Robert F. Joy, Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Continually rising costs for producing petroleum make it mandatory for the oil industry to search for more efficient, improved materials and simplified, longer-life equipment. "Flexirod", the newly marketed flexible pumping stand, possesses characteristics that drastically reduce corrosion fatigue and thereby frequency of well pulling, lower horsepower requirements, make handling easier and faster and create the potential for new concepts in pumping equipment. This paper describes in detail the construction and operation of a nylon-covered multi-wire strand that functions as a continuous sucker rod. It is sufficiently flexible and light in weight to be placed on a reel for easy, rapid, economical handling. Development has been underway for over six years and numerous lengths are in actual operation in wells varying from 1500 ft to 5000 ft in depth.