Well Servicing

Like all other machinery, oil and gas wells need to be serviced to keep them running. Without enough maintenance, production falls and eventually stops. This leads to the abandonment of wells that could actually keep producing if they were taken care of properly.

The first part of maintenance happens before the well servicing rig goes to work. At this time, the previous records for the well are examined by the technician to see important information like prior repairs, production levels over time, and data about the well casing. Each important system should have its own records. The casing sheet, tubing tally sheet, and packer or hold down description should all be looked at. Since the packer or hold down description contains even more details than the tubing tally sheet, it is sometimes used instead of the latter. If a rod tally sheet is available, it should be provided as well. The more information that is available, the better.

Once all of this information is examined, the well servicing crew can determine what problems are present. Then, the appropriate repairs can be made. Due to the size and weight of the parts used for these types of wells, a well servicing rig is required. This rig allows parts to be pulled from, and dropped down, the well hole as needed.

Several types of servicing rigs exist, and they are chosen according to the characteristics of the well they'll be used to work on. Variations include single pole, double pole, and single mast. Each type also has one or two drums. The single-drum varieties tend to be smaller and are used for shallow wells, but the double-drum ones are more versatile. When more than one procedure needs to be done on the same well, it's best to use a double-drum servicing rig when possible.