrier Theory
 Barrier Definition: any device, fluid or substance that prevents the flow of well bore fluids. It
may be Mechanical or fluid. Located down hole (mechanical plugs, columns of fluid), or topside
(valves, plugs).
 Well barriers: are envelopes (something that surrounds or encloses something else) of one or
more dependent well barrier elements to prevent fluids or gases from flowing unintentionally from a
formation, into another formation or back to surface.
 Well Barrier Element: is defined as a component part of a well designed to prevent fluids or
gases from flowing unintentionally from a formation, into another formation or to escape at surface.
 Unintentional flow: is any flow of fluid, liquid or gas, in or out of the well through a failed
barrier.
 Independent barriers: means each barrier shall be able to be closed and contain the well
bore fluids by its own control system irrespective of any power failure.
 Overbalance: Greater pressure than formation pressure
 Underbalance: Less pressure than formation pressure
 Inflow Test: Bleed pressure from above & monitor build-up
 Positive Plug: Hold pressure from up & down
 Example of Barrier Envelope
 PACKER/TUBING ENVELOPE

Barrier elements include:

 Casing below Packer

 Packer
 Tubing
 Tubing Hanger
 Xmas Tree
 Example of Barrier Envelope
 PRODUCTION CASING ENVELOPE

Barrier elements include:

 Production Casing
 Side Outlets Valves
 Tubing Hanger
 Packer
 Barrier Types

1. Mechanical Barrier

1.1 Closed Type Close through out Operation.

1.2 Closeable Type Close when required

2. Hydrostatic Barrier

 Liquids that Create HP with about 200 psi over balance Higher than
formation pressure and lower than Fracture pressure
 Barrier Integrity
 Mechanical Barrier
 Must be “Tested From Direction of Flow”

 Mechanical Barrier Closed Type

Must be “Leak Tight”

 Mechanical Barrier Closeable Type

API leakage criteria “400 cc/min or 900 SCF/HR”.

 Hydrostatic Barrier
 Must be diligently monitored for a period of time to Ensure
Thermal Expansion & Contraction Effects Have Ceased.
 Example of Barriers:

MECHANICAL BARRIER
CLOSED TYPE CLOSABLE TYPE
Stuffing Box BOP
Grease Injection Head Annular Preventer
Stripper Xmas Tree
BHA Check Valve Subsurface Safety Valve
HYDROSTATIC BARRIER
Drilling Fluids Fresh Water
Completion Fluid Salt Water
OTHER BARRIER EXAMPLES
WL Plugs Ice Plugs
Bridge Plugs Overbalanced Fluid
 Flow-Control Devices
1. Blanking Plugs (wire line plugs): run on wire line & set in
a nipple. They seal off in a nipple & hold pressure from both
directions.
2. Pump Open Plug: The inside of the plug shears when pre-
determined pressure is applied from top of the plug.
3. Pump Out Plug: Similar in principle to pump open plugs
but shears off & drops down hole
4. Pressure cycle plug: Require pressure above the plug to
be cycled a fixed no. of times before the plug opens.
5. Ice Plug: Wrapping the equipment to be frozen in a coil
through which chemicals like glycol are passed after being
cooled to a predetermined temperature by liquid nitrogen.
 Flow-Control Devices

6. Bridge Plug: Used to shut-off water producing zones by

setting in casing and capping it with cement (expandable plug).

7. Pump-through Plugs: Hold pressure from below but allow

pumping if the need arises.

8. Back Pressure Valves (one-way or two-way valve): It is a

check valve where fluid can pass through it with 1 psi ∆P and it
is set in tubing hanger threaded profile.
FORMATION DAMAGE &
WELL KILLING
FORMATION DAMAGE
 Well Intervention most notably formation damages are;
• Pore or fracture plugging by circulating or kill fluid solids.
• Permeability reduction by circulating or kill fluid filtrate invasion.
• Permeability reduction due to insoluble precipitates formed
during acid stimulation with hydrofluoric acid.
• Sand face/cement breakdown due to acid stimulation effects.
• Clay swelling from incompatible brine or water contamination.
• Pore or perforations plugging due to bull heading with scale or
debris in the tubing.
PREVENTION
 Thorough planning is compulsory to minimize or eliminate
formation, human & environment damages.
1 Perforation Plug
• Always isolate fluids from formation by setting a mechanical barrier (only
possible if no work to be done below it).
2 Well Plug Recovery
• Use long neck fishing neck plugs for better recovery due to scale/debris
accumulation.

3 Fluids Cleanliness
• Filtration unit or Centrifuge

4 Fluids Selection
• Compatible
• Crystallization or Freezing Free fluids
• Maintain pH
• Consider Inhibitors
PREVENTION

4 Human
• MSDS
• PPE
• Procedures

5 Environmental Control
• Legislative requirements
• Retain leakage or spillage
• Close monitor & recorded.
WELL KILLING
 Well Intervention Well Kill Method:

1. Bullhead The most preferable method in case of emergency.

2. Forward Circulation Minimize formation damage.

3. Reverse Circulation Best planned kill method.

4. Lubricate & Bleed Last resort & under extreme case only.
 IN

WELL KILLING

 BULLHEAD
Pump kill fluid thru tubing and squeeze influx into formation , Casing

We use this method in EMERGENCY Must apply Injectivity test.

Advantages: Tubing

• Quick & easy methods especially in smaller tubing

• No hydrocarbons brought to surface.

Limitations
1- Formation fracture pressure SSD

2- Tubing burst pressure

3- Max. pressure of surface equipment Packer

4- Formation damage
Perforations
 IN
WELL KILLING
OUT

 FORWARD CIRCULATION Casing

Pump fluid thru tubing & return thru Annulus .

Casing Tubing

Disadvantages:

• Large volume pumped ( Tubing + Annulus )

• High surface pressure
• Influx will be beneath completion fluid

SSD

Packer
WL Plug

Perforations Oil
 OUT

WELL KILLING
IN

 REVERSE CIRCULATION
Casing

Pump fluid thru casing & return thru tubing.

Advantages: Tubing

• Small volume pumped ( Tubing)

• Low surface pressure
• Influx will not enter Annulus
• Fast and PLANNED
SSD

Packer

WL Plug

Perforations
 ALTERNATE
CYCLING

WELL KILLING IN & OUT

Casing
 LUBRICATE & BLEED

Pump a small amount of kill fluid & bleed a small SSD

amount of gas while keeping constant BHP until

well is dead.

