The word “slickline” refers to the wire strand used to run tools downhole in a gas or oil well. What’s downhole? That’s the pipe below the surface under the well head. Tools are lowered and raised for several purposes including maintenance, down-hole operations, and to improve the production of the well. Slickline companies offer a range of services that start the production process of a well, improve it, and prepare a well for abandonment with a wide variety of tools.

Slickline cable is a smooth wire and is often silver/chrome in appearance. Downhole tools are inserted into the well for oil and gas maintenance at the exact depth (or location) required. These tools can record and report details about downhole pressure and temperature. In some cases, fishing operations are necessary and sophisticated tools help to identify and remove obstructions. Slickline tools and uses are vast spanning from impression blocks which can identify the upper end of an obstruction, or magnets to retrieve pieces of metal, and wax knives which cut away hard wax to increase production.