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A abnormal high pressure

A 1) activity 2) apparent 3) atmospheric 4) air 5) air apparent 6) Stiles mobility ratio 7) area 8) amplitude 9) atomic weight 9) ampere 10) Avogadro's number a 1) area 2) areal 3) tortuosity 4) apparent 5) acoustic 6) atmospheric 7) formation factor coefficient 8) year 9) atto-10) annum A angstrom A/ acidizing with a* apparent formation factor coefficient AA after acidizing a.a. as above Aalenian A global age of geological time that occurred about 180-175 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Jurassic epoch. AAMPL acoustic amplitude log AAODC American Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors AAPG American Association of Petroleum Geologists AAPL American Association of Petroleum Landmen Ab albite ab above A.B. able-bodied (seaman) abaft 1) in a direction toward the stern or back of an offshore drilling rig or ship 2) behind aban abandoned abandon 1) to permanently cease production of oil and gas from a well followed by plugging the well 2) to not attempt to complete a well that has been drilled. Casing can sometimes be pulled and salvaged from an abandoned well, and a cement plug must be put in it to prevent groundwater pollution. Abandoning a well is in contrast to temporarily shutting in a well that can later be put back on production. abandoned oil crude oil that has leaked from a pipeline or tank, and the operator has made no effort to recover it abandoned pressure the maximum average gas reservoir pressure that will produce insufficient gas to make the gas wells in that reservoir economic. Abdandoned pressure depends primarily on the pipeline purchase contract pressure, which is often between 700 and 1,000 psi, and the economic viability of compression. Pa abandoned well 1) a well that has been drilled as a dry hole 2) a well that no longer serves a purpose.

An abandoned oil or gas well is no longer an economic producer of oil or gas. An abandoned water, injection, service, or observation well no longer serves that purpose. All abandoned wells are required by the government regulatory agency to be properly plugged. abd abandonment contour the subsurface elevation in a water-drive oil reservoir at which the rising oil/water contact reaches the top of the pay and the well(s) is abandoned abandonment costs the cost incurred in abandoning a well by plugging it and removing the equipment abandonment plug a cement bridge used to seal a dry hole or depleted well abbreviated abstract a set of summaries of all recorded instruments concerning the title to a tract of land. An abbreviated abstract is in contrast to a verbatim abstract with complete copies of all the recorded instruments. (bob-tail abstract) ABC method a technique used in refraction seismic to determine the effect of the irregular weathered zone or low-velocity layer near the surface. Two seismic shots are made at A and C and are recorded at A, B, and C. abd 1) abandoned 2) abundant abd-gw abandoned gas well abd loc abandoned location abd-ogw abandoned oil and gas well abd-ow abandoned oil well AB electrodes the electrodes on the sonde used in electric resistivity logs A-BHC amplitude logging abiogenic gas methane gas that was formed from an inorganic source such as a volcano abiogenic theory a theory that some methane on earth was formed inorganically and is primeval gas (abiotic theory) abiotic theory see abiogenic theory ABND or abnd abandoned abnormal event an event on seismic that is not a direct reflection. An abnormal event can be a multiple, refraction, surface wave, or diffraction. abnormal high pressure subsurface fluid pressure that is higher than would be expected for that depth with normal hydrostatic pressure alone. The normal hydrostatic pressure increase depends on the density of the ground water. The pressure increase is 45 psi/ 100 ft for water with a salinity of 55.4 ppt and 46.5 psi/100 ft for water salinity of 100 ppt. Abnormal high pressure usually occurs in reservoirs that are sealed by surrounding rocks such as shales or by faults that do not allow fluids to escape the reservoir. During burial, the sedimentary rocks compact by expelling fluids from the pore spaces. In an abnormally high-

abnormal low pressure absorber absolute dogleg a dogleg angle reported for a well that allows for the horizontal component of the deviation along with the vertical component. If a well changes in deviation from 2 east to 2 west in 100 feet, the absolute dogleg would be 4/100 ft. absolute filter a filter designed to separate all particles above a specific size. An absolute filter is in contrast to a nominal filter. absolute humidity the amount of water in air measured in weight-per-unit-volume such as milligrams of water per cubic meter of air (mg/m3) absolute open flow potential the theoretical rate at which a well (sand face) would flow at the wall of the well with zero pounds pressure in the well. Absolute open flow potential depends upon the fluid pressure in the reservoir, reservoir permeability, thickness of the pay and other factors. It can be calculated in a gas well from a four-point test. AOFP absolute permeability a measure of the ease (permeability) in which a single fluid can flow through the pores of a rock when only that one fluid is present in the pores of the rock. Absolute permeability is independent of the fluid viscosity. Usually, however, two fluids are present in the pores of a reservoir rock and effective permeability is applicable. absolute porosity the ratio of the volume of all spaces between particles (pores), both interconnected and isolated, to the total volume of the rock. Absolute porosity is expressed as a percentage and is in contrast to effective porosity. (total porosity) absolute pressure total pressure including both atmospheric pressure and gauge pressure. Absolute pressure is often measured in pounds per square inch absolute (psia). Absolute pressure is in contrast to gauge pressure. absolute refractive index the inverse ratio of the speed of light through a substance to the speed of light through a vacuum. The absolute refractive index is usually obtained from the refractive index measured in air. absolute temperature a temperature based on a temperature scale in which 0 equals the temperature (-273.15C) at which molecular motion ceases and there is no heat. On the Kelvin absolute temperature scale, water freezes at 273 and boils at 373. Degrees Kelvin can be converted to degrees centigrade by subtracting 273. absolute viscosity the ratio of the viscosity of a fluid measured in poises to the density of a fluid. Absolute viscosity is expressed in units of stokes or centistokes. (kinematic viscosity) absolute volume volume per unit mass absolute zero the temperature at which there is a complete absence of heat and there is no molecular movement. Absolute zero is -273.15C and -459.688F, which is usually rounded off to -460F. absorb see absorption absorbent the material used to remove liquids from a gasby absorption. Absorption oil is used to remove liquids from wet gas. absorber equipment, typically a tower, that is designed to use absorption to remove liquids from a gas stream. In an absorption plant, an absorber is

pressure reservoir, the fluids have been prevented from being expelled by the surrounding rocks, and the rock or lithostatic pressure, which increases about 100 psi/100 ft depth, is transferred to the fluid pressure. Abnormal high-pressure reservoirs have pressures between hydrostatic and lithostatic pressures. Reservoirs with abnormal high pressures have relatively low seismic velocities and low densities and are in contrast to abnormal high pressure reservoirs. (super-normal pressure) abnormal low pressure subsurface fluid pressure that is lower than would be expected from normal hydrostatic (fluid) pressure at that depth. Abnormal low pressure is often caused by erosion removing some of the overlying sedimentary rock, decreasing the depth of the reservoir but not relieving the fluid pressure in the isolated reservior. Abnormal low pressure reservoirs are in contrast to abnormal high pressure reservoirs, (subnormal pressure) abnormal pore pressure pore pressure that is greater or lower than normal hydrostatic pressure for that depth. aboard on a ship or offshore drilling rig AB-P abnormal pressure ABPR abandoned producer abrasion mechanical wearing away or grinding by friction abrasion drilling a well-cutting method in which abrasive particles such as sand are jetted from nozzles to drill the hole abrasive jet cleaning a well-stimulation technique that uses a jetting tool with nozzles on a tubing string. Water, sometimes carrying sand or acid, is jetted out the nozzles of a jetting tool at pressures up to 1,000 psi to clean perforations and remove gypsum. abrasive resistance the ability of a diamond bit to resist scratching by the rocks it drills abrogate to fail to fulfill a contract abrsi jet abrasive jet abs absent ABSC abandoned sub commercial

absorber capacity accident used to remove liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas. The gas flows into the bottom of the tower, and the absorption oil enters the top. As the natural gas rises and bubbles through the descending oil in bubble trays, the liquid hydrocarbons are absorbed from the gas. The liquid hydrocarbons are then removed from the oil by distillation. A glycol absorber or TEG unit removes water from natural gas in the field. The natural gas is injected into the bottom of the absorber and bubbles up through descending triethylene glycol. The dry gas exits the top of the absorber, and the wet glycol is reconcentrated in a reboiler. Natural gas sweetening by iron sponge and the alkanolamine process are also done in an absorber. Absorbers are designed as either packed or tray-type towers. (absorption or absorber tower) asbr absorber capacity a maximum amount of natural gas that can be processed by an absorption tower at a specific absorption rate, temperature, and pressure absorber tower see absorber absorption 1) the removal of a liquid by the capillary, osmotic, chemical, or solvent reaction in a substance. The extraction is made by a physical and/or chemical change in a sorbent material, and the molecules or ions of one substance penetrate into the interior of a liquid or solid. Absorption is in contrast to adsorption which is a surface phenomon. 2) the decrease in the energy of a seismic wave as it passes through rocks and is converted into heat energy 3) the radiation loss as energy passes through a material absrn absorption gasoline the retrograde gas, natural gasoline, or condensate removed from natural gas by absorption oil in an absorption tower absorption oil oil used in an absorber to separate liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas. The oil absorbs the liquid hydrocarbons out of the gas as it bubbles up through the oil. The liquid hydrocarbons are then removed from the oil by distillation. absorption plant a facility used to remove liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas in the field. The gas, usually casinghead gas, bubbles through oil (absorption oil) which absorbs the liquid hydrocarbons. This is done in an absorber at temperatures between 80 to 120F. An absorption plant can remove between 40% and 75% of the propane and up to 100% recovery of H6 and heavier hydrocarbons. The liquid hydrocarbons are then removed from the oil by distillation. absorption-refrigeration cycle a type of refrigeration system used in a natural-gas stripping plant in which a refrigerant, usually ammonia, is absorbed by water absorption tower see absorber absorptivity the capacity of a substance to absorb incident radiant energy absrn absorption abst abstract abstract or abstract of title a set of a) copies {verbatim abstract) or b) summaries {abbreviated or bob-tail abstract) of all the recorded instruments concerning the title to a tract of land. It is used in the title examination for a parcel of land and is made by a landman or abstract company. An abstract can be base, complemental, or supplemental, abst

abstract-based title opinion a title opinion that is made from a complete abstract in contrast to a standup title opinion that is made from a run sheet abstract company or plant a commercial firm that has compiled and maintains land ownership records. The abstract company contains tract books and card systems recording individuals and the transactions in that county. Other information on file includes probates, court suits, divorces, marriages, and bankruptcies. Some companies charge a flat rate or hourly rate to let landmen use their facilities. Others do not let landmen use their facility but prepare a run sheet or other data for a fee. An abstract plant is not a title company that insures property titles. Title companies are usually not involved in oil and gas properties. abstracter a professional who makes summaries of interests or legal ownerships of land and/or mineral rights abstracting service a commercial firm that makes summaries of the interests or legal ownerships of land and/or mineral rights abt about ABUN or abun abundant abyssal the deep ocean environment greater than 3,000 ft deep AC alternating current A,, amplitude of compressional wave ac acre ACBL acoustic cement bond log ACC annual capital charge accelerated cost recovery system a method used to calculate depreciation of equipment for federal tax based on the rates and lives as defined in federal tax law. The equipment is amortized over a short period. ACRS accelerated delay rental an increase in the amount of delay rental payment during the last years of the primary term of a lease accelerated depreciation a depreciation method that uses larger amounts of deductions from income in early years with declining amounts in later years. Two types include a) declining balance and b) sumof-the-years. Accelerated depreciation allows for a faster tax write-off and is in contrast to the straightline depreciation method. acceleration of gravity 980.616 cm/sec/sec or 32.172 ft/sec/sec at 45 latitude and sea level accelerator a chemical that is used to increase reaction rate. A cement accelerator is used to speed up the rate of reaction between cement and water. This results in a more rapid development of strength and a reduction in setting and thickening time. Some cement accelerators are calcium chloride, sodium silicate, sodium chloride in low concentrations, seawater, gypsum, and ammonium chlorite. access road a road constructed from a public road to a drillsite. The route is first surveyed and flagged in coordination with the drilling foreman. An earthmoving contractor is used to construct the road. accident the completion of a task that seemed impossible

accommodation block acid additives The blowout preventer accumulators are located on the wellhead on a subsea well. 2) a tank used to temporarily store the continuous-process liquid used in a gas plant accumulator drill a test run once or more each week on a drilling rig. The accumulator pumps are shut off, and the initial accumulator pressure is recorded. All the preventers are thrown at the same time and their closing is timed and recorded. The final accumulator pressure is recorded. The results are reported on the Friday morning drilling report. All the preventers should have closed within 20 minutes, and the final pressure should have been above 1,150 psi. accuracy the actual divided by the measured value. Accuracy can be expressed as a percent of full scale or percent of reading on an instrument. acd acidize ACDW acid water ACEAC acetic acid A-Cem acoustic cement acetic acid an organic acid (C2H4O2) that is used to acidize wells. Acetic acid is less corrosive than many acids. ACEAC acetylene series an unsaturated, open-chain hydrocarbon with one triple bond. Acetylene series molecules are highly reactive but are not naturally common. The general formula for the acetylene series is CnH2n-2 . An example is acetylene C2H2. (alkyne)

accommodation block the living module or quarters deck house on an offshore rig. An accommodation block can contain office space, storage, catering, and recreational facilities. accommodation platform a ship or semisubmersible (flotel) or fixed platform that is used to house offshore workers. The accommodation platform is often adjacent and connected to a production platform. accordian display a type of 3-D seismic display consisting of narrow, horizontal slices, one above the other accordion fold a fold in sedimentary rocks in which the fold limbs are straight with uniform thickness but there is a angular hinge line with thickening (chevron or zigzag fold) accredited investor an individual defined under Regulation D of the Federal Securities Act, who has institutional status, an insider position, or a minimum level of income or net worth. ACI accrued royalty royalty payments due on oil and gas that has already been produced accrued treasury asset the sum of all the discounted cash flows until discounted payout. ATA accumulation chamber equipment used in gas lift when the volume of formation fluids produced makes continuous gas lift impractical. The fluids are allowed to build up in the chamber until intermittent application of compressed gas forces the accumulated fluids up the production tube. As the fluids flow up the tubing, the formation is protected from the pressure by closing of the standing valve. Two types are insert and two packer. The insert type uses an expanding tubing section and a dip tube, whereas the two-packer type uses the tubing and the tubingcasing annulus. accumulator 1) a high-pressure cylinder that is used to store liquid or gas under pressure for a hydraulic or air-activated system. An accumulator is used to activate blowout preventers and tensioner systems on drilling rigs. An blowout preventer accumulator is located on a landing at least 100-150 ft from the wellhead. It usually contains of hydraulic fluid stored under pressure from compressed nitrogen. The nitrogen is separated from the hydraulic fluid by a floating separator or rubber diaphragm. A smallvolume, high-pressure pump compresses the nitrogen by forcing it into steel bottles. The accumulator provides power when the hydraulic pumps are not working or is used to supplement the pump pressure.

H-C=CH
acetylene

accumulators (off rotary drilling rig chart)

acetylene welding a method of burning acetylene gas and oxygen at high temperatures to join steel ACF autocorrelation function ACF or acf actual cubic feet ACFM or acfitn actual cubic feet per minute ACFR or acfr acid fracture treatment AC-FT or ac-ft acre feet A CHL atlantic chlorinlog ACI 1) American Concrete Institute 2) accredited investor ACI/ acidizing with acic acicular acicular a sedimentary particle with a length at least three times longer than its width acic acid acidize acid a chemical compound that can react with a base to form a salt. Acid contains hydrogen which dissociates in solution to form hydrogen ions. Acids occur from 0 to 7 on the pH scale. Hydrochloric and sulfuric acids are examples. The most common acids used in acidizing a well are 15% hydrochloric or HC1 (regular acid), a combination of hydrochloric and hydrofluoric or HC1/HF (mud acid), hydrofluoric or HF, acetic, and formic acid. acid additives chemicals and materials that are added to acid to change the properties of the acid

acid bottle acid soak or spot during acidizing. Some types of acid additives are surfactants, sequestering agents, antisludge agents, corrosion inhibitors, alcohol, gelling agents, fluid loss materials, clay stabilizers, scale inhibitors, acid dispersions, mutual solvent surfactants, and formation cleaners. acid bottle the first well surveying tool. The 4-oz soda-lime-glass bottle was filled half-full with hydrofluoric acid and encased in a long cylinder called a bomb or a clinometer case of brass or steel. acid-bottle inclinometer a device that is used to determine the angle (inclination) of a well during an acid-dip survey. A glass container of hydrofluoric acid is lowered into the well. The hydrofluoric acid etches the level surface of the acid on the glass. From this, the inclination of the well is read.

acid brittleness a form of corrosion on steel in which free hydrogen ions form on a wet metal surface as the result of corrosion. Some of the hydrogen ions enter the steel, reduce the steel's ductility, and cause brittle fractures, (hydrogen embrittlement or hydrogen stress cracking) acid-dip survey a method that uses an acid bottle inclinometer to determine the inclination of a well. Hydrofluoric acid etches the level of the acid on a glass container in the well. acid dispersion a solvent-in-acid that is used to remove oil and paraffin from a formation during matrix acidizing. The dispersion is a mineral or organic acid and an aromatic solvent. Both the solvent and acid contact the formation at the same time. Acid dispersion is also used to remove scale. acidfrac or acid fracturing a well-stimulation technique used to both dissolve and fracture carbonate reservoirs. An inert, gelled water pad is first injected into the well to fracture the formation. An acid-in-oil emulsion is then injected with or without proppants to etch the fracture face. A slug of regular acid can then be injected. AF acidg acidizing acid gas 1) a gas that forms an acid with water and is corrosive. Two common acid gases are hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2). 2) natural gas that contains nonhydrocarbon gases that, when dissolved in water, will form an acid They include

hydrogen sulfide, mercaptains and carbon dioxide. (sour gas) acid inhibitor an additive used in an acid job to retard the acid reaction rate to prevent damage to well equipment. Acid inhibitors are either organic, such as nitrogen or sulfur bearing compounds, or inorganic such as copper or arsenic. acid intensifier an additive used in an acid job to accelerate or intensify the acid reaction. An intensified acid is a mixture of inhibited hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids. The fluoride intensifies the acid reaction rate. acidity 1) the quality of being acidic, usually measured on the pH scale, where below 7 is acidic in contrast to basic 2) a measure of the silica content of a rock Granites are acidic, whereas basalts are basic. acidize, acidizing or acid job a method used to increase production in a well that is producing from a carbonate formation by using acid to dissolve the reservoir rock. The most common acids used are 15% HCl (regular acid), HC1/HF (mud acid), HF, acetic, and formic. An acid inhibitor or reaction-rate retarder can be used to delay the reaction time of a strong acid to protect equipment in the well and allow the acid to penetrate the formation. The acid is usually pumped down the well and held under pressure for a period of time. The spent acid is then pumped back out during cleanout and the well is swabbed. Acid volumes commonly range from 1,000 to 100,000 gals of 10-20% acid. Matrix or interstitial acidizing is used to etch a formation, usually a carbonate to increase permeability in a well. Matrix acidizing is done with pressures less than formation fracture pressure, and the acid flows through the natural permeability routes in the formation. A wellbore cleanup treatment uses acid to remove cement residue, drilling mud, scale and perforation debris from a well. There is little or no circulation of acid during a wellbore cleanup. An acidfrac is a hydraulic fracture job that uses an acidic frac fluid with or without propellents. Acid additives can be combined with the acid to reduce friction, control clay, stabilize clays and break emulsions. Types of acid jobs include a) uncontrolled treatment, b) controlled treatment, and c) stage acidizing. Acidizing was first attempted in 1895 by Herman Frasch using HCl but did not become effective until 1932 when inhibitors were developed, (acid stimulation or treatment) acd, acid or acidg acid number the milligrams of potassium hydroxide that are neutralized by 1 g of crude oil. Acid number is a measure of crude oil reactivity with a caustic solution used in enhanced oil recovery. acid pickling the use of a hydraulic or sulfuric acid bath for steel tubulars before galvanizing acid-reaction-rate retarder a surfactant additive that is used in acidizing. The retarder coats the rock surfaces and forms a physical barrier to reduce the rate of acid reaction with the rock. acid resistance the resistance of cement to softening and corrosive effects of acids acid soak or spot a well treatment in which acid, usually regular acid composed of 15% hydrochloric acid and water, is pumped down the tubing and allowed to stand in the completion zone. Acid soak

acid stimulation acreage-based royalty transmitters on the seafloor and hydrophones mounted on the hull of the drill ship. A shipboard computer is used to accurately locate the drillship in reference to the transmitters. Acoustic position reference is called a dynamic positioning or ask system. acoustic reentry the use of acoustic signals to relocate a wellhead on the seabed acoustic signature the oscilloscope pattern made by a sonic cement-bond log with different cement bondings between the casing and the well bore acoustic survey an acoustic velocity or sonic log measurement acoustic transponder a device that is put on the seafloor and is both a receiver and transmitter of sonic energy. The acoustic transponder will transmit only after it receives a specific signal. The signal allows the searching vessel to accurately locate the direction and distance to the acoustic transponder. It is used to reposition a semisubmersible or drillship for reentering a subsea well. acoustic travel time the time that it takes sound to travel from one point to another acoustic-velocity log 1) a wireline well log that records sound velocity through rock layers in a well. The velocity is recorded in units of microseconds per foot (m sec/ft) and are called interval transit time, t or Af. The sonde has a transmitter and two receivers, one 3 ft from the transmitter and the other 5 ft. The compensated sonic log has two sound transmitters on the sonde. Their values are averaged to reduce errors due to sonde tilt or borehole size changes. The velocities are used to determine the lithologies and compute the porosity of the rocks. Shale strongly affects the porosity of a formation determined by an acoustic-velocity log, and shaly formations must be corrected for this effect. Gas will decrease the sound velocity and increase the apparent velocity. Porosity measured by the acoustic-velocity log does not record vugular and fracture pores. (sonic or velocity log) AVL or ALC 2) see sonic log acoustic wave a sound or seismic wave Acoustilog a sonic log AC PAR D acoustic parameter-depth AC PAR L acoustic parameter-logging AC PAR 16 acoustic parameter-16-mm scope acquired lands United States federal lands that were obtained by purchase, condemnation, gift, or exchange. Acquired lands are in contrast to public domain lands. acquisition costs the costs of obtaining leases or property acre land area in the English system containing 43,560 ft2or 4,840 yd2 There are 640 ac in a section or square mile and 23,040 ac in a township. ac acreage land held under lease acrg acreage attribution a term used in setting production allowable by a government regulatory agency. Acreage attribution is the acreage drained by a well in excess of the normal drilling and spacing unit. acreage-based royalty royalty paid on a per-acre basis. An acreage-based royalty is used for a shut-in

is used to remove scale, coatings, and sludges and to clean the perforation tunnels. It is followed by a backflow or return of the spent acid. Acid soak is similar to a treatment called acid wash. acid stimulation see acidize, acidizing or acid job acid test the application of acid to a rock to test for limestone or the minerals calcite or aragonite. Carbon dioxide bubbles form when the acid reacts with the calcium carbonate. acid treatment see acidize, acidizing, or acid job acid wash a well treatment in which acid, usually regular acid composed of 15% hydrochloric acid and water, is pumped down the tubing and past the completion zone several times. Acid wash is used to remove scale, coatings, and sludges and to clean the perforation tunnels. A backflow or cleanout is used to return the spent acid. A similar treatment is an acid soak or spot. ACM acid-cut mud Acme junior or senior gas gravity balance an instrument used to determine the specific gravity of natural gas in the field. The balance operates on the principle that densities of two gases at base pressure are in an inverse ratio to the pressures that give both gases equal buoyant forces. The Acme senior gas gravity balance is used to test large volumes of gas, whereas the Acme junior gas gravity balance is used to test small volumes of casinghead gas. acoustic basement the opaque area on a seismic profile that is usually located below the well-layered sedimentary rock. Acoustic basement is usually igneous or metamorphic rock. acoustic enclosure an enclosing structure around machinery that is designed to reduce the noise level acoustic impedance seismic velocity times density. Acoustic impedance is sometimes called hardness. acoustic location navigation using underwater sound transmission. In the active system, the searching vessel gives off the sound impulse which is received on an acoustic transponder on seafloor objects to be located. The acoustic transponder then gives off its own answering signal. In the passive system, pingers at specific locations on the seafloor give off sound impulses which are received on the searching vessel. The passive system is used in dynamic positioning. acoustic log a sonic log acoustic log a group of wireline well logs, each of which records some property of acoustic wave travel either through the rocks adjacent to the wellbore or through the casing and cement. A sonic log measures the velocity of a compressional wave through the rocks. An amplitude log measures the amplitude of the waves passing through the rocks. The character log, microseismogram log, signature log, and others record some aspect of the acoustic wave train. The cementbond log indicates the quality of the cement bond behind the pipe casing. The fracture log is used to locate fractures in the rocks adjacent to the wellbore. The borehole televiewer images the wellbore. ACSL acoustic plenum a sound-proof room acoustic position reference a location system used by drill ships to keep the drillship above the drill site. An acoustic position reference consists of acoustic

acreage-contribution agreement or letter actual calendar day allowable well or time covered by the force majeure (act-ofGod) clause. acreage-contribution agreement or letter a support agreement between two companies. One company gives leases or interests in leases in the area of a well drilled down to a certain depth by the other company in exchange for information on that well. A variation is the cash contribution. acreage exchange a cross assignment of interests in leases between parties in order to pool the rights of the parties in those leases (acreage swap) acreage factor the acreage that is allocated to a well in order to determine allowable production by a government regulatory agency acreage selection clause 1) a provision in an oil and gas lease that allows the lessee to select acreage after a geophysical survey. The lessee takes a shortterm lease on the land. After a geophysical survey, the lessee then selects favorable acreage and usually pays money to put that acreage under a longer term lease. 2) a provision in a contract that allows the purchaser to select the leases to be assigned acreage swap see acreage exchange acreage tolerance the amount of acreage, usually expressed as a percentage, in which a specified area can exceed for a specific purpose such as pooling acre-foot a unit of volume that is an acre in area and one foot deep. One acre-foot holds 7,758 bbl of oil and is the equivalent of 43,560 ft3, ac-ft, AC-FT or
acre-ft

acritach

neutrons to irradiate formation in a well to create radioisotopes. The radioisotope energy emissions and decay times are used to identify the elements present in the formations. active clay a clay that reacts with drilling and completion fluids. Active clay is in contrast to passive clay. active length the distance from the bit to the point of tangency located on the drill collars in a pendulum bottomhole assembly active margin a plate edge that is characterized by a subduction zone such as a deep ocean trench and/ or coastal mountain range. The other margins in plate tectonics are passive and transform. active pit one of the steel mud-pit tanks that holds drilling mud next to a rotary drilling rig. It is located on the end where the mud pumps or supercharging centrifugal pumps suck the mud out of the tanks to start the mud circulating. The active pit is used to mix, condition, treat, and store the mud. (suction pit or suction tank, mud suction tank or sump pit) active system the total volume of drilling mud in the well and mud tanks that is circulated while drilling a well active well 1) a well in production or service in contrast to an abandoned or shut-in well 2) the producing or injecting well in an interference test in contrast to the observation well act-of-God clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that states that the lessee will not have violated the terms of the lease if prevented from fulfilling the lease by conditions beyond the lessee's control (force majeure clause) ACT system automatic custody transfer system actual calendar day allowable an allowable (the amount of gas and/or oil production that is allowed

acre foot

acre-ft acre foot acre yield the average production of oil and gas from one acre of reservoir area acrg acreage acritarch a microfossil of uncertain biological affinity. They are unicellar and are related to algae. Acritarchs range from Precambrian to present. ACRS accelerated cost recovery system ACS American Chemical Society AC-SCR system alternating current-siliconcontrolled rectifier system AC SIGN acoustic signature ACSL acoustic log ACT automatic custody transfer Act actinolite activated charcoal carbon that has a high absorptive and adsorptive capacity activation the changing of a stable element into an unstable isotope by bombardment with neutrons activation energy the energy necessary for reacting substances to make a chemical transformation activation logging wireline well logging using

actual gas volume adsorption addl additional adiabatic change a change in gas volume, pressure, or temperature without any net loss or gain of heat adjacent-bed effect the effect of the rock layers above and below on the well-log response of a rock layer. The adjacent-bed effect is amplified with thin beds and deep investigation logs. A focused log is engineered to minimize this effect. (shoulder-bed effect) ADJCK adjustable choke adjustable choke a manual or automatic, conical needle in a seat valve that can be changed to alter the amount of fluid or gas flow through it. An adjustable choke is in contrast to a fixed choke. ADJCK adjusted posted price a contract price between a buyer and seller of oil that has been adjusted for the gr API, sulfur content and/or any other properties of the oil as well as the selling and marketing costs of the oil adjustment-of-unit interest a reallocation of interests in a unit agreement as more complete information on the properties is obtained. The original allocation could have been made before a property covered by the unit was fully developed. Subsequent development could have altered the original estimate of reserves allocated to each unit. The unit agreement allows a certain time for the participants to reallocate the interests in the unit as more facts become known. ADOM adomite admix to mix one substance into another admixture effect an intermolecular effect that causes two volumes of different gases that are added together to result in a volume that is not the sum of the two separate volumes. A gallon of ethane and a gallon of propane will mix to form less than 2 gal. However, 1 lb of ethane mixed with 1 lb of propane will result in 2 lbs. ADR asset depriciation range ADS atmospheric diving system adsorbent a solid, such as activated charcoal or silica gel, that uses adsorption to remove liquids from gas adsorber tower a tower in which gas flows down through tables covered with a chemical called an adsorbent that removes a liquid from the gas. The reaction is a batch process and the adsorbent can usually be regenerated by heating. Dehydration of natural gas using activated alumina (bauxite) or silica gel occurs in an adsorption tower. The process can be used for a higher dew-point depression than absorption. It can remove the water down to less than 1/2 lbs/MMscf with a dew point of -40F. adspn adsorption adsorption the attraction of the molecules of a liquid or gas to the surface of a solid. Adsorption is used to remove fluids from either the atmosphere or mixtures of gases and liquids. Adsorption does not cause either physical or chemical changes in the sorbent material which is called the adsorbent. Activated alumina and silica gel are used to adsorb water from natural gas. Activated charcoal or silica gel are used to adsorb liquid hydrocarbons out of natural gas. Zeolites are often used to adsorb acid gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide

by a government regulatory agency) calculated on a per-day basis (calendar day allowable) actual gas volume the space occupied by a given amount of gas under line temperature and pressure. Actual gas volume is measured in actual cubic feet (acf). actual moisture the measured water content in natural gas actual value profit the total accumulative net cash flow of an investment such as drilling a well. Actual value profit is the amount of monies made minus the monies spent. (ultimate net profit or ultimate net income) AVP actual weight the weight per unit length of drill pipe, including the upset areas and tool joints. Actual weight is about 5-10% more than nominal weight which is calculated from the theoretical. actuation test a mechanical test of the working of closing elements on a blowout preventer actuator a mechanism used to remotely or automatically open and close valves and stops ACW acid-cut water acyclic without rings acyclic hydrocarbon a hydrocarbon molecule that occurs as an open chain. Acyclic hydrocarbons include the normal and branched alkane groups, the unsaturated alkene group with double bonds, and the unsaturated alkyne group with triple bonds. These are in contrast to alicyclic and polycyclic hydrocarbons. AD authorized depth A/D assistant driller adamantine drill a drill with steel shot set in the cutting edge that is used for hard formations. The steel shot revolves under the rim of a rotating table (shot drill) adapter or adaptor a fitting that has two different nominal sizes, thread sizes and designs, and/or pressure ratings and is used to connect equipment of different nominal sizes and/or pressure ratings (crossover) adaptor spool a short, steel cylinder with flanged ends that connects blowout preventers of different sizes, thread sizes and designs, or pressure ratings to the casinghead of a well ADD or add additive ADDC Association of Desk and Derrick Clubs of North America addition gypsum-anhydrite and water that is added to cement clinker during manufacture addition section a mud tank compartment located between the removal and suction sections that is agitated for mixing substances into the drilling mud additive a chemical or material that is added in small amounts to a large volume of another substance to change its characteristics. Some examples of cement additives include calcium chloride as an accelerator, gypsum as a retarder, and barium sulfate as weighing material. Mud additives are primarily mud thinners and thickeners. Some other types include friction reducers, clay stabilizers, and surface-tension reducers. ADD or add

adsorption column from natural gas. The liquids are then removed by steam treatment of the adsorbent. Adsorption is in contrast to absorption in which the molecules or ions penetrate the interior of the substance. adspn adsorption column a glass column in a gas chromatograph that is packed with charcoal, silica gel, zeolites, or polymers that adsorb gas. The adsorption column is used to separate oxygen, nitrogen, and methane and is in contrast to a partition or gas/liquid column. (gas/solid column) adsorption gasoline the natural gasoline (retrograde gas) that is removed from wet gas by activated charcoal or silica gel in an adsorption plant adsorption plant field equipment that is designed to remove water and liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas by using an adsorbent ad valorem charge a lease rental payment that is based on the appraised value of the unproduced minerals in the ground. As drilling discovers new reserves, the value of the unproduced minerals and amount of rental will change. ad valorem tax the state or county tax that is assessed on the value of property advance payment an interest-free loan made by an interstate pipeline to a gas exploration company to drill gas wells in return for a) the dedication of the discoveries to the pipeline or b) a full reimbursement for the dry holes advanced payment agreement a method used to finance the development of oil and gas property. The money is advanced for drilling and developing the property in exchange for the right to receive some of the oil and gas production from that property. advanced recovery methods waterflooding and enhanced-oil-recovery methods advance royalty 1) shut-in royalty in certain lease forms. Shut-in royalty is a payment made to the lessor in order to maintain a lease when a well is not producing. 2) a minimum royalty or payment that must be made to the lessor. An advance royalty is often taken out of future production. adverse mobility ratio the mobility ratio is computed by dividing the viscosity of crude oil by the viscosity of an injection fluid. An adverse mobility ratio occurs in waterfloods and enhanced-oil-recovery projects when the viscosity of the oil is much higher than the fluid injected into the reservoir to move it. The pressure drop per unit distance is lower in any injected fluid finger than in the oil bank causing the pressure at the end of the injected fluid finger to become higher than that in the surrounding oil. This causes the injected fluid fingers to push ahead, extending the injected fluid fingers and causing a breakthrough. An effective waterflood or enhancedoil-recovery project uses a low mobility ratio. adverse possession ownership of land that is claimed by hostile, notorious, and open possession against the title holder of record AEC anion exchange capacity A electrode the current-emitting eletrode in a welllog resistivity sonde aeolian transported and deposited by wind such as

affidavit of noncompliance

the sand in sand dunes in a desert environment (eolian) aeolianite a clastic sedimentary rock composed of consolidated wind-blown sediments. An aeolianite is typically a dune sand that is naturally cemented. (eolianite) aerated flow a type of fluid flow that is characterized by liquid containing a large number of gas bubbles aerated fluid fluid that contains entrained gas bubbles. Aerated drilling fluids include air, natural gas, mist, foam, and aerated mud. aerated mud a drilling fluid formed by injecting air or gas into the mud between the mud tanks and the standpipe. Aerated mud is used to reduce the hydrostatic pressure in a well and to drill low-pressure formations. It combines the advantages of air and mud drilling. aerated zone see zone of aeration aeration the injection of a gas such as air into a liquid or solid. Air or gas is injected into drilling mud to reduce mud weight and the hydraulic head in the well. aerial magnetic survey a survey that records variations in the earth's magnetic field using a magnetometer and an airplane. Common airborne magnetometers used are flux-gate, nuclear-precession, and optically pumped types. A high-sensitivity aerial magnetic survey is measured in units of 0.1 g. Highdensity aerial magnetic survey is flown with flight lines spaced one-third to one-half the distance from the surface to basement. The survey is used to estimate depth to basement and to locate structures. aerial photograph a photograph, usually in black and white, of the earth's surface made by a camera in an airplane. The photographs can be taken in stereo (at slightly different angles with an overlap) and examined under a stereoscope in order to see relief. Aerial photographs are used for making topographic and geological maps. aerify 1) to inject air into 2) to change into a gas aerobic the presence of free air or oxygen. When applied to water, it is water that contains enough oxygen to support aerobic bacteria and contains greater than 0.2 ml/1 oxygen. Aerobic is in contrast to anaerobic. oxic aerobic bacteria bacteria that require free oxygen in air or water to live. Aerobic bacteria are responsible for most organic decay. The bacteria can produce slime that accumulates on metal surfaces of wells and causes corrosion. aeromagnetic magnetic readings made with an airborne magnetometer. Two types of magnetometers can be used. The fluxgate magnetometer is the oldest. The commonest is the proton precession magnetometer. An alkali-vapor magnetometer has just been developed. The magnetic units are measured in gammas (7). AF 1) acid fracture 2) after fracturing AFE authority or authorization for expenditure affiant the party that makes an affidavit affidavit a sworn declaration of facts in writing affidavit of noncompliance a declaration by the

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affidavit of production air-balanced beam pumping or pump unit into a pipeline and in return gives the producer a voucher for the quantity of oil see ganger ager a water-filled pressure chamber that is used to apply external pressure to gas lift valves AGFR acid-gel frac Agg or aggr aggregate aggradational built up by deposition of sediments aggregate 1) two or more particles that are strongly bound together and cannot be broken by normal mixing or shaking 2) inert mineral material having a particle size generally greater than 10 mesh Agg or aggr aggregated solution a suspension with face-to-face association of clay mineral platelets. An aggregated solution causes a decrease in viscosity and gel strength in drilling mud. AGI American Geological Institute aging 1) the natural or artificial curing of cement 2) the stabilization on an emulsion interface agitator apparatus used to stir a fluid A mud-pit agitator is used to stir the drilling mud in the mud tanks. Two common types are electric-driven rotating blades and centrifugal pump jets called mud, surface, or submarine guns. One or more agitators of 10-20 hp are used per tank. Agitators are designed to move liquids and keep the solids suspended. stirrer Aglm agglomerate AGP additional gas produced AGU American Geophysical Union A-h ampere-hour and anhedral AHSV anchor-handling supply vessel AHT anchor-handling tug AHV anchor-handling vessel AI artificial intelligence ai decline rate at qi in a decline curve analysis AIChE American Institute of Chemical Engineers AICPA American Institute of Certified Public Accountants AIME American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers AIMME American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers AIOE acid/oil emulsion AIPG American Institute of Petroleum Geologists AIR average injection rate air air drilling air activated operated by the force and movement of a gas under pressure. Air activated is in contrast to hydraulic. (pneumatic) air-balanced beam pumping or pump unit a type of oil well pump that uses a piston and rod in a cylinder with compressed air to balance the weight of the sucker-rod string. An air-balanced beam pumping unit is in contrast to the type of pump that uses a counterweight to balance the sucker rods. It is more compact and lighter that the crank counterbalanced and beam balanced types. Because

owner of land (lessor) that is filed after a lease has been forfeited. This occurs after the lessee fails to comply with provisions of the lease and has failed to execute and record a release of record for the lease. affidavit of production a form or declaration that the operator of a new well files for record with a government agency to testify that production in paying quantities has commenced. An affidavit of production is required in certain states to extend the lease or interest in the well. (certificate of production) affiliated company a company that owns a controlling or influential share of another company affiliated producer a company engaged in the production of natural gas which is affiliated with a natural gas pipeline AFIT after federal income tax AFP average flowing pressure A-frame 1) the A-shaped, highest portion of a standard derrick on a drilling rig that is used to support the crown block 2) the stationary, A-shaped structure that supports and anchors in upright position the mast of a jackknife rig on a drilling rig 3) an A-shaped lifting device aft after aft toward the back or stern of a ship or offshore drilling rig. Aft is in contrast to forward. AFTA apatite fission track analysis after-acquired rights clause a provision found in an agreement such as a joint venture or farmout that allows parties in an agreement to share in certain future acquisition of interests by other parties in the agreement after-acquired title an interest that was acquired by the grantor or lessor after the execution of a lease or conveyance after-acquired title clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that extends the coverage of the lease to any interest in the property acquired after the lease afterburn the combustion of any unburned hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas manifold of an engine after cooler the heat exchangers that cool natural gas after the gas has been heated by compression in a compressor station after flow the flow of fluid from the reservoir into a well after the well has been shut in. (afterproduction) afternoon tour a drilling rig shift that goes from 4:00 p.m. to midnight afterproduction 1) the flow of fluids from the reservoir into a well after the well has been shut in (after flow) 2) the fluids that flow from a reservoir into a well after the well has been shut in AGA American Gas Association against pressure A valve that is closed on a flowing fluid stream AGC automatic gain control age 1) a time subdivision of an epoch 2) to allow the cement in a well to cure or harden agent an old term for a pipeline employee who permits the flow of oil from producer's storage tanks

airborne magnetometer air-injection porosity


walking beam

11

pitman

Samson post

air drilling rig (truck mounted) air balanced beam pumping unit

of this, the unit is often found in remote and difficult locations or offshore. airborne magnetometer a device carried by an airplane that is used to measure variations in the earth's magnetic field. Most measure total-field intensity, although vector and vertical component are sometimes measured. The most common types are the flux-gate, nuclear-precession, and optically pumped magnetometers. The magnetometer can be used to estimate depth to basement and locate subsurface geological structures. air chamber a small surge chamber that is filled with air that is connected to a reciprocating pump's discharge line see pulsation dampener air clutch a device that is used to engage and disengage a power transmission. High-pressure air acts on a diaphragm chamber to move a pressure plate to compress a release spring that holds the air clutch in the disengaged position. Air clutches are common on a drilling rig. air-cooled exchanger equipment that uses air blowing across external fins to cool a liquid air cut air in a liquid system air cutting the accidental inclusion of air in a drilling or well fluid air drill an air or pneumatic drilling rig that pumps air down the center of the pipe to remove cuttings from the bottom of the well air drilling rotary drilling that uses compressed air instead of a circulating mud system. The air is supplied by a skid-mounted air compressor and diesel engine that delivers 300-500 ft3 of air per minute at 300600 psi. Three to five compressors are used. The air is pumped down the mud line. The top of the bell nipple is fitted with an air drilling head to prevent the air from flowing out the top of the bell nipple. Conventional roller cone bits are used. The air and well cuttings come up to to the surface through the annulus of the well and blow out through a blooey line into a blooey pit. The circulation is controlled by a standpipe valve on the rig floor. More weight is put on the bit and less rpms are used compared to drilling with mud. Air drilling is two to five times faster and less expensive than mud drilling but cannot effectively control abnormally high pressures or build a filter cake to stabilize the well. It is ineffective when too much water enters the well. The water, air, and

dust can form mud rings that stick to the bottom hole assembly. Air drilling, however, alleviates the problems of formation damage and lost circulation, but there is a danger of an air-methane explosion. air aired up a plunger pump with a gas lock air gap the distance from the bottom of the base of an offshore drilling rig or ship's hull to the surface of the ocean air governor a device used on an air compressor to control the unloading of the compressor at a predetermined high-pressure setting and to restrict the air flow at a predetermined low-pressure setting air gun 1) a common type of marine seismic source. The air gun or array of air guns is towed behind a boat at a depth of about 20-30 ft and releases a very high-pressure bubble of air (2,000-3,000 psi) into the water. Air guns are made in different sizes and are measured in cubic centimeters (cc) of chamber volume. The air gun gives a seismic pulse ranging from 0 to 250 Hz. The frequency spectrum of the air gun depends on the volume and pressure of air in the chamber. Different air guns in an array often have different chamber sizes to produce a signal with a broad frequency spectrum. Air guns can also be used to work in swamps, tanks, or pits of water on land. A secondary emission of a bubble pulse is a problem with the air gun signal. 2) a hand tool that is powered by compressed air air hoist lifting equipment that is powered by compressed air. An air hoist on the floor of a drilling rig is used to lift the pipe up the V-door to the drilling rig floor. It uses a reel of rope that goes through a pulley near the top of the derrick. air injection 1) an enhanced oil recovery technique that uses injection wells to pump air into a subsurface, depleted oil reservoir. Disadvantages of air injection are that air injection can corrode metal equipment in the well and form an explosive mixture. The air can also oxidize oil in the reservoir which results in the formation of compounds that can reduce the flow of oil. Air, however, is cheaper to inject than any other gas such as natural gas or inert gases. 2) a method to inject diesel fuel into the combustion chamber of a diesel engine by using a compressed air chamber air-injection porosity the porosity of a rock sample measured with a porosimeter. Air is injected into a vacuum chamber with a sample of known volume. Boyle's law, using pressure changes and volume, is

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air receiver alkalinity intertidal area. Algal filaments hold the underlying micrite (limestone mud) in place. Storms wash micrite onto the algal mat and a new algal mat is formed on top. In this manner, great thicknesses of algal mats can be built up. The limestone deposited can be both a source rock and reservoir rock for petroleum. algorithm a sequence of instructions used to solve a problem. A computer program can be an algorithm. aliasing the creation of a false image caused by insufficient sampling when digitizing. The ambiguity in frequency resolution from seismic signal sampling is caused by aliasing. Alias or antialias filters can be used to remove the frequencies that cause aliasing.

utilized to calculate porosity. Air-injection porosity is the most accurate field method for calculating porosity. air receiver a compressed air storage bottle air shooting a seismic method using explosive charges in sacks located 18 in. above ground on stakes. Several charges in a pattern are shot in a nearby simultaneous sequence by explose cord connecting the shots. air-tube clutch a device that engages a driven member when a tube is inflated and disengages when the tube is deflated air tugger a semiportable, pneumatic winch air weight the weight of a drillstring completely suspended in air AJET abrasive jet Al andaliesite A lab analytical laboratory albertite a jet-black asphaltic bitumen that occurs in veins. It has a conchoidal fracture and a specific gravity of about 1.1. Albertite is a local term and is found in Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada, and in Scotland, Australia, and Indiana. Albian a global age of geological time that occurred from about 108-100 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Cretaceous epoch. ALC acoustic velocity log ALC-GR acoustilog, caliper, gamma ray log ALC-GRN acoustilog, gamma ray, neutron log ALC-N acoustilog, neutron log alcohol slug process a type of enhanced oil recovery that uses miscible flood by the injection of a small amount of organic solvent such as isopropyl alcohol into a depleted oil reservoir Alexandrian a North American age of geological time that occurred from about 425-422 m. y. ago. It is part of the Silurian period. ALG or alg along Alg or alg algae algae fossil and modern plants that range from unicellular to colonial and have existed from Precambrian to the present. They are aquatic, both floating and attached. Calcareous or calcified algae have contributed enormous amounts of limestone to the geological record. Discoasters and coccolithophores, types of floating algae, are good guide fossils. Algae contain lipids that are thought to be the precursors of crude oil. Alg or alg algid mat a surface of algae that grows in a tropical,

H 1 1 H C CH

1
H -

c
1
H

1
C

1
H

alicyclic (cyclobutane)

algal mat

alicyclic a group of saturated, closed-ring hydrocarbons with the formula CnH2n. An example is cyclobutane C4H8. (cyclopamffin series, cycloalkanes, or nathene series) alidade a surveyor's instrument that consists of a telescope with a ruler along its base. An alidade is used on a plane table to measure angles between a base line and points that are surveyed. alignment angle of stabilizer the angle between the center line of a stabilizer used in drilling a deviated hole and the center line of the well aliphatic organic compounds that are not aromatic and nonpolar. Aliphatic compounds include alkanes, alkenes and alkynes. The term originally described fatty. alk alkalinity alkali a base or hydroxide that has very alkaline or basic chemical properties in contrast to acidic alkaline having the properties of an alkali alkaline flooding an enhanced oil-recovery process in which alkaline chemicals such as sodium hydroxide are injected into the reservoir. The alkaline chemicals react with oil in the reservoir to form surfactants. The surfactants and oil flow better through the reservoir because of reduced interfacial tension, spontaneous emulsification, and changes in wettability. A slug of polymer-thickened water is then injected into the reservoir to produce a more uniform sweep of the surfactants and oil. This is followed by injection of fresh and then saline waters to drive the oil toward producing wells, (caustic flooding) alkalinity the number of equivalents of acid that a substance will react with to form a salt. Alkalinity is the sum of carbonate, bicarbonates, hydrocarbonates,

alkalinity control allowable penalty borates, silicates, and phosphates in water. Alkalinity is determined by acid titration. alk alkalinity control the adjustment of drilling mud pH by the addition of sodium hydroxide or lime alkane a hydrocarbon molecule formed by a saturated (no double or triple bonds between carbons) chain. Three types of alkanes are a) normal alkanes that form straight chains, b) branched alkanes which have limbs, and c) cyclic alkanes that form a circle. Alkanes include the normal alkanes of methane, ethane, propane, butane, and pentane and the higher alkanes starting with hexane, heptane, octane, and larger molecules. Alkane boiling points increase regularly with molecular weight. Alkanes have low chemical activities but are important fuels. Long-chain normal alkane molecules (C]7+) are solids and are known as waxes. Crude oils generally contain 5-80% alkanes, and almost all of the hydrocarbons in natural gas are alkanes. alkanolamine a family of organic compounds that include monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), and triethanolamine (TEA) that are used to remove acid gases from natural gas alkanolamine sweetening or processing the removal of acid gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from natural gas. The process uses an alkanolamine solution of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, or triethanolamine to absorb the acid gases in a continuous process in an absorber. The sour gas goes into the bottom of the tower through an inlet scrubber where the liquids are removed. It bubbles up through bubble traps of solution that are descending in the tower. The sweet gas exits the tower through a scrubber that removes any solution. A reboiler uses heat treatment to strip the acid gases from the absorbent solution. alkene a hydrocarbon with carbon-carbon double bonds and the formula CnH2n. The structure of the molecule can be normal, branched, or cyclic. Only minor amounts of alkene occur in sediments and petroleum. An example is propylene C3H6. (olefin) alkylation a refinery process that combines light hydrocarbons to form high octane gasoline alkyne an unsaturated, open-chain hydrocarbon with one triple bond. Alkynes are highly reactive but are not naturally common. The general formula for an alkyne is CnH2n_2, and an example is acetylene C2H2. (acetylene series) alligator grab a wireline fishing tool that is lowered into a well with its jaws pinned open. The jaws which are held by a coiled spring and snap together when the fish is contacted. all-inclusive clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that protects the lessee from errors in the description of the land under the lease by including all the land owned by the lessor in that area (catchall, cover all or Mother Hubbard clause) Allo allochem allocation see allowable allochem a relatively coarse carbonate particle in a carbonate rock that was transported and deposited as a whole particle Allo allochemical rock a rock composed of allochems.

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Allochemical rock is in contrast to orthochemical and autochthonous rocks. allochton a rock mass that has been moved from its original site by tectonic forces such as thrust faults allochthonous formed somewhere else than where it is located now. An example would be sedimentary grains that were transported and deposited, (allogenic) allodapic limestone a limestone deposited by turbidity currents allogenic something that formed somewhere else than where it is located now. An example would be sedimentary grains that were transported and deposited, (allochthonous) allogenic grain a sedimentary particle that was transported and deposited (detrital grain) allonge an attachment that specifies details on an agreement. On a lease, an allonge is a separately listed provision, (rider or exhibit) allophane an amorphous clay mineral that is composed of Al2O3SiO2nH2O. Allophane occurs in a variety of colors as incrustations and seams in rocks. allotted land Indian land that is designated for a specific individual's use but the title is held by the United States allow allowable allowable the maximum amount of gas and/or oil that a well, lease, or field is permitted to produce per given time by a government regulatory agency. An allowable is often given in barrels of oil/day (BOPD) for a certain number of days each month. The allowable can be based on depth (depth yardstick) and spacing. The right of a state to regulate production is called prorationing and is done on the basis of market demand. Not all states impose allowables. (permitted production) allow allowable allocation formula the instructions issued by a government regulatory agency to divide the amount of petroleum that the agency allows to be produced from each well or leasehold per unit of time (allowable) among all operators in the field. The formula can be based on acreage, number of wells, and acre-feet of pay. allowable days the number of days in a month that oil and/or gas can be produced under order by a government regulatory agency (scheduled allowable days) allowable depletion the money that a specific producing party can deduct from its taxable income during a year. Allowable depletion is the greater of either cost or percentage depletion. allowable dry holes a measure of the economic viability of drilling an exploratory well. Allowable dry holes are the net present value of the successful well (production revenues minus costs discounted for time) divided by the cost of the exploratory well if it was a dry hole. This gives an indication of how many exploratory dry holes can be drilled to justify the return. allowable overpull the difference between the yield strength of a tubular such as casing and the load carried by that joint allowable penalty A reduction penalty in the normal

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allowable period amorphous that of light. An alpha particle can be emitted from an atomic nucleus during radioactive decay of uranium 238. a alpha ring a guarded electrode alt 1) altered 2) alternate alternating current an electric current that regularly reverses its flow of direction. Alternating current is described by its frequency, the number of cycles per second, or hertz. A direct current flows in one direction. AC alternator an electric generator or dynamo that produces an alternating current altg alternating a,,, descending wave particle motion amplitude A-mast an A-shaped assembly, usually of steel, used for lifting amb amber ambient temperature the surrounding temperature Amerada pressure gauge a mechanical, selfcontained instrument that is used to measure bottomhole pressures. The gauge contains a pressure sensitive, helical Bourdon tube that rotates a stylus on a circular chart. A clock drives the chart and depth is correlated with time. a^ mud filtrate activity AMI area of mutual interest amine an organic compound that is made by substituting one or more hydrogen atoms in ammonia with an organic radical. Amines are used to remove hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from natural gas. amine/gas absorber tower a vertical bubble-tray tower used in sour gas sweetening with the alkanolamine process. The bubble trays contain monethanolamine, diethanolamine, or triethanolamine (TEA). The sour gas inlet is on the bottom and the sweet gas outlet on the top of the tower. The process is called alkanolamine sweetening. amine unit a type of natural gas treatment installation that uses organic bases (amines) to absorb H2S, carbonly sulfide (COS) and CO2 from the natural gas. The units are often portable, see alkanolamine sweetening Amm ammonite ammeter an instrument that measures electrical current ammonia water or ammonium hydroxide a chemical (NH4OH) that is used to neutralize hydrogen sulfide during drillstem and wireline tests ammonite an extinct type of cephalopod belonging to the order Ammonoidea that existed from the Devonian to Cretaceous period. They were similar to squids and lived in coiled, chambered shells in the ocean. Ammonites are guide fossils to the Mesozoic Era when the sutures on their shells became very ornate. Amm amor amorphous amorphous a substance such as a rock that lacks crystal structure amor

allowable or amount of production permitted by a government regulatory agency for a well because of a location exception in the drilling of the well allowable period the time period during which an allowable or permitted amount of production can be produced allowable rope load the nominal breaking strength of a rope divided by a design factor allowable stress the maximum stress that a structure is designed to withstand for safe operations alloy a metallic substance formed by a solid solution of two or more elements, one of which has metallic properties all-thread nipple a short pipe with threads all along its length alluvial sediments deposited by a stream or river alluvial fen a fan-shaped deposit of sediments formed by an intermittent river flowing onto a plain such as a desert. The upper fan deposits tend to be mud-flow deposited, whereas the lower fan deposits are stream deposited. Potential reservoir rocks can be deposited in an alluvial fan environment. aloe rope a rope made from aloe plant fiber used in cable-tool drilling along-track scanner a scanner used in remote sensing with a linear array of detectors that is oriented normal to the flight path ALP articulated loading platform a 1) angle 2) spontaneous potential (SP) reduction factor 3) alternative coefficient 4) dip 5) absorption coefficient 6) azimuth 7) alpha particle 8) angle of well inclination from vertical alpha pseudostate spontaneous potential divided by static spontaneous potential alpha or a map an isopachous map of clean sand thickness in a formation The distribution of the clean sands is calculated from the spontaneous potential measurement of the reservoir and is based on the observation that shale in the formation will decrease the spontaneous potential response. The static spontaneous potential (SSP) valve for a clean sand is calculated and an arbitrary cutoff of alpha such as 50% (a50) or 75% (a75) is selected based on regional production histories. The thickness of the reservoir with a spontaneous potential response greater than the alpha cutoff is measured and plotted. Alpha I artificial lift equipment that balances the rod string driving the rod pump in the producing well with a hanging counterweight of cast iron weights in an adjacent, shallow well. The Alpha I system consists of a winch, cable, and rotary cam mechanism. The cable connects the rod string with the counterweight and the polished rod is replaced with a polished tube. The Alpha I system gives long (3040 ft), slow pumping strokes that decrease peak load on the rods and yields a higher fluid output than other pumping units, (winch and cable or winch-type pumping unit) alpha particle an atomic particle that is positively charged and consists of two protons and two neutrons and has a mass of 4 on the atomic weight scale. The alpha particle travels at a speed of about one-tenth

amortize anchor contractor

15

ammonite

amortize the deduction of an expense over a fixed period of years from the income amp ampere Amp amphbolite ampere the System International (SI) unit for electric current. An ampere is the amount of current produced by an electromotive force of one volt acting through a resistance of one ohm. A current of one ampere has 6.28 x 1018electrons flowing by a point each second. One ampere equals one coulomb per second (C/s). A or amp amphibole a common, dark-colored (black to light green) mineral found in igneous, metamorphic, and immature sedimentary rocks. Amphiboles are a group of calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum silicates that form long, prismatic, six-sided crystals. Hornblende is the most common amphibole. amphipathlc slug Injection a type of enhanced oil recovery. A volume or slug of alcohol or other fluid that is miscible (mixes) with both water and oil is pumped down injection wells. Water is then injected into the reservoir to drive the chemicals and oil toward producing wells. amphiphatic a balance in the interfacial tension of oil and water in an oil-base drilling mud amphoteric surfactant an organic molecule with a water-soluble group that can be either + or charged or uncharged. An amphoteric surfactant is in contrast to an anionic, cationic, or nonionic surfactant. amplifier an instrument that increases the amplitude of a signal such as voltage, current, or power amplitude height measured vertically from base to top A amplitude anomaly a seismic reflection with an unusually high or low amplitude such as a bright or dim spot amplitude log a wireline well log that records the amplitude of the wave train that has passed through the rocks adjacent to the wellbore or casing. Cementbond acoustic logs and fracture logs are examples. amplitude ratio the amplitude of an anomalous seismic wave divided by the normal or background seismic-wave amplitude. Rs amplitude shadow a decrease in the amplitude of reflections below a hydrocarbon deposit on a seismic profile amplitude time an acoustic wave train display mode in which the amplitude of the acoustic wave train is

plotted against time. Amplitude time is in contrast to intensity-modulated time or variable density. amplitude versus offset a seismic exploration technique in which long offsets (source-to-receiver distances) from 1.2 to 1.5 times the target depth are shot. The reflections from a subsurface reflector will have different amplitudes with varying offsets as a function of lithologies. AVO AMPS S-wave amplitude AMT, Amt or amt amount AMTV active mud tank volume A-MUD aerated mud An anorthite an annulus anaerobic the absence of free oxygen in contrast to aerobic. The environment does not have enough oxygen to support aerobic bacteria. anaerobic bacteria bacteria that do not need free oxygen to live. Anaerobic bacteria obtain their oxygen from the reduction of oxygen-containing compounds. This is in contrast to aerobic bacteria. Under certain conditions in a well, anaerobic bacteria can cause scale formation in water systems and the formation of hydrogen sulfide from sulfates. Pyrite in sediments is indicative of anaerobic bacteria. anal analysis analog computer a computer that stores information in a manner that varies uniformly between specific limits. A slide rule is an example. Modern computers are digital. analog recording a recording of a variable by recording another variable that has a direct relationship. Early seismic was analog recorded by burning a trace on paper. The greater the seismic energy or amplitude of the reflection of a seismic event, the darker the burn on the seismic recording. Today seismic is usually digitally recorded. analog-to-digital converter the electronic equipment used in seismic exploration to convert the seismic signal to a binary code number with 16 bits anastomosing stream a stream formed of numerous, intertwining channels separated by sand and gravel bars. The coarse-grained sand and gravel deposits can become potential reservoir rocks. (braided stream) anchor 1) an object or device that secures equipment. Anchors are used to secure downhole equipment in wells. Ground anchors are used to secure guy wires for masts and derricks. Anchors are also used to hold a boat or semisubmersible in position. 2) The tubing that extends below the working barrel of an insert pump. 3) An extension below a drillstem test tool that supports the weight applied to the tool to set the packer. The anchor normally sets on the bottom of the well or on a cement plug. Straddle packers use steel prongs called dogs instead of an anchor. anchor buoy a floating device that is used to position or to mark the position of an anchor on a drillship or semisubmersible, spread mooring pattern anchor contractor a service company that builds and buries anchors used to attach the guy wires used

16

anchor pattern angular unconformity angle-build section the portion of a deviated well in which the deviation angle is increased angle buildup see angle of buildup angle control section the grooved portion of the drawworks drum on a drilling rig that guides the wire rope to a new wrap on the drum (crossover) angle dropoff the change in 7100 ft or 10 m of the inclination of a well section as the inclination is decreasing toward vertical. Angle dropoff is in contrast to angle of buildup, (angle of dropoff) angle of attack the angle between the direction of the well inclination and the direction of the dip inclination angle of attack of bit the angle between the center line of a deviated well at the location of the bit and the center line of the bit. The angle is positive when the bit points above the well and_negative when it points below the well. angle of buildup the change in 7100 ft or 10 m of the inclination of a well section as the inclination is increasing from vertical. Angle of buildup is in contrast to angle dropoff, (angle buildup) angle of deviation the angle between a crooked or deviated hole and vertical (deflection, drift, drift angle, hole deviation or inclination) angle dropping assembly see pendulum assembly angle of dropoff see angle dropoff angle of incidence, reflection, or refraction the angle between a wavefront and an interface angle of twist the azimuth change through which the drillstem must be turned to counter the downhole motor torque angle of wrap the length in degrees that a brake band wraps around a brake flange angle sub a small length of bent drillpipe that is used to kick off a deviated well. An angle sub is run between the mud or turbine motor and the lowest drill collar. One of the connecting threads is machined with an angle to the axis of the sub. This gives the sub a Vf-2V-i bend. A Vi" angle sub will give an angle change of 2c-37l00 ft and a 2 bent sub will give 6-87l00 ft. The angle sub can have a muleshoe orientating sleeve and key to determine the actual orientation of the bottomhole assembly in the well. A bent sub can also be used as part of a fishing string to give the right approach angle to the fish for the fishing tool, (bent, crooked or offset sub) angle valve a valve with a 90 turn in the base angstrom a unit of measure in the metric system equal to 108 cm. A angular a property of a sedimentary particle such as sand having sharp angles. Angular particles indicate that the particle has not been transported very far, since erosion rounds particles. ANG angular frequency the ordinary frequency times 2ir ip angularity test a test that determines how much a well deviates from vertical (slope test) angular unconformity a buried erosional surface with the rock layers below the unconformity tilted at an angle. Angular unconformities can form stratigraphic petroleum traps.

on a guyed rig. The same anchors are also used for the completion rig and any workover rigs used on the same well. anchor pattern the pattern of microscopic irregularities on a metal surface that has been treated with sand blasting, chemical etching, or some other technique to improve its adhesiveness for surface coatings anchor piling a pile that is cemented into a shallow borehole on the seafloor and is used to moor a drillship or semisubmersible anchor pipe the section of perforated pipe below a packer in a drillstem test. Formation fluids flow into and up the anchor pipe (tailpipe) anchor spread the pattern of anchor lines and anchors on a semisubmersible or drillship. There are usually 8 or 10 anchors deployed symmetrically by anchor-handling boats. anchor string a short length (string) of casing that is run into the seabed to anchor the wellhead equipment on the seabed (foundation pile or outer conductor) anchor washpipe spear a fishing tool that is attached to a washover pipe. The washover pipe uses a jet of drilling mud to clean around a tubular fish at the bottom of hole. The spear is then released to stab into the fish to retrieve it. ancient document an instrument of writing that was recorded in a county or parish courthouse 30 or more years before it was offered in evidence. An ancient document can include a map, survey, or plot. An Cpt Ser analog computer service and andesine andesite a dark-colored volcanic rock that is aphanitic (very small crystals) and has plagioclase feldspar mineral grains, but no quartz. Andesite has a matrix density of 2.70 gm/cc. Andesite volcanoes are common along plate margins. ANG angular ang angle angiosperm pollen the dust-sized reproductive particles given off by a flowering plant. Angiosperm pollen are often carried great distances by the wind and are common in sediments. Flowering plants have existed from the Cretaceous period to the present, and their pollen are used to determine the age and depositional environment of sedimentary rocks. ANGL angle angle azimuth indicator an acoustic or electric instrument that is used to determine the angle on the flex joint below a semisubmersible drilling rig or drillship (riser angle indicator) angle-build assembly see fulcrum assembly angle-build motor a high-speed, low-torque or lowspeed, high-torque positive displacement motor with one or more bends built into the motor transmission or bearing area that is used to deflect a well with an almost constant hole curvature rate between 6 and 20 per 100 ft angle-build rate the change of inclination in a deviation well measured in 7100 ft (radius of curvature)

anh

annular packoff

17

angular unconformity

anh anhydrite anhedral a mineral grain that lacks crystal faces or has been rounded by erosion. Anhedral is in contrast to euhedral. ahd ANHY, Anhy, or anhy anhydrite ANHYC anhydritic anhyd anhydrite anhydrite 1) a common salt evaporite mineral or rock composed of CaSO4. Anhydrite is gypsum without water in the crystal and readily alters to gypsum. Anhydrite occurs as white to slightly colored beds or seams in sedimentary rocks. Anhydrite has a matrix density of 2.977 gm/cc, a matrix velocity of 20,000 ft/ sec, and an interval transit time of 54 (tsec/ft. ANHY, Anhy, anhy, anh, or anhyd 2) a substance formed by the removal of water from another substance For example, CaO is the anhydrite of Ca(OH)2 anhydrous without water ani anisotropic aniline point the lowest temperature, usually expressed in F, at which equal amounts of the chemical aniline and an oil will completely mix. The aniline point is an indication of the character of the oil and the oil's deteriorating effect on materials made of natural or synthetic rubber. The lower the temperature, the more severe the effect. The aniline point gives an evaluation of the oil's use in an oilbased drilling mud. The lighter or more paraffinic the oil, the lower the aniline point. anion a negatively charged ion. Examples of anions are Cl~ and SO4" ~. An anion is in contrast to a cation. anion surfactant an organic molecule with a negatively charged, water-soluble group. An anionic surfactant is in contrast to a cationic, nonionic, or amphoteric surfactant. Anisian a global age of geological time that occurred from about 245-240 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Triassic epoch. anisotropic uneven in composition and/or texture in contrast to isotropic ani anisotropy a substance that is anisotropic and is not uniform in any direction ankle buster a drilling rig with peddle clutches annealing to heat or temper a substance and then cool slowly. Annealing forms a very thin and hard surface to steel that resists corrosion. Sucker rods are annealed.

annelid a worm-like invertebrate with a segmented body and belonging to the phylum Annelida. Annelids have existed from the Precambrian Era (?) to the present but are rare as fossils because they lack of hard parts. Indirect evidence (trace fossils) such as burrows and tracks are more common. Annie Oakley clause a provision in an agreement such as a joint operating agreement in which a nonoperator has the right to challenge the operator by offering to conduct operations on a more favorable basis. The operator then has the right to meet the challenge or forfeit the right to continue to operate. (challenge clause) anniversary date the effective date of a lease. The anniversary date is the date on which payment must be made to the lessor for delay rental or shut-in in order to maintain a lease. annual acreage rental see delay rental annual capital charge a method for ecomonic evaluation of a discounted cash flow. Annual capital charge is the net cash flow sufficient for an adequate rate of return and the recovery of full capital costs. annual production decline rate one minus (the production rate at the end of any year divided by the production rate at the beginning of the year). The annual decline rate is expressed as a decimal or percentage, d annubar a device that is used to measure fluid velocity. An annubar averages pitot tube measurements at four impact pressure points.

annular blowout preventer

annular blowout preventer or annular preventer a closing device at the top of the well above the ram preventers on a blowout preventer stack that will close the well with either a kelly, pipe, or wireline in the well, or with an open wellbore. The annular preventer uses a reinforced oval-shaped elastomer or hard-rubber packing element that is squeezed with a piston activated by hydraulic pressure from accumulators to close the well. The closing pressure on the rubber seal can be eased to allow drillpipe to be removed in a process called stripping. The annular preventer has a lower pressure rating than the pipe rams and a higher risk of failure under high pressure, (spherical blowout, sleeve blowout, or bag preventer) annular packoff 1) a sealing mechanism that contains the annular pressure between a suspended tubular or hanger and the head or spool through which the tubular passes or the hanger is suspended

18

annular space antifoam, antifoamer, or antifoaming agent anomaly a general term for something such as a measurement, a group of measurements, or a structure that is significantly different than its surroundings. An anomaly is a local variation in a normal or regional pattern. Geological examples might include a gravity anomaly of higher or lower gravity values on a gravity survey or a structure such as a dome on a seismic profile. anoxic a chemically reducing environment anoxic basin a water-filled basin in which the bottom waters are oxygen deficient. Because of the lack of oxygen in the water, organic-rich sediments can be deposited on the bottom of the basin. ANSI American National Standards Institute Anthr anthracite anthracite the highest rank coal Anthracite has the greatest heat and least volatile content and is formed by intense heat and pressure, (hard coal) Anthr anthrozoan an aquatic invertebrate that belongs to the class Anthrozoa in the phylum Coelenterata. Anthrozoans include corals, both solitary and colonial, and have existed from the Ordovician period to the present. Anthrozoans are important reef builders and guide fossils. anticlinal nose a plunging anticline without closure (nose or structural nose) anticlinal theory an early and correct theory that petroleum accumulates in the high area of reservoir rocks in anticlines. The anticlinal theory was first popularized by I.C. White in 1882.

2) the decrease of the diameter of the original drilled wellbore by well cuttings and/or the drilled formations. This can include a) cave-in, b) landslide, c) creeping, swelling, or heaving formations, d) settling of solids, e) salt precipitation, and f) mud rings. annular space see annulus annular stream pattern a stream drainage pattern that is characterized by several concentric, ring-shaped streams. An annular stream pattern is formed by the erosion of a dome to expose alternating layers of soft and resistant formations. annular velocity the rate at which a fluid such as drilling mud is rising or falling in the annulus of a well. Annular velocity is about 100 ft/min and depends on the pump rate and volume of the annulus. AV

annulus 1) the space between a) the drillpipe and the wellbore. b) the tubing and casing, or c) the casing and the wellbore. (annular space) an or ANUL 2) a ring of interstitial water caused by mud filtrate invasion of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation annulus pressure-responsive safety valve a valve that is sensitive to the pressure in the annulus in a well and will automatically open to relieve excess pressure in the annulus. The annulus pressureresponsive safety valve can be adjusted to any pressure threshold at the surface. APR safety valve annunciator an audio-visual alarm or indicator anode an electrode at which oxidation occurs. It is the positive terminal of an electrolytic cell or the negative terminal of a battery. An anode corrodes. Anode is in contrast to a cathode. anodic protection a method that retards electrochemical corrosion on large, marine, and buried structures such as offshore platforms and pipelines. A low-voltage direct current of 25-60 volts and several hundred amperes is generated between anodes that are usually permanent steel, titanium, or magnetite fittings and the structure. Anodic protection is similar in principle to cathodic protection but does not rely on sacrificial anodes, (impressed current protection)

anticline

anticline a large, long arch of rocks that have been bent upward. An anticline has rocks becoming older in age toward the core. The top of the anticline is called the crest, and the center is called the axial surface. Anticlines in reservoir rocks were one of the first types of petroleum traps recognized. Anticlines can be either buckling folds formed by tangential compression forces parallel to the bedding with stratal shortening, or they can be bending folds formed by differential movement perpendicular to the bedding. A plunging anticline has an axis that dips in one direction, whereas, a doubly plunging anticline dips in opposite directions. Anticlines are in contrast to synclines. anticlinorium a series of anticlines and synclines of regional extent antifoam, antifoamer, or antifoaming agent an additive that prevents foaming. Antifoam is often a

antiform apparent grain density silicone, alcohol, or organic phosphate that greatly increases surface tension. Polyethylene glycol is commonly used as an antifoam agent in cement. antiform a fold that is concave upward. Antiform is in contrast to synform and a neurtal fold. antifriction bearings the bearings that rotate in a circle around the journal on a leg of a roller-cone bit to allow the cone to turn. The bearing arrangement can be either a) roller-ball-roller or b) roller-ballfriction. antigall treatment the conditioning of threads on tubulars such as drillpipe to receive and retain lubricants. Antigall treatment is a coating of iron manganese phosphate or copper sulfate. antileasing provision a special provision in a farmout that prevents a farmee from leasing in the area of farmout acreage antisludge agent an additive that is used during acidizing a reservoir containing heavy asphaltic oil. An antisludge agent is a surface-active chemical that prevents the formation of a thick sludge that could reduce formation permeability.
antithetic faults

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antithetic fault relatively minor fault that is parallel to a major fault but has displacement opposite that of the major fault. Antithetic faults are in contrast to synthetic faults and are a type of secondary faults anti-top-lease provision a special provision in an agreement such as a farmout that prevents the parties from top leasing the land included under the agreement ANUL annulus ANYA allowable not yet available AOCS American Oil Chemists Society AOF absolute open flow AOFP absolute open flow potential AOGA Alaska Oil and Gas Association AOS automatic oil skinner AOSC Association of Oilwell Servicing Contractors ap appears apatite fission track analysis a method that uses the length of ionization tracks from U238 disintegrations in the mineral apatite that is inversely proportional to the temperature of the mineral to analyze the thermal history of the rock. AFTA A-PEL aluminum pellets aph aphanitic

aphanitic an igneous rock texture with mineral grains too small to be seen by the naked eye. Aphanitic texture includes microcrystalline and cryptocrystalline textures and is in contrast to phaneritic. aph API American Petroleum Institute A.P.I. the expected API cement class an oil well cement classification by the American Petroleum Institute. It includes Classes A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, and J and is based on depths, corrosive environments, strength and pressures, and temperatures for which the cement is recommended. API gamma ray unit a standard unit of gamma ray measurement that is calibrated in the American Petroleum Institute's test pits at the University of Houston. The average Mid-Continent shale has about 100 API gamma ray units. API gravity a scale reflecting the density of a fluid such as crude oil, water, or natural gas. It is computed by dividing the specific gravity of the fluid at 60F into 141.5 and subtracting 131.5. Fresh water has 10 API. Crude oils generally range from 6 (very heavy) to 60 (very light). Average oils range from 35 to 25 API. Light oils range from 35 to 45 and heavy oils are less than 25 API. API is the preferred term. CAPI or gravity) API log grid the standard format used for recording wireline well logs. The depth column has one track on the left and two tracks on the right. Each track is 2lA in. wide, and the depth column is 3/4 in. wide. The tracks can have either a linear or logarithmic scale. API neutron unit a standard unit used for neutron logs that are calibrated in the American Petroleum Institute's neutron test pit at the University of Houston API sand solid particles in drilling mud that are larger than 74 \x. API well number a 12-digit number that is assigned to each well drilled in the United States. Digits 1 and 2 are codes for the state, Digits 3 through 5 are for the county, parish, or offshore, Digits 6 through 1Q identify the individual well, and Digits 11 and 12 record a property of the well such as sidetracking. APO after payout APOA Arctic Petroleum Operators Association app appearance apparent bed thickness the thickness of a sedimentary rock bed not measured perpendicular to the bedding plane in contrast to true bed thickness apparent dip the angle that a plane such as a bedding plane or fault plane makes with horizontal, provided that it is not measured perpendicular to the strike or horizontal direction of that plane. The perpendicular measurement is called true dip. The apparent dip will vary from almost zero when measured at a low angle to the strike of the plane, to a maximum value that approaches the true dip at an angle near perpendicular to the strike. apparent grain density a parameter used on a MID plot. Apparent grain density is equal to * _ /" f in which pb is bulk density from density log, <(>ra is apparent total porosity, p^ is pore fluid density, p^^

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apparent liquid density Archie's equation or formula APR safety valve automatic pressure responsive safety valve APRT advance petroleum revenue tax APRX approximate APT additional profits tax Aptian a global age of geological time that occurred about 115-108 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Cretaceous epoch. aq aqueous Aquagel a type of bentonite used to condition drilling mud and to lubricate the bit Aquapulse a sleeve exploder that is used as a marine seismic source. A propane and oxygen mixture is exploded by a spark plug in a thick rubber bag that is called a sleeve. Multiple arrays are often used. aquasorption process a water washing process in a contact tower that is used to sweeten natural gas aqueous from water aquifer a porous and permeable rock that contains water Aquitanian a global age of geological time that occurred about 25-23 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Miocene epoch. aquitard a rock that is impermeable and does not allow fluids to pass. Examples are shale and salt layers. An aquitard is in contrast to an aquifer. AR acid residue Ar argon A,, relative amplitude Arag or arag aragonite aragonite a common mineral that has the chemical formula CaCO3, the same as the mineral calcite. Their properties are similar but aragonite is slightly harder and denser and has a different crystal structure and is less stable than calcite. Aragonite is white, yellowish, or gray and is common in coral and mollusk shells and oolites. Arag or arag arc cutter a downhole assembly used to deviate a well arch 1) a long uplift An arch is an anticlinal fold of regional scale. 2) see sand arch Archean rocks formed during Archeozoic time Archeo Archeozoic Archeozoic a subdivision of the Precambrian era of geological time. It occurred about 4500-2500 m. y. ago. Archeo Archie's equation or formula an empirical formula used in well-log analysis to evaluate the hydrocarbon content of a reservoir. It states that:

apparent liquid density the mass of gas divided by the volume of gas dissolved in a liquid at 14.7 psi and 60F apparent matrix transit time a parameter used on a MID plot. Apparent matrix transit time 1 - ' time-average relationship and A? field-observed relationship in which A? is sonic log interval transit time, $ta is apparent total porosity, A^ is pore fluid transit time and c is a constant equal to about 0.68. tnmaa or t,,^ apparent resistivity the recorded resistivity on a resistivity well log. Apparent resistivity differs from true resistivity because of borehole effects, adjacent beds, the invaded zone, and the drilling mud. apparent velocity the apparent wavelength times the frequency. Va apparent viscosity 1) the viscosity of a fluid flowing through a porous rock that it shares with another fluid (effective viscosity) 2) the viscosity of a fluid measured in an instrument at a stated rate of shear. It is measured in centipoises (cp) from a direct reading viscometer at 600 rpm and is a function of the fluid's plastic viscosity and yield point. apparent wavelength the distance between similar points on a wave measured at an angle to the wavefront. The true wavelength will be smaller than the apparent wavelength and is measured at 90 to the wavefront. appd approved apple a small object such as a nut or bolt that falls to the drill floor of a rig apple butter belt dressing apportionment the division of royalties between interest owners of the land apportionment account an account that accumulates expenses for a period with the account being credited for activities on some predetermined basis apportionment rule a rule in some states that royalties from a lease on property that was subdivided after the lease was granted are to be divided proportionately between the property owners appraisal curve a graph used to predict the ultimate recovery of wells producing from the same reservoir but with different initial productions. The ultimate cumulative percent oil production per well is plotted versus the first year's production per well to yield an average, maximum, and minimum cumulative production percentage curve. An ultimate production per well is plotted versus daily production of oil per well during the first year to give an average, maximum, and minimum ultimate production curve. appraisal well a well drilled after a discovery well to gain more information on the producing reservoir such as the elevation of the oil-water contact. Appraisal wells are often cored. An appraisal well is a step-out or delineation well. approx or apprx approximately APR annulus pressure responsive apr apparent apron ring the lowest section of metal plates on a tank is equal to
At <$>laAtf

5W is water saturation. F is the formation resistivity factor. F can be calculated from the formula F = 1.0/$m, where 3> is porosity of the reservoir rock, and m is the cementation factor for the reservoir rock which varies from 1.0 to 30, but is commonly 1.6 to 2.2. Ru, is the resistivity of the formation waters that is usually obtained from water samples in nearby wells or is calculated from the spontaneous potential log.

Archimidean screw aromatic Rt is the true formation resistivity. It is measured from the resistivity log. The saturation exponent n ranges from 1.8 to 2.5, but is commonly 2.0. Hydrocarbon saturation is calculated by solving for Su, and subtracting 1. The formula is accurate only with clean sandstones and carbonates; shaly formations give erroneous results. The equation is named after George E. Archie who first presented the equation in 1941 and published it in 1942. Archimidean screw a type of artificial lift in which a spiral activated by a rotating sucker-rod string driven by a motor at the surface lifts the oil arc-plasma torch an underwater cutting and welding torch that feeds gas through a nozzle in a copper anode. An arc of ionized gas occurs between the copper anode and the hard metal cathode. arc weld a method used to join metals by an electrical current discharge in an arc between a welding rod, which is an electrode, and the metal. The heat generated by the arc melts both the welding rod and the metal to form the bond. area of mutual interest a specific area that has been denned by two or more parties where each party, at their option, can proportionally share in the costs and ownership of acreage acquisitions with the other parties. The area of mutual interest is often defined in a contract such as a farmout, joint operating agreement, or seismic option. An area of mutual interest is sometimes confused with a working interest area in which the parties share in the development of the net lease acreage. AMI area rate clause A provision in some gas contracts that allows for an increase in gas price if permitted by a government regulatory agency. area rental monies paid in installments during a period of production licence in the United Kingdom and Norway areal sweep efficiency The fraction of the area that is effectively swept by injected fluids during enhanced oil recovery. E^, EA, or Ea areawide pricing a regional wellhead price ceiling for interstate gas producers. Areawide pricing was used by the Federal Power Commission in the 1960s. AREN or aren arenaceous arenaceous sandy AREN or aren arene see aromatic Arenigian a global age of geological time that occurred about 490-485 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Ordovician epoch. arenite sand-sized sediments with a diameter between 40u, and 2 mm. Arenites are in contrast to rudites and pelites. (psammite) areometer a tube-shaped instrument that is made of glass with a weighted lower end and a scale printed on its upper end. It is designed to float in a liquid. The height to which the areometer floats depends on the density of the liquid, which is read off the scale. One API oil gravity areometer is used to measure crude oils 10-45 API gravity and another 45-90. A mudwater hydrometer is used to determine drilling mud density, (hydrometer) ARG or arg argillaceous

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argillaceous shaly. ARG or arg argillite or argillyte 1) a hard, compacted shale or mudstone that has fewer laminations than shale, no fissility that is found in shale and no slaty cleavage 2) a shaly rock that has been naturally cemented by calcite (pelite) argl argillites very fine-grained sediments with a diameter less than 2 \i. argl argl argillite argon a colorless, odorless inert gas. Argon is sometimes found with natural gas. Ar ARK, Ark, or ark arkose ARKIC arkosic arkose a pink-to-buff colored sandstone derived from the erosion of a granite. An arkose contains a large percentage of quartz grains but also has more than 25% feldspar minerals and some minor clay minerals and cement. The grains are angular to subangular and sorting is poor to moderately well sorted. An arkose is the result of rapid erosion and deposition. (granite wash) ARK, Ark or ark arkosic a term used to describe sandstones, arenites, graywackes, conglomerates and limestones with relatively large amounts of the mineral feldspar.
ARKIC

arm 1) to prepare a perforating gun ror firing 2) the lever or bow spring on a wireline sonde that is used to either centralize or press the tool to the opposite side of the borehole. The arm is opened by electric motor and held against the wall by spring tension. armor the steel wire surrounding the insulated electrical conductors on a survey cable armature the coils of wire a) into which an electrical current is induced in a generator or b) that produce a torque in an electric motor arm's-length transaction a transaction between unaffiliated companies ARO at the rate of arom aromatics

H C

H I C

II c
C I H
aromatic (benzene)

c I c

aromatic a type of hydrocarbon molecule found in crude oils that is formed by an unsaturated, closed ring. The principle aromatic hydrocarbons are the BTX group (benzene, toluene, and xylene), cumene, styrene, and ethylbenzene. Crude oils rich in this type of molecule have a sweet, fruity smell. The original definition of aromatic implied fragrant compounds.

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arpent ASGMT or asgmt the connections. Articulated pipe is used in drilling horizontal wells. articulated platform an offshore platform with the lower end fixed to the seafloor and the upper end free to move. The lower end can be fixed with a universal joint to a concrete and steel base on the seafloor. Buoyancy tanks keep the structure floating vertically. An articluated platform is used primarily for flaring gas and to moor and load tankers. artificial intelligence a computer process that simulates human thinking. Instead of working through programmed steps to solve a problem, it uses creative solutions. The process utilizes a knowledge base and can learn from mistakes. Petroleum exploration with its many factors that affect decisions, such as drilling an exploratory well, is a possible application of artificial intelligence. AI artificial island a shallow-water drilling platform made with gravel or boulders artificial lift a mechanical method that is used to assist in lifting crude oil in a well to the surface. The most common methods are a) sucker-rod pump, b) hydraulic pump, c) gas lift, and d) electric submersible pump. Ninety-four percent of oil wells in the United States use artificial lift. Artinskian a global age of geological time that occurred about 275-270 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Permian epoch. arrival time the time that it takes a particular wave phase of seismic energy to travel from the shot to a reflector and back to the detector that records it during seismic exploration. Arrival time can be with or without static and dynamic corrections. AS after shot A, amplitude of shear wave ASA American Standards Association ASAP as soon as possible asbestos a generic name for a group of naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals. Asbetos is used as a drilling mud additive to improve carrying capacity. asbestos felt pipe coating material made of asbestos saturated with asphalt asbr absorber ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers ASGAS associated gas ASGMT or asgmt assignment

Simple aromatic compounds in crude oil cause fluorescence of the oil. The general formula is CnH2n_6. An example is benzene (C6H6). (arene or benzene) arom arpent a French unit of length used in southern Louisiana that varies with location but is generally 191.833 ft array 1) the pattern of a group of geophones or shotpoints 2) a group of 6 to 24 geophones about 100 ft across that are attached to a single recording channel. The array is used to attenuate horizontal waves. Most arrays are in line but some are areal. 3) a group of shotpoints that are fired at the same time 4) the configuration of electrodes on a wireline sonde used in well logging arrestor see surge chamber Arrhenius equation an equation that relates chemical reaction rates to the temperature. The equation is k = Ae~E/RT in which k is the rate constant, A is the Arrhenius constant, E is the activation energy of the reaction, R is the universal gas constant and T is the temperature in "Kelvin. The equation implies that the reaction rate doubles for every 10 C (18 F) increase in temperature. arrival the appearance of a new wavetrain or event on a seismic display arrival time the time difference between the shot and the arrival or appearance of a wave train or event on a seismic display. Arrival time can be with or without corrections. arrow plot a type of dipmeter display artesian ground water under hydrostatic pressure artesian well a well in which the fluid flows to the surface under its own pressure. The recharge area for the aquifer is higher in elevation than the wellhead. arthropod an advanced type of invertebrate with a segmented body and external hard parts that belongs to the phylum Arthropoda. They include insects, crustaceans, and trilobites. Arthropods have existed from the Cambrian period to the present. articulate brachiopod a type of marine invertebrate with two shells (bivalved) that are dissimilar. The articulate type of brachiopods have hingement with teeth and sockets for movement of the shells and have existed from the Lower Cambrian epoch to the present. They are guide fossils for the Paleozoic era. articulated pipe drillpipe in 1-ft sections that form interlocking segments with up to 2 flexibility between

artesian well

ash asphaltene

23

GAS LIFT

SUCKER ROD PUMP

ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMP

artificial lift

ash the noncombustible residue left after burning a substance such as a hydrocarbon Ashgillian a global age of geological time that occurred from about 450-425 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Ordovician epoch. ask system a method used to keep a drillship on station. The early ask systems used the angle on a taut wire secured by a clump weight. The system is still used but not in deep water where a hydro-acoustic position system is used. Transponders or beacons are positioned on the seabed. The signals are picked up by hydrophones (usually four) on the semisubmersible or drillship and sent to a computer for processing. If the ship drifts off the drillsite because of waves, currents, or wind, a computer aboard the drillship detects it from the seabed sound transmissions and uses the ship's thrusters to put the drillship back on station. The thrusters have controlled pitch propellers to adjust the position of the drillship. Another system uses prepositioned radio transmitters on fixed structures such as production platforms that transmit signals to the antenna on a vessel. This is used to determine range and bearing. (dynamic positioning, positioning system or stationing) ASME American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASNT American Society for Non-Destructive Testing ASOFR acid sand/oil frac ASOBL associated oil ASP 1) acoustic scope picture 2) apparent spontaneous potential ASPH asphaltic oil Asph or asph 1) asphalt 2) asphaltic asphalt a dark brown to black, solid or very viscous liquid that is composed almost entirely of hydrocarbons. Asphalt has very high molecular weights and melts above 20C (70F), which distinguishes it from heavy oil. It has a specific gravity between 1.0 and 1.1. Asphalt is composed of bitumen and is soluble in carbon disulfide and insoluble in normal heptane.

It is found in most crude oils. Pure asphalt is formed naturally by a variety of processes that affect crude oil and by refinery processes that remove the lighter fractions from crude oil. Natural asphalt deposits are formed by degradation of crude oil by evaporation, water washing, and/or evaporation. Asphalt is used in oil-base drilling fluids, lost circulation material, emulsifiers, fluid-loss agents, and wall-plastering agents. Asphalt in the United States is the same as bitumen in England. Solid asphalt is known as asphaltite. An average asphalt chemical analysis by % weight C H S N 80.0-85 8.5-11 2.0-8.0 00.0-2.0

Asph or asph asphalt-base crude oil a crude oil that contains little or no paraffin but has an asphalt residue upon distillation. When burned it leaves a tar-like residue. Asphalt-base crude oil is dominated by the napthenic hydrocarbon compounds. The oil is black in color and tends to have low API and a low pour point. Asphalt-base crude oil represents about 15% of the world's oil supply. Most of the world's oil is mixedbased or is paraffin-base, (naphthene-base crude oil) asphalt enamel pipe coating made of ground mica, clay, soapstone, or talc with asphalt that is applied hot to pipes before they are buried to prevent corrosion asphaltene a general term that includes any solid, dark brown to black bitumen that occurs either dissolved or dispersed in crude oil or by itself in sediments. Asphaltines are soluble in carbon disulfide but not in normal heptane or paraffin naptha. They have high molecular weights (500-1,500) and are composed primarily of carbon and hydrogen with lesser amounts of nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen. The basic structure of asphaltenes is aromatic rings with 3-10 or more rings per molecule. Asphaltenes can be precipitated by bubbling gas through an oil

24

asphaltic Atokan the drawworks brake and maintains the mud pumps and circulation equipment. AID assn or assoc association associated gas natural gas that is in contact with crude oil in the subsurface reservoir. It occupies a separate portion of the reservoir and is wet gas. Associated gas is in contrast to nonassociated and dissolved gas. If production of associated gas will not substantially affect the recovery of crude oil, a government regulatory agency can reclassify it as nonassociated gas. ASGAS associated gas well allowable the amount of natural gas that a government regulatory agency allows a well or leasehold to produce per unit of time from wells draining a free gas cap. It is often related in volume to an oil allowable. associated reservoir allowable a special reduced gas allowable, the amount of gas production permitted per time by a government regulatory agency, on an associated gas well that also produces oil. The gas allowable is based on the equivalent volume of oil. ass wagon a dolly that was used to move heavy equipment such as pipe on a drill floor ass work heavy work done by hand astern toward or behind the back (stern) of a ship or offshore drilling rig asthenosphere the portion of the earth located just below the ltthosphere starting at a depth of about 60 mi. The asthenosphere is less rigid than the lithosphere and seismic waves are strongly attenuated in it. ASTM or A.S.T.M. American Society for Testing and Materials astn asphaltic stain asymmetric fold a fold in rocks such as an anticline in which the limbs or sides are not similar and have different dips on them. One limb will be steeper than the other. The axial surface or center of the fold is not vertical and will migrate horizontally with depth. An asymmetric fold is in contrast to a symmetric fold. AT 1) acid treatment 2) after treatment a(t) autocorrelation function ATA accrued treasury assets atm atmosphere atmosphere a unit of pressure equal to the pressure of air at sea level which is 14.6959 psi, 101.325 kPa, 1.01325 bar, 3390 ft of fresh water, or 760 mm of mercury. An atmosphere is equal to 1.01 x 105nt/m2 atm atmospheric pressure the pressure exerted by the weight of the column of air in the atmosphere. Atmospheric pressure is 14.6959 psi at sea level and decreases with altitude, (barometric pressure) atmospheric-pressure oil stabilized oil existing under surface conditions of temperature and pressure (60F and 1 atm). Stabilized oil exists after the oil has been processed through separators to remove solution gas and water, (lease crude or stock-tank or stocktank oil) Atokan a North American epoch of geological time. It is part of the Pennsylvanian period.

reservoir and can form a tar mat at the oil/water contact. Resins are similar to asphaltenes. asphaltic containing significant amounts of asphalt asphaltic bitumen a low-temperature reservoir bitumen that formed by the degradation of liquid hydrocarbons by evaporation, water washing, and/or microbial activity into asphalt and pitch. Asphaltic bitumen is soluble in organic solvents. asphaltic sands a sandstone that is cemented together with a natural, soft asphalt asphaltine a bitumen that melts above 110C. Asphaltine is black to dark brown in color and is soluble in CS2 and chloroform but only partially soluble in CC14. The fraction that is soluble in CS2 but not in CC14 is called carbenes. Asphaltine goes by such local names as manjak, glance pitch, and gilsonite. asphaltite a naturally occurring, hard, solid, black bitumen. Asphaltite is soluable in carbon disulfide but not in paraffin naptha and fuses above 230F. Types of natural asphaltites include gilsonite, grahamite, and glance pitch. Asphaltite is an asphaltene. asphalt plant a facility that buys basic sediment and water and recovers crude oil from it (recycling unit) ASSE American Society of Safety Engineers Asselian a global age of geological time that occurred from about 290-285 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Permian epoch. assem. assemblage assemblage a group of fossils that occurs and defines a specific level in the rocks, assem. assembly equipment composed of numerous individual pieces that is used for a particular purpose assessment additional capital that is requested from an investor after the initial investment. Assessment can be either mandatory or optional. If it is optional or voluntary and the investor declines, there is a penalty for noncompliance. assgd assigned assign to transfer. An assignment is assigned from the assignor to the assignee. assigned when earned an agreement in a farmout in which the farmee is not assigned an interest until after the earning conditions such as drilling a well are satisfied. Assigned when earned is in contrast to a present assignment. assignee a person or company who receives an assignment or transfer of interest such as an oil and gas lease assignment the conveyance that transfers an interest in a property or a contract from an assignor to the assignee, asgmt assignment clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that requires the lessor to give notice to the lessee of any changes in ownership (change of oumershp clause) assignor the party who grants or transfers an assignment or an interest such as an oil and gas lease assistant driller a drilling contractor employee who assists the driller on that tour on an offshore drilling rig. The assistant driller often relieves the driller on

atoll authigenic clay minerals

25

atoll

atoll a relatively large (1 to 80 mi in diameter), circular or elliptical reef with a central lagoon. The atoll is surrounded by deep water and does not have a central island.

1 PROTON 1 ELECTRON HYDROGEN

2 PROTONS 2 NEUTRONS 2 ELECTRONS HELIUM

8 PROTONS S NEUTRONS S ELECTRONS OXYGEN

32 PROTONS M S NEUTRONS 92 ELECTRONS


URANIUM

atom

atom the smallest particle that has all the properties of an element. The nucleus of the atom is composed of protons and neutrons while electrons orbit in shells about the nucleus. All matter is composed of atoms in chemical combinations that form compounds. atomic number the number of electrons or protons in the atom of an element. The atomic number of carbon is 6. atomic weight the relative weight of the average atom of a element based on the carbon 12 isotope being exactly 12. A atomize to spray a liquid through a small hole causing it to separate into numerous very small droplets attapulgite a group of clay minerals with a chainlattice and a chemical formula of (Mg,Al)2Si4Oj0 (OH) 2H2O. The clay minerals are light weight, tough, and fibrous. Attapulgite is a colloidal clay that is used to increase the viscosity of drilling and completion fluids and develops a gel when mixed with salt water. Attapulgite has high viscosity in both fresh and salt water, (pafygorskite) attapulgite cement a slurry formed by adding dry cement to water with prehydrated attapulgite It is used as a lost circulation material. attenuation the reduction in amplitude or energy of a wave such as a seismic wave attenuator a device used to reduce the amplitude of a wave or signal. An attenuator is usually calibrated in decibels. attic 1) a platform that goes around the crown of the derrick on a drilling rig. The railing that goes around the attic is called the pigpen, and both the

attic and pigpen are called the duck's nest. The attic contains the water table that holds the crown block. The attic is accessed by the derrick ladder, (crown platform or crow's nest) 2) the derrick board on a rotary rig attic man a derrickman on a rotary drilling rig attic oil oil that occurs in the very top of the reservoir. Attic oil is not drained by wells that drain the reservoir from lower elevations. Because there may not be a well located on the very highest point of the reservoir, some attic oil is often left in every reservoir that is drained. attitude 1) the horizontal orientation of a line or plane 2) the angular orientation of a camera or the photograph used in aerial photography atto the metric prefix for 10~18. a attributable acreage the acreage that is assigned to a well for the purpose of determining an allowable where there is an acreage factor in the allowable formula attribute a particular characteristic of data. Seismic attributes include amplitude, frequency, velocity, and polarity. attribute map a contoured map based on a seismic attribute. The attribute, in numerical form, is plotted at each shot point and contoured. au augite audit a documented investigation auger a drill with long helical grooves that wind up the drillpipe to carry the cuttings to the top of the hole when the auger is rotated. An auger drill is often used for shot holes. No air or mud is circulated when drilling. auger man a rotary driller auger stem four bars of iron that are fitted to the auger stem of a cable-tool rig to form a heavy steel shaft that prevents deviation of the well. The bit jars are screwed into them, (sinker bar guide) aulacogen a long-duration, deeply subsiding depression bounded by large faults forming a trough or graben in a craton or continental interior. Aulacogens are often associated with a failed arm or an aborted continental pull apart due to plate tectonics. austenitic a nonmagnetic state of iron or an iron alloy. Austenitic is in contrast to ferritic. austenitic stainless steel A nonmagnetic alloy with over 16% chromium and over 1% nickel (which can be partially replaced by manganese) and iron. It is used to make nonmagnetic drill collars. Austenitic stainless steel is in contrast to ferritic stainless steel which is magnetic. AUTH or auth authorized authg authigenic authigenic a mineral that was formed by chemical reactions after the sediments were buried in the subsurface. The temperatures and pressures under which authigenic minerals form are not high enough to be termed metamorphic. authg authigenic clay minerals clay minerals that have precipitated out of subsurface waters (neoformed clays) or formed from the alteration of a precursor

26

authority or authorization for expenditure automatic slips at a later time with the wave form at an earlier time. Autocorrelation is used in seimsic signal processing and can be used to determine the kind of deconvolution necessary. auto-lock safety joint a pipe joint used on a fishing string that disconnects on tension or a quarter reverse turn when the string is caught automated shutdown a system on a producing well that is designed to react to the sensors such as highand low-pressure valves and storm chokes that detect abnormal downhole conditions and will automatically shut in the well. An automated shutdown can be manually reopened. automatic catheads catheads with the catline spools mounted on roller bearings around the cat shaft with a friction clutch. Automatic catheads are controlled manually, hydraulically, or pneumatically. automatic choke an orifice operated by power that is used to control the pressure on a flowing fluid automatic custody transfer a system designed to move oil from lease storage to a pipeline. Automatic custody transfer has a field sampling and measuring system for crude oil that works without manual input. The equipment includes a pump, back pressure valve, BS&W monitor and oil meter. ACT automatic driller or automatic drilling control unit a hydraulic or pneumatic device that is connected to the drawworks brake handle on a drilling rig and maintains a predetermined weight on the bit without input from the driller (drilling control) automatic elimination clause a provision in a unit agreement that automatically eliminates certain lands from the unit area after a specific date unless certain developmental operations are not done (elimination clause) automatic feed control see automatic driller automatic fillup shoe a device with a pressureactivated valve that is used on the first joint of casing to regulate the amount of drilling mud flowing into the casing as it is run automatic gain control a device that regulates the amplification or attenuation of input signal strength coming into an amplifier. It is automatic on seismic amplifiers if the gain of each channel is independent of die other channels. AGC automatic gas detector a sampling and analytical device that measures gas-cut drilling mud in the mud pits automatic gauge see automatic tank gauge automatic pump accumulator unit see accumulator automatic pump controller see percentage timer automatic rabbit washers used on the sucker rods of a pumping well to clean out paraffin automatic ram lock a mechanical lock that keeps the subsea blowout preventers closed if the hydraulic pressure is lost or released automatic shutdown a system with sensors that can stop a process if abnormal conditions are detected automatic slips a wedge-shaped device that is part of a modern rotary table and is powered by air or hydraulic fluid from a pedal at the driller's position

material (transformed clays), such as feldspar grain in a subsurface rock. Authigenic clays decrease the primary porosity in sedimentary rocks. They create microporosity which results in a high irreducible water content for the rock and a high water saturation. Authigenic clays have high conductivity and reduce the resistivity of sedimentary rocks such as shaly sands. This can result in a high water saturation estimate from well logs. Authigenic clays are responsible for formation damage as they can be dislodged from mineral grains and/or dispersed by drilling mud filtrate or other fluids injected into the formation adjacent to the wellbore. They clog and bridge pore throats to decrease the permeability of the rock.

AFE (Authority For Expenditure)


Dry Holt Drilling Intangibles Site Preparation Drilling Footage Cement and Surface Casing Logging Mud Completed Well

Completion Intangibles Cement Perforating Frac or Acid

Equipment Casing Tubing Pump Jock Separator Tanks

Total Well Cost

$_

authority for expenditure

authority or authorization for expenditure a form that is filled out before drilling a well. The authorization for expenditure lists all the estimated costs of drilling the well with two results: a dry hole and a producer. It is used to analyze the economic feasibility of drilling the well and to keep costs under control when drilling the well. An authorization for expenditure is also made before any major purchase. AFE authorized total depth or authorized depth the total depth of a well that is approved by the operator on a drilling contract. AD auto automatic autochthonous something that is found in the same place where it was formed. It has not been transported. (in situ) autocorrelation a crosscorrelation in which a signal is correlated with itself. The autocorrelation function measures the statistical dependence of a wave form

automatic tank gage or gauge azimuth bar on a drilling rig. The automatic slips are used to suspend the drillstring in the well, (power slips) automatic tank gage or gauge an instrument on a tank that uses a float on a line to show the height of a liquid in the tank automatic weight-on-bit control a device that uses the rig-weight indicator on the dead line to automatically maintain the constant required weight on the bit during drilling automatic well testing the automatic gauging and sampling of a well. AWT aux auxiliary auxiliaries secondary equipment on a drilling rig that is not directly involved in drilling the well. Generators for rig lighting are an example of auxiliaries. auxiliary brake a hydrodynamic or electrodynamic brake used to lower heavy loads at slow rates on a drilling rig. Auxiliary brakes are used to prevent wear on the main brakes. AV annular velocity AVC al) automatic volume control 2) automatic vent chamber avdp. avoirdupois AVG, Av, av or avg average AVL acoustic velocity log AVO amplitude versus offset Avogadro's number 6.0247 xl023/mole avoirdupois a system of weights in which 1 lb equals 16 oz. Two thousand lbs equals a short ton and 2,240 lbs equals a long ton. Seven thousand grains equals 1 lb. One pound avdp. equals 1.215 lbs t. avdp. AVP actual value profit Av. Sp. Gr. average specific gravity

27

AWG American Wire Gauge AWS American Welding Society AWT automatic well-testing awtg awaiting ax axinite axial compression inward directed forces parallel to the long axis of an object. Compressive forces are directed along a length of pipe when the pipe encounters a deviation or sticky spot in the well as it is being lowered into the well. axial compressor a type of gas compressor that compresses gas flowing from an inlet to the discharge along a long shaft with numerous short propellors or blades that are rapidly revolving axial load the total load or weight applied to a drilling bit. W
CREST

axial surface axial plane or surface a surface formed by lines or axes along maximum bending of layers of rocks in a fold. The surface is essentially the center of the fold and symmetrically divides the fold. The axial surface is curved on an asymmetrical fold and is straight on a symmetrical fold. It is more correctly described as a surface rather than a plane. axial tension outward-directed forces parallel to the long axis of an object. Tensional forces are directed along a length of pipe when the drill string is caught in a keyscat when tripping out. axial trace the line formed by the intersection of an axial surface on a fold with a topographic surface axial trend the azimuth or direction of a hinge line on a fold axis a line along the maximum bending of rock layers in a fold. The axis separates the two limbs or sides of the fold and is essentially the center of the fold. AZIMU azimuth azimuth 1) the horizontal angle (0-360) measured clockwise from true north in surveying 2) the horizontal angle measured clockwise between the face of a deviation tool in a well and magnetic north 3) the horizontal angle measured clockwise from magnetic north in well logging, a. AZIMU or < ) > azimuth bar a reference point used to establish compass orientation on a permanent bench mark

avulsion avulsion an abrupt change in the course of a river as it abandons one portion of a channel to erode another channel AW acid water aw salt water activity

28

B back-off wheel

B
B 1) formation volume factor 2) turbulence 3) magnetic induction 4) bottom of 5) angle between interface and bed 6) barrel 7) boundstone 8) cation mobility b 1) reciprocal of formation volume factor 2) bubble point 3) bulk 4) bank 5) burned 6) bubble 7) billion 8) bar (pressure) 9) radius of investigation B/ 1) base 2) bottom of BA barrels of acid babbit 1) a material that is similar to lead. Babbit is melted in a babbit ladle and poured into a rope socket. The babbit solidifies and holds the sand line in the rope socket which is used to attach tools. 2) a pot with a long handle that is used to melt babbit {babbit ladle) see Babbit metal babbit ladle a pot with a long handle that is used to melt babbit (babbit) Babbit metal a soft, white metal alloy usually made of tin, copper, and antimony that is used in friction bearings Babbit metal is named after Isaac Babbit who discovered it. (babbit) baby driller an inexperienced driller back the side of the drilling rig facing away from the V-door back-arc basin a basin located between an island arc and a continent. Back-arc basins characteristically contain volcanic sediments and are in contrast to forearc, trench, intra-arc, and retro-arc basins. back band the brake band on a bull wheel drum of a cable-tool rig back brake the brake used on the sand-reel hoist of a cable-tool drilling rig backfill to replace soil dug from a ditch backflow fluid flow opposite the normal flow direction. Backflow is used in a well to remove or return treatment fluid from a well and to clean perforations. background the noise that is not part of the signal, such as a seismic reflection event background gas natural gas in the returning, circulating drilling mud. Background gas is the gas that is detected by mud logging when drilling through a homogeneous lithology. Background gas is in contrast to zero gas and a gas show. back-in farmout or back-in farm out a type of farmout agreement in which the grantor who has a retained nonoperating interest in the earning well

can convert it at a later date into a specified undivided working interest back-in interest a carried share in a well that converts to a regular working interest at a specific time, such as payout. The interest of a farmor in a farmout agreement or assignor (the party that turns over their interest) of a lease reverts to a specific share of the working interest for the farmor or assignor after the farmee or assignee (the party that receives the interest in the lease) has recovered specified costs, such as drilling and completion costs from production. (back-in right) back-in option an agreement between two parties with working interests in a well. If one party elects to not participate in the drilling of the well, the other party can drill the well and recover a predetermined amount of revenue from the production. The first party can then back in and share proportionally the working interest in the well. The carried party bears no costs until back in. back-in provision a farmout agreement provision in which the farmor has the option of exchanging a retained override for a portion of the working interest back-in right see back-in interest back-in unit a self-propelled workover rig that is mounted on wheels. The cab and mast are mounted on opposite ends so that it is backed up to the well. A back-in unit is in contrast to a drive-in unit. backlash the turning of the rotary table on a drilling rig after the power has been shut off. Backlash is due to the torque on the drillstring. backlimb the shortest limb on an asymmetrical fold in sedimentary rocks. The other limb is called the forelimb. back load to reload supplies from an offshore rig or platform to a supply boat back off 1) to unscrew a pipe coupling 2) to unscrew stuck pipe in a well. This is done by locating the free point. A left-handed torque is then placed on the assembly, and a string shot is used to break and remove the free section. The stuck pipe then can be pulled with a fishing operation using a washover tool. In a blind back-off, the joints are all tightened with right-handed torque under tension or overpull. Slow left-handed torque applied by the pipe tongs with the swivel disconnected is then applied with overpull. After one turn, the overpull is increased and the assembly should unscrew near the free point. If the stuck pipe cannot be fished, the well is plugged back and sidetracked. 3) to raise the drill bit a short distance off the bottom of the hole 4) to slack off on a line 5) to let drilling line out of the drawworks back-off joint a section of pipe that has conventional right-hand threads on one end and left-hand threads on the other back-off shot see string shot back-off wheel a manual wrench in the shape of a

backpressure backup wrench wheel that is used to break out a sucker-rod string when it is pulled from a well (circle wrench or wheeltype back-off wrench) backpressure 1) pressure against the face of the reservoir rock (sand face) in the wellbore. Backpressure is the pressure in a wellbore against which the fluid is flowing out of the reservoir and into the well. It is usually controlled from the surface with the use of chokes and valves and other techniques to reduce the pressure differential between the reservoir and the wellbore. This reduces the rate of flow from the reservoir to the wellbore. It also reduces the gas flow and the gas/oil ratio and will result in higher ultimate oil recovery. Backpressure is often measured in pounds per square inch absolute (psia) at the surface and added to the weight of a column of fluid in the well. 2) the pressure maintained on a system through which a fluid flows 3) the resistance of exhaust gas to flow through an engine's exhaust pipe 4) the pressure at the outlet of a pressure relief system that is due to pressure in the discharge system. B.P. or BP backpressure equation An empirical relationship between rate and flowing pressure in a normal singlephase gas well. It is Q = C (Ps2-Pu/T where Q is the flow rate in standard volumes per day, C is a coefficient, Ps is the static reservoir pressure, Puy is the stabilized flowing bottomhole pressure, and n is the reciprocal of the mathematic slope which is equal to 0.5 for turbulent flow and 1.0 for laminar flow. backpressure regulator a valve that is operated by a diaphragm to maintain a constant upstream pressure while allowing fluid flow
10,000 -

29

1000-

100

10 FLOW RATE backpressure test MMSCFD

100

backpressure test a test to measure a gas well's deliverability. The static formation pressure (Ps) when the well is shut in and the flowing bottomhole pressures (Puj) at several different flow rates are measured. Ap is plotted on log-log paper versus Q where Ap = Ps2 Pufand Q = the flow rate in MMSCF/d. Ps = static bottomhole pressure in pounds per square inch absolute (psia) and Puf = flowing bottomhole pressure in psia. A plot yields a straight line which is the well's stabilized deliverability. The test can be used to calculate a) the maximum flow rate, b) the effects of different size production strings on the flow rate, c) the effect of surface backpressure on flow and d) the flow rate at different static pressures. backpressure valve 1) a check valve that controls fluid flow rates to maintain a predetermined, constant pressure upstream from the valve. Three types of back

pressure valves are diaphragm, spring and weighted lever. The most common type uses spring tension and pressure against a plunger to maintain the pressure. 2) a check valve that is used in the drillstring to allow drilling fluids to be pumped down the well but to prevent fluids from flowing up the inside of the drillstring (drillstringfloat or drillstringfloat valve) backside pumping a method in which a prime mover pumps two wells at the same time with the upstroke of one well being balanced by the downstroke of the other well backsurge tool a downhole tool that is used to clean perforations. The backsurge tool consists of a treating packer and an atmospheric air chamber with two valves above and below the chamber. It is lowered into the well with atmospheric pressure in the chamber. The lower shock valve is opened to create the backsurge in the well. back surging a process used in wells to clear out material clogging perforations in the casing. A backsurging tool is used to create a sudden reduction in pressure in the well to atmospheric pressure. This causes a sudden flow of fluids through the perforations into the well to clean out the perforations. backswamp a swampy or marshy area on the floodplains on a river located adjacent to the river levees. The backswamp is covered with slow-moving or stagnant water during floods and is the site of fine-grained organic deposition. Occasional crevasse splays can deposit coarse sediments in this environment, (overbank) backtank see mud box back twist a turn by a wrench on the drilling line of a cable-tool rig in a direction opposite the line lay or winding. It unwinds the line that tends to twist in the direction of the lay. back up or backup 1) to hold a section of pipe as another section of pipe is either screwed on or off it 2) to hold a bolt as a nut is screwed on or off it backup corner the location on a drill floor that is given to a new hand (boll-weevil corner) backup curve a curve in a track on a well log that measures the same parameter as another curve in the same track called the primary curve. The backup curve has smaller scale and does not print until the primary curve goes off scale. backup line the wireline that suspends the tongs on a drilling rig backup man a roughneck on a drilling rig who uses backup tongs to hold the pipe as another length of pipe is being screwed into or out of it backup post the Samson post on the floor of a drilling rig to which the snub line of the backup tongs is attached backup or back-up tongs a large wrench-like device used on the floor of a drilling rig to hold the drillpipe as it is being made up or broken out of the drillstring. The backup tongs are held stationary by a chain or rope. The torque tongs are pulled by a rope or chain around a cat head. backup wrench a wrench or gripping device that holds a pipe or bolt from turning as something is screwed into or out of it

30

backwash bailout bittlee bail 1) to lower the fluid level in a well 2) to use a bailer or sand pump to remove fluids and well cuttings from the bottom of a well 3) a hanger-like device that is made of an inverted U-shaped, solid cylindrical steel bar that is suspended from the ears of a traveling block on a drilling rig. The elevators hang from the other end of the bail. It is designed to provide working distance between the traveling block and the elevators that are used to grip and lift or lower tubular goods in the well, (links) 4) the eye on a downhole tool through which the wireline loops bail down to lower the level of a liquid in a well by using a bailer bailer 1) a tool that is run on a bailing or sand line that is used to remove fluids and sediments from a well. The bailer is a long tube with holes near the top and a sealed body. The flapper-valve bailer has a hinged metal plate on the bottom that allows sediments to pass up into the bailer but closes when the bailer is raised. A dart-bottom bailer has a check valve on the bottom. The fluids enter the bailer through the ports near the top or through the check valve. A dump bailer can deposit the fluids at a specific location in the well and is used to dump cement on a bridge plug. The sand pump has a check valve on the bottom with a piston just above it that is attached to a rod that runs up the bailer. When the piston is pulled up from the bottom of the well, it acts as a plunger, sucking sand and fluid into the bailer. A hydrostatic bailer is lowered to the bottom of a well with atmospheric pressure in a chamber. On the bottom, a port is opened and fill material is swept into the tool and trapped, (bailing bucket) blr 2) see baler bailer crown-block a pulley on the crown block that is used to raise and lower the bailer bailer dart the protrusion on the bottom of a bailer that activates the valve when the bailer is lowered to the bottom of the well bailing 1) the process of using a bailer that is lowered on a bailing or sand line to remove well cuttings and fluids from the bottom of the well. Bailing is done after drilling every few feet on a cable tool rig.
BAIL 2) see baling

backwash to reverse the flow of a fluid through a filter to clean the filter bacteria unicellular microscopic organisms that have no chlorophyll and multiply by simple division. Bacteria can be classified into aerobic bacteria which use oxygen from the air or water and anaerobic bacteria which breakdown chemical compounds to obtain oxygen. They occur in three forms: spherical (cocci), rod-shaped (baccilli), and spiral (spirilla). Bacteria have existed from the Precambrian era to the present. bacterial degradation removal of lighter, shorter molecules from crude oil by bacterial action leaving heavy oil, tar, and asphalt that is usually sour. Bacteria remove the isoparaffins from crude oil first, depressing the pour point of the oil. Most heavy oil is bacterially degraded oil. bactericide a chemical or agent that will kill both pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria but may not kill bacterial spores. Bactericides used in drilling mud are lime, starch, sodium hydroxide, and paraformaldehyde. (biocide) bacteriostat a chemical or agent that prevents bacterial growth BACW barrels of acid water bad-faith trespasser an operator who drills and produces petroleum from land on which he does not have legal title bad oil 1) oil that has too high a basic sediment and water (BS&W) content to be accepted by a pipeline 2) an emulsion or mixture of oil and water (cut oil) BAF barrels per acre-foot baffle plates that are used in a separator to redirect the fluid flow direction, decrease the fluid velocity, and aid in separating the gas, oil, and water baffle collar a small length of steel pipe with a constricted orifice on the inside. A baffle collar is used to connect two joints of casing during a cement job. The wiper plug seats on the baffle collar when it is pumped down the pipe. The baffle collar orifice does not have a valve, in contrast to float, differential, or automatic fill-up collars. baffle plate a board across a fluid stream that is used to slow the velocity, change the flow direction, and to promote the mixing or separation of fluids bafflestone a limestone rock composed of stalkshaped organisms such as bryozoans or coralline algae that acted as baffles for water flow when the rock was deposited bag preventer a closing device at the top of the well above the ram preventers on a blowout preventer stack that will close the well with either a kelly, pipe, wireline in the well, or with an open wellbore. The bag preventer uses a reinforced oval-shaped elastomer or hard-rubber packing element that is squeezed with a piston activated by hydraulic pressure from accumulators to close the well. The closing pressure on the rubber seal can be eased to allow drillpipe to be removed in a process called stripping. The bag preventer has a lower pressure rating than the pipe rams and a higher risk of failure under high pressure. (annular, sleeve or spherical blowout preventer) BAIL bailing

bailing bucket see bailer bailing drum 1) the reel on a cable-tool rig around which the bailing line is wound 2) see baling drum bailing line the cable that is used to lower a bailer to the bottom of a cable-tool-rig well during bailing. The line is wound around a bailing drum, goes up to sheave at the top of the derrick, and down into the well where it is connected to the bailer, (sand line) bailing tub a tank that is used to recover the produced fluids brought up a well by a bailer bail out to clean out bailout zone a potential producing formation in a well being drilled that is higher than the target to which the well is being drilled. If the target is unproductive, the well can be completed in the bailout zone which does not have the potential production of the target. bailout bottle a container of emergency breathing gas that is carried by a diver in case the umbilical hose breaks

bajada balled or balled-up bit bajada see debris apron Bajocian a global age of geological time that occurred from about 175-170 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Jurassic epoch. balanced a condition during production from a gas well in which the cumulative gas take of each party is equal to the amount that each party is entitled to under an operating agreement. Balanced is in contrast to inbalanced. balanced drilling drilling with the hydrostatic head generated by the drilling mud in the well equal to the formation pressure. Balanced drilling is in contrast to overbalanced and underbalanced drilling. balanced-column cementing a method used to deliver a batch of cement into a well by lowering a drillstring filled with cement slurry into the well filled with drilling mud. A valve is then opened on the drillstring and the cement slurry, being heavier than the drilling mild, flows out of the drillstring and into the well. balanced cross section a cross section that reverses the geological history. The balanced cross section assumes an original, finite volume of flat sedimentary rock beds before deformation. The present bed volumes are measured and the assumption is made that no volumes have been gained or lost from the cross section. The beds are then diagrammatically restored to their original thickness and orientation to test the structural history of the area. A balanced cross section is one that can be restored to represent an undeformed condition, assuming no materials have been moved in or out of the area represented by the cross section and the cross section displays admissible structures. balanced-plug method a method for plugging back a well with cement using only drillpipe. A preflush followed by a cement slurry and spacer fluid is pumped down the drillstring. When the height of the cement column inside the drillpipe and the annulus reach the same level, the drillpipe is slowly pulled out of the well to leave a balanced plug. The top of the plug can be adjusted to a certain height by reverse circulation. balanced turn a section of a deviated well in which the hole is turned in equal amounts to the right and left balancing the adjustment of production from a well, lease, or reservoir so that each party that has an interest in the production gets their proportionate share. Balancing can be done by transferring either cash or petroleum. bald-headed anticline or structure an anticline which is barren of production on the crest of the anticline due to the removal of reservoir rocks by erosion. Production comes from the flanks of the structure, (scalped structure) bald-headed derrick a derrick on a drilling rig without a platform or attic at the top baler a long cylinder made of light steel iron that is up to 50 ft long and over 1 ft in diameter with a valve on the lower end. Balers were used to raise oil to the surface in some early oil wells. Jointed balers were used in crooked wells, (bailer) baling an old method used to raise oil to the surface

31

bald-headed anticline

from a well. A baler was lowered from a baling drum into the well on a rope constructed of fine steel wire. The oil and baler were then raised to the surface and the oil was emptied into a baling tub. The baling tub was a wooden tank about 6 ft in diameter and height. From the baling tub, the oil flowed to the settling tanks, (bailing) baling drum a light reel up to 18 in. in diameter that was attached to a derrick and driven by a belt from a motor. It was used to raise and lower a baler on a rope made of fine steel wire into a well to bring the oil to the surface, (bailing drum) ball the link that connects the hook and swivel on a drilling rig. The ball supports the weight of the hook and drillstring below it while allowing them to turn. ball-and-seat valve a type of valve that uses a polished metal sphere and an orifice to allow fluid flow in only one direction. Ball-and-seat valves are used in sucker-rod pumps. ballast the weight used by ships and offshore drilling rigs near the bottom of their hulls to make them seaworthy and keep them upright. The ballast can be steel, but is often seawater on an offshore rig. Computers can be used to adjust the seawater ballast in tanks on an offshore rig to compensate for sea conditions and to sink or raise a semisubmersible to a certain level above sea level. The seawater ballast can also be used to sink the rig into position on the seafloor and to raise it back to the surface. On a gravity structure, it keeps the offshore platform in position. ballasted condition the condition on an offshore drilling rig when ballast is in position ballast tank a container for water ballast located in the pontoon or caisson of a semisubmersible drilling rig. Water ballast is used for stability and to raise and lower the semisubmersible in the water. (buoyancy chamber) ball bearing a hardened-steel ball that is used to convert sliding friction into rolling friction. Ball bearings often rotate in a ball race. ball cock a hollow, floating ball that is connected to and opens and closes a valve. A ball cock is used to control the fluid level in a container. balled or balled-up bit a drilling bit that has collected a mass of sticky well cuttings on its face, causing the bit to lose drilling effectiveness. BU bit

32

balling the bit barefoot completion

balling the bit the coating of the bit face with soft sediments. Balling the bit often occurs when using a hard-formation bit with short teeth on a soft formation. It can also occur when drilling through soft, sticky formations called gumbo during inadequate drillingfluid circulation or when using excessive bit weight. The bit becomes hard to rotate, (bit balling or ball up) ballistic prover an instrument used to test and calibrate liquid flowmeters. A ballistic prover is similar to a mechanical displacement prover but uses a smaller volume of liquid and compares flow rates rather than fluid volume. The flow from the main line is diverted through the prover that contains a sphere or piston displacer. Line pressure forces the displacer through the prover. ball joint a connection between two pieces of equipment that can rotate due to a ball and socket joint (flex joint) ballooning the outward bulging of tubulars in a well due to internal pressure. Reverse ballooning occurs when the tubular is bent inward rather than outward in normal ballooning. ball pump a type of gas lift system in which synthetic rubber balls are injected into the lower end of the production tubing string to separate the liquid and gas phases ball race the track in which ball bearings turn ball sealers hard, rubber-covered balls of nylon, aluminum, or plastic that are used to close perforations in a well. The ball sealer is at least lA in. larger in diameter than the perforation. ball up see balling the bit ball valve a valve that opens with a quarter turn by rotating a ball with a hole in it that is located in a spherical container. The ball is usually made of chrome steel but can be made of stainless steel for a corrosive environment. The ball seats are made of plastic or nylon and can be stainless steel for high temperatures and corrosive environments. A ball valve is used to regulate and shut off the flow of fluids in a pipe. (globe valve) band a specific range of frequencies or wavelengths. An example of a band is visible light. band brake a mechanical device that is used to slow or stop a wheel or axle with either an external contracting band or an internal expanding band lined with heat- and friction-resistant material. Friction of the band against a drum causes the breaking. band clutch a mechanical coupling device that allows a rotating part to gradually connect and disconnect with a driven part by using either an internal contracting band or an internal expanding band lined with heat- and friction-resistant material band pass the range of frequencies that can pass through an instrument or system with little or no attenuation band-reject filter a filter that attenuates a specific range of frequencies band strapping the use of metal bands to attach plastic or metal sheets to cylindrical structures band wheel a large, vertical, wooden wheel, 9-11 ft in diameter, on a cable-tool rig. It is used to transmit

band wheel

band wheel (off cable tool drilling rig chart)

power from the engine to the walking beam. The band wheel is attached to the engine by a belt and to the walking beam by the pitman which is attached to the band-wheel crank. bandwidth the specific range of frequencies within which an instrument is designed to operate bank 1) long ridge or mound of sediments formed by currents or waves 2) a concentration of fluid such as oil (oil bank) that moves cohesively through a reservoir BAR barrels of acid residue bar 1) barite 2) barrel bar 1) a general term for a long ridge of sand formed by waves or currents and oriented roughly parallel to the shoreline 2) a unit of pressure that is 105N/m2, 106dyne/cm2 or about 1 atm (14.5 psi). The System International (SI) unit of pressure is the pascal, equal to 10~5 bar. 3) to move or turn something by using a bar for a lever

barchan

harchan dune a type of sand dune deposited by the wind in a desert environment. A barchan has a crescent shape with the horns and slip face both facing downwind. barefoot charter a type of contract between an operator and an offshore drilling contractor. The party agrees to maintain and operate the offshore rig with their own personnel, without any help from the drilling contractor. barefoot completion a type of well completion in which the well is drilled to the top of the producing

bar finger sand Bartonian formation and casing is cemented. The producing formation is then drilled. A barefoot completion is used primarily with hard producing formations such as sandstones, limestones, and dolomites. In relatively unconsolidated producing sands, there is a sand control problem, and an openhole gravel pack is often used, (openbole completion)

33

bar finger sand

bar finger sand a long, narrow sand body deposited as a distributary mouth bar on a prograding, constructive delta. A bar finger sand is generally oriented perpendicular to the shoreline. barge a shallow-draft vessel with a flat deck that is usually towed. Barge types include drilling, workover, derrick, lay, bury, ramp, tow, jackup, flotation, and crane barges. barge captain the person in charge of a floating drilling unit, such as a semisubmersible and its crew barge engineer the person in charge of the equipment on a floating drilling unit such as a semisubmersible barge job a drilling or workover rig mounted on a barge bargemaster the legal master of a floating drilling rig. The bargemaster is in charge of the marine department on the rig and is responsible for the crew, the stability and ballasting of the vessel, and supervision of the loading and backloading. On a British rig, the bargemaster can be the Offshore Installation Manager. barite a mineral composed of BaSO4 that occurs as white, grayish, greenish, and reddish ores and crystalline masses. Barite is chemically inert, nonabrasive, and is used as a weighting material in cement slurries and drilling mud. It has a specific gravity of 4-4.6. (baryte or heavy spar) bar barite plug a slurry that is composed of barite, a phosphate thinner, and water. A barite plug is used to control an underground blowout in which a well is kicking and losing circulation at the same time. barium sulfate a type of scale composed of BaSO4 (barite) that forms in tubular production equipment and is hard to remove. It is also the mineral barite. barker a device on the exhaust pipe of an engine that makes noise so that the pumper can tell from a distance if the engine is running barn a unit of area used for capture cross section equal to 10~24 cm2 Barnaby a downhole scintillometer that measures radioactivity and records it on the surface barnburner a super well baroid barite and Aquagel that is used to condition drilling mud for coring operations

barometric pressure the pressure exerted by the weight of the column of air in the atmosphere. Barometric pressure is 14.6959 psi, 1.01325 bar, 33.90 ft of fresh water, or 760 mm of mercury at sea level and decreases with altitude, (atmospheric pressure) barred basin a basin with a sill at the entrance that restricts water flow into the basin. The sill can be formed by a reef or tectonic block. Only shallow waters can flow over the sill. The waters in a barred basin are often restricted and stratified. barrel 1) a common measure of crude oil containing 42 U. S. gal, 34.97 Imperial gal, 15,915.615 ft3 or 0.15899 m3. A metric ton contains about 7.33 bbl, depending on the "API of the oil. A barrel of average crude oil weighs 0.14 tonnes (metric tons), whereas a barrel of average light oil weighs 0.13 tonnes, and average heavy oil weighs 0.15 tonnes. One barrel of oil contains about 5.60 million BTUs of heat and weighs about 306 lbs. The BTU content of one barrel of oil is the equivalent of about 6,040 ft3of natural gas. Bbl, bbl, bar, brl or B 2) the body of a wire rope drum 3) a measure of cement slurry volume that is equal to 42 gal 4) the cylindrical part of a downhole sucker-rod pump in which the piston moves up and down barrel compressor a centrifugal compressor in a barrel-shaped housing barrel equivalent a unit used in the laboratory to test drilling fluids. One gram of material mixed with 350 ml of fluid is equivalent to 1 lb of material mixed with 1 bbl of fluid. barrel royalty a payment equal to a specific percentage plus a revenue equivalent up to a specific number of barrels of oil barrel wrench a hand wrench that is used to screw or unscrew pump valve seats in the working barrel of a downhole pump (seat wrench) Barremian a global age of geological time that occurred about 125-115 m, y. ago. It is part of the Lower Cretaceous epoch. barrier beach or island a long, narrow, partially subaerial, shoreline sand body not attached to the land on either end and separated from the mainland by a lagoon barrier effect the use of an acid-in-oil emulsion to retard the reaction time of an acid used in acidizing. The oil forms a film on the rock surface to limit acid contact. The oil must be at least 20% of the emulsion. barrier reef a relatively large, long, narrow reef that is oriented parallel to the shoreline. The barrier reef is separated from the shoreline by a wide and deep lagoon.
miles

bar scale a graphic scale in the shape of a long, graduated rectangle that is used to show horizontal distances on a map Bartonian a global age of geological time that occurred about 45-41 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Eocene epoch.

34

baryte basin surface below which there is no current exploration.


base, bsmt, BM, Btn, or BSMT

baryte see barite Bas or bas basalt basal conglomerate a coarse-grained soil zone located on an unconformity. Weathered rocks in the basal conglomerate are derived primarily from erosion of the underlying rock. basalt a common volcanic or lava rock. Basalt is very fine-grained (aphanitic), dense, and dark to mediumgray in color. Basalt contains ferromagnesium minerals, plagioclase, and feldspars, but no quartz and has a matrix density of 2.82 gm/cc. Gas bubbles are often trapped in the basalt. Bas, bas or BASLT basal tar mat a reservoir bitumen composed of heavy oil and asphaltic tar layer at the oil/water interface of a reservoir. The basal tar mat is caused by water washing and bacterial degradation of the oil or by de-asphalting. base basement base a chemical that reacts with an acid to form a salt. Bases occur from above 7 to 14 on the pH scale. Examples of bases include lime and caustic soda. base abstract a complete title opinion that covers from sovereignty to a specific time base allowable the amount of petroleum production permitted by a governmental regulatory agency without a penalty factor BASEC British Approval Service for Electric Cables BASEEFA British Approval Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres base eighth the Vs royalty that goes to the lessor (mineral rights owner) for leasing the land base exchange the replacement of one type of cation such as sodium on the surface of a clay mineral with another cation such as calcium, see ion exchange base line 1) a surveyed line of accurately determined length and position. It extends out from a control point to another point. Angles between the ends of the base line and other points are then measured to accurately locate the points 2) an accurately surveyed east-west line used in United States and Canada land divisions. The base line is the line from which township boundaries are initiated. The principal meridian is the north-south line. baseline an arbitrary line that marks the inner boundary of a country's continental shelf. Baseline is often the low-water mark. base load the lowest load level during a daily or annual cycle base load liquefaction plant an installation that uses compression and supercold (260F) to continuously make liquified natural gas, primarily for overseas transport. The plant makes extensive use of heat exchangers and compressors. base map a map that shows the accurate location of data points such as wells or seismic shot points along with geographic or survey references. A base map is often made of transparent material such as film and is a map from which other maps are prepared. basement or basement rocks undifferentiated rocks such as igneous and/or metamorphic rocks that are unproductive and are located below the sediment cover of earth's surface. The basement can be the

base metal a common, chemically active metal such as lead or copper. A base metal occurs at the lower end of the electrochemical series. base-mounted reciprocating compressor a compressor that uses pistons to compress air and is mounted on a base rather than a tank base of weathering the boundary during seismic exploration between the surface low-velocity layer or weathering and the underlying higher velocity layer base pressure the pressure at which gas volumes are calculated or a standard volume of gas exists. Base pressure is usually at or near atmospheric pressure (14.7 psi) and is defined by law or contract. base price the crude oil price used for the computation of windfall profits tax. Base price is adjusted for oil grade, quality, and location. Tier 2 oil had a national average of $1520 per bbl. Tier 3 oil had a national average of $16.55 per bbl. The price for Tier 1 oil was based on the price at which upper tier oil from properties that first began production after 1972 would have been sold for in May 1979. It averaged $12.81/bbl. The adjusted base price was adjusted quarterly for inflation. base royalty the payments made by a lessor (mineral rights owner) on production revenue from a lease. A base royalty is free of the cost of production. base sediment and water see basic sediment and water. base square the distance between the neutral axis of adjacent derrick legs on a drilling rig. Base square is measured along the derrick floor from inside the derrick legs at a distance of one-fourth the leg angle width. Bashkirian a global age of geological time that started about 330 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Carboniferous epoch. basicity the relative strength of a liquid with a pH above 7. Basicity is a measure of the liquid's ability to neutralize an acid. basic sediment solid impurities contained in oil produced from an oil well. Basic sediments are usually removed by settling to the bottom of the lease tank before the oil is sold. basic sediment and water solid impurities and salt water that are mixed with crude oil. Most of the salt water is removed in a separator, and the sediments are removed by settling to the bottom of the lease tank after the crude oil is produced from a well. The pumper or gauger measures the remaining basic sediment and water content of the oil before it is taken from the lease tanks. It is measured by volume on a centrifuged sample of the oil. The maximum acceptable amounts vary from less than 5% to a small fraction of 1%, but are usually less than 1% in most areas, {base sediment and water or bottom settlings and water) basic size the nominal standard basic sludge basic sediment basin a general term for any large area of tectonic origin with a thick accumulation of sedimentary rocks.

basin-floor fan BASIN (10-50,000')

BCPMM

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of natural gas is a batch process. A batch process is in contrast to a continuous process. batch treatment the injection of chemical corrosion inhibitors at regular intervals into a production system bathayal the ocean environment located between 100-500 fath water depth batholith a large, irregular, subsurface intrusion of igneous rocks such as granite or granodiorite Bathonian a global age of geological time that occurred about 170-165 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Jurassic epoch. bathymetric map a map that shows the depths of the seafloor, usually with contours batter the outward slope on the legs of an offshore platform jacket. The slope gives the base of the jacket a greater area than the deck and makes the platform more stable. battery 1) any installation of identical pieces of equipment such as a tank or separator battery 2) a device composed of cells that is used to produce and store electrical energy by chemical action bat or bty baud a measure of the ability of a channel to transmit information. A baud is equal to 1 bit/sec. Baume gravity or scale a European scale of fluid density in which Baume gravity is equal to (140' + the specific gravity or density of a fluid at 60F) - 130. It was read off a Baum6 hydrometer, a glass column with graduations from 10 to 1,000, in crude oil at 60F, or was corrected to that temperature. The scale was named after Antione Baum6, a French chemist. Baume gravity is also used to describe the density of acid solutions. Baume gravity has now been superceded by API. Be BAW barrels of acid water bay the space between girts on the legs of a derrick. The bays on a drilling rig derrick have a vertical height of 7 ft. (panel) BAYW bay water BB bridged back

basin

A basin is a geological structure with a unique sequence of rocks that are dissimilar to those outside the basin. Because of the thick sedimentary rocks which range up to 50,000 ft thick, these areas tend to have significant petroleum accumulations. There are approximately 600 sedimentary rock basins in the world, (sedimentary basin) basin-floor fan a submarine fan deposited on the lower slope or basin floor of a basin. A basin-floor fan is part of a lowstand system tract that is defined by seismic or sequence stratigraphy. basket 1) a junk basket or basket sub fishing tool 2) a platform or cage that is suspended from a crane and is used to lift or lower personnel and supplies between a supply boat and an offshore platform 3) a cementing basket 4) the shale shaker receptical that holds the deck with screens mounted on it basket bit a drill bit with a basket located above the bit to catch samples basket sub a short section of pipe that is run just above a bit or mill on a drillstring and is designed to catch large junk fragments in an outer bowl. Eddy currents in the circulating drilling mud cause the fragments to fall into the bowl. Basket subs are always run with mills and whenever metal or cement is drilled. As many as three basket subs can be run on a string. A basket sub is in contrast to a junk basket that uses reverse circulation and catches the fish on the inside of the tool, (boot basket or sub or junk sub) BASLT basalt bastard a piece of equipment that is not standard. A bastard has an irregular shape or size. BAT before acid treatment bat battery batch 1) a specific quantity of material that is made or used in one operation during a process 2) a measure of the amount of crude oil in a pipeline batch cementing a cement job on a well in which the cement is injected in several batches or quantities rather than continuously batch mixer a mechanical blender that is used to mix cement. A quantity of dry cement and water is mixed in a tank with blades and the rotation of the tank. Two types include pneumatic and ribbon blenders. The batch mixer is in contrast to a jet mixer. batch process a chemical procedure in which the substance to be treated is put through the process in specific quantities after which the reactant is discarded or regenerated. Iron sponge sweetening

Bbl or bbl barrel


Bbls/acre-foot barrels per acre-foot bbl/d barrels per day bbl/MMscf barrels per million standard cubic feet of gas BBRKW barrels of brackish water BC 1) barrels of condensate 2) bottom choke Be bearden unit of consistency BCD barrels per calendar day BCF, Bcf, or bef billion cubic feet BCFD, BCF/D, or Bctfd billion cubic feet per day BCK bottom choke bem 1) become 2) becoming BCMCF barrels of condensate per thousand cubic feet BCOND barrels of condensate BCPD barrels of condensate per day BCPH barrels of condensate per hour BCPMM barrels of condensate per million cubic feet

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BCS beam pumping unit beam head the end of the walking beam on a pumping well where the sucker rods are attached beam pumper beam pumping unit beam pumping unit artificial lift equipment that uses a walking beam to raise and lower a suckerrod string in the well to activate a reciprocating pistonplunger pump to lift the oil. The five major parts of the beam pumping unit the are a) structural members, b) bearings, c) counterbalance, d) gear or speed reducer, and e) prime mover. The walking beam pivots up and down on a center bearing supported by the Samson post to provide a reciprocating action with

BCS borehole compensated sonic BD 1) barrels of distillate 2) bedded 3) building derrick Bd or bd 1) bed 2) bedding B.D. barrels daily B/D or b/d barrels per day BDA breakdown acid BDC bottom dead center Bdeye bird's eye BDF below derrick floor Bdg bedding BDIAM bit diameter BDO barrels of diesel oil BDP breakdown pressure BDPD barrels of distillate per day BDPH barrels of distillate per hour BDPPD barrels per day per pound of pressure drop B/dry bailed dry Bdst boundstone BDT blowdown test Be Baume beach price the price of offshore crude oil on land after it has been treated offshore bead the molten metal formed by welding beaker sampler a metal or glass bottle that is lowered into a tank to take an oil sample beam 1) the maximum width of a ship's hull or offshore drilling rig (breadth) 2) A walking beam on a sucker-rod pumper or cable-tool rig 3) a focused pulse of energy

crank counterbalanced

air balance

beam-balanced pumping unit

beam-balanced pumper, pumpjack, or pumping unit a pumping unit that uses the walking beam to balance the weight of the sucker-rod string. Heavy iron plates (counterweights or beam counterbalance) are located on the opposite side of the walking beam from the sucker rods. The location of the weights on the beam is adjustable. The beam balanced pumper is used primarily on shallow wells and is in contrast to a crank- or air-balanced pumper. beam counterbalance the weights on a walking beam on a beam pumping unit. Their positions are adjustable on the opposite side of the walking beam from the sucker rods. The counterbalance is used to offset the weight of the sucker-rod string. (counterweights)

Mark II beam pumping units (crank and air balanced and Mark II)

beam well bellows-type gas or orifice meter a stroke from 12 to over 240 in. for the downhole pump. The walking beam is connected to the gear reducer and prime mover with the two pitmen and an equalizer. The prime mover is either an electric or internal combustion motor. The sucker-rod string and polished rod are attached to the horsehead end of the walking beam with a bridal and carrier bar. Three common types of beam pumping units include crank counterbalanced, beam balanced, and air balance. A Class I lever pumping system has the speed reducer rear mounted and the fulcrum at midbeam. A Class III lever pumping system has the speed reducer front mounted and the fulcrum at the rear of the beam. The air balance and Lufkin Mark II are this type. A beam-balanced pumping unit uses adjustable weights on the walking bean to balance the load and is used for shallow wells. The pumping unit weights between 2,000-6,000 lbs. Beam pumping units are classified by the American Petroleum Institute by gear reducer torque capacity, unit structural capacity, and maximum stroke length, (walking or rocking beam pump unit) beam well an oil well with a walking beam on the pumping unit bean a constriction in a line (usually '/64-1 in. diameter) used to restrict and control the rate of flow during a test or during production. Beans can be fixed or adjustable. Adjustable beans use a needle, sleeve, or cone-shaped stem with a seat to change the size of the orifice. A positive or fixed bean has a specific diameter. Some types of beans include bottomhole, surface, and storm chokes. Production of oil or gas is often reported in barrels or cubic feet on a certain sized bean, (choke, flow-plug, or flow nipple) BN bean a well back, down to or up to regulate the flow from a well with a choke bear cat a well with a high flow rate bear gun a tool used to fracture a reservoir in a well. The bear gun fires a IV2 in. diameter projectile downward through the tool barrel where it is deflected horizontally to fracture the formation. beating 1) the horizontal direction of a point measured clockwise from another point. If it is measured from true or magnetic north, it is called the azimuth 2) a surface or point that is used for support 3) a part on which another part travels or turns, such as a ball bearing or roller. Types of bearings include outboard, saddle, and stirrup. The bearings that travel about the journal on the leg of the rollercone bit, allowing the cone to rotate, are either antifriction or friction bearings. They are also classified as sealed and nonsealed. bearing cap the fitting around a bearing that holds it in place bearing raceway the surface of the bearing ring that is in contact with the balls or rollers bearing ring the rotating or stationary ring that contains the balls or rollers that travel or turn on the bearing surface in the ring beat the wells checked by a pumper Beaufort scale a scale based on numbers from 0 to 17 that indicates the wind speed and seastate on the ocean. Higher numbers represent higher wind speeds and seastates.

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becquerel a derived unit in Systems International (SI) for activity of radionuclides. Bq BED bedding bed a layer of rocks. A bed has relatively well-defined top and bottom boundaries and is either relatively uniform in lithology, uniformly graded, or is composed of similar, smaller units. A bed is a stratigraphic subdivision of a member of a formation. (stratum or layer) 2) The mounting skid or frame and supports on a shale shaker bedding or bedding plane the surface that separates two sedimentary rock layers. A bedding plane is caused by an interruption during sedimentation or erosion after sedimentation. Bedding planes occur on the top and bottom of beds. BED bed form a deviation from a flat surface caused by a fluid flow over loose sediments. Bed forms include ripples and dunes. bed load the coarser sediments that are transported by rolling or bouncing along a sediment/water interface such as a stream bed by a current of water (traction load) bedrock the relatively solid rock that underlies soil or unconsolidated sediments bedsheet cross section a very large cross section or vertical slice of the subsurface behind the pipe crude oil or natural gas that is located in a reservoir(s) that has been cased in a well. The well produces or has produced from another reservoir. belching intermittent flow on a well, (burping) B electrode the current-return electrode in a resistivity sonde belemnoids a type of extinct cephalopod that existed from the Mississippian to Eocene epoch. Belemniods had an internal skeleton that resembled a cigar and are guide fossils. Belm belling tool a type of underreamer that is used to enlarge the wellbore at the level of the producing zone. A belling tool has expandable cutting arms that are used to cut a bell-shaped cavity just below the production string of tubing or casing on the bottom of the well. bell nipple a device with an expanded or belled top that is used to fit the above-ground casinghead fittings to the casing. The bell nipple is threaded on one end to screw onto the casing. A bell nipple is used above the blowout preventer or marine riser on a well to guide drill tools down into the well. It has a mud return line to direct circulation drilling mud coming up the well to the shale shakers and a fill-up connection. bellows the pressure-sensitive element of a gas lift valve. The bellows stretches and compresses similar to a diaphragm to allow a ball to move on and off a seat. bellows-type gas or orifice meter a common type of gas production meter that uses two bellows to measure the pressure differential across an orifice. The brass bellows expand and contract with the pressure and drive a differential pen. A static pen is driven by a Bourdon tube, and the chart is driven by a clock.

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bell prover benzene bent joint a joint of drillpipe, drill collar, or tubing with a bend in it. The standard range of offset angles varies between 0 and 3 with lA increments. A bent joint is used in fishing operations. bentonite a clay mineral of the smectite group that has a formula of [(Al,M, Fe+f Fe+022, Mgo.19) (Si3s, Alo.i)Oio(OH)2r031[Na031]+6^, Bentonite forms a gel when mixed with fresh water and is used to make common drilling mud. A high clay yield can be obtained by using only 7%-9% bentonite with water and other minerals. Bentonite is best used in muds containing less than 10,000 ppm sodium chloride. Wyoming bentonite is almost pure montmorillonite. It is formed naturally by the weathering of volcanic ash layers. Bentonite layers in rock often are used for correlation and make good time lines. Bentonite has become a broad term by usage, (gel) BENT, Bent, or bent bentonite cement a slurry formed by adding dry cement to water with prehydrated bentonite. It is used as a lost circulation material. bent sub a small length of drillpipe that is used to kick off a deviated well. A bent sub is run between the downhole mud or turbine motor and the lowest drill collar. One of the connecting threads is machined with an angle to the axis of the sub. This gives the sub a V-i-lV-i bend. A Vi" bent sub will give an angle change of 2-3/100 ft and a 2 bent sub will give 6-87lOO ft. The bent sub can have a muleshoe orientating sleeve and key to determine the actual orientation of the bottomhole assembly in the well. A bent sub can also be used as part of a fishing string to give the right approach angle to the fish for the fishing tool, (crooked, offset or angle sub)

bell prover a type of flowmeter prover in which a bell is lowered into a tank filled with fluid. The bell forces a known amount of fluid through the meter. The true flow volume can then be compared to the measured flow volume. belly band or buster a safety belt that is attached to a secured safety line. A belly buster is worn by a member of the crew working in a high or dangerous location on a drilling rig. Belm belemnoids belt a flexible band that transmits power or motion between two wheels or pulleys belt detector an electronic unit that is attached to the belt of a drilling crew member and is used to detect hydrogen sulfide. The sensor head is powered by rechargeable or replaceable batteries and can sound a preset alarm. belt-drive pumping unit a pumping unit on an oil well that uses a belt between two different diameter wheels instead of a gear box to reduce speed and transmit the power from the prime mover to the pump belt hall or house the wood shed on a cable-tool rig that protects the belt that runs through it from the engine to the band wheel belt or belt-line theory an old concept that the best well location is between two producing wells bench mark a permanent elevation reference mark usually set in concrete or on an iron stake. The bench mark used in topographic surveys is a 3-75 in. aluminum or bronze alloy disc set in concrete or bedrock by a government agency. Elevation and identification are embossed and stamped on the disc. BM benchmark crude the crude oil that is used to set the price standard against which other crude oils are compared and their prices set. For OPEC, it is Saudi Arabian light crude. In the United States, it is West Texas intermediate, and in England it is North Sea Brent, (marker or reference crude) bend a pipe with at least one curve radius that is less than that of an elbow. A 45 bend is called a V turn. A 90 bend is a V4 turn. A 180 bend is a Vi turn. A slight bend is called a spring. bending forces forces that act perpendicular to the layering in sedimentary rock bendover price the dollars per barrel that a refinery will pay for a condensate of certain API. Bendover is less than average crude oil posted price. beneficial interest the ownership of an interest by contract, assignment, or trust. Beneficial interest is in contrast to ownership by record or legal outright ownership and control. BENT, Bent, or bent bentonite BENTC betonitic benthic the ocean bottom environment benthos organisms that live on the ocean bottom bent housing the support for a positivedisplacement, downhole mud motor that is used to drill directional wells. A bent housing has a manufactured bend of l-3.

H I C

C I H
benzene

benzene 1) a type of hydrocarbon molecule found in all crude oils except those that have been weathered. Benzene is formed by an unsaturated, closed ring. The principle benzene hydrocarbons are the BTX group (benzene, toluene and xylene), cumene, styrene, and ethylbenzene. Crude oils rich in this type of molecule have a sweet, fruity smell. The original definition of aromatic implied fragrant compounds. Simple benzene compounds in crude oil cause fluorescence of the oil. The general formula is Cn H2n_6. An example is benzene (C6H6). (arene or aromatic) 2) a volatile, inflammable liquid (C6H6) refined from crude oil 3) the term once meant gasoline or petrol

Berriansian bimetallic cell


Berriansian a global age of geological time that occurred about 140-135 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Cretaceous epoch. best efforts gas natural gas bought on the spot market (self-help, interruptible, direct purchase and spot gas) p 1) thermal cubic expansion coefficient 2) relative bearing 3) wave propagation direction 4) beta particle 5) beta ratio beta particle 1) an electron that travels at the speed of light and is emitted during radioactive decay such as thorium 234. A beta particle has very small mass and a negative charge. 2) a positron. Beta particle is the preferred term. )8 beta ratio the ratio of the diameter of an orifice on an orifice plate to the internal line diameter that is being tested. /3 bev beveled bevel gear one of two wheels that engage with teeth on their working surfaces. The working surface is not parallel to the axes of the gear. BF 1) barrels of fluid 2) buoyant factor bf buff BFIT before federal income tax BFL barrels of fluid BFMW barrels of formation water BFO barrels of frac oil BFPD barrels of fluid per day BFPH barrels of fluid per hour BFW barrels of formation water BFWTR barrels of fresh water Bg gas formation volume factor BGC barrels of gas condensate BGI broken gauge insert Bgp gas formation volume factor at bubblepoint BGT borehole geometry tool BH or bh bottom hole B/H barrels per hour BHA bottomhole assembly BHC 1) borehole compensated 2) bottomhole contribution 3) bottomhole choke BHC ALC acoustilog, caliper log BHC ALC GR acoustilog, caliper, gamma ray log BHC ALC GRN acoustilog, caliper, gamma ray, neutron log BHC ALC N acoustilog, caliper, neutron log BHC AL GRN TC acoustilog, caliper, gamma ray, neutron through the casing log BHC AL GR TC acoustilog, caliper, gamma ray through the casing log BHC AL TC acoustilog, caliper through the casing log BHCK bottomhole choke BHCP 1) bottomhole circulating pressure 2) bottomhole closure pressure BHCS borehole-compensated sonic log

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BHC-GR borehole-compensated sonic, gamma ray log BHC-VD borehole-compensated sonic, variable density log BHFP bottomhole flowing pressure BHFT bottomhole flowing temperature BHG or BHGM borehole gravity meter or gravimeter BHHP bit hydraulic horsepower BHL 1) bottomhole locater 2) bottomhole location BHM bottomhole money BHO sub bottomhole orientation sub BHP bottomhole pressure BHP, B.H.P. or bhp brake horsepower BHPC bottomhole pressure closed BHPF bottomhole pressure flowing BHPS 1) bottomhole pressure survey 2) bottomhole pressure static BHPSB bottomhole pressure survey buildup BHPSD bottomhole pressure survey drawdown BHPSI bottomhole pressure shut-in BHPSS bottomhole pressure survey static B/hr barrels per hour BHSIP bottomhole shut-in pressure BHST bottomhole static temperature BHT bottomhole temperature. BHTP bottomhole treating pressure BHTV borehole televiewer Bi biotite BIA Bureau of Indian Affairs bias a systematic distortion of the data in contrast to random error bi-directional meter a meter that measures fluid flow in both directions bicarb boduim bicarbonate bicone bit a roller-cone type of drilling bit that has two cones mounted on bearings. The bicone bit was the original rolling cutter bit introduced in 1909. A bicone rock bit is used in drilling soft formations that a drag bit could not drill and is made only with milled teeth. The original cones did not mesh, and there was a problem with bit balling during drilling soft shales. The bicone bit was redesigned in the 1920s to have intermeshing teeth that were self-cleaning. A bicone bit is in contrast to the more common tricone drilling bit. (two-cone bit) big-eyed bit a rotary drill bit with one large jet nozzle that uses the hydraulic action of drilling mud to deflect the well big hole a well that uses greater than 10-in. diameter casing Big Joe a type of pressure reduction valve billet a solid steel cylinder that is used as a form to manufacture seamless casing bimetallic cell a type of corrosion cell that uses two dissimilar metals. The metals are connected electronically with metal and with a liquid that is corrosive to at least one of the metals.

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bimetallic thermometer biostratigraphic in the world with 285 Tcf of recoverable biogenic gas. Natural gas can also be theimogenic gas. (marsh or swamp gas) biogenic theory the generally accepted theory that crude oil and natural gas form from the maturation of organic matter (biotic theory) Bioh or bioh bioherm bioherm a mound or lens-shaped deposit formed by the remains of organisms such as corals or shells that grew in that location. Bioh or bioh

bimetallic thermometer a temperature sensing device that uses the difference in thermal expansion between two dissimilar metals. The strips of metal, commonly iron-nickel alloys, are bound together in a spiral or single helical pattern with one end fixed. The other end has a pointer that moves on a scale. bindstone a limestone with tabular or lamellar fossils of encrusting or binding organisms such as algae that are supported by a matrix Bingham plastic fluid a non-Newtonian fluid that will not flow until a pressure or shear stress equal to the yield point has been applied. After the yield point has been reached, the stress and deformation is linear with a constant plastic viscosity. Drilling mud is a Bingham plastic fluid and is in contrast to a Newtonian fluid such as water or crude oil. binning the use of small rectangular areas for common-depth-point stacking. All traces with depth points in a bin are used. bio biotite biocide a chemical or agent that will kill both pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria but may not kill bacteria spores. Biocides used in drilling mud include lime, starch, sodium hydroxide, and paraformaldehyde. (bactericide) BIOCL or biocl bioclastic bioclastic a transported particle of organic origin such as a shell. BIOCL or biocl biocoenose the environment of life. Biocoenose is applied to fossil assemblages. Thanatocoenose is the environment of death and can be different than biocoenose. biodegradation the action of aerobic or oxidizing bacteria. Biodegradation sometimes may occur with anaerobic bacteria. The biodegradation of crude oil results in heavy or senile oil that is very viscous. The normal alkanes are first attacked by bacteria, followed by branched alkanes, and then by cyclic alkanes. bioerosion the breakdown of rocks due to biological activity such as boring clams

bioherm

biofacies

biofacies a particular aspect or portion of a rock layer such as a formation that is defined and identified by its characteristic fossil content biofacies map a map showing the aerial or lateral distribution of biofacies in a rock unit such as a formation biogenic gas methane (CH4) produced by bacteria (fermenters) from organic matter in the absence of oxygen and sulfates at shallow depths from a few feet below the surface to about 1,000 ft. Biogenic gas is dry gas that is normally about 999% methane and has a distinctive, very light carbon isotope composition. It usually escapes into the atmosphere but has been trapped in large deposits below the permafrost in Siberia. Urengoy, the largest gas field

biolithite a limestone deposited by biological organisms that formed a framework such as a reef core. They are often identified by the organism that formed the framework, such as coral biolithite. biological marker or biomarker a compound (chemical fossil) or a property of a compound found in crude oil or sediments that proves a biological origin for that compound. Examples are normal alkanes from plant waxes, fatty acids, and porphyrins; pristane and phytane derived from chlorophyll, along with the optical activity or rotation of petroleum exposed to light. biomass organic matter Biomi or biomi biomicrite biomicrite a limestone that contains both skeletal debris and limestone mud or micrite. The dominant organism forming the skeletal debris is usually identified, such as a crinoid biomicrite. Biomi or biomi Biosp or biosp biosparite biosparite a limestone that contains both skeletal debris and calcite cement. The dominant organism forming the skeletal debris is identified, such as a pelecypod biosparite. The texture of biosparite skeletal debris can be described as unsorted biosparite or rounded. Biosp or biosp Biost or biost biostrome biostratigraphic a rock unit or layer that is defined and identified by its fossil content

IJL:

",

'

biostrome

biostrome bit breaker box or bit box biostrome a layered, extensive deposit formed by the remains of organisms, such as corals or shells that grew in that location. Biost or biost Biot or biot biotite biotic theory the generally accepted theory that crude oil and natural gas form from the maturation of organic matter, (biogenic theory) biotite a common mineral that is composed of a complex silicate of potassium, iron, aluminum, and magnesium [K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3Oi0)(OH)2]. Biotite has a density of 3.22 gms/cm3 and a cell dimension of 10.05 A. Biotite occurs as thin, black flakes with one perfect cleavage direction and is common in igneous and metamorphic rocks as well as in both sands and sandstones, (black mica) Bi, Biot or biot bioturb bioturbation bioturbation the disturbance and mixing of sediments by burrowing animals and/or plant roots. bioturb bird 1) an airborne magnetometer 2) a pressuresensitive hydrofoil that is used on a hydrophone streamer for marine seismic exploration. Birds are evenly spaced along the streamer to control depth. bird cage or birdcage 1) the slatted or meshenclosed platform used to raise and lower the crew between an offshore rig and crew boats 2) to flatten and spread out cable or wire rope strands 3) a cable or wire rope that has its strands flattened and spread out birdcaged wire cable or wire rope that has its strands spread out in the shape of a bird cage due to a sudden release of a heavy load that it was lifting bird dog 1) a representative of the company that has employed a geophysical crew. The person acts as a liaison and makes sure that the job is done right. 2) to follow another company around and lease where that company is leasing 3) an old term for a geologist 4) a person who helps a landman locate people bird-dog fee the bonus paid to a guide that helps a landman find people bird dogging the activities of a bird dog birdfoot delta a constructional type of delta with several sediment lobes protruding into the basin. The Mississippi River delta is a modern example. bird's eye a spot or irregular patch of sparry calcite in limestone. The sparry calcite, which reflects light from its crystal faces, was precipitated from water in the limestone in a cavity caused by an animal burrow, gas bubble, mud crack, or other disturbance. Bdeye biscuit cutter 1) a short coring barrel used on a cable-tool rig 2) a clumsy derrick man who drops pipe 3) a drill bit Bit or bit 1) bitumen 2) bituminous bit 1) the cutting tool used in drilling. On a cable tool rig a percussion bit is used. The percussion bit is a pointed or wedge-shaped weight that pulverizes the rocks on the bottom of the well as the bit is raised and lowered. On a rotary rig a rotary bit is used. The rotary bit is turned by the drillstring or downhole motor to chip and flake the rocks at the bottom of the well. The most common rotary bit is the rock or roller-cone bit that has two, three, or

41

bits

four rotating cones on the bottom of the bit. The tricone bit with three cones is most common. The tricone bit has three legs welded to a shank. The legs hold journals around which bearings rotate to allow the cone on each leg pin to turn. Roller-cone bits are either a) milled tooth-steel teeth or b) insertbutton bits. Drag bits are rotary bits that have blades that tear into soft formations. Diamond bits have no moving parts and have diamonds that are imbedded into the matrix on the bottom and sides of the bit. Diamond bits are used for drilling through hard rocks and coring. A polycrystalline diamond bit (PCD bit) is a drag bit with blanks of man-made polycrystalline diamonds. Regular bits have an opening in the center of the bit body for drilling fluid. Some are full bore openings and others are ported. The jet bit has fluid courses through the body of the bit or between the cones that are equipped with jet nozzles. On a conventional tricone bit, there are nozzles located between the cones. The drilling fluid jets out the nozzles and impacts directly on the teeth of the cones of a roller-cone bit. Extended nozzle bits have elongated fluid paths to reduce the distance between the nozzle exit and the bottom of the hole. Rotary cone drill bits are good from 8 to 200 hours of rotating and wear out after an average of 24 hours of rotating. (drill bit) 2) The smallest bit of information that a computer can distinguish between two choices such as 0 or 1, yes or no, or on or off. A byte is the number of bits, usually eight, that represents one character. bit balling the coating of the bit face with soft sediments. Bit balling often occurs when using a hardformation bit with short teeth on a soft formation. It can also occur when drilling through soft sticky formations, during inadequate drilling-fluid circulation, or when using excessive bit weight. (balling the bit or balling up) bit body the part of a roller-cone bit that consists of the shank, the bit legs (the structural support for the cones), and the journal pins that attach the cones to the body. The bit body also includes the lubricant reservoirs and the watercourses. It is made of a forged or cast nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy of a carburizing grade. bit breaker box or bit box a metal holding device in the shape of a heavy plate that fits into the bowl of a rotary table and is used to screw (make up) or unscrew (break out) the bit from the drillstring by rotating the drillstring. The bit breaker is sized

42

bit deflection black-light inspection bit stabilization the downhole assembly required to keep a bit rotating about its own axis and the well on course bit sticking the adherence of the bit or the bit stabilizer to the sides of the wellbore bit sub a short section of pipe with two box ends that is used to connect the bit with the drill collar on the drillstring bit supplier a service company that sells drilling bits through a sales representative. The bit supplier keeps extensive records on bit performances and can make bit recommendations. Sometimes several recommended bit programs can be obtained from bit suppliers before a well is drilled. bitumastic material a coating made of asphalt and filler that is used to prevent corrosion on metals bitumen 1) organic matter that can be extracted from sedimentary rocks with organic solvents such as benzene, chloroform, or carbon disulfide. Bitumen is in contrast to kerogen in sedimentary rocks that is not soluble in organic solvents. 2) the solid hydrocarbons that occur in sedimentary rocks. Bitumen is fusible below 150C and is inflammable. It has a variable color, hardness, and volatility. Native bitumen is formed directly from organic matter in sediments and is also called kerobitumen. It is composed of C22 and heavier molecules. An example is ozocerite. Reservoir bitumen forms from degraded hydrocarbons in the reservoir and can be graphitic or asphaltic. 3) a term used interchangeably with both liquid and solid forms of petroleum and includes crude oil, asphalts, mineral waxes, and asphaltines. Bitumen is an old term that was used to describe oil seeps. Bitumen in England is known as asphalt in the United States. BITM, Bit, bit bituminous containing oil or yielding oil when distilled. BITMS, Bit or bit bituminous coal a common, intermediate-rank coal that is between lignite and anthracite (soft coal) bituminous sands, sandstone, shale, or limestone a sedimentary rock that has solid or very heavy hydrocarbons such as bitumen, asphalt, or very heavy oil as the cementing material or binder bit walk the deviation of a well caused by righthanded rotation and dragging of the bit on the right side of the well bit weight the compressive force applied on the drilling bit by the drill assembly. Bit weight is typically between 3000-6000 psi and can be over 50,000 psi. bkdn breakdown BL 1) blue 2) black 3) barrels load 4) bent legs bl 1) blue 2) black black box a device whose function is to directly locate subsurface petroleum. Promoters have always tried to sell black boxes throughout the history of petroleum exploration. black gold crude oil black light an ultraviolet light black-light inspection a method used to inspect tool joints. A solution of very fine, fluorescent-dyed iron particles is applied to the cleaned and dried joint. The joint is then inspected with a fluorescent or black

bit breaker

according to the size of the bit. (breakout box or breaker plate) bit deflection the deviation in the direction of a drilling bit from the direction of the well. Bit deflection is often caused by a dipping hard-rock layer. With a hard-rock-layer dip of greater than 45, the bit is generally deflected down the dip of the layer, whereas the bit is deflected updip with a dip of less than 45. bit dresser 1) a machine that repairs and gauges bits 2) a person on a cable-tool rig that repairs bits bit floundering a decrease in penetration rate due to a decrease in well-cutting cleaning efficiency at extremely high bit weight bit gauge a circular ring that is used to determine if the outer diameter of a drilling bit has been worn smaller than its allowed specifications and is, therefore, undergauge bit geometry the configuration of a drilling bit such as tricone or flat-faced bit hook a fishing tool used to straighten a bit in a well bit hydraulic horsepower the hydraulic horsepower equivalent of the gallons per minute times the pressure drop across the nozzles on the bit. BHHP bit leg the part of a body on a roller-cone drill bit that holds the pin and journal around which the cones rotate. There are three legs on a tricone bit. BITM bitumen bit matrix the material on a diamond bit that is used to hold the diamonds on the bit. The bit matrix is often powdered and fused tungsten carbide. bit mechanical horsepower the horsepower on a drilling rig required to rotate only the bit BITMS bituminous bit port a nozzle through which the drilling mud flows on a bit bit record a document kept by the driller concerning the performance of the bits used in drilling a well. The bit record header includes the operator, contractor, rig number, well location, drillstring characteristics, and pump data. The record includes the number, size and types of bits, sizes of nozzles, footage and drilling rates for each bit, depth out, hours run, weight on bit, rotary speed, pump pressure, and strokes per minute, drilling fluid weight and viscosity, and dull grading of bit when pulled. BITROP rate of penetration of bit bit shank the threaded cone-shaped top of the bit that is screwed into the drillstring. (pin)

Black Magic blender light. The iron particles will collect along any crack. (iron-particle inspection) Black Magic a heavy, oil-based drilling mud which hardens to a consistency of cement and is used to block the flow of water but not petroleum black mica see biotite black oil 1) a very dark, usually black but sometimes greenish or brown crude oil with an initial producing gas/oil ratio of less than 2000 SCF/STB. The stock tank gravity of black oil is usually less than 45 API. Black oil is sometimes called low-shrinkage crude oil or ordinary oil. 2) an asphalt-based cijide oil 3) a dark crude oil, in comparison to a light oil or condensate Blackriverian a North American age of geological time that occurred about 460 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. black water water with corrosive products (iron sulfide) due to bacterial action blade the cutting edge on a drilling tool blading off the leveling and cleaning of a site by a bulldozer bland unreactive drilling mud. It is used during coring. BL&AW barrels load and acid water blank 1) a dry hole 2) the cutting edge on a polycrystalline diamond bit. The blank is made with a layer of man-made polycrystalline diamonds that are cemented to a tungsten carbide cylinder called a carbide stud under high temperature and pressure. A blank has greater abrasion resistance than natural diamonds, (drill blank) blank casing casing (pipe) without perforations blanket gas the gas above a liquid in a container. Blanket gas is used to pressurize the liquid and protect it from contamination or explosion. blanket lease a drilling contract that covers a large area blanket sandstone a relatively uniform layer of sandstone that covers a large area of the subsurface blank flange the solid disk that fits in and closes a companion flange that forms a projecting rim on an opening such as a pipe (blind flange) blanking plug a plug designed to stop fluid flow blank jet a nozzle on a roller-cone bit that is purposely plugged blank liner a liner or the lowest string of casing on an open hole completion that is without perforations blank off to case oil sand with casing or liner that is not perforated blank pipe a pipe without perforations blank rams see blind rams blaster a device that sends an electric current through a blasting cap to detonate an explosive blasting explosive fracturing in a well using nitroglycerin blasting cap a detonator that is electrically activated blasting oil nitroglycerin blast joint a hard section of tubing that comes in sizes of 10, 20, or 30 ft in length and is made from

43

a special alloy with heat-treated joints. The blast joint is designed to protect the tubing from external erosion such as occurs adjacent to the perforated interval in a dual-completion well. Blast joints usually have flush connections. Bid or bid 1) boulder 2) bladed 3) bailed BLDG building bldg 1) bleeding 2) building bldg drk building derrick bldo bleeding oil BLDR boulder bleached oil crude oil that has been decolorized by sunlight BLED bleeding oil bleed to slowly vent a fluid from a line bleed down to slowly reduce pressure from equipment or a well by venting a fluid bleeder line a drain on the bottom of a stock tank that is used to remove basic sediment and water bleeder valve a small valve that is used to vent fluid or take a sample from a line, pump, or tank bleeding the separation, by settling, of the solids from the liquid in a cement slurry bleeding a well a method of cleaning an oil well of sediments and drilling mud that have accumulated in the well. The well is shut in for a period of time to allow gas pressure to build up, and the well is then opened up. Gas, followed by oil, mud, and sediments rapidly flows up the well and into the pits. The process can be repeated several times, (periodic flowing or rocking a well) bleeding core a fresh core in which the crude oil is coming out of the pores. This is due primarily to the formation and expansion of solution gas bubbles in the oil when the core is brought to the surface and pressure on the core is reduced, (weeping core) bleed line a line attached to a blowout-preventer stack. The bleed line is used to vent produced fluids after the blowout preventers have been thrown when abnormal high pressures are encountered during drilling. bleed off to release pressure on a fluid bleed plug a fitting used to prevent mud flowback when tripping in on a drilling rig. The plug is threaded for drill collars or drillpipe and has a small opening fitted with a valve. The bleed plug is screwed into the top of a stand with the valve closed before the stand is lowered into the well. After the stand is lowered, the slips have been set, and the elevators removed, the bleed plug valve is opened and the plug removed. blender 1) a truck-mounted unit that is used to proportionately mix materials with well-stimulation fluid and pump the mixture to the pumping unit. A diesel engine powers the mixing paddles in the mixing tub and the auxiliary equipment. Liquid additives and solids, such as proppants, are added in metered volumes to the mixing tank. 2) equipment used to mix gravel and a carrier fluid for a gravel pack completion in a well. A screw or bucket conveyer is used to bring the gravel to the blender where it is mixed with a centrifugal pump.

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blend sample blocky cement are used for hoisting The mechanical advantage of a block is determined by counting the number of lifting lines and subtracting 2% for friction. A rotary drilling rig has a crown and traveling block. 2) an area composed of several leases 3) an offshore oil and gas concession area defined by its latitude and longitude In the United States, a block is typically 9 mi2 and is awarded to the highest bonus bid with a fixed royalty by the Mineral Management Service. Most expire in five years, but frontier or deep blocks can have 10-year terms. block agent material such as plastics, bitumens, gel, or cement slurry that is pumped down a producing well with treating fluid to prevent coning or channeling block and tackle a system of sheaves or pulleys and wire rope that act as a unit to raise or lower equipment block diagram a method of illustrating a portion of the earth's crust in three dimensions. The diagram is in the form of a block with the surface of the earth as the top and a cross section of that portion of the earth for the sides. blocked up to complete leasing in an area block guide the vertical or near-vertical steel track located in the derrick of a semisubmersible or drillship along which the traveling block moves up and down. The block guide is used to prevent movement of the traveling block as the floater rises and falls with the ocean waves. block lease an oil and gas lease that covers several individual leases that form a block The lessors have agreed in the lease that a well drilled anywhere on that block will satisfy the delay rental and drilling requirements of all leases in that block. block line see drilling or hoisting line block squeeze a type of cement squeeze job used in a well to isolate a zone for perforating, fracturing, or stimulation. The zone below the producing zone is perforated, and cement is squeezed under high pressure. The zone above the producing zone is then perforated and squeezed off. The cement is drilled out of the hole, and the producing zone is perforated. block tree a strong and compact type of Christmas tree well-completion fitting in which the valves are machined from one block of steel. Block trees are often used in offshore wells and are in contrast to loose-valve trees. block valve a valve in a pipeline used to plug a section of the pipeline

blend sample a sample taken from a tank after the contents of the tank have been mixed BLC barrels of liquid condensate big 1) bailing 2) bailed 3) bleeding blind to close a line blind back-off to unscrew stuck pipe in a well with a right-handed torque under tension or overpull blind box a wireline fishing tool that is designed to clean the top of a fish to be caught with a socket. A blind box is similar to a die collar but the internal cutting edges are not spiraled. blind drilling drilling through a formation that causes lost circulation with no returns to the surface blind fault a fault with a fault surface that does not reach the earth's surface blind flange the solid disk that fits in and closes a companion flange that forms a projecting rim on an opening such as a pipe (blank flange) blind hole a well that has a lost circulation problem blinding the clogging of screens by particles blind layer 1) a rock layer that does not give a primary reflection on a seismic record (hidden layer) 2) a rock layer that cannot be detected by seismic refraction methods because it is either a) a low-velocity layer located below a high-velocity layer or b) too thin to give a distinct arrival (hidden layer) blind-pool drilling fund a type of drilling fund in which monies are raised from investors in order to explore and drill in an area of interest. Instead of having specific prospects, the money is raised and then land is leased and drilled in the area of interest. The fund, registered with the Security and Exchange Commission, is usually in the form of a limited partnership with the promoter being the general partner. blind rams a closing element in the blowout preventer that uses steel plates with flat rubber surfaces that fit together to close and open the well. Blind rams can be used only when no pipe is suspended in the well. Blind rams are sometimes called the master valve, (blank or master rams) blind shear rams a closing element in a blowout preventer that has a cutting edge to shear any tubular in the well. Blind shear rams used primarily in subsea systems. blind sidetrack an uncontrolled sidetrack blind zone a subsurface layer that a) cannot be detected on seismic refraction, b) does not give reflections on reflection seismic, c) does not give a good signature on a well logging tool, or d) does not yield well cuttings to the surface when drilled blk or bl black BLK or blk block blky blocky blksh blackish BLM Bureau of Land Management bind blend BLO barrels of load oil block 1) the metal framework that contains sheaves, pulleys, or wheels that rotate on a common axis and

m
blocky cement

TTv. /C

blocky cement a type of natural cement found in limestone. Blocky cement is formed by relatively large,

blooey or blooie line blowout-preventers control panel interlocking blocks of sparry calcite between the detrital particles. blooey or blooie line 1) a surface pipe on an air drilling rig through which the air, water, and well cuttings are blown out 2) a large diameter, lowpressure pipe that is used to conduct fluids coming up the well from the drilling rig during a kick. A diverter is used to send the fluids down the blooey line to the blooey pit. blooey or blooie pit the earthen escavation adjacent to an air drilling rig that receives the well cuttings from the blooey line bloom the fluorescence of crude oil under a black light BLOPD barrels of load oil per day BLOPH barrels of load oil per hour BLOR barrels of load oil recovered BLOUT blowout blow a line down to reduce pressure on a gas line to melt any frozen obstruction and then to increase the pressure blow a well clean to open the valves on a recently completed gas well to blow out any debris or completion fluid blowby 1) the flow of gases around the piston and piston rings into the crankcase of an engine 2) the escape of free gas with the liquid from a separator blowdown 1) the venting of a fluid in a container 2) the fluid that is vented 3) the pressure difference between the set and resealing pressures of a pressurerelief valve blower a blowing gas well blowing disposal of casinghead or solution gas into the air blowing a well periodic opening of the valves of a well. Blowing a well allows rapid flow of oil and/or gas up the well to clean the accumulation of sediments and liquids out of a well, (periodic flowing) blowing flow a type of gas flow with a spray of liquid blowing the drip 1) to open the valve on small chamber on a pipeline to drain off the condensate or drip gasoline 2) to vent the gas from a pipeline to clear it of condensate or drip blow job to clean with steam blown and saucered a deal that has been put together and is ready to be signed blowoff cock a valve that either allows or stops the flow of a fluid from a container or a pipe blowout or blow out uncontrolled, often violent, flow of fluid (gas, oil, drilling mud, and/or water) from the well. A blowout can be caused by drilling into an unexpected, abnormally high-pressure reservoir in the subsurface. It is a function of the weight of the circulating drilling mud in the well to keep the fluids in the rocks. If fluids enter the well (kick), the blowout preventers are thrown to prevent a blowout. Forty-four percent of the blowouts occur during tripping out, 41% during drilling, and 9% while freeing stuck pipe. A blowout along the outside of the casing string in a well is called broaching. BLOUT

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blowout drill a training exercise conducted and timed by the tool pusher on a drilling rig. The blowout alarm is rung without warning the driller. The driller pulls the kelly out of the rotary and shuts off the mud pumps. Crew members go to the blowoutpreventer control panel, choke manifold and the driller's side of the rig at ground level to operate the remote blowout-preventor controls. The derrickman goes to the accumulator, and the driller orders the blowout preventer closed. The drill is timed from the sound of the alarm to the closing of the blowout preventers and recorded in the drilling report. The blowout drill is usually run when the kelly is about two-thirds in the rotary.

blowout preventer stack (off rotary drilling rig chart)

blowout or blow-out preventer a ram or closing element designed to close the top of the wellbore and to provide a controlled release of wellbore fluids. The blowout preventers are arranged vertically in a blowout-preventer stack. The stack is located below the drilling platform and is attached to the conductor pipe or surface string at the surface of the ground or in the cellar. A basic arrangement of preventers consists of an annular preventer, blind rams, drilling spool with choke and kill line connections, pipe rams, and a casing-head connector. The annular preventers close around any pipe in the well or over an open well. Pipe rams are metal blocks with inserts machined into them that are designed to close around pipe in the well. Shear rams use steel wedges used to shear off any pipe in the well. Blind rams are metal plates with flat surfaces that close an open well. The preventers are activated hydraulically from pressure stored in an accumulator. Each preventer has an opening and closing line. Bushings or sleeves in the lowermost section of the preventers prevent excessive wear of the preventers from the rotation and tripping of the drillstring. Blowout preventers are also used in some workover operations. The blowout preventers are mounted on the seafloor for offshore drilling and activated by hydraulic or electrohydraulic power. The working pressure is generally 3,000-15,000 lb/in2. Blowout preventers are categorized by the American Petroleum Institute according to working pressure, through-bore diameter, and type of preventer. blowout-preventers control panel a console located on the drilling rig floor that contains the fourway control valves that activate the different preventers in the blowout-preventer stack. The panel also has gauges for accumulator, panel air, manifold, and

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blowout-preventer drill boiler house or boilerhousee Bnd or bnd 1) band 2) banded bndry or BNDRY boundary bnish brownish BNO barrels of new oil BO 1) barrels of oil 2) backed off B.O. back out Bo 1) oil shrinkage factor 2) oil formation volume factor B ob oil formation factor at bubblepoint bob 1) the pumping of a beam well 2) a gauging bob or weight bobcat a machine with a short wheelbase that is used to move earth bob tail or bobtail 1) the cable-tool drillstring used to complete a well after a rotary rig has drilled to the top of the pay zone 2) a truck without a bed 3) anything that is shorter than normal bob-tail or bobtail abstract a set of summaries of all recorded instruments concerning the title to a tract of land. A bob-tail abstract is in contrast to a verbatim abstract that has complete copies of all the recorded instruments, (abbreviated abstract) bob-tail or bobtail plant a gas plant that is used to remove liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas. The liquids are then sent to a fractionater to be separated into various fractions. bob-tail or bobtail rig a small drilling rig BOCD barrels of oil per calendar day BOD 1) barrels of oil per day 2) basic oxygen demand B oD relative oil volume body the viscosity of an oil body foam a foam consisting of a liquid with spherical bubbles distributed throughout the liquid that will not rise to the surface. Crude oils with low gravities and high viscosities can form body foam. Body foam is in contrast to surface foam. body member a wellhead housing designed to confine well pressure body test a high-pressure test designed by the American Petroleum Institute to evaluate pressure equipment such as blowout preventers and wellheads. Body test pressure, which is higher than the rated pressure for the equipment, is used, (shell test) body waves the P- and S-waves that travel through the earth during seismic exploration and earthquakes. Body waves are in contrast to surface waves. body yield strength the tensional force necessary to cause a tubular such as casing to exceed the elastic limit BOE 1) blowout equipment 2) barrels-of-oil equivalent Bo, formation volume factor for oil at initial reservoir conditions boiler a pressure vessel that has a heat source used to generate steam from water in the vessel boiler fuel steam generation fuel for industrial or electric-utility boilers boiler house or boilerhouse to falsify a report (doghouse)

annular pressures with a regulator for controlling pressure to the annular preventer as well as a bypass control. The blowout preventers can also be thrown from another remote location on the rig. blowout-preventer drill see blowout drill blowout-preventer pump a pump on a drilling rig that is designed to provide hydraulic pressure for the accumulators that operate the blowout preventers blowout-preventer stack a vertical assembly of several rams or closing elements used to shut the well. The various closing elements can be connected with spools. The stack is located in the cellar, attached to the top of the surface-casing string, and below the drilling platform. On an offshore rig, they are located on the sea bottom. An offshore double stack will have blowout preventers both on the seafloor and on the offshore drilling rig. Individual rams, such as pipe, blind, or shear, and closing devices, such as the annular preventers, can be activated by hydraulic pressure stored in the accumulators. There are at least two different locations to throw them, including a control panel on the drilling platform. The stack typically includes an annular blowout preventer, several ram blowout preventers, kill and choke line connectors, a drilling spool, and a wellhead connector, each positioned vertically on top of each other. The blowout preventer stack generally weighs 20-25 tons. (BOP stack) blowout-preventer test tool a tool that seals the wellbore below the blowout-preventer stack to pressure test the stack and its accessories blow the cobs or soot out to run a motor at excessive speeds blow wild to blow out or have uncontrolled flow from a well BLOYR barrels of load oil yet to recover BLPD barrels of liquid per day blr bailer BLRT bailer test blsh bluish bits bullets BLU blue blue pattern a dipmeter interpretation characterized by decreasing formation dips with increasing depth and the same azimuth. There is also a red and green pattern. blue sky exploratory well a wildcat well blue sky law a state law in the United States that regulates the sale of securities such as those that relate to oil and gas. The federal government also regulates the sales. blue whistler a blowing gas well BLW barrels of load water BM 1) basement 2) barrels of mud 3) bench mark Bm basement bm ascending-wave particle-motion amplitude BMMCF barrels per million cubic feet BMUD barrels of mud BN bean bn brown

boiling point boot acreage boiling point the lowest temperature at which a liquid starts to boil boll weevil an inexperienced worker on a drilling rig or lease. A boll weevil is known as a green hand in England, (peapicker or weevil) boll-weevil corner the location on a drill floor that is given to a new hand (back-up corner) boll-weevil hanger a tubing hanger boll-weevil plug a retrievable plug that is attached to the drillpipe and is used to test the blowout preventers. The plug seats in the casinghead housing and is sealed by pressure from above. boll-weevil stunt a dangerous mistake on a drilling rig bolting threaded fasteners such as nuts and bolts, capscrews, and studs bomb a thick, steel-walled sampler for formation fluids in a well under pressure A spring is attached to a lower and upper valve and a tripping arm. The bomb is activated by dropping a metal bar or by a preset clock mechanism. The bomb is run on a wireline and also measures and records pressure. bond 1) to join together 2) the adhesive that joins two materials 3) the linkage that joins atoms. Bonds are either ionic or covalent. bond index a measure of the quality of the cement bond in a well. The cement bond index is the attenuation in the zone of investigation (db/ft) divided by the attenuation in a well-cemented section (db/ft) on a cement bond log. bonding the condition of the adhesion between cement and casing or wellbore Bond number the gravitational forces divided by the capillary forces The Bond number is about 10~6 in waterfloods. NB bone a difficult formation to drill bone dry gas that contains no water vapor bonnet 1) an end connection such as a cap that is designed to retain pressure 2) the valve part that packs off and supports the valve stem 3) the steel retaining cover on a swivel, housing cap bonus a payment to the lessor, the mineral right owner, by the lessee for signing a lease bonus allocation rule a bonus allocation that is paid by the lessee against the gross income for the property in order to compute the percentage depletion allowance. The bonus allocation in not a deductible expense, (bonus exhaustion rule) bonus allowable an extra saltwater injection well granted in an allowable by a state agency bonus bidding a method of competitive bidding for leases. The leases have a fixed royalty, and the lease goes to the highest offered bonus. bonus exhaustion rule see bonus allocation rule book rate of return an accounting rate of return that is used to evaluate corporations. It is the net earnings per average dollar invested. The book rate of return is calculated by dividing the book profits or earnings by (the net cash flow minus depreciation and any unusual items such as write-offs).

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boom a steel arm used to support the line used in a hoisting system Boomer a marine seismic source that uses capacitators charged to a high voltage. They are discharged through a transducer into the water. boomer 1) a mechanical device used to tighten chains that secure a load in place (load binder) 2) a transient field worker 3) a strong seismic reflection off a massive reflector 4) A shallow marine seismic system that uses a magnetostrictive source. booster a compressor or pump that is used to raise the pressure of gas or oil in a pipeline booster compressor a compressor that is used to increase the air volume and pressure going into the inlet of a regular compressor. A booster compressor is used for air drilling deep or large diameter holes. booster jar a fishing tool accessory that is used to intensify the effect of a mechanical or hydraulic jar used to loosen a fish in a well. The booster jar is run on the fishing string above the jar. A fluid such as nitrogen is compressed in the jar as the fishing string is raised. When the tripping mechanism is released, the expansion of the fluid in the booster jar amplifies the force of the shock, (jar accelerator or intensifier) booster station a pumping installation on an oil pipeline that is designed to keep the oil flowing. The stations are often located from 80-150 miles apart on the pipeline. The booster station can also include separators, storage, scraper traps, and control equipment. On a gas pipeline, compressor stations are used, (intermediate pump station) boot 1) a bonus, often in the form of extra acreage or monies, that is paid by one party in an exchange of properties such as a farmout 2) a vertical pipe on a lease stock tank that is used to maintain hydrostatic pressure on the oil and to allow gas to escape before the oil enters the pipeline gathering system (conductor pipe) 3) the protective shield on a seismic hydrophone, connector, or other device 4) an oil conductor used in settling tanks to place liquids in the tank with little disturbance near the bottom of the tank 5) a gas separating chamber located on the top of a vertical flow treater boot acreage extra acreage earned by a farmee in a farmout besides the earning well drilling and spacing unit

boot basket

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boot basket or sub bottom casing packoff to the density of the rocks surrounding the wellbore and is used to determine the horizontal extent of the reservoir rock and the possible location of potential reservoir rock such as dolomite that was not encountered in the wellbore, but occurs in the vicinity of the wellbore. It can be used in both an open and a cased hole. BHG borehole survey see deviation survey borehole televiewer a wireline device that is lowered down wells to transmit an image of the borehole. The borehole televiewer emits a pulsed, narrow beam of ultrasonic energy that is reflected off the borehole and is recorded to produce an ultrasonic image of the borehole. The amplitude of the reflected wave is displayed on a cathode ray tube with the picture split vertically on magnetic north and photographed. A borehole televiewer is used to detect and study fractures in reservoir rock surrounding the wellbore and to inspect the casing in a well for corrosion or faulty joints, (seisviewer) borehole volume the volume of a well calculated from a caliper log borer an old term for a driller borescope a long optical instrument with a light that is used to inspect the inside of pipe boring journal an old term for a driller's log made by a drilling master. The drilling section would include the number of crew, hours worked, distance drilled, number of joints used, delays, and stoppages. The geological section included a description of formations drilled. boring pore a pore space in a rock, usually limestone, that was created by a boring organism such as a sponge, bryozoan, or pelecypod boring rod a 15-18-ft section of solid wrought iron about 1 in. in diameter that was used to connect the tools to the walking beam of a the cable-tool rig. Boring rods were used on very early versions of the cable-tool rig and were later replaced by manila rope. (drilling rod) borings well cuttings BOS brown oil stain bot 1) bottom 2) botryoidal bottle the dry storage silo used to store dry or liquid drilling-mud chemicals bottled gas propane gas (less commonly butane gas or propane-butane mixture) that has been compressed into a liquid. Bottled gas is used in rural areas for home heating and cooking and has industrial, agricultural, and commercial applications, (gas liquids or liquified petroleum gas) bottleneck an area of pipe with a reduced diameter that was caused by stretching of the pipe bottlenecking the stretching of pipe due to tension bottle test a test used to determine what quantity of a chemical will break an oil-in-water emulsion bottom 1) the sinking of a barge in shallow water to provide a drilling platform 2) to complete drilling a well bottom assembly see bottomhole assembly bottom casing packoff a mechanism used to contain the annular pressure between a suspended tubular

boot basket or sub a short section of pipe that is located just above a bit or mill on a drillstring and is designed to catch large junk fragments in an outer bowl. Eddy currents caused by the circulating drilling mud cause the fragments to fall into the bowl. Boot baskets or subs are always run with mills and whenever drilling through metal or cement. As many as three boot baskets or subs can be run on a string. A boot basket is in contrast to a junk basket that uses reverse circulation and catches the fish on the inside of the tool, (basket or junk sub) BOP blowout preventer BOPCD barrels of oil per calendar day BOPD or bopd barrels of oil per day BOP elevator a lifting mechanism that is used to move the blowout preventers into storage when not being used on an offshore drilling rig BOPH or boph barrels of oil per hour BOPPD barrels of oil per producing day BOPPH barrels of oil per producing hour BOP stack see blowout-preventer stack Bor or bor bored border price the official price of natural gas sold at the United States-Canada border as determined by the Canadian government bore 1) to cut a hole 2) the inside diameter of a pipe, cylinder, piston, or well 3) a fluid opening or passage borehole the hole drilled by the bit. (wellbore) borehole compensated sonic log a sonic log that uses two transducers above and below the receiver pair on the sonde. By alternately pulsing the transducers and averaging the measurements, borehole effects are reduced. borehole direction the azimuth of the wellbore borehole directional survey downhole measurements of the inclination and azimuth at specific depths in a well. The survey can be either magnetic or gyroscopic and single or multishot. Both the gyroscopic and magnetic multishot surveys are recorded on film. A borehole directional survey is more commonly called a directional or deviation survey or drift log. borehole effect the distortion on a well log caused by the size, shape, or other characteristics of the borehole and the filter cake. Compensated logs are adjusted for the borehole effect. borehole farmin or farmout an agreement between two companies whereby a well is drilled between producing wells. The well is drilled depending on the granting of increased well density on the acreage and does not earn any acreage. borehole geometry tool a wireline device that measures the inclination and azimuth of a well. The borehole geometry tool measures azimuth with a magnetic compass or gyroscope. Inclination is measured with a pendulum. The tool can either be single or multishot. borehole gravimeter or gravity meter a wireline instrument that is used to measure gravity at various levels in a well. The borehole gravimeter is sensitive

bottom dead center bottomhole or bottom-hole pressure test or hanger and the spool or tubing head adapter over the suspended tubular or hanger bottom dead center the location of a piston in an engine's cylinder at the lowest position in the cylinder during a stroke. Bottom dead center is in contrast to top dead center. BDC bottom-discharge bit a type of rotary coring bit in which drilling fluid passes through longitudinal holes in the wall of the bit onto the face of the bit. A bottom-discharge bit is used in soft formations, (faceejection bit) bottomed to drill a well to total depth, (btmd) bottom flooding liquid coming out of the bottom of a hydrocyclone, such as a desander or desilter bottom hold-down a sucker-rod pump anchor located at the bottom of the pump bottomhole or bottom hole the lowest point of a well bottomhole or bottom-hole agreement a type of support agreement in which one party contributes either cash or acreage in exchange for information on a well drilled to certain depth by another party. The bottomhole agreement is formalized in a bottomhole contract or letter. bottomhole or bottom-hole assembly the lower part of the drillstring extending from the bit to the drillpipe. The assembly can consist of drill collars, subs such as stabilizers, reamers, shocks, hole openers, and the bit sub and bit. The bottomhole assembly can be a) slick with no stabilizers, b) a pendulum bottomhole assembly for reducing the deviation of a well, c) packed with stabilizers for a straight hole, or d) a fulerum for increasing the deviation of the well. Bottomhole assemblies are also described as a) specialized, such as articulated, b) steerable, and c) oriented or nonoriented. (bottom assembly) bottomhole or bottom-hole back torque the torque on a drillstring caused by the twisting of the drillstring bottomhole or bottom-hole choke a restriction (orifice or choke) that is anchored in the lower section of tubing in a well. The bottomhole choke controls the pressure and restricts the flow up the tubing to regulate the rate of flow and the gas/oil ratio. A storm choke is a bottomhole choke that automatically closes if a designated flow rate is exceeded. BHCK bottomhole or bottom-hole circulating pressure the pressure on a fluid at bottom of a well while circulating a fluid. BHCP bottomhole or bottom-hole contract a legal agreement providing for the payment of money or other benefits upon drilling a well to a specified depth bottomhole or bottom-hole contribution or support the cash or acreage contribution made in a support agreement between two parties. One party makes the contribution to another party that drills a well to contract depth, either as a dry hole or producer, performs certain tests, and shares the information on that well. bottomhole or bottom-hole gas separator see bottomhole separator

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bottomhole or bottom-hole heater a heater used on the bottom of the well to heat and recover viscous, low "API oil bottomhole or bottom-hole letter an agreement between the operator of a well and another party. The operator will drill a well and share the information from that well with the other party in return for cash or acreage in what is called bottomhole contribution or support. This is in contrast to a dry hole letter in which the other party will contribute only if the well is a dry hole. bottomhole or bottom-hole location the location of the lowest part of the well with reference to a surface location bottomhole or bottom-hole orientation sub a small section of drillpipe in which a free-floating ball will roll to the low side to open a port and indicate the orientation of the sub. BHO sub bottomhole or bottom-hole packer a mechanical device that is used near the bottom of a well to prevent flow up the annular space between two tubulars, usually the casing-tubing annulus. The bottomhole packer can have one, two, or three bores, depending on the number of tubing string, (production packer) bottomhole or bottom-hole plug a bridge or cement plug that is used near the bottom of a well to shut off that portion of the well below the plug. The plug is often used to isolate a depleted or waterbearing zone. bottomhole or bottom-hole pressure pressure at the bottom of the well. If the well is being drilled and is filled with circulating mud, the pressure will be hydrostatic pressure due to the weight of the overlying drilling mud. If the well is completed and producing, the pressure on the fluids at the bottom of the well is taken either while the fluids are flowing (flowing bottomhole pressure), or after flow has stopped and the pressure has built up (static bottomhole pressure). The pressure that exists when the fluids are not flowing will be formation or reservoir pressure. Bottomhole pressure is often taken under several different flow rates to calculate maximum productivity. The pressure is measured by a bomb lowered on a wireline and is reported in units of psi, psia, or atmospheres. BHP bottomhole or bottom-hole pressure bomb a downhole device used to measure pressure in a well at a specific depth. The bomb contains a pressure gauge and is lowered on a wireline. bottomhole pressure buildup test a test on a well to determine a) static bottomhole pressure, b) interwell permeability (kh) c) skin effect and d) condition ratio. The well is shut-in and the bottomhole pressure increase with time is monitored. bottomhole or bottom-hole pressure gage or gauge a pressure sensor that is run on a wireline to measure flowing or shut-in pressure in a well. The pressure is scribed on a chart with a clock drive. bottomhole or bottom-hole pressure test a measure of reservoir pressure, either flowing or shutin, at a specific depth in a well. The pressure measurement is made with a pressure gauge run on a wireline. The pressure-sensitive element can be a coiled Bourdon tube, bellows, or a quartz crystal resonator.

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bottomhole or bottom-hole pump

bounce off the engine bottomset horizontal sedimentary beds deposited in deep water off a delta. Bottomset beds are deposited in front of prograding foreset beds by fine-grained sediments settling out of water. bottom settlings and water see basic sediment and water bottoms up 1) one complete circulation of the drilling fluid in a well 2) to maintain circulation of the drilling mud after drilling in order to wash the well cuttings out of the well bottom up to verify the total depth of a well bottom water water in the pores of rock immediately underlying a gas or oil reservoir bottom wiper plug a hard-rubber wiper plug used in a cement job. The bottom wiper plug is pumped down the casing ahead of the cement and is used to wipe drilling mud from the casing walls. The plug has a hole in it covered by a diaphragm that is designed to rupture so that when the plug seats in the float collar, cement slurry can pass through it. (bottomplug) boud boudinage Bouger anomaly 1) a gravity measurement that is corrected for topography (elevation) and latitude, but not for isostasy (density of subsurface rocks) 2) an unusual area of higher or lower values on a map of Bouger gravity values Bouger correction a correction that is made to gravity values or readings for the attraction caused by the rock located between the gravity measurement station and the elevation of the datum which is usually sea level boulder a sedimentary particle having a diameter greater than 256 mm. BLDR boulders driller's term for alternating hard and soft formations in a well
PELITIC E D C B A PARALLEL LAMINATIONS CURRENT RIPPLES PARALLEL LAMINATIONS GRADED

bottomhole or bottom-hole pump an electric, hydraulic, or sucker-rod pump that is used in artificial lift to raise oil and other produced fluids from the bottom of the well to the surface bottomhole or bottom-hole regulator a valve that is anchored in the lower tubing string of a well and functions similar to a bottomhole choke. The valve is normally closed against a spring-loaded seat and opens at a specific pressure differential that can be adjusted with the spring. bottomhole or bottom-hole sample a sample of the produced fluids taken from the bottom of a shutin well. A bottomhole sample is in contrast to a separator or surface sample, (subsurface sample) bottomhole or bottom-hole separator a downhole device designed to separate oil and gas before they are pumped up the well. The separator is attached to the bottom of the tubing below the standing valve and is the only fluid entry into the pump. Fluids flow through a tortuous path in the separator causing the gas to separate from the liquid and flow into the tubing-casing annulus. The bottomhole separator device is used to increase the efficiency of the pump and prevent gas lock. (bottomhole or downhole gas separator) bottomhole or bottom-hole support see bottomhole contribution bottomhole or bottom-hole temperature the temperature in a well at a specific depth. It is usually taken after the well has been shut in for a period of time to allow the fluids in the well to come to thermal equilibrium. bottomhole or bottom-hole well a well drilled to a very hard subsurface rock bottom-intake electric submersible pump an electric submersible pump that has the pump and motor positions reversed with the pump on the bottom bottom lease an oil and gas lease on acreage that has another lease (top lease) that will become effective when the current bottom lease expires bottom loading pressure the pressure on the pontoon of a semisubmersible when the pontoon is in the submerged position bottom out to drill to total depth in a well \ bottom plug see bottom wiper plug J bottom sample a sample of crude oil taken) from near the bottom of the oil in a storage tank \ bottoms and bottom settlings the solid anq liquid residue in crude oil that accumulates on the bottom of a storage tank

i SHARP BASE SCOUR MARKS

Bouma sequence

bottomset beds

Bouma sequence the vertical sedimentary sequence deposited by a complete turbidity current is coming to rest. It is divided vertically into units that are labeled a, b, c, d, ande, which are distinguished by their sedimentary structures and grain size. The a unit on the bottom of the sequence is coarse-grained, poorly sorted, and massive with possible graded bedding. It is a potential reservoir rock. The e unit on the top is very fine-grained, has parallel laminae and is composed of hemipelagic or pelagic muds. The a, b, and even c units can be missing from a sequence. bounce off the engine to start a pumping well (kick the well off)

bounce the bit Brach or brach bounce he bit to tap the bit on the bottom of the drillstring into the bottom of the well boundary agreement an instrument that states the exact location of the boundary between two lands and the owner's agreement to that location. A boundary agreement is used when there is a boundary dispute and a survey plat might be needed. boundary pressure the average fluid pressure at the oil/water or gas/water contact

51

boundstone

box die log to draw horizontal lines through the inflection points on well log curves to define bed boundaries and vertical lines through the maximum deflections of the curves to box in individual beds on a well log Boyle's-Charles' law a law of physics that combines both Boyle's and Charles' laws to explain the relationship between temperature (70, pressure (P), and volume (V) of an ideal gas. It states: P^V^/T^ = P-^-JTi- The z factor can be used to apply this law to a real gas. Boyle's law a law of physics that relates the volume to the pressure of a gas It states that: P,/P2 = V,/V2 or PV = a constant. P is the pressure of a gas and V is its volume. The law shows that when the pressure of a gas changes, there is a corresponding change in volume of the gas and vice versa. This law assumes an ideal gas. The z factor can be used to apply this law to a real gas. Boyle's law porosimeter a device commonly used to determine the porosity of a rock sample such as a core. In the Boyle's law single-cell porosimeter, a known volume of gas is compressed to a specific pressure in a sample chamber with the rock sample. The volume of gas is measured at both atmospheric and the elevated pressure to determine the sample porosity. In the Boyle's law double-cell porosimeter, one chamber contains the sample and the other chamber is empty. The gas pressure is increased in the empty chamber. A valve then is opened to connea the two chambers and the pressures are recorded to calculate the sample porosity. BP 1) back pressure 2) bridge plug 3) bull plug 4) boiling point bp boiling point B.P. back pressure BPCD barrels per calendar day BPCL base production control lever BPD, Bpd, or bpd barrels per day BPF bullets per foot BPH barrels per hour BPI bytes per inch BPLO barrels of pipeline oil BPLOD barrels of pipeline oil per day BPLOH barrels of pipeline oil per hour BPM barrels per minute BPO before payout BPSD barrels per stream day BPV back pressure valve Bq becquerel BR 1) building rig 2) building road 3) broken rollers B.R. building rig brace a steel structural member that braces a girt between the legs of a derrick brace angle the two steel supports for the Samson post on a Class III lever type of beam pumper Brach or brach brachiopod

boundstone a type of limestone formed by shells of organisms still in their original growth positions. The organisms form an intergrowth or framework that binds the rock. Limestone deposited on a reef flat is boundstone. B or Bdst bound water water that is chemically attached or absorbed on mineral grains and is not free to flow Bourdon tube an instrument that is used to measure fluid pressure. A Bourdon tube is a metal tube that is slightly flattened and curved into a C-shape. Fluid pressure in the tube will straighten the tube, and the pressure is read on a circular scale. The end of the tube is usually attached to a pointer on a gauge face. Some Bourdon tubes are coiled. bowl the support device that holds the slips in a master bushing on the rotary table on the floor of a drilling rig bow tie a seismic reflection pattern with three reflection branches

box female threads on a tubular or rod. On a sucker rod, the box is an annealed or shot-peened steel cylinder with female threads that couples with the male or pin end of another sucker rod. The box has a slightly larger diameter than the sucker rods and are classified by the API as T, which is corrosion resistant, and S for heavy loading, (rod coupling) box and pin a type of coupling used to join tubulares and rods. It is used when the tubulars or rods have male threads on one end and female threads on the other end. Box and pin is in contrast to a pin-andpin coupling. box tap a female, tapered, self-threading fishing tool that is used to screw externally onto a fish

52

brachiopod brake flange brachiopod a bottom-dwelling marine invertebrate belonging to the phylum Brachiopoda. Brachiopods have two shells (bivalved) that are not the same in size or shape. This differentiates them from the clams or pelecypods that have two similar shells. Brachiopods have existed from the Cambrian period to the present and are important guide fossils. Bracb or brach brackish a mixture of fresh and saline waters. The water contains between 1 and 35 ppt salt. BRAK, brak, orbrks bradding a condition on a drilling bit in which the teeth have dulled and the relatively softer inner portion of the teeth have flowed over the harder case area. Bradding is caused by too much weight on the teeth. bradenhead a steel cap screwed on the top of the well casing. A bradenhead is used to confine gas between the tubing and casing, (stuffing-box casinghead) bradenhead gas casinghead gas that is produced from a well that has a bradenhead (casinghead) used primarily on flowing or gas-lift wells bradenhead gas well a well that is producing gas from a gas reservoir that has been sealed off from an underlying oil or gas reservoir in that well bradenheading or braden heading a method used in a well to pump treating fluids into a formation. The treating fluids are pumped down the tubing string. They are forced into the formation by produced formation fluids that are then pumped into the tubing string. If a packer is used in the well to isolate the formation to be treated, the process is called bullheading. bradenhead method or squeeze a method of squeeze cementing. The drillpipe is run in the well until just above the casing perforations. A cement slurry is pumped down the drillpipe and the pipe rams are closed. The cement is then squeezed by pressure through the perforations. Other methods are packer squeeze and hesitation. braided stream a stream formed of numerous, intertwining channels separated by sand and gravel bars. The coarse-grained sand and gravel deposits can become potential reservoir rocks, (anastamosing stream) brainstorms engineers BRAK or brak brackish brake a device (mechanical, electrodynamic, or hydrodynamic) that slows or stops the velocity of a mechanism brake band the flexible steel band that holds the brake blocks and tightens over a drum to apply the braking force brake block the asbestos or similar resistant section of lining on the band of a band brake. Several brake blocks form the brake lining that generates the friction on a drum when the brake band is tightened to cause the braking force. brake fever the condition of a roughneck who persists in using the driller's brake brake flange the surface of the drum to which the brake lining is applied to cause the braking force. (brake rim)

brace

brace (off rotary drilling rig chart)

brachiopods

brake horsepower breakout cat head or cathead

53

braided river

brake horsepower the actual horsepower of an engine delivered at the output end. Brake horsepower is measured on the drive shaft of the engine by a brake or dynamometer. Indicated horsepower minus friction horsepower is equal to brake horsepower.
BHP, B.H.P., or bhp

brake lever a lever on the floor of a drilling rig that is used to activate the drawworks brake brake lining the series of brake blocks on the brake band that are tightened around the drum to cause friction and generate the braking force brake rider a driller who uses the drawworks brake excessively brake rim the surface of the drum to which the brake lining is applied to cause the braking force (brake flange) brake shoe the heat and friction-resistant material on a band brake that comes in contact with a brake drum or clutch drum brake thermal efficiency the brake work divided by the heat input brake tie-down chain a chain located on the floor of a drilling rig that is used to secure the brake lever on the drawworks to hold the traveling block at a certain height brake weight a driller braking capacity the load that a drawworks brake and auxiliary brake on a drilling rig can hold branch more than one seismic reflector observed for the same subsurface point. A branch can be caused by a buried focus.

branched-chain paraffin a type of hydrocarbon molecule that is saturated with single bonds and is formed by a straight chain similar to a paraffin but with a side chain. An example is isobutane. A branchedchain paraffin is in contrast to a normal or n-paraffin that forms a straight chain, (isoparaffin) brass an alloy with 60% or more copper and zinc BKD building road BRDGE bridge breadth the maximum width of a ship's hull or offshore drilling rig (beam) break 1) to start 2) a change in the drilling rate due to penetration of a softer or harder subsurface rock layer 3) the destruction of foam break circulation to start pumping drilling mud down the drillpipe to restore circulation after the well was shut in breakdown an equipment failure break down 1) to unscrew the drillstring into separate joints after either completion of drilling the well, a mechanical failure, or during a change in drillpipe sizes. The drillpipe is laid on the pipe rack. (laying down or breaking down the pipe) 2) the fracturing of a formation in a well breakdown pressure the highest pressure, measured at the surface, applied to a frac fluid during a hydraulic fracturing job before a subsurface formation takes fluids at a high rate and start to fracture breaker plate see breakout block break formation to drill through a formation breaking down the pipe see break down breaking strength the minimum stress that will rupture a substance under atmospheric pressure and room temperature (rupture strength) break it up to make an analysis of crude oil break out or breakout 1) to pull tubulars or rods from a well, unscrew, and stack them in the derrick 2) to separate gas from a liquid 3) the formation of gas bubbles in a liquid 4) to begin at a certain level of responsibility as a member of a drilling rig crew 5) to loosen a pipe joint 6) the rising of oil to the surface of an oil/emulsion drilling mud 7) an oblong wellbore crosssection caused by spalling of fractured rock into the well. The wellbore is elongated parallel to the a or minimum stress direction of the compressional forces that caused the shear fracture. breakout block a metal holding device in the shape of a heavy plate that fits into the bowl of a rotary table and is used to screw (made up) or unscrew (broke out) the bit from the drillstring by rotating the drillstring. The breakout block is sized according to the size of the bit. (bit or bit breaker box or breaker plate) breakout cat head or cathead a hub that is attached to a rotating shaft (catshaft) such as on the drawworks of a drilling rig. It is used as a power source with the tongs to unscrew (break out) joints of pipe. The breakout cathead is located opposite the driller's side of the drawworks. The breakout cathead usually has a stronger clutch and jerk line than the spinning cathead.

54

Breakout man Brine storage pit to isolate producing formations in a well or to plug and abandon a well with cement. Three type of bridge plugs are a) permanent, b) drillable (made of soft metal) and c) retrievable (lowered on tubing or wireline) BP bridge up see bridge over bridging the plugging of a well bridging agents or material material that is added to drilling mud or cement slurry to remedy a lost circulation problem. Laminated plastic, ground, coal, ground neoprene, shredded redwood and cedar, leather, asbestos, cottonseed hulls, pig hair, cellophane, and wood shavings are common bridging materials, (lost circulation material)

breakout man the crew member on a drilling rig that operates the breakout tong breakout oil oil that has separated from an emulsion mud breakout tongs the large, wrench-like device that is suspended from the mast or derrick above the drill floor of a drilling rig. In coming out of the hole, the lead-tong or breakout man uses the breakout tongs which act as the torque tongs and are connected by rope or chain to the breakout cathead to grip the pin end of a pipe joint for breaking out the pipe. When going in the hole, the breakout tongs grip the box end of the pipe and are used as backups for the makeup tongs, (lead tongs) breakover a change from one drilling mud type to another (conversion) breaks Small faults in rocks break tour to begin the 24-hour cycle of tours by the drilling crew of a drilling rig after it has been rigged and is ready to drill breathe or breathing the flow of vapors and air in and out of a storage tank due to daily heating and cooling breather tubes outlet pipes on a storage tank that allows air or vapor to escape as the tank is being filled or the liquid is expanding by heating breather or breathing vent a small port in a storage tank that allows for the flow of air and vapor in and out of the tank due to cooling and heating. The vent can have a flame arrestor on it. breathing loss gas lost by circulation Brec, brec, or BRECC breccia breccia a clastic, sedimentary rock containing very unsorted, angular particles, some of which are larger than sand in size. Breccia is similar to conglomerate, except the breccia particles are angular, whereas the conglomerate particles are rounded. BRECC, Brec or brec breccia pore a type of pore found in limestones that is formed by the spaces between large, angular pieces brecciated intensely fractured and broken into angular particles brecciola a sedimentary rock composed of angular rubble particles of carbonates interstratified with dark marine shales. Brecciolas are deposited by gravity slides and turbidity currents. Brf barrels of reservoir fluid brg bearing brhg branching bridge 1) an obstruction such as soft material that swells or caves in to block a well, possibly trapping the drillstring 2) the plugging of an orifice by material inside the orifice. Bridging is in contrast to arching that occurs outside the orfice. (bridge over or up) bridge over 1) the collapse of the sides of well around the drillstem 2) to plug a well at a specific depth in the well (bridge or bridge up) bridge plug an expandable tool with slips, a plug mandrel and a rubber seal that is run in a cased well to close it at a specific depth. A bridge plug is used

bridle

bridle

bridle 1) the wire rope or cable that connects the horsehead to the carrier bar and polished rod on a beam pumping unit 2) the end of a survey cable to which a sonde is attached brightness an emulsion indicator. Relatively pure water or oil is clear and bright, whereas emulsions are murky and opaque. The greater the interfacial area, the lighter the emulsion color. bright spot an intense seismic reflection on a seismic record. The reflection is between 20-25% of the seismic energy compared to a typical reflection of 4-6%. A bright spot is caused by an abnormally large reflection coefficient on an interface. A shale overlying a sandstone reservoir saturated with gas can cause a bright spot. As little as 2% gas can cause a bright spot. brimstone sulfur brine very saline water, with greater than 35 ppt salt, the salt content of ocean water. Oilfield brine is the saline water often produced with oil from an oil well. The most common salt in oilfield brine is sodium chloride (NaCl). brine disposal well a well used to inject oilfield brine (salt water) into a subsurface reservoir brine storage pit a surface depression that uses either evaporation and/or seepage to dispose of oilfield brine or salt water

bringing bottoms up bryozoan


1 MILE

55

Sife

isr^^l

bright spot

bringing bottoms up to circulate well cuttings to the surface of a well after drilling has stopped bringing in a well to drill, complete, and put a well on production BRIT or brit brittle British thermal unit a unit of heat measurement often used to evaluate natural gas. A British thermal unit is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 lb of water, 1 F. It is equal to 252 cal, 777.649 ft-lbs or 1060 J. The heating value of gas is expressed in Btu/ft3and in Btu/gal for liquids. Pipeline natural gas has between 900 and 1,200 Btu/ ft . Dry natural gas averages 1,031 Btu/ft3and wet natural gas averages 1,110 Btu/ft3. The Btu content of crude oil depends on API of the oil and averages 5,700,000 Btu/bbl of light oil. On a Btu basis, one average barrel of oil equals 6,040 ft3of average natural gas. BTU, B.T.U., B.t.u., Btu ,or BThU brittle deformation the permanent fracturing of a substance A rock is brittle if it fractures at less than 3-5% of strain. A substance is said to be brittle if it ruptures below the yield point and ductile if it ruptures above the yield point. Brittle deformation is in contrast to elastic deformation. Brk or brk break BRKN or brkn broken brks brackish BRKW brackish water brl barrel brl/a barrels per annum brn brown broach to break through to the surface around the casing in a well broaching the uncontrolled flow of formation fluids along the outside of a casing string up to the surface broadside a type of arrangement used in seismic reflection shooting in which the shotpoint is located a significant distance from the geophone line of the

spread. An L-spread has the shotpoint located to the side of one end on the line of spread, whereas a T-spread has the shotpoint located opposite the center of the line of spread. broken 1) a sandstone with thin shale layers 2) a pipe or tubing that has been loosened with pipe tongs 3) a formation with a mixed composition broken thread a thread tooth used in a connection that is fractured or chipped broke out to be promoted to a new job broker a person who purchases leases either as an investment for himself to be sold later or as an agent for a company that desires to keep their lease purchases secret bromine value the number of centigrams of bromine absorbed by one gram of oil under specific conditions. The bromide value is a measure of the unsaturatedness of an oil bronc or bronch a relative inexperienced or newly promoted drill-rig worker bronchitis the problem with a driller when he has inexperienced rig workers or bronchs bronze an alloy of tin and copper broomstick charge an explosive charge that gives off a directional impulse used in seismic exploration Br.sh. brown shale bit bright brtl brittle Brunton compass a pocket compass with sights and a mirror that is used by a geologist in the field. It is often used to determine the strike and dip of beds. brute stack stacking of seismic traces before normal moveout corrections have been made. A brute stack is used early in seismic processing to estimate velocities. Bry bryozoa bryozoan a small aquatic invertebrate belonging to the phylum Bryozoa. Some live in colonies and secrete

56

BS bubblepoint curve Btu or BTU regulation clause a gas purchase contract provision that allows the purchaser to refuse gas with a yield of less than a minimum number of Btu/ft3. btw between BTX benzene, toluene, xylen bty battery BU balled up bu buff bubble bucket a sample container that is used to receive the fluid from a drillstem test bubble cap a concave-down metal cap that is located over an orifice on a horizontal bubble-cap tray. The tray contains a cool liquid. Gases rising through the orifice in the tray are forced to bubble through the liquid as they rise.

bryozoans

a branchwork of calcium carbonate. Bryozoans have existed from Ordovician period to the present and were important reef builders during Paleozoic era. Bty BS 1) basic sediment 2) bottom sediment 3) base sediment BS&W basic sediments and water BS&W monitor an instrument used in a leaseautomatic-custody-transfer (1ACT) system that measures and records the basic sediment and water content of oil being transferred to a pipeline. Oil with a BS&W content above a certain amount can be automatically transferred back to treatment facilities. BSCFD, BSCF/D, or Bsctfd billion standard cubic feet per day BSD barrels per stream day BSE backscattered electron bsg bushing B.S. gang a production crew BSI British Standards Institution BSKT basket BSMP bit samples BSMT or bsmt basement BSPF bullets shot per foot BSR bottom sinulating reflector Bsto or bsto barrels of stock tank oil BSULW barrels of sulfur water BSW barrels of salt water BSWPH barrels of salt water per hour BT broken teeth Bt total formation volume factor b(t) noise BTG bourdon tube gauge BThU British thermal unit BTM, Btm, or btm bottom btm ch bottom choke btm chk bottom check btmd bottomed BTS blankets to surface Btu, B.T.U., B.t.u. or BTU british thermal unit Btu or BTU adjustment clause a provision in a gas pipeline contract that provides for an adjustment in the gas price for the Btu content of the gas above or below a specific amount

DISTILLING COLUMN.

SIDEDRAW

bubble tray tower

bubble-cap tray A horizontal metal tray with bubble caps mounted over orifices on the tray, the tray contains a cool liquid and rising gases are forced to bubble through the liquid. Several bubble-cap trays are arranged vertically in bubble towers. Bubble towers are used both in refining and in absorber towers, (bubble tray) bubble effect a secondary emission that occurs when using a marine seismic source such as an air gun. The bubble effect is caused by oscillation of an air bubble as it pulses by contracting and expanding. bubble flow a flow regime with gas bubbles dispersed in a liquid bubble hole a well that produces gas during a drillstem test bubblepoint 1) the temperature and pressure at which solution gas will first bubble out of crude oil in a subsurface reservoir 2) the minimum temperature at a certain pressure or the minimum pressure at a certain temperature, at which bubbles form in a liquid 3) the temperature at which solution gas bubbles out of oil on the surface, b bubblepoint curve a line drawn along the bubble point of a pressure or temperature-versusconcentration plot or temperature-versus-pressure plot. A bubble-point curve shows where bubbles first form in a liquid.

bubblepoint pressure bulk density bubblepoint pressure the lowest pressure at which crude oil in a subsurface reservoir is saturated with solution gas A slight decrease in the pressure will cause bubbles of solution gas to form in the oil. bubble pulses the pulses caused by the oscillation of a high-pressure gas bubble in water. Bubble pulses are caused by a marine seismic source such as an air gun and can be filtered out by seismic processing. bubblepoint pump a type of downhole oil pump that is sensitive to solution gas bubbles forming in oil. When saturation pressure is reached in the well, solution gas locks the pump until the pressure builds up to above saturation pressure. A bubblepoint pump maintains a backpressure on the producing formation in excess of the bubblepoint pressure to prevent solution gas bubbles from forming. This increases ultimate oil production. bubble tower a vertical tank that uses bubble-cap trays to pass gas through a liquid. An absorber tower or glycol dehydrator is a bubble tower. bubble tray see bubble-cap tray Bubl bubble buchwash basic sediments or bottom settlings bucking or bucking-current electrodes the electrodes in a wireline well-log sonde that focus the current from the measuring electrodes into a horizontal sheet that extends out into the formations surrounding the wellbore. The bucking electrodes are often 5-6 ft long compared to the central or guarded electrode that is 3-6 in. long, (guard
electrodes)

57

buckle a bend or kink buckle folding folding in sedimentary rocks caused by forces parallel to the layering in the rock. Buckle folding results in horizontal shortening. buckled pipe a tubular such as tubing that is bent into a helix. Buckled pipe is the result of a compressive axial load on the tubular. Buckles number water saturation times porosity. (bulk volume of water) buckling the twisting of a tubular, see helical buckling buckling stress the force that causes pipe to bend. Buckling stress can be caused by either a sharp deviation in a well or by compressive axial stress that causes helical bending. buck up to tighten a threaded connection such as between pipe joints budget the planned allocation of monies for an investment such as drilling a well buffer a substance that, when dissolved in water, resists a hydrogen ion concentration or pH change when an acid or base is added buffer capacity the ability of a solution to maintain a specific pH bug 1) a microfossil. 2) an error in a computer program bug blower a large fan on the floor of a drilling rig that is used to provide some relief from insects bug hole see vug bug picker Someone who works with microfossils

bug roost a bed bugs 1) a seismograph crew 2) bacteria build-and-hold wellbore a deviated or horizontal well in which the inclination increases to a specific angle and then maintains that inclination to the target build angle 1) to increase the inclination of a well. The build angle is approximately 3/100 ft. for conventional directional drilling and 27ft for shortradius horizontal drainholes. 2) The rate of increasing change of inclination of a well measured in 7100 ft, 30m, or 10m. build curve the portion of a deviated or horizontal well in which the well is deflected from vertical to the desired inclination angle. The build curye extends from the kickoff point to the end of curve. building pits to make an excavation and surrounding embankment for the mud pits on a drilling rig building rate see build rate build radius the radius of curvature on a circle that duplicates the build curve of a deviated hole build rate the curvature of a build curve or rate of angle increase in a deviated hole. The build rate is usually expressed in 7100 ft and is typically V/t37100 ft. Positive is used for increasing angle whereas negative is decreasing angle, (building rate) buildup the part of a well where the inclination increases buildup test a test run on a well to determine its effective drainage radius and obtain information about the permeability of the producing formation. The production rate is stabilized and held constant. The well is shut in for a period of time and the rise of bottomhole pressure is recorded. A buildup test can determine whether skin or borehole damage exists. bulb bulbous

BULB

STEM

ROOT
bulb on a salt plug

bulb the enlarged upper section of a salt stock or plug that was formed by salt swelling sideways. The part of the bulb that protrudes out beyond the stem is called the overhang, (cap, hat or head) bulk density the combined density of rock and fluids in the pore spaces

58

bulkhead bully The bull gear is powered by the engines and drives the connecting rods. bullheading 1) a method used in a well to pump treating fluids into a formation. The treating fluids are pumped down the tubing string. The fluids are forced into the formation by produced formation fluids that are then pumped into the tubing string. A packer is used to isolate the formation to be treated. If a packer is not used, the process is called bradenheading. 2) to pump heavy drilling mud into the kill line and annulus of a well to control the well bullhead squeeze a technique that uses hydraulic pressure applied to a well to force cement slurry through perforations in a pipe. Cement flow up the annulus is prevented by a packer. bullnose a plug that fits into a subsea production flowline and allows a line to enter the flowline. The bullnose is removed once the line is secured. bullnose bit a drag bit with a convex, hemipherical face that cuts a nonrecoverable core

bulkhead an interior wall, usually on a ship or offshore drilling rig bulkhead deck the highest deck on a ship or offshore drilling rig to which the watertight bulkheads extend bulk hose a flexible rubber hose on an offshore drilling platform used to raise bulk supplies such as water, fuel, drilling mud, or cement slurry from a supply boat or barge to the platform bulk modulus the ratio of change in pressure on a body to fractional volume change. Bulk modulus is the reciprocal of compressibility, volume elasticity, incompressibility modulus or modulus of incompressibility bulk mud drilling mud or slurry that is mixed with water or oil. Bulk mud is in contrast to dry mud that is stored in sacks. bulk storage trailer a large trailer that is used to store dry cement on site for a cement job. The trailer is moved on location and filled several days before the job. bulk volume the percentage of a particular substance in a unit volume. BV or Vb bulk-volume gas the percentage of gas in a unit volume. BVG bulk-volume hydrocarbon the percentage of crude oil and natural gas in a unit volume. BVH bulk-volume matrix the percentage of rock in a unit volume. BVM bulk-volume meter an instrument that measures the bulk volume of a sample such as a core by immersing it in a fluid and measuring the displaced fluid in a calibrated tube. A bulk-volume meter is used to calculate the porosity of the sample. bulk volume of water see bulk volume water. BVW bulk-volume oil the percentage of crude oil in a unit volume. BVO bulk-volume water the amount of formation water in a unit volume, (bulk volume of water) BVW bulk volume water-minimum or bulk volume water-irreducible the percentage water that is irreducible, bound to the rock surfaces by capillary action, and cannot be produced. BVWmin or BVW^ bulldogged a fishing tool used to attach to fish or junk on the bottom of the well. The tool is designed so that it will not unattach from the fish or junk. bulldozer a powerful tractor with a blade on the front bullet 1) a perforating gun projectile. Bullets range in diameter from V+-*/\6 in. and come in various shapes described as punch, needle, mushroom, burrfree, and steelflo. 2) A sidewall coring projectile. BUILT bullet perforator a type of tubular perforator that is lowered into a well to shoot high-velocity projectiles called bullets into the casing or liner and cement to perforate the well. The perforator is electronically detonated from the surface and can fire one, several, or all the bullets. Bullet perforating was introduced in the 1930s, but shaped explosive charges are more commonly used today in perforating. bull gear the large circular gear on a mud pump

bull plug a threaded pipe fitting or nipple with a rounded, closed end that forms a cap. A bull plug is used to close a pipe. The bull plug on the bottom of a logging tool uses an O-ring seal. BP bull rope the rope that connects the bull wheel and band wheel on a cable-tool rig bull scout the oil scout that is elected to be in charge of the scout checks or meetings. The bull scout assigns scouts to their districts to be covered, (czar) bull's eye diapir a subcircular diapir BULLT bullet bull tongs a tool consisting of a releasable chain and handle that is used to grip and turn pipe or fittings larger than can be handled with a pipe wrench, (chain tongs) bull wagon a casing wagon bull wheel the large wooden spool, 7-8 ft in diameter with a shaft of 10 in. in diameter that is used to hold the cable on a cable-tool rig. It was powered in early days from a bull rope attached to the band wheel. Later, cable-tool bull wheels were connected to the band wheel by a chain drive with a clutch. The bull wheel is located on the drill floor of a cable-tool rig on the side opposite the Samson post. bully an oilfield worker

bump a well or bump down burping

59

DERRICK

BIT bull wheel

bump a well or bump down to have the downhole pump on a pumping well to hit the bottom of the well It is caused by too long a sucker-rod string. Bumping a well can be done on purpose to clean out any sand, mud, or paraffin from the well. bumped a cement plug that has hit the float collar near the bottom of a casing string during a cement job on a well bumper jar or sub a downhole fishing device that consists of pipe with a solid metal rod in it. The rod slides up and down in the pipe with a stroke length of 18-36 in. and is designed to deliver a heavy, downward blow to a tool that is attached to the bottom of it. The sub is located between the jars and the fishing tool on a fishing string. The bumper jar is used in swabbing, cutting paraffin, and fishing and often has a sinker bar above it. The bumper sub is also used to free stuck pipe. bumper sub a short section of pipe that acts like a shock absorber on a drillstring. The bumper sub is a cylinder with compressible fluid and a piston with a 5-ft stroke. Bumper subs come in various lengths, weights, strokes, and diameters. One or more are used on the bottomhole assembly just above the drill collars on a semisubmersible or drillship to compensate for heave. bumping the plug to pump cement slurry, a top plug, and a displacement fluid down the casing string during a cement job until the top plug lands on the bottom plug indicating that the slurry has been pumped out of the casing. An increase in cement pump pressure occurs when the top plug bumps the float collar. bump oflf to disconnect a rod-line well from a central power unit bump-off post a device on a jack well that allows the jack well to be disconnected without affecting the other wells on the central jack plant bung down to drill a well bunker heavy fuel oil. It is described by numbers such as #6 bunker fuel oil. bunkhouse the building used to house the crew and supplies on a drilling rig

buoyancy 1) the ability of a substance or object to float on a fluid 2) the upward-directed pressure on an object that is partially or entirely immersed in a fluid. It is equal to the weight of the fluid that is displaced by the object. 3) the ability of a fluid to support an object buoyancy chamber a container for water ballast located in the pontoon or caisson of a semisubmersible drilling rig. Water ballast is used for stability and to raise and lower the semisubmersible in the water. (ballast tank) buoyant weight the effective weight of something submerged in a fluid. Buoyant weight is equal to the weight of the object in air minus the weight of the fluid it displaces. Bur or bur 1) burrow 2) burrowed bur a rotary drilling bit burdens the overriding royalties, production payments, carried interests, and lessor royalties to which a working interest is subjected Burdigalian a global age of geological time that occurred about 23-17 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Miocene epoch. buried-focus effect a condition in seismic exploration caused by a subsurface, concave-upward reflector that focuses the reflections to a subsurface point before the reflections reach the surface and are recorded. This results in branches where more than one reflector is observed for the same subsurface point. buried hill a basement or hard, sedimentary-rock hill covered by softer sedimentary rock in the subsurface. Granite-wash reservoirs can occur on buried granite hill, and compaction anticline traps can occur in sedimentary rocks over buried hills. burn a bit to drill too fast burned-out reservoir rock a reservoir rock that contained crude oil but was naturally subjected to excessive temperatures (generally above about 300F); the oil was thermally cracked into thermal gas and graphite. The graphite (C) can often be seen coating the sediment grains. burner tip 1) a point where natural gas on a burner is burned 2) the gas price at the end user burning disposal by fire of casinghead or solution gas (flaring) 2) excessive erosion on a drilling bit due to insufficient drilling fluid circulation burning point the lowest temperature at which the surface of a particular crude oil will ignite and steadily burn when an open flame is held at its surface burning shoe a rotary shoe used in fishing operations that is designed to grind up and pulverize junk (milling shoe) burn-out pit a surface depression that is used to dispose of materials by fire, (burn pit) burn pit a surface depression that is used to dispose of waste oil and materials by fire, (burn-out pit) burn shoe a short cylindrical section of pipe that is used on the bottom of the drillstring to mill or grind away stuck pipe or junk in a well burping intermittent flow on a well, (belching)

60

burr butt-welded pipe

burr a local area of roughness or a sliver on a surface produced by mechanical damage burrow pore a pore, often in limestone, formed by the burrow of an animal in the sediments burst pressure the net outward-directed pressure on the inside of a pipe burst pressure rating or strength the maximum pressure that the inside of an object such as drillpipe can bear before failure, (internal yield strength) bury threads to screw a connection together until the male threads are covered by the shoulder on the female connection and cannot be seen bus or bus bar numerous electrical conductors that are arranged together to collect electric current from several sources and distribute it. A bus is a solid metal conductor that is designed to carry a heavy electrical current. bushing 1) a removable sleeve or lining that is used on a pipe or opening to limit its size, provide a guide, or resist wear or corrosion 2) a pipe fitting that is used to connect two pipes of different sizes. It has larger external threads and smaller internal threads. bsg bust the failure to tie or return a survey loop back within acceptable standards

butterfly valve

H 1 C c 1 1 H H
I
^ ^ ^ ^ ^

H 1
| ^

H 1
C \

and close The butterfly valve is used to turn the flow on and off. (fishtail or wafer valve) Butterworth tank cleaning system rotating nozzles of high-pressure, hot-water jets that are used to clean gas from oil tanks button 1) the tungsten carbide, conical, spherical, or chisel-shaped pellet that is cold-pressed into a hole drilled in the face of a steel cone on an insert or button roller-cone bit. The button does the crushing and chipping" of the rock on the bottom of the well. Chisel-shaped buttons are used in softer rocks, whereas the spherical buttons are used in harder rocks. (compact or insert) 2) a block that is nailed to the drill floor and is used to hold the bit when the drillstem is screwed into it 3) a small, disk-shaped microresitiviry pact electrode

W 1 H

H- C 1 1 H 1 H- -C-H H

C-- H 1

butane (normal and isobutane)

button bit (Hughes Tool Co.)

butane a gas (C4Hl0) found in some natural gases Butane has two isomers: isobutane and1 n-butane. Isobutane has a molecular weight of 58.124, a boiling point of 10.9F, a critical temperature of 274.98F, a specific gravity at 60F of 0.5631 and a gross heat content of 3252.7 Btu/ft3. N-butane has a molecular weight of 58.124, a boiling point of 311F, & critical temperature of 3Q5.65F, a specific gravity at 60*F of 0.5844, and a gross heat content of 3262.1 Btu/ft3. Butane is often separated from natural gas and used as an additive to gasoline, or liquified under pressure and used as a part of liquid petroleum gas. It is one of the paraffin series of hydrocarbons. butene an olefin or alkane with the chemical formula
C4H8 (butylene)

butterfly valve a type of quick-opening valve that uses a disk or wafer on a pivot in a chamber to open

button bit a type of roller-cone bit with tungsten carbide buttons or inserts on the cone faces. The button bit is commonly used in drilling hard rocks and in coring. The button, bit crushes the rock by Compression and produces relatively fine cuttings compared to those produced by a steel tooth or milled teeth roller-cone bit. (msert bit) button hole a small hole in tubing thai allows natural gas from the tubing to flow up the casing-tubing annufus button pole an extension on a gin pole buttress sand beach sands deposited on an unconformity by transgressing (rising) seas. Buttress sands can be potential petroleum reservoir rocks. butt-welded pipe a tubular that has one longitudinal seam formed mechanically to make the welded

butylene

byte

61

buttress sands

junction The edges were heated in a furnace to welding temperature before welding. butylene an olefin or alkane with the chemical formula C4H8. (butene) buy-back crude the proportion of crude oil belonging to the national government in a sharing agreement, (participation crude) BV bulk volume BVG bulk-volume gas BVH bulk-volume hydrocarbon BVM bulk-volume matrix BVO bulk-volume oil BVW bulk-volume water

^,. bulk-volume water-irreducible BVWmln bulk-volume water-minimum BW barrels of water B w water formation-volume factor B^g wet-gas formation volume factor BW/H barrels of water per hour BW/D barrels of water per day BWL barrels water load BWOL barrels of water over load BWPD or bwpd barrels of water per day BWPH barrels of water per hour BWPMM barrels of water per million cubic feet BWTR brine water b.y. billion years bypass a pipe connection that goes around a flow control mechanism such as a valve A bypass is used during adjustments or repairs. bypassing or by-passing the flow of fluid such as water around relatively impermeable reservoir rocks, leaving oil behind, (imbition) bypass valve a valve that allows fluid to flow around an area or piece of equipment in the line byte the computer memory needed to store one character. A character is a symbol such as A or 2. A byte commonly takes 8 bits of memory. Computer memory is measured in kilobytes or megabytes.

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C cable-tool rig

C 1) Celsius 2) centigrade 3) coal 4) center 5) capacitance 6) concentration 7) conductivity 8) coulomb 9) coefficient 10) specific heat 11) waterdrive constant 12) calculated 13) coil 14) carbon 15) cubic 16) phase velocity 17) curvature 18) components 19) cored c 1) coarse 2) core 3) capillary 4) contact 5) critical 6) conversion 7) compressibility 8) electrochemical 9) correlated 10) capacity 11) constant 12) casing 13) compressional wave 14) shaliness exponent 15) coal 16) heat capacity 17) centiCa calcite CA elevation correction Ca apparent compressibility cabbages bearings located on the pitman of a beam pumping unit cable 1) a rope made of strands of steel wire. A cable is in contrast to a wire rope that has a fiber core such as hemp with strands of steel wire wound around it. 2) the electrical conductors that connect the geophones with the seismic recording truck. The cable has as many pairs of wires as geophone groups, which often number 24 or 48. 3) the electrical conductors and supporting members that are used to lower and raise a well logging sonde in a well 4) a rope made of fibers 5) a nautical unit of length equal to 600 ft, 100 fath, about 183 m, or about 0.1 nautical mi cable clamp a rope socket cable crew ten or more jug hustlers that work on a seismic crew planting and moving the geophone arrays cable electrode an electrode in a flexible insulator that is run between the sonde and the logging cable for electrical contact with the borehole fluid cable-guide method a fishing method for conductor cable or sand line in a deep open hole or for a radioactive instrument. It uses special tools from a fishing tool service company, (cut and strip) cable hander a crossbar that rests on the rotary table and uses a clamp to support the weight of a survey cable during fishing operations cablehead a quick-connecting end of a logging cable that contains electrical and mechanical couplings cable suspended unit an electric submersible pump suspended by a cable in a well. CSPS cable-tool drilling the original method of drilling a well by pounding the bit, a heavy weight, with a

cable tool drilling rig

chisel edge, up and down on the bottom of the well to pulverize the rocks at the bottom of the well. Usually less than 25 ft of water are kept in the well. If there is no water in the well, water is dumped into the well. At regular intervals (3-8 ft), the well cuttings are bailed out of the bottom of the well with a bailer on a bailing or sand line. The method is about onetenth as fast as rotary drilling and does not effectively control abnormal high pressures in subsurface fluids, but it does minimize formation damage. A cable-tool rig can drill about 25 ft/day and rarely more than 60 ft/day. Cable-tool rigs were effective in medium to hard rocks, but soft and unconsolidated rocks often cave in or allow water to flow into the well. There was typiclly a two-man crew on the rig. Almost all wells were drilled with cable-tool rigs until the period 1900-1930 when the rotary rigs were introduced. Cable-tool drilling is still used today and is normally limited to 3,000-5,000 ft, but can drill to 7,500 ft and do 10,000 foot workovers. (churn or rope drilling) cable-tool rig an older type of drilling rig that pounds a hole in the ground by raising and lowering a wedge-shaped bit on the end of a drilling line. The cable-tool rig has a derrick, engine, walking beam, bull wheel, band wheel, and calf wheel. The derrick, which was originally wooden, was 72 ft high with a base of 20 ft. The derrick has a crown block at the top that is used to raise and lower equipment in the well. The engine, which was originally a locomotive, single-tube, boiler steam engine with a heavy flywheel, was connected by a belt to the band wheel, a large, vertical wooden wheel. The band wheel turns and is attached to the walking beam by a pitman. This causes

cable tools calcareous

63

cable tool drilling rig (Texaco, Inc.)

the walking beam to rise and fall, which causes the drilling line on the other end to rise and fall in the well. The drill string, which is about 20 ft long and located on the end of the drilling line in the well, is composed of the bit, the drillstem, jars, and a rope socket. The cable-tool bits are solid steel that vary in length from 3-4 ft and weigh from 140-200 lbs. The end of the bit has a wedge or chisel shape with a taper of 25. Higher angles are used for softer formations and flatter angles for harder formation. The bits have two V-shaped notches for watercourses. The drilling line, originally hemp rope, but now steel cable, is wound around the bull wheel. As the well is drilled deeper, more rope is unwound from the bull wheel. Drilling line is let into the well by a temper screw attached to the walking beam. The calf wheel is a more powerful winch system that is also powered from the band wheel and is used to set casing in the well. The rig is dismantled when moved, although some very shallow rigs were mounted on wheels. The common cable-tool rig was used in the 1870s and 1880s. By 1890, most of the equipment had been standardized, and the rig was known as a standard cable-tool rig that was commonly used up to 1925. The last standard cable-tool rig was retired in the late 1950s. Unitized cable-tool rigs that are lighter and more portable with telescoping double pole masts are now used. The steam engine has been replaced by the multicylinder internal combustion engine with a speed-reducing intermediate shaft. cable tools the equipment used to drill a well with a cable-tool rig. CT (standard tools) cable wiper a device that consist of loops of cable that is designed to be attached to a casing string as it is run in a well to remove the mud cake. Two types of cable wipers are rotating and reciprocating. cab over a truck with the engine over its front wheels cackle berry a dynamite charge cadastral map a large-scale map showing property and political boundaries. It is used to delineate ownership of the land. A cadastral map can also show physical and cultural features. cadastre or cadaster an official registration of location, value, and ownership of real estate that is used for taxation cage the container for the ball valve in a sucker-rod pump

cable tool drillstring

CAI 1) conodont alteration index 2) color alteration index caisson 1) a type of offshore production platform with one, very large leg. A caisson is used in Arctic waters were there is moving ice. 2) a water-tight chamber made of concrete and/or steel. The cellular base of an offshore gravity structure and the buoyancy chambers on a semisubmersible are caissons. caisson completion system an offshore Christmas tree that is installed entirely below the mudline cake consistency the texture of the filter or mudcake in a wellbore. Cake consistency is described by such terms as soft, hard, firm, tough, or rubbery. cake thickness the thickness of the filter or mudcake made of the solids in drilling mud that are plastered to the side of the wellbore. Cake thickness is usually measured in Vyi of an inch. CAL or Cal caliper log CAL computer analyzed log cal 1) calcite 2) caliper survey 3) calorie 4) caliper log calendar month one of the 12 months of the year calendar quarter three consecutive months that start with the first day of January, April, July, or October calendar year twelve consecutive months that start with January 1 and end with December 31 CA1C, Calc, or calc calcite calc calcareous calcarenite a limestone containing predominantly sand-sized particles or particles from 0.062 to 1 mm in size. Clear calcareous containing some CaCO3 or limestone. calc

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calcareous alga or algae caliper log calcium reduces swelling and hydration of the clays. Calcium replaces sodium on the clay, and the clays form aggregates. It is used to drill thick anhydrite deposits and to counteract sloughing shales and salt water flow. calcium sulfate a salt composed of CaSO4 that is used to control alkalinity in drilling mud and can form as scale in pipes. Calcium sulfate is the composition of the mineral anhydrite. calcium-treated mud water-base drilling mud that contains calcium oxide (lime) or calcium sulfate (gypsum) to retard hydration of shales and clays, see calcium mud calc OF calculated open flow calc sh calcareous shale calc ss calcareous sandstone calctc calcitic calculated absolute open flow the theoretical maximum producing capacity of a gas well. It is usually calculated from a four-point test. CAOF calculated gas saturation a ratio of the volume of gas under reservoir conditions to the volume of the reservoir rock. CGS calendar day allowable the amount of gas and/or oil permitted to be produced from a well, leasehold, or field by a government regulatory agency (allowable), stated on a per day basis, (actual calendar day allowable) calf line the cable used on a cable-tool rig to raise and lower casing in the well. The calf line was wound around the calf wheel. calf wheel the reel on a cable-tool rig that is located on the walking beam side of the drill floor and winds the calf line used for running casing. It was used along with a multiple sheave crown block and the traveling block. The calf wheel was powered by a chain and sprocket from the main shaft. calibration the adjustment of an instrument to a standard calibration loop see test loop calibration pill see test pill calibration survey a short run by a sonde before the well log is make to make sure that the logging equipment is accurately running and the results are replicable calibration tail a short form on a well log with information on log calibration. The calibration tails are made before and after the logging survey. calibration tank a tank in which liquid flowmeters are calibrated (prover tank) caliche a very hard crust formed in arid-climate soils and composed primarily of calcium carbonate. Caliche is opaque, reddish-brown to buff, or white and can contain gravel and finer grains, cche caliper an instrument used to determine the inner diameter of a tubular such as tubing or casing caliper log a wireline well log that records the diameter of the wellbore. The tool has one, two, three, four, or six spring arms that expand and contract to fit the size of the wellbore as it is brought up the hole. In one type of caliper log tool, the motion of

calcareous alga or algae a type of aqueous plant that secretes mud-sized needles of aragonite (calcium carbonate) and lives primarily in shallow, tropical seas or intertidal areas. Calcareous algae are important contributors to both sand- and mud-sized carbonate particles in tropical seas. Calcareous algae have been important on reefs throughout geological time. Stromatolites are a type of algae that build large, domal, laminated calcareous structures in shallow water. Coralline algae are a type of calcareous algae that are encrusting, (calcified alga or algae) calcareous dolostone a calcareous sedimentary rock containing 50%-90% dolomite calcareous ooze a very fine-grained, white deposit of calcium carbonate deposited on the ocean bottom. In shallow waters, the ooze is composed of both shells (microfossils) and inorganically and organically precipitated calcium carbonate. In the deep ocean it is composed of microfossil shells of formainifera or coccoliths. calciclastic a rock composed of clastic limestone particles calcified alga or algae see calcareous alga or alga calcilutite a limestone containing primarily silt- and clay-sized (mud) particles (less than 62 mm). Clclt calcimetry the analysis of the carbonate content of a rock calcimicrite a limestone composed of particles less than 20 JL in size J calcirudite a limestone containing particles that are primarily larger than sand-sized or particles larger than 1 mm. Clcrd calcisiltite a limestone containing particles that are primarily silt-sized calcite a common mineral composed of CaCO3. Calcite has a hardness of 3, a specific gravity of 2.72, and is commonly white, colorless, or yellow. The mineral effervesces in cold, dilute acid. Calcite is formed both organically and inorganically. It is a common cement in sedimentary rocks. The rock limestone is composed primarily of calcite. Ca, CALC, cal, Calc, or calc calcium carbonate the primary constituent of limestone, a common sedimentary rock. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is also a common scale that forms in pipes. It is the cause of water hardness and is a unit or standard of water hardness, (lime) calcium chloride a white salt (CaCl2) that is used as a desiccant, as an accelerator in cement, as a drying agent for gas, and to increase the density of drilling fluid calcium hydroxide the active ingredient [Ca(OH)2] of slaked lime and the main constituent of wet cement (lime) calcium mud a water-base bentonite drilling fluid in which the bentonite has been altered to a calciumbase clay by the addition of lime to form lime mud or gypsum. Calcium muds are called lime or gyp muds. The lime mud has up to 120 ppm soluble calcium and is composed of bentonite, lime, thinner, caustic soda, and an organic filtration control agent. The gyp mud contains up to 1200 ppm calcium similar to lime mud except the lime is replaced by gypsum. The

call-back marker cantilever derrick or mast rig three or four spring-driven arms is transfered to a rheostat. The change in resistivity is calibrated to hole size. In another version, three flexible springs are conected to a center rod that telescopes into a cavity with an electrical coil in the tool. The current generated by the movement of the center rod is used to measure the well diameter. The caliper log is used to a) calculate hole volume for cement, b) determine hole volume to calibrate other logs, c) locate filter cake and permeable zones, d) locate packer seats for openhole drillstem test, and e) to determine hole stability. Areas of thick mudcake on the side of the wellbore indicate permeable zones and areas of caving or washout are seen as enlargements. Corrosion, scaling and holes can also be located in tubular goods by some caliper logs, (section gauge) CAP, CAL, cal, orCALP call-back marker a buoy that is attached to the sea floor and can be released by a sonic signal (recall, pop-up, or subsurface buoy) call-on oil an option to buy oil during a period of time call-on production the right of a company through an agreement such as a farmout to purchase the gas and/or oil produced at a specified rate or at current rates Callovian a global age of geological time that occurred about 165-160 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Jurassic epoch. CALM catenary anchor leg mooring calorie the metric unit of heat energy. One calorie is required to raise the temperature of lg of water from 14.5 to 15.5CC at 1 atm pressure. A calorie is equal to 0.0039685 Btu or 4.1855 J. cal calorific value the heat value of a substance calorimeter an instrument that is used to determine the heat content of a substance. A calorimeter is used to determine the Btu content of natural gas. CALP caliper log CAL Systems Computer Analyzed Log Systems calyx drill a type of rotary drill that has serrated cutting edges for soft formations and an adamantine cutting edge for hard formations. The drill can be used for both drilling and coring. cam an eccentric plate that is mounted on a shaft called the camshaft. When the cam shaft is turned, the cam imparts an alternating motion to a piece of equipment that is in contact with the cam surface. Camb Cambrian Cambrian a period of geological time about 570500 m. y. ago. It is the oldest period of the Paleozoic Era. The Cambrian is subdivided into the Upper Cambrian, Middle Cambrian and Lower Cambrian global epochs. It contains the North American epochs Dresbachian, Franconian, and Trempealeauan. Camb camera an impression block used in fishing Camneld bushing a fishing tool that is a combination spear and washover pipe Campanian a global age of geological time that occurred about 80-72 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Cretaceous epoch.

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camp boss a drilling crew member in charge of the crew's administration, lodging, and food can 1) to close a tank. 2) to seal core samples in a can Canadian pole a wooden rod that was used instead of rope on a cable-tool drilling rig. The rods were about 18 ft long, 2 2 in. in diameter, and either V round or hexagonal. On each end was a metal strap that held a pin or box joint which allowed the rods to be screwed together. Canadian rig a drilling rig that is similar to a cabletool rig, except that it uses wooden rods that were screwed together instead of manila drilling line cancellation decree a court order that voids a lease C&A compression and adsorption plant C&C circulating and conditioning candela the System International (SI) unit for luminous intensity, cd candela per square metre a derived unit in System International (SI) for luminance, cd/m2 C&K lines choke and kill lines C&P cellar and pits C&R combination tools or methods canted leg a leg on an offshore jackup rig that is designed to slant outward from the rig to give the rig more stability

cantilevered mast cantilever derrick or mast a steel tower that is used on a cantilevered or jackknife derrick rig. The rig is assembled with the mast or derrick horizontal. The mast or derrick is then pivoted to a vertical position using the traveling block and drawworks on the rig. (jackknife derrick or mast) cantilever derrick or mast rig a drilling rig in which the derrick or mast is assembled from the bottom up, horizontally on the ground, and then pivoted vertically into position by using the rig's drawworks. The drilling structure is made of prefabricated units that are pinned together with large pins. The engine and derrick are pinned and then put in place after which the mast or derrick is raised. After the mast or derrick is raised, the traveling block is used to raise the drill floor into position. The rotary beams are installed, and the catworks and rotary are raised into position with the traveling block. The catline boom is used for lighter lifting. The cantilever

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can't stain water capping a well capillary pressure the pressure differential between two immiscible fluids. Capillary pressure is caused by the interfacial surface tension and is related to the curvature of the surface. Capillary pressure is measured in a core by a) a porous diaphram, b) mercury injection, c) the centrifugal method, or d) the dynamic method. Pc capillary pressure curve a record of capillary pressure versus water saturation in a rock. The curve is plotted from results of a test used to determine the characteristics of pores in a reservoir rock In one test, oil or gas is forced under increasing pressure into a reservoir rock that is 100% saturated with natural wetting fluid such as water. This will determine the displacement pressure, the minimum pressure needed to force the oil into the rock, the relative size distribution of the pores, and the amount of irreducible fluid saturation. The capillary pressure is plotted against wetting fluid saturation. In a mercuryvacuum capillary pressure curve, mercury is injected under increasing pressure into a reservoir rock from which all fluids have been removed. The smaller the pore throats, the greater the pressure needed to inject the mercury. The mercury-vacuum capillary pressure curve is used to determine the pore-size distribution in a rock. capital assets the money value of tangible assets. The assets can be evaluated by physical inspection. Capital assets is in contrast to intangible assets. capital expenditures monies spent in drilling and completing a well that cannot be deducted under federal income tax law. The monies are recovered by the slower and less desirable depletion or depreciation methods. Capital expenditures include geological and geophysical costs, equipment costs, and lease bonuses. capital investment funds spent to acquire an asset(s) capitalize to deduct monies paid out during an investment such as drilling a well from income over a period of time greater than one year. Capitalize is in contrast to expense, which is more favorable for tax purposes. capital need per unit produced the money invested in exploration and drilling per barrel of oil daily production capital string the deepest and last length of casing that is often run down through the producing zone. The casing adjacent to the producing zone can then be perforated or shot with holes to complete the well. Capital string has the smallest diameter, ranging from 23/8-95/8 in. and typically is 5Vi or 75/a in., and is the longest string of casing in the well. Capital string protects the hole, isolates formation fluid, prevents fluid migration, and protects the downhole equipment. (flow, long, oil, pay, production string, or production casing or inner conductor)
CAPL Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen

rig is the most common type of drilling rig on land. (jackknife derrick or mast rig) can't stain water a well that does not produce even a trace of crude oil CAODC Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors CAOF calculated absolute open flow cap 1) capacitor 2) capacity 3) capture 4) bulb, head, or hat CAP caliper log capacitance a measure in farads of how much electrical charge can be stored on a capacitor. C capacitance probe a sensor that determines the dielectric constants of oil and water in an oil/water emulsion to determine their relative amounts capacitor a device that stores an electrical charge on an electrical circuit. A capacitor consists of two conducting plates separated by an insulator. The ability of a capacitor to store electrical charge is called capacitance and is measured in farads (F). (condenser) cap capacity 1) the ability of a reservoir to take water 2) the maximum production rate, c or cap 3) the net amount of fluid actually delivered at the outlet port by a rotary pump per unit time. Capacity is usually expressed in US gallons/minute. 4) permeability multiplied times pay thickness of a petroleum reservoir. Capacity is expressed in millidarcy-feet (md-ft). capacity allowable a type of allowable, the amount of oil that a well, leasehold, or field is permitted to produce per period of time by a government regulatory agency, that is used for a waterflood or enhanced oil-recovery project capacity index a measure in barrels per hour per pound increase of bottomhole pressure of an injection well's ability to take water cap a well to place and close a valve on the wellhead of a well that is blowing out capillaries small pores in a rock that can retain liquids by capillarity capillarity the attraction of the surface of a liquid to the surface of the solid with which it is in contact. Capillarity affects the recovery of oil from a reservoir as it hinders the oil from flowing through the pores of the rock. Smaller pores and pore throats increase this effect, (surface tension) capillary condensation the formation of pendular water rings around contact points of sediment grains capillary forces the interfacial forces between immiscible fluid phases. Capillary forces can cause a fluid to flow into a porous rock, to move through it, and to be held by the rock. capillary fringe the portion of the zone of aeration just above the water table. The pores of the rock are filled with water held by surface tension. capillary number the ratio of viscous forces to capillary forces. Capillary number is equal to viscosity times velocity divided by the interfacial tension. Nc

capped-in royalty see shut-in royalty capping the impermeable cap rock that forms a seal on a petroleum trap capping a well closing in a well to prevent loss of natural gas. Capping a well can be either a) closing the blowout preventers on a well during a blowout

cap rock or caprock carbon black or b) placing and closing a valve on a well that is blowing. cap rock or caprock 1) impermeable rock that forms the seal on top of an oil or gas reservoir. Caprock is commonly shale or evaporites but can also be cemented rocks, argillaceous rocks, micrite, chalk, or permafrost. Permeabilities are mostly below 1CT4 darcys (cover or roof rock or seal) 2) the insoluble top layer of a salt plug in a salt dome. Cap rock is composed primarily of granular anhydrite with gypsum, limestone, dolomite, and occasionally sulfur. It has an average thickness of 300-400 ft with up to 1,000-ft thickness. On shallow salt stocks, the anhydrite grades upward into gypsum and limestone with possibly some barite and sulfur. The anhydrite is thought to have been formed as an insoluble residue precipitated from groundwater reacting with halite. The other minerals are thought to have formed from the alteration of anhydrite. Cavities are common in caprock. CPRK cap rock or caprock effect the positive gravity anomaly produced by the dense caprock that is superimposed over the broader, negative gravity anomaly produced by the underlying, less dense salt dome capsule detector a capsule that is filled with chemicals used to detect hydrogen sulfide on a drilling rig. The capsule is broken and attached to clothing with a string. If hydrogen sulfide is present, the chemicals will turn brown. capture the absorption of a neutron into an atom. The atom becomes energized and releases gamma rays of capture. This effect is used in well logging. capture cross section 1) nuclear capture cross section is the effective area, usually measured in barns (10~24cm2), that a neutron has to pass through to be captured by a particular atomic nucleus. 2) macroscopic capture cross section is the effective cross-sectional area per unit volume of material for the capture of neutrons. The unit of measure is usually capture or sigma units (lO^cm" 1 ). Capture cross section is used in pulsed neutron logging to identify elements. Chlorine has a high capture cross section, hydrogen lower, and elements in minerals lower. X capture gamma ray energy (gamma ray photon) that is emitted when the nucleus of an atom captures a thermal neutron. Measurement of capture gamma rays is used in neutron and pulsed neutron logging. capture unit a measurement of macroscopic capture cross section equal to KT'cm"1. (sigma unit) C.U. Car carbonate Caradocian a global age of geological time that started about 460 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Ordovician epoch. CARB or carb carbonaceous carbene a component of bitumen that is soluble in carbon disulfide and benzene but not carbon tetrachloride. Carbene is an asphaltene. carbide blade bit a rotary bit that has several tungsten carbide steel cutting edges and is used for drilling hard formations carbide cable bit a percussion type of bit that uses tungsten carbide button inserts to drill the cable-tool well. The bit is used for drilling shallow gas wells.

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H H
H-C

H H
C-H

I
H- C / H C H

I
C-H
x

earbocyclic compound (cyclohexane)

carbocyclic compound a hydrocarbon with the carbon atoms bonded in a circular structure. Two types are cycloalkanes with single bonds and aromatics with some double bonds. carbonaceous 1) a rock that contains significant amounts of carbon 2) a sedimentary rock that contains organic matter. CARB or carb carbonate a rock formed from CO3, primarily limestone and dolomite. Carbonates are potential reservoir rocks. Types of carbonate textures include rhombic, sucrosic, microsucrosic, grainy, subcrystalline, slabby, oolitic and pseudo-oolitic. About one-fourth of the world's sedimentary rocks are carbonates. Car or crbnt carbonate-analysis log a computer log that has a computed porosity and sometimes a secondaryporosity index and a movable-oil index. The carbonateanalysis log is derived from a laterolog, microlaterolog, sonic, density, and sidewall neutron log. carbonate compensation depth the depth in the ocean above which carbonate deposition exceeds solution and below which carbonate solution exceeds deposition. Carbonate sediments such as chalks and calcareous oozes are not deposited below the carbonate compensation depth. It occurs as deep as 20,000 ft in the Pacific Ocean and as shallow as 11,000 ft in the Atlantic Ocean. CCD carbonated waterflooding a waterflood process in which water that is nearly or fully saturated with carbon dioxide is injected into the subsurface reservoir. The carbon dioxide comes out of solution, extracts lighter hydrocarbon fractions from the oil to form a miscible front, and helps drive the oil toward producing wells. (CO2 augmented waterflooding) carbonate platform of shelf an extensive shallowwater area where both inorganic and organic limestones are deposited. A rimmed platform or shelf has a grainstone bar along its deepwater- margin on the side that faces the waves, (limestone platform of
shelf)

carbonate ramp a sloping area of the seabed where both inorganic and organic limestones are deposited that is located between the beach and deep water. Deposition on the carbonate ramp will cause it to evolve into a carbonate platform or shelf. carbon black very fine particles of amorphous carbon. Carbon black can form naturally by thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons. Carbon black is important commercially and can be made by the incomplete combustion of gas or by burning sour

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carbon dioxide carried to the casing point or through the tanks young sediments has a high carbon-preference index. Maturation of the organic matter reduces the number. Mature crude oil ranges between 0.9 and 1.1. The carbon-preference index of immature crude oil is greater than 1.1. CPI carbon ratio the ratio of C12, the most common carbon isotope, to either C13 or C14 (a radioactive isotope). The C12/C13 ratio is most commonly measured to determine if there has been any biological or chemical fractionation of the carbon isotopes. carbon-ratio theory a theory that relates the thermal history of an area to the rank of coals. With brown lignite coals, heavy oil was generated. In areas of bituminous coal, light oil and gas were generated. In areas of anthracite coal, no oil or gas was preserved. The carbon ratio is made by dividing the percentage of fixed carbon by weight into the percentage of the sum of fixed carbon and the volatile matter of the same analysis. Carbon ratios from 50 to 60 are best indicative of light and medium oil deposits. The carbon-ratio theory was suggested by David White in 1915. Carman a global age of geological time that occurred about 230-220 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Triassic epoch. carried interest or carried working interest a fractional interest in a lease which is free of all costs of drilling and completing a well up to a certain point, such as to casing point, through the tanks, or during the life of the well. The carried party's expenses are paid by the other parties who own the working interest in the well. After the point is reached, the carried interest usually becomes a working interest and shares in the costs. CWI carried interest system an arrangement in which a company pays all or part of a partner's cost in exploring, drilling, testing, and completion, and the carried partner will repay the expenses if oil or gas is found carried party an interest in a well or lease that is not responsible for the costs of drilling, completing, and/or operating the well or lease either up to a certain point, such as casing or installation of the tanks, or during the life of the well. The costs are borne by the carrying party. carried to the casing point or through the tanks a participant (carried party) in drilling, such as a promoter, who is free of drilling and completion costs on a well up to a point (installation of casing or tanks.) The costs are borne by the other participants (carrying parties) such as the investors.

gas. It is used as pigment for printing inks and paints and as a strengthening agent for rubber. carbon dioxide a colorless, odorless gas (CO2). Carbon dioxide has a molecular weight of 44.01, a boiling point of -1093F, a critical temperature of 87.9F, and a specific gravity at 60F of 0.827. It is found as a relatively inert gas in natural gas, in almost pure carbon dioxide reservoirs in the subsurface, and in small amounts in air. Carbon dioxide mixes with water to form a weak acid, carbonic acid, that can cause metal corrosion. Carbon dioxide is used for inert gas injection in enhanced oil recovery. carbon dioxide flooding, injection or miscible flooding an enhanced oil recovery process in which carbon dioxide gas is injected into the reservoir. First, the reservoir is repressured with water injection. When the carbon dioxide is injected, lighter hydrocarbons from the oil transfer to the carbon dioxide to form a miscible front which is soluble with the oil. The first carbon dioxide slug is followed by alternating slugs of water and carbon dioxide to push the oil toward producing wells. The carbon dioxide can originally come from carbon dioxide wells, from chemical or fertilizer plants or from power plant stack gas. The carbon dioxide can be separated from the produced fluids during the flooding and recycled. (CO2 flooding, injection or miscible flooding) Carboniferous a period of geological time about 365-290 m. y. ago. Carboniferous is used in Europe and is divided into the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian periods in the United States. It is subdivided into the upper Carboniferous, Middle Carboniferous, and Lower Carboniferous global epochs. carbon log a wireline well log of pulsed neutron type. Carbon in the formation responds by inelastic collision to the high-energy neutrons to produce a distinctive MeV gamma ray. The carbon measurement is combined with a similar oxygen measurement for a C/O ratio. A Ca/Si ratio is also measured to identify the rock matrix. The carbon log can be run in a cased hole and is used to a) indicate hydrocarbon saturation, b) identify rock matrix composition, and c) indicate porosity. carbon monoxide a colorless, odorless gas (CO) that is toxic Carbon/Oxygen log a well log of the neutron spectroscopy type that uses a pulsed-neutron sonde. By recording the gamma rays produced by bombarding the formation with 14-MeV neutrons, the carbon/oxygen and the silicon/calcium ratios can be determined. The Si/Ca ratio for limestone is 1.2; for shale, 1.38; and for sandstones, between 1.5 and 1.8. The C/O ratio depends on the lithology, porosity, and hydrocarbon saturation of the formation. It is used to determine hydrocarbon saturations and lithologies. The carbon/oxygen log can be used in both an open and cased hole. carbon plant an installation that burns natural gas with an insufficient air supply to produce carbon black carbon-preference index a ratio between the amount of normal alkanes of odd and even numbered carbon atoms between C24 and C34 in organic molecules and hydrocarbons. The amounts are measured by gas chromatography. Organic matter in

carrier bar

carrier casing carrier the elutant that moves the vapor sample through the packing in a gas chromatograph. Hydrogen and helium are common carriers. carrier fluid see carrier fluid carrier-mounted rig an air or mud drilling rig that is mounted on a wheeled carrier. The carrier-mounted rig is rated for moderate depths and usually has a telescoping mast that is raised by hydraulics. carrier rig a self-propelled workover rig. The carrier rig includes a mast, hoisting equipment, and an engine. The engine is used for both moving the rig and for the hoisting system. The rig can be either a drive-in or back-in unit, depending on which end the mast is mounted. carrier system the secondary migration route for hydrocarbons from the source rock to the reservoir rock in the trap. A carrier system includes permeable beds, faults, fractures, and unconformities. carrot the crumpled piece of casing or liner that is blown but by jet perforating carry to alternately drill and case a well carrying fluid 1) the fluid, usually oil, water, foam, or gelled fluid that transports the proppants during hydraulic fracturing 2) the fluid that transports gravel during gravel packing carrying party an interest in a well or lease that is responsible for the costs of drilling, completing and/ or operating the well or lease, and also is responsible for paying for the interest of any carried parties carrying rental see delay rental carryover free liquid escaping with the gas from a separator Carter coordinates informal land subdivisions applied by the petroleum industry to Kentucky and Tennessee and some other eastern states lacking townships and ranges. It is based on latitude and longitude. Each subdivision is 5 minute square, and each section is 1 minute square. CC cartridge see sonde carved-out interest an interest such as an overriding royalty or oil payment created by the owner of a larger interest such as a working interest in a well or lease carved-out overriding royalty interest a nonworking interest in a well that is created from a working interest. The working interest owner transfers the carved-out overriding royalty interest and retains the working interest. cascade the step-like arrangement of baffles in separators case to run and cement casing in a well cased or cased hole a well in which casing has been run and cemented. A cased hole is in contrast to an open hole. CH or OH cased-hole log a wireline log run in a well that already has casing cemented in Some cased-hole logs are gamma ray, compensated neutron, pulsed neutron and carbon/oxygen logs. A cased-hole log is in contrast to the more common openhole logs. case hardened a hard, thin skin on iron or steel. The interior remains softer. cash balancing a method in which an underproduced party in a gas well can be compensated

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for underage in a gas balancing agreement by monetary consideration from the overproduced party. The other method is volumetric or in-kind balancing. cash consideration the money paid for a promise or act during an oil or gas transaction cash contribution cash payment required in a support agreement by one party to another party for drilling a well in return for information on that well. It is made either as a dry-hole or bottomhole contribution. cash-contribution clause a provision in a joint operating agreement that awards a party money for drilling a well or some other operation specified on a lease cash-flow analysis the comparison of monies spent and made during the economic life of an investment, such as drilling, completing, and operating a well cash-flow profile a graph that shows projected expenditures and income over time cash-flow stream a model that shows how monies are spent and made during the economic life of an investment such as drilling a well

casing

casing thin-walled steel pipe that is usually seamless but can be electric welded or rivited and ranges in length from 16 to greater than 40 ft. Seamless casing is made by piercing the center of solid, round bars of steel at high temperatures. Casing comes furnished with a screwed coupling and threaded connectors. The coupling can be either long or short. Casing is used to complete a well by running a string of casing into the well and cementing it. There are three API ranges of casing lengths. Length 1 ranges from 16 to 25 ft and averages 22 ft. Length 2 ranges from 25 to 34 ft and averages 31 ft- Length 3 is greater than 34 ft and averages 42 ft. Casing is made of at least eight API grades of steel with minimum yield strengths. It is specified by a) outer diameter and wall thickness, b) weight per unit length, c) coupling size, d) length of joint, and e) grade of steel. Diameters range from 4V2 to 36 in. Casing weight ranges from 9Vi to 200 lb/ft. Casing is graded according to the operating pressure and corrosiveness of fluids that it is designed to withstand. Casing is denned by API standards for outside diameter, weight per foot, grade, range, and end finish. Casing is used a) to stabilize the sides of the well, b) to prevent pollution of fresh water reservoirs, and c) to prevent fluids from zones other

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casing adapter casinghead gas casing coupling a collar with a box end or inside threads (female) that is used to connect joints of casing casing crew a specialized crew of one to five members that is used to assist the drilling crew in picking up, running, and laying down casing in a well. The casing crew can come with specialized equipment such as hydraulic tongs, pick-up or lay-down liners, thread protectors, and casing stabbing board for the job. casing cutter a fishing tool that is attached to a sub on a drillstring and is used to cut a hole in casing. The casing cutter is a heavy tube that is held by slips as rotating knives are forced outward to cut the casing. A releasing device retracts the knives so the tool can be recovered. casing elevators a heavy clamp-like device that hangs from the traveling block and is used to run casing. Casing elevators are either the a) collar-type or b) slip-type. casing free pump a type of hydraulic pump used on oil wells in which the power fluid goes through one string of tubing and the production comes up the tubing-casing annulus. A casing free pump is in contrast to a parallel free pump. casing hands a team of service company employees that are trained to run casing on an offshore well casing hanger a bracket support that is designed to fit on a wellhead and suspend the casing string in the well. It grips the casing with slips and packing rings. A threaded casing hanger or mandrell uses male or female threads to hold the casing. The largest diameter casing is hung from the lowest hanger. casing hardware equipment run in or on casing to aid in running the casing string and promote a good primary cement job. Casing hardware includes guide and float shoes, stage cementing collars, packoff shoes, baskets, centralizers, and cementing plugs. casinghead or casing head 1) the top of the casing in a well or the surface of a well 2) a heavy, steel adaptor or flanged fitting that is bolted or welded to the top of the surface casing and is part of the wellhead. The casinghead consists of a body, retaining element, hanger-packer mechanism, valves, and bleeders. The hanger-packer is fixed to the end of a casing string or another casing head and seals the annular space between the casing strings while suspending the smaller diameter casing string in the well. The casinghead is used to attach the casinghead spool and blowout preventers. One casinghead is used with only surface and production casing. Two casingheads are used if there is an intermediate casing string. The casinghead valves and bleeders are used to relieve gas pressure, csg hd (starting head) casinghead gas natural gas that bubbles out of crude oil on the surface due to the decrease in pressure between the reservoir and the surface. The amount of gas that bubbles out determines the producing gas/oil ratio of the well which is expressed in standard cubic feet (SCF) of gas at 60F per barrel of stock tank oil. Casinghead gas is wet gas containing liquid hydrocarbons that can be removed from the gas by reducing the temperature or pressure on the gas with an absorption plant. Casinghead gas is in contrast to nonassociated gas produced from a gas well. (separator gas) CHG or CH

than the producing zones from entering the well. Usually two or more strings (lengths) of casing are cemented into the well. Surface casing is large in diameter (e.g., 13% in.) and is run from the surface to depths usually between 200-1,500 ft, depending on local conditions. It is used to prevent fresh water from flowing into the well, to prevent loose earth from caving into the well, and to attach the blowout preventers to the top of the well. The intermediate or protection casing string is smaller in diameter (e.g., 95/s in.) and is often used to isolate layers of salt or abnormal high-pressure zones in the well. The production casing, or oil string, is smallest in diameter (e.g., 75/s or 5'/2 in.) and extends from the surface, down through the surface and intermediate casing to the top of, or through, the producing zone. Liners are made of casing but do not extend to the surface as a casing string does. Casing has a matrix velocity of 17,000 ft/sec and an interval transit time of 57.0 sec/ft. The yield strength of casing ranges from 40,000150,000 lb/in2. The casing used in seismic exploration shotholes comes in 10-ft lengths. C, cs, c, CSG, Csg, orcsg casing adapter a beveled fitting that is used on the top of a string of casing to prevent tools and pipe from hanging up on the casing when they are run in the well, (swage npple) casing bowl 1) a patch made to repair casing or attach casing to another casing string in a well. The casing bowl is applied with a casing-patch tool and is made of neoprene or lead, (casing or external patch) 2) a section of casing with a slip and seal assembly that is cemented in to repair a casing leak or fracture casing burst pressure the minimum pressure on the interior of casing that will cause the casing to fail casing cementing see cement job casing-cement temperature the temperature of the cement slurry at a specific time during a cement job casing centralizer see centralizer casing clamp a collar that is bolted around casing being held in slips to prevent the casing from slipping casing collar the shoulder on the ends of casing that contains the threaded connection casing-collar locater a device that uses either magnetics or a scratcher to locate the casing collars at the end of casing joints in a well. The magnetic casing collar locator uses the deformation of a magnetic field between two opposed permanent magnets, and the mechanical locator uses feelers or fingers to identify collars. The collar locations are used as reference depths in the well for correlation of other logs and well completion. The casing-collar locater is used to make a collar log. (collar locater) CCL casing collar log a record of the location of casing collars on a casing string in a well made by a casingcollar locator. The log is used for accurate depth locations in a well, (collar log) casing completion a well completion in which casing is set in the well. Types of casing completions include a) permanent, b) perforated, c) multizone, d) sand-exclusion, and e) water- and gas-exclusion.

casinghead gas clause casing protector casinghead gas clause a provision in a lease that provides for a royalty for the casinghead gas that is produced and sold or stripped of liquid hydrocarbons casinghead gasoline liquid hydrocarbons of very light crude oil composition that occur as a gas under subsurface reservoir conditions (high temperature and pressure) and condense into a liquid upon production at surface conditions. Gas condensate typically grade from colorless to light-colored liquids with tints of red, green, or blue. Condensates have very high API that range between 45 and 60 and are very valuable commercially. Natural gas that contains gas condensate is called wet gas. If condensate is recovered on the lease with standard field separator equipment, it is often combined and recorded with the crude oil. The Natural Gas Processors Association has defined casinghead gasoline as having a vapor pressure between 10 and 34 psi, a percentage evaporated at 104F of 24% to 85%, a percentage evaporated at 275F of not less than 90%, and an end point in distillation of not higher than 375F. Retrograde gas is the perferred term for casinghead gasoline, (drip, natural, raw, or wild gasoline, drips, condensate, gas condensate, distillate, gas distillate, retrograde gas, or white oil) casinghead-gas royalty the payment (royalty) made for casinghead gas that is produced, saved, and marketed from an oil well. The royalty can be.a) an annual amount of money per year, b) payment based on a fraction of the gas produced or, c) based on detailed lease provisions concerning casinghead gas and the extraction of casinghead gasoline from the gas. casinghead housing or spool a short forged steel pipe with a flanged top with smaller outlet flanges or flanged connections and either a) female casing threads or b) slip-on well casing connector used to suspend the surface casing that suspends and seals the top of the casing string. The casinghead spool has a seal, intermediate head spool, and tubing head spool on it. It is put on the uppermost joint of casing after a cement job, and the blowout preventers are attached to it. As other casing strings are run in the well, they are landed in additional casingheads that are flanged at both ends. CHH casing inspection log a record of the location and extent of casing damage in a well. A tool measures the casing-wall thickness either electromagnetically or mechanically. The electromagnetic casing inspection log tool has two radial coils. The exciter coil produces a magnetic field which creates eddy currents in the casing that attenuate and shift the phase of the magnetic field recorded on the pickup coil to show wall thickness and splits. casing jack a screw or hydraulic tool used to straighten collapsed casing in a well by applying tension to the casing. One type uses a spear on drillpipe and a slip and spider located higher on the drillpipe to hold the casing. Another type welds the casing on a casing head and then uses a slip and spider located higher to grip the casing. casing mill a pilot or section mill that has hard cutting edges on it to grind a hole in casing casing overshot see casing-patch tool

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casing pack 1) a method used to cement casing that can later be removed from the well with minimum difficulty. An oil-base mud is run in the well ahead of the cement. The mud does not solidify, and the casing can later be cut and removed above the section that was cemented. 2) the fluid left above the cement slurry in the annulus between the borehole and casing to protect the casing from corrosion by formation fluids and to control pressure casing packer test see hook-wall packer test casing patch a patch made to repair casing or attach casing to another casing string in the well. The casing patch is applied with a casing-patch tool and can be made of neoprene or lead, (casing bowl or external patch) casing-patch tool a tool that is used to patch damaged casing. The damaged casing is cut and removed from the well. The casing-patch tool is lowered into the well where rubber or lead on the end of the tool is used to seal against the top of the cut casing remaining in the well. casing pickup sling cable or wire rope that is designed to fit around tubular goods for loading, moving, and positioning tubulars casing point 1) the time at which a well has been drilled to the objective depth or target formation and well logs, drillstem tests, and other tests have been run to evaluate the well. A decision by the operator is made at the casing point to either complete (case) the well or plug and abandon. 2) the depth to which casing is set in a well. CP or csgpt casing-point election or option a time in a farmout agreement during which the farmer can elect after the earning well has been tested to accept either a) a working interest or b) a convertible overriding royalty casing pole a 6-foot wooden wrench that was used to make up casing casing potential profile a record of the electrical potential of a casing string in a well that is used to detect corrosion. casing pressure the pressure a) between the casing and tubing when the casing and tubing are sealed at the top of the well, or b) between the casing and the drillstring. Casing pressure is measured at the surface after the well has been shut in. CP, C.P., or
csg press

casing program or programme the


predetermined plan for casing in a well. A casing program includes the casing diameter in inches, the hole size in inches, and the depth in ft. It provides for a conductor, surface string, intermediate strings, and a production string. Two common casing programs are: 13% in. 95/s 7 5 10% in. 75/s 5 or 5J/2

casing protector 1) a threaded cap made of steel or plastic that is screwed onto and is used to protect the threads on the ends of casing 2) a rubber doughnut that fits around drillpipe to reduce wear on the casing. Casing protectors are usually located 3 ft above the

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casing pump CAT1 rotating the string and grip the inside of the casing. The slips hold as long as tension is maintained. casing spider a heavy metal block with a tapered hole to hold slips that fits around and hold casing. The casing spider is used as casing joints are being attached or removed from the casing string as it is raised or lowered into a well. Casing up to 75/s in. outside diameter can be run through the rotary table. For casing with 75/a-133/s in. outside diameter, the split master bushing is replaced with a one piece casing bushing. For casing greater than 13% in. outside diameter, a hinged-type bushing is used. casing standoff the minimum radial clearance of casing in a well divided by the displacement of the casing center line from the center of the well. Casing standoff can be expressed as a percentage. casing strength the a) yield strength, b) collapse strength, and c) burst strength of casing casing string a length of casing that is made of numerous joints of casing of the same outer diameter that are screwed together and lowered into the well as a section in one operation. A casing string can be several hundred or thousand feet long. Types of casing strings include drive pipe or casing, conductor casing, surface casing, intermediate or protection casing, and production or oil string casing. Casing is used a) to provide a path for the drilling fluids up and down the well, b) to support the blowout preventers, other casing and liner strings and the Christmas tree, c) to prevent the collapse of the well, differential sticking of the drillstring, lost returns, pollution of fresh water reservoirs, and d) to provide a path for produced fluids up the well. casing sucker-rod pump see casing pump casing swage a pointed tool that is used with a jar to open collapsed casing in a well casing tally a count, visual inspection, and measure of the length of each joint of casing made when the casing is delivered to a rig casing tongs a large-diameter power tong that is suspended above the drill floor and is used to make up and break out casing on a drilling rig. It contains both the lead and backup tongs. The diameter of the tongs are adjustable to several sizes of casing. casing-tubing annulus the space in a well between the outside of the tubing string and the inside of the casing string casing wagon small carts that are used to move casing from the pipe rack to the derrick floor on a drilling rig Cassadagian a North American age of geological time that started about 380 m. y. ago. It is part of the Devonian period. cast the color of oil fluorescence casting 1) to pour molten metal into a mold 2) an object that has solidified in a mold cast iron an alloy of iron with 2%-i% carbon. Gray cast iron contains carbon or graphite in the form of flakes, whereas white cast iron contains carbon or graphite in the from of carbines and has no color. Fractures in white cast iron are metallic white. CT A casing attenuation thickness

tool joint on alternate tool joints. Casing protectors are not used in open holes, (pipe rubbers) casing pump a large-volume, downhole, sucker-rod pump that is used to pump crude oil up the casing. The casing pump is run on a sucker-rod string and has a barrel that is usually between 3-43/4 in. in diameter. The pump is held in position by a packer located either on the top or bottom of the working barrel. The casing pump is a larger version of an insert pump and has a much larger volume than an insert or tubing sucker-rod pump, (casing sucker-rod pump)

casing roller casing roller a long, tapered, steel tool with a series of rollers on the side. The casing roller is run on a drillstring below a bumper sub and jars and rotated to roll out collapsed casing in a well. Longitudinal rollers are located on the body and ports, and channels provide circulation. The rollers are usually tapered on both ends to prevent binding. casing scraper a tool that is run on a work string to scrape the cement off the inside of a casing string after a cement plug has been drilled out casing scratcher a ring with flexible steel wires that is run on a casing string to remove the mudcake in preparation for a cement job. A casing scratcher is either reciprocated or rotated. casing seat the location of the bottom of a string of casing in a well. CS casing shoe a short, hollow steel cylinder with a rounded bottom that is screwed into the bottom of a string of casing before it is lowered into a well. It guides the casing around any irregularities in the borehole as the string is lowered in the well. The casing shoe has an orifice in the end to allow drilling mud to flow into it as it is lowered and cement slurry to flow through it during a cement job. A guide shoe does not have a valve on the orifice. A float shoe has a check valve that prevents slurry backfill into the casing during a cement job. There is also a differential or automatic fill-up type, (drive shoe) casing slip a wedge-shaped device that fits into the casing bushing to hold casing when it is being worked on casing spear a fishing tool that is used to retrieve casing in a well. The tool is lowered in the casing on a fishing string. Tapered slips are activated by

CAT or Cat catline boom CAT or Cat catalytic Cat, cat, or caterpillar a tractor used to clear land and skid rigs. Cat is also a term for certain diesel and natural gas prime movers. cat a knot used to attach the drilling line to a rope socket catagenesis the thermal alteration of organic matter in sedimentary rock. Catagenesis temperatures occur between those of diagenesis (near surface) and metamorphism (deep) and range from about 50 to 200C (122 to 392F). It includes the temperatures which generate crude oil and thermal gas from organic matter, (katagenesis) catalyst a substance that promotes a chemical reaction but is not affected by the reaction catalytic combustion detector the original "hot wire" mud log detector that uses a wheatstone bridge circuit. CCD catch-all clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that protects the lessee from errors in the description of the land under the lease by including all the land owned by the lessor in that area, (cover-all clause or Mother Hubbard clause), catch a sample to obtain a set of well cuttings from a well being drilled. The well cuttings are usually collected at regular intervals from the shale shaker. catcher a trap-door device used in a junk basket to retain junk during fishing operations catcher sub a short section of pipe on a drill or fishing string that triggers a hydraulic device when a ball is dropped or lowered on a wireline in the string catching the dog loafing on the job catchpot a container used on a pipeline to remove condensate and debris

73

cathead

cathead, cat head, or cathead spool a hub or spool-shaped rotating drum located on a winch shaft (catshaft) that is used to wind a rope (catline) for pulling or hoisting. Catheads are located on the drawworks of a drilling rig. The friction cathead is used to move heavy objects. Mechanical catheads are used on the drill floor for making-up and breakingout pipe. The breakout cathead Is located opposite the driller's side of the drill floor, whereas the makeup cathead is on the driller's side. cathead a derrick up to pivot a derrick into a vertical position by using a cable attached to the cathead on the drawworks catheader the crew member on a rig-erecting crew that uses the cathead cathead man or cat head man the crew member on a drilling rig that uses the cathead when pipe is being run or pulled. The cathead man is third in rank on the drilling crew and is more experienced than the roughnecks.

cathode the positive terminal of two electrodes in an electrolytic cell. The cathode is the electrode at which reduction occurs. The cathode does not corrode and is in contrast to anode. cathode ray tube an electronic device that is used to display information or a picture on a television screen or computer terminal. A beam of electrons that is directed by a magnetic field is sprayed onto the inside of the luminescent screen to create the image. CRT cathodic protection a method used a)to reduce seawater corrosion on large marine structures such as offshore platforms and b) to reduce corrosion on well casings and production facilities from saltwater exposure. Cathodic protection reverses the electric current which flows away from the corroding metal. The protected equipment is set up as the cathode, and a metal bar or plate as the anode. In the active or impressed current system, a DC electrical current at low voltage and several hundred amperes is caused to flow between the cathode and anode to neutralize the electrochemical corrosion on the structure. In the passive method, a sacrificial anode of zinc, aluminum, or magnesium corrodes instead of the structure. CP cathodoluminescence an analytical technique used to delineate irregularities in the chemistry of mineral grains and differences in natural cements in sedimentary rocks. An electron beam is used to activate a thin section of the rock. Luminescence differences depend on concentrations of excitor and inhibitor ions in the rock. cation an ion with a positive charge Examples of cations are Na+ and Ca+ + Cation is in contrast to an anion. cation exchange capacity a measure of the amount of cations that can be exchanged in the interlayer sites of a clay mineral. It is expressed in milliequivalents per 100 g. The higher the cation exchange capacity of the clay mineral, the more unstable the clay mineral. Cation exchange capacity is measured by dispersing a known weight of clay in a solution of magnesium chloride to exchange the cations with magnesium. The clay is then transferred to a solution of potasiBm or calcium and the amount absorbed is measured. Bentonite has about 70-130 mEq/100 g, and attapulgite 5-99 mEq/100 g. CEC cationic membrane a membrane such as clay minerals that passes cations but not anions cationic surfactant an organic molecule with a water soluble group that is positively charged. A catonic surfactant is in contrast to an anionic, nonionic, or amphorteric surfactant. catline or cat line a VA or VA in. Manila or a wire rope wound around a cathead and used for pulling or hoisting. The catline is used on the floor of a drilling rig to pull on the manual pipe tongs. The catline can also go through a catline sheave on the crown block for hoisting such as lifting logging tools to the drill floor. catline boom a metal pole that is suspended out from a mast or derrick on a drilling rig at about the height of the monkeyboard. A sheave at the end of the boom is used with the catline for light lifting.