* It is the alternative method of Bull Heading

SSD

Packer

Perforations
 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
Well Intervention Common Challenges are:

• Surge Pressure • Hydrates

• Swab Pressure • Equipment Failure and/or Defect
• Blockages • Human Error

1. Surge Pressure
Piston Power arises from running of tubing in hole & caused by:
• Small clearance (between CT OD / tubing ID) produces ▲pressures
Completion fluids produces ▲pressure than oil/gas).
• ▲speed produces ▲pressures.
• Longer OD tools produces ▲pressures.
• May activate pressure-activated equipment downhole.
e.g. Entering 2⅞” tubing with 250 m/h speed will results injection rate
of 1.05 m3/h =17.5 l/m. This can be compensated by bleeding
of via choke to separator while RIH.
 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES

2. Swab Pressure

Piston Effect occurs when down hole equipment is being pulled from the well
& caused by following conditions:
• Small clearance (between CT OD / tubing ID) produces
▲pressures.
• Completion fluids produces ▲pressure than oil/gas).
• ▲speed produces ▲pressures.
• Longer OD tools produces ▲pressures.
• Greater effect when down hole tools closer to reservoir & causes
hydrocarbon to be drawn out from reservoir.
 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES

3. Blockages
• Formation sand
• Scale
• Collapsed casing, liners or jammed valves etc.

4. Removing Blockages

• Mechanical methods
• Chemical methods
 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
4. Hydrates

Crystalline water structures filled with small molecules. 1 m3 of

hydrates contains approximately 0.8 m3 water & 180 m3 gas.
• Presence of free water
• Presence of light gas molecules
• Relatively high pressure
• Relatively low temperature

Removing Hydrates
• Reduce pressure
(Risk: hydrate plug slips & gas above it, the plug may blow up).
• Raise temperature
• Use inhibitor (glycol, methanol or salt).
 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES

5 Equipment Failure and/or Defect

 Equipment failures lead to disastrous tragedy.

 Certified independent inspection body, pre-job function & pressure tests, good
equipment handling, effective maintenance program, sufficient spares & back-
up equipment are essential in achieving maximum safety standard & high rate
of operation success.
 OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES

6 Human Error

 Qualified, well trained competent personnel are essential in achieving

maximum safety standard & high rate of operation success.

 Two ways communication is vital to this dynamic WI operations. Well

developed intra-personnel relationship is essentially important.
PRESSURE Calculation
 Completion Equipment's

Outlines
I. Blowout Preventers
II. Completion Equipment
 Completion Equipment's

 Objective:

Provide general knowledge of design philosophy, types,

functional requirements & accessories.
 Blowout Preventers
 General Blowout Preventer Stack Specifications
 The minimum pressure rating must be equal to or greater than the maximum
anticipated surface pressure.
 New API metal rings are to be used each time a flange is assembled or a
connection is broken. Flange grooves should be well cleaned and dry.
 API RX or BX rings are required. Use of API R rings will not be permitted.
 All preventer packing elements and gaskets are visually inspected at the time of
installation and rejected if they aren't satisfactory (even if they withstand a
pressure test at the time).
 In operating side valves, the inside valves are considered master valves and
would normally never be opened or closed when there is pressure unless the
outside valve is closed.
 Preventer assemblies will be dismantled periodically between wells to inspect for
internal erosion or corrosion and to check flange bolts.
 All testing shall be done with clear water.
Flanges &Ring Gaskets
 Flanges and Sealing Rings
 The most common flange types are :

•API 6B Rate work pressure 2,000-5,000 psi

•API 6BX Rate work pressure 10,000-2,0000 psi
Flanges type API 6B Use Sealing Rings API type R or API type RX
Flanges type API 6BX Use Sealing Rings API type BX

• Type RX and BX gaskets provide a pressure energized seal but are not interchangeable.
• It is recommended that a new gasket be used each time the joint is made up.
 Type R and RX
 6B Flanges Are of The Ring Joint Type and Are Not Designed for Face-to-Face
Makeup. The Connection Makeup Bolting Force Reacts on The Ring Gasket.

Type BX Rings

 Type BX Pressure Energized Ring Gaskets. One Pressure Passage Hole Required Per
Gasket on Centerline.
 6BX Flanges Are Designed for Face-to-Face Makeup.
 The Connection Makeup Bolting Force Reacts Primarily on the Raised Face of The
Flange.
 Tubing Hanger

Completion Accessory Control Line

Flow Coupling
1 Anchoring Device SCSSV Landing Nipple

 Landing Nipples
2 Circulation Device Top No-Go Nipple

 SSD
 SPM SPM

3 Isolation Device Top No-Go Nipple

 Packer (between top & bottom
completion) SSD
Top
 Tubing Seal Assembly, PBR Packer
SSD
4 Anti-Erosion Device
 Blast Joint Producing Zone Blast
 Flow Coupling 2 Joint

5 Others Btm
Packer
 WLEG Bottom No-Go Perforated
 Perforated Joint Nipple WL Entry Guide Joint

 Control Line Producing Zone

1
 Tubing Hanger
PRODUCER COMPLETION SCHEMATIC
 Well COMPLETION
COMPLETION ACCESSORY DEPTH RATIONALIZATION
6
1 DHSV 1
• HP of control line fluid
• Earth crater depth 2

2 Landing Nipple
3
• Below kick off point for deviation.
• Check well integrity 2
• Hanging depth for FCD. 4
[

3 SPM 5

• Hydrostatic head of hydrocarbon & 4

communication
6
4 SSD
• Depth of required communication 5

2
5 Packer
• Determined by reservoir depths.
6 Anti-Erosion Device
• Determined by reservoirs & flow
Lower Completion Upper Completion
Equipment Equipment
• Completion Equipment
 Wellheads
 The wellhead provides the following functions:
• Anchoring/connections for each individual casing
• Pressure isolation of individual casings
• Connections for Xmas tree
• Connections for completion string
• Isolation of production annulus
• Access to annulus for pressure monitoring and/or pumping.
 Two types of wellhead are in use:
• Compact wellheads (subsea installations).
• Conventional wellheads.
Conventional Wellhead Features:

1. Starter Spool (Conductor Pipe)

2. Surface Casing Head
3. Surface Casing Hanger
4. Production Casing Head
5. Production Casing Hanger
6. Tubing Head
7. Tubing Hanger
• Completion Equipment
 Xmas tree
 The Xmas tree is an item of safety equipment placed on top of wellhead.
 The purpose of the X/T is to control the flow of hydrocarbons from the
well and to allow access to the well during the operational phase. We
call the Xmas tree a safety barrier.
 The following valves are normally installed on the Xmas tree:
Manual operated master valve
• This is located closest to the wellhead and is the backup valve for
the Hydraulic master valve (NOT working valve)
• It is normally impossible to cut wire lines with manually operated
valves. The torque required would be so high that parts of the valve
would be destroyed before the wireline was cut.
Hydraulic operated master valve
• This is located above the Manual master valve. It is hydraulically
actuated (from the platform control room) and is “fail-safe closed”. In
the case of a hydraulic leak, the valve will revert to its
closed condition (Emergency valve; Hydraulic/Pneumatic)
Choke Valve
• Restrict, control or regulate flow of well fluids.
• Completion Equipment
 Xmas tree
 The following valves are normally installed on the Xmas tree:
Hydraulic operated wing valve
• This is the “last” valve in the Xmas tree before the well-flow enters
the flow line to the choke valve/process system. This valve is
normally “fail-safe closed”.
Swab valve/ Crown Valve
• This is a manual valve that stands at the top of the Xmas tree
under the “tree cap” (also known as the “lubricator adaptor”).
• This valve must be opened in the case of well intervention.
• On the outside of the swab valve we often find a socket
or cup that acts as “barrier element no. 2” if the valve leaks.
• It is important that this cup should be fitted with a needle valve so
that any pressure on the other side can be checked using a
pressure gauge and bled off trapped pressure before it is opened.
Kill valve
• This valve is located next to the wing valve and is used during
pumping and production or injection via neighboring wells. This
valve is normally also fitted with a cup and “needle valve”.
• This counts as a
barrier in most
operations
(production, pumping,
wire line).

