Sucker Rod String Design

2/18/2008 1
 Sucker Rod String Design
API RP11L
Modified Goodman Diagram (MGD)
API MGD
RP11L Design Programs
Basic RP11L Design Programs
Modified RP11L Design Programs
Stress Wave Equation Design Programs
Design Variables
 API RP11L
The original analog work was done in the
late 1950s by the Midwest Research
Institute for an oil consortium group and
given to the American Petroleum Institute
(API) in the early 1960s. No additional
research has been done since.
Modified Goodman Diagram

1) Sa = ((T 4) + (M x Smin)) x SF
Or Sa = ((T x 0.25) + (0.5625 x Smin)) x SF
2) Sa = Sa Smin
Where:
Sa = Maximum Allowable Stress, PSI
Sa = Maximum Allowable Range Of Stress, PSI
M = Slope of Sa Curve (0.5625)
Smin = Minimum Stress, PSI (Calculated or Measured)
SF = Service Factor
T = Minimum Ultimate Tensile Strength, PSI
Basic RP11L Design Programs
Assumes vertical well bore.
Assumes tubing is either unanchored or
anchored at the seating nipple.
Not accurate in wells under 2,000 feet.
Only good with high slip electric motors.
 Basic RP11L Design Programs
continued.
Only good with conventional geometry pumping
units.
Pumping unit is assumed to have zero structural
unbalance.
Only good for API tapered rod strings.
Only good for steel API class sucker rods.
Only gives rod load for the top sucker rod in the
rod string.
Only good for complete pump fillage.
 Modified RP11L Design
Programs
Allowed the use of Advanced Geometry
Pumping Units.
Allowed the use of modified API tapers
(weight bars) but still gives rod load for
the top rod, only!
Allowed the use of high strength steel
sucker rods.
 Stress Wave Equation Design
Programs
Stress wave equation programs solved the
same fundamental wave equation, as
done by Midwest Research, but with a
digital computer. They offer much more
flexibility in modeling well conditions and
have been continuously improved for 35+
years.
 Stress Wave Equation Design
Programs continued.
Models rod loading in both vertical and deviated
wells.
Predicts side loads for rod guide applications.
Models tubing movement relative to the tubing
anchor depth and the pump seating nipple
depth.
Accurate for both shallow and deep wells.
Allows the use of all types of prime movers.
 Stress Wave Equation Design
Programs continued.
Allows the use of advanced geometry pumping
units.
Allows the use of modified tapered rod strings
with both fiberglass and high strength steel
sucker rods.
Gives the rod load at any point in the rod string.
Predicts the neutral point in the rod string.
Predicts rod buckling tendencies.
 Stress Wave Equation Design
Programs continued.
Models incomplete pump fillage.
Fluid pound.
Gas interference.
Pump leakage.
Models system inefficiencies.
Prime mover.
Pumping unit.
Rod string.
 Design Variables
The output of the predictive design program is only
as good as its input. Unknown, or inaccurate,
design data will result inaccurate program
design output.

The About Syndrome:

This well makes about 200 or 300 BPD.
This well is pumping at about 8 to 10 SPM.
 Design Parameters
Prime Mover
Pumping Unit
Completion Type
Production Casing / Liner
Production Tubing
Production Requirements
Fluid Properties
 Prime Mover
1. Type
1. Electric
1. High Slip
2. Ultra High Slip
2. Gas
1. Large flywheel, single cylinder motor.
2. Small flywheel, multi-cylinder motor.
2. Size
 Pumping Unit
1. Type
1. Advanced Geometry
2. Air Balance
3. Conventional Geometry
4. Other
1. Hydraulic (DynaPump)
2. Nitrogen Over Hydraulic (Tieben)
3. Rotoflex
2. Size
1. Nomenclature
2. Standard API Reducer, Structure & Stroke Length
Sizes
3. Rotation (wellhead to the right)
 Pumping Unit Size
1. Gear Box (Reducer)
2. Structure
3. Maximum Surface Stroke Length
 Pumping Unit Rotation
Pumping unit rotation with the wellhead to
the right.
1. Clockwise (CW)
2. Counter Clockwise (CCW)
 Completion
1. Deviated
1. Directional Drilling Survey
2. Cased
1. Perforations
2. Plug Back Total Depth (PBTD)
3. Depth Of Fill Tag
3. Open Hole
1. Starting Depth Of Open Hole
 Production Casing / Liner
1. Grade
2. Size
3. Weight
Downhole Production
Equipment
The size of the
production casing /
liner determines the
maximum size of the
production tubing
The production tubing
determines the
maximum size of the
sucker rods.
 Production Tubing
1. Grade
2. Size
3. Weight
4. Pump Seating Nipple Depth (PSND)
5. Tubing Anchor
1. Setting Depth
2. Setting Tension
 Production Requirements
1. Barrels Of Fluid Per Day (BFPD)
2. Barrels Of Oil Per Day (BOPD)
3. Barrels Of Water Per Day (BWPD)
4. Gas (mcf/d)
1. Gas Oil Ratio (GOR)
2. Gas Liquid Ratio (GLR)
 Fluid Properties
1. Fluid Level From Surface (FLFS)
1. Operating
2. Static
2. Fluid Specific Gravity
1. Oil, API
2. Water Specific Gravity
3. Gas Specific Gravity
 Fluid Properties continued.
Corrosion:
Chlorides
CO2
H2 S
Fluid pH
 Fluid Properties continued.
Solids:
Paraffin
Sand
Scale
Other?
 Design Philosophy
API Tapers
Top Minimum Stress (Smin)
Bottom Minimum Stress (Smin)
Modified API Tapers
Polished Rod Velocity (PRV)
Service Factors (SF)
 API Tapers
Tapers refer to the diameter of the largest
and smallest sucker rod (top to bottom) in
the rod string (in eights / in.). All tapers
should be balanced within 5%.
77 Taper 7/8 Sucker Rods.
76 Taper 7/8 & 3/4 Sucker Rods.
86 Taper 1, 7/8 & 3/4 Sucker Rods.
 Modified API Tapers
Modified API Tapers refer to the addition of larger
diameter sucker rods and/or sinker bar sections
to the bottommost API Taper.
A good general rule of thumb modified API
tapers is to add 100 of the largest size sucker
rod per 1000 of well depth to the bottom of the
last taper above the pump. (For sinker bars
convert the weight required for sucker rods
divided by the sinker bar weight to get the
required sinker bar footage.)
Neutral Point Of The Rod String
The neutral point of the
rod string should be
limited to the lower
1/3 of the bottommost
API taper.
Top Minimum Stress (Smin)

In designing the rod string, a minimum load of

2,000 pounds should be kept at the top of
each taper. Since most stress wave equation
programs give this load in psi (stress), the
minimum stress at the top of each taper
should be at least:
1 1/8 2,016 psi.
1 2,548 psi.
7/8 3,328 psi.
3/4 4,525 psi.
5/8 6,515 psi.
 Bottom Minimum Stress (Smin)
For API class sucker rods, the value at the
bottom of the bottom-most API taper should not
exceed a minimum stress of more than 2,000
psi for multiple tapered rod strings or 4,000 psi
for single tapered rod strings.
For high tensile strength N&T sucker rods, the
value at the bottom of the bottom-most API taper
should not exceed a minimum stress of more
than 2,000 psi for multiple or single tapered rod
strings.
 Polished Rod Velocity (PRV)
A good rule-of-thumb for the maximum
allowable pumping unit speed is to keep
the strokes per minute below a maximum
PRV of 240 ft/min for a SL > 99 or below
a maximum PRV of 220 ft/min for a SL <
100.

PRV = (SPM x SL x 2) 12.

 Service Factors (SF)
API Recommended Practice 11BR (RP 11BR) states that:
Since all well fluids are corrosive to some degree, if not
inhibited 100%, and since the corrosivity of well fluids
varies greatly, it is of extreme importance that the the
stress values determined in predictive programs be
adjusted by an appropriate service factor, based on the
severity of corrosion and rod type. This factor should be
selected by each user as his/her experience indicates. It
could be greater than one, although normally it will be
less than one, varying inversely with severity of
corrosion.
 Service Factors (SF)
continued.
The SROD Program Version 6.2 help menu states that:
The service factor (SF) relates to the environment in which the rods
will be required to operate. A SF of 1.0 denotes ideal pumping
conditions. A lower SF would need to be applied if adverse
conditions such as corrosion will be present. A SF of .9 would
normally be used for mild corrosive environments such as sweet
wells that are producing a significant amount of water. A SF of .8
would normally be used for a moderate corrosive environment, such
as slight sour (traces of H2S and/or CO2) wells with high water cuts.
A SF of .7 would normally be used for a severe corrosive
environment, such as high concentrations of H2S and/or CO2, O2 in
the water and high water cuts. SF less than .7 are typically not
applicable. It may sometimes be economically feasible to use SF
greater than one in prolific high oil cut wells that are non-corrosive.
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