74

catshaft CCD

catshaft the axle on a drilling rig that has a cathead on each end that are used for pulling a rope. The catshaft is the uppermost revolving shaft that goes through the drawworks.

cavern pores

catwalk on stock tanks

catwalk 1) a flat, steel surface, 4-6 ft wide and 4050 ft long, that extends out from the ramp on a drilling rig. The catwalk is elevated 3 ft above the ground. The catwalk is used to pull equipment such as tubulars up through the V-door onto the rig. 2) the elevated, narrow walkway such as that connecting tanks or installations (walkway) catworks or cat works the gear and chain linkage that is used to drive the catheads on a rig. caus caustic caustic sodium hydroxide, caus caustic consumption the amount of caustic lost during an enhanced oil recovery project due to reaction with minerals in the formation caustic flooding an enhanced oil recovery process in which alkaline chemicals such as sodium hydroxide are injected into the reservoir. The alkaline chemicals react with oil in the reservoir to form surfactants. The surfactants and oil flow better through the reservoir because of reduced interfacial tension, spontaneous emulsification and changes in wettability. A slug of polymer-thickened water is then injected into the reservoir to produce a more uniform sweep of the surfactants and oil. This is followed by injection of fresh and then saline waters to drive the oil toward producing wells, (alkaline flooding) caustic soda sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Caustic soda is used to adjust the pH of drilling mud. caustic treater a vessel with sodium hydroxide. Caustic soda is used to remove mercaptans, sulfides, and acids from solutions that are passed through it. CAV cavernous Cav or cav 1) cavern 2) cavernous cav cavity cave catcher a basket that is attached to the tubing in a well and is designed to catch sloughings off the sides of the well, (umbrella) cave-in the collapse of rocks from the sides of a well bore, see sloughing cave-ins see covings cavernous a rock formation that contains large, person-sized pores. CAV, Cav, or cav

cavern pore a pore large enough for a person to enter. These are usually found in limestones and are due to solution. cavey a formation that caves or sloughs into wells drilled through it. (cavy) caving collapse of well walls into the hole (stuffing) cavings particles of rock from the sides of the wellbore that have fallen into the well. They become mixed with well cuttings from the bottom of the well and can be a complication in making a sample log. (cavein). CVGS, Cvgs, or cvgs cavitation the formation of partial vacuums due to the rotation of an impeller blade. Cavitation can damage a pump with shock waves and high velocity microjets created by the asymmetrical collapse of the bubbles. cavity an enlarged wellbore due to sloughing of a soft formation such as shale, (pot belly) cavy a formation that caves or sloughs into wells drilled through it. (cavey) Cayugan a North American age of geological time that ended about 405 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Silurian epoch. CB 1) core barrel 2) changing bit 3) counterbalance 4) core bit 5) centerline bradenhead 6) center of buoyancy cb carbonized CBBL core barrel CBG coal bed gas CBL 1) cement bond log 2) acoustic cement bond Cbl cobble CBL-GR acoustic cement bond, gamma ray log CBL GRN acoustic cement bond, gamma ray, neutron log CBL N acoustic cement bond, neutron log CBL-VD acoustic cement bond, variable density log CBM conventional buoy mooring CBND cement bond log CC 1) casing cemented 2) carter coordinates CC or cc cubic centimeter C-C thru-tubing caliper log Cc compaction constant C-Cal contact caliper CCD 1) catalytic combustion detector 2) carbonate compensation depth

CCF CCF cumulative cost per foot cche caliche Cck casing choke CCL casing collar locater CCM condensate cut mud CCOR conventional core C.C.P. critical compression pressure C.C.R. critical compression ratio ccw counterclockwise CD 1) contract depth 2) calender day 3) compensated density log 4) cone dragged cd candela CD. corrected depth Cd. cored C.D.DA. Canadian Diamond Drilling Association CDF cumulative distribution function CDG curved drilling guide CDL compensated density log C DLC compensated densilog, caliper log C DLC GR compensated densilog, caliper, gamma ray log C DLC GRN compensated densilog, caliper, gamma ray, neutron log C DLC M compensated densilog, caliper, minilog C DLC N compensated densilog, neutron log CDM continuous dipmeter survey cd/m 2 candela per square meter CDN compensated density neutron CDP 1) common depth point 2) conductivity derived porosity 3) central delivery point CDP gather the display of seismic data used in stacking with the seismic traces that are thought to be the same arranged side by side. It is done after correction for normal moveout and statics. CDP gather is used to check the correlation of the traces and to evaluate the stack. CDPS common depth point stack CDP stack common-depth-point stack CDR continuous drilling rate CDRTM compensated dual resistivity cdsr condenser ce effective compressibility CEC cation exchange capacity CEE International Commission Rules for Approval of Electrical Equipment C8 octane cell the ballast tank or storage compartment at the base of on offshore gravity structure. The cell can be used to store oil or ballast water. cellar 1) a pit dug below the platform of a drilling rig to give space to mount the blowout preventers on top of the well below the drilling platform. The cellar is about 10 ft square and 6 ft deep. The cellar also collects water and other fluids off die rig for later disposal. 2) the portion of a well located below the producing zone

cementation

75

cellar contractor a service company that digs the cellar or pit to hold the blowout preventers before a large drilling rig is brought onto the site. A backhoe is used often. cellar deck the deck below the rotary table on an offshore drilling rig. The cellar deck is the lower deck on a semisubmersible drilling platform with two decks. The upper deck is called the Texas or main deck. Celsius temperature scale the scientific scale that used to be called centigrade. The Celsius temperature scale is based on a 0 freezing point for fresh water and a boiling point of 100. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit multiply by 9A and add 32. To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius subtract 32 and multiply by 5 /<>. The scale is named after Anders Celsius, a Swedish astronomer (1701-1744). C cem cemented cement 1) minerals that naturally grow between clastic grains in sediments to bind the grains together to form a sedimentary rock. Most cements precipitate from interstitial water. The most common of these are calcite, quartz, and authigenic clay minerals. Other cements include opal, chalcedony, dolomite, siderite, and iron oxides. Heavy oil or asphalt can also act as cement. 2) a liquid that hardens into a solid. Cement is a mixture of powder consisting of alumina, silica, lime, and other substances which harden after mixing with water. Cement is made of a blend of limestone and clay or shale with iron and alumina often added. It is fused (between 2600-2800F) in a rotary kiln, cooled, pulverized into clinkers, blended with gypsum, and ground in a mill. When mixed with water, it is called a neat slurry. Cement is used to bond the casing to the well walls and is called a slurry in its wet form. API classes of cement include A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and J. The classes are based on the recommended depths, corrosive environment, strength, pressures, and temperatures. Additives can be used to alter the cement viscosity, density, and particle dispersing, or to accelerate or retard the setting time and increase the final strength. Some specialty cements include pozzolanic, pozzolan-lime, resin or plastic, gypsum, diesel oil, expanding, refractory, latex, and permafrost cement. 3) to pump wet cement (slurry) between the casing and well walls during a cement job. (cementing or cement job) CMT, Cmt or ant cement additive materials added to cement to change the properties of the cement. The additives can be either chemical or nonchemical. Types of cement additives are accelerators, retarders, extenders, weighing agents, dispersants, fluid-loss control agents, lost-circulation control agents, and antifoam agents. Cement additives are used to change the cement's density, setting time, compressive strength, flow properties and dehydration rate, and to bridge lost circulation zones, to cause the cement to expand, and to reduce the cost of the cement. Calcium chloride is added to reduce setting time, gypsum to increase setting time, barite and hematite to increase weight, and bentonite and pozzolans to decrease weight. cementation the natural process that transforms sediments into consolidated sedimentary rocks. Cementation occurs by deposition or precipitation of minerals called cement between the sedimentary grains.

76

cementation factor

cementing up cementing see cement job, CMT cementing barge a flat-bottomed boat with equipment used in cementing operations for offshore wells cementing basket an expanding metal cone that is used to prevent the downward flow of cement in a well. The basket is made with flexible spring steel petals that face upward. Liners can be used to fill in between the petals. Drilling mud and cement can flow up the annulus but not downward. The basket is designed to support the column of cement slurry as it cures and is often used above lost circulation zones. Casing collars or stop rings hold the basket, (metalpetal basket) cementing head the connection between the cement pump truck and rig pump lines and the casing head. The cementing head holds one or more wiper plugs that can be selectively released into the casing. Cementing heads vary in design. cement permeameter a permeameter that determines the permeability of set cement by the flow rate of water through a core sample under differential pressure The curing time, temperature, and pressure of the sample are also recorded. cementing plug a solid spacer made of an aluminum body encased in molded rubber used in a cement job The bottom plug is pumped down the well before the cement slurry and seats on or bumps the float collar. The bottom plug has a diaphragm that ruptures for the cement slurry, to pass through. The top plug is then pumped down with a displacement fluid behind it until it bumps the bottom plug. cementing pump the pump used to drive cement down the casing during a cement job

cementation factor an empirical number used in the Archie formula for well-log analysis It generally ranges from 1.0 to 30, is 1.3 for unconsolidated sediments, and is commonly about 2.0 for reservoir rocks. The factor is influenced by the rock geometry that controls the shape of the conductive solution in the pores, (porosity exponent or shape) m cement basket see cementing basket cement bond 1) the clinging of casing and/or a rock formation to cement 2) the binding of casing to the well walls by cement cement bond log or survey a log that is derived from the acoustic log to show where and how well the cement has set behind the casing in a well. A cement bond log measures amplitude in millivolts and arrival time. The sonic wave train is recorded as a series of waveforms or a variable density log of semiparallel black and white lines. The attenuation of the sound waves is proportional to the quality of the cement bond. The amplitude of the first arrival of the compressional wave is measured to determine bond quality. If the casing is well cemented, the acoustic wave travels primarily through the rock formation with significant loss of energy. If the casing is poorly cemented or lacks cement in what is called a holiday, the acoustic wave travels primarily through the steel casing at a different velocity than through the formation and with very little loss of energy. The cement bond log cannot identify channels and is adversely affected by high-velocity formations. A more advanced type is called the variable density log. A cement bond log is often combined with a collar log for location. CBND or CBL cement channeling an undesirable effect caused when cement slurry does not rise uniformly up and around the casing during a cement job. Channeling leaves spaces called holidays. cement consistometer see consistometer cement density the specific gravity of a cement. Portland cements are about 3-15cement dump bailer a cylinder with a valve that is used to release small batches of cement slurry into a well during secondary cementing cemented up cement on the inside of a tubular such as casing cementer 1) see cementing service 2) a service company employee who is a member of a well cementing crew, operates the cement pumps, and maintains the equipment for a cement job on a well (cement man) cement evaluation tool a type of cement bond log that uses eight ultrasonic transmitters to determine the radial pattern of cement behind the casing and the bonding of the cement to the casing and rock.
CET

cement truck

cement filter cake a type of perforating plugging material consisting of solid cement filling the perforation tunnels or holes in the casing or liner. Cement filter cake is emplaced as a wet slurry during a cement squeeze job to plug the perforations. cement hardening test a test that times how long cement remains pumpable after being mixed, (cement pumpability or thickening test)

cementing service a service company that supplies the cement and additives along with bulk hopper trucks, pumping trucks, float equipment, cementing head, connecting lines and personnel for a cement job on a well. The cementing service also has engineers to design and supervise the cement program, along with a laboratory and technicians to test the cement slurry and additives, (cementer) cementing time the time needed to complete a cement job on a well. Cementing time extends from the start of mixing to the complete circulation of the cement slurry into place. cementing up the forcing of cement slurry up the space behind casing during a cement job

cement job centipoise


DISPLACEMENT FLUID

77

CEMENT OR SLURRY

GUIDE SHOE

cement job

cement job to pump wet cement (slurry) down a well to fill the space between the casing and the rock walls. Primary cementing is the first cementing that protects the casing, prevents water from flowing vertically in the space between the casing and rock walls of the well, and isolates the producing formation. Secondary cementing is any cement job that occurs after primary cementing. Squeeze cementing uses pressure to force the cement through holes or perforations in the casing. A plug-back job puts a plug of cement on the bottom of the well or at a certain level to prevent water from flowing up the well and reducing the effective depth of the well. A single-stage cement job is done through the casing using top and bottom wiper plugs. A multistage cement job is used to avoid fracturing the formation when cementing long casing strings. Either the pipe is moved up the hole 500-1,000 ft after each batch or a multistage tool that is opened hydraulically by special plugs is used, (cementing) cement man a service company employee who is a member of a well cementing crew and operates the cement pumps and maintains the equipment for a cement job on a well, (cementer) cement mill a mill with a large grinding surface that is used to grind cement. Usually a roller-cone bit is more efficient. cement-mixing hopper a large, metal funnelshaped device that is used to add dry cement and other ingredients to a cement mixer cement packer a cement plug around the bottom of tubing in a well cement plug cement that bridges a wellbore and is used to form a seal. An abandonment plug is used to seal a dry or depleted well. A directional plug is used to deviate a new well from the old well. A plugback plug is used to seal off a lower portion of a well. A loss circulation plug is used to seal a thief zone. A cement plug can be put in position as a

balanced plug, a two-wiper plug, or with a dump bailer on a wireline. cement pumpability test a test that times how long cement remains pumpable after being mixed, (cement hardening or thickening test) cement retainer a tool that is used in a highpressure, cement squeeze job to temporarily prevent the flow of cement up or down the well. The cement retainer is a close-tolerance tool that is not retrievable but is made of drillable metal. cement slurry a liquid cement and water mixture The cement slurry is pumped between the casing and well walls to set casing in a well during a cement job. The slurry has a density between 10.8 and 22 lbs/gal. cement squeeze a process of forcing liquid cement (slurry) by pressure through holes or perforations in the casing or liner to seal an area behind the pipe cement thickening test see cement pumpability test cement time see waiting on cement Ceno Cenozoic Cenomian a global age of geological time that occurred about 100-92 m. y. ago It is part of the Upper Cretaceous epoch. Cenozoic or Cenaeozic an era of geological time from about 67 m. y. ago to the present It is subdivided into the Tertiary and Quaternary periods. Ceno cent centralizers center irons the steel shaft on which the walking beam of a cable-tool rig or pumping unit pivots centerline the line running from bow to stern down the middle of a ship or offshore drilling rig. C.L or CIL centerline fracture an induced fracture down the center of a core center of buoyancy the geometric center of the upward thrust generated in the fluid displaced by a floating object. A floating drilling rig is at rest when the center of gravity of the rig and the center of buoyancy lie in the same vertical line. CB center of gravity the point at which a body is balanced when suspended. CG, C.G., or eg center spear a fishing tool used to fish cable. The center spear is composed of a solid metal bar with a barb on the bottom or with barbs along its length. (rope or wicker spear) centi the metric prefix for 10~2. c centigrade temperature scale the metric temperature scale which has 0 as a fresh water freezing point and 100 as fresh water boiling point. Centigrade is now called Celsius. Degrees centigrade equals (degrees Fahrenheit minus 32) times 5/<>. Degrees Fahrenheit equals (5/s> degrees Centigrade) plus 32 centimeter one-hundredth of a meter of length in the metric system. One centimeter is equal to 0.3937 in. centipoise a unit of dynamic viscosity in CGS units A centipoise is 1/100 of a poise and is one gram per sec-cm. A centipoise is equal to 0.000672 lb/ft-sec. Water has a viscosity of 1.005 centipoises at 20C. cp

78

centistoke centrocline central processing or producing platform a fixed, offshore platform that contains the separation, treatment, and compression facilities for several offshore fields. The produced fluids flow to the central processing platform through submarine pipelines. The oil, gas, and water are separated, and the produced water is disposed of in the sea. The gas is compressed and dehydrated. The platform also contains turbinepowered generators, freshwater-making units, instrument-air compressors, and gas-flaring facilities. CPP central processing unit the part of a computer where the arithmetic and logic processes are done and instructions are decoded and performed. It controls the computer. CPU centrate clarified liquid from a centrifuge centrifugal compressor a compressor that uses blades (impellers) to accelerate gas radially. The gas enters in the eye of the impeller and is accelerated outward to impart kinetic energy and pressure. An additional pressure rise can also occur in the diffuser located after the impeller. Up to 10 impellers can be used in one frame. If they are mounted in series, they increase the compression ratio, whereas if they are mounted in parallel, they increase capacity. Several frames can be used in a series for high pressures in multistage compressors. Centrifugal compressors are widely used in gas gathering. centrifugal force the force that is caused by rotation. Centrifugal force pulls matter away from the axis of rotation. centrifugal pump a rotary or impeller type of highvolume pump for liquids that uses an electric motor to rotate blades (impellers) in a casing to spin the liquid out of the pump. Centrifugal pumps can be either radial flow or axial flow and are compact, portable, and maintain constant flow. This is in contrast to reciprocating pumps that use pistons to generate high pressures but relatively low volumes. Centrifugal pumps can be found on a drilling rig mixing and pumping mud to the mud pits, desander, desilter, and degasser units as well as supplying mud to the mud pumps for supercharging. They are less expensive, smaller, and quieter than reciprocating pumps. A reciprocating pump is used for the mud pumps. centrifugal test a test that uses a centrifuge to determine the basic sediment and water content of crude oil. The centrifugal test uses a shake-out or grind-out machine. centrifuge a high-speed, rotating device that uses centrifugal force to separate liquids and solids of different densities. Hydrocyclones used to separate coarse solids from drilling mud are an example. A centrifuge called a shake-out or grind-out machine is used to determine the basic sediment and water content of crude oil. centripetal stream pattern a stream drainage pattern that is characterized by streams flowing into a central depression. Centripetal patterns can be found on karst limestones with sinkholes. centrocline a structure in which the sedimentary rock beds dip down toward a central point. A centrocline is in contrast to pericline or quaquaversal.

centistoke a unit of kinematic viscosity in the CGS system. A centistoke is equal to a centipoise per unit density in g/cc. cs centr centrifugal central facility a field operation such as separators or stock tanks that serves several leases centralize to position a tool or tubular in the center of a wellbore

centralizer

centralizer an attachment with two hinged steel bands with connecting bands that is put on casing as it is run into th.e well. The centralizer is designed to keep the casing string central in the well while cement slurry is pumped between the casing and the well walls. Two types are spring-bow and rigid. There are usually six or eight spring blades that are bowed outward on the centralizer. Centralizers are made in different sizes. Centralizing springs are similarly used to keep tools central in a well, cent central Jack plant an engine, often one-cylinder, that turns a horizontal band wheel used to power several pumping wells that surround it. Shackle rods connect the band wheel on a vertical shaft with the pumping wells. A central jack plant can be connected to 10-25 pump jacks or outpost wells that are powered by belt-driven eccentrics, (central power or central pumping power) central oil-treating station a separator facility that is used to treat oil emulsions from several leases central power or central pumping power see central jack plant

central processing platform being towed (Texaco, Inc.)

Ceph or ceph

79

centrifuge

Ceph or ceph cephalopod cephalopod a highly developed marine invertebrate belonging to the class Cephalopoda of the phylum Mollusca. Modern examples include squids and the pearly nautilus. Many have either internal or external skeletons or shells and are guide fossils. Cephalopods include the nautiloids and ammonoids that were important during the Mesozoic time. Cephalopods have existed from the Cambrian period to the present. Ceph or ceph ceramic bean a ceramic insert of a specific size that is used in a choke valve to control the flow from a well certified capacity the maximum amount of natural gas that a pipeline is legally allowed to transmit certificate of clearance a permit for the transportation of oil or gas by a regulatory commission certificate of compliance and authorization to transport oil or gas from lease a regulatory commission form that is executed by an operator to certify that the operation of the wells complies with the regulations of the commission The certificate authorizes a purchaser to transport oil and gas from the lease. certificate of conformance a certificate that a well has been plugged and abandoned in compliance with the appropriate laws and regulations certificate of fitness a document certifying that a mobile or fixed offshore drilling vessel meets the technical requirements for United Kingdom or Norwegian North Sea waters. The certificate must be granted prior to entry. certificate of production a form or declaration that the operator of a new well files for record in a government agency to testify that production in paying quantities has commenced. A certificate of production is required in certain states to extend the lease or interest in the well, (affidavit of production) certificate of title an abbreviated abstract on the title of land. The abstractor issues an opinion on the owner of the lands, unreleased oil and gas leases, conveyances of minerals, outstanding encumbrances, and liens of record, (report of title or memorandum of title)

certification of abstract certification by an abstractor that the abstract has a complete summary of all instruments affecting title to the land as shown in records up to the date of certification certified petroleum geologist a geologist whose ethical and professional qualifications have been reviewed and accepted by a committee of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Each is given an identification number. cessation of production a permanent or temporary end to oil and gas production from a well. Temporary cessation could be due to workover operations. Permanent cessation results in plugging and abandoning and the termination of an ordinary oil and gas lease. cessation of production clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that explains how the lessee can maintain the lease if production is interrupted. It usually involves payment of delay rentals or commencement of work on the well or lease within a certain period of time after the cessation of production. CT E cement evaluation tool CF 1) casing flange 2) cubic feet 3) completion factor Cj shape factor cf 1) casing flowing 2) compare 3) cubic feet Cf formation compressibility CFB cubic feet per barrel CFD, cfd, cfD, or cf/d cubic feet per day CFE core flow efficiency CFG cubic feet of gas CFGPD or CFG/D cubic feet of gas per day CFGPH or CFG/H cubic feet of gas per hour CFGPM or CFG/M cubic feet of gas per minute CFGPS or CFG/S cubic feet of gas per second CFH or cfh cubic feet per hour CFI carbonate fabric unit C15+ the saturate fraction of crude oil and sediment extract C5 pentane CFL cut fluorescence CFM or cfm cubic feet per minute C4 butane C4 fraction the hydrocarbons in crude oil and natural gas that contain four or less carbon atoms in their molecules These include methane, ethane, propane, and butane. The C4 fraction is in contrast to the pentane-plus fraction. dp cubic feet per pound CFR Code of Federal Regulations CFS or cfe cubic feet per second CFT cubic feet CG 1) Corgun 2) connection gas 3) coarse grained 4) center of gravity C.G. or eg center of gravity eg or eg. coring Cg or cg gas compressibility or gas coefficient of isothermal compressibility

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Cgl, cgl, or cglt channel Chalcedony is white to light gray, very hard, and has a conchoidal fracture. Chal or chal chalk an extremely fine-grained limestone composed primarily of microfossils (foraminifera tests or coccoliths). Foraminifera (forams) are single-celled animals and their tests (shells) generally range in size from 25 to 64 (JL Coccolithopores are also single-celled animals with plates (coccoliths) generally less than 20 \L in size. Chalks originally have high porosities (25%^i0%) but have low permeabilities due to small pores and pore throats. The permeability in some chalk reservoirs is enhanced by natural fractures. The rock is usually soft, earthy, and white to light gray or buff in color. Chalk is used as an oil-wetting agent in drilling fluid. CLK, Chk, or chk challenge clause a provision in an agreement such as a joint operating agreement in which a nonoperator has the right to challenge the operator by offering to conduct operations on a more favorable basis. The operator then has the right to meet the challenge or forfeit the right to continue to operate. (Annie Oakley clause) chamber lift a type of intermittent gas lift that uses either a) the tubing-casing annulus or b) a bottle on the end of the tubing string to accumulate fluids between cycles. Chamber lift is used in low bottomhole pressure, high productivity index wells to obtain the lowest flowing bottomhole pressure for gas lift. chamfer the tapered or conical end of a threaded pipe or coupling chance factor a geological condition that must have occurred or be present for a petroleum deposit to exist. The chance factor is expressed as a probability and is used in a risk analysis of a prospect. Some of the more important chance factors are a) reservoir, b) caprock, c) mature source, d) migration, and e) geometry or trap. Chancellor rotating horsehead a pumping unit with a horsehead that rotates to increase the maximum stroke length by about 50%. The horsehead is eggshaped and pivots near the center of the horsehead. A cable sling is mounted on the front of the horsehead to suspend the polished rod hanger. The rotating horsehead doubles the load on the unit and increases the production rate. chance of success a decimal number such as 0.25 that has been assigned by a geologist to a proposed well to represent the probability of success that the well will be a producer when drilled. The chance of success can be determined by multiplying the risks assigned to each chance factor for that well, (composite risk factor) change house a shelter used by the crews on a drilling rig to change clothes change of ownership clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that explains what notice the lessee must give the lessor if the ownership changes. (assignment clause) change rams to replace the rams in a blowout preventer with another size or type rams. Pipe rams are most commonly changed. changing tour a crew change on a drilling rig channel 1) a cavity on the outside of the casing caused by a poor cement job. (holiday) 2) a trough

Cgl, cgl, or cglt conglomerate CGR 1) condensate-gas ratio 2) corrected gravity C-GR or c-gr coarse grained Cgr/gal grains per gallon concentration CGS calculated gas saturation cgs the cm-gm-sec system CH 1) casinghead gas 2) cased hole Ch chlorite ch 1) chert 2) choke Cj, capacity of hole C/H cased hole chain a unit of length used for public land surveys in the United States that is equal to 66 ft or 4 rods. One acre is equal to 10 square chains. chain breaker a rotary driller chain drive a mechanical power transfer system that uses a roller chain with links made of side bars, transverse pins, and rollers. A chain drive is used to connect chain gears or wheels with teeth. Chain drives can also be double or triple roller chains depending on the number of connected rows of links. chained out of the hole a method of breaking out pipe on a drilling rig. The tool joint is loosened with the pipe tongs. The spinning chain is then wrapped counterclockwise around the stand. The spinning chain is connected to a pulling line from the cathead and the tool joint is broken out by spinning the stand with the chain. chaining a string of charged particles between two electrodes. Chaining can cause short-circuiting and can occur in a water/oil emulsion. chainman a surveyor's assistant who uses a chain to measure distances such as the length of a seismic spread chain of title a complete record of transfers or links that goes from the patent to the present on a tract of land chain slinger the backup man on a drilling crew

chain tongs

chain tongs a tool consisting of a releasable chain and handle that is used to grip and turn pipe or fittings larger than can be handled with a pipe wrench, {bull tongs) Chal or chal chalcedony chalcedony a mineral that is cryptocrystalline (crystals too small to be seen by the naked eye) and composed of quartz, with a chemical formula of SiO2.

channel deposit eroded by a river. Two common types of river channels are meandering and braided or anastamosing. 3) a series of devices that are interconnected so that data can flow from source to recorder Seismic systems are often 24 channels so that information from 24 groups of geophones are recorded simultaneously. 4) a path of informational flow in a computer channel deposit the sediments that fill a river channel. Meandering river channel deposits bend back and forth in aerial view, are oriented perpendicular to the (paleo) shoreline and have a fining-upward grain size. Braided channels are intertwining. channel fill the alluvial sediments such as gravel, sand, silt, and clay that were transported and deposited in a channel by a river. Meandering rivers tend to fill with sand and finer grained sediments. Braided rivers tend to fill with coarse sediments such as gravels and sands. channeling the flow of fluids such as water through more permeable zones in a reservoir. The channeling can occur in the shape of fingers. Channeling can trap (bypass) oil in less permeable zones. It is a problem in primary production from water drive reservoirs and during waterflood and enhanced oil recovery. channel job a faulty cement job channel pore an elongated pore that has developed without regard to the texture or fabric of the rock channel sands the sands deposited by a river in a channel. Channel sands can be deposited either in a point bar, on the insides of a meander, or in reaches between meanders. channel wave a seismic wave trapped in a subsurface rock layer. The rock layer is bounded both above and below by reflectors with a reflectivity of near unity. The phenomenon is called wave guide effect or normal mode propagation. character the part of a seismic event that is recognizable character log an acoustic wave train display. The display can be either in a) intensity modulated-time mode or b) amplitude-time mode. charcoal test a test that is used to determine the condensate or natural gasoline content of wet gas by adsorption of the liquids on activated charcoal in the field. The charcoal is then brought into a laboratory and the liquid is heated off the charcoal, condensed and measured. The test is standardize^ by the American Gas Association and the Gas Producers Association. charge 1) a tax, lien, or assessment on an interest in the land 2) an explosive used in seismic exploration It is usually described by weight, type, and sometimes length. chargeability the operator that is charged with the ownership of a particular lease of federal lands charged shallow formation with an abnormal high pressure caused by fluids flowing up from a deeper reservoir charging pumps the air or electronic pumps that pressure the gas in the accumulators Charles' law a law of physics that relates the volume 00, temperature (T), and pressure (P) of an ideal gas.

chemical compaction

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The law states that Yyv2 = TXIT2 and T/V = a constant. It also states that Pi/P2 = TXIT2 and TIP = a constant. chase pipe to lower a drillstring a few feet in the well and then suddenly stop it with the drawworks brake in order to clean out the pipe chase threads to straighten and clean the threads on a pipe chasing the dog loafing on the job chat a driller's term for conglomerate Chattian a global age of geological time that occurred about 33-25 m. y. ago. It is part of the Oligocene epoch. Chautaguan a North American age of geological time that occurred from about 380 to 365 m. y. ago. It is part of the Devonian period. Chazyan a North American age of geological time that occurred about 475-460 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. CHB chloroform bitumen cheater a length of pipe that is put on the handle of a wrench to increase its length and improve leverage, (snipe) check an area of six townships checkerboard a lease pattern that looks like a checkerboard. Every other lease is held by one party with a 100% working interest with only the lease corners touching. Chkbd checkerboarding leasing or farming out land in a checkerboard pattern checkerboard working interest an arrangement in which a farmee receives a 100% working interest in certain acreage, and the farmor retains a 100% working interest in the balance check shot survey a method used to determine seismic velocities over various intervals in a well. The source is usually on the surface, and geophones are positioned in the well. check valve a type of valve that allows fluid flow in only one direction. The check valve is usually opened by pressure on a spring behind the gate, (oneway, nonreturn, or swing gauge or valve) cheese paraffin chelating the attachment of a group to a central metallic agent such as iron with two valences to form a heterocyclic ring. A sequestering agent uses chelating to separate the iron cation from the anion by chelating to prevent the formation of iron hydroxide during acidizing. Chemelectric treater or dehydrator a horizontal separator that uses chemical demulsifiers, heat, and electrostatics to separate emulsions chemical barrel a small tank that holds 1-5 bbl of fluid. Mud treating chemicals are mixed with water in the chemical barrel and added to the circulating system of a drilling rig. The barrel has a water inlet, small mixing system, and outlet. chemical compaction the reduction in volume of a sedimentary rock due to pressure solution of grains at the grain-to-grain contacts. Anhydrite and gypsum grains are most susceptible, quartz is intermediate

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chemical consolidation chimney Chemungian a North American age of geological time that ended about 380 m. y. ago. It is part of the Devonian period. chenier beach a beach ridge of sand located on peat or clay. A chenier beach is very long and narrow. chert a hard and extremely fine-grained or amorphous rock composed of SiO2. Chert occurs both as nodules in limestones and dolomites and as extensive, layered deposits (bedded chert). Chert forms either inorganically by precipitating out of ground water or organically by deposition of siliceous microfossils such as radiolarians or diatoms. CHRT, Cht, cht,or ch chert bit the first tungsten carbide insert bit introduced by the Hughes Tool Company in 1949. The chert bit had short, closely spaced inserts and was very durable. chert clause a drilling contract provision that allows for the conversion of footage rates to day rates when chert, a hard rock to drill, is encountered in the well Chesterian a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 340-330 m. y. ago. It is part of the Mississippian period. chevron fold a fold in sedimentary rocks in which the fold limbs are straight with uniform thickness but there is a angular hinge line with thickening. (accordion or zigzag fold)
CHF casinghead flange CHG casinghead gas

and zircon, rutile, and pyrite are least susceptible to chemical compaction. chemical consolidation a method of sand control that uses injected resins to bind unconsolidated pay sands in a well chemical cutoff a technique used to cut pipe in a well by high-pressure jets of a corrosive fluid on the pipe

chemical cutter

chemical cutter a downhole tool that uses acid to cut stuck pipe in a well. The chemical propellant is packed inside the tool which is lowered on wireline. The tool is activated by electrical signals that direct a high pressure and temperature propellant out through holes to cut drillpipe or tubing. The jet cutter is similar but uses a jet charge instead of chemical action to cut the tubular. chemical dehydration a process that uses a surfaceactive agent to produce an unstable emulsion in a separator to separate oil and water. chemical feeder pump a small pump that is used to inject an emulsion breaking chemical into the flow lines from wells. The chemical feeder pump can be powered from the pumping unit. chemical flood an enhanced oil recovery process in which water mixed with chemicals is injected into a depleted oil reservoir. The chemicals are designed to reduce the surface tension of the remaining oil and to push it toward a producing well. The injection is done in several stages with each chemical or water injected during that stage called a slug. The first slug injected is usually a water preflush, then a surfactant slug that reduces surface tension, then a polymer slug that drives the surfactant, then a fresh water buffer, followed by water to drive the slugs, (micellar flood) chemical flooding enhanced oil recovery processes which involve injection of water with chemicals into a subsurface reservoir. Chemical flooding includes surfactant, polymer, and alkaline flooding. chemical fossil a compound found in crude oil or sediments that proves a biological origin for that compound. Normal alkanes from plant waxes and fatty acids and porphyrins, pristane, and phytane derived from chlorophyll are examples of chemical fossils. chemical remanent magnetism magnetism in a rock generated by mineral grain growth below the Curie point. Chemical remanent magnetism is in contrast to thermal and detrital remanent magnetism. CRM

chg or chng changing CHH casinghead housing if magnetic susceptibility chicken hook a steep pole with a hook that is used on a drilling rig to release the safety latch on the traveling block's hook to remove the swivel chicken-wire anhydrite a sedimentary rock composed of large recrystallized anhydrite (CaSO4) nodules. The impurities between the nodules have a chicken wire pattern when the rock is slabbed. chicksan a high-pressure swivel joint used in a piping system. A chicksan is designed to give a bend to the piping system and swivels on internal threads with ball bearings. It is used on cement or frac jobs. (swivel joints) chief computer the person on a seismic crew who does the preliminary evaluation and possibly some interpretation of the seismic data. The chief computer works directly under the party chief. chief mechanic an employee of the drilling contractor on an offshore drilling rig who supervises the engineering department and maintains the rig machinery chiller a type of heat exchanger that uses a refrigerant to cool fluids chimney a geochemical zone over a hydrocarbon deposit The area is identified by very strong soil and rock alteration, stressed vegetation, high soil gas, and a very strong reduction zone, in contrast to the oxidizing or weakly reducing area surrounding it. The chimney is caused by light hydrocarbons leaking from a subsurface reservoir.

chip chip an electric circuit consisting of numerous, miniature transistors and other circuit elements on a single, small (less than V4 in.2) silicon chip. The component design on the chip is made by a computer. The electrical connections between the elements are made by an evaporated metal that is engraved on the circuit by a photographic process. The microprocessor is a single chip that contains all the arithmetic and logic units of a computer, (integrated circuit) chip coring a method of obtaining well cuttings with accurate depths during cable-tool drilling. A sand pump is used to remove the well cuttings. The largest cuttings are sampled and are assumed to be from the last one or two strokes of the drill bit and represent the last 1 in. of drilling. chip hold-down effect the effect of high drillingmud weight and pressure holding the well cuttings on the bottom of the well and slowing the drilling chisel tongs tongs with inserts shaped like chisels for better pipe gripping Chit or chit chitin

choke-flow connection

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shales but a shale-compensated chlorinity log is now available. This log has been replaced by the neutronlifetime and thermal-decay-time logs. CHL, Chl, chl, or chl log chlorite The chlorite clay mineral family includes the species (a) amesite, (b) antigorite, (c) chamosite, (d) clinochlore, (e) penninite, and (f) corrensite. The clay minerals are rich in iron and magnesium and have the chemical formula (Mg, Fe+2, Fe+3)6AlSi3O10 (OH)6. The mineral has a density of 2.65 (Mg) to 3.42 (Fe) gms/cm3and a cell dimension of 14.20 A. Chlorites originally form in low-grade metamorphic rocks or from the alteration of black mica and ferromagnesium minerals. Chlorite is associated with and resembles the micas. Chlorites have a low cation exchange capacity and are relatively stable. Because they have a high iron content, chlorites react with acid such as HC1 to form a gelatinous flocculant or iron hydroxide. This can reduce the permeability of a rock. A chelating or sequestering agent is used to prevent this. Cb, Chlor, or chlor choc chocolate

chock
chitinozoan

chitinozoan an extinct marine microfossil of an organism with an uncertain affinity They are shaped like flasks and existed from the Ordovician period through the Devonian period. Chtz Chk or chk chalk chk choke Chkbd checkerboard chky chalky CHL chlorinlog Chi, chl, or chl log chlorine log CHL GR chlorinlog, gamma ray log Chlor or chlor chlorite chloride stress cracking the stress fracturing caused by corrosion of ferrous-based alloy steels when exposed to chlorine ions in water chlorinlog, chlorine log, or chlorine survey a neutron-gamma ray type of wireline log that is run to determine the amount of chlorine present in a formation. The log is made by counting the rate of gamma rays in a certain energy range made by the capture of thermal neutrons from a source by chlorine atoms. Chlorine occurs dissolved in salt water, and the chlorine log is used to locate saltwater-bearing zones. The chlorine log was originally sensitive to

chocks blocks or triangular-shaped objects that are put in front or in back of wheels to prevent a truck or trailer from moving, (scotches) choke a constriction in a line (usually VM-I in. diameter) used to restrict and control the rate of flow during a test or during production. Chokes can be fixed or adjustable. Adjustable chokes use a needle, sleeve, or cone-shaped stem with a seat to change the size of the orifice. A fixed or positive choke has a specific diameter orfice. Some types of chokes include bottomhole, surface, and storm chokes. Production of oil or gas is often reported in barrels or cubic feet on a certain sized choke, (bean, flow bean, flow-plug, or flow nipple) CK, CH, chk, ck, or cb choke bean the replaceable orifice on a positive choke, (flow beam) choke extractor a wireline tool that is used to pull side-door chokes when the pressure in the tubing is less than the pressure in the casing-tubing annulus. The choke extractor has a sub for attachment to a pulling tool, a fishing neck, an equalizing sub, two choke cups, and a spring-loaded ball. choke-flow connection the valve or valves on a blowout-preventer stack that connect the well with the chokeline that leads to the choke manifold and mud tanks on a drilling rig

84

chokeline chromatography
PRESSURE GAUGE

chokeline a pipe on the ram preventers of a blowout preventer stack that conducts fluids from the annulus of a well to the choke manifold. The chokeline controls the rate of drilling fluid flow out of a well when the blowout preventers are closed and a kick is being circulated out of the well. chokeline valve a valve on the blowout preventer stack of a drilling rig that is used to control or stop the flow of fluids through the chokeline to the choke manifold choke manifold a series of automatic valves, gauges, chokes, and lines on a drilling rig. It is located on the ground next to the blowout preventer stack and is connected to the blowout-preventer stack outlet. The choke manifold can direct the flow to the burning pit, reserve pit, mud tank, or mud conditioning equipment. The choke manifold is used to circulate a kick out of a well after the blowout preventers have been thrown and to circulate heavier drilling mud into the well to control it. It is operated from a control panel on the drill floor. The control panel has gauges that show drillpipe pressure, manifold pressure, and choke positions. choke panel a device located on a drilling rig that is designed to control an orifice or choke that can regulate the back pressure of drilling mud on the formation face in the well chord one of the vertical elements on the leg of a jackup rig

MASTER VALVE

TUBING HEAD

CASINGHEAD

Christmas tree

standardized by the American Petroleum Institute after sizes and ratings set forth by the American National Standards Institute. Flowing wells that use Christmas trees include all gas wells and, less commonly, oil wells in the early stages of field development. On the seafloor, they can be either wet trees which are exposed to seawater, or dry trees which are contained in an air-filled chamber. Gas lift wells also have Christmas trees, (production tree or tree) xtree chromate a compound that contains chromuim. Chromates are used with lime as anodic corrosion inhibitors. chromatogram the record from a chromatograph
OIL CHROMATOGRAM OF UNALTERED OIL

chordate

chordates animals that have backbones. Chordates are in contrast to invertebrates that are common as fossils in sedimentary rocks, (vertebrates) CHP casinghead pressure Chp chalcopyrite Christmas tree surface completion equipment over a well that flows to the surface under its own pressure and is used to control the flow from the well. The Christmas tree consists of a casing head housing, casing and tubing head spools, and production valves and chokes. Christmas trees vary in construction, but all have at least one master valve to control the flow of the well. On the top is a swab valve and a pressure gauge. To the side of the flow cross or tee is the flowline valve. Most Christmas trees are single-wing but some are double-wing when the well is a dual completion. Most trees are machined out of a solid block of metal (block tree), whereas some are assembled with individual valves (loose-valve tree). The Christinas tree has a hollow passageway that connects to the top of the tubing in the well. The flanged or studded fittings on the Christmas tree are

chromatogram

chromatograph an instrument used to analyze the components of a substance by chromatography. Column (liquid-solid) chromatography uses a glass column packed with activated, powdered silica or alumina. The liquid phase is a solvent such as hexane. Gas chromatography uses a high-molecular weight stationary liquid phase in the column to partition the gas phase. chromatography a process used to separate by adsorption, partition, ion exchange, or electrochromatography, the components of a sample in solution or mixture by passing it over or through a substance. The components in the sample have different mobilities as they pass over or through the substance and are physically separated. Liquid chromatography is used to separate oils and extracts from sedimentary rocks into their components. Gas

chrone circulating ditch chromatography is used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the organic components of crude oil and to detect oil and gas seepages. chrone the time equivalent of a chronzone chronostratigraphic analysis a method to analyze the history of deposition and erosion of sedimentary rock units in a basin by prograding depositional units called clinoforms. Depositional history of sedimentary rocks is related to times of higher sea level and erosion or to times of lower sea level and deposition.

85

Youngest

Diachronous

Oldest chronostratigraphic section

chronostratigraphic section a section, a vertical slice similar to a cross section, of sedimentary rocks and unconformities in a sedimentary rock basin with prograding depositional units called clinoforms. The vertical axis on the section is geological time. The horizontal axis is distance, similar to a stratigraphic cross section. The sedimentary rocks are divided into depositional sequences which are bounded by unconformities on both the top and bottom. Each unconformity is represented by a hiatus, a gap in the time record. chronazone the basic time-stratigraphic unit of rocks deposited during a specific time such as between the first and last appearance of a fossil or a particular part of a sequence. A chrone is the time equivalent of a chronzone. CHRT, Cht, or cht chert CHRTY or chty cherty Chtz chitinozoa churn drilling see cable tool drilling churn flow a type of rising fluid flow consisting of unstable and distorted bubbles in a liquid. Churn flow occurs between slug and annular flow. CI correlation index CI or C.I. contour interval CIBP cast iron bridge plug CID cubic inch displacement Cincinnatian a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 455-425 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. CIP 1) cement in place 2) closed-in pressure CIPA California Independent Producers Association

CIRC, Circ, or circ 1) circulation 2) circulate 3) circulated circle-A pump a type of downhole pump that is used to lift viscous fluids such as heavy oil. The pump is either a tubing or stationary barrel type with top or bottom holddown. (viscous fluid pump) circle flood a type of waterflood pattern in which the production wells are drilled in a circle around a water injection well circle jack a large, semicircular rack that is bolted to the floor of a cable-tool rig and is used to make and break pipe connections. A circle jack has one wrench that is attached to the floor and another wrench that is jacked up along the rack, (jack and circle) circle wrench a manual wrench in the shape of a wheel that is used to break out a sucker-rod string when it is pulled from a well, (back-off wheel or wheeltype back-off wrench) circuit an electrical current path. The electrons in the current will flow from a negative power supply terminal, through a conductor such as a copper wire, to a positive power supply terminal circuit diagram a plan using symbols to show an electrical circuit or path circular chart a circular piece of paper with a scale radiating out from the center. The chart is rotated, and a parameter such as gas flows is recorded with time. A circular chart is in contrast to a strip chart. circulate to cause drilling mud to flow on a complete trip through the mud or circulating system on a drilling rig. Circulating is done by pumping drilling mud out of the mud tanks with mud pumps and down the inside of the rotary hose, swivel, and drillstring on a rotary drilling rig. The mud jets out through the nozzles on the drill bit and returns to the surface in the space called the annulus between the drillstring and the walls of the well. After going through the shale shaker, the desander, and the desilter, the mud returns to the mud tanks. Circulation of drilling mud while drilling is suspended is necessary to prevent the drillpipe from becoming stuck and to remove the well cuttings from the bottom of the hole. CIRC, Circ, or circ circulate-and-weigh a technique used to control high subsurface pressures during drilling. Circulation is restarted immediately after a kick, and the weight of the drilling mud is gradually increased on a schedule, (concurrent method) circulate out to circulate drilling fluid in a well to remove cuttings and gas. CO circulating device flow-control equipment that is run on production-injection tubing to provide fluid communication between the tubing and the tubing annulus. It consists of a sliding sleeve or side pocket mandrel. circulating differential fill collar or shoe a short section of pipe that is run either on the bottom (shoe) or between joints near the bottom (collar) of a casing string during a cement job. The circulating differential fill collar or shoe uses a differential pressure aaivated valve to allow the casing to fill with well fluids as it is run in the well. circulating ditch an obsolete term for the mud tanks

86

circulating fluid

clastic ratio

circulating fluid the drilling fluid, drilling mud, water, foam, or air that is circulated down a well on a rotary drilling rig circulating head an attachment used on the top of a drillpipe or tubing to connect with the circulating system, (rotating head) circulating out the kick the close a well and circulate the lighter drilling mud out while circulating heavier drilling mud into the well circulating pressure the pressure on a fluid at a specific depth in a well that is required to circulate that fluid at a specific rate. CP circulating sleeve a device on a tubing string that is manipulated by a wireline tool to open or close ports between the tubing and annulus. The circulating sleeve protrudes out from the tubing, while the tubing still has a full inner diameter. The circulating sleeve can be used to turn on and off production from several levels in a well, (sliding sleeve or sliding-sleeve npple) circulating squeeze a squeeze cement job on a well with two producing zones that has communication behind the pipe between the zones due to channeling in the primary cement job. The upper zone is perforated first. Tubing with a packer is run and set between the zones. Water is circulated to clean the channel, and cement is pumped into the channel. The packer is then released and picked up above the upper perforations. A low squeeze pressure is then applied, and the excess cement is circulated out. circulating sub a tool that provides for circulating drilling mud around and through a fishing string to prevent string sticking, to control high pressures, and to keep the hole clean. Circulation through the sub can be by perforations or by side ports called circulating ports. The circulating ports can be opened or closed by manipulating the fishing string. circulating system the system on a rotary drilling rig that pumps, stores and conditions the drilling fluid which is usually drilling mud. The mud pumps (mud hogs) suck drilling mud from the steel mud tanks and pump it through the rotary hose, swivel, kelly, drillpipe, drill collars, and nozzles in the drill bit onto the bottom of the well. The mud then returns to the surface in the annulus (space between the wellbore and drillpipe), through the blowout preventers, and onto the surface. Next to the rig, it goes through the mud-return line and through the shale shaker to remove the coarse well cuttings. The mud goes through the desander, desilter, and degasser to remove the rest of the well cuttings and dissolved gas and back into the mud tanks. The mud is then ready to be pumped back up the suction line to the mud pumps. circulating temperature The temperature of a liquid being circulated at a specific depth in a well. circulating valve a valve that connects the drillpipe with the annulus a short distance above the drillstem test tool to allow the circulation of drilling fluid to remove any combustible test fluid from the drillpipe before the tool is withdrawn from the hole. The valve can be combined with a shut-in valve. circulation the flow of drilling fluid, drilling mud, water, foam, or air down the well and back up. Circulation can be either normal circulation in which the fluid is pumped down the center of the drillstring

and back up the annulus or reversed circulation in which the fluid is pumped down the annulus and back up the center of the drillpipe. CIRC, Ore, or
circ

circulation rate the volume of drilling mud, usually expressed in gallons or barrels per minute, that is being pumped down a well circulation time the time that it takes the drilling mud to make a complete round trip from the mud tanks through the circulating system, back to in the mud tanks. Circulation time is twice lag time, (cycle time) CIS customer instrument service city gate the point where gas ownership is transferred from the pipeline to the local distributor CK or ck choke CL caliper log Q 1) love wave velocity 2) condensate or natural gas liquids content
Cl or cl clay

Cl 1) chloride 2) chinozoisite CL. center line C/L center line clabbered the flocculation of drilling mud due to contaminants. The drilling mud will have a high gel strength and will be very viscous, (gelled-up) cladding the coating of steel pipe and equipment with a thin sheet of corrosion resistant material. Cladding is necessary when H2S, CO2> or other corrosive gases are expected to be encountered during drilling or production. CLAG cleaning agent treatment Clairborne a North American age of geological time that occurred about 50-45 m. y. ago. It is part of the Eocene epoch. clamp a mechanical device that is used to hold something in place clamp connection a pressure sealing device that is used to join two pieces without bolted flange joints. Two clamp hubs are used on the ends of the items and are held together by the clamp with two or four bolts. clapper valve a valve that uses a hinged lid to allow fluid flow only in one direction. Clapper valves are used in bailers to remove fluid and debris from the bottom of a well. clarification to make clear. The removal of oil from water, or suspended solids from a fluid. das clastic clastic grain a sedimentary particle that has been transported and deposited as a whole particle. A clastic grain is rounded by erosion during transportation. Dune or beach sand is an example of a clastic grain. clastic limestone a limestone composed primarily of broken and rounded shells (coquina) clastic ratio a ratio of the thickness of clastic rocks (conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones and shales) to die thickness of nonclastic rocks (limestones, dolomites and salts) in a sedimentary rock unit.

clastic rock cleaning a well

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clastic ratio map

clastic rock a sedimentary rock composed of particles of other rocks that were broken down by weathering and transported and deposited by erosion Examples of clastic rock include sandstone, shale, siltstone, conglomerate, and breccia. clathrate ice with gas molecules trapped in the cagelike ice crystal structure. A clathrate is a solid crystalline compound similar to snow. Natural clathrates usually contain ethane or isobutane or, less often, methane or nitrogen. They are common in permafrost areas and in seabed sediments. Clathrates also form in and block gas wells and lines and foul heat exchangers when gas is cooled. They are composed of about 90% water and 10% of one of the gases methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane, carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide. Methane snow is a clathrate formed by water and methane. Clathrates have a specific gravity between 0.96 and 0.98. Potassium salts can be used as a drilling-fluid additive to inhibit clathrate formation. Gas dehydration is used to depress the dew point of produced natural gas and prevent clathrate formation. Clathrates are melted from pipes by heaters, steam, or hot water or by adding methanol or ethylene glycol. (gas hydrate or hydrate) clay a particle size less than Viw mm in diameter Cl orcl clay blocking a type of formation damage caused when low-salinity water enters the formation causing clay minerals to be displaced and dispersed from pore walls and to bridge pore throats, resulting in reduced permeabilities clay control methods used to isolate or stabilize clay minerals in a formation. The methods retard the breakup of clay platelets that could cause clay to flow through the formation and clog pore throats, reducing or eliminating formation permeability. clay extender a high molecular weight organic compound such as polyvinyl acetatemaleic anhydride copolymer that is added in low concentrations to drilling mud to increase viscosity and initial yield. clay gouge soft, unconsolidated, very fine-grained rock fragments found along a fault surface. Clay gouge is formed by the grinding action of fault movement on rocks and subsequent mineral decomposition. Gouge can act as a permeability barrier, forming a fault seal, (fault gouge, gouge, or selvage) clay mineral a hydrous, aluminum silicate mineral with a layered crystal structure. Clay minerals usually

occur in extremely fine-grained sizes in sedimentary rocks and can be either allogenic (originally deposited with the other sediments) or authigenic (formed by chemical reactions in the subsurface). Clay minerals are composed of tetrahedral layers of silica surrounded by four oxygens, three of which are shared. They can also contain octahedral layers of aluminum or magnesium surrounded by six oxygens, whereby all the oxygens are shared and a layer of loosely bound atoms or molecules can be exchanged. Authigenic clay minerals include neoformed clays that have precipitated out of subsurface waters and transformed clays that have formed by the alteration of a precursor mineral grain such as feldspar. The four common types of clay minerals are kaolinite, illite, smectite, and chlorite. Smectite is the clay used in drilling mud to increase viscosity and density and to build the filter cake on the sides of the well. Clay minerals, because of their size, decrease the porosity and permeability of a rock and increase irreducible water content. Clay minerals can trade (exchange) cations (positive charges) in their interlayer sites. The amount a particular clay mineral can exchange is called cation exchange capacity. Cations and fresh water can cause some clay minerals to swell (swelling clays) or disperse. This can cause the clay mineral to detach from mineral grains and clog pore throats in sedimentary rocks, reducing or destroying the rock's permeability in a process called formation damage. The smectite-type of clay mineral has the greatest cation exchange capacity. Some problems with clay minerals include a) migration of fines (kaoline and fibrous illite), b) swelling (smectite, vermiculite, and mixed layers), and c) HC1 acid damage (chlorite and Fe illite). clay plug the fine-grained, organic-rich sediments that fill an abandoned river channel or ox-bow lake occupying an abandoned meander clay stabilizer an additive that is used to prevent the breakup of clay mineral platelets, a cause of formation damage claystone a massive mudstone that contains more clay than silt but lacks the laminations and fissility that are characteristic of shale. Cist Clear calcarenite Clclt calcilutite Clcrd calcirudite Clcsp calcisphere CLDL chloride detection log clean a sandstone or carbonate rock with little or no clay-sized particles or shale, en clean drilling drilling with circulating drilling mud cleaned core a core that has had the formation fluid extracted with solvents, usually acetone, chloroform, ethylene dichloride, hexane, naphtha, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, trichloroethylene or xylene. A clean core is in contrast to a native-state or restored-state core. clean gas natural gas that has had the solids such as rust and dust removed by filters cleaning a well a workover process on a well to remove sediments, water, scale, wax, and other materials from the well

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cleaning solution Clintonian

cleaning solution an acid solution that is used to clean up the producing formation in a well before a fracturing, cementing, or acidizing treatment clean oil crude oil that contains less than a specified amount of basic sediment and water. The specified amount is defined by contract and is usually 1%. (dry oil) clean out to workover a well by removing sand, scale, waxes, or other deposits that have caused a decrease in a well's efficiency cleanout acid a mixture of HC1 acid and surfactants that is circulated down a well to remove unwanted material cleanout bailer a device lowered on a sand line on a cable-tool rig to remove fluid from the well cleanout box or cleanout door an opening in the side of a tank that is used to clean the sediments out of the bottom of the tank cleanout cost the costs incurred in a workover to maintain or restore the productive capacity of a well cleanout crew a workover crew that removes sand and paraffin from wells cleanout machine a reverse circulation drilling rig that is used to drill the pay zone after the rotary rig drills down to the top of the pay cleanout string a string of six to twelve drill collars and small drillpipe or tubing with a bit that is used to drill out cement above a stage tool cleanout tools bailers and swabs used to remove sand, scale, waxes, or other obstruction that build up and obstruct production in wells cleanup a swab job cleanup trip a lowering of the drillstring into the well solely for the purpose of circulating drilling mud and cleaning the well cuttings from the bottom of the well clearance 1) the difference between the diameter of a wellbore and the downhole tool 2) the maximum distance between the surface of a gun and the surface of a wellbore core. clearance volume 1) the space left between the traveling and standing valve in a downhole, suckerrod pump. Clearance volume is measured when the pump is at the bottom of the stroke. 2) the space remaining in a compressor cylinder at the end of the discharge stroke measured in cubic inches clearing account an account that accumulates expenses during a period with the balance allocated to other accounts on some predetermined basis clearing its throat a well that is allowed to blow to clear out drilling mud. Gas from the subsurface blows out the mud clear the well to pay for drilling a well clear-water drilling fluid water that ranges from fresh to saturated brine and comes from a consolidated, normally pressured formation cleavage the breakage of minerals along smooth planes that are controlled by the crystal structure of the mineral. The cleavage is described by the number of planes, their orientation to each other, and their degree of perfection. Clvg

CLEAVAGE ONE DIRECTION

CLEAVAGE TWO DIRECTIONS AT RIGHT ANGLES

CLEAVAGE THREE DIRECTIONS NOT AT RIGHT ANGLES

cleavage

clevis and pin

cleave to break clevis a U-shaped piece of metal with a bolt or pin through the end. A clevis is used to connect a chain, cable, or linkage. A clevis can be found on the brake and clutch linkages and on hydraulic and air cylinders on a drilling rig. (shackle) CLF cyclic load factor Cliftonian a North American age of geological time that ended about 415 m. y. ago. It is part of the Silurian period. climbing, device equipment that is used to prevent a fall by a worker from a drilling-rig mast or derrick. A climbing device moves up and down a steel cable that is attached to the top and bottom of the derrick and runs next to the ladder. A worker is attached to the climbing device by a tail rope and safety harness. The climbing device moves freely up and down the cable unless the worker falls, at which time the device catches the cable to stop the fall. A counterbalanced climbing device has a weight on it equal to the weight of a worker. clingage the oil remaining on the sides of a measuring or prover tank after the tank is drained clinker a hard, granular nodule made by heat treatment of cement components in a kiln. It is ground with calcium sulfate to make Portland cement. clinograph an instrument that measures and records inclination Clinton flake a small particle of cellophane that is used as a lost-circulation additive for cement Clintonian a North American age of geological time that occurred about 420 m. y. ago. It is part of the Silurian period.

CLK

CNS

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CLK chalk CLKY chalky cln 1) crystalline 2) clean clng cleaning CLOS closed close a well to stop the flow of a well by any means closed-in well a well that has been temporarily shut in but is still capable of production closed or closed-in bottom pressure the pressure at or near the producing formation in a well after the well has been closed (shut-in) for a period of time, usually 24 hrs or longer. Closed bottom pressure is measured in psi, psia, or atm. (shut-in bottombole
pressure)

closed gas lift or closed installation a type of gas lift in which the tubing is hung with a packer and a standing valve is used. Closed gas lift is in contrast to the open and semiclosed types. closed or closed-in pressure the pressure at the wellhead after the well has been closed (shut-in) for a period of time, usually 24 hrs or longer, (shut-in
pressure)

closed structure a dome closed traverse the closeness of a survey going into a well compared to a survey coming out of the well close in to temporarily shut in a well that is still capable of producing close nipple a short pipe that is threaded along its entire length closeology a simplistic concept which states that leases closest to a discovery well are worth the most, and drillsites closest to a producing well have the least risk close sand a very fine-grained sandstone closing machine a machine that makes wire rope by braiding wires into strands and strands into rope. (stranding machine) closing ratio the ratio between pressure in a well and the pressure necessary to close the rams in a blowout preventer closing unit the pumps, valves, lines, accumulators, and other equipment that are used on a drilling rig to activate the blowout preventers closing-unit pump the hydraulic fluid pump used on an accumulator that stores and supplies the power to close the blowout preventers on a drilling rig closure 1) the vertical distance between the top of a reservoir rock and the spill point of a trap. Closure is a measure of the maximum vertical height of petroleum that the trap is capable of holding 2) the property of a potential petroleum trap to prevent leakage of petroleum out of one or more sides of the trap and to hold petroleum. Four-sided closure is necessary for an effective trap. 3) the cumulative error in a survey loop closure pressure the pressure that holds rock fractures closed closure stress the pressure which propellents must withstand to hold open fractures caused by a hydraulic fracturing job. Closure stress is related to overburden and pore pressures.

cloud on a title a claim that could impair an owner's title to property if it is upheld in court cloud point the temperature at which a precipitate first forms in a fluid as it is cooled. For crude oil, it is the temperature in which the oil first appears cloudy, usually due to the formation of solid paraffins. The cloud point is 2-5F above the pour point of the oil. clr 1) clear 2) clearance clrg clearing CIS chlorine log system dsd closed Clslt calcisilitite Cist claystone clucking right along a flowing well that is producing clump weight a heavy weight that is used with each guyline on a compliant offshore platform to dampen the wave effect Clus cluster clutch a coupling device that enables a rotating part to gradually connect and disconnect with a part that is driven. The mechanical type is either a jaw or gear type. The air or friction type is commonly used in drilling and uses air pressure to cause a gripping surface to close around a power input shaft. clutcher a rotary driller clutch stomper a rotary driller Clvg cleavage CM molarity concentration cm centimeter CMC l)sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 2) critical micelle concentration CMDP correlation method of direct prospecting Cmeg/1 milliequivalents per liter concentration Cmg/1 milligrams per liter concentration cm3 cubic centimeter CM-GR coarse to medium grained CMHEC carboxymethyl hydroxyethyl cellulose CML channel master log CML N channel master, neutron log CMPL completion log Cmpt compact cm/sec centimeters per second cm2 square centimeter CMT, Cmt, or cmt cement cmtd or cmtd. cemented CN compensated neutron log Cf, normality concentration en clean enen concentric CNG compressed natural gas C9 nonane CNL compensated neutron log CNS compensated neutron sonde

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cntl COCORP coal gas methane gas formed by the heating of coal. Coal gas has a low heat (Btu) content, (town gas) coal gassification a process that uses heat and steam on coal to produce a gas similar to natural gas coal oil kerosene made from distilling either coal or crude oil coal rank the degree of thermal alteration or maturity of a coal. The maturity increases from lignites to sub-bituminous, bituminous (high, medium, and low volatile), semianthracites, anthracites, and metaanthracites. coal seam a bed of coal that is thick enough to be mined coal-seam gas see coalbed gas CO&S clean out and shoot

end control cntr center cntrt contorted Cnty county CO 1) cleaning out 2) crude oil 3) circulate oil 4) carbon monoxide 5) company Co 1) water-saturated formation conductivity 2) oil compressibility 3) liquid coefficeint of isothermal compressibility co oil compressibility C/O carbon/oxygen COAC cleanout acid coagulation the attraction and aggregation of finely divided, suspended particles into lightly bonded groups. It can occur in drilling mud between clay platelets. Coagulation can result in gelation and the precipitation of colloids, (flocculation) coagulent an additive that promotes clotting coal a combustible, sedimentary rock that is formed predominantly (greater than 50%) of carbonaceous material from plant remains altered by subsurface heat and time in a process called coalification. As heat is applied to woody material, it becomes, in sequence, peat, lignite, bituminous coal (soft coal), and anthracite (hard coal). The progression from lignite to anthracite involves increasing carbon, decreasing volatiles, and increasing heat content. Humic coals are derived primarily from woody organic matter. Cannel coals have large amounts of spore and resin material, whereas, boghead coals have significant amounts of algal organic matter. C or c coalbed or coal-bed degassification field a field that produces methane gas from a subsurface coal seam. The wells will also produce considerable water which is usually fresh or brackish. The methane flows through fractures in the coal. The wells tend to have a long economic life, and production can actually increase during the first few years as the wells are dewatered. coalbed or coal-bed gas or methane gas formed by biochemical and physical processes during the coalification of plant material into coal. Coalbed methane is predominantly (80%-99%) methane gas (CH4). Carbon dioxide and water vapor are the main impurities. Sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are never present. Higher temperatures and coal rank produce more methane. The methane is adsorbed to the surface of the coal and the amount of adsorbed gas can range up to 700 ft3/T of coal. A reduction in pressure caused by drilling a well into the coal and dewatering the seam will cause the methane gas to be released. Btu content is usually 950-1,050/ft3. (coal seam gas) CBG coalesce the combination of smaller globules in an emulsion into larger globules by molecular attraction. Coalsecence causes oil/water and water/oil emulsions to be easier to separate by gravity. coalescer 1) an additive that causes substances to come together such as coalescing an emulsions 2) a vessel containing an extensive surface made of wettable packing that causes drops of liquid to form from a gas or liquid. The liquid drops are separated out by gravity.

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coarsening upward sequence

coarsening upward sequence a vertical sequence of sedimentary rocks that becomes coarser in grain size upward in contrast to a fining upward sequence coastal plain an extensive, flat area adjacent to an ocean margin. A coastal plain is formed by deposition of sedimentary rocks prograding (depositing) out into the ocean. coating the thick surface around a pipeline that prevents corrosion. The coating can consist of bitumen, fabric, fiberglass, paper, or plastics. Submerged pipelines are coated with cement to decrease buoyancy. cobble a particle size 64-256 mm in diameter. Cbl orCOBL COBL cobble coccolith a plate composed of CaCO3 from a very small, single-celled animal (Coccolithophore) that floats in the ocean. Coccoliths range in size from 25 to 64 u. and can be identified only under a scanning electron microscope. Relatively pure deposits of coccolith fossils form the rock chalk. Coccoliths are abundant microfossils in sedimentary rocks from the Jurassic peroid to the Holocene epoch. Coccolithophore a very small, mostly marine, planktonic, single-celled animal. The test (shell) is composed of numerous plates called coccoliths. Chalks are composed of coccoliths. Coccolithophores have existed from the Cambrian peroid to the present but are most common in rocks from the Cretaceous peroid and the Cenozoic era. COCORP Consortium for Continental Reflection Profiling

code of federal regulations, title 25 collapse strength code of federal regulations, title 25 the regulations that govern the leasing of Indian land controlled by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. CFR, title 25 code of the east only a binding legal contract can be depended upon in an oil deal code of the west a man's handshake or word is good for an oil deal coef coefficient coefficient of isobaric thermal expansion the fractional volume increase of a fluid per degree increase in temperature at a constant pressure. It ranges from 0.00036 to 0.00096/F in crude oils with most occuring between 0.00040 and 0.00065. The coefficient of thermal expansion for steel is 6.9 x
6

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coefficient of isothermal compressibility of gas the fractional change of gas volume as pressure is changed at a constant temperature, (compressibility or gas compressibility) coefficient of isothermal compressibility of oil the fractional change of crude oil volume as pressure is changed above the bubble point and at a constant temperature, (compressibility or oil compressibility) coefficient of transmissibility the flow rate of water in gallons per day through an area of a subsurface aquifer that is 1 ft wide and equal in height to the thickness of the aquifer with a unit hydraulic gradient. (transmissibility coefficient) coelenterate an aquatic invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Coelenterata which includes the corals. Coelenterates also includes sea anemones, jellyfish, and hydroids. They are characterized by a radial symmetry. Coelenterates have existed from the Cambrian period to the present. coeval at the same time or period COF calculated open flow COFCAW combination forward combustion and waterflooding coffee grinder an old term for a rotary drilling rig cofferdam the watertight space between two liquid containers. A cofferdam is designed to prevent the liquids from mixing if the side of one container is ruptured. COGA Coastal Oil and Gas Association cogeneration the production of two forms of energy from one fuel. Cogeneration is used for heavy oil steamfloods where natural gas is burned to generate both steam and electricity. The electricity is sold to help offset the costs of the steamflood. COH coming out of hole coherant noise noise that is organized, predictable, and repetitive. Coherant noise in seismic includes a) multiples, b) direct and near surface waves, c) diffractions, and d) shear waves converted from compressional waves. coherence the capacity for correlation between arrivals of seismic energy at different detectors cohesion the attractive force between similar molecules in the same substance

coil a spiral of pipe or tubing. A coil is often used to radiate or transfer heat coil area the outer surface or heat transfer area of a pipe coiled tubing high-strength, ductile steel tubing with an outer diameter of 1V4 in. being common. The tubing is made of low carbon steel alloy with very low sulfur and chromium, copper, and nickel for ductibility in lengths up to 19,000 ft. coiled tubing unit a well service unit that uses flexible, small-diameter steel tubing wound as a continuous length on a hydraulically powered tubing reel. The reel can store up to 16,000 ft of tubing with an outer diameter of Yt-lYt in. Coiled tubing is in contrast to other types of well service units that use joints of relatively stiff pipe. The coiled tubing unit usually is used on producing wells that need pressure control. Coiled tubing is used for cleaning out sand or paraffin in tubing, initiating flow, well stimulation, and cementing. A limited amount of drilling can be done with a downhole hydraulic motor. The blowout-preventer stack usually consists of four rams including hydraulic cutter, pipe, blind, and slip rams. As the tubing feeds off the tubing reel, it goes through a counter which is attached to a level wind assembly and a pipe straightener. An injector head with friction blocks pushes or pulls the tubing in or out of the well with a typical speed of 60-100 ft/min. The coiled tubing greatly reduces trip time compared to solid tubing. Other equipment on the unit includes a circulating system for nitrogen, acid, or other fluids, blowout preventers, lubricator, tubing injector head, and hydraulic crane. The unit usually has a crew of two. (endless tubing, continuous tubing, or reeled pipe unit) Col or col color col column Col ASTM color by the American Standard Test Method cold an electrical circuit that is not on. Cold is in contrast to hot cold dip a method of sealing cores in a strippable, plastic coating for shipping and storage cold stacking the mothballing of a drilling rig for an indefinite time in contrast to warm stacking cold test the temperature at which oil becomes solid, which is generally 5F lower than the pour point cold-work to form metal without using heat colessor's agreement or colessor's ratification agreement an agreement by one owner that confirms a lease executed by another concurrent owner of the lease coll collecting collapse job a fishing operation to remove collapsed pipe from a well collapse resistance or pressure a measure of the amount of external pressure that a pipe can withstand. Four types are a) yield strength collapse pressure, b) plastic collapse, c) transition collapse, and d) elastic collapse. collapse strength the minimum external pressure that will collapse a tubular such as casing. The collapse

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collar ComAVL-G 6 mi2 townships. Individual parcels of land with irregular boundaries were granted in the townships. color 1) paint-band identification of pipe classifications 2) a show of crude oil in well cuttings color composite image a colored image used in remote sensing that is made by transmitting each band from a black-and-white multispectral image through a different color filter, and then combining colors color imaging the assignment of a color to various ranges of a seismic attribute such as amplitude or interval velocity on a seismic section color stability the resistivity of crude oil to color change that comes from exposure to light and age coir collar column chromatography a chromatography technique that uses a packed glass column of activated, powdered silica, or alumina to separate crude oil and extracts from sedimentary rocks into their components. The liquid phase is a solvent such as pentane, heptane, toluene, benzene, or methanol. The components are separated or partitioned by their mobility through the column, (liquid-solid chromatography)

can be either a) elastic (failure occurs before deformation), or b) plastic (deformation occurs before failure). collar a short metal cylinder that is attached to the end of a tubular such as drillpipe or casing by either flash weld, inertial weld, or by screwing on. The collar is used to couple the tubular with another tubular. It is threaded either internally (box end) or externally (pin end). Those that are used on casing on a cement job are called baffle, float, and differential or automatic fill-up collars, (coupling or tool joint) coir collar-bound pipe drillpipe that is caught in a well by debris or sediments packed around the pipe collars collar clamp a device with rubber gaskets that is temporarily used to seal a leaking pipe collar collar locater see casing-collar locater collar log a record of the location of casing or tubing collars in a well made by a collar locater. The collar log is used for accurate depth locations in a well. (casing collar log) collar pecker or pounder a worker who hammers the collar of a pipe so that it can be screwed tighter or unscrewed collar pipe a heavy, large-diameter pipe that is used to add weight to the bottom of the drillstring just above the drill bit to control drilling and to prevent bending by stiffening the drillstring. Collar pipe is about 30 ft long and has a uniform inner and outer diameter. The inner diameter is 2V* in. or 27/s in. and the outer diameter is slightly smaller than the size of the hole being drilled. Usually 2-20 drill collars are located on the drillstring. (drill collar) collecting system the pipes, pumps, tanks, and valves that are used to transport and control the flow of oil and/or gas from the well to the pipeline or main storage tanks collection bank the bank that holds the lessor's executed lease and draft until the lessee pays the bank the monies due collet connector a mechanically or hydraulically operated system that is used to connect the marine riser to the blowout preventers on a seabed colloclast an irregular or lobate accretion of calcilutite or calcisiltite. Colloclasts are the result of algae or bioturbation. colloid very fine-grained material that is in suspension in a fluid. Colloids are easily put in suspension but settle out of suspension slower than clay-sized material. True colloidal suspensions have particle sizes ranging from 5 to 200 \L. The word is derived from the Greek word for glue. colloidal 1) particles that are too small to be seen with an optical microscope 2) a suspension that is intermediate in properties between a liquid and a solid colloidal fraction that part of drilling mud, such as bentonite, that gives the mud gel strength. Colloidal fraction is in contrast to the inert fraction.
coin colonial

YOUNGEST

1
I
rlOO 50 FEET

OLDEST

columnar section

colonial survey an early system of mapping in the United States that was used for Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia, Vermont, and Maine. There were

columnar section a rock column showing all the different rock units such as formations that occur in a locality or region. The rock units are ordered vertically by age with the oldest on the bottom and the youngest on the top. The rocks are horizontal and their ages and their range of thickness is given. Individual rock layers are drawn as they would weather in a cliff of rocks. Resistant rocks such as sandstone protrude out of the column, whereas weak rocks such as shales are weathered back, (geological column or section or stratigraphic section) COM or com common Com compensated Com-a-long an open-jawed wrench or spanner Com AVL compensated acoustic velocity log Com AVL-G compensated acoustic velocity log, gamma ray log

ComAVX-N commercial well Com AVL-N compensated acoustic velocity log, neutron log comb combination combination collar a cylinder that is used to couple tubulars that has a right-handed thread on one end and a left-handed thread on the other combination driller a driller who can use both a cable-tool and rotary rig combination drive two or more reservoir drives (solution gas, free gas cap, water, or gravity) that force the oil through the reservoir rock and into the wells. The relative importance of the types of drives will change with oil production and time. combination gas wet gas combination lease a lease that is producing or is capable of producing from both an oil and a gas reservoir combination logging tool several logging tools joined together to make several measurements on a single logging run combination outfit or rig a drilling rig with both rotary and cable-tool equipment. The cable-tool rig part is used to drill hard rocks, such as chert and limestone. The rotary rig part is used to drill the softer rocks, such as shale and sandstone. The cable-tool part can also be used to drill the reservoir rock to alleviate any formation damage problems. The combination rig came into use during the 1920s and can also be used as a workover rig. combination plant a device that uses both compression and adsorption to remove liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas combination string 1) a length of casing that changes from casing joints of high tensile strength near the top of the well to casing joints of high collapse and internal yield strength near the bottom of the well 2) a length of pipe made up of smaller lengths of pipe of several different diameters that have been screwed together combination trap a type of geological trap that uses both structural and stratigraphic elements to trap petroleum. The structural element is created by the deformation (folding and faulting) of the reservoir rock. The stratigraphic element is formed by reservoir rock deposition or erosion. combustion the burning of material by very rapid oxidation The oxygen comes from the air. combustion zone the reservoir rock where the oil is combusting during a fire-flood-type of enhanced oil-recovery project COM D or Com Den compensated density log come working for a percentage of the action rather than a salary come-along a device used for tightening or pulling chains or wires. A come-along has either a lever attached to short lengths of chain with hooks, or two jaws attached to a ring. come in to start production come on stream to start a well producing or to activate a piece of equipment or installation

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come or coming out of the hole to pull equipment such as a wireline tool, tubing, or the drillstring out of the well come to see you to have a well kick or blowout COMM commercial commence or commencement the date at which a well is spudded. The hole must be started with a rig capable of drilling to contract depth. commence or commencement lease an oil and gas lease which will remain valid as long as drilling a well begins during the primary term and drilling operations are being carried out with reasonable diligence. This is in contrast to a completion lease in which the well must be completed to extend the primary term of the lease. commencement of drilling the first operation on the drilling site prior to drilling the well. This could start with dirt work, work on the water well for the drilling rig, or erecting the rig. commencement provision an oil and gas lease clause that provides for the extension of a lease if a well is being drilled on that lease during the expiration of the primary term, (drilling operations clause) commercial butane a natural gas product that is composed predominately of butane and/or butylenes. Commercial butane is defined by the Natural Gas Processors Association as having a vapor pressure of not more than 70 psig at 100F and at least 95% of it must evaporate at a temperature of 34F. commercial clays clays such as attapulgite and Wyoming bentonite that are sold for the purpose of making drilling mud. Commercial clays are in contrast to natural clays. commercial deposit an oil and/or gas reservoir that contains enough petroleum for production in paying quantities. The oil and/or gas produced should either a) repay the costs of drilling and completing the well(s) and cover the operating cost of the well(s) plus profit, or b) pay the costs of operating the well(s) plus profit. commercial production oil and/or gas production from a well in sufficient quantity to make a profit after operating costs commercial propane a natural gas product that is composed of at least 95% propane and/or propylene. Commercial propane is defined by the Natural Gas Processors Association as having a vapor pressure of not more than 215 psig at 100F and must pass other tests on sulfur and corrosive compounds content, dryness, and residue left after evaporation. commercial quantity there is no consistent definition for commercial quantity. It could be large enough deposit of crude oil and natural gas to economically justify (make a profit) the development and production of the petroleum. A prudent person experienced in this area would expect a profit after costs. commercial well a well that is capable of production in paying quantities. The production is either enough to a) eventually repay the cost of drilling and completing the well and cover the operating costs of the well plus profit or, less commonly, b) pay the costs of operating the well plus profit. A commercial well is a well that a reasonably prudent industry

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commingle

compaction anticline One to two pounds of calcium chloride are used per gallon of acid. common pool see common reservoir common purchaser an oil and gas carrier that is required by law to purchase without discrimination from all parties in a specific area, field, or reservoir. If the transportation capacity of the carrier is exceeded, the parties are accommodated ratably according to their amounts tendered. common reflector point the original phrase for common-depth-point common reservoir a subsurface oil and/or gas deposit that is continuous. A common reservoir has a single pressure system and has one gas/oil, gas/water, and/or oil/water contact, (common pool) communitization see pooling or unitization community lease the result of pooling of several separate tracts of land to form one drilling and spacing unit community property an ownership of property acquired during marriage that is shared between husband and wife. Community property is in contrast to separate property that was acquired before marriage or by inheritance. commutator 1) the bars that are connected to the armature coils of an electric motor that collects or distributes current to the brushes 2) a device that changes alternating current to direct current and vice versa COMP or comp 1) completion 2) completing 3) completed Comp. completed compact the tungsten carbide, conical, spherical, or chisel-shaped pellet that is cold-pressed into a hole drilled in the face of a steel cone on an insert or button-roller cone bit. The compact does the crushing and chipping of the rock on the bottom of the well. Chisel-shaped compacts are used in softer rocks, whereas the spherical compacts are used in harder rocks, (button or insert) Cmpt or cpct compacted zone the part of the producing formation that lines the perforation tunnel. The sediments are compacted by the process of perforation which usually is made by detonating a shaped explosive charge. compaction the decrease in volume of sedimentary rocks caused by increasing overburden pressure of overlying rocks during burial. Compaction is accomplished primarily by squeezing the fluids out of pore spaces which decrease in volume. Compaction decreases the porosity and increases the density of sedimentary rocks with depth, cp compaction anticline a domal structure formed by compaction of sedimentary rocks over and along the flanks of harder rocks of limited aerial extent such as a buried reef, channel sandstone, bedrock hill or cuesta. The overlying sedimentary rocks compact and decrease in thickness more than the overlying harder rocks. Because the sedimentary rocks are thicker to the sides of the harder rocks, their total compaction is more, and their thickness decreases more along the sides, creating a compaction anticline on originally horizontal sedimentary rocks. A compaction anticline

member would complete if he/she were drilling and completing with his/her own money without any support. commingle to mix fluids from more than one source. Commingling can be the mixing of production from different reserviors in the same well or production from different wells. commingled well a well that produces from two or more different producing reservoirs. The gas or oil is mixed as it is brought up the well in a single string of tubing. A commingled well is in contrast to a multiple completion well in which the oil or gas from the different producing reservoirs is not mixed as it is brought up the well in separate strings of tubing and stored in separate tanks. commissioner's well a single well drilled in Louisiana on a unit that was created by the Commissioner of Conservation committed area the surface area that is covered by a gas contract. The gas produced from that area is obligated to a pipeline and/or user under the conditions, including price, specified in the gas contract. It includes not only the gas from existing wells but any new reserves found by extension of existing reservoirs and new reservoir discoveries under the committed area. commodity charge a rate or charge for gas that is actually taken by the gas purchaser commodity value of natural gas a value for natural gas that is computed by comparing it with competing sources of energy common carrier a person or company engaged as a public utility for hire in the transportation of petroleum such as a pipeline company. The transporter is obliged by law to service all interested parties without discrimination. If the pipeline capacity is reached, the common carrier must offer ratably to all shippers in proportion to the amounts they offer. A common carrier is in contrast to a private or contract carrier. common cement Portland cement that is either API Class A or ASTM Type 1 common-depth-point a reflector in the subsurface from which reflections from different offset distances are recorded on several different seismic profiles. It is used for common-depth-point stack in seismic exploration. Common-depth-point was originally called common reflector point. common-depth-point-stack a seismic exploration method in which the same subsurface reflector is recorded on numerous seismic profiles from different offset distances between source and detector. The traces are corrected for statics and normal moveout and then superimposed or stacked. The traces are summed algebraically into a single trace. Up to 180 traces can be used. Stacking eliminates random noise and reinforces weak reflectors. The number of seismic profiles stacked is identified with a number or percentage such as 24 stack or 2,400% stack, which is called the multiplicity factor. The common-depthpoint stack often uses 12, 24, or 48 traces, (horizontal or roll-along stack) CDP stack common ion effect the use of a calcium salt to retard the reacting time of acid used in acidizing.

compaction constant compensator

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in sedimentary rocks can form a petroleum trap, (compaction or plains type fold or draped anticline) compaction constant a number that is used to compute the porosity of rocks from their interval transit time on a sonic log. The compaction constant is 1.0 for a completely compacted formation and less than 1.6 for an uncompacted formation. Cc compaction correction an empirical correction applied to uncompacted sand and abnormal highpressure zones when computing sonic log porosities compaction drive a minor type of reservoir drive which is caused by the compaction of the reservoir rock with decreasing reservoir pressure. A compaction drive can be present in chalk and unconsolidated sand reservoirs. companion flange a type of small-diameter pipe coupling or connector with one part convex and the other concave. Companion flanges fit in each other and are held by bolts and nuts. compaction fold see compaction anticline company maker a field or trend discovered by a company which gives the company reserves and production needed for cash flow sufficient to secure that company's financial outlook company man or representative an on site representative of the operating company on a well being drilled who is directly responsible for drilling operations. The company man is either employed by the operating company or is a self-employed consultant. He oversees the well drilling, orders needed supplies and services and has an office on the rig where he is on call 24 hours a day. The company man verbally reports to the operator each morning and works with the toolpusher. (rig manager) compartment an enclosed or semienclosed space in a semisubmersible, drillship, or barge COMPD or comp'd completed compensated density log see compensated formation density log. COM D or ComDen compensated density neutron log a log that measures compensated density, neutron porosity, and the photoelectric factor with a tool built into a drill collar. The radioactive sources in the tool are connected by cable so that they can be fished with a slickline if the drill collars become stuck. CDN compensated dual resistivity log a log similar to a dual induction log but made by an electromagnetic

propagation tool built into a drill collar. The compensated dual resistivity log is boreholecompensated and makes two resistivity measurements at two depths of investigation (35-65 in. and 20-45 in.). CDR compensated formation density log a well log that measures the density of rocks adjacent to the wellbore and is adjusted for irregularities in the well bore. The sonde bombards the rocks with gamma rays from a cesium source. Rock atoms cause Compton scattering and the returning gamma rays are counted on two detectors at different distances from the source on a skid pressed against the side of the well. The rugosity of the well is compensated by using the two detectors. The log determines the bulk-volume density of each formation in the well. By knowing or estimating the matrix and fluid densities, the porosities of each formation can be calculated. Newer density logs also measure the photoelectric adsorption cross section of the formation which is used to identify the lithology and correctly estimate the matrix density, (dualspacing formation density log) CDL, COM D, or Com Den compensated log a wireline well log that has been corrected for unwanted effects or rugosity, such as variations in wellbore diameter or mudcake. The compensation is usually made by using two detectors in the sonde. compensated neutron log a type of well log that is used to determine the porosity of each formation in a cased or open well and is adjusted for irregularities in the wellbore. The compensated neutron log bombards each formation in the well with high-speed neutrons from a radioactive source such as a mixture of plutonium-beryllium or americium-beryllium located in the tool. Two detectors measure the number of gamma rays and/or slow neutrons that are emitted from the formation to determine the hydrogen content of the rocks. Hydrogen is an element in the water, gas, or oil that occupies the pore space. The two detectors compensate for rugosity of the well walls. The ratio of detector responses allows conversion to a linear porosity reading that is good for both highand low-porosity formations. The log is recorded as either density or porosity (assuming a limestone matrix) in Track 2. The compensated neutron log is used for a) porosity, b) correlation, c) gas effect, d) crossplots for lithology, e) tie-in log for perforating, and f) bit selection, {dual-spaced neutron log) CNL Compensated Spectral Density log a wireline well log that measures both compensated density by recording the Compton scattering cross section of gamma rays and lithology by recording the photoelectric cross section. CSD compensation royalty 1) a payment (royalty) made to a lessor in lieu of drilling an offset well in order to prevent drainage of land by a producing well that has been drilled on an adjacent tract of land. (compensatory royalty) 2) payment (royalty) made by an operator to the mineral rights owner for not fully developing a lease. The compensation royalty is paid instead of a production royalty. compensator a drillstring or heave compensator. Two types are passive with a hydro-pneumatic spring and active with a power-assisted hydraulic system. All

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completion report (barefoot), screen liner uncemented, gravel pack with liner, cemented liner with perforations, and cemented casing with perforations. Completion can also include well stimuation and production testing. COMP or comp completion card a card compiled by a commercial firm that details information on the drilling, testing, exploration, and production of a well. A completion card usually includes the name, location, spud date of the well, total depth drilled, depths to the tops of formations in the well, intervals completed, completion techniques and initial petroleum production. Cards are also printed for proposed but abandoned well sites. completion contract a type of drilling contract in which the operator will pay either on a footage or day-work basis but does not have to pay until the drilling contractor has completed the well completion date the day in which a well is either a) plugged and abandoned or b) completed, as evidenced by releasing the rig or filing an official completion report (complete date) completion efficiency the actual well production divided by the amount the well would produce without either stimulation or damage. Completion efficiency is expressed as a percentage or decimal. A completion efficiency of 200%-300% is characteristic of a good well stimulation job. (flow efficiency) completion engineer a petroleum engineer who specializes in completing a well. The completion engineer oversees the installation of the production equipment and perforates, tests, and treats the well. completion factor a measure of the formation damage in a well. Completion factor is equal to qlqt times 100, where q is the production rate at a fixed drawdown of the actual well and qi is the theoretical production rate at a fixed drawdown of the well with no formation damage. CF completion fluid the liquid that is kept in the well as it is being completed. A completion fluid is selected to control subsurface pressures, to minimize any formation damage, to prevent formation fluids from flowing into the well, and to prevent corrosion of equipment. Completion fluids include a) water-and oil-base muds, b) treated, produced water (salt water), c) lease crude oil, d) refined oil such as diesel oil, e) water with 2% to 4% KCl, and 0 nitrogen. The oil-base and oil emulsion muds are for well pressure control. The completion fluid can be left in the annular space between the tubing and the casing. Two types are a) casing pack and b) packer fluid. completion interval the portion of the reservoir that is in fluid communication with the well through perforations in the casing completion lease a type of oil and gas lease in which a well must be completed during the primary term of the lease to extend the life of the lease. A completion lease is in contrast to a commence lease in which the well only has to be started in order to extend the primary term of the lease. completion log a well log run in a cased hole to evaluate the cement job behind the casing. The cement-bond log is the most common. completion report a report that is required by many states to be filed with the conservation commission

present drillstring compensators are based on airspring tensioning. The compensator reacts to the difference in the suspended drillstring weight and a set tension level. A drillstring compensator can be either deadline, crown block, or traveling block, depending on where it is mounted. The compensator is also used during wireline operations. compensatory royalty see compensation royalty compensatory royalty clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that allows for a royalty payment to be made to the lessor on oil and gas production from a well on an adjacent tract of land in lieu of drilling an obligatory offset well on the lease competent formation a rock layer that will not flow or change its thickness with stress such as folding competitive bids the method used to sell leases on known geologic structures on federal land. The sales are advertised and sealed bids are accepted. The lease goes to the highest bonus offered. competitive lease the method used to grant leases on United States onshore federal lands over known geologic structures. Tracts are nominated by interested companies, individuals, or the Bureau of Land Management. The award is made to the highest peracre cash bonus in a sealed bid. The government retains the right to reject an inadequate bid. The lease grants the lessee the right to explore, drill, and produce oil and gas from that tract. Competitive leases have a 5-year primary term with $2/ac annual rental and a sliding scale royalty from \2Vz% to 25% based on production volume. The lease has a maximum of 640 ac. Competitive leasing is in contrast to simultaneous leasing and over-the-counter application. complemental abstract a title opinion that adds to the information in another title opinion of overlapping time frames complete a well to install the production and treating equipment necessary to produce crude oil and/or natural gas from a well complete date see completion date completed well 1) a well that was drilled, equipped, and is capable of producing commercial amounts of oil and/or gas 2) a well drilled to a depth below which commercial oil and gas is not likely to exist 3) a well drilled to a reasonable depth sufficient to prove or disprove the existence of oil or gas at that location 4) a dry hole complete payout period the time when the gross income from the mineral interests of the well(s) equals all the costs of drilling and completing (both tangeable and intangeable) plus the operating costs up to that time complete voidage replacement a pressuremaintenance method in which the fluid produced from the reservoir equals the fluid injected into the reservoir completion a single operation involving the installation of equipment in and on a well, after drilling and evaluating the well, to bring the well into production from one or more zones. Completion usually starts with setting pipe. A well completion can be conventional, in which the tubing is run into 4'/2 in. or larger casing, or miniaturized. The most common completion techniques are open hole

completion rig compression pressure of that state after the completion of a well. A completion report can include the name and/or number of the well, location, lease name, completion date, date of first production, name and depth of the producing reservoir(s), initial production test data, records of casing and cementing, perforation information, records of fracing or chemical treatments, and the well log. completion rig a rig that is a swabbing unit and is also equipped to do minor drilling. The completion rig is used when the well is near total depth, and the target is ready to be drilled. The completion rig is used to save money, rather than use a large rig to complete the well. complexing agent a chemical that will bind dissolved iron into complexions. Complexing agents are often used during an acid job to prevent the dissolved iron compounds from reprecipitating and having the gelatinous hydroxide affect reservoir permeability. compliant platform an offshore platform that is anchored to the seafloor, but its upper end is free to move within a restricted area. Articulated platforms and guyed towers are examples. comp nat completed natural component 1) the lowest number of independently variable constituents in a system. Natural gas, crude oil, and water would be a three-compound system 2) self-contained units that have been assembled onshore, barged offshore, and are installed on an offshore platform. They are transported offshore on deck barges and lifted into place by derrick or crane barges. Some common components used are wellhead, oil and gas separation, gas compression, platform power generation, diesel, filter and exhaust, storage, and mud. (module) composite log 1) several well logs that are the same or different types from one well that have been spliced together to make a continuous record 2) a log composed of a) a lithological description of the formations including paleontolgy, b) a borehole compenesated sonic log, c) a gammaray log, d) a caliper log, e) formation identifiaction, f) an optional drilling rate record, and g) an optional mud weight record composite mud recap a report that summarizes the daily mud-check reports after a well has been drilled composite risk factor a decimal number such as 0.25 that has been assigned by a geologist to a proposed well to represent the probability of success that the well will be a producer when drilled. The composite risk factor can be determined by multiplying the risks assigned to each chance factor for that well, (chance of success) composite sample 1) a sample taken from the top, middle and bottom of a storage or stock tank 2) a sample with all the original fluids such as water, oil, and gas composite stream the flow in a line of a) both crude oil and natural gas or b) two different liquids compositing mixing compound 1) a mechanism that is used to transmit power from a prime mover to several sources while

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varying the amount of power going to each source. On a drilling rig, the compound is used to transmit power from the diesel or electrical prime movers to the drawworks, rotary table, pumps, and other power sources by means of clutches, shafts, chains and sprockets, and belts and pulleys. The compound is enclosed in heavy-gauge metal and the chains are run in an oil bath. 2) to connect two or more engines or motors 3) a substance formed by the chemical union of two or more elements in a fixed proportion. CaCO3 is an example. 4) a lubricant used on pipe threads COMPP completed as producer compr or compr. compressor compressed section a section such as a cross section or seismic section in which the horizontal scale has been significantly reduced, resulting in considerable vertical exaggeration compressibility the change in fluid volume when pressure on the fluid is changed, see coefficient of isothermal compressibility of oil and gas compressibility factor a number that is the ratio of the actual volume of gas at a specific temperature and pressure to the volume of that gas calculated by the ideal gas law at the same temperature and pressure. The compressibility factor is expressed as z and compensates for the volume and electrostatic repulsion of the gas molecules when computing gas volume using the ideal gas law. The factor is 1.00 for an ideal gas and varies between 0.7 to 1.2 for real gas. The compressibility factor has been determined for a large number of gases over a wide range of temperatures and pressures. They are usually plotted as a function of temperature and pressure for a given gas specific gravity. The compressibility factor is also plotted as a function of reduced temperature and pressure, (supercompressibility or gas deviation factor) z compression the state of stress in an object due to inward-directed forces compressional packer a conventional packer that seats and expands tightly against the casing as the tubing is lowered compressional wave an elastic wave that travels through the body of the medium with the particles of the medium moving in the same direction as the wave propagation. The velocity of a compressional wave varies with the elastic constant and density of the medium. The compressional wave is the wave that is primarily used in seismic exploration. Compressional wave is in contrast to shear and surface waves. (P-, primary, pressure, or longitudinal wave) c compression cup a small container that uses either a spring or screw cap to force grease onto a shaft bearing for lubrication compression ignition the start of a fire or explosion in a mixture of compressed gases, resulting in an increase in temperature compression plant an installation that uses compression and cooling to remove liquid hydrocarbons from natural gas compression pressure the increase in pressure caused by a compression stroke in an engine.

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compression ratio computing center logs intermediate pumping stations are used on oil pipelines, compr sta Com-Pro log a computer processed interpretation log compr sta compressor station Compton scattering the inelastic scatterings of gamma rays colliding with an orbital electron of an atom which yields some of the energy to the electron. The effect depends primarily on the density of the electrons and occurs mainly at intermediate gamma ray energies of 100 kV to 2 MeV. Compton scattering is used in density logging. compulsory pooling a state law that requires a lessee in a majority interest in a unit to include lesser lessees in pooling to form a unit. Compulsory pooling is usually initiated by a petition to the regulatory agency. In some states, if a lessee refuses to join, the proportional costs of that lessee's drilling will come out of the lessee's share of production. Some states allow for the risk of drilling the well in the computation of compensation, (forced pooling) compulsory unit a unit or area of land created by order of a government-agency compulsory unitization the forced combining of mineral rights of large tracts of land on a producing reservoir by a government administrative agency in order to coordinate pressure maintenance, waterflooding, or any other method that will maximize the ultimate recovery from that reservoir computed log analysis a computer analysis of digital well logging data computer an automatic, electric machine that uses stored information and instructions to make rapid calculations, correlations, and selection of data. The computer accepts data and programs. A program is a set of instructions for the computer. Analog computers, the older type, use quantities such as lengths, voltages, or resistances to represent numbers. The digital computer uses numbers expressed as digits, usually binary. The computer itself is called hardware, whereas programs are called software. Memory is the space in a computer where the data is stored as it is being processed. A hard disk is a computer memory device mounted in the computer made of an aluminum disk coated with iron oxide. It is read and written on by a read-write head. Floppy disks are 3V2-, 5V4-, or 8-in. plastic disks with a magnetic coating. They are written on and read in disk drives. The computer has both read-only memory (ROM) that contains permanent computer instructions and random-access memory (RAM) that can store data. computer production control a computer process that controls and/or monitors field conditions and activities such as lease production, operational status of equipment, and well testing. CPC computer program the instructions that guide a computer during a task, (software) computing center logs well logs that have been processed in a central computer facility. The depth track is, by convention, on the far left of the log. Track 2 might include formation characteristics with a gamma ray and apparent grain-density plot. Track 3 could be a hydrocarbon analysis with water

Compression pressure is usually stated in pounds per square inch. compression ratio 1) the ratio of the volume of an engine's cylinder at the start of the compression stroke to the volume of the engine's cylinder at the end of the stroke. Higher compression engines tend to have better fuel efficiencies. 2) the ratio of the absolute discharge pressure to the absolute intake or suction pressure in a compressor. CR compression refrigeration a mechanical refrigeration system in which the refrigerant, usually ammonia or propane, is made by evaporation of the liquid during the rarefaction stage of compression by a compressor. Compressional refrigeration is in contrast to absorption refrigeration. compression strength see compressive strength compression testing or test-car method a method that is used to test the condensate or natural gasoline content of natural gas. A truck with compression and refrigeration equipment condenses the natural gasoline out of the gas. compression wave see compressional wave compressive forces or stress forces that are directed inward. Compressive forces or stress are in contrast to tensional forces or stress. compressive service drillpipe drillpipe that is designed to be limber enough manage a curve in a deviated well, but stiff enough to transmit torque and resist buckling compressive strength the maximum compressional or inward-directed forces that a body can resist before failure. Compressive strength is often expressed in pounds per square inch (psi). Reservoir rocks generally have a compressive strength 8-180 MPa (1,100-26,000 psi). Carbonates average 100 MPa (14,500 psi) and sandstones 60 MPa (8,700 psi). (compression strength) compressor a device used to increase the pressure and decrease the volume of gas. Compressors can be positive- or nonpositive-displacement and can raise the pressure in steps with a two-, three-, or multistage compressor. A single-stage compressor can compress air to a maximum of 110 psig. Four types are a) reciprocating with pistons (both single and multiple stage), b) rotary screw, c) sliding vane, and d) centrifugal or dynamic with turbines. The energy to drive the compressor comes from steam turbine, gas turbine, electric motor, or gas engine, compr or compr. compressor clearance the ratio, expressed as a percent, of the volume of gas in a compression cylinder at the end of a compression stroke to the volume of gas displaced by one piston stroke compressor station an installation on a gas pipeline at which the pressure of the gas is raised or boosted by compressors to keep the gas flowing. An inlet compressor starts the gas flowing through the pipeline. Intermediate pump stations keep the gas flowing. The size and number of compressors in each station varies widely. Compressor stations are spaced at regular intervals, usually every 40-50 mi along the pipeline. Stations can also have separators, storage, scraper traps, and control equipment. Booster and

con condensate stabilization saturation. Track 4 might be a porosity analysis, and track 5, a bulk-volume analysis. con consolidated CONAT concrete articulated tower Cone or cone concretion cone concentrated concentration The relative amounts of solute and solvent in a solution concentration cell 1) an oxygen corrosion cell with different oxygen concentrations producing the potential differential. The low oxygen concentration is the anode. 2) a metal ion corrosion cell with different concentrations of metal ions producing the potential difference concentric operations well service operations with small-diameter tubing run in normal tubing or in a well without tubing. Concentric operations are normally conducted with a small rig or hoisting unit with the Christmas tree in place. concentric tubing a macaroni string run inside larger production tubing concentric-tubing workover a workover on a well using relatively light and small equipment that is run through the production tubing in a smaller diameter tubing string concession a legal agreement by a government to a foreign oil company giving that company the right to explore, drill, and produce oil and gas in a certain area. The concession provides for royalty payments to the government if petroleum is produced. Concessions were originally granted for a long time with payments necessary only on the production of oil and gas. Modern concessions are often are sold or auctioned and have an exploration period of about 5 years. They require a minimum exploration expenditure and are limited to blocks or tracts. concession crude the proportion of production that is allotted by contract to the operating company by a country, (equity crude or oil) conch conchoidal conchoidal a smooth, curved type of fracture surface. Conchoidal fracture is characteristic of glassy texture, conch concrete a blend of cement with fillers such as sand and gravel. Concrete is different from cement that contains no fillers and is used in wells. concrete gravity platform a type of fixed production platform with large, concrete cells or cylinders located on the base. The cells hold ballast water to keep the platform in position and are also used as storage tanks. Concrete legs support a steel deck with modules and contain the risers. A concrete gravity platform is more expensive than a jacket and is used only when there is need for oil storage facilities. concrete perforated wall platform a type of offshore gravity platform that has an outer wall of concrete with holes to dampen the force of waves on the central core. The central core supports a concrete deck. concretion a roughly spherical or nodular rock formed by cementation of sediments about a central

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nucleus that was often organic matter or a fossil. Cone or cone concurrent method a method used after a kick when the blowout preventers have been thrown to control abnormally high, subsurface pressures by immediately circulating drilling mud and gradually increasing the mud weight on a schedule, (circulate and weigh) COND condensate well COND or cond condensate condemned land that has been determined by geological data and/or dry holes not to have commercial production condensate liquid hydrocarbons of very light crudeoil composition that occur as a gas under subsurface reservoir conditions (high temperature and pressure) and condense into a liquid upon production and surface conditions. Gas condensates typically grade from colorless to light-colored liquids with tints of red, green, or blue. Condensates have very high API that range between 45 and 60 and are very valuable commercially. Natural gas that contains gas condensate is called wet gas. If condensate is recovered on the lease with standard field separator equipment, it is often combined and recorded with the crude oil. The Natural Gas Processors Association has defined casinghead gasoline as having a vapor pressure of 10-34 psi, a percentage evaporated at 104F of 24%85%, a percentage evaporated at 275F of not less than 90% and an end point in distillation of not higher than 375F. Retrograde gas is the preferred term for condensate, (casinghead, drip, natural, raw or wild gasoline, drips, gas condensate, distillate, gas distillate, retrograde gas, or white oil) COND or cond condensate gas reservoir a reservoir that contains fluids only as a gas phase under initial reservoir temperatures and pressure. As the initial reservoir pressure is decreased by production and the reservoir temperature remains relatively constant, liquid hydrocarbons (condensate) separate from the gas in a process called retrograde condensation. If the condensate separates from the natural gas in the subsurface reservoir, it wets the reservoir rock and cannot be produced. To prevent this, the wet gas that is produced is often stripped of condensate and the dry gas is reinjected into the reservoir (cycling) to maintain reservoir pressure. The formation gas/oil ratio of a condensate gas reservoir is between 5,000 and 10,000 SCF/bbl. (gas condensate or single-phase reservoir) condensate ratio the volume of condensate liquids divided by the residue gas volume expressed in barrels per million cubic ft (bbl/MMcf). condensate reservoir see condensate gas reservoir condensate stabilization the removal of lighter hydrocarbons, such as propane and butane, from condensate after it has been separated from gas. These lighter hydrocarbons can vaporize in a stock tank and be lost, taking some of the heavier hydrocarbons with them. The condensate is stabilized using a vertical vessel with ceramic rings or trays. The unstabilized, cold condensate enters the top of the vessel where it flows down the rings or trays to the bottom. On the bottom, it is heated by an indirect heater or steam

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condensate water cone of depression conduction the movement of electromagnetic energy through material by molecular interaction Con Dr. continuous drift log Condr or condr conductor Condt or condt conductivity conductivity 1) the ability of a substance to transmit an electrical current. Conductivity is measured in a well by an induction logging tool and is recorded in units of mho per meter. Conductivity is the inverse of resistivity. 2 ) the time rate of transfer of heat through a substance. Rocks generally range from 3 to 15 meal/ cm/sec/C. C, Condt, or condt conductor 1) a material such as a copper wire, through which an electric current can flow. A conductor is in contrast to an insulator. Condr or condr 2) conductor pipe conductor bracing supports for marine conductors that are located at intervals between the seafloor and the deck on an offshore platform conductor casing or pipe the first string of largediameter casing (185/o-30 in. OD) that is cemented into the well. Conductor casing is required only where surface soils are relatively incompetent, and in areas of soft sand formations it can be set down' to 1,500 ft. The conductor pipe is used to secure the blowout preventers and wellhead equipment before drilling the surface casing hole. Conductor pipe is also used to a) seal off shallow fresh-water zones from drilling mud, b) to supply a route for drilling fluids to circulate back to the mud pits, c) to protect against shallow gas zones, and d) to prevent washout of unconsolidated sediments a well cave-in. A conductor pipe can be drilled into the seafloor from a semisubmersible or drillship. On a jackup rig, the conductor pipe extends from the cellar deck to about 200 ft below the mudline. (standpipe) conductor line an electrical wire that goes down a well with the wireline and is used in well logging and perforating (electric line) conductor pipe a vertical pipe on a lease stock tank that is used to maintain hydrostatic pressure on the oil and to allow gas to escape before the oil enters the pipeline gathering system (boot) Cx methane cone 1) the solid, conical-shaped block of metal that has teeth cut into it (milled-teeth or steel-tooth bit) or tungsten carbide pellets inserted into the drilled holes (insert or button bit). The cone rotates on bearings around a journal on a leg of a roller-cone bit. The bit is rotated on the bottom of a drillstring on a rotary drilling rig to flake and crush rocks and cut the well. Roller-cone bits are manufactured with two cones (bicone), three cones (tricone), and four cones. The original cone steel has a Rockwell hardness of 35-40, but is carbonized at 1700F for 24 hours to a hardness of 60 for the milled-teeth and 45 for the insert bit. (cone shell) 2) the shell of a hydrocyclone 3) the liner surrounding a shaped explosive charge cone bit a roller-cone bit cone of depression lowering of the water table in the shape of a cone centered about a well that is pumping water

coils. The lighter hydrocarbons are vaporized and rise to the top of the vessel where they flow out of the vessel. The stabilized condensate is removed from the bottom, cooled, and sent to storage. condensate water water vapor that is mixed with natural gas in the subsurface reservoir but condenses as a liquid under surface conditions when the natural gas is produced condensate well a well producing from a condensate gas reservoir. In some states, it is defined by the well's gas/oil ratio. Wells with producing gas/ oil ratios between 15,000-150,000 are generally classified as condensate wells. COND condensation 1) the process of forming liquid or solid from vapors by cooling and/or reducing pressure 2) the liquid formed by cooling and/or pressure reduction condensed ring several hydrocarbon rings that share common carbon atoms. An example of a condensed ring is bicyclodecane. condensed section a sequence of thin, marine, hemipelagic or pelagic rock beds that were deposited very slowly (<l-10 mm/1,000 years). A condensed section is defined in seismic or sequence stratigraphy and usually occurs in transgressive and distal highstand system tracts during periods of maximum sea-level rise and transgression. condenser 1) heat exchanger equipment that uses either water or air cooling to condense a vapor into a liquid 2) a device that stores an electrical charge on an electric circuit. A condenser consists of two conducting plates separated by an insulator. The ability of a condenser to store electric charge is called capacitance and is measured in farads, cdsr condensing gas drive an enhanced oil-recovery method that uses miscible displacement and involves injection into an oil reservoir of natural gas that either a) naturally contains lighter hydrocarbons or b) has been enriched on the surface by addition of propane, butane, or pentane. The transfer of the intermediate components from the displacing gas into the residual oil swells the residual oil and makes it less viscous. Lean gas or lean gas and water is then injected to drive the oil toward a producing well. Noncritical condensing gas drive does not go to complete miscibility, whereas critical condensing gas drive goes to miscibility. (enriched gas injection or process) condition 1) to mix additives to drilling mud and/ or circulate the drilling mud in a well to make the well conditions uniform throughout the wellbore 2) to prepare a well conditional landowner a Louisiana landowner whose title ends at a certain time after the occurrence of a certain condition conditioning survey a gamma-ray survey of radioactive tracer released in a well to determine where water is flowing into the well and the tracer is being diluted condition ratio a measure of the formation damage in a well. Condition ratio is equal to the production rate at a fixed drawdown of the well divided by the theoretical production rate at a fixed drawdown of the well with no formation damage, (productivity factor) CR

cone offset conjugate fractures

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WATER TABLE

cone of depression

cone offset the amount in which the lines drawn through the center of the three cones on a tricone drilling bit fail to intersect the center of the Bit. Cone offset is the horizontal distance from the axis of the bit to the axis of the journal. The offset is designed to give more drag to the cones and cut the well more efficiently. Softer formations uses larger offsets. cone packer method a method used to run a drillstem test on a section in well that has a smaller hole diameter than the hole above it due to coring. A cone-shaped packer is seated on the shoulder of the well to form the seal for the test. The anchor pipe does not touch the bottom of the well, (rat-hole method) cone penetrometer a long, heavy rod that is dropped from a certain distance into the seafloor to measure sediment penetration for offshore construction cone-roof tank a liquid storage tank with a roof in the shape of a cone that points upward cone shell see cone cone skidding the freezing or locking of a cone on a roller-cone bit. Because the cone will not turn, a flat surface is ground in the cone by friction with the bottom of the well. Conewangoan a North American age of geological time that ended about 365 m. y. ago. It is part of the Devonian period. conf confirmed confidence envelope an enclosed interval with a stated probability or degree of confidence that it contains the parameters that it is intended to estimate confidentiality of information clause or provision a term in an agreement in which the drilling party consents to drill a tight hole until the other party agrees to release the well information configuration see array confined aquifer an aquifer bounded above and below by impermeable rocks confirmation the telephone and following electronic notice of the results of a test well confirmation well a well that is drilled after a discovery well to prove the aerial extent of the producing formation found by the discovery well conformable two adjacent and parallel beds of rock between which there was no erosion or significant interruption during deposition

conformance 1) a measure of the uniformity, both in areal and vertical extent, in which the reservoir is swept with injection fluids during enhanced oil recovery 2) a measure of how well a computer model matches the characteristics of a real reservoir conformity a bedding surface in a succession of rocks that separates slightly older from slightly younger rocks and there has been no evidence of erosion CONG or cong conglomerate congeneration the simultaneous generation of two types of energy. Electrical energy and steam for use in steam injection are cogenerated by burning natural gas for steam flooding. congl conglomerate conglomerate a poorly sorted, clastic, sedimentary rock containing rounded particles, some of which are at least pebble-sized. It is similar to breccia, except breccia has angular particles. The rounded particles in a conglomerate indicate they were transported a great distance by an erosional process before they were deposited. CONG, Cgl, cgl, cglt, cong, or congl congressional townships the rectangular survey system established in the United States by the National Land Act of 1785. It is based on 6-mi townships that are located by north-south lines called meridians and east-west lines called base lines Each township is divided into 36 sections that are 1-mi2 in area. Coniacian a global age of geological time that occurred about 90-85 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Cretaceous epoch. conical angle the angle on the cone of a roller-cone bit conical-tower platform an arctic, offshore production platform made from concrete in the shape of a long cone. The base of the cone rests on the seafloor, and the apex of the cone supports the platform. The shape results in a minimum area of exposure to shifting ice at sea level.

Fl
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.WATER.

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coning

coning the drawing up of underlying waters or oil/ water contact into an oil reservoir in the shape of a cone. Coning is caused by too rapid production, (water coning) Coning can also occur by drawing down the gas/oil contact around a well. conjugate a system of faults, fractures or folds that were formed at the same time by the same deformational episode conjugate fractures two sets of shear fractures caused by compressive stress. Conjugate fractures are oriented at angles of about 60 and 120 from each other.

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CONL consumer gas chamber rotates at 150 rpm during the test, and the slurry consistency is measured by the torque on the paddles and reported in Bearden units of consistency (BJ units. consol consolidated consolidated relatively solid or firm rock. Loose sediments become consolidated into sedimentary rocks by the process of cementation and compaction. Consolidated is in contrast to unconsolidated sediments, consol or con consortium a group of companies that have organized for a common purpose such as exploration and drilling conspic conspicuous constant choke-pressure method a technique used to control a saltwater kick in a well by adjusting the size of a choke to maintain constant casing pressure constant composition expansion see flash vaporization constant dollar a method used to analyze the economics of an investment such as drilling a well by keeping the value of a dollar the same throughout the life of the project. The dollar is not discounted for time. A dollar made or paid out today is worth the same as a dollar made or paid out in the future. constant percentage decline an oil well production decline rate or curve that is a constant percentage such as 10% per year. The average rate versus cumulative production is a straight line on regular coordinate paper. The equation for constant percentage decline is: Q, = QTf" where Q, = production rate at a certain time, Qt = initial production rate, e = base of the natural logarithm (2.7182), D = decline as a fraction of production rate, and t = time. Constant percentage decline is the most commonly used method to duplicate a well's decline curve, (exponential decline)

CONL contact log CONN or conn connection connate water 1) original waters in sedimentary rocks from the time of sediment deposition 2) subsurface water that has been out of contact with the atmosphere for a great period of time 3) water in the pores of subsurface rock that is very saline 4) formation water held in the pores of the rock by capillary action connected well 1) a gas well that is connected to the pipeline 2) an oil well that is connected to a refinery by pipeline connecting rod the metal shaft in an engine that connects the piston with the crankshaft connection 1) the location where wires in an electrical circuit meet 2) a pipe or fitting that is used to join pipe with a tank or another pipe. Some common types are threaded, flanged, hub, and clamp. CONN or conn connection gas the natural gas that flows into the well when the mud pumps on a drilling rig are turned off while making a connection connectors devices used on risers to connect and disconnect the riser and to lower a marine riser package to subsea equipment Cono or cono conodont conodont small, toothlike fossils and microfossils composed of calcium phosphate. Conodont are of unknown function but are thought to be the jaw structure of extinct worm-like animals. They existed from the Middle Cambrian epoch through the Triassic period and are good guide fossils. Cono or cono Conodont Alteration Index a maturity scale that is based on the darkening of Paleozoic era conodont fossils. The conodonts are removed from carbonate rocks with acetic or fosmic acid. The conodont colors are then compared to standards. The scale ranges from 1 to 8, with 1 being the lowest maturity and 8 being high-grade metamorphism. CM cons considerable consenting party a company or individual that agrees to join in and share the costs of any operation under a joint operating agreement. A consenting party is in contrast to a nonconsenting party, (drilling party) consent well a well in which all parties in an operating agreement participate in contrast to a nonconsent well conservation the prevention of waste consistency the viscosity or thickness of a nonreversible fluid such as cement slurry at a specific pressure and temperature over a specific time interval. It is measured with either a pressurized or atmospheric pressure consistometer. Consistency is measured in poises and can be expressed as Bearden units of consistency in accordance with American Petroleum Institute specifications. consistometer a pressurized or atmospheric pressure instrument that uses a stirring apparatus to determine the thickening time of cement slurries. The pressurized consistometer is constructed with a rotating cylinder to contain the slurry and stationary paddles and is enclosed in a pressure chamber. The

DISTRIBUTARY CHANNELS

constructive delta

constructive delta a river delta in which river sediment deposition is dominant and the delta has prograded far out from the shoreline with characteristic distributary lobes. A constructive delta is in contrast to a destructive delta that is dominated by erosion from waves and tides, (river dominated delta) consumer gas the natural gas that is sold by an

Cont continuous flowmeter 103 interstate pipeline to a utility company for resale to consumers Cont 1) content 2) contact caliper log cont continued contact the surface that separates rocks of different compositions. Ctc or c contact angle the angle formed by the meeting of two immiscible fluids on a solid. The wetting phase contact angle is less than 90, whereas the nonwetting phase contact angle is greater than 90. A reservoir is considered to be water-wet if the contact angle of water is less than 70, neutral if it is between 70 and 110, and oil-wet if it is greater than 110. contact line the gas/oil or oil/water contact in a reservoir contact log any wireline well log made by a sonde which is held against the wellbore well with a skid or pad. CONL contactor or contact tower a vertical vessel that is used to bring a gas in contact with a solid or liquid. A contact tower can be either an absorber or adsorber tower. An absorber or absorption power uses absorption to remove liquids from a gas stream. Absorbers are designed as either packed or tray-type towers and include absorption plants for removal of liquid hydrocarbons and glycol done by an absorber. An adsorption power is used for dehydration of natural gas. The gas usually flows down through an adsorption power and up through an absorption tower. Contain or contam contaminated contaminant 1) a substance that mixes with another substance and has an undesirable effect 2) a gas that occurs in natural gas that is corrosive such as hydorgen sulfide or carbon dioxide contaminating formation a subsurface formation that changes the physical properties and chemistry of drilling mud as it is being drilled. Anhydrite and gypsum will contaminate water-base drilling mud. The mud must be treated with additives, or an special inert mud must be used to avoid contamination. contamination gas or oil hydrocarbons in circulating drilling mud that is not from a subsurface formation. The oil could be diesel oil. Contamination is in contrast to liberated gas. Contb contribution contiguous leases land that shares part or all of a side. Touching corners does not qualify as contiguous. contiguous zone 1) the part of the ocean and seabed that extends out from a country's territorial waters 2) the ocean and seabed that is adjacent to offshore tracts or concessions that have been granted by a country continental apron see continental rise continental borderland a complex type of continental margin in which the seafloor is composed of ridges and basins that extend from the shoreline to the continental slope continental drift a relatively old theory (first suggested by Alfred Wegener in 1912) that all the continents were joined in one supercontinent (Pangaea) that broke up during the Mesozoic era. The continental fragments drifted across the surface of the earth into their present positions and are still moving today. The evidence for continental drift was in the similarity of fossils and rocks between continents that are far apart today. The theory has been supported by the recent development of the seafloor spreading and plate tectonics theories. continental margin the seafloor surrounding the continents. The continental margin extends from the shoreline down to either a) an average water depth of 200 m or b) the abyssal ocean floor. continental offshore stratigraphic test a drilling program on a portion of the continent margin that is going to be offered for lease bids. The well or wells are stratigraphic test wells into which seismic lines are tied. The cost of the well can be shared by the parties that share the well information. COST

continental shelf, slope and rise

continental rise an enormous wedge of gently sloping (1:40 to 1:2000) sediments located at the base of the continental slope in water depths of about 5,00013,000 ft. Continental rises are located everywhere except where an ocean trench is located off the continental slope, {continental apron) continental shelf a relatively flat platform covered with shallow water that surrounds the continents. The continental shelf extends from the beach to the shelf break (a sharp change of slope) at water depth of about 450 ft. The continental shelf slopes less than 1 and averages 50 mi in width. It is the area of most offshore petroleum exploration drilling and production. The continental shelf covers 5Vi% of the earth's surface. continental slope the ocean bottom slope of 36 leading from the continental shelf down to the continental rise continuing interest a mineral rights interest that last for the term of the lease continuity an unbroken electrical circuit continuous drilling provision a clause in a farmout agreement where each new well will be spudded within a certain time following the completion of the proceeding well continuous flow gas lift a type of gas lift in a well in which the gas is continuously injected and the flow up die well is uninterrupted. Continuous flow gas lift is in contrast to intermittent gas flow. continuous flowmeter a fluid velocimeter that is run through production tubing and positioned by centralizers to measure flow velocity in casing with

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continuous guidance tool contract of association

a spinner. It makes a continuous record of flow versus depth. continuous guidance tool a gyroscopic directional measurement instrument used in a cased hole. Two axes of the gyroscope are held by spinning. The horizontally aligned north position is sensed by an accelerometer and the gyroscopic axis. continuous operation clause or continuous drilling operations clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that allows the lessee to hold the lease after the primary term of the lease has expired as long as drilling or reworking operations are continuing. The lease is held after the primary term expires as long as no more than 60 days elapse between the abandonment of one well and the spudding of another well. continuous phase the fluid that completely surrounds the globules of the dispersed phase (suspended phase) in an emulsion. Oil is the continuous phase in a water-in-oil emulsion and water in an oil-in-water emulsion, (external phase) continuous process a chemical procedure in which the substance to be treated is continuously put through the process and the reactant is regenerated. Continuous process is in contrast to a batch process. continuous production decline rate minus - 7? in which q is production rate and is time, (nominal decline rate) continuous reeled tubing see coiled tubing continuous rod a sucker-rod string that has no joints continuous treatment the uninterrupted application of a corrosion inhibitor to produced fluids. Continuous treatment is in contrast to batch treatment. continuous tubing unit a well service unit that uses flexible, small-diameter steel tubing> wound as a continuous length on a hydraulically powered tubing reel. The reel can store up to 16,000 ft of tubing with an outer diameter of Vt-VA in. Continuous tubing is in contrast to other types of well service units that use joints of relatively stiff pipe. The continuous tubing unit is frequently used on producing wells that need pressure control. Continuous tubing is used for sand or paraffin clean out in tubing, initiating flow, well stimulation, and cementing. A limited amount of drilling can be done with a downhole, hydraulic motor. The blowout-preventer stack usually consists of four rams including hydraulic cutter, pipe, blind, and slip rams. As the tubing feeds off the tubing reel, it goes through a counter which is attached to a level wind assembly and a pipe straightener. An injector head with friction blocks pushes or pulls the tubing in or out of the well. The coiled tubing greatly reduces trip time. Other equipment on the unit includes a circulating system for nitrogen, acid or other fluids, blowout preventers, lubricator, tubing injector head, and hydraulic crane. The unit usually has a crew of two. (coiled tubing, endless tubing, or reeledpipe unit) continuous-velocity log see sonic log contour or contour line a line of exact value on a map. Contours separate larger from small values. On a topographic map, the contour lines are lines of exact elevation of the ground surface. On a structural map, the contour lines are lines of exact elevation

contours

of the top of a subsurface rock layer. Other maps such as isopach, lithofacies, or isoporosity maps also use contours. The difference in values between two adjacent conturs is called the contour interval. Contours of elevation are referred to a reference level called the datum such as sea level. contour interval the difference in value between two adjacent contours. An example would be a 100ft contour interval on a topographic map with 100, 200-, 300-, and 400-ft contours. CI or C.I. contourite a deep ocean current that follows the contours of the ocean bottom such as along the base of the continental slope. A contourite can winnow bottom sediments. contour map a map of the land surface, sea bottom, or subsurface rock unit that uses contours to show variations in such attributes as elevation, thickness, or composition CONTR or contr contractor contraband oil petroleum that was produced or transported in excess of that allowed by a government regulatory agency contract a written, enforceable agreement or covenant between two or more patties that obligates each party contract area all the lands, oil, and gas leaseholds and interests intended to be developed and operated under a joint operating agreement, (unit area) contract carriage a provision that a pipeline will transport natural gas to an end-user contract depth 1) the minimum depth to which an earning well must be drilled in order to satisfy the earning requirements in a support or farmout agreement 2) the depth to which a well must be drilled to fulfill a drilling contract. The drilling contractor is paid to the contract depth. CD contract landman or leaseman a person who is employed under a specific contract to acquire oil and gas leases contract of association a legal agreement between a government and a party to explore an area. The

contract operator conventional recovery party bears the entire cost of exploration and a portion of the development costs for any fields found in exchange for a portion of the production profits. contract operator a contractor that has been designated by the working interest owners of a lease to manage the exploration, drilling, and/or production on that lease contractor's hole a job done in a hurry contract pressure the minimum gas pressure that is required in a pipeline contract for the operators of a well to deliver to that pipeline. Contract pressure is usually 700-1,000 psi. contract price the price paid by an oil company purchaser or refinery for crude oil. Contract price is usually posted each month. contrast the ratio of maximum to minimum brightness on a remote sensing image contrast enhancement an image processing method used for remote sensing that increases the image ratio contrast by expanding the range of digital values recorded to the full range of available digital values contrast ratio the ratio of reflectances on a remote sensing image between the brightest and darkest part contribution agreement a contract between two parties in order to drill a well. One party gives support in the form of cash or acreage contribution to another party to drill a well to a specified depth in return for information on that well, (support agreement) contribution clause a provision in a joint operating agreement that if any party in the joint operating agreement receives a contribution in the form of monies or acreage for drilling a well, the other parties in the joint operating agreement will be notified and share in that contribution contribution letter a request by one party that another party contribute money or acreage if the first party drills a well and shares the information. A contribution letter can be either a dry-hole or bottomhole contribution. contributor a person or company who gives or agrees to give money for drilling a well control 1) the location of data points such as wells and seismic lines that are used in making a subsurface map or prospect. Generally, the closer the control, the more accurate the interpretation. 2) the data upon which a map or seismic section is made control agent sealing agent control cabin the enclosure where the driller operates the hoisting, rotary, and circulating equipment on an offshore drilling rig. (dog house) control casinghead a fitting on top of a well that fits around the drilling line on a cable-tool rig. The control casing head is used to prevent oil from flowing out the well. control head see surface control head assembly controllable pitch propeller a propeller on a drill ship or semisubmersible whose blade angle can be adjusted. The propeller is used in a dynamic positioning system, cp controlled acidizing treatment a type of acid job that is used to concentrate acid on the producing

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formation in the well. One method uses a tubing string that is landed just below the producing formation. The well is then filled with oil. Acid is then pumped down the tubing in enough volume to displace the oil in the tubing and in the annular space around the producing formation. The casing outlet is then closed, and the acid is pumped under pressure out into the producing formation. In another method, a packer seated just above the producing formation on the tubing string is used to concentrate the acid on the producing formation. The controlled acidizing treatment is in contrast to the uncontrolled acidizing treatment. controlled exploratory well an exploratory well that can be either a new-field or new-pool wildcat. The well is drilled in an area that has no production (new-field), or the well is drilled to test a new reservoir rock (new-pool) that has no current production in an area that produces from another reservoir, (wildcat well) control manifold the valves and pipes that distribute the hydraulic pressure from the accumulator to the various closing elements on a blowout-preventer stack control panel the console on a rotary drilling rig that is used to activate the various preventers on a blowout-preventer stack. There are at least two. The primary control panel is located at the accumulator, and the remote control panel is located at a convenient location, such a the drilling floor. control pod an assembly of subsea valves and regulators that are used to direct hydraulic fluid to various components of a subsea blowout-preventer stack when activated from the surface control room operator an employee on a semisubmersible who supervises the ballast control room that stabilizes the rig. The operator also monitors marine traffic, the rig alarm system, and the weight distribution during loading and unloading. CRO convection the movement of a fluid due to density differences. Temperature often controls the density. conventional bit a roller-cone or drag bit in contrast to a jet bit conventional farmout an agreement in which the farmee receives a convertible override for 25% carried to the casing point. The override is converted to a working interest after payout. A conventional farmout is in contrast to a third-for-a-quarter. conventional gas natural gas that can be produced under current technology at cost plus profit at current market prices. Conventional gas is in contrast to unconventional gas. conventional gas lift valve a gas lift valve mounted on a tubing-retrievable mandrel or tubing pup joint. The conventional gas lift valve was the first type of gas lift valve, and the tubing had to be pulled to retrieve the valve, (tubing-retrievable gas lift valve) conventional mandrel a short tubing joint (pup) with a lug for fixing a conventional gas lift valve (tubing retrievable or standard mandrel) conventional mud drilling mud consisting of only clay and water conventional recovery oil production from primary production and waterflood

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conventional sales contract core COOR or coord coordinate coordinated survey a large-scale geophysical survey, usually offshore, whose costs and results are shared by several parties. The cost is often shared proportionally according to each parry's acreage in the study area. COP AS Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies cop floating asphalt in Texas waters copolymer a molecule formed by joining two or more unlike polymers copper sulfate electrode the nonpolarizing electrode that is most commonly used to test the electrical potential of a metal structure to evaluate its potential for corrosion coprolite fossilized excrement of vertebrate animals Coprolite is in contrast to the smaller fecal pellets. Coq or coq coquina coquina or coquinoid limestone a limestone composed primarily of broken and rounded shells. (clastic limestone) Coq or coq COR carbon/oxygen ratio Cor coral cor 1) corner 2) corrected

conventional sales contract a gas contract in which the producer sells all the gas produced from specific wells or a field to a buyer. A conventional sales contract is in contrast to the warranty contract where the producer sells only a specific amount of gas which can come from any source. convergence pressure the pressure at a specific temperature at which the vapor-liquid equilibrium ratios (K factors) for the various components of a system tend to approach 1.0 when plotted against pressure on a log-log scale. Convergence presure is used to correct K factors. The convergence pressure is approximately 10,000 psia for typical black oil, 5,000 psia for retrograde gas and wet gas, and 5,000-10,000 psia for volatile oils. convergent margin the boundary between two plates of the earth's lithosphere that are coming together. A convergent margin is characterized by compression with subduction such as an ocean trench and/or mountain range. A convergent margin is in contrast to a divergent margin. conversion the replacement of one drilling mud in a well with another (breakover) conversion cost the cost of changing a producing well into an injection well for waterflood or enhanced oil recovery convert 1) to change an interest of one party in a well into a different interest at a specific time. For example, an overriding royalty interest converts at payout to a working interest. 2) to change a producing well into an injection or service well converted wave a wave that has been transformed from one type to another. A PS wave is a P-wave that was converted to an S-wave when it was reflected. convertible interest an interest that is usually nonoperating in an oil and/or gas well(s) that changes at a specific time such as payout to a different interest that is usually operating convertible override farmout a type of farmout agreement in which the farmor assigns the farmee oil and gas leases for an area in return for drilling a well(s) on those leases. The farmor retains an overriding royalty, which, at the option of the farmor, can be converted into a share of the working interest after the farmee's payout. convey to transfer conveyance the assignment or transfer of a right such as a mineral right convolution the change of wave shape as it passes through a linear filter. The rocks in the earth's crust act as filters such that waves used in seismic exploration are changed as they pass through the subsurface rock. A mathematical operation is used to describe the effect of a linear system on an input waveform. A process called deconvolution restores the waves to their original shape. COOH 1) coming out of hole 2) came out of hole cook to naturally expose organic matter in sedimentary rocks to temperatures sufficient to generate crude oil and/or thermal gas cooking time the time that sedimentary rocks spent at temperatures sufficient to generate hydrocarbons cook-out samples to dry out well cuttings

corals coral a marine invertebrate that secretes a shell of calcium carbonate and belongs to the class Anthozoa in the phylum Coelenterata. Corals are identified by the symmetry and pattern of septa or walls in the coral. Important types include the tabulates (Ordovician to Jurassic in age), rugose (Ordovician to Permian), hetrocorals (Mississippian period), and scleractinians (Triassic to present). Corals have existed from the Ordovician period to the present and are important framework builder for reefs. The type of corals that form reefs are colonial and live in symbiosis with algae. Modern reef corals grow only in shallow, tropical waters of normal salinity. Cor coralline algae or alga an encrusting algae that secretes a coating of calcium carbonate cordage 1) the fiber or steel rope used in drilling 2) the ropes used on a ship Cor Det electromagnetic corrosion detector core 1) a cylinder of rock with a l3/4-5V4-in. diameter (whole or full-diameter core) and lengths of 20-90 ft that is drilled by a rotary coring bit from a well. Cores are used to determine the permeability, porosity, pore-size distribution, fluid content including hydrocarbon saturation and type, mineralogy, and

core analysis core hole sedimentary structure present and fabric of the rock. Sidewall cores are only about Vi in. in diameter and 1-2 in. long, in contrast to the full diameter core. Wireline cores are 1 and Vi to 2 in. in diameter. Oriented cores are taken with reference to magnetic north. Cores can be described as native-state, cleaned or restored-state depending on preservation, or or c 2) the process of drilling a core from a well. The core is usually taken using a rotary coring bit that is hollow and is usually either embedded with small diamond chips or has tungsten carbide inserts with diamond surfaces. The core is received and held in a core barrel located above the rotary coring bit. Rarely is there 100% core recovery. 3) the main memory of a computer. The core is usually called memory. 4) the fiber or wire-rope center of a drilling line. Fiber-core wire ropes use hard-twisted manila or sisal that is impregnated with a lubricant. The fiber core gives the drilling line flexibility. A wire-core drilling line has greater strength. core analysis the examination of a core. Routine core analyses includes porosity, fluid saturation, horizontal permeability, and lithology determinations. Supplementary routine analyses can include vertical permeability, grain density determinations, and gamma-ray logging. Special core analyses are oil-water relative permeabilities, capillary pressures, cation exchange capacities, wettabilities, formation factor, and resistivity index determinations. core barrel 1) the cylinder that is located above the core bit and receives the core sample. Two common types of core barrels are a) wireline and b) full core or conventional. The wireline core barrel is retrieved through the bit and drillpipe by an overshot on a sand line. It is 15 ft long and uses either roller-cone or diamond cutting edges. The full-core or conventional core barrel is run on a drillstring and comes lengths between 10-60 ft but is commonly 30 ft long in sections that can be added together. It is composed of a) a cutterhead, b) an outer barrel, c) a floating inner barrel, and d) a core catcher with fingers. The cutterhead is a hollow core bit that is usually called the core head. The inner core barrel holds the core. A core catcher is used on the bottom of the core barrel. Drilling mud circulates down between the two barrels to the cutter head. The core barrel uses a stabilizer directly above the bit, and many have a safety joint so that the inner barrel and core can be pulled if the outer barrel becomes stuck. Some types of core barrels are a) steel, b) plastic or fiberglass, c) rubber sleeve, d) pressure, and e) sponge insert. A rubber sleeve core barrel is used for soft or fractured formations. The sponge insert core barrel is used to retain formation fluids. The core barrel is 2-3 in. in diameter less than the hole being drilled. 2) a sidewall core projectile. CBBL or CB core bit a hollow bit that is used to cut a core sample in the well. The most common type has the surface embedded with small diamond chips or tungsten carbide inserts with a diamond surface and no moving parts. The circulating drilling mud flows between the inner and outer core barrel and out the center of the bit. The mud returns up through fluid channels along the sides of the bit to the annulus. Core bits have threads for connection, rather than API pin connections. The original core bits had drag-type teeth.

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Roller-cone core bits are sometimes used today and were used on the superdeep Russian well on the Kola Peninsula. A wireline retrievable core bit and barrel are pulled through the drillstring. The wireline retrievable core bit is shorter and smaller than the conventional core bit. (core head) CB core box a wooden box that is used to ship and store cones. The core box is at least 3 ft long and is marked with the core number, the box number, and top and bottom. core catcher a ring with inward-bending metal strips that is used in a core barrel to retain the core when it is cut from a well cored center the uneven wearing down of teeth or diamonds in and around the center of the drill bit. The bit eventually tries to cut a small core. core dip a method that seals a core with an impervious coating of removable plastic for shipping and storage. Core dip can be either a hot dip called Core Gel or a cold dip. core drill to drill using a core-barrel assembly to obtain a core sample from a well core-ejector diamond bit a diamond bit that is similar to a core bit except that it cuts smaller diameter and shorter-length cores that are ejected, carried up the well by the circulating mud, and caught on the shale shaker core extractor a jack used to eject a core sample from a core barrel core fisher see core picker coreflood a laboratory test in which enhanced oil recovery fluids are injected into a full-sized core of reservoir rock to determine the suitability of the reservoir and the injection fluids for enhanced oil recovery core flow efficiency the ability of a perforation to transmit fluid divided by the ability of an ideal or drilled perforation to transmit fluid. Perforating guns have a typical core flow efficiency of 0.65-0.85. CFE core flushing the displacement of formation fluids from a core as it is being cut or brought to the surface. Core flushing is caused by two processes. As the core is being cut, mud filtrate penetrates the core and displaces formation fluids. When the core is brought to the surface, free gas expands in the core and also displaces formation fluids. coregamma surface logger a device that measures the natural radioactivity of a core as it is passed along a conveyer belt through the instrument. The results are compared to the gamma ray log from the well to accurately position the core. Core Gel a hot dip used to seal cores in a plastic coating core grabber an assistant to the geologist or engineer in charge of coring on a well coregraph a log which shows the results of the analysis of rock cores. The coregraph usually illustrates permeability, porosity, fluid content and type, lithology, and sedimentary structures. core head see cutterhead core hole a well drilled with a slim-hole rig. The wellbore is 6V4 in. in diameter or less. Well logs are

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core log correlation log Corod a continuous sucker-rod string with no joints CORP corporation corr 1) corrected 2) corrosion corrected oil crude oil whose gravity (API) has been corrected to 60F correction deed an instrument filed for the purpose of amending or clarifying an instrument that was previously recorded correction factor a multiplier that is determined by a prover. The correction factor is applied to a meter to yield a volume that is corrected to base conditions of temperature and pressure. correction lease a lease that is executed to correct an incorrect provision in the previous lease correl correlation correlate to match rock units

run in a core hole, although a core is not necessarily taken. core log a record of core lithologies, sedimentary structures, and data such as porosity, permeability, and fluid saturation versus depth core marker a metal marker that is inserted into the inner core barrel before coring. When the core is extracted from the barrel, the core marker falls out to show that the barrel is empty, (rabbit) core picker a cylinder with flexible internal springs that is used to retrieve a dropped core, core fisher core-plug drill a small, 3/4-in. diamond-bit hand drill that is usually air cooled. The core-plug drill is used to cut plugs for porosity and permeability measurements from full-diameter cores and other rock samples. core-pusher plunger a plunger that is used to eject a core sample from a core barrel core saw a diamond-impregnated wheel used to slab cores core shell the lining of a core barrel core slicer a downhole tool that cuts a core with a triangular cross section from the wall of a well Coriband a computer-processed log that applies a statistical analysis of frequency crossplots to complex lithologies. The log is made from resistivity, density, neutron, and sonic log data and shows porosity, secondary porosity, grain density, fluid analysis, water saturation, and formation analysis. Track 1 has a secondary-porosity index and average density of solids index, Track 2 has water saturation, Track 3 has fluid analysis, and Tract 4 has formation analysis. A differential caliper log is located in Tracks 2 and 3coring the process of taking a core from a well. Four types of coring are a) conventional, b) diamond, c) wireline, and d) sidewall. Before coring, the hole is circulated to remove cavings and loose material. The conventional and diamond core is taken with a core barrel and drillstring. Less weight is applied to the bit during coring than drilling, and a slower rotary speed is used. The core is broken off in the core barrel by alternating with higher rotary speeds, and raising and lowering the drillstring a short distance. The core is retrieved and placed in trays, labeled, inspected, and described on the rig floor. The core is then wrapped, sealed, and sent to the laboratory. Coring is expensive because it involves rig time. coring reel drum a relatively small drum that is used with small-diameter wireline to lower and retrieve tools such as a deviation tool in a well coring time the time, usually expressed in minutes per foot of core, necessary for coring a well corkscrew the condition of a tubular that is twisted into a helix CORL correlation corln coralline corner post a derrick leg corner shot a well drilled in the corner of a lease that is adjacent to a producing field. It is hoped that the well will penetrate a portion of the producing field that might extend under that corner of the lease.

correlation

correlation 1) the matching of rock layers. Correlation is made with the use of marker beds, key horizons, physical similarities of rocks, and fossils and microfossils. Correlation between well logs are made to draw cross sections of the subsurface. 2) matching of phases on seismic records to show that events are the same reflectors. CORL or correl correlation index 1) a method used to define the chemical nature of various distillate fractions in a crude oil. The correlation index varies between 0 and 100 and is computed by the formula: CI = (48,680 + K) + (4737 x G) -456.8. Kis the average boiling point of the fraction in "Kelvin, and G is the specific gravity at 16C. Lower values means the fraction is rich in paraffin hydrocarbons, and high values means greater concentration of naphthenic and aromatic hydrocarbons. CI 2) a crude oil classification by the US Bureau of Mines based on the paraffin and napthene content of the oil. Types include paraflnnic, paraffinicnapthenic, napthenic-paraffinic, and napthenic. The more napthenic the oil, the higher the index. correlation length the depth interval in which correlation of dipmeter curves from each arm are made. The correlation length varies 1-30 ft. correlation log a wireline well log that records the natural radioactivity (gamma-ray emissions) of rocks in the well. Of the most common sedimentary rocks, only shales have significant natural radiation. Volcanic ash, granite wash, and some salt deposits also are naturally radioactive. Three elements, potassium, thorium and uranium, account for most of the gamma

correlation rights theory CO2 flooding, injection, or miscible flooding 109 rays emitted from the sedimentary rocks. The correlation log is recorded in Track 1 and is usually run with porosity and/or resistivity logs. The sonde contains a scintillation crystal as a radiation detector. The correlation log can be run in either an open hole or cased well and can be run in both salt and nonconductive muds. The log is used for a) shale location, b) lithology identification, c) correlation, and d) bit selection, (gamma ray and natural gamma ray log) correlation rights theory the legal premise in some states that all land owners overlying a producing formation have proportional rights to that formation correlation scale a scale of either 1 or 2 in./lOO ft on a well log. Well logs on a correlation scale are used for correlation between logs for the purpose of drawing cross sections. The correlation scale is in contrast to a detail scale. correlative rights the multiple ownership of hydrocarbons in a common reservoir correlogram a correlation display using a seismic trace-type curve that is half of the autocorrelation function corrosion the chemical consumption or wearing away of equipment. It can occur during drilling and production or during treating, storing, and transportation of petroleum. Corrosion can be by either inorganic or organic bacteria. Corrosion is caused primarily by oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and chlorides in petroleum drilling and production. Electrochemical corrosion produces a measurable current. Sour corrosion is caused by hydrogen sulfide, whereas sweet corrosion is caused by carbon dioxide and fatty acids. Types of corrosion include a) uniform, b) crevice, c) pilling, d) galvanic, h) cavitation, and i) stress, corr corrosion agent a substance that causes corrosion such as hydrogen sulfide or oxygen corrosion cell the flow of an electric current between a metal structure and a surrounding electrolyte. A corrosion cell will cause the metal to corrode. corrosion control agent see corrosive inhibitor corrosion coupon a metal strip used to check corrosion rates corrosion fatigue the failure of metal that has been weakened by corrosion or chemical degradation. Corrosion fatigue is the primary cause of sucker rod parting. corrosion inhibitor an additive to drilling mud that is designed to inhibit corrosion. These include filmforming amines, oxygen scavengers such as sodium sulfite, and hydrogen-sulfide scavengers such as zinc compounds, copper carbonate, and iron derivatives. Chromates, dianodic zinc-phosphates, and lime are used to reduce the effects of sodium and calcium salts on metal, (corrosion control agent) corrosive agent the substance causing corrosion corrosive gas a gas that dissolves in water or other liquids and attacks metal. The most common corrosive gases encountered during drilling are H2S and CO2. corrosive product the result of corrosion, usually a metallic oxid corset a steel cover used to protect the top of the conductor pipe on a jackup rig corundum a very hard mineral composed of A12O3 COS carbonyl sulfide cos cosine COST continental offshore stratigraphic test cost the monies spent on a project. These can include acquisition, exploration, development, and production costs. cost center a geological or legal unit to which cost and revenue are identified cost crude oil 1) the portion of oil production that pays for the cost of drilling and completing the well 2) oil produced from the operator's wells cost depletion a method of accounting in which the depletable basis of a lease or equipment is amortized over the life of production. Cost depletion is in contrast to percentage depletion. cost of finding the amount of monies spent on exploration and drilling to produce 1 bbl of crude oil or 1 Mcf of natural gas cost of service the cost of natural gas which is used to calculate the buyer's regulated resale rates. It is calculated on costs specified by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. cost per foot dollars expended to drill a well divided by the footage drilled. CPF cost per unit of daily production the total capital and operating costs for discovering and producing oil and gas per unit of volume produced in bbl/day or Mcf/day. It does not include deductions for royalties or taxes. COSUNA correlation of stratigraphic unit of North America cosurfactant a surfactant such as tertiary amyl alcohol that is used to increase the effectiveness of another surfactant for enhanced oil recovery COTD cleaned out to total depth cotd coated cotd gn coated grains Cotg or cotg coating cotton picker a clumsy oilfield worker CO2 carbon dioxide CO2 augmented waterflooding a waterflood process in which water that is nearly or fully saturated with CO2 is injected into the subsurface reservoir. The CO2 comes out of solution, extracts lighter hydrocarbon fractions from the oil to form a miscible front, and helps drive the oil toward producing wells. (carbonated waterflooding) CO2 flooding, injection, or miscible flooding an enhanced oil-recovery process in which carbon dioxide gas is injected into the reservoir. First, the reservoir is repressurized with water injection. When the carbon dioxide is injected, lighter hydrocarbons from the oil transfer to the carbon dioxide to form a miscible front which is soluble with the oil. The first carbon dioxide slug is followed by alternating slugs of water and carbon dioxide to push the oil toward producing wells. The carbon dioxide can originally come from carbon dioxide wells, from

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coulomb CR course departure the distance between two points in a deviated hole projected onto a horizontal plane course length the measured length between two survey points in a well course vertical depth the difference in vertical depth between two points in a deviated hole C/OUT cleaning out cov covered covalent bond the chemical linkage between two atoms formed by the sharing of electrons. The water molecule (H2O) has covalent bonding. Covalent bonds are in contrast to ionic bonds. covenant a written promise. The violation of a covenant will cause a specific legal action. The covenant can either be specifically written (express covenant) or does not appear in detail (implied covenant) on the instrument. A covenant is a mandatory obligation in contrast to an option. cover-all clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that protects the lessee from errors in the description of the land under the lease by including all the land owned by the lessor in that area, (inclusive, catchall, or Mother Hubbard clause) cover rock see cap rock cow sucker an old term for a heavy piece of metal that was used on the end of a drilling line to lower it into a well when no tools were attached CP 1) casing point 2) cathodic protection 3) casing pressure 4) controllable pitch 5) circulating pressure Cp sonic compaction correction factor cp 1) centipoise 2) compaction 3) controllable pitch Cp 1) rock pore compressibility 2) gas heat capacity at constant pressure CP or Cp specific heat at constant pressure CP. 1) casing pressure 2) cement through perforations CPA 1) Canadian Petroleum Association 2) critical path analysis CPC 1) casing pressure closed 2) computer production control cpct compact CPF 1) casing pressure flowing 2) cost per foot 3) closed power fluid CPG Certified petroleum geologist CPI 1) carbon preference index 2) corrugated plate interceptor 3) computer-processed interpretation CPM cycles per minute CPP 1) casing potential profile 2) central processing platform Cppm parts per million concentration Cpr pseudoreduced compressibility CPRK cap rock CPS 1) cycles per second 2) centipoise per second 3) counts per second CPSI casing pressure shut in CPU central processing unit CR 1) compression ratio 2) cold rolled 3) cored 4) condition ratio

chemical or fertilizer plants, or be manufactured from power plant stack gas. The carbon dioxide can be separated from the produced fluids during the flooding and recycled, (carbon dioxide flooding, injection or miscible flooding) coulomb a derived unit in System International (SI) for electric charge. It is calculated by A x s. A coulomb is equal to 6.25 X 1018 electrons. C

counterweights

counterbalance 1) an offset weight used for stability. A counterbalance is used on most pumpers to balance the weight of oil and sucker-rod string on the upstroke and the sucker-rod string on the downstroke. It is located on a rotary crank on a crank-balanced pumper and can also be located on the walking beam on the end opposite the well on a beam balanced pumper. Counterweights on the walking beam are used for shallow wells and they can be adjusted by moving them along the beam. On some pumpers, the rotary counterbalance can be adjusted by shifting their position on the crank arms. The use of a counterbalance allows a smaller prime mover and gear reducer size, (counterweight) CB 2) to offset a weight countercurrent stripping the injection of natural or inert gas into a production system to flush out oxygen counter flush see reverse circulation counterpart leases oil and gas leases of different ownerships that outline a block of acreage which includes all the separate tracts of land. The lessors have pooled their royalty interests and will share, proportional to their surface acreage contributions, any production from a well drilled on any of the leases. counter-regional fault an antithetic fault that has become a growth fault counterweight see counterbalance coupling 1) a mechanical device that is used to join two parts 2) a short metal cylinder that is attached to the end of a tubular such as drillpipe or casing by either flash weld, inertial weld, or by screwing on. The coupling is used to couple the tubular with another tubular. It is either threaded internally (box end) or externally (pin end). Those that are used on casing on a cement job are called baffle, float, and differential or automatic fill-up collars. Casing collars are either long or short, (collar or tool joint) 3) the larger-diameter end of a sucker-rod that holds female threads that receive the pin with the male threads of another sucker rod. (box) coupon a small, metal strip that is exposed to test an environment for corrosion or scale course the borehole axis over an interval length in a well

crater

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CR Rayleigh wave velocity Cr cordierite cr 1) core 2) creek CRA 1) chemically retarded acid 2) complex reservoir analysis crack a valve to barely open a valve in order to vent a small amount of liquid or gas cracker a length of Manila or hemp rope that was used between the tools and the drilling line on a cable-tool rig to give the line elasticity in order to bounce the bit off the bottom crackers a bottomhole assembly on a drillstring with single joints of drillpipe between the drill collars to produce a more flexible assembly cracking 1) a refining process used to break longchained hydrocarbons into more valuable, shortchained hydrocarbons such as gasoline by using heat, pressure, and/or chemicals 2) a natural process in which high temperatures form condensates, lightliquid hydrocarbons, thermogenic gas, and graphite (C) from crude oil. Kerogen and asphaltenes can also be cracked to form smaller bitumen molecules. crane machinery that uses a moveable extension or horizontal beam to lift and move heavy objects crane barge a barge that has a high lifting-capacity crane on the stern. A crane barge is used to raise modules onto offshore platforms, (derrick barge) crank or crank arm the steel arm on each end of the crankshaft located on the speed reducer of a beam pumping unit. The crank connects the crankshaft to

the pitman arm with a wrist pin. The crank rotates and has a counterbalance on the end of it. (rotary crank) crank-balanced pumper, pump jack, or pumping unit a type of beam pumping unit in which two rotating counterweights heavy metal castings are located on the crank to balance the weight of the sucker-rod string. The unit has a short walking beam and is in contrast to the beam-balanced type, (crank counterbalanced beam pumper, pump jack, or pumping unit) crankcase The crankshaft housing on an engine crank counterbalanced beam pumper, pump jack, or pumping unit see crank-balanced pumper crank end the inlet end of a reciprocating compressor crank pin the pin that connects the crank to the pitman on a beam pumper crankshaft the rotating shaft that converts the rotary motion of an engine into the reciprocating motion on connecting rods into rotary motion on an engine. crash the failure of computer hardware or programs such that the computer becomes inoperable. An electric surge or outage can cause a crash. If the information entered in the computer has not been backed up, it will be lost. crash flooding the rapid filling of flotation tanks with water to tilt an offshore platform that has been floated out into position crater 1) to fail or cave-in 2) the depression around

walking beam

pitman Samson post

crank counterbalanced pumping unit

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craton critical path analysis crew chief an employee who is in charge of a pulling unit and crew (head well puller or pulling unit operator) erg coring cricondenthem the maximum temperature at which two phases, such as gas and liquid, or liquid and solid, can coexist CRIM complex refractive index method Crin crinoid crinal crinoidal crinoid a marine animal belonging to the class Crinoidea in the phylum Echinodermata.! Crinoids have small disk-shaped or globular bodies covered with calcareous plates and numerous arms that come out from the body. A calcareous stem that was attached to the seafloor held the body in place. Crinoids existed from the Ordovician period to the Recent but were most common during the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian periods. Crinoidal limestones can be very thick.,Crin creinoidal limestone a limestone containing crinoid fossils, crinal cripple to reduce the output on a mud pump by pulling certain valves or rods crippled bit a roller-cone drilling bit with one cone removed crit critical critical angle the smallest angle of incidence in which a sonic, electromagnetic, or optic wave that strikes an interface will be reflected. When a seismic wave strikes a layer between two rocks at the critical angle or greater, it will travel parallel to the layer. At an angle less than the critical angle, the seismic wave will be reflected. critical compression pressure the lowest pressure at which a fuel will ignite in an engine. C.C.P. critical compression ratio the lowest compression ratio that a fuel will ignite in an engin. C.C.R. critical depth the minimum depth of a reservoir rock necessary to have closure on a particular trap critical dip the minimum dip in the opposite direction of the regional dip that is necessary to form closure on a subsurface trap critical distance the distance from the seismic source that the head wave emerges on thesurface. critical flow the maximum velocity of a fluid through an orifice. Once the critical flow is reached, the flow velocity remains constant and is unaffected by pressure changes. critical gas saturation the minimum gas saturation in the pores of a rock at which gas will flow through the rock. Sgc critcal micelle concentration the surfactant concentration above which micelle concentration increases rather than monomer concentration. CMC critical path analysis the charting of all the activities and their interrelationships that are necessary for the development of a large project such as an offshore field. Each activity has a time in which it must be completed to keep the project on schedule.

a well caused by the flow of oil, gas, and/or water from a well during a blowout craton the stable land area of a continent. Cratons include both shields and platforms. crbd crossbedded crbnt carbonate CR/CT ratio residual carbon/total carbon ratio Crd, Crd., or crd cored creaming the rising or falling of dispersed-phase globules in an emulsion CREC cushion recovery creekology an old theory, with little or no geological support, that oil is found by drilling in creek beds creep the gradual deformation of a material such as a metal or plastic under constant stress during a long time creeping formation an anhydrite, sodium or potassium salt layer or a shale that slowly advances into the well bore because of pressure or chemical reactions. The process is called heave, swell, or squeeze. cren crenulated
CREST AXIS

crest crest 1) the top of a fold 2) the uppermost surface of salt on a diapir such as a salt stock or plug 3) the top or ridge of a thread Cret cretaceous Cretaceous a period of geological time about 14067 m. y. ago. It is the youngest period of the Mesozoic Era. The Cretaceous is subdivided into the Upper Cretaceous and Lower Cretaceous global and North American epochs. Cret crevasse a break in a river levee crevasse splay sediments deposited to the side of a delta through a break in a river or distributary channel levee. A crevasse splay has the shape of a small delta to the side of the channel in the overbank or interdistributary bay environment. Some coarse, well-sorted sand can be deposited in that environment that are potential reservoir rocks, but they tend to be relatively thin. crevice oil crude oil in the fractures of shale crevice corrosion a local concentration of metal corrosion on a crack or pit crew boat a light-weight, high-speed boat used to the shuttle crew between an offshore platform and land

critical period forecast crossbeds critical period forecast a weather and seastate prediction for a critical offshore operation such as moving a rig

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liquid

^critical point

y****
liquid + gaa ^
TEMPERRTURE critical point

qaa

critical point 1) the temperature and pressure at which the bubblepoint and dew-point curves meet on a temperature versus pressure plot. The properities of a liquid and its vapor are indistinguishable at the critical point. 2) a location on a drilling line that is subjected to excessive wear. Critical points often occur where the drilling line is bent through sheaves and is caused by shock loading. critical pressure the vapor pressure of a fluid at the critical temperature. It is the pressure necessary to condense a vapor at the critical point. For ethane, the critical pressure is 707.8 psia. Critical pressure is used along with critical temperature to determine the state in which a fluid exists (liquid or gas) and to calculate compressibility factors. critical production rate the maximum production rate from a well that allows a stable cone to exist in the oil/water contact. At the critical production rate, the gravity and viscous forces are balanced, and the cone is maintained at a critical cone height. Pc critical rate the maximum rate at which oil can be produced from a well without production of gas from the free gas cap or water from below the oil/water contact critical reflection the seismic reflection from the point where the head wave is first generated critical saturation the minimum oil saturation in the pores of a reservoir at which oil will flow through the reservoir. Critical saturation is about 15%. (residual saturation) critical speed the speed that equals the natural frequency of any compressor part critical state the temperature, pressure, and composition at which all vapor and liquid properties become identical critical temperature the temperature above which a particular substance exists only as a gas phase no matter what the pressure. The substance cannot exist as a liquid. For ethane, the critical temperature is 90.09F. Critical temperature is used along with critical pressure to determine the state in which a fluid exists

(liquid or vapor) and is used to calculate compressibility factors. Tp critical velocity the velocity of a fluid that occurs in the transition range of Reynolds numbers of about 2000-3000 between laminar and turbulent flow. vc critical water saturation the highest water saturation in a reservoir through which hydrocarbons can flow without water flowing critical weight the weight on the bit at critical revolutions per minute that will cause the drillstring to resonate and fail critter fossil CRK or crk creek CRM chemical remanent magnetism crm cream crn blk crown block crnk crinkled CRO control room operator crooked hole or well a well that unintentionally deviates from vertical along its course. The deviation is often caused by the bit being deflected by a dipping hard-rock layer such as limestone. If the dip is greater than 60, the bit will generally be deflected down the dip of the rock layer. A dip of less then 45 will generally deflect the bit in the updip direction of the rock layer. A well that is intentionally drilled deviating from vertical is called a deviated well and a vertical well is called a straight hole, (naturally deviated hole) crooked-hole area or country a location where dipping, hard rock layers such as limestone make drilling a straight hole difficult crooked hole tendency the tendency of subsurface formation to cause a well to deviate. It is controlled by the dip, degree of drillability, faulting, and fracturing of the formation and can be described as mild, medium, and severe. crooked sub a small length of bent drillpipe that is used to kick off a deviated well. A crooked sub is run between the mud or turbine motor and the lowest drill collar. One of the connecting threads is machined at an angle to the axis of the sub. This gives the sub a V2-2V20 bend. A V20 crooked sub will give an angle change of 2-37lOO ft and a 2 crooked sub will give a 6-87l00 ft change. A crooked sub can have a muleshoe orientating sleeve and key to determine the actual orientation of the bottomhole assembly in the well. A crooked sub can also be used as part of a fishing string to give the right approach angle to the fish for the fishing tool, (angle, bent, or offset sub) cross a pressure fitting with at least four openings, usually at 90. The cross on a Christmas tree diverts the well fluids into the wings and provides access to the well for running wireline tools. crossbedded a sedimentary rock that displays crossbeds. crbd, XBD, X-bdd or x-bdd crossbeds sedimentary beds deposited at an angle (up to 36) to horizontal in dunes or ripples. The top of the crossbed is steep, whereas, the bottom is tangential to the horizontal. Crossbeds dip in the direction of current flow. X-bds or x-bds

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cross-correlation crown block crossplotted. Porosity measured on a compensated neutron log is plotted on one axis and porosity from a density log (limestone matrix) on the other axis. A separation of the two curves can be due to either a difference in matrix such as sandstone or the presence of gas. Crossplotting data from density, neutron, and sonic logs is used to make M-N and mineral identification (MID) plots used to determine lithologies, gas and secondary porosity. Other examples of crossplots are Pickett and Hingle crossplots. cross section a vertical slice or panel of the subsurface. Cross sections are often made by correlating between well logs and are an important tool for finding petroleum. Some types of cross sections include correlation, structural, and stratigraphic. cross spool a large, spool-shaped metal pipe that is used between the preventer elements on a blowoutpreventer stack to attach choke and kill lines. The choke and kill lines can attach to one spool or two spools with a preventer element in between. The spools can be studded, flanged, or clamp-on connected. The spool has an internal diameter equal to the bore of the blowout preventers, (drilling or spacer spool or spool) cross threaded male and female threads that do not match cross yoke the horizontal, steel beam that connects the two pitman arms on a beam pumping unit with the walking beam through an equalizer bearing (equalizer) crowding die line the drilling of wells along a lease line to drain oil from the adjacent lease crowd the bit to put more weight than necessary on a drilling bit crown 1) the platform at the top of a derrick that is used to service the crown block 2) a piston top 3) the part of a bit with diamonds (North America); the entire diamond bit (Europe)

cross-beds

cross-correlation a statistical process in which the similarity of two waveforms from a seismic source is calculated as a function of the time shift or lag between the waveforms. Cross-correlation is applied to the analysis of Vibroseis data. crossfed the contact of wires in a swismic cable causing the blending of data crossflow the flow of fluid from one reservoir in a well through the well into another reservoir with low pressure crosshead the connection between the pony and connecting rods on a mud pump cross-laminated a sedimentary rock with crossbeds that are less than 1 cm thick. X-Latn or x-latn crossover a fitting that has two different nominal sizes and/or pressure ratings and is used to join equipment of different nominal sizes and/or pressure ratings, (adapter or adaptor) crossover connection a flanged connection used on a wellhead to joint two different pressure rating pipes crossover distance the seismic source to geophone distance at which the head wave and direct wave arrive at the same time. The direct wave arrives first at a distance shorter than the crossover distance. crossover joint a length of casing with different thread types on each end crossover packer a packer used in a dual completion well with gas on the bottom and oil on the top crossover spool a flanged wellhead connection that is designed to seal around and suspend an inner casing string (crossover casing spool) or tubing string (crossover tubing spool). The crossover spool also allows for a pressure increase from one side of the spool to the other. During drilling, the crossover spool is a drilling spool that has the blowout preventers mounted on it. crossover sub a short section of pipe with a box and pin end of different diameters. A crossover sub is used to change the outer diameter of drillpipe on a drillstring. crossover tool a tool that is attached between the top of a liner or screen and the bottom of a workstring during gravel packing. The tool allows the gravel-pack slurry to be pumped down the work string to the openhole-liner or casing-liner annulus, and the fluid returns to flow into and up the crossover tool to the casing-workstring annulus. crossplot or cross plot a graph of two different measurements. Well-log measurements are often

crown block

crown block a stationary metal framework on the top of the derrick or mast of a drilling rig that holds sheaves that rotate on a horizontal shaft mounted on bearings with a greased lubricating system. The drilling line goes through the crown block. It can also hold a sheave for the coring reel drum and small sheaves for a Manila rope from the friction cathead. The sand line sheave is often attached to one end of the block or hung underneath. The crown block is part of the

crown block compensator crude oil analysis hoisting system of the rig and the crown block beams are often an integral part of the mast or derrick. Some crown blocks are double deck with the top sheaves at right angles to the bottom sheaves, cm blk crown block compensator a type of motion compensator used on a semisubmersible or drillship. The crown block compensator is a cylinder filled with compressed fluid from a reservoir, and a piston that is attached to the derrick above the crown block. The piston stroke is 20-25 ft. crown land federal or provincial land in Canada Crown-O-Matic a valve located near the top of a derrick. When contacted by the traveling block, it activates the air brakes on the drawworks to stop the traveling block. crown platform see crow's nest crown profile the shape of a diamond bit. A long taper aids in drilling a straight hole and permits higher bit weights, whereas a short taper is easier to clean crown sheet a plate on a boiler firebox crow's foot 1) a device that is designed to clamp onto a line that passes through it in order to tighten the line. Another line, such as a sand line from a winch, is attached to one part of the crow's foot. As more pressure is put on the sand line, the crow's foots grips the line harder. 2) a device used to center a deviation instrument on a bit. The crow's foot is run on the bit and the bottom of the deviation instrument fits into the recessed center of the crow's foot. crow's nest 1) a platform that goes around the crown of the derrick on a drilling rig. The railing that goes around the crow's nest is called the pigpen, and both the crow's nest and pigpen are called the duck's nest. The crow's nest has a water table that contains the crown block. The crow's nest is accessed by the derrick ladder, (attic or crown platform) 2) an old term for the top of the derrick on a drilling rig CRP common reflector point crpld crumpled crpxln cryptocrystalline crs coarse CRT 1) cathode ray tube 2) cones run together CRUDE or crude crude oil crude bitumen a natural occurrence of very viscous hydrocarbons that are not commercially recoverable from a well crude oil a natural liquid that comes from wells and is composed of a mixture of primarily hydrocarbon molecules with a C/H ratio usually 6-8. Crude oil varies in chemical composition and physical properties. The specific gravity of crude oil generally ranges from 0.780 (50 API) to 1.000 (10 API). Its density is measured in "API. A heavy oil has a density below 25 API, a medium crude 25-35 and a light oil 35-45. Crude oil ranges in color from transparent through colors of greenish-yellow, reddish, and brown to typically black. The light oils with low API tend to be amber to yellow in color, whereas the heavy oils with low "API tend to be brown to black. The smell ranges from gasoline (normal, sweet crude) to foul (normal, sour crude) to fruity (atomatic). Types of hydrocarbon molecules in crude oil are paraffins,
AROMATIC HC & NSO COMPOUNDS

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naphthenes, aromatics, and asphaltics. Crude oils can be classified according to their relative concentrations of paraffins, naphthenes, aromatics, and NSO compounds. Crude oils can also be divided into a) black or low shrinkage oils and b) volatile or high shrinkage oils. The low shrinkage oils are less than 40 API and have 0 to 1,000 SCF of natural gas/stock tank barrel. The high shrinkage oil ranges 35-5O API and have 1,000-4,000 SCF of natural gas/stock tank barrel. Crude oils can also be classified into a) heavy oil, b) black oil, and c) volatile oil. Heavy oil has less than 20 API, a high viscosity greater than 10 cp, high density, and a negligible gas/oil ratio. It is immature or degraded oil. Black oil has 30-45 API. Its critical temperature is greater than the reservoir temperature. Volatile oil has 45-70 API. Volatile oil has a very low specific gravity and exists in the two phase region. The liquid has a very high gas/oil ratio. Crude oil has a compressibility of about 1 x 10"5 vol/vol/psi. Oil does not dissolve in water and is generally, but not always, lighter in weight than water. Crude oil often contains significant amounts of dissolved natural gas. Crude oils are divided into sweet and sour crudes based on their sulfur content. The exact amount varies, but sweet crude generally has less than 1% sulfur, whereas sour crude has more than 1%. Low-sulfur crude has less than 0.6% sulfur by weight, intermediate-sulfur crudes have 0.6-1.7%, and high-sulfur crudes have greater than 1.7%. Crude 011 has a calorific value of 18,300-19,500 Btu/lb. Crude oils have kinematic viscosities of 0.007-13 stokes at 100F and are generally 0.023-0.23 stokes. An average crude oil chemical analysis by % weight carbon hydrogen sulfur nitrogen oxygen metals 84-87 11-14 0.06-8.00 0.02-1.70 0.08-0.14 0.00-0.14

(oil or petroleum) CO, CRUDE, or crude crude oil analysis the characteristics of a particular crude oil determined by a test recommended by the American Society of Testing and Materials and the Institute of Petroleum. The analysis includes the API, sulfur content, viscosity, pour point, C4 and lighter

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crude stream cubic foot CSD casing setting depth CSD Compensated Spectral Density cse gr coarse-grained Cy heptane CSG, Csg., or csg casing CSG-C casing collapse CSG-F casing failure csg hd casing head csg press casing pressure csg pt casing point CSIP casing shut-in pressure C6 hexane C6+ hexanes and heavier hydrocarbons CSL 1) center section line 2) county school lands 3) computer logging service C slinger a backup man on a drilling crew CSNG compensated spectral natural gamma tool CSPKR casing packer CSPS cable suspended unit (electric submersible pump) CSPT casing packer drillstem test CST sidewall coring CST chronological sidewall coring tool CSt. centistoke CSUT" cyber service unit CT cable tools C, 1) true formation conductivity 2) total compressibility c(t) convolution function Ctc 1) contract 2) contact CTD corrected total depth ctd coated C lo decane CTGS, ctg, Ctgs, or ctgs cuttings C3 propane CTL cuttings time lag CTP cleaning to pits CTL cemotop ctr center CTS condensate to surface Cj ethane CTY county CU clean up CU or cu cubic Cu cummingtonite Cub or cub 1) cube 2) cubic cubic centimeter a unit of volume in the metric system and a derived System International (SI) unit that is defined by a cube 1 cm on a side. A cubic centimeter is equal to 1 ml. cc or cm1 cubic foot the standard of measurement for natural gas. A standard cubic foot of natural gas is the volume of gas in a cube 1 ft on a side under standard pressure and temperature. The definition of standard pressure

content, salinity, metallic content, and characteristics of the major distillates such as yield, API, sulfur content, ash weight, and true boiling point. crude stream a specific crude oil sold by an exporting country at a specific shipping point. The crude stream is often a blend or mixture of oil from different fields and has specific qualities. Arabian light, offered by Saudi Arabia, has 33.4 API and 1.8% sulfur. crumb boss the oil field bunkhouse housekeeper crummies chain tongs that are used to run tubing crush cut the slow leaching of crude oil from a sample in a laboratory implying poor permeability cryogenic plant a gas processing plant that uses very low temperatures to achieve a high liquid recovery. The gas passes through a turboexpander where it expands and is exhausted with temperatures of -160 to -180F. Almost all the gases except methane are condensed. The gases can then be separated in a fractionator. cryogenics the study and use of very low temperatures crypto cryptocrystalline cryptocrystalline a rock that has a crystal structure that is too small to be seen with an optical microscope. (microcrystalline) CRYP-XLN, crpxln, crypto, or cryptoxln cryptofissile a clay mineral that separates into tabular falkes during a wettability test with distilled water after 10% HC1 has been added. Cryptofissile is in contrast to hydroclastic, hydrofissile, hygrotaroid, and noncrystalline. CKYP-XLN or crypto-xln cryptocrystalline crys or cryst crystalline

crystals

crystal a homogeneous solid composed of a chemical element, compound, or isomorphous mixture. A crystal has a homogeneous, internal atomic arrangement that is often reflected by the crystal faces. XI, xl STAL or xtal crystalline 1) a substance with a definate and ordered molecular structure in contrast to amorphous 2) a texture composed of crystals or fragments of crystals crys, cryst, XLN, Xln, or xln crystalline carbonate a name given to any limestone in which nothing can be recognized in the texture of the rock CS 1) cast steel 2) carbon steel 3) casing seat cs 1) casing, static 2) centistokes CSA 1) casing set at 2) Canadian Standards Association CSAT combinable seismic acquisition tool

cubic meter cut and strip and temperature varies with contract and law but is about 15 psia and 60F. cubic meter a derived unit in System International (SI) for volume. A cubic meter contains 35.315 ft3. The conventional unit is barrels and can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 0.1590. In some countries a cubic meter is used to measure crude oil volume, w3 cubic meter per kilogram a derived unit in System International (SI) for specific volume. m>lkg cubic meters per minute a derived System International (SI) unit for pump output and flow rate. A conventional unit is US gpm and can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 0.00378. Another conventional unit is bbl/min and can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 0.1590. nv'lmin cubic meters per stroke a derived System International (SI) unit for pump volume. A conventional unit is US gals/stroke and can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 3785L/ stroke. Another conventional unit is bbl/stroke and can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 0.1590. m-'/stroke cubic meters per tonne a System International (SI) derived unit for clay yield. The conventional unit is bbl/ton and can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 0.175. nv'lt

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cuesta cuesta a surface ridge formed by a resistant rock layer, such as limestone cu cm cubic centimeter cu ft cubic foot cu ft/bbl cubic feet per barrel cu ft/d cubic feet per day cu ft/lb cubic feet per pound cu ft/min cubic feet per minute cu ft/sec or cu ft/s cubic feet per second cu ft/sk cubic feet per sack cu in cubic inch cu m cubic meter cum 1) cumulative 2) cumulative production CUM-G cumulative gas production CUM-O cumulative oil production cumulative or cumulative production or recovery the total oil and gas production up to a given date, cum cup 1) a piston with a concave end that is used in some pumps 2) a depression worn in the shoulder of a tool joint by wobble cup job to replace worn cups on the traveling valve of a downhole pump

cup packer a cup-shaped sealing device used in a well to test the blowout preventers and casing cupronickel an alloy of greater than 70% copper plus nickel curative the title requirements that are necessary to remove any objections on record title curbstone broker a lease broker without an office cure to age and set cement cure the title to fill in a gap or defect in the chain of title for land, (curing a title) Curie point the temperature above which a medium loses its ability to retain magnetism. For most rocks it is less than 600C. curing the setting and aging of cement curing a title see cure the title current dollars dollars that are not adjusted for inflation (nominal dollars) curtailment the forced reduction of a well's per day gas production from the production specified in a purchase contract curved drill or drilling guide a downhole device used to kickoff and drill the build section of shortradius horizontal drainholes. The guide consists of a conventional drill bit driven by a flexible driveshaft in a bent guide or pipe. The outer portion of the guide does not rotate, forcing the drill bit to drill the curve. The drill bit is driven from the surface by the driveshaft and the flexible drillstring above it. The guide could also be prebent or designed to bend after running in the borehole. CDG CUSH or cush cushion cushion the fluid used in a pipe or tubing string to control pressures. A column of water or drilling mud is used in running drillpipe into a well to prevent crushing of the pipe by hydrostatic pressure in the well. CUSH or cush cushion gas 1) the amount of natural gas that is necessary in a natural gas storage reservoir to maintain the minimum pressure needed to recover the natural gas stored in the reservoir 2) natural gas that is stored in an underground reservoir for later use in a pressure maintenance program custodian see pumper custody transfer the location in a gas pipeline where the gas ownership goes from seller to buyer cut 1) a separate hydrocarbon fraction or part made by distillation or a similar process. A cut is often made for identification of oil shows in well cuttings. A solvent such as trichloroethane is used to dissolve the oil from the cuttings. The oil is then identified visually in a visible cut or by fluorescence in cut fluorescence. (fraction) 2) a liquid diluted with something 3) the particle size that is removed at a certain percentage under certain conditions from a liquid-solid system by a filter 4) the percent impurities in crude oil 5) to reduce drilling mud density cut and fill an erosional channel that has been filled with sediments cut and strip a fishing method for conductor cable or sand line in a deep open hole or for a radioactive instrument. Cut and strip uses special tools from a fishing-tool service company, (cable guide method)

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cut-and-thread cycle skip or skipping cuttings rock chips produced by chipping and crushing action of the drill bit on the bottom of the well. The cuttings are sampled every 10-20 ft during the drilling of a well and at closer intervals in the pay section. The cuttings are washed, dried, and stored in cloth sacks or envelopes and labeled. The largest cuttings are made by roller-cone bits, whereas those made by diamond bits and by air drilling tend to be smaller in size, (well cuttings) CTGS, Ctgs, ctgs, or ctg cuttings gas the gas obtained from the well cuttings during mud logging cuttings sampler a device that is used on a drilling rig to automatically separate some of the well cuttings from the drilling mud for sampling. A portion of the drilling mud from the well flows into the sampler where the well cuttings are separated, and the larger cuttings are concentrated and washed. The sampler is usually located over or near the mud tank. cuttings time lag the time that it takes the drilling mud to transport the well cutting from the bottom of the well to the surface. Cuttings time lag is usually longer than mud time lag. CTL cutting tool a downhole tool that can cut through either rock or a fish cu yd cubic yard CV control valve C, or c, specific heat at constant volume Cvg caving CVGS, Cvgs, or cvgs cavings CVL continuous-velocity log CVS constant velocity stack CVTY cavity CW continuous weld C^, weight percent solids concentration C^, 1) formation water conductivity 2) water compressibility or water coefficient of isothermal compressibility 3) connate water saturation cw clockwise Cw water compressibility C/W complete with C^B bound water conductivity CWE cold water equivalent equivalent water conductivity free water conductivity CWI carried working interest Cyber Log Systems a computed log analysis cycle one complete revolution. A cycle is the piston strokes in an engine pump, or compressor between two intake strokes. One, two, and four strokes are common in an engine, (stroke) cycle condensate natural gasoline or condensate that is stripped from wet gas before the cycle gas is reinjected into the reservoir for pressure maintenance cycle gas natural gas that is produced, stripped of liquids, compressed, and reinjected into the reservoir for pressure maintenance cycle skip or skipping the effect caused by the first signal during sonic logging being recorded on the

cut-and-thread a fishing technique for a stuck logging tool. The survey cable is supported from the rotary table and cut. The cable is then threaded through an overshot and drillstring until the logging tool is engaged and retrieved. cut a spoke to slightly close a valve cut ditch 1) to drill effectively 2) to do a good job cut down derrick to take a wooden derrick apart cut hole to drill a well cut line the height of oil in a stock or storage tank as seen on a tank gauge

a) cutoff b) oxbow lake

cut off 1) a channel eroded across the neck of a meander by a stream leaving behind an abandoned meander channel usually occupied by an ox-bow lake 2) the process of abandoning a meander channel cutoff the upper or lower limit of a parameter. Cutoffs are used in determining hydrocarbon saturations from well logs. The cutoffs are the minimum porosity, clay content, or saturation for computation. Porosities in sandstone of 696-8% and 496-5% in carbonates are often used. cut-off line a line formedb y the intersection of a surface such as a bedding and a fault cut of oil the percentage of impurities in crude oil cut oil an emulsion of oil and water. The emulsion must be heated or treated with chemicals to separate the oil and water, (bad oil) cut point the measurement of the effectiveness of a solid-liquid separator. The cut point is the particle size that a given percentage is removed from the feed under specific conditions. cutter acid used to remove water from crude oil cutterhead the ring-shaped cutting section on the bottom of a core barrel. The cutterhead is usually diamond impregnated for uses in hard formations. (core head) cutters downhole fishing tools with knives that are rotated to cut stuck pipe in a well. The pipe left in the well is then retrieved by other fishing tools. Cutters can be either internal or external depending upon whether they are lowered on the inside or outside of the pipe. cutting in the winding of a wire rope on a drum into a space in the underlying layer of wire rope. Cutting in can cause wire-rope damage. cutting oil oil that is used to lubricate and cool metal cutting tools

cycle time cylinder block receiver closest to the transmitter but not on the fbrthest receiver. One or more wave cycles are skipped and this results in the recording of an erroneously high transit time or low velocity for the rock layer. cycle time 1) the time that it takes the drilling mud to make a complete round trip from mud tanks back to the mud tanks through the circulating system of a drilling mud. Cycle time is twice the lag time. (circulation time) 2) the time in a gas adsorption plant that it takes the sorbent to go from the adsorption tower through regeneration and back to the adsorption tower. cyclical marketing or make-up a condition in which no gas is taken from a gas well during months with a low gas price and the imbalance is made up during peak price months cyclic carbon-dioxide stimulation a type of wellstimulation process used to produce heavy oil. A well is repeatedly put through three stages: injection, soak, and production. During the injection stage, carbon dioxide is injected down the well and into the reservoir for a period of hours or days. During the soak period which lasts for days to weeks, the well is shut in. The carbon dioxide dissolves in the oil, causing the oil to swell and become less viscous. During the production phase which lasts from weeks to months, the fluid, heavy oil, is produced by solution gas drive. The efficiency of this process decreases with each cycle. cyclic producer a pumping well that goes through repeated cycles of rod loading and then production. A cyclic producer can be the result of gas interference or too large a pump displacement. cyclic steam stimulation a type of well-stimulation process used on heavy oil reservoirs. A well is repeatedly put through three stages: injection, soak, and production. During the injection or huff stage, steam is injected down the well and into the subsurface reservoir for a period of time that ranges from days to weeks. During the soak period, the well is shut in for days to allow the heat to dissipate and to reduce the viscosity of the heavy oil. During the production or puff phase, which lasts for weeks to months, the fluid, heavy oil, is pumped. This is continued until it becomes uneconomical, (huff'n'puff or steam injection) cyclic water injection an improved oil recovery method used on fractured reservoirs. Water is first injected into the reservoir to fill the fracture network. During the production phase, oil is expelled from the matrix of the rock as the pressure on the water is reduced. The cycle is then repeated. The water injection is done only below bubblepoint pressure. cycling the process of removing condensate out of wet gas from a condensate gas reservoir and then compressing and injecting the residue gas back into the condensate gas reservoir. The injection of residue gas helps maintain reservoir pressure and prevents the condensate from separating (retrograde condensation) from the gas in the subsurface reservoir. cycling plant a surface installation that removes condensate from wet gas by compression and cooling or absorption with lean oil. The residue or dry gas is then injected back into the subsurface reservoir

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in a pressure maintenance program for the retrograde condensate reservoir. cyclone or cyclone cone a cone-shaped separator that contains a spinning fluid and uses centrifugal force to remove solids from the fluid. The fluid is pumped tangentially into the cone and spun. Centrifugal force separates the particles by weight. A vortex finder in the center of the cone can be used to remove gas. The desander and desilter on a drilling rig's circulating system are hydrocyclones. cyclonite a common explosive in shaped-charge form used for perforating. RDX

H-C C-H I I H H
cycloalkane or cycloparaffin (cyclobutane)

cycloalkanes or cycloparaffin series a series of saturated, closed-ring hydrocarbons with the formula CnH2n. An example is cyclobutane C4H8. (alicyclic or napthene series)
SILT SHALE MARINE ] LIMESTONE SHALE COAL SILT-SHALE NONMARINE SANDSTONE DELTA FRONT PRODELTA OFFSHORE NEARSHORE SWAMP LEVEE

cyclothem

cyclothem a vertical sequence of alternating marine and nonmarine sedimentary rocks. One cyclothem consists of one set of marine sedimentary rocks overlain by one set of nonmarine sedimentary rocks. CY/D cycles per day cyl cylinder cylinder the metal tube in which a) the fuel-air combustion takes place in an engine or where b) the piston moves in a pump, cyl cylinder block the cylinder housing on an engine or pump

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cylinder drilling czar cylindrical fold a fold in sedimentary rocks with the fold surface everywhere parallel to the fold hinge line CY/M cycles per minute cy/S cycles per second , , . , . czar the oil scout that is elected to be in charge of me s c o u t c h e c k s or meetings. The czar also assigns s c o u t s to ^eiT d i s t r i c t s to be COVered. (bull scout)

cylinder drilling the drilling of a well with the wellbore contained in the dimensions of predetermined cylinders from the surface down to total depth cylinder head the seal on the end of a cylinder in an engine or pump. The cylinder head often contains valves and outlets or inlets. cylinder liner a replaceable sleeve that fits in the cylinder of an engine or pump

D darcy

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D
D 1) depth 2) deliverability 3) diffusion coefficient 4) dimensionless 5) displacement 6) density log 7) distance 8) day 9) diameter 10) development 11) darcy 12) decline 13) deuterium 14) done d 1) depletion 2) diameter 3) dew point 4) dip 5) displaced 6) drainage 7) differential separation 8) decay 9) geophone spread 10) penetration exponent 11) day 12) annual production decline rate 13) deciDA daily allowable da deca dagger skirt a steel base with downward spikes on it that is used on the bottom of some gravity platforms to inhibit current scour around the base of the structure DA1B daily average injection barrels daily contract quantity the volume of natural gas per day that a purchaser is required to take from a gas reservoir as stated in a gas contract. A daily contract quality has a specific price for the gas that is related to the Btu content of the gas. (daily take or take) DCQ daily drilling report a report made by the tool pusher on a drilling rig each morning that summarizes the drilling results of the previous 24 hours running from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. The report is telephoned or radioed to the drilling contractor who then reports to the operator of the well. Daily drilling reports vary between contractors. A daily drilling report commonly includes total depth at report time, footage drilled in 24 hours, activities such as tripping and repairs, a time breakdown for each tour, mud measurements, daily and cumulative costs, and formations drilled. (morning report) daily mud check report a description of the physical and chemical characteristics of the drilling fluid during a period while drilling a well. The report is usually prepared daily by a mud engineer. The daily mud check report contains the well depth, bit size and number, pit volume, pump data, solids-control equipment, and drillstring data. The mud properties are listed with mud weight, pH, funnel viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point, gel strength, chloride content, calcium content, solids cement, cation exchange capacity, and fluid loss, (mud record or report) daily take see daily contract quantity Dalton's law of partial pressures see law of additive pressures damage clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that defines the payment that the lessee must pay to

lessor for any surface damage during drilling and production. The damage is usually limited to crop damage. damage factor a measure of the formation damage in a well. The damage factor is equal to 1 qlqp where q is the production rate at a fixed drawdown of the actual well and qt is the theoretical production rate at a fixed drawdown of the well with no formation damage. DF or D.F. damage payments compensation made by an operator to a surface rights owner for damages during drilling a well damage ratio 1) the theoretical flow capacity of a well divided by the indicated flow capacity. 2) the undamaged permeability of the reservoir divided by the actual permeability measured during a drillstem test. The damage ratio reflects skin damage in a well. DR damage release an agreement between the surface owner or tenant of land and an operator who is going to drill a well on that land. The surface owner or tenant receives a settlement in advance and releases the operator from any surface damage occurred during drilling the well. dampening bottle see pulsation damper dampening sub a short section of pipe used in the downhole assembly between the bit and drill collars to absorb loads and vibrations during drilling. The dampening sub uses steel wire woven into a mesh or washers to absorb shocks, (damping sub) damping the decrease in an oscillation or wave damping sub see dampening sub dance hall the flat bed of a semitrailer truck D&A dry and abandoned D&C drill and complete D&D Desk and Derrick club D&P platform drilling and production platform Danian a global age of geological time that occurred about 67-62 m. y. ago. It is the Lower Paleocene epoch. D-API Degrees American Petroleum Institute DAR discovery allowable requested darcy the unit of permeability measurement. A darcy is the rate of flow, measured in milliliters per second, of a fluid having one centipoise viscosity through a one square centimeter cross section of rock with a pressure gradient of one atmosphere per centimeter. The fluid flows through the rock in viscous or laminar flow. A millidarcy, a common permeability unit, is one1000th of a darcy and is abbreviated md. Reservoir rocks generally have permeabilities of 5-1,000 millidarcies with some gas production from reservoirs with as little as 0.1 millidarcies permeability. Quantitative permeability measurements are made on rocks with a permeameter. Darcy is named after HenriPhilibert-Gaspard Darcy (1803-1858), a French engineer. D

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Darcy's equation or law De day tour see daylight tour daywork, day work, or day-rate drilling contract a type of drilling contract in which the contractor is paid for the time the rig is drilling down to a specified depth or horizon. The operator directs all drilling activities and is responsible for the well. The crew and the drillpipe may or may not be supplied by the operator. Allowances are made in the contract for times when the rig is not drilling such as during logging, coring, casing and cementing operations. A daywork drilling contract is preferred by contractors in areas where subsurface conditions such as abnormal high pressures can extend the drilling operations, during times when rigs are in short supply, and with offshore rigs. A modified day-rate contract is based on a basic day rate plus a footage-rate profit margin for incentive. An offshore day rate can include a) an operating and moving rate, b) a stand-by rate, c) a repair rate, and d) a force majeure rate. The standby rate can be changed due to weather, lack of supplies or personnel, lack of license, or lack of completion equipment. The repair rate covers unscheduled shut downs except those for routine maintenance, (day rate or rig-time work) DB 1) drilling break 2) cement dump-bailer service 3) drilling barge 4) derrick barge 5) damaged bit Db diabase Db, dB, or db decibel D.B. crew doodle bug crew DBIT diamond bit DBO dark brown oil DBOS dark brown oil stain DBS deconvolution before stack DC 1) drill collar 2) direct current 3) dual completion 4) diamond core 5) depth correction dc corrected d exponent DCB diamond core bit D.C.D.MA. Diamond Core Drill Manufactureres Association DCF discounted cash flow DCFR discounted cash flow rate DCOR diamond core DCFROR discounted cash flow rate of return DCLSP digging cellar and slush pits DCM distillate-cut mud do, normal corrected d exponent DCQ daily contract quantity DCS drill collars DD 1) drilling deeper 2) drill 3) drilled 4) drilling 5) depth determination dd dead D.D. drilling deeper DD&A deepened and abandoned DD&C deepened and completed DDC 1) direct digital control 2) deck decompression chamber DDL direct digital logging De effective decline rate

Darcy's equation or law a formula that describes the flow of subsurface fluids and has a rate of flow proportional to the hydraulic gradient. Darcy's law (Henri Darcy, 1856) states that Q = K x / x A. Q is the quantity of water or any fluid (cubic feet per day) moving in laminar flow in a unit of time through a unit cross-sectional area that is A (square feet). K (feet per day) is the hydraulic conductivity, a measure of permeability. / is the hydraulic gradient (loss of head per foot of flow distance). In the metric system, Darcy's law is expressed as q = ((k x A)/\x.) x (dp/dx), where q is the volume per unit time, k is permeability in darcies, A is the cross-sectional area in square centimeters, \i is the fluid viscosity in centipoises, and dpldx is the hydraulic gradient in atmospheres per centimeter. Darcy-Weisbach formual a formula used to determine the loss of head in flowing water. The headloss is equal to a coefficient that depends on Reynolds number and the conduit surface roughness times the length of the conduit divided by the diameter of the conduit times the velocity head of the flowing water. dart 1) a protrusion on the bottom of a dart or dartbottom bailer. When the bailer touches the bottom of a well, the dart lifts a ball valve to allow fluids and well cuttings into the bailer. The valve closes when the bailer is raised. 2) A pump down version of an internal preventer. It operates in a landing sub in the drill collars and is used when stripping under pressure. dart or dart-bottom bailer a bailer that has a check or dart valve on the bottom. A dart bailer is run on a sand or bailer line to remove fluids and cuttings from a well. DAS deconvolution after stack dat datum data acquisition the method used in seismic exploration to emit a seismic pulse and to detect and record the seismic signals in the field data base a relatively complete collection of data data brokerage or exchange see geophysical library datum a reference surface to which measurements such as elevations are referred. For elevations, the datum is commonly sea level and is given in feet above or below sea level. On seismic, it is the surface from which seismic reflection times or depths are counted after corrections have been made for weathering and local topography, dat or DM datumization the flattening of a seismic reflection by the introduction of an arbitrary time shift datum pressure bottomhole pressure corrected to sea level or a specific subsea level day a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for time. One day is equal to 86,400 seconds, d daylights or daylight tour the shift for a crew on a drilling rig from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The daylights tour is between the morning and evening tours, (day tour) day rate see day work drilling contract

de de 1) electrode diameter 2) equivalent diameter DEA diethanolamine dead not connected dd dead carbon kerogen that has no potential to generate petroleum. Dead kerogen is Type IV kerogen. dead center the location of the piston on a singlecylinder engine at the end of the stroke. The center of the crank is on the center line of the cylinder and the engine cannot start automatically, it has to be moved off center. dead end 1) the attached end of the drilling line 2) the closed end of a pipe dead fluid fluid that contains no free gas dead-in-a-hurry someone who transports nitroglycerin dead line or deadline 1) the fixed end of the drilling line on a drilling rig that is attached to the deadline anchor. The deadline is not reeled on the hoisting drum in the drawworks. The opposite end is attached to the drum in the drawworks and is called the fast line. DL 2) The bottom of the oil window where crude oil is generated dead-line or deadline anchor the sheave or rotatable drum on a base that is attached to the rig floor or substructure on a drilling rig through which the dead line end of the drilling line passes deadline diaphragm a diaphragm that is attached to the deadline on a drilling rig to measure the weight on the hook dead-load capacity the maximum vertical weight that a derrick can support without collapsing dead man an old term for a duster or dry hole deadman a buried anchor that is used to attach a guy wire for bracing a mast, derrick or other type of tower. Deadmen are made of a short length of largediameter pipe, a concrete block, or a short section of timber. deadman control a type of control that stops the machinery if the operator becomes incapacitated dead oil 1) viscous oil that has no or little dissolved gas, will not flow through the rock, and cannot be recovered 2) residual oil after differential liberation of gas at reservoir temperature measured at 60F and 14.7 psia. DOIl dead sheave the wheel in the crown block through which the deadline is run dead time the length of time in microseconds that a radioactive logging system takes to recover from counting an event dead trace a seismic trace in which there is no variation possibly because of a disconnected connection dead weight tester an instrument used to measure surface shut-in pressure of a gas well. The pressure on the fluid is balanced by adding weights onto a piston. dead well 1) an oil well in which the oil needs a pump to flow to the surface 2) a well, either gas or oil, that has temporarily or permanently ceased to produce 3) a well that has been killed and is under control after a kick or blowout

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dead wood any internal fixtures such as pipe and valves that reduce the volume of an oil storage tank dead wraps the first few winds of wire rope around a drum. The dead wraps are never played off the drum Dean-Stark apparatus a device that uses refluxing solvents to remove water and oil from cores deasphalting 1) a natural process in a subsurface oil reservoir caused by wet gas or retrograde gas from outside the reservoir migrating through the reservoir, or by an increase in temperature causing an enrichment of the light ends of crude oil. The complex asphaltene molecules become less soluble in the crude oil and precipitated as a solid bitumen. The carbonaceous residue can be seen as a black precipitate on sediment grains in the reservoir rock that can plug the reservoir and as a tar mat at the oil/water contact, (natural deasphalting) 2) A refinery process in which asphaltic residuum is treated with liquid propane to remove the resins and asphaltenes. Normal pentane is then used to dissolve the resins and precipitate the asphaltenes. Deasphalting can also occur in a gas lift well. DEA unit a treating facility that uses diethanolamine to remove acid gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from a production stream Deb debris debris apron a broad alluvial slope deposited on an inland basin at he base of mountains bajada debris flow a mass movement or landslide that moves rapidly and contains a variety of particles, 20% of which are greater than sand-size, along with considerable water. A debris flow is similar to a mud or earth flow but contains coarser particles. debug to search for and correct malfunctions in a computer program or an instrument debutanizer the distillation column in a gas processing plant where butane is separated from natural gas or natural gas liquids deca the metric prefix for 101. da decanewtons the System International (SI) unit used for weight on bit. The conventional unit is pounds and can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 0.445. daN decanter or decanting centrifuge a centrifuge in the shape of a conical steel bowl with a double-screw conveyor rotating in it in the same direction but at a slower speed. The decanting centrifuge is used to remove heavy solids such as weighting material or barite from lighter components in water-base drilling mud. There is a mud inlet into the conveyor, and the slurry is thrown against the walls of the bowl by centrifugal force. Particles settle on the walls where the conveyor scrapes the settled solids toward the narrow end of the bowl where the discharge is located. The liquid flows out ports on the larger end. (mud decanter) decentralize to position a tool or tubular against the side of a wellbore. Decentralize is usually done with an arm or bow spring. decentralizer a decentralizing extension such as a bow spring that pushes a sonde or tool against the wellbore wall (eccentering arm)

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dec! deep gas equations are often used to mathematically express the decline curve. declining balance an accounting method used to calculate an accelerated depreciation on equipment decollement a structure composed of strata that have detached from the rocks below it. Decollement is often associated with folding and overthrusting. decon deconvolution decontaminant a cement additive that counteracts a contaminant deconvolution a process that undoes the effect of waves passing through a filter. In seismic exploration, deconvolution removes the changes in the wave form or seismic energy made by the passage of the seismic wave through the subsurface rocks. Deconvolution recompresses the seismic impulse and results in clearer reflections and suppression of multiples. (wavelet processing) decon DECR, Deer, or deer 1) decrease 2) decreasing 3) decreased decreased spacing a reduction in the size of drilling and spacing units in an area by a government regulatory agency. Eighty-acre spacing could be decreased to 40-acre spacing. Decrease spacing requires a producing well on each decreased drilling and spacing unit to hold the lease in contrast to increased density. DeDet depth determination dedicated gas production from a unit, lease, or field that is committed by gas contract to be sold to a specific purchaser at a fixed or determinable price. The purchaser has the right to all the gas production from that defined area. dedication the formal conveyance of private land for public use dedication of reserves the commitment, usually by gas purchase contract, of all gas produced from a unit, lease, or field to a specific pipeline company. This assures the pipeline company of an adequate supply of natural gas. dedolomitization the process of recrystallizing dolomite [CaMg(CO2)] into calcite (CaCO3). Dedolomitization is seen in calcite beds and calcite cemented sandstones as large, calcite rhombs. deed a written instrument that conveys the title to land. A warranty deed contains a guarantee of title, whereas a royalty deed transfers an interest in production. deep as hell an ambiguous answer to how deep a well is deepen an operation on a well to drill below the deepest zone that the well previously penetrated or the deepest zone on the well's authority for expenditure deeper drilling dry-hole costs the cost of drilling a dry hole below the deepest proven producing zone in a well deeper-pool test an exploratory well that attempts to discover a deeper reservoir that has never been tested in a producing field deep gas deep gas is defined by the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 as natural gas produced from

deci the metric prefix for 10 1 d decibel a unit of power of intensity ratio. A decibel is used to measure sound intensity, loudness, or pressure level. For sound, it is a unit of measurement of the volume of sound equal to the logarithm of the ratio of the intensity of the sound compared to the intensity of an arbitrarily chosen standard. A pressure of 0.0002 microbar is zero decibels soundlevel, the threshold of hearing, db, Db, or dB decision tree a graphical presentation of a sequence of events and their possible outcome. Branches on the tree occur when there are alternative courses of action. Decision nodes occur where a decision has to be made and there will be several consequences of that decision. A chance node is a point where chance will determine the outcome. The decision tree ends in several terminal points which are the final outcomes. The decision tree is used in an economic analysis of drilling. deck 1) the flat working area on an offshore platform or ship 2) the screen surface on the basket of a shale shaker. A shale shaker can have either a single or double deck. deck barge a wide barge that is used to transport jackets and modules offshore, (flotation or tow barge) declared unit a unit formed by a lease under a lease pooling clause declination the angle between geographic north and magnetic north. For any position on earth, the declination will change with time as the magnetic north and south poles move. decline analysis or decline-curve method a method used to determine the remaining production, future production rates, and time of economic limit of a producing oil well. A decline curve (a plot of oil production rate versus time) of previous production (barrels per day) is extrapolated into the future. This is done by fitting a smooth curve to the decline curve, either graphically or with a mathematical formula. A semilogarithmic chart is often used to make the decline curve approximate a straight line.

ECONOMIC LIMIT

TIME
decline curve

decline curve a plot of rate of oil or gas production against time. A decline curve can be for either a single well or an entire field. The curve tends to smoothly decline with the highest production rate at first and the lowest production rate later when the wells become stripper wells. Exponential (constant percentage decline), hyperbolic, and harmonic curve

deep investigation degree reservoirs below 15,000 ft depth. The price of deep gas was deregulated. deep investigation the sensing of a well-logging sonde beyond the invaded zone near the well bore deep propagation tool a down hole instrument that radiates electromagnetic energy and uses four receivers to measure the altenuation and velocity of the energy. The tool measures resistivity and the dielectric constant of formations and fluids. DPT Deerparkian a North American age of geological time that occurred about 400-395 m. y. ago. It is part of the Devonian period. deetfaanizer the distillation column in a gas processing plant where ethane is separated from natural gas or natural gas liquids. It is separated from the natural gas liquids to stabilize the liquid petroleum gas. The ethane is returned to the gas stream. default the failure to comply with any provision in a legally binding contract default clause an oil and gas lease provision that states if the lessee violates the terms of the lease and does not remedy the violation after a certain number of days after written notice by the lessor, the lessor can terminate the lease deferred bonus payments made to the lessor by the lessee for a lease. The payments are spread over a number of years, unlike the more common bonus which is a lump sum paid on execution of the lease. deferred-bonus bidding a type of lease bidding, usually offshore, in which the operator pays the bonus in installments and can terminate his rights and stop bonus payments at any time deferred-payment open-end sale a type of operating properties sale in which the seller reserves a production payment which ends when either a) the buyer's production reaches a specified amount or b) the reserves of the property are proven to equal a specified amount. This protects the buyer of the properties if the reserves turn out to be less than originally estimated. deferred-production agreement a type of gas agreement between owners that are entitled to take payment of gas in kind. One owner takes the gas as produced and the other owner postpones his right to the gas production. deferred-production payment a type of production payment that does not start until the operator has received a specific amount of production deferred working interest farmout a type of farmout in which the farmee pays a share, usually all, of the cost of a well(s) on a property which is disproportionately greater than the farmee's working interest. The farmee has the right to have a similar disproportionate share, usually all, of the operating rights in the well(s) until payout. The farmer has a deferred working interest and does not receive production revenue until the farmee has reached payout. In this manner, the farmee is able to deduct all his IDCs. deficiency gas the difference in the amount of gas for which purchaser is obligated in a take-or-pay contract and the amount of gas that is actually taken

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deficiency payment a payment made by an interstate gas pipeline company to a gas producer for gas that was not taken under a take-or-pay contract deficient well a well that cannot produce its allowable definite escalation clause a provision in a gas contract that sets the specific price for the gas but provides for specific increases in the initial price at specific dates or after any specific changes, such as in production or taxes, that might affect the seller deflected hole a well that is intentionally deviated from its normal course. A deflected hole is more commonly called a deviated or directional well. deflecting sub or substitute a short section of pipe with an angle in it that is used to kick off a deviated well, (offset sub) deflection 1) the angle between a crooked or deviated hole and vertical DFLN (angle of deviation, deflection, drift, drift angle, hole deviation, or inclination) 2) the excursion of a curve on a well log 3) a change in the angle of a wellbore deflocculation the use of a thinner or agitation to break up floccules or lightly-bounded groups of finegrained particles called floes in a gel defoamer or defoaming agent a substance that reduces surface tension to reduce or eliminate foam. Defoamers are surface-active agents such as aluminum stearate, octyl alcohol, tributylophosphate, pine oil, and organic silicones. defoaming plate a series of inclined, parallel plates or tubes located in a separator that are used to coalesce foam bubbles DEG diethylene glycol deg degree degasser equipment that is pan of the circulating system on a drilling rig. The degasser is located on or near the mud tanks and is designed to remove any natural gas from the drilling mud when it returns from the well. The gas bubbles are removed by either a) spraying the mud against a baffle, b) flowing the mud in a thin layer over a wide sheet, or c) flowing through a vacuum cylinder. One type, a mud-gas separator, is designed to handle high pressure gas. The other type, a vacuum degasser, is designed to handle low-pressure gas that occurs as foam in the mud. It is usually horizontal, skid-mounted, three feet in diameter and 10 ft long. If the gas is not removed, the mud is less dense and viscous and cannot serve its purpose when recirculated down the well. The separated gas is then flared. degassing the removal of natural gas from drilling mud on a rig. Equipment called degassers on a rig are designed to remove the gas. degaussing demagnetization DEG-C Degrees centigrade or Celsius DEG-F Degrees Fahrenheit DEG-K Degrees Kelvin DEG-R Degrees Rankin degree a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for plane angle. One degree is equal
to TT/180 radians.

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"API or degrees API gravity delta money (delay rental) to the lessor by the lessee at certain times in order to maintain a lease during its primary term if either production or drilling, depending on the lease terms, has not commenced. (drilling development or drilling and rental clause) delimit to fix a boundary of an oil field by drilling delineation well a general term for any well drilled to the side of a discovery well to determine the probable aerial extent of the reservoir on the location of the oil/water contact. More precise terms are extension test, outpost well, and step-out well. deliquescence the liquefactor of a solid, such as calcuim chloride, due to adsorption of water from air deliverability the flow rate of a gas well against a specific pressure that is usually a working pressure at the wellhead after a specific time has elapsed since shut-in, delv or D deliverability against pipeline pressure the amount of natural gas that a well can produce and deliver to a pipeline with a specific pressure (pipeline pressure) on the gas already in the pipeline deliverability plot a graph of flowing bottomhole pressure versus production from a well deliverability standard pressure the pressure that is used in determining the amount of natural gas (deliverability) that a gas well can produce delivery the actual volume of a fluid passed through a meter during meter proving delivery in kind the acceptance by an owner of an interest in a portion of the oil and/or gas produced from a well in lieu of monetary payment for his interest delivery pressure the pressure, stated in a gas purchase contract, at which natural gas from a well is to be delivered to a pipeline delv deliverability A 1) impulse 2) skin depth 3) loss tangent 4) displacement ratio 5) difference 8 1) skin depth 2) hole deviation 3) acoustic attenuation 4) delta value
RIVER CHANNEL

"API or degrees API gravity a scale reflecting the density of a fluid such as crude oil, water, or natural gas. It is computed by dividing the specific gravity of the fluid at 60F into 141.5 and subtracting 131.5.
Fresh water has 10API. (API gravity, DAPI, or gravity) grAPI "API gravity see "API

C 1) degree Celsius 2) degree centigrade "Celsius a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for temperature. It was originally the centigrade scale. One degree Celsius is equal to 1 Kelvin. C F degrees Fahrenheit degrees of freedom the smallest number of variables such as temperature, pressure, and concentration that is needed to determine the remaining variables in the system and the phases such as gas, liquid, or solid that are present. The phase rule states the F = (C P) +2 where C is the numer of components and P is the number of phases. F dehydration the removal of water. Natural gas is dehydrated to pipeline or sales-quality specifications by a) a liquid desiccant such as glycol, b) solid desiccants such as silica gel, alumina, and molecular sieves, c) expansion refrigeration, and d) calcium chloride. The most common dehydration method uses triethylene glycol (TEG) in an absorber. Expansion refrigeration uses a low-temperature separation unit and is commonly used to also remove liquid hydrocarbons. Pipeline or sales-quality gas contains less than 7 lb/MMscf of water and can contain a maximum of 3-5 lb/MMscf of water for cold climates. Adsorption is used for the greatest dew point depression. It can reduce the water content to less than V2 lb/MMscf, which depresses the dew point to -40F. dehydration plant equipment at the wellsite(s) that often commingles gas streams from several wells to separate water from the gas to prevent hydrate formation. The plant is often either an absorber that uses a liquid dessicant such as triethylene glycol (TEG) or a solid dessicant such as activated alumina (bauxite) or silica gel for the separation, (dehydrator) dehydration tank see settling tank dehydrator see dehydration plant dekatherm a unit of thermal energy equal to 105 Btu delay panel an electric memorizer that stores signals from a sonde to coordinate all signals with the depth reference of the sonde / delay rental a payment made to the mineral rights owner (lessor) by the lessee in order to maintain a lease during its primary term if drilling or production, depending on which is required in the terms of the lease, has not been initiated during the period specified in the lease. It is a percentage of the bonus and can be as high as the bonus in some areas such as Louisiana. The delay rental is usually paid annually, but delay rentals can be semiannual or quarterly in the Midwest, (annual acreage rental or carrying rental) delay rental clause an oil and gas lease provision that provides for the payment of a specific sum of

o c e A N

delta

delta sediments deposited by a river emptying into a body of water such as a lake or ocean. Deltaic sediments are often very thick and can include sediment sizes from coarse sands to clays. Deltas are often described by their aerial geometry (arcuate, cuspate, lobate, or birdfoot), balance of river deposition and wave erosion (constructive or

8a

8^

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ARCUATE

delta forms

delta plain the environment on a river delta that occurs between the alluvial valley and the limit of low tide. The delta plain is the area where the distributary channels spread out and sediments are deposited from periodic flooding by the river and from high tides. The upper deltaic plain is the older part of the delta and occurs furthest inland. It is above tidal and marine influences and contains migratory channel, lacustrine delta-fill, and flood plain deposits. The lower deltaic plain occurs between high and low tide. It contains bay fill and distributary channel deposits. Ap density difference Apj density correction A^ radius of invaded zone

destructive), or dominate process (river-dominated, wave-dominated, or tide-dominated). The bedding in deltas can be described as topset, foreset, and bottomset beds. Depending on the type of delta, various sand bodies such as distributary channel, bar finger, beach, and delta fringe sands can be petroleum reservoirs in ancient deltas. Deltas formed in tidal inlets are described as flood and ebb deltas. A a Accuracy of azimuth angle A C 1) carbon isotope ratio 2) delta carbonate A carbonate a method of geochemical prospecting for petroleum. Surface soil samples are analyzed for carbonates derived from hydrocarbons that have seeped from subsurface reservoirs. A surface halo of delta carbonates (A C) can occur over subsurface reservoirs. AC A C halo an anomalously high concentration of carbonates derived from hydrocarbons in the surface soil over a subsurface petroleum reservoir. The anomaly occurs in the shape of an ellipse or halo. AD density-log porosity correction

delta switching

delta fringe sands

delta fringe sands a fan-shaped deposit of shallowwater sands created by wave reworking of distributary mouth bar sands in front of a delta Ah depth variation Ai accuracy of slant angle deltaic related to a river delta AP differential pressure Apf frictional pressure drop AN neutron-log porosity correction

delta switching a process in which a river periodcially abandons an old delta and deposits a new delta on a shorter route to the ocean along a shoreline. The abandoned delta is eroded by waves, and the new delta progrades out into the ocean. AT the difference in time between two time values that were observed or interpolated from observed or calculated values on a seismic reflection or refraction stepout times At 1) time increment 2) acoustic traveltime in a formation 3) residence time A t 1) sound velocity (usually the compressional wave) measured in jtsec/ft through a rock layer or formation by a sonic, continuous velocity or boreholecompensated log or Acoustilipg log; the official symbol is t. (interval transit time) DT 2) the difference, in time between the arrival times at different geophone groups in seismic exploration 3) the time difference between opposite ends of a single-ended geophone spread or geophone groups at maximum offset on opposite sides of a symmetrical spread after correction for normal moveout (dip moveout) in seismic exploration. It is due to the dip of the rocks in the geological section. At,, acoustic traveltime in coal Atj- acoustic traveltime in fluid At],,, acoustic traveltime in limestone At,,,;, acoustic traveltime in rock matrix or (At.^),, apparent matrix transit time acoustic traveltime in mud filtrate At,!, acoustic traveltime in shale acoustic traveltime in sandstone acoustic traveltime in water

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delta value depletion gas expansion drive effects. The density log is used for a) porosity determination, b) gas effect, c) hydrocarbon density, d) detection of overpressured zones, e) lithology identification, and f) bit selection, (formation density, gamma-gamma, or nuclear interface log)D, DL, Den, DENL, or DIL density order a regulatory commission ruling on well locations dentist a cement man dep depreciation deparaffin To remove wax from wells or flowlines. The wax is removed by heat, chemicals, scrapers, or bacteria. departmental lease an oil and gas lease on federal lands that was noncompetitive or issued without bidding departure the compass direction of a directional survey location in a well from the wellhead location (departure direction) departure curves a set of curves that permits apparent resistivities from normal and lateral logs to be corrected for borehole, invaded zone, and bed thickness effects departure direction see departure depl depletion deplete to exhaust or use up depleted field, reservoir, or formation a field, reservoir, or formation that has produced all of its recoverable oil and gas. The field can be depleted after primary production has occurred and the natural reservoir drive has been so diminished that the wells are at or below the economic limit. Economics might not justify waterflood or enhanced oil recovery. The field can also be depleted after a waterflood or enhanced oil production becomes economically unjustified. depletion 1) the reduaion in reserves by the removal of petroleum from a reservoir 2) the removal and sale of petroleum from a reservoir 3) the reduaion in value of a field or lease by the production of gas and oil 4) the time in the life of a well when hydrocarbons can no longer be produced with a profit 5) an accounting method in which a reduction in income is made for tax purposes that reflects the removal of a mineral deposit that cannot be replaced such as produaion of oil and gas. Depletion can be either a) cost or b) percentage. Cost depletion amoritizes the depletable basis in the property over the life of the produaion. Percentage depletion is based on a statutory percentage of gross income on production for a year, depl or d depletion allowance percentage of oil and gas monies that are tax exempt depletion decline the natural decline in produaion of a well that occurs after the drainage has reached the outer boundaries of the well's drainage in a constant volume reservoir depletion drive see dissolved gas expansion drive depletion-drive pool see dissolved gas-expansion pool depletion gas expansion drive see solution-gas expansion drive

delta value the deviation of an isotope ratio from the standard value demister a wire mesh pad that is used in a separator to trap and coalesce liquid droplets out of gas demonstrated reserves both measured and indicated reserves demulsiner a chemical, usually a surface active agent, that is used to break up emulsions. A demulsiner is used to reduce the surface tension of oil to break up oil and water emulsions. A demulsifier is used as a chemical additive in drilling mud to separate oil and water. The relative amounts of oil and water are important in selecting a demulsifier. demulsify to break an emulsion into its components demultiplexing a process in seismic exploration that separates the individual seismic channels from the field tape and reassembles the seismic data that correspond to each detector onto an edit tape Den density log dend dendrite dendritic drainage a stream drainage pattern which is characterized by numerous, irregular branches of tributary streams with no preference to direction or orientation. Dendritic drainage develops on rocks of uniform, erosional resistance with no structure. Dendritic drainage is the most common drainage pattern. Den-G density, gamma ray log DENL density log dense limestone limestone with little or no permeability, ds Is Densilog a density log densimeter or densitometer a through-tubing production logging device that measures the resonate frequency of a hollow cylinder with radial blades as fluid flows through it to measure the density of the fluids. A densimeter is used to differentiate gas from oil and water flow in a well. The densimeter is calibrated against air and water. density mass per unit volume. The bulk density of rock includes the density of the rock and the fluids in the pores of the rock. Matrix density is the density of only the rock. Liquid density is often expressed in lbs/gal, lbs/bbl, or g/cc. Gas density is often expressed in lbs/ft3. Density is often used interchangably with specific gravity. density current a gravity flow down a slope by a denser fluid in a lighter fluid. A turbidity current is a density current. density log a radioactive type of wireline well log that measures the density of subsurface formations in gm/cc. A density log uses a pad-type sonde with a spring-loaded back-up arm that also provides a caliper measurement. By bombarding the subsurface rocks with gamma rays and counting the backscattered gamma rays, the density of the subsurface rock layers can be computed. From the density of the rock, the porosity of the rock can be calculated. The compensated density log has a secondary detector on the sonde that responds more to the mudcake and borehole irregularities and is used to correct or compensate the main detector for these undesired

depletion rate depth yardstick depletion rate the production rate from a field, reservoir, or well that will exhaust or deplete the reserves within a specific period of time depletory covenant the obligation of the lessee of adjacent lands not to drain the oil from under the lessor's lands by wells on the adjacent lands depocenter an area of thick sediment deposition depolarize the removal of a polarizing corrosion agent deposit a natural accumulation of oil and/or gas or any other commercial substance depositional environment the physical environment in which sediments were deposited. Examples include a high-energy river channel or eolian sand dune in the desert. depositional regression a retreat of the seas from the land (regression) caused by the deposition of sediments along the shoreline. A constructive delta causes a depositional regression. depositional-shoreline break a line on a shelf of a basin that is defined in seismic or sequence stratigraphy as having the depositional surface located landward of the break at base level (sea level) and seaward of the break at below base level. depositional system a three-dimensional assemblage of lithofacies in seismic or sequence stratigraphy that are genetically linked by processes and environments depositional trap an oil and gas trap formed by the deposition of the reservoir rock such as a limestone reef or river channel sandstone. A depositional trap is a type of stratigraphic trap. depository bank the institution to which delay rental payments must be made for the lessor of a lease depr depreciation depreciation the annual deduction from income in recognition for the loss of the value of equipment due to age. The accounting methods used can be either a) straight line or b) accelerated, depr or dep deprop depropanizer depropanizer the distillation column in a gas processing plant where propane is separated from natural gas or natural gas liquids, deprop depth the distance from the top to the bottom of a well. The top of a well is measured from the kelly bushing (KB), rotary table (RT), or ground level (GL). Total measured, logged, and driller's depth are measured along the course of the wellbore, which may not be vertical. True vertical depth is measured vertically to the bottom of the well and is usually shorter than total depth, dpt, D, Z, or z depth-bracket allowable an allowable, the amount of gas and/or oil that is permitted to be produced by a government regulatory agency, that is based on the depth of the well. Depth-bracket allowable is based on a depth yardstick. depth-bracket method of proration a method of limiting oil and gas production by assigning a specific amount of production to all wells of a specific depth range depth column see depth track

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depth controller a 2-ft torpedo with two fins that is used on a hydrophone steamer to regulate the depth of the streamer. The fins are angled to keep the steamer at the desired depth. The two halves of the torpedo are hinged and clamp around the streamer. Four depth controllers are used on each streamer. depth-control log a gamma ray or neutron log run in a cased hole for correlation with an openhole log in the well for completion operations depth datum the kelly bushing (KB), drilling floor (DF), or ground level (GL) that is used for zero depth in well logging depth earned seefarmout depth depth in the depth of a well when a new bit is run in the well depth of invasion the radius measured from the wellbore to the point which the mud filtrate penentrated back into a formation, (diameter of invasion) depth of investigation 1) the maximum subsurface depth to which a surface exploration tool such as seismic can reach and define features 2) the radius around the wellbore in which a logging sonde is influenced by the rocks and their fluids. It is measured from the measure point on the tool to the point in the formation where the tool response is centered. The depth of investigation is described as shallow, medium, or deep. The depth of investigation of a normal device is about twice the A to M electrode spacing. depthometer an instrument that consists of a counter on a calibrated wheel used to measures the length of wireline as it is run in or pulled out of a well depth out the depth of a well when an old bit is pulled out of the well depth point in reflection seismic exploration, depth point is a) the point of reflection for seismic energy, or b) the point midway between the shotpoint and geophone, assuming a horizontal reflector. In refraction seismic exploration, depth point is the point for which the depth of a horizon has been calculated. depth rating the maximum depth that a drilling rig is safety designed to drill using standard equipment and tools. The size, weight and amount of equipment increases with the depth rating of the rig. (rating) depth track a vertical column down a well log with recordings of depth (below kelly bushing, rotary table, or ground level) in hundreds of feet. A detail log has a scale of 5 in./100 ft, whereas a correlation log has a scale of 1 or 2 in./lOO ft. Track 1 is located to the left and Track 2 to the right, (depth column) depth yardstick reservoir depths that are used by a government regulatory agency to set allowables, the amount of petroleum that is permitted to be produced from a well, leasehold, or field per unit time. The depth yardstick increases with depth of reservoir and increased well spacing. The Texas Railroad Commission has a depth yardstick allowable of 102 BOPD for a well on a 40-ac spacing production from a reservoir between 5,000 and 6,000 ft depth. The depth yardstick increases to 230 BOPD for a well on 40 ac spacing producing from a reservoir between

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deranged drainage derrick man or derrickman derrick a vertical tower made of special structural steel on a drilling rig. A derrick consists of a) a gin pole, b) crow's nest, c) water table, d) monkey or racking board, e) legs, girts, brackets, and ladder. There are nine API sizes of conventional derricks that range from 80 to 189 ft high and have capacities from 86,000 to 1,392,000 lbs. A derrick usually has four legs located at the corners of the derrick floor. The horizontal structural members that support the legs are called girts with braces connecting the girts. The derrick is used to suspend the drillstring in the well and is part of the hoisting system that raises and lowers equipment in the well. The crown block is located at the top of the derrick. The substruaure or derrick floor is used to mount equipment such as the rotary table and drawworks. The derrick window, V-door or V-window is the open space in the derrick through which drillpipe and equipment are brought onto the drill floor. Derricks are rated for maximum pipe setback load and wind velocity, both with and without stands of pipe. The deeper the well, the larger and stronger the derrick must be. A typical offshore derrick is 150 ft high and 33 ft wide along the base. The API size number for derricks refers to the number of panels between the upper and lower girts. The API safe-load for a derrick is computed by multiplying the strength of the weakest point of a derrick leg and multiplying by four. The derrick is often called a standard derrick and must be assembled piece by piece at the drill site or on the offshore drilling platform in contrast to a unitized derrick or mast which is lowered and raised in one piece. DRRK, Drk., drk, or Dk. derrick apple a small object such as a nut or bolt that falls to the drill floor of a rig derrick barge a barge that has a heavy lifting-capacity crane on the stern. A derrick barge is used to lift modules onto offshore platforms, (crane barge) DB derrick climber a device that is used by a crew member to escape from the monkey or tubing board near the top of the derrick on a drilling or workover rig. The derrick climber consists of a wheel used to slide down a cable (Geronomi line) which is attached to the rod basket or tubing board and a stake or some other secure fastening on the ground, away from the rig. It is equipped with a brake and brake handle. (Geronimo or safety slide) derrick efficiency factor the actual derrick load divided by the maximum equivalent load on a derrick. The derrick efficiency factor is expressed as a percentage. derrick floor the elevated platform supported by the substructure on a drilling rig on which the derrick sits. The rotary table, drawworks, driller's console, and other equipment are located on the floor and the well is in the center. Drilling operations occur on the derrick floor. On an offshore drilling rig, the tools and drillstring are run into the ocean from the work area surrounding the opening, (drilling, drill, or rig floor) DF derrick height the length of a derrick leg measured from the derrick floor to the bottom of the water table beams derrick man or derrickman the senior rigman of the drilling crew who climbs the derrick to stand on the monkey or derrick board to latch and unlatch

WELL LOG

DEPTH TRACK

depth track

10,000 and 10,500 ft depth that was discovered before January 1, 1965; 192 BOPD for fields discovered after January 1, 1965; and 515 BOPD for offshore wells. deranged drainage a stream drainage pattern that is characterized by irregular streams flowing in and out of lakes with a few, short tributaries and extensive swampy areas. Deranged drainage forms on an recently exposed surface. deregulation clause a provision in a gas contract that outlines how the price of gas covered by the contract will be determined in the event that natural gas is deregulated

derrick

derrick monkey detail log elevators to stack drillpipe during trips. The derrick man mixes the drilling mud and can maintain the mud tanks. The derrick man also maintains the machinery and is second in charge of the crew on that tour, (tower hand or monkey) derrick monkey a derrick man derrick ladder a steel ladder that goes up a derrick from the drill floor to the crow's nest between two legs. The derrick ladder is used to give access to the racking board and the crown block through an opening in the platform on the crow's nest. derrick skinner a derrick man derrick window the space in the derrick through which drillpipe and equipment are brought onto the drill floor. Three types of derrick windows are a) V-window, b) drawworks window, and d) ladder window. des desiccation desalt desalting plant desalting a method of emulsion treatment in which low-salinity water is mixed with the emulsion to dilute the brine phase and lower the salt content of the crude oil desalting plant an installation that uses either chemical or electrostatics to remove salt from crude oil. desalt desand to remove API sand (particles greater than 74 |JL in size) desander a metal vortex cone on a drilling rig that centrifuges drilling mud to remove a high percent of API sand (particles greater than 74 \x. in diameter) after the drilling mud circulates back to the surface of a well and before it is returned to the mud tanks. The desander can be operated mechanically or by fluid flowing in a metal, cone-shaped device having no moving parts called a hydrocyclone. A vortex pipe extends from the top of the cone into the desander and causes a whirling motion in mud that is pumped tangentially into the desander. The heavier, coarse particles exit the bottom of the cone, and the mud with finer particles exits the top. A desander has a larger cone than a desilter. Sand in the drilling mud could cause excessive abrasion in the mud pumps. Desc, desc, or Descr description description the legal location of land covered by a lease. Desc, desc, or descr desiccant a drying or dehydrating medium such as triethylene glycol (TEG) or silica gel that is used to remove water desiccator a metal or glass container that is used to dry out a substance. The desiccator has a top and bottom section. The desiccant that absorbs or adsorbs moisture is placed in the bottom section, and the substance or sample is placed in the top section. design factor the ratio of the minimum load causing failure in a structure to the maximum permissible working load or the ultimate stress to the allowable stress. The design factor is usually expressed as a decimal. The design factor of wire rope is the nominal catalogue breaking strength of the wire rope divided by the calculated total static load on the wire rope. The design factor for casing is 1.25 for plain-end yield stress and 1.00 for internal-yield pressure, (safety factor)

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design life the maximum expected operational life of equipment design load the maximum force that a structure is engineered to withstand design pressure the maximum working pressure that equipment is designed to withstand design water depth the maximum water depth for the operation of a specific drilling rig desilter a metal, cone-shaped device that centrifuges the drilling mud in a manner similar to a desander to remove silt-sized and larger particles in the range of 2-74 \x in diameter. The desilter has a smaller cone than the desander and is used after the drilling mud flows through the desander and before it is returned to the mud tanks. It is a type of hydrocyclone. The desilter typically removes 50% of all 10 \L size particles. Des Moinesian a North American epoch of geological time that ended about 310 m. y. ago. It is part of the Pennsylvanian period. DESTRUCTIVE DELTA

BEACH destructive delta

destructive delta a river delta dominated by erosional marine forces such as waves. The delta protrudes little, if any, from the shoreline. Sandstone reservoirs can occur as beaches deposited in front of ancient destructive deltas. destructive testing a testing procedure that destroys the sample. The testing could be a tensile or compressive test or mass spectrometry. Destructive testing is in contrast to nondestructive testing. desulf desulfurizer desulfurization the removal of sulfur. Hydrogen sulfide is removed from sour gas with an amine solution or iron sponge. In a high temperature reservoir, the precipitation of reservoir bitumens by hydrogen sulfide causes desulfurization. desulf det 1) detector 2) detonator detached structure a structure in overlying rocks that does not involve the basement detachment fault a large, low-angle fault that is parallel to the bedding planes in sedimentary rocks. Thrust and growth faults often become detachment faults as they flatten out with depth, (sole fault) detailed study or survey a geological and geophysical investigation over a relatively small area of interest. A detailed study is in contrast to a reconnaissance study or survey. detail log a well log with depth scale of at least 5 in./lOO ft in contrast to a correlation log at 1 or 2 in.

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detail scale deviation drilling development well a well drilled into a producing reservoir that already is reasonably well delineated. The development well will have several producing wells on adjacent drilling and spacing units. Development wells are drilled to efficiently drain the reservoir and have very low risk. Drilling a development well results in either an oil or gas development well or a dry development well. (exploitation well) DEV development well success ratio the number of successful development wells divided by the total number of development wells drilled in that basin DEVI 1) deviate 2) deviated 3) deviation DEVIA deviation drilling deviated hole or well a well intentionally drilled at an angle from the vertical. The deviated well is initiated by a whipstock or a bent sub with a downhole, turbine or mud motor. Two types of deviated wells are a straight (continuous) and S-curve kick. The straight kick builds angle and then drills straight to the target. The S-curve kick builds angle, drills straight, and then drops angle and drills straight to the target. Deviated wells can also be classified as Types I, II, and III. Type I is deflected at shallow depth, and the inclination is constant until the target is reached. Type II is the S-shaped well. Type III is a well that is deflected at a deeper depth and then has a constant inclination. Wireline well logs are run with coiled tubing on a deviated well. Deviated well depths are reported as measured depth with vertical depth in parenthesis. A deviated hole is in contrast to a crooked hole that was unintentionally drilled, (directional hole or well) deviation 1) the amount in which a well has been drilled off vertical. Deviation is the minimum angle between a straight line through the wellbore and a true vertical line measured in degrees. The deviation can be described as abnormal, abrupt, drift-induced, and rotational. An example of deviation is 4N30E. DEVI or dev 2) the angle between a tool axis and vertical in a well 3) the difference between a predicted or expected value and the aaual value that is measured deviation bit a rotary drilling bit that is engineered to reduce the tendency to drill a crooked hole

/100 ft. A detail log is used to examine the subsurface formations in more detail than on a correlation log. detail scale a depth scale on a log of 5 in./100 ft detectability the smallest object that can be resolved on a remote sensing image. detector 1) a sensor such as a scintillation counter on a nuclear well logging tool 2) the part of a remote sensing system that converts electromagnetic radiation into a signal 3) a geophone used in seismic exploration, see geophone det detergent a drilling fluid additive that is used to reduce the surface tension of the drilling fluid, to increase the bit penetration rate, and to reduce balling the bit. A detergent is a surface-active agent. determinable fee a property interest that terminates at a specific event or nonevent detonator an electric blasting cap used for explosives DETR or detr detrital detrital particles that were formed by the weathering and erosion of preexisting rocks and were transported and deposited. A detrital mineral is formed from the mechanical weathering of rock. A detrital rock is composed of detrital mineral grains, (allogenic) DETR, detr, or dtr detrital grain allogenic grain detrital remanent magnetism the magnetic moment created by the alignment of ferromagnetic minerals, primarily magnetite, in a sedimentary rock. The mineral crystals aligned with the earth's magnetic field as they were settling out of water. Detrital remanent magnetism is in contrast to chemical and thermal remanent magnetism. DRM detritus particles of rock formed by mechanical weathering deuterium an isotope of hydrogen (2H) that is heavier than common hydrogen. D DEV development well Dev devonian dev deviation developed reserves the amount of oil and/or gas that can be recovered through existing wells development the methods used to drill and bring into production petroleum from a reservoir development clause 1) a provision in an oil and gas lease that allows for the payment of delay rentals to the lessor at certain times to maintain the primary term of the lease if drilling or production, depending on the terms of the lease, has not commenced, (delay rental clause) 2) a term in an agreement that specifies the exact number of developmental wells that are to be drilled development contract a federal contract for exploration on lands where development incentives have been granted and acreage restrictions have been relaxed as encouragement for exploration development costs the cost involved in bringing proven reserves to production. Development costs include the cost of drilling developmental wells plus the production equipment and its installation. development length the distance, measured in pipe diameters, that a single or multiphase fluid takes to reach equilibrium as it flows into and along a pipe

deviation drilling (straight and S-curve)

deviation drilling intentionally drilling a well at aa angle from the vertical. Well deviation can be initiated by the fulcrum, pendulum, packed-hole, and bottomhole assemblies. To build angle, a fulcrum assembly consists of a full-gauge, near-bit stabilizer with collars. To maintain the angle, a packed-hole assembly that is stiff and stabilized to full gauge can be used. To drop angle, the pendulum effect can be

deviation survey diabase employed with a stabilizer located several drill collars from the drill bit. Deviation drilling is often used in offshore wells, for sidetracking a well, for inaccessible sites, or for testing numerous potential zones. Deviation drilling is sometimes called controlled directional drilling, (directional drilling) DEVIA in liquid

133

8
600' 1/2
800' 1/2* O20< 2 1/4*

qns

400' 3/4c

1000' 3/4

TEMPERRTURE
dew point curve

deviation survey (multi-shot)

deviation survey a downhole survey that charts the inclination or inclination and azimuth of a well. A drift indicator measures only the hole inclination, whereas the other instruments measure both inclinaton and azimuth. The survey can be either magnetic or gyroscopic (used in a magnetic environment) and are single or multishot. Both the gyroscopic and magnetic multishot surveys are recorded on film. The single-shot measurement is made by running the tool inside the drillstem on a wireline. The multishot measurements are made with a logging tool either a) in a drill collar that has to be fished out, b) on a wireline, or c) dropped down the well. The depth determination in made by timing. One type of multishot measurement uses a stabilized gyroscope that transmits the information to the surface through an electric wireline. Deviation surveys can be run every 1,000 ft in formations that don't deflect the bit and as often as every 50 ft in areas of dipping hard rocks and faults: (directional survey or directional and directional drilling log) deviatoric stress the component of total stress that is greater than mean normal stress at a point devit devitrified DEVL 1) develop 2) developed 3) development Devonian a period of geological time about 405365 m. y. ago. The Devonian is known as the Age of Fish and Forests and is part of the Paleozoic Era. The Devonian is subdivided into Upper Devonian, Middle Devonian, and Lower Devonian global epochs. It contains the Ulsterian, Erian, Senecan, and Chautaquan North American epochs. Dev Devonian shale shale deposited during the Devonian period. Devonian shales in the Eastern United States are fractured and contain natural gas. Gas production from Devonian shales is given special tax consideration as unconventional gas. dew point the highest temperature at which water vapor in a gas will begin to condense. The dew point is used to indicate water vapor content of natural gas. DP or d dew point curve a line drawn along the dew point in a pressure or temperature versus concentration plot. It shows where dew first forms in a gas.

dew point tester an instrument that is used to measure the dew point and water content of gas. A refrigerant is used to cool the gas until liquid moisture is formed and observed. dewax dewaxing d exponent drilling exponent dextral rotation to the right or clockwise. A dextral strike slip fault is also known as a right lateral strike slip fault. Dextral is the opposite of sinistral. DF derrick floor DF or D.F. damage factor D.F. drilling floor d.f. diesel fuel DFE derrick floor elevation DFLD drilling fluid DFLN deflection DFN delayed fission neutron DFO datum faulted out. DFP date of first production DFREC drilling fluid recovery DFTS drilling fluid to surface DG 1) dry gas 2) developmental gas well DGAS dry gas DGM downhole gravitymeter Dgt Dip Rec digital dip-log recording service Dgt Tp Rec digital tape recording service dh downhole dj, diameter of hole DHC dry hole contribution DHDD dry hole drilled deeper DHL deviated hole logging DHM dry hole money DHR dry hole reentered DHWO dry hole workover DI dual induction log d, 1) diameter of invaded zone (inner boundary, flushed zone) 2) inside diameter of pipe Dia or dia diameter diabase an intrusive rock composed primarily of the minerals labradorite and pyroxene, (dolerite) Dd

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diachronous diastem shearing or milling of the formation. The diamond bit is operated at higher RPM than a roller-cone bit and costs about four times as much as an insert bit of the same size. Diamond bits are classified by the International Association of Drilling Contractors with a three-digit code preceded by D, such as D437. The code indicates intended formations to be drilled, shape, adaptations for special applications, and fluiddischarge design for coring bits. A diamond compact bit is a type of drag bit that uses a synthetic diamond matrix. DBIT diamond near bit stabilizer a sub that is run on the drillstring to maintain the proper position of the drillstring in the hole during drilling. The stabilizer has diamonds and hard metal on the portion that comes in contact with the rock walls of the wellbore. diamond-point bit a bit having one sharp point and tungsten carbide cutting edges that is run ahead of core bits to remove cuttings from the bottom of the well diamond steel-mill bit a bit with small diamonds on its surface that is used to cut a window in the casing for sidetracking a well

diachronous a rock unit such as a formation that was deposited at different times in different areas.
(time-transgressive)

diag diagram diagenesis the changes which occur in sediments at shallow depths under low temperatures and pressures. Diagenesis includes the processes which form sedimentary rocks from loose sediments and occur in sediments from the time they are buried until metamorphism (high temperatures and/or pressures). Diagenesis can include cementation, compaction, solution, and recrystallization. Biogenic gas forms during the diagenesis of sediments. Oil generation occurs at greater depths and higher temperatures through the process of catagenesis. Diagn or diagn diagenic dolomite dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] formed by the alteration of limestone soon after the limestone was buried in the subsurface diagenetic porosity see secondary porosity Diagn or diagn diagenesis diagonal offset a well or lease that is located immediately to the northwest, northeast, southeast, or southwest of a well or lease. One corner of each lease is shared. In contrast, direct offsets are located immediately to the north, east, south, or west, and one side of each lease is shared. DIAM or diam diameter diameter of invasion see depth of invasion diamond an extremely hard mineral composed of pure carbon with a specific gravity of 3-51-3.53

diamond washover shoe

diamond bit

diamond bit or diamond drill bit a type of drag bit that has no moving parts and uses a large number of small, natural, industrial grade diamonds arranged geometrically on a solid steel or tungsten carbide body to cut the well. There are about 150 types of diamond bits that are used for either drilling and coring. Diamond bits are most effective in hard formations such as dolomite due to their scrapping with some crushing action. A diamond bit typically lasts for 200-400/hrs of drilling, and the well cuttings are usually smaller than those made by a roller-cone bit. Diamond bits are made with a steel blank that is put in a mold containing tungsten covered diamonds plus a binder, and then fused. The diamond weights range from 2 to Vis carats and are typically 1 to Va carat. Larger diamonds are used for softer rocks and smaller diamonds for harder rocks. The diamonds are arranged in radial blades on a face of solid steel and tungsten-carbide casting to produce a continuous

diamond washover shoe a hollow tube with industrial diamonds on its cutting edge. The diamond washover shoe is designed to cut around a stuck tool to loosen it during fishing operations. diaphragm meter a type of positive-displacement meter that uses a diaphragm in a meter case to measure gas volume. The diaphragm is alternately filled and emptied to measure the gas. The diaphragm meter is used for low volumes of clean, dry gas and is the type of gas meter used on homes. diaphragm pump a reciprocating pump that uses the action of a flexing diaphragm in a fixed chamber to move fluids. The diaphragm pump has the advantage that it can handle large amounts of suspended solids in the fluid. diapir a body that has pierced or appears to have pierced the overlying rocks by the upward flow of plastic, underlying rocks such as salt or shale. The flow is often caused by pressure or density differences. Examples of diapirs include a salt stock or plug and a mud diapir. (piercement dome) diapiric folding folding in sedimentary rocks such as an anticline in which incompetent beds such as shale or salt have been extruded through the crest of the structure (piercement folding) diastem a short interruption in the sediments without erosion

diastrophesm diastrophesm a general term that includes all movements in the earth's crust diatom a type of single-celled plant that floats in the ocean. Diatoms have a SiO2 shell and are useful as microfossils. Relatively pure deposits of diatoms are called diatomaceous earth. Diatoms have existed from the Cretaceous peroid to the present. diatomaceous earth a white to light-gray, unconsolidated sedimentary rock that is very porous and is formed from diatom shells composed of SiO2. Diatomaceous earth is used as lost-circulation material and as an additive to cement slurry and drilling mud to reduce density. diatomaceous earth filter diatomaceous earth, a natural deposit of siliceous microfossils (diatoms) on a screen, with asbestos fibers that is used to remove suspended solids from a fluid diatomite a dense, chert-like form of diatomaceous earth die to have a well cease flowing die collar a steel collar that is used in fishing operations. The die collar has a thread die on one end. The die collar is lowered into the well on a fishing or drillstring and rotated to cut a thread on the fish which screws onto the die collar. The fish then can be retrieved. A die collar does not have a releasing mechanism. A die collar is the female counterpart of a taper tap. dielectric a substance that permits the passage of lines of electrostatic force but is a nonconductor of electricity dielectric constant a measure of the electrical insulation properties of a substance. A good insulator has a high number. Substance Dielectric constant 1.0 vacuum 1.0 gas and air
oil

differential-pressure flowmeter 135

fresh water salt water silica sand limestone dolomite anhydrite

2.2 77 60 4.7 7.5 6.9 6.5

dielectric constant log a log used to measure the dielectric constants of fluids in rocks adjacent to the well bore. Both very high frequency and ultrahigh frequency sondes are used. The dielectric constant log is used to distinguish between fresh water and oil, or in cases where the Archie equation does not work such as low-salinity or variable-salinity connatewater formations. It has a very shallow radius of investigation. die nipple a pipe that has external cutting threads in contrast to a die collar dies the serrated steel teeth used on tongs for gripping. diesel-electric power a power system in which diesel engines are used to drive electric generators that supply electricity. Diesel-electric power is commonly used on offshore drilling rigs and some onshore rigs.

diesel engine an internal combustion engine that is often used as a prime mover for drilling rigs and some pumping units. The compression of air injected into the combustion chamber heats the air and causes the fuel to ignite when it is injected into the chamber. The combustion drives the piston. Diesel engines commonly have two or four strokes per cycle. The diesel engine was invented by Rudolph Diesel. diesel-oil cement a type of cement used in wells. Diesel-oil cement is a mixture of cement (API types A,B,G, or H), diesel oil or kerosene, and a surface active agent. It has an unlimited pumping time and will not set until the cement comes in contact with water. Diesel-oil cement is used to control water problems during drilling and in producing wells and is also used to repair casing leaks and plug lostcirculation zones and channels. diesel-oil plug see gunk plug diesel squeeze the pumping of dry cement and diesel oil under pressure through perforations in a well. Diesel squeeze will cement and seal off waterbearing sections when the water is absorbed by the cement, but it will not affect oil-bearing zones. diflf difference differential 1) the premium in price that is added to some oils for such characteristics as low sulfur or high "API 2) the pressure difference between the two sides of a choke 3) the difference between two measurements differential caliper the difference in the calipermeasured diameter of the well and the bit size differential entrapment the preferential accumulation in a basin of natural gas, crude oil, and saline water, in that order, in traps located in an updip direction from the source rock. Differential entrapment is due to the relative differences in densities of the fluids. differential liberation gas coming out of solution because of a gradual decrease in pressure. Differential liberation can occur in an oil reservoir due to production differential liberation, expansion, or vaporization a method used in a reservoir fluid study. As gas is released from an oil sample in a laboratory cell with increasing volume and decreasing pressure, the gas is collected and analyzed. The remaining oil is called residual oil. differential pen a marker on an orifice meter that records the differential pressure between upstream and downstream, usually in inches of water differential pipe sticking see differential-pressure sticking differential pressure 1) the difference in pressure on a fluid at two different points such as across an orifice plate 2) the pressure difference between the hydrostatic head of drilling fluid and formation pressure at a given depth in a well 3) the difference between flowing and static pressure in a well. DP or

K
differential-pressure flowmeter a type of gauge used to measure the velocity of a fluid. The velocity is calculated from the drop in fluid pressure as the fluid accelerates through a restriction. An orifice plate is often used to restrict and measure gas flow.

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differential-pressure sticking dim diffuser a passage located downstream from an impeller in which velocity energy is converted into static pressure. The diffuser also directs the fluid to the next impeller in the pump. diffusion alloy an alloy used to decrease corrosion, erosion, and wear. The diffusion alloy is formed by a layer of intermetal compound made by the addition of elements to the surface. diffusivity equation a partial differential equation that describes transient flow behavior of single-phase gas flowing through porous rock. It is called the diffusivity equation because it is the same form as the equation that describes heat flow and unsteady mass diffusion. DIFL dual induction focused log DIFL-GR dual induction focused log, gamma ray log DIF-T differential temperature log digger see driller digging pits to excavate the mud pits for a drilling rig digital a system in which the information is recorded or contained as discrete numbers. Digital is in contrast to analog. digital computer a computer that records all information as a decimal or binary number with a specific number of digits. Modern computers are digital as compared to the older analog computers. digitize to quantify or put the values into discrete numbers

differential-pressure sticking the adhesion of the drillstring against the well walls due to the difference in the hydrostatic pressure of the circulating drilling mud in the well and the formation pressure at that level. The condition is called stuck pipe. The vertical movement of the drillstring in the well is restricted, but circulation can be maintained. This condition is aggravated by permeable formations and is more frequent when the drillstring is left motionless in the well for a period of time. Freeing the stuck pipe can be accomplished by a) reducing the hydrostatic pressure in the well, b) the use of a spotting fluid, or c) a back-off operation. The spotting or releasing fluid is made of diesel oil with special additives or an oil mud that is used to dissolve the mudcake and equalize the pressure. Dissolving agents such as hydrochloric acid can be used for limestones. The soaking process takes 6-12 hrs before the assembly is worked loose. Spiral-grooved pipe can be used to reduce the contact between the drillstring and the well walls to alleviate differential pipe sticking. (differential pipe sticking or wall sticking) differential pressure switch a pressure gauge that has a predetermined pressure range set on it. If the pressure varies out of the range, an indicator and alarm is triggered. differential pressure unit a flowmeter that consists of a U-shaped tube partially filled with mercury. On one end is a range tube that is used to measure the height of the mercury in one arm of the U-tube. The gas flows by the other arm of the U-tube that is open. It is very accurate, and the response is linear to flow rates. The differential pressure unit was the original type of flow meter used by the gas industry. differential separators multiple separators that reduce oil pressure in stages in a process called stage separation to minimize shrinkage and loss of lighter hydrocarbon fractions. Differential separators are in contrast to an instantaneous separator that results in maximum shrinkage. differential SP a well-log curve made from two spontaneous potential (SP) measurements using two electrodes that serve as each others' reference potential to minimize uninvaded SP circuit effects differential temperature log or survey a wireline type of well log that records wellbore temperatures and temperature gradients. The differential temperature log is used to locate a) gas flowing into the well, b) cement setting behind casing, and c) to determine bottomhole temperature and the geothermal gradient. differential thermal analysis a technique used to determine the mineral composition of a sample. The sample is uniformly heated at a constant rate. The temperatures at which various minerals use heat as they decompose are recorded to identify the minerals. Clay minerals can be identified using this technique. DTA diffraction a phenomenon in which waves are modified or scattered from the end of an abrupt discontinuity. In seismic exploration, seismic waves are diffracted by the end of a rock layer, such as one cut by a fault. Diffraction causes a diffraction curve to travel out and downward from the end of the rock layer.

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dikes

dike an igneous intrusion that cuts across pre-existing rock layers DIL dual induction log DIL dual induction laterolog dilatancy the expansion of a substance such as a rock dilut diluted dilute 1) a solution with relatively small amounts of solute 2) to add more solvent to a solution. Dilute is in contrast to concentrate. dilutent 1) a liquid added to thin a solution 2) a gas that occurs in natural gas and has no heat value such as water vapor or nitrogen dim 1) dimension 2) diminish

dimensionless permeability dip slope dimensionless permeability the actual permeability (kv divided by the average permeability of the formation (kavg). K' dimensionless pressure a number that is based on the initial reservoir pressure minus the present flowing pressure of a well. At a fixed flow rate, the dimensionless pressure will decrease with time as the flowing pressure decreases. Dimensionless pressure is used to calculate the change of pressure in a well with time. dimensionless well length the length of a horizontal well divided by twice the reservoir height. It is then multiplied by the square root of the ratio of the vertical permeability to the horizontal permeability of the reservoir. LD dim spot the lack of a seismic reflector on a rock interface. A dim spot is caused by an abnormally low reflection coefficient. Shale overlying a porous or gassaturated reef could cause a dim spot. ding or dinge a dent or flattened area caused by impact dinoflagellate a one-celled marine organism that resembles both a plant and animal. Some have a shell (theca or test) and are useful as microfossils. Dinoflagellates have existed from the Triassic period to the present. Dinoseis a seismic source that is similar to Vibroseis and uses a gas explosion on a plate that is resting on the land surface. Several units in an array are often used. diode an electronic device made by two semiconductors that allows an electrical current to flow in only one direction d,op inside diameter of outer pipe DIP dipmeter Dip resistivity dip log dip 1) the angle from horizontal of a plane such as a bedding or fault plane. Dip is measured perpendicular to the strike or horizontal direction of the plane. 2) the angle between a reflection or refraction seismic wave front and horizontal dip bob the weight used on the end of a gauge tape that is lowered through the dip hatch on a crude oil storage tank for gauging. The dip bob touches the strike plate at the bottom of the tank which is zero on the tank gauging table. Bobs are usually made of brass to avoid sparks and can be serrated along an edge for chalk or indicator paste. They can have a spring snap at the end for attachments, (gauge or gauging bob, weight or dp weight) dip hatch an opening on the top of an oil stock tank or storage tank that is opened to gauge or measure the level of oil and to take an oil sample. The hatch is fitted with a lid. (gage, gauge, or thief hatch) dip line a or seismic section that is parallel to the dip of the subsurface sedimentary rocks. The dip line is oriented perpendicular to the strike or horizontal direction of the sedimentary rocks. A dip line is in contrast to a strike line. Diplog1" a dipmeter log dip log a tradename for a dipmeter DIPM dipmeter log

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dipmeter or dip meter a wireline device used to a) calculate strike and dip of subsurface formations, b) locate faults and unconformities and c) make structural and stratigraphic interpretations. The dipmeter has three, four, or six arms with pads that are in contact with the rocks on the side of the well as the dip meter is brought up the well. Each pad has microresistivity sensors that detect when a rock layer is contacted. A gyroscope or magnetometer is used to record the orientation of the dipmeter in the well. The dip of each rock layer is calculated from the orientation of the dipmeter and at what depth each microresistivity sensor touched the rock layer. The information is plotted on a dipmeter log or a stick or tadpole plot. Modern sondes have four pads that make focused microresistivity measurements of the microlaterolog type. The measurements are digitized and transmitted by cable to the surface. DM dipmeter log a well log showing the orientation or dip of each rock layer in a well as measured from a dipmeter. Two methods of presenting the data are a) a tadpole plot and b) a stick plot. DIPM dip moveout the difference in seismic arrival times at detectors that are located symmetrically opposite each other on either side of the source divided by one-half the separation distance of the detectors dipping the European term for gaging or gauging dipping reference point a mark on the thief hatch of a crude oil storage tank from which the dip tape is lowered in gauging (gaging or gauging reference point) dip plate the heavy metal plate that is attached to the bottom of a crude oil storage tank below the thief hatch. The dip plate is designated zero on the tank gauge table and protects the bottom of the tank from the gauging weight or bob. (strike plate) dip point the point of the bottom of the tank where the dip weight or bob touches the strike plate. The dip point is designated zero on the tank gauge table. (gage or gauge point) dip rejection the use of a filter to remove selected dips and apparent dips from seismic data. Dip rejection is used in areas of flat bedding to remove steep noise lineups and taking out multiples, (moveout or velocity filter) dip rejection filter see movement filter dip rod a wood or steel rod with markings that is lowered through the dip hatch into a crude oil storage tank for gauging (gage or gauge rod) dip section a cross section oriented perpendicular to the depositional shoreline. A dip section is oriented perpendicular to the strike section. dip separation the displacement of a rock layer by a fault measured along the dip of the fault dip shooting running seismic with the primary objective of determining the dip of reflectors dip-slip fault a break in the rocks with movement predominantly vertical. Two types of dip-slip faults are normal and reverse. dip slope the surface formed by the exposed top of a resistant formation such as a limestone that is dipping at an angle into the ground

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dip tape directional well

dip slip fault

directional drilling

dip tape A reel of measuring tape with a weight on one end. The tape is lowered through the gauge hatch to measure the level of a liquid in a tank, (gage or gauge tape, gage or gauge line) dip tube the oil inlet tube mounted inside a gas anchor on the bottom of a sucker-rod pump, (mosquito bill) see dp bob DIR or dir direction direct connection a connection between a prime mover and driven equipment without using a gear reducer or other device to reduce the speed direct current electric current that continuously flows in one direction. Direct current is in contrast to alternating current. DC direct-fired or direct-heated vessel a tank such as a heater-treater in which the fluid comes in direct contact with the fire tube. It is used for low pressure service and is in contrast to an indirect fired or heated vessel in which the fire tube heats another fluid, usually water, which then heats the fluid. direct index a chronological and alphabetical index of grantors of oil and gas leases. A direct index is located in the country or parish courthouse and is used for lease checks. An indirect index is an alphabetical list of grantees, (grantor index) direct-indicating viscometer an instrument that uses an electric motor or hand crank to rotate blades to measure apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point, and gel strengths of liquids. V-G meter or
viscosity-gel viscometer

directional charge an explosive charge or array of charges used in seismic exploration and designed so that the explosive front travels at approximately the seismic velocity. This causes the energy to add up constructively. directional deviation an intended variation in the course of a well directional drilling intentionally drilling a well at an angle from vertical. Well deviation can be initiated by a fulcrum assembly. A fulcrum assembly consists of a full-gauge, near-bit stabilizer with collars. To maintain the angle, a packed hole assembly that is stiff and stabilized to full gauge can be used. To drop angle, the pendulum effect can be employed with a stabilizer located several drill collars from the drill bit. Deviation drilling is often used in offshore wells, for sidetracking a well, for inaccessible sites, or for testing numerous potential zones. It is sometimes called controlled drilling, (deviation drilling) DRDR

directional-drilling clause an oil and gas lease provision that states that drilling a deviated hole from a surface location that is not on lease and completing or bottoming the deviated hole under the lease shall satisfy the terms in that lease directional-drilling log see directional log directional-drilling data sheet a data report describing the downhole assemblies and drilling parameters at various depths in a deviated well directional drilling supervisor directional engineer a petroleum engineer who specializes in directional drilling directional hole see directional well directional log or survey a downhole survey that charts the inclination or inclination and and azimuth of a well. A drift indicator measures only the hole inclination, whereas the other instruments measure both inclination and azimuth. The survey can be either magnetic or gyroscopic (used in a magnetic environment) and is single or multishot. Both the gyroscopic and magnetic multishot surveys are recorded on film. The single-shot measurement is made by running the tool inside the drillstem on a wireline. The multishot measurements are made with a logging tool either a) in a drill collar that has to be fished out, b) on a wireline, or c) dropped down the well. The depth determination in made by timing. One type of multishot measurement uses a stabilized gyroscope that transmits the information to the surface through an electrical wireline. Directional surveys can be run every 1,000 ft in formations that do not deflect the bit, and as often as every 50 ft in areas of dipping hard rocks and faults, (deviation survey or directionaldrilling log) dir sur, DS, DR, or DIRSV directionally oriented coring coring operations in which the core is taken in reference to magnetic north. The core is scribed with grooves cut by a scribed shoe along the axis of the core. The orientation of the grooves is controlled by a gyroscope. directional plug a cement bridge used to deviate a new well from an old well directional turbodrill a downhole motor that uses turbines and circulating drilling mud to rotate the bit. The directional turbodrill is shorter than a straighthole turbodrill so that it can follow the well curvature in a deviated hole. directional well a well intentionally drilled at an angle from the vertical. The directional well is initiated by a whipstock or a bent sub with a downhole turbine or mud motor. Two types are a straight (continuous)

direction of facing and S-curve kick. The straight kick builds angle and then drills straight to the target. The S-curve kick builds angle, drills straight, and then drops angle and drills straight to the target. Directional wells can also be classified as Types I, II, and III. Type I is deflected at shallow depth and the inclination is constant until the target is reached. Type II is the S-shaped well. Type III is a well that is deflected at a deeper depth and then has a constant inclination. Wireline well logs are run with coiled tubing on a directional well. Directional well depths are reported as measured depth with vertical depth in parenthesis. A directional hole is in contrast to a crooked hole that was unintentionally drilled, (deviated hole or well or directional hole) DEVIA direction of feeing the direction in the axial surface of a fold that is at right angle to the fold hinge line and points toward younger beds direct line drive a type of waterflood pattern in which the injector and producing wells are on the same straight lines oriented north-south and east-west. A direct line drive is in contrast to a staggered line drive in which the injector and producing wells are offset and are located on separate straight lines oriented north-south and east-west. direct offset a well or lease that is located immediately to the north, east, south, or west of another well or lease. The leases share a common side. In contrast, a diagonal offset is a well or lease that is located immediately to the northwest, northeast, southeast, or southwest of another well or lease, and the leases share a common corner. direct operating expenses costs that are attributed to a specific project or unit. These could be workover, electricity, repair, pumper, and other expenses on a well. Direct operating expenses are in contrast to direct overhead. direct overhead expenses that reflect the overall administrative costs of a company and are not directly chargeable to a specific unit or project. Direct overhead is a part of the operating expenses. It is prorated over all the company's operations. direct purchase gas natural gas bought on the spot market, (self-help, interruptible, best efforts, and spot gas) direct sale an agreement under which a producer contracts with a local distribution company or ultimate industrial consumer (industrial end-user) of natural gas to sell and deliver natural gas to that purchaser, utilizing pipelines and gatherers of natural gas as transporters. Direct sales is in contrast to selling the gas to the pipeline or gatherer which then resells the gas to the local distribution company or ultimate consumer in a method called sale for resale. DIRSV or dir sur directional survey dirt tanks see earthen pits dirty containing clay-sized particles or shale. Dirty is in contrast to clean, dy dirty sands 1) poorly sorted sandstone with silt and clay. The sandstone is relatively dark in color and is generally a poor reservoir rock. 2) well cuttings that must be removed from drilling fluid DISC discovery well

discounted cash-flow rate

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disc discovery disch discharge discharge line the pipe on the circulating system of a drilling rig that connects the mud pumps to the rotary hose disclaimer by tenant or surface owner as statement by the surface rights owner that he has no interest in the mineral rights of that land discoaster a very small, calcareous plate from an extinct marine planktonic organism. Discoasters are common Tertiary peroid microfossils that became extinct at the Pliocene-Pleistocene epoch boundary.

