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DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS
© Alpha Thames Ltd 2004
Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology
DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS
Annulus access valve
AB3™ Valve Abandon(ment)
Alpha Thames' compact, quarter-turn rotary, parallel full-bore, double block and bleed, expanding plug valve. To cease efforts to produce oil or gas from a well, and to plug the wells of a depleted formation and salvage all material and equipment OR final plugging of wells, and/or permanent dismantling, etc. of a production platform or other installation. Association of British Certification Bodies Association of British Offshore Industries American Bureau of Shipping OR Acrylonitrile50 butadiene styrene (a hard, tough thermoplastic). To soak up as a sponge takes water. It is the ability of a gas, liquid or solid to attract and retain another substance without chemical combination. A quantity of such a substance that has absorbed as much of another as is physically possible is said to be saturated with it. Some refinery processes use this ability, for instance to separate different hydrocarbons. (See also adsorption.) Alternating current Air circuit breaker Annulus choke – closed A pressure vessel charged with nitrogen gas and used to store hydraulic fluid under pressure for the operation of hydraulic valve actuators. A (hydraulic or electrical) device for the remote and/or automatic operation of a valve or choke. Alternating current field measurement The treatment of formations with hydrochloric or other acids in order to increase production or injection. Annulus choke - open Approved code of practice Unit used to measure the rock volume of an oil or gas reservoir structure. Annual contract quantity (UK gas sales) Auto drain Atmospheric diving system. The attraction exhibited by the surface of a solid for a liquid or a gas, when they are in contact, without absorbing the liquid or gas. Advanced drilling techniques
ac ACB ACC
Accumulator Actuator ACFM
Acidizing ACO
Acre-foot ACQ AD ADS
Adsorption ADT
© Alpha Thames Ltd 2004
Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology
DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS
Alpha Thames' prototype System-Module™ for use in an AlphaCPU™ Approved for construction (or fabrication) Approved for design Approved for enquiry (or expenditure) Aqueous film forming foam Approved for manufacture Approved for purchase OR active fire protection American Gas Association Australian Geological Survey Organisation Anchor Handling Vessel. Australian Institute of Petroleum American Institute of Steel Construction American Iron and Steel Institute Auto ignition temperature As low (risk) as reasonably practicable. A group of hydrocarbon substances, including the alkanes and most of the other fractions found naturally in crude oil. Naturally occurring paraffin fractions of which the molecules are based on a "straight chain" of hydrogen; saturated carbon atoms. A refining process used to produce improved gasoline components with, for instance, lower pollutant effects. The process is also used in the manufacture of plastics. A pattern of sedimentary deposit frequently laid down by streams or rivers where they spread out into plains. Alluvial fans from past geological eras are potential reservoir structures. Alpha Thames' incremental field development solution for the production and processing of subsea hydrocarbons. It provides field control from reservoir to host, and can evolve to meet all future requirements. The AlphaCPU™ (Central Processing Unit) is a diverless, seabed, modular, processing system for the production of hydrocarbons, which forms the heart of an AlphaPRIME™ developed field. It comprises a foundation system, KeyMAN™ and a minimum of two System-Modules™. It utilises all-electric power and control for maximum efficiency and reliability. This ensures its suitability for all field developments including deepwater applications and those requiring long tie-backs. Annulus master valve A negatively charged ion; an ion that is attracted to the anode during electrolysis. Compare cation. The ring-shaped cavity between two concentric tubes OR the space around a pipe in a wellbore, the outer wall of which may be the wall of either the borehole or the casing; sometimes termed the annulus.
Aliphatic hydrocarbons Alkanes
Alluvial fan
AlphaPRIME™ AlphaCPU™
Annular space
© Alpha Thames Ltd 2004
Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Annulus Anode Also called the annular space (see above).131. An arched. such structures need less rigid strength than fixed platforms and so are relatively lighter and cheaper to install. and provide feedstocks for many of the main petrochemical processes. API gravity Appraisal well APT Aquifer Aromatic hydrocarbons The group of hydrocarbon products which include benzene.. the aquifer is the water zone of the reservoir underlying the oil zone. So-called from their "sweet" smell.) Aberdeen Operations Control Centre Association of Offshore Diving Contractors became International AODC (IAODC) now part of IMCA Absolute open flow potential AODC AOF AP APAU API APIA Annulus pressure Accident Prevention Advisory Unit (of HSE) American Petroleum Institute Australian Pipeline Industry Association The standard adopted by API for measuring the density of a liquid. Australia) Any method used to raise oil to the surface through a well after reservoir pressure has declined to the point at which the well no longer produces by means of natural energy. An electrically positive electrode. A deviation from the norm. inverted-trough configuration of folded and stratified rock layers. sedimentary bed. hydraulic pumps. and submersible electric pumps are the most common forms of artificial lift. Automatic radar plotting aid(s) Australian Resources Research Centre (Perth. as well as high octane rating gasoline blends. Annulus pressure transducer A water-bearing rock strata. ARPA ARRC Artificial lift Articulated platform © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 4 . the term indicates an abnormality such as a fault or a dome in a Anomaly ANP ANSI National Petroleum Agency (Brazil) American National Standards Institute Anticlinal trap Anticline AOCC A hydrocarbon trap in which petroleum accumulates in the top of an anticline. In geology. (Compare with syncline. Sucker rod pumps. etc. It can be converted from specific gravity by the following equation: Degrees API gravity = (141. gas lift. See anticline. (especially hydrocarbons) expressed in degrees. In a water-drive field.5 A well drilled to further confirm and evaluate the presence of hydrocarbons in a reservoir that has been found by a wildcat well.5/specific gravity @ 60°F) . see sacrificial anode. toluene. A semi-buoyant structure anchored to the seabed by means of a "Universal" joint coupling which allows it to "sway" with the forces of the sea etc.
to unscrew a joint of drillpipe or to For ships: water taken onboard specific tanks in ships to permit proper angle of response of the vessel in the water. or sink it to the seabed. gauge pressure bar bara barg © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 5 . the borehole slacken off a line or block. but sometimes concrete or iron is used additionally to lower the rig's centre of gravity permanently. and to assure structural stability. For mobile offshore drilling rigs: weight added to make the rig more seaworthy. Annulus subsurface safety valve American Society for Testing and Materials Automatic synchronising unit Annulus swab valve Autonomous underwater vehicle Amps Volts Reactive Automatic voltage regulator American Welding Society Annulus wing valve Methods of producing oil when natural reservoir pressures are insufficient or have declined. or partly out of. ASME International. increase draft. absolute pressure bar. tar and pitch. B BA Back off Ballast Breathing apparatus In drilling. Seawater is used for ballast. American Society of Mechanical Engineers. similar to bitumen.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Artificial drive ASME ASNT Asphalt American Society of Non-destructive Testing A solid petroleum residue. Natural gas which is in contact with crude oil in the reservoir or which is dissolved in the oil. Associated gas ASSV ASTM ASU ASV AUV AVr AVR AWS AWV Azimuthing thrusters Rotatable ducted propeller used in conjunction with a DPS to enable ships to maintain position without the use of anchors. to pull the drill-string out of. Unit of pressure bar. such as injection of gas or water into the reservoir structure.
97 UK Gallons). 1m³ oil = 6. or to open or close a variable valve.29 barrels of oil A term for oil flow quantity measured by volume. as in a pipeline. See Mud.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Barite Barityse A very heavy substance used as a main component of drilling mud. The name is also sometimes given to the birdcage. barrel(s) barrel(s) of oil per day (see also Mbbl/d and MMbbl/d) Billion barrels of oil equivalent Barrels of condensate OR bottom choke Bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211 extinguishant) billion cubic feet (109) Barrels of condensate per million (cubic feet) Business development or basis of design Barrels of diesel oil Barrels of distillate per day Bevel end The fused metal resulting from a welding operation or "pass" in a major weld. to increase its density (mud weight) and counter-balance downhole pressures. The inward slope of the legs of a steel platform for stability so that the base of the jacket covers a larger area than at deck level. OR Open framed "Basket" used for lowering/raising small components to the seabed. the root or stringer bead. granite) British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres A hollow tool used to retrieve junk from the well when fishing.g. The traditional unit of measure of oil volume. To "bean up" or "bean down" means to install a larger or smaller orifice. normally three. Bottom hole © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 6 . Basement rock (e. Heavy rock used for rock-dumping Baroid's (osmotic membrane efficiency generating aqueous) "green mud" drilling fluid A quantity of 42 US Gallons (34. the filler bead and the cap bead. There are BarOmega Barrel Barrelage BASE BASEEFA Basket Batter bbl bbl/d bboe BC BCF bcf bcpmm BD bdo bdpd BE Bead Bean Bell nipple Bentonite BH The orifice in a flow control or choke valve. Receptacle attached to the top of a BOP or marine drilling riser which directs the drilling mud returns to the shale shaker or mud pits.
but diamond bits are also used extensively. A form of heavy. or distilled crude containing the fractions heavier than middle distillates. a refinery pressure vessel by venting to atmosphere production of a crude oil or condensate reservoir using the pressure of the associated gas. or electrical. See crown block and travelling block. The circulating element permits the passage of drilling fluid and utilises the hydraulic force of the fluid stream to improve drilling rates. a block is one thirtieth of a quadrant (one degree by one degree) and is approximately 200 to 250 km2. one or more pulleys. solid petroleum. the pipe can be raised or lowered. The bit consists of a cutting element and a circulating element. See BOP Barrels of liquid per day Bill of material Barrels of oil Basis of design Barrels of oil equivalent (10 Mcf is equivalent to 1 bbl of oil. several drill collars are joined to the bottom end of the drill pipe column. source of sound used in marine seismic survey work. Blowout preventer: An arrangement of valves installed at the wellhead to prevent the sudden escape of reservoir and hydrocarbon pressure during drilling completion operations. The drilling line is reeved over the sheaves of the crown block alternately with the sheaves of the travelling block. in mechanics. This factor is not based on either energy content or price. OR primary Billion Bit (Drill) Bitumen Black Oil/Black Cargo Block Bloom Blow down Blowout Blowout preventer blpd BoM bo BOD BOE boi Boomer BOP © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 7 . Crude oil. OR any assembly of pulleys on a common framework. a billion means 109 not 1012. The cutting or boring element used in drilling oil and gas wells. The process of releasing pressure in e. Uncontrolled release of well fluids from the well bore during drilling operations. and on floating rigs.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS BHA BHAB BHP Bottom hole assembly British Helicoptor Advisory Board Bottom hole pressure In oil and gas usage. In rotary drilling. In the UK. When elevators are attached to a hook on the travelling block and drill pipe latched in the elevators. on the seabed. This expression normally refers to a compressed air. mounted to rotate on a common axis. The crown block is an assembly of sheaves mounted on beams at the top of the derrick. One billion cubic feet (bcf) = one thousand million cubic feet. Most bits are used in rotary drilling are roller cone bits. The rainbow-like fluorescence shown by oil for instance when floating on water.g. or sheaves. and the bit is attached to the end of the string of drill collars. The subdivided areas of the sea for the purposes of licensing to a company for exploration or production rights. See Asphalt. which is raised and lowered in the derrick by the drilling line.) Initial barrels of oil (in place). at the water's surface. Blowout preventers on land rigs are located beneath the rig at the land's surface. on jackup or platform rigs.
stabilizers and other drilling components run into the well on the end of the drillpipe. especially referring to the face of the rock outside or below the casing. Small pressure vessels of various kinds. see also IEP Benzene. Formation pressures measured at reservoir depth. Circulation of drilling fluid in a well. Bubble point Bunker 'C' A heavy residual fuel oil obtained as a result of distillation of crude oil. Test boreholes are also sunk to examine the suitability of a site for major foundation work. acidizing. Also a type of plug used to seal off a well temporarily while the wellhead is removed. toluene. to increase productivity.) See Fuel Oil. A pump installed in the lower end of the wellbore. indicating that normal circulation can commence. and to examine geological formations at points where no hydrocarbons are expected. manoeuvring and station keeping. Barrels per day A down hole packer assembly used in a well to seal off or isolate a particular formation for testing. © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 8 . (Also downhole pump. or female end in a threaded connection. (Not to be referred to as BTI). Heavy Ends. cementing. See Drill String. drill collars. pressure. such as a drillpipe. especially to absorb pressure fluctuations tanks such as those temporarily attached to a platform jacket during placement. It is dependent upon temperature. it is available from HMSO British Standards Institution Bottom of the barrel Bottoms up Bow thruster Box bpd Bridge plug BRINDEX BS BS&W Brown Book BSI British Trade International BTEX BTM Btu part of DTI. The deepest part of a well OR cylindrical flotation Bottles Bottom-hole Bottom-hole assembly (BHA) Bottom-hole pressure Bottom-hole pump This includes the drilling bit. and used as fuel primarily for marine steam generation. and gas/liquid composition. until the bottom hole mud and cuttings reach the surface. A propeller mounted transversely in the bows of a vessel to assist in docking. ethylbenzene and xylene Bromotrifluoromethane (Halon 1301 extinguishant) British thermal unit The point at which dissolved gasses begin to vaporise from a liquid.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS bopd Borehole Barrels of oil per day A well. etc. crude oil shipment adjustment The Department of Trade and Industry's annual publication which contains facts and figures relevant to oil and gas production in the UK. etc. Association of British Independent Oil Exploration Companies British Standard OR bottom sediment Basic sediment and water (e.g. (See Thrusters.) The hollow.
See also platform rig. The quantity of heat produced by complete combustion of unit weight of a material. Expressed as either calories per gram.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Bureau Veritas BV BW Verification authority Bureau Veritas Butt weld Barrels of water per day bwpd C °C CA CAA Degrees Celsius . (See also CIF) Coat and wrap (e. Circulating and conditioning (drilling fluid). Welding term. or for the location of a seawater pump OR one of several columns made of steel or concrete. running drilling tools. which might become stuck.g. which serves as the foundation for a rigid offshore platform rig. A rigid offshore drilling platform that stands on steel caissons and is used to drill development wells. or packers which might leak.g.°C = 5/9(°F-32) Certifying Authority Civil Aviation Authority Length of pipe extending vertically downwards from an installation into the sea as a means of disposing of waste waters. or btu per standard cubic foot of gas. The platform is used in certain artic waters where the caissons are needed to protect equipment from moving ice. The caissons are firmly affixed to the seabed and the drilling and production decks are laid on top of them.Civil Aviation Publication). Cost and freight only. see Bead. Catenary anchor leg mooring. or British Thermal Units (btu) per pound. (Calliper in the UK) A tool for checking casing in a well for deformation before e. such as the concrete gravity platform rig OR a steel or concrete chamber that surrounds equipment below the waterline of an arctic submersible rig. The cantilevers are supported only at the barge end. pipeline protection) A jackup drilling unit in which the drilling rig is mounted on two cantilevers that extend outward from the barge hull of the unit. thereby protecting the equipment from damage by moving ice. Helicopter Landing Areas (CAP . Capital expenditure Computer assisted platform operations Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers Caisson Caisson-type platform rig Caliper CALM Calorific value C&C C&F C&W Cantilevered jackup CAP 437 Cap bead CAPEX CAPO CAPP © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 9 .
providing a seal to contain the reservoir fluids. in conjunction with water flooding. in a given field. (Also Cem. Compare anion. Steel pipe placed in an oil or gas well as drilling progresses to seal the well and to prevent the wall of the hole caving in during drilling. an ion that is attracted to the cathode during electrolysis. Extensively used in the oil industry to bond casing to the walls of the well bore. silica. A powder consisting of alumina.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Cap rock Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection Casing An impermeable layer of rock above a discovered or potential hydrocarbon reservoir. Collapse of part of the wall of a borehole usually in a poorly consolidated rock formation.g. and to provide a means of extracting petroleum if the well is productive. A number of casing strings (lengths) are used in decreasing diameters. Underground natural or man-made storage chambers in suitable impermeable or artificially-lined rock formations. They may also be designed for cryogenic storage. to keep it central in the bore and ensure an evenly-shaped annulus in which cement can circulate and set. See also Jug. A positively charged ion.) A unit of measurement of dynamic viscosity. Centipoise (cP) Centralisers © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 10 . Corrosion protection system which relies on sacrificial anodes or impressed current to protect submerged steel components from corrosion by electrolytic action. A method used in secondary recovery from an oil reservoir. and to maintain unit velocity of flow. lime and other substances that hardens when mixed with water. Centre of buoyancy Confederation of British Industry Choke valve – close Cubic centimetre (cm3) Central control room Closed circuit television Catalytic cracking unit Calendar day OR cellar deck OR closed drains OR compact disk OR contract depth Carbon equivalent OR Community European Catenary Cathodic protection Cation Catwalk Cave-in Cavern storage CB CBI CC cc CCR CCTV CCU CD CE CEI Cellar deck Cement Council for Engineering Institution The deck or floor beneath the working floor of a drilling rig OR the deck below the main superstructure of an offshore platform. an anchor chain). A narrow elevated platform or walkway for access to equipment. Spacing collars attached to the outside of casing when run in a well. to prevent seepage of fluids. The curve assumed by a chain or cable suspended between two points (e. It expresses the force needed to overcome resistance to flow.
© Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 11 . rotary hose. Connection function OR cubic feet CF cfb CFC CFD cfg Cubic feet per barrel Chlorofluorocarbons Computational fluid dynamics Cubic feet of gas Centre of gravity CG (CoG) Cg. See also C & F. the components consist of the mud pump. An arrangement of isolation valves. The process of certifying the origin. drill stem. freight (included in price). Hence major Certification Authorities acceptable to Government agencies etc. Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for supply) A valve (or valve-like device) with a fixed or variable aperture specifically designed to regulate the flow of fluids OR an aperture restricting flow in a well or flowline. bit and mud return line. Channelling CHAOS CHARM Check valve Checkerboard Leasing CHIP Choke Christmas tree CI CIF CIMAH Circulating components Circulation bottoms-up See Bottoms-up. allowing only one-way flow. item of equipment etc. an effect produced by equipment similar to a turbine "spinning" the feedstock in an enclosed chamber. Consequences of Hazards and Accidents on Offshore Structures Chemical Hazard and Risk Management A non-return valve. Basically. OR Classification of electrical equipment for hazardous locations to BASEEFA Standards. Certification originated in ship construction and insurance classification.. quality. pressure gauges and possibly chokes installed at the top of a well to control the flow of oil and gas after the well has been drilled and completed.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Centrifuge Certification (Classification) A separator operating on the principle of differential acceleration of particles of different mass. Chemical injection OR corrosion inhibitor OR compression-ignition Cost. swivel. C/H Coring Cased hole During production from a reservoir which is being supported by pressure from contiguous water or gas. Bureau Veritas and Det Norske Veritas (DNV). process. Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazards Regulations (1984). the water or gas tends to travel towards the well bore faster through channels or layers of more permeable rock (see Permeability) by-passing and "holding back" production from the less permeable rocks. are Lloyds Register of Shipping. See also Bean. American Bureau of Shipping. A phrase used in exploration to describe granting concessions or leases on alternate blocks. The equipment included in the drilling fluid circulating system of a rotary rig. and fitness for use of operation to given standards of a platform structure. insurance. A discovery will tend to increase the value of contiguous blocks still unlet.
