Why are oil fields and pumpjacks designed this way?

Don't know how to use a machine? Looking for efficient setups? Stuck in a mission?
Quorvixs
Manual Inserter
Manual Inserter
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2026 7:29 am
Contact:

Why are oil fields and pumpjacks designed this way?

Post by Quorvixs »

I've always wondered about the reasoning behind how crude oil deposits work in the game.

Why did the developers choose to make oil fields produce indefinitely at a reduced rate instead of treating them like iron or copper deposits that eventually run out?

I'm just curious about the design decision and whether there's a specific gameplay reason for it.
robot256
Smart Inserter
Smart Inserter
Posts: 1379
Joined: Sun Mar 17, 2019 1:52 am
Contact:

Re: Why are oil fields and pumpjacks designed this way?

Post by robot256 »

#1 is is actually based on how real oil fields operate. We can't actually pump every last drop from a given borehole because as the oil is extracted, the pressure in the reservoir decreases. At some point, you get only tiny amounts of oil out because your pump can only suck so hard.

#2 is that implementing a semi-realistic system like this adds variety to the gameplay. It means you have to make a judgement during the game when to explore for more oil, and whether to dismantle an unproductive outpost. It's not a binary indicator when the right time to do that is.
My mods: Multiple Unit Train Control, RGB Pipes, Shipping Containers, Rocket Log, Smart Artillery Wagons.
Maintainer of Auto Deconstruct, Cargo Ships, Vehicle Wagon, Honk, Shortwave.
Post Reply

Return to “Gameplay Help”