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GC Style Stripper Head Redress Kit | Wireline Pressure Control

In the critical phase of wireline completions, the reliability of your Pressure Setting Assembly (WPSA) is the only thing standing between a successful plug-and-perf operation and a costly misrun. At Royal Way, we understand that a single O-ring failure can halt an entire frac fleet. That is why we engineer our Redress Kits not just to “fit,” but to outperform.

Technical Specifications

  • Standard Service (NBR): For routine operations up to 250°F.
  • High-Temp Service (FKM/Viton®): For deep, hot wells up to 400°F.
  • Extreme Service (Aflas®/HNBR): For Sour Gas (H2S) and chemically aggressive environments.

Sizes

  • Available for #10, #20, and Compact Setting Tools etc.

Product: GC Style Stripper Head Redress Kit | Wireline Pressure Control

1. Executive Summary: The First Line of Defense

In wireline operations, the Stripper Head (Pack-Off) performs the toughest job on the rig floor: sealing around a moving cable while containing wellbore pressure. A failure here doesn’t just mean a leak; it means an environmental spill and a potential safety shutdown.

Our GC Style Stripper Head Redress Kits are engineered to restore the hydraulic integrity of your Gulf Coast / Guiberson Style pressure control heads. Containing premium O-rings, Polypaks, and backup rings, these kits ensure that your hydraulic piston actuates smoothly and holds consistent pressure against the packing element, providing a leak-free seal around the wireline even as line tension and well pressure fluctuate.

2. Compatibility & Identification

The “GC Style” is a widely used design in the industry, characterized by a hydraulically actuated piston that compresses a rubber packing element.

  • Equipment Style: GC (Gulf Coast) / Guiberson / Gearhart Style Hydraulic Stripper Head.

  • Application: Slickline and Braided Line (E-Line) pressure control.

  • Function: Restores the seals for the Hydraulic Piston and Body Assembly (Note: Stripper Rubbers and Brass Bushings are sold separately).

  • Pressure Rating: Suitable for 3,000 to 10,000 PSI working pressure heads (check specific head rating).

3. Material Options: Standard vs. Sour Service

Option A: Standard Service (NBR)

  • Material: Nitrile (Buna-N).

  • Rating: -20°F to +250°F.

  • Application: Standard oil, water, and mild hydraulic fluid service. Ideal for routine maintenance on land rigs.

Option B: Sour Gas / High-Temp (Viton®)

  • Material: Viton® (FKM).

  • Rating: -15°F to +400°F.

  • Application: H2S environments or when using aggressive hydraulic fluids/inhibitors. Viton ensures the internal piston seals do not swell or degrade, preventing hydraulic lock-up.

4. Kit Contents: Anatomy of a Hydraulic Pack-Off

This kit redresses the mechanism that squeezes the rubber. It includes:

  1. Hydraulic Piston Seals:

    • Polypak / U-Cup Seals: High-performance loaded lip seals that maintain hydraulic pressure to the piston.

    • Why it matters: If these fail, you lose the ability to “squeeze” the packing element, losing well control.

  2. Body Connection O-Rings:

    • Large diameter seals for the Cap-to-Body and Base-to-Body connections.

  3. Bushing Seals:

    • O-rings to seal the upper and lower brass bushings (cable guides).

  4. Backup Rings:

    • PTFE Backups included for high-pressure static seal locations to prevent extrusion.

5. Technical Focus: Hydraulic Response

The GC Stripper Head relies on hydraulic pressure (from the grease pump or hand pump) to compress the rubber packing element.

  • The Issue: Worn piston seals cause “leak-down.” The operator sets the pressure to 500 PSI, but it bleeds off to 200 PSI, loosening the seal around the wire and causing a leak.

  • The Solution: Our kits utilize High-Modulus Polypaks that maintain holding pressure indefinitely, reducing the need for constant pumping and adjustment by the operator.

6. Operational Best Practices

  • Inspect the Bore: Before installing new seals, inspect the chrome surface of the hydraulic piston and the inner bore of the housing. Scratches here will tear new seals immediately.

  • Don’t Over-Squeeze: Only apply enough hydraulic pressure to stop the leak. Over-pressuring burns out the stripping rubber and overheats the wire.

  • Lubrication: Use ample O-ring lube during assembly to ensure the piston slides freely without rolling the seals.

7. Ordering Information

Part Number Description Material
RK-GC-STR-NBR Redress Kit, GC Style Stripper Head NBR
RK-GC-STR-FKM Redress Kit, GC Style Stripper Head Viton®

(Disclaimer: Guiberson® and Gearhart® are registered trademarks. Royal Way is an independent manufacturer of compatible aftermarket parts.)