The temperature at which paraffin waxes will solidify and give a cloudy appearance to the oil of which they form part. etc. over the top and down the gradients on the sides of a potential reservoir. the "floatable" wall used to seal a dry construction dock. Cofferdams have various other uses.g. paper. before it can trap or retain hydrocarbons. the cofferdam is de-ballasted and floated to one side to allow egress. down the interior of the drill-stem and back to the surface via the annulus. wood etc.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Circulation drilling CISPR The passage of fluids. When the dock is filled with water for platform float-out. Four-way (all round) closure or seal is necessary. salt intrusion. Carboxyhaemoglobin COHb © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 12 . e.) International Special Committee on Radio Interface Closed-in tubing head pressure Chemical injection valve OR Chemical isolation valve Liquid chlorine Fires involving cellulosic combustibles. primarily drilling mud. Calculated open flow Certificate of Fitness Coating (pipeline) COF CoF Cofferdam In platform construction. Fires involving burning metals. or may be partly due to an impermeable fault. weight-coating OR anti-corrosion compounds applied internally. shale. Fires involving burning gases (including hydrocarbons). Conventional mooring buoy OR Choke manifold base CITHP CIV Cl2 Class A Fires Class B Fires Class C Fires Class D Fires Clastic Rock Closure Cloud Point CMB C-Mn CMS Carbon manganese steel Commissioning management system Control module test stand Compressed natural gas Carbon monoxide OR Choke valve – open OR Cleaned/circulated out. or stratigraphic trapping or e.g. conglomerates. (See also CO & S) CMTS CNG CO CO2 CO&S Carbon dioxide Clean out and shoot (well) Cement applied externally.g. Fires involving burning liquids (including hydrocarbons). Rock which has been formed from the sediment and detritus of other rocks e. (Reverse Circulation is in the opposite direction. Closure may be structural as in an anticline. sandstone.
and yet steeper Continental Rise which descends to the ocean floor. It is the first pipe to be inserted (spudded) into the seabed when drilling a hole An early appraisal or step-out well. Likewise gas can be drawn downwards from an overlying gas cap. See well completion. or it may be jetted into place in offshore locations. It supports the subsequent drilling strings. or other permit for exploration and/or production in an area or block. lease. Installation in a well of production tubing and equipment. Usually a conventional core barrel is substituted for the bit and procures a sample as it penetrates the formation. in question meets the operating specifications laid down. Condensate Conductor casing Conductor pipe Confirmation Well Coning Connate Water Continental Shelf Controlled directional drilling COP Core Coring © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 13 . See also gas condensate. etc. Preparatory work. The original water content of a reservoir rock. See also conductor pipe. Volatile liquid consisting of the heavier hydrocarbon fractions that condense out of the gas as it leaves the well. a licence. Its purpose is to prevent the soft formations near the surface from caving in and to conduct drilling mud from the bottom of the hole back to the surface when drilling starts. it is sometimes called drive pipe). and all testing prior to full production testing (see Start Up). Connate water reduces the pore-space (porosity) available to hydrocarbons. primarily in the USA. OR fulfilment of a Common Carrier Comms Complete a well Completion Completion test Concession The procedure specified in e. Communications (systems) To finish work on a well and bring it to productive status. The shelving area covered by shallow water around major land masses. a mixture of pentanes and higher hydrocarbons. It may be lowered into a hole drilled into the formations near the surface and cemented in place. wellhead and Christmas Tree contractual obligation. for determining whether the plant. a construction contract. The process of cutting a vertical. E. servicing etc. usually on newly-installed equipment. The legal status of some pipeline companies.g. A short string of large diameter casing used to keep the wellbore open and to provide a means of conveying the upflowing drilling fluid from the well bore to the mud pit.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Coiled tubing Commissioning Flexible.g. high-pressure steel tubing used in production piping (often down hole) to deliver chemicals and equipment to the local problem site. Sometimes called interstitial water. cylindrical sample of the formations encountered as an oilwell is drilled. It may be 50-100 miles (80-200 km) in width and merges into the steeper Continental Slope. Code of practice A cylindrical sample taken from a formation for geological analysis. If an oil well is produced at excessive rates the reduction in reservoir pressure may tend to draw up underlying water towards the well in a cone like shape. The purpose of coring is to obtain rock samples or cores in such a manner that the rock retains the same properties that it had before it was removed from the formation. Generally the first string of casing in a well. It usually donates a government lease. or project financing agreement. or it may be driven into the ground by a special pile driver (in such cases. A completion test may in some cases extend over several months. field development. See directional drilling. To obtain a formation sample for analysis. Can be used to deliver methanol directly at the site of a hydrate plug.
An assembly of sheaves.I. flowing. Heavy oils are found right down to the residual solid state. Light Crude normally has an A. and aims at identifying priority points at which actions "critical to" (holding up other progress on) the project need improvement or elimination. a joint initiative by the UK government and the oil industry to standardise documentation thereby reducing cost. See Section 8. shut in. while those below 20° are known as Heavy. (See also CPSI) Choke position indicator Casing pressure. Continental Shelf Act (1954) OR Cross Sectional Area relative to electrical cables Chloride induced stress corrosion cracking Casing Carrier Sensing Multiple Access with Collision Detection Crossover Crown block Crude Oil Cryogenics CSA CSCC CSG CSMA/CD © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 14 .Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS COSHH CoQ Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (Regulations 1999) Certificate of quantity (or quality). See block. between the Jurassic and the Tertiary periods. See also Cavern storage. Because it is essentially a mixture.P. during which chalk deposits were formed. a unit of measurement of dynamic viscosity (See Centipoise) Casing pressure. over which the drilling line is reeved. CRINE has been absorbed into another initiative: LOGIC Leading Oil & Gas Industry Competitiveness. the density and properties of Crude Oil vary widely. COTS COV CP Cp CPF CPI CPSI CPU CRA Cretaceous CRINE Critical Path Analysis CRM A project planning tool normally used I large construction/development projects. Corrosion resistant material An item used to connect one component to another differing in size. In oil industry terms this refers to very low temperature handling processing or storage of hydrocarbon substances. thread type or pressure rating. Sour crude has a significant sulphur content. It is based on a "network" of necessary actions of known sequence and duration. (See also CPF) Central processing unit (see AlphaCPU™) Corrosion-resistant alloy OR Comparative risk assessment Rock formed in the last period of the Mesozoic era. Cost Reduction in the New Era. (Also CQ) Commercial off the shelf (components) Crossover valve Corrosion protection (OR cathodic protection) OR casing pressure Centipoise. Gravities of 20° to 30° include the medium gravity crudes. Lowsulphur crude is described as sweet. gravity of 30° or more. mounted on beams at the top of the derrick. An unrefined mixture of naturally-occurring hydrocarbons.
The unit of measurement of rock permeability. Cuttings A "cut" is a hydrocarbon substance or group of substances extracted from a wider mixture in a refining process. primary distillation will usually yield a Naphtha/Gasoline cut. that is suitable for the connection of both rigid and flexible flowlines. i.unit of measurement Constantly stirred tank reactor Certification scheme for weld inspection personnel Connection tool tubing OR Computer tomography (used to inspect flexible risers) (See also TomX a/s) OR Coiled CSTR CSWIP CT ct CTOD CTRs Current transformer Crack tip opening displacement Cost. They are studied and logged by the well-site geologist. it is a lightweight. diverless.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS CSON CSP cST Continental Shelf Operations Notice Chlorosulphonated polyethylene. this term most commonly refers to seismic "data" – the computer records and output of a seismic survey. Although applied to any factual information. For instance. (thousandths of a Darcy). horizontal connection system developed by Alpha Thames Ltd. Time and Resource planning sheets cumulative weight cum wt CUSP™ Cut/Cut Point Connection of Underwater Systems and Pipe/flowlines.e. Cuts are made with progressive fineness and accuracy as the oil proceeds through the refinery. The permeability of most oil and gas reservoir rocks is measured in millidarcies. and a Residual Fuel Oil cut. pipelines and umbilicals. a Middle Distillate cut. the extent to which it will allow a fluid to flow through it. material used for cable sheathing Centistroke. Dry and abandoned Daisy chaining Darcy Data D&A © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 15 . CUSP™ has been designed to significantly reduce the complexity of subsea tie-in and connection operations. with an "Overhead Cut" of gases The specific gravity at which each cut is separated by the process is the Cut Point. Completion/workover (temporary riser for these operations) Cold water C/WO riser CW D D DAF Diesel pump Dynamic amplification factor The name given to the series connection of wells by flowlines. The small chips or flakes of rock retrieved from a well by the circulation of the mud.
A drilling rig designed and equipped to withstand the loads and pressures associated with drilling to deep objectives e. For longer. etc). Their most common use is to control price risk fluctuations through the markets rather than in conflict with them.e.En) Depletion Department of Energy (UK Government) Progressive reduction in reserves as a result of production.e.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS db dB DBB dc DCQ DCR DCS DDC Dry bulb temperature Sound pressure level in decibels and measurement of attenuation in signal/comms lines. for instance prior to transfer by pipeline. the "live" weight being the displacement weight of the unladen vessel. Depletion drive is primary production. De-gasser Dehydrator (gas) Delineation well DEM Demulsifier D En (also DEn & D. DDCV Dead Oil Dead weight tonnage (DWT) Dead well The load-carrying capacity of a vessel. "saturation" dives. usually one drilled specifically to determine the boundary of a discovered reservoir. The simplest is the forward sale of oil that is not intended to be delivered. (i. Duoethylene glycol A separator which removes from the returned mud flow any entrained gases from formations down the well. Depth map Derivatives © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 16 . as a result of a discovered reservoir gases with decreasing pressures. This is a further interpretation of a seismic time map. but "matched" with a suitable purchase at some intervening time. deep. Gases can cause a potentially dangerous reduction in the density of the mud and hence its ability to contain down-hole pressures OR any process which removes gases of various kinds from an oil flow. sea level).g.000 ft (6. the divers are recovered under pressure into a Decompression Chamber where pressure reduction may take some days. A well which will no longer produce without further stimulation. Decompression (chamber) Deep rig DEG The process of gradually re-acclimatizing deep divers to surface pressure conditions. Double block and bleed Delayed-action coker OR Direct current Daily contract quantity (UK gas sales) Design and Construction Regulations (SI 1996/913). Depletion allowance in some countries is a type of tax-allowable amortization recognising this reduction. this is achieved by controlling the rate of ascent. An appraisal well. For relatively shallow dives. The type most frequently used in the oil and Gas industry are psuedo-sales transactions (rather than physical sales of oil. A relief map of a sub-surface geological structure where the contours relate to depths from the surface datum level. Distributed control system Deck decompression chamber Deep draught caisson vessel Oil containing no natural gas. Derivatives include "Swaps" and "Options".000 m). over 20. i. Equipment for the removal of water from a gas stream.
it is sometimes necessary or advantageous to drill at an angle from the vertical. Deutches Institut fur Normung (Germna standards) DFCS DGB DH DHDP DHPT DHSV Diapir Differential pressure DIN Dip Dipmeter DIPS The inclination from the horizontal of the top surface of a geological structure OR contents of a tank by lowering a weight and prepared line into it. see also SCSSV. Strictly speaking it refers to the planned. casing heads. In drilling. Design wave Development Development well Deviated well/hole Dew point DFI A well whose path has been deliberately diverted from the vertical. Dyna-drills. An instrument that indicates dip relative to a well bore. or directional drilling up to 60° to 70° from the vertical is now fairly common. remote from the point where the bit enters the earth. Although wellbores are normally drilled vertically. Any major construction such as a refinery. Because the standard derrick must be assembled piece by piece. The temperature at which liquids condense from a gas. and so forth. Deviated. The substructure is an assembly of heavy beams used to elevate the derrick and provide space to install blowout preventers. Abrasion resistant spring choke control valve based upon a multiple flow paths formed by a stack of discs for use in severe service conditions or for increased service life including high pressure drops and the presence of sand. They are used particularly offshore to reach distant parts of a reservoir from a single platform. or cover. the whole life of a production project from design to abandonment. See also sticking. whipstocks. Design. Controlled directional drilling makes it possible to reach subsurface areas laterally. fabrication. or other deflecting rods. and actual production of reserves from a reservoir.g. A well drilled in proven territory in a field to complete a pattern of production OR an exploitation well. The difference between the pressure in a well due to the mud column and the pressure in the surrounding rock at any point. © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 17 . installation Diverless flowline connection system Drilling guide base Dry hole Downhole pressure and temperature Downhole pressure and temperature transducer Downhole safety valve. it has largely been replaced by the mast which can be lowered and raised without dismantling. the standard derrick has four legs standing at the corners of the sub structure and reaching to the crown block.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Derrick A large load-bearing structure. See also tank dipping. An up-thrust intrusion of lower-density rocks through overlying formations. usually of bolted construction. or a production project. Greater deviation is possible with special equipment – see horizontal drilling and slant drilling. a salt dome. The maximum size and frequency of wave that an offshore structure must be able to withstand. e. It often involves the use of turbodrills. Design & instrumentation of process systems measurement of the Directional drilling DisC™ Intentional deviation of a wellbore from the vertical. It has come to mean.
deeper below sea level) than the point under consideration. to divert and vent off any shallow gas encountered. Dynamic positioning OR dynamically positioned OR dew point OR design pressure OR drill pipe OR data processing OR drilling platform Dynamic Positioning Vessel Owners Association (now part of IMCA) The vertical distance between the bottom of a vessel floating in water and the waterline. or wildcat. The expression covers any equipment.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Discovery well DISH A successful exploration well. etc. (Also DENL) Data management system Det Norske Veritas BV (Verification Authority) See KeyMAN™. offshore. "Downstream" is a relative term (the opposite of "Upstream") in oil industry operations. The difference between the static and the flowing bottom hole pressures. measurement. Deepwater Reliability Availability and Maintenance Management System. The first successful well on a new prospective reservoir structure. The distance between the static level and the pumping level of the fluid in the annulus of a pumping well. A safety device fitted in the early stages of a well. Deep installation of subsea hardware The products of distillation.. Down a well. a short and declined the plunges on all sides. Distillates Distillation Diverter DL DMS DNV Docking-Manifold DOL Dome Dome plug trap DOT Down Dip Down Hole Downstream Downtime DP DPVOA Draft DRAMMS Drawdown Drawworks © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 18 .g. a refinery is "downstream" of a crude oil production unit. and a petrochemical unit. and a petrochemical plant usually downstream of a refinery. It is essentially a large winch spools off or takes in the drilling line and thus raises or lowers the drill stem and bit. Density log. Department of Transport An area of structure where the top of the formation is lower (e. The hoisting mechanism in drilling rig. instead of a blowout preventer. in a well or designed for use in one. Direct on line method of connecting and starting electric motors. A geological structure resembling an inverted bowl. A reservoir formation in which fluid or plastic masses of rock material originated at unknown depths and pierced or lifted the overlying sedimentary strata. A period when any equipment is unserviceable or out of operation for maintenance etc. For instance. The term has also come to mean all operations occurring after the delivery or lifting of saleable quality crude or gas from the production unit or associated delivery terminal. The process of heating and "flashing" or boiling off successive fractions (component hydrocarbon substances) from a crude oil feedstock. or a product of earlier distillation.
who ensures adherence to the drilling programme and maintenance of the shifts operating log. without any significant content of heavier hydrocarbon fractions. or "Roughnecks" may be Motor Men. drill ships are capable of drilling exploratory wells in deep. or string. When a well must be deviated or side-tracked. thick-walled tube. An unsuccessful well. a blow out preventer. one function of which is to force cuttings out of the wellbore and to the surface. a mud pump and mud circulation system. Drilling rig Drilling slot Drilling tools Drill pipe Drill ship Drill stem Drill string All members in the assembly used for rotary drilling. While not as stable as semisubmersibles. a catamaran hull or a trimaran hull. Also called the rotary line. water. water. Other functions are to cool the bit and counteract downhole formation pressure. Other skilled members. usually steel. especially in the oil patch. and chemical additives is the most common drilling fluid. together with the observations of the Toolpusher and any other significant data are sent. seamless tubing used to rotate the bit and circulate the drilling fluid. Compare drill stem. used between the drill pipe and bit in the drill stem to provide a pendulum effect to the drill stem and weight to the bit. Sometimes called a "Duster". Pump Men etc. methane and ethane. jars. Almost all drilling is now carried out by rotary rigs. from the swivel to the bit. He controls the lifting mechanism and hence the weight on the bit (See Drill String). usage of materials. drill collars. a draw-works or source power. Drill Drilling Natural gas. A self-propelled floating offshore drilling unit that is a ship constructed to permit a well to be drilled from it. including the kelly. See mud. to the Area Drilling Manager and other interested parties. See mud. stabilisers. See floating offshore drilling rig. or "Tour Sheet". DRLG Dry Gas Dry Hole © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 19 . remote waters. A heavy.g. In addition a rig crew will incorporate such specialists as Mud Engineers and Well-Site Geologists.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Drill collar Drilling Crew A heavy. Often. Joints of pipe approximately 30 ft (9 m) long are coupled together by means of tool joints. or oil-base mud as the drilling fluid. drill pipe and tool joints. The "Rig" comprises a derrick. Derrickmen. wells could also be drilled using the air. usually by telex. While a mixture of barite. Floor Men. Partly skilled members are known as "roustabouts". gas. Circulating fluid. A specially compounded liquid circulated through the wellbore during rotary drilling operations. The crew on a drilling rig is supervised by a senior drilling engineer. fishing equipment and directional drilling apparatus. of drill pipe with attached tool joints that transmits fluid and rotational power from the kelly to the drill collars and bit. Other members of the crew include the Driller. See keyway. and a system for handling drillpipe casing etc. A wire rope used to support the drilling tools. stock levels and requirements for supplies. Drilling fluid Drilling line Drilling mud Drilling out Drilling report Every twenty-four hours the Driller's log and the geological cuttings log. either as planned or to avoid a fish it is normally necessary to cut a hole in the casing wall and drill out on the new path. DRL The column. A term applied generally to any down-hole accessory including for instance stabilizers. clay. this term is loosely applied to both drill pipe and drill collars. and various speciality items. in charge of a shift. The report will also include e. known as a "Toolpusher". They may have a ship hull. a Kelly and rotary table to rotate the drill string. lifting tackles and blocks.