• In normal operation the

Xmas tree is a primary
barrier.
• Completion Equipment
 Xmas tree Operational preparations
 A standard requirement is that the valves in a Xmas tree should be
pressure tested/inflow tested before operation of the well commences.
 This is done in order to ensure that the valves are tight; i.e. that they
function as barrier elements.
 Valves are normally regarded as tight if their leakage rate is less than
3.6 BPD liquid & 900 SCF gas.
 It is good operational practice always to have several valves available
as barrier elements, particularly on workovers of older wells, where
valves may be suspect because of deposits.
 It is important to be aware of the number of turns needed to open and
close manually operated valves, and of which items of equipment the
hydraulically actuated master valve has been tested to cut.
 Opening valves under differential pressure conditions (including
valves in a double block situation) can damage their sealing
mechanisms as a result of flushing and high mechanical loads.
Differential pressure can result in pressure damage to intervention
equipment such as tool strings that are hanging in a lubricator.
• Completion Equipment
 Tubing Hanger
 Functions
• It is set in Tubing Head Spool to transfers the weight of the
completion string to the wellhead
• It seals the top of the production annulus (this is a barrier
function, i.e. it prevents annulus pressure from leaking past the
tubing hanger to X/T or out to atmosphere or sea, or vice-versa).
• It is BPV receptacle as it allows an internal plug to be installed by
means of either a nipple profile or screw connection (plugs are
utilized in the installation and retrieval of Xmas trees)
• It provides a seal around hydraulic and electrical control lines.
• Completion Equipment
 Down Hole Safety Valve
 Close the well in an emergency
 Downhole safety valves (DHSVs) are installed in the well in order to
prevent blowouts if:
• the topside Xmas tree becomes damaged (e.g. by collision with a crane lift)
• surface equipment is sabotaged
• a neighboring well suffers a blow-out (in order to prevent a domino effect)
• drilling collision from neighboring well.
 They are set below the depth where they can be damaged by surface
impact explosion
 Such valves are of the “Fail-safe Closed” type. If hydraulic pressure to
the valve is lost, it will immediately close.
 These valves can also be pumped through from the surface even when
they are closed.
 Such valves exist in two versions:
1. Flapper valves
2. Ball-valves.
• Completion Equipment
 Down Hole Safety Valve
 Internationally, the DHSV is not
regarded as a well control barrier.
This is because API permits a
certain amount of leakage through
the DHSV
 They can be3.6 BPD into
divided liquidtwo
. Some
categories :
countries 1.regard
SSCSSSVDHSV as a Controlled Sub-Surface Safety Valve)
(Sub-Surface
2. SCSSSV
barrier after (Surface
an approved Controlled Sub-Surface Safety Valve)
inflow
test which verifies that leakage
 Sub
rates Surface Controlled
are not exceeding 3.6Sub
BPD.Surface Safety Valves :
• Sub-surface controlled DHSV re-opened by pressuring up above
the valve and overcoming any differential pressure
• They can be subdivided into two categories :
1. Differential pressure controlled:
valve is held open by a spring. When the flow rate through the
valve becomes so high that the resistance force collapses the
spring and the force of the reservoir holds the valve shut.

2. Ambient pressure controlled:

Uses a pre charge pressure chamber, the valve closes when
flowing pressure drops below pre-charge pressure.
• Completion Equipment
 Down Hole Safety Valves
 Surface Controlled Sub Surface Safety Valves :
1. Wireline retrievable DHSVs
• Safety valves of this type are installed in a nipple profile in
the completion string.
• The nipple profile is connected to the surface via a hydraulic
control line. When the DHSV is retrieved there will therefore
be an open connection to the surface via this control line.
• If the DHSV is going to be out of the well for any length of
time, a protective sleeve will normally be installed in the
profile.
• Wirelin the
e- the
retriev
• able
If intervention in the well is required below the location of the
DHSV
DHSV, this must be retrieved ahead of the intervention.
• sIf often
a problem with a DHSV arises, it is a simple matter to
produc
retrieve it and install a new one.
e a
• Run
restrict the open position With a prong on the wire line
in
running
ion in tool
• Completion Equipment
 Down Hole Safety Valves
 Surface Controlled Sub Surface Safety Valves :
2. Tubing retrievable DHSVs
• It is installed as an integral part of the completion string. In case
of problems with such valves the completion must be pulled.
• Some valves also have a nipple profile for a wireline-retrievable
DHSV as a back-up solution in case problems should occur.
• The advantage of this type is its large ID and the lack of a control
line which can allow a flow of well fluids to reach the surface.
• It is important that the valve should remain open throughout a
well intervention. During well intervention it is usual to have a
dedicated guard to continuously watch on the valve.
• In the case of a heavy well intervention, it is normal to install a
protective sleeve in the valve in order to protect it from
• damage.
Some DHSVs are fitted with an integrated pressure-equalization
mechanism. When hydraulic opening pressure is applied to the
valve, a small port through the valve is opened and remains
open until the pressure on both sides of the valve has equalized,
before the valve itself is opened. The point of this mechanism is
to minimize damage to the valve.
 TRSV
W/L SCSSSV WRSV Set In SVLN
Control Line
Nipple Profile
WRSV

SVLN Lock-Out
Lock
Mandr Mechanis
el m
Packing
Profile

Packing
Piston
CL Port
Piston
Flow Tube
Seal Bore
Spring
Spring
Flow Tube

Flapper Flapper
• Completion Equipment
 Landing Nipples
 Short tubular with 3 main features; Shoulder, Seal Bores, and Profiles. It
can accommodate and secure a locking device called a lock mandrel run
usually using wireline well intervention equipment.
 Landing nipples are incorporated at various points in the completion
string depending on their functional requirement.
 Common uses for landing nipples are as follows:
• Installation points for setting plugs for pressure testing, setting hydraulic-set
packers or isolating zones
• Installation point for a sub-surface safety valve (SSSV)
• Installation point for bottom hole pressure and temperature gauges.
 A No-Go landing nipple has a small shoulder located within the internal
bore of the nipple.
 The primary reason for a No-Go shoulder is to locate the correct lock
mandrel. A secondary function would be to prevent wireline tools from
falling out of the end the tubing, if dropped.
 Only one No-Go landing nipple of the same size can be used in
completion string, the lowermost nipple being No-Go nipple.
 More than one No-Go landing nipple can be incorporated in a completion
string provided that a step down in No-Go shoulder size is observed.
 Nipples types
Selective
Non-selective or no-
go:
Selective Nipples
 Main advantage is that all seal bores
are the same size.
 No tapering of tubing size.

