Patent ID: 11339635

Abstract:
An artificial lift system can include an actuator operable to reciprocate a rod string in the well, the actuator including a piston reciprocably disposed in a cylinder, and a piston rod connected to the piston, and a rod rotator that continuously rotates the piston rod relative to the cylinder as the piston displaces in a longitudinal direction relative to the cylinder. A method of rotating a rod string can include connecting the rod string to a piston rod of an actuator, longitudinally reciprocating the piston rod relative to a cylinder of the actuator and a mandrel of a rod rotator, and rotating the piston rod relative to the mandrel in response to the reciprocating, the mandrel being disposed at least partially within the piston rod during the rotating. A rod rotator can include a mandrel having a helical external profile configured to attach to a cylinder of a hydraulic actuator, an internal profile complementarily shaped relative to the external profile, and a one-way clutch.