For centuries, the only way to harness the mineral and fuel-rich materials of the planet was to use an old-fashioned shovel. Today, technology has improved exponentially, allowing not only for easier access, but larger yields of the Earth’s great natural resources. One of the most precious commodities in today’s world is petroleum, a word which is used to describe naturally occurring crude oil, as well as refined petroleum products. Crude oil is a fossil fuel that is comprised of the remnants of ancient algae and zooplankton, which were subjected to intense pressures and heat deep within the earth over millions of years. Oil drilling is the most common method of siphoning this rich resource, but in some cases, naturally occurring oil springs have been found. The location of oil is highly dependent on the geological makeup of the region, but drilling is now a common practice across nearly every continent in the world. Through refinement and distillation, a vast number of products are created from the raw material. From the many plastics that have greatly improved manufacturing capabilities, and the consumer products used throughout our homes, to the gasoline we use to power our automobiles, oil is a vital necessity in the modern world. Crude oil used for the creation of fuel has powered human progress through the early industrial age, and has long been a source of booming economic growth for the world’s oil-rich countries. Even other fuels like kerosene are derivative of this hydrocarbon. Petroleum is in such high demand in today’s world, that it’s estimated that nearly 95 million barrels are utilized each day worldwide. Without oil, modern society would not have been made possible. In part, the advancement of technology has been dependent on oil, while harnessing oil has been dependent on increasingly efficient technologies

From large drilling equipment used in offshore oil rigs to essential air and gas compressors, the modern oil and gas industry depends on durable, high-quality machinery to siphon crude oil from the Earth. In addition, specialized equipment is also needed for the refinement and distillation processes used to create gasoline, plastics, asphalt and other essential petroleum-based products.

While drilling technologies have greatly advanced over the past century, many other aspects of the industry have also grown into what we see today. In the early days, drilling had already been established long before oil or natural gas was harnessed for any useful purpose. Early drilling was used to search for a more important natural resource than oil: water. The quest for clean drinking water dwelling deep below the surface set the stage for some of the earliest forms of drilling technologies. Early drillers developed a system that utilized the tension of a bent tree with a spring pole to dig a hole into the ground in their pursuit of a new well. In many ancient historical recordings, this method was used, and is still used today in some parts of the world. The spring pole and chisel were invaluable, and practical tools to find life sustaining resources. One of the most well-known accounts came in 1802, when West Virginia salt brine drillers managed to reach a depth of 58 feet with a spring pole. Oil wasn’t considered very useful to the brine drillers, and acted as a nuisance if it contaminated the work site. With the advent of steam power, and more advanced forms of mechanical engineering, drilling became a much easier and more efficient task. In Pennsylvania, the entrepreneurial spirit of several businessmen started the modern oil industry after they figured out they could sell what was often considered a detriment for those seeking water and brine. Oil was used medicinally and as a lubricant, despite its foul stench. The Ruffner brothers and Samuel Kier of Tarentum, Pennsylvania, began to market by patenting a variety of oil-based medicines and lubrication products. This simple act gave birth to a widely popular industry, and cemented oil’s place as a useful commodity. By the early 1900s, oil drilling had advanced and with it, the use of more complex equipment for extraction. Rotary drilling became a common practice in oil-rich areas like Texas, and opted for a hollow drill stem that used fluid to push broken rocks and debris from the borehole as it was re-circulated. This was much more efficient than the heavy cable-tool rig systems that predated it. Rotary drilling rigs soon became the best way to drill for oil, which is still reflected in much of today’s modern drilling machinery. The record depth for a cable-tool rig is 11,145 feet, but Russia reached a depth of 40,000 feet within ten years of using a rotary system. From there, several advancements in drill bits and rotary technologies were made, creating the systems we see today, which can reach to great depths and provide much faster methods for extraction. One technological advancement that has also contributed to the industry was the use of air and gas compressor systems. Within the past 10 years, oil fields would often flare petroleum gas, which was the result of treating crude oil before it was transported in a pipeline. However, new regulations demanded that 95 percent of petroleum gas must be processed, requiring it to be compressed. In order to do so, compressors were needed at the oil fields. Commonly, reciprocating gas engine-driven compressor systems were employed while being fueled with the transported gas. In addition, compressors are often used in oil fields for gas re-injection for maintaining reservoir pressures. By using a series of compressors, gas or, in some cases, air, can be used for re-injection. Both centrifugal air compressors, which are often the initial compression sources, as well as reciprocating compressor systems, are used to meet required pressures. Because well flow and reservoir pressures slowly decrease over a period of time, compressors are often used to maintain or increase gas flow into a pipeline system, as well. Depending on the demand, or application, both centrifugal or reciprocating compressor systems can be useful.

As mentioned, both centrifugal and reciprocating compressors are used in the oil and gas industry. Below, we will take a look at these two types of compressor models, and their specifications:

A reciprocating air compressor system operates through a crankshaft-driven piston and cylinder, which is used to compress the air. There are both single- and two-stage designs. In a single-stage, a solitary reciprocating piston works by drawing air into the cylinder. In a single stroke, this creates the compression, which is then sent to a storage tank. n addition, two-stage reciprocating compressors include an additional step where a smaller piston is used. This can produce an even higher pressure if needed for certain applications.