Sucker rod pump

There are seven major components for downhole rod pumps: standing and traveling valves, plunger, barrel, seating assembly, pull tube or valve rod (for insert pump), and the fittings that hold the assembled pump together.

API recognizes two main types of pumps: rod and tubing. Rod pumps also are called insert pumps because they are run (inserted) in the production tubing. Tubing pumps are so named because the working barrel of this pump is coupled with the production-tubing string.

Pumps for sucker-rod lifted wells should be selected on the basis of numerous variables that are provided by the well, the operating conditions, and the life of the pump. The main variables to consider are as follows:

• Well depth
• Bottomhole temperature
• Fluid viscosity
• Amount and size of particulates in the produced fluids
• Produced-fluids corrosivity
• Required production rate vs. pump capacity
• Fluid-specific gravity
• Casing/tubing size
• Well-completion type
• Gas/liquid ratio (GLR)
• Pump-intake pressure vs. fluid bubblepoint
• Spare/surplus pumps and components