The old master of oil delivery - Wang Bizhen

"Master Wang, I'll need you to come early tomorrow morning to inspect the No. 106 large tank and oversee the oil delivery," said Zhang Feng, a staff member from the Kuche oil terminal control team of the Northwest Oilfield Branch’s oil transportation department, as he called Wang Jianping in the evening of April 20. "No problem. It's part of my job. I’ll be there by 9 a.m.," Wang replied with a hoarse voice on the other end of the line.

In Xinjiang, the typical workday starts at 10 a.m. However, Wang Jianping, a 51-year-old worker, had just finished a night shift from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. that day. In the afternoon, he had already completed the inspection of two large tanks. After returning home from work, he received a call and was immediately summoned back to the site.

Although tired, Wang Jianping didn’t skip breakfast and arrived at the last stop of Kuqa. At this point, a batch of crude oil was waiting for him to weigh and transfer to the refining users. The busy and orderly operations resumed. He took out the “Large Tank Inspection Foot Temperature Record Transfer Table” and the “Oil and Gas Marketing Department Oil Transport Team Kucha Station Crude Oil Export Meter,” which were essential daily documents that needed to be carefully filled out. Then, he put on a positive pressure respirator and a safety helmet and began his meticulous inspection.

Wang Jianping never took his work lightly. After the oil analysts and users handed over the responsibilities, he quickly donned the respirator, grabbed a dipstick and thermometer, and climbed up the dozen-meter-high tank. When he reached the middle, he paused for a moment, perhaps to catch his breath. Others had advised him not to rush, but he knew that if the inspection wasn’t completed, it would delay the next steps. On top of the tank, he measured the oil level using the dipstick, recorded the data, took five temperature readings at different depths, and confirmed everything with the user. Afterward, he carefully wiped the dipstick. Once the oil analysts collected a proper sample, he could finally take off the respirator. By then, he was drenched in sweat.

After removing the respirator, he went directly to the laboratory with the “Large Tank Inspection Foot Temperature Recording Handoff Record Sheet” and the “Oil and Gas Sales Department Oil Team Kucha Station Crude Oil Delivery Meter” to calculate the crude oil levels and other lab results. At the same time, the central station in Kuche was also conducting similar calculations. Once the moisture content and standard density of the oil sample were determined, the actual weight of the crude oil was calculated. After double-checking with Zhonggang for 2-3 times, the figures were confirmed. Based on the results, the “Crude Oil Metering and Transferring Certificate for the Oil and Gas Distribution Department of Sinopec Northwest Oilfield Branch” was issued. After all the signatures were verified, more than an hour had passed, and the next tank of crude oil was waiting for inspection.

Throughout the day, Master Wang, affectionately known as “Lao Wang” by his colleagues, climbed up and down at least 12 large tanks. He worked through the night and came in during the middle of the night. Don’t underestimate this role—on average, 15,000 tons of crude oil are delivered to users from the site each day. Every detail matters. The measurement of the oil height, temperature, moisture content, and standard density—each step and every number must be precise. As Wang Jianping often said, “Not a single kilogram of oil can be wrong.” That’s why he earned the nickname “Wang Zhenzhen,” meaning “Wang the Precise.”

Having worked in the oil field for over 30 years, Wang Jianping is a man who always focuses on his job. He does his part well every day and always gives his best to fulfill his responsibilities. Even when he feels frustrated or wronged, he keeps quiet. This is Wang Jianping—a true reflection of every veteran oil field worker who has dedicated decades to the industry, rooted in the field, and contributed silently.