What is Well servicing in oil & gas? – 7 key facts to know

In the oil & gas industry, drilling a well is only the beginning. Once the well is producing hydrocarbons, it requires constant care & maintenance to ensure safe and efficient output. That’s where well servicing comes in.

Whether you're an industry newcomer, an aspiring technician, understanding well servicing is crucial.

In this blog, we’ll break down what well servicing really means, explore the types, tools, and critical facts that every oilfield technician & experienced hands should know.

1) . What is Well Servicing?

Well servicing refers to any maintenance, repair, or intervention work done on an oil or gas well after it has been drilled and completed, while it's still in production.

The goals are

• Keep hydrocarbons flowing efficiently

• Fix mechanical issues (like stuck valves or corroded tubing)

• Perform safety operations (like pressure testing or snubbing)

• Extend well life

It’s basically “well health care.”

2) Why is Well Servicing important?

Even the best-completed well will degrade over time. Pressure drops, equipment wears out, and formations shift. Without regular servicing:

• Production drops off

• Equipment failures increase

• Safety risks go up

• Wells can become permanently shut-in

👉 60% of mature wells need intervention every 1–2 years.

(Source: SPE Well Integrity Report, 2020)

3) Types of Well Servicing Here’s a breakdown of common types of well servicing operations:

Type	What It Involves
Routine Maintenance	Checking tubing pressure, replacing valves, flushing systems
Wireline Operations	Running tools to retrieve or set devices, record logs
Snubbing	Running pipe into a live well under pressure
Coiled Tubing	Pumping fluids or cleaning out the well using a continuous reel of tubing
Fishing	Retrieving broken or lost equipment from the wellbore
Workover	Major servicing that may require pulling tubing, replacing pumps, etc.
Well Killing	Pumping heavy fluids to temporarily stop well flow

4) Equipment involved:

Well servicing crews rely on a wide array of specialized gear. Here are a few essentials:

• Workover Rigs: Smaller than drilling rigs, they’re designed for pulling and replacing tubing or rods.

• Wireline Units: Portable trucks that handle mechanical and electrical interventions.

• Snubbing Units: Allow operations under pressure without killing the well — ideal for high-pressure zones.

• Blowout Preventers (BOPs): Critical safety devices to control unexpected flow or kicks.

• Lubricators and Grease Injectors: Allow safe tool insertion in live wells, especially during slickline or snubbing work. Technicians must inspect and maintain these regularly. A failed BOP or misaligned injector can spell disaster especially in high H₂S environment

5) Common challenges in Well Servicing

No two wells behave the same, but some issues come up time and again:

• Scale and wax buildup reducing flow

• Gas lock in pumping systems

• Broken rods or parted tubing

• Sand production eroding downhole components

• Corrosion of casings or tubing due to sour gas

• Loss of reservoir pressure
  

In high-sand fields, ESP (electric submersible pump) failures can occur in less than 6 months without proper sand control. That’s a costly cycle no operator wants to repeat.

6) Safety first:

Experienced techs know that well servicing isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s also about not creating new ones. The key safety risks include:

• High-pressure exposure during snubbing or live well work

• H₂S zones (especially in regions like the Permian or Middle East)

• Heavy equipment handling and lifting injuries

• Blowout risks if BOPs or wellhead seals fail

Did you know? Most injuries in well servicing don’t occur during intervention they occur during rig-up and rig-down operations, according to IADC safety data.

Always treat every job as high-risk until proven otherwise. 7) Servicing vs. Workover: Though often used interchangeably, there is a difference:

• Servicing refers to light, short-term operations (like checking pressures, wireline jobs, or setting plugs).

• Workovers are more invasive, involving pulling tubing, pump replacements, or sidetracking.

Workovers often require a rig, while servicing might be done with a mobile unit. Knowing the difference helps in planning resources, permits, and safety steps. Ready to get certified ?? >> Join thousands of professionals who’ve advanced their skills with the IADC Intro to Well Servicing certification. Start now