Slickline Mechanical Capabilities

Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Slick Wireline...................................................................................................................................... 3
Braided Wireline ................................................................................................................................. 3
Wireline – Breaking Strengths (lbs) .................................................................................................. 4
Braided Wireline – Breaking Strengths (lbs) ..................................................................................... 4
Wireline Inspections on Location ............................................................................................................ 5
Logs .................................................................................................................................................... 5
Visual Inspection ................................................................................................................................. 5
Wireline Knot Test .............................................................................................................................. 5
Coil Test.............................................................................................................................................. 5
API 9A Torsion (Twist) Test................................................................................................................ 5
Test Procedures:............................................................................................................................... 6
Eddy Current Inspection Device........................................................................................................... 6
Wireline Shear Force Analysis ............................................................................................................. 7
Slick Wireline .................................................................................................................................. 7
Braided Wireline .............................................................................................................................. 7

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Introduction
Slick Wireline
Wireline (slickline or measuring line) is
available for use in a broad range of well
conditions. Material choices range from bright
(carbon) steel to cobalt based alloys such as
MP35N. Wireline diameters .066”, .072”, and
.082” are normally limited for use in well depth
surveys, with lengths from 6,000 to 20,000 feet.
Wireline diameters .092”, .105”, .108”, and
.125” are used for depth measurement as well as
more aggressive well service work. These wires
typically range from 10,000 to 30,000 feet in
length. In many locations, .125” wireline has
replaced braided line where the .125” wire has
sufficient strength to handle the expected
workload.
To standardize on wireline materials, those listed
have been selected as the preferred wireline
materials for Halliburton. Breaking strengths
are given for each wireline material in the
common wire sizes. The wireline are listed
according to resistance to H2S and chlorides
(with the carbon steels having the least
resistance to H2S and the cobalt alloys having
the most resistance to both H2S and chlorides).
Carbon steels are recommended for use only in
standard (sweet) service wells. Austenitic
stainless steels can be use in all H2S
concentrations but are not recommended for use
in chlorides. The super austenitic stainless steels
and 6% molybdenum stainless steels can be used
in any concentration of H2S, but the well
temperature and percentage of chlorides must be
considered before a recommendation can be
made for use in sour wells containing chloride.
Cobalt based wirelines can be used in any H2S
and chloride combination. Recommendations
for wireline materials will be changed
periodically as other materials are evaluated.
Refer to Engineering Bulletin 354 or contact
Technology – Dallas Center for further
assistance with selecting wireline materials.
Halliburton uses both “name brand” wireline
materials such as Bridon’s “Supa 75” and it
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generic equivalent “25-6MO”. The generic
equivalents are typically less costly than the
name brand wirelines while still maintaining
good quality. To insure that only quality
wireline is purchased; it is recommended that all
wireline be purchased through Halliburton or
from suppliers recommended by Technology –
Dallas Center.
To reduce the chance of premature fatigue
failures of wireline, it is recommended that four
(4) foot counter wheels be used on the wireline
unit and 16” sheaves be used on hay pulleys and
stuffing boxes for all wireline sizes through
.125”. The 10” stuffing box sheave and 7” hay
pulley can be used for .092” and smaller carbon
steel wireline, but using 16” sheaves with these
wires will increase the life of the wireline. Also,
the stuffing box packing gland material and ID
should be compatible with the wireline used.
Use of a chemical injection sub is highly
recommended when performing work in wells
containing dry gases. Lubricant can be injected
into the sub to reduce line friction and wireline
wear.
Braided Wireline
Braided wireline (wire rope) is produced in a
number of sizes, type construction (strand
configuration), and materials. Braided lines are
available plain, galvanized, or die
drawn/formed. Galvanized wire has better
resistance to saline conditions than the uncoated
plain line, but the protection from the zinc is
sacrificial. Once the zinc is corroded, the line is
no longer protected. The die formed line gives a
higher breaking strength for any given diameter
as compared to the standard braided line.
Braided wireline is recommended for heavy-
duty wireline work including difficult fishing
jobs. For low-pressure wells, a swabbing
stuffing box is used as part of the lubricator rig-
up to pack off pressure around the line. For well
pressures above 1,500 psi, a grease head and
grease injection system is needed to pack-off the
braided line against well pressure.
 Slickline Mechanical Capabilities

