U.S. patent application number 10/210221 was filed with the patent office on 2004-02-05 for high torque rotatable progressive cavity drive rods and connectors.
Invention is credited to Vogt, Gregory A., White, Jack D..
Application Number | 20040022657 10/210221 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31187250 |
Filed Date | 2004-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040022657 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vogt, Gregory A. ; et
al. |
February 5, 2004 |
High torque rotatable progressive cavity drive rods and
connectors
Abstract
A drive rod has pins on each end of its body. Each pin has
tapered threading and little or no undercut thereby enhancing its
ability to transfer rotational motion through the drive rod string
by increasing the surface area through which torque is transferred.
The tapering of the threading on the pins allows for connectors
having thicker walls. This means the connectors can withstand
higher rotational stress. The drive rods and connectors are
especially well suited for use with progressive pumps.
Inventors: |
Vogt, Gregory A.; (Broken
Arrow, OK) ; White, Jack D.; (Bakersfield,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HEAD, JOHNSON & KACHIGIAN
228 W 17TH PLACE
TULSA
OK
74119
US
|
Family ID: |
31187250 |
Appl. No.: |
10/210221 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
418/48 ; 418/1;
418/182 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04C 13/008 20130101;
F04C 15/0061 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
418/48 ; 418/182;
418/1 |
International
Class: |
F01C 001/00; F04C
002/00 |
Claims
1. A drive rod comprising an elongated body having a pin on each
end of said body wherein each said pin has tapered threading.
2. A drive rod as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pin is
frustoconical.
3. A drive rod of claim 1 wherein said pins have substantially no
undercut.
4. A drive rod string comprising: a plurality of drive rods
connected by a plurality of connectors wherein said connectors
attach to the ends of said drive rods by pins having tapered
threading.
5. A drive rod string of claim 3 wherein said pins have
substantially no undercut.
6. A method of operating a progressive cavity pump comprising:
positioning a progressive cavity pump at the bottom of a well;
attaching a drive rod string having drive rods with tapered
threading to said pump; and rotating said drive rod string thereby
rotating said pump.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein said rotating of said sucker rod
string comprises placing between 1,200 and 1,500 foot pounds of
torque to said sucker rod string.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to rotatable rods and
connectors used with progressive cavity pumps for pumping oil or
other fluids out of wells. More specifically, the present invention
relates to drive rods having novel pins and connectors specially
and uniquely designed for high torque rotation and suited for use
with progressive cavity pumps.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] For over 100 years, sucker rods have been utilized to pump
crude oil and other liquids out of wells. Sucker rods typically
have threaded pins on each end that are screwed into connectors.
Connectors attach to a sucker rod on either end. Sucker rods vary
in length but typically have standard, common gauged threaded pins
manufactured to API Standard II B specifications.
[0005] A string of sucker rods may extend several thousand feet
into a well. They must, therefore be very strong. Because of this,
they are typically made of metal. In addition, lighter sucker rods
are typically included at the bottom of the string while the sucker
rods at the top of the string are often heavier and stronger in
order to support the string. The top of the sucker rod string is
attached to a pump jack. The bottom of the string is attached to a
pump. Pump jacks reciprocate the sucker rod string in an upward and
downward motion and subjects the string to compression and tension
forces. This reciprocating motion operates the pump located at the
bottom of the well.
[0006] It is highly desirable that sucker rods do not become
unscrewed and detach from the connectors between them. If this
occurs, the pumping action halts. It is also difficult and labor
intensive to stop the pump jack and retrieve the portion of the
sucker rod string in the bottom of the well. In order to prevent
this, sucker rod pins and connectors have been designed so as not
to come unscrewed when a reciprocating motion is applied. In order
to minimize the risk of detachment, sucker rod pins have evolved
into a three part structure. First, at the end of the pin is
straight threading. This provides for maximum friction on the
flanks of the threading. Just below the threading is an undercut,
or stress relief. Finally, both the connectors and the sucker rods
have shoulders designed to engage one another. The presence of the
stress relief allows for greater friction between the engaged
shoulders. The friction between the shoulders prevents the sucker
rods and connectors from disengaging. The straight threading
increases the ability of the sucker rod string to withstand the
stress of the reciprocating motion.
[0007] Recent advances in pump technology have made it desirable to
utilize progressive cavity (PC) pumps in oil and water wells. PC
pumps are well suited for very viscous liquids, such as crude oil
and for liquids having solids, such as sand, therein They are also
capable of operating under very high pressure. Examples of these
pumps maybe found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,892,217; 2,085,115 and
2,483,370 issued to Moineau. These PC pumps have fewer moving parts
than other pumps typically used in wells. They are both sturdier
and less likely to malfunction. Existing sucker rods are well
suiting to withstand the stress of reciprocating tension and
compression motion. However, standard sucker rods are not ideal for
use with PC pumps. PC pumps require a rotational motion instead of
a reciprocating motion. However, they are not ideally suited to
withstand high torque rotation.
