There’s a moment before every job where I stop and take in the quiet hum of the gunshop. It’s not glamorous—metal benches, primacord, detonators neatly laid out, the faint smell of oil and metal—but it’s sacred. Because what we do in the gunshop determines how the wireline tools will perform downhole.

We were getting ready for a string of horizontal cased hole logging jobs—wireline perforating runs that would require multiple gunstrings, high-temp shaped charges, and tight staging between plug sets. The pressure control equipment was already loaded, the logging cable spooled, and the wireline truck was warming up outside.

But before any of that mattered, the guns had to be built—safely, cleanly, precisely.

This is where everything starts. Before the wireline unit even sees a well, the explosives are assembled, the charges are loaded, and the systems are inspected in the gunshop. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my years in this wireline business, it’s that no amount of wireline control systems or logging software can compensate for a mistake made here.

Every shaped charge, detonator, and length of primacord must be handled with full awareness of its explosive potential. I’ve seen what happens when shortcuts are taken—cutting primacord with the wrong tool, powder left on a bench, guns stacked too soon after firing. In this business, you don’t get “almost” incidents. You either run it safe or you don’t run at all.

That’s why our gunshop follows strict rules:

• Only the right tools are allowed inside.

• Only trained personnel handle explosives.

• Static, heat, friction, and impact are treated like loaded triggers.

• And everything—everything—is inspected, from charge alignment to paperwork.

When we’re preparing for a perforation well, I treat each gun as if it’s live. Because it will be. One misstep in the gunshop could lead to a misfire downhole or, worse, an uncontrolled detonation. That’s not just a threat to the job—it’s a threat to lives, well integrity, and the entire wireline operation.

The job we were prepping for that day involved HMX-based charges—high-temp explosives rated for deep and hot formations. I made sure we reviewed the temperature ratings, understood the sensitivity of the explosive, and planned for safe post-job handling if any misfire occurred. Misfires don’t happen often, but when they do, knowing how long a gun has been heat-soaked, whether it’s been pressure washed, or if it’s still armed can mean the difference between a safe teardown and a serious event.

For newer techs coming up through the wireline service companies, I always emphasize that gunshop safety isn’t just about procedure—it’s about attitude. The kind of attitude that doesn’t accept clutter, doesn’t ignore “small” mistakes, and doesn’t rely on luck.

Wireline services in oil and gas are evolving fast—new tools, advanced logging cable, smarter control systems—but gunshop safety remains rooted in fundamentals. No matter how advanced our wireline technologies become, they’ll always rely on the steady hands and clear minds of the people assembling the tools.

So whether we’re building pipe recovery tools, perf guns, or gear for cased hole logging, we treat every component as mission-critical. Because it is.

And at the end of the day, gunshop safety isn’t about fear—it’s about respect. For the tools, the team, and the lives that depend on every single step being done right.