Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Section 11 – Pumping Units Looking at the various types and designs of pumping units and their applications in fluid production.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Background In the early years of the oil patch either a special pumping rig similar to a cable drilling rig (or the cable drilling rig that was used to drill the well) was used to pump a well. This one rig did the work of a pumping unit, a service rig, and a workover rig.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns More background The modern pumping units are based on the design of the cable drilling and pumping rigs. All have a walking beam supported near the middle by a sampson post and a pitman that connects one end of the beam to an eccentric (a crank system).

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Even more background The very first pumping units were so much like a standard pumping rig, that they had no horses head or counterbalance weights. During the early 1920s gear boxes were added to these early pumping units and a pumping revolution began.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Pumping unit components base horses head sampson post walking beam equalizer pitman gearbox and support counter balance weights ladder skid

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Pumping unit lubrication saddle bearing assembly Equalizer bearing Pitman bearing wrist pin bearings gear box

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Beam balanced units Inexpensive.Durable. Low maintenance. Typically used for shallow production. Class 1 lever.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Crank balanced units Called conventional units. Very durable. Extremely versatile. Cost effective. Low maintenance. Increase counter-balance by extending weights further out on cranks.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Lufkin Mark II units Phased counter-balance. Lower peak torque. Slower up stroke. Faster down stroke. Class 3 lever. Increase counter-balance by extending weights further out on cranks.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Air balanced units Lighter than other units. More portable. Very accurate counter- balance adjustment. Requires compressing system for air. High maintenance.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Reverse units Alternative design as far as geometry. Very durable. Lower torque. Low maintenance. Increase counter-balance by extending weights further out on cranks.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Other units Slant hole units Foldable units. Low profile units Portable trailer mounted units

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Pumping unit gearboxes Double or single reduction. Herringbone or helical gears. Check fluid level periodically. Replace fluid regularly. Following manufacturers specs on lubricants. Lubricant specs change with temperature.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns Signs of a problem Any unusual noise coming from the gearbox. Gearbox fluid appears milky looking. Loose wrist pin in a crank. Any unusual noise coming from a bearing assembly. (Squeaking, rattling, chattering) Increase play or movement in any bearing. Bearing fails to take grease. Bearing fails to retain grease.

Training in Oil & Gas Production for BP Technical Interns More pumping units This unique rainbow painted pumping unit is made in Russia and has a stroke of up to 3 meters.

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