Downhole · Rod Pump
Traveling & Standing Valves
Two ball and seat check valves: the traveling valve moves with the plunger, the standing valve sits fixed at the bottom of the pump.
What it does
Upstroke: the traveling valve closes and lifts the fluid while the standing valve opens to fill the chamber. Downstroke: the standing valve closes and the traveling valve opens so the plunger passes through the new fluid.
Basics
| Type | Ball and seat check valves |
| Traveling valve | On the plunger, closes on the upstroke |
| Standing valve | At the pump intake, closes on the downstroke |
Common failures
- Leaking ball and seat from wear, sand or corrosion
- Gas lock that keeps the traveling valve from opening
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Valve check shows load lost on the upstroke
- Likely cause
- Traveling valve leaking
- What to check
- Confirm with the valve check and plan pump repair
- Symptom
- Pump fills slowly
- Likely cause
- Standing valve leaking or gas interference
- What to check
- Run a standing valve check and review the gas anchor