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Glossary
Abandonment End of production, plug and abandon wells, Bit The cutting/boring element used in drilling wells,
dismantle and remove all material and equipment consisting of a cutting and a circulating element
Acidising Treatment of reservoir with hydrochloric or Bitumen Form of heavy, solid petroleum. See Asphalt
hydrofluoric acid to improve performance Block Subdivided areas for the purpose of licensing to a
AFC Approved For Construction company for exploration or production rights
AFD Approved For Design Blow down Process of releasing pressure. Producing a gas
AFE Approved For Expenditure cap after oil production has concluded
AHV Anchor Handling Vessel Blowout Uncontrolled release of fluids from the well bore
Alkane Any of various saturated open-chain hydrocarbons Blowout preventer See BOP
having the general formula CnH2n+2, the most abundant of BOD Basis Of Design
which is methane (CH4) BOE Barrels of Oil Equivalent (6,000 scf of gas equivalent to
Alkene Any unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon with the 1 bbl of oil)
general formula C2H2n such as ethylene, also known as BOP Blowout preventer, arrangement of valves and rams
olefins installed at wellhead to prevent sudden escape of fluids from
Alluvial fan Pattern of sedimentary deposit frequently laid reservoir
down by streams or rivers which spread out into plains Bopd Barrels of oil per day
Annulus Space between two concentric objects such as Borehole Refers to the face of the rock outside or below
between the wellbore and casing the casing
Anoxic Lack or absence of oxygen Bottom-hole Deepest part of a well
Anticline An arched shape fold in which rock layers are Bottom-Hole Assembly (BHA) Includes drill bit, drill
upwardly convex collars, stabilizers and other drilling components
API American Petroleum Institute Bottom-Hole Pressure (BHP) Formation pressure at
API gravity Density measurement for oil. API gravity = reservoir depth
141.5/(specific gravity) 131.5 Bottom-hole pump Pump installed in the wellbore, to
Aquifer Water-bearing rock strata increase productivity, (Also downhole pump)
Aromatics Relating to an organic compound containing Bpd Barrels per day
at least one benzene ring (C6 ring) or similar ring- Bridge plug Down hole packer assembly used in a well to
shaped component. Naphthalene and TNT are aromatic seal off or isolate a particular formation for testing, acidising,
compounds. Notable for their distinctive, usually fragrant cementing
smell
BS&W Basic Sediment and Water
Artificial lift Sucker rod-pumps (nodding donkeys), gas lift,
Btu Also BTU British thermal unit. The amount of energy
hydraulic pumps, and submersible electric pumps, used to
needed to cool or heat one pound of water by one degree
aid the production of oil as reservoir pressure declines
fahrenheit. There are 1,015 Btus in a standard cubic foot of
Asphalt Solid petroleum residue, similar to bitumen, tar and natural gas
pitch
Bubble point The pressure and temperature at which the
Associated gas Natural gas which is dissolved in crude oil first bubbles of gas come out of solution
in the reservoir
Bwpd Barrels of water per day
Bar Unit of pressure
Calliper Tool for checking casing in a well for deformation
Bara bar, absolute pressure
CALM Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring
Barg bar, gauge pressure
Calorific value Quantity of heat produced by complete
Barrel 42 US Gallons combustion of a unit weight of a material
Bbl Blue barrel, 42 US Gallons Cantilevered jackup Jackup drilling unit where the drill rig
bbl/d barrel of oil per day (see also Mbbl/d and MMbbl/d) is mounted on two cantilevers
bbl/MMscf barrels per million standard cubic feet CAPEX Capital expenditure
bcf billion cubic feet (109) Cap rock Impermeable layer of rock providing a seal to
BH Bottom Hole contain the reservoir fluids
BHA Bottom Hole Assembly Casing Steel pipe placed in the well and cemented in place
Catenary The natural curve assumed by a chain or cable Coring The process of cutting a vertical, cylindrical sample
suspended between two points (e.g. an anchor chain). of the formations
cc Cubic centimetre (cm3) Cp Centipoise, a unit of measurement of dynamic viscosity
CBM Coal Bed Methane, natural gas extracted from coal (See Centipoise)
beds CPF Central Processing Facility
CCR Central Control Room CPU Central Processing Unit
CCS Carbon Capture and Storage CRA Corrosion Resistant Alloy
Cellar deck Deck beneath the working floor of a drilling rig Cretaceous Rock formed in the last period of the Mesozoic
or below the main deck of an offshore platform era, between the Jurassic and the Tertiary periods, during
Centipoise (cP) A unit of measurement for viscosity which chalk deposits were formed.
