B737-300 HAS ENG SURGE DURING CLB.

Narrative

PASSING THROUGH 17000 FT CLBING TO FL230. AFTER NORMAL REDUCED THRUST TKOF AND NORMAL CLB; #1 ENG STARTED TO SURGE. N1 WENT FROM 75 PERCENT TO 100 PERCENT WITH RESULTANT ACFT YAW. AUTOTHROTTLE DISCONNECTED; REDUCED THRUST ON #1 ENG; AND LEVELED AT FL210 WITH ATC CONCURRENCE. AT HIGHER THRUST SETTINGS ENG SURGED -- THRUST REDUCED AGAIN AND CLRNC BACK TO IAH REQUESTED AND RECEIVED. CONTACTED DISPATCH ON ACARS AND SFO LINE MAINT ON COMMERCIAL RADIO. ADVISED TO TURN OFF L PMC AND AT MID TO LOWER PWR SETTINGS ENG OPERATED NORMALLY (ALL OTHER ENG PARAMETERS INCLUDING VIBRATION NORMAL). NOTIFIED THE FIRST FLT ATTENDANT OF INTENTION TO RETURN TO IAH; LNDG IN APPROX 10 MINS. I ALSO INFORMED THE PAX. MADE A NORMAL 2-ENG FLAP 30 DEGS APCH AND LNDG ON RWY 14L AT IAH; AT A WEIGHT OF 119000 LBS (5000 LBS OVER MAX LNDG WT). I DEEMED IT SAFER TO LAND OVERWT THAN TO CIRCLE WITH A MALFUNCTIONING ENG. AFTER A NORMAL LNDG I TAXIED TO GATE AND SHUT DOWN THE ACFT. PRIOR TO FINAL APCH WE REVIEWED THE SINGLE ENG APCH AND LNDG CHKLIST IN CASE THE #1 ENG FAILED OR HAD TO BE SHUT DOWN. ALL OTHER CHKLISTS COMPLETED. CLR BY BOTH PLTS WORKED GREAT AND THE B737-300 AQP TRAINING MADE THIS A 'NON-EVENT.'