Paper: Counterbalancing Beam-Type Pumping Units

Since the early days of artificial lift of oil, much has been said and written about the importance of proper counterbalance of the loads involved. Unfortunately, little has been done in the industry toward the systematic checking of pumping units to insure that the best counterbalance possible is being maintained. As a result, the industry loses heavily every year, this loss being in energy expended uselessly and in equipment damaged by overloading. Counterbalancing may be defined as the effort to offset the rod load on the gear box and the prime mover. Several different systems are used, and the method is not particularly important. For beam-type pumping units, the present most generally accepted methods of counterbalance are using beam weights, crank-type weights, and compressed air.