Sucker rod pumping applications are the oldest and most widely used means of artificial lift for oil wells. The pumping performance and the longevity of the pumping systems with their corresponding pump parts have improved significantly throughout the years, but the failures remain inevitable. These failures are costly and time consuming for operators, but analyzing those enables us to improve the part design and the decision process of part selection for certain well conditions, and minimize future failures.
This paper focuses on pump barrel selection and operation with regards to base metallurgies coupled with various plating processes. It aims to inform the reader of common pump barrel failures and their causes, along with educating operators about available barrel types and their optimum operating environments.