B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Type 1917
Troubleshooting; Training / Qualification; Distraction; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
I was Pilot Monitoring. At approximately 1;200 ft. MSL; we heard several (two to three) short bursts of popping noises from the #2 engine and associated aircraft yaw to the right. We leveled off and requested vectors from ATC as we ran the 'Engine Limit or Surge or Stall' QRC; followed by the QRH. The engine parameters remained normal; so we kept the engine running; per the QRH. We elected to return to ZZZ1 after the Captain had conferred with Maintenance. ATC provided vectors; all checklists were completed; and we landed in ZZZ1 without further incident.Initially; I was unsure of what exactly was happening. We figured it out; but I had never experienced a compressor stall before. Perhaps if I had seen it in the sim more regularly; I could be armed with more information and fewer questions about a course of action.
On initial climbout we encountered at least two if not three multiple bangs from the #2 engine; and the aircraft yawed to the right. After a short assessment and normal engine indications; we decided that we had encountered multiple compressor stalls and began to run the QRC for Engine Limit Surge Stall followed by the QRH. After leveling at 5;000 ft MSL; we let ATC in on our predicament and explained we needed to maintain 5;000 ft to communicate with Company. Dispatch and we thought it was best to return to ZZZ1 and land overweight; instead of pressing on to ZZZ2. The rest of the flight and approach and landing was uneventful.Include compressor stall in training so future Crews may be aware and ready for the event. Neither myself nor First Officer had ever encountered this discrepancy before.
Air carrier flight crew reported a compressor stall on departure and returned to departure airport.