The Basic Method: Pipes and Pumps
To move oil from an oil well to a chemical plant in Factorio, you build a pipe network that connects the two structures and place a pump to push the oil through. Oil does not flow uphill or over long distances on its own — the pump provides the pressure needed to move it where you want.
Start by placing a pump adjacent to your oil well. The pump has an input side (marked with a small line) that faces the well and an output side that faces away. Connect a pipe to the pump's output, then run pipes toward your chemical plant. At the chemical plant, connect the final pipe to one of the three input ports on the side of the building. The pump will begin transferring oil as soon as the well has oil to give.
Pumps consume 30 kilowatts of power, so make sure your electrical grid has enough capacity. If your power cuts out, the pump stops and oil backs up in the pipes.
Key Takeaways
- A pump placed next to an oil well pushes oil through pipes to a chemical plant without any manual input once built.
- Oil moves only in the direction the pump faces, so orient the pump output toward your chemical plant before placing it.
- Chemical plants have three input ports; any one of them accepts oil, and the plant will draw from whichever pipe is connected.
- Pumps require 30 kilowatts of power and will stop transferring oil if your electrical grid loses power.
- Long pipe runs may need multiple pumps placed in series to maintain pressure and keep oil flowing at full speed.
Placing the Pump Correctly
The pump's orientation matters. When you place a pump, it has a direction — the side with the small intake mark is where oil enters, and the opposite side is where it exits. Always place the pump so the intake faces the oil well and the output faces toward your chemical plant.
If you place the pump backward, it will not transfer oil. You can rotate the pump before placing it by pressing R, or you can remove it and place a new one facing the right direction. Once placed correctly, connect a pipe to the output side and begin running pipes toward your destination.
Running Pipes Over Distance
Pipes can be placed in long lines, but oil pressure drops as distance increases. For short distances — up to about 15 tiles — a single pump is usually enough. For longer runs, place a second pump halfway along the pipe to boost pressure and keep oil moving at full speed.
You can also run pipes underground using underground pipes, which take up less space and look cleaner. Underground pipes work the same way as regular pipes and do not require pumps to function, but they still lose pressure over very long distances. If oil is moving slowly or not at all, add another pump to the line.
Connecting to the Chemical Plant
Chemical plants have three input ports arranged on one side of the building. Each port can accept a different fluid — oil, water, or another liquid. To connect your oil pipe to the plant, straightforward place a pipe segment touching one of these input ports. The plant will automatically draw oil from the connected pipe.
You do not need to connect to a specific port; any of the three will work for oil. If you are also sending water or other fluids to the plant, use different ports for each fluid type to keep them separate.
Troubleshooting Oil Flow Problems
If oil is not reaching your chemical plant, check these things in order. First, make sure the pump is powered — look at the pump and confirm it has a green checkmark or is lit up. If the pump is dark or red, your electrical grid does not have enough power.
Second, verify the pump is facing the right direction. The intake side should point at the oil well, and the output should point toward the pipes. Third, check that your pipes are actually connected to both the pump and the chemical plant with no gaps. A single missing pipe segment will break the whole line.
Fourth, if the distance is very long, add a second pump in the middle of the pipe run. Finally, make sure the oil well itself still has oil — if the well is depleted, no amount of pumping will help, and you will need to find a new oil field.
Using Multiple Pumps for High-Volume Transfer
If you are running multiple chemical plants or need to move oil very quickly, place multiple pumps in parallel rather than in series. This means running separate pipe lines from the oil well, each with its own pump, and connecting them all to the same chemical plant or to different plants nearby.
Parallel pumps let you move more oil per second than a single pump can handle. Each pump transfers oil independently, so the total flow is the sum of all pumps running. This is useful when you are scaling up production and need more oil input than one pump can provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a pump if the chemical plant is right next to the oil well?
Yes. Oil does not flow without a pump, even over a distance of one tile. Place a pump between the well and the plant, and it will transfer oil automatically once powered.
What happens if my pump loses power?
The pump stops working when ready, and oil in the pipes stays where it is. Once power is restored, the pump resumes transferring oil. If your grid is unstable, consider adding more power generation or a battery to keep the pump running.
Can I transfer oil uphill?
Yes, pumps push oil in any direction, including uphill. The pump does not care about elevation — it straightforward moves oil from its input to its output regardless of height difference.
How many chemical plants can one pump supply?
One pump can supply multiple chemical plants if they are connected to the same pipe network. However, the oil will be split among all plants drawing from that network, so each plant receives less oil per second. If you need each plant to run at full speed, give each one its own pump.
What if oil is moving very slowly through the pipes?
Add a second pump in the middle of the pipe run to boost pressure. Long distances cause pressure loss, and a second pump restores flow speed. You can also use underground pipes to reduce the visual clutter while maintaining the same pressure behavior.