Pony rods from 2 ft to 12 ft for adjusting sucker rod string length, in the same grades and sizes as standard sucker rods, with couplings.
- Standard: API 11B, API Q1, NACE MR0175
- Grades: C, D, K, KD, HL, HY
Specifications
| Outer diameter | 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1", 1-1/8", 1-1/4" |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 ft, 3 ft, 4 ft, 6 ft, 8 ft, 10 ft, 12 ft, or custom |
| Ends | Forged upset with rolled sucker rod thread, pin and pin, or pin and box |
| Surface treatment | Shot blasted, phosphate coated, or painted |
| Manufacturing process | Hot rolled bar, heat treated, end forged and threaded |
| Connection type | Sucker rod thread with coupling |
Purpose of a Pony Rod
A pony rod is a short sucker rod, typically 2 to 12 feet, used to adjust the total length of a rod string so that the pump sits at the designed depth. Because sucker rods are supplied in a nominal 25 foot length, and because tubing joints are also discrete lengths, the actual depth at which the pump lands cannot usually be reached with full length rods alone. Pony rods are added or removed to bring the pump to the correct position. They must be of the same grade as the rest of the string, and in a tapered string they must match the size of the section they are installed in. It is good practice to keep a stock of pony rods on the rig or in the field store in several lengths, because having to source one after a string is already being run causes expensive downtime.
Ordering and Handling
Pony rods are ordered by outside diameter, length, grade, end configuration and quantity. The most common configuration is pin and pin, which requires a coupling, matching a standard sucker rod; a pin and box configuration is available where the pony rod must connect directly to another rod without a separate coupling. In sour service the grade must be K or KD regardless of the length, since a short rod is loaded in the same way as a long one. Because pony rods are short, they are stiffer and more prone to damage during handling and are easier to cross-thread, so make-up torque and thread care are as important as for a full length rod.
How many pony rods do I need?
It depends on the difference between the rod string length achievable with full length rods and the depth at which the pump must sit, which in turn depends on the tubing tally. The practical approach is to keep a set of several lengths, for example 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 feet, which between them can make up most required lengths to within one foot. Confirm the required depth and the tubing tally before ordering so the set covers the expected adjustment range.
Can pony rods be used in sour service?
Yes, provided the grade is suitable. Use grade K or KD exactly as you would for a full length rod, since the sour service requirement depends on the material and the tensile stress, not on the rod length. Do not substitute a grade D pony rod into a sour service string on the assumption that a short rod is less critical.
Materials
- Carbon steel
- Alloy steel
Typical applications
- Adjusting sucker rod string length
- Positioning the pump at the correct depth
- Well servicing and rod replacement
- Correcting tubing and rod length mismatch
- Sour service with appropriate grade
Inspection & testing
- Tensile and hardness testing
- Thread gauging to API 11B
- Ultrasonic inspection
- Chemical composition analysis
- Third-party inspection on request
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