Hydraulic Workover vs Snubbing

Hydraulic Workover vs Snubbing

Hydraulic Work-Over (HWO)

Hydraulic Work-Over is "the process of conveying tubulars (tubing, drill pipe, or casing) into or out of any well with well conditions and/or operations being classed as overbalanced.” The term more commonly used for work undertaken in “dead” (i.e., over-balanced) wells. The well control process and systems are similar to those utilized in conventional drilling and work over operations.

 

Under-Balanced HWO is sometimes termed as “Snubbing”

Snubbing

The act or process of injecting a string of tubulars (tubing, drill pipe or casing) into a “live” (i.e., under-balanced) well. The well control process and systems are more extensive, complex and requires coinciding with the operation of the jacking unit.