Understanding Pump Types in Oil and Gas

Chemical Process Equipment, Industrial Pumps

Sourcing industrial oil and gas pumps can be a high-stakes decision. Performance, cost and safety all depend on selecting equipment that matches your application. This guide to pump types and their typical service conditions will help you identify the best fit.

The Primary Pump Categories in the Oil and Gas Industry

Industrial operations rely on several pump types, including centrifugal, positive displacement, vacuum and gas pumps. Within these categories, there are subtypes with different applications.

Centrifugal Pumps

Centrifugal pumps use an impeller to generate flow in applications such as water injection and crude oil transfer. They best suit low-viscosity fluids with high flow rates. For water injection, you’d use an electric submersible pump to separate the oil and water and reinject it into a reservoir.

Positive Displacement Pumps

Positive displacement pumps are ideal for high-viscosity fluids that require precise flow rates at high pressures. Unlike centrifugal pumps, they do not have impellers. Instead, they use rotating parts to create pressure that transports liquid. There are many different types of positive displacement pumps.

  • Reciprocating plunger pumps: These pumps pressurize liquid in a cylinder. Consisting of a piston and plunger, the consistent reciprocating action moves fluid to a pipe system with a steady flow rate. Reciprocating plunger pumps excel in high-pressure applications such as saltwater disposal, descaling and hydraulic fracturing.
  • Diaphragm pumps: Diaphragm pumps draw fluids into a chamber, isolating them from the pump’s other components. These pumps are ideal for handling corrosive and abrasive fluids without contamination.
  • Progressive cavity pumps: A single helix rotor turns inside a double helix stator, creating a sequence of small cavities that move along the fluid as the rotor turns. Use progressive cavity pumps to tackle viscous fluids and slurries, such as drilling mud.
  • Gear pumps: The narrow gear tolerances of the pump transfer clean, viscous fluids.
  • Metering pumps: Metering pumps are a broader class of pumps that deliver fluids precisely at a specified flow rate within a specific time. They are ideal for precise chemical dosing.

Vacuum Pumps

Vacuum pumps create low-pressure conditions by removing gas molecules from a sealed chamber. Different designs — such as liquid ring and rotary vane pumps — achieve various vacuum levels and are suitable for disparate operating environments.

In the oil and gas industry, vacuum pumps enable critical processes like vacuum distillation in refineries, crude-oil degassing and vapor-recovery operations. Their ability to control pressure and remove entrained gases makes them essential for improving product quality, efficiency and environmental compliance.

Gas Pumps

Gas pumps for power plants move gases rather than liquids, which sets them apart from the other pump types described above. In industrial settings, these machines are typically compressors — equipment that increases gas pressure instead of pushing fluid through a system.

In oil and gas operations, compressors raise the pressure of natural gas coming from pipelines or storage so turbines and engines can use it to generate electricity. Common compressor designs include rotary screw, reciprocating and dynamic compressors.

Selection Criteria for Your Oil and Gas Application

How do pumps work? That depends on their classification. Narrow down your choices by matching the pump type and model to meet your project’s needs. Consider these critical technical factors to ensure your pump will be effective for your operations.

  • Viscosity: High-viscosity fluids such as heavy crude oil require the power of a positive displacement pump, while a centrifugal pump can handle low-viscosity fluids, including water or refined fuels.
  • Corrosiveness: When handling corrosive materials such as sour crude or chemicals, you’ll need a pump constructed from corrosion-resistant materials or one with a specific design. A diaphragm pump isolates the fluid and prevents leaks.
  • Solids content: Abrasive solids such as sand or other particulates can quickly wear out a pump’s internal components. Ensure a long service life by choosing a pump designed to handle solids, such as a progressive cavity pump.
  • Flow rate and pressure: Your required flow rate and discharge pressure are fundamental. A centrifugal pump is ideal for high-flow, low-pressure applications, while a positive displacement pump is the better choice for applications that require a consistent flow at high pressure.
  • Temperature: Extreme operating temperatures can affect a pump’s materials, clearances and performance. Select a pump specifically designed to handle your application’s temperature range to avoid premature failure.

