Optimization of sucker rod pump performance using tubing anchors

Abstract

Sucker rod pumps (SRPs) remain the backbone of artificial lift, yet their efficiency is undermined by tubing displacement and irregular valve operation. Tubing anchors (TA) are designed to stabilize tubing and restore stroke fidelity, but their true impact has often been generalized rather than quantified. This study delivers a systematic evaluation of TA performance using QRod 3.0 simulations across seven plunger diameters and depths from 500 to 2000 m, supported by a full calculation table of production values (Qf) with and without anchor. The results are unambiguous: TA has no measurable effect in shallow wells with small plungers, but its influence grows steadily with depth and plunger size. In mid‑range configurations, anchored systems consistently outperform non‑anchored ones, while in large plungers beyond 1200 m, TA becomes critical to sustaining production. At extreme depths with very large plungers, however, both anchored and non‑anchored systems collapse, exposing the physical limits of SRP technology. These findings prove that TA is not a universal solution but a targeted optimization tool. Its selective application extends the operational envelope of SRPs, improves volumetric efficiency, and delivers tangible economic gains where tubing displacement is a dominant factor. The study provides operators with quantitative evidence for decision‑making, replacing assumptions with data‑driven justification for TA deployment.