Check valve A non-return valve, allowing flow in only one Crude Oil An unrefined mixture of naturally occurring
direction hydrocarbons
Choke Device incorporating an orifice that is used to control CSG Coal Seam Gas. Natural gas extracted from coal beds
fluid flowrate or downstream system pressure Cuttings Small chips of rock retrieved from a well by the
Christmas tree (Xmas Tree) The set of valves, spools, circulation of the mud, studied/logged by well-site geologist
pressure gauges and chokes fitted to the wellhead of a Daisy chaining Subsea wells connected in series by flowlines
completed well to control production Darcy Unit of measurement of rock permeability, the extent
Clastic Rock Rock which has been formed from sediment to which fluid will flow through it
of other rocks e.g. sandstone, shale, conglomerates, etc. DCF Discounted Cash Flow
Cloud Point The temperature at which paraffin waxes DCQ Daily Contract Quantity
solidify and give a cloudy appearance to the oil which they
DCS Distributed Control System
form part
DDCV Deep Draught Caisson Vessel
CNG Compressed Natural Gas
Dead Oil Oil containing no natural gas
CO2 Carbon dioxide
DEG Diethylene glycol
Coal Bed Methane (CBM) Natural gas extracted from coal
beds Degasser A separator which removes entrained gases from
liquids (oil or water)
Coal Seam Gas (CSG) Natural gas extracted from coal
beds Dehydrator Equipment for the removal of water from oil or
gas
Concession Licence, lease, or other permit for exploration
and/or production in an area or block Dehydration Removal of water from oil or gas to meet an
end user specification
Condensate Low density, high API gravity liquid
hydrocarbon phase that generally occurs in association with Delineation well An appraisal well, drilled to determine the
natural gas boundary of a discovered reservoir
Conductor casing Generally the first string of casing in a Density Mass divided by volume, kg/m3, lb/ft3 etc.
well Density log Measurement of density, a guide to porosity
Conductor pipe A short string of large diameter casing Depletion Progressive reduction in reserves as a result of
used to keep the wellbore open and prevent it from caving production
in. It is usually put into the well first Depth map Relief map of sub-surface structure, contours
Coning At excessive rates the reduction in reservoir relating to depths from surface datum level, (i.e. sea level)
pressure may tend to draw up underlying water or overlying Derrick A large load-bearing structure, used for drilling
gas towards the well in a cone like shape
Development well A well drilled to allow production
Continental Shelf The area at the edge of a continent from
Deviated well Well diverted from the vertical
the shoreline to a depth of 200m, where the continental
slope begins Dew point Temperature and pressure condition at which
liquids first condense from a gas
Conventional A reservoir in which buoyant forces keep
hydrocarbons in place below a sealing caprock. Reservoir Dewpointing Removal of heavier hydrocarbons from a gas
and fluid characteristics of conventional reservoirs typically stream to meet end user specifications
permit oil or natural gas to flow freely into wellbores Diaper Up-thrust intrusion of lower-density rocks through
Core A cylindrical sample taken from a formation for overlying formations, e.g. a salt dome
geological analysis
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Directional drilling Intentional deviation of a wellbore from E/H MUX Electro-Hydraulic Multiplexed
the vertical EIA Environmental Impact Assessment
Discovery well A successful wildcat or exploration well EIS Environmental Impact Statement
Distillates The products of distillation Emulsion Suspension of one liquid in another, e.g. oil in
Distillation The process of heating and flashing or boiling water
off successive fractions, component hydrocarbon, from a Enhanced oil recovery Assisted extraction of oil either
crude oil feedstock, or a product of earlier distillation. by installing equipment into the production tubing or by
Down Hole Down a well injecting water, gas or steam into the reservoir
Downstream Generally refers to crude oil refining, EMP Environmental Management Plan
petrochemicals, marketing and distribution EMS Environmental Management Study
Downtime A period when equipment is unserviceable or EPC Engineering, Procurement and Construction
out of operation for maintenance etc.
