Rock Island Argus., 1902-08-06
FOR PUMP
Larger Companies at Beaumont
Oil Fields Now Fitted
~ Out.
METHODS USED TO RAISE THE GIL
Air Is Made to Take Place of Natural
Gas-Other De-
vices.

passage of Spindle-top as n ''gusher
proposition" and its transformation
into well-equipped pumping field.
The beginning of the month saw oil
company managers at their wits
ends to get from their wells the oil
that was there. but which refused to
flow of its own accord; the close saw
all of the wells of the big companies
and many of those of the smaller
ones equipped with pumping machin-
cry, or at least with orders out and
equipment on the way.
August. also, will have it's develop
ment work. The question of what
pumping equipment to use is one that
can be settled only by experiments
Just now every kind of oil pump that
has been invented is being tried.
Compressed air. sucker rod, steam
head and all the other kinds are in
use TO a greater or lesser degree, and
each of them has its advocates. Some
degree of experimentation has al
ready been done. of course. but the
question is by no means settled.
Two Systems.
OF the pumping systems chiefly in
use there. two-the standard or
sucker rod. and the steam head-are
well known in the older fields: but
the use of compressed air is compar-
atiyely new. The Standard is perhaps
the oldest system. The rig consists
chiefly of huge walking beam oper-
ating a sucker rod" sunk TO the
requisite depth into the well. This
rig is expected to pump from 1,2OO to
1,soO barrels of oil day
The steam head system consists of
huge cylinder and piston arrange
ment of the mouth of the well. where
by n pumping rod is operated. The
rod is sunk to the necessary depth
and by means of sucker valve
pumps oil upward at the rate of from
1000 To 1,S00 barrels n day. 1t is
claimed that this system does not in
terfere with the free flow of oil in the
event that the well-as is frequently
the case-takes a sudden notion to
gush: but that it remains poised at
the apex of the up-strolle during the
continuance of the flow of the well.
Compressed Air Method.
The compressed air system has un-
dergone many notifications and i'm
Iprovements, and lack of perfection is
lNti lcNl 1 IUtOEctitdiiN- lilt ~ =
TEN is ideaI-an almost perfect sub
stitute for the natural gas. But in
practice it has shown some short
comings. Originally, when the sys-
TEN was first used, and agitation of
the wells and not pumping was neces-
sary. the air was sent into the well
to depth of from 200 to 400 feet by
means of 1-inch pipe. There was
no elbow nor valve at the bottom of
the pipe-the powerful air jet being
merely shot into the middle of the
oil column to bubble and boil until,
with the assistance of the natural
gas, it had lifted off the dead oil'
and enabled the gas alone to do its
work. As soon, however, as the gas
pressure became weaker than the air
Ipressure. and, yielding before it, ran
back with its oil into the bowels of
the earth, a modification of the sys-
tenn was necessary. This was at first
accomplished simply by the croolling
of the pipe at its lower end. But
now a more elaborate system is used.
Another Way.
Il Two pipes are used-one four inch
es in diameter. the other one inch.
II The one-inch pipe is made air tight
for its fun length. Upon the upturn-
ed end of this elbow the four-inch
pipe is set, the one-inch pipe entering
at the bottom, which. otherwise, is
i tightly closed. The four-inch pipe is
Equipped with valves through which
oil is admitted into the pipe. and this
four-inch column of oil is lifted up
ward by the direct power of com
pressed air pumped into the bottom
of the four-inch pipe through the
one-inch pipe.
While some companies that have
tried compressed air declare that it is
not satisfactory pumping agent
under existing conditions. others in
sist that it is the best possible sub
stittfte for natural gas, and will not
only drain WELL but will produce a
more rapid and more even flow than
any other known method. That con-
siderable faith is felt in compressed
air is proved by the fact that large
sums are being expended, in addition
TO the sums already spent. for the in