 Selective nipples have a locating

profile that is “found” by the dogs on
the lock.
Non-selective or no-go
nipples
 Rely on nipple having a smaller ID (no-go)
than the lock
 No go can be at top or bottom of nipple
No-go is used to locate the lock
 Once located, locking dogs on the lock can
be jarred into the locked position
 No Go Nipples
 Top no-go
 Bottom no-go
• Completion Equipment
 Circulation Equipment
 The term “circulation equipment” refers to the following items:
• Side Pocket Mandrels (SPM)
• Sliding sleeves
• Nipples with port(s)/sleeves
 Circulation equipment is employed to:
• Provide gas-lift (SPM with gas-lift valves)
• Create an under-balance in the well in advance of perforation
(SPM, sliding sleeve and nipple)
• Kill the well (SPM, sliding sleeve and nipple).
• Completion Equipment
 Circulation Equipment
Side Pocket Mandrels
• SPMs are used either for gas-lift purposes or for temporary
communication between the annulus and the completion string (to
create an under-balance in the well, to kill the well, etc.).
• The SPM is located to the side of the well flow. A special type of
cable tool known as a “Kickover Tool” (KOT) is utilized when
plugs or valves in the SPM have to be replaced.
• The maximum well angle at which the KOT can be used is around
50 - 60 degrees, and the greater the angle, the more complicated
it is to operate the KOT.
• An important point to remember before plugs or valves in the
SPM can be pulled is to equalize the pressure across the GLV.
• Equipment that can be located in side pockets:
o Circulation or orifice valve
o Injection valve
o Pressure and temperature sensors
o Plug (dummy valve)
o Gas-lift valve.
• Completion Equipment
 Circulation Equipment
Sliding sleeves
• A sliding sleeve can be installed in the completion string.
• Sliding sleeves can also be used for gas lift purposes.
• A sliding sleeve consists of a movable inner sleeve
with slit ports and a fixed outer part which is installed
as part of the liner or completion string. We can
move the inner sleeve up and down with the aid of
a shifting tool which is run on a wireline or CT.
Nipple with port/sleeve
• This is a nipple that has ports between the inside and the outside.
When the port that provides access to the annulus is not to be
used, a sleeve with packers in the nipple profile is installed.
• Equipment of this sort is seldom utilized.
 Side Pocket Mandrel
• Gas Lift Valves
Different designs are available. They may be orifice valves
or pressure operated type valves.
They all contain a check valve to prevent tubing to Annulus flow
These check valves may leak with time and should not be
considered as well control barriers.
• Dummy Valves
These valves can be installed in SPM for the purpose of tubing &
casing isolation . They also facilitate pressure testing from both
tubing & annulus.

• Circulating Valve
These can be installed in SPM whenever tubing/casing
circulation is to be carried out. They enable circulation through
SPM without damaging the pocket

• Chemical Injection Valve

These valves facilitate
injection of chemicals
from annulus to tubing
• Completion Equipment
 Production Packers (Isolation Device)
 A production packer may be defined as a sub-surface component
used to provide a seal between the casing and the tubing in a well.
Packers are installed just above the top perforation
 The prime purpose of using a packer in a well completion is:
• To isolate the casing from reservoir fluids (provide seal between the
tubing & completion annulus)
• To protect the casing from the effects of flowing pressures by
isolating the annulus above the packer from casing below packer &
tubing
• To isolate various producing zones.
• Packers can be used as service tools to perform acid/fracture jobs
 In general, packers are constructed of hardened slips, which are
forced to bite into the casing wall to prevent upward or downward
movement while a system of rubberized elements contact the
casing wall to effect a seal.
 Production packers may be grouped according to their ability to be
removed from a well, that is, retrievable or permanent.
• Completion Equipment
 Production Packers
Retrievable Production Packers
• Are run on the tubing string and may be set mechanically or
hydraulically.
• Can be retrieved with completion string or with special pulling tool on
drill pipe
Permanent Production Packers
• These may be run in a variety of
ways and become an integral
part of
the casing once set but can only be retrieved by milling
• A permanent packer may be run as follows:
o oonlatched
electric wireline
onto the completion tubing and hydraulically set by the
o onapplication
pipe and setof hydraulically by application of pipe pressure.
tubing pressure.
Permanent/ Retrievable Production Packers
• These packers have the same mechanical characteristics as
permanent packers, but have the facility to be released and
recovered from the well.
• Completion Equipment
 Re-entry Guide
 A re-entry guide generally takes one of two forms:
• Bell guide
• Mule shoe.
 The bell guide has a 45° lead in taper to allow easy re-entry
into the tubing of well intervention tool strings (i.e., wireline or
coiled tubing).
 The mule shoe guide is essentially the same as the bell guide
with the exception of a large 45° shoulder.
 Perforated Joint

 Tubing pup joint

perforated with greater
flow areas than tubing.
 Placed in front of
perforations
 Subjected to high velocity
 Acts as a sacrificial joint
 Designed to provide true
temperature / pressure
flow readings & prevent
vibrations to gauges
installed in high velocities
flowing production tubing.
 Anti- Erosion Device

Anti-Erosion Device

Blast Joint
• Heavy-walled tubular.
• Installed opposite perforations
where abrasive action &
external cutting occurs caused
by formation fluids or sand.

Flow Coupling
• Heavy-walled tubular.
• Installed down stream FCD
which caused turbulence e.g.
Nipple, SSD, SCSSV.
• High velocity & high
pressures wells installed
both up-stream & down-
 Wire Line

Outlines
I. Introduction to Wireline
II Typical Slickline Rig up
. Typical Braided Line Rig up
II Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
I.
Operational Considerations
I
V
.
V.
• Introduction to Wire Line
 Wire line operation is a method used to lower and raise various
tools and down-hole controls, in and out of a production well .
 In addition, it is also used to set and retrieve down hole
controls.

 The setting and retrieving operations are achieved by means of

string which is attached to the wire.

 Wire line operation can be carried out in dead or live wells.

However, it has its limitation on highly deviated wells.

 Generally there are three types of wire line commonly in use:

Slick line, Braided line, and Electric line.

 The solid single strand slick line is commonly described as:

Piano wire, Solid wire, or Measuring line.
• SLICKLINE
 Single strand wire with wire OD range from 0.105”, 0.108”,
0.125” & 0.190 (0.092”, 0.082”, 0.072” & 0.066”).

