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SLICKLINE CONNECT
Slickline Topics
Roller Subs
A number Slickline tool manufacturers have developed propriety roller systems and roller subs. Roller systems
are designed to reduce the friction between the tool string and tubing in deviated wells and increase the
ability to operate down hole tools in higher deviations and at greater depths.
Deviation poses limits to the Slickline operating envelope, but is probably the well characteristic that has been
best addressed through down hole tool design. There are a wide variety of different rollers, roller centralisers
and other devices that exist with varying claims in their ability to enable Slickline tool strings to run close to
90o.
Deviations result in high frictional forces acting on the tool string and the wire, which result in difficulties
getting down to some deep target depths and also result in high wire tensions when pulling out of the well.
A tool string lays on the low side of the tubing resulting in a high degree of contact and subsequently friction.
Roller subs are positioned strategically in the tool string with the objective of lifting the tool string up and
away from contact with the tubing at which point the only contact with the tubing will be the rollers which by
design rotate and do not drag as the tool string descends in the well bore.
There are limitations on how deep Slickline operations can be performed as the weight of the wire and the
tools will eventually exceed the tensile load rating. However, for instance the Roller Bogie manufacturer
claims runs have been made at 86o to depths below 25,000ft. While HES claim to have performed the deepest
Slickline operation in the GOM to 29,200ft @ 55o
The following are examples of the types of roller systems currently available.
Doc # slkc-0125
Page 1 of 8
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Impact Selector - Slickline Roller Bogie
Impact Selector Slickline Roller Bogies can be installed at any point in the tool string. With two independent
swivels above and below the roller assembly, the body is self-orienting ensuring the rollers are always
oriented to the low side of the tubing. Slickline Roller Bogie tools are available in a wide range of sizes. Impact
Selector state that the Slickline Roller Bogie has been deployed in deviations up to 87o.
Slickline Roller Bogie
Self Aligning & Orientating
Impact Selector - Slickline Roller Bogie
Roller Bogie Size (in)
1.800
1.900
1.950
2.125
2.275
2.400
2.500
2.600
2.770
Weight (lbs)
11
9
9
9
10
12
13
13
18
Length (in)
23
20
16
18
18
20
20
19
22
Max Tool String OD
1.625
1.688
1.688
1.750
1.938
2.000
2.125
2.250
2.375
Tubing Size
2-3/8
2-3/8
2-3/8
2-7/8
2-7/8
3-1/2
3-1/2
3-1/2
3-1/2
Roller Bogie Size (in)
3.000
3.350
3.600
3.700
3.850
4.100
4.900
5.500
5.800
Weight (lbs)
19
35
35
39
40
46
49
65
75
Length (in)
20
22
22
22
23
23
26
25
27
Max Tool String OD
2.500
2.875
3.125
3.250
3.500
3.625
4.375
5.000
5.000
Tubing Size
4-1/2
4-1/2
4-1/2
4-1/2
4-1/2
5
7
7
7
Doc # slkc-0125
Page 2 of 8
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Weatherford (BDK) – Skate
The Weatherford (BDK) Skate advantages include permanent wheel contact with the tubing wall in any
orientation, reduced friction, increased reliability and extended service life and has the following features: 







360-degree roller orientation eliminating the requirements for swivel joints
Profiled wheels for easier traversing of tubing wall debris
Integral axles for increased strength
Spherical axle ends for maximum roller support during side loads
No wheel axle locking screws, seals or pins
Wheel clearance eliminates ingress of debris
Wheel only redress required
Tested at 85 degrees deviation
Skate Cross Section
Weatherford (BDK) – Skate
Weatherford (BDK) – Skate
Body Diameter
Wheel Diameter
Wheel Width
Effective Diameter
Make-up
Length
Doc # slkc-0125
1.87
2.13
2.39
2.69
0.680
0.807
0.852
0.908
0.802
0.931
0.971
1.030
0.930
1.053
1.094
1.162
-
-
1.155
1.262
-
-
1.356
1.392
-
-
-
1.523
0.68
0.68
0.75
0.88
2.00
2.25
2.63
2.88
2.13
2.37
2.75
3.00
2.25
2.50
2.88
3.13
-
-
3.00
3.25
-
-
3.13
3.37
-
-
-
3.50
1-1/2
Connections
SR Thread
11.6
11.8
12.8
13.8
Quicklock
14.4
14.6
15.6
16.6
1-7/8
Connections
SR Thread
11.7
11.9
12.9
13.5
Quicklock
14.7
14.9
15.9
16.6
2-1/2
Connections
SR Thread
-
-
-
13.8
Quicklock
-
-
-
17.4
Page 3 of 8
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NOV Elmar – Roller Conveyance System (RCS)
The NOV RCS system uses a design incorporating a series of multi-ball inserts in a spiral configuration
providing a maximum ball / tubing wall contact. The roller sub body is machined with flutes to maximise fluid
bypass.
The RCS has a minimum of moving parts, unlike wheel roller systems, in effect the only moving part is the
roller in each Ball Transfer Units (BTU). The balls are manufactured from a magnetic stainless steel and
retained in the BTU housing by an Inconel retaining ring, the ball is fitted with a PTFE scraper seal which
provides self-lubricating and self-cleaning action to the roller ball. The most commonly used sizes, 2.5”, 3.0” &
3.5” share the same BTU.
NOV Elmar RCS Sub
Ball Transfer Unit (BTU)
Roller Conveyance System (RCS)
Effective Roller Dia.