EPIC Engineering, Procurement, Installation and
DP Dynamic Positioning Construction
Draft The vertical distance between the bottom of a vessel EPU Electric Power Unit
floating in water and the waterline.
ERD Extended Reach Drilling
Drawdown The difference between the static and the
ESP Electric Submersible Pump
flowing bottom hole pressures
ESS Expandable Sand Screen
Drawworks The hoisting mechanism in a drilling rig
EUR Estimated Ultimate Recovery
Drilling fluid Circulating fluid, removes cuttings from
wellbore to surface, cools the bit and counteracts downhole Extra Heavy oil API gravity of 0.1 to 6.5
formation pressure. See mud EWT Extended Well Test
Drilling mud Specially compounded liquid circulated Fault A break in subsurface strata
through the wellbore during rotary drilling operations. See FBHP Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure
mud
FEED Front End Engineering Design, early phase of field
Drilling rig Comprises derrick, draw-works, lifting tackles development engineering
and blocks, Kelly and rotary table, mud pump and mud
FEL Front End Loading
circulation system, blowout preventer, and a system for
handling drill pipe and casing FFD Full Field Development
Drill pipe Heavy, seamless tubing used to rotate the drill bit Fiscal metering Measurement of oil, gas or condensate for
and circulate the drilling fluid taxation purposes
Drill ship Self-propelled ship with an offshore drilling unit FID Final Investment Decision
Dry Gas Natural gas, methane and ethane, with small Fixed installation A fixed offshore structure involved in the
amounts of heavier hydrocarbon fractions. Gas that occurs production of oil and gas
with the absence of condensate or liquid hydrocarbons Flare Vent for burning off unwanted gas or hydrocarbons
Dry Hole Unsuccessful well, also called a Duster, which due to process upsets cannot be safely retained in
containing no or uncommercial quantities of hydrocarbon process vessels
DST Drill Stem Test Flare stack Elevated tower containing piping for the
discharge and burning of waste gas
DSV Diving Support Vessel
Flash drum Pressure vessel used to reduce pressure of
Duster A dry well drilled during exploration. See Dry Hole
oils and other liquids to encourage vaporisation of dissolved
Dynamic positioning A satellite monitoring system used to gases
control the action of thrusters/propellers to maintain a vessel
Flash To vaporize or boil off a hydrocarbon gas by
on location without deploying anchors
reducing pressure or heating
Economic limit production rate at which the net operating
Flash Point Lowest temperature at which a vapour will burn
cash flows become negative, a point in time that defines the
when ignited.
projects economic life
FLNG Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Facility
EDU Electrical Distribution Unit
Floater Floating substructure for drilling or production
EFL Electrical Flying Lead
Flowing Bottom Hole Pressure Bottom hole pressure
EH Electro-Hydraulic
(reservoir) measured at a given flow rate.
EHDM Electro-Hydraulic Distribution Manifold
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Flowline Pipe from the Xmas tree through which produced Geochemical Survey Analysis of the hydrocarbon-
fluid travels to a manifold, processing equipment or storage bearing potential of an area by studying shallow cores and
Flowline Bundle A combined assembly of production subsurface water for evidence of seepage or kerogens
flowlines, hydraulic and/or electrical control lines Geology The study of the history of the earth and its rocks
Flowmeter Used to measure the rate of flow of a fluid Geologist Geologists in the oil and gas industry specialise
Formation Reservoir rock in Sedimentology, Palaeontology
Formation Damage Reservoir damage due to plugging Geophones Sound wave receivers for onshore seismic
with mud, crumbling under pressure or high flow rate, etc. surveys. See also Hydrophone
Free-water knockout Removing any water that is not GLR Gas Liquid Ratio
emulsified with the oil, usually in a vessel GOC Gas Oil Contact
FSO Floating Storage and Off-loading (vessel) GoM Gulf of Mexico
FSU Floating Storage Unit GOR Gas Oil ratio. See Gas oil ratio
FTP Flowing Tubing Pressure GPD Gallons per day
FWHP Flowing Well Head Pressure GPH Gallons per hour
FWHT Flowing Well Head Temperature GPM Gallons per minute
FWKO Free Water Knock Out. See free water knockout Grass-Roots Development project which is built from
Gamma ray log Log of the total natural radioactivity. Shales scratch on a green field site
and clays are responsible for most natural radioactivity, so Gravel Pack Unconsolidated formations may require the
the gamma ray log often is a good indicator of such rocks wellbore in the producing zone to be filled with fine gravel
Gas Mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons which supports the formation and prevents sand production
into the well
Gas Cap Free gas at the top of a reservoir
Gravimeter Device used to measure the variations in the
Gas Cap Drive Primary production utilising the pressure
gravitational field between 2 or more points
and expansion of the gas cap to drive the oil to the surface
Gravity Platform/Structure Offshore platforms which rely
Gas Chromatography Laboratory method of separating
on weight alone to keep them stable and in place
and analysing the components of hydrocarbon mixtures
Gravity survey Exploration method measuring the intensity
Gas Column See Oil Column/Gas Column.