[0008] It is therefore desirable to provide a drive rod and
connector for progressive cavity pumps capable of withstanding high
torque rotation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The rods and connectors of the present invention have
tapered, rather than straight, threading. In the existing art of
sucker rods, tapered threading has generally been discouraged. When
reciprocating motion is applied, it is typically easier to jar
loose sucker rods having tapered threading. However, because the
purpose of these sucker rods is to provide a superior rod string
for use in high torque, rotational motion, tapered threading is
actually preferred. The constant, high speed rotation ensures that
the sucker rods and their connectors remain screwed together
tightly.
[0010] Another reason current sucker rods strings are not suitable
for use with PC pumps that require rotation is that the connectors
are not well designed for this type of stress. Though well designed
to tolerate the stresses of reciprocating motion, the walls of a
connector are generally too thin to withstand high torque. When
exposed to high rotational pressure, these connectors will break in
half. Because the present invention provides for tapered threading
on the pins of the sucker rods, the walls of the connectors are
thicker. Connectors having thicker walls are capable of
withstanding greater torsional stress.
[0011] To further facilitate transfer of the rotational motion
between sucker rods and connectors, the undercut found on sucker
rod pins is eliminated in the present invention. The rotational
motion of the string constantly tightens the pin within the
connector, thereby reducing sucker rod's danger of disengagement.
The need for the increased friction on the shoulders provided by an
undercut is therefore eliminated. Furthermore, this additional
threading provides for a greater surface area over which the
rotational motion is transferred. This further enhances the sucker
rod string's ability to withstand high torsional stress. The
synergistic effect of tapered threading, thicker connector rods and
elimination of the undercut provides for rods and connectors having
superior tolerance to rotational stress.
[0012] In the present invention, the pins of sucker rods are
modified so that they may better withstand the stress of high
torque in excess of 1,200 foot pounds.
[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide sucker rod strings capable of withstanding the stress of
high torque rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a drive rod
string and connector being utilized to drive a progressive cavity
pump at the bottom of a well.
[0015] FIG. 1A shows an enlarged portion of the drive rod string of
FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows a side plan view of one end of a typical sucker
rod currently in use.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the drive rod of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a drive rod connector of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The present invention is an improved drive rod and connector
capable of high torque rotation. Three of the key features of the
present invention work together synergistically to improve the
amount of rotational stress that a drive rod can withstand. These
improvements consist of drive rod pins having tapered threading and
little or no undercut. This also results in strengthened connectors
having thicker sidewalls. The lack of undercut increases the
surface area by which rotational motion may be transferred from a
drive rod to a connector to a subsequent drive rod. The present
invention is especially useful for driving a progressive cavity
pump.
[0020] Drive rods are comprised of approximately three components:
The first, the body, is a long, usually metal, shaft typically
about 40 feet in length. The other two components are the pins
located at each end of the shaft. The pins are threaded so that
they may be screwed into connectors. One rod is screwed into the
bottom of a connector while another is screwed into the top. This
is repeated until the rod string is of the desired length. This can
sometimes be several thousand feet and require numerous rods.
[0021] Recently, pumps known as progressive cavity pumps have been
developed for use in pumping oil and other fluids out of wells.
These pumps are especially suited for pumping thick viscous liquids
such as crude oil. A relatively simple design makes them both
sturdy and reliable. This has resulted in a need for a sucker rods
better suited for rotational rather than reciprocating tension and
compression motion.
[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a typical well having a progressive
cavity pump wherein the present invention is employed. Oil well 10
has a PC pump located at the bottom of it. At the top of the well
is a powered drive head 12. Drive head 12 is rotated by a motor.
This results in rotation of the polished rod 14 which projects
downward through stuffing box 16. Stuffing box 16 creates a water
proof seal such that pumped fluids will not exit through the top of
stuffing box 16. Directly below the stuffing box is a flowline 18.
Pumped oil or other fluid exits the well through this flowline.
Below this is a tubing head 19 located directly above casing head
20. Those skilled in the art of well drilling will be familiar with
tubing head 19 and casing head 20 as well as the casing itself 26.
The polished rod 14 is connected to the top end of drive rod string
22. Drive rods in the string are held together by connectors 24 as
will be described.
[0023] FIG. 1A shows an enlarged view of sucker rod string 22 and a
connector 24 holding 2 rods 30 and 32 together. For simplicity,
this diagram shows use of only 2 sucker rods. Those skilled in the
art will appreciate that in practically all wells, the rod string
is comprised of several rods and connectors. The pins of drive rods
30 and 32 are not seen in FIG. 1 or FIG. 1A. This is because the
pins themselves have been screwed into the connector and are not
visible.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a pin of a typical rod common in the art prior
to introduction of the present invention. Sucker rod pin 36 is
comprised of a cylindrical threaded portion 38 and an undercut
portion 40. Cylindrical threaded portion 38 has a constant diameter
and is known in the art as straight threading. Undercut 40 has a
diameter slightly less than that of threaded portion 38 and extends
to shoulder 42. Shoulder 42 has a greater diameter than the other
portions of the shaft. It has an engaging portion 44 that comes in
firm contact with a complimentary shoulder on the connector. The
friction created by the contact between engaging portion 44 or
shoulder 42 and the shoulder of a connector discourages the
unscrewing of a sucker rod from a connector. The presence of an
undercut 40 allows threaded portion 38 to be screwed into a
connector more tightly, thus increasing the static friction created
by the shoulders. Without undercut 40, the connector and sucker rod
are connected more loosely and are more likely to unscrew.
