In 1925, a simple yet revolutionary invention put Lufkin, Texas, on the energy map: the first crank counterbalanced beam pumping unit.1 Conceived by W.C. Trout, this “pumpjack” solved a major oilfield problem by easing the heavy strain of lifting fluid with a counterweighted crank.
The result was a more reliable and efficient way to bring oil to the surface, an innovation that quickly became the backbone of the industry. That single invention helped power the Texas oil boom and established a legacy. A century later, the iconic pumpjack still symbolizes oil production around the world.
EVOLUTION OF ARTIFICIAL LIFT TECHNOLOGIES
As the industry grew, so did the artificial lift toolbox. The beam pump was joined by a host of other lift methods with names as curious as they were effective—progressive cavity pumps, plunger lift, hydraulic jet pumps, gas lift, and electric submersible pumps (ESPs), among others.2 Each technology addressed different well conditions and extended producers’ ability to optimize output.
The first ESPs in the 1920s enabled high-volume lifting from deeper wells. By mid-century, gas lift had been refined into the conventional form still used today; injecting gas to lighten the fluid column and boost production. Plunger lift systems were devised to periodically clear liquids from gas wells, using the well’s own pressure to push a free piston (the plunger) and accumulated liquids to the surface.3
Collectively, these artificial lift innovations allowed operators to produce from reservoirs that would otherwise become uneconomic, once natural pressure declined. It’s no exaggeration that artificial lift has enabled modern field development. Nearly all wells rely on it after initial production stages.
Over the past century, well profiles have changed drastically. The industry transitioned from mostly vertical drillings to highly deviated and horizontal wells, especially with the shale revolution in the last two decades. This shift posed new challenges and prompted further evolution in lift technology.
A traditional beam pump in a straight vertical well could rely on gravity to smoothly counterbalance rod loads. But in deviated and horizontal laterals, rod friction, fluid holdup and undulating well paths can confound conventional lift methods. In fact, roughly 86% of wells drilled today are deviated, horizontal or a combination of both, which renders many legacy vertical-well designs and algorithms less effective in these environments.4
Outdated algorithms can negatively impact production efficiency and equipment longevity. However, with modernized automation like Lufkin Well Manager 2.0 with NOVAWAVE™, and SROD™ with NOVAWAVE™, technologies, oilfield companies can successfully navigate the complexities of deviated wells, improve production, and reduce workover interventions to increase profitability and uptime.
THE NEXT CENTURY OF ARTIFICIAL LIFT
Those 100 years of crank-balanced pumping unit insights inspire us to collectively look forward to the next century of artificial lift. It will undoubtedly be shaped by digital technologies that produce pumping units that are smarter, more connected, and possibly even autonomous.
I envision an oil field where automation, digitalization and AI will work in concert with proven hardware to squeeze even more performance out of each reservoir. Field development strategies will increasingly consider artificial lift from the beginning; selecting lift methods and switching points informed by advanced modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) prediction of a well’s decline curve. Wherever the industry leads, automation and artificial lift will always help oilfield companies produce more resources in a more cost-effective manner. WO
REFERENCES
Lufkin Industries. (2024). #lufkin100 #innovation #madeintexas [LinkedIn post]. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lufkinindustries_lufkin100-innovation-madeintexas-activity-7351641927890444289-t2US/
Artificial lift: 25 years of change tracked in the pages of JPT. (n.d.). Journal of Petroleum Technology. https://jpt.spe.org/artificial-lift-25-years-of-change-tracked-in-the-pages-of-jpt
Estis Compression. (n.d.). How to compare artificial lift options for unconventional oil production. Estis Compression Learning Center. https://www.estiscompression.com/learning-center/how-to-compare-artificial-lift-options-for-unconventional-oil-production
Lufkin. (n.d.). Automation: LUFKIN Well Manager™ 2.0 with NOVAWAVE™. https://www.lufkin.com/solutions-services/automation/#lwm-novawave
ANDY CORDOVA has over 45 years of experience in rod lift, and 40 years of that time has been with Lufkin Industries. He has held roles in manufacturing, sales and operations, and is currently President/GM of Surface for Lufkin Industries.