Energy-saving heating system for sucker rod pumps

Over the last years heating cable systems have become widely used in the oil and gas industry for the prevention and control of asphalt, resin and paraffin deposits in the tubing. In addition, heating cables are being used during the production of high-viscosity oils to prevent the sucker rods from sticking during the down-stroke. In this case the heating cable line is lowered into the well on the exterior of the oil-well tubing and is fastened to the tubing by clamps. This method of the heating cable application has a low efficiency factor because a significant part of the produced heat is absorbed by the well and the surrounding rock. The authors propose an implementation of heating cable lines inside of hollow sucker rods on the interval from the wellhead till the end of the asphalt, resin and paraffin deposition zone. It is worth noting that the inner space of sucker rods is not used for oil lifting. This provides the realization of an oil heating sucker rod pumping system with a high efficiency factor. Additionally, it improves the safety of the cable installation operations and the whole system operation.