106.11 - Sucker Rods

J F Lea PLTech LLC 1
API Specification 11B

Specification for Sucker Rods
• Couplings and Subcouplings
• FRP (Fiberglass) Sucker Rods
• Steel Sucker Rods
– Grade C
– Grade K
– Grade D Carbon, Grade D Alloy and Grade D
Special Alloy (KD)
• Polished Rods
• Polished Rod Clamps
• Sinker Bars
• Stuffing Boxes and Pumping Tees
1
API Recommended Practice 11BR
Recommended Practice for Care & Handling of Sucker Rods
•Selection Of API Steel Sucker Rods

•Transportation, Storage and Handling
•Corrosion Control By Chemical Treatment
•Allowable Sucker Rod Stress Determination
Utilizing Range Of Stress
•Sucker Rod Joint Makeup Utilizing Circumferential
Displacement
•Methods Of Inspection and Required Equipment
•Installation Of Polished Rod Clamp On Polished
Rod
API ROD SIZES

Sucker rods nominally consist of 25 foot joints (30 ft in
California) with a threaded pin (male) connection on both ends.
Manufacturers furnish a threaded coupling (female on one end
of each rod.The sizes increase in 1/8 inch increments.
API Rod Rod Size Metal Area Rod Weight

No. Sq. in. In air, lb/ft., Wr
4* ½ 0.196 0.72
5 5/8 0.307 1.13
6 ¾ 0.442 1.63
7 7/8 0.601 2.22
8 1 0.785 2.90
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J F Lea PLTech LLC
1 1/8 .994 3.67 4
10 1¼ 1.227 4.53
2
Couplings
Couplings & Pony Rods
Sucker Rod Connection
Coupling
Wrench Flats
Sucker Rod
Body
3
Material Properties: A general knowledge of sucker rod
material properties before discussing types and selection
of rods:
A: Chemical Properties:
Iron: The basic component of steel sucker rods is iron.
Most steels are 98% iron. Because pure iron is
weak and soft, various alloys must be added to
enhance mechanical properties such as strength.
Carbon:Carbon added to iron results in steel. Increases in
carbon content result in higher hardness and
increased tensile strength. However, increases in
carbon also result in decreases in ductility and
impact resistance. The negative affects of
increased carbon content may be controlled by
heat treatment. Carbon concentrations in sucker
rod steels range from 0-1.1 %.
Manganese: Manganese is added to steel to reduce the

effects of sulfur. It also increases strength
and responsiveness to heat treatment and
cold working, but manganese is not as
effective as carbon for increasing strength.
Phosphorous: Phosphorous is an undesirable component
in sucker rod steel The quantity of
phosphorous should be low as possible.
Sulfur: Sulfur is an undesirable component in
sucker rod steels. The quantity of sulfur
should be kept as low as possible.
Silicon: Silicon acts as a deoxidizer. Quantities
range from 0.15 to 0.35% in sucker rods.
4
Nickel: Nickel is an important alloying element which
increases strength, ductility, and toughness.
Nickel also improves corrosion resistance in
quantities of several percent
Chromium: Chromium increases the responsiveness of

steel to heat treatment. In quantities greater
than 12%, chromium produces stainless steels
with substantial improvement.
MANUFACTURING
PROCESS
Note: No cutting is
used but instead
they are forged
and threads are
rolled to reduce
stress
concentrations and
5
EXAMINE SUCKER RODS FOR STAMPED INFORMATION
INFORMATION
THAT MAY BE
FOUND ON
THE SUCKER
RODS
SLIM
FULL
API Rod String

