Riyadh Salloom, SLB
Mechanical components used in artificial lift face significant environmental and functional challenges, primarily caused by factors such as corrosion, abrasion, erosion, and stress corrosion cracking in downhole conditions. To ensure a component remains operational, the material not only needs to meet mechanical requirements but also needs surface properties capable of withstanding the corrosive and abrasive downhole environment.
To address these challenges, various coatings, metallurgies and surface treatments have been developed and utilized since the inception of the oil and gas industry. Over the past two decades, advancements in material engineering across industries have driven innovation in surface protection, meeting the increasing demands to reduce costs and extend service life.
This study offers a thorough evaluation of existing coatings and metallurgies, along with Harbison-Fischer’s Deka Diamond coating for rod pumping applications. It reviews both traditional and innovative materials, surface treatments, and coatings currently being used by operators to improve the durability of their equipment. By applying advanced wear and abrasion testing methods, these metallurgies have undergone rigorous assessment to enable detailed analysis of their surface characteristics before and after testing. The focus of the analysis is on the quantitative results of metallurgical testing while introducing HF’s advanced coating technology and quantifying its benefits in improving overall run-life. The findings of this study will support operators in selecting appropriate materials—such as Diamond, Boronized, Chrome, Nickel-Carbide, and Spray Metal—for their Rod Lift equipment, with the objective of maximizing run-life and minimizing mean time before failures.