of the earths gravity in order to detect geological structures
Gas Condensate Light hydrocarbons in gas which
GRP Glass Reinforced Plastic
condense into liquid when brought to the surface
GTL Gas To Liquid
Gas Injection Gas is injected if there is no market for it,
as a means of recovering condensate in certain reservoirs GWC Gas Water Contact
or until oil production is complete and then gas blowdown H2S Hydrogen sulphide, toxic sour gas.
(production) can take place Hawser Heavy rope for mooring or towing
Gas lift Process of lifting liquids from a well by injecting HAZAN Hazard analysis
gas into the wellbore to reduce the density of the liquid, i.e.
HAZID Hazards in design analysis
making it lighter
HAZOP Hazard and operability analysis
Gas/Oil Ratio (GOR) Ratio of gas to oil in reservoir, scf/bbl
HC Hydrocarbon
GBS Gravity base structure
HDPE High density polyethylene
GCR Ratio of Gas to condensate in a reservoir, bbl/MMscf
Header Pipe in which several pipes feed fluid into or from
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Heat Exchanger Process vessel/equipment which passes IOC International Oil Company
fluid through pipes or plates to heat or cool another fluid IP Institute of Petroleum
(without mixing)
IPE International Petroleum Exchange
Heavy Oil API Gravity of 10 to 21.5
IR Injection Rate
Helipad Helicopter landing deck or landing area
IRR Internal Rate of Return
HFO Heavy Fuel Oil
ISO International Standards Organisation
HIPPS High Integrity Pipeline Protection System
ITT Invitation To Tender
Horizon Formation at a given depth is identified by
Jacket Steel framework supporting platform topsides
geological age, e.g. Middle Jurassic Horizon
Jack-Up Rig Drilling rigs/barges which once floated to
Horizontal Drilling Wells drilled up to 90 from the vertical,
location raise their legs clear of the water by jacking
horizontal, to the reservoir strata in order to increase well
themselves up
productivity
JIP Joint Industry Project
HPHT High Pressure High Temperature
JOA Joint Operating Agreement
HPU Hydraulic Power Unit
Joint Venture A common form of risk-sharing in Oil and
HSE Health, Safety, Environment
Gas operations, especially during exploration and production
HUC Hook-Up and Commissioning
JT Joule Thompson -Change in temperature when gas
Hydrates Ice like crystals formed of water and methane expands from a high pressure to low pressure, such as
in well bores or pipelines under certain pressure and across a valve, aids in the cooling and condensation of
temperature conditions. Problematic in that they can cause hydrocarbon liquids from gas
blockages that prevent continual production
J-tube Open-ended J section of pipe attached to a
Hydrocarbons Organic compounds formed of hydrogen jacket structure or to a pipelay vessel providing a means
and carbon atoms of installation and protection for flexible flow lines and
Hydrocyclone Separation device utilising centrifugal force umbilicals
to remove oil from water J-T valve Joule-Thompson valve. Throttle valve using
Hydrofrac See Fracturing pressure reduction of a gas stream for NGL removal. See JT
Hydrophones Instruments used for detecting and returning Jurassic Rock formed in the second period of the Mesozoic
sound waves in offshore seismic operations. era, between the Triassic and the Cretaceous periods. (from
Hydrostatic Pressure/Head pressure exerted by a column the French, after the Jura mountains)
of liquid at a given depth JV Joint Venture. See Joint venture
Hydrostatic Testing Pressure-testing vessels and piping K 103, kilo, thousand (Europe)
systems with the use of water to a specified pressure Kelly A long square or hexagonal steel bar with a hole
ID Internal Diameter drilled through the middle for a fluid path
IEA International Energy Agency Kerogen Organic material (originating from phytoplankton
Igneous rock Rock mass formed by solidification of molten and zooplankton) from which oil or gas matures with time
material into/onto the earths crust e.g. Granite through burial, temperature and pressure
Impermeable Rock Rock that will not allow hydrocarbons Kerosene liquid mixture consisting mainly of alkane
to flow through it hydrocarbons with boiling points in the range 150 to 300C,
used as aircraft fuel, in domestic heaters, and as a solvent
Inert Gas Chemically unreactive gas
Kitchen Term for rock rich in organic sediments and in
Infill Drilling Production wells drilled between existing wells
which under the right conditions become a source of
to increase recovery of hydrocarbons.