• BRAIDEDLINE
 Multi-strands wire cable OD range from 3⁄16”, 7⁄32”, ¼” & 5 ⁄16”.
 Application:
– Retrieval of downhole tools with slick line failure.
– Fishing job

• ELECTRICLINE
 Multi-strands ¼” & 5 ⁄16”,
wire cable range
from 3⁄16”, 7⁄32”,
7⁄16” & ¾” OD with single or multiple conductors.
– SRO Pressure & Temperature Recorder
 Application;
– SRO Electronic Logging Instrument for open hole & cased hole.
– Packer setting
– Perforations etc.
• WIRELINE EQUIPMENT
1 Surface Equipment
1.1 WL Unit
1.2 Power Pack
1.3 Hoisting Unit
Optional PCE
2 PC
E Quick Union 2.6 Tool Trap
2.1 Stuffing Box / GIH 2.7 Tool Catcher
2.2 Lubricator 2.8 Injection Sub
2.3 BOP 2.8 SCU SAFETY CHECK UNION
2.4 Tree Adapter 2.9 Pumping Tee
2.5
3 Subsurface Equipment (SSE)
3.6 Shifting Tool
3.1 Toolstring
3.7 Kick Over
3.2 Service Tools
3.8 Tool
3.3 Tubing Conditioning Tools
3.9 Overshot
3.4 Running Tools Spear
3.10 Flow Control
3.5 Pulling Tools Device
 Wire Line

Outlines
I. Introduction to Wireline
II Typical Slickline Rig up
. Typical Braided Line Rig up
II Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
I.
Operational Considerations
I
V
.
V.
WIRELINE UNIT
1

3
Component:
2
1. Drum c
a b
2. Weight Indicator f

3. Depth Indicator
e
d
4. Operator Console
a) Hydraulic Directional Valve
b) Hydraulic Pressure Valve 1
2
c) Drum Brake
b 3
d) Gear Lever
a c
e) Wire Transverse Steering f

f) Pressure Gauges
d
e
POWER PACK
Purpose:
• Provide energy to run hydraulic pump.

Component:
1. Starter
2. Engine (Prime Mover)
8
3. Radiator
4. Hydraulic Pump
6 7
5. Hydraulic Reservoir
6. Diesel Reservoir 5 4
2
7. Spark Arrestor
3
8. Hoses 1
9. ESD device
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Stuffing box
 The stuffing box is the primary barrier during a slickline operation.
Main Function is to seal around the wire at upper end of lubricator
during slickline operations , in both static and dynamic conditions.
 All stuffing boxes incorporate a blow-out valve which will close
fluid flow if the wireline breaks and is blown out of the stuffing box.
 With no wire in place ,the flow causes the BOP plunger to
activate& well bore pressure is isolated until the BOP or Swab
valve can be closed to fully secure the well.
 A swivel- mounted sheave wheel & guard to Guide the wire as it
enters or leaves the well Bore ( having 360° free movement ).
 The Sheave guard on the stuffing box is designed to trap wire, if a
break occurs at surface.
 Before an operation we should check the stuffing box and
determine whether the set of packers is in good condition. If there
is any sign of wear it should be replaced with a new set.
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Stuffing box
 We should make sure that the blowout plug has been inserted the
right way up, i.e. with it conical end pointing upwards.
 Injection Port ( Bleed Port ) can be used for following purposes:
 Injection of glycol or similar antifreeze fluid in low temperature
environments or when working on high –pressure gas wells where
hydrates may be a formed.
 Injection of a chemical inhibitor to protect slickline in corrosive well
conditions ( H2S )
 Bleed of pressure to activate the BOP plunger if packing has to be
changed under pressure
 The use of a remote hydraulically activated packing nut enables
the packing forces to be adjusted from a safe distance. This
feature is particularly useful when:
 Stuffing box cannot be easily reached during operation.
 On high- pressure wells when close proximity to a pressurized stuffing
box is not advisable.
 On wells containing dangerous levels of H2S.
 PCE - STUFFING BOX

Hydraulic Stuffing Box Manual Stuffing Box

• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Lubricator
 Lubricator sections enable the slick line tool string and
equipment to be inserted and removed from a well under
pressure
 A lubricator consists of cylindrical pipes connected by quick-
release joints as needed to make up the required length.
 The quick-release joints are fitted with O-ring seals. Every time
of R/U, we should check that the O-rings are in good condition.
 At the lower end of the lubricator we find a bleed-off port on
which to mount the lubricator manifold, which normally consists
of a needle valve for pressure venting.
 Lower section must be of sufficient ID to accommodate the
tools or equipment being run.
 Upper sections may be smaller as only the tool string is
housed inside.
 PCE - LUBRICATOR

Lower Section Top Section

 PCE - QUICK UNION

• Thread Connection. Hand Tight NO

wrench
• O-Ring seal. To be kept clean at all
time.
• Check thread & O-ring before
make-up.
•
O-Rings need lubricating with oil or
grease prior to assembly.
•
Worn connections, where the gap
between the pin and box exceeds
tolerances, will lead to failure.
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Blowout Preventers (BOPs)
 A Slick line BOP (also known as a Wireline valve) is generally
installed between the tree connection and lower lubricator
section.
 The BOP provides facilities for contingency and emergency
procedures and must be included in all rig-ups.
 Primary purposes of BOP are to :
• Enable well pressure to be isolated without cutting the wire by
closing the master valve.
• Allow a wire line cutter to be prepared and dropped if tool string
becomes stuck in the well.
• Enable stripping of wire through closed rams, only when
necessary
 The only exceptions by which a BOP is not rigged up next to
the tree connection are:
• When installing or retrieving BPVs (back pressure valves). Check
that this provides sufficient length to close the rams on the wire,
i.e., above the rope socket.
Manual BOP
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Blowout Preventers (BOPs)
 Several types or styles of ram are commonly
encountered:
• Slick line rams - use blind rams with rubber inserts on the sealing faces to
seal with or without wire across the rams.
• Braided line - use rams with a semicircular groove in the seals to match
the line diameter.
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Blowout Preventers (BOPs)
 Slick line BOPs are available in manual or hydraulic operating
modes and are used in the following configurations:
• Single BOP - Installed between the tree connection and lower
lubricator.
• Dual BOP - Double or twin ram BOP are primarily used with
braided line. Generally hydraulically operated, a dual BOP is
generally configured in a single housing or body containing two
sets of rams. To obtain a seal against braided line, a grease
injection point is provided between the ram sets.
• Multiple BOP - On high-pressure gas wells, a
third BOP is advisable. The lower set of rams is
installed upside down so that they will hold
pressure from above. Grease injected above
these rams will be contained and form an
efficient seal.
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Explosive Decompression in BOP Rams
 Gases in a producing well are capable of causing an additional
effect on the elastomer. When operating in an environment with
high free gas, the elastomer absorbs gas up to a saturation
value.
 If a decompression process occurs and the gas is liberated too
rapidly, then the elastomer suffers internal blistering, tearing
or cracking due to the abrupt gas expansion. This phenomenon
is commonly known as explosive decompression and occurs
frequently in environments with a high concentration of CO2.
 Elastomer permeability, degree of cross-linking as well as its
mechanical properties define material resistance to explosive
decompression.
 The use of a slow decompression rate and a minimum
elastomer thickness helps in preventing this phenomenon.
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Blowout Preventers (BOPs)
 The key design and operating features (BOP Operation) of
Slick line BOPs include:
Equalizing Valve
• All BOPs have a means of equalizing the pressure across the
closed rams.
• Any pressure differential acting on the cross-section of the rams
creates a force that makes opening the rams extremely difficult.
• Attempting to open the rams without equalizing may result in
internal damage.
• The equalizing valve should normally be kept closed so that in an
emergency, BOP will hold pressure as soon as the rams are
closed.
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Blowout Preventers (BOPs)
 The key design and operating features (BOP Operation) of
Slick line BOPs include:
Function and Pressure Testing
• Testing performed from below as blind rams are not designed to
hold pressure from above.
• All BOPs should be tested on a regular basis. Full body tests are
conducted with rams open & applying 150% of working pressure.
• Working pressure tests are performed with rams closed,
applying
100% of the working pressure to test the ram seal against
the wire diameter. A test rod of the same size as the wire to be
• used should be inserted between the rams.
The force created by pressure acting on the cross-sectional
area of the test rod will act to push the rod out of the rams. For
this reason, it is not recommended that any locally made devices
be used unless they have been subjected to recognized
inspection and certification.
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Shear/ Seal BOP (Remote control unit)
 The shear/seal BOP is installed between the well’s Xmas tree
and the wireline BOP.
 It comprises the third barrier in the wireline operated pressure
control system.
 The Shear-seal BOP is hydraulically actuated, but it can also
be operated manually.
 The valve stack is equipped with a shear ram which, when
closed, also functions as a seal BOP. The valve is actuated
when there is a need to cut the wire at the surface, and to avoid
having to utilize the Xmas tree, which might lead to damage to
the valves.
Slickline PCE
Stuffing Box
Stuffing Box

