Introduction and History of Rod Pumps


Introduction to Rod Pumps:
Rod pumps are used in the oil and gas industry to extract oil from a well that is no longer able to flow under the formations own pressure. Rod pumps are an efficient and cost effective method of extracting oil, and extending the life of wells by decades. Rod pumps are essentially exactly what they sound like. A rod is attached to a surface driving mechanism, and ran to the bottom of the well, where it pumps formation fluids to the surface. There are two main types of rod pumps, beam pumps, and roto flex pumps. Both are very efficient in extracting formation fluids, and each have their advantages.


History of Rod Pumps:
The first use of a pump for an oil well was actually on the originally drilled oil well in 1859, by Edwin Drake. For this pump, he borrowed a common water well pump to extract oil from this 69 ft. well. This application of a water pump is visible in today's technologies of rod pumps.

Timeline of Rod Pumps:

1859- First oil well drilled and a traditional water pump is used to extract oil

1875- "Walker Beams" were used to extract oil

1913- The "Simplex" Pumping Jack was introduced by Oil Well Supply Company

1925- The modern rod pump was introduced by Lufkin
 
        The Original Lufkin Proto Type
 http://aoghs.org/technology/oil-well-pump/