What powers oilwell pumps?
Answer:
Now this is something I know a little about. There are a few types of pumps and you need to think about the time period in question.
Back in the day when wells were drilled with standard rigs, the hole was drilled with spud bits. That means the drill bit was like a chisel and was lifted and dropped repeatedly in the ground to make a hole. The weight of the drill bit did the work. Wells were usually drilled close together the rigs could be powered either by gas from another well or by steam.
The rig would drill awhile, then put water in the hole and run a bailer to take out the cuttings. Then the whole thing would be repeated until TD (total depth) was reached. Then the drilling rig would turn into the pumping unit, usually powered by gas from the well it is sitting on.
Some modern pumping units are still powered by natural gas, as well as electric motors. Since gasoline engines are a safety risk (they require a spark to run) they are being phased out for the safer diesel engines that don't need a spark to run.
Petroleum.
The diesel ones or the gas ones?
It all depends on which type of rig, but these are the for common power sources for oil well pumps.
Electric - the rig is connected to a power grid usually produced by its own generators and uses electric motors to drive individual components such as drawworks, mud pumps and rotary tables.
Mechanical - the rig uses torque converters, clutches, and transmissions powered by its own engines, often diesel
Hydraulic - the rig primarily uses hydraulic power
Pneumatic - the rig is primarily powered by pressurized air
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