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disconformity

disconformity a subsurface erosional surface formed by a channel, having parallel rock layers both above and below it disconnection clause a provision in a gas purchase and sales agreement authorizing the buyer to cease purchasing gas and discontinue maintaining a connection with its gathering and transportation facilities from any well for which it is no longer economical to purchase gas. (well disconnection clause) discontinuous spacing a drilling and spacing unit that is made up of several smaller tracts of land, some or all of which are not adjacent, (noncontinuous spacing) discordant fold a fold in rocks such as an anticline in which the fold axis is not parallel to other fold axes in the regional area discordant folding folding such as anticlines in sedimentary rocks that are both competent and incompetent. The incompetent layers will thick and thin with the stresses of folding, whereas the competent beds will not flow. As a result of flowage, the folds have bedding planes that are no longer parallel to each other. discounted cash flow income, such as from future oil and gas production, for which the time value of money has been accounted. Discounting uses a percent (discount factor) to decrease the present value of future income. DCF discounted cash-flow rate the discount percentage which reduces to zero the cash flow stream on an investment such as drilling a well. The discount percentage takes into account the time value of money. At zero cash-flow stream, the discounted monies paid out equal the discounted monies made, (investor's interest rate) DCFR

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discounted cash-flow rate of return displacement meter disk drive the computer device that uses a read-write head to record and decipher information from a disk. dismlcrite a fine-grained limestone (less than 1% allochems or coarse grains) composed of micrite with irregular patches of sparry calcite DISP 1) displace 2) displaced 3) displacing 4) displacement dispersant 1) a chemical that breaks up concentrations of liquid and solid materials or reduces the surface tension between two liquids 2) an additive that is used to decrease the viscosity of cement dispersed a suspension of clay platelets with no faceto-edge associations dispersed drilling fluid a drilling mud that contains chemicals such as lignosulfonate to keep clay platelets separated. A dispersed drilling fluid has a higher viscosity and gel strength, better filtration control, and higher solids tolerance than nondispersed fluids. dispersed phase the scattered solid, liquid, or gas in a dispersion that is surrounded by the continuous phase. In a water-in-oil emulsion, water is the dispersed phase. Oil is the dispersed phase in an oil-in-water emulsion. Dispersed phase is in contrast to the continuous phase, (internal phase) dispersed shale shale that occurs in the pores of sedimentary rocks and originates as authigenic clay minerals. The dispersed shale can act as a cement for the clastic particles. dispersent an agent that holds finely-divided particles in a dispersed state dispersible a substance such as an inhibitor that can be evenly distributed in a fluid by agitation dispersion the change in the shape of a wave train as it travels through a medium because of the different velocities of different frequency waves dispersoid a colloid displ 1) displaced 2) displacement displaced fluid the fluid in the reservoir that is moved by injected fluids during enhanced oil recovery. Displaced fluid is in contrast to the displacing fluid. displaced pool a subsurface oil reservoir with a tilted oil water contact. A displaced pool could be due to either hydronamics of water flowing under the oil or the formation of a tar mat at the oil water contact followed by regional tectonic tilting. displacement 1) the weight of a fluid displaced by an object floating or submerged in that fluid 2) the total net volume of fluid that is moved by a rotary pump measured in cubic inches per revolution 3) the distance on a combination logging tool between the various measure points 4) the replacement of formation fluids by mud filtrate in the invaded zone displacement efficiency a ratio of the volume of oil swept from a zone by an enhanced oil recovery process to the volume of oil present in the zone prior to the process. ED or Ed displacement fluid a liquid, usually drilling mud or salt water, that is pumped down the casing during a cement job after the cement slurry and the top wiper plug displacement meter a type of flowmeter in which the fluid displaces a piston in a cylinder. The number

discounted cash-flow rate of return a method of economically evaluating an investment such as drilling and completing a well. It is the return rate on the investment that is discounted for time, (internal rate of return, investor's rate of return, scientific rate of return, or profitability index) DCFROR discounted payout a method of economically evaluating an investment such as drilling a well. The discounted payout is the time that it takes for the petroleum production revenue, discounted for time, to equal the monies paid out, discounted for time, for drilling, completing, and operating the well. DPO discounted profit-to-investment ratio a method of evaluating a project such as drilling and completing a well. The profit (income minus expenses), discounted for the future value of money, is divided by the discounted expenses. DPIR discounted return on investment a method of evaluating a project such as drilling a well. The value of the expected income on the project, discounted for time, is divided by the discounted cost of the project. DROI discount factor or rate an annual percentage that is used to discount or reduce the value of future income for the time value of money. The discount factor is based on estimated future interest and inflation rates. Rates from 10% to 20% are commonly used. io discovery 1) a new oil and/or gas field that is located by exploratory drilling 2) a new pool (reservoir) in an old field that is located by exploratory drilling disc discovery pressure the initial or original reservoir pressure discovery well an exploratory well that locates a new oil and/or gas field or a new pool (reservoir) that is either deeper or shallower than existing production in an established field. DISC discovery well allowable the amount of petroleum production from a discovery well that a government regulatory agency permits during a certain time (allowable). The allowable is higher than the standard depth yardstick to encourage exploration. The discovery well allowable can be unrestricted production until pay out. NPX disharmonic folding folding is rocks in which the number and position of folds in sucessive surfaces do not match in contract to harmonic folding disk the computer storage medium. Disks can be either floppy disks, which use a disk drive to read and write and can be stored separately, or hard disks, which are permanently installed in the computer and are peripheral devices. Magnetized iron oxide needles on the disk store the information. Binary digits 0 and 1 are represented by the magnetic direction of the needles which are oriented or detected by a readwrite head. The data is stored on concentric circles called tracks on the disk. Each track is divided into sectors. disk bit a type of drag bit with the cutting edges mounted on two or four vertically rotating disks. The Guiberson disk bit used in Texas in the early 1930s had four disks, whereas the Hughes disk bit had two disks with teeth.

displacement pressure distillate of piston strokes is counted to determine the volume of fluid flow. displacement pressure the pressure that is required for one fluid to replace another fluid in the pores of a rock. Displacement pressure is the minimum capillary pressure that will force a nonwetting fluid such as oil into a capillary opening that is saturated with a wetting fluid such as water. Displacement pressure varies inversely with the pore diameter, (entry or forefront pressure) displacement rate the rate in which cement slurry is pumped down a well displacement tanks graduated tanks that are used on a slurry pumping unit to measure the amount of displacement fluid, such as drilling mud, during a cement job on a well. displacement time the time expressed in minutes that is required to completely replace all the fluid in a drillstring or casing string with another fluid at a given flow rate. displacement-type prover the most common type of meter prover used. A displacement-type prover consists of a calibrated section of pipe with a cylindrical or spherical displacer in the pipe. The flow goes through the meter to be tested and into the displacement-type prover. The true volume is then compared to the indicated volume from the meter, and a meter factor is calculated. Other methods of meter proving include the volumetric prover and the master meter. displacement volume the volume of a fluid in a well that is displaced by the drillstring. It is equal to about 0.39 times the weight of the pipe in lbs/ft. displacing fluid the fluid that is injected into a reservoir during enhanced oil recovery. Displacing fluid is in contrast to the displaced fluid. display the representation of data disposal pile a large-diameter (24-48 in.), openended pipe that extends from the deck of an offshore platform to below the water surface and is used to discharge treated, produced water and deck drainage. A skim pile is a type of disposal pile that uses baffle plates to coalesce oil droplets. disposal well a well used to inject the salt water that is produced along with oil into the subsurface
DSPL

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dissolution boxworks a carbonate residue with angular pores that is left from the solution of an evaportie raubwacke dissolution porosity porosity formed by the solution of the rock dissolved gas natural gas that is dissolved in oil in the subsurface reservoir under formation pressure. It bubbles out of the oil on the surface as the oil is produced and the pressure is reduced to surface conditions. Dissolved gas is in contrast to nonassociated and associated gas. (solution gas)

GAS/OIL

% ULTIMATE PRODUCTION
| PRIMARY RECOVERY)

10

dissolved gas drive dissolved-gas drive a type of reservoir drive mechanism in which the expanding gas bubbles forming from gas coming out of solution in the subsurface oil drives the oil into the well. The gas bubbles form because production has decreased reservoir pressure to below bubblepoint. It tends to be relatively inefficient and produces only 20%-30% of the oil in place, (volumetric depletion-gas, internalgas, solution-gas, or solution-gas expansion drive) dissolved gas/oil ratio see solution gas/oil ratio dissolved-gas pool an oil field with a dissolved- gas drive (expanding gas bubbles) supplying the energy to cause the oil to flow from the reservoir rock into the well. The reservoir has a characteristic rapid decline in pressure with production and a rapidly increasing gas/oil ratio with minimum water production, (depletion-drive, internal-gas, solutiongas, or solution-gas expansion pool) dissolved solids the total organic and inorganic matter in solution. Dissolved solids are usually measured in parts per thousand (ppt), parts per million (ppm), or milligrams per liter (mg/1). Dissolved solids is also called total dissolved solids. dissolving agent an additive to drilling mud that is used to dissolve a formation that is causing sticking pipe. A dissolving agent for salt formations can be fresh water. DIST district Dist or dist distillate dist distance distal bar the subaqueous environment on a river delta located between the distributary mouth bar and the prodelta. The distal bar is a transition zone composed of fine sands and coarse silts. distillate see retrograde gas. Dist, dist, or dstl

disproportionate sharing or allocation an agreement in which the working interest and the net revenue interests are not proportional. Disproportionate sharing can have unfavorable tax consequences, (special allocation) disproportionate working interest a working interest in a well that bears a greater portion of the working interest costs than the working interest revenues from production. Disproportionate working interest is in contrast to a proportionate or undivided working interest. dissem disseminated dissociation the breakage of a compound into atoms or ions dissolution a solution cavity in a rock

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distillation divisible sharing arrangement dive hose a flexible rubber hose that connects a compressor with a diver. The compressor pumps a certified breathable output, either air or heliox, to the diver, (umbilical hose) divergence the decrease in amplitude of a wavefront due to the spreading of the wavefront as it travels outward. As body waves spread out spherically, the energy density varies inversely with the square of the distance. As surface waves spread out, the energy density varies inversely with the distance. divergent margin the boundary between two lithospheric plates that are pulling apart to form a rift. A divergent margin is in contrast to a convergent margin. diversification the process in which an oil company invests in other energy sources such as geothermal, coal, or uranium diverter equipment that is attached to the bell nipple on a wellhead or marine riser. The diverter can be closed to prevent fluids from flowing vertically and to divert the fluids out a blooey line, away from the rig. Two types of diverters are a) a bag-type unit and b) a modified rotating blowout preventer. diverter bag a low-pressure tool that provides for the controlled release of a kick away from a drilling rig through a blooey line diverters temporary plugging agents used during acidizing a well to redirect the acid into untreated sections of the reservoir. Oil-soluble resins, wax, and soluble materials are often used. diverter valve a valve that will direct fluid flow back through a loop or around some equipment when activated. A diverter valve can be either hand or pneumatic operated. A diverter valve is used on a lease automatic custody transfer unit. When the oil quality is sensed to be below pipeline quality, the diverter valve redirects the oil back to the stock tanks and shuts down the pump motor, (diverting valve) diverting agent material that is used to limit the zone being hydraulically fractured and directs the frac fluid to the fractures. Some diverting agents are polymer-coated sand, wax buttons, rock salt, naphthalene, and benzoic acid flakes. diverting valve see diverter valve divestiture 1) to break up an oil company into several independent companies that each operate a certain aspect of the oil business such as exploration or refining 2) to sell off some assets of the oil company that are not related to the oil business divided type of unit operating agreement an arrangement between parties to explore and develop a specific area. The sharing of costs and benefits between the participating parties is dependent on the formation of participating areas which can be formed at various times during the agreement. This is in contrast to an undivided type of unit operating agreement in which the sharing of costs and benefits is according to a formula established at the initiation of the agreement, (unit operating agreement) diving wave a curved raypath that reaches the surface divisible sharing arrangement an agreement between parties to acquire, explore, and/or develop a specific property. The grantor gives not only cash

distillation the process in which a liquid is vaporized by heat, condensed by cooling, and then collected dstn distortion a change in shape or position of something in relation to its actual shape or position. In seismic, distortion is the undesired change in the waveform. distortional wave an S-wave distributary 1) a river channel outlet on a delta 2) a channel on a deep sea fan. The sand is deposited from the bed load of the distributary when the water slows down as it flows into the ocean and overrides the salt water. distributary mouth bar sand bar deposited in front of a distributary (channel) on a river delta distributing rack A wheel disk located near the bottom of a settling tank that spreads an emulsion. (Spreader) distribution the allotment, based on production tests, of daily production for wells on a lease distribution system a small unit that transmits seismic data in digital form by fiber optics or radio telemetry from several geophone groups to a main recording unit distributor an apparatus that directs the timing and amount of fuel flow district a relatively restricted area in a basin that contains two or more productive structures that are similar in age, style, and hydrocarbon content district office a company office engaged in exploration and production from one of several smaller offices that report to a larger regional office that oversees a geological province. Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Wichita could be district offices that report to the Mid-Continent regional office. disturbed belt an area of thrust faulting. A disturbed belt is the result of compression. Large drag folds that are located both on and below the thrust faults can form petroleum traps. Basement rock is sometimes thrust on top of sedimentary rocks in an overthrust. (overthrust belt) disulfide a colorless liquid that is composed of a chemical with a -S-S- linkage. A disulfide is miscible with hydrocarbons but not with water and is sweet in the doctor test. DITCH ditch samples ditch the mud flow channel from the conductor-pipe outlet of a drilling rig ditch gas 1) natural gas detected from well cuttings 2) natural gas removed from drilling mud in a flowline ditch magnet a permanent magnet that is 2-3 ft long and is used in the drilling-mud return line between the shale shaker and mud tanks to remove milled iron particles from the drilling mud. The metal particles could damage the mud pumps. ditch sample a common term for well cuttings, the flakes of subsurface rock cut by the drill bit. DITCH DIT-D dual induction-SFL tool DIU drilling in unit div division

division-order opinion DOL, Dol, dol, or dolo for the development of the property but also additional considerations to the grantee such as monies or property. division-order opinion a title opinion by an attorney that establishes the division of royalty payments division orders instructions on the distribution of payments. Division orders can be either for royalties or delay rentals to royalty owners or proceeds from production sales to interests of a well(s). The division orders are prepared and signed by all interest owners in a well prior to the sale of oil or gas. They are used to pay the correct owners and include the interest owner's name, address, and amount of interest owned. Division orders also include a description of the property, give the operator the authority to sell gas and oil, show the procedures and times for paying the interest owners, and how to transfer an interest. D.O. Dj diameter of invaded zone (outer boundary, invaded zone) dj uninvaded zone diameter DK or dk dark Dk. derrick dkr darker DL 1) driller's log 2) dead line D/L density log Dl dolomite DLC GR densilog, caliper, gamma ray log D L dual laterolog L DLS dogleg severity DLT dual laterolog tool DM 1) datum 2) drilling mud 3) dipmeter dm decimeter dm3 cubic decimeter dm3/s cubic decimeters per second Dmax maximum depth DML disintegrating metal liner DMO dip moveout DMPEG dimethyl either of polyethylene glycol DMS data management system DMWD downhole measurement while drilling Dn nominal decline dn down d,, normal d exponent DNL dual-porosity compensated neutron log DNLL dual-detector neutron lifetime log DNS or dns dense DO 1) drilled out 2) development oil well, 3) drilling obligation do outside diameter of casing D.O. division orders D/O division office DOC drilled out cement doctor to rework a well

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doctor solution sodium plumbite used in a doctor test to determine the sulfur content of crude oil doctor test a qualitative test to determine the sulfur content of crude oil that utilizes an instrument containing a test fluid composed of sodium plumbite that reacts with sulfur doctrine of correlative rights the right of the mineral owner in a producing field to his share of the reservoir energy and production and to be protected from harmful practices by adjacent mineral owners DOD drilled out depth DOE Department of Energy dog a poor geological prospect or oil deal dog chaser or catcher a lazy worker dog clutch lever a lever on a drilling-rig floor that is used to engage the drawworks power train as a backup to the air clutch doghouse or dog house 1) a portable, one-room shed that is used at the drill site to shelter the drilling crew and wellsite geologist and to store equipment and records. The Geolograph or Drill-o-graph is often housed in the doghouse. 2) the field shed or cab that houses seismic recording instruments 3) a small shelter used for keeping lease records and changing clothes on a lease 4) the enclosure on an offshore drilling rig where the driller operates the hoist and rotary and circulating equipment (control cabin) 5) to falsify a report (boiler house or boilerhouse) doghouse commando a drilling crew member who loafs and spends a lot of time in the doghouse doghouse dope gossip about the oil field doghouse or dog house samples inaccurate wellcutting samples collected by a roughneck on a drilling rig. Sometimes the roughnecks are negligent in taking the samples at regular intervals and will take one sample, divide it up, and label it with several depths. dogleg, dog leg, or dog's leg a sharp deviation or bend in a) a well's direction or inclination, b) a joint of pipe, c) a survey traverse, or d) a wire rope. A dogleg in a well can cause a keyseat. Doglegs are decribed as abrupt, decreasing, increasing, excessive (severe), long, and permissible. A dogleg is also known as an elbow. dogleg angle the angle between two intersecting center lines of sections of a deviated well dogleg severity a measure of a well's change in inclination, usually expressed in 7100 ft dogman a person responsible for slinging loads and directing the crane operator dog pipe to move pipe dogs 1) a spring-activated core catcher 2) steel prongs used on a straddle packer to grip the side wall of a well when weight is applied to set the packer 3) the serrrated steel teeth used on slips to grip drillpipe DOI Department of the Interior DOIL dead oil D-OIL diesel oil d olp outside diameter of inner pipe DOL, Dol, dol, or dolo dolomite

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dolerite DOT dome-roof tank a liquid storage tank with a roof in the shape of a dome that projects upward domicile a legal residence dominant frequency one divided by the dominant period. Dominant frequency is an approximate measurement taken from a wave spectrum made by Fourier analysis, usually of seismic data. dominant period the time for the passage of two consecutive peaks or troughs on a wave spectrum dominant wavelength the distance from peak to peak or trough to trough on a wave spectrum Donald Duck a centrifugal pump used to pump drilling mud from the reserve pit to the mud tanks (Yellow Dog) donation letter an agreement in which one party contributes money to another party in order to drill a well but does not receive an interest in the property on which the well is drilled. In a dry-hole donation letter, the money is given only if the well that is drilled is a dry hole. In a bottomhole donation letter, the money is given only if the well is drilled to a specific depth. donkey pump a small transportable pump doodle bug 1) a forked stick, made of peach, willow, or other wood that is alleged to be of value in finding a location for a water, oil, or gas well. The doodle bug is held by both hands and pointed out in front of a person called a dowser while walking over the ground. Natural attraction of the far end of the forked stick toward the subsurface is used to indicate a potential wellsite. 2) geophysical equipment 3) a seismograph. D.B. crew doodlebug crew a seismic crew doodle bugger or doodlebugger a geophysicist DOOH drilling out of hole doormat a lease barely large enough to hold a drilling rig DOP drilled out plug dope 1) a viscous material such as grease used as a lubricant and a corrosion-resistant covering on the threads of pipe and tubing 2) a tar-based coating used to prevent corrosion on pipelines dopebook a well log dope brush a soft-bristled brush that is designed to apply pipe dope to pipe threads doppler effect the apparent shift in frequency caused by the movement of a source in relation to a receiver or a receiver in relation to a source. The frequencies increase if they are moving together and decrease if they are moving apart. dorag dolomite a type of dolomite formed by a natural chemical process in which the rock limestone (CaCO3) is replaced by dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2]. Fresh water mixing with seawater under a limestone shelf causes calcite solution and dolomite precipitation. The word is derived from an Eastern European word for mixed blood. dosing the addition of a measured amount of chemicals to accelerate or decelerate a reaction DOT directional orientation tool

dolerite an intrusive rock composed primarily of the minerals labradorite and pyroxene, (diabase) doline see sinkhole doll head a wooden block with a groove cut on the top to guide and hold pull rods off the ground Dolofrac a service company trade name for hydraulic fracturing dolomite 1) a mineral composed of CaMg(CO3)2. The mineral dolomite is commonly white with rhombfaced crystals. The rock has physical properties similar to calcite except that it will not bubble in cold, dilute acid. Dolomite has a hardness of 3-5 to 4 and three perfect cleavages at oblique angels. 2) a carbonate sedimentary rock consisting of more than 50% of the mineral dolomite. Most dolomite is formed by the alteration of limestone rock. Magnesium-bearing waters perculating through limestone cause a chemical reaction that alters limestone into dolomite. Dolomitization can occur soon after the limestone is deposited (diagenic or supratidal dolomite) or later as the waters percolate through fractures or permeable zones in the limestone (secondary or epigenic dolomite). X-ray diffraction or chemical staining is used to distinguish limestone and dolomite. Dolomite tends to be good reservoir rock. Dolomite has a matrix density of 2.876 gm/cc, a matrix velocity of 23,00026,000 ft/sec, and an interval transit time of 43.5-38.5 sec/ft, (dolostone or calcareous dolostone) DOL, Dol, Dl, dol, or dolo dolomitic a sedimentary rock that has from 5%-5O% dolomite dolomitization the natural conversion of limestone (CaCO3) into dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] dolst dolostone dolostone a carbonate sedimentary rock consisting of more than 50% of the mineral dolomite. Dolomite tends to be good reservoir rock. If the rock contains between 50%-90% dolomite, it is called a calcareous dolostone. The term dolostone is used to avoid confusion with mineral dolomite, (dolomite) dolst dom dominant D.O.M. dissolved organic matter domain association with an independent variable such as time or frequency domain

dome dome a circular or elliptical arch. A dome is caused by a central uplift such as a salt plug or intrusion. A subsurface dome in reservoir rocks can form a petroleum trap. D

double doughnuts

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UNSATURATED DOLOMITE WINDOW

20 FRESH WATER

50

100

double section

SEA WATER

dorag dolomite

double two joints of tubulars such as drillpipe or tubing screwed together double-acting pump a pump in which the pistons discharge fluid on both the forward and backward stroke of the piston. A duplex mud pump on a drilling rig is double-acting. double barrel separator see double table separator double block valve a valve that can close both the upstream and downstream sides of the valve. double board a platform, commonly called the monkeyboard, near the top of the derrick where the derrickman stands to stack doubles (two joints of pipe) when tripping out of a well double bond a linkage between atoms involving two electron pairs. Hydrocarbons with double bonds are called unsaturated. double Bouguer correction a correction used on a seafloor gravimeter measurement to compensate for the mass of seawater above the gravimeter double box a tubular coupling having two box ends with female threads double core-barrel drill a core drill with an inner barrel suspended on ball bearings. The inner barrel is stationary to receive the core as the outer barrel rotates to cut the core. Drilling mud is circulated between the core barrels. double-drum hoist lifting apparatus with two reels of wire rope. The main drum pulls tubulars, whereas the second drum is used for swabbing and coring. double-packer test see straddle-packer test double pin a tubular coupling having two box ends with male threads double-pole mast a portable derrick used on a wellservicing unit that is constructed with two steel tubes. A double-pole mast is often used for pulling rods and tubing. double-rubbered pipe drillpipe in a cased, crooked, or deviated hole with pipe rubbers or casing protectors on every second joint. The rubbers are designed to reduce casing wear. doubles see double double section the same section of rock layers drilled twice in the same well. A double section is caused by drilling through a reverse fault. Double section is in contrast to a lost section caused by a normal fault.

double stack two sets of blowout preventers located on one oflshore drilling operation. One stack is located on the seafloor, whereas the other stack is located on the drilling rig. double substucture two substructures located on top of each other. Double substructure are used to raise the elevation of the drill floor. double suspension plug a piece of equipment that is used at the top of an oil well to suspend the tubing down the well double tilt a bent downhole drill motor with a bend on both ends for high angle building in a deviated well

double-tube separator

double-tube horizontal separator a separator with two horizontal vessels on top of each other. The incoming fluid goes into the upper vessel first where it flows over baffles to make the initial gas-oil separation. The liquid is drained into the bottom section to complete the separation. A mist extractor in located in the upper barrel along with a pressure control valve and gas outlet. The double-tube separator can handle a higher fluid volume than a single horizontal separator, (double barrel separator) double-wall drillpipe two drillpipes, one inside the other. The outer pipe is in tension, and the inner pipe in compression. Double-wall drillpipe is used to replace drill collars in directional wells. double wall packer test see straddle-packer test doubly-plunging anticline an anticline with an axis that is inclined to horizontal in two opposite directions doughnut the concrete structure used around a subsea wellhead to form a 1-atm chamber doughnuts see slips

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downcomer down the center line

downcomer a pipe with fluid flow directed downward down dip located down the slope of a plane such as a rock layer or fault down-dip well a well located low on a structure or lower along a formation. Because gas and oil rise, a down-dip well usually will not produce as much as an up-dip well. down-draft retort a device that heats a core to 350cF to distill the fluids out of the core. The fluids are than condensed and measured.

downhole mud motor

- DRILL COLLARS

STABILIZERS-

VIBRATION DAMPENER

HOLE OPENER BIT downhole assembly

downhole closure the horizontal distance measured from the bottom of a well to a vertical line extending down from the surface location of the well (drift) downhole gas separator a bottomhole device designed to separate liquid and gas before they are pumped up the well. The separator is attached to the bottom of the tubing below the standing valve and is the only fluid entry into the pump. Fluids flow through a tortuous path in the separator causing the gas to separate from the liquid and flow into the tubingcasing annulus. The downhole gas separator is used to increase the efficiency of the pump and prevent gas lock, (bottomhole gas separator or bottomhole separator) downhole ground an electrode used on a logging cable above the electronic sonde as a reference electrode instead of a surface electrode downhole motor or downhole mud motor a positive displacement or turbine motor that is run just above the bit on a drillstring. The downhole motor gives rotation and torque to the bit while transmitting

the drill-collar weight to the bit. The motor is driven by the circulating drilling fluid that is pumped through the drillstring. The turbine or turbodrill has blade rotors in stators, whereas the positive-displacement motor has a solid steel, spiral shaft in a lined stator. Downhole motors are used a) to initiate a wellbore kick-off for a directional hole and drill a smoothly curved hole in a buildup or drop-off section, b) to drill with diamond or high-speed insert bits in soft formations, and c) to be combined with measurement while drilling tools for use in navigational drilling. The downhole motor turns at 40-200 rpms to drive the bit up to 800 rpm. Downhole motors are usually acquired on a rental basis and are good for 25-30 hours of drilling, (mud motor) downhole packer See production packer downhole pump efficiency see field efficiency downhole steam generator a device for generating steam in a well at the level of the producing reservoir. Air or oxygen-rich air, fuel, and water are used to generate steam for a steam flood, a type of enhanced oil recovery for heavy oil. Steam generation on the surface of the ground causes environmental problems and decreases in temperature as it is injected down the well. downhole storm choke type of safety valve that is located in the tubing of flowing wells on the sea bottom. The downhole storm choke automatically shuts off the well if there is an abnormal flow of oil up the well. downstairs the derrick floor downstream 1) transportation, refining, and marketing operations for petroleum 2) the end or direction of the pipe that faces in the direction of the fluid flow. The opposite end or direction is called upstream. Downstream is the location on a gas pipeline that is furthest from the wells. downstroke the downward movement of a piston or plunger in a cylinder down structure a location or well that is not on the crest (top) of a trap such as a dome or anticline. (off structure) downsweep a Vibroseis seismic signal with the frequency decreasing with time. Downsweep is in contrast to an upsweep. down the center line a type of reservoir-scale waterflood pattern in which the injection wells are

down-the-hole drainage radius located along the centerline of the field, and the production wells are located along the sides down-the-hole measurements or procedures made in a well down-the-hole IP a method used to explore the region near a wellbore using induced polarization from a single potential or current electrode in the wellbore and other electrodes on the surface down-the-hole treatment a process in which a reagent is pumped in well to treat emulsions downthrown the side of a fault that apparently moved downward downtime 1) the period of time during which a well is not producing or is shut in. Downtime could be due to a workover 2) the time in which a rig is not drilling due to weather, logging, an equipment change, or other reasons 3) the time in which any equipment is not being used 4) the time that it takes circulating drilling mud to travel from the drill floor to the bit through the drillstring down-to-the-basin fault a fault in which the basin side has moved down relative to the other side down-to-the-coast fault a fault in which the coast side has moved down relative to the inland side dowser someone who uses a forked stick to explore for subsurface water or petroleum dozer a bulldozer, a self-propelled machine with a blade on the front that is used for grading and digging DP 1) dew point 2) drillpipe 3) datum plane 4) differential pressure dp dynamic positioning D.P. 1) drive pipe 2) drillpipe D/P drilled plug DPD deeper pool discovery DPE deeper pool extension DPF drillpipe failure dpg deepening DPI depthmeter potential DPIR discounted profit-to-investment ratio DPL drillpipe electric log DPL Drilling Porosity Log DPM drillpipe measurement dpm/g disintegrations per minute per gram dpn deepen DPND deepened DPO 1) during payout 2) discounted payout DPROB drilling problems DP ship dynamic-positioning ship DPSIP drillpipe shut-in pressure DP system dynamic-positioning system DPT 1) deeper pool test DPT Deep Propagation Tool dpt depth DPU drillpipe unloaded DR damage ratio Dr drift log dr 1) drain 2) drive 3) drum

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Draeger detector a hydrogen sulfide detector used on a drilling rig. The detector consists of a calibrated glass tube filled with lead acetate granules. A pump or bellows is used to draw a gas sample into the detector. The hydrogen sulfide concentration is reflected in the degree of color change. There are scales for both high and low concentrations. draft the vertical distance from the bottom of a ship or floating platform to the water surface (draught) drag the additional force or torque necessary to move the drillstring due to friction against the wellbore (pipe drag) drag bit a type of rotary drill bit with no moving parts and steel cutting blades on the bottom. The fixed blades drag and cut the sediments on the bottom of the well. A drag bit is used for soft formations. A type of drag bit is the fishtail bit wi$i two curved blades oriented similar to a fishtail. Drag bits can also have three or four blades. The blades are often hard surfaced or have tungsten carbide inserts. Drag bits were the original type of bits used in rotary drilling. drag fold a fold located along a fault plane. The folding is caused by friction as one side of the fault moved against the other side during faulting. There can be a drag fold located on either side of a fault. The axis of the drag folds will be parallel to the strike of the fault plane. Large drag folds form on large thrust faults in overthrust or disturbed belts and can form petroleum traps.

drag folds

dragway ramp the incline leading up to the V-door in the derrick of a drilling rig where pipe and other equipment are pulled or dragged up onto the drill floor. drainage 1) the movement of subsurface oil and gas in a reservoir due to the pressure gradient in the reservoir caused by producing wells. The drainage direction is toward the producing wells. Field drainage is the movement of oil and gas in the entire reservoir. drng 2) The displacement of a wetting fluid with an nonwetting fluid. Drainage is in contrast to imbibition. drainage area 1) the subsurface area of a reservoir that is effectively depleted by one well 2) the area of source rock that expulsed hydrocarbons drainage pattern the orientation and plan of streams in aerial view. The drainage pattern is often influenced by the underlying geology. Some common drainage patterns are dendritic, trellis, rectangular, radial, deranged, centripetal, barbed, and parallel. drainage radius the radius of a cylinder of pressure drop in a reservoir centered on a well producing fluids from that area of the reservoir

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drainage relative permeability dresser coupling drawdown or draw-down test a test used to evaluate the limits of an reservoir. The drawdown test uses the effect of production and downhole pressure reduction of a well on the neighboring wells to determine the extent of the reservoir.

drainage relative permeability the displacement of crude oil out of a reservoir by increasing the nonwetting phase saturation. This is in contrast to imbibition relative permeability that increases the wetting phase saturation. drainage sale leasing of lands that might be drained by producing wells on adjacent lands drainage tract a lease adjacent to a lease with production drainage unit the maximum area in a petroleum pool that can be drained efficiently by one well drainhole 1) a horizontal well or a lateral offshoot from a vertical well 2) the portion of a horizontal well that drains the reservoir drainhole length the length of a drainhole that drains the reservoir drain sample A sample taken from the outlet of a tank drape sedimentary rock layers overlying topography. The topography causes a warping of sedimentary rock layers above a limestone reef, bedrock hill, or other type of hard core. The draping is caused by both initial deposition and differential compaction of the sediments. draped anticline a domal structure formed by compaction of sediments over and along the flanks of harder rocks of limited aerial extent such as a buried reef, channel sandstone, bedrock hill, or cuesta. The overlying sediments compact and decrease in thickness more than the overlying harder rocks. Because the sediments are thicker to the sides of the harder rocks, they compact more, and their thickness decreases more to the sides creating the compaction anticline on originally horizontal sediments. A draped anticline in sedimentary rocks can form a petroleum trap, (compaction anticline, compaction or plains type fold) drape fold a fold in sedimentary rocks caused by the deposition of sediments over an uplifted or rotated block in the basement, (forcedfault) draping the conformance of overlying sediments above an area of relatively high rocks such as a basement fault block or a limestone reef. Draping causes an initial dip of the sediments. DRATE drilling penetration rate log draught see draft draw a blank to drill a dry hole drawdown or draw down 1) the difference between static bottomhole pressure and flowing bottomhole pressure (in psi) at a constant fluid production rate 2) the vertical distance between the static level and the level during pumping (flowing) in the annulus of a well 3) The flow rate divided by the drawdown pressure in bopd/psi or Mcfd/psi 4) a reduction drawdown or draw-down curve a plot of bottomhole pressure versus production from a well. The curve is used to compute the rate of production and rates of production for maximum economic recovery with different bottom-hole pressures. drawdown or draw-down pressure the static reservoir pressure minus the bottomhole flowing pressure in psi

1
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drawworks

drawworks or draw works the machinery on a drill floor that contains the reel of drilling line used to raise and lower equipment. All drawworks are very similar, and the components include drumshaft group, catshaft and catheads, coring reel, main drive shaft, jackshaft, rotary counter shaft, brakes, and controls. Power is from a direct-current motor or from the main drive shaft through the jackshaft using roller chains and sprockets. The drum around which the drilling line is reeled has a spiral grove to start the first wrap. The drawworks normally has four gear speeds, and a clutch is used to change speed and direction. There are three forward and one reverse speeds for the high and low drum drives for a total of six forward and two reverse speeds. Drawworks are manufactured in many sizes and are rated for load capacity by the manufacturer based on input horsepower that ranges from 500 to 3000 hp, maximum hook load, and depth rating that is based on 4V2 in. drillpipe (5 in. drillpipe for deeper wells). In general, one horsepower is necessary for each 10 ft to be drilled. Two brakes are used. The mechanical brake is water cooled and is used to hold the drum in a stopped position and to control the lowering of a load. The auxiliary brake is used during tripping and is either hydrodynamic, that works like a centrifugal pump, or eddy current, that uses magnetic force. The drawworks also enable the roughnecks to make or break pipe with the use of catheads, dwks drawworks console the control panel on the drill floor where the operator controls the mud pumps, rotary drive, and drawworks drawworks-drum socket the attachment fixture for the drilling line on the drawworks drum of a drilling rig DRBP drillable bridge plug DRDR directional drilling Dresbachian a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 515 m. y. ago. It is part of the Cambrian period. dress 1) to repair equipment 2) to sharpen a bit dresser coupling a metal sleeve that is used to connect two joints of unthreaded pipe

dresser-drawer contact drill collar dresser-drawer contract an instrument or contract that was never recorded dressing 1) to shape and sharpen a cable tool or drag bit 2) the fitting together of the parts of a tool 3) the surfacing of material dressing a bit repair of a worn bit dressing off to condition the top of a fish in a well to receive a fishing tool. The top of a fish is often broken, twisted, or bent, and a clean top has to be milled or cut to accept the fishing tool. Drg. drilling drift 1) see drift angle 2) The horizontal distance measured from the bottom of a well to a vertical line extending down from the suface location of the well (doivnhole closure) 3) a gradual change in a reference value with respect to measurements that are being made 4) poorly-sorted glacial deposits covering the surface of the ground 5) a gauge to measure the inner diameter of loops, nipples, and flowlines drift angle the angle between a crooked or deviated hole and vertical (angle of deviation, deflection, drift, hole deviation, or inclination) drift diameter the minimum inner diameter of a well or a tubular such as drillpipe or casing drift indicator an instrument that is used to determine how much a wellbore deviates from vertical at a specific depth in the well. One type, an acid bottle inclinometer, uses hydroflouric acid to etch the deviation of the well on the side of a glass bottle. Another type uses a plumb bob or mechanical pendulum in a barrel and punches a hole with a stylus into a paper disc that is graduated with 1 circles. The drift indicator is activated by a timing device and can make two punches. The time is set, and the instrument is dropped from the surface onto a baffle plate located on top of the drill bit. The disc moves up to the pendulum stylus, (inclinometer) drift log or survey a record of how much a well deviates from vertical at various depths in the well. A drift log is made with a drift indicator and does not measure azimuth, (inclination survey) Dr ~ drift mandrel a cylinder of specific size that is run through casing or tubing to insure its size. The drift mandrel is dropped through each joint of new tubing as it is picked off the pipe rack to be run in the well. If the drift mandrel hangs up in the tubing, the tubing is rejected as out of gauge, (jack rabbit or
rabbit)

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drillable packer a permanent packer that can be retrieved by milling the slips drillability the ease in which a formation can be drilled. The drillability of formations are classified as soft, medium, hard, very hard, and abrasive. Drillability also increases with lower mud weights and viscosities. drill ahead to continue drilling drill around to deviate or sidetrack a well around a fish in the well drill bit the cutting tool used in drilling. On a cabletool rig a percussion bit is used. The percussion bit is a pointed or wedge-shaped weight that pulverizes the rocks on the bottom of the well as the bit is raised and lowered. On a rotary rig, a rotary bit is used. The rotary bit is turned by the drillstring to chip and flake the rocks at the bottom of the well. The most common rotary bit is the rock or rollercone bit that has two, three, or four rotating cones on the bottom of the bit. The tricone bit with three cones is most common. The tricone bit has three legs welded to a shank. The legs hold journals around which bearings rotate to allow the cone on each leg pin to turn. Roller-cone bits are either a) milled toothsteel teeth or b) insert-button bits. Drag bits are rotary bits having blades that tear into soft formations. Diamond bits have no moving parts and have diamonds imbedded into the matrix on the bottom and sides of the bit. Diamond bits are used for drilling through hard rocks and coring. A polycrystalline diamond bit (PCD bit) is a drag bit with blanks of man-made polycrystalline diamonds. Regular bits have an opening in the center of the bit body for drilling fluid. Some are full-bore openings and others are ported. The jet bit has fluid courses through the body of the bit or between the cones that are equipped with jet nozzles. On a conventional tricone bit, there are nozzles are located between the cones. The drilling fluid jets out the nozzles and impacts directly on the teeth of the cones of a roller-cone bit. Extended nozzle bits have elongated fluid paths to reduce the distance between the nozzle exit and the bottom of the hole. Rotary cone drill bits are good from 8 to 200 hours of rotating and wear out after an average of 24 hours of rotating, (bit) drill blank the cutting edge on a polycrystalline diamond bit. The blank is made with a layer of manmade, polycrystalline diamonds that are cemented under high temperature and pressure to a tungsten carbide cylinder called a carbide stud. A blank has greater abrasion resistance than natural diamonds. (blank) drill by or around to sidetrack a well

drift test the passage of a drift mandrel through casing, liner, or tubing to determine the drift diameter of the tubular Drig or Drig. drilling DRILL drilling information drill 1) the mechanism for boring holes in earth including cable-tool and rotary rigs 2) the act of boring a hole in the earth, drl or DD 3) see drill bit drillable any tool such as a packer that is designed and constructed with material such as plastic or cement that can be removed from a well by drilling through it

drill collar

drill collar a heavy, thick-walled, large-diameter pipe that is used on the bottom of the drillstring just above the drill bit to add weight to the bottom of the drillstring. The weighted drillstring puts tension on the drillpipe, keeps the drillstring stiff, and reduces bending. Drill collars come in many sizes and shapes. They can be round, square, triangular, or grooved. Typical collar sizes are 31 ft long with an outer

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drill collar safety clamps drilling indicator, air pressure, and a weight indicator for total weight-on-bit and total hook weight. On an offshore rig, it shows not only mud and drilling variables but also has controls for the blowout preventers, drawworks, mud system, and derrick along with an alarm system and an elapsed rig-downtime recorder. driller's dial an instrument on the drill floor used by a driller during navigational drilling. It shows the orientation of the tool face and the azimuth and inclination of the well. driller's log 1) see driller's report DL or DRL-L 2) a sample log made by the driller by examining the well cuttings driller's method a method used to control a well by circulating the kick fluids out of the well and then circulating a higher-density kill mud through the kill line into the well through an adjustable choke. The original mud is circulated, and pressure is kept constant by adjusting the choke setting. The casing pressure continuously varies as all the formation fluid is circulated out of trie well. When the heavier kill mud is circulated into the well, the casing pressure is kept constant by adjusting the choke setting at the choke manifold until the well is filled with kill mud. Driller's method is in contrast to the wait-and-weight method. driller's position the location on the drill floor of a drilling rig around the driller's console driller's report an abbreviated record of the drilling operations and progress during a tour or shift on a drilling rig. The driller's report is similar to a daily drilling report and is used by the tool pusher to make that report. The driller's report includes geological and mechanical information such as formations encountered, footage drilled, mud tests, oil and gas shows, and equipment breakdowns along with a drilling time log. The report also includes the names of crew members, hours worked, list of pipe and downhole equipment used, ton-miles of drilling line used, and general maintenance and repair. The report is signed by the driller, tool pusher, and company representative. A copy is kept on the rig. (driller's or drilling log, tour or drilling report) driller's work station the pan of the drill floor located by the right, front corner of the drawworks near the drawworks brake handle. The driller's console is located on the driller's work station. drill floor the elevated platform supported by the substructure on a drilling rig on which the derrick sits. The rotary table, drawworks, driller's console, and other equipment are located on the floor and the well is located in the center. The drill floor is where the drilling operations occur. On an offshore drilling rig, the drill floor is the work area surrounding the opening where the tools and drillstring are run into the ocean, (derrick, drilling, or rig floor) D.F. drill head the chuck on the bottom of the downhole assembly to which the bit is attached drill in to make a discovery by drilling into a productive reservoir drilling the act of creating a hole through the subsurface rocks. Drilling can be done with a cabletool rig that pounds a weighted, chisel-shaped bit down through the rocks, or a rotary rig that rotates a bit

diameter of 6'/4, 8, or 10 in., just slightly smaller than the well being drilled. The inner diameter is 2 V-A in. or 27/s in. The pin and box connections are cut from the pipe body. Drill collars can have slip and elevator recesses. Spiral-grooved drill collars are used to reduce contact with the well walls and reduce differential wall sticking. Nonmagnetic drill collars made of K-Monel are used on the lower end of a downhole assembly in directional drilling. Usually 2-30 drill collars are located on the drillstring. A square drill collar is used with a packed-hole assembly to control the direction of the well. DC drill collar safety clamps clamps that are bolttightened onto a drill collar and have two handles drill column the drillpipe and drill collars in the well drilled pilings heavy steel pins that are used to fix the jacket of an offshore platform to the seafloor. Holes are drilled into the seafloor through the supporting legs of the jacket using a slant rig. The piling pins are then inserted in the seafloor using a pile driver and then cemented. The pins are bolted to the jacket. drilled solids well cuttings from subsurface formations. driller an employee of the drilling contractor who is directly responsible for the rig and its crew on that tour or shift. The driller is responsible for the drilling operations on the drill floor and operates the hoist and rotary equipment. This is done from the driller's position on the drill floor near the driller's console on a land rig, and in the control cabin or doghouse on an offshore rig. The driller is also responsible for preparing the driller's report and pipe measurements. The driller is accountable to the toolpusher at the rig. (digger) DRLG or drlr

driller's console (Cities Service) driller's BOP control panel a series of controls used to operate valves on the control manifold that directs hydraulic pressure to the closing elements of a blowout preventer stack on a drilling rig. The panel is located on the drill floor in contrast to the remote BOP control panel that is located away from the drilling rigdriller's console or control panel the control panel on the drill floor that contains the drilling gauges that record pump pressure, pump speed, drillstring rotary torque, drillstring rotary speed, tong torque

drilling ahead drilling foreman on the bottom of a string of steel pipe in the well to chip and flake the rock. DRLG, drlg, Drig, Drig., or drg drilling ahead to drill a straight hole without a deviation along a length of the well drilling and belling tool a large-diameter drill in the shape of a cylinder that is used to dig holes in the sea bottom for offshore piles. After the tool digs out the hole to a depth of several hundred feet, cutting blades are extended out the sides of the tool to dig a large cavity at the bottom of the hole. This cavity is used to cement the piles in place. drilling and operating restrictions provisions by a government regulatory agency or lessor that regulate the drilling and operating activities of the lessee. These can include provisions for damage to crops or burying pipelines. drilling and rental clause an oil and gas lease provision that provides for the payment of a specific sum of money (delay rental) to the lessor by the lessee at certain times in order to maintain a lease during its primary term if either production or drilling, depending on the lease terms, has not commenced. (delay rental clause and drilling clause) drilling and spacing unit the acreage upon which only one producing well from a certain producing zone can be located. The drilling and spacing unit is set by a government regulatory agency. Forty acres is common for an oil well and 640 ac for a gas well. (proration unit) DSU drilling barge a general term for any floating drilling rig. DB drilling block the area where an exploratory well is proposed drilling bond an indemnity bond that is required by some states when a well is drilled drilling break a sudden increase in the rate of drillbit penetration. A drilling break could be caused by subsurface layers of different rocks, a porous zone, or a zone of abnormal high pressure. DB drilling capacity the maximum depth to which a specific rig is designed and equipped to drill drilling clause see drilling and rental clause drilling collision a well drilled into another well (intersection) drilling contract an agreement between a drilling contractor and the operator that holds the mineral rights or represents the mineral rights owner of a lease to drill a well in a specific location to a certain depth or horizon. The drilling contract defines the obligations and rights of each party. Compensation for drilling is structured on a footage (by-the-foot to TD), daywork (by-the-days drilling to TD), or turnkey (fixed amount) basis. The International Association of Drilling Contractors has a standard drilling contract form. drilling contractor the person or company that owns and operates a drilling rig drilling control a hydraulic or pneumatic device that is connected to the drawworks brake handle on a drilling rig and maintains a predetermined weight on the bit without input from the driller (automatic driller or automatic drilling control unit)

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drilling costs monies spent per foot or meter of hole drilled drilling crew one of three or four teams that drill shot holes on a seismic crew using explosives drilling curve a plot of well depth versus drilling time drilling-delay rental clause an oil and gas lease provision that enables the lessee to maintain the lease during the primary term without commencing drilling by periodically making payments called delay rentals drilling department the part of an oil company that is responsible for the operational details of drilling and completing wells. The drilling department is headed by a drilling superintendent or manager who is a petroleum engineer. The department also includes an assistant drilling superintendent or manager and several drilling engineers or supervisors. There can also be a materials supervisor along with the support personnel. The drilling department keeps in constant communication with rig operations, (operations department) drilling efficiency the number of wells drilled per drilling rig per year drilling engineer a petroleum engineer who specializes in the mechanics and techniques of drilling a well drilling exponent a calculated number that is used to detect undercompacted shale with abnormally high pressure. The drilling exponent is calculated by log (j^\ divided by log (^\ in which R = drilling rate in ft/hr, K is rock drillability with shale about 1, N is rotary speed in rpm, W is weight on bit in pounds, and D is bit diameter in inches, d exponent drilling floor see drill floor drilling fluid the fluid circulated down the well during rotary drilling to a) cool and lubricate the bit and b) remove the well cuttings. Some drilling fluids can also 1) control subsurface fluids and 2) build a filter cake along the well walls. Three types of drilling fluids are a) water-base muds, b) oil-base muds, and c) gas. The drilling muds are the most common. The salinity of the waters in water-base muds ranges from fresh to brines. If oil is present, water is the continuous phase in an oil-base mud. Solids in the drilling mud include clays such as bentonite and additives. Gas includes both air and natural gas. The gas can be a) dry gas, b) mist, c) foam, and d) stable foam. If water is present when drilling with gas, a water-foaming agent is used. DFLD drilling-fluids engineer an engineer who works for a service company, drilling contractor, or operator on a drilling rig and is in charge of the drilling fluid. The drilling-fluids engineer prepares, tests, and adjusts or conditions the drilling fluid as the well is drilled. The drilling fluids engineer works with all types of drilling fluids including water, air, natural gas, and foam in contrast to a mud engineer or mud man. drilling-fluid weight recorder an instrument located on the circulating system of a rotary drilling rig that continuously measures the drilling-mud density drilling foreman see toolpusber

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drilling fund drilling record emulsion mud is made with water at the continuous phase and 5%-l 0% oil as the dispersed phase. A typical bentonite drilling mud weighs 9-10 lbs/gal in contrast to fresh water that weighs 8.3 lbs/gal. A heavy drilling mud can weight 15-20 lbs/gal, (gel or mud) DM drilling operation the erection of a drilling rig with support equipment in the boring into the subsurface. drilling operations clause an oil and gas lease provision that maintains the lease after the primary term of the lease has expired if drilling that commenced before the primary term expired is still occurring on the lease. If the well that was being drilled as the primary term expired does not obtain commercial production, the lease expires. In the similar, but different, continuous-drilling operations clause in an oil and gas lease, any well drilled on that lease after the primary term expires that obtains commercial production will maintain that lease as long as drilling on that lease did not cease for longer than a specified time after the primary term expired. drilling option a contract in which a party that drills a well and shares that information with another party will receive a farmout from that party. (farmout option) drilling out drilling the cement out of casing after a cement job or to drill a cement plug in a well drilling party 1) a company that is obliged to contribute money to drilling in a unit operating agreement 2) any company or individual that agrees to join in and share the costs of any operation under a joint operating agreement. Drilling party is in contrast to nondrilling party, (consentingparty) 3) the operator of a well being drilled drilling permit the authorization from a government regulatory agency to drill a well. The drilling permit lists the location and depth of the well. (wellpermit) drilling platform an offshore drilling structure with legs attached to the sea bottom. See steel template jacket platform and gravity base platform. Drilling Porosity Log a porosity log that is computed from drilling parameters such as rate of penetration, rotary speed, weight on bit, and pump pressure and strokes. DPL drilling program see drilling fund drilling prospect a location or tract of land that has both economic and geological potential for drilling a commercial well. A drilling prospect can be either explorational or developmental. drilling rate the rate, usually expressed in minutes per foot, that the bit is penetrating the subsurface rock. Drilling rate is recorded on a drilling-time log. (penetration rate) drilling-rate curve see drilling-time curve drilling recorder a chart recorder that is capable of recording up to ten drilling parameters on a drilling rig. A drilling recorder normally records a) rotary speed, b) rotary torque, c) pump speed, d) pump pressure, e) hook load, and f) weight-on-bit along with g) the time to drill each foot. A six-pen single recorder records a) hook load, b) penetration, c) rotary rpm, d) rotary torque, e) pump SPM, and 0 pump pressure. Total depth is read to the nearest
Vio of a foot, (geolograph)

drilling fund a variety of techniques used to obtain venture capital from investors for drilling oil and gas wells. The most common drilling funds are limited partnerships and joint ventures. The drilling fund can be either private or public, which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, (drilling program) drilling hose see rotary or mud hose drilling in drilling into a producing formation drilling island an artificial island that was constructed in shallow water to serve as a foundation for drilling wells. An ice island is used in Arctic waters. drilling jar a tool that is used to deliver a sharp, upward blow to free stuck pipe in a well. The drilling jar consists of a mandrel that slides in a sleeve with a hammer end. Types of drilling jars include a) mechanical, b) hydraulic or oil jar, and c) hydromechanical. The drilling jar can be run on a drillstring and is located three or four drill collars below the top of the drill collars. The drilling jar is also used to free a stuck bit in a tapered hole or a bit stuck on a ledge or by cuttings or cavings. drilling line heavy-duty wire rope on a rotary drilling rig that is used to raise and lower equipment in a well. Drilling line is usually braided steel wire that ranges in diameter between Vi and 2 in. and is commonly between 1 and 15/S in. Drilling line is identified by the number of strands and the number of wires in each strand. It is a round-strand type that is usually wound in a right-regular lay and is typically 6 x 19 with an independent wire-rope core. Drilling line is also described by nominal diameter, mass/unit length, and nominal strength, (hoisting, rotary, or block line or hoisting cable ) drilling liner a liner used when drilling in areas of hard rock that serves the same function as intermediate or protective casing to isolated zones such as lost circulation or abnormal high-pressure zones in the well. The liner does not extend to the surface in contrast to a casing string. drilling log 1) a record of the rate of penetration of drill bit with depth in the well plotted in minutes per foot drilled. The drilling log is used to a) accurately determine the top and bottom elevation of formations by the change (drilling break) in drilling rate, b) locate porous zones in dense rocks, and c) identify lithologies. The drilling log was originally made in the 1920s by marking 1-ft intervals on the kelly and timing each mark to the kelly bushing. Since 1943, drilling logs have been recorded mechanically by such devices as a Geolograph. (chilling-time log) DTML 2) see drilling report drilling mud a mud that is circulated in the well during drilling to a) cool and lubricate the bit, b) remove the well cuttings, c) control subsurface fluids, and d) build a filter cake along the well walls. Drilling mud is either a) water-base (fresh to saline water), b) oil-base (usually diesel oil), or c) emulsion mud. The mud contains clays such as bentonite or attapulgite to give it weight, viscosity and yield strength. The clays can be either native or, most commonly, commercial. Various chemicals and substances called additives can be added to change the properties of the drilling mud such as density and water loss. The oil-base mud is commonly called an invert mud. An

drilling report drillpipe drilling report an abbreviated record of the drilling operations and progress during a tour or shift on a drilling rig. The drilling report is similar to a daily drilling report and is used by the toolpusher to make that report. The drilling report includes geological and mechanical information such as formation encountered, footage drilled, mud tests, oil and gas shows, and equipment breakdowns, along with a drilling time log. The report also includes the names of crew members, hours worked, list of pipe and downhole equipment used, ton-miles of drilling line used, and general maintenance and repair. The report is signed by the driller, toolpusher, and company representative. A copy is kept on the rig. (driller's log or report, tour report or drilling log) drilling rig the equipment used in drilling a well. Two types of drilling rigs are cable tool (an older method) and rotary. The cable-tool rig raises and lowers a wedge-shaped weight on a cable in the well to pulverize the rocks. The rotary rig, which is commonly used today, turns a length of steel pipe (called the drillstring) to rotate a rotary bit that chips away at the rocks at the bottom of the well. The four major systems on a rotary drilling rig are the prime movers, hoisting, rotating, and circulating. drilling rod a 15-18-ft section of solid, wrought iron about 1 in. in diameter that was used to connect the tools to the walking beam of a cable-tool rig. Drilling rods were used in some early versions of the cabletool rig and were later replaced by Manila rope. (boring rod) drilling spool 1) the drum in the drawworks of a rotary drilling rig that holds the drilling line. See drum 2) a large, spool-shaped metal pipe that is used between the preventer elements on a blowoutpreventer stack to attach choke and kill lines. The choke and kill lines can attach to one spool or two spools with a blowout preventer in between. The spools can be studded, flanged, or clamp-on connected. The spool has an internal diameter equal to the bore of the blowout preventers, (cross or spacer spool or spool) drilling superintendent the person in charge of a contractor's or oil company's drilling department drilling supervisor a drilling engineer who reports to the drilling superintendent of a drilling contractor or an oil company. The drilling supervisor is in charge of the drilling crews and their procedures. drilling tender a support ship for an offshore drilling operation. The tender can contain mud tanks, cementing equipment, storage, power, or other auxiliary equipment. drilling the well in an old method of drilling into a high-pressure hydrocarbon zone and allowing the well to blow in while collecting the oil in ponds and drainage ditches around the well until the well is capped drilling-time curve the rate, usually expressed in minutes per foot, that the bit is penetrating the subsurface rock. The drilling-time curve is recorded on a drilling-time log. (drilling-rate curve) drilling-time log a record of the rate of drill-bit penetration with depth in a well, plotted in minutes per foot drilled. The drilling log is used to a) accurately
DRILLING TIME- MINUTES/FT. 6000 0 2 4 6 8 10

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6050

6)00 drilling time log

determine the top and bottom elevation of formations by the change (drilling break) in drilling rate, b) locate porous zones in dense rocks, and c) identify lithologies. The drilling-time log was originally made in the 1920s by marking 1-ft intervals on the kelly and timing each mark to the kelly bushing. Since 1943, drilling-time logs have been recorded mechanically by such devices as a geolograph. (drilling log) DTML drilling unit 1) the area or drilling and spacing unit fixed by a government regulatory agency for drilling one well 2) a drilling rig 3) the entire barge, jackup, semisubmersible, or drillship used in offshore drilling drill or forfeit lease a type of oil and gas lease that requires the lessee to drill a well on the lease within a specific time or loose (forfeit) the lease. The drill or forfeit lease is in contrast to a drill or pay lease. drill or pay lease a type of oil and gas lease that requires the lessee to drill a well on the lease within a specific time or pay delay rentals to the lessor. The drill or pay lease is in contrast to a drill or forfeit lease. drill off to fill the well with well cuttings drilloff test a test run on a rotary drilling rig to determine the response of bit penetration rate to weight on bit. A large weight on the bit is applied and the drawworks break is locked. The decrease in weight on bit with time is measured while maintaining constant rotary speed. Drill-o-graph an instrument on a drilling rig that records the drilling-time log drill-out or drill out 1) to use the drill bit on the drillstring to remove a plug in the well 2) to drill as many wells as permitted

drillpipe

drillpipe a section of hot-rolled, pierced, seamless, high-strength steel pipe (some are made of aluminum)

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drillpipe or drill-pipe cutter drillstem safety valve

that is made in several sizes but is commonly 30 ft (31ft with the tool joints) long. Outer diameters range from 2% to 6% in. Common sizes include y/i in. with 133 lb/ft nominal weight, 4Vi in. with 16.6 lb/ft nominal weight, and 5 in. with 19.5 Mb nominal weight. Wall thickness ranges from 0.362 to 0.415 in. and the inner diameter from 2.151 to 4.670 in. Drillpipe grade (D, E, X, G, and S) identifies the minimum yield strength of the pipe. Class 1 (new, premium), Class 2, and Class 3 are used to describe drillpipe wear. Drillpipe ranges are 1 (18-22 ft), 2 (27-30 ft) and 3 (38-45 ft). The American Petroleum Institute has a color-coding system for drillpipe classification. Each grade and size is specified by a) nominal weight per foot or meter, b) internal diameter, c) collapse resistance, d) internal yield pressure, and e) pipebody yield strength. Drillpipe usually has tool joints welded on both ends. The drillpipe is part of the drillstring that is rotated by a rotary drilling rig to turn a bit on the bottom of the well to cut the well. Each section of drillpipe is called a joint. DP or D.P. drillpipe or drill-pipe cutter a fishing tool that is rotated on a fishing string to mechanically cut, either externally or internally, stuck pipe in a well Drill Pipe Log a type of well log made by a tape recorder as the drillstring is tripped out of the well. The tool is lowered down the center of the drillstring and the flexible electrodes are pumped through a port in the bit. The drillpipe log records spontaneous potential and short and long resistivity measurements. drillpipe or drill-pipe elevators elevators that are usually center-latched and clamped onto squareshouldered or taper-shouldered drillpipe tool joints. The drillpipe elevators are attached to the traveling block or triple hook by two elevator links that are forged steel bars with eyes on both ends. The elevators are used to raise or lower drillpipe in the well. drillpipe or drill-pipe mill a device that has tungsten-carbide cutting edges and is rotated on the bottom of a fishing string to grind or pulverize (mill) sections of drillpipe stuck in a well drillpipe or drill-pipe protector a rubber or steel sleeve that can be attached to a joint of drillpipe to reduce wear by friction in a cased hole drillpipe or drill-pipe safety valve a valve with threads that match those on the drillstring. The drillpipe safety valve is kept on the drilling-rig floor and is used to close the drillstring during a kick. drillpipe or drill-pipe tongs wrench-like devices used on the floor of a drilling rig to screw togetner (make up) and unscrew (break out) joints of drillpipe, collars, and casing. Two sets are required. The breakout tongs unscrew the pipe, whereas the backup tongs keep the pipe steady so that it can be screwed or unscrewed. When the pipe is screwed together, the backup tongs become the makeup tongs, and the breakout tongs become the backup tongs. drillship or drill ship a ship with a drilling rig aboard. Drillships are commonly 200-450 ft long. The well is drilled through a hole (moon pool) in the hull from a derrick mounted on the ship's center of buoyancy. A marine riser is used to connect the ship to the wellhead on the seafloor and complete the closed system for circulating drilling mud. Heave compensators and a telescoping joint are used to

drillship

drillship

compensate for wave motions. Drillships are used for drilling in deep water and use eight anchors or dynamic positioning with a ship-board computer and thrusters to keep the ship directly above the drillsite. A drillship is not as stable as a jackup rig or semisubmersible when drilling. DS drillsite 1) the exact location of a proposed well 2) the oil and gas lease on which a proposed well is located drillsite arrangement an agreement in which the lessee assigns all of his interest in a drillsite along with a fractional interest in the remaining portion of the lease, reserving an overriding royalty or net-profits interest in the drillsite drillsite royalty a payment (royalty) made to the lessor in order to locate a well on one tract of land and drill a deviated hole to produce oil from under another tract of land drillsite title opinion a thorough analysis by an attorney, usually in the form of a letter, concerning the title of the land, mineral rights, and working interests, along with any provisions for a lease on which drilling is about to start drillstem or drill stem 1) all the rotating pipe on a rotary drilling rig from the kelly to the drill bit. The drillstem includes the kelly, drillpipe, drill collars, subs such as stabilizers, reamers, keyseat wiper, and hole opener and the bit. 2) on a cable-tool rig, the drillstem is the heavy, solid steel shaft with a chisel point into which the bit jars are screwed. The drillstem puts weight on the bit and was also called an auger stem or sinker bar guide. The drillstem is 5 in. in diameter and 30-40 ft long. DS or D.S. drillstem pressure loss the pump pressure necessary to circulate drilling fluid from the bottom of the kelly, down the drillstring to the drill bit drillstem safety valve a short sub containing a fullbore ball valve that is activated by drilling mud

drillstem or drill stem test drillstring float or drillstring float valve pressure and is located just below the kelly saver sub. When the mud pumps are pumping, the valve is open. When the pumps are stopped, the valve closes. This prevents drilling mud from flowing out of the kelly when it is unscrewed from the drillstring to make a connection. The drillstem safety valve also acts as a safety valve to prevent high pressure mud from flowing up the drillstring. The valve can be closed with a hexagonal wrench to remove the kelly under pressure and can be stripped in the well during snubbing, (lower kelly valve)

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are measured. The flow rates are controlled by an adjustable choke. The sample of the formation fluids is collected near the end of the final flow period. During the final shut-in (FSI), the tool is closed. If liquid flows to the surface, it is sent to a separator where the gas is metered and the liquids gauged. The results are reported in amount of fluid flowing through a choke in a certain amount of time. If it does not flow to the surface, the driller measures the height of liquid in the drillstem by counting the stands of pipe in the derrick. The test determines the type of fluids in the formation and how fast they can be produced. Pressure records made during the drillstem test are used to calculate the formation pressure, permeability, and the amount of formation damage. DST or D.S.T.

drillstem test chart

drillstem or drill stem test a method used to temporarily complete a recently drilled formation in a well in order to evaluate it. The test can be made either in an open hole or in a case hole with perforations. A flow string, usually a drillstring, or sometimes a tubing string, is used to carry the packer(s), perforated pipe, pressure gauges, and valve assembly into the well. Packers are used to isolate the formation from drilling-mud pressure. A hookwall or casing-packer test is used in a cased well. An openhole, single-packer test with one compressional packer is used when the formation is on or near the bottom of the well. An openhole, double-packer, or straddle-packer test with two packers is used when the formation is located off the bottom of the well. A cone-packer test is used over a core hole and a wall-over-cone packer test is used over a core hole with a soft shoulder. During the test, formation fluids are allowed to flow into the drillstem, and a sampling chamber is used to collect uncontaminated formation fluids at the end of the test. A Bourdon tube pressure recorder is used in the drillstring to record well pressures on a black, coated-metal chart by a movable stylus that is driven by a mechanical clock. The time of the test is limited by the chart space on the downhole recorder. The test is run from 20 minutes to three days. The important measurements are a) initial hydrostatic pressure, b) initial flow pressure, c) initial shut-in pressure, d) final shut-in pressure, e) final flow pressure, and f) final hydrostatic pressure. The pressures are recorded on a pressure-buildup curve. The drillstem test is run in four steps. There is an initial flow (IF) period in which the tool is opened for usually 5-15 minutes but can be up to 60 minutes. The tool is then shut in for the initial shut-in (ISI) that lasts twice as long as the flow period while the bottomhole pressure is recorded along with surface shut-in and flowing pressure. The tool is then opened again for the final flow (FF) for 30 minutes to 24 hours while the flow rates, pressures, and volumes

drillstem test tool

drillstem or drill stem test tool the tool used to run a drillstem test. The tool has three or four valves, a packer or packers, perforated anchor pipe, and up to three pressure recorders. The valves include a bypass or equalizing valve, a main test valve, a circulating valve, and sometimes a disc-type valve. A safety joint is run above the packer. DSTT drillstring or drill string 1) the entire drillstem including kelly, drillpipe, drill collars, the bit, and subs such as stabilizers, reamers, key seat wiper, and hole opener on a rotary drilling rig. The term drillstring comes from cable-tool drilling and refers to the drilling bit, stem, jars, and rope socket below the drilling line. 2) the drillpipe 3) the drillpipe and drill collars drillstring compensator a passive device that is used to nullify rig heave on an offshore drilling rig. The types are a) deadline, b) crown block, and c) traveling block. All are air-spring tensioning with a set tension level. DSC drillstring drag the actual surface load required to raise or lower a drillstring in a well minus the drillstring's neutral weight drillstring float or drillstring float valve a check valve that is used in the drillstring to allow drilling fluids to be pumped down the well but to prevent fluids from flowing up the inside of the drillstring (backpressure valve)

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drill through drop off drive casing see drive pipe driven to grade piles or pins in the legs of an offshore platform jacket that have been pile driven to the desired depth. The piles or pins are cemented into the seafloor and bolted to the jacket. driven to refusal a point in which hammering the drive pipe or casing down in the ground has little effect. It is commonly measured in hammer blows per foot of penetration and is often 140-150 ft. driven well a well that is made by driving casing without any drilling rig drive-in unit a self-propelled service unit or workover rig that has the cab and steering on the same end as the mast. The drive-in unit is in contrast to a back-in unit. drive pipe 1) a short string (20-100 ft) of largediameter pipe or casing with 26-42 in. outside diameter that is often formed by several joints welded together and is pounded into the ground with a diesel hammer until driven to refusal. Drive casing is used to start a well only in areas of vegetation and very soft ground. It prevents a washout and provides a conduit for drilling mud circulating back into the mud tanks. No wellhead equipment is mounted on the drive pipe. The drive pipe is pile driven to the seafloor from a production platform, (drive casing or stove pipe) D.P. 2) An old name for thick casing with a sharp shoe that was used when the casing had to be driven into the well. driver the prime mover on a pump drive rollers wheels or cylinders that are mounted in the kelly bushing and contact the kelly. Drive rollers allow the kelly to move up and down inside the kelly bushing, (kelly bushing rollers) drive shaft a rod that transmits rotational power drive shoe a short section of closed pipe that forms the protective end of a drive pipe or casing when it is run (casing shoe) drive unit the engines for a deep drilling rig drive water pressurized water that is injected into a reservoir from injection wells to push slugs of chemicals and oil toward producing wells during enhanced oil recovery drk 1) dark 2) derrick Drk. derrick drl drill DRLD or drld drilled DRLG or drlg drilling
DRL-L driller's log DRL-M drilling media

drill through a fitting that has a full, round bore that allows a drillstring to pass through drill-through-the-leg platform an offshore production platform in which the legs serve as large conductor pipe and contain several well slots. The platform has two large-diameter legs for drilling and two smaller diameter, sloped legs. These types of platforms were designed to resist underwater mudslides. drill to granite to drill a well to basement rock drill under pressure to rotary drill while maintaining a high pressure in the well by using a rotating head for a seal. Drilling under pressure increases the rate of penetration. drill water the liquid in water-base drilling muds. The water can vary in salinity from fresh through sea-water and brines. drillwell the hole in the hull of a drillship or semisubmersible through which the drilling occurs. The drillwell is located on the center of gravity of a floating rig and is generally 20-25 ft in diameter. (moon pool, moonpool or moonwell) drip 1) a small tank on a pipeline that traps liquids condensing out of gas flowing through the pipeline 2) equipment in the form of iron tubes that was used on gas wells to separate condensate and water from the gas. It had four vertical iron tubes with the inner two tubes connected with a cross tube through which the gas flowed. The liquid would accumulate in a tube called the tail piece that was occasionally blown out. 3) see separator drip gasoline liquid hydrocarbons of very light crude oil composition that occur as a gas under subsurface reservoir conditions (high temperature and pressure) and condense into a liquid upon production and surface conditions. Gas condensate typically grade from colorless to light-colored liquids with tints of red, green, or blue. Condensates have very high API that range between 45 and 60 and are very valuable commercially. Natural gas that contains gas condensate is called wet gas. If condensate is recovered on the lease with standard field separator equipment, it is often combined and recorded with the crude oil. The Natural Gas Processors Association has defined drip gasoline as having a vapor pressure between 10-34 psi, a percentage evaporated at 104F of 24%-85%, a percentage evaporated at 275F of not less than 90%, and an end point in distillation of not higher than 375F. Retrograde gas is the preferred term for dip gasoline, (casinghead, natural, raw or wild gasoline, drips, condensate, gas condensate, distillate, gas distillate, retrograde gas, or white oil) drips 1) a separator 2) see drip gasoline Dri-spiral a horizontal absorber-contractor that uses absorption, centrifuging, and blending for gas dehydration drive the natural energy or pressure on the oil in a subsurface reservoir that causes the oil to flow through the reservoir rock and into a well. The most common are dissolved gas, free gas cap, water, and gravity. Gas reservoirs have a gas expansion drive. drive block a heavy weight used to pound conductor casing into the ground drive bushing see kelly drive bushing

DRLR or drlr driller DRM detrital remanent magnetism drng drainage DROI discounted return on investment drop tTo drop a weight to generate seismic energy using a thumper type of seismic exploration system drop a line to gauge a tank drop off the part of a wellbore in which the inclination decreases toward vertical

dropped coverage dry-hole agreement dropped coverage a section of the seismic line that was not shot because of access, permit, or other problems drop point the surface location of a weight drop using a thumper type of seismic exploration system drop time the time that it takes a go-devil instrument to fall through a drillstem to its location in a well dropping-the-plug technique a method of emplacing a cement slurry in a well with a lost circulation problem. The cement slurry plug is heavier than the drilling mud and sinks through the drilling mud to the lost circulation zone. drop weight a heavy weight of lead or cast iron that can be released from the bottom of a semisubmersible to give it more buoyancy drowned a well that produces too much water to make production profitable drowning the flowage of water from the wellbore into an oil formation drowning out the gas zone the restriction of gas flow from a low-pressure, low-volume gas zone from flowing into a flowing oil well by oil from another reservoir in the well drpd dropped DRRK derrick dru drusy drum 1) a metal shipping barrel. A drum is usually larger (about 55 gal) than the barrel (42 gal) used to measure oil volume. 2) the cylinder of a hoisting system such as the drawworks on a drilling rig where the wire rope is wound. The hoisting drum on the drawworks is designed for a) maximum barrel diameter, b) length between flanges, and c) adequate breaking surface. The drum has a spiral groove to start the first wrap of wire rope. 3) a separator drum brake the apparatus used to slow or stop the rotation of a drum on a hoisting system. Mechanical and electrodynamic brakes are used on the drawworks on a drilling rig. drunken thread an irregularity on the threads of a pin drusy a rock that contains irregular cavities with mineral crystals lining the walls and projecting into the cavities dru

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used and is blended with oil. The dry acid will not react with the carbonate reservoir until contacted with water in the formation. dry-bed dehydrator a contactor vessel that contains a layer of a solid material, such as silica gel that removes liquid from gas that is passed down through it dry box method the removal of H2S from sour gas by passing the gas through a bed of wood chips impregnated with iron oxide in a contactor. The bed must be kept moist with a small stream of soda ash solution. The iron oxide can be regenerated with air. (iron oxide method)

dry completion

drusy cement

drusy cement a type of cement found in limestones in which the cement crystals line the surfaces of larger particles and protrude as teeth into the pore spaces DRY dry hole dry a pump with no fluid to pump (starved) dry acid an oil-soluble, nonaqueous acid that is used for acidizing carbonate reservoirs. Acetic acid is often

dry completion a subsea completion that has an atmospheric chamber surrounding the subsea completion system. Divers can assemble and service the wellhead in the gas atmosphere contained in the chamber. The dry completion is in contrast to the more common wet completion. dry drilling drilling in which no drilling fluid is circulated back to the surface dry gas or dry natural gas 1) natural gas that contains no or insignificant amounts of liquid hydrocarbons and is over 95% methane. Dry gas contains less than 0.1 gal of natural gas liquids per Mcf. Ethane, propane, and butane can be present in minor amounts. Dry gas is in contrast to wet gas. 2) natural gas with water removed. DGAS or DG dry gas reservoir a gas reservoir in which a decline in reservoir pressure will not result in formation of a condensate in the reservoir. Condensate can form, however, on the surface with a drop in temperature. The reservoir temperature is above the cricondentherm. dry hole 1) a well that did not encounter commercial amounts of gas or oil. (duster or wet well) 2) a well being drilled without circulating drilling fluid and very little or no ground water in the well. DRY dry-hole agreement a type of support agreement between two parties in which the supporting party receives geological or drilling information in return for a promise to make a cash contribution to the drilling party if a dry hole is drilled. In a dry-hole donation letter, a party that owns leases in the area agrees to contribute a sum of money to drill a well to a specified depth on a lease that it does not own if the well turns out to be a dry hole. The party that made the dry-hole contribution usually receives copies of the well logs from the dry hole. In a dry-hole

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dry-hole clause DUAL the pressure is flat on the pressure chart, and there is zero pressure when the tester is opened during the flow period dry tree a Christmas tree-type of completion of valves, chokes, and gauges over a flowing well on land or on a dry completion on the seafloor. Dry tree is in contrast to a wet tree on the sea bottom. dry watch the period of time in which a rig is not drilling and is shut down dry watchman the person who guards a shut-down drilling rig dry well a dry hole DS 1) directional survey 2) drillstem 3) drillship 4) dual seal ds dense D.S. drillstem DSA downhole seismic array DSC drillstring compensator DSD deep seated salt dome DSDP deep-sea drilling project dsgn design DSI drilling suspended indefinitely dsl diesel oil ds Is dense limestone dsmt dismantle DSN dual spaced neutron log DSN II dual-spaced neutron II log DSO dead oil show DSP deliverability standard pressure DSPL disposable well DSS days since spudded DST or D.S.T. drillstem test dstl distillate dstn distillation DSTT drillstem test tool DSU drilling and spacing unit DSV diving support vessel DT 1) drilling time 2) interval transit time 3) differential temperature log 4) drilled tight D/T driller's tops Dt true depth DTA differential thermal analysis DTD driller's total depth DTF t (interval transit time) of fluid DTH down the hole DTIM drilling time DTL 1) differential temperature log 2) drill-throughleg platform 3) dual-spaced thermal decay log DTM t (interval transit time) of mud DTML drilling-time log DTOP driller's tops DTOR downhole torque dtr detrital. DTS s-wave interval transit time DUAL dually completed

purchase letter, a party agrees to contribute a sum of money to drill a well to a specified depth on a lease that it does not own if the well turns out to be a dry hole. In return, the driller transfers or sells specific leases or portions of leases to the party that made the dry-hole contribution. dry-hole clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that defines what a lessee must do to maintain that lease during the primary term if a dry hole is drilled. The provision can be to make a delay rental payment at a specific time. It can also provide for the suspension of the delay rental payment in a year in which a dry hole was drilled with delay rentals effective in later years. dry-hole contribution see dry-bole support dry-hole costs the cost of drilling a well up to the casing point not including lease costs dry-hole donation letter or dry-hole letter a type of dry-hole agreement in which a party owning leases in the area agrees to pay a specific amount of money (dry-hole money) to drill a well on a lease that it does not own if that well is a dry hole. Usually the party that contributes the dry-hole money receives copies of the well logs from the dry hole. dry hole or dry-hole money the amount of money specified in a support agreement between two parties to be paid by the supporting parn to the drilling party if the well drilled is a dry hole. DHM dry-hole plug a cement plug that is emplaced into a dry hole in order to prevent salt waters from flowing up the well and polluting fresh water reservoirs. The plug is required by a government regulatory agency. dry-hole purchase letter a type of dry-hole agreement in which a party agrees to pay a specific amount of money if a well drilled on a lease that it does not own is a dry hole. In return, the driller agrees to transfer or sell leases or portions of leases to the party that makes the dry-hole contribution. dry-hole support consideration, usually money (dry-hole money), given by one party to another party in a support agreement after a well is drilled to contract depth, necessary tests are run, and the well is plugged and abandoned as a dry hole. The consideration is not given if the well is completed as a producer, (dryhole contribution) dry oil crude oil that contains less than a specified amount of basic sediment and water. The specified amount is defined by contract and can be 1%. (clean oil) dry pipe drillpipe without drilling mud in it dry plugging the sticking and plugging of fine particles in a hydrocyclone such as a desander or desilter dry pumping the pumping of a well when the level of liquid in the well is below the downhole pump. Dry pumping can damage the downhole pump. dry storage the supplies of dry cement, drilling mud materials, and additives that are stored in sacks, tanks, or silos dry string a string of pipe without any drilling mud in it. Dry string is in contrast to a wet string. dry test a drillstem test with no formation fluid flowing from the test zone into the drillstem tool.

dual completion or dually completed well


TUBING STRINGS CASING

ductile

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with a gamma ray or spontaneous potential curve.


DLL

dual completion

dual completion or dually completed well a well completed to produce from two separate pay zones. The zones are separated by tubing packers in the well and the oil and gas is brought up the well in separate strings of tubing and stored in separate tanks. The tubing strings have 2-2 V4 in. outer diameters which are smaller than usual. Dual completion is in contrast to a commingled well in which the oil and gas from different zones are mixed. DUAL or DC Dual Dipmeter a stratigraphic high resolution dipmeter tool that uses four dual electrodes on pads to record eight microconductivity curves for highdensity dip calculations. The tool orientation is made by a triaxial accelerometer and three magnetometers. dual emulsion an emulsion in which the external phase is oil and the dispersed phase is an oil-in-water emulsion. dual-fuel engine a prime mover on a beam pumping unit that can use either natural gas or gasoline dual guard log a shallow and very deep guard log that measures formation resistivity. The dual guard log is recorded with a gamma ray and/or spontaneous potential log. dual induction laterolog see dual laterlog DIU* dual induction log or dual induction focused log a type of wireline log that induces an electric current into the rocks adjacent to the wellbore. Two induction curves of electrical conductivity of different depths of investigation, a deep investigation (lid) and a medium investigation (Ilm), are recorded. The log is usually run along with a spontaneous potential and a focused, shallow resistivity log such as a shallow laterolog or guard log. The dual induction log is used when drilling fluid invasion is great and is used primarily for a) determining true resistivity, b) correlation, and c) determining the distance of drilling mud invasion. DIV dual laterolog a focused log that records deep and shallow resistivities. A dual laterolog is used with high resistivities and deep invasion. The dual laterolog records both a deep and shallow laterolog curve along

dual polarity vertical section a velocity analysis display of seismic data with the peaks of normal polarity filled in with one color and the troughs reversed and filled in with another color dual porosity compensated neutron log a compensated neutron log that has two thermal and two epithermal neutron detectors. Two porosities are derived. In a clean formation, the porosities agree. In a shaly formation, the epithermal-derived porosity reads lower than the thermal and agrees more with a density-derived porosity. dual-spaced density log a compensated formation density log dual-spaced thermal decay log a compensated log of the pulsed-neutron type dual-spaced neutron log a compensated neutron porosity log. DSN Dual-Spacing Decay Time log a compensated log of the pulsed-neutron type. TDT dual-spacing formation density log a compensated formation density log dual-string Christmas tree or wellhead a series of valves, gauges, and chokes that are attached to the top of a well that produces from two different zones through two different strings of tubing. A dual string Christmas tree is used to regulate the flow from both zones and has two master valves to control each production string along with two production wing valves. dual system a drilling rig that uses rotary equipment to drill to the pay zone and cable-tool equipment to drill the pay zone (standard tool drilling-in outfit) dual water method a method used for computer analysis of well logs in shaly formations. Water in shaly formations is considered to occur as both a) water bound to clay minerals with a conductivity of Q.B and b) water at a distance from the clay minerals with a conductivity of formation water C,,-

duck's nest (off rotary drilling rig chart)

duck's nest 1) a tank for standby drilling mud 2) an overflow tank used during a gas kick 3) the crow's nest and the pigpen that goes around near the top of the derrick of a drilling rig 4) a small pit that is lined with fire brick. The wood, coal, or oil fuel for a steam rig was burned in the duck's nest. ductile a substance that rupturea above the yield point. A ductile substance is in contrast to a brittle substance.

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ductility dynadrill or Dyna-Drillu dump valve 1) a valve on a production vessel that is usually activated by a float to open at a high liquid level in the vessel and close at a low level. A dump valve is used on a separator to allows a specific volume of water or oil through the outlet. 2) a valve used on a positive displacement downhole motor to prevent the motor from running while tripping in and out. dune a mound of loose sand deposited and shaped by wind or flowing water Dunham's classification of limestones a limestone classification that is based on the presence of micrite or sparry calcite and whether the sandsized particles are mud or grain supported. Types of limestones include grainstone, packstone, wackestone, mudstone, and boundstone. duopoly a market with only two sellers in contrast to a monopoly or an oligopoly duplex pump a mud or slush pump that uses two reciprocating pistons that move back and forth in two removable liners. It is a double-acting pump; the pistons pump mud into the discharge line on both the forward and backward strokes. duster a well that did not encounter commercial amounts of oil or gas (dry hole or wet well) DRY dusting 1) air drilling with no water in the hole 2) the use of high-pressure air during air drilling to increase the drilling rate Dutchman 1) the threaded section of pipe or fitting that broke off in a collar or female connection. The Dutchman must be cut, burned, or chiseled out. 2) a short section that is used to lengthen equipment 3) a plate used to align two flanges DVI displaceable volume injected D.V. tool a stage cementing tool that is used for long casing strings to prevent weak formations from being exposed to high pressures during a cement job. The D.V. tool contains two sleeves, an upper and lower, that are held inside a collar with ports by shear pins. It is opened by a bomb, (stage cementer) DWA drilling with air dwks drawworks DWM drilling with mud dwn down DWO drilling with oil DWOB downhole weight on bit DWP dual wall packer DWSW drilling with salt water DWT 1) deadweight ton 2) deep well thermometer dwt deadweight tonnage DX distance dy dirty dye penetrant testing a nondestructive testing technique for metals. The metal is cleaned with a solvent, then the dye penetrant and a developer is applied. Metal flaws appear with bright colors, (liquidpenetrant testing) dynadrill or Dyna-Drill a type of positive displacement, downhole mud motor. The dynadrill is a three-stage motor assembly with a spiralled cavity lined with rubber along its length. Flowing mud drives

ductility the ability of a substance to deform and flow without visible fracturing dud a dry hole due diligence a comprehensive review and verification of data used in oil and gas reserve evaluations and the conclusions made from that data. The due diligence is made by a professional such as a geologist or petroleum engineer. Due diligence is often performed before a sale of interest in a property, acquisition, merger or loan. dull grading a system used to describe the wear on drilling bits. Dull grading is based on tooth, bearing, and gauge wear. The International Association of Drilling Contractor's dull grading ranges from T1-T8 for tooth dullness and B1-B8 for bearing condition. The scale on an insert bit ranges from TOTS. Bit wear increases the grading number. dulls worn drill bits dummy a blank tool that is used to fill a side pocket gas mandrel landing nipple dummy pump a tool that is run on a tubing string to check for leaks during acidizing and treating wells. The dummy pump has a fluid passage through a dummy or blanking tool. dump 1) an unintentional shutdown of a computer 2) a readout from data storage dump bailer a bailer that is run on a wireline and is designed to deposit fluids or cement slurry at a specific location in a well. The dump bailer is filled with cement and lowered to dump cement on a bridge or plug. dump box the box where the cuttings from a bailer on a cable-tool rig are dumped, (mud box) dump flood an unscientific and inefficient method of waterflooding an oil reservoir in order to produce more oil. A dump flood involves the cutting, shooting, or pulling of casing in a well to allow water to flow into a producing reservoir from a well. The water can flow from a water reservoir, located higher in the well from the producing reservoir, down the well and into the producing reservoir. This forces the oil through the reservoir rock toward producing wells. A dump flood often results in by-passing and wasted oil in the reservoir. dump gas the gas covered under a dump-gas contract dump-gas contract a gas purchase contract for gas left over after the specific amount of gas that a firmgas contract calls for is purchased. A dump-gas contract does not call for a specific amount of gas to be purchased and is usually at a lower price than the firm-gas contract price for gas. dump meter a type of flowmeter that uses a measured volume tank called a dump tank that is continuously being filled and emptied to measure the flow volume and rate dump oil crude oil shipped in barrels and not a pipeline dump tank a calibrated tank that is used in a lease automatic-custody transfer (LACT) unit to measure the volume of a liquid such as crude oil. The dump tank is continuously being filled and emptied to measure the flow volume with a dump meter, (measuring tank)

Dynaflex tool dysmigration a solid steel shaft mounted eccentrically in the cavity. The motor is driven at relatively low rpms and is used for directional drilling. Dynaflex tool a wireline tool that is used to kick off a deviated well

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dynameter card (dynagraph)

dynagraph a continuous record of the forces acting on a polished rod during the pumping cycle. The forces are measured with a dynamometer and recorded in reference to the sucker-rod position. The rod position is recorded on the abscissa and the load on the ordinate. A dynagraph is used to analyze stress and the downhole pump performance, (dynamometer card) dynamic compressor a rotary compressor that has a continuous gas flow. A dynamic compressor uses a spinning impeller that rotates on a shaft. Two types of dynamic compressors are centrifugal and axial. dynamic loading the sudden application of a weight dynamic positioning, positioning system, or stationing a method used to keep a drillship or semisubmersible on station. The early dynamic positioning systems used the angle on a taunt wire secured by a clump weight. The system is still used, but not in deep water, where a hydro-acoustic position system is used. Transponders or beacons are positioned on the seabed. The signals are picked up by hydrophones (usually four) on the semisubmersible or drillship and sent to a shipboard computer for processing. If the ship drifts off the

drillsite because of waves, currents, or wind, the computer detects the drift from the seabed sound transmissions and uses the ship's thrusters to put the drillship back on station. The thrusters have controlled-pitch propellers to adjust the position of the drillship. Another system uses prepositioned radio transmitters on fixed structures such as production platforms that transmit signals to the antenna on a vessel. This is used to determine range and bearing. (ask system) dp or DP system dynamic range the variation from the weakest to the strongest seismic signal that can be recorded. Dynamic range is about 40 dB on an analog recorder and 80 dB on a digital recorder using magnetic tape. dynamite a seismic source that is exploded with weights ranging from 100 g to a few kilograms on the ground surface or in a shot hole at the base of the weathered zone. Dynamite is composed of an absorbent, usually sodium nitrate and wood pulp, saturated with nitroglycerin. The advantage of dynamite is the wide range of seismic frequencies that are generated. Disadvantages include storage and transportation problems and shot hole drilling costs. Dynamite is not commonly used on marine surveys because of the bubble affect and environmental impact. dynamometer mechanical or electric instrument that measures load or stress. A dynamometer can be used on a sucker-rod pumping unit to monitor the downhole pump and rod string condition. The dynamometer is used as a rod weight indicator. It measures the load on the polished rod and forces such as peak load, peak torque, and horsepower requirements exerted on the pump system during the pumping cycle. The forces are recorded on a dynagraph or dynamometer card. dynamometer card see dynagraph dyne a force in the cgs system that gives a 1 gram weight an acceleration of 1 cm/s. Dyne has been replaced by the System International (SI) unit newton. dysaerobic water that is between aerobic and anaerobic in oxygen content. Dysaerobic has between 0.1 and 0.2 ml/1 dissolved oxygen. dysmigration the leakage of petroleum from a trap.

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E Ec

E l ) east 2) Young's modulus or modulus of elasticity 3) electric field strength 4) efficiency 5) experimental 6) force (electromotive) 7) energy 8) electrode 9) empirical 10) wave intensity 11) Eotvos unit 12) efficiency factor 13) gas expansion factor 14) exa-15) specific energy 16) effective elasticity e l ) effective 2) influx rate 3) cumulative influx 4) external boundary conditions 5) equivalent 6) electric 7) electrical 8) external 9) base of the natural logarithm (2.7182) EA expected allowable EA or Ea area sweep efficiency ea earthy ea. each early mature a stage in kerogen maturation between immature and peak mature. During early mature, the source rock has generated some oil or gas but has not reached peak generation. Early mature is 2.2-2.3 on the Thermal Alteration Index, 0.5-0.65 on vitrinite reflectance, and 35-50 on spore colour index for oil-prone rocks. For gas-prone rocks, it is 2.5-2.6 on the Thermal Alteration Index, and 0.7-1.3 on vitrinite reflectance. earned depletion the depletion allowance for Canadian tax calculations. Earned depletion is based on a percentage of eligible expenditures. earnest money money that is exchanged to show an obligation or interest of one party before a binding agreement is signed (hand money) earning block the drilling and spacing unit area of an earning well in a farmout agreement. The earning block can also include any boot acreage. earning conditions see eaming-well requirements earning well a well specified in a support agreement or farmout which the drilling party or farmee must drill in order to acquire the farmout acreage or support. The earning well must be drilled to specifications in the agreement such as to a specific contract depth or horizon. The farmout depth is the depth the farmee earns by drilling the earning well. There is often an excuse provision in the agreement for a substitute well should the earning well Rencounter impenetrable substances, or because of other conditions making further drilling impracticableS. The farmee can then terminate drilling of the earning well and drill a substitute well. eaming-well costs all costs that were incurred and paid by the farmee in drilling, testing, completing,

and equipping an earning well. Cash contributions are subtracted from eaming-well costs. The costs can include those incurred with a substitute well. eaming-well drilling-and-spacing unit the drilling-and-spacing unit on which the earning well is located earning-well requirements provisions in a support agreement or farmout that define the earning well. Earning-well requirements specify the well commencement and completion dates, location, and contract depth, (earning conditions)

earthflow

earth current a natural electrical current that is either static or alternating at a very low frequency that flows through the ground. Earth currents extend over large areas and are caused by variations in the earth's magnetic field, (telluric current) earthern pit an escavation that was dug by a bull dozer to store drilling mud at a drillsite. The earthen pit can be divided by earthen or wooden dividers. Steel mud tanks are now commonly used, (dirt or groundpits) earth oil crude oil earth pressure the subsurface pressure exerted by the weight of the overlying rocks. Earth pressure increases about 100 psi/100 ft of depth. Earth pressure is in contrast to the pressure on the fluid in the pores of the rock which is called reservoir, fluid, or formation pressure, (geostatic, lithostatic, overburden, or rock pressure) earth trap a subsurface petroleum trap earth wax 1) solid paraffin from crude oil 2) ozokerite earthy 1) a mineral that has a dull luster or appearance 2) a rock that appears similar to earth or soil, ea E^ areal sweep efficiency easement written permission to use specific surface lands for a specific purpose. Implied easement can be for entrance and exit. Easements can involve the drillingsite and access road. E/BL east boundary line Ec electrochemical component of the spontaneous potential

eccentering arm eccentering arm a decentralizing extension such as a bow string that pushes a sonde or tool against the wellbore wall (decentralizer) eccentric a curved metal plate that is not circular and has a long and short axis. An eccentric is attached to a central power unit that turns the eccentric on a vertical axis. The eccentric is attached by jack or transmission lines to several pumping units that operate off the central power unit. eccentric bit a type of cable-tool bit in which the cutting edge is lower on one end than on the other eccentricity a measure of being off center or out of round. A pipe is eccentric when the difference between the inner and outer diameters varies around the circumference of the pipe and the pipe-wall thickness varies. ECD equivalent circulation density Ech echinoid

eductor

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echinoderms

echinoid a marine invertebrate that has a globular body encased in an external skeleton composed of plates that have movable spines. Echinoids belong to the class Echinoidea of the phylum Echinodermata and include sea urchins and sand dollars. Echinoids have existed from the Ordovician peroid through the present. Ech ECM equivalent circulating density economic allowance the amount of oil and/or gas that a Canadian regulatory agency permits a well to produce per formation in the well economic basement the subsurface level below which there is no current exploration interest economic cost the costs of capital, materials, and labor that are necssary to produce and market a particular resource (resource cost) economic interest an interest in minerals in place that was acquired by investment. The investor has

legally secured a share of the income derived from the mineral extraction as a return on the investment. economic limit the production level in a well in which the production revenue equals the well operating cost The well is usually plugged and abandoned when it reaches the economic limit. EL economic zone the seabed and ocean extending 320 km or more out from the land. A country, based on a United Nations commission, can claim exclusive mineral rights in the economic zone. ECP effective core penetration Ej, 1) displacement efficiency 2) dynamic elasticity modulus of deformation Ed displacement efficiency EDC EROS Data Center eddy current testing a nondestructive testing method used primarily to measure casing thickness. An exciter coil generates a magnetic field in the casing, and the effects of eddy currents are measured on a pick-up coil below it. The measured eddy currents are compared to eddy currents generated in a known thickness of casing. Edenian a North American age of geological time that started about 455 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. edge lease an oil and gas lease that is located on the boundary of a field. The oil/water or gas/water contact lies below the lease. edge player a person or company who tries to obtain leases and drill wells around the margins of plays and fields as they are being developed. edge unit system an agreement in Louisiana in which the lessee of a drilling unit on the edge of an oil and gas pool is not forced to drill an unnecessary well to produce the oil or gas. Instead, the lessee of the edge lease shares in the cost of drilling and completing a well on an adjacent lease and shares proportionally to productive acreage in the production from that well. edge values the hydrocarbon concentration peaks on the surface of the ground that are formed by microseepages above the oil/water contact on a subsurface reservoir. Edge values occur in the form of a hydrocarbon halo. The hydrocarbons have lower values on the inside of the halo and background values outside the halo. edge water free water located to the sides of the oil or gas reservoir edge well a well drilled down the flanks of a structure or on the outer limits of a producing formation. An edge well often penetrates the oil/water contact. EDM electronic distance meter EDP electronic data processing EDR estimated damage ratio EDTA ethylene diamine tetracidic acid educated guessers engineers eduction valve an exhaust valve eductor a tube that uses a fluid flowing through it with a high head from a jet to create a vacuum. An eductor is used a) to remove degassed mud from a vacuum-type degasser, b) to pump water, c) to remove

164

Edward balance EIR effective viscosity the viscosity of a fluid flowing through a porous rock with another fluid sharing the pores of the rock (apparent viscosity) effective wave base the depth in the ocean below which wave action no longer moves sediments. Effective wave base depends on the period of the waves but is about 10 ft. effective weight the weight of an object submerged in a liquid such as drilling mud. Effective weight is in contrast to weight in air. (submerged weight) efficiency factor a measure of the power loss from a prime mover to the driven equipment. The efficiency factor is equal to (energy output - energy input)/ energy output. E effl effluent effluent liquids flowing out effl effort the number of separate raypaths that are mixed together to make the final display in seismic exploration. Effort is the number of energy sources per shot point times the number of geophones per group times the number of records that are stacked. EF-GR extremely fine grained E/4 east quarter EG ethylene glycol eg gas influx egg 1) a dynamite charge 2) a Microdot package EGMB ethylene glycol monobutyl ether EH pattern sweep efficiency E,, the voltage difference between inert electrodes immersed in a reversible oxidation-reduction system. Ej, is a measure of the system's oxidation state. The
P

mud from a mud tank, d) to pull solids through a hopper, and e) to clean the cellar on a well. A Venturi nozzle throat is often used. Edward balance an instrument used to determine the specific gravity of natural gas in the field by weighing EDX energy-dispersive X-ray E/E end to end Eeff effective atomic number EEZ exclusive economic zone EFD engineering flow diagram E/4 east quarter eff efficiency effective confining pressure the overburden pressure minus the pore pressure (effective
overburden stress)

effective date of a lease the day that a lease is first in force. The effective date of a lease is shown on the top of a lease form and is not the date of lease execution. effective decline rate the decrease in production from a well over a period of time, such as 1 month or 1 year, divided by the production rate at the beginning of the period. De effective fluid level the height of a static fluid effective horizontal permeability the square root of the product of permeability in the x direction (kx) times permeability in the y direction (&,,), in which both x andj' are horizontal directions in the reservoir effective lift the lift in feet by imput gas during gas lift as determined by a pressure survey effective overburden stress the pressure that is equal to the overburden pressure minus the pore pressure (effective confining pressure) effective pay factor a calculation that is used in some unitization agreements to determine the lessor's, and possibly the lessee's, share of production. Effective pay factor is based on depth, potential productivity saturation, and other factors. effective permeability the permeability of a fluid when it shares the pore spaces with another fluid. When two fluids share the pore space, the effective permeability is usually less than the absolute permeability. ke effective porosity the porosity (percent volume of a rock occupied by pores) which includes only the interconnected pores effective radius the radius of drainage area around a well effective reservoir permeability the square root of the product of vertical permeability (/fe,) times horizontal permeability (kh) effective shot depth the vertical distance from the surface to the shot charge in a shot hole used in seismic exploration (shot depth or elevation) effective source rock source rock that has already generated and expelled petroleum, in contrast to a potential source rock effective stress a principle stress at a point in a formation minus pore pressure

equation is Eh = K log TT, where K is approximately 70, R is the concentration of reduced substances and O is the concentration of oxidized substances. (oxidation-reduction or redox potential) EH controls electrohydraulic controls EHD entry-hole diameter EHF extremely high frequency EHP effective horsepower E, invasion efficiency Ei vertical sweep efficiency Eifelian a global age of geological time that started about 390 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Devonian epoch. eight-point mooring system a pattern of eight anchor cables and anchors that are spread out symmetrically to moor a semisubmersible eighty board the monkey board on a derrick designed to hold fourbles or four joints of pipe 88 lease a general term for a lease form. Producer's 88 was originally a lease form printed by Burkhart Printing Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1916 as a lease (number 88) for Producer Oil Company that later became synonymous with all lease forms. (Producer's 88 lease) eg strain tensor EIPS extra improved plow steel EIR Environmental Impact Report

EIS electric submersible centrifugal pump EIS Environmental Impact Statement Ek electrokinetic component of the spontaneous potential EL 1) electric log 2) Electrolog 3) economic limit E/L east line El elevation el electron elasterite an elastic pyrobitumen that occurs associated with base metal deposits in Carboniferous limestones of northern England. elastic a substance that deforms instantly and totally returns to its original shape when the stress is removed elastic collision a collision in which the total kinetic energies of the particles are the same after the collision as the total kinetic energies before the collision. Elastic collision is in contrast to inelastic collision. elastic deformation the temporary distortion of a substance. The substance will return to its original shape after the stress is removed. Elastic deformation is in contrast to brittle or plastic deformation. elastic limit the maximum unit stress that a substance can sustain without permanent deformation when the force is relaxed. The elastic limit occurs at the yield point. elastic scattering a type of scattering in which a neutron strikes the nucleus of an atom and transfers some kinetic energy to the atom. The neutron loses the same amount of kinetic energy and bounces off the atom with decreased energy. The amount of energy transferred depends on the mass of the nucleus and the angle at which the neutron scatters. Elastic scattering is in contrast to inelastic scattering. elastic wave a wave that propagates through a medium without permanent deformation of the medium, such as a seismic wave elastomer natural or synthetic rubber material that will return to its original shape after deformation. Elastomer is used in blowout preventers and packers.

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a megahertz current. Electrodes are used to measure the return current in microvolts/ampere. electrical basement the subsurface level below which the rocks have very high electrical resistivities electrical dehydrator an installation used to separate an oil/water emulsion. Heat is applied from a firetube to reduce the viscosity of the emulsion and the emulsion is then exposed to a high-voltage alternating current in grids oriented perpendicular to the fluid flow. Water molecules which are polar, coalesce and sink by gravity. The electric dehydrator ranges in size from 6 ft in diameter and 12 ft long to 12 ft in diameter and 80 ft long. The dehydrator converts 440 v at the switchboard to 16,500 v at the electrodes, (electrostatic or electrochemical treater) electrical log or survey see electric log electric coring an early name for wireline well logging electric-drive rig see electric rig electric line an electrical wire that goes down a well with the wireline and is used in well logging and perforating (conductor line) electric log 1) a general term for a wireline well log that measures and records the elearical properties of rocks and the fluids in the pores in a well. The electric log can include spontaneous potential (SP), normal resistivity (R), lateral, laterologs, induaion, and microresistivity logs, (electric well log or electric survey) 2) An early type of resistivity log that emits current from a constant electrode and measures the current at a distance relative to a reference electrode.
Elec log, EL, or E log

elbow

elbow 1) a bend or deviation from the vertical in a well 2) a pipe fitting with an angle less than 180 elbow meter a head-type device that is made with a pipe elbow and is used to measure elbow velocity. The pressure differential between the inside and outside of the pipe curve due to centrifugal force is measured to calculate the flow velocity. Elec log electric log. Elec, elec, or elec elearical election at casing point a decision after testing the well to run casing or plug and abandon the well electraflex an electromagnetic exploration technique use to detect subsurface structures and possibly hydrocarbons. An energized signal is introduced into the subsurface by electrodes to create

electric logging a drill hole induced polarization or resistivity survey in a well which uses closely spaced electrodes to investigate the elearical properties of the rocks adjacent to the wellbore (IP, hole and resistivity logging, and hole probe) electric rig a drilling rig in which the rotary table is driven by an electric motor. The first type was dieselelectric with the prime mover direaly coupled to the DC generator. Silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) systems are more common now. The diesel engine is coupled direaly to an AC generator. Power is transmitted by bus bar and is converted by transformer feaifiers to DC and distributed according to need to the DC motors on the rig. This is in contrast to a diesel engine used on many drilling rigs, (electricdrive rig) electric submersible centrifugal pump a pump that is suspended by the tubing string into the well fluid on the bottom of an oil well and is powered by an electric motor. An electric submersible centrifugal pump consists of a) an elearic motor, b) a seal section, c) an intake section, d) a multistage centrifugal pump, e) a three-conductor armored electrical cable strapped to the tubing string, 0 a surface installed switchboard, g) a junction box, and h) a transformer. The electric motor on the bottom is an induaion-type, three-phase, electric motor with a seal seaion and a multistaged centrifugal pump on top of it. The motor has 12-18 in. rotors that are stacked on top of each other. The motor speed is determined by the frequency of the power supply that can be controlled by a power inverter. The seal

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electric survey electron volt electrodynamic brake an auxiliary brake used on the drawworks of a drilling rig. The brake uses an electric current and magnets to slow or stop the drawworks shaft, (magnetic brake) Electrolog a wireline well log that consists of a spontaneous potential, a short normal, a long normal, and a lateral resistivity. EL electrolyte a substance that dissolves into positive and negative ions in water and can conduct an electrical current. Elearolytes include salts, bases, and acids and are in contrast to a nonelectrolyte. electromagnetic propagation log a wireline log that measures propagation time and attenuation of very high-frequency electromagnetic waves through formations close to the wellbore using microwaves. It is a shallow investigation log (1-4 in.). The tool is used to estimate, the cementation factor (m), and water saturation and to identify hydrocarbon zones. EPTm electromagnetic thickness tool a tool with a transmitter and receiver coil that uses an alternating magnetic field to measure the thickness of casing and locate vertical splits ETC"" electromagnetic waves radiation that is associated with periodically varying electric and magnetic fields, travels at the speed about 186,000 miles/s (2.997924 x 108m/s), and can propagate in a vacuum. The electromagnetic spectrum includes gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwaves and radio waves in order of increasing wavelength. electromotive force a force that produces or maintains an electric current in a circuit. Electromotive force is not a force but is the electrical energy that is developed per unit charge. Electromotive force is measured in volts and is generated by a) primary cells, b) storage batteries, c) electrical generators, d) the thermoelectric effect, e) the pyroelectric effect, and f) the piezoelectric effect. Electromotive force is the voltage that causes current flow in a conductor.
EMF, E, or emf

pump

motor

electric submersible centrifugal pump

section, protector, or equalizer is located between the motor housing and the pump housing and contains the shaft that connects the motor with the pump. Each stage of the centrifugal pumps consists of a rotating, floating or fixed impeller, and a stationary diffuser. The fluids in the well cool the pump. The pump often contains a centrifugal gas separator to divert free gas around the pump. The surface equipment typically consists of a) three single-phase transformers, b) a three-phase transformer or an autotransformer, c) a motor controller or switchboard, d) a junction box, and e) a submersible wellhead. An electric submersible centrifugal pump is used for a) lifting large volumes of liquid, b) in directional wells, c) in gassy wells, d) in high temperature wells, and e) for lifting high-viscosity fluids, (submersible pump) electric survey see electric log. ES electric swivel a type of top-drive power swivel that uses an electric motor. An electric swivel eliminates the rotary table and kelly and allows for a longer string of pipe to be drilled before making a connection. electric-welded pipe a tubular with one longitudinal seam formed by electric-flash welding or electric resistance electric well log see electric log electric wireline a wire rope, with electrical wires running down the center, used in well logging. electric wireline tool a fishing tool used to cut the electrical cable from an electric submersible pump. The electric wireline tool is used with a sinker and bumper jar on a work string of sucker rods or small diameter tubing. The tool contains a cutter that is attached to a spring-loaded arm extending from a mandrel. The tool is rotated to cut the electric cable against the tubing which has already been chemically cut. electrochemical treater see electric dehydrator electrode one of two terminals of an electrical source such as a battery. The positive electrode is the anode, whereas the negative electrode is the cathode. E

electron a subatomic particle with very little mass (9.109 x 10~28g) and a -1 electrical charge. Electrons occur as orbiting clouds of 1 to over 100 electrons around the nuclei of atoms. Flowing electrons form an electrical current. Beta radiation is made of electrons, el electron density electrons per unit volume electronic cable see cable electronic distance meter a device that measures the travel time of electromagnetic radiation from the meter to a reflector and back to accurately measure distance. Some electronic distance meters use microwave, whereas others use laser radiation. The accuracy of the meter is 1 part in 10.5 EDM electronic notice a message sent by Telex, telecopier, fax, or similar electronic means electron-spin resonance an analytical method used to determine the number of unpaired electrons or free radicals in a substance. Electron-spin resonance is used to estimate the maturity of kerogen in sedimentary rocks. electron volt a unit of energy that is equal to one quantum of charge in an electron times one volt. An electron volt is equal to 1.60 x 10"19 joules or 1.6 x 10"12 erg. eV

electrostatic precipitator electrostatic precipitator 1) apparatus that uses the electrostatic field on a water-in-oil emulsion to coagulate water particles. Two plates with a voltage of 10-25 KeV with 60 cps is used to polarize and distort the water droplets 60 times each second. The water is then separated by gravity. The precipitator cannot be used on an oil-in-water emulsion. 2) Apparatus that uses an electric field and charge collector plate to remove fine sediments suspended in a gas. electrostatic treater electrical dehydrator element a substance composed of all the same atoms with the same chemical and physical properties. There are 106 different natural elements. Iron (Fe) and silicon (Si) are examples. The properties of elements can vary slightly between isotopes of an element. Elements have the same number of protons and electrons, but isotopes of an element differ in the number of neutrons. elemental analysis the qualitative or quantitative chemical analysis of a substance into its elemental compositions such as Fe, Al, C, and O elephant a giant oil or gas field elephant hunt exploration for a giant oil or gas field Elev or elev elevation elevation correction the Bouguer and free-air corrections used for gravimeter data elevator bails or links the bars that fit in the hook below the traveling block on a drilling rig to hold the elevators.

emissivity

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elevator spider the hinged, gripping device that is attached to the elevators on a drilling rig. The spider is manually or air activated to latch around tubulars that are being raised or lowered in the well. el gr elevation of the ground elimination clause a provision in a unit agreement that automatically eliminates certain lands from the unit area after a specific date unless certain developmental operations are being done (automatic elimination clause)

It
SHORT

It
LONG

electric logs

OLLAR

ELEVATORS

SLIPS

elevators

elevators a heavy, clamp-like device on a drilling rig that hangs from elevator bails on the traveling block and is used to grip with the elevator spider the tubular and raise or lower the drillstring, casing, or tubing in the well. Elevators can be a) drillpipe elevators, b) casing elevators, or c) tubing elevators which are sized to fit the tubular.

E log electric log elong elongate elongate anticline an anticline that is at least four times longer than wide elongation the increase in gauge length after rupture divided by the original gauge length. Elongation is expressed as a percentage of gauge length. ELSBM exposed location single buoy mooring EL/T electric log tops ELY easterly EM electromagnetic EMA equivalent methane in air embd embedded emer emergency emergence the relocation of a land position to above sea level. Emergence is in contrast to submergence. emergency blowout preventer valve a safety valve stored on a drill floor that can be stabbed and screwed into the drillstring emergency shutdown system manual stations in a production platform that can deactivate the equipment emergency support vessel a ship designed to aid an offshore platform during a crisis. ESV EMF or etnf electromotive force EMI electromagnetic inspection eminent domain the taking of private lands with compensation by a government agency for public use emissivity the ratio of radiant flux from an object to the radiant flux from a blackbody at the same kinetic temperature e

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empirical endless tubing unit emulsion treater a type of vertical or horizontal field separator that uses heat to break an emulsion such as oil-in-water or water-in-oil. A temperature of 80-180 F is necessary to separate emulsions. The steel tank has a U-shaped pipe in it called a fire tube. A fire-tube furnace directs a flame down the center line of the pipe to heat and break the emulsion in the direct-fired type of emulsion treater. In the indirect-fired type of emulsion heater, the flame is used to heat water that is in contact with the emulsion. The exhaust gases exit the stack which extends 10-15 ft above the separator. The burner uses either natural gas or heavy oil. (heater-treater or fire-tube heater) emulsion treating the use of an emulsion breaker which can be a) heat, b) chemicals, c) mechanical, or d) electrostatic to separate an emulsion, usually water-in-oil, into its components. emulsoid colloidal particles that take up water EMV expected monetary value EMW equivalent mud weight EN eroded nozzle En Enstatic encapsulation The adsorption of long-chained polymers to the surface of shale encroaching water waters entering a producing formation from the sides (edge water) or below (bottomwater) as oil and/or gas is produced from the formation encroachment the flow of water into an oil or gas reservoir as the petroleum is produced end damage damage to the pin or box end of a tubular end effector a tool used on the manipulator of a remote-operated vehicle for work on a subsea production system. On the end is usually a socket wrench for installing and removing equipment such as valves. endless tubing high strength, ductile steel tubing with an outer diameter of \Vi in.being common. The tubing is made of low-carbon steel alloy with very low sulfur along withchromium, copper, and nickel for ductibity in length up to 19,000 ft. (coiled, continuous reeled, or reeled tubing) endless tubing unit a well service unit that uses flexible, small-diameter steel tubing wound as a continuous length on a hydraulically powered tubing reel. The reel can store up to 16,000 ft of tubing with an outer diameter of *-VA in. Endless tubing is in contrast to other types of well service units that use joints of relatively stiff pipe. The endless tubing unit is usually used on producing wells that need pressure control. Endless tubing is used for sand or paraffin clean out in tubing, initiating flow, and well stimulation and cementing. A limited amount of drilling can be done with a downhole hydraulic motor. The blowout-preventer stack usually includes four rams including hydraulic cutter, pipe, blind, and slip rams. As the tubing feeds off the tubing reel, it goes through a counter which is attached to a level wind assembly and a pipe straightener. An injector head with friction blocks' pushes or pulls the tubing in or out of the well. The coiled tubing greatly reduces

empirical a relationship or formula that was determined by measurements rather than theory. E empty hole a well filled with air or gas Emsian a global age of geological time that existed about 395-390 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Devonian epoch. EMUL or emul emulsion emulsified water an oil-in-water emulsion emulsifler or emulsifying agent a substance that is used to produce an emulsion from two liquids that normally do not mix. Lignosulfonate and surfactants are used as emulsifiers in drilling mud. Emulsifiers can be a) ionic (anionic, cationic, or amphoteric) and b) nonionic.

WATER DROPS

emulsions (water in oiloil in water)

emulsion 1) the stable mixture of droplets of one fluid in another fluid that normally does not mix. Produced fluids can be an oil-in-water in which droplets of oil are suspended in water and, less commonly, a water-in-oil in which droplets of water are suspended in oil. The droplets are called the dispersed phase, whereas the liquid surrounding the droplets is the continuous phase. A tight emulsion has small closely-spaced droplets and is hard to break in contrast to a loose emulsion that has large, farapart droplets and is easier to break. Produced emulsions are commonly treated with heat, electrostatics, and/or chemicals to separate them. EMUL or etnul 2) The accumulation of basic sediment and water on the bottom of the tanks. emulsion block a viscous emulsion of oil and water in a formation near a wellbore. The emulsion block is a type of formation damage and can occur in a carbonate after acidizing. A surfactant additive can be used in the acid to prevent an emulsion block. emulsion breaker equipment or a process such as a heater, mechanical device, electrostatic treater, or chemicals that break up an emulsion into its components. emulsion frac a hydraulic frac method that uses a water and oil emulsion. The frac fluid has good proppant carrying properties and is cheaper than highviscosity gelled oil or water. The frac fluid, however, can form a stable emulsion with the formation fluids. emulsion mud a water-base drilling mud with a small amount (l%-40%, but commonly 8%-12% by volume) of 25-5O API oil for lubricating characteristics and inhibiting bit balling. Emulsion mud uses a sodium soap emulsifier. There is a fire danger in using emulsion mud, and it is difficult to dispose. emulsion test a test to qualitatively determine the components such as water, oil, and sediments in an emulsion

Endo entitlemen program trip time. Other equipment on the unit includes a circulating system for nitrogen, acid, or other fluids; blowout preventers; lubricator; tubing injector head; and hydraulic crane. The unit usually has a crew of two. (coiled tubing, continuous tubing, or reeled ppe unit) Endo endothyra endo 1) to lay pipe end to end 2) to slide something endways end of curve the depth at the point in a deviated well in which the curved portion of the build curve ends. EOC end-on an arrangement in seismic exploration with the shot point at or near the end of the geophone spread endothermic a chemical reaction during which heat must be added. Endothermic is in contrast to an exothermic reaction endothyrids a type of microfossil that existed from the Devonian through the Permian periods end-point a specific time during a reaction. During titration, it is the point at which the chemical indicator changes color. end-to-end 1) a type of reservoir scale waterflood pattern in which the water injection wells are located on one end of the field and are progressively moved toward the other end 2) the length of a valve measured from one end to the other end of the valve (face-toface) endurance limit 1) the stress at which a sucker rod will break after it has been subjected to 10 million stress reversals 2) the stress at which a substance will break after hundreds of millions of stress cycles. The endurance limit is significantly less than rupture stress. endurance ratio the ratio of endurance limit to static tensile strength (fatigue ratio) end user the final purchaser and utilizer of natural gas from a pipeline. An end user is usually an industrial user or a power plant. en echelon a parallel but offset or staggered arrangement that is similar to shingles on a roof. Folds, faults, and joints in rocks can be oriented en echelon. energized acid a mixture of nitrogen in the gas state and hydrochloric acid in a ratio of about 1,000-1,500 SCF/bbl. Energized acid is used in acidizing to increase the flowback or cleanup rate. energy audit an accounting of all the energy consumed in a particular installation. An energy audit is used to measure energy efficiency. energy of adhesion the attraction of surface molecules across the interface of two immiscible fluids or one fluid and a solid. energy of the environment a description of the power of the erosional process that was active during the deposition of sediments. A high-energy environment such as the surf zone on a beach or a fast-moving river channel will deposit only coarsegrained sediments. A low-energy environment such as the lagoon behind a reef will deposit fine-grained muds. If a sedimentary rock contains detrital mud, it was deposited in a low-energy environment. If it contains only coarse detrital particles, it was deposited

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in a high-energy environment. Limestones with micrite are deposited only in low-energy environments. eng engine engine a machine that is designed to convert combustion of fuel into rotary motion that is used to drive equipment. An engine is not a motor, eng engineering technician a skilled employee who installs and maintains instruments and control devices in the field engine house the shed that contains the engine, often steam, on a cable-tool rig English ton a weight of 2,240 lbs used in Great Britain. A short ton of 2,000 lbs is used in the United States and Canada. The metric ton equals 1,000 kg or 2,204.62 lbs and is often used as a measure of oil volume, (long ton) enhanced oil recovery artificial methods used to recover more oil after primary production by the natural reservoir drive and, possibly, waterflooding. Common enhanced oil recovery methods include thermal (cyclic steam stimulation, streamflooding, and in-situ combustion), chemical (polymer, micellarpolymer, and alkaline flooding), and gas miscible (cyclic carbon-dioxide stimulation, carbon-dioxide flooding, and nitrogen flooding). In older terminology, waterflooding was considered part of enhanced oil recovery. Enhanced oil recovery is sometimes called tertiary recovery if it occurs after waterflooding. EOR or ER enhancement the improvement of data by filtering enriched gas injection or process an enhanced oil recovery method that uses miscible displacement and involves injection into an oil reservoir of natural gas that either a) naturally contains intermediate hydrocarbons or b) has been enriched on the surface by addition of propane, butanes, or pentanes. The transfer of the intermediate hydrocarbon components from the displacing gas into the residual oil swells the residual oil and makes it less viscous. Lean gas or lean gas and water is then injected to drive the oil toward a producing well, (condensing gas drive) enriching gas mixing a natural gas with a higher heat-content gas in order to increase its Btu content enstatite a grayish white to yellowish, olive green, or brown mineral of the pyroxene group that is composed of MgSiO3. Enstatite is common in intermediate and basic igneous rocks and occurs in some sedimentary rocks. enthalpy the total energy of a system minus the kinetic and potential energy. Enthalpy is defined as the sum of an object's internal energy plus the product of its volume multiplied by the pressure. Enthalpy is sometimes called heat content. entirety clause an oil and gas lease provision that stipulates that later subdivisions or transfers by the lessor will not affect the lessee's development and operation on the lease. The lease will be developed as a unit. Royalties will be paid to owners in proportion to their acreage. entitlement the right to refine one lower-tier barrel of oil. entitlement program a Federal Energy Administration requirement that a refiner buy or sell

170

entrain epoch Eotvos correction a correction for the centrifugal force of the spinning earth used on a shipboard gravimeter. If the ship is traveling eastward, the centrifugal force is larger and the gravimeter will read low. Eotvos torsion meter a type of gravity meter that is used to measure horizontal gravity variations. The Eotvos torsion meter uses two masses suspended on a torsion fiber. Differences in gravity cause a rotation of the masses on the fiber. Eotvos unit a unit of gravity change over horizontal distance used with the Etvs torsion balance. An Eotvos unit is equal to lCT9/cm. E EP 1) extreme pressure 2) electromagnetic pipe inspection log 3) explosion proof 4) electric pump Ep epidote Ep pattern sweep efficiency EPA environmental Protection Agency EP additive a drilling-fluid additive that is used to lubricate drilling bit bearings under high pressure (extreme-pressure lubricant) epeiric sea a broad, shallow extension of the ocean onto the continental interior epeirogenic or epeirogenetic Large-scale structural deformation of rocks by broad uplifts and downwarps epiclastic a sedimentary rock composed of weathered and eroded particles epifauna animals living on the seafloor rather than buried in the sediments. Epifauna is in contrast to infauna. epigenic tectonic structures such as folding and faulting that occurred after the deposition of the sedimentary rock epigenic dolomite dolomite, a mineral composed of CaMg(CO3)2, that has replaced calcite in limestone along natural fractures such as joints in the limestone. The fractures were routes through which Mg-rich waters perculated through the limestone when it was transformed into dolomite. Epigenic dolomite is in contrast to primary, syngenetic, evaporite, supratidal, and diagenic dolomite, (secondary, stratigraphic or tectonic dolomite) Epilog a computer center-processed log epithermal neutron a relatively fast neutron, an atomic particle with the mass of a proton but without electric charge. Epithermal neutrons have a kinetic energy level of 100 eV to 0.02 eV. Epithermal neutrons are emitted by a source, such as an alpha-berillium reaction or a neutron generator, in a neutron-logging device. Slower neutrons are called thermal neutrons. epithermal neutron log a neutron log that detects high-energy epithermal neutrons to determine the porosity of the rock. The source and detectors are skid mounted and pressed against the wellbore. The epithermal neutron log is often used in air-drilled holes, (neutron-epithermal-neutron log) EPM equivalents per million EPOC extract percent organic carbon epoch a time subdivision of a period, e.g., Miocene epoch

the right to refine one barrel of lower-tier oil or entitlement in relation to the amount of lower-tier oil that the refiner uses. Refineries using new oil or imported oil received entitlement tickets. Refineries using old oil purchased entitlement tickets. The entitlement program was initiated to average the costs to all refiners. The program has been discontinued. entrain to drag into a fluid flow entrained gas gas bubbles in a liquid entrained liquid mist-sized droplets of liquid in gas entrained oil crude oil that occurs in very small amounts in natural gas entrainment velocity the gas velocity in tubing necessary to force liquids from the tubing entry pressure the pressure that is required for one fluid to replace another fluid in the pores of a rock. Entry pressure is the minimum capillary pressure that will force a nonwetting fluid such as oil into a capillary opening that is saturated with a wetting fluid such as water. Entry pressure varies inversely with the pore diameter, (displacement or forefront pressure) environmental baseline the natural or predevelopment conditions at a site before development environmental impact study a written report of research performed to determine the environmental effect of a proposed project. An environmental impact study includes a) a description of the project, b) a description of the predevelopmental conditions of the site, c) the expected effects of the project, d) suggested solutions to lessen adverse effects of the project, and e) alternatives of the project environmental oil-emulsion mud drilling mud made by water emulsified in a paraffinic oil enzyme an organic catalyst eo oil influx E/O east offset EOC end of curve Eoc eocene Eocene an epoch of geological time about 55-38 m. y. ago. The Eocene is part of the Tertiary period. Eoc E of W/L east of west line Eogene see Paleogene eogenitic porosity porosity that forms in sediments after deposition but is characteristic of the environment of deposition and is affected by changes in that environment. Eogenitic porosity is formed just a foot below the surface. Penecontemporaneous dolomite is an example of eogenitic porosity. EOL expected opportunity loss eolian deposited or shaped by wind (aeolian) eolianite a clastic sedimentary rock composed of consolidated, wind-blown sediments. An eolianite is a dune sand that is naturally cemented, (aeolianite) EOM extractable organic matter EOR enhanced oil recovery EOS equations of state EOSAT the commercial firm that distributes Landsat data

E-POR equivalent mud weight E-POR excellent porosity EPS early production system E l ) hydraulic diffusivity 2) capacity 3) dielectric constant e l ) relative dielectric constant 2) emissivity E^SORT extremely poorly sorted EPT electromagnetic propagation tool Eq equipment eq 1) equal 2) equivalent EQMT equipment eqnt equant equalize the exchange of cash between pooled or unitized parties to balance each party's investment in the unit. The balance is based on each party's participation factor. equalizer 1) the horizontal steel beam that connects the two pitmen on a beam pumping unit with the walking beam through an equalizer bearing (cross yoke) 2) a device used with the mechanical brakes on the drawworks of a drilling rig to distribute the braking force to each brake band equally. Some equalizers are automatic. 3) a hole in the wall between tanks or compartments that is used to equalized the liquid level in both tanks equalizing sub a tool that is designed to equalize the pressure across subsurface production controls in the tubing string of a well before reopening or removing the controls from the well equalizing valve a valve that is used on a drillstem test tool. The valve allows drilling fluid to bypass thepacker through the inside of the drilpipe and is normally open. equant a sedimentary particle with a length less than 1.5 width, eqnt equations of state the mathematical relations between volume, pressure, and temperature of a pure substance and between volume, pressure, temperature, and composition of a mixture. EOS equigranular a substance such as a rock that is composed of crystals of about the same size. The term homogranular is preferred. equilibrium a state that exists when all forces or processes that are acting on an object or substance are in balance. In physics, an object in equilibrium will be at rest or be moving with a constant velocity. In chemistry, a substance is in equilibrium when the amount of one phase such as solid, liquid, or gas that is going to another phase is equal to the amount coming back to the original phase. equilibruim calculation a compulation of the phase behavior of a process or reservoir oil and gas (flash calculation) equilibrium constant Yt/Xt where Yt is the mol fraction of a component in the vapor phase and Xt is the mol fraction of the component in the liquid phase. The equilibrium constant is a function of temperature, pressure, and composition. (Kfactor, partition coefficient, or vapor-liquid equilibrium) K equilibrium gas drive crude oil displacement in a reservoir by gas with little or no exchange between the gas and oil in contrast to miscible drive

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equilibrium point the location on a depositional profile at which the rate of eustatic change of sea level is equal to the rate of subsidence or uplift. The equilibrium point is used in seismic or sequence stratigraphy to separate rising from falling sea levels. equilibrium profile the characteristic longitudinal profile of a graded stream which has a gradient at each point along the stream that is just sufficient to transport the stream load without erosion or deposition. The profile is a smooth parabolic curve that is concave upward and is steeper at the source and flatter at the mouth, (gradedprofile) equip equipment equipment costs monies spent for salvageable, tangible, and personal property. Equipment costs do not include the cost of installing the equipment. Equipment costs are amoritized more rapidly than lease costs but are not currently deductable as are IDCs. equipment production payment a type of production payment, a share of the oil or gas produced from wells, that is free of the costs of production and continues until a specific time. Money from the equipment production payment which is contributed by the owner of a working interest in the wells is used to equip and complete the wells being drilled. equipotential line a contour line of groundwater pressure head (isopiestic or isopotential line, or piezometric contour) equipotential surface a surface of equal fluid potential equitable balancing a system developed by the courts on behalf of working interest owners (underproduced party) who have not taken an amount of gas equal to the percentage of cumulative gas production that they own. This system permits an owner to correct the imbalance by making up the underage through disproportionately higher takes (volumetric balancing) or cash payments from the overproduced party (cash balancing). Equitable balancing can be done without a contract or statute that applies. equitable servitudes land use restrictions such as zoning or deed covenants that are enforceable by law equity crude or oil the proportion of production that is allotted by contract to the operating company by a county (concession crude) Equiv or equiv equivalent equivalent the amount of a substance that will react with one mole of H+ or OH~ ions (gram equivalent weight) Equiv or equiv equivalent circulating density the effective mud density at a specific depth in a well as the mud is circulating. Equivalent circulating density is the hydrostatic pressure plus the annular circulating pressure drop above a point in the well. It is expressed as the static mud weight that would exert the same pressure at that point in the well. Equivalent circulating density is controlled by the mud properties, the flow rate, and the geometry of the wellbore. It is usually expressed in lb/gal. ECD equivalent mud weight the effective mud density at a specific depth in a well as the mud is circulating

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equivalents per million ethane for use by a seismic contractor. The contractor runs seismic and shares the seismic with the companies that contributed. After a period of time, the seismic is sold and the proceeds are put in the escrow to run more seismic. ESD emergency shutdown Eshka method e technique used to determine the sulfur content of crude oil Esopusian a North American age of geological time. It is part of the Devonian period. ESP expanding spread profile ESP measured spontaneous potential essay an old term for a wildcat well Egsp static spontaneous potential Est estate est 1) estimate 2) estimated ESTA estimate established reserves unproduced oil and gas whose location and estimated amounts are reasonably established by existing wells and other geological and engineering data. Established reserves include all of the proven reserves and some of the probable reserves. ester a compound formed by the reaction between an organic acid and alcohol estuary a coastal indentation usually formed by a drowned river mouth caused by rising sea level. Fresh water and seawater mix in an estuary. ES-IT-S salt dome profilin ESV emergency support vessel E,- volumetric efficiency e, tubing stretch t| 1) kinematic viscosity 2) overvoltage 3) hydraulic diffusivity et al. and others etching the chemical solution by acid of a substance such as a rock etch tube the acid bottle used in an acid bottle inclinometer. It is often made of soda-lime-glass

and hydrostatic pressure is superimposed. Equivalent mud weight is the sum of the hydrostatic, circulating, and surface pressure at a point in a well. It is expressed as the static mud weight that would exert the same pressure at that point in the well. Equivalent mud weight is controlled by mud properties, flow rate, geometry of the wellbore, and annular surface pressure. It is usually expressed in lb/gal. BMW equivalents per million the unit chemical weight of a solute dissolved in one million unit weights of solvent. Equivalents per million of a solute is equal to the part per million divided by the equivalent weight. EPM equivalent weight the atomic weight of an ion divided by its valence ER enhanced recovery ER reservoir recovery efficiency Er oil recovery efficiency er detector elevation with respect to datum ERA Energy Regulatory Agency era a major time division of earth history, e.g., Paleozoic era erection load the stress or load on the drilling rig caused by the raising and lowering of the mast Erian a North American age of geological time that occurred about 390-385 m. y. ago. It is part of the Devonian period. EROS earth resources orbiting satellite erosion 1) the wearing away and removal of a material 2) the formation of sediments from rocks by weathering and their transportation to another location erosional drilling drilling using the hydraulic action of high-velocity jets of drilling fluid from the nozzles of a jet bit. Sometimes abrasives are added to the drilling fluid to make the drilling more efficient. erosional transgression an advance of the seas onto the land caused by erosion along the shoreline erosional velocity the gas velocity that will abrade and remove the protective coating in a flowline and accelerate corrosion error map a map showing the expected variation in the estimates of a mapped surface ERTS Earth Resources Technology Satellite ERW electric resistance weld ES electric survey es source elevation with respect to datum esc escavation escalator or escalation clause a provision in a gas contract that provides for an increase in the base price of the gas because of the long contract time escape clause A disclaimer that is used on log interpretations that limits the liability of the interpreter on the accuracy of the interpretations. escheat the reversion of property ownership to the government where there are no legal heirs escrow a written document, or possibly money or goods, that provides an obligation between parties escrow seismic an arrangement in which exploration companies contribute money in escrow

H I

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ethane

ethane a hydrocarbon (C2H,;) of the paraffin or methane series found in some natural gases. Ethane is the second most common natural gas after methane but is a minor constituent of biogenic and dry gas. Ethane has a molecular weight of 30.07, a specific gravity of 0.36, a boiling point of 127F at 14.7 psia, a vapor pressure of 800 psia at 100F, a critical temperature of 90F, a critical pressure of 708 psia, and a gross heat content of 1768.8 Btu/cu ft . Ethane

ethene or ethylene excess cash is considered part of natural gas liquids and is used as a fuel and a feedstock to make ethylene. C2 ethene or ethylene a hydrocarbon (C2H4) of the olefin or alkane series that can occur naturally or be formed by refinery process. In petroleum-bearing basins, ethylene is the most common hydrocarbon, along with methane, dissolved in ground water. Ethylene can also be formed by cracking in a refinery or in an olefins or ethylene plant. Ethylene is an important feedstock for the petrochemical industry. ethylene glycol a colorless liquid that is often used as a desiccant in a glycol dehydrator. E/2 east half ETR early-time region et seq and those that follow ETT electromagnetic thickness tool et ux and wife et vir and husband EU 1) environmental unit 2) external upset eu-bitumen a fluid bitumen. Eu-bitumen is easily soluable in organic solvents and includes petroleum, ozokerite, and asphalt. euhd euhedral euhedral a mineral crystal with well developed faces in contrast to anhedral. euhd EUR estimated ultimate recovery eustatic a worldwide sea level change eux euxinic euxinic an anaerobic environment. In water, euxinic occurs where the circulation is restricted (restricted basin), and animal respiration and decay uses up the oxygen dissolved in the water. The water in a basin can be stagnant and euxinic below a certain depth due to a sill or because of temperature or salinity stratification. Organic matter deposited in a euxinic environment will not decay, and highly organic sediments, such as black shales, can be deposited and preserved as potential source rocks for future petroleum generation, eux EV expected value Ey or Ey volumetric sweep efficiency eV electron-volt EVA evaluation of velocity and attenuation evacuated container a method used to take a gas sample for analysis. A sample container with a vacuum is used to obtain the sample. eval evaluate Evap or evap evaporite evaporite or evaporites 1) minerals deposited from the evaporation of a saline solution 2) a sedimentary rock layer composed of salts precipitated from the evaporation of water. The minerals and rocks commonly include salt layers of halite, gypsum, and anhydrite along with chemically precipitated limestone. Evap or evap evaporation pit or pond an excavation with a large surface area of a fraction to several acres that is used to reduce the volume of produced water from wells by evaporation. The pit is either dug in impermeable soil or lined with clay or an impermeable liner such

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as plastic. The concentrated brine is disposable in another location, (evaporative pit or pond) evaporative dolomite a mineral [CaMg(CO3)2] that is formed by the replacement calcite of limestone. Evaporative dolomite is caused by evaporation of lagoonal waters in a tropical climate which causes CaCO3 to precipitate and the water to become enriched relative to Mg. The Mg-enriched waters perculating down through recently deposited limestone between the shoreline and lagoon alters the calcite into dolomite. Evaporative dolomite is in contrast to primary, syngenetic, supratidal, epigenic, and tectonic dolomite. Evaporative pit or pond see evaporation pit or pond evaporative unit an apparatus that is used in the field to reduce the volume of produced water from wells. The unit uses a fire tube to form steam and concentrate the salts into a brine with a liquid volume reduction of about 90%. (steamer unit) evening tour the shift on a drilling rig that goes from 4:00 p.m. to midnight. The evening tour is between the day and morning tours.
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event

event a line of traces on a seismic record that could be a reflection, refraction, diffraction, or other phenomenon from the subsurface (seismic event) even time the arrangement of crew shifts on an offshore drilling rig so that each crew spends tour weeks offshore with 12-hour tours followed by two weeks ashore. There are three 12-hour tours; the crew from one tour is ashore while the crew from the other two tours work offshore. Eys vertical sweep efficiency EW 1) electric weld 2) exploratory well ew water influx E R electromagnetic wave resistivity W EWSRT extremely well sorted ex excellent EX east extension exa the metric prefix for 1018. E EXC excellent exc excavation exception well a well that was authorized or drilled as an exception to the well spacing allocated by a government regulatory agency excess cash money that is not committed to development or property and is unrelated to the project. Excess cash is passed as additional

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excess factor expansion gas drive exempt gas categories of gas that are exempted by Section 107 of the 1978 Natural Gas Policy Act from federal price ceilings. Deep gas is exempt gas. exh exhaust exhaust the burned gases from an engine, exh exhausted well a well in which production has declined below profitability exhauster a dynamic compressor with an inlet pressure that is less than atmospheric exhaust manifold the system of pipes that collects the burned gases from the cylinders of an engine and directs them to the exhaust pipe exhaust valve the cam-operated valve on the cylinder of an engine that allows the burned gases to pass into the exhaust manifold exhibit an attachment that specifies details on an agreement. On a lease, an exhibit is a separately listed provision, (allonge or rider) exinite kerogen derived from pollen grains and spores in sedimentary rocks exist existing exothermic a chemical reaction during which heat must be removed. Exothermic is in contrast to an endothermic reaction. exp exposed expanded perlite a cement additive that is made from a volcanic glass of rhyolite composition that has been finely ground and intensely heated to drive off water. Expanded perlite is used to decrease the weight of the cement and increase yield. expanding cement a type of cement used in wells that expands against the filter cake and pipe on setting. Expanding cement is a mixture of anhydrous calcium sulfoaluminate, calcium sulfate, and lime along with Portland cement. expanding spread profile A marine seismic technique in which two ships are used. One ship tows an air-gun array firing about every 20 seconds, and the other ship tows the streamer cables. The ships steam at 25 nautical miles (50 km) toward each other from a distance of about 25 nautical miles (50 km), pass and steam apart for another 50 km. ESP expansion bend or loop a U-shaped bend in a pipe that is designed to compensate for expansion and contraction of the pipe expansion bit a drill bit that can be adjusted to several sizes expansion chamber an enlarged pipe on a choke manifold that slows the fluid flowing out of the choke manifold expansion dome a cylindrical tank used on the top of a storage tank to allow liquids to expand without overflowing the storage tank expansion factor the change in gas density at a pressure change across an orifice, -y expansion fit a very tight union formed by placing a cooled part inside a warmer part. The expansion of the cooled part as it warms forms the expansion fit. Expansion fit is in contrast to a shrink fit. expansion gas drive see pressure depletion drive

consideration between parties in a sharing arrangement. excess factor the amount of cement slurry used in a cement job that is greater than the computed or theoretical volume that is needed excess oil excessive production excessive dogleg a change in a well's direction and/ or inclination that is abrupt enough to cause sticking tools and excessive stress for equipment and tubulars in the well. Excessive dogleg is in contrast to a permissible dogleg. excessive production petroleum produced in excess of the allowable granted by a government regulatory agency (excess oil, hot oil, or illegal oil) excess royalty 1) royalty (payment) in excess of one eighth 2) an overriding royalty exch exchange exchange agreement an arrangement between two parties to deliver oil or gas to one party at one location in exchange for the delivery of oil or gas to the other party at another location exchange and renewal lease a new lease that is issued in trade for an older lease exchange cation a positive ion such as Ca++, Mg++, K+, NH4+, Na+, or H+ that is located on a clay mineral surface and can be easily replaced by another cation. The ability of a clay mineral to exchange cations is measured with the cation-exchange capacity. exchange of property for services a barter agreement in which property such as leases or equipment is traded for services such as drilling a well. An exchange of property for services can have unfavorable tax consequences. exchanger see heat exchanger exciter a small direct current generator that is used to generate the field for a main generator excl excellent Exclas or exclas extraclast exclusive license permit granted by a country to explore, drill, and produce petroleum from a block without any competition. An exclusive license is in contrast to a nonexclusive license. EXC-T excessive temperature excursion the lateral movement of a curve on a well log excuse provision a clause in a farmout agreement that states the conditions under which a farmee can stop drilling an earning well. The conditions are usually that the drilling has become impossible or impracticable, and a substitute well could be permitted. executive right the legal right to sign a document such as a lease exempt allowables the amount of petroleum that is permitted to be produced from a well, leasehold, or field by a governement regulatory agency during a certain time that is not subject to a proration factor or reduction in amount. Exempt allowables are granted in special instances such as discovery, marginal, and waterflood wells.

expansion refrigeration explosive fracturing 175 expansion refrigeration a method used to remove water from natural gas in order to meet pipeline specifications. A horizontal, vertical, or T-bone tank is used, with the horizontal tank being preferred. The fluid is passed through a jet that causes cooling by expansion, and the water liquifies into a hydrate. A coil is used to melt the hydrate. The gas, water, and any oil is then separated by gravity. expansion vessel a first-stage separator on a lowtemperature or cold-separator unit. The expansion vessel is often equipped with a heating coil or a glycol injector. expected monetary value the expected value (risk times value of that consequence), expressed in money, of a decision such as drilling and completing a well. EMV expected value a method of analyzing the riskadjusted return on a project such as drilling a well. All possible financial results of drilling a well from dry hole to large discovery are calculated and then multiplied by the estimated probability of that occurrence expressed as a decimal. The sum of these is the expected value of the proposed well. EV Expend expendable (perforating gun) expendable gun a type of perforating gun that has individually pressure-sealed cases of ceramic, aluminum, glass, or cast iron for shaped explosive charges that disintegrate in the well. The gun is lowered on an insulated shooting cable and detonated electrically. The explosive blast shoots fragments of the case into the formation. There may or may not be a steel carrier to contain the blast, and the debris remains in the well, (nonretrievable gun) Expend expendable hole a slim hole that is drilled offshore to define a structure outlined on seismic before a platform is set. The slim hole is drilled, logged, and then plugged and abandoned. expendable-retrievable gun a type of perforating gun that is run on wire and is a cylindrical, hollow tube with strip jets in ceramic or glass cases. The gun leaves a minimum amount of debris in the well but cannot be reused, (semiexpendable gun) expendable well an exploratory well drilled for the purpose of obtaining geological information rather than oil or gas production expense 1) monies spent on purchasing hydrocarbons, equipment, supplies, leases, and/or services 2) the deduction of monies for purchases from income in the year that the purchases were made. Expense is in contrast to capitalization, which is generally less favorable. expense-bearing interest see working interest expensed an accounting method in which the costs are deducted from income in the year that the costs were incurred. Expensed is in contrast to capitalized and is the generally preferred method from a tax position. expense-free interest an interest in oil and gas property, such as a royalty interest, that does not share the expense of production of the oil and gas expir expiration EXPL exploratory expl exploration exploitation the development of a petroleum reservoir exploitation well see development well exploration the activities involved in the search for petroleum reservoirs. Exploration can be geological, geophysical, and geochemical. exploration agreement or contract a three-phase joint operating agreement. In the first phase, geological and geophysical information is shared. In the second phase, exploratory wells are drilled. In the third phase, the developmental wells are drilled. There is a nonconsent penalty if one party does not participate in the drilling. exploration costs the costs of geological, geochemical, and geophysical exploration and the drilling of exploratory wells exploration license a permit granted by a country to a party to explore for petroleum in any part of a large designated area not covered by a production license, (prospecting or reconnaissance license) explorationist a geologist who explores for petroleum exploratory period or term the time during which a lessee can maintain a lease by drilling wells or paying delay rentals. It is the primary term of a lease. exploratory well a well drilled in order to locate an undiscovered petroleum reservoir, either by discovering a new field or a new shallower or deeper reservoir in a previously discovered field. An exploratory well can also be drilled to significantly extend the limits of a discovered reservoir. Exploratory wells have high risk but can have great returns on investment by discovering significant reserves. A wildcat well is sometimes differentiated from an exploratory well; the wildcat well does not have seismic data to support the prospect. Types of exploratory wells include a) new-field wildcat, b) newpool wildcat, c) deeper pool test, d) shallower pool test, and e) outpost or extension test, or step-out well. EW explosimeter a device that detects flammable gases and is calibrated in percentages of the lower explosive limit of those gases in air explosion proof EP explosure cord explosives in a woven sleeve covered with plastic. An explosive cord is used to connect seismic charges or is planted in a trench as a seismic source. explosive fracturing a technique that uses an explosive such as nitroglycerine which is detonated in the well to increase the size of the wellbore and to fracture the reservoir rock to increase production. The Robert's torpedo, which was first developed in 1865, was a 4-ft tin cylinder that was originally filled with gun powder and lowered into the well. The torpedo was detonated by lowering an iron weight on a wire. The gun powder was replaced with nitrogycerine. The casing above the explosion can be protected with a temporary plug of cement, plastic, or gravel. Sand and gravel can be packed around the nitroglycerine shell to contain the explosion. The

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explosive jar external upset a normal roller-cone bit, so that the drilling mud is jetted out directly onto the teeth of the cones. The extended nozzle bit is used for drilling soft, sticky formations. extender a filler type of additive that has little or no effect on the chemical or physical properties of the substance to which it is added. Bentonite is commonly used as an extender in cement. extension 1) additional reserves given to a reservoir because of an increase in the proven area of the reservoir 2) an increase in the area of a field's boundary due to drilling extension fracture a natural fracture in a rock caused by tensional forces. The fracture is oriented parallel to a,, the maximum stress, and perpendicular to cr3, the minimum stress. extension and renewal clause a provision in an agreement that provides for the continuation through all future renewals and extensions on the lease of the overriding royalties or oil payments that were created from a working interest on that lease extension test or well a well drilled in the expected extent of a reservoir that is being developed but at a significant distance, usually two or more drilling and spacing units, from the nearest producer in that reservoir (delineation well, outpost or step-out well) EXT external casing packer an expanding device that is used to seal the area between the casing and the sides of the wellbore. The external casing packer can be seated and filled with cement to obtain a very positive seal between the casing and well walls. It is often used in cement jobs to limit vertically the area of cement along the sides of the casing. external cutter a fishing tool that is lowered on a fishing string over a pipe in a well and rotated to cut the pipe from the outside with mechanical knives. An external cutter is in contrast to an internal cutter. external guylines the wires that run from a mast or derrick on a drilling rig or workover unit to anchors. External guylines provide stability. external patch a patch made to repair casing or attach casing to another casing string in the well. The external patch is applied with a casing-patch tool and is be made of neoprene or lead, (casing bowl or patch) external phase the fluid that completely surrounds the globules of the dispersed phase (suspended phase) in an emulsion. Oil is the continuous phase in a waterin-oil emulsion and water in an oil-in-water emulsion. (continuous phase) external rate of return a method for evaluating a project such as drilling a well. External rate of return is the investment rate required so that the compounded value of all the money obligations are equal to the ultimate value of the compounded returns. external thread a thread located on the outside surface of a connection. An external thread mates with an internal thread, (male thread) external upset a section of thicker wall that protrudes outward along the threaded end of a tubular such as drillpipe. External upset is in contrast to an internal upset. EU

explosive can be detonated with a time bomb. After the explosion, the debris is cleared from the well. Casing cannot be set in a well after explosive fracturing, and an openhole completion must be used. The explosive fracturing porcess is called giving the well a shot. Explosive fracturing has been replaced by hydraulic fracturing and acidizing, (nitro shooting or shooting) explosive jar a jar that uses an explosion to deliver a very hard blow to a hammer. The explosive jar is used to loosen a stuck choke or production control in the tubing. The jar can be rearmed and used again. explosive limits the upper and lower percentages of gas concentration in an air-gas mixture that will result in an ignitable mixture explosive snuffing a technique used to extinguish the fire on a burning well. An explosion of dynamite over the well drives the oxygen out and snuffs the fire. The metal surrounding the fire must first be cooled by water so that it does not reignite the fire. exponential decline an oil well production decline rate or curve that is a constant percentage such as 10% per year. Plotting the average rate versus cumulative production forms a straight line on regular coordinate paper. The equation for constant percentage decline is: Q, = Qfi~Dt where Q, = production rate at a certain time, Q, = initial production rate, e = base of the natural logarithm (2.7182), D = decline as a fraction of production rate, and t = time. Constant percentage decline is the most commonly used method to duplicate a well's decline curve, (constantpercentage decline) exp pig expendable plug express covenant a specific promise in a lease. Express covenants could refer to the burial of pipelines, damage for crops, free gas, or a variety of other provisions. An express covenant is in contrast to an implied covenant. express drilling clause an oil and gas lease provision that requires a well to be drilled by a specific party to the lease expropriation the seizure of private property by a government. In some instances, the owners have been fully or partially compensated for the lost property, and in other instances, there has been no compensation. Multinational oil companies with their production, transportation, and refining equipment have been frequent targets of expropriation by foreign countries, (nationalization) expulsion the migration of oil and gas out of a source rock. Expulsion is caused by primarily by the expansion of organic matter into petroleum. The pressure generated by the formation of petroleum fractures the source rock to create routes of migration. (primary migration) expulsion efficiency the amount, usually expressed as a percentage, of generated hydrocarbons that have been effectively expulsed from the source rock. Expulsion efficiency often ranges from 0% to 70%. exst existing EXT 1) extension well ext 1) external 2) extrapolated extended nozzle bit a roller-cone bit with drillingfluid channels that are extended farther out than on

extr Exv or exv extr extremely extraclast a calcarious detrital particle produced by erosion of an older rock from outside the area of deposition. Exclas or exclas extract the organic matter removed from sediments or sedimentary rocks by organic solvents. Two methods of extraction are soxhlet and ultrasonic. (kerogen) extraction plant equipment such as a contactor or absorber that is used to remove liquids from casinghead or wet gas extradune area the environment that is marginal to eolian (wind blown) sediments in the desert. The sediments deposited on the extradune area are not wind blown and could be saline lake or alluvial fan in origin. extra-gauge larger than the diameter of the wellbore extra-heavy crude crude oil that is less than 10 API extra-heavy oil crude oil that has a "API of less than 10 extraneous gas 1) natural gas that is produced but is not covered by a pooling or unitization agreement

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2) gas injected into an underground gas-storage reservoir extra-weight drillpipe heat-treated, seamless heavy-weight drillpipe that has a longer box end and pin end than normal drillpipe. The outer diameter is the same as a normal drillpipe but the walls are thicker and it weighs about twice as much as a normal drillpipe. Extra-weight drillpipe is used in directional drilling and between the drillpipe and drill collars to prevent drillstring failure. extreme-pressure lubricant a drilling fluid additive that is used to lubricate drilling bit bearings under high pressure (EP additive) extension fracture a fracture caused by tensile stress. The fracture surface will be oriented normal to the maximum tensile stress direction (crj). extrusive rock an igneous rock that flowed onto the surface of the earth and solidified. Extrusive rock is typically composed of very small mineral grains. Volcanic lava such as basalt is an example of extrusive rock. Extrusive rock is in contrast to an intrusive igneous rock that solidifies in the subsurface. Exv or exv extrusive

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F Fahrenheit temperature scale

F 1) from 2) Fahrenheit 3) factor 4) force (mechanical) 5) formation-resistivity factor 6) fuel 7) free 8) flowing 9) torque factor 10) number of degrees of freedom 11) farad f 1) fine 2) frequency 3) fraction 4) fluid 5) formation 6) front 7) fugacity 8) flash separation. 9) coefficient of friction 10) fracture 11) fathom 12) femto- 13) Fanning friction factor (dimensionless) F* apparent formation factor F/ 1) flowing 2) flowed 3) fractured with F Degrees Fahrenheit FA foaming agents Fa orifice thermal expansion factor Fab fabricate
Fac or fee facet

SAND

SHALE

facies map

face ejection bit a type of rotary coring bit in which drilling fluid passes through longitudinal holes in the wall of the bit to the face of the bit. A face ejection bit is used in soft formations, bottom-discharge bit face-to-face the length of a valve measured from one end to the other end (end-to-end) facies a distinctive part of a rock layer that is different from the rest of the rock layer in either composition (lithofacies) or fossils (biofacies). A sedimentary facies is an areally restricted part of a stratigraphic unit, such as a formation, that is significantly different in character from other parts of the unit.

facies triangle a triangle with sandstone, shale, and limestone, carbonates, or nonclastics at the apexes. The percent composition of a sedimentary rock can be plotted on the triangle.
sandstone

limestone

50% facies triangle

shale

facies change

facies change the change in one rock layer, either laterally or vertically, from one rock type to another such as a sandstone to a shale, or in fossil content. Facies changes are often gradational or interfingering. facies map a map that illustrates the aerial variations in rock composition (lithofacies) or fossil content (biofacies) in a particular rock unit

factor of safety see safety factor Fahrenheit temperature scale the temperature scale based on the freezing point of fresh water at 32 and the boiling point at 212. Degrees Centigrade or Celsius can be converted into degrees Fahrenheit by multiplying 9A and adding 32. Degrees Fahrenheit can be converted into degrees Centigrade or Celsius by subtracting 32 and multiplying by 5/<>. The scale is named after Gabriel Fahrenheit, a German physicist (1686-1736). F

Fail or fail farewell sand FAIL or foil 1) failure 2) failed

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failed arm

Sailed arm one arm of a triple-junction spreading center that stopped spreading. In the theory of seafloor spreading and plate tectonics, spreading centers often originate as triple junctions, three spreading arms radiating out from a point. One arm eventually fails or stops spreading and the other two arms continue to spread as a single continuous rift. The failed arm is a basin that eventually is filled with sediments. fail safe equipment that is designed to automatically shut down or stabilize if a component fails fail to go to not explode failure the yield of a substance by ductile flow or brittle fracture fairlead 1) the guidance device used to spool wire rope on a reel 2) a rope or wire that is protected from wear fair market value the price that something would receive if put on the market for a reasonable time by a willing seller from a willing buyer. Fair market value is "the amount a willing buyer will pay a willing seller, with the property or interest exposed to the market for a reasonable period, neither the buyer nor the seller being under a compulsion to buy or to sell, both being competent and having reasonable knowledge of the facts." FMV fairway 1) the area along the trend of gas and/or oil deposits of a particular type in a particular area. For example, the fairway could be a trend of reefs or folds along the shelf margin of an ancient basin. 2) the area of thickest pay or best porosity in a long field 3) a shipping lane in federal waters where permanent drilling and production structures are prohibited FAL 1) RUM log 2) formation-analysis log F L flow analysis log A fallback the downward flow of produced fluids in a well during artificial lift, (slippage) falloff test a pressure transient test that is similar to a buildup test but is used on water-injection wells. The injection rate is held constant, the well is shut in, and the decrease of bottomhole pressure is recorded. Fa thermal-expansion factor false cap the hard, calcite-cemented sedimentary rocks, usually sandstone, that can occur above the cap rock of a salt dome false-colors the deliberate shift or change of colors on an aerial or satellite photograph. False colors are

used when a portion of the visible and near infrared spectrum are imaged. The colors on the photograph are then shifted to show the infrared response as red, the visible red as green, and the visible green as blue. false horizon a seismic reflection that is not real and is due to multiple reflections Famennian a global age of geological time that occurred about 380-365 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Devonian epoch. Fancher holder a core holder used with a permeameter to measure the permeability of a core or a rectangular-shaped sample. The sample is put in the holder where a rubber compression ring is forced around it to form a seal along the sides of the sample. Dry air is then passed through the sample. The permeability of the core is" calculated from Darcy's law. A Hassler chamber or holder serves the same purpose. flan delta a deposit of sediments similar to an alluvial fan. A fan delta is deposited by a high energy mountain stream flowing into the ocean. F&FA fooling and fiddling around F&L fuel and lubricant fanglomerate alluvial fan sediments that have been cemented into sedimentary rock Fanning friction factor a dimensionless number that is used to determine flow-friction pressure losses. The Fanning friction factor is denned a s / = (-TA I
/U2p\

(-^1 in which p is the flow-friction pressure loss in lb/ft2, d is the pipe diameter in ft., L is the length of the pipe in ft., U is the average flow velocity in ft/sec, p is the fluid density in lb/ft3, and g is the acceleration of gravity (32.174 ft/sec.2)./ fanning the bottom drilling a well with relatively little weight on the bit in order to prevent drilling a crooked hole Fann viscometer an instrument used to accurately measure the properties of a drilling fluid. The Fann viscometer works similar to a blender. Plastic viscosity, yield point, apparent viscosity, and gel strength are measured. fan shooting refraction seismic exploration with geophone lines located in fan-shaped arrays radiating from the shot point. Fan shooting was used to detect salt domes. Fan viscometer or V-G meter an instrument commonly used to measure the viscosity and gel strength of drilling mud. The Fann viscometer uses a rotating outer cup driven by an electric motor. The drilling mud is contained in the space between the inner and outer cup, and the torque on the stationary inner cup is measured. The scale is in centipoises (cp) when the outer cup is rotated at 300 rpm. farad a derived unit in System International (SI) for electrical capacitance. Farad is calculated by C/V. A 1-farad capacitator stores an electrical charge of 1 coulomb (C) when 1 volt is applied. F farewell sand the lowest possible producing zone in an area

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farm boss fault gouge FASB Financial Accounting Standards Board FAST fracture-assisted steamflood technology fastice immoble ice in Arctic waters fast line the end of the drilling line on a drilling rig that is attached to the drawworks. The fast line is reeled on and off the reel to raise and lower equipment in the well. The fast line moves with greater velocity than any other portion of the drilling line. The other end is called the deadline. FL FAST Process fracture-assisted steamflood process fast sheave the sheave on the crown block through which the fastline is reeled fathom a nautical measure of depth that is equal to 6 ft or 1.8288 m./ fatigue metal failure under repeated stress fatigue endurance limit the maximum bending stress that will not result in permanent failure or fatigue of a tubular fatigue ratio the ratio of endurance limit to static tensile strength, (endurance ratio) fat oil the oil from an absorption plant that is rich in gasoline. Natural gas is bubbled through lean oil in an absorption tower. The oil absorbs liquid hydrocarbons and becomes fat oil. The light hydrocarbons are then distilled out of the fat oil and it becomes lean oil. Fau or fau fauna

farm boss the foreman who is in charge of some oil leases farmee or farminee the party in a farmout agreement who is obliged to drill a well (earning well) to certain specifications in the arrangement in order to receive support interest in mineral rights acreage from the other party who is called the farmor. (farmoutee) farmer a clumsy oilfield worker farmer's oil royalty payment to the lessor farmer's sand 1) the oil formation that occurs below "every" landowner's property 2) a producing sandstone that the mineral rights owner claims is located below the bottom of a well drilled on the land farmer's well 1) a well dug by hand 2) any very shallow well farmin or farm-in 1) an interest in mineral rights obtained through a farmout agreement 2) to obtain a farmout agreement from another party FI farmor or fat-minor the party in a farmout agreement who contributes an interest in mineral rights acreage to the other party, called the farmee, in return for a well (earning well) being drilled. (farmouter) farmout or farm out 1) the interest in mineral rights given through a farmout agreement 2) to give a farmout agreement to another party 3) see farmout agreement
FO or F/O

farmout agreement an agreement between two parties in which one party, the farmor, contributes interests in mineral leases in compensation to another party, the farmee, who drills a well(s) called the earning well(s) on the leases. The farmor usually retains an interest in the leases that were farmed out. In the conventional farmout, the farmor assigns a 100% working interest in the well to the farmee and reserves an overriding royalty interest. After payout, the overriding royalty interest converts to a working interest. The interest assigned to the farmee can be either a present assignment or assigned when earned. In an off-lease farmout, the interest earned is not on the earning well drilling and spacing unit. farmout area the acreage covered by a farmout agreement. The farmout area can consist of one or more earning blocks. farmout depth the depth below an earning block to which a farmee earns the right to produce by drilling an earning well in a farmout agreement. The farmout depth can be a) unlimited, b) to a specific true vertical depth, or c) to a specific horizon. farmoutee see farmee farmouter see farmor farmout leases all the leases owned by a farmor that are within the farmout area farmout option a contract in which a party that drills a well and shares the information with another party will receive a farmout from that party, (drilling option) FARO flowed at rate of faro a relatively small oblong-shaped reef with a lagoon that that forms part of the rim of a larger barrier or atoll reef

fault

fault a natural break in the rocks with one side moving relative to the other side. Faults are described by the relative movement of each side. Dip-slip faults (normal, reverse, and thrust faults) move primarily up and down. Strike-slip faults (right and left lateral) move primarily horizontally. Oblique-slip faults move about equally up or down and horizontally. FIT, Fit, orflt fault block a unit of rocks bounded by faults fault breccia a tectonic breccia located along a fault surface. The fault breccia is formed by the crushing of rocks along the fault surface as the fault moves. fault closure the permeability barrier formed by a fault along the side or top of a petroleum reservoir fault grooves scratches on a fault plane or surface that are caused by gouging and are oriented parallel to the fault movement, (fault striae) fault gouge soft, unconsolidated, very fine-grained rock fragments found along a fault surface. Fault gouge

fault line fee land is formed by the grinding action of the fault movements on rocks and later, by mineral decomposition. Fault gouge can act as a permeability barrier to make the fault a sealing fault, (gouge, clay gouge, or selvage) fault line the trace of a fault on the surface (fault trace) fault plane a flat surface along which a fault has moved. If it is not flat, it is called the fault surface. fault-propagation fold a fold located at the tip of a thrust fault where the fault loses slip and is terminated. The fold takes up the criestal shortening line fault set a group of parallel faults that are related to the same deformation fault striae scratches on a fault plane or surface that are caused by gouging and are oriented parallel to the fault movement, (fault grooves) fault surface the uneven face along which a fault has moved fault trace the line of a fault on the surface, (fault line) fault trap a type of structural petroleum trap in which faulting displaces the reservoir rock. Oil and/or gas migrating up the dip of the reservoir rock is trapped against the fault plane. A single fault usually forms a relatively small trap as faults tend to be straight and linear and do not have sides. Two intersecting faults or a curved fault can form larger traps. fault zone an area along a fault surface that has been deformed by fault movement and is characterized by numerous small faults, fault breccia, and/or fault gouge fauna fossil or modern animals. Fauna is in contrast to flora. Fau orfau Fb 1) basic orifice factor 2) formation factor (rock matrix) FBD formation breakdown FBF friction-ball-friction FBG 1) formation breakdown gradient 2) formation balance gradient FBH flowing by heads FBHP 1) flowing bottomhole pressure 2) final bottomhole pressure FBHPF final bottomhole pressure flowing FBHPSI final bottomhole pressure shut in FBP 1) final boiling point 2) formation breakdown pressure FBR full bore retrievable FC 1) float collar 2) full cost 3) field code FC or fc filter cake FC accounting full cost accounting FCC 1) fixed carbon content 2) false-color composite F.C. casing flush-coupled casing FCD dimensionless fracture conductivity FCMP first contact miscibility pressure FCP 1) flowing casing pressure 2) final casing pressure FCPF final casing pressure flowing FCPSI final casing pressure shut-in

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FCV flow control valve FD finite difference F-D formation density FDC 1) compensated formation-density log 2) formation-density content log FDC formation density compensated F DIP focused diplog FDL 1) formation density log 2) fluid density log fdn foundation FE frequency effect fj 1) sampling rate 2) gauge location factor FEA Federal Energy Agency Fe acid an acid with a sequestering agent to control the reprecipitation of iron and control the pH when acidizing a well. The low pH helps control clay swelling. feathering deviation of a hydrophone streamer from the true seismic line behind a boat. Feathering displaces the midpoints of the reflections. fecal pellet a fossilized excrement, usually ovoid shaped, of an invertebrate animal. Fecal pellet is in contrast to the larger caprolite. FED 1) federal 2) four electrode dipmeter federal exploratory unit an area composed of federal, state and/or fee land that has been unitized by several parties to explore and develop an area. It can be done either a) on individual units according to acreage positions in the entire federal exploratory unit or b) on divided units according to leaseholders in that particular unit. fee the ownership of record for surface and/or mineral rights on land feed see feed mud feeder head A pipe that carries slurry to two or more hydroclones feeder line 1) a pipeline that conducts the gas or oil from the lease to the trunk line, which is a larger pipeline that conducts it to a refinery or transportation center 2) the flowline that connects a subsea well to its manifold feed mud drilling mud that is about to be processed feed off to lower a drillstring or tool in a well by disengaging the brake on the drawworks and allowing the drilling line to reel off the drum feed-off rate the speed in which the drilling line unwinds from the drawworks drum feedstock a chemical refined and manufactured from hydrocarbons and used to produce petrochemicals. Methane, ethylene, propylene, butylene, and napthenes are common feedstocks. feedwater the water used in steam generators fee in surface the surface rights owner of a lease fee interest the ownership of both surface and mineral rights interest feel ahead to drill a small-diameter well fee land private land located in parts of the United States and Canada that has both a surface and mineral rights ownership. Fee land is in contrast to public lands.

182

feeler fenestral pore sandstone with 25%-90% micas and micaceous metamorphic rock fragments, 10%-50% feldspars and feldspathic rock fragments, and 0%-65% quartz, chert, and metaquartzite rock fragments feldspathic litharenite a sandstone that has less than 75% quartz and either a) between a 1:1 and 1:3 ratio of feldspar to rock fragments or b) between 5O%-25% feldspar, granite, and gneiss rock fragments as compared to other unstable rock fragments and detrital clay. feldspathic quartzite 1) a sandstone composed of 70%-95% quartz, chert, and metaquartzite rock fragments, 5%-15% feldspars, and feldspathic rock fragments and 0%-15% micas and micaceous rock fragments 2) a subarkose feldspathic sandstone a sandstone that is intermediate in composition between an arkose and a quartz sandstone. A feldspathic sandstone has 10%25% feldspar and less than 20% clay matrix. feldspathic subgraywacke a sandstone with 10%25% feldspars and igneous rock fragments, 10%-25% micas and metamorphic rock fragments, and 50%80% quartz and chert feldspathic wacke a sandstone with 10%-25% feldspar, more than 10% argillaceous matrix, and abundant quartz, chert, and quartzite. The feldspar grains are more numerous than fine-grained rock fragments. FEM finite-element method Fe-mag ferromagnesian female connection or thread a thread located on the inside surface of a coupling that mates with a male thread, (internal thread) femto the metric prefix for 10~ 15 ./ Fen or fen fenestra fence diagram a three-dimensional representation of wells and the geological cross sections (panels) between them. The cross sections interconnect to form a network. fenestral pore elongated pores parallel to bedding in limestone rocks. Fenestral pores are common in algal mat deposits and are thought to form by organic

feeler a pipe run into a well to test the well's ability to take a string of casing fee royalty the share or payment of the gas and/or oil production that is free of the costs of production and is paid to the lessor. Fee royalty was originally one-eighth but can now be from one-eighth to onefourth, (landowner, landowner's, or gross royalty) fee simple land owned without restrictions by a person fee simple absolute an estate of inheritance that is limited absolutely and without limitations to a person and his/her heirs and assigns forever fee simple defensible an estate that is less than fee simple absolute in that it is subjected to a specific limitation fee tail a freehold estate with a definite line of inheritance that extends from the original grantee to the present generation FEL from the east line feldsarenite a type of sandstone that has less than 75% quartz and greater than a 3:1 ratio of feldspar to rock fragments feldspar a common group of minerals that are potassium aluminum silicates (potassium feldspar or orthoclase) or sodium-calcium aluminum silicates (plagioclase feldspar). Feldspars are common in igneous and metamorphic rocks and immature sediments. Feldspars range in color from white, gray, pink, to pale yellow, have a specific gravity of 2.52.7, hardness of 6-6.5 and two cleavage planes at 8690. Feldspars can decay to form clay minerals. Fspr,
fspr or Fs

feldspatfaic a sedimentary rock containing feldspars feldspathic arenite a sandstone with 10%-25% feldspar, less than 10% argillaceous matrix, and abundant quartz, chert, and quartzite feldspathic graywacke 1) a sandstone with less than 75% quartz and chert, 15%-75% detrital clay matrix and more feldspar than rock fragments 2) a sandstone with 25%-9O% micas and metamorphic rock fragments, 10%-50% feldspars and igneous rock fragments, and 0%-65% quartz and chert 3) a

PANEL OF

fence diagram

FERC field development

183

Fenestral Pore
fenestral pores

decay along laminations in the limestone mud (micrite). FERC Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FERC out clause a provision in a gas purchase and sales agreement authorizing the buyer to cease purchasing the gas if the purchaser is not permitted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to include the amounts paid in the costs which are used to calculate the buyer's own regulated resale rates which is called the cost of service. fermenter a type of bacteria that thrives on organic matter in the absence of oxygen and sulfate. The fermenters form biogenic gas from a few feet below the surface to about 1,000 ft below where they are inhibited by high temperature. few ferrigenous ferricyanide process a wet scrubbing technique using iron to remove hydrogen sulfide from crude oil and natural gas ferrigenous iron-bearing, ferr ferromagnetic a substance that has a large positive susceptibility to a magnetic field and a large hysteresis resulting in remnant magnetization. In rocks, certain mineral crystals such as magnetite will align themselves with magnetic moments when the rock is molten. Two types of ferromagnetic minerals are ferrimagnetic and antiferrimagnetic. ferromagnesian containing iron and magnesium.
Fe-mag

ferrimagnetic a substance such as the mineral magnetite that will align itself with a magnetic moment. Some of the grains will be oriented in the opposite direction, but when the magnetic moment is removed, some magnetic moment remains in contrast to an antiferrimagnetic substance. ferrous oxide a black compound (FeO) that can be made from the oxidation of ferrous sulfide. (iron monoxide) ferrous sulfide a black compound (FeS2) that can be made from iron and hydrogen sulfide. (iron sulfide) ferrule see guide ring Fe-st ironstone FF 1) frac finder log 2) full of fluid 3) fishing for Ff 1) free fluid 2) flushing factor F.F.&W. furnish fuel and water FFI free-fluid index FFM fracture finder microseis

FF-MGS frac finder microseismogram log FF-MGS-G frac finder microseismogram, gamma ray log FF-MGS-N frac finder microseismogram, neutron log FFP final flowing pressure FG fine grained F.G. fracture gradient Fg, ideal-gas relative density factor FGIH finished going in hole FGIW finished going in well FGLR formation gas/liquid ratio F/GOR formation gas/oil ratio fgr fine grained F-Gr or f-gr fine grained F gr real-gas relative density factor FH full hole l?hgm mercury manometer factor, correction for gas column F hgt mercury manometer temperature factor FHP final hydrostatic pressure FI 1) flow indicator 2) fracture initiation f, sampled operator fibr fibrous fibrous a substance that can be separated into threads, fibr FID flame ionization detector fiduciary a person, the trustee, who is appointed to hold something in trust or trusteeship for another person field 1) the surface area underlain by one or several petroleum reservoirs that are related to a single geological feature such as an anticline. The field is often named after a geographic landmark. The American Petroleum Institute assigns a six-digit field name code to each specific field name. This is followed by the state abbreviation and county code. An example is the Clark field in Texas, which is 145385TX285. Oil and gas fields are classified according to their reserves. An A field has more than 50 MMBO or 300 BCF of natural gas. A B field has between 25-50 MMBO or between 150-300 BCF of gas. A C field has between 10-25 MMBO or between 60-150 BCF of gas. A D field has between 1-10 MMBO or 6-60 BCF of gas. An E field has less than 1 MMBO or less than 6 BCF of natural gas. An .F field is abandoned as nonprofitable. FID or fid 2) the space under the influence of a force such as a potential field 3) a general term for an outdoor area 4) a specific reservoir or subsurface producing zone sometimes applied by a government regulatory agency field appraisal the delineation of a petroleum field and the characterization of its reservoir mechanics field butanes the mix of natural gas liquids from a gas processing plant field compression test a test used to determine the gasoline content of casinghead or wet gas field development the drilling of wells and the installation of processing and storage equipment for a petroleum field

184 field development well fill-up curve field development well a well drilled in the reasonably proven extent of a producing petroleum field. The extent of the field is defined by extrapolation of subsurface data. The well should have several producing wells on adjacent drilling and spacing units. A field development well has small risk, see development well field drainage the migration of petroleum under a field due to production. Wells in the field cause a pressure gradient between the producing wells and the remaining petroleum in the reservoir causing the petroleum to flow toward the wells. field efficiency the measured production divided by the computed production of a downhole pump, field efficiency is about 80%. field end the end of a pipe on the other side from a coupling or box field facility equipment such as separators or absorbers that serve several leases field foreman see production foreman field grade butane normal butane and isobutane that is separated from wet gas at a natural-gas processing plant (mixed butane) field intensity force per unit such as length or mass field noise test see noise test field plant equipment located on a pipeline that is used to remove ethane, propane, butane, and condensate from natural gas (straddle plant) field potential the capacity (production of gas and/ or oil) that a field is able of producing during a 24hour peroid field price a natural gas price that is either a) the current price that a buyer needs to get a gas contract or b) the weighed, average gas contract price field print a preliminary well log printed at the well in contrast to a final print field processing the separation and treating of natural gas and crude oil on the lease before it is delivered to a pipeline or refinery field processing unit apparatus such as an absorption unit, LTX unit, or separator system through which natural gas from wells passes before it goes to a processing plant or pipeline field rate the contract price for drilling a well field rules the regulations issued by a government regulatory agency that are used to efficiently develop and produce petroleum from a field. Field rules can include spacing, density, an allocation formula, a gas/ oil ratio limit, and surface casing requirements. Field rules can apply to one, several, or all reservoirs in the field. field scale the large-scale application of an enhanced oil recovery process to an oil field. Field scale is in contrast to a pilot-scale. field-size distribution a histogram of the number of fields discovered in a basin plotted against the reserves in those fields. The field-size distribution is usually lognormal in shape. field static pressure the reservoir pressure that is uniform throughout an oil or gas field after all the wells have been shut in for a period of time. Ps field superintendent an employee of the operator who supervises all drilling and production activities in a field, area, or district. The field superintendent works through the production foremen. field tank see stock tank field tape a magnetic tape that is used to record geophysical data in the field. After the data have been modified by computer processing, it is a processed tape. The processed tape can be either intermediate or final. FT field terminal platform an offshore production platform that acts as a central processing facility for a field. The platform accepts risers from the wells and processes the gas and oil before it is transported. FTP 15-minute percentage timer an electric programmer that turns a sucker-rod pump on and off every 15 minutes 50-50 allowable the amount of gas and/or oil that a field is permitted to produce in a given time by a government regulatory agency. Fifty percent of the allowable allotted to individual wells and 50% to the acreage. figure of merit the excellence of magnetic compensation for a specific aircraft. The figure of merit is computed by summing without regard to sign the twelve magnetic signatures recorded when the aircraft carries out 20 rolls, 10 pitches and 10 yaws, peak to trough on north, east, south, and west headings. FOM FIH fluid in hole FIL fracture identification log file for record to send an instrument to the county or parish clerk for recording filing date the date in which an instrument was recorded in the county or parish records fill 1) well cuttings on the bottom of the well 2) large pieces of rock on the bottom of a well fill connection see fill-up line filler a small-diameter wire that is used to fill in the space between different diameter wires used in the strand of a wire rope. The fillers give the wire rope greater strength and service life, (seale) filler material a cement slurry additive used to increase the yield of the slurry filling the hole pumping drilling mud into the well to maintain the fluid level in the well fill line a pipe that connects the s'sndpipe manifold with the bell nipple above the biwvvout preventers and the annulus of a well. The fill line is used to pump drilling mud directly from the mud tanks into the annulus during tripping out during lost circulation. (fill connection or fill-up line) fill the weevil to put grease in a lubricator fill up the height in the annulus from the bottom of a well to the top of the cement fill-up line see fill line fill-up curve a plot of pressure increase with time for a shut-in well after production. The fill-up curve is used to measure the permeability of the reservoir rocks and to estimate productive capacity. The time

fill-up period final tape


necessary to reach static equilibrium is a measure of the effective permeability of the reservoir rock and also measures the well's productivity index, (buildup curve) fill-up period the time at the start of a waterflood during which the injected water forces gas back into solution in the formation fluids. The injection rate is relatively high. FILT or filt filtrate filter 1) the part of a system that screens or removes some of the input information. In seismic exploration, filters are often used to limit the frequency of the energy being recorded. A high-cut filter transmits frequencies below a certain level, whereas a low-cut filter transmits frequencies above a certain level. 2) a physical device such as a screen that is designed to remove solid particles larger than a certain size from a fluid. A dry-type scrubber is a filter that removes dust from a gas stream. filter cake solid particles from drilling mud that are plastered to the sides of the borehole as the drilling mud is forced into the rocks surrounding the well. The fluid from the drilling mud that is forced into the rocks is called filtrate. The volume of the filtrate and the thickness of the filter cake can be determined in the laboratory by a filter press. The thickness of the filter cake is measured in VM in. and described as soft, firm, or tough, (mudcake or wall cake) FC

185

different frequency filters. The display is used to show which frequency filters show the reflections best and select the filters for the entire program. filtrate the liquid portion of the drilling mud that is forced into the rocks adjacent to the borehole during drilling. Filtrate occupies the pores of the reservoir rock in the flushed zone. The solid particles are plastered to the side of the wellbore to form the filter cake. FILT or filt filtrate loss the loss of fluid base from a liquid forced through a porous medium. As a well is being drilled with circulating drilling mud, a filter cake of solid particles is build up on the sides of the well as the liquid (filtrate) enters the rock. Filtrate loss is measured in the laboratory by the amount of liquid (filtrate) that passes through a filter in a filter press during a specific time under a specific pressure. Filtrate loss is a common test for drilling mud. (filtration, filter or fluid loss) filtrate reducer a drilling-fluid additive such as bentonite, pregelatinized starch, or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) that is used to inhibit filtrate penetrating a formation. Filtrate reducers used in cement slurries are either finely divided materials such as bentonite or water-soluble polymers made of latex. Filtrate reducers such as silica flour and hydrocarbon resins are used in hydraulic fracturing to stop the flow of treating fluid away from propagating fractures in the formation, (fluid loss additive, preventer, reducer, or fluid-loss control agent) filtration the process of using a filter to remove solids in suspension from a fluid filtration loss see filtrate loss filtration system equipment used to remove solids from a fluid filtration test a laboratory test used to measure the volume of filtrate and thickness and quality of a filter cake formed by a specific drilling mud. The test instrument is a filter press with a filter cell that has an inside diameter of 3 in, a height of at least 2'/2 in, a frame mounting, a pressure source, and a graduated cylinder to receive the filtrate. The filter cell is covered with a fine screen that holds filter paper. Drilling mud is subjected to 100-500 psi at 200 -300F. The filtrate volume that collects in the graduated cylinder every 30 minutes is reported in cm3. The filter cake is measured in V 2 of an inch 3 and described as soft, firm, or tough. FIN finished fin 1) final 2) finished fin a ridge formed on the shoulder of a tool joint that was caused by using boxes and pins with different sized shoulders final to complete a well final print the permanent print of a well log made on high-quality paper with appropriate heading information and calibration. Final print is in contrast to field print. final squeeze pressure the surface pressure of a well at the finish of a squeeze cement job. FSP final tape a magnetic tape with seismic data that has hieen modified into final form. A final tape is in contrast t<b a field and intermediate tape.

orfc
filter element A perforated metal sleeve with compression-gasketed ends. A simple one is used for removing dry solids. filtering the discrimination between signal and noise on the basis of frequency or velocity. Filtering is used in seismic analysis. filter loss see filtrate loss filter press a device that forces drilling mud or cement slurry through a filter or porous medium according to API standards to separate fluid from solids in a filtration test. The filter press is used to measure fluid loss and mud cake properties of a drilling fluid. The filtration rate through a standard filter paper and the rate of mudcake thickness increase under standard test conditions are measured. The filter press has a sample container, pressure source, the filter, and a graduated measuring cylinder. The filter cell has a fine screen with a cylinder drain that is covered with filter paper. The mud sample is forced through the filter cell at either 100 or 500 psi and at temperatures from 200-300 F. The volume of filtrate produced in 30 minutes is measured. The filter cake on the filter paper is measured in ]/32 in. and described as soft, firm, or tough. filter separator a horizontal or vertical vessel that uses high-quality filtering medium to separate very small liquid and/or solid particles from gas. The filter separator contains filter tubes or elements that cause the coalescence of mist and removable of solids. A filter separator can remove 98% of l|x particles and 100% of 5|x particles. A filter separator is commonly used on field compressor inlets and as final scrubbers of glycol contact towers and on horizontal separators.

filter test frequency display or scan several


versions of the same short seismic section made with

186 finder's fee fire-tube heater finder's fee a cash consideration, override, or other compensation for a third party for promoting a deal between two other parties. finding and development costs a method used to evaluate exploration economics. The cost of locating and developing a field per barrel of oil or thousand cubic feet reserves is calculated. The cost includes lease costs, G&G, overhead, and the drilling and completion of all wells in the field. The cost is divided into the estimated reserves of the field. Maximum acceptable values will determine the feasibility of the project. finding costs a method used to evaluate exploration economics. The cost of locating a field per barrel of oil or thousand cubic feet of gas reserves is computed. The cost includes lease costs, G&G, overhead, and the discovery well drilling and completion. The cost is divided into the estimated reserves of the field. Examples would be $2.02/BO or $0.51/Mcf. Maximum acceptable values will determine the feasibility of the project. Finding costs can be either risked or unrisked. fin drig finished drilling FENDS an inertial navigation instrument fineness the size of cement particles formed by the grinding process in cement manufacturing. Fineness is used to calculate total particle surface area per gram of cement. fines small particles. chromatography-mass spectrometry to qualitatively or quantitatively identify and correlate biological markers such as isoprenoids, steranes, and triterpanes. Oils from the same source will have similar fingerprints. finish a well to complete a well fin-tube a tubular with a flat, protruding surface projecting outward that is used in a heat exchanger to cool fluids flowing through the tube fire box the equipment, usually in the slope of a U-tube, where fuel such as natural gas is burned to heat up a fluid. The part of the fire box in contact with the fluid is called the firetube. A fire box is used in a fire-tube heater to separate emulsions. fire flood a method of enhanced oil recovery in which the subsurface oil in the reservoir is set afire. The subsurface oil burns and breaks down into coke and lighter oil. As the coke burns, the heat reduces the viscosity of the oil ahead of it and the heated gases formed by the combustion drive the oil ahead of it toward producing wells. Some of the combustion gases dissolve in the oil, further reducing the viscosity of the oil. Large volumes of air must be injected into the reservoir in order to maintain the subsurface combustion during the fire flood. Air injection is a major expense of a fire flood. The air is heated by an electric heater or gas burner at the sand face and injected at 400-l,200F to ignite the fire. The zones of fire flood include a) burned region, b) burned front, c) coke, d) cracked hydrocarbons, e) hot water, f) light hydrocarbons, and g) oil bank. The burning front moves about 0.25-1 ft per day. Forward combustion occurs when the burning front moves from the injection well towards the producing well. Reverse combustion occurs when the burning front moves from the producing well toward the injection well. Water can be injected along with air. The water is flashed to steam and reduces the volume of air needed to be injected, (in-situ combustion) fire loop a pneumatic control line on a production platform that uses temperature sensors to shut down the equipment in case of a fire fireman the crew member on a steam-powered rig who maintains the boilers fire tube the U-shaped tube or series of tubes in which fuel such as natural gas is burned to heat a fluid in a fire-tube heater. The fire tube is part of a fire box that is in contact with the fluid being heated in a direct heater and with a water bath in an indirect heater. The temperature in the fire tube is above 1,000 F. Two common types of fire tubes are 100,000 and 250,000 Btu/hr. The fire tube can be either continuous or intermittent. fire-tube heater a type of vertical or horizontal field separator that uses heat to break an emulsion such as oil-in-water or water-in-oil. A temperature of 80180 F is necessary to separate emulsions. The steel tank has a U-shaped pipe in it called a fire tube. The direct-fired type of fire-tube furnace directs a flame down the center line of the pipe to heat and break the emulsion. In the indirect-fired type, the flame is used to heat water that is in contact with the emulsion. The exhaust gases exit the stack which extends 1015 ft above the separator. The burner uses either natural gas or heavy oil. (emulsion treater or heatertreater)

fingers

fingers (off rotary drilling rig chart)

finger a metal or wood, horizontal bar-like protrusion that is part of the fingerboard located under the monkeyboard on the derrick of a drilling rig. The fingers on the fingerboard form slots for the derrickman to rack the upper ends of tubular stands during tripping out. finger board or fingerboard a rack with fingerlike projections located under the derrick of a drilling rig. The fingers are used to separate and hold the upper ends of tubular stands such as drillpipe or tubing when they are pulled from the well. fingering 1) the invasion of water or gas into an oil reservoir with finger-like intrusions during production of oil. The bypassed oil is often not recoverable. 2) the formation of finger-shaped irregularities at the front of an injected fluid slug in a reservoir during enhanced oil recovery Fingerlakesian a North American age of geological time that started about 385 m. y. ago. It is part of the Devonian period. fingerprinting the correlation of oil to oil, or oil to source rock by using gas chromatography and gas

fire up fishing neck fire up to start an engine, heater, or boiler fire wall an earthen or concrete bank that surrounds an oil tank or any oil handling equipment. The fire wall is used to contain the oil in the event of a spill. firm gas the gas that is delivered and taken under the provisions of a firm gas-purchase contract. After the required amount of firm gas has been taken, any other gas is called dump gas. firm gas contract a gas purchase contract that provides for the delivery and purchase of a specific amount of gas during a certain period of time firm service natural gas sold with a guarantee for delivery in contrast to interruptible gas first arrival or break the first recorded signal of a seismic wave from a known source in seismic exploration. First arrival is used in reflection seismic to determine the effect of the weathering zone. first-contact miscibility the mixture of two fluids in any proportion without an interface formirig between the fluids first curve a spontaneous potential curve on a well log first fold out of basin the first anticline that is located up dip from the deep part of a basin. It is first in line to receive and perhaps trap any oil and gas that was generated in the deep basin as it migrates up dip along the flanks of the basin. first out indicator information on a shut-in panel that identifies the end element that caused the shutdown first right to refusal preferential right to purchase first-tier oil old oil in the United States that was subjected to price controls under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973. First-tier oil is in contrast to second-tier oil that could be sold at market price, (lower-tier crude oil) fis 1) fissure 2) fissile fish fishing fish 1) a tool, pipe, cable, rod, packer, or other piece of equipment that has fallen to the bottom of the well or is stuck in the well. Lost roller cones followed by failed tool joints and drillpipe are the most common fish. The fish must be removed (fished) out of the well before drilling can resume. A fishing string with fishing tools is used to remove the fish, (junk) 2) operations on a drilling rig to recover a fish in the well 3) a sensor towed in water 4) a portable surface electrode that is used to make an electrical ground for well logging. The fish is buried in a shallow hole that has been dug in the ground and filled with mud. fisherman a person who is part of a crew that fishes for junk in a well, (fishing hand) fisheye structure a seismic display pattern of reflections that is similar to a fisheye and is often formed by a reef fishing any operation to release, remove, or recover a fish or junk that has fallen to the bottom of a well or is stuck in the well and adversely affects drilling and completion operations on the well. Fishing tools are used for fishing. Fishing expenses are generally 50%-75% higher than normal drilling costs and

187

fishing

represent about 3% of drilling costs. FSH, fish, fsg, fsgfishing assembly see fishing string fishing bell a neck or reduced diameter on the cable end of a housing that anchors the connectors on the bottom of a survey cable. The fishing bell is designed for an overshot during fishing operations. fishing bid a small bonus bid that is made in a competitive lease sale in hope that no other bids are filed fishing hand a person who is part of a crew that fishes for junk in a well, (fisherman) fishing head the top part of a downhole tool that allows the tool to be easily fished from the well

fishing magnet

fishing magnet a permanent magnet run on a wireline during fishing operations. Fishing magnets are used for small pieces of junk and can have a skirt extending downward to keep the junk from being knocked off as the magnet is being raised. Three types are a) cut-lip, b) mill-tooth, and c) flush guides. The well is circulated before fishing to wash away other debris so that the metal can contact the fishing magnet surface. The magnet is used for ferrous materials and will not work if the fish is covered with debris or is made of brass, aluminum, carbide, or stainless steel. There is also a fishing electromagnet. fishing neck 1) a groove in the top of wireline tools that is designed to permit a fishing tool to be attached to the tool and remove it from the well 2) a reduaion

188 fishing specialist fish tail or fishtail bit in the diameter of drill collars near the pin or box end that is used to receive the overshot and grapple fishing specialist a consultant or company that supplies advice and fishing tools on a lease or rental basis for a fishing job fishing string the drillpipe or tubing and downhole assembly that is used with a fishing tool in fishing operations. The drillpipe or tubing is usually normal weight except when heavy pipe is used. Drill collars are usually run without stabilizers. For most fishing operations, drilling jars and a bumper sub are run just above the fishing tools. In milling operations, they are run with four to six drill collars between them and the fishing tool. In wireline fishing, the sinker bars are run below the rope socket and the jars below the sinker bars, with the other tools below the jars, (fishing assembly) fishing supervisor a specialist who directs fishing operations fishing tap a fishing tool that is lowered on a fishing string and rotated to cut an internal thread on pipe in the well fishing time the time on a rig spent fishing for junk in the well fishing tool a device that is lowered into a well to retrieve an object (fish or junk) that has fallen to the bottom of the well or become stuck in the well. Fishing tools are designed to grip or hook and lift, cut, jar, or mill the object. There are many different types that include a) spears, b) overshots, c) internal and external cutters, d) milling tools, e) tap and die collars, f) washover pipe, g) jars, h) safety joints, i) junk retrievers, and j) impression blocks. Small particles are removed with a fishing magnet or junk basket. Fishing tools are usually rented. fishing-tool operator a service company employee who directs fishing operations on a well fishproof any equipment that is used over the well and does not have any parts that can fall into the well fish scales scale or chemical precipitate on pipe or vessels

fishtail bit

fish tail or fishtail bit a type of rotary drag bit that has on its bottom two curved steel blades shaped

eccentric swage nipple swage nipple

ell tee fittings

fishtail valve
like a fish tail. An outlet for drilling mud is located near the bit shank. The fixed blades drag and cut the sedimentary rocks on the bottom of the well. A fishtail bit is used primarily for soft formations and were originally called drag bits. fishtail valve a type of quick-opening valve that uses a disc or wafer on a pivot in a chamber to open and close. The fishtail valve is used to turn the flow on and off (butterfly or wafer valve) fish trap a conservation officer assigned to a seismic crew fisl fissile fissile a rock that is easily split into thin sheets. FISSL,

flagging

189

nonvolatile fixed-carbon content of vitrinite and coals on a dry ash basis. A fixed-carbon content of 0% is equivalent to 100% volatile matter. A higher fixedcarbon value indicates higher maturity. FCC fixed choke a choke that is not adjustable and has only one size orifice in contrast to an adjustable choke. (positive choke)

fixed cost a cost that once spent cannot be recovered. (sunk)

fis, or fisl FISSL fissile fissure a fracture with separation in a rock, fis fissure theory an old theory dating back to the 1860s that crude oil occurs in crevices in the subsurface rocks FIT formation interval tester fittings small pieces such as pipes, nipples, and elbows that are used in a pipe system. Fittings do not include couplings or valves, fig 555 termination the automatic termination of a lease if there is no well producing on the lease and the delay rental is not paid on time five-foot stick a measuring stick that is used to determine the depth of a cable-tool well by measuring the length of the drilling line used, (knowledge stick) five-point test a flow-after-flow test used to determine the flow rates at different flow pressures in a gas well to determine the open-flow potential. The shut-in pressure of the gas well is measured along with the flow rates at five different bottomhole or, less desirably, tubing pressures. A curve is then plotted that can be used to determine the optimum flow rate. a A ! o !
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fixed platform

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five-spot waterfloods

5-spot or five-spot a type of waterflood pattern. Four water injection wells are located in a square. A producing oil well is located at the center of the square. fix an accurate location determination fixed carbon content a coal ranking scale that is based on the percentage of volatile matter and

fixed platform or fixed offshore platform a relatively permanent offshore platform made of welded tubular steel in which the legs are attached to the sea bottom by piles. Because it is hard to move a fixed platform, it is used primarily in developmental drilling over known offshore fields. The most commor} is the steel template jacket platform. A gravity-base platform can be used when there is a need for crude oil storage. The platform is located at least 50 ft above sea level. The deck area is commonly 150 ft by 150 ft. On the platform, producing wells can be located as close as 6 ft apart. fixed-rate royalty a common type of royalty in which the mineral interest is paid a fixed percentage or fraction such as Vs fixed-term royalty an interest that exists during a specific time period fizz a gas leak FJ flush joint FJ. casing flush-joint casing F-K frequency-wave length FL 1) floor 2) flowline 3) flush 4) fluid level 5) fast line fl 1) fluid 2) flat fl/ 1) flowing 2) flowed FLAC fluid-loss control agent flagging cloth, plastic, or paper strips that are used to mark shot locations or instruments

190

flaggy

flash gas flare or flaring the burning of gas. Flaring was common in old oil fields, but it is currently illegal in most areas of the world. Flaring occurs today only during well testing, when unavoidable before a gas pipeline is being laid, or on offshore platforms when gas cannot be-disposed of in any other manner.

flaggy the tendency of certain sedimentary rocks to split along bedding planes or joints into thicknesses (1-10 cm) suitable for flagstones, fig flags 1) cloth or nylon strips on a sand line. The flags are inserted by twisting the sand line to separate the strands. Flags are used to show how much of the line is in the well. 2) an indicator in a computer program to inform the rest of the program about an earlier condition flag the line to put cloth or nylon strips on a sand line on a drilling rig. Flagging the line is used to show how much of the line is in the well. Flags warn the crew chief when most of the sand line has been pulled out of the well when swabbing. flambeau lights a flare that is used to burn casinghead gas that is produced with oil. The use of flambeau lights is generally restricted and regulated by government agencies. flame arrestor a fitting on the vent of an oil storage or stock tank that is used to prevent fire from entering the tank and igniting the oil vapors. The flame arrester uses a very fine-mesh screen that allows the vapors to pass through but prevents fire from entering the screen. It is also used on a fire box. flame ionization detector the hydrocarbon detection system used in gas chromatrography that ionizes the organic compounds in a hydrogen flame and electrostatic field. The ions are conductive and the current is measured. FID flame snuffer a metal clapper that is attached to the vent line of a tank and can be closed in case of a fire flammable material that can burn flammable limits the lower and upper percent volume concentrations of a gas in a gas/air mixture that will result in a mixture that can be ignited

flare boom

*" *~" **
flare boom

flange

flange 1) a raised edge or projection on a pipe or connection. A flange can have holes in it for bolts or it can be threaded. The flange can also be connected by welding or with clamps, fig 2) to make a raised edge or projection 3) a tool used to make a raised edged or connection flanged union a connection using bolts to join together two raised rims (flanges) on the ends of two pipes flange up to complete an operation. Flange up is often applied to the process of finishing piping systems. flank one side of a fold in rocks as divided by the axial surface. A fold will have two flanks, (limb) flank well a well located on the edge of the known extent of a field flare burning gas

flare arm or boom a steel projection off the side of an offshore platform that carries gas pipes and supports the flare burner for safely flaring gas flare bridge a walkway on a flare boom on an offshore platform that leads out to the burners flare jacket a trianglar-shaped, tubular, steel truss structure having three legs that is used to flare natural gas on an offshore platform. The flare jacket extends from the mudline to 10-13 ft above mean water level. Tubular piles hold the flare jacket in position, and the flare tower is mounted on the ends of the piles. flare stack a metal, vertical tower that carries pipe and supports the flare burner for safely flaring gas on an offshore platform flare tripod a flare stack on an offshore platform with three legs flash the sudden vaporization of a liquid due to either a rapid decrease in pressure or increase in temperature flash breaking the instantaneous change of a gel from viscous to fluid flash calculation a computation of the phase behavoir of a process or reservoir oil and gas. (equilibrium calculation) flash chamber a conventional oil and gas separator that is operated at a low pressure to flash separate the oil and gas. The flash chamber is often the second or third stage in separation, (flash drum, trap, or vessel) flash cut the rapid leaching of crude oil by a solvent from well cuttings or a rock sample in the laboratory. Flash cut implies good permeability. flash drum see flash chamber flash expansion see flash vaporization flash gas high Btu content gas that is vented from a low-pressure separator

flash liberation flexible weight pipe flash liberation 1) gas coming out of a solution because of a sudden drop in pressure 2) see flash vaporization flash point the lowest temperature at which vapors rising off the surface of a particular volatile such as crude oil will ignite with a short flash as an open flame is passed over the surface flash separator field equipment that uses a rapid pressure drop to purify glycol used to remove water from natural gas flash set the sudden solidification of cement usually caused by mixing two different types of cement flash tank a vessel that uses either a rapid rise in temperature or decrease in pressure to separate liquid from gas flash trap or vessel see flash chamber flash vaporization a test used in a reservoir fluid study. A sample of reservoir liquid is placed in a laboratory cell, and the pressure and temperature are adjusted to reservoir conditions. The pressure is reduced by increasing the volume of the cell in increments, and the pressure and volume of the reservoir fluid are measured. The pressure is plotted versus total volume to determine bubblepoint pressure. flat 1) the flat surface that runs along the length of a four- or six-sided kelly. (kelly flat) 2) a thrust fault surface that is subparallel to a incompetent bed. Flat is in contrast to ramp.

191

flatten out to dismantle a drilling rig FLC-A fluid-loss control agent FLD rield fld 1) field 2) failed 3) flowed 4) filled fleet angle the angle between the drilling line extending up from the drawworks drum to the crown block and the drilling line hanging vertically from the crown block. The fleet angle should be kept at a minimum and less than 1.5. flex collar an articulated drill collar flex flexible flexible coupling a link between two shafts that bends to allow for the two shafts not being exactly aligned flexible joint a connection between two pieces of equipment that can rotate due to a ball and socket. (ball or flex joint) flexible marine-riser joint the flexible connection between the lower riser package and blowoutpreventer stack and the marine riser on a subsea wellhead. The flexible marine-riser joint compensates for the surface movement of the surface vessel and permits up to 10 movement of the riser. The joint is part of the lower riser package. There can also be a flexible joint at the top of the marine riser above the telescopic joint.

flexible mud hose

lat bottom mill

flat-bottom mill a common type of junk mill with a flat bottom used in fishing operations flat gel a gel with a 10-minute gel strength that is the same as the initial gel strength flat hole a cable-tool well that is oval rather than round in cross section flat spot a horizontal seismic reflector. A flat spot can be caused by a gas/liquid contact in a reservoir and will be out of place in a background of dipping reflectors. Flat spot reflectors are always positive off a gas/liquid contact. flattened section a seismic section in which an event on the seismic record has been made horizontal. Flattening is used when there is a problem with lowvelocity glacial drift and to restore a section to a particular time.

flexible mud hose a flexible, armored rubber hose that is commonly 4 in. in diameter, and transmits the drilling mud from the standpipe to the gooseneck on the swivel of a drilling rig. The flexible mud hose ranges 35-75 ft longhand is commonly 50-60 ft long. The inner diameter is 2-3 Vi in. Some flexible mud hoses are made of steel pipes with swivel joints. API grades of flexible mud hoses vary by length and pressure rating, (kelly, mud, or rotary hose) flexible overriding royalty interest a share in a well in which the size of the interest in production varies with the amount of production from the well. The interest usually increases during months in which the average production exceeds a specific amount. (variable overriding royalty interest) flexible weight pipe a joint of heavy drillpipe that is run along with several other joints of flexible weight pipe on the drillstring between the drill collars and pipe to strengthen the location between compression and tension on the drillstring. (weight pipe)

192 flex joint floes or flocculates flex joint a connection between two pieces of equipment that can rotate due to a ball and socket. (flexible or ball joint) Flexotir a marine seismic source that uses a small explosive charge. The explosive charge is flushed down a hose to a submerged steel cage. The oscillation of the explosion bubble is inhibited by the cage when the charge is fired electronically. flexural rigidity the stiffness of an elastic plate under bending forces flexure a hinge or very gentle fold in sedimentary rocks flexure zone a line in a formation that marks the spot where the formation rapidly thickens downdip from the line flg 1) flange 2) flowing 3) flaggy flights a curved metal blade that is wrapped around a centrifuge shaft FL IN flow into well flipped a reversal of the continuous and dispersed phases in a drilling mud Flk or flk flaky Flo flora flo flow float 1) the buoyant chamber that floats in a liquid and is used to activate equipment, depending on the level of the liquid 2) to be suspended at the upper interface of a fluid by depressing an equal weight of that fluid 3) a trailer or truck bed with two sets of wheels. float collar a small length of steel pipe with a constricted orifice on the inside that is used to connect two joints of casing during a cement job. The wiper plugs seat on the float collar. The collar is usually located one joint of casing above the guide shoe. The float collar orifice has a valve, either flapper or ball, to prevent slurry backflow, in contrast to a baffle collar that lacks a valve. A float collar is similar to a float shoe that would be located on the bottom of the casing string. FC floater a drilling platform that floats above the offshore drillsite without any legs attached to the seafloor. A semisubmersible and a drillship are floaters. floating charge an explosive charge used in seismic exploration that is not as deep in the shot hole as intended. The floating charge produces an early uphole time and delayed reflection times. floating pad a pad on a logging tool that does not make a good contact with the wellbore wall floating point recording a method of gain control in seismic recording using binary numbers in exponential notation. Large numbers have large exponents and small numbers have small exponents to handle a large range of data with the same number of bits on magnetic tape. Seismic data recorded by floating point retains the exact energy amplitude. floating storage unit a tanker that has been converted to serve as a fixed floating storage tank for offshore oil. The floating storage unit is fed oil by pipelines from offshore platforms for transfer to smaller tankers. floating tank a crude-oil storage tank with the main gate valve to the main line left open so the oil can flow through the tank as pumping rates on the main line vary floating the casing a method that is used to lower casing into very deep wells when the weight of the long casing string could break the casing. The lower end of the casing is plugged, and the well filled with fluid. When the plugged casing string is lowered into the well, the casing and the volume of space in the casing displaces the fluid. The buoyant effect of the displaced fluid eases the weight of the casing string. float out to transport a floating steel platform from its construction site to its offshore location. One method is to build the structure onshore with attached flotation tanks. The platform is then winched into the water and towed to the site. At the offshore site, it is rotated from horizontal to vertical by adjusting its ballast. The platform is sunk into position and the flotation tanks are removed. Another method is to construct the platform in a graving dock with an attached flotation raft. The graving dock is then sunk with its gates open to release the platform. The platform is then towed vertically out to its fitting-out location. float shoe a type of casing shoe that has a check valve, either flapper or ball, to prevent slurry backflow into the casing during a cement job. The float shoe guides the casing string into the well and seats the wiper plugs. A float shoe is similar to a float collar that would be located further up the casing string. floatstone a wackestone limestone with the grains greater than 2 mm in size float switch a switch that is activated by a float on liquid in a vessel. The float switch is sensitive to the level of the liquid. float valve 1) a valve that is activated by a float which is affected by the level of a liquid 2) a one-way valve of the flapper, spring-loaded ball, or dart type that is located in the drillstring. The float valve can be either permanent or pumpdown. The valve prevents drillpipe blowouts, minimizes flowback during connections, and prevents bit clogging. float valve sub a short section of pipe placed on the bottom and near the top of the drillstring during air or gas drilling. The float valve prevents a backflow of cuttings into the drillstring during connections or shutdown of flow. flocculant or flocculating agent a substance such as an electrolyte that causes flocculation. The flocculating agent is used to thicken drilling mud and to increase yield point and gel strength. Polymers are used to clump solids into large aggregates for separation by settling or screening. flocculation the attraction and aggregation of finely divided, suspended particles into lightly bonded groups (floes) in which the platelets are joined edgeto-face. Flocculation can occur in drilling mud between clay platelets. Flocculation can result in gelation and the precipitation of colloids, (coagulation) floes or flocculates groups of aggregates of finergrained particles in suspension that can be broken by normal shaking. The platelets are joined edge-toface.

flood or flooding flow efficiency flood or flooding the process of displacing oil, the displaced fluid, in a subsurface reservoir by injecting fluids, the displacing fluids. Flooding includes waterflooding and several enhanced oil-recovery processes. flood blocks and pulleys he system on a drilling rig that directs a wireline into the well flooding 1) the inability of a screen to process fluids due to solid particles clogging the screens 2) the drowning of a well by water flood plain the flat depositional plain surrounding a river channel. The flood plain is covered with water during floods when the river overflows its banks. Finegrained sediments are deposited on flood plain which includes the backswamp or overbank environments. floor 1) the contact of a salt layer and/or plug with the underlying rocks 2) see drill floor floor crew the workers on the floor of a workover or drilling rig floorman or floor man a junior member of the drilling crew, an assistant to the driller, who works on the floor of a drilling rig. The floorman set the slips, manipulates the tongs, latches and unlatches the elevators, and handles other equipment on the drill floor. Two to four floormen are used on each tour, (rotary helper or roughneck) floppy disk a 51/*-, 8- or y/2-in. computer storage medium. Floppy disks are made of plastic with a magnetic coating. The 5V4- and 8-in. floppies are covered with a jacket. A 3V2-in. diameter disk has a hard covering. A disk drive is used to read and write on the floppy disks. The capacity of a floppy disk is measured in kilobytes. Floppy disks can be removed from the disk drive and stored. The hard disk is a permanent installation in the computer. flora fossil or modern plants. Flora is in contrast to fauna. Flo F-LOS fluid loss flotation the removal of oil from water using either a) froth flotation or b) dissolved gas flotation. Flotation is very effective up to 100 ppm oil concentration. flotation barge a wide barge that is used to transport jackets and modules offshore (tow or deck barge) flotation can a spherical or cylindrical tank that is used to float a production platform and rotate it into position. It can be used individually or joined into flotation rafts. flotation jacket or raft a structure made by joining flotation cans with steel supports. The flotation raft is made in a graving dock and is used to float a platform jacket to its offshore position. flotation unit a type of produced water treater. There are two types, a) A dissolved gas unit saturates treated, produced water with natural gas in a contactor under high pressure. On release of the pressure, the gas bubbles out of the water causing oil droplets to rise to the surface in a froth, b) A dispersed gas unit uses gas bubbles dispersed by an inductor device or rotors to cause a vortex that brings oil droplets to the surface. flotel or floatel a floating hotel for workers assembling an offshore drilling and production platform. The floatel is often a semisubmersible rig fitted with living quarters and is a type of accommodation platform. floundering see bit floundering FLOUT flow out of well

193

P - Pit.

Flow Rate MCFD flow-after-flow test

flow-after-flow test a test used to determine the open-flow potential of a gas well. The flow-after-flow test is made by measuring several flow rates and their corresponding bottomhole pressures. Starting with a shut-in well, a series of increasing flow rates are run at fixed time intervals. The flow versus the difference of the squares of the average reservoir and wellbore pressures are plotted on log-log paper. The plot will be a straight line and can be used to determine optimum flow rate. A flow-after-flow test is called a three-, four-, or five-point test, depending on the number of flow rates used in the test, (multipoint test) flow a well hard to let a well flow at capacity flowback or flow back 1) the flow into the well of fluids that were injected into a formation. Flowback is used to remove the frac fluids from a formation and the well after a frac job. 2) the flow of drilling mud out a connection that has been unscrewed. Flowback often happens when the kelly is unscrewed and is caused by an underbalance because of air or gas in the mud or an excess of cuttings in the annulus. (pressure differential) flow bean 1) a constriction in the line that is used to restrict and control flow during a test or production 2) the replaceable orifice on a positive choke (choke bean) flow by heads intermittent flow of fluids from a well flow chart a paper chart, usually circular, that records flow rates with time by a pen on an arm flow check a pause in circulation during drilling to determine if fluids are flowing into a well flow coupling a thick-walled section of tubing that comes in joints of 5, 10, or 20 ft. Flow couplings are designed to minimize erosion and are installed above and below diameter changes in the tubing string. flow cross a T-shaped pressure fitting with three openings, two on a line and one at a 90 angle to the other two openings. A flow cross is located where the wing connects on a Christmas tree, (tee) flow efficiency the actual well production divided by the amount the well would produce without either

194 flow fitting flowpoint or flow point stimulation or damage. Flow efficiency is expressed as a percentage or decimal. A flow efficiency of 200%300% is characteristic of a good well-stimulation job. (completion efficiency) flow fitting a tee or cross pipe with a full round bore that allows the passage of both tools and production fluids flow or flowage fold a fold in rocks that have undergone plastic strain and have flowed with no slip surfaces toward the synclinal trough flowing artesian well a well in which the water has enough pressure to flow to the surface flowing bottomhole pressure the pressure on the fluid measured at the bottom of a well when the well is producing. Flowing bottomhole pressure is in contrast to static bottomhole pressure. flowing gas natural gas from a well in the United States that was already committed or dedicated to interstate commerce on November 8, 1978
ORIGINAL PRESSURE

SHUT IN PRESSUE

SHUT IN

TIME

flowing pressure

flowing pressure the pressure on the fluid at the top or wellhead of a well as the fluids are being produced. Flowing pressure is in contrast to static pressure. FP flowing well a well that flows to the surface under its own pressure. A flowing well does not use artificial lift.

flowline tee

flowline tee

flowline or flow line pipes and pipe fittings that carry fluids. Flowlines are used to collect produced fluids from wells and transport them to treating and storage facilities. Steel pipe is the most common, but fiberglass, cement-lined steel pipe, and flexible plastic pipe are also used. The flowline from an artificial lift well is usually low pressure (<125 psi). Flowlines are usually buried 3-5 ft in cultivated or populated areas. FL flowline bundle a cluster of flowlines with hydraulic hoses and electric cables on a subsea production system. flowline header the piping that receives flow from several wells, commingles the fluid and directs it to separation and treatment facilities on the lease flowline heater a heater that is used to prevent hydrates from forming in the flowline. The indirect heater is most common and consists of a shell, fire tube, coil assembly, and burner assembly filled with fresh water. The heater is used when dehydration of the gas is not economical. flowline treater a heater or electrostatic treater that is used to break an emulsion flowline treatment a process in which a reagent is continuously added to treat emulsions at the wellhead to the flowline flowline valve the valve on the wing of a Christmas tree. The valve is used to open or close flow to the flowline. A flowline valve can also be found on the wellhead of a pumping well, (tubing flow valve) flowmeter or flow meter a gauge used to determine the velocity of a fluid. Some common types of flowmeters include a) positive displacement, b) differential pressure, c) turbine or propeller, d) ultrasonic, e) vortex shedding, and 0 electromagnetic flowmeters. A flowmeter is also a type of throughtubing production tool. Three types are a) continuous, b) full bore spinner, and c) inflatable packer. flow nipple a constriction in a line (usually Vfes-l in. diameter) used to restrict and control the rate of flow during a test or during production. Flow nipples can be fixed or adjustable. Adjustable flow nipples use a needle, sleeve, or cone-shaped stem with a seat to change the size of the orifice. A positive or fixed flow nipple has a specific diameter. Some types of flow nipples include bottomhole, surface, and storm chokes. Production of oil or gas is often reported in barrels or cubic feet on a certain sized flow nipple. (choke, bean or flow plug) flow nozzle a head-type meter that is used to measure fluid velocity. The flow nozzle consists of a short restriction or narrowing of the diameter of a flowline with a smooth entry and sharp exit. The restriction causes a drop in the fluid pressure where the differential pressure is measured. The square root of the differential pressure varies proportionally with the flow velocity. flow period the time during a drillstem test, usually from a few minutes to several hours, during which formation fluids are free to flow to the surface through the drill stem flow plug see flow nipple flowpoint or flow point 1) the gas flow rate that occurs at the entrainment velocity 2) the minimum

flow recorder control agent temperature at which solid noncrystalline hydrocarbons begin to flow flow recorder a gauge that records gas or liquid velocity or volume. FR flow-recorder chart a chart used to record flow velocity or volume measured by a flowmeter. The standard flow-recorder chart used on a flowmeter is circular with a diameter of 12 in. The chart has two common scales. One is a linear scale that goes from 0%-100%. The other scale is a square root chart with the graduations closer at the bottom and spread out at the top of the chart. A Vee, bucket, capillary, or cartridge pen is used to record the data. The ink colors for a gas chart are standard. Red is for differential pressure, blue for static pressure and green for temperature. The most common chart drive makes one revolution in 24 hrs. (meter chart) flow regime a stage in the life of a producing well. The infinite-acting state occurs just after the well is put on production and the flow into the well has been unaffected by any physical or artificial boundaries in the reservoir. The transient state of a well occurs when the flow production is sensed by one physical boundary but has not been sensed by the other boundaries. The pseudosteady state occurs when the pressure of the well responds all the physical boundaries of the reservoir. During the pseudosteady state, the average reservoir pressure will decrease with time. The steady-state stage occurs when a constant pressure can be maintained at both the wellbore and at the boundaries of the reservoir. flow schedule the production schedule for a well flowstack a casing nipple or short pipe that is attached to the top of a blowout-preventer stack on a drilling rig. It has an expandable flanged top that guides drilling tools into the well. The flowstack also has connections for the fill line and the mud-return line, (bell nipple or mud riser) flow station a central processing, treatment, and measurement facility for oil and gas flowstream fluid flow in a pipe flowstream samples fluid samples from a wellhead or flowline, Flowstream samples are used for fluid composition tests. flow string the deepest and last length (string) of casing that is run down to or through the producing zone. The casing adjacent to the producing zone can be perforated or shot with holes to complete the well. Flow string has the smallest diameter, ranging 2 %9 Vs in., but typically 5 Vi or 7 % in., and is the longest string of casing in the well. Flow string protects the hole, isolates formation fluids, prevents fluid migration, and protects the downhole equipment. (capital, long, oil, pay or production string, production casing or inner conductor) flow tank 1) an oil heater 2) oil and water heater 3) a tank used to separate oil and gas 4) see stock tank flow treater a combined separator, heater, and treater flow unit a zone in a reservoir that has a relatively uniform porosity and permeability. Fluids will flow relatively uniformly through a flow unit.

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FLS fluid sampler fls flesh flshd flushed FLT, Fit, or fit 1) fault 2) faulted fit float fltg floating flu fluid flue gas gas produced from burning fuel. Flue gas usually consists of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor. fluid a substance, either a liquid (inelastic fluid) or gas (elastic fluid), that can flow. A fluid will conform to the shape of its container. The flow of fluids can be either a) Newtonian or b) non-Newtonian. flu,fl,

orf
fluid cleanup the removal, often by swabbing, of treating fluid from a well after stimulation. Liquified gases such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide can be used in the treating fluid to speed the cleanup. fluid density the density of a fluid (water, oil, and/ or gas) in the pore spaces of the rock. The liquid fluid density is often assumed to be 1.0 g/cc. fluid end the side of a pump where the suction and discharge valves, pump cylinders, liners, and rods are located fluid-expansion drive a reservoir energy that produces crude oil in some reservoirs when the pressure on the oil is above the bubble point. Fluidexpansion drive is caused by the volumetric expansion of undersaturated crude oil in the reservoir with the relief of reservoir pressure due to production. It has a very rapid decline curve and an extremely low recovery factor of less than 5%. fluid-injection well a well that is used to put either a gas or liquid into a producing formation for pressure maintenance, waterflood, or enhanced oil recovery. A fluid- injection well can also be a disposal well for oilfield brines. fluidity or fluiditivity the ability of a gas or liquid to change shape when a force is applied. Fluiditivity is in contrast to viscosity. The cgs unit of fluidity is the rhe. fluid level the vertical distance in a well from the surface to the top of a liquid in the casing or tubing. Fluid level can be either static or flowing. F-LVL fluid-level log a sonic tool used in a pumping well to determine the distance to the top of the liquid in the annulus during pumping and shut in. A sound impulse emitted by the tool at the surface reflects off tubular collars and the liquid surface. The number of tubular collar reflectors is used to determine the depth to the larger liquid surface reflection. fluid loss see filtrate loss fluid-loss additive, preventer, reducer, or control agent a drilling-fluid additive such as bentonite, pregelatinized starch, or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) that is used to inhibit filtrate penetrating a formation. Fluid-loss additives used in cement slurries are either finely divided materials such as bentonite or water-soluble polymers made of latex. Fluid loss additives such as silica flour and hydrocarbon resins are used in hydraulic

196 fluid-loss control fluxgate magnetometer fracturing to stop the flow of treating fluid away from propagating fractures in the formation, (filtrate reducer) FLCA fluid-loss control methods used to reduce filtrate loss in a well fluid packed an operating horizontal heater filled with liquid, (liquidpacked) fluid pound a condition producing extreme stress on the sucker rods in a well. Fluid pound is caused by gas (solution gas or water vapor) above the liquid in the barrel of a downhole sucker-rod pump. The gas is compressed on the downstroke, and the traveling valve is not opened until it reaches the liquid level in the pump. The stress on the rod string drops by thousands of pounds in a fraction of a second as the valve opens. Fluid pound can be corrected by a) slowing the pumping unit or b) shortening the stroke. Fluid pound is the extreme of gas interference that delays the opening of the traveling valve. fluid pressure the pressure on fluids in a subsurface formation. Fluid pressure is usually measured in psi, psia, or atmospheres. Normal fluid pressure is affected by the hydrostatic pressure increase with depth, which in turn is affected by the density of the ground water. The hydrostatic pressure increase is 45 psi/100 ft for water with a salinity of 55.4 ppt and 46.5 psi/100 ft for water salinity of 100 ppt. Abnormal high and low pressures deviate significantly from normal hydrostatic pressure, (formation or reservoir pressure) fluid-travel log a recording of fluid flow around a stationary logging tool in a wellbore. The fluid-travel log is made by injecting a radioactive slug into the fluid in the well from holes in the logging tool. Flow of the radioactive material by the tool is measured on two detectors on the tool. The fluid-travel log is used to locate leaks in the casing. FTL fluid wave a compressional wave in a liquid flume a long, straight channel that is used to study sediment transport by flowing water in a laboratory FLUOR, Fluor, or fluor fluorescence fluorescence a luminescence caused by ultraviolet light. Crude oil and some minerals fluoresce. To detect the presence of oil in well cuttings, the cuttings are put in a solvent and viewed under ultraviolet light through a binocular microscope. The oil, as it dissolves in the solvent, causes a flash of fluorescence called a streaming cut. Aromatic compounds cause the fluorescence in oils and kerogen. The fluorescent colors of oil range from yellow to green to blue depending on their "API. From 2-10, oil ranges from nonfluorescence to dull brown; from 10-18, it ranges from yellow-brown to gold; from 18-45 degrees it ranges from gold to pale yellow; and above 45 , it ranges from blue-white to white. The fluorescence can be described as none, spotty, streaky, patchy, and uniform. Fluorescence can be also used to indicate the level of kerogen maturity. Longer wavelength fluorescence indicates higher maturity, and fluorescent intensity decreases with maturity. The fluorescence used to detect oil in drilling mud is described as traces, shows, good shows, and very good shows. FLUOR, Fluor, or fluor fluorescent magnetic-particle inspection the use of fine, fluorescent ferromagnetic particles and an ultraviolet light to detect flaws in metal such as tubulars. See magnetic-particle inspection fluormeter an instrument used to detect and measure the intensity and wavelength of fluorescence of well cutting extract flush to clean out a pipe, vessel, or well with a flow of water flush-coupled casing casing with female threads on both ends. Joints of flush-coupled casing are joined with a coupling that has the same outer diameter as the casing. F.C. casing flushed zone the area near the wellbore were mud filtrate has almost completely replaced the formation water and hydrocarbons. The flushed zone extends only a couple of inches back from the wellbore and occurs between the mud cake and the transition or annulus zone. The flushed zone is part of the invaded zone and is represented by the subscript xo. flushing factor the logging tool response in the absence of flushing of the reservoir divided by the logging tool response with flushing, /y flushing oil oil that is designed to clean used oil, particles, and sludge from moving parts flush-joint casing casing without a shoulder or collar on the end. A flush-joint casing has the same outside diameter along the full length of the casing. The treads are cut into the casing body, and the casing has a male thread at one end and a female thread at the other end. flush-joint connection a connection between joints of pipe that does not have a protruding shoulder or collar. FJ flush-joint pipe tubular without any protrusions flush production the unrestricted, initial petroleum-production rate of a recently drilled well. It is the result of the natural reservoir energy. Flush production is considered to be finished when the well will no longer flow and has to be put on pump. flush-production stage the stage in the history of a field that occurs between the initial development period in which the wells are drilled and the settledproduction stage in which the oil is produced at a relatively level, but slightly declining rate. During the flush production stage, the oil is produced in relatively large, but rapidly declining amounts from the natural reservoir energy. flute cast a sole mark on the bottom of a sandstone that was formed by the filling of a flute The flute is a depression that was formed by turbulent flow around an object on a muddy bottom. The flute depression is V-shaped with a scoop-shaped depression at the apex. The V points upstream. fluvial river environment fluvial-dominated delta a river delta that is characterized by river deposition of sediments in contrast to erosion by waves or tides. The delta will prograde out from the shoreline and has characteristic distributary lobes. The Mississippi River delta is an example. A fluvial-dominated delta is in contrast to a wave- or tide-dominated delta (constructive delta) fluxgate magnetometer an instrument that detects changes in the geomagnetic field of the earth. The fluxgate magnetometer has two cores of Permalloy,

F-LVL focus or focused log a highly permeable material which approaches the saturation of the earth's magnetic field. A 1,000-Hz cyclic field caused by a coil around the cores completes the saturation of the core. The energy needed to saturate the core is a measure of the earth' magnetic field parallel to the core. The fluxgate magnetometer is sensitive to changes in the order of 1 7. The Gulf magnetometer has three perpendicular fluxgates so that one of the fluxgates will measure the maximum component of the earth's geomagnetic field. Other types of magnetometers include proton and optically pumped magnetometers. Magnetometers are used for exploration of the subsurface. F-LVL fluid level flw flow fhvd flowed flwg flowing fly-in rig a drilling rig that is dismantled into many small sections and flown to the wellsite by several trips in an airplane. A standard derrick is used instead of a mast. The number of suspended drilling lines is increased, and a larger number of smaller-sized pumps is used. The rig might even be designed to drill a slim hole. An airstrip must be constructed next to the drillsite. flysch relatively deepwater marine sediments deposited during an uplift or orogeny. Flysch sediments are separated from their mountain source by molasse sediments. Flysch contains calcareous, sandy shales, marls, and muds. The sedimentary rocks contain few fossils and are thinly bedded, often containing turbidites. flywheel a large circular disk that is attached to the crankshaft of an engine which stores inertial energy while spinning. The flywheel causes the engine to run smoothly. FM or fin frequency modulation FM, Fm, or fin formation Fm manometer factor FMBDP formation breakdown pressure FM-GR fine-to-medium grained FMS formation microscanner FMT formation multitester FM/T formation top F-MUD fresh mud FMV fair market value Fm W formation water FMWTR formation water fin fine I?ND formation factor deduced from neutron and density logs FNEL from the northeast line FNL from the north line filly finely fiit faint FNWL from the northwest line FO 1) farmout 2) faulted out 3) fuel oil Fo formation factor deduced from total porosity F/O farmout

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foam bubbles of gas covered with a liquid film. Foam is neither a true liquid nor a true gas. Foam is used in drilling fluids, well cleanouts, fracturing fluids, and gas-well deliquification. Surface foam has gas bubbles only on the surface of the liquid, whereas body foam has gas bubbles throughout the liquid. The time the foam is maintained is called foam stability. foam acidizing a well-stimulation treatment in which a gas, usually carbon dioxide or nitrogen, is mixed with water and acid and pumped down a well. It is followed by a backflow during which the foam is removed from the well. Foam acidizing is used on carbonate reservoirs, often chalk, because it is more retarded and has better fluid-loss control than normal acid. foam agent see foaming agent foam drilling drilling with foam mud as a drilling fluid. A soap tank that holds 10-20 bbl of a dilute soap and water mixture is used next to the rig. Foam has a higher viscosity than air, so foam flow rates do not have to be as high to remove well cuttings as drilling with air. Common additives that are used during foam drilling are detergents, corrosion inhibitors, lubricants and viscosifiers. Foam drilling prevent mud rings from forming. foamed cement a type of cement used in a cement job that is made of a mixture of cement slurry and nitrogen in the gas state. The advantage of foamed cement is decreased slurry weight. foaming agent a substance used to form stable bubbles due to aeration or agitation of a liquid. A foaming agent is used with water in mist drilling and when excessive water is encountered while drilling with air or gas. FA foaming oil crude oil with solution gas bubbling out of it. The gas bubbles are encased in a thin oil film and are not stable or long lasting. Foaming oil decreases the efficiency of a separator. foam mud a drilling fluid that is made by a) injecting water and foaming agents to create a stable foam or b) injecting a gel-base mud containing a foaming agent into an air or gas stream foble board a fourble board FOCB Federal Oil Conservation Board FOCL focused log FOCUS focus log focused correlation curve a resistivity measurement taken by an arm of a dipmeter and displayed on a dipmeter log focused electric log see focused log focused gamma ray a type of well log run while drilling that measures gamma ray emissions from both the top and bottom half of the hole focus or focused log a type of wireline well log that has a measuring electrode and guard electrodes designed to direct the electrical current through the formations around the wellbore as a horizontal disk or ring. Focused logs yield measurement curves with sharper bed boundaries and yield improved R, measurements. The log was developed for highresistivity formations and for use in low-resistivity muds where electric and induction logs do not work well. Laterologs, guard logs, induction logs, spherically

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FOE foraminiferan FOM figure of merit fool's gold seepyrite foot an English unit of measurement equal to Vi yd, 12 in., and 0.3048 m footage the depth of a well footage-rate contract a common type of drilling contract that is based on a per-foot payment, usually contingent upon drilling to a specific depth or to a specific event such as reaching a formation, kick-off point, or pressure. Other operations such as coring, logging, testing, and casing are covered on a day rate. Move-in, rig-up, rig-down, and move-out charges are included in the footage rate or as a fixed amount. The footage-rate contract is in contrast to a day-rate or turnkey contract. footing the structural seabed support on the legs of a platform or jackup rig. The footing on a jackup rig is either a mat for soft bottoms, spuds for a hard bottom or a combination of both foot-pound the unit of energy or work in the footpound-second system. A foot-pound is the work done in raising 1 lb a height of 1 ft against gravity. foot throttle a pedal on the floor of a drilling rig that regulates the power to the drawworks foot valve the check valve on the inlet of a pump suction line that keeps the pump filled with liquid

focused logs, microlaterologs, and dual laterolog are


examples. FOCI or FOCUS

FOE flanged one end F-OIL frac oil fol foliated


CREST AXIS

fold

fold 1) a curve, bend, or arch in a rock layer. The hinge line of a fold joins points of maximum curvature on the fold. The axial surface of the fold is the surface along the points of maximum curvature occur on the fold. Some types of folds include anticline, syncline, upright, inclined, recumbent, horizontal, plunging, and vertical fold limbs are the areas on either side of the hinge. A fold is usually the result of deformation of that rock layer from external forces. A buckle fold is formed by forces parallel to the layering in sedimentary rock, whereas a bending fold is formed by forces perpendicular to the layering. 2) The number of common depth points used in stacking a seismic record. fold-back a geophone cable used in seismic exploration that is doubled back on itself so that two geophones are located at each position folding 1) the process of bending a rock layer 2) the change of a wave shape as it passes through a linear filter, (convolution) foliated a rock with foliations. Gneiss is an example. fol

footwall

foot wall the side of the fault which protrudes under the opposite side which called the hanging wall Foram or foram foaminifera
foliated texture

foliations bands of light and dark minerals in metamorphic rocks Folk's classification of limestones a limestone classification that is based on the presence of transported (allochemical), precipitated (orthochemical), and in-situ (autochthonous) particles, the presence of sparry calcite or micrite, and the type of sand-sized particles (fossils, pellets, oolites and intraclasts). Types include intrasparite, intramicrite, oosparite, oomicrite, biosparite, biomicrite, pelsparite, pelmicrite, micrite, dismicrite, and biolithite. follower an adjustable device that fits into a stuffing box or packing gland on a pumping well to compress the packing around the moving polished rod

foraminifera

foraminifera, foraminifer, or foraminiferan small one-celled animals with shells that are composed predominantly of CaCO3 (calcite or, rarely, aragonite or less commonly, agglutinated

foraminiferal limestone formation damage particles). Most foraminifera lived in the ocean. They are excellent microfossils that have existed from the Cambrian period to the present. The planktonic (floaters) and benthic (bottom dwelling) are guide fossils for the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods. Fusulinids, large football-shaped foraminifera, are guide fossils for the Pennsylvanian and Permian periods. Foram orforam foraminiferal limestone a limestone rock composed primarily of the very fine-grained shells of foraminifera. The rock usually lacks a fine-grained matrix. forced fold a fold in sedimentary rocks caused by the deposition of sediments over an uplifted or rotated block in the basement, (drape fold) forced pooling a state law that requires a lessee in a majority interest in a unit to include lesser lessees in pooling to form a unit. Forced pooling is usually initiated by a petition to the regulatory agency. In some states, if a lessee refuses to join, the proportional costs of that lessee's drilling will come out of the lessee's share of production. Some states allow for a change in the risk of drilling the well when computing the compensation, (compulsory pooling) force feed the pumping system that is used to lubricate bearings force-majeure"clause a provision in an oil and gas lease or operating agreement that states that the lessee will not have violated the terms of lease if prevented froni fulfilling the lease by conditions beyond the lessee's control. Force majeure is often specifically defined as "an act of God, strike, lockout, or other industrial disturbance, act of the public enemy, war, blockade, public riot, lightening, fire, storm, flood, explosion, governmental restraint, unavailability of equipment, and any other cause, whether of the kind specifically enumerated above or otherwise, which is not reasonably within the control of the party claiming suspension." Force majeure translates to superior force. fore-arc basin an elongated basin located between island arc volcanoes and a deep ocean trench on a convergent plate margin forefront pressure the pressure that is required for one fluid to replace another fluid in the pores of a rock. Forefront pressure is the minimum capillary pressure that will force a nonwetting fluid such as oil into a capillary opening that is saturated with a wetting fluid such as water. It varies inversely with the pore diameter. (displacement or entry pressure) foreign tax credit the portion of foreign taxes paid by a United States company that are deductible from federal taxes foreland a stable area adjacent to a mountainbuilding belt. The foreland is generally part of the continental crust, and rocks from the mountainbuilding belt are thrust and folded toward it. forelimb the shortest and steepest limb on an asymmetrical fold in sedimentary rocks. The other limb is called the backlimb. fore reef or forereef the steeply dipping, seaward side of a reef. The fore reef is usually composed of poorly sorted carbonate sediments that have eroded off the reef.

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foreset beds

foreset the sloping beds of sediments deposited in front of a delta. The foreset beds are located between the topset and bottomset beds. forfeiture clause an oil and gas lease provision that allows the lessor to terminate the lease if the conditions of the lease (drilling a producing well or paying delay rentals) are not met forfeiture of lease termination of lease forging plastically deforming hot metal formal contract a legal document that states the conditions in an agreement between parties, beginning with the words "This agreement entered into this day of , ." A formal contract is legally enforceable in contrast to a letter agreement. format 1) an arrangement of data that is stored or displayed 2) the size of a remote sensing image formation a mappable layer of rocks. The formation has a sharp top and bottom boundary and is often the unit of rocks shown on a geological map. A formation is named after a geographical location where it crops out and after its dominant rock type. If the layer is a mixture of different rock types, it is called formation. Examples of formations are the Bartlesville Sandstone and San Andres Formation. FM,

Fm,fm, orf
formation-analysis log a log computed from fluid resistivity and porosity measurements from an induction log together with either a sonic or density log. (Rua analysis log) formation-balance gradient the formation porepressure gradient at a particular point in reference to the flowline. FBG formation-breakdown pressure the minimum pressure that will cause a subsurface rock layer to fracture. Formation-breakdown pressure is often 6585% of overburden pressure, (formation fracture
pressure) FBP or FMBDP

formation cleaner an acid additive used with hydrochloric or mud acid in acidizing a well. The formation cleaner is an inhibited oxidizing agent and is used to restore permeability to formations damaged by nonpetroleum organic residues such as bacterial slimes or injected gum and polymers. formation damage a problem caused by water-base drilling mud infiltrating a potential subsurface reservoir rock and reducing its permeability adjacent to the well. Formation damage can be caused by clay minerals swelling or dispersing, causing them to clog or bridge pore throats. Monovalent cations or low pH methanol can be used in drilling mud td stabilize the particles. Oil-base mud filtrates with emulsifying

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formation-density log formation solids formation gas/oil ratio the amount of gas dissolved in a unit volume of oil under subsurface reservoir conditions. The formation gas/oil ratio is expressed as SCF/STB or SCM/SCM with standard conditions being 60F and 1 atm pressure. The amount of gas that can be dissolved in a liquid increases with increasing pressure and decreases with increasing temperature. The effect of increasing pressure increases faster than the effect of increasing temperature with reservoir depth on the solubility of gas in crude oil. In general, the formation gas/oil ratio increases with increasing depth of reservoir. Formation gas/oil ratio is in contrast to producing gas/oil ratio which is the gas/oil ratio as the oil is produced, (gas/oil ratio) formation interval test see formation test Formation MicroScanner a wireline tool that makes of picture of the wellbore by mapping microresistivity variations from an array of small padmounted button electrodes mounted on a four-arm sonde. The microscanner is similar to a dipmeter. It records four 7-cm wide borehole images in shades of gray. Its orientation is determined by a triaxial accelerometer and tool orientation by three magnets. The Formation MicroScanner is used for a) fracture detection, b) identification of thin beds, c) rug detection and porosity determination, and d) core orientation. EMS formation pore pressure the pressure exerted by the formation fluid on the wall of the pores in the formation. Normal pore pressure is hydrostatic pressure and abnormal high pressure or geopressure is higher than hydrostatic pressure. Formation pore pressure is the same as formation, fluid, or reservoir pressure, (pore pressure) formation pressure the pressure on fluids in a subsurface formation. Formation pressure is usually measured in psi, psia, or atm. Normal formation pressure is affected by the hydrostatic pressure increase with depth, which, in turn, is affected by the density of the ground water. The hydrostatic pressure increase is 45 psi/100 ft for water with a salinity of 554 ppt and 46.5 psi/100 ft for water salinity of 100 ppt. Abnormal high and low pressures deviate significantly from normal hydrostatic pressure, (fluid
or reservoir pressure) PFP

agents can cause emulsion blockage. Formation damage can also be caused by wax or asphalt from the crude oil being produced. A formation that is damaged can be treated with organic cationic polymers or given a frac job. Formation damage can also occur during well treatment such as a frac or acid job. formation-density log a radioactive type of wireline well log that measures the density of subsurface formations. By bombarding the subsurface rocks with gamma rays and counting the backscattered gamma rays, the density of the subsurface rock layers can be computed. From the density of the rock, the porosity can be calculated. The compensated density log has a secondary detector on the sonde that responds more to the mudcake and borehole irregularities and is used to correct or compensate the main detector for these undesired effects. Besides porosity, the log is also used with other logs as an aid to identifying the composition of the subsurface rocks, (density, gamma-gamma log, or nuclear interface log) FDL formation evaluation the analysis of the nature and fluid content of a subsurface formation from well data such as wireline well logs and drillstem tests formation factor see formation resistivity factor formation factor log a formation resistivity factor curve derived from a resistivity or porosity device formation fluid the water, gas, and/or oil that occupies the pore spaces in a subsurface rock layer formation fracture pressure the minimum pressure that will cause a subsurface rock layer to fracture, (formation breakdown pressure) formation fracturing a well-stimulation process in which frac fluids are pumped down casing or a temporary workstring under high pressures up to 20,000 psi to artificially fracture a reservoir rock in order to increase permeability and production. Fracturing equipment includes pumping equipment, blenders, bulk handling equipment such as sand transports, and frac-fluid transports, a trailer-mounted manifold and frac bus. The frac fluid flows out of perforations in the casing or, if the well is not cased, packers are used to isolate the formation. The frac fluid is usually water (possibly with acid) or diesel oil. Higher injection rates form longer fractures. Thickening agents can be used to increase frac-fluid viscosity. Propping agents (small spheres) such as sand or aluminum oxide pellets, are suspended in the fluid and are used to hold the fractures open after the pumping stops. The proppant or sand concentration is usually '/2-4 lbs/gal. The frac job is measured by the pounds of sand used which usually varies from 20,000 to 1,000,000 lbs in a massive hydraulic frac. Fracturing can be done in stages during which different fluids are injected into the well. Some types of formation fracturing include a) hydrafrac, b) sandfrac, c) waterfrac, d) acidfrac, e) superfrac, f) gelled waterfrac, g) gelled oilfrac, h) emulsion frac, and i) vapor frac. Formation fracturing was developed in 1948 and was originally done through a tubing string to below a packer, (frac job, fracturing, or hydraulic fracturing) formation gas natural gas produced with crude oil from an oil reservoir

formation-resistivity factor a ratio of the electrical resistivity of a reservoir rock saturated with water (Ro) to the resistivity of the water (/?,). The formationresistivity factor is used in Archie's formula to determine water and hydrocarbon saturation of a formation in a well from electrical wireline well logs. The formation-resistivity factor is equal to P~m where P is the porosity of the rock and m is the cementation factor. The formation-resistivity factor is also expressed as equal to Kr/Pm where A; is a constant between 0.8 and 1.0. The formation-resistivity factor can be measured directly from a core with an AC conductivity bridge, (formation factor) F or FR formation sensitivity the sensitivity of a producing formation to formation damage by drilling-mud filtrate formation solids sand and other rock and mineral material from the producing formation. Formation solids can cause a sand control problem in producing wells

formation test 4 spot formation test a drillstem test in a wejl. The drillstem test can be either an openhole or hook-wall packer test. formation-volume factor the number of reservoir barrels of crude oil that are needed to be lifted to the surface and shrink to one barrel of stock tank oil after the solution gas has bubbled out. Deeper reservoirs usually have higher solution gas/oil ratios and larger formation volume factors. The formation volume factor generally varies between 1.1 and 1.6. The formation volume factor curves are determined experimentally from an oil sample or can be estimated from the gas/oil ratio, specific gravity of the gas, "API of the oil, and reservoir temperature, (reservoir volume
factor) FVF or B

201

formation water 1) original water in sedimentary rocks from the time of sediment deposition 2) subsurface water that has been out of contact with the atmosphere for a great period of time 3) water in the pores of subsurface rock that is very saline (connate water) FMWTR orFmW formatter a set of logic circuits used in seismic exploration to format digitized information before it is recorded on magnetic tape formic acid an organic acid (HCO2H) that is less corrosive than hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids. Formic acid is used for acidizing high-temperature wells. FORS formation strength forward toward the bow of a ship. Forward is in contrast to aft. forward combustion a type of fire flood, an enhanced oil recovery method, in which the burning front moves from the injection well toward the producing well. Forward combustion is in contrast to reverse combustion. forward contract a contract for future delivery of natural gas at a predetermined price FoRro" Log a focused resistivity log made with a button electrode surrounded by a guarding electrode on a pad. The log measures the resistivity of the Rm zone. FOSS, Foss, or foss 1) fossil 2) fossiliferous fossil preserved remains of an ancient plant or animal. Fossils are useful in determining the age of the sedimentary rocks in which they are contained and how those sediments were deposited. Fossils are studied by paleontologists. The fossils are often shells or bone, their mineral replacements, or the imprints of the plant or animal. The preserved tracks, burrows, roots, and other indirect remains are called trace fossils. A microscope is necessary to identify microfossils because of their size. Microfossils are common in sedimentary rocks and are often used in petroleum exploration because they can be obtained from well cuttings. Microfossils are studied by micropaleontologsists. FOSS, Foss, or foss fossil assemblage a specific group of fossils that identifies a particular geological time or rock zone fossil fuel a combustible natural deposit such as natural gas, crude oil, or coal that formed from ancient organic matter

fossiliferous a rock that contains fossils. FOSS, Foss, orfoss fossiliferous micrite a limestone that contains over two-thirds lime-mud (micrite) matrix compared to sparry calcite and contains l%-10% coarse grains of allochems, which are composed of shells fossil oil crude oil fossil water water that has been in sedimentary rocks since the sediments were deposited. Fossil water is connate water. FOT 1) flowing on test 2) final open time fouling marine growth on an offshore structure foundation pile a short string of casing that is run in an offshore well to anchor equipment such as blowout preventers on the seabed, (anchor string or outer conductor) fountain an old term for a gusher fountain well a flowing well fourble a stand containing four joints of drillpipe or tubing fourble board a platform, commonly called the monkeyboard, near the top of the derrick where the derrickman stands to stack fourbles (four joints of pipe) when tripping out of a well four-cycle or four-stroke engine an internal combustion engine that has intake, compression, power, and exhaust strokes. The four-cycle is in tontrast to a two-cycle or two-stroke engine. Fourier analysis the representation of a waveform such as recorded seismic exploration data as a weighed series of sine and cosine functions. Fourier analysis determines the amplitude and phase of component sine and cosine waves of different waveforms. Fourier analysis is part of Fourier transform and is named after the French physicist Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768-1830). (frequency or harmonic analysis) Fourier transform a series of computations that is important to seismic processing. The seismic data is converted by Fourier transform from the time domain in which it was recorded into a harmonic domain as a function of frequency (frequency domain). This breaks down the seismic recording into sinusoidal components that can be frequency filtered to eliminate noise and enhance the signal. four-point test a flow-after-flow test used to determine the flow rates at different flow pressures in a gas well to determine the open-flow potential. The shut-in pressure of the gas well is measured along with the flow rates at four different bottom-hole or, less desirably, tubing pressures. A curve is then plotted that can be used to determine the optimum flow rate. four-sided closure a potential petroleum trap that will not allow the petroleum to leak out on any side. There is either a downdip component to the reservoir rock or a permeability barrier such as a fault on each of the four sides. 467 plan a pipeline's plan for natural gas delivery curtailment based on end use 4 spot a type of waterflood pattern in which three injecting wells in a triangle surround a producing well

202

four-stage separation frac job

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regular four-spot four-spot waterfloods

skewed four-spot

four-stage separation a system that uses three separators connected to a stock tank on a lease to separate natural gas and crude oil. The separators each have decreasing pressures until the stock tank is reached. Four-stage separation is used when high gas pressure is necessary for delivery to a pipeline or pressure maintenance system.

four stage separation

four-way drag bit a drag bit with four blades four-wing pattern bit drilling bit with a crossshaped tip FP 1) flowing pressure 2) final pressure 3) freezing point F p pump friction F p b pressure base factor FPC Federal Power Commission FPD fluid per day 2) flame photometric detector FPE fluid properties evaluation FPH fluid per hour FPIT freepoint indicator tool fom feet per minute FPO field purchase order F-POR fair porosite fos 1) feet per second 2) foot-pound-second system FPT female pipe thread Fpy supercompressibility factor F p w l local gravitational correction for deadweight tester static pressure standard FQG or F.Q.G. frosted quartz grains FR 1) flow recorder 2) flow rate 3) from 4) first recording 5) first reading FR formation resistivity factor Fr formation resistivity Fr Reynolds number factor

fr 1) fractional 2) from the 3) front 4) frosted 5) fair FRA friction reducing agent FRAC, Frac, or frac 1) fracture 2) fractured 3) fracturing frac bus the enclosure that contains the control panels and recording equipment used on a hydraulic frac job. fracd fractured frac finder log a fracture finder log frac fluid the fluid pumped down a well during hydraulic fracturing. Frac fluid is commonly water, water with acid, diesel oil, or nitrogen. Less commonly, liquified petroleum gas, alcohol, and foam are used. FRAC-GR frac log, gamma ray log frac head the device that is attached to the blowout preventers during a frac job. Fluid and sand are pumped under pressure into the frac head and down the well.

frac job

frac job a well-stimulation process in which frac fluids are pumped down casing or a temporary workstring under high pressures up to 20,000 psi to artificially fracture a reservoir rock ia order to increase permeability and production. First, a pad, which is frac fluid without proppants, is pumped down the well until formation breakdown. Then, the frac fluid with proppants is pumped. At the end of the frac job, a clear fluid flush is pumped down the well to clean the well of proppants. The flush can also be an underflush or overflush depending on the amount of flushing fluids pumped. Fracturing equipment includes pumping units, blenders, and bulk handling

FRAC L fracture gradient equipment such as sand and frac fluid transports, a manifold trailer, and frac bus. The frac fluid flows out of perforations in the casing or, if the well is not cased, packers are used to isolate the formation. The frac fluid is usually water (possibly with acid) or diesel oil. Higher injection rates form longer fractures. Thickening agents can be used to increase frac fluid viscosity. Propping agents (small spheres), such as sand or aluminum oxide pellets, are suspended in the fluid and are used to hold the fractures open after the pumping stops. The proppant or sand concentration is usually Vi-4 lbs/gal. The frac job is measured by the pounds of sand used, which usually varies from 20,000-1,000,000 lbs in a massive hydraulic frac. Higher injection rates form longer fractures. Fracturing can be done in stages during which different fluids are injected into the well. Some types of frac jobs include: a) hydrafrac, b) sandfrac, c) waterfrac, d) acidfrac, e) superfrac, f) gelled waterfrac, g) gelled oilfrac, h) emulsion frac, and i) vapor frac. Formation fracturing was developed in 1948 and was originally done through a tubing string to below a packer. (formation fracturing, fracturing, or hydraulic fracturing) FRAC L frac log fract 1) fractionator 2) fracture

203

frac tank

frac tank the container that stores the frac fluid (typically 580 bbl) for hydraulic fracturing and the spent frac fluid and oil Fractg fracturing fraction a separate hydrocarbon cut or part made by distillation or a similar process (cut) fractional analysis an analysis of the percentage of each hydrocarbon such as methane and ethane in a gas sample. The fractional analysis also determines the gal/1,000 ft3of liquid and the heating value of the gas. fractional distillation the separation of components of different boiling points from a solution. The heated vapors of the solution are passed up a fractioning column where they are cooled as they rise. The various components condense as liquids at various heights in the column. fractional flow the ratio of the volumetric flow rate of one fluid phase to the total fluid volumetric flow rate within a volume of rock fractional flow curve the relationship of the fractional flow of one fluid and its saturation during simultaneous flow of fluids through a rock

fractional township a township with less than 36 normal sections. A fractional township could be due to a shoreline. fractional wettability local fluctuation of wettabilities on the surface or a rock due to different mineral grains with different wettabilities fractionator a device that uses temperature and pressure to separate specific hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, and butane. The fractionator is a vertical tower with overhead condensers and reboilers to regulate the top and bottom operating temperatures. The temperature gradient and different boiling and condensing temperatures are used to separate the fractions. The feed point for the liquid or liquid and gas is near the midpoint or top of the fractionator. fract fracture 1) a break or discontinuity in a rock due to mechanical stress along which there was no cohension along the fracture surface at some time in the past. If there is no apparent movement, one side relative to the other, the fracture is a joint. If there is movement, the fracture is a fault. A fraaure can be either natural or induced, caused by drilling or well stimulation. Fractures can be either open or closed to fluid flow due to healing or minerlization. Fractures can be described as tensile, extension or shear-based on the stress that formed the fracture. Natural fractures can be classified as tectonic, regional, contractional, and surface-related. FRAC, Frac, fract, frac, orf 2) a break in a mineral along an irregular surface that is not a smooth cleavage plane. Fractures in minerals are described as conchoidal, splintery, or fibrous. 3) a discontinuity surface in a subsurface which at one time one side of the surface was not attached to the other side fracture acidizing a hydraulic fracture job on a carbonate reservoir using an acid solution as the frac fluid fracture assisted steamflood process. Hydraulic fracturing using high-pressure steam. FAST process fracture density the number of fractures per unit length in a rock or core measured perpendicular to the fracture orientation fractured reservoir a subsurface reservoir of oil, water, or gas in which natural fractures in the reservoir rock have increased the reservoir porosity and/or permeability or contributed to an increase in reservoir anisotropy Fracture Finder log an acoustic log that uses the attenuation of compressional and shear waves to locate fracture Fracture Finder/Micro-Seismogram log a type of wireline well that is used to locate fractures. The fraaure finder/micro-seismogram log uses an acoustic logging tool and photographs the acoustic signal that passes through a formation. Attenuation of the signal on the log indicates fractures. fracture flow capacity fracture permeability times fracture width expressed in either md-ft or md-m. The fraaure flow capacities of fracture sands is in thousands of darcy-feet. fracture gradient 1) the minimum total in-situ stress divided by the depth in drilling 2) the pressure per unit depth necessary to fracture the formation

204 fracture identification log free pipe fracture identification log a four-pad dipmeter that records four microresistivity curves. Fractures are identified by different responses on adjacent pads. FIV fracture log a wireline well log of the sonic type that locates fractures in the rocks adjacent to the wellbore by the attenuation of acoustic energy across the fractures. The fracture log records the cumulative amplitude of acoustic waves from a sonic logging tool during a specific time range. FRAC L fracture number the number of fractures per 100 ft fracture pore a pore space caused by a break due to mechanical stress in a rock. Fracture pores usually add little porosity to a rock but greatly enhance the rock's permeability. fracture porosity porosity of voids in the rock produced by natural fractures. Fracture porosity tends to be small, usually 296-5%. fracture pressure see fracturing pressure fracture spacing the average distance between parallel fractures fracture strength the minimum differential stress necessary to fracture a substance fracturing seefracjob. Fractg fractionating the division of crude oil into products by heating and boiling off different components at different temperatures fracturing pressure the pressure necessary to initiate fractures in a formation, (fracture pressure) FRAG, Frag, or frag fragment fragile gel a gel with a gel strength that is relatively constant with time. A fragile gel is in contrast to a progressive gel. framestone a limestone formed by a rigid framework of massive fossils such as stromatoporoids, rudists, or corals in their growth position Franconian a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 510 m. y. ago. It is part of the Cambrian period. Frasnian a global age of geological time that occurred about 385-380 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Devonian epoch. fraudulent drainage drainage of oil and/or gas from one lease to another by a well(s). Both leases have the same lessee. FRC flow recorder control free-air anomaly a variation in the gravity data for reasons other than the free-air correction free-air correction a correction made on gravity measurements for the elevation of the point of gravity measurement above the datum, which is usually sea level freeboard the vertical distance between the waterline and the deck of a ship free fell the drop distance of the tools during cabletool drilling free fluid index the percent of volume that is occupied by fluids free to flow in a formation as recorded on a nuclear magnetism log. FFI free-fluid log a wireline well log used to measure free fluids (fluids not bound to surfaces) in formations adjacent to the wellbore. A magnetic field causes an alignment of the magnetic movement of hydrogen nuclei in the formation. When the magnetic field is removed, the protons return to their original orientation giving off a radio-frequency signal which is recorded. The amplitude of the radio-frequency signal is recorded as the free-fluid index (FFI), a reflection of the amount of water or hydrocarbons that are not bound. Gas will give a low reading due to its low-hydrogen density. The rate of alignment, called the thermal relaxation time, can be recorded to differentiate between water and oil. (nuclearmagnetism or nuclear magnetic resonance log) free gas 1) the natural gas that occupies the free gas cap of a reservoir 2) the natural gas that evolves from crude oil as the pressure is decreased

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free-gas cap the gas reservoir with gas in the gas phase occupying the pores of the reservoir rock above the oil in a saturated-pool oil field. The gas/oil contact separates the free gas cap from the oil reservoir. The gas in the free gas cap is associated gas and is always wet gas. (gas cap)

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(PRIMARY RECOVERY)

100

free gas cap drive

free-gas cap drive an oil field reservoir drive mechanism in which the pressure of the gas in the gas cap above the oil forces the oil into the wells. Free-gas cap drive is relatively efficient, producing an average of 35% of the oil in place, (gas-cap drive) free-gas clause an oil and gas lease provision in some leases that allows the lessor or the surface-rights owner free use of the gas produced from that property free hole a clean borehole free interstitial water pore water that is free to flow in contrast to bound water free pipe loose casing in a well that can vibrate

free piston lift free piston lift an artificial lift method for oil wells. Free piston lift uses a free moving piston that travels up and down the production tubing to lift the oil. The energy comes from gas in the casing-tubing annulus. The most common gas used is production gas. A valve on the bottom of the plunger closes when it hits a bumper on the bottom of the well. Rising bottomhole pressure activates a flowline controller at the surface, and the plunger rises to lift the oil. At the top of the well, the plunger strikes a bumper that opens a valve to release the gas below it into the flowline, and the plunger falls. Free-piston lift is used in weak flowing wells, wells with a^iigh gas/oil ratio, and wells with excessive gas. (plunger lift) free point 1) the depth just above the top of where pipe is stuck in a well. The free point is just above the stuck or freeze point. 2) the location where the drilling assembly is free of vertical stress. The string is in compression below the free point and tension above. free-point detector or indicator a tool that is used to locate the free-point on stuck pipe in a well. One type consists of two electromagnets on a telescopic joint. When upward pull and rotary torque are applied to the pipe from the surface, the tension is not transmitted to the stuck portion of the pipe. The free section is identified by the tension and torque. Another type senses torque and movement. The tool is slowly raised on a wireline in the drillstring as the drillstring is being rotated from the surface. The point where torque first appears is just above the stuck pipe and is the free point, (stuck point indicator tool) free pump a pump that can be circulated in and out of a well free radical an unpaired electron in a molecule free ride an interest in production that is free of production expenses free-running plunger lift an artificial lift method used for gas wells that produces some liquids. The plunger travels up and down the tubing freely without an intermitter. The free-running plunger lift is composed of a) a lubricator to receive the piston on the surface, b) a free running brush-type piston, c) a valve shifting prong in the lubricator, d) a 2-in. string of tubing, e) a bumper spring on the bottom of the tubing^ and 0 a 2-in. tubing stop. freestone rider or freestone clause an oil and gas lease provision that separates pooled portions of the lease from unpooled portions. This prevents drilling and production on the pooled portion from maintaining any leases on the unpooled portion. (Pugh clause)

frequency

205

Free water is in contrast to an emulsion. 2) water displaced by oil or gas free-water content a measurement of the excess water content in a cement slurry. A 250 ml sample of the slurry from a consistometer is poured into a glass cylinder. The amount of water is measured after two hours.

free water knockouts

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free water knockout

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free water 1) water produced with oil that immediately settles out from the oil upon production.

free-water or freewater knockout a vertical or horizontal metal separator that uses gravity to separate water, gas, and oil. The freewater knockout has an inlet and deflector baffle near the top on one side and a gas outlet on the top. An oil outlet is located near the middle, and a water outlet is located on the bottom of the knockout. Freewater knockouts are often used before heating an emulsion to remove the free water and to prevent unnecessarily heating too much water in the heater treater. FWKO free-water or freewater knockout sector the portion of a vertical treater which is fed produced fluids by a downcomer to gravity-separate fluids before the firetube heats the emulsion to separate the oil from the water, (water bath) free-water level the level in a reservoir where the oil phase is equal to the water phase. FWL free well the well drilled by an assignee under a farmout agreement, (obligation well) free-well arrangement the transfer of a fraction of the working interest in a well to another party in exchange for drilling and possibly equipping a well. A free-well arrangement can involve several wells and it usually results in a joint working interest. free-well farmout an agreement between two parties in which one party, the farmee, agrees to pay a disproportionately larger share of the cost of a well or wells than the working interest that the farmee acquires. The farmee shares the production with the other party, the farmor, in proportion to their working interests. freeze point the depth in a well located at the top of a section of stuck tubular such as drillpipe where it adheres to the side of the well. The free point is located just above the freeze point, (stuck point) Frenchie a Schlumberger employee, (frog) freq 1) frequent 2) frequency frequency the number of repetitions of an event such as a waveform per second or hertz. Frequency is the inverse of period, freq orf

206 frequency analysis FSP frequency analysis see Fourier analysis frequency domain data expressed in frequency. Seismic record traces can be processed by Fourier transform into frequency domain. Frequency domain is in contrast to time domain. fresh bit a drilling bit that has been dressed fresh mud a water-base drilling mud in which the water is fresher than the formation water. F-MUD fresh oil crude oil for which storage has been paid up to the time of transmission. Fresh oil is in contrast to old oil. fresh water water that is very low in dissolved salt content. Fresh water is sometimes quantified as containing less than 2 or 1 parts per thousand dissolved salts. Fresh water at 4 C has a density of 62.3 lbm/ ft3or 1,000 kg/m3. Fresh water results in a pressure gradient of 0.433 psi/ft or 0.0481 bar/m. FWTR or FW freshwater mud drilling mud made with fresh water as the liquid FWTRM Fresnel zone the portion of a reflecting surface from which the seismic energy can be reflected and read by the detector within a half-cycle, resulting in constructive interference. The diameter of the zone depends on the depth of the reflector and the velocity and frequency of the seismic signal. A higher frequency seismic signal will have a narrower Fresnel zone than a low-frequency seismic signal. The Fresnel zone is surrounded by a second Fresnel zone from which the reflections destructively interfere. Frg or frg 1) fringe 2) fringing FRIA or fri friable friable a rock that is easily broken up. FRIA or fri friction the resistance to movement friction bearings a type of ball bearings in a rollercone bit that has no rollers. The roller-cone bearings have a friction-ball-friction or solid journal-bearing arrangement. friction factor 1) the forces that resist motion divided by the contact force perpendicular to the motion direction 2) the force on a conduit wall caused by fluid movement in the conduit./ friction horsepower the indicated horsepower minus the brake horsepower friction loss the pressure differential of fluid flowing through a pipe. Friction loss depends on the type of flow, fluid viscosity, surface roughness, and pipe diameter. friction reducer or friction-reducing agent an additive used in a fluid to improve its flow. Friction reducers are often made of polymer or resin material that forms a slick surface on solids. Friction reducers, commonly oil and graphite, are used in drilling muds to decrease the friction on the downhole assembly. FRA friction wrench a tool that is designed to grip pipe. When the wrench is put around a pipe or coupling and pressure is applied to the handle, the jaws with teeth on the wrench become tighter on the pipe or coupling. fringing reef a reef that grows parallel to the shoreline and is either attached to the shoreline or is separated from the shoreline by a narrow, shallow lagoon. A barrier reef, in contrast, is separated from the shoreline by a wider and deeper lagoon, (shore reef) frmwk framework frog a Schlumberger employee. (Frencbie) frog eyes 1) bubbles of natural gas floating on the drilling mud in the mud tanks 2) water droplets on crude oil coating a swab line front the V-door side of a drilling rig. The driller's side is on the left, and the mud-pit side is on the right when facing the front of the rig. The opposite side is the back. front-end costs the percentage of the monies paid by limited partners that goes into offering and organization costs front-loaded wavelet energy that occurs over a relatively long time with the maximum amount of energy at the beginning of the wave. Many seismic sources, such as dynamite and air gun, produce frontloaded wavelets. fros frosted frosted a finely pitted surface caused by impacts. Quartz sand grains in subaerial sand dunes are often opaque due to frosting caused by collisions with other sand grains during wind transport, fros or fr frost up the icing of pipes and equipment on a highpressure gas well. The rapid expansion of the gas when it reaches the surface causes cooling that results in freezing of any moisture. froth flow a type of produced fluid flow in a well in which the gas flows "primarily up the center, and the oil and water flows up the walls of the pipe frozen an old term for stuck pipe in a well frozen up mechanical equipment that does not work because the parts cannot move FRPT first report FRR final report for rig FR-R friction reducers frs fresh FRt formation factor deduced from true resistivity FRW final report for well Fs feldspar Fs formation factor deduced from sonic log FS&WL from south and west line FSC fail-safe close valve FSD field size distribution FSEL from southeast line fsg or fsg. fishing FSH fishin fsh fraction of intergranular space occupied by shales tfaA fraction of intergranular space occupied by nonstructural dispersed shale FSIP final shut-in pressure FSIT final shut-in time FSL from the south line FSP 1) flowing surface pressure 2) final surface pressure 3) final squeeze pressure

Fspr or fspr fully integrated Fspr or fcpr Feldspar FST forged steel few feet of sea water FSWL from southwest line FT 1) formation tester 2) formation temperature 3) feet 4) field tape Ft or ft 1) feet 2) foot Ft filtrate recovered in t minutes F/T flowline temperature F^ temperature base factor Ftf flowing temperature factor ftg 1) footage 2) filling FJQ filtrate recovered in 30 minutes. FTL fluid travel lo ft-lb foot-pound ft-lb/hr foot-pounds per hour ft/min feet per minute FTP 1) final tubing pressure 2) flowing tubing pressure 3) field terminal platform FTPF final tubing pressure flowing FTPSI final tubing pressure shut in F trap fault trap FTrL fluid travel log FTS fluid to surface Fe flowing-temperature factor ft/s or ft/sec feet per second ft3 cubic feet ft'/bbl cubic feet per barrel ft'/d cubic feet per day ft'/lb cubic feet per pound ftVmin cubic feet per minute 9?ls cubic feet per second FTT formation tester tool ft2 square feet FU fill up Fuc or fuc fucoid fuel gas natural gas that has been pressured and is used to fuel an engine such as a gas turbine on an offshore platform fiiel injector a mechanical device that is used to spray fuel into the cylinder of an engine fugacity a thermodynamic function that is related to chemical potential. When the fugacity of a nonideal gas is substituted for the pressure of an ideal gas in a thermodynamic ideal-gas equation, the equation applies to the nonideal gas. Fugacity is usually expressed in pressure units./ fugacity coefficient fugacity divided by pressure or partial pressure. The fugacity coefficient is a measure of the deviation of a real gas from an ideal gas. fulcrum the support upon which a lever pivots fulcrum assembly a bottomhole assembly that is used to build angle in a deviated hole. A single stabilizer is run above the bit to achieve a fulcrum effect. Additional stabilizers can be used to modify

207

the build rate. A fulcrum assembly is in contrast to a packed hole or pendulum assembly. full bore a valve or other fitting that has an orifice with the same cross-sectional area as the pipe on which it is fitted (full port) full bore-spinner flowmeter a flowmeter with retractable blades. The blades are retracted when it is run into tubing but expanded to fit the casing diameter when in position. full-cost accounting or full costing an accounting method in which both successful and unsuccessful costs are capitalized. Capitalized costs include all activities and equipment associated with property acquisition, exploration, and development along with the purchase of reserves and the sales and transfer of property from joint ventures and similar arrangements. Full-cost accounting is in contrast to successful-efforts accounting. FC accounting full-diameter core a cylinder of rock with a diameter of l3/4 to 5V4 in. in diameter and lengths of 20-90 ft that was drilled by a rotary coring bit from the bottom of a well. A full-diameter core is in contrast to a smaller diameter wireline or sidewall core, (fullhole or whole core) fuller's earth a very fine-grained, naturally occurring material that has a very high adsorptive capacity. Fuller's earth is composed primarily of clay minerals and is used for oil filters. full-gauge or full-gage bit a drilling bit with the original diameter. With wear, the bit will become out of gauge. full-gauge or full-gage hole a well in which the diameter of the well is the same as the diameter of the bit along the entire length of the wall. A full-gauge hole is in contrast to an undergauge or overgauge hole, (true-to-gauge hole) full-hole core see full-diameter core full-opening safety valve a valve that is installed in the drillpipe after a kick has occurred. A wrench is kept on the drill floor to close the valve. full port see full bore full-stream gas natural gas that contains liquid hydrocarbons full-stream test a test that determines the liquid hydrocarbon content of natural gas full-term working interest an operating interest in a lease which lasts as long as gas and/or oil is produced full view mast a drilling rig mast that has an A-frame structure with the two sides open for unlimited visibility. A series of box panels are pinned together to make the leg sections. The raising legs and slings are stored in the leg sections, and a boom truck is used to assemble the mast. The mast is raised by the traveling block and can be skidded as one piece or disassembled into two, three, or four sections for transport. full wave form an acoustic waveform recorded in an amplitude-time mode fully integrated an oil company that is engaged in all aspects of the petroleum business. This includes exploration, drilling, production, transportation,

208

fully penetrating fracture Fx, further exploration covenant an implied principle of an oil and gas lease that after production has been established on a lease, the lessee will continue to explore other areas of the lease and deeper formations Fus fusuline Fusul fusulinid fusuline or fusulinid a football-shaped foraminifera belonging to the suborder Fusulinina. Fusulinids were wheat germ-sized with microgranular, calcareous tests or shells. Fusulinids are important guide fossils for the Pennsylvanian and Permian peroids. Fus or fusul future-interest lease an oil and gas lease on acreage that currently has a valid lease called the bottom lease. When the bottom lease expires, the future interest lease becomes effective, (top lease) FV 1) funnel viscosity 2) future value fv fraction of bulk volume FVF formation volume factor FVOL flush volume Fvst favosites FW fresh water f^ 1) water cut of formation fluid 2) fraction of intergranular space occupied by water FWC field wildcat fwd forward FWKO free-water knockout FWL 1) from the west line 2) free water level Fw! local gravitational correction for water column calibration standard F wop cumulative oil/water ratio F^ water density correction for water column calibration standard FWTR fresh water FWTRM freshwater mud fxd fixed ffadn finely crystalline F xo formation factor deduced from flushed-zone resistivity

refining, and marketing. Fully integrated is in contrast to independent. fully penetrating fracture a fracture that crosses the entire reservoir height functional allocation sharing arrangement a technique used in farmouts, drilling ventures, and limited partnerships to maximize investor tax savings. The investors are charged with all currently deductible items so that the intangible drilling and development costs (IDCs) are credited to the investors. The drilling fund sponsor takes the nondeductible item expenditures. fundamental strength the hypothetical maximum stress on a substance that will not cause inelastic deformation, no matter how long the stress is applied funicular the interconnected nonwetting fluid such as oil filling the center of pores funicular saturation the occurrence of the nonwetting phase as a continuous web in the pores of the reservoir. The nonwetting phase can flow, and the wetting phase may or may not be at irreducible saturation. Funicular saturation is in contrast to insular saturation. funicular zone the zone in a petroleum reservoir in which large saturation changes occur in a short vertical distance. The water saturation in a reservoir ranges from 100% water to irreducible water saturation for an oil/water contact and from 100% liquid to irreducible water saturation for a gas/oil contact. The funicular zone is located between the saturation and pendular zone, (transition zone) funnel down a guidance funnel on a subsea completion with the wide end down funnel up a guidance funnel on a subsea completion with the wide end of the funnel up funnel viscosity the number of seconds that it takes 1 qt or 1,000 cc of drilling mud to drain through a standard Marsh funnel. The longer the time, the greater the viscosity of the fluid. (Marsh funnel viscosity) FV furfural a tracer that is used in produced crude oil for identification. Furfural is made of corn cobs and sugar cane waste (bagasse) and is soluble in both oil and water. Furfural decays with air and high temperatures.

G galv

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G 1) gas, 2) gravitational field strength, 3) total gas in place, 4) geometrical fraction, 5) shear modulus, 6) geometrical multiplier, 7) geometrical, 8) geothermal, 9) giga,- 10) gallon, 11) gain, 12) geothermal gradient, 13) pore geothermal factor, 14) grainstone, 15) fluid gradient, 16) Gibbs molar free energy or chemical potential g 1) gram, 2) gas, 3) acceleration of gravity, 4) gradient, 5) gallon GA 1) gallons of acid, 2) Canadian Gas Association, 3) gelling agents Ga billion years before present ga gauge GAAP generally accepted accounting principles Gab gabbro gabbro an intrusive igneous rock with granular-sized crystals of plagioclase and pyroxene mineral grains. Gabbro is dark in color and is found in both small dikes and sills and in large intrusions. Gab GACD gallons of acid GAD glycol absorption dehydration GAF gross acre feet gaffer a roustabout gage 1) the diameter of a bit, wellbore, or tubular. (gauge) 2) a measuring instrument 3) to measure some property. The volume of oil in a stock tank is gaged by a gager using a gage line, (gauge) ga gage bob see gauging bob gage cutters see gauge cutters gage hatch or hole see gauge hatch or hole gage height see gauge height gage line see gauge line gage line paste see gauge line paste gage location factor see gauge location factor gage platform see gauge platform gage point see gauge point gage pressure see gauge pressure gager see ganger gage reamers see gauge reamers gage ring see gauge ring gage rod see gauge rod gage section see gauge section gage surface see gauge surface gage table see gauge table

gage tank see gauge tank gage tape see gauge tape gage ticket see gauge ticket gage wear see gauge wear gage weight see gauge weight gaging the use of tape or measuring line to measure the level of a fluid in a tank (gauging) gaging a tank see gauging a tank gaging a well see gauging a well gaging nipple see gauging nipple gaging point see gauging point gaging reference point see gauging reference point gaging tank see gauging tank gain a change in the signal power or amplitude gain control amplifier the electronic equipment used in seismic exploration to keep the data that is transmitted to the analog-to-digital converter at an appropriate amplitude level GAL or gal gallon gal a unit of acceleration of gravity in the cgs system. A gal is equal to an acceleration of 1 cm/sec/sec or 10~2 m/sec2 The earth's nominal gravity is 978.03 gals which is often rounded to 980 gals. Gravity is often measured in units of milligals, which is equal to 0.001 gal. Gal was named after G. Galileo (1564-1642). galena a silvery-gray mineral composed of PbS with a specific gravity of 7.3-7.6. Galena has cubic crystals and cubic cleavage. Galena can be part of the inert fraction of drilling mud used to greatly increase the density of the drilling mud. Mud weights of up to 35 ppg can be obtained using galena. Galician system a cable-tool drilling method that used solid rods instead of rope to raise and lower the bit. The Galician system was used in Russia during the late nineteenth and early twentith century. Galileo an acceleration of 0.001 cm/s2, 0.001 dyne/g or 10~3 gal. A gravity unit is equal to 0.1 Galileo. mgal or milligal gall steel surface damage caused by friction gallon a unit of measurement for liquid volume. The United States gallon is the volume occupied by 8.34 lbs of distilled water, whereas the Imperial gallon used in the United Kingdom and Canada is the volume occupied by 10 lbs of distilled water. A barrel holds 42 United States gallons. The United States gallon is the equivalent of 0.833 Imperial gallons. GAL, gal, org gal/Mcf gallons per thousand cubic feet gal/min gallons per minute gal/sk gallons per sack gal sol gallons of solution galv galvanized

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galvanic anode gamma spectrometry log thorium, or radium in sedimentary rocks. Gamma ray can be measured by a Geiger-Mueller counter or a scintillation counter. Gamma ray radiation of formations is recorded on a natural gamma ray log. A gamma-gamma or formation density log uses gamma rays from a gamma ray source such as cesium 137 to determine the density of rocks. GR or y gamma ray index a number that indicates the shaliness of a rock. The gamma ray index is computed by dividing (the natural formation radioactivity of the rock of interest minus the natural formation radioactivity of a clean rock without shale) by (the natural formation radioactivity of a shale minus the natural formation radioactivity of a clean rock without shale). The gamma ray index is usually computed from a well log such as a gamma ray log. GRI

galvanic anode a sacrificial anode used in cathodic protection that produces a current flow galvanic cell an electrolytic cell caused by the electrical potential difference between two metals galvanic corrosion corrosion caused by electric current flowing between two dissimilar metals immersed in a solution such as salt water that can conduct electricity galvanize to coat a metal with zinc galvanometer an instrument used to measure small electrical currents. A galvanometer uses a coil suspended in a constant magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet. The coil rotates to an angle proportional to the electrical current flowing through it. galvo galvanometer drift the change in mechanical zero on a galvanometer with time galvo galvanometer gambler's ruin a principle of statistics that is applied to the risk of drilling a well. A dry hole or a producer are the two possible outcomes of drilling a well. If several wells are drilled, there is a small, but real chance that all the wells will be dry holes. This chance is called gambler's ruin. The larger the number of wells drilled, the less the chance for gambler's ruin of all dry holes. 7 1) specific gravity, 2) skewness, 3) gyromagnetic ratio, 4) gamma ray, 5) shear rate, 6) interfacial tension, 7) kinematic viscosity gamma a unit of magnetic field strength that is equal to 10~5 gauss 7 g specific gravity of gas Gamma-Gamma Density log a density or gammagamma log gamma-gamma log a radioactive type of wireline well log that measures the density of subsurface formations. A radioactive source is used to bombard the rocks surrounding the wellbore with gamma rays. By counting the backscattered gamma rays, the density of the subsurface rock is computed. From the density of the rock, the porosity of the rock can be calculated. The compensated density log has a secondary detector on the sonde that responds more to the mud cake and borehole irregularities. It is used to correct or compensate the main detector for these undesirable effects. Besides porosity, the log is also used with other logs as an aid to identifying the composition of the subsurface rocks, {density, formation density log or nuclear interface log) GG
Ygas gas holdup Ygg reservoir gas specific gravity Ygsp separator gas specific gravity 7 gST stock tank gas specific gravity 7, specific gravity of a liquid 7O 1) specific gravity of oil 2) specific gravity of liquid 7 o U oil holdup

gamma ray log

gamma radiation or ray high energy, electromagnetic radiation with a very short wavelength (0.005 to 1 A) that is shorter than X-rays. Gamma radiation occurs during all atomic nuclear reactions such as radioactive decay of potassium, uranium,

gamma ray log a wireline well log that records the natural radioactivity (gamma ray emissions) of rocks in the well by a scintillation crystal in the sonde. Of the most common sedimentary rocks, only shales have significant natural radiation. Volcanic ash, granite wash, and some salt deposits also are naturally radioactive. Three elements (potassium, thorium, and uranium) account for most of the gamma rays emitted from the sedimentary rocks. The amount and energy level is different for each isotope. The energy is measured in million electron volts (mev) and recorded in standard API gamma ray units. The gamma ray log is recorded in Track 1 and is usually run with porosity and/or resistivity logs. The gamma ray log can be run in either an openhole or cased well and can be run in both salt and nonconductive muds. The log is used for a) shale location, b) lithology identification, c) correlation, and d) bit selection, (correlation and natural gamma ray log) GR or GRL gamma ray prospecting a method of prospecting for subsurface petroleum deposits by measuring the gamma ray intensity of the surface. Areas of low gamma-ray intensity indicate subsurface petroleum. The low anomalies could be due to the geochemical action of petroleum microseeps that changed the chemistry of the soil above petroleum deposits. gamma ray surveying a method of prospecting for radioactive deposits by measuring natural gamma ray radiation on the surface using a gamma ray spectrometer gamma spectrometry log a well log that uses a pulsed-neutron sonde and a computer logging unit

gamma spectroscopy tool gas-cap drive reservoir to determine the carbon, oxygen, silicon, calcium, iron, sulfur, chlorine, and hydrogen content of formations from the gamma rays emitted. The tool bombards the formations with neutrons and measures both the inelastic and capture gamma ray spectra that results. The gamma-spectrometry log can be used to determine the hydrocarbon saturation, lithology, porosity, shaliness, and fluid salinity of the formation. The gamma-spectrometry tool can be run in both an open and cased wells. gamma spectroscopy tool the sonde used to make a gamma spectrometry log. GST" YSTO specific gravity of stock tank oil yw specific gravity of water Ywater water holdup G&C gas and condensate G and G costs or expenses the costs of topographical, geographical, geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies during the exploration of a specific area. G and G costs also includes the costs of rights of access to properties to conduct studies and the salaries and expenses of the geologists, geophysicists, crew, and others conducting the exploratory study, (geological and geophysical costs) G&O gas and oil G&OCM gas- and oil-cut mud G&W gas and water gang pusher a person in charge of supervising and training a crew of roustabouts. The gang pusher works under the production foreman, (head roustabout or leadman) Gar garnet garbet, garbot, or garbutt rod a short rod located on the lower end of the traveling valve on a downhole pump. The garbet rod is attached to the standing valve and is used to unseat the valve for repairs. gas 1) a mixture of light hydrocarbons ranging from Cj to C4 that occur as a gas under standard conditions of 1 atm pressure and 60F. Gas is primarily methane gas (CH4) with no or lesser amounts of ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and butane (C4H10) gases. The average Mid-Continent natural gas has a composition of 88% methane, 5% ethane, 2% propane, and 1% butane. Lean natural gas has less than 2.5 gal of recoverable ethane and higher hydrocarbons per MCF at 60F. Moderately rich natural gas has between 2.5 and 5 GPM and very rich natural gas has greater than 5 GPM. Nonhydrocarbon gases called inerts, dilutents, or contaminents such as water vapor, CO2, N, and He can occur mixed with the hydrocarbon gases. If the gas contains detectable amounts of H2S, it is called sour gas. If not, it is sweet gas. If the gas contains significant amounts of liquids (retrograde gas or condensate) under surface conditions, it is called wet gas. Gas without liquids is called dry gas. Methane gas that is generated at shallow depths is called biogenic, swamp, or marsh gas. Gas that is generated at deep depths under high temperatures is called thermogenic gas. Gas occurs as a free-gas phase or in solution in crude oil in the reservoir. Gas can be classified as a) associated, b) nonassociated, and c) dissolved. An average gas density used for well log computations is 0.7 gm/cc. Gas volume is measured

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in thousands of cubic feet (Mcf) and its heat content in British Thermal units (Btus). An average natural gas chemical analysis by % weight is C 65.0 - 85 H 1.0 - 25.0 S trace - 0.2 O 1.0 - 15-0 (natural gas) 2) a fluid that can expand infinitely. Gas is in contrast to a liquid or solid. GAS-A gas analysis gas anchor a short section of tubing that extends down from an insert pump and is used to separate gas from oil before it enters the pump to prevent gas locking. Several types of gas anchors are used. One type has an inner and outer tube with the produced fluid flowing through perforations in the nipple on the outer tube. The gas separates from the oil as it slowly flows down the annulus between the inner and outer tube. The gas flows up the annulus and out the upper perforations in the nipple. The oil flows down and into the bottom of the gas anchor where it flows up into the insert pump. gas balancing agreement an agreement under which working-interest owners in a well agree that takes of gas by each owner can be disproportionate to the actual ownership of the gas, with the underproducing party given the right to make up its underage. The underage make can be either by a) subsequent taking in kind (volumetric or in-kind balancing) or by b) subsequent cash settlement (cash balancing) from the overproducing party. GBA gas behind the pipe natural gas in a potentially productive zone that has been cased in a well gas blanket gas located above the surface of a liquid in storage gas blowby the release of gas from a fluid outlet gas box the mud-gas separators on a drilling rig gas breakout the formation of gas bubbles from gas in solution due to a reduction in pressure and/or increase in temperature of the liquid gas broker a company or person that arranges for the sale of natural gas as an agent for the purchaser or seller gas bubble a surplus of natural gas supplies compared to natural gas demand gas buster see mud-gas separator gas cap a gas reservoir with hydrocarbons in the gas phase occupying the pores of the reservoir rock above the oil in a saturated-pool oil field. A saturated pool always has a gas cap. The gas/oil contact separates the gas cap from the oil reservoir, (free gas cap) gas-cap allowable an allowable or amount of oil permitted to be produced by a government regulatory agency that is granted to an operator for not producing gas from the free gas cap of an oil reservoir. The gas-cap allowable is transferred to another well in the same field that is not producing from the free gas cap. gas-cap drive an oil field reservoir drive mechanism in which the pressure of the gas in the gas cap above the oil forces the oil into the wells. Gas-cap drive is relatively efficient, producing an average of 35% of the oil in place, (free-gas cap drive) gas-cap drive reservoir an oil field with a free gas cap that supplies the energy to sweep the oil through the reservoir rock into the wells. Larger gas caps and

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gas-cap gas gas dehydrator pressure) and condense into a liquid upon production and surface conditions. Gas condensate typically grades from colorless to light-colored liquids with tints of red, green, or blue. Condensates have very high "API that ranges between 45 and 60 and are very valuable commercially. Natural gas that contains gas condensate is called wet gas. If condensate is recovered on the lease with standard field-separator equipment, it is often combined and recorded with the crude oil. The Natural Gas Processors Association has denned gas condensate as having a vapor pressure between 10-34 psi, a percentage evaporated at 104F of 24%-85%, a percentage evaporated at 275F of not less than 90%, and an end point in distillation of not higher than 375F. Retrograde gas is the preferred term for gas condensate, (casinghead, drip, natural, raw or wild gasoline, drips, condensate, retrograde gas, distillate, gas distillate, or white oil) GCOND gas-condensate reservoir a reservoir that contains fluids only as a gas phase under initial reservoir temperatures and pressure. As the initial reservoir pressure is decreased by production and the reservoir temperature stays relatively constant, liquid hydrocarbons (retrograde gas or condensate) separate from the gas in a process called retrograde condensation. If the condensate separates from the natural gas in the subsurface reservoir, it wets the reservoir rock and cannot be produced. To prevent this, the wet gas that is produced is often stripped of retrograde gas and reinjected into the reservoir (cycling) to maintain reservoir pressure. The formation gas/oil ratio of a gas condensate reservoir is between 5,000 and 100,000 SCF/bbl. (condensate gas reservoir) gas conditioning the processes that make natural gas marketable. Gas conditioning is done in the field before the gas enters the pipeline. Gas conditioning includes the removal of acid gases, water, and excess hydrocarbon liquids. Also involved is adjusting the pressure to pipeline pressure with a regulator or compressor. Gas conditioning equipment includes separators, heaters, contactors, absorbers, dehydrators, compressors, acid-gas removal equipment, adsorption towers, and gas plants, (gas processing) gas cone a gas/oil or gas/water contact that is pulled down in the shape of a cone centered on a well. The gas cone is caused by excessive liquid production. gas constant see universal gas constant gas contract an agreement by a gas producer to sell natural gas to a pipeline or user gas cut a fluid containing dissolved gas. GC gas-cut mud drilling mud containing dissolved natural gas from the subsurface. The gas-cut mud will slightly reduce the bottom hole pressure and must be removed to accurately determine the mud density. Gas-cut mud decreases the mud pump efficiency. The gas is removed by a mud-gas separator. gas cutting the mixture of gas in a liquid gas dehydration the removal of water from natural gas by a gas dehydrator. The water is removed from gas primarily to prevent the formation of hydrates. gas dehydrator a field installation used to remove water from natural gas. The three methods use either

deeper reservoirs with higher pressures are more efficient. gas-cap gas natural gas in or from the free gas cap of a saturated oil reservoir gas-chimney effects the effects of gas leakage from a reservoir to the surface on a seismic record. Gaschimney effects can include bright spots, time sag, and a wipeout of deeper reflections. gas chromatogram the analog output of a gas chromatograph. Retention time is plotted against abundance of hydrocarbon components. gas chromatograph an analytical instrument that separates gases from each other. The gases are carried by a carrier, an inert gas that is usually nitrogen or helium, through a column filled with either a solid or liquid that is called the stationary phase or packing. This separates the gases into individual components depending on their affinity for the stationary phase. The more volatile, lighter, less polar compounds pass through the column fastest. A gas chromatograph is composed of a a) sample preparation unit, b) sample valve, c) column, d) detector, and e) signal recorder. The sample is introduced into the gas chromatograph with a syringe where it is immediately vaporized by heat. The separated compounds are identified by flame ionization or by a thermal conductivity detector and are recorded on a gas chromatogram. Packed columns contain a solid, porous material that is coated with organic polymers, whereas the more common capillary columns have no solid support and the polymer coats the column walls. gas chromatography the separation of compounds of gas by partition between a mobile gas phase and a stationary liquid phase in a column. In gas-solid chromatography, die stationary phase in the column is a solid, whereas in the gas-liquid chromatography it is a liquid. Capillary-column chromatography is used to separate crude oil and extract components, whereas packed-column chromatography is used in mud logging. GC or gc gas chromatography-mass spectrometry an analytical system that combines a gasjhrpmatograph and mass spectrometer to separate and identify compounds. The gas chromatograph separates the compounds, and the mass spectrometer identifies the compounds. GC-MS or gc-ms gas cleaning the removal of a) pipeline trash and gross solids and liquids or b) minute solids and aerosols from natural gas. Gas cleaning is done to maximize pipeline operating efficiency and prevent contamination and dilution of treating chemicals. Gas cleaning equipemnt includes a) impingement separators with wire-mesh pads or vanes, b) filters, c) scrubbers, and d) electric precipitators. gas collection cells containers in which frozen cores are thawed, and a water and gas sample is collected gas column the vertical height of a reservoir rock having gas-filled pores gas compressibility see coefficient of isothermal compressibility gas condensate liquid hydrocarbons of very light crude oil composition that occur as a gas under subsurface reservoir conditions (high temperature and

gas detector gasket a) a liquid-desiccant, b) a solid-desiccant, or c) expansion-refrigeration. The liquid-desiccant method uses glycol, most often triethylene glycol (TEG), to remove the water as the gas is bubbled through the glycol. Two types of contact towers or absorbers are the vertical tower which uses bubble trays and the horizontal tower which uses vertical trays. The soliddesiccant method uses the batch process, is more expensive, and is used when the dew point of the gas must be greatly depressed. The contact tower or adsorber uses two vessels, one vessel is used for adsorption and another vessel is used for regeneration of the adsorption material. The desiccant bed through which the gas is passed is composed of either a) alumina, b) silica gel, c) silica-alumina gel, or 4) molecular sieves. The expansion-refrigeration method uses a pressure drop to reduce the temperature and condense the water out of the gas. (dehydrator) gas detector an electrochemical sensor located on the wash pipe or return flowline that detects gas in the returning drilling mud. The gas detector is connected to a single-pen recorder and is used in mud logging. gas distillate see condensate or retrograde gas gas drilling drilling using methane gas as the circulating fluid. Gas drilling is very similar to air drilling. A conventional roller-cone bit is used. The gas goes from the compresser through piping, a standpipe, rotary hose, and the kelly. The gas exhaust pipe flares the gas 300 ft downwind of the rig. Gas drilling is faster than drilling with mud because of the decreased hydrostatic pressure and alleviates the problems of formation damage and lost circulation. A higher weight on bit and lower rpms are used compared to mud drilling. A very high gas velocity must be used to remove the dust-sized well cuttings. gas drive 1) a reservoir drive in a fire flood or insitu combustion. The pressure is from the combustion gases generated from the burning front. Some heat is transferred from the combustion gases to the oil, and some of the gas dissolves in the oil. 2) the injection of gas into a depleted reservoir to improve oil recovery. Inert gas injection is a type of gas drive. gas drive reservoir an oil field in which oil in the subsurface is produced by either expanding natural gas bubbles in the oil reservoir (solution-gas drive) or by expanding gas in the free gas cap (gas-cap drive) above the oil reservoir, (gas expansion reservoir)
30 POROSITY % 20 10 1 0 I

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FORMATION DENSITY LOG

NEUTRON POROSITY LOG

gas effect

gas effect different porosity reading on the neutron porosity log and the density log for the same formation due to gas in the pore space. The neutron porosity

log reads low, whereas the density log reads high and relatively accurately. gas expansion factor the volume of gas at reference conditions divided by the volume of gas at operating conditions. The gas expansion factor is the reciprocal of the gas formation factor. E gas expansion reservoir see gas drive reservoir gaseous petroleum methane, ethane, propane, and butane gas exploder or gun a marine seismic source that uses an underwater explosion of propane or butane mixed with air or oxygen gas flotation A method used to separate oil from produced water on an offshore platform by budding natural gas through the water. gas formation volume factor the volume of gas in the subsurface reservoir that equals 1 ft3 of gas at surface conditions. The gas formation volume factor is measured in reservoir cf/scf or reservoir m3/std m3 and depends on formation temperature and pressure. B s gas holdup the volume fraction of free gas in a well an any instant of time, -y^ gas hydrate ice with gas molecules trapped in the cage-like ice crystal structure. A gas hydrate is a solid crystalline compound similar to snow. Natural gas hydrates usually contain ethane or isobutane or, less often, methane or nitrogen. They are common in permafrost areas and in seabed sediments. Gas hydrates also form in and block gas wells and lines and foul heat exchangers when the gas is cooled. They are composed of about 90% water and 10% of one more of the gases methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Methane snow is a hydrate formed by water and methane. Gas hydrates have a specific gravity of between 0.96 and 0.98. Potassium salts can be used as a drilling fluid additive to inhibit gas hydrate formation. Gas dehydration is used to depress the dew point of produced natural gas and to prevent gas hydrate formation. Gas hydrates are melted from pipes by heaters, steam, or hot water or by adding methanol or ethylene glycol. (clatbrate or hydrate) gas injection the injection of CO2, N, or natural gas into a subsurface oil reservoir to maintain or restore reservoir pressure. In a saturated pool with a free gas cap, the gas is injected into the free gas cap. In an unsaturated pool, casinghead gas is injected direaly into the oil. GI or G.I. gas injection or input well a well that is used to inject gas into the subsurface reservoir for either pressure maintenance or enhanced oil recovery. GIW gas interference the effect of gas in the barrel of a downhole sucker-rod pump. The gas is compressed during the downstroke, but the traveling valve opens before the liquid level is reached. Gas interference results in poor pump efficiency, but its effect on the sucker rods is not as severe as fluid pound. gas inventory holding charge the compensation to a seller of natural gas for the volumes of natural gas held available for purchase but not yet taken gasket a shaped ring of paper, rubber, composition, or metal that is used around a piston or in a connection to make it leakproof. gskt

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gas leg gas meter gas-lift valve a pressure regulator device installed on or in the tubing of a gas-lift well. The gas lift valve is responsive to either casing (Pc) or tubing (Tc) pressure. Four types of gas lift valves are a) a casing pressure operated or pressure valve, b) a throttling pressure, proportional or continuous flow valve, c) a fluid operated valve, and d) a combination or fluid open-pressure closed valve. The casing pressure operated valve opens and closes in response to casing pressure. The throttling pressure valve opens in response to casing pressure and closes in response to tubing pressure. The fluid operated valve opens and closes in response to tubing pressure. The combination valve opens in response to a buildup of fluid pressure and closes in response to casing or tubing pressure. A gas-lift valve contains a bellows, the responsive element, that is connected to a dome and the loading element. gas/liquid column a type of gas chromatography used to separate hydrocarbon gases in mud logging. The column is a metal or glass tube filled with certain sized inert particles coated with a liquid. The gas to be analyzed is injected into the column and goes into solution in the liquid where the gases separate. A gas/liquid column is in contrast to a gas/solid column. (partition column) gas/liquid ratio the standard cubic feet of gas per stock tank barrel of water or oil produced. GLR gas liquids propane gas (less commonly butane gas or propane-butane mixture) that has been compressed into a liquid. Gas liquids are used in rural areas for home heating and cooking and have industrial, agricultural, and commercial applications, (bottled or liquified petroleum gas) gas-liquids extraction plant a field installation that is designed to remove valuable liquids from wet natural gas before the gas is put into a pipeline or used for pressure maintenance. These liquids can include natural gasoline, butane, propane, and sometimes ethane which are removed from natural gas by absorption or compression and cooling. An absorption tower removes the liquids by scrubbing the wet gas with an absorber such as lean oil. A distillation unit removes the liquids from the rich oil by heat and steam. The compression and cooling method is the simplest. A cryogenic plant uses a turboexpander to super cool the gases for the most efficient separation. The gas-liquids extraction plant often has fractionators or stabilizers to separate the liquid hydrocarbons into pure fractions or mixtures. The equipment can include a depropanizer and a debutanizer. A combination refrigeration and absorption unit can increase the liquid recovery, (gasprocessing, gas, or gasoline plant) gas lock or locking the effect of gas in the barrel of a downhole sucker-rod pump. Free gas, either from the formation or bubbling out of oil on the bottom of the well, enters the standing valve and into the pump. During the downstroke, the gas is compressed but does not unseat the traveling valve. During the upstroke, the standing valve will not open. Because of gas lock, no fluid is pumped. Gas interference and fluid pound are problems related to gas lock, see fluid pound and gas interference gas meter a device used to measure the velocity of a gas flow. Some types of gas meters include a) head

gas leg the part of the reservoir that produces natural gas, for example, the free-gas cap
outlet

gas controller

gas lift valve

gas lift

gas lift a type of artificial lift used in oil wells, Compressed produced gas or air that is called lift gas is injected back into the well to form bubbles in the tubing and lift produced liquid to the surface. The gas is injected through a gas-lift valve either into the annulus between the casing and production tubing or into the production tubing. The gas aerates the fluid in the tubing, reducing its weight, and the aerated fluid flows up the tubing to the surface. The gas injection can be either continuous or intermittent. Continuous gas lift is usually limited to a maximum depth of 5,000 ft. The opening and closing pressures on the gas lift valve can be adjusted at the surface with a spring or gas-charged, dome loading element. If intermittent flow is used, an intermitter is used to control the gas flow. Intermittent flow can be either single-point injection or multipoint injection. Three types of gas lift are open, semiclosed, and closed. Gas lift has the advantages of few moving parts and minimum surface equipment, large capacity, and will work on crooked or deviated wells. The disadvantages are the large amount of initial capital outlay, the possible formation of emulsions, and corrosion of equipment. Gas lift is a common type of offshore completion because most of the equipment is located downhole. Plunger lift is a special type of gas lift. GL
or G-LIF

gas-lift gas the natural gas used in a gas-lift well to produce oil. Gas-lift gas can be first stripped of any valuable liquids, (lift gas) gas-lift mandrel a container in the tubing string that holds a gas-lift valve. One type is the side-door mandrel that is installed as the tubing is run into the well. The tubing must be pulled to replace the gas-lift valve. In contrast, the side-pocket mandrel is installed and replaced by wireline.

gaso gas scrubber types (orifice, Venturi, jet nozzle, pitot tube-annubar, and elbow meter), b) positive displacement or PD (diaphragm and rotary), c) turbine, d) vortex shedding, e) magnetic, and f) ultrasonic. The ink colors for the chart on a gas meter are standard. Red is for differential pressure, blue for static pressure, and green for temperature. gaso gasoline

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gas-oil contact

gas/oil contact the boundary between the oil and free gas cap in a subsurface, saturated oil reservoir. The gas/oil contact is a transition zone that goes from high oil saturation to high gas saturation with a thickness of up to several feet. The contact is generally horizontal, (gas/oil horizon or interface) GOC gas/oil horizon see gas/oil contact gas/oil interlace see gas/oil contact gas/oil ratio the amount of natural gas divided by the amount of crude oil usually reported in standard cubic feet per stock tank barrel. Specific types of gas/ oil ratios include a) formation, b) solution, c) producing, d) separator, e) stock tank f) initial solution, and initial producing. GOR gas/oil ratio test a test that measures the amount of gas and oil produced from a well. The gas/oil ratio test is periodically required by government regulatory agencies. The test is used to determine that the well is not producing gas in excess of the limit and to evaluate the well and reservoir performance. gas/oil separating plant an offshore platform designed principally for the treatment and separation of produced fluids from an offshore field. GOSP gasoline a volatile and inflammable product of crude oil refining. Gasoline is a liquid hydrocarbon ranging from C6 to Ci0. gaso gasoline plant see gas plant. GP gasoline range hydrocarbons alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbon molecules as large as C7 in crude oil and retrograde gas gas plant a field installation that is designed to remove valuable liquids from wet natural gas before the gas is put into a pipeline or used for pressure maintenance. These liquids can include natural gasoline, butane, propane, and sometimes ethane which are removed from natural gas by absorption or compression and cooling. An absorption tower removes the liquids by scrubbing the wet gas with an absorber such as lean oil. A distillation unit removes the liquids from the rich oil by heat and steam. The compression and cooling method is the simplest. A

cryogenic plant uses a turboexpander to super cool the gases for the most efficient separation. The gas plant often has fractionators or stabilizers to separate the liquid hydrocarbons into pure fractions or mixtures. The equipment can include a depropanizer and a debutanizer. A combination refrigeration and absorption unit can increase the liquid recovery, (gasliquids extraction plant) GP gas plant products natural gas liquids (NGL) that are separated from wet gas in a gas plant. Gas plant products includes condensate, butane, propane, and sometimes ethane gas processing see gas conditioning gas-processing plant see gas plant gas processing rights a provision in a farmout in which a party reserves the right to remove the liquids from any wet gas that is produced gas production unit an enclosed field installation that is a combination heater and separator for highpressure gas and condensate wells. A gas production unit is skid mounted and consists of an indirect line heater and a high-pressure oil-water-gas separator with interconnecting piping and gas inlet, gas outlet, and oil outlet. gas prone a sedimentary rock with terrestrial kerogen (Type III) that generates predominately hydrocarbons gases with little or no liquids gas pulser a marine seismic source that uses a mixture of oxygen and propane gas pump a method of artificial lift that uses a positive displacement pump that is activated by a gas supply. The pump is wireline or tubing retrievable and displaces a barrel of oil with an equal volume of gas at lift depth pressure. The well fluid enters the pump barrel through a lower check valve. The plunger rises and falls in the working barrel to force the well fluids up through the standing valve assembly above it. gas regulator an automatic pressure-sensitive valve gas reinjection injection of gas into a subsurface reservoir during production to maintain reservoir pressure in order to increase the ultimate oil recovery. The gas is usually produced gas that has been stripped of its liquids and is dry gas. (reinjection or pressure maintenance) gas reservoir a subsurface zone that contains hydrocarbons only in the gas phase gas royalty the royalty or payment made for natural gas that is produced from a well and sold. Gas royalty does not include gas that is used for leasehold operations or is reinjected into the reservoir for pressure maintenance. gas sales line a line that carries treated natural gas from a lease or offshore platform to a pipeline gas sand a driller's term for sandstone containing gas. G-SD gas saturation the percent volume of the reservoir rock pore space that is occupied by gas gas scrubber a vessel that is similar to an oil and gas separator but is designed for gas with relatively little liquid content. A gas scrubber is often used in gas gathering. The dry type of gas scrubber uses a mist extractor or other device. The wet type uses a

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gas separation gas unit and mixes with the gas. The gas-air mixture then flows to the gas detector. The drilling mud flows onto the shale shakers. 2) a gas separation plant 3) an early term for a gas/oil separator gas-trap efficiency the percentage of gas in mud that is removed from the mud and transmitted to the gas detector during mud logging. Efficiencies of 50%-85% are common.

bath of oil or another liquid to remove dust before the gas is passes through the mist extractor. gas separation the separation of dissolved gas from crude oil in a separator. Separation is done either by stage or flash separation. gas separator a bolt-on section located between the protector and the pump on an electric submersible pump. The gas separator liberates free gas from the fluid and directs the gas away from the pump intake to prevent gas locking and to provide more efficient pumping of gassy wells. Gas separators reverse the fluid direction or centrifuge the fluid to remove the gas. gasser a well that produces gas gas settlement statement a form that records the amount of gas that was transferred from wells to a pipeline. The form varies with purchasers and generally includes a) purchaser identification, b) lease identification, c) producer identification, d) quantity 6f gas delivered, e) month of production, f) Btu content of the gas, g) gross or net value due to the lease, h) lease production taxes, i) value due to the producer, and j) pressure base. The statement is similar to a run ticket used for crude oil. (settlement statement) gas show the appearance of natural gas in the returning drilling fluid. Gas show is a term used in mud logging to show the amount and composition of natural gas above background gas levels. GS gas shrinkage the gas lost or absorbed during the removal of liquids from natural gas gas sniffer 1) a device that is towed in the water behind a boat to detect the presence of hydrocarbons from seepages in the ocean 2) a device that is used to detect the presence of hydrocarbons in drilling mud gas/solid column a glass column in a gas chromatograph that is packed with charcoal, silica gel, zeolites, or polymers that adsorb gas. The gas/solid column is used to separate oxygen, nitrogen, methane, and other gases and is in contrast to a partition or gas/liquid column, (adsorption column) gas solubility see dissolved gas/oil ratio gassy well pump a downhole pump that is used to pump very gassy fluids without gas locking. A gassy well pump is an insert-type of pump with three chambers and a modified valve and plunger. Some prevent gases from entering the pump, whereas other pumps use high compression to keep the gas in solution. Gast or gast gastropod gas-to-oil ratio see formation gas/oil ratio. GOR gas tracer a gaseous radioactive isotope that is injected into a well to determine the flow velocity profile gas trap 1) a rectangular steel box that is located on the end of the mud return line on the possum belly or ditch of a shale shaker. The gas trap is used to sample gas dissolved in the returning drilling mud for mud logging. The drilling mud passes through slots in the base of the trap. An agitator motor on top of the trap turns a shaft and propeller in the gas trap to agitate the drilling mud and separate the gas. A continuous flow of air enters the top of the trap

gastropods

gastropod an invertebrate of the class Gastropoda in the phylum Molluska. Most gastropods live in the ocean and have a coiled shell of calcium carbonate. Gastropods have existed from the Cambrian period to the present and are guide fossils, (snail) Gast or gast gas turbine a type of engine that uses a centrifugal compressor to force air into a combustion chamber where it is sprayed with fuel. The mixture is burned at a constant pressure as the power gas that is produced expands through a series of curved vanes or blades on a wheel or axis, called a turbine. The gas turbine type of prime mover is common on offshore platforms. Gas turbines that are run on natural gas or liquid hydrocarbons are used to drive the electrical transmission system systems on some drilling rigs. Gas turbines are also used for gas transmission and injection. gas turbine meter a type of gauge used to measure the velocity of flowing gas. The gas flows through curved vanes or rotors on an axis, causing the axis to turn. The rate which the axis turns is calibrated to the velocity of the flowing gas. gas unit the units of background gas used on the meter or recorder scale during mud logging. The gas unit can be calibrated by the "hot wire" in a gasair mixture. One percent methane in air is equivalent to 50 gas units. Gas units, however, are often defined differently in various gas-detector manuals. GU

gas-water contact or horizon gauge hole gas-water contact or horizon the boundary in the subsurface reservoir between the gas reservoir and the underlying reservoir having water-filled pores. The boundary is usually level but can be gradational over several feet. GWC gas well a well that is capable of producing natural gas. The gas/oil ratio of a gas well is usually greater than 150,000:1. The GOR definition of a gas well will vary slightly by statute. GW gas well gas natural gas that is not in contact with oil in a reservoir. Gas well gas is usually dry gas and is in contrast to associated or dissolved gas. (unassociated or nonassociated gas) GWG gas wetness the percent by volume of a gas sample that is hydrocarbon gases other than methane. A wet gas has more than 5% wetness. Biogenic gas has extremely low wetness. gate 1) a pipeline valve 2) an interval of time during which a a measurement is made or a function such as autocorrelation occurs, (window) 3) a computer circuit with several inputs and one output 4) a shuttering device that shields a scintillometer used to record gamma rays on a sonde. The gate opens and exposes the scintillometer to radiation for an exposure time in microseconds 5) The middle section of a transistor, see pipe ram

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gathering station 1) a field installation with a compressor that is used to increase the pressure of gas from wells. A gathering system is used when the gas is produced at a pressure lower than the pressure required for the pipeline system 2) the separation, treatment, and measurement equipment for gas and oil

radial

1
axial gathering system (gas)

gate valve

gate valve a type of valve that uses a sliding gate to open and close the passage gather a visual display of seismic data used in the stacking process in which all the seismic traces thought to be the same are displayed side by side. Normal moveout is usually removed. Gather is used to check the correlation of the traces and evaluate the different traces on the stack. A single-trace gather is a type of 100% section using one trace from each shot point to examine the data. A near-trace gather uses the trace from the group nearest the shot point. A far-trace gather uses the trace from the group furthest from the shot point. A CDP gather combines all the traces with a common depth point into a single trace. gathering center or centre a meeting area for subsea flowlines that leads into a central manifold for processing. A production platform can be a gathering center. gathering line 1) an oil pipeline that leads from the lease tanks to a central accumulation point 2) the oil flowline from a well to a central lease or field facility 3) the flowline that connects a subsea well to the manifold center. GL

gathering system pipe lines that bring gas from the leases to the main pipeline. Four types of gathering systems are a) a single trunk with laterals, b) a multiple trunk system extend out from a central point, c) a loop system, and d) a combination system. Gathering systems can also be described as radial or axial. gauge 1) the diameter of a bit, wellbore, or tubular. (gage) 2) a measuring instrument (gage) 3) to measure some property. The volume of oil in a stock tank is gauged by a gauger using a gauge line, (gage) gge orga gauge bob the weight used on the end of a gauge tape that is lowered through a dip hatch on a crude oil storage tank for gauging. The gauge bob touches the strike plate at the bottom of the tank which correlates to zero on the tank gauging table. Bobs are usually make of brass to avoid sparks and can be serrated along an edge for chalk or indicator paste and can have a spring snap at the end for attachments. (dip or gaging bob, weight or gauge weight) gauge cutters the outermost row of inserts on the cones of a roller-cone bit. Gauge cutters do not mesh and have the largest volume of rock to remove. Gauge cutter patterns include regular, T, U, web and tungsten carbide inserts, (gage cutters or heel teeth) gauge hatch a hinged opening on the top of an oil stock tank or storage tank that is used to gauge or measure the level of oil and to take an oil sample. The gauge hatch is fitted with a lid. (gage hatch or hole or thief, main or dip hatch or gauge hole) gauge height the vertical distance from the reference point on the tank hatch or gauging platform of a stock or storage tank and the gauge point on the bottom of the tank. The gauge height is posted near the reference point and is used in gauging the tank to determine the height and volume of oil in the tank, (gage height) gauge hole 1) a well with a borehole that is the same diameter as the bit that drilled the well 2) see gauge hatch

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gauge line GCC with a copy going to the purchaser, (gage ticket or run ticket) gauge wear the abrasive wearing of a drill bit. Gauge wear is reported in V2 in. increments, (gage wear). 3 gauge weight see gauge bob gauging the use of tape or measuring line to measure they level of a fluid (gaging) gauging a tank the method used for determining how much oil is in a stock or storage tank. A tank table that relates the height of oil in the tank to the volume of the oil has been prepared by a process called strapping. The height of the oil in the tank is measured by either the inage or outage method. The more common inage method is made by lowering a tank gauge, a measured tape with a gauge bob on the end, into the tank at the reference point on the tank hatch or on the gauging platform. The gauge bob is lowered through the oil to the strike plate on the bottom of the tank. The level of oil called the cut line is then read off the gauge line. The outage method is used when there is a buildup of sediment on the bottom of the tank. A tank gauge is lowered into the tank from the reference point to measure the vertical distance down to the surface of the oil. This is then subtracted from the total vertical height of the tank (gauge height) measured from the reference point to the gauge point on the bottom. (gaging a tank) gauging a well the required measurements made on a well in order to determine its potential for prorationing regulations by a government regulatory commission, (gaging a well) gauging hatch see gauge hatch gauging nipple a small opening with a cover on the top of a stock tank that is used to gain access to the tank for gauging the amount of oil in the tank and for taking samples. The gauging nipple is similar to a gauge hatch, (gaging nipple) gauging point a point on the bottom of a stock tank directly below the reference point. A tank gauge is lowered into the well at this spot to measure the height of oil in the tank, (gaging point or point zero) gauging reference point A mark on a thief hatch of a crude oil storage tank from which the gauge tape is lowered during gauging, (gaging or dipping reference point) gauging tank a tank used to measure the amount of crude oil produced (gage, gaging, or gauge tank) gauss 1) the cgs-emu unit of magnetic induction or flux density. A gauss is equal to 105gammas and 1CT4 tesla. 2) the cgs unit of magnetization GB gun barrel GBA gas balancing agreement GBDA gallons of breakdown acid Gbo. gumbo GC gas-cut. GC or gc gas chromatography ge pressure gradient of cement slurry g-cal grams-calorie GCAW gas-cut acid water GCC gas-cut cushion

gauge line 1) see gaugetape, 2) the piping and valves that connect an orifice meter to a meter run or tube. (gage line or meter manifold) gauge line paste a material that changes color on contact with water and is used to determine the water or basic sediment and water level in a tank, (gage line paste) gauge location factor a correction used in gas meters to correct the manometer factor (Fm) for elevation and latitude other than sea level and 45. Fe gauge platform the steel platform along the top of a stock or storage tank that the gauger stands on to lower the gauge line into the tank through the gauge hatch to gauge or measure the height and volume of oil in the tank, (gage platform) gauge point 1) the point usually located on the rim of the thief hatch where the gauge tape is lowered into a tank 2) the point on the bottom of the thief tank where the gauge weight or bob touches the strike plate. It is zero on the tank gauging table, (dip or gage point) gauge pressure the pressure above atmospheric pressure in a container. Gauge pressure plus atmospheric pressure equals absolute pressure. It is measured in pounds per square inch gauge (psig). Gauge pressure is in contrast to absolute pressure. (gage pressure) gauger a person whose job is to measure the quantity and quality of oil and gas produced on leaseholds. (gager) gauge reamers a sub that is used in a bottomhole assembly to smooth the walls of a wellbore with rollers or cutting edges, (gage reamers) gauge ring a device that is run in a cased hole to confirm the minimum diameter of the casing in the well (gage ring) gauge rod a wood or steel rod with markings to measure the height of oil. The gauge rod is lowered through the gauge hatch into a crude oil storage tank for gauging (dip or gage rod) gauge section the outermost portion of the cones on a roller-cone bit (gage section) gauge surface the outer surface of the gauge cutters. It determines the size of the wellbore. (gage surface) gauge table a chart that is used to determine the amount of oil that is filling a specific tank. A gauge table is made by a tank strapper by strapping (measuring) the volume and height of the tank. The table is usually calibrated in Vt or Va in. in height. (gage table or tank table) gauge tank a tank that is used to measure oil production, (gage, gaging, or gauging tank) gauge tape a reel of measuring tape with a gauge weight on one end. The tape is lowered through the gauge hatch to measure the level of a liquid in a tank, (gage tape, gauge line, gage line, or dip tape) gauge ticket a record of the amount of oil transferred to a pipeline or tank truck from a stock tank. The gauge ticket includes the gravity, temperature, bottom sediment, and water content of the oil along with the time of delivery. The gauge ticket is made in triplicate by the gauger and witnessed by the pumper,

"GC-MS or gc-ms GC-MS or gc-ms gas chromatography-mass spectrometry GCD gas-cut distillate GCLO gas-cut load oil GCLW gas-cut load water GCM gas-cut mud GCO gas-cut oil GCOND gas condensate GCP ground-control point GCPD gallons of condensate per day GCPH gallons of condensate per hour GCR gas-condensate ratio GCSW gas-cut salt water GCT countinous guidance tool GCW gas-cut water GD gauge depth gd good GDC survey a combination gamma ray log, Densilog, and caliper log gd o&t good odor and taste GDR gas/distillate ratio geanticline a very broad and long uplift gear a wheel toothed that are meshes and transfers motion to another gear. The most common gears used in the oil field are a) helical, b) herringbone or double helical, c) bevel, d) spiral, e) spur, f) worm, and g) rack and pinion. The most common gears used are helical, herringbone, bevel, and spiral. Gears are used in power transmission and speed reduction on a drilling rig and pumper. gearbox the container for a gear train or reduction gears gear jammer an oilfield truck driver, (gravel hog or junk hustler) Gedinnian a global age of geological time that existed 405-400 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Devonian epoch. Geiger-Mueller counter an instrument used to detect gamma rays. The instrument has a metal cylinder filled with low-pressure gas and a central rod electrode that is charged positive relative to the cylinder. Gamma rays striking the cylinder wall cause electrons to be ejected and drawn to the center electrode where they are recorded. gel 1) a colloidal suspension in which shearing stresses below the gel strength will not permanently deform the gel. The minimum shearing stress that results in permanent deformation is the shear or gel strength. Drilling mud is a gel. A gelling agent mixed with water and oil forms a gel for frac jobs. 2) bentonite and attapulgite clays which are highly colloidal, highyielding, viscosity-building commercial clays 3) see drilling mud GELAC gelled acid gelatin an explosive gelatinized starch an organic colloid composed of starch that has been gelatinized with caustic. Gelatinized starch is used for low filtration loss in salt-water and lime-treated drilling muds.

general partner

219

gelation the accretion of fine particles in suspension to form a gel gel cement cement or cement slurry to which bentonite has been added for filler and/or to reduce the slurry weight gel-chemical mud a water-base drilling mud made of bentonite, drilled solids, and a dispersing agent such as quebracho, lignites, or lignosulfonates. Gelchemical muds have a high pH due to the caustic soda that is used to activate the dispersing agent. The mud is used when the drilling fluid is contaminated with drilled solids or cement and there is a relatively high bottomhole pressure. GELK gel kerosene gelled up 1) the flocculation of drilling mud due to contaminants. The flocculated mud will have a high gel strength and be very viscous, (clabbered) 2) a substance that has formed a gel gelled oil frac a hydraulic frac that uses a gelled oil. The gelled oil has a lower viscosity than crosslinked gelled waters and is used in water-sensitive formations. The gelled oil is made of refined distillate or lease crude. gelled waterfrac a hydraulic frac that is similar to a water frac but uses a carefully controlled system of gelling agents such as guar gum, hydroxyl propyl guar, and hydroxyl ethyl guar along with chemical catalysts to make a very viscous gel. The gel pumps like water but has excellent proppant carrying properties. gelling agent an additive that thickens a liquid. Guar gum, gum karya blends, and synthetic polymers are used as acid gelling agents. GA GELM gel mud gelometer an instrument that is used to measure gel strength. The gelometer consists of a cup with a plunger and a readout. gel strength a measure of the electrical attraction forces in a gel. Gel strength is the minimum shearing stress that will permanently deform a gel such as drilling mud. Gel strength is usually reported in lb/ 100 sq ft. Common gel strength measurements are initial (after setting for 10 seconds) and 10-minutes (after setting for 10 minutes). Gel strength defines the ability of the drilling mud to hold solids in suspension and gives an indication of the thixotropic properties of the mud. Gel strength is measured on a viscometer or gelometer. (shear strength) gen 1) generator 2) generally general gas law see ideal gas law General Land Office survey the land subdivision survey for the United States. It involves all lands except those that were included in grants made by foreign governments before the land became territory of the United States. The survey includes Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, all states north of the Ohio River, and all states west of the Mississippi River except Texas. Surveying was done from north-south lines called meridians and east-west lines called base lines. The land subdivision units are townships of 36 sq mi that are divided into sections of 1 sq mi. general partner the person or company in a drilling or production agreement that is responsible for

220

general shut-down order geologic column Geograph a thumper or weight-drop type of seismic source used on land geohistory diagram an age-versus-depth (below sea level) plot of a sedimentary rock from the time of its burial to the present GEOL geologist Geol or geol 1) geology 2) geologist geologist a petroleum geologist geological and geophysical costs the costs of topographical, geographical, geological, geochemical, and geophysical studies during the exploration of a specific area. Geological and geophysical costs also includes the costs of rights of access to the properties to conduct the studies and the salaries and expenses of the geologists, geophysicists, crew, and others conducting the exploratory study. (G and G costs) geological base map a map that shows well locations

initiating and supervising the drilling or production. In a limited partnership, the general partner not only runs the management but is also fully responsible for the debts of the partnership. A general partner is in contrast to a limited partner, (operator) general shut-down order a regulatory commission ruling on the number of days a month that an oil well(s) can produce general warrant a covenant of title in a lease, deed, or assignment that guarantees the title against all defects generator a machine that converts mechanical into electrical energy. Electric generators work on the principle of electric induction. The electric current is caused by a variation of magnetic lines passing through a loop. One type of generator has armature windings on a rotor revolving between the fixed magnetic poles of the stator. In another type, the armature is stationary and the magnetic poles on a magnet wheel rotate. The stator is an iron ring with induction coils on the inside. A three-phase generator has three coils at 120 apart and generates three voltage waves with a phase difference of 120. The three-phase generator is known as a three-phase alternator, gen genetic increment of strata a vertical sequence of sedimentary rock strata that was deposited during a single depositional cycle. A genetic increment of strata is bounded on the bottom by an unconformity, facies change, or the base of a transgressive sand, and on the top by a time marker. Genetic increments of strata are used in time-rock stratigraphic mapping. GIS gentleman's agreement an oral understanding between^ two parties that is not written on paper and is not legally enforceable, (handshake agreement) GEO geophone Geo geographies geochemical logging tool a downhole tool that uses borehole nuclear spectrometry to measure the abundance of elements in formations. GLT geochemical prospecting the analysis of surface samples of soil and water for traces of hydrocarbons and indications of microseep geochemist a person trained in chemical methods used in the investigation of geological problems and exploration geochemistry the application of chemical methods to geological problems such as the search for hydrocarbons. Geochemistry involves the search for microseeps, the identification of source rocks, the timing of hydrocarbon generation, and the correlation between crude oils and source rocks. geodesy the science of measuring the shape of the earth geodynamic pressure pressure or stress on subsurface rocks and their fluids due to deformational processes such as a rising salt dome or compressive folding Geoflex a seismic source used on land that uses an explosive cord buried with a plowlike device geofluid any fluid such as water, gas, or oil that was or is located in the pores of rocks

geological map

geological map a map showing the rocks, usually in units called formations, that crop out on the surface of the earth in a specific area. The geological map also shows structural features such as strike and dip, fold, joints, and faults. A geological map will also have geographical and cultural features such as rivers, roads, and cities along with longitudes and latitudes and scale for location. geological unit A drilling and spacing unit established by the Louisiana Conservation Commission based on geological boundaries such as a fault or oil/water contact rather than land subdivisions. geologic column a rock column showing all different rock units such as formations that occur in a locality or region. The rock units are vertically ordered from the oldest at the bottom to the youngest at the top. The rocks are drawn horizontally and rock ages and scale are often given. The individual rock layers are often drawn as they would weather in a cliff of rocks. Resistant rocks such as sandstones protrude out, whereas weaker rocks such as shales are weathered back, (columnar section or stratigraphic column)

geologic high geothermal gradient geologic high a relatively younger formation in age. Geologic high has nothing to do with elevation. geologic life the time from the formation of a rock or a structure in the rock such as a fold to the present. geologic low A relatively older formation in age. Geologic low has nothing to do with elevation. geologic section see geologic column geologist a person trained in the study of the earth. A geologist can be employed in the search for petroleum, ground water, coal, ores, or other valuable rocks or in environmental studies. Types of petroleum geologists include a) exploration, b) development or production, c) wellsite, and d) reservoir. GEOL, Geol, or geol Geolograph a patented chart recorder that is capable of recording up to ten drilling parameters on a drilling rig. The Geolograph normally records rotary speed, rotary torque, pump speed, pump pressure, hook load, and weight on bit along with time to drill each foot. A six-pen single recorder records a) hook load, b) penetration, c) rotary rpm, d) rotary torque, e) pump SPM, and 0 pump pressure. Total depth reads to the nearest Vv> ft. The Geolograph chart rotates on a drum each 24 hr. The chart is marked in time and drilling increments which are recorded as tick marks. The Geolograph was first used in 1937 in the Oklahoma City field, (drilling recorder) geology the study of the earth. Geology is primarily concerned with the composition of the rocks that make up the earth, the earth's history,-and the processes that have shaped the earth. Geol or geol geomagnetic scale a record of normal and reverse earth magnetic polarity going back in geological time geomorphic trap a near-surface petroleum trap formed by very recent erosion of dipping reservoir rock. A geomorphic trap is a recent unconformity and often can be identified by oil and gas seepages. geomorphology the study of landforms GEOP geopressure Geop or geop 1) geophysics 2) geophysicist geopetal a structure in a sedimentary rock that indicates the orientation of the top and bottom of the rock when it was deposited, gept geophone a microphone used on land to detect seismic energy from the subsurface during seismic exploration. Geophones transform seismic energy into an electric voltage. The geophone usually consists of a moving coil suspended by springs in a magnetic field. Seismic energy causes the geophone case and magnet to move, but not the coil. This causes a voltage to occur across the coil. Exploration geophones are sensitive to the 5 to 200 Hz range. Geophones usually only record vertical motion. The geophone must have about 0.7 critical dampening. Some geophones have spikes on then to plant in the ground, whereas other jugs are designed for use on ice. Geophones are connected to each other and to tape recording equipment by electronic cable, optical fiber cable, or radio. Geophones are deployed in arrays, (jug, seismometer, pickup, sets, or phone) GEO geophone interval 1) the distance between geophones in a group 2) the distance between the centers of geophone groups

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geophysical library an establishment that distributes maps of available seismic data, buys seismic data and arranges for the sale or trade of seismic data. A company originally had to contribute seismic data to the library to take data on loan, (data brokerage or exchange or trade service) geophysicist a person trained in the methods of physics to investigate geological problems and explore the solid earth. Geophysicists are often employed in the search for petroleum or ore deposits. Geop or geop geophysics the application of physics and its methods to geological problems such as the search for petroleum. Geophysical methods include seismic (reflection and refraction), gravity, magnetics, electrical, geothermal, remote sensing, and wireline well logging. Geop or geop geopolymers see keragen geopressure abnormal high formation pressure. Geopressure is pressure in a reservoir that is higher than normal pore pressure or hydrostatic pressure that increases at a rate of about 0.465 psi/ft depth, depending on formation water salinity. Geopressure occurs in isolated reservoirs that do not communicate with other reservoirs, (overpressure) GEOP geopressure aquifer a water-bearing reservoir that has a higher fluid pressure than normal hydrostatic pressure for that depth. The geopressure aquifer sometimes contains large amounts of dissolved methane. geopressured a reservoir with fluid pressure that exceeds that of normal hydrostatic pressure. (overpressured) geopressured brine formation waters under abnormal high pressures in a subsurface formation. The brines are usually hot and sometimes contain methane. geopressured shale a shale formation with abnormal high pressure that causes the shale to spall off into a wellbore. (popping shale) geostatic related to the overlying rocks geostatic pressure the subsurface pressure exerted by the weight of the overlying rocks. Geostatic pressure increases about 100 psi/100 ft of depth. This is in contrast to pressure on fluid in pores of the rock which is called reservoir, fluid, or formation pressure. (earth, lithostatic, overburden, or rock pressure) geostationary a satellite velocity that is the same as the earth's rotational velocity which allows the satellite to maintain a constant position above a certain point on the earth geosyncline a large and elongated area of the earth's crust which is downwarping and receiving thousands of feet of sediments. The geosyncline is divided into a miogeosyncline located nearest to the craton which has no volcanics and the eugeosyncline which has both volcanic and clastic sediments. The geosyncline can be deformed into a mountain range by compressional forces. geothermal energy the use of steam generated from subsurface heat geothermal gradient the increase in temperature with depth in the earth. Geothermal gradient is

222

geothermal heat flow girt

measured in C/km or F/100 ft. The geothermal gradient varies between 0.3-4.9F/100 ft of depth and is generally between 1.3-2.2 "F/100 ft. It averages 1.4M.6 F/100 ft in sedimentary basins. The geothermal gradient can be measured in a well by using a temperature bomb, logging data, or the bottom- hole flowing temperature of oil. GG or gG geothermal heat flow the amount of heat leaving the earth's surface. The mean geothermal heat flow is 1.5 m-cal/cm2/sec or 1.5 heat flow units. geothermometry the study of the earth's heat gept geopetal Geronimo a device that is used by a crew member to escape from the monkey or tubing board near the top of the derrick on a workover drilling rig. The Geronimo consists of a wheel that is used to slide down a cable called the Geronimo line attached to the rod basket or tubing board on the derrick and to a stake or some other secure~fastening on the ground away from the rig. It is equipped with a brake and brake handle, (derrick climber or safety slide) Geronimo line the wireline that connects the monkey or tubing board with the ground and is used with a Geronimo to get the derrick man off the derrick during an emergency get a bone to encounter hard rock during drilling get granite to encounter hard rock during drilling get his sack full to have a worker get tired of the job get it kellied to finish a job get on the line 1) to start oil flowing in a pipeline 2) to get busy get the rag out to hurry up Gf 1) formation gradient, 2) formation fluid gradient GFLU good fluorescence GFP formation pressure gradient GFRAf fracturing gradient GG 1) gamma-gamma ray log, 2) geothermal gradient gg geothermal gradient ggd gauged gge gauge G-Grd gamma ray, guard log GGW gallons of gelled water GH hydrostatic gradient GHO gallons of heavy oil ghost seismic energy which has traveled upward from the shot and then is reflected downward from the surface of the ground. The energy can join the original downward-traveling seismic energy causing a change in waveform by adding a tail or extension to the seismic signal. Sometimes it is sufficiently separated from the original downward-traveling seismic energy to form a separate wave with separate reflections called secondary reflections off subsurface reflectors. A process called uphole stacking corrects for ghosting. ghost well a simulated well used as a boundary in reservoir remodeling, (image well)

ghost

GHP gas heating power GHV gross heating valve GI or G.I. gas injection Gi group interval G| 1) total gas injection 2) ideal gas relative density of gas flowing 3) geometric factor of invaded zone giant field 1) a field that has more than 500 MMB of recoverable oil or 3 Tcf of natural gas in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asiatic Russia. 2) see giant oil field and giant gas field giant gas field a gas field that has more than a) 600 Bcf or b) 1 Tcf of recoverable gas giant oil field an oil field that has more than 100 MMB of recoverable oil GIC gas inventory charge giga- the metric prefix for 109. G GIH going in hole Gil or gil gilsonite gilsonite a naturally occurring, black, shiny asphaltite or hydrocarbon. Gilsonite softens when heated and dissolves in carbon disulfide. Gilsonite is 90%-99% bitumen and occurs in veins and fractures along curved surfaces. Gilsonite is a regional name (Uinta basin); similar asphaltines occur throughout the world under different names. Gilsonite in granular form is used as a cement additive. It is named after S.H. Gilson. Gil or gil gimbals a device that is used to keep an instrument horizontal as the supports are tilted gin hole the highest pan of the derrick of a drilling rig. The gin hole is designed to suspend the crown block. gin pole 1) a pole used with hoisting equipment. The catline boom on a drilling rig is a gin pole. 2) an A-frame used for hoisting gin-pole truck a truck with an A-frame rear boom that is used to lift equipment GIP gas in place girt a horizontal steel brace that connects and supports the derrick legs of a drilling rig. Girts are reinforced by braces. Spaces between girts are called panels or bays. The vertical distance between girts on a drilling rig derrick is 7 ft. The first girt up from the drill floor is 10 ft above the floor except on very large rigs where it is about 14 ft above the floor.

girth seam

Gn

223

leg

brace

girt (off rotary drilling rig chart)

girth seam a butt-welded seam on a pipe oriented at right angles to the long axis of the pipe. A girth seam is used to join segments of pipe. GIS genetic increment of strata GIT grease injection type give more screw to let out the temper screw on a cable-tool rig Givetian a global age of geological time that ended about 385 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Devonian epoch. GIW 1) gas-injection well 2) going in with G-KIK gas kick GL 1) ground level 2) gas lift 3) guideline G.L. ground level gl glassy GL initial condensate liquids in reservoir G/L gathering line glance pitch an asphaltite or solid hydrocarbon from the Caribbean or South America. Glance pitch is a regional name, as similar asphaltines occur throughout the world under different names. gland the rubber seals that hold the packing that forms a seal around a moving rod. A gland is used to hold the packing around the polished rod in a stuffing box on a pumping unit. Glas or glas 1) glass 2) glassy glau 1) glauconite 2) glauconitic GIAUC, Glauc, or glauc glauconite glauconite a dull green mineral of the mica group that is found in sedimentary rocks. Glauconite has a chemical formula of Ko.7(FeO7Ali 3)(Si3 3Al07)O10(OH)2, a density of 2.85 gms/cm3and a cell dimension of 10.16 A. Glauconite is diagnostic of slow sedimentation in a marine environment. GLAUC, Glauc, glauc, or glau. GLC gas-liquid chromatography G-LIF gas lift GLLS guidelineless Glob or glob globigemia global positioning system a two-dimensional marine navigational system that uses eighteen satellites

orbiting at 22,000 km. At least three of the satellites are always observable. The global positioning system uses the travel time for a signal emitted from the satellite to reach the ship's receiver to fix the ship's position. Four satellite passes are necessary for a fix which is accurate to + or 10 m. GPS. globe valve a valve that opens with a quarter turn by rotating a ball having a hole in it located in a spherical container. Globe valves are used to regulate and shut on and off the flow of fluid in pipes, (ball valve). globular saturation a type of saturation in which the nonwetting phase occurs as isolated globules in the continuous wetting phase. Globular saturation is in contrast to funicular saturation, (insular saturation). Glos or glos 1) gloss 2) glossy GLp cumulative condensate liquid produced GLR gas/liquid ratio GLS guidelineless landing structure GLSS glass beads GLSY glassy GLT geochemical logging tool glyc glycol glycocalyx the tangled felt-like mat of anionic polysaccharide fibers that grow around bacterial cells and colonies and anchor them to oil field equipment. Glycocalyx is the anchor for bacterial slime on equipment. glycol an organic chemical that belongs to the aliphatic group of hydrocarbons. Triethylene glycol (TEG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) are used as a liquid dessicant to control the dew point of natural gas. glyc glycol absorber tower or dehydrator field equipment that is used to remove water (mist) from natural gas by using triethylene glycol (TEG) or diethylene glycol (DEG). The dehydrator is a tower in which gas is injected near the bottom and bubbles up through lean glycol that is descending down the absorber through bubble trays. At the top of the absorber, the gas passes through a mist extractor and glycol cooling coils. A reboiler is used to heat the wet glycol and drive off the water to recycle the glycol. A glycol dehydrator that uses triethylene glycol is called a TEG unit. glycol/amine process a combination sweetener/ dehydration process used in sour-gas sweetening. The gas bubbles through a 10%-30% by weight monoethanolamine, 45%-85% glycol and 5%-25% water solution. The process removes water vapor, H2S, and CO2 glycol injection system a method used to remove water vapor from natural gas. After the gas has passed through a free-water knockout, glycol is sprayed in small droplets into the gas to absorb the water. The glycol is then separated from the gas stream, reconcentrated, and reused. GM 1) ground measurement 2) gradiometer GM or gm gram G.M. or GM gravity meter Gm 1) geometric factor of mud 2) mud gradient

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gm grab gone to gas an oil well that is now producing only gas. A well that has gone to gas is probably a result of the expansion of the free gas cap. gone to water an oil and/or gas well that has begun producing large amounts of water, making oil and/ or gas production unprofitable. Gone to water often occurs in a water-drive reservoir with an advance of the oil/water contact. It can also be caused by coning. (watered out) GOR gas/oil or gas-to-oil ratio GOR-P gas/oil ratio producing GOR-S gas/oil ratio solution GOSP gas/oil separation plant gouge soft, unconsolidated, very fine-grained rock fragments found along a fault surface. Gouge is formed by the grinding action of the fault movements on rocks together with later mineral decomposition. The gouge can act as a permeability barrier, making the fault a sealing fault, (fault gouge, clay gouge, or selvage) gouge zone the intensely fractured mass of rock along a fault plane governor a device that limits the speed of a machine. Governors can be a) load-limiting, b) variable-speed, c) limiting-speed, or d) constant-speed. government take the taxes and royalties from oil and gas production that goes to the government GOVT government GP 1) gasoline plant 2) gas pay Gp cumulative gas produced G/P gun perforate GPA Gas Producers Association GPC gas purchase contract GPD gallons per day GPG grains per gallon GPH gallons per hour GPL grains per liter GPM, G.P.M., or gpm gallons per minute GPM or gpm gallons of liquefiable natural gas liquids per 1,000 SCF of gas g.p.m. test a test to determine the gal/Mcf of condensate in natural gas G-POR good porosity GPS 1) gallons per second 2) global positioning system GPSA Gas Processors Suppliers Association GPTH gallons per thousand GPW gross product with GR 1) gamma ray log 2) ground 3) gamma ray Gr or gr 1) grain 2) grains 3) grained Gr real gas relative density of gas flowing gr 1) gray 2) grade 3) grain 4) grain (avoirdupois weight) 5) ground Gr. gravity GRA 1) gallons of regular acid 2) guidelineless reentry structure grab a wireline fishing tool with two or three metal

g,,, pressure gradient of mud in annulus GMA gallons of mud acid gm-cal grams-calorie GMCF gallons per thousand cubic feet GMPL grams per liter GMT Greenwich mean time g,^ pressure gradient of mud in annulus outside casing gn green gn standard acceleration due to gravity gnd grained Gns or gns gneiss gnsh greenish gneiss a coarse-grained metamorphic rock with alternating light and dark colored mineral bands. The minerals include feldspar, quartz, amphibole, garnet, and mica. Gneiss is the result of high-grade metamorphism. GNIS, Gns, or gns GNIS gneiss GNT gamma-ray neutron tool GO 1) gallons of oil 2) gas odor GOB geostatic pressure gradient go back in the well to lower equipment such as the drillstring into a well GOC gas/oil contract GOCM gas and oil cut mud go-devil 1) a ball or missile that is dropped down a well to detonate an explosive or activate a downhole tool. The go-devil opens a valve in a hydraulic circuit to activate the tool, (setting ball or plug) 2) a tool or instrument that is pumped or dropped down a drill string or tubing into position in a well 3) a device, usually made of hard rubber, that is sent through a pipeline to clean, test, or separate batches of fluids. (Pig) go down the creek with oil to fire a worker GODR gas odor GODT gas odor, distillate taste goethite an iron hydroxide (FeOOH) that is a common form of rust and also occurs as a mineral golden block an offshore concession that had a very large bid offered for it goniometer an instrument used to measure angles good oilfield practice a practice that is generally accepted to be good, safe, and efficient in carrying out oilfield operations go or going in the hole to lower tubulars or a tool in the well. GIH gooseneck 1) a U-shaped nipple on the swivel of a drilling rig that is used to attach the mud or rotary hose. Goosenecks have connections of 2Vi, 3, or 4 in. diameter for the hose and have a bore of 2V4-3 in. to match the bore of the wash pipe in the swivel. 2) a curved device that is designed to fit over a fishing neck to raise a heavy downhole tool from a horizontal to vertical position. GOPD gallons of oil per day GOPH gallons of oil per hour

raben prongs extending downward with metal barbs protruding inward on the inside of each prong. A grab is used to recover a wireline, (wireline grab)

grain supported

225

g raben

graben the elongated, down-dropped block between two normal faults Grable pump an oil well pump that uses a reversing drum located in a wellhead cellar to wind and unwind a cable attached to the sucker-rod string grabs an old term for fishing tools. Some types of grabs were baler, mandrill socket, pin socket, rope grab, rope worm, rope spear, slip socket, rasp, spud, and sucker-rod spear grad 1) gradually 2) grading grade 1) to change without a distinctive boundary from one rock type to another. A limestone could grade laterally into a shale. 2) the slope of a surface 3) the mechanical and metallurgical properties of tubular goods such as casing or tubing. Grade is a classification of pipe based on API specifications. Examples of pipe grades are 5L and 5AC. The number is based on the metal specifications and the letter shows the yield strength. GRD

gradiomanometer a production logging tool that measures a continuous profile of a pressure gradient. The gradiomanometer uses upper and lower pressure sensitive bellows that are 2 ft apart to resolve differences down to 0.01 gm/cc and records specific gravity as a function of depth. The tool can be run in tubing. gradiometer arrangement the positioning of two very sensitive magnetometers on each other to record temporal effects in the magnetic field Grahamite a type of asphaltite or solid hydrocarbon with a conchoidal fracture and a jet-black luster that occurs in eastern and central United States, Cuba, and Mexico. Grahamite is a regional name; similar asphaltites occur throughout the world under different names. It has a specific gravity of 1.145. grain the smallest unit of weight in the avoirdupois system. A grain is equal to 2.286 times 10~3 oz or 0.0648 g. Seven thousand grains equals 1 lb avoirdupois and 5,760 grains equals 1 lb troy, gr grain density the density of a unit volume of mineral with zero porosity. Grain density is usually expressed as g/m3. (matrix density)

grainstone

grainstone a type of limestone in which the large sand-sized grains are in contact (grain supported) and fine-grained material (micrite) is absent. A grainstone is deposited in a high-energy environment and is originally a good reservoir rock. Grst or G
OOUTE SHOAIS

graded bed

graded bed a clastic sedimentary rock layer that is coarse-grained on the bottom and grades upward into fine-grained at the top. A graded bed can be deposited by a current of water decreasing in velocity. Graded beds can be formed at the base of some turbidites. graded profile the characteristic longitudinal profile of a graded stream with a gradient at each point along the stream that is just sufficient to transport the stream load without erosion or deposition. The profile is a smooth, parabolic curve that is concave upward and is steeper at the source and flatter at the mouth. (equilibrium profile) graded string a casing string composed of several different grades of casing, (mixed string) gradient the rate of increase or decrease of some value such as temperature or pressure grading the leveling of land using earth-moving equipment. The drillsite is graded with the hole location highest and a slope of 1 ft/100 ft leading away from the well for drainage.

grainstone shoal

grainstone shoal a ridge of loose sand-sized grains of calcium carbonate (oolites, skeletal grains, or pellets) that was shaped by currents such as tidal currents in shallow waters. Grainstone shoals are oriented parallel to the current direction. The shoal is named after the type of sand-sized particle such as an oolite shoal. Grainstone shoals in ancient sedimentary rocks can be good petroleum reservoirs. grain supported a sedimentary rock in which the larger particles are touching and supporting each other. In a mud-supported rock, the large particles are "floating" in finer-grained particles.