Lubricator
Lubricator
SLICKLINE FISHING
SLICKLINE OPERATION OPERATION

Blind Ram
Blind Ram Blind Ram

Shear & Seal Ram Shear & Seal Ram

 Wire Line

Outlines
I. Introduction to Wireline
II Typical Slickline Rig up
. Typical Braided Line Rig up
II Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
I.
Operational Considerations
I
V
.
V.
• Typical Braided Line Rig up
 Braided lines with no internal conductor are called sand lines
and a rig usually has one on a special winch used for fishing
etc.
 They are much stronger than electric line, usually at least
double the breaking strength.
 Electric line has either single or multiple conductors.
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Grease Injection Control Head
 The grease injection control head has the same functions as a
stuffing box when braided cable is being utilized.
 Grease is pumped through the lower nipple of injection port
and up through the wireline and the seal tubes.
 A minimum of three lengths of seal tubing is essential on an
injection head to reduce the pressure.
 The pressure is controlled from a separate panel and is usually
connected to the unit by means of an air-driven pump. The
grease is withdrawn through a return nipple below the packer
unit.
 Before the start of operations we should check that the sealing
tubing (flow tube) is suitable for the dimensions of the wireline.
Excessively large sealing tubing or a worn wireline will means
excessive grease consumption.
 We should also make sure that sufficient grease is available for
the complete operation before we start working.
 PCE - GREASE INJECTION HEAD
Flow Tube Range:
2 Tubes: <2K psi
3 Tubes: <10K psi
GIH
4 Tubes: <15K psi
Contaminated
Clearance: 0.004” – 0.006” Grease Tank

SCU

Pack Off Hand Pump

Lubricator

Grease Pump
BOP
Flow Tube, Flow Tube Flow Tube
Cable & & Cable
Grease GIH GREASE SYSTEM
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Safety check union/sub
 The safety check union/sub is intended to retain the pressure if
the wireline breaks or is pulled out of the wireline head.
 It is installed just below the injection head and is a check valve
in the form of a ball which is pressed against a non-extrusion
ring/seating.
 Before installation and use, the valve should be checked, and if
any damage is found the ball and its brass seating should be
replaced.
 The use of SCU is compulsory during W/L operations in sour gas & oil
wells.
 SCU must be installed between upper section of lubricator & injection
Nipple
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 In-Situ Pressure Test sub
 • Typical Wireline Rig up
 TAS (Turn Around Sheave)
Features
■ Reduces the rig-up height of e-line operations by turning the wire 180 degrees
so it points downwards rather than upwards
■ Lack of central hub keeps weight to a minimum
■ Use of Finite Element Analysis to ensure reliability, light weight and user-
friendliness

Benefits

■ Reduces the rig-up height by turning the wire to face downwards

rather than upwards
■ The alternative 2-inch 10-flowtube connection removed a quick union
connection

The Hunting Turn-around Sheave offers operators the opportunity to reduce their rig-up height
during e-line operations, by turning
the wire through 180 degrees whilst still within the pressure control equipment (PCE). This
allows for the grease injection control head to be pointing downwards instead of upwards.
• Typical Braided Line Rig up
 Braided Line BOPs
 Ram type BOPs are self-actuating. Once an initial seal is established in
closing, the difference in pressure above and below the rams assists the
sealing action. The seals are arranged so that the pressure differential
forces the rams together and upwards.
 This means that:
• The sealing force is independent of the closing force after the seal is
established & the ram sealing action is directional
• The pressure must be equalized before opening.
 Ram type BOPs are designed to seal with the cable static, and cable
movement should be stopped before closing the rams.
 Braided line dual ram BOPs are configured with the lower set of rams
inverted, and with a grease injection port in between the rams. This allows
the two sets of rams to trap a cavity full of grease between them of higher
pressure, preventing escape up or down.
 By filling the cavity at a pressure higher than wellhead pressure, the
grease fills the spaces and prevents escape.
 This is mandatory in gas wells since gas will migrate up the cable between
the inner and outer armor.
• Typical Braided Line Rig up
 Shear Valves (Tree/Stand-Alone)
 During W/L operations it may become necessary to cut the
wire.
 Some Xmas Tree valves are designed to do this without
damaging the valve. In some cases, e.g. when fishing with
heavy duty wire, it may not be advisable to do so.
 In such case, it may be necessary to include a purpose
designed shear valve, mounted just above the tree.
 It is a ram type shear/seal BOP as it has superior cut capacity.
 The valve should cut the wire or the BHA. It has the additional
advantage of sealing at the bottom of the riser.
 Shear valves should be considered when:
• The DHSV is locked permanently open using a sleeve. This
means that it can’t be used as a barrier with W/L out of the well.
• The lubricator is not long enough to contain the whole tool string.
If X/T valves leak, the lubricator could not be isolated.
• An extra barrier is required due to the nature of the operation, or
the equipment configuration.
BRAIDEDLINE PCE
GIH
PRIMARY BARRIER
SCU

Lubricator

SECONDARY BARRIER
1 1 Braidedline Ram
2 2 Braidedline Inverted
3 Ram
4
3 Blind Ram
4 Shear Ram

