Investigation of the impact of corrosion and cyclic loads on rod pumps: Equipment reliability and environmental safety

Sucker rod pumping units (SRPs) are widely employed to ensure stable oil production, particularly during the late stages of extraction. However, during operation, personnel encounter significant challenges such as rod breaks and unscrewing, as well as pump valve malfunctions. This paper proposes a multifactorial analysis methodology to assess the impact of SRP operating regimes on well repairs. This methodology facilitates the identification of SRP failure causes and provides recommendations for their prevention. Furthermore, the implementation of modern technologies and equipment protection systems is suggested, including combined (anti-corrosion and anti-friction) coatings, such as MOLYKOTE, which significantly enhance pump performance characteristics. Various calculation methods for the most significant parameters influencing sucker rod string breaks are examined. It was determined that, for wells with complicated operating conditions, stroke length has the most significant impact on sucker rod string failures.