Diverter Valve Drilling with oil Design working pressure Dead weight tonnage (see above) A satellite monitoring system used to control the action of thrusters propellers to maintain a vessel on location without deploying anchors. Progressive reduction in the value of a producing asset as a result of production.og.dti. ECN Economic depletion © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 20 .uk Department of Transport Dry tree unit A dry well drilled during exploration. See also Depletion Allowance.gov.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS DS DSAW DSC Directional survey Double submerged arc welded Digital selective calling Dummy subsea control module Duplex self-cleaning strainer Dangerous Substance and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations 2002 Direct shuttle loading Diving safety memorandum Drill stem test Diving support vessel Deterministic sea wave prediction Design temperature Driller's total depth Department of Trade and Industry (UK) http//:www. DSCM DSCS DSEAR DSL DSM DST DSV DSWP DT DTD DTI DTp DTU Duster DV DWO DWP DWT Dynamic positioning E EC EAWR Electricity at work Regulations 1989 Commission of the European Communities Engineering change notice.
formed in 2003 by the merger of the IP and the InstE Environmental impact assessment Energy Industries Council http//:www.the-eic. escape and rescue analysis European Federation of Corrosion Electrical flying lead Electro-hydraulic Electro-hydraulic distribution manifold Electro-hydraulic multiplexed Energy Institute.com Environmental impact factor Environmental impact statement (or study) A powered swivel which rotates the drill stem from above the rig floor. EDEA EDP EDS EDT EDU EECS EEM EEMUA E/E/PE E/E/PES(s) EEPROM EER EERA EFC EFL EH or E/H or E-H EHDM E/H MUX EI EIA EIC EIF EIS Electric Swivel Electro-Drill © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 21 . thus replacing the Kelly and rotary table. A bit powered by an electric down-hole motor which operates without the need to rotate the drill string.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Economic zone ECP EDC The area of the seabed over an adjacent state can claim rights of exploitation (currently up to 200 miles). escape and rescue Evacuation. Emergency control point Emergency disconnect European Drilling Engineering Association Emergency depressurisation OR Electronic data processing OR Emergency disconnect package Element data sheet Eastern Daylight Time (USA & Canada) Electrical distribution unit Electrical Equipment Certification Service Electrical equipment room Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association Electrical/electronic/programmable electronic Electrical/electronic/programmable electronic system(s) Electrical/electronic/erasable programmable read only memory Evacuation.
Earth loop impedance Electromagnetic interference A mixture in which one liquid. Emulsion is a typical product of oilwells. procurement and construction Ethylene propylene diene monomer Engineering. called the continuous phase or dispersion medium. An all-in contract for Engineering Procurement and Construction. it utilises an external fluid exchange mechanism (FxM™) to remove the entrained (sea) water and it maintains the electrical connections in a one-atmosphere inert dry. royalty oil. three-phase. etc. Government participation crude. high-voltage. Emergency position indicating radio beacon Explosion protection review OR Ethylene propylene rubber EPDM EPIC EPIRB EPR EPROM EPS EPU EQ EQD Erasable programmable read only memory Emergency power supply Electric power unit Engineering query Emergency quick disconnect EQDP Equity Crude Emergency quick disconnect package Crude oil belonging directly to the equity participant in the oil field. Uniquely. procurement. as opposed to "Farmers crude". "I" normally signifies Inspect or Install. Alpha Thames' subsea. in a water-oil emulsion. Environmental OR environmental category. high-power. Similarly gas may be entrained in a stream of other fluids. installation and construction. Enhanced oil recovery Environmental Protection Agency (USA) Engineering. electrical connector. wet-mateable. © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 22 . thereby eliminating the longterm concerns of electrical breakdown associated with other subsea electrical connector designs. and "F" signifies Fabricate. the oil is the dispersed phase and the water the dispersion medium. Small amounts of oil which may form part of a gas stream. Feed. due to the difficulties of separation at source. etc. Water-oil emulsion is also used as a drilling fluid. casing etc when lifting them. the reverse holds.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Elevators ELEx™ A clamp used in a drilling rig to latch onto the grip drill pipe. clean gas environment. In an oil-water emulsion. termed the dispersed phase. Euronorme (standard) ELI EMI Emulsion EN Enhanced oil recovery Entrained Oil/Gas Env EOR EPA EPC A means used to assist in the extraction of oil either by installing equipment into the production tubing or by injecting water or gas into the reservoir. In the many variants such as EPCI. is uniformly distributed (usually as minute globules) in another liquid.
A bend or loop installed in a length of pipeline to absorb longitudinal expansion with changes in outside temperature. Electric submersible pump Expandable Sand Screen ERRVA ESD ESDP ESDV ESP ESS ESSA ETD Emergency Systems Survivability Analysis Embedded temperature detector Energy Technology Data Exchange Extended tension leg platform Expandable Tubular Technology Forum ETDE ETLP ETTF EU EUT EVA EW EWT Ex European Union Equipment under test Ethylene vinyl acetate Exploratory well Extended well test Symbol which signifies the certified use of electrical equipment in hazardous locations e. etc. Expansion Loop Exploitation Exploitation well Exploration © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 23 . geological and geophysical (seismic) surveys.g. Emergency shut down panel Emergency shut down valve – an automatically operated. The development of a reservoir to extract its oil. normally open valve used for isolating a subsea pipeline. Sometimes called a development well (see development well). and specific geochemical. The process of identifying a prospective hydrocarbon region and structure. an oil or gas producer. the passage of hot oils. and the drilling of wildcats.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS ER ERA ERD ERP Extended reach Electrical Research Association Engineering reference document (Shell Expro) OR extended reach drilling Emergency radio point Emergency Response and Rescue Vessel Association Emergency shut down OR electrostatic discharge. mainly by reference to regional. including core testing. Ex(d) explosion proof. A well drilled to permit more effective extraction of oil from a reservoir e. or gas or water injector to support production.g.
556 °C In geology. See also Differential Pressure. A break in subsurface strata. downward. Fail-safe F&G Equipment that will leave a system in a safe condition in the event of a power failure. A field may also be a gas or gas condensate field. Flowing bottom-hole pressure Flow control valve Formation density Frequency division multiplex Functional design specification Filter Cake/Filtrate © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 24 . survivability and interaction. 1°F = 0. for example. Also called a wildcat (see wildcat). Full bore Fusion bonded epoxy FARSI FAT Fault/Fault Block Fault FB FBE FBHP FCV FD FDM FDS FEA FEED FES FFD Field Facilities Engineering Association OR Finite element analysis OR Fire and explosion analysis Front end engineering design. Cores are taken from a well. F °F Facies Degrees Fahrenheit. but too much can cause sticking of the drill string. Build up of mud solids or filtrate on the wall of a well. Fire and gas Functionality. There are various causes of faultfractures such as the movement of "tectonic plates" relative to each other. a form of stratigraphic trap. so that the reservoir facies can be studied.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Exploration well A well drilled to test a potential but unproven hydrocarbon trap or structure where good reservoir rock and a seal or closure combine with a potential source of hydrocarbons. Often strata on one side of the fault line have been displaced (upward. Factory acceptance test(s) A discontinuity in a rock formation caused by fracturing of the earth's crust. reliability. which may have sealed in hydrocarbons separately from the rest of the formation. or laterally) relative to their original positions. A Facies Trap for hydrocarbons is one in which the seal or closure is provided by a change in rock characteristics. an early phase of oil field development (see also Prospect screening and Proposals) Fire and explosion strategy Full field development See Oilfield. the "appearance" and hence the composition and characteristics of a rock formation. In oilfield terms a Fault Block is a compartment of a rock formation surrounded or partly surrounded by faults. This helps seal and stabilise the rock face. availability.
subsea. will initiate a platform shutdown. Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbon components or fractions and other minerals. The cracking effect enables resulting lighter fractions to be recovered.g. The accurate measurement of oil. To connect. The lowest temperature at which a vapour will burn or explode when ignited. A pressure vessel used to lower the pressure of oils and other liquids involved with the production processes in order to encourage the vaporisation of dissolved gases. An elevated tower containing a pipe used for the discharge and burning of waste gases. The flame also glazes and seals the walls of the well with fused rock. An unwanted object down a well. electric. A fixed offshore structure involved in the production of oil and gas and which may be constructed of steel or concrete. Floating liquefied natural gas plant Alpha Thames' pressure-balanced. commonly the lower end of a drill string which has broken off. to put into operation. linear actuator that is unique in that it is the first subsea electric actuator available with the performance required for the actuation of choke valves Finger Printing Fireflooding Fire loop First end connection Fiscal metering Fish Fishing FIT Five-Spot Waterflood Fixed installation Flame-Jet Drilling Flange Up Flare Flare stack Flash drum Flash Off Flash Point FLC FLNG FLOAct™ Actuator © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 25 . using various attachments to the drill stem or wireline. A vent for burning off unwanted gases or to burn off hydrocarbons which due to temporary malfunction or maintenance of process plant. when activated. etc. gas or condensate flow rate for taxation purposes. Nowadays. to complete. synthetic tubing. an oil-spill – can be determined by analysis known as "finger printing" A form of Enhanced Oil Recovery in which otherwise unproduceable heavy oils are ignited in the reservoir. leading to differences in gravity. The use of a rocket-fuel flame to penetrate rock by fusing (melting) it. Factory integration test A standard method of development where a production well is surrounding by four water injection wells to "sweep" the maximum amount of oil towards the producer. etc. the source of a crude – e.) which. known as fishing tools.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Fines Fingering Small particles of rock or other solid. To vaporize or "boil off" a hydrocarbon by heating. When the finger reaches the well oil will tend to be excluded. The composition of each crude is different in consequence. as against the second end connection. Fishing is trying to recover the Fish. Uneven advance of water and/or gas towards an oil well due to inconsistent permeability in the reservoir. A pneumatic control line containing temperature sensing elements (fusible plugs. A term used to describe the first end connection of a reeled pipeline or umbilical. cannot be safely stored or retained in process vessels. Full load current of an electrical load measured in amperes. A term frequently used in the UK to describe an offshore installation.
A versatile and relatively low-cost Floating Production Facility for small. connecting a subsea/satellite well to its parent installation. See mobile offshore drilling unit. An integrated assembly of production flowlines.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Float/Floating Casing A method of inserting heavy lengths of casing into a well without overstressing joints and seals due to the weight of the total string. See floating offshore drilling rig. comprising piping flow-loops to provide for bypass control. The pipe through which produced fluid travels from a well to a manifold. vapour. a flocculent precipitate). Are hollow tanks attached to a jacket to assist buoyancy or help control the lowering to the seabed. Floating units include inland barge rigs. Floater Floating offshore drilling rig Floating Production Facility (FPF) A vessel designed to provide offshore field production control and processing for smaller fields. A meter to measure the rate at which a fluid passes a given point. ship-shaped barges and semisubmersibles. FlowCap™ Fluorescence A non-processing System-Module within an AlphaCPU™. Bottom hole pressure measured at a given flow rate. liquid. to processing equipment or to storage. Afterwards the seal is drilled out and the casing cemented into place. A type of mobile offshore drilling unit that floats and is not secured to the seabed (except for anchors). Aggregated in woolly cloud like masses (e. on a Flotation barge or other vessel. semi-submersible drilling rigs. or in some cases using their own buoyancy. OR The impact/impression on the seabed of a jack-up facility OR the O/A plan dimensions of an item of equipment. or a combination thereof. and hydraulic and/or electrical control lines. or in some cases using their own buoyancy. Often referred to as a ROP (Rate of Penetration). and the hollow string then becomes buoyant in the drilling fluids in the well. Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure Flowline Flowline Bundle Flowmeter FLP Fluid Flush Phase Footage/Footage Rate Footprint Penetration rate in drilling. See also Waterflood and Fireflood. which are gradually displaced.g. The launch or leading out of jackets or other structures for installation offshore. more cheaply than a fixed platform. Footage Rate may also be a form of remuneration under a drilling contract. To let or pump water into ballast tanks. The limit of radius of action of an underwater vessel or vehicle. The primary production phase of a reservoir. The tension-leg platform is specifically designed to meet this need in deeper waters but transport barges. (see Ex) A generic term meaning gas. The bottom end is sealed. difficult isolated or deep water reservoirs. Flowline pressure or flameproof. Flour. A substance added to a suspension to enhance aggregation of the suspended particles. and tankers are all capable of modification for the purpose depending on water depth and environment. Floating Production Storage and Off Loading Vessel (FPSO) Float Out Flotation Flotation Cans Flocculant Flocculent Flood Flotation barge or other vessel. © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 26 . drill ships.
fpal. Damage to the reservoir around a well due to e. Floating riser and mooring system Fast rescue craft Foundation Pile FPA FPAL FPF FPO FPP FPS FPSO FPDSO FPV FR FRA Fracturing FRAMS FRC Free-water knockout A vertical or horizontal vessel into which oil or emulsion is run in order to allow any water not emulsified with the water oil (free water) to drop out.co. crumbling under pressure or high flow rate.uk Floating production facility Field purchase order Floating production platform Floating production system Floating production.g. Floating production vessel Flow recorder OR final report Fire risk analysis The process of cracking open the rock formation around a well bore to increase productivity. Floating production. etc.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Formation Formation Damage FM FMA A rock deposit or structure or homogeneous origin and appearance. Fire Precaution Act 1971 (UK) First Point Assessment Ltd http//:www. drilling. Frequency modulation Fracture mechanics assessment Failure mode and effects analysis FMEA FMECA FoS Failure mode. infiltration by water from the well. FRO FS FSA Full range output Feedstock Formal Safety Assessment © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 27 . See also FWKO. plugging with mud. storage and offloading (vessel). effects and criticality analysis Factor of Safety The first casing or conductor string (generally with a diameter of 30 to 36 inches) set when drilling a well from an offshore drilling rig. This is normally done by applying hydraulic pressure down the well bore. storage and off-loading (vessel). It prevents sloughing of the seabed formations and is a structural support for the permanent guide base and the blowout preventers.
There are various grades of Light and Heavy Fuel Oil. A very accurate laboratory method of separating and analysing the components of a volatile hydrocarbon mixture. inert gaseous atmosphere. If not. The reservoir can in this way also serve as storage for produced gas until the reservoir pressure can be reduced. and the gas sold. allowing as to escape to the surface.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS FSD FSIP FSK FSO FSU FSW FTP Full scale deflection of measuring instruments Final shut-in pressure Frequency shift keying used in communication signals Floating storage and off-loading (vessel) Floating storage unit Feet of seawater Flowing tubing pressure The "bottom" or "heavy end" of the barrel after removal of middle distillates and lighter fractions. Increase of down hole pressure above that exerted by the column of drilling fluid in a well. See Oil Column/Gas Column. The FxM™ is located external to the ELEx™ Connector. Gross acre-feet Galvanised Gas Cap/Gas Cap Drive Gas Chromatography Gas Column The natural accumulation of associated gas in the top of an oil reservoir. Changes in reservoir pressures as result of production may cause it to condense in the reservoir. Gas Condensate Gas Injection Gas Kick © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 28 . Sometimes called Depletion Drive. A secondary recovery method by which gas is injected into and passed through the reservoir to maintain pressure and/or entrain heavier hydrocarbons left behind by primary production. when much of it may become irrecoverable. with a dry. clean. in the ELEx™ Connector enclosure. See knockout. Light hydrocarbon fractions entrained in gas production which condense into liquid when brought to the surface. controlled this could develop into a Blowout. The Fluid Exchange Mechanism that expels and replaces seawater. See Retrograde Condensation. Fresh water OR feed water Flowing wellhead pressure Fuel Oil FW FWHP FWHT FWKO FxM™ Flowing wellhead temperature Free water knockout. Gas Cap Drive. G GA GAF Galv General alarm OR general arrangement (drawing). or primary production utilizes the pressure and expansion of this gas to drive the oil to the surface.
The proportional amount of gas to oil liquid occurring in production from a reservoir. Physics applied to the measurement of the earth and study of its composition. The increase of temperature with depth in the earth's crust. A middle distillate product fraction. Injected gas aerates the fluid to reduce its SG thereby overcoming the static head of fluid in the wellbore allowing the well fluid to be produced to the surface. A gas well. Geophysics/Geophysicist Geothermal Gradient GI GIS GJ GLR Gas injection Geographic information system Gigajoules Gas/liquid ratio Gm/cm3. Sound wave receivers primarily for onshore seismic surveys. g/cm3 GOC GoM GOR GPA GPD grams per cubic centimetre Gas/oil contact Gulf of Mexico Gas/oil ratio General platform alarm Gallons per day © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 29 . per 100 feet). Palaeontology and other branches of the science relating directly to prospectivity for hydrocarbon deposits. See also Hydrophone. gm/cc.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Gas lift The process of lifting fluid from a well by injecting gas down the well through the tubing . Geophones The study of the history of the earth and its rocks. (About 2 F°. usually expressed as cubic feet per barrel. The geologists in the oil and gas industry tend to specialise of Sedimentology. Gas may be injected continuously or intermittently depending on the producing characteristics of the well and the arrangement of the gas lift equipment. A Geophysicist in the oil and gas industry usually specialises in the interpretation of seismic survey data. Used to describe one type of isolation valve.casing annulus. Gravity base structure Gallons of condensate per day Gas/condensate ratio Gas down to Gas Oil Gas/Oil Ratio (GOR) Gasser Gate GBS GCPD GCR GDT Geochemical Survey Geology/Geologist Analysis of the hydrocarbon-bearing potential of an area by studying shallow cores and subsurface water for evidence of seepage or kerogens.
the buoyancy being provided by hollow chambers in the large base of the platform. API GRN Grass-Roots Gravel Pack Gravimeter Gravitometer Gravity Platform/Structure Gravity survey GRE Grout GRP GRVE GST GTL Guide Base/Lines/Posts The seabed framework or template through which a subsea well is drilled. Glass reinforced plastic Glassfibre reinforced vynilester Geosteering tool Gas to liquid Graben Gr. Structures of such size are floated into position. A gravimetric survey uses this principle in the search for sedimentary rocks which normally have a relatively low density. and for installation and control of e. The foundation of the platform is a relatively lightweight jacket upon which all equipment is placed. Subsequently these are flooded with water.g. Steel gravity structures are also used. See platform rig. the Blowout Preventer. Where the producing formation in a well is crumbling or caving into the well bore and plugging the perforations. Glassfibre reinforced epoxy A mixture of cement and water (no sand) used to secure and seal attachments such as piles into jacket legs. A compliant offshore drilling platform used to drill development wells. A system of guy wires anchored by clump weights helps secure the jacket to the seabed and allows it to move with wind and wave forces. which rely on weight alone to keep them stable and in place. It is fitted with Guide Posts from which Guide Lines extend to the surface. which supports the formation. and can be used for oil storage. An exploration method in which an instrument that measures the intensity of the earth's gravity is passed over the surface or through the water. In places where the instrument detects stronger or weaker than normal gravity forces. and enable the wellhead to be located ready for drilling. and is used to identify interfaces between batches of different products in a pipeline.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS GPH GPM GPS Gallons per hour Gallons per minute Global positioning system OR Geometrical product specification A structure which has become displaced downward from its original surrounding geological setting. construction on a "green field" site. a geological structure containing hydrocarbons may exist. and keeps the interior of the well clean. Gravity – Degrees API Goods received note Description of a refinery or other development project where there is no existing plant or infrastructure – i. the cavity so formed is filled with fine gravel. Offshore platforms etc. Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement Guyed-tower platform rig GUM © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 30 . An instrument which measures minute variations in the earth's gravitational pull at different surface points due to the density of the underlying rocks. They are frequently made of concrete with steel as a major component. An instrument which measures differences in the specific gravity of liquids.e..
© Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 31 . Hydrocarbon An area where volatile gases or substance exist or may exist and only certified electrical equipment can be used and where a 'permit to work' situation exists. Header HC HCFC HCLS Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Heave compensated lift system (see Heave Compensator) High density polyethylene A process vessel which typically uses the passage of one fluid through a set of internal tubes to heat up or cool down another fluid in which they are immersed. The vertical motion of a floating vessel or platform with the waves. Hazard analysis HAZAN Hazardous Area (location) Hazard Zone HAZID HAZOP HB Hazards in design analysis Hazard and operability analysis Brinell hardness A pipe into which several smaller diameter pipes feed fluid into or feed from fluids. H2S Hanger Hydrogen sulphide. Hanging-in the Casing Hanging in the Slips HAT HAZ Tensioning a string of casing which cementing by letting it hang from the wellhead. Gas well OR gallons of water Gas/water contact Global warming potential H H2S. This helps to offset later expansion due to the passage of hot fluids. An area where special safety precautions apply. There are many different designs and uses. deadly sour gas. HDPE Heat Exchanger Heave Heave Compensator A Heave Compensator is installed on a crane on floating drilling rigs to counteract this movement with regards the drillstring and marine conductor or installation/recovery of other equipment or structures.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS GVF GW GWC GWP Gas volume fraction OR gas void fraction. See Casing and Tubing. Highest astronomical tide level OR Harbour acceptance trials Heat affected zone (around a weld) where the base metal has not been melted but whose mechanical properties or microstructure have been affected by the heat generated during the welding process. Suspended drill string or casing from slips or wedges placed in the rotary table.
which exhibits electrical conductivity when exposed to a specific voltage. A Helicopter landing deck or onshore landing area.e. i. The formation at a given depth in a well. Horizon © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 32 . The term is also used on a regional basis. Hot Isostatic Processing (moulding technique) High-integrity pressure (or pipeline) protection system. "Middle Jurassic Horizon". etc. Abrasion resistant spring choke control valve based upon a helically shaped orifice for use in severe service conditions or for increased service life including high pressure drops and the presence of sand. A discontinuity in a coating. Sometimes referred to as the "bottom" or "heavy end" of the barrel. Hazard identification and risk assessment High level alarm High level shut down Hazard management process High molecular polyethylene (rope) Her Majesty's Stationary Office Heating oil OR heavy oil The quantity of hydrocarbons which is retained. having teeth arranged on its outside circumference to cut the formation as it rotates. Hydrocarbons tend to accumulate in "Highs". See Crude Oil. in the process lines and vessels of a Helipad HF HFO HGOR HGT High (Geological) HIP HIPPS HIRA HLA HLSD HMP HMPE HMSO HO Hold Up Hole opener Hole Temperature Holiday A device used to enlarge the size of an existing borehole. in normal operations.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Heavy Ends Heavy Oil HeliC™ Heavy or residual fractions of a feedstock after distillation. High frequency Heavy fuel oil High gas/oil ratio High-pressure grease tube The part or parts of a geological structure which are nearer to surface datum/sea level. where rocks of one geological era are nearer the surface over a broad area. usually identified by geological age. It is a pressure system with voting logic that activates a fast-acting isolating valve to protect pipelines which are not designed to withstand the maximum pressure conditions. Formation temperature at a given depth in a well. plant.
Horst Hot Tap HP HPHT or hp/t HPU hrc HSC HSE HSSE HSWA HT HTSD HUC Hundred Year Storm HV HVAC HVC HXT Hydrates Hydrocarbons Hydrocyclone Hydrophones Hydrostatic Pressure/Head © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 33 . natural gas. The pressure exerted by a column of liquid at a given depth. The instruments which detect returning sound waves in offshore seismic surveys/sonar operations. The smallest molecules of hydrocarbons are gaseous. ventilation and air conditioning High voltage connector(s) Horizontal Christmas tree Ice-like compounds formed of water with another substance. Inserting a branch line into a pipeline or vessel which is still in operation. boiling points and freezing points increase as their molecular weights increase. the worst weather conditions that can be statistically predicted within a hundred-year period. or as a multicyclone to remove liquids and solids from a gas stream. A separation device that utilises centrifuging principles to remove oils from water. A structure such as a fault-block. Although composed of only two elements. the largest are solids. Organic compounds of hydrogen and carbon. safety and environment Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) High tension High temperature shut down Hook-up and commissioning For construction design purposes. which has become up-thrust from its original surrounding geological setting. High Voltage or Vickers hardness Heating. While the main purpose of normal deviated drilling is to "reach" remote parts of a reservoir. to increase potential productivity. in well bores or in a pipeline at certain combinations of pressure and temperature. safety and environment (in NORSOK Std) Health. high temperature Hydraulic power unit High rupturing capacity (used for electric fuses) Health and Safety Commission Health & Safety Executive (UK) OR Health. "horizontal" to the reservoir strata.g. hydrocarbons exist in a variety of compounds because of the strong affinity of carbon atoms for other atoms and for itself. security. High pressure OR hydrostatic pressure OR horse power High pressure. such as that exerted by drilling fluid in a well. but more importantly. whose densities.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Horizontal Drilling A technique for deviating wells through up to 90° from the vertical. which may cause a blockage stopping production. e. Petroleum is a mixture of many different hydrocarbons. with horizontal drilling the purpose is to keep the well bore within a given productive horizon or formation.
unit of frequency (1 Hz = 1 cycle/second) HYSYS Hz I IAODC Ibama ICC ICL ICP ICRP ICS ID IDC International Association of Offshore Diving Contractors (now part of IMCA) Brazil's environmental agency Installation Control Centre Instrument checklist Independent. A proprietary process systems software analysis program Hertz. competent person International Commission on Radiological Protection Intervention control system Internal diameter Inter-disciplinary check Integrated data communications network Inverse definite minimum time lag International Energy Agency International Electrotechnical Committee Issued for action Interface review Imperial gallons (also Imp. Injectivity index Interface/line switching unit IMCA IMIS International Marine Contractors Association (formed in 1995 from the IAODC and the DPVOA) Integrated maintenance information system © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 34 . Welding under high pressure conditions. Granite is an igneous rock.e. UK gallons) IDCN IDMTL IEA IEC IFA IFR IG Igneous rock II ILSU A rock mass formed by the solidification of material poured (when molten) into the earth's crust or onto its surface. Gal) (i. subsea in an air chamber (Hyperbaric Chamber) similar in principle to a diving bell.e. Hyperbaric chamber is also the name given to a pressurised surface chamber or habitat in which returning deep divers are gradually re-acclimatised to surface pressure.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Hydrostatic Testing Hyperbaric Welding/Chamber Pressure-testing vessels on piping systems by pumping water into them. i.
Intermediate String Intrinsically safe IODP Electrical equipment which (due to its low power) is incapable of igniting a flammable gas mixture or combustible materials. Chemically unreactive gases used to flood compartments where there is fire or imminent danger of fire. International marine satellite IMR IMV INA Inclinometer Inert Gas Infill Drilling Inhibited Mud Injection Well (Injector) INMARSAT In Place Inside Preventer Installation Description of the total hydrocarbon content of a reservoir. Integrated Ocean Drilling Program © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 35 . Mud containing chemicals to prevent loss of water which could damage surrounding formations. A well through which water or gas is injected to maintain reservoir pressure and improve 'sweep' or a real recovery of reserves. GIIP = Gas Initially in Place). See Casing. used directly or indirectly for the exploration or production of mineral resources. The term is widely applied in the oil and gas industry as in other industries. as distinct from 'Reserves' which can be 'recovered' or produced. and the combined product or 'interface' is drawn off separately at its destination. maintenance and repair Injection master valve Information not available A down-hole instrument for measuring the angle from the vertical or 'slope' of a deviated well. (e. Sometimes called an 'input' or 'service' well.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS IMO Imp. the self-potential of the structure is counteracted by passing a large low voltage current through the surface to be protected. Inert gases are also used in the mixture breathed by divers. The active. Gal International Maritime Organisation Imperial gallons (also IG) (i.e. However. Unlike the cathodic protection system. A fixed installation is a permanent offshore structure that is involved in the production oil or gas which may be constructed of steel or concrete. Unless separation is critical and maintained by an intervening pig or sphere. merged with the IP in 2003 to form the Engineering Institute (EI) InstE Instrument Pig Interface A pipeline pig fitted with monitoring and gauging devices to check pipe wall thickness and for damage or distortion of the line. Institute of Engineering. UK gallons) Impermeable Rock Impressed Current Protection A rock with restricted or poorly-communicating pore spaces.g. the products are allowed the small amount of commingling that occurs. Inspection. GIP) before the start of production is known as Oil or Gas Originally in Place or Initially in Place. usage specific to products is in the interface between two batches of different products in a pipeline system. A blowout preventer which is fitted to the inside of the drill-string. and cause build up of filter-cake in the well. or 'Anodic' method of preventing corrosion in submarine steel structures. STOOIP = Stock Tank Oil Originally in Place. Oil or gas in placed (OIP. such that hydrocarbons will not flow through it. See Differential Pressure. Fixed or mobile. Production wells drilled between existing wells to increase recovery of hydrocarbons.
AIP and IP) International Petroleum Exchange Interactive power system analysis Integrated pipeline umbilical OR Integrated production umbilical IRCD ISA ISM ISO Isobath International Standards Organisation A line connecting points on the sea bed of equal depth below the surface – a sea bed contour line OR In mapping subsurface geology. a line connecting points on the top of a formation of equal depth below surface datum/sea level. etc. In a reservoir a line joining points of equal vertical thickness. Octane and iso-Octane. See Section 10. Butane and iso-Butane. A line joining points of equal stratum thickness. Compounds which have the same number and types of atoms in each molecule but differ in molecular structure.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS IP IPAA IPE IPSA IPU IQA IR Institute of Quality Assurance Injection rate Injection rate control device Instrument Society of America OR Independent safety auditor International Safety Management (regulations/code for shipping) Institute of Petroleum merged in 2003 with the InstE to form the Energy Institute (EI) OR Ingress protection OR Initial pressure Independent Petroleum Institute of America (see also API. Reservoir formations are sometimes mapped in this way. e. Integrated services umbilical Information Technology Invitation to tender Injection well Intelligent Well Industry Standards Installation/workover controls system Injection wing valve Isochore Isomers Isopach ISU IT ITT IW IWIS IWOCS IWV © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 36 .g.
the requirement is 10 to 40 ppm oil in water in the North Sea depending on the particular area and the source Joint Industry Project Just-in-Time Joint operating agreement The document governing operations in a Joint Venture. costs and accounting Control and custody of joint properties and equipment Sole risk. They then offer the operating advantages of fixed platforms but unlike piled steel structures.6845MJ=1hph Junked and abandoned Steel framework used to support platform topsides A gauge which is run through casing or tubing before use to check for correct sizing and freedom from obstruction or distortion. They may also be used while drilling to avoid the drill-string becoming stuck. 2. Although they may have many of the characteristics of partnerships and are often referred to as such. production barges. Junction box The disposal of water into the environment when it has been sufficiently cleaned. assignment. duration. drill collar. An open-ended. rights to production etc. especially exploration and production. and closely underlying strata. or prime importance to all participants as under it they secure. withdrawal. A typical Joint Operating Agreement will include sections to cover most or all of the following topics: Scope. J-tube © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 37 . a significant temperature drop can be experienced. Drilling rigs. J section pipe attached to a jacket structure or to a pipelay vessel to provide a means of installation and protection for flexible flow lines and umbilicals. 3. See also Joint Operating Agreement. usually from 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 m) long. they are usually legally constituted specifically to avoid partnership implications. energy and heat-transfer. or may lose. Job safety analysis Joule Thompson. their stability and load capacity depends on the strength and stability of the sea bed. litigation. etc.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS J J J&A Joule. casing or tubing. In the case of a hydrocarbon gas. force majeure. etc. which once floated onto location can raise themselves clear of the water by 'jacking' themselves up their legs.6MJ=1kWh. default. Disposal of Petroleum Confidentiality. A single length of drill pipe. Jacket Jack Rabbit Jack-Up Rig Jars JB Jettison JIP JIT JOA Joint Joint Venture JSA JT A common form of risk-sharing in Oil and Gas operations. Several joints screwed together constitute a stand of pipe. Down hole tools inserted in the drill-string when fishing to jerk or jar the fish free by repeated sudden blows. The Joule Thompson effect (also known as the Joule-Kelvin effect) is the change in temperature that occurs when a gas expands from a high pressure area to a low pressure area. Unit of work. etc. that has threaded connections at both ends. legal status Interests rights and duties of the operator and other participants Management structure and voting procedure Approval of operating programmes and budgets Cash contributions. such as across a valve.
marine seaweeds. An emergency 'blowout preventer' valve inserted between the swivel and the Kelly. (from the French. Kinetic hydrate inhibitor Keyway KHI © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 38 . Any small unwanted object 'lost' down a well.or eight-sided.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS J-T valve Jug Junk A throttle valve used to reduce the pressure and temperature of a gas stream. Of the marine types. A fishing tool run in the well when it is necessary to retrieve small parts or lost tools. Also called the drive bushing. four-. Kelly bushing Kelly Cock Kelly Spinner Kelly Valve (Lower) Kerogens KeyMAN™ Organic material from which oil or gas matures with time. between the Triassic and the Cretaceous periods. Vitrinite is generally prospective for gas. See Kelly. when fitted to the master bushing transmits torque to the kelly and simultaneously permits vertical movement of the kelly to make hole. milled pieces of pipe. three-. A standardised manifold system that is pre-configured to accept the connection of AlphaCPU™ SystemModules™.g. after the Jura mountains). A slot in the edge of the hull of a jackup drilling unit through which drilling tools are lowered and removed from the well being drilled. wrenches or any relatively small object that must be fished out of the hole. or terrestrial trees. preventing spillage of mud. under burial temperatures and pressures. kilo. six. OR Artificially made cavern storage in a salt rock formation. and Inertinite is not prospective. A mechanism attached to the swivel for rotating the kelly in or out of the top joint of drill pipe. In addition the degree of reflectivity of Vitrinite samples is used as an indication of the maturity of a formation for the presence of hydrocarbons. associated with the NGL removal process A geophone. e. A special device that.g. A 'jug hustler' is the member of a land seismic survey crew who places and retrieves geophones. It may be shaped to fit the rotary opening or have pins for transmitting torque. They differ with origin – e. Junk may be a lost bit. An automatic valve at the lower end of the Kelly which closes when the Kelly is disconnected from the drillstem. the presence of Algal Sapropel and Way Sapropel in a formation is prospective for oil. Joint venture Junk basket Jurassic JV K k KB KBM Kelly 103. while of the terrestrial types. These System-Modules™ having any internal configuration from FlowCAP™ to System-Module™ Separation. when adding another stand. It has a bored passageway that permits fluid to be circulated into the drill stem and up the annulus or vice versa. thousand (Europe) OR knot (nautical mile per hour) Kelly bushing (see below) Kelly bushing measurement The heavy steel member. Rock formed in the second period of the Mesozoic era. suspended from the swivel through the rotary table and connected to the topmost joint of drill pipe to turn the drill stem as the rotary table turns.
a unit of measurement for electrical power Knock-Out Drum knot Knuckle Joint KO KOP kPa ksi KW kW L LA Landing Casing LAT Lowering a string of casing into a well. Volt (kilo = 103) To bring a well into production OR To start the planned deviation of a well from the vertical. pound.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Kick An entry of water. These may have migrated to traps elsewhere. gas. a blowout may occur. It occurs because the pressure exerted by the column of drilling fluid is not great enough to overcome the pressure exerted by the fluids in the formation drilled. to rest on the 'step' in the hole where drilling at a smaller diameter commences. Knockout OR kicked off (deviated well) Kick-off point kilopascals Thousands of pounds per square inch (See psi) Killed well Kilowatt. km. which this occurs is the Kick-Off Point (KOP). or to kill the well. It is usually accomplished by circulating water or mud to load the hole and render it incapable of flowing. kilo.gram. The depth at kg. metre. 1 nautical mile/hour An universal joint in a drilling tool for deviated drilling which enables the bit to rotate at an angle to the existing borehole. Lowest astronomical tide level A barge used in the construction and placement of underwater pipelines. If prompt action is not taken to control the kick. oil or other formation fluid into the wellbore during drilling. kV Kick-off Kill a well Kitchen To stop a well from producing so that surface connections may be removed for well servicing or workover. the plural is also lb (libra. in conditions rich in organic sediments. which with the necessary burial history has become a significant source of hydrocarbons. A tank or vessel used to separate water from oil or liquids from a gas stream. Joints of pipe are welded together and then lowered off the stern of the barge as it moves ahead. libræ) pound(s) force pounds (force) per square inch (psi) Lost circulation (drilling fluid) OR level controller Level alarm Lay barge lb lbf lbf/in2 LC © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 39 . A colloquial term for rock deposited.
may be licensed separately. development. The least dense. movements of any hydrocarbon against. where rights to underlying minerals are not the property of the landowner. contract entitlements OR Stimulating production flow from a well. etc. A body of potential reservoir rock enclosed on all sides by sealing strata. so-called because frequently lensshaped. more volatile parts of a crude oil stream in distillation. and able to absorb more. Left in hole Line insulator monitor The volume of oil or gas which is needed to fill a pipeline before any deliveries can be made. Exploration. over varying lengths of time. drilling.g. primarily onshore. See also Fat Oil/Lean Oil. a legal instrument giving the right to explore/exploit acreage. e. Lowest known oil (in a reservoir) Lloyd's Register of Shipping (Verification Authority) Line Fill Lithology Litre Live Oil LKO Lloyd's Register © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 40 .uklift. 'Lease operations' has come to mean any exploration/production field operation. Level indicator controller LDDP Lean Gas Lease LED LEL Lens LIC Licence LIFT A right to explore for and/or produce hydrocarbons issued by a Government agency. Licence Initiative for Trading http//:www.000 cc (or cm3). representing a permanent inventory requirement. The study of rocks and hence the description of different formations encountered by a well. OR Various other forms of permit or authorisation affecting operations. Also covers bulk e.g. Many licences require part-relinquishment of acreage after an initial period or "primary term" and make the operations subject to the hydrocarbon policy of the country concerned. at the point of sale. See American Petroleum Institute.uk Lifting Light Crude Light Ends LIH LIM Collection of a production shipment of crude oil etc. Generally applied to crude oil with an API gravity of 30 degrees or over.co. the lowest concentration by volume of combustible gases in mixture with air that can be ignited at ambient temperature conditions. In the oil and gas industry.546 litre Crude oil containing volatile gases.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS LCC LCP LCV LD Life cycle cost Local control panel Level control valve Laid down OR Loop Diagram Laid down drill pipe Gas undersaturated with hydrocarbons. See Gas Lift. 1 (UK) gallon = 4. 1 litre = 1. Light emitting diode Lower explosive limit.