226

grain volume porosity gravel limestone and is formed on a subaerial surface of carbonate sediments, (pisolite) grapst graphic log a strip log graphic scale a bar scale used on a map that is subdivided into lengths graphite a crystalline form of carbon that is soft, black, and shiny graphitic bitumen a bitumen that is relatively insoluable in organic solvents and represents a stage in the dehydrogenation of liquid hydrocarbons in a reservoir. Graphitic bitumen is the result of thermal cracking or deasphalting and is higher in aromatics than native bitumens. graphitization the formation of graphite. Kerogen and crude oil form graphite during metagenesis. Grapholog the basic reporting form for a mud log. It has a graphic and tubular format with lagged depth plotted vertically. The Grapholog records rate of penetration, lithology, fluorescence, gas readings, mud properties, cored and tested intervals, test results, core descriptions, circulating out samples, insertion of new bit, and bit type. gr API degrees API (gravity) grapple the overshot, spear, or part of the fishing tool that engages the fish grapst grapestone

grain volume porosity rock porosity calculated by subtracting the volume of the ground-up, solid part of a sample from the total sample volume. grainy a sedimentary rock texture that is characterized by definite grains that are not distinct visibly. The texture can be chalky in part. gram the cgs unit of weight. A gram is equal to the weight of 1 cc of distilled water at 4C. There are 37324 g in a pound troy and 453.59 g in a pound avoirdupois. GM, gm, or g gram atomic weight the mass in grams equal to the molecular weight of a substance gram equivalent weight the amount of substance that will react with one mole of H+ or OH~ ions. (equivalent) GRAN or gran granular Gran or gran 1) granite 2) granule grand slam 1) a combination of a dual induction laterolog and proximity log or microlaterolog 2) the procedure used to compute depth of invasion around a wellbore and the resistivities of both the contaminated and uncontaminated zones granite a very common intrusive igneous rock. Granite is coarse grained and speckled in color, varying from white to pink with black flakes. It is composed of quartz, feldspar (primarily orthoclase), and iron-magnesium minerals and is a very common basement rock. GRNTT, Grt, Gran, gran, or grt granite wash a coarse-grained, immature sandstone formed by weathered granite bedrock. Granite wash can be a good reservoir rock. Gran W, GW, or G.W.

graptolite

granoblastic texture

granoblastic a metamorphic rock texture with equidimensional crystals having well sutured boundaries. granodiorite a light, speckled, intrusive igneous rock similar to granite except that plagioclase feldspar is more common in granodiorite whereas orthoclase is more common in granite. granting clause the provision in an oil and gas lease that defines the rights given by the lessor to the lessee grantor index a chronological and alphabetical index of oil and gas lease grantors located in the county or parish court house. An indirect index is an alphabetical list of grantees, (direct index) granule a sediment particle between sand and pebble in size. A granule has a diameter between 2-4 mm. GRNUL, Gran, or gran. Gran W granite wash Grap or grap graptolite grapestone a rock that is made of pea-sized particles such as peloids or oolites. A grapestone is usually a

graptolite an extinct colonial marine invertebrate that left fossils in sedimentary rocks similar in appearance to pencil marks. The fossils are flattened films of carbon. Graptolites existed from the Cambrian to the Mississippian period. Grap or grap grass gooser a weed hoe grasshopper 1) a pipe system that controls the flow of water and the oil/water interface level in a treater. A vertical loop of piping is adjusted in height to accomplish this, (water leg or siphon) 2) a pumper or pump jack grasshopper blender a pipe used in a gun barrel tank to regulate the water level grass roots to granite a term that is used to described the vertical extent of mineral rights under a tract of land. The surface rights extends from surface down to 6 in. or about the level of the grass roots. Granite is basement rock and is usually the limit of exploratory drilling. GRATE gas rate grav 1) gravity 2) gravel gravel unconsolidated, rounded rock fragments with most particles larger than sand-sized or 2 mm. GRAVL, Grv, grav, or gvl

gravel hog gravel hog an oilfield truck driver (gear jammer or junk hustler) gravel island an artificial island formed by filling in shallow water with gravel or other large rocks to form a drilling platform

gravity-base platform or structure

227

Screen or Slotted Liner

an 8-hour tour, it would be from midnight to 8 A.M. (hoot owl or morning tour) gravimeter see gravity meter. G.M., GM or gtvt gravimetry the measurement of the earth's gravitational field graving dock a dry dock that is used for the construction of steel-jacket offshore platforms. A flotation jacket is built around the offshore platform under construction. When the platform is ready, the graving dock is sunk and the gates are opened, allowing the platform to float out. gravitometer an instrument used to measure the specific gravity of a solid, liquid, or gas gravity 1) the density of oil expressed in "API. Gravity generally ranges from 5 (heavy oil) to 60 (retrograde gas) and is computed by dividing the specific gravity of the oil at 60F into 141.5 and subtracting 131.5. Light oils have "API gravity between 35-45, average oils between 25-35, and heavy oils below 25. (degrees API gravity) gr API 2) The attraction caused by the mass of the earth. Gravity is measured in units of acceleration called gals and 1/1,000 of a gal called milligals. The earth has a nominal gravity of 978.03 gals. GTY, GR, gty, grav, or gty gravity adjustment a deduction in the posted price of a barrel of oil based on the "API of the oil. The gravity adjustment reflects the refiner's additional cost to refine oil that is above or below a certain range. (gravity deduction) gravity anomaly an area of unusually high or low gravity values. The gravity anomaly could be a a) Bouger anomaly, b) the difference between observed gravity and the model, c) residual gravity. In petroleum exploration using a gravimeter, a gravity anomaly could be caused by a subsurface salt dome, limestone reef, anticline or dome, buried bedrock hill, dip-slip fault, or other structure.

'

Underreomed Hole gravel pack completion gravel pack or packing a type of completion technique in which loose, well-sorted gravel particles with high permeability are placed at the bottom of either a reamed open hole around a slotted or screened liner or inside the bottom of casing for sand control to prevent the well from becoming clogged with debris. The gravel frequently is sieved and graded sand that is packed in bags. The fine gravel or sand is then pumped down the tubing with a carrier fluid. The first gravel pack was done by James Dallard in 1878 in a water well. gravel-packing fluid a clean, water-base fluid that is compatable with the formation and is used to carry gravel into a gravel pack well.The carrier fluid can be a) low viscosity, b) high viscosity, c) medium viscosity, or d) foam or low density, (gravel-packing fluid) gravel pack log a neutron-type log that is used to determine the porosity and evaluate the condition of the gravel pack in a well gravel pot two pressure vessels that are used to mix gravel with the carrier fluid and inject the mixture for gravel packing a well. The gravel is introduced into the pot through a hopper on a sealable top port. Gravity drains the gravel into the carrier fluid through a bottom valve. graveyard tour the crew shift on a drilling rig that starts at midnight and goes through the night. On

gravity base platform

gravity-base platform or structure a type of offshore drilling and production platform that uses its own mass of reinforced concrete and/or steel on the seafloor for stability. The massive base often has cells that can be used for flotation as the platform is assembled and floated out to the offshore site in an upright position. On location, the cells can be used for storage of crude and diesel oil and for ballast

228

gravity deduction greaser gravity overrun the horizontal flow of a less dense fluid over a more dense fluid in a reservoir gravity platform see gravity-base platform or structure gravity reduction the application of corrections such as Bouger elevation, free-air, isostatic, latitude, and terrain to gravity data gravity segregation the partial or complete separation of fluids in a subsurface reservoir due to differences in density. The gas will rise and the oil will sink. gravity-stable displacement the displacement of oil from a subsurface reservoir by injection of different density fluids during an enhanced oil-recovery process. The density difference prevents gravity segregation of the injected fluid. gravity structure see gravity-base platform or structure gravity survey an exploration method that uses a gravity meter to measure the strength of the earth's gravity on the surface at different locations to detect variations in the densities of subsurface rocks. The data is reported in gals or milligals and is usually corrected and displayed as either Bouger or free-air anomaly maps. Gravity anomalies of unusually highor low-gravity values indicate variations in subsurface rock structures. Salt domes, anticlines and domes, reefs, and dip-slip faults can be located using this method. gravity unit a unit of gravitational acceleration that is equal to 10~6 m/s2or 0.1 mgal. (G unit) GRAVL gravel gray a derived unit in Systems International (SI) for absorbed dose of ionizing radiation. It is calculated by Joules divided by kilograms (J/kg). Gy grayhound a make-up stand of drillpipe that is shorter in length than the other stands being used. A grayhound has tool joints at each end and can consist of one, two or more joints. gray level see grey level graywacke a poorly sorted, dark-colored sandstone composed of quartz and feldspar mineral grains along with rock fragments and clay. The sediments were rapidly eroded and deposited. Graywackes are immature and generally are not good reservoir rocks. Gwke GR CH gamma ray log, cased hole GRD grade Grd guard log grd ground GRDC gamma ray, depth control log GR/D CALIPER gamma ray, dual caliper log grdg grading GRDL guard log grdg loc grading location grease a lubricant made with lubricating oil and a thickener grease hole a new oil well greaser an oil well

water. The cells are surrounded by a protective skin on the seafloor to inhibit scouring by currents. Four columns often connect the massive base with the platform located above sea level. One of these columns can contain pumps and piping to the cells below. The other columns can conduct the wells with the production risers going down the inside of the columns. A gravity-base structure is in contrast to the other common type of fixed-production platform called a steel-jacket platform that uses piles driven into the seafloor for stability. The gravity-base structure is primarily used where there is a need for offshore storage such as where there is a hard bottom and pipelines are not practical, (gravity platform, gravity structure, or pileless platform) gravity deduction see gravity adjustment gravity drainage the flow of crude oil that is mobilized by gravity drive through a reservoir toward a well (segregation drive) gravity-drainage pool an oil field in which the production is primarily by gravity drive, the result of gravity drainage from high to low levels. Gravity drainage occurs at the end of production on a gasdrive oil reservoir. gravity drive a type of reservoir energy that produces crude oil in some reservoirs. Gravity drive is effective in the early stages of reservoir development only when there is high relief in the reservoir rock and oil column. Low oil viscosities and high reservoir rock permeabilities promote gravity drainage. Gravity drive becomes effective in the late stages of production on some gas-drive oil reservoirs. The recovery factor is quite variable and ranges from 20% to 80%, with best recoveries in steeply dipping or vertical reservoirs. Gravity drive is characterized by a rapid production decline followed by steady production. gravity fault a normal fault such as a growth fault gravity gathering system oil flowlines from wells that use gravity to move the fluid gravity line a pipeline that carries oil without the use of a pump or other mechanical device. A gravity line goes from a higher elevation to a lower elevation. gravity meter an instrument that is used to measure differences in the acceleration of gravity at different locations. Gravity is measured in units of acceleration called gals or '/I.OOO gal called milligal and abbreviated mgal. A gravity unit is equal to 0.1 mgal. Gravity was originally measured by using the period of a pendulum. Modern gravity meters are the unstable or astatic type that use a mass balanced against gravity by a spring. The stretch of the string is proportional to the acceleration of gravity. The spring tension is adjusted to a null position to measure gravity acceleration. Two common types are the La CosteRomberg gravimeter which uses a zero-length spring that is inclined at an angle to balance the gravitational pull on the mass, and the Worden gravimeter which uses a horizontal torsion fiber or hinge. Gravity meters are sensitive to the density of subsurface rocks and are used in geophysical exploration for petroleum to detect salt domes, anticlines and domes, reefs, and dip-slip faults. Gravity meters do not work well on ships or airplanes due to vibrations, (gravimeter) GM.,
GM, or grvt

greasing out gross reservoir interval greasing out the separation of a water-insoluble greasy substance from drilling mud. The substance due to the reaction of the organic additives such as emulsifiers and lubricants that are usually fatty-acid derivatives with calcium or magnesium ions in the drilling mud GREC gas recovery green 1) equipment that is working and serviceable. grn 2) cement that has not completely hardened green bit a bit that was not completely worn out when pulled from a well green hand the British term for a boll weevil, an inexperienced rig worker green labor or labour untrained employees green oil a paraffin-base crude oil with a greenish color or sheen. Asphalt-base crude oils tend to be black in color. green pattern a dipmeter interpretation characterized by a constant direction and magnitude of formation dip with increasing depth in the well. There is also a blue and red pattern. greensand sand containing the mineral glauconite, an iron-rich illite mineral that is indicative of marine deposition of the sediments grey level the intensity of gray or overall grayness of a seismic section recorded in variable-area and variable-density, (gray level) GRI gamma ray index
NORTH -

229

wesr'

'BAST

- SOUTH-

grid pattern

grid the steel assembly of plates, rods, and/or screens in an electrostatic treater that distributes the electric field necessary to coalesce water droplets in an emulsion griefstem or grief stem a four- or six-sided steel pipe that is 41 ft long with a 38-ft working space (flat) or 54 ft long with a 51-ft working space. The square griefstem has an outside diameter of 2V2 or 6 in., and the hexagonal kelly has an outside diameter of 3 or 6 in. The griefstem is located at the top of the drillstring between the swivel and drillpipe and fits into the bushings on the rotary table to make the connection between the rotary table and the drillstring. The griefstem is the most heavily loaded part of the the drillstring and is manufactured from bars of high-grade chrome molybdenum steel that

has been heat treated. Kelly-saver subs protect threads on the lower end of the griefstem. Located on either end are kelly cocks that shut off the well if fluids flow up the string. The lower kelly cock is closed to prevent loss of drilling mud when making a connection, (kelly, kelly bar, or kelly joint) grind out to centrifuge a liquid. Grind out is used to determine the basic sediment and water (BS&W) content of oil. A sample of the oil from an oil thief is mixed with 50% solvent, heated to 120F and centrifuged for three minutes to leave the BS&W at the bottom of the tube, (shake out) grip ring a steel ring that was attached to the rotary table and used to grip the drillstring to turn it on a rotary rig before kellys and kelly bushings were introduced. The grip ring was originally used to grip a joint of extra strong or double extra strong pipe that was later replaced with a fluted kelly. grit coarse-grained, angular sandstone gritty a roughness to the touch that is imparted by angular sand particles. Gt, gt, or grty GRL gamma ray log GRN or GR-N gamma ray, neutron log Grn or grn green I GRN CH gamma ray, neutron, cased hole log GRNIT 1) granite 2) granitic GRNL gamma ray-neutron log GR/N OH gamma ray, neutron, openhole log GRNUL granule GR OH or G/R OH gamma ray, openhole log grooving the indentations that are cut into a drawworks drum to guide the first wrap of cable. The older grooving pattern was helical modern grooving patterns include a) one-step, b) two-step, and c) soft crossover. gross heating value the net heat generated by combustion of hydrocarbons and water vapor (steam) plus the heat from condensing the water vapor back into a liquid. Gross heating value is measured in Btu/ cf for gas and Btu/gal for liquids. Net heating value is measured without condensing the water vapor. (higher heating value) GUV gross interval the measured thickness of the reservoir between two characteristic markers on a well log. The gross interval can include some unproductive thickness. gross observed volume the total volume of all measured petroleum liquids including the basic sediment and water content. Gross observed volume is in contrast to net observed volume. gross production tax state tax on the producer based on the amount of gas and/or oil produced. Each state has its own laws and administrative procedures concerning gross production taxes. (production or severance tax) gross reservoir interval the measured thickness of the reservoir or producing zone from the top to the bottom of the reservoir as distinguished on a spontaneous potential (SP) or gamma ray (GR) well log. Gross reservoir interval can include some

230

gross royalty growth fault that area. The ground temperature has an effect on the cooling and formation of hydrates in natural gas flowing through the gas lines. The minimum ground temperature at a depth of 18 in. in the HugotonPanhandle gas field of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas is 25-30F. ground truth surface data used to interpret remote sensing images of the earth's surface groundwater subsurface water that occupies the pore space of rocks. Groundwater can be described by salt content as fresh (0-1 ppt), brackish (1-35 ppt), and brine (35-300 ppt). The water table is the subsurface level below which the pores of the rock are saturated with water. The zone of saturation is located below the water table, and the zone of aeration is located above it. Phreatic water occupies the zone of saturation. Meteoric water is from the atmosphere, has recently entered the subsurface, and is usually fresh water. Connate water is subsurface water that has been out of contact with the atmosphere for a significant time and tends to be very saline. Interstitial or formation water occupies the pores of a rock. group 1) a major rock-stratigraphic unit that consists of two or more adjacent formations that are similar in rock types. A group is given a geographical name followed by the word group. 2) the geophones, numbering from one to several hundred, that feed into a single channel during seismic exploration. Large groups are sometimes called patches, (array) group shoot a seismic survey in which the costs and results are share by several companies group velocity the velocity of the energy in a wave train grout cement and sand or gravel that is mixed with water to form a slurry. Grout is directed by a grout pipe to the piles that pin a steel-jacket platform to the seafloor. grouting to fill holes with a cement and sand or gravel slurry grout pipe a hose that carries grout down the legs of a steel-jacket platform to the piles

unproductive zones in contrast to net reservoir interval. gross royalty the share or payment of gas and/or oil production that is free of the costs of production and is paid to the lessor. Gross royalty was originally one-eighth but now ranges from one-eighth to onefourth, (landowner's, leasebole, or fee royalty) gr ray gross sand the total measured thickness of the reservoir as identified on a spontaneous potential (SP) or gamma ray (GR) log. Gross sand can include some tight sands that are not reservoir quality in contrast to net sand. gross standard volume the gross volume of oil adjusted for a standard temperature and pressure. Net standard volume is calculated by subtracting the sediment and water volume from the gross standard volume. gross volume the volume of oil that is calculated by multiplying the indicated volume that has passed through a meter times the meter factor. Gross volume can be reduced to gross standard volume at a standard temperature and pressure. ground anchor a buried device that is used to attach guylines for stabilizing masts and derricks ground bed an interconnected series of impressedcurrent anodes that are used in cathodic protection to absorb the electric current damage ground block an assembly with a sheave or pulley that is attached to a ground anchor to change the direction of a wireline from horizontal to near vertical ground data geological, geophysical, or geological information collected on the surface of the earth ground electrode see ground stake ground loops the circular currents that are concentric with the axis of an induction tool ground mix a pattern of shots or geophones used in seismic exploration over a large area. Ground mix causes the vertical reflection energy to add up inphase and the horizontal reflection energy to partially cancel. ground pits see earthen pits ground receiving station a facility on the earth that receives data transmitted from satellites such as Landsat ground roll the surface wave energy of low velocity, low frequency, and high amplitude that occurs during seismic exploration. Ground roll masks the desired seismic signals and is usually filtered or removed by stacking. The main source of ground roll is Rayleigh waves. ground-seat union a pipe coupling that uses a threaded ring to hold a convex pipe end into a concave pipe end ground stake a metal stake that is connected to a ground line and used as a portable surface electrode in spontaneous potential and resistivity logging. The ground stake is driven into the ground, (ground electrode) ground swath the width of the surface of the earth that is scanned by a remote sensing system ground temperature the temperature of the ground at a depth at which gas lines are buried in

ROU-dVER ANTICLINE

growth fault

growth feiult a large fault similar to a slump in loose sediments that moves at the same time that the sediments are being deposited. A growth fault is oriented roughly parallel to the shoreline of a basin and is caused by die weight of sediments deposited along the shoreline. It is a dip-slip fault with the downside always facing the shoreline (down-to-thebasin fault). Unique characteristics include a curved or listric fault plane (steep near the surface and

growth-framework pore becoming gentle at depth in a direction toward the basin or ocean), thicker sediment layers on the basin side, more displacement of beds with depth, and the formation of rollover anticlines on the basin side of the fault. The rollover anticlines form a petroleum trap, (rollover fault) growth-framework pore a pore in a limestone rock formed between framework-building organisms such as corals growth rate of return the investment rate required so that the compound value of all money obligations that have been discounted back to time zero at the reinvestment rate used for a positive cash flow equals the ultimate value of the compounded returns. GRR grp glass-reinforced plastic GRR growth rate of return gr roy gross royalty grs gross gr. sd. gray sand GRSL gamma ray-sonic log Grst grainstone GRT generalization of randon transform Grt or grt 1) granite 2) grant grty gritty grudging post a large timber through which the shaft of a bull wheel runs on a cable-tool rig Grv gravel grvt gravity meter gr wt gross weight gry gray grysh grayish GS gas show Gs grain size GSA Geological Society of Americ GSC 1) gas sales contract 2) gas-solid chromatography G-SD gas sand GSG good show of gas GSI gas well shut in gskt gasket GSO good show of oil G T gamma spectrometry tool S GSW gallon of salt water gsy greasy Gt or gt 1) grit 2) gritty GT total gas gT temperature gradient GTS gas to surface GTSTM gas too small to measure GTY or gty gravity GU gas unit gu a gravity unit (0.1 mgal) Guadalupian a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 270-255 m. y. ago. It is part of the Permian period. guaranteed royalty a royalty in which the mineral

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interest will receive a specific minimum royalty payment regardless of production from the lease guard a metal shield around or on a moving part guarded electrode the center electrode of a guard tool that makes most of the measurements. The guarded electrode is surrounded by much longer guard electrodes on a guard log. (shielded electrode) guard electrodes the electrodes in a wireline welllog sonde that focuses the current from the measuring electrodes into a horizontal sheet that extends out into the formations surrounding the wellbore. The guard electrodes are often 5-6 ft long compared to the central or guarded electrode that is 3-6 in. (bucking electrodes) guard or guard-electrode log a focused electric log that uses three insulated electrodes that are mounted on a sonde or guard tool. The upper and lower electrodes are guard electrodes, and the center electrode is the guarded electrode. A constant current is applied to the center electrode and an auxiliary current of the same polarity that is automatically adjusted to maintain zero potential is applied to the guard electrodes^ The guard electrodes focus the electric current back into the rock, and the guarded electrode makes the measurements for determining true resistivities. The guard log is used when the drilling mud is conductive (salt water-base) or there are thin beds and high-resistivity formations. Grd or
GRDL

guar gum a polysaccharide that is derived from guar plant seed and is hydrophilic guessing department engineering department guide two vertical, parallel beams that are used to stabilize the traveling block on drillships and some semisubmersibles when they roll guide base the steel structure on top of a subsea well that anchors the guidelines coming down from the drilling platform. A temporary guide base is held in place by a dagger skit and serves as a template for drilling the outer conductor hole. The outer conductor with a permanent base is then lowered on the guidelines onto the temporary guide base and fixed. At least four vertical guide posts are located at the corners of the guide base. A guideline connects each guide post to the surface. guide fossil a specific fossil that is distinctive and has a relatively short geological range. A guide fossil is used to determine the age of the sedimentary rocks. guideline or guide line a wire that extends from a drilling platform down to a guide post on a guide base of a subsea well. The guidelines are used to lower equipment down onto the wellhead. Guidelines are kept in tension by guideline tensioners located below the rotary table. Two guidelines are used for positioning the marine riser and two others for the hydraulic cables to the blowout preventer. Smaljer guidelines are used for the TV and other locating equipment. guideline tensioner a hydropneumatic system that is located below the rotary table on a drilling platform and is used to keep the guidelines to the guide base on the seafloor in tension guide post a vertical tube that is used to connect and protect the guideline on a guide base on a subsea

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guide ring gusher sand gun-barrel separator a vertical metal separator gun-barrel tank a tall tank that is warmed by the sun and has a long retention time. A gun-barrel tank is used to separate emulsions before treatment. G unit see gravity unit Gunite a Portland cement-sand mixture that is used to coat and protect pipes and water-proof tanks gunk 1) debris such as sediment, paraffin, scale, and/ or rust that is cleaned out of a well, pipeline, or other equipment 2) thread lubricant, (rod dope or thread compound) gunk plug a slurry of bentonite, attapulgite, guar gum, and/or cement in crude or diesel oil. A gunk plug is used to control lost circulation and water zones. The oil is a carrier for the bentonite until the bentonite contacts water. gunk squeeze a gunk plug that is pumped into a lost circulation zone and swells to plug the formation gunning the pits agitation of drilling mud with a mud gun or other apparatus in the mud pits gun perforating a method to put holes in the casing or liner of a well to allow oil and/or gas to flow into the well. Explosive charges are used to shoot bullets of steel through the casing or liner at regular intervals at the level of the producing zone in the well. Gun perforating was developed in the early 1930s and is in contrast to using shaped explosive charges to perforate which is more commonly used today. Gunz a European stage of geological time that occurred in the Pleistocene epoch. It is the first stage of glaciation and is equivalent to the Nebraskan in the United States. gurgling intermittent flow on a well

well. There are at least four guide posts on each guide base. A guide post allows the guideline to be attached and released from the rig floor. guide ring an annular ring that is fitted to the extension coupling between a core barrel and the drillstring to reduce vibrations, (ferrule)

guide shoe

guide shoe a type of casing shoe that does not have a valve on the orifice in contrast to a float shoe. The plain guide shoe has a bottom or side discharge. A guide shoe is used on the bottom of a casing string to guide the casing string into a well. A combination guide shoe and float has a backpressure valve that is drillable and a side discharge. guide structure the structural members located around a subsea wellhead that are used to guide and land equipment guide vane a fixed or adjustable protrusion in the flow of gas flow that directs the gas in a direction Gulf Coast clause a provision in some drilling contracts that compensates for the encounter of very difficult or hazardous subsurface conditions. In a footage-rate contract, it allows the operator to change to a day,work rate. In a turnkey contract, it allows the operator to terminate drilling. Gulf gravimeter or gravity meter a gravimeter that uses a coiled flat spring with a weight attached to it to measure gravity. The spring elongates and contracts with variations in gravity and the rotation of the spring is measured with an optical system. The Gulf gravimeter is sensitive to 0.025 mgals. gum plant polysaccharides or their derivatives that are hydrophilic. Gums, when dispersed in water, swell to form a viscous dispersion or solution. Gums are insoluble in alcohol. gumbo 1) a general term for a shale that has large amounts of reactive clays with high water concentrations. Gumbos are frequent in the Gulf Coast and the North Sea. Gumbo is a common term for any loose, sticky sediments. On the surface, it is a fine-grained clay soil that becomes sticky when wet. Gbo. 2) A sticky situation. gummy a relatively soft formation that produces cuttings that stick to the drill bit gun 1) a downhole device used for obtaining sidewall cores 2) a marine seismic source which can be either a gas gun that explodes a gas mixture or an air gun that uses high pressure air 3) see jet perforating gun 4) see mud gun gun barrel 1) a wash tank that is used to separate an unstable oil-in-water emulsion by gravity. The water is taken out the water leg on the bottom, and the clean oil moves by gravity flow to the stock tanks. GB 2) see settling tank

gusher (PennWell)

gusher an oil well that comes in with the oil flowing out of the well and into the air under its own pressure. Gushers were more common during the use of cabletool rigs for drilling. The circulating drilling mud and blowout preventers on a modern rotary rig prevent gushers. Gushers were usually caused by a gas drive in the oil reservoir. gusher letter a letter sent to drilling program participants to inform them of the discovery of oil or gas gusher sand a producing sandstone with enough pressure to cause the oil to flow to the surface

guyed tower gypsum cement

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guy lines

guyed platform

guyed tower a type of offshore drilling and production platform used in very deep water. The long steel tower extends from the platform located above sea level to the sea bottom. The guyed tower is buoyant and floats, which means that less steel is needed in its construction because it does not have to support its own weight. It is pinned to the seafloor by a spoke-like arrangement of 16-24 cables or guylines that radiate out from the tower just below sea level to anchors on the sea bottom. The guylines attach at the deck and run down the structure unit about 50 ft below the water line. From there, the guylines extend outward at an angle of about 30 to clump weights on the ocean bottom and out to anchor piles. The cables damp the wave action on the tower. A guyed tower is designed to tilt slightly under extreme sea conditions. Drilling is done through a seafloor drilling template. guying pattern a manufacturer's recommended plan for using guylines and anchors to stabilize well equipment guying system the guylines and anchors that are used to stabilize a mast or derrick guy line anchor a buried weight that is used to attach a guyline for securing a mast or derrick guylines or guy lines wire cables or ropes that are used to stabilize a mast or derrick on a drilling rig or well servicing unit. Load guylines are secured to guyline anchors or deadmen on the ground. Internal guylines are attached to the base. The guy wires used on a derrick are usually less than Vi in. in diameter. A well servicing unit has four wind guys that go in

four different directions from the mast. Guylines can also be used on poles, (guy wire) guy ring a ring located on the crown block of the derrick to which the guyline is attached guy wire see guyline GV 1) gas volume 2) grain volume gvl gravel GVLPK gravel packed liner GVNM gas volume not measured GW 1) gas well 2) gallons of water GW or G.W. granite wash g^, pressure gradient of water GWC gas/water contact GWG gas well gas G wgp cumulation wet gas produced Gwke graywacke GWPH gallons of water per hour gjjo gas in flushed zone Gy gray Gy radiometric concentration gymnosperm pollen a dust-sized particle that is given off for reproduction by such plants as pines, firs, spruces, cycads, and ginkgos. Gymnosperm pollen has existed from the Pennsylvanian period to the present and are used as microfossils to determine the age and the environment in which sedimentary rocks were deposited. GYMUD gyp mud Gyp or gyp gypsum gyp mud a calcium-base drilling mud used to drill thick anhydrite and gypsum sections. The sodium-base clays such as commercial bentonite have been converted to calcium-base by gypsum, (gypsum mud)
GYMUD

gypsum an evaporite salt mineral and rock that is composed of CaSO^. Gypsum is a colorless-to-white mineral with one cleavage, a specific gravity of 2.22.4, and is very soft. Gypsum is used as an additive to control alkalinity in drilling muds, (rock gypsum) Gyp or gyp gypsum cement a type of cement that rapidly sets, has an early strength and positive expansion, and is

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gypsum mud Gzhelian A gyroscopic survey is used in holes where a magnetic survey will not work, (gyro survey) gyroscopic surveying instrument a wireline tool that is about 2 in. wide and contains a gyroscope, a small compass card, battery pack, camera, and film to measure the azimuth and inclination of a well. The spinning weight of the gyroscope is on a horizontal axis mounted inside two perpendicular gimbals. The inner gimbal has a spin motor and housing. The outer gimbal has a compass card set to north. A pendulum assembly and timer are located above the compass card. The gyro single shot is run on a wireline, and a picture is taken with a single-shot camera. The gyro multishot is also run on a wireline and stopped at specific depths for the timer to activate a modified movie camera. The gyroscopic surveying instrument is used instead of a magnetic survey in a magnetic environment. gyro survey see gyroscope survey Gzhelian a global stage of geological time that ended about 290 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Carboniferous.

used in remedial cementing. The gypsum is either a) a hemihydrate form or b) gypsum with powdered resin additive. The gypsum is soluble and can be used for temporary plugging if there is no flowing water. Gypsum cement can be mixed with Portland cements. gypsum mud see gyp mud. GYMUD gyro gyroscope gyrocompass a gyroscope mounted on gimbals that points to a direction on a circular compass card. The gyrocompass is set pointing to north and maintains its orientation in space as it is turned. gyroscope a spinning heavy disk or wheel that is mounted on an axis that is free to rotate. A gryroscope is used to determine the orientation (inclination and azimuth) of a well in which magnetic drill collars or casing are in the well and a magnetic compass cannot be used, gyro gyroscope survey a wireline survey that determines the inclination and azimuth of the wellbore at specific depths. The survey can be either single or multishot.

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H 1) enthalpy 2) magnetic field strength 3) hydrogen index 4) hydraulic 5) hydrogen 6) gross pay thickness 7) hour 8) henry h i ) thickness 2) hydrocarbons 3) hole 4) thermal heat 5) depth of reflector 6) hour 7) hectoha or ha. hectare habendum clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that defines the length (term) of the lease. The primary term is the number of years that the lease is in effect as the lessee explores the lease. If commercial petroleum production is established in paying quantities on the acreage, the secondary term becomes effective. The secondary term is the indefinite time that the lease is in effect as the oil and/or gas is being produced, (term clause) HAc acetic acid hachure a short mark that comes out at a right angle from either a) a contour to point in the direction of the smallest value or b) a fault trace to show the downdip direction hade the complement of dip. Dip is the angle that a plane makes from horizontal and is measured at right angles to the strike or horizontal direction of the plane. Hal or hal halite half cell one half of a voltaic or electrolysis cell. A half cell will be either the anode, where oxidation occurs, or the cathode, where reduction occurs. half graben the formation of a basin by the rotation of a surface down along one normal fault on one side of the half graben. The half graben will be relatively long, similar to a graben, but will have an asymmetrical cross section.
RATIO OF PARENT DAUGHTER 1:7 1:15

half-life the time that it takes one-half of the radioactive atoms of an isotope to decay. Some natural radioactive isotopes commonly found in rock and their half-lives in years are uranium (U238, 4.5 x 109), uranium (U235, 0.7 x 109), rubidium (Rb87, 4.7 x 1010), potassium (K40,1.3 x 109) and carbon (C14,5710years). These isotopes can be used for absolute age dating the rocks. Some radioactive isotopes used as sources in well logging, and their half-lives are californium (Cf252, 2.6 years), cesium (Cs137, 30.1 years), cobalt (Co60, 5.27 years), iridium (Ir92, 74.3 days), americum (Am241,433 years), polonium (Po210,138 days), radium (Ra226,1,600 years), and plutonium (Pu239, 24,400 years). half or half-value thickness the thickness of a substance that will absorb one-half of the incident rays of a certain energy level. HVT halite a common evaporite salt mineral with the chemical composition NaCl. Halite is colorless to white, forms cubic crystals, has excellent cubic cleavage, a specific gravity of 2.1, and tastes salty, (rock salt) Hal or hal Halliburton line a steel measuring line that is used with a calibrated instrument to measure the depth of a well. A Halliburton line has relatively little stretch, (piano string or wire) Halliburton valve a type of high-pressure valve that is used on a high-pressure manifold or pipe to easily open or close the line. A Halliburton valve is used on frac and acid jobs, (high-pressure valve) hall-row wedge a concave metal plug or wedge that is used to deflect a hole halo an anomalously high surface concentration of hydrocarbons, carbonates derived from chemical reactions with hydrocarbons, and/or trace metals in the shape of an ellipse or circle above a subsurface petroleum reservoir. The hydrocarbons have seeped from the subsurface reservoir bringing the trace metals with them to the surface. This occurrence is often used in geochemical prospecting for petroleum. halokinesis salt tectonics or movement hammer a seismic source that uses a hammer to strike a steel plate to produce shallow-reflection seismic energy. hammer drill a drilling tool used in the drillstring just above the roller-cone bit that imparts highfrequency impacts to the bit hammer union a pipe connection that is designed to be loosened or tightened by hammer blows on protrusions called hammer wings. A hammer union is primarily used on high-pressure lines where fast disconnections are needed. hammer wing the protrusion on a hammer union that is designed to be struck by a hammer to loosen or tighten the connection hammer wrench a type of wrench that is designed

OC 100k AMOUNTS

1:1

1:3

SOX -

0%
,0 1 2

half life

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hand hardness scale

to be struck by a hammer to loosen or tighten a connection hand a field worker hand dugs an old term for a hand-dug well in search of petroleum, (oil pits) handling-tight coupling a casing coupling that is screwed onto the casing tight enough to require a wrench to loosen it hand money the money that is exchanged to show an obligation or interest by a party before a binding agreement is signed, (earnest money) hands around to West Texas more weight on the weight indicator of a drilling rig than the derrick is rated to withstand. (Long Beached) handshake agreement an oral understanding between two parties that is not written on paper and is not legally enforceable, (gentleman's agreement) hand tight a threaded pipe joint that has been madeup or screwed into another joint by hand without the use of tongs to tighten it. Hand tight is in contrast to power tight, (handy) hand tong a small chain wrench used to screw and unscrew small equipment handy see hand tight hang a well off to disconnect the pull-rod leading from a central power unit to a pumping unit in order to stop that well from pumping for a short time hangdown the weight of a drillstring suspended below a dogleg in a well hanger a device that is used to suspend a string of tubular goods such as casing or tubing in another string of a larger diameter. Hangers are classified as either mechanical or hydraulic depending on how they wedge the slips against the tubular wall. A casing hanger is located in a casinghead, and the tubing hanger is located in the tubinghead. Both are part of the wellhead. hanger cable a cable that connects the horsehead on a pumping unit to the carrier bar with connects to the polished rod hanger mandrell the threaded connection part of a casing or tubing hanger into which the casing or tubing is screwed hanger-packer mechanism equipment that is used to seal the annulus on a wellhead and to suspend a casing or tubing string in the well with slips or threads hanger plug a bridge used in the casing below the blowout preventers on a well to pressure test the preventers hang her on the beam 1) to finish a job. 2) to put a well on pump hanging in the slips a string of drillpipe that is suspended by slips in the rotary table of a drilling rig hanging iron to assemble and install the blowoutpreventers or a production tree on a wellhead hanging off to use a special tool to land the drillstring in a subsea wellhead and unlatch the lower marine riser from the blowout preventer stack in order to rapidly move a semisubmersible or drillship off station

hanging wall

hanging wall the side of the fault that overhangs the opposite wall. The opposite wall is called the foot wall. hang it off the bump post to shut in a jack well hangline or hang-offline a single strand of drilling line that attaches the traveling block to the crown block on a drilling rig when it is not in use hang rods to pull the sucker rods out of the well and hang them in the rod hanger of a mast or derrick hard banding see hardfacing hard coal anthracite hard coating see hard faced hard copy a printed copy of data hard disk an internal storage medium in a computer. A hard disk consists of an aluminum disk coated with iron oxide. A read-write head travels across the disk on a cushion of air. The capacity of a hard disk is measured in megabytes. A hard disk is in contrast to floppy disks. (Winchester disk) hard faced an abrasive- and corrosion-resistant coating of tungsten carbide or nickel carbide that is used on steel. Hard coating is used on areas of wear such as pipe joints and teeth on roller-cone bits, (hard coating or trim) hardfacing a method for making the cutting surfaces on drill bits and other tools extremely hard to extend their useful life. A band of abrasive-resistant material such as sintered tungsten carbide particles in a welded metal matrix is applied to a surface, (hard banding) hard hat a safety helmet made of hard, nonmetallic material such as plastic with a visor that fits on a head. It is designed to protect the head from falling objects. Hard hats are required to be worn on drilling rigs by safety regulations. hardly able well a well that barely produces enough gas or oil to pay the production expenses and make a profit hardness 1) the resistance of a mineral to scratching. Hardness is quantified by Mohs' Hardness Scale which ranges from one to ten. 2) the concentration of calcium and magnesium (along with ions of other alkali metals and metals) in water. Hardness is -usually expressed in ppm of CaCO3. 3) the resistance of a metal to a hard steel ball or diamond penetrator pressed into it under standard conditions, hdns hardness scale a relative scale of mineral hardness that uses ten minerals that are given numbers between

hard-rock geology header one and ten as references. They are talc, (1) gypsum, (2) calcite, (3) fluorite, (4) apatite, (5) orthoclase, (6) quartz, (7) topaz, (8) corundum, (9) and diamond (10). Talc is the softest and diamond the hardest. (Mobs' Hardness Scale) hard-rock geology the study of igneous and metamorphic rocks and the exploration for ore minerals hard scale a salt composed of sulfates of barium, strontium, and/or calcium. It can precipitate out of water and build up in equipment such as tubular goods. Hard scale can be caused by mixing unlike brines. Hard scale is in contrast to soft scale. hardship gas natural gas that must be sold, if at all possible, at substandard prices. If the hardship gas is not sold, all parties in the well would suffer financial loss due to loss of lease, reservoir drainage or reservoir damage. hard trim see hard faced hardware computer equipment that is relatively solid matter, such as the frame, integrated circuits, wires, and terminals. Hardware is in contrast to software which is the computer programs. hard water water containing Ca or Mg ions harmonic a frequency that is a unit multiple, such as second or third, of a fundamental frequency harmonic analysis see Fourier analysis harmonic decline an oil well production decline that is proportional to the producing rate. When the production rate is plotted on a log scale versus the cumulative production on a regular scale, it is a straight line. The equation is Q, = Q,; (1 + Zty)~\ where Q, = production rate at a certain time, Qt = initial production rate, >, = initial decline, and f = time. Harmonic decline has a very steep initial decline and best approximates a dissolved gas-drive oilfield decline. harmonic folding folding sedimentary rocks in which the number and position of folds in sucessive surfaces broadly match in contrast to disharmonic folding HAS drive heated annulus steam drive Hassler chamber or holder a core holder used with a permeamer.er to measure the permeability of a core. The core is placed in a metal screen and then a rubber jacket. The core and jacket are then placed in the Hassler chamber where dry air is passed through the core. The permeability of the core is calculated from Darcy's law. A Fancher holder serves the same purpose. hat the enlarged upper section of a salt stock or plug that was formed by the sideways swelling of salt. The part of the hat that protrudes beyond the stem is called the overhang, (bulb, cap, or head) hatch an opening on a tank or vessel that can be open and closed hatchettite a variety of ozokerite found in Belgium and Germany Hauterivian a global age of geological time that occurred about 130-125 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Cretaceous epoch. have a hole in the wall to claim more footage than is actually drilled

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hay rack or hayrack a rack with finger-like projections located near the top of a mast or derrick. The hay rake is used to separate and hold the upper ends of tubing strings when they are pulled from the well, (finger board) hay section the part of a heater or heater-treater filled with fibrous material used to filter emulsions hay tank a vessel filled with hay used to filter oil out of water haz hazardous hazard a dangerous condition hazard survey see wellsite survey hazard zone an area of high fire or explosion risk Hb hornblende HBP held by production HC hydrocarbon h,. height of cement column H/C hydrogen to carbon ratio HC1 hydrochloric acid HCO heavy cycle oil H/C ratio the atomic ratio of hydrogen to carbon. The H/C ratio is usually made of kerogen and plotted on a Van Krevelen diagram with O/C ratios to show kerogen type and maturity. H/C HCV hand controlled valve HD 1) hydril 2) hard 3) hole diameter hd hard hdl handle hdns hardness Hd.sd. hard sand hdr header HDT high-resolution dipmeter tool HDT-D dipmeter-digital log HE hydrogen embrittlement He 1) helium 2) hematite head 1) the pressure differential in a fluid that causes flow 2) a device that utilizes magnetic tape to write on or read from a storage medium such as a magnetic head 3) the volume of reservoir fluids produced as a result of a short period of gas injection into a well 4) the enlarged upper portion of a salt stock or plug that was formed by the sideways swelling of salt. The part of the head that protrudes beyond the stem is called the overhang, (bulb, cat, or hat) 5) the bottom end of a survey cable that contains the threaded and electrical connectors headache! a shouted warning when something has been dropped or falls from overhead headache post a post under the walking beam on one side of the drill floor of a cable-tool rig. The headache post prevents the walking beam from falling when the pitman is disconnected from the crank. head end the outlet end of a reciprocating compressor. Head end is in contrast to the crank end. header 1) a pipe or tube with one inlet and several outlets, or several inlets and one outlet (manifold) hdr 2) a large-diameter pipe having several smaller pipes extending from it at right angles 3) the

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headgate heat exchanger heart-break rock a sedimentary rock with porosity but lacking permeability heat a connection to strike a collar or threaded connection with a hammer to loosen it. (warm or whip a connection) heat capacity 1) the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of a sample 1C 2) the ratio of heat absorbed or radiated on a surface to the rise and fall of temperature. Heat capacity is expressed in calories per gram per C (cal/gm/C). (thermal capacity) c heat checking the excessive heating caused by friction of tool joints rotating against the wellbore wall heat conductivity the amount of heat in calories transmitted per second through a plate-shaped substance that is 1 cm thick with an area of 1 cm2 and a temperature difference of 1C from top to bottom. The heat conductivity of rocks ranges from about 3-15 millicalories/cm/sec/C. Heat conductivities in sedimentary rocks are greatest in evaporites and lowest in shales, (thermal conductivity) heated annulus steam drive a heavy oil recovery method in which heat is applied to a horizontal drain well in the reservoir. Vertical steam injection wells are used to sweep the oil to the horizontal well. HAS drive heater heating equipment that is used with natural gas to prevent hydrates (ice with gas molecules trapped in the ice lattice) from forming when the gas is produced. The heater burns with natural gas and is either a direct flowline or indirect heater. The indirect heater is the most common and consists of a shell that usually contains fresh water, a fire tub, burner, and a coil through which the gas flows through the heated water. Heating is used when dehydration of the gas is not economical, htr
INltTOtCtWATER.GAS

information that includes seismic profile, shot, and trace numbers on a magnetic tape 4) the information section on a seismic profile. The header can include such information as the names of the contractor and client, shooting date, multiplicity, geophone types, spread layout, cable lengths, data processing company, processing date, deconvolution, and migration. 5) the information located at the top of a well log. The header includes the company name, type of log, date, operator, well name, field, county and state, temperature, and type of fluid in the well. headgate the gate valve located nearest to a pump or compressor on a flow line heading or heading flow a type of fluid flow with long intervals of alternating liquid and gas slugs. Fluid flow with short intervals of alternating liquid and gas slugs is slugging flow. head pressure the pressure exerted by the weight of a column of fluid. Head pressure is usually measured in inches of mercury or water. head right an undivided interest in mineral rights. For some Indian lands, it is the pooled mineral interest in the reservation that is or was shared by each member of that tribe and can be passed on by inheritance. head roustabout a person in charge of supervising and training a crew of roustabouts. The head roustabout works under the production foreman. (gang pusher or leadman) headspace gas gas that collects in the sealed container above the cuttings, drilling mud, and fluid sample taken during mud logging. A sample is taken by a syringe inserted into the can wall. The headspace gas is then analyzed by a gas chromatograph. heads up drilling a well or developing some acreage without any financial help head-type meter a device that is used to measure the velocity of a fluid. A head-type meter measures the differential pressure between two points in the flow. The flow rate will be proportional to the square root of the pressure differential. Common types of head-type meters include a) orifice, b) Venturi, c) flow, d) pitot tube-annubar, and e) elbow meter. head up to tighten a hatch cover on a tank head wave a wave in refraction seismic that enters and leaves a high-velocity medium at the critical angle and gives the refraction first break, the first recorded arrival of the seismic signal. The head wave travels along the interface of two sedimentary rock layers. head well a well that produces most efficiently by intermittent pumping or flowage. A head well usually lacks enough gas to cause the oil to flow to the surface. head well puller the workover employee who is in charge of a pulling unit and crew that pulls sucker rods and tubing from a well, (pulling-unit operator or crew chief) heal to close a rock fracture by precipitation of minerals in the fracture healed fracture a previously open fracture such as a joint or fault in a rock along which fluid was able to flow. Subsequently, the fracture has filled with mineral grains such as calcite or quartz that have grown along the fracture and now prevent fluid flow, (sealed fracture)

heater treater

heater-treater a type of vertical or horizontal field separator that uses heat to break an emulsion such as oil-in-water or water-in-oil. A temperature of 80 to 180 F is necessary to separate emulsions. The steel tank contains a U-shaped pipe called a fire tube. In the direct-fired fire-tube furnace, a flame is directed down the center line of the pipe to heat and break the emulsion. In the indirect-fired type, the flame is used to heat water that is in contact with the emulsion. The exhaust gases exit the stack which extends 1015 ft above the separator. The burner uses either natural gas or heavy oil. (fire-tube heater or emulsion treater) ht heat exchanger an arrangement of pipes that provides for the transfer of heat from one fluid to another. The heat exchangers used in gas-processing

heartflow heel row plants are usually the shell and tube water- or aircooled type. Air-cooled units can also use temperaturecontrolled louvers, variable speed fan motors and drives, and variable pitch fans to control the outlet stream temperature, (exchanger) HEX or Hx heatflow the amount of heat per unit area and time leaving the surface of the earth. Heatflow averages about 1.5 x 10~6cal cm"2s~1 and is measured in heat flow units. Q heatflow unit a unit used to measure the heat flow from the earth. A heatflow unit is equal to 10~2 cal/ m2/sec or 10~6 cal/cm2/sec in cgs units and 0.42 times 10~5 W/m2 in mks units. HFU heating value the amount of heat formed when a fuel is completely burned under standard conditions that are usually 60 F and 1 atm. Higher or gross heating value (GHV) is measured when all the water produced by combustion is coriyerted back to liquid. Lower or net heating value (NHV) is measured when all the water remains as steam. Heating value can also be dry or wet. AV heat of hydration the heat formed by the setting of cement heat treating or treatment the alteration of the properties of a substance by alternately heating and cooling heave 1) the vertical motion of an entire ship on the ocean 2) the slow movement of an anhydrite, a sodium or potassium salt layer or shale, into a wellbore by pressure or chemical reaction, (swell or squeeze) heave compensator a type of shock absorber on a drillship that uses counterweights or hydraulics to maintain a constant weight on the drillstring as the drillship rises and falls with the waves. The heave compensator is located between the traveling block and the hook or power swivel. The stroke on the heave compensator is about 18 ft. (surface-motion compensator) heavies solids with a high specific gravity, usually greater than 30 heaving sand driller's term for sand forced into the bottom of the well by production heaving shale soft clay and shale with a pore pressure higher than the hydrostatic head in the well at that level. The clay and shale squeezes into the well, falling to the bottom of the well in large balls that are not easily removed by the circulating drilling mud. The severity of the heaving shale is related to the percentage of montmorillonite and the age of the shale, (sloughing shale) HVSH heavy bottoms the residue left after crude oil is refined. Heavy bottoms can be used for fuel. heavy oil high-density oil with "API of less than 25. Heavy oils have high viscosities up to 10,000 cp. Heavy oils tend to be black in color and contain relatively high amounts of asphaltics and sulfur. Heavy oils are from immature source rocks or crude oils that have been biodegraded or water washed. Usually, thermal recovery methods such as steam flood or injection are needed to produce heavy oil from a reservoir. Extra-heavy oil has a "API of less than 10. Heavy oil was defined under the windfall-profits tax provisions as having a weighted average of less than 16 API. HO or hvy oil

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heaving shale

heavy oil process a method of thermal enhancedoil recovery used in shallow heavy oil sands. Steam is sent through horizontal pipes in the heavy oil sands to heat the oil. The heated fluid oil then flows into a central cavity. heavy spar see barite heavy up on the mud to increase the drilling mud density heavy-wall, heavy-weight, or heavyweight drillpipe drillpipe with the same external dimensions but thicker walls than normal drillpipe. Heavy-wall drillpipe joints have the same outer diameter but a reduced inner diameter and have an extra long tool joint. Heavy-wall drillpipe weighs about twice normal drillpipe and has one-third to one-half the weight of drill collars. Four common sizes range 3'/2-5 in. in outer diameter and are 30.5 ft long. Ten to 20 joints of heavy-wall drillpipe are often used between drill collars and drillpipe to prevent drillstring failure. HWDP heavyweight material an additive that is used to increase the density of a fluid. Heavy-weight material consists of small particles of inert and nonabrasive particles of high specific gravity, such as barite, that are added to the drilling mud to increase its weight. Galena is used to make very heavy drilling mud Hematite is often used in cement slurries. Calcium carbonate is added to completion fluids to increase density, (weighting or weight material) HEC hydroxyethyl cellulose hectare a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for land area. One hectare is equal to 10,000 m2 and is equivalent to 2.471 ac. ha or ha. hecto- the metric prefix for 102. h heel 1) the tilt of a ship to one side 2) the oil remaining in a storage tank after draining the tank heel row the outer row of teeth on a cone on a roller-cone bit. The nose or toe row is the inner row of teeth. The middle row is located between the heel and nose row.

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heel teeth hetr hen fruit an egg or dynamite charge henry a derived unit in Systems International (SI) for inductance. Henry is calculated by Webers divided by amperes (Wb/A). One henry is the inductance needed for an electromotive force of one volt to be generated by a current varying at the rate of one ampere per second. Henry's law the solubility of gas in a liquid is proportional to the gas pressure above the liquid heptane a common hydrocarbon of the paraffin series with the chemical formula C7Hi6. Heptane occurs as a liquid under surface conditions and is commonly found in crude oil. Heptane has a specific gravity of 0.69 at 60F, a boiling point of 209F at 14.7 psia, a vapor pressure of 1.6 psia at 100F, a critical temperature of 513F, and a critical pressure of 397 psia. C7 heptane valve a parameter that is calculated by 100 22 x TJT22 + 24^ 'n w h' c h 22 is n-heptane, 15 is cyclohexane, 16 is 2-methylhexane, 17 is 1,1dimethylcyclopentane, 18 is 3-methylhexane, 19 is cis-7,3-dimethylcyclopentane, 20 is trans-1,3dimethylcyclopentane, 21 is trans-1,2dimethylcyclopentane, and 24 is methylcyclohexane. Heptane value is used to determine maturity of source rocks, crude oils, and condensates. A heptane value of 0-18 indicates biodegradation, 18-22, a low mature oil; 22-30, a mature oil; and 30-60, a super-mature oil. herbaceous land-plant organic matter that is rich in lipids hermetically sealed the protection of a component from hazardous or corrosive gases hertz a derived unit in System International (SI) for frequency. Hertz is calculated by 1/s or cycles per second. Hertz is named for Heinrich Hertz (18571894), a German physicist, hz or Hz hesitate to stop the pumps for a period of time hesitation method or squeeze a type of cement squeeze job in a well in which the pumps are started and stopped several times to promote cement filtercake development. During the periods when the pumps are stopped, the water filters out of the slurry into the formation. The hesitation method is used to squeeze off a low permeability zone. When the pumping resumes, the perforation that have received cement will be harder to pump, and the slurry will be directed to other perforations. heteroatoms any atoms other than carbon and hydrogen in petroleum, bitumen, and kerogen. The most common hetroatoms are sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. heterocompounds or hetero compounds organic compounds that contain sulphur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Heterocompounds occur in organic matter and crude oils. Porphyrins derived from chlorophyll are heterocompounds in organic matter. Asphaltenes are also heterocompounds. Heterocompounds are separated from crude oil by polar solvents such as methanol. (NSO or polar compounds) heterogeneous a substance that is not uniform. Heterogeneous is in contrast to homogeneous, hetr hetr heterogeneous

heel teeth the teeth located on the outermost row on the cones of a roller-cone bit. Heel teeth do not mesh and have the largest volume of rock to remove when drilling. Heel teeth patterns include regular, T, U, web, and tungsten carbide inserts, (gage or gauge cutters) height-of-build curve the vertical distance in a deviated hole between the kickoff point and the end of curve height of thread the vertical distance between crest and root on a thread HEL hostile-environment logging held by production a leasehold that is kept valid by production in paying quantities from well(s) on the lease and royalty payments to the mineral rights owner(s). HBP Helderbergian A North American age of geological time that occurred about 405-400 m. y. ago. It is pan of the Devonian period. helical spiral shaped helical buckling deformation of a tubular in the shape of a spiral helical-lobe compressor a type of compressor that uses two spiral- or helical-shaped rotor blades that rotate parallel to each other in a housing. The rounded end of one blade fits into the rounded groove of the other. When the inlet port is open, the discharged port is closed, and gas enters and is trapped in the groove. As the gas passes along the compressor, it is compressed until it is discharged from the outlet port. Helical-lobe compressors can be either oil-flooded or dry. Helical-lobe compressors are used for air compression, vapor recovery units, and refrigeration units, (rotary screw or spiral-lobe compressor) helicopter rig a land-drilling rig. that can be disassembled into components and lifted by helicopter to a remote drillsite. The rig has been redesigned and modified to a minimum size with more but smaller pumps and up to eight mud tanks. The largest helicopter rig can be rated to 15,000 ft and is lifted in with up to 300 loads of 2 T each. helideck or helipad a flat landing area for a helicopter on an offshore rig or platform heliox a mixture of helium and oxygen that is used by divers below 40 m to avoid nitrogen narcosis. helium a colorless, odorless, inflammable gas. Helium is a very light-weight gas and is valuable in electronic manufacturing. It is found mixed (V2%-2%) with natural gas in the giant Hugoton-Panhandle gas field of western Texas. Helium can form as a product of radioactive decay of K40 into Ar40. He hellraiser or hell raiser a fishing tool that uses a magnet hell's broth nitroglycerin Hem or hem hematite hematite an iron mineral with the chemical composition Fe2O3. Hematite occurs as steel gray-toiron black crystals and red-to-reddish brown earthy masses. It is an important iron ore. Hem, hem, or He hemipelagic deep sea sediments containing some clay eroded from continents along with pelagic organisms

Hettangian high-pressure gas drive Hettangian a global age of geological time that occurred about 200-195 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Jurassic epoch. Heviwate drillpipe drillpipe that is heavier and has thicker walls than normal drillpipe. The drillpipe uses a wear-and- support pad in the middle of die joint that is slightly smaller than the tool joint. Heviwate drillpipe is used in deviated and horizontal wells. HEX heat exchanger hex 1) hexane 2) hexagonal hexacoral a type of coral that belongs to the order Scleractinia and has a hexagonal symmetry of septa or radial walls. Hexacorals are both solitary and colonial, have existed from the Triassic period to the present, and include the modern corals. (scleractinian) hexagonal pattern a type of waterflood pattern in which a producing well is surrounded by six waterinjecting wells in a hexagonal pattern, (seven spot pattern) hexane a common hydrocarbon of the paraffin series composed of CSH14. Hexane occurs as a liquid under surface conditions and is commonly found in crude oil. Small amounts of hexane can also be found in some natural gases. Hexane has a specific gravity of 0.6, a boiling point of 156F at 14.7 psja, a vapor pressure of 5.0 psia at 100F, a critical temperature of 454F, and a critical pressure of 437 psia. C6 or hex HF high frequency HF acid a solution of hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids that is used for an acid job on formation damaged sandstone reservoirs. The HF acid dissolves clay minerals and silica. HFO 1) hole full of oil 2) heavy fuel oil. H.F.O. hole full of oil. HFSW hole full of salt water HFU heatflow unit HFW or H.F.W. hole full of water Hg mercury hg net thickness of gas zone hg gross thickness HGCM heavily gas-cut mud HGCW heavily gas-cut water HGOR high gas/oil ratio hgt height HH hydrostatic head HHCG heavy hydrocarbon gases HHP hydraulic horsepower HHV higher heating value HI 1) hydrocarbon ndex 2) hydrogen index hi 1) high 2) highly H.I. Height of instrument hiatus A time gap in the rock record HIDA Hydrocarbon-induced diagenetic aureole hidden layer 1) a rock layer that doesn't give a primary reflection on a seismic record, (blind layer) 2) a rock layer that cannot be detected by seismic refraction methods because it is either a) a low-velocity

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layer located below a high-velocity layer, or b) too thin to give a distinct arrival signal, (blind layer) hide the threads to tighten a joint high the area on a structure or rock layer that is highest in elevation high-alkalinity drilling mud see bigb-pH drilling mud high-alumina cement a refractory cement that is made of bauxite and limestone that is heated in a reverberatory, open-hearth furnace until it is liquid. High-alumina cement is used in in-situ combustion wells. high-angle fault a fault with a fault plane dip of greater than 45 in contrast to a low-angle fault high-angle hole a well with a deviation greater than 50 high bottom a thick accumulation of basic sediment and water on the bottom of a tank. High bottom causes some of the basic sediment and water to flow out of the tank and into a pipeline when oil is drawn off. high-BTU gas methane that is made from synthesis gas (CO-H2). (substitute natural gas) high-cut filter a filter that is designed to transmit frequencies below a cutoff frequency. A high-cut filter is in contrast to a high-pass filter, (low-pass filter) high dip a slope having a dip angle of greater than 5% high-drum drive a light hoisting-load drawworks drive. High-drum drive is in contrast to low-drum drive. high explosive an explosive that is chemically unstable and sensitive to shock or temperature changes. High explosives are used for shaped explosive charges in perforating and Primacord used in fishing. A high explosive is in contrast to a low explosive. higher heating value the net heat generated by combustion of hydrocarbons plus water vapor plus the heat from condensing the water vapor back into a liquid. Higher heating value is measured in Btu/cf for gas and Btu/gal for liquids. Lower heating value is measured without condensing the water vapor. (gross heating value) HHV high-gravity oil crude oil that is light in weight and has a "API greater than 40-45 high kick a large angle in a well high-pass filter a filter that is designed to transmit frequencies above a cutoff frequency. A high-pass filter is in contrast to a high-cut filter, (low-cutfilter) high-performance liquid chromatography column chromatography under high pressure that is designed for more efficient separations. HPLC high-pH drilling mud a drilling mud that is very alkaline (greater than 10.5 pH) with a high concentration of carbonates and sulfates. Sodium hydroxide is used as an additive to make high pH drilling mud. (high-alkalinity drilling mud) high-pressure gas drive a type of miscible drive that uses an injected gas with a percentage of hydrocarbons intermediates that are lower than that of a critical gas mixture. A mass exchange of hydrocarbon gas components occurs between the

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high-pressure lean gas process hm is in contrast to a low-yield clay such as calcium monmorillonite that yields less than 30 bbl/ton. hillside sand a sandstone that wears the drill bit on only one side hinge the point of maximum bending or curvature in a fold of sedimentary rocks hinge hose a hose used to connect the mud pump discharge with the bottom of a standpipe on a drilling rig
HINGE IINE

formation oil and the injected gas with the gas gaining intermediate fractions. If the process continues to miscibility, it is called a critical vaporizing-oil gas drive. high-pressure lean gas process a miscible hydrocarbon displacement process in which lean gas at a high pressure is injected into a depleted oil reservoir to cause retrograde evaporation of the oil and form a miscible phase between the driving gas and the oil high-pressure squeeze cementing a squeeze cement job in a well in which the final pressure is greater than the formation fracture pressure high-pressure valve a type of valve used on highpressure lines to easily open and close the line. A high-pressure valve is used in fracing and acidizing a well. (Halliburton valve) high-resolution dipmeter log a log that records four high-resolution microresistivity curves. The highresolution dipmeter (HRD) yields relatively accurate resistivity and dip measurements. The log also records a curve used to correct for variations in sonde speed. high-resolution thermometer a thermometer with a resolution of 0.5F that is used in temperature logging wells. HRT high-shrinkage crude oil 1) crude oil that has a greater shrinkage with pressure reduction than normal crude oil. There is no exact definition of highshrinkage crude oil but it is generally described as having 500-800 scf/bsto of dissolved gas, a "API of 30- 50, and a dark color. High-shrinkage oil is usually caused by a greater concentration of intermediate hydrocarbons and lesser amount of heavier hydrocarbons than normal. High-shrinkage crude oil is in contrast to low-shrinkage crude oil. 2) see volatile oil high side the upper side of a deviated well. High side is in contrast to the low side high-speed layer a subsurface rock layer that has a seismic wave-progagation velocity greater than the velocity of the overlying rock. The high-speed layer will transmit refraction energy. high-speed positive-displacement motor a positive-displacement motor that has a 1:2 ratio between the number of lobes on the rotor and the number of cavities in the stater. The rpm ranges from 200 on a 9-in. motor to 1,500 on a 27/s in.-outside diameter motor. highstand a relatively high sea level in reference to land. A highstand is in contrast to a lowstand. high-sulfur crude a crude oil that contains more than 1.7% sulfur by weight. High-sulfur crude has detectable amounts of sulfur in forms other than hydrogen sulfide, such as mercaptans, disulfides, and/ or cyclic aromatic sulfides."' high-torque, low-speed positive-displacement motor a positive-displacement motor that has a ratio between the number of lobes on the rotor versus the number of cavities in the stater between 3:4 and 5:6. The motor will have an rmp of 180 for a 6V2- in. outside diameter motor. high-yield clay a commercial clay containing sodium montmorillonite that yields 30-50 bbl/ton. High-yield clay weighs about 9 lbs/gal. High-yield clay

hinge line

hinge line 1) the line connecting the points (hinges) of maximum bending or curvature of sedimentary rocks in a fold 2) the line in a sedimentary basin separating the relatively thin sediments of the shelf that were deposited in a shallow, stable environment and the thick sediments of the deep basin that were deposited in a rapidly subsiding basin. 3) the line along a fault surface at which the direction of displacement on a scissor fault changes hinge zone the surface region of a fold around the fold hinge line Hingle crossplot a crossplot of porosity from a porosity log (porosity, density, or interval transit time) on the x axis versus deep resistivity {RILd or RuJ) or conductivity. The Hingle crossplot is used to determine water saturation (Sw). Hinshaw pipeline a pipeline that is subjected to state rather than federal jurisdiction. The pipeline ships interstate gas with its facilities being entirely in the consuming state. Hinshaw pipeline is named after the Hinshaw amendment to the Natural Gas Act. history of a well a written report on the drilling, completion, and production data of a well that is required by some states hit to strike oil hitch over to run out the temper screw on a cabletool rig to change the clamp grip on the drilling line hitch up to make a rig ready for drilling hit the suitcase sand to have a worker quit hkl hackly HKLD hook load hkw highest known water HL hook load HLB hydrophilic-lipophilic balance hn, height of mud column

*!,,. hole sweep thickness of mudcake H-member a horizontal nipple or connection between two tubing strings in a well h,, net thickness HO heavy oil h,, net thickness of oil zone HO&GCM heavy oil- and gas-cut mud hobble see hose hobble HOCM heavily oil-cut mud HOCW heavily oil-cut water hogger 1) a driller who reports more footage than he actually drilled 2) a rotary driller hoist 1) to lift an object 2) a system of blocks, pulleys, wire ropes, drums, winches and/or drawworks used to lift an object hoist and hold to start to trip out of a well by raising the drillstring and holding it in the slips hoisting cable or line heavy-duty wire rope on a rotary drilling rig that is used to raise and lower equipment in a well. Hoisting cable is usually braided steel wire that ranges in diameter of 1-1 % in. Hoisting line is identified by the number of strands and the number of wires in each strand. Hoisting cable is usually wound in a right regular lay. (drilling, rotary, or block line) hoisting drum a reel or flanged spool around which the cable, wire rope, or wire is wound in a system used to raise and lower equipment. A hoisting drum is used in the drawworks of a drilling rig. hoisting plug a device that is used to attach the elevators to slim-hole drillpipe and drill collars when tripping or making a connection. The hoisting plug is a short pipe with threads on one end to match the pin end of the pipe or collars, and a latch head or lifting bail on the other end. (lifting nipple or sub) hoisting system the apparatus on a drilling rig that is used to raise and lower equipment in a well. The hoisting system consists of the drawworks, the crown and traveling blocks, hooks and elevators, deadline anchor, drilling line, and derrick or mast. hoist plug a short section of pipe that is threaded on one end and has a swivel bail on the other end. The hoist plug is used to raise and lower drillpipe. hold angle the inclination and azimuth of a wellbore that is held constant hole 1) a borehole made by a drilling bit 2) the rathole or mousehole on the drill floor hole blow 1) the ejection of water and mud from a seismic exploration shot hole that occurs during detonation of a shot 2) the noise of the ejection recorded on a seismic record hole cover plate a heavy, steel plate that is XA in. thick and has handles. The hole cover plate fits onto the rotary table to prevent tools from being dropped down the well. hole curvature the change in inclination and azimuth of a wellbore hole deviation the angle between a crooked or deviated hole and vertical, (angle of deviation, deflection, drift, drift angle, or inclination)

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holddown an anchoring device hole enlarger a sub that is used near the bottom of a drillstring and rotated to enlarge the diameter of the wellbore. The hole enlarger has rotary cones with teeth or inserts located on the outside of a core that fits into the original, smaller diameter wellbore. hole fatigue the effect in seismic exploration caused by the delay in time between the detonation of a shot and the initiation of the seismic impulse. Hole fatigue is often caused by a cavity in the shothole left by a previous shot, (shothole fatigue) hole gauge 1) a caliper log 2) the diameter of the wellbore hole logging see hole probe hole noise noise from a seismic explosion caused either by hole blow or gases resulting from the explosion. Hole noise can last for seconds but is attenuated rapidly with distance from the shot hole.

hole opener

hole opener a sub with hydraulically activated, expandable cutting arms that are used to enlarge the wellbore at a specific interval in the well. A singlestage hole opener has cutter arms to enlarge the hole but cannot drill the hole. The hole opener might have a spade point to force through debris. The doublestage hole opener has a tricone bit on the lower section and can drill the hole while enlarging it with the cutter arms. The cutter arms are interchangeable. A hole opener is rotated on a drillstring to underream or enlarge the wellbore for an open-hole or gravelpack completion. The cutting arms fold back into the tool when it is brought back up the well. (underreamer) hole-opener treatment a technique used to clean a well from debris by first flushing the well with acid and then with a clean out acid that is composed of surfactants and hydrochloric acid hole plug a device that is used to close a seismic exploration shot hole, (bridge plug) hole probe a drill hole IP or resistivity survey in a well which uses closely spaced electrodes to investigate the electrical properties of the rocks adjacent to the wellbore. (electric, hole, IP, or resistivity logging) hole pump see mud pump hole sweep the circulation of a very viscous fluid through a well to clean it out

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hole walk horizontal drainhole or hole hook horsepower the horsepower necessary to pull a drillstring from the well hook load the weight suspended in the derrick by the hoisting system of a drilling rig. The hook load, when drilling, is equal to the weight of the drillstring in mud plus the weight of the swivel, hook, traveling block, and drilling line that suspends it from the crown block. The hook load is measured on the weight indicator by a load cell or pressure transformer and can weigh hundreds of tons. HL or HKLD hook-load capacity the maximum weight that the hoisting system of a drilling rig is designed to handle hook power the traveling block load times the velocity of the traveling block, (output power) hook up to connect a pipeline to a tank or well hook-wall packer a type of packer used in a cased hole with friction blocks or drag springs and slips with teeth pointing downward. The hook-wall packer is lowered into a well on a drillstring or tubing string. The string is manipulated to release a J-slot and seat the packer when weight is applied. A hook-wall packer can be disengaged by reversing the direction of rotation. No anchor pipe is used, (wall-hook packer)
HWPKZ

hole walk the azimuth direction of a crooked well. (walk of the hole) holiday 1) an area between the casing and rock walls of the well where there is no cement or bonding 2) an area that was missed and has no coating on a pipe or paint on its surface 3) a welding crack or flaw hollow-carrier gun a retrievable-type of perforating gun which retains the explosion debris hollow-pin impact reversing sub a short section of pipe that is run in the drillstring during a drillstem test and is used to recover the fluid sample. The sample is recovered by reverse circulation or is held in the drillstring. (reverse circulating sub) Holocene an epoch of time from about 10,000 years ago until the present. It is part of the Tertiary period. (Recent) hom homogeneous

homocline inclined sedimentary rocks of constant dip. A homocline can be one limb of a fold. homogeneous a substance that is uniform. All parts of a homogeneous substance are the same in properties and composition. Homogeneous is in contrast to heterogeneous. homogranular a substance such as a rock that is composed of crystals or grains that are about the same size hook drilling equipment in the shape of a hook that is located below the traveling block and is attached to the traveling block with large shackles. The hook connects the traveling block with the swivel or any other equipment that needs to be suspended from the traveling block. Hooks can carry loads of 100650 tons. Small-capacity hooks are used for tubing and sucker rods. Large-capacity hooks used for pipes are attached to a strong interior spring assembly or a hydraulic snubber assembly to lessen damage when making up or breaking out pipe. Modern triplex hooks that are hook-traveling block combinations have one large safety hook for the swivel bail and two smaller hooks or ears on the sides for the elevator bails. Hook-Block a combined traveling block and hook in one unit hook block see traveling block Hooke's law strain is linearily proportional to applied stress within the limit of elasticity. Hooke's law is named after Robert Hooke (1635-1703), an English scientist.

hook-wall packer test a production test in a cased hole using hook-wall packers. The test can also be used to test for water shut-off after cementing. hoot owl tour the crew shift on a drilling rig that goes through the night. On an 8-hour tour, the shift would be from midnight to 8 A.M. (graveyard or morning tour) HOP heavy oil process hopper a large funnel that is used in pouring material hor or horiz horizontal horizon 1) a layer in the rocks that is assumed to have been originally deposited horizontally 2) a rock layer characterized by a particular assemblage of fossils 3) a porous and permeable zone in the reservoir rock of a petroleum reservoir 4) a line of several lines used to show the horizontal direction for surveying, horz horizon map a map based on a seismic reflection event that covers a large area horizontal assignment a transfer of mineral interests that are either above, below, or between certain depths or in a certain rock layer or horizon horizontal control the exact horizontal location, such as latitude and longitude, of a point that is used for surveying horizontal displacement the horizontal distance between the surface location of the well and the target on the bottom of the well horizontal drainhole or hole 1) a well that is drilled by deviation drilling and tracks the dip of a subsurface reservoir. The horizontal drainhole can have an inclination up to 90. Types of horizontal drainholes include very short radius (1-2 ft), short radius (35-45 ft), medium radius (300-500 ft) and conventional (1,800 ft and longer). Horizontal drainholes are also described as long radius with a radius greater than 600 ft and a length of less than 4,000 ft, medium radius with a radius of 300-500 ft

horizontal fold horse-cock a bit

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horizontal drain well

and a length less than 1,500 ft, short radius with a radius of 20-40 ft and a length less than 600 ft and ultra short with a radius of 1-20 ft and a length of less than 200 ft. Drilling techniques for horizontal drainholes include a high-pressure focused-water jet, a curved drilling guide with flexible, articulated drillpipe and steerable mud motor. The original horizontal well was drilled for coning control. (horizontal well) 2) a well than has an inclination greater than 70 unless the pay zone is steeply dipping and the well tracks the dip of the pay zone (horizontal well) horizontal fold a fold in sedimentary rocks which has a fold axis plunging between 0 and 10. A horizontal fold is in contrast to a plunging or vertical fold. horizontal integration the involvement of an energy company in several different energy sources such as crude oil, natural gas, coal, and uranium horizontal length the length of the section of a horizontal well that transverses the pay zone horizontal permeability permeability measured in the horizontal plane of the reservoir. kh horizontal release a Pugh clause or Freestone rider in a lease that releases nonproducing acreage at the end of the lease primary term or at a specific time horizontal section see time slice horizontal separation the horizontal component of strike slip on a fault. Horizontal separation is in contrast to vertical separation, (horizontal sip) horizontal separator a separator that has a horizontal, metal shell with a large, long, baffled gasseparation section. A horizontal separator is used for produced fluids with high gas/oil ratios, foaming wells, and to separate liquid from liquid. The gas and liquid flows horizontally across closely spaced horizontal baffle plates that are located along the length of the vessel. A double-tube horizontal separator has a higher liquid capacity. A horizontal separator can be either a two phase, three phase or heater-treater and is in contrast to a vertical or spherical separator. horizontal severance the partitioning of undivided interests into separate subsurface formations horizontal slice the seismic record at a specific elevation across a three-dimensional seismic survey horizontal slip see horizontal separation horizontal stack see common-depth-point stack horizontal well see horizontal drainhole

horn a high-resistivity anomaly on an induction log curve. Horns are located near the top and bottom of a resistive bed that is overlain and underlain by conductive beds. hornbd hornblende hornblende a mineral of the amphibole group that has the chemical formula Ca2Na(Mg,Fe+2)4(Al,Fe+3,Ti)(Al,SiO8O22(O,OH)2. Hornblende is a common black, dark green, or brown mineral that occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks. hornbd or Hb Horner analysis a method using a suite of temperatures at a given depth measure on successive logging runs to estimate the formation temperature. The difference between true and apparent bottomhole temperature is plotted against elaspsed time since circulation stopped divided by (drilling time plus time since circulation stopped) on a log scale.

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\ \ \ \

Homer plot

Horner plot a plot of pressure buildup data that is used to interpret a drillstem test and determine the permeability of the reservoir and the extent of any formation damage. Shut-in well pressure (Pw) in psig is plotted on the vertical axis and [(tp + Af)/Af] on the horizontal axis where tp is production time and Af is shut-in time. The slope of the line will be equal to 0.1625 q\Ukh in which q is production, \x. is fluid viscosity, k is permeability and h is net pay thickness. Horner time a dimensionless variable that is the sum of production and shut-in times divided by the shut-in time for a buildup analysis. Horner time can also be calculated by cumulative production in stock tank barrels divided by the last constant or established production rate in stock tank barrels per day. Horner time is used in analysis of pressure transient data. horn socket a fishing tool used for cable-tool drilling. A horn socket is a tapered steel tube cut along its length. The horn socket is driven by jars onto a fish in the well. horse cock see gooseneck horse-cock a bit to dress a bit

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horse feed hot spot hose hobble a safety clamp that is attached to a hose and is secured on the drilling rig. The hose hobble is used to prevent the hose from causing an injury if it comes off the pipe fitting. hot an electrical circuit that is on. Hot is in contrast to cold. HOTAC hot acid hot ass a lazy bench on a drilling rig hot box an overheated journal box hot carbonate process a chemical process used to remove acid gases such as CO2 and H2S from natural gas by flowing the gas through a very hot solution of potassium carbonate and water. The reaction products are KHCO3 and KHS. The reactants can be regenerated. hot dip a method of coating cores with a strippable, plastic coating for shipping and storage. Core Gel is the trade name of the coating material that is used. hot fluid injection a thermal method of enhanced oil recovery that is used primarily for heavy oil. Hot water, steam, or gas is injected into the producing formation to lower the viscosity of the oil and force it through the reservoir toward producing wells. hot footing the installation of a heater on the bottom of a heavy-oil well to decrease the viscosity of the oil and increase production. hot lease a lease for land whose title is in dispute hot oil oil or gas that is illegally produced in excess of that allowed by a government regulatory agency. Hot oil production is in violation of federal law. (illegal oil or gas) hot oiling see hot oil treatment hot oil line a heated pipeline that is designed for heavy crude oils which are very viscous. The heating can be done by electricity, and the pipeline must be insulated. Reheating stations for the oil may be necessary. hot oil operator an operator that produces more oil than the allowable hot-oil treatment pumping of hot-stock tank oil by a service company down a well that has a buildup of waxes that have solidified from oil in the tubing and are restricting production. The hot oil is heated in a hot-oil truck and melts the wax in the well. A hot-oil treatment can also be used to remove asphaltines and is also used in flowlines and other production equipment, (hot oiling) hot-oil truck a service company truck with a tank that holds about 20 bbl of oil and has a heating unit. The truck heats up oil from a gathering tank to 180F and pumps it into a gathering line or well to melt the wax that has solidified from the oil and is restricting production. hot shale a shale with relatively high amounts of gamma ray emissions. Hot shates are usually black and rich in organic matter. hot shot 1) a light truck that is used to make rapid deliveries of oilfield equipment 2) a rush seismic exploration program 3) express hot spot 1) a very hot temperature area on a casing coupling caused by worn threads. 2) An area of permanent magnetism on a nonmagnetic drill collar.

horse feed padding on an expense account

horsehead

horsehead

horsehead the steel plate that is attached to the end of the walking beam on a beam pumping unit. The horsehead is used to insure that the pull on the suckerrod string is vertical. The polished rod is attached to the horsehead by the bridle. The horsehead is shaped so that the curvature of the outer side of the horsehead is centered on the center bearing of the walking beam. (horse's head) horsepower a unit of power or rate of doing work that is equal to 33,000 ft-lb/min or 550 ft-lb/sec. One horsepower is the equivalent of 745.7 watts of electricity. Indicated horsepower is the theoretical power developed in the cylinders of an engine. Brake horsepower is the actual power of an engine measured by a friction brake or adsorption dynamometer applied to the drive shaft or flywheel. Brake horsepower is less than indicated horsepower because of friction loss. Hydraulic horsepower is the power of a fluid under pressure. Engine horsepower is the calculated, theoretical characteristics of the engine. H.P., HP, or hp horse's head see horsehead

horst

horst the ridge formed by the upthrown sides of two parallel, normal faults horz 1) horizon 2) horizontal hose a relatively flexible, rubber, canvas, or similar composition tube that conveys fluids

hot tapping hot tapping 1) to repair a piece of equipment without shutting down operations 2) drilling a hole through the wall of a pipe filled with a fluid under pressure. A saddle is used to attach a valve to the pipe, (pipe tapping) hot water drive a version of waterflood that uses hot water. Hot water injection into the depleted reservoir decreases the viscosity of the remaining oil and increases its volume. hot water test a method used to analyze for crude oil in well cuttings. The well cuttings are submerged in 75C or hotter water and the oil floats to the surface of the water. The oil is illuminated by a fluorescent light. hot well a well with a downhole temperature exceeding 350F hot-wire analyzer or detector a common method to detect gas-cut mud during mud logging. The mud is continuously sampled from a collector or trap on the mud return line. An agitator in the mud trap or steam causes the gas to separate from the mud and collect in a vacuum system. The gas passes over a hot wire called the detector filament that is part of a Wheatstone bridge used to measure resistivity. The resistance of the detector filament varies with the temperature of the filament that is affected by catalytic oxidation or burning of any flammable gases, (thermal catalytic combustion) HWD hot wire survey a survey of a well using a resistance wire that is sensitive to temperature and is used to locate lost circulation zones in a well. The tool is lowered in the well and fresh mud is pumped down the well. If the temperature changes with the addition of the fresh mud, the lost circulation zone must be located lower in the well. housing cap the steel retaining cover on a swivel. (bonnet) HP 1) horsepower 2) high pressure 3) hydraulic pump 4) hydrostatic pressure 5) heavy pressure hp horsepower H.P. 1) horsepower 2) high pressure HPf factional (subsurface) horsepower hpf holes per foot HPG high-pressure gas HPh hydraulic horsepower

huff'n'puff

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hp-h or hp-hr horsepower-hour HPKO high-pressure knockout HPLC high-performance or high-pressure liquid chromatography HP np nameplate horsepower HPR rotary horsepower HPT hydrocarbon pore thickness HPU hydraulic power unit HPV hydrocarbon pore volume HR high resolution HR or hr hour hr residual hydrocarbon HRD high resolution dipmeter HRFR hydrafrac HRS hot-rolled steel hrs heirs HRT 1) high resolution thermometer 2) hydrostatic reference tool HRU hydrocarbon recovery unit HSF high-sensitivity flowmeter HSI hydraulic horsepower per square inch ht 1) high temperature 2) heater-treater 3) heat used h, total thickness of pay HTEq high temperature equipment HTHP high temperature, high pressure htr heater H2S hydrogen sulfide H2SO4 sulfuric acid huff 'n' puff a well stimulation method used on heavy oil reservoirs during primary production. The well is repeatedly put through three phases. During the huff (injection) phase, steam is injected into the heavyoil reservoir for a period of days to weeks. In the following soak (shut-in) phase, the well is shut in for days to allow the heat to dissipate in the reservoir and the heavy oil to heat up and become less viscous. During the puff (production) phase, the heated heavy oil is pumped up the well. Huff 'n' puff is continued until it becomes uneconomical, (cyclic steam stimulation or steam injection)

huff and puff

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hull hydraulic coupler or coupling HWCM heavily water-cut mud HWD 1) hot-wire detection 2) hot-wire detector HWDP heavy-wall drillpipe HWPKR hook wall packer HX heat exchanger hybrid platform an offshore gravity platform that is made of both steel and concrete. The tower, base, and modules can be built separately. hybrid scale a laterolog scale that is linear for resistivities at low resistivities and linear for conductivities at high resistivities HYD 1) hydraulic 2) hydraulic fracturing Hyde hydrocarbons Hydrafrac the original fracturing process that uses thickened or gelled oil under high pressure with sand as a proppant to fracture sandstone. HRFR hydra'hook a spring-loaded hydraulic hook that is used to suddenly release tension to jerk a struck drillstring out of a well hydrate 1) a mineral with bonded water in the crystal. An example is gypsum [CaSO4 2H2O]. 2) ice with gas molecules trapped in the cage-like ice crystal structure. A hydrate is a solid crystalline compound similar to snow. Natural hydrates usually contain ethane or isobutane or, less often, methane or nitrogen. They are common in permafrost areas and in seabed sediments. Hydrates also form in and block gas wells and lines and foul heat exchangers when the gas is cooled. They are composed of about 90% water and 10% or more of the gases methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Methane snow is a hydrate formed by water and methane. Hydrates have a specific gravity of between 0.96 and 0.98. Potassium salts can be used as a drilling-fluid additive to inhibit hydrates formation. Gas dehydration is used to depress the dew point of produced natural gas and prevent hydrate formation. Hydrates are melted from pipes by heaters, steam, or hot water or by adding methanol or ethylene glycol. (gas hydrate or clathrate) 3) To combine with water. hydrated lime Ca(OH)2 hydrate inhibitor a chemical that is used in gas lines to prevent the formation of a hydrate. The inhibitor is usually ammonium brines, glycol, or methanol. hydration the chemical combination of a substance with water hydraulic operated by the force and movement of a liquid under pressure. Hydraulic is in contrast to pneumatic. HYD or H hydraulic cement a cement that hardens by hydration rather than drying out. A hydraulic cement can harden underwater. Portland cement is an example. hydraulic conductivity the rate of water flow in gallons per day through a cross section of 1 ft2 of rock face under a unit hydraulic gradient at either the prevailing temperature or 60F. (permeability coefficient) hydraulic coupler or coupling a fluid connection between a prime mover and a driven machine. The fluid flow from the prime mover rotates turbine blades

hull the flotation body of a vessel. On a semisubmersible, the hull is the pontoons. Humble formula a form of Archie's formula which is used in well-log analysis. The Humble formula is empirical and used with granular or sucrosic rocks. The formula states F = 0.62<|>~215, in which F = the formation factor and < = the porosity. ) > Humble gauge a mechanical, self-contained bottomhole-pressure gauge. The gauge uses a piston that moves in a stuffing box against a helical spring held in tension to measure the pressure. The pressure is recorded by a stylus on a cylindrical chart rotated by a clock. Humble gravimeter or gravity meter an unstable type of gravimeter that uses a mass on a beam. Variations in gravity deflect the beam which is balanced by an auxiliary spring. The Humble gravimeter is sensitive to 0.2 milligals. humic woody organic matter composed of decomposed plant remains. Source rocks with this type of organic matter (Type III kerogen) are gas prone. Humic organic matter includes vitrinite, humin, huminite, humic acids, and fulvic acids. humic acids high molecular-weight organic acids that are formed by the breakdown of plant and bacterial material under aerobic conditions. Humic acids are extracted from soils and sediments by sodium hydroxide and sodium pyrophosphate. humin humic organic matter with a high molecular weight and is insoluble in acids and bases hummocky a low-relief, uneven, rounded topography hundred-percent section a seismic record that does not use common-depth-point stacking hundred-year storm a storm of intensity that occurs on an average of only once each 100 years in that area. The hundred year storm has a specific maximum wave and wind condition that will statistically occur an average of once each 100 years at a specific location on the ocean. Offshore rigs are designed to resist the wind and waves of a hundred-year storm. Waves over 100 ft high and wind speed over 120 knots can occur during some hundred-year storms. hurry-up hole the mouse hole on the drill floor of a rig hurry-up sand a sandstone that causes excessive bit wear hurry-up stick the rod that is turned by the driller on a cable-tool rig to lower the drilling line and bit in the well as it is drilled. The hurry-up stick is attached to the temper screw on the walking beam. HV 1) high viscosity 2) heating value HVL highly volatile liquid hvly heavily HVSH heaving shale HVT half-value thickness hvy heavy hvy oil heavy oil HW hook wall 1^1) differential pressure 2) height of water column

hydraulic fluid hydraulic-powered sucker-rod pumping unit in the driven machine. A runner could also be used to absorb the power and transmit it to the driven machine. The hydraulic coupler is used for low-speed operations such as a drawworks, rotary table, and pumps or low-torque operations such as hoisting and fishing. The output speed is controlled by volume of fluids pumped. hydraulic fluid a low-viscosity fluid that is used to transmit force in a hydraulic system

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hydraulic fracturing

hydraulic fracturing a well-stimulation process in which a frac fluids are pumped down casing or a temporary workstring under high pressure up to 20,000 psi to artificially fracture a reservoir rock in order to increase permeability and production. Fracturing can be done in stages during which different fluids are injected into the well. First a pad, which is frac fluid without proppants, is pumped down the well until formation breakdown. Then the frac fluid with proppants is pumped. At the end of hydraulic fracturing, a clear fluid flush is pumped down the well to clean the well of proppants. The flush can also be an underflush or overflush depending on the amount of flushing fluids pumped. Fracturing equipment includes pumping units, blenders, bulk handling equipment such as sand transports and frac fluid transports, a trailer-mounted manifold, and frac bus. The frac fluid flows out of perforations in the casing or, if the well is not cased, packers are used to isolate the formation. The frac fluid is usually water (possibly mixed with acid) or diesel oil. Thickening agents can be used to increase frac-fluid viscosity. Propping agents (small spheres) such as well-sorted sand or aluminum-oxide pellets, are suspended in the fluid and are used to hold the fractures open after the pumping stops. The proppant or sand concentration is usually V2-4 lbs/gal and is mixed with the frac fluid in the blender. The frac job is measured by the pounds of sand used which usually varies from 20,000 to 1,000,000 lbs in a massive hydraulic frac. Higher injection rates form longer fractures. Some types of hydraulic fracturing include a) Hydrafrac, b) sandfrac, c) waterfrac, d) acidfrac, e) superfrac, f) gelled waterfrac, g) gelled oilfrac, h) emulsion frac, and i) vapor frac. Hydraulic fracturing was developed in 1948 and was originally done through a tubing string to below a packer, (fracturing, formation fracturing, or frac job) HYD hydraulic gradient the change in pressure head per unit distance of fluid flow (hydraulic potential or pressure potential)

hydraulic head 1) the height of the surface of a liquid above a specific point in that liquid 2) the pressure caused by the weight of a column of liquid hydraulic horsepower the power of a fluid under pressure hydraulic jar a fishing-tool accessory that is designed to give a sharp upward shock to the fishing tool in order to loosen a fish in a well. The hydraulic jar has an oil-filled body and uses a tripping device in the jar. The force of the shock is controlled by the torque applied against the tripping mechanism. (mechanical jar) hydraulic jet pumping an artificial lift method used on oil wells. A surface pump supplies high-pressure power fluid down a tubing string through a nozzle into a production inlet chamber. The low-pressure jet from the nozzle entrails production fluids from the suction inlet, and the mixed fluids flow through a throat into an expanding diffuser. There the velocity head is converted to static head to move the mixture up the production tubing. Because there are few moving parts, hydraulic-jet pumping is used in corrosive and hostile environments and in gassy wells with poor quality crude oil. hydraulic orienting sub a short pipe that is used to determine the low side of deviated wells. A ball falling to the low side blocks an orifice to increase circulating pressure and indicate the low side. hydraulic pad a pad used on a well-logging tool that is filled with water for better electrode contact with the borehole wall. Hydraulic pads are used on microresistivity sondes. hydraulic piston pump a closely coupled reciprocating engine and pump that is used for hydraulic pumping. The unit is located below the fluid level in the well and is driven by a high-pressure power fluid that is pumped down the well to the engine through one conduit, and the spent power fluid and produced fluids come up another conduit. Most hydraulic piston pumps are free pumps that are circulated in and out of the well. hydraulic potential see hydraulic gradient hydraulic-powered sucker-rod pumping unit artificial lift equipment that uses a sucker-rod string and sucker-rod pump. The pump is driven by

cylinder

prime mover

polished rod

hydraulic-powered sucker-rod pumping unit

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hydraulic pulling tool hydrocarbon are used, the power fluid goes down the larger diameter string and the mixture comes up the smaller diameter string located in the larger string. The hydraulic engine and direct-coupled positivedisplacement pump were originally called a production unit; both are now called the pump. The engine is the hydraulic engine on the end of the pump, whereas the pump is a direct-coupled positivedisplacement pump on the end of the pump. Most are installed as free pumps that can be circulated in and out of the well. The power-fluid system can be either a) a closed power-fluid system in which the power fluid stays in a closed circuit, or b) an open power-fluid system in which the power fluid mixes with the produced fluid. hydraulic ram a cylinder and piston device that is driven by hydraulic pressure hydraulics the science and engineering of liquid flow hydraulic surface pump a surface pump that provides power to activate downhole sucker-rod . pumps. A hydraulic surface pump can be used instead of a surface beam pumping unit and can drive several wells from a central source at the same time. hydraulic-torque wrench or tongs equipment that replaces the manual tongs and does much of the manual labor in handling pipe on the floor of a drilling rig. The wrench is hydraulically powered and can accurately apply torque for making up or breaking out joints. The wrench has a gauge for torque and provides its own backup. The hydraulic-torque wrench also can count automatically the number of joints going downhole. (powertongs or iron roughneck) hydraulic unit see hydraulic-powered sucker-rod pumping unit Hydril an oilfield manufacturer that is often associated with annular preventers and exclusively manufactured from 1937-1970. HD HYDRO hydrostatic pressure hydro a prefix meaning association with water or hydrogen hydrocarbon a molecule formed entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Hydrocarbons can be solid such as asphalt, liquid such as crude oil, or gas such as natural gas. The term is used for both crude oil and natural gas and can include hetrocompounds with sulphur, oxygen, and nitrogen. The simplest hydrocarbon is methane (CH4). Hydrocarbons can be classified by molecular arrangement with such terms as acyclic, alicyclic, polycyclic, alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkanes, and aromatics. Light hydrocarbons include methane and ethane. Intermediate hydrocarbons are propane through hexane. Heavy hydrocarbons are heptane and larger molecules. Hydrocarbons can also be classified as a) black oil, b) volatile oil, c) retrograde gas d) wet

a prime mover and takes air from an air balance tank and injects the air under a piston in a vertical cylinder for the upstroke. The pump takes air from below the piston during the downstroke and injects it back into the air balance tank. The polished rod is attached to the piston in the cylinder. The hydraulic-powered sucker-rod pumping unit is suited -for long-stroke pumping, (hydraulic unit) hydraulic pulling tool a fishing tool that is used in cased holes to exert a very high tensile force on a fish. The hydraulic pulling tool is a hydraulic jack used on the fishing string just above the fishing tool and fastens to the casing with pulling-tool anchors. The tensile force is applied either mechanically by rotating the fishing string or hydraulically by the drilling mud. (pulling tool)

hydraulic pump

hydraulic pump a pump that is used to move liquids. A hydraulic pump can be either single- or double-acting. The single-acting pump moves the liquid only during one stroke in the cycle. A doubleacting pump uses check valves to move the liquid on both strokes during a cycle. Some types of hydraulic pumps include a) conventional, both insert and casing; b) parallel; c) casing free pump both standing or slim line and gas vent string; and d) concentric. hydraulic pumping a type of artificial lift in oil wells using a downhole hydraulic piston pump without sucker rods. Hydraulic pumping consists of an enginedriven pump on the surface and a production pump in the well. The downhole pump is driven by a power fluid, either water or pressurized, clean crude oil. Either one or two strings of tubing can be used. In the casing free-pump method with one tubing string, power oil is pumped down the tubing string to the downhole pump which is seated in the string. A mixture of power oil and produced fluid then flows up the tubing-casing annulus. If two tubings strings

hydrocarbon

hydrocarbon deadline hydrogen blistering gas, and c) dry gas. The hydrocarbon content in crude oils averages 7096. HC or Hyde hydrocarbon deadline the maximum depth for commercial deposits of crude oil or gas in an area hydrocarbon dew-point the temperature at which liquid hydrocarbons start to condense from a gas as the gas is cooled hydrocarbon log a record of the amount of gas and crude oil in drilling mud and cuttings on a mud log. The units are often arbitrary. hydrocarbon pore thickness the porosity times the net thickness of the reservoir times the hydrocarbon saturation HPT hydrocarbon pore volume the volume of rock
occupied by hydrocarbons such as oil and gas. Hydrocarbon pore volume is usually calculated from the formula HPV = <$> (1-5U,)., in which < is porosity f > of the rock and Sw is water saturation. HPV
hydrocyclones

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hydrocarbon pore-volume map a map that uses contours to show the value of net pore volume multiplied by mean hydrocarbon saturation for a reservoir hydrocarbon porosity feet the product of hydrocarbon saturation, porosity, and pay thickness hydrocarbon recovery unit a field installation that removes liquified petroleum products from natural gas. The hydrocarbon recovery unit is primarily a drydessicant absorption unit. As wet gas is passes through the absorption unit, water is adsorbed on the top of the dessicant bed and hydrocarbons in order from heavier to lighter are absorbed in the lower part of the bed. As more gas is passed through the unit, the water eventually replaces the hydrocarbons. In a quickcycle system, the absorption cycle is short (15-20 minutes), and the absorbed hydrocarbons are condensed and recovered in a cooler. The term hydrocarbon recovery unit is also used to include any gas plant. HRV hydrocarbon resaturation a method used to determine the porosity of a sample such as a core by a) weighing the sample dry, b) weighing the sample saturated with a liquid of known density, and c) weighing the saturated sample submerged in a liquid of known density hydrocarbon saturation the percentage of the pore space that is occupied with crude oil and/or natural gas. Hydrocarbon plus water saturation will add up to 100% in a reservoir. hydrocarbon solvent slug injection an enhanced oil-recovery method in which a volume or slug of hydrocarbons (usually propane and/or butane) is injected into an oil reservoir. The hydrocarbon slug is miscible (mixes) with the oil in the reservoir and reduces the oil's viscosity. The hydrocarbon slug is followed by injecting a slug of gas into the reservoir to move the oil. hydrochloric acid an acid (HC1) that is commonly used in acid jobs, (muratic acid) hydroclastic clay minerals that disperse into irregular fragments during a distilled water wettability test. Hydroclastic is in contrast to hydroturgid, hydrofissile, nonswelling, and cryptofissile.

hydrocyclone a type of liquid-solids centrifugal device on a drilling rig that is used to remove the finer well cuttings from the drilling mud after the shale shaker has remover the larger cuttings. Hydrocyclones are located on skid-mounted units on the mud tanks. Because the capacity of the hydrocyclone is not as great as the shale shaker, several are used. Two types of hydrocyclones are the desander and the desilter which are designed to separate different-sized particles. They are cone-shaped, with a small hole at the bottom for the underflow discharge and a large hole at the top for the liquid discharge. Hydrocyclones commonly vary from 2-12 in. in nominal size which is the inner diameter of the cone at the location where the fluid enters. The hydrocyclone is lined with rubber or plastic, (cone or separator cone) hydrodynamic brake a type of brake that uses an impeller in water to slow or stop rotation. A hydrodynamic brake is used as an auxiliary brake on the drawworks of a drilling rig. (hydraulic brake) hydrodynamic pressure the pressure on flowing hydrodynamics the motion and action of water hydrodynamic trap a type of petroleum trap in which the frictional force of water flowing downdip balances the buoyancy force of petroleum flowing updip to stop and trap the petroleum hydrofissile clay minerals that separate into tabular flakes during a distilled water wettability test. Hydrofissile is in contrast to hygroturgid, hydroclastic, nonswelling, and cryptofissile. Hydrofrac a method of hydraulically fracturing reservoir rock in a well to stimulate production. hydrofracing hydraulic fracturing hydrogas-lift system an artificial lift system that uses both hydraulics and gas lift to produce heavy oil from deep wells. The hydraulics evacuates the heavy oil from the chamber between two packers and into the production tubing. Gas lift evacuates power oil from a power oil string to reduce the bottomhole pressure. hydrogen the lightest of elements. Hydrogen is a gas that is sometimes found in natural gases. The ratio of the isotopes common hydrogen (JH) to deuterium (2H) is used to determine the maturity and source of methane. H hydrogen blistering a type of corrosion that occurs on low-strength steels. A bump forms where hydrogen atoms attach to a metal defect.

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hydrogen embrittlement hydrostatic level lipophilic balance determines the type of emulsion formed and is controlled by the chemical composition of the emulsifier. HLB hydrophobe a substance that repulses water in contrast to hydrophile hydrophobic the property of a substance that repulses water or is not wetted by water in contrast to hydrophile hydrophone microphone used at sea in seismic exploration. Hydrophones are towed in an oil-filled streamer behind a boat and detect pressure differences in the water caused by subsurface reflections. Most hydrophones are the piezoelectric type. hydrophone streamer a plastic tube commonly containing 96 or up to 240 evenly spaced hydrophone groups of 20-50 hydrophones in each group for a marine seismic survey. The hydrophone streamer is towed behind a boat at a depth of about 20-50 ft which is controlled by vains. Pressure-sensitive hydrofoils or birds are evenly spaced along the streamer to control depth. A water-break detector is located at the end of the hydrophone streamer nearest the boat and is used to measure the offset distance between the hydrophone array and the source array. The hydrophone streamer contains a depth indicator and magnetic compass. A hydrophone streamer is commonly 1.5-3 mi long, 2-3 in. in diameter and is filled with oil. (streamer) hydropressure normal hydrostatic pressure in a reservoir. The normal hydropressure increase depends on the density of the ground water. The pressure increase is 45 psi/100 ft for water with a salinity of 55.4 ppt and 46.5 psi/100 ft for water salinity of 100 ppt. Hydropressure is in contrast to geopressure or abnormal high or low pressure, (normal pore pressure) hydroscopic the ability to take and retain moisture hydrosol a colloidal solution made of water hydrostatic bailer a wireline bailer that is used to remove sand and debris from the bottom of a well. The bailer is a 5-ft cylinder that is lowered into the well under atmospheric pressure. On the bottom of the well, a shear disk on the bottom of the cylinder is broken by jarring, and fluids and debris flow into the bailer. The debris is prevented from flowing back out the bailer by a check. hydrostatic equilibrium water with a horizontal potentiometric surface and no motion. The forces on the water are balanced. hydrostatic head the height of a column of water. The term is often applied to other liquids. The hydrostatic head of an oil well is the measured height to which the oil rises in the well under its own pressure. The hydrostatic head in a well being drilled is the weight of the column of drilling mud in the well. Hydrostatic head is commonly reported in pounds per square inch (lb/in.2) or grams per square centimeter (g/cm2). The hydrostatic head can be computed by the formula p = 0.052 dh in which p is in pounds per square inch, d is in pounds per U.S. gallon and h is in feet. HH hydrostatic leyeT the height in a reservoir that a column of formation water can be supported by the

hydrogen embrittlement a form of corrosion on steel in which free hydrogen ions form on a wet metal surface as the result of corrosion. Some of the hydrogen ions enter the steel and reduce the steel's ductility and cause brittle fractures, (acid brittleness or hydrogen stress cracking) HE hydrogen index 1) the number of hydrogen atoms per unit volume as compared to those in fresh water at 75 F. The hydrogen index is used for neutron log response in well logging. 2) the milligrams of hydrocarbon per gram of total organic carbon in kerogen (mg HC/g TOC). The hydrogen index is determined by pyrolysis or Rock-Eval (S2). The hydrogen index can be used to determine the type of immature kerogen, and if the type of kerogen is known, it can determine the maturity of the kerogen.
IH

hydrogen richness the hydrogen content of a formation hydrogen stress cracking see hydrogen embrittlement hydrogen sulfide a poisonous, corrosive gas with the chemical formula H2S. Hydrogen sulfide can occur by itself in crude oil, formation waters, or in natural gas (sour gas) and has a pungent, rotten-egg smell. Hydrogen sulfide has a molecular weight of 34.076, a boiling point of 76.6F, a critical temperature of 212.2F, a specific gravity at 60F of 0.79, and a gross heat content of 637 Btu/ft3 Most pipelines limit the hydrogen-sulfide content of natural gas to a maximum of 0.25 gr/100 ft3 (4 ppm). After the hydrogen sulfide is removed from sour gas by the alkanolamine process or iron-sponge sweetening, it is either burned or reduced to elemental sulfur for sale. Hydrogen sulfide is an acid gas that, when dissolved in water, can cause metal corrosion. hydrology the science of water in the subsurface, on the surface, and in the atmosphere. An older definition limits the science to subsurface waters. hydrolysis the chemical reaction of water with a salt to form a weak acid and base. The water is split into H+ and OH" hydromatic brake or retarder an auxiliary brake used on the drawworks of a drilling rig. A hydraulic brake consists of an impeller rotating in a water-filled housing. The mechanical energy of braking is transferred to the cooling water. hydrometer a tube-shaped instrument that is made of glass with a weighted lower end and a scale printed on its upper end. A hydrometer is designed to float upright in a liquid. The height to which the hydrometer floats depends on the density of the liquid which is read off the scale. One API oil-gravity hydrometer is used to measure crude oils from 10-45 API and another for crude oils from 45-90. A mudwater hydrometer is used to determine drilling-mud density. (areometer) hydrophile a substance that attracts water in contrast to hydrophobe hydrophilic the property of a substance that attracts or is wetted by water in contrast to hydrophobic hydrophilic-lipophilic balance the relative attraction of an emulsifier for either water (hydrophilic) or oil (lipophilic). The hydrophilic-

hydrostatic pressure Hzorhz hydrostatic pressure of the water at that point in the aquifer hydrostatic pressure the pressure exerted by water at rest at a specific depth in the water. Hydrostatic pressure is normal fluid pressure encountered in subsurface rocks due to the weight of overlying waters. The normal hydrostatic pressure increase depends on the density of the ground water. The pressure increase is 45 psi/100 ft for water with a salinity of 554 ppt and 46.5 psi/100 ft for water salinity of 100 ppt. The average increase for the Gulf Coast is 46.5 psi/100 ft. Brines can have up to 52 psi/100 ft pressure increase. Hydrostatic pressure can be calculated by multiplying the density of the water in lb/gal times 0.052 times the vertical height of the water column
in feet. HYDRO, HP, PH or ph

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hydrostatics the study of fluids at rest and their forces hydrostatic shell test a test used to determine the integrity of a valve. The half-open valve is subjected to hydrostatic pressure 1V2-2 times the working pressure of the valve. hydrostatic test or hydro-test a method used to find leaks or to determine the tensile strength of a tubular or vessel. The tubular or vessel is filled with high-pressure water to test for leaks or breakage at high pressures. Tubing used in a well is tested with a hydrostatic test. hydrostatic test pressure the pressure that a manufacture uses during a static body test on a body or shell. The hydrostatic test pressure is a safety margin above the rated working pressure. hygroscopic the property of a substance that absorbs water from a gas

hygroturgid a clay mineral that swells in a random manner during a wettability test with distilled water. Hydroturgid is in contrast to hydroclastic, hydrofissile, nonswelling, and cryptofissile. hyp hypersthene hyperbolic decline an oil well production decline that is proportional to a fractional power of the production rate. When average producing rate is plotted on a log scale versus cumulative production on a log scale, it approaches a straight line. The equation for the decline is Q = Q,, (1 + M)/)~V" in which Q = production rate, Q, = initial production rate, N = an empirical number that varies between 0.4 and 0.5, D, = initial decline, and t = time. The hyperbolic decline curve gives a good fit for a well's decline curve, but the factor N has to be determined from a computer analysis of production data from similar wells. hypersaline water with a salinity greater than sea water hypersthene a grayish, greenish, black, or dark brown mineral of the pyroxene group that is composed of (Mg,Fe)SiO3. Hypersthene is common in igneous rocks and occurs in some sedimentary rocks. Hyp hypothetical reserves undiscovered petroleum deposits that are reasonably expected to exist in a certain area under the known geological conditions hysteresis the failure of a material to completely return to its original state or shape after a force has been removed. If magnetization is the force, when the magnetization is removed, the material exhibits remanent magnetization. Hz or hz hertz

254

DEL-G

I 1) current 2) invasion 3) injectivity index 4) resistivity index 5) intensity of magnetization 6) induction log 7) index 8) inch 9) productivity index 10) investment 11) porosity index i 1) initial 2) injected 3) invaded zone 4) injection rate 5) irreducible 6) inner 7) interval 8) slant IADC International Association of Drilling Contractors IADC report a daily record of the drilling operations that is recorded on International Association of Drilling Contractors standards by a drilling contractor. The report includes hourly records of drilling operations, mud properties, drillstring data, and time on each operation. IAGC International Association of Geophysical Contractors IAPD International Association of Professional Divers IBP or i.b.p. initial boiling point Ibexian a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 500-485 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. IBHP initial bottomhole pressure IBHPF initial bottomhole pressure flowing IBHPSI initial bottomhole pressure shut in Ic 1) compressional-wave index 2) cavitation index ICC or I.C.C. Interstate Commerce Commission Ice Ages an epoch of time from about 2 m. y. to 10,000 years ago when the world climate was colder than today and more precipitation in the form of snow fell. Glaciers of ice covered up to one-third of the land area of the world, and sea level fell about 300 ft below present level. There were four major cycles of glaciation separated by warmer periods called interglacials when sea level was higher than present. The Ice Ages are part of the Tertiary period. (Pleistocene) ice bridge a plug formed by ice on top of a shothole in a cold climate. An ice bridge can prevent gases from escaping and cause secondary shocks during the seismic exploration shot. ice platform an artificial foundation for offshore drilling in Arctic regions. Water is pumped on ocean ice and allowed to freeze. The thickness of the ice is built up until it is strong enough to support the weight of a drilling rig. ICF incremental cost per foot iC, I-pentane or isopentane

iC 4 I-butane or isobutane ichnofossil the track, burrow, boring, or trail of an ancient animal in a sedimentary rock, (trace fossil) I d clay index ICP initial casing pressure ICPF initial casing pressure flowing ICPSI' initial casing pressure shut-in ICS customer instrument service ICT inflatable combination tool ID 1) inside or inner diameter 2) deep induction log i.d. inside diameter I . D A Industrial Diamond Association of America IDC intangible drilling and development costs IDCs expenses that cannot be recovered after drilling and equipping a well for production. These are costs in drilling and completing a well which cannot be salvaged but are necessary and incident to the drilling and completing of the well for production and are not leasehold costs. IDCs include labor, fuel, hauling, rentals, and supplies. These costs receive a very favorable tax consideration in that they can be deducted in the year that they occur rather than be capitalized and depreciated. IDCs are about 70% of the total cost of an exploratory well and 60% of a developmental well. A distinction is made in the federal tax laws between domestic and international oil companies and integrated and independent companies, (intangibles, intangible drilling costs, or intangible drilling and development costs) ideal gas a gas that obeys the ideal gas law in contrast to a real gas. At very low pressure, a real gas is similar to an ideal gas. ideal gas law a formula that relates the temperature, pressure, volume, and amount of ideal gas. PV = nRT in which P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles of gas, R is the gas constant and T is the temperature in K. The ideal gas law can be used for low gas pressure, but has to be modified with the compressibility factor (Z) to compensate for molecular volume and electrostatic attraction under high pressures in a real gas. The modified equation is PV = ZnRT. (general or perfect gas law) idiot stick a hand-held auger that is used to make shot holes for seismic exploration idler a pulley or sprocket that is used on belt- or chain-driven machines to maintain tension IDNT identity EEC International Electrochemical Commission IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers i eff effective injection rate IEL 1) induction electrical log 2) induction electrolog EEL-G induction electric, gamma ray log

IEL-GR IEL-GR induction electrolog, gamma ray log IEL-GRN induction electrolog, gamma ray, neutron log IERS Institute for Energy Resources Studies EES induction electrical survey I-ES induction-electric logging IEU internal-external upset IF 1) internal flush 2) impact force If fracture index I Ff free fluid index IFP initial flowing pressure IFPCW International Federation of Petroleum and Chemical Workers EFT interfacial tension ig intergranular IGN, Ig, ig, or Ign igneous rock igneous rock rock formed by cooling a hot, molten liquid. Two types of igneous rocks are a) extrusive, which cooled and solidified on the surface of the earth such as basalt, and b) intrusive, which cooled and solidified in the subsurface as an intrusion such as granite. Igneous rocks are common basement rocks and are generally unproductive for petroleum. IGN, Ig, ig, or Ign ignimbrite a volcanic rock formed by ash flows and nuees ardentes igniter an electrical device used to fire low explosives used in sidewall coring and gun perforating ignition magneto a generator that uses rotating armatures in a magnetic field formed by permanent magnets to produce an electric current to an engine's ignition system, (magneto) IGLR injection gas/liquid ratio ignition temperature the minimum temperature necessary to cause a mixture to burn ignorant end the heavy end of a tool such as a wrench IGOR injection gas/oil ratio I-GR induction, gamma ray log IGRF International Geomagnetic Reference Field IGS Institute of Geological Sciences IGSN71 a worldwide system of absolute bases IGT induced gamma ray tool IH initial hydrostatic IH hydrogen index IHP 1) initial hydrostatic pressure 2) indicated horsepower I.H.P. indicated horsepower IHR improved hydrocarbon recovery IIR iron indicator ratio If integral joint IL induction log II ilmenite ELD induction log deep (investigation) ELd deep induction curve IL-GR induction log, gamma ray log

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illegal oil or gas oil or gas that was produced in excess of that allowed a government regulatory agency. (hot oil) IUinoisan or Illinoian an epoch of geological time that is part of the Pleistocene period. It is the third glacial stage and is the equivalent to the Riss in Europe. illite a type of clay mineral that is similar to micas and is formed by layered silicates of aluminum, iron, and magnesium with potassium in the interlayer sites [K0.8(Al1.6Fe0.2Mg0.2)(Si3.4Al0.6X),o(OH)2]. Illite has a density of 2.78 gm/cm s and a cell dimension of 10.10 A. Illite forms from the alteration of micas, feldspars, and other clay minerals and is common in marine sediments. Illite will swell in fresh water causing it to break off from mineral grains and clog pore throats. Swelling can be prevented by injecting salt water into the formation. Under a scanning electron microscope, illites form a honeycomb or fibrous structure that protrudes into pores and decreases effective porosity. Illite is often found associated with smectite. Problems with illite are a) high microporosity and b) some plates break off and migrate easily. Illite can be removed with HC1/HF acid. The illite clay-mineral family is composed entirely of the illite species. ILM induction log medium (investigation) ILn, medium induction curve ilmenite an opaque, iron-black mineral composed of FeTiO3. Ilmenite has a specific gravity of 4.67 and is used as weighting material to increase the density of cement slurry and drilling mud. // DL-N induction log, neutron log IM medium induction log im intermatrix image a pictorial representation of the data acquired by a remote sensing system image well a simulated well used as a boundary in reservoir modeling, (ghost well) imaging see migration IMBD or imbd imbedded imbibe to absorb imbibition 1) the absorption of a fluid into a porous rock by capillary attraction. Imbibition is the displacement of a nonwetting fluid with a wetting fluid in a rock. 2) the flow of a fluid such as water around a relatively impermeable portion of the reservoir rock leaving oil behind, (bypassing)

imbibition relative permeability the


displacement of crude oil in a reservoir by increasing the wetting-phase saturation. Imbibition relative permeability is in contrast to drainage relative permeability that increases the nonwetting phase saturation. I.M.M. Institute of Mining and Metallurgy immature 1) a sedimentary rock that was rapidly eroded and deposited. Immature sedimentary rocks are poorly sorted, possibly including rock fragments; contain mineral grains that do not survive transportation over long distances, such as feldspars and the ferromagnesium minerals; and have angular grains. Graywacke and arkose sandstones are immature. 2) a stage in the maturation of a source rock in which the kerogen has not generated

256

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improved-recovery technique IMPES implicit pressure, explicit saturation Imp gal Imperial gallon implied covenants obligations of the lessee that the courts have implied from the lease. Implied covenants include: a) to reasonably develop the lease, b) to conduct drilling and production operations with due care, c) to produce and market the petroleum, and d) to protect the lease from drainage by surrounding leaseholds. Implied covenants are in contrast to expressed covenants. implied easements the undeclared right of the lessee to make geophysical tests on the lease such as seismic and to enter and leave the lease during the course of drilling and production operations implosion collapse into a low-pressure area. Implosion is the opposite to explosion. IMPO implosive treatment impressed-current anode the steel, titanium, or magnetite anode to which positive electricity is applied in the impressed-current method of cathodic protection impressed-current protection a method that retards electrochemical corrosion on large, marine, and buried structures such as offshore platforms and pipelines. A low-voltage direct current of 25-60 v and several hundred amperes is generated between the structure and anodes that are usually permanent fittings. Impressed-current protection is similar in principle to cathodic protection but does not rely on sacrificial anodes, (anodic protection)

significant amounts of petroleum. An immature oil source rock has a vitrinite reflectance below 0.5%, a thermal alteration index below 2.2, and a spore-color index of less than 3-5. An immature gas-prone source rock has a vitrinite reflectance value of less than 0.7% and a thermal alteration index of less than 2.5. immature oil crude oil which has been generated at relatively low temperatures in the oil window. Immature oil is characterized by high molecular weights, high asphaltic content, low "API and a high sulfur content. Immature oil is in contrast to mature oil. IMMED or immed immediately immiscible fluids that are not soluble in one another. Immiscible fluids coexist as separate phases. immiscible displacement the displacement of oil in a reservoir by gas or water with an interface occurring between the driving fluid and the oil. There is no mixing of the fluids. immoble water saturation the minimum water saturation (,) in a reservoir at which the water will flow. Immoble water saturation is about 30%. IMP or imp impression Imp 1) imperial 2) impression impact wrench a pneumatic wrench impedance the resistance of a material to the flow of an alternating electrical current. Impedance is a) the ratio of voltage to current in an electric circuit and b) the ratio of electric field intensity to magnetic field intensity in an electromagnetic field. Electrical impedance is measured in ohms. Acoustic impedance is sound velocity times density. impeller a rotating wheel or blade mounted on a shaft. Impellers are used to either agitate or mix a fluid, to turn the shaft as a fluid flows past them, or to drive a fluid in a pump. impenetrable substance 1) a subsurface rock layer that cannot be drilled with available equipment and/ or reasonable costs 2) basement rock. The encounter of an impenetrable substance by a driller could mean that the driller can abandon the well and, depending on the drilling contract, drill a substitute well. In a farmout agreement, a substitute well might satisfy the requirements of the earning well that encountered an impenetrable substance. Imperial gallon a unit of liquid volume in England and Canada. An Imperial gallon is the space occupied by 10 lbs of distilled water. An Imperial gallon is equal to about 1.201 gal in the United States. Imp gal Imperial System of units a system of measurements used in the United States, United Kingdom, and the Middle East. The Imperial System unit for mass is pounds, for length is feet, and for time is seconds. impermeable rock that does not allow fluids to readily flow through it. (aquitard) imperv impervious impervious a substance that cannot be penetrated. imperv impervious sheathed cable an insulated conductor or cable that has a metallic or nonmetallic covering to protect the cable from moisture and gases

impression blocks

impression block, box, or tool a fishing tool that is run on a wireline or pipe. The impression block is landed on top of the fish with a sharp, light force. The bottom part of the impression block is filled with several inches of lead. Some have a small port through the lead for circulating, whereas others have ports above the lead for circulating. The negative impression of the fish on the impression block can be changed to a positive impression using modeling clay. The impression is used to choose the right fishing tool to remove the fish. impression packer a downhole device that is used to make a surface impression of the rocks on the borehole wall. The impression packer is used to identify and study fractures in reservoir rock along the wellbore. improved-recovery technique engineering methods that are used to supplement the natural reservoir drive of an oil reservoir and increase its

impsonite ultimate production. Improved recovery techniques range from pressure maintenance to enhanced oil recovery. impsonite a solidified bitumen. Impsonite is a regional term for an asphalt found in Oklahoma. impulse blaster a device used to activate an electrical blasting cap when it detects a shock wave. An impulse blaster is used in seismic exploration to give a directional charge. impulse factor a number that is used in polished rod load calculations. The impulse factor is equal to 57V2 1 + a in which a is equal to -. g n n . 5" is equal to the polished rod stroke length and N is equal to the pumping speed. imput safety valve a safety shut-in valve that is used in an injection well. The imput safety valve has a check valve that allows only downward fluid flow. ISV IMW initial mud weight IN, In, or in. inch in a bind to be in trouble inarticulate brachiopod a marine invertebrate with two shells (bivalve) that are not the same in size or shape. This distinguishes the brachiopods from the clams or pelecypods that have two similar shells. The inarticulate brachiopods are more primitive and have their shells held together with hingement rather than the teeth and sockets found on the articulate brachiopods. Inarticulate brachiopods have existed from the Lower Cambrian epoch to the present. inbalance a situation in which the cumulative gas take from a well is not equal to the amount entitled to each party by their percentage of ownership. There is an overage and underage inbalance. inbd interbedded incd incandescent incident angle the angle which something such as seismic energy is to perpendicular on a reflecting surface such as a subsurface rock layer incident energy the electromagnetic radiation that impinges on a surface incin incinerator incineration the controlled burning of solid, liquid or gas wastes incinerator a device designed and manufactured to burn wastes under controlled conditions, incin incised a river channel that has been rejuvenated and has eroded deeper INCL 1) include 2) included 3) inclusions Incl or incl inclusion incl include inclination 1) the angle between a crooked or deviated hole and vertical that is measured during a deviation survey (angle of deviation, deflection, drift, drift angle, hole deviation, or inclination or deviation angle) 2) the dip of a plane in rocks such as a bedding surface or fault plane. The inclination is measured from horizontal. inclination drilling directional drilling

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257

inclination survey a record of how much a well deviates from vertical at various depths in the well. The survey is made with a drift indicator and does not measure azimuth, (drift log or survey) inclined fold a fold in sedimentary rocks in which the axial plane dips between 10 and 80. An inclined fold is in contrast to a upright or recumbent fold. inclinometer 1) an instrument that is used to determine how much a wellbore deviates from vertical at various depths in the well. One type, an acid-bottle inclinometer, uses hydroflouric acid to etch the deviation of the well on a glass bottle. Another type uses a plumb bob or mechanical pendulum in a barrel and punches a hole with a stylus into a paper disk that is graduated with 1 circles. The inclinometer is activated by a timing device and can make two punches. The time is set and the instrument is dropped from the surface onto a baffle plate located on top of the drill bit. The disc moves up to the pendulum stylus. An inclination survey is usually made every 500 ft or just before a bit change. Inclinometer is a trade name. (drift indicator) 2) a pendulum or gyroscopic device used on a ship to measure the pitch and roll of the ship incls inclusions inclusion a foreign particle (gas, liquid, or solid) trapped in a mineral grain or other substance such as metal. INCL, Incl or incl inclusive clause cover-all clause incompetent a type of folding in rocks in which the layers flow in response to the folding and become thick and thin incompetent formation a rock layer that will thick or thin under stress such as compressive folding. Shales are often incompetent. incomplete fusion or penetration a weld that does not cover the entire weld joint or joint thickness incompressibility modulus see bulk modulus INCR or incr 1) increase 2) increasing 3) increased increased density a drilling and spacing unit on which the number of wells allowed by a government regulatory agency has been increased. Extra wells do not have to be drilled to hold the lease. Increased density is in contrast to decreased spacing that decreases the size of the drilling and spacing unit and requires more wells to be drilled to hold the lease. incremental tertiary oil crude oil that could not have been produced without a tertiary recovery project incremental ultimate recovery the difference between the amount of oil that can be recovered by economically practical, enhanced oil-recovery methods and the amount that can be recovered by conventional recovery processes incrustations deposits such as wax or scale collecting on the inside surfaces of tanks, meters, and tubulars Ind or ind induction ind indurated in default the condition of breach of provision or condition in a contract

258

indenometer inductance indicator paste a substance that is put on a gauge line or pole to indicate the level of a fluid in a tank. The paste can either a) change color on contact with gasoline or b) change color on contact with water. Kolor Kut is a commercial product that is an indicator paste. indigenous microorganisms the microorganisms such as bacteria that are naturally present in a petroleum reservoir indirect-fired or heated vessel a tank that uses the heat of a water bath warmed by a flame in a fire tube to transfer heat to another fluid. The heat source is external and is usually produced natural gas. The heater can be used to heat and break an emulsion. An indirect-fired vessel is in contrast to a direct-fired or heated vessel. indirect index an alphabetical list of grantees of oil and gas leases. It is located in the county or parish courthouse and is used in a lease check. An indirect index is in contrast to a direct or grantor index. individual loss a provision in a joint operating agreement in which the party that contributed the land bears the entire loss of any problem with the title of that land. There will be a revised acreage adjustment to the joint operating agreement. An individual loss is in contrast to a joint loss. indst indistinct induced flow oil flow in a well that was initiated1 by engineering methods such as swabbing the well or gas injection induced polarization an exploration method that uses either current pulse (time-domain) or lowfrequency variations of earth impedance (frequencydomain) to cause a voltage in the earth's surface. An electric conductor such as a metallic ore body that is immersed in an ionic conductor such as saltwater will build up electronic charges at the contact and act as a capacitor. The decay of voltage is recorded after the termination of the forces which is a measure of the metallic mineral concentration. Induced polarization has been used most successfully in locating metallic sulfide deposits such as lead-zinc in carbonate rocks. IP or overvoltage induced porosity voids (pores) in the rock formed after the rock was deposited and buried in the subsurface. Solution and fracture pores are examples of induced porosity. Induced porosity is in contrast to primary porosity, (intermediate or secondary porosity) induced spectral gamma ray log an activation-type of log that bombards the formations in the well with neutrons and records the energy levels of the induced gamma rays to identify the mineral content of the matrix. A quantitative estimate of the mineral content can also be made. The neutron source is either a radioactive source such as americium, californium, plutonium, or radium or a neutron generator. An induced spectral gamma ray log is in contrast to a spectral or natural gamma ray log. inductance the property of an electric circuit in which a varying electrical current produces a varying magnetic field that induces voltages. Inductance is measured in henrys. L

indenometer a record disk that was used along with a Halliburton line to determine the deviation of a well indentation the effect of a diamond using a Knoop indenter and the Natural Bureau of Standards test indented drill collar a drill collar with indentations on one side to make an eccentrically-weighed drill collar, (woodpecker drill collar) independent or independent producer a company in the petroleum business that is not one of the major companies. There are more detailed qualifications for legal and tax considerations. These include a) a domestic company that is not dependent on foreign oil, b) a company that explores, drills, and/or produces petroleum but does not engage in transportation, refining, or marketing of the petroleum either directly or through an affiliate (unintegrated company), or c) a company that has essentially the same management and financial sources. An independent producer is in contrast to an integrated producer. The original definition was any oil company outside the Standard Oil group. independent marketer a company or person engaged in the purchase of natural gas as a trader for resale to other purchasers, (natural gas trader) independent wire-rope center a core strand of wire with a spiral winding opposite the winding on the outer strands. I.W.R.C. index of refraction the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction measured normal to the surface of a substance. The index of refraction of crude oil is measured on an Abbe refractometer and ranges from 1.39 to 1.49. The index of refraction of the oil is dependent on the density of the oil with heavier oils having the higher indices. The index of refraction of small oil samples from cutting or cores is used to determine the character of the oil. (refractive index) n index of tortional effectiveness the average net torque divided by the peak net torque. The index of tortional effectiveness is expressed as a percentage and used as a measure of the ability of a beam pumping unit to smooth out the crankcase torque load. ITE Ind-G induction, gamma ray log indicated additional reserves future oil and gas production in a known reservoir that can be produced by future improved-recovery techniques. The indicated additional reserves are reserves beyond what the reservoir is expected to produce under present facilities, (potential reserves) indicated horsepower the theoretical power developed in the cylinders of an engine. Indicated horsepower is more than the brake horsepower that does not include loss of power due to friction. I.H.P. orlHP indicated volume the volume of a fluid measured through a specific meter. Indicated volume must be multiplied by the meter factor to obtain an accurate measure. indicator a substance that changes color at a specific chemical point such as at a certain pH level or in contact with water. Indicators are commonly used in acid-base titrations to determine the end point.

induction in fill, infill, or infilling well induction 1) electromagnetic induction is the generation of an electric current in a conductor exposed to a changing magnetic field or a conductor moving through a magnetic field 2) magnetic induction is the magnetic flux density or magnetic field and is also the process of magnetizing a substance by applying a magnetic field. Ind or ind Induction-Electrolog a combination induction and short normal or laterolog

259

induction log

induction log or induction-electric log a type of electric log that was developed in the mid-1970s for wells drilled with nonconductive fluids such as oil-base mud. The induction tool forms electrical currents called ground loops in the formations adjacent to the wellbore. The log is recorded as either conductivity and/or its inverse, resistivity. The induction electric log has a depth of investigation of 5-20 ft and a resolution of 3-5 ft. The induction log is used today in wells drilled with fresh water-base and oil-base muds and air to determine Rt and R, along with spontaneous potential (SP). A dual induction laterolog has a deep investigation (ILd) and a medium induction curve (ILm) curve. IEL, IL or I induction tool or sonde a well-logging tool that creates circular electrical currents that are vertically concentric and extend out into the formation adjacent to the wellbore. The induction tool uses a conductor coil to create a high-frequency magnetic field when a 20-kHz electric current is passed through it. The magnetic field causes electric currents called ground loops to form in the surrounding formation. The strength of the ground loops are proportional to the conductivity of the formation. The ground loops set up a secondary magnetic field that is measured on a receiver coil in the tool. Induction tools can be focused to minimize borehole and invaded zone effects. The number of transmitter and receiver coils and their spacing determines the depth of investigation, borehole response, and bed resolution. inductor a coil of wire, usually wrapped around an iron core, that can store energy in the form of a magnetic field. When an electric current is passed through the wire, a magnetic field forms. When the

electric current is stopped, the magnetic field collapses, causing a brief electric current to flow in the opposite direction of the original current. Inductance is the strength of the magnetic field generated by a current flowing through the wire and is measured in henrys. indur indurated indurated a rock made hard by heat, pressure, and natural cementation, indur or ind inelastic collision a collision in which the kinetic energy of the colliding particles is not the same before as after the collision, in contrast to an elastic collision inelastic scattering a type of scattering in which a neutron strikes the nucleus of an atom and imparts more kinetic energy to the nucleus that would be expected in a simple elastic collision. The nucleus is transformed into an excited state and returns to ground state by emitting one or more gamma rays. The scattered neutron bounces off the nucleus with significantly less energy. Inelastic scattering is in contrast to elastic scattering. inert fraction the part of the drilling mud, such as well cuttings and weighing materials, that does not add to the mud gel strength. The inert fraction is in contrast to the colloidal fraction. inert gas a gas that will not chemically react with other substances. Helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon are inert gases. inert gas injection an enhanced oil-recovery technique in which an inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen is injected into a depleted oil well. Lighter hydrocarbons from the oil migrate to the carbon dioxide to form a miscible front which is soluble with the oil. This reduces the capillary pressure of the oil that holds the oil in the pores and makes it more fluid. Nitrogen is not miscible with oil. The inert gas pushes the oil toward producing wells. inertia brake a device that slows rotation by using a heavy, rotating mass inertial navigation navigation that uses an inertial platform with two pendulums at right angles. The platform is held level by three fast-opening gyroscopes at right angles. inertinite a kerogen maceral that is composed of reworked organic matter. Inertinite is highly oxidized, inert, and has very little potential to generate petroleum. inert solids particles in drilling mud that are chemically inactive. The inerts include well cuttings, weighting, and lost circulation materials. Inert solids are in contrast to the reactive fraction that includes the clay minerals, such as bentonite and attapulgite. infauna animals living in the sediments inferential meter a meter that infers gas volume by measuring differential pressure and flow rate. Orifice, turbine, and mass flowmeters are inferential meters in contrast to positive displacement meters. INF-G inflammable gas in fill, infill, or infilling well a well drilled between producing wells to increase production and possibly ultimate recovery from the reservoir. An in fill well is not necessary to hold the lease. IW

260

to fill or infill drilling initial gel strength go from shut-in to flow against a constant pressure, such as that provided by a pipeline. Producing pressures, temperatures, and flow rates are measured at specific times. infrared the magnetic spectrum that has wavelengths greater than those of visible light red (7000 A) and less than micro and radio waves (10~3 m). Reflected infrared radiation light in wavelengths of 0.7 to 1.1 m is recorded by Landsat for remote sensing. Thermal mapping to determine temperatures uses longer infrared wavelengths. IR Inf. S inflammable solid INGAA Independent Natural Gas Association of America ingr intergranular in Hg inches of mercury INHIB or inhib inhibitor inhibit to stop inhibited acid acid that contains a chemical additive that is designed to either retard the action of the acid on steel for 10-12 hours or are surfactants that coat and protect the equipment during an acid job inhibited drilling fluid a drilling mud with a large amount of dissolved salts and low filtration characteristics that is used to minimize formation clay hydration and hole sloughing. The four types of inhibited mud are lime, gyp, seawater, and saturated seawater muds. Lime mud is the most common and uses calcium hydroxide to reduce the amount of water attached to the formation clay. Some inhibitors added to the drilling fluid include chrome lignite, chrome lignosulfonates, sodium chloride, sodium silicate, and calcium sulfate. Inhibited mud makes electric logging difficult, and low mud weights are hard to obtain. inhibitor a chemical added to retard or prevent a chemical action such as corrosion. Inhibitors are commonly used to prevent strong acids from corroding equipment in a well when they are first pumped down the well during an acid job. Inhibitors can also be used to slow the setting time for cement. Filming amines, chromates, and lime are used in drilling mud as inhibitors to prevent corrosion by acid gases, oxygen, and salt. Salt or calcium sulfate is added to drilling mud so that the filtrate will prevent hydration of formation clays. Methanol is used as a hydrate inhibitor. INHIB or inhib INIT or init initial initial development period the stage in the history of a field that occurs after the discovery well is drilled and before the flush production period. The initial development period includes the time in which the step-out wells are drilled to define the limits of the field and the development wells are drilled to produce the petroleum. initial exploration-well covenant an implied obligation in a lease that requires the lessee to drill an initial exploratory well on the lease within a reasonable time and to continue drilling until the well is evaluated initial gel strength the shear stress that is required to permanently deform a colloidal suspension such as a drilling mud after it has been at rest for 10 seconds. Initial gel strength is measured with a direct-reading

in fill or infill drilling increased-density drilling between producing wells in a field in order to increase production from a field infiltrating water water that flows into an oil reservoir formation as oil and/or gas production reduces pressure in the reservoir infiltration the flow of a fluid through a porous and permeable substance. The term is commonly applied to water flowing down through soil. infinite-acting decline the natural production decline due to the expansion of gas, oil, and water in a well's drainage region that has a continuously expanding radius. Infinite-acting decline is in contrast to depletion decline, (transient decline) infinite-acting regime a stage in a producing well that occurs just after the well is put on production, and the well has sensed no physical or artificial boundaries in the reservoir. infinite-conductivity fracture a reservoir fracture in which the pressure drop is zero during production Inf. L inflammable liquid inflammable material that cannot burn inflatable combination tool a downhole tool used in a low-flow rate well that includes a a) inflatable packer flowmeter, b) vibrating densimeter, and c) capacitive water cut-meter. ICT inflatable packer flowmeter a packer and spinnertype velocimeter that is used to record the fluid velocity profile of producing and injector wells. The packer is inflated at various points in the well to cause the fluids to flow through the metering section. inflexion line a line joining all points of zero curvature on a fold in sedimentary rocks inflow performance relationship the relationship in a well between flowing bottomhole pressure and gross liquid-production rate. IPR inflow performance test a record of a well's flowing bottomhole pressure at a stabilized production rate. Inflow performance is an empirical relationship that changes with the life of a well. The inflowperformance test uses the same data as a productivity index test but is a better description of the well's inflow capability. inflow test a method used to test the seal after cementing a liner in a well. A bit and casing scrapers are used to clean the cement out of the liner after the cement job. A tool similar to a hook-wall drillstem test tool uses slips and hydraulic hold-downs to engage the casing wall and lock the tool when pressure is applied. The tool is run on a drillstring to just above the top of the liner and seated. A circulating valve and the top of the drillstem is opened to see if the well will flow, indicating leaks. INFO or info information information console a mounted display of drilling gauges, indicators, and counters on the drilling floor. The information console shows the driller, hook weight, weight on the drill bit, rotations per minute of the drillstring, mud pump speed and pressure, engine speed, and other important parameters. information test a one-point test on a gas well that slowly reaches stabilization. The well is allowed to

Initial potential in-kind balancing


'SEPARATOR

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injection wells

viscometer and is reported in lbf/100 sq ft. A 10-minute gel strength is also usually measured. initial potential the amount that a well is capable of producing during the first 24 hours of production. (initial production) IP initial producing gas/oil ratio the original producing gas/oil ratio when the well was first brought on stream initial production 1) the first 24 hours of production from a well 2) the amount that a well is capable of producing during the first 24 hours of production, (initialpotential) IP initial reservoir pressure the original or virgin reservoir pressure before production, discovery
pressure

enhanced oil recovery. Some patterns are regular four spot, skewed four spot, five spot, seven spot, inverted seven spot, direct line drive, staggered line drive, and peripheral. injection profile the vertical distribution of flow from a wellbore into a reservoir. injection well a well used to pump fluid into the subsurface in order to either a) dispose of the fluid such as in a saltwater injection well, b) maintain subsurface reservoir pressure (pressure maintenance or cycling), or c) increase subsurface reservoir pressure (waterflood or enhanced oil recovery), (input
well) INJ or IW

initial set the time at which a cement slurry sets up and is no longer pumpable initial solution gas/oil ratio the sum of incremental gas volumes that are separated from produced crude oil by flashing processes during treating per unit volume of oil when the well was first brought onstream. The initial solution gas/oil ratio is the total gas originally in solution in the reservoir per unit volume of oil. The ratio is usually expressed in SCF/ bbl of residual oil at 60 F. (total gas/oil ratio) initial well the well that is required to be drilled under an operating agreement initiator a chemical used to start a chemical reaction. In contrast to a catalyst, the initiator is consumed and changed by the reaction. inner tube adapter an adapter used to change EXT and AXT core barrels to EXK and AXK core barrels inner tube shoe the replaceable fitting that attaches to the lower end of the inner core barrel 1 ^ 1 ) injection well 2) inject 3) injected 4) injecting 5) injection in) 1) injection 2) injector DtJ-A air injection well injected gas gas such as dry produced gas that has been injected into an injection well for pressure maintenance, or carbon dioxide or nitrogen injected for enhanced oil recovery injection log a downhole survey to determine the amount of fluid that can be injected at various depths to make an injection profile. An injection log is used to evaluate an injection well and to locate leaks and holidays. injection pattern the plan or aerial view of injection and producing wells used in waterflooding and

injection well

injectivity the relative ease in which a fluid is injected into a permeable rock TN$-G gas injection well injector the apparatus used to push coiled tubing through the stripper and into a well. The injector consists of two endless chains with small gripper blocks that are held against the coiled tubing with three hydraulic skate rams. The chain is driven by a hydraulic motor with a typical speed of 60-100 ft/ min. The stripper consists of two half-cylinders of urethane. Inj Pr injection pressure injection rate j t o n ate EtySW saltwater injection well D>{f-W water injection well in-kind balancing a method in which an underproduced party in a gas well can be compensated for underage in a gas balancing agreement by taking more than that party's share of gas at a future date. Another method is cash balancing, (volumetric balancing)

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inland barge inside blowout preventer INPE 1) installing pumping equipment 2) installed pumping equipment input the data (either numbers or character strings) that are put by a keyboard or disk drive into a computer for processing. Input is in contrast to output. input gas gas that is compressed and injected into a well for pressure maintenance or gas lift input shaft the shaft on a drawworks that is driven by a compounding transmission or an electric motor on a drilling rig input well see injection well ins insolation in/s or in/sec inches per second insert the conical, spherical, or chisel-shaped pellet of tungsten carbide that is cold-pressed into a hole drilled in the face of a steel cone on an insert or button roller-cone bit. The insert does the crushing and chipping of the rock on the bottom of the well. Chisel-shaped inserts are used in softer rocks, whereas the spherical inserts are used in harder rocks, (button)

inland barge a barge used in shallow sheltered water, marshes, and swamps as a platform for a drilling rig. An inland barge must be towed to the drillsite. in-lb inch-pounds inlet compressor the compressor that starts gas flowing in a pipeline. An inlet compressor is in contrast to the intermediate compressor stations on the pipeline. inlet diverter a device used to break the momentum of fluids flowing into a separator to initiate the separation of liquid and gas. Two types of inlet diverters are a) deflector baffle that can be a spherical disk, flat plate, cone, or other object, and b) cyclone inlet that uses centrifugal force. inlet guide vanes the first row of stationary blades on an axial-flow compressor inlet manifold the pipe system that goes from the air filter to the cylinders of an engine inlet pump station the pumping facility that starts the oil flowing through an oil pipeline inlier an area of older rocks surrounded by rocks of younger age. An inlier is in contrast to an outlier. in-line along a survey line. An in-line geophone array has the geophones arranged on the seismic line. in-line offset an arrangement in seismic exploration in which the shotpoint is in line with the spread or line of geophones, but is separated from the end of the line by an appreciable distance innage the height of a liquid, such as crude oil, in a storage tank measured from the strike plate on the bottom of the tank to the liquid surface. Innage is in contrast to outage. innage bob a weight used on the end of a dip or gauge tape innage gauge a method used to determine the amount of oil in a tank by the height of oil in the tank. The height of the oil filling the tank is measured from the bottom of the tank (strike plate) to the surface of the oil. Innage gauge is the most common method used to measure oil and is in contrast to outage gauge. inner conductor the deepest and last length (string) of casing that is run down to or through the producing zone. The casing adjacent to the producing zone can be perforated or shot with holes to complete the well. Inner conductor has the smallest diameter, ranging from 23/8 to 95/a in. and typically is 5V2 or 7*/s in., and is the longest string of casing in the well. Inner conductor protects the hole, isolates formation fluids, prevents fluid migration, and protects the downhole equipment, (capital, flow, long, oil, pay or production string, or production casing) innovator's royalty an overriding royalty payment on production made by a company to a person for helping to obtain a concession for that company from a foreign country. Innovator's royalty is called a fixer's royalty in the United Kingdom. Inoc inoceramus inorganic a chemical compound that is neither plant nor animal in origin. Except for carbonates, cyanides, and cyanates, inorganics do not have carbon as a principle component.

insert bit

insert bit a type of roller-cone bit with tungsten carbide buttons or inserts on the cone faces. The insert type of bit is commonly used in drilling hard rocks and in coring. The insert bit crushes the rock by compression and produces relatively fine cuttings compared to those produced by a steel tooth or milledteeth roller-cone bit. (button bit) insert pump or insert sucker-rod pump a type of sucker-rod pump that is run and pulled on a rod string. It is relatively small with the barrel on the insert pump consists of a barrel, plunger, traveling valve, and standing valve that is run in the well as a complete unit, as compared to the tubing pump. The pump is held in place by seating cups, a seating housing or hold-down anchors. The insert pump is the most common type used and is relatively easy to service. It does not have the volume capacity of tubing and casing sucker-rod pumps. Types of insert pumps include a) a stationary insert pump with a stationary barrel and moving plunger with a top anchor or a bottom anchor and b) an inverted or traveling pump with a traveling barrel and a stationary plunger assembly with a bottom anchor. An insert pump is in contrast to a tubing or casing pump, (rod or rod insert pump) inside blowout preventer a valve that is installed on the bottom of the kelly. The inside blowout

inside BOP drill integrated circuit preventer is similar to and is used as a backup to the safety shutoff valve that is located above the kelly. The inside blowout preventer, however, has an outer diameter that is the same or nearly the same size as the tool joint, (internal blowout preventer) inside BOP drill a test supervised by the tool pusher on a drilling rig that simulates a blowout to train the driller and crew and to test the equipment. The float is raised in the mud tanks without notifying the driller. The time that the driller takes to notice this, close that blowout-preventer stack, and install the inside preventer is recorded. An acceptable time is less than IV2 minutes. The test is usually run during a trip when the bit is in the casing. inside cutter a fishing tool with mechanical knives that is lowered on a fishing string into a pipe in a well and rotated to cut the pipe from the inside. An inside cutter is in contrast to an external cutter. (internal cutter) in situ in place where it was originally formed. Insitu sediments are sediments that are deposited where they were formed such as reef rock. In situ is often italicized, (autochthonous) in-situ combustion a method of enhanced oil recovery in which the subsurface oil in the reservoir is burned. The burning subsurface oil breaks down into coke and lighter oil. As the coke burns in a burning front, the heat reduces the viscosity of the oil ahead of it, and the heated gases formed by the combustion drive the oil ahead of it toward producing wells. Some of the combustion gases dissolve in the oil further reducing the viscosity of the oil. Large volumes of air must be injected into the reservoir in order to maintain the subsurface combustion. Air injection is a major expense of in-situ combustion. The air is heated by an electric heater or gas burner at the sand face and injected at 400-l,200 F to initiate the fire. The zones of in-situ combustion include a) burned region, b) burned front, c) coke, d) cracked hydrocarbons, e) hot water, f) light hydrocarbons, and g) oil bank. The burning front moves about 0.251 ft/day. Forward combustion occurs when the burning front moves from the injection well towards the producing well. Reverse combustion occurs when the burning front moves from the producing well toward the injection well. Water can be injected along with air. The water is flashed to steam and reduces the volume of air needed to be injected, (fire flood) insl insoluble insp inspected inspissation the near-surface drying up of crude oil tost install instantaneous or instantaneous total gas/oil ratio the number of standard cubic feet of natural gas produced at the surface of a well per stock tank barrel of oil at a specific time. The gas includes both free gas and solution gas. The instant aneous total gas/oil ratio is usually reported in SCF/St 13 or SCM/ STCM. (producing gas/oil ratio) INSTR or instr instrument instrument 1) a legal document such as a contract or deed 2) a tool or implement. INSTR or instr instrument air dried, cleaned, and compressed air that is used to operate pneumatic equipment

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instrument man the person who operates and makes surveying measurements on a plane table and alidade insul insulate insular an isolated globule of a nonwetting fluid such as oil in a pore insular saturation a type of saturation in which the nonwetting phase occurs as isolated globules in the continuous wetting phase. Insular saturation is in contrast to funicular saturation, (globular saturation) insulating flange a plastic flange that will not pass an electric current. Insulating flanges are used in cathodic-protection systems. insulator a material such as crude oil through which an electrical current cannot flow. An insulator is in contrast to a conductor. insurance cheater a safety belt worn by the derrickman on a drilling rig INT or int 1) interest 2) interval int intrinsic INTAC intensified acid intake flame arrestor a device consisting of corrugated aluminum cells. The intake flame arrestor is used on the air intake of a firetube to prevent the fire from reaching the outside. intangible assets the money value of assets that cannot be evaluated by physical inspection. These assets cannot be replaced, will lose value when produced, and are arbitrary. Intangible assets include all minerals such as oil and gas and are in contrast to tangible assets. intangibles, intangible drilling costs, or intangible drilling and development costs expenses that cannot be recovered after drilling and equipping a well for production. These are costs in drilling and completing a well which cannot be salvaged but are necessary and incident to the drilling and completing the well for production and are not leasehold costs. Intangible drilling and development costs include labor, fuel, hauling, rentals, and supplies. These costs receive very favorable tax considerations in that they can be deducted in the year in which they occurred rather than be capitalized and depreciated. Intangible drilling and development costs are about 7096 of the total cost of an exploratory well and 6096 of a developmental well. A distinction is made in the federal tax laws between domestic and international companies and integrated and independent companies. (IDC's) IDC INTBD or intbd interbedded Intclas or intclas intraclast integral blade stabilizer a stabilizer that is machined from a single block of a solid high-strength steel alloy. The blade faces are sintered with tungstencarbide inserts, and the blades can be either straight or spiral-shaped. integral joint a box connection that is machined from thicker pipe wall on the end of a pipe. I] integrated circuit an electronic connection consisting of numerous, miniature transistors and other circuit elements on a single, small (less than 4 in2) silicon chip. The component design on the

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integrated oil company or producer

interference test

circuit is made by computer. The electrical connections between the elements are made by an evaporated metal that is engraved on the circuit by a photographic process. A microprocessor is a single integrated circuit that contains all the arithmetic and logic units of a computer, (chip) integrated oil company or producer a company that is involved in all aspects (exploration, production, transportation, refining and marketing) of the oil industry. An integrated producer is in contrast to an independent producer. integrating orifice meter a type of flowmeter that continuously records and totals the square root of the differential and the square root of the static pressure. This is multiplied by the orifice flow constant to determine the flow rate. integrator machine a device that converts pressure data from a gas meter chart to a number that is multiplied by the integrator machine number to calculate pressure extension. The pressure extension is used to compute the gas volume. intensity the flow rate of seismic energy through a unit area that is oriented perpendicular to the seismic wave direction intensity modulated-time a type of acoustic wave train display in which the photographic density is proportional to the amplitude of the wave with positive being dark and all negatives white. The acoustic wave can also be displayed in an amplitude-time mode. interactive computer processing that allows decisions to be made during processing interactive interpretation the display of 3-D seismic data that is manipulated by an operator or interpreter from an interactive station (computer with display). The display can consist of rotation, time slices, or an accordian or chain display. interactive station a terminal or stand alone with two or three color CRTs with keyboard that is used to manipulate 3-D seismic data interbd or interbdd interbedded interbedded sedimentary rock beds that are between or alternating with beds of different lithologies or character. INTBD, interbd, interbdd, intbd, or inbd interbed multiples a seismic reflection in which the seismic energy is reflected back and forth between the top and bottom of a subsurface rock layer several times intercal intercalated intercalated thin beds of sedimentary rock such as sandstone in thicker layers of another sedimentary rock such as shale, intercal intercrys intercrystalline intercrystalline pore a void (pore) in a rock located between mineral crystals, such as dolomite inter distributary bay the area between distributary channels on a delta that is occupied by shallow water. The interdistributary bay can be filled with organicrich, fine-grained, bay, marsh, and coarse-grained crevasse-splay sediments. interdune area the area between eolian sand dunes. The interdune area can be either dry or wet.

INTERDUNE DUNE

EXTRADUNE

interdune area

Impermeable sediments such as salt or clay layers are often deposited in the interdune areas and form impermeable barriers in eolian sandstone deposits. interest a share of production revenue from a well interface 1) a seismic discontinuity 2) the connection between two pieces of equipment 3) the boundary between two phases such as gas and liquid 4) the boundary between two immiscible fluids such as oil and water interface mass transfer the net transfer of chemicals between two or more phases interfacial film the thin layer of material at the boundary between two fluids. The interfacial film differs in composition from the bulk composition of either of the two fluids. interfacial tension the force acting at the boundary of two immiscible fluids. Interfacial tension acts to keep the interfacial area at a minimum. Interfacial tension is commonly measured in dynes or millidynes per centimeter. The term surface tension is usually applied to an air-liquid interface, and interfacial tension to other interfaces such as liquid-liquid or liquid-solid. IFT or -y interfacial viscosity the viscosity of the interfacial film that separates two immiscible fluids interference the drilling of a wellbore too close to an existing well interference test a type of pressure transient test in which pressure is measured over time in a shutin well (oberservation well) while surrounding wells (active wells) are producing. Pressure communication and flow between wells can be detected by the test. An interference test is used to determine the effect one well has on another for enhanced oil recovery. (multitvell or multipoint test)

interfinger

interfinger or interfingering interfinger or interfingering a boundary that forms distinctive wedges, fingers, or tongues between two different rock types, (intertongue) interfit the depth that a tooth on a roller cone extends into the cutter groove of the adjacent roller cone on a roller-cone bit. (intermesh) inter-gran intergranular intergranular corrosion corrosion that occurs at grain boundaries intergranular pore a space in a rock located between clastic grains such as sand. Intergranular porosity is an important and common type of original porosity. intergranular-moldic pore a pore formed by the solution of a soluble clastic mineral grain intergranular volume the volume of the pore space plus intergranular cement in a sedimentary rock interlam interlaminated interlayered clay mineral see mixed layer clay mineral interlayer multiple a seismic energy multiple produced by reflections from the bottom of a reflector.

internal-combustion engine

265

pressure zones or salt layers, b) protects normalpressure zones when drilling deeper using heavy mud weights, and c) protects production casing from corrosion, (intermediate, protective or salt string, or protection casing string) intermediate column a smaller diameter, tubular column located between larger stabilizing columns on a semisubmersible. The intermediate column is used for support and storage. intermediate compressor station a compressor installation on a gas pipeline that is designed to boost the gas pressure and keep the gas flowing. The size and number of compressors at each station will vary widely. The compressor station can also contain separators, storage, scraper traps, and control equipment. Intermediate compressor stations are located at various intervals along the pipeline depending on the length and volume of the pipeline. Pump stations are used on an oil pipeline. intermediate porosity see induced porosity intermediate pump station a pumping installation on an oil pipeline that is designed to keep the oil flowing. Intermediate pump stations are often located 80-150 mi apart on the pipeline. The pumping station can also include separators, storage, scraper traps, and control equipment. On a gas pipeline, compressor stations are used, (booster station) intermediate string see intermediate casing string intermediate-sulfur crude a crude oil that contains between 0.6% and 1.7% sulfur by weight intermesh the depth that a tooth on a roller cone extends into the cutter groove of the adjacent roller cone on a roller-cone bit. (interfit) intermittent flow alternating periods of oil and/or gas production with periods of nonproduction in a well. Intermittent flow is caused by low reservoir pressure. intermittent gas lift gas lift that is not continuous and uses an intermitter. Two types of intermittent gas lift installation are a) semienclosed with a packer with no standing valve and b) closed with a packer and standing valve. The semienclosed installation produces the fluids from the formation throughout the cycle, whereas the closed installation shuts off the formation during gas injection and is used when there is a problem of loosing the injection gas to the formation. intermitter a device that regulates the production from a gas-lift well with intermittent flow. An intermitter is a motor valve operated by a timing device that selectively cycles gas injection into the tubing casing annulus. An intermitter can be used to unload the liquid from a gas well by starting and stopping the gas flow. ITMR internal blowout preventer see inside blowout preventer internal-combustion engine an engine that uses the burning of an air-fuel mixture in cylinder to move a piston and drive the engine. The spark-ignition type uses a spark plug to ignite the fuel and can be either two or four stroke. The compression-ignition or diesel type uses compression to ignite the fuel.

interlayer multiple interlimb angle the angle on a fold in sedimentary rocks between tangents to the fold surface drawn through the inflection lines. The interlimb angle is gentle between 180 and 120, open from 120 to 70, close between 70 to 30, tight from 30 to 0, and elastic when negative. intermediary water subsurface waters from formations between producing formations intermediate-base oil a crude oil that contains significant amounts of both paraffin and asphalt. It has a high aromatic concentration. Intermediate-base crude oil is a refiner's term and is in contrast to paraffin- and asphalt-base crude oil. (mixed-base crude oil) intermediate casing spool a short metal pipe with a flange that is used on a wellhead to a) pack off the top of intermediate casing, b) suspend the next casing string, and c) carry the next blowout-preventer stack. The intermediate casing spool sits on a seal on top of the casinghead housing. intermediate casing string a length (string) of casing that is set in a well between the surface and production casing strings. The intermediate casing string ranges in diameter from 5-1V/* in. and is typically 9% in. It a) isolates potentially troublesome formations in the well such as abnormal high- or low-

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internal cutter interval interparticle pore a space (pore) in a rock located between particles in a rock. An interparticle pore is similar to intergranular pore, but the term does not infer any particle grain size. interpretation the methods used in seismic exploration to determine and characterize the geophysical layers in the earth interpreter a person who makes, geological interpretations of geophysical data such as seismic interreef the area located between small reefs such as patch or table reefs. Fine-grained limestones (micrite) along with some coarse debris eroded off the reefs are deposited in this environment. interruptible gas natural gas bought on the spot market, (self-help, direct purchase, best efforts, and spot gas) interruptible sales natural gas that is sold without a delivery guarantee. Interruptible sales is usually less expensive than firm sales. interruptions indentations on the heel teeth of a roller-cone bit. Interruptions are used to make a pattern on the bottom of the well that is one-half the spacing on the cutter teeth so that the cuttings will be smaller than the space between the teeth and will not wedge between the teeth. Both inner and gauge end interruptions are used. intersection a well drilled into another well. (drilling collision) interstate between states. Interstate gas is produced in one state and transported across state lines to be used in another state. Interstate is in contrast to intrastate. interstate oil compact an agreement between oil producing states that was approved by the United States Congress in 1935 for the conservation of oil and gas interstice an opening or space in a rock that is not occupied by solid matter, (pore) interstitial something that fills the pores of a rock. INTST, Inst, inst, intl, or insti interstitial acidizing a well-stimulation technique using acid, commonly hydrochloric, hydrochloric/ hydrofluoric, hydrofluoric, acetic, or formic acid, to dissolve low-permeable carbonate reservoir rock and increase production. The acid is injected with pressure less than formation fracture pressure. Clay stabilizers and emulsion breakers are often added to the acid. Interstitial acidizing is also used to relieve formation damage, (matrix acidizing) interstitial water water in the pores of the rock. Interstitial water is typically 10%-40% of the pore space in an oil or gas reservoir and is 100% in a water reservoir. Interstitial water can be fresh to brine in salinity and can be divided into a) pore water, b) bound water, and c) irreducible water. intertidal the area between high and low tide along a shoreline, (littoral) intertongue the boundary that forms distinctive wedges, fingers, or tongues between two different rock types, (interfinger) interval a portion of a zone or reservoir in a well. Intv, Intvl, or into

internal cutter a fishing tool that is lowered on a fishing string into a pipe in a well and is rotated to use mechanical knives to cut the pipe from the inside. An internal cutter is in contrast to an external cutter. internal-gas drive a type of reservoir drive mechanism in which the expanding gas bubbles forming from gas dissolved in the subsurface oil drives the subsurface oil into the well. Internal-gas drive is caused by production decreasing reservoir pressure below the bubblepoint. Internal-gas drive tends to be relatively inefficient and produces only 20%-30% of the oil in place, (depletion-gas, dissolved-gas, volumetric, solution-gas, or solution-gas expansion drive) internal-gas drive pool an oilfield with an internalgas drive supplying the energy to cause the oil to flow from the reservoir rock into the well. The reservoir has a rapid decline in pressure and a rapidly increasing gas/oil ratio with little water production. (depletion-gas, dissolved-gas, solution-gas, or solutiongas expansion pool) internal guylines or guy lines wire ropes that run from the top of a mast or derrick to the base and are used for stabilization internal phase the scattered solid, liquid, or gas in a dispersion that is surrounded by the continuous phase. In a water-in-oil emulsion, water is the dispersed phase. Oil is the dispersed phase in an oil-in-water emulsion. Internal phase is in contrast to the continuous phase, (dispersed phase) internal rate of return a method of economically evaluating an investment such as drilling a well. Internal rate of return is the return rate on the investment that is discounted for time, (discounted cash-flow rate of return, investor's rate of return, scientific rate of return, or profitability index) IRR orir internal thread a thread located on the inside surface of a coupling such as the box end of a tubular. The internal thread mates with a male thread, (female connection or thread) internal upset a section of thicker wall that protrudes inward along the threaded end of a tubular such as drillpipe. Internal upset is in contrast to an external upset. IU internal velocity the inverse of interval travel time. internal yield strength the maximum pressure that the inside of a vessel or tubulars such as drillpipe can bear before failure, (burst pressure rating or strength) International Geomagnetic Reference Field an empirically-derived correction that is applied to measurements of the earth's magnetic field made at different times that corrects for the change in the magnitude and direction of the field with time. IGRF International Practical Temperature Scale a temperature scale that is based on 11 reference temperatures. Some of them are the triple points of hydrogen and oxygen, the boiling point of water, and the freezing point of zinc, gold, and silver. IPTS International System of Units Systeme International d'Unites

interval time interval time the difference in time between two reflection events on a seismic record interval transit-time the velocity of a sonic wave, usually compressional, through a subsurface rock layer usually measured in \i sec/ft. Interval transit-time is measured on a sonic log, a continuous-velocity log, a borehole-compensated sonic log, or Acoustilog. Some common interval-transit times are: Substance At (|x sec/ft) sandstones 55.5-510 limestones 47.6-43.5 dolomites 43.5 anhydrite 50.0 salt 66J iron casing 57.0 t, At, orDT interval velocity the seismic wave velocity, usually compressional, through a certain depth mterval^uch as between two reflectors. The depth interval can be as small as 1-3 ft on a sonic log and as large as'Vnore than 1,000 ft in well shooting. intestate without leaving a will intfrag interfragmental intgn intergrown INTGR intergranular intgran intergranular in. 3 cubic inch intl interstitial intlam interlaminated intpar interparticle intpt interpretation Inst, inst, or insti interstitial Intr or intr 1) intrusive 2) intrusive rock intra-arc basin a basin formed by tension in an island arc. An intra-arc basin is in contrast to a forearc, trench, back-arc, or retro-arc basin. intraclasts thin fragments of ripped-up carbonates such as mud-crack flakes. Intclas or intclas intradelta a delta plain intramicrite a limestone that contains at least 25% allochems (large, transported particles) that are predominantly intraclasts (ripped-up clasts) with a matrix of micrite or limestone mud intrapar intraparticle intrasparite a limestone that contains at least 25% allochems (large transported particles) that are predominantly intraclasts (ripped-up clasts) with sparry calcite cement intraparticle pore a space (pore) located within a particle in a rock intrastate within the state. Intrastate gas is produced, sold, transported, and used in the same state. Intrastate is in contrast to interstate. intrlam interlaminated intrusion 1) a body of igneous rock that was injected as a molten liquid into other solid, subsurface rocks. Batholiths, sills, and dikes are types of intrusions, intr 2) an injection of sediments such as chalk, clay, or salt as viscous liquid into other rocks. The liquified

inverse modeling

267

intrusions

sediments are injected from an overpressured layer up into an open fracture in the overlying layer to form a clastic dike. intrusive or intrusive rock an igneous rock that cooled and solidified while in the subsurface, forming a rock mass called an intrusion. Intrusive rocks are easily identified because the mineral crystals are large enough to be seen with the naked eye (granular texture). Granite and granodiorite are examples of intrusive rocks. Intrusive rocks are in contrast to extrusive igneous rocks such as lava or basalt. Intr or intr ints intersect INTST interstitial Intv, Intvl or intv interval in. 2 square inch intxln intercrystalline invaded zone the subsurface portion of permeable rocks adjacent to the wellbore that has been flushed with mud filtrate during and after drilling. A mudcake is deposited on the wellbore walls and the mud filtrate is pushed back into the rock, displacing most of the formation fluids. Depending on the permeability of the rocks, the invaded zone can extend from 0-100 in. back from the wellbore. The invaded zone includes the flushed zone and the transition zone. In the flushed zone, all the formation fluids have been replaced by filtrate. In the transition zone, the filtrate and formation fluids are mixed. The invaded zone extends back to the annulus which is a zone of higher than normal formation water content caused by the filtrate pushing the formation water ahead of it back from the wellbore. The depth of invasion is the equivalent depth in an idealized formation model to which the filtrate reaches from the wellbore. i invasion the penetration of mud filtrate into the invaded zone adjacent to the wellbore. i invasion diameter see diameter of invasion DWEM inverted emulsion inverse modeling the use of seismic amplitude data to make seismic logs. A plot of acoustic impedance (density times velocity) versus traveltime is made for each seismic trace. Inverse modeling is in contrast to direct modeling in which the rock characteristics such as acoustic impedance are known, and the seismic response is calculated, (inversion)

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inverse VSP or vertical seismic profiling iron-control agent solution. Ion exchange in clay minerals is measured by the cation exchange capacity and the cations are called exchangeable cations. ionic bonding the linkage of atoms by electron transfer to form an anion and a cation. Some examples include NaCl and CaO. Ionic bonding is in contrast to covalent bonding. ionization the process in which a neutral-charged atom loses or gains electrons to be positively or negatively charged IOSA International Oil Scouts Association IOT initial open tube IP 1) initial production 2) initial potential 3) initial pressure 4) Institute of Petroleum 5) induced polarization 6) induced-polarization method 7) isoprenoid I.P. 1) in part 2) initial production I.PAJV. Independent Petroleum Association of America IPAMS Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States IPE 1) installing pumping equipment 2) International Petroleum Exposition 3) initial potential estimated IPF 1) initial production flowed 2) initial potential flowed IPG initial production gas lift IPI 1) initial potential intermitter 2) initial production intermitter IPL initial production plunger lift IP logging a drill hole induced-polarization (IP) or resistivity survey in a well which uses closely spaced electrodes to investigate the electrical properties of the rocks adjacent to the wellbore. (electric, hole and resistivity, and hole probe) IPOF initial production open flow IPP 1) initial production pumping 2) initial potential pumping IPR inflow performance relationship IPS 1) initial production swabbing 2) initial potential swabbing 3) surface potential index 4) improved steel plow ips inches per second IPSI immediate pressure shut-in IP susceptibility a measure of induced polarization IPTS International Practical Temperature Scale IR 1) injection rate 2) infrared radiation IR hydrocarbon resistivity index 1,1) injection rate ratio 2) internal rate of return I-RES Indian reservation irid iridescent iridescence the property of a mineral or crude oil to reflect a rainbow of colors caused by the interference of light, irid D M isothermal remanent magnetism R iron-control agent an acid additive used in acidizing that is either a) a sequestering agent used to complex iron ions or b) a reducing agent such as erythorbic acid used to reduce the oxidized state of iron

inverse VSP or vertical seismic profiling a vertical seismic profiling technique in which the source rather than the receiver is in the well. The receiver is on the surface. The most common borehole energy source used is the rotating drill bit. inversion see inverse modeling Invert or invert invertebrate invertebrate an animal without a backbone. Invertebrates are the most abundant and important type of fossils. They include the corals, clams, sponges, brachiopods, ammonites, snails, bryozoans, and most microfossils. Invert, Invtb, or invert inverted emulsion mud see invert emulsion drilling mud invert or inverted emulsion a water-in-oil emulsion. Water is the dispersed phase (droplets), and oil is the continuous phase. INVEM invert, invert emulsion mud, or invert oilemulsion drilling mud an oil-base drilling mud made with a water-in-oil emulsion. The water (up to 50%) is the dispersed phase and can be either fresh or saline. Oil is the continuous phase and is usually diesel or crude oil along with emulsifiers. The oil reduces viscosity, whereas the water increases viscosity. An invert mud has the same characteristics as an oil mud and is used to avoid contaminating producing formations with water and during coring and well-completion operations. inverter an electronic or electromechanical device that converts direct current into alternating current investment tax credit a deduction from income that is based on a percentage of the investment as specified by tax laws Investor's interest rate the discount percentage that reduces the cash-flow stream on an investment such as drilling and completing a well to zero. The discount percentage takes into account the time value of money. At zero cash-flow stream, the discounted monies paid out equal the discounted monies made, (discounted cashflow) investor's rate of return scientific rate of return Invtb invertebrate I/O input/output ! 1) discount rate 2) opportunity rate IOCC Interstate Oil Compact Commission iodine number a measure of the amount of iodine absorbed by oils, waxes, and fats. The iodine number indicates the amount of unsaturates and the corrosion severity of the substance on rubber. IOGA Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York ion an atom that while in solution has either more protons than electrons and is positive in electrical charge (cation) or has more electrons than protons and is negative in electrical charge (anion). Electrolytes such as acids, bases, and salts dissolved in water-form ions. Ii primary porosity index ion exchange the property of some minerals such as clay minerals to absorb certain cations or anions in exchange for different cations or anions in a

iron monoxide isobath iron monoxide a black compound (FeO) that can be made from the oxidation of ferrous sulfide. (ferrous oxide) iron oxide method see iron-sponge sweetening iron-particle inspection a method used to inspect tool joints. A solution of very fine, fluorescent-dyed iron particles is applied to the cleaned and dried joint. The joint is then inspected with a fluorescent or black light. Iron particles will collect along any crack, (blacklight inspection) iron pile a drilling rig iron roughneck equipment that replaces the tongs and does much of the manual labor in handling pipe on the floor of a drilling rig. The iron roughneck is a hydraulically powered wrench and can accurately apply torque in making up or breaking out joints. The wrench has a gauge for torque and provides its own backup. The iron roughneck can also automatically count the number of joints going downhole. (hydraulic torque wrench) iron sponge a chemical used to neutralize hydrogen sulfide in drilling mud and to sweeten natural gas. Iron sponge is composed of wood chips and shavings impregnated with hydrated ferric oxide (Fe2O3) and sodium carbonate to control the pH. Iron sponge is used to sweeten natural gas in a batch process by sending the sour gas through a vertical contact or adsorber tower. iron-sponge sweetening a process used to remove H2S from sour gas. The sour gas is passed through a contact or adsorber tower containing the iron sponge on trays. The iron sponge is converted to iron sulfide. It is a batch process and the iron sponge is regenerated by the addition of oxygen from air. Iron-sponge sweetening is commonly used with relatively low gas volumes and low H2S content, (iron oxide or drybox method) iron sulfide a black compound (FeS2) that can be made from iron and hydrogen sulfide. (ferroussulfide) iron wrestler a drilling crew member who handles heavy equipment IRR internal rate of return irr or irreg irregular irr irreducible irradiation exposure of a substance to radiation irreducible saturation the minimum fluid saturation that remains when that fluid is displaced from a porous substance by another immiscible fluid
1.0 M RELATIVE PERMEABILITY 0.6

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at the ends of larger pores, and the water that occupies very small pores (5-10 |xm). Irreducible water will not flow through a permeable rock, (residual water) irreducible water saturation the fraction or percent of pore volume occupied by water in a rock under reservoir conditions having maximum hydrocarbon saturation. Irreducible water saturation is the highest water saturation at which no water will flow through the rock. It differs from residual water saturation measured from a core because of drilling mud filtrate and gas expansion. irrigation gas clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that allows the lessor to take part or all of his/ her royalty as gas produced on the leasehold for irrigation pump fuel irr sec irregular section IRS Internal Revenue Service IR survey a remote sensing survey that images the earth's surface in the infrared-spectrum. An IR survey is made from an airplane with either infrared radiation emitted from the plane or natural infrared radiation. Is island Is specific injectivity index is initial injection rate ISA Instrument Society of America ISF induction spherically focused log Ish Shale index IshGR shaliness gamma-ray index ISI initial shut-in ISIT initial shut-in time ISIP 1) initial shut-in pressure 2) instantaneous shutin pressure island acreage an area that is surrounded by wells that prevent it from producing

island arc

(Olt) 04
o.a

Oil SATURATION- -100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 WATER SATURATION- - 0

20 10 0 80 90 100

irreducible water

irreducible water the thin layer of water absorbed to mineral grain surfaces, the discontinuous pendular water held by capillary pressure at grain contacts and

island arc a line of volcanic islands adjacent to a deep ocean trench. Both the volcanoes and trench are caused by subduction of a sea-floor plate ISO 1) isotron log 2) International Organization for Standardization iso isopachous iso a prefix that means equal. Iso is used to describe contour lines on maps isoanomally a contour line of equal geophysical anomalies, usually gravity or magnetic, on a map isobar a contour line of equal pressure isobaric surface a surface of the equal pressure values isobar map a pressure map isobath 1) a contour line of exact depth of the ocean floor 2) a contour line of exact depth of rock burial

270

isobutane isograd

isobutane an isomer of butane (C4H10). Isobutane has a specific gravity of 0.56, a boiling point of 11F at 14.7 psi, a vapor pressure of 72 psia at 100F, a critical temperature of 275F, and a critical pressure of 529 psia. Isobutane occurs in crude oil and natural gas, except biogenic gas. The ratio of iso- to normal butane is high in immature sediments and decreases in mature sediments. The other isomer of butane is normal butane. iC4 isocapacity map a map of equal values of permeability times net reservoir thickness. An isocapacity map is used to indicate well production capability. isocarb a line of equal carbon ratios. isochore 1) a contour line of equal interval or distance between two stratigraphic units or horizons on a map 2) a contour line of equal pay thickness in a reservoir isochore map a contoured map showing the drilling thickness of a subsurface rock layer such as a formation or between two stratigraphic units or horizons. When the subsurface rock layers are dipping at an angle, the drilling thickness will be greater than when the rock layers are level. isochron a contour line of the same time interval or reflection time on a seismic record, (isotime) isochronal or isochrinic see isochronous.

1000/ /

100 -I

100

1000

10000

Flow Rate MCFD at 14.65 psia isochronal test

isochron map

isochron map a contoured map showing the thickness of a subsurface rock layer in units of time such as microseconds. The data to construct the map is usually obtained from seismic profiles, and the rock layer is located between two seismic events or reflectors. In Europe, an isochron map is any map contoured in time, whereas in America it is limited to seismic time. isochronal test a test used to determine a gas well's deliverability when the well has a long stabilization time. The well is opened at a specific flow rate, and pressure measurements are made at specific time intervals. The well is then shut in and allowed to return to pretest conditions. The well is then opened at a different flow rate, and pressure measurements are again made at specific time intervals. Four to six hours are used for each flow and shut-in time. The well is then stabilized at one flow rate. A line is drawn parallel to the well's deliverability after partial stabilization times through the stabilized rate to give the stabilized deliverability line. The test can also be used for oil wells. Ap is plotted versus q where Ap = Ps2-Pu/ and q = the flow rate in MMSCF/d, Ps = static bottomhole pressure in psia, and Pw/ = flowing bottomhole pressure in psia.

isochronous at the same time, being either a) equal in duration or b) occurring at the same time. Isochronous rocks were deposited at the same time. isoclinal fold a fold in sedimentary rocks with parallel limbs isocline 1) a strongly deformed fold in rocks with both limbs (sides) of the fold parallel to each other 2) a contour line of equal magnetic inclination isoclinic map a map showing magnetic inclination isocon a contour line on a map of equal geochemical concentrations, such as salinity or chlorinity isoconcentration a contour line of equal salinity of oilfield waters isocon or isoconcentration map a map showing the salinity or chlorinity content of formation waters usually in parts per million (ppm) or parts per thousand (ppt). (isosalinity map) isodynamic line a contour line on a map representing points of equal magnetic intensity. (isogam) isofacial line a contour line on a map representing the facies of equal thickness in a rock layer or stratigraphic unit isofacies map a map that shows the lateral distribution of various facies in a rock layer or stratigraphic unit isofracture map a map that shows fracture density with contours of equal fracture densities. The fracture density is measured from surface outcrops. isogal a contour line on a map representing equal gravity anomalies isogam a contour line on a map representing points of equal magnetic intensity, (isodynamic line) isqgeotherm or isogeothermal contour a line representing points of equal heat or geothermal gradient in an area isogonic chart or map a map showing magnetic declination in degrees east or west of true north isogon or isogonic line a contour line on a map representing points of equal magnetic declination isograd a contour line on a map representing points of equal degrees of metamorphism

isogradient contour isopotential map isogradient contour a line of equal heat gradient per 100 ft of depth in an area isohaline a contour line on a map representing points of equal salinity isolith 1) a line on a map connecting similar rock types (lithology) or some other distinguishing property of the rock, such as color or texture 2) a line of equal thickness of a particular rock type in a formation

271

SAND

and different chemical and physical properties. For example, the specific gravity of normal butane is 0.58, whereas the the specific gravity of isobutane is 0.56. isomesic rocks that formed under the same conditions or environment isometric map a map with lines that are drawn true to scale isomudstone map a map that shows the amount of mudstone in a rock layer or stratigraphic unit isopach or isopachous a contour line of equal thickness of a subsurface rock layer such as a formation. A reservoir can have both a gross and net reservoir isopach. iso isopach or isopachous map a contoured map showing the thickness of a subsurface rock layer such as a formation

200'

-300r

isolith map

isolith map a contoured map showing the thickness of a certain rock type (i.e. sandstone) in a particular rock layer such as a formation

H H H H I I I I H-C C C C H I I I H H H H

isopach map

1
H-C 1
H

1 1 C C
1

1 H-C-H

1
H
isomers (normal butane and iso-butane)

isomers organic chemical compounds that have the same chemical formulas but different molecular structures and, therefore, have slightly different chemical and physical properties. An example is normal butane and isobutane. Both have the same formula, C4H10, but have slightly different structures

isoparaffin a type of hydrocarbon molecule that is saturated with single bonds and is formed by a straight chain similar to a paraffin but with a side chain. An example is isobutane. Isoparaffin is in contrast to a normal or n-paraffin that forms a straight chain. (brancbed-chain paraffin) isopic sedimentary rocks of the same facies. Isopic rocks have similar lithologies (rock type) but could have been deposited in different environments. isopiestic line a contour line of groundwater pressure head, (equipotential or isopotential line or piezometric contour) isopleth a contour line of the same value on a map or chart isoporosity map a map showing the distribution of thickness-weighted average porosities in a formation isopotential line 1) a contour line of groundwater pressure head, (equipotential or isopotential line or piezometric contour) 2) a contour line of calculated daily rate of production from a reservoir isopotential map a map showing the output capacities of wells per unit time. Isopotential maps are used to compare performances of wells.

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isoprenoid DCLN in the nucleus. Isotopes have slightly different physical properties. An example is the isotopes C12, C 3, and C14 of carbon. isotope ratio the abundance of a heavy isotope divided by a light isotope. Delta value is the difference between the isotope ratios of a sample and a standard divided by the isotope ratio of the standard and expressed in parts per thousand (ppt). isotopic rocks formed in the same environment isotopic number the number of neutrons minus the number of protons in the atom of an isotope. Isotopic number is an indication of radioactivity. isotropic the same in all directions. An isotropic substance has no preferred orientation. isovelocity surface surface with a constant seismic velocity isovol a line of equal volume isovol or isovolume map a map showing the distribution of porosity-meters or porosity-feet. An isovolume map is made by multiplying net reservoir thickness times feet. ISP initial surface pressure ISPF initial surface pressure flowing ISPSI initial surface pressure shut in ISV imput safety valve ITC investment tax credit ITD intention to drill ITE index of tortional effectiveness ITMR intermitter ITP initial tubing pressure ITPF initial tubing pressure flowing ITPSI initial tubing pressure shut in I2 secondary porosity index IU internal upset IUGS International Union of Geological Sciences IVPAC International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry IVP initial vapor pressure IW 1) infill well 2) injection well i^, water injection rate I.W.R.C. independent wire-rope center or core IXLN intercrystalline

isoprenoid a branched hydrocarbon that is formed by a straight chain of 6-40 carbon atoms with a methyl (CH3) branch on every fourth carbon. Isoprenoids are found in petroleum and sedimentary rocks. Isoprenoids are derived from plants and bacterial and are considered biological markers. IP isopyonic a line of equal density isorad a contour line of equal radioactivity or equal gamma-ray intensity isosalinity map a map showing the salinity content of formation waters usually in parts per million (ppm) or parts per thousand (ppt). (isocon or isoconcentration map) isosaturation map a map of contours showing the distribution of hydrocarbon saturation values in a reservoir isosaturation surface a surface of equal saturation values in a formation isosinal map a map showing slope by using contours of the sines of the slope angles isostasy a vertical equilibrium of rock density in the earth's crust. Areas of the earth's crust that are highest in elevation are balanced by underlying rocks that are lighter than the surrounding rocks and have lighter rocks that extend deeper with depth. Lower elevation areas are underlain by heavier and thinner rocks. isostratification map a map that shows the number or thickness of beds in a rock layer or stratigraphic unit isotangent map a map showing slope by using contours of the tangents of the slope angles isotherm a contour line of equal temperatures on a map isothermal a process that occurs at a constant temperature isothermal remanent magnetism remanent magnetism that is caused entirely by the application of a magnetic field without any temperature change. IRM isothermal surface a surface of the same temperature located in the subsurface isotime 1) the time interval between two reflectors on a seismic record. 2) a contour line of equal reflection time on a seismic record, (isochron) isotope one of several atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but have different atomic numbers and number of neutrons

J jackup or jack-up barge, platform, or rig

273

J 1) productivity index 2) liquid junction 3) joule j liquid junction jac jacket jack 1) to raise or lift 2) apparatus used to start an engine jack and circle a large, semi-circular rack that is bolted to the floor of a cable-tool rig and is used to make and break pipe connections. The jack and circle has one wrench attached to the floor and another wrench that is jacked along the rack, (circle jack) jack board a board with a handle and metal straps that is used to hold the end of a pipe as another pipe is screwed into it (lazy board or stabbing jack) jacket 1) a complex of welded steel pipe that is designed to support the overlying production facilities on a fixed production platform. The legs house the conductor pipes for the wells. The jacket is floated into position on a barge during calm weather and launched horizontally. Controlled flooding of the ballast tanks in the legs rotates the jacket to vertical and lands it on the seafloor. Piles are then secured by pile drivers to the seabed, and the jacket is bolted to the piles. Barges are then used to transport and install modules and deck support equipment on the jacket. A concrete gravity platform is more expensive and is used when there is a need for storage facilities. (platform jacket) jac 2) the protective coating used to prevent corrosion on a pipeline jacket cover a shell that forces drilling fluids to flow around an electric submersible motor to cool the motor before flowing through the submersible pump (motor sbroud) jacketed cable a flexible electrical conductor that is protected with a nonmetallic coating jacket water the water that circulates around a vessel to remove, add, or distribute heat jackey stick a wood rod that connected the headache post on a cable-tool rig to the wireline drilling clamps to prevent the clamps from turning jack house the frame that contains the rack-andpinion assembly that is attached to a chord on the leg of a jackup rig. The rack and pinion arrangement is used to raise and lower the deck of the rig. Upper and lower guides position the jack house on the chord. jack knife to fold up jackknife derrick or mast a steel tower that is used on a cantilevered or jackknife derrick rig. The rig is assembled with the mast or derrick in horizontal

position. The mast or derrick is then pivoted to a vertical position using the traveling block and drawworks on the rig. (cantilever derrick or mast) jackknife derrick or mast rig a drilling rig in which the derrick or mast is assembled from the bottom up horizontally on the ground and then pivoted vertically into position by using the rig's drawworks. The drilling structure is made of prefabricated units that are pinned together with large pins. The engine and derrick are pinned and then put in place, after which the derrick is raised. After the mast or derrick is raised, the traveling block is used to raise the drill floor into position. The rotary beams are installed and the catworks and rotary are raised into position with the traveling block. The catline boom is used for lighter lifting. The jackknife rig is the most common type of drilling rig on land, (cantilever derrick or mast rig) jack line the cable that connects the eccentric on a central power unit to the pumping unit. The jack line is kept 10-15 ft off the ground by rockers. (transmission line) jack off the brake to relieve the weight on the bit jack post box metal tubular rings that secure the band-wheel shaft on either side of the band wheel on a small cable-tool rig or pumping unit jack rabbit a device that is run through casing or tubing to check the inside diameter (drift mandrel) jackshaft a countershaft that is driven by the main shaft Jackson a North American age of geological time that occurred about 45-38 m. y. ago. It is part of the Eocene epoch. jack-squib a type of torpedo that was used in explosive fracturing jackup a jackup rig jackup or jack-up barge, platform, or rig an offshore drilling rig that is essentially a barge with legs. The hull is towed or steamed into position and then jacked above the ocean surface on tubular or derrick legs. Jackup rigs have been built with anywhere from 3-14 legs but commonly have three legs. Each leg, which is either vertical or tilted slightly outward for stability, is formed by vertical elements called chords. Attached to each chord is a jack house that contains the rack-and-pinion arrangement used to raise and lower the deck. The legs rest on the bottom of the ocean during drilling to provide a stable platform. A jackup rig can be either an independent leg jackup rig with spud cans on the legs for use with a firm seabed, or mat supported for softer seabeds. A jackup rig is very stable, relatively easy to move, and is used in water depths up to about 300 ft. The deck of the rig is raised 50-60 ft above sea level. The hull can be rectangular, triangular, shiplike, or irregular. Jackup rigs can be either selfpropelled, propulsion assisted, or nonpropelled. A

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jackV jerkerpump on the cable-tool bit as the cable is raised and to free a stuck bit 2) a tool used on a drilling or fishing string to impart a sharp upward or downward blow to the tools below it. Two types are hydraulic and mechanical. When the downhole assembly is raised, the jar stretches a distance that is called the stroke length and is arrested while storing the energy. When the jar is tripped, the assembly above the jar descends to strike the blow. Jars are used for both drilling and fishing. The fishing jar delivers a larger maximum shock than the drilling jar. The fishing jar is placed in the fishing string between the catch tool and the drill collars. Types of fishing jars include a) oil jars, b) mechanical jars, c) hydraulic rotary jars, d) nitrogen jars, and e) jar or fluid accelerators. Other types of jars are bumper, booster, surface, and drilling. 3) to use a jar to give a heavy, controlled blow to a drillstring or wireline tool jar accelerator or intensifier % fishing tool accessory that is used to intensify the effect of a mechanical or hydraulic jar used to loosen a fish in a well. The jar accelerator is located in the fishing string above a jar. A fluid such as nitrogen is compressed as the fishing string is raised. When the tripping mechanism in the jar is released, the expansion of the fluid in the jar accelerator amplifies the force of the shock, (booster jar) jar coupling see bumper sub jarhead a person who works on a cable-tool rig jar latch a type of cable-tool fishing tool that is used to retrieve broken jars jarring string a work string consisting of an accelerator jar, drill collars, oil jar, bumper jar or sub, and catching tool or screw-in sub jar test a small volume test in a container to determine the effects of adding chemicals, such as an emulsion breaker to a fluid jar weights the steel weights that are used to force drive pipe through soil or into a hole jasp jasper jasper a variety of chert with iron oxide that gives the rock a reddish color, jasp jaw clutch a type of clutch that is used to connect a prime mover to a driven machine by using jaws that clamp together JB 1) junk basket 2) junction box 3) jet bit JC 1) job complete 2) junk catcher jet junction jellied gasoline a gasoline that has been thickened with an aluminum-base soap or napalm. Jellied gasoline was mixed with kerosine, diesel oil, or crude oil to make the original, hydraulic frac fluid. jerk chain A short chain that is used as a tong jerk line on a drilling rig. The jerk chain is wrapped around the cathead on the drawworks and is used for leverage on the tongs. jerker a line on a cable-tool rig that connects the bandwheel crank to the drilling cable. The jerker gives a jerking motion to the drilling cable and spudding tools. jerker pump a single-barrel downhole pump that is activated by the back and forth movement of a

Drilling Slot Mat

jack-up rig

drilling slot can be cut in the deck, or the derrick can be cantilevered over the side. During towing, the legs are raised so that just a few feet protrude below the hull. Gorilla rigs are jackup rigs with legs up to 500 ft high. A jackup barge workover rig is used for cementing and wireline work on offshore wells, (selfelevating platform or drilling unit)JU jack V the A-frame upon which the walking beam of a pumping well pivots jack well a beam-pumping oil well powered by a rod, jack, or shackle line connected to a central power unit J&A junked and abandoned Jacob's staff a wooden rod that is used to support a surveyor's compass Jam in effect the increase in flow resistance when one or more interfaces are present in a channel such as a pore

a
jar

jar 1) a tool that is part of the drillstring on a cabletool rig. A jar is designed to impart a sudden jerk

jerk line jetting the pits shackle-rod line and counterweight. Jerker pumps move small volumes. jerk line 1) A rope used on a cable-tool rig to operate the spudding tools. The jerk line is run over the bandwheel and a pulley on the drilling line, (spudding line) 2) a line that is used as a tong jerk line on a rotary drilling rig. The jerk line is wrapped around the cathead on the drawworks to give leverage during making up or breaking out pipe and is used for the final tightening or loosening of the pipe, (tong jerk line) jet 1) a high-velocity flow of fluid from a nozzle 2) a method used to drill a seismic shothole by pumping water or drilling mud down the drillstring. The sediments are removed by the jetting action of the fluid. 3) see jet nozzle jet bit 1) a drilling bit that has a drilling fluids course through the body of the bit and out jet nozzles between the roller cones. An extended-nozzle jet bit has an extension of several inches on the nozzles to position the jet exit closer to the formation face. A jet nozzle creates a higher circulating fluid velocity and pressure drop than a regular bit with an orifice in the center of the bit body. (JB) 2) see jet deflection bit jet charge see shaped charge jet collar a choke used on the tubing string of a gas lift well. The jet collar consists of two tight-fitting concentric tubes with holes in each. The jet collar can be opened and closed by rotating the tubing from the surface. jet compressor a compressor that uses a Venturi nozzle to increase the pressure of a gas. The gas to be compressed is injected into the gas that has flown through the Venturi nozzle. jet cutoff the use of shaped-explosive charges to cut stuck pipe in a well jet cutter a downhole tool that uses a shaped explosive charge to make a transverse cut on stuck tubulars in a well. A jet cutter is used on tubing, drillpipe, and casing. jet deflection bit a specialized bit used in deviation drilling that has two smaller jet nozzles and one larger jet nozzle that is 3/4-7/s in. in diameter. The maximum circulation rate is used to hydraulically drill a pilot hole for kickoff. The jet deflection bit is used in relatively soft rocks, (jet or jetting bit) jet gun see jet perforating gun jet lifting the cleaning of a wellbore using liquid nitrogen pumped through a jet bit jet mixer a mechanical blender that is used for cement. The flow of water through a Venturi throat produces a partial vacuum that draws in the dry cement and uses turbulence to mix it with water. A jet mixer is in contrast to a batch mixer. jet nozzle a tungsten carbide orifice through which the drilling fluid jets out between two adjacent cones on the bottom of a roller-cone bit. The jet nozzle is used to form a constriction in the drilling fluid flow to produce a high velocity for lubricating and cleaning roller-cone, milled-teeth and insert bits and to cut and clean the hole. The orifice sizes on the nozzles can be changed. There are normally three nozzles on a tricone bit, each receiving an equal share of

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the drilling fluid. The jet deflection bit has one nozzle larger than the others to preferentially erode one side of the well for kicking off a deviated well, (nozzle) jet out to use a high-velocity liquid flow to clean out tanks. Jetting out the pits is used to clean the mud tanks on a drilling rig. jet perforating the use of shaped explosive charges at the level of the producing zone to blow holes in casing or liner, cement, and formation with highvelocity gases. The velocity of the gases is about 30,000 ft/sec and generates an impact pressure of 4.4 million psi. The shape of the cone-shaped charges can be varied to alter the size and depth of penetration of the gases. Jet perforating was first used in 1947 is in contrast to gun perforating. jet perforating gun the housing for the shaped explosive charges used in jet perforating. Jet perforating guns are classified as a) retrievable guns and b) expendable guns. A retrievable gun (retrievable hollow carrier gun) can be removed along with the explosive debris from the well and reused. An expendable gun disintegrates and leaves the debris in the well. There is also a semiexpendable or semiretrievable gun. The case that houses the charges is made of die-cast aluminum, iron, glass, ceramic, or plastic. A hollow steel carrier with 13/S- -5-in. diameter can be used to protect the charges from wellbore fluids. All wireline-conveyed guns use an electric, detonating-cap ignition system that connects to the primer cord that runs down the gun and contacts each jet charge. All perforating guns are shot from the bottom upwards. The gun can be either centralized or decentralized and pressed against the casing or liner. Tubing-conveyed guns are attached below a tubing string or drillstring and are detonated by pressure on a drop bar. (shaped-charge perforator) jet pump a special type of hydraulic pump that has no moving parts and is driven by a power fluid. The power fluid is pumped down the tubing string and through a nozzle to form a velocity head and into the production inlet chamber where it entrains well fluid. The power and well fluid enter the throat of the pump where they mix and flow up the tubingcasing annulus. The jet pump is used in high volume, gassy, or dirty wells. jet-pump pellet-impact bit an experimental rock bit that uses recirculating steel pellets to break and crush the rock jet sub a short length of pipe run between the bit and an underreamer. The jet sub directs drilling fluid onto the underreamer cones. The jet sub is also used on the bottom of the drillstring to jet the conductor pipe into soft formations. jetting 1) the injection of gas into a subsurface reservoir for the purpose of pressure maintenance 2) washing the screen on a shale shaker with a highpressure jet of water to separate drilling mud from well cuttings 3) the periodic use of a jet nozzle to remove some or all of the water, mud, and solids from the mud tanks during jetting the pits jetting bit see jet deflection bit jetting tiie pits a method used to remove well cuttings from the bottom of the mud tanks. A suction hose pumps the well cuttings off the bottom of the

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jetting runs Joule-Thomson effect joint efficiency the tensile strength of a threaded connection divided by the tensile strength of the pipe body jointer a pipe made of two smaller sections of pipes joint identifier a gauge used to determine the match between pin and box connections joint loss a provision in a joint operating agreement which stipulates if there is a title problem on some land included in the agreement, all parties proportionally share the loss and liability. There is no adjustment to the individual party who contributed the land having the title deficit. Joint loss is in contrast to an individual loss. joint operations an agreement between parties to participate in the costs and production of leaseholds called the contract area defined in a joint operating agreement. The costs and production are usually shared in proportion to the acreage contribution made by each party. It can be done either by a) a drilling and spacing unit at a time or b) as a working interest area (called a working interest unit in the Rocky Mountain region). J/O joint operating agreement an agreement between several companies to explore, drill, and develop an area called the working interest area. The joint operating agreement defines how the cost and revenues are to be shared among the parties and who is to be the operator. The operator must obtain approval for expenditures through an AFE. The cost estimate could be only for dry-hole costs but are often for both dry-hole and producer costs. All intangible drilling and development costs are shown in detail. JOA joint strength the minimum tensional force that causes a tubular such as casing to fail joint tenancy two or more owners (concurrent ownership) of land. It is created by will or grant. Joint tenancy with the right of survivorship means that with the death of one owner, the survivor owns the land./77?O5 joint unit well a well drilled in a unitized area joint venture a partnership for a common purpose such as exploring and drilling in an area. One partner of the joint venture will be the operator. JV joint working interest a working interest that is owned by several parties. One party is the designated operator, whereas the other parties are the nonoperators. Each working-interest owner accounts for their portion of the expenses and revenues. Joint working interest is in contrast to partnership accounting. Jones effect the net surface tension decrease and then increase as the salinity of a salt solution is increased JOP joint operating provisions joule a derived unit in System International (SI) for energy, work, and quantity of heat. A joule is calculated by Newtons times meters (N x m). A joule is equal to 107 ergs, 0.239 calories, and 0.738 ft lb, or approximately 10~3 Btus. A kilojoule is about equal to 1 Btu./ Joule-Thomson effect the cooling of a gas when it is expanded. The Joule-Thomson effect is used to remove hydrates from natural gas. (throttling effect)

mud tank and discharges them into the reserve pits. The suction on the hose comes from clean drilling mud being pumped through a jet nozzle. jetting runs the drilling, jetting, and trips made with a jetting bit to deviate a wellbore jet washing a method used to clean out perforation tunnels in a well. Acid is pumped down tubing and out a ported nipple or a washing tool and jetted into the perforation tunnels to clean them of debris. Jet washing is followed by a backflow during which the acid is removed from the well. jewelry scratchers and centralizers attached to a string of casing jib an extension to a boom used for lifting, (tip extension) jigging down to use a spring pole to drill a well jmd jammed jnk junked J/O joint operation JOA joint operating agreement jobber a middleman who buys and sells or introduces buyers and sellers jobber margin the jobber's commission or difference in buying and selling costs Johnson bar a type of brake used on a drilling rig Johnson bar idiot a driller JOIDES Joint Oceanographic Institutions for Deep Earth Sampling

joint

joint 1) a fracture in the rock along which there has been no movement apparent to the naked eye. A joint is in contrast to a fault along which there has been movement. A healed or sealed joint is a fracture in which crystals have formed to solidify the joint. 2) a length of tubular goods such as a drillpipe or casing. A drillpipe joint is usually about 30 ft long but can range 18-45 h.JTorjt joint connection the pin (male) and box (female) arrangement that is used to join joints of tubulars with each other and with tools. All pin connections are oriented down and box connections up except for special equipment and bits. joint consent well a well in which all parties in a joint operating agreement elect to participate. If there is a nonconsent party, there will be a production or acreage penalty. joint costs the costs of associated gas production and oil production that are related

Joule-Thomson expansion coefficient Joule-Thomson expansion coefficient the change of temperature with changing pressure at constant enthalpy or heat content. The coefficient is different for each gas and is positive for most gases, which means the gas cools when it expands. Hydrogen and helium, however, can heat up at certain temperatures when expanding. journal the load-bearing surface of a rotating shaft upon which the bearings turn. On a roller-cone bit, the journal supports the bearing in the cone and is located on the pin attached to the leg. journal angle the angle between a line perpendicular to the axis of a journal on a cone and the axis of the roller-cone bit. At a journal angle of 45, the cones are entirely rolling. The lower the journal angle, the more gouging and scraping of the rocks. The size of the angle also affects the size of the cone with increasing journal angles equating with decreasing cone size. The optimum journal angle for soft rocks is 33; for hard rocks, 36. (pin angle) journal bearing bit an advanced type of rollingcutter bit in which the roller bearings have been eliminated, and the cones rotate in contact with a journal bearing pin. Silver inlays are often used in the journal to minimize friction. The larger contact area on a journal bearing bit allows greater weight on the bit. The bit must have effective grease seals and is made with greater tolerances than the less expensive standard or sealed-bearing bit. journal box the metal container that supports the journal JP jet perforated JPF or JP/ft jet perforations per foot Js specific productivity index JSPF jet shots per foot Jt or jt 1) joint 2) jointe J-tool a sleeved receptacle with a protrusion that fits into a J-shaped slot on the sleeve. The J-tool is used for running and positioning equipment in a well. The short side of the J-slot will support the weight of the protrusion, whereas the long side is open and will release the protrusion. A drillstring in a well can engage and disengage a J-tool by rotating in either direction. JTROS joint tenancy with right of survivorship
JTS or jts joints

junk

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JU jackup (drilling rig) jug a microphone used on land to detect seismic energy from the subsurface during seismic exploration. The jug transforms seismic energy into electric voltage. The jug usually consists of a moving coil suspended by Springs in a magnetic field. Seismic energy causes the case and magnet to move but not the coil. This causes a voltage to occur across the coil. Exploration jugs are sensitive to the 5-200 Hz range. Jugs usually only record vertical motion. The jug must have about 0.7 critical dampening. Spiked jugs are designed to plant in the ground, whereas other jugs are designed for use on ice. Jugs are connected to each other and to tape recording equipment by electronic cable, optical fiber cable, or radio. Jugs are deployed in arrays, (geophone, seismometer, pickup, seis, or phone)

jug heater A small, indirect heater located next to a gun barrel or a wash tank to provide a hot water wash. jug hustler a person who carries and positions the geophones (jugs) on a seismic survey. A jug hustler is a member of the cable crew, (juggie) jug line a cable that connects seismic geophones (jugs) to the instruments on a seismic survey jug planter a person who plants the geophones (jugs) on a seismic survey. A jug planter is a member of the cable crew. jumbo burner a torch that is used to burn casinghead gas produced with oil. A jumbo burner was often employed when there was no commercial use for the gas. It is now prevented or restricted by government regulatory agencies. Jumbo burners are used on offshore rigs to dispose of oil and gas during tests and when a well is blown to clean it. Jumbo burners are located on a long extension or boom and are surrounded by water and air jets to make sure the oil and gas are completely burned. jump to jerk the drillstring out of the well jump a pin to break the pin end of a tool jump correlation equating seismic events or reflectors on seismic lines that are not tied-in jumper hose the flexible tubing that carries drilling mud and connects the riser to a manifold on an offshore platform jump the saddle the displacement of a walking beam on a pumping unit from the groove or bearing upon which it pivots junction box a vented, waterproof metal box that is located above ground and connects electrical cables. A junction box is located between the switchboard and wellhead on a well with an electric submersible centrifugal pump. The junction box prevents any gas coming up the electrical cable from reaching the switchboard. JB jungle up to camp out junior observer a technician that works on a seismic crew and is responsible for recording the seismic data on magnetic tape. The junior observer works under the observer. junior orifice fitting a type of orifice fitting made of one chamber. The orifice plate can be removed by rack and pinion but the fitting must be depressurized to remove the plate. The junior orifice fitting is unlike the senior orifice fitting where the orifice plate can be removed without interrupting the flow. junior toolpusher an employee of the drilling contractor who is an experienced driller and works under the senior toolpusher on an offshore drilling rig. The junior toolpusher usually works the 8:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M. shift, (nightpusher or tourpusher) junk 1) a tool, broken or stuck pipe, cable, rod, packer, or other piece of equipment that has fallen to the bottom of the well or is stuck in the well. Lost roller cones followed by failed tool joints are the most common junk. The junk must be removed (fished out) of the well before drilling can resume. A fishing string with fishing tools is used to remove the junk, (fish) 2) to abandon a project

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junk basket Jurassic

JUNK
junk

junk basket a fishing tool that looks like an overshot and is used to retrieve small fish from the bottom of a well. The junk basket is run on a fishing string above a bit or milling tool. The junk basket consists of a shoe, a sub with retainer fingers, a bowl or basket, and an upper body. The spring-loaded horizontal retainer fingers are attached to a rotating ring and catch any junk above them. The small fish particles are carried up the inside of the basket by reverse circulation of a fluid and caught in the basket. The junk basket can retrieve roller cpnes, hand tools, short pieces of wire line, and other particles of that size. A poor-boy junk basket was one of the first, rotary fishing tools. Some modern types of junk baskets include the core-type, boot basket, circulation junk basket, finger shoe, junk basket with magnet insert, and the double catcher. A reverse-circulation junk basket uses a ball pumped down the fishing string to cause the drilling mud to jet out the nozzles in the basket. This causes reverse circulation, and the junk is sucked into the tool. A junk basket is in contrast to a boot basket, basket sub, or junk sub that uses normal circulation and catches the fish on the outside of the tool. JB junk bit a hard formation roller-cone bit that is used to drill steel or other man-made objects in the well. A junk bit is used to clear out a well after explosive fracturing. junk catcher a fishing tool used to catch relatively large objects suspended in drilling mud, such as chunks of rubber. The junk catcher is run on a wireline or tubular, has a slotted or perforated basket that is open facing down, and has a diameter just smaller than the casing diameter. The slots or perforations are designed to catch the debris as the drilling mud circulates through it. The junk catcher is often used just below a packer or other close-fitting tool./C junked well a well that has been abandoned due to a fish that is unretrievable junk hustler an oilfield truck driver, (gear jammer or gravel hog) junk mill a bit with diamond, tungsten carbide, or hardened steel cutting edges that are used to grind up stuck tools, caved-in pipe, or small metal objects (junk) that fell to the bottom of the well. A junk basket is used to catch the milled pieces, (mill) junk pile worn-out equipment junk retriever a type of fishing tool used to retrieve small objects. The junk retriever first cuts a core through the junk down to the bottom of the well

junk mill

and then uses reverse circulation to wash the pieces into the tool. junk shot a downhole explosion designed to break fish or junk into small pieces that can be removed by a fishing magnet or junk basket. Junk shots are large, jet-shaped explosive charges run on an electric wireline or drillstem and are designed to direct the maximum explosive force downward.

junk slot

junk slot

junk slot

junk slot the flat indentation on the side of a diamond bit that allows well cuttings and circulating fluid to flow up past the bit junk sub a short section of pipe that is located just above a bit or mill on a drillstring and is designed to catch large junk fragments in an outer bowl. Eddies in the circulating drilling mud cause the fragments to fall into the bowl. A junk sub is always run with mills and whenever drilling metal or cement. As many as three junk subs can be run on a string. Junk subs can have either long or short barrels. A junk sub is in contrast to a junk basket that uses reverse circulation and catches the fish on the inside of the tool, (boot basket or sub, or basket sub) Jur Jurassic Jurassic a period of geological time that occurred 200-140 m. y. ago. It is the middle period of the Mesozoic Era. The Jurassic is subdivided into the Lower

jurat JV

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Jurassic and Upper Jurassic global and North American epochs. Jur jurat a certificate sworn before a notary public juvenile water water that has been derived from magma and the eanh's interior and has not been exposed to the atmosphere JV joint venture

junk sub

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ke

K
K 1) Kelvin 2) equilibrium ratio 3) spontaneous electromotive force 4) electrochemical SP coefficient 5) bulk modulus 6) coefficient 7) kilobyte 8) partition coefficient 9) weight factor 10) consistency index 11) keel k 1) permeability 2) absolute permeability 3) electrokinetic 4) bulk modulus 5) wave number 6) magnetic susceptibility 7) knot 8) flow coefficient 9) salinity constant of fresh water 10) radiometric constant of logging tool 11) kilo- 12) thermal conductivity 13) slack-off or pick-up constant K' 1) fluid consistency index 2) dimensionless permeability Ka thousands of years before present kj, 1) permeability of a rock to air 2) absolute permeability Kj,,,, coefficient of anistropy Kansan an age of geological time that occurred during the Pleistocene epoch. It is the second glacial stage of the Pleistocene and is the equivalent of the Mindel in Europe. Kao or kao kaoline kaoline a white, soft earthy clay composed primarily of the clay mineral kaolinite. The kaoline clay mineral family includes the species a) kaolinite, b) dickite, c) nacrite, and d) halloysite. Kao or kao kaolinite a clay mineral that is formed by two sheets of aluminum silicates and has the chemical formula (OHQaA^S^Oio. Kaolinite has a density of 2.62 gms/ cm 3 and a cell dimension of 7.37 A. Kaolinite is the simplest of all the types of clay minerals and can form from intense chemical weathering. Kaolinite has a very low cation exchange capacity and absorbs water only along the edges of the clay plates. It is chemically stable and will not react with HC1, but will react with HC1/HF. Authigenic kaoline is delicately attached to the mineral grains in the rock; it can be dislodged by drilling-mud filtrate and can clog pore throats, thereby causing formation damage. Formation damage can be controlled by using a clay control agent during well treatment along with slow injection rates. Under the scanning electron microscope, kaolinite plates form booklets. K/Ar age dating a method of determining the age of the rock formation using the natural radioactive decay of IC^to Ar40which has a half-life of 1.8 billion years. The amount of K^and Ar40is measured in minerals such as micas to determine the amount of radioactive decay and, therefore, the age of the mineral.

karst

karst limestone, dolomite, or gypsum that has been highly dissolved by water. Karst topography has sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage. Kasimovian a global age of geological time that started about 310 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Permian epoch. katagenesis see catagenesis KB or K.B. kelly bushing KBH kelly bushing height K,. 1) electrochemical spontaneous potential (SP) coefficient 2) rock compressibility coefficient kcal kilocalorie KDB kelly drive bushing KDBE kelly drive bushing elevation K,. 1) electrochemical spontaneous potential (SP) coefficient 2) dielectric constant k,. effective permeability

<= Swivel

Kelly

=Keliy Bushing Rotary Table

<=Drill Pipe kelly

kelly kelly a four- or six-sided steel pipe that is 41 feet long with a 38-ft working space (flat) or 54 ft long with a 51-ft working space. The square kelly has an outside diameter of 2\h or 6 in., and the hexagonal kelly has an outside diameter of 3 or 6 in. The kelly is located at the top of the drillstring between the swivel and drillpipe and fits into the kelly bushings on the rotary table to make the connection between the rotary table and the drillstring. The kelly is the most heavily loaded part of the the drillstring and is manufactured from bars of high-grade, heat-treated, chrome molybdenum steel. The kelly first appeared about 1915 and was square. Kelly was named after Michael J. (King) Kelly, a Chicago baseball player (1880-1887) who was known for his base running and long slides. A kelly-saver sub is used to protect threads on the lower end. Located on either end of the kelly are kelly cocks that close if fluids flow up the string. The lower kelly cock is closed to prevent loss of drilling mud when making a connection, (kelly bar or joint or griefstem) kelly and pipe straightener a manually operated hydraulic jack that bends the kelly, drill collars, and drillpipe straight as they are hanging in the rotary or laying horizontal kelly bar see kelly kelly board a platform in the derrick of a drilling rig at the height of the kelly

kerogen type

281

kelly bushing

kelly bushing a device that fits on the master bushing in the rotating table on the floor of a drilling rig to couple the master bushing and rotary table with the kelly on the drillstring. Hard metal liners in the kelly bushing fit flush against the kelly flats. The kelly bushing is connected to the master bushing with either a) four drive pins that fit into four holes bored into the master bushing, or b) a square fitting that fits into a square recess in the master bushing. The kelly bushing contains one to five drive rollers on each side of the kelly to allow the kelly to slide down through the bushing as the well is drilled deeper. (drive or kelly drive bushing) KB or K.B. kelly bushing rollers wheels or cylinders that are mounted in the kelly bushing and contact the kelly. The kelly bushing rollers allow the kelly to move up and down inside the kelly bushing, (drive rollers) kelly cock a short sub that can be installed either above the kelly (upper-kelly cock) or below the kellysaver sub (lower-kelly cock) and is used to prevent fluids from flowing up the center of the kelly. The

lower-kelly cock or drillstem safety valve has a fullbore ball valve that can be turned with a hexagonal wrench. It is closed when making a connection on the rig to prevent spillage of drilling mud on the drill floor. The upper-kelly cock is a backpressure valve that protects the equipment above the kelly. (kelly stopcock) kelly drive bushing see kelly bushing. KDB kelly driver a kelly bushing kelly flat the flat surface that runs along the length of a four- or six-sided kelly (flat) kelly hole the rathole on the drill floor of a drilling rig kelly hose see rotary hose kelly joint see kelly kelly-saver sub a small section of pipe that is run below the kelly on a drillstring to protect the threads on the bottom of the kelly kelly scabbard a covering that protects the kelly during rig moving kelly spinner a pneumatic or hydraulic motor that is located on the lower part of the swivel and attaches to the top of the kelly. The kelly spinner is used for light-duty rotating and to screw the kelly into a joint of drillpipe in the mousehole when a connection is made. kelly stabber a system used to make a connection on the drill floor. It has an air hoist with a wireline and hook that is placed around the kelly. The kelly stabber is activated by air throttle valves at the driller's station. The kelly stabber is used to move the kelly onto the next joint of drillpipe in the mousehole, stab the pipe, and make up the connection. kelly stopcock see kelly cock Kelvin the System International (SI) unit for temperature. K Kelvin temperature scale the scientific scale that uses Celsius degrees to indicate temperature above absolute zero (-273.18C). To convert Celsius to Kelvin, add 273-18. The temperature scale is named after Lord W.T. Kelvin, a British mathematician and physicist (1824-1907). kerf the annular groove that is cut by a coring bit KERO kerosene kerobitumen a native bitumen that is an altered form of kerogen kerogen organic matter in sedimentary rocks that is insoluble in organic and aqueous alkaline solvents. Kerogen is formed from the breakdown of plant and animal material. It can be classified visually by morphology and color into groups called macerals, and chemically into types by the elemental composition of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. In shales, kerogen content ranges from 80% to 95% of the organic matter. The term was originally restricted to the insoluble organic matter in oil shale. Heat and time changes kerogen in sedimentary rock into petroleum in a process called maturation. Kerogen is in contrast to bitumen that is soluble in organic solvents, (petrologen) kerogen type a classification of kerogen based on its elemental composition of carbon, hydrogen, and

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kerotenes kickoff or kick off seat during tripping out. Keyseating is a major cause of mechanical pipe sticking in a well. KEY-S key-seat barge a drilling or workover barge with a mast mounted on one side over a conduit that has been cut into the side keyseating the situation in which a part of the drillstring is caught in a smaller diameter groove (key seat) worn in the side of the well where the well makes a bend key seat or keyseat wiper a sub with reamers or spiral blades that is used on a drillstring to cut and maintain the wellbore diameter to prevent the drill collars from becoming stuck in a key seat. Keyseat wipers are most effective in soft formations. keystone fault a graben-like structure on the top of an anticline or uplift K factor Y/Xt where Yt is the mol fraction of a component in the vapor phase, and Xt is the mol fraction of the component in the liquid phase. It is a function of temperature, pressure, and composition. (equilibrium constant, partition coefficient, or vaporliquid equilibrium) K K-feldspar see orthoclase Kfe potassium feldspar kg kilogram kg/cm kilograms per centimeter
kg/k seekrg

oxygen. Of the four types of kerogen (I, II, III, and IV), Types I and II form crude oil when mature and gas when postmature. Type HI kerogen forms gas only when mature, whereas Type IV will not produce any petroleum. kerotenes the part of bitumen that is insoluble in carbon disulfide key 1) a tool that fits the shoulders of sucker rods and is used to pull or run rods in a pumping oil well 2) to use a cotter key to secure a nut to a bolt key bed an easily recognizable and extensive rock layer. A key bed is used for correlation. key fraction a standard Hempel distillation cut. Key fraction boils between 482 and 527F at atmospheric pressure.
KEY HORIZON

key horizon

key horizon the top or bottom surface of an easily recognizable and extensive bed that is often used for correlation and contouring subsurface maps KEY-S key seat

o
z

keyseat

key seat or keyseat a groove cut by the drillstring in the sides of a deviated or crooked well. A cross section of the wellbore looks like a key hole. A keyseat occurs at a bend, a minimum of 2-47l00 ft, in the well and is most common in soft formations. The key seat has a smaller diameter than the main borehole, and the larger diameter components of the drillstring such as the drill collars cannot pass through the key

kg/m3 kilogram per cubic meter KGS known geological structure kj, 1) thermal conductivity 2) horizontal permeability kHz kilohertz k, effective permeability at input kick 1) the unintended flow of formation fluid into a well being drilled. Kicks can be described by the type of fluid flowing into the well such as natural gas, hydrogen sulfide, or saltwater, the amount of fluid flowing into the well (such as a 30-bbI gas kick) and the required mudweight increase to control the kick (such as 0.5 ppg). Kicks are indicated by an increase in a) mud-tank level, b) an increase in bit penetration rate, c) a decrease in circulation pressure, d) gas-, oil-, or water-cut drilling mud, or e) an increase in chloride content in the drilling mud. 2) a distinctive deflection on a well log 3) a deflection in a wellbore kick a well oflf to place a well on gas lift kicked 1) a well being drilled that has subsurface fluid flowing into it 2) a well being drilled off at a planned angle kick her off to start an engine kick hole to drill a well kicking the flowing of formation fluids into a well kicking down a well an early method of drilling a well using an ash or hickory pole that was suspended over the hole. A stirrup was used to kick and pound the well down with a bit on a rope. kicking over the bell nipple an overflow of foaming drilling mud caused by formation gas entering the well kickoff or kick off 1) to start the angle build-up in a deviated hole (kick out) 2) to bring a well into production

kickoff or kick-off depth or point kickoff or kick-off depth or point the depth in a well where the well is initially deviated. It is the initial angle-building portion of a deviated well. KOP kickoff or kick-off pressure the pressure, measured at the surface, that is necessary to start flow in a gas-lift well kick on the rope to connect the bull wheel on a cable-tool rig to pull the tools from the well kick out to start the angle build-up in a deviated hole, (kickoff or kick off) kickout clause a provision in some oil and gas purchase contracts that allows the purchaser to renegotiate the contract under certain marketing or pricing conditions kick sub a small section of pipe (sub) that is run just above the bottom of the drillstring to force a bottom-hole tool to one side in order to initiate deviation (kick off) in a well kick the well off to start a pumping well (bounce off the engine) kick up to increase an allowable on a well kill 1) to prevent an impending blowout on a well being drilled by closing the blowout preventers and pumping heavier drilling mud down the well. Two common methods are wait-and-weigh and driller's method. 2) to stop production (kill a well) on a producing well 3) to make a trace a record of one channel on a seismic record equal to zero kill a well to stop a producing well or to stop formation fluids flowing into a well being drilled by circulating heavy fluid (kill fluid) down the well. Kill a well is in contrast to shutting in the well by closing the valves at the wellhead. killer well a well that is drilled to control a wild well that is blowing out of control. The killer well is a directional well drilled at a safe distance on the surface from the wild well. The killer well approaches the wild well in the subsurface and is used to drain the pressure out of the abnormal high-pressure formation causing the blow out. The blowout well is then cleaned out and a cement plug is set for abandoning or casing, (relief well) kill fluid any liquid pumped into a well to stop a kick. The kill fluid is usually kill mud, but in a dangerous situation, an emergency kill fluid is used. Almost any available fluid such as ocean water is used without regard to consequences, (kill iveight fluid) kill line a hard rubber hose that connects the standpipe manifold and drilling spool through a side outlet (kill valve) below the ram preventer on a blowout-preventer stack. The kill line is used to pump heavier drilling mud (kill fluid) directly into the annulus of a well when the blowout preventers are closed. The kill line has a large gate valve that is fail-safe for regulating flow and a nonreturn valve. kill mud a weighted drilling mud used as kill fluid and pumped into a well to stop the flow of fluids into the well. The kill mud will exert a greater pressure on the formation causing the kick than the formation pressure. Killing a well is done during drilling when there is a kick and in preparation for a workover such as when pulling tubing on a producing well. The kill mud used during a workover is also called load mud.

kinetic energy

283

kill-rate pressure the amount of circulating pressure measured at the drillpipe gauge when the mud pumps are operating at the kill rate kill sheet a printed form with steps to kill a well and spaces to record information as the well is being killed kill string 1) a very small diameter string of tubing run in the production string of a gas well to reduce flow 2) A tubing string hung from the wellhead that is used-to circulate heavy mud to kill a well kill tank see slug tank kill valve a valve on the drilling spool of a blowoutpreventer stack on a drilling rig that allows heavier kill mud to be pumped down a shut-in well kill-weight fluid see kill fluid kilo a prefix in the metric system for 103 kilo- the metric prefix for 103 k kilobyte computer memory that can store 210or 1,024 bytes or characters. A character is a symbol such as A or 2. kilogram the System International (SI) unit for mass. A kilogram is equal to 1,000 g. Kilograms can be converted to pounds by multiplying by 2.205. kg kilograms per cubic meter the System International (SI) unit used for mud density. The conventional unit is ppg (US). The conventional unit can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 119-82. kglm" kilohertz one hundred cycles per second. KHz kiloliter one hundred liters. A kiloliter is equal to 220 Imp gal, 264 U.S. gal, or about one metric tonne of crude oil. kilometer a metric unit of length. A kilometer is equal to 1,000 m, 0.53961 naut mi, and 0.62137 statute mi. kilopascal the System International (SI) unit for pressure. The conventional unit is psi. The conventional unit can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 6.895. kPa kilopascals per meter the System International (SI) unit for mud gradient. The conventional unit is psi/ foot, and the conventional unit can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 22.621. kPalm kilowatt a metric unit of power. A kilowatt is equal to about 1.34 hp. kW or kw Kimeridigian a global age of geological time that occurred about 155-145 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Jurassic epoch. Kinderhookian a North American epoch of geological time that started about 365 m. y. ago. It is part of the Mississippian period. kinematic viscosity the ratio of the viscosity of a fluid in units of poises to the density of the fluid. Kinematic viscosity is reported in units of stokes or centistokes. It is often measured in time for a volume of the fluid to flow through a standard capillary tube or orifice such as a Marsh funnel, (absolute viscosity) KV kinetic energy the energy of an object in motion. Kinetic energy is equal to the work that must be done by a force on the object in order to take the object

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kinetics Kozeny's equation knock the thump noise caused by improper fuel burning in the cylinder of an engine knock down oil to separate water from crude oil knocker a sliding link on a drilling jar knock-off joint a device used to unclamp and shut in a jack well knock-off post the post on a pumping well through which the rod line moves up and down. When a well is to be shut down, the knock-off post is used to disengage the rod-line hook. knock out to separate oil, gas, and water by gravity. KO knockout 1) baffles in a tank that are used to separate gas from a liquid 2) a separator that is either a freewater knockout or a total-liquid knockout knockout drops a demulsifier used to separate and determine the amount of sediment and water in an emulsion sample (slugging compound) knock-out drum a small container used to remove liquids from gas before the gas is run through a compressor knockout vessel, drum, or trap see separator knot 1) a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for marine and aerial velocity and is one nautical mph. A knot is 1.151 statute mph, 1.852 k/hr, or 0.514 rn/s. k or kn 2) a pipe collar knothead an inexperienced worker that probably has no capability of becoming a good worker knowledge bench the driller's stool knowledge box the desk or cupboard where the driller's orders, reports, and records are kept knowledge stick a measuring stick that is used to determine the depth of a cable-tool well by measuring the length of drilling line used, (five-foot stick) known geological structure a subsurface trap which has been determined to be productive for petroleum by drilling. If it occurs on federal land, the land must be put up for competitive bidding. KGS knuckle joint a hinged joint with a ball swivel that holds a tool on a drill or work string and allows the tool to swivel on a ball and socket with a degree of freedom. One type is hydraulically activated. Knuckle joints are used on fishing strings to give an angle to the tool and to kick off a deviated well. KO 1) kicked off 2) knock out k,, effective permeability to oil Kobe porosimeter an instrument used to measure porosity in a sample. The Kobe porosimeter consists of a mercury pump, a core chamber with sight glass, compressed air or helium gas, valves, and a pressure gauge. ko/k relative permeability to oil. (k^ Kolor Kut a paste indicator used for gasoline and water Koomey fluid blowout preventer hydraulic fluid Koomey unit a tradename that is identified with any make of blowout preventer control unit KOP kickoff point Kozeny's equation an equation that relates permeability to porosity. The equation is k = <$>3/KS2 in which k is the coefficient of permeability, 4> is

from a state of rest to its present state of motion. Kinetic energy is equal to one half the mass of the object times the velocity of the object squared. Kinetic energy is in contrast to potential energy. kinetics the study of chemical reaction rates and the effect of temperature, pressure, time, and concentrations kink a twist, bend, or loop in a wire rope that has been pulled tight kinkfold a fold in sedimentary rocks with planar limbs and a sharp angular hinge KIOGA Kansas Independent Oil and Gas Association Kirkfieldian a North American age of geological time that occurred about 457 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. kj kilojoules k^ klinkenberg-corrected permeability kid killed Klein tongs a long, heavy set of metal tongs that is used on a cable-tool rig to screw pipe together Klinkenberg-corrected permeability measured permeability that has been corrected for gas slippage during the measurement and is now correct for liquid flow through the rock. A chart called the Klinkenberg scale is used to make the correction. The correction is unnecessary for 1 darcy and higher permeabilities, but can be as much as 0.6 for a millidarcy of permeability. kL Klinkenberg effect the difference between the flow of a gas and a liquid through a reservoir. Gas has a higher velocity near the grain surfaces than a liquid such as water or oil Klinkenberg permeability factor a compensation for the use of low-pressure gas rather than a liquid to measure permeability in a rock. The Klinkenberg permeability factor is derived from the Klinkenberg scale and is approximately equal to 0.777 &iiq~0'39 Klinkenberg scale a plot of measured permeabilities using air at different pressures on a rock and extrapolating it to infinite pressure which approximates the permeability of that rock to a liquid. The Klinkenberg scale is used to compensate for the use of a gas to make permeability measurements instead of water or oil. k|j q permeability of a liquid Klusterite a hard metal used for cutting km kilometer maximum permeability in the horizontal direction KMt longest metacentric height above keel K-Monel a metal that has mechanical properties similar to steel and a magnetic permeability similar to air. K-Monel drill collars are made in 18-30-ft sections and are used for deviation drilling and magnetic surveys. km2 square kilometer kn knot knife a well to remove wax from a well using a paraffin knife k^ 0 permeability measure at 90 to maximum horizontal permeability

k.y.B.P. porosity, 5 is the surface area per unit volume of rock, and K is Kozeny's constant. kp 1) effective permeability at producer 2) proppant permeability kPa kilopascal kPa/m kilopascals per meter kph kilometers per hour kg formation resistivity factor coefficient k, relative permeability k,g relative permeability of a rock to gas. (kg/k) kriging a reservoir description based on random field theory for interpolation of reservoir parameters between wells. Kriging is a geostatistical method used to estimate a value or parameter at an unsampled location using the spatial relationship of known sample values. Kriging is named after Danie Krig, a South African geostatistician. K^ relative permeability to oil (k^) k , , relative permeability to water (kw/k) k, spherical flow permeability

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k(t) time series of reflection coefficient Kungurian a global age of geological time that started about 270 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Permian epoch. KV kinematic viscosity kV or kv kilovolt ky vertical permeability K.VA. or kva kilovolt-ampere kvah kilovolt-ampere-hour K-value see equilibrium ratio KW killed well kW or kw kilowatt 1^ effective permeability to water kwh or kW-h kilowatt-hour Kwik Seal lost circulation material kJKseekm, k.y. thousand years k.y.B.P. thousand years before present

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L lamination

L 1) liter 2) length 3) liquid 4) moles of liquid phase 5) inductance 6) line 7) lime 8) lateral log 11) lower 2) laminar 3) laminated 4) lamination 5) liter L/ lower /L line LA load acid Lab labor labor a Spanish land measure of about 177 acres lac lacustrine LaCoste-Romberg borehole gravimeter a heated gravimeter that makes measurements of the earth's gravity at discrete stations in a borehole. The gravimeter is clamped to the borehole wall, and several readings are made over a period of 5-10 minutes. The gravimeter has a reliability of about 7 gal. The LaCoste-Romberg borehole gravimeter is used to determine porosity of the formations surrounding the wellbore and has a radius of investigation from 10s of feet to 1,000 ft. LaCoste-Romberg gravimeter an astatic type of gravimeter that uses a weight on a beam that is suspended by a zero-length spring with tension on it. A change in gravity causes the weight to move. The main spring is balanced by a screw that restores a light beam to null. LACT lease automatic custody transfer LACT unit a system that automatically gauges, samples, and transfers crude oil from the stock tanks on a lease to a pipeline. A LACT unit collects and records production and accounting data including the volume, temperature, API, and bottom sediment and water content of the oil. The equipment includes a) a charging pump, b) strainer, c) air eliminator, d) sampler, e) sediment and water monitor, f) wet-oil diverting valve, g) liquid meter, h) meter proving connection, and i) backpressure valve. The two types of systems are the meter type and the volumetric dump type. The meter type has continuous flow of oil from the tanks to the pipeline, whereas the volumetricdump type has two tanks that are alternately filled and dumped into the pipeline. A probe automatically senses the bottom sediment and water content of the crude oil. If the oil exceeds the sales contract quality, a diverter valve is activated and the oil goes back through the system for more treatment, (leaseautomatic custody transfer unit) lacustrine a lake environment, lac

ladinian a global age of geological time that occurred about 240-230 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Triassic epoch. lag 1) the time difference between two events 2) the distance that the detector moves during the radioactivity counting period during nuclear logging lag deposit a deposit of coarse-grained sediments left by the erosion or winnowing of fine-grained sediments by a current of water or air flowing over the sediments lagged depth the depth of well cutting samples that has been compensated for lag time lagging insulation used to cover vessels and pipes laggings hoisting-drum spool shells that are removable and interchangeable. Laggings are used to change a hoisting-drum diameter for different rope speeds and line pulls. lagoon the relatively quiet coastal-waters environment behind a barrier such as a reef or barrier island lag time or lagtime the time that it takes the well cuttings to be carried by the drilling fluid ^rom the bottom of the well to the surface (cuttings time lag) or the drilling mud to circulate from the bottom of the well to the surface (mud time lag). On an SVi-in. diameter well, the lag time is about 10 min/1,000 ft. The lag time can be determined by timing tracers in the mud such as carbide, corn, lentil or rice. Lagtime can also be calculated by using the volume of the well and the capacity of the mud pumps. Lag time is one-half circulating or cycle time, (uptime) laid length the length of a tubular not counting the threads. Laid length is in contrast to over-all length. LAMD, Lam, or lam laminated A. 1) mobility 2) wavelength 3) Lame's constant 4) coefficient of anisotropy 5) decay constant 6) coefficient of thermal expansion V, apparent wavelength Xg gas mobility Xo oil mobility X^, water mobility lamina the thinnest depositional layer that is recognized in sedimentary rocks. A lamina is less than 1 cm thick. laminar flow a type of fluid flow in which the direction of flow remains constant with time at each point in the flow. Laminar flow is characteristic of fluid flow through permeable rocks and is in contrast to turbulent flow, (streamline flow or viscous flow) laminar shale a shale with thin layers or laminations laminated a sedimentary rock layer that has very fine layering (lamina) or can be split into thin layers. LAMD, Lam, or lam lamination a very fine layering (lamina) in a sedimentary rock. (LAMS)

LAMS Latorlat LAMS laminations land to lower and set one piece of equipment in place on another piece of equipment land base map a map that shows ownership boundaries and lease information land department the section in an oil company that monitors the development of leased properties and supervises the distribution of royalties and other payments landing casing lowering a string of casing into a well until it rests on a shoulder or place in the well below which the wellbore diameter is smaller landing collar a short section of steel pipe that connects two joints of casing and is used during cementing. The landing collar is usually located either one casing joint above the float collar or two or more joints above the float or casing shoe. The landing collar is used to provide space for the mudcontaminated cement. It catches and seats the wiper plug and prevents it from moving uphole if a valve fails. landing depth the measured depth in a well to which a tubular string, such as casing, extends landing joint a short casing joint that is used when running casing. The landing joint is the last joint run on a casing string and is not made up very tight. After the cement has hardened, the landing joint is broken out and a bradenhead is made up. landing nipple 1) a production casing-string receptacle that allows for seating a plug or valve 2) a short tubular nipple with tubular threads that is part of the tubing string and is used for landing the string in the well at a predetermined depth. The landing nipple can be either nonselective, a receiver for a locking device, or selective that is full-opening. The landing nipple is made of special alloy steel, stainless steel, or K-Monel. landman a person responsible for identifying and locating mineral-rights owners and negotiating leases. The landman identifies tracts that are available for leasing. After receiving a lease purchase authority, the landman can negotiate a lease with the mineral rights owner. After the lease is acquired and before drilling, the landman could have to do an extensive examination of the records and titles. The landman might also be responsible for maintaining the lease records. A landman can either work for an oil company or be an independent broker, (leaseman) landowner or landowner's royalty the share or payment of gas and/or oil production that is free from the costs of production and is paid to the lessor. The royalty was originally one-eighth but is now anywhere from one-eighth to one-fourth, (fee, gross, lessor's, or leasehold royalty) landowner's royalty pool a business arrangement in which the royalty and/or mineral interests are assigned to a corporation or business trust in return for an interest in the trust or shares in the corporation. In this manner, the landowner can share in the production from the large area covered by the trust or corporation. Land Registry Office the Canadian agency that maintains records of land title owners and other related legal instruments.