hydrocarbons
Injection Well Well through which water/gas is injected to
Knock-Out Drum Tank or vessel used to separate water
maintain pressure and improve sweep recovery of reserves.
from oil or liquids from gas
Or for the return of gas to the reservoir if it has no market
KO Kick Off (deviated well)
Injector See injection well
kPa kilopascals, measure of pressure
In Place Total hydrocarbon content of a reservoir, as distinct
from Reserves which can be recovered or produced kW Kilowatt, measure of electrical power
Intelligent Pig Pipeline pig fitted with monitoring/gauging LAT Lowest Astronomical Tide
devices to check pipe integrity, wall thickness and or Lay barge Barge used in the construction and placement of
damage underwater pipelines
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Licence A right to explore for and/or produce hydrocarbons Migration Movement of hydrocarbons from source rock
issued by a Government agency either into a reservoir or seeping to the earths surface
Lifting Collection of a shipment of crude oil etc. at the point Millidarcy See Darcy
of sale Miocene Rocks formed in the fourth epoch of the Tertiary
Light oil API Gravity of 31.1 to 45.4 period, between the Oligocene and the Pliocene, see Tertiary
Lithification The process by which unconsolidated MM Million (oilfield), Roman M=1,000, MM = 1,000*1,000
materials are converted into coherent solid rock, by = 1,000,000, M in metric and some other fields relates
compaction or cementation to million. Care must be taken to ensure that the value is
Lithology The study of rocks understood
Live Oil Crude oil containing volatile gases MMbbl/d Million barrels of oil per day
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas Methane (CH4) MMboe Million barrels of oil equivalent. See BOE
Log Systematic recording of well data MMBTU Million British Thermal Units
LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas, essentially propane and butane MMcf/d Million cubic feet per day
LWD Logging While Drilling MMSCFD Million standard cubic feet per day
M Thousand (oilfield), Roman M=1,000, M in metric and MOD See Money Of the Day
some other fields relates to million. Care must be taken to MODU Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit.
ensure that the value is understood Module A self-contained, liftable package forming part of a
Magnetic survey Exploration method measuring the facility, e.g. accommodation module, compression module,
changing magnetic intensity in the earth to indicate the drilling module, etc.
existence of hydrocarbon reservoirs Money of the Day Nominal or current value. This is the
Magnetometer Instrument used to measure magnetic fields money, which as coins, bank notes and cheques, changes
Mat/Mattress A structure placed on poorly consolidated, hands all over the world in exchange for goods and services.
