(27) Optimum Shot Peen Process On The Sucker Rod Fatigue Life

In the reciprocating rod lift system, the sucker rods are subjected to cyclic stresses during service which accumulate leading to fatigue failures. It is well known that the shot peen process increases the fatigue life on metal parts; with respect to sucker rods several manufacturers claim to have implemented shot peening in their manufacturing process for years. To achieve optimal parameters which yield a dramatic increase in fatigue life requires extensive studies on both input parameters and comparative fatigue testing. This paper will discuss the steps and challenges involved in achieving the optimized shot peen process and benefits on the sucker rod fatigue life. Process inputs such as shot size, shot metallurgy, shot velocity, the volume of shot and peening time was studied and evaluated by an axial fatigue test which replicated downhole loading condition. The laboratory test results were also validated with field data to show increased runtime on sucker rods. The laboratory axial fatigue test showed that the optimized shot peen process increased the fatigue life of the sucker rod approximately 37 times as compared to non-shot peened rod. Sucker rod failures relating to fatigue were tracked after the implementation of optimum shot peen parameters into the manufacturing process and the field data showed a decreasing trend in sucker rod failure rates which supports the laboratory results. This paper presents an insight into how an optimized shot peen process can help to improve the sucker rod quality from a fatigue perspective.