Wireline

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The term wireline usually refers to a cabling technology used by operators of oil and gas wells to lower equipment or measurement devices into the well for the purposes of well intervention and reservoir evaluation.

In its simplest form, the wireline simply consists of a single strand of metal wire most commonly 0.108" or 0.125" in diameter, which is often referred to as slickline. In other cases, the wire is composed of braided strands, rendering it stronger and heavier, which is called braided line. Braided line can contain an inner core of insulated wires which provide power to equipment located at the end of the cable, normally referred to as electric line, and provides a pathway for electrical telemetry for communication between the surface and equipment at the end of the cable.

Wireline is also a term used to describe Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). Generally it is a wired telephone, traditionally using copper wire for transmission, as opposed to a wireless telephone, which uses radio frequencies to carry data. It has come into use more frequently to distinguish the type of telephone service one has. See also Landline

1 Uses
2 Wireline tools
3 Additional Equipment
4 Wireline apparatus
5 Pressure control during wireline operations
6 Wireline images
7 See also
8 Sources and Citations

[edit] Uses

[edit] Slickline

Slickline tools operate with a mechanical action. This mechanical action is accomplished by the operation of jars. Some completion components may be deployed and retrieved on slickline such as wireline retrievable safety valves, battery powered downhole gauges, perforating, setting explosively set bridge plugs, and setting or retrieving gas lift valves. Slickline can also be used for fishing, the process of trying to retrieve other equipment and wire, which has been dropped down the hole. The most common applications for slickline are:

• Tagging T.D. • Gauge runs • Broach tubing / Plunger Installations • Bailing sand and debris • Shifting sleeves • Setting / Pulling plugs and chokes • Setting / Pulling gas lift valves • Running tailpipes • Bottom hole pressure and temperature surveys • Spinner Surveys • Kinley perforator, sandline cutter, and caliper • Running production logging tools • Fishing operations • Paraffin cutting • Chipping ice / salt • Lubricating long assemblies in the hole

[edit] Braided line

Braided line is generally used when the strength of slickline is insufficient for the task. Most commonly, this is for heavy fishing such as retrieving broken drill pipe. The most common use for braided line is fishing electric line tools.

[edit] Electric line

Electric line is the common term for the utilization of a armored, insulated conductor cable used to conduct current to downhole tools, typically used for well logging. Electric line can be subdivided into open hole operations and cased hole operations.

Open hole operations, or reservoir evaluation, involves the deployment of tools into a freshly drilled well. As the toolstring traverses the wellbore, the individual tools gather information about the surrounding formations. A typical open hole log will have information about the density, porosity, permeability, lithology, presence of hydrocarbons, and oil and water saturation.

Cased hole operations, or production optimization, focuses of the optimization of the completed oil well through mechanical services and logging technologies. At this point in the well's life, the well is encased in steel pipe, cemented into the well bore and may or may not be producing. A typical cased hole log may show cement quality, production information, formation data. Mechanical services uses jet perforating guns, setting tools, and dump bailors to optimize the flow of hydrocarbons.

[edit] Wireline tools

A wireline tool string can be dozens of feet long with multiple separate tools installed to perform multiple operations at once.

[edit] Open Hole Electric Line Tools

[edit] Natural Gamma Ray Tools

Natural gamma-ray tools are designed to measure naturally occurring gamma radiation in the earth caused by the disentigration due to Potassium, Uranium, and Thorium. Unlike nuclear tools, these natural gamma ray tools do not emit any radiation.

Natural gamma ray tools employ a radioactive sensor, which is usually a scintillation crystal that emits a light pulse proportional to the strength of the gamma ray pulse incident on it. This light pulse is then converted to a current pulse by means of a photo multiplier tube PMT. From the photo multiplier tube, the current pulse goes to the tool's electronics for further processing and ultimately to the surface system for recording. The strength of the received gamma rays is dependant on the source emitting gamma rays, the density of the formation, and the distance between the source and the tool detector. The log recorded by this tool is used to identify lithology, estimate shale content, and depth correlation of future logs.

[edit] Nuclear Tools

Nuclear tools measure formation properties through the interaction of reservoir molecules with radiation emitted from the logging tool. Most open hole nuclear tools utilize double-encapsulated chemical sources.

