I remember the first time a tool string dropped on me like it happened yesterday. We were running a standard cased hole wireline operation—nothing overly complex. But it was a pressure job, and that means you’ve got to be ready for anything.
The crew had just finished a slick wireline and perforating run. We were bumping up the lubricator for another stage, everything running through the logging cable, with the pressure control equipment holding tight. Then—snap. A weak point gave out, and the entire assembly dropped. Only this time, it didn’t go far.
The tool trap caught it.
That moment taught me more about wireline pressure control systems than any manual or wireline course ever could. If we hadn’t had that tool trap installed—painted in bright orange, clear external indicator visible from inside the wireline unit—we would’ve been looking at a fishing job or worse.
I’ve seen what happens when perforating gun strings fall into a live well. It’s a nightmare for any wireline company. Not only are you dealing with downhole pipe recovery or fishing wire line complications, but you’re also risking well integrity, client confidence, and crew safety.
That’s why now, every single time I run a pressure package, I make sure it includes:
- Grease head with packoff
- Ball check valve
- Lubricator (always long enough to cover the tool plus three feet)
- Pump-in sub with valve
- Wireline BOP
- Tool trap
- Wellhead connection
- Pressure gauges with needle valves
The tool trap, though? That’s the unsung hero of any wireline services oil and gas job under pressure. Operated by a portable hydraulic pump and positioned just below the BOP, it’s the last line of defense when things don’t go as planned.
Here’s how I run it:
- Closed (catch) during tool pickup and bump up
- Opened only once pressure is equalized and the tool is safe inside the lubricator
- Remains open throughout the wireline well logging or perforating services
- Closed again when tools are within 1000 feet of surface during retrieval
This sequence ensures that if a weak point breaks or we lose tension, the tool string is safely caught before it falls into the well. Whether it’s a horizontal wireline job or vertical, whether there’s actual pressure or not—we run the trap.
In today’s evolving cased hole logging service market, where wireline providers are expected to deliver faster, safer, and smarter, this kind of consistency matters. Wireline service companies that are serious about well integrity and job success rely on complete wireline solutions—and the tool trap is a critical part of that.
For anyone learning the ropes, especially through wireline tech courses or on-site mentorship, this is one of the first safety practices you need to internalize. It doesn’t just protect your tools. It protects your team, your client’s well, and your reputation as a dependable wireline service provider.
So if you’re loading up your wireline truck for a pressure job—whether it’s a cement bond log, caliper log, or pump down perforating—don’t just focus on the downhole tools. Make sure your surface equipment, your pressure stack, and especially your tool trap are ready to work as hard as you do.
Because the next time something goes wrong—and eventually, it will—you’ll be glad you had a second line of defense.