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Foreword

This book is a PRIMER - beginner's text - written in simple, non-technical language. It is designed to bring to the new production employee, or to anyone else unfamiliar with production practices, an elementary understanding of the day-to-day workings of an oil and gas field.

No attempt has been made to go into detail. Because of the wide variations in specific methods and techniques used in the many different fields throughout the country, problems have been dealt with in a very general manner. The examples used, the explanations given, and the pictures and drawings shown are merely illustrative and in no sense are to be considered as API recommendations, or as being the only way in which the objective could be accomplished.

Likewise, this primer deals only with normal trouble-free operations and makes no effort whatsoever to cover the troubles and large number of circumstances frequently encountered. Too, only production matters are included, inasmuch as the various other phases of the industry have already been covered in other excellent publications sponsored by the API or other competent associations. A list of a number of these appears on the following page.

No other business is more vital to the strength and industrial economy of the United States than the petroleum industry; and no other workers are more important to the oil industry than the front-line production employees. So it is to them this primer is dedicated, to the new man in the hope that it will help him get a running start and to the experienced employee who helps the new man and others not acquainted with producing operations.