SLICKLINE RIG UP

EQUIPMENTS, DESCRIPTION
AND FUNCTIONS.

PRESENTED BY:

AUSTIN AKOMOLAFE
TGT OILFIELD SERVICES LTD.
 OBJECTIVE:

This presentation is on the basic

Slickline rig up equipment, their
description and various functions.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Regular Slickline rig up equipment
3. Description of Slickline rig up
equipment
4. Different functions of Slickline rig up
equipment
5. Applications
6. Safety tips in Slickline rig up
7. Conclusion.
 INTRODUCTION
 Slickline can simply be said to be a thin cable introduced into a
well to deliver and retrieve tools downhole. Elaborately, it refers
to a single strand wire which is used to run tools into wellbore
for several purposes. Slickline looks like a long, smooth,
unbraided wire, often shiny, silver/chrome in appearance. It
comes in varying lengths, according to the depth of wells in the
area it is used (it can be ordered to specification) up to 35,000
feet in length. Slickline is used to lower downhole tools into an
oil or gas well to perform a specified downhole maintenance
and/diagnostic job. Downhole refers to the area in the pipe
below surface which can either be the casing cemented in the
hole by the drilling rig (which keeps the drilled hole from
caving in and pressure from the various oil or gas zones
downhole from feeding into one another) or the tubing, a
smaller diameter pipe hung inside the casing.
 REGULAR SLICKLINE RIG UP
EQUIPMENT.
 There are various types of Slickline rig up equipments but for the
purpose of this lecture we will discuss on the basic slickline rig up
equipment which are the following:

 Slickline Unit
 Power pack
 Hay pulley
 Stuffing box
 Different sections of lubricators (Risers)
 Blow out preventer (B.O.P) or Wireline Valve
 Christmas Tree connection/Flange
 Load cell
 Wireline clamp
 Wireline tool string.
 THE SLICKLINE UNIT.
 We have two main types of slickline unit which are (a). the
single drum unit, (b). and double drum unit. The single
drum is made up of a single drum with a coil of wire of
0.108” or 0.125” diameter while the double drum is made
up of both a 0.108” (or 0.125”) wire and a braided line wire
(3/16”-diameter). A typical trailer Mounted Wireline Unit is
designed for off-road mobilization. The customized, tough
suspension of the trailer makes it easier to mobilize through
deep onshore areas. It is designed to be easily towed by a
pick up or similar vehicle. It comprises of four lifting
points for crane handling and integral forklift pockets for
ground handling, single or double drum reel of wire,
Removable & Adjustable Operator’s all weather padded
seat, weight indicator, counter, hand wheel,….etc.
 POWER PACK.

 The power pack is a device used to supply hydraulic

power to the slickline unit. The power pack is
connected to the slickline unit via a couple of high-
pressure hoses. It is also made up of hydraulic system
for excellent acceleration and deceleration for effective
jarring during running in hole and pulling out of hole.
The power pack comprises of a diesel engine which
supplies mechanical power to an high-power hydraulic
pump fitted with various valves, it also has 2 tanks
which store diesel oil (to power the generator) and
hydraulic oil (for the hydraulic pump usage).
 HAY PULLEY
 This is a device used to direct the
wire (at an angle) from the drum of
the slickline unit to the stuffing box
simply by passing the wire through
the grove created on the
circumference of the sheave. The
position of placement must be 90-
degree to the stuffing box to avoid
cutting of the wire due to friction
between the wire and the sheave
surface. The wire is rolled from the
reel drum on the slickline unit
through the hay pulley up all the way
to the stuffing box. The flexibility of
the hay pulley enables easy passage
of wire through it up to the stuffing
box.
 LUBRICATORS
 For a regular slickline rig
up, 3 sections of lubricator
risers are needed. The
starter lubricator, the
middle lubricator and the
upper lubricator. These
lubricators are sectional
pipes used to contain the
tools and pressure from the
well during entry and exit
from a well. The size of
tool string used determines
the type and length of
lubricator been used.
 STUFFING BOX
 This is a pressure control device positioned at the
uppermost point of the pressure control equipment string.
It is made up of a blow-out plug to automatically shut-in
the well pressure in the event of the slickline breaking or
being stripped from the rope socket and to contain the
well pressure in the event of a blowout. The principal
function of a stuffing box is to seal around the wire at the
upper end of the lubricator during slickline operations, in
both static and dynamic conditions.
 BLOW OUT PREVENTER
 This is a device that is installed between the tree connection
and lower lubricator section. The BOP provides facilities for
contingency and emergency procedures during Slickline
operations.

The primary purposes of the BOP are to:

