Michael Gracey, Weatherford ALS & Harold H. Palmour, The Palmour Group
A leak in the high pressure packing of a artificial lift system hydraulic pump has the potential of causing environmental pollution, safety hazards, loss of energy and costly clean-up. The subject of this paper is a system that prevents the product being pumped from becoming exposed to the atmosphere and surround areas. The technology to be described transfers the pressure of the product being pumped to a sacrificial barrier fluid of known characteristics. When the seals wear sufficiently to leak, only the environmentally friendly fluid leaks to the atmosphere. The technology can be built into new equipment or be retro-fitted to pumps in service with the proper modifications and sealing assemblies. The paper includes photographs of the Hydro-Balanced Stuffing boxes for sucker rod pumps and a diagram of the artificial lift pump improvement. The presentation will include slides and graphics of the Hydro-Balanced Packing System.