James,
Please have a look at this series of photos! If the link doesn’t work, it’s at Flickr under “Traditional Oil Drilling, Indonesia”
If these guys used a ox, instead of the engine, to power the bailer (their “pump”) this set up would be exactly the same as was used in Canada and eastern Europe 150 years ago. The simply thermal-cracking refinery they’re operating, or a variant of it, can produce not only diesel but gasoline, kerosene, and lubricating oils as well.
I was simply dumbfounded to see these pictures. This would be like finding a Cavalry company mounted on horseback and armed with Trapdoor Springfield .45-70 carbines still on patrol up in Montana. I tip my hat to these guys for their ingenuity and work ethic because it’s hard, dangerous, very dirty work. – Jeff B.