Many different logs are run in wells to obtain various characteristics of downhole formations. electrical well log. A systematic recording of data. usually because of escapes into surrounding formations. such as a driller's log.com Low oil level Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations Failure to recover to the surface all the drilling fluids at the same rate as they are pumped down a well. or radioactivity log. Lower marine riser package See Natural Gas. Low pressure OR line pipe Liquified petroleum gas. gaseous at normal temperatures and pressures but held in the liquid state by very low temperatures to facilitate storage and transportation in insulated vessels. essentially propane and butane held in the liquid state under pressure to facilitate storage and transportation. Casing would normally be set through the relevant formation before proceeding.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS LLSD LNG Low level shut down Liquefied natural gas. Load and Resistance Factor Design Local Drainage Log LOGIC LOL LOLER Lost Circulation LMRP LNG LP LPG LRFD LRP LRS LSA LTD LTS Lower riser package Lloyd's Register of Shipping Life saving appliances Log total length Low temperature separator LTSD LVDT LVI LW LWD Low temperature shut down Linear variable displacement transformer Low viscosity index Low water Logging while drilling LWRP Lower workover riser package © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 41 . (See Natural Gas/NGL's) The movement of reservoir fluids in the immediate vicinity of a flowing well.logic-oil. mud log. Leading Oil & Gas Industry Competitiveness http//:www.
Cracks. and time which determines whether a source of hydrocarbons will provide oil or gas. Magnetometer MAIB An exploration method. See riser pipe A well. and then to return the drill stem to the wellbore. Alpha Thames' valved. soft or unstable seabed as a footing for jackup rigs. The instrument can detect deviations in magnetic forces. etc. milli litre (m indicates 1/1000) A non-destructive testing method whereby the object is magnetised and minute particles applied externally. An instrument used to measure the intensity and direction of a magnetic field especially that of the earth.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS M mA. taking the core. etc. development. "Breaking Out" is the opposite. Make a trip Make Up/Break Out Manifold MAPD MAR Marginal Master Bushing Mat/Mattress MATE™ The collar which fits into the rotary table and through which the kelly passes. etc. A structure placed on poorly consolidated. and so forth. Major accident prevention document Management and Administration Regulations (SI 1995/738). etc. ml Magnetic Particle Testing Magnetic survey milli Amp. in-line. can safely be examined in situ. To assemble/screw together the sections of joints of a string of pipe. and fittings by which fluid from one or more sources is selectively directed to various process systems. valves. is passed over the surface or through the water. The function of burial pressures. temperatures. Marine (drilling) riser. can be discerned at the surface. whose commercial profitability is in doubt. Welds in wellheads. multiported fluid connector which enables simultaneous connection/disconnection of numerous piping runs. and such deviations may indicate the existence of an underground hydrocarbon reservoir. An assembly of pipes. Marine Accident Investigation Board To hoist the drill stem out of the wellbore to perform one of a number of operations such as changing bits. in which an instrument that measures the intensity of the natural magnetic forces existing in the earth's subsurface. Maximum Million barrels of oil per day Thousand barrels Minimum breaking load Maritime and Coastguard Agency Motor control centre Thousand cubic feet Manifold control module Maturity Max Mbbl/d MBbls MBL MCA MCC Mcf MCM © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 42 .
D. This movement often over considerable distances is known as migration. Marble is a metamorphic rock.W. Milli-inches OR thousandth of an inch MHAU MHSWR Microwave MIG Migration Mil Mill Millidarcy MILS © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 43 . to adjust for the effects of the "oblique" angle at which it was gathered.) Median Line MEG Down hole instrument systems used to monitor and control continuously the direction of the well bore to the high degree of accuracy needed for e. horizontal drilling. Manufacturer's fabrication data report Multi-phase flow meter Medium fuel oil Major Hazards Assessment Unit (HSE) Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 HF multi-channel radio communications system designed to carry information between two points linked by line-of-sight transmission.g.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS mcm/d MCP MCR MCS Md MD Thousands of cubic metres per day Main control panel Management Consultants Register Master control station Millidarcies (unit of permeability) Measured depth (well) OR Mean water depth Minimum dry film thickness Material data sheet MDFT MDS Measurement While Drilling (M. by convention drawn equidistant from the nearest point of land on each side. See Darcy.g. in a "3-D" seismic survey. Milli-litre(s) A bit for cutting through steel obstructions in a well such as 'fish'. OR A process applied to data recorded. Monoethylene glycol Methanol MEOH Metamorphic rock MFDR MFM MFO A rock derived from pre-existing rocks by mineralogical. e. chemical and structural alterations caused by processes within the earth's crust. The boundary between the offshore mineral extraction jurisdictions of two states. Metal insert gas welding Hydrocarbons are often found in formations other than those in which their organic source was deposited.
Moisture. Moving in rig MIU ML MLSS MLSV MLW MM MMB Mmbbl/d mmboe MMBTU MMcf MMcf/d MMO MMS MMSCF MMSCFD MODU Module © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 44 . or Carbon Dioxide followed by water. compressor module. Military Standard (USA) Minimum Mineral-insulated non-draining (cable) Rocks formed in the fourth epoch of the Tertiary period.g. The fluids are injected together into a reservoir in a secondary or tertiary recovery programme – e. without the existence of an interface. Gas and LPG. accommodation module. Miscibility is the ability of two or more substances to mix. etc.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Mill Scale MIL-STD Min Oxides which form on the surface of a steel plate after heating during manufacture.g. A self-contained. impurities and unsaponifiables (grease testing) Mud log. port data) Million Module mounting base Million barrels of oil per day Million barrels of oil equivalent Million British Thermal Units Million cubic feet Million cubic feet per day Mixed Metal Oxide (surface coating) Mineral Management Service (USA) Million standard cubic feet Million standard cubic feet per day Mobile offshore drilling unit.g. between the Oligocene and the Pliocene epochs. mudlogger Mudline suspension system (also MLS) Mudline safety valve Mean low water (e. See Tertiary. drilling module. MIND Miocene MIR Miscible Flooding An injection/displacement process developed recently to obtain greater oil recovery in many reservoirs. liftable package forming part of the facilities of an offshore installation e. See also System-Module.
A hole or well in the hull of a ship (usually in the centre) through which equipment pass to gain access to subsea. Fitted to cranes etc.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Molecular Sieve Monobuoy Monopod A process of separating hydrocarbon fractions etc. now the MCA (part of the DoT) Millions of standard cubic feet per day Mean sea level Maximum surface pressure Manufacturers' Standardization Society of the Valve and Fittings Industry Inc. and 'heavy' minerals such as Bentonite or Barites. On return from down hole it is recovered and rock cuttings removed by the shale shakers before re- Moonpool Motion Compensator MPa MPE MPI MQC MSA mScfd MSL MSP MSS MST MSV MTBE MTBF MTD MTI MTM MTO Mud © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 45 . In addition. A hydrocarbon product significant as one of the major lead-free Octane enhancers for gasolines. (USA) Multipurpose shuttle tanker Multi-service vessel Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether. the mud is continuously circulated down to the bit. A small offshore platform. and returns in the annular space outside the drill-string. to counteract vertical motion caused by the sea.g. Gas Kick). ETBE (Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) has similar properties. Mean time between failures Measured total depth Materials Technology Institute of the Chemical Process Industries Metal to metal Material take-off Mud is the name given to drilling fluid which is mainly a mixture of water. A heave compensator. or oil distillate. bringing with it rock cuttings for inspection and keeping the well clean. Mud is pumped into a well at densities calculated to provide a hydrostatic pressure sufficient to overcome downhole formation pressures. and also possibly lead to differential sticking and formation damage. without excessive weight which would decrease the weight on the bit and hence penetration (see Drill String). rotary hose and gooseneck to the swivel. unit of pressure or stress (Mega = 106) Ministry of Petroleum & Energy (Norway) Magnetic particle inspection Multi quick connector Marine Safety Agency. (See e. See Single Buoy Mooring. mainly for small satellite developments in shallow waters. by passing the feedstock through successive absorbent substances which offer differing degrees of resistance to its passage. See Anti Knock Compounds. It is also engineered to maintain a thin protective layer of filter-cake on the bore hole wall. Mega Pascal (1 MPa =1 N/mm2). resting on a single columnar 'leg'. Mud is pumped from the mud pit (or tank) via the standpipe. and into the drill stem.
g. To Mud Off is to seal off a formation with heavy filter cake. gas/water. National Aeronautical Society Gas originally discovered in a reservoir as distinct from injected gas.g.g. A Mud Log is the record of mud make-up and analysis of cuttings recovered. Producing a reservoir by means of its natural pressure – without pressure maintenance. Also known as Multipay Well. oil with high gas content) in a single pipeline by boosting the pressure to prevent vaporisation of the dissolved gases. Multiple boreholes drilled from an existing single bore well. Modular Underwater Separation Technology. oil/water). or of different liquids.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS circulation. oil/gas. Relating to or being a system of simultaneous control of two or more functions e. through a pipeline or other vessel (e. etc. A fluid mixture consisting of oil (with water) and dissolved gas. To Mud Up is to increase mud weight and downhole pressure. A trough or pipe that is placed between the surface connections at the wellbore and the shale shaker and through which drilling mud flows upon its return to the surface from the hole. predecessor of AlphaPRIME™ and AlphaCPU™ Manifold valve hydraulic jumper Megawatts (=106 watts) Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971. The seabed. The composition of mud used in a well is normally supervised by a Mud Engineer. Measurement while drilling OR Mean water depth Maximum working pressure Mudline Mud return line Multilateral Multiphase Multiphase Flow Multiple Completion Multiplex MUST MVHJ MW MWA MWD MWP N N NA or N/A NACE Newton (unit of force) Not applicable National Association of Corrosion Engineers (USA) National Material Accreditation Service A collective name given to a range if distillate fractions covering heavy gasolines and some of the lighter kerosene distillates.) NAMAS Naphtha NAS Native Gas Natural Depletion © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 46 . See also Associated Gas. (Also Flush Phase. A well perforated and completed to produce simultaneously but independently from more than one formation. or bed of any body of water where drilling is taking place. Simultaneous flow of liquid and gas. electro/hydraulic controls. Also called flowline. Primary Production. The practice of flowing stabilised well fluids (e.
etc. These. of a floating vessel.N. or NGL's. It may be produced from condensate reservoirs but more probably produced as a by-product of oil production. as distinct from Liquid Natural Gas (L. such as Propane. Natural gas liquid(s).852 km Note well (nota bene (Latin)) OR Nominal Bore Non-conformance report (quality) Norwegian Continental Shelf Non-destructive examination Nominal dry film thickness Non-destructive testing National Engineering Laboratory (East Kilbride. = 1. roll. supplies. The time that elapses between successive occurrences of any phenomenon. are readily condensed from the Natural Gas flow and are known as Natural Gas Liquids. NIU NMD A short length of pipe with connections at both ends. etc. The specially strengthened junction of tubular components in a conventional steel platform jacket. unit of pressure or stress Not normally manned Not normally manned installation National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA) The colloquial name for conventional onshore wellhead production beam pumps. needed. especially a blowout preventer.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Natural Gas/NGL's Natural Gas is primarily Methane and also some Ethane with small quantities of entrained heavier fractions. NMVOC Nm N/mm2 NNM NNMI NOAA Nodding Donkey Node © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 47 . Butane. To Nipple Up is to assemble pipe valves etc. etc. A Nipple Chaser is a materials man whose job is to obtain and have ready for shipment to the rig the various tools. unit of torque Newton(s) per square millimetre. NGL may be produced from condensate reservoirs. such as two successive wave-crests or the resulting movements of heave.) which is Methane/Ethane refrigerated to the liquid state. and others. Network interface units Norwegian Maritime Directorate Non methane VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) Newton metre(s). These are several on each leg and also at the meeting of cross-members. Scotland) A mixture of natural and petroleum-based synthetic rubber highly resistant to chemical attack.G. Non-government organisation Natural Period Nautical mile NB NCR NCS NDE NDFT NDT NEL Neoprene NGL NGO Nipple etc. a mixture of hydrocarbon liquids which include butane and ethane obtained from natural gas.
g. 3-phase supply.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS NOF NOIA Non-Operators Forum OR Northern Offshore Federation National Ocean Industries Association (USA) Methods of inspecting and testing the quality or integrity of vessels or equipment which do not involve removal or testing to destruction of representative sections. 440 V. discounting both future costs and revenue at an appropriate rate. Norwegian Petroleum Directorate Norwegian Petroleum Society Net profit interest NRV NS NTS NUI Net present value. an assessment of the long-term profitability of a project made by adding together all the revenue it can be expected to achieve over its full life and deducting all the costs involved.) A well undertaken as part of the process of earning a concession. Oil-based mud Observation remotely operated vehicle Offshore Certification Bureau OR oil circuit breaker Oil Companies International Marine Forum OBSROV OCB OCIMF © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 48 . Norwegian Standards for the Offshore Petroleum Industry National Offshore Safety Agency (Australia) Non Destructive Testing (NDT) NORSOK NOSA Nox Nozzle NPD NPF NPI NPS NPSH NPV Nominal pipe size Net pump suction head Nitrogen oxides A flanged inlet or outlet connection on a pressure vessel. The net present value of a field is maximised by achieving early oil and low initial CAPEX OR No visible porosity Non-return valve No show Norwegian Technology Centre OR Not to scale Norsk Undervannsintervensjon OR Normally unattended installation North West European Continental Shelf NWECS O Ø Obligation Well OBM diameter (Also used by electrical engineers to denote phase e.
etc. See operator Oil Column/Gas Column Oiler Oil Field Oil Geology Oil operator © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 49 . Ancillary or service plant which is distant from the main process plant. steel pipe plus thermal insulation). similar to those of a ship's captain. (e. laboratory etc. The person on an offshore platform with statutory responsibilities for safety. odourless and hard to detect. Oil fluorescence Oil and gas Oil & Gas Industry Task Force International Association of Oil & Gas Producers Overall heat transfer coefficient. power generation. particularly an oil discovery well. Methane is colourless. Specialised geology which deals exclusively with sedimentary basins and the sources of hydrocarbons. This has operational advantages particularly in deeper or technically difficult wells. the subject of actual or planned development.) OFLU O&G OGITF OGP OHTC OIAC OIH Oil and gas separator OILC An item of production equipment used to separate liquid components of the wellstream from gaseous elements. Although toxic and highly flammable. Water treatment. The vertical distance between points of highest and lowest known oil or gas in a reservoir. particularly at refineries. W/m°K Offshore Industry Advisory Committee (UK) Oil in hole Offsite Facilities (Offsites) Offshore Installation Manager (O.) It is sometimes applied to service installations in general. on a common reservoir. An oil well.g.M. in order to secure a due share of production. A group of hydrocarbon reservoirs in a common geological setting OR A single reservoir.I.. Oil equivalent Other end connector Odorant OE OEC OECD Offset Well Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development A well drilled to 'mirror' a production well drilled near the boundary of a neighbouring concession.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS OCS OD Outer Continental Shelf Outside diameter A substance with a penetrating smell or 'stench' which is added to a gas supply to assist detection of leaks.g. etc. Represents the loss of calorific energy per system length unit (e. but can make the detection of formation hydrocarbons more difficult. Offshore Industry Liaison Committee (a UK union) Oil-Based Mud Drilling mud in which the solids are suspended in a hydrocarbon distillate rather than water.
Organisations for the Promotion of Energy Technology Operating expenditure Oligocene Open Flow Open Hole Operator OPET OPEX OPOL (Offshore Pollution Liability Agreement). Producing a well without chokes or beans. The company or other organisation responsible for conducting operations on a concession. Overriding royalty interest Out of service Offshore Safety Division (of the HSE). The process of shrinking. etc. An industry co-operative insurance and self-insurance scheme between operators in the European continental shelf and adjacent coastal areas covering costs of major pollution clean up. Rock formed in the third epoch of the Tertiary period. synclines. anticlines etc. The operator usually has the largest share of equity participation OR An oil industry worker. (non operators). Unrestricted production normally for testing or maintenance purposes. The lower end of the column in a reservoir with underlying water. Office of Pipeline Safety (USA) OPS Organic/Organic Chemicals Orifice Meter Orogeny ORRI O/S OSD Substances derived from living organisms. Optical scanning apparatus for ropes Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment in the North East Atlantic. someone controlling process plant etc OR the mechanism activating a valve. The inner or production string of casing in a well. cooling and 'wrinkling' of the earth's crust. An instrument which measures the flow of a fluid in a pipeline by monitoring a controlled flow through a small aperture. Offshore Technology Conference OSCAR OSPAR OTC © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 50 .Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Oilpatch Oil String A colloquial reference to exploration and production activity. on behalf of itself and any other concession holders. formations where it is hard to detect. leading to the formation of mountains. See Tertiary. such as oil in the natural state. An uncased section of well borehole. See Section 10. Offshore Installation Manager Oil in place This may be graduated or occur in Oil/Water Contact OIM OIP OLF Olefins Oil Industry Association (Norway) The group of hydrocarbons known as Alkenes.
and an inside passage for fluids. consisting of a sealing device. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons The alkane hydrocarbons This usually refers to rights retained by a state when granting a concession. Plugged back depth Packer PAH Paraffins Participation Pay String Pay Zone/Horizon PBD P&ID Pedestal Piping and instrumentation diagram A large-diameter. Collecting more crude oil etc. The production or inner string of casing. A perforating gun is a cylindrical tool loaded with explosive charges which are triggered opposite the pay zone. A packing element expands to prevent fluid flow except through the inside bore of the packer and into the tubing. The degree to which a body of rock will permit a fluid to flow through it. used to block the flow of fluids through the annular space between the tubing and the wall of wellbore by sealing off the space between them. It is usually made up in the tubing string some distance above the producing zone. See also Underlift. but normally means crude oil. but sometimes also to participate on a full equity basis in any production development. use. Oil-water contact Overshot OWC OWS Operator workstation OR oily water separator P PA P&A Public address OR personal assistant Plug and abandon A piece of downhole equipment. Perforation Perforating Gun Permeability Petroleum Petrochemicals © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 51 . A formation containing producible hydrocarbons. or whether they must be milled and drilled out and thus destroyed). perforating the casing in many places. than a production participant or purchaser is entitled to at any one time. vertical tube onto which a crane is attached. to allow oil or gas to enter the well. Packers are classified according to configuration. A fishing tool with a socket to fit over. stain and fluorescence The appearance of occurrence of a rock formation at the surface. whether they can be removed when necessary. Petrochemicals are chemical feedstocks and intermediates derived from petroleum. Literally 'rock oil'.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS OTS&F Outcrop Overlift Odour taste. enclose. Can include products. and grip the top end of the fish for pulling out. Holes punched in the casing of a well at the pay zone to be produced. It is a function of the shape of the capillary pore spaces and the degree to which pores are connected. and method of setting and whether or not they are retrievable (that is. primarily to acquire part of the production at stated terms. a holding or setting device.
