Crude oil is collected in field gathering systems consisting of pipelines that move oil from the wellhead to storage tanks and treatment facilities where the oil is measured and tested. From the gathering system the crude oil is sent to a pump station where the oil delivered to the pipeline. This pipeline may have many collection and delivery points along route. Booster pumps are located along the pipeline to maintain the pressure and keep the oil flowing. The delivery points may be refineries, where the oil is processed into products, or shipping terminals, where the oil is loaded onto tankers.
Pumps move the oil into and through the pipeline at a pump station.
Pump stations are either gathering stations or trunkline stations . Gathering stations receive oil through a gathering system from the producer's tanks. Trunkline stations receive oil from the gathering station and move the oil to the refineries and shipping terminals. Booster pumps are located along the line to maintain system pressure. At gathering stations oil is collected from various producing wells.