[edit] Density Tools

Density tools use gamma ray radiation to determine the lithology and porosity of the well environment. Modern density tools utilize a Cs-137 radioactive source to generate gamma rays. Density tools also have an extendable caliper arm, which is used to meaure the true width of the borehole.

Gamma rays emitted from the source pass into the formation. Depending on the density of the surrounding formation, some of the gamma rays will be absorbed into the rock while others are reflected back to the tool. The ratio of returning gamma rays to absorbed gamma rays is useful in determining formation density.^[1]

[edit] Neutron Tools

Neutron tools utilize fast neutrons to indicate porosity and lithology of the well. Modern neutron tools typically use an Am241-Be plug to create the neutrons.

The hydrogen content of the formation, from oil or water, slows down the emitted neutrons until they reach a thermal or epithermal state. At the slower thermal and epithermal states, the tool is able to detect the neutons. These counts therefore yeild a count of slow neutrons, which is a clear indicator of the hydrogen content of the well.^[2]

[edit] Resistivity Tools

This tool is important in reservoir evaluation for determining the location of the oil-water contact. Water is far more conductive than hydrocarbons and so will give the reservoir rock it saturates a lower resistivity than rock saturated with hydrocarbons. When analysing a resistivity log, the point where the resistivity undergoes a large change is likely to be the location of the oil-water contact. It is also used an indicator for permeability. Since most resistivity tools have different depths of investigation, a permeable formation will read different resistivities at different depths.

[edit] Sonic and Ultrasonic Tools

Sonic tools generate sound wave and measure the time it takes to reach the detectors. This is used to measure the effective porosity. Sound waves travel slower in formations in which the pores are not interconnected.

[edit] Nuclear Magnetic Tools

A measurement of the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) properties of hydrogen in the formation. There are two phases to the measurement: polarization and acquisition. First, the hydrogen atoms are aligned in the direction of a static magnetic field (B0). This polarization takes a characteristic time T1. Second, the hydrogen atoms are tipped by a short burst from an oscillating magnetic field that is designed so that they precess in resonance in a plane perpendicular to B0. The frequency of oscillation is the Larmor frequency. The precession of the hydrogen atoms induces a signal in the antenna. The decay of this signal with time is caused by transverse relaxation and is measured by the CPMG pulse sequence. The decay is the sum of different decay times, called T2. The T2 distribution is the basic output of a NMR measurement.

The NMR measurement made by both a laboratory instrument and a logging tool follow the same principles very closely. An important feature of the NMR measurement is the time needed to acquire it. In the laboratory, time presents no difficulty. In a log, there is a trade-off between the time needed for polarization and acquisition, logging speed and frequency of sampling. The longer the polarization and acquisition, the more complete the measurement. However, the longer times require either lower logging speed or less frequent samples.

[edit] Borehole Seismic Tools

[edit] Cased Hole Electric Line Tools

[edit] Cement Bond Tools

A cement bond tool, or CBT, is an acoustic tool used to measure the quality of the cement behind the casing. Using a CBT, the bond between the casing and cement as well as the bond between cement and formation can be determined. Using CBT data, a company can troubleshoot problems with the cement sheath if necessary.^[3] This tool must be centralized in the well to function properly.

Two of the largest problems found in cement by CBT's are channelling and micro-annulus. A micro annulus is the formation of microscopic cracks in the cement sheath. Channelling is where large, contiguous voids in the cement sheath form, typically caused by poor centralization of the casing. Both of these situations can, if necessary, be fixed by remedial electric line work.

A CBT gains its measurements by rapidly pulsing out compressional waves across the well bore and into the pipe, cement, and formation. The compressional pulse originates in a transmitter at the top of the tool, which, when powered up on surface sounds like a rapid clicking sound. The tool typically has two receivers, one three feet away from the receiver, and another at five feet from the transmitter. These receivers record the arrival time of the compressional waves.^[4] The information from these receivers are logged as traveltimes for the three and five foot receivers and as a micro-seismogram.