Petroleum Province Petrology PC PCB PCC PCF PCN PCO PCS PCT PCV PCVC PCVO PD PDI PDO PDQ PDT PE PEA PED Perforate Permeability (perm.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Petroleum Engineer A specialist in the properties and behaviour of hydrocarbons in their natural reservoirs and under production conditions. their origin. and at what rate. into the well. or perforator. A measure of ease with which a fluid flows through the connecting pore spaces of a rock or cement. Personal computer Polychlorobiphenyls OR printed circuit board Production choke .) © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 52 . The unit of measurement is the millidarcy OR the fluid conductivity of porous medium OR the ability of a fluid to flow within the interconnected pore network of porous medium. A large area where reservoirs show common origins and characteristics. The study of rocks. Plan for development and operation Production. a petroleum engineer would normally provide the estimate as to how much of it could be produced (recoverable reserves) under what conditions. chemical and physical properties and distribution. the perforator fires electrically detonated bullets or shaped charges. Perforating is accomplished by lowering a perorating gun. drilling and quarters platform Pressure Differential Transducer Polyethylene Production Engineering Association Petroleum Engineering Division (of the Department of Energy) OR Pressure Equipment Directive (EC) To pierce the casing wall and cement to provide holes through which formation fluids may enter or to provide holes in the casing so that materials may be introduced into the annulus between the casing and the wall of the borehole. While a geologist normally provides estimates of hydrocarbons-in-place.close Pounds per cubic foot Personnel certification in non-destructive testing Production choke – open OR parent company overheads Platform control station OR pressure control system Patent Co-operation Treaty Production choke valve OR pressure control valve Production choke valve – close Production choke valve .open Pressure directive OR pig detector Pressure differential indicator OR Pig detector indicator.
e.e. with 7 representing neutrality. and when transporting them offshore. usually buried or laid on the seabed. an oil bearing sandstone between layers of impermeable rock. an 'air gun') for an underwater seismic survey. Sometimes known as pins. Their primary purpose is to scrape the pipeline clean or rush. Pipe clamp Pipe Facing Machine Pipeline Pipe rack Pipe ramp © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 53 . A system of connected lengths of pipe. Pipe-in-pipe In drilling.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS PFD PFEER PG PGB PH Process flow diagram Prevention of Fire and Explosion. A sloping ramp from the pipe storage area up to the working floor of a drilling rig. onshore and offshore. that is used for transporting production fluid (oil or gas). Racks or frames are also sometimes used to store tubulars horizontally in yards and on offshore decks. The thinning out and disappearance over a distance of a formation e. Where stands of drill pipe are stacked vertically in a derrick ready for use. and Emergency Response Regulations (SI 1995/743). A machine for cleaning and preparing the butt ends of pipe joints for welding. the sea bed to anchor a structure. 0 maximum acidity and 14 maximum alkalinity. through which pigs are inserted into and extracted from a line. One of two or more fluids as in a production fluid (i. slugs or liquid from low points in the line. Plate girder Permanent guide base A scale of alkalinity or acidity running from 0 to 14.g.g. gas. a collar fitted to a string of pipe to stop it dropping if the slips fail to hold it. or in a gas pipeline.g. See also multiphase. Caliper Pigs also measure the pipeline as they travel. military operations or difficult terrain. piles are usually driven through the centre of tubular platform legs or through external sleeves or 'skirts' attached to the legs OR there are numerous uses of piles in ports and in foundations for all heavy plant. Piles Pillow Tanks Pinch Out Pinger PIP A source of sound (e. or other deposits. cylindrical or spherical capsules which are inserted into a pipeline flow and travel along it with the fluid. water) engineering context of phase. Tubular steel shafts driven into e. and 'smart' or 'intelligent' pigs contain various instruments to monitor pipeline condition and integrity. Pig Launchers and Pig Traps are the arrangements of valves etc. Collapsible synthetic rubber/fabric storage tanks which can be easily transported and deployed in. oil. wax. See also Ø above for electrical Phase Photogrammetric PI PIC PICS PICT Pig The use of still photography to capture dimensional information for transposing to drawings.g. Productivity index Pressure indicator/controller Pull-in and connection system Pull-in and connection tool Bullet-shaped.
Compliant platform rigs. e. Cyclohexane. Preventative maintenance OR Project manager Particular material appraisal Production master valve Purchase order Persons on board Pulled out of hole (also POOH) Hydrocarbons whose carbon atoms form a ring or rings e. – hence any official concession map. the concrete gravity platform. A single length of pipe with flanged ends Pre-fabricated production or process system piping of 2-inch bore or larger. or leaving the well permanently sealed and abandoned. An immobile offshore structure from which development wells are drilled and produced. Blind Rams are designed in extreme emergency to shear through the drill pipe and seal the well completely.S.g.g. and the steel jacket platform. (See also tubing. to prevent infiltration by inflammable or poisonous gases. The study of the formation and movement of the "plates" of which the earth's crust is formed. Rigid platform rigs. Polycyclic Hydrocarbons © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 54 . Platform rigs may be built of steel or concrete and may be either rigid or compliant. are the guyed-tower platform and the tension-leg platform. which are used in deeper waters and yield to water and wind movements. before producing from a higher formation. which rest on the seabed. Plate tectonics Platform PLC Plenum PLEM PLET Pipeline end manifold Pipeline end termination (usually a skid or sled) Production lower master valve Plastic limit state PLMV PLS Plug/Plug and Abandon PM PMA PMV PO POB POH To seal a well. or part of a well with cement. Programmable logic card OR Programmable logic controller An enclosure such as a control room where for safety reasons the air pressure is kept higher than outside.A. sidetracking.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Pipe rams Pipe spool Piping PIT PITP PIV Pkr Plat Hydraulic rams in a blowout preventer which are shaped to fit around the drill-stem and seal the annulus. are the caisson-type platform.) Pull-in tool Production inspection plan Production isolation valve Packer An official concession map in the U.
An Oil Pool is a reservoir or group of reservoirs sharing a common pressure system. A sealed chamber in which divers can rest between shifts without decompression. or other purposes. linear actuator. It is expressed as a percentage of total gross rock volume. The volume of free space between the grains of a rock capable of holding fluid. combined to form a compound with different physical properties – e. OR In a refinery or blending plant. A buoy which is normally submerged but will surface in response to an acoustic signal.g. Chemical compounds added to a very viscous or waxy oil to prevent it thickening at low temperatures to the point where it will not flow. (gas or liquid). containing ballast tanks. Polyethylene. offering precise and fast operation of choke valves and modulation pressure or flow control valves. Alpha Thames' subsea. (Also. It is unique in that it is the first available subsea electric actuator that combines the benefits of electric actuation with the performance required for modulating control valve duties. to an offshore installation site. OR A submerged or semi submerged part of a floating drilling rig structure designed to assist flotation. "Yoo hoo" buoy). An internal-combustion engine or a turbine that is the source of power for driving a machine or machines. Can also be designed to withstand external pressure. © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 55 . electric. the Gasoline Pool is the average Octane value of the gasolines produced/available. A flatbottomed vessel ("barge") for transporting structures etc. refining.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Polymer Pontoon Pool Two or more molecules of the same kind. Porosity and permeability OR porous and permeable Pop Up Buoy/Recall Buoy Porosity Pour Point Depressant (PPD) P&P PPA PPD PPE PPM ppm PPS PQG PR PRC PRE Polyphenylene sulphide Permanent quartz gauge Petroleum Productions Act Pour point depressant Personal protective equipment Planned preventative maintenance OR Project programme manager Parts per million Performance Requirement level in accordance with API Specification 6A Pressure recorder/controller Pitting resistance equivalent OR Project reliability engineer Pressure Bomb Pressure Habitat A down hole pressure recording capsule used in well-monitoring. Pressure Maintenance Pressure Vessel Prime mover PROAct™ A tank or process chamber built to hold fluids under pressure whether for production. colloquially. The process of keeping reservoir pressure at the optimum level during production. normally by water or gas injection to replace fluids extracted. Often used to mark the position of wellheads.
the tubing is designed to be replaced during the life of a well. It may be 2" to 5" diameter or more. Proppants Proprietary Data Prorationing © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 56 .i. Production Tubing String Production Well/Producer Production Wellhead and Tree Productive Horizon The assembly of casing head. The period during which a field is capable of producing at or near its maximum average rate. Also the reserves extracted.s. connections and well-control valves fitted to a producing well. Note that production tubing is inserted inside this casing. if required A development well specifically for the extraction of reservoir fluids. maintenance in a pipeline system. It can also include all confidential information acquired as part of sole or joint operations. The Index is measured as volume produced (e. Main process vessel used primarily for the separation of gas. barrels per day) divided by the drop in pressure (p.g. This may be by government regulation or due to a period of under-capacity or e. on a scale normally calculated after deduction of production and other agreed costs. A production test may continue for several months where extensive data is necessary prior to final commitment to development expenditures etc. to a point just above the reservoir through which the fluids are produced. to allow oil to flow more freely by wedging into the cracks etc. The innermost steel lining of a well cemented in place and perforated for production in the pay zone. and relatively little local petroleum industry activity. and reservoir needs).g. Where several inter-dependent platforms are clustered in a development they are known as a Production Complex. tubing head. Productivity/Productivity Index Profiling The continuous productive capacity of a well. The "Christmas Tree" is the name given to the complete assembly of valves. See also Horizon. It works particularly well in areas with less developed taxation regimes. Semi-submersible and ship-shaped vessels developed from the respective off-shore drilling rig concepts are also used as Production facilities. depending on the production flow and pressures anticipated. Sand. Production platforms are of varying types depending on environment (water depth etc. Shallow seismic surveying by echosounder techniques. created and preventing them reclosing. Primarily data obtained from the owner of a seismic survey record under confidentiality undertaking. connecting flanges etc. Unlike the casing. gravel or other particles or "beads" used in hydraulic fracturing of a formation. OR Refinery/petrochemical operations resulting in a yield of products. oil (and condensate) and water Production Platform/Facility Production Separator Production Sharing Contract (PSC) Production Testing A type of concession in which part of the return to the host government is delivered as produced hydrocarbons. A production test concerns the capability to produce (productivity) of a well and its effects on the reservoir produced. (See production tubing string) Production Production Casing String Production Payment Loan Production Plateau A loan repayable out of production from a well or field.) to achieve that flow rate starting with a "shut in" pressure. A pay zone. Restriction of production in a multi-concession system in proportion to field capacities and ownership interests.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS PROD Produced water Production Formation water removed from the oil and gas in the process separators The full scale extraction of hydrocarbon reserves. The string of pipe installed inside the casing of a production well.
Retrieving and stacking the drill-string on reaching target depth. Project safety review committee Pressure Systems Safety Regulations (2000) Production swab valve OR pressure safety valve Pressure transducer Production/test isolation valve Pressure and temperature transducer Permit to work Winching the end of a subsea pipeline or flowline into a connecting chamber or wellhead. gauge pressure Product Specification Level in accordance with API Specification 6A Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act Power supply unit Pipeline Safety Regulations (SI 1996/825). usually with a "safe" gas such as nitrogen. to make up a string of tubulars to an exact required total length. Production upper master valve A joint of pipe of non-standard length. absolute pressure pounds per square inch. © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 57 . etc.) Pup Joint PUQ Purge Purging To maintain gas flow in an over-rich or lean concentration in order to avoid the build-up of oxygen and an explosive mixture Cleaning the interior of pipes and vessels to eliminate inflammable matter. Production/utilities/quarters (platform.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS PS PSA PSC PSD Performance standard OR pressure switch Production sharing agreement OR pressure set at Production sharing contract Process shut down Process shut down panel pounds per square inch (also lbf/in2) pounds per square inch. or through a "J" tube riser guide to the platform deck. PSDP psi psia psig PSL PSPA PSU PSR PSRC PSSR PSV PT PTIV PTT PTW Pull-In Pulling Casing Pulling Out PUMV Retrieving casing from a well (where possible) before abandonment.
An unit used in overall assessment of energy resources. Quality control. The operational techniques and activities that are used to ensure that a quality product or service will be produced. engineering standards. e. the U. Quantitative risk assessment – involves calculations to assist with the identification of risks and to determine the frequency. A drilling rig insulated and equipped to operate with minimum disturbance of sensitive onshore environments such as built-up areas. definition is used. magnitude and consequence of hazardous events. volume and temperature data or study usually related to a test of a reservoir formation or well Post-weld heat treatment Pulse width modulated drive(s) (as in VSD's) Production wing valve PWHT PWMD PWV Q QA QC QCP QM QMS Q&Q Quality assurance.S. velocity (factor) Polyvinylchloride Pressure volume transducer OR pressure. It is equal to 1018 British Thermal Units (BTU). and sound engineering judgement. 1015 not 1024 as internationally accepted. Risk assessment based on actual operational experience. PV PVC PVT Pore volume OR pressure. Quantitative risk study Qualification test Quantity Quadrillion Qualitative risk assessment Quiet Rig Q Unit QRA QRS QT Qty © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 58 . Quality control procedure Quality management Quality management system Quantity and quality In the oil and gas industry. A sequence of planned and systematic actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that a product or service will satisfy given quality requirements.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS PUWER Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (SI 1992/2932).g.
Inserting the drilling.V. A reservoir. deposited in marine conditions. reciprocate The ratio between the volumes of oil and/or gas produced and produceable from a reservoir and the oil and/or gas originally in place. The pipeline is first constructed at an offshore facility where it is welded. To pass (as a rope) through a hole or opening in a block or similar device. electric. Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung e. inspected. Reciprocating. testing or logging string etc. and wound onto the reel. fail-safe. As the name implies. coated.) (REAct™ Mk II RALOG RAM RAMEX Rathole Raw Gas RBGL RBI RBP RCM RCMS RCP RCR REAct™ Reamer Recip A bit designed to enlarge a borehole. Radioactive log Random access memory OR Reliability. it is frequently elongated. and early high production may not be sustained without pressure support. It may be included in the drill string just above a conventional bit. linear actuator for the operation of isolation valves. into the wellhead. A ship or barge specially designed to handle pipeline that is wound onto a large reel.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS R Rabbit RAL A small pig for flowlines Colour definitions issued by RAL. sand and other impurities Riser base gas lift system Risk-based inspection Retrievable bridge plug Riser control module OR Reliability-centred maintenance Reliability Case Management System Reliability Case Plan Reliability case report Alpha Thames' subsea. Availability and Maintainability (Study) Cost of reliability A hole in the drilling floor in which the kelly joint is kept when not in use Natural gas before removal of water. the vessel pays out the pipe off the reel at a steady rate onto the seabed. usually limestone. Reinjection of produced gas into a gas/condensate reservoir to maintain pressure for optimum recovery of condensates. is being developed and tested under licence by BEL Valves. To lay the pipeline. Recovery Factor Recycling (Gas) Reef Reel vessel Re-Entry Reeve © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 59 .