Wireline – Breaking Strengths (lbs)

Carbon Steel – API 9A

Material 0.072 0.082 0.092 0.105 0.108 0.125

Bright Steel – (API Level 3 or Improved
961 1239 1547 1966 2109 2794
Plow Steel)
Bright Steel – (API Extra Improved
1150 1460 1830 2360 2490 3300
Plow Steel, Hi-Strength, or Monitor AA)

Austenitic Stainless Steel

316 Stainless Steel 1083 1363 1732 1786 2270

Super Austenitic Stainless Steel

Sandvik Sancrico 28 1445 1885 1995 2675

6 Moly Stainless Steel

Avesta 254 SMO 1462 1818 1924 2454

Bridon Supa 75 1550 2030 2030 2560
25-6MO 1475 N/A 2050 2550

Cobalt Based Alloy

MP35N 1582 2009 2080 2724

Braided Wireline – Breaking Strengths (lbs)

Size 3/16 3/16 7/32 7/32

Construction 1 x 16 1 x 19 Dycam 1 x 16 1 x 19 Dycam
Material – Galvanized Carbon Steel 4500 6400 6000 8600

NOTE: Breaking strengths will vary slightly depending on manufacturer

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Wireline Inspections on
Location
Below are the most commonly used methods for
inspection of wireline to determine if replace-
ment is needed. A combination of these
methods should be used to inspect wireline, as
there is no one inspection method that will
consistently catch all wirelines before it actually
breaks. By inspecting the wire before and after
each job, it will be easier to determine at what
point the wireline should be replaced. If the
wireline fails the visual inspection, wireline knot
test, API 9A torsion test, or the eddy current test,
wireline should be cut off in 50-100 ft intervals
until the wireline will pass the inspection/test. If
the wireline fails the coil test, use one or more of
the other inspection methods to further test the
line.
Logs
It is recommended that a log be kept for all
wireline spools. A copy of the log should be
sent in with any CPI/TER. This Log should
include:
§ All details of the wireline: part number,
material type, size, trace numbers, and date
installed.
§ Well data to include: well environment (at
minimum the % H2S, % chlorides, % CO2,
and downhole temperature) and well
location/number.
§ Wireline operations performed: run plug,
fishing, jarring (duration and maximum
load), etc.
§ Wireline Inspection results.
Note: See attached Wireline Log
Visual Inspection
At the beginning and end of the wireline job,
check the first fifty feet of wire for brightness,
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pitting, necking down, flaking, flat spots, or
other surface damage.
Wireline Knot Test
Tie a standard wireline knot before and after
each job. If wireline breaks or cracks when the
knot is tied, the wireline is either hardened or
has been damaged by the well environment. It’s
helpful to periodically compare the knot tying
capabilities of the used wireline with new
wireline (preferably saved from the same
wireline spool when new). Even if a No-Knot
rope socket is normally used on the actual job,
tying a knot for specifically for inspection
purposes is recommended. This test can be
performed on all wireline materials and
diameters, including .125” line, and should be
considered the “everyday” wireline inspection
method for all wireline materials.
Coil Test
Pull about 100 ft of wireline off the slickline unit
and allow the line to lay on the ground.
Overworked (work hardened) wires will not coil
freely, looses its spring, and tends to lay flatter
than wireline that is not overworked.
If a new spool of wire tends to lie flat after a
couple of jobs, this could be the result of the
wireline being feed through the counter
assembly wrong. In that case, remove the wire
from the counter and install it properly.
Tightly coiled wire could be the result of pulling
heavy loads from the well bore where the tools
were not able to rotate. As above on a new
spool of wireline, it could be the result of
improper installation of the wireline through the
counter assemble. Continuously working the
wireline in this condition could result in rapid
deterioration of the wire.
API 9A Torsion (Twist) Test
An API torsion or ductility test machine is used
to conduct this test. The device consist of a base
 Slickline Mechanical Capabilities

