Buying Guide of Sucker Rod Pump
Table of Content
What is Sucker Rod Pump?
Components of Sucker Rod Pump
How Does Sucker Rod Pump Work?
What is Dual-Action Sucker Rod Pump?
Advantages of Sucker Rod Pump
What is Meant by API Sucker Rod Pump?
API Sucker Rod Assembly
API Sucker Rod Pump Functional Requirements
API Technical Requirements for Sucker Rod Pump
Sucker Rod Pump Quality Control
Sucker Rod Pump Efficiency
API-Compliant Sucker Rod Pump Manufacturer
What is Sucker Rod Pump?
Sucker rod pump is an artificial pumping system is designed to pump oil from the bottom of the oil well to the surface.
The pump maximizes the output of oil production as it ensures that all the oil in an oil well is recovered to the maximum required level. It is even used on oil wells that have very low well pressure.
The simple design of sucker rod pump makes it easy to use without having any specialized education or even skills.
Sucker rod pump is versatile oilfield equipment: It can be used on different types of oil wells including the multiple completions, slim holes, high viscous oils, and even high-temperature oil wells.
Are you planning to buy a sucker rod pump in China? Read on as we give you valuable insights concerning this special equipment that can boost your oil recovery process.
Components of Sucker Rod Pump
If you are planning to buy sucker rod pump for oil recovery, then you should know what a full system entails.
Know each component of the pump and the work that it does in pumping oil and gas to the surface.
How Does Sucker Rod Pump Work?
From the components that we have highlighted above, it is easy to come up with a visual understanding of the working principle of this artificial lift pump.
The operation of sucker rod pump starts from the beam pumping system. It engages other oilfield pieces of equipment that are below the ground which in turn increase the pressure which will be responsible for pushing oil above the surface.
On the surface of the oil well, the beam pump unit rocks back and forth continuously. The beam pump is connected to the sucker rods which go all the way down the wellbore.
Sucker rods are also connected to sucker rod pump which does the pumping job at the bottom of the wellbore.
As the beam pumping system continues to rock back and forth, all the other components (sucker rod, rod string, and sucker rod pump) get fully engaged in the pumping operation.
The system works as pistons inside a cylinder. This will force the sucker rod pump to push the oil from the underground oil reservoir up to the surface of the oil well.
The pumping in most sucker rod pumps is usually 20 times per minute. As we mentioned, the pumping unit which is also known as a prime mover is powered by either gas or electricity.
A speed reducer or simply gearing system is deployed to regulate the speed of the pump.
What is Dual-Action Sucker Rod Pump?
In recent years, there have been numerous developments that have taken place in the field of oil well recovery equipment. One of them is the invention of dual-action or double action sucker rod well pump.
This type of sucker rod pump comprises of a plunger that has a piston rod, a tubing system, a barrel that has a traveling valve, and an auxiliary valve.
The rod string of this pump is also hollow while the barrel has a passage.
There is a plunger cavity that is connected to the rod string and the flow of the oil is regulated by the traveling valve.
The upper section of the pump has an inner diameter which is smaller than that of the tubing string.
The discharge traveling valve is designed on the sucker rod and partakes in the longitudinal movement up and down depending on the movement of the pump.
Advantages of Sucker Rod Pump
Not sure whether sucker rod pump is the best solution for your oilfield? Here are some of the benefits of using this pump:
-Versatile as can be used on different oil wells
-Simple and easy to use
-Dual-action pump uses both upstroke and down stroke system for maximum output
-Available in different sizes
-Easy to minimize corrosion
-Can still perform well on viscous and high-temperature oil wells
-Easy to monitor the performance of the pump
What is Meant by API Sucker Rod Pump?
When looking for a wellbore sucker rod pump, you are likely to come across the term API.
API is an acronym that stands for the American Petroleum Institute. This means that API sucker rod pumps are the ones that conform to the API nomenclature.
You will also find the non-API sucker rod pumps and these ones don’t conform to the API standards.
It is always advisable to buy the API sucker rod pumps as it defines the quality standards that a typical sucker rod pump should meet.
On the other hand, the non-API sucker pumps are not required to conform to any specific standards. The manufacturers use their independent rules and standards.
While these sucker rod pumps may still end up performing, their designated roles, quality, and efficiency may be compromised.
This can end up affecting their overall performance when it comes to the oil recovery process.
API Sucker Rod Pump Assembly
The API defines all the components that make up sucker rod pump. Sucker rod pump manufacturers are expected to conform with the assembly nomenclature.
The pump assemblies should define components such as valves, seating assemblies, wall barrels, pump clearance.
The core aspect of sucker rod pump assemblies is pump designation. It covers elements such as nominal tubing size, barrel length, length of extensions, bore diameter, and the type of pump.
Still in the matter of assembly, the sucker rod pump components should conform to the required dimensions and material. The include the barrel material, valve material, plunger clearance, plunger material, fittings material, and plunger material.