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Landsat an unmanned remote-sensing system consisting of five satellites launched and originally operated by the United States government. Landsat operates on an open-sky policy in which images are taken everywhere, archived, and made available for purchase at uniform prices and priorities to everyone. Landsat 1 was launched in 1972 and Landsat 5 in 1984. Prior to 1974, it was known as ERTS (Earth Resources Technology Satellite). Landsats 1, 2, and 3 orbit at a height of 570 mi in sun-synchronous orbits and cover the earth in 18 days. Landsats 4 and 5 orbit at 438 mi and cover the earth in 16 days. Landsats 1,2, and 3 have a multispectral scanner (MSS) imaging system; Landsat 3 also has a return-beam vidicon (RBV), panchromatic imaging system. Landsats 4 and 5 have a thematic mapper (TM) along with the multispectral scanner imaging system. The multispectral scanner records in four wavelengths or spectral bands that include green, red, and two infrareds which can be used to make an infrared composite image. The thematic mapper records several bands of data in visible through thermal infrared wavelengths. The image data is transmitted from the satellite to receiving stations and recorded on magnetic tape. The Landsat data is available through the EOSAT Company. landslide the sudden collapse into a wellbore of loose debris that has built up along the sides of a wellbore cavity. A landslide occurs most often when drilling mud circulation is stopped. Langhian a global age of geological time that occurred about 17-15.4 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Miocene epoch. Lang's lay a wire rope winding pattern in which both the strands and the wires in the strand are twisted in the same direction or hand. A Lang's lay can be either a right lay or left lay depending on whether the strands are twisted to the right or left as one looks at the end of the rope. Drilling line is usually constructed with Lang's lay. The other type of wire rope winding pattern is ordinary or regular lay. language computer languages such as Fortran, Algol, and Cobal lap the area on the bottom of a casing string that is overlapped by the top of a liner lap of wire a layer of wire rope on the drawworks drum lap point the point on a drilling line where a new lap or layer of wire rope begins on the drawworks drum. The lap point is an area of severe wear. lap-welded pipe pipe or casing made by bending sheet steel around a mandrel and welding the overlapping seam. Lap-welded pipe is in contrast to seamless pipe. LARIO the Louisiana Association of Independent Producers and Royalty Owners last engaged thread the last crest on the thread of one coupling to engage the root on the thread of another coupling when they are screwed together last reading the last or shallowest accurate measurement made by a logging tool. LR LAT logged after trip LAT or lat latitude Lat or lat laterite

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latch laying cable lava molten rock that is flowing on the surface of the earth or has cooled and solidified on the surface of the earth law of additive pressures the total pressure exerted by a mixture of gases is equal to the sum of the pressures (partial pressures) exerted by each component (Dalton's law of partial pressures) law of reflection the angle of incidence at an interface equals the angle of reflection lay 1) the twist direction of wire in a wire rope. Regular lay, right-lay rope is wound with wire in the strands laid to the left and the strands laid to the right as one views the wire rope from the end of the rope. Regular-lay, left-lay rope has wires in strands laid to the right with strands laid to the left. Lang'slay rope has both the wires in the strands and the strands laid in the same direction. 2) the distance along the wire rope that one wire strand extends in one revolution lay an egg 1) to explosively frac a well 2) to acidize a well lay barge a barge that is designed to lay offshore pipelines. Some are built similar to ships and semisubmersibles. laydown or lay down to lay pipe in the pipe rack laydown drilling and spacing unit a rectangularshaped unit with a long axis running east-west. This is in contrast to a standup drilling-and-spacing unit in which the long axis runs north-south. lay-down job 1) to jackknife a derrick or mast before moving the rig 2) a gin pole that can be moved up or down lay down pipe, rods or tubing to pull drillpipe, rods or tubing from a well and stack them in single joints horizontally on a lay-down or pipe rack next to the rig or well lay-down rack the platform next to a drilling rig that is used to horizontally store drillpipe, tubing, and rods lay-down trough a heavy metal trough with legs that is set at an angle on the drill floor. One end of the trough is near the rotary table and the other end extends over the edge of the rig floor through the V-door. The laydown trough is used to slide drillpipe with thread protectors off the drill floor when laying down pipe. lay-down wire a steel cable that has one end clamped to the mast or derrick and the other to the catwalk of a drilling rig. A pulley with a hook rides on the laydown wire. The hook is set into the bottom of a single on the drill floor, and the laydown wire is used to lower the pipe out the V-door. layer a tabular body of rock with distinctive top and bottom surfaces that are parallel or approximately parallel, (bed or stratum) layer-cake geology an old and simplistic concept that the earth's crust is composed of rock layers that extend for great distances. The rock layers were believed to be uniform in thickness and unchanging laterally in composition. laying cable setting out the cable (jugline) and geophones in an arrays for seismic exploration

latch a locking device latching the tongs engaging and securing the tongs on a drilling rig around drillpipe or casing latch on to fasten elevators or tongs onto a joint or stand of pipe latch sub a short fitting that is run on the bottom of a tubing string along with seal subs. The latch sub is clamped to the permanent packer to retard tubing string movement in the well. late mature a stage of kerogen maturity between peak and post mature when oil and gas generation is decreasing. In oil source rocks, it corresponds to a vitrinite reflectance of 1.0%-1.3%, a thermal alteration index of 2.6-3.5 and a spore color index of 7-9. In gas prone source rocks, late mature corresponds to vitrinite reflectance of 2.2%-3.0% and a thermal alteration index of 3.6-4.0. latent heat the amount of heat necessary to vaporize a volume of liquid at the boiling temperature without raising the temperature lateral line a smaller diameter pipeline from a lease or tank battery that feeds into the trunk line lateral log a type of electrical resistivity well log. A lateral log is made by passing a constant electric current from an electrode on a sonde through a formation in a well and measuring the voltage difference between two other electrodes that are spaced closely together on the sonde. The lateral log is similar to the normal resistivity type, but has a deeper radius of investigation used to measure Rt. The curves, however, are difficult to interpret. L lateral piping the small-diameter gathering pipeline system for gas wells laterite a highly weathered soil zone of iron and aluminum oxides. Laterite is characteristic of tropical and forested warm and temporate climates, hat or lot Laterolog an electric wireline well log that focuses the current back into the rocks with guard or bucking electrodes in a narrow zone. The laterolog records the conductivity-resistivity of the rocks and their fluids on a smaller diameter center or guarded electrode. The log is used when the drilling mud is very conductive or the beds are thin and have high resistivities. The Laterolog is used to determine the true resistivity of the rocks (/?,) and to correlate between wells. LL latex cement a type of cement used in wells that is a mixture of cement (API Class A,G, or H) and liquid or powdered latex. The latex improves the bonding strength and filtration control of the cement. latitude the angular north-south distance on the earth in degrees measured from the equator. LAT or lot latitude correction a correction applied to gravity meter data to compensate for the variation in distance to the center of the earth with latitude launching barge a barge with an extensive, clear deck that is used to float out the jacket for an offshore platform. Apparatus on the barge tilt and slide the jacket into the water. lav lavender

laying down lean gas laying down to dismantle the drillstem after the well is completed in order to change pipe size or after mechanical failure or break down lazy bench a bench on the drill floor, in the doghouse, or anywhere where the drilling crew can rest lazy board a board with a handle and metal straps that is used to hold up the end of a pipe while another pipe is screwed into it. (jack board or stabbing jack) LB orlb pound LB lost bearings lb/cu ft pounds per cubic foot lbf pounds force lb/ft pounds per foot lb/ft3 pounds per cubic foot lb/gal pounds per gallon lb-in. pound-inch lb/in.2 pounds per square inch lbm or lb m pounds of mass Ibm/ft pounds of mass per foot LBOS light brown oil stain LBS-H2O/MM pounds of water per million standard cubic feet of natural gas lb/sq ft pounds per square foot LC 1) lost circulation 2) lease crude Lc leucoxene LCB longitudinal center of buoyancy LCD liquid crystal display LCF longitudinal center of flotation lchd leached LCIRC lost circulation LCM lost circulation material L/Cret lower Cretaceous LD 1) laid down 2) lay down 3) laying down 4) land Ld land Id 1) load 2) land Lj, dimensionless well length LDC local distribution company L.D.D. later drilled deeper Ldd landed LDDCs laying down drill collars LDDP laying down drillpipe Ids lands LDT 1) litho-density tool 2) light duty truck LE lift efficiency Le electrode length lead 1) the time by which one event is ahead of another on a seismic record 2) the time by which an event is ahead of its normal, expected arrival time 3) an electrical conductor such as a wire that connects electrical components 4) the anticipation of the direction and angle that a drill bit will drill 5) the distance between crests on a thread lead acetate test a test for hydrogen sulfide by discoloration of a paper strip with lead acetate solution

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lead angle the degrees to the left or right of the intended course that a directional driller aims the well to compensate for bit walk lead impression block a tool used for fishing in a well. The tool has lead on the lower end and is run into a well to make an impression of the fish so that the correct fishing tool can be selected. lead line the flowline that carries oil from a subsea well head to the manifold and to the offshore platform. (flowline) lead man see head roustabout lead pipeline piping that extends from a pumping oil well to the stock or storage tanks. lead tongs the large wrench-like device that is suspended from the mast or derrick above the drill floor of a drilling rig. When coming out of the hole, the lead-tongs man uses the lead tongs which act as the torque tong and is connected by rope or chain to the breakout cathead to grip the pin end of a pipe joint for breaking out the pipe. When going in the hole, the lead tongs grip the box end of the pipe and are used as backups for the makeup tongs. (breakout tongs) lead-tongs man the drilling crew member who uses the lead tongs, (pipe racker) league 1) a Spanish land measure of about 4,428 ac 2) a distance of 3 naut mi leaker a pipe that cannot hold hydrostatic pressure leak-off or leakoff pressure the mimimum pressure that causes fluids to flow out of the wellbore and into a formation during a leakoff or pressure test. The leakoff test is made by closing the annulus of a well and slowly pumping drilling fluid down the well. The pressure will build up until the leakoff pressure is reached, and then it will level off as the fluid flows out into the formation, (rupture pressure) leak-off or leakoff rate the rate at which frac fluids enter the formation surrounding the fractures during a hydraulic frac job on a well leak-off or leakoff test 1) a test run to determine the maximum pressure that a formation in a well can withstand before fracturing. The leakoff test is run by shutting in the well and slowly pumping more drilling mud through the drillstring. The mud pressure will increase until it starts to level off, indicating that the formation is fracturing, (pressure test) 2) a test run after casing has been cemented to determine if the casing, cement and formation below the casing can withstand the bottomhole pressures necessary to drill deeper. The blowout preventers are closed and the mud pumps are run at a constant speed until the test pressure is reached or the well starts to take mud. The pumps are stopped and the pressure decline for the next 10 minutes is recorded. leak-repair clamp a curved metal plate that is designed to fit over and attach to a pipe to temporarily repair a leak in the pipe (saddle clamp) lean amine a mine solution that has been regenerated from rich amine by stripping out the acid gases. Lean amine is ready to be recirculated back into the contactor tower for acid gas treatment. Lean amine is in contrast to rich amine. lean gas natural gas that contains relatively little condensate or liquid hydrocarbons 1) Lean gas has

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leanglycol left-lateral strike-slip fault and are included under G&G. Lease costs are capitalized over the life of production and are in contrast to equipment cost and IDCs. (acquisition
costs)

between 0.1-0.3 gal of natural gas liquids per Mcf 2) lean gas contains less than 2.5 gal ethane and C2+ per Mcf at 60F lean glycol glycol that does not contain water. Lean glycol will absorb water as it passes through a contact tower and will become rich or wet glycol. Rich glycol can be reconcentrated back into lean glycol by boiling. Lean glycol is similar to lean solution. lean oil the oil that is used in an absorption plant to absorb liquid hydrocarbons. Natural gas is bubbled through the lean oil to absorb liquid hydrocarbons. The fat oil is then distilled to remove the liquid hydrocarbons and reconcentrate into lean oil. lean solution a glycol-water solution which is 95%99% glycol by weight. A lean solution is used in liquid dehydration of natural gas and is in contrast to a rich solution. lease 1) a legal printed document establishing an ownership in mineral rights for the purpose of drilling and producing petroleum on a specific parcel of land. The lease has certain time period called the primary term, which is usually 3, 5, or 10 years. Initiation of drilling or delay rental payments is necessary during the primary term to maintain lease validity. Petroleum production in paying quantities extends the primary term of the lease into the secondary term to cover the life of the oil and gas production. Typical lease clauses include granting, habendum, oil royalty, gas royalty, delay rental, effect of dry hole on delay rentals and term, proportional interest, free gas, provision for assignment in whole or part, lease to remain a unit, warranty of title, continuing production, release and partial release, subject to actions of governments, unitization, and succession in interest, (mineral lease) 2) the act of obtaining a lease document from the mineral rights owner (lessor) on a tract of land by the lessee 3) the tract of land covered by a lease document. Ise or LSE lease analyst a person who is responsible for lease maintenance. The lease analyst keeps track of delay rental and shut-in payments. lease automatic-custody transfer unit see LACT unit lease bonus money paid to the mineral-rights owner (lessor) by the lessee for signing a lease lease boss a production foreman lease broker a self-employed party who purchases leases either a) as an investment to be sold later on speculation or b) as an agent under contract for a company that desires to keep secret their lease purchases lease check research on the oil and gas leases that are currently in effect on acreage of interest, (lease takeoff) lease condensate liquid hydrocarbons called retrograde gas, natural gasoline, or condensate that are removed from natural gas in the field. Condensate is usually separated by refrigeration or absorption. Lease condensate that is removed with standard field equipment is usually reported with the crude oil. lease costs monies spent for bonuses and all other costs related to the acquisition of a lease or property. These costs can include recording fees, payments to lease brokers, as well as fees for title examination,

lease crude stabilized oil existing under surface conditions of temperature and pressure (60F and 1 atm). Stabilized oil exists after the oil has been processed through a separator(s) to remove solution gas and water, (atmospheric-pressure oil or stock tank or stocktank oil) LC leasehold the acreage covered by a lease(s) leasehold interest 1) money left from oil and gas production after operating and developing costs and mineral rights royalties have been paid 2) the exclusive rights granted in an oil and gas lease to explore for, develop, and produce oil and gas from land, (operating or working interest) leasehold royalty see landowner's royalty lease hound a landman lease line 1) a small pipeline that connects an oil well with the stock or storage tank 2) the boundary of the lease leaseman see landman lease operator see pumper lease power a motor that is used to drive several wells on a lease. The lease power turns a bandwheel and a horizontal revolving eccentric. Jack wells are connected to the eccentric with shackle or rod lines. leaser landman lease rental the annual sum required in a lease to be paid to the lessor or mineral-rights owner to extend the lease in lieu of drilling and producing petroleum in paying quantities. Lease rental is usually a percentage of the bonus, (delay rental) lease superintendent see production foreman lease takeoff research on the oil and gas leases that are currently in effect on acreage of interest, (lease check) lease tank see stock tank least squares filter see optimum filter least-squares fit a statistical analysis method in which a line or curve is fitted to a plot of data. The line or curve that is selected to represent the scatter of data is the one that has the least sum of the squares of the distances from the data points to the line or curve. least-time path the route between two points in the earth along which seismic energy takes the least time to travel LED light emitting diode ledge a protrusion into the wellbore formed by a relatively hard layer such as a thin limestone underlain by a softer layer such as shale that has caved into the well left-handed thread a thread that tightens counterclockwise in a receding direction when viewed axially, in contrast to most threads that are right handed left-lateral strike-slip fault a fault that moves or has moved with predominantly horizontal displacement with the opposite side of the fault moving toward the left as you face the fault plane

leg LHV LEG liquefied energy gas

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brace

leg (off rotary drilling rig chart)

leg 1) one of the four vertical supports that is located below the drilling floor on a drilling rig. A leg is constructed from structural steel in the form of an angle, channel or I-beam, or, rarely, of tubular steel. Legs are held in position by sway braces and girts. 2) a cycle of seismic energy from peak to trough 3) the vertical or near-vertical support columns on a jackup rig. Two types are tubular steel and reinforced beams with a lattice shape. 4) the solid part of a rollercone bit that holds the pin and bearing journal for a rotating cone. Three legs are welded together to form a unit for a tricone bit. Each of the legs has a channel for fluid circulation. legal oil or gas oil or gas that is not in excess of that allowed by a government regulatory agency when produced. Legal oil or gas is in contrast to illegal oil or gas, or hot oil. legal subdivision a quarter of one quarter section of land. A legal subdivision is Vi6th of a section and covers 40 acres. Legal subdivisions in Canada are numbered starting with 1 in the southeast corner, 4 in the southwest corner, 13 in the northwest corner, and 16 in the northeast corner. LEL lower explosive limit Len lens len lentil length a section of tubular, more commonly called a joint lens a lens-shaped rock body, thick in the middle and thinning to zero thickness on either side, with curved upper (concave down) and lower (concave up) surfaces. Len or lenient lenticular lenticular lens-shaped, lent Leonardian a North American age of geological time that occurred about 275-270 m. y. ago. It is part of the Permian period. lessee the recipient and owner of a lease. The lessee has the right to explore and drill for petroleum on the tract of land covered by the lease during the term of the lease. The lease is bought from the lessor. lesser interest clause an oil and gas lease provision that permits the lessee to proportionately reduce payments to the lessor if the lessor holds less than 100% of the mineral rights, (proportionate reduction clause)

lessor the mineral rights owner who transfers the mineral rights to a lessee. The lessor receives a bonus for signing the lease and will receive a royalty if petroleum is produced. Delay rentals and shut-in royalties also go to the lessor. lessor's royalty the share or payment of the gas and/or oil production that is free from the costs of production and is paid to the lessor. The royalty was originally one-eighth but currently ranges from oneeighth to one-fourth, (fee, gross, leasehold, landowner or landowner's royalty) LET lowest expected temperature let her rip to open a well to full production let-out screw to unscrew the temper screw of a cable-tool rig to let out the drilling line letter agreement an informal document that is a statement of understanding between parties. It is in the form of a letter from one party to another. The agreement can be legally enforced if it meets certain requirements. A letter agreement is in contrast to a formal contract. let the tools swing to shut in a well with tools in the well
LEVEE CHANNEL FLOOD PLAIN

levee levee a natural, long, low ridge of sand and silt that is located along both banks of a river and is parallel to the river channel. The levee is deposited by a river during floods when the river rises out of its banks. level 1) a surveying instrument that uses a bubble to determine horizontally 2) a section on digital magnetic tape that records bits of information. Several magnetic heads can record several bits of information at the same time on the same tape. The magnetic tape used to record seismic data often has 7, 9, or 21 levels and is called 7-track, 9-track and 21-track tape, (track) level of maturity a hydrocarbon maturity scale based on vitrinite reflectance that ranges from 1 to 20. Oil generation starts at 7.8, reaches a peak at 9.5, and ends at 11.5 on the scale. LOM leverage the ratio of total undiscounted future revenues divided by the capital investment leveraged a deal or arrangement in which part or all of the money is obtained by borrowing LF low frequency LFL lower flammable limit LFO light fuel oil lg 1) length 2) long lg or lge large LGC liquid gas carrier Lge league LHV lower heating valve

292

Lg-wave lignosulfonate mud match the pin end of the pipe or collars and a latch head or lifting bail on the other end. (hoisting plug) lifting or lift sub a short section of pipe with an elevator recess that is used to raise the drill collars out of the rotary table LIG, Lig, or lig 1) lignite 2) lignitic light-emitting diode an electric device made of two semiconductors that will emit light when the correct current is passed through it. Many computer displays are made from light-emitting diodes. LED light ends the low molecular-weight components of petroleum such as propane and butane. Light ends are very volatile. lightening hole a hole cut into a leg or beam that reduces its weight but does not significantly reduce its strength light hydrocarbons oil and/or gas with molecular weight less than heptane (H7). Light hydrocarbons are gas, or almost gas, at surface temperature and pressure. light oil crude oil that is relatively light in density and has a "API between 35-45. Light oil fluoresces white under ultraviolet light. lightweight additive or material an additive such as bentonite that is used to decrease the density of a fluid light well a low-production well lignin a carbohydrate polymer that is found in woody organic matter. Lignin becomes vitrinite in sedimentary rocks and has a low potential for oil formation but can form gas. lignite a brownish-black, low-rank coal that is intermediate between peat and bituminous coal. Lignite has a reflectance between 0.2-0.4. It has a relatively low heat content compared to bituminous or anthracite coal. Lignites by themselves or combined with sodium or potassium hydroxides and/or chromates are used as fluid-loss control material, emulsifiers, and thinners in drilling mud. LIG, Lig, or lig lignite-lignosulfonate mud a drilling fluid that contains lignosulfonate as a thinner to act against high drilling-solids concentrations and lignite as a fluidloss agent lignitic a sedimentary rock that contains some lignite coal, usually interbedded with other sediments. LIG, Lig or lig lignosulfonate a byproduct of wood-pulp waste and sulfite paper manufacturing that is used as an organic drilling-mud additive for fluid-loss control, as a thinner, and for shale inhibition. Lignosulfonate is also used as a cement extender in making certain cements. lignosulfonate mud a drilling mud made from fresh or salt water, bentonite clay, chrome or ferrochrome lignosulphonate, caustic soda, and sodium carboxymethylcellulose or stabilized starch. The mud can also contain lignite, oil, lubricants, and surfactants. Lignosulfonate mud is used when a) a high mud density is required, b) the well has a moderately high temperature, c) there is a high tolerance for contamination by drilled solids, salt,

Lg-wave long surface wave li 1) lime 2) limestone liberated gas natural gas in circulating drilling mud that originated from a subsurface formation. Liberated gas comes from the portion of rocks crushed by the drill bit and is in contrast to contamination gas. lie license license 1) permission to do or not do something. lie 2) a permit granted by a country to explore an offshore block. The term license varies in definition between countries. A nonexclusive license is only for exploration. An exclusive license is for exploration, drilling, and production. lien a burden on property or an interest to secure the payment of money owed the lien holder. The burdened property or interest can be sold and the proceeds used to satisfy the debt if it is not timely paid. lieu lease a new lease that is given to the assignee of the lessee by the lessor LIFE lifetime log life index the estimated time needed to produce the remaining gas reserves. A life index is made by dividing the current annual gas-production rate into the known gas reserves, (reserves-to-production ratio) life-of-field contract a type of gas purchase contract in which the produced gas is sold to the specified buyer for as long as the field is capable of production life-of-lease contract a type of gas purchase contract in which the length of the contract is the same as the life of the gas seller's lease LIFO last in, first out lift gas the natural gas used in a gas-lift well to produce oil. Lift gas is first stripped of any valuable liquids, (gas-lift gas) lifting the process of bringing oil to the surface in a well lifting bail a U-shaped piece of steel that is attached to a tool and used for attaching a lifting device such as a hook lifting capacity 1) the maximum weight that a hoisting system is designed to lift. On a drilling rig, it is called the hook-load capacity, (load capacity) 2) the ability of a drilling fluid such as mud, air, or gas to raise solid well cutting up the well. The lifting capacity is usually expressed as the diameter of the largest particle size that can be lifted. Lifting capacity depends on the fluid density and velocity. lifting costs the expense of producing oil from a well. Lifting costs are the operating costs of the wells including the gathering and separating equipment. Lifting costs do not include the costs of drilling and completing the wells or transporting the oil. (well operating costs) lifting line a small line such as the catline on a drilling rig that is run from the drawworks cathead. The lifting line is used to lift lighter loads than the pick-up line such as joints of drillpipe, subs, and tongs. lifting nipple or sub a device that is used to attach the elevators to slim-hole drillpipe and drill collars when tripping or making a connection. The lifting nipple is a short pipe with threads on one end to

LIH limited partnership anhydrite, gypsum, and cement, and d) there is a low nitrate loss. LIH left in hole LIL log-inject-log Lim or lim limonite lim 1) limit 2) limiting value
CREST AXIS

293

limb

limb one side of a fold in rocks divided by the axial surface. A fold has two limbs that can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical, (flank) limber hookup a relatively flexible bottomhole assembly that is in contrast to a stiff hookup limber-pendulum assembly a downhole assembly used to drill deviated wells. The limber-pendulum assembly consists of a flexible drill-collar assembly with a stabilizer located 30-60 ft above the bit to give the pendulum effect. lime 1) a driller's term for limestone. L, IM, li and Im 2) calcium oxide 3) the active ingredient [Ca(OH)2] of slaked lime and the main constituent of wet cement lime-based or lime mud a bentonite drilling fluid that contains caustic soda, organic thinners, and slaked, hydrated lime. The sodium-base clays such as commercial bentonite have been converted to calcium-base by the addition of lime. Lime mud is used to resist salt contamination when drilling thick anhydrite sections. The mud has a high pH but tends to solidify at high temperatures, (lime-treated mud)
L-MUD

lime mudstone a type of limestone with a small percentage of large, sand-sized grains and 7596-85% mud-sized particles called micrite lime producer a well that produces from a limestone reservoir rock limestone a common sedimentary rock composed of at least 50% CaCO3, primarily the mineral calcite. The rock can be easily identified because it will bubble in cold, dilute HCl. Limestone is deposited both biologically and inorganically and is formed primarily in tropical climates. The common, large, transported particles (allochems) found in limestones are fossils, oolites, pellets, and intraclasts. The fine-grained limestone is micrite. Chalk is a very fine-grained limestone composed of microfossils. Sparry calcite is a common limestone cement. Limestones can be classified by their texture using such terms as mudstone, wackestone, packstone, grainstone, boundstone, intrasparite, intramicrite, oosparite, oomicrite, biosparite, biomicrite, pelsparite, pelmicrite, micrite, dismicrite, and biolithite. Two

common limestone classifications are Dunham's and Folk's. Limestone is an important type of reservoir rock. Primary porosity is often important in relatively young limestones, whereas secondary porosity is important in older limestones. Limestone has a matrix density of 2.710 gm/cc, a matrix velocity of 21,000 to 23,000 ft/sec, and an interval transit time of 47.6 to 43.5 ixsec/ft. IS, Ls, Is or li limestone log a short, lateral resistivity log with five electrodes. LSL limestone platform or shelf an extensive area covered with shallow seas where both organic and inorganic limestones are deposited. The Great Bahama Banks is a modern example. A rimmed platform has a grainstone shoal on its seaward margin, (carbonate platform or shelf) limestone ramp a sloping sea bottom between the beach and deep water where both organic and inorganic limestones are deposited. Deposition of limestone will cause a ramp to evolve into a limestone platform or shelf, (carbonate ramp) lime-treated mud see lime mud limitation clause a provision in an oil or gas lease that sets a time limit on the interest that is granted. This could be either a) a clause of general limitations that defines the maximum duration of the granted interest or b) a clause of special limitations that terminates the granted interest at the occurrence of a specific event. limitation title the indefeasible ownership of land that was acquired by continued use and possession for a period longer than the statute of limitations limited capacity well a well that cannot produce the allowable that is assigned to it by a government regulatory agency limited carried interest an interest in a well that free of all the costs of drilling and completion but still receives a working interest share in the production until the operator receives a specific amount of the production revenue. The carried portion of the interest is then terminated. limited entry a hydraulic fracturing method in which only a few perforation in the casing or liner are used to concentrate the effect of the fracturing on the formation. The perforations are often a foot or more apart. A single entry uses only one perforation. limited overriding royalty a share of the oil produced from a leasehold that is free of the costs of production. The royalty is terminated after a certain sum has been reached, (oil payment) limited partner a person or company in a drilling or production agreement who depends on the operator to initiate and supervise the drilling and/or production. The limited partner contributes a specific amount of money in return for an interest in the wells. The limited partners in a limited partnership are limited to only the initial monies invested and are also limited in liability. limited partnership a common method used to raise money for drilling wells. The investors (limited partners) put money in specific amounts into the partnership to receive a specific share in the profits of the wells to be drilled. A company (general partner) contributes leases and/or money and is responsible

294

limited working interest liner surface location of a well with the last, downhole location in a wellbore survey line pack gas the gas volume that is kept in a pipeline to maintain gas pressure line pipe the pipe used to conduct oil, gas and water. Line pipe is classified by API standards of dimensions, strength, performance characteristics and thread gauging.

for drilling and completing the wells and producing the petroleum in return for specific interest in the wells. Limited partnerships are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. limited working interest a working interest (a share of oil and gas production from a well or leasehold) after operating and developing costs of the well(s) and mineral right royalty payments have been subtracted. The interest terminates at a certain time or with a certain event. limonite a common iron mineral and ore that is yellow, brown, or black in color and amorphous. Limonite is composed of hydrous ferric oxide and is formed by the weathering of iron-bearing minerals.
Lim or Urn

limy a sedimentary rock that contains some limestone. LMY or Imy lin 1) linear 2) liner line a hose or pipe that carries fluid lineament linear topography or a linear feature seen on a remote sensing image linear absorption coefficient the fraction of X-rays or gamma rays that are absorbed in a unit thickness of a substance linear absorption a method used to quantify the amount of corrosion on a metal in a conductive solution by measuring the amount of current necessary to change the electric potential of the structure linearity the deviation of a meter calibration curve from a straight line linear sweep a Vibroseis frequency that varies linearly with time during seismic exploration. A linear sweep can be either a downsweep or upsweep. lineation a line. Lineations seen on aerial photographs are often due to fault and fracture patterns. line drive or flood a type of waterflood in which the producing and water injection wells are located in lines with alternating lines being producing and injecting wells. Two types of line drives are direct and staggered. The line drive can have only one line of injector wells located low on the structure. line loss the gas that is lost in a distribution or pipeline system line mile a measure of seismic, gravity, or aeromagnetic coverage in geophysical exploration line of closure a horizontal line connecting the
O O O O A O A

Cement UNCEMENTED SLOTTED LINER PERFORATED LINER

liner (1)

liner (2)

liner 1) a short string of casing that does not extend up to the surface of the well. Liners are seamless or electric-welded and are suspended from a casing string by a liner hanger. A liner can either be the same type of pipe as casing or specialized pipe. Types of liner include a) drilling liner, b) production liner, and c) tie-back stub liner. In a perforated linear completion, a short string of a smaller diameter than the pipe casing is hung by a liner hanger inside the bottom of surface or intermediate casing. The production liner is then cemented into the producing zone and perforated. Drilling liners are used to isolate water, gas, and thief zones in a well so that drilling can continue. Liners usually overlap the casing by 200-400 ft in what is called the lap. LNR, Lnr, or lin 2) a removable cylinder that fits around the piston
t--OI-O-+-O- + - O ^
A A A

o oooo
A A A A A

l--O--t-O-f-O-l--OI A A A A

6 O O direct line drive

O line drive waterfloods

I--O-4-O-J--O-+-O--4 staggered line drive

liner barrel liquid window in reciprocating pumps such as mud pumps and some internal combustion engines (sleeve) 3) a conicalshaped metal holder that is used to direct the hot gases from shaped explosive charges in jet perforating guns liner barrel a type of barrel used in tubing pumps or rod pumps in which the liner that forms the seal around the plunger is a series of sections placed end to end liner completion a type of oil well completion in which a slotted, screened, or perforated casing string that does not reach the surface (liner) is used on the bottom of the well liner hanger the set of slips that suspend the liner string from the casing. Liner hangers can be either hydraulic, which are set with fluid pressure, or mechanical, which are set with a J-latch. liner vibrator equipment used to rotate the work string to pack the gravel in a gravel pack completion well line scraper a device that is pulled through flowlines to remove wax and scale line spooler a device that is used on the drawworks to reverse the winding direction of the drilling line on the drum when an entire layer has been wound around the drum line squib a type of torpedo used in explosive fracturing of a well line well a well drilled on a lease boundary line line wiper 1) a device that is anchored to a floor block or pulley frame and is used to remove oil and mud from a wireline as it is being pulled from a well. One type of line wiper is a split-neoprene rubber plug that fits around the wireline. The plug can be tightened with a threaded bolt. 2) a stuffing box with glands link the two pins and two side bars called link plates that form a unit on a roller chain linkage the series of interconnecting parts that transmits power or control link ear the projection on the hook below the traveling block to which the elevator links are attached links a hanger-like device that is made of an U-shaped, solid cylindrical steel bar and is suspended from the ears of a traveling block on a drilling rig. The elevators hang from the other end of the links. Links are designed to provide working distance between the traveling block and the elevators that are used to grip and lift or lower tubular goods in the well, (bail) lipids waxy, fatty, and oily compounds composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Lipids are derived from organic matter and are a part ofkerogen that can produce oil. llpophile a substance that is easily wetted by oil. Lipophile is in contrast to hydrophile. lipophilic the property of a substance with an affinity for oil. Lipophilic is in contrast to hydrophilic. liptinite a kerogen maceral composed of organic matter rich in lipids. Liptinite is chemically similar to Types I and II kerogen. liq liquid

295

LIQ-A liquid analysis liqftn liquefaction liquefaction the sudden decrease in shear resistance of a solid such as a soil as it becomes a fluid. Liquefaction is usually triggered by a shock or strain and is caused by a sudden pulse of increased pore pressure, liqftn liquefied energy gas liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied natural gas. LEG liquefied petroleum gas propane gas or, less commonly, butane or a propane-butane mixture that has been compressed into a liquid. Liquefied petroleum gas is used in rural areas for home heating and cooking and has industrial, agricultural, and commercial applications, (bottled gas or gas liquids) LPG, LPG-Gas or LP-Gas liquid chromatography the separation of components of a liquid based on their solubilities and retention times in a chromatograph using a liquid mobile phase. Crude oil can be separated by liquid chromatography into saturate, aromatic, polar, and NSO fractions. Three types are high performance (high pressure), thin-layer, and column chromatography. liquid constituents or hydrocarbons liquid hydrocarbons that occur as a gas mixed with natural gas under subsurface conditions of high temperature and pressure. At surface conditions, they occur as a liquid and are the C5 and higher molecules, see retrograde gas liquid gold crude oil liquid knockout 1) see separator 2) see stripper liquid natural gas see liquified natural gas liquid packed an operating horizontal treater filled with liquid, (fluidpacked) liquid penetrant testing a nondestructive testing technique for metals. The metal is cleaned with a solvent, and the dye penetrant and a developer are applied. Metal flaws appear with bright colors, (dye penetrant testing) liquid metering the measurement of a volume of liquid. Liquid metering can be done by a) static volume that includes tank gauging, a positive volume meter or a weight tank, b) piston displacement, c) turbine, d) vortex that includes vortex velocity or shedding, and e) hydraulic head that includes orifice, Venturi meter, nozzle, pitot tube, or annubar. liquid saturation the percentage volume of the pore space in a rock that is occupied by oil and water liquid-solid chromatography a chromatography technique that uses a packed glass column of activated, powdered silica or alumina to separate crude oil and sedimentary rock extracts into their components. The liquid phase is a solvent such as pentane, hexane, heptane, toluene, benzene, or methanol. The components are separated or partitioned by their mobility down through the column, (column chromatography) liquid window the depth range in the earth's crust where the temperatures are sufficient to naturally generate oil from organic matter (about 15O-3OOF). In sedimentary rock basins, it is from about 7,00018,000 feet deep. The temperatures that define the liquid window are affected by a) the age of the source

296

liquified natural gas

littoral lithofacies a lateral subdivision of a rock layer or stratigraphic unit that is distinguished from the rest of the rock layer by its composition lithofacies map a contoured subsurface map showing changes over an area in the lithology or composition of a particular rock layer such as a formation lithographic a limestone texture that is composed of extremely fine-grained particles that give the rock a smooth appearance. LITH or lithgr lithologic log a record of the physical characteristics of the rocks in a well. The lithologic log is usually made by a geologist after examining well cuttings and cores, if available. The well cuttings from a diamond or turbine drill are too fine to be used for logging. A lithologic log will include descriptive information such as rock type, color, luster, fossil content, amount, and type of porosity, oil and gas shows, and other rock properties. The lithologic log can cover the entire well section or only an important section of the well, (sample log) lithologic map a map showing the variations in rock composition in an area lithologic trap a stratigraphic trap formed by the deposition or diagenesis of the reservoir rock such as a limestone reef, river-channel sandstone, an updip pinchout of a sandstone wedge in a shale layer, or an oolite shoal (secondary stratigraphic trap) lithology the composition or type of rock such as sandstone or limestone. LJTHO, Lith, or lith lithoporosity crossplot a crossplot of sonic, neutron, and density-log data that is used to determine lithology. M = '
Af/- At
9b -Pf

rocks with older source rocks having lower generation temperatures and b) the time that the organic matter is exposed to various temperatures, (oil window) liquified natural gas natural gas that has been compressed and supercooled at 269F into a liquid to reduce its volume to Viasth for storage and transportation. Liquefied natural gas has a calorific value of 22,300 Btu/lb. It consists of about 91% methane and 7% ethane with some propane, butane, and higher hydrocarbons. One tonne liquified natural gas is equal to about 53 Mcf of gas. Liquefied natural gas can be vaporized by ambient air, another fluid, or a directfired vaporizer, (liquid natural gas) LNG IIR lithology indicator ratio LIS log information standard listic a surface, such as a fault, with a dip that flattens with depth. Listic is derived from the Greek word listron which means shovel-shaped. listic fault or fracture a fault or fracture with a curved surface such as a growth fault. The fault plane or surface becomes less steep with depth and can become horizontal, where it is called a bedding-plane fault. Because of the curved-fault plane, rotation occurs with slippage on a listic fault. lit lithic liter the metric unit of volume equal to 1000 cm3 One liter is equal to 0.0353 ft3, 0.2642 United States gal, or 0.2200 Imperial gal. {litre) L or I LITH lithographic Lith or lith lithology litharenite 1) a sandstone with less than 75% quartz, less than 10% feldspar, and more than 25% rock fragments 2) a sandstone with less than 75% quartz and more than 25% volcanic, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock fragments lithgr lithographic lithic 1) made of stone 2) a coarse-grained sedimentary rock composed of weathered rock fragments, lit lithic arkose 1) a sandstone that contains between 0%-^5% quartz, 25%-90% feldspar, and 10%-50% rock fragments 2) a sandstone that contains less than 75% quartz and has a ratio of feldspars and rock fragments of granite and gneiss to all other fine-grained rock fragments of between 1:1 and 3:1 lithic feldsarenite a sandstone that contains less than 75% quartz and has a ratio of feldspar to rock fragments of between 1:1 and 3:1 lithic sandstone a sandstone that contains more rock fragments than feldspar lithification the natural process such as cementation and compaction that change loose, unconsolidated sediments into sedimentary rocks, (consolidation) lithified sediments that have been transformed into rock LITHO lithology Litho-Density log a well log that measures bulk density (pb) and photoelectric absorption cross section index (Pe) to determine the lithology and porosity of formations. The Litho-Density tool (LDT) has a padmounted gamma ray source and two scintillation detectors.

xO.Ol andN = l

Qf N

9b~ 9f

where

btf is the interval transit time of the fluid (189 for freshwater-base mud and 185 for saltwater-base mud), A? is interval transit time from the sonic log, p6 is bulk density of formation, p^ is fluid density (1.0 for freshwater-base mud and 1.1 for saltwater-base mud), <&f is neutron porosity of the fluid (1.0), and Q>N is neutron porosity from the neutron log. Common minerals such as quartz (sandstone), calcite (limestone), dolomite, anhydrite, gypsum, and salt will each have different values of M and N and plot in different locations on the lithoporosity crossplot. (MN crossplot or lithology plot) lithosphere the relatively rigid outer part of the earth. The lithosphere is about 60 mi thick and is composed of the crust and outer mantle. It is underlain by the asthenosphere. The lithosphere is divided into moving plates under the plate tectonic theory. lithostatic pressure pressure exerted by the weight of the overlying rocks. Lithostatic pressure increases about 100 psi per 100 ft of depth. Lithostatic pressure is in contrast to the pressure on the fluid in the pores of the rock which is called reservoir, fluid, and formation pressure, (earth, geostatic, overburden, and rock pressure) lid littoral litmus paper see pH paper litre see liter lift littoral littoral the environment between high and low tide\ (intertidal) litr, litl, or litt

live live a channel or geophone that will respond to an impulse of energy. Live is in contrast to dead. live oil crude oil that either a) contains dissolved natural gas or b) will flow through the rocks and can be produced Ik leak LKO lowest known oil IX laterolog Llandeilian a global age of geological time that ended about 460 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Ordovician epoch. Llandoverian a global age of geological time that occurred about 425-420 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Silurian epoch. Llanvirnlan a global age of geological time that started about 485 m. y. ago. It is pan of the Middle Ordovician epoch. LLC liquid level controller LLD deep laterolog LL8 laterolog 8 LLg liquid level gauge LL-GR laterlog, gamma ray log LL-GRN laterlog, gamma ray, neutron log LL-N laterlog, neutron log LM or lm lime lm lumen Impy lumpy LMSV loading mooring storage vessel LMTD log mean temperature difference L-MUD lime-based mud LMY or lmy limy Imy sh limy shale lmy ss limy sandstone In 1) naperian or natural logarithm 2) lost nozzle LNG liquid natural gas LNGC liquid natural gas carrier LNRorLnr. liner Inr linear LO 1) load oil 2) lube oil load 1) the resistance in an electrical circuit 2) the weight or pressure on an object. Load causes stress on a structure. 3) to use water or oil to prime a well 4) see load fluid

local distribution company

297

load binder

load binder a device that is used to tighten a chain. A load binder has one or two chains with hooks and a latching device with a handle. The hooks are clamped to a chain, and the handle is used to close the latching device to tighten the chain. The load binder can be used to tighten the guy wires on a derrick and to tie down a load of pipe, (boomer) load block a frame, usually of sheaves or pulleys, that is used in a hoisting system. The upper load block is suspended from the boom, and the lower load block is suspended from ropes and has a hook or shackle. The crown and traveling blocks on a drilling rig are load blocks. load capacity the maximum weight that a hoisting system is designed to raise. On a drilling rig, it is called the hook-load capacity. Gifting capacity) load cell a strain gauge that is sensitive to compression and tension and gives an electrical output that is proportional to that load loaded string a length of tubulars such as drillpipe or tubing that is filled with drilling mud, water, or crude oil load fluid any fluid that is pumped down a well either a) to kill the well (kill fluid) or b) for a well stimulation or workover load guy a wire that helps support the mast of a workover rig or service unit at an angle over a well. The load guy is attached to the truck, carrier, or trailer. Load guy is in contrast to wind guy. load guylines or guy lines wire ropes that run from the top of a mast or derrick to a base and are used for stabilization and partial support of the weight of the structure loading 1) excessive liquid accumulation in tubing 2) the increase in subsurface pressure due to the deposition of a sediment cover and the subsequent increase in lithostatic pressure loading mooring storage vessel a semisubmersible that uses two tanks, one tank to store crude oil and the other tank for ballast water LMSV loading pole a pole used to place a shot in an irregular shot hole. The pole has connectors on each end to increase its length. load mud a kill fluid used for workovers load oil oil that has been injected into a well. Load oil is often used during well stimulation such as a frac job and is usually diesel oil, but can also be lease crude. Load oil is in contrast to produced oil. LOIL orLO load range the difference in the peak load on the upstroke and minimum load on the minimum load on the downstroke of a polished rod load water water that has been injected into the subsurface during a frac job LWTR or LW LOC or loc location loc 1) local 2) location 3) located loc abnd location abandoned local distribution company any entity, other than an interstate or intrastate pipeline, engaged in the transportation or local distribution of natural gas and the sale of natural gas for ultimate consumption. LDC

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local gravity longitudinal seam true vertical depth due to well deviation, (measured or total depth) logging engineer an early term for a mud logging geologist logging head a rope socket that is used to attach a logging tool to a wireline logging motion arrestor a hydro-pneumatic heave compensator used on a floating drilling rig during wireline operations logging off the accumulation of liquids in a gas well that prevents the gas from flowing to the surface logging run one round trip with a logging tool in a well, (logging trip) logging shack a portable shelter used to house mudlogging instruments and the mud loggers on a drilling rig logging tool a metal instrument package containing both transmitting and receiving equipment that is lowered down a well to make a wireline well log. The logging tool remotely senses the electric, acoustic, and/or radioactive properties of the rocks and their fluids. One type of logging tool is brought up the well with little or no contact on the sides of the well, and it measures the properties of up to 3 m3 of the formation. The other type of logging tool has a pad or pads and slides along the sides of the wellbore measuring the rock properties in just a few decimeters of the formation. Several logging tools can be run in a well simultaneously. The logging tool can transmit data through a cable, (sonde) logging trip see logging run log normal a distribution of data that, when plotted logarithmically, has the appearance of a normal Gaussian-distribution Log-O-Graph an instrument used 6n a drilling rig to record the rate of bit penetration and depth. The Log-O-Graph was first used in 1946. log scale insert a header with a new scale that is put between scale, tool, or run changes on a well log log tail a short form on a well log with information on the well and the curve scales log tops all tops other than sample tops logy a condition in which the casing string has become difficult to lower or raise log zero the location on the track or recording trace of a well log that corresponds to no tool signal LOIL load oil LOM 1) level of organic maturation 2) level of organic metamorphism LONG or long longitude Long Beached more weight on the weight indicator of a drilling rig than the derrick is rated to withstand. (hand around to West Texas) longitude angular east-west distance on the earth in degrees measured from the prime meridian that passes through Greenwich, England. LONG or long longitudinal 1) the long axis of an object 2) running lengthwise as opposed to transverse longitudinal seam a butt-welded seam on a pipe oriented parallel to the length of the pipe. A

local gravity a Bouger gravity value from which the regional gravity value has been subtracted, (residual) local magnetic anomalies relatively small magnetic anomalies caused by magnetization in near-surface rocks location the wellsite. LOC or loc location damages compensation paid to the surface owner by the operator for damages to the land surface and/or crops during drilling and production location exception a well location that is authorized by a government regulatory agency to be located not in conformance to the regular well spacing locator sub a device used to locate the top of the permanent packer in a well. The locator sub is larger than the bore of the permanent packer and is run on a tubing string along with seal subs to the top of the permanent packer. LOCDIP local dip loc gr location graded Lockportian a North American age of geological time that started about 415 m. y. ago. It is part of the Silurian period. log 1) a record of rock properties in a well, usually made by a geologist or a service company. Some types of logs are sample, mud, drilling time, and wireline. 2) a curve or set of curves or symbols that records the physical, electrical, radioactive, and/or sonic properties of rocks and fluids in the rocks in a wellbore 3) the process of making a well log 4) a written record of events during drilling a well such as a driller's or drilling time log 5) a record of detected imperfections in a pipe inspected by electronic equipment log the common logarithm to the base 10 logarithmic grid a welllog scale with logarithmic divisions. The logarithmic scale if often used with a resistivity curve. logged depth the actual wellbore length from the kelly bushing (KB), derrick floor (DF), foundation or ground level (GL), to a point in the well or bottom of the well. Logged depth is reported on drilling records and on well logs and is measured by a logging or survey cable. Logged depth will be longer than

logged depth

true vertical depth

logged depth

longitudinal wave lost or loss of circulation longitudinal seam is used to make pipe from sheet metal. longitudinal wave an elastic wave that travels through the body of the medium while the particles of the medium move in the same direction as the wave propagation. The longitudinal wave is commonly used in seismic exploration. A longitudinal wave is in contrast to shear and surface waves, (compressional, P-, primary, or pressure wave) long-normal resistivity a wireline, electric log measurement of the resistivity of rocks and their fluids in a well made by two electrodes (A and M) spaced 64 in. apart on the pad. Long-normal resistivity is a common measurement on old electric logs and is used to measure the true resistivity (Rt) of the rocks behind the invaded zone. long-nose choke a choke with an extended body. The long-nose choke can be attached to the outside of a vessel with the choke orifice projecting into the inside of the vessel. long oil payment an oil payment, the share of oil produced from a leasehold that is free of the costs of production, with a long pay back period. Long oil payment is in contrast to a short oil payment. long-radius horizontal well a horizontal well with a curvature rate between 2-6 per 100 ft long reach horizontal well a horizontal well with a length of greater than 1,000 feet in the pay zone that can be completed long section a United States government survey section of land that has more than the standard 640 ac longshore bar a long, narrow sand ridge parallel to the shoreline that is submerged at least during high tide. A longshore bar is formed by breaking waves and is separated from the beach by a trough, (offshore bar) longshore current a current of water that moves parallel to the shore line in the surf zone. Longshore current is caused by the swash and backwash of waves that break obliquely on the beach. long string 1) the deepest and last length (string) of casing that is run down to or through the producing zone. The casing adjacent to the producing zone can be perforated or shot with holes to complete the well. Long string has the smallest diameter, ranging from 23/8-95/8 in. and typically is 5V2 or 7% in., and is the longest string of casing in the well. Long string protects the hole, isolates formation fluids, prevents fluid migration, and protects the downhole equipment. (capital, flow, oil, pay or production string, production casing, or inner conductor) 2) the tubing string to the deepest producing reservoir in a dually completed well long-stroke unit a type of pumper that uses a hydraulic power source, a cylinder, and a piston attached to the polished rod. The piston is driven up and down the cylinder by the hydraulic pump. The counterbalance is accomplished by a hydraulicoil and compressed-air system. long surface wave a Rayleigh or Love wave that travels along the earth's surface during seismic exploration. A long surface wave is in contrast to a

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body wave such as an S-wave or the P- wave commonly used in seismic exploration. Lg-wave long tail a cable-tool drilling engine long term lease a type of oil and gas lease that has a long primary term but lacks a thereafter clause. The thereafter clause extends the term of the lease if either drilling operations are occurring or there is production in paying quantities from the leasehold. long ton a weight equal to 2,240 lbs used in Great Britain. A short ton of 2,000 lbs is used in the United States and Canada. The metric ton equals 1,000 kg or 2,204.62 lbs and is often used as a measure of oil volume. (English ton) It look for bottom to lower a tubular string to the bottom of a well loop 1) data measurements over an area which start and end at the same point 2) a portion of a computer program that can repeat the preceding operations 3) an electrical circuit that has feedbacka 4) a transmitting or receiving coil used in electromagnetic surveying LOOS loose loose emulsion a emulsion with large, far-apart droplets of the discontinuous phase and is easy to break or separate. A loose emulsion is in contrast to a tight emulsion. loose-valve tree a Christmas tree on a flowing well that is made of individual valves instead of manufactured out of a solid metal block. A loose-valve tree is in contrast to a block tree. Lopatin method a method used to calculate the theoretical maturity of source rocks and the timing of oil and gas generation and migration using times that the source rock has been exposed to various temperature ranges in 10 C increments starting at 30 C. A burial history of temperature and time for the rocks is made. A time temperature index (TTI) is summed for the source rock. A time temperature index of 15 marks the start of oil generation, 75 is peak oil generation, 160 is the end of oil generation, and 1,500 is the limit for wet gas. Loran-C a navigational system that uses broadcasts from fixed stations on land. The range is about 1,500 mi, but the system is not accurate enough for seismic. Lorenz coefficient a permeability heterogeneity factor for reservoirs 1-o-s line of sight lose a hole to have to abandon a well (lost well) because of downhole conditions lose returns to encounter a lost circulation zone during drilling loss-of-circulation plug see lost-circulation plug lost circulation zone a very permeable, highly fractured or cavernous rock layer that takes excessive amounts of drilling mud as it is being drilled, (severeloss zone) lost or loss of circulation a drilling problem in which excessive amounts of drilling mud flow out into a very permeable, highly fractured, or cavernous rock layer in the subsurface without building up a filter cake along the sides of the wellbore. The lostcirculation zone can be located in a well by a) temperature survey, b) radioactive tracers, or c) a

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lost-circulation additive or material control agent low explosive low-angle fault a fault with a fault surface that dips less than 45 in contrast to a high-angle fault low-angle hole a wellbore that deviates less than 20 from vertical low-cut filter a filter that transmits frequencies above a certain frequency and eliminates the lower frequencies. A low-cut filter is the opposite of a lowpass filter, (high-pass filter) low dip an angle of less than 5 from horizontal low-drum drive the drawworks drive used with a heavy load and low speeds. A low drum drive is in contrast to a high- drum drive. lower heating value the amount of heat generated by combustion of hydrocarbons and water vapor. Lower heating value is measured in Btu/ft3 for gas and Btu/gal for liquids. If the heat generated by condensing water vapor back into a liquid is counted, it is called higher heat value, (net heating value) LHV

spinner survey. Lost circulation can be controlled by a) reducing the mud weight or b) a pill of lostcirculation material down the well, (lost returns) LC
or LCIRC

lost-circulation additive or material control agent fine-grained material that is fibrous, granular, or flaky and is added to drilling mud or cement slurry and pumped down a well that has a lost-circulation problem. The material clogs up the pores of the subsurface rock layer causing the problem. Mica chips, ground pecan hulls, sugar cane hulls, laminated plastic, ground coal, ground neoprene, shredded redwood and cedar, leather, asbestos, cottonseed hulls, pig hair, cellophane and wood shavings are some of the many things that are used, (sealing agents) LCM lost-circulation pill a mix of fluid with solid, easily degradable particles that is pumped down a well and spotted to build up an impermeable layer on a formation face that is causing a lost-circulation problem. The pill consists of a slug of 50-100 bbl of drilling mud mixed with 40-75 lbs/bbl of lostcirculation material in a variety of lost-circulation material sizes. Sometimes two or three lost-circulation pills are used to control a lost-circulation problem. lost-circulation plug a cement bridge that is set in a well to shut off a lost-circulation zone that is thieving drilling fluids. The plug can be drilled out later, (loss of circulation plug) lost circulation zone severe loss zone lost hole a well that was abandoned because of downhole drilling conditionst lost pipe tubulars such as drillpipe, casing, or tubing that has either broken off or fallen into a well. Lost pipe must be removed by fishing. lost or losing returns see lost or loss of circulation

lower kelly valve

lost section

lost section a section of rocks that is missing from the expected vertical section because the well was drilled through a normal fault. A lost section is in contrast to a double section caused by a reverse fault. lot an irregular shaped and/or irregular acreage subdivision of a land division section that is often designated by number Love wave a type of surface wave that has horizontal motion oriented perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation and no vertical motion. The velocity depends on density and rigidity modulus of the medium. Love wave is named after A.E.H. Love, an English mathematician. low lower s.

lower kelly valve a short sub with a full-bore ball valve that is activated by drilling mud pressure and is located in the drillstring just below the kelly saver sub. When the mud pumps are pumping, the valve is open. When the pumps are stopped, the valve closes. This prevents drilling mud from flowing out of the kelly when it is unscrewed from the drillstring to make a connection. It also acts as a safety valve in case of high-pressure mud rising up the drillstring. The valve can be closed with a hexagonal wrench to remove the kelly under pressure and can be stripped in the well during snubbing, (drillstem safety valve) lower marine riser package the upper part of the subsea wellhead. The lower marine riser package includes the flexible riser joint, top annular blowout preventer, subsea accumulator, and the subsea control pods. lower-phase microemulsion a stable, finely dispersed mixture of oil, water, and chemicals, with a high concentration of water. lower-tier crude oil old oil that was sold at a fixed price under the United States Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. Lower-tier crude oil is in contrast to upper-tier crude oil that could be sold at market price, (first-tier crude oil) low explosive a rapidly burning explosive that requires time and high temperatures to ignite and does not require air or oxygen. Low explosives are used for sidewall coring and bullet perforating. Low explosives are in contrast to high explosives.

low-frequency shadow low-frequency shadow a low-frequency event that occurs below a hydrocarbon deposit on a seismic record. The cause of the low-frequency shadow is not certain. low-gravity oil crude oil that is heavy in weight and has a "API below 20 low-pass filter a filter that transmits frequencies below a certain frequency and eliminates the higher frequencies. Low-pass filter is the opposite of a lowcut filter, (high-cut filter) low-shrinkage crude oil see black oil low side the lower side of a deviated well. Low side is in contrast to the high side. low-solids nondispersed mud a drilling mud made with fresh water, bentonite, and polymers. The drilling mud has a lower clay content than normal drilling mud which increases the drill penetration rate while still retaining well control. The mud can be weighed up to 18 lb/gal. Low-solids nondispersed mud can tolerate only minimal salt contamination. low specific-gravity solids all solids in drilling mud except weighing materials such as barite. This includes clays, well cuttings, additives, and salts. lowstand a sea level that is relatively low to land. A lowstand is in contrast to a highstand. lowstand wedge incised-valley fill deposits that are part of a lowstand system tract. A lowstand wedge is defined in seismic or sequence stratigraphy. low-sulfur crude a crude oil that contains less than 0.6% sulfur by weight low temperature separation the use of expanding gas flowing through a choke to remove liquids by cooling. LTS or LTX low-temperature separation unit a horizontal vessel that uses expansion refrigeration to remove liquids from high-pressure natural gas. Using a choke, the gas is cooled by expansion causing water, condensate, and possibly hydrates to form. The hydrates are melted using an indirect heater or prevented from forming using a hydrate inhibitor. The vessel then discharges the dry gas, condensate, and water. (LXT unit) LTS unit low-velocity correction the time correction that is used in both refraction and reflection seismic exploration to compensate for the travel time of the seismic energy in the near surface, weathered, or lowvelocity zone (weathering correction) low-velocity layer in seismic exploration the nearsurface layer having velocities of about 2,000 ft/sec. Subweathering velocities are about 5,000 ft/sec. (weathering) LVL low water-loss additive a chemical that is added to cement slurry to reduce the loss of water from the slurry as it flows past a permeable formation in the well low water-loss cement a type of cement used in wells that contains a low water-loss additive to reduce loss of water from the slurry as it flows past permeable formations in the well. LWL cement low-yield clay a commercial clay containing calcium montmorillonite that yields less than 30 bbl/T. Lowyield clays weigh 12 lb/gal. Low-yield clay is in contrast

lubricating and bleeding

301

to a high-yield clay such as sodium montmorillonite that yields 30-50 bbl/T. LP 1) low pressure 2) light phase L.P. 1) line pipe 2) low pressure IPG, L.P.G. or LP-Gas liquefied petroleum gas LPG, L.P.G., or LP-GAS Drive a miscible hydrocarbon process used to increase production by injecting a slug of enriched gas or liquified petroleum gas (LPG) into a depleted oil reservoir. The LPG is miscible with the oil and makes the oil more fluid. LPKO low-pressure knockout LP sep low-pressure separator LR 1) level recorder 2) lost rollers 3) last reading lrg large Lg-wave Rayleigh wave LS, Ls or Is limestone L.S. location for seal LSAL long-spaced acoustic log LSD legal subdivision LSE or lse lease LSL limestone log L-spread a type of seismic array in which the shotpoint is located at a right angle and a distance from the end of a geophone group. The spread forms an L-shape. LSS long spacing sonic lss leases LSTAC low surface tension log Lstr or lstr luster LSW load salt water LT 1) lost or loose compacts or teeth 2) lower tubing LT or It light It long ton LTA lost-time accident LT&C long thread & coupling LTD log total depth ltd limited lt/d long tons per day Ltl or ltl little LTR late-time region LTS low-temperature separation LTS unit low-temperature separator unit LTSD low-temperature shut down LTX low temperature separation LTX unit low temperature separation unit L U lease use lub or lube lubricant lube oil lubricating oil Lubra beads plastic spheres used in drilling mud to reduce drillstring drag lubricant material such as oil, grease, or graphite that is used to reduce friction, lub or lube lubricating and bleeding a method used to kill a producing well. A high-density kill fluid is pumped down the tubing string until the maximum allowable

302

lubricator

Lyr Lurgi process a German process for coal gassification luster the surface reflection of light from a rock or mineral. Luster is described using such terms as metallic, greasy, vitreous, dull, sooty, resinous, waxy, silky, pearly, or earthy. Lstr or Istr lut lutite Lutetian a global age of geological time that occurred about 50-45 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Eocene epoch. lutite a consolidated rock composed of mud. lut lux a derived unit in Systems International (SI) for illuminance. It is calculated by lumens divided by square meters (lm/m 2 ). be LV liquid volume Ly latent heat of vaporization LVI low-viscosity index LVL low-velocity layer M level LVL crew a seismic crew that drills shallow wells and shoots them to determine the thickness and characteristics of the low-velocity layer (LVL) or weathering zone. The data are used to correct surface seismic sources such as Vibroseis1". LW load water LWD logging while drilling LWL low-water-loss LWL cement low water-loss cement LWR or lwr lower LWTR load water LWTRL low water-loss mud Ix lux LXT unit a horizontal vessel that uses expansion refrigeration to remove liquids from high-pressure natural gas. The gas is cooled by expansion using a choke causing water, condensate, and possibly hydrates to form. The hydrates are melted using an indirect heater or preventer from forming using a hydrate inhibitor. The vessel then discharges the dry gas, condensate, and water, (low-temperature separation unit) lyophilic a colloid that absorbs large amounts of liquid and expands. If the liquid is water, it is called hydrophilic. (emulsoid) lyophobic a substance that has an affinity for the suspending medium. An example is bentonite in water. Lyr layer

tubing pressure is reached. The well is then shut in to allow gravity segregation of fluids in the tubing. The lighter gas and oil will rise to the top and is bled off. More kill fluid is pumped into the tubing to replace the gas and oil until the tubing is filled with kill fluid. lubricator several sections or one long section of pipe and a valve assembly that are temporarily attached to the top of a casing or tubing head during workover and testing operations using a wireline. The lubricator has an inner diameter that is larger than the tools and is used to pack off the wireline and contain the pressure in the well while running the wireline into the well without killing the well. The lubricator contains a tight-fitting rubber or bag preventers that prevents fluid loss and is held together with quick unions. The lubricator is just high enough to handle the longest string of tools between the wireline valve and the stuffing box. Ludlovian a global age of geological time. It is part of the Silurian period. Lufkin Mark II a beam pumping unit manufactured by Lufkin. The Mark II uses a Class II lever system to decrease upstroke acceleration and decrease peak rod load. (Mark II)
walking beam

angle brace pitman samson post counterweight

3_A_
Mark II pumping unit

lug a casing projection used for attachment lugging power the torque on the flywheel of a diesel engine lumen a derived unit in System International (SI) for luminous flux. It is calculated by candela times solid angle (cd x sr). Im Lumnite a brand of quick setting cement

M magnetic stratigraphy

303

M l ) molecular weight 2) mobility ratio 3) molal 4) thousand 5) magnetization 6) slope of interval transit time versus density 7) mixture 8) minute 9) marginal allowable 10) mudstone ll)aAf-Wcrossplot parameter 12) metacenter or metacentre 13) mega-14) molarity m l ) meter or metre 2) medium 3) mud 4) fuel 5) fuel consumption 6) mass 7) cementation exponent 8) slope 9) milliard 10) mega-11) milliM/ 1) middle 2) mutual inductance 3) chargeability m* apparent cementation factor MA mud acid Ma million years ago mA milliampere ma 1) milliampere 2) solid or rock matrix Maastrichtian a global age of geological time that occurred about 72-67 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Cretaceous epoch. macaroni slim-hole (narrow-diameter) well equipment macaroni rig a light service unit or workover rig that is designed to handle t in.-l in. tubing macaroni string 1) a string of % in.-l in. diameter tubing or pipe 2) a tubing string inside a tubing string macaroni tubing a relatively small-diameter tubing that is run in a tubing string as a work string. The macaroni tubing string can be fitted with a bit to drill out sand, plugs, or junk. maceral a group of components that make up kerogen. Macerals are divided into liptinite (oil prone), vitrinite (gas prone), and inertinite (inert). Macerals are composed of different types of organic matter that have been degraded. mach machine Macro fos or Macrofos macrofossil macrofossil fossils, remnants of ancient plants and animals, that are large enough to be seen and identified by the naked eye. Macrofossils are useful for determining the age and environment of deposition of sedimentary rocks on the surface but are destroyed by the drilling bit in the subsurface, in which case microfossils are used. Macrofossils include both vertebrates and invertebrates. Some common macrofossils are mollusks, gastropods, brachiopods, cephalopods, and corals. Macrofos or Macrofos macroporosity the percent volume of pores with a radius greater than 0.5 p.m in a rock. Macroporosity is in contrast to microporosity. 4>M

m.a.f. mineral ash free Mag magnetometer Mag or mag 1) magnetite 2) magnetic MAGL nuclear magnetism log Magnaflux the trade name for a method and the equipment used to locate cracks and other defects in steel and iron. A paste containing magnetic particles is applied to the material to be tested in which a magnetic field has been set up. The magnetic particles indicate the location of defects. magnetic basement the subsurface boundary between igneous and metamorphic rocks of high magnetic susceptibility below and sedimentary rocks above magnetic brake an auxiliary brake used on the drawworks of a drilling rig. The magnetic brake uses an electric current and magnets to slow or stop the drawworks shaft, (electrodynamic brake) magnetic declination the east or west angular difference at a location between true north and magnetic north. The magnetic declination of a location will change with. time. magnetic-flux-leakage test a method used to find flaws in tubulars by detecting perturbations of a magnetic field caused by the defects magnetic inclination the magnetic field direction with respect to horizontal magnetic multishot directional survey the measurement of hole inclination and azimuth from magnetic north at several stations in an uncased hole. The magnetic surveying instrument is similar to the tool used in a single-shot survey except that the camera is a modified movie camera that takes pictures every 15-20 seconds. The tool is run on a wireline or dropped down the drillstring, and the data can be stored in digital form in downhole memory. The drill collars must be made of nonmagnetic material. magnetic-particle inspection a test used to locate flaws in tubulars such as drillpipe. Magnetism is induced in the tubular with several coils of wire connected to a DC current source. A special oil is used to coat the tubular and fine iron filing are spread on the surface. The iron filings will orient themselves over cracks that can be detected with an ultraviolet or black light. MPI magnetic single-shot directional survey The measurement of hole inclination and azimuth from magnetic north at a single station in an uncased hole. The survey is made with a magnetic surveying instrument, and drill collars must be made of nonmagnetic material. magnetic stratigraphy the use of detrital remanent magnetism in sedimentary rock and the geomagnetic scale of normal and reverse earth magnetic-field history to identify stratigraphic units, (paleomagnetic
stratigraphy)

304

magnetic survey make a connection magnetostriction the change in the body dimensions of a substance when a magnetic field is applied to it magnetostrictive transducer a downhole tool that is used to induce compressional sound waves in the formations surrounding the wellbore for an acoustic log. The transducer consists of a tightly wound scroll of steel that vibrates when a magnetic field is applied to it. magnetotellurics a surface technique that uses natural electromagnetic currents to explore the subsurface. The primary electromagnetic source is the electrical currents in the ionosphere that are generated by solar wind and atmospheric electric currents generated by thunderstorms. These generate a wide frequency of electromagnetic currents that interact with conductive rocks in the earth's surface. The response of the earth's crust to these currents is measured at the surface. The method is used primarily for large scale or regional studies and defines major geological structures. Magnetotellurics is also used where dense, resistive formations (volcanics, carbonates, or anhydrites) that restrict seismic methods overly other sedimentary rocks. MT MAHA maximum acceptable hole angle mail pouch a cable-tool drilling engine mail poucher a cable-tool driller main deck the primary platform on an offshore drilling rig or ship that extends from the bow to the stern. (Texas deck) mainframe computer a large computer that is designed to support numerous users. The mainframe computer is kept in an air conditioned room. main hatch an opening on the top of an oil stock tank or storage tank that is used to gauge or measure the level of oil and to take an oil sample. The hatch is fitted with a lid. (gage or gauge hatch or hole, gaging or gauging hatch or hole or thief or dp hatch) main line 1) the large-diameter pipeline that connects an oil or gas field with a refinery or transportation terminal (transmission or trunk line) 2) a pipeline that collects fluid from smaller feeder lines main oil line the large-diameter subsea pipeline that brings the oil ashore from a gathering center main shaft the band-wheel shaft on a cable-tool drilling rig maint maintenance maj major major major oil company major oil company 1) an integrated oil company that engages in exploration, production, transportation, refining, and marketing. A major oil company is not an independent oil company. 2) one of the original "seven sisters" consisting of Exxon, Chevron, Mobil, Gulf, Texaco, Royal Dutch Shell, and British Petroleum, (major) maj major diameter the diameter of a connection measured from the crest of an external or male thread or the root of an internal or female thread make a connection To screw (make up) another section of drillpipe to the drillstring while drilling a

magnetic survey 1) a wireline survey to determine the inclination and azimuth of the wellbore at a specific depth as recorded on a film disk. The magnetic survey can be either single or multishot and can be run only in an uncased well and with nonmagnetic drill collars. 2) measurements of either the total magnetic field or its components (vertical and horizontal) over an area. The magnetic field of the earth is measured in nanoteslas (nT) and varies from about 60,000 nT at the magnetic poles to 30,000 nT at the equator. A magnetic survey is used in petroleum prospecting to locate structures and determine the depth to basement. magnetic surveying instrument a tool that is used to determine and record the azimuth and inclination of the well. The tool includes an angle indicating unit, camera, timing device, and battery. The angleindicating unit consists of a magnetic compass card that pivots on a point and a pendulum assembly that is a plumb bob or inclinometer with a glass target between the pendulum and compass. The tool is run on a wireline or dropped down the drillstring to sit on a baffle plate on the bit. The timer controls the camera which takes a picture of the plumb bob and magnetic compass card. Only one picture is taken for a single-shot survey, whereas a modified movie camera is used for a multishot survey. magnetic susceptibility the ratio of the magnetism induced in a rock to the strength of the magnetic field that causes the magnetism. Magnetic susceptibility is a measure of the degree to which something can be magnetized. magnetic tape a strip of plastic, often Vi in. or 1 in. wide, coated with magnetically sensitive material that is used to store data. Magnetic tape is used to record and store seismic information. Seismic tape includes field tape with raw data, intermediate tape that has some processing, and final tape that has the final processing. magnetite a black mineral composed of both ferric and ferrous oxides [(Fe,Mg)Fe2O3] that occurs as either grains in sandstones, compact aggregates, or wellformed eight-faced crystals in igneous rocks. Magnetite is strongly magnetic and is responsible for much of the magnetic properties of rocks. Mag, mag, or mt magnetized drilling assembly a drilling assembly that retains residual magnetism that can affect a magnetic compass used in a deviation survey of the well. Areas of residual magnetism are called hot spots. magneto a generator that uses rotating armatures in a magnetic field formed by permanent magnets to produce an electric current to an engine's ignition system (ignition magneto) magnetometer device that measures the strength of the earth's magnetic field and is able to detect variations in the magnetic susceptibility of rocks in the earth's crust. Ground magnetometers can measure a total magnetic field as well as vertical and horizontal components. Airborne magnetometers of the fluxgate, proton-resonance, and optically pumped types usually measure only total-field intensity. A magnetometer is a tool of geophysics that is used to explore the structure of the subsurface. The units of magnetism are gammas. Mag

make a hand manipulator

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making a trip

well. The joint of pipe which is stored in the mousehole is added to the drillstring below the kelly. Making a connection has to be done about every 30 ft while drilling a well. make a hand to become a good worker make a hole to drill a well make a hole with a pencil to report more footage than has actually been drilled make and break to connect and disconnect a connection make a pull to trip out of a well make a trip to raise (trip out) the drillstring out of the well to perform a function such as changing the bit and then return (trip in) the drillstring to the well make footage to drill a well make hole to drill a well make it up to screw tight a connection using a wrench make it up another or one more wrinkle to tighten a connection one more turn make location to stake a wellsite make macaroni to break pipe by applying too much pressure make the kelly down to drill through one joint or about 30 ft. It will then be time to make a connection on the drilling rig. make the rounds to make an inspection at various locations make through to drill through a formation make up 1) to screw or tighten a connection of threaded tubular goods 2) to assemble a system of equipment 3) to mix a solution or suspension such as drilling mud 4) to compensate for something makeup something that is added to a system such as makeup water to drilling mud makeup cathead a hub that is attached to the shaft on the drawworks of a drilling rig and is used as a winch to assemble (screw or tighten) drillpipe and tubing. The makeup cathead usually is located on the driller's side of the drawworks. (spinning cathead) makeup gas 1) the gas that is used to make up for the reduction in gas volume in a gas processing plant due to shrinkage and fuel use 2) gas that is taken in later years that was paid for in a previous year under

a take-or-pay contract 3) gas that is injected into a reservoir during pressure maintenance makeup right the right granted in a joint operating agreement that allows a party to make up for an underlift (taking less production than allowed in the agreement) out of the production of an overlift (taking more production than allowed in the agreement) by another party makeup tongs the large wrench-like device that is used on the floor of a drilling rig to make up and break out sections of pipe. When running pipe in the well, the makeup tongs act as the torque tongs and are connected to the cathead by rope or chain and grip the pin end of joints. When coming out out the hole, the makeup tongs grip the box end of joints and act as the backup tongs. makeup torque the force necessary to screw tight a connection make water to produce water from a well making hole drilling a well making up a charge putting together the explosive, primer, and cap for detonation in seismic exploration making up the tool to connect the pieces of a drillstem test tool male connection a coupling with threads on the outside. The male connection is located on the pin end of a tubular and receives the female connection. male thread a thread located on the outside surface of a connection. The male thread connects with a female thread, (external thread) malodorant a bad smelling odorizer. A malodorant is often added to methane or sweetened natural gas to allow the gas to be detected during a leak. It is composed of two or more sulfur-containing hydrocarbons, mercaptans, alkysulfides, or cyclic sulfides. man manifold M&F male and female M&FP maximum and final pressure mandrel a cylindrical bar, shaft, spindle, or other type of support that allows other parts to be arranged around it, attached to it, or fit into it manhead or manhole the hatch located on the side or top of a tank that is used for entry for inspection, cleaning and repair manifold 1) an area where pipelines enter and exit a pumping station or tank battery and where the control valves are located 2) a pipe or tube with one inlet and several outlets (header) man or MF 3) a pipe with several inlets and one outlet (header) man or MF 4) Pipes, valves, and fittings where fluid from one or more sources is directed to several systems MF or man manifold center or centre the location where flowlines from subsea wells come together and the oil is sent to the production station manifold trailer a trailer with a permanently mounted, high-pressure manifold that is used on hydraulic frac jobs. The pumping units send the frac fluid and proppants to the manifold that directs the fluid to the wellhead or tree saver. manipulator a hydraulic, mechanical arm

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raanjak

marine-flooding surface map. 2) to collect regional data for the purpose of producing a map map projection a systim of lines on a twodimensional map that represent the lines on the threedimensional earth. The three most common are Mercator, stereographic, and polyconic. Each distorts the earth's surface in some manner. mar 1) marine 2) maroon marble a metamorphic rock formed from limestone or dolomite. Marble is a fine- to coarse-grained rock composed of calcite or dolomite mineral grains. Mbl marbles steel projectiles used in perforating a well marble shot an openhole well-completion technique in which explosives packed with glass marbles are detonated in the well. The glass marbles break up gypsum beds and can fracture the reservoir rock. marg marginal marginal allowable the amount of petroleum that a government regulatory agency permits a lowproduction well to produce over a period of time. The allowable is designed to prevent premature abandonment of marginal wells. M marginal unit a unit that cannot produce at the rate equal to the highest unit allowable for that pool marginal well 1) a well that is predicted to produce only enough gas and/or oil revenues to offset the completion costs of the well 2) a well that is producing enough net gas and/or oil revenues to barely offset production costs. A marginal well is defined by law in barrels of oil per day (BOPD) for various depth intervals. margin of overpull the theoretical yield strength of the pipe minus the weight of the drillstring in drilling mud. The design valve of overpull margin in pipe is 50,000-100,000 lbs. MOP
PLANKTON -=-

manifold on hydraulic frac job (Dowell Schlumgerger)

manjak an asphaltite that occurs in mudflow vents in Barbados Manning equation an equation for low velocity in an open channel. The equation is V= R^S1'2 where V is mean velocity in cfs units, R is hydraulic radius in feet, 5 is slope of channel or sine of slope angle, and n is Manning roughness coefficient. manocalcimeter an instrument used to measure the pressure increase caused by CO2 generation when a rock sample is treated with acid manometer an instrument used to measure pressure. A manometer consists of a U-shaped tube partially filled with a liquid that can vary in specific gravity from 1.0 (water) to 13.57 (mercury). The pressure on one end of the tube is measured by balancing the liquid head of the fluid on the other end that is calibrated. A manometer is simple and accurate (2%) and is primarily used for pressures ranging from a low vacuum to 1,000 mm of mercury. manometer factor a correction that is used for measurements made with a mercury-type flowmeter. The factor compensates for the two different heads of gas above the two legs of the manometer. Fm man op manually operated manual rotary tongs a hand-operated device similar to a wrench that is hung from a wireline from the drill floor and used on a drilling rig to grip and hold drillpipe, casing, or tubing during such operations as making up or breaking out connections manual shift the mechanical or electrical displacement of a curve on a well log by a logging engineer during a wireline survey. A manual shift can be used to keep the curve in the track, (mechanical
shift)

marine environments

manufactured gas a low Btu gas that is formed from the controlled burning or distillation of coal, oil, or coke-oven feedstocks MAO maximum allowable overpull map 1) a two-dimensional representation of the distribution of some characteristic or characteristics of the earth's surface or subsurface. Topographic maps show the elevation of the ground surface, geological maps show where the various rock layers out crop on the surface, and structure maps show the subsurface elevation of a rock layer and isopach maps show the thickness of a subsurface rock layer. A sheet is a single

marine the ocean environment, mar or mam marine bank a shallow-water limestone deposit that forms a thick deposit without the framework-building, wave-resistant characteristics of a reef marine bar an elongate deposit of coarse, unconsolidated sediments such as sand or gravel deposited on the sea floor by currents. Marine bars can be elongated parallel to the current such as tidal ridges or perpendicular to the current such as sand waves. marine conductor see marine riser marine-flooding surface a surface in a succession of sedimentary rocks that separates older from

marine offlap Mark II younger rocks and represents a very rapid increase in water depth. A marine-flooding surface is defined in seismic or sequence stratigraphy and delineates parasequences. marine offlap a retreat of the seas from the land. A marine offlap could be caused either by an absolute fall in the level of the sea (eustatic) or an uplift of the land. A marine offlap results in the deposition of a coarsening upward sequence of sediments. (regression) marine onlap an advance of the seas onto the land. A marine onlap could be caused either by an absolute rise in sea level (eustatic) or by subsidence of the land. Marine onlap results in the deposition of a fining upward sequence of sediments, (transgression)

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marker bed

marine riser

marine riser a 16-20 in.-diameter tube made of several joints that connects the cellar deck of a drillship or semisubmersible to the blowout-preventer stack of a subsea well. The marine riser goes through a slip joint at the top and is connected to the blowoutpreventer stack through a lubricated, flexible ball joint in a bushing and hydraulic connector that can be latched or released with hydraulic pressure. The drillstring goes through the marine riser. The riser is used to complete the mud circulating system and guide the drillstring into the subsea blowout-preventer stack. From bottom to top, the marine riser consists of a) hydraulic connector, b) lower flexible joint (ball joint), c) flexible pipe for choke and kill lines, d) riser pipe and connectors, e) choke and kill lines and connections, f) telescopic (slip) joint, g) diverter system, and h) riser-tensioning equipment. The marine riser is kept in tension by a riser tensioner. (marine conductor) marine riser connection the fitting that connects the marine riser to the top of the subsea blowout preventers mark 1) to measure and put magnetic indicators each 100 ft on a survey or logging cable 2) the magnetic indicator that is located at each 100 ft on a survey or logging cable mark detector the device that uses a moving-coil pickup to records the marks that are used for depth control on a survey or logging cable

marker bed a thin, distinctive rock layer such as volcanic ash (bentonite), coal, limestone, or sandstone that can be traced for significant distances. On seismic records, it is a bed that has a characteristic reflection over a large area. A marker bed is used for subsurface mapping and correlation. marker buoy a buoy used in a survey to mark the location for a drilling rig or offshore structure marker crude the crude oil that sets the price standard against which other crude oils are compared and prices are set. For OPEC it is Saudi Arabian light crude, in the United States it is West Texas / intermediate, and for Great Britain it is Nortrr Sea Brent, (benchmark crude) markers the inspection marks made by paint sticks and tubes on tubulars marker well a well that is used as a reference for other wells such as for well classification for natural price regulation under the Natural Gas Policy Act marketable title a title that is valid beyond any reasonable doubt, (merchantable title) market clearing level a natural gas price that is competitive with alternate fuels market-demand prorationing the control of oil and gas production by a government regulatory agency based on the demand for oil or gas. Prorationing is designed to avoid a surplus of the oil and gas and is ratable among all wells in a reservoir, field, or state. marketing covenant an implied agreement in an oil and gas lease that the lessee will sell the petroleum from the lease within a reasonable time and at a reasonable price market-out clause a provision in a gas contract that if the contract price of the gas purchased plus transportation costs exceeds the price for which the gas can be sold, the contract price of the gas can be recalculated. There are many variations in how the producer can react to the lower price offered for the gas, including terminating the agreement. market price the selling or purchase price for oil or gas market-value clause a lease provision that guarantees the mineral rights owner compensation based on the current market value of the oil and gas produced rather than the price received by the operator market value lease a gas lease in which the lessor's royalty payments are based on the market value of the gas that is produced from the leasehold Mark II a beam pumping unit manufactured by Lufkin. The Mark II uses a Class II lever system. (Lufkin Mark II)

308

marl mast
walking beam

angle brace pitman samson post

counterweight

Mark II pumping unit

marl a loose term for unconsolidatedsedirm. ts. Marl is usually applied to sediments with more than 50% CaCO3. Mrl or mrl marlstone a consolidated sedimentary rock with significant but not dominant amounts of limestone. Mrlst, mrst, or Mrst marly the property of a sedimentary rock that is similar to marl in texture and composition. Mrl, mrl, mly marn marine Marsh buggy a vehicle with very large rubber tires that is used in swamps

Marsh funnel

Marsh funnel a standard funnel that is used to determine the viscosity of drilling mud at the drilling rig site. The funnel is 6 in. wide and 12 in. long with a neck that is 2 in. long with an inside diameter of 3 /i6 in. It holds 1 qt or 1,500 cc. There is a screen covering half of the top of the funnel to remove any lumps from the drilling mud. The Marsh funnel is calibrated with fresh water at a temperature between 70 and 80F that will take 26 seconds to drain one quart or 27.5 seconds for 1,000 cc. The seconds that it takes the drilling mud sample to drain is called funnel or Marsh-funnel viscosity. Marsh-funnel viscosity the number of seconds that 1 qt or 1,000 cc of drilling mud takes to drain through a standard Marsh funnel. The longer the time, the greater the viscosity of the fluid, (funnel viscosity) FV marsh gas methane (CH4) produced by bacteria (fermenters) from organic matter in the absence of

oxygen and sulfates at shallow depths from a few feet below the surface to about 1,000 feet. Marsh gas is dry gas that is normally about 99-9% methane and has a distinctive, very light carbon isotope composition. The gas usually escapes into the atmosphere but has been trapped in large deposits below the permafrost in Siberia. Urengoy is the largest gas field in the world with 285 TcF of recoverable marsh gas. (biogenic or swamp gas) MASS or mass massive mass the amount of matter in a sample. Mass is expressed in grams (g) in the metric system, m mass absorption coefficient the linear absorption coefficient per centimeter divided by the density of the substance in grams per cubic centimeter mass assets an accounting procedure used to amortize equipment costs. All the equipment costs are carried and amortized in a single account for the entire production period even if the equipment is sold. massive a rock layer without obvious bedding features. MASS or mass massive frac or massive hydraulic fracturing a large-scale frac job used to induce long fracture lengths of over 1,000 ft from the wellbore. It involves a large amount of proppant with a high proppant concentration under very high pressures over a time of 9-10 hours. Massivefrac is used on low-permeability formations to expose more of the formation and to increase production. MHF mass productivity index the mass of fluids produced from a well per day per lb/in2 differential pressure mass spectrometer an instrument that is used to determine molecular weights and relative abundances of isotopes in a substance. The molecular components are ionized and dissociated by electronic bombardment. The positive ions are then accelerated in an electric field and separated magnetically by mass. A mass spectrometer is often used for gas analysis because it is fast and accurate. It can determine the amount of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, n-butane, pentanes, hexanes, heptanes, and heavier hydrocarbons along with carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen, and helium content. The mass spectrometer can be used to calculate the Btu content of the gas. MS or ms mass spectrum the mass spectrometer record of the abundance of specific ions in a sample mast a portable steel tower made of welded tubes or structural beams that is erected into working position as a unit rather than assembled. The mast is used in the hoisting system of a drilling rig, pulling unit, or workover rig. A mast can be either a) free standing or b) mobile mast. The free-standing mast is made of several individual sections that are fastened together and are mounted on a separate skid or base. The free-stand mast is usually raised by wireline. The raised-floor cantilever mast that accommodates large blowout preventers is the most common free standing type of mast. The mobile masts are a) single or double telescoping pipe masts that include racking platforms, b) single frame or lattice-types that are wheel mounted, c) telescoping types, and d) folding types. The mobile

master bushing material balance equation

309

mast

mast is usually raised hydraulically and secured with guy wires. The mast is rated by hook load. Two types of drilling rig masts are full view and cantilever. The mast on a well-servicing unit is usually a doublepole mast made of tubulars or a telescoping structural mast made of angular steel. A mast serves the same function as a derrick, but a derrick cannot be erected as a unit.

master meter a prover that is used to test and calibrate a positive-displacement liquid meter or turbine liquid meter that is in service. The master meter has been calibrated against another standard. It is connected in series with the line meter to be calibrated, and its reading is compared to the meter in service. The master meter measures the true volume of the liquid, and a meter factor is determined. A transfer prover uses the same process on a positive displacement gas meter or turbine gas meter. Other meter-proving methods include volumetric and displacement-type provers. master rams a closing element in the blowout preventer that uses steel plates with flat rubber surfaces that fit together to close and open the well. Master rams can be used only when no pipe is in the well. Master rams are sometimes called master valve, (blank or blind rams) master valve 1) the large valve on a well located above the casinghead and below the tee on a Christmas tree. The master valve is typically used only in an emergency to shut in the well. The valve can be manually operated and can also contain an automatic shutdown, (master gate) 2) a term sometimes used for the master rams on a blowout preventer Mat material

master bushing (pin type)

master bushing equipment that is either a single piece of solid steel or two pieces that fit together and is designed to fit into the rotary table of a drilling rig. The master bushing transfers rotation of the rotary table to the kelly bushing. The kelly bushing fits on the master bushing either with a) a pin drive where four drive pins on the bottom of the kelly bushing fit into four holes bored into the master bushing, or b) a square drive where the kelly bushing fits into a square recess in the master bushing. The master bushing also has a tapered seating (bowl) for the slips that hold the drillstring. (rotary bushing) master choke line valve a valve on the choke line that is used to stop the flow through the choke line if another valve fails master clutch the device that connects the compounding transmission that supplies the power on a mechanical-drive drilling rig to the input shaft of the drawworks master gate see master valve master limited partnership a type of limited partnership in which units in the partnership are traded like stock. There is no United States federal income tax on the partnership, and the payments are made to the investor who is taxed. The partnership can be used to spin off the assets of a company to make the company less attractive for a takeover. MLP

Drilling Slot Mat

mat mat 1) the steel frame that rests on the seafloor to support a mat-supported jackup rig where there is a soft bottom 2) the foundation for a land rig. The mat is often made of 3 in. x 12 in. planks. matched filter a filter used in seismic exploration that gives a large output to a particular signal a of specific frequency range. The matched filter identifies the particular signal when it is masked by the noise of different frequencies. material balance equation a complex equation that relates oil, water, and gas volumes, reservoir pressures, reservoir temperatures, compressibilities, formation volume factors, and other variables. The material balance equation is used to calculate the volume of

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materials coordinator

economic recovery maturation the chemical alteration of organic matter in sedimentary rocks by time and temperature with burial. Maturation can result in the generation of crude oil and natural gas. Maturation subdivisions include immature, early mature (the start of oil and gas generation), peak mature (the peak generation of oil and gas), late mature (the end of oil and gas generation), and postmature. The maturation stage can be identified by chemical analysis or color and reflectivity of the organic matter. Spore color, thermal alteration, and vitrenite reflectance indicies are used to quantify maturation. maturation hypothesis an idea that light oils are older and more maturated, whereas heavy oils are younger in age and less maturated. mature 1) a sedimentary rock that is the result of intense weathering and erosion. A mature sedimentary rock is characterized by an abundance of stable minerals such as quartz, a lack of unstable grains, good sorting, and rounding of grains. An orthoquartzite is an example. Mature is in contrast to immature. 2) a source rock that has reached the temperature and time exposure of maturation necessary to generate hydrocarbons. A mature oil source rock corresponds to a vitrinite reflectance of 0.5-13%, a thermal alteration index of 2.2-3.5, and a spore color index of 3.5-9-0. Mature gas-prone source rocks have a vitrinite reflectance of 0.7%-1.3%3) A basin or area that has been well explored and drilled. mature oil crude oil that has been generated by relatively high temperatures in the oil window. Mature oil contains lower molecular weights and less asphaltic compounds than immature oil that is generated at lower temperatures. It has high API. maturity the degree to which hydrocarbon generation has occurred in a source rock. Maturity can be divided into early, peak, and late mature. Early mature corresponds to a vitrinite reflectance of 0.50.65%, a thermal alteration index of 2.2-2.3, and a spore color index of 3-5-5.0. Peak mature corresponds to a vitrinite reflectance of 0.65%-0.9%, a thermal alteration index of 2.3-2.6, and a spore color index of 5.0-7.0. Late mature corresponds to a vitrinite index of 0.9-1.3%, a thermal alteration index of 2.6%-3.5%, and a spore color index of 7.0-8.5. MAW mud acid wash MAWP maximum allowable working pressure MAX or max maximum maximum allowable pressure the maximum pressure that can be applied to equipment such as a pipe or tank without rupture maximum capacity the maximum output that a system is capable of producing maximum capacity well a well that is producing at the maximum pump capacity maximum connected condition the worst combination of waves, wind, current, water depth, and offset that an offshore drilling rig can experience and continue to hold location with the marine riser still connected to the blowout-preventer stack mayimnni economic recovery the highest rate of production from a gas and/or oilfield without unreasonable depletion or waste of reservoir energy.

fluids in a reservoir and to predict changes in the variables with production. materials coordinator an employee of the operator on an offshore drilling rig who keeps a record of the equipment and organizes the supplies on the offshore rig. (matsman) materials supervisor a drilling or operations department employee who arranges for the purchase and delivery of equipment such as casing, cement, and mud to the drillsite matl material matrix 1) the fine-grained particles between the larger particles in a poorly sorted sedimentary rock. Mtrx or mtx 2) the lithology or rock type of a formation such as limestone 3) the metal into which the diamonds are imbedded on a diamond bit. The original matrix was a copper-beryllium alloy but harder alloys with higher melting points are now used. matrix acidizing a well-stimulation technique using acid, commonly hydrochloric, hydrochoric/ hydrofluoric, hydrofluoric, acetic, or formic acid to dissolve low-permeability carbonate reservoir rock and to increase production. The acid is injected with pressure less than formation fracture pressure. Clay stabilizers and emulsion breakers are often added to the acid. Matrix acidizing is also used to relieve formation damage, (interstitial acidizing) matrix density density of the rock (assumed to be poreless) that is used in formation density log computations. Matrix density is the density of the rock portion of a formation. Matrix density for limestone is 2.71 g/cc, 2.87 g/cc for dolomite, 2.65 g/cc for unconsolidated sands, and 2.68 g/cc for sandstones. Matrix density is sometimes called grain density. Bulk density includes both the rock density and the density of the fluid occupying the pores of the rock. matrix erosion the wearing away, primarily by hydraulic action, of the metal holding the diamonds on a diamond bit matrix identification plot a crossplot of data from neutron, sonic, and density logs that is used to identify lithologies, gas, and secondary porosity. Apparent grain density (p) is plotted against apparent matrix transit time (A/ma). The common matrix minerals of quartz, calcite, dolomite, and anhydrite will plot at specific locations. Gas and secondary porosity will shift the plots. (MID plot) matrix porosity porosity in the fine-grained portion of a limestone matsman an employee of the operator on an offshore drilling rig who keeps a record of the equipment and organizes the supplies on the offshore rig. (materials coordinator) mat supported an offshore jackup rig that uses a mat or large steel platform to support the legs on a relatively soft seafloor. A mat-supported jackup rig is in contrast to an independent-leg jackup rig with spud cans. matting the material under a drilling rig that supplies support and drainage. Matting boards are often 4 ft longer than the width of the substructure and are spaced 3-4 ft apart. Two layers of boards can be laid and bolted together to form a matting pad.

maximum efficient rate meandering river Maximum economic recovery is similar to maximum efficient rate. maximum efficient rate the highest production rate of a rate-sensitive gas or oilfield that will not decrease the maximum practical ultimate recovery from the reservoir. Maximum efficient rate leaves the minimum oil saturation when the reservoir is depleted. Too rapid production could bypass oil in the reservoir or waste reservoir energy. The rate is generally between 3%-8% of the ultimate recoverable reserves for that reservoir per year. Maximum efficient rate is stated in volume of production per day, well, or for a lease. MER maximum negative cash flow a method used to economically evaluate a project such as drilling and completing a well. Maximum negative cash flow is the largest cumulative amount of money spent on the project minus income at any time during that project. maximum permissible dogleg the greatest amount of deviation in the direction and/or inclination that a wellbore can be permitted to make without causing tools to stick or excessive stress on equipment or tubulars in the well maximum permissible rate a rate of production that is set by a combination of the maximum efficient rate (production without waste of reservoir energy) and economic demand for the gas and/or oil by the market maximum production rate an allowable, an enforced rate of well production. MPR maximum pump pressure the manufacturer's recommended maximum permissible force on the power-end bearing of a pump maximum-reading thermometer a mercury thermometer that uses a constriction in the capillary tube to retain the maximum temperature reading maximum service pressure the maximum pressure that a system or equipment such as a blowout preventer or wellhead is designed to handle, still be under waranty, and operate safely, (working pressure or rated working pressure) MSP maximum water the maximum water-to-cement ratio that can be used in mixing cement that will not have water separating from the slurry while setting during a cement job maximum water content the amount of mixing water per sack of cement that will result in 2.5 ml of free water maximum working pressure the maximum operating pressure at which equipment is intended to be used. MWP maxipulse a type of marine seismic source. Maxipulse uses a small cylindrical charge (Vi lb) of nitrocarbonitrate exploded down a hose to a detonator on a firing wheel in the submerged gun. The detonator fires a delay fuse which explodes the main charge used for the seismic source. A gun transducer records the signal. Maxwell solid a substance that is elastic under short duration stress and plastic under long duration stress Maysvillian a North American age of geological time that occurred about 440 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period.

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MB megabyte mb millibar mb cementation factor (rock matrix) M bbl thousand barrels Mbfpd thousand barrels of fluid per day Mbl marble Mbopd thousand barrels of oil per day Mbr or mbr member mbrl million barrels MBT methylene blue titration MBTU thousand British thermal units Mbwpd thousand barrels of water per day MC mud cut Me microcline me 1) megacycle 2) mud cake MCA 1) mud-cut acid 2) mud cleanout acid or agent MCF, Mcf, or mcf thousand cubic feet MCF/acre-foot thousand cubic feet per acre foot MCF/B or McCB thousand cubic feet per barrel MCFD, MctfD, McfM, or mcf d thousands of cubic feet per day MCFGPD thousand cubic feet of gas per day MCFH thousand cubic feet per hour MCFS microfossil MC-GR medium to coarse grained mchsm mechanism MCO or MCOIL mud-cut oil MCP maximum casing pressure MCRGR micrograined mcr-x microcrystalline MCSW mud-cut salt water MCT 1) computer processed interpretation 2) synergetic log systems MCW or MCWTR mud-cut water MCXL microcrystalline MD or M.D. measured depth mD or md millidarcy md 1) mud 2) milliard Mdbf measured depth below formation MDC monel drill collars MDDO maximum daily deliverable obligation mdl middle MDST or Mdst mudstone md wt mud weight mdy muddy MEA monoethanolamine meander a river channel bend mean the sum of observed values divided by the number of observations, (arithmetic mean) meander belt the width of the flood plain or valley floor across which a meandering stream shifts its channel meandering river a river that flows through a series

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MEAS or meas measuring device or ground level (GL) to a point in the well or bottom of the well. Measured depth is reported in drilling records and on well logs and is measured by a logging or survey cable. Measured depth will be longer than true vertical depth due to well deviation, (logged or total depth) MD or M.D. measure electrode the electrical terminal that makes contact with the formation in a resistivity log sonde and is used to measure the electric potential The measure electrode is in contrast to current electrodes. measure in to accurately record the depth of a well by counting the joints or measuring with a steel tape each joint of drillpipe or tubing run in a well measurement while drilling a method used to sense and record with instruments in the downhole assembly a a) short normal resistivity log, b) gamma ray log, c) formation conductivity log, d) downhole weight-on-bit record, e) directional data, annular temperature log, g) neutron porosity lag, and/or h) formation density log or continuous wave as the well is being drilled. The tool is installed in nonmagnetic drill collars as close to the bit as possible. Electrical power is obtained either from turbine generation from drilling mud circulating through the tool or from electrical batteries. The data can be transmitted to the surface by a) fluid pulse, telemetry, b) a wireline run in the drillstring, or c) storing the data downhole and retrieving after each bit run. Fluid pulse telemetry is by pressure pulses with a binary code that is transmitted every 10-60 seconds. The pulses are detected by a surface pressure transducer and are decoded by computer. Negative pulse measurements while drilling generates mud pressure pulses by venting fluid into the annulus to cause a sudden pressure drop. Positive pulse measurements while drilling causes pressure pulses by restricting the mud flow through the tool. Measurement while drilling has two modes of operation. During rotary drilling a directional survey is made after each connection and during steering runs with a bent sub and downhole motor surveys are made at very short intervals. MWD measure out to accurately record the depth of a well by counting the joints or measuring with a steel tape each joint of drillpipe or tubing being run out of a well measure point the depth reference point on a sonde at which the downhole measurements are made. Measure point is often the lowest sensor on the tool. measurement ticket a written acknowledgement of the receipt of a specific amount of crude oil. The indicated volume is the change in meter reading during delivery. The gross volume is the indicated volume times the meter factor. The gross standard volume is the gross volume at standard temperature and pressure. The net standard volume is the same as the gross standard volume minus the sediment and water content of the oil and is measured in standard barrels of net clean oil. measuring device a powered calibrated reel with measuring line that is used to measure depths in a well in meters or feet. A calibrated wheel, roller assembly, and counter are used to measure the footage of wireline. The measuring device has a slip-free

meanders

meandering river valley

of bends in its channel. Point bar sands are often deposited on the inside of the meanders. Deposition of sand on the inside and erosion of the outside of the meander causes the meander to shift with time. When the meander becomes very large, a channel called a cutoff is eroded across the neck of the meander. The river then abandons the meander and leaves an oxbow lake filling the meander channel. Meandering rivers are in contrast to braided streams. MEAS or meas 1) measure 2) measurements MEASD measured

measured depth

true vertical depth

measured depth

measured depth the actual wellbore length from kelly bushing (KB), derrick floor (DF), foundation,

measuring line MEL contact and is mounted on movable supports and measures the depth with the turn of a wheel. measuring line a solid wireline made of cold-drawn plow steel that is used with a measuring device to measure the depth of a well. The measuring line comes in diameters from 0.066-0.125 in. and lengths of 10,000-25,000 ft. A stainless steel measuring line is available for wells with hydrogen sulfide. measuring tank a calibrated tank that is used in a lease automatic-custody transfer (LACT) unit to measure the volume of a liquid such as crude oil. The tank is continuously being filled and emptied to measure the flow volume with a dump meter, (dump tank) mech mechanical mechanic a person who is trained and employed to do maintenance and repair on mechanical equipment mechanical advantage the weight lifted divided by the force required to lift the weight mechanical agitator a motored device that rotates paddles on a shaft to stir the drilling mud in the mud tanks, (paddle mixer) mechanical brake a device that is activated by levers or rods directly attached to it and is used to slow or stop a turning shaft. A mechanical brake usually uses a brake shoe and brake drum. mechanical buckling the corkscrewing of a tubing string in a well by tensional forces. Mechanical buckling is often caused by slacking off too much weight in setting the packers. Buckling can also be caused by temperature changes. mechanical degradation the loss of fluid properties from a polymer solution used in enhanced oil recovery by permanent mechanical cutting of the polymer molecule mechanical displacer prover an instrument used to test and calibrate a liquid flowmeter. The flow from the main line is diverted through the prover which is a line containing a sphere or piston displacer. The line pressure forces the displacer to move through the line which is followed by detectors in the pipe wall. The time that the displacer takes to move a certain distance is calibrated to volume. The mechanical displacer prover can be used for both uni- and bidirectional flow. A smaller version is called a smallvolume prover or ballistic prover. mechanical-drive rig see mechanical rig mechanical efficiency log an analysis of penetration rate, torque, weight-on-bit, and rotary speed to differentiate lithology changes from bit wear, cone locking, and stabilizer gouging. MEL mechanical jar a fishing tool accessory that is designed to give a sharp, upward shock to the fishing tool in order to loosen a fish in a well. The mechanical jar has an oil-filled body and uses a tripping device in the jar. The force of the shock is controlled by the torque applied against the tripping mechanism. (hydraulic jar) mechanical log a record of the properties of rocks and their fluids with depth in a well as sensed by an instrument called a sonde that is raised up the well on a wireline. Some types of mechanical logs include

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electric, induction, gamma ray, neutron porosity, formation density, sonic, caliper, temperature, and dipmeter. A field copy of the well log is made in the recording truck after logging. A cleaner office copy is made later, (wireline log) mechanical rig a drilling rig in which the source of power is internal-combustion engines, usually diesel, and the power is transmitted by mechanical devices such as chains, gears, and shafts. A mechanical rig is in contrast to an electric-drive rig. (mechanicaldrive or power rig) mechanical shift see manual shift mechanical zero the instrument reading with no signal input MED or med median med or med. medium med-gr or med gr medium-grained median The middle value of smallest to largest observations. MED or med median cut a measure of the effectiveness of a solidparticle removal device. Median cut is the smallest sized particle that the device removes at least 5096 of that size particle from a solid-liquid suspension. P^ point median line the agreed border of the seafloor and ocean between adjacent countries medicated crude sour crude oil medium gravity crude a crude oil with a API of 25-35. Medium-gravity crude oil fluoresces cream or yellow. medium-radius horizontal hole a horizontal hole with a curvature rate between 8-20 per 100 ft. The hole is drilled with a high curvature angle-built motor. meet or release clause a provision in a gas purchase and sales agreement authorizing the seller to cease selling gas to the buyer and have the gas released from the agreement unless the buyer is willing to meet the price and other purchase terms offered by another potential buyer. MEG methane rich gas mega the metric prefix for 106. M megabyte computer memory that can store 220or 1,048, 576 bytes or characters. A character is a symbol such as A or 2. MB megajoule the metric unit of service equivalent to moving 1,000 newtons (N) over a distance of 1,000 m megapascal the System International unit for pressure. A megapascal is 1,000,000 newtons/m2. The conventional unit is psi, which can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 0.006895. MPa mega perforator an expendable jet-perforating gun with large horizontal-firing charges. The perforations have a relatively large diameter and the perforation tunnel is deep. The mega perforator can be used in an open hole to reduce formation damage. megapore a pore with an average diameter greater than 4 mm in contrast to a micropore or mesopore MEHD minimum effective hole diameter MEL 1) micro electric log 2) mechanical efficiency log

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melangee Messozoic merchantable oil crude oil of sufficient quality as defined in a contract to be accepted by a pipeline or another purchaser. The quality is usually measured by the bottom sediment and water content of the oil such as less than 1%. In cold climates such as the Rockies, the bottom sediment and water limit could be 0.5%, whereas it is about 5% for heavy California oil. merchantable title a title that is valid beyond any reasonable doubt, (marketable title) merchant's pipe early drillpipe that was lapwelded mercury-injection porosity the porosity of a rock sample measured by injecting mercury under pressure into a sample. The volume of mercury that can be injected into a sample of known volume is used to calculate porosity. The mercury-vacuum capillary pressure curve is also used to determine pore-throat size distribution. Mercury-injection porosity is a relatively accurate method except that some large pores might not be measured because they are shielded by smaller pores. mercury-vacuum capillary pressure curve a plot made by injecting mercury under increasing pressure into a reservoir rock that has been drained of all fluids from its pore spaces. Increasing pressure is plotted against volume of mercury injected. The smaller the pore throat, the higher the pressure needed to inject mercury through the pore throat. The curve is used to determine the size of pores in the reservoir rock. The formula Is r = -j- in which r is the pore radius andp is the injection pressure. The volume of mercury injected indicates the porosity of the sample. MERID or merid meridian meridian an accurately surveyed line that runs northsouth. A meridian is used for land surveys. MERID or merid meromictic lake a lake that is chemically stratified mesh the number of openings per linear inch in a screen or sieve. A 200-mesh screen will have 200 openings per linear inch. A 200-mesh screen has 74 y. openings.

melange a heterogeneous mixture of highly sheared and fine-grained rocks that include blocks and slabs. Melange means mixture in French. Melobesia red algae that live on marine grass and are a source of high-magnesium calcite mud member a rock-stratigraphic unit that is a distinctive but local part of a formation. A member can be distinguished from the rest of the formation by color, rock type, or some other distinctive characteristic. A member can be formally named with a geographical and a lithologic name such as the Layton Sandstone Member of the Coffeyville Formation. A member can also be a lithologically different but laterally equivalent portion of a formation such as the sandstone member of the Holdenville Shale. Mbr or mbr membrane technology the separation of gas into components by passing the gas through different membranes memorandum of title an abbreviated abstract of title of land. The abstracter issues an opinion on the owner of the lands, unreleased oil and gas leases, conveyances of minerals, and outstanding encumbrances and liens of record, (certificate of title or report of title) memorizer an electronic device used in well logging to delay signals from various sensors to compensate for the vertical distance between the sensors on the logging tool memory the space in a computer where the data is stored while it is being processed. Read only memory (ROM) contains the permanent computer instructions. Random access memory (RAM) stores the data when the computer is on and goes blank when the computer is off. Memory is measured in kilobytes and megabytes. men meniscus meniscus the curvature of the upper surface of a liquid that is due to capillarity. The liquid surface will be concave up when the container is wetted by the liquid and convex up when the container is not wetted, men MEOH methanol MEOR microbial enhanced oil recovery MEP mean effective pressure MER maximum efficient rate MER allowable an allowable, the amount of oil and/ or gas that is allowed to be produced by a government regulatory agency, that is based on the maximum efficient rate of the well or reservoir Meramecian a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 355-340 m. y. ago. It is part of the Mississippian period. mere mercury mercap mercaptan mercaptan a naturally occurring compound similar to alcohol in structure but containing a sulfhydryl group (-SH). A mercaptan is one of the ways in which sulfur can occur in petroleum. It gives the petroleum a strong, pungent odor of garlic and is used as an odorant in natural gas. Mercaptan can be removed by washing with caustic soda to convert it to disulfide. mercap

mesh perspective diagram

mesh perspective diagram a three-dimensional diagram with north-south and east-west lines Meso mesozoic mesogenetic porosity porosity in sedimentary rocks that was formed at great depths. Mesogenetic porosity is in contrast to eogenic and telogenic porosity. Mesozoic an era of time about 250-67 m. y. ago. It is known as the Age of Reptiles. The Mesozoic is

Messinian meter prover subdivided into the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. Meso Messinian a global age of geological time that occurred about 6.7-5.3 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Miocene epoch. META metamorphosed META, Meta, or meta metamorphic rock meta 1) metamorphic 2) metamorphosed metacenter or metacentre a point located on a vertical line drawn through the center of buoyancy on a drilling ship or offshore rig. The metacenter location is an indication of the stability of the structure when it is tilted. M metagenesis the changes in sedimentary rocks that occur at deep depths under high temperatures and pressures. Metagenesis includes the cracking of liquid hydrocarbons to form methane and graphite. At shallower depths, catagenesis occurs. metal displacement the volume of fluid displaced by the solid or metal part of a pipe metallic circuit the electric current path through the metal portion of a corrosion cell which causes the metal to deteriorate metal-petal basket an expanding metal cone that is used to prevent the downward flow of cement in a well. The basket is made with flexible spring steel petals that face upward. Liners can be used to fill in between the petals. Drilling mud and cement can flow up the annulus but not downward. Casing collars or stop rings hold the basket, (cementing basket) metamorphic rock a rock that has been altered by heat and/or pressure. Metamorphic rock textures are a) foliated or b) nonfoliated. A foliated rock has a planar arrangement of minerals in bands such as occurs in gneiss. A nonfoliated rock is massive such as marble. Metamorphic rock commonly forms basement rock and is usually barren of petroleum
META, Meta, or meta

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metamorphism the process in which rocks are recrystallized under high heat and/or pressure into metamorphic rocks. Two type of metamorphism are a) contact and b) regional. metaph 1) metamorphic 2) metamorphosed metasediments sedimentary rocks that have experienced some metamorphism but still have sedimentary rock characteristics metasomatic the simultaneous solution of a mineral and the formation of a different mineral in its place in a rock, man meteoric water subsurface water that is fresh because it has recently entered the ground from the atmosphere meter 1) the fundamental metric system unit for length. One meter is defined as yio.ooo.oooth of the distance along a meridian from the pole to the equator of the earth. A meter is equal to 39-37 in. or 3.28 ft. (metre) m or mtr 2) an instrument used to measure the volume and/or pressure of fluid that is produced or passes by a point. Turbine meters are commonly used to measure crude oil streams. Natural gas meters include orifice (the most common), displacement, mass-flow, turbine, and elbow meters. Meters are

calibrated with a meter prover. mtr 3) to measure the flow or quantities of a substance meter accuracy factor the volume of fluid registered on a meter divided by the actual proving volume that flowed through the meter as ascertained during a meter-proving test. Meter accuracy factor is the reciprocal of meter factor. meter calibration 1) a test of the accuracy of a meter. A flowmeter is tested with a prover that measures the true volume of flow through the meter. This is compared with the measured flow, and a meter factor is calculated for that meter. 2) to adjust meter readings to accurate values meter chart a chart used to record flow velocity or volume measured by a flowmeter. The standard flow-recorder chart used on a flowmeter is circular and 12 in. in diameter. The chart has two common scales. One is a linear scale that goes from 0%-100%. The other is a square root scale with the graduations closer at the bottom and spread out at the top of the chart. A Vee, bucket, capillary, or cartridge pen is used to record the data. The ink colors for a gas chart are standard. Red is for differential pressure, blue for static pressure, and green for temperature. The most common chart drive makes one revolution in 24 hours, (flow recorder chart) meter factor a decimal that is used to accurately calibrate a specific flowmeter. The meter factor is determined by meter proving and is equal to the true volume of a fluid (measured by a prover) divided by the indicated volume from the meter. Meter factor is the reciprocal of meter accuracy factor. meterhouse the shelter that protects a gas meter metering separator a metal or fiberglass tank (separator) that both separates produced fluids and measures the volume of liquids. The metering separator has a metering chamber and float to record the quantities of liquids. A two-phase metering separator will measure the amount of liquid whereas a three-phase metering separator will measure either a) the amount of oil or b) the amount of oil and the amount of water separately. metering station a flow station with meter proving metering tank a calibrated tank that is used in a lease automated custody-transfer (LACT) unit to measure the volume of a liquid such as crude oil. The tank is continuously being filled and emptied to measure the flow volume with a dump meter. (measuring tank) metering valve a needle in an orifice valve that is used to regulate fluid flow meterman the person responsible for changing the charts on wellhead orifice meters meter manifold the piping and valves that connect an orifice meter to a meter run or tube, (gage or gauge line) meter per second a derived unit in System International (SI) for speed and velocity, mis meter per second squared a derived unit in System International (SI) for acceleration, m/s2 meter prover a device that is used to test and calibrate the accuracy of a meter. The meter prover measures the volume of a fluid that flows through

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meter provingg mho per meter methyl alcohol methanol methylene blue titration a method used to determine the amount of clay in a drilling mud and the cation exchange capacity of the clay. A sample of the drilling mud is boiled in hydrogen peroxide and sulfuric acid to disperse the clay, remove the organic matter, and replace the cations on the clay surfaces with H+. Methylene blue is then slowly added to the dispersion. The methylene blue replaces the H+ on the clay surfaces. Addition of methylene blue is continued until an excess is detected when a sample is placed on filter paper and a blue halo is observed. MBT metr metric metre see meter metric system a decimal system of measures and weights that is based on tens and scientific units. The metric system has the meter as the unit of length, gram as the unit of weight, liter as the unit of volume, and seconds as the unit of time. The metric system is used in scientific work and in most countries except the United States. The System International d'Unites (SI) modified the metric system in I960 and has substituted kilograms for grams as the basic unit of weight. metric ton a metric unit of weight equal to 1,000 kg, 0.9842 long tons, 1.1023 short tons or 2,204.6223 lbs avoirdupois. A metric ton of oil ranges from 6.5 to 8.5 bbls of oil, depending on the "API of the oil and averages 7.4 bbls to the metric ton. MT MeV or mev millions of electron volts mezzanine deck the cellar deck below the drill floor on a semisubmersible MF 1) mud nitrate 2) manifold 3) metal factor 4) medium frequency. mf mud filtrate mfa apparent mud filtrate mfd manufactured MFE multiflow evaluator MF-GR medium to fine grained MFP maximum flowing pressure MFT multiformation tester MG motor generator mg milligram mgal an acceleration of 0.001 cm/s2, 0.001 dyne/g or 10~3 gal. A gravity unit is equal to 0.1 mgal. Galileo or milligal M-GSC multiple completion, gas, and condensate M-GAS multiple completion, gas M-GR or m-gr medium-grained mgr manager m/h meters/hour MHF massive hydraulic fracturing mho a unit of conductance. A mho is calculated by amperes divided by voltage (A/V) and is the reciprocal of an ohm. mho meter the reciprocal of ohm-meter mho per meter a unit of conductivity that is equal to the conductivity of 1 m3 of substance that has 1 ohm of resistance between opposite faces

the meter and is used to calculate a meter factor for that meter. The most common meter provers are 1) volumetric prover, 2) master meter, and 3) positive displacement (PD) meter. meter proving the methods used to test and calibrate specific flowmeters. Meter proving is normally applied to positive displacement (PD) and turbine meters as they give direct readouts of volume through the meter. The true volume of fluid is then compared to the indicated volume of fluid on the meter, and a meter factor is calculated, (proving) meter proving run a single volumetric measurement taken during a meter-proving test meter run the straight lengths of smooth pipe located upstream and downstream from an orifice meter, (meter tube) MR meter run point the location of the field measuring meter in a gas gathering system meters/hour the System International (SI) unit for drill rate. The conventional unit is ft/hr and the conventional unit can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 0.3048. mlh meter slippage the volume of a liquid at a specific flow rate that is not registered by the meter meters per minute the System International (SI) unit for annular velocity and slip velocity. The conventional unit is ft/min and the conventional unit can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 0.3048. m/min meter tube see meter run metes and bounds a method of describing the boundaries of a tract of land by lengths and bearings that are often in reference to a local, natural, or manmade references. Metes are measurements and bounds are bearings. Metes and bounds were used for land surveys in the original 13 states as well as Maine, Vermont, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and parts of Ohio. meth methane methane a hydrocarbon (CH4) that is a gas under surface conditions and forms the bulk of most natural gas. Methane can form either biologically by bacterial action or inorganically by high temperatures and thermal decomposition. Methane has a molecular weight of 16.043, a specific gravity of 0.30, a boiling point of 259F at 14.7 psia, a vapor pressure of 5,000 psia at 100F, a critical temperature of 117F, a critical pressure of 668 psia, and a gross heat content of 10097 Btu per cubic foot. Biogenic gas is almost pure methane gas. meth methane hydrate ice with trapped methane gas molecules in the ice lattice. Methane hydrates resemble wet snow. methane series the 30 naturally occurring paraffin or normal alkane hydrocarbons that form saturated straight chains. They include gases (Cj to C4), liquids (C5 to C16), and solids (CI7 and above). Methane (CH4) is the simplest of the series, (paraffin series) methanol a colorless, odorless, flammable alcohol (CH3OH) that can be manufactured from methane. (wood alcohol or methyl alcohol) methyl a prefix that means a methyl group (CH3) is attached to the molecule

MIV microfossil MHV moveable hydrocarbon volume MHz megahertz MI 1) mineral interest 2) moving in mi mile M, the methyl orange alkalinity of a mud filtrate reported as milliliters per 0.02 normal acid per mm3of filtrate Mic or mic 1) mica 2) micaceous mic micro mica micaceous mica a group of common minerals that are composed of potassium-aluminum silicates and occur as thin, elastic flakes. Micas are originally formed in igneous and metamorphic rocks but are commonly found as sand-sized flakes in sandstones. The two most common micas are white mica (muscovite) and black mica (biotite). Micas are used as lost-circulation material. Mic or mic micaceous a rock that contains mica. The micas are seen as flat, shiny flakes, mica micellar flood an enhanced oil recovery process in which water mixed with chemicals is injected into a depleted oil reservoir. The chemicals are designed to reduce the surface tension of the remaining oil and wash it to a producing well. The first slug injected is usually a water preflush, used to condition the reservoir. Then a micellar slug of surfactant, alcohol, brine, and oil is injected to reduce the surface tension of the oil. Polymer-thickened water is then injected to drive the oil and micellar slug. Then a fresh-water buffer is injected to prevent drive water from contaminating the chemicals, followed by drive water to push the previous slugs and oil toward producing wells, (chemicalflood) micellar fluid a mixture of surfactants, cosurfactants, salts, and hydrocarbons in water. Micellar fluid is used in enhanced oil recovery. micellar-polymer flood see micellar flood micelle a submicroscopic aggregate of organic and inorganic molecules in colloidal solution micgr 1) microangular 2) micrograined Micr or micr micrite micrite 1) a very fine-grained limestone that contains less than 1 % allochems or larger, transported particles. Micrite is not a good reservoir rock unless it has secondary porosity such as fracturing or solution. 2) sediment particles with diameters ranging from 1 to 4 \L that are composed of calcium carbonate. Micrite is a common matrix in limestone and forms from chemical precipitation, bioerosion, and calcareous algae. Micr or micr micritic limestone a limestone that contains more than 90% micrite micro- the metric prefix for 10~6. n microannulus or micro annulus a small gap in the cement between the casing and the wellbore in a well-cemented well. The cement forms a good hydraulic seal but a poor acoustic coupling. A microannulus is often caused by internal pressure on the casing squeezing some of the cement slurry into a soft formation. When the pressure is relieved,

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the microannulus forms between the cement and casing. microannulus effect the swelling of casing due to pressure microballoon a small plastic sphere usually filled with nitrogen gas. A large number of microballoons are floated on crude oil in a storage tank to prevent evaporation. microbe a microscopic organism such as bacteria microbial flooding or enhanced oil recovery an enhanced oil recovery technique that uses microorganisms that live on an injected food source or the oil in the subsurface reservoir. The microorganisms generate gases such as hydrogen and carbon dioxide and chemicals such as acids and surfactants that help move and produce oil remaining in the reservoir. In one variation, a mixed culture of anaerobic bacteria and molasses are injected into the subsurface reservoir through injection wells. The bacteria eat the molasses and generate gas such as CO2, surfactants, and polymers to reduce the viscosity and surface tension of the oil and move it through the reservoir toward producing wells. In a microbial flood, slugs of nutrients, microbial solutions, and their products are moved through the reservoir by drive water that is injected behind them. MEOR microbreccia a poorly sorted sandstone with angular grains microcomputer a computer that has a microprocessor, a single integrated circuit for the central processing unit. Home computers are microcomputers. microcrystalline a rock composed of very small mineral crystals that can be seen only under a microscope, (cryptocrystalline) MCXL, mcr-x, microxln, or micro-xln Microdot a very small, colored rectangle of film that ranges in size from Vn in. x Vs in. to Ve, in. x 3/32 in. About five Micodots are put in each barrel of crude oil to identify the ownership of the oil. Microdots come in four densities to match the specific gravities of different crude oils. The oil is filtered to recover the Microdots. microelectric log an electric type of wireline well log that measures the resistivity of rocks and their fluids in a zone adjacent to the well. The microelectric log is run in freshwater base drilling muds and is used to locate permeable beds and define bed boundaries. MEL microemulsion a stable, finely-dispersed mixture of oil, water and surfactant. A microemulsion is translucent and has certain properties of a solution. Microemulsion are used in chemical floods. Microfos or microfos 1) microfossil 2) microfossiliferous microfossil the preserved remains of ancient plants and animals that are so small that a microscope is needed for their identification. Common types of microfossils include foraminifera (forams), radiolarians, coccolithopores, diatoms, spores, and pollen. Microfossils are very useful for petroleum exploration as they can be picked undamaged out of well cuttings and used to date the age of the subsurface rocks and determine their environment

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microfossiliferous MICT or mict. microprocessor an integrated circuit on one chip that contains the entire central processing unit of the computer. Microprocessors are described by the number of bits on each internal data register or data bus. In general, the larger the number of bits, the faster the microprocessor. microresistivity logs a group of electric type wireline well logs that measure resistivities of a small volume of rocks and their fluids and mudcake in the flushed zone close to the wellbore. Microresistivity logs are made with electrodes on a rubber fluid-filled pad pressed to the wellbore wall and used primarily to detect mudcake to indicate permeable rocks and in some instances to define narrow beds. Some types are a) microlaterolog, b) microlog, c) proximity log, and d) microspherically focused log. A microresistivity log is usually run with a spontaneous potential and caliper log. microscopic displacement efficiency the efficiency of an oil-displacement technique to remove oil from individual pores in the reservoir rock microsec microsecond Micro-seismogram log a type of cement-bond log that displays an acoustic wave train in an intensity modulated-time mode. MSG MICROSFL or micro SFL log see microspherically focused log Microsol instrument an instrument used to determine the density of well cuttings. The instrument consists of a small tube filled with distilled water and a float in the water. The cuttings are weighed both above and below the surface of the water to determine mass and volume. microspar a uniform calcite matrix with grains 5-20 JL in limestone. Microspar forms by the J recrystallization of micrite. Microspr microsparite 1) a limestone with a carbonate mud that has been recrystallized to microspar 2) sparry calcite crystals 5-20 |j, in diameter microspherically focused log a sphericallyfocused microresistivity log that is a very shallow investigating (2 in.) laterolog. The tool is mounted on a pad against the well wall and is used to measure the resistivity of the flushed zone (Rm). A dual laterolog is often run with the microspherically focused log to define the resistivity profile, depth of invasion, 5OT, moved hydrocarbons, porosity, and permeability and can also be used with a formation density log. A caliper log is often run with the microspherically focused log. The log is used in wells drilled with fresh- and salt-water base muds. (MICROSFL or micro-SFL log) MSFL Microspr microspar microspread a geophone spread with very short intervals of a few feet Microstyl microstylotite microsucrosic a sedimentary rock texture that is characterized by very fine-grained crystals. The rock is often very friable. microxln or micro-xln microcrystalline MICS microsurvey log MICT or mict. moving in cable tools

microfossils

of deposition. Microfossils are often called bugs. MCFS, Microfos, or microfos microfossiliferous a sedimentary rock that contains microfossils microlaterolog a shallow investigation (2 in.) log of the laterolog type that measures^, in a well drilled with freshwater or saltwater base muds and in highresistivity formations. The microlaterolog uses three concentric electrodes, one bucking and two monitoring electrodes, spaced a short distance apart on a rubber pad that is pressed against the wellbore wall. The pad reduces the short circuiting caused by the drilling mud. The microlaterolog measures the resistivity of a small volume of material in front of the pad. The log is used with a caliper and microlog to estimate porosities and define beds. MIL microlog a microresistivity log that is used to indicate formation permeability by filter-cake buildup and formation thickness with a vertical resolution of 2 in. in low and medium-resistivity formations. The tool has a pad carrying electrodes that are pressed against the borehole wall by another pad called the backup pad. The microlog measures two resistivities, a 1 in. x 1 in. microinverse and a 2 in. micronormal. The microinverse has a very shallow depth of investigation and measures the mudcake. The microlog is printed in Track 2. The micronormal measures the invaded zone and is recorded in Track 3. A difference in resistivity of the curves shows formation invasion and permeability. A caliper log is also recorded in Track 1. MLorMLC micrometer the System International (SI) unit used for particle size. The conventional unit is microns (p.) and the conventional unit can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 1. ^m micron a unit of measurement in the metric system that is '/i,ooo mm. An inch equals 25,400 microns, p. Microol micro-oolite microorganisms microscopic plants or animals micropaleontologist a person who studies and identifies microfossils. (bug picker) Micropor or micropor microporosity micropore 1) a space between particles (pore) in a clastic rock that is less than 0.5 M* is size. A micropore is often formed in clay platlets and is characterized by a high irreducible water content. 2) a space between particles (pore) in a carbonate rock that is equant to equant-elongate or tabular or platy with an average diameter of less than Vis mm 3) a pore with an average diameter less than Vi6 mm in contrast to a mesopore or megapore 4) a pore small enough to hold water against gravity and inhibit flow microporosity the percent volume of space between particles (pores) with a radius smaller than 0.5 \un in a rock. Microporosity is in contrast to macroporosity. <|>m Micropor or micropor

MICH milliamp MICU moving in completion unit MID 1) matrix identification 2) moving in derrick MID, Mid, or mid middle midcase outline an outline on a map where geological and/or geophysical evidence indicates the location of an undiscovered petroleum reservoir. The midcase outline surrounds the reservoir with the most likely reserves and can also be supplemented with the low-case and the high-case outlines surrounding the pessimistic and optimistic calculations for reserves in that reservoir. ' Mid-Continent an area in North America that is bounded by the Mississippi River (east), the Rocky Mountains (west), Canadian border (north), and the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican border (south). The Mid-Continent is often defined as a more restricted area covering Oklahoma, Kansas and, to varying degrees, the surrounding states. Mid-Continent lease a general term for an oil and gas lease middle-phase microemulsion a stable, finely dispersed mixture of oil, water, and chemicals that has a high concentration of both oil and water middle row the row of teeth on the cone of a rollercone bit located between the outer (heel) row and the inner (nose or toe) row of teeth middle sample a sample of crude oil taken from near the middle depth of oil in a storage tank midnight ethyl condensate or natural gasoline that is used in a car MID plot a crossplot of data from neutron, sonic, and density logs that is used to identify lithologies, gas, and secondary porosity. Apparent grain density (Pma)a *s plotted against apparent matrix transit time (lma)<f The common matrix minerals of quartz, calcite, dolomite, and anhydrite will plot at specific locations. Gas and secondary porosity will shift the plots, (matrix identification plot) midrange a value halfway between the largest and smallest observations. Midway a North American age of geological time that occurred about 67-55 m. y. ago. It is equivalent to the Paleocene epoch. MIG metal inert gas migrated section a seismic section which has undergone migration processing. Dipping reflectors have been moved from their recorded position they appear on the seismic record to their acutal position as they occur in the subsurface. migration 1) the vertical and horizontal movement of oil and gas through the subsurface from source rock to trap. Primary migration is the movement of hydrocarbons out of the source rock. Secondary migration is the movement of hydrocarbons from the source rock through a permeable route to the reservoir rock in the trap. Tertiary migration is the movement of hydrocarbons from one trap to another or the loss of hydrocarbons from a trap. The route that the oil and gas moves through is called the migration pathway. 2) A method used to enhance seismic records by moving recorded dipping reflectors from their position on a seismic record to their actual position. Migration corrects for distortion on the

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seismic record caused by dipping reflectors and also collapses diffractions. Migration is usually done after stacking. Three methods are a) Kirchhoff summation, b) finite deference, and c) Fourier transform. (imaging) mil 1) million 2) one-thousandth of an inch milcf million cubic feet mile a statute mile equal to 5,280 ft. mi Milid miliolid

milling tool

mill 1) to grind up or pulverize 2) a fishing tool or shoe (junk mill) with diamond or tungsten-carbide cutting edges used to grind away a fish such as stuck tools or pipe in a well. Mills are run down the well on a fishing or tubing string and rotated. A mill can also be used a) to dress the top of a fish to be caught by another fishing tool, b) to ream out collapsed casing, c) to ream tubulars with scale, d) to remove a section of casing for sidetracking or deviating a well, or e) to remove cement plugs. Some types of mills are junk, tapered, pilot and string taper, skirted or guided, cement, bottom reaming, reamer, and throated mills. Mills can be flat, concave, or ribbed, (milling tool) millable materials and tools used in a well that can be pulverized by milling tools, if necessary milled teeth cutting teeth machined from a steel cone on a milled-teeth or steel-toothed roller-cone bit. One or both sides of the milled tooth is hard faced with tungsten carbide to create a self-sharpening effect. The included angle on teeth designed for soft rocks is 39-42, 42-43 for medium-hard formations, and 45-50 for hard formations, (mill-teeth)

milled-tooth drill bit (Hughes Tool Co.)

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milliard mineral lease well completions, and to improve drilling mechanics. (oil-emulsion drilling mud) MIM moving in materials M.I.M. 1) moving in materials 2) moving in machine MIN or min 1) minute 2) minimum Min or min 1) mineral 2) mineralized Mindel a European age of geological time that was the second glacial stage of the Pleistocene epoch. It is equivalent to the Kansan age in the United States.

milled-teeth bit a common type of roller-cone bit that has rows of teeth on the cones that were ground or cut out of the metal cone. The size, shape, and number of teeth on a cone are determined by the type of rock it is designed to cut. Long, narrow, widely spaced teeth are used for soft formations. Hard formations are cut with teeth that are shorter, wider, stronger, and closer together. The bit is designed to flake the rock, (steel-toothed bit) mill end the end of a pipe having a coupling or box millg milling milli the metric system prefix for 10~3. m milliamp milliampere milliard Vf.pm or md millidarcy one thousandth of a darcy, a unit of permeability. tnD or md milligal an accleration of 0.001 cm/s2, 0.001 dyne/g or 10~3 gal. A gravity unit is equal to 0.1 milligal. Galileo or mgal milliliter one thousandth of a liter, a unit of volume in the metric system. The term is often used interchangeably with cubic centimeter in drilling-fluid work, ml millimeter 1) a metric unit of length equal to 10~3 m. Inches can be converted into millimeters by multiplying by 25.4, and millimeters can be converted into inches by multiplying by 0.0394. mm 2) the System International (SI) unit for length such as hole and pipe diameters, bit size, liner length and diameter, nozzle size, and filter cake thickness. The conventional unit is inches, and the conventional unit can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 25.4. The conventional unit of V2 in. can be converted to the 3 SI unit by multiplying by 0.794. mm milling grinding a hole in the casing of a well or pulverizing a piece of junk with a mill or milling tool on a fishing, drill, or tubing string, millg or mlg milling shoe a rotary shoe used in fishing operations that is designed to grind up and pulverize junk, (bum shoe) milling tool see mill millipascal seconds the System International (SI) unit used for apparent and plastic viscosity. The conventional unit is centipoise, and the conventional unit can be converted to the SI unit by multiplying by 1. mPcf millisec millisecond millisecond a thousandth of a second, a unit that is often used to time seismic events or sound velocities through rock, millisec, msec, or ms mill scale an iron-oxide scale that forms on the surface of newly manufactured steel as it cools mill-teeth see milled-teeth milk emulsion drilling mud that is made from water, either fresh or saline, with small droplets of diesel oil dispersed in the water. The oil is usually 3%-7% and sometimes up to 10% along with CMC, starch, or gum. Milk emulsion is used under certain conditions to reduce mud-filtration losses, to enhance

mineral

mineral a crystal or grain of a naturally occurring chemical compound. Minerals have a definite chemical composition and physical properties and usually a specific crystal shape. Rocks are formed by aggregates of mineral grains. Examples of minerals are quartz, calcite, and feldspar. MNL, Min, min, or mnrl mineral acre the entire mineral rights for one acre of land mineral deed the assignment of a mineral interest under a specific tract of land mineral identification plot a cross plot of the porosities from density (limestone matrix), neutron, and sonic logs. Limestones will have the same porosity measurements, whereas a wet sandstone will cause the neutron porosity to read low and the density porosity high. Shale and dolomite will cause the neutron porosity to read high and the density porosity low. The sonic log is used to differentiate shale from dolomite. The most common mineral identification plot is a neutron-density cross plot. mineral interest see mineral rights. MI mineral lease a legal printed document that establishes an ownership of the mineral rights for the purpose of exploring and drilling on a specific parcel of land during a certain period of time called the primary term, usually 3, 5, or 10 years. Initiation of drilling or delay rental payments at periodic intervals are necessary to keep the lease valid. Production of petroleum in paying quantities extends the term of the lease into the secondary term to cover the life of the oil and gas production. Typical lease clauses include granting, habendum, oil royalty, gas royalty, delay rental, effect of dry hole on delay rentals and term, proportional interest, free gas, provision

mineral rights MISC or misc for assignment in whole or part, lease to remain a unit, warranty of title, continuing production, release and partial release, subject to actions of governments, unitization, and succession in interest, (lease) mineral rights the legal right to search for, drill, and produce oil and gas from land. The mineral rights in a parcel of land is conveyed by deed and can be transferred by a lease. The possessor of the mineral rights owns the oil and gas. (mineral interest) minerals mineral interests mineral servitude the right to explore and produce minerals minerals-in-place unextracted minerals such as oil and gas mineral takeoff research on the name, address, and fractional interest of each mineral owner of a tract of land MINF minifocus miniaturized completion a type of well completion with production casing less than 4.5 in. in diameter minicomputer a computer that is intermediate in size between a microcomputer and mainframe computer. A minicomputer occupies a relatively large area and supports 10-100 users. Minilog a microlog type of well log that uses a pad resistivity device to measure the resistivity of a small sample of formations adjacent to the wellbore. Three small button electrodes spaced 1 in. apart are mounted on an eccentric oil-filled rubber pad that is pressed against the borehole wall. MINL or ML minimum acceptable bid an economic evaluation made by the United States Geological Survey on an outer continental shelf lease. A minimum acceptable bit identifies the minimum bonus that can be accepted for that lease. minimum allowable the lowest production level on a well that an allowable, the amount of oil and/ or gas that a well is allowed by a government regulatory agency to produce, can be set. minimum angle the lowest angle, about 18, for easy azimuth control in a deviated well minimum commodity bill an arrangement by which a local distribution company or end user agrees to take and/or pay for if not taken, a given quantity of natural gas from a pipeline. Under current Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules, such an obligation can also be satisfied by permitting the pipeline to transport an equivalent volume of natural gas. minimum-delay wavelet see minimum-phase wavelet minimum interest rate of return the interest rate that makes the present value equal to the total future value, (percentage gain on investment) minimum miscibility pressure the minimum pressure at which two fluids become miscible or mix at a certain temperature. MMP minimum-phase wavelet energy that occurs over a relatively long time with the maximum energy occuring at the beginning of the wave. Most seismic sources such as dynamite and air gun produce

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minimum-phase wavelets, (minimum-delay or frontloaded wavelet) minimum polished rod load the static weight of the sucker rod string minus the maximum downward inertial force during the pumping cycle on a beam pumping unit. The minimum polished road load occurs near the top of the stroke with the start of the downstroke and is in contrast to the peak polished rod load. MPRL minimum rate return the lowest discount rate that a company will accept for any investment such as drilling and completing a well. The discount rate is a percentage that shows how much that investment will earn each year over the life of the project. The minimum rate is used to evaluate proposed projects and is expressed as a percentage such as 15%. MROR minimum royalty a minimum specified payment to the lessor that must be made regardless of the amount of production from the leasehold. Minimum royalty may or may not be charged against future production. minimum tender the specified minimum amount of oil that is required before the oil will be accepted by a pipeline minimum water content the amount of mixing water per sacks of cement that will result in a cement slurry with a consistency of 30 Bc on a consistometer minimum yield strength the minimum axial load that will elongate a tubular by 0.5% minisemi a small scale semisubmersible drilling rig used in relatively shallow water mini-Sosie a seismic source that is a variation of Vibroseis. A manually operated pneumatic hammer vibrates a plate on the ground to produce a random source that is not controlled. The source signal is recorded on a sensor plate. Several mini-Sosie signals can be summed. MINL minilog minor diameter the diameter of a connection measured from the trough of an external or male thread to the crest of an internal or female thread min P minimum pressure MINS or mins minute minute 1) a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowed in SI for time. One minute is equal to 60 seconds, mnut or min 2) a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for plane angle. One minute is equal to Math of a degree or IT/10,800 radians. T minute mark a mark that is made on the far left side of a well log at each one minute interval during logging to show the logging speed, (tattle tale) Mio miocene Miocene an epoch of time about 25-53 m. y. ago. It occurred near the middle of the Cenozoic Era. Mio MIPU moving in pulling unit MIR moving in rig MIRT or mirt moving in rotary tools MIRU moving in and rigging u Pn MISC or misc miscellaneous

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miscibility mly The vane type is made of parallel plates with liquid collection pockets. There is also a centrifugal mist extractor and porous filters. mis-tie 1) the difference in the starting and final positions of a surveying line around a loop or between surveys 2) the difference between the values calculated by different methods that should give the same result MIT moving in tools mix mixer mixed-base crude oil a crude oil that contains significant amounts of both paraffin and asphalt. The crude oil has a high aromatic concentration. Mixedbase crude oil is a refiner's term and is in contrast to paraffin- and asphalt-base crude oil. {intermediate base crude oil) mixed butane normal butane and isobutane separated from wet gas at a natural gas processing plant, (field-grade butane) mixed-layer clay mineral a type of clay mineral in which two or more types of clay minerals such as smectite, illite, and/or chlorite are vertically stacked. Mixed-layer clay minerals can be described as either random or regular mix-layering and by their clay minerals species. An example is randomly mixedlayered smectite/illite. (interstratified or interlayered clay mineral) mixed string a length of casing made up of joints with different tensile strengths, collapse resistances and internal yield strengths. In a deep well, high tensile strengths are necessary at the top of the well, whereas high collapse resistance and internal yield strengths are necessary at the bottom, (combination or graded string) mixing the combining of energy recorded from different channels on seismic to cancel noise, (compositing) mixing hopper see mud hopper mixing tank a tank used to combine parts of a mixture mix mud to make drilling mud by mixing solids with the liquid mix water the water that is mixed with dry cement to make a wet slurry. Mix water is measured in gallons per dry sack or gal/sk. mky milky ML 1) microlog 2) mud logger 3) proximity-microlog 4) Minilog1* 5) contact log 6) main line ml milliliter m/1 more or less MLC 1) microlog 2) microlaterlog, caliper log ML-C minilog, caliper log ML-C-GR minilog, caliper, gamma ray log mid milled mlg milling MIX microlaterolog MLP master limited partnership MLU mud logging unit MLW-PIAT mean low water to platform mly marly

miscibility the complete solution of two or more fluids without any interfaces between the fluids. The solution can be first-contact miscibility in which two fluids can be mixed in all proportions without any interfaces forming, or multiple-contact miscibility in which two fluids are mixed only by repeated enrichment of one fluid phase with components from the second fluid phase. miscibility pressure the pressure at which an injected gas will vaporize hydrocarbons from crude oil in a reservoir to form a miscible transition zone between the gas and the crude oil miscible the ability of fluids to be mixed or go into complete solution without any interfaces between the fluids. Fluids that do not mix are called immiscible. miscible (hydrocarbon) displacement, drive, or flood an efficient method of enhanced oil recovery in which a solvent that mixes with oil such as a micellarpolymer solution, alkaline solution, hydrocarbons, or a gas such as high-pressure methane, propane, LPG, natural gas, nitrogen, or carbon dioxide is injected into the subsurface reservoir to reduce the interfacial or capillary forces between oil and water in the pores of the reservoir rock to increase ultimate recovery of the oil. The types of miscible hydrocarbon displacement include a) miscible slug process, b) enriched gas process, and c) high-pressure lean-gas process. Miscible drive is expensive because of the cost of the solvents so a limited amount of solvent is used as a buffer or scavenger ahead of the drive fluid. miscible slug process a type of miscible hydrocarbon displacement process. A slug of liquid hydrocarbons is first injected to mix with the reservoir oil followed by injection of natural gas or gas and water to drive the oil toward producing wells. MISR moving in service rig Miss mississippian Mississippian a period of time from 365-330 m. y. ago. It is equivalent to the Lower Carboniferous in Europe. The Mississippian is subdivided into the Kinderhookian, Osagean, Meramecian, and Chesterian North American epochs. It is the equivalent of the Lower Carboniferous global epoch. Miss Missourian a North American epoch of geological time that started about 310 m. y. ago. It is part of the Pennsylvanian period. MIST or mist moving in standard tools mist small droplets of water in gas mist drilling a type of air or gas drilling that uses foaming agents injected into the air or gas stream with chemical pumps. Mist drilling is used to drill in areas where small amounts of water are encountered in the well. The small droplets increase viscosity and the ability of the air or gas to remove well cuttings from the well. There is danger of an air-methane downhole explosion during mist drilling. mist extractor equipment that uses impingement (a change of flow direction or velocity) centrifugal force, and/or coalescing to remove small droplets of water or hydrocarbons from gas in a separator or scrubber. The wire-mesh pad type is made of finely woven mats of stainless-steel wire packed in a cylinder.

MM or mm modu
MM or nun million mm millimeter MM bbl million barrels MMBTU million British thermal units MMCF or MMcf million cubic feet MMCFD, MMcfd, MMctfD or MMctfd million cubic

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feet per day MMcfgd million cubic feet of gas per day MMCFH, million cubic feet per hour mm Hg millimeters of mercury mmho millimho m/min meters per minute MMP minimum miscibility pressure MMS Mineral Management Service MMSCF or MMscf million standard cubic feet
MMSCF/D, MMscCD or MMsctfd million standard

cubic feet per day mm3 cubic millimeter mm2 square millimeter Mn or mn manganese M-N crossplot or lithology plot a crossplot of sonic, neutron and density log data that is used to A/, -At Nf - N

determine lithology. M = ' and TV = ' Pi ~ P/ 9b ~ Pt

in which Aty is the interval transit time of the fluid (189 for freshwater base mud and 185 for saltwaterbase mud), At is interval transit time from the sonic log, pb is bulk density of formation, p^- is fluid density (1.0 for fresh water-base mud, and 1.1 for saltwaterbase mud), Nj is neutron porosity of the fluid (1.0) and N is neutron porosity from the neutron log. Common minerals such as quartz (sandstone), calcite (limestone), dolomite, anhydrite, gypsum, and salt will each have different values of M and TV and plot in different locations on the M-N crossplot. (lithoporosity crossplot) MNL mineral mar minor mnrl mineral mnut minute MO 1) moving out 2) motor oil 3) month 4) moveout m,, shaly-formation cementation factor M-O&G multiple completion, oil and gas mob mobile mobile offshore drilling rig or unit, an exploratory drilling rig that floats on the ocean when being towed or propelled to the drillsite. The most common mobile offshore drilling rigs are jackup rigs, semisubmersibles, and drillships. MODU mobile offshore production unit a jackup rig that has been converted to an offshore production platform. The mobile offshore production unit is mobile and reusable. The unit is often used on a marginal field that is surrounded by several marginal satellite fields or used for production testing. MOPU mobile rig a drilling rig mounted on a truck-type vehicle that was designed for moving the rig. Mobile rigs are used for relatively shallow wells.

mobility the ratio of effective permeability to apparent fluid viscosity. Mobility is a measure of the ease with which a fluid moves through a reservoir rock. mobility buffer a bank of polymer-water solution used in enhanced oil recovery to protect a chemical slug such as surfactant from water invasion and dilution. The mobility buffer assures a viscosity transition and mobility control. The leading edge of the buffer has a mobility equal to or less than the surfactant, whereas the trailing edge has a mobility close to water mobility control the method used in enhanced oil recovery to keep the mobility of the displacing fluid or bank equal to or less than that of the displaced fluid or bank mobility ratio the mobility of the injected fluid behind a waterflood or enhanced oil-recovery front divided by the mobility of the crude oil ahead of it in the reservoir. The mobility ratio indicates the displacement efficiency of the process. A ratio of less than 1 is favorable with an effective displacement, whereas a ratio of more than 1 is unfavorable. M mobilization rate the drilling contractor's charge to move the rig and crew onto location mock tool joint a collar in the middle of a drillpipe that is designed to give the pipe extra wall contact MOCT moving out cable tools MOCU moving out completion unit MOD or mod 1) moderate 2) moderately 3) modification mode The sample that occurs most frequently in a group of observations. The sample population can be unimodal or multimodal. model form a contract that is generally accepted by the industry as normal for typical operations. The American Association of Petroleum Landmen has both a model-form farmout and operating agreement. The Canadian Association of Petroleum Landmen has a model-form operating procedure. The Rocky Mountain RM-1 and RM-2 are used for Federal Exploratory Units. The American Petroleum Institute form is used for offshore operations. modem a modulator-demodulator that encodes data, often from a computer, for transmission over telephone lines or similar communication media. The speed of modem transmission is measured in bauds. moderately rich gas natural gas that has between 2.5-5.0 gal of recoverable ethane and higher hydrocarbons per thousand cubic feet at 60F moderately volatile oil reservoir a reservoir that contains oil with relatively large concentrations of ethane through decane components at reservoir temperature modified alkaline flooding an enhanced oilrecovery process in which a cosurfactant and/or polymer is added to the alkaline flooding process modified cement a cement with chemical and/or physical properties that have been altered with an additive. Modified cement is in contrast to neat cement. MODU mobile offshore drilling unit modu modular

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modular rig moment-of-time break MOLE a type of artificial lift (more oil, less energy) that uses a tower with a pulley at the top. A cable passes through the pulley and is attached to the suckerrod string in the well on one end and a bucket on the other end. Water is pumped into the bucket at the top of the tower causing the bucket to descend and the sucker-rod string to rise. At the bottom of the tower, the water is dumped and the the suckerrod string descends. mole the System International (SI) unit for amount of substance. A mole is a chemical mass that contains 6.022 x 1023 molecules. The mass of the mole is equal to the gram formula weight of the substance. A gram mole of CaCO3 is 40.08 (Ca) + 12.01 (C) + 48.00 (O3) or 100.09 g. mol molecular ownership a concept in which each molecule in a gas reservoir is owned proportionally to each working interest percentage in that reservoir. Molecular ownership is in contrast to reserve ownership. molecular sieve a substance that has the ability to filter and sort molecules based on molecular size and/ or structure. Minerals called zeolites are often used as molecular sieves. Molecular sieves can be used as catalysts and to separate liquids such as LPG, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide from natural gas. mol
sieve

modular rig an offshore drilling platform in which the units such as mud, drawworks, and cementing are mounted on skids and can be installed in various locations on the platform modular-spaced workover rig a type of workover rig that can be broken down and transported in modules or packages. It is used on offshore wells. module a self-contained unit that has been assembled onshore, barged offshore, and is installed on an offshore platform. Modules are transported offshore on deck barges and lifted into place by derrick or crane barges. Some common modules are wellhead, oil and gas separation, gas compression, platform power generation, diesel, filter and exhaust, cement and brine storage, and mud. Modules weigh up to 2,000 short tons, (component or production module) modulus of elasticity stress divided by strain in a substance for stresses below the elastic limit. The modulus of elasticity for steel is 29,000,000. MOE milled other end MOGA mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association Mohawkian a North American epoch of geological time that ended about 455 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. Mohr circle a method to graphically represent stress. The Mohr circle describes all possible normal and shear stress combinations for a formation in two dimensions. Tangential and radial stresses are plotted on the x axis and a circle is drawn through those two points with the center of the circle on the x axis. The radius of the circle represents the induced shear and its valve can be read off the y axis. The Mohr circle is the simplest and most convenient method to obtain strain from the maximum and minimum stress. Moh's hardness scale a standard of mineral hardness. The scale is a series of numbers from one to ten corresponding to reference minerals. The minerals are talc (1), gypsum (2), calcite (3), fluorite (4), apatite (5), orthoclase (6), quartz (7), topaz (8), corundum (9), and diamond (10), with the highest number being the hardest. M-OIL multiple completion, oil Mol or mol moldic mol mole molality a concentration equal to the number of moles of a solute divided by kilograms of solvent. M molarity a concentration equal to the number of moles of solute divided by number of liters of solution. M molasse sedimentary rocks deposited in the vicinity of a shoreline between eroding mountains and deepwater flysch deposits. Molasse deposits are relatively thick and are part of the sediments formed during an uplift or orogeny. Molasse deposits include conglomerates, sandstones, shales, and marls, with some coals possible. mold moldic porosity (intergranular-moldic) moldic pore a void or pore in the rock formed by the solution of a soluble fossil (biomoldic), oolite (oomoldic), or mineral grain

molecular weight the sum of the atomic weights or masses of the atoms that make up a molecule. The molecular weight of methane (CH4) is 16.043 and of water (H2O) is 18.015. mol wt, Mw, M, or MW molecule the smallest unit of a compound that has the same chemical properties of the substance. A molecule is composed of atoms of one or more elements that are chemically bound. CaCO3 and C2H6 are examples of molecules. mole fraction a concentration equal to the number of moles of one component divided by the total number of all moles in solution mole percent the number of moles of one substance divided by the number of moles of a mixture of substances times 100. mol percent mole per cubic meter a derived unit in System International (SI) for concentration, mol/m* Moll mollusks mollusk an invertebrate belonging to the phylum Mollusca. Mollusks are primarily marine and include snails, oysters, scallops, clams, squids, chitons and scaphopods. Mollusks have existed from the Cambrian period to the present. Many have had shells and are guide fossils. Moll mol/m3 mole per cubic meter mol percent mole percent mol sieve molecular sieve mol wt molecular weight moment force times distance of the force from the point of rotation moment of inertia the sum of (masses times distance from a line squared), (rotational inertia) moment-of-time break shot break

Monel Monet a nickel-based alloy with copper, iron, manganese, silicon, and carbon that is used to make nonmagnetic drill collars money left on the table the difference in money between the highest (winning) bid and the next highest bid in a competitive lease sale monitor 1) to observe an action or function 2) an instrument that records the reading on a control device and/or emits a signal when a condition is exceeded 3) the cathode ray tube that is used with a computer to display information monitor curve a well log curve that is used to measure tool performance and stability and test the quality of the measurement monitor record a display of traces from a single seismic shot. The monitor record is used as a field check for data quality. The record is 6-10 in. wide and several feet long with the traces running vertically. monkey see derrickman

moraine

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monocline a zone of steeply dipping sedimentary rocks in an area of gently dipping or horizontal rocks monoelectrode one electrode used to measure formation resistivity when the well is filled with a conductive fluid monomer small molecules that can be combined to make polymers monomictic a clastic sedimentary rock composed of one mineral such as quartz in a quartzite. Monomictic is in contrast to polymictic. monophasic flow a flow of one phase such as water or oil or gas in contrast to polyphasic flow monopod a type of offshore drilling and producing platform that rests on only one, large-diameter steel tube. A monopod is used in Arctic regions where there is moving ice on the surface of the ocean. monopsony the condition that exists when there is one buyer such as a pipeline and a large number of sellers mont montmorillonite Monte Carlo method a method used to estimate risk and evaluate drilling prospects. The Monte Carlo method involves combining numerous factors involved in the success of a drilling prospect. Each factor is given several possible outcomes. The factors, each with one of the possible outcomes, are combined to predict the success of the well. This is done numerous times to give a mean value and range of uncertainty for the project. montmorillonite a specific member of the smectite clay-mineral group that has the chemical formula Nao 33(Al1.67Mg0 33)(Si4O10)(OH), with a cell dimension of 10.00 A and a density of 2.63 gms/cm3 Montmorillonite is often used in drilling mud and is a swelling clay. Bentonite is primarily composed of sodium montmorillonite. Low-yield clays are primarily calcium montmorillonite. The term montmorillonite was first used for a group of clay minerals that is now called smectite, mont monument aground marker, such as a bench mark, used for surveys

monkeyboard

monkeyboard (off rotary drilling rig chart)

monkey board or monkeyboard a small platform near the top of a drilling-rig derrick or mast. The derrick man (monkey) stands on the monkey board to guide the top of the stands as the drillpipe is tripped in or out of the well. Monkey boards are called double, thribble, or fourble boards depending on the pipe stand length they are designed to rack. Fingers below the monkey board are used to rack the pipe. monkey-motion engine a one-cylinder engine monkey wrench a wrench with a screw-adjusted collar that allows the size of the square opening to be adjusted monocable a single armored conductor cable used on a sonde

moonpool, moon pool, or moonwell the hole


in the hull of a drillship or semisubmersible through which the drilling occurs and the drillstring and marine riser pass into the sea. The moonpool is located on the center of gravity of a floating rig and is generally 20-25 ft in diameter, (drillwell or water table) mooring plug a rotating table on which the derrick is mounted on some drillships. The drillship is moored by anchors to the mooring plug. This allows the drillship to rotate around the mooring plug while the drilling rig stays relatively fixed in orientation. MOP 1) maximum operating pressure 2) movable oil plot 3) margin of overpull MOPU mobile offshore production unit MOR moving out rig moraine poorly sorted sediments deposited on the bottom, side (lateral moraine) or front (terminal moraine) of a glacier

monocline

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morning report movable oil plot


glacier moraine

ocfc
moraine

morning report a report made by the tool pusher on a drilling rig each morning that summarizes the drilling results of the previous 24 hours running from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. The report is telephoned or radioed to the drilling contractor who then reports to the operator of the well. Morning reports vary between contractors. A morning report commonly includes total depth at report time, footage drilled in 24 hours, activities such as tripping and repairs, a time breakdown for each 8-hour tour, mud measurements, daily and cumulative costs, and formations drilled. (daily drilling report) morning tour the shift on a drilling rig that goes from midnight to 8:00 A.M. The morning tour is between the day and evening tours, (graveyard or hoot owl tour) Morrowan a North American epoch of geological time that started about 330 m. y. ago. It is part of the Pennsylvania period. MORT or mort moving out rotary tools MOS movable oil saturation mos mosaic Moscovian a global age of geological time that ended about 310 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Carboniferous. mosquito bill the oil inlet tube that is mounted inside a gas anchor on the bottom of a sucker-rod pump, (dip tube) mot motor M.O.T. milling out tools Mother Hubbard a metal cylinder that is hinged to fit around a joint of drillpipe as it is being broken out (unscrewed) when tripping out of the well. The Mother Hubbard prevents mud from being lost by squirting out onto the surrounding area. The drilling mud is emptied with a drain plug onto the shale shaker. (mud box, mud saver, splash box, or wet box) Mother Hubbard clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that protects the lessee from errors in the description of the land under the lease by including all the land owned by the lessor in that area, (cover all or catch-all clause) mother pool the largest and often deepest of a series of related oil reservoirs motion compensator a pneumatic or hydraulic device used on a floating offshore drilling platform to allow for the vertical rise and fall (heave) of the platform with waves. The motion compensator maintains a constant weight on the bit. It can be either a) a downhole bumper sub or b) a surface drillstring motion compensator which can be a) a traveling block or b) a crown-block compensator.

motion sensor a device that is used to detect motion during directional surveys and prevent measurements until after the motion has stopped motor a device that uses pneumatics, hydraulics, or electricity to do work. A motor is not an engine, mot motor-generator rig a drilling rig in which the equipment is driven by electric motors which are supplied by electrical power from generators on the site. A motor-generated rig is in contrast to a mechanical rig. motor geometry the curve of a circle that is described by the three contact points that an unstressed, stabilized, single or multibend motor makes with a hole motorhand, motor man or motorman the crew member on a drilling rig who is responsible for the operation and routine maintenance of the prime movers. The motor man can do minor repairs and will do other duties when needed. motor shroud a shell that forces drilling fluids to flow around an electric submersible motor to cool the motor before flowing through the submersible pump, (jacket cover) motor valve a device used to control the rate of flow in a line such as a pipe. The motor valve is operated by electric, hydraulic, or mechanical power rather than manual power. MOTT, Mott, or mott mottled mottled sedimentary rock that is spotted with different colors. MOTT, Mott, or mott mouse ahead to decrease the diameter of the wel mouse hole or mousehole a hole, 7-10 in. in diameter and about 28 ft long, located near the rotary table on the V-door side of the drill floor. The mousehole is used to store a joint of pipe until needed to make a connection on the drillstring. It is usually lined with pipe that is sealed on the bottom and sticks 2V2 ft above the drill floor. The mousehole has a drainhole and can have a heavy-duty spring on the bottom to cushion the pipe. A plate on the drill floor often covers the mousehole when not in use. mousetrap or mouse trap a fishing tool that has a movable slip to catch fish of variable sizes. The mousetrap is used primarily to recover fish with variable diameters such as corkscrewed sucker rods, mud anchors, and crushed or corroded pipe. The mousetrap usually can not release the fish. MOV orifice valve mor moving movable block see traveling block movable oil oil that can be produced from the reservoir movable oil plot a well log consisting of three porosity curves that have been calculated from other logs. A porosity curve is calculated from a sonic log, an apparent water-filled porosity is calculated from a deep resistivity log, and an apparent water-filled porosity of the flushed zone is calculated from a shallow investigation log. The separation between the porosity and the apparent water-filled porosity curves indicates the amount of hydrocarbons in the uninvaded zone. The separation between the porosity and the apparent water-filled porosity of the flushed

move in or moving in Mu
zone indicates the amount of movable hydrocarbons. The residual hydrocarbons remaining in the invaded zone is indicted by the difference between the two separations. MOP move in or moving in the transportation of a drilling rig onto a well location before rigging up. (MI) moveout or moving out the difference in sound wave arrival times between different geophones during seismic exploration. Normal moveout is due to different distances between the shotpoint and the geophones. Dip moveout is due to the dip or angle of the reflector surface. Statics is the difference due to elevation and weathering. MO move out the transportation of a drilling rig off the wellsite after rigging down M-SAL mud salinity MSCF or Mscf thousand standard cubic feet

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MSCF/B or MsctfB thousand standard cubic feet per barrel MSCF/D, MsctfD, Msctfd, or Mscfd thousand standard cubic feet per day MSD mean squares dip msec millisecond MSFL microspherically focused log (MICROSFL or micro SFL log) MSG micro-Seismogram MSG-CBL micro-seismogram logcased hole MSG-CBL-G micro-seismogram, gamma collar logcased hole MSG-CBL-N micro-seismogram, neutron collar logcased hole MSI multiport selective injection MSL mean sea level msm metasomatic MSP 1) maximum surface pressure 2) maximum service pressure MSR mean squared residual MSRT moderately sorted MSS 1) manufacturers Standardization Society of the Valve and Fitting Industry 2) multispectral scanner mstr master m/s 2 meter per second squared MSV 1) multifunction support vessel 2) multipurpose service vessel MT 1) magnetotellurics 2) metric ton MT magnetite M/T marine terminal MTD 1) measured total depth 2) mean temperature difference mtd mounted mtg mounting m 3 cubic meter m 3 /d cubic meters per day m 3 /kg cubic meters per kilogram m 3 /min cubic meters per minute m 3 /stroke cubic meters per stroke m 3 /t cubic meters per tonne MTL mud time lagm Mtl or mtl material MTP 1) maximum tubing pressure 2) maximum top pressure MTR middle-time region mtr meter Mtrx matrix MTS mud to surface m 2 square meter mtx matrix Mu muscovite

moveout-derived or moveout velocity the


seismic velocity of a sedimentary rock layer derived from moveout calculations. The arrival time of a reflection from a common surface is plotted versus velocity for various detectors to determine the horizontal component of the velocity. A hyperbola is fitted to the moveout curve. Velocity can also be determined by seismic amplitude. moveout filter a filter used to remove selected dips and apparent dips from seismic data. The filter is used to eliminate steep noise lineups and multiples in areas of relatively flat bedding, (dip rejection or velocity

filter)
MP 1) maximum pressure 2) melting pot MPa megapascal mPa s millipascal seconds MPBHDCOD minimum permissible bottomhole drill-collar outside diameter MPH or mph miles per hour MPI magnetic particle inspection MPL mechanical properties log MPR 1) maximum permissive rate 2) maximum production rate MPRL minimum polished rod load MPS mild plow steel mps meters per second MPT 1) male pipe thread 2) mud pulse telemetry MPY 1) miles per year 2) mils per year MR meter run M-RES mud resistivity MRF mobility-reduction factor MRL maximum rate limitation Mrl or mrl 1) marl 2) marly Mrlst marlstone MROON maroon MROR minimum rate of return Mrst or mrst marlstone MS 1) metal seal 2) mass spectrometry 3) mass spectrometer ms milliseconds m/s meter per second MSA multiple service acid

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|i. mud density screens or uses a bypass gate to divert it to the sand trap or waste pit. (backtank or possumbelly) 2) see mud saver mud bucket a device on a drilling rig that wraps around the connection when making a wet trip and collects the mud spray when the connection is broken down. It returns the mud by hose to the flow line. mudcake the solid particles in drilling mud (primarily clay minerals) that are plastered to the sides of the well by the circulating mud during drilling. The liquid that goes into the formation is called filtrate. The volume of the filtrate and the thickness of the mudcake can be determined in the laboratory by a filter press. The thickness of the mudcake is measured in '/32s of an inch and described as soft, firm, or tough, (filter cake or wall cake) me mud circulating system the system used on a drilling or workover rig to pump drilling mud into the well. The drilling mud is sucked from the mud tanks where it is stored by the suction line to the mud pumps or hogs. The mud then flows through the discharge line to the rotary hose, swivel, kelly, drillpipe, drill collars, and the nozzles on the drill bit onto the bottom of the well. The mud then flows up the annulus between the wellbore and drillpipe, through the blowout preventers to the surface. On the surface next to the drilling rig, it flows through the shale shaker, desander, desilter, and degasser and back into the mud tanks to be recirculated. mud cleaner equipment that is used on the circulating system of a drilling rig to remove finegrained well cuttings from weighed drilling fluid without excessive loss of barite and fluid. The mud cleaner uses a combination of desilting hydrocyclones and very fine mesh screens (40-125 |xm) that vibrate. The underflow of the hydrocyclones flows onto the screens. mud-cleanout acid or agent an acid used to disperse and remove mudcake from the wellbore and break emulsions and water blocks. The mud-cleanout acid is used ahead of cement slurry in a cement job and to clean up perforations. MCA mud conditioning the addition of additives and fluids and the removal of gas and cuttings to maintain the necessary chemical and physical properties of drilling mud mud cup 1) a funnel-shaped cup that is used to measure the viscosity of drilling mud on a rig. A certain amount of mud is poured into the cup, and the time it takes for the mud to flow through is recorded to estimate the viscosity of the mud. A Marsh funnel is most commonly used. 2) a cup with electrodes used to sample the drilling mud and measure resistivity on a logging truck mud decontaminant a cement additive that is used to minimize the effect of drilling mud mixing with cement mudded up a well containing thick drilling mud which prevents or retards drilling mud density the density of drilling mud (mass divided by volume) expressed in pounds per gallon (ppg or lb/gal), pounds per cubic feet (lb/cu ft or pcf) or kg/m3(kilograms per cubic meter). Mud density is measured in the field with a mud balance.

(A 1) viscosity 2) dynamic viscosity 3) coefficient of viscosity 4) damping factor 5) Lame's shear modulus 6) mean value of probability distribution 7) azimuth of reference on sonde 8) Poisson's ratio 8) micro9) diameter 10) magnetic permeability 11) micron Ha 1) air viscosity 2) apparent viscosity
|jLb microbar

mucking to shovel dirt mud see drilling mud MUDA mud acid mud acid an acid used to remove mudcake or filter cake by dissolving clays deposited on the producing formation during well completion or during a workover. Mud acid is composed of hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids with inhibitors, surfactants, and demulsifiers. (mud removal acid) MUDA or MA mud additive a substance that is mixed with drilling mud to change the chemical and/or physical properties of the mud. Some types of common additives are weighting, lost circulation, thinner, dispersant, shale control inhibitor, filtrate reduction, emulsifier, defoamer, bactericide, and alkalinity or pH control. mud analysis a test of the chemical and physical properties of drilling mud. The two most common properties measured are density or mud weight and viscosity. These can be measured at the drillsite using a mud balance and a Marsh funnel. Some other measured properties include filtration and wallbuilding, sand content, liquids and solid content, pH, filtrate analysis, cation exchange, resistivity, and electrical stability. mud anchor one or more joints of large diameter tubing attached to the seating nipple on the bottom of the tubing string in an oil well. If equipped with a mosquito bill, the mud anchor separates liquid from gas before the liquid enters the pump. The mud anchor is plugged at the bottom and has perforations at the top to allow fluids to flow up into the lower portion of the downhole pump and help break out gas from the oil before it flows into the pump. The mud anchor, if equipped with a mosquito bill, is known as a gas anchor. It is installed with the tubing string. mud balance a beam balance with a cup that holds a specific volume used to determine the density or weight of a sample of drilling mud. The mud balance consists of a graduated arm on a knife edge. One side of the arm is the cup and lid and on the other end is a level bubble, rider, and counterweight. The balance is calibrated with freshwater that weighs 8.3 lb/gal. mud ball a large accumulation of drilling mud on a bit mud barge a barge that operates with a drilling barge and stores the excess drilling mud. The mud barge can have dry storage and freshwater tanks. mud barrel a small bailer that is used on a sand line to remove well cuttings from the bottom of a cable-tool well as it is drilled mud board a temporary base made of lumber for a jacket on an offshore platform before it is pinned to the sea bottom mud box 1) a compartment on the shale shaker that receives the mudline flow and sends it to the shaker

mud-density indicator, monitor, or recorder MUDL Freshwater density is 8.3 ppg, normal drilling-mud density is 9-10 ppg, and heavy drilling-mud density is 15-20 ppg. The heavier the mud, the greater the pressure it exerts on the bottom of the well, (mud weight) mud-density indicator, monitor, or recorder an instrument that is used on the shale shaker and the suction pit of a drilling rig to determine the density of the drilling mud and the effectiveness of the solidscontrol equipment mudding oflf see mud off mudding up the preparation of drilling mud (mud mixing) mud discharge line a horizontal pipe that connects the vibrator or shock hose from the mud pump discharge to the standpipe on a drilling rig. The mud discharge line is usually a AVi-vx. outer diameter, seamless pipe, but can be 3'/2 in. on smaller rigs. mud discharge temperature the average mud return temperature measured at the surface while circulating mud drilling drilling with mud made from commercial clays Mud Duck a drilling mud probe that monitors H2S andpH mud engineer an employee of a service company, drilling contractor, or operator on a drilling rig who is in charge of the drilling mud. The mud engineer prepares, tests, and adjusts or conditions the drilling mud as the well is drilled. A drilling-fluid engineer works with drilling mud and other drilling fluids such as air, natural gas, and foam, (mud man) MUDF mud filtrate mud feed the drilling mud flowing into a solidsliquids separator such as a desander or desilter mud filtrate the fluid that invades the permeable formation called the invaded zone behind the wellbore. Mud filtrate is the liquid portion of the drilling mud without the solid mudcake that is plastered on the wellbore wall. MUDF, MF, or mf mudflow a mass of flowing fine-grained material with considerable water content. Mudflows are common on land and on submarine slopes, especially off river deltas where they have been responsible for several offshore rig failures. mud-flow indicator or sensor a device on the mud return flowline of a drilling rig. The mud-flow indicator contains a paddle that is forced up as the velocity of mud in the flowline increases. The indicator is attached to both a gauge and a chart recorder, and an alarm can sound if mud flow increases too rapidly. mud flush the circulation of drilling mud on a rotary drilling rig mud-gas or mud/gas separator a vessel that is installed on the mud flowline near the mud tanks when drilling through a high-pressure gas zone. A butterfly valve in the flowline can divert the returning mud to the upper section of the mud-gas separator. The gas bubbles are removed by either a) flowing over baffles or b) flowing in a thin layer over a wide sheet. The top of the mud-gas separator has a gas flowline to a flare. A line from the bottom of the

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mud-gas separator (off rotary drilling rig chart)

mud-gas separator returns the degassed mud to the flowline. (degasser, poorboy degasser or gas buster) mud gun a centrifugal pump with a pipe that is designed to jet drilling mud into the mud tanks in order to mix in additives or agitate the drilling mud (surface or submarine gun) mud hog see mud pump mud hole an excavation near the drilling rig that is used to hold drilling mud and to trap well cuttings (slush pit or pond, mud pond, or sump hole) mud hopper a funnel-shaped device that is used to mix the components of drilling mud such as bentonite. An eductor or jet of high-pressure drilling mud on the bottom is powered by a spare rig pump and is used to pull the dry components through the hopper, and mix with the liquid, (mud mixer or mixing hopper)

mud hose

mud hose a flexible, armored, rubber hose that is commonly 4 in. in diameter and transmits the drilling mud from the standpipe to the gooseneck on a swivel of a drilling rig. The mud hose ranges from 35-75 ft long and is commonly 50-60 ft long. The inner diameter is 2-3V4 in. Some mud hoses are made of steel pipes with swivel joints. API grades of mud hoses vary by length and pressure rating, (kelly, flexible mud, or rotary hose) mud house the storage shed for sacks of dry mud and additives on a drilling rig Mud-klT" a cement additive that buffers the cement from organic compounds found in drilling mud MUDL mud log

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mud laboratory mud-pit agitators The mud logger samples the well cuttings from the shale shaker at regular intervals and works in a mud logging trailer. ML mud logging the recording of the amount and type of gas in drilling mud. Mud logging can also include the recording of oil shows in well cuttings, the making of a sample log, and the recording of certain drilling parameters. Gas in the drilling mud is sampled from a collector or trap and analyzed by a) thermal catalytic combustion or hot-wire detector, b) gas chromatography, c) thermal conduaivity detector, d) flame ionization detector, or e) infrared analyzer. The gas measurements made are a) total gas reading, b) background gas reading, c) connection gas reading, and d) trip gas reading. Well cuttings are sampled from the shale shaker and hydrocarbon shows are detected by odor, staining, fluorescence, and cut. Mud logging also involves the recording of drilling parameters such as rate of penetration and the detection of hydrogen sulfide and abnormal high pressures. Mud logging is made by a service company and is done in a mud logging trailer at the drillsite by a mud logger. mud lubricator a temporary arrangement of pipes and valves on the top of a well that is used to pump heavier drilling mud down the well to control an abnormal high-pressure problem downhole mud-making formation a subsurface formation that contains fine-grained solids that disperse in the drilling fluid when the formation is drilled mud man see mud engineer mud mat a specially constructed bottom that is used for seating steel-template and gravity-base platforms on the sea floor mud mixer a device that is used to prepare the mud slurry from dry mud. Two types of mud mixers are a) jet-type and b) centrifugal pumps, see mud hopper mud mixing the preparation of drilling mud (mudding up) mud motor a positive displacement or turbine motor that is located just above the bit on a drillstring. The mud motor gives rotation and torque to the bit while transmitting the drill-collar weight to the bit. The motor is driven by the circulating drilling fluid that is pumped through the drillstring. The turbine or turbodrill has blade rotors in a stator, whereas the positive displacement motor has a solid steel spiral shaft in a lined stator. Mud motors are used a) to initiate a wellbore kick-off for a directional hole and drill a smoothly curved hole in a build-up or dropoff section, b) to drill with diamond or high-speed insert bits in soft formations, and c) to be combined with measurement while drilling tools for navigational drilling. The mud motor turns at 40-200 rpm to drive the bit up to 800 rpm. Mud motors are usually acquired on a rental basis and are good for 25 to 30 hours of drilling, (downhole motor or downhole mud motor) mud oflf to seal the sides of the wellbore by building up a filter cake that prevents formation fluid from flowing into the well mud-pit agitators apparatus used to stir the drilling mud in the mud tanks. Two common types of mud pit agitators are electric-driven rotating blades and centrifugal pump jets that are called mud, surface, or submarine guns, (agitators)

mud laboratory the mud engineer's office on a drilling rig where the mud engineer tests the drilling mud mud-level recorder an instrument that records the level of mud in the mud tanks of a drilling rig mud line 1) the sea bottom 2) the flexible hoses such as the rotary or mud hose that carry drilling mud on a drilling rig mud-line corrosion cap a temporary metal plug that is put on the top of an offshore well that has been temporarily abandoned for protection from corrosion and marine growth mud-line suspension the support of casing from the sea floor on a subsea well

DRILLING LOG

MUD SYSTEM

CUTTINGS SYSTEM

mud log

mud log 1) the record and evaluation of gas and oil shows, lithology of formation drilled, and drilling parameters in a well being drilled. A standard mud logging format has been suggested by the American Petroleum Institute, but it has not been widely accepted. The mud log often records an oil curve for mud, a methane curve for mud, a total gas curve for mud, an oil curve for cuttings, a C6+ curve for cuttings, a methane curve for cuttings, a total gas curve for cuttings and formation porosity along with lithology. The mud log can include these drilling characteristics: penetration or drilling rate, bit weight, rotary speed, bit number and type, coring intervals, rotary torque, and can also show mud temperatures, gas content, chlorides, and pore pressures. Mud logs were first introduced in 1939. (show evaluation log) MUDL 2) A microresistivity log run down a well to determine the resistivity {Rm) of the drilling mud. mud logger a person or service company that makes a mud log at the well site as the well is being drilled.

mud pits mud settling pit mud pits Earthen or steel tanks that hold drilling mud on a drilling site. The circulating pits are usually steel, whereas the reserve pits are usually earthen. see mud tanks mud pond see mud hole mud preflush a liquid slug that is pumped into a casing string before cementing to isolate the cement from the drilling fluid mud preservative a drilling mud additive such as formaldehyde and paraformaldehyde that is used to inhibit bacterial growth mud pressure the drilling mud pressure recorded on the mud pump pressure gauge. Mud pressure commonly is between 500-3,500 psi depending on the size of the pumps and the depth of the well. mud program a plan that covers the type and properties of drilling muds to be used in drilling various depths in a well. The mud program depends on formation characteristics, well temperatures, pressures, and chemistry as well as the casing program. The density, viscosity, initial and 10-minute gel strengths, fluid loss, sand content, total solids, oil content, and chloride, along with the mud supplier and mud engineer, are listed.

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diaphragm unit connected to the discharge line of the mud pump. The gauge is connected to a dial that the driller can read on the drill floor. mud record or report a description of the physical and chemical characteristics of the drilling fluid during a period while drilling a well. A mud record is usually prepared daily and made by mud engineers. The record contains the well depth, bit size and number, pit volume, pump data, solids-control equipment and drillstring data. Mud properties listed are mud weight, pH, funnel viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point, gel strength, chloride content, calcium content, solids content, cation exchange capacity, and fluid loss, (daily mud check report) mud-removal acid an acid used to remove mudcake by dissolving clays deposited on the producing formation during well completion or during a workover. Mud-removal acid is composed of hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids with inhibitors, surfactants, and demulsifiers. (mud acid) mud resistivity log a microlog or microlaterolog recorded with the arms on the sonde collapsed and out of contact with the wellbore wall. The mud resistivity log is used to measure mud resistivity under downhole conditions. mud retort an instrument that determines the amount of oil, water, and solids in drilling mud. The mud sample is put in a retort cup and distilled in a mud still. mud return line the pipe or trough that connects the top of the wellhead to the shale shaker as a well is drilled. The circulating drilling mud flows up through the blowout-preventer stack, through the mud return line, and over the shale shakers, (flowline) mud ring the accumulation of drilled gumbo shales around the lower portion of a drillstring. The mud ring often adheres around the drill collars and stabilizers. The ring can be several hundred feet long and have the texture of modeling clay. A mud ring can cause pipe sticking, excess swabbing pressures during tripping out, and higher pump pressures mud riser A casing or short pipe that is attached to the top of a blowout preventer on a drilling rig. The mud riser has an expanded, flanged top that guides drilling tools into the well. The mud riser also has connections for the fill line and mud-return line, (bell nipple orflotustack) mud room an internal space in the mud tanks where the mud pumps and their associated equipment can be installed mud saver a metal cylinder that is hinged to fit around a joint of drillpipe as it is being broken out (unscrewed) when tripping out of the well. The mud saver prevents mud from being lost by squirting out onto the surrounding area. The drilling mud is emptied with a drain plug onto the shale shaker. (Mother Hubbard, mud box, splash box, or wet box) mudscow a portable tank that is used to store drilling mud for a cable-tool rig mud screen see shale shaker mud settling pit the compartment on the mud tanks that receives the flow from the shale shakers. The mud settling pit is used to remove solids and can

mud pumps

mud pump a reciprocating pump that is used to circulate the drilling mud on a rotary drilling rig. The pumps are classified by maximum horsepower and pressure and strokes per minute. Mud pumps often have two (duplex) or, more commonly, three (triplex) cylinders with replaceable liners. A duplex pump forces the mud into the discharge line on both the forward and backward strokes of the piston and is called a double-acting pump. The triplex pump is single-acting, forcing the drilling mud into the discharge line only on the forward stroke of the piston. Triplex pumps have a higher-rated operating speed than duplex pumps of the same capacity. Most rigs used two mud pumps. Mud pumps are commonly denoted by bore diameter and stroke length and rated by hydraulic horsepower. The mud pumps on an offshore rig typically have 1,300-1,600 hp. (mud hog or slush, rig or hole pump) rig or hole pump mud pump fluid efficiency the actual volume of fluid pumped times 100 divided by the theoretical volume of fluid pumped. The mud pump fluid efficiency is expressed as a percentage. mud pump pressure gauge the primary mud monitoring device that consists of a self-contained

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mud silo multiple completion and sediments up to the surface. They can occur alone or in groups and can be tens to hundreds of feet high. Mud volcanos are often associated with anticlines and faults. mud wt mud weight mud weight the density of drilling mud (mass divided by volume) expressed in pounds per gallon (ppg or lb/gal), pounds per cubic feet (lb/ft3or pcf) or kg/m3(kilograms per cubic meter). Mud weight is measured in the field with a mud balance. Fresh water weight is 8.3 ppg, normal drilling mud weight is 910, and heavy drilling mud is 15-20. The heavier the mud weight, the greater the pressure that it exerts on the bottom of the well, (mud density) M-WT or md wt mud weight recorder a device in the mud tanks that shows the mud weight on an instrument on the drilling-rig floor muffler a device used to reduce exhaust noise on an engine (ig 1) gas viscosity 2) grain diameter (ti fluid viscosity at input mule footed a drilling bit that is worn on one side mule head a curved horsehead on a beam pumper mule's ear cave a driller's term for hard shale in the shape of a mule's ear that caves or sluffs into a well mule's foot a knot that attaches a rag to a rope socket muleshoe or mule-shoe mandrel or sub a guide shoe used to orient a toolface in a well. A key on the muleshoe can be aligned with a scribe line on a deflecting tool such as a bent sub. A single-shot directional survey is made, and the reference line of the deflecting tool is recorded in relation to magnetic north. The drillstring can then be rotated on the surface to correctly orient the deflecting tool. mullet an unwise investor in a drilling scheme multibend motor a positive displacement motor that is used in drilling a deviated hole that has more than one angular deflection point in the motor housing. multibuoy mooring a system for offshore tanker loading using five to seven buoys to moor the tanker as it is filled or unloaded with a hose from the sea floor multichannel processing data manipulation from, several different inputs such as different seismic geophone groups multipay well a well with several reservoirs multiphase flow the movement of either two phases such as natural gas and crude oil (gas and a liquid) or three phases such as natural gas, crude oil, and sediment (gas, liquid, and solid) multiple a reflection event on a seismic record made by seismic energy that has been reflected more than once. A long-path multiple is a distinct event, whereas a short-path multiple arrives very soon after the primary reflection and is recorded as a part of it. multiple completion a well that produces at several different zones at different elevations in the well. A multiple completion is made by using packers to separate the producing zones in the well and separate

have baffles to slow the mud flow. The pit is periodically cleaned by opening the lower drain valve. mud silo a cylindrical tower used to store drilling mud materials mudst mudstone mud still an instrument used with a mud retort to determine by distillation the volume-percent oil, water, and total solids content of drilling mud

mudstone

mudstone a sedimentary rock composed predominantly of fine-grained, silt- and clay-sized particles. MDST, Mdst, or mudst mud-suction tank see suction tank mud-suction temperature the average temperature of mud discharged from the mud pumps mud supported a limestone in which all the large grains are surrounded by limestone mud (micrite). None of the large grains can be seen to be touching. Mudstones and wackestones are mud-supported limestones. Mud supported is in contrast to grain supported. mud tanks portable steel tanks that hold drilling mud at a drillsite. Most rigs have two or three separate tanks in a row. The mud tanks are generally 8-12 ft wide, 20-40 ft long, and 6-12 ft deep and can hold between 200-600 bbls. The most common tanks are 6 ft high, 26 ft long and have a nominal capacity of 200 bbls. The circulating drilling mud, after it flows out of the well and passes over the shale shaker, flows in the shaker tank on one end of the mud tanks. Next, the settling pit allows rock particles to settle out of the mud. The suction tank at the other end of the row is where the mud pumps or supercharging centrifugal pumps suck the drilling mud out to start the mud circulating. The compartments are also called removal, addition, and suction sections. The tanks often have a built-in pipe-and-valve system between the tanks with 12-18 in. conduits and contain mud agitators. The tanks are often rimmed with 4-in. diameter pipe for the mud guns. All tanks are equipped with doors or valves near the bottom to flush out settled solids. Four tanks are used with desanders and desilters. (mud tanks) mud time lag the time that it takes the drilling mud to circulate from the bottom of the well to the surface. Mud time lag is usually shorter than cuttings time lag. MTL mud trough a drilling mud bypass on mud tanks mud up 1) to increase the density of drilling mud 2) to build up a thick filter or mudcake along the sides of the well mud volcano a surface cone of mud with natural gas venting from the cone. A mud volcano is caused by a high-pressure gas and water seep carrying mud

multiple coverage tubing strings for each zone. Separate tanks are used to store the oil from each zone. Multiple completion is in contrast to commingling in which a well produces from several zones through a single tubing string. If the well produces from two zones through two different tubing strings, it is called a dual completion well, (multizone completion) multiple coverage a relatively large number of seismic source and detection points at different angles on the same common midpoint. Multiple coverage is used to reduce noise and to amplify weak reflectors. An application of multiple coverage is common depth point (CDP) stacking. multiple geophones a number or group of geophones used in seismic exploration that feed a single channel multiple orifice valve a valve that contains two flat disks with two holes in each disk. As the disks are turned, the overlap of the holes controls the flow through the discs. MOV multiple reflection the signal on a marine seismic profile that is caused by the seismic energy reflecting off the air-water interface one or more times. The strongest multiple reflection is located on the seismic profile at a depth equal to almost exactly twice the depth of the primary reflection and is similar to the primary reflection in geometry except for slopes that are almost twice as steep. Other multiple reflections can occur at whole digits (3, 4, etc.) times the depth of the primary reflection. multiple service acid an organic acid that is used in stimulation of all types of wells. Multiple service acid has very little corrosive effect and does not cause hydrogen embrittlement. The acid is used as a perforating fluid and as a retarded acid in hightemperature wells. MSA multiple-well derrick a skid-mounted derrick that is easily moved to drill many wells on an offshore drilling platform without moving the platform multiple-well platform an offshore production platform with several flowlines from subsea well as leading into a manifold center and to the platform multiple-well pumping system a production system in which several oil wells are pumped from a single engine or motor multiplexer the electronic equipment used in seismic exploration to switch to different seismic channels in sequence, at regular intervals, to measure their amplitudes, and to feed the signals into a single output channel multiplicity the number of separate raypaths that are mixed together to make the final display in a seismic profile. Multiplicity is the. number of energy sources per shotpoint times the nurjaber of geophones per group times the number of records that are stacked, (effort) multiplier a device that is used to increase or decrease the stroke length on a rod line that powers a pumping well from a central power unit multipoint test 1) a test used to determine the openflow potential of a gas well. The test is made by measuring several flow rates and their corresponding bottomhole pressures. Starting with a shut-in well, a series of increasing flow rates are run at fixed time

|i p

333

Pi - Plf-

Flow Rate MCFD multipoint test

intervals. Flows versus the difference of the squares of the average reservoir and wellbore pressures are plotted on log-log paper. The plot will be a straight line and can be used to determine optimum flow rate. The multipoint test is called a three-, four- or five-point test depending on the number of flow rates used in the test, (flow-after-flow test) 2) see multiwell test multishot survey a series of downhole measurements of well azimuth and inclination. If the well is uncased and nonmagnetic drill collars are being used, a magnetic multishot directional survey is run. If not, a gyro multishot directional survey is run. The magnetic surveying instrument uses a magnetic compass card, plumb bob, and modified movie camera that is activated by a timer. The gyroscopic surveying instrument uses a gryroscope, compass card, plumb bob, and modified movie camera. multispectral composed of several bands of radiation. Many remote sensors are multispectral. multistage cementing a cement job on a well that is done with several separate batches of cement. Stage cementers are installed at selected intervals in the casing string. Multistage cementing is used for long casing strings to reduce pump pressures and to reduce pressure on the formations. multistage compressor staged compressors that raise the pressure of a gas in steps. Multistaged compressors must be used when the compression ratio is greater than 10-12:1 multiwell drilling commitment a type of farmout in which the farmor has committed acreage to the farmout containing several drillsites multiwell test a type of pressure transient test in which pressure is measured over time in a shut-in well (observation well) while surrounding wells (active wells) are producing. Pressure communication and flow between wells can be detected by the test. A multiwell test is used to determine the effect one well has on another for enhanced oil recovery. (interference or multipoint test) multizone completion see multiple completion (im micrometers muniment of title an instrument that is filed to fill in a gap in the chain of title for an interest
\LO oil viscosity

|i p 1) fluid viscosity at producer 2) plastic velocity 3) pore diameter

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muratic acid

M MUV manned underwater vehicle 1*^ water viscosity mV or mv millivolt M-VIS mud viscosity MW 1) megawatt 2) molecular weight M^, molecular weight MWD measurement while drilling MWE manned work enclosure mW/m 2 milliwatt per square meter MWP maximum working pressure M-WT mud weight mxd mixed MXFP maximum and final pressure m.y. million years m.y.a. million years ago m.y.B.P. million years before present myria- the metric system prefix for ten thousand mystify to run a tight hole M/Z mass to charge ratio

muratic acid hydrochloric acid |AS microsecond (i 9 shear modulus jis or (*sec microseconds Muse or muse muscovite muscovite a common mineral formed by layers of potassium aluminum silicate with a chemical formula of KAl2(AlSi3)O10(OH)2. Muscovite occurs as colorless or whitish flakes in igneous and metamorphic rocks and is often found in sandstones and other sedimentary rocks. Muscovite has a cell dimension of 10.05 A and a density of 2.84 gm/cm3. (white mica) Muse, muse, or Mu muting the elimination of unwanted traces such as a direct arrival on a seismic record mutual solvent surfactant an acid additive used in matrix acidizing a well to water-wet the sandstone formation. The surfactant prevents particles from migrating and plugging pore throats and stabilizes emulsions. A mutual solvent surfactant is also used in carbonate formations to improve cleanup and recovery. Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether is used as a mutual solvent surfactant.

N natural gamma ray spectroscopy log

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N
N 1) north 2) neutron log 3) neutron porosity 4) initial oil in place 5) neutron 6) slope of neutron porosity versus density 7) normal resistivity log 8) initial oil in place in reservoir 9) a M-N crossplot parameter 10) newton 11) flow-behavior index 12) normality n 1) net 2) saturation exponent 3) backpressure exponent 4) normal 5) exponent of hyperbolic decline curve 6) number 7) north 8) nanon' flow behavior index n* apparent Archie exponent NA 1) not applicable 2) neutron activation log 3) not available 4) north addition nac nacreous NACE National Association of Corrosion Engineers NACI nonaccredited investor NACOPS National Advisory Committee on Petroleum Statistics nacreous a mother-of-pearl luster in a mineral nac NAG no appreciable gas nailed the attachment of unwanted traces on a seismic record such as direct arrival traces n-alkane normal alkane namakier an extrusive sheet of salt on the surface (salt glacier) Namurian a global age of geological time that occurred about 330 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower and Middle Carboniferous epochs. nano the metric prefix for 10~9. n nanotesla a unit of magnetic flux density that is 10~9 tesla naphtha 1) an old term for condensate 2) a refining cut that comes out between 220 and 315F and is located between the gasoline and kerosene cuts naphthene-base crude oil a crude oil that contains little or no paraffin but has an asphalt residue upon distillation. When burned, the naphthene-base crude oil leaves a tar-like residue. Naphthene-base crude oil is dominated by the napthenic hydrocarbon compounds. The oil is black in color and tends to have low "API and a low pour point. Naphthene-base crude oil represents about 15% of the world's oil supply. Most of the world's oil is mixed-base or paraffin-base, (asphalt-base crude oil) naphthene series a series of saturated, closed-ring hydrocarbons with the formula CnH2n. An example

of the naphthene series is cyclobutane C4H8. (cydoalkane, cycloparaffin, or alicyclic series) naphthenoaromatic a hydrocarbon compound that contains both aromatic (unsaturated) and naphthenic (saturated) rings nappe a large mass of rocks that has been thrust over other rocks NARO National Association of Royalty Owners nat natural national oil company an oil company that is controlled by the federal government. NOC nationalization the seizure of private property by a government. In some instances, the owners have been compensated for the lost property and in other instances, there has been no compensation. Oil companies with their production, transportation, and refining equipment have been frequent targets of nationalization by foreign countries, (expropriation) native gas original gas in or from the subsurface reservoir as opposed to injected or treated gas native-mud drilling fluid a drilling mud that is formed by pumping water down a well to mix with formation clays. Native mud has a high solid content and filter loss. NAT-M native-state core a core that is sealed soon after it is recovered on the surface. Some methods of preserving a native-state core are a) coating with plastic, polyethylene, or paraffin, b) sealing in airtight cans or tubes, c) sealing in plastic bags, d) freezing, and e) wrapping in aluminum foil and plastic tape. A native-state core is in contrast to a cleaned or restored-state core. NAT-M native mud natural clay clay minerals that occur in the formations being drilled in contrast to commercial clays natural completion a well completion with no stimulation such as fracing or acidizing in contrast to a stimulated completion natural deasphalting see deasphalting natural flow the flow of formation fluids out of a well without artificial lift. The reservoir pressure is enough to lift the fluids to the surface, (natural lift) NF natural gamma ray log see gamma ray log natural gamma ray spectroscopy log a well log that measures the total radioactivity of formations and differentiates the natural gamma ray emissions from the radioactive isotopes of uranium, thorium, and potassium. Uranium is found in most lithologies, whereas thorium and potassium are common in shales. The natural gamma ray spectroscopy log is an accurate measure of formation shaliness and can be used to determine the type of clay minerals present in the formation. NGS

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natural gas NC gasoline, drips, condensate, gas condensate, distillate, gas distillate, retrograde gas, or white oil) natural gasoline plant an installation that separates retrograde gas (natural gasoline) and other natural gas liquids from natural gas by refrigeration (gas processing plant or gasoline plant) natural gas trader a company or person engaged in the purchase of natural gas as a trader for resale to other purchasers (independent marketer) natural lift see natural flow naturally deviated hole see crooked hole natural period the frequency of a repeating action natural remanent magnetism the entire remanent magnetism of a rock. NRM natural well a well that flows without any well stimulation such as acidizing or fracing nauti. mi nautical mile nautical mile a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for marine and aerial distance. One nautical mile is Vfcoth of a degree of latitude and is equivalent to about 6,080.2 ft, 1,853.25 m, or 1.1516 statute mi. nauti. mi, NMI or nmi

natural gas a mixture of light hydrocarbons ranging from Cj to C4 that occur as a gas under standard pressure and temperature conditions of 1 atm and 60cF. Natural gas is primarily methane gas (CH4) with no or lesser amounts of ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), and butane (C4H10) gases. The average MidContinent natural gas has a composition of 88% methane, 5% ethane, 2% propane, and 1% butane. Lean natural gas has less than 2.5 gal of recoverable ethane and higher hydrocarbons per 1,000 ft3at 60F. Moderately rich natural gas has between 2.5 and 5 gal/Mcf and very rich natural gas has greater than 5 gal/Mcf. Nonhydrocarbon gases called inerts, dilutents, or contaminents, such as water vapor, CO2, N, and He, can occur mixed with the hydrocarbon gases. If the gas contains detectable amounts of H2S, it is called sour gas. If not, the gas is sweet gas. If the gas contains significant amounts of liquids (retrograde gas or condensate) under surface conditions, it is called wet gas. Gas without liquids is called dry gas. Methane gas that is generated at shallow depths is called biogenic, swamp,: or marsh gas. Gas that is generated at deep depths under high temperatures is called thermogenic gas. Natural gas occurs as a free-gas phase or in solution in crude oil in the reservoir. Natural gas can be classified as a) associated, b) nonassociated, and c) dissolved. An average natural-gas density used in well logging computations is 0.7 gm/cc. Gas volume is measured in 1,000s of cubic feet (Mcf) and its heat content is measured in British Thermal Units (Btu). (gas)NG natural gas liquid products the separate liquids (condensate, butane, propane, and ethane) that are produced from natural gas liquids. NGLP natural gas liquids the liquid hydrocarbons that can be extracted from wet gas. Natural gas liquids include a) retrograde or condensate (natural gasoline) which is liquid at standard temperature and pressure and is composed of pentanes and longer hydrocarbons and b) liquified petroleum gas (LPG) which is primarily propane and butane. Natural gas liquids occur as a free-gas phase or in solution in crude oil in the reservoir. Natural gas liquids are recoverable as liquids by cooling or absorption in field separators, absorbers, scrubbers, gasoline plants, or cycling plants. NGL natural gasoline liquid hydrocarbons of very light crude oil composition that occur as a gas under subsurface reservoir conditions (high temperature and pressure) and condense into a liquid upon production and surface conditions. Natural gasolines typically grade from colorless to light-colored liquids with tints of red, green, or blue. Natural gasolines have very high API that ranges 45-60 and are very valuable commercially. Natural gas that contains natural gasoline is called wet gas. If natural gasoline is recovered on the lease with standard field separator equipment, it is often combined and recorded with the crude oil. The Natural Gas Processors Association has defined natural gasoline as having a vapor pressure of 10-34 psi, a percentage evaporated at 104F of 24%85%, a percentage evaporated at 275F of not less than 90%, and an end point in distillation of not higher than 375CF. Retrograde gas is the preferred term for natural gasoline, (casinghead, drip, raw or wild

nautiloid

nautiloid a marine invertebrate belonging to the subclass Nautiloidea in the class Cephalopoda of the phylum Mollusca. Nautiloids have external shells with simple septa or marking on the shell. Nautiloids are used as guide fossils and have existed from the Cambrian period to the present. Naval Petroleum Reserve an area with probable or proven oil reserves in the United States that was withdrawn from oil exploration by Congress in 1923 for defense purposes. Naval petroleum reserves are located in the North Slope of Alaska, Elk Hills, and Buena Vista, California, and Teapot Dome, Wyoming. NPR riavi-drill a type of positive diplacement motor navigational drilling drilling a deviated well using a steerable system consisting of a measurement-whiledrilling tool, a double tilted universal housing, upper and lower stabilizers and a slow speed mud motor. The driller on the drill floor watches a driller's dial that shows the downhole orientation of the tool face together with the azimuth and inclination of the wellbore. The driller adjusts the weight on the bit to control the direction of the wellbore. NAVSTAR Global Positioning System a navigation system that uses several satellites, time, the doppler effect, and orbit information for a position fix navy navigational satellite system a navigational system that uses polar satellites for fixes that are accurate to 10 m. see TRANSIT. NNSS NB new bit NB bond number NBS National Bureau of Standards n-butane normal butane NC 1) no core 2) no change 3) number connection

Nc net-oil analyzer Nc capillary number NCC natural color composite nCs N-pentane or normal pentane nC4 N-butane or normal butane NCH neutron log-cased hole NCM 1) normal cubic meter 2) non compos mentis NCMTL or NCL nuclear cement log NCT noncontiguous tract ND 1) not drilling 2) nipple down NDBOP nippling down blowout preventers NDC neutron depth-control log NDE not deep enough NDT nondestructive testing NE 1) northeast 2) epithermal neutron log Ne cumulation oil influx ne noneffective NEA, NEAC, or N.E. acid nonemulsion or nonemulsifying acid near size particles with a size plus or minus 25% of a certain screen aperture size near wildcat an exploratory well drilled to discover a new reservoir in an area where local geological control has little significance but oil or gas production occurs in other reservoirs. The well is drilled usually less than 2 mi from the nearest production. neat cement cement with chemical and physical properties that have not been modified by additives. Neat cement is in contrast to modified cement. NEB National Energy Board Nebraskan an age of geological time that was the first glacial stage in the Pleistocene epoch. It is equivalent to the Gunz in Europe. NEC 1) northeast corner 2) National Electrical Code necessary evil a packer neck cutoff a channel (neck or chute) eroded across a meander neck.

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neg negative negative buoyancy the downward pressure on an immersed body due to the weight of the submerged body being more than the weight of the fluid such as water that it displaces negligence the failure to act in a way that a reasonable and prudent person would act nekton free-swimming animals NEL 1) northeast line 2) Nation Engineering Laboratory NELPI National Energy Law and Policy Institute NEMA National Electrical Manufacturers Association neoformed clay an authigenic clay mineral that is formed by precipitation from pore water in a subsurface sedimentary rock. Neoformed clay minerals include kaolinite, chlorite, illite, smectite, and mixed-layer clays. Neogene an interval of geological time that includes the Miocene and Pliocene epochs. It is the Upper Tertiary. NEP net effective pay NEPA National Environmental Protection Agency NEPS nonexclusive proprietary survey neritic 1) the ocean environment between low tide and 600 ft water depth 2) the ocean environment over the continental shelf nest an array of closely spaced geophones used in seismic exploration nester a person who lives on an oil lease net backing the sale of crude oil in which the price of the oil depends on the price of the refinery products from the oil. Net backing was initiated during the 1985 buyer's market. net-back pricing 1) the wellhead price of oil and gas computed by subtracting the transportation costs from the downstream (at the end of the pipeline) price paid for the oil and gas 2) a method of pricing oil according to the price that the refiner receives for the refined products of the crude oil net-back sale the transfer of an interest in naturalgas production with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of liquids extracted from the gas as payment net heating value the amount of heat generated by combustion of hydrocarbons including water vapor. Net heating value is measured in Btu/ft3 for gas and Btu/gal for liquids. If the heat from condensing the steam back into water is included, it is called gross heating value, (lower beating value)

neck cutoff

neck down to reduce the diameter of a tubular necking the reduction of the diameter of a metal tubular or bar due to tension needle valve A globe type of valve with a needle stem and conical seat. A needle valve is very efficient for throttling and is used as a choke. Needle valves are used on high-pressure tubing and pressure gauges. NE/4 northeast quarter

net interest the portion of the revenue from production minus any royalty interests such as those held by mineral rights owners, a geologist, or others. Net interest is expressed as a percentage. net-observed volume the total volume of all measured petroleum liquids minus the basic sediment and water content. Net observed volume is in contrast to gross observed volume. net-oil analyzer an instrument that determines and records the amount of oil and water produced from each well on a lease

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net-oil computer Neutron Lifetime Log9 volume is calculated by adjusting the gross volume (indicated flow through a meter times the meter factor) to standard temperature and pressure. Net standard volume is measured in standard barrels of net clean oil. NEUT neutron log neut neutral neutral fold a fold that has horizontal closure in contrast to an antiform or synform neutralization the reaction of an acid with a base to form a salt and water neutral point the point where stress is zero. No buckling will occur on a tubular such as drillpipe or tubing at the neutral point neutral weight of drillstring the measured weight of the drillstring at the surface with no axial drag neutron an atomic particle that is part of the atomic nucleus. A neutron has no charge but has an atomic mass of 1.00898 and a mass of 1.675 x 10~24g. Neutrons are classified by their energy levels. Fast neutrons have 100,000 to 15,000,000 eV, slow neutrons have about 1,000 eV, epithermal neutrons have about 1 eV and thermal neutrons have about Vio eV. Fast neutrons emitted by a source such as plutoniumberyllium or americium-beryllium used in well logging have 4-6 MeV. Neutrons can also be formed by a neutron generator. N neutron activation the bombardment of stable isotope atoms with thermal neutrons to excite the atoms. The excited atoms emit one or more photons of gamma rays. The energy level of the emitted photons is characteristic of the isotope and is used in well logging to identify lithology. neutron capture a process in which a neutron collides with the nucleus of an atom and forms an unstable compound nucleus. The compound nucleus will either a) disintegrate with the emission of protons, alpha particles, beta emissions, or gamma rays or b) drop to stable ground state with the emission of gamma rays. Neutron capture is in contrast to elastic and inelastic scattering. neutron-epithermal-neutron log a neutron log that detects high-energy epithermal neutrons to determine the porosity of the rock. The source and detectors are skid mounted and press against the wellbore. The neutron-epithermal-neutron log is used in air-drilled holes, (epithermal neutron log) neutron generator a very high-voltage electromechanical apparatus that focuses a highenergy deuterium beam on a tritium target to form high-energy neutrons. The neutron generator is used in Decay Time, Neutron Lifetime, carbon-oxygen, and activation logging. neutron lifetime a quantity recorded on a neutronlifetime log. Neutron lifetime is the time in which the thermal neutron density falls to half. Neutron lifetime is inversely related to capture cross section. Neutron Lifetime Log a type of wireline well log that determines the amount of salt in formation waters in rocks adjacent to the wellbore. A pulsed neutron generator in the sonde bombards the rocks with burst of neutrons. The neutrons lose energy in collisions with atoms, primarily chlorine, found in the salts of

net-oil computer electronic and mechanical devices that are used to automatically determine the amount of oil in an oil/water emulsion net operating profits interest the gross workinginterest revenues in a well minus the operating costs.
NOPI

net overburden the weight of the overlying rock that is supported by grain-to-grain contacts. Net overburden differs from total overburden in that some of the weight of the rock can be supported by abnormal high pore pressure and by the buoyancy effect of the formation fluid. net pay the total thickness of the producing reservoir as identified on a spontaneous potential or gamma ray and resistivity log. Net pay does not include any part of the reservoir that is not productive such as tight sections which are included in gross pay. net positive-suction head 1) the suction-pumping pressure minus the vapor pressure of the liquid being pumped. Net positive-suction head is expressed in feet of liquid 2) the minimum suction conditions necessary to prevent cavitation in a pump. NPSH net proceeds interest or royalty see net profits interest net production the measured amount of crude oil minus basic sediment and water produced from a well or lease. Net production is in contrast to gross production, (working-interest oil) net profits interest a fraction or percentage of the oil and/or gas production that is based on the net profits from the operation of a lease or leases. Net profits interest is the gross working-interest revenue in a well less the costs of drilling, completing, and operating the well. Net profits interest is carved out or the working interest and continues for the life of the lease, (net proceeds interest or royalty or net royalty) NPI net revenue the proceeds from oil and gas sales at the well minus a) operating costs, b) production, severance, and excise taxes, and c) royalties, overriding royalties, and burdens in production net revenue interest 1) a share of the working interest in a lease that is free of the costs of drilling and completing the first well on the lease 2) the lessee's or some other interest's share of production after all royalties, overriding royalties, and other nonoperating interests have been taken out of production from a well(s). Net revenue is usually expressed as a percentage. NRI net royalty see net profits interest net sand the total measured thickness of a reservoir as identified on a spontaneous potential (SP) or gamma ray (GR) log. Net sand does not include tight sands but can include some of the reservoir that does not contain oil or gas. net sand map a contour map of the total thickness of sandstone in a stratigraphic interval such as a formation net sandstone thickness the accumulated thickness of sandstone in a section that meets a minimum requirement(s) such as porosity or shaliness net standard volume the gross standard volume of oil minus the sediment and water. Gross standard

neutron or neutron porosity log night pusher the formation waters. The thermal-neutron capture cross section per unit volume is measured. The neutron-lifetime log can be plotted as a) thermal decay time, b) neutron lifetime, or c) capture cross section. Hydrocarbons in the rocks result in longer decay times than salt water and the readings are dependent on porosities. The neutron-lifetime log can be used in both cased and uncased wells. The log is also used to document reservoir fluid changes during production to optimize production. NIL or NL neutron or neutron porosity log an older, radioactive-type of wireline well log that bombards rocks in the well with high speed neutrons from a radioactive source such as plutonium-beryllium or americum-beryllium in the tool to determine the density of hydrogen atoms in the rocks. The neutron log detects hydrogen collisions by recording a) gamma rays, b) thermal neutrons, or c) epithermal neutrons from a single detector. Hydrogen occurs in water, gas, and oil in the pores of the rock and the log is used to determine the porosity of low porosity rocks. The neutron log is scaled in either API units or porosity and is recorded in Track 2. If gas occupies the pores of the rock, the neutron log will give an erroneously low porosity reading. The neutron log can be used in both cased and uncased wells. The neutron log has been replaced by the compensated neutron log. (porosity log) N, NL or NEUT neutron porosity porosity dirived from a neutron porosity log. A' new-field wildcat an exploratory well usually drilled at least 2 mi from established production. A new-field wildcat is drilled on a trap that has never produced oil or gas. (rank wildcat) NFW new oil oil under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 in the United States that was produced either from leaseholds that were not producing in 1972 or produced in excess of 1972 production from leaseholds producing in 1972 new-pool wildcat a well drilled to find production in a reservoir that has not previously produced oil or gas on a trap that is already producing from other reservoirs. It can be either a shallower or deeper pool test. NPW Newton a derived unit in System International (SI) for force. A Newton is calculated by kg x m/s2 N Newtonian fluid a fluid in which the shear rate is directly proportional to the shear force. Water and diesel oil are examples of Newtonian fluids. Newtonian

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fluids immediately flow when pressure is applied and their viscosities are constant. Newtonian fluids are in contrast to a non-Newtonian fluid such as drilling mud. (true or viscous fluid) newton meter A derived unit in System International (SI) for moment of force. Nm new well a well under the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 in the United States that was spudded after February 19, 1977, or one drilled after February 19, 1977, to at least 1,000 ft deeper than its original completion depth. NF 1) no fluorescence 2) no flow 3) natural flow 4) fast neutron log Nf neutron porosity of fluid NFD new field discovery NFL nuclear flolog NFL GR nuclear flolog, gamma ray log NFL GRN nuclear flolog, gamma ray, neutron log NFL N nuclear flolog, neutron log N/FLT normal fault N-FOR national forest N/4 north quarter NFW new-field wildcat NG 1) natural gas 2) no gauge
N.GJV. Natural Gas Act

NGL natural gas liquids NGLP natural gas liquid products NGPA 1) National Gas Processors Association 2) Natural Gas Policy Act NGPSA National Gas Processors Suppliers Association NGS natural gamma ray spectrometry NGTS no gas to surface NHAP National High Altitude Photography Program NHV net heating valve Magadan a North American epoch of geological time. It is part of the Silurian period. NIC not in contact night pusher a drilling engineer on an offshore drilling rig who supervises the drillers and is under the toolpusher. The night pusher usually works the 8:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M. shift, (junior toolpusher or tourpusher)

O
I I

AA
A

I I I

oo ooo

I
I

normal Nine-Spot nine-spot waterflood

unverted Nine-Spot

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nine spot node often packed around the nitroglycerin shell to contain the explosion. The explosive is detonated with a time bomb. After the explosion, the debris is cleared. Casing cannot be set and an openhole completion must be used. Nitro shooting has been in use almost since the first oil well was drilled. The process is called giving the well a shot, (explosive fracturing or shooting) NL 1) north line 2) neutron log 3) Neutron-Lifetime Log 4) thermal decay time log N/L north line NLL Neutron Lifetime Log NLL CBL neutron-lifetime, automatic cement bond log NIX CBL GR N neutron-lifetime, acoustic cement bond, gamma ray, neutron log NLL CB N neutron-lifetime, acoustic cement bond, neutron log NLL GR neutron-lifetime, gamma ray log NLL GR CBL neutron-lifetime, gamma ray, acoustic cement bond log NLL GR N neutron-lifetime, gamma ray, neutron log NLL N neutron-lifetime, neutron log NLPGA National Liquified Petroleum Gas Association NLY northerly NM nuclear magnetism log NM or nm normal cubic meter N/m neutron per meter N"1 newton meter NMI or nmi nautical miles NML nuclear-magnetism log NMO normal moveout NMR nuclear magnetic resonance NM3, Nm3 or nm 3 normal cubic meter NN neutron rate count nN density of neutrons NNSS navy navigational satellite system NO 1) new oil 2) number N/O north offset No. number No/B/Hr number of bailerfuls per hour NOC national oil company Nod or nod 1) nodular 2) nodules NODAL systems analysis a method use to calculate the flow rate at which an oil or gas well will produce and to evaluate the effects of various parts of the system such as flowline size, separator pressure, choke size, tubing size, safety valves, downhole restrictions, and well completion methods. The analysis is used to optimize the entire production system to obtain the most efficient flow rate. The system is analyzed at various locations called nodes such as the bottom of the well, top of the well, and at the separator. NODAL systems analysis is sometimes called production system analysis and production optimization. nodding donkey a British term for a pumping unit node 1) the location of the solution point in a well that is examined with a system analysis to optimize

nine spot a type of waterflood pattern in which a producing well is surrounded by eight injector wells in the form of a square with the injectors at the corners and midpoints on each side of the square (normal nine-spot). On an inverted nine-spot pattern, the injector is surrounded by eight producers in the form of a square with the producers at the corners and mid-points of the square. nip nipple NIPER National Institute for Petroleum and Energy Research

nipple

nipple a short pipe, usually less than 12 in., that has either threads or welds on both ends, nip nipple chaser 1) an employee on a drilling rig who is in charge of obtaining and delivering tools and equipment 2) a foreman nipple down to take apart fillings. ND nipple up to put together fittings in order to assemble and connect a system such as a blowout preventers or Christmas tree. NU NIST National Institute for Standards and Technology NITRO or nitro nitroglycerine nitrogen a colorless, odorless inert gas (N2) that is used in frac jobs and enhanced oil-recovery projects. Nitrogen is often cooled and compressed into a liquid and injected into the subsurface in that form. Nitrogen has a molecular weight of 28.013, a boiling point of -320.4F, a critical temperature of -232.4F, and a specific gravity at 60F of 0.808. Nitrogen is obtained from either natural gas, nitrogen wells, or distilled from the atmosphere. Nitrogen in crude oil occurs as a heterocompound and is related to asphalt content. Nitrogen is an inert found in some natural gas that can be up to 90% nitrogen. Nitrogen can be separated from gas by liquefaction and fractionation. nitrogen-foam injection a type of inert gas injection process that uses foam to control nitrogen mobility and channeling nitroglycerine a heavy, pale yellow liquid that is very explosive. Nitroglycerine is prepared by dissolving glycerine in equal parts of citric and sulfuric acids and adding the mixture to water, where the nitroglycerine precipitates. Nitroglycerine is used in making dynamite and was extensively used in explosive fracturing of wells. NITRO or nitro nitro shooting a technique that uses a solidified or gelatin-type explosive such as nitroglycerine in a torpedo which is detonated in the well to increase the size of the wellbore and fracture the reservoir rock. The fractures increase the permeability of the reservoir and production from the well. The casing above the shot is protected with a temporary plug of cement, plastic and/or gravel. Sand and gravel are

nodule nonassociated gas-well allowable flow. Two nodes are often used in a well, one at the top and one at the bottom of the well, (solutionpoint) 2) the point where several cross-bracing tubulars join together on a vertical column on an offshore platform 3) the point on a fault where the apparent displacement direction changes nodule a small, hard mass that is irregular or rounded and has no internal structure. It is formed by a mineral or mineral aggregate in a sedimentary rock. Most nodules form by replacement of the sedimentary rock after deposition. Some common types of nodules are chert nodules in limestone, ironstone nodules in coal, and phosphatic nodules in marine sedimentary rocks. Nod or nod nodular a sedimentary rock that has nodules. The nodules are harder than the sedimentary rock and are often elongated parallel to the bedding planes. Nod or nod no go or nogo the end of a rabbit (the last swab mandrel) on a string of swab-cup mandrels being brought up the tubing string of a well during a swabbing operation. The nogo is in the shape of a cylinder with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the tubing. N OH neutron log, open hole NOIL new oil No Inc no increase noise unwanted or undesired signals on an instrument. On a seismic record, noise can be any signal that is not a primary reflection. Noise can be unwanted reflections from within a rock layer, horizontal sounds such as ground roll, refracted sound, and air-gun bubble pulsations. Seismic noise can be classified as ambient and industrial, such as wind or traffic, and source, such as surface waves or diffractions. Random noise will sum to zero, whereas nonrandom noise shows a pattern. Geological noise is due to inhomogeneities in the rocks. noise log a record made by a sound detector in a well. The detector is used in a logging tool to amplify and record the noise produced by gas or liquid flowing into the well at various levels. The frequency of the sound can be indicative of the type of fluid flowing into the well. A noise log is used a) to check the effectiveness of a cement job behind the casing, b) to estimate gas flow into the well from various zones, and c) to locate lost-circulation zones, underground blowouts, flow behind casing, and leaks in casing and tubing. noise test a preliminary seismic run that is used to analyze and study the noise pattern in an area. The test is used to design the field parameters such as arrays and filters to enhance the signal/noise ratio. no-log, no-pay contract a type of turnkey drilling contract in which the drilling contractor can abandon the well without getting paid before the casing point is reached. A no-log, no-pay contract is in contrast to a no-out turnkey contract in which the drilling contractor must drill until reaching the casing point. nom nominal NOMADS National Oil-Equipment Manufacturers and Delegates Society

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nominal a value that is calculated rather than measured, nom nominal dollars dollars that are not adjusted for inflation, (current dollars) nominal decline or nominal production decline 1 da rate Minus - jr in which q is production rate and t is time, (continuous production decline rate) D nominal filter a filter designed to remove an arbitrary percent weight (as determined by the manufacturer) of particles of a certain size. A nominal filter is in contrast to an absolute filter. nominal weight the weight of a tubular such as casing or drillpipe that has been calculated using the formula Wn = 10.68(D - t)t + 0.0722D2lb/ft in which D is the outside diameter in inches and t is in the wall thickness in inches. Nominal weight is expressed in lbm/ft or kg/m based on calculated theoretical weight per foot of 20 ft lengths of threaded and coupled pipe. Nominal weight is used for identification, and the actual weight will be 5%-10% greater. Wn nominate to identify a tract of United States onshore federal land on a known geological structure for competitive bidding nomination 1) the suggestion of interest in a tract of land by an oil company to the federal government. Nominations are used to help select which areas to put up for bids on the outer continental shelf. 2) the amount of oil that a purchaser expects to take from a field. The nomination is reported to a government regulatory agency that is concerned with prorationing. 3) the estimated quantity of gas requested by a gas buyer. A nomination can be changed as necessary and be confirmed. nomogram or nomograph a type of graphic solution for an equation. A nomogram is a chart that represents three variables that are plotted on their own calibrated vertical lines. A straight line connecting two known variables will pass through the third variable at the correct value. A nomogram is used for rapid determination of an unknown without calculations. It is accurate but has less precision than a mathematical equation. nonabandoning party a participant in a unit operating agreement who objects to the unit operator's decision to abandon a'well. The participant can take over the well after paying the abandoning party for the well's salvage value. nonapportionment rule a legal principle that royalties from a lease on property that was subdivided after the lease was granted are not shared by the various owners of the subdivisions. Instead, the royalities belong to the owner of the subdivision that has the producing well. This principle is followed in most states. nonassociated gas natural gas that is not in contact with oil in a subsurface reservoir. Nonassociated gas is usually dry gas and is in contrast to associated or dissolved gas. (gas well or unassociated gas) nonassociated gas-well allowable the amount of gas permitted to be produced from a well that produces only gas (nonassociated) during a certain period of time by a government regulatory agency (allowable). The amount is fixed at a percentage of

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noncircumvention agreement

nonlncendive equipment advance to share in the costs of drilling a specific well in a pooling or unitization agreement nonconsent well a well drilled in a unitized area in which one or more of participants in the unitization or operating agreement does not consent to the drilling of a well. If the well is plugged and abandoned, the nonparticipant is not liable for the costs of the well. If the well is productive, the nonparticipant can share in the production only after a nonconsent penalty is paid. noncontiguous spacing unit or tract a drilling and spacing unit that is made up of several smaller tracts of land, some or all of which are not adjacent. (discontinuous spacing) NCT nondestructive testing the inspection of material for detects in a manner that does not damage the material. Nondestructive testing methods include ultrasonic, eddy current, liquid penetration, magnetic particle, and radiographic. NDT nondrilling or nondrilling lease an oil and gas lease that grants the lessee the rights to oil and gas under the lease but prohibits the drilling of a well on the surface of the lease. Wells that drain the lease must be drilled on an adjacent lease. This type of lease is used to prevent the drainage of a free gas cap which could result in less ultimate oil production from the reservoir or in areas where drilling on the surface would be particularly harmful to the surface. nondrilling party a party that decides not to participate in an operation under an operating agreement. This is in contrast to a drilling party. (nonconsenting party) nondrilling provision a special provision in a farmout agreement that provides for a nondrilling penalty, usually a fixed payment, for noncompliance with conditions in the agreement, (nonperformance provision) nonelectrolyte a substance that does not exist as ions in a water solution. A nonelectrolyte is in contrast to an electrolyte. nonemulsifying acid an acid that contains a demulsifying agent that is a surface active agent and prevents the acid from reacting with crude oil to form a mixture (emulsion) of the two liquids. A nonemulsifying acid has a faster cleanup time than normal acid, by preventing or breaking emulsions in the reservoir. NEA, NEAC, or N.E. Acid nonexclusive license a permit granted by a country to explore a block of land but not to produce petroleum. Nonexclusive license is in contrast to an exclusive license. nonexclusive proprietary survey a regional seismic survey in which the costs and results are shared by a limited number of parties. The nonexclusive proprietary survey was initiated in the 1960s to keep seismic crews and vessels active. The federal government can underwrite a portion of the survey of a potential exploration area for a share in the survey's sale profits. NEPS nonferrous alloy an alloy that contains less than iron nonincendive equipment equipment that cannot cause a flammable gas to ignite during normal use

adjusted open-flow potential for that well. The allowable is a fraction of the total field nomination as determined by an allocation formula for that field. noncircumvention agreement a document that prevents one party of the agreement from making a deal with a third party without including the second party to the agreement noncommercial well 1) a well that will not produce enough gas and/or oil to repay the drilling, completing, and operating costs of the well 2) a well that will not produce enough gas and/or oil to pay the operating costs of the well noncompetitive lease the method used to lease United States onshore federal lands upon which there has already been an expired or returned lease. The Bureau of Land Management publishes a list bimonthly of all qualified tracts. Applications must be received within 15 working days of publication, and the lease is granted based on a random or lottery selection of applicants. The lease grants the lessee the right to search, drill, and produce oil and gas from that tract. Noncompetitive leases have a $75 filing fee and a 10-year primary term. There is a f 1 per acre annual rental for the first 5 years and $3 per acre for the last 5 years. The lease has a 12Vi% royalty. Noncompetitive leases are in contrast to competitive leases and over-the-counter applications. Noncompetitive leases are not issued on producing known geological structures, (simultaneous lease) non compos mentis having an unsound mind. NCM nonconductive drilling mud an oil-base or invertemulsion drilling mud that does not conduct electricity and has very high resistivity. Spontaneous potential and normal resistivity measurements cannot be made in wells filled with nonconductive drilling mud. Induction logs, however, can be run in the well. (nonconductive mud) nonconductive mud see nonconductive drilling mud
~

..- .. r *

nonconformity

nonconformity a type of unconformity or erosional surface located between underlying plutonic igneous or metamorphic rocks and overlying sedimentary rocks nonconsenting party a company or individual who elects to not participate in a proposed operation under a joint operating agreement. A nonconsenting party is in contrast to a drilling party, (nondrilling party) nonconsent penalty a cash, acreage, or production penalty assessed to a party that did not consent in

nonionic surfactant nonionic surfactant a surfactant used in enhanced oil recovery that has no ionic charge. The water-soluble group does not ionize. A nonionic surfactant is in contrast to an anionic, catonic, or amphoteric surfactant. nonmag collar nonmagnetic drill collar nonmagnetic drill collar a large- diameter, thickwalled, heavy joint of drillpipe (drill collar) that is made of nonferrous material such as Monel steel. One grade of stainless steel is also magnetic. A nonmagnetic drill collars is used in directional drilling and on steerable drilling assemblies because it allows for magnetic deviation surveys, nonmag collar nonmarginal unit a unit formed by a government regulatory agency that will produce oil and/or gas at a rate equal to the highest allowable that was allotted to the units in that pool. non-Newtonian a fluid in which there is no linear relationship between shear stress and shear strain and in which viscosity changes with flow velocity. Three types of non-Newtonian fluids are a) Bingham plastic fluid which is time independent, b) power-law fluid which is time independent, and c) time-dependent fluid. Drilling mud is a non-Newtonian fluid, whereas crude oil and water are Newtonian fluids. nonoperating interest or working interest a working interest in land whose owner is without operating rights and is not responsible for the drilling and completion of a well or well operations nonoperator a working interest that is not designated as the operator for a well or lease. The nonoperator is not responsible for seeing that the drilling and completion of the well is done and the well is operated. In a limited partnership, the nonoperators are the limited partners. nonparticipating or nonparticipating area a part of the unit area in which production is not allocated under a unit agreement nonparticipating royalty mineral rights ownership that is limited to a certain time or amount of production nonperformance provision a special provision in a farmout agreement that provides for a nonperformance penalty, usually a fixed payment, for noncompliance with conditions in the agreement. (nondrilling provision) nonplunging fold a fold in sedimentary rocks that has a hingle line with a dip of less than 10 nonporous a substance that does not contain pore spaces nonretrievable gun a type of perforating gun that has individually pressure-sealed cases of ceramic, aluminum, glass, or cast iron to contain the shaped explosive charges that disintegrate in the well. The gun is lowered on an insulated shooting cable and detonated electrically. The explosive blast shoots fragments of the case into the formation. There may or may not be a steel carrier to contain the blast, and the debris remains in the well, (expendable gun) Expend nonreturn valve a type of valve that allows fluid flow in only one direction. Nonreturn valves are usually opened by pressure on a spring behind the gate, (one-way or check valve or swing gauge or valve)

normal cubic meter

343

nonrotating stabilizer a stabilizer with blades that are machined out of a sleeve that fits loosely around the stabilizer body. The nonrotating stabilizer sleeve remains stationary while the mandrel and drillstring rotate. The stabilizer centralizes the drillstring in the well and reduces wall sticking, but does not ream the hole. nonswelling clay minerals that show no reaction during a wettability test with distilled water. Nonswelling is in contrast to hygroturbid, hydroclastic, hydrofissile, and cryptofissile. nonwetting fluid or phase the liquid, when two liquids are present on a surface, that has the least affinity for the surface. The contact angle of the nonwetting fluid on a surface exceeds 90. The other liquid is called the wetting phase. In a hydrocarbon reservoir, natural gas is always the nonwetting fluid, crude oil is the wetting fluid relative to gas, and crude oil is the nonwetting fluid relative to brines in a sandstone reservoir. Carbonate reservoirs tend to be neutral or have brine as the nonwetting fluid. no-out contract a type of turnkey drilling contract in which the driller must complete the well to the casing point. A no-out contract is in contrast to the no-log, no-pay turnkey drilling contract in which the driller can abandon the well at anytime up to the casing peiftt. NOP nonoperating property NOPI net operating profits interest nor normal no rec no recovery Norian a global age of geological time that occurred about 220-215 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Triassic epoch. normal a line perpendicular to another line or surface normal alkane a type of hydrocarbon molecule (CnH2n+2) formed by a saturated single chain. Normal alkanes are common in organic matter, sediments, and petroleum. They include methane, ethane, propane, butane, and pentane and the higher alkanes starting with hexane, heptane, octane, and larger molecules. Normal alkane molecules can have 1-61 carbon atoms. CH4 through C4H10 are gases, C5H12 through C16H34 are liquids, and C,7H36 and longer are waxy solids. Normal alkanes are derived from bacteria, algae, and land plants. Up to 30% of crude oil can be composed of normal alkanes. (paraffin) n-alkane normal butane an isomer of butane (C4H10) that has a specific gravity of 0.58, a boiling point at 14.7 psia of 31F, a vapor pressure at 100F of 52 psia, a critical temperature of 306F, and a critical pressure of 551 psia. Normal butane has 3,262 Btu/SCF. Normal butane is common in crude oil and natural gas except for biogenic gas. The ratio of iso- to normal butane is a maturity indicator in sediments, with a high ratio indicative of immature sediments and a low ratio characteristic of mature sediments. nC4, n-butane normal conditions zero C temperature and 760 mm of mercury pressure, (normal temperature and pressure) Norn normal cubic meter a cubic meter of natural gas at 60F (15C) and atmospheric pressure

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normal curve normal paraffin normal-moveout velocity a constant velocity for an overlying layer that best yields the normal moveout for a horizontal reflector. Normal-moveout velocity is computed from normal moveout values during velocity analysis. normal polarity remanent magnetism that is similar in orientation to the present, earth magnetic field in contrast to reverse polarity. normality a concentration equal to the number of equivalents of solute per liter of solution. JV normalize 1) to form a ratio of data to a standard called the normal. The ratio is usually dimensionless. 2) to reduce the amplitude of a stacked trace to normal amplitude normally closed valve a valve that closes with a loss of power normally open valve a valve that opens with a loss of power normal mode propagation a phenomenon in which a seismic wave called a channel wave is trapped in a subsurface rock layer that is bounded by reflectors having reflectivities that approach unity, (wave guide effect) normal moveout the differences in reflection arrival times in seismic exploration due to the differences in shotpoint-to-geophone distances, which is called offset. Normal moveout depends primarily on velocity, but also is affected by the dip of the rock layers and the distance between shotpoint and geophone. Normal moveout decreases with increasing reflection time. Seismic data is corrected for normal moveout. A velocity analyses of rock layers can be made with normal-moveout measurements. NMO

normal curve the resistivity curve of a formation recorded with a normal electrode configuration on an electric log. A constant current is passed between a current electrode on the sonde (A electrode) and a surface electrode (B electrode). The potential difference is measured between a second electrode on the sonde (M electrode) and a reference electrode (N electrode). The space between the M and TV electrodes is 16 in. for the short normal curve and 64 in. for the long normal curve. The normal curves are plotted either both in Track 2 or in Tracks 2 and 3.

normal distribution (normal curve)

normal distribution a frequency distribution with a continuous, bell-shaped curve (normal curve) that is symmetrical about the arithmetic mean, mode, and median which are the same. The dispersion of the normal distribution is measured by the standard deviation. A normal distribution is also called a Gaussian distribution. normal drag folding caused by friction along a fault plane. A drag fold is a normal fold. normal emulsion a water-in-oil emulsion

normal paraffin (pentane)

normal fault

normal fault a fault with predominantly vertical movement (dip slip) in which the foot wall has been raised in relation to the hanging wall causing a lost section. A normal fault is caused by tensional forces and usually has a dip between 45-90. N/FLT normal fold a symmetrical fold normal log a resistivity log with electrode spacing ranging from 2 in. (Microlog) to 64 in. (long normal) to 1,000 ft (ultra-long-spaced electric log).

normal paraffin a type of hydrocarbon molecule that is saturated with single bonds and is in the form of a straight chain with no side chains . An example of a normal paraffin is normal butane. Normal paraffin is in contrast to an isoparaffin that has a side chain(s). n-parqffin normal pore pressure normal hydrostatic pressure in a reservoir. Normal hydrostatic pressure depends on fluid density and increases an average of about 0.465 psi/ft or 0.105 bar/m of depth. Normal pore pressure is in contrast to a higher geopressure (abnormal high pressure) or abnormal low pressure. (hydropressure) normal resistivity a type of electrical resistivity well log in which a constant current is passed from an electrode on the sonde through a formation in a well to another electrode and measures the voltage at two

normal pore pressure NPDES permit other electrodes on the sonde. Two electrodes have a short spacing of 10-16 in. and measures the shortnormal resistivity. The other electrode is spaced 64 in. away and measure long-normal resistivity. The longnormal resistivity has a deeper radius of investigation than the short-normal resistivity. The lateral type is similar but has closely spaced electrodes. N normal separation the relative downward displacement of the hanging wall of a fault. Normal separation is in contrast to reverse separation. normal solution a solution with a concentration of 1 gram-equivalent of solute per liter of solution normal temperature and pressure zero C temperature and 760 mm of mercury pressure, (normal conditions) ntp normal test a test that is often run monthly on a well to measure the amount of oil, gas, and water being produced, (routine test) north-seeking gyro a gyroscope that automatically seeks true north, (rate gyro)

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to the lessor. The lessor is then given a specific period of time to make a demand for performance to the lessee. After this, the lessor can take legal action. notification clause a provision in an oil and gas lease stipulating that if die lessor assigns the interest or a portion of the interest to another party, the lease is not in default for improper payment until 30 days after the date of notification from the lessor Novae novaculite novaculite a very dense and hard siliceous sedimentary rock of microcrystalline quartz with a light color and cryptocrystalline (extremely finegrained crystals) texture. Novae noz nozzle

nozzle

nozzle

nose

nose 1) a plunging anticline without closure. (anticlinal or structural nose) 2) the location on a geological map where a bed shows the maximum curvature. A plunging fold forms a nose with the maximum curvature in the direction of the plunge. 3) gravity or magnetic anomaly that does not have closure. 4) the pointed end of a cone on a rollercone bit 5) the front of a turbidity current. The nose transports the coarsest sediments and is in contrast to the body and tail. nose row the inner row of teeth on a cone of a roller-cone bit. The heel row is the outer row of teeth, and the middle row is located between the nose and heel row. (toe row) notch fatigue the failure of metal along a mechanical or metallurgical defect notch filter a filter that eliminates a specific band of frequencies notch mute the use of filters to remove low-velocity ground roll no-term lease a type of oil and gas lease that can be extended indefinitely by delay rental payments. A no-term lease has no time limit or term, (perpetual lease) notice and demand clause a provision in an oil and gas lease stipulating that a notice of breach of any expressed or implied duty of the lessee be given

nozzle a tungsten carbide orifice through which the drilling fluid jets out between two adjacent cones on the bottom of a roller-cone bit. The nozzle is used to form a constriction in the drilling fluid flow to produce a high velocity for lubricating and cleaning roller-cone, milled-teeth, and insert bits and to cut and clean the hole. The orifice sizes on the nozzles can be changed. There are normally three nozzles on a tricone bit, each receiving an equal share of the drilling fluid. The jet deflection bit has one nozzle larger than the others to preferentially erode one side of the well for the purpose of kicking off a deviated well, (jet nozzle) noz NP 1) no production 2) not pumping 3) nonporous Np cumulative oil produced N.P.A. National Petroleum Association n-paraffin normal paraffin NPAY new pay NPC National Petroleum Council NPD new pool discovery NPDES permit a permit required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System issued before anything can be disposed in surface waters. NPE new pool exempt n-pentane normal pentane NPI net profits interest NPL neutral pressure level N pP cumulative oil produced during primary production

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NPE nuclear-precession magnetometer nuclear fracturing the use of a nuclear device in a well to form a cavity several hundred feet in diameter with numerous radiating fractures nuclear interface log a radioactive type of wireline well log that measures the density of subsurface formations. A radioactive source is used to bombard the rocks surrounding the wellbore with gamma rays. By counting the backscattered gamma rays, the density of the subsurface rock can be computed. From the density of the rock, the porosity of the rock can be calculated. The compensated nuclear interface log has a secondary detector on the sonde that responds more to the mudcake and borehole irregularities. The secondary detector is used to correct or compensate the main detector for these undesirable effects. In addition to porosity, the log is also used with other logs as an aid to identifying the composition of the subsurface rocks, (gamma-gamma, formation-density, or density log) nuclear log a well log that uses downhole nuclear reactions. Neutron, gamma-gamma, and carbon/ oxygen logs are examples of nuclear logs. nuclear-magnetism or nuclear-magnetic resonance log a type of wireline well log that is used to measure free fluids (fluids not bound to surfaces) in formations adjacent to the wellbore by measuring the gyromagnetic properties of hydrogen nuclei in the formations. A magnetic field causes an alignment of the magnetic movement of hydrogen nuclei in the formation?When the magnetic field is removed, the protons return to their original orientation giving off a radio-frequency signal which is recorded. The amplitude of the radio-frequency signal is recorded as the free-fluid index (FFI) which is an indication of the amount of water or hydrocarbons that are not bound to any surface in the formation. Gas will give a low reading due to its low hydrogen density. The rate of alignment, called thermal relaxation time, can be recorded to differentiate between water and oil. (free-fluid log)
NML.NM, or MAGI

NPR 1) Naval Petroleum Reserve 2) nonprorated NPS nominal pipe size N ps cumulative oil produced at start of flood NPSH net positive suction head NPT 1) national pipe thread 2) net plunger travel NPTF national pipe thread female NPTM national pipe thread male NPV net present value NPW new pool wildcat NPX new production-exempt (discovery allowable) NR 1) no recovery 2) no report 3) no returns 4) no reflection events NRe Reynolds number NRI net revenue interest NRM natural remanent magnetism NRPT 1) no report 2) not reported NS 1) no show 2) not shot n.s. no sample n/s no show NSC necessary and sufficient condition NSG no show of gas NSO no show of oil NSO&G no show of oil and gas NSO compounds organic compounds that contain sulphur, oxygen, and nitrogen. NSO compounds occur in organic matter and crude oils. Porphyrins derived from chlorophyll occur as NSO compounds in organic matter. Asphaltenes are also NSO compounds. NSO compounds are separated from crude oil by polar solvents such as methanol. (beterocompounds, hetero compounds, or polar fraction) nstd not standard NSWA National Stripper Well Association NT 1) new tons 2) thermal neutron log nT nanotesla NTD new total depth NTL notice to lessee ntp normal temperature and pressure NTS not to scale N/tst no test NU 1) nippling up 2) nippled 3) nonupset v 1) kinematic viscosity 2) Poisson ratio NUBOPS nippling up blowout preventers nuclear carbon/oxygen log see Carbon/Oxygen Log nuclear-cement log a type of wireline well log that is used to locate cement and holidays behind casing. The nuclear-cement log is similar to a density log in that it contains a gamma ray source and measures the backscattered gamma rays. The source and detector, however, are arranged to be sensitive to the density of material in the annulus and can distinguish between fluid and cement behind the
casing. NCMLT or NCL

nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy an analytical technique that measures the resonance of an atomic nucleus with a nonspherical electrical charge distribution. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy is used to identify complex molecules. nuclear-precession magnetometer a type of magnetometer, a geophysical instrument used in petroleum exploration. The nuclear-precession magnetometer measures the total magnetic field of the earth and is sensitive to the magnetic content of subsurface rocks. The magnetometer uses a coil to induce a magnetic field that reorients spinning protons in water or kerosene. When the induced field is eliminated, the protons precess about the earth's magnetic field at a frequency proportional to the earth's magnetic field and a voltage is induced in a measuring coil, (proton-resonance magnetometer) nucleus the dense center of an atom. The nucleus contains the protons and neutrons except the hydrogen atom nucleus that contains only one proton. nudge to steer a well being drilled away from other wells

nucleus Nyqist frequency 347


nuisance a condition that endangers life or health, is offensive to the senses, violates the laws of decency, and/or obstructs the rightful use of property num numerous number connection the pitch diameter of a pin thread at gauge point. Number connection is used to differentiate different sizes and styles of threaded connections. Number connection is expressed as NC followed by the first two digits of the pitch diameter. NC nut a safety shutoff valve nutating meter a type of flowmeter which uses an oscillating disk or piston to measure the rate of fluid flow N value of gas The specific heat of the gas at constant pressure by the specific heat at constant volume NVP or n.v.p. no visible porosity NW 1) northwest 2) no water NW/C northwest corner NW/4 northwest quarter NWL northwest line NYA not yet available Nyquist frequency one-half the sampling frequency which is the inverse of the sampling interval. The sampling interval in the conversion of analog to digital signals in seismic exploration is the time between measurements of the incoming signal. The Nyquist frequency is reported in hertz.

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O or o oersted

O or o 1) oil 2) out of gauge OA overall OAH overall height OAL overall length O&G oil and gas O&GCM oil- and gas-cut mud O&GC SULF oil- and gas-cut sulfur water O&GCSW oil- and gas-cut salt water O*GCW oil- and gas-cut water O&GL oil and gas lease O&S over and short OASW oil and salt water O&SWCM oil- and saltwater-cut mud O&W oil and water OAPEC Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries OAW old abandoned well OB 1) off bottom 2) overburden o.b. oil-base mud obj object objective depth the depth to which a well is contracted to be drilled objective horizon the formation to which a well is contracted to be drilled. Obj horizon Obj horizon objective horizon obligation well a well that is required to be drilled to fulfill an agreement such as a farmout oblique-slip fault a fault in which movement has been both vertical and horizontal OBM or OBMUD oil-base mud OBOC operated by other company OBQ on-board quantity obscuration a reduction in instrument sensitivity observation well a well that is used to monitor reservoir conditions such as pressure or fluid-contact elevations and/or to sample reservoir fluids. OBSW observer 1) the skilled technician on a seismic crew who heads the cable crew and operates the electronic equipment. The observer occupies the recording truck and has several junior observers working under him. (operator) 2) the person who reads the gravity meter data on a gravity-survey crew obsol obsolete

OBSW observation well OBW&RS optimum bit weight and rotary speed OC 1) oil cut 2) on center 3) off center 4) operations commenced O.C. operations commence O/C oil change OCB oil circuit breaker OCC oil cut cushion occ 1) occasional 2) occasionally ocean or ocean water salt water och ochre Ochoan a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 255-250 m. y. ago. It is part of the Permian period. OCM oil-cut mud OCS outer continental shelf OCSLA Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act OCS orders rules and regulations issued by the Minerals Management Service for exploration and drilling on the federal outer continental shelf sea bottom in the United States OCSW oil-cut salt water octane a liquid hydrocarbon of the paraffin series (C8Hi8). Octane has a specific gravity of 0.71, a boiling point at 14.7 psia of 258F, a vapor pressure at 100 F of 0.5 psia, a critical temperature of 564 F, and a critical pressure of 361 psia. C8 OCW 1) oil-cut water 2) off-center wear OD outside diameter od odor o.d. outside diameter odorant a chemical or blend of chemicals that is mixed with gas to give the gas an odor. An odorant allows the gas to be detected during a leak odorization the blending of an odorant to natural gas so that it can be detected during a leak. Methane and sweetened natural gas are odorless, and about 0.5 lbs of malodorant per MMscf are blended with the gas. The odorants are blends of two or more sulfur-containing hydrocarbons, such as mercaptans, alkysulfides, or cyclic sulfides. ODT oil down to OE 1) oil emulsion 2) open end 3) organic extract OEB other end beveled OEG oil equivalent gas OEL oil exploration licence OEM or OE-M oil emulsion mud oersted a unit of magnetic field strength in the cgs-emu system. An oersted is equal to a magnetic field that would exert a force of 1 dyne on a unit magnetic pole.

OES-M offshore rig OES-M oil emulsion salt mud OETB Offshore Energy Technology Board OF open flow off official offlap the pinching out of sedimentary rocks against the ancient shoreline or margin of a depositional basin with a pattern of older, lower beds extending progressively further inland. Offlap is in contrast to onlap. off-lease fermout a type of farmout agreement in which the farmee consents to drill an earning well to earn acreage that is not on the earning well drillingand-spacing unit. An off-lease farmout is considered a property for services transaction and can have adverse tax consequences. off-lease gas gas that is sold or used off the lease where it was produced off production a well that is temporarily not producing OFFS offset offset 1) a well drilled in the next adjacent drilling and spacing unit to an existing well. Each well has four close-in direct-offsets and four diagonal-offset locations. OFFS 2) the distance in seismic exploration from the shotpoint to the center of either the nearest geophone group, any geophone group, or a specific geophone. Offset can be measured as both perpendicular and inline offset. 3) the distance in marine seismic exploration between the recording boat with the location equipment and the center of the subsurface coverage 4) the amount of movement of a seismic reflector on a seismic record from its originally plotted position to its position after migration processing 5) the angle between the center line of a pin and the geometric center of a rollercone bit. Offset causes the cone to create an additional shearing force or skew across the formation being drilled. A bit with no offset just rolls. The dragging effect of the cone increases with the offset. More dragging means faster drilling and faster teeth wear. 6) a planned or unplanned deviation of a well 7) a fitting with an S-shape 8) the rotational difference between a counterweight on a crank arm and the sucker-rod stroke. The offset is comonly 7V4- 15. The counterbalance torque lags the well load torque on the upstroke and leads on the downstroke on a sucker-rod pump. offset clause an expressed provision in an oil and gas lease that requires the drilling of an offset well by a lessee. A situation requiring an offset well is the drilling, completion, and production from a well on an adjacent lease or drainage from the lease by other wells. offset drainage the distance from a lease boundary that an offset well must be drilled on the lease when a well is drilled on an adjacent lease offset link A combination roller link and pin link used for a roller chain with an odd number of pitches offset royalty a royalty payment that can be made in lieu of drilling an offset well offset split dip a type of geophone spread arrangement used in seismic exploration in which the geophones are arranged in a line, and the shotpoint

349

is offset perpendicular to the center of the geophone line offset sub a small length of bent drillpipe that is used to kick off a deviated well. The offset sub is run between the mud or turbine motor and the lowest drill collar. One of the connecting threads on the sub is machined with an angle to the axis of the sub, giving the sub a Vz-2xh bend. A Vz" offset sub will give an angle change of 2 to 37100 ft and a 2 offset sub will give 6 to 87100 ft. The offset sub can have a muleshoe orientating sleeve and key to determine the actual orientation of the bottomhole assembly in the well. A survey instrument is run inside the bottomhole assembly, and a camera photographs the orientation of the bent-hole sleeve. An offset sub can also be used with a fishing tool as part of a fishing string to give the correct approach angle to the fish. (angle, bent, or crooked sub) offset well 1) a well drilled on the adjacent spacing unit from a producing well in an attempt to produce petroleum from the same reservoir 2) a well drilled on a lease to compensate for the drainage caused by a well(s) on an adjacent lease offset-well covenant an expressed or implied duty in an oil and gas lease that the lessee will drill an offset well on the lease to protect the lease from drainage by any well drilled on an adjacent lease. (protection covenant) offsh offshore offshore bar a low, long ridge of sand parallel to the shoreline. An offshore bar is formed by breaking waves and is submerged during high tide. The bar is usually separated from the beach by a trough. (longshore bar) Offshore Installation Manager a person who is legally responsible to the British energy minister for safety on a specific offshore drilling platform. The offshore installation manager is required by British law and is appointed by the operator of the offshore installation. On a large, fixed platform, one person has the sole duty of offshore installation manager, whereas the toolpusher or bargemaster is often the Offshore Installation Manager on a jackup rig, semisubmersible, or drillship. OIM offshore platform a flat working surface that is supported above the ocean surface and used for offshore drilling and/or production. Some types of offshore platforms include a) piled-steel or steel-jacket, b) gravity structure, c) articulated, and d) tension-leg platforms along with e)artificial islands, f) jackup rigs, g) semisubmersibles, and h) drillships. A subsea production platform is located below the ocean surface. The functions of an offshore platform are a) to provide a drilling base, b) to process produced oil and gas and to move it ashore, c) to clean produced water and dispose of it, and d) to prepare water and/ or gas for injection back into the reservoir for pressure maintenance. An offshore platform can have a crew of 40-100 tour and nontour employees, (platform) offshore rig a drilling rig and its supporting structure that is used to drill a well in the sea bottom. In order of increasing water-depth capability, the mobile types of offshore rigs are a) barge, b) jackup rig, c) semisubmersible, and d) drillship. Development wells can be drilled from a) fixed platforms, b) guyed

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off structure

oilfield differential pipe sticking. Oil-base drilling mud is also used in deep holes with high temperatures or in hot climates and is not contaminated by hydrogen sulfide, salt, or anhydrite. Oil-base drilling muds are susceptible to water and air contamination and can be a fire hazard. An oil-base mud contains less than 5% water, whereas an invert emulsion mud is made of a water-in-oil emulsion containing up to 50% water. Oil-base drilling muds have a higher build cost than water-base drilling muds because of the expense of the oil, the emulsion stability, and the weighting materials that are required. Oil-base drilling muds are known by the supplier's trade name, (oil mud) OBMUD, OBM, or o.b. oil birth zone the oil window where temperatures (about 15O-3OOF) naturally generate crude oil from organic matter in sedimentary rocks, see oil window oil bonus royalty in oil that is paid by a lessee usually to the lessor, (royalty bonus) oil breakthrough the time when the oil/water bank from an injection well arrives at a producing well during enhanced oil recovery oil column the vertical height of a reservoir rock having oil saturation in the pores oil compressibility see coefficient of isothermal compressibility of oil oil content the volume percent of oil in drilling mud Oil Creek Humbug a dry hole oil cut crude oil occurring in a fluid, oc oil-cut mud drilling mud that contains some crude oil from the subsurface. OCM oil death zone the area below the oil window where high temperatures crack crude oil into thermogenic gas and graphite. The oil death zone occurs at temperatures greater than approximately 325 F. oil drum a volume of oil that contains 210 1, 46 U.K. gal and 55.5 U.S. gal oil emulsion an oil-in-water emulsion with oil as the discontinuous phase oil-emulsion drilling mud drilling mud that is made from water, either fresh or saline, with small droplets of diesel oil dispersed in the water. The oil is usually 3%-7% and sometimes up to 10% along with CMC, starch, or gum additives. Oil-emulsion drilling mud is used under certain conditions to reduce mud-filtration losses, to enhance well completions, and to improve drilling mechanics, (milk emulsion) OEM or OE-M oil equivalent the volume of a substance that can be burned to give the same amount of heat as a barrel of oil. Six thousand forty cubic feet of average natural gas is the equivalent of an average barrel of oil. One average ton of crude oil equals 1.5 average tons of coal or 1.130 tons of LPG. oiler an oil well oil exploration license the first stage in a concession license granted by a federal government. The oil exploration license is nonexclusive and has a term of one year. The license holder can explore but not drill. OEL oil field the surface area that is underlain by one

towers, and c) tension-leg platforms, and d) articulated platforms. off structure a location or well that is not on the crest (highest elevation) of a trap such as a dome or anticline, (down structure) OFL overflushed OFLU oil fluorescence OFOE orifice flange one end OFP open-flow potential OGCM oil and gas-cut mud OGCW oil and gas-cut water OH 1) open hole 2) overhead O/H oil in hole OH&P open hole and perforations ohm a derived unit in System International (SI) for electrical resistance. An ohm is calculated by VIA. A one ohm resistance causes a potential drop of one volt per ampere of current. In well logging, the resistance unit used is a) ohmmeters (ohm-m) or b) ohm-meters2 per meter (ohm-m2/m). fl ohm-cm ohm-centimeter ohmic a substance that has electrical resistance ohm-m ohm-meter ohm-meter or ohm-metet^/meter a unit of resistivity often used on electric and induction logs. An ohm-meter is the resistivity of a cube, 1 m on a side, that has a resistance of 1 ohm between opposite sides. Dm or ohm-m Ohm's law R= Ell where R is resistance, E is voltage, and / is current OHT conventional openhole drillstem test OI oxygen index OIH or O.IJH. oil in hole oil see crude oil or petroleum. O oil and gas in a joint operating agreement, oil and gas is defined as a) oil, gas, casinghead gas, gas condensate, or gaseous hydrocarbons, and other marketable substances produced from a well or b) oil, gas, casinghead gas, gas condensate, and all other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons. O&G oil and gas column the vertical height of a reservoir rock having oil and gas saturation in the pores oil and gas in place the total amount of oil and gas in a subsurface reservoir. Oil and gas in place will be more than the reserves, as all the oil and gas in place cannot be produced. oil axis an imaginary line connecting the two large oil-producing areas, the Middle East and the Gulf of Mexico, on opposite sides of the earth, (oil poles) oil-base drilling mud drilling mud that uses degasified lease crude, diesel oil, or mineral oil as the continuous phase liquid. Water is the dispersed phase, usually from l%-5%, that has been emulsified with caustic soda or quick lime and an organic acid. The mud can also contain silicate, salt, and phosphate. Oil-base drilling mud weighs about 7.5 lbs/gal without weighting material. The mud is used to prevent water contamination of the producing formation, for coring, and for drilling through zones that cause hole enlargement or sloughing shale, and to prevent

oilfield brine or water oil string or more petroleum reservoirs in a common trap such as an anticline oilfield brine or water subsurface water associated with gas and oil reservoirs. Oilfield waters are classified according to their respective positions in the oil reservoir (bottom, edge, intermediate, or top waters), their origin (meteoric, connate, or mixed), or their occurrence (free or interstitial). The waters are often described by their dissolved salts in both concentration, usually in parts per million, and chemical composition. The composition is described by the dominant mineral ions. Type a has sulfatesodium, Type b has bicarbonate-sodium, type c has chloride-magnesium, and Type d has chloride-calcium waters. Type d is most common. The composition of the water can be shown by using Tickell, Parker, or Stiff methods and diagrams. Produced water is the oilfield brine or water that is produced from a well along with oil and gas. oilfield equipment the machinery that is used to drill and complete wells and produce oil oil finder a person, usually a geologist, who has had success in locating oil oil formation volume factor the volume of oil in the reservoir that is necessary to produce one stock tank barrel of oil under standard conditions. The oil formation volume factor is expressed in reservoir barrels per stock tank barrel (res bbl/STB) or reservoir cubic meters per stock tank cubic meter (res m3/stocktank m3). The factor is determined in a laboratory. Bo oil holdup the volume fraction of oil in a well at a given instant of time. yoa oil horizon 1) the height of oil in a well 2) an oilbearing formation oil in place the amount of crude oil in the pores of a subsurface reservoir. Only a percentage of this oil can be produced, and its volume will shrink as natural gas bubbles out of the oil at the surface as it is produced. OIP oil-in-water emulsion a suspension of oil droplets, the dispersed phase, in water, the continuous phase. A water-in-oil emulsion is a more commonly produced fluid than an oil-in-water emulsion, (reverse emulsion) OIWEorO/W oil-in-water emulsion mud see emulsion mud oil jar a fishing tool that is designed to strike a sharp blow to a fishing tool or fish. The oil jar consists of a mandrel with a piston that moves through oil in the hydraulic cylinder. oil leg the part of the reservoir that contains oil. The oil leg is located down dip from the gas leg. oil mining license the last stage in a concession license granted by a federal government. The license is granted after a company is satisfied that oil occurs in commercial quantities. It covers a period of tens of years and can be renewed. The license gives the holder the right to exploit the deposit. OML oil mud see oil-base drilling mud oil originally in place the amount of crude oil in a reservoir before production, (original oil in place)
OOIP

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oil outlet a drain located near the base of a stock

tank that is used to remove crude oil. (sales outlet or oil outlet) oil pad oil floating on water in a vessel oil patch a city or area that is a center of significant petroleum activity such as exploration, drilling, and/ or production oil payment a payment in oil, usually to the lessor, from the oil production on a lease. Oil payments are free of production costs and terminate after a specific amount has been paid. oil pits age-old term for hand-dug wells for petroleum, (hand dugs) oil poles see oil axis oil pool an underground oil reservoir that has a single pressure system. An oil pool does not communicate with other pools. Oil reservoir is a more correct term. oil prospecting license an intermediate stage in a concession license granted by a federal government. The license .holder has the right to explore and drill in an exclusive area for several years. OPL oil royalty a percentage or fraction of the oil production revenue that is paid by the operator to the lessor of the lease from which the oil was produced. Oil royalty is free of production costs. oil run the amount of oil produced during a certain period of time oil sales line a line that carries treated crude oil from a lease or offshore platform to a pipeline oil sales outlet the drain located near the base of a stock tank that is used to remove crude oil. (sales outlet or oil outlet) oil sand sandstone containing crude oil. O-SD, OS., or O sd oil saver 1) a device on a well through which the sand line or wireline is run into the well. The oil saver is used to strip fluids from the sand line or wireline as it is raised from the well and to prevent fluids from escaping from the well. An oil saver has two stripper or wiper rubbers that are squeezed by a hydraulic cylinder and are separated by a spacer that wipes the fluid off the wire. 2) a device that was attached to the top of a flowing oil well to allow the well to be deepened with cable tools while still flowing oil shale fine-grained sedimentary rock that contains kerogen (organic matter) which, when heated to 660F, will produce crude oil called shale oil. Oil shale is an immature source rock and is commonly brownishblack or yellowish-brown in color, well laminated, and resinous. Oil shales have 10%-50% algal organic matter (either sapropelic, humic, or both), spores, and pollen. oil-soluble acid an organic solvent with an organic acid used in acidizing a well in which an aqueous acid solution could cause formation damage. OSA oil staining a change in the color of a rock or sample such as well cuttings due to the presence of crude oil. Oil stains are described by their color and the percent of staining on the sample. OSTN oil string the deepest and last length (string) of casing that is run down to or through the producing . zone. The casing adjacent to the producing zone can

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oil thief Olig The water wettability index is equal to oil wettability index is equal to
. _ .

be perforated to complete the well. Oil string has the smallest diameter, ranging from 23/s to 9% in. and typically is 5V4 or 7% in., and is the longest string of casing in the well. Oil string protects the hole, isolates formation fluid, prevents fluid migration, and protects the downhole equipment, (capital, flow, long, pay, or production string or production casing or inner conductor) oil thief a brass, aluminum, or glass cylinder that is lowered on a line into an oil storage tank to take a sample of oil or the sediment on the bottom. A spring-activated device can be used to close the thief when the line is jerked. The oil thief houses the thermal-hydrometer that measures the quality, gravity, and temperature of the oil. (thief) oil tunnel a long subhorizontal excavation that is used to mine near-surface crude oil

The

A T D

CHUDE O i l

'mtu

oil window

oil-water contact

oil/water contact, horizon, or table the boundary between the oil and water in the reservoir. The contact can be either sharp or gradational over several feet and is usually, but not always, level. OWC oil/water ratio the volume of oil divided by the volume of water produced from a well oil well a well that produces crude oil having a producing gas/oil ratio less than 15,000. The exact number varies slightly by state law. oil-wet rock a rock in which oil is the wetting fluid. A porous rock containing oil and water is considered to be oil wet if the contact angle of water is greater than 110. The rock is neutral if the contact angle is between 70-l 10 and is water wet if the water contact angle is less than 70. Carbonates tend to be neutral or oil wet because the rock adsorbs surfactants from the oil. Sandstones, in contrast, tend to be water wet. oil wettability index a core test based on the observation that a strongly wetting fluid will spontaneously imbibe until the residual saturation of the nonwetting fluid is obtained. The core is flushed with water to remove gas and residual oil in preparation for the test. The core is then placed in an imbibition tube under oil. The water displaced by oil is measured (A). The core is then flushed with oil and the displaced water is measured (B). The sample is then placed in the imbibition tube under water. The oil displaced by spontaneous water imbibition is measured (C). The core is then flushed with water and the oil displaced is measured (>)

oil window the depth range in the earth where the temperature is sufficient to naturally generate oil (about 15O-3OOF) but is not too hot to change the oil into thermogenic gas. In sedimentary basins, it is from about 7,000-18,000 ft deep. The temperatures that define the oil window are affected by the age of the source rocks with older source rocks having lower temperatures and the time that the organic matter is exposed to various temperatures, (liquid window) oil zone the area in a reservoir between the gas/ oil and the oil/water contacts OIM offshore installation manager OIP oil in place OIPA Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association OISC oil-immersed, self-cooled OIWE oil-in-water emulsion Ol oligoclase OLAP overlap of tops old gas a Natural Gas Policy Act regulatory category for gas that was begun to be delivered in 1977 or earlier Old Maud a cable-tool drilling engine old oil 1)' under the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Aa of 1973 in the United States, old oil is oil produced from leaseholds that were producing in 1972 and includes oil production up to the 1972 level of oil production. 2) crude oil for which storage has been paid but not up to the time of transaction. Old oil is in contrast to fresh oil. old well drilled deeper an existing well that was reentered and drilled deeper. OVCDD or O.W.DD. olefln a hydrocarbon with carbon-carbon double bonds and the formula CnH2n. The structure of the molecule can be normal, branched, and cyclic. Only minor amounts occur in sediments and petroleum. An example is propylene C3H6. (alkene) oleophilic oil loving in contrast to oleophobic oleophobic oil hating in contrast to oleophilic Olig oligocene

Oligocene oolite shoal Oligocene an epoch of geological time 38-25 m. y. ago. It occurred near the middle of the Cenozoic era. Olig oligomictic a clastic sedimentary rock that is composed of a single rock type. An oligomictic rock is well sorted and the grains are well rounded. An orthoquartzite is oligomictic. It is deposited in a stable depositional environment in contrast to a polymictic rock. oligopoly a market with only a couple of sellers in contrast to a monopoly olivine an olive-green, grayish-green or brown mineral composed of (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 that is common in igneous rocks such as basalt and gabbro. olvn ol' roundy a rotary driller olv olive olvn olivine OM organic matter OMDP Ocean Margin Drilling Project 11 1) angular frequency 2) ohm w angular frequency fl m ohm-meter OML oil mining license On-&-Off Tool a downhole tool that is used to connect and disconnect a pump and sucker rods on-board quantity the amount of materials remaining on a ship. OBQ on bottom and turning to the right to rotary drill a well One or one oncolite oncolite a calcareous mass that resembles an oolith but was formed by blue-green algae. Oncolites are pebble to cobble-sized and are laminated. One or one 1 primary one-eyed bit a bit used in jet deflection and well deviation with only one of its jet nozzles open 1 FT first flow period time 1 GAS single completion gas well one-lung engine a one-cylinder engine 1 OIL single completion oil well 1 O 1 G dual oil and gas well one-point test a test on a gas well in which the well is opened from shut in to a certain flow rate over a period of one to three days. If a multipoint test has been run previously, the one-point test can be used later to determine the open-flow potential of the well after shut-in pressure has decreased with time and production. Deliverability tests are one-point tests under specified conditions. 1 STH first sidetracked hole one-way travel time one-half the corrected travel time for a subsurface reflection on a seismic record. Seismic records two-way travel time as the seismic energy goes down, is reflected off a subsurface reflector and returns to the surface. one-way valve a type of valve that allows fluid flow in only one direction. One-way valves are usually

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opened by pressure on a spring behind the gate. (check, nonreturn, or swing valve) onhire survey an independent survey made of a drilling rig to evaluate consumables present and the condition of the rig at the time it is contracted onlap the pinching out of sedimentary rocks against an ancient shoreline or margin of a depositional basin with a pattern of younger upper beds extending progressively further toward land. Onlap is in contrast to offlap. on-lease gas gas that is produced and consumed on the same leasehold on line 1) equipment that is operating 2) a line of observation points such as seismic geophones online plant a gas processing plant that takes gas from a trunk pipeline and strips, scrubs, and/or drys the gas and returns it to the pipeline onset the beginning of a wave train in seismic recording on station the location of a vessel such as a drillship at a point in the ocean where the operation such as drilling is planned to occur on stream equipment or operation that has been started (coming on stream) and is functioning on structure a location or well that is on the crest of a trap such as a dome or anticline on-structure wildcat an exploratory well drilled on a potential structure or trap as defined by seismic but without any previous knowledge of potential producing zones on that structure on suction a tank that is being pumped on the beam a well producing with a beam pumping unit on the brake the person in control of machinery who can operate the brake on the come a person who is working for an interest in the production or deal rather than on a salary on the grass out of work on die line 1) a pumping unit that is operating and producing into a pipeline 2) an oil tank in which the oil is flowing into a pipeline on the pump a well producing with a pump OO oil odor 00 or oo Ooid ooc Oolicast oocast see oolicast OODR oil odor ooid a general term for any spherite that resembles an oolite or oolith. Oo or oo OOIP original oil in place 001 or ool 1) oolite 2) oolitic oolicast pore in an oolitic sedimentary rock formed by the solution of an oolite. The pore has subsequently been filled in. (oocast) ooc oolite shoal a long, low ridge of ooliths that was formed by strong currents in shallow water. Tidal currents form oolite shoals parallel to the tidal currents on limestone platforms. The shoals are composed of

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oolith or oolite open-hole or openhole log obtained, and the bidder with the highest bonus (frontend money) wins the lease. There is a fixed royalty. Open bonus bid is in contrast to an open royalty bid in which the bonuses are fixed and the highest royally wins the lease. open end the end of a tubular that has no collar open-end lease a type of lease in which the royalty is determined by the wellhead price for the gas produced open flow production without any restrictions such as a choke. Open flow is different from absolute open flow which is calculated and assumes 0 psia pressure at the sand face and no friction or weight of the fluid column. OF open-flow capacity the maximum oil and/or gas production from a well by natural reservoir energy without any restrictions such as a choke open-flow potential the flow rate of a gas well if the bottomhole pressure in the well opposite the producing formation were zero. Open-flow potential is usually measured with a multipoint test. OFP open-flow pressure the pressure at the face of the producing formation in the wellbore during unrestricted flow open-flow test a gas-well test to determine the maximum amount of gas that the well can produce over a period of time with all valves open open formation a subsurface rock layer with good porosity and permeability. An open formation is a potential petroleum reservoir. open gas lift see open-installation gas lift open hole 1) an uncased well, (uncased well) OH 2) the section of a well below the casing

well-sorted ooliths (grainstones) and have excellent original porosity. The intershoal areas are not as well sorted (packstones and wackestones). oolith or oolite a sand- and silt-sized sphere, commonly between 0.5-1 mm in diameter, composed of CaCO3, and precipitated out of sea water. Ooliths have an internal structure of concentric spheres around a nucleus. Ooliths form in shallow, waveagitated, tropical waters. The definition of the term oolite is preferred to be restricted to describe a rock composed of ooliths. Ooliths and oolites are also spelled oliths and olites. The word is derived from the Greek word oon for egg. Ool or ool oolitic a sedimentary rock texture characterized by spheroidal or smooth grains with a concentric internal structure oolitic limestone limestone composed of oolites. Oolitic limestone has excellent original porosity and can be a good reservoir rock Oom or oom oomoldic oomicrite a limestone that contains more than 25% ooliths, less than 25% intraclasts, and more limestone mud (micrite) matrix than sparry calcite Oomol or oomol oomold oomold a pore formed by the solution of an oolith. Oomol or oomol oomoldic pores formed by the solution of ooliths. Oom or oom oosparite a limestone that contains more than 25% ooliths, less than 25% intraclasts and more sparry calcite than limestone-mud (micrite) matrix ooze a pelagic (oceanic) deposit of fine-grained sediment containing at least 30% calcareous or siliceous skeletal grains of pelagic organisms. The rest of the ooze is composed of clay minerals. The ooze is named after the composition of the skeletal grains (calcareous or siliceous ooze) or after the dominant organism that formed the skeletal grains (foraminiferal, diatom, globigerina, radiolarian, or pteropod ooze). OP 1) oil pay 2) overproduced op 1) opaque 2) open opal an amorphous mineraloid formed of hydrous silica. Opal has an extremely variable color, is often iridescent, and has a waxy luster and conchoidal fracture. It is deposited from ground water and is found in nodules in limestones and in veins. Opal is the composition of diatom and sponge skeletons. opalescence cloudiness in crude oil. Opalescence is caused by wax. OPBD old plugback depth OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries open-access pipeline a pipeline through which gas is transported on a first come, first served basis for any qualified party at rates fixed by the Federal Regulatory Commission open acreage land with mineral rights that are not currently being held by a lease or production Open bonus bid a method of leasing the outer continental shelf in the United States. Sealed bids are

casing

open hole completion

open-hole completion a type of well completion in which the well is drilled to the top of the producing formation and casing is cemented. The producing formation is then drilled. An open hole completion is used primarily with hard producing formations such as sandstones, limestones, and dolomites. In relatively unconsolidated producing sands, there is a sandcontrol problem and an openhole gravel pack is used. (barefoot completion) open-hole or openhole log a wireline well log run in a well that has not been cased. Openhole logging makes electrical, nuclear, and acoustical measurements of formations and can also include rock and fluid sampling and pressure measurements. Most wireline well logs are openhole logs in contrast to cased-hole logs.

opening ratio optimum separator pressure opening ratio the pressure necessary to open a blowout preventer divided by the pressure in the well below the preventers open-installation gas lift a type of gas-lift installation in which the flow vales are installed without packers or standing valves. The tubing string is suspended in the well without a packer. The gas is injected down the casing-tubing annulus, and the produced fluids flow up the tubing string. A fluid seal prevents the gas from blowing around the bottom of the tubing. An open installation is in contrast to a semiclosed or closed installation, (open gas lift) open-pit treating a method used to separate produced emulsions before the use of treaters was accepted. The emulsion was broken in a plastic-lined, earthen, or concrete pit that was very large but shallow. The emulsion was heated by the sun and remained in the pit for a long time. open sands a sandstone with good porosity OPER operation OPER or oper operator Oper operations operating agreement a contract between working interest owners of a gas or oil well that established the conditions for drilling, developing, operating, and accounting for that well operating clause a provision commonly found in oil and gas leases that provides for the continuation of the lease as long as gas and oil development is occurring on the lease. Variations of the clause include well completion and continuous operating clauses. operating company the company that is responsible for maintaining the wells and producing the petroleum operating expenses the direct operating costs plus district overhead plus employee benefits for a specific producing property operating interest 1) money left from gas and oil production after operating and developing costs and all nonworking interests such as royalty, overriding royalty, and production payment interests have been subtracted. Some types of operating interests include carried, reversionary, individual, disproportionate, and checkerboard, (working interest) 2) the exclusive rights granted in an oil and gas lease to explore for, develop, and produce oil and gas from land. Operating interest also includes the full costs of those operations. operating pressure 1) the pressure at which a vessel, line, or system is normally operated 2) the gas injection pressure available in a gas lift well to maintain production under either settled, continuous, or intermittent operation 3) wellhead flowing pressure operating rate the average time value of money used by a company for discounting. io operating right an interest that is created out of a lease. The operating right holder can enter the leasehold to conduct exploration and drilling operations and can produce oil and gas from the land in accordance to the lease. operations department the part of an oil company that is responsible for the operational details of drilling and completing wells. The operations department is headed by a drilling superintendent or manager who

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is a petroleum engineer. The department also includes an assistant drilling superintendent or manager and several drilling engineers or supervisors. There can also be a materials supervisor along with the support personnel. The operations department keeps in constant communication with rig operations, (drilling department) operations manual the printed instruction on the workings of an offshore installation operator a party that holds all or a part of the working interest on a lease and has been designated as manager for exploration, drilling, and/or production on that lease. The operator is the party that is responsible for a) initiating and supervising the drilling and completion of a well(s) and/or b) maintaining the producing well or wells. In a limited partnership, the operator is the general partner. OPRT, OPR, OPER, or oper 3) see observer operator's agreement a contract made by the working-interest owners in a pooling or unitization agreement that defines the rights and obligations of the unit operator and the other parties OPF open power fluid OPI oil payment interest OPL oil prospecting license O.P.M. other people's money opn open opp opposite OPR 1) orienting perforating service 2) operator OPRT operator OPT official potential test optically pumped magnetometer a type of magnetometer; a geophysical instrument used in petroleum exploration. The optically pumped magnetometer measures the earth's total magnetic field and is sensitive to the magnetite content of subsurface rocks. Two types of optically pumped magnetometers are the cesium- and rubidium-vapor magnetometers. Polarized monochromatic light is passed through a cesium or rubidium vapor chamber which contains atoms that are precessing about the earth's magnetic field. The radio frequencies emitted by the atoms together with the light that is not absorbed and transmitted through the vapor chamber are used to measure the magnetic field. optical television device a tool that is used in wells to transmit a picture of the borehole. Because it uses visible light, it works only in wells filled with air or a very clear liquid. An optical television device can locate both fractures in the rocks along the wellbore and gas bubbles entering the well. optimum filter the filter that best produces a desired output. Optimum filters are used in seismic processing. (Weiner or least squares filter) optimum rate of flow or production the maximum rate of production from a well that will avoid excessive reservoir energy loss and a decrease in the ultimate production from that reservoir, see maximum efficient rate optimum separator pressure the separator pressure that balances the amount of gas evolving from the oil in the separator and stock tank to yield

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optimum water organic theory and the strands are twisted in the opposite direction. An ordinary lay is either right or left handed. A Lang's lay is the other type of wire-rope winding, (regular lay) ordinary oil see blade oil Ordovician a period of time about 500-425 m. y. ago. It occurred near the beginning of the Paleozoic Era. The Ordovician is subdivided into the Upper Ordovician, Middle Ordovician, and Lower Ordovician global epochs. It also contains the North American epochs Ibexian, Whiterockian, Mohawkian, and Cincinnatian. Ord OREC oil and/or condensate recovery O-RES oil resistivity orf orifice ORFM orifice meter org organic organic formed by plants and/or animals, org organic acid a mixture of acetic or formic acid and hydrofluoric acid . Organic acid has a relatively slow reaction rate and is used in acidization of formationdamaged reservoirs in relatively high-temperature wells. organic amine inhibitor a chemical used as a corrosion retardant organic geochemistry the branch of geochemistry that studies organic matter. Organic geochemistry includes a) the identification of source rocks and the types of organic matter in the source rocks, b) the thermal history of the source rocks, c) the prediction of types of reservoir hydrocarbons, d) the identification of migration routes, e) correlation of source rock to oil, f) correlation of oil to oil, and g) the identification of surface seepages. organic limestone a limestone formed primarily by skeletal grains from animals and plants. Organic limestones include coral limestone, algal limestone, foraminiferal limestone, chalk (composed of coccoliths), and coquina (composed of mollusk shells). organic matter dead plant and animal material. Type I organic matter is algae deposited in a lacustrine environment. It can form oil shale and is relatively rare. Type II is both terrestrial and aquatic organic matter deposited in a marginal marine environment. Algae, pollen, and spores are common. It is the primary source for crude oil. Type III is woody organic matter that is gas prone. Type IV is oxidized, recycled, and altered organic matter. It will not form hydrocarbons. Humic organic matter is composed of terrestrial plant material. It can form coal. Sapropellic organic matter is composed of aquatic plants and zooplankton. It can form crude oil and natural gas. OM organic theory the widely accepted theory that crude oil and natural gas, except for some methane, forms from the maturation of organic matter preserved in sedimentary rock. Maturation or thermal alteration is the change with temperature and time from kerogen, which is part of organic matter, into petroleum. The temperature, normally between about 15OC-3OOF for crude oil and greater than 300F for thermogenic gas, is obtained by the burial of the sediments in a basin. The sedimentary rock that generates the petroleum

the maximum amount of stock-tank oil and the lowest shrinkage of the oil. The optimum separator pressure results in the minimum total gas/oil ratio and the maximum stock-tank oil gravity, the optimum separator pressure for black oils is about 100-120 psig. optimum water the exact amount of water necessary for a certain cement slurry optimum wide-band a type of filtering and stacking that is used in processing seismic records. The optimum wide-band eliminates certain events such as multiples or ghosts and enhances other events such as primary reflections. option the right to obtain a right within a certain time. One type of option is a legal agreement between a potential lessee and a lessor or mineral rights owner. The option gives the lessee the right to execute a lease on the land in a certain period of time, e.g., six months, with the payment of a bonus and granting a royalty to the lessor. The lessee usually gives the lessor monetary consideration, such as 10% of the bonus, to enter into the option. A seismic option is another example. optionee the company or person who takes an option such as a seismic option. The optionee is in contrast to the optionor. option fee or payment monies paid by an optionee to a mineral rights owner (optionor) who grants an option such as a seismic option. The lease form, royalties, and bonus are specified in the agreement and the optionee has a specified time within which to exercise the option to lease. optionor the landowner that grants an option such as a seismic option. The optionor is in contrast to the optionee. optn to F/O option to farmout O-Qtz orthoquartzite OR 1) oil recovery 2) orthoclase O/R overriding royalty O.RA. Oil Refiner's Association or 1) orange 2) residual oil ORATE oil and/or condensate rate Orbit orbitoline or clause a provision in a type of oil and gas lease called an or lease. The lessee is obligated by the or clause to drill a well on the leasehold before or on the first anniversary date of the lease or pay delay rentals, forfeit the lease, or some other action. Ord Ordovician order of accrual an accounting procedure that is generally used to determine the purchase price of gas from a well that will be used to compensate an underproduced party in a gas balancing agreement by cash balancing. Beginning with the total overproduction, the parties involved deduct each month's overproduction on a month-by-month basis until it is reduced to zero. The value of the overproduction is calculated by multiplying the gas price during each month by that month's overproduction. ordinary lay a type of wire rope winding in which the wires in the strands are twisted in one direction

ORI orphan well is called the source rock; black shale is a very common source rock. The petroleum then migrates from the source rock to a reservoir rock where it is trapped. ORI overriding royalty interest orientation the inclination and azimuth of a tool in a well orientation trace a line on a dipmeter log showing the magnetic azimuth of one of the electrodes oriented core a core sample taken with the side of the core marked by a blade so that the original orientation of the core can be determined. A magnetic surveying instrument in a nonmagnetic drill collar is run above the core barrel. The orientation of the core barrel during coring is recorded by photographing a magnetic compass. Oriented cores can be used to determine the strike and dip of bedding planes, fractures, and joints and to determine the maximum permeability direction. oriented perforating a method used to perforate casing or lining in a multiple completion. The perforating tool detects the direction of the other tubing string and directs the perforating gun away from it. orienting sub a short section of pipe with a key or slot that aligns with a the scribe line on a bent sub. A surveying tool is then used to determine the orientation of the scribe line to determine the toolface direction. ORIF orifice orifice an opening or hole. ORIF or orf orifice coefficient a number for a specific meter that is used to calculate fluid-flow volume from meterchart data. The orifice coefficient contains factors for orifice size and the physical characteristics of the measured gas at base conditions of standard cubic feet. The orifice coefficient is used in the orifice gasflow equation. C" orifice fitting an orifice holder that is installed in a gas line. Three types are a) senior orifice fitting, b) junior orifice fitting, and c) simplex orifice fitting. The orifice plate can be removed from the senior orifice fitting without interrupting the flow. orifice-flange tap a pressure-connection hole in the flange of an orifice holder orifice gas-flow equation Q = C "Vhw x pf in which C is the orifice coefficient and V t o xpf is the pressure extension. The pressure extension is the square root of the product of the differential pressure [pressure drop across orifice plate measured in inches of water column (hw)] times the static pressure [line pressure in psia (pf)\ orifice meter a head-type meter that is used to measure the velocity of fluid flow through a line. The orifice meter uses the pressure differential of the gas flowing through the orifice to determine flow rate. The data are recorded on a circular chart and converted to standard cubic feet (SCF) by a meter factor. The primary element of an orifice meter includes the meter run, meter fittings or flange unions, and the orifice plate. The secondary element is the recorder. Three types of orifice meters are a) valve or elbow (the simplest), b) nozzle and plate, and c) Venturi meter. ORFM

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orifice plate a metal sheet with a specific hole size in it that is designed to be inserted into a flowline. The orifice plate is used to measure the flow volume and calibrate meters by measuring the differential pressure drop of the fluid flowing through the orifice. Two types of orifice plates are paddle plate and Universal orifice plate. Orifice plates are described as concentric, eccentric, or segmental depending on the location of the orifice. Orifice plates are usually made of 304 or 316 stainless steel or Monel. orifice plate holder a device that is designed to hold an orifice plate in a flowline. The orifice plate holder can be either a pair of orifice flanges for a paddle plate or orifice fittings for an Universal orifice plate. orifice pressure drop the pressure differential between the upstream and downstream side of an orifice caused by the increased gas-flow velocity through the orifice and its associated pressure drop. Orifice pressure drop is used in an orifice flowmeter to measure gas velocity and volume. orifice well tester a nipple with an orifice plate that is used to measure gas flow by measuring pressure drop and volume orig original original oil in place the volume of oil in a reservoir before production (oil originally in place) OOIP original porosity spaces or voids between solid rock particles or sediments formed when,the rock was deposited. Original pores include intergranular and organic pores. Original porosity is in contrast to secondary porosity, (primary porosity) original pressure the pressure on the fluids in the pores of a reservoir before it is disturbed by wells and production. Original pressure is usually hydrostatic pressure and will decrease with production, (virgin pressure) original survey a cadastral survey that first establishes the land boundaries original title opinion an attorney's written examination of the entire ownership of land that includes mineral rights, surface rights, royalties, overriding royalties, and leasehold working interests O-ring a circular gasket made of solid round rubber or similar material that is used to make a pressuretight seal in a connection. The thin O-ring fits into a machined recess on one of the connections and presses against the surface of the other connection. or lease an oil and gas lease with a drilling-delay rental clause that requires the lessee either to commence drilling operations or pay delay rentals to the lessor at certain times to extend the lease during the primary term. If the lessee fails to do either one, the lessee is liable to pay the delay rental or lose the lease. ORNG orange orogenic large-scale mountain building activity orogeny the process of mountain building. Orogeny is the compressional forces that cause folding and thrusting in rocks. ORP oxidation-reduction potential orphan well a well that has been abandoned but not plugged

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ORR outer continental shelf OSR 1) oil source rock 2) oil/steam ratio OST offshore storage and treatment Ost ostracod OSTN oil stain OSTOIP original stock tank oil in place Ostr ostracod ostracod or ostracode a subclass of crustaceans that are small bivalve (two shells) invertebrates that inhabit both marine and fresh waters. Ostracods range in age from Lower Cambrian to present and are good microfossils. ost or Ostr OSWCM oil and saltwater cut mud OT open tubing OTA Office of Technology Assessment OT&S oil taste and stain OTC Offshore Technology Conference OTD or O.TX>. old total depth other valuable considerations a phrase in an instrument such as a deed or oil and gas lease that allows the instrument to be recorded but does not disclose the amount paid for the transaction. O.V.C. otl outlet OTS oil to surface OTS&F oil taste, stain, and fluorescence Ottawa sand a hydraulic fracturing proppant. Ottawa sand is from Canada, well-rounded and well-sorted, and has high compressive strength. O2 oxygen OU oil unit Ouija board an instrument with a protractor and attached scales that is used to determine the correct orientation for a deflection tool to kick off a deviated well ounce a unit of weight equal to Vi2 lb troy or !/i6 avoirdupois, oz outage 1) an amount of oil lost during storage or transportation 2) the space in a storage tank between the liquid surface and the top of the tank, (ullage) outage bob a dip weight attached to the end of a dip or gauge tape used in the outage gauge method to measure oil in a tank outage gage or gauge a method that is used to determine the amount of oil in a tank by measuring the distance between the top of the tank and the level of the oil in the tank. The outage gauge method is used when the bottom of the tank is filled with heavy sediment and is in contrast to the more common innage gauge method. outcrop an exposure of rocks on the surface outer conductor a short string or length of casing that is run into an offshore well to anchor the wellhead equipment on the seabed, (anchor string or foundation pile) outer continental shelf the portion of the seabed in the United States that extends from the outer limit of the inner continental shelf that is owned by the states to 8,000 ft water depth. The states own the seabed from the beach out to 3 naut mi, with the states of Florida and Texas owning the seabed out to the 9-

ORR overriding royalty ORRI overriding royalty interest orsh orangish Orth orthoclase orthochem a mineral that was formed by chemical precipitation. An orthochem is in contrast to a transported mineral grain called an allochem. orthochemical rock a rock that was formed by chemical precipitation such as a salt. An orthochemical rock is in contrast to an allochemical or autochthonous rock. orthoclase a feldspar mineral composed of KAlSi3O8. Orthoclase commonly occurs as white, gray, or pink crystals that are boxlike. It has one perfect and one good cleavage at 90, a specific gravity of 2.5-2.6, and a hardness of 6. Orthoclase is common in granite and other acid igneous rocks and is found in immature sediments such as arkose sandstone. (K or potassium feldspar) Orth or or orthodolomlte dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2], a sedimentary rock and mineral, formed by chemical or biological precipitation from water. Orthodolomite is rare and is dense, fine-grained, and well-laminated. Orthodolomite is in contrast to secondary, diagenic, or supratidal dolomite, (primary dolomite) orthogonal 1) at right angles 2) a curve that is perpendicular to all points on the wave crests of a refraction diagram, (wave ray) orthoquartzite a sandstone of well-sorted sandsized grains of almost entirely quartz composition (generally greater than 90%-95%) with a little chemical cement and no matrix. An orthoquartzite tends to be white in color and has excellent original porosity. Orthoquartzite is an example of a very mature sedimentary rock. O-Qtz OS 1) oil show 2) overshot 3) operating system O.S. oil sand O/S 1) out of service 2) out of stock OSA oil soluble acid Osagean a North American stage of geological time that ended about 355 m. y. ago. It is part of the Mississippian period. OS&F oil stain and fluorescence oscilloscope an instrument with a fluorescent screen that is used to display the shape of an electrical wave O-SD or O sd oil sand OSF oil string flange OSHA Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration OSHOT overshot OSI oil well shut in osmosis the spontaneous flow of the solvent of a more dilute solution through a semipermeable membrane to a more concentrated solution. Water will flow through a semipermeable membrane separating two aqueous solutions of different salinities. The flow through the membrane will continue until the salinities are equal. OSO offshore supply office OSP offset seismic profile

outlier overpressure naut mi limit. The federal government regulates the outer continental shelf through the Minerals Management Service. OCS outlier an area of rocks surrounded by older rocks. An outlier could be caused by erosion of the surrounding rocks and is in contrast to an inlier. outline map a small-scale map of a large area that shows the basic configuration of the area perhaps including state and county lines out of gauge a wellbore, drilling bit, tool, or pipe that has been worn and is no longer circular in cross section or is below a certain diameter outpost well a well drilled in the expected extent of a reservoir that is being developed but at a significant distance, usually two or more drilling-and-spacing units, from the nearest producer in that reservoir. (extension test or well or step-out well) output the information, either printed on paper, displayed on a terminal, or stored on magnetic tape or disk, that a computer generates by calculation. Output is in contrast to input. output power the traveling block load times the velocity of the traveling block, (hook power) output shaft the shaft on the transmission that goes to a driven machine. The output shaft is in contrast to the input shaft. outrigger a steel arm with a pad that extends out from the side of equipment such as a crane to the ground to stabilize the equipment outside acreage a creage in the area surrounding an earning well in which the farmee earns an interest during a farmout agreement, (excess) outside well a well drilled on an adjacent lease that must be offset by a well drilled on the lease out-step well a general term for a well drilled near a producing well in an effort to extend the field. A more precise term is a step-out well. OVC or O.V.C. other valuable considerations overage production from a well that is in excess of the allowable, the amount that is permitted to be produced by a government regulatory agency over-all length the length of a tubular including the threads. Over-all length is in contrast to laid length. over and short the difference between the calculated amount of oil produced and the oil in the stock tanks. This difference is due to oil loss by leakage, evaporation, temperature changes, and inaccurate measurements. O&S overbalance a greater pressure exerted by the weight of drilling mud in the well than the reservoir pressure exerted on fluids in rocks surrounding the well. Overbalance prevents fluids in the surrounding rock from entering the well and forces the drilling mud into the surrounding rocks. Overbalance is in contrast to underbalance. overbalanced drilling drilling with the mud pressure greater than formation pressures. Overbalanced drilling is most common and is in contrast to balanced or underbalanced drilling. overbank the flood-plain area that is covered by flooding waters when a river flows over its banks. River levees are located between the river channel

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and the overbank area. Overbank is an area of finegrained deposition during floods with occasional coarse-sediment deposition on a crevasse splay. (backswamp) overburden rocks overlying a) the drilling target, b) a specific sedimentary rock layer, c) a specific depth, or d) a reflector on a seismic record. OB overburden pressure or stress the subsurface pressure exerted by the weight of the overlying rocks. Overburden pressure increases about 100 psi/100 ft of depth. Overburden pressure is in contrast to the pressure on the fluid in the pores of the rock which is reservoir, fluid, or formation pressure, (earth, geostatic, lithostatic, or rock pressure) overburden stress gradient the weight of the overlying rocks per unit depth. Overburden stress gradient is about 1 psi/ft. overcentrifuging the excessive use of hydrocyclones in the circulating system of a drilling rig. The removal of too many colloidal-sized solids reduces the viscosity of the drilling fluid. overconvey to transfer a larger fraction of the property interest than is actually owned overconveyance fractional mineral rights ownerships on a tract of land that adds up to more than 100% overflow the flow of liquid coming out of the top or wide end of a hydrocyclone such as a desander or desilter. The underflow takes more solids out the bottom with its portion of the hydrocyclone flow. overflush 1) a fluid slug that is injected into a well during an acid job to flush the acid from the tubing and casing and into the formation 2) a stage in a hydraulic frac job during which a slug is injected into the well to push the frac fluid further back into the formation overgauge hole a well with a diameter larger than the diameter of the bit used to drill it. An overgauge hole is in contrast to a full-gauge or undergauge hole. overgrowth secondary mineral material deposited in crystallographic continuity on a mineral grain in a sedimentary rock. The overgrowth can be either the same chemical composition or a different composition than the mineral grain. Overgrowths reduce porosity in sedimentary rocks. Ovgth overhang the top or bulb of a salt plug that protrudes over the stem overhaul the ability of a weight on a line to unwind the line from the drum with the brake released overhead a company's expenses minus the operating expenses overlap the succession of sedimentary rocks deposited on an unconformity with progressively younger rocks extending further onto the unconformity. Onlap is a related term. overmature source rocks that have been cooked to produce gas overmigration the moving of a dipping reflector on a seismic porfile too far by migration processing because of using too fast a sound velocity overpressure abnormal high formation pressure. Overpressure is fluid pressure in a reservoir that is

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overpressured

overthrust fault

higher than normal pore pressure or hydrostatic pressure that increases at a rate of about 0.465 psi/ft depth. Overpressure occurs in isolated reservoirs that do not communicate with other reservoirs. (geopressure) overpressured a subsurface formation that has abnormal high pressures, (geopressured) overprint a texture in a sedimentary rock that has been superimposed by diagenesis on the original texture overproduced well a well that has produced more than its allowable. OP overproduction oil and/or gas production that is produced in excess in either a) an allowable or b) demand overpull the amount of upward force exerted on a tubular such as a drillsring that is greater than the pipe's weight in a fluid such as air or drilling mud. Overpull causes tension in the tubular string. Wall sticking can cause overpull during tripping out. OVPUL over pumping a condition that occurs in a well when the pump displacement is greater than the produced fluids. Over pumping causes cyclic production. override 1) the flow that is caused by gravity of a lighter fluid over a heavier fluid in a subsurface reservoir during enhanced oil recovery 2) an interest in a well that bears no cost of production, see overriding royalty over-ride, override, overriding royalty, or overriding royalty interest a nonworking interest in a well that is created from a working interest and has no associated costs such as production costs. The only applicable costs are severance and windfall profits tax. An overriding interest can be created when a working-interest owner transfers an interest or when the owner creates a carved-out overriding royalty interest. A geologist, landman, or lawyer often gets an overriding interest for putting together and selling the prospect. O/R, ORI, ORR or ORRI overrunning clutch a clutch that engages a rotating member only under certain conditions. The clutch is used to connect a starter to an engine but disengages so the engine cannot turn the starter. overrun penalty a penalty imposed on a consumer for unauthorized consumption of gas in excess of the maximum demand on the gas contract overshot 1) the most commonly used fishing tool for catching drillpipe and tool joints. An overshot is composed of a guide shoe, a lower sub with slips or grapples, a body, and an upper sub. The slips or grapples (basket or spiral) hold the fish. The overshot has a pressure-sealing device to allow fluid circulation through a pipe fish. Mud is first circulated to clean the fish and a string shot can be run through the fish to back it off The overshot can be used by itself or stacked in a double unit to catch two different size fish. Double and triple bowl overshots each have different sized slips or grapples to catch several sizes of fish. The overshot can be released from the fish by torquing to the right and bumping down. Some overshots have a mill to smooth the top of the fish and are called overshot mills. A short-catch overshot has the slips or grapple near the bottom of the overshot to catch a very short fish. The long-catch overshot

overshot

has a long bowl section and catches several feet down from the top of the fish. OS or OSHOT 2) a short length of casing that fits over the junction of two joints of casing being patched overshot grab a fishing tool designed to washover a fish and latch onto the socket on top of the fish overshot guide a swage-type fitting that is run on the bottom of an overshot to guide the tool onto the fish. The overshot guide is slightly smaller than the hole diameter. overshot mill or milling tool a mill run on the bottom of an overshot to dress the top of the fish to the necessary diameter for catching oversize collar a drill collar with an outer diameter that is slightly smaller than the well. A wash pipe will not fit over it. A tapered tap or similar fishing tool must be used if fishing is necessary. overswing an excessive bit walk over-the-counter application the method used to lease United States onshore federal lands on a tract that has never been nominated for competitive leasing or has not received a bid during simultaneous leasing. An over-the-counter application is offered on a firstcome, first-served basis and has a $75 filing fee. The lessee is granted the right to explore, drill, and produce oil and gas from the tract. The lease has a 10-year primary term with an annual rental of $1 per acre for the first 5 years and $3 per acre for the last 5 years. The lease carries a 12Yt% royalty. An overthe-counter application is in contrast to competitive leases and simultaneous leasing. over-the-road equipment that is transported on highways and meets highway load limits overthrust a large-scale thrust fault. The hanging wall can be horizontally thrust miles over the footwall. overthrust belt an area of thrust faulting. An overthrust belt is the result of compression. Large drag folds that are located both on and below the thrust faults can form petroleum traps. Basement rock is sometimes thrust on top of sedimentary rocks in an overthrust. (disturbed belt) overthrust fault a low-angle reverse fault. Overthrust faults are caused by compressional forces.

overtorque
DISTURBED BCLT

oxidizing environment

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" * *

OWWO old well worked over ox oxidized oxidation 1) a chemical reaction in a substance with oxygen to form an oxide, ox 2) the loss of electrons at the anode of a corrosion cell oxidation number the charge an atom would have if the bonding electrons were assigned to the more electronegative element. In water, oxygen has an oxidation number of 2, whereas hydrogen has +1. In a nonpolar covalent bond, the bonding electrons are split evenly.
DEPOSITION

overthrust belt

The angle between the overthrust fault plane and horizontal is less than 45. (thrust fault) overtorque to make up a tool joint too tight. Overtorque is in contrast to undertorque. overtravel a sucker-rod pump stroke that is longer than the polished rod stroke length due to stretching of the sucker-rod string overtreatment the addition of too much chemical emulsion breaker to an emulsion

oxbow lake overturned fold

overturned fold a fold in which the axis is not straight, and the limbs are not symmetrical overvoltage see induced polarization over water subsurface water located over an oil and gas reservoir Ovgth overgrowth ovhd overhead O-VIS oil viscosity OVPUL overpull O/W oil-in-water emulsion OWB oil/water burner OWC oil/water contact OWCM oil and water cut mud OWDD 1) oil well drilled deeper 2) old well drilled deeper O.W.D.D. old well drilled deeper OWF oil well flowing OWG oil well gas ownership map a map prepared by a commercial firm that shows the boundaries and names of owners of tracts of land. An ownership map is copyrighted. OWPB 1) oil well plugged back 2) old well plugged back OWPB or O.W.P.B. old well plugged back OWST old well sidetracked

ox bow lake the body of water that fills a river meander channel after it has been cut off and abandoned. If the cutoff faces downstream on the river, only organic-rich, fine-grained sediments will fill the lake forming a clay plug. If the cutoff faces upstream, occasional floods will sweep down the abandoned channel, eroding the fine-grained sediments and depositing sand. Oxfordian a global age of geological time that occurred about 160-155 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Jurassic epoch. oxic the presence of free air or oxygen in contrast to anaerobic. When applied to water oxic is water that has enough oxygen to support aerobic bacteria and is above 0.2 ml/1 in oxygen content. Oxic is in contrast to anaerobic, (aerobic) oxidation a half-reaction with the loss of electrons and an increase in the oxidation number. The compound becomes more positive. Oxidation is in contrast to reduction. oxidation-reduction potential the voltage difference between inert electrodes immersed in a reversible oxidation-reduction system. The oxidationreduction potential is a measure of the system's oxidation state. (Eh or redox potential) ORP oxide a chemical compound with oxygen oxidizing agent a chemical substance that accepts elearons from another substance. An oxidizing agent is in contrast to a reducing agent. oxidizing environment an environment that has free oxygen. Aerobic water or sediments are in an

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oxy ozocerite or ozokerite inequal shells that lives attached to the shallow sea bottoms in brackish waters. Oysters have existed from the Triassic period to the present and are important guide fossils. Oyst oz ounce ozocerite or ozokerite a native bitumen mineral wax that occurs in irregular veins in sedimentary rocks. Ozocerite has a microcrystalline structure and is composed of hydrocarbons in the C22 to C^ range with a small liquid component. Ozocerite is graded on the basis of melting point that varies between 147176F and color that varies from black to green. It has a wide variety of properties and is firm, but breaks when twisted. Ozocerite is derived from the Greek words ozo for small and keros for wax.

oxidizing environment. An oxidizing environment is in contrast to a reducing environment. oxy oxygen oxygen index the quanitiy of CO2 measured by 53 from Rock-Eval pyrolysis relative to total organic carbon in the sample. It is reported in mg CXVg

<W 01
oxygen scavenger a chemical such as sodium sulphite that reacts with and removes oxygen. Oxygen scavengers are used to prevent degradation of polymers in enhanced oil recovery and corrosion during waterflooding. Oyst oyster oyster a type of pelecypod with two irregular and

P packer squeeze

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P I ) pressure 2) compressional wave 3) polarization 4) dipole movement/volume 5) pattern 6) proximity log 7) pound 8) slowness 9) packstone 10) salinity 11) pinched 12) petap 1) pressure 2) pore 3) particle 4) cumulative produced 5) production time 6) mean 7) pseudo 8) poor 9) picoP/ 1) pumped 2) pumping PA pooling agreement PA pressure drop per annulus section Pa pascal Pa 1) abandoned pressure 2) absolute surface pressure pa propulsion assisted PAB per acre bonus packed biomicrite a limestone with greater than 66% lime mud (micrite) matrix compared to sparry calcite and over 50% skeletal grains packed column a contact tower that is filled with small particles that come in contact with a gas. A packed column is in contrast to having the particles on a horizontal screen or liquid filled bubble trays. packed-hole bottom hole assembly a downhole assembly on a drillstring that is stiff and is stabilized to full gauge for the well. One to eight stabilizers are used immediately above the bit, with three or four stabilizers being common. The packed-hole bottomhole assembly is used to maintain angle on a deviated hole and can be divided into mild, medium, and severe, depending on the number of stabilizers and their position in relation to the bit. A packedhole bottomhole assembly is in contrast to a fulcrum, pendulum, or slick bottomhole assembly, (stiff drilling assembly) packed oflf 1) the sealing of the annulus in a well by an annular blowout preventer 2) a portion of the well that has been isolated by packers packed-pendulum assembly a downhole assembly used to drill deviated wells. The packedpendulum assembly is similar to the limber-pendulum assembly except that it has one or more stabilizers above the pendulum stabilizer which is located 3060 ft above the drill bit. packed tower an absorber or stripper that is used to remove something from a liquid stream to remove liquid from gas. The packed tower has a vertical shell with several packing supports that hold the tower packing. Liquid goes in the top of the tower and out

the bottom. The tower can contain a liquid distributor and redistributor. Gas goes in the bottom and out the top of the tower. packer an expandable device that is run in either an open well, in a cased hole or in tubing to prevent fluids from flowing vertically. The packer consists of a sealing element, a holding or setting device, and a fluid passage. Packers can be expanded either hydraulically or mechanically. Packers are often used to isolate portions of the well for testing, for cement and acid jobs, and to complete a well. Two types of packers are: a) production packers and b) treating/ testing packers. Production packers are part of the production equipment in the well, whereas testing/ treating packers are used temporarily during well testing, completion, or workover. Packers are either retrievable or permanent. A permanent packer is designed to be used only once in completion of a well, has slips to prevent movement up and down the casing, and has a large bore through which tubing can be run. A retrievable packer is designed to be reused. It is part of the tubing string, and the tubing cannot move in the packer. Retrievable packers are set either by a) weight (J-set or automatic bottom), b) tension, or c) rotation. A conventional packer has of a seal element, packer mandrel, slips, cone, J-shot, hydraulic hold-down button, and backup ring. The seal element is elastomer, asbestos, or other material that changes shape when the packer is set. The packer mandrel is the metal body of the packer. The slips are the gripping elements for the inside of casing. Sometimes two (tandem packers) or more packers are run to obtain packer seats. PKR orpkr packer flowmeter a spinner-type of velocity meter that uses an expandable packer to seal the tool-casing annulus and force the well fluids to flow up through the flowmeter. Velocity measured on the flowmeter can be converted to volume. The packer flowmeter can operate a relatively low velocities. packer fluid a fluid that is placed in the annulus between the tubing and the production casing above a tubing packer. Packer fluid helps control well pressure, decreases differential pressure across the packer, retard corrosion, and aid workovers. Completion fluids are often used as the packer fluid. The packer fluid is usually oil-base, brine-base, or an attapulgite gel. A low-solids packer fluid contains a polymer viscosifier, corrosion inhibitor, and soluble salts. packer mill a fishing tool that is used to remove packers from a well. A tungsten carbide milling section is rotated to cut the slips on the packer. A pilot section goes through the packer bore to grip and retrieve the packer. packer seat the area of a well's sidewall where a packer is engaged packer squeeze a type of cement squeeze job in which the slurry is pumped down the tubing and

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packer test paleogeologic map fine-grained limestone (micrite) between the grains. Pkst, pkst, or P PACT" a tool used to seal a part of the tubing and clean out a well. A steel bar is dropped into the tubing to rupture the seal <an the tool and create a backsurge to clean out the well. PAD paragon acid dispersion pad 1) the surface area on which the drilling rig sits 2) a rubber surface on an arm of a sonde that presses against the side of the wellbore to keep the sonde oriented correctly. The pad has no electrodes in it and is called the backup pad. 3) an insulated rubber pillow filled with fluid that has electrodes mounted in it. The button electrodes are usually flush with or slightly recessed in the rubber surface of the pad. The pad is pressed against the wellbore by an arm from the sonde. 4) a slug of carrying fluid without proppants that is pumped into the formation before the carrying fluid containing the proppants during a hydraulic fracturing job. The pad sometimes contains acid, (spearhead) paddle mixer a motored device that rotates paddles on a shaft to stir the drilling mud in the mud tanks. (mechanical agitator) paddle plate a type of orifice plate that is designed to measure flow volume through a flowline by the differential pressure of the fluid flowing through the orifice. A paddle plate is designed to be used with orifice flanges and has a handle to insert it between the flanges. The size, pressure ratings, and orifice bore diameter is stamped on the handle. The other common type of orifice plate is the Universal orifice plate. pad eye a metal lifting ring that is welded or riveted to a structure pad resistivity device see microresistivity log pad die log book to enter more footage in the drilling log than was actually drilled PAH polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons paid-up lease an oil and gas lease that is in effect for the entire period of the primary term without delay rental payments pair production the annihilation of a gamma ray to form an electron and a proton. Pair production requires a threshold energy greater than 1.02 MeV. PAL pipe analysis log pal paleontology PALEO paleontology log Paleo Paleozoic paleo paleontology Paleocene or Palaeocene an epoch of geological time about 67-55 m. y. ago. It occurred during the beginning of the Cenozoic era. Paleogene an interval of geological time that includes the Oligocene, Eocene, and Paleocene epochs. It is equivalent to the lower Tertiary. paleogeographic map a map showing an interpretation of the geography of the land during a specific geological time paleogeologic map a map that shows the geology of an area of land surface during a specific geological time. A paleogeologic map is often a geological map

into the formation. A retrievable packer on a drillstring or a retainer packer on a wireline is set above the formation to be cemented. If no packer is used, it is called a bradenhead or hesitation squeeze. packer test a hydraulic pressure test used to determine whether or not a packer is seated packing 1) a gravel or coarse sand-filled cavity in the wellbore at the level of the producing formation. Packing is used to prevent sand incursion or caving and to increase the flow of reservoir fluids into the well. 2) material such as rubber or fiber that is used to form a pressure-tight seal around a rod or valve stem to prevent the escape of liquid or gas 3) the arrangement of sedimentary particles such as sand grains in a sandstone 4) the number of bytes of information per unit of magnetic tape 5) the stationary phase in a gas chromatograph tube or column packing gland a cylinder that contains compressed packing around a moving shaft to prevent leakage of gas or liquid around the shaft as it moves. On a suckerrod pump, the packing gland is the cylinder that fits around the polished rod and provides a seal between the tubing and the atmosphere while the polished rod rises and falls. Guide bearings above and below the packing provide protection from any misalignment of the polished rod. Three types of packing glands are single packing, double packing, and lubricating, (stuffing box) packing unit the expandable, moulded elastomer and steel closing element used in the annular blowout preventer pack off 1) to seal 2) to place and seat a packer in a well packoff a tool consisting of an upper and lower sealing element separated by a spacer pipe that is used to close holes in a tubing string. The packoff is run on a wireline. pack-off preventers packing material on a wellhead that is set by pressure from below and is used to remove pipe under pressure from a well, (stripper preventers) pack-off shoe a filling that is run on the bottom of a casing string and is designed to protect formations below the casing from cement contamination during a cement job. The shoe is run down the well to the lower limit of cement. A ball is then dropped down the casing to seat in the pack-off shoe. Pump pressure then moves an inner piston down to compress a rubber packing element out to form a seal with the well. The cementing ports above the packing element are then opened.

packstone

packstone a type of limestone with large sand-sized grains touching each other (grain supported) but with

paleogeomorphic trap paraffin of the rocks that crop out under an unconformity. Such a map is called a subcrop map. paleogeomorphic trap petroleum trap that is formed by old topography such as a cuesta, buried hill, or karst paleokarst ancient karst (solution) in limestone that is buried and covered by younger rocks paleomagnetic stratigraphy the use of detrital remanent magnetism in sedimentary rock and the geomagnetic scale of normal and reverse earth magnetic-field history to identify stratigraphic units. (magnetic stratigraphy) paleomagnetism the remanent magnetism in a rock formed by the alignment of ferromagnetic minerals, mainly magnetite. The ferromagnetic minerals aligned themselves with the earth's magnetic field either a) in an igneous rock, when the crystals formed in a cooling melt (thermoremanent magnetism), b) in a sedimentary rock, as the grains were settling out of water (detrital remanent magnetism), or c) the growth of magnetic crystals in a magnetic field (chemical remanent magnetism). A geomagnetic scale of normal and reverse earth magnetic-field polarity going back in geological time has been established. paleontologic or paleontology log a record of the characteristics of the rock layers in a well with emphasis on the stratigraphy and microfossil content of the rocks. PALEO paleonotologist a person who studies and identifies fossils paleontology the study of fossils, paleo or pal paleosection a cross section that shows either rock layers or seismic reflection events at a certain time in the geologic past. A seismic section can be flattened on a distinctive horizon, (restored section) paleostructure map a map that shows the location of structural features such as folds and faults that were present in the area at a specific geological time Paleozoic or Palaeozoic an era of time 570-250 m. y. ago. It is subdivided into the Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous (Mississippian and Pennsylvanian), and Permian periods. Paleo palygorskite see attapulgite palynologist a person who studies and identifies fossil spores and pollens palynomorph a resistant-walled, organic microfossil body such as pollen, spores, acritarchs, and dinoflagellates P&A plugged and abandoned P&A job plug and abandon job P&F pump and flow P and ID piping and instrumentation diagram P&NG petroleum and natural gas P&P 1) porosity and permeability 2) porous and permeable p and s plugged and suspended panel the space between girts on the legs of a derrick. The panels on a drilling rig derrick have a vertical height of 7 ft. (bay)

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Pangaea

Pangea the supercontinent that existed from about 300 until about 150 m. y. ago Pangea is often divided into Laurasis, the northern segment and Gondwana, the southern segment. The supercontinent was surrounded by an ocean called Panthalassa. Pangea is derived from Greek for all lands, see continental drift pantograph a drafting instrument that is used to make a copy at a different scale Pap or pap paper PAR per acre rental Par or par particle

paraconformity

paraconformity an unconformity, a surface of erosion or nondeposition which is not discernable from a bedding plane. The sedimentary rocks above and below the paraconformity are conformable and parallel.

paraffin

paraffin 1) a type of hydrocarbon molecule (CnH2n+2) formed by a saturated single chain. Paraffins are common in organic matter, sediments, and petroleum and include methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, and the higher alkanes starting with hexane, heptane, octane, and larger molecules. Paraffin molecules can have 1-61 carbon atoms. CH4 through C4H10 are gases, C5H12 through C16H34 are liquids,

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paraffin-base crude oil partial pressure Methane (CH4) is the simplest of the paraffin series. (methane series) paragon acid dispersion an acid with a dispersed aromatic solvent that is used in acidizing waterinjection wells or converting producing wells to injection wells. The paragon acid dispersion dissolves both organic and inorganic deposits. PAD parallel two electronic circuit elements that are connected in such a way that an electric current flowing through either element of the circuit will reach exactly the same destination. Parallel is in contrast to series. parallel folding anticlines or domes in sedimentary rocks in which the sedimentary rock beds are parallel, there has been no thickening or thinning in the beds, and the fold becomes more pronounced with depth. Parallel folding is in contrast to repeated folding. parallel-free pump a type of hydraulic pump used on oil wells in which two strings of tubing are used. The power fluid goes down one string and the produced fluid comes up the other string of tubing. A parallel-free pump is in contrast to a casing-free pump. parallel stream pattern a stream drainage pattern that is characterized by a regular spacing of parallel streams. A parallel stream pattern is formed on a ridge and slope topography that is controlled by underlying soft and resistant formations. parallel tubing-string completion a common type of dual completion in a well using one single and one double packer and two tubing strings. The flow from each producing zone is kept separate and comes up its own tubing string in contrast to commingling. parasequence a succession of genetically-related rock beds or bedsets that are relatively conformable and are bounded by marine-flooding surfaces or their equivalents. A parasequence is part of a system tract that is defined in seismic or sequence stratigraphy. Some examples of parasequences are lowstand wedge and basin-floor fan. parasequence set a sequence of genetically-related parasequences which form a distinctive stacking pattern and is usually bounded by major marineflooding surfaces or their equivalents PARF paraffin-base crude oil parity check a computer check of magnetic tape data Parker diagram a method for showing the chemical concentration of oilfield brines. A vertical bar is used to show the parts per million concentration of Ca, Mg and SO4, Na, Cl2, HCO3, and CO2. Parmalee wrench a wrench that is designed to fit all the way around a core barrel parol evidence verbal rather than written evidence part partings parted rods broken sucker rods in a well partial assignment the transfer of part of either the lessor's or lessee's interest in an oil and gas lease partial pressure the pressure exerted by one in the components of a mixture of gases. The partial pressure is the same pressure that the component gas would exert if it were alone in the same volume as the mixture and at the same temperature.

and C17H36 and longer are waxy solids. Paraffins are derived from bacteria, algae, and land plants. Up to 30% of crude oil can be composed of paraffins. (normal alkane) 2) solid wax removed by cooling, dewaxing, or de-oiling. The heavier paraffins (C17+) in a paraffin-based crude oil separate upon cooling and accumulate on the inside of tubing and flowlines. Paraffin is derived from a word meaning "having little affinity" because paraffins are not affected by common reagents such as acids and oxidizers. (wax) 3) kerosene in the United Kingdom paraffin-base crude oil a crude oil that contains little or no asphalt but has a paraffin residue upon distillation. When burned, the oil leaves a waxy residue. Refining of paraffin-base crude oil produces a high yield of low octane gasoline and lubricating oil. The oil tends to have high API and pour point and is green in color. Paraffin-base crude oils represent 2% of the world's oil supply. The original Pennsylvania crudes were paraffin-based. Paraffin-base crude oil is in contrast to naphthene-base crude oil. PARF paraffinic a low-density crude oil on the U.S. Bureau of Mines correlation index paraffinicity the properties and composition of paraffin in crude oil paraffin inhibitor a chemical that is injected into the production string of a well to retard or prevent paraffin deposition

paraffin knife

paraffin scratcher

paraffin knife a device used on a sand line in the tubing of an oil well to scrape the wax off the tubing. The paraffin knife has a ring that fits the tubing to scrape the paraffin. paraffin removal the removal of wax from tubing in a well by mechanical knives or scrapers on wireline or drillpipe, solvents, chemicals, heat, or bacteria paraffin scale crystalline wax from crude oil on the walls of a tubular or vessel paraffin scraper or scratcher a wireline device that uses knives to remove wax from tubing. The paraffin scratcher is also used to clean landing nipples and to fish small segments of loose wireline in a well. paraffin series the 30 naturally occurring paraffin or normal alkane hydrocarbons that form saturated straight chains. The paraffin series includes gases (Cj to C4), liquids (C5 to C16), and solids (C17 and above).

participating interest pattern participating interest the proportion or percentage that a certain party has in the total working interest in a unit operating agreement, leasehold, or well participating royalty a royalty interest that also shares in lease benefits other than production such as delay rental payments participation a working interest under an operating agreement participation crude see buy-back crude participation factor a party's percentage of a pooled or unitized working interest in a unit. The participation factor is usually determined by that party's contribution of the estimated volume of hydrocarbons in the unit. participation formula the formula that is used in an operating, unitization, or pooling agreement to divide the costs and production participation survey a method used to raise money for seismic. A contractor forms a proposed seismic survey plan that is prsented to several companies. Companies that contribute money have a say in the plan and share the data. The data can later be sold to other companies and the money used to obtain more seismic. participation-type contract a gas contract in which the gas seller is compensated for the liquids that are extracted from the gas, depending on how much liquid the gas contains particulates fine-grained particles that are small enough to be suspended in a gas or liquid but are large enough to be filtered out parting pipe to separate or cut a stuck downhole assembly in a well. Parting pipe can be done by backing off (unscrewing the stuck pipe) or by cutting it with mechanical, chemical, jet, or explosive cutters partings very thin layers or sedimentary rocks, prtgs partition 1) the separation of undivided interests by horizontal severance into separate surface tracts 2) the separation of undivided interests by vertical severance into separate subsurface formations partition coefficient the mol fraction of a component in the vapor phase (YJ divided by the mol fraction of the component in the liquid phase (XJ. The partition coefficient is a function of temperature, pressure, and composition, (equilibrium constant, K factor, or vapor-liquid equilibrium ratio) K partition column gas/liquid column partition gas chromatograph see gas chromatograph partitioning the mass transfer of a chemical from one liquid phase to another liquid phase party a geophysical crew. On land, a seismic party usually consists of about two dozen people with about half a dozen vehicles. party chief the engineer on a land seismic crew who is in charge of the seismic crew and is responsible for the completion of the work, the party chief has two assistants, the computer chief, and the party manager. party manager the person on a seismic crew who supervises the field work and is responsible for

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equipment maintenance and safety. The party manager works directly under the party chief. pascal a derived unit in System International (SI) for pressure and stress. A pascal is calculated by newtons divided by meters (N/m2). A kilopascal (kPa) is commonly used for measurements. A pascal is equal to 0.479 lbf/100 ft2, and a kilopascal is equal to 6.8947 psi. Pa passband the frequency range that is transmitted through a band-pass filter passivator a chemical inhibitor that is used to change the potential of a metal to a more cathodic or negative value. A passivator retards corrosion. passive a system that either a) has no source of energy or b) does not generate a signal passive clay a clay that does not react with drilling and completion fluids. Passive clay is in contrast to active clay. passive margin a continental margin that was formed by the rifting of a former continent and sea floor spreading. A passive margin is relatively quiet tectonically in contrast to a active or transform margin. passive remote sensing remote sensing that uses naturally reflected or radiated energy in contrast to active remote sensing. Aerial photography is an example of passive remote sensing. pass production to drill below a commercial zone pass region the frequency band that is transmitted pass-through royalty a payment made for a well that is drilled on one leasehold but produces from another leasehold PASWC Petroleum Accountants Society of Western Canada pat patented patch 1) a large geophone group or array used in seismic exploration that is hundreds of feet in extent and contains hundreds of geophones that feed into a single channel 2) a temporary connection 3) a pad or piece of material that is used to cover a hole or weak spot. Pch orpch

PATCH REEFS

patch reef a small, detached reef, often located in the lagoon of an atoll or barrier reef. The patch reef has a flat top and ranges in size from about several hundred feet to a mile in diameter. patent 1) a government deed. A grant for land conveyed by a state. 2) a transfer of public land to a patentee patentee a person who receives a grant or a privilege by a patent P adn local atmospheric pressure patn pattern pattern 1) a geometric array of shotholes or geophones used in seismic exploration 2) the aerial distribution of producing and injection wells used

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pattern flood PDB

in waterflood and enhanced oil recovery. The four basic types of patterns are a) direct line drive, b) staggered line drive, c) five spot, and d) seven spot, patn pattern flood a waterflood that uses a geometrical well pattern for injection and production wells such as a two spot, three spot, regular four spot, skewed four spot, five spot, seven spot, inverted seven spot, normal nine spot, inverted nine spot, direct line drive, or staggered line flood. A pattern flood is in contrast to a dump flood. pattern life the time during which an enhanced oil recovery pattern of wells participates in the oilrecovery process pawl the metal leaf or bolt that springs or fells into the notches on a rachet wheel to prevent backward motion

pay zone

pay

pay \)seepayzone 2) the thickness of the producing zone in a well. Pay thickness can be measured as either gross or net pay. pay formation the formation in a well that produces commercial amounts of gas and/or oil pay horizon see pay zone paying quantities production from a well that would economically justify continued production by the operator from that well, (commercial quantities) payoff the time when a well's production starts to make money pay out the time needed for oil and/or gas production to compensate for (equal) the costs of drilling, completing, and operating the well up to that time. Payout is not discounted for the time value of money as it is in discounted pay out. PO pay sand sandstone that produces gas and/or oil pay streak a commercial reservoir in a well pay string see production string payt payment pay-up privilege an option in a carried interest arrangement in which the carried party can compensate the carrying party for the balance due and the carried party will share in the operations pay zone the vertical extent of the reservoir producing gas and/or oil in a well. The pay zone

can be named after the producing formation or by the pay depth and thickness, (pay, production, or productive horizon or producing zone) PB or P.B. plugged back Pb or pb bubblepoint or saturation pressure Pb 1) pressure base 2) absolute pressure at reference or base condition PBD 1) plugged-back 2) plug-back depth Pbh bottomhole pressure PBHTD projected bottomhole total depth Pbl or pbl pebble pbnjiK maximum annular backup pressure PBP pulled big pipe PBPA Permian Basin Petroleum Association PBR polished bore receptacle PBTD plugged-back total depth PBTV possum belly tank volume PC 1) pressure control 2) photoclinometer Pc 1) capillary pressure 2) compaction pressure 3) casing pressure Pc or pc 1) critical pressure 2) pressure capacity pc 1) piece 2) pseudocritical pcf pounds per cubic foot p r f flowing casing pressure Pch or pen 1) patch 2) patchy pes pieces p r a static casing pressure PCT production combination tool PCT or pet percent PCT testing a test run on a floating rig similar to a drillstem test. The PCT test differs from a drillstem test in that the upper end of the pipe string is supported from the seafloor wellhead, and the principle control valve in the test string is operated by annular pump pressure from the surface rather than by the movement of the drillstring. PCV pressure control valve PCWPC Permanent Council of the World Petroleum Congress PD 1) proposed depth 2) paid 3) per day 4) pump displacement 5) plug down PD total pressure drop in annulus pd dew-point pressure PDB peedee belemnite

PDC pelletizer PDC 1) pressure differential controller 2) perforating depth control 3) polycrystalline diamond compact PDC bit see polycrystalline diamond compact bit PDCL or PDC log perforating depth control log PDI pressure differential indicator PDIC pressure differential indicator control PDM 1) positive displacement motor 2) photoclinometer dip meter PD meter an instrument that is used to measure the volume of fluid flow. The PD meter separates the fluid such as a gas stream into separate volumes and measures the number of volumes. Two common types of PD meters are the diaphragm meter and the rotary meter. The diaphragm meter uses two diaphragms in the meter case that are alternately filled and emptied to measure the gas volume. It is used for low volumes of clean, dry gas and is the type of meter used in home gas meters. The rotary meter uses a lobed impeller or rotating vanes to measure the gas. The impeller has two figure-8 lobes positioned at an angle of 90 from one another. The rotatingvane type uses a rotating idler and rotating valves or pistons. Rotary meters are used to measure high volumes of gas and can be used with high pressures. A PD meter provides information on the volume rather than the flow rate, in contrast to an inferential meter. (positive displacementflotvmeter, meter, or volumeter) PDR pressure differential recorder PDRC pressure differential recorder control PDRMA Portable Drilling Rig Manufacturers Association PDSD probable deep-seated salt dome PDT production test PDU products distribution unit PE 1) pumping equipment 2) petroleum engineering 3) plain end 4) photoelectric effect P/E see pump to engine ratio Pe or pe external boundary pressure Pe 1) effective confining pressure 2) photoelectric absorption cross section index P.E.A. Pacific Energy Association peak the maximum upward travel of a wave. A peak is in contrast to a trough. peak demand plant an installation that uses pressure and supercold (260 F) to make liquified natural gas on market demand. The plant uses extensive heat exchanger and compressor equipment. peak polished rod load the static weight of the sucker-rod string plus the maximum upward inertial force during the pumping cycle on a beam pumping unit. The peak polished road load occurs near the bottom of the stroke with the start of the upstroke and is in contrast to the minimum polished rod load.
PPRL

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pebble pup an assistant geologist pebble size a particle grain size with a diameter between 4 and 64 mm. PEBL, Pbl, orpbl PEBL pebble pebs pebbles pecker neck a rig builder pecker punch a sidewall corer Pedestal a centrifugal pump frame pedestral crane a rotating steel arm that is used for lifting on an offshore drilling rig or producing platform peg legging the sound made by the tools on the bottom of a cable-tool drilling line when not enough line is let out and the tools hit only on alternate strokes pegleg multiple a seismic reflection that reverberates between two subsurface reflectors before returning to the surface PEI Petroleum. Equipment Institute Pel or pel 1) pellet 2) pelletal pelagic the deep ocean environment Peld or peld 1) pelletoid 2) pelletoidal Pelec pelecypod

pelecypod

pelecypod an invertebrate belonging to the class Pelecypoda of the phylum Mollusca. Pelecypods are bivalved with two similar shells, have bilateral symmetry, and are mostly benthic, living on the sea bottom. Pelecypods range in age from the Cambrian period to the present and are important guide fossils.
Pelec or plcy

peapicker an inexperienced or clumsy oilfield worker, (boll weevil) pea shooter a shotgun used as a seismic source for shallow, high resolution studies peat an aggregate of slightly decomposed plant remains. With deeper burial and increased heat and pressure, the peat will be transformed into coal.

pelites sediments with a grain size less than 40 p.. Argillites have a grain size less than 2 (JL Pelites are in contrast to arenites and rudites. PELL 1) pelletal 2) pelletoidal pell pelletal pellet 1) a silt or sand-sized rounded aggregate with an amorphous internal structure. Pellets are common in limestone sediments where they originate primarily from mollusk and worm fecal pellets. Pel or pel 2) an insert-type of tooth on a roller-cone bit pelleted limestone a limestone with abundant pellets pellet impact bit a drilling bit that uses a highvelocity jet from a primary nozzle to draw drilling mud and pellets into a secondary nozzle and shoot them into the rock. The pellets are removed by the mud and reenter the aspirator section of the bit to be recycled. pelletizer an organism, such as a mollusk or worm, that burrows in mud and excretes fecal pellets

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pelletoi percentage gain on investment per hour (ft/hr) or minutes per foot (min/ft). Penetration rate is recorded on a drilling time log. (drilling rate) Perm Pennsylvanian Pennsylvanian a North American period of time about 330-290 m. y. ago. It occurred near the end of the Paleozoic era and is the equivalent of the Upper Carboniferous in Europe. The Pennsylvanian is subdivided into the Morrowan, Atokan, Des Moinesian, Mississippian, and Virgilian North American epochs. The Pennsylvanian is equivalent to the Middle and Upper Carboniferous global epochs. Penn Pennsylvanian grade crude oil crude oil that is similar to crude oil from Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanian grade crude oil can be refined to produce excellent quality lubricating oil. Pent pentamerus

pelletoid a rock, especially limestone, containing an abundance of pellets. PELL, Peld, orpeld pelmicrite a limestone consisting of pellets and limestone mud (micrite) matrix pelsparite a limestone consisting of pellets and sparry calcite pen penetration Pen-Acid penetrating acid penal penalty penalized allowable the amount of petroleum that is permitted to be produced from a well, leasehold, or field in a certain period of time (allowable) by a government regulatory agency that is less than the standard depth yardstick because of a high gas/oil ratio or limited well capacity. pencil abstract a term that generally means an abbreviated or bobtail abstract Pend or pend pendular pendular region the zone in a petroleum reservoir where the wetting phase occurs primarily in pendular rings around grain-to-grain contacts. Relatively small changes occur vertically in the pendular region. The pendular region is in contrast to the saturation and funicular regions. pendular ring the wetting fluid such as water that clings to the rock surface at contact points between mineral grains pendular saturation the wetting phase in the pores of a rock that covers the rock surface, grain-to-grain contacts and bridges pore throats. Pendular saturation is in contrast to funicular or insular saturation. pendulum assembly or bottomhole assembly a drillstring that uses a bit or angle, drill collars, one or more stabilizers, drill collars, and heavy-walled drillpipe to reduce hole deviation and to drill soft, unconsolidated formations. Gravity works on the active length between the bit and the point of tangency on the drillstring to decrease the well deviation. The stabilizers can be positioned higher on the assembly to intensity the gravity effect. A pendulum bottomhole assembly is in contrast to a packed, slick, or fulcrum bottomhole assembly. pendulum effect the tendency of an inclined drillstring to hang vertically in a well. The pendulum effect is used to decrease the angle of deviation in a crooked or deviated well. pendulum force the weight of the drillstring below the tangency point on a pendulum bottomhole assembly. penecontemporaneous a geological process that occurs after the deposition of the sediments but before they are consolidated into sedimentary rocks penetrating acid hydrochloric acid with a surfactant additive that is used in acidizing a well. The surfactant lowers the surface tension and increases the efficiency of the acid. The solution better penetrates micropores and backflushes. Penetrating acid also has a demulsifying action. Pen-Acid penetration the greatest depth at which reflections can be identified on a seismic record penetration rate the rate in which the drill bit cuts the hole. Penetration rate is often expressed in feet

H 1 H-C1 H

- c - - c
1

H 1
H

H 1 1 H

H 1 C 1 H

C-H 1 H

pentane

pentane a liquid hydrocarbon of the paraffin series C5H12. Two isomers of pentane are isopentane (iC5) and normal pentane (nC5). Isopentane has a specific gravity of 0.62 at 60 F, a boiling point of 82 F at 14.7 psia, a vapor pressure of 20 psia at 100 F, a critical temperature of 369 F, and a critical pressure of 490 psia. Normal pentane has a specific gravity of 0.63 at 60 F, a boiling point of 97 F at 14.7 psia, a vapor pressure of 16 psia at 100 F, a critical temperature of 386 F, and a critical pressure of 489 psia. C5 pentanes plus the liquid portion of wet natural gas at standard temperature and pressure. Pentanes plus is called retrograde gas, condensate, natural gasoline, drip gasoline, or casinghead gasoline. C5+ peptlzation an increase of dispersion by the addition of electrolytes or other chemicals. Peptization is used to increase the initial yield of drilling muds. Soda ash is used to peptize calcium montmorillonites. peptized clay a clay such as calcium montmorillonite to which an additive such as soda ash has been added to increase the clay yield per permeability percentage depletion 1) a provision in the United States Internal Revenue Code that allows a taxpayer who has received payments for interest in a producing gas or oil well to deduct a specific percentage of that gross income. Percentage depletion is in recognition that production depletes the petroleum reservoir. 2) a method of accounting in which the depletable basis of leases or equipment is amortized as a percentage of gross income. Percentage depletion is in contrast to cost depletion percentage gain on investment the interest rate that makes the present value equal to the total future

percentage map perforations or perforation tunnels value over the period of the project, (minimum interest rate of return) PGI

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percentage map

percentage map a contoured subsurface map showing the percentage of a certain rock type such as sandstone in a rock layer such as a formation percentage of submergence the amount of submergence divided by (lift plus submergence). Percentage of submergence is used in gas lift. percentage sale the sale of gas by a producer to a gas processing plant for a percentage of the monies derived from the sale of the gas product percentage timer an electric programmer that turns a sucker-rod pump on and off. The most common is the 15-minute percentage timer that has one on and off cycle each 15 minutes. The 30-minute percentage timer is less common. percent submergence submergence, the depth of the pump below liquid level in a well, divided by total lift or pump setting depth precision the ability of an instrument to reproduce measurements under the same conditions. Precision is reported as the maximum difference between readings or percent of full scale, (repeatability or reproducibility) perco percolation percolate to pass through a filter. Fluids such as water can percolate by gravity down through the pores of soil or rock. The percolation of a liquid through a bed of powder or granules is often used as a filtration method, perco percussion drilling a method of drilling in which the bit is both rotated and bounced off the bottom. Percussion drilling is used for drilling hard formations, and a button bit is used. PERF or perf 1) perforated 2) perforating 3) perforations perf csg perforated casing perf d perforated perfect gas see ideal gas law perfing perforating perforate to shoot holes or perforations in casing or liner, cement, and producing formation to complete or recomplete a well. Either shaped explosive charges

or, less commonly, projectiles or bullets are fired from a perforating gun. perfs perforated a tubular such as casing with holes called perforations shot in it perforated completion a type of well completion in which holes called perforations are shot by shapedexplosive charges or bullets from a perforating gun through the production casing or liner string and cement to allow the formation fluids to flow into the well perforating-depth-control log -a, type of radioactive log that accurately locates the depth of each casing collar in a well. The casing collar depths are then correlated with the pay zone depth to accurately locate the perforating gun. PDC log perforating gun a downhole tool that uses either bullets or, more commonly, shaped explosive charges that shoot high-velocity ( 30,000 ft/sec) gases to blow holes called perforations in the casing or liner, cement, and producing formation in a well. There are several types of perforating guns. The bullet perforating tool has several barrels and is fired electronically from the surface. The high-velocity projectiles called bullets can be fired individually or simultaneously. The shaped-charge perforator or jet gun can generally be described as retrievable or expendable. A retrievable gun (retrievable hollow carrier gun) can be removed along with the explosive debris from a well and be reused. An expendable gun disintegrates and leaves the debris in the well. There is also a semiexpendable or semiretrievable gun. Perforating guns are run on wirelines or a tubing or drillstring. Wireline guns are fired electronically, whereas the tubing conveyed guns are fired by pressure or a drop bar perforating plugging material material that is used to close the perforations in casing or liner in a well. Cement filter cake is solid cement that is positioned as a wet slurry during a cement squeeze job. Ball sealers are rubber-covered balls of nylon, aluminum, or plastic that are slightly larger that the perforations. perforation see perforations perforation balls or ball sealers hard plastic, nylon, or aluminum balls coated with rubber that are pumped down a well with treating fluid to temporarily plug the perforations in a well. When the pressure is released, the balls fall out of the perforations and are backflushed to the surface. perforation circulation washer a tool that uses packers that seat and isolate the interval of casing or liner in a well that was perforated. A pipe with holes then washes debris from the perforation tunnels. perforation friction the pressure drop in a fluid flowing through a perforation in a liner or casing. Perforation friction decreases production. perforation log a log that shows the points to be perforated in a cased hole. The most common perforation log is a combination gamma ray and collar locater log. The zones to be completed are located on the openhole gamma ray log and are correlated with a cased hole gamma ray log and the casing collar depths off a casing collar locater log. Perforation logs are often run with cement logs. perforations or perforation tunnels holes shot in the casing or liner, cement, and producing

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perforation washer permanent guide base and then is opened up. Gas, followed by oil, mud, and sediments rapidly flow out of the well and into the pits. The process can be repeated several times. (bleeding or rocking a well) periodic well test a routine test that is run on an oil or gas well to determine the well's contribution of the total production and to delineate any problems. A periodic well test on an oil well will determine the oil production in barrels of oil per day, water production in barrels of water per day, and gas production in thousands of cubic feet per day, along with the gas/oil ratio incubic feet per barrel (ft3/bbl) and the flowing tubing pressure in pounds per square inch gauge (psig) on that date. A periodic well test on a gas well will determine the gas production in million cubic feet per day, condensate production in barrels of condensate per day, and water production in barrels of water per day, along with flowing tubing pressure in pressure per square inch gauge and barrels of condensate per million cubic feet (MMcf) of gas on that date. peripheral a device such as a terminal or disk drive that is connected to a computer peripheral pattern a type of reservoir-scale waterflood pattern in which the injection wells are located along the edges of the field, and the injected water drives the oil toward producing wells near the center of the field perlite a rhyolite (volcanic glass) that is ground and heated for use as a very low-weight cement additive along with 296-6% bentonite to prevent the perlite from separating out of the slurry PERM or perm permanent Perm Permian Perm or perm permeability PERM permeable perm a unit of permeability that is equal to 1.127 darcys. A perm is used to compute the velocity of a fluid flowing through a rock in barrels per day per square foot. permafrost permanently frozen earth occuring at shallow depths in the Arctic. Permafrost ranges in thickness up to 300 ft. In some areas, the surface of the ground melts during the summer to form a swamp. In Siberia, the permafrost acts as a cap rock for several shallow giant gas fields. Permafrost with little or no ice is called dry permafrost. permafrost cement a type of cement used in wells in permanently frozen ground. Permafrost cement is quick setting and produces a relatively low amount of heat during setting to minimize environmental problems. Permafrost cement is a mixture of a gypsum cement blend and a refractor cement blend. permanent carried interest an interest in a well or lease that is free of all costs of drilling, completing, and operating the well(s) for the life of the lease permanent guide base a heavy steel frame that is landed on and attached to a temporary guide base on the sea floor. The permanent guide base serves as a landing seat for the wellhead, a guide for drilling tools, and a mount for the blowout-preventer stack and the completion tree. The base is square and weighs

formation by bullets or shaped-explosive charges to allow oil and/or gas from a producing zone to flow into the well. The perforations are commonly described in shots per foot (density), the angular separation between shots (phasing), size, and length of perforation in the rock. Zero phasing has each shot going in the same direction, whereas 180 phasing has alternating shots going in opposite directions. The shaped explosives can be shaped to give either maximum penetration or maximum diameter of perforation. PERF orperfs perforation washer a tubing-conveyed device with rubber cups that uses water to wash sand out of perforations in a well perforation washing a method for cleaning out material clogging perforations in a well. A fluid, usually brine that has been weighed for well control and has been filtered, is circulated by a perforation washer tool through the perforations to wash out the debris. perforation plugging the closing of perforations or holes in the casing of a well usually by a cement squeeze job or with ball sealers performance coefficient the coefficient (C) used in the equation Q=C(Ps2Pfy for backpressure or isochronal tests. The performance coefficient depends upon a) effective permeability of the formation, b) formation thickness and temperature, c) gas viscosity, gravity, and compressibility factor, d) radius of drainage, and e) wellbore radius. performance curve a graph used to monitor the production of oil, gas, and water along with pressure versus time in a well. For an oil well, oil production rate is measured in barrels of oil per day, water production is measured in barrels of water per day, and the oil/water ratio or percentage of water cut and the gas/oil ratio is plotted against time. For a gas well, gas production rate is measured in thousand cubic feet per day, condensate production is measured in barrels per day, and water production is measured in barrels of water per day, along with flowing tubing pressure in pounds per square inch gauge plotted against time. performance-type leasing a method of bidding on leases for public lands in which the bidder is selected on the basis of the guaranteed exploration and development program rather than the bonus or royalty perfs 1) perforations 2) perforate 3) perforating 4) perforator pericline a structure in which the sedimentary rocks dip radially down and out from a central point. A salt dome is an example of a pericline. A pericline is in contrast to centrocline. (quaquaversal) period 1) a subdivision of eras of geological time. Periods can be subdivided into epochs. 2) the time for one cycle. The time is usually measured from wavecrest to wavecrest. periodic cash balancing cash payments made by an overproduced party to an underproduced party from time to time, rather than upon depletion of the reserves periodic flowing a method used to clean a well of sediments and drilling mud. The well is shut in for a period of time to allow gas pressure to build up

permanent well completion petal fracture 373 about three tons. There are four guide posts on the corners through which the guide lines run. PGB permanent well completion a type of cased-well completion in which the tubing is run and the wellhead is assembled only once. All completion and workover operations are conducted through the tubing. permeability 1) a measure of the ease in which a fluid flows through a rock. The units are in millidarcies (md) or darcys (1,000 millidarcys). A rock has a permeability of 1 darcy if 1 cm3 of fluid with a viscosity of 1 cp that occurs as a single-phase fluid and fills of the pores of the rock flows with viscous flow through 1 cm3 of the rock under a pressure gradient of 1 atm/sec. The more millidarcys, the higher the permeability and the easier the fluids will flow through the rock. Some general permeability values for oil reservoir rocks in millidarcys are <1-15 (poor to fair), 15-50 (moderate), 50-250 (good), 250-1000 (very good) and >1000 (excellent). Permeability is directly measured on cores with a permeameter. Permeability can be measured in three directions (maximum, horizontal, and vertical). Absolute permeability is the permeability at 100% saturation of one fluid. Effective permeability is the permeability of one fluid when more than one fluid is present. Relative permeability is the ratio of effective permeability to the absolute permeability, k, PERM, Perm, per, or perm 2) a measure of the ease in which a rock can be magnetized. Permeability is the ratio of magnetic induction {E) to the magnetic intensity Of). permeability coefficient the flow rate of water in gallons per day through a cross section of 1 ft2 under a unit hydraulic gradient at either a) ambient temperature or b) 60F permeability ratio vertical permeability (kj divided by horizontal permeability (k^ permeability trap a stratigraphic petroleum trap formed by an updip decrease in permeability of the reservoir rock permeameter an instrument used to determine the permeability of rocks. A permeameter consists of a source of dry gas, a pressure regulator, an inlet and outlet pressure-measuring device, a core holder, and a flow-measuring device. A rubber holder called a sleeve holds a sample plug. The sample plug is a core that has been cut to a dimension usually VA in. long and IV2 in. in diameter and cleaned of fluids with a solvent such as acetone, benzene, chloroform, or carbon tetrachloride. The permeability is measured by forcing a fluid through the rock core under a known pressure differential. Air or inert gas (nitrogen or helium) is often used as the fluid to avoid rock-gas interactions. The permeability is then calculated by the volume of gas that passes through the plug under a specific pressure differential. It is then converted to liquid permeability with a Klinkenburg permeability factor. The formula used is K = [(2000 QJ'J.fi.y (Pt2 PO2)A] in which K = dry air permeability in millidarcies (md), Qo = outlet air flow in cubic centimeters per second (cm3/sec), Po = outlet air pressure in atmospheres (absolute) (atm), Pt inlet air pressure in atmospheres (absolute), JL = air J viscosity in centipoises (cp), L = core length in centimeters (cm), and 4 = core cross section in square centimeters (cm2). The permeability of vugular, fractured, crystalline, or laminated samples must be measured with a full core. Permian a period of time about 290-250 m. y. ago. It occurred at the end of the Paleozoic era and is generally known as a time of desert climate. The Permian is subdivided into the Lower Permian, Middle Permian and Upper Permian global epochs. It contains the North American epochs Wolfcambrian, Leonardian, Guadalupian, and Ochoan. Perm permissible dogleg a deviation in the azimuth and/ or inclination of a well that is not abrupt enough to cause sticking tools or excessive stress for equipment or tubulars in the well. A permissible dogleg is in contrast to an excessive dogleg. permit a document that grants permission to a specific party to do a specific act on a specific parcel of land. PRMT orprmt permit man a person on a seismic crew who goes ahead of the seismic crew persuading landowners to sign access permits and compensating landowners for any damage caused by the seismic permitted depth the maximum depth (true vertical) that a well is allowed to be drilled by a government regulatory agency permitted production the maximum amount of gas and/or oil that a well, lease, or field is permitted to produce per given time by a government regulatory agency. Permitted production is often given in barrels of oil/day for a certain number of days each month. The permitted production can be based on depth and spacing. The right of a state to regulate production is called prorationing and is based on market demand. Not all states impose permitted production. (allowable)
PERML permalog

PRMT or print permit perp perpendicular perpendicular offset the distance between the shot point and a line formed by the projection of a linear geophone array in seismic exploration perpetual lease a type of oil and gas lease that can be extended indefinitely by delay rental payments. A perpetual lease has no time limit or term, (no-term lease) persistence the durability of a corrosion control inhibitor PESA Petroleum Equipment Suppliers Association PET pulse echo tool Pet or pet 1) petroleum 2) petroliferous peta the metric prefix for 1015. P petal basket a mechanical device that is attached to the outside of the casing below a stage or port collar and used during stage cementing. The petal basket allows fluids to flow up but prevents fluids from flowing down through jt. The petal basket prevents the upper stage cement slurry from flowing into the drilling mud below it. petal fracture an induced fracture in a core that is caused by the stress generated by the core bit. The petal fracture has a surface that is similar to the petals of a flower and is concave downward and outward.

