Surface Equipment The surface equipment is primarily used to convert rotary motion into a reciprocating action that is transfered to the downhole pump. Tierra Alta offers these pumping units with API gear reductions from 80:1 all the way through 912:1. The structural lifting capacity can be anywhere from 8,900 to 36,500lbs with stroke lengths of 59 to 192 inches. These systems can be employed in high viscosity, mild abrasives, coal bed methane, thermal projects and gaseous applications. Conventional pumping units (beam pumps) typically occupy a large surface footprint. In area's with smaller a smaller footprint is required consider a smaller LRP (Liner Rod Pump) Unit.

Variable Frequency Drive A variable frequency drive can be used to control the speed, downhole pump fill, and rod loading of a reciprocating rod lift system. Intellegence built into these drives can be used to increase energy efficiency and optimize production on any new or existing application. This optimization can be acomplished using both sensor and sensorless optimization constraints. Variables recoded and optimized using sensors include intake and discharge pressure and temperature, rod separation, rod positon and load sensors. While sensorless variables include motor velocity, motor torque, rod velocity, pump velocity, rod postion and pump position. These varibles can be computed in real time to analyze and optimize system performance.

Intermediate Equipment There are several options for connection of the surface equipment to the downhole reciprocating pump. Conventional sucker rods can be used, with consideration for rod guides to minimize rod and tubing wear in the intermediate string. Coiled rod with only connections on the top and bottom of the string are available for use in highly deviated wellbores or in area's where rod and tubing life do not exceed pump life. Coiled rod is lighter weight and capable of lifitng equivalent loads as conventional rod. Special equipment is required to retrieve the rod to surface, either a mobile coiled rod unit or a rig mounted X-celerator is required to properly surface coiled rod.

Reciprocating Pumps The downhole reciprocating rod pump consists of a variety of pump barrels, plungers, balls and seats, seating nipples, cages and various other fittings. These components are manufactured using a variety of materials with a wide range of internal coatings to work in most abrasive and corrosive environments. Oil collects in a perforated tube at the lower end of the pump assembly. A pump plunger, which is attached to the sucker rod, moves up in the barrel forcing the top check valve into its seat. This movement creates a vacuum in the pumping chamber unseating the lower check valve and drawing oil in. When the action reverses, pressure is created in the chamber when the lower check valve is seated as the plunger moves down. This pressure opens the upper check valve releasing the oil into the tubing and the action repeats. The stroke length and rate of the pump determines the volume flow rate of the system.