Recent advances in logging technologies have allowed the receivers to measure 360 degrees of cement integrity and can be represented on a log as a radial cement map and as 6-8 individual sector arrival times.^[5]

[edit] Casing Collar Locators

Casing collar locator tools, or CCL's, are among the simplest and most essential in cased hole electric line. CCL's are typically used for depth correlation and can be an indicator of line overspeed when logging in heavy fluids.^[6]

A CCL operates on Faraday's Law of Induction. Two magnets are separated by a coil of copper wire. As the CCL passes by a casing joint, or collar, the difference in metal thickness across the two magnets induces a current spike in the coil. This current spike is sent uphole and logged as what's called a collar kick on the cased hole log.

[edit] Gamma perforating Tools

A cased hole gamma perforator is used to perform mechanical services, such as shooting perforations, setting downhole tubing/casing elements, dumping remedial cement, tracer surveys, etc. Typically, a gamma perforator will have some sort of explosively initiated device attached to it, such as a perforating gun, a setting tool, or a dump bailor. In certain instances, the gamma perforator is used to merely spot objects in the well, as in tubing conveyed perforating operations and tracer surveys.

Gamma perforators operate in much the same way as an open hole natural gamma ray tool. Gamma rays given off from naturally occurring radioactive elements bombard the tool. The tool processes the gamma ray counts and sends the data uphole where it is put onto a log. The information is then used to ensure that the depth shown on the log is correct. After that, power can be applied through the tool to set off explosive charges for things like perforating, setting plugs or packers, dumping cement, etc.

[edit] Setting Tools

Setting tools are used to set downhole completion elements. Setting tools are typically large steel tools onto wich a downhole completion can be screwed onto. One of the most common setting tools is manufactured by Baker Hughes.

Setting tools are explosively driven devices. A shooting CCL or a gamma perforator is used to apply power to detonate a low explosive in the setting tool. The gas pressure created by the deflagrating low explosive exerts a large force a piston holding back oil. The pneumatic pressure of the piston pushes the oil, which hydraulically separates the setting tool from the plug or packer. The downhole completion is now set in place.

[edit] Slickline Tools

[edit] Jar

This type of tool can extend and be closed rapidly to induce a mechanical shock to the tool string. This shock can induce certain components such as plugs to lock into place and then unlock for retrieving. Spang jars are manually operated by the wireline operator who either lifts or lowers wire rapidly, requiring a great deal of expertise. Power jars use springs or built-in hydraulics to give an upward jarring motion where greater force is required.

[edit] Stem

Stem essentially just serves to add weight to the toolstring. The weight may be necessary to overcome the pressure of the well. Some variations of stem, called roller stem, may have wheels built into the tool to allow the tool string to glide more easily down moderately deviated wells.

[edit] Pulling tools

These are tools designed for fishing other wireline components which have been dropped down hole. All wireline tools are designed with 'fishing necks' on their top side, intended to be easily grabbed by pulling tools. Pulling tools are also used for retrieving seated components such as plugs.

[edit] Gauge cutter

The important part of these tools is their bottom end, which is a sharp metal ring of accurately determined size. By allowing for a sharp up and down motion, the metal ring can cut through contamination such as scale which may build up in the well bore. Gauge Cutters or Gauge Rings are used to determine the I.D. of the tubing or to locate seating nipples or tight spots in the tubing. Gauge rings are generally run prior to running plugs and other tools to insure that they will fit in the tubing.

[edit] Lead impression block

If an obstruction is found downhole, a lead impression block can be run to help determine its nature. The LIB has a malleable lead base in which the obstruction can leave an impression when they meet. The LIB is called Wireline Camera because of its function to mark any object downhole. They are also sometimes called "confusion" blocks because they only give a two-deminsional view of the down-hole object, making it hard to determine what three-dimensional object is in the hole.

[edit] Bailer

This tool is designed to collect samples of downhole solids for the purposes of cleaning out or just determining the nature of solids such as scale.

[edit] Additional Equipment

[edit] Cable Head

The cable head is the upper most portion of the toolstring on any given type of wireline.

In electric line, cable heads are the point at which the conductor of the wireline first comes into contact with the logging instrument. Electric line weakpoints are also located in the cable head. If the tool is to become stuck in the well, the weak point is where the tool would first separate from the wireline. This is crucial because it makes the tool able to be fished in a variety of different ways.

