Sucker Rods

Reciprocating Rod
Lift Systems-Sucker Rods
Daniel Renteria
1
© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.
Sucker Rod String
• Energy from the pumping unit

is transmitted to bottomhole
pump through sucker rod
string Sucker Rod
Tubing Anchor/
Catcher
• Sucker rod strings operates

under cyclic load in erosive Sucker Rod
Pump
Assembly
and corrosive environments

2
Sucker Rod String
• A good sucker rod design is the

most critical part of a successful
sucker rod pumping system
• A poor design increases pulling Sucker Rod

Tubing Anchor/
cost, decreases production Catcher
Sucker Rod
Pump
Assembly

3
Conventional Sucker Rod
• Manufactured in different
metallurgies to meet different
application requirements
–API grades as C, D, and K
–Special service grades for high load

(torque) demands
• Ideal for vertical wells or applications

with minimum deviations

4
Conventional Sucker Rod
• The existence of couplings represents a

limitation for some applications:
– Flow area restriction when handle viscous
fluids or high rates
– High contact loads (concentrated loads) in

severe deviations
• Wearing of tubing/coupling is
accentuated
– If rod make-up is improper, it can lead to
parting or breaking of the string

5
Continuous Rod (CoRod®)
Advantages
• 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

6
Continuous Rod (CoRod®) 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

7
Conventional Sucker Rod (Hollow
Configuration) Disadvantages
• Cost is typically up to three times more

than conventional rods
• Minimum size available is 48 mm

(1.8988”)
• Special polished rod design is required
pictures were extracted from TENARIS PCPRod® Catalog

8
Fiberglass Sucker Rod
Advantages
• 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
FIBERROD®

9
Fiberglass Sucker Rod
Disadvantages
•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
•Extremely difficult to fish when parted
FIBERROD®

10
General Dimensions of Rods and
Couplings
• Sucker Rods
– 25 foot
• Pony Rods
– 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 foot

11
General Dimensions of Rods and
Couplings
Rods
– Threaded male connection on both
ends
– Sizes of rods
5/8”
¾”
7/8”
1”
1 1/8”
1 ¼”

12
Sucker Rods: Overall Features
• Threads formed through cold

rolling process
• Pins coated with lubricant
• Finished product liberally
coated with atmospheric
inhibitor

13
API Nomenclature for Sucker Rods
• API rod number is the number of 1/8 in. in
diameter of rod. Examples:
– 3/4-in. rod = 6/8 in. = rod number 6
1-in. rod = 8/8 in. = rod number 8
• API designates tapered string by largest and
smallest rod numbers in taper. Examples:
– 1-in., 7/8-in., 3/4-in. in taper designated as 86
(8/8, 7/8, 6/8)
– 7/8-in. and 3/4-in. in taper is designated as
76 (7/8, 6/8)

14
API of Sucker Rods
• Grade C
– AISI 1536 carbon-manganese alloy steel
– Light-to-Medium loads
– Minimum Tensile Strength of 90,000 psi
• Grade K
– AISI 4623 nickel-molybdenum alloy steel
– Light-to-Medium loads
• Grade D
– AISI 4142 chromium-molybdenum alloy steel
– Heavy loads
• Grade KD
– AISI 4720 nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy steel
– Heavy loads

15
Special Rods for Large Loads
• Grade S88
– AISI 3130M Nickel-Chrome
alloy
• Grade XD
– AISI special chromium-
molybdenum alloy
• Grade EL
– AISI special chromium-
molybdenum alloy

16
High-strength Sucker Rods
• Extra-heavy loads
• Extra-deep wells
• Mild to medium corrosive fluids,

which are effectively inhibited
• Opportunity to use smaller,

lighter rods
• Maximum stress allowable
SA  T / 2.8  0.375 * SMIN * SF

17
EL Sucker Rod Applications
• Super-high load capacity

• Corrosive environments, provided
satisfactory corrosion inhibiting
practices are followed
• Avoid well conditions that combine
low pH with an H2S environment
• Opportunity to use smaller, lighter

rods
• Maximum stress allowable
SA  55,000 PSI  0.2143 * SMIN * SF

18
Sucker Rod Couplings
• API 11B Specifications

• Tensile = 100,000 psi
• Hardness = 56-62 HRC
• Outside diameter
– Full size
– Slim hole

19
Couplings
• API “T”
– 8630 Base material
– Excellent resistance to hydrogen embrittlement
• Spray Metal
– 8630 Base material
– Excellent resistance to hydrogen embrittlement
– Spray metal coating
• Abrasion resistance
• Improved corrosion resistance
– Coating thickness = .010 to .020”
– Coating hardness = 595 HV200 (min)

20
Couplings
• Full Size vs. Slim Hole strengths?

• High Strength Couplings?