Shear & Seal Ram

TERTIARY
BARRIER
• Typical Braided Line Rig up
 Pressure Testing
 Each time the tool string is loaded into the lubricator the system
should be pressure tested prior to opening up the well and
running in hole.
 The test value should be decided beforehand, and would
commonly be 110% of SIWHP, rather than design pressure.
 It is unnecessary to test to several thousand psi when the
SIWHP of a depleted reservoir may only be a few hundred psi.
 A typical test will consist of pressuring up the lubricator (and
riser, if used) against the closed tree swab valve, to the
working pressure of the lowest pressure rated item of
equipment in the rig up.
 It is important to ensure as much air is bled from the system as
possible, in order to obtain a satisfactory pressure trace on the
chart recorder. Water or other suitable liquid should be used.
• Typical Braided Line Rig up
 Pressure Testing
 When using braided line:
• Pump at a sufficient rate to vent air via the grease injection head.
Cement or other high-capacity pumps might be used to speed this
up
• As
th
e
liq
• ui
d
be
•
gi
ns
 Whento using slick line:
• While
le pumping, vent air through lubricator bleed off line
• ak
When water appears at bleed off line reduce pump rate and close
ou
in needle valve
• tContinue to pressure up with the test pump and hold stabilized
at
pressure for the prescribed time.
th
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Pressure Test Procedure
 Primary Pressure Test
1. After completing rigging up with the tool string in the
lubricator and the Xmas tree valves closed, connect the test
pump to the lubricator.
2. With the lubricator bleed off valve open and the stuffing box
packing de-energized, pump water (dosed with glycol if
hydrate formation is a risk; 60/40 or 50/50) and fill the
lubricator.
3. Close the bleed off valve and energize the stuffing box.
4. Slowly bring the pump pressure up to the test pressure
according to the well program but never to exceed the
lubricator assembly WP (which is the WP of the lowest rated
component).
5. Hold the pressure for 10min observing that there is no
leakage.
6. Bleed off the pressure, record the test in the daily report and
begin well operations.
Max. SITHP + 500 psi safety factor (in stages)
• Typical Wireline Rig up
 Pressure Test Procedure
 Subsequent Pressure Tests
• Subsequent tests may be performed test using the well fluid
pressure before making any further runs.
• The pressure test will be carried out as per the following
procedure:
1. With the lubricator installed and the bleed off valve close,
slowly open the swab valve until pressure is observed on
the gauge on the bleed off port. Stop the opening the valve
and allow the pressure to stabilize.
2. Verify the SITHP pressure on the gauge.
3. Check for any leaks on the adapter flanges, quick unions or
stuffing box.
4. If there is no leakage, fully open the swab valve.
5. Continue with operations.
 Wire Line

Outlines
I. Introduction to Wireline
II Typical Slickline Rig up
. Typical Braided Line Rig up
II Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
I.
Operational Considerations
I
V
.
V.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Stuffing Box Leak (Slickline)
 Hydrocarbons escaping from the stuffing box during slick
line operations are predominantly caused by packing wear.
This should be quite an unusual situation, and is easily avoided
by:
• Correct packing nut setting (not over tightened)
• Regular
 Leaks inspection
are most ofoften
packing and changing
cured, as required.
by simply increasing the
compression accordingly.
 If tightening the packing nut does not cure the leak at that point,
particularly in oil wells at moderate pressures, small leaks may
be acceptable in order to pull out of hole and make repairs.
Alternatively, it may be acceptable to close one set of BOPs
and strip through them.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Stuffing Box Leak (Slickline)
 Otherwise, the stuffing box will have to be repaired by replacing
the
packing. Normally this repair is made by cutting the wire. To do this:
1. Stop cable movement
2. Close both sets of wire line BOPs and bleed down lubricator
pressure
3. Inflow test BOPs to ensure they are sealing. This is done by
observing that the lubricator pressure stays at zero after closing
the bleed valves after bleeding down
4. Open the bleed screw in the stuffing box to ensure that no
pressure remains
5. Unscrew the gland nut completely to expose the packing
elements
6. Clamp and cut the wire
7. Withdraw the packing elements and remove them from the wire
8. Ream the new packing element with a piece of wire and place
them on the wire and Rejoin the wire.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Stuffing Box Leak (Slickline)
 A temporary repair (if it is not possible to cut wire) may be
made by splitting the packing with a knife to allow them to be
placed on the line without cutting it.
 Before pushing the new element
essential to rotate s into the
each
diagonal splits do not line stuffing
 This will prevent selectivebox wearit and
is a key seat appearing on
one side of the packing. packing
 This should be considered element
a last resort emergency measure
to
only, and this temporary packing should be changed as soon
as the tool is retrieved. ensure
that the
up.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Grease Seal Leak (Braided Cable Operations)
 Leaks are potentially serious in gas wells.
 A leak past the grease injection head may be due to:
• Pulling out (or running in) too fast, particularly on the first run (dry
cable)
• Setting the grease injection pressure too low
• An increase in wellhead pressure, e.g. after perforating
• Not enough grease in the supply tank
• Restrictions in the grease supply system
• Low grease pump air supply pressure
 However a leak could also be as a result of one or a
combination of the following factors:
• Grease type incompatible with conditions, e.g. ambient
temperature or freezing due to gas escape
• Contaminated grease becoming thinner
• Incorrect flow tube insert ID or worn flow tubes
• Insufficient flow tube length.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Grease Seal Leak (Braided Cable Operations)
 It may be possible to re-establish the grease seal in the
following ways;
• Increase grease injection pressure
• RIH slowly to:
1) Help the grease flow into the well rather than out
2) Pass a well-greased section of wire through the flow tubes.
In oil wells, this is normally sufficient to re-establish the seal, or
slow it sufficiently to retrieve the tool and reconfigure or repair
the seal assembly.
 The stuffing box may be used to slow the leak and help the
grease seal re-establish itself as following;
• Stop all cable movement then Close stuffing box
• Close the valve at the end of the grease return
• Once the leak has been contained, re-open the grease return line
and allow grease to circulate before continuing the operation.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Grease Seal Leak (Braided Cable Operations)
 In Gas Wells; during braided line operations in gas wells, if the
seal is lost it will prove harder to re-establish because:
• The increased volume of gas compared to oil will tend to strip the
grease out of the flow tube
• Lube oil based grease becomes contaminated and thins (loses
viscosity)
• The cooling effect of gas escape thickens the grease.
 escaping gas must be immediately controlled to prevent
The
freeze and hydrate formation.
• Stop cable movement,
• Close BOP, inject grease between rams & bleed lubricator pressure
• Once the escape is stabilized, a number of corrective steps can be
taken in an attempt to re-establish the grease seal. These are:
1) Wait for the freeze up to thaw, or assist with a steam hose.
2) Pump heavy oil first to re-establish grease circulation.
3) Circulate grease for some time to remove all thin grease or oil remains.
4) Change grease type if possible.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Grease Seal Leak (Braided Cable Operations)
 If none of the above actions helps to abate the leak, the cable
may have to be cut to allow the seal assembly to be inspected
and repaired/reconfigured.
 There are a number of possibilities which become possible
once the cable has been cut:
• Worn flow tubes replaced, or smaller ID inserts used
• More flow tubes added
• Additional grease injection points added.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Grease Seal Leak (Braided Cable Operations)
 The procedure for cutting the cable is as given below.
• Stop cable movement
• Close both sets of wire line BOPs and bleed down lubricator
pressure
• Inflow test BOPs to ensure they are sealing
• Disconnect lubricator and secure wire above BOPs with fishing
clamp
• Pull a few wraps a wire off cable drum and cut wire close to winch
unit, pull wire out of stuffing box and grease seal assembly
• Make the necessary inspection and or/adjustments to the sealing
assembly
• Rethread wire through stuffing box and knot free end at winch
unit, spool loose wire back onto drum
• Remove fishing clamp and reconnect lubricator
• Equalize pressure and open BOPs
• Pull out of hole and replace knotted section of wire if sufficient is
remaining on drum.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Leak In Lubricator
 Although the lubricator will have been pressure tested prior to
commencing operations, the action of jarring etc. can
induce
bending in the lubricator and hence cause leaks at the
connections probably as a result of ‘O’ ring failure.
 It is good practice to visually inspect and replace the ‘O’ ring at
the connection used every time the lubricator is broken open.
 It may be sufficient to remove the damaged ‘O’ ring, split a new
one diagonally with a knife, place over the cable, join it with a
adhesive from seal manufacturers then place in the groove.
 If this does not work, replace with an uncut seal.
 Loss Of Power
 Clamp wire at the vertical section close to the lower
sheave/pulley and apply manual brake to cable drum
 Close BOPs (optional)
 Repair or replace power pack
 Open BOPs, unclamp wire and recommence operations.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Broken Strand
 Breaking a single strand of a braided cable should be
discovered by:
• Fluctuations in the line weight, caused by the lower end of the
broken strand.
 A broken strand is more likely to occur after closing the BOP on
the cable.
 It can also be caused by crimping the wire, e.g. when using
clamps, by excessive bending, etc.
 In all broken strand/birds nest situations, there is a danger that
strands of wire can cause BOP not to seal or be damaged
when actuated.
• Managing A Leak or Malfunction on Surface
 Broken Wire
 Broken slickline will fall and usually coil in a neat helix and can be
normally easier to fish than braided line.
 However all fishing operations carry a high element of risk that the
fish can’t be recovered. This might lead to killing the well by bull
heading, leading to loss of production.
 Broken braided line can form a bundle, which can sometimes be
fished with difficulty, but usually which will plug the tubing.
 This may require the well to be killed (which itself could be difficult
with plugged tubing) and the completion retrieved. For this reason
braided line should always run with a weak point at the tool.
 Slickline tends to part more easily than braided line for a number
of reasons, including:
• Fatigue at pulleys caused by excessive jarring at the same point
• Embrittlement of the wire due to the presence of H2S
• Incorrect make-up of the rope socket
• Accidental (or otherwise) closing of valve on wire
• Pulling in excess of the wire’s yield strength.
 Wire Line

