Sucker rods

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a sucker rod assembly for use in an oil well. The sucker rod assembly includes an elongated hollow rod having a threaded section at an end, a tubular connector having a threaded section at one end for engaging with the threaded section of the elongated hollow rod, and a second threaded section at the other end, and a tubular coupling having a threaded section at each end for engaging with the second threaded section of said tubular connector and with a second tubular coupling or sucker rod. The hollow rod, connector and coupling form a continuous hollow core for carrying fluid, cables, fiber optics or other materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sucker rod assembly for use in an oil well, the sucker rod assembly comprising:
 an elongated hollow rod having a threaded section at an end;   a tubular connector having a threaded section at one end for engaging with the threaded section of the elongated hollow rod, and a second threaded section at the other end; and   a tubular coupling having a threaded section at each end for engaging with the second threaded section of said tubular connector and with a second tubular coupling or sucker rod,   wherein the hollow rod, connector and coupling form a continuous hollow core for carrying fluid, cables, fibre optics or other materials.   
     
     
         2 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated hollow rod comprises an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         3 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular connector comprises a steel alloy. 
     
     
         4 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular connector comprises a wrench section and flange, the wrench section having a rectangular cross-section and the other parts of the tubular connector having circular cross-sections. 
     
     
         5 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous hollow core is the same diameter in each of the hollow rod, tubular connector and tubular coupling. 
     
     
         6 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the sucker rod assembly comprises one or more ports extending from an external diameter through a wall to the hollow core. 
     
     
         7 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the or each port is located in the tubular coupling. 
     
     
         8 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a said port comprises a one-way value for delivery of fluid from the hollow core into the oil well. 
     
     
         9 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a sensor or other equipment inserted into a said port. 
     
     
         10 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow rod further comprises a centraliser having a recessed surface pattern arranged to create turbulence in fluid flowing past the centraliser, wherein the recessed surface pattern of the centraliser forms a series of peaks and troughs in longitudinal profile. 
     
     
         11 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the recessed surface pattern of the centraliser comprises channels extending at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the hollow rod. 
     
     
         12 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the recessed surface pattern of the centraliser comprises a longitudinally extending intertwined double helix. 
     
     
         13 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the centraliser is tapered at each end. 
     
     
         14 . The sucker rod assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the centraliser comprises Polyketone. 
     
     
         15 . A sucker rod string for use in an oil well, the sucker rod string comprising:
 a plurality of elongated hollow rods each having a threaded section at an end;   a plurality of tubular connectors, each having a threaded section at one end for engaging with the threaded section of a respective elongated hollow rod and a second threaded section at the other end;   a plurality of tubular couplings, each having a threaded section at each end of the tubular coupling for engaging with the second threaded section of a respective tubular connector in order to couple the sucker rods together to form a continuous hollow core between each end of the sucker rod string for carrying fluid, cables, fibre optics or other materials.   
     
     
         16 . The sucker rod string of  claim 15 , further comprising a number of ports extending from an external diameter through a wall to the hollow core. 
     
     
         17 . The sucker rod string of  claim 16 , wherein one or more of the ports comprise a one-way value for delivery of fluid from the hollow core into the oil well at intermediate locations along the sucker rod string. 
     
     
         18 . The sucker rod string of  claim 15 , wherein the elongated hollow rods comprise an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         19 . The sucker rod string of  claim 18 , wherein the tubular connectors comprise a steel alloy. 
     
     
         20 . The sucker rod string of  claim 15  connected to a jack pump or a progressive cavity pump.