soft or unstable seabed as a footing for jackup rigs, flowlines Its purchasing power will change with time
and subsea equipment Monopod Small offshore platform, usually resting on a
Maturity Function of burial pressures/temperatures, and single conductor, usually in shallow water
time determining whether source of hydrocarbons will Moonpool A hole in the hull of a ship through which
provide oil or gas operations can take place
Maximum exposure Maximum negative cash flow of a MSL Mean Sea Level
project MSV Multi-Service Vessel
MBbls Thousand barrels. See M MTD Measured Total Depth
Mcf Thousand cubic feet. See M Mud Drilling fluid, mixture of water, or oil distillate, and
MCM Manifold Control Module heavy minerals such as bentonite or barites
Mcm/d Million cubic metres per day. See M Mudline The seabed, or bed of any body of water
Md Millidarcies (unit of permeability) Multilateral Multiple boreholes drilled from an existing
MD Measured Depth (well) single bore well
Measurement While Drilling (MWD) The evaluation of Multiphase Fluid consisting of oil, gas and or water
physical properties, pressure, temperature and wellbore Multiple Completion Well perforated and completed to
trajectory in 3D while drilling produce from more than one formation/zone
Medium oil API Gravity of 22.3 to 30.2 MWD Measurement While Drilling
MEG Monoethylene glycol N Newton (unit of force)
MEOH Methanol NACE National Association of Corrosion Engineers (USA)
Metamorphic rock Rock formed by mineralogical, Napthenics Any of a group of hydrocarbon ring
chemical and structural alterations caused by processes compounds of the general formula, CnH2n, derivatives of
within the earths crust. Marble is a metamorphic rock cyclopentane and cyclohexane, found in certain petroleums.
MFM Multiphase Flow Meter Natural Depletion Reservoir production by use of its
Midstream Transportation to market or refinery natural pressure
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Natural Gas Natural Gas is primarily methane which can Pay Zone/Horizon A formation containing producible
contain some ethane and small quantities of propane, hydrocarbons
butane, etc. which can be condensed from the natural gas Payback The point at which all costs of leasing, exploring,
(methane) and are known as Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) drilling and operating have been recovered from production
Neutron log Normally synonymous with a neutron porosity of a well or wells as defined by contractual agreement
log, however, the term is sometimes broadened to include Perforation Holes shot through the casing in the pay zone
an activation log. Guide to rock porosity (producing zone)
NGL Natural Gas Liquid, mixture of hydrocarbon liquids Perforating Gun tool loaded with explosive charges which
which include ethane, propane, butane and pentane are shot into the pay zone
condensed from natural gas
Permeability The ability of fluid to flow through a rock
NGO Non-Government Organisation
Petroleum Literally rock oil. A complex mixture of naturally
Nodding Donkey The colloquial name for conventional occurring hydrocarbons found in rock
onshore wellhead production beam pumps
Petrochemicals Petrochemicals are chemical feedstocks
NOC National Oil Company and intermediates derived from petroleum
Nominal Money of the day or current value. This is the Petroleum Engineer Specialist in properties and
money, which as coins, bank notes and cheques, changes behaviour of hydrocarbons in reservoirs and under
hands all over the world in exchange for goods and services. production conditions. A geologist will provides estimates
Its purchasing power will change with time of hydrocarbons-in-place, whereas a petroleum engineer
NPI Net Profit Interest will make an estimate of how much can be produced
NPS Nominal Pipe Size (recoverable reserves) and under what conditions, and rate
NPSH Net Pump Suction Head Petrology/Petrophysics The study of rocks, their origin,
chemical and physical properties and distribution
NPV Net Present Value
PDQ Production Drilling and Quarters platform
Obligation Well Well required to be drilled as part of a
concession agreement Perforate Pierce casing wall and cement by using a
perforating gun charged with explosives
OD Outside Diameter
Phase One of two or more fluids as in a production fluid (i.e.
O&G Oil and Gas
oil, gas or water)
Oil Mixture of liquid hydrocarbons
PI Productivity Index
Oil and gas separator Production equipment used to
Pig Bullet-shaped, cylindrical or spherical capsules which
separate liquid and gas components as well as water from oil
are inserted into pipeline flow, with the primary purpose of
Oil Column/Gas Column The vertical distance between scraping clean wax and other build-up to prevent blockages
highest and lowest known oil or gas in a reservoir.
