Slickline Center Spear

Description

Slickline Center Spear

Technical Description and Specifications

The Center Spear is an aggressive slickline fishing tool used primarily to internally engage and retrieve severely tangled, balled-up, or coiled sections of broken wireline that have resisted recovery by multi-prong Wire Grabs. It functions by penetrating the wire mass to secure an unbreakable connection for retrieval.

Key Technical Specifications and Operation

• Function: To penetrate and secure a compact mass of coiled or tangled wireline (a “ball of wire”) for full retrieval to the surface. It provides a highly robust, non-releasable internal anchor point.

• Design: A solid, heavy-duty cylindrical tool tapering to a sharp, hardened point at the bottom end. The main body features aggressive, downward-facing barbs, grooves, or serrations that bite into the wire mass upon penetration.

• Operation:

  1. The Spear is run downhole, often with a Wire Finder skirt above it (as a Combined Finder/Spear) to guide the tool into the center of the wire mass.

  2. The operator applies repeated, heavy downward jarring to drive the sharp point through the tangled wire.

  3. Once fully engaged, the aggressive profile prevents the wire from slipping off, and the entire tool string, locked to the wire mass, is retrieved using an upward pull. The spear is typically considered a non-releasable tool once the wire is engaged.

• Application Note: The Center Spear is typically reserved for situations where retrieval with a Wire Grab has failed, as it provides a higher chance of full recovery but carries a higher risk of becoming irrevocably stuck due to the non-releasable nature of the connection.

• Connection (Customizable):

  • Standard interfaces include high-strength slickline pin threads.

  • Custom order connections are available to ensure integration with heavy-duty jarring systems and proprietary quick-connects.

• Material (Customizable):

  • Base Tool: High-strength alloy steel (e.g., AISI 4140/4340) for maximum impact and bending resistance.

  • Tip Hardening: The tip and serrated profile are often specially hardened. NACE MR0175 compliant versions are available for sour service applications.

• Critical Parameters (Customizable Size & Profile):

  • OD and Tip Profile: The tool OD must be sized to maximize penetration into the expected wire mass size. Standard ODs are available across all common tubing sizes.

  • Custom Spear Profiles with different barb patterns or tapered sections can be fabricated for unique wire mass geometries. Clients must specify the target tubing ID and the anticipated wire condition (e.g., tightly balled) when placing a custom order.

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