John Crane launches new rod for high temperature upstream oil production

John Crane, a division of global technology business Smiths Group, has introduced a high-temperature fibreglass sucker rod to support upstream oil production in shale fields where customers operate in extremely high temperatures.

The high-temperature Fiberod™, developed by John Crane Production Solutions (JCPS), provides an energy-efficient option for use in difficult conditions which normally require heavy and more costly pumping units.

Duncan Gillis, President and CEO of John Crane, said: “Shale fields will continue to be a significant and viable energy source used to meet growing energy demands. We developed this new technology so the extreme temperatures that can be found in shale field production would not be a barrier to entry for our customers. In addition to meeting their requirements for reliability, the new rod will meet expectations for environmental management practices.”

The Fiberod™ evolved from the original light-weight fibreglass rod introduced more than 20 years ago and now used in many of the world’s largest oil fields. It is corrosion-resistant with a resin matrix that can withstand well temperatures of up to 285 degrees Fahrenheit. It is now used in many oil and natural gas fields across Texas, California and North Dakota.