Paper: Thermographic Inspection of Operating Pumping Units In Permian Basin Oil Fields

Thermographic inspection, through the use of portable infrared imagers and non-contact spot radiometers, has been performed on approximately three thousand pumping units in many active Permian Basin oil fields within the past two and one-half years. Infrared imagers with camera adaptability were used to inspect saddle or Sampson post bearings, equalizer or tail bearings, wrist pin bearings, exterior gear box bearings, electric motor and related switch gear on each beam-type pumping unit. In many instances, pole-mounted transformers were scanned for thermal differentials, completing the wellsite inspection. This technique detects and isolates abnormal variations in the radiant energy emitted from the bearings, motor, switch gear and transformers. Thus, qualitative and quantitative data on each problem bearing or electrical component was precisely established. Thermograms and photographs were taken to document the condition.