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​Continuing from the previous article, click to jump to questions 1-50! This "100 Q&A on Oil Production Basics (Part 2)" continues in a Q&A format, covering questions 51-100. These questions primarily cover oil well performance analysis, oil well operation monitoring, water injection and flooding operations, pumping unit and electric pump well maintenance, and the basic concepts and operation of Christmas trees and oil and gas transmission systems.

We have compiled "100 Q&As on Oil Production Basics," which uses a question-and-answer format to organize and summarize key knowledge points about oil and gas fields. This is Part 1, covering questions 1-50. The content covers core knowledge such as the basic concepts of oil and gas fields, production wells and oil production methods, pumping unit and progressive cavity pump operation, water injection and flooding methods, and oil well operation and maintenance.

Definition of Shale Oil： Shale oil refers to petroleum stored in organic-rich, nanoscale pore-bearing shale formations. It is the abbreviation for mature organic shale oil. Shale is both a source rock and a reservoir rock for oil. Shale oil exists in adsorbed and free forms and is generally light in weight and low in viscosity. It is primarily stored in nanoscale pore throats and fracture systems, distributed along or parallel to lamellae. Organic-rich shales generally accumulate over large, continuous areas in the center of a basin, are generally oil-bearing, and have a large resource size. Key factors in evaluating the "core zone" of shale oil include reservoir space distribution, reservoir brittleness index, shale oil viscosity, formation energy, and the size of the organic-rich shale. The successful extraction of shale gas provides a technical reference for shale oil extraction. "Artificial permeability" stimulation technologies, such as horizontal well volume fracturing and refracturing, are key technologies for the effective development of shale oil. Among shale oil resources, condensate oil or light oil may be the primary types for industrial production [6,11]. Condensate and light oil molecules have a diameter of 0.5 to 0.9 nm. Theoretically, they are more easily flowable and recoverable within the nanoscale pore throats of shale under high temperature and high pressure underground.

After exploration, drilling, and completion, the well begins normal production, and the oil field enters the production phase. Based on the needs of the oil field, the goal is to maximize the extraction of underground crude oil to the surface, increase well production and oil recovery, and rationally develop the reservoir to achieve high and stable production. This is called oil recovery.

During the operation of a pumping unit system, leakage is a common problem that affects production efficiency and equipment life. While "tubing leakage" and "pump leakage" are often mentioned, many people tend to confuse them. This article will systematically explain the differences between the two from four perspectives: definition, causes, impacts, and solutions, to help users quickly understand and diagnose the problem.

Oil recovery by rod pump is realized by a rod pumping system based on “three pumping” equipment (pumping unit, pumping rod and oil pump). That is, under the drive of the pumping unit, the plunger of the pumping pump (also known as the deep well pump) is driven up and down by the pumping rod going down into the well, and the well fluid is drawn to the ground.

In the process of oil and gas exploration, a variety of machinery and equipment need to be used to ensure the smooth progress of exploration activities. These equipment cover many aspects from geological survey in the early stage of exploration to drilling, logging, well testing, and subsequent production operations. So today let's get to know these devices briefly：

The value and application of insert rod pumps: As the core component of artificial lift systems, insert rod pumps have become increasingly strategically important during low oil price cycles: Insert rod pumps reduce costs and increase efficiency: their highly wear-resistant design and long-life structure significantly reduce maintenance and replacement costs. Insert rod pumps ensure productivity: they maintain stable lift in low-permeability, heavy oil, and deep well conditions, ensuring continuous well production. Insert rod pumps are highly adaptable: they can be customized to suit diverse reservoir conditions to meet diverse production needs. Insert rod pumps improve oil recovery: their stable and reliable lift efficiency helps oil companies maintain high production despite downward pressure on oil prices.

Pumping unit is a ground-driven equipment with rod pumping. According to the basic structure of the oil pumping unit, the oil pumping unit can be divided into two categories: Free beam type and non-free beam type. The most widely used at home and abroad is the free beam type oil pumping unit (commonly known as kowtow machine). So today, let's take a closer look at the different types of beam-type pumps that can be used on rod pumps.

The most commonly used deep well pump oil recovery device is a beam-type oil pump-oil pump device, which includes a pumping unit, the ground part of the wellhead device of the pumping well, and the underground part including the pumping rod, the oil pump, and the oil pipe. Among them, the pumping unit, the pumping rod, and the oil pump are the most important components of this kind of oil pumping device, the so-called “three pumping equipment.”