Sucker Rods
Sucker rods are the mechanical link between the surface pumping unit and the downhole pump in a rod lift system. The rod string transmits the reciprocating load from the polished rod at surface to the pump plunger downhole. Rod selection directly affects pump run life, energy consumption, and workover frequency.
Proxima supplies sucker rods and polished rods from two manufacturers: ChampionX (Norris, UPCO, Alberta Oil Tool brands) and PRL Manufacturing through Power Flow International Sales.
What Sucker Rods Do
Each sucker rod is a solid steel bar with threaded pin connections at both ends. Rods are made up into a tapered string — larger diameter rods at top, smaller at bottom — to balance stress distribution along the string length. The polished rod at the top of the string passes through the stuffing box, sealing well pressure at surface.
Rod strings in Azerbaijani oilfields typically run from 800 m to over 2 000 m depth, operating at 4 to 20 strokes per minute under cyclic tensile and compressive loads.
Rod Types
Steel Sucker Rods
Standard carbon steel sucker rods manufactured to API 11B. Available in grades D and K, in sizes from ⅝” to 1½” diameter and standard lengths of 25 ft (7.62 m) and 30 ft (9.14 m). Pony rods available for string make-up adjustment.
Grade D rods are the workhorse of most rod lift operations. Grade K rods offer higher yield strength for deeper, higher-load wells.
Corrosion-Resistant and Specialty Rods
For wells producing H₂S, CO₂, or corrosive brine, standard carbon steel rods fatigue prematurely. Proxima supplies:
| Product | Application | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| — | — | — |
| Norris CS Rod | Deep, corrosive wells | NOR-PEENING™ technology — enhanced corrosion fatigue and mechanical fatigue resistance |
| NACE-compliant rods | Sour service (H₂S) | Material selection per NACE MR0175 |
| Coated rods | Moderate corrosion | Epoxy or other field-applied coatings |
Coiled Rod
Coiled sucker rod is continuous rod supplied on a reel, eliminating threaded connections along the rod string. This removes the primary failure point in conventional rod strings — the pin-box connection — and reduces installation time significantly.
Supplied through Pro-Rod® (ChampionX). Suited to deviated wells and high-workover-frequency operations where connection failures drive intervention costs.
Polished Rods
The polished rod is the top section of the rod string, running through the stuffing box at the wellhead. It must maintain a precision surface finish to seal against the stuffing box packing and withstand abrasion.
Available in carbon steel and corrosion-resistant alloys. Supplied by both ChampionX brands and PRL Manufacturing (via Power Flow). Sized to match the stuffing box bore and rod string configuration.
Key Specifications
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| — | — |
| Sizes | ⅝”, ¾”, ⅞”, 1″, 1⅛”, 1¼”, 1½” |
| Grades | D, K (API 11B) |
| Lengths | 25 ft / 30 ft standard; pony rods available |
| Connections | API pin-box threaded |
| Materials | Carbon steel, alloy steel, CRA options |
| Standard | API 11B |
Rod String Design
An optimised rod string uses a taper of different rod sizes to balance stress along the string length. Improper design leads to overloaded connections, rod parting, and pump failures.
Proxima’s application engineers provide rod string design and stress analysis using well parameters: pump depth, pump size, fluid gradient, stroke length, and strokes per minute. We deliver a tapered string specification with quantities per size.
Suppliers
| Supplier | Brands | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| — | — | — |
| ChampionX | Norris, UPCO, Alberta Oil Tool, Pro-Rod® (coiled rod) | Full API 11B range, specialty and CRA grades |
| PRL Manufacturing (via Power Flow) | PRL | Polished rods and standard sucker rods, international supply |
Why Source Through Proxima
Proxima holds stock of standard sucker rod sizes for maintenance and emergency orders. For project orders, we coordinate direct supply from manufacturer to Baku port or jobsite. Our engineers review your well data and provide a tapered string design with the quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between Grade D and Grade K sucker rods?
Grade D is standard carbon steel, suitable for most onshore wells. Grade K has higher yield and tensile strength, used in deeper wells with higher rod loads or where fatigue life is a concern. Both conform to API 11B.
Q: When should I use coiled rod instead of conventional jointed rod?
Coiled rod eliminates pin-box connections — the most common point of rod parting. It is most cost-effective in deviated wells and high-workover-frequency operations where connection failures are the primary failure mode.
Q: Can Proxima supply rods for H₂S service?
Yes. We supply NACE MR0175-compliant rods for sour service. Specify H₂S partial pressure and well temperature when requesting a quote.
Q: Does Proxima provide rod string design with the supply?
Yes. Provide your well data — pump depth, pump size, fluid gradient, surface unit stroke and speed — and we will deliver a tapered string design and stress analysis with the quotation.
Q: What polished rod sizes are available?
Standard polished rod sizes from 1″ to 1½” diameter are available. Length is cut to order. Specify your stuffing box bore and required length.