21
Clearance Between Rod Couplings and Tubing*
1-5/8" O.D
2" TBG
2.0" O.D 1.995" I.D.
¾” CPLG
2-½” TBG
2.441" I.D
1" CPLG
2-3/8” TBG
2-3/8" OD 1-1/8" CPLING
2-7/8 TBG
3-1/2 TBG
© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved. *Sucker Rod Handbook- Bethlehem Steel
22
Changeover & Polish Rod Couplings
• T or Spray Metal
• For use on pony rods and
sucker rods
• Also used on polished rods

23
Molded On Rod Guides
Advantages
• Excellent wear protection***

• Securely attached to rod
• Multiple material choices
• Multiple design choice
• If worn down, rod can still be used
• Can be applied to used rods
*R&M Energy
24
Molded On Rod Guides
Disadvantages
• Must be installed off site

• May not be economical for all
applications
*R&M Energy
25
Field Applied Rod Guides
Advantages
• Less cost than molded on
• Installed in the field
• Wear protection
– once guide is removed
*R&M Energy
26
Field Applied Rod Guides
Disadvantages
• Installed in the field
• Guides will move on the rod
• If worn down, rod can still be used –
once guide is removed
• If guides come off, where do the pieces
go?
*R&M Energy
27
Molded On Rod Guides – Paraffin
Advantages
• Able to withstand high

temperatures
• Wipes paraffin from
tubing ID
• Provides wear protection
• Eliminates need to hot
oil production string
(Photo by R&M Energy)

28
Molded On Rod Guides – Paraffin
Disadvantages
• Design is well specific or

rods can become stuck
• Must be installed offsite
(Photo by R&M Energy)

29
Wheeled Rod Guides
• Replace couplings in rod string

• Different materials for different
applications
• Manufactured by Oilfield
Improvements - Oklahoma

30
Sinker Bar Advantages
• Helps keep rods in tension on

downstroke
• Assist the rod pump and sucker rod
string fall
• Help to balance the Surface Unit
• Reduce rod and tubing wear

31
Sinker Bar Disadvantages
• Cost can become a factor

• If sinker bar selected with elevator neck, the
neck becomes weakest link of the bar
• Bad design selection of sinker bars can
cause more harm than good by overloading
system
• Extremely difficult to fish when parted

32
Calculating sinker bar length
• L=Z x SG x .433 x D
W (1 – 0.128 x SG)
L= Total length of sinker bars

Z= Sinker bar factor from Table 1-2
SG= Specific gravity of well fluid
D = Pump Depth
W= Weight of sinker bars in air (Table 1-1)

33
Sinker bar table 1-1
Tubing Size (in) Recommended API Pin Size Sinker Bar Weight in
Sinker Bar Diameter Air (lbs per ft.)
(in)
2 1-1/4 5/8 4.0
2-3/8 1-3/8 3/4 5.0
2-3/8 1-1/2 3/4 6.0
2-7/8 1-5/8 7/8 7.0
2-7/8 1-3/4 7/8 8.2
3-1/2 2 1 10.7

34
Sinker Bar Factor Table 1-2
Plunger Diameter (in) Sinker Bar Factor (sq. in)
1.25 0.30
1.5 0.40
1.75 0.45
2.0 0.50
2.25 0.55
2.5 0.60
2.75 0.70

35
Polished Rod Specifications
General Terminology for Spray Metal

Piston Steel Chrome Molly Stainless Steel N50
Polished Rod Coating
Nickel Base
Raw Material C1045 Carbon A4140 431 N50
Alloy
Chemical Analysis
Carbon C 0.41 - 0.49 0.38 - 0.43 0.20 max 0.06 max 0.50 - 1.00
Manganese Mn 0.60 - 0.87 0.75 - 1.00 1.00 max 4.00 - 6.00
Phosphorus P 0.04 max 0.035 max 0.04 max 0.00 - 0.02
Sulfur S 0.05 max 0.04 max 0.03 max 0.00 - 0.02
Chromium Cr 0.80 - 1.10 15.00 - 17.00 20.50 - 23.50 12.00 - 18.00
Silicon Si 0.15 - 0.35 1.00 max 1.00 max 3.50 - 5.50
Iron Fe Balance Balance 3.00 - 5.50
Boron B 2.50 - 4.50
Cobalt Co 0.00 - 0.10
Nickel Ni 1.25 - 2.50 11.5 - 13.50 66.00 - 79.00
Copper Cu
Nitrogen N 0.20 - 0.40
Molybdenum Mo 0.15 - 0.25 1.50 - 3.00
Properties
Tensile 90K - 120K 120K - 150K 120K min 135K min N/A
Yield 85K - 110K 90K - 120K 100K min 105K min N/A
Elongation 9% - 12% 10% - 20% 20% 20% N/A
Hardness Rc 19 - 28 Rc 25 - 33 Rc 24 - 55 Rc 35 max Rc 55 - 62

36
Polish Rods
• Piston Steel
• Spray Metal
• Super High Strength

37
Polish Rod Materials
• Piston Steel
– Moderate to heavy loads
– No corrosion
– Can have a liner fitted around OD of polish rod
• Liner can be replaced if damaged
• Requires larger stuffing box

