There’s a part of wireline work that doesn’t always make the highlight reel—but it’s just as critical as what happens downhole: transportation.

I remember the morning we had to haul a full load of perforating guns, shaped charges, and downhole tools out to a remote location for a cased hole wireline job. The night before, I double-checked every piece of paperwork—the HAZMAT shipping papers, emergency response information, and proper labels. Wireline services in oil and gas are built on precision, not just in the wellbore, but on the road, too.

Transporting explosives is a high-stakes operation. It’s not just about hauling gear in a wireline truck. You need to know your UN numbers—like UN0456 for electric detonators and UN0124 for jet perforating guns. These aren’t just codes. They’re the language of global safety and compliance. Whether you’re with a wireline company running a horizontal wireline job or an independent provider offering wireline and perforating services, understanding these classifications is vital.

The SOP was clear: no detonators loaded with the guns. Period. Each gun had to be properly tagged, secured, and placed in a compartment approved for explosive transport. That day, our gross weight of Division 1.4 explosives exceeded 1000 lbs, so we placarded all four sides of the vehicle. No shortcuts. The risk wasn’t worth it—not to the crew, not to the client, not to the wireline business we’ve worked hard to build.

We boxed shaped charges in pairs, cones facing each other, making sure not to exceed the 90-charge-per-box limit. I remember explaining to a new hire that even this simple configuration matters—it’s how we prevent sympathetic detonation in transit. It’s how we stay in control.

As the wireline unit rolled toward the lease, I went over every rule in my mind again: MSDS forms onboard, no unnecessary passengers, lockboxes secured, detonators completely separated from all other explosives. It’s one thing to understand downhole pipe recovery or production logging; it’s another to respect what gets us there safely.

That day, I also carried pipe caliper tools, a caliper log kit, and pressure control equipment—all packed alongside documentation for the A-85 exemption we needed. Nothing out of place. Nothing left to chance. Transporting explosives for a perforation well job isn’t about being fast—it’s about being right.

We often talk about formation evaluation, well integrity, and wireline control systems as if they’re all downhole. But the truth is, it all starts in the yard. With packaging. With labeling. With understanding the very foundation of what is wireline in oil and gas: precision, responsibility, and readiness.

We made it to the site, completed the job, and returned without incident. Not because of luck, but because of discipline. It’s the same discipline we teach in every wireline course, and the reason why our team continues to deliver safe, reliable, and compliant wireline services—whether we’re running a pump down perforating job, fishing wire line out of a lateral, or transporting live tools to the field.

Every wireline service company should treat transportation like a mission—not just a means to an end. The wireline services market is changing, and with increasing pressure on safety compliance and service delivery, there’s no excuse for falling short. It’s not just about rigging up wireline equipment anymore. It’s about showing up ready, safe, and smart—before a single tool goes downhole.

So yeah, that day I didn’t guess. I followed the SOP. From the shop to the lease and back again.

Because sometimes, the most important work in this wireline oilfield happens before the first depth is logged.