API 86 Rod String
8/8
1.5” Pump - 26.8%, 27%, 46.2%
API Grade Rods

Equal Stress
7/8 C - 90,000 psi min. tensile
K - 90,000 psi min. tensile
D - 115,000 psi min. tensile
6/8
High strength rods - 140,000 psi
J F Lea PLTech LLC min. tensile 12
6
Common Rod Grades:
Grade C rods are designed for light to medium loads (less
than 25,000 psi fully loaded) in shallow to medium depth wells
and non-corrosive or effectively inhibited well fluids.
Grade K rods are designed to work under the same loading
conditions as C rods where corrosion is a problem and must
be effectively inhibited.
Grade D rods are designed for medium to heavy loads (up to
30,000 psi) or deep wells with non-corrosive or effectively
inhibited well fluids.
KD rods are designed to be used where D rods are needed to
handle the loads but a higher level of corrosion resistance is
required.
High strength rods are not covered by API grades but were
designed to handle extremely heavy loads (up to a maximum
of 50,000 psi without a safety factor) at any operating depth
where corrosive fluids can be effectively inhibited.
corrosion.
Sucker Rods should operate in

the linear portion of the stress vs.
stain curve and never receive
permanent deformation:
However fatigue will be shown to
be the design consideration for
continuous operation.
7
Construction of Modified Goodman

Diagram
T
Sa = (T/4+ .5625(Smin))(SF)
∆Sa= Sa – Smin Sy
Sa= max allowable ss
stress, psi S tre
T/2 le T/1.75
w ab
∆Sa = allowable range of llo
stress =A
Sa Sa
ss
.5625 = slope of Sa curve

re
T/4
St
SF = Service Factor
.
in
M
T = Minimum tensile Sm
=
Sm
strength, psi
T
8
Dynamometer Card
20000
Pk Load = 17900 lbs. Rod Diameter is .875
Stress = 29768 psi
18000
16000
14000
12000
Load, lb.
10000
8000
6000
4000
Min Load = 9100 lbs.
2000 Stress = 15141 psi
0
0.000 0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 0.600 0.700 0.800 0.900 1.000
Polished Rod Position
Modified Goodman Diagram for Grade “D”

Rods, T = 115,000 psi
70000
Rod Loading = 60000

29768 - 15141
37267-15141
50000
= 66%
40000
Sa =(T/4+.5625(Smin))(SF)
= 37267 psi
30000
20000
Smin = 15141 psi
10000
Pk Stress = 29768 psi
0
9
Modified Goodman Diagram for Grade “D” Rods,
T = 115,000 psi & SF = .8
70000
Rod Loading = 60000

29768 - 15141
= 1.0
29814 -15141 SF
,
50000 ss
stre
= 99.7% le .8
w ab S F=
o ,
40000 All ss
l e stre
ab
30000 A llow
Sa =(T/4+.5625(Smin))(.8)
= 29814 psi
20000
Smin = 15141 psi
10000
Pk Stress = 29768 psi
0
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000
10
STRESS RANGE LOADING
Modified Goodman
0.7 3-way taper, each taper loaded to 90%
0.6
Maximum Stress, 10000 psi
SF = 0.9
0.5
0.4
0.3
Top Taper
0.2
Middle Taper
0.1 Bottom Taper
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7
Minimum Stress, 10000 psi
Modified Goodman Diagram for Grade “D”

Rods, T = 115,000 psi
70000
T/1.75 = 65714
60000
50000
40000
30000
T/4 = 28750
20000
10000

0
0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 60000 70000
11
12
Rod Testing
Service Factors (SF)

API Recommended Practice 11BR (RP 11BR) states
that:
“Since all well fluids are corrosive to some degree, if not
inhibited 100%, and since the corrosivity of well fluids
varies greatly, it is of extreme importance that the the
stress values determined in predictive programs be
adjusted by an appropriate service factor, based on the
severity of corrosion and rod type. This factor should be
selected by each user as his/her experience indicates. It
could be greater than one, although normally it will be
less than one, varying inversely with severity of
corrosion.”
13
Service Factors
SERVICE API-C (default) API-D (default)

NON-CORROSIVE 1.00 1.00
SALT WATER .65 .9
HYDROGEN
H2S SULPHIDE .50 .70
Permian*:
Using C grade rods to SF of 1.35 before using D rods
Using D rods to SF of 1.35 before going to high strength rods
Inhibit
Do not use case hardened rods
*from failure control in rod pump wells, SWPSC
Recommendations for a Sour, Corrosive

Environment (Jim Curfew & John Patterson)
z Use C grade rods up to a service factor of 1.35 before going to

