When the BOP Almost Bit My Cable: A Lesson in Wireline Control

Posted on by Crissa Fel Tawadan

I was on a remote cased hole wireline job, working a high-pressure well with multiple zones to perforate. We were tight on time, running a complex string of wireline perforating guns, and the client was watching closely. The wireline truck was humming, the logging cable was feeding perfectly, and the team was moving like clockwork.

Then someone hit the wrong ram.

One second, I was calling depth. The next, the BOP wireline ram slammed shut on the cable—hard. We were lucky. Real lucky. The line didn’t sever completely, but it crimped badly. A few more pounds of pressure, and we’d have been dealing with a full fishing wire line recovery and possibly compromised well integrity.

That moment taught me the hard truth: even with the best wireline equipment and wireline control systems, nothing replaces a fully serviced and properly labeled blowout preventer.

Why BOP Servicing Is Non-Negotiable

In wireline services oil and gas, especially when pressure is in play, a BOP (blowout preventer) is your last line of defense. It’s what keeps your crew safe, your well under control, and your string retrievable. But it only works if it’s been properly maintained.

Before every pressure job now, my team does a full BOP inspection—and I mean full:

  • We open the rams and remove the blocks
  • Clean everything inside and out
  • Inspect the body for pitting, washouts, and seal wear
  • Replace bonnet seals, grease all threads and components
  • Rod test each ram to pressure and chart the results for 15 minutes
  • Conduct low and high-pressure body tests—also charted
  • Function test under pressure, not just at the bench

Then comes one of the most important steps—labeling each ram. Every single one gets a painted stencil indicating the ram’s type and configuration. No more guesswork. No more accidental shear ram closures on the main line. The shear rams always go to the bottom of the stack unless the customer says otherwise, and even then, it’s signed off and clearly marked.

What Happens When You Don’t

That job I mentioned? The ram that shut accidentally? It happened because no one knew which ram was which. The BOP hadn’t been labeled, and there were no charts on location. We traced the issue back to a missed service interval and a lack of documentation.

In today’s cased hole logging service market, that’s unacceptable. Clients expect wireline providers to operate at the highest level of discipline and safety. That includes certified and tagged pressure control equipment, current chart records, and trained techs who know what they’re doing.

If you’re working in formation evaluation, perforation services, or downhole pipe recovery, your BOP can’t just “look good.” It needs to be proven. Tested. Charted. Certified.

Best Practices I Live By Now

  • Every BOP is banded with a test date, working pressure, and the company name
  • A BOP redress checklist is used and signed off on each time
  • All components are visually inspected—even if they passed the last test
  • Charts are sent to location with the wireline unit
  • Only trained personnel are allowed to rebuild or certify a BOP
  • Any exposure to H₂S, CO₂, dry gas, or acid triggers a full rebuild

We talk a lot about the latest wireline tech, downhole tools, pump down perforating methods, and perforating systems—but none of that matters if your pressure control stack fails.

If you’re in the wireline game—whether you’re doing production logging, cement bond logs, pipe recovery, or running a simple caliper log—make sure your BOP is more than a piece of metal. Make it part of your discipline. Make it part of your safety culture.

Because when you’re 10,000 feet down and the pressure’s rising, your BOP isn’t just a valve—it’s your lifeline.