TuffLINE

Torque-balanced composite wireline cable

Torque-balanced, crush-resistant composite cable mitigates risks for superior operational reliability

Concerns posed by deepwater and ultradeepwater wells are many: high tension, tool sticking, high temperatures, and the electrical power and telemetry requirements of long, heavy toolstrings. TuffLINE torque-balanced composite wireline cables uniquely integrate polymer-locked armors to effectively manage what are otherwise the fundamental limitations of conventional armored cables.

Unprecedented breaking strength

Because polymer locking the armors prevents rotation, TuffLINE cable is permanently ends-fixed, which raises the ends-free breaking strength to 27,000 lbf for TuffLINE 18000 cable and in excess of 40,000 lbf for TuffLINE 26000 cable. An offshore unit using TuffLINE cable can provide instantaneous pull of up to 18,000 lbf for stick prevention and mitigation without a capstan. If operating conditions will result in tension exceeding 18,000 lbf, the unit can be interfaced with a capstan rated to 24,000-lbf pull capacity with TuffLINE 18000 cable or 26,000 lbf with TuffLINE 26000 cable. Multiple high-tension operations can be conducted, including cycling and jarring without compromising cable integrity.

TuffLINE cable cutaway showing the individual cable strands.

TuffLINE cable is torque-balanced for operations with up to 26,000-lbf tension.

TuffLINE torque-balanced composite wireline cable delivers wireline data acquisition safely, efficiently, and reliably while mitigating sticking risks.

TuffLINE 18000 cable deployed using an OSU-PA offshore unit reduces both potential and overall operational risk by more than 60% compared with conventional operations using high-strength cable and a capstan.

TuffLINE cable deployed using a heavy-duty modular offshore unit, reducing potential and overall operational risk by more than 60% compared with conventional operations using high-strength cable and a capstan.

Crush-proof cable core

At tension higher than 8,000 lbf, conventional cable spooling on the drum leads to cable core crushing that causes the cumulative, irreversible process of cold flow and multiple short circuits. Additional risks are cable flattening, bending of the wireline drum flange, and crushing of the drum core. The multilayered core of the TuffLINE cable is crush proof. Cold flow and the permanent deformation it causes are further prevented by the polymer locking of the armors. Spooling tensions of 13,000 lbf and higher are possible without requiring the use of a tension-relief capstan or having to resort to drillpipe conveyance.

High capacity, high temperature

Unlike standard high-strength cables, TuffLINE cables have 18 or 16 AWG conductors to enable the reliable conveyance of tool combinations longer than 175 ft and at 4,000 lbf in well depths exceeding 40,000 ft. Combining tools greatly reduces the number of descents in the well, saving an average of 12 h or more per trip on a deepwater rig. TuffLINE cables are suitable for the hot reservoirs of deepwater operations, with an operating temperature rating of 465 degF.

TuffLINE

Torque-balanced composite wireline cable