The crane isn’t the first thing most people think about when they talk wireline logging. Most attention goes to the logging cable, the perforating gun, or the downhole sensors used in formation evaluation. But if you’ve been out on enough cased hole logging jobs—especially in the high-stakes world of wireline and perforating—you know that without safe, competent crane operations, nothing gets to the wellhead in one piece.

I learned that the hard way on a job in South Texas.

We were running wireline tools for a perforation well, prepping for wireline perforating in a tight window between frac stages. The wireline truck was set up, pressure control equipment staged, and the wireline unit ready to go. But that morning, the crane operator didn’t show up, and I got tapped to run the crane. I had my oil field safety training, and I’d been around long enough to be signed off.

But being signed off and being prepared aren’t always the same thing.

Load Charts Don’t Lie

That morning, I was lifting a 600-pound perforating gun assembly with riglock. Boom length: 85 ft. Load radius: 20 ft. I flipped through the crane’s load chart, and the margin looked fine—until I realized I hadn’t accounted for the extra weight from the slings, lifting shackles, and collars.

It’s easy to forget, but that hardware adds up. If you’re working close to the limits of your boom configuration, you’re risking a tip or cable failure. Wireline service providers who operate regularly in the wireline services oil and gas market know—crane stability is critical to wellsite safety.

I adjusted, rerigged, and made the lift. No issues—but a strong reminder that load charts exist for a reason. They don’t care how many years you’ve been in the wireline business.

Inspections: No Shortcuts

Before every lift, I ran a full inspection. Hooks, slings, winch line, outriggers, and even the two-block safety system. We were on uneven ground, and I had to adjust cribbing under the outriggers to level the base. If the crane isn’t level, the chart is invalid—and the risk skyrockets.

Out in the wireline oilfield, especially on horizontal wireline setups or rugged pad sites, you need to be thinking about every detail. Potholes. Soft ground. Wind. Debris. All these things can turn a simple lift into a dangerous event.

And yes, we kept our daily and monthly inspection logs. In the world of wireline service companies, your paperwork is just as important as your gear.

Communication Is Lifeline

We had a rigger on the ground giving standard hand signals. Radios help, but nothing beats visual signals in real time. One misread signal and you’re swinging a CBL log string over someone’s head. Or worse, you’re dropping a wireline pressure control stack in the wrong spot.

I tell this to every trainee in our wireline courses—safe lifting is a team effort. If your crew isn’t on the same page, someone’s going to get hurt.

More Than Just a Lift

That lift was just one part of a long day. We went on to run a clean cement bond log, performed wireline perforating, and tagged top of pipe for production logging services. We used a downhole camera to confirm debris before going in, then mobilized for plug and abandon on a nearby well. All of that relied on safe, efficient crane operation—from lifting the toolstring to handling the wireline gun post-run.

Whether you’re fishing a toolstring or prepping for pipe recovery, the crane is what makes it all possible.

Final Thoughts

Crane operations might not seem like the core of what is wireline in oil and gas, but in practice, it’s one of the foundations of complete wireline solutions. From wireline trucks to perforating systems, everything starts with a safe lift.

So if you’re part of the next generation stepping into the wireline services market, don’t overlook the basics. Know your charts. Check your gear. Use your signals. Respect the lift.

Because in the oilfield services company world, gravity always wins—and your only defense is knowledge, training, and discipline.