with two jar/clamps spaced 8” apart, one jaw is large difference between the before and after
stationary while the other is rotated with a crank. tests, cut off 50-100ft of wireline and retest.
Wireline placed between the jaws is twisted until 9. If the wireline fails the torsion test:
the wireline breaks. The minimum turns before
breakage is listed in the API 9A specification. a. 1. And the wireline has gradually lost ductility
and no longer passes the torsion test (even
Note: The torsion tester can only be used for after many cut-offs and retests), replace the
carbon steel lines (also known as bright wireline. No need to submit a CPI/TER.
steel).
b. 1. If the wireline torsion test values have
Torsion Test dropped significantly between the before/after
tests, proceed to the step below.
Torsion
Material Size b. 2. Cut a 6 ft length of line from the end of the
Twists
wireline and tag with date, well location, and
0.092 23 with the note “after wireline job”
Standard Bright 0.105 20 b. 3. Fill out a CPI/TER form for the wireline.
Steel 0.108 19
b. 4. Send the CPI/TER form (including the
0.125 17 before and after job torsion results), wireline
log 12” wireline sample (from Step 2), and the
0.092 21
6-ft wireline sample (from Step 9.b.2.) to
Hi-Strength 0.105 18 Dallas Center, Attn: Technical Services. The
Monitor AA 0.108 18
actual torsion test samples do not need to be
sent.
0.125 15
b. 5. Repeat Step 8 until the wireline passes the
twist test. If the wireline repeatedly fails the
test, pull the wireline from service.
Test Procedures:
Eddy Current Inspection Device
1. Before the wireline job, cut two 10” lengths of
wireline from the end of the wire.
The eddy current inspection device uses an
2. Cut another wire sample about 12” long and electrical current call “eddy current” to inspect
label with date, well location, and with “before
wireline. Passing the line through an electrical
wireline job”. Save sample for step 9.
coil inspects the wireline. Any changes in the
3. Bend the ends of the 10” samples, and for the wireline (such as cracks, flats, laps, and other
first sample, position the bent ends in the tester flaws) will be highlighted by the instrument.
jaws. Refer to the eddy current inspection device
4. Rotate crank until wireline breaks. Record the manual for details.
number of turns needed to break the wire.
Compare to API Chart for Pass/Fail results. The eddy current tester is currently the only
inspection device/method that can test the entire
5. Repeat test for the second 10” sample and record length of wireline. All field locations should
number of turns. review the benefits of the eddy current tester.
6. Compare the results of the two twist tests. Test a Depending on the type of wireline used and
third 10” sample if there is a large difference in services performed; the eddy current tester often
the test results. can pay for itself in just a few months.
7. After the wireline job is completed, repeat the
torsion test with two sample (use a third sample
if there is a large difference in test results).
8. Compare the results of the torsion tests
performed before and after the job. If there is a

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Wireline Shear Force Analysis Notes:

1. If the wireline breaks during use, the
A test fixture was specially designed to simulate fractured end(s) (at the end of about 6-ft of
a three- (3) inch gate valve to measure the force wireline) should be sent to Dallas Technical
required to cut wireline and braided cable. The Services with a CPI/TER. The fractured end
following is a table with the results: should NOT be cleaned, but should be
wrapped to preserve the fracture for
evaluation.

Slick Wireline 2. While it is recommended that a log be kept

which lists the complete history of the well
environment in which the wireline has been
Wire Size (in) Wire Type Shear Force(#)
used, it is recognized that complete well data
0.092 IP 1,400 is not always known. In dealing with TERs,
0.092 EIP 1,700 the more well history that can be provided to
Technical Services, the more accurate the
0.108 EIP 2,500
findings will be.
0.108 IP 2,100
3. For API 9A torsion (twist) tests, pass/fail
0.125 IP 3,000 values used may very from one field
location to the next due to the severity or
Braided Wireline type of wireline service being performed.
Acceptable twist test values may be lower
Line Size (in) Line Type Shear Force # for wireline units primarily performing
3
/16 Swab Line 5,000
downhole pressure surveys than for units
3
involved with service jobs requiring heavy
/16 Dycam 5,900 jarring. Experience will dictate what values
7
/32 Swab Line 6,500 are acceptable. It should be noted that the
1
/4 Dycam 12,500
torsion values in API 9A are for new
wireline. Torsion values for used wireline
will be lower.

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