Pump jack with counterbalance

A pump jack with a counterbalance system, comprising:

• a supporting structure;
• a linear actuator comprising a housing and a shaft, the housing being vertically oriented and mounted to the supporting structure above a ground surface, the shaft having a first end movably received within the housing and having a connection end that extends out of a bottom end of the housing;
• the linear actuator driving the shaft between an extended position and a retracted position;
• a first pulley carried by the connection end of the shaft;
• a second pulley fixed relative to the supporting structure above the first pulley;
• an elongate flexible member, having a first end fixed relative to the housing of the linear actuator and a second end connected to a surface rod, the elongate flexible member passing around the first pulley and the second pulley, such that reciprocating movement of the shaft causes the surface rod to move vertically;
• and
• a weight carried by the connection end of the shaft, the weight acting as a mechanical counterbalance.