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Cut And Thread Fishing Technique

Definition & Procedure
2022-03-07

Table of Contents
Rope Socket Assembly
Precautions
Cut and Thread Fishing Technique Procedures
Cutting The Cable
Preparing The Rig For Cut And Thread Fishing Technique
Performing A Test Pull For Cut And Thread Fishing Technique
Dressing The Overshot
Attaching The Drill Pipe
Running In The Hole
Correcting Problems While Running In
Freeing The Line
Confirming Overshot Engagement In Cut And Thread Fishing Technique
Parting The Cable At The Weak Point
Securing The Fish In Cut And Thread Fishing Technique

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The cable guide method or “cut and Thread” method is one technique for fishing stuck
wireline (Check also: Sticking Pipe) and/or logging tools. Even though it is dangerous and
time-consuming, the cable guide method is preferred over the side door overshot
method as it is the surest method.

This method is used for retrieving wireline stuck in the oil and gas wells. In cut and thread
operations, We grip the wireline securely with a special tool and cut it at the rig floor. Then
we fix the cut end in a stand of drill pipe. As the Top Drive holds the pipe, the wireline is
threaded through another stand of drill pipe, which is screwed onto the stand in the
wellbore. We continue with this process until the stuck wireline is retrieved.

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 Figure 1: Cable Guide Method

Rope Socket Assembly

The rope socket assembly used in the cut and thread fishing technique (Figure 2) consists
of:

T bar cable hanger

Fishing spear head rope socket with hexagon adapter
“C” plate
spear head overshot
knuckle joint
singer bar 
rope socket.
 Figure 2: Rope Socket Assembly For cut and thread fishing technique

Precautions
Urge everyone to be alert throughout this tiresome of this fishing operation to prevent
costly mistakes and/or serious accidents. Some of the primary hazards (oil rig hazards) are:

the cable may be dropped

a broken strand of wire may ball up ahead of the overshot
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the impact of the tool on a bridge may cut the cable
 the cable may double back around the overshot as it is removed from a Drilling key
seat.

To avoid these hazards, it is a good idea to conduct a safety meeting with all personnel
involved to explain how the procedure is supposed to work.

Cut and Thread Fishing Technique Procedures

Cutting The Cable
1. Slide a C plate over the rotary. Note: The C plate is utilized for safety reasons. It
stops such tools from falling into the well.
2. Take an overpull (margin of overpull) on the cable of 2,000 lbs. above the line
weight.
3. Attach the T-bar clamp to the wireline. Note: Ensure that the slip liners are the
correct size to fit the cable.
4. Employ a torque wrench to tighten the T-bar with the appropriate torque.
5. Function-test the T-bar to check for slippage. Tape or mark the line at the T-bar and
bounce the T-bar on the rotary. If the tape moves at all, the T-bar is not sufficiently
tight.
6. Tape the line in the place where you will cut it. This helps to ensure a clean cut and
prohibits fraying the end of the line.
7. Employ a wireline cutter to cut the cable, leaving an 8- foot tail.
8. Secure the part of the cable that is attached to the truck so that it will not run over
the crown and hurt someone.

Preparing The Rig For Cut And Thread Fishing Technique

1. Lower the block that supports the upper sheave so that the sheaves may be
rearranged in the drilling rig derrick. The top sheave should be hung as high as
possible in the derrick and just to the left of the monkey board. The lower sheave
must be moved back from the rotary to be out of the way of the operations on the
rig floor. Note: This is an essential step as the block must be used to handle the drill
pipe.
2. Attach a rope socket, adapter, and spear point to the well end of the cable. Note:
The slips and slip carrier shall be selected according to the cable size. Remember
you should always consider only new slips each time you perform this 
operation.
 3. Attach the rope socket to the truck end of the cable with 10 feet of weight bars, a
knuckle/swivel joint between them, and a rope socket overshot. Note: To weight
the wireline and make it fall into the stand of drill pipe, one or two standard
sinker or weight bars are typically utilized. The knuckle joint allows flexibility
so that the derrick man can stab the wireline tools into the stand of drill pipe.
4. Tighten the parts securely with a 24″ pipe wrench.

Performing A Test Pull For Cut And Thread Fishing

Technique
1. Latch the rope socket overshot to the spear point. Note: The T-bar clamp is still
attached to the cable at this point.
2. Take a 5,000-pound strain on the cable.
3. After one minute, check for any movement by checking the tape marks.
4. If there has been no movement, slack off on the T-bar and disconnect the rope
socket overshot.

Dressing The Overshot

1. Dress the Bowen 150 fishing overshot with the correct grapple to catch the fishing
neck. Note: Utilize a Nitraloy grapple if available. A plain grapple control is
sufficient as we have not circulation through the fish.
2. Attach the restricted ID sub onto the overshot followed by a mud saver sub, which
will screw onto the drill pipe.
3. Make up all tools by hand.
4. Thread the rope socket spear point through the overshot and replace the adapter
with the hexagon-shaped adapter. Note: The hexagon adapter will not pass
through the restricted sub if it is dropped.

Attaching The Drill Pipe

1. Latch the first stand of pipe and have the derrick man stab the wireline tools into it.
2. Lower the wireline tools down through the stand of drill pipe.
3. Latch the rope socket overshot onto the spear point and take the slack out of the
line.
4. Instruct the crew to make the fishing overshot up onto the stand of drill pipe by

hand.
5. Pick up on the wireline and remove the T-bar clamp.
 6. Set the drilling slips on the fishing tools and tighten the connections.
7. Tighten the guide by hand with a pipe wrench and sledgehammer.