 Enable the well pressure to be isolated without cutting the
wire by closing the master valve.
 Provide access for the assembly of a slickline cutter above the
BOP rams.
 Allow a wireline cutter to be prepared and dropped if the
toolstring becomes stuck in the well.
 TREE CONNECTION
 This is simple an adaptive device used to connect the
BOP to the Christmas tree for slickline operation. The
choice of tree connections used depends on the type of
Christmas tree been worked on.
 LOAD CELL
 The sensor component in a weight-indicator system that
detects the tensional or compressional forces being
imparted to the running string at surface. Load cells are
hydraulically or electronically operated and are
connected to the weight-indicator display system on the
equipment operator's console.
 TOOLSTRING
 The slickline Tool String is an assembly of slickline tools
connected to the slickline for setting, pulling, or
servicing downhole equipment. An assembly of slickline
tools is used to deliver surface-controlled downhole
impact forces (jar action) to manipulate devices within
the well bore.
A standard set of slickline tool string consist of rope
socket, stem, knuckle joint, a jar (mechanical or
hydraulic), a slickline running or pulling tool for
installing and retrieving subsurface devices from the
well. The size of the tubing determines the sizes of tool
string used.
 Rope socket : Rope Sockets are used as a means to connect
slickline to the tool string. This is the part of the tool string that
is directly attached to the wire coming from the slickline unit
through the stuffing box.
 Stem : Stems are used to provide weight to tool string to
eliminate friction on the wire, upthrust from the well fluid, and
for smooth running of Slickline against well pressure. Another
name for the stem is weight bar. Lead Filled Stems are also used
to provide additional weight to toolstring while roller Stems are
used with tool string in deviated wells to reduce friction against
deviated tubing walls. In assembly of Roller Stems: Teflon /
Alloy Steel Rollers (suitable for high temperature / H2S Service)
with special bearings are assembled with the body.
 Spang jars : These are Slickline tool which utilize the weight of
the stem connected immediately above to deliver upward or
downward jarring impacts by manipulating the slickline at the
surface.
Spang Jar
Hydraulic Jar
 Knuckle Joint : The Knuckle Joint is a slickline tool accessory
used to provide flexibility within the length of the tool string. The
Knuckle Joint is constructed such that two sections of a hollow
rod is joined together via a ball and socket joint. It is highly
recommended for use within all slickline tool strings.
 Running or pulling tools: these are slickline tools attached to the
base of a tool string for installation and retrieval purposes during
well intervention operations. The are operated through the use of
upward or downward jar actions on the tool string through the
wire from the slickline unit
For a normal drift run in a well bore a “Gauge cutter” is attached
to the tool string.
Load Cell
Wire Clamp
A Typical Wellhead Assembly
 APPLICATION OF SLICKLINE
The most common applications for slickline are:
 Tagging of depths such as Total Depth, which is the furthest
depth possible down the wellbore.
 Tubing check: This is achieved through running a special
sized downhole tool called a gauge ring, which comes in
various pre-machined diameters, designed to ensure the pipe
is clear to a certain point.
 Straightening of burrs and crimps in the internal walls of the
tubing in oil and gas wells
 Sand Bailing: Removal of formation sand/rock left over from
the drilling and completion of the well, using a specialized
tool called a bailer. This tool uses either a Chinese water
pump type stroke action or a hydrostatic vacuum action to
suction up the debris
 APPLICATION OF SLICKLINE (CONTD)
 Zone Change: Shifting sleeves (formations downhole can be isolated
behind sliding metal 'windows' called sliding sleeves. They are shifted
open or closed by means of a specialized shifting tool locating the
sleeve and it being jarred up or down, providing access or closing off
that formation or section of casing)
 Setting / Pulling plugs and chokes (specialized downhole tools which
either lock into pre-machined restrictions in the tubing, or which lock
into the tubing itself, sealing pressure from below or above the plug),
and gas lift valves.
 Running tailpipes (tubing extensions where the tubing is not landed
close enough to the formation perforations in the casing)
 Bottom hole pressure and temperature surveys (specialized electronic
and mechanical tools designed to measure the pressure and
temperature at predetermined depths in the wellbore. This data can be
used to determine reservoir life)
APPLICATION OF SLICKLINE (CONTD)
 Spinner Surveys (to determine which formation
perforations have the best inflow / which perforations
make the most water / liquids)
 Running production logging tools

 Fishing operations: It refers to attempting to retrieve lost

tools or wire, or other debris that was not intended to
restrict the flow/disrupt the well operations, the fish
being jammed in the tubing / casing.
 Paraffin cutting (making a hole through and removing a
wax buildup, which is a byproduct of oil cooling too
much to reach surface)
From L – R: Wire Grab; 2.5” GS; RB Pulling Tool; 2” Wire Grab; JDC
Running/Pulling tool; 3” GS; 3” Wire Grab
 SAFETY TIPS IN SLICKLINE RIG UP.
 Always carry out a tool box talk before commencement of any
slickline job
 Always wear the complete and appropriate PPE

 Avoid standing under suspended load as slickline operation has a

lot to do with lifting
 Ensure all connections are properly tightened

 Confirm all connections on the tool string are properly tightened

 Always remember to clamp the wire to the slickline clamp on

commencement of lifting
 Avoid carrying heavy load with your hands

 Pressure test all lubricators and other PCEs before commencement

of a slickline run in the wellbore.
 Check pipe connection and pressure rating of all PCEs
 Check mandrel profiles and other tools to be run for
correct OD, profile type and function.
 Check pressure equalization features on all pulling and
retrieving tools
 Check that running, pulling and fishing tools have the
correct latch mechanism for the tool being run or retrieved
(Conduct a surface test if possible)
 Check and conduct a function test for Slickline unit before
starting any rig up operation (engine, clutch and line)
 Conduct a torsion test on the wire before starting any
operation (twist test for fatigue)
 Have emergency plan for handling breaks and leaks.
 CONCLUSION
In essence, Slickline is arguably the most cheapest and
simplest method to access a wellbore for well intervention
purposes therefore, it is widely used in the oil and gas
industry around the world.
THANK YOU