A second well deviated from a safe distance to a bottom-hole location close to a "blowout" well and produced so as to reduce the pressure in the blowout. if so. These liquids are mainly lost to production. a progressive decrease in reservoir pressure as result of production will gradually lead to separation of liquids (heavier molecules) from natural gases in the reservoirs. The detailed definitions are important in oil and gas financial and other information. some of the heavier ones condense into a liquid. located above the surface of the water. and the drilling equipment. or vessels on which the equipment is installed. "Recycling". Water-drive reservoirs depend on water pressure to force the hydrocarbons out of the reservoir and into the wellbore. The pressure at reservoir depth in a shut-in well. occupies the upper part of the reservoir rocks. Gas drives depend on the fact that. Gas. Request for quotation Robert Gordon Institute of Technology A collective term to describe the permanent equipment needed for drilling a well. gas and condensate. and oil. water. mainly deep gas/condensate reservoirs. being "by passed" by the more mobile gas. The three basic types of hydrocarbon reservoirs are oil. or Reservoir Reservoir drive mechanism Reservoir Pressure Residual Oil Retrograde Condensation Reworking a Well RFQ RGIT Rig Rina Riser clamps Riser pipe © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 60 . these fluids occur in different phases because of variants in their gravities. A riser pipe serves as a guide for the drill stem from the drilling vessel to the wellhead and as a conductor of drilling fluid from the well to the vessel. whole Commercial Reserves are restricted to volumes recoverable at an acceptable profitability.000 and 100m. In addition to its occurrence as a cap or in solution. It has come to include the onshore and offshore vehicles. in most instances. (gas/oil ratio between 5. dolomites.i.ft. the lower part. which is on the seabed. In a compensate reservoir. are salt water and some oil. viscous "Heavy Ends" of the barrel. remaining after extraction of higher-value fractions.s. allowing the gas to expand and provide the driving energy. normal primary or secondary recovery methods. Italian classification (verification) society Clamp(s) used to secure the riser to the jacket The pipe (from the blowout preventer) and special fittings used on floating offshore drilling rigs to establish a seal between the top of the wellbore. but. The dense.g. In some reservoirs. per barrel) where temperatures and pressures are high. Cost of lost production Relief Well Req. the intermediate section. See also Killer Well. as the reservoir is produced. or a combination of these. Associated with the gas.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS REGEX Reid Vapour Pressure (RVP) A standard oil industry measure of vapour pressure. Maintenance work on a well to stimulate production.000 cu. at 100°F (38°C). reinjection of produced gas to maintain pressure.. is used to postpone this problem until an acceptable proportion of recoverable liquids has been produced. mobile platforms. when brought to the surface. Requisition Reserves/Recoverable Reserves Oil or gas that it is anticipated can be produced. Most reservoir rocks are limestones. the hydrocarbons may exist as a gas. the reservoir is called gas reservoir. The riser consists of several sections of pipe and This may involve cleaning out silt deposits etc. stimulation techniques such as fracturing or acidizing. and are quoted more fully in Section 6 in the form currently approved by the Society of Petroleum Engineers. sandstones. the lightest. pressure is reduced. Technical Reserves are theoretically producible at a gross operating margin by e. A subsurface porous permeable rock body in which oil and/or gas is stored. gas may accumulate independently of the oil. in p. The process in which reservoir fluids are caused flow out of the reservoir rock and into a wellbore by natural energy. In a typical oil reservoir.
an ROV with tool attached The mud supply hose from the standpipe to the swivel. when burying the pipe is impracticable. "Tripping" is arduous and interrupts "making hole". Remotely operated vehicle ROV support vessel Returnable steel drum Radiographic testing Reliability Threat Identification Ring-type joint Real time operations Round Trip ROV ROVSV RSD RT RTI RTJ RTO Running-In/Running Casing RVP Inserting any tubular or tool into a well is known as "running-in". It has a bevelled gear arrangement to create the rotational motion. or rotary machine. Return on investment Rig on location Roller Bit RON ROP ROT A rotary drilling bit which penetrates by pulverising the rock with its toothed wheels. electric. Residual vapour pressure OR Reid vapour pressure © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 61 . to provide protection against anchors and trawlnets. and an opening into which bushings as are fitted to drive and support the drilling assembly. Cost of risk Rapid intervention vessel Root mean square OR Reliability management system Royal National Lifeboat Institution (UK) Alpha Thames' subsea. Rocks and gravel may also be dumped around subsea wellheads and jacket legs to repair scour damage. rotary actuator for the operation of rotary isolation valves. Recovering the drill string from the bottom of the well to the surface and returning it to continue drilling. used to turn the drill stem and support the drilling assembly. Assembling and lowering in a string of casing is "running casing". The vertical portion of a subsea pipeline (including the bottom bend) arriving on or departing from a platform.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS includes special devices to compensate for any movement of the drilling rig caused by waves. to replace the bit. Research octane number Remotely operated pickup OR rate of penetration Remotely operated tool.g. It is also called a marine riser. Rotary Hose Rotary table The principal component of a rotating. RISKEX RIV RMS RNLI ROAct™ Actuator Rock dumping ROI ROL Deposition of rocks onto subsea pipelines. This may be e.
A sacrificial anode is a block or bar of non-ferrous metal selected to be of a more noble material than that of the structure being protected.g. thereby preventing structural corrosion. A piercement salt dome is one that has been pushed up so that it penetrates the underlying sediments. See also decompression chamber. Single anchor leg mooring. It is attached to the submerged part of a steel structure (or a ship's hull). Static bottom hole pressure SBHP © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 62 . the trade association of the British onshore gas industry. In a cathodic protection system. Safety Alert Database and Information Exchange (funded by UKOOA and the HSE). chemicals and other solids used in drilling are supplied to the rig and measured into the well in sacks (SAX). A dome that is caused by an intrusion of rock salt into overlying sediments. leaving them truncated. Instead of depressurising after each shift. The formations above the salt plug are usually arched so that they dip in all directions away from the centre of the dome. Hydrocarbon molecules which cannot absorb any more hydrogen atoms without subdividing to release carbon valencies for further hydrogen. Diving performed over long periods at high submerged pressures. the diver lives in a (hyperbaric) pressure chamber onboard the DSV. Satellite well Communication satellites are extensively used to fix or locate positions offshore to the accuracy necessary for oil and gas operations. the sacrificial anodes form the positive electrodes. Saturated hydrocarbons Saturation diving SAW SAX Submerged arc welding Sacks (e. mainly used in commercial specifications. The sacrificial anode is gradually eroded in preference to the structure. Usually a single well drilled offshore by a mobile offshore drilling unit to produce hydrocarbons from the outer fringes of a reservoir. cement) Saybolt seconds sbgi Unit of viscosity. mud. a compliant monopod version of the SBM tanker-loading buoy. Subsea accumulator module Saponification number Search and rescue Survey autonomous semi-submersible Saturated SADIE SALM Salt dome SAM Sap No SAR SASS SAT Satellite navigation/comms. thus frequently forming traps for petroleum accumulations. Society of British Gas Industries.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS S Sack Sacrificial anode Cement. used in deeper water.
Sulphide stress cracking OR Surface compression chamber Safety-critical element Stress concentration factor OR Single column floater (also known as spar) Standard cubic feet Standard cubic feet per barrel Standard cubic feet per day Standard cubic feet per stock tank barrel Subsea control module Subsea control module mounting base The process by which tides and currents carry away loose sedimentation from around a fixed object on the seabed such as a platform leg or pipeline.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS SBM Single buoy mooring. presenting the minimum frontal area to the combined forces of wind and waves. A device for cleaning the inside of a pipeline. A separator for removing liquids and solids from a gas stream. Surface controlled reservoir analysis and management system. A device for cleaning the inside of casing in a well. Subsea control system Subsea control system computer Surface-controlled subsurface safety valve Surface control unit SBSV SBV SCADA SCC SCE SCF Scf Scf/bbl Scf/d Scf/Stb SCM SCMMB Scouring SCR SCRAMS Scraper Scraper pig Scratchers Screen Scrubber SCS SCSC SCSSV SCU © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 63 . A tubular sieve inserted in a well bore to hold back loose sand and rock without letting oil and gas enter the well. Collars with wire bristles fitted to the outside of casing to remove filter cake from the well bore to help to ensure a good cement bond. and the mooring gear and loading hoses can swivel above the buoy through a full revolution. The tanker moors bows-on and weather vanes around the buoy. Safety Case Regulations (SI 1992/2885) OR Steel catenary riser OR selective catalytic reduction. Standby/safety support vessel Standby vessel Supervisory control and data acquisition OR subsea controls and data acquisition. A single-point buoy mooring for loading and unloading tankers. The oil is fed to or from the centre of the SBM from below.
It has a mat or legs that are lowered to the seabed and a main deck that is raised above the surface of the water to a distance where it will not be affected by the waves. Reflections from shallow formations arrive at the surface sooner than reflections from deep formations. Scottish Environmental Protection Agency A cylindrical or spherical vessel used to separate the components in streams of mixed fluids. In shallow water. some of the waves are reflected back to the surface where sensitive detectors pick them up. A rock composed of materials that were transported to their present position by wind or water. Semi submersibles are more stable than drill ships and ship-shaped barges and are used extensively to drill wildcat wells in rough waters such as the North Sea. See injection well Solid expandable tubulars The depth to which a string of casing is set and cemented. Living quarters. are assembled on the deck. SEM Semi submersible SEPA Separator Service well SET Setting point © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 64 . Two types of semisubmersible rigs are the bottletype semisubmersible and the column-stabilised semisubmersible. See oil and gas separator. reservoir. Secondary recovery Sedimentary rock Seismic survey Self-elevating drilling unit An exploration method in which strong. See also Second end connection Secondary porosity Applies to umbilicals and flexible pipeline. and since the reflections are recorded. storage space. some semi submersibles can be ballasted to rest on the seabed. or well stimulation techniques. a record of the depth and configuration of the various formations can be generated. which is then terminated. cause the unit to submerge in the water to a predetermined depth. or left on the seabed to be picked up at a later stage . or both. Semisubmersible rigs are either self-propelled or towed to a site and either anchored or dynamically positioned over the site. Porosity developed after the original deposition of a formation.g. Subsea electronics module A floating offshore production and or drilling unit that has pontoons and columns that. The sound waves travel through the layers of the earth's crust. Also called a jackup drilling rig. e. the umbilical or pipe is laid away from it toward the other (second) end. An offshore drilling rig.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS SD SDB SDC SDU SDV Seal Sand detector OR shut down OR stream day Subsea distribution box Single disciplinary check Subsea distribution unit Subsea distribution valve OR Shutdown valve An impermeable fault or stratum of rock beneath or behind which hydrocarbons can accumulate. shale and limestone are sedimentary rocks. Production of fluids from a reservoir by water or gas injection and pressure maintenance rather than by blow down or natural primary recovery. low-frequency sound waves are generated on the surface or in the water to find subsurface rock structures that may contain hydrocarbons. etc. connected. Interpretation of the record can reveal possible hydrocarbonbearing formations. At formation boundaries. usually with a large hull. See floating offshore drilling rig. Sandstone. when flooded. by the action of water on soluble components of the rock. having raised the first end through a j-tube to the platform.
Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology
DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS
SFT Shale
Seabed functional testing OR Norwegian Pollution Control Authority OR Surface flow tree A very fine-grained, muddy sedimentary rock with low porosity and consequently poor reservoir potential. A vibrating screen used to remove cuttings from the circulating fluid (mud) in rotary drilling operations. The size of the openings in the screen should be carefully selected to be the smallest that will allow 100% flow of the fluid. Also called a shaker. A relatively small container of high explosive that is loaded into a perforating gun. Upon detonation, the charge releases a small, high-velocity stream of particles (a jet) that penetrates the casing, cement and the formation. Jaws that emerge from ship's deck (typically of an anchor handling vessel) to grip cable fittings A grooved pulley wheel Safety, health, environment and quality
Shale shaker
Shaped charge Shark jaws Sheave SHEQ
Ship-shaped barge
A floating offshore drilling structure that is towed to and from the drilling site. The unit has a streamlined bow and squared-off stern, a drilling derrick usually located near the middle of the barge, and a moon pool below the derrick through which drilling tools pass to the seabed.
Shoe Shoestring sand
A strengthened fitting on the end of a string of casing to protect the tubulars and to help direct the cement to the annulus. Thin, often elongated streaks of reservoir sand completely surrounded by impermeable layers. The pressure in a shut-in well; the static pressure. A moderate-sized oil tanker used to transport oil from larger vessels to port. System Internationale (International System of Units) OR Statutory Instrument OR Shut in Offshore Installations (Construction and Survey) Regulations, Statutory Instrument No 289 (1974) were revoked in 1998 in favour of Design and Construction Regulations 1996 The upper layer of the earth's crust, in which prospective reservoirs are found, so called from the predominance of silicon and aluminium in its composition. Shut-in bottom hole pressure Acoustic survey equipment towed close to the seabed, used for surveying pipelines (see also sonar). A well that has been re-drilled from an intermediate depth. Wells are re-directed or sidetracked for various reasons, usually because of technical problems deeper in the original well. Obtaining rock samples from the sides of a well bore using a special tool. Sampling integrated logging device (for well testing without producing hydrocarbons to the surface). An offshore system to which the production from several wells located on the seabed is routed, and to which a tanker ship ties up in order to load the produced oil. The tanker is moored to a single point on the buoy and is thus free to rotate around the buoy, depending upon wind and current directions. Subsea Investigation and Reporting of Events Network, organised by the SUT. Swedish Standards Institution
Shut-in pressure Shuttle tanker SI
Sialic layer SIBHP
Sidescan sonar
Side-tracked well Sidewall coring SILD
Single point mooring system
© Alpha Thames Ltd 2004
Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology
DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS
System or site integration testing Scale inhibitor valve OR scale injection valve
SIWHP Skid
Shut-in wellhead pressure (= SIBHP – static head) Steel framework used to contain equipment; it is usually transportable Equipment for removing the surface layer of oil from an oil spill, or from an effluent water separator tank that is designed for the purpose. A wire or rubber and fabric strop used to connect the crane hook to the item to be lifted for lifting. Metal wedges which are set in the annulus at the drilling floor to grip and support tubulars while sections are added or removed. Temporary storage for water that is contaminated with oil. Crumbling or disintegration of the wall of the borehole.
Skimmer Sling Slips
Slop tank
Sloughing Slug
Slug catcher Slurry
An accumulation or pocket of liquid or gas formed in a pipeline as the flowing fluid pressure decreases. Slugs also form in multiphase pipelines when gas breaks out of solution. A large separator for removing liquid slugs at its destination without disrupting the gas flow. A mix of cement and water used in drilling/cementing OR solid particles or crushed fragments in a liquid for pipeline transportation. Supervisory monitoring and control system Safety Management System OR Swedish Material and Mechanics Standard Specified minimum yield stress Synthetic natural gas Solid oxide fuel (fuel cell technology) Safety of life at sea Hydrocarbon fractions which are solid at normal temperatures. See also alkanes. Sound and ranging; the use of sound echoes to locate objects underwater. Nitro-glycerine. It is used in explosive fracturing of a downhole formation. Oil or gas with a relatively high content of (odorous, poisonous or corrosive) sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide.
Solid alkanes Sonar Soup
Sour oil/gas Source rock SOx
The sediment/rock in which fossil deposits are formed into hydrocarbons which may then migrate into different porous formations. Sulphur oxides
S/P or Spacing pattern
The density of development drilling on a reservoir expressed in acres per producing well.
© Alpha Thames Ltd 2004
Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology
DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS
SPAR Sparker SPBM SPCM SPCP SPE
A very large, manned SBM incorporating oil storage. Part of an echosounder for gauging the thickness of soft seabed deposits. Single point buoy mooring; see SBM for definition. Subsea power and control module Subsea power and control pod Society of Petroleum Engineers A power-operated set of slips for gripping tubulars The lowest deck on an offshore drilling rig below the rig floor. A powered spanner or wrench for gripping and rotating drill pipe when screwing or unscrewing the joints. Previously, the spinning chain was wrapped around each joint turn and pulled on the cathead (winch) to rotate it. Steel pile jacket Subsea pig launcher The part of an offshore structure that is regularly exposed alternately to atmosphere and water or spray; it is consequently highly prone to corrosion. Single point mooring A short section of pipe with flanges or threaded connections at each end. It may be of any length required to make up pipeline or casing to the exact required length. A one-voyage tanker charter or one-well rig charter, as opposed to a time charter. Any complete set of equipment and ancillary vessels or vehicles for a designated task e.g. diving spread. Subsea production system OR Surface process shutdown Subsea pigging unit OR syntactic polyurethane To begin drilling; to start (or re-start) the hole. May also be used to describe the process of setting the legs of a jack-up into the seabed. A cylindrical device, usually with a pointed end, that is attached to the bottom of each leg of a jackup drilling unit. The pointed end of the spud can penetrates the seabed and helps to stabilise the unit whilst it is drilling. To insert cement under pressure into the poorly sealed annulus of a well, past the existing material. Also method used to inject chemicals down production tubing from well head. An explosion set off in a producing well to stimulate production. See stimulation, also soup. A special threadless tool joint for large-diameter pipe, especially conductor pipe, sometimes used on offshore drilling rigs. When the box is brought down over the pin and weight is applied, a locking device is actuated to seat the joints. Because no rotation is required to make up these joints, their use can save time when the conductor pipe is being run. Squnch Joint is a registered trademark of Vetco Offshore Inc. Subsea (when referring to reservoir depth etc. below the seabed) OR subsurface OR Stainless steel
Spider deck Spinner
Splash zone SPM
Spool/spool piece Spot charter Spread SPS SPU
Spud (in) Spud can Squeeze
Squib shot
Squnch Joint
© Alpha Thames Ltd 2004
The commencement of production from a commissioned and tested installation and bringing it to working status. Methods such as acidizing (chemical) or fracturing (pressure) or the use of explosives designed to break up "tight". Stock tank oil (stabilized crude oil) initially in place. and all equipment needed to drill are placed on top of the jacket. Stopple STP Stress corrosion cracking String Stripping © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 68 .) A rigid offshore drilling platform used to drill development wells. The entire length of casing. A sustained rate of flow from a well without pressure drop. a tall vertical section made of tubular steel members.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS SSIV SSTT SSV Subsea (safety) isolation valve Subsea test tree Surface safety valve Surface controlled subsurface safety valve OR Subsea safety valve To make a connection by inserting one device into another. Standard temperature and pressure The cracking which results from a combination of stress and corrosion. Additional sections that provide space for crew quarters. which may later be used for production. this is determined by well testing. which is usually supported by piles driven into the seabed. Also known as stock tank oil. SSSV Stab Stabilized crude oil Stabilized flow Stabilized well Start up Stb Steam injection/flooding Steel-jacket platform rig Step-out well STH Sticking Stimulation Stinger STOIIP A tubular steel support frame attached to the stern of a pipelay vessel to control the bending of the pipe as it enters the water. An appraisal well specifically aimed at locating the lateral limits of a reservoir. volume of oil measured in barrels at normal temperature (68° F) and atmospheric pressure. sucker rods. The jacket. The foundation of the platform is the jacket. To hot-stab and insert a link or diverter loop into pipework. low-permeability reservoir rock in the vicinity of a well so that oil can flow freely into the bore. The removal or replacement of drill pipe or tubing strings from a well under pressure using a stripping BOP. tubing. Crude oil from which gases that are volatile at normal surface conditions have been removed in order to meet commercial sale specifications. (See also enhanced oil recovery. Side-tracked hole Jamming of the drill string in the well borehole usually caused by a high differential pressure and a build-up of mud solids on the rock face. extends upward so that the top rises above the waterline. A well in which the formation pressure is balanced by the weight of the mud column. the drilling rig. See platform rig. or drill pipe run into a hole. Stock tank barrels. Techniques used to lower the viscosity of residual oil in the reservoir and to assist it to flow to a well.
Saybolt universal seconds (unit of oil viscosity) Society for Underwater Technology Subsea umbilical termination assembly Subsea umbilical termination unit Support vessel Salt water OR suspended well OR saturated water Subsea tree mounted valve used during workover The lowering of the hydrostatic pressure in the hole due to the upward movement of the drill pipe and/or tools. Also the use of wireline equipment to clean a well by scooping out liquids. It also provides a connection for the rotary hose and a passageway for the flow of drilling fluid into the drill stem. Surfactants can ensure that the surface of one substance or object is in thorough contact with the surface of another substance. Weaknesses. the wells are drilled through the template and completed by the mounting of subsea xmas trees.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Stripping gas STT Gas. When a template is used. normally process gas used to assist in the purification of a liquid by reducing the partial pressure of gaseous contaminants to encourage vaporisation. Subsea umbilical distribution unit Cracking of metallic materials due to exposure to fluids containing hydrogen. A device placed on the seabed to facilitate the drilling of wells. Safe working load Strengths. trough-shaped configuration of folded. A substance that affects the properties of the surface of a liquid or solid by concentrating the surface layer. Swivel SWL SWOT Syncline © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 69 . Compare with anticline. Surface test tree Sidetracked total depth STTD Subsea blowout preventer Subsea template SUDU A blowout preventer placed on the seabed for use by a floating offshore drilling rig. Subsea well abandonment tool Salt water disposal Sulphide stress cracking Surfactant SUS SUT SUTA SUTU SV SW Swab Valve Swabbing SWAT SWD SWI SWIFT SWIS Salt water injection Structured What If Technique (reliability study method) Site welding instruction sheet A rotary tool that is hung from the rotary hook and travelling block to suspend and permit free rotation of the drill stem. stratified rocks. Opportunities and Threats Analysis A downward.
