Chapter Ten - Wireline Blowouts

Abstract

Wireline blowouts occur during wireline operations in production or injection wells. Wireline operations are also frequently performed during well workovers, well drilling, or well completions. Blowouts that occur during these operations are not regarded as wireline blowouts. During wireline operations, a stuffing box/lubricator and/or a wireline BOP located on top of the Christmas tree is normally the primary barrier. If the well cannot be controlled by those means, the wireline is dropped or cut before the Christmas tree is closed to control the well. The SINTEF Offshore Blowout Database includes three wireline blowouts from January 1980 to January 1994 in U.S. GoM OCS and the North Sea (Norwegian, UK waters). There is reason to believe that several more minor blowouts or gas leakages have occurred during wireline operations, but were never reported in public files or articles. All the wireline blowouts caused small or no damage. This chapter through a table shows the operations and activities in progress when the wireline blowouts occurred.