How do oil field pumps work

What are Field Pumps?

Field pumps refer to the wide range of pumping equipment used in oil and gas fields for exploration, drilling, production, processing, and injection operations. Major types include:

Downhole pumps - lift oil from wellbore to surface

Mud pumps - circulate drilling fluid

Hydraulic pumps - provide flow for well control

Pipeline pumps - transfer crude oil and products

Injection pumps - inject water or gas into reservoirs

Chemical injection pumps - meter additives

These pumps must handle abrasive fluids with high temperatures, pressures, and flow rates. Reliability is critical to keep operations running safely and efficiently.

How Do Oil Field Pumps Work?

 

While designs vary, most field pumps utilize centrifugal or positive displacement mechanisms to create flow and pressure:

Centrifugal - rotating impeller accelerates fluid radially outward

Positive displacement - fluid physically displaced by expanding cavities

Rod - surface units convert rotation to reciprocation

Electric submersible - multistage centrifugal pumps powered by motors

Selection depends on parameters like capacity, pressure, viscosity, and driver type. Understanding pump fundamentals helps optimize selection and performance.

How Does the Pump on an Oil Well Work?

The pump installed in an oil well is commonly known as a pump jack or beam pump. This uses a reciprocating action to lift fluid to the surface:

Surface pump unit has "horsehead" rocker arm to convert rotary motion to reciprocation

Rod string transfers movement downhole to plunger pump

Plunger travels up and down in barrel, creating suction and discharge

Foot valve and standing valve control fluid flow direction

Oil lifted on each upstroke and flows to surface piping

This artificial lift method provides low-cost, reliable production from stripper wells.

How Does an Engine Oil Pump Work?

The oil pump in a vehicle engine is typically a gear-type positive displacement pump. Here's how it works:

Meshing gears (one driven by the crankshaft) rotate in housing

Oil picked up from reservoir into pump inlet

Gears unmesh on intake side, creating void that fills with oil

Oil carried around housing as gears remesh, squeezing oil through outlet

Relief valve regulates pressure; excess oil returns to sump

Oil pressurized and sent to filter, then engine components

This vital pump provides proper lubrication to prevent engine wear.

What Powers Oil Field Pumps?

There are several driver options for oil field pumps:

Electric motors - versatile, efficient. Used for surface and downhole pumping.

Natural gas engines - common drivers for surface pumping units.

Turbines - can utilize produced gas or steam. High efficiency potential.

Diesel engines - robust, mobile. Used where electricity unavailable.

Hydraulic drive - fluid power systems providing smooth operation.

Linear motors - electro-mechanical drives for rod pumps. New technology.

The wide range gives flexibility in pump power source selection based on conditions.

What is an Oil Pump in a Field Called?

Common names for pumps found on oil fields include:

Pump jacks - beam pumping units for shallow wells

Nodding donkeys - beam pumps with rocking beam profile

Christmas trees - festive name for surface pump units

Sucker rod pumps - complete beam pump assemblies

Oil patch pumps - general term for field production pumps

ESPs - electric submersible pumps used downhole

These colloquial terms refer to the pumps continuously producing oil and gas from wells.

Conclusion

In summary, many types of specially designed pumps operate across oil and gas fields to extract, transfer, and inject essential fluids. While pump designs like centrifugal, positive displacement, and rod pumps vary, they all create flow by increasing the pressure and kinetic energy of the fluid. Careful pump selection and maintenance keeps these systems running efficiently to produce oil and gas safely and reliably. The overview of how common oil field pumps function provides context on the vital role pumping plays in exploration and production operations.

References

Takács, G. (2017). Pumps and Pumping Systems for the Oil and Gas Industry. Gulf Professional Publishing.

Hein, N. (2018). Positive Displacement Pumps: A Guide to Performance Evaluation. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Boyun, G. and Reinicke, K. (2011). Drives and Control for Electric & Hybrid Electric Vehicles. Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International.

Lea, J. and Bearden, J. (1982). Pump Application Engineering. McGraw Hill Professional.

Karassik, I.J. (2001). Pump Handbook. McGraw-Hill.

Shoup, T.D. (1995). Reciprocating Pumps and Compressors: Operation, Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair. Prentice Hall PTR.

Takacs, G. (2020). Electrical Submersible Pumps Manual: Design, Operations, and Maintenance. Gulf Professional Publishing.

Campobasso, M.S. and Drozdzewski, E.M. (1994). Hydraulic Power System Analysis. CRC Press.

Samonov, V.A. (1965). Hydraulic Power Engineering. Foreign Languages Publishing House.