Surface · Rod Pump
Stuffing Box & Pumping Tee
The packed seal on top of the wellhead around the polished rod, and the tee below it that sends fluid to the flowline.
What it does
Forms a low pressure seal between the well and the atmosphere while the rod strokes, and diverts production into the flowline.
Basics
| Seal | Packing rings around the polished rod |
| Pressure | Low pressure seal |
| Often with | Rod BOP below the stuffing box |
Common failures
- Packing leaks
- Packing burnt when the well pumps off
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Oil on the wellhead
- Likely cause
- Worn packing or scored rod
- What to check
- Tighten evenly, repack, check the polished rod
- Symptom
- Hot stuffing box
- Likely cause
- Running dry or overtightened
- What to check
- Check fluid level and gland adjustment