Cost-Effective Methods for Designing and Operating Fiberglass Sucker Rod Strings

This paper describes procedures used by Amoco Production Company in a West Texas district to maximize the life of more than 200 fiberglass rod strings in service at depths between 5000 and 8000 ft. The paper describes rod string design methods, operating practices, and failure analyses for two major manufacturers' rods. Emphasis has been placed on showing procedures used in designing fiberglass rod strings for cost effective installation and for operating so as to minimize the number of rod string failures and, consequently, rod string operating costs. Actual case histories are used to illustrate the reduction in failure frequency which results from proper rod string design, operating practices, and failure analysis.