A slickline device is also known as wireline equipment and considered to be a part of slickline or wireline set up. It consists of shiny, smooth, and unbraided string, and is attached to the whole equipment set up. 

The string is dropped down the borehole, and several wireline tools are poured inside the wellbore connected to the string to conduct the various well intervention and workover activities. Some of the slickline tools used in wellbore applications are: Running tools, Stem, Pulling tools, Jar, Gauge cutter, Lead impression block, Sample and stroke bailer, Hydrostatic bailer, etc.

How Does It Work?

Slicklines are used to insert and recover borehole equipment such as gauges, valves, and plugs; these are non-electric single-strand electric cables poured into oil wells from the surface. It is also used to adjust sleeves and valves located downhole, as well as in repairing tubing in the wellbore.

It is enclosed around a canister on the back of a large vehicle and is lowered and raised in the well by reeling up and down the wire hydraulically.

Uses of Slickine

Slickline is more popularly used in the production tubing. It comes in various sizes and grades. The greater the size and the grade, the higher the line tension could be pulled before the line breaks at the weakest spot and lead to a costly 'fishing' job.

Weak points in the line can be caused by making a bend around a sheave, making the circle around the counter wheel, or a kink in a line from usual usage.

If the downhole devices getting stuck due to downhole conditions or malfunctions, including scale, sand, salt, and other well byproducts settling, it is essential to pull hard on the devices to bring them uphole to surface.

If the devices are stuck and pulled too hard, the line will break or pull apart at the weakest spot that is usually closer to the surface. Since the weak point in the line is the uphole, the more weight of the line it has to support.

Wirelines

On the other side, wirelines are electric wires that transmit information about the well. Comprising multi-strands or single strands, the cables are used for both formation evaluation and well intervention operations. Basically, these are used in collecting data about the well in the form of logging activities, and in workover jobs that need data transmittal.

Wireline Logs

Wireline logs are continuous downhole measurements sent by the electrical wireline used to help drillers, geologists, and engineers make real-time decisions of drilling operations. The logs can measure conductivity, resistivity, and formation pressure, as well as wellbore dimensions and sonic properties.

The measurements are noted by dropping the wireline and cased hole well services to the specified depth and then lifting it up the well. The measurements are continuously taken on the way up to support tension on the line.

Workover Operations

When producing wells need remedial work to support, restore, or improve production, which is called workover.

Workover operations carried out can include setting plugs, well clean up, perforation through explosives and production logging.

Braided line is a non-conductive form of multiple steel lines and is useful in many applications. It is ideal for swabbing and fishing lost tools. The wire can remove the overburden of liquid in the well quickly and help it to flow freely again. A braided line is a strong form of multi-purpose steel line, which uses its strength to stay wellhead production operation at peak efficiency.