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petcock petrologen 1.7%. Petroleum has a calorific value of 18,300-19,500 Btu per pound. The specific gravity of petroleum generally ranges from 0.780 (50 API)-1.000 (10 API). An average petroleum chemical analysis by % weight carbon 84-87 hydrogen 11-14 sulfur 0.06-8.00 nitrogen 0.02-1.70 oxygen 0.08-0.14 metals 0.00-0.14 (crude oil and oil) 2) crude oil and natural gas 3) any naturally occurring hydrocarbon such as crude oil, natural gas, and solid asphaltines. Pet or pet petroleum engineer a professional trained in the drilling, completion, and production of oil and gas. Types of petroleum engineers include drilling, completion, and reservoir engineers. petroleum engineering the technology of exploiting petroleum fluids from subsurface reservoirs. Petroleum engineering is concerned with the design and implementation of methods to recover commercial amounts of oil and gas. PE petroleum gas thermogenic natural gas formed by either heat and time from organic matter or the thermocatalytic modification of crude oil under high temperatures petroleum geologist a geologist trained in the exploration for oil and gas petroleum geology the science of the occurrence and the exploration for oil and gas. Petroleum geology involves the application of geochemistry and geophysics along with geology. It is a branch of economic geology. petroleum land management a university program and degree in leasing and lease management for landmen. PIM petroleum province a region of similar stratigraphic and structural geological characteristics containing numerous petroleum reservoirs such as the Mid-Continent or Rocky Mountains of the United States petroleum revenue tax a tax on British oil fields that is payable once an oil field produces more than 1 million tonnes per year. The petroleum revenue tax is for five years and is a varying percentage each year that is applied to the field's production income after deducting royalties, supplementary petroleum duty and exploration, development, and production costs. PRT petroleum rock any porous rock, such as sandstone, limestone or dolomite, in which gas or oil can be found petroleum sulfonate a surfactant used in chemical flooding petroliferous petroleum bearing, petrf petrologen organic matter in sedimentary rocks that is insoluble in organic and aqueous alkaline solvents. Petrologen is formed from the breakdown of plant and animal material. Petrologen can be classified visually by morphology and color into groups called macerals and chemically into types by the elemental composition of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. In shales, petrologen ranges from 80%-95% of the organic matter. The term was originally restricted to

petcock a small valve petol tong a hand tong with a flat end for leverage petrf petroliferous petrochemicals products that are made from petroleum feedstocks such as methane, ethylene, propylene, butylene, and naphthene. Some common petrochemicals are fertilizers, plastics, nylon, vinyl, dacron, teflon, polyethylene, explosives, synthetic rubber, polystyrene, dyes, drugs, and antifreeze. petrodollars monies from the Middle East and other oil exporting countries petrogenesis the study of the formation of rocks petrography the branch of geology that describes and classifies rocks with the use of then sections and microsopes petrofracturing a method of increasing production from a well. A mixture of oil, chemicals, and sand are pumped down the well under pressure to hydraulically fracture the reservoir rock and increase permeability. petroleum the word petroleum is derived from Latin: petra is rock and oleum is oil 1) a natural liquid (crude oil) that comes from wells and is composed of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules. Petroleum varies in chemical composition and physical properties. Its density is measured in "API. A heavy oil has a density less than 25 API gravity, a medium crude from 25-35, and a light oil from 35-45. Crude oil ranges in color from transparent through colors of greenish-yellow, reddish and brown to typically black. The light oils with low "API tend to be amber to yellow in color, whereas the heavy oils with low "API tend to be brown to black. The smell ranges from gasoline (normal, sweet crude) to foul (normal, sour crude) to fruity (aromatic). Types of hydrocarbon molecules in crude oil are paraffins, naphthenes, aromatics, and asphaltics. Crude oil can be classified according to their relative concentrations of paraffins, naphthenes and aromatics, and NSO compounds. Petroleum can also be divided into a) black or lowshrinkage oils and b) volatile or high-shrinkage oils. The low-shrinkage oils are less than 40 API and have between 0-1000 SCF of natural gas/stock tank barrel. The high shrinkage oil ranges from 35-5O API and have between 1000-4000 SCF of natural gas/stock tank barrel. Petroleum can also be classified into a) heavy oil, b) black oil, and c) volatile oil. Heavy oil has less than 20 API, a high viscosity greater than 10 cp, high density, and a negligible gas/oil ratio. It is immature or degraded oil. Black oil has between 3045 API gravity. Its critical temperature is greater than the reservoir temperature. Volatile oil has between 45-70 API. Volatile oil has a very low specific gravity and exists in the two-phase region. The liquid has a very high gas/oil ratio. Petroleum has a compressibility of about 1 x 10~5 vol/vol/psi. Petroleum does not dissolve in water and is generally, but not always, lighter in weight than water. Petroleum often contains significant amounts of dissolved natural gas. Crude oil is divided into sweet and sour crudes based on their sulfur content. The exact amount varies, but sweet crude generally has less than 1% sulfur, whereas sour crude has greater than 1%. Low-sulfur crude has less than 0.6% sulfur by weight, intermediate-sulfur crudes have 0.6%-1.7%, and high-sulfur crudes have above

petrologist Phasor Induction log the insoluable organic matter in oil shale. Heat and time changes the petrologen in sedimentary rock into petroleum in a process called maturation. Petrologen is in contrast to bitumen that is soluble in organic solvents, (kerogen) petrologist a geologist who studies rocks to determine their composition, occurrence, and origin petrology the study of the composition, texture, occurrence, and origin of rocks petf omietic a sedimentary rock containing unstable rock fragments petrophysics the study of the physical aspects of reservoir rocks including the pores and their characteristics. Petrophysics is sometime more narrowly defined as the study of pores and their shapes. petroporphyrin see porphyrin PF power factor pf per foot PF bottomhole flow pressure Pf 1) absolute static pressure (flowing) 2) fluid pressure pf interface pressure PFC 1) perforating control log 2) perforating formation collar PFC GR perforating control, gamma ray log PFC N perforating control, neutron log pfd preferred PFE percent frequency effect P^ fracture gradient pressure P50 point a measure of the effectiveness of a solid particle removal device. Median cut is the smallestsized particle that the device will remove at least 50% of that size particle from a solid-liquid suspension. (median cut) PFM 1) power factor meter 2) flowmeter PFN prompt fission neutron PFP formation pressure PFRAC fracturing pressure PFT pumping for test PG 1) per gallon 2) pressure gauge Pg seismic wave refraction through basement PGA Potential Gas Association PGB 1) permanent guide base 2) polymer gel blocks PGC Potential Gas Committee PGCOA Pennsylvania Grade Crude Oil Association pg'd plugged PGDM pressure gauge datum PGDP pressure gauge depth PGI percent gain on investment PGT powered gamma-gamma tool PGW producing gas well PH per hour PH or pj, hydrostatic pressure pH an potential hydrogen ion and the symbol for alkalinity and acidity. It is the negative logarithm of

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the hydrogen ion concentration and is expressed on a scale of 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. The lower the number, the more acidic the liquid, the higher the number the more alkaline. ph phase phantom a line drawn on a seismic section parallel to an adjacent reflector event. A phantom is used when the reflector event is discontinuous and cannot be traced for any significant distance. phantom income income that was never realized. An example of phantom income is an exchange of property for services. Phantom income has bad tax consequences and is treated as current income. phase 1) the point or stage in the passage of a wave or cycle of rotation or oscillation. Phase is usually expressed as angular measure. (> 2) a part of a system j that has the same properties and sharp boundaries between other phases present. Crude oil and oilfield brines are phases. In enhanced oil recovery, phase is a separate fluid that coexists with other stable fluids such as in a microemulsion. ph 3) in physical chemistry, a phase is a gas, liquid, or solid phase-comparison system a marine navigational system that uses three or more shore base stations and a mobile station. The interference between stations is used to create standing waves. phase converter an electrical device that is used on a sucker rod well to convert single-phase power to three-phase power for the prime mover. The types of phase converters are a) capacitor, b) autotransformer and c) rotary. phase diagram a diagram that uses two or more variables such as temperature, pressure, and concentration as axes to show with phase envelopes the stability regions of gas, liquid, and solid phases of a substance phase inversion the compression of a wave becoming a rarefaction and vice versa phase properties the types of fluids, compositions, densities, viscosities, and relative amounts of oil, microemulsion, or solvent and water formed when a micellar fluid or miscible solvent is mixed with oil during enhanced oil recovery phase rule F = C P + 2 in which F is the degree of freedom such as temperature, pressure, and concentration, C is the number of components in the system such as natural gas, crude oil, and water that forms a three-component system, and P is the number of phases present such as gas, liquid, and solid. phase velocity the velocity of a specific phase of a wave such as a trough or crest phasing the interference composite of several reflections which could include a polarity reversal of one or more of the reflections. The modified waveform seen on seismic could be a hydrocarbon indicator. Phasor Induction log a type of high-resolution induction log that also records the out-of-phase component (quadrature) of the induced signal from the formation to improve the shoulder bed response and accurately determine the skin effect. The log uses wellsite processing and yields very accurate formation resistivities.

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PHC photon log phosphatic a sedimentary rock that contains phosphate (PO4) minerals such as apatite. Phos or phos phosphatic nodule a round, black mass that ranges in size from a fraction of an inch to over 10 in. in size. Phosphatic nodules consist of shells, bones, fecal material, sponge spicules, or sand or mica grains covered with a hard, shiny crust of calcium phosphate. Phosphatic nodules occur in marine sediments and are deposited in a relatively deep, anoxic environment. photoalldade an instrument used to measure azimuth and inclination to objects on oblique aerial photographs. The photoalidade consists of a telescopic alidade, a plate holder, and a hinged arm mounted on a tripod. photoclinometer a wireline well logging instrument that measures the inclination or azimuth and inclination at a specific depth in the well. One type of photoclinometer has a light source hanging from a cable that burns a mark on a sensitized paper disk with graduations marked on it to record only the inclination. Another photoclinometer uses a compass needle and a steel ball rolling in a curved, graduated glass to determine both inclination and azimuth at several locations. A photographic film is used to record the data. PC photoelectric absorption the reaction of an atom when a gamma ray with less than 100,000 eV passes close to the nucleus of an atom and is absorbed, causing an electron to be ejected. The photoelectric effect is dependent on the atomic number of the nucleus and is used in well logging to determine the elemental composition and lithologies of formations. photoelectric absorption cross section index a downhole measurement of the energy levels of incident gamma rays recorded with a Litho-Density or Compensated Spectral Density tool that is related to the atomic numbers of the atoms in the formation. The index is used to determine the lithology of the formation and is combined with a density log to determine porosity. Pe photoelectric effect a change in the electrical property of a substance due to incident radiation. Photoelectric absorption is an example. PE photogeology the use of aerial photographs to map the outcrop of formations, the location of structures, and the geomorphology of the earth's surface such as stream drainage patterns. Stereo pairs of aerial photographs can be viewed with a stereoscope to view relief. photomap a map made with an aerial photograph or mosaic of aerial photographs. A photomap can have a scale, geographical names, and a reference grid. photomosaic an assembly of joined and/or overlapping aerial photographs photon a quantum of electromagnetic energy or radiation such as radio waves, light waves or gamma rays. A photon is equal to hf in which h is Planck's constant (6.626 x 10~34 joule sec) and/is the frequency of the radiation. PL photon log a type of wireline well log that is similar to a density log. The photon tool bombards the rocks adjacent to the wellbore with gamma rays from a

PHC pyrolytic hydrocarbon yield I 1) porosity 2) potential 3) azimuth < 1) dilational potential 2) phase > | phi a logarithmic transformation of the Wentworth grain-size scale that is used to describe sediment grain size and to facilitate computations. Phi is the negative logarithm to the base of two of the grain size in millimeters. One mm is 0 phi, lA mm is 1 phi, Vt mm is 2 phi and 2 mm is 1 phi. 4a 1) absolute porosity 2) apparent porosity <&B porosity occupied by water bound to clay 4>b matrix porosity <&CNl compensated neutron log apparent porosity &, cutoff porosity <fD density-log apparent porosity " D corrected density-log apparent porosity &C 4DR porosity calculated while drilling <tDS density-sonic log porosity 4e effective porosity 4>EPT electromagnetic propagation tool apparent viscosity 4>F 1) free-fluid density 2) free-fluid index Djg intergranular porosity ^in, intermatrix porosity <I>K TDT-K apparent porosity 4M macroporosity <&m microporosity ON neutron-log apparent porosity I>NC corrected neutron-log apparent porosity 4Ncl neutron-log equivalent porosity of clay 4*,^, neutron-density log porosity <INf neutron-log equivalent porosity of fluid 4Nmf neutron-log equivalent porosity of mud filtrate <&T total porosity 4>t total porosity 4>s sonic-log apparent viscosity 3>SN sonic-neutron log porosity 4>SNP sidewall neutron porosity apparent viscosity OTA apparent total porosity pH meter an instrument that is used to determine the pH (acidity/alkalinity) of a solution. The pH meter measures the electropotential between a glass electrode and a reference electrode that are immersed in the solution. The electopotential will vary with the pH and is calibrated with buffered solutions of known pH values. phone see geophone Phos or phos 1) phosphate 2) phosphatic phosphate-treated mud a bentonite drilling fluid containing phosphates that act as inorganic thinners. Phosphate-treated mud is used when the drilling fluid is contaminated with drilled solids or cement. The phosphates are not stable at high temperatures where other thinners must be used.

pH paper pigtail source and measures the backscattered gamma rays with a detector. A photon log differs from the density log in that it is not pressed against the wellbore by a pad and is sensitive to the diameter of the wellbore and the density of the fluid in the well. pH paper a paper that is impregnated with different dyes. When the pH paper is wetted, the pH of the solution is indicated by the color of the paper, (litmus paper) phr phreatic phreatic zone the zone in the subsurface rocks where the pores are filled with water. The phreatic zone is located below the water table. The vadose zone or zone of aeration is located above the water table, (zone of saturation) pbr Phs hydrostatic pressure of squeeze column Phyl or phyl phyllite phyllite an argillaceous metamorphic rock that is is characterized by a shinny surface caused by mica flakes. A phyllite is intermediate between a slate and a mica schist in degree of metamorphism. Phyl or phyl phy pot physical potential phytoplankton floating plants PI 1) productivity index 2) pressure indicator 3) penetration index 4) Petroleum Information 5) production index P, or p, initial pressure P:I or P/I profit-to-investment ratio Piacenzian a global age of geological time that occurred about 4.6-2 m. y. ago. It is part of the Pliocene epoch. piano string or wire a steel measuring line that is used with a calibrated instrument to measure the depth of a well. Piano wire has relatively little stretch. (Halliburton line) PIC 1) pressure indicator control 2) Perforating Investigating Committee pick 1) the location of the top or bottom of a subsurface rock layer on a well log 2) a geologist's hammer with a sharp point on one end 3) a seismic reflection with a distinctive wiggle Pickett crossplot a crossplot of porosity versus deep resistivity (RM or R^) on three cycle log-log paper. The Pickett crossplot is based on true resistivity (Rt) being a function of porosity (4>), water saturation (Sw), and the cementation factor (m). The crossplot is used to determine a) water saturation (Sw), b) formation water resistivity (Rw), c) cementation factor (m) and d) matrix parameters (htma and p ma) for porosity logs. pickle a weight used above the hook on the end of a wireline to keep the wireline straight pickling the use of an inhibitive fluid to prevent shales from hydrating as they are being drilled pickup see geophone pick up the depth when the sonde is lifted off the bottom of the well pick-up line a cable used for general lifting on a drilling rig. The pick-up line has chains on each^end and is attached to the traveling block in single or

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double lines. The pick-up line is used to lift heavy loads such as the blowout preventers and the rotary table in contrast to the lifting line or catline. pickup or pick-up oil oil that seeped or overflowed from a well or storage tank pickup points the locations on the drilling line that are at the top of the crown block sheaves or bottom of the traveling block sheaves when the drillstring is lifted from the rotary during tripping out. The pickup points on a drilling line experience severe wear. pickup position the time when a floor crew on a drilling rig latches the elevators onto drillpipe during tripping out pickup station a surface pit or trap that gathers pickup oil that has leaked from a well or storage tank pico- the metric prefix for 10"12. p PIEA Petroleum Industry Electrical Association piercement the breakage of overlying rocks by a rising plug of shale or piercement salt as occurs on a salt dome piercement dome a body that has pierced or appeared to pierce the overlying rocks by the flow of plastic, underlying rocks such as salt or shale into overlying rocks. The flow is often caused by pressure or density differences. Examples of a piercement dome include a salt stock or plug and a mud diapir. (diapir) piercement folding folding in sedimentary rocks such as an anticline in which incompetent beds such as shale or salt have been extruded through the crest of the structures, (diapiric folding) piezoelectric effect the characteristic of certain crystals such as quartz to develop an electric potential when strained piezometric contour a contour line of ground water pressure head, (equipotential, isopiestic, or isopotential line) piezometric surface a surface defined by the height to which water from an aquifer will rise in wells in an area, (potentiometric surface)

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PIPELINE PIG

pig

pig a device, usually a hard rubber or plastic sphere or a metal cylinder, that is sent through a pipeline to clean, test, or separate batches of fluids. The pig shape can be a ball, elongated or segmented. Pigs are used to clear condensate out of low areas of pipelines such as river crossings. Pigs are put into and taken out of the pipeline from launchers and receivers, (rabbit) pig a line to run a pig through a pipeline pig iron equipment made of iron or steel pigtail the pair of wires that extend from a geophone case

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pile pinch in pilot bit a drilling bit with a smaller diameter than the wellbore. A pilot is used with deflecting tools to kick off a deviated well or with a hole opener or reamer pads to enlarge the wellbore. pilot flood a small waterflood or enhanced oilrecovery project that is run on small portion of a field to determine the field's suitability for a large scale project pilot hole the hole drilled by a small-diameter pilot bit from a deflecting tool in a well to kick-off a deviated well. The pilot hole is surveyed and enlarged. pilot mill a type of fishing tool with tungsten carbide cutting edges that is used to grind up junk in the well. The pilot mill has a pointed pilot or stinger located below the cutting edge to guide the pilot mill onto the open end of the junk. The pilot mill is rotated on a fishing string to drill up casing, tubing, screens, liners, and wash pipe in a well. pilot pin the protrusion on a bearing pin end that fits into the nose of a cone on a roller-cone bit pilot scale a small-scale project usually involving the development of part of a field for evaluating techniques and equipment. Pilot scale is in contrast to field-scale. pilot test a small-scale test such as the mixture of drilling muds and additives in a container pilot waveform a waveform from a seismic source that is cross-correlated with a recorded signal to produce the seismogram record

pile a long, steel, thick-walled pipe measuring up to 54 in. or longer in diameter and several hundred feet long that is grouted in a drilled hole or driven by pile driver into the sea floor to anchor the jacket of an offshore platform pile assembly the top of the outer conductor on a subsea well that forms the base for mounting the wellhead equipment piled-steel platform a common type of offshore platform that uses legs anchored to the sea bottom by piles to support the drilling and production platform above the surface of the sea. Two legs are often equipped with flotation chambers so the platform can be towed horizontally to the site. The platform is then flooded with water and sunk to the sea bottom. The topside equipment such as modules are then installed on the platform. Almost all offshore platforms constructed between 1947 and the mid1970s are this type. A piled-steel platform is in contrast to a pileless platform, (steel jacket or steel-template jacket platform) pile follower a spacer device that allows piles used to anchor an offshore platform to be driven into the sea bottom by a hammer above the surface of the sea pile guide a guide located on the corner of a steeltemplate jacket platform that allows piles used to anchor the platform to be driven into the sea bottom by a hammer above the surface of the sea pileless platform a type of offshore drilling and production platform that uses its own mass of reinforced concrete and/or steel on the seafloor for stability. The massive base often has cells that can be used for flotation as the platform is assembled and floated out to the offshore site in an upright position. On location, the cells can be used for storage of crude and diesel oil and for ballast water. The cells are surrounded by a protective skirt on the seafloor to inhibit scouring from currents. Four columns often connect the massive base with the platform located above sea level. One of these columns can contain pumps and piping to the cells below. The other columns can conduct the wells with the production risers going down the inside of the columns. A pileless platform is in contrast to the other common type of fixed production platform called a piled-steel or steel-jacket platform that uses piles driven into the seafloor for stability. The pileless platform is primarily used where there is a need for offshore storage such as where there is a hard bottom and pipelines are not practical, (gravity-base structure or platform, gravity platform or structure) pile piling the securing of an offshore platform jacket to the seafloor with piles. The piles are long, thickwalled, steel pipes that are hammered or drilled into the seafloor. The jacket is then bolted to the piles. pill a batch or slug of an additive or treatment pill tank the section in a suction tank used for heavy mud mixing and conditioning (slug tank) pilot an extension of the bottom of a downhole tool that is used to guide the tool. The pilot on a pilot mill guides the pilot mill into a tubular fish. A pilot on a reamer keeps the tool concentric in the hole. (stinger)

pin 1) the end of a tubular with male threads. Pin is in contrast to box. 2) a steel pipe up to 4 ft in diameter and over 600 ft long that is used similar to piles to pin and secure an offshore platform jacket to the sea floor 3) the shank on a drill bit that screws into the drillstring pin-and-pin a type of coupling that joins two rods with male threads on the ends. A box, a cylinder with female threads, is used to join the rods. Pin-and-pin is in contrast to a pin-and-box coupling. pin angle the angle between a line perpendicular to the axis of a journal on a cone and the axis of the roller-cone bit. At a pin angle of 45, the cones are entirely rolling. The lower the pin angle, the more gouging and scraping of the rocks. The size of the angle also affects the size of the cone, with increasing journal angles equating to decreasing cone size. The optimum pin angle for soft rocks is 33 and for hard rocks is 36 (journal angle) pinch to use a choke to reduce flow pinch a -valve to partially close and reduce the fluid flow through a valve pinch in to decrease the orifice size of an adjustable choke

pinchout or pinch out pipeline pinchout or pinch out 1) a sedimentary rock layer that thins to zero thickness into another sedimentary rock layer forming a wedge shape, (wedgeout) 2) to narrow in thickness pin-drive master bushing a master bushing that has four holes bored into it to accommodate the four pins on the bottom of the kelly bushing. Pin-drive master bushing is in contrast to a square-drive master bushing. pineapple a cone on a roller-cone bit pin end the male-thread end of a pipe pinger a transponder that emits an acoustical signal pinion 1) a gear with numerous small teeth on its circumference that mesh with a larger wheel or rack 2) the smallest gear in a train of gear wheels pinnacle reef a relatively small, isolated reef with a steep cone- or spire-shape. The slopes on a pinnacle reef are from 45 to vertical. pin packer a packer in which the packing element is held contained with steel or brass pins during positioning. When weight is put on the packer, two metal sleeves shear off the pins. The packing element then expands to pack off the well. pinpoint or pin-point pore a small, isolated pore. Pinpoint pores are not part of the effective porosity of a rock. Pinpoint pores are most commonly found in limestone. PPP.ppp, or pp. pin pt pinpoint PIP pump-in pressure pipe oilfield tubular goods such as drillpipe, casing, liner, pup joints, or tubing. Pipe can be either seamless or electric welded. Pipe is classified by inner and outer diameters, weight, pressure rating, construction, and extra features. Drillpipe is classified by pipe grade based on yield strength and characteristics. Pipe weight is usually in pounds per foot (lb/ft). Pipe range is the approximate length of the pipe. Pipe Analysis log a combination of magnetic-fluxleakage and eddy-current measurements used to locate flaws in both the inner and outer casing walls in a well. PALm pipe bundle several parallel pipes that have been fastened together

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pipe capacity the volume of fluid that a pipe can hold internally. Pipe capacity is usually expressed in barrels per foot of pipe length. pipe cutter a tool that is used to cut casing, drillpipe and tubing in a well. Pipe cutters can be both inside and outside cutters and are either hydraulic or mechanical. The inside cutter uses spring-loaded knives. The carrier body is run in the well and into the pipe to the bottom end of the pin on a joint. The cutter is then activated by jarring upward and the knife arms extend. The knives can be released by a tripping action and the process can be repeated. Chemical cutters can be used for small diameter tubing. pipe dolly a cart with rollers used to move drillpipe and collars on a drilling rig. The pipe dolly has a hook fitted to the bottom of the dolly and is used to lift the end of drill collars to slide the collars out the catwalk. pipe drag 1) the difference between the static, buoyant hanging weight of a drillstring in a well and the up-stroke or down-stroke weight when tripping 2) the additional force or torque necessary to move the drillstring due to friction against the wellbore. (drag) pipe fingers the protrusions used to rack pipe on a finger board on the derrick of a drilling rig pipe fitter a person who assembles and repairs pipe pipe hook a metal hook with a handle that is used by a drilling rig crew to manipulate drillpipe pipe jack a long lever that is used on the drill floor to slightly raise a stand of pipe in the derrick of a drilling rig in preparation for tripping in pipe joint a heavy duty connector of box (female)and-pin (male) design that is used to couple drillpipe. It has coarse, tapered threads and seating shoulders and is made in various sizes and designs. The pipe can be screwed or welded onto the drillpipe. (tool joint) pipeline a tube system, usually made of steel pipe that is welded together and is used to transport oil, gas, or other fluids. A pipeline can be located above ground, buried in the ground, suspended above the ground, on the sea floor, or buried in the sea floor. Types of oil and gas pipelines include lead, flow, lease,

pipeline

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pipeline connection Pisol or pisol rubber sealing surfaces that have inserts cut into the end to fit around a specific size pipe in the well. The pipe ram can be thrown either manually or hydraulically with 300-5,000 psi. A variable pipe ram can fit around a range of pipe sizes, (gate) pipe ramp a sloping surface made of steel that leads from the area of the pipe rack up the drill floor of a drilling rig. The pipe ramp is used to drag the drillpipe up onto the drill floor. (V-door) pipe-recovery log a record of the stuck intervals of pipe in a well including length and severity . The tool is a sonic device that uses signal attenuation to identify stuck pipe and is calibrated in free pipe. The pipe-recovery log is usually run on a wire line with a gamma ray log to identify problem-causing formations. pipe rubber a rubber doughnut that fits around drillpipeto reduce wear on the casing. Pipe rubbers are usually located 3 ft above the tool joint on alternate tool joints. Pipe rubbers are not used in open holes. (casing protector) pipe setback load the weight of pipe stands in a derrick pipe spinner an air motor that drives a silent chain on rollers to hand tighten or untighten drillpipe when making a connection before or after using the tongs. (spinner hawk) pipe sticking drillpipe or drill collars that have inhibited movement in a well. Pipe sticking can be divided into a) differential pipe sticking, b) mechanical pipe sticking, and c) key seating. In differential pipe sticking, the drillpipe or drill collars adhere to the well wall because of the differential between hydrostatic and formation pressures. In mechanical pipe sticking, a cave-in or sloughing packs off the space along the sides of the drillstring. In key seating, the drill collars become stuck in a narrower part of the wellbore. pipe tapping drilling a hole through the wall of a pipe filled with fluid under pressure. A saddle is used to attach a valve to the pipe, (hot tapping) pipe vendor a service company that sells tubular goods such as drillpipe, conductor pipe, casing, liner, tubing, and flowlines. The tubulars are kept in stock and the pipe vendor can also supply a design service. pipe wind-up angle the twist of drillpipe caused by rotating torque pipe wiper a rubber donut-shaped disk used to wipe drilling mud and other fluids off tubulars such as drillpipe as they are pulled from a well. The pipe wiper is located below the rotary table by removing the split master bushings. The pipe wiper will also deflect any dropped tool. piping a general term for casing or standpipe in soil piping and instrumentation diagram a flow diagram that shows the location, connections, and details of piping and instruments in a system. P and ID PIR porosity indicator ratio Piso or piso 1) pisolite 2) pisoid Pisol or pisol pisolite

gathering, feeder, and trunk lines. A pipeline is usually designed to carry either oil or gas, but some pipelines from offshore production platforms are designed to carry both to avoid having to construct two pipelines. The gas is kept moving in a pipeline by compressor stations at various intervals, whereas oil pipelines use pump stations. Pipelines are coated before they are buried to prevent corrosion. Offshore pipelines have a weighed coating. PL, P.L or pi pipeline connection the outlet on a tank or vessel that drains the oil to the pipeline pipeline gas see pipeline quality gas pipeline gauger an employee of the purchaser who measures the amount of oil or gas flowing through a pipeline pipeline oil crude oil that is of sufficient quality, usually less than 1% basic sediment and water, to be accepted by a pipeline or transport system. PLO
or P.L.O.

pipeline pressure the minimum gas pressure underwhich a specific pipeline operates. The pipeline will not accept gas at a lower pressure. Pipeline pressure is usually between 700 and 1,000 psig in order to reduce the diameter of the pipeline needed and to keep the gas as a dense phase to prevent condensation and two-phase flow. pipeline quality gas gas that meets the specifications of a gas pipeline purchase contract. Pipeline quality gas is dry enough that liquid hydrocarbons will not condense out in the pipeline and does not contain corrosive gases or excessive moisture that can form hydrates. Pipeline quality gas also has a minimum Btu content that is usually between 900 and 1,050 Btu/ft3 and has sufficient pressure from the well to match pipeline pressure which is usually between 700 and 1,000 psi. A typical gas pipeline purchase contract might specify a maximum of 4-7 lb/MMSCF of water, V* grain/100 SCF of hydrogen sulfide, 15F hydrocarbon dew point at 800 psig, 0.2 grain/100 SCF mercaptans, 1-5 grain/100 SCF total sulfur content, 1-3 mole percent of carbon dioxide, 0-0.4 mole percent of oxygen and a minimum of 950 Btu/SCF, along with being commercially free of solids and having a maximum delivery temperature of 120F and a minimum delivery pressure of 700 psig. (pipeline gas or sales quality gas) pipeline trash anything flowing in a gas pipeline other than natural gas. Pipeline trash is often sand, scale, and dirt. pipe protector a rubber sleeve used to cover a pipe joint pipe racker a pneumatic or hydraulic apparatus that is used on a drillship to move pipe from a pipe rack to the derrick or from the well to the pipe rack pipe racker or stabber the drilling crew member who uses the lead tongs, (lead-tong man) pipe racks platforms made of steel pipe that are located next to a drilling rig and are used to hold horizontally-stacked drillpipe. Pipe racks are 20 ft long. Two pipe racks oriented perpendicular to the catwalk are used on each rig. pipe ram a type of closing element used on a blowout preventer. The pipe ram has two steel blocks with

pisolite plagioclase pisolite a rock that is made of pea-sized particles such as peloids or oolites. A pisolite is usually a limestone and is formed on a subaerial surface of carbonate sediments, (grapestone) Pisol, pisol, Piso, orpiso piston the disk or short cylinder that is moved by a piston rod up and down the inside of a cylinder in an engine or compressor to exert pressure on a fluid in the cylinder piston pin the link between the piston and the piston rod in the cylinder of an engine or compressor, (wrist pin) piston prover a type of flowmeter prover in which a piston forces a fluid out of a calibrated cylinder through the meter being tested. The true flow volume can then be compared to the recorded flow volume. A piston prover is commonly used in lease automatic custody transfer systems. piston pump a type of pump that uses a reciprocating piston in a cylinder to move fluid. The stroke is longer than the piston. piston ring the metal ring that forms a seal around the circumference of a piston as it moves up and down in the cylinder of an engine or compressor piston rod the shaft that is connected to the piston by a piston pin and drives the piston up and down the inside of a cylinder in an engine or compressor piston stroke the length of piston movement in the cylinder of an engine or compressor from top dead center to bottom dead center pit pitted pit 1) a depression bulldozed into the ground on a drilling site. Pits are used to store drilling mud, cuttings, salt water, and other wastes and are often lined with plastic. Earthen, dirt, or ground pits are used to store drilling mud. 2) a depression caused by corrosion pit-alert sensor an instrument used in the mud tanks of a drilling rig to monitor the level of drilling mud pitch 1) a dark brown to black, solid or very viscous liquid that is composed almost entirely of hydrocarbons. Pitch is formed by distillation of organic substances such as coal or wood tar. 2) the distance between two adjacent rollers in a roller chain 3) the up and down motion of the fore and aft of a ship on the ocean 4) the spacing between teeth on a row of teeth and the spacing between adjacent rows of teeth on a roller-cone bit. The pitch determines the point of tooth impact on the rocks. 5) the degrees of slope on wireline as it goes from one wrap to another during spooling pitch lake a surface accumulation of degraded reservoir bitumen such as asphalt pit drill an exercise on a drilling rig that is supervised by the tool pusher and is designed to make the driller aware of the fluid level in the mud tanks. Without warning to the driller, the float in the mud tank is raised or lowered. The time that the driller takes to notice the pit level change and, if drilling, signals to pull up the kelly is recorded on a Pit-O-Graph. Less than Yi minute is acceptable. The test record is then signed by the tool pusher and driller.

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pit level the height of drilling mud in the mud tanks of a drilling rig pit-level indicator see pit-volume totalizer pit liner plastic sheets that are used to prevent seepage of oil, mud, or brine into the ground from earthen pits or any leaking pit pitman 1) the steel beam that connects the rotary counterbalance with the walking beam on a beam pumping unit. The pitman is located on the side of the walking beam opposite the well and transfers the motion of the prime mover to the walking beam. An equalizer moves and compensates for any misalignment between the two pitmen. 2) the connecting beam between the bandwheel and walking beam on a cable-tool rig Pitot tube a device used to measure the velocity of a fluid at a point. The impact of the fluid flowing into the tube forces a liquid up the tube against gravity. The height of the liquid column compared to the static pressure height of the column is a measure of the flow velocity. An annubar averages the pitot tube pressures from four impact ports. Pitot-tube meter a type of flowmeter that uses a Pitot tube to measure the difference between the flow and static pressure on a liquid to determine the velocity of the flow pitting corrosion small areas of localized corrosion pit-volume indicator see pit-volume totalizer pit-volume recorder a gauge in the driller's location of the drill floor of a drilling rig that shows the total volume of drilling mud in the mud tanks as measured by the pit-level indicators pit-volume totalizer an instrument used on a drilling rig to monitor the volume of mud in the tanks. Transducers in each mud tank are connected to a float that rises and falls with the mud level. These are connected electronically to the pit-volume totalizer that sums the mud volume in barrels. The volume is recorded and an automatic alarm can sound or flash if the mud volume becomes too high or low. (pitlevel or pit-volume indicator) PVT PJ 1) pump jack 2) pump job Pk convergence pressure pk pink pkd packed pkish pinkish PKRorpkr packer
PKRF packer failure

Pkst or pkst packstone PL 1) property line 2) pipeline 3) photon 4) proximity log PI plagioclase pi pipeline P.L. pipeline Plag plagioclase plagioclase a type of feldspar mineral with a chemical composition of (sodium-calcium) aluminum silicate. Plagioclase occurs as white-to-gray wellformed crystals or granular masse and is a common rock forming mineral. Plagioclase has a specific gravity

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plain end plattern kalk chemicals. Plastic squeezing cements the sand grains together but leaves a permeable producing formation. plastic viscosity the internal resistance of a fluid to flow due to the interaction of solids such as drilling mud in the fluid. Plastic viscosity is the viscosity after the yield stress of a Bingham plastic fluid is reached. Plastic viscosity is usually measured in centipoises (cp) or dynes/cm2 and is calculated from a direct-reading viscometer by subtracting the 300 rpm consistency index from the 600 rpm consistency index. PV plat a scale diagram of a tract of land as determined by survey plate coalescer a device used in produced water treating to remove oil droplets. The oil droplets rise to the plate coalescer surface where they are coalesced and collected. Three types of plate coalescers are a) parallel plate interceptors, b) corrugated plate interceptors, and c) cross-flow interceptors.

of 2.6-2.7, two good cleavages at 86 and a hardness of 6-6.5. Types of plagioclase include albite, oligoclase, andesine, labradorite, bytownite, and anorthite based on the sodium and calcium content of the mineral.
Plag or PI

plain end the end of a tubular without threads or tool joints. PE plain end weight the weight of a tubular joint without threads and coupling on the ends. The weight is expressed in pound meters per foot (lbm/ft) or kilograms per meter (kg/m). Plain end weight is in contrast to threaded and coupled weight. plains-type fold see compaction anticline plane table a drawing board mounted on a tripod that is used for surveying. An alidade, a telescope with a straight edge, is used on the plane table to make angular measurements between a base line and points to be surveyed. A stadia rod is sighted through the alidade to give distance and angular direction. plane wave a wave in which the wavefronts form a planar surface. A plane wave is in contrast to a spherical wave. planimetric map a map of surveyed physical and cultural features such as rivers, lakes, towns, and roads planktonic an animal or plant that floats in water. Planktonic is in contrast to nektonic or benthic. plant in seismic exploration, it is a) the coupling of the geophone to the ground, b) the way in which the geophone is placed on the ground, or c) to place a geophone on the ground plant air air that is not as pure as instrument air and is used to drive air motors, (utility air) plant liquids liquid propane, butane, pentane, and heaviers that have been removed from natural gas Plas or plas plastic plastic cement an expensive specialty type of cement used to selectively plug open holes and perforations and to cement waste-disposal wells. Plastic cement is a mixture of water, liquid resin and catalyst, and API class A, B, G, or H cements. plastic deformation deformation of a substance that is permanent and without rupture. The deformation starts at the yield stress and is continuous after that without an increase in stress. Plastic deformation is in contrast to elastic deformation. Pkts or plas plastic fluid a fluid in which the shear rate is not proportional to the shear force. A specific pressure is necessary to initiate and maintain fluid flow. Drilling mud flows with plastic flow. The yield point of drilling mud measures the pressure need for the drilling mud to flow. Plug flow is movement of a plastic fluid as a unit without shearing when it first starts to flow. Plastic flow is in contrast to a Newtonian fluid such as oil or water. plasticity the ability of a substance such as a drilling mud to be deformed without rupture plastic shale shale that contains a relatively large amount of water and can squeeze into the wellbore plastic squeezing a method of sand control in which resinous material is injected under pressure into unconsolidated pay sands and hardened with

plate tectonics

plate tectonics a relatively recent theory (1967) in which the earth's surface is composed of about twentyeight large, moving sections called plates. The plates are formed at the crest of the midocean ridge by seafloor spreading, are moving out at right angles to the midocean ridge, and are destroyed in subduction zones such as deep ocean trenches and mountains. The spreading rates of the plates range from 1-7 in. per year. The plates are composed of lithosphere which is about 45 mi thick. They are thought to move on the asthenosphere or low-velocity layer. Plate margins are described as active, passive, and transform. The theory helps explain the formation of many of the major features of the earth such as mountains, volcanos, ocean trenches, and earthquakes. platf platform platform 1) a land area formed by flat-lying or gently dipping sediments. A limestone platform is an area of limestone deposition. 2) see offshore platform platform chief the person in charge of an offshore platform platform jacket see jacket platform privileges permission to be on a drilling rig and to have access to the drilling and test information platform tree a production or Christmas tree located on an offshore platform plattern kalk rhythmically bedded micrite

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limestone platforms

play a particular reservoir rock, cap rock, and trap type that has proven to contain commercial petroleum by previously discovered petroleum fields of that combination in that area. More fields of that play can be expected to be found. playback a method used to verify the quality of seismic data recorded by checking an analog response displayed by camera or on a consol PLCU programmable logic control unit plcy pelecypod PLD or pld pulled PLE plain large end Pleist pleistocene Pleistocene an epoch of time about 2 m. y- 10,000 years ago when the world climate was colder than today and more precipitation occurred. Glaciers of ice covered up to one-third of the land area of the world, and sea level fell about 300 ft below present level. There were four major cycles of glaciation separated by warmer periods called interglacials when sea level was higher than present. The Pleistocene is part of the Tertiary period. (Ice Ages) Pleist PLEM pipeline end manifold plenum an enclosed area in which the atmosphere is kept at a slightly higher pressure than the outside atmosphere. The pressure prevents potentially dangerous gases from seeping into the area from the outside. pi fos plant fossils pig pulling plgd plugged Pliensbachian a global age of geological time that occurred about 190-185 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Jurassic epoch. P-LIF plunger lift Plimsoll mark a line on an offshore drilling rig such as a semisubmersible that marks the maximum depth to which the rig can be loaded or ballasted Pllo Pliocene Pliocene Aan epoch of time about 53-2 m. y. ago. It occurred near the end of the Tertiary period. Plio PLM Petroleum Land Management pin plan plngr plunger PLO 1) pumping load oil 2) pipeline oil PX.O. pipeline oil

plot 1) to place data on a map or diagram 2) a map showing the location of data plotted section a seismic record in which seismic reflectors or events are shown by lines or points. The horizontal scale is distance along the seismic line and the vertical scale is either time or depth. plotter a device used to put data on maps or diagrams plow oil to drill with crude oil in the well plow steel a good grade of steel that is a) basicoxygen steel, b) acid or basic open-hearth steel, or c) electric-furnace steel. There is also improved and extra-improved plow steel. PS PLSS production logging stack system PLT production logging tool PLT, Pit, or pit plant pit pilot pity platy PLUG plugged tools plug 1) to place cement in a well and/or a metal plate over it to abandon the well 2) cement filling an area of the well. Plugs are used primarily for well abandonment, plugback, and deviation. 3) a small-diameter core that is used for porosity and permeability measurements. The plug is cut by a coreplug drill and is typically 1-1 Vi in. in diameter and 1-3 in. long. Both horizontal and vertical plug samples can be taken. A plug is in contrast to a whole core from which the plug is cut. 3) a high-viscosity polymer used during cementing casing in a barefoot completion to protect the producing formation. plug and abandoned to place a surface cement plug in a dry or depleted well. Cement plugs are required at specific depths in the well by law to prevent pollution of fresh water reservoirs. Usually the top 100 ft of the well is cemented and the casing is cut to 6 ft below ground level. A steel plate is welded to the top of the casing, and the hole is filled with dirt. An abandonment marker or dry-hole post is left in the hole. A permanent plaque on the post gives the company name, well location, depth, and other information. Plug and abandon is in contrast to shutting in or suspending a well. P&A plug a well the sealing of a well usually with cement in order to prevent fluids from flowing from one subsurface strata to another or to the surface in the well plug back or plugback an operation on a well to abandon and plug a deeper reservoir with a plugback plug and move up the well to complete a shallower reservoir plug-back cementing a secondary cement job on a well in which a cement plug is spotted at a specific depth in the well plug-back plug a cement bridge used in a well to seal the lower portion of the well. A plug-back plug is often used after a lower producing zone becomes depleted and a completion is to be made in an upper zone. plug container the part of a cementing head that holds the wiper plugs plug flow a type of laminar flow in which there is no shearing in the center of the flow. Plug flow can

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plugged and suspended pneumatic drilling The most common gas used is production gas. A valve on the bottom of the plunger closes when it hits a bumper on the bottom of the well. Rising bottomhole pressure activates a flowline controller at the surface, and the plunger rises to lift the oil. At the top of the well, the plunger strikes a bumper that opens a valve to release the gas below it into the flowline and the plunger falls. Plunger lift is used to dewater gas wells and on low volume, high gas/oil ratio wells, weak flowing wells, and wells with excessive gas. (freepiston
lift) P-UF

plug flow

occur with low velocities in drilling muds during drilling of a well. plugged and suspended the state of a well that has been temporarily abandoned with a bridge plug but can be reopened, p and s plugged bit a drilling bit with the mud or water courses clogged. A plugged bit is indicated by an increase in mud pump pressure plugging the clogging of screens with solid particles. The plugging of shale shaker screens with well cutting decreases the efficiency of the shale shake. plugging back to set a cement plug, usually with the balanced plug method, across a zone in a well to isolate that zone. Plugging back is used to a) abandon a lower depleted zone, b) abandon a well, c) kickoff a deviated well, or d) seal a lost-circulation zone. plugging material material that is pumped down a well to temporarily or permanently seal off a zone(s) while treating or working on another portion of the wellbore. Lost-circulation material is used to seal off a lost-circulation zone during drilling. plug valve a common, low-pressure oil flowline valve with a steel plug in a conduit bore that can be rotated 90 to open or close the valve. The plug can be cylindrical, spherical, or conical in shape plumb or plumb bob a weight with a pointed end that is attached to the end of a line or measuring tape to hold it vertically by gravity. A gauge bob is a type of plumb bob used on a tank gauge to determine by the innage method the amount of oil in a tank. plumb-bob effect the pendulum effect of gravity that pulls a drillstring toward vertical plunge 1) the inclination of a fold axis in sedimentary rocks measured from vertical 2) to set the horizontal crosswire on a theodolite during surveying in the direction of a grade plunger the fluid end piston on a reciprocating pump. On a sucker-rod pump it is attached to the sucker-rod string and contains the traveling valve. The plunger moves up and down in the barrel of the pump to lift the oil. One type of plunger is metal-tometal and can be either box-end or pin-end and plain or grooved. Another type is soft packed and can be either the cup or ring type. plunger lift an artificial lift method for oil wells. Plunger lift uses a free-moving piston that travels up and down the production tubing to lift the oil. The energy comes from gas in the casing-tubing annulus.

plunger overtravel the vertical distance that is added to the top and bottom of a sucker-rod stroke by rod stretching and compression due to acceleration or deceleration plunger pump a reciprocating pump that has a plunger longer than the stroke. A plunger pump is used to produce fluid pressure higher than a piston pump. plunging fold a fold in sedimentary rocks in which the fold axis plunges between 10 and 80. A plunging fold is in contrast to a horizontal or vertical fold. plutonic rock an igneous rock which crystallized from a hot melt below the surface of the ground. A plutonic rock typically has large-sized mineral grains. Granite is a common plutonic rock. Plutonic rock is in contrast to an extrusive rock. PLYH polyhalite Pm phenophthalein alkalinity of drilling mud in number of milliliters of 0.02 normal acid required per milliliter of mud pm pumping or pumped Pm meter pressure Pnrt mud filtrate salinity P.M.I. pulse modulated inverter PML proximity minilog pmp pump, pumping, or pumped Pmpg or pmpg pumping pmpd pumped PMPU pumping unit PN plugged nozzle Pn net pressure PNC pulsed neutron capture pneu pneumatic pneumatic operated by the force and movement of a gas under pressure. Pneumatic is in contrast to hydraulic, (air activated) pneu pneumatic drilling drilling with either air, natural, gas, or air and water (mist) as the circulating fluid. Pneumatic drilling is similar to drilling with mud except a compressor is used. Conventional roller cone bits are used and the weight on the bit is increased and the revolutions per minute reduced compared to mud drilling. Pneumatic drilling is often used in shallow wells or in drilling through formations that are susceptible to formation damage. The drilling is often faster and less expensive than rotary drilling, but it cannot control abnormal high pressures and prevent the sides of the well from sluffing.

pneumatic sucker-rod pump or pneumatic surface unit polished rod pneumatic sucker-rod pump or pneumatic surface unit a type of artificial pump using a suckerrod pump driven by an vertical pneumatic cylinder mounted on the wellhead. The sucker-rod string is driven by gas pressure on a piston in the cylinder. Some units have two cylinders mounted on each other with a common polished rod and a piston in each cylinder. The upper cylinder is the counter balance cylinder, whereas the lower cylinder is the drive cylinder. The gas is usually compressed natural gas. pnl panel PO 1) payout 2) pumps off 3) pulled out 4) pulling 5) purchase order Po 1) overburden pressure 2) pressure in oil phase POB 1) plug on bottom 2) pump on beam POC pump-off control pod 1) a series of hydraulic valve controls that operate the blowout-preventer rams 2) the housing for a thruster on a semisubmersible or a drillship 3) the water-proof housing for the hydraulic equipment on a subsea blowout-preventer stack POE plain one end POGW producing oil and gas well POH 1) pulled out of hole 2) pull out of hole point 1) one percent of an interest in production. A royalty of \2Vi% is called 12V4 points. 2) one tenth of a pound per gallon of drilling-mud density or weight 3) a unit on a weight indicator
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of 1 cm/sec while separated from a stationary surface by 1 cm that is filled with that fluid. A poise is equal to 1 g/cm/sec. Viscosities of crude oil vary greatly with "API, the amount of gas dissolved in the oil, and temperature. Poisson's ratio the ratio of lateral unit strain to longitudinal unit strain in material that has been stressed longitudinally within its elastic limit. Poisson's ratio is a measure of the squeezability of the substance, p Pol or pol polished polar compound a chemical compound that has both a positively- and negatively-charged end. Water is a polar compound polar fraction see NSO compound polarity the peak or trough of a seismic wave. By SEG convention, upward ground motion on a geophone is represented by a trough. On a normalpolarity section, compressional reflections are displayed as a trough, whereas on a reverse polarity section, the compressional wave is displayed as a peak. polarity reversal the change of a waveform from trough to peak or peak to trough. A polarity reversal can be caused when the acoustic impedance of a reservoir rock is slightly larger than the cap rock and the reflection polarity goes from plus to minus. Polarity reversal can be a seismic hydrocarbon indicator. polarize to retard an electrochemical reaction by the deposition of a corrosive product polecat oil sour crude oil pole drill to spring-pole drill a well pole mast a mast used for well servicing that is constructed of tubulars. Double-pole masts are used to suspend sucker rods and stack tubing. Pole masts are elevated and extended with wire ropes.

B
point bar polished rod

point bar a crescent-shaped accumulation of sand deposited on the inside of a river meander. A point bar is formed by the migration of a river meander toward the outer bank and commonly has a fining upward sequence. pointed out a well that has become too narrow with depth to continue drilling point zero a point on the bottom of a stock tank directly below the reference point. The tank gauge is lowered into the tank at this spot to measure the height of oil in the tank, (gauging bar) pois poison poise the cgs unit of viscosity. A fluid has a viscosity of 1 poise when a tangential force of 1 dyne causes a plane surface of 1 cm2 to move at a constant velocity

polished rod

polished rod the smooth length of brass or steel rod that moves up and down through the stuffing box or packing gland of a sucker-rod pump. The polished rod is located just below the walking beam and is at the very top of the sucker-rod string. The rod provides a connection on a sucker-rod pump between the sucker-rod string and the bridle on the

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polished-rod clamp pool viscosity of the water. Polymers are formed by joining two or more smaller molecules (monomers) of the same kind end to end. The molecules have the same elements in the same proportions but differ in molecular weights and have different physical properties. Polymers are often used as a driving force for the other fluids in a chemical flood and to drive oil in polymer flooding. Polymers are also used as a drilling-mud thickener, but are expensive. polymer flooding an enhanced oil-recovery process used when reservoir conditions cause a regular waterflood to be inefficient. Such reservoir conditions could be caused by natural fractures of high-permeability that cause the injected water to channel, leaving most of the oil in place. The condition is also caused by heavy, viscous oils. Polymers are added to the injected water to make it more viscous and efficient. Fresh water is then injected behind the polymer slug to prevent contamination by the drive water. polymerization the combining of smaller molecules to make larger molecules polymer mud a drilling mud that contains a polymer additive for increased viscosity polymer stability the ability of a polymer used in enhanced oil recovery to maintain its original properties polymitic a clastic seimentary rock composed of many rock types. A polymictic rock is rapidly deposited and buried. It is characterized by poor sorting and angular grains. Arkose and graywacke are polymictic. Polymictic is in contreast to oligomictic. polynuclear hydrocarbon a hydrocarbon molecule formed by two or more benzene molecules linked together PI see SI pontoon 1) a circular buoyancy chamber at the base of a stabilizing column on a semisubmersible. A pontoon is in contrast to a hull-shaped buoyancy chamber 2) the deck of a jackup rig pontoon barge a barge that is designed to transport equipment to an offshore platform pony collar a 10-15-ft drill collar pony rod a shorter length sucker rod. Pony rods come in the same diameters and grades as sucker rods but occurs in IV2, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12-ft lengths. A pony rod is used to make the sucker-rod string the correct length and is run at the top of the string below the polished rod. pony sub pony substructure pony substructure a 3-6-ft high substructure that is used with a normal substructure to raise the height of the drill floor on a drilling rig. Two pony substructures are used parallel to each other and connected with cross members. They are located on the bottom of the substructure and are connected to the substructure with large bolts and locking elements. pony sub POOH 1) pulled out of hole 2) pull out of hole pool 1) an old term that has been replaced by the terms reservoir or zone. A pool has a single pressure system and does not communicate with other pools. A major pool is defined as having greater than 50 M

pumping unit. The polished rod also forms part of the sealing system between the tubing and the atmosphere in the stuffing box. The rods range in diameter from 1-1 Vi in. and are 8-22 ft long. Smoothsurfaced rods available in piston steel, common steel, stainless steel monel, bras, and special alloys. Polished rods have a pin-and-pin construction. PR polished-rod clamp a device that is used to hold the top of the polished rod to the bridle on a suckerrod pump polished-rod liner a cylinder that is abrasion and corrosion resistant, shock proof, and antimagnetic that is used to protect the polished rod on a sucker-rod pump pollen very small grains composed of several male cells of seed flowers enclosed in microspore walls. Pollen is carried great distances by wind and is an excellent microfossil in sedimentary rocks to determine age and climate during deposition of the sediments. Gymnosperm pollen has existed from the Pennsylvanian period to the present, and angiosperm pollen has existed from the Cretaceous period to the present. Specialists in identifying ancient spores and pollen are called palynologists. Poln Poln pollen poly polygonal polyacrylamide a very high molecular weight material used in polymer flooding

polycrystalline diamond compact bit

polycrystalline diamond compact bit a shear type of drilling bit that uses synthetic diamonds. The cutting is done with rows of small cylinders called drill blanks or compacts that are composed of a layer of manmade polycrystalline diamonds cemented to & tungsten carbide stud. The bit body is either a heat-treated alloy steel or tungsten carbide matrix with at least three jet nozzles, and the bit profile is either a double cone or a shallow cone. The advantages of the polycrystalline diamond bit are that there are no moving parts, it drills by shearing, requiring less effort, and the bit is well suited for turbine drilling. Polycrystalline diamond bits are self sharpening and need less weight on the bit than a conventional drill bit. The bit does not work well with water-base drilling muds and is more expensive than conventional bits but has a longer life in hard rocks than other types of bits. (PDC bit or stratapax bit) polyhedral pore a flat-sided pore in dolomite formed between dolomite rhombs polymer a long-chained, high-molecular weight molecule that, when mixed with water, increases the

pooled working interest pore bbls of recoverable oil. (reservoir or zone) 2) to combine several leaseholds into one unit for drilling 3) to combine large leaseholds on a producing reservoir to coordinate pressure maintenance, water flooding, or enhanced oil recovery pooled working interest working interests from several leases that have been combined or pooled and are operated as a unit, (unitized working interest) pooling 1) combining small tracks of fractional interests in mineral rights in order to drill a well. (unitization) 2) combining mineral rights of larger tracts on a producing reservoir to coordinate pressure maintenance, water flooding, enhanced oil recovery, or any other method that will maximize the ultimate recovery from that reservoir. Pooling can be either voluntary (voluntary pooling) or by order of an agency (forced pooling). The term pooling is most commonly used for combining interests in order to drill a well. (communitization) pooling clause a common oil and gas lease provision that allows the lessee to combine all or part of the acreage with other acreage for drilling and production pooling provision a clause in a lease form that stipulates that if the working interest combines with other leases to pool or unitize, the nonworking and royalty interests in the lease will also be part of the agreement pool opener the discovery well for a reservoir pool operator one of several operators of gas wells in a gas pool that was formed by a local distribution company or pipeline to establish an aggregated supply of natural gas. The local distribution company or pipeline makes monthly nominations to the pool operators. poop shot the detonation of a small charge in seismic refraction to determine the effect of the low-velocity layer or weathering on the surface, (short or weathering shot) poor boy 1) a well being drilled with a minimum amount of money 2) an oil or drilling company with very little money 3) to make something cheaply 4) something made cheaply poor-boy corer an early type of corer used in rotary drilling. The poor-boy corer was a pipe with teeth cut into the lower end. After the core was cut, the teeth were bent inward to trap the core by increasing the rotation speed and decreasing the circulation. (Texas-type corer) poor boy backoff a method used to unscrew pipe in a well. In a poor-boy backoff, the joints are all tightened with right-handed torque under tension or overpull. Slow, left-handed torque applied by the pipe tongs with the swiveldisconnected is then applied with overpull. After one turn, the overpull is increased and the assembly should unscrew near the free point. (blind backoff) poor boy degasser see mud/gas separator poor-boy junk basket an early rotary fishing tool. A poor boy junk basket consisted of a piece of casing with saw-teeth on the bottom welded onto a bit sub or tool joiiit. The junk basket was rotated on a drillstring while circulating. As the poor-boy junk

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basket was rotated, the saw-teeth would bend inward trapping any junk in the casing. poorly sorted a sedimentary rock that contains a large range of grain sizes. PSRT poorly-washed biosparite a limestone that contains subequal amounts of both limestone mud (micrite) and sparry calcite along with allochems or large, transported grains POP putting on pump pop see shot pop or pop off a vent pop-off valve a valve that is designed to open when the pressure on a liquid or gas reaches a specific level. The pop-off valve is used to prevent excessive pressure buildup, (relief, pressure-release, pressurerelief, or safety valve) popper valve a one-way valve used in a riser or downhole packer to allow fluid to flow down but not up the well poppet valve a type of one-way pneumatic valve popping of gas the flaring or blowing of gas into the air to dispose of natural gas from a well popping shale a shale formation with abnormal high pressure that causes the shale to split off into a wellbore. (geopressured shale) popping straws drilling development wells population a real or hypothetical collection of everything with certain properties pop-up buoy a buoy that is attached to the sea floor and can be released by a sonic signal, (recall or subsurface buoy or call-back marker) pop valve a spring-loaded safety valve POR, Por, or por 1) porosity 2) porous porcel porcelaneous porcelaneous having the appearance of unglazed porcelain, porcel

GRAIN

CEMENT
pore

pore the space between the solid rock particles. Pores are usually occupied in sedimentary rocks by a fluid such as water, gas, and/or oil. Primary pores are formed as sedimentary rocks are originally deposited. Secondary pores are formed in the subsurface. The pore type name can describe its geometry (vug, cavernous), origin (solution, fracture, organic), or

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pore pressure porosity unit

location (intergranular, intercrystalline). Macropores are larger than 0.5 M-m *n size in contrast to micropores. The volume percent of pore space in a rock is called porosity. P pore pressure the pressure exerted by the formation fluid on the walls of the pores in the formation. Normal pore pressure is hydrostatic pressure that is equal to about 0.45 psi/ft depth. Abnormal high pressure or geopressure is higher than hydrostatic pressure, whereas abnormal low pressure is lower. Pore pressure is the same as fluid, formation, or reservoir pressure, (formation pore pressure) Pp
Porifera

pore throat

pore throat the narrow connection between two pores. Pore throat sizes control the permeability of a rock. The pore-throat size distribution in a rock sample such as a core can be measured by the a) porous diaphragm technique, b) centrifugal technique, or c) air-mercury injection technique. A plot of saturation versus capillary pressure will yield a profile of the pore-throat size distribution. pore volume the total volume of all pores in a reservoir. PORV or PV pore volume compressibility the change of pore volume per unit of pore volume per unit of pressure change. The pore volume compressibility for sandstones and limestones is about 2xi0~ 6 to 25*10~ 6 perpsi. pore water the free or interparticle water in a reservoir rock that can flow through the rock. Pore water is in contrast to bound and irreducible water Porifera the phylum that includes sponges. Porifera are mainly marine bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Many have calcareous or siliceous internal skeletal elements called spicules that are preserved as fossils. Porifera have existed from the Precambrian era to the present. porosimeter an instrument that uses the mercuryinjection and air-injection methods to measure the porosity of a rock. The porosimeter consists of a volumetric mercury or air pump and pycnometer vessel, pressure gauges, sample chamber, and

handwheel. The rock sample is a plug that is usually V/i in. in diameter and VA in. long. In the mercuryinjection method, the volume of mercury injected into the pores of the plug is measured, whereas the volume of air injected is measured in the air-injection method. A Boyle's law porosimeter is commonly used for core porosity measurements. porosity the percent volume of pore space in a rock. Porosity is a measure of the reservoir rock's storage capacity for fluids. Some general porosity values for oil reservoirs are 0%-5% is negligible, 5%-10% is poor, 10%-15% is fair, 15%-20% is good and 20%25% is very good. Total or absolute porosity includes all the pore spaces, whereas effective porosity includes only the interconnected pores. Macroporosity is a measure of all pores greater than 0.5 |x m m s * ze in contrast to microporosity. The porosity of a sample can be measured by bulk-volume measurements such as a) mercury displacement, b) a bulk-volume meter, c) mercury pump, d) caliper measurements, and e) buoyancy and pore-volume measurement such as a) dry grain density, b) wet grain density, c) Boyle's law single- and double-cell methods, d) WashburnBunting method, e) summation of measured fluids, and 0 hydrocarbon resaturation. The symbol for porosity is <> POR, Por, orpor J. porosity curve the spontaneous potential curve on an electric well log porosity cutoff a minimum porosity valve that is chosen to define the lower limit of a productive reservoir rock. Porosity cutoff is used on porosity logs to define net pay. porosity exponent an empirical number used in the Archie formula for well log analysis. The porosity exponent generally ranges from 1.0-3.0 and is 1.3 for unconsolidated sediments and commonly about 2.0 for most reservoir rocks. The exponent is influenced by the rock geometry that controls the shape of the conductive solution in the pores. (cementation or shape factor) m porosity log 1) one of the three wireline well logs (acoustic velocity, density, and neutron) that are used to determine porosity porosity overlay a plot of porosities that were calculated from different wireline well logs porosity reversal the change of originally porous rock with geological time into rocks that lack porosity or visa versa porosity unit a measure of formation porosity used on the scale of a neutron porosity or other porosity

porous medium postplotting sensing log. The porosity unit is calibrated to 1% porosity. PUorp.u. porous medium a solid that contains pores porphyrins hydrocarbon ring complexes that contain nitrogen and a metallic nucleus that is usually vanadium or nickel. Porphyrins occur in hydrocarbons ranging from C25 through C35 and are most common in C30 through C32. Porphyrins occur in crude oil (ranging from less than 1 to 1300 ppm) and are formed from the green coloring matter (chlorophyll) in plants, suggesting the organic origin of crude oil. (petroporphyrins) porphyry an igneous rock that contains a bimodal distribution of both fine-grained and coarse-grained mineral crystals. A porphyry is formed by slow cooling and partial crystallization followed by rapid cooling. prphy port portable port 1) an opening 2) the left side of a ship in contrast to the starboard side portable well tester a trailer-mounted unit that contains separation and measurement equipment used to measure fluid production from a well port collar a short steel cylinder that couples joints of casing and has ports in it. The port collar has a sliding sleeve that can open or close the ports when activated by rotation or movement of the drillpipe inside them. A port collar is used to give access to the annulus and is normally closed. A port collar is used in multiple stage cementing in a well and is similar to a stage collar. It is also used for gravel packing. ported nipple a landing nipple with ports or holes in its sides Portland cement powdered cement without additives. Portland cement consists of tricalcium silicate, dicalcium silicate, tricalcium aluminate, tetracalcium aluminoferrite, calcium sulfate, magnesia, and lime. The relative percentages of the components affect the properties of the cement. Portland cement is finely ground and used from the surface to 6,000 ft to bind the casing to the sides of the well. Portland cement is the same as API Class A cement. POKV pore volume pos positive positioning system ask system positive buoyancy the upward pressure on an immersed body due to the weight of the submerged body being less than the weight of the fluid, such as water, that it displaces positive choke a choke that is not adjustable and has only one size orifice in contrast to an adjustable choke, (fixed choke) positive clutch line clutch that uses clamps to engage a rotating member. Two types are a) jaw and b) spline clutches positive-displacement flowmeter, meter, or volumeter an instrument that is used to measure the volume of fluid flow. A positive-displacement flowmeter separates the fluid such as a gas stream into separate volumes and measures the number of volumes. Two common types of positive-displacement

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flowmeters are a diaphragm meter and a rotary meter. The diaphragm meter uses two diaphragms in the meter case that are alternately filled and emptied to measure the gas volume. It is used for low volumes of clean, dry gas and is the type of meter used in home gas meters. The rotary meter uses a lobed impeller or rotating vanes to measure the gas. The impeller has 2 figure-8 lobes at 90. A rotating vane type uses a rotating idler and rotating valves or pistons. The rotary meters are used to measure high volumes of gas and can be used with high pressures. A positivedisplacement flowmeter provides information on the volume rather than the flow rate in contrast to an inferential meter. (PD meter) positive-displacement motor a downhole motor that uses the flow of drilling mud down the drillstring to turn rotors to provide rotary power to the bit. The motor consists of a dump valve, motor assembly, connecting rod or universal assembly, and bearing orbit assembly, each in a section. The motor assembly has a rotor on a solid steel spiral shaft, and stator in an outer tube lined with a rubber-like material. Positive-displacement motors can be either a highspeed, low-torque motor or a low-speed, high-torque motor. The low-speed motor is the most commonly used today. positive-displacement pump a reciprocating plunger that moves a specific quantity of fluid with each piston stroke positive separation a higher value for the micronormal resistivity curve than the microinverse curve on a well log. Positive separation usually indicates the presence of a mudcake. positive-volume prover equipment used to test and calibrate the accuracy of a flowmeter. The positivevolume prover consists of a vessel of known volume that is accurately calibrated. A liquid is passed through the line meter to the prover vessel, and the volume of liquid is measured and compared with the meter reading. The vessel can be atmospheric, open to let vapors evaporate, or pressurized. positron an atomic particle that has a positive charge and very low mass poss possible possible reserves oil and gas that is inferred to be present by speculative geological information and can be produced if located. Geological knowledge is insufficient to yield anything but vague indications of possible recovery. possumbelly or possum belly 1) an eroded, outof-gauge section of the well 2) see mud box 3) see trip tank post to record seismic travel time to a specific reflector on a base map posted price or posted field price the declared price that a purchaser will pay for oil from a field. The name comes from the fact that the price used to be posted in the field by purchasers. posthole digger a small drilling rig posthole well a shallow well postplotting a navigational technique in which new data is used to rework and process old data using different corrections. The data is stored on magnetic tape.

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pot powder

pot potential pot the chamber that holds the suction and discharge valves in a reciprocating or plunger pump. Pots are located on the fluid side of the pump. Pots are classified by the API as to size and dimensions, (valve pot) potable water water that is drinking quality potash potassium carbonate (K2CO3) potassium-argon age dating a method used to determine the age of a rock using the radioactive decay of K40 (parent) to Ar40 (daughter) that has a half life of 1.3 billion years. A chemical analysis of the amount of K40 and Ar40 is made to determine the age of the mineral. Micas are commonly used. potassium feldspar see orthoctase K-feldspar pot belly an enlarged wellbore due to sloughing of a soft formation such as shale, (cavity) pot dif potential difference poteclinometer a instrument used to continuously measure the inclination and azimuth of a wellbore. The poteclinometer contains a pendulum that moves the wiper arm of a potentiometer to measure a resistance that corresponds to the inclination. A compass moves on a wiper arm of another potentiometer to measure azimuth. Another pendulum moves a third wiper arm to measure relative bearing. potential 1) the amount of oil and/or gas that a well can produce daily as determined from a potential test run in the well 2) the electrical voltage with respect to a reference, pot potential energy stored energy in a body because of its configuration or position. Potential energy is in contrast to kinetic energy. potential reserves future oil and gas production in a known reservoir that will be produced by future, improved recovery techniques. Potential reserves are reserves beyond what the reservoir is expected to produce under present facilities, (indicatedadditional
reserves)

WIRELINE STUFFING iX AND LUBRICATOR PORTABLE POWER DRIVEN WINCH

BOTTOM HOLE PRESSURE GAUGE

potential test

potential surface show a ratio of the volume of gas added to drilling mud per unit of time divided by the volume of rock drilled per unit of time. PSS potential test a test used to determine the maximum amount of gas and oil that a well can produce under fixed conditions during a specific time, such as 24 hours. The test is usually run on each new well and is repeated periodically during the well's life. The oil produced is measured by tank gauging or meter and the gas by an orifice meter or orifice well tester. The potential test can be required by a government regulatory agency to assign a production allowable. PT potentiometer an instrument used to measure electrical voltage potentiometric surface a surface denned by the height to which water from an aquifer will rise in wells in an area, (piezometric surface) PS pothead a flat motor cable with a special terminal that is designed to conduct electrical power to an electric submersible pump but maintain a fluid seal pot man the cable-tool drilling crew member who is in charge of the boilers

potting the encasing of electronics in silicone, epoxy, elastomeric, or asphalt to prevent contact with moisture pound a unit of weight in the English system equal to 16 oz or 7,000 gr avoirdupois, or 12 oz or 5,760 gr troy. A pound can be converted to kilograms by multiplying by 0.4536. P or Ib pound-atom the mass in pounds of a given element that is equal to the element's atomic weight. One pound-atom of silicon is 28.086 lbs. pound equivalent one gram per 350 ml of fluid which is proportionally equal to 1 lb/bbl. pound-mol the mass in pounds of a given compound that is the equal of the compound's atomic weight. One pound-mol of methane is 16.043 lbs. pour ASTM the pour point using the ASTM method pouring a socket a method of attaching a rope socket to a sand line. The sand line is inserted into the rope socket and the strands are separated and twisted. Melted babbitt is then poured from a babbit ladle into the rope socket until it flows from the weep hole. The babbit solidifies and the rope socket is used to attach a tool to the sand line. pour point the lowest temperature at which a certain oil will flow. Pour point is an indication of the oil's wax content: the higher the pour-point temperature, the more wax it contains. Pour points in oil range from -75F to 104F. Cloud point is a similar test. pour-point depressant a solvent used to lower the temperature at which a waxy or paraffin-rich crude oil solidifies. The pour-point depressant is used to increase production in wells and flow in pipelines. P over E ratio see pump-to-engine ratio POW producing oil well powder explosive

powder hole Pr powder hole a dry hole power the rate of doing work. Electrical power is measured in watts and mechanical power in horsepower. PWR power generator a prime mover and an electrical generator or alternator that produces either direct or alternating electrical current power-law fluid a fluid in which the shear stress is related to the shear strain by the equation t K(y/* in which T is the shear stress, K is the consistency index, -y is the shear strain, and n is the flow-behavior index that varies between 0 and 1. power metal a metal used in bit matrices that is very wear-resistant power of attorney an instrument that grants regulatory powers to an agent or attorney-in-fact. PPA power oil cleaned and pressurized crude oil that is used to drive the production pump on a subsurface, hydraulic pumping system power rig a drilling rig in which the source of power is internal-combustion engines, usually diesel, and the power is transmitted to the rotary table by mechanical devices such as chains, gears, and shafts. A power rig is in contrast to an electric-drive rig. (mechanical rig) power rod tongs a sucker-rod wrench that*s power (hydraulic or pneumatic) activated power slips a wedge-shaped device that is part of a modern rotary table and powered by air or hydraulic fluid from a throttle or a pedal at the driller's position on a drilling rig. The power slips are used to suspend the drillstring in the well and are constructed with several slip segments attached to a lifting ring. (automatic slips) power sub a short section of pipe that is used on a drilling rig to make up or break out drillpipe power swivel a top-drive swivel that is suspended from a hook, elevators, on elevator bails, and has an electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic motor in it to drive the drill or tubing string below it. The power swivel eliminates the rotary table and kelly and allows for a longer string of pipe to be drilled before making a connection. Power swivels are used when rig time is very expensive. To make a connection, the new joint of drillpipe is screwed into the power swivel while the drillstring is being held by slips. A power swivel also provides for very smooth operation and throttling and is used to rotate the drillpipeduring workover operations and for drilling out cement, milling and pipe cutting, coring, and slim-hole drilling. A stiff arm keeps the power swivel from turning. power takeoff a wheel or hub on a shaft turned by an engine or motor. PTO power tight a threaded connection that has been made up or screwed together by mechanical means such as power tongs. Power tight is in contrast to hand tight. power tongs a mechanical wrench used on the floor of a drilling rig o make up and break out joints of drillpipe, casing, and tubing as it grips the tubular. Power tongs are either air or hydraulic powered with a throttle handle. Most power tongs require backup although some have their own backup. Some power

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tongs also have an automatic torque adjustment. The power tongs are suspended from the derrick on a wireline. They are reversible and have two speeds. High speed is used for making up and low speeds for breaking out. power tools equipment operated by electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic power POWF producing oil well flowing POWP producing oil well pumping pozzolan siliceous or siliceous and aluminous material that, when finely divided and mixed with moisture and calcium hydroxide, will form a cementlike substance pozzolan-lime or pozzolanic cement type of cement used for primary cementing wells with temperatures above 14OF. Pozzolan-lime cement is a mixture of siliceous material that is either natural such as volcanic particles or artificial such as fly ash, hydrated lime, a small amount of calcium chloride and water. The siliceous material increases the strength and lowers the permeability of the cement. Pozzolanlime cement is light in weight, economical and easily retarded, (silica-lime cement) PP 1) pulled pipe 2) production payment 3) pump pressure 4) pinpoint pp 1) production payment 2) pinpoint P.P. pulled pipe p.p. pinpoint porosity Pp pore pressure PPA power of attorney PPB pounds per barrel PPB or ppb parts per billion ppbw parts per billion by weight ppc pseudocritical pressure PPERF preperforated PPF pinpoint fluorescence PPG or ppg 1) pounds per gallon 2) parts per gallon PPG pounds of proppant per gallon PPI 1) production payment interest 2) parallel plate interceptors PPM or ppm parts per million PPM/VOL parts per million in a specific volume ppmw parts per million by weight PPM/WT parts per million in a specific weight P-POR poor porosity PPP or ppp pinpoint porosity p p r pseudoreduced pressure PPRL peak polished rod load PPROA Panhandle Producers and Royalty Owners Association PPSG pounds of proppant per gallon of slurry PPT or ppt parts per thousand ppt precipitate PR 1) pressure recorder 2) polished rod 3) penetration rate 4) productivity ratio pR reservoir pressure PR (pseudo) reduced pressure

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pr pressure prehydration tank a steel tank used on a drilling rig to hydrate bentonite before it is added to the mud system preignition the premature ignition of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinder of an engine before the piston is in the correct position. Preignition causes knocking prelim preliminary preload to purposely induce stress in a direction opposite the anticipated stress in a substance to increase its strength. A substance that has been preloaded is called prestressed. preloading to lower the legs of a jackup rig to the sea floor followed by raising the hull above the water surface PREP, Prep, or prep preparing prepacked gravel-packed liner a double-wall liner that is filled with a permeable synthetic sandstone pack. The liner is used to complete a well. prepaid IDC an advance payment made by a limited partner to the general partner for drilling a well preperforated liner a liner with holes that have been drilled into it before it is set in a well. The holes, called perforations, are usually XA in. or larger in diameter. preprocessor a computer that manipulates the data before the main processing is done pres preserved present assignment an arrangement in a farmout agreement in which the farmee receives 100% of the working interest in the earning well drilling-andspacing unit, and the farmor has an overriding interest that converts after payout to a working interest. The leases are transferred immediately upon entering the contract. Present assignment is in contrast to assigned when earned. present value a method to financially evaluate an investment such as drilling a well. Present value is computed by subtracting the costs of the well (drilling, completing, and operating), discounted for time, from the production revenues of the well, discounted for time, (present worth) PV present value profit a method of evaluating a project such as drilling and completing a well. Present value profit is the discounted net cash flow of the investment. The expenses discounted for the future value of money are subtracted from the income discounted for the future value of money. Present value profit is discounted at a rate that takes into account the time value of money and such factors as inflation and investment loss. A positive present-value profit will be less than the actual profit. PVP present worth see present value. PW preservative an additive such as paraformaldehyde that is used to prevent a substance, such as starch, from fermenting PRESS or press pressure pressure force exerted over an area. The English units of pressure are pounds per square inch (psi). The derived System International (SI) units are Newtons per square meters which is expressed as pascals. A kilopascal (Kpa) is most commonly used. One psi is equal to 6.9 Kpa. Pressure can be described

pr 1) pair 2) pseudoreduced pr reduced pressure prairie-dog plant a small refinery that is located in a remote area and is used to furnish diesel fuel and gasoline from light crude oil to a drilling rig PR&T pulled rods and tubing PRC pressure recorder control prcst precast PR-D proposed depth prd period preamplifier and analog filter the filters used in seismic exploration to help adjust the recorded pass band to the frequency of the seismic signal. The lowcut filter is usually set at 8 Hz. PreCamb Precambrian Precambrian an era of time that extends from the beginning of the earth, about 4.5 billion years ago, to about 570 m. y. ago. The Precambrain is divided into the Archeozoic and Proterozoic. PreCamb precipitate insoluble solid particles that form by chemical reaction in a fluid such as water and settle out of the fluid, ppt precipitated grain a sedimentary grain which crystallized from dissolved salts in water precipitator a vessel used for treating produced water. The precipitator contains a bed of excelsior or similar material for coalescing oil globules as the produced water flows through the vessel. precoat a covering of cellulose fibers and diatomaceous earth on screens used for filtering pred predominantly predictive deconvolution a process used to enhance seismic data. Seismic data from the earlier part of the seismic trace is used to predict the effects by the rocks on the seismic energy which is called convolution. Deconvolution, removal of these effects, is made on the later part of the trace. Predictive deconvolution can be used to remove reverberations and multiples. predictive error the difference between the predicted value during predictive deconvolution and the actual value predom predominately prefab prefabricated preferential right to purchase a right reserved by parties to a pooling, unitization or operating agreement to buy the interest of any party to that agreement who has received a bona fide offer from an outside entity, before the party can sell to the outside entity, (first right to refusal) preflush a fluid that is designed to condition a well or formation before a treating fluid is pumped. A preflush is used to wash and dilute the drilling mud in a well during a cement job as a spacer before the cement slurry is pumped, to reduce the formation salinity during enhanced oil recovery, and to form a spearhead for acidizing. preform to crimp the strands of a line prehtr preheater

pressure base pressure surge as fluid, lithostatic, bottomhole, casing, tubing, flowing, or static. PRESS, press, P, or p pressure base the atmospheric pressure to which gas volume calculations are made. The pressure base is defined by law or contract and is often 14.73 psia. The pressure base is 14.65 psia in Texas and 15.025 psia in Louisiana. Pb pressure bomb a wireline instrument that contains a Bourdon tube for measuring pressure and a stylus for recording the pressure. Pressure is recorded with time and corrected for temperature. The pressure bomb was used in wells before small pressure gauges became available. pressure buildup the rate at which pressure increases in a shut-in well after production pressure-buildup curve or plot a plot of bottomhole pressure versus dimensionless time [(T + AT)/A7] on semilog graph paper made during a drillstem test. T is the stabilized flow time (minutes or hours) before the build up test starts. AT is the cumulative shut-in time from well shut in to the recording of bottomhole pressure in the same units as T. The pressure-build up curve is used to determine the bottomhole flowing pressure without the effects of wellbore and afterflow pressure-charged valve a gas lift valve that uses gas pressure, usually nitrogen, in the responsive element, which is usually a bellows, to close the valve pressure clause a provision in a gas purchase contract that terminates the agreement if the gas pressure from a well or leasehold falls below a certain level. Below that pressure, the gas cannot be delivered to the pipeline because of the pipeline's higher working pressure. pressure compensator the lubricated-bearing container located on the leg of a roller-cone bit. The pressure compensator is designed to maintain an equal pressure on the bearings. pressure core a (core) cylinder of subsurface rock that was drilled by a coring barrel that maintains reservoir pressure in the core as it is brought to the surface. Nitrogen is used to maintain pressure up to 5,000-7,000 psi to prevent loss of gas and liquid and to prevent mud invasion. pressure depletion drive a gas drive that produces natural gas from a reservoir that has no water drive. Pressure depletion is caused by the expanding gas. (expansion gas drive) pressure drawdown a reduction in a well's bottomhole pressure pressure drawdown test a test run on a well to determine the capacity of a well to produce. The pressure drawdown test is conducted after a shut-in period. Flow rates at different bottomhole pressures are recorded. pressure-drop loss the pressure lost by a fluid flowing through a pipe or annulus. The pressure-drop loss is dependent on the velocity and properties of the fluid and the roughness and configuration of the pipe walls. pressure extension a number computed by dividing the square root of the differential pressure by the square root of the absolute static pressure.

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An integrator machine is used to convert gas meter chart data to pressure extension to calculate gas volume. pressure gage or gauge an instrument used to measure pressure on a fluid. The pressure gauge often uses a Bourdon tube, weighed piston, liquid column, or other device to measure the difference between atmospheric and fluid pressure. pressure gradient the difference or rate of change in pressure between two points often measured in psi/ft. A pressure gradient causes fluids to flow. pressure log a computer analysis of drilling parameters and data. The data include continuous mud weight, temperature and resistivity, bulk density and shale factor, pit volume totalizer, and differential mudflow measurements. The pressure log is used to estimate formation pressure and is used primarily on exploratory wells. pressure maintenance injection of water or gases into a subsurface reservoir during production to maintain reservoir pressure to increase the ultimate oil recovery. The gas is usually produced gas that has been stripped of its hydrocarbon liquids and is dry gas. Pressure maintenance is often used to control reservoir performance by augmenting a weak water or gas-cap drive. Pressure maintenance is sometimes used to correct improper well locations and poor completions, (gas reinfection or reinfection) pressure operated valve a gas lift valve that uses injection gas pressure to operate pressure probe a downhole instrument used to measure pressure on a gas-lift well and confirm a gas leak pressure-pulse test a test made by inducing a sharp pressure pulse in one well and detecting the pulse in another well. A pressure-pulse test is used to determine reservoir characteristics between the wells. pressure ratio the net pump area divided by the net engine area on a single acting pump. It is called the pump to engine ratio on a double acting pump. pressure-release or pressure-relief valve a valve that is designed to open when the pressure on a liquid or gas reaches a preset level. A pressure-release valve is used to prevent excessive pressure buildup, (popoff, relief, or safety valve) pressure ridge a small-scale fold formed by strikeslip movement on a fault pressure-sensing instrument an instrument that is bolted to the motor of an electric submersible pump and measures temperature and pressure. The pressure-sensing instrument contains a transducer and sending unit that transmits the information to a surface readout. PSI pressure side the high-pressure or upstream side of a valve where the fluid flows into the valve pressure sink a low-pressure area pressure snubber see pulsation dampener pressure solution the solution of a substance such as a mineral in a rock caused by the pressure in a grain-to-grain contact. Pressure solution is important in the formation of styolites in limestones. pressure surge a short, sudden pulse of increased pressure

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pressure survey primary stratigraphlc trap prills ammonium nitrate pellets that are used for shothole explosives in seismic exploration. prim primary Primacord an explosive rope that can be used to connect charges used in seismic exploration and to back off pipe primary cementing the first cement job in a well in which the cement slurry is pumped between the casing and the rock walls of the well to hold and protect the casing and prevent fluids from flowing vertically in that space. Primary cementing is in contrast to secondary cementing. primary deflecting tools a whipstock, knuckle joint, spudding bit, jet bit, and downhole motor primary dolomite dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2], a sedimentary rock, formed by chemical or biological precipitation out of water. Primary dolomite is rare. It is dense, fine grained, and well laminated. Primary dolomite is in contrast to secondary, diagenic, or supratidal dolomite, (ortbodolomite) primary drive the original force or forces that caused the oil and/or gas to flow into the well. In an oil field, the most common primary drives are solution gas, free gas, water, and gravity drives. Every oil field has one and sometimes two of these drives. The relative importance of the drives can change with production. A gas field has an expansion gas or water drive. primary means of escape fixed metal stairs or ladders primary migration the migration of oil and gas out of a source rock. Primary migration is caused by the volumetric expansion of organic matter into gas and oil. The pressure generated by the formation of petroleum fractures the source rock to create routes of migration. Primary migration is in contrast to secondary and tertiary migration, (expulsion) primary oil recovery the crude oil that is produced from a reservoir by the natural reservoir drive or energy. Primary oil recovery averages about 30% but varies considerably with the reservoir drive, reservoir rock characteristics, and crude oil properties. (primary production or recovery) primary porosity spaces between the solid rock particles in sedimentary rocks formed when the rock was deposited. Primary pores include intergranular and organic pores. Primary porosity is in contrast to secondary porosity, (original porosity) primary production or recovery see primary oil
recovery

pressure survey a measurement of pressure, either flowing or shut-in at various depths in a well. The pressure survey is measured on a wireline pressure bomb and is either recorded in the self-contained unit or on the surface. pressure test see leak-off test pressure transducer survey a survey of a well using a pressure transducer to find where the mud is flowing and where it is static to locate lost-circulation zones in the well pressure transient test 1) a test that determines the effect of pressure changes in one well on other wells in the field 2) a test on a well in which the flow rate is closely controlled to obtain pressure transient data to evaluate pressure variations as a function of time. The pressure transient test is used to qualitatively identify the parameters that control production such as formation permeability and thickness, skin effect, static reservoir pressure, and reservoir boundaries and limits. Types of pressure transient tests include a) drawdown, b) buildup and c) falloff. pressure-volume relations see flash vaporization pressure wave see P-wave pressurize to increase the pressure on a fluid in a closed container prest prestressed prestack or prestak a computer process, such as migration, made on seismic data before it is stacked prestressed a structural member that has stress preloaded into it that is opposite of the loading stress. A prestressed member has a greater strength than an unstressed member, prest pretensioning the adjustment of the pull load on each mooring system line on a floater, such as a semisubmersible, to compensate for the forces the line is expected to encounter pre-torque the hand tightening of a pipe joint before power tongs are used prev prevent preventer a blowout preventer previous run a logging operation made on a preceding trip Prf recovered fluid salinity PRHP polished rod horsepower pri primary Priabonian a global age of geological time that occurred about 41-38 m. y. ago. It is the Upper Eocene age. price bulletin the price per barrel of oil posting that a purchaser will pay for each grade of crude oil from a field price redetermination clause a gas contract provision that allows for gas price revisions at periodic intervals or at the request of a party price upgrade an increase in the contract price a purchaser pays for either oil or gas Pridolian a global age of geological time that ended about 405 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Silurian epoch.

primary reflection seismic energy that has been reflected off a subsurface layer only once. Primary reflections are in contrast to multiples. primary reserves the amount of oil and gas that is recoverable commercially at current prices and conventional methods by the reservoir drive from a reservoir primary stratigraphic trap a stratigraphic trap formed by the deposition or diagenesis of the reservoir rock such as a limestone reef, river channel sandstone, an updip pinchout of a sandstone wedge in a shale layer, or an oolite shoal. A primary stratigraphic trap

primary structure produced gas is in contrast to a secondary stratigraphic trap. (lithologic trap) primary structure the jacket and piling of an offshore platform. The primary structure is in contrast to the secondary structure which is the deck and modules. primary term the time in which a lease is in effect during the exploration and drilling phase even through no commercial petroleum production has been established. Payments, called delay rentals, may be required periodically to continue the lease during the primary term which is generally 3, 5, or 10 years. After the primary term, only commercial petroleum production can extend the lease into the secondary term. primary tracer a chemical that forms a detectable chemical compound in reservoir fluids when injected into a test well primary water water produced from the oil zone primary wave see P-wave prime to prepare an explosive charge prime mover an engine, usually natural gas, diesel, or electric, that provides power on a drilling rig or pumping unit. On pumping wells, most prime movers are three-phase, 60-cycle, 1,200 rpm, AC electric motors ranging from a fraction of a horsepower to 150 hp. On a drilling rig, the prime mover is usually an internal combustion engine driven by diesel oil or, less commonly, natural gas. From two to four engines are used, developing from 500-3,000 hp. The number and size of the engines depends on the size and rating of the drilling rig. Electrical rigs have diesel engines that drive electric generators. The original prime movers on cable-tool rigs were single-cylinder steam engines. prime pipe pipe that meets all inspection and testing requirements primer a small explosive which is set off by a cap. A primer is used to detonate a larger explosive which cannot be set off by the cap. prin principal principal meridian a surveyed, north-south line through a specific point. A principal meridian is used in land surveys and is the primary north-south line from which township boundaries are initiated. A base line is the east-west line. printed circuit a thin laminated board on which electrical circuits are drawn and components are mounted pris prism private carrier a transporter such as a pipeline that owns the commodity such as natural gas that it transports. Most interstate gas pipelines are private carriers in contrast to common and contract carriers private drilling fund a drilling fund that is exempt from registering with the Securities Exchange Commission. A private drill fund has units that are sold to a relatively small number of investors. The investor commonly contributes $20,O0O-$15O,0OO. The drilling sites have been selected in advance and there is a memorandum. A private drilling fund is in contrast to a public drilling fund.

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PRL 1) propagation resistivity log 2) polished rod load prly pearly PRMT or print permit prncpl lss principal lessee pro prorated prob probable probable reserves oil and gas whose existence is not proven by geological information but is probably present due to proximity to proven reserves and can be produced if located. The geological and engineering data are insufficient to state with certainty that the oil and gas could by produced under current economic and operating conditions but could be termed economically recoverable with a slight increase in geological or engineering data. Probable reserves are less accurate than proven reserves. probate to establish the validity of a will probe 1) a sensor 2) a steering tool on a conductor line in an orienting sub proc process processed gas natural gas that has had the liquid hydrocarbons removed in a gasoline plant processing changing the form and quality of data, usually by computer. Processing includes the methods used in seismic exploration to enhance the signalnoise ratio and the ability to interpret the seismic data. The field seismic tape along with written records are taken rocessing center. The processing proceeds through a) demultiplexing, b) grouping of traces in CDP gathers, c) deconvolution tests, d) deconvolution, e) statics corrections, f) velocity analysis, g) normal moveout, h) muting, i) residual statics application, j) transfer of stacked traces to stacked tape, k) filtering, and m) making of seismic section. processing plant an installation that is used to remove any hydrocarbons that can be liquified from natural gas. The hydrocarbons can range from condensate to ethane and the processes most commonly used are refrigeration and absorption. process system or train the treatment system on an offshore platform for produced fluids from subsea wells. The process train includes the cooling, treating, separating, compressing, and transferring equipment. (production train) PRO-D projected depth Prod, producer Prod or prod production prod or prod. 1) produce 2) producing prodelta the subaqueous area or environment in the front of a delta located below wave base and above the basin floor. The prodelta is an area of fine-grained sedimentation. The slope tends to be very unstable with frequent mass movements of sediments. prod magnetization magnetization of pipe for inspection by passing an electric current through the pipe with prods prods hand-held electrodes that are used to magnetize a pipe for inspection produced gas natural gas that is produced from a well. Produced gas can be either associated or non-

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produced water

production license

associated gas. During mud logging, produced gas is the gas that flows into a well as the well is being drilled, the same as if the gas were being produced from a completed well. produced water water that is produced from a well along with oil and gas. The subsurface water associated with gas and oil reservoirs is called oilfield brine. The waters are often described by their dissolved salts in both concentration, usually in parts per million, and chemical composition. The composition is described by their dominate mineral ions. Type a has sulfate-sodium, Type b has bicarbonate-sodium, Type c has chloride-magnesium, and Type d has chloridecalcium waters. Type d is most common. The composition of the water can be shown by using Tickell, Parker, or Stiff methods and diagrams. producer 1) a well that will flow commercial amounts of gas and/or oil. Prod 2) any owner of an economic interest in a well. Producers includes working, royalty, overriding, and net profits interest owners. Producer's 88 a general term for a lease form. Producer's 88 was originally a lease form printed by Burkhart Printing Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1916 as a lease (number 88) for Producer Oil Company that later became synonymous with all lease forms. (88 lease) producible well a well capable of producing petroleum in paying quantities. The well may not be presently producing due to lack of permanent production or transportation facilities. producibility-index log a calculated well log that shows effective porosity and percent porosity filled with clays. Low clay content is indicative of high permeability. producing gas/oil ratio the number of standard cubic feet of gas produced at the surface of a well per stock tank barrel of oil at a specific time. The gas includes both free gas and solution gas. The producing gas/oil ratio is usually reported in SCF/SRTB or SCM/STCM. (instantaneous total gas/oil ratio) producing platform see production platform producing well a well that produces petroleum in a field. A producing well is in contrast to an injection, service, or plugged and abandoned well producing zone the vertical extent of the reservoir producing gas and/or oil in a well. The producing zone can be named after the producing formation or by its depth and thickness, (pay zone, pay, production, or productive horizon or pay) production 1) the removal of petroleum from a subsurface reservoir by wells 2) oil or gas wells 3) oil and/or gas produced from wells 4) the part of the petroleum industry that is concerned with bringing gas and oil to the surface and separating, gauging, storing, and preparing it for transport Prod or prod production casing see production string production ceiling the maximum production that a field, county, or region obtains due to a) technical, b) production-sharing, c) government reasons production combination tool a tool used on high flow rate wells that combines a) a continuous

PRODUCTION or OIL STRING CASING (5 1/2")

production casing

flowmeter, b) a fullbore spinner, c) a gradiometer, d) a manometer, and e) a thermometer PCT production cost factor an economic evaluation tool for a project that is computed by adding the capital cost of exploring, drilling, and production and dividing by the estimated oil production in barrels per day production costs the cost of lifting the oil and gas together with its gathering, treating, and storing production facility the equipment such as separators, treaters and compressors that separate a well stream into its oil, gas, and water phases and processes them into marketable products or disposes of them production foreman an employee of the oil producer who supervises lease operations. The production foreman coordinates all lease work through the pumpers or head roustabouts. The production foreman also supervises the completion of new wells, well servicing and workovers, and the installation of any new equipment on the leases. The production foreman works under the field superintendent, (field foreman or lease superintendent) production horizon see production zone SI production index from Rock-Eval pyrolysis PI production in paying quantities production of enough oil and/or gas for the operator to make a profit above operating costs production island an artificial island, usually made of gravel or larger particles, that is constructed to accommodate producing wells in shallow water production license an exclusive agreement between a country and a party for that party to search and produce petroleum from a block or concession.

production liner production string The party is committed to an annual expenditure on exploring and drilling. The country will receive a royalty on any production. A production license is for a specific term, usually with an option to extend the term. production liner a string of pipe that serves as production casing adjacent to the producing zone in a well. It does not extend to the surface. The production liner can be perforated or slotted. production log a wireline well log that is run inside tubing to evaluate a problem in a producing well. The small-diameter sonde can include a continuous flowmeter, packer flowmeter, densimeter, gradiomanometer, manometer, watercutmeter, thermometer, radioactive tracers, through-tubing calipers, casing-collar locater, and fluid samplers. The well logs can include temperature, spin meter, radioactive tracer, caliper, casing corrosion, noise, pressure, and gamma ray logs. production logging the determination of oil, gas, and water flow profiles in a producing well. The production log measures the volume and type of fluid that enters the well from different locations in the well. The amount of fluid is determined from the velocities, and the type is determined from the densities. Production logging uses flowmeters, radioactive tracers, and densimeters. production module a self-contained unit that has been assembled onshore, barged offshore, and is installed on an offshore platform. Production modules are transported offshore on deck barges and lifted into place by derrick or crane barges. Some common production modules are wellhead, oil and gas separation, gas compression, platform power generation, diesel, filter and exhaust, cement and brine storage, and mud. The modules weigh up to 2,000 short tons, (module) production optimization a method used to calculate the flow rate at which an oil or gas well will produce and to evaluate the effects of various parts of the system such as flowline size, separator pressure, choke size, tubing size, safety valves, downhole restrictions, and well completion methods. Production optimization is used to optimize the entire production system to obtain the most efficient flow rate. The system is analyzed at various locations called nodes such as the bottom of the well, top of the well, and at the separator. (Nodal system analysis or production system analysis) production packer an expandable device that is used to block the annular space between the casing and tubing to prevent fluids from flowing vertically. The packer is run on the tubing string and is seated either hydraulically or mechanically. The packer can have two sets of slips with one set in tension and one in compression. The packer can be set by rotating the tubing 90 and raising 6 inches. The packer can also be inflated with the wellbore fluids. After the packer is set, the packer isolates the producing zone(s) in the welt, protects the casing from pressure and corrosive fluids and eliminates heading or surging. (tubing packer) production payment a fraction of production from a well or property that is free of production costs
production platform (Kerr McGee)

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and is limited in a) quantity, b) money, or c) time PPorpp production-payment interest a networking interest in a well that is limited to a specific amount of oil, gas, money, or time, after which it expires. A production-payment interest is created from a working interest. PPI production-payment loan a loan that is made on future production from a well or lease. The operator carves out a royalty payment to the lender. production plateau a period of relatively steady production from a field after the wells have been drilled and put on line and before the reservoir energy is sufficiently depleted to reduce production

production platform an offshore structure designed to receive flowlines and to support producing subsea wells. The production platform usually has a platform above the surface of the water to accommodate the equipment such as wellheads, tanks, separators, treaters and pumps along with the crew to operate it. One producing platform can often service an entire offshore field with numerous wells drilled out from the platform with deviation drilling. The treated oil and gas is usually brought ashore by a submarine pipeline. The production platform can be a piled steel-template jacket, gravity structure, articulated, tension-leg, or subsea production platform, (producing or well platform) production rate the quantity of oil, usually expressed in barrels per day (B/D), and gas, usually expressed in thousands of cubic feet per day, from a well or field production rig see worker rig production shutdown the manual or automatic stoppage of a process train production skid an oil and gas production unit mounted on a skid that can be transported and installed on an offshore platform. A production skid is used to treat, separate, store, and pump the oil and gas ashore. production string the deepest and last length (string) of casing that is run to or through the producing zone. The casing adjacent to the producing zone can be perforated or shot with holes to complete the well. Production string has the smallest diameter, ranging from 23/s in. to 9% in. and typically is 5V4 in. or 75/s in., and is the longest string of casing in the well. Production string protects the hole, isolates

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production system profit-sharing bidding cross or tee is the flowline valve. Most production trees are single-wing but some are double-wing when the well is a dual completion. Most trees are machined out of a solid block of metal (block tree), whereas some are assembled with individual valves (loose-valve tree). The production tree has a hollow passageway that connects to the top of the tubing in the well. Flowing wells that use production trees include all gas wells and, less commonly, oil wells, especially early in the development of the field. On the seafloor, production trees can be either wet-trees or dry-trees. (Christmas tree or tree) production tubing see tubing productive horizon see producing zone productive to earn a farmout agreement in which the farmee must drill a producing well to earn the acreage productive well a well that extends the lease by a) producing in paying quantities or b) producing in commercial quantities. A productive well includes a shut-in well that is capable of producing in paying or commercial quantities. productivity factor a measure of the formation damage in a well. The productivity factor is equal to the production rate at a fixed drawdown from the well divided by the theoretical production rate with no formation damage, (condition ratio) productivity index the flow rate that a well can produce per psi difference between reservoir and bottomhole pressures (static and flowing bottomhole) in bbl/day-psi or m3/day-kPa. Productivity index is an indicator of that well's ability to produce oil. The formula is PI or / = " in which q = flow rate in stock tank barrels per day (STB/d), Ps = shut-in bottomhole pressure in pounds per square inch (psi), and PUf = flowing bottomhole pressure in pounds per square inch. Productivity index is a measure of the reservoir drive in a well. The productivity index of a well will decrease with production and time. The specific productivity index is calculated per foot of pay. /, J, or PI productivity ratio the productivity index of a well divided by the productivity index of a standard well PR productivity test a test used to determine a well's stabilized inflow capabilities. The productivity test measures the effect of different flow rates on bottomhole flowing and static pressures. The maximum potential rate of flow can be calculated from the test without risking well damage by flowing at the maximum possible rate. profiler a marine seismic-reflection system with a low-energy, high-frequency source. A profiler can consist of a sparker source and one or two hydrophone groups with a single-channel plotter. profitability index a method of economically evaluating an investment such as drilling a well. Profitability index is the return rate on the investment that is discounted for time, (internal rate or return, scientific rate of return, investor's rate of return, and discounted cashflow rate of return) profit-sharing bidding a type of bidding for offshore state or federal leases. A small bonus is offered

formation fluid, prevents fluid migration, and protects the downhole equipment, (capital, flow, long, oil or pay string or production casing, or inner conductor) production system a subsea facility that has pumping, operation, and completion equipment to receive crude oil from one or more manifold systems and send it to a gravity storage platform. production systems analysis see production optimization production tank see stock tank production tax the state and municipal tax on the operator of wells for crude oil, condensate, and natural gas production. Each state has its own laws and administrative procedures concerning production taxes, (gross production or severance tax) production term the period of an oil and gas lease when the lease is held in effect by production . The production term follows the primary term, (secondary term) production test 1) a general term for any well testing after the well has been completed with the final casing, liner, flow string, and downhole equipment installed. A routine or normal production test involves only the periodic measurement of oil, gas, and water production, which is often done on a regular schedule. A production test can also include more involved tests such as potential, productivity, and pressure transient tests. 2) a regularly scheduled measure of a well's oil, gas, and water production under normal operating conditions. Parameters measured include oil production rate in barrels per day (B/D), water production rate in barrels per day, the gas/oil ratio in standard cubic foot per stock tank barrel the oil cut in percent, the "API of the oil, a water sample analysis, casing and tubing pressure in pounds per square inch (psi), choke size in Vfetths, and separator pressure and temperature in pounds per square inch, and F, along with a description of the pumping system. PDT production train see process system or train

production tree

production tree surface completion equipment consisting of a casinghead housing, casing and tubing head spools, and production valves and chokes used to control the flow of a well that flows to the surface under its own pressure. Production trees vary in construction, but all have at least one master valve to control the flow of the well. On the top is a swab valve and a pressure gauge. To the side of the flow

profit-to-investment ratio proration factor along with a percentage of the net profits. The lease goes to the bidder who offers the highest percentage of net profits. profit-to-investment ratio a method to evaluate an investment such as drilling and completing a well. Profit-to-investment ratio is the ultimate actual-value profit of an investment divided by the investment. The investment can be calculated as a) after tax, b) capitalized, c) total cash outlay, or d) maximum negative cash flow. PJ or P/I prog progress prograde to deposit sediments out into a basin or ocean. A shoreline will advance seaward with the progradation of sediments. program a set of computer instructions. The program is in a programming language such as BASIC or Pascal. progressing cavity pump a type of nonpulsating, positive displacement, downhole sucker-rod pump. The pump consists of a single-threaded helical rotor that spins eccentrically in a double-threaded helical stator of two pitch length. The rotor and stator form a series of sealed cavities, 180 apart that move from the suction to the discharge side of the pump. The rotor is made of chrome-plated tool steel, and the stator is a metal tube with molded elastomer on the inside. progressive gel a gel with a gel strength that increases with time in contrast to a fragile gel progressive royalty a royalty that is based on a specific sliding scale depending on the size of the field discovered. Large fields have large royalties. A progressive royalty is used to encourage the development of smaller fields. proj projected project life the length of a project in years PROJ TO projected total depth Prolog a wellsite, computer log analysis system prom prominent promote 1) to try to sell an oil and gas deal 2) the amount or percentage of money that goes to the person or company that sells an oil or gas deal to an investor(s) Pronto Plug lost-circulation material made with a blend of water-soluble polymers and hardwood particles PROP propping agents prop 1) proportional 2) proposed propagation effect see skin effect propane a colorless, odorless gas (C3H8) found in natural gas. Propane has a molecular weight of 44.097, a specific gravity of 0.51, a boiling point of 44F at 14.7 psia, a vapor pressure of 190 psia at 100F, a critical temperature of 206F, a critical pressure of 616 psia, and a gross heat content of 2517.5 Btu/ft3. Because propane burns relatively hot, propane is often removed from natural gas, liquified and sold separately as liquified petroleum gas. C3 propene an olefin or alkane with the chemical formula CjHg. (propylene) proportional control a type of valve opening in which the opening is proportional to the change in

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a variable, such as the position of a needle. Proportional control is in contrast to snap action. proportional torque differential indicator an instrument used to determine natural gas specific gravity. The proportional torque differential indicator measures the difference in torque produced by a jet of natural gas and a jet of air blowing on the shaft of an impulse wheel to determine the specific gravity. proportionate reduction clause an oil and gas lease provision that permits the lessee to reduce payments proportionately to the lessor if the lessor has less than 100% of the mineral rights, (lessor interest clause) proportionate working interest a working interest in a well in which the working interest costs are proportional to the working interest revenues from production. A proportionate working interest is in contrast to a disproportionate working interest. proportioning equipment the meters and mixing truck that mixes frac fluids, proppants, and chemicals for hydraulic fracturing proppant concentration the weight of a proppant material in pounds per gallon of carrying fluid used during hydraulic fracturing. Proppant concentration is typically 6-8 lbs/gal.

PROPPING AGENTS

propping agents

proppant material, proppants, or propping agents small, well-sorted grains that are hard and granular or spherical shaped. Proppants are suspended in a liquid (frac fluid) and pumped down a well during a frac job to hold the fractures open when the frac fluid is flowed back. Sand was the first proppant used in 1948 and is still the most common. Common proppants used include Ottawa sands, Texas brown sand, resin-coated sand, and sintered bauxite pellets. The most common proppants used are those that are caught between 20-40,10-20, and 8-12 mesh screens.
PROP

proprietary information or data kept secret propylene an olefin or alkane with the chemical formula C3H6 (propene) pro-rata cutbacks in production takes that are made proportionally without any consideration such as price, (ratably) proration factor the percentage of a particular well's allowable or amount of gas and/or oil that the government regulatory agency allows to be produced from that well on a calendar basis that is usually

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prorationing proved undeveloped reserves Proterozoic a division of the Precambrian era of time. It is the most recent division of the Precambrian and occurred about 2.5 billion years-570 m. y. ago. There is some fossil evidence for plants and animals existing during this time. Protero proton an atomic particle that is part of the atomic nucleus. A proton has a charge of +1 and a mass of 1.00759 atomic mass units and 1.673 x 10~24 gm. proton-resonance magnetometer a type of magnetometer, a geophysical instrument used in petroleum exploration . A proton-resonance magnetometer measures the earth's magnetic field and is sensitive to the magnetite content of subsurface rocks. A hydrogen nucleus, either a proton in water or kerosene, precesses in orientation with the earth's magnetic field. A coil induces a magnetic field which reorients the protons. When the field is terminated, the protons reorientate themselves back to the earth's magnetic field and precess at a frequency which is proportional to the earth's magnetic field strength. This induces voltage in a measuring coil which is recorded, (nuclear-precession magnetomenter) Protozoa the phylum that includes single-celled animals called protozoans. Some members have carbonate or siliceous skeletons and are important as microfossils. Protozoa include foraminifera, radiolarians, and coccolithophores. PROV province prove to measure the accuracy of a flowmeter using a prover proved acreage an area that is underlain by proven reserves that have been identified by drilling and those adjacent areas where the geological and engineering data show the proven reserves to extend proved area the part of a property that contains proved reserves proved developed reserves the estimated amount of oil and gas that is expected to be produced from a) existing wells and b) improved recovery techniques that have had a successful pilot test. Proved developed reserves are in contrast to proved undeveloped reserves. proved oil and gas reserves an estimate of the amount of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids which existing geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty that can be recovered from a well, lease, or reservoir under existing economic and operating conditions. Proved reserves need the data of production or formation tests and delineation wells that define the gas/oil and oil/water contact and the extent of the reservoir. Proved oil and gas reserves can also include reserves produced by improved recovery techniques. Two types of proved reserves are proved undeveloped and proved developed reserves, (proven reserves) proved property property with proven reserves in contrast to unproven property proved undeveloped reserves the estimated amount of oil and gas production that is expected to be produced from a) new wells drilled, b) recompletions of old wells, and c) improved recovery techniques that need pilot tests to be confirmed. Proven undeveloped reserves are in contrast to proved developed reserves.

monthly. The government regulatory agency adjusts the proration factor monthly based on the supply and demand for gas and oil. prorationing the restriction of production by a governmenl regulatory agency. Prorationing is done by granting an allowable or amount of oil and/or gas that is allowed to be produced in a certain time to a well, lease, or field. proration unit the acreage upon which only one producing well from a certain producing zone can be located. The proration unit is set by a government regulatory agency. Forty acres is common for an oil well and 640 ac for a gas well, (drilling-and-spacing unit) prospect a location where the geological information and economic realities justify the consideration of drilling a well for petroleum prospecting license a permit granted by a country to a party to explore for petroleum in any part of a large designated area not covered by a production license, (exploration or reconnaissance license) prospect map a map showing a proposed well location along with the stratigraphic interval to be drilled, a structural and isopach map of the target, the number and thickness of the potential pay zones, the position of known oil and gas producers with cumulative productions and dry holes, the fluids recovered from each well by drillstem testing, and hydrodynamic data. prot protection protective acreage land that is covered by current leases held by a party that is exploring and/or drilling in that area. Present geological data does not indicate a commercial reservoir below that land, but the party has leased the land in case future information indicates a reservoir and to prevent other parties from leasing the land. protection covenant an expressed or implied duty in an oil and gas lease that the lessee will drill an offset well on the lease to protect the lease from drainage by a well on an adjacent lease, (offset well covenant) protection well a well drilled on a lease to compensate for the drainage caused by a well on another lease, (offset well) protective string or protection casing string a length (string) of casing that is set in a well between the surface and production casing strings. The protection casing string ranges in diameter from 5 to H3/4 in. and is typically 9% in. The casing is used to isolate potentially troublesome formations in the well, such as abnormal high- or low-pressure zones or salt layers; to protect normal pressure zones when drilling deeper using heavy mud weights; and to protect production casing from corrosion. (intermediate, protective, or salt string or intermediate casing string) protector the device used on an electric submersible motor to isolate the motor from the well fluids. Two types are the a) positive seal with elastomers and the b) labyrinth path. Protero Proterozoic

provenance PSIA or psia provenance the place where the sedimentary grains were originally formed by weathering before they were transported and deposited to form sedimentary rocks proven behind-pipe reserves commercial amounts of oil and gas whose location behind casing in a well is established and can be produced by recompleting the well proven reserves see proved oil and gas reserves prover a device used to calibrate meters prover tank a tank in which liquid flowmeters are calibrated, (calibration tank) prove up to drill and define the limits of a petroleum reservoir province a distinct geographical area with similar geographical features such as stratigraphy and structures and where numerous petroleum fields occur in a similar geological environment. Examples are the Mid-Continent and the Gulf Coast. The province can be subdivided into subprovinces such as individual basins or districts. PROV proving the methods used to test and calibrate specific flowmeters. Proving is normally applied to positive displacement (PD) and turbine meters as they give direct readouts of volume through the meter. The most common proving methods are a) volumetric prover, b) master meter, and c) displacement-type provers. The true volume of fluid is then compared to the indicated volume of fluid on the meter, and a meter factor is calculated, (meter proving) PROW process well proximity log a microresistivity wireline well log. The proximity log is a contact tool with a focused current similar to a microlaterolog but with a deeper
sensor. PROXL, PL, or P

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proximity switch an electrical contact that is magnetically activated when a ferrous metal comes near. A proximity switch is used to count the rpms on a rotary table. PROXL proximity log PROX-MLC proximity minilog proximity survey a seismic survey used to determine the distance from a well to a structural feature such as a salt dome prphy porphyry PRPT preparing to run potential test PRSD piercement type salt dome PRT petroleum revenue tax PRTD platinum resistance-temperature detector Pr Temp precision temperature log prtgs partings prtn partition prudent operator standard the test that is commonly applied to determine if the lessee has complied with the implied lease covenants. The standard assumes what a competent operator acting in good faith and economic incentive would do under a situation. PRXP pulled or pulling rods and pump

pry bar a heavy steel bar that is used for leverage or to move heavy equipment short distances PS 1) pressure switch 2) potentiometric surface 3) plow steel ps pseudo Ps static pressure ps 1) shut-in pressure 2) support pressure to resist collapse PSA packer set at psammite see arentie psephite see rudite PSC public service commission Px or p,,. pressure at standard conditions PSD 1) permanently shut down 2) production shutdown PSE plain small end pseudodamage a production restriction that is due to the type of completion rather than formation damage. Pseudodamage can be due to turbulence in the flowline or restricted perforations pseudogas effect the effect of sandstone on a density and neutron porosity curve recorded in limestone units. The density curve reads 1.5 porosity units too high, whereas the neutron porosity curve reads 4 porosity units too low. pseudo-oolitic a sedimentary rock texture characterized by rounded clastic grains that are similar to oolites pseudoplastic a substance that changes apparent viscosity with a shear rate change pseudoplastic fluid a non-Newtonian fluid that will start to flow at a pressure greater than zero, but the apparent viscosity decreases instantaneously with increasing shear rate until the viscosity becomes constant pseudoplastic shale shale that contains colloidal clays, such as montmorillonite, that hydrate when exposed to water. When pseudoplastic shales are drilled, the introduction of water from the drilling fluid causes the clay minerals in the shale to expand and the shale to heave, squeeze, or swell into the wellbore. Bentonitic shales are pseudoplastic. (heaving shale) pseudoreduced temperature and pressure a hypothetical property of gas that is used to correct for the compressibility factor in gases, pp. or tp. pseudostatic SP or spontaneous potential a spontaneous potential measurement or calculation made on shaly rock in contrast to static SP. PSP pseudosteady state a flow regime in a well in which the pressure front from the well has reached the drainage boundaries of the well, and the average reservoir pressure will decrease with time as reservoir fluid is produced. The pseudosteady state occurs after the transient state. psf pounds per square foot PSI 1) stress function 2) profit sharing interest 3) pressure-sensing instrument PSI or psi pounds per square inch PSIA or psia pounds per square inch absolute

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PSIFORPsi/ft pull in buying units in the drilling fund. The units commonly cost between $2,000-15,000. The drilling fund usually creates a limited partnership with the oil company being the general partner and the investors being the limited partners. The investors receive a portion of the net revenues from production and most or all of the intangible drilling and development costs for tax purposes. In a blind-pool drilling fund, the oil company puts up some of the monies and has no predetermined drilling locations, just an area of interest. Public drilling funds are registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in contrast to private drilling funds. public land United States federal land that is either acquired or public domain land with the exception of a) outer continental shelf land and b) land held for the benefit of Indians, Aleuts, and Eskimos. Public land is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. public utility any public or privately-owned business that is subjected to government regulations. A public utility is a "business affected with a public interest" and provides an essential service to the consuming public. PUC Public Utility Commission puddling 1) the spotting of a cement slurry in an open well and then running the casing in the well while rotating the casing. This is called a puddle job. 2) the rotation of casing during cementing to remove air bubbles 3) the agitation of cement slurry to remove air bubbles Pugh clause an oil and gas provision that separates pooled portions of the lease from unpooled portions of the lease. This prevents drilling and production on the pooled portion from maintaining the lease on the unpooled portion. The Pugh clause is named after Lawrence Pugh of Louisiana, (freestone rider) Pugh clause rentals monies paid to the lessee in order to extend the life of a portion of a lease that is not included in a unit. Pugh clause rentals are included under the terms of a Pugh clause in an oil and gas lease. PUIC pulled up in casing pull a well to remove rods or tubing from a well pull a well in to collapse a mast or derrick on a drilling rig pullback line a %- or 1-in. rope that is tied to the mast and is used by the derrickman to wrap around and pull in the upper part or a stand of pipe when racking pipe pull down 1) the vertical displacement downward on a seismic section of seismic reflectors located under a low-velocity layer such as salt. A pull down is in contrast to a velocity pull-up, (velocity pull-down) 2) a snubbing unit that is designed to apply force to a drill or tubing string that is being run into a well under pressure pulled down a decrease in wire-rope diameter due to a failure of the core pulled threads damaged or stripped threads on pipe or tubing pull in to bring a flowline into a subsea production system wellhead cellar by a wire

PSIF or Psi/ft pounds per square inch per foot PSIG or psig pounds per square inch gauge PSL public school land PSM spiral pipe Psmax maximum allowable surface squeeze pressure Psool of psool pseudo-oolite PSP pseudostatic spontaneous polarization or potential p SP separator pressure pSP pseudo-spontaneous potential PSRT poorly sorted PSS potential surface show Pst pumice stone P s , standard pressure PSU production spacing unit PSW seamless pipe PT 1) potential test 2) peak torque P/T pressure-temperature Pt or pt 1) part 2) pint P, tubing pressure PT&R pulling tubing and rods "P" tank a dry bulk storage tank used on an offshore drilling rig for barite, bentonite, and other materials PTB or ptb pounds per thousand barrels PTd peak torque on downstroke PTF production test flowing p tf flowing tubing pressure PTG 1) pulling tubing 2) parting Ptg of ptg parting PTGL production test, gas lift
P3 see S3

PTI production test intimitter PTINT part interest PTO power takeoff PTP production test, pumping PTR 1) pulling tubing and rods 2) packer-type retrievable PTS 1) production test, swabbing 2) pressuretemperature sonde PTSH potash p te static tubing pressure PTTF potential test to follow PTU peak torque on upstroke P2 see S2 PU 1) pumping unit 2) pulled up 3) pulling up 4) picked up 5) porosity unit Pu absolute formation pressure p.u. 1) porosity unit 2) 1% porosity public domain land United States federal land has always belonged to the federal government. Public domain land is in contrast to acquired land. public drilling fund a method for raising drilling funds. An oil company contributes undeveloped leases and investors contribute the funds for drilling by

pulling pulsed neutron, pulsed-neutron capture, or pulsed-neutron decay log pulling to remove equipment or tubulars from a well. Pulling is in contrast to running. pulling casing the lifting of casing out of a well. Pulling casing is often done as the well is abandoned in order to salvage the casing. pulling flange the neck on a pulling tool pulling machine see pulling unit pulling out raising the drillstring from the well. (tripping out) pulling rods the lifting of sucker rods out of a well. Pulling rods is done to repair or replace the rods when they have corroded or have broken or to repair or replace the bottomhole pump, (rod job) pulling the slips to lift the slips out of the bowl on the rotary table by their handles pulling tool a fishing tool used in cased holes to exert a very high tensile force on a fish. The pulling tool is a hydraulic jack run on a fishing string just above the fishing tool and fastens to the casing with pulling tool anchors. The tensile force is applied either mechanically by rotating the fishing string or hydraulically by the drilling mud. (hydraulic pulling tool) pulling tools hoisting the drillstring out of the well

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central power unit to the surrounding pump jacks. The pull line is located 1-2 ft off the ground on metal posts with wooden guides that are greased, (rod or shackle rod line) pull one green to pull a drill bit out of the well before it was worn out and necessary to pull the bit pull out to come out of a well pull rod a steel or wood rod with joints on each end to connect to other pull rods. The pull rods form a pull line that connects the eccentric on a central power unit to the surrounding pump units. Pull rods are about 25 ft long and % or 1 in. in diameter, (shackle rod) pull the plug to shut down a well permanently pull-up the vertical displacement upward on a seismic section of seismic reflectors located under a high-velocity layer such as a dense limestone reef. Pull-up is in contrast to a pull-down, (velocity pullup)
pulsation dampener

imp

pulsation dampeners (off rotary drilling rig chart)

pulling unit

pulling unit hoisting equipment including a mast and winch that is mounted on a truck or trailer. The pulling unit is designed to do maintenance work on a producing interval in an oil or gas well and has its own crew. Most commonly, the sucker rods are pulled from the well to change the downhole pump or repair the rod string. The rods are suspended in the mast. The pulling unit is also used to pull tubing by rearranging the equipment for the heavier load. The stands of tubing can be stacked vertically in a rack on the mast. A pulling unit is never called a workover rig that has rotary and circulating equipment and is designed for more extensive repairs on a well, (well service or service unit) pulling unit operator the employee who is in charge of the pulling unit and crew that pulls sucker rods and tubing from a well, (head well puller or crew chief) pull it green 1) to screw a connection too tight 2) to pull a drilling bit before it is necessary pull line a line of jointed steel or wood rods (pull or shackle rods) that connects the eccentric on a

pulsation dampener equipment used to reduce fluid pressure pulses on a pumping system such as the mud pumps on a rotary drilling rig. The pulsation dampener consists of a spherical metal chamber that is either liquid filled or gas cushioned. The liquidfilled dampener is used close to a pump and uses the compressibility of the liquid to absorb pressure pulses. The dampener works best with a gaseous liquid. The gas-cushion damper has a rubber diaphragm or bladder to separate nitrogen or natural gas which is under about two-thirds of the operating pressure from the pumped fluid, (dampening bottle or pressure snubber) pulse 1) any short duration wave 2) a seismic waveform that is relatively short in duration compared to the time interval of interest pulsed neutron, pulsed-neutron capture, or pulsed-neutron decay log a type of wireline well log that uses a pulsed-neutron sonde and measures gamma rays that are produced by the interaction of the neutrons with the nuclei of atoms in the formation. An accelerator-type of neutron generator emits periodic bursts of high-energy neutrons with a frequency of 1,000 impulses per second. The highenergy neutrons are captured when they hit atoms in the formation, and gamma rays are emitted. Chlorine, present in sodium chloride in formation waters, dominates the capture. The log can be run in both an open and a cased well and through 23/s in. tubing and is used to identify lithologies and measure hydrocarbon saturations. The log can locate

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pulse-echo method pumping well pumper 1) the person employed to operate the equipment such as pumpers, separators, and stock tanks on a lease. The pumper is responsible for accurately recording the amounts of oil sold. The pumper can also be assigned to make minor repairs and maintenance on the equipment, gauge the oil in the stock tanks, test the wells, and make reports. (custodian, lease operator, or switcher)!) see pumping unit pumper drill a water pump and light drillstem with no bit that is used to wash out soft soil for shot holes pumping derrick or rig a smaller derrick that replaced the original derrick used for drilling the well. A pumping rig was kept above the well and used for well workover. Pumping rigs have been replaced by modern mobile pulling units. pumping pit an open pit that was used in the first stage of separating crude oil and water from wells. (settling or skimming pit) pumping schedule the daily program during which a pumping well is turned on and off. The timing is usually done with a percentage timer. pumping station see pump station pumping tee the T-shaped pipe fitting that accommodates the polished rod on a sucker-rod pump well. The polished rod moves up and down vertically as the fluid comes out horizontally from the pumping tee to a flowline. The pumping tee is the connection between the tubing, flowline, and packing element on a sucker-rod pump. The pumping tee contains a bleed-off valve and an outlet for a pressure gauge. pumping time see pumpability time

gas/oilAvater contacts and document saturation in changes with time. The pulsed neutron log has a very shallow depth of investigation and is affected by mud filtrate. The log yields accurate hydrocarbon saturations only with porosities above 10%. Pulsed neutron logs include the Carbon/Oxygen Log, gamma spectrometry log, Neutron Lifetime Log, Thermal Decay Time Log, and Thermal Multigate Decay Log pulse-echo method a corrosion detection method that uses ultrasonic waves induced into a structure to measure wall thickness and locate flaws pulse echo tool a type of cement-bond logging tool that uses eight transmitters to determine the radial pattern of cement behind the casing. PET pulse-echo ultrasonic borehole televiewer a downhole tool that uses a pulsed, narrow acoustic beam to scan the wellbore. The amplitude of the reflected beam is displayed on a cathode-ray tube to show a picture of the wellbore. pulse test a type of interference test in which the active well is alternately produced and shut in for short periods PUMP 1) pumping 2) pumped pump a mechanical device used to increase fluid pressure or move fluids. Pumps can be divided into kinetic or dynamic pumps in which energy is added to increase the fluid velocity and positive displacement pumps in which the volume containing the fluid is decreased. Most kinetic pumps used in production facilities are centrifugal with axial, mixed, or radial flow, whereas most positive displacement pumps are reciprocating. Reciprocating pumps include piston, plunger and diaphragm. Some other specialty pumps include jet and gear pumps. Pumps are identified by a) displacement, b) slip, c) capacity, and d) efficiency. pmp pumpability time the length of time that a particular cement slurry remains fluid during and after being pumped down a well. Pumpability time is the time from the initial application of pressure and temperature in a consistometer to the cement slurry reaching a consistency of 100 B6. (thickening time or pumping time) pumpage the amount of fluid moved by a pump pump by heads to pump intermittently pump down to lower the liquid level in a well with a downhole pump to a) the level of the downhole pump or b) the standing valve in the downhole pump pumpdown a method of servicing a well by using a surface pump to circulate equipment through the flowline which is either the casing-tubing annulus or tubing. Pumpdown can be used to run, service and pull gas lifts and jet pumps along with flow and pressure control devices. Pumpdown can cut paraffin, wash sand, break sand bridges, shift sleeves, measure bottomhole conditions and treat the producing formation. Pumpdown is used for servicing subsea wells, (through flowline) pumped off a condition in which a pump is working but there is no fluid to flow. A pump off can damage an electric submersible centrifugal pump because of the lack of cooling fluid, (underload)

pumping unit (Dowell Schlumberger)

pumping unit 1) an artificial lift oil well that uses a downhole sucker-rod pump to lift the oil. Types of pumping units include conventional, mechanically balanced, air balanced, winch and cable, beam balanced, and pneumatic or hydraulic, (pumper) PU 2) a high-pressure, high-horsepower pumper that is used to pump stimulation fluids down a well. The pumping unit usually consists of a prime mover such as a diesel engine or turbine, transmission, and positive-displacement triplex plunger pump. The plunger sizes can be changed to change the pressure range, (pump truck) pumping well an oil well in which the oil is lifted to the surface by artificial methods in contrast to a flowing well

pump jack or pumpjack PVT study pump jack or pumpjack 1) a surface pumping unit that is not operated by its own power unit. Several pump jacks are operated by a central power unit using rods or cables. 2) see beam pumping unit. PJ pump lift the vertical distance that a pump can raise water vertically by suction. The theoretical limit is 34 ft at sea level. pump man a member of a drilling rig crew with the responsibility of maintenance and operation of the mud pumps pump manifold a series of interconnected pipes or lines that connect several pumps pump oflf to pump a well too much so that the level of the oil falls below the pump in the well and the well becomes temporarily dry pump-off control a device that is used to turn a sucker-rod pump on and off. The earliest controls were percentage timers. Pump-off control types include a) stand-alone analogs, b) stand-alone microprocessors with communication equipment, and c) centralized system in communication with pumps. The control detects fluid pound and can be operatorset for an allowable limit. The unit also monitors maximum and minimum rod loads and load span. (rod pump control) POC pump pressure the fluid discharge pressure on a pump pump station a pumping installation that is used to keep the oil moving in a pipeline. An inlet pump station starts the oil flowing, and intermediate pump stations keep the oil flowing. Pump stations are located at various intervals of 80-150 mi along the pipeline depending on the diameter of the pipeline and the terrain. The pump station can also include separators, storage, scraper traps, and control equipment. Compressor stations are used on a gas pipeline. (pumping station) pump stroke counter or indicator an electronic device that uses switches on the mud pumps or an AC generator driven from the pump pinion shaft and displays mud pump strokes and a time-averaged stroke counts on the driller's console or logging unit. The pump stroke counter is used to detect pump trouble. pump-through tubing plug a plug set in tubing that will permit pumped fluids down the tubing but prevents back flow up the tubing pump truck see pumping unit pump to engine ratio the net pump area divided by the net engine area on a double acting pump. It is called the pressure ratio for a single acting pump.
P over E ratio or PIE

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pup pick-up pump pup joint a short length of tubulars such as tubing or casing that is used to make the string the correct length purchase agreement a contract between an operator and a purchaser for the sale of oil and/or gas from certain leases purchase letter an agreement in which a lease owner drills a test well on the lease. After the well is drilled, the lease owner transfers certain acreage to the assignee in the purchase letter. In return, the

assignee gives the lease owner money for drilling the well. A purchase letter can be either a bottomhole agreement in which the assignee pays if the well is a dry hole or a bottomhole letter in which the assignee pays when the well is drilled to a specific depth. pure-component volume the volume that a component gas in a mixture of gases would occupy under the same temperature and pressure as the gas mixture purge method a method used to take a gas sample for analysis. An undiluted sample is obtained by alternately filling and emptying the sample container with the gas several times purging 1) the displacing of one liquid by another 2) to clean the inside of vessels or pipe purging a well the intermittent removal of water from the bottom of a well. Purging a well is necessary when the normal velocity of fluid up the tubing is not sufficient to prevent water from building up on the bottom of the well. A surface bypass arrangement uses an intermitter to alternate flow through a normal choke and a large diameter choke. The higher flow rate through the large-diameter choke purges the water. The intermitter can be either time or pressure activated. PURP or purp purple PURW purchased well pusher a toolpusher pushrod the link between the valve and cam in an engine push wave see P-wave put a well on to start a well pumping or flowing put in stalk to make a connection on a drilling rig put on the pump to put a pumping unit on an oil well and start production by pumping. POP putting on a wildcat tail to drill a development well deeper than the producing reservoir to test an unproven, deeper reservoir PV 1) present value 2) pore volume 3) plastic viscosity pv vapor pressure PVC polyvinylchloride PVF pump volume factor pvmnt pavement PVOL pad volume PVI present value index PVP present value profit PVP/I present value profit/investment PVT 1) pressure-volume-temperature 2) trade name for pit volume totalizer PVT study the laboratory proceedures that are used to identify the physical properties of reservoir fluid samples for materials balance calculations on that reservoir. The studies include a) chemical composition, b) flash vaporization, c) differential vaporization, d) separator test, and e) oil viscosity measurements. The properties of the fluids that are determined include a) bubblepoint pressure, b) formation volume factor for oil, c) solution gas/ oil ratio, d) total formation volume factor, e) coefficient of isothermal compressibililty of oil, 0 oil viscosity,

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PW P/Z versus rate/cum decline plot detrital (deposited with the rest of the sedimentary grains) or authigenic (formed by chemical reactions in the subsurface). Authigenic pyrite is indicative of anaerobic sulfide diagenesis. Pyrite in sedimentary rocks can give misleading readings on resistivity logs. (fool's gold) PYR, Pyr, or pyr pyrite framboid a spherical aggregation of microcrystalline pyrite. Pyrite framboids are common in highly organic shales pyrobitumen a naturally occurring, dark, hard hydrocarbon. Pyrobitumen is insoluable in CS2 and chloroform and decomposes into gases and liquid hydrocarbons, primarily bitumens, when heated to 350C. Most native bitumens such as Albertite, Elasterite, Impsonite, and wurtzilite are pyrobitumens. The presence of pyrobitumen indicates overmaturation. Pyrbit, Pybit, or pyrbit pyroclastics volcanic ash pyrolysis a method of analyzing the composition of a substance by heating the sample in the absence of oxygen and measuring the temperature and composition of the gases given off. The gases are often analyzed with gas chromatography or a mass spectrometer. Hydrous pyrolysis occurs in the presence of water, whereas anhydrous pyrolysis occurs in the absence of water. Pyrolysis is thermal cracking. pyrometer a temperature-measuring instrument for high temperatures pyroxene a group of minerals composed of calcium, magnesium and iron silicates. Pyroxenes are greenish to black in color and form short, eight-sided prismatic crystals. Pyroxenes have two cleavages at 90, a specific gravity of 3-2-3.6, and a hardness of 5-6. Pyroxenes are formed in igneous rocks. Some common pyroxenes are augite, enstatite, hypersthene, and diopside. pyrxn or Py pyrxn pyroxene P/Z gas pressure that is adjusted for the Z factor. The Z factor compensates for the fact that the gas is not an ideal gas. P/Z versus rate/cum decline plot a graph of a gas well using P/Z on one axis and either production rate or cumulative production on the other axis. The plot is used to predict future and ultimate production for that gas well.

g) Z factor, h) formation volume factor of gas, i) gas viscosity along with the quantities and properties of separator gas, stock-tank gas, and stock-tank oil. (reservoir fluid study) PW present worth Pw or pw bottomhole pressure Pw pressure in the water phase P-wave an elastic wave that travels through the body of the medium with the particles of the medium moving in the same direction as the wave propagation. The velocity of a P-wave varies with the square root of the elastic constant divided by the density of the medium. The P-wave is the wave used in conventional seismic exploration. A P-wave is in contrast to shear and surface waves, (primary, compressional, longitudinal, push, or pressure wave) PWBS working burst strength Pwcs working collapse strength P^ or p,^ bottomhole flowing pressure Pwi injection well bottomhole pressure Pwp producing well bottomhole pressure PWR power P^ or p^, bottomhole static pressure PXA plugged and abandoned Py pyroxene Pybit pyrobitumen pycnometer a container, often made of glass, that holds a specific volume of liquid at a certain temperature. The pycnometer is filled and weighed to measure the specific gravity of a liquid. For core analysis, a cylindrical steel pycnometer filled with mercury is used. The core is put into the pycnometer, and the volume of mercury that is displaced is measured to determine the core bulk volume. PYR, Pyr, or pyr 1) pyrite 2) pyritic Pyr pyrhotite Pyrbit or pyrbit pyrobitumen pyrcl pyroclastic pyrite a common, brass or bronze-yellow mineral composed of FeS2. Pyrite is a heavy mineral with a density of 5.01 gms/cm3and often occurs as cubic crystals in sedimentary rocks. Pyrite can be both

Q quartz

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Q
Q 1) heatflow 2) cumulative flow rate 3) charge 4) quadrillion 5) quality factor 6) tetrajoule 7) shale volume q 1) flow rate 2) charge 3) production rate 4) quadrillion q' flow rate Qb flow rate at base conditions qk or qrf pumping rate QC quality control Qd or QD flow rate per day qj displacement rate qjah downhole flow rate q t production rate at economic limit QP bottomhole flow rate Qf flow rate at flowing condition Qg or qg gas flow rate Qi, or QH flow rate per hour Qj, flow rate at base condition qj reference production rate on a decline curve Qj liquid flow rate q,,, mass flow rate Q method an obsolete method used to determine shale volume (Q) from sonic and density log data. The equation is Q = (total porosity from the sonic log-density log reading)/total porosity from the sonic log. Qo or <lo o 'l flw r a t e q oi initial oil production rate Q_ cumulative production Qr volume flow rate at base condition qry quarry Qs 1) flow rate at flowing condition 2) slippage flow rate q^ surface production rate Q st flow rate at standard conditions Q, or q, total flow rate qt quart Q3 quartz qtr quarter qts quarts QTZ, Qtz, or qtz quartz QTZC quartzitic

qtee quartzite qtzose quartzose QTZT, Qtzt, or qtzt quartzite qty quantity QUAD or quad quadrangle quad 1) quadrant 2) quadrillion quadrangle a four-sided tract of land or a map or plot of that land that is bounded by parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude that are 1 apart. QUAD or quad quadrant a quarter of a compass circle. In surveying, the first quadrant is the northeast quadrant, the second is the southeast, the third is the southwest, and the fourth is the northwest, quad quadrillion 1015 qual quality quality factor the ratio of 2IT times the peak energy in a wave divided by the energy absorbed. The quality factor is 70-150 in sands and sandstones, 100-600 in limestones and dolomites, and 200-600 in granites and basalts. The absorption coefficient is approximately equal to ir x f/Q x V. Q quan quantity quaquaversal a structure in which the sedimentary rocks dip radially down and out from a central point. A salt dome is an example of a quaquaversal. A quaquaversal is in contrast to centrocline. (peridine) quaquaversal dome an anticline that is approximately circular in plan view quarterboat the boat used as living quarters for a geophysical crew quarterline a north-south or east-west line that bisects a section of land. The quarterlines divide a section into quarter sections. quarter post a post used to mark a corner of a quarter section of land in the United States Public Land Survey system quarter-quarter section a sixteenth of a section of land in the United States Public Land Survey system. A quarter-quarter section is one quarter mile on a side and covers 40 ac. quarter section one-fourth of a section of land in die United States Public Land Survey system. A quarter section is Vi mi on a side and covers 160 ac. quarters platform an offshore platform that serves as living accomodations. In shallow water, the quarters platform is separated from the production platform for safety and connected by a bridge. In deep water, it is part of a single platform. quartz a common mineral composed of SiO2. Quartz is very hard, is relatively inert chemically, and is very resistant to abrasion. Quartz occurs as six-sided prismatic crystals or granular masses, has a specific gravity of 2.65, a hardness of 7, a greasy luster, and

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quartzarenite Qw or qw from wet gas. The heavier hydrocarbons are retained on the dessicant and are removed by coolers. A longer cycle would cause water to replace the hydrocarbons. quicklime or quick lime calcium oxide. Quick lime is used in oil-base drilling mud to neutralize organic acid. quick-look log a well log that is processed by an onboard, truck-mounted computer at the wellsite. The most common log uses deep resistivity, spontaneous potential, gamma-ray, neutron and density porosity, and caliper measurements to calculate water saturation. Other types of quick-look logs include a lithology analysis, dipmeter computations, two-way travel times, vertical seismic profiling, borehole profile and cement volume, and wellsite production log. (wellsite computer log) quick sand driller's term for sand that caves and settles rapidly quick union a connection that is coarse threaded for a quick lock and has a lubricated O-ring seal quiet title action proceedings to establish a land title quiet well a well with no lost circulation or abnormal high-pressure problems quitclaim an instrument in which the grantor releases all interest in the land he owns QT 1) volume flow rate at base condition 2) vapor quality 3) concentration of charges q,. 1) volume flow rate 2) volume flow rate at flowing condition Qyn normalized Qv Qw or q^, water flow rate

a conchoidal fracture. It is commonly colorless or white. Quartz is a very common rock-forming mineral and is common in granite, gneiss, and many other igneous and metamorphic rocks. Most beach sands and sandstones are composed primarily of quartz grains. QTZ, Q^ Qtz or qtz quartzarenite a sandstone that is composed of more than 95% quartz sand grains. A quartzarenite is similar to an orthoquartzite. quartziferous a quartz-bearing rock quartzite a very hard sandstone consisting primarily of quartz sand grains that are well cemented together with silica cement. A quartzite is so hard that it breaks across the quartz grains rather than around the grains. QTZT, Qtzt, qtzt, or qtze quartzose A rock consisting primarily of quartz mineral grains, qtzose quartz sandstone a general term of a sandstone composed primarily of quartz sand grains Quaternary a period of time from 2 m. y. ago to present. The Quaternary is part of the Cenozoic Era and is subdivided into the Pleistocene and Holocene epochs. quebracho a drilling mud additive made of tannic acid from the quebracho tree. Quebracho is used for thinning or dispersing to regulate viscosity and thixotropy of the mud. The name quebracho is Spanish for axe breaker. quench to suddenly cool a hot substance quest questionable quick cycle a short adsorption cycle (15-20 minutes) used in the adsorption process for removing liquids

R radian

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R
R 1) electrical resistivity 2) range 3) recovery 4) reservoir 5) current or producing gas/oil ratio 6) universal gas constant 7) real part 8) Rankine 9) reflection coefficient 10) running 11) ran r 1) rare 2) radial distance 3) reduced 4) resistance 5) relative 6) residual 7) revolution R. reaming R degrees Rankine RA 1) radioactive 2) right angle R.A. rignt angle R/A 1) regular acid 2) right angles rabbit 1) the last-swab cup mandrel on the sand line used in a swabbing operation. The rabbit is different from the other swab-cup mandrels in that its end is just slightly smaller in diameter than the tubinga. 2) a device, usually a hard rubber or plastic sphere or a metal cylinder, that is sent through a pipeline to clean, test, or separate batches of fluid. The rabbit shape can be a ball, elongated, or segmented. Rabbits are used to clean condensate out of low areas of pipelines such as river crossings. Rabbits are put into and taken out of the pipeline from launchers and receivers, (pig) 3) a cylinder of specific size that is run through casing or tubing to insure its size. The rabbit is dropped through each joint of new tubing as it is picked off the pipe rack to be put in the well. If the rabbit hangs up in the tubing, the tubing is rejected as out of gauge, (drift mandrel) 4) a tool that is pushed through pipe to straighten it 5) a metal marker that is inserted into the inner core barrel before coring. When the core is extracted from the barrel, the rabbit falls out to show that the barrel is empty, (core marker) rabbiting to run a rabbit through a tubular to make sure it is clear and in gauge race the groove that holds the balls in ball bearings or the rollers in roller bearings rack 1) to place on a rack such as pipe rack. Stands of drillpipe are racked vertically in the finger board during tripping out on a rig. In shallow to medium holes, the stands are racked on the pit side of the mast which is the derrickman's right hand side. On deep wells, the stands are racked on both sides of the monkeyboard. 2) a framework used for supporting materials such as pipe on a pipe rack 3) a bar with notches that is used as a ratchet rack back to stand tubulars in the derrick

racker a carriage used on the outside of an offshore derrick to rack tubulars. The system uses a lower carriage for casing and the kelly and an intermediate and upper carriage for drillpipe and drill collars. Each racker is mounted on a track to travel the width of the derrick and contains a powered arm with hand that moves from the carriage to the center of the derrick . The racker is remotely controlled. racking arm a telescoping arm that is driven by hydraulics to move pipe on a drill floor racking board a platform with fingers that is located high up on a pulling or well-service unit mast. The derrickman stands on the board to rack tubing or sucker rods being pulled from the well, (racking platform) racking board guys wire cables that are used to steady the mast of a well-service unit. Two guys run from the racking board to anchors called deadmen in the ground and are used when tubing is standing in the racking board. racking in die fingers to place stands of drillpipe in the finger board on the derrick of a drilling rig or tubing or sucker rods in the fingers of the racking platform on a pulling or well-service unit mast. Racking in the fingers is directed by the derrickman standing on the monkeyboard or finger platform. racking platform see racking board rack pipe 1) to stand pipe in a derrick or mast 2) to rack pipe horizontally on a pipe rack rack rods to stand sucker rods in a mast racks of macaroni stands of drillpipe racked in the derrick RAD radiation log Rad or rad radial rad 1) radius 2) radian Radax radiaxial radial clearance the distance between the walls of a hole and the walls of a tubular or tool joint radial flow the flow of fluids from all horizontal directions to or from a point. The flow of reservoir fluids through a reservoir into a well and the flow of injected fluids from an injection well is radial flow. radial refraction a refraction seismic technique a) using a pattern of linear geophone arrays radiating out from the shot point, (fan shooting) or b) using a geophone in the borehole of a well to detect seismic waves from shotpoints scattered at different distances and directions from the well. Radial reflection is an old method used to locate the position of salt domes. radial stream pattern a stream drainage pattern that is characterized by streams flowing outward from a central, elevated area. Radial patterns can form on volcanic cones and buried hills. radian the System International (SI) supplementary unit for a plane angle. A radian is a measure of an

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radiation R&LC and on fixed platforms are used for triangulation. The method is accurate to + or 5-25 meters. radius of curvature the change of inclination in a buildup section in a deviated well measured in 7100 ft. (angle-build rate) radius of drainage the maximum distance within which fluids move toward a producing well. Effective radius of drainage is the radial distance from a wellbore beyond which negligible pressure drop occurs. radius of investigation 1) the depth back beyond the wellbore walls that a tool such as an induction sonde senses and is affected by the rocks and their fluids 2) the distance that a pressure transient pulse has moved back into the formation after a rate change in a well, r, or R-INV radtn radiation rag line the Manila rope used for the cable-tool drilling line R/A Grd radiation guard log railroad-strap seal a numbered, malleable strip of metal that is used to secure a valve. The railroadstrap serial number is recorded and the strap has to be cut to open the valve. rainbow the iridescent colors shown by a film of crude oil on water RALOG running radioactive log RAM random access memory

angle in which 2ir radians equals 360. One radian is about 57.3- rod radiation energy such as light, heat, sound, atomic particles or other form that is sent out from a substance and propagated through matter or space, radtn radical two or more elements that are combined to act as a chemical unit and have a charge. Examples of radicals are CO3~2 and SO4~2. radioactive-tracer log a survey that uses slugs of radioactive tracers in oil or water to document the movement of fluids in a well. A radioactive-tracer log can be used to show leaks in casing and to estimate fluid flow at various points in the well. In the velocityshot method, the radioactive tracer is injected into the flowstream and the travel time to two gamma ray detectors is measured. In the timed run or controlled time method, the radioactive tracer is injected at the bottom of the tubing string. Gamma ray logging runs are made at time intervals to locate the radioactive slug. In the differential injection method used in an openhole completion with the hole size unknown, the tubing is run to the openhole section, the radioactive tracer. RJA Tra or TRL radioactivity the property of atoms of some isotopes, such as C14, K40and U235, to spontaneously decay by emitting an alpha particle, beta particle, and/or gamma radiation. Radioactive decay of the unstable isotope forms another isotope which may or may not be stable. The atom that decays is called the parent, and the atom that forms by decay is the daughter. The rate of radioactive decay varies between isotopes and is measured in half lives. radioactivity log a wireline well log that measures either the natural radioactivity of rocks adjacent to the wellbore (natural gamma ray log) or bombards the rocks with neutrons or gamma rays to induce radioactivity (neutron log and gamma-gamma log). radiogenic formed by radioactive decay radioisotope a radioactively unstable isotope of an element such as C14or K40. A radioisotope will disintegrate spontaneously by emitting an alpha or beta particle and/or gamma rays.

ram-type blowout preventer

radiolaria

radiolaria or radiolarian a single-celled animal with a SiO2 shell that floats in the ocean. Radiolarians are useful as microfossils and range in age from the Cambrian period to the present. In some areas, the ocean bottom is covered with relatively pure radiolaria deposits called radiolarian ooze. Some chert deposits have been formed by radiolarians. radiolite survey instrument a well survey instrument that records azimuth from a compass and inclination from hanging dip arms with radioactive paint and photographic film radio positioning a method used for navigation at sea. The directions of radio beacons located onshore

ram a closing element on a blowout preventer that forces together two steel blocks with rubber surfaces to form a seal with each other (blind or shear ram) or around a string of pipe (pipe ram). Variable-bore pipe rams can close around a range of pipe diameters. Ram preventers are more rugged and reliable than the annular type of preventers. During normal drilling operations, the drillstring fits through the rams in the blowout preventers. The rams are activated by hydraulic pressure. ramp 1) a sloping passage or incline that is used to connect two levels 2) a portion of a thrust-fault surface that is steeply inclined in a relatively competent sedimentary rock bed. A ramp is in contrast to a flat. 3) a limestone or carbonate ramp that is a sloping segment of the sea bottom leading from the beach to deep water in an area of limestone deposition R&D research and development R&L road and location R&LC road and location complete

R&O rathole or rat hole R&O rust and oxidation random access memory computer memory where data can be stored. Any location in the memory can be found, on the average, as easily as any other location. The memory goes blank when the computer is turned off. Random access memory is measured in kilobytes or megabytes and is in contrast to read-only memory. RAM random deviation the intentional drilling of a well that is not vertical without regard to the azimuth direction of the deviation. Random deviation is done to either straighten or sidetrack the well. R&T or R.&T. rods and tubing range 1) a system of north-south strips six-miles wide that are defined by range lines and are used for land subdivision in the United States and Canada. RNG, Rge, rge, R, or rng 2) the source-to-detector distances in refraction seismic 3) the maximum distance at which a signal can be received 4) the distance to a positioning station 5) the nominal length of joints of tubular goods such as casing, drillpipe, and tubing. The American Petroleum Institute defines Range 1 as 16-25 ft for casing, 18-22 ft for drillpipe, and 2024 ft for tubing. Range 2 is 25-34 ft for casing, 2730 ft for drillpipe, and 28-32 ft for tubing. Range 3 is 34 ft or more for casing and 38-45 ft for drillpipe. 6) the difference between the largest and smallest measurements rangeability the maximum divided by the minimum flow rate that a meter can accommodate range line a north-south boundary between townships. Range lines are six miles apart and are numbered east or west of the meridian line starting with one. range-range system a navigational system that uses two base stations, each with a transmitter and receiver. Each base station receives a signal from a mobile station and transmits the signal back. The signal time is used to determine the distance to each station. Rankine temperature scale a scale that uses Fahrenheit degrees to indicate temperature above absolute zero which occurs at 45972F. Water freezes at 491.60R and boils at 671.69R. To convert Fahrenheit to Rankine, add 459-72. The Rankine temperature scale is named after W.J.M. Rankine. The scientific scale that also uses absolute zero but with centigrade degrees is the Kelvin temperature scale. R rank wildcat an exploratory well drilled at least 2 mi from known production. A rank wildcat is drilled into a trap that has never produced commercial amounts of gas and/or oil. (new-field wildcat) Raoult's equation the partial pressure of a gas-liquid mixture component is equal to the mole fraction of that component in liquid times the vapor pressure of the pure component. Raoult's equation is valid only if the gas-liquid mixture is an ideal solution. rapid sand filter a small liquid-filtering unit that uses sand. Layers of sand on gravel use gravity and/ or pressure to remove suspended solid particles from a fluid. Backwashing is used to clean the sand filter. rasp an old fishing tool that was similar to a mill and was used to reduce the size of a box or collar in preparation for another fishing tool.

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ratable taking 1) production within the limits of an allowable 2) production in quantities from a producing formation so that each land owner over the producing formation receives their fair share of the oil or gas in place 3) a statutory or contractual provision requiring a production purchaser such as a pipeline to take production proportionately from all working interest owners within a common source of supply 4) a clause in a gas purchase contract to purchase gas from sellers at a certain rate ratably cutbacks in production takes that are made proportionally without any consideration such as price, (pro-rata) rated load the maximum weight that a structure is designed to support rated working pressure the maximum internal pressure that a system or equipment such as a blowout preventer or wellhead is designed to handle and still be under warantee and operate safely, (maximum service or working pressure) rate gyro a gyroscope that automatically seeks true north, (north-seeking gyro) rate of penetration the vertical speed of drill bit penetration often recorded in units of minutes per foot drilled. The rate of penetration is affected by the drilling parameters a) weight on bit, b) type of bit, c) bit rpm, d) bit condition, e) downhole assembly, and f) mud hydraulics and by formation parameters such as a) hardness, b) pore pressure, and c) porosity. In general, a rotary rig will drill sedimentary rocks at a rate of 1-20 min/ft. rate-of-penetration recorder a device, patented in 1939, that is used on a drilling rig to measure and record the rate of penetration. It uses a hydraulic head to measure the height of the swivel. rate of return the percentage return on invested capital on a project such as drilling a well. The book rate of return is used for corporate evaluation. A project is evaluated by a) internal rate of return, b) external rate of return, c) minimum interest rate of return, or d) growth rate of return. rate of take provision a gas purchase contract provision that defines the rate at which gas is to be taken by a pipeline. The rate is a ratio of the daily gas-take volume to the proven-reserves volume. rate schedule an instrument that is subject to federal or state regulations that defines the rates and other terms under which natural gas is to be transported or sold. rathole or rat hole 1) to reduce the diameter of the well and continue drilling 2) a smaller diameter well on the bottom of the main hole 3) the initial small-diameter hole made for directional drilling 4) a hole and pipe in the drilling-rig floor used to place the kelly, kelly bushing, and swivel during tripping in and out of the well. The rathole is located further away from the rotary table than the mousehole and on the driller's right of the mousehole. The pipe is 8-12 in. in diameter and 3-5 ft longer than the kelly. The pipe extends 4 ft above the drilling floor to protect the kelly and contains a small drainhole. Offshore, the rathole extends from the derrick floor down to the cellar floor. RH

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rathole or rat-hole ahead real gas at geophones using Snell's law and known rock velocities RB 1) rock bit 2) rotary bushing RBF roller-ball friction Rbl or rbl rubble RBM rotary bushing measurement RBP retrievable bridge plug RBR roller-ball roller rbr rubber RBSO rainbow show of oil RBSOF rubber-ball-sand oil frac RBSWF rubber-ball-sand water frac RBXS rock bit and scraper RC 1) running casing 2) remote control 3) reverse circulation R,. Rockwell hardness RCB retrievable concentric bypass R^i clay resistivity RC-log reflection-coefficient log RCO returning circulation oil RCR reverse-circulation rig RCSG running casing RCV remote-controlled vehicle RD 1) rigging 2) rigged down 3) rigging down 4) rotor diameter 5) random drilling rd 1) road 2) round 3) red R/D 1) redrilled 2) redrilling rd radius of drainage RDB rotary drive bushing Rd Bds red beds RDB-Gd rotary drive bushing to ground rdd rounded RDR redrilled hole RDS roads rds rods rdsh reddish RDSU rigged down swabbing unit RDT radial differential temperature rdtp round trip RDX cyclonite, a common explosive used for shapedcharge well perforating Re Reynolds number re 1) external boundary radius 2) drainage radius reacd reacidize reaction -value the weight of an ion in a solution in milligram per liter times (valence/atomic weight) reactive torque the tendancy of a drillstring to turn in the opposite dicection of the bit read-only memory computer memory that cannot be changed. The computer can read instructions from it but cannot store data in it. Read only memory is measured in kilobytes or megabytes and is in contrast to random access memory. ROM real gas any gas. A real gas has molecules that occupy volume and have electrostatic charges in contrast to

rathole or rat-hole ahead to drill a small-diameter hole on the bottom of the well. Rathole ahead is used for drillstem tests. rathole or rat-hole digger a service company that uses a small truck-mounted unit to drill the rat hole, mouse hole, and conductor hole for a large drilling rig before it is brought onto the site. A rathole digger uses the blueprints of the rig to position the holes and augers of different diameters to drill the holes. The conductor hole is drilled with an auger, and the conductor pipe is cemented in. The other holes are left open, (ratholer) rathole or rat-hole guide an articulated tool used to guide the hole opener into the rat hole, a smalldiameter hole used to initiate deviation drilling rathole or rat-hole method a method used to run a drillstem test on a section in well that has a smaller diameter hole than the hole above it due to coring. A cone-shaped packer is seated on the shoulder of the well to form the seal for the test. The anchor pipe does not touch the bottom of the well, (cone packer method) rathole port a hole in the drilling floor near the V-door on the driller's side for the rathole ratholer see rathole digger ratification an agreement that affirms that a party agrees to the adoption of terms of another instrument ratify to approve and confirm rating the maximum depth that a drilling rig is safety designed to drill using standard equipment and tools. The size, weight, and amount of equipment increases with the depth rating of the rig. (depth rating) ratis test a small-scale test used to determine the most effective ratio of emulsion breaker to emulsion rattlesnake cage a cylindrical, metal enclosure for a valve with an open top on the surface of the ground R/A Tra radioactive tracer log Rauhwacke see dissolution boxwords raw crude oil untreated crude oil from a well. Raw crude oil contains water, sediment, and solution gas before it passes through a separator. raw gas untreated natural gas from a well before water, inerts, hydrogen sulfide, and any hydrocarbons that can be liquified are removed (raw natural gas) raw gasoline see retrograde gas raw mud drilling mud flowing out of a well before being processed by solids-control equipment such as the shale shaker and hydrocyclones on a drilling rigraw natural gas see raw gas ray a wave energy in constrast to particle energy Rayleigh wave a type of acoustic or seismic wave that travels along the surface of the earth. A Rayleigh wave is generated whenever a P- or SV-wave is generated in the vicinity of a free surface. A Rayleigh wave is the most common wave in ground roll.
(R-wave or LR-wave)

raypath a line that is perpendicular to a wavefront propagating in isotropic material ray tracing a method used in seismic prospecting that is used to predict the arrival time of seismic energy

real gas equation reciprocating pump an ideal gas. Real gas under low pressure acts similar to an ideal gas. real gas equation PV ZnRT in which P is absolute pressure, V is volume, Z is the compressibility factor, n is the number of moles, R is the gas constant, and T is the absolute temperature. Z compensates for the fact that it is not an ideal gas. real time occurring at the same time as an event; no time lag ream or ream down or out to enlarge the diameter of a wellbore. rm

413

reamer (taper mill reamer)

reamer a sub used to enlarge an undergauge well to gauge, ream out ledges and split casing, remove key seats, and straighten a well. The reamer has cutting blades, rollers, or cones of tungsten carbide on it and is run down the well on a drill or work string. A reamer is often used just behind the bit to produce a gauge hole and stabilize the bit. The original reamers had three or four fixed blades. Roller reamers with roller cutters are more typical today. Three-point and six-point reamers are common. The teeth can be sharp or flat or inserts can be used. An expansion reamer has expanding arms to enlarge the wellbore in the pay zone. A tapered reamer is used to increase the size of the wellbore. RMR reamer mill a mill that is used to enlarge the hole to its original diameter or to clean out the inside of tubulars. Two types of reamer mills are string reamer mills with vertical or spiral blades of full gauge that are used between the drill collars and bottom reamer mills that are run below the drill collars. The bottom reamer mill is full gauge, similar to the junk mill, and is used to clean cement and scale from tubulars. reamer pad the flat surface above the bottom cutting surface of a diamond bit that is used to enlarge the hole reamer-type hole opener a tool used to enlarge pilot or rat holes reasonable development covenant an implication in an oil and gas lease that once production is initiated to hold the lease, the lessee will continue to develop the lease in a prudent manner rather than hold the lease with only the initial producing well reassignment obligation a farmout commitment to offer the acreage back to the farmor before the primary term of the lease expires rebar reinforcing bar rebel tool a cylindrical tool with a top and bottom paddle on the outside that is designed to cause the bit to deviate to the right or left while drilling. The

body is similar to a short drill collar (8-16 ft) that has a diameter of 4I3/i6 in.-87/s in. Along the length is a recess that accomodates a shaft or tortion rod with a curved paddle at each end. The rebel tool is usually run in the tangential section of the hole to correct for bit walk. reboiler distillation apparatus that is used to separate water from a wet glycol solution that was used to dehydrate natural gas. A reboiler can be either a direct or indirect heater. REC 1) recover 2) recoveries 3) recovery 4) recovered Rec recent Rec or rec recovery rec 1) recover 2) recovered, 3) recovery 4) recorder 5) recommend recall buoy a buoy that is attached to the seafloor and can be released by a sonic signal, (pop-up or subsurface buoy or call-back marker) reed received recem recemented Recent an epoch of geologic time from 10,000 years ago until the present. It is part of the Quaternary period. (Holocene) Rec recess an enlarged opening at the end of tubular goods recharge area an outcrop of an aquifer where fresh water enters the rock and flows into the subsurface recip reciprocating reciprocal sonde a wireline well log instrument with the position of the current and measuring electrodes interchanged from normal reciprocal time the overall time from one end of a detector line to the shot point after the shot point and geopone have been reversed reciprocating compressor a compressor that uses pistons moving back and forth in cylinders to compress gas. The steps in the reciprocating cycle are compression, discharge, expansion, and suction. A double-acting cylinder compresses gas on both sides of the piston in the cylinder to balance the load. A reciprocating compressor is widely used in gas processing because of its flexibility in throughput and discharge pressures. reciprocating engine an engine that uses the up and down motion of pistons in a cylinder to drive a crankshaft reciprocating pump a type of pump that uses pistons moving back and forth in cylinders to move liquids. Reciprocating pumps are commonly used as mud pumps or hogs on a rotary drilling rig and have removable liners. A duplex has two pistons and two removable liners. The duplex pump is double acting, pumping the drilling mud into the discharge line on both the upward and downward strokes of the pistons. More commonly, the triplex pump with three pistons and three removable lines is used as a mud pump. The triplex pump is single acting, the mud being pumped only on the upward stroke of each piston. Reciprocating pumps handle relatively small volumes compared to centrifugal pumps, but generate high pressures.

414

recirc redox log recovery factor for gas in a gas-expansion reservoir is about 80%. RF recp receptacle RECR recorder rect 1) rectifier 2) rectangle rectangular stream drainage a stream drainage pattern characterized by streams and tributaries that flow though right-angle bends. The streams are flowing on an underlying fault or joint pattern. An angular stream pattern is formed when the faults or joints are not oriented at right angles to each other. rectification see fractionation rectifier an electric circuit made with diodes that transform alternating current into direct current, rect rectify 1) to adjust the record on a wireline well log for true vertical depth 2) to permit electric current to pass only in one direction

recirc recirculate reclaimer distillation apparatus that is used to purify an monoethanolamine solution that has been used to remove hydrogen sulfide from sour gas reclined fold see recumbent fold recognizability the ability to identify something from a remote sensing image RECOM or recomp recompletion recompletion to workover a well to change producing formations. Recompletion involves plugging the older producing formation with a plugback plug of cement and completing a new producing formation that is usually higher in the well. RECOM or recomp reconcentrator the apparatus used with a contact or absorber tower to take water out of wet glycol. A reconcentrator consists of a preheater, stripping column, and reboiler to produce lean glycol. recond reconditioned reconnaissance a short investigation of broad extent covering a region reconnaissance license a permit granted by a country to a party to explore for petroleum in any part of a large designated area not covered by a production license reconnaissance study or survey a geological and geophysical investigation over a large or broad area. A reconnaissance study is in contrast to a detailed study or survey. record a collection of data. Examples of records are seismic profiles and well logs. recording truck a vehicle used in seismic exploration. The recording truck contains amplifiers and recording instruments. record ownership the party that is the apparent owner of an interest according to a chain of recorded instruments record section see seismic section record time the time after a seismic shot recoverable oil-in-place the amount of oil in the subsurface reservoir that can be expected to be recovered by production methods that are economically justified recovery 1) the amount of liquid in a drillstem after a drillstem test in which the liquid did not flow to the surface 2) the amount of core recovered compared to the length of well actually cored 3) the relocation of an old survey point in order to tie in a new survey 4) the amount of petroleum that can be produced. Recovery is a function of technology and economics.
Rec, R, or rec

recumbent fold

recovery efficiency or factor the percentage of oil or gas in the reservoir that will ultimately be produced by primary production and/or water flood and enhanced oil recovery. The recovery factor for primary production depends on the reservoir drive, along with reservoir permeability, reservoir heterogenuity, oil and gas viscosity, and other factors, and averages 30%. The recovery factor ranges from 5%-30% for a dissolved-gas drive, 20%-40% for a gas-cap drive, and 35%-75% for a water-drive reservoir. The recovery factor for heavy oil is usually only 10%-15%. The

recumbent fold an overturned fold in sedimentary rocks with the axial plane dipping between 0-10. A recumbent fold is in contrast to a upright or inclined fold, (reclined fold) recy recycle recycled gas natural gas dissolved in drilling mud that escapes degasifying recycling the reinjection of gas back into a retrograde gas reservoir as it is produced. Before the gas is reinjected, it is stripped of liquid hydrocarbons. Recycling maintains pressure on the remaining subsurface gas and prevents premature condensation of hydrocarbons liquids while still in the subsurface reservoir. recycling unit a facility that buys basic sediment and water and recovers crude oil from it (asphalt plant) red reducing red bed red-colored sediment formed by an iron oxide coating of the grains. Red beds are thought to be originally deposited in a desert environment. RdBd red butt the dissatisfaction of a worker red-lime mud a water-base drilling mud containing tannates, caustic soda, and lime. Red-lime mud is a red mud that has been made into a lime-treated mud with a pH between 12 and 13. red mud a high or low pH, fresh water-base drilling mud containing caustic soda and tannates. Red mud is red in color. redox log a record of the redox potential of the formations encountered in a well

416

reef apron

reference section often has a crew of two. The blowout-preventer stack usually includes four rams including hydraulic cutter, pipe, blind, and slip rams. As the tubing feeds off the tubing reel, it goes through a counter which is attached to a level wind assembly and a pipe straightener. An injector head with friction blocks pushes or pulls the tubing in or out of the well. The coiled tubing greatly reduces trip time. Other equipment on the unit includes a circulating system for nitrogen, acid or other fluids, lubricator, tubing injector head, and hydraulic crane, (coiled tubing, endless tubing, or continuous tubing unit) reeled tubing high-stength ductile steel tubing with an outer diameter of 1V4 in. being common. The tubing is made of low carbon steel alloy with very low carbon along with chromium, copper, and nickel for ductility in lengths up to 19,000 ft. (coiled, continuous reeled or reeled tubing) reel truck a vehicle used on seismic surveys to transport the seismic cables and geophones reentry or re-entry 1) to run a drillstring into a well that has already been completed and suspended or plugged and abandoned in order to drill deeper 2) to run the drillstring back in into an offshore well on the seabed after the drillstring was pulled out and the rig moved because of weather, an iceberg, or other reason reeling a line to run a line from a winch up to the crown block and back to the derrick floor on a drilling rig to hoist something reeve to pass wireline through the sheaves on a block reeving pattern the arrangement of drilling line through the blocks on a rig. The most common is left-handed with a deadline anchor located to the left of the derrick vee. ref 1) refined 2) reference refer refrigeration reference crude see benchmark crude reference electrode a standard cell of known voltage that is used to make voltage measurements. Reference electrodes are commonly made of Calomel and copper sulfate. reference magnets magnets in the wall of a nonmagnetic drill collar used to show the orientation of a deflecting tool in reference to magnetic north. A picture of a magnetic needle at the magnets and a magnetic north compass is used. reference point 1) a point located on a tank hatch or gauging platform on a stock tank. The tank gauge is lowered into the tank from the reference point to measure the height of oil in the tank. The gauge point or point zero is located on the tank bottom directly below the reference point. 2) a section of casing that is either shorter or longer than the other casing. The reference point can be located after the casing string is run in a well with a collar locater. Reference points are usually placed near the producing zone in a well. 3) see measure point reference section a vertical rock section that is designated to supplement a type section and be used as a standard for correlation in an area. The reference section is correlated to the type section and usually differs from the type section by facies change.

Large reefs are called fringing and barrier reefs, which are parallel to the shoreline and atolls, which are circular or elliptical. Small reefs are called patch, table and pinnacle reefs, and faroes. Large reefs can be divided into environments such as lagoon or back reef, reef flat, and fore reef. Small reefs can be divided into reef core and reef flank. Rforrf reef apron the shallow area located lagoonward of the reef flat. Sand eroded from the reef is deposited in the reef apron reef core the pan of the reef formed in place by the growth of framework or reef-building organisms such as corals. Organic boundstones are deposited in the reef core. The reef core is surrounded by reef flank deposits. The term reef core is applied to smaller reefs such as pinnacle, patch, and table reefs. reef flank the portion of the reef that surrounds the reef core which is made of framework-building organisms. The reef flank is composed of reef talus that is dipping away from the reef and is composed primarily of sediments eroded off the reef core. The term reef flank is used primarily for smaller reefs such as pinnacle, table, and patch reefs. reef flat the portion of a large reef such as a barrier or fringing reef or atoll where a framework-building organism such as corals occur in abundance. The reef flat is the area of greatest biological activity and fastest deposition of limestone (organic boundstones). The reef flat is covered with shallow water and exposed only during the lowest tides. The reef flat is flanked by back reef or lagoonal deposits on one side and fore-reef deposits on the ocean side. reef front the upper part of the seaward slope on a reef. The reef front extends from the seaward edge of the reef edge to the lower limits of abundant corals and coralline algae. reef limestone a limestone formed by framework or reef-building organisms such as corals, sponges, bryozoans, rudistids, calcareous algae, serpulids, or other organisms. Reef limestone forms an organic boundstone. reef milk limestone mud (micrite) deposited in the back reef or lagoonal area that is formed by abrasion of limestone on the reef core and flank reel 1) a circular drum used to wind and store wire line, cable, or tubing. Measuring reels used in wells are a) skid or base mounted, b) truck mounted and driven, c) trailer mounted, d) boat mounted and engine driven, and e) wellhead mounted with an automatic paraffin scraper. An offshore reel often has a double drum for routine and heavy-duty work. 2) to wind wire line, cable, or tubing around a drum reeled-pipe unit a well-service unit that uses flexible small-diameter steel tubing wound as a continuous length on a hydraulically powered tubing reel. The reel can store up to 16,000 ft of tubing with a '/i-lVi in. outside diameter. A reeled pipe unit is in contrast to other types of well-service units that use joints of relatively stiff pipe. The reeled pipe unit is usually used on producing wells that need pressure control. Reeled pipe is used for sand or paraffin clean out in tubing, initiating flow, and well stimulation and cementing. A limited amount of drilling can be done with a downhole, hydraulic motor. The unit

reference seismometer regional fractures 417 reference seismometer a geophone used to record and compare successive seismic shots. A reference seismometer is used in well shooting to determine formation velocities. refg refining refl 1) reflux 2) reflection reflectance see reflection coefficient reflected refraction a seismic event caused by refracted seismic energy that is reflected off a discontinuity such as a fault reflected wave an elastic wave that has been reflected off the boundary between two elastic substances such as sedimentary rock layers reflection the direct return of energy such as seismic from a discontinuity or reflector. A reflection is formed by an alignment of echoes on a seismic section. Primary reflections travel only once to and from the reflector in contrast to multiples, refl reflection branches several reflections from the same reflector. A reverse branch is oriented opposite the actual reflector. reflection character analysis a study of the lateral changes such as continuity, amplitude, frequency, and wave shape in a reflection reflection coefficient the ratio of the amplitude of a reflected wave to the original wave. The formula for normal incidence of a seismic wave on a rock interface is -^-2 in which e, and e2 are the
e2V2 + exVx

densities and Vx and V2 are the velocities of the two rock layers. A typical sedimentary rock layer has a reflection coefficient of about 4%, whereas a bright spot has a reflection coefficient of about 20%. The reflection coefficient of a soft-ocean bottom is 33%, a hard-ocean bottom is 67%, the base of weathering is 63%, and sand or shale on limestone at 4,000 ft is 21%. (reflectance, or reflectivity) R reflection seismic shooting or surveying a seismic investigation of an area using the recording and timing of subsurface reflections from an energy source on or near the surface of the ground. The structure of subsurface rocks can be mapped by recording the arrival times of seismic events. Lithologies can be defined by velocities determined from normal-moveout measurements and from the amplitude and character of the reflected seismic energy. A reflection survey is the most common type of seismic survey in contrast to a refraction survey. reflection time see two-way travel time reflectivity see reflection coefficient reflector a discontinuity in the subsurface rocks that has a contrast in acoustic impedance (seismic veloaiy times density) and produces a detectable seismicenergy reflection reform reformer refr refractory refraction the change in the direction of energy such as a seismic wave or light as it enters a layer having a different velocity refraction seismic survey a seismic investigation of an area using refraaed energy. Refraction seismic uses head waves which are seismic energy that

penetrate a high-velocity layer called a refractor near the critical angle and then travel through the refractor parallel to the refractor surface. The geophones are located several miles from the source. The arrival times of head waves are used to map the depth of the refractors. Refraction surveys are used to determine the presence of high-velocity layers and velocity gradients. One to several horizons are mapped. A refraction survey is in contrast to a reflection survey. More vehicles are needed and depth determinations are less accurate than reflection seismic. refraction wave a seismic wave that travels down at an angle, enters a high-velocity layer (refractor) at an angle of incidence, travels parallel to the highvelocity layer, emerges from the high-velocity layer at an angle of emergence and travels upward at an angle refractive index the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction measured normal to the surface of a substance. The refractive index of crude oil is measured on an Abbe refractometer and ranges between 1.39-1.49. The refractive index of the oil is dependent on the density of the oil, with heavier oils having the higher indices. The refractive index of small oil samples from cutting or cores is used to determine the character of the oil. (index of refraction) RI refracuvity the ability of a substance to refract light. The index of refraction is a measure of refractivity. refractometer an instrument used to determine the refractive index of a substance refractor a layer of rock that has a higher seismicwave velocity through it than the overlying rock layers. Head waves used in refraction surveys travel through refractors. refractory a substance such as a rock or mineral that is resistant to heat and hard to work, refr refraction survey see refraction survey refrigeration a lowering of the temperature of a substance. Refrigeration is a common method used to remove natural-gas liquids out of natural gas. refrigeration-absorption plant a gas plant that combines both refrigeration and absorption for an effective separation of natural-gas liquids from natural gas. The plant operates at 10 to +20F and recovers up to 85% of the propane. refy refinery reg 1) regular 2) regulator REGAC regular acid ReGD resistivity (electromagnetic wave propagation) gamma ray and directional log regen regenerator regeneration gas wet gas that has been heated to 400-460cF and passed through an absorber tower to remove absorbed water regional fractures fractures in rocks that occur over a large area with relatively little change in orientation. Regional fractures commonly occur in two perpendicular orientations, are always perpendicular to the bedding plane, and show no offset across the fractures. There is a principal and subordinate set.

418

regional office

relaxed fluid-loss oil mud reinf 1) reinforce 2) reinforced reinf cone reinforced concrete reinjection injection of produced water or gas into a subsurface reservoir during production to maintain reservoir pressure in order to increase the ultimate oil recovery. The gas is usually stripped of its hydrocarbon liquids and is dry gas. (pressure maintenance or gas reinjection) rej reject rel 1) relay 2) release 3) released REL running electric log relative bearing the angle in degrees measured clockwise from the top of the wireline tool from the drift angle to Pad #1 or Reference Electrode #1 relative density the density of a substance divided by the density of another substance with the same volume. Specific gravity is relative density with water as the second substance. relative humidity the amount of water vapor in air divided by the maximum amount of water the air could hold at that temperature and pressure relative oil volume the volume of the liquid in a cell divided by the volume of residual oil during a differential vaporization test. BoD relative permeability the ratio, expressed as a decimal from 1.0 to 0.0, between effective permeability of a fluid at partial saturation (ke) to the permeability of that fluid had it been at 100% saturation (&). An oil relative permeability of 0.0 means that the water in the pores prevents any oil from flowing, whereas an oil relative permeability of 1.0 means that the oil will flow as if there is no water sharing the pores. Relative permeability can be either two-phase relative permeability such as oil and gas or three-phase relative permeability such as water, oil, and gas. kr relative roughness the absolute roughness divided by the pipe diameter relative thickness the ratio of the thickness of a rock layer to the electrode interval on a sonde relative volume the volume of a liquid at a pressure divided by the volume of that liquid at bubblepoint pressure. V* relaxation time the rate of stress release during plastic deformation of a substance relaxed fluid-loss oil mud an oil-base drilling mud with no fluid loss additives

regional office the company office that is responsible for the exploration and production of petroleum in a large regional area such as a geological province. The Mid-Continent, Gulf Coast, and Rocky Mountain regional offices are possible examples. The regional office reports to the headquarters and can be divided up into smaller district offices.

LAND

regression

regression a retreat of the seas from the land. A regression can be caused either by an absolute fall in the level of the sea (eustatic) or an uplift of the land. A depositional regression is caused by rapid deposition along a shoreline such as a delta. A regression results in the deposition of a coarseningupward sequence of sediments, (marine off lap) regressive sediments deposited during the retreat of seas from the land regular acid a solution of 15% HC1 by weight and
water. RIA or REGAC

regular lay a type of wire rope winding in which the wires in the strands are twisted in one direction and the strands are twisted in the opposite direction. A regular lay is either right or left handed. A Lang's lay is another common type of wire rope winding. (ordinary lay) regulator apparatus that reduces and maintains fluid pressure at a specific level Reid vapor pressure a measure of the tendency of a liquid to vaporize. Reid vapor pressure is the pressure of the vapor portion of a liquid plus the enclosed air plus the water vapor under standard conditions. Reid instruments measure Reid vapor pressure in pounds per square inch at 100F. The Reid vapor pressure of crude oil depends primarily on the amount of dissolved natural gas and is plotted on a crude oil analysis graph. Stabilized crude oil usually varies between 2-10 psi. An unstabilized crude oil will have a Reid vapor pressure of about 100 psi. Higher Reid vapor pressure liquids are more dangerous. RVP

10

20

OIL SATURATION relative permeability (gas/oil)

90

100

420

repeater station reserves resaturation effect the trapping and bypassing of oil in pores when the formation is waterflooded where gas bubbles formed during primary production from lower permeability rocks resaturation method a method used to determine the porosity of a rock sample such as a core. The weight of the clean core is compared to the weight of the core that has been resaturated with a liquid of known density. res bbl reservoir barrel resedimented a rock consisting of reworked sediments derived from preexisting sedimentary rocks RESER reservoir reservation the right retained by a grantor in a conveyance reserve buoyancy the volume of water-tight space located above the waterline on a floating drilling rig reserved land United States federal land that has reservations in contrast to vacant public lands reserve life index an estimate of the number of years during which the reserves will be produced. Reserve life index is made by dividing proven reserves by one year's production. reserve ownership a concept of gas ownership in that each party owns a percentage of the gas reserves in a reservoir that is proportional to their working interest. Reserve ownership is in contrast to molecular ownership.

deposited. The folds become more acute with depth and the sedimentary rocks are thinner on the crests and thicker on the flanks of the folds. Unconformities represent sudden increases in the folding during the time of sediment deposition. Repeated folding is in contrast to parallel folding. repeater station an electronic surveillance and control system used for remote production operations repeat formation tester a wireline tool that is used to sample reservoir fluids and measure formation pressure versus time at specific depths in an open hole. The tool consists of a piston device, backup shoe, and a packer. At each station, the repeat formation-tester tool first records mud pressure and then hydraulically inserts a probe into die sidewall. A fluid sample (10 cc) is taken at a low flow rate, and the pressure drawdown is measured. A second sample is taken at a faster rate, and the pressure drawdown is again recorded. The pressure buildup is then recorded. The probe is retracted and reset at the next depth. Two large sample chambers can be fitted to hold 1-12 gal of formation fluids. The pressure drawdown and buildup records are used to calculate formation permeabilities. The tool has a shallow depth of investigation and works in low-permeability formations. The repeat formation tester is used when well conditions prevent running a drillstem test. RFT repeat section a short section of a well log, usually about 200 ft, that is logged twice to check repeatability of the log measurements reperf reperfor'ated reperforating to perforate a well a second time. Reperforating is usually done for a) cement squeezing, b) remedial perforating, or c) after a limited timeentry simulation. Remedial perforating is often done after the original perforations in a producing well have become clogged. REPF reperforations Repl 1) replaced 2) replacement repl replace replacement density the density used for Bouguer corrections on gravity data. A density of 2.67 g/cm3 is used for regional studies. report of title an abbreviated abstract of title of land. The abstractor issues an opinion on the ownership of the lands, unreleasedoil and gas leases, conveyances of minerals, and outstanding encumbrances and liens of records, (certificate or memorandum of title) repressuring the reinjection of a fluid into a subsurface reservoir in which the natural pressure has been depleted by production reproducibility see repeatability req requisition reqd required reqmt requirement reqn requisition rerun to reuse a drilling bit that has been dressed RES resistivity Res or res residue res 1) reservoir 2) resistance 3) resistivity 4) resistor 5) research 6) reserve

reserve pit

reserve pit an excavation with earthen banks that covers about 100 ft3 near a drilling rig. The reserve pit is a waste pit that holds discarded drilling mud and well cuttings. The shale slide carries well cuttings into the reserve pit. Drilling mud in the reserved pit can be used in emergencies. reserves the amount of gas and/or oil that is estimated to be produced from a well, lease, or field in the future. Types of reserves include proven, probable and possible, primary and secondary, and developed and undeveloped. Proven reserves are well denned by drilling and have geological and economic certainty. Probable or prospective reserves are based on estimates made by the probable geological extent of the reservoir which has yet to be confirmed by drilling and have a 50% certainty. Possible reserves have less geological control than probable reserves and have a 25% certainty. Proven developed reserves

reverse separation reservoir volume factor are economically recoverable from existing wells with present operating methods. Proven undeveloped reserves are economically recoverable from wells to be drilled or with deepening or recompletion of existing wells. Reserves can also be divided into a) proved and b) potential which includes probable, possible, and speculative reserves. Reserves are often estimated by the volumetric formula or the decline curve method. RESV reverse separation the relative upward movement of the hanging wall of a fault reserves-to-production ratio the estimated time needed to produce the remaining gas reserves. A reserves-to-production ratio is made by dividing the current annual gas production rate into the known gas reserves, (life index) RIP ratio reservoir 1) a single continuous deposit of gas and/ or oil in the pores of a reservoir rock. A reservoir has a single pressure system and does not communicate with other reservoirs, (pool or zone) RESER, R or res 2) the portion of the trap that contains petroleum, including the reservoir rock, pores, and fluids. RESER, R, or res 3) a pond, lake, or environment that is used to store liquids reservoir bitumen hydrocarbons in a reservoir that were formed by in-situ alteration of liquid hydrocarbons. The processes that form reservoir bitumen are thermal cracking, deasphalting, inspissation, water washing, and microbiological. Pitch and asphalt are formed by the last three processes. reservoir drive the natural energy in a reservoir that forces the fluids out of the rock and into the well. Every oilfield has at least one reservoir drive. Types of reservoir drives in oilfields include a) solution gas, b) gas cap, c) water, d) gravity, e) fluid expansion, and 0 combination. Reservoir drives in gas fields are a) expansion gas and b) water drive. Reservoir drive is a major factor in the rate of production and ultimate recovery. reservoir engineer a petroleum engineer who oversees the overall production from a field and coordinates pressure maintenance, waterflood, and enhanced oil recovery reservoir engineering the application of scientific and engineering principles to the production from a developed reservoir for maximum economic return. Reservoir engineering is the "art of development and production for high-economic recovery." reservoir fluid study the laboratory procedures that are used to identify the physical properties of reservoir fluid samples for materials balance calculations on that reservoir. The studies include a) chemical composition, b) flash vaporization, c) differential vaporization, d) separator test, and e) oil viscosity measurements. The properties of the fluids that are determined include a) bubblepoint pressure, b) formation volume factor for oil, c) solution gas/ oil ratio, d) total formation volume factor, e) coefficient of isothermal compressibility of oil, f) oil viscosity, g) Z factor, h) formation volume factor of gas, i) gas viscosity along with j) quantities and properties of separator gas, stock-tank gas, and stock-tank oil. (PVT study) reservoir geologist a geologist who coordinates the development of an entire field

421

reservoir heterogeneities lateral and vertical variations in the properties of a reservoir. Reservoir heterogeneities that affect production include horizontal and vertical variations in permeabilities, porosities, grain sizes, along with shale streaks, pinchouts, faults, and sedimentary structures. reservoir interval the measured thickness of a producing zone in a well. Reservoir interval can be gross interval, gross reservoir interval, gross sand, net sand, or net pay. reservoir modeling a physical device or mathematical expression that scales and duplicates the fluid processes in a reservoir and can be used to describe and predict reservoir performance. Sand packs, cores, and core plugs are used for physical models. Mathematical models use volumetrics, Darcy relationships, and conservation of mass to describe the reservoir. Complex mathematical models of multidimensional and multiphase reservoir analysis use computers to divide the reservoir into smaller sections called cells or nodes. The smaller the size of the cells, the more accurate the computer model of that reservoir, (reservoir simulation) reservoir pressure the pressure on fluids in a subsurface formation. Reservoir pressure is usually measured in psi, psia or atmospheres. Normal reservoir pressure depends on the hydrostatic pressure increase with depth, which depends on the density of the ground water. The hydrostatic pressure increase is 45 psi/100 ft for water with a salinity of 55.4 ppt and 46.5 psi/100 ft for water salinity of 100 ppt. Abnormal high and low pressures deviate significantly from normal hydrostatic pressure. (formation or fluid pressure) reserve recognition accounting an accounting procedure proposed by the SEC that uses valuations of future production of proved oil and gas reserves discounted at the rate of 10% per year. Reserve recognition accounting was intended to replace full cost (FC) and successful efforts (SE) accounting as a basis for financial statements after a trial period that proved unsuccessful. RRC reservoir rock 1) a rock with good porosity and permeability, usually sandstone or a carbonate 2) the porous and permeable rock in a trap that holds petroleum reservoir simulation see reservoir modeling reservoir temperature the temperature of the subsurface formation and formation fluids. The reservoir temperature can be directly measured as bottomhole temperature or by estimate from the geothermal gradient. TR or Tr reservoir volume factor the number of reservoir barrels of crude oil that are needed to be lifted to the surface and shrink to one barrel of stock tank oil after the solution gas has bubbled out. The reservoir volume factor depends on the solution gas/oil ratio of the reservoir. Deeper reservoirs usually have higher solution gas/oil ratios and larger reservoir volume factors. The reservoir volume factor generally varies between 1.1 and 1.6. The reservoir volume factor curves are determined experimentally from an oil sample. The reservoir volume factor for wet gas is the volume of reservoir gas necessary to produce one

422

resid resistivity logging resin cement a type of cement used in wells. Resin cement is a mixture of water, liquid resin, catalyst, and cement. Because of its high cost, it is used primarily for plugging open holes and perforations. resinous a luster or reflection on the surface of a mineral grain that appears similar to resin, rsrts resin-sand pack type of well completion used where there is a sand control problem with an unconsolidated sand reservoir. The producing interval is underreamed and sand is-irijected. An organic resin or plastic is then injected to consolidate both the injected and formation sands. resistance Tthe opposition of a material to the flow of a direct electrical current. Resistance is the resistivity times the length of the current path divided by the cross-sectional area. Resistance is measured in ohms. Conductors have low resistance, whereas insulators have high resistance, res or r resistance factor a measure of the resistance of a polymer solution flowing through a reservoir relative to the resistance of water flowing during enhanced oil recovery resistance thermal detector an instrument that uses the change in electrical resistivity of a wire in an electrical circuit to sense changes in temperature. RTD resistivity the resistance of a material to the flow of electrical current. Resistivity is a common measurement made by an electric or induction type of wireline well log and is measured in ohms-meter or ohms-meter2/meter. Resistivity is the inverse of conductivity. R, RES, p, or res resistivity index the ratio of the resistivity of a hydrocarbon-bearing rock (Rt) to the resistivity of the same formation 100% saturated with formation water (Rw). The resistivity index depends on water saturation, pore geometry, and overburden pressure. The resistivity index is calculated from TTT; in which Sw is water saturation and n is the saturation exponent that varies between 1.0 to 2.5 and is often 2.0. RI resistivity log a wireline well log that measures the resistivity or conductivity of rocks and the fluids in the pore spaces adjacent to the wellbore. An electrical current from a generator on the surface is forced through the formation. Resistivity logs are used for a) correlation, b) bit selection (formation hardness correlates with resistivity), c) permeability indication, d) formation fluid detection and water saturation, and e) lithology confirmation and bed boundaries. Resistivity logs are called normal, lateral, laterolog, and induction logs. Microresistivity logs measure resistivities from a much shorter distance back from the wellbore. The resistivity is measured in units of ohm-meter (ohm-m) or ohm-meter2/meter. Low resistivities come from shale and salt water. High resistivities come from petroleum and fresh water. The resistivity curve is often displayed in Track 2 and sometimes in both Tracks 2 and 3, with a spontaneous potential curve in Track 1. resistivity logging a drill hole induced polarization (IP) or resistivity survey in a well which uses closely spaced electrodes to investigate the electrical properties of the rocks adjacent to the wellbore. (IP, electric and hole logging, and hole probe)

stock tank barrel of retrograde gas (condensate) on the surface, (formation volume factor) RVF resid residual residence time the time that a phase such as produced water remains in a process stream such as a separator. Two-phase separators for light oils are designed to have about 30 seconds residence time and 150 seconds for heavy oils. Three-phase separators for light oils have about 1 minute residence time and 6 minutes for heavy oils, (retention time) residual the observed value minus the regional value. In a trend surface analysis, residual is the observed minus the computer value. residual field the magnetic field held by ferromagnetic material after exposure to a magnetic force residual hydrocarbon saturation the volume percent of crude oil and natural gas that is left after production. Residual hydrocarbon saturation is expressed as a percentage of the pore volume. RHS residualizing the subtraction of regional gravity from actual gravity measurements to delineate gravity anomalies residual method a pipe inspection method that uses residual magnetism to indicate flaws residual oil 1) crude oil left in the subsurface rock after primary oil production or after waterflood 2) the liquid at atmospheric pressure and 60 F that remains after differential vaporization, a reservoir fluid study method residual oil saturation see residual saturation. ROS residual resistance factor the reduction in permeability to water of a reservoir due to the adsorption of polymers during enhanced oil recovery residual saturation the minimum oil saturation in the pores of a reservoir at which oil will flow through the reservoir. Residual saturation is about 15%. (critical saturation) residual stress the force or pressure in a member after it has been installed in a structure but before it has been loaded residual water the thin layer of water absorbed to mineral grain surfaces and the discontinuous pendular water held by capillary pressure at grain contacts and at the ends of larger pores. Residual water will not flow through a permeable rock, (irreducible water) residue gas 1) the gas that is left after natural gas liquids have been removed from natural gas. Residue gas is any gas that comes from gas processing and can be sold as commercial natural gas. (tail gas) 2) natural gas left in^he subsurface rock after conventional gas production residue gas saturation the volume percentage of natural gas that cannot be produced from a reservoir by ordinary production methods. Residue gas saturation is expressed as a percentage. RGS or 5^ resin a hard, yellowish-to-brown, transparent-totranslucent, solid or semisolid, amorphous substance produced by plants. Resins don't have definite melting points. A resin is composed of NSO compounds and can be either recent or fossil. Resins are sometimes added to drilling mud and cements.

resistor retrograde gas resistor an electric component with a fixed resistance, res resolution the shortest distance between two features that still allows the features to be identified as individual features. Vertical resolution is the minimum vertical distance between two discrete reflectors, whereas lateral resolution is the minimum subhorizontal distance between two discrete reflectors. resource cost the costs of capital, materials, and labor that are necessary to produce and market a resource, (economic cost) restored section a cross-section that shows either rock layers or seismic reflection events as they occured in a particular time in the geological past. A seismic section can be flattened on a distinctive horizon to make a restored section, (paleosection) restored-state core a core that was originally cleaned with solvents to remove formation fluids. The core was then saturated with a brine followed by crude oil. The core was then aged at reservoir temperature for weeks. A restored-state core is in contrast to a native-state or cleaned core.

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restricted basin

restricted basin a body of water separated from the ocean by a shallow sill or bar at the entrance resulting in restricted water circulation through the entrance of the basin. Salts or highly organic sediments are often deposited in restricted basins. resurvey a cadastral survey to relocate and mark the boundaries of a previous survey RESV reserves RET retainer ret 1) retard 2) return 3) retain RETAC retarded acid retainer a drillable tool that is used to spot cement during a cement job on a well. A retainer consists of a packer and pressure valve that is used to close the annulus of the well. retaining element apparatus used to hold a packerhanger element in the body of a tubing or casing head retarded acid an acid that has had its reaction time slowed by the addition of gums, thickening agents, or other retarders. Retarders work on the common ion or barrier effect. Retarded acid is used in fracture acidizing in moderate to high temperature wells. Retarded acid allows deeper penetration of the acid back into the carbonate formation during acidizing. Organic acids such as acetic or formic acids have a naturally slow reaction time. RETAC

retarded cement cement slurry that contains an additive to increase the cement thickening time. Retarders such as gypsum, calcium lignosulfonate, organic blends, carboxy methyl hydroxy ethyl cellulose, borax, sodium chloride (in high concentrations), and most fluid-loss agents are used. Retarded cement is often used in high-temperature wells. retarded slow-set cement cement with an increased setting time due to additives in contrast to unretarded slow-set cement retarder a chemical that slows a chemical reaction retd returned retention the loss of chemicals during enhanced oil recovery due to adsorption onto the rock surface, precipitation, or trapping in the reservoir retention pit an excavation with a large surface area, from a fraction of an acre to several acres, that is used to reduce the volume of produced water from wells by evaporation. The pit is either dug in impermeable soil or lined with clay or an impermeable liner such as plastic. The concentrated brine is disposed of in another location, (evaporation or evaporative pit or pond) retention time the time that a phase such as produced water remains in a process stream such as a separator. Two-phase separators for light oils are designed to have about 30 seconds retention time and 150 seconds for heavy oils. Three-phase separators for light oils have about 1 minute retention time and 6 minutes for heavy oils, (residence time) retip a bit to dress or recondition a drilling bit retort a spherical container usually made of glass with an outlet. Heat is used to distill or decompose a fluid in the retort. A saturation retort is used to determine the relative amounts of fluids in rock samples. A vacuum retort distills the fluid from the sample under low pressure. The apparatus can also be called a retort oven or still. retrievable a piece of equipment that is designed to be easily removed from a well. Some common types are tubing or wireline retrievable or pump-down retrievable. RETRV retrievable hollow carrier gun a type of perforating gun that consists of a steel tube sealed against hydrostatic pressure and containing shaped explosive charges. The charges are in an atmospheric pressure environment. The gun tube and debris can be pulled from the well after perforating. RHC retrievable valve mandrel a bulge in a tubing string that is designed to receive wire line retrievable gaslift equipment and still permit the full tubing inner diameter retro-arc basin a basin formed in continental crust behind a continental arc with a folded thrust belt. A retro-arc basin is a type foreland basin. retrograde condensate see retrograde liquid retrograde condensate gas see retrograde gas retrograde gas liquid hydrocarbons of very light crude oil composition that occur as a gas under subsurface reservoir conditions (high temperature and pressure) and condense into a liquid upon produaion

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retrograde gas-condensate reverse osmosis damage and in fishing to remove fish or junk from the bottom of the well. A junk basket is run on a fishing string and reverse circulation is used to wash the junk up and into the junk basket. Reverse circulation can be used during coring to float the core to the top of the barrel, (counter flush) RC 2) to circulate heavy fluid down the annulus to displace a lighter fluid from the drillstring reverse circulation coring a method of coring using drilling mud in reverse circulation to bring the core sample up the center of the drillstring. An inner core barrel is often used to retain the core at the surface. reverse circulation sub a short section of pipe that is run in the drillstring during a drillstem test and is used to recover the fluid sample. The sample is either recovered by reverse circulation or is held in the drillstring. (hollow pin impact-reversing sub) reverse combustion the movement of the burning front in a fire flood from the producing well toward the injection well. Reverse combustion is used to produce oil from tar sands and is in contrast to foreword combustion. reverse drag a reversal of dip in sedimentary rocks along a fault that is opposite in direaion than would be caused by drag or friction along the fault plane. Reverse drag forms rollover anticlines on growth faults, (rollover or turnover) reverse emulsion a suspension of oil droplets (the dispersed phase) in water (the continuous phase). A water-in-oil emulsion is more common as a produced fluid than a reverse or oil-in-water emulsion, (oil-inwater emulsion)

and surface conditions. Retrograde gases typically grade from colorless to light-colored liquids with tints of red, green, or blue. Retrograde gases have very high "API that range between 45 and 60 and are very valuable commercially. If retrograde gas is recovered on the lease with standard field separator equipment, it is often combined and recorded with the crude oil. The Natural Gas Processors Association has denned retrograde gas as having a vapor pressure between 10-34 psi, a percentage evaporated at 104F of 249685%, a percentage evaporated at 275F of not less than 90%, and an end point in distillation of 375F or less. Retrograde gas has a gas/oil ratio greater than 3,300 SCF/STB and is the preferred term that has many synonyms, (casinghead, drip, natural, raw or wild gasoline, drips, condensate, gas condensate, distillate, gas distillate, white oil) retrograde gas-condensate see retrograde gas retrograde liquid liquid hydrocarbons (condensate or natural gasoline) that condense out of natural gas in a retrograde gas reservoir because of the drop in reservoir pressures during production. Any liquid that condenses in the subsurface reservoir cannot be recovered except for a small fraction that will revaporize with further decrease in pressure. In a gas-condensate reservoir, 5096-6096 of the liquid can be lost due to retrograde condensation. The condensate is valuable and should be prevented from condensing in the subsurface by pressure maintenance with dry gas recycling, (retrograde condensate) RETRV retrievable return bend a pipe with two 90 bends in it. The return bend is used to connect two parallel pipes. return on investment a method of financially evaluating a well. Return on investment is the anticipated production revenues divided by the cost of the well and production. Return on investment is not discounted for the time value of money in contrast to the discounted return on investment. ROI returns the drilling fluid, well cuttings, and formation fluids that circulate back up the well as it is being drilled REV 1) reverse 2) reversed rev 1) reverse 2) revolution 3) revise revenue income from the sale of hydrocarbons, equipment, supplies, leases, and/or services revenue interest an interest in a lease or well that receives a proportionate share of all revenue and is identified in the division orders reverberation a seismic record multiple that occurs when the seismic energy reflects between the water surface and seabed, (ringing) reversal of dip a 180 change in the direction in which a sedimentary rock bed is inclined. A reversal of dip could indicate closure on a trap. reverse to reverse the location of a shot point and a geophone on the oppostie end of a geophone line. Reverse is used for dipping reflectors to determine true velocity and dip. reverse circulation 1) to circulate drilling mud down the annulus so that the drilling mud and well cuttings circulate back up through the drillstring. Reverse circulation is used to prevent formation

reverse fault reverse fault a fault with predominantly vertical movement (dip slip) in which the foot wall has moved down in relation to the hanging wall causing a double section. Reverse faults are caused by compressional forces!RIFLT reverse jetting the jetting of drilling fluid upward from a jet sub onto the cones of an underreamer during underreaming of a well reverse nozzle bit a drilling bit that has one nozzle directed upward in contrast to the other nozzles. The upward-pointing nozzle creates a pressure drop at the bit to aid in the removal of well cuttings from the roller-cone teeth. reverse osmosis diffusion of a solution through a semipermeable membrane leaving the salts behind. Reverse osmosis is used to separate salts and other contaminants from water.

redox potential reef redox potential the voltage difference between inert electrodes immersed in a reversible oxidationreduction system. The equation is Eh=K log pr where K is about 70, R is the concentration of reduced substances, O is the concentration of oxidized substances or electron acceptors. The redox potential is a measure of the system's oxidation state. (Eh or oxidation-reduction potential) redox reaction a reaction involving oxidation, the loss of electrons, and reduction, the gain of electrons red pattern a dipmeter interpretation that is characterized by an increase in formation dip with increasing depth in the well and constant azimuth. There is also a green and blue pattern. redrid or redrild redrilled Redrig redrilling reduced crude oil crude oil that has had some of its lighter hydrocarbons removed by distillation reduced environment see reducing environment reduced pressure absolute pressure divided by critical pressure. Pr reduced take the acquisition of oil or gas by a purchaser in lesser quantities than stated in a purchase contract reduced temperature or volume absolute temperature or volume divided by the critical temperature, or volume reducer see speed reducer reducing a fitting, connection, or flange that joins pipe of two different diameters. A swage is an example. reducing agent a chemical substance that gives electrons to another substance. A reducing agent is in contrast to an oxidizing agent. reducing chimney the rocks that are chemically reduced and extend vertically from a subsurface trap filled with hydrocarbons to the surface of the ground directly above the trap. If the trap is seeping hydrocarbons, primarily methane and ethane, they will chemically reduce the rocks and soil above the trap. This is used as a basis for geochemical prospecting for oil and gas.
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reducing environment an environment that lacks free oxygen and there is an excess of electrons for release. Oxygen is removed from chemical compounds in a reducing environment. Anoxic or anaerobic water or sediments occur in a reducing environment. A reducing environment is in contrast to an oxidizing environment, (reduced environment) reducing nipple a short pipe with different sized ends reduction a chemical reaction in which a compound gains electrons and becomes more negative. Reduction is in contrast to oxidation. reduction gear a herringbone and helical gearing or spur gearing and chain-drive arrangement that converts high-speed, low-torque energy to low-speed, high-torque energy reduction in area the cross-sectional area of the original and broken pieces divided by the crosssectional area of the original. Reduction in area is commonly expressed as a percent. reduction works an installation that removes helium from natural gas redundancy a repetition of data or information gathering Redwood seconds a unit of viscosity measured on a Redwood viscometer Redwood viscometer an instrument that is used to measure the viscosity of drilling mud. The Redwood viscometer measures the viscosity at 100F in Redwood seconds. Redwood viscosity a measure of drilling mud viscosity expressed in seconds and measured on a Redwood viscometer REE rare earth elements reef 1) a mound-like structure of carbonate that is formed primarily by biological processes and is still at or near the position where it originally formed 2) a moundlike structure formed with a framework of wave-resistant organisms such as corals. Ancient reefs had framework-building organisms that were clams (rudists), gastropods (snails), calcareous algae, bryozoans, serpulids, sponges, and other organisms. Reefs are described by their location and geometry.
FORE REEF BASIN

REEF FLAT

MICRITE S10PE

LIME MUDSTONES DOLOMITE A N D EVAPORITES ORGANIC BOUNDSTONES ORGANIC ARGILLACEOUS GRAINSTONES LIME MUDSTONES

reef environments

reverse-pressure perforating reverse-pressure perforating perforating with downhole pressure less than formation pressure. Formation fluids will flow into the well when the casing or liner is perforated to clean the perforation tunnels, (unbalancedperforating) reverse SP a condition in wireline well logging in which the mud filling the well is more saline than the formation waters in the rock layers, and the spontaneous potential (SP) characteristics on an electrical or induction log are opposite normal. reversing out a technique used during squeeze cementing in which the circulating valve is opened and the excess cement is pumped up the drillstring reversing tool a tool that is used on a fishing string to convert right-handed torque in a fishing string to left-handed torque in a fishing tool below it. The reversing tool has planetary gears with a ratio of 2.1 to increase the torque and is anchored in the casing. The reversing tool cannot be used on an open hole. reversion the return of an estate to the heirs after the termination of granted interest reversionary 1) a future interest that is created by the conversion of a present interest 2) an interest that is restored after the present owner dies reversionary working interest an interest in a well in which the party shares in neither the cost nor the revenues from production until a specific time or event in the well such as the farmee recovering the costs of drilling, completing, and production from the production revenues, (subordinated working interest) rev/min revolutions per minute rev/o reversed out revolution a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for revolution. One revolution equals 2 ir radians, r rev up 1) to start a motor 2) to sharply increase the revolutions in a motor REWKD reworked rework a general term for any operation on a completed well that is designed to maintain, restore, or improve production from a reservoir that is currently producing. Reworking can include well stimulation but excludes routine repair and maintenance that is generally covered under well servicing. Sand cleanout, removal of scale or paraffin buildup, acidizing and fracing, deepening, and plugging back are common reworking procedures and are often done with a workover rig. (workover) rwk reworking clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that allows the lease to be extended without production during periods of workover on the well Reynolds number the ratio of inertial to viscous forces. It is a dimensionless number that is used to differentiate laminar from turbulent fluid flow. The Reynolds number is equal to -, in which D = diameter or depth, V = velocity, p = density and ft. = viscosity. Below 2,000 is laminar flow; 2,000 to 3,000 is transitional; and above 3,000 is turbulent flow. It can be stated as Re = 928 , where v = mean

rheometer

425

velocity in feet/second, d1 = diameter of pipe in inches, p2 = density of fluid in pounds/gallon and Nj = plastic viscosity in centipoises. The Reynolds number is also equal to 379 - in which G = flow
Njd,

rate in gallons per minute, dt = diameter of pipe in inches, pj = density of fluid in pounds per gallon, and Nj = plastic viscosity in centipoises. NRe or Re Reynolds-number factor a number that corrects for the variations in the discharge coefficient of a fluid with different Reynolds numbers. Fr rexlzd recrystallized RF 1) rig floor 2) recovery factor Rf or rf reef R/FLT reverse fault r.f.p. rounded, frosted, pitted rfr refraction seismograph RFT repeat fluid tester rft reflection seismograph RG rounded gauge rg ring RGD resistivity, gamma ray, and directional log Rge or rge range rgh rough RGS residual gas saturation RH 1) rat hole 2) right hand rhabdomancy the use of divining rods to find subsurface water or oil Rhaetian a global age of geological time that occurred about 215-200 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Triassic epoch. Rhb or rhb rhomb RHC retrievable hollow carrier (perforating gun) R H Dip four-arm high resolution dipmeter rhe the cgs unit of fluidity. Rhe is the reciprocal of a centipoise and is equal to 1 sec-cm/cg rheo rheostat rheology the science of flowing fluids and their change of shape. Circulating drilling mud is an important aspect of rheology. rheometer an instrument used to measure the viscosity of a liquid. A rolling-ball rheometer uses a steel ball that rolls through a barrel filled with oil at an angle. It can be sealed and the oil measured at any temperature and pressure. The time that the ball rolls through the tube is electronically measured and is calibrated to centistokes of viscosity. Absolute viscosity is usually measured with a capillary-type instrument by determining the time a given volume takes to flow through a glass capillary. It is measured in centistokes or centipoises. A container with a hole or jet on the bottom is used to measure viscosity in the field. A standard March funnel holds one quart of drilling mud. The time that the drilling mud takes to drain is measured in seconds and called funnel or Marsh funnel viscosity. In the laboratory, a Saybolt Universal (SSU) or Saybolt Furol is used in the United States and is recorded in seconds. A Redwood I or Redwood II is used in the United Kingdom and records in seconds. An Engler viscosimeter is used in Europe

relay repeated folding relay a device that automatically opens or closes a circuit or performs other control functions release a termination instrument released oil old oil under the United States Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 that was matched with an equal volume of new oil and sold at market price release of oil and gas lease an instrument placed on record by the lessee in a county or parish courthouse that partially or fully discharges an oil or gas lease. The lessee is then free of future obligations such as delay rentals. releasing fluid an unweighed or semiweighed organic solution that is spotted in a well with stuck pipe. The releasing fluid is used to reduce the differential pressure in the well at the stuck point interval and free the pipe, (soak solution or soaking fluid) relegs reinforcements, usually pipe, for a drilling derrick relict sediment surface sediments that were deposited during the previous environment and are not characteristic of the present environment relief 1) the difference in elevation between the highest and lowest points in an area 2) the range of values over any anomaly such as gravity, rlf relief map a map that uses shaded surfaces to show topography relief valve a valve that is designed to open when the pressure on a liquid or gas reaches a specific level. The relief valve is used to prevent excessive pressure buildup, (pop off, pressure-release, pressurerelief, or safety valve) relief well a well that is drilled to stop a wild well blowing out of control. The relief well is a directional well drilled at a safe distance from the wild well. A straight kick is used for most relief wells but some are S-shaped. The relief well approaches the wild well in the subsurface near the bottom or top of the well and is used to pump control fluids directly or indirectly into the wild well annulus. A relief well is used when a surface kill is not possible. The wild well is then cleaned out and either a cement plug is set for abandoning or casing is set. (killer well) reloc relocate RELOG running electric log Rem remains rem remote remaining reserves the amount of oil and gas that has yet to be produced. The remaining reserves are usually estimated from decline curves or by subtracting the cumulative production from the calculated ultimate reserves. remanent magnetism the natural or permanent magnetism in rock. Remanent magnetism is caused by the alignment of ferromagnetic substances such as magnetite crystals. Remanent magnetism can be either thermo-remanent or chemical remanent magnetism in igneous rocks or detrital or depositional remanent magnetism in sedimentary rocks. remigration the movement of hydrocarbons out of the original trap

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remote BOP control panel a auxiliary series of controls that is located in a remote location from a drilling rig and is used to operate the valves on a control manifold that directs hydraulic fluid to various components in a blowout preventer. The remote BOP control pannel is in contrast to a driller's BOP control panel that is located on the drill floor, (remote station) remote choke panel controls located on the drill floor for the choke manifold of a drilling rig remotely controlled or operated vehicle a nearly neutral buoyancy submarine that is manipulated from the mother ship by an umbilical. The vehicle is used for both observation of subsea equipment and to maintain the equipment with a manipulator. (unmanned submersible) RCV or ROV remote-maintenance vehicle a submersible that can perform inspections on an underwater manifold center and can replace control modules and manifold valves. The vehicle is towed into position by a surface vessel. A buoy is released from the underwater manifold center and the positive-buoyancy, remotemaintenance vehicle is pulled down the buoy cable. The vehicle is then engaged on a railroad track on the underwater manifold center where it uses sockets to do work. The work is monitored by underwater television and controlled by cables to the surface vehicle. RMV remote sensing the formation of images in visual, infrared, ultraviolet, microwave, and radar spectra of the land surface by airplane or satellite. Passive methods measure natural radiation of the earth's surface. Active methods beam an energy source on the earth's surface and measure the reflected energy. remote station see remote BOP control panel removal of fixture clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that allows the lessee to remove all the equipment that the lessee placed on the land after the lease has expired. removal price the selling price of a barrel of oil rent rental rental a payment made in lieu of an action. A delay rental is made by the lessee to the lessor to extend the life of a lease during the primary term instead of drilling a well on the lease. A shut-in rental paid to the lessor by the lessee allows the well to be shut in. rent rental date the exact date on or before which delay rental payments must be made to extend the life of the lease during the primary term rental term the time period during which the lease can be extended by delay rental payments if drilling or production is not established REP 1) repair 2) repairs 3) repairing rep 1) report 2) repair 3) replace 4) replaced 5) replacement repeatability the ability of an instrument to reproduce measurements under the same conditions. Repeatibility is reported as the maximum difference between readings or percent of full scale. (reproducibility or precision) repeated folding anticlines or domes in sedimentary rocks in which the folding occurred during the time in which the sedimentary rocks were

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rheostat rigging down treating and is heated to liberate H2S and CO2 to form lean amine. rich gas 1) natural gas that contains significant amounts of condensate 2) gas having a calorific value greater than 900 Btu/ft3 rich glycol triethylene glycol that has absorbed water in an absorber tower. Rich glycol can be reconcentrated into lean glycol by heating it to drive off the steam, (wet glycol) richness a measure of how much organic carbon, usually in weight percent, a source rock contains. Richness is described as rich, good, fair, and poor. Richmondian a North American age of geological time that ended about 425 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. rich oil crude oil that has absorbed liquids from natural gas in a tray-filled absorption tower. Rich oil is heated in a still to distill and recover the absorbed liquids and to form lean oil. rich solution a glycol-water solution with less than 95% glycol content by weight. Rich solution is similar to rich glycol and is in contrast to a lean solution. rider an attachment that specifies details on an agreement. On a lease, a rider is a separately listed provision, (allonge or exhibit) ride the blocks to travel up and down in the derrick of a drilling rig by standing on the traveling block. Riding the blocks is usually done by the derrickman to get to and from the monkeyboard.

and records in Engler degrees. A concentric cylinder viscometer uses two cylinders, an outer cylinder or rotor sleeve and an inner stationary cylinder. A fresh sample fills the cylinder up to a line, and the outer cylinder is rotated at 300 or 600 rpm. The torque on the inner cylinder is measured with a precision torsion spring. Some rheometers can rotate at 3, 6, 100, 200, 300, and 600 rpms. (viscometer or
viscosimeter)

rheostat a variable resistor that is used to regulate electrical current, rheo rhombic a sedimentary rock texture characterized by medium to coarse-sized grains of well-formed, equal-sized grains in the shape of rhombs. The rhombic texture is usually formed by pure dolomite. RHM rat hole mud RHN Rockwell hardness number p 1) resistivity 2) density 3) Poisson's ratio pa density of ash Pb 1) bulk density 2) mean density of porous media pc 1) density of coal fluid 2) density of cement pf 1) fluid density 2) filtrate density 3) density of flowing fluid pg gas density Pi,c density of hydrocarbons p,,g density of mercury p t o density of limestone pm 1) bulk density 2) density of drilling mud Pma r o c k matrix density Pmaa apparent grain density p^ density of mud filtrate pn normal density of clays po density of oil p oR density of oil at reservoir conditions ps density of sulfur Psi, density of shale pSTO density of stock tank oil p, density of vapor pw density of water RHP rotary horsepower RHS residual hydrocarbon saturation Rhumba a type of screen used on shale shakers rhyolite an extrusive igneous rock (lava) that is acidic in composition. Rhyolite is composed of very finegrained crystals that are predominately quartz and orthoclase. Rhyolite has a matrix density of 2.60 gm/cc and is commonly white or light yellow, brown, or red in color. RYOL RI 1) royalty interest 2) refractive index 3) resistivity index Rj 1) resistivity of annulus zone 2) invaded zone resistivity 3) pore radius r, 1) radius of investigation 2) sampled desired signal RIB retrievable integral bypass rich amine amine solution that contains acid gases. Rich amine is formed in an absorption tower for gas

rift

rift 1) a large fault with predominately horizontal movement 2) a long graben rift valley a deep and wide fracture rig 1) the equipment on a cable tool, rotary, or workover rig 2) a tractor-trailer rig builder a person who assembles the derrick on a drilling rig rig down see rigging down rig fixer a person who builds drilling rigs rig floor the elevated platform on a drilling rig on which the derrick sits. The rig floor is supported by the substructure. The rotary table, drawworks, driller's console, and other equipment are located on the floor, and the well is located in the center. The rig floor is where the drilling operations occur. On an offshore drilling rig, the rig floor is the work area surrounding the opening where the tools and drillstring are run into the ocean, (drill, drilling, or derrick floor) RF rig up see rigging up rigging down to dismantle the drilling or workover

rigging up riser angle rig right after drilling or servicing the well, (tear down)
RD or R.D.

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rigging up the erection of a drilling or workover rig for drilling or servicing a well RU or R.U. right-handed thread a thread on a connection that winds clockwise in a receding direction when viewed axially. A right-handed thread is far more common than a left-handed thread. righting arm or lever the horizontal distance that separates the vertical lines drawn through the center of gravity and the center of buoyancy of a floating drilling rig. The righting arm tends to right the floater. If the center of buoyancy and center of gravity line up in a vertical line, the floater is at rest. right-lateral strike-slip fault a fault that moves or has moved with predominately horizontal displacement with the opposite side of the fault moving toward the right as you face the fault plane right of way 1) the legal right to pass over land owned by someone else 2) a narrow strip of land which is used to legally pass over land owned by someone else. ROW or R/W right-regular lay the winding of wireline with the strands wound clockwise and the wires in each strand rotating counterclockwise. Right-regular lay is most commonly used for drilling lines. Left-regular lay and Lang's lay are also used. rigidity the spontaneous resistance of a substance to elastic shear deformation rig irons the metal used in construction of a cabletool rig rig jack one of three or four hydraulic jacks that are used to raise each a corner and level the drilling rig rig manager the person who is in direct charge of a company's operations on an offshore drilling rig. The rig manager is involved in planning for supplies and services and can have assistant drilling supervisors or on-board drilling engineers. The rig manager is generally shore-based. The toolpusher on a land rig is sometimes called the rig manager. rig mechanic a crew member who is responsible for maintaining the rig's machinery rig move the transfer of an offshore drilling rig from one location to another, (transit) rig pump see mud pump rig rel rig released rig set-off removing the rig from a well that has just been drilled so that the well can be complete rig-skidding system a hydraulic system that is used to move a drilling rig a short distance. The skidding system includes a hydraulic power pack and cylinder, skid beam, and locking device. A gripper locks onto the rig load, and the hydraulic cylinder skids the load. The gripper unlocks and the cylinder retracts. The process is repeated until the rig is in position. rig superintendent the person in charge of an offshore installation. The toolpusher on a land rig is sometimes called the rig superintendent. rig timber a large, wooden beam that is used to support the drilling rig or associated equipment

rig-time work see day rate work rig up to assemble and prepare the drilling rig on the drillsite rig walker a hydraulic system with both a lift and walk cylinder that is used to move a drilling rig a short distance. A lift cylinder and lift pad raise the rig load while a horizontal shift beam moves either forward or backward. The load is then transferred to the walk cylinder on the shift beam that is seated on the ground. The load is then moved along the shift beam by the walk cylinder. The walk cylinder then retracts, and the load is shifted back to the lift cylinder. The process is repeated until the rig is in position. rigwash the water that drains off a drilling rig when it is washed down RIH ran in hole

rim cement rim cement a type of natural cement in limestone rocks in which the mineral cement was deposited as an enveloping rim around a mineral grain. Rim cement is the same chemical composition and is a continuation of the crystal lattice of the mineral grain. rim syncline the depression in a salt layer surrounding a salt plug. A rim syncline is caused by the flowage of salt into the salt plug. ring fence the grouping of certain oil and gas fields for tax purposes ring gage or gauge a ring that is used to measure the diameter and judge the shape of a drill bit ringing the seismic record multiple that occurs when the seismic energy reflects between the water surface and seabed, (reverberation) ring-joint flange a raised rim that forms a pressure connection between two pipes by using a metal ring that fits into a groove on the flange ring out the wearing of an O-shaped groove on the face of a diamond drill bit. Ring out is caused by a particle of hard rock such as chert. ringy data data such as seismic data that has an oscillatory character R-INV radius of investigation riparian land that fronts a river riparian rights the rights of a land owner to waters on or bordering the property riser 1) any pipe with the fluid flowing upward in it. The riser in a stock tank is a pipe that is used to make the liquid flow out of the tank at a different level than the liquid entered the tank. 2) a marine riser riser angle the angle between a marine riser and vertical on a semisubmersible or drillship. The rise angle is monitored by acoustical transponders.

428 riser angle indicator roarer riser angle indicator an acoustical sensor on a semisubmersible or drillship that measures and displays the angle on the marine rise riser box the female part of a coupling on a riser. A riser box is in contrast to a riser pin. riser damp a clamp on a leg of a steel-jacket platform that is used to attach the marine riser riser connector the collar on the end of a marine riser that connects to and disconnects from a subsea wellhead by hydraulic latches riser joint a section of pipe that is used as a riser and has a coupling (riser box-riser pin) at each end riser pin the male part of a coupling on a riser. A riser pin is in contrast to a riser box. riser-spacer frame a frame designed to separate risers riser spider a device used to hold the riser string as it is being lowered or retrieved riser sub a short joint that attaches the top of the marine riser string to the flowline on an offshore platform riser tension the tensile load in pounds on the riser tensioner wires on a semisubmersible or drillship riser tensioner a series of wires, sheaves, and cylinders on a semisubmersible or drillship that is used to maintain constant tension on the marine riser as the rig is heaving while preventing the riser from collapsing. A riser tensioner consists of a series of wires that are connected on one end to pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders on the rig floor and to the marine riser below the telescopic joint. Usually four to six riser tensioners are used. riser tensioner line the cable that connects the tensioner with the marine riser on a semisubmersible or drillship riser tensioning system the pneumatic or hydraulic system on a semisubmersible or drillship that maintains tension on the riser tensioner. The riser tensioning system consists of a) the tensioner cylinders and sheave assemblies, b) hydropneumatic accumulators and air pressure tanks, c) a high-pressure compressor, d) control panel, e) pipe manifold, and f) standby air pressure tanks. risk 1) the possibility of a failure of an action expressed as a percentage. A venture can be risk adverse, indifferent, or seeking. 2) a ratio of the number of wells completed as producers divided by the total number of wells drilled. Risk can be expressed as a decimal such as 0.25, a percentage such as 25%, or a ratio such as 1:4. Risk can be calculated from historical data and can be estimated for future wells to be drilled. Historical risk for drilling in the United States averages 18% for exploratory wells and 80% for developmental wells, (success) risk adverse decision making in which more weight is given to potential loss than gain. Risk adverse is in contrast to risk indifferent and seeking. risk capital monies that are spent on a project that has technical or economic risks and for which there is no guarantee of return on the capital risk indifferent decision making in which equal weight is given to potential loss and gain. Risk indifferent is in contrast to risk adverse and seeking. risk seeking decision making in which more weight is given to potential gain rather than loss. Risk seeking is in contrast to risk adverse and indifferent. risk weighed an economic evaluation factor such as return on investment multiplied by the risk expressed as a decimal Riss a European age of geological time that is the third glacial stage of the Pleistocene epoch. It is the equivalent of the Illinoian age in the United States. riv rivet river-dominated delta constructive delta river frac a hydraulic frac job using a very large volume of water UQ ring joint RK, Rk, or rk rock RKB referenced to kelly bushing rky rocky RL random lengths rif relief rig railing RLL recorded lithology logging tool) RLN long normal resistivity rls release rlsd released rly relay R,,, drilling mud resistivity rm ream R,,,,. mudcake resistivity rmd reamed Rjnf mud filtrate resistivity apparent mud-filtrate resistivity equivalent mud-filtrate resistivity RMG, Rfflg., or rmg reaming RMLOG 1) running microlog 2) ran microlog RMO Royalty Management Operations RMOGA Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Association RMS remote maintenance system rms root mean square RMS velocity velocities obtained from normal move out seismic data. RMS is a mathematical curve-fitting method. RMV remote maintenance vehicle rmv removable RN random number rnd round rndd rounded RNG range Rng. running rng 1) running 2) range RNNG running RO reversed out R,, 1) resistivity of a water-filled formation 2) vitrinite reflectance roarer a blowing gas well

ROB rod guides ROB remaining on board robber well a well on an adjacent lease that is draining oil and/or gas from a lease Roberts' torpedo an explosive fracturing device for wells that was patented in 1865 by Colonel E. A. Roberts. The torpedo was a 4-ft cylinder made of tin and filled with gun powder. It was lowered into the well on a wireline and detonated with an ordinary fuse or with an iron weight lowered into the well on another wireline. The Roberts' torpedo was used to clean out wells clogged with paraffin and sediments. The gunpoder was later replaced by liquid nitroglycerine. rock 1) an aggregate of mineral grains. The three types of rocks are igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. RK, Rk or rkl) a driller's term for any hard formation rock a well to bleed pressure from the casing or tubing of a dead well several times until the well flows rock bit see roller-cone bit. RB rock dissolving capacity the volume of rock dissolved by an acid rocker the counterweight on a shackle-rod line on a pump jack. The weight of the rocker returns the rod line back after a power stroke. The rocker is often a box filled with rocks attached to a fulcrum. rocker arm apparatus similar to a pitman that was used on some pumping units Rock Eval a licensed technique that generates a pyrogram for evaluating source rocks. A pulverized sample is heated in an inert atmosphere in a process called pyrolysis. The heating distills free organic compounds (bitmen) and then cracks pyrolytic products from insoluble organic matter (kerogen). A flame ionization detector is used for identification of peaks labeled SI, S2, and S3. Rock-Eval identifies the quantity and type of petroleum generating organic matter and the thermal maturity of the rocks. rock gypsum an evaporite salt mineral and rock that is composed of CaSO4. Rock gypsum is a colorless to white mineral with one cleavage. It has a specific gravity of 2.2-2.4 and is very soft with a hardness of 2. Rock gypsum is used as an additive to control alkalinity in drilling muds, (gypsum) Gyp or gyp rock hound a professional or amateur geologist rocking or rock a well 1) a method used to clean a well of sediments and drilling mud. The well is shut in for a period of time to allow gas pressure to build up and then is opened up. Gas, followed by oil, mud, and sediments rapidly flow out of the well and into the pits. The process can be repeated several times, (bleeding a well or periodic flowing) 2) to drain pressure from the tubing and then the casing of a well several times to start the well flowing. rocking beam see walking beam rocking-beam pumping unit see walking beam pumping unit Rocklandian a North American age of geological time that occurred about 458 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. rock pressure 1) see lithostatic pressure. RP or R.P.

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2) a loose term that can mean reservoir pressure, bottomhole pressure, or shut-in pressure rock salt a common name for a sedimentary rock composed of halite (NaCl). Halite is an evaporite mineral that is colorless to white and tastes salty. rock strength the maximum stress that a rock can sustain before failure. Types of rock strength include yield stress or strength and rupture or breaking strength. The type of stress can also be described as tensile, compressive, shear, and impact strength. Rock compressive strength is about 10 times greater than rock tensile strength. Ultimate strength is the greatest stress that a rock can support under a given condition. Rockwell hardness the resistance of a substance to penetration by a small-diameter point or '/i6 in.diameter ball. Rockwell hardness is related to the strength of the substance. Rc ROD rich-oil demethanizer rod 1) see sucker rod. rd 2) a pole with measured markings on it. A rod is used as a target in surveying. rod back-off wheel a device used to unscrew rods when pulling the rods from a well rod basket a steel platform with sides that is located near the top of a mast on a well service unit. The derrickman stands in the rod basket to place the sucker rods in the rod fingers that are attached to the rod basket as the rods are pulled from a well. rod board a platform located in the mast of a wellservice unit that is used to support sucker rods rod coupling an annealed or shot-peened steel cylinder with female threads used to couple the ends of two sucker rods with male threads. The rod couplings have slightly larger diameters than the sucker rods and are classified by the API as T, which are corrosion resistant, and S which are for heavy loading, (box) rod dope thread lubricant, (gunk or thread compound) rod-drawn pump a downhole pump used on a beam pumping unit. The four parts of the rod-drawn pump are a) working barrel, b) plunger, c) standing valve or intake, and d) traveling valve or exhaust. Three type of rod-drawn pumps are a) tubing, b) insert, and c) casing, (rod or sucker-rod pump) rod elevator a device that is used to raise and lower sucker rods in a well. One end is attached to a rod hook which is attached to a traveling block. The other end is placed around a rod and has a latch to keep the rod in. Inserts can be placed in the rod elevator to fit any diameter sucker rod. rod fingers finger-like bars of heavy metal that protrude from a rod basket or hanger that are used to hang sucker rods when they are pulled from a well by a well-service unit rod float or fell a condition on a sucker-rod pump when the pump is run at a faster rate that the suckerrod strink can sink in the well fluid on the downstroke. Rod float is most common with heavy oils and will cause a separation of the clamp and carrier bar. rod grease a grease that is applied to core barrels to prevent corrosion and as a lubricant rod guides devices made of plastic, rubber, or metal

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rod hanger ROF rod string a length of sucker rods (steel rods that are 25 or 30 ft long and Vi-lVfe in. in diameter) that are screwed together and form the connection between the walking beam on a surface pumping unit and the downhole pump in an oil well. The polished rod at the top of the rod string is connected with a bridal and carrier bar to the horsehead on the walking beam. rod stripper a device that is screwed on the tubing on the top of a well before the sucker rods are pulled. The rod stripper fits around the rods. As the rods are pulled, two rubber pieces scrape the paraffin, oil, and water off the rods. A rod stripper also prevents gas and fluids from blowing out of the well. rod sub a short section of sucker rod that is attached next to the downhole pumping unit and is used to give the rod string the proper length in a pumping oil well rod tap and die a metal tool in the shape of a cross with two different size dies and two different size taps on each end. A rod tap and die is used to straighten the threads on a rod pin or box. rod tongs wrenchlike devices that are hydraulically powered and are designed to connect and disconnect sucker rods from a well rod-transfer elevator a device that fits around the end of a sucker rod and is used by the derrickman to move the rod from the regular elevator to the rod hangers when rods are pulled from a well. The rod-transfer elevator hangs from a cable on the derrick and can be moved up and down by the derrickman with a foot pedal that activates an air cylinder. rod wax paraffin that has solidified out of crude oil onto a sucker-rod string

that keep the sucker-rod string centered in the tubing. Fluids flow up through slots or flutes in the guides. Rod guides are secured to sucker rods. rod hanger a rack with finger-like projections (rod fingers) on a mast that is used to hang the rods when they are pulled from a well rod hook a device that is used to raise and lower sucker rods in a well. The rod hook is attached below the traveling block in a mast and has a hand-operated latch on it to connect the rod elevator below it. rod-insert pump a type of sucker-rod pump that is run and pulled on a rod string and is relatively small with the barrel on the inside of the tubing rather than on the bottom. The rod insert pump consists of a barrel, plunger, traveling valve, and standing valve that is run in the well as a complete unit as compared to the tubing pump. The pump is held in place by seating cups, a seating housing, or hold-down anchors. The rod-insert pump is the most common type used and is relatively easy to service. It does not have the volume capacity of tubing and casing sucker-rod pumps. Types of rod insert pumps include a) a stationary insert pump with a stationary barrel and moving plunger with a top anchor or a bottom anchor and b) an inverted or traveling pump with a traveling barrel and a stationary plunger assembly with a bottom anchor. A rod-insert pump is in contrast to a tubing or casing pump, (insert or insert sucker-rod pump) rod job the lifting of sucker rods out of a well by a well-servicing unit. A rod job is done to repair or replace the rods when they have corroded or broken or to repair or replace the bottomhole pump, (pulling rods) rod line a line of jointed steel or wood rods (pull or shackle rods) that connects the eccentric on a central power unit to the surrounding pump jacks. The rod line is located 1-2 ft off the ground on metal posts with wooden guides that are greased, (shackle rod line or pull line) rod-line pump a downhole pump activated by a shackle-rod line from a central power unit rod man a person who positions and holds the stadia rod during surveying rod pump see sucker-rod pump. RP rod pump control see pump-off control rod reducing bushing or coupling a sucker rod coupling that is used to join sucker rods of two different sizes. The rod reducing coupling as two male threads. rod rotor a mechanism that is connected to the walking beam of a pumping unit by a rod or chain and rotates the sucker-rod string to distribute wear rod socket a fishing tool that is designed to catch small fish and is run on a wire line or rod string. A rod socket is similar to an overshot in that it goes around the fish. It has inclined rows of teeth oriented like threads on the inside to release the fish by rotation. A rod socket also has a shear-pin arrangement to disengage the slips, (socket) rod stretch the elongation of a sucker-rod string due to cyclic stress during the pumping cycle. Minimum and peak polished rod loads are measures of the stress range.

rod wrench

rod wrench a wrench with a hinged jaw that is designed to connect and disconnect sucker rods in a well roentgen a unit of gamma ray exposure. One roentgen exposure results from the generation of one electrostatic unit of charge per 1 cm3 of dry air at STP. ROF rich oil fractionator

R.O.G. rollover anticline R.O.G. rig on ground ROI return on investment R-OIL refined oil roily oil an oil/water emulsion ROL rig on location roll the sideways rocking of a ship on the ocean along the centerline of the ship roll along a field method for recording a commondepth-point stack during seismic exploration. A roll along is made by disconnecting an array of geophones from one end of a line of geophones farthest from the shotpoint, moving it to the end closest to the shot point and connecting it. The next shot point is then moved an equal distance from the shot line. roll-along stack a seismic exploration method in which the same subsurface reflector is recorded on numerous seismic profiles from different offset distances between source and detector. The traces are corrected for statics and normal moveout and then superimposed or stacked. The traces are summed algebraically into a single trace. Up to 180 traces can be used. Stacking eliminates random noise and reinforces weak reflectors. The number of seismic profiles stacked is identified with a number or percentage such as 24 stack or 2,400% stack which is called the multiplicity factor. A roll-along stack commonly uses 12, 24, or 48 traces, (common-depthpoint or horizontal stack) roll a tank to mix the crude oil in a storage tank by injecting air or gas into it roller bearing a bearing that is similar to a ball bearing except that it is a hardened steel cylinder in a cage. The roller bearing converts sliding friction into rolling friction and has more contact surface area than a ball bearing. roller chain a metal chain formed by connecting numerous, closely spaced (pitch) rollers connected by roller links joined by roller links joined by pin links through the rollers. The chain used on a bicycle is a roller chain. Power transmissions on a drilling rig most often use roller chains and sprockets. Roller chains are manufactured in one to eight or more strands and often have forced feed lubrication or use an oil bath. Roller chains are made under standards of the American National Standards Institute and are rated according to horsepower capacity. roller-cone bit a drilling bit made with three (tricone) or sometimes two or four rotating cones. Types of roller-cone bits include a) milled-steel teeth or tooth bits and b) tungsten-carbide insert or button bits. There are about 250 different models of roller bits. The most popular bits come in 10 or more diameters ranging 6-26 in. The three main components are a) the rolling cones, b) the bearing on which the cones rotate, and c) the body of the bit. The body is composed of legs that are welded together. The cone is mounted on bearings which rotate on a journal on the leg. The bearings are either antifriction or friction bearings and can be sealed or nonsealed. The sealed bearings use a grease, whereas the nonsealed bearings are lubricated by drilling mud. Bearings can have a roller-ball-friction (RBF), a rollerball-roller (RBR), or a friction-ball-friction (FBF) arrangement. As the cones rotate on bearings, case-

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hardened teeth or tungsten-carbide insets on the cones crush the rock to produce well cuttings. The first, conventional roller-cone bit had a mud course in the center of the bit. The drilling mud is now commonly pumped through the pin bore and jets through nozzles that are located between each cone. The cutting by a roller-cone bit is done by a) crushing, b) scraping, c) gouging, and d) hydraulic erosion. Roller bits are classified by the International Association of Drilling Contractors with a three-digit code such as 215 that indicates type of bearings, type of gauge protection, and the formations that it is designed to drill. The first digit (1 through 8) is divided into mill tooth and insert bits based on the hardness of the formations to be drilled. The second digit (1 through 4) is the subgroup based on the compressive strength of the formation to be drilled. The third digit (1 through 9) is the speciality group such as standard, air, or directional. The two-cone (bicone) bit is a milledtooth bit that is used for soft formations. The fourcone bit is a milled-tooth bit that is used for drilling very large holes, (rolling cutter or rock bit) roller reamer a reamer that has roller cutter on it. A three-point reamer has three roller cutter 120 apart. A six-point roller reamer has two rows of three roller cutters each that are 120 apart on each row and 60 apart from each other. The teeth can be sharp or flat or inserts can be used. A smooth cutter is used with a reamer-stabilizer. roller reamer effect a spiral groove that is cut on the low side of the borehole when running a reamer in the hole. The effect can not be compensated for on pad-type logging tools and can be seen on a caliper log. roller stabilizer a stabilizer that has rollers in contrast to blades rolling-cutter bit see roller-cone bit rolling the tank a method used to separate an emulsion. The tank is circulated with a small oiltransfer pump to mix chemicals and provide a longer retention time to separate the oil and water. roll line a pipe with perforations on the bottom that is used in a storage tank to prevent solids from accumulating on the bottom of the tank. Gas is pumped through the roll line to agitate the liquid and keep the solids in suspension. roll-off angle a measure of the tendency of a drill bit to spin off the face of a whipstock. Roll-off angle affects the azimuth but not the inclination of the deviation and is used to correct the whipstock orientation before the well is kicked off. rollover a reversal of dip in sedimentary rocks along a fault that is opposite in direction than would be caused by drag or friction along the fault plane. Rollover forms rollover anticlines on growth faults. (reverse drag or turnover) rollover anticline a broad fold formed on the basin (ocean) side of a growth fault by movement along a curved growth-fault plane. The rollover anticline axis is roughly parallel to the growth fault. The anticline is commonly cut by secondary faults, both antithetic and synthetic. Rollover anticlines form petroleum traps in river deltas and coastal plains.

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rollover contract rotary bit

rollover anticline rollover contract a natural gas sales contract that was entered into on or after November 9, 1978, the effective date of the Natural Gas Policy Act, for gas that was previously subject to a prior contract that expired at the end of a fixed term rollover fault see growth fault ROM read-only memory roof the contact of a salt layer and/or plug with the overlying rocks roof collapse the cave-in of the upper surface of the wellbore of a directional well. Roof collapse commonly occurs in fractured shale. roof rock see cap rock or seal room and pillar a type of cavernous pore found in reef rock. Room and pillar is formed by algal masses that grow vertically like pillars until they reach sea level. At sea level, the algal masses grow horizontally to enclose the rooms. rooster bullet an egg or dynamite charge root the bottom or trough of a thread rootless folding in sedimentary rock that does not involve the basement rock below it root-mean-square value the time-weighed root mean square of component interval velocities for normal moveout calculations. VRMS ROP rate of penetration rope 1) wire rope 2) see rope underflow 3) fiber or synthetic fiber rope rope choker a cable-tool driller rope chopper see rope knife rope discharge see rope underflow rope drilling see cable-tool drilling rope falls the block and tackle arrangement used in wireline operations in a well rope grab a pronged fishing tool that is used to fish rope or cable from a well, (rope spear) rope knife a cable-tool-rig fishing tool composed of a solid bar of metal with a sharp chisel edge on the bottom that is used to cut rope on a stuck tool in a well (rope chopper) rope socket a device that is designed to attach tools to a slick line, cable, or sand line on a drilling or workover rig. A rope socket is a hollow cylinder with a smaller inside diameter on one end than on the other. The cable or line is put through the smalldiameter end, and strands of wire are separated and

looped in the rope socket. Molten babbit similar to lead is poured in the large end until it flows out a weep hole and is then allowed to cool and solidify to hold the cable or line in the rope socket. The tool is then attached to the rope socket. The tool can swivel without twisting the cable, slick line, or sand line. rope spear a fishing tool composed of a solid metal bar with a barb on the bottom or with barbs along its length that is used to fish cable, (center or wicker spear) rope underflow a type of flow through the underflow of an overloaded hydrocyclone that is characterized by a slow, rope-like stream of fluid. (rope or rope discharge) rope worm a cable-tool-rig fishing tool that uses a solid metal, helical-shaped prong to retrieve broken rope. ROR 1) rate of return 2) rate of rise ROS residual oil saturation rose diagram a polar plot with the radial distance relative to the frequency of measurements made at that azimuth. Rose diagrams are used for dipmeter data. ROT rotary rot 1) rotary 2) rotate rotarie an early rotary drilling rig that used a steam engine with a locomotive-type boiler rotary beam an extra heavy steel beam with doublepinned flanges that is used near the front of a drilling rig substructure to support the rotary table rotary bit a drilling bit that is rotated on a driUstring on the bottom of a well to cut the well on a rotary drilling rig. A roller-cone or rock bit is commonly used. The roller-cone bit has cones that rotate on bearings that are either the milled teeth-steel tooth or insert-button bit type. The teeth or inserts crush the rock to produce well cuttings. The tricone bit is the most common, but roller-cone bits are also made

rotary bottomhole assembly rotary drilling rig

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rotary coring bit

with two or four cones. A drag bit has blades that cut the rock. Diamond bits use industrial diamonds impregnated on the cutting edge of the tungsten carbide body. A polycrystalline diamond compact (PCB) has synthetic diamonds and blanks that shear the rocks. All bits have a system such as watercourses and nozzles for circulating drilling fluids. rotary bottomhole assembly a bottomhole assembly on a drillstring that consists of stabilizers, collars, and other downhole tools used to build, hold, or drop angle on a deviated well. A packed-hole assembly is used to maintain the hole angle. A pendulum assembly is used to bring the hole back to vertical, and a fulcrum assembly is used to build angle. rotary bushing the rotary bushing is either a single piece of solid steel or two pieces that fit together. The rotary bushing is designed to fit onto the rotary table and transfer the rotation of the rotary table to the kelly bushing. The kelly bushing fits on the rotary bushing with either a) a pin drive where drive pins on the bottom of the kelly bushing fit into holes bored in the rotary bushing or b) a square drive where the kelly bushing fits into a square recess in the rotary bushing. The rotary bushing has a tapered seating for the slips that hold the drillstring. (master bushing) RB rotary crank the steel arm on each end of the crankshaft located on the speed reducer on the prime mover of a beam pumping unit. The rotary crank connects the crankshaft to the pitman with a crank pin. The rotary crank rotates and has a counterbalance on the end of it. (crank or crank arm) rotary counterbalance the weight on the end of a rotary crank on a crank counterbalanced beam pumping unit. The same end of the rotary crank is attached to the pitman which joins the walking beam. The rotary counterbalance is used to evenly distribute the load. rotary drilling a common method of drilling in which the drillstring (the pipe and bit in the hole) is rotated to cut the well. The drillstring is usually driven by a diesel or electric motor on the surface but can also be driven by a positive displacement or turbine motor on the bottom of the drillstring. Each 30 ft of drilling, a new joint of drillpipe is added in a process called making a connection. The tricone type of roller-cone bit is the most common bit used. Worn drill bits are changed by tripping out (removing the drillstring from the well), changing the bit and tripping in (replacing the drillstring in the well).

rotary drilling (rotary table, kelly bushing and kelly)

Circulating drilling fluid is used to remove the well cuttings, cool the bit, and stabilize the well. The drilling mud is usually pumped by mud pumps from mud tanks down the center of the drillstring and returns to the surface in the annulus between the drillstring and well walls. Rotary drilling for petroleum was first introduced in the early 1900s and has almost entirely replaced the older cable-tool drilling method.

dm.
rotary drilling rig 21

rotary drilling rig a drilling rig that rotates the drillstring in the well to cut the well. The four major systems on a rotary rig are the hoisting, rotating, circulating systems, and prime movers. The prime movers are diesel or diesel-electric engines that generate 100-500 hp each. One prime mover is used for small rigs, but two are common for most rigs. Very large rigs can have five or more prime movers. The hoisting system includes the steel tower called the mast or derrick and the drawworks on the drill floor. The drawworks contain the reel of drilling line which is made of braided steel cable. The drilling line goes up and through the crown block at the top of the mast or derrick and through the traveling block suspended in the mast or derrick. A hook below the traveling block is used to suspend the swivel, drillstring, and other equipment in the well. The drillstring is composed of a kelly (a joint of pipe that has four or six sides on it), numerous joints of drillpipe, larger diameter drill collars, subs, and a drill bit. The drillstring is turned by the rotary table, master bushing, and kelly bushing which fits around the kelly. The rotary table, master bushing, and kelly bushing are located on the drill floor. The circulating system consists of steel mud tanks next to the drilling rig

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rotary helper rotary table compressor, it is compressed until it is discharged from the outlet port. The compressors can be either oil flooded or dry. Rotary screw compressors are used for air compression, vapor recovery units, and refrigeration units. The rotary screw compressor has no pressure pulses, needs little maintenance, and is quiet compared to a reciprocal compressor, (helicallobe or spiral-lobe compressor)

and pumps. The drilling mud is usually pumped down the drillstring by mud pumps and returns up the annulus between the drillstring and well walls. Solids are removed from the drilling mud by the shale shaker, desander, and desilter. Blowout preventers, a series of closing elements arranged vertically, are mounted to the top of the well below the drill floor and are used to shut in the well. rotary helper see roughneck

rotary hose rotary shoe

rotary hose (off rotary drilling rig chart)

rotary hose a flexible, armored rubber hose that is commonly 4 in. in diameter and transmits the drilling mud from the standpipe to the gooseneck on the swivel of a drilling rig. The rotary hose ranges from 35-75 ft long and is commonly 50-60 ft long. The inner diameter is 2-3 Vi in. Some rotary hoses are made of steel pipes with swivel joints. API grades of rotary hoses vary by length and pressure rating, (kelly, flexible mud, or mud hose) rotary line see drilling line rotary meter a type of positive displacement meter used to measure fluid volumes. A rotary meter has either a lobed impeller which consists of two figure8 lobes at 90 or a rotating vane that consists of a rotating idler and rotating vanes or pistons to measure the volume of fluid flowing by the meter. rotary-percussion drill bit a rotary drilling bit that also imparts a high-frequency pounding action on the rocks. The rotary-percussion drill bit is activated by air, liquid, or high-frequency sound waves. rotary pump a positive-displacement pump that uses a rotating member, such as screws or two opposite rotating gears in a housing, to move small volumes of high or low-pressure liquid. Types of rotary pumps include a) external gear, b) internal gear, c) lobe, d) sliding vane, e) single screw, and f) two screws. Liquids containing abrasive materials will harm a rotary pump. rotary reamer a sub that is run on the drillstring just above the bit and is used to maintain or enlarge the diameter of the wellbore rotary rig see rotary drilling rig rotary screw compressor a type of compressor that uses two spiral- or helical-shaped rotor blades that rotate parallel to each other in a housing. The rounded end of one blade fits into the rounded groove of the other blade. When the inlet port is open, the discharged port is closed, and the gas enters and is trapped in the groove. As the gas passes along the

rotary shoe a fishing tool used to washover and to mill a fish. A rotary shoe consists of a short pipe with a/box end and a cutting surface on the other end. rotary slips a circular wedge-shaped device made of steel with teeth or other gripping devices that fits into the slip bowl of a rotary table. The rotary slips are designed to hold the string of drillpipe in the well when it is not suspended from the traveling block and hook or elevators. Rotary slips are made with three or more segments of cast iron honeycomb that are hinged to fit around the pipe. The outer diameter of the rotary slips has an inward angle of about 9V20. The inner surface has a set of jaws for biting the pipe. Rotary slips have handles for the roughnecks to move them. The gripping portion of the slips are replaceable and are called inserts, dies, or liners. Power slips are pneumatically or hydraulically activated. There are also slips for drill collars, casing, and tubing, (slips)

rotary table

rotary table a rotating steel-alloy platform that transfers motion to the kelly through the master and kelly bushing on a drilling rig. The rotary table sits on ball or tapered roller bearings in an oil bath on the drill floor and is supported by beams, posts, and braces. The rotary table is connected by chain drive to the compound on a mechanical rig or is driven by a separate DC motor on an electric rig. The speed

rotary tachometer royalty interest reduction between the pinion shaft and the rotary table is 3-4:1- The size of the rotary table is the diameter of the space through which the bit passes and is commonly 27Vi in. The top of the rotary table is a nonskid surface, (turntable) RT rotary tachometer an instrument with a dial located on the driller's console. The rotary tachometer shows the revolutions per minute of the rotary table. A common type uses an AC generator that is driven by the rotary table. rotary torque indicator an instrument with a dial located on the driller's console that measures and displays the torque on the drillstring. The rotary torque indicator is used to prevent twist-off. rotating blowout preventer see rotating kelly packer and rotating head rotating head 1) a type of rotary drive and sealing element used on top of the bell nipple of a blowoutpreventer stack that allows more pipe movement under lower service pressure (500-1000 psi) than an annular blowout preventer. The rotating head can be driven by a hydraulic motor that is directly attached to drive a small kelly. The rotating head is used in air and gas drilling and during other drilling operations such as reverse circulation. A rotating head allows the use of lighter drilling mud during controlled-pressure drilling and may contain a gas kick under pressure to prevent gas expansion. A rotating head is also used for light-duty cleanout of the well, (rotating blowout preventer) 2) see rotating kelly packer rotating horsehead see Chancellor rotating horsehead rotating hours or time the number of hours that a rig is actually drilling the well in contrast to other activities such as tripping in or out. (running time) rotating kelly packer a device that packs the annulus around the rotating kelly and diverts the air, gas, and cuttings to the blooey line on an air or gas drilling rig. (rotating head or blowout preventers) rotating release a method of rotating to the right to open the hydraulic circuit bypass and release slips that are holding a fish. A rotating release is in contrast to a straight pull release. rotational gas lift a gas-lift system in which the gas produced is compressed and injected into the gaslift well to create a continuous process without the need for gas from another source rotational inertia the sum of (masses times distance from a line squared), (moment of inertia) rotational viscometer an instrument that measures the viscosity of drilling mud by shearing the mud at a constant rate between an inner bob and an outer sleeve that rotates. The rotational viscometer has six standard speeds and a variable speed. Two speed (300 and 600 rpm) are most commonly used. The dial reading is calibrated to read apparent Newtonian viscosity in centipoises at the 300 rpm speed. rotation resistant rope a wire rope designed to resist torque. A rotation resistant rope has an inner strand wound in one direction overlain by an outer strand wound in the other direction. rotation speed the revolutions per minute (rpms) of an object such as the rotary table on a drilling rig

435

rotative gas lift a method of gas lift in which the produced solution gas is mixed with input gas, recompressed, and injected for further gas lift rotor 1) a shaft with blades or impellers 2) the revolving arms on an AC induction-type of electric motor rotor diameter the diameter of a circle defined by rotating rotor blades roughneck a junior member of a drilling crew, an assistant to the driller, who works on the floor of a drilling rig. The roughnecks set the slips, manipulate the tongs, latch and unlatch the elevators, and handle other equipment on the drill floor. Two to four roughnecks are commomly used on each tour. (floorman or rotary helper) rounded biosparite a limestone that has over twothirds sparry calcite compared to limestone mud (micrite) along with rounded and abraded allochems or larger particles round trip or roundtrip pulling out (tripping out) and then putting in (tripping in) drillstring or tubing in a well, (trip) rdtp roustabout 1) a general laborer on producing wells and well-service units. A head roustabout or gang pusher is responsible for the supervision and training of roustabout crews. 2) a general purpose drilling contractor employee on an offshore drilling rig. The roustabout works primarily in the drilling and marine departments. Roustabouts unload supplies from surface boats. 3) a general purpose laborer used with a drilling rig to maintain the area and unload supplies 4) a pipeliner roustabouting the activities of a roustabout routine test a test that is often run monthly on a well to measure the amount of oil, gas, and water being produced, (normal test) ROV remotely operated vehicle ROW right of way roxie a geologist roy royalty royalty a fractional share of the gross (free of costs) production revenues from a well or lease. A royalty takes preference over all other payments from lease revenue. Royalty could refer to either a) a specific money payment or b) the fraction, typically one-eighth, one-sixth, or one-fourth, that is used to determine the share of production monies. A royalty of \2XA% is common for a mineral rights owner. Different types of royalties include landowner's, nonparticipating, and overriding royalties, (royalty interest) roy royalty bidding a type of competitive bidding for leases in which the highest royalty share of production offered wins the lease royalty bonus an overriding royalty or oil payment for the lessor royalty deed a legal instrument that transfers a royalty interest from a grantor to a grantee royalty gauger a person employed by a royalty owner to measure the amount of oil and/or gas produced royalty interest see royalty. RI

436

royalty oil Rud


RT 1) rotary table 2) rotary tools 3) radio telephone R/T radio telephone R, true formation resistivity r(t) correlation function RT&R ran tubing and rods RID resistance-temperature or thermal detector R test rotary test RTG running tubing rtg rating rthy earthy RTJ ring-type joint RTL radioactive tracer log RTLTM rate too low to measure rtnr retainer RTR running tubing and rods RTRS radioactive tracer survey RTST retrievable test RTT radio teletype RTTS retrievable test treater squeeze RU 1) rigging up 2) rotary unit R.U. rigging up rub rubber rubber rock a gas-bearing formation that causes drilling tools to bounce off the bottom of the well

royalty oil oil that is owned by local, state, or federal governments royalty pool an area in which the royalty owners have pooled their royalties (royalty trust) and from which they all share production royalties royalty trust a business arrangement in which owners of oil and gas royalties and overriding royalty interests transfer the royalty deeds to a trustee to form a royalty pool in return for participation certificates in the trust. The trustee then makes periodic payments of collected monies to the owners of the participation certificates. RP 1) rock pressure 2) recommended practice 3) rod pump R.P. rock pressure Rp cumulative gas/oil ratio R/P reserves-to-production RPCP resistivity/porosity crossplot Rpl ripple RP1A replaced RPM, R.P.M., or rpm revolutions per minute r p m n repair man RpN pulsed neutron ratio RPS response RPS or rps revolutions per second RPTS reports RR railroad RRA reserve recognition accounting RR&T running rods and tubing RRC 1) (Texas) Railroad Commission 2) ratcheting recloseable circulating RREL rig released Rrf- recovered-fluid resistivity RRXP 1) running rods and pump 2) ran rods and pump RS rig skidded Rg 1) resistivity of shale 2) current or producing gas/ oil ratio 3) dissolved or solution gas/oil ratio 4) amplitude ratio rs 1) radius of well damage 2) radius of stimulation R,b solution gas/oil ratio at bubblepoint RSH or R-SH mercaptan Rjh shale resistivity R,, initial solution gas/oil ratio RSMD resumed RSN short normal resistivity rsns resinous RgP separator producing gas/oil ratio R-S-R' sulfide R-S-S-R' disulfide Rgj stock-tank producing gas/oil ratio RSTR rig safety and training representative RSU released swab unit R^, 1) gas solution solubility in water 2) solution gas/ water ratio

rubber sleeve stabilizer

rubber sleeve core bit a core bit that has a rubber sleeve in the bit to receive the core to prevent contamination by drilling mud. A better sample of the formation fluids can be obtained by using this method. rubber sleeve stabilize a stabilizer with replaceable rubble sleeves RUCT rigging up cable tools Rud rudist

rudist

rudist run ticket rudist a type of mollusk that was bivalve (two shells) but the two shells were not the same shape. Rudists usually grew attached to the sea bottom and were very similar in appearance to corals. Rudists existed in the Cretaceous period when they were important reef builders. Rud rudites sediments with a grain size greater than 2 mm. Rudites include blocks with a diameter greater than 20 cm, pebbles 2-20 cm, and gravels 2 mm-2 cm. Rudites are in contrast to arenites and pelites.
(psephite)

437

rudstone a limestone that has the composition of a packstone with greater than 10% of the allochemical grains larger larger than 2 mm rug rugose

rugose coral

rugose corals a type of coral that belongs to the order Rugosa. Rugose corals were cone-shaped or cylindrical and existed from the Ordovician period through the Permian period, (tetracoral) rug rugosity irregularities or roughness rule against perpetuities a regulation that an interest in property must vest no later than 21 years after the life in existence during the time the interest is created rule of capture a legal concept that resources such as oil and gas belongs to whoever produces it regardless of where it originated. The concept means that oil and gas can be drained across property lines. The rule-of-capture concept led to drilling and lease wars in the late 1800s and early 1900s as operators were forced to produce as much oil and gas as rapidly as possible before it was drained by adjacent leaseholds. Prorationing has eliminated the wasteful production that was encouraged by the rule of capture. RUM rigging-up machine run 1) the length of the temper screw on a cabletool rig 2) the vertical distance that a cable-tool rig can drill before the tools are pulled to sharpen the bit and sand pump the well 3) the amount of crude oil sold and transferred to a pipeline or tank truck 4) the transfer of crude oil from the stock tanks to a pipeline or tank truck 5) to put tools or tubulars in a well. A run is in contrast to pulling. runabout a platform located near the top that encircles a derrick or mast, (run around) run a rabbit to test tubulars for roundness run around see runabout run a screw to let the temper screw of a cable-tool drilling rig all the way out

run a tank to deliver crude oil from a stock tank to a pipeline run casing 1) to lower a string of casing in a well 2) to lower a string of casing in a well, cement it, and test the cement job run down tank a temporary storage vessel that receives products from processing equipment run from water to complete or workover a well to exclude water production run in lowering the drillstring into the well, (tripping in) run line to measure the depth of a well using the measuring line runner the driven element in a hydraulic coupling. running back raising the drillstring from the well. (tripping out) running nipple a brass pipe fitting that is screwed onto the top of pipe or tubing as rods are being put back in the well. A running nipple is made of brass so it will not spark and ignite gas. running rope a wire rope that is used with sheaves and/or a drum running sample a method used to sample crude oil from a stock tank. The thief is uncorked and lowered from the top of the oil to the bottom. The container is then raised at a uniform rate. A running sample is in contrast to a spot sample. running speed the rate in which a casing string is run in a well. The running speed should not be too fast and cause a pressure surge that can break down weak formations in the well. running the tools to lower the drillstring into the well for drilling running time the number of hours that a rig is actually drilling the well in contrast to other activities such as tripping in or out. (rotating hours or time) running tools tools that are used to lower and install equipment in a well run on oil to limit the flow of crude oil by using a choke run out of hole to reduce the diameter of a well with depth until it is too small for practical drilling run sheet a list of all instruments of record in chronological order according to file date concerning the title to land. A run sheet is made by a landman for an examining attorney. run statement a statement made by an oil or gas purchaser to each interest owner specifying the amount of oil or gas taken, the time taken, and the distribution of payments run the bottle to use an acid bottle inclinometer to measure the inclination of a well run ticket a record of the amount of oil transferred to a pipeline or tank truck from a stock tank. The run ticket includes the gravity, temperature, and bottom sediment and water content of the oil along with the time of delivery. The ticket is made in triplicate by the gauger and witnessed by the pumper with a copy going to the purchaser. The run ticket is the legal instrument by which the operator is paid, (gauge or gage ticket)

438

RUP

RYOL RUST or R.U.S.T. rigging up standard tools RUT rigging up tools RVF reservoir volume factor RVP reid vapor pressure rvs reverse R/W right of way R^ formation-water resistivity r w wellbore radius R wa 1) effective wellbore radius 2) apparent formation-water resistivity. R^ log a log computed from fluid resistivity and porosity from an induction log and either a sonic or density log. (formation-analysis log) RHB bound-water resistivity R^ equivalent formation-water resistivity R ^ P free-water resistivity rwk rework rwkd reworked RWP replaceable wear pad RWTP returned well to production R^o resistivity of flushed zone Ry railway RYOL rhyolite

RUP rigging up pump Rupelian a global age of geological time that occurred about 38-33 m. y. ago. It is part of the Oligocene epoch. rupt rupture rupture disk a thin plug on a pressure line or vessel that is designed to break at a specific minimum pressure. A rupture disk is used as a safety plug. The rupture disk on a separator is a thin concave metal disk located at the top of the separator. The pressure at which the disk will rupture depends on the thickness and diameter of the disk. rupture pressure the minimum pressure that causes fluids to flow out of the wellbore and into the subsurface formation during a leak-off or pressure test. The test is made by closing the annulus of a well and slowly pumping drilling fluid down the well. The pressure will build up until the rupture pressure is reached and then it will level off as the fluid flows out into the formation, (leakoffpressure) rupture strength the minimum stress that will break a substance under atmospheric pressure and room temperature (breaking strength) RUR or R.U.R. rigging up rotary RURT rigging up rotary tools RUSR rigging up service rig

S safety valve

439

s
S I ) south 2) saturation 3) shear wave 4) square 5) sulfur content 6) surface area 7) salite s 1) skin effect 2) skin 3) solid 4) solution 5) specific 6) segregation 7) stabilization 8) swept region 9) surrounding formation 10) second S. sand S/ 1) swabbed 2) swabbing SA south addition Sa or sa salt sabkha see sebkha sa-c salt cast Sacc or sacc saccharoidal saccharoidal a fine-grained, granular, or crystalline texture in sedimentary rocks that is similar in appearance to sugar. The texture is often formed in calcitic dolomite. Sacc or sacc sack the container for dry cement (94 lb), bentonite (100 lb), barite (100 lb), and other dry supplies. SX,
Sx, sx, or sk

safety bolt a bolt that has a pin through it so that it cannot become unscrewed. The bolt is made of harder steel than usual and is called an 8-hard bolt. A safety bolt is often used where regular adjustments must be made in height and length and is found on a stiff or rig-floor hinge. safety catheads see automatic catheads safety clamp a holding device of several designs that prevents dropping of drill collars or pipe into the well when making up or breaking out the drillstring. Safety clamps are used as an extra precaution when drill collars are being held by slips. safety drilling the drilling of a small hole about half way through the metal on the outside of a pipe bend The bend is where erosion and corrosion will be concentrated in the pipe. A small leak will warn that the metal is eroding and/or corroding away. safety factor the ratio of the minimum load causing failure in a structure to the maximum permissible working load or the ultimate stress to the allowable stress. The safety factor is usually expressed as a decimal. The safety factor for casing is 1.125 for collapse strength, 1.80 for joint strength, 1.25 for plainend yield stress and 1.00 for internal yield pressure. The safety factor of wire rope is the nominal catalogbreaking strength of the wire rope divided by the calculated total static load on the wire rope, (design
factor) SF

sack room a storage room near the mud pumps on a drilling rig that contains dry drilling mud and additives sacrificial anode a metal plate, usually zinc, magnesium, or aluminum, that is used as part of a cathodic protection system to inhibit the electrochemical corrosion of a large offshore structure such as an offshore platform. The sacrificial anode is corroded instead of the structure. saddle 1) a patch that is clamped or cemented onto the outside of a pipe to stop a leak or provide a tap 2) a depression in sedimentary rocks between two antiforms or convex-upward folds saddle bearing a wide, heavy bearing upon which the walking beam pivots on the Samson post of a pumping unit or cable-tool rig saddle damp a curved, metal plate that is designed to fit over and attach to a pipe to temporarily repair a leak in the pipe, (leak-repair clamp) saddle reef an anticline SAE Society of Automotive Engineers saf safety safety belt a strong belt that is worn by a crew member going up the derrick. A tail rope is attached to a D-ring on the safety belt and to the railing. The safety belt is designed to prevent the crew member from falling off the derrick.

safety hook a hook with a latch that prevents accidental slippage of a load off the hook safety joint 1) a special sub that is used on a fishing string. The safety joint has right-handed threads that can be disengaged by left-hand rotation to release the fishing tools below it that are attached to a fish that cannot be retrieved. Many fishing tools have builtin safety joints. 2) a threaded connection with coarse threads that unscrews before other connections. A safety joint is run above the core barrel and is attached to the inner barrel land bearing assembly. The safety joint allows the core and core barrel to be taken out of the hole if the outer core barrel becomes stuck. safety shut-off valve a full-opening, ball-type valve that has a left-handed connection to attach to the bottom of the swivel sub. The valve shuts off flow on the inside of the rotating equipment and is used only when the well is blowing out. safety slide a device that is used by a crew member to escape from the monkey or tubing board near the top of the derrick on a drilling or workover rig. The safety slide consists of a wheel that is used to slide down a cable attached to the rod basket or tubing board on the derrick and a stake or some other secure fastening on the ground away from the rig. The slide is equipped with a brake and brake handle. (Geronimo or derrick climber) safety valve 1) a valve that is designed to open when the pressure on a liquid or gas reaches a preset level.

440

safety zone salt dome of a base with an acid. The hydrogen ion of the acid is replaced by a metal or metallic radical. An example of a salt is NaCl. 2) sodium chloride 3) an evaporative, sedimentary rock layer composed of the mineral halite. The salt layer is white in color, soft, and dissolves in water. Salt has a matrix density of 2.032 gm/cc, a matrix velocity of 15,000 ft/sec, and an interval transit time of 66.7 jtsec/ft. Sa or sa salt anticline a broad, elongated salt structure that is not diapiric. A salt anticline is symmetrical in cross section with a planar base and arched roof that is concordant with the overlying sedimentary rocks. An asymmetrical salt anticline is called a salt roller, (salt ridge or wave)

The safety valve is used to prevent excessive pressure buildup, (pop-off, pressure-release, pressure-relief, or relief valve) 2) a valve that can be quickly attached to a pipe to stop flow from a well 3) a surface or subsurface valve that automatically shuts in a well in the event of failure or damage. The tubing or wirelineretrievable, surface-controlled subsurface safety valve (SCSSV) reacts in response to a manual or automatic signal from a surface source. The subsurfacecontrolled, subsurface safety valve (SSCSV) is pressure operated. safety zone an area out to 500 m from an offshore platform where ships without consent are not permitted SAFR sand-acid frac sagging a bowing of a ship's hull with the center of the hull being lower than the bow and stern due to a heavy load. Sagging is in contrast to hogging. sail angle the maximum deviation angle in a directional well Sakmarian a global age of geological time that occurred about 285-275 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Permian epoch. SAL or sal salinity sale for resale the purchase of gas from a producer by a pipeline, gatherer or independent marketer for resale to a local distribution company (LDC) or ultimate consumer. Sale for resale is in contrast to a direct sale. sales outlet the drain located near the base of a stock tank that is used to remove crude oil. (oil sales outlet or oil outlet) sales-quality gas gas that meets the specifications of a gas pipeline purchase contract. Sales-quality gas is dry enough that liquid hydrocarbons will not condense out in the pipeline and does not contain corrosive gases or excessive moisture that can form hydrates. Sales-quality gas also has a minimum BTU content that is usually 900-1,050 Btu/ft3 and a high enough pressure from the well to match pipeline pressure, which is usually 700-1,000 psi. A typical gas pipeline purchase contract might specify a maximum of 4-7 lb/MMscf of water, lA grain/100 SCF of hydrogen sulfide, 15F hydrocarbon dew point at 800 psig, 0.2 grain/100 SCF mercaptans, 1-5 grains/ 100 SCF total sulfur content, 1-3 mole percent of carbon dioxide, 0-0.4 mole percent of oxygen, a minimum of 950 Btu/SCF, be commercially free of solids, have a maximum delivery temperature of 120F, and minimum delivery pressure of 700 psig. (pipeline or pipeline-quality gas) saline mud see salt water-base drilling mud salinity the total weight of dissolved salts in a solution. Salinity is often expressed in parts per thousand (%o or ppt), parts per million (ppm), or milligrams per liter (mg/1). Seawater has about 35 ppt salinity, and fresh water has less than 2 ppt. Sal or sal SALM single anchor leg mooring SALS single anchor leg storage salt 1) a solid compound formed with ion bonding that is made of a cation other than H+ and an anion other than OH"'or O"1. Salt is formed by the reaction

SALTATION

FINE SAND

saltation

saltation the movement of sand grains by wind. The fine sand grains hop or bounce along a surface. Saltation is a common process of fine sand erosion in the desert. salt bubble a large detached mass of salt in the shape of a teardrop that is or has been rising through sedimentary rocks
CAP
DOME-FLANK

salt dome

salt dome a general term that is applied to a salt plug or stock and the overlying and surrounding strata that are affected by it. The salt plug, because of differential loading of the mother salt layer and because the salt is less dense than the surrounding sediments, has risen upward from a deeply buried layer of salt (mother salt) through the overlying sediments. The salt flowage is aided by the high temperatures of the halite. The salt is usually composed predominately of halite, which is highly soluble. As the halite dissolves from the top of the rising salt dome, insolubles in the salt are concentrated to form the cap rock on top of the salt dome. Numerous potential petroleum traps are formed by the salt dome structure. These traps are located in the domed sediments over the rising salt dome, in the cap rock, and in uplifted and pierced sediments along the flanks

442

sample mark sand content


SAMPLE LOG
GEO. a. CM.
D T S~~ /O-'37 AE

OPERATOR J.A.&miJh
FARM

M>. //} ^Jonos.