Running In The Hole

1. Instruct the winch operator to adjust the tension to normal plus at least 2,000
pounds of overpull and slowly go in the hole. Note: It is important for the winch
operator to watch the weight indicator in the truck for any change and to
maintain 2,000 pounds of over pull on the line at all times.
2. When the first stand has been run in, place the C-plate in the slot between the rope
socket and the hexagonal adapter. Caution: Keep your hands in a safe place; do
not get your fingers caught under the C-plate.
3. Instruct the winch operator to slack off the cable until it is supported by the C-plate.
The C-plate rests on top of the drill pipe tool joint for which it is sized.
4. Instruct the winch operator to mark the cable with tape so that he will return to the
same spot for each stand of drill pipe run.
5. Release the rope socket overshot with special tongs.
6. After the driller has latched another stand of pipe, instruct the winch operator to
pull the wireline tools up for the derrick man to stab them into the drill pipe.
7. Drop the rope socket overshot down through the pipe to be attached to the spear.
8. After the overshot is latched, instruct the winch operator to pick up on the cable,
maintaining a 2,000 pound over pull.
9. Make up the second stand and proceed in the hole at a rate of two minutes per
stand, not including make up time. Note: Going in the hole slowly is the only
safe way. This is because if you go in fast, you might hit a bridge with the
overshot and cut the cable in two down hole.


 Tool Caught In Overshot In Cut And Thread Fishing Technique

Correcting Problems While Running In

You can predict a problem with the cable-based on how quickly the cable tension
increases while running in. The following table shows the problems you can expect
according to the degree of cable tension increase and how you should correct the
problem.

IF the
cable
tension Then … And you should …
increases
…

the cable may be stuck in a key increase the cable tension with the
Sharply seat and doubled back outside the winch and the guide should free the
overshot cable ahead of the overshot. 
 the elevation of the cable head add a short length of sucker rod
spear will lower, potentially below between the rope socket and the
Gradually
the top of the pipe as you advance spear to prevent pulling too much
into the well tension on the line.

Problems For Cut And Thread Fishing Technique

If a bridge is encountered, it should be cleaned by circulating the mud. Circulation may
clear up the problem unless the cable was cut by the initial impact.

To avoid problems, ensure that at least 2,000 pounds of overpull is maintained on the
cable at all times.

Freeing The Line

If the line has been stuck and is then freed, the winch operator will know immediately as
he will lose the 2,000 pounds of over pull on his weight indicator. To prove that the line
has been freed, pull the logging tool up several feet. If there is no weight increase on the
wireline weight indicator as the line is pulled up, you know that the line and logging tools
are free.

Note: The driller may reciprocate the pipe while circulating. This will help prevent
the string from becoming stuck if the pipe is at rest.

1. With the spearhead hanging on the C-plate, thread the circulating sub over the
rope socket overshot and hold it there by hand.
2. Latch the overshot into the spearhead, lift the cable, and remove the C-plate.
3. Thread the circulating sub into the drill pipe.
4. Place a circulating baffle around the wireline and drop it into the circulating sub.
5. Lower the cable until the rope socket rests on top of the baffle.
6. Release the overshot.
7. Screw the oil and gas Kelly into the circulating sub.

Confirming Overshot Engagement In Cut And Thread

Fishing Technique
After the Kelly is set back and the rope socket overshot has been reconnected, spool up
the wireline until the logging tool is pulled into the overshot. Note: Before this step, the
cable must be cut, getting rid of the rope socket overshot.

If the cable tension decreases when picking up on the drill pipe and the logging tool is
inside the fishing overshot, this confirms that the logging tool is in the overshot. Review
this procedure for proof of engagement with the customer. When the customer agrees,
pull off at the weak point using the procedure on the following page.

Parting The Cable At The Weak Point

Install the cable clamp and let the cable rest on top of the drill pipe tool joint that is in the
rotary.

1. Cut the cable and remove the rope sockets.

2. Tie both ends of the cable together in a square knot.
3. Pull up on the cable until the square knot is tight.
4. Tape the loose ends and remove the cable clamp.
5. Spool the cable onto the truck, pulling the knot carefully over the top sheave until
the knot is just before the measuring device.
6. Clamp off the cable.
7. Slack off the cable and remove the cable from the measuring device.
8. Take up the slack in the cable and remove the cable clamp.
9. Spool the knot onto the drum.
10. Clamp the cable.
11. Slack off the cable and reinstall the cable onto the measuring device.
12. Take up the slack and remove the cable clamp.
13. Continue spooling the cable onto the drum until the logging tool is pulled up
securely into the overshot. Note: When the cable is being removed, the driller
should work the pipe to prevent sticking the drill string.
14. Install the cable clamp at the top of the drill pipe.
15. Latch the elevators around the cable under the clamp and slowly pull until the cable
is pulled in two at the weak point.
16. Spool the cable up on the drum.

Securing The Fish In Cut And Thread Fishing Technique

1. Install the Kelly and blow the disk out of the pump out sub. Note: All the disks in
the table are made of bronze that is 0.010 inches thick. 
2. Pull the pipe and fish out of the hole without rotating.
 3. Set the slips on the fish and secure it with a C-type safety clamp.
4. Release the overshot from the fish and turn the rest over to the logging company
personnel.

 Fishing Operations

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