Length (in)
Weight (lbs)
Weight (kg)
Fishing Neck (in)
Connection
2.000
17.0
7.5
3.4
1.375
15/16 SR
2.500
18.0
13.4
6.1
1.750
1-1/16 SR
3.000
19.0
18.0
8.2
1.750
1-1/16 SR
3.500
22.7
28.2
12.8
1.750
1-1/16 SR
4.000
25.0
46.7
21.2
1.750
1-1/16 SR
Doc # slkc-0125
Page 4 of 8
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Hunting Intervention - Slickline VariBall Roller System
The design criteria for the Hunting VariBall Roller System was to minimise friction between the tool string and
the tubing wall, to minimise roller tubing contact and to have the ability to self-align. Each VariBall chassis size
has a series of interchangeable rollers which provide a range of tool standoffs and providing some flexibility in
tool string design to meet specific requirements.
Hunting Variball Roller Sub
Elliptical Roller Tubing Contact
The elliptical roller design ensures there is minimal tubing roller contact and forces the roller to self-align on
the low side of the tubing. Each VariBall chassis is equipped with swivels joints situated above and below the
roller assemblies which augment the self-aligning characteristics of the elliptical rollers.
The Hunting VariBall Roller System includes the following features:  Flexible and variable roller design
 Elliptical self-aligning rollers
 Standard chassis system, permits multiple configurations
 Orientating body ensures roller to tubing contact
 Rollers and chassis swivel independently from the tool string
Hunting Intervention - Slickline VariBall Roller System
Tubing
VariBall
Chassis
Length
Roller OD
Range
Fishing
Neck
Top
Connection
Bottom
Connection
2-3/8 – 2-7/8
1.500
12.00
1.625 – 2.000
1.000
15/16 SR
15/16 SR or
Bullnose
2-7/8 – 3-1/2
2.000
15.00
2.000 – 2.750
1.375
15/16 SR
15/16 or
Bullnose
2-7/8 – 3-1/2
2.000
17.43
2.000 – 2.750
1.375
1-1/16 SR
1-1/16 SR
4.00 – 5-1/2
2.750
18.00
2.750 – 3.500
1.750
1-1/16 SR
1-1/16 SR or
Bullnose
5-1/2 – 7.00
3.500
19.88
3.500 – 4.250
1.750
1-1/16 SR
1-1/16 SR or
Bullnose
5-1/2 – 7.00
3.500
29.5
3.500 – 4.250
2.312
2.5 QLS
2.5 QLS
Doc # slkc-0125
Page 5 of 8
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Omega – Roller Subs
Omega roller subs are designed around the use of full diameter wheels. For each nominal body size there are
available a range interchangeable wheels permitting the largest wheel to be fitted to suit the downhole
conditions.
The use of the wheels offers a number of advantages: Lifting the tool string clear of tubing scale or debris
Preventing the tool string bottoming out
Negotiating down hole obstacles, e.g. permanent packer assemblies
The wheels are mounted on three bearings, two thrust and one double angular. The assembly is further
mounted on a threaded shaft that is double locked into the body. The roller sub has four wheels mounted in a
spiral ensuring that two wheels are always in contact with the tubing.
Omega state their roller subs have been used in up to 84o deviations.
Omega Roller sub (above)
360o Wheel Coverage (right)
Omega – Roller Subs
Body OD (in)
1.375
1.500
1.750
1.875
2.500
2.500
Length (in)
17
20
23
26
27
33
Wheel Dia. (in)
1.6
1.75 – 2.35
2.0 – 3.0
2.0 – 3.0
2.7 – 4.2
2.7 – 5.7
29
35
Connection
All Connections Available
Material
AISI 4140 30-36 Rc
Weight (lbs)
Doc # slkc-0125
5.5
8.4
25
Page 6 of 8
26.5
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Limar - Multi Roller Wheel Sub
The Limar Multi Roller Wheel Sub can be positioned at any convenient point in the tool string. The design is
short and compact featuring six roller wheels in each assembly offset by 60o to each other. The roller wheels
rotate freely on hardened axels with replaceable bushings.
Limar - Multi Roller Wheel Sub
Limar - Multi Roller Wheel Sub
Nominal OD (in)
Roller OD
Fishing Neck (in)
Connection
1.250
Optional
1.187
Optional
1.500
Optional
1.375
Optional
1.875
Optional
1.750
Optional
2.500
Optional
2.313
Optional
Oilenco – Freeroller
The Oilenco Freeroller is a sub that can be positioned at any point in the tool string and is available with a
range of interchangeable roller assemblies.
Oilenco state the Freeroller enables access to deviations greater than 80o.
Oilenco – Freeroller
Doc # slkc-0125
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Peak – WellGlide
The WellGlide fluted roller sub can be positioned in any convenient position in the tool string. Interchangeable
rollers allow the sub to be used in various sized wellbores. The fluted body of WellGlide ensures that there is
sufficient bypass when running through fluids as well as centralising a running or pulling tool.
The WellGlide features are: 







Ability to give stand-off from tubing wall equivalent to OD of large lock mandrel
Multiple subs can be positioned anywhere along the length of a conventional tool string
Interchangeable rollers increase the operating range
Option rollers materials, AISI 4140, 316 Stainless Steel, Nylatron or to customer specifications
Fluted body for maximum bypass in fluid
All connection options
High-angle, deviated wellbores
Can be supplied with ultra-heavy duty (UHD) connections and neck for use with 2 11/16-in heavyduty fishing string
Peak WellGlide
WelGlide Cross Section
Peak – WellGlide
Doc # slkc-0125
Tubing Size
Fluted Body OD (in)
Effective Roller Range (in)
2-7/8
1.875
1.900 - 2.250
3-1/2
2.125
2.200 – 2.625
4-1/2
2.500
2.600 – 3.150
5-1/2
3.350
3.500 – 4.500
7
5.250
5.500 – 6.000
Page 8 of 8
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