Artificial lift is the name given to a range of methods which are required to increase the flow of liquids in a production well. Artificial lift is an essential process in all well systems, whether you are referring to a oil well, a gas well, or a water well. For example, depending on the type of well in question, various materials may need to be removed from the production environment, such as salt water from a gas well, or crude oil from a water well.
There are a variety of different ways to create and maintain artificial lift, including a range of pumps and the manipulation of the hydrostatic column through the injection of gas. Hydraulic pumps are often used in artificial lift systems, along with other types of pumps and life mechanisms.

There are two main categories of hydraulic pumping mechanisms used around the world, reciprocating piston pumps and jet pumps. Both of these pumps have advantages in particular environments, with reciprocating pumps using each side of a dual pump to inject and pump fluids and jet pumps using a high pressure nozzle to create a venturi effect which pumps materials to the surface. Hydraulic pumps are the most popular and versatile way to create artificial life in a well environment, because they can be used in a range of different settings and depths.

Other than the two main categories of hydraulic pumps, there are other types of pumps also used to create artificial lift. These include electric submersible pumps, progressing cavity pumps, and rod pumps. Also, while pumps are the chief mechanism used to create artificial lift in production wells, it is also possible to use the processes of gas lift to create back pressure and artificial lift. There are a variety of potential artificial lift systems that can be used by production wells, with different systems used in different locations and applications.