API Sucker Rod Pump Functional Requirements
The functional requirements define how the sucker rod pump will be applicable in an oil well. They also specify the operational conditions of the pump in an oilfield.
Sucker rod pump manufacturers are required to perform functional testing on the pump to determine whether it will be suitable for the relevant application.
Functional requirements also define the overall performance of the pump when it is used in an oilfield.
Key issues that are defined by the API functional requirements include:
-The production rate of the sucker rod pump
-Material type that has been used
-The expected well depth, casing size, tubing size among other mechanical parameters
-Expected chemical treatments
-The chosen surface drive of the system
-Wellbore configurations which include parameters such as dog leg and deviation
-Wellbore production temperature and pressure.
API Technical Requirements for Sucker Rod Pump
The API specifies numerous technical requirements that manufacturers are supposed to meet when manufacturing sucker rod pumps for oil production.
Most technical requirements define the physical aspect of the pump and how it will fit into the wellbore.
Some of the key API technical requirements include:
-General requirements
This one highlights all the technical aspects of the sucker rod pump that a manufacturer should meet.
-Design requirements
The design requirements address issues relating to the physical outlook of the sucker rod pump. It can be the shape and dimension of the pump.
The sucker rod pump dimensions should match the specifications of a defined wellbore.
The design requirement is important as it determines whether the pump will be suitable for a particular oil well. It also determines the correlation of the sucker rod pump with other components of the oilfield equipment.
Sucker rod pump manufacturers are required to state all the processes that they follow when designing the pump. This includes the design changes, design reviews, and verification of the final design.
-Sucker rod pump materials
According to the API standards, the manufacturer is supposed to define the materials that they have used for making a sucker rod pump.
-Sucker rod pump barrels coating
The manufacturer should state clearly the type of coating that has been used on the sucker rod pump.
In addition to coating, the manufacturer should state the type of chemical or heat treatment that has been used for protecting the sucker rod pump.
Sucker Rod Pump Quality Control
Before a sucker rod pump is ready for use, it must be subjected through quality control, test, and assurance.
This step is necessary for the purpose of ensuring that the pump is accurate and its features match with the defined technical and functional requirements.
Technologies for conducting tests and quality measurements are defined by the API standards. Also, the manufacturers are free to use other techniques to ensure that thorough tests have been conducted.
One core aspect of the testing is the measurement of the equipment calibration. All the dimensions of the sucker rod pump components must be accurate according to the specifications
A reliable inspection and measuring equipment must be used and all the testing procedures be documented.
All the personnel that is tasked with testing and quality control procedures must have the necessary certifications and work experience.
Once the quality inspection and testing have been done, there should be defined acceptance criteria before the oil pump sucker rod is declared fit for use.
Sucker Rod Pump Efficiency
Another mandatory API requirement is for the manufacturer to state the efficiencies of their sucker rod pumps. In fact, this is among the basic figures that you must obtain from a sucker rod pump calculator.
As we have seen from the sucker rod pump working principle, the pump uses energy to pump oil to the surface. In this context, the input energy is used for calculating the efficiency of the pump.
Since there could be a possible energy loss from the pump, the calculation will compare the energy used vs the volume of oil that is pumped.
An efficient pump implies that there will be minimum energy consumed for running the pump.
Sucker rod pump energy efficiency will also help you to judge the economic viability of the pump.
Sucker Rod Pump Cost Analysis
When you decide to engage a sucker rod pump manufacturer, the issue of the price will always come up. You would like to know the price of the sucker rod.
Usually, the cost of the sucker rod pump will depend on its specifications. You are likely to pay a high cost for the premium sucker rod pumps.
Would you like some modifications to be done on the sucker rod pump so that it can perfectly fit into your wellbore? The cost of customized sucker rod pumps may be different from the regular sucker rod.
Where you buy sucker rod will also determine the price that you will pay for this oilfield equipment. Some manufacturers and suppliers are expensive/cheaper than others.
Take your time to check what each manufacturer is offering before you finally make the purchase.
To ensure that you get the best deal, simply contact sucker rod pump manufacturers in China and confirm their prices
API-Compliant Sucker Rod Pump Manufacturers
From the numerous issues that we have highlighted with regards to the API sucker rod pumps, you can tell the importance of choosing an API-compliant sucker rod pump manufacturer.
This is a manufacturer whose sucker rod conforms with all the required API regulations.
Some sucker rod pump manufacturers pay little or no attention to the API regulations and they still end up supplying their oilfield equipment to the market.
This is why it is critical that before you buy sucker rod pumps in China, take your time to verify whether they are API-certified.
This is the easiest way of verifying their quality in terms of the make and even performance.
From there, you can comfortably proceed to place your order.
References
https://patents.google.com/patent/US20130195702A1/en
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/rod-pump
http://ogbus.ru/files/ogbus/eng/authors/Takacs/Takacs_1.pdf
https://www.onepetro.org/journal-paper/SPE-284-G
