What are the different types of oil pump jacks?

While all oil pump jacks share the same basic goal—creating artificial lift—they vary significantly in their mechanical geometry and how they handle the stress of lifting heavy fluids from deep underground.

In 2026, the selection of a pump jack type depends on well depth, torque requirements, and energy efficiency goals. Here are the primary types used in the industry today.

1. Conventional Pumping Unit

The "Conventional" unit is the most common and recognizable type of pump jack. It uses a Class I lever system, with the Samson post (pivot point) located between the wellhead and the crank.

• Key Characteristic: The walking beam is pivoted at its center.

• Advantages: It is the most versatile and easiest to maintain. It can rotate in either direction and is generally the least expensive to purchase.

• Best For: Standard onshore wells with moderate depths and production rates.

2. Mark II Pumping Unit

The Mark II is a specialized design created to be more energy-efficient and to reduce the physical stress on the rod string.

• Key Characteristic: It uses a Class III lever system, where the Samson post is located at the very back of the unit. This creates a "front-mounted" geometry.

• The Advantage: It features a slower upstroke (about 195° of crank rotation) and a faster downstroke. The slower upstroke allows more time for the downhole pump to fill with fluid, reducing the "peak torque" required from the motor.

• Best For: Heavy oil or wells with high fluid volume where torque reduction is a priority.

3. Air Balanced Pumping Unit

Instead of using massive iron counterweights to balance the weight of the oil, this unit uses a cylinder of compressed air.

• Key Characteristic: The counterweight is replaced by a heavy-duty air piston.

• Advantages: These units are significantly lighter and smaller than conventional units. Because they are easier to transport and install, they are often used in remote locations or on offshore platforms where space and weight are strictly limited.

• Best For: Large, deep wells and offshore installations.

4. Reverse Mark (RM) Pumping Unit

The Reverse Mark is essentially a hybrid. It applies the sophisticated geometry and "phased" counterbalancing of the Mark II to a more traditional conventional frame.

• Key Characteristic: It uses an offset reducer to create a slower upstroke (similar to the Mark II) but maintains the general look of a conventional unit.

• Best For: Operators who want the torque benefits of a Mark II but prefer the structural familiarity of a conventional unit.

5. Long-Stroke and Portable Units

• Rotaflex / Long-Stroke: These are massive, vertical units that don't "nod" like a horsehead. Instead, they use a belt or chain to create an ultra-long stroke (up to 30 feet). This minimizes the number of cycles, which reduces wear and prevents "gas locking."

• Portable (Trailer-Mounted): Smaller units used for temporary testing of new wells to determine if they are worth the investment of a permanent installation.

Type Comparison Summary

Summary

Choosing the right type of pump jack is a balancing act between CAPEX (initial cost) and OPEX (energy and maintenance). While the Conventional unit is the reliable "old guard," modern deep-well projects in 2026 increasingly turn to Mark II or Air Balanced units to handle the extreme torque and mechanical stresses of modern energy production.

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