Confirm the wire is suitable for the expected well conditions. The material you choose has a lasting impact on the survivability of your slickline in the harsh conditions of the downhole. While these considerations can make for a difficult task of specifying the exact alloy you need for your application, CWI offers several services to help determine your oil or gas well environment.
Review our Materials Guide, available in English and Spanish, for a step-by-step in-depth review of your specific well environment. By including information like well pressure, well temperature, hydrogen sulfide levels, chloride levels, gas to oil ratio, line diameter, line weight, working depth and tool weight, we can select and then custom produce your ideal slickline. After you submit your completed form, a recommendation is then calculated and a member of our commercial team contacts you with the alloy we suggest you use, along with pricing and delivery details.
Replace Sheaves: If you are using the correct size sheave or pulley but still experience premature fatigue, inspect your sheaves for issues with sticking, jarring, or heavily worn grooves. Any restriction that prevents the pulley from rolling smoothly will have negative effects on the wire. Review our CWI pulleys, available through the Loos & Co., Inc. Cableware Division.
Reduce Kinking: Kinking your slickline will cause permanent damage. We recommend layer winding or smooth wrapping your slickline onto its winch drum to maintain consistent tension during winding and respooling operations.
Perform Inspections: One of the easiest and most effective ways you can maximize the life of your slickline is by regularly inspecting it. Frequently record your inspections and make sure every team member understands the importance of checking for kinks, cracks and corrosion.
* List of the trademark names of alloys: Inconel – Huntington Alloys Corporation | MP35N – SPS Technologies LLC | Hastelloy – Haynes International Inc. | 17-7 PH – AK Steel Inc. | Nitronic – AK Steel Inc. | Monel – Huntington Alloys Corporation | 20CB-3 – CRS Holdings Inc.