Horizontal well pumps are used in a wide range of industries around the world, in the extraction and movement of water, oil, and gas. A pump is the name given to any device that is used to move fluids from one location to another, such as liquids, gases, or slurries. While there are a range of different pumps on the market, they all fall into three major categories.
The common categories of pumps include direct lift pumps, displacement pumps, and gravity pumps. There are also a category of pumps that are known as horizontal well pumps, which can be distinguished from vertical pumps in their configuration. However, horizontal well pumps refer to the configuration of the pump and not the overall mechanism of use. Positive displacement pumps are one of biggest categories of well pumps in use around the world, with other common varieties including impulse pumps, velocity pumps, gravity pumps, and steam pumps.

Positive displacement pumps function by causing various fluids to move though the mechanism of trapping, that is trapping a fixed amount of liquid and then forcing it into a discharge pipe through the act of displacement. Positive displacement pumps are often called constant flow machines, because they are capable of achieving a constant flow rate at a given speed. The different types of positive displacement pumps are classified according to the nature of the mechanism that is used to move fluid, with rotary types using internal gears, screws, shuttle blocks, and a circumferential piston. Reciprocating types use pistons and diaphragm pumps, while linear pumps make use of rope pumps and chain pumps.

One of the best examples of a horizontal pump is the fire pump, which is powered by electricity, steam, or diesel to pump water in the case of fire. However, there are also a wide range of horizontal well pumps in operation all over the world, which play an important role in the oil, water, and gas industries. Horizontal well pumps are available from large pump manufacturers and retailers around the world, many of whom cater directly to the oil and gas industries and look after all of their pumping needs.