Fishing for Wireline

© 2005 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Fishing Wireline
Overview
In open hole well logging operations, well conditions are frequently such that the logging tools become
stuck, bridged over, or the line becomes key-seated in the wall of the hole. When this happens, the
wire line operator gets anxious and will sometimes pull too much, parting the line.
 
Rather than parting the line, the best practice is to perform a “cut and strip” operation utilizing
specialty tools to ensure positive engagement of the logging tools with an overshot, prior to shearing
off at the cable head weak point.
 
When planning to fish for wire line or the logging tool attached to it, you first need to determine the
condition of the stuck wire line. If the wire line or logging tool is simply stuck and the wire line is still
intact, you can use the cable guide method. If the wire line is parted, you can retrieve the wire line
with a center prong rope spear, double prong spear, or crank type spear.
 
Fishing for parted wire line is often a process of trial and error. Be prepared to make several trips in
order to determine what works best with the wire being fished and the well conditions.
 
One important piece of advice. ALWAYS install a spear stop mandrel with appropriate OD stop plate
directly above the wire rope spear. This action will limit the possibility of wire balling up above the
fishing string.

© 2005 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Fishing Wireline

Topics

Cable Guide Method

Side Door Overshot Method

Fishing for Parted Wire Line

Exercise

Overview
The cable guide method or “cut and strip” method is one method for fishing stuck wire line
and/or logging tools. Even though it is slower, the cable guide method is preferred over the
side door overshot method because it is the surest method

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Cable Guided
Method- Fig 11-
1

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Rope Socket Assembly

The rope socket assembly used in the cable guide method (Figure 11-2) consists
of:
• T bar cable hanger
• spear head rope socket with hexagon adapter
• “C” plate
• spear head overshot
• knuckle joint
• singer bar
• rope socket

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Rope Socket Assembly Fig 11-2

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Precautions

Urge everyone to be alert throughout this tiresome operation to prevent costly mistakes
and/or a serious accident. Some of the primary hazards are:

1.the cable may be dropped

2.a broken strand of wire may ball up ahead of the overshot
3.the impact of the tool on a bridge may cut the cable
4.the cable may double back around the overshot as it is removed from a key seat.
 
To avoid these hazards, it is imperative that prior to work a detailed TBT and JSA is
conducted with all parties involved in this potentially hazardous / complex operation.

Throughout the operation ensure good lines of communication are open and if any party is
in doubt as to what’s happening next STOP, REGROUP and then ACT

© 2005 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Cutting the Cable ( preparing to strip over the cable with drill string)
Step Action
1 Slide a C plate over the rotary.
Note: The C plate is used for safety purposes. It prevents tools from falling into the well.

2 Take an over pull on the cable of 2,000 lbs. above the line weight.
3 Attach the T-bar clamp to the wire line.
Note: Ensure that the slip liners are the correct size to fit the cable.
4 Use a torque wrench to tighten the T-bar with the appropriate torque.

5 Function-test the T-bar to check for slippage. Tape or mark the line at the T-bar and
bounce the T-bar on the rotary. If the tape moves at all, the T-bar is not sufficiently tight.

6 Tape the line in the place where you will cut it. This helps to ensure a clean cut and
prevents fraying the end of the line.
7 Use a wire line cutter to cut the cable, leaving an 8-foot tail.
8 Secure the part of the cable that is attached to the truck so that it will not run over the
crown and injure someone.
© 2005 Weatherford. All rights reserved.
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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Preparing the Rig

Step Action
1 Lower the block that supports the upper sheave so that the sheaves may be rearranged in
the derrick. The top sheave should be hung as high as possible in the derrick and just to
the left of the monkey board. The lower sheave must be moved back from the rotary to
be out of the way of the operations on the rig floor.
Note: This is an essential step because the block must be used to handle the drill pipe.

2 Attach a rope socket, adapter, and spear point to the well end of the cable.
Note: The slips and slip carrier must be chosen according to the cable size. Use only new
slips each time you perform this operation.

3 Attach the rope socket to the truck end of the cable with 10 feet of weight bars, a
knuckle/swivel joint between them, and a rope socket overshot.
Note: To weight the wire line and make it fall into the stand of drill pipe, one or two
standard sinker or weight bars are typically used. The knuckle joint allows flexibility so
that the derrick man can stab the wire line tools into the stand of drill pipe.

4 Tighten the parts securely with a 24" pipe wrench.

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Performing a Test Pull

Step Action
1 Latch the rope socket overshot to the spear point.
 
Note: The T-bar clamp is still attached to the cable at this point.

2 Take a 5,000 pound strain on the cable.

3 After one minute, check for any movement by checking the tape marks.

4 If there has been no movement, slack off on the T-bar and disconnect the rope
socket overshot.

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Dressing the Overshot

Step Action
1 Dress the Bowen 150 fishing overshot with the correct grapple to catch the
fishing neck.

Note: Use a Nitraloy grapple if available. A mill control with pack off is
preferred to facilitate positive catch of fish (pressure up)

2 Attach the blow out sub and r restricted ID Sub above the overshot, followed
by the drill pipe.

3 Make up all tools by hand.

4 Thread the rope socket spear point through the overshot and replace the adapter
with the hexagon-shaped adapter.
 
Note: The hexagon adapter will not pass through the restricted sub if it is
inadvertently dropped.
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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Attaching the Drillpipe

Step Action
1 Latch the first stand of pipe and have the derrick man stab the wire line tools
into it. Lower the wire line tools down through the stand of drill pipe.