Applications by Sector

Centrifugal and positive displacement pumps carry out tasks from the wellhead to the refinery.

  • Upstream: During exploration and production, centrifugal pumps carry out processes like water injection, crude oil transfer and water disposal. PD pumps get involved upstream for well stimulation, fracturing and other processes like artificial lift.
  • Midstream: Centrifugal pumps are the most practical method of mainline pipeline transport. These pipeline booster stations efficiently move crude oil and refined products over long distances at the appropriate flow rates. Choose PD pumps like gear pumps for loading and unloading tankers. Use a vacuum pump for vapor recovery units at storage terminals.
  • Downstream: Refining and processing involve dealing with various fluids, temperatures and pressures. You can use a centrifugal pump for many jobs, including high-volume transfers and for feeding water to boilers for power generation. PD pumps handle other tasks, such as chemical dosing or moving heavy, viscous asphalt and bitumen. Vacuum pumps are critical to processes such as vacuum distillation for refining heavy crude oil.

Industry Standards and Durable Materials

American Petroleum Institute standards such as API 610 for centrifugal pumps and API 674 for positive displacement pumps govern the design and manufacturing quality of industrial oil pumps to ensure safety and reliability in demanding service applications.

The pump’s materials are critical to its performance and service life. Cast iron and carbon steel are suitable for general-purpose applications, but harsher conditions call for more robust materials. Stainless steel offers corrosion resistance, while more aggressive or high-temperature fluids may require specialized alloys, including chrome-moly, Inconel or even titanium.

The Advantages of Choosing Used Industrial Pumps

Buying used industrial pumps can be a more cost-effective way of getting the equipment you need. There are multiple benefits of going this route.

  • Reduced lead times: Choosing used pumps usually means you can get your equipment up and running more quickly, since you’re not waiting for long manufacturing lead times. Used pumps are in stock and ready to ship.
  • Significant cost savings: Buying used equipment frees up your budget to invest in higher-spec ancillary equipment or other areas of your business.
  • Proven reliability: Used oil and gas pumps can still give you a long service life. They also have proven operating hours, giving you the peace of mind that they can get the job done in a real-world operational environment.

Find Your Ideal Pump at Louisiana Chemical Equipment Company

Louisiana Chemical Equipment Company has provided used process equipment solutions for over five decades. Pumps are among the 85 equipment categories we offer. Shop our selection of centrifugal and PD pumps. If you need help choosing, request a quote. One of our knowledgeable team members will help you find the appropriate pump for your needs.

Types of Pumps in the Oil and Gas Industry

Pumps are invaluable fixtures on many oil drilling rigs. This equipment accelerates the fluid transfer from one location to another. Refineries need these pumps because oil displacement is critical for rig operations. Processing fluids in the gas and oil industry can be challenging, and using the correct refinery pumps will aid the process. In this guide, you’ll discover various oil pumps and their applications.

Types of Oil and Gas Pumps and Their Applications

Many oil well pump types streamline the fluid displacement process, whether delivering oil to a storage facility, refinery or ship. Along with carrying oil, the various pump types operate under similar principles, allowing you to find the best one for your application.

Each pump has a distinct function and can ease daily operations, so choosing the correct one will be vital for your business. Below, you can discover all the information you need about how oil pumps work and their various applications.

Centrifugal Pumps

Centrifugal pumps for the oil and gas industry use one or multiple rotating impellers to suction the oil into the pump before discharging the fluid with centrifugal force. Valves control the discharge.

These pumps are excellent for low-viscosity fluids with high flow rates and do not contain fumes, air or significant amounts of solid particles. Often, you will use these pumps within a more extensive network for secondary gas and oil recovery or oil shipping. You may also add an electric submersible pump, which separates oil and water to re-inject the water into a reservoir without bringing it to the ground surface.

