We were deep in the Permian, mid-stage on a high-pressure pump down perforating job. The frac crew was in sync, plugs were landing, and we were hitting depths right on time. Then—on stage 6—we fired, but the plug didn’t hold.
That kind of failure changes the tone of a job site fast.
We pulled the string, stripped the setting tool, and found what we all feared—improper oil fill. No tag. No documentation. No accountability.
That day we implemented a new non-negotiable rule: no setting tool goes in hole without a prep bag—and initials on it. Since then, our setting tool reliability has jumped, and our cased hole wireline performance has never been tighter.
Why Setting Tool Preparation Is More Than Assembly
In today’s wireline services market, expectations are higher than ever. Clients don’t just want the job done—they want it flawless, fast, and field-verified.
Proper setting tool prep is how we deliver.
It starts with a simple one-gallon sealable plastic bag labeled with:
- Well name
- Stage number
- Date and time of prep
Once you start prepping the tool, you don’t stop. No distractions. No breaks. A single missed step—like skipping an o-ring, grabbing the wrong power charge, or misjudging oil fill—can lead to costly pipe recovery, lost perforation services time, or worse, a compromised well integrity situation.
What Goes in the Bag?
Every setting tool we build carries a plastic bag with the following:
- Wrapper or container from the primary explosive (igniter)
- Wrapper from the secondary explosive
- Power charge lid
- Oil fill dipstick result, labeled with the correct temperature reading
- Well name, stage number, tool prep date/time
- Initials of the tech who prepped it
This bag is taped directly to the tool once it’s prepped. Then, the well site supervisor reviews it, confirms the contents, and keeps it until the job is complete.
It’s a simple visual checkpoint—but it ensures that nothing gets missed, skipped, or assumed.
Why It Matters in Cased Hole Wireline Work
Whether you’re working a wireline and perforating run, setting composite plugs, or prepping for wireline well logging, proper setting tool prep is a foundation of quality.
In the fast-paced cased hole logging service market, especially during multi-stage completions, the smallest error in wireline equipment prep can lead to downtime, NPT, and lost revenue for the client—and for you as a wireline provider.
The bag process is about discipline, not just procedure. It’s about putting wireline control systems into place that ensure your downhole tools are ready to perform—every time.
What I Teach New Wireline Techs
In my wireline courses, I walk students through the real-world prep of a setting tool from start to finish. And I tell them this:
“That bag? That’s your name on the job. If the plug fails, that’s what we’ll be holding when we look for answers.”
If you want to succeed in wireline service companies, this level of responsibility becomes second nature. It’s not about micromanagement—it’s about building trust and delivering complete wireline solutions.
Final Thought
Setting tools are like everything else in the oil field wireline world: they only work if the people behind them take pride in the prep.
Whether you’re arming a perforating gun, logging with a cbl log, or setting plugs on a perforation well, your attention to the smallest detail is what separates a wireline company from just another wireline unit.