“KD” (alloy “D”)rods
z Use “KD” rods up to a service factor of 1.35 before considering
High Strength rods. Do you really want HS rods in a sour,
corrosive environment?
z Have an effective corrosion inhibition program to reduce pitting,
especially with HS rods.
z Do not use case hardened rods.
z Inspected rods are acceptable since most failures originate from
corrosion pits and the inspection process is very good at
identifying pits.
14
Rods are tapered so
that the % loading of
Modified Goodman
diagram is equal at
top of each taper
under dynamic
conditions:
( S max ,actual − S min )

% Loading =
( S max ,allowable − S min )
where : S = stress, psi
S max ,actual found from Goodman
PR
Glass
Couplings
Rods
Regular
Rods
Pump
Full JSize
F Lea PLTech LLC Tapered Rods Fiberglass 30
15
API has tapers already completed and tabulated– But
dynamic predictive computer programs or Neely’s
modification to API is more accurate
USE SINKER BARS

OVER PUMP?
Sinker bars sized:
1. by experience,
2. use vendor formulas,
3. using the “Z” factor or some fraction of
bars found from this formula, (see
Norris rod handout)
4. or using the “neutral buoyancy”
concept.
Example: 1.5" diameter sinker bar lengths
are 250-300 feet, 2.875 tubing 1.5-2.25”
plungers and 5000 feet deep.
16
Weatherford example products:
Rods are NOT made up with

Torque
See API RP 11 BR for Details
Scribed Measured
Vertical Circumferential
Line Displacement
Hand Tight Joint Made-up Joint
17
Some various
manufacturer’s
circumferential
rod make-up
gages.
18
Rod/Pump SPACING
Wells are 8000-9000 feet deep typically with very low fluid levels.
1. Run pump in hole until tag seating nipple.
Space out polish rod/pony rods
3. Load tubing w/ fluid.
4. Stroke pump x check for action. Put gauge in pumping tee and
stroke w/ rig.
5. Tag plunger on barrel x PU about 18 inches.
6. PU horsehead x hang off rods.
7. Put well pumping x let pump fluid level down.
8. Check for bumping and respace pump as necessary. Check pump spacing with
dyno to make certain pump is not bumping also.
18 inch spacing has been working pretty good for Hackberry. This spacing is for steel
rods only w/ no fiberglass. Fiberglass spacing will be different.
Note: With gas problems PU will be much less… only inch or two and then recheck if
J F Lea PLTech
bumping and LLC
respace.. 38
19
1.9 OD 1.61 ID
20
Couplings
• Full Size vs. Slim Hole strengths?
• Coupling De-rating
• Slim Hole Couplings Full Size
• Rod Size K C D HS HS
• 3/4 “ * * .85 .71 .94
• 7/8” .93 .88 .69 .57 .85
• 1” * * .89 .74 *
Clearance Between Rod

Couplings and Tubing*
NG
2.
99
LI
"
CP
ID
2-3/8” TBG
1"
3"
OD
TU
B
2-7/8 TBG
"
16
3/
2-
3-1/2 TBG
*Sucker Rod Handbook- Bethlehem Steel
21
Rod in Tubing Limitations
2 3/8’s tubing
1 inch fiberglass OK ( has 7/8’s coupling)
(All fiberglass rods have pins 1 size less)
7/8’s steel OK but can’t run overshot for fishing
7/8’s slim hole couplings can be run with steel
coupled rods
Don’t run ½ inch in 2 3/8’s.. (1/2 now
discontinued)
Don’t run 1 ½ wt bars in 2 3/8’s with less than 22
API
Rod in Tubing Limitations
2 7/8’s tubing:
Can run 1 “ w. slim hole couplings.. Can fish

Can’t run regular 1 1/8’s couplings
Never run smaller than ¾” rods in 2 7/8’s
22
USE GUIDES AT
WEAR
LOCATIONS
AT DOG-LEG
LOCATIONS
AND/OR AT
ABOVE PUMP TO
REDUCE WEAR
DUE TO FLUID
POUND
MOLDED GUIDES
TEND TO SLIP
LESS THAN
HAND
INSTALLED
THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS EQUIVALENT ROD

