How Does an Oil Pump Work?

Basics

Once the oil is found through the process of drilling, it needs to be brought to the surface for processing. To do this a pump is set up to pull the oil out of the ground. The oil is usually not in a pool all contained together just sitting waiting to be sucked up. It is normally mixed with sand and other debris. The drill area is encased in concrete to reinforce the walls of the well and keep them from collapsing. The oil pump is set up on to where the drill had once been.

Pump System

The pump consists of a lever that has a rod attached to it. The rod is called a polishing rod. The polishing rod moves up and down as the lever moves. Attached to the polishing rod is another rod called a sucker rod. The pump is on the end of the sucker rod. As the pump goes up and down into the hole near the oil, it makes a suction that pulls the oil up and out of the hole. When it reaches the top it is piped out to storage tanks or to more piping. An electric motor runs the lever that moves the pump and pipes up and down.

Another Oil Pumping Process

If the oil is heavy, it can be difficult to remove it. Enough suction cannot be created to pull the oil out of the earth due to the thickness. If this is the case another hole is dug close by, and a steam process is used to help push the oil out. The steam is pushed down the second hole and then seeps over to the area under ground where the oil is contained. The steam creates a thinner oil by mixing with it. Also the pressure from the steam helps to force the oil up and out the first drilled hole.