Failure Analysis

Scale Corrosion

Scales such as barium sulfate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulfate, iron carbonate, iron oxide (rust), iron sulfide, and strontium sulfate should be prevented from forming on sucker rods. Although scale on a sucker rod slows down the corrosion penetration rate, it also reduces the effectiveness of chemical inhibitors. Severe localized corrosion in the form of pitting, results any time the scale is cracked by a bending movement or removed by abrasion.