The Patriot Sucker Rod Pump

The PATRIOT PUMP’s unique design to Pump on the Down Stroke allows the following advantages over a conventional sucker rod pump:

· 100 percent bottom discharge rod pump

· 3/4 inch solid metal plunger

· Plunger longer than the barrel


The conventional pump loads on the upstroke. When the traveling valve closes, the pumping unit and prime mover lift the weight of the rod string (in fluid) plus the weight of the fluid load (a function of the plunger size and pump depth). In comparison, the PATRIOT PUMP does not lift any fluid load on the upstroke. The PATRIOT PUMP loads the barrel on the upstroke with the bottom discharge valve closed held on seat by the hydrostatic pressure in the tubing. Since the plunger is solid and longer than the barrel, there is NO hydrostatic load on the plunger. On the upstroke, all the pumping unit and prime mover are lifting is the buoyant weight of the rod string. This reduces the loading on the pumping unit, prime mover, and rod string. The PATRIOT pumps on the down stroke. As the solid plunger travels down the barrel on the down stroke, fluid is compressed until it eventually discharges out the bottom discharge valve – located directly above the standing valve and bottom seating assembly.


Benefits of the PATRIOT PUMP:

· Lowest possible peak torque, peak polish rod load, and rod stress.

· Virtually eliminates rod parts. A major operator states, "After having run over 70 PATRIOT pumps we have had no rod parts:'

· Small bore size (3/4 inch) allows pump to be run in the deepest applications.

· 3/4 inch bore size helps prevent pumping off and subsequent sanding up.

· Plunger is longer than the barrel, thus reducing the chances of “sticking”.

· 100% of the fluid is discharged at the bottom of the pump, reducing the chances of the pump being “sanded in“ and unable to move in the tubing.

· Long plunger and barrel seal produces longer pump run life and lower pump repair costs.

· Slim Hole versions of the pump are available for 2-1/16 inch and 1-1/2 inch I.J. tubing.

· Maximum pump capacity of 60 BFPD using the maximum unit stroke length of 120 inches.

· Barrels are furnished with a closer tolerance than API.

· A new "slim hole" version of the PATRIOT is available that can be run in 2 1/16 inch integral joint tubing. 


The unique design of the Burleson “PATRIOT” PUMP is such that abrasives are directed away from the top of the plunger on both the up and down stroke. Also, the bottom discharge valve washes sand settlement away from the seating assembly. 

The PATRIOT PUMP valve arrangement concept removes most of the non compressible free space found in conventional pumps, thereby eliminating most gas locking when properly spaced. 

Due to the increase in the production capacity, the applications for this pump have been greatly expanded. Whereas it once was sold only for problem wells, it is now proving to be the right pump for any well that produces less than 60 barrels per day. 

Example Well

A well in Major County, Oklahoma, was parting rods four or five times per year. The average cost to repair and return to production was $1800.00.

PUMP DEPTH                                             8500’

FLUID LEVEL                                              8000’

STROKES PER MINUTE                            5

TUBING SIZE                                                2 7/8” ANCHORED

ROD STRING                                               86

FLUID PER DAY                                          20 BBLS. (20 percent  Salt Water)

PUMP SIZE                                                  1.25

A PATRIOT pump was run in the well and the well has produced for twenty months without a rod part. The daily production has remained the same. Estimated savings $7200.00 in pulling cost alone.

Comparison of the 1.25 inch pump with the .75 inch PATRIOT pump in this well.

 PUMP SIZE                                  1.25                 .75          DIFFERENCE  

Example Well 

A well in Canadian County, Oklahoma, would pump down with a 1-1/4" pump until it would start unloading gas. Then the pump would gas lock and when the fluid would rise in the well the pump was still gas locked. The well also produced a small amount of sand. The well was left tapping bottom, but, this did not eliminate the gas locking. The longest run from the 1%" stroke-through pump was 16 days

PEAK POLISH ROD LOAD       20950           18476          -2474

PEAK TORQUE, INCH LBS.     190430      142578        -47852

PEAK ROD STRESS                    26674          23524         -3150

POLISH ROD H.P.                        3.6                2.0               -1.6 

PRIME MOVER H.P.                     6                       4               -2

UNIT REQUIRED                                         228                  160           $$$$$             

The well was put on timer, however, during the "off period," sand would settle out and stick the plunger and the pump would have to be pulled. Often this would be a stripping job because the pump could not be unseated. 

If you need to put a marginal well back in the black and keep it there, run a PATRIOT.


If you need to pump fluid from a deep gas well, you need a PATRIOT pump and a 160 unit. That is unless you would rather spend the additional money for a 1-1/4 inch pump and a 228 pumping unit to do the same job.


If you need to replace a worn-out rod string, don’t do it, buy a PATRIOT pump instead.


One operator, after running PATRIOTS for two years, stated that the only regret he had was that he hadn’t started using them sooner.