Case Study: Eastern Mediterranean Deepwater Drilling Company achieves full deepwater logging on a high-tension well with SLB TuffLINE 18000 cable

TuffLINE 18000 Cable Deployment at >10,000-lbf Tension Saves USD 5 Million of Deepwater Rig Time

SLB worked with Eastern Mediterranean Deepwater Drilling Company on a deepwater well in the Eastern Mediterranean where the drillstring became stuck and logging tensions were expected to exceed 10,000 lbf. The company needed to complete a full petrophysical evaluation in the 8½-in section, including pressure measurement, fluid sampling, and sidewall coring, but the remote location and schedule pressure made capstan mobilization and drillpipe deployment impractical.

SLB deployed TuffLINE 18000 torque-balanced composite wireline cable to run wireline logging without a capstan, supporting high-tension operations and reducing sticking risk. The job was completed in a record 3 days, saving 4 days of rig time and USD 5 million, while avoiding capstan mobilization, eliminating cable seasoning, and achieving repeated high-tension pulls up to 16,000 lbf without tool sticking or cable failure.