PIP Pipe In Pipe
Oil Sands See tar sands
Pipeline A system of connected lengths of pipe, buried or
Oil/Water Contact The lower end of the column in a surface laid for the transportation of fluids
reservoir with underlying water
Plate tectonics Study of the formation and movement of
Oligocene Rock formed in the third epoch of the Tertiary the plates of which the earths crust is formed
period. See Tertiary
Platform Immobile offshore structure from which
Open Hole An uncased section of well borehole. development wells are drilled and produced
Operator The company or organisation responsible for PLEM Pipeline End Manifold
conducting operations on a concession
PLET Pipeline End Termination (usually a skid or sled)
OPEX Operating expenditure
Plug/Plug and Abandon To seal a well with cement, e.g.
Organic Substances derived from living organisms, such as before producing from a higher formation, sidetracking, or
oil in the natural state. leaving the well permanently sealed and abandoned
Outcrop The appearance of a rock formation at the surface. POOH Pulled Out Of Hole
OWC Oil-water contact Polymer Combination of two or more molecules of the
P&A Plug and abandon same kind which form a compound of differing physical
Paraffin Any member of the Alkane series. See Alkanes properties e.g. Polyethylene
Passive Margin Offshore continental Plates, a tectonic Porosity Free space volume between rock grains capable
boundary where two plates are moving away from each other of holding fluid, (gas or liquid), expressed as a percentage of
total gross rock volume
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ppm Parts per million QRA Quantitative Risk Assessment includes calculations
Present Value Also known as present discounted value, to assist with the identification of risks and to determine
is a future amount of money that has been discounted to the frequency, magnitude and consequence of hazardous
reflect its current value, as if it existed today events
Pressure Maintenance Process of maintaining reservoir Raw Gas Natural gas prior to processing
pressure during production by water/gas injection Real (Real Terms, RT) Constant value of money (imaginary
Pressure Vessel Vessel built to hold fluids under pressure money), this was introduced to overcome the varying
purchasing power of money of the day, which keeps the
Produced water Formation water removed from the oil and
purchasing power the same at different moments in time
gas
Recovery Factor The ratio between the volumes of oil and/
Production Extraction of hydrocarbon reserves
or gas produced and producible from a reservoir and the oil
Production Casing String Innermost steel lining of a well and/or gas originally in place
cemented in place and perforated for production in the
Reef Reservoir, usually limestone which was deposited in
pay zone, note the production tubing is inserted inside this
marine conditions, usually elongated
casing. (See production tubing string)
Reservoir Subsurface porous & permeable rock body in
Production Plateau Period during which field is producing
which oil and or gas is stored
at its maximum production rate
Reservoir Pressure The pressure at reservoir depth in a
Production Platform/Facility Production platforms are
shut-in well
of varying types depending on environment (water depth
etc. and reservoir needs). The production facility allows the Resistivity log A log of the resistivity of the formation made
oil and gas to be processed and exported or reinjected as by an electrode device such as a laterolog, in this sense
required the term is used to distinguish the log from an induction
measurement, which responds more directly to conductivity
Production Separator Main process vessel used for the
separation of oil, gas and water Rig Term describing the equipment needed for drilling a well
SCU Surface Control Unit Skimmer Equipment for removing the surface layer of oil
Scuff Standard cubic feet from an oil spill, or from an effluent water separator tank.
