SPE 37502

Measured Rodstring/Tubing Wear and Associated Side Loading
Scott W. Long, P.E., SPE and Donald W. Bennett, SPE, Flexbar, Inc.

Copyright 1996, Society of Petroleum Engineers.

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1997 SPE Production Operations Symposium, held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 9-11 March 1997.

Abstract
Ever since the first installation of steel sucker rods in production tubing, the Petroleum Industry has been aware of rod sting and tubing wear. The associated rod string and tubing wear with this artificial lift system continues to have an impact on the ability to economically produce oil and gas.

The downstroke phenomenon of sucker rod string compression, buckling, sucker rod/tubing contact and associated sucker rod/tubing wear is becoming more clearly defined (see References 1, 2, and 3) throughout the petroleum industry.

This paper will provide the Petroleum Industry with a more accurate understanding of sucker rod and tubing wear resulting from sucker rod side loading initiated by downstroke sucker rod buckling. This paper will present a description of test equipment and test parameters resulting in the following:

1. Calculated cycles to 100% tubing wall loss vs. side loading.
2. Calculated cycles to 100% sucker rod diameter loss vs. side loading.
3. Calculated cycles to 100% sinkerbar diameter loss vs. side loading.
   

A better understanding of sucker rod and tubing wear will provide the Industry with better sucker rod string design guidelines. Use of these guidelines can reduce costly sucker rod and tubing wear and failures that impact the ability of the Petroleum Industry to economically produce oil and gas.

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