1012 cu ft Tripod catenary mooring system Tree cap running tool Temperature control valve Total depth i. This forms part of the AlphaCPU™. gas or products. Federation of Norwegian Manufacturing Industries Tree cap Tons of coal equivalent (see tons equivalent. The initial action in determining the contents of storage tanks. As distinct from royalties.e. retrievable module that forms an integrated system and that can accommodate a wide range of equipment and sub-systems. This forms part of the AlphaCPU™. A processing module.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS System-Module™ System-Module Booster™ An all-electric. usually refers to marine transport. Tool deployment unit The process of formation and evolution of the earth's solid surface crust. e. not normally evacuated. System-Module Separation™ T Tank bottoms Tank dipping Fluid in a tank below the pump suction/outlet. 1012 ft3. Any mobile storage unit for the bulk transport of crude oil. Also associated with the remote control of process equipment. processing tariff. (See also Plate tectonics. A weighted line is lowered through a "well" in the roof of the tank. The volume represented by the difference in level is then calculated by reference to tank tables. Cutting into a pipeline to install a branch connection.g. the achieved (drilled) depth in a well at any one time OR target depth (for a well). Alpha Thames' multiphase pumping module with integral power and control equipment.) Triethylene glycol Tetra ethyl lead A method of communicating data from/to remote instrumentation systems to a central control system using radio satellite. Sands impregnated with oil in the form of asphalt or bitumen which can be mined for its extraction. pipeline tariff. below) Trillion cubic feet. containing either two-phase or three-phase separation equipment with or without liquid booster pumps and sand removal. tariffs are payable to the owners of the installation. fibre optics or cable links. and the level of the contents and/or underlying water marked. TCMS TCRT TCV TD TDU Tectonics TEG TEL Telemetry © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 70 . Tanker Tapping a line Tar Tariff See Asphalt Tar sands TBL TC TCE TCF Any volume-based or tonnage-based rental charge for the use of an installation or equipment.
to set when left undisturbed but to become fluid again when force or pressure is applied. as well as in mud engineering. fractured or vuggy formation in a well. Period or rock system divided into Palaeocene. Through-flowline system. Term used to describe gassold direct from oil company to parties other than British Gas. The buoyancy of the platform applies tension to the hawsers or tubes. and a separate tensioner system is provided for them.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Temp Temperature bomb Template TEMPSC A capsule containing instruments for measuring well temperatures down a well. A system for inserting workover tools or instruments into a subsea well completion through the production gathering line or flowline. such as drilling mud and some clays. Eocene. Totally enclosed. which resembles a semisubmersible drilling rig. See platform drilling rig. The guidelines must also be tensioned. motor propelled survival craft A system of devices installed on a floating offshore drilling rig to maintain a constant tension on the riser pipe despite any vertical motion made by the rig. Tubing head pressure Regulation of fluid flow by a throttling valve or fixed orifice TH Running tool temperature Tensioner system Tension-leg platform Tertiary Terminal Tethered platform TFL TGB TH Thermal recovery Thief zone Third party gas THFP Thixotropy THP Throttle THRT Through flow line (TFL) A system for inserting workover tools or instruments into a subsea well completion through the production gathering line or flowline. This can be important when selecting drilling sites. A compliant offshore drilling platform used to drill development wells. © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 71 . Top hole flowing pressure The quality of fluids. Miocene and Pliocene epochs or series OR the third set of windings on a transformer or set of connections. Temporary guide base Tubing hanger OR tight hole Enhanced oil recovery based on heating the oil in the reservoir by steam injection or sub-surface combustion (fire flood). for jack-up rigs. It may also refer to a prepared foundation or "mattress" for soft or shifting seabed on which a jackup rig can be stably installed. e. is attached to the seabed with tensioned steel hawsers or tubes. also covers associated processing and storage facilities. A porous. into which drilling fluid escapes. It must be plugged or lined with casing. the previous monopoly holders. This usually refers to a structural framework within which subsea wellheads are grouped.g. Oligocene. A variant of the tension-leg platform. The platform. Usually refers to a loading or unloading facility in a transportation system for oil or gas.
enabling acoustic signals to be used in controlling a subsea well. Transponder Trap Travelling block TRFCV-H © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 72 . e. See Vibroseis. on receiving a preset acoustic signal. through which drilling line is reeved and which moves up and down the derrick or mast. Also known as tie-back. Temperature indicator The action of connecting one pipeline to another or to equipment (such as a KeyMAN™ or manifold). Upper part of a fixed installation which sits on top of the jacket and consists of the decks. in turn. suspended. Tungsten inert gas (welding) A contoured map of a subsurface geological formation based on the time taken to reflect seismic impulses rather than the subsequently computed/interpreted depths on a depth map.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Thrusters Thumper TI Fixed or steerable (directional or azimuth) propellers on a vessel which enable it to be manoeuvred with great accuracy. Variations in the torque produced by a motor resulting from the supply current deviating from the required sine wave.g. This often occurs as a function of pulse width modulation used in VSD's. transmits a response. An arrangement of pulleys or sheaves.g. An instrument for converting one form of energy into another e. The travelling block is suspended from the crown block from which the hooks and swivel are. TCE. Pipeline tie-in commonly describes the connection itself. below) An expression of the thermal value of one fuel in terms of another. Hydraulic tubular retrievable flow control valve. Tension leg platform Temporary living quarters Tetra methyl lead Tons of oil equivalent (see tons equivalent. See block. accommodation and process equipment. TOE. Tie-in TIG Time map TLP TLQ TML TOE Tons equivalent Topsides Torque ripple TP TPS TQS TR TRA Test pressure Total platform shutdown Total quality system Temporary refuge Total risk analysis Tracing Transducer A system of steam pipes or electric elements fitted to vessels or pipelines to keep them warm so that very heavy viscous crude oil will flow freely. An acoustic device which. Layers of buried rock strata that are arranged so that petroleum accumulates in them.
A fixed price contract for construction. the vertical distance below surface datum reached by a deviated well. Shortened form of "making the trip". drilling a well. OR Small bore hydraulic or chemical injection lines. it seals off the annulus between the casing and the tubing. and carries the connections for production flowlines. with the contractor taking the risk of non-completion. Topside umbilical termination Topside umbilical termination unit True vertical depth. etc. definition.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Trillion Trip The oil and gas industry uses the U. True vertical depth subsea (below seabed) True vapour pressure (Similar definition for telephone Trip gas Trips TRSCSSV TRT Trunk lines TSCJ TSD TSI TSR TT Tubing Tubing head Tubing hanger Turbine flowmeter Turnkey contract Turret moored TUT TUTU TVD TVDSS TVP © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 73 . The ship/facility containing the process. usually under 2-inch bore size. also round trip. and is moored in a fixed orientation. Tubing-retrievable. An instrument that measures rates of flow in a pipeline by the electric current generated by a small rotor inserted in the line. storage and offloading equipment is free to rotate or "weathervane" around the turret to present an optimum profile to wind and sea. systems lines. surface-controlled subsurface safety valve Tree running tool Long distance pipelines. The operation of hoisting the drill stem from and returning it to the wellbore. The turret is connected to subsea wellheads by flexible hoses.) Tree supply control jumper Temporarily shut down Temporarily shut in Temporary safe refuge Temperature transducer OR through tubing Small-diameter pipe that is run into a well to serve as a conduit for the passage of oil and gas to the surface. 1012. A true "turnkey" involves the contractor funding the operations until start up. gathering or branch lines. namely one million million. Surges arising from unstable hydrocarbon flow through flowlines. to the extent that it may lead to production shut down. Similar to the casing head. Incorporated in a tubing head (similar to a casing hanger). See make a trip. the tubing head is installed at the wellhead on the production tubing. A production turret (a cylindrical buoy) is built into a cavity similar to a moon-pool in a floating ship-shaped production facility.) Tubing is installed inside the casing in a well. which can cause the pressure to peak. not to be confused with piping. short trip OR the automatic action of a control system in stopping a process if a predetermined value is achieved High pressure gas in a well which must be carefully controlled when withdrawing the drill string (making a trip). (See also coiled tubing. as distinct from field.S.
uk Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Used to describe the area from what a fluid flows from e. or a chamber where work can be carried out such as a subsea enclosure or hyperbaric welding chamber. not fit for service) United States gallons Underwater safety valve Ultrasonic testing UHMPE UKAS UKCS UKOOA UL Ullage ULS Ultrasonic testing UMC Unconformity Underwater habitat UNS UPS Updip Upset Upstream U/S USG USV UT © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 74 . the well. Underwater mateable connector Lack of continuity in deposition between rock strata in contact with one another.g.e.oilandgas. tanker. Universal Numbering System Uninterruptible power supply An area of a structure where the top of the formation is higher (e. Unserviceable (i.g. (USA) Unused storage. An air chamber or structure such as a diving bell in which divers can live whilst not working.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS U UART UCM UEL UHF Universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter Universal control module Upper explosive limit Ultra high frequency Ultra high molecular polyethylene (rope) United Kingdom Accreditation Service United Kingdom Continental Shelf UK Offshore Operators Association Ltd http//:www. offshore. corresponding to a gap in the stratigraphic record. OR the surface of contact between two rock beds in which there is a discontinuity in the ages of the rocks. pipeline or process plant capacity. Ultimate limit state A non-destructive testing method in which ultrasonic waves (sound waves of frequencies too high to be heard) are beamed at an object. and the reflected energy measured.org. The thickening or increased diameter at the joints of tubulars to provide the necessary strength. nearer the sea level) than the point under consideration.
Drilling fluid based on suspension of solids. Vapour pressure VDU Vent Vent stack VFD VHF Vibrating screen VIM VIV VMC™ VOC Volatility VP VSD Vapour pressure Variable speed drive W WAP Water based mud Wax appearance point. without combustion. and also the pressure required to prevent a liquid from vaporising. highly volatile liquids include the light hydrocarbon fractions. International vocabulary of basic and general terms in metrology. Vortex induced vibration Alpha Thames' Valved Multiported Connector – enables the simultaneous connection of a number of piping runs. in water. Visual display unit A pipe or fitting on a vessel that can be opened to the atmosphere Open ended pipe and support framework used to discharge vapours into the atmosphere as a safe location above the installation.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS UTA UTM UV Umbilical termination assembly/unit Universal transverse Mercator (more accurate co-ordinate system than the geographical system because it takes into account the variations in the earth's sphere) Ultraviolet V V Vam Volt. The pressure exerted by the vapour from a substance. volume Trade name for casing thread produced by the Vallourec company of France. Volatile organic compounds The readiness with which a liquid converts to its gas state. such as bentonites. Variable frequency drive Very high frequency A sieve-like part of the shale shakers for separating rock cuttings and mud returned from a well. © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 75 .
The level in the earth below which rock pores are saturated with water. Welding head of an automatic welding process. the method by which a flowline for hydrocarbons is established between the reservoir and the surface. Permanent equipment used to secure and seal the casings and production tubing and to provide a mounting for the Christmas Tree. The time separating successive crests of similar waves passing a given point. See Production Wellhead. A weather window can also occur in winter. operating at or near wellhead pressures. A large instrument on the rig floor which displays the weight of the drill string. The activities and methods necessary to prepare a well for the production of oil and gas. the formation pressure will drive the water into the rock pores vacated by produced fluids. Removing the water from a production flow of oil or gas. "Wellhead" is descriptive of a location or function (including the X tree and hang offs) rather than a specific item of equipment. Normally steel-lined boreholes drilled to search for or exploit hydrocarbon reservoirs. the weld makes a fillet in the angle formed by the end of the overlap. thus tending to maintain reservoir pressure and assist production. An instrument which measures and records the height and frequency of waves. Permitting crude oil to stabilize by venting its volatile fractions to atmosphere (not now practised) OR the process acting on exposed geological strata. but is usually hard to predict and of short duration. In overlapping surfaces. Water cut OR wildcat Wireline/coiled tubing BOP (blowout preventer) Water depth OR water disposal (well) The period of relativity good (summer) weather within which a given offshore operation can take place. Paraffin waxes are found in crude oil and may be a significant proportion of it. heating and electrostatic precipitation particularly for breaking down water-oil emulsions. An offshore platform designed to support only wellheads (including trees etc) and associated piping. and hence the pressure on the drilling bit. requiring special treatment to allow the oil to flow freely at surface conditions. The injection of produced water or water from the host in order to boost production from the reservoir The disposal of produced water into a disposal well (not for boosting the reservoir).Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Water drive Where a hydrocarbon reservoir is in contact with an underlying water table. The first process vessel in a production operation. Watering out Water injection Water re-injection Water saturation Water separation Water table The proportion of water in the pore spaces of a reservoir. See Porosity. There are several techniques including settlement. production fluids being transferred to a shore gathering station or nearby platform for processing. Wave period Wave recorder Wax WC WCT-BOP WD Weather window Weathering Weight indicator Weld fillet Welding bug Well Well completion Wellhead Wellhead platform Wellhead separator © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 76 . When the proportion of water in production from a well is so high that it must be shut in.
Various forms of well stimulation may also be built into the sequence. A downhole cutting tool used to cut an aperture laterally in the casing through which to sidetrack or deviate the well. OR to drill wildcat wells. basically a wedge-shaped block which is lowered into the well to divert the bit onto a chosen path at an angle to the original hole. etc. Tests will also include the functioning of well equipment.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Well logging The recording of information about subsurface geologic formations. Well head A tool for deviated drilling. rods. The engineering design and technical/operational plan for drilling a well. but not necessarily profitable. The time taken to recover is also recorded. acoustic and radioactivity procedures. about one wildcat out of every seven proves productive. Testing in a production well also monitors the effects of cumulative production on the formation. Usually. Wellhead pressure OR well head platform OR wellhead protector (subsea) Wellhead shut-in pressure Water injection OR working interest Wet tree Wet weld WH Whipstock Whitaker capsule WHP WHSIP WI Wild well Wildcat A well out of control. Obtaining this is frequently a detailed process. Underwater welding as opposed to normal atmospheric welding or hyperbaric chamber welding. manpower and time. with considerable savings of equipment. An explosives expert who uses explosions to stimulate production. and subsequent maintenance work performed on an oil or gas well to improve or maintain the production from a formation already producing. a blowout. tubing. Well permit Well programme Well servicing Well shooter Well testing Wet gas Testing in an exploration or appraisal well is directed at estimation of reserves in communication with that well. A small-diameter metal line used in wireline operations. also called slick line. fluid flows and temperatures down hole (PVT) in a controlled sequence of "flowing" and "shut-in" periods for recovery of stable reservoir conditions. drill stem tests. Government Permission to drill a well. A type of survival capsule. gas-lift valves. Tests basically consist of a series of measurements of pressures. packers. Natural hydrocarbon gas containing significant amounts of naturally liquid hydrocarbons. A well drilled in an area where no oil or gas production exists. A subsea wellhead "tree" which is exposed to the water rather than enclosed. A system in which a flexible cable and reel is used to lower log or maintenance equipment down a well. completing and testing it (as applicable). With modern exploration methods and equipment. and electric. Bringing a completed well into production. OR (nautical) the geared sheave of a windlass used to pull anchor chain. it involves repairs to the pump. in addition to well productivity. rather than a rigid drill string. Logging includes records kept by the driller and records of mud and cutting analyses. Window mill Wireline © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 77 . core analyses.
wireline is a single slender metal rod. Wire rope is used as drilling line (in rotary and cable-tool rigs). Normally a smaller. Re-entry into a completed well for modification or repair work.g. A reference table of freight rates between most ports in the world. usually very flexible. However. Actual freight contracts are usually fixed at World scale for the route plus or minus a percentage factor that reflects freight market conditions. used in gas marketing. Compare wireline. etc. Crossover (piping) Cross-over valve X tree XTRT Christmas tree Christmas tree running tool © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 78 .o.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Wire rope A cable composed of steel wires twisted around a central core of fibre or steel wire to create a rope of great strength and considerable flexibility. winch line. It is often called cable or wireline. It is derived by dividing the gross calorific value of the fuel by the square root of its specific gravity. servicing line. Wire line test Workover WLT WO Wobble index An expression of the heating value of a gas flame. etc. e. expressed in. mega joules per cubic metre or BTU per cubic foot. coring line. portable version of the main drilling derrick which can be used to carry our work over operations on installations which do not have a permanent derrick.W time WP WPQR WPS WSD WSE WSW X Xaloy X over XOV A low-friction alloy used for facing drilling tools. Time when a rig or installation vessel is "waiting on weather" to moderate before operations can continue. Working pressure Welding procedure qualification record Welding procedure specification Working stress design Written scheme of examination Water supply well WOCM WOCP WOCS Workover Workover rig World scale W. Workover control module Workover control panel Workover control system(s) A maintenance job on a well usually to replace equipment or to stimulate production.
g. Yield Point.e. to overcome its viscosity or thixotrophy OR with reference to materials. safety zone.Dictionary of Oil Industry Terminology DEFINITIONS ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS Y Yield The total amount of product of a refinery process or of all products of all processes of a refinery compared with the equivalent amount of feedstock. i. © Alpha Thames Ltd 2004 79 . Every effort has been made by Alpha Thames Limited to ensure that the information given is accurate and not misleading. but Alpha Thames Limited can not accept responsibility for any loss or liability perceived to have arisen from any such information. the point at which material changes from elastic deformation to permanent (plastic) deformation resulting in failure or rupture. flaring and other losses. Since refineries commonly use several feedstocks simultaneously. such a yield is often measured or predicted on the basis of adding incremental feedstock to a fixed throughput. YP The force needed to start a fluid flowing. etc. hazardous zone (around an offshore installation). danger zone (military activity area). A "Refinery Yield" for a given crude oil feedstock and refinery will include a table of amounts of all products derived from a barrel or ton(ne) of crude minus the refinery's own usage for fuel. Z Zone The interval between two depths in a well containing a reservoir or other distinctive characteristics OR Specific areas where restrictions apply e.
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