NEW ENHANCEMENTS TO PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEMS

USED IN WIRELINE SERVICE OPERATIONS

G.R. GIBLING G.Z. FEHRMANN G.R. DAVIS
this article begins on the next page F F
PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM & AOSTRA PAPER NO. 94-39S ATMA-34 New Enhancements to Pressure Control Systems Used in Wireline Service Operations Glen R. Gibling Gary Z. Fehrmann Glenn R. Davis Halliburton Energy Services This paper is to be presented at the 45th annual technical meeting of the Petroleum Society of CIM organized by the Petroleum Society of CIM, co-sponsored by AOSTRA in Calgary, Canada, June 12-15, 1994. Discussion of this paper is invited and may be presented at the meeting if filed in writing with the technical program chairman prior to the conclusion of the meeting. This
paper and any discussion filed will be considered for publication in CIM journals. Publication rights are reserved. This is a pre-print and is subject to correction. ABSTRACT During performance of slick, braided, and electric line service operations on pressurized (live) wells, wireline operators have traditionally employed pressure-control equipment, commonly referred to as lubricator stacks or risers, to control well pressure and fluids. This equipment is temporarily mounted on top of the wellhead as the services are performed. With the maturing of the industry, however, more
critical well conditions are now being encountered, and to keep pace with these conditions, enhancements to existing technology have been required to ensure that personnel, property and the environment are protected. This paper presents an overview of the evolution of wireline pressure control equipment and how the new enhancements can: 1. Increase the safety of wireline operating procedures. 2. Facilitate the proper selection of equipment for particular well and pressure conditions. 3. Simplify maintenance requirements of the equipment. 4.
Provide operators with procedures and time frames for regular inspection and maintenance to ensure equipment integrity. This information is being presented with the hopes that a better understanding of equipment and processes will enable operators to make proper selections of temporary wellhead pressure-control equipment, and thus, ensure safer conditions for both personnel and the environment. INTRODUCTION In the 1930's, the process of moving tools in and out of a live wellbore using a pressure-control system or stack was developed. This process was originally referred to as
"lubricating the tools" into and out of the well, and thus, the pressure-control equipment became known as a "lubricator" or "lubricator stack." In general, lubricator stacks are manufactured with head end connections that employ elastomeric O-ring seals to enable the components to be easily connected without special tools. Equipment working pressures range from 2,000 to 20,000 psi (13.79 to 137.9 MPa). The components are usually sized to the tubing in the well or
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PETROLEUM SOCIETY OF CIM & AOSTRA
PAPER NO. 94-39 S
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New Enhancements to Pressure Control
Systems Used in Wireline Service Operations
Glen R. Gibling
Gary Z. Fehrmann
Glenn R. Davis
Halliburton Energy Services
This paper is to be presented at the 45th annual technical meeting of the Petroleum Society 01 elM organized by the Petroleum Society of elM,
co-sponsored by AOSTRA in Calgary, Canada, June 12-15, 1994. Discussion of this paper is invited and may be presented at the meeting if filed
in writing with the technical program chairman prior to the conclusion of the meeting. This paper and any discussion filed will be considered for
publication in elM journals. Publication rights are reserved. This is a pre-print and is SUbject to correction.
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ABSTRACT
During performllnce of slick, braided, and electric line
senJice operations on pressurized (live) wells, wireline
operators have traditionally employed pressure-control
equipment, commonly referred to as lubricator stacks or
risers. to control well pressure and fluids. This equipment
is temporarily mounted on top of the wellhead as the
services are performed. With the maturing of the industry,
however, more critical well conditions are rww being
encounJered, and to keep pace with these conditions,
enhancements 10 existing technology have been required to
ensure that personnel, property and the errvironment are
protected.
This paper presents an overview of the evolution of
wireline pressure control equipment and how the new
enhancements can.-
i. increase the safety of wireline operating procedures.
2. Facilitate the proper selection of equipment for
particular well and pressure conditions.
3, Simplify maintenance requirements of the equipment,
4, Provide operators with procedures and time frames for
regular inspection and maintenance to ensure
equipment integrity.
This information is being presented with the hopes that
a better understanding of equipment and processes will
enable operators to make proper selections of temporary
wellhead pressure-control equipment, and tlws. ensure
safer conditions for both personnel and the environment.