SEC. 2 ?.6Ai tmnJ2__


LOC. $w SW s e COUNTY ^J/Tfi DEPTH LITHO. friarSTATE / ^ / ^ DESCRIPTION

50

100

Samson post (three beams)


50 jT.V|.ii.r. i
200

iAa*s. U i + . -2/c.

11
. _** %i

50

300
/ / ,

a U I 1 AI \ i i 50

-^. .

sample log

are too fine to be used for logging. A sample log will include information such as rock type, color, luster, fossil content, amount and type of porosity, oil and gas shows, and other rock properties. The sample log can cover the entire well section or only an important section of the well, (lithologic log) SPLL sample mark a mark put on the kelly of a drilling rig which indicates well cuttings are to be sampled when the kelly is drilled down to that mark sample mud a drilling mud that has the ability to carry well cuttings to the surface that cab be for making a sample log samples well cuttings, samp sample taker a sidewall coring tool sampling frequency the inverse of the sampling interval. Sampling frequency is reported in Hertz (Hz). sampling interval the time or distance between observations. The sampling interval in the conversion of analog to digital signals in seismic exploration is the time interval between incoming signal measurements. Sampling interval is reported in milliseconds (ms). The inverse of sampling interval is sampling frequency and one-half of the sampling frequency is the Nyquist frequency. Samson or Samson post 1) the steel beam assembly on which the walking beam on a pumping well rests and pivots. A center bearing (saddle bearing) or Samson-post bearing assembly connects the walking beam to the Samson post. The Samson post is made of three or four legs of rolled steel on a conventional pumping unit and two legs on an air-balanced or Mark II pumping unit. (fack-V) 2) the wooden beam on which the walking beam on a cable-tool rig rests

and pivots. Samson post is named after Samson, the judge and strongman of the Bible. Samson post bearing assembly the bearing assembly that connects the two legs of the Samson post on an air-balanced or Mark II pumping unit to the walking beam sand 1) a clastic particle between 2 mm and >/i6 mm in diameter, (sand-size) S., SD, Sd, or sd 2) particle size greater than 74 JJI 3) a driller's term for sandstone 4) a driller's term for any reservoir rock sand arch a bridge of unconsolidated sand outside an orifice or perforation in a well. The sand cohesion is from the wetting phase. A sand arch can inhibit fluid flow, (arch) sand bailer a wireline device that is used to remove debris from tubing or casing. Two types of sand bailers are pump, the most common, and hydrostatic. The sand bailer is also used as a bottomhole sampler. sand bin the container that holds the proppants for hydraulic fracturing sandblasting the reconditioning of worn tools and bits by jetting silicon carbide powder on the cutting surfaces to abrade some of the matrix away and let the diamond cutting edges protrude sand bridge a plug formed by loose sand in the casing or tubing of a well. A sand bridge obstructs the flow of oil and gas up the well. sand bucket a bailer used to remove well cuttings from a cable-tool well s and c suspended and capable sand cleanout a method used to clear loose sand out of the bottom of a producing well. If a macaroni rig is used, the production tubing and packer can be left in the hole. One-inch diameter tubing is run and salt water is used to flush out the sand. If a macaroni rig is not used, the production tubing and packer are pulled from the well. The tubing is then run back in the well, and the sand is cleared out using reverse circulation. If the sand is solidly packed, the tubing is cut and a washover assembly is run. sand consolidation engineering techniques used to cause unconsolidated or loose sand in a producing formation to adhere to itself around the wellbore. Resins are often injected into the sand. sand content 1) the percent bulk volume of insoluble abrasive solids in drilling mud that are caught on a 200-mesh screen. Sand content is usually reported as percent bulk volume of sand in the mud.

sand control sand pump 2) the percent by weight or pounds per sack of cement of sand blended with dry cement sand control methods for preventing and dealing with loose, unconsolidated sands that drift or wash into the bottom of the well or into the downhole pumping equipment during petroleum production. A gravel pack and chemical consolidation are examples of sand control. sand count 1) the total thickness of a permeable layer without impermeable zones. The sand count is often made from spontaneous potential and micrologs. 2) the total number of permeable sandstone layers separated by impermeable zones sand drain a hole covered with a sand pan or trough in a horizontal three-phase separator. High-pressure water jets flush solids out of the separator through the sand drains when they are opened. sanded up a well that has been clogged by loose sand that flowed or washed into the well with the formation fluids from the producing formation sand-exclusion completion a type of cased-well completion used for relatively unconsolidated producing formations. The sand-exclusion completion can use either a slotted or screened liner that is run in the well on tubing and hung with a liner hanger, or it can be a gravel-packed hole that has well-sorted gravel pack out to 4-5 gravel diameters around a slotted or screened liner. S&F swab and flow sandface the cylindrical wellbore wall at the level of the producing reservoir sand fill the unconsolidated sand that has built up on the bottom of a well with a sand control problem SandCrac hydraulic fracturing, sdfract sand-grain volume the volume of solid mineral matter in a rock. The sand-grain volume plus the pore volume equals 100%. GV sanding the flow of sand into the bottom of a well from a relatively unconsolidated sand reservoir. A service unit with a sand pump can remove the sand. Gravel packing, slotted or screen liners, or resins can be used when the well is completed to prevent sanding. sand jet a high-pressure pipe or nozzle on the bottom of a vessel that is used to wash the sides and bottom of the vessel to remove sediments, (water jet) sand jetting a well-stimulation technique that uses a high-velocity jet of sand suspended in a fluid to clean the face of a formation to alleviate formation or skin damage and to remove scale sand line 1) a cable used on a cable-tool rig to lower and raise the sand pump, bailer, swab, logging equipment, and other light-weight equipment in the well. The sand line is run through the crown block (bailing line) 2) hoisting equipment used for light loads on a rotary drilling rig that is separate from the drawworks hoisting system. The sand line is wound around the sand reel and passes through a single sheave on the traveling block and is used for small tools. The sand line is usually 7/i6 to Vs in. in diameter, made of 6 x 7 plow steel cable and is thousands of feet long. 3) a 9/i6 or 5/s in. wire rope that is several thousand feet long and is used with a swab or bailer on a sand line or swabbing unit (swab or swabbing

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line) 4) a vertical line drawn on the spontaneous potential (SP) curve on a well log where clean sands give the maximum deflection to the left in track one. The sand line is in contrast to the shale line. sand line cutter a fishing tool that consists of a cylinder that can be run inside 2-in. tubing to drop around the sand line. A weight drop activates a small propellant charge that causes a knife to cut the line. Some sand line cutters have a fishing neck. sand line unit a truck-mounted service unit that is used to swab a well. The unit has a drawworks with braided wire rope that ranges from %& to 5/s of an in. in diameter. The sand line unit is used to lower and raise a swab cup tool in a well to lift out the fluids filling the well. Flags on the swab line are used to record depth. The unit is used to swab out drilling mud to bring a well in. It is also used to measure the depth of sand fill in a well and to run a sand bailer or impression block, (swab line unit) S&O stain and odor Sandoil a hydraulic frac job using oil as the frac fluid. The oil is either low filter-loss lease crude or refined oil with a higher viscosity with a fluid loss additive. sandout the stoppage of the propellents during hydraulic fracturing in a well. Sandout is caused by proppant bridging, clogging of perforation, or a decrease infracture width, (screen out) s&p salt and pepper sand pump 1) a cylinder with a plunger-and-valve apparatus that is run on a sand line and used to remove well cuttings from the bottom of a cable-tool well. (shellpump or sludger) 2) a bailer that is run on a wireline and is designed to remove fluids and sand from a rotary rig well. A sand Dumo has a check valve on the bottom with a piston just above the valve that is connected to a rod going up the center of the bailer. Lifting of the piston draws sand and fluid into the bailer.

sand reel sand reel (off cable tool drilling rig chart)

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sand reel satellite well sand strength analysis a computed log that predicts the drawdown pressure that will cause sanding to occur in a well. sands up the process of loose sand clogging the casing or tubing of a well by forming a sand bridge sand-thickness map an isolith map that uses contours to show the thickness of sandstone within an interval such as a formation. sand trap a small, sloping section of the first mud tank adjacent to the shale shaker. The sand trap is used to catch by gravity settling some of the larger well cuttings that escaped from the shale shaker and has dumping valves. sand transport an over-the-road storage unit that is truck-mounted and used to transport proppants to the site of a hydraulic frac job on a well S&W sediment and water sand wave 1) a sand ridge, often with a slip face, that is formed in relatively deep water by strong currents. There are often several parallel sand waves oriented transverse to the current and having wavelengths on the order of feet to hundreds of feet, amplitudes in feet, and lengths in miles. Sand waves can form on larger sand ridges. 2) a general term for any ridge of sand, from ripple to dune size, deposited transverse to currents in water, usually in stream beds, (sand ridge) sand well a well that produces crude oil from a sandstone reservoir sandy a sedimentary rock that contains some sandstone, (arenaceous) SDY or say

sand reel the drum on a cable-tool rig around which the sand line is wound to raise and lower the bailer in the well. The sand reel is operated by friction from the band wheel. sand ridge 1) an elongate deposit of sand deposited by strong currents in relatively deep water. There are often several sand ridges oriented parallel to the currents with wavelengths in the order of tens of feet to miles, amplitudes in feet, and lengths in miles. 2) a general term for any low and elongate ridge of loose sand deposited parallel to a shoreline (either submerged or emergent). Two examples of sand ridges are barrier beaches and longshore bars, (sand wave) sands a driller's term for sandstone

SAND / SHALE MAP

sand/shale ratio map sand/shale ratio the ratio of the thickness of sandstone (and conglomerate) to the thickness of shale in a stratigraphic unit such as a formation. sand sheet 1) a thin sheet of coarse sands and/or larger particles that were left as a lag deposit by wind erosion. 2) a large, flat area without dune shapes. A sand sheet is composed of wind-blown sand deposited marginal to a dune complex. sand-size see sand sand smeller a geologist sandstone a clastic, sedimentary rock composed primarily of sand-sized particles. Sandstone can be good reservoir rock. The original porosity of a sandstone depends primarily on sorting. Sandstones are usually classified depending on their maturity, the amount of weathering and erosion shown by the mineral grains. Various types of sandstones include quartz sandstone or orthoquartzite, arkose, subarkose, subgraywacke, and graywacke. Sandstones can also be classified as quartz arenite, subarkose, sublitharenite, arkose, lithic arkose, feldspathic litharenite, and litharenite. Sandstone has a matrix density of 2.648 gm/cc, a matrix velocity of 18,00019,500 ft/sec, and an interval transit time of 55.5-51.0 (isec/ft. About one-fourth of the world's sedimentary rocks are sandstones. 55, 5s, ss, or sd sandstone dike or dyke a tabular body of sandstone that cuts through a rock layer. The sandstone is injected into an open fracture in the rock layer as liquified sand from an underlying, overpressured sand layer.

Santonian a global age of geological time that occurred about 85-80 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Cretaceous epoch. sap soon as possible SAPP sodium acid pyrophosphate sapropel high-lipid organic material composed usually of spores and planktonic algae. Sapropel often forms an ooze that macerates and putrefies in an anaerobic environment or in mud deposited on the bottom of a lake or ocean. Sapropel can be a source for petroleum. The word sapropel is Greek for rotten. SARABAND a computed log using statistical frequencies and crossplots for clean and shaly sandstone evaluation. The log is used for determining a) formation characteristics, b) hydrocarbon content, c) porosity, and d) bulk volume. The log uses resistivity, density, neutron, sonic, microresistivity, spontaneous potential, gamma ray, and caliper logs. SAS subsea atmospheric system SAT 1) saturate 2) saturated 3) saturation 4) signal attenuation tool SAT seismic acquisition tool Sat or sat 1) saturated 2) saturation sat saturate satellite well a subsea well drilled in an offshore field by a jackup rig, semisubmersible, or drillship and connected to a production platform by a subsea produaion platform. A satellite well is not drilled from the platform.

satellite well production system Saybolt colorimeter satellite well production system a subsea production system in which produced fluids from several wells flow through flowlines to a gathering manifold and then up to floating facilities. SPS saturated a solution that is not able to dissolve any more solute. Sat or sat saturated bond a single bond between two carbon atoms in a molecule. Butane (C4Hi0) is an example of a hydrocarbon with saturated bonds. An unsaturated bond has two or more bonds. saturated core a core sample containing crude oil saturated gas natural gas that contains water, (wet gas) saturated hydrocarbon a hydrocarbon that contains no double bonds in contrast to an unsaturated hydrocarbon. No more hydrogen atoms can be included in the saturated molecule. Hydrocarbon molecules of the paraffin or normal alkane or the naphthene or cycloparaffin series are saturated. Butane (C4H]0) is an example of a saturated hydrocarbon. saturated oil crude oil that has dissolved all the natural gas that it can hold under that temperature and pressure. The amount of gas that can be dissolved will increase with increasing pressure and decreasing temperature.
sand grain

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50% Water I 50% Oil

saturation

ffiff

saturated pool

saturated pool a petroleum trap that has a free gas cap above the oil. The oil has dissolved all the natural gas (solution gas) that it can hold under reservoir temperature and pressure and is saturated. A saturated pool is in contrast to an undersaturated pool. saturated solution a solution that has dissolved all the solute that it can hold at that temperature and pressure. saturation 1) the volume percentage of different fluids (water, gas, and oil) in the pore space of the rock. The various saturations add up to 100%. For example, an oil reservoir could have a saturation of 80% oil and 20% water. The fluids can occur as a) funicular, b) pendular, and c) insular saturation. Saturation can be measured from a sample such as a core by a) vacuum distillation or b) distillationextraction. In the vacuum distillation method, the samples are heated in an evacuated chamber and the vapors are condensed and measured. In the distillation-extraction method, the water is distilled from the sample and condensed, whereas the crude oil is removed by solvent extraction. Saturation is measured from resistivity on an electric log by using

the Archie equation. SAT, Sat, sat, or S 2) the amount of gas dissolved in a liquid 3) the amount of salts dissolved in a liquid such as water. Saturation is usually reported in parts per thousand or million, (ppt or ppm). saturation diving a deep diving technique used in water depths below 300 ft. The diver breathes compressed heliox (helium and oxygen) and can work down to 1,000 ft. Decompression time is need when the diver returns to the surface. saturation exponent an empirical number that is used in the Archie formula for well-log evaluation. The saturation exponent is related to the effect of the insulating fluid on the shape and continuity of the conducting fluid in the pores of the rock. The exponent is constant for a formation and ranges from 1.8 to 2.5, but is commonly 2.0. n saturation factor the volume fraction, expressed as a decimal, of the pore space that is occupied by oil saturation method see volumetric method saturation pressure the maximum pressure at which solution-gas first bubbles from crude oil. (bubblepoint pressure) saturation retort equipment used to determine the relative volume of different fluids filling the pores of a rock. A saturation retort consists of an insulated oven, a water-filled condenser jacket, and a container. The sample is heated to l,200F to extract the fluids which are then condensed and measured. "Approximate actual" amounts of each fluid are then read from a table. sausage discharge the intermittent expulsion of solid through the underflow opening of a hydrocyclone. Sausage discharge looks like sausage links and is caused by overloading, (rope discharge) sausage powder a long plastic tube of low-velocity explosives that is used for a directional charge during seismic exploration saving clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that will maintain the lease if production is ceased for a certain time such as 30, 60, or 90 days SAW submerged arc welding sawtooth SP a pattern of spontaneous potential (SP) deflections on an electric or induction well log that is similar to the teeth on a saw. Sawtooth SP is caused by very permeable saltwater sands with shaly stringers that have been invaded by freshwater mud filtrate. Saybolt colorimeter an instrument that is used to determine the color of crude oil

salted well sample log of the salt dome. Nondiapiric types of salt domes include salt anticlines, salt rollers, and salt pillows. Diapiric types include salt stocks or plugs, salt walls, salt massifs, and salt glaciers. Salt domes can be classified by their depths. The top of a piercement dome occurs from the surface to 2,000 ft, an intermediate dome of 2,000-6,000 ft, and a deep dome occurs below 6,000 ft. A young salt dome is an anticline or dome with a salt core and relatively little deformation. A mature salt dome has a vertical-sided stock with a cap along its sides, along with faults in the adjacent sediments. There is often a well-defined rim syncline along the margins of the salt dome. salted well a nonproductive well into which crude oil has been poured to defraud investors salt gel attapulgite drilling mud salt glacier an extrusive sheet of salt on the surface. (namakier) salting a well to put crude oil in an unproductive well in order to defraud an investor salt limit the maximum amount of salt in crude oil allowed by a refinery. The salt limit is 10-20 lb/100 bblofoil. salt massif a very large uplift complex of salt with outward-dipping flanks and an irregular shape. The crest of the salt massif is formed by several smaller salt pillows or stocks. salt mud see saltwater-base drilling mud. SM salt pillow a broad salt structure that is circular to moderately elliptical in aerial view and is not diapiric. A salt pillow has a subplanar base and a roughly symmetrical cross section. The surface of the salt is concordant with the overlying sedimentary rocks.

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315 ppt. A salt-saturated drilling mud is used in drilling salt formations. salt stock see salt plug salt string a length (string) of casing that is set in a well between the surface and production casing strings in a well. The salt string ranges in diameter 5-11% in. and is typically 9% in. in diameter. The casing isolates potentially troublesome formations in the well such as abnormal high or low-pressure zones or salt layers, protects normal-pressure zones when drilling deeper using heavy mud weights, and protects production casing from corrosion, (intermediate or protective string, or protection or intermediate casing string) salt wall a broad, elongate salt structure that has a symmetrical cross section similar to a salt anticline but is diapiric and is much larger than a salt anticline saltwater-base drilling mud a drilling fluid using brackish to saturated water as the continuous phase. Saltwater-base drilling mud is normally used in offshore drilling and drilling through salt sections when fresh water cannot be used. Saltwater-base drilling mud can have an electrical resistivity less than formation water resistivity, (salt, saltwater or saline mud) saltwater clay attapulgite saltwater disposal the system used to dispose of brine produced with oil and/or gas. Saltwater disposal can involve a gathering system, filters for removal of solids, and a disposal well. saltwater disposal well an injection well used to dispose of the oilfield brine (salt water) that is often produced with oil. If possible, the salt water is injected back into the reservoir below the oil/water contact of the reservoir to increase the ultimate oil production. saltwater hauler 1) a person or service company who contracts to pick up and haul away for disposal oilfield brine or salt water from producing wells (water hauler) 2) the tank truck that picks up and hauls the oilfield brine away (water hauler) saltwater mud see saltwater-base drilling mud salt wave see salt anticline Salv or salv salvage salvage company a service company that salvages casing and plugs wells with specialized equipment. The top of the casing is caught with a casing spear or stud and welded. A hydraulic jack is then used to part the casing. An explosive charge can be used if the casing will not break. SALY salty samp sample SAMPL sample sample bucket a bucket used to wash well-cutting samples on a drilling rig sample catcher a person responsible for sampling the well cuttings from the shale shaker on a drilling rig at regular intervals sample log a record of the physical characteristics of the rocks in a well. The sample log is usually made by a geologist by examining well cuttings and cores. The well cuttings from a diamond or turbine drill

BULB

STEM

ROOT

salt plug

salt plug a diapiric salt structure that is circular or moderately elliptical in shape. A salt plug varies in shape. The top can swell sideways to form an enlarged bulb over the stem. The overhand is the part of the bulb that protrudes out over the stem, (salt stock) salt ridge or roller a broad, elongated salt structure that is not diapiric. A salt ridge has a planar base similar to a salt anticline but is asymmetrical in cross section with a flat, steep side. The top of the salt is concordant with the overlying sediments. The steep side is associated with a normal fault in the overlying sedimentary rocks. salt-saturated drilling mud a drilling mud whose the water phase is saturated with NaCl in excess of

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Sayfoolt Universal seconds scintillation counter or meter, scintillometer scat scattered scavenging the removal of cuttings from the bottom of the well by the drilling fluid SCBA self-contained breathing apparatus SCC 1) stress-corrosion cracking 2) sulfide-corrosion cracking SCE 1) perforating-ceramic DPC 2) perforatingexpendable shaped charge SCE-CC 1) casing cutter service 2) tubing cutter service scenic acreage land that does not have a producing well but looks attractive geologically because of a well(s) being drilled adjacent to it SCF or scf standard cubic feet sctfbsto standard cubic feet per barrel of stock tank oil SCFD, sctfD, or scCd standard cubic feet per day SCFH standard cubic feet per hour SCFM standard cubic feet per minute SCF/STB standard cubic feet per stock tank barrel SCH perforating hyper-jet Sen or sch schist sen schedule scheduled allowable days the number of days in a month that oil and/or gas can be produced under decree by a government regulatory agency, (allowable days) schem schematic SCHIS schist schist a metamorphic rock that is characterized by well defined layers of minerals such as micas. On a scale representing increasing metamorphism, beginning with slate at the low end and gneiss at the high end, schist forms between slate and gneiss.
Sch, sch, or SCHIS

Saybolt Universal seconds the seconds that it takes a measured quantity of fluid at a certain temperature and pressure to flow through a tube on a Saybolt Universal viscosimeter, used to measure viscosity. Saybolt universal seconds is equal to viscosity in centipoises x 4.635 relative density Crude oil has 1,000 to 50 or less Saybolt Universal seconds. SUS Saybolt Universal viscometer an instrument that is used to measure the viscosity of oil. The time that a specific volume of oil at 100, 130, and 210F takes to flow out of a standard size hole on the bottom of the instrument is recorded in Saybolt Universal seconds. SB 1) stuffing box 2) sleeve bearing sb 1) sub 2) solution at bubblepoint conditions sbang subangular SBHP static bottomhole pressure sblit sublithic SBM single buoy mooring SBR 1) sulfate reducing bacteria 2) side-bed resistivity 3) shoulder-bed resistivity sbrndd subrounded SBS single buoy storage SC 1) show of condensate 2) scales sc 1) scales 2) standard conditions scab an imperfection on the surface of metal scab liner a section of casing that is used to repair damaged casing in a well. The scab liner can be either cemented or sealed with packers. scab tie-back liner a section of casing that extends from the top of an existing liner in a well but does not extend all the way to the surface. The scab tieback liner is cemented in place. SCADA supervisory control and data acquisition scale a chemical precipitate that forms a hard, adherent salt such as calcium carbonate or calcium sulfate on a surface of a tubular or vessel scale inhibitor an acid additive that is used to prevent the formation of calcium sulfate or calcium carbonate scale in a well when acidizing. The scale inhibitor is a liquid organophosphate. scaling the deposition of hard, adherent salt to a surface. The most common scales deposited in oilfield tubular goods are calcium carbonate and sulfate. scalped structure see bald-headed anticline scanning electron microscope an instrument that measures the reflected and emitted electrons generated from an electronically or magnetically focused beam of electrons directed at a specimen. The image is displayed on a cathode ray tube. SEM scantlings the size and thickness of materials used in offshore construction Scaph scaphopod scaphopod a mollusk of the class Scaphoda. Scaphopods are benthic organisms with one long, slender valve that have existed from the Devonian period to the present. They are commonly called elephant's tusk shells. Scaph

Schlumberger array an electric log sonde electrode arrangement with two closely-spaced potential electrodes halfway between two current electrodes Schmidt diagram a polar plot in which the azimuth shows the drift or dip direction, and the distance from the origin shows the degrees Schmidt field balance a magnetometer used to measure horizontal and vertical magnetic field variations Schmutz decke a layer of solids on a slow sand filter SCI spore coloration index scientific rate of return a method of economically evaluating an investment such as drilling a well. The scientific rate of return is the return rate on the investment that is discounted for time, (internal rate of return, investor's rate of return, discounted cash flow rate of return, or profitability index) scintillation counter or meter, scintillometer an instrument that measures gamma rays by a photoconversion device. A sodium iodide crystal in the meter emits light when struck by gamma rays. The light intensity is proportional to the gamma ray energy and is detected by an adjacent photocathode

SCIP scrubber that emits electrons. The electrical current that is generated is measured. A scintillometer is used in natural gamma ray well logging. SCIP shut in casing pressure scissors fault a fault in which there is increasing displacement proceeding out from a pivot point at which there is no displacement. The direction of displacement is reversed on either side of the pivot point.

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scleractinian

scleractinian coral a type of coral belonging to the order Scleractinia. Scleractinian corals are both solitary and colonial and have existed from the Triassic period through the present. All modern corals are scleractinians. (hexacorals) SCM standard cubic meter Scol scolecodont score a scratch or gouge scotches blocks or triangular-shaped objects that are placed under the wheels of a truck or trailer to prevent it from rolling, (chocks) scour local erosion around pipelines, jackets, legs, and other structures on the sea or river bed due to currents and waves scout an employee of an oil company who gathers information in the field on leasing, exploration, and drilling activities of other companies. Scouts can also be independents and sell their information. Scouts meet in scout checks or meetings. Scout tickets and reports are made by scouts. scout check or meeting a gathering of scouts from different oil companies in order to coordinate efforts and pool information they have learned and to assign routes for each scout to check on wells being drilled and other activities. The scout check is organized and run by a bull scout that is elected by the other scouts. Scout checks are scheduled as often as once a week. scouting the gathering of information concerning leasing, exploration, and drilling activities by other companies scout report a report made by an oil company scout to the company division on wells being drilled and other activities of interest in the district that has been assigned to the scout. Scout reports are often made each week after a scout check. scout ticket a card or form containing information gathered by an oil company scout or scouting service on a specific well. A scout ticket usually includes the well name, location, operator, spud and completion

dates, casing and cement data, production test data, completion information, the tops of certain zones or formations, and a chronology of the well. SGPR surface chamber pressure SCR silicon controlled rectifier scr 1) screen 2) screw 3) scratcher scraper 1) a device that uses knives to remove paraffin or scale from tubing or flowlines. A paraffin scraper is a wireline device used in tubing. A line scraper is used in flowlines. A tool used either on a drillstring or wireline to remove debris and coatings such as cement from casing. The scraper is a short, solid bar with hard-faced blades, scraper, or (wall cleaner, scratcher) scratcher a device that is attached to the outside of the lowest joints of casing when it is lowered in the well and scrapes or scratches the sides of the wellbore to remove the filter or mud cake. The scratcher consists of wires attached to the circumference of a collar. There are both rotating and reciprocating types of scratchers. Scratchers are used to clean the sides of the wellbore for cementing and to clean the producing zone to enhance production, (wall cleaner, scratcher, or scraper) scr scrd screwed screen 1) the screen cloth used on a shale shaker to separate the well cuttings from the drilling mud. The API description of the screen includes the mesh count in both directions, the aperture size, and percentage of open area. 2) a perforated pipe with wire screen wrapped around it. A screen is used for sand control in well completions such as open hole and gravel pack. SCRN screen analysis the use of different size screens or sieves to determine the relative percentage of different sized particles, (sieve analysis) screening the removal of particles greater than a specific size that are suspended or floating in a fluid bypassing the fluid through a screen or sieve screen liner a perforated liner with a wire wrapping to sieve out sediments from production fluids, (screen pipe) screen-out the stopping of the propellents during hydraulic fracturing in a well. Screen-out is caused by propellent bridging, clogging of perforations, or a decrease in the fracture width, (sandout) screen pipe see screen liner screw-in sub a fishing tool that is designed to screw into a fish. The screw-in sub has a small notch on the bottom of the pin that is designed to catch the top of the fish and spin the pin into the fish. scribe line a reference line located on the inside bend of a bent sub that indicates toolface orientation scribeline fracture the small spalling on a scriber core around the knife edge due to a dull scriber knife scribing cutting of a groove with a tungsten cutter on an oriented core in a core barrel SCRN screen scrub scrubber scrubber 1) a vessel that is normally vertically mounted acts as a small separator to remove small

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scrubber or scrubbing plant sealed fracture SDW shut down for weather sdwfract sand saltwater frac SDWL sidewall SDWO or S.D.W.O. shut down waiting orders sd w/SG sand with show of gas sd w/SO sand with show of oil SDY or sdy sandy sdy li sandy limestone sdy sh sandy shale SE 1) southeast 2) successful efforts 3) seals effective 4) specific energy S/E screwed end SE accounting successful efforts accounting

amounts of a liquid from a gas stream and does not have a large liquid capacity. The vessel contains baffles, screens, and a collection area. Scrubbers may or may not have mist extractors and back pressure and liquid level controls. A scrubber is often used upstream to protect a downstream processing vessel such as a dehydration unit from liquid hydrocarbons or water. It is often used to remove liquid from gas used to operate pneumatic controls and instruments. A scrubber can also be used to remove water from natural gas or H2S from sour gas. scrub 2) a device that uses water and chemicals to remove air pollutants from combustion exhausts scrubber or scrubbing plant an instillation that removes H2S from sour gas. A scrubbing plant uses the alkanolamine or iron-sponge sweetening process. Less commonly, the glycol/amine, molecular sieve, or sulfinol process are used, scrub scrubbing to purify natural gas of impurities such as water (mist) and other gases. Scrubbing is done by passing the gas through chemicals or a water wash. An oil bath can be used to remove suspended solids. scrubbing plant equipment used to remove hydrogen sulfide from sour natural gas scs scarce SCSSV surface controlled subsurface safety valve sctrd scattered SCT/T scout tops SCUBA self-contained underwater breathing apparatus Scythian a global age of geological time that occurred about 250-245 m. y. ago. It is equivalent to the Lower Triassic epoch. SD 1) shut down 2) sand 3) strata dip 4) shirttail damage sd 1) sand 2) sandstone Sd sulphides Sd. sand S.D. shutdown SDA shut down to acidize sd&sh sand and shale SDC 1) submersible diving chamber 2) submersible decompression chamber 3) steel drill collar SDF shut down to frac sdfract sandfrac SDL 1) shut down to log 2) spectral density log SDO 1) show of dead oil 2) shut down for orders sdoilfract sand oil frac SDON shut down overnight SDPA shut down to plug and abandon SDPL or S.D.P.L. shut down for pipeline SDR shut down for repairs Sd SG sand showing gas Sd SO sand showing oil S-D spacing source-detector spacing SDT sonic differential time SDTD sidetrack total depth sdtkr sidetracked

sea floor spreading

seafloor spreading a relatively new theory (early 1960s) in which the earth's crust (seafloor) is formed by basaltic volcanos along the midocean ridge. The crust is split and moving (spreading) out to either side of the ridge. The movement may possibly be caused by convection currents in the interior of the earth which causes all areas on the surface of the earth (continents and ocean bottoms) to be moving. Places on the earth's surface where two different sea floors from two different midocean ridges meet are called subduction zones. Subduction zones are expressed as ocean trenches, volcanos, and mountain chains. The seafloor spreading theory has lead to the plate tectonic theory, which incorporates the seafloor spreading ideas. seal impermeable rock that forms the impermeable barrier on top of the reservoir rock of an oil or gas reservoir. The seal is commonly shale or evaporites but can also be cemented rocks, argillaceous rocks, micrite, chalk, or permafrost. Permeabilities in seals are mostly less than 10~4 darcies. (cap, cover, or roof rock) sea lawyer an oilfield trouble maker seale a small-diameter wire that is used to fill in the space between different diameter wires used in the strands of a wire rope. The seales give the wire rope greater strength and service life, (filler) sealed bearings bearings in a roller-cone bit that are lubricated in a grease environment by grease seals, a grease reservoir, and a compensator plug that adjusts the grease pressure to the fluid pressure around the bit sealed fracture a fracture such as a joint or fault in a rock that was open in the past to allow fluid to flow along it. The fracture has since been filled with mineral grains such as calcite or quartz that prevent fluid flow along the fracture, (healed fracture)

Seale design secondary porosity Seale design a wire rope pattern used for drilling line in which the inner strands contain the same number of wires as the outer strands but the diameter of the inner wires is smaller than the outer wires sealed reservoir a petroleum reservoir that is surrounded by impermeable rock seal her up or off to finish a job as soon as possible sealine a submarine pipeline. Sealines are used to connect offshore wells, production platforms, and onshore facilities. sealing agents fine-grained material that is fibrous and/or flaky and is added to drilling mud or cement slurry and pumped down a well that has a lostcirculation problem. Sealing agents clog up the pores of the subsurface rock layer that is causing the problem. Mica chips, ground pecan hulls, sugar cane hulls, laminated plastic, ground coal, ground neoprene, shredded redwood and cedar, leather, asbestos, cottonseed hulls, pig hair, cellophane, and wood shavings are some of the many things that are used, (lost-circulation agent, material, or control agent) sealing fault a fault that acts as a permeability barrier and does not allow fluids to flow either across or along the fault surface. The impermeability can be due to a shale smear along the fault surface. seal off the squeezing of cement into the annular space between the casing and rock surface of a wellbore. Sealing off prevents fluid such as water from flowing along the space. seal section the section between the electric motor and submersible electric pump. The seal section allows the motor shaft to turn but no fluid can enter, and the pressure of the oil inside the motor equals the fluid pressure outside the motor. It is a type of protector. seal sub a short, smooth steel tube with rubber or synthetic seal rings that is run on a tubing string and seated on a production packer for a pressure seal seam a closed crack along the length of a metal tubular that has not been metallurgically bonded or fused seamless pipe wrought steel tubular without a welded seam. Seamless pipe is manufactured by hot working the steel or by cold finishing a hot-worked tubular. PSW Sears and Roebuck driller a driller of unknown ability seat 1) the point in a well where casing is set 2) the closing surface of a valve. The seat is where the ball rests when a ball-and-seat valve is closed. seating nipple a short, threaded coupling with a reduced inside bore that is used in a tubing string to anchor a downhole pump, to accommodate gaslift valves, or to attach a safety valve, choke, or regulator. The seating nipple also prevents small tools from falling through the tubing. 5 V 7 seat wrench a hand wrench that is used to screw or unscrew pump-valve seats in the working barrel of a downhole pump, (barrel wrench) sea-water drilling mud a saltwater-base drilling mud that uses sea water

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sea wax an old term for floating patches of bitumen off the coast of Texas sebkha see sabkha SEC second Sec section sec 1) section 2) second 3) secondary SE/C southeast corner second 1) the System International (SI) unit for time. 5 2) a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for plane angle. One second is equal
to TT/648,000 radians.

secondary cementing any cement job on a well after primary cementing. Secondary cementing includes squeeze cementing in which cement is pumped under pressure through the perforations in the casing. Squeeze cementing is used to isolate a producing formation, to seal off water, and to repair leaks. Secondary cementing also includes a plug job in which a plug of cement is placed in a well. Secondary cementing is in contrast to primary cementing. secondary dolomite dolomite, a mineral composed of CaMg(CO3)2, that has replaced calcite in limestone along natural fractures such as joints in the limestone. The fractures were routes through which Mg-rich waters percolated through the limestone as it was transformed into dolomite. Secondary dolomite is in contrast to primary, syngenetic, evaporitic, supratidal, stratigraphic, and diagenic dolomite, (tectonic or epigenic dolomite)

A.

secondary faults

secondary fault a minor fault that is parallel to a major fault. A secondary fault can be a synthetic fault with displacement in the same direction as the major fault displacement or an antithetic fault with displacement opposite the major fault displacement. secondary free gas cap or secondary gas cap a free gas cap formed by solution gas that has bubbled out of the oil in the subsurface reservoir during production. A secondary free gas cap is caused by production lowering the reservoir pressure of the oil to below the bubblepoint. secondary migration the movement and accumulation of oil and gas along reservoir rock into a pool or reservoir. Secondary migration is preceded by primary migration and can be followed by tertiary migration. secondary porosity spaces or voids in a sedimentary rock formed after the rock was deposited

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secondary-porosity index sedimentary structure the township-and-range system. In the United States, Section 1 is in the northeast corner and Section 6 is in the northwest corner of the township. Section 36 is located in the southeast corner. In Canada, Section 1 is in the southeast corner of the section, whereas Section 36 is in the northeast corner. In Canada, sections are subdivided into 16 legal subdivisions. SECT or sec 2) a series of geological formations that occur in a specific area 3) a vertical exposure of rock strata 4) a plot such as a cross section or seismic section 5) the view of a cut or slice through an objea 6) see seismic section section gauge see caliper log section line the boundary of a land division section. Section lines run north-south and east-west and are spaced 1 mi apart. section mill a tool that is lowered down a well on the drillstring to cut sections of the casing. Once the section mill is in place in the well, cutting arms are expanded mechanically or hydraulically, and the drillstring is rotated to do the cutting. A section mill is often used to set a whipstock. section milling the milling or grinding away of a section of casing in a well with a section mill rotated on a drillstring SED, Sed, or sed sediments sediment solid material, either inorganic or organic, which has been weathered from rock and then transported and deposited out of water, air, or ice or formed by precipitation or biological secretion.
SED, Sed, or sed

and buried in the subsurface. Solution, fracturing, and recrystallization are secondary porosity processes. Secondary porosity is in contrast to primary porosity. (intermediate or induced porosity) secondary-porosity index a calculation of secondary porosity in rocks from a sonic log and either a density log or a neutron log. SPI secondary recovery an older term used for any process used to restore oil production from a reservoir in which the primary drive mechanism and reservoir pressure have been depleted. Gas injection and waterflood are examples of secondary recovery techniques. SREC secondary reserves the amount of reserves that is commercially recoverable at current prices by waterflood and/or enhanced oil recovery secondary stratigraphic trap a stratigraphic trap formed by an unconformity or by solution such as karst limestone. A secondary stratigraphic trap is in contrast to a primary stratigraphic trap. secondary structure the deck and modules on an offshore platform. Secondary structure is in contrast to the jacket and piles which are the primary structure. secondary term the period of an oil and gas lease during which the lease is held in effect by petroleum production. The secondary term follows the primary term, (production term) secondary tracer the result of the reaction between an injected primary tracer and reservoir fluids. The secondary tracer is then used to trace fluid flow in a reservoir. second crop oil crude oil produced by waterflood and enhanced oil recovery second curve the shallow resistivity curve on an early electric log seconds API the number of seconds that a sample of drilling mud takes to flow through a Marsh funnel. Seconds API is a measure of liquid viscosity using American Petroleum Institute procedures. seconds Sayboit furol a measurement of heavy oil viscosity. A specific amount of oil at a specific temperature is allowed to flow through an instrument called a Sayboit viscosimeter with an orifice of a certain size. The seconds that the oil takes to flow through the orifice depends on the oil's viscosity. SSF or SFS seconds Sayboit universal a measurement of light oil viscosity. A specific amount of oil at a specific temperature is allowed to flow through an instrument called a Sayboit viscosimeter with an orifice of a certain size. The seconds that the oil takes to flow through the orifice depends on the oil's viscosity. SSU or SUS second tier oil new oil, released oil, or stripper oil which under the United States Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 could be sold at market price. Second tier oil is in contrast to first tier oil that has a fixed market price, (upper tier oil) Sec/Qt seconds per quart SECT section section 1) a square of land 1 mi on a side (640 ac). A section is a unit of measurement in United States and Canada land surveys. There are 36 sections in a township which are numbered 1 through 36 in

sedimentary basin a general term for any large area of thick sedimentary rocks. A sedimentary basin is a geological structure with a unique sequence of rocks that are dissimilar to those outside the basin. Because of the thick sediments that are up to 50,000 ft thick, basins tend to have significant petroleum accumulations. There are approximately 600 sedimentary rock basins in the world, (basin) sedimentary oil crude oil that has naturally been recycled by erosion from a preexisting deposit. Sedimentary oil tends to be heavy oil. sedimentary organic matter the organic matter found in sedimentary rocks. Type II organic matter can form crude oil with time and temperature in a process called maturation. Type III organic matter is gas prone. SOM sedimentary quartzite an orthoquartzite formed by sedimentation in contrast to a metaquartzite that is formed by metamorphism sedimentary rock a rock formed of particles or chemicals weathered from other rocks (sediments), transported by water, air, and/or ice and deposited at another site (clastic); by precipitation (chemical); or by the secretions of plants and animals (organic). Sedimentary rocks are deposited in layers or strata. Both source and most reservoir rock are sedimentary rocks in contrast to igneous and metamorphic rocks. Sandstones, shales, and limestones are the most common sedimentary rocks. sedimentary structure a feature in a sedimentary rock that is larger than grain-size and was formed during deposition of the sediments (primary

sedimentation seismic pulse sedimentary structure) or after deposition (secondary structure). Examples of sedimentary structures include bedding and laminations, cross-stratification, mud cracks, load structures, striations, flutes, ripple marks, and bioturbation. Sedimentary structures are used to interpret the depositional environment of the sediments. sedimentation the settling by gravity of solid particles out of a fluid sediment oil tank bottoms, oil/water emulsion with sediments, that cannot be normally sold seducing the canine to loaf on the job
SEEPS SEEPS

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seeps

seep or seepage a natural surface leak of gas and/ or oil. The petroleum reaches the surface along fractures, faults, unconformities, or bedding planes, or is exposed by surface erosion into porous rock. SE/4 southeast quarter SEG Society of Exploration Geophysicists segregation drive the flow of crude oil through a reservoir toward a well by gravity drive, (gravity drainage) seis 1) seismic 2) seismograph 3) seismometer seis see geophone Seiscrop a display of 3-D seismic using horizontal slices that are similar to a subcrop map. The slices show where reflectors intersect with a horizontal plane. Wave peaks are shown in black, whereas troughs are shown in red. seisin the ownership of land with the rights of possession and conveyance
Source Receiver Reflection Refraction seismic (reflection and refraction) Receivers

seismic an exploration method in which elastic wave energy or sound is put into the earth and either the reflected energy off subsurface rock layers is recorded (reflection survey) or refracted energy that travels through the rock layers is recorded (refraction survey). Seismic includes data acquisition, processing, and interpretation. The energy can come from a variety of sources such as explosives, Vibroseis, and weight drop on land or air gun in the ocean. The energy recorded on geophones or jugs on land and hydrophones in the ocean. The seismic data is recorded on magnetic tape and processed by computer. Seismic is used to map subsurface

geological structures, identify subsurface lithologies, and explore for petroleum traps, seis seismic attribute a distinctive characteristic of a seismic wavelet. There are over 20 seismic attributes depending on how they are denned. The most important seismic attributes are amplitude, frequency, and velocity. seismic base map a map showing seismic lines, line numbers, and shot-point numbers seismic broker a person or company that acts as an agent for selling or trading seismic data. The seismic broker receives a 10%-20% commission. The party that buys seismic from a broker signs a license. The trade can involve either cash for seismic or seismic for seismic. The original seismic broker was part of a major oil company. The seismic broker that a party uses is called the prime broker. Seismic brokers often organize group snoots. seismic character see seismic facies seismic crew the personnel used in a seismic survey. The crew can be divided into survey, pilot, drilling, and recording crews. The crew consists of party chief, chief computer, party manager, observer, junior observers, source operator crew, cable crew, topographer with assistants, permit man, supervisor, and laborers. If explosives are used, several drilling crews are also used. A marine seismic crew has a party chief, observer, junior observers, and technicians, (doodlebug or seismograph crew) seismic cross-section a vertical slice of the subsurface made with seismic. The vertical scale is in two-way travel time, and the horizontal axis designates the location of shot points. seismic event a line of traces on a seismic record that could be a reflection, refraction, diffraction, or other phenomenon from the subsurface, (event) seismic exploration see seismic seismic facies the seismic response to a lithology. Seismic facies are characterized by a) reflection configurations such as parallel, divergent, sigmoid, and oblique, b) reflection terminations at boundaries such as baselap, toplap, and truncation, and c) external form such as sheet, wedge, lens, and mound, (seismic character) seismic obligation a mandatory condition of earning for a farmee to run seismic along with drilling an earning well in a farmout agreement seismic option 1) a type of farmout agreement in which the optionee/farmee earns the farmout by running seismic over the land and sharing the seismic. After the seismic is run, the optionee/farmee is not forced to enter into the farmout agreement. 2) a type of mineral-rights acquisition in which the lessee pays the lessor a bonus for the right to run seismic over the land and have the option of leasing the land after reviewing the seismic within a certain time. A seismic option is usually taken from a large landowner. The option has a high lease bonus and an option fee. seismic permit payments the money paid to a landowner to allow a seismic survey on his land seismic profile see seismic section seismic pulse a disturbance that can have a duration of tens of milliseconds (explosives, weight drop, or

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seismic pumping self-drilling well Tomography is an inversion process and the data can be obtained by a) surface-to-surface relections, b) borehole-to-borehole transmission, or c) surface-toborehole transmission. seismic velocity the velocity of a seismic wave, usually a compressional or P-wave, through a medium. Some types of seismic velocities include interval, average, root mean square, migration, well survey, and shear. seismic velocity analysis the calculation of moveout-derived or amplitude-derived velocity for sedimentary rock layers from seismic data seismic while drilling a seismic method that uses the sound energy of the rotating bit on the bottom of the well as a seismic source seismic wipeout a vertical area on a seismic profile where there are no seismic reflections in contrast to adjacent areas. Seismic wipeout is often caused by natural gas in the sedimentary rocks that causes extremely low seismic velocities through the sedimentary rocks. Seismic wipeout is common in the sedimentary rocks below an offshore gas seep. seismic wooble the uncertainty of seismic picks to microseconds seismogram an outdated term, see seismic section seismograph an instrument that records elastic wave energy from the subsurface. A seismograph can be either a) the entire seismic recording unit or b) a geophone. seis seismograph crew see seismic crew seismologist a person trained in the seismic principles as they apply to petroleum exploration or earthquake analysis seismology the study of seismic wave propagation seismometer see geophone. seis seisviewer a wireline device that is lowered down wells to transmit an image of the borehole. A seisviewer transmits pulsed ultrasonic energy that is reflected off the borehole and is recorded to produce an ultrasonic image of the borehole. It is used primarily to detect and study fractures in reservoir rocks surrounding the wellbore. The seisviewer is also used to inspect the casing in a well for corrosion or faulty joints, (borehole televiewer) seize 1) to have the parts of machinery bind because of overheating 2) to stick together or to adhere 3) to bind the end of a wire rope to prevent unwinding SEL southeast line Sel selenite selinite the clear, colorless variety of gypsum, a mineral composed of CaSO4 2H2O. Selinite is an evaporite mineral. Sel Selexol process natural gas sweetening in an absorber using dimethyl ether or polyethylene glycol (DMPE6) self-contained breathing apparatus a safety device worn by a crew member drilling in an area of hydrogen sulfide gas. The apparatus contains a bottle with a 5-20 minutes supply of air and a pressure regulator. SCBA self-drilling well a well in which flowing gas helps deepen the well

air gun) or several seconds (vibrator). A seismic pulse is made from a seismic source and is modified by the rocks through which it passes. The seismic wave most commonly used is the compressional or P-wave. It has a velocity of 6,500-16,500 ft/sec which generally increase with depth, a dominant frequency of 20-50 Hz which generally decreases with depth, and a wavelength of 130-820 ft which generally increases with depth. seismic pumping a secondary migration method for petroleum. Overpressured reservoir fluids open preexisting faults that act as conduits for petroleum migration.
IMC Hi.

seismic section a record made by a seismograph during a seismic survey. A seismic section is a cross section made of traces. The trace is a vertical line with recorded energy peaks going to the right and energy troughs to the left. If the peaks are filled in with black during data processing, it is called wigglevariable area traces, forming a variable area (VA) display. The seismic section can also be variable density with peaks represented by dark bands and troughs going to the left as light bands. This yields a section that is similar to a cross section with reflectors going across the section. This is a variable density (VD) display. Sedimentary rocks are well layered on a seismic profile with many subparallel reflectors, whereas basement rock is opaque. The vertical scale is usually in Vioos of a second with lines running across the section. Every Via of a second line is heavier, and the second lines are heaviest. Along the top, the shot point locations are numbered. Points where other seismic sections tie in and velocity surveys are labeled. On land seismic, the ground elevation, depth of weathering, and shot-hole depths can be plotted. On marine seismic, the ocean depth can be shown. Compass directions are shown by arrows. A header on the section will show the line number, area name, data gathering information such as contractor and client name, shooting date, type of geophones, spread layout, and multiplicity of snooting and processing information such as processing company, processing date, deconvolution used, and migration, (seismogram, seismic profile, or record section) seismic stratigraphy see sequence analysis seismic structure map a structure map contoured in units of seismic time to a specific reflector seismic time-interval map a isopach map of the interval between two seismic reflectors seismic tomography an image of a horizontal (time slice) or vertical slice of the earth using seismic data.

self-elevating drilling unit or platform semisubmersible or semi-submersible self-elevating drilling unit or platform an offshore drilling rig that is essentially a barge with legs. The hull is towed or steamed into position and then jacked above the ocean surface on tubular or derrick legs. Self-elevating drilling units have been built with 3-14 legs but commonly have three legs. Each leg is either vertical or tilted slightly outward for stability. The leg is formed by vertical elements called chords. Attached to each chord is a jack house that contains the rack-and-pinion arrangement used to raise and lower the deck. The legs rest on the bottom of the ocean during drilling to provide a stable platform. A self-elevating drilling unit can be either an independent self-elevating rig with spud cans on the legs for use on a firm seabed, or mat supported for softer seabeds. A self-elevating drilling unit is very stable, relatively easy to move, and is used in water depths up to about 300 ft. The deck of the rig is raised 50-60 ft above sea level. The hull can be rectangular, triangular, shiplike, or irregular. Selfelevating drilling units can be either self-propelled, propulsion assisted, or nonpropelled. A drilling slot can be cut in the deck, or the derrick can be cantilevered over the side. Gorilla rigs are jackup rigs with legs up to 500 ft high, (jackup barge, platform, or rig) self-elevating platform jacking system the mechanism that raises and lowers the deck of a jackup rig. The rack-and-pinion method uses an electric motor to turn pinions that are engaged in toothed racks on the chords of the legs to raise and lower the deck. The hydraulic jack method uses grips on the legs to raise and lower the deck. self-floater platform see tower self-generating mud acid retarded hydrofluoric acid that is used for deep formation damage in a well self-help gas natural gas bought on the spot market. (best efforts, intermptible, direct purchase, and spot gas) self potential the measure of the natural staticelectric voltage that exists between two points. Self potential is a common measurement made by electrical and induction well logs. It is used for a) detecting permeability, b) location of shale, c) correlation, and d) true resistivity calculations. The self potential deflection decreases as the salinity of the mud approaches the formation water salinity. When the mud and the formation water have the same salinity, no self potential is generated. Self potential is not generated in wells filled with nonconductive oil-base muds. Response is in millivolts, typically in the range of 15-150 mv. Self potential is recorded in Track 1 on the well log. (spontaneous potential or polarization) SP self risk testing a provision in a joint operating agreement in which a party can conduct certain tests at their cost and risk. That party has the exclusive right to the information. selvage soft, unconsolidated, very fine-grained minerals found along a fault surface. Selvage is formed by the grinding action of the fault movements on rocks and later mineral decomposition. It can act as a permeability barrier making the fault a sealing fault. (gouge, fault gouge, or clay gouge)

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SEM scanning electron microscope semblance the energy of a stacked trace divided by the energy available to be stacked semi semisubmersible drilling rig semiclosed gas lift a type of gas lift in which the tubing is set on a packer but no standing valve is used. Semiclosed gas lift is in contrast to the open and closed types. semiconductor a substance whose electrical conductivity at normal temperatures is intermediate between a good conductor and a good insulator. The electrical conductivity of the semiconductor depends on the presence of minute impurities in a very pure crystal such as silicon or germanium. The conductance of the semiconductor increases rapidly with increasing temperature. Diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits are made from semiconductors. Semi-Ex semiexpendable (perforating gun) semi expendable gun a type of perforating gun that is wire carried and is a cylindrical hollow tube with strip jets in ceramic or glass cases. The gun leaves a minimum amount of debris in the well but cannot be reused, (expendable-retrievable gun) semipermeable membrane a film that will allow the passage of solvent molecules but will not pass certain solute molecules. A semipermeable membrane is partially permeable to particular solutions.

semisubmersible

semisubmersible or semi-submersible a type of floating offshore drilling rig which has pontoons or buoyancy chambers located on short legs below the drilling platform. The deck is supported by larger stabilizing columns 20-35 ft in diameter and smaller intermediate columns from the pontoons or buoyancy chambers. Four stabilizers and four intermediated columns are common. Both the pontoons and columns can be used for ballasting and storage. The deck can be rectangular (the most common) pentagonal, triangular, Y-shaped, or cruciform in shape. After the semisubmersible is towed and anchored above the drillsite, the buoyancy chambers are flooded with seawater until they are partially submerged. A semisubmersible has a draft of about 20 ft during towing and about 60 ft while on station. The mooring on a semisubmersible usually consists of eight anchors

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semitight well separator gas/oil ratio gamma-gamma log or the difference in resistivity curves between shallow and deep induction on an induction log. 3) the apparent displacement on a fault

connected to the hull by chain or wire rope. The anchors can be retrieved by smaller service ships. Semisubmersibles are self-contained, housing the crew, equipment, and supplies. Some are selfpropelled. Modern semisubmersibles have dynamic positioning. The pontoons house the thrusters. The semisubmersible is intermediate in stability between a jackup rig and a drillship. Semisubmersibles are designed to drill in water depths to 1,500 ft. 55 semitight well a well in which relatively little information is released semiwildcat a well that is between a wildcat and a development well in risk. A semiwildcat is drilled at or near the limits of a producing reservoir. SE NA screw end American National acme thread SE NC screw end American National coarse thread Senecan a North American epoch of geological time that occurred from about 385-380 m. y. ago. It is part of the Devonian period SE NF screw end American National fine thread senile oil heavy crude oil that has been degraded by bacterial action and/or water washing. The degradation reduces the API of the original oil and removes the lighter fractions and the porphyrins. The result is a heavy oil that is usually sour and high in oxygen compounds. senior orifice fitting a type of orifice fitting that is made of two chambers that are separated by a lubricated slide valve. The orifice plate can be removed without interrupting the flow. A senior orifice fitting is commonly used for custody transfers and sales meters where orifice plate removal is sometimes necessary but flow bypass is illegal. senior toolpusher an employee of the drilling contractor who is an experienced driller and is the supervisor of the drilling department on an offshore drilling rig. The senior toolpusher is responsible to the drilling superintendent for the operation of the rig and has a junior toolpusher assisting him. The senior toolpusher is on call 24 hours a day but usually works the 0600 to 1800 hour shift. The senior toolpusher is responsible for the safety and welfare of the drilling department. On a British rig, the senior toolpusher can be the Offshore Installation Manager. SE NPT screw end American National taper pipe thread sensitivity the response of an instrument to a standard signal sensitize to treat clays in a formation with chemicals such as sodium chloride brine so the clays become more reactive to fresh water SEP self-elevating platform sep separator separate property property that was acquired before marriage or by inheritance by one spouse. Separate property is in contrast to community property. separation 1) the difference between two measurements 2) the difference in reading from two different well-log measurements on the same rock layer. Examples of separation would be the difference in porosity curves measured on a neutron log and a

separators separator a vessel with a metal shell that is located at the well site and uses gravity and centrifugal force to separate oil, gas, and water. The shapes of separators are cylindrical or spherical. Two types of separators are a) vertical and b) horizontal, including both single and double barrel. Two-phase separators are designed to separate gas from a liquid, either oil or an emulsion, whereas a three-phase separator is designed to separate oil, gas, and water. A heater-treater type of separator uses a fire tube and heat to separate emulsions. Separators commonly have an inlet diverter to start the initial separation at the inlet and a mist extractor at the gas outlet. The separator commonly contains a a) primary separation device or section, b) secondary gravity or settling section, c) liquid settling section, and d) gas, oil, and water outlets. Normal operating pressure is 25-125 psi. A backpressure valve prevents gas from flowing back into the separator from the gas line. A dump valve connected to a float controls the liquid volume. Stage separators use several separators to reduce pressure on the produced fluid in stages. Some standard accessories on a separator are a) backpressure gas regulator, b) oil level control valve, c) pressure gauge assembly, d) gauge glass assembly, e) float flange assembly, and f) safety relief valve. Filter separators are used to remove particulates from natural gas. Separators are sometimes called scrubbers, traps, knockout vessels, water knockouts, liquid knockouts, knockouts, drums, or drips. SEPR or sep separator cone see hydrocyclone separator gas natural gas that bubbles out of crude oil on the surface due to the decrease in pressure between the reservoir and the surface. The amount of gas that bubbles out determines the producing gas/oil ratio of the well which is expressed in standard cubic feet of gas per 60F barrel of stock tank oil. (casinghead gas) separator gas/oil ratio separator gas volume divided by separator oil volume expressed as cubic feet per barrel

separator oil relative-volume factor service unit separator oil relative-volume factor see separator volume factor separator sample a sample of gas and liquid from the separator during controlled production. The gas and liquid from a separator sample are mixed at the producing ratio for a representation of the reservoir fluid for a reservoir fluid study. A separator sample is in contrast to a subsurface or bottomhole sample. (surface sample) separator test a test that is part of a reservoir fluid study. A sample of the reservoir liquid is put in a laboratory cell and raised to reservoir temperature and bubblepoint pressure. The liquid is then expelled from the cell in two stages of separation, while the pressure is being held constant at bubblepoint pressure by reducing the cell volume as the liquid is removed. The separator test is used to calculate the formation volume factor of the oil, the solution gas/oil ratio, and the separator volume factor. separator train a series of stage separators separator volume factor the volume of separator liquid measured at separator condition divided by the volume of stock-tank oil at standard conditions. The separator volume factor is expressed in separator barrels/stock tank barrels (separator oil relative volume factor) SEPM Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists SEPR separator sept septate seq sequence SEQAC sequestered acid sequence a series of sedimentary rock layers that are bounded on the top and bottom by unconformities or their equivalents. A sequence is the fundamental unit of seismic or sequence stratigraphy and can be subdivided into system tracts. The rocks in a sequence are deposited is response to eustacy, sediment supply, and subsidence. A Type 1 sequence is bounded on the bottom by a Type 1 sequence boundary, and a Type 1 or 2 sequence on the top. A Type 2 sequence is bounded on the bottom by a Type 2 sequence boundary and on the top by a Type 1 or 2 boundary. sequence stratigraphy a study of time-rock units of genetically related rocks that are bounded by surfaces of erosion or nondeposition (unconformities) or their extensions. Sequence stratigraphy is a technique applied to seismic interpretation. A sequence is the fundamental unit of sequence stratigraphy. Sequence stratigraphy has been used to formulate an global sea-level curve for geological time and to predict rock characteristics including source, seal and reservoir rocks from seismic before drilling. The original term for sequence stratigraphy was seismic stratigraphy. sequestering agent a chemical additive such as ethylene diamine tetracidic acid (EDTA), sodium salts, pyrophosphates, citrates, or polyphosphates that is used during acidizing a well to form a stable, soluble complete with iron to prevent the precipitation of insoluble iron hydroxides that can reduce permeability of a formation. The iron can come from iron corrosion on the well's equipment or mineral grains in the producing formation such as chlorite,

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siderite and limonite. Sequestering means to separate, and a sequestering agent separates the iron cation from the anion by chelation. SQ sequestration the formation of a stable, soluble calcium-magnesium-iron complex by the chemical reaction of a metallic ion such as iron with a sequestering agent such as ethylene diamine tetracidic acid (EDTA), sodium salts, pyrophosphates, citrates, or polyphosphates ser series serial the transmission of data one bit at a time over a single wire. Serial transmission is how computers are linked to terminals. series 1) a time-rock division of rocks deposited during an epoch of geological time. A series is part of a system and can be subdivided into stages. 2) two electronic components that are connected so that the electric current flows through both components. Series is in contrast to parallel. SERP serpentine serpentine 1) driller's term for weathered basalt 2) a group of minerals that are formed by the alteration of magnesium-rich silicated minerals. Serpentine is found in both igneous and metamorphic rocks. SERP Serpukhovian a global epoch of geological time that occurred about 340-330 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Carboniferous age. Serravallian a global age of geological time that started about 15.4 m. y. ago and ended about 10.8 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Miocene age. SERV or serv service service boat a boat designed to support offshore drilling. A service boat is long with a wide beam and shallow draft. The bridge is usually located well forward. The service boat is used for towing, anchoring, and transporting crews and supplies. service capsule a 1-atm vessel that can contain people and is lowered from a support ship to a subsea well head, manifold, or production station. The service capsule enables the personnel to gain access and do service on the subsea equipment in a dry atmosphere. service company a company that specializes in some aspects of drilling, completing, or working over wells. The service company can log the well, cement it, or perforate it along with many other possible services. service tools downhole equipment supplied by service companies for use during the drilling, evaluation, completion, or workover of wells service tree the blowout-preventer stack and drilling spool that is attached to the top of a subsea well after drilling and before production service unit hoisting equipment including a mast and winch that is mounted on a truck or trailer. The service unit is designed to do maintenance work on a producing interval in an oil or gas well and has its own crew. Most commonly, the sucker rods are pulled from the well to change the downhole pump or repair the rod string. The rods are suspended in the mast. The well service unit is also used to pull tubing by rearranging the equipment for a heavier load. The stands of tubing can be stacked vertically in a rack

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service well settlings set casing to run or lower and cement pipe or casing in the well. The phrase is synonymous with completing a well. set her on the bank to pull pipe out of a well set in the dark to set casing in a well before the pay zone is drilled. Setting in the dark is used when an openhole completion is going to be made. set pressure the inlet pressure on which a pressure relief valve is set to open set the slips to engage the slips, a gripping mechanism, on the rotary table or on a fishing tool set-through completion a well completion in which the casing is run through the pay zone and then perforated setting back the kelly to break out the kelly from the drillstring and place it in the rathole during tripping out on a drilling rig setting ball or plug a ball or missile that is dropped down a well to detonate an explosive or activate a downhole tool. The setting ball opens a valve in a hydraulic circuit, (go-devil) setting depth the lowest depth to which a casing or liner string is run in a well setting gauge to measure the dimensions of a drill bit or tool setting point the temperature at which a liquid solidifies setting ring a ring used to measure the diameter of a bit settled production an oilfield or well in which the production is relatively stable and level with a slow decline. Settled production occurs when the wells are on the pump and occurs between flush and stripper production. settlement statement a form that records the amount of gas that was transferred from wells to a pipeline. The form varies with purchasers and includes a) purchaser identification, b) lease identification, c) producer identification, d) quantity of gas delivered, e) the month of production, f) the Btu content of the gas, g) the gross or net value due to the lease, h) lease production taxes, i) the value due to the producer, and j) the pressure base. A settlement statement is similar to a run ticket used for crude oil. (gas settlement) settler a gravity separator for oil, gas, and water settling the gravitational separation of heavier substances such as solid particles from a fluid set settling pit 1) one of a series of steel tanks called the mud tanks on a drilling rig. The settling pit is located between the shaker and suction tanks. The settling pit is designed to allow some of the coarser well cuttings to settle by gravity out of the drilling mud. (settling tank) 2) an open pit that was used in the first stage of separating crude oil and water from wells (pumping or skimming pit) 3) an excavation used to receive drilling mud circulating out of a well. The settling pit allowed the solids to settle out of the mud. settlings the well cuttings that settle out of drilling mud in the mud settling pits on a drilling rig

service unit

service unit

on the mast. A service unit is never called a workover rig that has rotary and circulating equipment and is designed for more extensive repairs on a well, (well service or pulling unit or pulling machine) SVCU service well a well that does not produce gas or oil and is used for some other purpose such as saltwater disposal, injecting fluids for pressure maintenance, waterflood, enhanced oil recovery, observation, or for water supply. A service well is used in support of production from producing wells. service-well head the equipment that is attached to the top of a subsea well after drilling and before completion. A service-well head includes the service tree with guide base and casing head along with the chokes, valves, pipes, and hydraulic lines. servo servomechanism servomechanism an automatic device that uses a small amount of energy to divert a large amount of power, servo sessile a bottom-dwelling organism that grows attached to the bottom. Sessile is in contrast to a vagile organism. set 1) to have slips grip a tubular 2) to have cement thicken 3) to have a packer engage the wall of a well set settling set back to rack stands of drillpipe or tubing in the derrick setback the area on the derrick floor of a drilling rig where the stands of drillpipe or tubing rest as they are racked set back and pick up to set a string of drillpipe in the finger board of a drilling rig and then remove the pipe to stab it back into the drillstring

settling tank shackle


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settling tank 1) a vessel used to hold produced oil and used power oil from a hydraulic pumping system. The water and sediment will settle to the bottom of the tank and the power oil will float to the top on the produced oil. 2) a vessel used to treat produced oil by gravity. The settling tank contains an internal downcomer and an emulsion spreader. The gas goes out the top, the oil out the middle and the water flows over a weir on the bottom. The settling tank is also know as a gun barrel, wash tank, or dehydration tank. set pressure the inlet pressure at which a relief valve opens set up the arrangement of geophones, cables, and shotholes on a seismic survey seven sisters the seven large international oil companies that used to control the free world petroleum production before nationalization and OPEC. The seven sisters are Exxon, Gulf, Mobile, Texaco, Standard of California, British Petroleum, and Royal Dutch Shell. seven-spot pattern or seven spot a type of waterflood in which the producing well is located in the center of a hexagonal pattern formed by six injection wells at the corners seventy-two hour continuous-efforts clause a part of the excuse provision in a farmout that allows the farmee to drill a substitute well if 72 hours of continuous drilling efforts have not made significant progress on the earning well sever to separate severance the separation of some rights such as mineral rights from the other rights of property ownership severance tax state and municipal tax on the producer based on a percentage of the gross value of the crude oil, condensate, and gas produced. Each state has its own laws and administrative procedures concerning severance taxes, (gross production or production tax) severance tax adjustment the part of state production or severance tax that is deducted when computing the windfall profits tax. The severance tax adjustment is computed by applying the severance tax rate to the excess of the removal price or selling price of a barrel of oil above adjusted base price. severed gas gas that has left the lease severed royalty interest an interest owned by someone other than the mineral rights owner. A

severed royalty interest is free of the cost of production and can exist for a specific number of years or for life. severe-loss zone a very permeable, highly fractured or cavernous rock layer that takes excessive amounts of drilling mud as it is being drilled, (lost circulation zone) sew the button on to finish a job as soon as possible SF 1) sandfrac 2) surfactants 3) seals failed 4) safety factor 5) shrinkage factor S.F. rod service factor SFAC surfactant treatment sfc surface SFL starting fluid level S L spherically focused log F SFLU slight fluorescence SFO show of free oil S/4 south quarter SFS seconds Saybolt furol SFT selective formation tester sft soft SG 1) show of gas 2) specific gravity S.G. show of gas SG shear strength Sg 1) gas saturation 2) surface area of grains SGA Southern Gas Association SG&C show of gas and condensate SG&D show of gas and distillate SG&O show of gas and oil SG&W show of gas and water Sgc critical gas saturation SGCM slightly gas-cut mud SGCO slightly gas-cut oil SGCW slightly gas-cut water SGMA self-generating mud acid Sg,. residue gas saturation sgd signed SH 1) shale 2) polarized shear wave perpendicular to plane of profile Sh or sh 1) shale 2) shaly Sj, hydrocarbon saturation shackle a U-shaped metal device with a pin or bolt through both ends. A shackle is used to connect chains,

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shackle rod shale shaker are common source rocks for petroleum. About onehalf to three-fourths of the world's sedimentary rocks are shales. SH, Sh, or sh shale base-line a vertical line on a spontaneous potential (SP) curve on an electric or induction log or on a natural gamma ray log that marks the maximum deflection to the left in Track 1 on a well log. The shale baseline is in contrast to the sand line. shale-bound water volume the volume of water that is chemically bound to mineral grains in shale such as clay minerals shale break a thin layer or parting of shale in limestone or sandstone. A shale break can form a vertical permeability barrier to fluids. shale bulk density the natural density of the shale with the pores filled with formation fluids. Shale bulk density is recorded on a mud log and increases with depth except when geopressured. Shale bulk density is measured by a) pycnometer, b) mercury pump, c) buoyancy, d) density comparison, or e) density gradient. shale density the number of shale layers per vertical distance shale factor a measure of the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of shale cuttings. The shale factor is reported in milliliters of 0.01 normal methylene blue required to titrate 100 g of shale. shale oil oil formed by heating oil shales shale-out a sedimentary rock layer that grades into shale or becomes shaly in one direction. If the rock layer is a reservoir rock that shales-out in an upward direction, it will decrease in porosity and permeability in that direction and be a potential petroleum trap.

cables or a linkage. Shackles can be found on the brake and clutch linkages and on hydraulic and air cylinders on a drilling rig. (clevis) shackle rod a steel or wood rod with joints on each end to connect to other shackle rods. The shackle rods form a hackle-rod line that connects the eccentric on a central power unit to the surrounding pumping units. Shackle rods are about 25 ft long and VA in. or 1 in. in diameter, (pull rod) shackle-rod line a line of jointed steel or wood rods (pull or shackle rods) that connects the eccentric on a central power unit to the surrounding pump jacks. The shackle-rod line is located 1-2 ft off the ground on metal posts with wooden guides that are greased, (pull or rod line) shackle work the central power plant, rod lines, and the jack pumps that make one system shad shadow shadow zone an area on the surface where subsurface reflections cannot be recorded during seismic exploration. The shadow zone can be due to dips and velocity contrasts in overlying beds that prevent the ray paths from reflectors below them from reaching the surface at the shadow zone. Diffractions might be recorded in a shadow zone. SHAKE shake out shake 1) to vibrate the ground with a vibrator truck in order to induce energy into the subsurface for a seismic survey 1) A seismic survey using Vibroseis is an example. shake out to centrifuge a liquid. Shake out is used to determine the basic sediment and water content of oil. A sample of the oil from an oil thief is mixed with 50% solvent, heated to 120F, and centrifuged for three minutes to leave the basic sediment and water at the bottom of the tube, (grind out) SHAKE shake-out test a method used to determine the basic sediment and water (BS&W) content of an oil sample. The sample, usually obtained from a stock tank, is centrifuged in a glass container. The BS&W content of the oil is read off graduations on the glass container. shaker see shale shaker shaker hand a member of a drilling rig crew who is in charge of maintaining the shale shaker shaker pit one of a series of steel tanks called the mud tanks on a drilling rig. The shaker pit is located on the end of the mud tanks between the shale shaker and the settling and suction pits. shaker test aggitation of a surfactant and stock tank oil mixture to test foam stability and the compatability of the surfactant with the oil shake table an instrument used to test geophones used in seismic exploration shake wave see S-tvave shale a very common clastic sedimentary rock composed primarily of clay-sized particles with some or no silt-sized particles. The dominant minerals in shale are clay minerals with varying amounts of mica, quartz, and other minerals. Shales are characteristically well layered and are relatively soft. Shales have a seismic velocity of 7,000-17,000 ft/sec. Dark gray and black shales contain about l%-3% organic matter and

shale shaker

shale shaker a series of vibrating or rotating tables with screens next to a rotary drilling rig. The screens are made of many different size and shape (square or oblique) woven screen cloth. The mesh size describes the number of openings per inch. The shale shaker is used to separate the well cuttings from the drilling mud after it circulates back to the surface. The screens are vibrated with an eccentrically-loaded rotating shaft that is driven from by a belt from an electric motor. Coarse well cuttings are caught on the screens, which can be as fine as 50 n- in size, and the drilling mud and finer cuttings flow through to the shaker pit. The well cuttings are washed off into a reserve or dump pit. A shale shaker can be

shale slide shear strain either single or double deck with two screens on top of each other and tilted 10 from horizontal. On a double deck shale shaker, the coarse cutting are caught on the top screen and the finer cuttings on the lower screen. The screens are mounted on a frame which sits on coil springs or rubber blocks, (mud screen or shaker) shale slide a metal ramp that conducts the well cuttings off the shale shaker screens to the reserve or dump pit shale stabilization the processes used in a well to prevent formation shales from adsorbing water. Shale stabilization is done with an invert emulsion mud with very saline water in the emulsified phase. In the Mondshine method, the salinity of the interstitial water is measured or estimated. In the Chenervert method, the equilibrium vapor pressure of the shale is measured from cuttings. The salinity of the invert emulsion mud is then adjusted. shaliness the amount of shale in a rock layer shallower pool test an exploratory well drilled to establish production in a reservoir shallower than the currently produced reservoir in a field shallowing upward sequence a vertical sequence in sediments or sedimentary rocks that was deposited with shoaling water depth upwards. A shallowing sequence usually coarsens upward, (shoaling upward sequence) shaly or shaley 1) a rock having the properties and/ or containing a significant amount of shale. (argillaceous) SHLYor shly 2) fine bedding or laminae that are 2-10 mm thick Sh&L. shale and lime shaped charge a cone-shaped explosive with a metal-liner backing that is designed to shoot highvelocity gases in a certain direction. Shaped charges are used to perforate a well by blowing holes in the casing or liner, cement and producing zone. The shape of the cone determines the diameter and depth of the perforation, (jet charge) shaped-charge fragmentizer a fishing tool that uses a downward-directed shaped charge to blow up the fish into small pieces. The shaped-charge fragmentizer is lowered on an electric cable until on the fish and then detonated. shaped-charge perforator the carrier and shaped explosive charges that are lowered into a well to perforate the well. There are both retrievable and expendable shaped-charge perforators. A retrievable perforator (retrievable hollow carrier gun, RHC) can be removed along with the explosive debris from a well and can be reused. An expendable perforator disintegrates and leaves the debris in the well. There is also a semiexpendable or semiretrievable perforator. Tubing-conveyed perforators are attached below the tubing or drillstring. The perforators can be fired either electronically or by dropping a weighted bar on a firing head, (jet gun) shape factor see porosity exponent, m sharing agreement or arrangement a deal in which one party contributes to the acquisition, exploration, and/or development of a property in exchange for an interest in the property. The

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distribution of costs and production revenues are established. A sharing agreement can be either a carried interest or a free-well arrangement. A farmout is an example of a sharing agreement. The agreement can be entered into on a tax-free basis. sharpshooter a worker in charge of explosives SHC saturated hydrocarbon Sj,,. hydrocarbon saturation SHDN shut down SHDP slim-hole drillpipe SHDT stratigraphic high-resolution dipmeter tool sheaf a protective covering shear a strain that is the result of forces causing two adjacent parts of a body to slide parallel but in apparently opposite directions along their contact plane, (shear strain) shr shear forces forces that are directed opposite each other but are separated by a plane called the shear plane shear fractures two sets of fractures in rocks that are oriented about 60 and 120 from each other and are caused by shear forces that are the result of compressive forces. Shear fractures have displacements parallel to the fracture surface and intermediate stress axis (<r2) and are oriented about 30 to the maximum principal shear stress (crj). The shear fractures are oriented about 60 to the minimum shear stress (cr3). shearometer a device used as an alternative method to measure gel strengths instead of a viscometer shear pin a retaining pin, screw, or bolt that is used to hold a joint between a piece of equipment and a shaft or to hold two shafts together. The shear pin is designed to break when a certain force is applied to it to prevent damage to the equipment. Shear pins can be used to hold equipment in place until correctly positioned in a well. shear-pin sub a downhole device that is used to place the whipstock on the cement plug at the bottom of the well for blind sidetracking. The weight of the drillstring is used to break a shear pin, and a rat hole is drilled. When the drillstring is raised, the shearpin sub retrieves the whipstock. shear ram a type of closing element used in a blowout preventer. The shear ram consists of hydraulically activated blades that are designed to cut any drillpipe in the blowout preventer and seal the well. The rams often require 3,000 psi pressure to close. Shear rams are often used on subsea blowoutpreventer stacks. shear relief valve a relief valve on the high-pressure line from the mud pump of a drilling rig that prevents excessive pressure buildup if the bit becomes clogged shear resistance a tangential stress that is caused by fluid viscosity. Shear resistance occurs along the boundary of flow in the tangential flow direction. shear strain a strain that is the result offerees causing two adjacent parts of a body to slide parallel but in apparently opposite directions along their contact plane, (shear)

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shear strength shoaling upward sequence cuttings from the bottom of a cable-tool rig well, (sand pump or sludger) shelltest a high-pressure test designed by the American Petroleum Institute to evaluate pressure equipment such as blowout preventers and wellheads. Body-test pressure, which is higher than the rated pressure for the equipment, is used, (body test) shelter pore a void or pore in limestone formed by the sheltering effect of large sedimentary particles that prevent the filling of the shelter pore between them with finer grained material, shltpor sheriff's deed a conveyance of an interest under the terms of a bankruptcy proceeding Shermanian a North American age of geological time that ended about 455 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. SHF super high frequency

shear strength the minimum shearing stress that will permanently deform a substance. When measured for drilling mud, shear strength is called gel strength. shear stress the stress component that acts tangential to a plane through a point on a body. The shear stress components are cr^, a^, and crzx. 5S shear surface a surface along which there has been shear movement with one side moving relative to the other side shear thinning the reduction in viscosity of a particular fluid under increasing rate of shear shear thinning fluid a fluid that has a decreased viscosity at high flow rates. Bipolymers such as xanthan gums are shear thinning fluids. shear wave a body wave in which the motion of particles is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Two types of shear waves are SV- and SH-waves. The SV-wave has particle motion in the vertical plane of the geophone system, whereas the SW-wave has particle motion perpendicular to the vertical plane of the geophone system. A shear wave travels about one-half as fast as a compressional wave. A shear-wave survey is used to obtain information on the physical properties of subsurface formations and is measured in amplitude, cement bond, and fracture logs. (S-wave or transverse wave) S shear wave splitting the polarized detection of seismic shear waves into vertical and horizontal waves. The horizontal shear waves are altenuated by fractures. shear zone a zone in rocks that has been crushed and brecciated due to shear strain sheath a protective covering or casing sheave a grooved wheel or pulley on a shaft in an assembly called a block. Cable or wire rope goes around the sheave. A sheave is designed for a certain size line and has a diameter that is at least 30 times the diameter of the line. The groove is slightly larger than the wire rope and will contact about 150 of the rope circumference. The sheaves used in the crown and traveling blocks of a drilling rig are made of high-quality steel and rotate on large-diameter antifriction bearings around a shaft. sheephearder anticline an anticline or fold in the rocks that sticks up in the air sheet pore a pore in a sedimentary rock characterized by planar rather than concave walls. Sheet pores can occur in dolomite. sheet sand an extensive sandstone layer of relatively uniform thickness shelf 1) the relatively shallow margins of a basin where thin sediments are deposited 2) the continental shelf shelf break or margin the line along the margin of a basin delineating the thin sediments deposited on the shelf and the thicker sediments leading down into the basin. The shelf break or margin in the ocean delineates the continental shelf from the continental margin or slope, (hinge line) shell 1) a tank or vessel body 2) a torpedo used for explosive fracturing of well 3) a nitroglycerin container 4) a thin, hard rock layer. Shi shell pump a cylinder with a plunger and valve apparatus that is run on a sand line to remove well

shield areas of the world

shield a low-lying, stable area of Precambrian rocks on the surface of the earth. Shields cover large areas, and every continent has at least one shield. Because this basement rock crops out on the surface, there is little or no petroleum potential for a shield. shielded electrode see guarded electrode shift 1) the time of a tour on a drilling rig 2) the crew that works during a tour shim a thin sheet of metal that is used to raise or adjust the level of equipment or the distance between equipment shine an oil show shirtail or shirt tail the lower outer section of the bit body or leg on a roller-cone bit that comes in contact with the formation being drilled. The shirttail is often protected by hard facing. shirttail packer a canvas that is lowered down to the bottom of a well to make a watertight seal Shi shell shld shoulder SHLS or shls shells shit por shelter porosity SHLY or shly shaly SHM simple harmonic motion shoaling upward sequence a vertical sequence in sediments or sedimentary rocks that was deposited

shock absorber short with shallowing water depth upwards. A shoaling sequence usually coarsens upward, (shallowing upward sequence) shock absorber see shock sub shock hose see vibrator hose shocking the stimulation of a well by a sudden backsurge that reduces the pressure in the open hole or perforations. The rapid pulse of high pressure differential between the formation and the well causes the formation fluids to flow into the well. shock load a sudden stress applied over a short time interval. Shock stress will occur on only one part of a pipe at any instant. shock loading to suddenly apply weight. Shock loading can be caused by setting slips on a moving drillpipe. shock sub a tool that is run in the drillstring between at bit and drill collar and uses steel or rubber springs to absorb shocks when the bit bounces and vibrates off a hard formation. Sometimes the shock subs are located 30 or 60 ft above the bit. (shock absorber or vibration dampener) shoe 1) a short, hollow steel cylinder with a rounded bottom that is screwed into the bottom of a fishing or casing string before it is lowered into a well. The shoe guides the tubular goods around any irregularities in the borehole as the string is lowered in the well and has an orifice in the end to allow fluids to flow through it. A guide shoe does not have any values on the orifice. A casing shoe is used on the end of a casing string. A float shoe has a check valve that prevents slurry backfill during a cement job. There is also a differential or automatic fillup type of shoe. Rotary, milling, and washover shoes are used for fishing. 2) a protective plate shoe packer a solid or inflatable rubber device that is attached to the outside of the casing below a stage or port collar and used during stage cementing. The shoe packer prevents the upper-stage cement from descending into the drilling mud below it.

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shoestring sandstone

shoestring sand or sandstone a driller's term for a long, narrow, lens-shaped sandstone usually encased in a shale layer. A shoestring sandstone is usually

deposited either as a shoreline, river channel, or delta sand. shoot 1) a seismic survey 2) to run a seismic survey 3) to detonate an explosive 4) to pass a short pulse of a large electric current through a conductor shoot a well to enlarge the wellbore and fracture a reservoir rock to stimulate production from a well by explosive fracturing. Nitroglycerin in a torpedo is lowered and exploded in the well. The technique is called shooting or explosive fracturing. Shooting a well was first introduced in 1860 using gun powder and was common until it was replaced by hydraulic fracturing in the 1950s. shooter 1) a person who uses explosives to fracture a well, (well shooter) 2) a person on a seismic survey who detonates the explosives shooting a technique that uses a solidified or gelatintype explosive such as nitroglycerine in a torpedo which is detonated in the well to increase the size of the wellbore and fracture the reservoir rock. The fractures increase the permeability of the reservoir and production from the well. The casing above the shot is often protected with a temporary plug of cement, plastic, and/or gravel. Sand and gravel are often packed around the nitroglycerin shell to contain the explosion. The explosive is detonated with a time bomb. After the explosion, the debris is cleared. Casing cannot be set and an openhole completion must be used. Shooting has been in use almost since the first oil well was drilled. The process is called giving the well a shot, (explosive fracturing or nitro shooting) shooting lease an agreement between a landowner and a company that allows the company to run seismic on the land shooting nipple assembly a pipe with wireline blowout preventers and packoff that is attached to the top of casing in a well and is used during wireline operations such as logging or perforating shooting option a type of exploration contract in which the company runs the seismic and then has the option to lease some acreage on the land that was shot. The option is defined in the acreage selection clause of the contract. shooting rights the permission for access to a property to shoot seismic. Shooting rights can be coupled with an option to lease. shooting through the cable a method used in common-depth-point shooting when a shot point is not accessible. The detector is moved one notch but the shot point stays the same. shoot on paper to think through by calculation the expected results and anticipate the problems of a program or survey before starting it shoot pipe to perforate pipe shore lead the open water area that forms between the beach and pack ice during the summer in the Artie shore reef a reef that grows parallel to the shoreline and is either attached to the shoreline or is separated from the shoreline by a narrow, shallow lagoon. A barrier reef is separated from the shoreline by a wider and deeper lagoon than a shore reef, (fringing reef) short a shorter than normal joint of casing

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shortage shot instant or moment shot datum any convenient reference surface used in calculations for the preparation of time-depth charts in seismic exploration shot depth or elevation the distance from the surface to the depth of the explosion in a shot hole used in seismic exploration. For a large charge, the shot depth is measured at both the top and bottom of the charge, (effective shot depth) shot density the number of perforations per foot. Four shots per foot used to be standard shot density shot drill a drill with steel shot set in the cutting edge that was used for drilling hard formations. (adamantine drill) shotgun or shot gun tank a tall, narrow separator used on low-production wells. A shotgun tank is designed to separate water and sediment from the crude oil by gravity, (gun-barrel)

shortage the difference between the amount of oil or gas that was produced and the amount that could have been produced under an allowable during a certain period of time short hook up a downhole assembly that is used to build angle after a deviated well is kicked off. A short hook up consists of a gauge bit, a near-bit gauge stabilizer, and drill collars. short normal resistivity log a shallow-investigation type of wireline electric log that measures resistivity of rocks and their fluids with electrodes spaced 16 in. apart. Short normal resistivity is usually plotted in Track 2 on the well log. short oil payment an oil payment, the share of oil produced from a leasehold that is free of the costs of production, with a short time to be paid. A short oil payment is in contrast to a long oil payment. short radius horizontal well a horizontal well with a very high-curvature build angle between 100-300 per 100 ft and a radius of 20-60 ft short section a land division section of land that has less than 640 ac short shot a small charge or the detonation of a small charge to determine the characteristics of the low-velocity zone or weathering on the surface for seismic refraction, (poop or weathering shot) short signal a seismic source that gives a pulse with a duration of a few tens of milliseconds!1 Short signal sources are explosive, weight drop, air gun, water gun, steam gun, and imploders. The conventional frequency spectrum is 10-100 Hz and is 20-200 Hz in high resolution seismic. short string the tubing string serving the shallower producing reservoir in a dual completion well short tank a stock tank that is not full of oil, even though the operator wants the gauger to make a run short ton a unit of weight in the United States and Canada. A short ton weights 2,000 pounds. The long ton used by Great Britain weighs 2,240 pounds. A short ton is equal to 0.907 metric tons or 0.893 long tons. (U.S. ton) short trip to raise and pull a few strands of drillpipe off the drillstring in a well and then return it to the bottom of the well. A short trip is used a) to clean and open the well, b) to see if it is safe to pull out of the hole, and c) to prevent the drillstring from becoming stuck by caving or sloughing. shot 1) an explosion or explosive used to put sound energy into the subsurface for seismic exploration. It is commonly a 5-lb explosive charge that is packed in a one-piece plastic tube that is threaded on both ends. The shot is 2Vi ft long with an electric blasting cap inserted in a hole on one end and the cap wire is wound around the tube. The shot is lowered by wire or loading poles in the shot hole. 2) a seismic energy impulse. 3) an explosive used to artificially fracture reservoir rocks in a well 4) a surveying measurement 5) a short pulse of electric current shot bounce seismic record noise caused by recording truck vibrations shot break the time indication on a seismic record of the detonation of a shot or explosive used in seismic exploration, (shot instant or moment-of-time break)

shot hole

shothole or shot hole a small-diameter hole in which explosives are detonated to impart seismic energy into the subsurface. The shothole is drilled by a truck-mounted rotary rig, air drill, auger drill, air-hammer drill, or pumper drill through the soil which does not transmit seismic energy well and into the rock below. A shothole is 20-200 ft deep (60100 ft is most common) and 4-7 in. in diameter. shothole or shot-hole anchor a device with upward-facing springy prongs that holds a charge in a shot hole if there is water in the hole shothole or shot-hole bridge an obstacle, intentional or accidental, in a shothole used for seismic exploration. The shot cannot be placed below the bridge. shothole or shot-hole drill a small-diameter drill used for drilling a seismic exploration shothole. The shothole drill is often mounted on a truck. shothole or shot-hole elevation the elevation, in feet above sea level, at the top of the shothole shothole or shot-hole fatigue an effect caused by the delay in time between the detonation of an explosive in a shothole for seismic exploration and the initiation of seismic waves through the surrounding rocks. Shothole fatigue is often caused by a cavity in the shothole caused by a previous explosion. shothole or shot-hole rig a light, portable rig that is used to drill the shot holes on a seismic survey shot instant or moment the time indication on a seismic record of the detonation of the shot or

shot-in-the-dark shut-in or shutin drillpipe pressure explosives used in seismic exploration, (shot or time break) shot-in-the-dark a wildcat well shot noise noise recorded during seismic exploration caused by gases generated by the explosion and loose material in the shothole shot peening a method used to create a hard surface on metal by shooting small steel pellets onto the surface. Shot peening is used on sucker rods. shotpoint or shot point 1) the location of a seismic exploration shot. A shotpoint could be generated by explosives, vibrator, air gun, or any other seismic source. 2) the area surrounding the shothole. SP shotpoint or shot-point map a map showing the location of seismic lines. Each line is identified with a number and/or name and each 10th, 50th, or 100th shotpoint is labeled with a symbol. shotpoint or shot-point seismometer see uphole jug shoulder a protuberance that forms a ledge in a well either where a pipe becomes larger in outer diameter or where a wellbore becomes smaller in diameter, shld shoulder-bed effect the effect of different rock layers located above and below on the well-log response of a rock layer. The shoulder-bed effect is amplified with thin beds in deep investigation logs. A focused log is engineered to minimize this effect. (adjacent-bed effect) SHOW show of hydrocarbons show 1) the appearance of oil and/or gas in drilling mud, cuttings or a core, shw 2) a small amount, usually not enough to be commercial, of gas and/or oil in a well, shw 3) the presence of hydrocarbons above background level in a sample, shw show-evaluation log see mud log show report a mud logging report on all the information concerning a potential petroleum zone. The show report can include depth, lithology, type and amount of visible petroleum, porosity, type and amount of fluorescence, gas cut reading before and during drilling the zone, drilling conditions, mud properties, bit condition, change in drilling rates, weight on bit, chloride changes, differential pressures, and mud gains or losses. The mud logger might also write the logger's evaluation on the potential zone. show well 1) a well used as an example for production for a proposed well to be drilled near it 2) a well that is not a producer but has good oil and gas shows shp shaft horsepower shpg shipping shpt shipment Si,, residual hydrocarbon saturation shr shear shrinkage the decrease in liquid volume due to solution gas bubbling out of the liquid and/or temperature and pressure changes. Oil shrinkage is reported as a) percentage of stock-tank oil or b) percentage of original oil volume

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shrinkage factor the remaining fraction or percent of one barrel of reservoir oil that has been pumped to surface and the natural gas has bubbled out under surface conditions. The shrinkage factor generally varies between 0.9 and 0.6 and depends on how much natural gas is dissolved in the subsurface oil (formation gas/oil ratio). Generally, the deeper the reservoir, the more gas is dissolved in it, and the more it will shrink on the surface. SF shrink fit a very tight union formed by placing a heated part around a cooler part. The contraction of the heated part as it cools forms the shrink fit. Shrink fit is in contrast to an expansion fit. shrink-on tool joint a tool joint in which the outer part is expanded by heating it to fit on the inner part. A shrink-on tool joint is then cooled to contract around the inner part. shroud a projection on a jet nozzle that is designed to reduce the effect of erosion on the drill bit shunt a conductor joining two parts of an electrical circuit to form a parallel or alternate path for a portion of the current shut-down to temporarily suspend drilling a well; for example, when the well is waiting on cement.
SHDN, S.D., or SD

shut-down days the days in a month during which production is prohibited by a government regulatory agency shut-down time the time during the drilling of a well in which drilling has been suspended at the operator's request shut-down valve an automatic valve that is used to isolate a component in a system
ORIGINAL PRESSURE FLOWING PRESSURE

SHUT IN PRESSURE

TIME

shutin pressure

shut in 1) to close the valves and cease production on a well 2) a well with the wellhead valves closed and there is no fluid flow at the surface. SI or S.I. shut-in bottomhole pressure the pressure on a fluid measured by an instrument at or near the producing formation in a well after the well has been shut in (closed) for a period of time, usually 24 hours or longer. Shut-in bottomhole pressure is in contrast to flowing bottomhole pressure, (closed or closed-in bottomhole pressure) SIBHP shut-in or shutin casing pressure the pressure on the fluid in the casing after the well has been closed or shut in. SCIP shut-in or shutin drillpipe pressure the pressure on the fluid in the drillstring after the mud pumps have been turned off and the well is closed or shut
in. SIDPP

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shut-in or shutin gas side-scan sonar side-door back-off sub a fishing tool run when a tubular is both stuck and plugged in a well. The sub has an opening on the side and is run on a free string into the well and screwed into the fish. A conductor line and string shot are run inside the string to the side-door back-off sub and guided out into the annulus down to the stuck pipe to be detonated. side-door elevators a clamp-like device that is attached to the traveling block on a drilling rig and is used to raise and lower the drillstring, casing, and tubing in a well. The side-door elevators have a hinge on one side so that they can open up and then close to fit around the pipe or tubing for hoisting or lowering. side-door junk basket a sub that is placed between the bit and drill collar on the drillstring. Circulating drilling mud through and out the junk basket suspends any metal debris which then falls into an opening on the side of the sub and is trapped in the basket. side-door mandrel a container for a gas-lift valve in the tubing. The side-door mandrel requires that the tubing string be pulled by a service unit to repair or replace the gas-lift valve. The side-door mandrel is in contrast to a side-pocket mandrel that enables the gas-lift valve to be replaced by wireline. side-door overshot an overshot fishing tool that is cable-guided and has a gate or door in the side to pass the cable side-door overshot method a fishing technique used for conductor cable or sand line. An overshot with a gate or door in the side allows the line to be fed into the tool. The overshot is run on a drill or tubing string until the fishing neck or body of the fish is engaged. sidehill an underreaming bit side-looking airborne radar a device that uses ultrahigh frequency radio waves and a long, narrow stabilized antenna that is parallel to the flight path to produce an image similar to an aerial photograph. The frequency bands used are Ka-, X-, and L-bands. The X-band and a wavelength of 3 cm is most common. It sweeps the earth's surface on either side of the aircraft with a radar beam and records its reflections. The resolution is 30-60 ft. The advantage of sidelooking airborne radar is that it is not affected by clouds, it has high resolution, and it can be run at night. SLAR side-pocket mandrel a container for a gas-lift valve in the tubing. The side-pocket mandrel enables the gas-lift valve to be repaired or replaced by wireline in contrast to a side-door mandrel. siderite a common, yellowish-brown, brownish-red, brownish-black, white, or gray mineral that is composed of FeCO3. Siderite is found as beds or nodules in shale. Siderite is readily soluble in HC1 but contains iron. A sequestering agent is needed when acidizing a formation containing siderite. Sid or sid side-scan sonar a device or method used to image the seafloor. Side-scan sonar uses bursts of highfrequency sound (30-100 kHz) emitted from a towed fish behind a boat. The energy spreads out 10-40 from vertical to reflect off the seafloor and objects in a strip about 500 ft to each side and is recorded on a towed streamer. Side-scan sonar is especially

shut-in or shutin gas gas that is not being produced because of a government regulatory agency or because there is not buyer at an acceptable price. Shut-in is in contrast to curtailment. shut-in or shutin payments 1) shut-in royalty made to royalty owners 2) shut-in rental made to the lessor shut-in or shutin pressure the pressure on the fluid at the wellhead after the well has been closed (shut in) for a period of time, usually 24 hours or longer, and the maximum pressure has built up. (closed or dosed-in pressure) SIP or S.I.P. shut-in or shutin rental payments made for a gas well that is capable of producing but has been closed (shut in) for a reason such as lack of a market for the gas or a blowout. Shut-in payments can be made only for a certain number of years beyond the primary term in the lease as denned in the lease. Shut-in rental is paid to the lessor in contrast to shut-in royalty. shut-in or shutin royalty payments made for a gas well that is capable of producing but has been closed (shut in) for a reason such as lack of a market for the gas or a blowout. If there is a shut-in clause in the lease and the payments are not made, the lease could terminate. The shut-in royalty is paid to the royalty owners in contrast to shut-in rental, (cappediri royally) shut-in or shutin royalty clause an oil and gas provision in a lease that allows the lessee to maintain the lease with payments called shut-in royalties during periods when there is no production shut-in or shutin time the time since the fluid in a well has been flowing shut-in or shutin valve a valve in a drillstem test tool that is closed by rotation. The valve is located above the main tester valve and is used so that the shut-in pressure at the end of the test can be recorded. shut-in or shutin well a producing well that is temporarily turned off. The well could be shut-in for a workover, lack of gas market, or other reasons. shut off to isolate a water-producing zone in a well with cementing or mudding up shut the well in to stop production on a well by closing the valves on the wellhead. Shutting the well in is in contrast to killing a well by circulating heavy fluid. shuttle imaging radar a radar image of the earth's surface taken from the Space Shuttle. Shuttle imaging radar uses the L-band (23-5 cm wavelength) and has a 50 km swath. SIR SHT straight-hole test shthg sheathing shw show SI 1) shut in or shutin 2) System International d'Unites S.I. shut in or shutin Si source interval S| sampled initial signal SIBHP shut-in bottomhole pressure SICP shut-in casing pressure Sid or sid siderite side bed an adjacent sedimentary rock layer

sideswipe Siegenian useful in examining the seafloor for mudflows and slumps before emplacing an offshore platform. Gas bubbles from seepages show on side-scan sonar. sideswipe 1) in seismic exploration using the reflection method, sideswipe is the crossing of two reflectors on a seismic profile or record. Sideswipe is due to the almost simultaneous arrival of seismic energy from two steeply dipping reflectors such as the limbs of a syncline or two fault scarps. 2) in seismic exploration using the refraction method, the lateral deflection of the minimum time path caused by the proximity of a steeply dipping, high-velocity boundary, such as that caused by a salt plug side track a directional well drilled out from the course of a well at a location above the bottom of that well. SITk or ST

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sidewall coring tool

sidetracking

sidetracking or side tracking deviation drilling operations that deflect the trajectory of a well around junk or a cement plug in a well. S/T or STg sidetracking bit a drilling bit that is designed to kick off a sidetracking drilling operation. A sidetracking bit has a cutting edge in the shape of a disk that is concave in the center and has industrial diamonds impregnated on it. sidetracking pocket an enlargement of a wellbore by jetting to accommodate sidetracking in the well sidewall acoustic log a high-resolution acoustic log that uses a contact pad to press the acoustic transducers against the wellbore wall. The acoustic receivers are 6 in. apart. SWA sidewall cock see sidewall tap sidewall core a small core (about 3% in. long and 13 /i6 in. in diameter) taken from the sidewall of a well by a sidewall coring tool or gun after the well has been drilled. The cores are used to verify the lithology of formations seen on electronic logs and to sample the fluids present in the formation. Grain shattering is common in the sample. The fracturing of tight rocks tends to increase their porosity and permeability, whereas the compaction of soft rock tends to decrease their porosity and permeability. Sidewall cores are relatively inexpensive and used primarily in exploration wells. SWC or S.W.C. sidewall coring a method used to take small samples from the side of a well after it has been drilled. The sidewall core gun has up to 30 steel-jacket bullets with explosive charges behind them. The gun is lowered in a well to an elevation determined by an spontaneous potential or gamma ray log and the explosives detonated electronically. The bullets are

fired in sequence. Various bullet designs are used for different formation hardnesses. Steel cables attach the bullets to the gun. Sidewall coring was first done in 1934. (sidewall sampling) SWC sidewall epithermal neutron log or sidewall neutron log a radioactive type of wireline well log that determines formation porosity. A radioactive source exposes the rocks adjacent to the wellbore with high-velocity neutrons and records epithermal neutrons to measure hydrogen density and neutronderived porosity in the rocks. A skid and wall contact pad presses the tool against the side of the well and cuts into the mud cake to minimize borehole effects. The log can be used only in uncased holes that are either filled or empty and has a poor response for vuggy or fracture porosity. SNP, SNL, or SWN sidewall neutron porosity log a neutron porosity log with the source and detector mounted in a pad on a skid that is pressed against the wall of the wellbore. The sidewall neutron porosity log is usually run in air-drilled wells. SNPm sidewall pad a wireline well log device that is mounted on an arm attached to a sonde and is pressed against the sides of the well to measure properties of the rocks and their fluids. The pad can be an insulated, rubber pillow filled with a fluid that has electrodes mounted in it. If the pad has no electrodes in it, it is called a backup pad. The sidewall pad is used in microresistivity, density and radioactive logs. sidewall packer a packer that is run on the outside of casing and located just above the producing zone to prevent cement slurry from flowing down to the producing zone sidewall sampling see sidewall coring sidewall tap see sidewall cock sidewinder a seismic reflection off the side of a steep structure such as a reef or fault plane SBDP or SIDPP shut-in drillpipe pressure Siegenian a global age of geological time that occurred about 400-395 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Devonian epoch.

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sieve analysis silica-lime cement


Xf fluid capture cross section 2 h c hydrocarbon capture cross section Siog capture cross section read on log sigma log see Thermal Multigate Decay Log Sma rock-matrix capture cross section ax maximum stress vector Sr 1) reflected stress 2) radial stress XA shale capture cross section a, 1) transmitted stress 2) tangential stress <T3 minimum stress vector w2 intermediate stress vector sigma unit a unit of macroscopic cross section used in well logging that is equal to 10 - 3 cm - 1 . capture cross section s.u. crv overburden stress 2W formation-water capture cross section signal 1) energy that contains information. Seismic energy is a signal. Signal is in contrast to noise. signal-to-noise ratio a ratio of desired energy carrying information (signal) to undesired energy (noise). S/N or STNR signature 1) the original seismic pulse. The signature is often recorded by a geophone or hydrophone next to the source. A distorted signature forms a wavelet. 2) the combination of characteristics that allow an object to be recognized on a remote sensing image signature deconvolution see wavelet processing signature log an acoustic wave train displayed in an amplitude-time mode significant gas field a gas field that has between 150 and 600 Bcf of recoverable gas. Greater than 600 Bcf of recoverable gas is a giant gas field. SIGW shut-in gas well Sil Silurian Sil or sil 1) silicon 2) siliceous 3) silica silent chain a type of drilling rig power transmission that uses gear teeth-type sprockets and semiarticulating mesh action. The silent chain drive is quieter and can run at higher speeds than an normal chain drive but requires a closer alignment than normal chain drives. SILIC 1) siliceous 2) silica silic silica silica flour quartz sand ground to a size between 0.074 and 0.044 mm. Silica flour is used as a cement additive to retain cement strength at high temperatures. silica gel a dehydrating agent used in air and gas drilling to control water silica-lime cement a type of cement used in primary cementing wells with temperatures above 14OF. Silicalime cement is a mixture of siliceous material that is either natural such as volcanic particles or artificial such as fly ash, hydrated lime, a small amount of calcium chloride and water. The siliceous material increases the strength and lowers the permeability of the cement. Silica-lime cement is light in weight, economical, and easily retarded, (pozzolan-lime or

sieve analysis the use of different sized screens or sieves to determine the relative percentages of different sized particle, (screen analysis) sieves screens, usually made of metal wire, with accurately sized openings. Various sized sieves are used to determine the size of sediment particles. The American Society of Testing and Materials sieve scale is commonly used. A.S.T.M. Sieve Scale Mesh Opening in mm 5 4.00 6 3.36 7 2.83 8 2.38 10 2.00 12 1.68 14 1.41 16 1.19 18 1.00 20 0.84 25 0.71 30 0.59 35 0.50 40 0.42 45 0.35 50 0.297 60 0.250 70 0.210 80 0.177 100 0.149 120 0.125 140 0.105 170 0.088 200 0.074 230 0.062 270 0.053 325 0.044 sieve tray a screen-covered tray that is used in a contact tower absorber, or adsorper to hold solid materials. The gas passes downward through the sieves. sieving determining the size of sediment particles by passing them through a set of screens (sieves) with different sized openings. Sieving can also be used to eliminate or concentrate particles of a certain size range. sight a bearing or angle measured during surveying sight derrick to erect a derrick sight draft a draft for monies that is due immediately. The payment must be picked up on the day that the sight draft arrives at the drawer's bank. sight glass a vertical glass tube that is connected to the shell of a tank and is used to determine the height of liquid in the tank by the height of liquid in the tube. Several sight glasses can be used on the same tank to record various liquid heights. 2 thermal-neutron capture cross section per unit volume of formation a 1) standard deviation 2) electrical conductivity 3) wavenumber 4) surface tension 5) interfacial tension 6) stress 7) sigmalog parameter <ra axial stress ^corr corrected capture cross section

pozzolanic cement)

silica sand single entry silica sand quartz sand with sizes between about 0.210 to 0.088 mm. Silica sand is used as a cement additive to retain cement strength at high temperatures. silicate-control agent an additive used in acidizing that prevents silicates such as clays from adsorbing water from spent acid and swelling. The agent buffers the pH of the spent acid and can cause silicates to shrink. silicate mud a drilling mud that has a pickling effect on shales and prevents heaving shales. Silicate mud is made from sodium silicate saturated seawater and has a density of about 12 lb/gal. siliceous ooze a pelagic (deep ocean) deposit containing at least 30% siliceous skeletal particles with the rest being clay minerals. Siliceous ooze is often named after the organism that produced the skeletal particles such as radiolarian or diatom ooze. siliciclastic clastic or transported sediments or sedimentary rodes that contain silicon. Sandstones and shales are siliciclastic sedimentary rocks in contrast to carbonates. silicoilagellate a single-celled marine animal that has a very small skeleton (0.05-0.1 mm) composed of siliceous rings and spines that can be preserved as microfossils. Silicoflagellates have existed from the Upper Jurassic epoch to the present. silicon-controlled rectifier a rectifier that blocks power in one direction but transmits power in the other direction and efficiently converts alternating current to direct current. Silicon-controlled rectifiers are used on drawworks, mud pumps, rotary table drives, and electric drilling rigs. Almost all mobile offshore rigs use silicon-controlled rectifiers. SCR

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sim similar simple harmonic motion uniform, periodic motion. SHM simple multiple a seismic reflection that has been reflected back down from the earth's surface or the base of weathering and then reflected back up to the surface off the same subsurface discontinuity that formed the original reflection simple tangent build curve a deviated well with a build curve that consists of two build intervals that are separated by a straight tangent interval. A simple tangent build curve is in contrast to a single-radius build curve. simplex orifice fitting a type of orifice fitting made with one chamber. The orifice plate can be removed by depressuring the fitting by loosening the top set screws, sliding the clamping bar out, and lifting the sealing bar carrier and orifice plate out. The simplex orifice fitting is unlike the senior orifice fitting in which the orifice plate can be removed without interrupting the flow. simplex two-cone bit a bicone roller-cone bit that was introduced by Hughes Tool Company in the late 1910s. The bit has a long, split body with side reamers and lubricated, journal-type bearings. The bit was dressed on the job. simultaneous drilling a farmout provision in which the farmee must start to drill all the earning wells at the same time simultaneous lease the method used to lease United States onshore federal lands upon which there has already been an expired or returned lease. The Bureau of Land Management publishes a list bimonthly of all qualified tracts. Applications must be received within 15 working days of publication, and the lease is granted based on a random or lottery selection of applicants. The lease grants the lessee the right to search, drill, and produce oil and gas from that tract. Simultaneous leases have a $75 filing fee and a 10year primary term. There is a f 1 per acre annual rental for the first 5 years and $3 per acre for the last 5 years. The lease has a 12V2% royalty. Simultaneous leases are in contrast to competitive leases and over-the-counter applications. Simultaneous leases are not issued on producing known geological structures, (noncompetitive lease) sin sine. Sinemurian a global age of geological time that occurred about 195-190 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Jurassic epoch. SING single competition single one joint of pipe, tubing, casing, or sucker rod single-buoy mooring system a deep-water platform against which tankers can moor as they load and unload oil through a submarine pipeline. SBM single-ended spread or single-ender a straight line of geophones with a seismic source at one end single entry a frac job in a well through a single notch cut in the casing. A single entry is in contrast to a limited entry frac job.

sill

sill 1) an igneous intrusion injected as a layer along a sedimentary rock bedding plane 2) a narrow, shallow ledge that restricts the flow of water into a waterfilled basin silt a sedimentary particle between Vi6 and V 5 mm 26 in diameter. Sit or sit silt siltstone siltstone a clastic sedimentary rock composed predominately of silt-sized particles, silt, SLTS, or Sltst silty containing silt. SLTY, Slty, or slty Silurian a period of time about 425-405 m. y. ago. It was during the Silurian period of the Paleozoic era that land plants and animals first evolved. The Silurian is subdivided into Upper Silurian and Lower Silurian global epochs. It contains the North American epochs of the Alexandrian, Niagarian, and Cayugan. Sil

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single knock skeletal sand line by a rope socket. A sinker bar gives weight to the end of the sand line so that it will properly spool off the sand-line drum. A tool such as a bumper jar with a paraffin knife or a swab cup mandrel is attached to the lower end of the sinker bar on a sand line. The sinker bar gives negative buoyancy to any tool on the end of a wireline or sand line so that it can be properly lowered through a liquid such as drilling mud filling the well. A sinker bar can be simply a steel tube filled with lead. sinker bar guide four bars of iron that were fitted to the auger stem of a cable-tool rig to form a heavy steel shaft that prevents deviation of the well. The bit jars are screwed into the sinker bar guide, (auger stem) sinker weight a weight or series of weights that is used to give a well logging sonde or tool negative buoyancy in a well sinkhole a funnel-shaped, circular depression in karst linestone. A sinkhole is formed by the collapsed roof of underground drainage, doline sinter to bind metal power into a solid mass by heating sintered carbides iron, chromium, or tungsten carbides bonded together with nickel or cobalt SIOW shut-in oil well SIP shut-in pressure S.I.P. 1) shut-in pressure 2) shut-in prorated siphon line a hose or pipe used to remove liquid from the bottom of a tank by siphoning. The outlet end of the siphon line has to be lower than the end in the tank. siphon string a string of gas well tubing that produces salt water along with the gas SIR 1) salinity indicator ratio 2) shuttle imaging radar SIRA stable isotope ratio analysis SI system the System International d'Unites used for measurements in France and West Germany. The system uses kilogram for mass, meter for length, and second for time. site survey see wellsite survey SITP shut-in tubing pressure sitting on a well a person, usually a geologist, who stays at the drillsite 24 hours a day to supervise or conduct geological operations. The geological operations could include collecting and examining the well cuttings at regular intervals and recommending and supervising coring and well logging. SIWHP shut-in wellhead pressure SIWOP shut in waiting on potential sixty-day clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that allows the lease at the end of the primary term to be extended as long as there is no more than 60 days between drilling operations on that lease Sg compressive strength sk sack skel skeletal skeletal remains of plants and animals with carbonate or siliceous parts, skel

single knock a single occurrence that will activate a detector such as a fire alarm. A single knock is in contrast to a continuous event. single phase reservoir see gas condensate reservoir single-pole rig a well-servicing unit that has only one steel tube for a mast single-radius build curve a deviated well with a single continuous build interval from the kickoff point to the end of curve. Single-radius build curve is in contrast to a simple tangent build curve. single-shot survey a downhole orientation made by an instrument that measures the azimuth and/or inclination at only one point. The single-shot survey uses a compass and camera to record the orientation. A photograph activated by a timing mechanism is taken of an angle indicator on a compass card. A multishot survey will do the same at several locations in the well. single-stage cementing cementing casing, usually conductor or surface, with one batch of cement. Singlestage cementing is in contrast to multistage cementing that is used for long strings. single wall packer test an openhole drillstem test using only one packer. The test formation is located below the packer. single well oil-production system a tanker that is connected to a subsea well with a riser. SWOPS single well tracer a method used to determine residual oil saturation in a reservoir. An ester is injected into the reservoir where it hydrolyzes. Some of the injected solution is produced back and analyzed. sinistral counter-clockwise rotation. Sinistral is the opposite of dextral. sinistral fault a left-lateral fault sink 1) to drill a well 2) the pressure gradient surrounding a producing wellbore

sinker bar

sinker bar a heavy steel rod with a connector that is used on the end of a wireline or is attached to a

skeletal sands skeletal sands grains of sand formed by broken and abraded biological shells composed of calcium carbonate. A coquina is a skeletal sand. skew 1) the angular difference between a well and the dip of a formation 2) a shearing caused by the offset of a cone from the geometric center of the roller-cone bit 3) the misalignment of recorded bit rows on magnetic tape. Skew makes reading of a seismic tape difficult and is often caused by field problems. skew angle the angular offset of the axis cone from the geometric center of a roller-cone bit. Skewing causes shearing of the rocks, and the skew angle can be up to 2% for medium-hard rocks. skid 1) to move a drilling rig or heavy equipment. Drilling rigs are skidded by a) pulling with bulldozers, b) towing with crawler trucks, c) using a rig skidding system, or d) using a rig walker. 2) a projection on a wireline well log sonde that contains detectors and is pressed against the sides of the wellbore. The skid is used to minimize borehole effects and can cut into the mudcake. A skid is sometimes called a pad. 3) a platform and/or metal runners upon which heavy equipment can be placed and can be used as a sled to move the equipment skidboard boards that used as tracks for skidding a rig with a bulldozer and roller. The skidboards are picked up from behind and moved in front of the load as it is skidded. Skidboards are commonly 1015 ft long and 3 x 12s. skid fig a drilling rig mounted on rollers for moving skidded shots seismic shotpoints that, because of access problems, have been moved from their normal positions skidding rails the steel beams along which a cantilevered-type jackup rig derrick or mast moves skidding unit the hydraulically operated rams that move a cantilevered-type jackup rig derrick or mast into position along skidding beams skid-mounted equipment that is mounted on runners or skids so that it can easily be moved rather than fixed to a foundation skim skimmer skimmer, skim tank, or skim vessel a watertreating vessel designed to remove oil from the surface of produced water. The skimmer tank can be either horizontal or vertical. The vertical tank uses spreaders. skim skimming the removal of oil floating on the surface of water skimming pit an open pit that was used in the first stage of separating crude oil and water from producing wells, (pumping or settling pit) skim oil oil that is recovered from salt water before the water is injected or disposed skim pile a disposal pile, a large-diameter, openended pipe used on an offshore platform to discharge treated, produced water. The skim pile has baffle plates to coalesce oil droplets. skim pit a lined, excavated pit containing oil and water. The crude oil is skimmed off the top of the water with a series of baffles.

slack-off test

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skin the zone in the formation around the wellbore that has reduced permeability and has been flushed with mud filtrate skin damage the formation damage and low permeability caused primarily by mud filtrate in the shallow zone extending back from a wellbore. The skin damage occurs during drilling, completion, stimulation, workover, or production from the well. Skin damage is caused by clay swelling, migration of fines, mud particle invasion, chemical precipitation, formation of emulsions, bacterial growth, increases in connate water, and deposition of paraffins or asphalts. The skin damage causes an excess pressure drop that occurs around the wellbore and reduces the formation fluid flow into the wellbore. The pressure drop is expressed as a dimensionless number and is normally in the range of +1 to +10 for a new well, (skin effect or wellbore damage) s skin depth the depth to which the magnetic field of an induction logging tool penetrates a formation skin effect 1) see skin damage 2) the reduction in an induction log conductivity measurement in a very conductive formation. A thick bed or residual correction is made, (propagation effect) skin factor a dimensionless number that accounts for formation damage or well stimulation of the formation adjacent to the wellbore. The number is positive for formation damage and negative for effective well stimulation. skirted mill a junk mill with a short sleeve around the lower edge of the mill that is designed to slide the mill onto the fish skt socket skunk gasoline condensate with a high sulfur content. Skunk gasoline has a pungent odor when burned in an engine. skunk oil sour crude oil sky hooker a derrickman sky-top mast a well-servicing unit mast with a split traveling and crown block SL 1) section line 2) south line 3) sonic log SI or si 1) slate 2) salty SI sillimanite St liquid saturation S/L south line si 1) slight 2) sleeve SLA Submerged Lands Act slab one-half of a core that has been cut along its long axis slabbing to cut a core along its long axis slabby a sedimentary rock texture that is characterized by very coarse-grained crystals of uneven grain size, sib slack off to ease up on a line. Slacking up during drilling puts more weight on the bit in contrast to pulling up. slack-off test a test used to determine the optimum weight on bit during drilling. The distance that the kelly moves in feet per unit time is plotted against the weight on the bit in thousands of pounds. The

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slant drilling or slant hole drilling sliding-vane compressor sleeve stabilizer a stabilizer with replaceable sleeves around the stabilizer body SLI or sli slightly Slick or slick slickenside slick bottomhole assembly a bottomhole assembly with no stabilizers. A slick bottomhole assembly is seldom used except in mild crooked-hole formations and kicking off a deviated well. A slick bottomhole assembly is in contrast to a pendulum or packed bottomhole assembly. slickenside a polished or smooth surface formed by friction along a fault plane or surface. Fault grooves or striations can occur on the slickenside. SUK, Slick, or slick slick line a single strand of smooth, high strength steel wire used for some wireline processes in a well. Slick line is similar to piano wire and is usually 0.0660.092 in. in diameter, (solid wireline) slick-line operation a type of light wireline operation in a well using a slick line. A slick-line operation can be to take depth measurements, to run temperature and pressure instruments, an impression block, mechanical caliper logs, tubing pinchers, jet cutters, or subsurface valves, to take fluid samples, or to sample and bail out sand or scale. slick-line unit equipment used for lowering and raising a slick line in a well. A slick-line unit consists of a motor, transmission, drum and brake, level winder, depth meter, sheave, and lubricator system. slick motor a bent-housing motor that is used to drill a deviated hole with or without a bent sub and without stabilizers slick water water containing chemicals in it such as surfactants to reduce surface tension. Slick water can be used to condition a well for production or in enhanced oil recovery such as a chemical flood. sliding scale nonoperating interest a royalty interest, either overriding royalty interest or oil payment, that varies with the amount of production or some other factor sliding scale royalty a payment for production (royalty) that varies with the amount of production. Sliding scale royalty is in contrast to a step scale royalty that decreases in levels with increasing amounts of production, (variable royalty) sliding sleeve or sliding-sleeve nipple a device on a tubing string that is manipulated by a wireline tool to open or close ports between the tubing and annulus. The sliding sleeve protrudes out from the tubing while the tubing still has a full inner diameter. The sliding sleeve can be used to turn on and off production from several levels in a well, (circulating sleeve) sliding-vane compressor a type of compressor that uses an eccentrically mounted rotor with longitudinal slots along its circumference with fitted sliding vanes. The rotor is mounted in a housing. When the rotor revolves, gas is trapped between the sliding vanes and is compressed between the inlet and discharge port. Sliding-vane compressors produce low pressures and volumes of gas and can be used only with clean gas. Sliding vane compressors are used for air compressor or vacuum service.

slope of the line is the drillstring slack-off or pickup constant (K)slant drilling or slant hole drilling purposefully drilling a well (slant hole) that starts out at an angle from vertical on the surface with a slant rig. Slant drilling is usually done for a shallow deviated well where there is not enough depth to build angle. slant hole 1) a well drilled purposely at an angle from vertical from the surface by a slant-hole rig. Wireline well logs are run with coiled tubing on a slant hole, (slant well) 2) any deviated well. (directional or deviated well) 3) a crooked hole is a well that is not vertical due to drilling through dipping, hard rock layers Slant-hole Express a method for running logs through drillpipe in slant, deviated, or bad holes. The sonde is lowered or pumped out of the drillpipe using a side-door sub. slant leg jack-up rig a jackup rig with legs angling slightly outwards for stability slant rig or slant-hole rig a drilling rig that is designed to start drilling either at a fixed angle or at a variable angle from vertical to 45. The slant rig is similar to a normal rig but is smaller and the traveling block rides on a track carrier. Special pipe-handling equipment is employed on a slant rig. A slant rig is used to drill holes for piles on a steel jacket platform. (tilted rig) slant-type directional hole 1) see slant bole 2) a deviated well that has a vertical section followed by an angle-build section, followed by a straight but angled section to total depth slant well see slant hole SLAR side-looking airborne radar slate a fine-grained metamorphic rock formed by relatively light metaphoric pressure and heat on shale. Shale grades into slate, which is harder than shale and breaks into thin sheets. Schist is the rock formed by the next highest stage of metamorphism. SL or si slaty a rock that has the property of slate, is hard, and breaks into thin sheets sib slabby sld sealed sleeve 1) a removable cylinder that fits around the piston in reciprocating pumps such as mud pumps and some internal combustion, (liner) 2) a thick rubber bag that is used to contain propane or butane gas for a sleeve exploder used on marine seismic surveys 3) a rubber cylinder that fits around and seals a sample. A sleeve is used on the plug in a permeameter and in a rubber-sleeve core barrel used for coring soft or fractured formations. 4) a short length of pipe that is used to connect pipe or to cover a joint. 5/ sleeve blowout preventer see annular blowout preventer sleeve exploder a type of energy source used in marine seismic surveys. Propane or butane gas is exploded in a thick rubber bag (sleeve). The waste gases are vented into the air to prevent the bubble effect in water. sleeve fitting a collar that is placed around and then welded to a pipe to repair a leak

SLIK slip velocity SLIK slickenside SLIKN slickensided slily slightly slim hole a small-diameter (6%-43/4 in.) well drilled for exploration. A slim hole is usually made by a portable truck or trailer-mounted rig and is less expensive than a normal well to drill but is too small for normal production techniques. A slim hole uses small bits and pipe. A slim hole is used for seismic shot holes and structural and stratigraphic wells. slim-tube testing a laboratory procedure that uses a long, small-diameter stainless steel tube packed with oil-saturated sand to determine minimum miscibility pressure sling a strap, chain, or other device used to connect a load to lifting apparatus slip 1) the fall of well cuttings due to gravity settling through the circulating drilling fluid as it flows up the annulus of a well 2) the leakage of fluid around pump valves. Slip is the amount of fluid that leaks from the discharge side to the inlet side of a pump. 3) the difference between unloaded motor speed and loaded motor speed 4) to move a drilling line to prevent uneven wear slip-and-cut a system used on drilling rigs to periodically move the drilling line to distribute wear and prevent reoccurring stress on the critical points that could lead to failure. After a certain number of ton-miles of usage that is recommended by the American Petroleum Institute, the deadline anchor is loosened and a length of new line is reeled off the storage or reserve reel. The line is reeled off the drawworks drum and a section is cut off the end. The deadline anchor clamps are then tightened. Slipand-cut can be alternated with slipping the line. slip elevator a casing elevator that uses segmented slips with gripping teeth to hold the casing. The slip elevator is used for heavy casing strings. slip face the steep lee side of a sand dune. The slip face is at or near the angle of repose (36) for sand. Avalanching sand down the slip face is deposited in layers that form crossbeds and foreset bedding. slip joint a joint on a marine riser that is designed to compensate for vertical movement of a drillship or semisubmersible rig due to waves and to allow the rig to disconnect during bad weather. The slip joint consists of an inner barrel that slides in an outer barrel. Resilient seals or packing is located between the inner and outer barrels for a pressure seal. The slip joint is located on the top of the marine-riser system, and the riser tensioners are attached to a tensioner ring on the bottom of the joint. The slip joint contains fittings for the choke and kill line hoses and a connection for the bell nipple or diverter. (telescopic joint) slip-joint safety valve a valve located in a downhole tool or test tree that is used when the drillpipe is pulled from a subsea well. The slip-joint safety valve closes when the drillpipe is pushed down or when it is separated from the drillstring. slip load the weight of the string of drillpipe, casing, or tubing that is suspended in the well when held by the slips

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slippage the downward flow of produced fluids in a well during artificial lift, (fall back) slippage velocity the difference in light and heavy fluid flow velocity up a two-phase well slipped block a block of hard rock from a dipping, fractured formation that has slipped into the wellbore slipping the line a method used on a drilling rig to distribute wear and prevent reoccurring stress on the critical points that could lead to failure of the drilling line. The deadline anchor is loosened and 50-75 ft of drilling line is spooled off the the reserve reel and reeled onto the drawworks drum. The deadline anchor clamps are then secured. Slipping the line can be alternated with slip-and-cut. slip recess the shoulder on the joint of a pipe that the slip grabs to support the pipe

DRILL PIPE ROTARY SLIPS

ROTARY TABLE

slips

slips 1) a circular wedge-shaped device made of steel with teeth or other gripping devices that fits into the slip bowl of a rotary table. The slips are designed to hold the string of drillpipe in the well when it is not suspended from the traveling block. Slips are made with three or more segments of cast iron honeycomb that are hinged to fit around the pipe. The outer diameter of the slips has an inward angle of about 91/2. The inner surface has a set of jaws for biting the pipe. Slips have handles for the roughnecks to lift and move them. The gripping portion of the slips are replaceable and are called inserts, dies, or liners. Power slips are pneumatically or hydraulically activated. There are slips for drill collars, casing, and tubing, (doughnuts or rotary sips) 2) the gripping elements on a packer that anchor the packer by gripping the packer to the casing when the packer is expanded. The slips in a packer or fishing tool work the same way as the rotary-table slips. Slips have serrated teeth and are hydraulically pressed outward. slip socket a type of old fishing tool. A slip socket uses slips that were spread by a small strip of wood. When the tool was lowered over the fish, the strip of wood was displaced and the slips would grip the fish. slip stick artist an engineer slip the drilling line see sipping the line slip velocity the difference in velocity between two adjacent phases. Skip velocity can be the difference

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sli So slug the pipe


during an acid job. An antisludge agent can be used to prevent the formation of sludge. 2) well cuttings sludger a cylinder with a plunger and valve apparatus that is run on sand line to remove well cuttings from the bottom of a cable-tool well, (sand or shell pump) stuffing collapse of the well walls into the hole. (caving) slug 1) a batch of water and/or chemicals that is injected into a well and flows as a unit through the reservoir rock during an enhanced oil-recovery process 2) the radioactive substance used in a radioactive tracer survey 3) the metal debris from a shaped explosive charge used in perforating 4) a unit of mass in the British engineering system. A slug is the mass of a body whose acceleration is 1 ft/sec2 when a force of 1 lb is applied. A slug is equal to 32.2 lb or 14.6 kg. slug catcher a long pipe that causes a pressure drop in a gas pipeline to allow slugs of condensate to accumulate slug flow the rising flow of gas bubbles and liquid with entrained gas bubbles. The bubbles can aggregate and reach the size of the diameter of the pipe. slugging 1) pumping a small batch of acid into a well for a mild acid job as part of a well workover 2) the accumulation of liquid in a low point in a low-pressure gas flowline slugging compound a demulsifier used to separate and determine the amount of sediment and water in an emulsion sample, (knockout drops) slugging flow a type of fluid flow characterized by alternating slugs of gas and liquid over short intervals. Slugging flow can damage well equipment. Alternating slugs of gas and liquid over longer periods is called heading flow. slug pit a small mud tank where a batch of heavy drilling mud that is used for a slug is stored on a drilling rig slug tank a small compartment adjacent to the suction compartment of the mud tanks. The slug tank is used to prepare fluids such as a barite slug, (kill

between the fluid velocity in the annulus of a well and the velocity at which the well cuttings come up the annulus or between two produced fluids sli So slight show of oil slky silky SLM or S.L.M. steel line measurement sind solenoid slope fen a deposit of turbidite and debris-flow sediments on the middle or base of the slope environment in a basin. A slope fan is part of a lowstand system tract defined in seismic or sequence stratigraphy. slope test a test that determines how much a well is inclined from vertical slot 1) the flat area at the base of a derrick where drilling operations occur. An offshore platform can often have 24 or 32 slots where the derrick is moved about to drill different wells from the single platform. The slots are usually in a grid pattern with space between the spots for Christmas trees. 2) a specific time period slotted long, narrow openings that have been milled into casing or liner to act as screens to exclude formation solids slotted pipe screen a screen with square slots that were cut. Slotted pipe screen is used for sand control in a well. sloughing the collapse of relatively unconsolidated sediments along the wellbore into the well sloughing shale soft clay or shale with a pore pressure higher than the hydrostatic head in the well at that level. The clay and shale squeeze into the well, falling to the bottom of the well in large balls that are not easily removed by the circulating drilling mud. The severity of the sloughing shale is related to the percentage of montmorillonite and the age of the shale, (heaving shale) slowness the reciprocal of velocity slow pump rate a mud pump rate that is one-third to two-thirds normal pumping rate. A slow pump rate is taken once or twice during each drilling tour. The pumps are slowed and the flow rate is stabilized for about 30 seconds. The pressure and strokes per minute are recorded on the daily tour report. slow sand filter a very large sand-filtering unit that uses a slow filtering rate in comparison to a rapid sand filter slow-set cement cement with a thickening time that has been extended by either a) adding a chemical retarder or b) removing the cement's rapid-hydrating components SLR side-looking radar Sit or sit silt SLTS siltstone Sltst siltstone SLTY silty Slty or slty 1) salty 2) silty sludge 1) the asphaltenes, resin, paraffin, and other high molecular-weight hydrocarbons that are the result of the reaction of acid with certain sour crudes

tank)
slug the pipe a procedure used when tripping out of a well with the drillstring. A small quantity or slug of heavy drilling mud is placed into the top section of the drillstring. This displaces the normal drilling mud and depresses the level of the drilling mud in the drillstring. When joints are broken out (unscrewed), the connections are dry and the mud will not squirt out onto the drill floor.

slump

slump snake out slump a mass movement of a relatively coherent block of sediments characterized by shearing along a plane and backward rotation of the block. Subaqueous slumps are very common in front of river deltas. slur slurry slurry any mixture of solids and water. Wet cement used in a cement job is a slurry, slur slurry density the weight of wet cement. Slurry density is measured in pounds per gallon (ppg). (slurry weight) slurry viscosity the consistency of a cement slurry reported in poises slurry volume the volume of wet cement. Slurry volume is measured in cubic feet per sack of dry cement (ft3/sk). slurry weight see slurry density slurry yield the volume of cement slurry that one sack of cement, water, and additives will produce slushing oil oil that is used to coat metal to prevent corrosion slush pit or pond an excavation near a rotary drilling rig that is used to hold drilling mud and to trap well cuttings, (mud or slump hole) slush-pit bang a seismic source such as an air gun used in a mud tank. A slush-pit bang is used for a velocity survey or check shoot. slush-pit launder a sluice box made of wood or metal where the bailer from a cable-tool rig is dumped, the coarser well cuttings retained, and the fluids flow down to the slush pit slush pump 1) a reciprocating pump that is used to circulate the drilling mud on a rotary drilling rig. The larger end of the slush pump is the power end where the drive engine connects to the pump crankshaft. The smaller end is the fluid end that pumps the fluid. The pumps are classified by maximum horsepower and pressure and strokes per minute. Slush pumps often have two (duplex) or, more commonly, three (triplex) cylinders with replaceable liners. A duplex pump forces the mud into the discharge line on both the forward and backward strokes of the piston and is called a double-acting pump. A triplex pump is single-acting, forcing the drilling mud into the discharge line only on the forward stroke of the piston. The slush pumps on an offshore rig typically have 1,600 hp. (mud hog or pump) 2) an auxiliary pump used with the mud pump to control a kick SLY southerly SM surface measurement sm smooth sm or sml small S/m Siemens per meter small hole the portion of a well below the casing small slam a well log calculation of the resistivity of the invaded zone, the true resistivity, the diameter of invasion and water saturation. A small slam is made with a dual-induction, laterolog, and porosity log. small volume prover an instrument used to test and calibrate liquid flowmeters. A small volume prover

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is similar to a mechanical displacement prover but uses a small volume of liquid and compares flow rates rather than volume. The flow from the main line is diverted through the small volume prover that contains a sphere or piston displacer. Line pressure forces the displacer through the prover and its movement is monitored by detectors in the pipe wall. (ballistic prover) smear to mix data from different sources such as seismic data from different geophones smearing the numerical dispersion of a saturation front across several cells used in reservoir modeling smear slide a glass slide with a dried smear of unconsolidated sediments or ground sedimentary rocks that were wetted with water on the surface of the slide. A smear slide is used to identify microfossils and, less commonly, minerals under the microscope. smectite a group of clay minerals formed by three layers, two tetrahedral silica layers with an octahedral alumina layer in between. Exchangeable cations are located between each group of three layers. Smectite has a very high cation-exchange capacity, is sensitive to fresh water, and swells. Smectite is often called the swelling clay, and some smectites can swell to over 600% of their original volume. The swelling causes the smectite to disperse into plates. These plates can clog or bridge pore throats and decrease the permeability of a rock. This occurs when drilling mud filtrate is injected into the rock adjacent to the wellbore and is called formation damage. Calcium ions tend to flocculate smectite, whereas sodium ions deflocculate smectite. Use of KC1, NH4Cl, or oil-base fluids reduce swelling tendencies. HC1/HF acid will remove damage caused by smectite. Smectite is commonly used in drilling mud to increase its viscosity and build an impermeable filter cake. Under a scanning electron microscope, smectite has a honeycomb structure. High microporosity is another characteristic of smectite. Montmorillonite is an old term for the smectite group; it now refers to a specific species of the smectite group. The smectite clay mineral family includes the species a) montmorillonite, b) beidellite, c) nontronite, d) saponite, e) hectorite, f) illite/smectite mixed layer, g) vermiculite, and h) corrensite. smeller 1) a geologist. 2) a sour gas well smls seamless smother a well to drown a well SMPL samples smth smooth sm3 standard cubic meter S-MUD salt mud smwt somewhat SMYS specified minimum yield strength SN 1) seating nipple 2) short normal S/N signal-to-noise ratio S-NA status indeterminate snake a device that is used to temporarily connect two wire ropes. A snake holds under tension and releases when the tension is relaxed, (swivel-type stringing grip or swivel-connector grip) snake out to pull out

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snap action soap tank the blowout preventers when there is very high pressure in the well snubbing in the running or pulling of tubulars from a well under high pressure with a snubbing unit and the well shut in. Snubbing is in contrast to stripping in which well pressures are lower and the pipe can be run under into own weight, (snubbing) snubbing unit a workover unit that is designed to work on very high-pressure wells. Snubbing units use unidirectional slips to grip and force tubulars into a well or to pull the tubulars while one of the two preventers are alternately engaged or while using solid rubber stripper heads. Either mechanical power using blocks and wire ropes or hydraulic power (hydraulic unit) is used for snubbing the tubular. The snubbing unit can also be either long or short stroke depending on the snubbing stroke. A snubbing unit can be either a stand-alone unit with a self-contained hydraulic system or a rig-assisted unit that used the rig's drawworks. Pipe rotation is made by either power tongs or a power swivel. The snubbing unit usually has a crew of four to five. snub in to attach a line to another line, manifold, or tank snub line 1) the wire that connects the manual tong arm on a drill floor to secure the arm 2) a rope used to hold the drill collars and pipe to prevent then from swinging when tripping in and out SO 1) show of oil 2) south offset S.O. show of oil So oil saturation soak 1) a period during the steam-injection process on a heavy oil well. Soak occurs between the steam injection and the pumping of the heated heavy oil. During the soak, the heat is spread through the subsurface heavy oil reservoir. 2) to allow an instrument to come into equilibrium with its surroundings soak period the time between steam injection and pumping of heated heavy oil soak solution or soaking fluid an unweighed or semiweighed organic solution (commonly oil mud, invert emulsion mud, field crude oil, or diesel oil) that is spotted in a well with stuck pipe due to a differential pressure-filter cake buildup. A soak solution is used to reduce the differential pressure in the well at the stuck-point interval, (releasingfluid) SO&G show of oil and gas SO&GCM show of oil and gas-cut mud SO&W show of oil and water soap the sodium or potassium salt of a highmolecular weight fatty acid. Soap is used in drilling mud to improve defoaming, lubrication, and emulsification. Soaps made of metals other than sodium or potassium are called metallic soaps. soap stick an 18 in. x \Yi in. bar of soap that is dropped down a gas well to create foam and lower the entrainment velocity to promote unloading of liquids from the well. Soap sticks can be either hydrocarbon or water soluble. soap tank a 10-20 bbl tank that holds a dilute soap and water mixture used for foam drilling

snap action a valve control that is either wide open or off in contrast to a proportional control snap job an easy task snapper a loafing worker

snatch block

snatch block a temporary, small metal assembly with a grooved wheel or sheave in it and a hook below it. A rope or wire runs through an eye on the top of it to suspend the snatch block. It is used to lift light equipment or change the direction of pull from a line. A snatch block is used when a wireline is run down a well from a logging truck. snatching the raising of supplies to an offshore platform from a supply ship standing off the platform sneezing bar a walking beam Snell's law of refraction the sine of the angle of incidence divided by the sine at the angle of refraction, is equal to a constant known as is the relative index of refraction. Snell's law is named after Willebrord Snell, a Dutch astronomer (1591-1626). SNG 1) synthetic natural gas 2) solidified nitroglycerine sniffer a hose towed behind a boat that is used to sample ocean water. The water is sent through a separator and gas chromatograph to detect traces of hydrocarbons. snipe a length of pipe that is put on the handle of a wrench to increase its length and improve leverage. (cheater) snitch a device that records a drilling log SNL sidewall neutron log snorkel a hollow cylinder that is used as a fluidsample intake in the center of a wireline formationtester pad snowbank drilling drilling through shale and shells SNP 1) sidewall neutron log SNP sidewall neutron porosity log SNP-GR sidewall neutron, gamma ray logging SNT Society for Non-Destructive Testing snub 1) to fix a line with a couple of turns around a post or tubular 2) to secure equipment 3) to force a tubulars such as a tubing string through the blowout preventers or stripper head on a well under pressure in it snubbing see snubbing in snubbers a series of lines and blocks on a drilling rig that is used to push joints of drillpipe through

socket solids-control tank socket any fishing tool that is designed to grip the outside of a fish in a well, skt SOCM slightly oil-cut mud SOCW slightly oil-cut water soda ash sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) sodium bicarbonate a salt (NaHCO3) used for treating calcium contamination in cement slurry and drilling mud sodium carbonate a salt (Na2CO3) used for treating calcium contamination in cement slurry and drilling mud. (soda ash) sodium carboxymethyl cellulose a nonfermenting organic chemical used in drilling mud to control filtration, combat anhydrite contamination, suspend weighting material, and increase viscosity. CMC sodium chloride the most common salt (NaCl) in seawater and formation waters. Sodium chloride is used as an accelerator or retarder, depending on concentration, in cement slurries, and for making saltwater or salt mud. sodium chromate a corrosion inhibitor composed of Na2CrO4 sodium dichromate a corrosion inhibitor composed of Na2Cr2O7 sodium hydroxide NaOH. (caustic soda) sodium nitrite a corrosion inhibitor composed of NaNO2 sodium polyacrylate a synthetic polymer that is used for filtrate control in drilling mud sodium silicate mud An inhibited drilling mud made of sodium silicate, saltwater, and clay. SOE screwed on one end SOF or SOFR sand oil frac soft coal see bituminous coal soft crossover pattern a spooling pattern used on drawworks drums. The soft crossover pattern is a twostep grooving pattern with a flat area for crossovers to avoid stress. soft formation a loose or unconsolidated sequence of sand and shale soft lining a heavy-duty twine that has been wrapped around a bad tubular joint to identify the joint soft sand a sand-sized sedimentary particle made of carbonate mud or micrite soft scale a salt composed of calcium carbonate that can build up in equipment such as tubular goods or vessels. Calcium carbonate can precipitate out of brine as CO2 bubbles out of the brine due to a decrease in pressure. Soft rock is in contrast to hard scale. soft rock sedimentary rocks. Soft rocks are in contrast to hard rocks which are igneous and metamorphic. soft rope a fiber rope in contrast to a wire rope Sog initial oil saturation in gas cap S.O.G.&W. show of oil, gas, and water soil the surface layer of weathered rock particles soil analysis map a map showing the concentration of hydrocarbons in the surface soil of an area

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soil gas biogenic gas (methane) formed at very shallow depths soil-gas analysis an analysis of soil for the effects of methane gas. The analysis is made by either a) heating the soil to 600 C to detect CO2 given off by carbonate salts formed by methane or b) detecting bacteria that live on hydrocarbons in the soil. Sol or sol 1) solution 2) soluble sol 1) solenoid 2) solids 3) solitary sol a colloidal dispersion sole 1) the part of a curved fault plane that is lowest in elevation. The sole is the area on a listric fault where it becomes a bedding-plane fault. 2) the lowest thrust fault in an area of overthrusting 3) the bottom surface of a rock layer sole cast the filling of a sole mark. A sole cast is a positive feature on the bottom of a sedimentary rock surface. The sole cast was formed by coarser sediments filling a primary sedimentary structure depression in the surface of underlying finer-grained sediments. Flute and ripple casts are examples of sole casts. sole fault a large, low-angle fault that is parallel to the bedding planes in sedimentary rocks. Thrust and growth faults with curved fault surfaces often become sole faults, (detachment fault) sole mark or marking a marking on the bottom of a sandstone bed. The sole mark was formed by sand filling in depressions and tool marks in the underlying shale bed. Most sole marks are sole casts. Tool marks are an examples of sole marks. solenoid an electrical device that reacts to an electrical impulse by opening or closing a valve or switch or causing a reaction, slnd or sol sole plate a pad that is usually set in concrete upon which a compressor is mounted solids paniculate matter in a liquid suspension. Solids are reported as the percent volume or weight of paniculate matter in a liquid such as drilling mud.
50/

solids concentration or content the percent volume of solids, both dissolved and undissolved, in a liquid. The solids content in drilling mud is measured by distillation. solids control the removal of well cuttings from drilling mud on a drilling rig

DESANDER

DESIlTER

solids control equipment

solids-control equipment the devices used on a drilling rig to remove well cuttings from drilling mud after it returns up the well. Solids-control equipment includes the shale shaker, desander, desilter, and the settling or solids-control tank solids-control tank the first steel tank on the mud tanks of a rotary drilling rig. The solids-control tank is divided into three compartments. Drilling mud from

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solid wireline sonic log sonar caliper a logging tool that uses a rotating, focused acoustic signal and detector to measure cavernous pores

the shale shaker tank flows into Compartment 1. The desander processes the mud, and it flows into Compartment 2. The desilter processes the mud, and it flows into Compartment 3 where a centrifuge can occur. The mud then flows to the settling tank and then to the suction tank. solid wireline a single strand of smooth, highstrength steel wire used for some wireline processes in a well. Solid wireline is similar to piano wire and is usually 0.066-0.092 in. in diameter, (slick line) soln solution solubility the amount of a substance (solute) which will dissolve in another substance called the solvent under specific temperature and pressure conditions solute a substance, usually a solid, which is dissolved in another substance, usually a liquid (solvent) solution a mixture of two or more components into a homogeneous phase, soln, Sol, sol, or s solution breccia a sedimentary rock composed of unsorted, angular rock fragments formed by the collapse of overlying rocks into voids caused by the solution of evaporties or limestone solution gas natural gas that is dissolved in oil in the subsurface reservoir and bubbles out of the oil on the surface as it is produced and the pressure is released. Solution gas is in contrast to nonassociated and associated gas. (dissolved gas) solution-gas expansion drive a type of reservoir drive mechanism in which the expanding gas bubbles forming from gas dissolved in the subsurface oil force the oil through the reservoir and into the well. A solution-gas expansion drive tends to be relatively inefficient and produces only 2096-30% of the oil in place, (depletion-gas, dissolved-gas, or internal-gas expansion drive) solution gas/oil ratio the amount of gas dissolved in crude oil in the subsurface reservoir divided by the amount of oil. The gas is the amount of gas that evolves from the oil on the surface per unit oil. The solution gas/oil ratio is usually measured in standard cubic feet per stock tank barrel (SCF/STNB) at reservoir conditions. The ratio is pressure dependent. In general, the deeper the reservoir, the greater the pressure and the higher the ratio. sm^/STm3 (dissolved gas/oil ratio) solution-gas expansion pool an oil field with a solution-gas drive supplying the energy to cause the oil to flow through the reservoir rock into wells. (depletion-gas, dissolved-gas, or internal-gas pool) solution point the area in a well that is examined with a system analysis used to optimize flow. Two solution points are often used in a well, at the top and bottom of the well, (node) solv solvent solvation adsorption of a liquid. Adsorption of water is called hydration. solvent a liquid that can dissolve another substance such as a gas, solid, or another liquid, solv solvent gas a gaseous fluid that is injected into a reservoir and becomes miscible with oil in the reservoir, improving the oil displacement SOM 1) sedimentary organic matter 2) soluble organic matter

ELECTRODES

COMPTON ^SCATTERING INTERACTIONS

sondes

sonde any metal instrument package containing both transmitting and receiving equipment that attaches to and is lowered down a well to make a wireline well log. The sonde remotely senses the electric, acoustic, and/or radioactive properties of the rocks and their fluids. One type of sonde is brought up the well with little or no contact on the sides of the well, and it measures the properties of up to 3 m3 of the formation. The other type of sonde has a pad(s) or arms that slide along the sides of the well and measures the formation properties along a few decimeters. Several sondes can be run in a well at the same time. The sonde can transmit data to the surface through a survey cable. The word is derived from the French word for sinker, (logging tool) SI the first peak measured by Rock-Eval. SI is the milligrams of hydrocarbons that can be thermally distilled from 1 gm of rock sonic sound wave transmission sonic inspection a method used to inspect tool joints. A light lubricant is first spread on the tool joint. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted through the joint. The transmitter and receiver are slowly moved across the face of the tool joint shoulder. A crack or pit will reflect the sound waves. The results are displayed on a cathode-ray tube or digital readout. sonic log a wireline well log that records sound velocity through rock layers in a well. The velocity is recorded in units of microseconds per foot (n,sec/ ft) and called interval transit time t or At. The sonic tool has a transmitter and two receivers, one 3 ft from the transmitter and the other 5 ft. The compensated sonic log has two sound transmitters on the sonde. Their values are averaged to reduce errors due to

SONL Soxhlet extractor sonde tilt or borehole size changes. The velocities are used to determine the lithologies and compute the porosity of the rocks. Shale strongly affects the porosity of a formation determined by a sonic log, and shaly formations must be corrected for this effect. Gas will decrease the sound velocity and increase the apparent velocity. Porosity measured by the sonic log does not record vugular and fracture pores. The sonic log is also used to a) correlate with other logs, b) locate bed boundaries, and c) locate oil/gas interfaces, (acoustic-velocity or velocity log) SONL or SL SONL sonic log sonobuoy a floating buoy or float that contains one or more hydrophones, recorder, battery, and radio transmitter used in a marine seismic-refraction survey. The sonobouy is a plastic tube about 3 ft long that floats upright. A sonobuoy is thrown off a ship with a marine seismic source such as an air gun. As the ship sails away from the sonobuoy firing its source, the data is radioed from the sonobuoy back to the ship. The ship often sails up to 25 mi away and leaves behind the expendable sonobuoy that is designed to sink in a couple of hours. SOP standard operating procedure Sm residual oil saturation sorption adsorption and absorption SORT or sort sorting sorted blosparite a limestone composed of greater than two-thirds sparry calcite compared to limestone mud (micrite) and well-sorted allochems of larger particles
well-sorted poorly-sorted

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source productivity index the amount of petroleum that can be generated by a column of source rocks under 1 m2 of surface area. Source productivity index is often expressed in metric tons per meter squared. SPI source rock a sedimentary rock rich in organic matter which can or has been transformed under geological conditions such as heat and time in a process called maturation into gas and/or oil. Source rocks must have a minimum of 0.5% and preferably more than 1.5% organic matter by weight. Type II organic matter generates crude oil. Type III organic matter is gas prone. The hydrogen content of the organic matter should be greater than 7% by weight for oil generation. Dark gray or black shales and reef limestone are the most common source rocks. sour corrosion corrosion of metal in the form of hydrogen embrittlement caused by contact with hydrogen sulfide sour crude or sour crude oil see sour oil sour dirt soil containing sulfates. Sour dirt is often found over salt domes. sour environment the presence of H2S. Sour environment is defined by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers as having at least 0.05 psia H2S partial pressure in the gas phase. It causes weight loss corrosion or sulfide stress cracking of carbon and low-alloy steels and enhances chloride stress corrossion of stainless steels and other high-alloy steels. SOURG sour gas sour gas natural gas that contains hydrogen sulfide in greater concentration than allowed in gas sales specifications which are usually about 0.25 gr/100 ft3or 4 ppm. The sulfur is primarily in the form of H2S. The gas has a very pungent odor of rotting eggs and is very corrosive (acid gas). Sour gas can cause damage to drilling and production equipment. The sulfur must be removed, usually by alkanolamine or iron-sponge sweetening, before the gas can be used or transported.
SOURG

sorting

sorting a measure of the range of different size particles in a clastic rock. Well-sorted rocks have about the same size particles, whereas poorly sorted rocks have a wide range of particle sizes. SORT, SRT, sort, orsrtg SOS same old stuff, no change soundness the percent expansion or contraction of a cured cement in an autoclave under steam saturation at a pressure of 295 psig for 3 hours soup nitroglycerine used in shooting or explosive fracturing of a well. Soup is usually put in a tin torpedo and lowered into the well. sour gas or oil with a high sulfur content source a device that emits energy source operator crew the people on a seismic crew that operate the seismic source which can be three or four vibrator trucks. If explosives are used, two or three shooters are employed.

souring fermenting sour oil oil that contains a significant amount of sulfur. The minimum amount of sulfur in sour oil varies between refineries and government agencies but is generally greater than 1% sulfur by weight. Heavy oils tend to be sour. The price for sour oil is less than that of sweet crude because the sulfur must be removed during refining, (sour crude or sour crude oil) sour service the suitability of equipment for use with sour gas sour-service trim oilfield fittings and equipment that have been treated and finished to resist corrosion by hydrogen sulfide sow socket weld Soxhlet extractor a series of glass containers that automatically reflux a solvent that is used to remove fluids from rock or sediment samples. The solvent, often toluene, is heated and vaporized to be condensed in another container. A siphon passes the solvent in batches though the sample to remove fluids. A Soxhlet extractor is used to prepare samples for porosity and

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SP spearhead Shale that spalls into a well can be identified by the longer, thinner, and more splintery shale fragments in contrast to sloughing shale. span the distance between two detectors used for the same measurement on a wireline sonde or tool spanners see tongs spar a transparent or translucent mineral crystal spar cement limestone cement composed of sparry calcite sparite clear, transparent, or translucent crystals of calcite or aragonite that occur between grains (allochems) in limestone. The sparite crystals are larger than 10 p. in size and are in contrast to micrite that is another interstitial component of some limestones. spark plug rig an early 1930s drilling rig with an internal combustion engine as a prime mover and friction clutches on the drawworks sparse biomicrlte a limestone composed of greater than two-thirds limestone mud (micrite) compared to sparry calcite, and 10%-50% allochems of large transported particles sparker a marine seismic source that uses an electrical discharge of 3-10 kV in seawater. A battery of capacitors is charged by a generator on the boat while an electrical array is towed in the water. A spark is used for the pulse. A sparker does not have the bubble effect of air guns but lacks the source energy of air guns. Sparkers are used for shallow surveys. sparry calcite clean, coarse-grained calcite that is common as a type of limestone cement. The sparry calcite crystal faces will reflect light back as the rock is rotated. Sparry calcite is in contrast to limestone mud (micrite) that is very dull. SP bbl separator barrel SPBM single point buoy mooring spcl special spcr spacer SPD 1) shallower pool discovery 2) supplementary petroleum duty spd spudded Spd. or Spdg. Spudding. spdl Spindle. SP-DST Straddle packer drillstem test. SPE 1) shallower pool extension 2) Society of Petroleum Engineers (AIME) spear A fishing tool that latches inside a hollow fish in a well. A spear is run into the well on a fishing string and has a pressure-sealing device to permit fluid circulation through a pipe fish. The casing or pipe spear uses an inside catch. It often has a cage that is held with a J-slot that holds the recessed slips. The spear is run inside the fish where the slips are released and the fish retrieved. The spear can be released from the fish with right-hand torque and a downward bump. A spear must be the right size to enter the tubular. spearhead 1) A slug of carrying fluid without proppants that is pumped into the formation before the carrying fluid with proppants during a hydraulic fracturing job. The spearhead sometimes contains acid.

permeability measurements and to extract bitumen or organic matter from rock or sediment samples. SP 1) set plug 2) surface pressure 3) straddle packer 4) shot point 5) slightly porous Sp serpentine Sp. spare SP, sP, or sp spontaneous or self potential or polarization sp 1) spare 2) spore 3) self-propelled SPa apparent spontaneous potential spacer a fluid that is used to separate two other fluids and avoid contamination. The spacer on a cement job is 10-15 bbls of water or chemicals that is pumped down the casing behind the drilling mud and before the bottom plug. The spacer acts as a flushing agent and also helps remove the mudcake. spcr spacers and washers fluids that are circulated down the well before a cement job. Spacers are high-viscosity and high-density fluids designed to displace the drilling mud in the well. Washers are lighter fluids designed to clean the sides of the wellbore to provide a better bond for the cement. spacer spool a large, spool-shaped metal pipe that is used between the preventer elements on a blowout preventer stack to attach choke and kill lines. The choke and kill lines can attach to one spool or two spools with a blowout preventer in between. The spools can be studded, flanged, or clamp-on connected. The spool has an internal diameter equal to the wellbore of the blowout preventers, (cross or drilling spool or spool)

spacing

spacing the distance separating electrodes or sensors on a sonde used for wireline well logs. Spacing is the distance from the source to the detector on radioactive logs. spacing or spacing unit the government regulated area of land in a field on which one well is allowed. Generally, spacing varies from 5-640 ac and depends upon whether gas or oil is produced, the depth, producing formation, and other factors. Common oilfield spacing is 40 ac, whereas typical gas-field spacing is 640 ac. spacing clamp a clamp that holds the sucker-rod string when a well is being put back on a pump spaghetti 1) sucker rods 2) tubulars with small diameters spalling the fracturing and heaving of a rock at or near its surface by a compressional or shock wave.

spearpoint spherically-focused log

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The specific heat of a drilling mud is an indication of the mud's ability to cool the bit. #> ht

specific productivity or specific productivity


index the productivity index divided by the productive thickness. SPI specific surface the surface area of solid particles 1 cm3 of sedimentary rock. S speck speckled spectral gamma ray log a type of gamma ray log that records and distinguishes the gamma rays from potassium 40, the uranium family, and the thorium family. A computer is used to calculate the actual amounts of the isotopes present. A spectral gamma ray log is used primarily for a) evaluation and identification of clay content in formations and b) source-rock evaluation. spectral log a spectral gamma ray log SPEE Society of Petroleum Evaluation Engineers speed kit a traveling block arrangement with two speeds. The elevator can pick up stands of tubulars being run out of a well and broken out as the traveling block is moving. speed reducer the gear set that reduces the speed of a prime-mover drive. The speed reducer on a sucker rod pumping unit converts high-speed, low-torque energy to low-speed, high-torque energy with a reduction ratio of about 30.1. The input of 300-600 rpm is reduced to 10-20 rpm. Herringbone and helical gearing is commonly used. Some speed reducers use spur gearing and chain drive. spending time the time that an acid is in contact and reacts with the carbonate rock during acidizing, expending 85%-90% of its initial strength spent a chemical that has been used up

n
spear

(pad) 2) The water spacer pumped ahead of the cement during squeeze cementing. The spearhead is in contrast to the tail-in fluid. spearpoint The projection with teeth on the apex of a cone on a roller-cone bit. The spearpoint is designed to drill the center of the well. The cone with the spearpoint is designated Cone # 1 . spec Specification. special allocation An agreement in which the working interest and the net revenue interests are not proportional. A special allocation can have unfavorable tax consequences, (disproportionate or special sharing) special sharing see special allocation special warranty The terms of limitation of a warranty of title. specific activity The radioactivity, in curies per gram, of an isotope. specific energy The energy necessary to remove a unit volume of rock. SE or E specific gravity The ratio between the weight of a substance and the weight of an equal volume of water. Specific gravity is a dimensionless number. Generally, rocks have specific gravities of 2.5-3.0, natural gas of 0.00073-000093, crude oil of 0.7-1.0, and formation waters of 1.0-1.2. Crude Oil "API gravity specific gravity 10" fOOO" 20 0.934 30 0.876 40 0.825 50 0.780 60 0.739 The specific gravity of gas is also defined as the density of the gas at standard conditions divided by the density of an equal volume of dry air at standard conditions. The density of air at 60 F and 14.7 psia is 0.0764 lb/ ft3. The specific gravity of a gas is equal to the molecular weight of the gas divided by 29. Specific gravity is often used interchangeably with density which is mass per unit volume. SG, SPG, or sp gr specific heat the number of calories thatis required to raise 1 g of a substance 1 Celsius or centigrade.

Sper or sper spherule


SPF 1) shots per foot 2) surface pressure flowing spf shots per foot Spfool or spfool superficial oolite SPG specific gravity Spg or spg sponge spg spring sp gr specific gravity SPH perforating, hyperscallop Sph sphene sph spherules Sphaer sphaerocodium Sphal or sphal sphalerite sphalerite a yellowish-brown mineral composed of ZnS. Sphalerite is an important ore of zinc. Sphal or sphal

Spher or spher spherule spherical blowout preventer see annular blowout


preventer spherically-focused log a type of focused electrical resistivity log. The sonde has nine electrodes and is used to make true resistivity measurements in all formations. The investigated zone is spherical and has a shorter radius than short normal resistivity. The

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spherical separator spiral or spiral-grooved drill collar making a connection before or after using the tongs. (pipe spinner) spinner survey a record made by a downhole instrument with a propeller that detects vertical fluid flow in the well. A spinner survey can be used to locate production, lost-circulation zones, and casing leaks in a well. SPINS spinning cathead a hub attached to the shaft on the drawworks of a drilling rig that is used as a winch to assemble (screw or tighten) drillpipe and tubing. The spinning cathead usually is located on the driller's side of the drawworks. (makeup cathead) spinning chain the chain used by the drilling crew on the floor of a drilling rig to wrap around four or five tool joints of pipe or tubing to apply torque during making up or breaking out the joints. One end of the spinning chain is fastened to the pulling line connected to the end of the tong handle.

spherically focused log is used with an induction-sonic combination. SFL1" spherical separator a round metal tank that is used to separate water, gas, and oil. Most separators are vertical or horizontal. spherical wave a wave that has been generated at a point and propagates outward as a spherical front in an homogeneous medium. A spherical wave is in contrast to a plane wave. sp ht specific heat SPI 1) specific productivity index 2) secondary porosity index 3) source productivity index Spic or spic spicule spicule 1) a calcareous or siliceous needle that is or was part of a sponge endoskeleton. Spic or spic 2) a siliceous diatom shell spider deck the deck below the main deck on a semisubmersible. The spider deck is used to service the equipment below the rotary table such as the marine riser. spiders 1) a manual or air-activated device on the elevators of a drilling or workover rig or service unit that grips drillpipe, casing, or tubing for hoisting. Spiders have three or four sets of slips with teeth. spigot a pipe with a male connection or pin end spike 1) an energy impulse 2) a clean wave (very sharp, symmetrical) emitted from a seismic source 3) an extraneous event on a well log curve

SPINNING WRENCH

TONG

spinning wrench

spill point

spill point the highest elevation along the rim of a petroleum trap such as a dome or anticline. If the structure is completely filled with gas and/or oil down to the spill point, the trap cannot hold any more and the excess will spill out at this point. SPIN sticking pipe indicator log spine-and-rib plot a cross plot of detector rates from a two-detector density log. The spine is a line that represent no mudcake effects and the ribs extend out from the spine proportional to the mudcake thickness. spinner 1) a device that is suspended by a line above the drill floor and is used to screw together and unscrew drillpipe. The frame contains a motor, gears, and a pipe-gripping device. 2) a downhole instrument used to measure fluid flow in a well. The turns of a propeller are recorded electrically as the fluid flows through the spinner. Four types of spinners are a) continuous, b) full bore, c) petal basket, and d) inflatable diverter. spinner hawk an air motor that drives a silent chain on rollers to hand tighten or untighten drillpipe when

spinning wrench an air or hydraulic operated wrench that is used by the crew on the floor of a drilling rig to tighten and untighten joints of pipe or tubing. It has no backup but does require a snubbing line. The tubular is held in the stationary rotary table. The spinning wrench is suspended above the drill floor by a wireline from the derrick or mast. The spinning wrench is used instead of a spinning chain and has the advantage of tightening all joints equally. SPINS spinner survey Sp Inst Ser Special Instrument Service spin test a test used to determine if there has been an increase in friction in a turbine meter. The turbine rotor is spun by hand or with an air jet and timed unit it stops. The time is called spin time. spin-up to use a spinning chain to make up joints of drillpipe or tubing together. Pipe tongs are then used to finish the tightening. spiral groove .a helical-shaped groove that is cut into the outside surface of drill collars. A spiral groove reduces the area of contact between the drill collar and the well walls to reduce the possibility of wall sticking. The grooves reduce contact area by 40965096 while reducing pipe weight only 796-1096. spiral or spiral-grooved drill collar a drill collar with helical grooves that have been machined on the outside of the drill collar. Three spiral grooves spaced at 120 apart are used. Spiral-grooved drill collars

spiraled wellbore sponge

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spiral grooving

are run between the bit and the rest of the drillstring to prevent the drillstring from sticking. spiraled wellbore a wellbore that follows a helical configuration as it descends spiral-lobe compressor a type of compressor that uses two spiral- or helical-shaped rotor blades that rotate parallel to each other in a housing. The rounded end of one blade fits into the rounded groove of the other. When the inlet port is open, the discharged port is closed and the gas enters and is trapped in the groove. As the gas passes along the compressor, it is compressed until it is discharged from the outlet port. Spiral-lobe compressors can be either oil-flooded or dry. Spiral-lobe compressors are used for air compression, vapor recovery units, and refrigeration units, (rotary screw or helical-lobe compressor) spiral wall casing casing with spiral grooves cut on the outer surface. Spiral wall casing is used in deviated wells where there is a possibility of wall sticking as the casing string is being run.

spirifer

spirifer a type of brachiopod fossil that is bivalved (two shells) with a characteristic spiral shape on the shells. Spirifers range in age from the Middle Ordovician epoch to the Jurassic peroid and are important guide fossils, sprf

spit

spit a beach of sand separated from the mainland by a lagoon, but attached to land on one side spit oil to flow by heads or intermittently Spk speck

spkld speckled spkt sprocket Spl or spl sample splash box a metal cylinder that is hinged to fit around a joint of drillpipe as it is being broken out (unscrewed) when tripping out of the well. The splash box prevents mud from being lost by squirting out onto the surrounding area. The drilling mud is emptied with a drain plug onto the shale shaker, (mud box or saver, Mother Hubbard, or wet box) splash zone the highly corrosive zone located immediately above the waterline on an offshore structure where waves occasionally splash splice to interweave individual wire strands on the ends of two wirelines to join them together Splin splintery split bushings two halves of solid metal master bushings that fit in a rotary table split connection the hookup of a gas well to two different pipelines. A split connection is caused by two working-interest owners in a gas well signing gas-purchase contracts with different pipelines. split-dip shooting a type of spread arrangement of geophones used in seismic exploration with the geophones in a line and the shotpoint in the middle of the geophone line split-level drilling rig a land drilling rig with two floors. The lower floor, near ground level, has the engines, gears, and drawworks. The upper floor has the rotary table. split running nipple a pipe fitting that is split into two parts that are hinged together. The split running nipple is threaded on the top of pipe or tubing when the rods are being put back in a well. It is split so that it can be put on the tubing or pipe around rods that are already hanging from the derrick into the pipe or tubing. The split running nipple is made of brass or aluminum so that it will not spark or ignite gas. split spread a type of geophone spread arrangement used in seismic exploration with the geophones in a line and the shotpoint either a) in the middle of the geophone line (split-dip) or b) offset perpendicular from the middle of the geophone line (offset splitdip) split-stream gas well a gas well from which several parties receive the gas split-stream test a test used to measure the distillate content of gas SPLL sample log SPL-T sample time SPLPR sampling pressure sply supply SPM 1) strokes per minute 2) single-point mooring 3) six-point mooring spm strokes per minute Spo spore spoiling to throw away sponge an aquatic animal that has an internal skeleton (endoskeleton) composed of calcareous,

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sponge-barrel coring spread mooring spore-coloration index a scale that describes the color of spores, a part of organic matter in potential petroleum source rocks. With increasing temperature or maturation, the color of the spore in transmitted light will range from colorless to yellow and brown to black. SCI SPOT an unmanned French orbiting remote-sensing satellite (Systeme Probatoire d'Observation de la Terra) that was launched in 1986. SPOT orbits the earth at a height of 517 mi in a sun-synchronous orbit that covers the earth in 26 days. The satellite has a high-resolution visible (HRV) imaging system. SPOT has better resolution than Landsat TM and can be acquired in stereo pairs but lacks the TM spectral range. spot 1) to position 2) to locate equipment such as a workover rig over a well SPOTD spotted spot gas natural gas bought on the spot market, (best efforts, interruptible, direct purchase, and self-help gas) spot market a market to sell and buy oil and gas on very short term without a long term contract. The spot market is very sensitive to supply and demand. Prices on the spot market are constantly fluctuating. spot sample a sample of the stock tank liquid taken by a thief at a specific level in the stock tank in contrast to a running sample spotting fluid a fluid that is placed or spotted in a certain spot in a well to loosen stuck pipe. The spotting fluid reduces the differential sticking force and lubricates and erodes the mud cake. The most common spotting fluid is surfactant mixed with diesel oil. Oil muds, diesel oil, emulsifiers, and lubricants are also used. spouter 1) a gas well 2) a gusher 3) a well that flows under its own pressure SPP standpipe pressure SP pack a crooked pipe used in a skimmer or plate coalescer for produced water treatment. The turbulent flow of produced water through the tortuous pipe causes oil drops to coalesce. Spr or spr 1) spar 2) sparry spread 1) the arrangement of geophone groups used in seismic exploration. The spread often used in reflection seismic has 24 groups at intervals of 50400 ft between group centers and spread out V-h mi2 mi. Some spread types, described by geometry, are end-on, in-line, broadside, offset, cross, fan, L-spread, T-spread, and split. Interlocking spreads have a geophone group and shotpoint location for one profile that is a shotpoint and geophone group location for another profile. Reversed spreads have shotpoints inline on both sides of a linear geophone array. A microspread has very short intervals of 2-15 ft. 2) the difference between the opening and closing pressures of a pressure valve spreader a circular plate or disk that is used to spread a liquid flowing down in a tank. The spreader is used to mix and aerate liquids. It is located near the bottom of a settling tank and is also called a distributing rack. spread mooring the system of anchors and lines that is used to distribute wave, wind and current loads on a floating vessel such as a semisubmersible and

siliceous, or organic spicules. Sponges range from Precambrian to present in age. Spg or spg sponge-barrel coring a coring method used to make more accurate reservoir saturation measurements. The inner core barrel contains six 5ft aluminum pipe sections with polyurethane sponge that absorbs oil bleeding from the core and protects the core from drilling mud. spontaneous potential or polarization a measure of the natural static-electric voltage that exists between two points. Spontaneous potential is a common measurement made by electrical and induction well logs. It is used for a) detecting permeability, b) location of shale, c) correlation, and d) true resistivity calculations. The spontaneous potential deflection decreases as the salinity of the mud approaches the formation water salinity. When the mud and the formation water have the same salinity, no spontaneous potential is generated. Spontaneous potential is not generated in wells filled with nonconductive oil-base muds. Response is in mV, typically in the range of 15-150 millivolts. Spontaneous potential is recorded on Track 1 of the well log. (self potential) SP spontaneous potential or polarization log a well log that measures the natural voltage that is created by the contact of conductive drilling mud with a formation. The combination of drilling mud, formation invasion by mud filtrate adjacent to the wellbore, and formation waters, along with sand and shale, causes an electrochemical action that creates the spontaneous potential voltage. Shales are impermeable, but because of the negative charges on the clay mineral layers in shale, sodium ions (Na+) but not chlorine ions (Cl~) can move through the shale. Sodium ions are usually common in the formation waters of sandstones. If a sandstone is in contact with a shale layer and the drilling mud and formation waters have different sodium concentrations, and electric current will flow with the migration of the sodium ions. The formation water usually has a greater concentration of sodium ions than drilling mud, and the current will flow from the formation water resistivity (/?,). This current is used to calculate !*,. Spontaneous potential is plotted in Track 1 on the well log with + on the left and on the right. The units are in millivolts. A shale will kick to the right in Track 1 and a permeable sandstone to the left. A vertical line drawn along the maximum deflection of the shale is called the shale line and along the sandstone is called the sand line. Limestones and dolomites complicate the spontaneous-potential interpretation. SP spool 1) to wind on a reel 2) see crossover and drilling spool spooling winding rope or cable onto a reel spoon a bailer spore dust-sized reproductive cells from mosses, ferns, and other related plants. Spores are carried great distances by wind and can be excellent microfossils in sedimentary rocks used to determine the age and climate during the deposition of sediments. Spores have existed from the Silurian period to the present. Specialists who study and identify fossil spores are called palynologists. Spo or

SP reduction factor squeeze a well keep the vessel on station. The mooring lines are continuously being pretensioned in anticipation of the stresses. Some common spread mooring systems used are a) symmetric six-line, b) symmetric eightline, c) symmetric nine-line, d) symmetric ten-line, e) symmetric twelve-line, f) 45-90 eight-line, g) 30-60 eight-line, and h) 45-90 ten-line. SP reduction factor psuedostatic spontaneous potential divided by static spontaneous potential sprf spirifer SPRG spring gauge spring 1) to bend pipe 2) a slight bend in a pipe spring collet a spring-extended metal band that is used to enlarge a liner patch for casing repairs spring-loaded valve a type of gas-lift valve that uses a spring to close the valve spring swivel a swivel used on a drilling rig that has a plunger spring attached to the hook to absorb shock. A swivel pin is used for opening and closing the hook. The hook is connected to the elevators during moving and tripping and to the swivel bail during drilling. sprocket 1) a wheel with teeth along its circumference to engage a chain 2) the teeth on the wheel that fit into the chain, spkt SPS 1) subsea production system 2) submerged production system 3) satellite well production system 4) shot point seismometer sps sparse SPSI surface pressure shutin spsly sparsely Sp/T sample tops SPT 1) shallower-pool test 2) straddle-packer test sptd spotted spty or sptty spotty SPUD or spud spudded spud 1) a type of cable-tool fishing tool in the shape of a gouge up to 60 ft long that was used to clear debris from around a stuck drilling tool 2) to raise and drop a sonde to lower the sonde around an obstruction in a well 3) to raise and drop a drillstring to pass an obstruction in a well spud a well to start to drill a well. The definition of the exact starting point of drilling a well varies and can range from staking the location to the actual start of drilling by the rig capable of drilling to total depth. The term comes from starting to drill a well with a cable-tool rig when the drillstring was suspended from the derrick to provide enough room to start the well with a spudding machine, (spud in) spud bar a wide, flat bar used to remove sediments from the bottom of a storage tank spud bit a bit used to kick off a directional well spud can a circular, square, or polygonal platform or container at the base of the leg on a jackup rig designed to prevent the leg from sinking too far into the bottom and to give the rig more stability. A mat is used instead of cans in areas of soft seabed. The spud can is filled with seawater. spud conference an informal or semiformal meeting before the drilling of a well with the people

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involved in drilling and servicing the well to review the plans and coordinate the drilling of the well. The operator, drilling contractor, supply, and service companies and regulatory agencies are usually represented. spudder 1) a cable-tool rig 2) a small drilling rig spudder truck a truck with a large auger mounted on it. The spudder truck is used to auger a largediameter hole (conductor hole) down through the soil (20-100 ft) that is then lined with conductor casing before the drilling rig is brought on the drill site. spudding the raising and free fall of a bit on a drillstring in a well to shake the shale accumulation off the bit spudding bit a large-diameter bit that is used to drill the first few hundred feet of hole spudding line a rope used on a cable-tool drilling rig to operate the spudding tools. The spudding line is run over the band wheel and a pulley on the drilling line, (jerk line or rope) spud in see spud a well spud mud drilling fluid used to drill the conductor pipe hole. Spud muds are viscous slurries of bentonite or attapulgite and lime slurry used to clean out the large-diameter hole. Spud mud can come from a) surplus mud from another well being drilled, b) mud from the last well drilled by the rig, or c) prepared mud. The mud is usually disposed of after drilling the conductor pipe because of contamination. spurt loss the rapid flow of filtrate into a formation before a filter cake has formed on the well just after the formation has been drilled, (surge loss) sp. vol. specific volume SPWIA Society of Professional Well Log Analysts SQ 1) sequestrants 2) square 3) seals questionable 4) squeeze 5) squeezing 6) squeezing sq 1) square 2) squeezed sq cm square centimeter sq ft square feet sq in square inch sq km square kilometer sq m square meter sq mm square millimeter sq pkr squeeze packer squ squeeze square drill collar a drill collar with four flat areas along its length. A square drill collar is run just above the bit along with reamers and stabilizers in crooked hole country. During circulation, the square drill collar acts as a long stabilizer and reduces any rapid well deviation. square joint a kelly square metre a derived unit in System International (SI) for area, m2 squeeze the slow movement of an anhydrite, a sodium or potassium salt layer, or shale into a wellbore by pressure or chemical reaction, (heave or swell) squ squeeze a well to squeeze cement a well to repair casing where gas or water is leaking into the well.

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squeeze cementing s(t) S.R. straight reaming Sr shear rate sr steradian SRB sulfate-reducing bacteria SRD surface reference datum SREC secondary recovery SRL single random lengths SRO a surface read-out system Sro residual oil saturation SRS seismic reference service SRSL seismic reference survey log SRT 1) sorted 2) sorting sit 1) sort 2) sorted srtg sorting SS 1) stainless steel 2) single shot 3) slow set 4) subsea 5) subsurface 6) small show 7) string shot 8) diamond core slicer 9) suspended solids 10) semisubmersible SS or ss sandstone Ss specific surface area Ss shear stress SSB single side-band SSCSV subsurface-controlled subsurface safety valve SSF seconds Saybolt furol SSG slight show of gas

Cement is pumped under pressure down the center of the casing and into the space called a holiday between the casing and the rock walls of the well.
C E M E N T FORCED BETWEEN PACKERS

PACKER H O U I D A Y (CAVITY)

POOR CEMENT JOB SHOWN BY CEMENT BOND LOO

PERFORATIONS

PACKER

CEMENT

squeeze cement job

squeeze cementing a cement job in a well in which cement slurry is pumped under pressure down a well and through perforations in the casing into a specific place in the well behind the casing. Squeeze cementing is used to isolate producing formations, to seal off water zones, to repair leaks, to fill channels or holidays, to temporarily seal off producing zones, and to abandon zones that are not producing. High-pressure squeeze cementing forces the slurry with a final pressure equal to or greater than formation breakdown pressure. Low-pressure squeeze cementing uses a pressure on the slurry that is less than formation fracture pressure. Squeeze cementing can be done by the a) bradenhead, b) packer squeeze, or c) hesitation methods, (squeeze job) squeeze cementing temperature the temperature of a cement slurry at maximum cementing depth in a well during a squeeze cementing job squeeze job see squeeze cementing squeeze pressure the pressure, measured at the surface, on the cement slurry pumped down a well during a cement squeeze job squeezing off water a method used to limit water production when a gas/water or oil/water contact is present in a well. The casing or liner is perforated in the water zone and the zone is squeeze cemented. squib a small explosive charge squib job a small shot of nitroglycerine set off in a well for a frac job as part of a well workover squnch joint a type of connection used on offshore conductor pipe that has no threads and locks when weight is applied to the joint sq yd square yard sqz squeeze SQZD 1) squeeze 2) squeezed 3) squeezing SR short radius

S-shaped well

S-shaped well a well that has a vertical section followed by a deviated portion followed by a vertical section to total depth. (S-type or S well) SSO slight show of oil SSP 1) static spontaneous polarization 2) static spontaneous potential ssp. subspecies S/SR sliding scale royalty SSSV 1) subsurface safety valve 2) semisubmersible support vessel Sst sandstone SSTT subsea test tree SSU seconds Saybolt universal SSULW slightly sulfur water SSV 1) surface safety valve 2) standby safety valve 3) subsurface safety valve ST 1) sidetrack 2) short thread 3) state 4) sat 5) seismic tomography s(t) seismic pulse

S-r tensile strength S/T 1) sample tops 2) suction temperature 3) side track 4) sidetracking sta station stab stabilizer stab to insert one piece of equipment such as a pipe or pin into another. Drillpipe is stabbed on the floor of a drilling rig to make a connection. Joints of casing and tubing are stabbed to make a string. stabber a person on a drilling rig that directs the end of a pipe into a tool joint or coupling (stabbing) during making a connection on a drilling rig stabbing a valve to orient and screw a valve onto a pipe stabbing board a temporary platform located 20 ft40 ft above the drill floor on the derrick of a drilling rig when running casing. The derrick man stands on the stabbing board to direct the casing joint end into the collar of other joints (stabbing) being held by the slips in the rotary table. stabbing cone or guide the flared end of a piece of equipment where a pin is inserted. stabbing jack a board with a handle and metal strap that is used to hold the end of a pipe as another pipe is screwed in it. (jack or lazy board) stabbing protector a funnel-shaped, protective rubber sleeve that fits over the box of a pipe to serve as a guide for stabbing pipe stability meter an instrument that measures the breakdown voltage of an invert emulsion stability range the maximum angle that a ship can be tilted and still right itself stabilized condition the condition in a well in which the hydrostatic head generated by the drilling mud column is slightly greater than the formation pressure stabilized crude oil crude oil after the dissolved gas has been separated out. Stabilized crude oil will have a Reid vapor pressure of about 5 lbs. stabilized flow the flow state from a well when the flowing bottomhole pressure reaches equilibrium and remains constant for a certain choke size or production rate. Stabilized flow is seen on the surface by a relatively constant static pressure. stabilized platform a table that is designed to stay level and is used for mounting sensitive instruments such as a gravity meter. A stabilized platform is held on gimbals and kept oriented by a gyroscope system. stabilized pressure a constant or nearly constant pressure stabilized sleeve a bushing that is used on the drillstring to maintain a vertical well when drilling. The stabilized sleeve is the size of the wellbore and has protruding fixed or rotating lugs that contact the side of the wellbore. stabilized well 1) a flowing well in which the flow rate through a given sized choke remains constant 2) a pumping well in which the fluid column height in the well remains constant stabilizer 1) a sub used on a downhole assembly a) to keep the drill collars in the center of the well,

stab-in cementing

485

stabilizer

b) to prevent differential sticking and wear of the drill collars, c) to ream the wellbore, and d) to control hole deviation. The most common types of stabilizers are rotating (integral blade, sleeve, and welded blade) and nonrotating-blade stabilizers and reamers. A rotating-blade stabilizer has narrow blades that extend outward from the stabilizer body. The blades are either machined out of or welded onto the body. A nonrotating-blade stabilizer has rubber stabilizer ribs. A spiral-grooved stabilizer has sets of helical grooves machined along the stabilizer body. A round-fluted stabilizer has flutes and grooves milled and machined on its outer surface. The welded stabilizer has blades welded to the body, whereas the sleeve stabilizer has blades fitted as a sleeve, and an integral blade stabilizer has the blades machined out of the body. A four-rib stabilizer allows maximum drilling-fluid circulation, whereas a six-rib stabilizer allows maximum wall contact. A larger contact area is preferred for softer formations; whereas a smaller contact area is preferred for harder formations. Stabilizer can be either nearbit or string (located anywhere in the bottomhole assembly), stab 2) a fractionating vessel used to separate gas from a liquid (stabilizer or stabilizing column) stabilizer or stabilizing column the largediameter tubes (20-35 ft in diameter) that connect the pontoons or buoyancy chambers to the deck on a semisubmersible. There are often three, four, five, or six stabilizers, and they can be separated by smaller diameter intermediate columns. The stabilizer columns are used for strength and can often be ballasted. stabilizer jamming angle the angle between the center line of a stabilizer that has been tilted enough to have the stabilizer blades contacting both the top and bottom sides of a deviated well and the center line of the well stabilizer train a series of stabilizers on a downhole assembly that is used to drill a straight hole stabilizing tool see stabilizer stab-in cementing a type of cement job in which the cement slurry is pumped down the drillpipe in the well rather than in the casing. The drillpipe is locked onto a casing shoe on the bottom of the casing and the cement flows up the annular space between the casing and the rock walls of the wellbore. A displacement fluid, usually drilling mud, is pumped down the drillpipe to displace the cement slurry before it sets in the drillpipe.

486

stab-in safety valve stage collar velocity (VmJ. Stacking velocity is used to make normal moveout corrections. stadia a surveying instrument (theodolite or telescopic alidade) that is used to measure distances. A stadia consists of a telescope with parallel horizontal crosshairs. The stadia is sighted on a stadia rod, a vertical pole with measured marks on it. The number of marks on the rod between the crosshairs in the stadia is used to measure the distance from the stadia to the rod. stadia or stadia rod a vertical rod with graduated measured marks that is used in surveying to determine distances with a theodolite or telescopic alidade staff a polished rod on a pumping unit stage a time-rock subdivision of rock deposited during an age of geological time. Stage is part of a series. stage acidizing a well treatment method used for dense and tight limestone reservoir rocks. The acid is pumped in several low-pressure stages rather than one high-pressure stage. The spent acid is swabbed out of the well between each stage. stage cementer a cementing tool that is used for long casing strings to prevent weak formations from being exposed to high pressures. The tool contains two sleeves, an upper and lower, that are held by shear pins inside a collar with ports. The stage cementer is opened by a bomb. (D.V. tool) stage cementing cementing of a casing string in a well in several (usually two) stages or steps. The lower portion of the casing string is cemented with a conventional placement followed by cementing of the upper portion of the casing string through ports in a stage or port collar. stage collar a short steel cylinder that couples joints of casing and has ports in it. A stage collar contains ports with a sliding sleeve that can open or close the ports when activated by a special bomb or tripping plug. A stage collar is used in multiple-stage cementing in a well and is similar to a port collar.

stab-in safety valve a ball valve used on a workover. The valve can be stabbed into the work string or tubing if the well must be shut in with pipe in the well. (Trw valve) stable emulsion an emulsion in which the components will not separate with time stable foam a type of workover fluid made by a mixture of detergent, freshwater, and compressed gas stable isotope ratio analysis aquantitative chemical analysis of isotopes of an element that are not radioactive such as C12 and C14. A stable isotope ratio analysis is used with radiometric age dating to determine if there has been any biological or chemical fractionation that could affect the radioactive age dating. Elements analyzed include carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and hydrogen. SIRA stack 1) an assembly of equipment on a drilling or producing well 2) to store an idle drilling rig. 3) the result of stacking, a computer process that enhances seismic records by mixing seismic traces from different records. The common-depth-point stack combines seismic data from different shotpoints and geophones which share the same midpoint between shotpoint and geophone after normal moveout corrections. The number of profiles that is stacked is stated; for example, a 12-fold or 1,200% stack. There is also a vertical and uphole stack. 4) to connect several wireline well-log tools such as density and neutron sondes so they can be run together. 5) the vertical exhaust pipe on the end of a firetube in a heatertreater. stacked log section a correlated cross section of selected intervals of interest drawn between well logs of the same type and scale stacking 1) a process used for reinforcing subsurface seismic signals and reducing noise on seismic records. The most common stacking technique is commondepth-point stacking. It sums the traces of several seismic profiles over the same subsurface reflection points that were obtained at different offset distances. The traces are first corrected for statics and normal moveout and then superimposed. A 12-fold or 1,200% stack shows that 12 seismic signals were superimposed to create the stack. Stacking is also used as a test of normal moveout corrections, to determine velocities, and to combine traces to reduce processing. 2) the connecting of logging tools to be used on the same logging run in a well 3) the storing of equipment such as a drilling rig stacking a drilling rig to store a rig that has been taken out of operation. Cold stacking is where the rig is mothballed for an indefinite time, whereas during warm stacking, the rig is maintained by a small crew. stacking chart a graph that plots geophone locations along the horizontal axis and source locations along the vertical axis stacking the tools to pull the drillpipe from the well and lay it horizontally next to the well in order to skid or remove the derrick stacking velocity the velocity that makes seismic data stack best. Stacking velocity is empirically determined and is very close to the root mean square

two-stage separation

three-stage separation

four-stage separation stage separation

stage separation or trapping standard tools stage separation or trapping the separation of natural gas from crude oil on a lease by passing the oil through several separators at successively lower pressures. The purpose is to reduce the pressure in steps to obtain a more stable stock-tank liquid and increase the liquid recovery. Two-, three-, and fourstage separators can be used. The number of separators is added to one (for the stock tank) to obtain the number of stages. Stage separation is in contrast to flash separation. stage-tool opening plug a teardrop-shaped plug that is used in two-stage cementing. The is dropped in the casing and falls to the stage tool. The casing is then pressurized to force the stage-tool opening plug downward to open the ports in the stage tool. staggered-line drive a type of waterflood pattern in which the injector and producing wells are offset and are located on separate straight lines oriented north-south and east-west. A staggered-line drive is in contrast to a direct-line drive in which the injector and producing wells are on the same straight lines oriented north-south and east-west. stainless steel steel that is alloyed with chromium and is corrosion and rust resistant. Stainless steel can be either a) a nonmagnetic (austenitic) alloy with 16% chromium, over 7% nickel, manganese, and iron or b) magnetic (ferritic) alloy with over 11% chromium andjjjpn. stake 1) to accurately survey a location such as a drillsite 2) a survey marker used by field parties 3) an electrode used as an electric ground stal stalactitic stalk a stand of tubulars

487

used to report the volume of gas in SCF or SCM. Standard conditions vary with contracts and states in the United States. Standard pressure in various states includes 14.65,14.73,14.85, and 15025 psi. One state defines standard temperature as 70F. One mole of ideal gas will occupy 379.4 ft3 under standard conditions of 14.7 psia and 60F. STP sc standard cubic foot a measure of the volume of gas at a certain pressure and temperature that is defined by law or contract. The pressure varies by contract or law and is usually about 14.65 psi (1 atm) and the temperature is 60F. SCF or scf standard cubic meter a measure of the volume of gas at 15C and 1 atm (101.325 kPa). sra3 standard derrick a derrick on a drilling rig which is assembled in pieces and bolted together. The derrick can be dismantled into pin-jointed sections and trucked to another location. A standard derrick is used in drilling offshore wells when the derrick is kept stationary as several wells are drilled. A standard derrick is in contrast to a portable derrick, unitized derrick, or mast which pivots into position as a unit and is more commonly used on land.
mean standard deviation

standard deviation

- ^ stands

2
stands

stand 1) several connected lengths of tubulars such as drill pipe or casing that are raised, stored, and/or lowered as a unit. Doubles contain two joints, thribbles have three joints, and fourbles have four joints. 2) to set a tubular such as tubing on end standard atmosphere a non-System International (SI) unit for pressure. One standard atmosphere is equal to 101.325 kPa. atm standard barrels of net clean oil the volume of crude oil measured at a standard temperature and pressure minus sediment and water content standard conditions standard conditions are 60F and and 1 atm pressure for English units and 15C and 1 atm pressure for metric and SI units. Standard conditions are essentially surface conditions and are

standard deviation a measure of variation. A standard deviation is equal to the square root of the 'sum (Xt - where ; 1 n is the number of observations standard gas-measurement law a state law that defines the temperature and pressure that defines a standard cubic foot of gas. The temperature and pressure bases vary from state to state. standard mandrel a short tubing joint (pup) with a lug for fixing a conventional gas lift valve, (tubing retrievable or conventional mandrel) standard pressure one atmosphere, 760 mm of mercury, or 14.65 psia. The states of Alaska, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas define standard pressure as 14.65 psia. The states of California, Michigan, North Dakota, and South Dakota define it as 14.73 psia. The states of Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming define it as 15.025 Psia. The state of West Virginia defines it as 14.85 psia. PSt standard section a diagram that shows the sequence by age and vertical position of rock layers in an area standard temperature 60F (English units) or 15C (metric units). Gas and liquid volumes are corrected to this temperature. One state defines standard temperature as 70F. standard tools the equipment used to drill a cabletool well, (cable tools)

488

standard tool drilling-in outlift starch downhole sucker-rod pump in an oil well. The standing valve is in contrast to the traveling valve that moves with the sucker rod. A standing valve is also used in an intermittant gas-lift well to hold the fluids in the tubing during the injection cycle. A standing valve is sometimes dropped into a tubing string to land at a seating nipple and test for leaks. Liquid is then pumped down the tubing and the pressure is monitored. The standing valve is then removed with a fishing tool. SV stand it on the boards see stand on the boards standoff or stand off 1) the distance from a wireline well log sonde to the side of the wellbore 2) a device such as an arm with a pad used on a wireline well log sonde to keep the sonde off the sides of the wellbore 3) the distance between the perforating bullets or jets and the casing or liner standoff band a large metal collar with spring-like projections on it that are designed to keep tubular goods in the center of the well. Screw taps on the bands are used to attach the standoff band to the pipe. stand on the boards to rack stands of pipe in the derrick of a drilling rig stand pipe a drive pipe that is used to prevent water from flowing into the well during spudding standpipe 1) part of the circulating system on a rotary drilling rig. The standpipe is a vertical, seamless, steel pipe about 50 ft long and attached to a leg of the derrick or mast. Drilling mud is pumped from the mud pumps, through the discharge line, to the bottom of the standpipe. Drilling mud flows up through the standpipe to die rotary hose and swivel. The standpipe has a 4-6 in. outer diameter except on small rigs where 3V2 in. diameter standpipes are used. 2) see conductor pipe standpipe manifold pipes and valve that allow the pumping of drilling mud into the annulus through the fillup line on trips and through the kill line with the blowout preventers closed standpipe pressure gauge a sensor located in the standpipe on a drilling rig that measures pump pressure. A standpipe pressure gauge is sometimes called the Cameron gauge after its manufacturer. standup drilling-and-spacing unit a rectangularshaped drilling and spacing unit with its long dimension running north-south. A standup drillingand-spacing unit is in contrast to a laydown unit in which the long dimension runs east-west. stand-up option or stand-up title opinion a title opinion made by an attorney from his personal examination of the courthouse or parish records. A stand-up opinion is made from a run sheet in the absence of a title abstract and is in contrast to an abstract-based title opinion. Stanton chart a plot of the friction factor versus Reynolds number on log-log paper star bit a bit with blades on the bottom that is rotated to cut debris and drill into a workover interval in a well starboard the right side of a ship in contrast to port starch a group of plant carbohydrates that is processed by pregelatinization for use to reduce

standard tool drilling-in outfit a drilling rig that uses rotary equipment to drill to the pay zone and cable-tool equipment to drill in the pay zone, (dual system) standard volume the space occupied by a gas at standard conditions of temperature and pressure which are defined by law or contract. Standard volume is measured in standard cubic feet (SCF) or standard cubic meter (sm3). standard well an imaginary well with an open hole that completely penetrates the producing zone and has no skin or formation damage st&b sides, top, and bottom standback capacity the weight of pipe in thousands of pounds that can be stacked in the pipe rack, either horizontally or vertically, on a drilling rig stand by to wait, usually for another operation to finish or for orders, stnlby standby costs the amount charged by a drilling contractor for a rig during the time the rig is idle, such as between testing and when the decision is made to either complete the well or plug and abandon standby rig time the time in which the drilling rig is temporarily not drilling as requested by the operator. This is usually for an operation such as well logging, (sbut-down time) standby vessel a ship that remains near an offshore platform to give aid during a crisis or, in the case of a semisubmersible, to assist in anchor handling ST&C short threads and coupling stand capacity the number of stacks of joints that a derrick can accommodate standing fluid level the static height of liquid in a well standing machine a machine that makes wire rope by braiding wires into strands and strands into rope. (closing machine)
DOWN HOLE PUMP
' DOWN 'UP

standing valve

standing valve a ball and seat or valve and seat valve that remains fixed in position and allows fluid to flow in only one direction. The ball and seat is enclosed in a cage as a unit. A standing valve is located in the mud anchor at the lower end of the barrel on a

StarJet std filtrate rate and increase the vicosity of drilling mud. Starches can ferment. StarJet four subarrays of up to four tunable Vaporchoc guns used as a seismic source starter a new producing well starting head a heavy steel adaptor or flanged fitting that is bolted or welded to the top of the surface casing and is part of the wellhead. The startinghead consists of a body, retaining element, a hanger-packer mechanism, valves, and bleeders. The hanger-packer is fixed to the end of a casing string or another casing head and seals the annular space between the casing strings while suspending the smaller diameter casing string in the well. The startinghead is used to attach the casinghead spool and blowout preventers. Only one startinghead is used with surface and production casing. Two startingheads are used if there is an intermediate casing string. The startinghead valves and bleeders are used to relieve gas pressure, (casinghead or casing head) starting mill a downhole tool that is used to kick off deviation drilling. A whipstock directs the starting mill against the casing where a cutting edge cuts a two-ft hole in the casing. A window mill is often used next to enlarge the hole. starved a pump with no fluid to pump, (dry) starved basin a basin that lacks sediments. Subsidence in a starved basin is more rapid than sedimentation. STAT status stat stationary state-line fault a fault that ends at a state line on a geological map due to differences in interpretation by geologists in the two states statewide rules a set of general rules pertaining to production that is applied to all fields or reservoirs in a state by the state regulatory agency static noise static bottomhole or static formation pressure the pressure on the fluid at the bottom of the well after the well has been shut in for a period of time, usually 24 hours, and the maximum pressure has built up. Static bottomhole pressure is in contrast to flowing bottomhole pressure, (shut-in or closedin bottomhole or formation pressure) SBHP static equilibrium the condition in a well when there is no more pressure buildup in a shut-in well static fluid level the height to which a liquid rises in a well under its own pressure after the well is shut in and has come to equilibrium. Static fluid level is in contrast to working fluid level. static gauge pressure gas pressure measured either upstream or downstream from an orifice. Static gauge pressure is usually measured by a Bourdon tube or spring in pounds per square inch (lb/in.2). static head 1) the pressure due to the weight of a column of fluid above a datum 2) the depth of a liquid in a well when the well is not pumping static mud pressure the pressure exerted by a column of drilling mud at rest at a point in the well static pressure the force exerted by a fluid at rest

489

statics the corrections used in seismic exploration to compensate for weathering or low-velocity layer near the earth's surface. The objective is to correct seismic data as if it were shot on a flat surface without a low-velocity layer. Statics can be made by direct measurements of the low-velocity layer in uphole shooting, refraction first breaks, or data smoothing. static spontaneous potential the maximum spontaneous potential measurement that can be made with a shale-porous sandstone contact. The maximum deflection to the left in Track 1 of the well log defines the sand line. The static spontaneous potential is dependent on the difference in resistivities between the formation water and drilling mud, the bed thickness, and hydrocarbon saturation. It can be calculated by -K x log(#m//?K,) in which K is 60 + (0.133 x formation temperature), Rmj is mud-filtrate resistivity at reservoir temperature, and./?K, is formation water resistivity at formation temperature. SSP static submergence the vertical distance in feet between the static fluid level in a gas-lift well and the bottom of the tubing. Static submergence is in contrast to working submergence. static temperature the temperature at a specific depth in a well after the well has been shut in for a period of time, usually 24 hours static water level the height in a well to which the water will rise static well conditions the conditions in a well after the well has been shut in station the location of an observation made by a geophysical instrument, sta stationary-barrel insert pump a type of suckerrod pump that is used on an oil well and is run and pulled on a rod string. The pump has a stationary barrel and a standing valve that does not move. A traveling barrel and traveling valve inside the stationary barrel rise and fall with the sucker-rod string to pump the oil up into the tubing. A standing-barrel insert pump is in contrast to a traveling-barrel insert pump, tubing pump, and casing pump. stationary valve a valve in a downhole oil pump that allows fluid to flow in only one direction (upward). The stationary valve remains fixed in position in contrast to a traveling valve. station keeping or stationkeeping the maintenance of a drillship or semisubmersible in acceptable limits on location at the drillsite. Station keeping is done by a mooring system or a dynamic positioning system with thrusters. stator 1) vanes that direct fluid flow. The stators in a turbine house the rotors and direct the fluid flow toward the rotors. 2) an iron ring with induction coils mounted on the inside in an AC induction-type of electric motor STB or stb stock-tank barrel STB/d, STB/D, or STBD stock-tank barrels per day STBO stock tank barrels oil STC slowness time coherence stcky sticky STD salinity-temperature-depth std standard

490

stdg. steel

Stdg. 1) standing 2) standardizing STDS or stds stands stdy steady steady state a flow regime in a producing well during which a constant pressure at the wellbore and at the boundaries of the reservoir can be maintained. The pressure drop will be independent of time. steal hole to report more footage drilled than is actually drilled steal oil to transfer crude oil between leases to get around prorationing steam drive 1) a steam and foam injection method for heavy oil production 2) see steam flood steamer unit apparatus used in the field to reduce the volume of produced water from wells. The steamer unit uses a fire tube to form steam and concentrate the salts into a brine with a liquid volume reduction of about 90%. (evaporative unit)
PSOOUCINO WELL INJECTION V H U 1 INJECTION wai

steam injection

-L

L.

steam injection well

steam flood

a period of time (production or puff phase) from weeks to months. The process is repeated until it becomes uneconomical, (cyclic steam stimulation or

steam flood or flooding an enhanced oil-recovery technique used for shallow heavy-oil deposits. Hightemperature steam is pumped down injection wells to heat up the formation and the heavy oil in it. Heating causes the heavy oil to become less viscous. The steam cools into hot water which is pushed by the steam being injected behind it, driving the heated heavy oil toward producing wells. The heating of the oil also causes the oil to swell, increasing its recovery. Some of the lighter fractions of the oil vaporize to form a solvent or miscible bank which aids in the sweep efficiency. Steam flooding is the most commonly used enhanced oil-recovery process. (steam drive) steam gun a marine seismic source that injects a slug of superheated steam into the water from valves. The steam condenses by hydrostatic pressure emitting a short, powerful pulse. The steam is generated by boilers on the ship. steaming unit a type of treating plant that is used to separate oil and water. Steam pipes are run in the separator tank to help separate the oil and water. The water flows by gravity to the bottom of the tank. steam injection an enhanced oil recovery technique used in shallow heavy-oil deposits. Steam is pumped down a well for a period of time (injection or huff phase) from days to weeks. The well is then shut in for a period of days (shut-in phase) as the heat from the steam dissipates into the reservoir. The heat causes the heavy oil to become less viscous. The same well is then used to pump the heated, fluid heavy oil for

buff h'puff)
steam piano a mud hog steam rig a drilling rig that uses a steam boiler as a prime mover stearate the salt of stearate acid, a saturated 18-carbon fatty acid. Aluminum, calcium, and zinc stearates are drilling-mid additives used as lubricants and defoamers and for water control in air drilling. steel an alloy of iron and carbon, stl

steel template jacket platform

steel-jacket or steel-template jacket platform stick cross section or diagram steel-jacket or steel-template jacket platform a common type of offshore platform that uses legs anchored to the sea bottom by piles to support the drilling and production platform above the surface of the sea. Two legs are often equipped with flotation chambers so that the platform can be towed horizontally to the site. The platform is then flooded with water and lands on the sea bottom. The topside equipment such as modules are then installed on the platform. Almost all offshore platforms constructed between 1947 and the mid-1970s are of this type. A steel-jacket platform is in contrast to a pileless platform. (piled-steel platform) steel-toed boots boots with a steel cap built into the toes and nonskid soles. Steel-toed boots are designed to prevent the feet from being crushed by a dropped object and are worn as a safety precaution on rigs. steel-tooth bit see milled-tooth bit steerable motor a single or multibend positivedisplacement motor run behind the drill bit that can be used in either an oriented mode to deflect a well or a rotary mode to drill straight ahead. The curvature rate of the well drilled by a steerable motor generally ranges from 2-4 per 100 ft. steerable propeller a marine propeller that is mounted in a pod and can rotate 360 to keep a drillship or semisubmersible on station steerable system a downhole assembly consisting of a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool above a steerable motor. A steerable system is used to drill a directional well that can be manipulated and drilled from the surface in a process called navigational drilling without tripping out to survey the hole. steering drilling using a steerable motor steering tool a survey instrument used with a mud motor that continuously measures the azimuth and inclination of the tool face. A conductor line connects the tool with a display on the rig floor. The steering tool has been replaced by measurement while drilling. stellite a cobalt-based alloy that is very hard and very resistant to hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide

491

BULB

STEM

ROOT

stem on a salt plug

stem 1) the long neck of a diapir such as a salt plug that connects the bulb with the root 2) a drillstem 3) the rod or shaft that is used to open or close a valve stemming the placement of sand or gravel that is placed above the nitroglycerine during explosive fracturing to contain the explosion

step bore a gradual decrease in box threaded coupling bore diameter. The step bore and the corresponding increase in pin diameter is designed to increase pin strength. step down to decrease the outer diameter of pipe on a drillstring in contrast to step up step fault 1) one of several closely-spaced parallel faults with similar displacements 2) one of several, low-angle thrust faults that step down and across the rock layers Stephanian a global age of geological time that occurred about 310-290 m. y. ago. It is part of the Carboniferous period. stepout the difference in arrival times of seismic energy at different geophones. (moveout) step-out well a well drilled in the expected extent of a reservoir that is being developed but at a significant distance, usually two or more drilling and spacing units, from the nearest producer in that reservoir. A step-out well is sometimes called an out-step well. (delineation well, extension test or well or outpost well) stepping out drilling to the sides of a discovery well to determine the limits of a subsurface reservoir. delineation drilling) step profile a theoretical profile back in a formation from a wellbore with an abrupt instead of gradational transition from the flushed to the uninvaded zone. Step profile is in contrast to transition profile. step scale royalty a payment made on production (royalty) in which the rate increases by levels as the average production from the well increases. In contrast, a sliding scale royalty is based on the total average production. step test a well test in which increasing injection pressure into a formation is plotted against intake rate of injected fluids. A step test is used to determine the fracture pressure of the reservoir. A sharp increase of intake indicates formation fracturing. step up to increase the outer diameter of pipe on a drillstring in contrast to step down stereoscope An optical instrument which uses two lenses to view tax overlapping aerial photographs, yielding a three-dimensional image of the surface stereoscopic pair two overlapping aerial photographs used with a stereoscope to give a threedimensional image of the surface STg sidetracking stg stage stging straightening STGS stages STH sidetracked hole S3 the third peak measured by Rock-Eval, S3 is the milligrams of CO2 generated from 1 gm of rock by temperatures up to 390C stick a solid corrosion inhibitor that is dropped down a well stick cross section or diagram a cross section, a vertical view or panel of the subsurface made by correlating rock layers or horizons between wells, with the wells being represented by vertical or nearly vertical lines or sticks

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stick diagram stock tank to a pendulum, fulcrum, or slick bottomhole assembly. (packed-hole bottomhole assembly) stiff foam an air drilling fluid made with air, water, a foaming agent, a viscosifier, and a strengthening agent. Stiff foam is used to maintain circulation when downhole water is present stiff hookup a rigid bottomhole assembly used to maintain the inclination of a wellbore. Stiff hookup is in contrast to a limber hookup. Stiles method a method for approximating oil recovery by a waterflood. The Stiles method assumes separate, stratified layers of permeability. stimulate a well to use an engineering process such as acidizing, fracing, or workover to increase production from a well stimulation an engineering process by the operator of a well to increase the production from a producing formation in a well such as acidizing or hydraulic fracturing stinger 1) an extension of the bottom of a downhole tool that is used to guide the tool. The stinger on a pilot mill guides the pilot mill into a tubular fish. A stinger on a reamer keeps the tool concentric in the hole, (pilot) 2) a boom mounted on a truck stinging in to seat a tool with a stinger stipulation a demand or condition stirrer see agitator stk 1) stuck 2) stake 3) stock STK or Stk. streak STK-C stuck casing STK-P stuck drillpipe stl steel STM steel-tape measurement stm steam stmg streaming STN stain Stn or stn 1) stain 2) stained 3) staining stng staining stn/by stand by STNR signal-to-noise ratio star strainer stock tank a cylindrical crude-oil storage tank on a lease that holds oil under atmospheric pressure until sold to a purchaser. Two types of stock tanks are a) bolted steel and b) welded steel. The bolted-steel stock tank is assembled on location and can have either an internal lining or a galvanized finish. The bolted-steel stock tank comes in sizes of 500 bbls or larger. The welded-steel stock tank is welded in a shop and transported onto location. The welded-steel stock tank is internally coated against corrosion and comes in sizes of 90 bbls or larger. Stock tanks can have either flat or cone-shaped bottoms for sediment collection. An oil sales outlet is located about 1 ft above the bottom of the tank to transfer the oil, and a thief hatch is located on the top for gauging. There are usually at least two stock tanks in a tank battery located on a pad or raised surface for each lease, so one can be drained as the other is being filled. The stock tanks can have a tank dike of raised earth

stick diagram a subsurface diagram with wells being represented by vertical or nearly vertical lines or sticks sticking pipe indicator log a log that predicts where pipe will stick based on measured downhole conditions. SPIN stick of macaroni a joint of pipe

stick plot

stick plot a diagram used to show the results of a dipmeter in a well. The well is shown as a line along the vertical axis of the stick plot. Each dip measurement is shown as a short line or stick intersecting the well. The sticks are located at the depth in the well where they were measured and are dipping at the angle that was measured by the dipmeter. stiff arm a steel bar that is attached to equipment on one end and secured on the other end to prevent the equipment such as tubing tongs from rotating and swinging
No 100<Ca 10 " CI 100 i HCO310 -1SO 4 10 -ICO3 10 Scale (Meq/liter)

Mg10 Fe 10 -

Sea Water Stiff diagram

Stiff diagram a method of representing the chemical composition of oilfield waters. The concentration of Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cl, HCO3, SO4, and CO3 in milliequivalents per liter are shown as horizontal lines coming out of a central vertical line. The different water types can be easily recognized with a Stiff diagram. stiff bottomhole assembly a downhole assembly on a drillstring that is stiff and is stabilized to full gauge for the well. One to eight stabilizers are used immediately above the bit with the normal being three or four stabilizers. The stiff drilling assembly is used to maintain angle on a deviated hole and can be divided into mild, medium, and severe as determined by the number of stabilizers and their position in relation to the bit. A stiff bottomhole-assembly is in contrast

stock-tank or stocktank barrel

Stormer viscometer

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stock tanks wellbore. Stoneley pseudopermeability is often plotted against porosity from logs to separate intergranular from fracture permeability. Stoneley wave a type of surface guided wave that is propagated along an interface. A Stoneley wave can be generated when a seismic impulse meets the wellbore-wellbore fluid interface and is propagated along that interface. stop a valve plug stopcock a valve stopcocking the periodic shutting in of a well to permit the gas pressure to build up
stock tanks

surrounding the tanks in case of a spill, (field, flow, lease, or production tank) stock-tank or stocktank barrel one barrel of oil at surface conditions after the solution gas has bubbled out of it. Because the gas bubbles out of the oil when it is pumped to the surface and pressure is relieved, the surface volume of oil (stock-tank barrels) is less than in the subsurface reservoir which is called oil in place. STB or stb stock-tank or stocktank conditions conditions of 60F and 1 atm. Under stock-tank conditions, one barrel of oil is equal to 5615 ft3 and 0.159 m3. stock-tank or stocktank emulsion breakers chemicals that are oil wetting agents and are used to separate oil and water emulsions in a separator in the field stock-tank or stocktank gas/oil ratio the cubic feet of separator gas per barrel of stock-tank oil stock-tank or stocktank oil stabilized oil existing under surface conditions of temperature and pressure (60F and 1 atm). Stabilized oil exists after the oil has been processed through a separator to remove solution gas and water, (atmospheric-pressure oil or lease crude) STOIL STOIIP stock-tank oil initially in place STOIL stock-tank oil stolp stock-tank oil in place stoke the cgs unit of absolute or kinematic viscosity Stoneley pseudopermeabiUty an approximation of formation permeability in a well based on the attenuation and dispersion of Stoneley waves in the

stop ring

stop collar or ring a hinged metal ring that is designed to fit around tubular goods such as casing. The stop ring contains threaded holes or a lug to hold it in position. The stop ring is used to position equipment such as a centralizer or scratcher on the outside of the tubular. stop sub a short length of pipe with a collar that is used on a fishing string to prevent the fishing tool from penetrating too far into the fish stor storage store lease a mineral-rights lease that has been printed with only the blanks needing to be filled in storeman a crew member who maintains stocks and distributes equipment and parts on an offshore platform storm choke a direct-controlled safety valve that is used to shut in a well in the subsurface. A coiled spring is used to hold a valve off a seat until a certain flow rate through the tubing is reached, at which time the valve closes. Stormer viscometer a rotational shear instrument used to measure viscosity and gel strengths of drilling muds. The Stormer viscometer consists of an inner cup that rotates and an outer cup that is stationary. The drilling mud is contained between the inner and

494

story pole strandline pools

outer cups. The viscosity is measure by the grams weight required to drive the rotating cup at 600 rpms and is calibrated in centipoises. The viscometer is calibrated with water and glycerine solutions of known viscosities. story pole a pole, with or without marks, used by a roustabout to estimate the amount of crude oil in a tank stove pipe a short string (20-100 ft) of large diameter pipe or casing 26-42 in. outside diameter that is often formed of several joints welded together. Stove pipe is pounded into the ground with a diesel hammer or pile driver until driven to refusal. Stove pipe is used to start a well only in areas of vegetation and very soft ground. It prevents a washout and provides a conduit for drilling mud circulating back into the mud tanks. No wellhead equipment is mounted on the stove pipe, (drive pipe or casing) STP standard temperature and pressure stp stopper stpd stopped STPKR straddle packer Str structural S-T-R section-township-range straddle packer one of two expandable elastomer sealing devices that is used to isolate a section in a well. One straddle packer is seated above and the other seated below the section to be tested (straddle test) or treated. SP or STPKR straddle plant equipment, located on a pipeline, that is used to remove ethane, propane, butane, and condensate from natural gas. (fieldplant) straddle test or straddle-packer test a drillstem test made on a section of the well that is not on the bottom of the well by seating straddle packers above and below the section in order to isolate it. (double wall packer test) SPT straightening vanes a bundle of small-diameter tubes that is fitted into a flowline to streamline the fluid flow and reduce eddies. Straightening vanes are often used upstream from a meter. straight hole a well drilled vertically into the subsurface. There is usually some tolerance allowed in the drilling contract, for example, no more than 3 from vertical for any 100 ft of depth in the well. (straight well or wellbore, or vertical hole or well) straight-hole downhole motor or turbodrill a downhole motor that is longer, larger, and more powerful than a directional downhole motor. A straight-hole downhole motor is designed to drill straight ahead. straighthole survey a deviation survey in a well straight-in directional hole a deviated well with a build and then a straight locked-in section drilled without a drop-off section straight kick a type of deviated well in which the well builds angle and then drills straight to the target. A straight kick is in contrast to an S-type kick. straight-line method of depreciation an accounting method that uses equal deductions from income (depreciation) each year for the life of the equipment. The straight-line method of depreciation

straight-in directional hole

is in contrast to accelerated depreciation which allows for a faster tax write-off. straight pull release a practice of releasing a downhole tool by pulling the string up to break a shear pin and open a hydraulic circuit bypass valve to release the slips. A straight pull release is in contrast to rotation release. straight well or wellbore see straight hole

in

yield point

faulting

STRAIN stress-strain relationship

strain a change in the shape or volume of an object caused by stress or force. It can be permanent strain, such as brittle or ductile, or temporary strain that is elastic. Strain is often measured as a ratio of the length of the original object minus the length of the deformed object to the length of the original object or by using a similar dimensional ratio. strain ellipsoid a method of showing strain or deformation. A strain ellipsoid uses an ellipse to show the resulting shape of a circle had it been deformed by the same stress. strain gauge an instrument that measures the deformation of a structure or object strain-limit design casing casing with the joints significantly stronger than the pipe body to prevent joint failure strand a group of wires twisted together. Strands are used to make wire rope, (wire strand) stranding machine a machine that makes wire rope by braiding wires into strands and strands into rope. (closing machine) strandline pools stratigraphic types of petroleum traps that were formed by reservoir rocks deposited along a shoreline. Beach sandstones are an example of strandline pools.

strand plain stratigraphic test well or hole strand plain a prograded shoreline formed by the deposition of sediments strap or strapping 1) measuring the height and volume of a tank in order to prepare a tank table that is used by a gauger to measure the volume of oil in the tank from the height of oil in the tank 2) to measure the depth of a well strap in to measure pipe being run in a well strap out of the hole the measurement of well depth by measuring the lengths of pipe stands hanging under tension in the elevators STRAT stratigraphic test STRAT or strat stratigraphic Strat 1) strata 2) stratified

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thickness is shown. The individual rock layers are often drawn in profile as they would weather in a cliff of rocks. Resistant rocks such as sandstones protrude out, whereas weak rocks such as shales are weathered back, (columnar section or geologic column or section) i m

1
_

aa i

! I

stratigraphic cross section

strata

strata layers of sedimentary rock. Strata is the plural of stratum. Strat Stratafrac hydraulic fracturing Stratalog a type of wellsite computer processed log stratapax bit a shear type of drilling bit that uses synthetic diamonds. The cutting is done with rows of small cylinders called drill blanks or compacts that are composed of a layer of man-made polycrystalline diamonds cemented to a tungsten carbide stud. The bit body is either a heat-treated alloy steel or tungsten carbide matrix with at least three jet nozzles and the bit profile is either a double cone or a shallow cone. The advantages of the bit is that there are no moving parts; it drills by shearing, requiring less effort, and the bit is well suited for turbine drilling. Stratapax bits are self-sharpening and need less weight on the bit than a conventional drill bit. The bit does not work well with water-base drilling muds and is more expensive than conventional bits but has a longer life than other types of bits, (polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline diamond compact, or PDC bit) stratification the natural layering of sedimentary rocks. Stratification is caused by variations in the erosional processes that deposited the sediments. A layer in sedimentary rock represents a period of nondeposition or slight erosion. stratified layered. Strat stratigraphic column a column that shows the vertical succession of rock layers, usually formations, in a specific area. The rock layers are arranged with the oldest at the bottom and become progressively younger toward the top. The geological ages of the rock layers are often identified and their range of

stratigraphic cross section a vertical panel (cross section) made by correlating well logs that have been hung or arranged along a level reference surface that is a marker bed or horizon. A stratigraphic cross section shows the sedimentary rock layers as they were originally deposited and how they relate to each other. Subsequent deformation such as folding and faulting has been removed. A stratigraphic cross section is in contrast to a structural cross section. stratigraphic dolomite dolomite, a mineral and rock composed of CaMg(CO3)2, that has replaced calcite in limestone along natural fractures such as joints in the limestone. The fractures were routes through which Mg-rich waters perculated through the limestone when it was transformed into dolomite. Stratigraphic dolomite is in contrast to primary, syngenetic, evaporitic, supratidal, and diagenic dolomite, (epigenic, secondary, or tectonic dolomite) stratigraphic equivalent rocks that are the same by either a) having been deposited at the same time (time stratigraphic) or b) as a continuous rock layer (rock stratigraphic) stratigraphic high-density dipmeter'" a wireline well log that is made by a sonde with four arms or pads with two button electrodes on each of the four pads. The dipmeter gives four microresistivity curves that are used for correlation and computation of structural and stratigraphic dips. stratigraphic high-resolution dipmeter a dipmeter that measures microresistivity from 27 button electrodes on each of two pads that are located at right angles. The tool is abbreviated SHDT and is also called a dual dipmeter tool stratigraphic section see columnar or geological section stratigraphic separation the shortest distance along a fault surface that joins two points that were previously connected before the fault moved stratigraphic test well or hole a well drilled primarily to obtain subsurface geological information

496

stratigraphic trap strike line streaming potential the portion of a spontaneous potential (SP) response on an electric log that is influenced by the mudcake on the wellbore and the filtrate in the formation adjacent to the wellbore streamline a line drawn through a moving fluid that is tangent to the velocity vector of the fluid at any given time streamline flow a type of fluid flow in which the direction of flow remains constant at each point in the flow with time. Streamline flow is characteristic of fluid flow through permeable rocks and is in contrast to turbulent flow, (laminar flow) streamtube a closed area in a moving fluid that is bounded by streamlines. A cross section of the stream tube is a closed curve. stream tube model a computer model for fluid flow through a reservoir using individual flow paths or tubes strength the ability of an acid to react as measured by the ionization constant strength retrogression the decline of cement strength with age. Strength retrogression can be related to temperature. stress the force per unit area acting on a solid. The stress components are oriented perpendicular to each other and are identified as a1 (maximum), CT2 (intermediate), and cr3 (minimum). Strain is the resulting deformation of a solid by stress. stress-and-strain department an engineering department stress concentrator an imperfection or gouge on a pipe that focuses stress causing a break, (stress riser) stress corrosion cracking the formation of a fracture in a substance due to a combination of corrosion and stress at a point of maximum stress. Hydrogen sulfide is the most common cause of corrosion in metals used in drilling and production. Stress corrosion cracking can cause metal fatigue. SCC stress relief the heating of a substance to a specific temperature to relieve any residual stress stress reversal the change of stress on a substance from compression to tension or tension to compression stress riser see stress concentrator Stretfbrd process a licensed sour gas sweetening process that uses a solution of vanaduim salts and anthraquinone disulfonic acid (ADA) STRG strong strg 1) strong 2) stringer 3) storage STRGR or strgr stringer Stri or stri striations striations a scratch caused by a geological process on a rock surface. Stri or stri strike 1) the horizontal direction of a plane such as a bedding or fault plane. Strike is usually expressed as a compass direction. Dip is measured perpendicular to strike. 2) to drill and discover oil strike line a cross section or seismic section that is parallel to the strike or horizontal direction of the subsurface beds. A strike line is in contrast to a dip

such as the character and vertical sequence of subsurface rocks in the area without being completed as a producer. A stratigraphic test well can be drilling along a seismic line in order to identify the reflectors on seismic profiles. If a seismic line is run (tied in) through or near an existing well, that well can become a stratigraphic test well. A stratigraphic test hole is often drilled with a small-diameter wellbore called a slim hole. A stratigraphic test well can be either a) an exploratory type that is drilled in an area that has not been proven or b) a development type that is drilled in a proven area, (strat test) STRAT stratigraphic trap a petroleum trap formed by the deposition (depositional trap) and diagenesis of the reservoir rock such as a limestone reef, river channel sandstone, an updip pinchout of a sandstone wedge in a shale layer or an oolite shoal (primary stratigraphic or lithologic trap). The stratigraphic trap can also be formed by later erosion of the reservoir rock (secondary stratigraphic trap), such as an angular unconformity. Stratigraphic trap is in contrast to structural and combination traps. stratigraphy the study of the composition, occurrence, and history of layered (sedimentary) rocks strat test see stratigraphic test well or hole stratum a tabular body of rock with a distinctive top and bottom surface that are parallel or approximately parallel. The plural of stratum is strata, (bed or layer) stray sand 1) a sandstone that the driller did not expect to encounter 2) an oil-producing sandstone that is not present in nearby wells strd straddle streak the color of powder of a mineral made by rubbing the mineral on an unglazed piece of porcelain. The streak can be different than the color of the mineral. Stk., Strk, or strk stream 1) a fluid flow such as a produced gas stream 2) the volume in standard cubic feet per day of gas that can be delivered from a well or leasehold stream day the number of days per year a plant is operating and not down streamer a flexible, clear plastic tube commonly containing 96 or up to 240 evenly spaced hydrophone groups of 20-50 hydrophones in each group for a marine seismic survey. The streamer is towed behind a boat at a depth of about 20-50 ft which is controlled by vanes. Pressure-sensitive hydrofoils or birds are evenly spaced along the streamer to control depth. A water-break detector is located at the end of the streamer nearest the boat and is used to measure the offset distance between the hydrophone array and the source array. The streamer contains a depth indicator and magnetic compass and is commonly 1.5-3 mi long, 2-3 in. in diameter, and filled with oil to have neutral buoyancy. It contains color-coded wires and a steel cable in the center. The streamer comes in sections for replacement. Some have builtin distributive units to transmit data in digital form. (hydrophone streamer) streaming cut the flash of oil under fluorescent light as it dissolves into a solvent such as carbon tetrachloride when oil-bearing well cuttings are put into the solvent

strike plate stripper plant

497

strike and dip symbol

line, which is oriented perpendicular to the strike line. strike plate the heavy metal plate that is attached to the bottom of a crude oil storage tank below the thief hatch. The strike plate is used as zero on the tank gauge table and protects the bottom of the tank from the gauging weight or bob. (dp plate) strikes trending in a horizontal direction strike section a cross section that is parallel to the depositional shoreline. A strike section is in contrast and perpendicular to the dip section. strike separation the fault displacement measured along the strike of the fault surface

IEFT LATERAL

strike slip faults

strike-slip fault a natural fracture in the rocks along which there has been predominately horizontal movement. The two types of strike-slip faults are right lateral and left lateral. Wrench, tear, and transcurrent faults are also strike-dip faults. string 1) a length of tubulars such as drillpipe, casing, or tubing composed of many individual sections that have been screwed or fastened together 2) several geophones that are permanently connected and have a connector on one end stringer 1) a thin or discontinuous high-velocity rock layer located in a thicker, low-velocity formation 2) a thin, sedimentary rock layer 3) a support used under the middle of horizontally racked drillpipe to prevent
sagging, strg, STRGR, or strgr

stringing up to thread the drilling line through the sheaves on the crown block and traveling block and fasten it to the deadline anchor on the derrick string over to measure the depth of a well string reamer any reamer run on a downhole assembly. The string reamer is a conventional reamer

with tapered ends and is often run on the drillstring several hundred feet above the top of the drill collars to eliminate keyseats. string shot a length of Primacord explosive that is hung in a well and detonated. A string shot can be used in a fishing operation for stuck pipe. The string shot is used one joint above the free point. The pipe is turned or backed-off during the explosion to unscrew the connection. A string shot is also used for well stimulation to remove paraffin, mudcake, or gypsum from the wellbore face, (backoff shot) SS string shot back-off tool a tool that uses a quantity of explosive detonating cord detonated by an electrical blasting cap to produce a shock wave to loosen a pipe joint connection in a well. Left-handed torque is applied to the pipe from the surface during the explosion. string stabilizer any stabilizer sub run on the downhole assembly just above the bit to produce a full gauge hole and to stabilize the bit. A three-point bit reamer has three roller-reamers at 120. A sixpoint bit reamer has two sets of three roller reamers and is used in crooked hole areas. string up to run the drilling line through the crown and traveling blocks strip to produce oil or gas from a reservoir at a rate that is barely economical strip a well to pull rods and tubing from a well. The tubing is stripped over the rods one joint at a time. Stripping a well is usually done to remove wax build up. strip chart a long strip of paper that is mounted on rollers on both ends. A strip chart is used to record a parameter such as gas flow and is in contrast to a circular chart. strip log 1) a recorded well log of some type on a long strip of paper 2) core or well cutting samples mounted on a long strip of paper strip out to pull the rods and tubing from a well at the same time stripped gas natural gas with the liquids removed stripper 1) an elastomer packing element that can be used under low or moderate pressure to seal the annulus during running or pulling tubing in a well 2) equipment that is used to remove something from a liquid with a gas. Strippers include packed and bubble-cap tray towers and are similar to absorbers. 3) a rubber device that is used to wipe drilling mud from a survey cable as it is pulled from a well stripper or stripper well a marginally profitable well. Profitability will depend on the production, depth, location, and market for the oil or gas. A stripper well qualifies for special tax considerations. It is usually denned for tax purposes as a well that produces less than 10 bbls of oil or 60 Mcf of gas per day. stripper field a hand wheel that is used to unscrew a rod from a string of sucker rods stripper head a circular template used for multiple completions with several tubing strings on subsea completions stripper plant a field installation that removes condensate or natural gasoline from wet gas. Stripping is done by refrigeration or absorption with absorption

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stripper preventers structural relief Stromaporoids secreted calcareous colonial structures and were important reef builders during the Silurian and Devonian periods. Strom or strom stromatolite a domal, laminated calcareous structure deposited by blue-green algae in the high intertidal and low supratidal zones. Stromatolites consist of both fine-grained sediments trapped by the algae and calcium carbonate secreted by the algae. Stromlt or stromlt Stromlt or stromlt stromatolite strong well a well with a large production flow strt straight STRUC structure struc structural structural casing a string of casing that is occasionally used between the drive pipe and the surface casing to counter lost circulation or shallow abnormal high pressure gas zones. Structural casing ranges from 600-1,000 ft deep. structural closure the vertical distance from the top of the reservoir rock in the trap to the spill point. Structural closure is generally smaller than the structural relief of the trap. structural contour map see structural map

oil. A cryogenic plant uses very low-temperature refrigeration, (stripping plant) stripper preventers packing material that is set by pressure from below and is used to remove pipe under pressure from a well, (pack-off preventers) stripper production the last stage, after settled production, in the life of the well. Stripper production is characterized by a low production rate that is economically marginal. stripper rubber a rubber disk that is used to clean the drillpipe as it is pulled from the well stripper well field an oil field in which the production averages ten barrels of oil per day per well or less over the period of a year stripping 1) the running (stripping in) or pulling (stripping out) tubulars from a well under pressure. Stripping is done with the annular blowout preventers closed or through a resilient sealing element 2) intermittent production on an oil well 3) removing dissolved gas from a liquid 4) to remove something from a liquid stream with a gas stripping in the hole see stripping stripping job raising and taking apart the sucker rods in order for the downhole pump in a well to be repaired stripping over a logging tool fishing technique in which the logging line is cut and run through a special overshot and fishing string. The overshot and fishing string are run in the well and the logging line is pulled tight to guide the overshot onto the logging tool fish. Stripping over is used when the tool is lying in a washed-out section of the well or under a keyseat and is difficult to catch. stripping plant see stripper plant strip pipe to pull the drillstring from a well with the blowout preventers closed Strk or strk streak STRKS or strks streaks stroke one complete revolution. It is the piston strokes in an engine, pump, or compressor between two intake strokes. One, two, and four strokes are common in an engine, (cycle) stroke counter a mechanical counter that records strokes on reciprocating mud pumps stroke jar a type of jarring tool used in cable-tool rigs. The stroke jar has two components linked together with chain. Strom or strom stromaporoids

structural cross section

stromataporida

stromaporoids extinct invertebrates that existed from the Cambrian period to the Cretaceous period and are thought to have been coelenterates.

structural cross section a vertical panel made by correlating between wells by using well logs that have been hung (arranged along a level, reference surface that is sea level). A structural cross section shows the present position of the rock layers and deformational structures, such as faults and folds, and is used to show potential petroleum traps. A structural cross section is in contrast to a stratigraphic cross section. structural map a contoured subsurface map showing the elevation of the top of a rock layer. A structural map shows folds, anticlines, domes, and dip-slip faults, (structure contour map) structural mast a portable mast used on a wellservicing unit that is made of angular steel in contrast to the tubular steel members of a pole mast structural nose a plunging anticline without closure. (anticlinal nose or nose) structural relief the vertical distance from the top of a reservoir rock in a fold to the regional height

structural shale

stuffing box

499

structure map

of that reservoir rock adjacent to the fold. Structural relief is generally larger than the structural closure of the fold. structural shale shale that occurs as large grains in a clastic sedimentary rock such as a conglomerate structural steel pipe a tubular with uniform wall thickness that was formed from a steel plate with longitudinal and circumferential butt-welded seams structural style the type of deformation prevalent in an area such as extensional or compressional and high or low amplitude features, the direction of stress and the type of predominate deformation such as thrust faulting. Two types of structural styles are a) basement involved and b) basement detached. Basement-involved structural styles include pull-apart zones, compressive faults, basement thrusts, wrenchfault assemblages and basement warps. Basementdetached structural styles include thrust assemblages, normal fault assemblages, growth faults, salt structures, shale flows, drape structures, volcanic plugs, and sedimentary structures. structural terrace a zone of relatively gentle or horizontal sedimentary rock dips in a area of more steeply dipping rocks structural trap a petroleum trap formed by the deformation of the reservoir rock such as a fold (anticline or dome) or a fault. A structural cross trap is in contrast to a stratigraphic or combination trap. structure 1) the geometry of the subsurface rocks 2) a particular area of interest for drilling 3) a subsurface area defined by a fold or faulting 4) a subsurface high area defined by seismic exploration 5) the visible characteristics of a rock. STRUC structure contour map a contoured, subsurface map showing the elevation of the top of a rock layer. A structure contour map shows folds, anticlines, domes, and dip-slip faults, (structural map) structure test hole a well drilled without being completed as a producer to determine the subsurface elevation of a rock layer or zone and to determine the subsurface structure. A structure test hole is often a slim hole and can be relatively shallow, without drilling down to the potential reservoir rocks. A

stratigraphic test is drilled to determine characteristics of the rocks. ST SPEED string speed STTD sidetracked total depth Stu staurolite stub liner a string of casing used to extend a liner up the well but not all the way to the surface. A stub liner is used to repair the top of a leaking liner and is in contrast to a tieback liner. stuck pipe a condition in which the drillstring, casing, tubing, or any tool attached to them cannot be retrieved or moved in the well. Stuck pipe could be caused by a) wall sticking, b) keyseating, c) caving, sluffing, d) junk, or e) fish wedged against the pipe or by heaving shales. stuck-pipe log a well log that measures the severity and length of stuck pipe in a well. The pipe sticking is measured as a percent of signal attenuation when the pipe is vibrated. The stuck-pipe log is calibrated with free pipe. stuck point the location at the top of a section of stuck pipe in a well. The stuck point is just below the free point. stuck-point indicator tool a tool that is used to locate the free-point on stuck pipe in a well. One type of stuck-point indicator tool consists of two electromagnets on a telescopic joint. When upward pull and rotary torque are applied to the pipe from the surface, the tension is not transmitted to the stuck portion of the pipe. The free section is identified by the tension and torque. Another type of stuck-point indicator tool senses torque and movement. The tool is slowly raised on a wireline in the drillstring as the drillstring is being rotated from the surface. The point where torque first appears is just above the stuck pipe and is the free point, (free-point detector or indicator) stuck rods sucker rods in a well that will not move due to wax buildup stud a supervisor stud horse the tool pusher on a drilling rig

stuffing box

stuffing box

stuffing box a pressure-control cylinder that contains compressed packing around a moving shaft to prevent gas or liquid leakage around the shaft as the shaft moves. On a pumping unit, the stuffing box is the cylinder that fits around the polished rod and provides a seal between the tubing and the atmosphere

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stuffing-box casing head SUBD or subd subarkose a type of sandstone that is derived from the weathering of a granitic source. A subarkose contains less than 30% feldspars and less than 90% quartz. A subarkose is between an arkose and orthoquartzite in composition and texture. subcrop an area in which a formation occurs directly below an unconformity

as the polished rod rises and falls. Guide bearings above and below the packing provide protection from any misalignment of the polished rod. Three types of stuffing boxes are single packing, double packing, and lubricating, (packing gland) SB stuffing-box casing head a steel cap screwed onto the top of the casing of a well. The stuffing-box casing head is used to confine gas between the tubing and casing, (bradenhead) stump test a pressure test run on a blowoutpreventer stack mounted on the test stump located on the cellar deck of a semisubmersible S2 the second peak measured by Rock-Eval. S2 is the milligrams of hydrocarbon generated by pyrolytic degradation of kerogen in 1 gm of rock. S/2 south half STY salty STYL, Styl, or styl 1) styolite 2) styolitic stylus a pointed marking device styo styolite

subcrop map

styolite

subcrop map a geological map showing the aerial distribution of formations cropping out on a subsurface unconformity. A subcrop map is a type of paleogeologic map and is in contrast to a subgeologic or worm's eye map that shows the aerial distribution of formations above a subsurface unconformity. subcrystalline a fine-grained texture in sedimentary rocks that is characterized as glassy or resinous. Pure dolomite can have a subcrystalline texture. SUBD or subd subdivision

styolite an irregular surface of teeth-like projections that occurs in limestone and is parallel to the bedding planes. A styolite is formed by pressure solution on bedding planes in limestone and often has a surface film of insolubles such as clay or iron oxides. Styolites can show oil stains indicating they have been paths for petroleum migration through the limestone. STYL, Styl, styl, or styo S-type kick or well a type of deviated well in which the well builds angle, drills straight, drops angle and then drills straight to the target. An S-type kick is in contrast to a straight kick. (S-shaped or S well) SU standard unit Su or su 1) sulfur 2) sulfurous sub 1) substitute 2) subassembly 3) substructure sub 1) a short length of drillpipe that is threaded on both ends. A crossover sub is used to join sections of the drillstring that are not compatible due to diameter or thread design differences. A sub can also have a specialized function such as a stabilizer, hole opener, or shock absorber. A bit sub has a box connection on both ends to accommodate the bit pin that points upward. 2) a short length of tubing containing a downhole tool 3) any tubular shorter than standard length, sb subaerial above sea level subaqueous delta plain the part of the delta front located between low tide and the basin floor. The subaqueous delta plain is characterized by a seaward fining of sediments and is an active area for subaqueous mass movements such as mud flows and slumps.

VOLCANO:

CONTINENT,
MOUNTAIN

subduction zones

subduction zone subduction zone an area, as defined by the seafloor spreading theory, where two moving crusts from different spreading centers collide. Subduction zones tend to be long and are seen as mountain ranges, ocean trenches, and volcanos. Earthquakes are common in active subduction zones. subfeldsarenite a type of sandstone that has a feldspar grain-to-rock fragment ratio of between infinity and 3:1 and contains between 75%-95% quartz subgeologic map a geological map showing the aerial distribution of formations that occur directly above a subsurface unconformity. A subgeologic map is in contrast to a paleogeologic or subcrop map that show the aerial distribution of formations that occur directly below a subsurface unconformity, (worm's eye map) subgraywacke a sandstone that has less than 75% quartz, less than 15% detrital clay matrix, and at least 25% unstable grains (feldspars and rock fragments) with more rock fragments than feldspars. A subgraywacke is between a graywacke and an orthoquartzite in composition and texture and is lighter in color, better sorted, and has less matrix than a graywacke. sublease 1) an assignment of an interest in a lease for a lesser time than the period on the lease. For example, the assignment of the next 5 years on a lease that has a 10-year term. The seller or transferor usually receives cash and/or an override. A sublease has unfavorable tax consequences. 2) an assignment with the retention of an overriding royalty interest 3) a transaction that involves selling with a retained overriding interest sublessee the party that has been granted a sublease sublessor the party that has granted a sublease sublitharenite a sandstone that has a rock fragmentto-feldspar ratio of between infinity and 3.1 and contains between 75%-95% quartz submarine barge platform a barge with a drilling rig mounted on it that is used in very shallow water. The barge is flooded with water over the drillsite and sinks to the bottom to provide a firm drilling foundation. The water is shallow enough so that the drilling rig is still above the water. submarine canyon 1) a valley that was eroded into the continental shelf and slope of the ocean bottom. Submarine canyons are straight to sinuous and have steep-to-vertical walls with a V- or U-shaped cross section. Most modern submarine canyons are located off subaerial river mouths and terminate with submarine fans. Submarine canyons are thought to have been eroded by turbidity currents. 2) a general term for any valley on the sea bottom submarine delta, cone, or fan a large fan-shaped deposit of sediments located at the base of a submarine canyon on the ocean bottom. Submarine fans are deposited by turbidity currents, sand flows, and other processes that transport sediments down the submarine canyons. The fans often have distributary channels, called fan valleys. Submarine fans can switch similar to delta switching on land. An area of active submarine-fan deposition at any one specific period of time is called a suprafan. Because of switching, the submarine fan is formed by numerous, superimposed suprafans.

subordination of lien

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submarine fan

submarine gun a centrifugal pump with a pipe that is designed to jet drilling mud into the mud tanks in order to mix in additives or agitate the drilling mud (mud or surface gun) submerged weight the weight of an object submerged in a liquid such as drilling mud. Submerged weight is in contrast to weight in air. (effective weight) submergence 1) the relocation of a position to below sea level. Submergence is in contrast to emergence. 2) the vertical depth that a gas-lift line used in gas-lift pumping is submerged in oil and water submersible 1) a submersible drilling rig 2) an electric submersible pump submersible barge a barge that contains drilling and completion equipment and supplies for a well in shallow, protected waters such as marshes, bays, lagoons, lakes, and canals. The barge is towed to the drillsite and then submerged to sit on the bottom to form a stable drilling platform. The first submersible barge was constructed in 1933 for a steam rig. Modern submersible barges have several decks and quarters for the crew. The water depth for most barges to drill in is 10-14 ft. The barge can drill in deeper water if shell fill is used to decrease the water depth. submersible drilling rig a drilling rig that is mounted on pontoons that can be flooded to rest on the shallow seafloor. submersible submersible pump see electric submersible centrifugal pump subnormal pressure see abnormal low pressure subordinate to make a claim or right inferior or subject to another claim or right subordinated something that is not effective until a certain condition is fulfilled subordinated working interest a working interest in a well that shares either the working-interest costs or production up to a specific point in the well. In a farmout, it is an interest in the earning well in which the party shares neither the cost nor the revenues from production-unit payout until the farmee has recovered all of his costs of drilling, completion, and production from the production revenues. (reversionary working interest) subordination of lien a printed form that is prepared by a landman, executed by a bank or mortgage company, and used in a title opinion. A subordination of lien is used when a mortgage on land is recorded before a lease is executed to prevent

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suboxic substitute natural gas is brought down to a track on the system by a line attached to a recall buoy. The remote operating vehicle operates along the track using television and end effectors to replace and repair the equipment. SPS subsea safety valve a fail-safe gate valve that is installed on a subsea blowout preventer stack or in a production tree. The subsea safety valve can be activated either remotely or automatically to shut in the well or flowline. SSSV subsea test tree the safety valves in a subsea blowout preventer stack that allow the well to be shut in as the drillstring and marine riser are withdrawn while the well is still being drilled subsea tree a Christmas tree, either dry or wet depending on whether it is exposed to ocean water, on a flowing subsea well

the lease from becoming invalid if the land is foreclosed. suboxic water that is between aerobic and anaerobic in oxygen content. Suboxic water has between 0.1 and 0.2 ml/1 dissolved oxygen, (dysaerobic) subrogation the substitution of one party for another in a claim or debt subsea accumulators the tanks used to contain the hydraulic fluid under pressure to operate the blowoutpreventer stack on a subsea wellhead and for use in annular blowout-preventer stripping operations. The subsea accumulators are part of the lower riser package. subsea atmopherlc system a subsea manifold in a 1-atm chamber that directs produced fluids up a production riser to a production storage vessel. SAS subsea blowout preventer blowout preventers, typically an annular and two ram preventers, that are mounted on the well head after the conductor pipe has been run into the seafloor. The subsea blowout preventer is connected to the drilling spool by a wellhead connector and to the marine riser with a riser connector and ball joint. A subsea accumulator stores the hydraulic fluid used to activate the preventers under pressure. The blowout preventers are controlled from the surface through a subsea control pad that directs hydraulic fluid through the manifold to the preventers. subsea completion system the equipment on a seafloor wellhead that regulates gas and/or oil production. The subsea completion system includes the guide structures, wellhead housing, casing hangers, tree, and flowline connector. subsea control pod the manifold that is used to direct hydraulic fluid used to operate the blowoutpreventer stack on a subsea wellhead. Two subsea control pads are used for redundancy. The emergency system is controlled by an acoustic signal. Two types of subsea control pods are a) all hydraulic and b) electro-hydraulic. The subsea control pod is part of the lower marine riser. subsea diverter a piping manifold on a subsea well that is being drilled. The subsea diverter is designed to divert formation gas during a blowout away from the semisubmersible rig or drillship. Gas bubbles in the water could cause the rig or ship to lose buoyancy and sink. subsea engineer a hydraulic and control-system engineer who supervises the installation, maintenance, and testing of the subsea blowout preventers and controls on a semisubmersible or drillship subsea manifold a pipe system on a subsea template that directs production to the production riser(s) subsea production system the subsea production equipment. Two types of subsea production systems are the diver-assisted, both wet tree and dry tree, and diverless. The wet tree system has the subsea Christmas tree connected by flowline to a manifold and then by marine riser to a production platform. It is serviced by swimming divers. The dry-tree system has a 1-atm chamber surrounding the wellhead cellars and manifolds. It is serviced by a support ship and service capsule with a diver inside. The diverless system usually uses a remotely operating vehicle that

subsea wellhead subsea well template a subsea frame that positions and anchors subsea wellheads, risers, and guidance systems subsequent run a wireline well logging operation made after a previous run

subsidence

subsidence the gradual lowering of the land surface over a relatively large area. One cause of subsidence could be the removal of subsurface fluids due to oil field operations. As the pressure on the remaining fluids in the pores of the subsurface rocks decreases, the rocks compact causing the surface to subside. This subsidence can be arrested by reinjecting fluids into the reservoir. substa substation substitute see sub substitute natural gas methane that is made from synthesis gas (CO-H2) that is methanated. (high-BTU
gas) SNG

substitute well a well drilled by a farmee in a farmout agreement if the original earning well in the

substitute well sucker rod farmout cannot be drilled to the required depth. A substitute well is permitted under an excuse provision in a farmout agreement. The substitute well can be drilled after drilling the original earning well becomes impossible or impractical. substrate the sediments or rocks upon which benthic or bottom-dwelling organisms live

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substructure

substructure 1) the steel platform and its supports on a drilling rig on which the derrick or mast, drawworks, drill floor, dog house, and rotary table sit. The substructure serves to support the equipment and to elevate the equipment to provide space for more equipment below the rig floor. The height of the substructure depends on the size and pressure ratings of the wellhead and blowout-preventer equipment. Two substructures are used and are oriented parallel to each other with a 10-20 ft spacing connected by cross braces and beams. H-beams, angle iron, and metal plate are used in construction. The front end is heavily reinforced for the greatest load. The top is covered with steel plate to form the drill floor. The substructure is generally 10 ft wide, 10 ft high, and 30 ft long. Pony substructures can be used to raise the substructures and the drill floor, sub 2) the deck located under the main deck of a semisubmersible, drillship, or production platform subsurface a method of exploration using data from wells that have already been drilled in the area of investigation. If seismic data is used, the exploration technique is called seismic. subsurface data information collected on the nature and structure of subsurface rocks by wellbore and geophysical investigations subsurface buoy a buoy that is attached to the seafloor and can be released by a sonic signal, (popup or recall buoy or call-back marker) subsurface controlled subsurface safety valve a valve located in a well below the wellhead that is designed to prevent uncontrolled flow up the well when it is activated by a specific pressure in the well.
SSCSV

subsurface coverage the area explored in a seismic survey subsurface pressure the pressure at location in a fluid column that is either static or flowing subsurface probe a wireline device used to locate the stuck point on a drittstring in a well. Tension is applied to the drillstring and an oscillator induces a high frequency current in the drillstring. A receiver

is used to detect frequency changes in the signal along the drillstring to locate the stuck point. subsurface safety valve a device that is used to shut in a well at some point below the surface to prevent oil or gas from reaching the surface when the surface safety controls are not working due to fire, explosion, or mechanical failure. Two types of subsurface safety valves are a) direct controlled, or storm choke, and b) surface controlled. The directcontrolled type reacts to changes in downhole flow conditions and is called a subsurface controlled subsurface safety valve (SSCSV). The surfacecontrolled type is operated by hydraulic lines down the annulus of the well and is called the surface controlled subsurface safety valve (SCSSV). Subsurface safety valves can also be either the tubing retrievable type or the wireline/pump down retrievable type. Subsurface safety valves are required by law in most offshore wells. 555V or SSV subsurface sample a sample of produced fluids taken by a sampler from the bottom of a shut-in well. A subsurface sample is used for a reservoir fluid study and is in contrast to a separator or surface sample. (bottomhole sample) subsurface trespass the bottoming out of a well out under another lease without the lease owner's consent. The well was drilled as a crooked or deviated well on a lease other than the one under which it bottoms out. Subsurface trespass can also involve the passage of a well under a lease without the lease owner's consent. subtidal the shallow environment located below low tide in the ocean subweathering velocity the seismic velocity of the rocks below the near-surface weathering or lowvelocity layer subzone a subdivision of a biostratigraphic zone in rocks. A subzone is defined on the basis of fossils and can contain several zonules. sue sucrosic success or success rate a ratio of the number of wells completed as producers divided by the total number of wells drilled. Success can be expressed as a decimal such as 0.25, a percentage such as 25%, or a ratio such as 1:4. Success can be calculated from historical data and can be estimated for future wells to be drilled. Historical success for drilling in the United States averages 18% for exploratory wells and 80% for developmental wells, (risk) successful-efforts accounting an accounting method in which a direct relationship is required between reserves acquired and costs. Only the successful costs are capitalized. This includes a) mineral interests, b) geological and geophysical studies, c) wells and equipment, d) production equipment and facilities, and e) uncompleted well equipment and facilities. The unsuccessful costs are expensed. Successful-efforts accounting is in contrast to full-cost accounting. SE accounting sucker pole an early type of sucker rod made of wood with metal ends sucker rod a steel rod that is usually 25-30 ft long with a diameter of Vz, Vs, %, %, 1, or lVs in. Most sucker rods are solid, although some are hollow. The

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sucker-rod elevator sucrose or sucrosic

DOWN HOLE PUMP


WRENCH RAT

W UP

DOWN

SUCKER ROD COUPLING

ifl OEX

SUCKER ROD

sucker rod coupling

sucker-rod string is used to connect the surface pumping unit with a downhole pump in an oil well and is run inside the producing tubing string. Sucker rods having a threaded pin on each end are doublepin sucker rods. Sucker rods having a threaded pin on one end and a threaded box on the other end for use in coupling are called box-and-pin type sucker rods. The American Petroleum Institute has set sucker rod standards for alloys, dimension, strengths, method of handling and calculations for proper sizes. The most commonly used sucker rods are Grade C or carbon-manganese rods. Grade D rods or high tensile rods are made of nickel-chrome-molybdenum and used for deep wells or heavy loads. Grade K or nickelmolybdenum rods are used for corrosive environments and are expensive. Sucker rods less than 25 ft in length are known as pony rods or rod subs. Some fiberglass sucker rods (375 ft) which are lighter and more elastic are used. Hollow sucker rods can be used in slim-hole pumping where they also serve the function of a tubing string, (rod) sucker-rod elevator a device that hangs from the rod hook and latches on to sucker rods to pull or run the sucker rods in a well. The sucker-rod elevator can handle a range of rod sizes. sucker-rod guides washer-like devices that attach to the sucker rods to keep them centered in the tubing sucker-rod power tongs a wrench-like device used on a drilling rig to grip and assemble or disassemble sucker-rod strings sucker-rod pump a downhole oil pump located on the bottom of the tubing on a beam well. The suckerrod pump is activated by the sucker-rod string rising and falling in the tubing. The pump is composed of five main parts which are the a) working barrel, b) plunger, c) traveling or exhaust valve, d) standing or inlet valve, and e) holddown. The working barrel is divided into two parts by a traveling plunger. The plunger rises and falls in the cylinder with the action of the sucker rod. Two ball and seat valves allow the fluids to flow into the lower part (standing valve), through the plunger (traveling valve), and up the tubing to the surface. Two types of sucker-rod pumps are a) rod-insert pump and b) tubing pump. The rodinsert pump is attached to the sucker-rod string and anchored to the tubing string so the plunger can move

sucker rod pump

in the barrel. The stationary barrel insert pump has a plunger and traveling valve that rise and fall in the barrel to pump the oil. The traveling barrel insert pump has a traveling barrel with a traveling valve that rises and falls outside the stationary barrel to pump the oil. The rod-insert pump is retrieved by pulling the sucker rods. The tubing pump is run as pan of the tubing string. The standing valve is set in a seating nipple. The plunger and traveling valve are run on the sucker-rod string. The tubing string must be pulled to retrieve the tubing pump. The pump barrels are either thin or thick walled. Plungers are either plain or grooved. A casing pump is a large version of a rod-insert pump that is used without a tubing string. The American Petroleum Institute classifies sucker-rod pumps according to their size and type. Sucker-rod pumps are the most common type of artificial lift, (rod pump) sucker-rod pumping a very common method of artificial lift for oil wells that involves a walking beam pumping unit driven by a prime mover that causes a long metal or fiberglass sucker-rod string to rise and fall in the well. The sucker-rod oscillation activates a downhole pump to lift the oil up through the tubing to the surface. Three types of downhole pumps are the rod insert, tubing, and casing pumps. sucker-rod scrapers disks with a hole in the center that are attached to the sucker rods to scrape the wax off the inside of tubing to prevent it from restricting production sucker-rod spear an old type of fishing tool that was used to retrieve broken rod pumps from a well SUCR sucrosic sucrose or sucrosic a fine-grained granular or crystalline texture in sedimentary rocks that is similar

suet supercrop map in appearance to sugar. Sucrose texture is often formed in calcitic dolomite, (saccharoidal) sue or SUCR suet suction suction line or hose the pipe or hose that is used to draw drilling mud out of the mud tanks and into the mud pumps or hogs. The drilling mud is often pumped through the suction line by a centrifugal pump in a process called supercharging. suction pit or tank one of the steel mud-pit tanks that hold the drilling mud next to a rotary drilling rig. The suction pit is located on one end and is where the mud pumps or supercharging centrifugal pumps suck the mud out of the tanks to start the mud circulating. The suction pit is used to mix, condition, treat, and store the mud. (activepit, mud suction tank, or sump pit) suction stabilizer a roughly spherical metal chamber with a bladder charged by nitrogen gas. The suction stabilizer is used to reduce pressure pulses on the suction side of a pump. sudation the effect of gravity and capillary forces that replace oil in rock matrix with water or gas from fractures in the rock sug sugary suitcase parade an oilfield worker layoff suitcase rock a subsurface formation that makes further drilling impractical suitcase sand an unproductive sandstone SUL or sul sulfur sulfamic acid a crystalline acid (NH2SO3) that is used for acidizing a well sulfide stress cracking a type of corrosion on steel that is similar to hydrogen embrittlement. The presence of hydrogen sulfide and water causes hydrogen ions to form on the wet metal surface. Some of the hydrogen ions enter the steel and reduce the steel ductility, resulting in cracks. sulfinol process a gas-sweetening method developed by Shell. The sulfinol process uses the solvents sulfonate, disopropanolamine (DIPA), and water to remove carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, and mercaptans from natural gas. The sulfonate acts as a physical solvent, whereas the DIPA acts as a chemical solvent. sulfonate a type of surfactant used in enhanced oil recovery. Sulfonate is composed of a hydrocarbon with one or more SO3 functional groups sulfur the third most abundant atomic constituent of crude oil, averaging 0.65% by weight. S sulfur dioxide a gas (SO2) that is formed by the flaring of hydrogen sulfide. Sulfur dioxide is heavier than air and can cause death by suffocation. SULG sulfur gas SULOD sulfur odor sulph sulphated SULSW sulfur salt water SUIW sulfur water sul wtr sulfur water sum summary

$05

summation of fluids a method used to determine the porosity of a rock sample such as a core. Two samples are used. A retort is used to drive off and recover the fluids from one sample to measure the void volume. The bulk volume is measured from a pulverized sample by mercury displacement and injection. sum-of-the-years an accounting practice that is used to calculate an accelerated depreciation on equipment. The cost is multiplied each year by a fraction that is calculated by dividing the sum of the digits in the total life of the equipment into the remaining life of the equipment. sump 1) a 12-36-in. diameter cylinder used on the bottom of a stock tank to allow solids to accumulate on the bottom but still be able to pump liquids out a suction line in the sump 2) a small excavation near a drilling rig that is used to hold drilling mud 3) an earthen reservoir that was used to collect crude oil produced from wells 4) a low area used to collect settlings in a storage tank sump hole an excavation near a drilling rig that is used to hold drilling mud and to trap well cuttings. (mud hole or slush pit or pond) sump pit see suction pit or tank sump tub a tank that hold cement slurry from a jet mixer and hopper before the slurry in pumped down a well during a cement job sunk capital costs the monies spent before evaluation sunk cost a cost that once spent cannot be recovered. (fixed cost) sun pressure the increase in pressure due to heating and expansion of gas caused by the sun shining on a vessel or pipeline supercharge the buildup of high pressure around the wellbore due to the hydrostatic head of the mud filtrate that has not dissipated after drilling with a high overbalance into a low-to-medium permeability reservoir supercharging the use of large centrifugal pumps between the suction tank and the mud pump intake on the circulating system of a drilling rig. Supercharging is used to fill the pump liners during intake and increase the efficiency of the mud pumps. supercompressibility factor a dimensionless number used in high-pressure gas calculations to compensate for the deviation of a gas from the ideal gas law. The supercompressibility factor for an ideal gas is 1.00. The supercompressibility factor for a real gas varies from about 0.7 to 1.2 and is equal to the actual volume of n moles of a real gas at a specific temperature and pressure divided by the volume of n moles of ideal gas at the same temperature and pressure, (compressibility or gas deviation factor) z orFPV super computer a computer that is significantly faster than a normal mainframe computer supercrop the rocks directly overlying an unconformity supercrop map a geological map showing the distribution of rocks directly overlying an unconformity

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Superfrac

surface contours support agreement see contribution agreement support contribution payment, usually money, made to the drilling party upon completion of the earning conditions of a dry hole or bottomhole support letter supporting party the parry that enters into an agreement to make a contribution in a dry hole or bottomhole support letter suppt support Supv supervisor SUPRA submersible underwater pipeline repair apparatus suprafan an area of deposition during a specific interval of time on a submarine fan. Suprafans switch on submarine fans similar to delta switching on land. A submarine fan is composed of numerous suprafans superimposed on each other, only one of which is active at any one period of time. supratidal the area along a shoreline located above high tide. The supratidal area is only occasionally inundated by storm waters. supratidal dolomite dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2], a mineral and rock, that forms by the alteration of limestone in the supratidal zone above high tide in a humid tropical climate. An occasional storm pushes seawater up into the supratidal zone. There the water evaporates, precipitating CaCO3, and enriches the remaining water in Mg. The Mg-enriched waters percolate down through the recently deposited limestone mud or micrite and alters it to supratidal dolomite. The supratidal dolomite is often deposited in beds alternating with evaporites. This forms stratigraphic traps as they pinchout updip along basin margins. Supratidal dolomite is in contrast to primary, syngenetic, evaporative, epigenic, and secondary dolomite. suprv supervisor supsd superseded supt superintendent Supv supervisor sur survey SURF, Surf, or surf surface surface-active agent or material see surfactant surface blowout an uncontrolled flow of fluids out of a well around the outside of the casing. A surface blowout can cause a crater around the wellhead. surface casing large-diameter pipe or casing (ranging 7-20 in. and typically 13% in.) that is run from the surface of a well down to a relatively shallow depth (200-5,000 ft) as required by a government regulatory agency. Surface casing is cemented in position in competent rock before the rest of the well is drilled. It a) serves as a base for the attachment of the blowout preventers, b) supports the weight of other tubular goods deeper in the well, c) protects shallow, freshwater aquifers from pollution by drilling mud and other fluids, and d) prevents the sides of the well from caving or sluffing. Surface casing is the shallowest casing string and is not conductor casing or pipe, (surface pipe or string) surface contours lines of equal elevation on a topographic map. Surface contours show the exact

Superfrac hydraulic fracturing with simultaneous injection of water and highly viscous oil. The water adds good pumping characteristics to the frac fluid, whereas the viscous oil has a high proppant capacity. supermature a sedimentary rock that contains only mineral grains that are the result of intense weathering and erosion. An orthoquartzite, a sandstone composed of well-sorted and rounded sand grains of quartz, is a supermature sedimentary rock. super-normal pressure see abnormal high pressure

superposition

superposition 1) the occurrence of younger rock over older rock in a sequence of undisturbed sedimentary rocks 2) the observation that total pressure drawdown at a point in a reservoir is the linear sum of the drawdowns due to each well in the reservoir supersaturation 1) a solution with a higher concentration of solid solute than the normal maximum at that temperature and pressure. A supersaturated solution is unstable, and a precipitate should form. 2) a liquid with a higher content of dissolved gas than the normal maximum at that temperature and pressure. Gas will bubble out of solution with agitation. superstructure 1) the part of an offshore platform located on the jacket 2) or the part of a semisubmersible located on the stabilizer columns supervisor 1) the person with the authority to direct one or more employees 2) the person in charge of several geophysical parties 3) the liaison between the seismic crew and the company that csntracts for the seismic Supv or suprv supervisory control and data acquisition an oil and gas production system that is driven by a computer. The system includes a) status and alarm reporting, b) production reporting, c) well testing, and d) well control. SCADA supl supply supp supplement supplemental abstract a title opinion that is added onto another title opinion to bring the opinion up to date supplier an organization that provides materials, finished products, and/or services support a contribution, usually in cash or acreage, that is given to another company to encourage exploration activities such as drilling a well, suppt

surface control system elevation of the land surface at that location and are labeled in feet above sea level. surface control system the power source, manifold, and sensors on the surface that regulate a surface controlled subsurface safety valve surface control head assembly a control head with conductor pipe that flows to a slush pit or a storage tank. The surface control head assembly is used during a drillstem test to control pressure. The flowline is connected to the head and the kelly can be connected to the head to circulate down the drillstem. The assembly sometimes has a small outlet and rubber hose used to bubble air or gas through a pail of water for light blows. surface controlled subsurface safety valve a valve located in a well below the wellhead that, when it is activated, is designed to prevent uncontrolled flow up the well. The valve can be activated by electric, mechanical, or hydraulic means. SCSSV surface damage clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that requires the lessee to pay damages to the lessor for damage to the surface by drilling and operating activities surface foam bubble on the surface of a liquid. Surface foam can be caused by mechanical agitation of the liquid or by a change in pressure or temperature that causes dissolved gas to come out of solution. An emulsifying or surface-active agent can be used to prevent the gas bubbles from escaping the liquid surface. Surface foam is in contrast to body foam. surface gun a centrifugal pump with a pipe that is designed to jet drilling mud into the mud tanks in order to mix in additives or agitate the drilling mud. (mud or submarine gun) surface interest see surface rights surface jar a jar that delivers a heavy downward blow to free a drillstring stuck near the surface by a key seat or on the bottom of surface casing. The surface jar is made up in the drillstring at the surface and has friction slips to adjust the impact. The drillstring is raised to apply tension to the string until a preset trip tonnage is reached and the surface jar delivers the blow. surface-motion compensator a type of shock absorber on a drillship that uses counterweights or hydraulics to maintain a constant weight on the drillstring as the drillship rises and falls with the waves. The surface-motion compensator is located between the traveling block and the hook or power swivel. The stroke on the surface-motion compensator is about 18 ft. (heave compensator) surface mud volume the volume of mud in the mud tanks, (surface volume) surface pipe see surface string surface pit a surface excavation near an oil well that is used to evaporate oilfield brine surface pressure the static pressure at the top of the casing in a well after the well has been shut in and the maximum pressure has built up. The surface pressure is equal to the reservoir pressure minus the weight of a column of fluid in the well, (casing
pressure)

surfactant

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surface readout an electric device that shows the azimuth and inclination of a downhole bit on the surface during deviation drilling surface rights the legal ownership to the surface of a parcel of land surface safety valve an automatic Christmas tree valve that prevents uncontrolled flow up the well if power is lost. SSV surface sample a sample of gas and liquid from the separator during controlled production. The gas and liquid from a surface sample are mixed at the producing ratio for a representation of the reservoir fluid for a reservoir fluid study. A surface sample is in contrast to a subsurface or bottomhole sample. (separator sample) surface string see surface casing surface-supplied air diving a shallow-diving technique in which air is supplied to a diver through an umbilical or dive hose from an electrical or dieseldriven compressor. The compressor delivers a certified breathable output and is operated by a rack operator who is in radio contact with the diver. Below about 130 ft, heliox (helium and oxygen) is pumped to the diver to prevent narcosis. surface tension the force acting at the boundary of a) two immiscible fluids or b) a liquid with either its vapor or air. Surface tension acts to keep the interfacial area at a minimum. Surface tension is usually measured in dynes per centimeter. Surface tension can be measured under reservoir conditions using either the pendant drop or skimming drop apparatus. Both methods are optical using the image of bubbles of one fluid suspended in another. The term surface tension is usually applied to an air-liquid interface and interfacial tension to other interfaces, a surface-tension additive or reducer see surfactant sur&ce trees a series of valves on production risers that divert flow and control pressure surface volume see surface mud volume surface weight the weight of the kelly, swivel, traveling block and the drilling lines on a drilling rig surfactant chemicals made of oil-soluble and watersoluble groups that are used as additives to fluids a) to reduce the surface tension of a liquid, b) to reduce the contact angle of the interface between a liquid and solid, and c) to lower the interfacial tension between two immiscible liquids. The surfactant absorbs at the interface between two immiscible fluids causing a reduction in surface tension. The surfactant molecule has a water-soluble end (hydrophilic) and a nonwater-soluble end (hydrophobic) causing the surfactant molecules to be concentrated at waternonwater interfaces. The surfactant reduces interfacial resistance to mixing between oil and water or changes the degree to which the water wets the rock surface of the formation. Types of surfactants include a) anionic, b) catonic, c) nonionic, and d) amphoteric. Surfactants are used in drilling muds to control emulsification, aggregation, dispersion, interfacial tension, foaming, defoaming, and wetting. A micellar fluid is called a surfactant. The word micellar is derived from micelle which is a submicroscopic aggregate

508

surfactant flood swap or swabbing suspended discovery an oil or gas field that has been located by a discovery well but has not been delineated by step-out wells suspended S&W sediment and water suspended in crude oil that will not separate by normal gravity settling suspended solids solid particles suspended by turbidity in a liquid. SS suspense file a file for unresolved or unfinished business suspension the dispersion of a solid or insoluble liquid (emulsion) in another liquid in which it is not soluble suspension flow a density current with suspended sediments. A turbidity current is an example of suspension flow, (turbidflow) suspensoid finely-divided colloidal particles suspended by Brownian movement (molecular motion) and electrostatic charges in a liquid. A suspensoid does not absorb much liquid and will remain in suspension. SUT Society for Underwater Technology SV 1) solid volume 2) shear wave polarized in the vertical plane of profile 3) standing valve Sy vapor saturation svc service SVCS services SCVU service unit SVS sonic volumetric scanning tool SW 1) salt water 2) southwest 3) salt wash 4) spiral weld 5) socket weld S.W. saltwater Sw saturation of water sw solution in water SWA sidewall acoustic log

of surfactant molecules and associated fluids, (surfaceactive agent or material, wetting agent, or surface tension additive or reducer) SF surfactant flood a type of water flood in which surfactants are used in the injection water to reduce the surface tension of the oil remaining in the pores of the reservoir surfactant mud a drilling mud that contains a surfactant to control emulsification, aggregation, dispersion, interfacial tension, foaming, defoaming, and/or wetting surge 1) a sudden and rapid flow of a relatively large volume of liquid 2) the forward and backward motion of a ship on the ocean surge chamber see surge tank surge effect the downhole increased-pressure pulse created by rapid lowering of the drillstring or by a rapid increase in mud-pump speed, (surging) surge loss the rapid flow of filtrate into a formation before a filter cake has formed on the wellbore just after the formation has been drilled, (spurt loss) surge pressure the downhole increase in pressure due to tripping in or lowering equipment into a well. Surge pressure is in contrast to swab pressure. surge tank a chamber or vessel that is attached to a flowline and is designed to inhibit surges or pulses of fluids flowing through the line (surge chamber or arrestor) surging see surge effect surp surplus surrender clause a common oil and gas lease provision that allows the lessee to release his rights to all or part of the acreage at any time SURV survey survey 1) the act of measuring the characteristics of an area such as a land, topographical, geological, or seismic survey 2) the results of measuring the characteristics of an area 3) system of measuring a track of land. SURV survey cable the well-logging hoist cable that is constructed of steel wire armour wrapped around one or more insulated electrical conductor wires survey instrument a downhole instrument used to determine the azimuth and inclination of a wellbore. A drift indicator or inclinometer measures only the inclination of the well. A magnetic or gyro multishot survey measures both the azimuth and inclination at various points in the well. A single-shot survey measures the azimuth and inclination at one location in the well. The data are recorded on a survey data sheet or calculation sheet. survival capsule an enclosed, saucer-shaped life saving device that is designed to hold up to 50 crew members from an offshore drilling unit. The survival capsule is made of orange-painted fiberglass and is fitted on the deck of the unit and can be easily and rapidly launched. There are often three or four survival capsules on each unit. Some are self-propelled. SUS seconds Saybolt universal susp suspended suspended and capable a well that is shut in but is still able to produce petroleum

OMPLETKDN FlU (DIESEL OIL)

swabbing

swab to pull up on a wireline swab, a tool that fits tightly in the casing or, more commonly, in the tubing of a well. Swabbing a) removes the fluid in the casing

swabbed show S-wave or tubing in a process called unloading the well, b) lowers the hydrostatic pressure in the well, and c) is used to clean out and start the well flowing. There is a swabbing effect in a well if a drillstring or tools are rapidly raised from the well, stub, stub.,
or swbg

509

equipment is installed and then opened to allow wireline work.

swabbed show formation fluid that flowed into a well as the drillstring was raised swabbing line see swab line swabbing the well in to swab a well to start producing formation fluids flowing into the well. Swabbing removes some of the standing liquid in the well to reduce the hydrostatic pressure on the producing formation. swab cup a rubber cup that has almost the same diameter as the inside diameter of tubing in a well. A swab cup is used to swab a well. Swab cups are attached to a swab-cup mandrel on a swabbing tool and run on a wireline or swab line into the well through the tubing. As they are lowered, the swab cups allow fluid in the tubing to flow past them. When the swab cups are raised, they seal against the tubing and force the overlying fluid up the tubing. swab-cup mandrel a downhole tool that holds swab cups used in swabbing a well. Several swab-cup mandrels attached to knuckle joints are often run into the tubing. The last swab-cup mandrel on the bottom is called a rabbit and is different because it has a no go, a metal cylinder just slightly smaller in diameter than the tubing. swab in to start a well flowing by swabbing swab line a 9A&- or 5/s-in. wire rope that is several thousand feet long and is used with a swab or bailer on a sand-line unit, (sand line or swabbing unit) swab-line unit a truck-mounted service unit that is used to swab a well. The unit has a drawworks with braided wire rope that ranges from %6 to 5/s in. in diameter. The swab-line unit is used to lower and raise a swab-cup tool in a well to lift the fluids filling the well out of the well. Flags on the swab line are used to record depth. The unit is used to swab out drilling mud to bring a well in. It is also used to measure the depth of sand fill in a well and to run a sand bailer or impression block, (sand line unit) swab pressure the downhole pressure reduction in a well caused by tripping out or pulling equipment out of a well. Swab pressure is in contrast to surge pressure. swab test a well test in which fluids are lifted by a swabbing tool in the tubing of a well to indicate the well's potential production swab or swabbing tool a hollow steel rod with rubber suction cups or seals that fits tightly in the tubing or, less commonly, the casing of a well. The swabbing tool has a check valve on it to allow fluids to flow through it as it is lowered into the well. The swab is then is pulled up the tubing on a wireline or swab line to remove liquid from the tubing and to clean the tubing. swab valve the uppermost valve located vertically above the well on a Christmas tree. The swab value provides access to the tubing string on the top of a Christmas tree. The valve is closed as wireline

swage

swage a tool with a cylindrical body that tapers inward toward the bottom that is used to straighten and reopen casing or tubing to its original inside diameter. The swage is run on a drill-collar assembly below jars and a bumper sub or on a wireline. It has ports and channels for mud circulation. The operation can be repeated using swages of increasing diameter. There are both casing and tubing swages, swg swaged hole a hole that decreases slightly in diameter on the bottom. A swaged hole is caused by an undergauge bit at the end of the bit run. When the new bit is run, it can be damaged or wedged in the undergauge hole, (tapered hole) swage nipple a short adapter pipe with external threads. A swage nipple has a larger diameter on one end than on the other. It is used to connect pipes of different sizes. SWAL shear-wave acoustic log swale low-lying, marshy area. Swales can be located between beach ridges. swallowing the catching of a fish by lowering a fishing tool over the fish and enclosing it swamp barge a shallow raft or flat-bottomed boat with a drilling rig mounted on it. A swamp barge is used to move and operate in canals dug in coastal marshes and swamps. swamper a worker on a truck swamp gas methane (CH4) produced by bacteria (fermenters) from organic matter in the absence of oxygen and sulfates at shallow depths from a few feet below the surface to about 1,000 ft. Swamp gas is dry gas that is normally about 99.9% methane and has a distinctive, very light carbon isotope composition. It usually escapes into the atmosphere but has been trapped in large deposits below the permafrost in Siberia. Urengoy is the largest gas field in the world with 285 Tcf of recoverable swamp gas. Natural gas can also be thermogenic gas (biogenic or marsh gas) swarm to have pipes tangled swath shooting seismic shooting with several closely-spaced rows of detector cables for 3-D seismic S-wave a body wave in which the motion of the particles is perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation. Two types of S-waves or shear waves are SV- and SH-waves. The SV-wave has particle motion in the vertical plane of the geophone system, whereas

510

sway swgr sweet crude oil oil that contains no or significantly little sulfur, usually less than 1%. The amount of sulfur that divides sweet crude from sour varies between governmental agencies and refineries. In general, light oils with high "API are sweet. The price for sweet crude is higher than sour crude because the sulfur does not have to be removed during refining sweetening the removal of sulfurous gases from natural gas. The hydrogen sulfide content for pipeline or sales-quality gas is almost always below 0.25 gr/ 100 scf or 4 ppm. The most widely used sweetening process is the alkanolamine process. It is a continuous process in which the sour gas is bubbled through monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), or triethanolamine (TEA) in an amine/gas absorber tower to remove both H2S and CO2. The acid gases can be stripped from the absorber solution by heat, and the regenerated amine solution used again. Iron-sponge sweetening is a batch process. The sour gas is passed through an absorber tower to remove H2S. The iron sponge can be regenerated with oxygen or air. Some other sweetening processes are a) glycol/amine, b) sulfinol, and c) molecular sieves. sweet gas natural gas that contains no significant amount of H2S. Sweet gas lacks gases that dissolve in water to form acids. Two to three percent carbon dioxide with no sulfurous gases is acceptable for many contracts. The maximum hydrogen sulfide allowed in pipelines is about 0.25 gr/100 scf or about 4 ppm.
SWTG

the j>itwav_e has particle motion perpendicular to the vertical plane of the geophone system. A shear-wave survey is used to obtain information on the physical properties of subsurface formations and is measured in amplitude, cement bond, and fracture logs, (shear or transverse wave) sway the lateral movement of an entire ship on the ocean sway braces the diagonal beams that steady the legs of a drilling rig SWB 1) swab 2) swabbing 3) swabbed S^ bound-water saturation swb 1) swab 2) swabbing swbd swabbed swbg swabbing SWC 1) sidewall coring 2) sidewall cores S.W.C. sidewall core SW/c southwest corner S^. critical water saturation SWCM saltwater-cut mud Swco cutoff water saturation SWD 1) saltwater disposal 2) saltwater disposal well swd swaged SWDS saltwater disposal system SWDW saltwater disposal well sweep 1) the horizontal (horizontal sweep) or vertical (vertical sweep) movement of a slug of injected fluid through a reservoir during a waterflood or enhanced oil recovery 2) the continuously varied frequency of a Vibroseis source at a shot point that is used for seismic exploration. The most common sweep is an upsweep in which the frequency increases from low to high with time. An upsweep is in contrast to a downsweep. 3) a method used to improve seismic records by varying a parameter sweep efficiency the ratio of pore volume of reservoir rock contacted by injected fluids during water flood or enhanced oil recovery to the total volume of reservoir rock in the project. Sweep efficiency can be broken down into areal and vertical sweep efficiency. sweep-frequency explosion a string of small explosions that are detonated as a seismic source sweep method a method used to take a gas sample for analysis. The gas flows through a cylinder to displace air from the cylinder. sweep-out pattern the aerial distribution of injected fluids that have spread out from injection wells during an improved recovery operation sweep period the time period from the start to finish of a Vibroseis shotpoint in seismic exploration. The sweep period is commonly 7-12 seconds and can be up to 35 seconds. sweet 1) oil or gas that has a relatively low amount of sulfur. Sweet oil or gas does not have a pungent smell and will not react negatively to a doctor test. 2) a fluid that has a good odor sweet corrosion metal deterioration caused by acids

sweetheart gas natural gas that the working interest owner of a well can require the operator of a well to market or to be a part of the market share that other working interest owners are receiving for their gas. Sweetheart gas is defined under Oklahoma Law H.B. 1221 or the Sweetheart Gas Act. sweet spot a portion of the petroleum reservoir that will produce at a relatively fast rate due to exceptionally good porosity and permeability or reservoir thickness swell the slow movement of an anhydrite, a sodium or a potassium salt layer, or shale into a wellbore by pressure or chemical reaction, (heave or squeeze) S wellbore see S-shaped well swelled box a box connection that is bulging due to too much torque on the tool connection swelling an increase in volume swelling shale a shale that contains clays such as bentonite that will adsorb water and swell in volume. Swelling shales are drilled with a) low fluid-loss muds, b) invert emulsion mud, c) inhibited mud or d) polymer mud. swept zone the volume of reservoir rock that is effectively contacted by injected fluids during a waterflood or enhanced oil recovery SWF sand-water frac S^f water saturation of fractures SWFLO saltwater flow SW/4 Southwest quarter SWFR saltwater frac S^ initial water saturation in gas cap swg swage swgr switchgear

SWI synchronous SWI saltwater injection SWKIK saltwater kick swing the percentage, both above and below the daily take, that a gas purchaser can take from a gas well or lease under a gas purchase contract swing check see swing valve swing diameter the diameter of a circle denned by opposite tips of a rotating centrifuge swinging gauge a method used to measure the amount of crude oil in a tank by subtracting the outage gauge from the reference point swinging square a square drill collar located between two round drill collars swing line a suction line that can be raised and lowered in a crude oil storage tank to keep it above the level of water and sediment on the bottom. The swing line is used to pump oil from the tank. swing valve a type of valve that allows fluid flow in only one direction. Swing valves are usually opened by pressure on a spring behind the gate, (check valve, one-way, nonreturn, or swing check) (Sw)irr irreducible water saturation switchboard a pannel that controls electrical circuits. The switchboard for an electrical submersible centrifugal pump is located in a rectangular, weatherproof housing that is insulated from the wellhead by a junction box. The switchboard can be either simple or complex, can have underload or pump off protection with an auto restart and can handle from 440 to 4,800 V. Solid state switchboards are available along with electromechanical types. switcher a person who supervises the filling of lease tanks by flowing oil wells

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swivel-connector grip a device that is used to temporarily connect two wire ropes. The swivelconnector grip holds under tension and releases when the tension is relaxed, (snake or swivel-type stringing grip) swivel joint a high-pressure connection that is used to put a bend in a piping system. Internal threads with ball bearings allow the swivel joint to turn. The swivel joint is often used for cementing or acidizing jobs, (chicksan) swivel neck a person who works on a rotary rig swivel sub a short section of pipe that contains a swivel joint swivel-type stringing grip see swivel-connector grip SWL southwest line SWN sidewall neutron log SWN-G sidewall neutron, gamma ray log SWN GR sidewall neutron, gamma ray log SWOPS 1) single-well oil production system 2) singlewell offshore production system SWP steam working pressure S., residual water saturation SWS sidewall samples (SW)TDT water saturation given by TDT (thermal decay time) SWTG sweet gas SWTR salt water SWTS salt water to surface SWU swabbing unit SX south extension SX or sx sacks Sxa apparent mud-filtrate saturation SXL screen and liner S^ mud-filtrate saturation SYD sum-of-the-years digits sym symbol symmetric fold a fold in rocks such as an anticline in which both limbs or sides are the same. The axial surface or the center of the fold is vertical. A symmetric fold is in contrast to an asymmetric fold. syn 1) synchronous 2) synthetic 3) syntaxial synchronous occurring at the same time syn

swivel

swivel a device on a drilling rig located just above the drillstring that is hung from the rotary hook on the traveling block by a bail. The swivel allows the drillstring to rotate below it while being suspended from the derrick. The swivel consists of a heavy steel casting with a ball in it. The mud line attaches to the swivel through the gooseneck. Drilling mud from the kelly hose flows through the swivel and into the kelly. The swivel stem or body washpipe on the bottom of the swivel is connected to a swivel sub that connects to the kelly. Swivels are rated by either a) size of the stem, b) depth limitation, or c) dead weight tonnage.

syncline

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syncline sz A synthetic seismogram uses reflection coefficients from velocity and density data for each rock layer. The input includes a velocity log, density log, and the seismic pulse shape. Synthetic seismograms are often computed to be compared with real seismic records. They are used to determine the theoretical effects of changes in thickness and lithology in rock layers and to predict the ability of real seismic to detect stratigraphic traps, (theoretical seismogram) Syring syringopora sys system system a time-rock division of rock deposited during a period of geological time. A system can be subdivided into series, sys System International d'Unites a system of units adopted by the General Conference on Weights and Measures in I960 to modify the metric system. They are: Quantity Base unit length meter mass kilogram time second electric current ampere temperature Kelvin quantity of mass mole luminous intensity candela Supplementary units Quantity Base unit plane angle radian solid angle steradian Derived units Quantity Base unit frequency hertz force Newton work Joule pressure pascal Prefixes 10"18 giga 10+9 atto 15 femto 10~ tera 10+12 12 peta 10+15 pico 10~ 9 nano 10~ exa 10+18 Symbol
m kg s

syncline a long fold of rocks that is bent downward. Synclines in sedimentary rocks are often caused by compression oriented perpendicular to the axis of the syncline. Syncline is in contrast to an anticline. syncrude crude oil made from tar sands or oil shale syneresis the separation of a liquid and a gel by contraction Synergetic a log analysis computed at the computer center synergism an effect in which two or more efforts are used simultaneously in cooperation to obtain a total result that is greater than the sum of the results had each independent effort been done separately. synergistic two or more processes working together to form a result greater than the sum of all the individual processes synform a fold of rocks has dwonward closure in contrast to an antiform or neutralform syngenetic dolomite dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2], a mineral and rock that forms penecontemporaneously with the deposition of sediments. Syngenetic dolomite is rare. synsedimentary a geological process that occurs as the sediments are being deposited syntaxial overgrowth a type of natural cement in sandstones. The overgrowth forms around a preexisting quartz or feldspar grain that forms the nucleus. The cement is the same composition as the grain and grows with optical continuity outward from the original grain surface. synthesis gas a carbon monoxide-hydrogen mixture synthetic a driller

K mol cd

Symbol ra3
sr

Symbol
Hz N

Pa

synthetic faults

synthetic fault a relatively minor fault that is parallel to and has the same displacement as a major fault. Synthetic faults are in contrast to antithetic faults and are a type of secondary fault. synthetic natural gas gas that is primarily methane and is formed as petroleum feedback or from coal and steam with high temperatures and pressures and Ni-Al catalysts synthetic seismogram a computed seismic trace that is anticipated from a specific series of rock layers.

systems analysis the detailed study of the components of a well or wells such as well capacity, tubing size, flowline size, and separator pressure in conjunction with the entire system. A systems analysis is used to optimize the production of individual wells or a group of wells in a continuous flow system. The analysis is done at a node or solution point in the well which is often the top or bottom of the well. system tract an assemblage of contemporaneous depositional systems that are either a) lowstand, b) transgressive, and c) highstand, or a) shelf-margin, b) transgressive, and c) highstand. A system tract is a subdivision of a sequence and is defined by its position in the sequence. A system tract is defined in seismic or sequence stratigraphy. system volume the volume of drilling fluids in a well sz size

T tailgate

513

T 1) temperature log 2) ton 3) township 4) temperature 5) period 6) torque 7) trillion 8) time 9) absolute temperature 10) tensile strength 11) tension 12) tesla 13) top of 14) interfacial tension 15) terat 1) time 2) true 3) total 4) gross 5) trillion 6) ton 7) tonne 8) sonic interval transit time t the velocity of a sonic wave, usually compressional, through a subsurface rock layer usually measured in microseconds/foot (fisec/ft). t is measured on a sonic log, a continuous velocity log, a borehole compensated sonic log or Acoustilog. Some common interval transit times are: substance t (microseconds/ft) shale 167.0-62.5 sandstone 55.5-51.3 limestone 47.6-43.5 dolomite 43.5-38.5 200 water 706 natural gas (interval transit time At) T/ top of TA 1) temporarily abandoned 2) transmitted amplitude TA. temporarily abandoned Ta talc Ta 1) absolute ambient temperature 2) absolute surface temperature tab tabular tabasco sauce acid table reef a relatively small, isolated reef that has a flat top and does not enclose a lagoon tabular 1) a slab-like geometry. A tabular object is bounded by two planar surfaces and has a relatively small thickness 2) a sedimentary rock body that has a width to thickness of between 50 to 1 and 1,000 to 1 3) a grain with length between 1.5 to 3 times its thickness, tab tabular-planar crossbeds layers in sandstone that were deposited in dunes at an angle up to 36 from vertical. Tabular-planar crossbeds are bounded on top and bottom by flat and parallel surfaces. Tabular-planar crossbeds are in contrast to trough or festoon crossbeds. tabulate coral a group of extinct colonial corals that belong to the subclass Tabulata of the phylum Coelenterata. The name tabulate comes from the presence of an interior platform, diaphragm, or tabula,

and by the poor development or complete absence of radial walls called septa that are characteristic of other corals. Tabulate corals existed from the Lower Ordovician epoch through the Jurassic period and are good guide fossils. tach tachometer tachometer an instrument that measures speed of rotation, tach tack to weld a spot tackle a rope through sheaves in a block that is used for pulling or lifting

tadpole plot

tadpole plot a method used to present dipmeter results. Depth in the well is plotted on the vertical axis and dip angle on the horizontal axis, with zero degrees usually along the left side. A small circle on the diagram gives the depth and dip of each dipmeter measurement in a well. A small line, like a tadpole tail, comes out of each circle and is oriented in the compass direction of that dip measurement, with north being up. tag to touch something downhole with the drillstring tag bottom to touch the drill bit on the bottom of the well TAI thermal alteration index tail a short form on a well log with information on either well and curve scales (log tail) or calibration (calibration tail) tail buoy a catamaran raft of plastic floats that is drug behind a hydrophone streamer by rope. The buoy is a bright color and has a radar reflector on it to determine the direction of the streamer. tail chain a short chain with a hook used on the end of a winch line tail gas the gas that is left after natural gas liquids have been removed from natural gas. Tail gas is any gas that comes from gas processing and can be sold as commercial natural gas. (residue gas) tailgate the point where the tail gas comes out of the processing plant after removal of liquid hydrocarbons

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tail-in flud tank 2) to measure and record the length of tubulars such as casing or pipe. A tally is usually measured in Viooth of a foot. tally pipe to measure the length of pipe with a tape tally sheet a form that is used to record the length of pipe or tubing run in a well tally tape a steel tape marked in Viooths of a foot. Tally tape is used to measure the length of pipe or tubing that is going to be run in a well. The measurement is made from the end of the collar on one end to the first good thread on the other end. talus rock fragments of various sizes and shapes lying at the base of a cliff or steep slope tamp to pack the mud or earth above an explosive in a seismic shothole tan tangent T&B top and bottom T&BC top and bottom chokes T&C threaded and coupled T and C oilfield pump an artificial lift system that is similar to a chamber gas lift installation except that the opening and closing is controlled from the surface. The power gas is injected into a pump chamber containing the well fluid. Intermittent injection of the power gas is controlled by movement of the inner string of tubing which operates a slide valve located on top of the pump chamber. The inner string is moved by a hydraulic cylinder on the surface that is driven by hydraulic power oil. tandem squares two or more adjacent square drill collars on a downhole assembly tandem stabilizers two or more adjacent stabilizers on a downhole assembly T&G tongue and groove T&R tubing and rods tangency point the location on an elastic drillstring where the bent drillstring touches the wellbore tangible drilling costs expenses for equipment that can be salvaged after drilling and completing a well. Tangible drilling costs average about 30% of the total well cost. tankage 1) crude oil storage in a tank 2) the capacity of a tank 3) the tank storage charge, tkg tank battery two or preferably three tanks on a lease that can hold three to seven days production of merchantable oil from a single well or group of wells for truck or pipeline delivery to a refinery. The term tank battery can also include separation and treating equipment, (battery or tank farm) TB tank bottoms a mixture of oil emulsified with water and sediment that collects at the bottom of stock and oil storage tanks. Periodically, tank bottoms have to be removed, (tank settlings) tank calibration 1) a measurement of the tank volume below the dip point which designates zero on the tank gauge table 2) the quantity of crude oil located below the dip point on a tank tank dike an earthen mound that surrounds an oil tank to contain a spill in case of fire or leak tank farm see tank battery

tail-in fluid the water spacer behind the cement slurry on a squeeze cement job. The tail-in fluid is in contrast to the spearhead fluid. tailing in the final stage in hydraulic fracturing when the proppants are injected tailing-out rods unscrewing and horizontally stacking rods next to the derrick tail line a rope that is used to prevent a fall by a worker on a derrick. The tail line is attached to a safety belt, harness, or belly buster on the worker and to a climbing device or a part of the. derrick on the other end. (tail rope) tail out rods to pull the lower end of a sucker rod out away from the well when laying down the rods tail pipe a weight that is added to the bottom of a downhole pump to prevent buckling in the tubing tail plug the plug on the end of a gas-lift valve. A tail plug is the final seal on the dome tail post the post that supports the sand reel on a cable-tool rig tail rope see tail line take the volume of natural gas per day that a purchaser is required to take from a gas reservoir as stated in a gas contract. Take has a specific price for the gas that is related to the Btu content of the gas. (daily contract quantity) take a kick an uncontrolled fluid flow into a well during drilling take-and-pay clause a provision in a gas contract that requires the purchaser to receive and pay for a specific amount of gas. If the purchaser does not take and pay for the gas, the seller can seek damages from the purchaser as outlined in the contract. take a strain on to start to pull a load take off a list of instruments pertaining to a given tract of land that is compiled by an abstract company. The take off usually gives a brief summary or description of the documents, is similar to a landman's run sheet and is less expensive than an abstract of title. take-or-pay clause a provision in a gas purchase and sales agreement under which the buyer agrees with the seller to either a) purchase and accept delivery of a given quantity of natural gas or b) to pay for such a quantity of natural gas if delivery is not accepted at that time, subject to the right to make up or required delivery of the gas paid for but not taken within a specific period of time. take-or-release a gas contract clause that requires the purchaser to notify the producer each month what gas volumes will be taken and releases the producer to sell the excess gas takeout a pair of polarized leads that are used to connect geophones to the cable take-over right a provision in a support agreement or farmout in which the supporting party (farmee) can conduct its own tests on the earning well (testing take-over right) or complete the earning well (completion take-over right) if the drilling party (farmor) elects not to complete the earning well. tally 1) a count of a repetitive event such as the number of joints of drillpipes used in a drillstring

tank gauge tape unit

515

tapered array a seismic geophone or source arrangement in which either the source is varied unequally (tapered source array) or the geophone or hydrophone arrays are varied (tapered geophone arrays) tapered hole a hole that decreases slightly in diameter on the bottom. A tapered hole is caused by an undergauged bit at the end of the bit run. When the new bit is run, it can be damaged or wedged in the undergauge hole, (swaged hole)

tank gauge

tank gauge a tape, marked in Vio in., that is used to measure the height of oil in a stock tank. The tank gauge has a plumb bob on one end. tank mixer a propeller in an oil storage tank that is used to keep the basic sediment and water mixed with the oil in the tank. The propeller is turned by a motor outside the tank. tank-mounted reciprocating compressor a compressor that uses pistons or plungers in cylinders to compress the gas. The compressor is mounted on a tank used to store the gas and to smooth pressure surges as the compressor is working. tanks see mud tanks tank settlings see tank bottoms tank shell the walls of a tank tank strapper a person who measures the height and volume of a crude-oil storage tank to prepare a tank table for that tank. The tank table is used by a gauger to determine the volume of crude oil from the height of oil contained in the tank. tank table a chart that is used to determine the amount of oil that is filling a specific tank. A tank table is made by a tank strapper by strapping (measuring) the volume and height of the tank. A tank table is usually calibrated to one-quarter or oneeighth of an inch in height, (gage or gauge table) tannic acid the active ingredient (C14H10O9) of quebracho tap 1) a notched tool used to cut female threads 2) a threaded hole in a pipe or tank. A gauge or valve can be installed in the tap. tap and die collar a fishing tool made of casehardened steel that is used to cut threads on the upper end of a fish in a well. A die cuts threads on the outer surface of a pipe, whereas a tap cuts threads on the inner surface. The tap and die collar cannot be used with a fish that can turn and will not release from the fish after the threads have been cut. tape see magnectic tape tape drive a computer device that converts data stored on magnetic tape into signals taper 1) the change in diameter per unit distance along a thread. Taper is often expressed in inches per foot. 2) the uneven spacing of geophones in a geophone group. The geophones are closer near the center and furthest on the ends to cancel noise.

tapered mill

tapered mill a mill with a point on the bottom that expands upward to full gauge. A tapered mill has vertical or spiral blades with tungsten carbide cutting edges and channels between the blades. The tapered mill is rotated on a fishing string and is used in tight spots, collapsed casing, casing shoes, kick-off windows, and liner tops and to mill through irregular-shaped fish, (taper mill or tapermill) tapered royalty a type of payment (royalty) made for production in which the rate declines each year by a specific amount or percentage tapered tubing string a tubing string in a well that decreases in diameter down the well. A tapered tubing string is most often used to accommodate a smaller diameter liner on the bottom of a well with a larger diameter casing string near the top of the well. tapered wire rope two or more sections of wire rope of uniform diameter that are separated by a tapered diameter section of wire rope taper mill or tapermill see tapered mill taper mill or tapermill reamer-deburrer a downhole tool that grinds or mills out collapsed casing and removes the rough metal edges (deburrs) on whipstock windows used in directional drilling taper tap an inside catch type of fishing tool. A taper tap has a tapered body with male threads. The taper is run down the well on a fishing string and rotated to cut threads into the bore of the fish. A taper tap does not have a releasing mechanism. A taper tap is the male counterpart of a die collar. tape storage unit a tape storage or oil company facility that stores magnetic tapes with seismic data. The tapes are cleaned and tension wound and stored under optimum temperature and humidity in vertical racks for future reprocessing. tape unit the equipment used in seismic exploration to record the data on magnetic tape

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taphrogenic Tcfortcf penetration (Geolograph or Log-O-Graph) 2) an instrument that shows the cause of a shutdown or alarm 3) a mark that is made on the far left side of a well log at each 1-minute interval during logging to show the logging speed, (minute mark) T 1) tortuosity 2) neutron relaxation time taut-line inclinometer an instrument that measures the angle on a line and is used for passive positioning with a drillship. The inclinometer measures inclination of the wire in two directions and detects when the ship drifts off station. taut-line position-reference system a type of passive positioning in which a cable from the seafloor is attached to a floating drilling rig such as a semisubmersible or drillship. Several lines are suspended between the drillship and anchored to the seabed in a radial pattern. The inclination of the cables in two axes is continuously monitored by a taut-line inclinometer to maintain the rig's position on a subsea wellhead. The system is simple and economic and can be used as a backup to dynamic positioning. tax certificate a certificate issued by the tax assessorcollector of a county concerning the payment of taxes on a tract of land. The tax certificate states what taxes have been paid, when, and by whom. tax partnership a relationship between two or more parties under the Internal Revenue code for tax purposes. A tax partnership is a joint venture rather than a partnership in the business meaning. The taxes and deductions are at the individual party level rather than partnership level. A reporting party fills out the information to the government for the tax returns and assigns the allocations. Taylor bubbles large bullet-shaped bubbles that have formed from coalesced, smaller bubbles rising in a liquid TB 1) tank battery 2) thin bedded 3) time break TB temperature at normal boiling point Tb absolute temperature at reference or base condition tb tube t.b. thin bedded TBE threaded both ends TBG, Tbg., or tbg tubing tbg ch tubing choke tbg chk tubing choke tbg press tubing pressure T^ bottomhole temperature TBP tethered buoy platform tbp or t.b.p. true boiling point TC 1) tubing choke 2) tool closed 3) top choke 4) temperature controller 5) temperature coefficient 6) time constant Tc critical temperature tc contact time TCC thermal catalytic combustion TCD thermal conductivity detector tee tons coal equivalent Tcf or tcf trillion cubic feet

taphrogenic a type of large-scale struaural deformation of rocks involving vertical forces and block faulting with rift formation tapped connection a connection that is threaded on the inside (female) and receives a connection threaded on the outside (male). A tapped connection is in contrast to a flanged connection which has a screw or weld flange. tapping the hitting of a downhole pump plunger on the top and bottom stops to jar the pump and cause the balls to jump off their seats. Tapping can be done on purpose to prevent gas lock and to wash the sand out of a valve but can also damage the pump. TAPS Trans-Alaska pipeline system tap sample a sample obtained from taps located equidistant up the tank tap test a method used to test the connection of a geophone used in seismic exploration by lightly tapping on it. A tap test confirms that the geophone is alive. tar 1) naturally occurring, viscous, low API petroleum 2) a viscous, dark liquid made by distilling organic matter such as coal or wood tar belt a residual heavy oil deposit on the margins of a basin. A tar belt is formed by oil seeps that have undergone crude oil degradation by bacteria and water washing, (tar mat) target 1) a blind flange or bull plug that is used on the end of a tee to absorb the impact of fluid changing flow direction 2) the subsurface horizon to which a well is planned to be drilled target area the area at a specific depth through which the wellbore is planned to pass target bearing the azimuth of a straight line from a reference point on a drilling rig to the subsurface drilling target target depth the depth in a well at which the producing formation is expected to be encountered target location the exact geographical position where the drill bit is planned to intersect the target or potential reservoir during drilling of a well target oil oil remaining in the reservoir after conventional recovery and before a waterflood or enhanced oil recovery process target point the exact point at a specific depth at which the wellbore is planned to be located tariff the schedule of rates by a common carrier or utility such as a pipeline tar mat see tar belt tarp tarpaulin tar sands sand or sandstone with pores filled with viscous high-gravity oil that cannot be produced by conventional methods. The hydrocarbons have a gasfree viscosity of greater than 10,000 mPa at reservoir temperature. Thermal-enhanced oil recovery methods can be used to produce the oil from tar sands. Tatarian a global age of geological time that occurred about 255-250 m. y. ago; It is part of the Upper Permian epoch. tattle tale or tattletale 1) an instrument on a drilling rig that records depth of drill bit and rate of

Tctfd or TcfD telescopic leg Tctfd or Ted) trillion cubic feet per day TCFGD trillion cubic feet of gas per day TCG time controlled gain TCK 1) top choke 2) tubing choke TCOOR total coordinates TCP total core penetration TCV temperature control valve TD or td total depth T-D time-depth curve TDC top dead center TDH total dynamic head TDI temperature differential indicator TDL temperature difference log TDL thermal decay log TDML teleclinometer dipmeter log TDR temperature differential recorder TDS total dissolved solids TDT thermal decay time TDT Dual-Spacing Thermal Decay Time log TEA 1) triethanolamine 2) thermal evolution analysis tea cup

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tea cup

tea cup a landing platform for manned submersibles on top of an atmospheric chamber on a dry subsea wellhead tear down to dismantle a rig after the well has been drilled and prepare it to be moved off the site, (rigging down) tear fault a very steep to horizontal strike-slip fault that occurs in the hanging wall of a low-angle thrust fault. The tear fault has a strike that is perpendicular to the strike of the underlying thrust fault. teaser a well with not enough production to complete tech technician tectonic 1) the forces that deform the earth's crust and produce mountains 2) the structures or features that are the result of the forces. The word tectonic is derived from the Greek word tektonikos for builder. tectonic dolomite dolomite, a mineral and rock composed of CaMg(CO3)2, that has replaced calcite in limestone along natural fractures such as joints in the limestone. The fractures were routes through which Mg-rich waters perculated through the limestone when it was transformed into dolomite.

