Paper: New Developments in Pumping Equipment

To anyone who has been associated with the operation, selection, or purchasing of production equipment over the past 20 to 30 years, it is obvious that in the beginning oil producers made money in spite of operating equipment, and methods, rather than because of them. In the very early days of cable tool rigs, the well was drilled and pumped with the same engine, and surface equipment. Upon completion the rope, jars, and drilling bits were pulled out, and sucker rods and common barrel were installed. Very seldom, if ever, was any type of counterbalancing used. It was thought that if erratic motion of the walking beam was good enough to drill the well, then it was good enough to produce it. Of course, even with such crude and unsuitable equipment producers were able to sell of the oil they could produce at prices as high as $5.00 per barrel. Naturally they made money. With the advent of proration, deeper wells, taxes, engineers, and banks, in to the production field it became necessary that close attention be paid to the equipment used so as to produce the well efficiently. Only in this way could the loan be paid off, the taxes kept up-to-date, and a little profit left for the man who had stuck his neck out. At the present time production equipment is pattern, which has been decided upon after thorough consideration of many, many, factors affecting economics of oil production. In order to discuss new developments in pumping it is only proper to begin with the bottom hole pump because this is the item of equipment that starts the cash register ringing for the producer.