SDU Subsea Distribution Unit Slop tank Tank for the temporary storage of water that is
contaminated with oil
Seal Impermeable fault/stratum of rock beneath or behind
which hydrocarbons can accumulate. See also reservoir Sonic log A type of acoustic log that displays travel time of
P-waves versus depth. Sonic logs are typically recorded by
Secondary recovery Production of fluids from a reservoir
pulling a tool on a wireline up the wellbore. The tool emits
by water/gas injection used for pressure maintenance
a sound wave that travels from the source to the formation
Sedimentary rock Rock composed of weathered and back to a receiver
materials transported by wind or water that have undergone
Sour oil/gas Oil or gas with a relatively high content of
lithification, e.g. sandstone, shale and limestone
sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide
Seep Fault or pathway where hydrocarbon migrates to the
Source rock Sedimentary rock with organic deposits that
surface/atmosphere
form into hydrocarbons
Seismic survey Exploration method in which strong,
SPAR A cylindrical/partially submerged offshore drilling/
low-frequency sound waves are generated on the surface
production platform, well adapted to deepwater. Of nautical
or in the water to find subsurface rock structures that may
origin: A thick strong pole such as is used for a mast
contain hydrocarbons
Splash zone The part of an offshore structure that is
Semi-submersible Floating offshore production and or
regularly exposed alternately to atmosphere and water or
drilling unit, which can include living quarters, storage
spray and therefore prone to corrosion
space, etc. They can be either self-propelled or towed to
a site and either anchored or dynamically positioned. Semi Spontaneous potential A log of the natural difference
submersibles are more stable than drill ships and used in electrical potential, in millivolts, between an electrode
extensively to drill wildcat wells in rough waters such as the in the borehole and a fixed reference electrode on the
North Sea surface. The most useful component of this difference is
the electrochemical potential since it can cause a significant
Separator Cylindrical vessel used to separate the
deflection opposite permeable beds
components in streams of mixed fluids. See oil and gas
separator Spread Any complete set of equipment and ancillary
vessels or vehicles for a designated task e.g. diving spread
Service contract Duration often fixed, company does not
receive any of the oil produced, but gets a fixed fee per Spud To begin drilling
barrel, above the reimbursement of the costs it incurs SSIV Subsea (safety) isolation valve
Service well See injection well SSV Surface safety valve
Shale Fine-grained, muddy sedimentary rock with low SSSV Surface controlled subsurface safety valve OR
porosity Subsea safety valve
Shale gas Gas produced from shale formations Stab To make a connection by inserting (stabbing) one
Shale shaker Vibrating screen used to remove cuttings device into another
from the circulating fluid (mud) in rotary drilling operations Stabilised crude oil Crude oil which has had the volatile
SHEQ Safety, Health, Environment and Quality gas (at normal surface conditions) removed from it to meet
commercial sale specifications. Also known as stock tank oil
Shut-in pressure The pressure in a shut-in, non-flowing
well or the static pressure Start up Production from a commissioned and tested
installation
Shuttle tanker Oil tanker used to transport oil from larger
vessels to port Steam injection/flooding Used to lower the viscosity of
residual/heavy oil in the reservoir and aid it in flowing to the
SI System Internationale (International System of Units)
well
Side-tracked well Well that has been re-drilled from an
STOIIP Stock Tank Oil Initially In Place
intermediate depth
STP Standard Temperature and Pressure
Sidewall coring Coring samples taken from the side walls
of a well bore using a special tool Subsea blowout preventer Blowout preventer placed on
the seabed for use by a floating offshore drilling rig
Single point mooring system Offshore system to which
stabilised oil can be routed and an export tanker can moor Subsea template Template placed on seabed to facilitate
for the oil to be offloaded for export drilling of wells, the wells are drilled through the template
and completed by mounting the subsea Xmas trees
Skid Steel framework used to contain equipment or mount
equipment on for transport SUDU Subsea Umbilical Distribution Unit
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SUTA Subsea Umbilical Termination Assembly Tubing hanger Incorporated in a tubing head (similar to a
SUTU Subsea Umbilical Termination Unit casing hanger)
VOC Volatile Organic Compounds Wellhead separator The first process vessel in a
Volatility Readiness with which a liquid converts to its gas production operation, operating at or near wellhead
state pressures
Weather window Period of relativity good weather when Workover Maintenance job on a well to replace equipment
operations can take place and or stimulate production
Well Steel-lined boreholes drilled to search for, exploit and Workover rig Usually a smaller portable version which can
produce hydrocarbon reservoirs be used on installations which do not have a permanent rig
Well completion Preparing a well for the production of oil WOW Waiting on weather
and gas Xmas tree See Christmas tree
Wellhead The Wellhead is descriptive of a location or Zone Interval between two depths in a well containing
function (including the Xmas tree and hang offs) rather than reservoir or other distinctive characteristics
a specific item of equipment. Permanent equipment used to Every effort has been made to ensure that information
secure and seal the casings and production tubing and to provided is accurate and not misleading, but Esanda
provide a mounting for the Xmas tree Engineering cannot accept responsibility for any loss
Wellhead platform Offshore platform designed to support or liability perceived to have arisen from any such
only wellheads (including Xmas trees) and associated piping, information.
production fluids are then transferred to a nearby production
platform or onshore for processing
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United Kingdom Australia
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