I’ve worked in the wireline oilfield long enough to know that even modest decisions may make or ruin an operation. One of those decisions? Grease selection. Yeah, the stuff we pump into the grease head to seal the well around the wireline.
One cold morning on a horizontal wireline job, we were prepping for a pump down perforating run. It was barely 40°F outside, and we were going in with a standard grease setup. That’s when I noticed the tech had loaded a tote of high-viscosity grease meant for warmer conditions.
I stopped the crew right there.
I have seen it before. When the temperature drops, the wrong GIT grease can thicken, lose flowability, and cause poor sealing around the logging cable. That’s a one-way ticket to pressure loss, failed pressure control, and possibly a dropped perforating gun or worse.
We replaced the grease with 268 4i, which is meant for colder climes and has a viscosity that withstands temperatures ranging from 25° to 60°F. That quick change saved the job. Pressure held perfectly, no leaks, no failures, and we completed every wireline and perforating stage without a hiccup.
Grease matters.
In the world of wireline logging and cased hole services, where every job has its unique downhole risks, selecting the right GIT grease is as essential as choosing the right wireline pressure control equipment or tool trap.
Now, I teach this concept in every one of my wireline courses.Because when it relates to wireline services oil and gas, it’s more than just the hardware—it’s about the materials you can rely on to safeguard your wireline equipment, unit, and crew.
Let me break it down for those new to the wireline business or looking to sharpen their decision-making in the field:
GIT Grease Selection – Field Rules I Follow
- 270 4i: My go-to for standard temperature jobs. It’s got quadruple inhibitors for H₂S, CO₂, and corrosives, perfect for everyday cased hole wireline and production logging operations. Rated to 12,000 psi with a 24 viscosity rating. Works best in temps above 60°F.
- 268 4i: When the thermometer drops below 60°F, this is what I trust. Same corrosion resistance as the 270 4i, but thinner viscosity for cold weather work. If you’re operating in West Texas, North Dakota, or anywhere the mornings bite—you want this loaded and ready.
- 776 4i: For high-pressure wells or when I suspect the client’s wellbore fluid properties might be “mystery soup,” this is the gold standard. Rated up to 20,000 psi and fortified for anything corrosive you might encounter in a perforation well.
In the cased hole logging service market, where wireline service providers are expected to be lean, fast, and accurate, you can’t afford to get this stuff wrong. Especially when dealing with formation evaluation, pipe recovery, or plug and abandon tasks, where sealing integrity is essential.
The wrong grease can mean:
- Cable damage from corrosives
- Grease head failure
- Lost tools or fishing wire line recovery
- Complete job shutdown
What is the proper grease? It’s one of those back-end components that ensures your wireline control systems run properly every time.
If you’re a wireline engineer or supervisor building complete wireline solutions, or if you’re a new tech learning what is wireline in oil and gas, remember this: Grease selection is not a back-burner detail. It’s a frontline decision that impacts wireline trucks, perforating services, and everything down to the last caliper log.