Some Factors Affecting Maximum Allowable Loadings on Sucker Rods

Any man responsible for oil production should obtain maximum amount of oil with a minimum amount of expensive down time. In pumping wells, the fact that maximum allowable loading of sucker rods is intimately connected with this responsibility makes it a subject of importance to us all. This paper will not attempt to outline any specific method of arriving at a set maximum allowable loadings for various grades of rods under various pumping conditions, rather it will discuss a few of the many factors which have an influence on maximum loadings. Because of these factors, the subject is a complex and sometimes controversial one.