Metering Pumps

Metering pumps transfer an exact fluid volume within a specific time at an accurate flow rate. Delivering liquid with these adjustable, precise flow rates is a practice known as metering. Rather than describing a particular type of pump, a “metering pump” can change depending on the use or application. Many metering pumps are reciprocating pumps with a diaphragm or packed plunger end. Diaphragm ends are the better choice because they seal fluid inside, preventing it from leaking into the atmosphere.

Diaphragm Pumps

This industrial oil pump has a diaphragm and valve to draw gas and oil into a refinery chamber during the midstream and upstream refinement phases. As the chamber volume increases, the pressure decreases, allowing fluid to pour into the chamber. Then, the diaphragm pushes the oil out as it moves up and down. After the liquid clears the chamber, the diaphragm will adjust to allow more liquid to enter.

These pumps’ unique design allow you to move large amounts of fluid. Diaphragm pumps are excellent for refineries with access to sizable oil sources. The small number of friction points or moving parts in these pumps makes them wear-resistant, as the components are less likely to break down. However, they can experience brief changes in fluid output called winks, which can slow the pumping operation.

Positive Displacement Pumps

These pumps work in contrast to centrifugal pumps, as they do not require impellers to transfer the oil. Positive displacement pumps use reciprocating or rotating parts, creating pressure to transport fluid. A diaphragm pump is an example of a positive displacement pump.

These pumps are ideal for high-viscosity fluids that transport at higher pressure but at a lower rate. You can use them during the upstream phase of the refinery. These units are more compact, allowing the high-pressure ratio to increase. This unit’s construction and design make this pump an affordable option for many people. However, these pumps are high-maintenance and louder than centrifugal pumps. They are less than ideal for applications requiring high flow rates.

Gear Pumps

A gear pump is another type of positive displacement pump that uses gears to transfer fluids. You can also use them to clean fluids as they pass between the narrow gear tolerances. These units have a discharge pip system with a relief pump to protect the pipe and pump from experiencing over-pressurizing. You can use gear pumps for chemical transfer applications.

There are two types of gear pumps. External gear pumps rely on an external spur gear to drive the internal gears. The internal gears allow non-lubricating fluids to pump through because they do not touch. Internal gear pumps use a shaft-driven drive gear.

Reciprocating Plunger Pumps

These pumps are prevalent in the gas and oil industry. Plunger pumps can pressurize liquid in an enclosed cylinder. They use the piston and plunger reciprocating action to move the fluid to a pipe system. You can expect constant flow rates during the process because these pumps remain consistent despite the pressure at any given speed. These pumps require a relief valve in the discharge piping system to prevent overpressurizing in the piping and pump system. You can often find these pumps in applications like saltwater disposal, descaling, oil and gas pipelines, well services and hydraulic fracturing.

Progressive Cavity Pumps

These pumps move liquids with a turning rotor. This process creates a series of small, fixed-shaped chambers that move through the unit. The flow rate remains constant regardless of the system pressure, though it is normal to experience flow slippage at higher pressures. You can use these pumps for high-viscosity applications when you do not need to mix the pushed fluid. They can also handle solids, making these pumps ideal during sludge and slurry transfers and wastewater treatments. These pumps also need a relief valve to prevent overpressurizing in the piping and pump system.

Shop Centrifugal Pumps From Louisiana Chemical Equipment Company

At Louisiana Chemical Equipment Company, we’re proud to be a leader in our industry. We purchase and sell quality, used equipment for businesses in the refineries, industrial chemical plants and more. We’re a trusted source of equipment and have been for more than five decades.

We offer more than 14,000 items, and you can easily browse our site to find what you need by searching specific categories within our 85 options. Throughout our catalog, you can find silos, sifters, heat exchangers, pumps, tanks and much more.

Our equipment is available for relocation and inspection, so you can be sure to find the best pieces for your needs. You can easily browse our inventory, including centrifugal pumps for oil and gas industry applications. You can also contact our experienced team or complete a purchase request to suit your needs.