1. n. [Drilling]

A method for recovering wireline stuck in a wellbore. In cut-and-thread operations, the wireline is gripped securely with a special tool and cut at the surface. The cut end is threaded through a stand of drillpipe. While the pipe hangs in the wellbore, the wireline is threaded through another stand of drillpipe, which is screwed onto the stand in the wellbore. The process is repeated until the stuck wireline is recovered. This technique, while dangerous and time-consuming, is known to improve greatly the chances of full recovery of the wireline and the tool at its end in the shortest overall time compared with trying to grab the wireline in the openhole with fishing tools.

See related terms: drillpipe,  fishing tool,  stand