Outlines
I. Introduction to Wireline
II Typical Slickline Rig up
. Typical Braided Line Rig up
II Operation Planning
I.
Managing A Leak or on Surface
I Malfunction
V
Operational Considerations
.
V
.
VI.
• Operational Considerations
 Lubricator
 When conducting wire line operations on gas wells or high
GOR oil wells it is important that the fluid used to pressure test
the lubricator is inhibited, to prevent the formation of hydrate
plugs around the wellhead. Typically, a mixture of glycol and
water is used.
 Prior to opening X/T valves it is important that lubricator is
approximately equal to or slightly above, the SIWHP. This is to:
• Reduce the chance of damaging the valve seals when opening.
• Reduce the chance of differential surges damaging the tool or
wire.
 When RIH the tree valve opening sequence should be
1. Hydraulic master valve (HMV)
2. Swab valve
 So that the HMV does not have a differential pressure across it when
opening, when pulling out the shut-in sequence should be:
1. Swab valve (Check the correct number of turns )
2. HMV
• Operational Considerations
 The Stuffing Box
 During slick line operations, the stuffing box needs to provide a
leak tight seal around the wire while still allowing the wire to
move.
 However the stuffing box should not be over tightened, since:
• This causes excessive packing wear
• More weight needs to be used to overcome the extra friction
• The extra weight brings line tensions closer to limits
• The tool string is lengthened, requiring a longer lubricator.
 On high wellhead pressure wells, note that extra stem is
required not only to overcome the extra upwards force on the
cable, but to overcome the extra stuffing box friction.
• Operational Considerations
 DHSV And Tree Valve Control
 During wire line operations, the normal tree valve control
system is overridden and operation of the valves is achieved
through a separate bypass control unit.
 This ensures that valves are not accidentally closed by the
process control ESDs, etc. while wire line is in the hole.
 This unit should not be placed in the well bay area, unless it is
permanently manned by someone in adequate communication
with the wire line operator/supervisor.
 When conducting W/L operations below the DHSV, the control
line can be closed in at the X/T, to lock in pressure, ensuring
that the valve can’t be accidentally closed on the cable.
 Removing a DHSV can permit the well fluids access to the CL.
In the case of unexpected pressure in the well, a build-up can
escape via this line. This can cause:
• External leaks
• Pressurization of components & hydraulic oil reservoirs beyond
their rating.
• Operational Considerations
 DHSV Protection
 If the well contains a wire line retrievable DHSV, the valve may
have to be pulled in order to provide access for the tool string.
 Protection sleeves are available for setting in the DHSV landing
nipple that prevent damage of the seal bore by wire line cutting.
 Tubing retrievable valves can also be locked out during wire
line operations.
 If the operator chooses to lock the DHSV open then they must
ensure that two mechanical barriers are available to shut in
above it, i.e. master valve and swab valve.
 When wire line is in the well in the hole below the DHSV, it is
not normally considered to be a barrier, whether or not it is
capable of cutting the wire.
• Operational Considerations
 Tool String Weight
 The weight of the tool string should be increased to:
• Overcome sealing assembly friction and well pressure on the
cross-sectional area of the wire line
• Ensure sufficient weight to provide required jarring force.
• Ensure sufficient weight to keep tool string stationary if flowing the
well for logging purposes.
 Adjusting the tool string weight is simply achieved by adding or
removing lengths of stem. However there are limits to the
amount of weight that can be added because of:
• Tool length limit
• Lubricator length limit.
• Down hole pick-up weight constraints (cable strength limit).
• Operational Considerations
 Flowing Wells
 Flowing the well with tools in the hole is carried out when
• Production logging (braided line)
• Pressure / temperature gradient / MPLT surveys (slick line).
 To prevent the tools from being carried up the hole by the force of
the wellbore fluid, with the potential for the tools stuck;
• Ensure sufficient tool string weight
• Open well slowly, after positioning tool string below the fluid level
 When conducting slick line logging it is sometimes difficult to
detect a loss in weight. With braided line the tool position can be
monitored by means of the CCL.
 When pulling plugs, etc. it is important to ensure that the device
is equalized, i.e. has the same pressure above and below.
 If the pressure above is too high, it may be impossible to pull the
prong/device, perhaps eventually leading to a broken wire.
 If the pressure below is too high, the surge may cause the
prong/device to be blown up the well, also leading to tangling and
possibly broken wire.
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