Sandvik Materials Technology announces that its new stainless steel precision wire grade developed for sour service slicklines and logging cables offers both operating and cost benefits, including reduced down-time. Designated Sandvik Sanicro 36Mo, the new grade is a nitrogen-enhanced, high-alloyed austenitic alloy for service in extreme conditions. It is characterised by high tensile strength and excellent corrosion resistance in chlorides, H2S and CO2 environments and has already been proven in field tests in aggressive well conditions. The key benefit for users is an enhanced breaking load – 15-20% higher than other sour service grades. The tensile strength is 270ksi minimum for slicklines and 300ksi for logging cable lines. Proof strength is in the range of 85% of the tensile strength. This means that Sandvik Sanicro 36Mo slicklines can resist high loads without a permanent set of the wire. It also means that in a diameter-to-diameter comparison, the new grade provides a wider window of operation, greater safety, less risk of overload if jarring occurs and enables greater loads to be lowered into a well. The increased breaking load advantage can also be used to reduce the wireline diameter required for a particular application, which means easier management in the well. However and as important, the enhanced properties of Sandvik Sanicro 36Mo slicklines enable operators to consider a "one-size fits all concept" and thereby reduce inventory. Typically today, 0.108" slicklines are used for day-to-day operations and 0.125" lines are kept in reserve for heavy jarring or fishing operations, either on the same winch or on a separate unit.
