Pump Unit and Sucker Rod Pump

Pump Unit

A beam and crank assembly creates reciprocating motion in a sucker-rod string that connects to the downhole pump assembly. The pump contains a plunger and valve assembly to convert the reciprocating motion to vertical fluid movement.

As the beam pumping system rocks back and forth, this operates the rod string, sucker rod and sucker rod pump, which works similarly to pistons inside a cylinder. The sucker rod pump lifts the oil from the reservoir through the well to the surface.

A beam pump is an artificial-lift pumping system which uses a type of reciprocating pump to extract oil from an inland well. Nodding donkeys or beam pumps are a common artificial lift system used in land-based operations.

A pumpjack is the overground drive for a reciprocating piston pump in an oil well. It is used to mechanically lift liquid out of the well if not enough bottom hole pressure exists for the liquid to flow all the way to the surface. The arrangement is commonly used for onshore wells producing little oil.

Because of their characteristic shape and motion, pumpjacks, also called beam pumps, are often given fanciful names such as "lonely birds" and "nodding donkeys." Whatever name you call them, such pumps are critical to crude oil production.