Jeff Done, Frosty Gray and Jason Hanner, Norris
Darla Bugg, UPCO
Synthetic Polyphthalamide (PPA) has greater resistance than many plastics to a broad range of chemicals and is widely used in the manufacture of sucker-rod guides when operating at depths where temperatures can reach 300℉ (149℃). However, while rated to 400℉, field experience has shown that under certain conditions, the service life of sucker-rod guides constructed of this material can be adversely affected at depths with temperatures as low as 220℉ in continuous use. After extensive research, followed by nearly two years of field testing, the solution was found: a new type of molded-plastic sucker-rod guide, with a proprietary polyether ether ketone (PEEK) blend. The new PEEK-blend sucker-rod guide is an ideal replacement for synthetic polyamide models in shale wells because PEEK is a thermoplastic that retains its mechanical and chemical-resistance properties even at high temperatures.