Therefore, the present art teaches away from eliminating undercut
40. Underneath shoulder 42 is a square bolt portion of 46. This is
the portion of the shaft that is engaged by tools that tighten the
sucker rods' connections to the connectors. Main body 48 of the
sucker rod is substantially cylindrical and extends the length of
the sucker rod. An identical pin, not shown, is located on the
other end of the sucker rod main shaft 48.
[0025] Connectors 24 are essentially elongated bolts having a bore
and an interior threading complimentary to threaded portions 38.
The bore has a length that is at least slightly greater than the
length of two pins 36. This prevents pins 36 from contacting each
other and allows the rods to be screwed into the connectors more
tightly.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows the drive rod of the present invention from a
similar angle as the prior art in FIG. 2. It shows modified pin 60
having a threaded portion 62. As shown in FIG. 3, threaded portion
62 is slightly tapered and frustoconical. In a preferred
embodiment, the threaded portion tapers slightly inward at about
3.5.degree.. In this particular embodiment, there is a very narrow
undercut 64. This particular embodiment shows slight undercut 64 in
order to illustrate that it is possible in the present invention to
utilize an undercut. It is desirable to have undercut 64 as small
as possible. It is however substantially easier to machine a pin
having a slight undercut than machining a pin having no undercut at
all. Tapered threading offers a variety of advantages. Threaded
tapering offers better balance of strength from the connection,
easier stabbing during make-up, quicker release on break-out and
greater ease of re-working.
[0027] In the past, the art has taught away from such tapering
because they are easier to pull apart and become disconnected.
However, when the sucker rods are rotated, the tapered threading
and the pin tightens its engagement to the connector resulting in a
very strong connection. Furthermore, tapering causes the pin to be
placed in radial and circumferential compression and the socket to
be placed in radial compression and circumferential tension. This
radial tension allows rotational movement to be transferred from a
rod to a connector to a subsequent rod in a smoother fashion. This
increases the amount of torque and rotational stress that the
sucker rod string may be subjected to without failure.
[0028] In the present invention, rotational motion may be
transferred not only by the shoulder, as in traditional sucker
rods, but also by the entire pin itself. This increase in surface
area over which torque is transferred reduces overall stress on the
pin and drive rod as a whole. Those skilled in the art will
appreciate that by utilizing the entire pin as well as the shoulder
to transfer rotational movement, overall strain on the drive rod is
reduced. Typical one inch rods cannot withstand more than 1,200
foot pounds of torque. One inch drive rods according to the present
invention, however, may withstand up to 1,500 foot pounds of
torque. This provides sturdier, more reliable and faster withdrawal
of oil or other fluids from a well.
[0029] FIG. 4 shows a connector of the present invention suitable
for use with a drive rod disclosed in FIG. 3. Connector 70 is
essentially an elongated bolt having a cylindrical outside wall 72
penetrated by bore 80. Bore 80 has tapered threading complimentary
to pin 60 in FIG. 3. In this particular embodiment, a slight
undercut 76 is included in bore 80 in order to accommodate the
slight undercut 64 on pin 60 shown in FIG. 3. As stated above, this
undercut is unnecessary but the invention may be easier to machine
in this fashion. In this particular embodiment, connector 70 is
approximately 4 inches long. This is more than long enough to
adequately accommodate two pins 60 which are each approximately
1.75 inches long. This allows the threading inside the connector 70
to tighten upon rotation of the sucker rods string. One of the
advantages of the design of the present invention is that connector
wall 72 is thicker than those of more traditional connectors
without increase of the outside diameter. This allows connector 70
to withstand more torsional stress than a standard connector. The
added thickness of wall 72 adds strength to the connector. In
addition, the tapered threading allows the connector to transfer a
rotational motion through both shoulder 82 and bore 80. As
explained above, spreading the transfer of rotational force over a
larger surface area allows the connector, like the pin, to
withstand more force.
[0030] Although these modifications may not appear significant,
those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention
has unique mechanical properties not found in existing sucker rods.
Modifications made to the pins and connectors allow at least 25%
more torque to be safely supplied through a rod string. Those
skilled in the art will appreciate that this significantly improves
the use of progressive cavity pumps.
[0031] The present progressive cavity rod will provide greater
torque values than existing sucker rod strings as may be observed
from the following table:
1 TYPICAL RECOMMENDED TORQUE VALUES All torque values are in foot
pounds Rod Size Grade D (78) High Strength (97) Pc Rod 1" 1100 1200
1500* 1" w 7/8 pin thread 1100 N/A N/A 1-1/8" 1570 1700 2200*
1-1/4" 2000 2500 3000* *Actual torque values from test data
**Projected torque values-actual tests in process
[0032] Whereas, the present invention has been described in
relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood
that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or
suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this
invention.
* * * * *