Oilfield Pumping Unit Application

A Pumping Unit is a piece of equipment used to extract petroleum products from a well in an oil field. Reciprocating piston pumps are commonly used for this purpose and many people associate the distinctive “nodding donkey,” as it is sometimes known, with the oil industry. Numerous companies manufacture pumping units, typically offering a range of designs and styles so people can select the model most suited to their uses.

While popular culture often depicts oil wells as “gushers,” shooting out columns of liquid petroleum for the taking, on actual oil fields, the process works somewhat differently. It is usually necessary to use a pump to bring the contents to the surface, as petroleum is highly viscous and moves sluggishly, and it often comes in very small pockets. A pumping unit is used to provide access, bringing up a steady supply of oil until a well runs dry and does not yield any more.