The Parker pump has larger valves than those of the ordinary pump. It is better adapted to heavy sand and water conditions because of the positive action of the valves (Fig. 146) and the fact that both valves work close together, leaving the top end of the plunger open and cleaning the barrel of sand at each stroke, thus lessening the liability of the pump becoming clogged with sand.
The Futhie Hiveley pump (Fig. 147) is used in wells handling large quantities of sand and water; 2-in. tubing is used in place of ordinary sucker rods and the fluid, sand, etc., is raised through the 2-in. tubing, preventing the sand and water from wearing the plunger. Whenever the valves become clogged, the plunger is set upon the standing valve and the two deflectors raise the valves, allowing the fluid to flow back, thus washing out the sand. In this way the pump can be cleared of sand without removing it from the well.
A string of sucker-rods, either wooden with iron connections or solid iron or steel, is used to work the plunger. The wooden rods (Fig. 148) which are used in the Canadian and some of the eastern oil fields of the United States are made of ash or oak from IA to with iron couplings from V8 to 1/ I 2 in. The iron or steel rods (Fig. 149) are 20 ft. long, from to 1 in. diameter, with A to 1%-in. couplings, and are extensively used in all oil fields, being far superior to the wooden rods for pumping heavy-gravity oil or pumping through small tubing at depths of over 1500 ft. The sucker rods are connected by a substitute to the upper valve cage and extend the entire length of the tubing to the polished rod (Fig. 150). The latter is 1% in. by 10 or 20 ft. and works through a stuffing-box placed in the tee at the top of the tubing (Fig. 151). It is held in place by a 2-in. adjuster-grip (Fig. 152) which can be loosened to raise or lower the string of sucker-rods as desired. The grip is screwed into 2-in. by 10-ft. pipe, the latter being coupled to a crosshead tee which rests on top of the walking-beam. For deep-well pump ing, temper screws are often left at the well and used in place of the 2-in, pipe and grip, while special pumping devices can also be purchased which are stronger and more reliable than the ordinary 2-in, pipe. The polished rod may extend into the 2-in, grip-pipe, thus making allowance for shortening or lengthening a string of rods, the stroke of the pump being from 18 to 36 inches. A
casing-head (Figs. 153 and 154) is attached to a nipple screwed into the top coupling of the oil-string and a recess in the top in which a plate sets. The plate has an opening large enough to admit the tubing-collar. When the last joint of tubing has been placed in the well, a tubing-ring large enough to cover the opening in the plate and having a hole small enough to engage the tubing-collar is slipped over the joint and the tubing set upon the casing-head, gaskets having been previously placed under the plate and rings. The casing-head is a casting, having 2 or 3-in. outlets on the sides for oil or gas, the weight of the tubing upon the plate preventing their escape, forcing them into the line attached to the opening. Enough gas is usually collected in this way to fire the boiler or run the gas engines. A lead-line connected to the tee on the tubing conveys the oil to storage.
After the tubing has been set upon the casing-head, the plunger, with a standing-valve attached by the garbutt-rod, is lowered to the shoe of the working-barrel by the sucker rods. These are raised and lowered several times upon the standing-valve through a space of 1 to 2 ft. to insure that it is properly seated. The rods are pulled back sufficiently to prevent the plunger striking ing valve when the full stroke of the beam is used. The wrist-pin is usually placed in the first hole of the crankshaft, making a pump stroke of about 24 inches. On the upward stroke, the valve is closed and the plunger sucks in the oil, the standing valve being open. On the downward stroke, the upper valve opens, the lower valve closes and the plunger descends for another load. Gas-anchors placed on the bottom of the working-barrel often relieve the pressure on the valves ; a joint of tubing is perforated with IA to /-in. holes for 3 or 4 ft. near the barrel, and a plug screwed into the coupling at the lower end. A piece of pipe 5 to 10 ft. long is attached to the lower end of the standing-valve and extends below the perfora tions in the tubing. When the oil is drawn into the working barrel, it must travel through the perforations and thence downward to the lower end of the 1%-in. pipe before it can enter the pump. The gas, instead of following a downward course, rises outside the tubing to the casing-head.