Abstract: Upset oilfield tubing or upset pump rods are protected from abrasive wear by non-metallic circumferential wear bands formed around and bonded to the upset portions of the tubing or rods and/or at selected locations along non-upset portions of the tubing or rods between the upset ends, such as by means of injection molding. The wear bands may be formed from a material comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane. The thermoplastic polyurethane may be a polyester-based thermoplastic polyurethane or a polyether-based thermoplastic polyurethane. The wear bands may incorporate stainless steel mesh or glass fibers or other reinforcing materials embedded in the thermoplastic polyurethane material.

Abstract: An extrudable polyketone material consisting essentially of a polyketone resin blended with a polyketone-resin-based coloring agent, with the coloring agent content of the material being in the range of approximately 1% to approximately 2.5% by weight, exhibits improved resistance to tensile fracture in sub-freezing-point conditions, relative to the polyketone resin without the coloring agent. In some embodiments, the coloring agent content of the polyketone material is approximately 2.0% by weight.

Abstract: A wear band assembly for a pipe string operating inside a casing string includes a fixed cylindrical wear band made from a non-metallic, abrasion-resistant, low-friction material (such as but not limited to a glass-reinforced thermal polyurethane) injection-moulded onto a pipe joint or sub incorporated into the pipe string, and optionally having a circumferential wear indicator groove. In an alternative embodiment, the wear band assembly includes a rotatable wear band comprising mating cylindroid sections rotatably disposed within an annular recess formed in a circumferential collar injection-moulded onto the pipe or sub. The rotatable wear band initially projects radially beyond the collar and is rotatable relative to the pipe or sub, allowing the wear band to rotate relative to the casing when in rotational contact therewith, thereby reducing resultant wear to the wear band, and reducing torque in the pipe string due to contact with the casing.

Abstract: Upset oilfield tubing or upset pump rods are protected from abrasive wear by non-metallic circumferential wear bands applied to the upset portions of the tubing or rods and/or at selected locations along non-upset portions of the tubing or rods between the upset ends. The wear bands may be formed from selected polymeric materials including thermal polyurethane, polyphthalamide PTFE blends, and polyether ether ketone (PEEK), injection-molded onto suitably prepared circumferential surfaces of the tubing or rods. The wear bands may incorporate stainless steel mesh or other reinforcing materials embedded in the injection-molded polymeric material.

Abstract: A wear band assembly for a pipe string operating inside a casing string includes a fixed cylindrical wear band made from a non-metallic, abrasion-resistant, low-friction material injection-moulded onto a pipe joint or sub incorporated into the pipe string, and optionally having a circumferential wear indicator groove. In an alternative embodiment, the wear band assembly includes a rotatable wear band comprising mating cylindroid sections rotatably disposed within an annular recess formed in a circumferential collar injection-moulded onto the pipe or sub. The rotatable wear band initially projects radially beyond the collar and is rotatable relative to the pipe or sub, allowing the wear band to rotate relative to the casing when in rotational contact therewith, thereby reducing resultant wear to the wear band, and reducing torque in the pipe string due to contact with the casing.

Abstract: hi a method for repairing a fractured coated continuous sucker rod, the pin end segment of the broken rod is discarded, the remaining rod is cut off; and the existing rod coating is trimmed back from the rod cut-off point. A replacement pin end, incorporating a rod portion and an upset pin end, is welded to the cut-off end of the sucker rod. A resilient cylindrical repair sleeve with a longitudinal slit is spread open and urged by radial force over and around the rod portion of the replacement pin end and the adjoining exposed portion of the sucker rod. Using an appropriate fusing apparatus, the edges of the repair sleeve's longitudinal slit are then fused together, and one end of the sleeve is circumferentially fused to the trimmed-back existing coating. Repair sleeves can also be used to repair damaged sections of coating on unfractured sucker rods.

Abstract: In a process for applying a friction-resistant coating to a steel sucker rod, the rod is passed, in sequence, through a surface preparation stage (for example, scale removal, shot peening, or other suitable method), an adhesive application stage (to enhance the strength of the coating's bond to the rod), an extrusion stage (in which the rod is passed through a die in conjunction with a flow of melted polymeric coating material), and a cooling (coating solidification) stage. Typically, the radial thickness of the coating will be between 0.125 and 0.375 inches. The process is adaptable to apply extruded coatings to continuous rod or to individual sucker rods having upset ends. The coating may be selected from but is not limited to high-density polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyphenylensulfide, nylon, polyester, polyethersulfone, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, epoxy, or acetyl.

Abstract: In a method for repairing a fractured coated continuous sucker rod, the pin end segment of the broken rod is discarded, the remaining rod is cut off, and the existing rod coating is trimmed back from the rod cut-off point. A replacement pin end, incorporating a rod portion and an upset pin end, is welded to the cut-off end of the sucker rod. A resilient cylindrical repair sleeve with a longitudinal slit is spread open and urged by radial force over and around the rod portion of the replacement pin end and the adjoining exposed portion of the sucker rod. Using an appropriate fusing apparatus, the edges of the repair sleeve's longitudinal slit are then fused together, and one end of the sleeve is circumferentially fused to the trimmed-back existing coating. Repair sleeves can also be used to repair damaged sections of coating on unfractured sucker rods.

Abstract: In a method for applying a protective coating to the rod section of a sucker rod having upset ends, one or more resilient cylindrical protective sleeves with longitudinal slits are spread open and urged by radial force over and around the rod portion of the sucker rod. Using an appropriate fusing apparatus, the edges of the protective sleeves' longitudinal slits are then fused together, and adjacent sleeve ends are circumferentially fused together.

Abstract: In a process for applying a friction-resistant coating to a steel sucker rod, the rod is passed, in sequence, through a surface preparation stage (for example, scale removal, shot peening, or other suitable method), an adhesive application stage (to enhance the strength of the coating's bond to the rod), an extrusion stage (in which the rod is passed through a die in conjunction with a flow of melted polymeric coating material), and a cooling (coating solidification) stage. Typically, the radial thickness of the coating will be between 0.125 and 0.375 inches. The process is adaptable to apply extruded coatings to continuous rod or to individual sucker rods having upset ends. The coating may be selected from but is not limited to high-density polyethylene, cross-linked polyethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyphenylensulfide, nylon, polyester, polyethersulfone, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, epoxy, or acetyl.

Abstract: An optical module includes a first optics group, a second optics group, and an image sensor, wherein the first optics group and second optics group are configured to provide an image having a focus and a magnification to the image sensor. In some embodiments of the present invention, a first optics assembly includes a first optics group coupled to a threaded portion of a first lead screw so that rotation of the first lead screw results in translation of the first optics group along an axis of the first lead screw, a first actuator for rotating the first lead screw; and a first sensing target configured to permit detection of rotation of the first lead screw.