GRADES BETWEEN MANUFACTURERS
(Now Weatherford)
(Now Weatherford)
(Now Weatherford)
23
Some Special High
Strength Rods
24
Norris HS rod-
strength from heat
treatment, alloys
Fiberglass Sucker Rod

Positive Features
• Rods are light weight, therefore reduce load on surface equipment.
• Due to their elasticity characteristic, well designed rod strings can have
longer stroke down-hole than surface stroke, over travel equal to increased
production
• Suitable for corrosive environments
Negative Features
• Cost is higher then conventional sucker rods
• Due to excessive stretch characteristic, when fluid load
increases, down-hole pump stroke smaller than surface
• Surface of rod damages quicker compared to steel rods
• Due to fiber composite, they cannot support compressive
loads. Rods must always be in tension. Design is critical and
pump-off controllers are highly recommended to eliminate any
compression due to un-forseen problem downhole
FIBERROD®
• Extremely difficult to fish when part
25
SIMILAR TO
STEEL
RODS,
FIBERGLASS
RODS HAVE
THEIR OWN
FATIGUE
DIAGRAM
FOR DESIGN
PURPOSES
SUPPLIED
BY VENDORS
Rod Rotators
• Rod rotators are also used in conjunction with
rod guides to remove paraffin deposition inside
the tubing.
• A rod rotator should not be used when rods can’t
rotate freely. If the rods torque up, backlash
could cause the rods to unscrew.
• If a rod rotator is used, a leveling plate should be
installed on the carrier bar to prevent
misalignment that could cause side loads that
could result in a polish rod failure.
• A rotating tubing hanger and anchor system is
available that can be installed on wells that have
severe wear problems due to deviation or
buckling that can’t be solved by other methods.
26
Rod Rotators
With this equipment installed, the entire tubing
string can be slowly rotated to distribute wear
from rod contact, even if sides loads keep the rod
string in contact with one side of the well. It is
relatively expensive but it can be justified if it
eliminates one tubing failure in a well.
ROD
ROD ROTATOR
ROTATOR WILL ALLOW
RODS TO
WEAR
EVENLY ALL
AROUND
TUBING STILL
WEARS IN
ONE
LOCATION
27
ROD WEAR USING A
ROD ROTATOR
TUBING
ROTATOR
PREVENTS
TUBING WEAR
28
ON-OFF TOOL
CO-ROD SYSTEM
CO-ROD WELDED SPLICE

BEFORE IT IS GROUND
SMOOTH
29
Continuous Sucker Rod
Advantages Courtesy: Weatherford
• Minimal Pin and Coupling Failures
– By eliminating the connections, failures are also
discarded
• Minimal rod and tubing Wear
– Extends tubing life in deviated wells
• Minimal torque and power requirement
– Lighter than conventional string
• Enhanced pump efficiency
• Simple, quick installation and field service
Disadvantages
• Cost could be up to five times higher than
comparable conventional rod
• Service rig and welding unit must be
available in the area for servicing
ROUND AND OVAL CO-ROD’S

OF VARIOUS DIAMETERS
30
Some Rod Failures
“ Proper make-up and

handling can cut rod failures in
½”
Corrosion - Fatigue -
Very Small Pit in Wear Tract
Mostly see (99%) corrosion-fatigue failures and not

“classic” metal fatigue.
Focus on pitting via improved chemical inhibition
program & use rods with better fatigue properties in
sour/corrosive
J F Lea PLTech LLC
environment 62
31
Corrosion In Turbulent Area - Rod Guide
SPM x SL (inches) < 1500

Fluid velocity between coupling OD (d) and tubing ID ( D)
is: Velocity, ft/sec = 0 02384 BPD/(D-d) < 4 fps
Newer guides more streamlined. Guides must be
removed in inspection process to look for underlying
corrosion!!
Double Lip Failure - Flexing
Compression: Double lipped failure:

