Cecil Hunt, Lufkin Industries Inc.
The common beam and sucker rod pumping unit is old technology yet it continues to be part ofthe most popular artificial lift system in use today for several good reasons. A few of the more important are: It is a simple mechanical mechanism that is easily understood and therefore easy to keep in good repair. It is a highly efficient part of the beam and sucker rod artificial lift system. It can be very ruggedly built resulting in a long useful life. Because the surface unit has a history of being relatively trouble free, there is generally little attention given to providing really good preventive maintenance to this equipment. Rather the attention is given to some other part of the system that requires more frequent repair. As a result, when a failure occurs in the pumping unit, it is often a surprise and expensive. Exceptional maintenance can add years to the life of the machinery and reduce operating cost. This paper is intended to supplement your existing preventive maintenance program by developing a good understanding of the really important maintenance requirements for a beam pumping unit.