Page 23 - Pipeline Rules of Thumb Handbook

Wire-Rope Trouble Cause Wire-Rope Trouble Cause
a. Rope broken Overload resulting from severe h. Damage or failure on Rope improperly used on a
(all strands). impact, kinking, damage, a fishing job. fishing job, resulting in
localized wear, weakening of damage or failure as a result
one or more strands, or of the nature of the work.
rust-bound condition and i. Lengthening of lay and Frequently produced by some
loss of elasticity.
reduction of diameter. type of overloading, such as
an overload resulting in a
b. One or more whole Overloading, kinking, divider
collapse of the fiber core in
strands parted. interference, localized wear,
swabbing lines. This may
or rust-bound condition.
also occur in cable-tool lines
Fatigue, excessive speed,
as a result of concentrated
slipping, or running too
pulsating or surging forces
loosely. Concentration of
which may contribute to
vibration at dead sheave or
fiber-core collapse.
dead-end anchor.
j. Premature breakage Caused by frictional heat
c. Excessive corrosion. Lack of lubrication. Exposure of wires. developed by pressure and
to salt spray, corrosive slippage, regardless of
gases, alkaline water, acid drilling depth.
water, mud, or dirt. Period of
inactivity without adequate k. Excessive wear in spots. Kinks or bends in rope due to
protection. improper handling during
installation or service.
d. Rope damage in Rolling reel over obstructions Divider interference; also,
hauling to the well or dropping from car, truck, wear against casing or hard
or location. or platform. The use of shells or abrasive formations
chains for lashing, or the in a crooked hole. Too
use of lever against rope infrequent cut-offs on
instead of flange. Nailing working end.
through rope to flange.
l. Spliced rope. A splice is never as good as a
continuous piece of rope,
e. Damage by improper Improper seizing which allows
socketing. slack from one or more and slack is liable to work
strands to work back into back and cause irregular wear.
rope; improper method of m. Abrasion and broken Injury due to slipping rope
socketing or poor wires in a straight line. through clamps.
workmanship in socketing, Drawn or loosened
frequently shown by rope strands. Rapid fatigue
being untwisted at socket, breaks.
loose or drawn.
n. Reduction in tensile Excessive heat due to careless
f. Kinks, dog legs, and Kinking the rope and pulling strength or damage exposure to fire or torch.
other distorted places. out the loops such as in to rope.
improper coiling or o. Distortion of wire rope. Damage due to improperly
unreeling. Improper winding attached clamps or wire-rope
on the drum. Improper clips.
tie-down. Open-drum reels
having longitudinal spokes p. High strands. Slipping through clamps,
too widely spaced. Divider improper seizing, improper
interference. The addition of socketing or splicing, kinks,
improperly spaced cleats to dog legs, and core popping.
increase the drum diameter. q. Wear by abrasion. Lack of lubrication. Slipping
Stressing while rope is over clamp unduly. Sandy or
small sheave or obstacle. gritty working conditions.
Rubbing against stationary
g. Damage by hooking Operation of walking beam
object or abrasive surface.
back slack too tightly causing a bending action on
Faulty alignment. Undersized
to girt. wires at clamp and resulting
grooves and sheaves.
in fatigue and cracking of
wires, frequently before rope r. Fatigue breaks in wire. Excessive vibration due to
goes down into hole. poor drilling conditions, i.e.,