[edit] Tractors

These are electrical tools used to push the toolstring into hole, overcoming wireline's disadvantage of being gravity dependent. These are used for in highly deviated and horizontal wells where gravity is insufficient, even with roller stem. They push against the side of the wellbore either through the use of wheels or through a wormlike motion. The technology has been in place for more than 10 years, and certain companies have operation factors of over 98% with their wireline tractors. The leading operator on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, has successfully applied this technology since 1996 and has concluded that it is a reliable as well as a cost-efficient technology. According to the group’s calculations, they save approximately NOK 500 million annually on tractor operations and from 1996 to 2005, tractors have covered an accumulated distance of more than 3,000 kilometers through horizontal wells for the company.[1]

[edit] Measuring Head

A measuring head is the first piece of equipment the wirline comes into contact with off the drum. The measuring head is composed of several wheels which support the wireline on its way to the wench and they also measure crucial wireline data.

A measuring head records tension, depth, and speed. Current models use optical encoders to derive the revolutions of a wheel with a known circumference, which in turn is used to figure speed and depth. A wheel with a pressure sensor is used to figure tension.

[edit] Wireline apparatus

For oilfield work, the wireline resides on the surface, wound around a large (3 to 10 feet in diameter) spool. Operators may use a portable spool (on the back of a special truck) or a permanent part of the drilling rig. A motor and drive train turn the spool and raise and lower the equipment into and out of the well – the winch.

[edit] Pressure control during wireline operations

The pressure control employed during wireline operations is intended to contain pressure originating from the well bore. During open hole electric line operations, the pressure might be the result from a well kicking. During cased hole electric line, this is most likely the result of a well producing at high pressures. pressure equipment[[ must be rated to well over the expected well pressures. Normal ratings for wireline pressure equipment is 5,000, 10,000, and 15,000 pounds per square inch.

[edit] Flange

A flange attaches to the top of the Xmas tree, usually with some sort of adapter for the rest of the pressure control. A metal gasket is placed between the top of the Xmas tree and the flange to keep out well pressures.

[edit] Wireline Valve

A wireline valve, also called a wireline blow out preventer, is an enclosed device with one or more rams capable of closing over the wireline in an emergency. A dual wireline valve has two sets of rams and some have the capability of pumping grease in the space between the rams to counterbalance the well pressure.

[edit] Lubricator

Lubricator is the term used for sections of pressure tested pipe that act to seal in wireline tools during pressurization.

[edit] pump-In Sub

pump-in subs allow for the injection of fluid into the pressure control string. Normally these are used for wellsite pressure testing, which istypically performed between every run into the well. They can also be used to bleed off pressure from the string after a run in the well.

[edit] Grease Injector Head

The grease injector head is the main apparatus for controlling well pressure while running into the hole. The grease head uses a series of very small pipes, called flow tubes, to decrease the pressure of the well. Grease is injected at high pressure into the bottom portion of the grease head to counteract the remaining well pressure.

[edit] pack-Off Sub

pack-off subs utilize grease pressure on a rubber sealing element to create an impermeable seal around the wireline. pack-off subs can be hand pumped or compressed through a motorized pumping unit.

[edit] Line Wiper

A line wiper operates in much the same way as a pack-off sub, except that the rubber element is much softer. grease pumps exert pressure on the rubber element until a light pressure is exerted on the wireline, cleaning grease and well fluid off the line in the process.

[edit] Quick Test Sub

[edit] Ball-Check Valve

If the wireline were to become severed from the tool, a ball check valve can seal the well off from the surface. During wireline operations, a steel ball sits to the side of a confined area within the grease head while the cable runs in and out of the hole. If the wireline exits that confined area under pressure, the pressure will force the steel ball up towards the hole where the wireline had been. The ball's diameter is larger than that of the hole, so the ball effectively seals off pressure to the surface.

[edit] Head Catcher

[edit] Tool Trap

[edit] Wireline images

Wireline attached to top of Christmas Tree	Oil Well Top of Wireline	Wireline Truck with drum (inside)	Wax being removed off a wireline wax knife
BO shifting tool

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources and Citations