In today's oil production sites, an increasing number of wells are facing complex conditions characterized by high wax and sand content. Many frontline workers know that if pumps are not cleaned promptly, production can decline significantly, even by 20%–40% in efficiency. This not only increases the strain on the equipment but also directly impacts the company's production profitability.
For this reason, "how to efficiently and economically clean oil well pumps" has become a crucial concern for oil production plants, service companies, and even every on-site worker. Drawing on field experience and industry practices, we have compared and summarized the cleaning methods for API rod pumps and API tubing pumps.
The pump barrel of an API rod pump is located outside the tubing, making it relatively easy to clean. This is why it is often used in shallow wells and wells with high wax content. Common cleaning methods include:
Backwash: Cleaning fluid is injected through the annulus of the casing, using the up-and-down motion of the plunger to flush out impurities such as sand and iron filings. This method is flexible and often used by frontline workers for quick emergency response. Chemical cleaning: Injecting a paraffin remover or dilute hydrochloric acid effectively dissolves wax and carbonate scale. This method is simple, but it's important to consider the corrosion resistance of the pump barrel material.
Mechanical wax scraping and hot flushing: These are particularly common in wells with high wax content. Some use a wax scraper, while others opt for hot oil flushing, which heats and softens the solidified wax before carrying it out of the wellhead with the fluid.
The biggest advantage of these methods is that they eliminate the need to remove the API rod pump, saving significant costs associated with pulling and lowering the tubing. This is highly cost-effective for wells with moderate production but high maintenance frequency.
In contrast, the pump barrel of an API tubing pump is installed inside the tubing. While this offers greater stability and sealing, cleaning is more challenging.
Pump lifting and inspection: This is the most thorough method, requiring the tubing and pump barrel to be removed as a whole and then manually disassembled and cleaned individually. While time-consuming and labor-intensive, it provides the best cleaning results.
Circulating flushing: By injecting diesel fuel, diluent, or heated oil, the fluid flow removes wax and impurities. Chemical + thermal cleaning: This method is particularly effective in heavy oil wells, combating wax deposits and mitigating inorganic salt scaling.
The general industry consensus is that, while API tubing pump cleaning costs are high, it's suitable for deep and high-yield wells. These wells prioritize stable production, and even if cleaning is less frequent, a thorough overhaul can maintain a longer production cycle.
Future Industry Trends:
Many field technicians agree:
"For shallow wells and wells with high wax content, API rod pumps offer greater flexibility, faster cleaning, and quicker results. For deep and high-yield wells, API tubing pumps offer less worry. While cleaning costs are higher, they offer greater cost-effectiveness in terms of long-term stable production."
New developments in oil well pump cleaning are emerging:
1. Intelligent Monitoring: Sensors monitor wax deposits, pressure, and temperature in the pump barrel in real time, ensuring "cleaning only when needed" and avoiding excessive maintenance.
2. Environmentally Friendly Chemicals: A new generation of green wax removers and corrosion inhibitors are gradually entering the field, improving efficiency while reducing damage to metal and the environment.
Oil well pump cleaning and maintenance may seem like a minor detail, but it's crucial to the continued stability of oilfield production. Dongsheng will continue to monitor developments in this area, listening closely to the voices of those working on the front lines and providing customers with solutions that better meet their needs.