We were on day two of a tight multi-stage perforation well project. Everything was on track—wireline truck parked and grounded, frac crew ready, logging cable tension good, and the next perforating gun already staged.
And then the storm rolled in.
Now, we had a choice: push forward and beat the weather—or stop, check conditions, and walk back through the Explosive Safety Checklist. It wasn’t popular, but I called for a full stop. Turns out, our stray voltage test was off, and cloud-to-ground lightning was within 10 miles.
That checklist? It didn’t just save the job. It likely saved lives.
Why Explosive Safety Isn’t Just a Form
In wireline and perforating, especially when handling live explosives in cased hole wireline, you’re balancing efficiency with risk. The Explosive Safety Checklist is what brings structure to that balance.
It protects:
- The crew
- The well
- The tools
- Your reputation as a wireline provider
Each section of the checklist is designed to eliminate guesswork and ensure you’re operating within the highest safety standards—especially in high-demand wireline services oil and gas environments.
Breakdown of Key Checklist Steps
Here’s what I emphasize in every wireline course I teach:
Before Starting Ballistic Operations
- Conduct a safety meeting
- Grounding clamps in place (under 0.5 Ohm)
- Warning signs posted around the wellsite
- Confirm stray voltage is below 250mV
- Establish a secure arming zone
- No welding, lightning, or radio use nearby
- Cathodic protection disabled
General Explosive Handling
- Detonators only removed from the explosives magazine when ready
- Check fires performed visibly and clearly
- Use of a safety tube for all detonators during checks
Arming the Explosive Device
- All power panels off
- Safety key switch removed and kept outside the unit
- Mandatory radio silence enforced
- Zero voltage check on the logging line
- Use only approved blaster tools for crimping/cutting
- “Electrical Before Ballistical” rule (EBBA) enforced
- Ground “hot” wire before connecting detonators
- Perforating gun must reach 250’ below surface before key returns
When Removing a Device
- Assume it didn’t detonate
- Stop at 250’, hold safety meeting
- Repeat arming safety steps
- Handle non-detonated tools with ballistical before electrical care
- Watch for trapped pressure in the gun
If any step cannot be completed properly, the explosive must be made safe, operations stopped, and management notified.
Why This Matters in Wireline Operations
Whether you’re running a single-stage plug and perf, or coordinating back-to-back jobs across the cased hole logging service market, skipping this checklist introduces unnecessary risk.
I’ve seen operators forget small things—like skipping a second voltage check or rushing through a grounding step. In a live-fire situation, those aren’t small mistakes.
They’re potentially fatal.
In my time in the wireline oilfield, I’ve learned that good engineering isn’t just about design and deployment—it’s about process. Discipline. Consistency.
That’s what the Explosive Safety Checklist enforces.
What I Tell Every New Wireline Tech
If you’re getting started with wireline well logging, wireline perforating guns, or anything involving downhole explosives, here’s what you need to know:
- The checklist is not optional
- Your safety key is your accountability
- You never assume a gun has fired
- If something feels wrong—stop the job
- Being cautious is a strength, not a weakness
Explosive Safety Is a Team Standard
The checklist is completed, signed, and filed with the job paperwork. That document becomes part of the operational record—ensuring every wireline service company follows a unified standard across the board.
It’s not about compliance. It’s about crew safety, job performance, and building trust in the most high-risk operations we perform.