I’ve been around long enough in the wireline business to see what happens when something small—like an o-ring—gets overlooked. A few years back, we had a string of failures with our Baker setting tools during a perforation well job. Three plugs failed to set. Three jobs stalled. The total damage? Over $100,000, not including the extra fishing wire line costs from retrieving stuck hardware in the well.
And the root cause?
O-rings being left out or cut during assembly of the old-style Baker bleeder screw.
That was the moment we drew the line and made the switch to rupture disc-style bleeder setups—and it changed everything.
Why We Switched to the Rupture Disc Type Bleeder
The original design had too many points of failure. One wrong move during assembly and you’re looking at a compromised seal, a stuck tool, and an expensive round trip. In the cased hole logging world, where every run matters and every stage is part of a bigger wireline and perforating operation, that’s just not acceptable.
We moved to the rupture disc setup because it:
- Reduces potential failure points
- Eliminates reliance on o-ring placement and integrity
- Provides consistent, controlled pressure release
- Aligns with original equipment manufacturer recommendations
This wasn’t just a suggestion—it became mandatory across all operations.
How It Works—and How We Field-Prep the Tools
Each Baker setting tool we run now comes with:
- A disc retainer socket
- A left-hand anchor bolt
- Factory-certified rupture disc
- Torque specs applied using a calibrated ¾” drive torque wrench
We use an Allen wrench to seat the left-hand bolt, then torque the disc retainer to 70 ft-lbs. Each tool gets tagged with a green “ready” label, listing:
- Builder name
- Torque applied
- Oil level
- Date built
That tag isn’t just for accountability—it’s a communication tool between shop and field. And yes, before we run any downhole tools like wireline perforating guns or setting tools, we check the torque again on location.
What This Means for the Wireline Oilfield
In a world where wireline services are being pushed harder than ever—more pump down perforating, more cased hole well services, more demand for complete wireline solutions—our equipment has to keep up.
Switching to the rupture disc system didn’t just improve our tool reliability. It gave us an edge in service quality, performance, and crew safety.
We no longer worry about losing a toolstring because of a tiny o-ring issue. We’ve eliminated a major source of failure during wireline well logging, perforation services, and plug setting jobs. That means fewer fishing jobs, fewer lost hours, and more confidence on every run.
For the Next Generation of Wireline Techs
If you’re new to wireline control systems or working toward a lead operator role through wireline courses, this is the kind of knowledge that will separate you from the pack.
Ask questions. Learn the torque specs. Check the bleeder setup on every tool. This is how we preserve well integrity while pushing for better wireline equipment performance.
Because in the wireline services oil and gas market, it’s not just about getting the job done—it’s about getting it done right.