38
• Spray Metal
– Moderate to heavy loads
– Good for abrasive conditions
– Good for corrosive conditions
– Spray Metal Location
• Center spray
– 1-3’ of each ends is not sprayed
• One end spray

– 3-6’ of one end is not sprayed

39
• High Strength N50 PR

– Tensile strengths of 135,000 psi
– Good corrosion resistance
– Good abrasion resistance
– Usually a last resort to polish rod failures

40
Polish Rod Failures
• Body break at clamp

– Bending of polish rod during pumping cycle
• Pumping unit out of alignment
• Carrier bar not level or worn
– Leveling plate will correct by up to 2°
• Clamp not level
– Clamp placed on spray metal section
• Pin break
– Polish rod coupling not used

41
Polish Rod Handling
• When not in a well bore

– Support polish rods evenly
– Use boards to keep rods off of ground
– Never put a chain on polish rods
– Avoid all metal contact
• Protect threads at all times
• Clean threads before installing coupling
• Tail polish rods into derrick to avoid excessive
bending forces
• Never place clamp on spray metal section

42
Rod Rotators
• Rotates rod string on each stroke of pumping unit

– 25 to 150 strokes per revolution
• Increases life of rod guides by 300%*
– Should increase life of rod shoulders and
rod couplings by 300% also
• Effective in paraffin removal when combined with
rod guides
• Tubing rotators are also available to evenly
distribute wear

43
Care and Handling of Sucker Rods
44
Storage of Sucker Rods
• Store by size
• Store by grade
• Store by condition
• Store off of ground
• Supports at 6’ intervals
• Loose rods must be layered
– Dividers between rows
– Threads protected

45
Stored by Grade and Size

46
Sorted by Grade?

47
Properly Supported?

48
Yes they are black and made of steel, but…
• Never stand on sucker rods

• Never drive on sucker rods
• Never use sucker rods as a work bench
• Never set any equipment on sucker rods
• Never drag sucker rods on ground
– Never hit them with a hammer
– Never put a wrench on them
– Try not to step on them

49
Loading, Transporting and Unloading
•Never
PUT A CHAIN ON A SUCKER ROD!
EVER!
Does everyone understand that?

50
Transportation
• Rods must be supported under boards

• Pins must not touch trailer
• Straps must be secure across boards – not on rods
• Never strap other equipment down on top of rods
• Never stack rods on other rods unless supported by
boards

51
Straps over Boards

52
Straps over Boards?

53
NEVER!!!!!!!
• Allow metal objects to strike a sucker rod!
– Stress raiser
• Run a bent sucker rod into a well
– You will pull it out in two pieces one day
• Force a coupling onto a sucker rod
• Use a pony rod from the work over rig to space out the
well

54
Care of Sucker Rod Couplings
• Never take out of box until ready to run in well

• Never pour lubricant into couplings
• Clean foreign material from threads before make up

55
Installation of Sucker Rod Couplings
• Install on rod hand tight

– No wrenches
• Back off three turns
• Apply rod tongs
• Squeeze trigger until unit stalls
• Do not tap trigger again
• Check circumferential displacement

56
Damaged Threads

57
Running Sucker Rods
• Rods must be tailed into derrick

– Never drag through dirt
– Never allow to bounce off of rig floor
• Elevators must be opened and rod lifted into elevator
throat

58
Transportation or Future Rig Job?

59
Rods Laid Down on Location

60
Good Job or Bad Job?

61

Sucker Rods

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Reciprocating Rod

Lift Systems-Sucker Rods

• Energy from the pumping unit

• Sucker rod strings operates

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• A good sucker rod design is the

• A poor design increases pulling Sucker Rod

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

–Special service grades for high load

• Ideal for vertical wells or applications

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• The existence of couplings represents a

– High contact loads (concentrated loads) in

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• Minimal pin and coupling failures

– By eliminating the connections, failures are also

• Minimal Torque and Power Requirement

– Lighter than conventional string

• Enhanced Pump Efficiency

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• Cost could be up to five times higher

• Service rig and welding unit must be

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• Cost is typically up to three times more

• Minimum size available is 48 mm

• Special polished rod design is required

pictures were extracted from TENARIS PCPRod® Catalog

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• Due to their elasticity characteristic, well designed rod strings

• Suitable for corrosive environments

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

•Cost is higher then conventional sucker rods

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• Threads formed through cold

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• Mild to medium corrosive fluids,

• Opportunity to use smaller,

• Maximum stress allowable

SA  T / 2.8  0.375 * SMIN * SF

• Super-high load capacity

• Opportunity to use smaller, lighter

SA  55,000 PSI  0.2143 * SMIN * SF

• API 11B Specifications

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• Full Size vs. Slim Hole strengths?

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• Excellent wear protection***

• Must be installed off site

• Able to withstand high

(Photo by R&M Energy)

• Design is well specific or

(Photo by R&M Energy)

• Replace couplings in rod string

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.

• Helps keep rods in tension on

© 2006 Weatherford. All rights reserved.