2 Latch the rope socket overshot onto the spear point and take the slack out of the
line.

3 Instruct the crew to make the fishing overshot up onto the stand of drill pipe by
hand.

4 Pick up on the wire line and remove the T-bar clamp.

5 Set the slips on the fishing tools and tighten the connections.

6 Tighten the overshot guide by hand with a pipe wrench and sledgehammer.

© 2005 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Running in the Hole

Step Action
1 Instruct the winch operator to adjust the tension to normal plus at least 2,000
pounds of over pull and slowly go in the hole.

Note: It is important for the winch operator to watch the weight indicator in the
truck for any change and to maintain 2,000 pounds of over pull on the line at all
times.
2 When the first stand has been run in, place the C-plate in the slot between the
rope socket and the hexagonal adapter.

Caution: Keep your hands in a safe place; do not get your fingers caught under
the C-plate.
3 Instruct the winch operator to slack off the cable until it is supported by the C-
plate. The C-plate rests on top of the drill pipe tool joint for which it is sized.

4 Instruct the winch operator to mark the cable with tape so that he will return to
the same spot for each stand of drill pipe run.
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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Running in the Hole

Step Action
5 Release the rope socket overshot with special tongs.
6 After the driller has latched another stand of pipe, instruct the winch operator to
pull the wire line tools up for the derrick man to stab them into the drill pipe.

7 Drop the rope socket overshot down through the pipe to be attached to the
spear.
8 After the overshot is latched, instruct the winch operator to pick up on the
cable, maintaining a 2,000 pound over pull.

9 Make up the second stand and proceed in the hole at a rate of two minutes per
stand, not including make up time.
 
Note: Going in the hole slowly is the only safe way. This is because if you go
in fast, you might hit a bridge with the overshot and cut the cable in two down
hole.
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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Logging String Caught in the Overshot Fig 11-3

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Freeing the Line (Overshot is now at Fish)

If the line has been stuck and is then freed by the action of the drill string while RIH, the
winch operator will know immediately because he will loose the 2,000 pounds of over pull
on his weight indicator. To prove that the line has been freed, pull the logging tool up
several feet. If there is no weight increase on the wire line weight indicator as the line is
pulled up, you know that the line and logging tools are free.

If the wire and logging tools are free pick up on wire (when the wire has been readied, see
next slide), pulling logging tools into Overshot.

If the fish is not free then the drill string can be moved down with some circulation until a
pressure increase is noted indicating the logging tools are entering the overshot. Note: be
aware of sudden increase in pressure as solid logging tools enter the overshot.
Pick up on drill string, tension on wireline should decrease indicating Logging tools are in
the overshot

© 2005 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Step Action

1 With the spearhead hanging on the C-plate, thread the circulating sub over the
rope socket overshot and hold it there by hand.
2 Latch the overshot into the spearhead, lift the cable, and remove the C-plate.

3 Thread the circulating sub into the drill pipe.

4 Place a circulating baffle around the wire line and drop it into the circulating
sub.
5 Lower the cable until the rope socket rests on top of the baffle.

6 Release the overshot.

7 Screw the Kelly into the circulating sub.

© 2005 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Parting the Cable at the Weak Point

Step Action
1 Install the cable clamp and let the cable rest on top of the drill pipe tool joint
that is in the rotary.
2 Cut the cable and remove the rope sockets.
3 Tie both ends of the cable together in a square knot.

4 Pull up on the cable until the square knot is tight. Tape the loose ends and
remove the cable clamp.
5 Spool the cable onto the truck, pulling the knot carefully over the top sheave
until the knot is just before the measuring device.
6 Clamp off the cable.
7 Slack off the cable and remove the cable from the measuring device.

8 Take up the slack in the cable and remove the cable clamp.
9 Spool the knot onto the drum.
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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Parting the Cable at the Weak Point

Step Action
10 Clamp the cable.
11 Slack off the cable and reinstall the cable onto the measuring device.

12 Take up the slack and remove the cable clamp.

13 Continue spooling the cable onto the drum until the logging tool is pulled up
securely into the overshot.
 
Note: When the cable is being removed, the driller should work the pipe to
prevent sticking the drill string.
14 Install the cable clamp at the top of the drill pipe.
15 Latch the elevators around the cable under the clamp and slowly pull until the
cable is pulled in two at the weak point.
16 Spool the cable up on the drum.

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 Fishing Wireline- Cable Guided Method

Securing the Fish

Step Action

1 Install the Kelly and blow the disk out of the pump out sub. Pressure
required according to manufacturers recommendations
Note: All the disks in the table are made of bronze that is 0.010 inches
thick.

2 Pull the pipe and fish out of the hole without rotating.

3 Set the slips on the fish and secure it with a C-type safety clamp.

4 Release the overshot from the fish and turn the rest over to the logging
company personnel.

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 Exercise

Exercise
Q without
© 2005 Weatherford. All rights reserved.
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