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903 Well Site Completion and Servicing Safety
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Swabbing Operations

Potential Hazards

  • loss of well control
  • fire, explosive, or respiratory hazard from leakage or venting of oil or gas from tanks, lines or lubricator
  • being struck by a pressurized line
  • being exposed to a high-pressure connection failure caused by mismatched or excessively worn hammer unions
  • being struck by pressurized fluids or the lubricator when removing the lubricator from the well
  • getting strains and sprains from handling the lubricator
  • pinching fingers between swab assembly and lubricator when changing swab cups or mandrels

We will take a closer look at the possible solutions involving hazards in swabbing operations in the next section.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

6-6. While swabbing, what is the hazard from mismatched or excessively worn hammer unions?