The first in-tubing rod pump sand collection chamber, now patented — a hollow rod that catches solids fallback while the pump is idle, then lets them flow back to surface once it restarts.
Operation Sandstone helps eliminate stuck pumps and scored pump barrels by removing solids fallback when the pump is not operating. A hollow rod collects solids as they fall back downhole while the pump is inactive; when the pump restarts, those solids are allowed to flow back out of the tubing to surface. It's similar in concept to ESP sand prevention tubing technologies, built specifically for rod-pumped wells.
Downhole desanders catch 90–95% of sand — Operation Sandstone catches what gets through.
Downhole, below the pump, desanders are typically 90–95% effective — the remaining 5–10% of sand still makes it through and into the pump. When the pump shuts down, that sand falls back on top of it, and enough buildup leads to a prematurely worn pump that can't move without intervention.
Run in on the rod string, Operation Sandstone is the first in-tubing rod pump sand collection chamber of its kind. Solids fall onto the upper diversion tool and into the hollow rod, where they're held while the pump is shut down.
When the pump is operating again, flow is reintroduced to the tubing and the collected solids resume their trip out of the well through a porous section.
The chamber length is extendable to collect more solids on wells with heavier sand loading.
| Spec | 2-7/8" | 2-3/8" |
|---|---|---|
| Tubing size | 2-7/8 (73.03) | 2-3/8 (60.36) |
| OD | 2.34 (59.44) | 1.875 (47.63) |
| Length | 14.1 ft (4.27 m) | 14.1 ft (4.27 m) |
Technical data sourced from Vannevar internal data sheets, current as of the most recent revision on file.
