Saving NPT in Extreme Conditions

A fluid end is often an underappreciated component in pressure pumping operations, as pump performance and operational efficiency hinge on its durability. Exposure to constant high pressures in harsh environments poses multiple failure risks (1).?Fluid ends must perform reliably in near continuous-duty operations, resisting cracking from high pressures, abrasive elements and corrosive fluids for more than 1,000 hours.

With a constant flow rate, a robust fluid end enables oilfield companies to perform high-pressure hydraulic fracturing jobs. Failing to meet these critical requirements can increase site safety risks and generate costly nonproductive time (NPT), which impacts profitability.

Rethinking Conventional Fluid End Design for Safer, More Reliable Pumping

The average stainless steel-fluid end lifespan is approximately 1,600 hours (2).?To increase fluid end longevity and lengthen the time between typical replacement intervals, the SPM? EXL Fluid End is purpose-built to withstand the extreme operating conditions in today’s oil patch and accommodate longer service intervals.

The advanced fluid end design addresses three key contributors to fluid end failure. The EXL Fluid End eliminates hand blending in the cross-bore, which is one of the leading causes of stress fractures. It also incorporates the SPM Everbore hardened steel packing bore, which effectively lowers the risk of washboarding by three times compared to conventional fluid ends. The sleeve reduces the potential for packing wash to cause fluid end failure. Finally, the EXL Fluid End uses SPM-driven material innovation to improve performance and reliability by addressing cracking and corrosion-related failures. These components work synergistically to help reduce the risk of failure and optimize performance.

As flexibility is increasingly important for oilfield companies, the EXL Fluid End can be used across SPM 2500 and QEM pump product platforms. With expert service available within three hours of every major U.S. basin, service and parts support are available when and where needed to keep equipment online and continuously pumping.

Extending Fluid End Life Accelerates Uptime

The SPM EXL Fluid End marks an important advancement in durable fluid end design and performance, and is field-proven to surpass the average 1,600-hour fluid end lifespan. A major pressure pumping company in the U.S. running fleets combining the SPM WS 335 power end and EXL 2500 Fluid End attained 2,500 hours of fluid-end longevity – with two parts accumulating more than 4,500 hours each.3

In fracking, halting operations for maintenance issues leads to significant lost revenue. This substantial increase in fluid end longevity positively impacts service expenses, contributing to a lower total cost of ownership and NPT.

By increasing component life with technological advancements — and combining local and global engineering support capabilities — the EXL Fluid End helps oilfield companies decrease downtime, improve efficiency and safety, and achieve production goals in an increasingly competitive landscape.

1. Cat.com. 6 Reasons Fluid Ends Fail. https://www.cat.com/en_US/articles/solutions/oil-gas/6reasonsfluidendsfail.html

2. Industry-accepted average of fluid end life, supported by pressure pumping company data.