What Happens To A Pumpjack When It Can’t Pump Anymore

When it comes to Midland-Odessa, the pumpjack is not just a piece of equipment; it's a symbol of the local connection to the oil industry, an industry that can be considered to be the lifeblood of the entire region.  With thousands of pumpjacks littering the Permian Basin, you'd be hard-pressed to go anywhere in Midland-Odessa without seeing one.

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What Happens When A Pumpjack Dies?

Just like any other expensive piece of equipment, pumpjacks occasionally break down and require maintenance.  But what happens when a pumpjack reaches the end of its life?  What happens to the remnants?  Are they removed and replaced with newer pumpjacks?  Or are they just left to rot?  Many locals refer to this phenomenon as "The Last Nod".  This is when the pumpjack has reached the end of its life.

Depending on the situation, circumstances, and location, some pumpjacks are left in the ground, turning into a shrine of sorts.  The equipment essentially sits in its final resting place while rotting in the elements over the years.  However, if the location of the pumpjack sits on a profitable area that is still pumping oil, the decision may be made to replace the pumpjack.  This usually stems from a case-by-case scenario based on whether replacing the pumpjack will make financial profit versus simply abandoning it entirely.

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Beginning of the End

The beginning of the end for a typical pumpjack is marked by constant mechanical issues and, ultimately, silence. The pumpjack will cease producing oil or will stop moving entirely. At this point, engineers will decide the pump's future. If the pumpjack is deemed to be abandoned, it is stripped of any usable parts that can be reused or sent to scrap.  However, this is also a case-by-case scenario, so the possibility of letting is rot as it sits is also not uncommon.