Weatherford International plc announced the addition of the sand-tolerant pump (STP) to the company’s artificial-lift solutions offering. Aimed to optimize the life of wells, slow production declines and reduce workovers, the STP is an alternative to standard rod pumps in wells with high sand production. The STP prevents abrasion caused by sand accumulation in the barrel/plunger that results in decreased pump efficiency or total failure.

The STP is designed to operate at depths reaching 9,000 ft (2,743 m). A unique wiper assembly and filter coupling reduce sand damage by moving sand upward through the pump and away from the barrel/plunger interface. Based on field trial results, the STP has demonstrated up to 5.5 times longer run life than conventional rod pumps in sandy conditions.

“The sand-tolerant pump is a demonstration of the improvements made in pump designs to increase run life and mitigate sand damage. So far, the longest run time with the sand-tolerant pump is 781 days in very harsh, sand-laden environments.” said Bob McDonald, Vice President of Reciprocating Rod Lift at Weatherford. “We are committed to providing innovative technologies that address our clients’ need to offset natural decline rates by helping to optimize production and improve recovery rates.”

Tags: Weatherford International plc