Focus on eliminating fluid pound, pump slower, increase pump
clearance, use sinker bars or guide program above pump.
32
Loss of circumferential displacement (Norris):
Focus on proper installation and make-up procedures,
including cleaning threads, calibration of tongs, use of
proper lubricants, inspection techniques, etc.
Wear(Norris): Focus on rod guides, as many as 4/rod,

rotator, coated couplings, coupling metallurgy. Locate
guides in areas of high side loading using analysis of
tubing/rod side loading with deviation survey input to
program analysis.
33
Rod Pin Corrosion Inside Coupling
Corrosion inside joint possibly due to poor make-up: Use

proper make up procedures, thread cleaning, corrosion
inhibition, avoid damage to rod shoulder and coupling
sealing surfaces, consider grease like thread lubricant
with
J F inhibitors.
Lea PLTech LLC 67
AREAS WHERE
ROD
INSPECTION IS
PERFORMED
THERE ARE
SEVERAL ROD
INSPECTION
COMPANIES
RECOMMEND TO
INSPECT NEW
AND USED RODS
34
Rod Best Practices: After M Brock, BP
• When running rods, remove one rod and replace
with 13' of rod subs above pump and 12' of rod
subs at the top of the well to move the wear
pattern. On subsequent pulls reverse procedure.
(Assuming the pump length remains the same).
• All rod strings should be carded when run in the

hole. Should card every taper and/or 10 - 12
triples
• Replace rod taper section following the second

failure in 12 months in that taper.
• Replace entire rod string on second failure in 12
months if failures occurred in two different tapers.
(another operator 4th in 24 months)
Rod Best Practices: After M Brock, BP

• Replace entire steel rod string after an estimated
20,000,000 cycles. If used inspected rods are
utilized, 15,000,000 cycles since last inspected
would still be a good rule of thumb to use.
• When looking at replacing fiberglass rods, you
need to consider the loading the rods have been
under. Loading on fiberglass rods is inversely
proportional to cycle life. In other words, the
higher the percent rod loading, the shorter the rod
life. Published data for fiberglass rods indicates
the Number of Cycles to First Failure to be 30
Million cycles at 80% rod loading, 15 Million
cycles at 85% rod loading, 10 Million cycles at
92% rod loading and 7 Million at 100% loading.
35

106.11 - Sucker Rods

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106.11 - Sucker Rods

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J F Lea PLTech LLC 1

API Specification 11B

•Selection Of API Steel Sucker Rods

API ROD SIZES

API Rod Rod Size Metal Area Rod Weight

Couplings & Pony Rods

J F Lea PLTech LLC 5

Sucker Rod Connection

J F Lea PLTech LLC 6

Manganese: Manganese is added to steel to reduce the

J F Lea PLTech LLC 8

Chromium: Chromium increases the responsiveness of

J F Lea PLTech LLC 9

J F Lea PLTech LLC 10

J F Lea PLTech LLC 11

API Rod String

API Grade Rods

Sucker Rods should operate in

J F Lea PLTech LLC 14

Construction of Modified Goodman

.5625 = slope of Sa curve

Modified Goodman Diagram for Grade “D”

Rod Loading = 60000

Rod Loading = 60000

J F Lea PLTech LLC 20

0.7 3-way taper, each taper loaded to 90%

Modified Goodman Diagram for Grade “D”

J F Lea PLTech LLC 22

J F Lea PLTech LLC 24

J F Lea PLTech LLC 25

Service Factors (SF)

J F Lea PLTech LLC 26

SERVICE API-C (default) API-D (default)

Recommendations for a Sour, Corrosive

z Use C grade rods up to a service factor of 1.35 before going to

J F Lea PLTech LLC 28

( S max ,actual − S min )

J F Lea PLTech LLC 29

J F Lea PLTech LLC 31

USE SINKER BARS

Rods are NOT made up with

Hand Tight Joint Made-up Joint

J F Lea PLTech LLC 34

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J F Lea PLTech LLC 41

Clearance Between Rod

Rod in Tubing Limitations

Can run 1 “ w. slim hole couplings.. Can fish

J F Lea PLTech LLC 44

THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS EQUIVALENT ROD

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Fiberglass Sucker Rod

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CO-ROD WELDED SPLICE

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