Paper: ACCURATE AND RELIABLE ROD CONNECTIONS

A fully automated rod tong has been developed and deployed, which significantly improves well profitability by increasing mean time between failures of sucker rod connections. There is no other system available in the industry today that can automatically make sucker rod connections up to the manufactures" specifications. The rod connection service provides reliable, long term connection performance by controlling the CD to within manufacturers" specifications for every rod connection. The system also reports the true torque [ft-lb] in each connection, ensuring that proper lubrication and tightness have been achieved. The paper will show that controlling both CD and torque on makeup connections is the best way to ensure that proper preload of the pin is being achieved. This fully automated system eliminates the rod carding and tong calibration required by API 11BR recommended practice and the variations which can occur in the field due to uneven implementation of those methods.