INTRODUCTION
In the 1930's, the process of moving tools in and out
of a live wellbore using a pressure-control system or stack
was developed. This process was originally referred to as
"lubricating the tools" into and out of the well, and thus,
the pressure-control equipment became known as a
1l1ubrieator" or "lubricator slack. II
In genetal, lubricator stacks are manufactured with
threaded end connections that employ elastomeric O-ring
seals to enable the components to be easily connected
without special tools. Equipment working pressures range
from 2,000 to 20,000 psi (13.79 to 137.9 MPa). The
components are usually sized to the tubing in the well or
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the equipmenl that must be run in the tubing, and the ID
sizes range from 2 inches to 9 inches (50.8 mm to 228.6
mm).
Earlier lubricator-stack designs and their components
will be discussed first, followed by a discussion on
technical enhancements and the increased capabilities of the
designs in use today. Finally, a neWly-developed
maintenance inspection program that can help verify
integrity of critical equipment before and during usage will
be discussed along with a unique marking system to
identify equipment usage.'
STANDARD SLlCKLINE LUBRICATOR STACK
COMPONENTS
The first lubricator sracks consisted of a stuffing box,
lubricator sections, wireline valves or blowout protectors
(BOP's), and a crossover to the tree connection (Figure I).'
Stuffing Box
The stuffing box was used to provide a seal around the
slickline as it moved into and out of the welL A manual
packing nut could be tightened to compress, and thus,
energize special packing within the stuffing box to effect
the seal. A lO-inch (25.4 em] OD sheave was used to
effect a 180
0
bend and to guide the wire into the packing
stack.
LUbricator Sections
Lubricator sections were assembled. with lengths and
ID's that were sufficient to accommodate the length and
diameter of the anticipated tool string that would be run
into or pulled out of the well. The sections normally came
in 8-foot [2.44 m]lengths but could be acquired in shorter
or longer lengths, if necessarY.
The lower lubricator sections(s) had ID'S large enough
to accommodate larger OD service tools and included at
least one bleedoff valve to release the well pressure in the
stack after the tools were retrieved.
Upper lubricator sections accommodated smaller OD
tool-string components, which generally consisted of weight
stem and jars. elc.
Middle lubricator sections were used when the ill size
of the lower-section connections had to be adapted to
connections with a smaller ill size in the upper lubricator
section. The changes in the lubricator quick-connection
sizes were normally addressed by the middle section. This
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allowed one or more lower sections to be stacked with a
maximum ID when required...
Wireline Valves or BOP's
The wireline valve (WLV) or blowout prevencer (BOP)
was used to close off and seal around the wire when
special operational conditions or emergency situations
occurred without causing damage to the wire. As an
example, if the packing in !he stuffing box were to
prematurely wear out or be blown out, or some other
component in the lubricator stack failed, the WLV would
be used to shut in the well until the problem was corrected.
In addition, the WLV could provide access for attaching
other tools to the wire and for providing control of well
pressure during wireline fishing operations when the wire
or several strands of wire had to be stripped out of the
hole.
CrossoverfTree Connections
The crossover was used to connect !.he bottom of [he
wireline valve to the top of the tree. In most cases, the top
of the crossover matched the wireline valve, while the
bottom Ihrea.d of the crossover was designed to screw ioro
!he top thread of !he tree.
ELECTRIC CONDUCTOR LINE OR BRAIDED LINE
LUBRICATOR STACK COMPONENTS
With the advent of electric and braided wireline
services, several components of the standard slickline
lubricator stack were changed to ensure that pressure
control was maintained. Figure 2 illustrates an electric
conductor line or braided line lubricator stack.
Grease Head
The grease head served the same purpose as the
stuffing box served in the slickline lubricator stack. It Was
designed for multi-stranded wire or cable since normal
packing elements cannot seal the space between the strands
of wire that make up braided line or electric line. The
braided line is run through close tolerance tubes, and grease
or honey oil is pumped into the tubes. The grease seals the
voids between the tubes and braided line and fills the voids
between the individual wire strands to prevenl effluence of
the well.
Lubricator Sections
Lubricator sections in conductor line operations were
similar to those used in the slickJine lubricator stack but