Tectonic dolomite is in contrast to primary, syngenetic, evaporite, supratidal stratigraphic, and diagenic dolomite, (secondary or epigenic dolomite) tectonic map a large-scale map illustrating the major structural features, including mountain ranges, uplifts and basins, of an area tectonic type the mode of large-scale, structural deformation of rocks. Tectonic types are orogenic, epeirogenic, taphrogenic, and lineagenic. tee or tee piece a pressure fitting with three openings, two on a line and one at 90 to the others. The ends can be threaded, flanged, or studded flange. A tee is used on a Christmas tree where the wing is connected and is also called a flow cross. The polished rod passes through the tee and stuffing box that are bolted or screwed to the top of the tubing hanger on a pumping wellhead. teeth the plural of tooth, see tooth TEF tubing effect factor TEFC totally enclosed fan-cooled teflon standoff a metallic sleeve with teflon fins that is used around a tool in a deviated well. The teflon standoff helps run the tool through curves up to 60 from vertical. TEG triethylene glycol TEG unit a vertical contact or absorber tower that uses triethylene glycol (TEG) to dry gas as it bubbles through the glycol. The reconcentrated or lean glycol enters the top of the absorber where it flows down from bubble tray to bubble tray to absorb water from the rising gas. The rich or wet glycol then exits the bottom of the contractor and flows through a stripping column and reboiler to remove the water so the glycol can be reused. The dry gas flows out the top of the unit. tel 1) telephone 2) telegraph telechirics the operation of an unmanned submersible from the surface by a cable telegraph an arrangement used to control the speed of a steam engine on a cable-tool rig. A telegraph consists of a wire that runs from the driller's stand to the steam valve on the engine. telemetry the transmission of data by electronics with line or radio from the point of origin to a receiver telescopic joint a joint on a marine riser that is designed to compensate for vertical movement of a drillship or semisubmersible rig due to waves and to allow the rig to disconnect during bad weather. The telescopic joint consists of a inner barrel that slides in an outer barrel. Resilient seals or packing is located between the inner and outer barrels for a pressure seal. The telescopic joint is located on the top of the marine riser system and the riser tensioners are attached to a tensioner ring on the bottom of the joint. The telescopic joint contains fittings for the choke and kill-line hoses and a connection for the bell nipple or diverter. (slip joint) telescopic leg a leg on a mat-supported jackup drilling rig that is designed to be extended to increase the length of the leg. Telescopic legs are used to keep the legs short during towing but to allow the legs to be extended and raise the deck above sea level during emplacement at the drillsite.

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telescoping derrick tender platform template 1) a metal plate with a design pattern with guides for equipment and structures. A template is part of the guide base on a subsea well. A template is used to align development wells as they are being drilled. Two types of templates are spacer and modular templates. An eight-slot template is common. guide base has guide lines that extend up to the semisubmersible or drillship and are used to guide equipment such as the marine riser and the blowout preventer stack into position. The template can also be located in the legs of a jacketed platform. 2) a large tubular structure used to conduct subsea equipment to the seabed, align the equipment, and connect wells and flowlines to a manifold template platform an offshore production platform that consists of a jacket of welded steel tubulars that forms a frame that is pinned to the seafloor by pilings. The template for drilling the wells is on the seafloor and each well has its own conductor pipe. A template platform is the most common type of offshore production platform in contrast to towers, caissons, and tension-leg platforms. temporarily abandoned a well that has been shut in but has not been plugged temporary allowable the amount of gas and/or oil that is permitted to be produced by a government regulatory agency (allowable) and is given in a newly discovered field before the final allowable is issued for the entire field temporary guide base a flat steel frame that is located on the seafloor to serve a) as a drilling guide for the 36-in. diameter conductor hole, b) as a foundation for other subsea equipment, and c) to anchor the guideline cables for a subsea well. The temporary base guide is circular, octagonal, or square in shape and is about 100 ft2 in area. Four 18-in. spikes on the bottom of the base anchor it to the seabed. Four guideline wires (two for the marine riser and two for the hydraulic hoses to the blowout preventer) and two smaller TV and locating-device guide lines lead up to the surface. The center has a circular hole with a funnel shape where the permanent guide base is fitted and the drillstring goes into the well. 71GB tenancy by the entirety a husband and wife that own property. They cannot dispose of the property separately but there is the right of survivorship. Tenancy by the entirety is in contrast to tenants in common. tenants in common two or more people who concurrently own the same property. Their interests can be different and can be sold. Tenants in common does not carry the right of survivorship. tender 1) a supply or support ship for offshore rigs. The tender can contain living quarters and storage for supplies and equipment. 2) a permit by a governmental regulatory agency to transport petroleum tender platform a fixed offshore production platform that is smaller in size than a self contained platform. The tender platform supports the derrick, substructure, prime movers, mud tanks, and mud pumps. The crew quarters, supplies, and other equipment are located on a moored tender ship that is connected to the tender platform by a walkway.

telescoping derrick a type of portable derrick on a drilling rig in which the upper part of the derrick is located inside the lower section and can be extruded to its full length by a wireline or hydraulic piston system telex a communication system that is similar to a telephone except that it prints out the message on a teletype machine telltail a scale on the outside of a tank that shows the volume of fluid in the tank tell-tale screen a screen that is located near the bottom of a tubing string that is used to indicate the level of gravel during gravel packing by the pressure on the screen telluric current a natural electrical current that is either static or alternating at a very low frequency through the ground. Telluric currents extend over large areas and are caused by variations in the earth's magnetic field, (earth current) telogenetic porosity porosity in sedimentary rocks caused by uplift and exposure. Telogenetic porosity is in contrast to eogenetic and mesogenetic porosity. TEM transmission electron microscopy TEML temperature max reading log TEMP or temp temperature temp temporarily temperature bomb a device that is run on a wireline in a well to measure subsurface temperatures. The enclosed instrument includes a stylus that records temperature variations on a chart that is driven by a clock. Time and depth in the well are then correlated. Usually, the well is shut in for about 24 hours to stop the fluids from circulating in the well before the temperatures are measured. temperature gradient the rate of temperature change with distance. The rate of temperature gradient with depth in the earth is called the geothermal gradient. The geothermal gradient varies geographically from 5 to 0.5F per 100 ft depth. temperature log or survey a measurement of temperatures with depth in a shut-in well. A temperature log can be made either with a) a selfcontained unit (temperature bond) on a solid wireline, b) a resistance thermometer (thermistor) unit on an electric wireline, or c) a unit on an electric wireline that records on the surface. The temperature survey or log is used to determine a) cement tops by the heat the setting cement gives off, b) where gas is entering the well by the cooling it produces, c) lost circulation, d) casing leaks, e) fracture treatment evaluation, and f) channeling in water injection wells. A differential temperature log is used to accurately determine the difference in temperatures between two thermometers that are about 6 ft apart. TL tempered water system a closed freshwater system that is used for cooling crude oil and/or gas in a process train on an offshore platform. The fresh water is cooled by a saltwater heat exchanger. temper screw a turnbuckle-type of device on the drilling line of a cable-tool rig that is used to adjust tension on the drilling line and to let out more line. The temper screw is attached to the walking beam.

tenders Tertiary tenders a quantity of crude oil delivered to a pipeline tendon a steel tube, about 1 ft in diameter, that is used to tether a tension leg platform to a tendon foundation template on the seafloor ten-minute gel strength the shear stress that is required to permanently deform a colloidal suspension such as drilling mud after it has been at rest for 10 minutes. Ten-minute gel strength is measured with a direct-reading viscosimeter, is reported in lb/100 ft2, and is similar to the initial gel strength which is also usually measured. ten percenter a party that rents expensive oilfield
tools

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tensile force or stress pull-apart forces. Tensile forces are in contrast to compressive forces. tensile fracture a fracture that has been pulled apart perpendicular to the fracture plane. A tensile fracture is oriented parallel to the maximum and intermediate principle stress directions and perpendicular to the minimum principle stress direction. tensile strength the maximum pull-apart forces that a body can resist before failure. Tensile strength is usually measured in pounds. Sp TS, or T tensiometer an instrument used to measure the tension on a cable or wire rope tension a state of stress in an object due to tensile or pull-apart forces. Tor tns

the wellhead on the sea bottom. The tensioner system compensates for wind, waves, and tides and prevents the marine riser from collapsing under its own weight. Two types of tensioner systems are the deadweight and the pneumatic systems. Both types have tensioned lines that connect the floater to the tensioner ring on the telescopic or slip joint outer barrel of the marine riser. A tensioner system is also used to maintain tension on the tendons anchoring a tension leg platform. tension packer a packer with slips and upward pointing teeth above the packing element. Manipulation of a J-slot allows the slips to engage the casing and an upward pull on the tubing causes the packer to expand and seal, (upside down packer) Tent tentaculites tent tentative TEOR thermal enhanced oil recovery Ter tertiary ter terrigenous y tera the metric prefix for 1012. 7* term terminal thermal decomposition the breakdown of a substance into simpler substances by high temperature term clause an oil and gas lease provision that defines the length (term) of the lease. The primary term is the number of years that the lease is in effect as the lessee explores the acreage. If commercial petroleum production is established on the acreage, the secondary term is the indefinite time that the lease is in effect as the oil and/or gas is being produced in paying quantities, (babendum clause) terminal an input and/or output facility or device. term term royalty payment for a mineral interest that expires after a certain time ternary diagram an equilateral triangle that shows the compositional phases of a three-component mixture
SHALE
CALCAREOUS SHALE (LIMEY)

tension leg platform

tensional leg platform or tension leg well platform a type of floating platform that is used for drilling and production in relatively deep water. The platform is held in place by tendons that are high tensile strength steel tubes attached at each of the four corners of the platform and connected to tendon foundation templates on the seabed. The tendons are tensioned by a computer to pull the buoyant hull down to minimize motion but some lateral movement is allowed. Drilling is through a template on the seafloor. A tension leg well platform does not have the treating facilities of a tension leg platform, (tethered
leg platform) TLP or TLWP

SHALEY SANDSTONE

SHALEY LIMESTONE

SANDSTONE
CALCAREOUS SANDSTONE ( LIMEY)

LIMESTONE
SANDY LIMESTONE

ternary diagram

tensioner ring a ring around the lower portion of a telescopic or slip joint on a marine riser. The riser tensioners are attached to the tensioner ring. tensioner system equipment on a semisubmersible or drillship that is used to maintain a constant tension on the marine riser system that connects the rig with

terrain correction the correction applied to gravity meter data to compensate for the elevation differences between stations terrigenous derived from land, ter Tertiary an epoch of geological time about 67-2 m. y. ago. It is part of the Cenozoic era and is subdivided into the Paleogene and Neogene. Ter

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tertiary migration theodolite tetrajoule a metric unit of energy equal to 1012 joules. A tetrajoule is equal to about 1018 Btu. One cubic meter of average crude oil or 103 m3 of natural gas is about equal to 0.038 tetrajoules. Tf or Q Tex or tex texture Texas deck the upper main deck of a mobile offshore drilling rig that has two or more decks Texas turkey a pump unit with a walking beam in West Texas Texas-type corer an early type of corer used in rotary drilling. The Texas-type corer was a pipe with teeth cut into the lower end. After the core was cut, the teeth were bent inward to trap the core by increasing the rotation speed and decreasing the circulation, (poor boy corer) TEXT texture texture 1) the arrangement of particles or parts of a substance. The texture of a rock includes the size, shape, and distribution of mineral grains, cements, and pores. Tex, tex, or TEXT 2) the frequency in which a tone changes in a remote sensing image TF torque factor Tf ortf tuff tf flowing tubing pressure TF formation temperature Tf 1) formation temperature 2) absolute temperature of flowing fluid tf acoustic traveltime in fluid TFL or tfl through flowline T.F.L. tool in flowline Tfl flowline temperature TG trip gas TGA true gelled acid TGB temporary guide base tgh tough TGLR total gas/liquid ratio TGR trip gas recycle T GR or T-GR temperature, gamma ray log T GRN temperature, gamma ray, neutron log TH 1) tight hole 2) thence 3) total hardness thalweg a line marking the lowest or deepest part of a river channel thanatocoenose the environment of death. Thanatocoenose is used to describe fossil assemblages in sedimentary rocks and is in contrast to biocoenose. Thanetian a global age of geological time that occurred about 62-55 m. y. ago. It is part of the Paleocene era. thd 1) thread 2) threaded T-head a man-made island with several deviated wells theodolite a surveyor's instrument that has a telescope mounted on a rotating base. A theodolite is used to accurately measure horizontal and vertical angles. A stadia rod that has markings at regular intervals and is held up by a surveyor's assistant can be used to determine the distance between the theodolite and rod. A theodolite is more accurate than a transit.

tertiary migration the movement of petroleum from the trap to the surface tertiary recovery an engineering process applied to a depleted oil reservoir after secondary recovery processes have been applied. Tertiary recovery is divided into thermal, miscible and chemical methods. Tertiary recovery includes inert gas injection, flooding the subsurface reservoir with chemicals in a micellar or chemical flood, setting the subsurface oil on fire in a fire flood or in-situ combustion and steam flood and injection. tesla a derived unit in Systems International (SI) for magnetic flux density. Tesla is named after Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), an American inventor and electrician. Tesla is calculated by Wb/m2 where Wb is a weber and m is meters. A nanotesla (nT) equals 1 gamma. T testamentary grant the transfer of land title with the death of the maker of a will to his or her beneficiary test block or tester the equipment, including gas lift receivers, gauges, and valves that measure the nitrogen gas pressure on the bellows of a gas lift valve that is necessary to open the valve tester a service company employee who supervises drillstem test operations. TSTR or tstr tester valve a valve used on a drillstem test tool that controls the flow of formation fluids into the anchor pipe and up the drillpipe. The tester valve is normally closed. It is opened by applying weight and closed by pulling up. testing take-over right a provision in a support agreement such as a farmout in which the supporting party (farmee) can conduct its own tests on the earning well test loop a ring of electrcally conductive material that is placed over the measure point of a tool to calibrate an induction log test pill a gamma ray calibration source test separator a small separator similar to a production separator that has an orifice meter to measure gas volume and an orifice or turbine meter to measure liquid volume. The test separator is used to determine the production rate of individual wells or a group of wells. A test separator can be required by law. test stump a short post that is located on the cellar deck of a semisubmersible and is used to mount the blowout preventer stack to make a stump or pressure test test tank a container used to temporarily store and measure liquid produced during a well test test well an exploratory well tethered leg platform see tension leg platform. TLP tetracoral an important type of extinct coral belonging to the order Rugosa. Tetracorals have radial partitions or septa in quadrants giving the coral a bilateral symmetry. Tetracorals existed from the Ordovician period through the Permian period and are good guide fossils, (rugose coral) tetrahedral pore a pore in dolomite formed by dolomite rhombs with planar surfaces

theoretical seismogram thermomagnetic remanent magnetism theoretical seismogram a computed seismic trace that is anticipated from a specific series of rock layers. A theoretical seismogram uses reflection coefficients from velocity and density data for each rock layer. The input includes a velocity log, density log, and the seismic pulse shape. Theoretic seismograms are often computed to be compared with real seismic records. The seismograms are used to determine the theoretical effects of changes in thickness and lithology changes in rock layers and to predict the ability of real seismic to detect stratigraphic traps, (synthetic seismogram) thereafter clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that extends the life of the lease after the primary term if certain conditions occur, such as drilling or production in paying quantities therm the practical or nonmetric unit of heat. A therm is equal to 105 Btu or about 25 x 106 cal thermal alteration index a series of numbers from one to five that describe the amount of thermal maturation or alteration by heat that has occurred in organic matter in sedimentary rocks. The color of the organic matter in transmitted light goes from transparent through yellow and brown to black with more heat exposure. One represents no change from the original pale yellow color of the organic matter. Five is black and represents metamorphism. Thermal maturation of organic matter generates hydrocarbons. Oil generation occurs at about two to three, and thermal gas at about three to four on the scale. TAI thermal capacity the ratio of heat absorbed or radiated on a surface to the rise and fall of temperature. Thermal capacity is expressed in calories per gram per degrees centigrade (cal/gm/C). (heat capacity) thermal catalytic combustion a common method used to detect gas-cut mud during mud logging. The mud is continuously sampled from a collector or trap on the mud return line. An agitator in the mud trap or steam causes the gas to separate from the mud and collect in a vacuum system. The gas passes over a hot wire called the detector filament that is part of a Wheatstone bridge used to measure resistivity. The resistance of the detector filament varies with die temperature of the filament that is affected by catalytic oxidation or burning of any flammable gases, (hot wire analyzer or detector) TCC thermal conductivity the amount of heat in calories that is transmitted per second through a substance in the shape of a plate that is 1 cm thick with an area of 1 cm2 having a difference in temperature of 1CC from top to bottom. The thermal conductivity for rocks ranges from about 3-15 mcal/cm/sec/C. The thermal conductivities in sedimentary rocks are greatest in evaporites and lowest in shales, (heat conductivity) kh thermal decay time a quantity recorded on a neutron-lifetime log. Thermal decay time is the time in microseconds that it takes the neutron population to fall to 1/e or 37% of its original population. TDT Thermal Decay Time Log a neutron-lifetime log. A neutron generator emits short bursts of 14 MeV neutrons. The Thermal Decay Time Log measures the capture rate of thermal neutrons and emitted gamma rays. The log is used to measure the chlorine content and salinity of formation waters to calculate

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hydrocarbon saturations. The log can be run in casing and tubing. TDLm thermal expansion the increase in volume of a fluid or length of a solid as the result of a change in temperature thermal expansion factor a factor that corrects for the expansion or contraction of an orifice opening under a temperature that is different than normal operating temperature for the orifice. Fa thermal imaging remote sensing using infrared radiation thermal-infrared remote sensing a method of mapping an area in which an infrared beam from a transmitter on an airplane is transmitted to either side of the plane's path and the reflected energy is recorded to produce a picture similar to an aerial photograph Thermal Multigate Decay Log a log that is used to measure the chlorine content and salinity of formation waters to calculate hydrocarbon saturation. A neutron generator emits short bursts of 14 MeV neutrons. The resulting gamma radiation is measured by two detectors at six time intervals or gates. The log can be run in casing and tubing. TMD thermal neutron an atomic particle with energy that corresponds to the temperature and has a kinetic energy of about 0.025 eV. Thermal neutrons are in contrast to epithermal neutrons with higher energies. Either thermal or epithermal can be recorded during neutron logging. thermal neutron density the number of thermal neutrons per unit formation volume thermal neutron population the number of thermal neutrons around a pulsed neutron tool at a specfic time thermal recovery enhanced oil recovery processes, usually for heavy oils, that use heat. Thermal recovery includes cyclic steam injection, steamflooding, and in-situ combustion. thermistor a temperature sensitive resistor. A thermistor is the most sensitive of all temperature sensing instruments and most are composed of semiconductor material whose resistance decreases with increasing temperature. A thermistor has a nonlinear response. thermocouple a device used to measure temperature. A thermocouple consists of two wires of dissimilar metals joined at both ends. A change in temperature increases or decreases the voltage across the wire by the Seebeck effect. thermogenic gas natural gas formed by high temperatures (generally greater than 300F) by the breakdown of crude oil or generation from organic matter in sedimentary rocks and coal. Thermogenic gas is often wet gas and is relatively heavy isotopically compared to biogenic gas. Thermogenic gas often contains inerts such as water vapor and nitrogen along with carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. thermomagnetic remanent magnetism the magnetic moment in an igneous rock formed by the alignment of ferromagnetic minerals, primarily magnetite. The mineral crystals, primarily magnetite, align themselves with the earth's magnetic field as the molten rock cools to a temperature less than the

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thermometric hydrometer thin well thief hole a gauge hole on the top of a storage tank thief rod a long rod that is used to thief samples from a storage tank thief sand a sandstone that causes a lost-circulation problem in a well thief test a test made on the oil in a storage tank to determine the amount of basic sediment and water content. A cylinder, called a thief, is lowered through an opening on top of the stock tank, called a thief hatch, to take samples at the top, middle, and bottom of the tank. thief zone in enhanced oil recovery, a thief zone is a) a relatively high-permeability zone in a reservoir rock through which excessive amounts of injected fluids flow, bypassing oil in other parts of the reservoir, or b) a zone that was not intended to receive injected fluids thigmotactic bacteria bacteria that have a greater affinity for solid surfaces than crude oil. The bacteria can displace the crude oil from surfaces.

Curie point, which is less than 600 C. Thermomagnetic remanent magnetism is in contrast to chemical and detrital remanent magnetism. TRM thermometric hydrometer an instrument that measures both density (hydrometer) and temperature of a liquid thermostat a device that regulates temperature.
therst

thermowell a protective device that is used to install temperature sensors on a pipe or vessel wall. A thermowell consists of a solid, cylindrical metal block with a hole drilled for the temperature sensor. It is easily screwed in perpendicular to the wall. therst thermostat 0 1) angle 2) critical angle 3) contact angle 4) acoustic transit time per unit length 5) crank position in degrees 0j 1) incident angle 2) reflection angle 3) transmission angle THF tubinghead flange THFP top hole flowing pressure thk 1) thick 2) thickness thickened water water mixed with a polymer for increased viscosity thickener a drilling mud additive that is either lime or polymers used to increase the viscosity of the mud. Lime increases the viscosity by causing clay flocculation. Polymers are large molecules. Three types of polymers are a) extenders, b) colloidal, and c) long chain. The extender causes flocculation of bentonite. Colloidal polymers include sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and starch; long chain polymers include xantham gum. A thickener is in contrast to a thinner. thickening time the length of time that a particular cement slurry remains fluid during and after being pumped down a well. Thickening time is measured in a laboratory from the initial application of pressure and temperature in a consistometer to the cement slurry reaching a consistency of 100 Bearden units. (pumping time or pumpability time) thick well a well drilled into a relatively thick portion of the producing zone thief a brass, aluminum, or glass cylinder that is lowered on a line into an oil storage tank to take a sample of oil at a specific depth in the tank or the sediment on the bottom. A spring-activated device closes the thief when the line is jerked. The thief houses the thermal-hydrometer that measures the quality, gravity, and temperature of the oil. (oil thief) thief formation a very permeable subsurface rock layer that takes excessive drilling mud during drilling. The problem is called lost circulation and can be remedied by pumping lost circulation material down the well. thiefing to sample the oil and sediment at various levels in an oil storage tank thief hatch a hinged opening on the top of an oil stock tank or storage tank that is used to lower a thief to gauge or measure the level of oil and to take an oil sample. A thief hatch is fitted with a lid. (gage or gauge batch or hole, gaging or gauging hatch, hole, or dp; or main hatch)

thimble

thimble a grooved piece of metal in the shape of a U with the top closed. A thimble is used to hold the end of a wire or cable to make an eye for a connection and prevent the wire or cable from becoming worn and pinched. thin to dilute a liquid thin bed a rock bed requiring a bed-thickness correction on a well log thin down to reduce the density of circulating drilling mud thinner an additive used to reduce the viscosity and/ or thixotropic properties of drilling mud by breaking the clay platelet attachments. Some types of thinners are a) phosphates, b) chrome lignosulfonate, and c) surfactants or surface tension-reducing agents. Chrome lignosulfonate is the most common thinner used. Phosphates include sodium tetraphosphate and sodium acid pyrophosphate. A thinner is in contrast to a thickener. thin section a slice of rock that has been cut, mounted on a glass slide, and ground to paper thin. Under a microscope, the thin section of the rock can be examined to identify the minerals and determine their textures and to interpret the history of the rock. T.S. thin well a well drilled into a relatively thin portion of the producing zone

third crop production three-phase separator third crop production oil produced by enhanced oil recovery methods third curve the medium resistivity curve on an early electric log third for a quarter a common type of drilling deal. The investor puts up a third of the funds in return for a quarter of the net production revenues. thirty day-sixty day clause a provision in an unlesstype of oil and gas lease that provides for an extension of the life of the lease if a dry hole is drilled or production is shut in during the primary term of the lease. The lease will not expire if the lessee spuds another well or commences reworking operations within 60 days or pays any delay rentals that are due. If, at the expiration of the primary term, the lessee is drilling a well on the lease or the producing well holding the lease is in workover, the lease is extended as long as there is no period greater than 30 days in which drilling or workover operations are ceased. 36 a pipe wrench with a 36-in. handle thixotropic or thixotropy the property of some colloidal substances to change from a gel to weak sol when shaken and then to gain strength when left undisturbed. The substance goes from a rigid to semirigid gel when undisturbed to a fluid when agitated. Quick clays are thixotropic and become very weak during earthquakes and cause landslides. When certain cement slurries (thixotropic cement) are pumped down a well they set rapidly when the pumping ceases. thixotropic cement a type of cement used in wells which has a low viscosity when pumped but rapidly gels when pumping stops. The gel breaks down when the pumping is resumed. thk thick THKLD theoretical hook load thn thin THOL tight hole THRDS threads thread a metal ridge in a helical pattern on either the outside or inside surface of a pipe or fitting. A thread is used to join another pipe or fitting with a corresponding thread. The protrusion of the thread is called the crest, whereas the groove is called the root. Threads are described by their height, lead, taper, and form such as squared or V-shaped. The American Petroleum Institute has a numerical system to distinguish oilfield threads. The most common thread form used on a drillpipe has a 60 taper of the API Internal Flush joint, thd or THRD thread compound thread lubricator, (gunk or rod dope) threaded and coupled weight the weight of a tubular joint with threads at both ends and a coupling on one end. The threaded and coupled weight is expressed in pound meter per foot (lb/ft) or kilogram per meter (kg/m) and is in contrast to plain end weight. thread form the description of a threaded connection that includes a) width of thread crest, b) radius of thread root, c) angle between flanks of adjacent threads, and d) number of threads per inch. Thread forms that have been standardized by the American Petroleum Institute are called API threads.

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thread off the casing length without the male threads. The length of the male threads is called makeup. thread on the casing length including the male threads. Thread on is how casing is sold and is in contrast to thread off. Makeup is the length of the male threads. thread profile gauge an instrument used to measure the amount of thread wear on a tubular thread protector a plastic or steel cap that is screwed onto the threaded ends of pipe, casing, or tubing for thread protection. Thread protectors are removed when the tubulars are screwed together to make a string. thread up to screw a pipe or nut three-cone bit see tricone bit 3-D log a type of wireline well log that displays the seismic or acoustic wave train that was received a short distance from the sonic wave transmitter 3-D seismic seismic that is run, acquired, and processed to yield a three dimensional picture of the subsurface. Three-D seismic is run on land with the source lines perpendicular to the detector lines in a cross or T-spread. Several parallel lines of detectors are used at the same time to obtain CDP coverage over a rectangular area (swath shooting). At sea, parallel profiles that are 300-600 ft apart are run from a single ship with two sets of air guns or twin streamers. A time or horizontal slice can be taken to show the intersection of reflectors with that time plane. ThreeD seismic is in contrast to two-dimensional seismic. Three-D seismic is relatively expensive because it takes considerable computer time to process the enormous amount of data. 3-D vertical seismic profiling three-D vertical seismic profiling is similar to vertical seismic profiling, except it uses a mobile source shooting at many surface positions with borehole geophones. Often, three shot lines at 60 orientation are run through the well. An air gun array, weight drop, or Vibroseis are commonly used as a source. The horizontal coverage is effective to about one-third of the reservoir depth.
3-D VSP

3-D VSP 3-D vertical seismic profiling three-party top lease a lease (top lease) that is taken by a person who is not the current lessee of the acreage. If the current lease (bottom lease) expires, then the top lease becomes effective. A three-party top lease is in contrast to a two-party lease. three-phase an electrical system with three alternating electromotive forces separated by 120, each having the same frequency and wave form. A three-phase generator uses three circuits in the stator windings. The three-phase system is used to power large offshore alternating-current motors with 440 V between phases. A three-phase system is in contrast to a two-phase system. three-phase separator a horizontal or vertical tank that is used to separate oil, gas, and water. An inlet diverter makes the initial separation on the produced fluid. In a vertical separator, the water exits at the bottom, the oil near the middle, and the gas at the top after flowing through a mist extractor. In a horizontal separator, the oil floating on the water flows over a weir and through the oil outlet on the bottom

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three-piece sucker rod through the tanks threshold pressure the lowest differential pressure necessary for moving a wetted phase fluid through a pore in a rock thribble a stand of three joints of pipe or tubing. Thribbles are in contrast to doubles and fourbles. (triple or treble) thribble board a platform, commonly called the monkeyboard, near the top of the derrick where the derrickman stands to stack thribbles (three joints of pipe) when tripping out of a well thrling throttling thrm thermal throat the nozzle size on a roller-cone bit throated mill a long mill similar to a mill shoe that has a tunnel along the mill axis. The cutting material is on the bottom of the mill and inside the throat. A throated mill is used to cut a fishing neck on a fish. throttling the regulation of fluid flow with a valve. thrling throttling effect the cooling of a gas when it is expanded. The throttling effect used to remove hydrates from natural gas. (Joule-Thomson effect) through-casing evaluation logs well logs that are run in a wellbore that has already been cased. The through-casing evaluation logs include compensated neutron, pulsed neutron, gamma-ray, and carbon/ oxygen logs and are used to evaluate potential reservoirs. through-drillpipe logging a logging technique used where swelling shales, ledges, lost circulation zones, or other downhole problems might prevent normal wireline well logging. The drillstring without a bit is lowered into the well until below the problem area. A small-diameter sonde is then run on a wireline through the drillstring. Through-drillpipe logging can include induction, density, compensated neutron, sonic, temperature, gamma ray, and thermal decay logs. through-flowline a method of servicing a well by using a surface pump to circulate pump-down and wireline equipment through the flowline which is either the casing-tubing annulus or tubing. Throughflowline can be used to run, service, and pull gas lifts and jet pumps along with flow and pressure control devices. Through-flowline can cut paraffin, wash sand, break sand bridges, shift sleeves, measure bottomhole conditions, and treat the producing formation. Through-flowline is used for servicing subsea wells, (pumpdowri) TFL through flowline loop a wellhead attachment of curved pipe that connects the flowlines to the tubing in a through-flowline system. TFL loop through flie casing production in a well with enough reservoir pressure so that the oil flows without production tubing through the casing point see to the casing point through the tanks the time at which a participant (carried interest) such as a promoter is free from responsibility for drilling and completion costs on a well. Through the tanks time continues up to the time of stock tank installation. The costs are borne by the other participants such as investors. Another method is to the casing point.

of the separator. The oil level is controlled by a level controller that operates an oil dump valve. In a bucket and weir design, both oil and water flow over the weir and the water then flows over a water weir. The water flows out the water outlet which is also on the bottom. The gas flows through the mist extractor and out the gas outlet on the top. The three-phase separator is in contrast to a two-phase separator used to separate liquid and solution gas. three-piece sucker rod a sucker rod with body and pin or box ends joined with threaded connections three-point method a surveying method for locating a point by backsighting on three known locations or by the intersection of three bearing lines from known locations three-point test a multipoint test on a gas well using three flow rates to determine the open-flow potential

three-spot waterflood

3 spot a type of waterflood pattern used in pilot studies. A producing well is in the center of a circle formed by two injection wells on opposite sides of the circle circumference. three-stage compressor a compressor that uses three chambers to progressively raise the pressure of a gas in three steps

three-stage separation

three-stage separation a system that uses two separators connected to a stock tank on a lease to separate natural gas from crude oil. The first separator is a high-pressure separator, and the second separator is a low-pressure separator. Three-stage separation is used for intermediate gravity oils, for intermediate to high gas/oil ratios, and/or for intermediate wellhead flowing pressures. three-tube pump a pump that uses liquid seals with metal valves to lift liquids containing solids. The threetube pump is not easily damaged by sand and is used for cleanup of stimulated wells. 3-way bit a drag bit with three blades threshold the lowest limit that will cause something to happen threshold force the minimum force at which fracturing begins under the teeth of a rolling cutter bit

through-tubing production logging through-tubing production logging well logs that are run through the tubing after the well is on production. Through-tubing production logging includes a) high-resolution thermometer, b) inflatable packer flowmeter, c) continuous flowmeter, d) full bore flowmeter, e) gradiomanometer, 0 radioactive tracers, g) noise log, h) pulsed neutron or thermal decay log, i) gamma ray-neutron log, j) Carbon/Oxygen ratio log, k) bottomhole pressure gauge and 1) caliper log.
thrust fault

tidal effect

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FAUT

throw

throw 1) the vertical component of displacement on a fault 2) a term sometimes used synonymously with stroke throw a cob in the wheel to stop an engine throw a double to work two consecutive shifts throwing the chain to connect joints of pipe with a spinning chain wrapped several times around one of the pipes. The other end of the chain is pulled from the cathead. throw off the rope to disconnect the bull wheel on a cable-tool rig throw on the rope to connect the bull wheel on a cable-tool rig to pull the tools from the well throw the chain wrapping the spinning chain around pipe or tubing on the floor of a drilling rig as the pipe or tubing is being raised or lowered into the well. The spinning chain is used to screw (making up) and unscrew (breaking out) joints of pipe or tubing. The chain is connected to the cathead. thruster an auxiliary propulsion unit used on a drillship or semisubmersible to maintain station. Thrusters consist of propellers that are electrically driven and are either fixed or controlled pitch. The cyclonic paddle wheel type is the most common. Water jets tend to have low efficiencies. The thrusters are mounted either in tunnels or pods (rudder propellers) and can be on the bow, stern, or sides. The thruster itself can be either fixed or azimuthing (turning). thrust fault a reverse fault with a dip of less than 45 on the fault plane. The hanging wall on a thrust fault is thrust over the foot wall. The thrust fault surface can go through flats in which the fault surface is subparallel to incompetent beds and ramps in which the fault surface rapidly climbs though more competent beds. Drag folds can form on thrust faults. thrust sheet an allochthonous sheet that is formed by the hanging wall of a thrust fault(s)

thru 1) through 2) throughout thumb buster a pipe elevator Thumper a seismic source that drops a weight. The weight is usually 2-3 tons and is dropped from a height of ten feet. THV threshold limit value Thyssen gravimeter or gravity meter an unstable type of gravity meter that uses a mass suspended from a rigid bar supported by a fulcrum and spring to measure gravity. Variations in gravity cause the bar to tilt which is amplified by an auxiliary weight above the fulcrum. The Thyssen gravimeter sensitivity is 0.3 milligals. TI temperature indicator ti tight t| transmission coefficient across interface TIC temperature indicator control
Ca+Mg

CO3+HCO3 Sea Water SO 4

Tickell diagram

Tickel diagram a method of showing the chemical composition of oilfield waters. The reaction values in percent of a) Na and K, b) Ca and Mg, c) CO3 and HCO3, and d) SO4 and Cl are shown as lines radiating out from a central point. The Tickel diagram has the disadvantage of not showing the actual concentrations. TICKT ticket tic-mark a mark on a well log used to scale equal values of some quantity such as travel time tidal correction the correction applied to gravity data to compensate for the attraction of the sun and moon tidal delta a subaqueous delta of sediments, usually sand, that can be located on both the seaward (ebb tide delta) or lagoonal (flood tide delta) side of a tidal inlet or channel through a barrier island. The sediments are deposited by the reversing tides that flow through the tidal inlet or channel. tidal effect the influence of the position of the sun and moon on gravimeter readings. The tidal effect depends on the time of day, latitude, and phase of the moon.

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tidelands time-dependent fluid saturation (50%-70%). Tight sand is designated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to qualify for a higher gas market price. tight spot an area in a tight hole or well where the well is undergauge tight streak a thin layer in a sedimentary rock that has extremely low or no permeability. A tight streak is commonly a shale layer or a well-cemented layer. TEH trip in hole T1HG threshhold of intense hydrocarbon generation

tidelands the offshore portion of the continental shelf claimed by the states. The tidelands are located from the shoreline to 3 naut mi offshore. The states of Florida and Texas own the area from the shore to 3 lge (9 naut mi) offshore. tie 1) a survey measurement that connects a known point with another point 2) a survey measurement that closes a survey by returning to a known point tie a can on her tail to start an engine tie-back casing string casing that extends from a liner to the surface of a well. Tie-back casing string is used to protect damaged or worn casing and may or may not be cemented. tie-back stub liner a liner that extends from the top of a liner to a point uphole in a well but not to the surface. A tie-back stub liner is used to protect damaged or worn casing above an existing liner in the well. tie down an anchor for a guy wire, cable, or brace tie in 1) to relate a new geophysical station to a known station 2) to run seismic through a stratigraphic test well tie line a surveyed line that connects a point to a survey tie point the location to which a survey tie is made to close the survey either on itself or on another survey tier 1) a classification of crude oil production under the windfall profit tax in the United States. Tier 1 is old oil discovered before 1979 and is not from stripper wells. It is taxed the highest. Tier 2 is stripper-well oil. Tier 3 is oil discovered since 1979. 2) a series of contiguous, east-west townships or contiguous, northsouth sections in the United States and Canada land survey system tight 1) data that is confidential 2) very low permeability, ti or TITE tight emulsion an emulsion with small, closetogether droplets of the dispersed phase. A tight emulsion is in contrast to a loose emulsion. tightening up the mechanical or chemical emulsification of free oil back into the drilling mud from which it has broken out and risen tighten up to re-emulsify oil in a drilling mud tight formation a low-permeability rock layer. A tight formation can produce oil or gas, but at a low rate. The low permeability can be due to cementation, compaction, poor sorting, or the fine-grained nature of the rock. tight gas natural gas produced from a formation with low permeability tight hole or well 1) a well that is being drilled or just has been drilled in which the operator is keeping secret as much information about the well as as possible. TH or THOL 2) an undergauge well where logging tools can become stuck tightness of an emulsion the resistance of an emulsion such as water-in-oil to breaking down into separate fluids tight sands a sandstone with little or no permeability (0.001-1 md). A tight sand generally has less than 5 md permeability and a high irreducible water

tilted fault block

tilted fault block a fault block that has been rotated. Tilted fault blocks can form petroleum traps. tilted rig see slant rig tilting stick a walking beam on a pumping unit tiltmeter survey a method for monitoring subsurface reservoir processes by elevation changes on the ground. Bubble level indicators are used in shallow wells. tilt-up jack-up an offshore platform that is towed to the site and tilted into position. The deck is jacked up above sea level and the platform is then anchored by piles in the seafloor. time after bit the time after a formation was drilled and another event such as logging. time at shot point the time required for the seismic impulse generated by a seismic exploration explosion to travel the distance from the explosive charge up to the surface in the shot hole, (uphole time) time branch one of several seismic reflectors off the same curved reflector time break the indication on a seismic record of the instant the shot or charge was detonated, (shot break or instant) TB time constant 1) the time in seconds for a logging tool to change its response by 63% when it moves from one bed to another. TC 2) the time over which a nuclear detector averages it counts time controller see percentage timer time delay the delay in travel time of a seismic impulse from the normal travel time between source to detector due to a) an abnormally low-velocity layer during seismic refraction or b) shothole fatigue, phase shifts during filtering, or other reasons, (time lag) time-dependent fluid a fluid with an apparent viscosity at a fixed shear rate and temperature that changes viscosity with time. A time-dependent fluid

time-depth chart or curve title company can be either a) a thixotropic fluid with decreasing viscosity with time, such as a polymer, or b) a rheopectic fluid with increasing viscosity with time, such as a gypsum and bentonite solution. time-depth chart or curve a plot of seismic reflection time versus reflector depth for vertical seismic energy. A time-depth chart allows the conversion of time to depth on seismic records. time-distance curve or graph a plot of the time required for seismic energy to travel from source or detonation of shot to the geophone (arrival time) versus distance from the shotpoint to the geophone. A time-distance curve is used in noise analysis and identification of refracted waves. time domain the expression of a variable as a function of time. A normal seismic trace is in time domain in contrast to frequency domain. time-domain electromagnetism the transmission of either single or repetitive impulses of electromagnetic energy, usually in the form of a square waveform. The electromagnetic energy is then recorded as a function of time after the transmission has been turned off. Time-domain electromagnetism is used in the electromagnetic method of exploration in which the currents are induced either by a primary alternating magnetic field called the inductive electromagnetic method or with electrodes in the ground called the electromagnetic method. time gate a time interval time gradient the rate of traveltime change with depth in seismic exploration time interval map an isopach or thickness map contoured in units of seismic time between two reflectors. A time interval map is made from unmigrated data to correct for dip. It is synonymous with isochron map in America. time lag see time delay time-lapse logging the repeated use of wireline well logs in the same well over a period of time to quantify changes in reservoir properties time lead a method used in seismic exploration of salt domes. Arrival times are plotted against shot-todetector distances to show the high-velocity section of the travel path.

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time-of-flight ultrasonic flowmeter a type of flowmeter that uses two piezoelectric sensors located 180 apart. Voltage impulses expand and contract a sensor to generate an ultrasonic energy pulse that is recorded on the other sensor. The flow velocity of a fluid between the sensors is proportional to difference in transit times between the upstream and downstream velocities. (TOF ultrasonic flowmeter) time sag a delay on seismic due to low velocities time series a series of data that was collected at regular time intervals time since circulation the time between the end of conditioning a well and when the sonde or tool reached the bottom of the well

3-D seismic

time slices

time-lines on prograding delta

time line a line on a geological cross section representing rocks that were all deposited at the same time. Volcanic ash layers, often altered to bentonite layers, are often used as time lines. Thin limestones, evaporites, and fossil zones can also be used. time marks the marks or lines on a seismic record that record the time elapsed. Time marks are in fractions of a second (usually 0.01 or 0.005 seconds) and are used to determine the travel time for seismic energy, (timing lines)

time slice a horizontal cross section of a 3-D seismic record. A time slice shows the intersection of reflectors with a specific reflection time in milliseconds. The format can be either VD or VA and the peaks and troughs can be displayed in different colors. A flattened time slice is one in which a computer has been used to remove structural dip. A time slice is an example of seismic tomography, (horizontal section) time-temperature index a chart used to analyze the formation of oil and gas from source rocks. A time-temperature index has depth of burial on one axis, time on the other axis, and a temperature grid overlain on the chart. 777 time transgressive a rock unit such as a formation or a surface that was deposited or formed at different times in different areas. A time transgressive rock cuts across time lines. time varient filter two or more different filters with fairly wide band widths that are applied to different zones of refelection times on a seismic section. TVF timing lines see time marks tin hat a well or hole plug tin hat hole cover a metal plug used in a shot hole and covered with dirt before the shot tintometer an old instrument that was used to determine the color of oil TIP Tertiary Incentive Program tip extension an extension to a boom used for lifting. (jib) TIPRO Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association TITE tight Tithonian a global age of geological time that occurred about 145-140 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Jurassic epoch. title company a commercial firm that insures property titles. A title company usually is not involved

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tide in fee simple tongs TOE threaded one end toe tons oil equivalent toe board the low panel or enclosure around a platform that is designed to prevent tools or equipment from being kicked off the platform toe row the inner row of teeth on a cone of a rollercone bit. The heel row is the outer row of teeth, and the middle row is located between the toe and heel row. (nose row)
TOF top of fish

in oil and gas properties as an abstract company is except in California. title in fee simple the mineral rights for a lease held by one owner title opinion a statement made by an attorney setting forth who the parties are that own various interests in a lease. An original title opinion or a supplemental title opinion is often made before a lease is acquired. A complimentary title opinion is made to fill in gaps on a title opinion. A stand-up title opinion is made from a landman's run sheet in contrast to an abstractbased title opinion. Some types of title opinions such as bonus, delay rental, drillsite, and division order title opinions can be made before payments are made. titration a method in which a standard solution is slowly added to another solution to cause a chemical reaction to determine the amount of a substance in that solution. The formation of a precipitate or an indicator that changes color can be used to determine a specific point in the reaction. The volume of the standard solution that has been added up to that point is measured. TIW valve a ball valve used on a workover. The TIW valve can be stabbed into the work string or tubing if the well must be shut in with pipe in the well, (stab-in safety valve) TJ tetrajoule tk tank tkg tankage TL 1) temperature log 2) tracer log tl tools TLC 1) temperature log continuous 2) thin-layer chromatography TLE thread large end TLP 1) tension leg platform 2) tethered leg platform TLV threshold limit value TLWP tension leg well platform TM tracer material maa apparent matrix transit time T-max a source rock maturity indicator that increases with source rock maturity and is obtained from a Rock-Eval. T-max is the yield of pyrolysate and is used where vitrinite is absent. Tmax maximum temperature TMD Thermal Multigate Decay Log TMP tax matters partner TN Temperature, neutron log tn tan TNL tracer, neutron log TNS tight, no show tns tension TO tool open Toarcian a global age of geological time that occurred about 185-180 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Jurassic epoch. TOBE threaded on both ends TOC 1) top of cement 2) total organic carbon TOCP top of cement plug

TOF ultrasonic flowmeter see time of flight ultrasonic flowmeter TOH trip out of hole TOL top of liner tol tolerance tolerance the range of permitted variance from a specific value, tol TOM total organic matter tomography a section. Tomography is derived from the Greek tomos for section, see seismic tomography ton a unit of weight. A ton is 2,000 pounds (short ton) in the United States and Canada and 2,240 pounds (English long ton) in Great Britain. The metric ton or tonne weighs 2,204.6 pounds. A metric ton of oil contains about 6.5 to 8.5 barrels of oil, depending on the specific gravity of the oil. T or t tone one of the distinctive shades ranging from black to white on a remote sensing image tong dies the gripping elements of serrated steel on tongs that are used to make up or break out drillpipe tong jerk line or tong line a line that is wrapped around the cathead on the drawworks of a drilling rig to give leaverage during making up or breaking out pipe and is used for the final tightening or loosening of the pipe, (jerk line) tong line a line that is used to secure the tong for leverage on the floor of a drilling rig. The backup line is connected to the Samson post, whereas the break-out lines is wrapped around the drawworks cathead. tongman the member of a drilling crew works with the tongs tongpull indicator a strain gauge that shows the tension on a tong arm on a drilling rig tongs equipment suspended by a swing on the floor of a drilling rig in the form of a large wrenches used to grasp pipe or casing when making up (tightening) or breaking out (loosening) joints. Two tongs are used. The backup tong is held stationary by a rope or chain. The torque tong is pulled by a rope or chain around a cathead. Power tongs can combine both the backup and torque tongs into a single unit and eliminate spinning lines. They tighten to a specific torque and are operated by air or hydraulics. When coming out of the well, the lead tong acts as the torque tong and the makeup tong acts as the backup tong. When going in the hole, the makeup tong acts as the torque tong and the lead tong acts as the backup tong. Tongs range from 200-750 lbs in weight and cover a range of pipe sizes by changing the lug jaws, (spanners)

tong space top hold-down tong space the section of pipe or tool where the tongs on a drilling rig fit tong torque indicator an instrument that measures the torque on the tongs of a drilling rig. The element is attached to either the tong handle or on the deadline or snubline. tongue the dart on a bailer ton-mile a unit used to measure the service of a drilling line. A ton mile is equivalent to lifting one ton a distance of one mile. tonne a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for mass. One tonne is equal to 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.6 lbs. A tonne of average crude oil is the equivalent of 7.33 bbl, whereas a tonne of average light oil is 7.6 bbl or more, and a tonne of average heavy oil is 6.8 bbl or less, t tons oil equivalent a unit used to evaluate work or calorific value of energy sources by comparing it to the energy in one tonne of crude oil. One Mcf of natural gas has 0.02 tons oil equivalent. TOE tool an implement or instrument that is used to do work or make a measurement. Downhole tools are lowered into a well on a wireline or on a work string. A logging tool or sonde is used to make a wireline well log. tl tool azimuth angle the horizontal angle between north and the tool reference axis tool dresser or toolie 1) a person who puts a new cutting edge on a cable-tool bit 2) a driller's assistant tool face the portion of a deflection tool that determines the direction of the deflection. Tool face is defined by a scribe line on a bent sub and by the direction of the largest nozzle on a jet deflecting bit. tool face angle the angle between the orientation of a bent portion of a directional drilling tool and vertical. The tool face angle is measured in a plane that is perpendicular to the well. The tool face angle is the direction that the bent section of a sub is pointing. tool high-side angle the vertical angle between the tool reference axis and a line perpendicular to the hole axis tool house an enclosure that stores tools when not being used on a drilling rig. The tool house is where the driller keeps the drilling records on a shelf called the knowledge box. tool joint a short metal cylinder that is attached to the end of a tubular such as drillpipe or casing by either flash weld or inertial weld and is used to couple the tubular with another tubular. A tool joint is threaded either internally (box end) or externally (pin end). The tool joints used on casing on a cement job are called baffle, float, and differential or automatic fill-up collars, (coupling or collar) tool joint leak detector a testing device that puts hydraulic pressure on a tool joint on a drillstring before it is lowered into a well to detect leaks tool mark an impact mark of an object being carried by a current of water on a muddy bottom. The tool mark is often preserved as a cast in overlying sandstone and will be elongated in the direction of the current. A tool mark is a type of sole mark.

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tool pusher or toolpusher a drilling company employee who is in charge of drilling operations at the drillsite. The toolpusher usually lives at the drill site and supervises the crews and operations. The toolpusher often has the authority to spend money and keeps purchase and accident records. The drillers are under the toolpusher who is under the production superintendent. The toolpusher is sometimes called the rig manager or superintendent, (drillingforeman) Toolpusher a method used to push a sonde into a deviated or bad hole using drillpipe and a sideentry sub. The system has a dual induction laterolog, compensated density, gamma ray, compensated neutron, and directional survey logs. tool shiner a tool dresser tooth the projection that is cut or milled out of a metal cone on a milled-teeth or steel tooth rollercone bit. The top of the tooth is the tooth crest and the lower part between two teeth is the tooth root. The outer row of teeth on the cone is the heel row, the nose or toe row is the inner row, and the middle or intermediate row of teeth is located between. The teeth are hard faced on one side with tungsten carbide for self sharpening. Long, slender and widely-spaced teeth are used for soft formations, whereas short, heavier, closely-spaced teeth are used for harder formations. Teeth interfit is the fitting of the teeth from one cone into the teeth roots of another cone. Teeth interfitting aids in cleaning the teeth along with the jetting action of the drilling fluid circulating out of the nozzles. TOP 1) testing on pump 2) take-or-pay top 1) the maximum amount of petroleum that is permitted to be produced from a well in a certain time (allowable) by a government regulatory agency for a specific reservoir 2) the upper level of cement in a well as determined by a temperature survey. Tp top a tank out to fill a storage tank to the top top connection the fitting on the top of a Christmas tree through which completion or workover tools can be run in the tubing top dead center the location of a piston at the highest part of the cylinder in an engine during a stroke. Top dead center is in contrast to bottom dead center. TDC top dressing crude oil put in a well to defraud potential investors top drive 1) a power swivel that eliminates the rotary table and kelly. The large, geared, electric motor generates about 1,000 hp and moves up and down rails while rotating the drillstring below it. The advantage of the top drive is that the well can be drilled three joints deep before another connection of three joints must be added to the drillstring. This saves rig time and is used where drilling operations are expensive. The driller also has the ability to circulate and rotate while tripping in and out to prevent wall sticking. 2) a drilling rig with a top drive motor top eater subsurface water from the pores of a separate reservoir overlying a gas and oil reservoir topg topping top hold-down a sucker-rod pump anchor located at the top of the working barrel

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top kill torque gauge top sample a sample taken 6 in. below the liquid surface

top kill to pump heavier drilling mud into the kill line and annulus of a well after a kick top lease 1) an oil and gas lease on acreage that currently has a valid lease called the bottom lease. When the bottom lease expires, the top lease becomes effective. A two-party top lease occurs when the lessee of the top and bottom lease are the same. When the top and bottom lessees are different, it is called a three-party top lease, (future interest lease) 2) the act of obtaining the top lease topo topography topographer a person on a seismic crew who is responsible for making an accurate theodolite survey. The topographer has one or two assistants.

topset beds

topographic map

topographic map a map that uses contour lines to show the elevation of the land surface. The difference in elevations between two adjacent contours is called the contour interval. Topographic maps often show cultural and physical features and are used as base maps, topo map topo map topographic map top out to fill a tank to its capacity topped crude a crude oil with the lighter ends distilled out in a topping plant topping the tanks out the easy way to fill tanks with crude oil by running them over

top plug

top plug a wiper plug that is pumped down the casing after cement slurry during a cement job. A top plug is solid in contrast to the bottom plug and is forced down the casing by the displacement fluid, which is usually drilling mud, until it bumps the bottom plug on the float collar. tops 1) the subsurface elevations of rock layers 2) the locations of the tops of rock layers on a well log

topset horizontal near-surface, sedimentary rock beds deposited on a delta. Foreset and bottomset beds are also deposited in a delta. topside facilities the equipment on a production platform that is located above the splash zone topworks the section of a motor valve that houses the mechanism used to open and close the valve top zone allowable the maximum allowable or amount of gas and/or oil that a government regulatory agency permits to be produced per unit time from a specific reservoir. The top zone allowable is usually based on the depth of the reservoir measured with a depth yardstick, but exceptions can be granted. TZA TOR take-or-release torn threads pipe or fitting threads that are ragged torpedo 1) a wireline explosive device that is lowered into a well and exploded for explosive fracturing and to clean the well of paraffin and sediments. The first torpedoes were made of tin with a gunpowder primer and detonated with a percussion cap and or an iron weight lowered on a wireline. Colonel EA Roberts patented the Roberts' torpedo in 1865. Torpedo were later filled with nitroglycerine or blasting gelatin. Several torpedoes can be stacked on top of each other in the well. 2) a quick connecting and disconnecting union for electrical survey conductors torque the effectiveness of a rotating or twisting force. Torque is a product of the force times the distance or lever arm length between the force and the axis of rotation. Torque is usually measured in units of foot-pounds (ft-lbs). T torque converter hydraulic equipment that is used to transmit power between prime movers and driven equipment. A torque converter smooths out the power and eliminates pulses. The torque converter can multiply engine torque with increasing loads and decreasing speeds. torque factor the rotary horsepower (HPg) divided by the rotary speed in rpm (N) on a drilling rig. TF or F torque gauge an instrument on a chain- or shaftdriven rotary table that measures twisting forces. The torque gauge is used to prevent twist-off of pipe. The torque is read from a rotatable dial that is used to zero out friction on the drillpipe.

torque indicator total life torque indicator an instrument that measures and records torque or twisting force on a drill or casing string as it is being made up torque tube the power transmission equipment that connects the engines on the lower level of a splitlevel drilling rig with the rotary table on the upper level torr the international unit of vacuum measurement. One standard atmosphere is equal to 760 torrs. torrens system the title registration system that is used in some states torsion the state of stress in an object caused by twisting or two opposite force couples acting in different but parallel planes about an axis torsion balance an instrument that is used to measure gravity. A torsion balance consists of a weight on a spring coil. Gravity, and therefore the torque exerted on the spring coil, is affected by the density and depth of the subsurface rocks. Gravity surveys on the surface of the earth can often determine the location of subsurface structures and are used in petroleum exploration. The torsion balance is a delicate and older device that has been replaced by the modern gravity meter or gravimeter. TORT tearing out rotary tools tort a private injury or wrong tortional strength the maximum twisting force that an object such as drillpipe can bear before failure. Tortional strength is measured in foot-pounds. Tortonian a global age of geological time that occurred about 10.8-6.7 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Miocene epoch. tortuosity a measure of the crookedness of interconnected pores in a rock. Tortuosity is expressed as a ratio of the distance between two points in the rock by way of the connected pores and by a straight line, a or T TOT through out test
tot total

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total depth

true vertical depth

total depth

total alkalinity the sum of all alkaline ions such as carbonates, bicarbonates, and hydroxide in a water solution total calculated volume the sum of measured volume of crude oil, sediment, and water (total observed volume) corrected to standard temperature and pressure total calendar allowable the scheduled allowable, the amount of petroleum that is permitted to be produced from a well, leasehold, or field per unit time by a government regulatory agency, times the proration factor. The proration factor is a decimal from 1.0 to 0.0 that is determined on a scheduled basis by the government regulatory agency in response to market supply and demand for petroleum. total curvature the three-dimensional curvature of a well. Total curvature is typically expressed in degrees per 100 ft (7100 ft) and is called the dogleg or dogleg angle on directional survey calculations. total departure the minimum distance from a vertical wellbore to each station in a deviated well total depth the length of a well measured from the surface to the bottom of the well by a wireline. In

most countries of the world, well depths are measured from the top of the kelly bushing (KB) but total depth is also sometimes measured from the drill floor (DF), rotary table (RT), or ground level (GL). Driller's total depth is made by measuring the length of stands of pipe either in tension or compression. Total depth is similar to logged and measured depth in contrast to true vertical depth and authorized depth. TD or td total dynamic head the pressure that is required to be produced by a pump when the pump is pumping at the desired rate. Total dynamic pressure is the difference between the head required at the pump discharge to deliver the flow to the final destination and any pressure that occurs at the pump intake. TDH total formation volume factor the volume of crude oil at a specified lower pressure plus the volume of the free gas that evolves at the lower pressure times the formation volume factor of the gas in units of reservoir barrels per square cubic feet (bbl/SCF). The units of total formation volume factor are reservoir barrels per stock tank barrel (bbl/STB). (two-phase formation volume factor) B, total gas/oil ratio the sum of incremental gas volumes that are separated from produced crude oil by flashing processes during treating per unit volume of oil. The total gas/oil ratio is the total gas originally in solution in the reservoir per unit volume of oil. The ratio is usually expressed in square cubic feet per barrel (SCF/bbl) of residual oil at 60 F. (initial, solution gas/oil ratio) total hardness the sum of all multivalent cation concentrations in a solution. Total hardness is often approximately equal to the sum of calcium and magnesium ions and is expressed in CaCO3 equivalents. TH total head the velocity head plus the pressure head plus the elevation head of a fluid total intensity both the vertical and horizontal components of the earth's magnetic field total lift the working submergence plus the working fluid level

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total observed volume trace analysis tower bird a derrickman tower hand the senior rigman of a drilling crew who climbs the derrick to stand on the monkey or derrick board to help latch or unlatch the elevators to stack drillpipe during trips. The tower hand also maintains the machinery and is second in charge of the crew on that tour, (derrick man, derrickman, or monkey) town gas methane gas formed by the heating of coal. Town gas has a low heat (Btu) content, (coal gas) town lot development unrestricted, dense well spacing in an area townmaster an employee of the drilling contractor or a hired specialist that is in charge of an offshore drilling rig as it is being moved by towing vessels township a surveyed square of land 6 mi on a side that is a unit of measurement in United States and Canada land surveys. The township is identified by the number of townships north or south of a base line and east and west of a meridian. Township T4N R4E is located in the fourth tier of townships north of the baseline and the fourth column of townships east of the meridian. Townships are divided into 36 sections of 1 mi2 each (640 ac). twp or TWP township line east-west lines that are 6 mi apart used in land subdivision in the United States and Canada. Township lines are numbered north and south of a base line starting with one. TP or T.P. 1) tubing pressure 2) turning point Tp top TPAY, T/pay, or T/P top of pay TPC tubing pressure closed Tp,. pseudocritical temperature TPF 1) tubing pressure flowing 2) threaded pipe flange TPG magnetic taping ^ electromagnetic-wave traveltime TPLG 1) tester plugged 2) tool plugged tpma electromagnetic-wave traveltime in rock-matrix Tpr pseudoreduced temperature TPSI tubing pressure shut in t^ electromagnetic-wave traveltime in water TR or tr tract Tr or tr trace Tr tremolite TR 1) temperature recorder 2) transport ratio 3) reservoir temperature Tr 1) reduced temperature 2) reservoir temperature 3) pseudoreduced temperature trace 1) the record made by one recording channel such as in seismic. The name trace is derived from earthquake seismograph records, (track) 2) a curve on a well log 3) the intersection of a geological surface with another surface such as a bedding plane or a fault 4) a substance that is detectable but cannot be quantitatively measured. Tr, tr, or TRCE trace analysis a computation of correct seismic reflection times for all geophones and the plotting

total observed volume the sum of the measured volumes of crude oil, sediment, and water. The volume has not been corrected to standard conditions. total porosity the volume of all spaces (pores), both interconnected and isolated, divided by the total volume of the rock and expressed as a percentage. Total porosity is in contrast to effective porosity and is usually larger, (absolute porosity) totco a downhole survey tool that is lowered through the drillstring and punches a hole in a compass card when it lands on the bit to show the angle and direction of the bit inclination at that instant to the casing point the time that a participant -(carried interest), such as a promoter, is free of drilling costs on a well. The costs are borne by the other participants such as the investors. To the casing point is up to the time of installation of the casing in the well. Another method is through the tanks, (through the casing point) to the tanks see through the tanks toughness the resistance of a substance such as diamonds to breakage by shock tour shift on a drilling rig. The tours on a land rig are eight hours long and include the graveyard or morning (12:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M.), day (8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.), and evening (4:00 P.M. to 12:00 A.M.) tours. In remote areas or offshore, the tour is twelve hours long. On an offshore rig, the tours are often from 11:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M. to 11:00 A.M. to give each tour some daylight hours. Tour is pronounced as if it were spelled "tower." (trick) Tournasian a global age of geological time that started about 365 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Carboniferous age. tourpusher an employee of the drilling contractor who is an experienced driller and works under the senior toolpusher on an offshore drilling rig. The tourpusher usually works the 8:00 P.M. to 8:00 A.M. shift, (junior toolpusher or nightpusher) tour report an abbreviated record of the drilling operations and progress during a tour or shift on a drilling rig. The tour report is similar to a daily drilling report and is used by the tool pusher to make that report. The tour report includes geological and mechanical information such as formations encountered, footage drilled, drilling mud tests, oil and gas shows, and equipment breakdowns along with a drilling time log. The report also includes the names of crew members, hours worked, list of pipe and downhole equipment used, ton-miles of drilling line use and general maintenance and repair. The report is signed by the driller, tool pusher, and company representative, and one copy is kept on the rig. (driller's or drilling report or log) tow barge a wide barge that is used to transport jackets and modules offshore, (deck or flotation barge) tower 1) a type of offshore jacket platform that is supported by a few large-diameter legs. A tower can be floated using buoyancy chambers into position horizontally, tilted, and sunk by controlled flooding into position. The tower may or may not be secured by pilings to the seafloor. (self-floater platform) 2) a vertical vessel

trace fossil transform fault of the reflection times in their accurate position with reference to each other and the seismic source trace fossil the track, burrow, boring, or trail of an ancient animal in a sedimentary rock, (ichnofossil) trace line a small pipeline in a bundle of mud or water lines that has been covered with insulation. Steam is pumped through the trace line to keep the pipes from freezing. tracer a dye or radioactive substance that can be injected into a subsurface reservoir and detected in adjacent wells to trace reservoir fluid movement during a tracer test. A tracer is also used to estimate lag time in a well being drilled Corn, glass, carbide, lentil, or rice is dropped into the well, and their return is timed. A radioactive tracer is used in a survey to determine vertical flow in a well by travel time between stationary gamma ray detectors. The radioactive tracer method is usually confined to injection wells. Radioactive tracers are also used to locate lost circulation zones. tracer log or survey the injection of a radioactive gamma ray source into a well to monitor its movement and locate cement channeling or evaluate the effect of a secondary cement job. Radioactive sand tracers are used for hydraulic fracturing and gravel packing. TL tracer test the injection of small amounts of an easily detected material into a reservoir through injection wells and its detection at producing wells to determine reservoir flow patterns and rates. The tracer test is used in cyclic injection to determine oil saturation. The tracer is often radioactive.

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tract land that is available for oil and gas leasing or that is leased. A tract can be described as wildcat, drainage, or development. TRor tr tract factor a number that is computed to determine the amount of royalty an interest owner will receive in a pooled unit. The tract factor is defined in the pooling clause of the lease. As stated in the lease, the tract factor is the lessor's royalty times the ratio of the lease tract area to the entire pooled unit area. traction load the coarse sediments that are rolled or bounced along a sediment-water interface such as the bed of a stream by a current of water, (bedload) trade service see geophysical library train a series of successive events trans 1) transmission 2) transfer transceiver a device that can both transmit and receive energy transcribe to convert information from one form to another transcurrent fault a large strike-slip fault with a steep fault plane that is confined to the crust of the earth transducer a device that is powered by one system in order to power a different type of system. A transducer converts one type of energy into another. transfer bottle a container, usually made of stainless steel or aluminum, that is used to transport a sample of fluids obtained from a drillstem test for analysis to a laboratory transfer prover a meter that is used to test and calibrate a positive displacement gas meter or turbine gas meter that is in service. The transfer prover has been calibrated against another standard. It is connected in series with the line meter to be calibrated, and its reading is compared to the meter in service. The transfer prover measures the true volume of the gas, and a meter factor is determined. A master meter uses the same process on a positivedisplacement liquid meter or turbine liquid meter. Other types of meter provers include volumetric and displacement-type provers. transform to convert one form of information into another transformation the systematic numerical change of a variable transformed clay an authigenic type of clay mineral that forms from the alteration of a preexisting mineral in a sedimentary rock. Examples of clay transformation include the alteration of biotite to kaolinite and feldspar to kaolinite. transformer an electric device that a) increases voltage and decreases amperage or b) deceases voltage and increases amperage transform fault a large strike-slip fault oriented perpendicular to a midocean ridge. A transform fault cuts the lithosphere as a plate boundary. A transform fault is caused by differential spreading rates along the crest of the midocean ridge. The apparent lateral displacement on a transform fault is opposite that of the actual displacement.

WELL LOG
TRACK 1 TRACK 2

tracks

track 1) one vertical column containing a graph on a well log. Track 1 is located to the left on the depth strip on a well log, and Track 2 is located to the right. Sometimes a third track (Track 3) is located to the far right. 2) the record made by one recording channel such as in seismic, {trace) 3) a section on digital magnetic tape that records bits of information. Several magnetic heads can record several bits of information at the same time on the same tape. The magnetic tape used to record seismic data often has 7, 9, or 21 tracks and is called 7-track, 9-track, and 21-track tape, (level)

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transform margin transparency transit traverse a survey made with a metal tape to measure distances and a transit or theodolite to measure angles transition zone 1) the area in a formation behind the wellbore in which mud filtrate and formation fluids are mixed. The transition zone is located between the flushed and uninvaded zones and is part of the invaded zone, (annulus zone) 2) the area between a normal and an abnormal high-pressure zone 3) the zone in a petroleum reservoir in which large saturation changes occur in a short vertical distance. The water saturation in a reservoir ranges from 10096 water to irreducible water saturation for an oil/water contact and from 100% liquid to irreducible water saturation for a gas/oil contact. The transition zone is located between the saturation and pendular zone, (funicular zone) 4) the part of the drillstring between the drill collars and the drillpipe transit time the sound velocity of a rock layer measured on a sonic or acoustical-velocity log. Transit time is measured in microseconds per foot (jtsec/ft) and varies with the lithology, porosity, and fluid content of the rock layer, (t or bt) transit-time integration the integration over depth of interval transit times off a sonic log to obtain a total transit time. 777 transl translucent translational fault a fault in rocks with displacement but no rotation translucent the property of a substance such as a mineral to transmit light but not an image. The mineral is neither transparent nor opaque, transl or trnsl transmissibility or transmissivity the product of permeability and producing zone thickness. Transmissibility is an index of producibility for a reservoir transmissibility coefficient the flow rate of water in gallons per day through an area of a subsurface aquifer that is 1 ft wide and equal in height to the thickness of the aquifer while under a unit hydraulic gradient, (coefficient of transmissibility) transmission a device that uses gears, pulleys, chains, shafts, or other mechanisms to transfer power from a prime mover to a driven machine, trans transmission charge the price that a pipeline charges, usually in dollars per million British thermal units ($/MMBtu), to transport gas transmission line 1) a large-diameter pipeline that connects an oil or gas field with a refinery or transportation terminal, (main or trunk line) 2) the cable that connects the eccentric on a central power unit to the pumping units. The transmission line is kept 10-15 ft off the ground by rockers, (jack line) transmission loss the difference between output and input horsepower. Transmission loss is often expressed as a percentage of input horsepower. transmitter a transducer that emits energy transmitter current the high-frequency signal that is generated by an induction tool in a well transparency the ability of an offshore structure to pass rather than absorb wave forces. Transparency is related to the amount of exposed surface on the structure.

transform margin the boundary between two lithospheric plates that is characterized by shear. A transform margin is in contrast to a divergent or convergent margin. transgression the sea's advance onto the land. A transgression could be caused either by an absolute rise in sea level (eustatic) or by subsidence of the land. An erosional transgression is caused by erosion of the shoreline, (marine on lap)

LAND

SEA LEVEL

transgression

transgressive sediments deposited by seas that were advancing onto the land. Transgressive sediments have a characteristic fining upward sequence and usually display an onlap pattern. transient an event of short duration. In electricity, transient is a repetitive or nonrepetitive electric current or voltage pulse. A pressure pulse is transient. transient decline the natural production decline due to the expansion of gas, oil, and water in a well's drainage region that has a continuously expanding radius. Transient decline is in contrast to depletion decline, (infinite-acting decline) transient pressure test or analysis the measurement of the effects on fluid production or injection rates on pressures. Types of transient pressure tests include a) pressure buildup, b) pressure drawdown, c) multiple rate, d) injection buildup or falloff, e) multiple well interference, and f) drillstem. Multiple well interference tests include the alteration of the production or injection rate in a well and measurement of the effects on an observation well. The long-term effects are measured in interference testing and the short-term effect in pulse testing. transient state a flow regime in a producing well in which the well has sensed one physical boundary in the reservoir but not the others. The transient state occurs after the infinite-acting state and before the pseudosteady state. transistor an electronic device that is used as a switch in computers and an amplifier in radios. A transistor consists of a thin layer of semiconductor (a base) sandwiched between two layers of opposing types of semiconductors called the emitter and the collector. TRANSIT a marine naviagation system that uses a satellite that broadcasts two stable frequencies with a time signal and orbit location data. (Navy Navigation
Satellite System)

transit 1) a survey instrument consisting of a telescope mounted on a tripod. A transit is used to measure vertical and horizontal angles. A transit is less accurate but similar to a theodolite. 2) the movement of an offshore drilling rig from one location to another, (rig-move) transite pipe a composition tubular designed for corrosive liquids transit line a straight line between two transit stations

transponder traverse survey transponder a device designed to emit a signal either at regular periods or upon receiving another signal transportable gas natural gas that received the minimal processing in the field for transport through a pipeline to a final processing plant. The processing can involve the removal of water, hydrogen sulfide, and condensate. transport ratio the ratio of the velocity of well cuttings (ycu) to mud velocity (Vm) in the annulus of a well. TB

535

Wind

transverse dune

transverse dune an asymmetrical sand dune oriented perpendicular to the prevailing wind. transverse fault a fault in rocks that trends oblique to the structural trend of the area transverse thruster a marine propulsion system that consists of a propeller mounted in a tunnel on the side of a drillship or semisubmersible near the bow or stern. A transverse thruster is used to keep the vessel on station. Bow navigators are located near the bow, whereas the stern thrusters are located near the stern. transverse wave see shear wave transversing a surveying method in which the survey rod and transit alternately leapfrog over each other. The transit is backsighted to the survey rod at the turning point. trap 1) a subsurface configuration of reservoir rock and cap rock or seal that has the potential to concentrate petroleum in the pores of a reservoir rock. A trap is a geological feature of a reservoir rock that restricts the flow of fluids. A trap can contain one or more reservoirs. Types of petroleum traps are structural, stratigraphic, and combination. 2) a gas sampling device used in mud logging. The gas trap is located on the possum belly of the shale shaker or in the sluice box on the flow diversion line. Mechanical agitation is the preferred method to separate the gas from the mud. 3) see separator trap-door block a block formed by the intersection of two faults with the most uplift at the intersection of the faults trap-door mechanism the formation of half grabens traveling-barrel insert pump a type of downhole pump for oil wells that is run and pulled on the rod string. The pump has a traveling barrel with a standing sucker-rod valve that remains stationary. The suckerrod string causes a traveling barrel to rise and fall to pump the oil. A traveling-barrel insert pump is in contrast to a stationary-barrel insert pump and to tubing and casing pumps.

traveling block a metal assembly which houses parallel inline sheaves on a shaft with bearings which are lubricated with a grease system. It is suspended in a derrick or mast with wire rope from the crown block. The traveling block is also used to raise and lower equipment in the well and moves up and down in the mast or derrick. The traveling block is used to hang tools and equipment such as elevators, bails, and rod hooks. The traveling block is designed with a low center of gravity to prevent tipping. On a drilling rig, the traveling block is used to run or pull strings of drillpipe and casing and is controlled from the driller's console. The traveling block is in contrast to the crown block, which is stationary at the top of the derrick. On a workover rig, the traveling block is used to hold the power swivel and to run drillpipe or casing. On a pulling unit, it is used to run tubing or rods in or out of the well. The traveling block is sized for the maximum safe working load in tons suspended from it (hook block or moveable block) traveling-block bumper a rubber cushion located on top of the traveling block to prevent damage in a collision with the crown block traveling-block compensator a type of motion compensator used on a semisubmersible or drillship. The traveling-block compensator is a cylinder filled with compression fluid from a reservoir and a piston that is attached to the traveling block that moves up and down vertical rails. The piston stroke is 20-25 ft.
DOWN HOLE PUMP
DOWN UP

OE;

traveling valves

traveling valve a ball-and-seat gate in the plunger of a downhole sucker-rod oil pump that allows fluids to flow in only one direction (upward). The traveling valve rises and falls with the sucker-rod string to pump the oil. A traveling valve is in contrast to a stationary valve. TV traveltime 1) the time on a seismic record between the time break and an event 2) the time required for seismic energy to travel from source to detector traveltime curve a plot of the time required for seismic energy to go from the source to the detector versus distance, (time-distance curve or graph) traverse a series of connected seismic profiles traverse survey a survey line or connected survey lines joined end to end. The traverse consists of

536

traverse well trend surface analysis

measured straight lines and angles connecting surveyed points. traverse well a well drilled through the subsurface of a property. A traverse well neither starts on the surface of the property nor bottoms out under the property. travertine a white, tan, or cream-colored limestone deposited from ground water or hot springs. Travertine is often hard, dense, finely crystalline, well layered with small, irregular holes, and colored by iron oxides. tray 1) a flat receptacle that holds a liquid and lies horizontally across a sheave on a traveling or crown block 2) the receptacle or bubble-cap tray that holds the absorbent such as glycol in a bubble tower TRC temperature recorder control TRCE trace TRD data transmission tread diameter the diameter of a sheave measured from the bottom of the groove to the bottom of the groove treasury growth rate the sum of the discounted cash flows until payout plus the undiscounted, unappreciated value of cash flow after payout. TW treasury worth index the treasury growth rate divided by the amount of the investment treater 1) a vessel used on a lease to separate an oil and water emulsion using heat from a fire tube, chemicals called emulsion breakers or demulsifiers, and/or electrostatics. A vertical or horizontal heatertreater uses both heat and chemicals. A horizontal electrostatic treater uses a high-voltage electric grid. The vertical treater is 4-12 ft in diameter and 2040 ft tall. It is usually mounted on a skirt and flat, cement base and is not insulated. The horizontal treater is 10-20 ft in diameter and 30-50 ft long. It is heavily insulated with glass wool and mounted on legs. The horizontal treater has a longer retention time than the vertical treater. trtr 2) the person in charge of a hydraulic frac job. The treater monitors the injection rate and charts. treating the use of gravity, heating, mechanical means, and/or chemicals to separate oil, water, and gas from wells. TRT, trt, or trtg treating packer a packer used to isolate an interval in a well for a high pressure treating fluid or cement slurry. Three types of retrievable treating packers are a) hook-wall, b) tension, and c) compression. A treating packer can be used in conjunction with another packer (commonly a1 retrievable bridge plug) to isolate an interval which is above another zone. treating plant an installation that removes basic sediment and water from oil. The process includes both gravity settling, chemicals, and heating the oil to aid separation which can include a steaming plant. treble see thribble tree surface completion equipment over a well that flows to the surface under its own pressure that is used to control the flow. The tree consists of a casinghead housing, casing and tubing head spools, and production valves and chokes. Trees vary in construction, but all have at least one master valve to control the flow of the well. On the top is a swab

tree (Kerr-McGee)

valve and a pressure gauge. To the side of the flow cross or tee is the flowline valve. Most trees are singlewing but some are double-wing when the well is a dual completion. Most trees are machined out of a solid block of metal (block tree), whereas some are assembled with individual valves (loose-valve tree). The tree has a hollow passageway that connects to the top of the tubing in the well. Flowing wells that use trees include all gas wells and, less commonly, oil wells especially early in the development of the field. On the seafloor, they can be either wet-trees or dry-trees. (Christmas or production tree) tree cap a cover that protects and seals the vertical components of a subsea Christmas tree and acts as a hydraulic control-line connector. The tree cap latches onto the tree mandrel and is easily retrieved. tree-running tool a tool used to run and retrieve a subsea tree and the tree cap as units. The tree-running tool is run on a completion riser, drillstring, or an individual tubing string. The tool has a hydraulically activated connector that latches onto the top of the tree cap or the tree manifold. tree saver a sleeve or piping that is put through the valves and spools of a Christmas tree on top of a well to protect the equipment when the well is acidized or fraced. The tree consists of a mandrel with a seal that extends through the tree and seals the top of the tubing string. trellis drainage pattern a stream drainage pattern characterized by long, subparallel streams with tributaries that are oriented at right angles. A trellis drainage pattern forms where dipping, alternating weak and resistant formations are exposed on the surface. The streams are aligned parallel to the strike of the formations. A fault trellis formation forms along parallel faults. Tremadonian a global age of geological time that occurred about 500-490 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Ordovician epoch. Trempealeauan a North American epoch of geological time that ended 500 m. y. ago. It is part of the Cambrian period. trench basin a basin formed by an ocean trench located oceanward of an island arc system trend surface analysis a computer analysis of data distributed about an area for the best polynomial surface such as first-degree, second-degree, and third-

trespass to try title triplex hook degree that fits the data. The least-squares method is used to fit the surface to the data. The fractional part of the data that deviates from the polynomial surface is called the residual. trespass to try title the legal action used to resolve a rival claim or quiet title controversy. 777* Tret-O-Lite a chemical demulsifier Tri Triassic triangle fecies map a triangular diagram that shows the percentage of sandstone, limestone, and shale in a rock unit such as a formation triangular coring sidewall coring with saw-type blades that are oriented at 45 to cut triangular cores triangulation a surveying technique that uses a triangle to accurately locate a point at one corner of the triangle. Triangulation uses the angles between two known locations and a point to be located and an accurately measured baseline between the known locations. triangulation net a series of surveyed triangles that interconnect with common legs and apexes. Triassic a period of time 250-200 m. y. ago. It is the earliest period of the Mesozoic Era. The Triassic is subdivided into the Upper Triassic, Middle Triassic, and Lower Triassic global and North American epochs. Tri triaxial borehole seismic survey a method used to determine the orientation of hydraulic fractures in a wellbore. The survey uses a downhole tool with three seismic detectors that record microseismic events during the fracturing process. trick see tour

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trigger bit was used to survey wells before the use of nonmagnetic drill collars. trigger level the number of logs necessary to recognize sedimentary rocks that have apparent porosity on logs but are not porous. These rocks include coal, anhydrite, gypsum, and salt. Tril trilobite trilo trilobite

trilobites

tricone drilling bit

tricone bit a common type of roller-cone drilling bit having three rotating cones with steel teeth (milledteeth) or inserts (button) mounted on bearings on a journal on each of the three legs of the bit. The teeth on the cones intermesh to help clean the teeth of well cuttings. The tricone bit with interlocking teeth was introduced in 1933 to replace the bicone bit. The conventional type has watercourses through the bit body, whereas the jet bit has high-pressure nozzles. (three-cone bit) triethylene glycol a colorless, combustible liquid that is used as a desiccant. TEG trigger bit a drilling bit with a removable center used to run surveying instruments into the well. A

trilobite an extinct marine anthropod that belongs to the class Trilobita in the phylum Arthropoda. Trilobites existed from the Lower Cambrian epoch to the Permian period. Trilobites are good guide fossils for the Cambrian and Ordovician periods, trilo or Tril tri-max bit a drag bit with a cone-shaped body having spiral grooves and diamond-edged tungsten carbide cutters on the bottom and sides trimetric plot a three-dimensional graph with three variables Trip or trip tripoli trip tripping trip pulling out (tripping out) and then putting in (tripping in) drillpipe or tubing in a well, (round trip or roundtrip) trip gas the natural gas that flows into a well during tripping out. The flow can be caused both by the swabbing action of the drillstring being raised in the well and by a decrease in mud height and bottomhole pressure in the well. TG triple see thribble triple completion a single well that is producing from three separate reservoirs with production separated from each reservoir. The production is by either 1) two reservoirs producing up two tubing strings and the third reservoir producing up the tubing-casing annulus or 2) three reservoirs producing up three tubing strings. triple junction in the theory of seafloor spreading, a triple junction is three spreading centers that radiate out from a center. One arm will eventually stop spreading (failed arm), and the other two will continue to spread forming a single rift. triple point the temperature and pressure at which the solid, liquid, and gas phases of a substance can occur in equilibrium triplex hook a hook that is combined as a unit with a traveling block on a drilling rig. The triplex hook has one large safety hook for the swivel bail and two smaller hooks or ears on the sides for the elevator

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triplex pump true fluid on the rig floor, b) a small (25-50 bbl) gravity-fill tank at the level of the bell nipple or c) a large (50200 bbl) pump-fill tank at ground level, (possum belly) trip tank console an instrument on the floor of a drilling rig that indicates the level of drilling mud in the well trip time the time that it takes on a rig to make a round trip of tripping the drillpipe out of the well and then tripping the pipe back into the well. A rule of thumb is 1 hour of trip time for each 1,000 ft of well depth. trk truck TRM thermomagnetic remanent magnetism trnsl translucent trnsp transparent trough 1) the maximum downward travel of a wave. A trough is the opposite of a peak. 2) a fluid bypass. A mud trough is used to bypass a mud tank section. troy a system of weights in which 1 lb troy equals 12 oz, 5,760 gr, or 0.82286 lbs avoirdupois. Twentyfour grains equal one pennyweight, and 20 pennyweights equal 1 oz. TRP treating pressure TRT or trt 1) treat 2) treating 3) treatment 4) treated TRTT testing with treatment trtd treated trtg treating trtr treater

bails. The capacity of the hook is greater than 500 tons. triplex pump a pump that has three pistons and three removable liners. A triplex pump is single acting as the fluid is pumped only on the upward stroke of the piston. Triplex pumps are a common type of mud pump on a drilling rig and have higher rated speeds than the duplex pumps of equal capacity. Triplex pumps on a drilling rig commonly have an input of 275-1700 hp and are rated for maximum fluid working pressure. trip margin the excess of mud density that results in a hydrostatic pressure above the anticipated formation pressure in a well. The trip margin allows for the reduction in effective mud weight caused by the swabbing action of pipe during tripping out. Trip margin is commonly about 0.5 lbm/gal resulting in a 200-500 psi pressure above the formation pressure. tripoli a very fine-grained, porous, siliceous sedimentary rock. Tripoli is white, gray, buff, yellow, pink, or red in color and is used for polishing. Tripoli is thought to have formed from the weathering of chert or siliceous limestone. Trip or trip tripping to pull the drillstring from the well (tripping out) or to lower the drillstring into the well (tripping in). About 20%-40% of rig time is spent tripping. trip tripping in lowering the drillstring into the well. (run in) tripping out raising the drillstring from the well. (pulling out or running back) tripping out wet a drillstring filled with drilling mud during tripping out. Tripping out wet causes drilling mud to splash out on die drilling floor when the drillpipe is broken out or unscrewed. Tripping out wet is caused by plugging on the bottom at the drillstring such as plugged jets on the drill bit. (wet trip)

truck mounted drilling rig

trip tank

trip tank a metal tank on a drilling rig that contains drilling mud and is used to a) keep the hole filled with mud during tripping out, b) to indicate the amount of fluid flowing in and out of the well, and c) to measure the amount of mud. A trip tank gives and receives drilling mud from the annulus as pipe is tripped out and in and has a level indicator to measure the mud volume within + or 1 barrel. The trip tank can be either a) a small gravity-fill tank

truck-mounted rig a small drilling workover rig that is installed on a truck true amplitude section a seismic section with no gain control. A true amplitude section is used to show amplitude variations and evaluate amplitude anomalies. true bearing a compass reading with respect to geographical north. A true bearing is in contrast to a magnetic bearing. true bed thickness the thickness of a bed measured perpendicular to the bed surface in contrast to apparent bed thickness true fluid a fluid in which stress is proportional to shear rate. Water and crude oil are true fluids. A true fluid is in contrast to a non-Newtonian fluid such as drilling mud. (Newtonian or viscous fluid)

true north tubing true north the direction toward the geographic north pole. True north is parallel to lines of longitude and is in contrast to magnetic north which is measured with a compass and moves with time. true resistivity the resistivity of the uncontaminated or uninvaded zone back beyond the wellbore in a formation. Rt true-to-gauge hole a well in which the diameter of the well is the same as the diameter of the bit along the entire length of the well. A true-to-gauge hole is in contrast to an undergauge or overgauge hole, (full-gauge hole)

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total depth

true vertical depth

true vertical depth

true vertical depth the depth of a well measured vertically from the surface to the bottom of a well. True vertical depth is in contrast to the total, measured, and logged depth and driller's total depth that are measured along the course of the well and are usually longer. TVD or Zv true vertical depth log a well log from a deviated or crooked hole in which the depths have been converted to true vertical depth trumpet log a type of microlaterolog in which the guard electrodes are concentric about the current electrode to concentrate the current flow back into the rock in the form of a tube truncate to abruptly terminate truncated rocks that are terminated or cut off, usually by erosion or faulting truncation trap a petroleum trap formed by an unconformity. A reservoir rock is truncated under the unconformity that has a seal lying on it. trunk line a large diameter pipeline that connects an oil or gas field with a refinery, or transportation terminal, (main or transmission line) trustee the party that acts in a fiduciary capacity for another party TS 1) tensile strength 2) teflon steel 3) tray spacing ts static tubing pressure T.S. thin section Ts or Ts surface temperature

t, time for stabilization of a well T/S top of salt T^. temperature, standard conditions TSD or T.S.D. temporary shut down T/sd top of sand TSE thread small end TSE-WLE thread small end-weld large end TSI temporarily shut in TSITC temperature survey indicates top of cement at TSP thermally stable polycrystalline TSP separator temperature T-spread a type of geophone spread used in seismic exploration. The geophones are arranged in a linear array and the shot point is located at a significant distance perpendicular from the midpoint of the line of geophones. (broadside) TST 1) formation evaluation test 2) well testing Tst standard temperature tst test tstd tested tste taste tstg testing TSTM or tstm too small to measure TSTR or tstr tester TT through tubing TTF test to follow TTT 1) total time integrator 2) transit-time integration TTL 1) total time lost 2) two-way time log TTP total target penetration TTS time to surface TTT trespass to try title TTTT turned to test tank To absolute formation temperature Tub or tub 1) tube 2) tubular tube to run tubing in a well tube or tubing bundle a group of tubing joints arranged parallel to each other and fastened together tube wave seismic energy that is propagated through drilling mud in the well. A tube wave is noise on vertical seismic profiling. tubing small-diameter, steel pipe (% to 4V4 in. in diameter) that is suspended in a completed (cased) well. Tubing is defined by range, grade, end finishing, and weight per foot. API Range 1 is 20-24 ft in length and Range 2, the most common, is 28-32 ft. Tubing can have either plain or upset (thickened) ends and can have either threaded or integral joints. It is used on both a Christmas tree and with artificial lift to conduct the produced fluids to the surface. Tubing suspends the pump on the bottom of a pumping oil well, permits placing of treatment fluids and chemicals in the well, and protects the casing from corrosion and thermal stress. Tubing is a landing base for pumps, well monitoring, and evaluation equipment and safety valves, chokes, and plugs. Tubing is removable in contrast to casing. Coiled tubing is used for workovers

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tubing anchor tubing-retrievable mandrel casinghead. The tubinghead seals the annular space between the casing and tubing string while suspending the tubing string in the well. On a low-pressure well, the tubinghead is directly connected to the casing and not the casinghead. tubing job a well workover consisting of pulling and running the tubing string. A well servicing unit is used. tubingless completion a type of gas well completion used in gas wells that produce no liquids. The gas flows up small-diameter casing. A tubingless completion is also used in a geothermal or hot water well. tubing packer a packer set in the tubing-casing annulus near the bottom of a tubing string. The tubing packer helps support the weight of the tubing string and protects the casing above the packer from corrosion by produced fluids. A tubing packer is a type of production packer. tubing perforator a wireline device that uses either a mechanical punch or an explosive-activated punch to perforate tubing. The punch is designed to retract after the perforation is made. tubing plug a retrievable plug that is set in a landing nipple in a tubing string. The tubing plug can retain pressure either above it (a circulating plug), below it, or in both directions. tubing power tongs a wrenchlike device that is used on the floor of a drilling rig to hold tubing when they are made up or broken out tubing pressure the pressure on the fluid in the tubing measured at the top of the well. Tubing pressure can be measured either when the well is flowing or shut in. Shut-in pressure is equal to casing pressure in gas wells with no fluid in the tubing or casing above the perforations. TP tubing pump a type of sucker-rod pump that is run as part of the tubing string. The standing valve is set in a seating nipple. The plunger and traveling valve are run on the sucker-rod string. Tubing pumps can have either a) a common working barrel with a steel barrel connected to the bottom of the tubing string, b) a full-liner working barrel with a single steel tube machined in one piece, or c) a sectional liner consisting of an outside steel jacket with honed liners assembled end to end on the inside of the jacket. The plungers can be a) cup-equipped or soft-packed made of leather, rubber-impregnated canvas or synthetics, b) metal, or c) concentric tubes. Tubing pumps can have either a) a fixed standing valve that is attached to the bottom of the tubing or b) a removable standing valve. The tubing has to be pulled to pull the tubing pump, but the tubing pump has a greater displacement than an insert pump. A tubing pump is in contrast to a rod insert or casing pump. (tubing sucker-rod pump) tubing-retrievable gas lift valve a gas-lift valve mounted on a tubing-retrievable mandrel. A tubingretrievable gas lift valve was the first type of gas-lift valve, and the tubing had to be pulled to retrieve the valve, (conventional gas lift valve) tubing-retrievable mandrel a short tubing joint (pup) with a lug for fitting a conventional gas lift valve, (conventional or standard mandrel)

and for logging deviated wells, (production tubing or tubing string, TBG, Tbg, or tbg tubing anchor a downhole device that is similar to a packer but without a packing element and is attached to a string of tubing and clamps to the casing. A tubing anchor prevents the tubing from rising and falling with the motion of the sucker rods in a pumping well but does not restrict flow in the annulus. A tubing anchor is commonly used in artificial lift wells. tubing bending a problem in gas and flowing oil wells when temperature and pressure changes cause the tubing to corkscrew in a helical pattern tubing board the small platform near the top of a mast on a well servicing unit or workover rig. A member of the crew stands on the tubing board to rack tubing stands in fingers as the tubing is pulled from the well. tubing broach a tool with graduated rings that have diamonds or are case hardened and sharpened. The tubing broach is run down a tubing string to deburr any metal and imperfections in the tubing before a service tool is run. tubing collars or couplings short steel tubulars with internal threads that are used to connect tubing joints tubing conveyed a downhole operation such as wireline well logging or perforating that is run on a coiled tubing string. Tubing conveyed is used in deviated and horizontal holes. tubing-effect factor R divided by (1 - K), in which R is the seat area (Ap) in square inches (in.2) of a pressure valve on a gas lift system, divided by the total effective bellow area (Afc) in square inches. The tubing-effect factor is expressed as a percentage. TEF tubing elevators a device used to grip tubing when it is run in or pulled out of a well. The tubing elevators are hung from the traveling block by bails. The tubing elevators are hinged in the back with a latch in the front so they can close around the tubing. Tubing elevators come in different sizes for different tubing sizes. tubing-end locater a tool with a dog on a spring that is used to accurately locate the end of a tubing string in a well tubing flow production from tubing in a well tubing flow valve the valve on the wing of a Christmas tree. A tubing flow valve is used to open or close flow to the flowline. A tubing flow valve can also be found on the wellhead of a pumping well, (flowline valve) tubing hanger a steel housing containing slips that is located on a wellhead and is used to suspend all or pan of the weight of the production tubing string in the well and provides a pressure seal at the top of the tubing-casing annulus. The tubing hanger is held in place by the weight of the tubing and locking studs or by radial hold-down screws on the top of the tubinghead spool. A tubing hanger is sometimes called a doughnut. tubinghead or tubing head spool a flanged steel fitting made of a body and hanger-packer mechanism (tubing hanger) that is part of the wellhead and is mounted on the top flange of the uppermost

tubing riser turbine tubing riser a vertical pipe used on a subsea wellhead when flowlines are not used. The tubing riser connects the tree to a permanently moored floating vessel on the surface. tubing rollers a long steel tool with a series of rollers on the sides. Tubing rollers are forced down a well and rotated to open and straighten any damaged tubing in the well. tubing safety valve a safety valve used in the tubing string of a well that will shut in the production if a certain pressure is reached tubing slips a device that is installed on the top of the wellhead or blowout preventers and is used to prevent the tubing from falling back into the well when the tubing is being pulled from the well. Two jaws with replaceable inserts grip the tubing. The tubing slips are activated by an air cylinder or hydraulically and are controlled from the driller's console. tubing spider a metal tool on a drilling rig that is used to hold the tubing as it is raised or lowered from a well tubing spool a steel fitting that is flanged to the casinghead of a well and is used to hold the tubing hangers tubing stop a device used in a tubing string that does not restrict flow up the tubing but is designed to arrest any wireline tool that might be dropped down the tubing. Three type of tubing stops are a) collar stops, b) slip-type stops, and c) landing-nipples. tubing stretch the elongation of the tubing string due to cyclic stress during the pumping cycle, e, tubing string see tubing tubing stripper a device that is used to strip oil from tubing being pulled from a well. The tubing stripper is designed to prevent oil waste. tubing sucker-rod pump see tubing pump

541

used. One set, the backup tongs, holds the tubing steady so the other set can rotate the tubing. tubular goods or tubulars any pipe. Tubulars includes drillpipe, casing, tubing, and flowlines. Tub or tub TU DB tracer displacement with dump bailer tuff a volcanic deposit of small particles (less than 4 mm in diameter) of volcanic glass with up to 50% other particles. Tuff is deposited by settling out of
air. TF or tf

tubing swage

tubing swage a tool with a cylindrical body that tapers inward toward the bottom and is used to reopen tubing to its original inner diameter. Tubing swage is run on a wire line and has ports and channels for mud circulation. The operation can be repeated with increasing diameter swages. tubing the well to run production tubing in a well tubing tongs a wrenchlike device that is used to grip and make up or break down strings of tubing on the derrick floor. Two sets of tubing tongs are

tugger line a wire rope that is attached to a hydraulic or pneumatic motor and used for light lifting on a drilling rig tune or tuning constructive wave interference where amplitudes are increased. Tuning seismic energy strengthens the reflectors. Several air guns of different sizes and distances apart and at different delay times are tuned to blend the bubbles to yield one large, flat detonation and partially cancel the bubble effect. tung carb tungsten carbide tungsten carbide an extremely hard alloy (W2C) that is often used as granules for hardfacing drilling equipment, as inserts to form the cutting edges on drill bits, and on mills and shoes. Tungsten carbide has a very high melting point and is sold in 18-in. sticks or rods. Irregular particles of sintered tungsten carbide are alloyed into a bronze matrix on a mill or shoe by a brazing process using oxygen-acetylene equipment, tung carb tungsten carbide bit or insert bit a roller-cone bit made of tungsten carbide inserts that are coldpressed into holes drilled in the cones. The inserts can range in shape from chisel- to round- or hemispherical-shaped depending on the hardness of the rocks drilled. The tungsten carbide bits are used to drill harder rocks than those drilled by a milledteeth or steel-toothed roller-cone bit. turbid flow a density current with suspended sediments. A turbidity current is an example of turbid flow, (suspension flow) turbidite a sedimentary rock deposited from a single turbidity current. A well-developed turbidite will show a characteristic vertical sequence of grain size and structures called a Bouma sequence. Many turbidite deposits are seen as alternating layers of sand and shale with sharp boundaries. Sand, possible of reservoir quality, is often deposited in a turbidite. turbidity 1) the opaqueness or resistance to the passage of light by a fluid due to suspended and colloidal matter 2) the ability of suspended and colloidal matter to cause a fluid to become opaque turbidity current a dense mass of water mixed with suspended sediments that is moving by gravity down a submarine slope. A turbidity current can be divided into a head at the front, a body, and a tail. A turbidite is deposited by a turbidity current coming to rest. turbine a motor that consists of a rotating shaft with propellers or blades that are driven by a fluid. A turbine-type motor consist of a) 25-250 sections of blade-type rotor and stator sections, b) a thrust-bearing section, and c) a drive shaft. The stator deflects the fluid toward the blades which are mounted on the shaft.

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turbine drill twin turning point the location of a transit that is backsighted to a reference station and sighted forward to the next rod station turning to the right to turn clockwise. Turning to the right is usually applied to the rotation of a drillstring. The pipe is screwed together counterclockwise. Turning clockwise prevents the drillstring from unscrewing. turnkey contract a drilling contract for all work and equipment necessary for drilling and completing a specific well at a certain price. The contractor furnishes the rig, crew, and all the equipment to drill, test, and complete the well. The contractor will deliver either a properly completed producer or a properly plugged and abandoned dry hole. The turnkey type of contract usually costs more than a day-rate or footage-rate contract. Sometimes a turnkey contract includes only drilling a well to a specific depth. A turnkey type of contract is used primarily by drilling funds and in developmental drilling. turnkey rate a fixed rate for drilling a well to a certain depth or stage of completion. The drilling contractor provides the rig, crew, contractual services, and specific material and supplies. The operator is responsible for logging, coring, drilling mud, and well equipment. turntable see rotary table turn to the right see turning to the right turnover a reversal of dip in sedimentary rocks along a fault that is opposite in direction than would be caused by drag or friction along the fault plane. Turnover forms rollover anticlines on growth faults. (reverse drag or rollover) Turonian a global age of geological time that occurred about 92-90 m. y. ago. It is part of the Upper Cretaceous epoch. turret mooring a drillship mooring system using a roller-mounted turret on the bottom of the hull in the center of the drillship below the derrick. The anchor lines radiate outward from the turret that contains the winches. A turret mooring allows the drillship to change heading to minimize wave action while staying on station. turtleback a clamp used to join shackle rods. A turtleback has two shells that are connected with a nut and bolt. TV traveling valve TVD 1) true vertical depth 2) total vertical depth TVF 1) time variant filter 2) time-variant filtering T-VOL treating fluid volume TVT 1) borehole televiewer 2) true vertical thickness TW treasury growth rate TWC test-well contribution 24 a pipe wrench with a 24-in. handle twin 1) to drill a well adjacent to an existing well. Twinning is often done when the original well cannot produce due to an engineering problem such as collapsed casing or formation damage or to produce from another horizon that cannot be dually completed or commingled with the original well's production or when there are different ownerships of the two producing reservoirs. 2) a well that is adjacent to an

turbine drill a type of downhole motor that gives rotation and torque to the bit while transmitting the drill-collar weight to the bit. The turbine drill is driven by the circulating drilling fluid that is pumped through the drillstring to drive blade rotors in stators. Downhole motors are used a) to initiate a wellbore kick-off for a directional hole and drill a smoothly curved hole in a buildup or drop-off section, b) to drill with diamond or high-speed insert bits in soft formations, and c) to be combined with measurement while drilling tools for navigational drilling. The downhole motor turns at 40-200 rpms to drive the bit up to 800 rpm. Turbine drills are good for about 300 hours of drilling and are usually obtained on a rental basis. The other type of common downhole motor is a positive displacement motor, (turbodrill) turbine meter a meter that is used to determine the velocity and volume of fluid flow. The axial-flow turbine meter has fluid flow parallel to the rotor axis. The speed of rotation of the propellers on a shaft is proportional to the rate of the flow. The volume can be determined by the number of revolutions of the turbine per time. A turbine meter is available with either mechanical or electrical output and has a high flow range. turbine motor see turbine drill turbine pump a pump that uses rotating blades on a shaft and centrifugal force to move fluids turbodrill see turbine drill turbodrilling rotary drilling with a turbine drill or turbodrill located just above the drill bit. The turbine is driven by circulating drilling mud being pumped down the drillstring. The drillpipe does not rotate, and there is no need for a rotary table. turbolators baffles in a firetube that enhance turbulence to promote more effective heat transfer Turbonpress a hydraulic downhole pump used primarily on geothermal wells

turbulent flow

turbulent flow a type of fluid flow in which the direction of flow changes at each point in the fluid with time. There are eddies and whirls in the fluid. Turbulent flow is characteristic of circulating drilling mud and is in contrast to laminar flow. Turbulent flow has a dimensionless Reynolds number greater than 3,000. turd in your pocket a dirty trick played on you turn a change in the azimuth or direction of a well. A turn is either a right or left turn when observed from the surface. turn around the time between the submittal of data and reception of the computer-processed results turnbuckle a wire fixture with a threaded swivel and two threaded ends. A turnbuckle is used to tighten wires.

twin well type log existing well and has been drilled to about the same producing horizon twin well a well producing from two production zones twister a rotary driller twist-off the mechanical breakage of a drillpipe by excessive torque applied by the rotary table to a drillstring. twst off two-barrel separator see double barrel separator two-cone bit a roller-cone type of drilling bit that has two cones mounted on bearings. The two-cone bit was the original rolling cutter bit introduced in 1909. A two-cone rock bit is used in drilling soft formations that a drag bit could not drill and is made only with milled teeth. The original cones did not mesh, and there was a problem with bit balling during drilling soft shales. The two-cone bit was redesigned in the 1920s to have intermeshing teeth that were self-cleaning. A two-cone bit is in contrast to the more common tricone drilling bit. (bicone bit) two cycle or stroke engine an engine in which the crankshaft turns once as the piston moves from bottom to top and back to bottom dead center to complete a cycle. A two-cycle engine is in contrast to a four-cycle or stroke engine. two-party top lease a lease (top lease) on acreage with a current lease (bottom lease). The lessee for both top and bottom leases are the same. The top lease becomes effective when the bottom lease expires. The two-party top lease is in contrast to a three-party top lease. two-phase an electrical system with two alternating electromotive forces of the same frequency and wave form that are located 90 apart. A two-phase generator has two circuits in the stator windings. The two-phase system is common and is in contrast to the threephase system. two-phase flow the movement of two phases such as natural gas and crude oil or crude oil and water. Phases have distinct properties and sharp boundaries between other phases. two-phase formation volume factor see total formation volume factor two-phase separator a horizontal, vertical, or spherical tank with a metal shell that uses gravity and centrifugal motion to separate produced fluids into gas and liquid, either oil or an emulsion. An inlet diverter is used to make the initial separation. Baffle plates and/or a swirl cylinder aid in the separation. A mist extractor separates liquid from gas on the gas outlet. The gas outlet is located on the top and the liquid outlet on the bottom of the separator. A twophase separator is in contrast to a three-phase separator that separates oil, gas, and water. two-pronged grab a wireline fishing tool that uses two vertical rods with barbs on their inner sides 2 spot a type of waterflood pattern used in pilot studies. The two-spot pattern has one injector well and one producer well. two-stage compressor a compressor that uses two chambers to raise the pressure of a gas in two successive steps

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two-pronged grab

two spot waterflood

two-stage farmout a contract in which a party that exercises the first part of the agreement such as drilling a well or running seismic has the right to a farmout

two-stage separation

two-stage separation a system that uses one separator connected to a stock tank to separate natural gas from crude oil on a lease. Two-stage separation is used on low gravity oils, low gas/oil ratios, and/or low wellhead flowing pressures. two-step pipe threads a double pin pipe connection with threads on two different taper levels. The overall taper is less than a standard pipe connection but the makeup time is the same. two-way travel time the time that it takes seismic energy to travel from the source down to the reflector and be reflected back to a detector on the surface. The time is recorded and is plotted on the vertical axis of a seismic record. One-way travel time can be computed by dividing two-way travel time by two. (reflection time) TWP or twp township TWSTO twisted off twst off wist off TWTM too weak to measure Typ or typ type typ typical type log a wireline well log that has been selected to be most representative of the vertical sequence

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Type 1 sequence boundary T2A the result of subaerial exposure caused by a eustatic fall in sea level that is less than basin subsidence at the depositional-shoreline break. There is a downward shift of coastal onlap landward of the depositionalshoreline break but no stream rejuvenation or downward shift of facies. A Type 2 sequence boundary is defined in seismic or sequence stratigraphy. type well a well that has been cored and is used as the stratigraphic standard for an area or a field. A type well in a field is usually the second well drilled in that field. T-X time-distance curve Tz layer temperature TZA top zone allowable

of sedimentary rocks or stratigraphy of a particular area. There is as little deformation of the rocks as possible. A type log has no or little faulting with lost and double sections. Unconformities can be present, but as little of the section below the unconformity is missing as possible. A type log is used as a standard to compare and identify rocks on other well logs from the area. Type 1 sequence boundary a rock surface that is defined as the result of subaerial exposure caused by a eustatic fall in sea level that exceeds basin subsidence. There is stream rejuvenation and a downward shift of facies. A Type 1 sequence boundary is defined in seismic or sequence stratigraphy. Type 2 sequence boundary a rock surface that is

U un

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u
U 1) group velocity 2 ) volumetric photoelectric crosssection U or U/ upper u 1) flux 2) flow rate/area 3) unburned 4) upper UBHO universal bottomhole orienting sub

U-bolt U-bolt or clamp a clamping device in the shape of a closed U that is used to hold two wires together. The U with threaded ends has a bar fitted across the two ends and is tightened with a nut on each end to bind the wires together. A Crosby clip has the nuts on the same side, whereas a Laughlin, or twin-base clip, has the nuts on opposite sides, (wire-rope clip) Uc underclay Uc units of consistency U/C under construction UDT underwater demolition team UEL upper explosive limit U/G 1) undergauge 2) underground UHF ultrahigh frequency UL 1) Underwriter's Laboratories, Inc. 2) university lands U/L upper and lower u/1 unlimited ullage the space in a storage tank between the liquid surface and the top of the tank, (outage) ullaging to gauge the amount of crude oil by measuring the height of the surface of the oil in the stock tank ULSEL ultralong-spaced electric log Ulsterian a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 405-385 m. y. ago. It is part of the Devonian period.

ult ultimate ultimate net income ratio a ratio of total actual value profit divided by the cumulative maximum negative cash flow on an investment such as drilling and completing a well. UNIR ultimate net profit or ultimate net income the cumulative net cash flow of an investment such as drilling a well. Ultimate net profit is the amount of monies made minus the monies spent, (actual value profit) ultimate recovery the total expected amount of gas and/or oil production from a well, lease, or field under present economic and engineering conditions Ultimate recovery can include only primary production or can also include waterflood and enhanced oil recovery when economically justified. ultimate tensile strength the maximum stress that a sample can sustain prior to necking divided by the cross-sectional area ultrafine solids particles with a diameter between 2-44 it. ultralong-spaced-electric log a log that used ultralong spaced electrodes (75, 150, 600, or 1,200 ft) to detect resistivity anomalies in the vicinity of the wellbore. The log is used to detect large anomalies such as salt domes or to locate drillpipe in wild wells from a relief well. ULSEL ultrasonic a wave frequency above the audible range or higher than 20,000 Hz ultrasonic inspection the examination of welds for discontinuities using pulse echo ultrasonic equipment ultrasonic testing a nondestructive testing method that uses reflected ultrasonic waves to gauge thickness and detect flaws in materials ultraviolet light light waves shorter in wavelength than visible blue-violet waves (3200-4000 A). Crude oils and certain minerals will fluoresce under ultraviolet (UV) light. The fluorescent colors of crude oils range from yellow to green to blue. The aromatic oils are most fluorescent. ultimate strength the maximum stress that a substance can support under given conditions (Uma)a apparent volumetric photoelectric cross section of rock matrix umbilical a flexible cable that connects instruments umbilical hose a flexible rubber hose that connects a compressor with a diver. The compressor pumps a certified breathable output, either air or heliox, to the diver, (dive hose) umbrella a basket that is attached to the tubing in a well and is designed to catch sloughings off the sides of the well, (cave catcher) UMC underwater manifold center UN unclassified well un unit

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unaccrued royalty underream

NONCONFORMITY

ANGULAR UNCONFORMITY
: . .

DISCONFORMITY unconformities

PARACONFORMITY

unaccrued royalty payments (royalty) on production for gas and oil that has not been produced. Unaccrued royalty is in contrast to accrued royalty on production that has occurred. unassociated gas see nonassociated gas uncased well a well without casing, (open hole) Unconf or unconf unconformity unconformity an ancient, buried erosional surface. Some types of unconformities include angular unconformity, disconformity, nonconformity, and paraconformity. Unconf or unconf uncons unconsolidated unconsolidated loose, uncemented sediments. uncons uncontrolled acidizing treatment an acid job in which the acid followed by a displacement fluid is pumped down the casing. Tubing may or may not be present in the well. The technique is fast and inexpensive but does not control where the acid goes and is in contrast to a controlled acidizing treatment. uncontrolled sidetrack the side tracking of a well in which the sidetrack direction is not important and no effort is made to control it. (blind sidetrack) unconventional gas natural gas with a production cost using current technology that is more expensive than the current market value of the gas. Unconventional gas is in contrast to conventional gas. underage the amount of oil and/or gas produced under or less than the amount of the allowable granted by a government regulatory agency. (underproduction) underbalance the condition of a well or drilling fluid when the weight of the drilling fluid exerts a pressure less than formation or fluid pressure in a well. Underbalance is in contrast to overbalance. underbalanced drilling drilling with a mud weight that results in a hydrostatic pressure in the well that is less than formation pressure. Gas will flow out of the formation and into the well. A rotating head is used to prevent the gas and mud from flowing up the rotary. A gas separator is used on the flow line and the gas is flared. Underbalanced drilling has a higher penetration rate than balanced or overbalanced drilling.

underbalanced perforating perforating with downhole pressure less than formation pressure so formation fluids will flow into the well when the casing or liner is perforated to clean the perforation tunnels.
(reverse-pressure perforating)

underclay the fine-grained sediments, usually clay, that lie under a coal seam. Underclay is the soil in which the plants that formed the coal grew. Uc undercut pin a rim that is located near the end of a sucker rod between the rod shoulder and pin thread. The makeup of the rod coupling against the undercut pin puts tensile stress on the pin that increases the pin life. underflow the flow of liquids and solids coming out of the bottom of a hydrocyclone such as a desander or desilter. The overflow takes the more liquid portion out the top of the hydrocyclone. undergauge bit a drilling bit with an outside diameter reduced by abrasion during drilling undergauge hole a wellbore that is narrower than the bit. An undergauge hole is in contrast to a fullgauge or overgauge hole. underground blowout an uncontrolled flow of fluids up a well and into another subsurface formation that has a lower pressure underground circulation the flow of drilling fluids from a well into a low-pressure reservoir underlift/overlift provision a condition in a joint operating agreement between parties. If one of the parties does not produce (underlift) that party's share of production during a period, that party can produce an equal amount of production (overlift) over that party's share of production during a later period. underload a condition in which a pump is working but there is no fluid to flow. An underload can damage an electric submersible centrifugal pump because of the lack of cooling fluid, (pump off) undermigration the insufficient movement of a dipping reflector on a seismic profile by migration because of using too slow a sound velocity underpressured a reservoir having a fluid pressure less than normal hydrostatic pressure underproduction see underage underream a drilling operation to enlarge a

underreamer uniform flux fracture 547 wellbore using an underreamer tool with bits or cutters on expanding arms activated by hydraulic pressure. A completion fluid is often used to prevent formation damage. Underreaming is done to enlarge the area of the face of the wellbore at the level of the producing zone to increase production. Barefoot and gravel-packed completions are underreamed. UR,
U.R., or U/rmg

underreamer

underreamer a sub with hydraulically activated, expandable cutting arms that is rotated to enlarge the wellbore at a specific interval in the well. A singlestage underreamer has cutter arms to enlarge the hole but cannot drill the hole. The underreamer might have a spade point to force through debris. The double-stage underreamer has a tricone bit on the lower section and can drill the hole along with enlarging it with the cutter arms. The cutter arms are interchangeable. The underreamer is rotated on a drillstring to underream or enlarge the wellbore for an open hole or gravel pack completion. The cutting arms fold back into the tool when it is brought back up the well, (hole opener) undersaturated a liquid that is capable of dissolving more of a gas, another liquid, or solid than it has at a specific temperature and pressure undersaturated pool an oil reservoir without a free gas cap. There is natural gas (solution gas) dissolved

OIL

undersaturated pool

in the oil in the pores of the reservoir rock, but the oil could hold more gas under the subsurface reservoir conditions and is undersaturated. An undersaturated pool is in contrast to a saturated pool. undersize a particle size that passes through a screen under given conditions underthrust fault a thrust fault that moves the lower rock mass under the upper rock mass undertorque to make up a tool joint that is not tight enough. The tubular could wobble off. Undertorque is in contrast to overtorque. underwater diposal flume a system for diposing of drilling solids on an offshore rig. The flume consists of two concentric strings of large-diameter pipe from the drilling floor to beneath water level. The outside string extends further down into the water than the inside string. The drilling solids are dumped down the inner string. Any oil is caught in the outer string as it floats up and is pumped up the annulus by a submersible pump. underwater manifold center or centre a type of seabed production system. The underwater manifold center provides a base structure for a template to drill wells and to tie in satellite wells. The center collects fluid from producing wells and delivers them to a platform. It distributes treated seawater to an injection well. The center permits maintenance of valves and controls on the manifold with a remote maintenance vehicle. The center is controlled by electrical and hydraulic lines to the surface. UMC underwater safety valve a valve on a subsea wellhead that is designed to automatically close when power is lost. USV underwater television a television camera that is mounted on a frame and lowered on guide lines along the side of the marine riser on a semisubmersible or drillship to monitor the installation and status of subsea equipment undeveloped reserves proven reserves in undeveloped drilling and spacing units. Undeveloped reserves are located so close to developed units that there is high probability they will be produced when drilled. undiff undifferentiated undisturbed zone the area of the formation located back from the wellbore where the formation fluids have not been diluted by mud filtrate. The transition and invaded zones are located between the undisturbed zone and the wellbore. (uninvaded or virgin zone) undivided working interest a working interest in a well in which the working interest costs are proportional to the working interest revenues from production. An undivided working interest is in contrast to a disproportionate working interest. (proportionate working interest) undly underlying uni uniform unident unidentifiable uniform flux fracture a reservoir fracture in which a constant amount of reservoir fluid is produced per unit length of the fracture

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uniformity coefficient

unretarded slow-set cement kilograms, the pressure is in Newtons per square meter, the volume is in cubic meters, and the temperature is in K. universal joint see universal universal joint sub a short length of pipe that consists of two segments with a degree of angular movement between them. A universal joint sub is used between a wireline tool and a sinker. universal orifice plate a type of orifice plate that is designed to measure fluid flow through a flow line by measuring the differential pressure of the fluid flow through the orifice. A universal orifice plate, is designed to be used in orifice fittings and is a circular, flat piece of metal. The bore of the orifice is machined to + or 0.0005 in./in. Types of orifice bores include concentric (the most common), segmented, and eccentric. unjaying the tool rotating the drillstring in a well to release a J-tool unjust enrichment clause a provision in a gas balancing agreement. The underproduced party must reimburse the overproduced party for the difference in the gas price received by the overproduced party at the time of initial sale, and the gas price received by the underproduced party when the underproduced party exercises its makeup right. UNKN unknown UNL unload unless clause a provision in an unless type of oil and gas lease that terminates the lease if the lessee does not drill a well or pay delay rentals at specified times during the primary term of the lease unless lease an oil and gas lease that will expire unless either drilling operations are commenced or delay rental payments are paid at specific times during the primary term of the lease unload a well to remove the liquid from a well. Unloading a well is usually done by swabbing. unloader a device on a reciprocating compressor that is used to keep the intake valve open throughout the intake stroke in order to shut off the compressor. Unloaders are used during compressor starting. unloading the removal of liquids from a gas well. The gas flowing up the tubing can bring the liquid up in slugs. unmanned submarine or submersible a nearly neutral buoyancy submarine that is manipulated from the mother ship by an umbilical. The vehicle is used for both observation of subsea equipment and to maintain the equipment with a manipulator, (remotely controlled or operated vehicle) unpooling the termination of a pooling or unitization agreement unproven acreage an area without any test wells unproven property property with no proven reserves in contrast to proven property unretarded slow-set cement cement with an increased setting time due to a reduction in the cement components such as tricalcium silicate or tricalcium aluminate that rapidly hydrate. An unretarded slowset cement is in contrast to a retarded slow-set cement.

uniformity coefficient the ratio of sieve size that will pass 60% of filter sand to the effective size. The uniformity coefficient is used in specifying sand. uninvaded zone see undisturbed zone union a pipe coupling device that uses a flanged, threaded collar to make the connection. A union is used to connect pipe without rotating the pipe. UNIR ultimate net income ratio unit 1) several leases operated by one company 2) one lease operated by several companies under a unitization agreement, un unit area all lands, oil, and gas leaseholds and interests intended to be developed and operated under a joint operating agreement, (contract area) unitization 1) the combining of adjacent small tracts of fractional interests in mineral rights in order to drill a well, (pooling) 2) the combining of mineral rights of larger, adjacent tracts on a producing reservoir in order to coordinate pressure maintenance, waterflood, or enhanced oil recovery that will maximize the ultimate recovery from that reservoir. Unitization can be either voluntary (voluntary unitization) or by order of a governmental regulatory agency (compulsory or forced unitization). Unitization can be imposed in all states except Texas and New Mexico. This is the most common usage of the term unitization. (communitization) unitization clause a provision in an oil and gas lease that allows the lessee to unitize the lease acreage unitized derrick a derrick on a drilling rig that is raised and lowered as a unit. A unitized derrick is a mast and is in contrast to a standard derrick. unitized working interest working interests from several leases that have been combined or unitized and are operated as a unit, (pooled working interest) unit manager the person that manages the operation of a unit unit-of-production an accounting method that depreciates lease and equipment costs based on the annual production and remaining reserves from that lease unit operator 1) the company that is in charge of developing and producing from a field that has been unitized by several companies 2) the person in charge of a workover rig or pulling unit and its crew unit volume the volume of a solid, liquid, or gas that occupies a cube that measures one unit such as a foot or meter on a side unit well a well drilled on a unit formed by pooling univ universal universal a coupling between two rotating shafts that are not in line, (universal joint) univ universal gas constant the constant (R) in the ideal gas law, PVm = Rt or PV - nRt, in which P is the pressure, Vm is the molar volume, t is the temperature, and n is the number of moles. The universal gas constant is 10.732 if the moles are in pounds, the pressure is in psi, the volume is in cubic feet, and the temperature is in R It is 0.729 if the moles are in pounds, the pressure is in atmospheres, the volume is in cubic feet, and the temperature is in R. The universal gas constant is 8312.0 if the moles are in

unsaturated USGS unsaturated a solution that is able to dissolve more solute at a given temperature and pressure unsaturated bond a double or triple bond between two carbon atoms. Benzene (C6H6) is an example of the aromatic or benzene series that has molecules with unsaturated bonds. unsaturated hydrocarbon a hydrocarbon that contains double or triple bonds in contrast to a saturated hydrocarbon. More hydrogen atoms can be included in the unsaturated molecule. Aromatics are examples of unsaturated hydrocarbons that form circles with double bonds. If the hydrocarbon molecule has double bonds between carbon atoms, it is an alkene or olefin. Alkynes have triple bonds between the carbon atoms. Unsaturated hydrocarbons tend to be more unstable and chemically reactive than the saturated hydrocarbons. unscheduled trip a round trip with the drillstring on a drilling rig for an unplanned activity such as fishing unsealed reservoir a subsurface petroleum reservoir that is open on one or more sides. An unsealed reservoir does not have four-sided closure. unseat to loosen the grip of packer slips and break the seal unsorted biosparite a limestone that has more sparry calcite than limestone mud (micrite) and a wide range of sizes of allochems (1) larger transported particles) UNSRT unsorted unstabilized crude oil oil before the dissolved or solution gas has been separated updip or up dip a direction or location up the slope or angle of a plane such as the top of a rock layer. An updip location is higher in elevation on the particular rock layer than a downdip location. updip well a well located higher on the structure upgrade to increase the depth capacity of a drilling rig. The upgrade is usually done by increasing the number of lines to the traveling block. uphole geophone or jug a detector or geophone located on the surface about 10 ft from the shothole. An uphole geophone is used to determine shothole time in seismic exploration and to help with topographic correction, (shotpoint seismometer) uphole shooting the explosion of several charges at different depths in a shothole during seismic exploration. Uphole shooting is used to determine the weathering or low-velocity layer thickness and near-surface velocities. uphole stack a method in which seismic records from shots at different depths in a shothole are combined. An uphole stack is used to eliminate ghost energy. uphole time the time that it takes the seismic energy used in seismic exploration to travel the distance in a shot hole from where the shot was detonated to the surface, (time at shot point) uplift an area in the crust of the earth that has been forced upward upper kelly cock a short sub that is installed just above the kelly and acts as a backpressure valve to

549

prevent fluids from flowing up the kelly and to protect the equipment located above the kelly. The upper kelly cock is in contrast to the lower kelly valve or drillstem safety valve. upper-phase microemulsion a stable, finely dispersed mixture of oil, water, and chemicals that has a high concentration of oil upper sample a sample taken from the middle or the upper one-third of a tank upper-tier crude oil new oil, released oil, or stripper oil that qualifies under the United States Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. The oil could be sold at market price. Upper-tier crude oil is in contrast to first-tier oil that has a fixed price. (second-tier oil) UPR upper upright fold a fold in sedimentary rock in which the dip on the axial plane is 80-90. An upright fold is in contrast to an inclined or recumbent fold. upset 1) the thicker wall part of a tubular that is usually located on the ends. Interior-upset tubulars such as drillpipe and casing have the extra thickness extending inward. Exterior-upset tubulars such as tubing have the extra thickness extending outward. The upset is designed to increase the strength of the tubular in the section where the threads are cut. 2) to increase the diameter of a bit or a tubular by flattening the end upside down packer see tension packer Y expansion factor upstream 1) exploration, drilling, and production operations for crude oil and natural gas. Upstream is in contrast to downstream which includes transportation and pipe lining, refining, and marketing. 2) the gas-gathering facilities and pipelines that deliver the gas to the trunk line 3) the end or direction of the pipe or line that faces the source of the fluid. The opposite direction is called downstream. upstroke the movement of a piston up the cylinder. Upstroke is in contrast to downstroke up-structure a direction or location further up toward the top of a structure such as a dome upsweep a Vibroseis seismic signal that increases in frequency with time. Upsweep is in contrast to downsweep. upthrown the side of a fault that appears to have moved up relative to the opposite or downthrown side up time see lag time up-to-the-coast fault a dip-slip fault in which the side of the fault closest to the coast has moved up relative to the other side up-to-the-basin fault a dip-slip fault in which the side of the fault closest to the basin has moved up relative to the other side UR or U.R. underreaming URE ultimate recovery efficiency URRS ultrashort-radius radial system U/rmg underreaming USGS United States Geological Survey

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US ton U/W drillstring. The drillpipe and well annulus are used as a U-tube. A specific volume of light fluid such as diesel oil is pumped down the drillstring to reduce the hydrostatic pressure. The light fluid is then allowed to flow back up the drillstring due to the heavier drilling fluid in the annulus reducing the hydrostatic pressure in the well. UV or u.v. ultraviolet UV box a portable metal box containing an ultraviolet light. A UV box is used at drilling sites to detect mineral and crude-oil fluorescence in samples. The box has doors on both ends through which samples such as well cuttings and cores are put. UW uniform wear U/W used with

US ton a unit of weight in the United States and Canada. A US ton weighs 2,000 lbs. The long ton used by Great Britain weighs 2,240 lbs. A US ton is equal to 0.907 metric tons and 0.893 long tons, (short ton) usufruct a life tenancy in Louisiana USV underwater safety valve utility air air that is not as pure as instrument air and is used to drive air motors, (plant air) utility system the power generation, heating and air conditioning, venting, fuel supply, instrument and utility air supply, water supply, treatment, and disposal equipment on an offshore platform UTS underwater tethered submersible U-tube method a technique used to free stuck pipe in a well if there is no check or float valve in the

V vapor-liquid equilibrium

551

V
V I ) volume 2) volumetric 3) moles of vapor phase 4) voltage 5) velocity 6) very 7) volt v 1) volt 2) very 3) velocity 4) specific volume 5) vaporization 6) molecular velocity Va 1) ash content in volume 2) volume of annulus 3) apparent velocity va volt-ampere va velocity in annulus VAC or vac vacuum vacant public land United States federal land that has no reservations in contrast to reserved lands vacuum 1) the amount of pressure reduction on a fluid below atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure minus vacuum equals absolute pressure 2) the complete absence of any molecules in a space. The absolute pressure would be zero, vac or VAC vacuum degasser a vessel used on a drilling rig to remove natural gas from gas-cut drilling mud when it circulates back to the surface. A vacuum degasser is a vessel that uses a vacuum to draw the gas out of the mud. vacuum oven a closed oven containing a vacuum line. Moisture is removed by vacuum from heated samples in the oven. vacuum pump a pump that is used to reduce the pressure in the wellbore in order to increase oil or gas production vacuum stripping the use of a vacuum to remove gases from a liquid vacuum truck a service company tank truck that uses a vacuum to remove basic sediment and water from stock tanks. Vad or vad vadose VA display variable area display vadose zone the area above the water table in the subsurface rocks. The pores of the rocks in the vadose zone are filled with air and water vapor. The vadose zone is important for the formation of solution pores in limestone and is located above the zone of saturation, (zone of aeration) Vad or vad vagile a sea-bottom dwelling organism that moves about Valanginian a global age of geological time that occurred about 135-130 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Cretaceous epoch. valence the number of electrons lost, gained, or shared when an atom combines into a compound.

Valence can be described as plus or minus and as mono-, bi-, or trivalent. valley fill fluvial (river) sediments filling an erosional valley valve a mechanical device that is used to regulate the flow of a fluid. Some types of valves used in the oil field are described by their construction as butterfly, needle, plug, ball, gate, bellows, and globe. Other valves named after their use include metering, check, control, safety, relief, regulating, pilot, and shut off. vlv valve and seat the arrangement in a reciprocating pump that moves the fluid. The seat forms the seal for the valve and is fixed. The valve moves up and down with a stem in the cylinder. The valve is unsealed from the seat and moves up the chamber on the suction stroke. The valve then moves down the chamber and is sealed on the seat during the discharge stroke. valve pot the chamber that holds the suction and discharge valves in a reciprocating or plunger pump. The valve pot is located on the fluid side of the pump. (pot) valve tray a tray used on a contact tower or absorber to contain liquid. The perforations in the tray that allow the gas to bubble up through the liquid are regulated by valves that control the size of die orifices with gas pressure. vane a metal plate used in an impingement separator to direct gas. The vane has liquid collection pockets. Van Krevelen diagram a graph that plot the elemental concentration of organic matter. The ratio of hydrogen to carbon is plotted on the vertical axis and oxygen to carbon on the horizontal axis. The Van Krevelen diagram is used to distinguish Types I, II, and III organic matter and their stages of maturation as they progress toward graphite. Vann tool gun a perforating gun that is mounted on the bottom of a tubing string. The gun creates a backsurge to clean the perforations after it perforates the well. vap vapor Vaporchor a marine seismic source Vaporchor discharges a slug of steam from a valve on the ship into the water. The bubble condenses and implodes forming the seismic signal with no secondary bubbles. vapor frac a type of well stimulation used to fracture gas reservoirs. The frac fluid is a gelled fluid that is a liquid at the surface but a gas under reservoir conditions. The frac fluid is either a) CO2 and LPG or b) CO2 and alcohol. vaporizing gas drive a reservoir drive in miscible displacement enhanced oil recovery. At the contact, the residual oil is stripped of the light and intermediate fractions by the miscible fluid to reduce the residual oil saturation. vapor-liquid equilibrium YJXt in which Yt is the mol fraction of a component in the vapor phase and

552

vapor lock variance variable-density column a liquid column that increase in density with depth and is used to determine the density of well cuttings. Shale cuttings are dropped in the top of the column and they fall until the density of the cutting is equal to the liquid density. The liquid is made by mixing bromoform, carbon tetrachloride, and other liquids.

Xt is the mol fraction of the component in the liquid phase. The vapor-liquid equilibrium is a function of temperature, pressure, and composition, (equilibrium constant, K factor, or partition coefficient) K vapor lock an accumulation of vapor in the fuel line of an engine. Vapor lock can cause the engine to stop. vapor or vapour pressure the pressure of a vapor that is in equilibrium with its liquid. Vapor pressure varies with temperature and is usually expressed in pounds per square inch absolute at 100F. Propane has a vapor pressure of 188.0 psia. Vapor pressure is important in determining the liquid content of a gas. VP vapor-proof equipment that is not affected by gases. Vapor-proof light fixtures are used on drilling rigs to prevent an explosion. vapor recovery unit facilities used to collect gasses from stock or storage tanks. VRU Var or var 1) variable 2) variation vara an absolute and inexact Spanish unit of length that varies from location to location and time to time. A 1919 Texas law defines the vara as 33V2 in. vari variegated

variable density display

variable area display

variable area diplay a seismic section display method in which the peaks of traces are filled in with solid black that is proportional to signal amplitude. The display is easy to see close up but some detail is lost. Variable density is the other common display method. VA display variable area meter a device that is used to measure fluid velocity. A variable area meter consists of either a float in a tapered tube or a tapered float in a fixed orifice. The float will rise and fall with the flow rate. variable bore ram a pipe ram, a closing element on a blowout preventer, that is designed to fit around a range of pipe sizes. The variable bore ram can be thrown either by manually or by hydraulics, (variable pipe ram) VBR variable choke an orifice in a flowline that can be made smaller or larger with a valve. A variable choke is used to regulate the flow and pressure of a fluid in the flowline. variable density a display that uses changes in darkness or density to indicate variations in measurements, (variable intensity)

variable density display a seismic section display method in which the photographic density of gray is proportional to the signal amplitude. The display is easier to see at a distance but hard to reproduce. Variable area is the other common display method. VD display variable-density log a type of acoustic or cement bond log that plots depth versus time and displays the full wave train recorded in variable photographic density or intensity modulated-time mode. The variable-density log is displayed as black and light stripes in which the contrast depends upon the amplitude of the wave peaks. Shades of gray with the darkest area have the largest positive amplitudes, and the lightest areas have the largest negative amplitudes. If the casing is poorly bound, most of the acoustic energy travels through the casing and there is a high amplitude on the wave train and great contrast on the log. With good bonding, there is little amplitude and low contrast on the log. The variabledensity type of logs are also commonly used to locate fractures in reservoirs. VDL variable intensity see variable density variable load the weight of the supplies such as drillpipe, fuel, water, cement, and drilling mud on a semisubmersible or drillship variable overriding royalty interest a share in a well in which the size of the interest in production varies with the amount of production from the well. The variable overriding royalty interest usually increases during months during which the average production exceeds a specific amount, (flexible overriding royalty interest) variable pipe ram see variable bore ram variable royalty a payment or royalty for production that varies with the amount of production. Variable royalty is in contrast to a step-scale royalty that decreases in levels with increasing amounts of production, (sliding-scale royalty) variance an exception or delay granted by the government.

varic Venturi meter varic varicolored variegated a sedimentary rock that has various colors in irregular spots and blotches, vari, vgt, or VARIG VARIG variegated varve a very thin sedimentary rock layer or lamina that was formed during one year. Varves are caused by the effect of seasonal changes such as winter-spring on sedimentation. Vb 1) bulk volume 2) rock matrix volume 3) volume of mud at bubblepoint V-belt an endless synthetic fiber and rubber band with a trapezoidal cross section that is used to transmit power between wheels, pulleys, and/or sheaves. A V-belt drive is used on the mud pump transmission of a drilling rig. Vc compression-wave velocity vc critical velocity v.c. very common VCB vertical center of buoyancy V.C.G. vertical center of gravity VC-GR very coarse grained V,;! clay content Vday clay fraction V dco clay cutoff content (Vcl)GR clay content deduced from gamma rays c a content (VCI)N ' y deduced from neutron log (Vci)R day content deduced from resistivity (Vcl)SP clay content deduced from spontaneous potential (SP) log Vco coal content in volume V,;,, cuttings velocity VD vertical pump intake setting depth vd average displacement velocity VD display variable density display VD-GR variable density, gamma ray log VDL variable density log VDL log three-D log V-door the opening in a derrick (derrick window) with the shape of an inverted V that is located opposite the drawworks and above the pipe rack on a drilling rig. The V-door is used to pull drillpipe or casing from the pipe racks onto the drill floor. (V-window) VD trace variable density trace vector processor a type of computer capable of high-speed calculations VEL or vel velocity VEL-L velocity log velocimeter seeflowmeter velocity the distance traveled per unit of time taken to travel that distance. Velocity of a wave is equal to the frequency of the wave times the wavelength. VEL or vel velocity filter a filter that removes selected dips from sesmic data. The velocity filter is used in areas of flat bedding to remove steep noise lineups and multiples, (dp rejection or moveout filter)

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velocity focusing the bending of seismic waves by curved velocity surfaces. The surfaces act as lenses to focus or defocus the waves. velocity log a wireline well log that records sound velocity through rock layers in a well. The velocity is recorded in units of microseconds per foot (jisec/ ft) and called interval transit time t or At. The tool has a transmitter and two receivers, one located 3 ft from the transmitter and the other 5 ft. The compensated velocity log has two sound transmitters on the sonde. Their values are averaged to reduce errors due to sonde tilt or borehole size changes. The velocities are used to determine the lithologies and compute the porosity of the rocks. Shale strongly affects the porosity of a formation determined by a velocity log, and shaly formations must be corrected for this effect. Gas will decrease the sound velocity and increase the apparent velocity. Porosity measured by the velocity log does not record vugular and fracture pores, (sonic or acoustic-velocity log) VEL-L velocity map a map of interval velocities derived from sonic logs or seismic stacking velocities. The velocity is used to convert two-way travel time to depth in feet on seismic sections. velocity pull-up the vertical displacement upward of seismic reflectors located under a high-velocity layer on a seismic section. Velocity pull-up is in contrast to a velocity pull-down, (pull-up) velocity pull-down the vertical displacement downward of seismic reflectors located under a lowvelocity layer on a seismic section. Velocity pull-down is in contrast to velocity pull-up, (pull-down) velocity survey a seismic technique used to determine velocity information about rock layers in a well. The source is a slush pit bang which is either an explosive charge, an air gun, a thumper, or Vibroseis, and the geophone is located in the well. Originally, a single explosive was used in a shallow hole. Recently, many small explosives have been simultaneously detonated for reinforcement. A logging cable or separate wireline on a rig or A-frame is used to convey the geophone. It can be used in either a cased or open hole. In a cased hole, a leaf spring keeps the geophone against the casing as it is dragged up. In an open hole, one or two arms or pistons keep the geophone against the sides. The geophone is run further up the hole for each shot. Vertical seismic profiling is similar, but yields more accurate velocity data. VIS or VELSV VELSV velocity survey velvet the shallowest of two or more producing zones in a well vent ventilate vent an opening, pipe, or hatch that allows gas to escape and prevents a pressure buildup venting of gas the release of gas into the atmosphere vent line a line at the top of a marine riser on a semisubmersible or drillship that connects it to a diverter to vent gas vent stack a chimney used to release gas to the atmosphere without burning venture a well being drilled Venturi meter a head-type meter that is used to

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Venturi valve vertical seismic profiling longer path results in a longer retention time and effective processing path for more effective separation. VFH separator vertical fold a fold in sedimentary rocks in which the fold axis plunges between 80-90. A vertical fold is in contrast to a horizontal or plunging fold. vertical hole a well drilled vertically into the subsurface. There is usually some tolerance allowed in the drilling contract, for example, no more than 3 from vertical for each 100 ft of depth in the well. (straight hole, well or wellbore or vertical well) vertical integration the situation in which a company does everything from obtaining raw materials through marketing the final product. An example would be a full integrated oil company that explores, drills, produces, transports, refines, and markets petroleum. vertical-moored platform a floating drilling and production platform that is held in place by cables attached to the seafloor vertical permeability permeability measured in the vertical plane of the reservoir. kv vertical photograph an aerial photograph taken with the camera oriented vertical or nearly vertical to the earth's surface. A vertical photograph is in contrast to an oblique photograph. vertical pressure log a wireline tool that is used to sample reservoir fluids and measure formation pressure versus time at specific depths in an open hole. The tool consists of a piston device and a packer. At each station, the vertical-pressure log tool first records mud pressure and then inserts a probe into the sidewall. A fluid sample (10 cc) is taken at a low flow rate and the pressure drawdown is measured. A second sample is taken at a faster rate and the pressure drawdown is again recorded. The pressure buildup is then recorded. The probe is retracted and reset at the next depth. Two large sample chambers can be fitted to hold 1-12 gal of formation fluids. The pressure drawdown and buildup records are used to calculate formation permeabilities. The tool has a shallow depth of investigation and works only in lowpermeability formations, (repeatformation tester'"') vertical racking system a system used to rack tubulars vertically in an offshore derrick. The system consists of a lower, intermediate, and upper carriage on the outside of the derrick. Each carriage is mounted on tracks to move across the width of the derrick. A powered arm with hand travels from the center of the derrick through the carriage to rack the tubulars. The lower racker is used to run casing and move the kelly. The intermediate and upper rackers are used for drillpipe and collars. The rackers are remotely controlled. vertical release a Pugh clause or Freestone rider in a lease that releases specific zones at the end of the primary term or after a specific period vertical resolution the thinnest bed resolved by a logging tool or seismic vertical section see seismic section vertical seismic profiling the recording of seismic energy from a source next to the drill hole by geophones in the well to obtain a high resolution

determine the velocity of a flowing fluid, usually gas. A Venturi meter consists of a tube with a constriction in it with a smooth entry and exit. The fluid flows faster at the constriction and the pressure on the fluid drops. The pressure differential is used to determine the velocity of the fluid. The square root of the differential pressure varies proportionally with the flow velocity. Venturi meters are used on pipelines of known diameter to compute the volume of flow through the pipeline. Venturi valve a valve with a smaller diameter conduit in the closing member than the opening end. A Venturi valve is streamlined to reduce pressure loss. VEQ equivalent volume verbatim abstract an abstract of title that contains the exact wording of any conveyances in the title. A verbatim abstract is in contrast to a bobtail or abbreviated abstract. verm vermillion vermiculite a clay mineral that is closely related to montmorillonite and chlorite. Vermiculite has a chemical formula of Mgo^jCMgjgAljXSijpAlj j)O10 (OH)2 with or without 4H2O, a density of 2.55 or 2.14 (with 4H2O), and a cell dimension of 10.10 or 14.45 (with 4H2O)A. Vermiculite is formed by the weathering of micas. VERT or vert vertical

vertebrate fossil

vertebrate an animal that has a backbone. Vertebrates are in contrast to an invertebrates that are common as fossils in sedimentary rocks, (chordate) vrtb vertical control the determination of the vertical height in feet above sea level of a survey location vertical depth the depth of a horizontal well measured vertically from the surface to the target vertical drilling the drilling of a straight hole within 3 of vertical vertical exaggeration a ratio of the vertical scale to the horizontal scale on a profile or cross section vertical iault a fault that deviates less than or equal to 5 from vertical. A vertical fault is in contrast to an inclined fault. vertical field balance a magnetometer used to measure the magnitude of the vertical component of the earth's magnetic field by the torque on a horizontal permanent magnet. Two types of vertical field balances are the Schmidt field balance and the torsion magnetometer. vertical flow horizontal separator a horizontal oil and gas separator that is engineered so that the fluids follow a long vertical path through the separator. The

vertical separation V,

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vertical separator a vertical vessel used to separate either gas and liquid (two-phase separator) or gas, oil, and water (three-phase separator) A vertical separator is often used with low to intermediate gas/ oil ratios and large volumes of liquid. An inlet diverter spreads the liquid as a thin film against the vertical separator shell and gives the liquid centrifugal motion. The gas escapes from the oil film and rises to the top as the liquids go to the bottom. The small liquid particles that rise with the gas are separated by a centrifugal baffle below the gas outlet. The separator can be fitted with a false cone bottom for sand separation. A vertical separator occupies less floor space than a horizontal separator and is easier to clean. vertical severance the partition of undivided interests into separate surface tracts. Vertical severance is in contrast to horizontal severance. vertical slip see vertical separation vertical stack a superposition of seismic records made by several shots from almost the same position without corrections for offset distances

vertical sweep efficiency the fraction of zones


measured vertically in a reservoir that are effectively contacted by an injected fluid during a waterflood or enhanced oil recovery process vertical time 1) the time for the first seismic energy to reach the surface from the shot in the shothole. (uphole time) 2) the arrival time for a seismic reflection if the wave travel path had been vertical vertical-variability map a type of facies map that shows the thickness and/or number of a specific rock type such as sandstones in a stratigraphic unit such as a formation vertical well see vertical hole very rich gas natural gas that has more than 5 gal of recoverable ethane and higher hydrocarbons per 1,000 ft3 at 60F ves vesicular vesicular containing small cavities, ves Vesl vessel vessel a container. Vesl vest to grant or give right or power VF flowmeter fluid viscosity Vf 1) fracture volume 2) fluid velocity VF-GR very fine grained v-f-gr very fine grained VFH separator vertical flow horizontal separator VG very good Vg gas volume V-G meter a direct-indicating viscometer. The V-G meter uses electric or hand-crank rotated outer cylinder or rotor sleeve that revolves at 300 rpm and 600 rpm to measure apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point, and gel strength, (viscosity-gel viscosimeter) vgt variegated VHF very high frequency VHOCM or v-HOCM very heavily oil-cut mud VI or V.I. viscosity index Vj volume inside a tubular

Seconds

vertical seismic profile (courtesy of Alfred Balch)

image of the subsurface adjacent to the borehole. Vertical seismic profiling is similar to check shooting or a velocity survey except it uses more downhole geophones, usually at a regular spacing interval of 100 ft or less. One geophone or one three-component geophone at each depth level is used per seismic shot. It records and shows direct arrivals from reflectors below the detectors. The shape of the first arrival is important and the recording continues for some time after the first arrival. It is plotted as depth (vertical axis) versus arrival time in seconds (horizontal axis). Vertical seismic profiling gives reliable velocity information and is usually done at the same time that the well is being logged with a wireline well log. The seismic source is usually a vibrator. Vertical seismic profiling is used to explore the geology of the subsurface next to the wellbore. It is used in developmental drilling to yield a detailed image of the reservoir and show where to most efficiently drill. Vertical seismic profiling is also used to correlate the subsurface geology in the well with surface seismic profiles in order to accurately determine interval velocities in seismic and to convert from time to depth in feet. Some variations of vertical seismic profiling include zero offset VSP, in which the shot is located 300-500 ft from the well; constant offset VSP, in which the shot is up to a mile from the well; and walk away VSP, in which a seismic line is shot near the well. Three-D vertical seismic can also be run. VSP vertical separation the vertical component of dip slip on a fault. Vertical separation is in contrast to horizontal separation, (vertical slip)

556

vi viscometer or viscosimeter wave train of controlled, changing frequencies that are usually between 7 and 35 seconds long. The frequencies can he scanned from 0.1 to 120 Hz. The most common scan is an upsweep with frequencies changing from low to high with time. The records are processed and enhanced by computers. Vibroseis is a very portable technique and is used where there is good coupling between the truck and the ground to transmit energy into the subsurface. In some areas, loose soil, sediments, or water on the surface can prevent sufficient coupling. vintage the year in which a gas supply was first committed to sale. The 1978 National Gas Policy Act in the United States created 26 gas categories according to vintage and other factors. Each category of gas has a ceiling price and price escalation schedule. Virgilian a North American epoch of geological time that ended about 290 m. y. ago. It is part of the Pennsylvanian period. Virginia system a land measurement and description system based on metes and bounds with natural landmarks. The Virginia system is used in the southeastern part of the United States and Texas. virgin pressure the pressure on the fluids in the pores of a reservoir before it is disturbed by wells and production. Virgin pressure is usually hydrostatic pressure and will decrease with production, (original
pressure)

vi violet v, velocity inside a tubular vibracore a small diameter core (3-4 in.) that was taken in relatively unconsolidated sediments by a small, portable, vibrating, and rotating coring apparatus. A vibracore is used for offshore-platform site investigations. vibrating screen the sloping screen on a shale shaker. The woven cloth screens are made of different sizes and shapes (square or oblique) and can be as fine as 50 (j- in size. The mesh size describes the number of openings per inch. The vibrating screen is used to separate the coarse well cuttings from the finer well cuttings and drilling mud. vibration dampener a tool that is usually installed in the drillstring between a bit and drill collar and uses steel or rubber springs to absorb shocks when the bit bounces and vibrates off a hard formation. Sometimes the vibration dampeners are located 30 or 60 ft above the bit. (shock absorber or sub)

vibrator truck (Seismograph Service Co.)

vibrator a specially designed truck that weighs about 8 tons and is used to induce energy into the subsurface for a seismic survey. A hydraulically operated plate under the truck is lowered and part of the vibrator truck is lifted off the ground. It is controlled by a radio signal from the recording truck. Hydraulic motors on the back of the truck then use the weight of the truck to vibrate the ground creating a wave train of controlled frequencies. The vibrator gives a sweep of frequencies commonly ranging 10-70 Hz. The sweep commonly lasts from 7 to 35 seconds. Three or four vibrator trucks lined up at 30-50 ft intervals are often used in phase. The plate is then lifted and the truck moves to the next shot point. The tradename for the process is called Vibroseis vibrator hose a hard rubber hose similar to the rotary hose that transmits the drilling mud from the mud pumps to the mud discharge line and standpipe which are made of steel pipe. The vibrator hose is used to absorb fluid shocks and eliminate ells in the line. API classifications of vibrator hoses include 3 and 3V2 in. diameter hoses with 10, 12, 15, 20, and 30 ft lengths. The hose has nipples with male threads on each end. (shock hose) Vibroseis a seismic exploration process in which the seismic energy is put into the subsurface by hydraulically vibrating a truck called a vibrator that weighs about 8 tons. The energy is in the form of a

virgin zone the area of the formation located back from the wellbore where the formation fluids have not been diluted by mud filtrate. The transition and invaded zones are located between the virgin zone and the wellbore. (undisturbed or uninvaded zone) VIS, vis, or vis. viscosity vis visible vise viscosity viscometer or viscosimeter an instrument used to measure the viscosity of a liquid. A rolling-ball viscosimeter uses a steel ball that rolls through a barrel filled with oil that is tilted at an angle. It can be sealed and the oil measured at any temperature and pressure. The time required for the ball to roll through the tube is electronically measured and is calibrated to centistokes of viscosity. Absolute viscosity is usually measured by a capillary-type instrument by determining the time a given volume takes to flow through a glass capillary. It is measured in centistokes or centipoises. Drilling mud viscosity is measured in the field by a container with a hole or jet on the bottom. A standard Marsh-funnel holds 1 qt of drilling mud. The time that the drilling mud takes to drain is measured in seconds and called funnel or Marsh funnel viscosity. In the laboratory, a Saybolt Universal (SSU) or Saybolt Furol is used in the United States and is recorded in seconds. A Redwood I or Redwood II is used in the United Kingdom and records in seconds. An Engler viscosimeter is used in Europe and records in Engler degrees. A concentric cylinder viscometer uses two cylinders, an outer cylinder or rotor sleeve and an inner stationary cylinder. A fresh sample fills the cylinder up to a line, and the outer cylinder is rotated at 300 rpm and 600 rpm. The torque on the inner cylinder is measured with a precision torsion spring. The common Fann viscometer works

viscosifier Vogel's equation


on this principle. Some viscometers can rotate at 3, 6, 100, 200, 300, and 600 rpm. (rheometer) viscosifier a drilling-mud additive such as bentonite or attapulgite that is used to increase viscosity viscosity a measure of the internal resistance or friction of a fluid to flow or stress/rate of shear. Viscosity is the resistance to a change of form and is affected by temperature, pressure, the amount of gas in solution in a liquid and the type and size of molecules in the fluid. Viscosity is the ratio of stress to shear per unit of time which is (force x distance) divided by (area x velocity). The less viscous a liquid, the more fluid the liquid. The viscosity of crude oil depends on the molecular composition of the oil, which is reflected in the density or "API of the oil, the amount of dissolved gas, and the temperature. Viscosity (dynamic) is measured in cgs units called poises (p) or centipoises (cp). Kinematic viscosity, the ratio of the viscosity in poises to the density of the fluid, is expressed in stokes or centistokes. Apparent viscosity is the viscosity of a fluid measured on an instrument at a given rate of shear. Plastic viscosity is the viscosity of a fluid that is due to the amount, size, and type of solids suspended in a fluid. Funnel viscosity is measured with a Marsh funnel. A viscometer is used to measure viscosity in the laboratory and is used to measure the plastic viscosity and yield point of drilling mud. Crude oil viscosity is measured with a rolling-ball or capillary viscometer whereas natural gas viscosity is estimated from the specific gravity of the gas. The viscosity of the oil will influence the rate of oil production and the amount of ultimate recovery of the oil. A drilling mud has a viscosity of about 15 cp, whereas water at 20C has a viscosity of 1.005 cp. Crude oil usually has a viscosity of 1 to 3 cp at reservoir conditions, oilfield waters have less than 1 cp, and natural gas has about 0.015 cp. vise, vis, or VIS viscosity-gel viscometer a direct-indicating viscometer. The viscosity-gel viscometer uses an electric or hand-crank rotated outer cylinder or rotor sleeve that revolves at 300 rpm and 600 rpm to measure apparent viscosity, plastic viscosity, yield point, and gel strength. (V-G meter) viscosity index a measure of the change of oil viscosity with temperature. The viscosity index consists of numbers between 0 and 100. One hundred on the viscosity index means that the oil does not become viscous at low temperatures and more fluid at high temperatures. VI or V.I. viscosity-reducing additive material that is used in drilling fluids to reduce viscosity. Viscosity-reducing additives include lignites, lignosulfonate, phosphates, tannates, and sodium polyacrylate. They are in contrast to viscosifier. viscous flow a type of fluid flow in which the direction of flow remains constant at each point in the flow with time. Viscous flow is characteristic of fluid flow through permeable rocks and is in contrast with turbulent flow, (laminar flow) viscous fluid a fluid in which stress is proportional to shear rate. Water and crude oil are viscous fluids. Viscous fluid is in contrast to a non-Newtonian fluid such as drilling mud. {Newtonian or true fluid)

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viscous-fluid pump a type of downhole pump that is used to lift viscous fluids such as heavy oil. A viscousfluid pump is either a tubing or stationary barrel with top or bottom holddown. (Circle-A pump) Visean a global age of geological time that ended about 340 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Carboniferous. VISI visible visible light light with wavelengths between 4007,000 A. Shorter wavelengths than visible are called ultraviolet, and longer wavelengths are infrared. vit vitreous vitreous a luster or reflection off a mineral grain or rock that is smiliar to glass, vit vitrinite a maceral group formed by lignified, higherland plant tissues such as leaves, stems, and roots. Vitrinite comes from the humic-acid fraction of humic matter. Vitrinite is light orange to dark brown in transmitted light and grey to yellow in reflected light. Three types of vitrinite are structured, unstructured, and detrital. Vitrinite will produce gas with maturation and is Type III kerogen. vitrinite reflectance a widely used technique that measures the reflectance of polished vitrinite in shale under a reflecting microscope. Increased reflectance is caused by aromatization of kerogen and loss of hydrogen. Vitrinite reflectance is used to determine the maturation of the organic matter and whether petroleum has been generated. The reflectance (/?o) is determined by a reflection microscope and the organic matter is classified as immature, mature, and post mature. The vitrinite starts with a reflectivity of 0.2% at the surface. The onset of petroleum generation initiates at 0.5%-0.7% reflectance, depending on the type of organic matter. At a vitrinite reflectance of 135%, crude oil is cracked into thermal gas. vitriolic acid sulfuric acid V/L vapor/liquid ratio VLF very low frequency vlv Valve VM 1) molar volume 2) average velocity Vm mud velocity \m!l matrix velocity VMg gas molar volume Vjm liquid molar volume VMP vertically moored platform Vn or vn vein Vnlet veinlet Vo oil volume V,,,. oil velocity in casing Vogel's equation an equation based on a computer study that is used to evaluate a dissolved-gas drive reservoir with pressure below the bubblepoint. The equation is

% = 1 - 0 . 2 (%A - 0.8
(<?o) m3 x \Pr)

in which qo is oil flow rate in barrels oil per day at Pup (qo)m3X is maximum oil flow rate in barrels oil per day at P^ equal to 0, P^ is wellbore flowing

558

VOL or vol vortex-shedding meter The other method is cash balancing, (in-kind balancing) volumetric drive see dissolved-gas drive volumetric efficiency the volume of fluids pumped divided by the volume of the fluid displaced by the pistons, rotors, screws, or other displacement devices in a pump. In a reciprocating gas compressor, volumetric efficiency is equal to the volume of the gas drawn into the cylinder corrected for suction temperature and pressure divided by the volume of piston displacement. Volumetric efficiency is usually expressed as a percentage. volumetric method an equation used to calculate the reserves of an oil well reservoir. It states: recoverable stock tank barrels = A x t x 7,758 x < x So x R . > j in which A = area of FVF reservoir drained, t = net thickness of pay, < = > | porosity of reservoir rock, So = oil saturation, R = recovery factor, and FVF formation volume factor. The reservoir area is usually expressed in acre feet. {saturation method) volumetric prover an instrument used for meter proving. A volumetric prover consists of a vessel of known volume. It is put in line downstream from the meter to be tested and the true volume of fluid is compared to the indicated volume of fluid from the tested meter to calculate a meter factor. The other meter-proving methods are master meter and displacement-type meter. volumetric sweep the fraction of the total reservoir volume within a waterflood or enhanced oil recoveryprocess pattern that is effectively contacted by the injected fluids voluntary pooling the voluntary combination of small tracts of fractional interests in mineral rights in order to drill a well. This is usually done to comply with well spacing regulations and to avoid drilling more less-economical wells. voluntary unitization the voluntary combination of mineral rights on large tracts on a producing reservoir to coordinate pressure maintenance, water flood, enhanced oil recovery, or any other methods that will maximize the amount of ultimate production from that reservoir volute a spiral passage downstream from an impeller that converts velocity energy into static pressure vortex breaker two metal bars that are located above the liquid outlet in a separator. The vortex breaker is used to prevent a vortex from forming and the gas escaping from the separator through that outlet. vortex finder a hollow cylinder that extends a short distance down into the top of a hydrocyclone such as desander or desilter. A vortex finder forms the overflow outlet. vortex-shedding meter a device that is used to measure the velocity of fluid flow. A vortex-shedding meter has a nonstreamlined body in the fluid flow that forms eddy currents or vorticies. The differential pressure formed by the vorticies that form and dissipate are measured by a piezoelectric crystal, and the pulses are counted. The number and speed of the vorticies are related to the fluid velocity. The

pressure in pounds per square inch, and Pr is static reservoir pressure in psi. VOL or vol volume Vol or vol volcanic volat volatile volatile a substance that will evaporate at a relatively low temperature, volat volatile oil 1) a crude oil with an initial producing GOR of 2,000 to 3,300 SCF/STB. The stock tank oil is colored brown, orange, or green and is usually above 40 APG. Volatile oil has fewer heavy molecules than black oil, but the dividing line between black and volatile oil is arbitrary. The producing gas/oil ratio of volalite oil will increase with time, (high-shrinkage crude oil) 2) crude oil that has a methane content of about 55 mol %, a C2 to C6 content of 30 mol %, and Cy and higher of 15 mol %. volatility the ease in which a liquid vaporizes. A low boiling point and high vapor pressure indicate volatility in a liquid. Vole or vole volcanic rock volt a derived unit in System International (SI) for electric potential that is calculated by W/A. A volt is a unit of electromotive force or difference in potential. A potential of 1 V applied to a resistor with one ohm resistance will cause an electric current of 1 amp to flow across the resistor. V voltage a measure of electromotive force or difference in potential usually measured in volts voltmeter an instrument used to measure the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit in volts volume flux a volume per unit time volume meter an instrument that is used to measure the volume of fluid flow. The volume meter separates the fluid such as a gas stream into separate volumes and measures the number of volumes. A volume meter provides information on the volume rather than the flow rate. Two common types of volume meters are a diaphragm meter and a rotary meter. The diaphragm meter uses two diaphragms in the meter case that are alternately filled and emptied to measure the gas volume. It is used for low volumes of clean, dry gas and is the type of meter used in home gas meters. The rotary meter uses a lobed impeller or rotating vanes to measure the gas. The lobed impeller has two figure-8 lobes positioned at 90 from one another. The rotating vane type uses a rotating idler and rotating valves or pistons. The rotary meters are used to measure high volumes of gas and can be used with high pressures. (PD meter, positive displacement flowmeter, or volumeter) volume tank a small cylinder on a small diameter, natural gas line leading to a gas engine on a lease. A volume tank is located near the gas engine and is designed to provide a steady flow of gas to the engine and to trap any water or condensate from the gas. volumeter see volume meter volumetric balancing a method in which an underproduced party in a gas well can be compensated for underage in a gas balancing agreement by taking more than that party's share of gas at a future date.

VP frequency of the vorticies is linearly proportional to the velocity of the fluid. A vortex-shedding meter has no moving parts. VP vapor pressure VP P-wave velocity V p pore volume V.P.S. very poor sample VPSRT very poorly sorted VR relative volume v.r. very rare VRF volcanic rock fragment VRMS root-mean-square value Vims root-mean-square velocity vrtb vertebrate vrtl vertical VRU 1) vapor recovery unit 2) vertical reference unit vrv varve vrrd varved Vs S-wave velocity V/S velocity survey V9 1) solid volume 2) shear wave velocity vs versus VSD variable-speed drive VSFR viso-frac VSGCM very slightly gas-cut mud Vgh shale content or fraction Vsl slippage velocity v-sli very slightly

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VSP 1) very slightly porous 2) vertical seismic profiling VSSG very slight show of gas VSSO very slight show of oil VST stock tank volume V, 1) total volume 2) volume of fluid in turbulent flow V2 subweathering velocity VUG 1) vuggy 2) vugular Vug or vug vuggy vug a large, roughly spherical pore. Vugs are commonly, but not always, formed by solution of a moldic pore and occur in carbonates, (bug hole) vuggy or vugular a sedimentary rock that has many vugs. VUG, Vug, or vug vugular porosity void space in a rock that is composed of large, roughly spherical pores V/V volume to volume WG variable velocity gain WI variable voltage inverter WS variable velocity stack Vw water volume V^ apparent water volume Vwc water velocity in casing V-window the opening in a derrick (derrick window) with the shape of an inverted V that is located opposite the drawworks and above the pipe rack on a drilling rig. The V-window is used to pull drillpipe or casing from the pipe racks onto the drill floor. (V-door) VWSRT very well sorted Yxa apparent filtrate volume

560

W walking-beam pumping unit

w
W 1) west 2) work 3) wackestone 4) weight on bit (axial load) 5) watt 6) initial water in place 7) water or moisture content 8) power w 1) watt 2) water 3) well conditions 4) mass flow rate 5) west w/ with WA west addition wa apparent wellbore Wa weight in air wacke 1) a dirty sandstone with angular and unsorted sediments ranging from rock particles to clay matrix 2) see graywacke

occurs after a string of casing has been run into the well and is suspended from the elevators while being cemented. The time involved in waiting on cement depends on a) the type of cement job, b) depth, c) bottomhole temperature, and d) cement strength needed and can be determined by federal, state, or local regulations. Waiting on cement can be as short as 4-6 hours. During waiting on cement, the rig floor is washed, and the cementing equipment is dismantled and moved out. (cement time) WOC walk 1) the turning of a rotating bit into the side of the wellbore causing a change in the well direction. Roller-cone bits with offset have a right-handed walk tendency. Turbine drilling has a left-handed walk tendency. 2) the deviation of a wellbore from vertical

DERRICK

ENGINE

wackestone

wackestone a limestone with significant amounts of large (sand-sized) particles such as shell fragments or oolites surrounded and supported by fine-grained particles (mud supported) of limestone mud or micrite. A wackestone does not have good original porosity. Wkst or W wadi a steam bed, channel, or steep ravine in a desert environment wafer valve a type of quick opening valve that uses a disk or wafer on a pivot in a chamber to open and close. The wafer valve is used to turn the flow on and off. (butterfly or fishtail valve) WAG water-alternating-gas WAG process an enhanced oil recovery process in which alternating slugs of water and gas are pumped down an injection well wait-and-weigh method a method of well control in which heavier kill mud is circulated while a constant downhole pressure is maintained by pressure relief through a choke. The waiting time is for preparation of the kill mud. One circulation is used to remove the kick fluids from the well. The wait-and-weigh method is in contrast to the driller's method. waiting on cement to suspend drilling operations while cement in a well is setting. Waiting on cement

walking beam (cable tool drilling rig)

walking beam 1) the beam on a pumping unit that rocks up and down on center or saddle bearings mounted on the Samson post. One side of the walking beam is attached to the die pitman arms by the equalizer and the other side of the beam has a horsehead and bridal to support the sucker-rod string. The walking beam is made of steel and is classified by the American Petroleum Institute according to maximum stress and other design features, (rocking beam) 2) a wood beam that pivots on the Samson post of a cable tool drilling rig to transfer motion from a crank on the band wheel to the drilling line. walking-beam pumping unit artificial lift equipment that uses a walking beam to raise and lower a sucker-rod string in the well to activate a reciprocating piston-plunger pump to lift the oil. The five major parts of the walking beam pumping unit are a) structural members, b) bearings, c) counterbalance, d) gear or speed reducer, and e) prime mover. The walking beam pivots up and down on a center bearing supported by the Samson post to provide a reciprocating action with a stroke between 12 and 240 in. for the downhole pump. The walking

walking-beam stirrup warm a connection

561

fc,.
walking beam pumping unit

is lowered into a well on a drillstring or tubing. The string is manipulated to release a J-slot and seat the packer when weight is applied. A wall-hook packer can be disengaged by reversing the rotation, (hookwall packer) wall log a microresistivity wireline well log wall off a technique used in fishing operations in which junk pieces are pushed and buried in the formation surrounding the wellbore by a mill wall over-cone packer test an open hole drillstem test used on a cored hole. A tapered packer without an anchor pipe, called a wallover-cone packer, is used to seal the core section for testing. wall rock the impermeable rock barrier to the sides of a petroleum reservoir

beam is connected to the gear reducer and prime mover with two pitmen and an equalizer. The prime mover is either an electric or internal combustion motor. The sucker-rod string and polished rod are attached to the horsehead end of the walking beam with a bridal and carrier bar. Three types of walkingbeam pumping units include crank counterbalanced, beam balanced, and air balanced. A Class I lever pumping system has the speed reducer rear mounted and the fulcrum at midbeam. A Class III lever pumping system has the speed reducer front mounted and the fulcrum at the rear of the beam. The air balanced and Lufkin Mark II are this type. The pumping unit weights between 2,000-6,000 lbs. Walking beam pumping units are classified by the American Petroleum Institute by gear reducer torque capacity, unit structural capacity, and maximum stroke length. (beam pumping or rocking-beam pumping unit) walking-beam stirrup the attachment of the walking beam to the pitman on a beam pumping unit or cable-tool rig walk of the hole the azimuth direction of a crooked well, (hole walk) walk to the right tendency of a well to be deflected from left to right because of the clockwise rotation of the bit (right-handed walk) walkway a long platform located near the top of a series of tanks or connecting installations, (catwalk) wall cake the solid particles in drilling mud (primarily clay minerals) that are plastered to the sides of the well by the circulating mud during drilling. The liquid that goes into the formation is called filtrate. The volume of the filtrate and the thickness of the wall cake can be determined in the laboratory by a filter press. The thickness of the wall cake is measured in V2 in. and described as soft, firm, or tough, (filter 3 or mud cake) wall cleaner, scraper, or scratcher see wall scraper or scratcher wall hook or wall hook guide a hook-shaped tool that is part of the washover shoe on a fishing operation. A wall hook is used to position the top of the fish into the overshot fishing tool when the fish is not aligned with the well. A wall hook is also used with knuckle or bent joints and bent subs. wall-hook packer a type of packer uned in a cased hole that has friction blocks or drag springs and slips with teeth pointing downward. The wall-hook packer

wall scratcher

wall scraper or scratcher a ring (reciprocating) or strip (rotating) of metal wires that are attached to the casing string as it is run in the hole. Normal circulation is maintained during scratching as the wall scratchers are either moved up and down (reciprocating) or turned (rotating) to scrape the filter cake off the wellbore in preparation for a cement job. scraper, scratcher or wall cleaner wall sticking the adhesion of the drillstring to the well walls due to the difference in the hydrostatic pressure of the circulating drilling mud in the well and the formation pressure at that level. The condition is called stuck pipe, and the vertical movement of the drillstring in the well is restricted but circulation can maintained. Wall sticking is aggravated by permeable formations and is more frequent when the drillstring is left motionless in the well for a period of time. Freeing the stuck pipe can be accomplished by a) reducing the hydrostatic pressure in the well, b) the use of a spotting fluid, or c) a back-off operation. The spotting or releasing fluid is made of diesel oil with special additives or an oil mud that is used to dissolve the mud cake and equalize the pressure. Dissolving agents such as hydrochloric acid can be used for limestones. The soaking process takes 6-12 hours before the assembly is worked loose. Spiralgrooved pipe can be used to reduce the contact between the drillstring and the well walls to alleviate differential pipe sticking, (differential pipe or pressure sticking) wall stuck pipe drillpipe that is stuck against the side of the wellbore by differential pressure sticking wantage rod a gauge rod WAR water-to-air ratio warm a connection to strike a collar or threaded

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warm shutdown water-base drilling mud washover a technique used to free stuck drillpipe in the well. A large-diameter pipe (wash pipe) is lowered down the well over the stuck pipe. Drilling mud is pumped down the wash pipe to wash away the debris around the stuck pipe. WO washover back-off connector tool a fishing tool that allows washover, back off, and pulling a fish out of a well in one operation washover cutter a fishing tool that is lowered on a fishing string and run over stuck pipe. Cutting knives extend out from the inside to cut the pipe as the tool is rotated. washover ran a fan-shaped deposit of sand deposited by a storm landward of a beach washover pipe or washpipe a fishing tool that uses a circulating fluid to flush out the sides of a fish in a well. A washover pipe consists of a washover shoe on a washpipe which is a length of high-strength casing with flush joint connections. The washover pipe is run down the hole on a drillstring. Circulating drilling muds clear the debris from around stuck pipe or a fish in the well. Jars and safety releases are often attached above the washover pipe. A releasable overshot, washover back-off connector, or drill-collar spear can be used in the washover pipe assembly to retrieve the fish after the washover operation. In other cases, the washover pipe is run back up the hole and a fishing tool is used. WP, WSHP, or WASP wash pipe or washpipe 1) a short pipe in the swivel through which circulating drilling mud flows from the gooseneck into the kelly and drillstring. The washpipe is surrounded by the washpipe stuffing box containing packing and packing rings. The washpipe commonly has a bore of 3 in., but a smaller 2V4-in. bore is also available. WP or WSHP 2) the channel in a tool where the drilling mud flows wash tank a large-diameter gravity separator that is used on a lease to separate oil and free water. The wash tank is a metal tank equipped with a spreader, oil draw-off, level control, and a low-pressure separator. The oil flows from the wells into the lowpressure separator on the top of the wash tank to remove the natural gas. The oil then flows to the bottom of the wash tank where a spreader disperses the oil out, causing the oil to rise by buoyancy through the water. The oil is then drawn off the top of the water. The older types of wash tanks were made of wood. A wash tank is also called a settling tank. waste-water lease a lease for land to be used for a saltwater disposal well wasting asset a mineral asset, such as oil and gas, that is not renewable and is used up when it is produced. A wasting asset is in contrast to a renewable asset such as timber. water-back to add water to drilling mud to readjust the mud weight and solid content water-base drilling mud drilling mud with water as the fluid continuous phase. The water can vary from fresh water (fresh water-base) to low solids brines (saltwater-base). Salts such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, or potassium chloride can be added to the water. The reactive fraction includes bentonite or attapulgite. The inert fraction can include sand, barite, chert, galena, or limestone. Types of water-

connection with a hammer to loosen it. (heat or whip a connection) warm shutdown the ceasing of production from a production facility with continued maintenance of equipment so that the facility can be easily restarted. A warm shutdown can be due to a fall in the price of oil and its impact on a marginally profitable facility. warm stacking the storage of a drilling rig with a small crew maintaining the rig. Warm stacking is in contrast to cold stacking. warm up hammering the coupling on a pipe to loosen the threaded connection warranty a guarantee warranty clause a provision in an oil and gas lease in which the lessor guarantees that the title to the land is without defect warrantee contract a gas contract in which the producer delivers a specific amount of gas but there is no specifications as to the field of origin for the gas wash to clean natural gas by running it through or over a liquid wash around one circulating mud cycle in a well Washburn-Bunting method a technique used to determine the porosity of a sample such as a core. The apparatus consists of a sample chamber with a calibrated tube on top. The chamber is connected to a mercury chamber and the sample floats on the mercury in the sample chamber. As the mercury drops in the chamber, gas in the pores of the sample expands and displaces mercury in the calibrated tube in proportion to the porosity of the sample. washed cuttings sampled well cuttings that have washed off to remove drilling mud prior to examination washer a device that is run on the bottom of a tubing string and is used to clean perforations in a well washers and spacers fluids that are circulated down the well before a cement job. Spacers are high viscosity and high-density fluids designed to displace the drilling mud in the well. Washers are lighter fluids designed to clean the rock sides of the wellbore to provide a better bond for the cement, (spacers and
washers)

washing demagnetizing a substance washing in to clean a well of drilling mud by circulating salt water or oil wash oil the oil used to absorb liquid hydrocarbons from a gas stream wash out to remove salt from oil separated from an emulsion using fresh water washout 1) the termination of overriding royalty or other working interest share when the lease is surrendered by a sublessee or assignee. A washout can be prevented by an extension and renewal clause in the lease. 2) the excessive erosion and enlargement of a wellbore by drilling mud 3) damage on a drillstring where fluids flow through the walls of the pipe. Washout is caused by a fatigue or corrosion crack or worn or damaged threads. On a drillstring, this usually occurs at a connection, and the drilling mud flows from the inside of the pipe to the annulus.

water bath water-finding rule base drilling mud include a) clear water, b) native mud, c) calcium mud, d) lignosulphate mud, e) KC1/ polymer mud, and f) salt-saturated mud. Water-base drilling "mud is the most common drilling mud.
WBMUD

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water bath the bottom portion of a vertical treater which is fed produced fluids by a downcomer to gravity separate fluids before the firetube heats the emulsion to separate the oil from water (free-water orfreewater knockout sector) water block the reduction of formation permeability caused by the invasion of water into the pores causing capillary blocking of pore throats by surface tension and/or clay swelling. Waterblock can be caused by mud filtrate in the formation adjacent to the wellbore. It occurs most often in low pressure and permeability reservoirs. The Jarmin effect is an old term for waterblock. water bottom the bottom of an oil storage tank water brake a hydraulic apparatus that is located on the drum shaft of a drilling rig and takes part of the weight of a string being lowered in a well water-break detector a device that is attached to a hydrophone streamer used in a marine seismic survey. The water-break detector is used to measure the distance between the near hydrophone subarray and the source array. water breakthrough the first appearance of water from an injection well in a producing well during a waterflood. Once the water breakthrough occurs, the injected water will flow through the zone between the injection and producing well and will bypass oil in other zones. water-cement ratio the weight of water divided by the weight of cement in a slurry. W/C water coning the drawing of underlying waters or an oil/water contact up into an oil reservoir in the shape of a cone. Water coning is caused by too rapid production, (coning) watercourses or water courses passages for the circulating fluid through a roller-cone bit. The regular or conventional watercourses were the first type developed. They direct the drilling fluid through the center of the bit and onto the cutters to clean both the cutters and the hole. The nozzle velocities are in the range of 100-500 ft/sec. Bit balling, cone erosion, and poor performance are problems with this type of watercourse. Jet water courses are more commonly used today. The drilling fluid is diverted down the center of the bit to the jet nozzles that are located on the periphery of the bit. Water courses clean the hole and even help cut the hole. water cushion a slug of water. The water cushion during a production test is the water load in the drillpipe that retards fill-up. A water cushion is used in perforating to control the pressure differential between the well and formation. WC water cut 1) the fraction of water volume produced from a well 2) a fluid diluted with water. WC water-cut meter or watercutmeter a throughtubing production log that measures the amount of water in a fluid. The meter is sensitive to the dielectric constants of the fluid. Hydrocarbons have dielectric constants between two and six, whereas water is 80.

water-cut paste a substance that turns color on contact with water. Water-cut paste is used on a gauge bob or weight to measure the height of free water below the crude oil on the bottom of a stock tank. water dew-point the temperature at which water will condense from a gas water dip the depth of free water located above the strike plate on the bottom of a crude-oil storage tank water displacement a method used to take a gas sample for analysis. The gas displaces the water that fills the sample container.

PRODUCTION

ULTIMATE
(PRIMARY

PRODUCTION
RECOVERY)

water drive

water drive a type of reservoir energy in which the pressure of water beneath an oil reservoir forces the oil into the wells. Water drive is a very efficient drive mechanism and can often produce 60%-70% of the oil. The reservoir pressure remains at or near original pressure during production until the wells water out. water-drive pool an oilfield with a water drive supplying the energy to cause the oil to flow through the reservoir rock and into wells watered out an oil and/or gas well that now produces large amounts of water that make oil and/or gas production unprofitable. Watered out often occurs in a water-drive reservoir. Watered out can also be caused by coning or water breakthrough from an injection well to a producing well in a waterflood. (gone to water) water encroachment water flowing into an oil or gas zone as the oil or gas is produced water encroachment map a map that shows the percentage of water produced and the location of wells that have watered out. A water encroachment map is used to show the advance of water encroachment in a water-drive reservoir and is often made at regular time intervals. water entry survey the use of a a) temperature log, b) radioactive tracer log, or c) conditioning survey to locate water flowing into a well water finder see water-finding rule water-finding paper a test paper that is sensitive to water and is used to gauge the height of water in an oil storage tank water-finding rule a graduated metal rod with water-sensitive paper or paste that is discolored by water. A water finding rule is used to measure the depth of free water in a crude-oil storage tank, (water finder)

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water flood or waterflood water injection o o oo


A A A A

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A

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H-O--f-O(--O-I--O-H

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staggered line drive

direct line drive

A I I I A
circle flood

A I | I A

five-spot seven-spot waterflood patterns

water flood or waterflood the field, reservoir, and/ or equipment which is involved in a waterflooding project. WF waterflooding an engineering method used to produce more oil from a reservoir after the oil is produced from its natural reservoir drive. Water is pumped down injection wells which either can be drilled for that purpose or converted from producing wells. The injected water displaces the oil in the reservoir and drives it to producing wells. A waterflood can be initiated either before or after primary production from the natural reservoir drive has been completed. A five-spot pattern is often the most effective type of waterflood. Some other patterns are dump, direct-line drive, staggered-line drive, seven spot, and circle. Water for flooding must be purified before injection. Suspended fine solids can plug the producing formation and are removed by filtration. Organic matter and bacteria can produce slimes and are neutralized by biocides. Oxygen can cause bacterial grawth and corrosion and is removed by de-aeratio/i and the use of an oxygen scavenger such as sodium sulfite. (water injection) waterflood kick the first increased production on a waterflood project due to the injection of water. At first, the injected water compresses and redissolves the gas in the pores of the reservoir rock back into the oil. After this, the oil can be moved by the injected water toward producing wells to produced the kick. waterflood mobility ratio the ratio of mobility of injected water to the mobility of the oil being displaced during a waterflood waterflood residual or waterflood residual oil saturation the oil saturation remaining in the pores of the reservoir rock after waterflooding water flush an old term for circulating water on an early rotary drilling rig water formation volume factor the change in volume of oilfield brine between reservoir and surface

conditions. The water formation volume factor is rarely greater than 1.06. waterfrac a common hydraulic fracturing technique using fresh or saltwater as the frac fluid. Waterfrac was originally developed for gas wells but is also used in oil wells. The water has good pumpability and is not combustible. Gelling and fluid loss agents are often added to the water. WFR water gun a marine seismic source that is similar to an air gun and injects suddenly a volume of water through ports in the gun. The water is driven by a ram piston that is propelled by compressed air. Cavitation causes an implosion with a pulse that is very reproducible and does not have a bubble effect. water haul an unsuccessful fishing attempt in a well water hauler a person or service company who is contracted to transport saltwater brine from producing wells to a disposal site, (saltwater hauler) water hit the sound that a water slug makes when it strikes the Christmas tree on a well as the well unloads water water holdup the volume fraction of water in a well at a given instant of time. ywater water hole a dry hole water influx reservoir an oil or gas reservoir in which the flow of water into the reservoir from the sides and bottom to replace produced fluids helps maintain the reservoir pressure during production watering-back a method of diluting drilling muds that have been made heavier with drilled solids. Liquid additions are made to the drilling mud in the tanks after they have passed through the solid-control equipment. water injection 1) see waterflooding 2) a type of air drilling with water added to the well to prevent sluffing or caving. Water injection is used in drilling dry, unconsolidated sands.

water-in-oil emulsion water wettability index water-in-oil emulsion a stable mixture of water and oil in which oil is the continuous phase, and droplets of water (the discontinuous phase) are suspended in the oil. A water-in-oil emulsion is more common than an oil-in-water emulsion. A heatertreater is often used to separate the emulsion. WIOE or WO water jet A high-pressure nozzle used to direct a stream of water onto the sides and bottom of a vessel to remove sediments, (sand jet) water knockout see separator water leg a pipe system that controls the flow of water and the oil/water interface level in a treater or tank. A vertical loop of piping is adjusted in height to accomplish this, (grasshopper or water siphon) water line the oil/water contact in a reservoir water loss a property of water-base drilling mud to lose water (filtrate) into permeable formations as a filter cake of mud is deposited on the sides of the wellbore. Water loss is measured in the laboratory by passing the water-base drilling mud through a filter cell in a filter press in a filtration test. WL water-loss additive a drilling-mud additive used to decrease water loss. Water-loss additives include bentonite, emulsified oil, dispersants, CMC, and starch. watermelon 1) a term used to describe the shape of a tool. The tool is similar in shape to a watermelon or football: wide in the middle and narrower at both ends. 2) a weight used on a rod line water of hydration water that is chemically combined in a crystalline compound. Water of hydration can be liberated by heating. water/oil ratio the number of barrels of water divided by the number of stock-tank barrels of oil that a well produces. WOR water outlet the outlet on a gun barrel separator for water from an emulsion. It has a grasshopper, outside siphon, or water leg attached to it. water plane the water level on the columns of a semisubmersible when it is at working draft water pressure see fluid pressure water-pressure maintenance an improved oil recovery method in which water, usually produced water, is reinjected into the reservoir to maintain formation pressure and increase hydrocarbon recovery water sand a driller's term for clean and bright sandstone well cuttings brought up in the drilling mud water saturation the fraction or percentage of the pore volume that is occupied by formation water. The remainder of the pore space is occupied by oil and/or gas. water sensitive formation a formation in which water can cause reduced permeability. Montmorillonite swelling is a common cause. water shut-off the cementing of water-bearing formations in a well water siphon a pipe system that controls the flow of water and the oil/water interface level in a treater. A vertical loop of piping is adjusted in height to accomplish this, (water leg or grasshopper)

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water/solids ratio the weight of water divided by the weight of the total solids in a slurry water string a length of casing that is used to shut off water from subsurface formations during the drilling of a well

PORES - AIR
WATER TABLE

PORES - W A T E R

water table

water table (off rotary drilling rig chart)

water table 1) the subsurface level below which the pores in the soil and rocks are saturated (filled) with water. The water table is overlain by the vadose zone and underlain by the phreatic zone or zone of saturation. The water table elevation can vary with seasons. Maximum limestone solution occurs at the water table. 2) the hole in the hull of a drillship or semisubmersible through which the drilling occurs, and the drillstring and marine riser pass into the sea. The water table is located at the center of gravity of a floating rig and is generally 20-25 ft in diameter. (moonpool or drillwell) 3) the opening in the crow's nest where the crown block fits into the top of the derrick on a drilling rig. The opening ranges from 5 ft 6 in. to 7 ft 6 in. in width. water washing a natural process in which water flowing by crude oil, either in the subsurface or on the surface, dissolves and removes some of the lighter fractions from the oil leaving the heavier fractions such as asphalt water wash process the sweetening of natural gas by passing the sour gas through a contactor with water (aquasorption) water-wet rock a porous rock in which water is the wetting fluid. A rock containing water and oil is considered to be water wet if the contact angle of the water is less than 70. The rock is considered to be neutral if the angle is between 70-110 and oil wet if the water contact angle is greater than 110. Most sandstones are water wet, whereas most carbonates are neutral or oil wet. water wettability index a core test based on the observation that a strongly wetting fluid will spontaneously imbibe until the residual saturation of the nonwetting fluid is obtained. The core is flushed with water to remove gas and residual oil in preparation for the test. The core is then placed in

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watt wear brushing wavenumber the number of wave cycles per unit distance. The wavenumber is equal to 1/wavelength. wave period the time that it takes a wave to make one complete cycle. Wave period is the time that it takes two successive wave crests to pass a point and is the inverse of wave frequency. wave ray a curve that is perpendicular to all points on the wave crests of a refraction diagram. (orthogonal) wave surface the surface of wave propagation along which all wave movements are in phase wave train several cycles of a wave wave train log an acoustic log that displays the acoustic wave either in an a) intensity modulated-time mode or an b) amplitude-time mode wax 1) solid paraffins removed by chilling, dewaxing, or de-oiling. The heavier paraffins (C17+) in a paraffinbased crude oil separate upon cooling and accumulate on the inside of tubing and flowlines, thereby restricting flow. Wax is not affected by common reagents such as acids and oxidizers. (paraffin) 2) the lipid fraction of organic matter that is composed of long chain (C16 to C36) normal alkanes and alcohols 3) native bitumen mineral wax such as ozocerite. wax bearing a Hempel distillation key fraaion with a cloud point above 5 F wax free a Hempel distillation key fraction with a cloud point below 5 F wax inhibitor an additive used to lower the pour point of crude oil. The inhibitor is usually polymeric. The most commonly used is ethyl-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers along with polyalkyl acrylates, methacylates, and low molecular weight polyethylene waxes. WB water blanket Wb weber Wb buoyant weight WBIH went back in hole WBMUD water-base mud WC 1) wildcat 2) watercut 3) water cushion Wc weight of counterweight W/C water-cement ratio WCC weighted cost of capital WCM water-cut mud WCO water-cut oil WCST water cushion to surface WD 1) water depth 2) water disposal well Wd wood Wd cuttings density WDS wavelength-dispersive spectrometer WE welded ends We cumulative water encroachment weak point a deliberate point of weakness in a connector or cable that is designed to break before the survey cable and leave the fishing neck in a position to be fished wear bushing a ring-shaped device that is placed inside a wellhead to act as a bit guide and protect

an imbibition tube under oil. The water displaced by oil is measured (A). The core is then flushed with oil, and the water displaced is measured (B). The sample is then placed in the imbibition tube under water. The oil displaced by spontaneous water imbibition is measured (C). The core is then flushed with water, and the oil displaced is measured (D). The water wettability index is equal to c . D- The oil wettabililty index is equal to watt a derived unit in System International (SI) for electrical power. A watt is calculated by Joules divided by seconds 0/s). A watt is equal to 1 J/s, 0.746 hp, and 1 amp x IV. W or w wave a disturbance that passes either through the body (body wave) or on the surface (surface wave) of a substance with no resulting net movement of the material. Body waves are either P-waves (compressional) or S-waves (transverse). Some common types of surface waves are Rayleigh and Love waves. A wave can be described by period, wavelength, and height. P-waves are used in conventional seismic exploration. wave amplitude the displacement between the crest and null point (halfway between the crest and trough) of a wave. Wave amplitude is one-half of wave height. wave breaker vertical baffles in a horizontal separator. The wave breakers are oriented perpendicular to the fluid flow and cross the gas/liquid interface. waveform a plot of wave motions versus time wave frequency the number of waves that pass a point during a specific interval of time. Wave frequency is the inverse of wave period. wavefront the interface during wave propagation between particles at rest and particles in motion wave guide effect a phenomenon in which a seismic wave called a channel wave is trapped in a subsurface rock layer that is bounded by reflectors having reflectivities approaching unity, (normal mode propagation) wave height the displacement between the crest and a successive trough on a wave. Wave height is twice the wave amplitude. wave length or wavelength the distance, measured perpendicular to the wavefront, between successive similar points on the waves, such as crests or troughs. wavelet a pulse of VA to 2 cycles that is the basic response in seismic exploration. The wavelet lasts 50100 ms and has polarity and amplitude. It is the result of convolution by the earth of the seismic impulse. A wavelet can be zero minimum phase. wavelet inversion the conversion of a peak to a trough or visa versa on a wavelet by a filter wavelet processing a process that undoes the effect of waves passing through a filter. In seismic exploration, wavelet processing removes the changes in the wave form or seismic energy made by the passage of the seismic wave through the subsurface rocks. Wavelet processing recompresses the sound and results in clearer reflections and suppression of multiples, (deconvolution)

wear knot weight in air the top of the casing from abrasion when the drill bit is run in the hole. The wear bushing must be removed when a casing string is run. wear knot a contact pad that is used on drillpipe in a deviated well to distribute the bending load on the pipe and prevent contact of the pipe with the well wall wear pad a section of rubber-like material that is attached to subs such as stabilizers and is designed to reduce wall contact. The wear pads can be replaceable. wear sleeve a cylinder that can be attached to the middle of a joint of pipe to minimize pipe-wall contact with the well walls weathered crude crude oil that has lost its volatiles weathering 1) the physical and chemical breakdown of rocks 2) the near-surface, low-velocity layer in seismic exploration. Weathering velocities are about 2,000 ft/sec compared to subweathering velocities of about 5,000 ft/sec, (low-velocity layer) Wx weathering correction the time correction that is applied to reflection and refraction seismic data to compensate for the weathered or low-velocity layer on the surface of the earth. Uphole shooting or other calculations are often used to make the correction. weathering map a map used in seismic exploration that shows the thickness of the low-velocity layer weathering shot the detonation of a small seismic shot in the near-surface, weathering or low-velocity layer (LVL) to determine the characteristics of that layer for seismic refraction (poop or short shot) weathering velocity the velocity of a seismic P-wave through the weathering or low-velocity zone on the surface of the earth. Weathering velocity is about 2,000 ft/sec. weather window a period of relatively good weather between bad weather periods. A weather window can be either short term such as between storms or longer term such as the summer season. Construction and drilling in offshore and hostile environments is scheduled during weather windows. weber a derived unit in Systems International (SI) for magnetic flux. It is calculated by volts times seconds (V X s). A weber is one joule/ampere. Wb WeCTOGA West Central Texas Oil and Gas Association

567

wedge out

wedge-out 1) the form of a rock layer that decreases in thickness laterally until it becomes zero 2) the disappearance of a rock layer in the shape of a wedge laterally into another rock layer wedge-planar crossbeds layering in sandstones deposited in dunes. The crossbed layers are up to 36 from horizontal (the angle of repose in dry sand) when deposited and are bounded on the top and bottom by planar surfaces that form wedges. wedges see sips weeping a rock that yields water weeping core a fresh core sample in which crude oil is coming out of the pores. The weeping is due primarily to expansion of solution-gas bubbles in the oil as the core was brought to the surface, (bleeding core) weevil 1) see boll weevil 2) the lubricator on a rock bit weevil-proof tools or equipment that are easy to use or assemble weigh mud to measure the weight of drilling mud. The weighing is done with mud scales. weight 1) the gravitational force acting on a body. Weight is measured in force units such as pounds, kilograms, and newtons. On a drilling rig, tubular weight can be either a) weight in air or b) submerged or effective weight. Nominal weight is calculated weight. Weight is not the same as mass. 2) the density of a drilling mud. Mud weight is usually expressed as pounds per gallon (lb/gal), pounds per cubic feet (lb/ft3), or pounds per square inch (psi) hydrostatic pressure per 1,000 ft of depth. Normal drilling mud has a weight of 9-10 lb/gal, and heavy drilling mud often weighs 15-20 lb/gal. weight bars round steel rods that can be filled with lead and are used to give weight to a wireline-tool string and to jarring operations. The bar has a pin connection and fishing neck on the upper end and a box connection on the bottom. Weight bars come in lengths of 2, 3, and 5 ft and have outer diameters of 3A VA, VA, and 1% in. (wireline stems) weight drop a method of dropping a flat weight to generate a seismic impulse. The weight is immediately raised after dropping to avoid a bounce. Battleship armour plate is often used. The weight is located in the back of a truck and has chains hanging from it as a warning. Weight drop is used primarily in the desert. weighted array an arrangement of geophones used in seismic exploration over an area. The geophones make unequal contributions for different parts of the area. weighted cement a cement that contains an additive such as hematite or barite to increase density weighted cost of capital the estimated return by interest or dividends for a company. WCC weight factor a number that is multiplied by the number of face stones on a diamond rotary coring bit to determine the recommended weight on the core bit during coring. K weight in air the weight of an object weighed in air in contrast to submerged or effective weight

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weight indicator wellbore farmout welded-blade stabilizer a stabilizer with blades welded to the body. The blades are hard faced with tungsten carbide and have bevelled edges. A weldedblade stabilizer is used in relatively soft formation. weld joint the manner in which two components are fitted for welding WELID well identification well a hole drilled through subsurface rocks for the original intended use of either a) extracting water, gas, or oil from the subsurface rocks, b) injecting a fluid into the subsurface rocks, or c) obtaining subsurface rock samples for information. Types of wells drilled for petroleum are new-field wildcat wells, new-pool wildcat wells, shallow-pool test wells, deeper-pool test wells, outpost wells, and development wells. Some other types of wells include controlled exploratory, in-fill, appraisal, confirmation, step-out, delineation, injection, service, and stratigraphic test wells. The well can also be a straight hole or a deviated well and can be described as vertical, slant, crooked, or horizontal. A well is named after the operator, owner of the land, or plot identification and followed by the number of the well in the drilling sequence, such as ARCO Prudhoe Bay State No. 1. Wlorwl well authorization a form used for the approval of drilling a well. A well authorization usually contains a) the operator and property names, b) the well number with target and total depth along with drilling target formation name, c) property description and land data with bottomhole location, field, state, lease expiration, working interest ownerships, and percentages, d) cost with IDCs and tangibles, e) monies requested including net dry hole, net producer, gross dry hole, and gross producer, f) authorization signatures, and g) economics including payout, return on investment, and success factor. There is also a well repair and a well abandonment authorization. wellbore or well bore the hole drilled by the bit. (borehole) wellbore cleanup or cleanout treatment the fillup and soaking of a well with acid, usually hydrochloric or hydrofluoric acid, to remove cement residue, mud, scale, and/or perforation debris. There is little or no circulation of the acid during wellbore cleanup. wellbore damage the formation damage and decreased permeability caused primarily by mud filtrate in the shallow zone extending back from a wellbore. Wellbore damage occurs during drilling, completion, stimulation, workover, or production in the well. It is caused by clay swelling, migration of fines, mud particle invasion, chemical precipitation, formation of emulsions, bacterial growth, increases in connate water, and deposition of paraffins or asphalts. Wellbore damage causes an excess pressure drop that occurs around the wellbore and reduces the formation fluid flow into the wellbore. The pressure drop is expressed as a dimensionless number and is normally in the order of +1 to +10 for a new well, (skin damage or effect) wellbore farmout a type of farmout agreement in which the farmee acquires the rights to the wellbore and production from that wellbore but not the leases. The farmor can drill other wells on the leases or deepen the wells.

weight indicator 1) a gauge on the driller's console on the derrick floor that shows hook load and weighton-bit. A weight sensor, usually a pressure transducer or a sensitive load cell, is used on every drilling rig. The weight indicator has a pointer for both hook load and weight-on-bit and has reversible face plates to use with different drilling lines and arrangements. 2) the instrument or weight sensor used to measure the weight hanging from the traveling block on a drilling rig. The weight indicator can be a) attached to the traveling block to directly measure the hook load, b) attached to the dead line and use a bend in the line to measure tension on the line, or c) a pressure transformer and indicating gauge connected with hydraulic hose. 3) an instrument used in wireline operations to show the weight on the wireline. Weight indicators are mechanical, hydraulic, and electric and are incorporated into or attached to a measuring device. The weight indicator is calibrated in pounds. weighting material an additive that is used to increase the density of a fluid. Heavy weight material consists of small particles of inert and nonabrasive particles of high specific gravities such as barite that are added to the drilling mud to increase its weight. Galena is used to make very heavy drilling mud. Hematite is often used in cement slurries. Calcium carbonate is added to completion fluids to increase density. Some weighting material trade names are Magcobar, Baroid, Milbar, Controlbar, and Maccowater. (heavyweight or weight material) weight-loss corrosion a loss or pitting of material by corrosion. Weight-loss corrosion can be prevented by painting, galvanizing, plating, anodizing, or plastic coating. Weight-loss corrosion is in contrast to stresscracking corrosion. weight material see weighting material weight on bit the hanging weight of the drillstring. The weight on bit is shown on a weight indicator on the driller's console that is connected to a weight sensor. In general, harder rocks require greater weight on the bit. WOB or W.O.B. weight pipe a joint of heavy drillpipe that is run along with several other joints of weight pipe on the drillstring between the drill collars and pipe to strengthen the location separating compression and tension on the drillstring. (flexible weight pipe) weight up to increase the density of a fluid such as drilling mud or cement slurry by adding a weighting material such as barite or galena Weiner filter the filter that best produces a desired output. Weiner filters are used in seismic processing and are named after Norbert Weiner. (optimum or least squares filter) weir a solid vertical dam used in a liquid compartment such as a separator, treater, or mud tank. Liquid is dammed to the height of the weir behind the weir and flows over the top of the weir to the other side. The weir is used in gravity separation of liquids such as oil and water, with the lighter liquid flowing over the weir. WEL well evaluation log weld decay a type of intergranular corrosion that occurs adjacent to a weld due to the sensitizing of the grain structure by welding

wellbore storage well log library wellbore storage the volume of fluid held by the wellbore well cleanup burner a gas flare located at the end of a boom on an offshore platform. A well cleanup burner is used to dispose of any unwanted production gas and can also be used during a drillstem test and during a kick in a well. The burner often has a water spray ring around it. well control the methods used to prevent losing control and having a well blow out during a kick. The two most common methods are the driller's method and the wait-and-weigh method. In the driller's method, the drillpipe pressure is maintained constant by circulating heavy-weight kill mud through the kill line after circulating all the kick fluids out of the well. In the wait-and-weigh method, a constant bottomhole pressure is maintained by circulating kill mud at the same time as adjusting drillpipe pressure through a choke. well completion the services and installation of equipment that are necessary to prepare a well for \ production after it has been drilled and tested. Well completion includes setting and cementing casing, perforating, running tubing, installation of pumping equipment or a production tree, installation of flowlines, separators, stock and storage tanks, and well treatment such as swabbing, acidizing, and fracing. well conversion cost the cost of changing a producing well into an injection well well cuttings rock chips produced by chipping and crushing action of the drill bit on the bottom of the well. The largest cuttings are made by roller-cone bits, whereas those made by diamond bits and by air drilling tend to be smaller in size. Well cuttings are commonly sampled at 10-20 ft intervals when drilling the well and at closer spacing when drilling the target. The well cuttings are washer, dried, stored in cloth sacks or envelopes, and labeled, (cuttings) well diagram a cross section of a well containing geological and engineering data. A well diagram can show the rock formations, size of the hole, casing program, producing zone, perforations, lostcirculation and abnormal high-pressure zones, and completion equipment. well disconnection clause a provision in a gas purchase-and-sales agreement authorizing the buyer to cease from purchasing gas and discontinue maintaining a connection with its gathering and transportation facilities with any well from which it is no longer economical to purchase the gas. (disconnection clause) wellhead or well head 1) the portion of an oil well that is above ground. The wellhead is the large, forged or cast steel hardware with machined surfaces such as flange faces and ring grooves that seals the top of the well onto the surface casing or conductor pipe. The wellhead includes the casinghead and tubinghead. It is used to a) contain the pressure in the tubing or tubing-casing annulus, b) land tubing, c) control the flow of fluids and reduce the pressure, and d) run tools. The flanged or studded fittings are standardized for sizes by the American Petroleum Institute and for pressure ratings by the American National Standards Institute. All connections have bolt

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and flange connections with metal sealing rings set in ring grooves. WH 2) see Christmas tree well-head or wellhead cellar the pressure chamber for wellhead equipment on the seafloor. The wellhead cellar can contain the blowout-preventer stack and production-riser connection or the wellhead connectors, the wet tree, the blowout preventer and control valves, and flowlines. It is installed by guide lines attached to the guide posts. In a dry cellar, the cellar contains the wellhead, dry tree, flowlines, and valves. The dry cellar is serviced by a crew from a service capsule through an entry in the top. Work is done in a dry, 1-atm environment. wellhead or well head housing the pressure vessel containing the casing and tubing hangers located on a subsea wellhead. The well is drilled through the wellhead housing. wellhead or well head netback the net price an operator of a gas well receives for the gas, usually in $/MMBtu, after transmission and production area charges have been deducted wellhead or well head pressure the pressure on the fluid at the top of the well after the well has been shut in for a period of time, usually 24 hours. Wellhead pressure is indicated on a gauge on the wellhead. wellhead or well head price the price for gas or oil at the well wellhead separator a separator used on a subsea well to separate water, condensate, and sediment from the gas stream before it goes to the choke manifold well jacket the protective structure around an offshore well. A well jacket is equipped with warning lights and other signals to alert boats. well length the productive length of a horizontal well well log a record of rock and fluid properties with depth in a well. A well log is usually plotted on a long strip of paper with depth in the well in the depth track down the length of the strip. The horizontal scale on the well log is usually 1 or 2 in./lOO ft (correlation scales) or 5 in./lOO ft (detail scale). A well log can be either a single type of measurement or several types of measurements plotted together. Some different types of well logs include drilling time, sample or lithologic, mud, and wireline well logs. The wireline well logs are made by lowering sensors in a sonde or tool down the well on a wireline. Wireline well logs include electric, induction, gamma ray, neutron porosity, formation density, caliper, and dipmeter logs. Measurement while drilling (MWD) makes well logs as the well is being drilled. Some types of logs are calculated from well logging measurements such as movable-log plots and synergetic logs. well-loggers block a wheel on top of a well that is used to raise and lower the wireline for a well logging instrument in a well well log library a location where well logs (or copies of well logs) from a particular region are on file. For a membership fee, a person can become a member and examine and copy the well logs. Scout cards, production data, and other information are often collected by the libraries. Well log libraries are located

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well operating costs well spacing pump or repair the rod string. The rods are suspended in the mast by their upper ends. The well service unit is also used to pull tubing by rearranging the equipment to accomodate the heavier load. The stands of tubing are stacked vertically on end in a rack on the mast. The unit is equipped with tools to handle several sizes of rods and tubing. A well-service unit that is designed for more extensive repairs on a well is called a workover rig. (service or pulling unit or pulling machine) well servicing maintenance and repair on a producing gas or oil well. Well servicing often involves repair or replacement of the downhole pump, sucker rods, gas lift valves, tubing, packers, and other equipment and is done with a well servicing unit. well servicing fluid a fluid that is used during well servicing to protect the producing formation and to keep the well under control during servicing. Three types of well servicing fluid are a) water base, b) oil base, and c) foam. WSF well shooter a person who uses explosives to fracture a well, (shooter) well shooting a method used to determine average seismic velocity as a function of depth in a well. A geophone is lowered to different depths in a well to record shots from a shothole. wellsite the surface location where the well is drilled wellsite computer log a well log that is processed by an onboard, truck-mounted computer at the wellsite. The most common logs use deep resistivity, spontaneous potential, gammaray, neutron and density porosity, and caliper measurements to calculate water saturation. Other types of wellsite computer logs include lithology analysis, dipmeter computations, two-way travel times, vertical seismic profiling, borehole profile, cement volume, and wellsite production log. (quick-look log) wellsite geologist or well sitter the operator's supervisor of geological procedures at the drillsite. A well sitter is a geologist who stays at or near the well during drilling operations, usually 24 hours a day, to perform geological tasks such as collecting and examining well cuttings at regular intervals and recommending and supervising coring and well logging. The wellsite geologist makes sure that all information is obtained from drilling the well and an accurate record is made for evaluating the well. wellsite survey an engineering survey of the seabed and the shallow subsurface that is conducted by drilling personnel before the rig is moved on site. The survey is usually required by the rig owner's insurance company, (hazard survey) well sorted a sedimentary rock with clastic particles that are relatively uniform in size. A well-sorted sandstone such as an orthoquartzite has good original porosity and can be a good reservoir rock. Well sorted is in contrast to poorly sorted. WSRT well spacing the legal regulation of the number and location of wells in a producing reservoir. In the United States, well spacing is set by a state regulatory agency and often states the surface area per well, the minimum distance from lease lines and between wells. Well spacing is designed to prevent the drilling of too many

in most of the important petroleum cities and can operate either for profit or nonprofit. well operating costs the expense of producing oil from a well. Well operating costs are the operating costs of the wells including the gathering and separating equipment but do not include the costs of drilling and completing the wells or transporting the oil. (lifting costs) well permit the authorization by a government regulatory agency to drill a specific well. The well permit states the spacing and regulations for the well and lists the operator and proposed well depth. well platform an offshore structure designed to receive flowlines and to support producing subsea wells. The well platform usually has a platform above the surface of the water to accommodate the equipment such as wellheads, tanks, separators, treaters, and pumps along with the crew to operate it. One well platform can often service an entire offshore field with numerous wells drilled out from the platform with deviation drilling. The treated oil and gas is usually brought ashore by a submarine pipeline. The well platform can be a piled-steel platform, gravity structure, articulated platform, tension-leg platform, or subsea production platform. (production or producing platform) well potential the maximum production capability of a specific well during a 24-hour perioid. The potential is often determined from a test that is required by a government regulatory agency. well pressure see reservoir pressure well program a list of information needed by a tool pusher and the drilling crew to drill a specific well. The well program shows the depth to be drilled, formations to be encountered, hole size and bits to be used, sampling instructions, completion procedures, and plug-and-abandon instructions. well puller a well-service crew member well sampler a person responsible for collecting the well cuttings at regular intervals during the drilling of a well

well-service unit

well-service unit hoisting equipment including a mast and winch that is mounted on a truck or trailer. The well service unit is designed to do maintenance work on a producing interval in an oil or gas well and has its own crew. Most commonly, the sucker rods are pulled from the well to change the downhole

well spotting wetting fluid or phase wells and the waste of oil or gas. Oil wells are often assigned 40 ac, and gas wells often have 640-ac spacing. well spotting locating wells on a base map well status map a map showing the location of wells. Producing wells have the well number, production in barrels of oil and water per day and gas/oil ratio printed next to them. Injection wells have the well number, barrels of water injected per day, pounds per square inch, and cumulative injection in thousands of barrels. well stimulation a mechanical and/or chemical action by the operator of a well, such as fracturing, acidizing, or workover, to increase production from the well wellstream the fluids produced from a well. The wellstream can include natural gas, natural gas liquids, and water from a gas well. Wellstream can include crude oil, natural gas, and water from an oil well. well tester a permanent or skid- or trailer-mounted separating and measuring unit for produced oil, water, and gas well tie a well through or by which a seismic line is run so seismic events on the seismic record can be correlated with a well log from the well WELND well number Wendlockian a global age of geological time that occurred about 420-415 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Silurian epoch. Werner filtering a method used in magnetic exploration to calculate the depth to a magnetic body by assuming a shape of either a) dikes of infinite strike or b) thin magnetic sheets Westphal balance an instrument used to measure the density of a liquid. A weighted plummet or solid body is immersed in the liquid and weighed. Westphalian a global age of geological time that occurred about 320 m. y. ago. It is part of the Middle Carboniferous. wet a well or reservoir rock that contains water with no commercial amounts of oil or gas wet bottom the excessive discharge of liquid through the underflow of a hydrocyclone such as a desander or desilter wet box a metal cylinder that is hinged to fit around a joint of drillpipe as it is being broken out (unscrewed) when tripping out of the well. The wet box prevents mud from being lost by squirting out onto the surrounding area. The drilling mud is emptied with a drain plug onto the shale shaker, (mud box, mud saver, Mother Hubbard, or splash box) wet completion a common subsea completion in which the subsea completion system is exposed to sea water. A wet completion is in contrast to a dry completion. wet fluid the water, gas, oil, and/or suspended sediments that are produced, (wet stream) wet gas natural gas that contains significant amounts of condensate and/or other hydrocarbons such as propane and butane that can be liquified. The liquid content is reported in barrels per million standard cubic feet of gas (bbl/MMscf) and is often 7-14 bbl/ MMSCF. In North America, wet gas is defined as

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containing more than 0.3 gal of natural gas liquids per Mcf. For engineering, wet gas can also be defined as gas that produces more than 50,000 SCF/STB. The natural gas in the free gas cap of a saturated 0.7 pool is always wet gas. Wet gas is in contrast to dry gas. Rich gas contains condensate, wg or WGAS 2) Natural gas that contains water (saturated or wet natural gas) wet glycol triethylene glycol that has absorbed water in a contact or absorber tower. Wet glycol can be reconcentrated into lean glycol by heating it to drive off the steam, (rich glycol) wet job pulling tubing that is filled with oil or water. As each joint is unscrewed (broken out), the fluid sprays over the rig floor. wet method the inspection of material using ferromagnetic particles suspended in a liquid wet natural gas see wet gas wet oil crude oil that has not been processed to remove water wet stream the water, gas, oil, and/or suspended sediments that are produced, (wet fluid) wet string a length of pipe such as tubing containing water, drilling fluid, or oil. If the wet string is pulled from a well and the connection between joints is broken, the liquid will squirt out. wettability 1) the relative degree to which a fluid will spread out on the surface of a solid when in the presence of other immiscible fluids. Wettability depends on a) the chemical composition of the fluids such as the asphaltine content of crude oil and b) the nature of the pore walls. 2) the work necessary to separate the wetting fluid from a rock surface. Wettability is measured by the wettability index wettability index a number that is based on the observation that a strongly wetting fluid will spontaneously imbibe until the residual saturation of the nonwetting fluid is obtained. The wettability index is the log of the work required for oil to displace water divided by the work required for water to displace oil in a sample such as a core. A wettability index of 1.0 is strongly oil wet, 0 is neutral, and + 1.0 is water wet. wettability number a measure of how much a reservoir rock is water- or oil-wet based on capillary pressure curves wettability reversal the reversal of preferred fluid wettability in a rock. The reversal can go from oilwet to water-wet and vice versa. Wettability reversal can be obtained by chemicals in enhanced oil recovery. wetting the process in which a liquid covers and adheres to a surface such as the rock surface of a pore. If two liquids such as oil and water occupy a pore, one will be the wetting fluid or phase. The wetting fluid will occupy smaller pores and corners where sand grains or rock surfaces contact. The wetting fluid will be harder to produce than the nonwetting fluid or phase. wetting agent see surfactant wetting fluid or phase the liquid, when two liquids are present on a surface, that has the most affinity for the surface. The contact angle of the wetting phase is less than 90. The other liquid is called the nonwetting fluid. In a hydrocarbon reservoir, natural

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wetting the gas cap whole-core analysis whip off to break off casing in a well

gas is always the nonwetting fluid, crude oil is the wetting fluid relative to gas, and crude oil is the nonwetting fluid relative to water in sandstones. Carbonates are neutral or have crude oil as the wetting fluid. wetting the gas cap a process that occurs if the pressure on a gas cap is reduced more rapidly than the pressure on the underlying oil reservoir. As the oil and solution gas migrate upward into the gas cap, the liquids fill the pore spaces of the gas cap. The liquids now filling the gas-cap pores are more difficult to produce than had they remained in the oil reservoir. wet tree a Christmas tree-type of completion with valves, chokes, and gauges over a flowing well on the sea bottom. A wet tree is exposed to the water and is in contrast to a dry tree. Dry trees are used on land and are less common than wet trees on sea completions. wet trip a drillstring filled with drilling mud during tripping out. A wet trip causes the drilling mud to splash out onto the drill floor when the drillpipe is broken out or unscrewed. A wet trip is caused by plugging on the bottom of the drillstring such as plugged jets on the drill bit. (tripping out wet) wet well a well that produces only water with no commercial petroleum, (duster or dry hole) WF 1) waterflood 2) wide flange 3) well files Wf weight of fluid WFD wildcat field discovery W/4 west quarter WFR waterfrac WG Worn out of gauge wg 1) wet gas 2) water in gas cap w.g. water gauge WGAS wet gas W.G.P. Western Gas Producers WGR water/gas ratio WH wellhead Wh mass flow rate wh or wht white whale a well that is a gusher wheel-type back-off wrench a manual wrench in the shape of a wheel that is used to break out a suckerrod string when it is pulled from a well, (back-off wheel or circle wrench) when you're out you're out provision a clause in an agreement such as a joint operating agreement in which any party that goes nonconsent at any stage of the agreement is out of the well and possibly the entire agreement WHIP or whip whipstock whip a vibration in the sucker-rod string in a well caused by the pump operating at a resonant speed or improper connection of the string to the downhole pump whip a connection to strike a collar or threaded connection with a hammer to loosen it. (heat or warm a connection) whipline a light lifting line

whipstock

whipstock 1) to drill a deviated hole 2) a tool used to drill a deviated hole. A whipstock is a long, tapered or wedge-shaped steel casting that is concave on the inside. A ring on the top of the whipstock is used to guide the drillstring and retrieve the whipstock. The whipstock is run into the well on a special sub and oriented to cause the bit to drill out at an angle up to a maximum of 4. The whipstock often has a chisel point to anchor it. The concave groove or channel in the whipstock guides the drillstring which initiates a kick off with a small-diameter gauge bit to drill a pilot hole. After drilling 10-20 ft below the whipstock, the assembly is removed, the pilot hole is surveyed and then a regular drillstring is run in the hole. Three types of whipstocks are a) standard, b) circulating with a port to clean the bottom of the hole, and c) permanent that acts as a bypass for collapsed casing or a fish. The original whipstock was wooden and was used for sidetracking a well. Whipstocks date back to the 1890s and have been partially replaced by downhole mud motors and bent subs. WHIP, whip, orWS whipstock anchor a permanent plug set in a well just below a whipstock used to deviate a well or mill a window in the casing. A whipstock anchor prevents the whipstock from being pushed downward. whirley an offshore crane that can turn 360 witcher a geologist white mica see muscovite white oil see retrograde gas Whiterockian a North American epoch of geological time that started 485 m. y. ago. It is part of the Ordovician period. WHOF wellhead open flow whole core a cylinder of rock with a diameter of PA to 5V4 in. and lengths of 20-90 ft that was drilled by a rotary coring bit from the bottom of a well. A whole core is in contrast to a smaller diameter wireline or sidewall core, (full-diameter or full-hole core) whole-core analysis an analysis such as a permeability or wettability measurement that uses the entire core in contrast to plug samples. A whole-core

Whse wind guy line analysis is used when a plug sample will be inaccurate due to heterogeneities such as vugs and fractures in the rock. A whole-core analysis uses large instruments. Whse wholesale WI 1) working interest 2) water injection 3) washing in 4) drilling fluid weight W| cumulative water injected wickers frayed strands of wire along the outside of wire rope wicker spear a fishing tool composed of a solid, metal bar with a barb on the bottom or with barbs along its length that is used to fish cable (center or rope spear) wide open a well or pipe that is flowing without restrictions wiggle stick see walking beam wiggle trace a plot of seismic energy amplitude versus two-way traveltime. A wiggle trace is an old type of seismic record. wiggle-variable area trace a trace on a seismic section with the recorded energy peaks filled in with black. It is used on a variable area display, wiggleVA trace wiggle-VA trace wiggle-variable area trace wigglie a flexible drillpipe used in deviation holes. The wigglie has a jig sawer or figure-8 type of cut on the end. WEH 1) water in hole 2) went in hole W.I.H. water in hole Wilcox a North American age of geological time that occurred about 55-50 m. y. ago. It is part of the Eocene epoch. wildcat 1) an exploratory well. WC 2) a drum with deep grooves that is used to reel a chain on a windlass wildcat risk or success ratio the probability that several favorable geological conditions will be encountered when drilling an exploratory well and will result in a producing well. The ratio is computed by dividing the completed wildcat wells by the total number of wildcat wells drilled. wildcat tail the part of a development well that is drilled below the producing zone to test a deeper, unproven zone wildcatter a person or organization that drills exploratory wells wildcatting drilling exploratory wells wildcat well an exploratory well. The wildcat well can be either a new-field or new-pool wildcat. A wildcat well is drilled in an area that has no production (new-field), or is drilled to test a new reservoir rock (new-pool) that has no current production in a producing area, (controlled exploratory well) WC wildflysch a European term for a sedimentary rock deposit consisting primarily of shales and sandstones characterized by large and poorly sorted boulders caused by tectonics and contorted bedding due to slumps and slides wild gasoline see retrograde gas or natural gasoline wild well a well in which gas and/or oil is blowing uncontrolled into the air. (blow out)

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WIN water input well winch a powered reel, drum, or spool of cable or wire rope that is used to raise, lower, or pull equipment

winch type pumping unit

winch-and-cable or winch-type pumping unit artificial lift equipment that balances the rod string that drives the rod pump in the producing well with a hanging counterweight of cast iron weights in an adjacent, shallow well. The winch-and-cable pumping unit consists of a winch, cable, and rotary cam mechanism. The cable connects the rod string with the counterweight and the polished rod is replaced with a polished tube. The winch-and-cable pumping unit gives long (30-40 ft), slow-pumping strokes that decrease peak load on the rods and yield a higher fluid output than other pumping units. (Alpha

windbreak the sheeting that is used around the drill floor and monkey board on a drilling rig to protect the crew from the weather windfall profit tax a deductible excise tax on crude oil production after February 29, 1980, in the United States. The windfall profit tax was on the excess of sales price of a barrel of oil over an adjusted base price plus the severance tax adjustment. The tax was collected by the purchaser of the oil through a withholding system. Oil was classified into Tier 1 (oil from properties that began production before 1979), Tier 2 (oil from stripper wells or a Naval Petroleum Reserve), and Tier 3 (new oil found after 1979, heavy oil, and tertiary recovery oil). Tier 1 was taxed the highest. The tax rate also depended on whether the producer was integrated or an independent. The windfall profits tax was repealed in 1988. WPT wind gas nitrogen wind guy line the guy line that is used to secure a mast or derrick on a drilling rig, workover rig, or well servicing unit from swaying in the wind. Wind guy lines are wire cables that are attached to the mast or derrick on one end and to guyline anchors or

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windlass wireline or wireline grapple

deadmen on the ground. There are usually four lines, one in each direction. Wind guylines are in contrast to load guys. windlass the winch used on a boat, drillship, or semisubmersible to raise the anchor(s) wind-load rating a maximum wind speed that a drilling rig, with and without its racks filled with stands of pipe, is designed to withstand. The wind-load rating of a derrick is commonly 75 mph with stands of pipe and 115 mph without the stands. Winchmobile a self-propelled, triple-telescoping, mobile mast that handles Range 2 triples and backs in wind noise background noise recorded on seismic geophones window 1) an uncommitted portion of a pooled or unitized reservoir 2) an opening milled in the side of pipe. A window is milled or ground into the casing of a well to kick off deviation drilling. 3) an interval of time during which a function such as autocorrelation occurs (gate) 4) the oil window during which organic matter is maturated to form crude oil. The oil window occurs between about 150 and 300F and is time dependent. window lease a lease that has a small period of time within which to exercise the option to drill on that lease window mill a tool that is rotated to grind (mill) a hole (window) in the casing of a well for directional drilling. The window mill is used after a starting mill initiates the window in the casing. wing valve a valve on one of the horizontal sections (wing) on a Christmas tree. The wing valve is used to regulate the flow from the well to the treating equipment and pipeline. winnow the sorting or removal of fine particles by fluid flow such as wind or water washing winterized rig a drilling rig that has been modified to drill in cold weather. Temporary winterization can include windbreaks around the rig floor and monkey board and heating from an automatic boiler and radiators. Permanent winterization can include insulated mud and water lines, with steam-heating, enclosed mud tanks, and protected blowout preventer stacks. winter rig see winterized rig WIOE water-in-oil emulsion wipeout the elimination of deep reflections on seismic by a shallower, very slow velocity layer wiper 1) an outer sealing ring that prevents particles from entering the working surfaces of a downhole tool such as a jar 2) see wall scratcher wiper plug a hard rubber cylinder that is pumped down the casing string during a cement job. The wiper plug is used to separate the cement slurry from the fluids in front of and back of it and to prevent cement contamination. A top plug that comes after and bottom plug that precedes the cement are often used. The bottom plug has a hole in it covered by a diaphragm to allow the cement slurry to flow through, whereas the top plug is solid. The wiper plug is made of a cast aluminum body with molded rubber fins.

DISPLACEMENT FLUID

wiper plug

wiper trip 1) the running of a rotating drill bit and drillstring up and down the well to remove the filter cake. A wiper trip can be done to condition the hole before logging or before running casing. After a wiper trip the hole is circulated to remove cavings and cuttings. 2) the running of the bit on a drillstring up to the bottom of the last casing string to ream out any keyseats and doglegs wiping rubber a rubber cylinder with a hole down the center. A wiping rubber is used to scrape oil and water off tubing when pulled from a well. It is placed in a plate that is inserted between the tubing slips and the blowout preventers or wellhead. wireline or wire line cable that is commonly used to raise and lower equipment in a well. Wireline is usually made of wire rope which is made of several twisted strands of braided steel wires. Wireline diameters range from 3/i6 to 3 in., but the smaller diameters are more commonly used. Solid wireline or slick line is made of a single strand of very strong steel wire that is about 0.066-0.092 in. in diameter. WL wireline clamp a device that is used to hold the end of a wire rope to the main rope wireline coring a method of coring a well without tripping in and out with the drillstring. The core is raised by wireline in a retractable core barrel inside the drillstring. The cores range up to 15 ft in length and between V/*-2i in. in diameter. WLC wireline cutter a cylindrical fishing tool that is used to cut a sand line or other cable in a well. One type of wireline cutter is lowered down the wireline to be cut, and then an explosive charge is detonated to force a cutting wedge through the wireline. Another type of cutter is dropped down the line in the well and uses the momentum of the impact to cut the wire with a tapered knife. Some wireline cutters are run on a second wireline and are activated electronically. The tool often has a fishing neck. The wireline cutter can also be a surface tool where a cutter head is struck by a hammer. wireline grab a wireline fishing tool with two or three metal prongs extending downward with metal barbs protruding inward on the inside of each prong. The grab is used to recover wirelines, (grab) wireline or wireline grapple a fishing tool that uses several spring steel hooks to retrieve wireline in a well

wireline jar wireline well log wireline jar a fishing tool that is designed to deliver either an upward or downward blow to tools or fish in a well. Three types of wireline jars are a) stroke, b) tubular, and c) hydraulic jars. wireline logging the evalutation of a well using a sonde run into the well on a wireline. The well is first conditioned by circulating. A logging truck is backed up to 100-150 ft in front of the V-door. The sonde is hoisted onto the drill floor and lowered down the well. Electrical, acoustical, and radioactive properties of the formations and their fluids are made by remote sensing as the sonde is brought back up the hole under a constant speed. Different sondes are run at different speeds, and some sensors can be combined on the same sonde. The measurements are recorded on a film with a depth scale and on magnetic tape in the logging truck. A logging engineer monitors the tool response on meters and a cathode ray tube. The taped data can be transmitted to a distant site by telephone or radio. Computer processing of the information can be done either at the site or at a computer center. A field print of the information is made at the site. Wireline logging can be run in wells with an inclination of 0-45.

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wireline splicing the joining together of two ends of a wireline line by using a metal needle to interweave the strands of wire wireline stems round steel rods that can be filled with lead and are used to give weight to a wireline tool string and to jarring operations. The stem has a pin connection and fishing neck on the upper end and a box connection on the bottom. Wireline stems come in lengths of 2, 3, and 5 ft and have outer diameters of %, VA, VA, and W* in. (weigfit bars) wireline survey any logging operation run in a well by wirelines wireline test a method for testing a well's potential. A tool is lowered into the well on a wireline to sample the fluid in a specific reservoir. The wireline test is usually used in unconsolidated, sandy reservoirs. WCT wireline tools equipment that is run and pulled from a well by wireline. Because they can be recovered, wireline tools are classified as retrievables and include packers, gas lift valves, swabs and pressure, temperature and flow measurement devices. wireline truck or unit a service company truck that has a reel of wireline mounted on it. The wireline is used during wireline operations to run and pull tools in a well. wireline valve 1) a manually operated, ram type of closing element that is used to shut in a well around a wireline during wireline operations, (wireline or wireline preventers)

wireline well logging

wireline operations work performed in a well with a tool run and pulled on a wireline. Wireline operations can be either nonelectric such as slickline or swabbing or electric such as logging. wireline operator a wireline service-company technician who operates the logging equipment wireline preventers a manually operated, ram type of closing element that is used to shut in a well around a wireline during wireline operations, (wireline valve) wireline socket the opening through which the wireline is attached to the top of a downhole tool. The wireline socket consists of a body, spring that acts as a shock absorber, spring support, and disk to which the wireline is attached. A stranded line socket is secured by babbit. wireline spear a fishing tool run on wirelines or fishing string that has one, two, or three long, metal prongs on the bottom with four to six metal barbs protruding out at at angles of 90, 120, or 180. The tool is used to recover wirelines.

wireline well log

wireline well log a record of the properties of rocks and their fluids with depth in a well detected by sensors in an instrument called a sonde that is raised up the well on a wireline. Some types of wireline well logs include electric, gamma ray, neutron porosity, formation density, sonic, caliper, temperature, and dipmeter. A field copy of the well log is made in

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wireline or wireline wiper woodpecker hole wko workover wkor workover rig Wkst wackestone Wl or wl well Wl 1) west line 2) wireline 3) water loss W/L 1) water load 2) west line wl water loss WLC 1) wireline coring 2) wireline core wld 1) weld 2) welding WLFT wireline formation test WLNT walnut hulls WLS well location survey log WIT 1) wireline test 2) wireline formation test WLTD wireline total depth WLY or W'ly westerly WM mud density wm mud weight WM density of mud carrying cuttings WN weld neck Wn nominal weight WNSO water not shut off WO 1) waiting on 2) workover 3) wash over 4) work order W.O. workover W/O or w/o without W/O 1) west offset 2) water-in-oil emulsion WOA 1) waiting on acid 2) waiting on allowable WO&A workover and abandoned WO&R workover and recompletion WOB or W.O.B weight on bit WOC or W.O.C. waiting on cement WOCR waiting on completion rig woes waiting on cement to set WOCT 1) waiting on completion tools 2) waiting on cable tools WOC or Woe time the shut-down time on a rig between when the cement slurry is pumped down the casing and when the cement plug is drilled or the casing perforated. During WOC time, the cement is setting. WOE welded one end WODP without drillpipe WOG water, oil, and gas WOGA Western Oil and Gas Association Wolfcampian a North American epoch of geological time that occurred about 290-275 m. y. ago. It is part of the Permian period. WOO, W.O.O., or woo waiting on orders wood alcohol an alcohol (CH3OH) that can be manufactured from methane, (metbanol) woodpecker drill collar a drill collar with indentations on one side to make an eccentrically weighted collar, (indented drill collar) woodpecker hole the hole in a rope socket for the cable

the recording truck after logging. A cleaner office copy is made later, (mechanical log) wireline wiper a flexible, rubber scraper that removes mud, water, and oil from a wireline as it is being pulled from a well wire mesh a 4-6 in. thick pad of fine wire that is used in an impingement separator. Thevapor passed up through the wire mesh to separate liquids. wire rope a cable made with braided steel wires forming several twisted strands wound around a steel core. Types of wire rope include a) round-strand, b) flattened-strand, c) locked-coil, d) half-locked, and e) multistrand. The round-strand type is used to make drilling line and has six strands wound over a fiber or a small wire rope core with one or several wires in the core. Wire rope has a diameter between 3/ie-3 in. and is usually lVfe-lVi in. Wire rope is made from cold drawn carbon steel. The API classifications are extraimproved plow steel, improved plow steel, plow steel, and mild plow steel. Wire rope is described by type of core, number of strands wrapped around the core, and the number of wires per strand. The two common types of lays are Lang's lay and ordinary or regular lay. Lang's lay has both the strands and the strands in the rope twisted in the same direction. Lang's lay is either right or left handed depending on whether the strands are twisted to the left or right as one looks away from one end of the wire rope. Ordinary or regular lay has the strands and the strands in the rope wound in different directions. Ordinary lay has a shorter life than Lang's lay but is easier to install and handle. Wire rope is sometimes called wireline, rope, or cable. wire rope clip see V-bolt wire rope lay a length of wire rope in which the strands make one complete revolution wire rope windlass a machine that is used to tighten and wind wire rope wire rope wrench a wrench used to splice and pull back twists in wirelines wire strand a group of wires twisted together. Wire strands are used to make a wire rope, (strand) wire-wrapped screen a short pipe that is used in a wire-wrapper screen completion in gravel pack wells. The pipe has openings on the side with shaped wire screen covers. Wisconsian an epoch of geological time that was the fourth and last glaciation during the Pleistocene epoch. It is the equivalent to the Wurm in Europe. witching the use of a forked stick, made of peach, willow, or other wood that is alleged to be of value in finding the location for a water, oil, or gas well. The stick is held in both hands and pointed out in front of someone walking over the ground. Natural attraction of the far end of the forked stick towards the subsurface is used to indicate a potential well site. withdrawal a restriction on the use of United States public land that holds the land for a specific public use. wk weak wkd worked wkg working

WOP worm hole WOP 1) waiting on permit 2) waiting on pump 3) waiting on pipe WOPE waiting on production equipment WOPT waiting on potential test WOPU waiting on pumping unit WOR 1) water/oil ratio 2) waiting on rig WORD 1) waiting on road 2) working on road Worden gravimeter or gravity meter a type of gravity meter used in geophysical exploration in which gravity is measured by a mass on the end of a weight arm opposed by a spring. The gravimeter is light weight, portable, and insulated in a thermos container. A Worden gravimeter is sensitive to less than 0.1 mgal. work boat a supply boat used for offshore drilling and production working the undesirable up and down movement of a tubing string in a well. Working is prevented with tubing anchors and packers. working date the specific date on an oil and gas lease in which the lessee must start drilling, pay delay rentals, or surrender the lease working fluid level the level to which an oil and water column would rise behind the oil string below the casing head due to working bottom-tubing pressure at a settled rate of production. Working fluid level is in contrast to static fluid level. working gas natural gas that has been stripped of liquid hydrocarbons and is used in a gas-lift oil well. (lift gas) working head the distance in vertical feet between the working fluid level and the producing formation. Working head can also be expressed in pounds per square in. that corresponds to the height in feet. working interest 1) the interest in a well remaining after all nonworking interests such as royalty, overriding royalty, and production payment interests have been subtracted. A working interest is a share, such as one-fourth or 25%, of costs. Types of working interests are a) carried, b) reversionary, c) divided, and d) disproportionate, {operating interest) 2) the exclusive rights granted in an oil and gas lease to explore for, develop, and produce oil and gas from land. Working interest also includes the full costs of those operations, (leasehold interest) WI working-interest area an area defined in a joint operating agreement between two or more parties in which each party shares proportionately in both the costs and net revenue from wells drilled in the working-interest area. Each party's proportion is usually, but not necessarily, according to that party's relative acreage contribution to the entire workinginterest area. A working-interest area is often confused with an area of mutual interest, which is different. working-interest oil the measured amount of crude oil minus basic sediment and water produced from a well or lease, (net production) working pressure the maximum pressure that a system or equipment such as a blowout preventer or wellhead is designed to operate and still be under warrantee, (maximum service or rated working pressure) W.P. or WP

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working submergence the vertical distance in feet between the working fluid level and the bottom of the tubing in a gas lift well. Working submergence is in contrast to static submergence. working the pipe the application of tension and compression to the drillstring in an attempt to free stuck pipe work over or workover a general term for any remedial operation on a completed well that is designed to maintain, restore, or improve production from a reservoir that is currently producing. Workover can include well stimulation but excludes routine repair and maintenance that is generally covered under well servicing. Sand cleanout, removal of scale or paraffin buildup, acidizing and tracing, deepening, and plugging back are common workover procedures and are done with a workover rig. (reworking) wko, WO or W.O. workover fluid a fluid, usually saltwater or mud, that is circulated in a well during a workover to a) keep the well under control and prevent a blowout, b) to remove debris from the well, c) to cool bits and tools, and d) to operate hydraulic tools. Nitrogen is used to kick off a well and foam is used for,cleanup. workover rig a portable, usually self-propelled, miniature drilling rig that consists of an engine, hoisting system, self-erecting mast, rotary system, drilling fluid circulating system, and other equipment that is used to do extensive repairs to a well. Three types of workover rigs are a) truck mounted, b) carrier or self-propelled, and c) trailer mounted. Truckmounted rigs were the earliest types and had a drawworks on the truck bed that was often powered from the truck's engine. The rig was fitted to the truck. The carrier type is built specifically for the rig. It has a higher floor clearance, stronger mast, and higher horsepower than the truck-mounted unit. Two types of carrier rigs are backed-in or driven-in, depending on the location of the mast and cab. The carrier uses the rig's engines to power it on the road. The trailermounted rig is similar to a carrier rig except it has to be pulled. Small rigs for shallow workovers use air-cooled braking systems, whereas deep workover rigs use a hydromatic brake. Two types of masts are single or double pole and structural masts. The rig capacity is limited by braking, derrick, and substructure capacity and drawworks horsepower. A workover rig is never called a unit such as a servicing unit which does not have the rotary and circulating capabilities of the workover rig. (production rig)wkor work string 1) a drill or tubing string that suspends and drives a tool in the well 2) an older and stronger tubing string that is run into a well to replace the production string during an acid job. After the acid job, the work string is replaced by the production string. worm an inexperienced drilling-crew member worm gear a shaft with a continuous spiral on it. A worm gear meshes with a ring gear. As the shaft of the worm gear turns, it transmits power at right angles to the ring gear. worm hole an elongated cavity in a carbonate reservoir rock adjacent to a wellbore that was formed by acidizing the well

578

worm's eye map

WZ wrist pin the link between the piston and the piston rod on the cylinder of an engine or compressor. (piston pin) WS whipstock ws 1) static bottomhole 2) well static conditions WSa apparent salinity of interstitial water W-SAL water salinity WSD whipstock depth W-SD water sand WSF well servicing fluid WSHD or wshd washed wshg washing WSHP wash pipe WSO or W.S.O. water shut off WSONG or W.S.OJV.G. water shut off no good WSOOK or W.S.O.O.K. water shut off OK W.S.R. waiting on standard rig WSRT well sorted W/SSO water with slight show of oil WST well seismic tool W/sulf O water with sulfur odor WSW water supply well WT wall thickness WT or wt weight wtg waiting wtg. weight wthd weathered wthr weather WTR, Wtr or wtr water WTR-A water analysis WTRSP water supply well WTS water to surface W/2 west half Wurm a European epoch of geological time that is the fourth and most recent glaciation during the Pleistocene epoch. It is equivalent to the Wisconsian in North America. wurtzilite a black, massive pyrobitumen found in veins in the Uinta basin. Wurtzilite is similar to uintahite but is insoluble in turpentine. WUT water up to wvy wavy WW 1) wash water 2) water well Wx weathering wxy waxy Wyoming bentonite a grade of the clay-mineral bentonite that is almost pure montmorillonite. Wyoming bentonite is colloidal and hydrates to form an excellent gel. It is used as a weighting material in drilling muds and to control viscosity and filtration. WZ weathered zone

worm's eye map a geological map showing the aerial distribution of formations that occur directly above a subsurface unconformity. A worm's eye map is in contrast to a paleogeologic or subcrop map that show the aerial distribution of formations that occur directly below a subsurface unconformity. (subgeologic map) WORT waiting on rotary tools WOS washover string WOSP waiting on state potential W.O.S.R. waiting on standard rig WOST waiting on standard tools WOT 1) waiting on test 2) waiting on tools WOT&C waiting on tank and connection WOW waiting on weather WP 1) working pressure 2) wash pipe W.P. working pressure W p cumulative water produced WPC World Petroleum Congress WPT windfall profits tax W.R. washed residue Wr weight of rods WRATE water rate WREC water recovery wrench fault 1) a strike-slip fault that is deep-seated, regional, and nearly vertical involving igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks 2) any and all strike-slip faults

WRENCH FLAT

wrench flat wrench flat a flat area located on the coupling of a sucker rod. The wrench flat is designed to give a wrench a gripping surface to hold the rod to screw or unscrew it from the string. wrench square a part of the sucker rod with a square cross section that is located below the pin threads on one end. The wrench flats are located on the wrench square. wrench tight a connection that was tightened with a manual wrench with 30-100 ft-lb of torque W-RES water resistivity wrestling to handle heavy pipe wrinkle chaser a geologist wrinkle pipe to cut threads on the end of a tubular

X Xtree

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X I ) offset distance 2) reactance 3) and 4) with x 1) offset distance 2) mole fraction of a component in liquid phase 3) cross xaloy An alloy that has very low friction and is used for hard facing xanthan a high molecular weight carbohydrate that is made by bacterial fermentation and is used in polymer flooding X-bd or x-bd crossbed XBD, X-bdd or x-bdd crossbedded X,. capacitative reactance X-hvy extra heavy XI or xl crystal Xt inductive reactance X-lam or x-lam cross laminated XLN, Xln, or xln crystalline XLOG experimentation log

xo flushed zone XPLO explosive treatment XR extended range X-R X-ray X-ray diffraction a method that is used to determine the mineral composition of rocks. X-rays of one wavelength, usually 1.54 u., bombard a powdered sample of the rock. The angles at which the X-rays diffract off the powder are recorded and are characteristic of the mineral's crystal-structure. X-ray diffraction is often used to identify clay minerals and can be used to make a semiquantitative analysis of the different clay-mineral species. XRD X rays electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths from 0.1 to 10 A. X-ray radiation is located on the spectrum between gamma rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-R XRD X-ray diffraction XR shoran extended range shoran in which the radio waves are scattered and received over the horizon x-stg extra strong x-strat cross stratified
XTAL or xtal crystal

Xtree Christmas tree

580

Y yw

a sack of dry cement in cubic square foot per sack (ft3/sk) when water and additives are added 4) the amount of products obtained from a chemical reaction yield point see yield value

Y 1) Young's modulus 2) expansion factor 3) condensate volume y mole fraction of a component in vapor phase yard 1) a storage area for equipment 2) a English unit of length equal to 3 ft or 36 in. One yard is equal to 0.914 m. yd yaw the horizontal twisting of a ship on the ocean about its center axis yazoo stream a tributary that flows parallel to the main stream because of levees along the main stream channel YBP years before present Y correction a method used to smooth out oil volume factors for materials balance calculations with
n p

faulting

STRAIN yield point

two phases. The equation is Y = A V, is the two-phase volume factor related to bubblepoint volume, P is pressure, and Pb is bubblepoint pressure. (Yfactor) yd yard yd3 cubic yard yd2 square yard year a non-System International (SI) unit that is allowable in SI for time. YRoryr YELL or yel yellow Yellow Dog a centrifugal pump used to pump drilling mud from the reserve pit to the mud tanks. (Donald Duck) yellow dog an oil torch that was used to light a drilling rig yelsh yellowish Y factor see Y correction yt sampled seismic trace yield 1) the relative amounts of products that can be refined from crude oil. The average yield for crude oil is 49.6% gasoline, 6.6% jet f u d ^ l ^ gas oil and distillates, 9.3% residual fuel oil, 7.0% lubricating oil, and 6.3% other products. These relative percentages can be changed by refinery processes such as cracking as supply and demand changes. 2) the number of 42-gal barrels of drilling mud with an apparent viscosity of 15 cP that can be produced from 1 ton (2,000 lbs) of a specific clay. The clay can be classified on the basis of yield such as high-yield, low-yield, and bentonite. Bentonite has high yields of 35-50 bbl/T. Low-yield clays produce less than 30 bbl/T. 3) the amount of cement slurry that can be made from

yield point, strength, or stress the minimum stress on a substance that initiates plastic or permanent deformation. Yield strength is the stress required to start a Bingham plastic fluid moving. The Bingham yield value of a drilling mud is determined by subtracting the plastic viscosity from the 300-rpm reading on a direct-indicating viscosimeter. Yield stress is reported in pounds per 100 square foot. For tubulars, the yield strength is the tensile stress required to produce an elongation of 0.5% of the gauge length of the tubular. The minimum yield stress of common drill pipe ranges from 55,000-75,000 psi. YPoryp yield value the initial resistance to flow. The Bingham yield value for drilling muds is measured on a viscometer and reported in pounds per 100 square foot, (yield point) yoke the soft, solid, or laminated magnetic material that is C-shaped and has a coil carrying a magnetizing current wound around it Young's modulus a modulus of elasticity for tension or compression that is equal to stress divided by strain. Stress is in force per unit area of cross section and strain is elongation per unit. Young's modulus is 30 x 106 psi for steel. EorY yo yo a cable-tool driller yo-yo pipe to make frequent trips with pipe in a well yo-yo stick the device that tightens or loosens the set screw that holds the temper screw on a cabletool rig YP or yp yield point Ypresian a global stage of geological time that occurred about 55-50 m. y. ago. It is part of the Lower Eocene epoch. YR or yr year Y1D year to date yw water or holdup proportion

Z Zr

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Z 1) z factor or compressibility factor for deviation from ideal gas law 2) depth 3) impedance 4) elevation with respect to datum 5) acoustical impedance z 1) zone 2) supercompressibility factor 3) mole fraction of a component in mixture 4) depth Zanclean a global age of geological time that occurred about 53-4-6 m. y. ago. It is part of the Pliocene epoch. Zj, gas compressibility at base condition Z chart a plot of Z (gas compressibility) versus reduced pressure at various reduced temperatures Z,, depth drilled zener barrier A semiconductor that allows electrical current passage in only one direction zenith a point directly overhead zeo zeolite zeolite a group of metamorphic minerals that are hydrous aluminosilicates. Some of the more common zeolite minerals include natrolite, heulandite, analcime, chabazite, stibite, mesolite, scolecite, phillipsite, laumontite, mordenite, clinoptilolite, erionite, and harmontome. Zeolites are used in the base-exchange method of water softening and as a gas absorbent and dessicator. zeo zero to set a dial or indicator zero gas the gas value of a mud logging detector when circulating in a clean and balanced well with no vertical gas movement. Zero gas is in contrast to background gas and a gas show. zero-length spring gravimeter see La CosteRomberg gravimeter zero-phase wavelet a wavelet that is symmetrical about its highest peak or trough zero weight point the location on a drill string where tension becomes compression. The zero weight point is usually located above the drill collars. zero-zero gel a drilling mud that fails to form a gel during a quiescent time interval of usually 10 minutes zeta potential the electrokinetic potential of particles that causes colloidal particles to repel and stay in suspension Zj compressibility or deviation from ideal gas law z factor a decimal that is used in gas equations. The z factor takes into account that a real gas such as natural gas in not an ideal gas. Real gas contains

molecules that take up volume and repulse each other electrostatically. zig-zag fold a fold in sedimentary rocks in which the fold limbs are straight with uniform thickness but there is an angular hinge line with thickening. (accordion or chevron fold) zinc chloride a soluble salt (ZnCl2) that is used to increase the density of water and to accelerate cementslurry thickening time zircon a brown, green, pale blue, red, orange, golden yellow, grayish, or colorless mineral that occurs as tetragonal prisms and has the chemical composition ZrSiO4. Zircon occurs in igneous and metamorphic rocks and some sedimentary rocks such as crystalline limestones. Zn or Ze Zn zircon Zn or zn zone Zn time delay of n units zonal damage the reduction of permeability of a producing zone adjacent to the wellbore. see skin effect or formation damage zone 1) a characteristic bed of rocks. A zone can be defined by its petroleum content (oil or gas zone), by lithology (shale or sand zone), or by fossil content. 2) a single continuous deposit of gas and/or oil in the pores of a reservoir rock. A zone has a single pressure system and does not communicate with other zones. A zone is defined in an operating agreement as a stratum of earth thought to be productive of oil and gas and does not communicate with other zones. (reservoir or pool) z, Zn, or zn zone isolation the use of packers in a well to isolate a producing zone zone of aeration the area above the water table in the subsurface rocks. The pores of the rocks in the zone of aeration are filled with air and water vapor. The zone of aeration is important for the formation of solution pores in limestone and is located above the zone of saturation, (vadose zone) zone of capillarity the portion of the zone of aeration just above the water table. The pores of the rock are filled with water held by surface tension (capillary fringe) zone of saturation the zone in the subsurface rocks where the pores are filled with water. The zone of saturation is located below the water table. The zone of aeration is located above the water table, (phreatic zone) zonule the smallest biostratigraphic subdivision of rocks. A zonule can be a subdivision of a subzone. A zonule is often a single layer and is defined by its fossil content. zooplankton floating animals Zr zircon

582

Zublin bin Zr an articulated motion. The Zublin bit was designed in the 1920s to replace the heavy fishtail bit in soft, unconsolidated formations and was sometimes called a Simplex bit. ? t r u e v e r t i c a i d e p th

Zublin bit a type of rotary drilling bit that has one large, bowl-shaped cutter with teeth on the shell. The bowl is mounted on a shank at an angle with a row of steel balls in a bearing race. The teeth have a wiggling, rolling, and scraping motion.. The wheel is mounted off-center to give the cutting elements

Appendix

583

Appendix
Drilling and Completion Records Rotary Drilling Rig Cable Tool Drilling Rig Crank Counterbalanced Beam Pumping Unit Geological Time Scale Giant Oil and Gas Fields (World) Giant Oil and Gas Fields in Canada and the United States Mineral Properties Sandstone Classifications Limestone Classifications Carbonate Porosity Common Geological Map and Log Symbols Drill Stem Test Symbols Flow Sheet Symbols Land Subdivisions (United States) Geological Features Eastern United States Western United States Eastern Canada Western Canada Alaska Unit Conversion Factors Atomic Weights and Numbers Greek Alphabet page 585 587 588 589 590 591 593 599 601 602 603 604 610 611 612 614 616 619 620 621 622 624 625

Appendix

585

Drilling and Completion Records


first oil wells Oilsprings, Ontario, Canada - 1858. The well was drilled to 60 ft. by James Miller Williams. Drake well, Titusville, Pennsylvania - Sunday, August 28, 1859. 69V2 ft TD. Driller was William "Uncle Billy" Smith, operator was Edwin Laurentine Drake and Seneca Oil Company. The well flowed 20 BOPD Grandin well, Warren County, Pennsylvania - 1859 134 feet TD July 4,1853, Cherrytree township, Venango County, Pa. The lease had a 5 year term with the proceeds from the development of an oil spring being divided half and half. Bertha Rogers No. 1, Washita County, Oklahoma - 1974 31,441 feet TD The superdeep well on the Kola Peninsula near the Murmansk region of the USSR, 250 kms north of the Arctic Circle. The well was at 39,570 feet as of December, 1989- The scientific well is being drilled with a bottom-hole turbine, emulsion mud and a 4 or 6 roller-cone cutter head. The rig is an Uralmash - 1500 drilling rig. The drill pipe is made of high-strength, aluminum alloy. The well was spudded in basement rock and cased to 2,000 m. (6,500 feet) 1895-1900, M.C. and C. E. Baker in Corsicana, Texas. 1932, (bullet) and 1946 (jet) El Dorado, Arkansas - 1926, the tool was a conical packer made from oil-field belting, a slip joint and a heavy spring to hold the valve on the bottom closed. Spindletop, Beaumont, Texas -1900 1903 at Lompoc field, California. Casing was puddled to shut off water above pay. The two plug method was first used in 1910. 1937 at Cameron, Louisiana 1909 Designed by Howard R. Hughes and used at Goose Creek, Texas. 1938 Manufactured in Tulsa, Oklahoma and 87 feet high. 1897 on a pier near Summerland, California. H.L. Williams was extending an onshore field. 1947 by Kerr McGee on Ship Shoal block 32 in the Gulf of Mexico southeast of Morgan City, La. The well was drilled from a fixed platform with a barge-tender 10.5 miles offshore in a water depth of 18 feet. 1950, Delong Rig No. 1. 1924 Orchard salt dome, Texas Gulf Coast, (refraction seismic) 1928, Maud pool, Oklahoma 1924, Nash Dome, Brazoria County, Texas (torsion balance) September 5, 1927, Pechelbronn oil field, France. Electrical resistivity measured point by point by Marcel and Conrad Schlumberger. 1947 in the Hugoton field, Grant county, Oklahoma and 1948, in the Rangley field, Colorado by Stanolind Oil and Gas Company. 1880, Pithole City, Pennsylvania. The waterflood was accidental and waterflooding was illegal in Pennsylvania before 1921. 1808, David and Joseph Ruffner using wood strips on a salt-water well at Great Buffalo Lick, West Virginia. 1865, Colonel EA.L. Roberts, Ladies well, Titusville, Pennsylvania using a torpedo made of tin with a gunpowder primer and an ordinary fuse. Susan Unit 17, Kimball County, Nebraska - 1987 5469 feet (7% inch) Heston Martin No. 2, Latimer County, Oklahoma -1987 7580 feet (9% inch) Delta Carter No. 1, Henderson County, Texas -1982 6395 feet (45/s inches) multiple run (16), North Sea - 1987-88 18,016 feet (17V2 inch) single run Pine Tree 2-68, Converse County, Wyoming - 1985 8776 feet (83/4 inches)

first dry hole first recorded oil lease

deepest well drilled for oil or gas deepest well drilled

first use of a rotary drilling rig for gas or oil first perforating gun first drill stem test

first drilling mud first cement job first onsite mud logging first roller cone bit first cantilever mast first offshore well first well drilled out of sight of land

first first first first first

jack-up rig seismic discovery reflection seismic discovery gravity meter discovery wireline log

first hydraulic fracture job first reported waterflood first casing first well stimulation longest footage for milled-tooth bit longest footage for insert bit longest footage for a diamond bit longest footage for a PDC bit

586

Appendix
Weld County, Colorado - 1987 275.3 Mir (7% inch) Cerro Azul No. 4, Mexico over 57,000,000 bbls oil Cerro Azul No. 4, Mexico Feb. 19, 1916 - 260,858 bbls oil Ghawar, Saudi Arabia 75 billion bbls oil (ultimate recovery) Urengoy, USSR 210 Tcf (ultimate recovery) Sonat Discoverer Seven Seas 534 - 1987-88 7520 ft. water (17,430 ft. TD) at Mississippi Canyon Block 657, Gulf of Mexico 11,145 feet Kesserlring N.I NYS Natural Gas Corporation in New York, 1953. It took 2V2 years to drill. 1,760 feet, Jolliet field, Gulf of Mexico located 170 miles southwest of New Orleans. Bullwinkle platform, 1350 feet of water in Green Canyon Block 65, Gulf of Mexico 5240 meters (17,192 feet) in the Bulla-More field of offshore Baku, Caspian Sea. 7,663-8082 meters (25,142-26,517 feet) in the Mills Ranch field, Anadarko basin, Oklahoma. 7544 meters (24,744 feet) in the Baden well, Anadarko basin, Oklahoma. Exxon in OCS-G 5601 No. 1 well, South Timbalier Block 107, Gulf of Mexico in December, 1988.1,834,000 lbs air weight and 1,500,000 pounds buoyed weight to depth of 17,340 feet.

fastest penetration rate most oil from a well most oil from a well during a day largest oil field largest gas field deepest depth water drilling deepest well drilled by cable tools deepest water production deepest water production from fixed platform deepest sustained oil production deepest gas production deepest fishing job greatest depth, weight and length of 135/B in. casing string

Some of these records were compiled by Drilling, the Record Book (SPE)

1 accumulators 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 annular blowout preventer blowout preventer stack brace cathead online boom cellar choke manifold crown block crown platform (crow's nest) degasser derrick (mast) desanders and desilters dog house drawworks driller's console drill (derrick) floor drilling line drill pipe duck's nest elevators fingers fuel tank Geronimo line girt hoisting line hook kelly leg

30 monkey board 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 mouse hole mud discharge line mud-gas separator mud (rotary) hose mud pumps (hogs) mud return line mud tanks (pits) pigpen pipe rack pipe ramp prime movers pulsation dampeners ram blowout preventers rathole reserve pit reserve tanks rotary table shale shaker shock hose stairways standpipe substructure swivel tongs traveling block trip tank water table

20

38

Rotary Drilling Rig

<

41

588

Appendix

Cable Tool Drilling Rig


gin pole

crown block

derrick

engine master control sand reel cellar

Appendix

589

Crank Counterbalanced Beam Pumping Unit


walking beam , center bearing

equalizer bearing horsehead

bridle polished rod clamp carrier bar

polished rod

stuffing box casing head counterweight prime mover crank pin bearing

O 1
Qffi

* I O g

ft

T2.

R1

0*

Giant Oil and Gas Fields


ank
1. 2. Field Name (discovery year) Ghawar (1948) Burgan (1938) Urengoy (1966) Safaniya (1951) Bolivar Coastal (1917) Yamburg (1969) Bovanenkovo (1971) Cantarell Complex (1976) Zakum (1964) Manifa (1957) Kirkuk (1927) Marun (1963) Hassi R'Mel (1956) Zapolyarnoye (1965) Samotior (1965) Romashkinskoye (1948) Rumaila (1953) Prudhoe Bay (1968) Northwest Dome (1976) Abquiq (1941) Hugoton (1926) Berri (1964) Groningen (1959) Country Recoverable Reserves Oil Equivalent Oil mm bbl mm bbl 82,000 87,500 75,000 87,083 47,602 2 38,066 36,100 30,100 30,100 27,983 24,416 20,000 18,400 17,800 17,000 16,195 16,100 15,716 15,114 14,510 14,000 13,783 13,333 13,133 12,995 12,616 12,333 _ 20,000 18,400 17,000 17,000 9,500 1,000 15,114 14,510 14,000 9,450 Trap Gas Tcf (feet) 7,500 4,800 4,000 5,250 3,000 3,600 4,000 5,000 9,100 7,600 2,800 7,450 6,900 4,000 7,300 5,800 10,650 8,500 . 6,500 2,850 7,400 9,650 anticline anticline anticline anticline stratigraphic broad arch anticline anticline (faulted) anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline angular unconformity anticline anticline stratigraphic anticline uplift (faulted) Reservoir Rock carbonate sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone carbonate carbonate sandstone carbonate carbonate sandstone silty sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone carbonate carbonate dolomite

3. 4. 5. 6.
7. 8.

Saudi Arabia Kuwait USSR Saudi Arabia Venezuela USSR USSR Mexico Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabia Iraq Iran Algeria USSR USSR USSR Iraq USA Qatar Saudi Arabia USA Saudi Arabia Netherlands

33
72.5 285.6 11.8 167.9 146.5 4.8 40.2 90 94.3

9.
10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.

26 80 2 69.5 3.7 74

12,800 1,412 12,000 -

carbonate sandstone

592

24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.

Ahwaz (1958) Aghajari (1938) Orenburg (1966) Raudhatain (1955) Arkticheskoye (1968) Zuluf (1965) Bermudez (1958) Kyrtaiol'skoye (1970) Murban Bu Hasa (1962) Medvezh'ye (1967) Khurais (1957) Hassi Messaoud (1956) Troll (1979) Gach Saran (1928) B. Structure (1972) Kangan (1973) Dauletabad (1976) Moran (1956) Daqing (1959) Rumailia North (1961) Abu Sa'fah (1963) Kharasaveyskoye (1974) Minas (1944) Shaybah (1968) Majnoon (1976) Qatif(1945) Kruzernshtern

Iran Iran USSR Kuwait USSR Saudi Arabia Mexico USSR Abu Dhabi USSR Saudi Arabia Algeria Norway Iran Iran Iran USSR India China Iraq Saudi Arabia USSR Indonesia Saudi Arabia Iraq Saudi Arabia USSR

12,160 11,993 11,166 11,000 10,800 10,600 9,916 9,166 9,120 9,099 9,016 9,000 8,966 8,500 8,333 8,333 8,118 8,042 8,000 8,000 7,850 7,449 7,000 7,000 7,000 6,800 6,583

10,160 9,000 700 8,800 300 10,600 7,000 8,000 8,500 9,000 1,400 8,500 42 8,000 8,000 7,500 4,000 7,000 7,000 6,000

12 18 62.8 13.2 63 _ 17.5 55.0 6.7 54.6 3.1 45.4 50.0 50.0 48.7 48.0 2.9 44.7 18.0 4.8 39.5

6,500 6,500 5,300 8,000 7,850 5,800 14,200 8,200 7,600 4,250 5,100 11,000 4,750 4,200 7,500 9,800 9,200 4,492 10,500 6,400 5,000 2,400 5,000 7,000 7,700

anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline (faulted) anticline anticline reef anticline anticline anticline (faulted) anticline anticline anticline anticline stratigraphic anticline (faulted) anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline

carbonate carbonate carbonate sandstone sandstone sandstone dolomite sandstone carbonate sandstone carbonate sandstone sandstone carbonate sandstone dolomite sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone carbonate sandstone sandstone carbonate carbonate carbonate sandsto

I
g

modified from American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 40, Future Petroleum Provinces of the WorldGiant Oil and Gas Fields, by S. W. Cormalt and B. St. John

Giant Oil and Gas Fields in Canada and the United States
Rank Field Name (discovery year) Prudhoe Bay (1968) Hugoton (1926) East Texas (1930) Elmworth (1976) Carthage (1936) Wilmington (1932) Eunice (1929) Midway Sunset (1894) Yates (1926) Wasson (1936) Kern River (1899) Scurry (1961) Pembia (1953) Blanco (1927) Elk Hills (1919) Slaughter (1936) Sho-Vel-Tum (1914) Country Recoverable Reserves Oil Equivalent Oil mm bbl mm bbl 9,450 13,783 12,995 5,600 3,333 3,150 2,977 2,291 2,179 2,046 2,041 1,949 1,926 1,800 1,788 1,719 1,671 1,500 150 2,758 941 2,090 2,046 1,878 1,949 1,701 1,800 25 1,478 1,505 1,433 1,412 5,600 Gas Tcf 26 69.5 . 20 18 1.3 8.1 0.5 _ 1.0 1.3 10.6 1.4 1

Depth (feet) 8,500 2,850 3,700 6,000 2,200 3,700 5,000 1,250 6,200 1,000 5,000 5,200 6,065 8,000 6,500 1,500

Trap

Reservoir Rock sandstone dolomite sandstone sandstone limestone sandstone sandstone sandstone carbonate dolomite sandstone limestone sandstone sandstone sandstone dolomite sandstone "^

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

USA (Alaska) USA USA (Texas) Canada (Alberta) USA (Texas) USA (California) USA (New Mexico) USA (California) USA (Texas) USA (Texas) USA (California) USA (Texas) Canada (Alberta) USA (New Mexico) USA (California) USA (Texas) USA (Oklahoma)

angular unconformity stratigraphic angular unconformity stratigraphic anticline. anticline (faulted) anticline anticline anticline anticline stratigraphic stratigraphic permeability porosity wedge anticline (faulted) stratigraphic anticline (faulted)

1
593

Giant Oil and Gas Fields in Canada and the United States (Con't)
Rank Field Name (discovery year) Ventura Avenue (1916) Kuparuk (1969) Huntington Beach (1920) Monroe (1916) Koakoak Port Thompson (1975) Long Beach (1921) Katy (1934) Drake Point (1973) Kopanoar (1979) Cisco (1981) Whitney Canyon (1977) Cailou Island (1930) Old Ocean (1934) Basin (1947) Greta (1934) Kaybob South (1958) Country 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. USA (California) USA USA (California) USA (Louisiana) Canada (NWT Franklin) USA
(Alaclr'^

Recoverable;Reserves Oil Oil Equivalent mm bbl mm bbl 1,396 991 1,250 1,231 1,204 1,200 1,183 1,118 1,020 1,000 1,000 1,000 998 990 1,250 1,095 1,200 350 937 20 500 1,000 115 657 129 _ 958 540

Gas Tcf 2.4 0.8 7.2 5 1.1 6.0 6.0 3.0 5.9 2.0 5.0 5.7 2.5

Depth (feet) 7,000 6,500 5,000 11,000 7,500 6,775 10,500 6,500 9,000 7,500 10,300 6,500 5,500 -

Trap

Reservoir Rock sandstone sandstone sandstone limestone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone limestone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone carbonate

anticline (faulted) stratigraphic anticline (faulted) anticline anticline (faulted) anticline drag fold salt dome anticline facies change rollover anticline reef

USA (California) USA


^ 1 CXaoy

Canada (NWT Franklin) Canada (NWT Franklin) Canada (NWT Franklin) USA USA
f X
/^l

4 c* *

rt

* ^

rt

^Louisiana ) USA ^texasj USA (New Mexico) USA (Texas) Canada (Alberta)

962 960 958 956

35. 36.
37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52.

Kettleman Hills North Dome (1928) Swan Hills (1968) South Sand Belt (1926) Salt Creek (1906) Coalinga (1887) Goldsmith (1934) Hawkins (1940) Anschutz Ranch East (1978) Claresholm (1978) Whitefish (1979) Buena Vista (1909) Redwater (1948) Rangley (1906) Bayou Sale (1937) Santa Fe Springs (1919) Hastings (1934) Oklahoma City (1928) McElroy (1926) Belridge South (1911) Conroe (1931) Bay Marchand (1949)

USA

948 931 900 891 867 866 850 846 833 833 831 805 804 111 161 760 755 750 741 741 740

456 931
900 766 830 866 850
180 -

2.9 0.7 -

7,200 8,100 3,000 1,000 2,200 5,500 4,800

anticline reef anticline anticline anticline anticline anticline (faulted) drag fold stratigraphic anticline reef anticline salt ridge anticline (faulted) anticline (faulted) anticline (faulted) anticline anticline anticline (faulted) salt ridge

sandstone carbonate dolomite sandstone sandstone dolomite sandstone limestone sandstone sandstone sandstone carbonate sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone dolomite sandstone sandstone sandstone

(California) Canada (Albertaj USA ^iexas) USA (Wyoming)


USA

(California)
USA

(lexasj USA
(Texas)
USA

4.0 5.0 5.0 1.1 -

6,800 5,500 5,000 3,300 6,000 9,500 1,145 6,200 5,000 2,900 1,000 5,200 5,000

(utanj Canada
( AlKot-t-'^ ^AiDertaj

Canada (NWT Franklin)


USA

648 805 755 189 622 760 755 750 730 741 615

(California) Canada (AiDertaj USA ^vjOiorauoj USA (Louisiana)


USA

3.5
0.8 _ 0.7

(California) USA (Texas) USA

(Oklahoma)
USA

53. 54. 55.

^ i exas) USA (Caiirorniaj USA (Texas) USA (Louisiana)

i
595

Giant Oil and Gas Fields in Canada and the United States (Con't)
Rank Field Name (discovery year) McArthur River (1965) Hecia (1975) Bradford (1871) Mocane Laverne (1952) Webster (1937) Golden Trend (1944) Timbalier Bay (1938) Bastian Bay (1941) Coalinga Nose (1938) South Pass Block 24 (1950) Judy Creek (1959) Venture (1979) Smackover (1922) Spraberry Trend (1949) Elk Basin (1915) Parsons Lake Country Recoverable Reserves Oil Equivalent Oil mm bbl mm bbl 670 550 666 658 653 640 624 624 621 605 600 600 599 599 594 585 583 658 20 640 458 507 80 505 475 600 599 594 543 _ Gas Tcf 0.7 4.0 . 3.8 1.0 0.7 3.3 0.6 0.8 3.6 3.5 Depth (feet) 5,400 2,000 4,250 6,100 6,600 12,000 12,675 6,400 8,000 17,650 2,500 7,000 3,900 Trap Reservoir Rock sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone carbonate sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone -

56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71.

USA (Alaska) Canada (NWT Franklin) USA (Pennsylvania) USA (Oklahoma) USA (Texas) USA (Oklahoma) USA (Louisiana) USA (Louisiana) USA (California) USA (Louisiana) Canada (Alberta) Canada (Nova Scotia) USA (Arkansas) USA (Texas) USA (Wyoming) Canada (NWT Franklin)

anticline anticline stratigraphic anticline (faulted) anticline (faulted) salt dome salt ridge stratigraphic anticline (faulted) reef anticline (faulted) anticline anticline

72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89.

Rio Vista (1936) Bateman Lake (1937) Bonnie Glen Cowden South (1932) Fullerton (1942) Keystone (1930) Van (1928) San Ardo (1947) West Ranch (1938) Cushing (1912) Eugene Island Block 300 (1971) Seminole (1936) Burbank (1920) Cowden North (1930) Thompson (1931) La Gloria (1939) Tiger Shoal (1958) Brea ((1884)

USA (California) USA (Louisiana) Canada (Alberta) USA (Texas) USA (Texas) USA (Texas) USA (Texas) USA (California) USA (Texas) USA (Oklahoma) USA (Louisiana) USA (Texas) USA (Oklahoma) USA (Texas) USA (Texas) USA (Texas) USA (Louisiana) USA (California)

583 575 570 568 565 564 546 545 544 540 540 533 533 533 533 531 530 528

75 445 485 315 314 546 529 378 490 290 460 533 450 499 31 30 441

3.5 3.0 0.8 15 1.5 1.0 . 1.5 _ 3.0 3.0 0.5

3,800 9,750 _ 4,700 8,000 9,500 2,800 2,200 6,000 2,700 4,300 5,100 2,850 4,400 5,400 6,000 9,000 4,000

dome (faulted) anticline _ anticline anticline anticline (faulted) anticline (faulted) anticline (faulted) anticline anticline anticline (faulted) anticline stratigraphic anticline salt dome (faulted) rollover anticline anticline (faulted) anticline (faulted)

sandstone sandstone _ dolomite dolomite dolomite sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone dolomite sandstone dolomite sandstone sandstone sandstone sandstone

Rank

Field Name (discovery year) Grand Isle Block 43 (1956) Kenai (1959) Vacuum (1929) West Delta Block 30 (1949) South Pass Block 27 (1954) Vermilion Block 39 (1949) Agua Dulce (1928) Sand Hills (1931) Swan Hill South (1959) Blinebry-Drinkard (1935) Borregos (1937)

Country

90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100.

USA (Louisiana) USA (Alaska) USA (New Mexico) USA (Louisiana) USA (Louisiana) USA (Louisiana) USA (Texas) USA (Texas) Canada (Alberta) USA (New Mexico) USA (Texas)

Recoverable Reserves Oil Equivalent Oil mm bbl mm bbl 524 358 525 524 516 516 515 513 512 510 506 503 524 424 383 15 147 246 510 256 503

Gas Tcf 1.0 3.1 0.5 0.8 3.0 2.2 1.6 1.5 -

Depth (feet) 5,000 6,600 6,400 8,600 12,000 8,700 4,000 8,000 6,000 7,000

Trap

Reservoir Rock sandstone sandstone dolomite sandstone sandstone sandstone dolomite carbonate dolomite sandstone

anticline (faulted) anticline (faulted) anticline (reeO salt dome salt dome (faulted) anticline (faulted) anticline reef anticline anticline (faulted)

modified from American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 40, Future Petroleum Provinces of the WorldGiant Oil and Gas Fields, by S.W. Cormalt and B. St. John

Appendix

599

I3

in o

I-J

m p in

oo p in

oo o in

rH

(N|

GN
11

NO

rr,

ON
I-H

o rr>

QJBt
SJO

ON

ON

* (N

ON rH

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l/N

34

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NO

NO

rxi

2.2

00 N

SO rH

C M rO

1^ ON

CO 00

p
*

p
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ON
in

p o'

p d

rH ON

00 00
fr^

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rr,

3,
3

CN

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00

00

ON

a;
0

970.

i s i 8 8
136.
rH
i i

vfs

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00

in in in

-sr in

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00 in
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r rH

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in NO m

00
-H

?
rr,

3N
CM IN

i i

feldspars orthoclase KAlSi3Og albite NaAlSi3O8 anorthite CaAl2Si2O8 gypsum CaSO4-H2O halite NaCl limonite FeO(OH)-2.05H2O

2,57 2.61 2.76 2.32 2.16 3.60

278.35 262.24 278.22 172.18 58.45 125.79

69.0 75.6 25.6 47.2 55.1 45.0 52.5 24.8 60.1* 14.9 31.3 67.0 56.9 116.0 102.6 0.25 0.28 97.7 0.35

2.55 2.59 2.74 2.37 2.07 3.63

2.54 2.58 2.74 2.35 2.03 3.70

2.86 1.68 313 3.99 4.65 13.00

mica biotite 3.22 K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 muscovite 2.84 KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 olivine forsterite Mg2SiO4 fayalite Fe2SiO4 pyrite FeS2 3.22 4.34 5.01

480.39 398.33

59.7 41.1 61.5 42.9 129.8

42.3 12.4 41.1 22.2 84.4

49.4 70.1 47.2 59.8 35.7

81.8 150.9 79.4 108.0 60.5

0.21 0.36 0.23 0.28 0.23

3.16 2.82

3.20 2.83

8.70 2.40

140.73 203.79 119.98

3.20 4.17

3.24 4.28 5.00

1.54 17.17 16.97

147.4

132.5

37.6

58.8

0.15

4.84

pyroxene augite 3.10 (Ca,Na)(Mg,FeAl)(Si^l)2O6 diopside 3.30 CaMg(Si2O6) enstatite 3.21 Mg2(Si2O6) hedenbergite 3.55 CaFe(Si2O6) hypersthene 3.50 (Mg,Fe)2(Si2O6) quartz 2.65 SiO2 siderite 3.96 FeCO,

237.72 216.58 100.41 248.11 109.87 60.09 115.86

94.1 13.5 111.2

57.0 24.1 63.7

42.2 81.5 39.6

72.9 112.1 69.5

0.25 0.06 0.26

3.05 3.29 3.20 3.49 3.45

3.08 3.33 3-23 3.55 3.51 2.64 3.91

7.79 3.53 1.62 9.58 5.85 1.81 14.69

33.6 123.7

45.0 51.0

50.5 43.8 47.0

74.0 84.9

0.06 0.32

2.65 3.83

modified from The Technical Review, 1988, v. 36, no. 1

Appendix

601

Sandstone Classification
Q+C Subarkose 25 Quartzarenite Sublitharenite 25 Q - Quartz C - Chert F - Feldspar RF - Rock Fragments URF - Unstable Rock Fragments C - Detrital Clay F + GRF + 25 Gneiss RF 25 Other URF +C

Folk, R. L, 1968, Petrology of Sedimentary Rocks: Hemphill's Book Store, Austin, Texas.

95%

A - QUARTZARENITE V-SUBLITHARENITE

SUBFELDSARENITE-/ 75%/

Q = Quartz F = Feldspar R = Rock Fragments

Folk, R. L, P. B. Andrews and D. W. Lewis, 1970, Detrital sedimentary rock classification and nomenclature for use in New Zealand: New Zealand Jour. Geology and Geophysics, v. 13, p. 937-968.

SOURCE GRANITE METAMORPHIC OR VOLCANIC

> 30% FELDSPAR ARKOSE GRAYWACKE > 10% FELDSPAR SUBARKOSE

> 90% QUARTZ

ORTHOQUARTZITE SUBGRAYWACKE

602

Appendix

Limestone Classification
ALLOCHEMICAL ROCKS
I SRARRY CALOTE CEMENT E MOWCRYSTALUNE CALCITE MATRIX

ORTHOCHEMtCAL ROCKS m
MKROCRYSTALLME CALQTE LACKING ALUOCHEMS

INTRAHCtl/TEW

hUCMTECU

m
OOWCRITEOJ OISMICRITEtm*X) BIOMICRITECXU

AUTOCHTHONOUS REEF ROCKS


BT

'^rZyrr^i
KLSPARITEO,)
KLMICRlTEO,)

BIOUTHITEtm

Ttrrigtnous Analogues

LIME MUO MATRIX I SPARRY CALCITE CEMENT

Folk, R. L., 1962, Spectral subdivision of limestone types: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Mem. 1, p. 62-84.

DEPOSITIONAL Contains Mud (Particles Of Clay and Fine Silt Size) Mud Supported Less Than 10 Per Cent Grains Mudstone More Than 10 Per Cent Grains Wackestone Packstone Grain Supported

TEXTURE Lacks Mud and is Grain Supported Original Components Were Bound Together During Deposition... As Shown By Intergrown Skeletal Matter.

Original Components Not Bound Together During Deposition

Grainstone

Boundstone

Dunham, R. J., 1962, Classification of Carbonate Rocks According to Depositionai Texture: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Mem. 1,p. 108-121

Appendix

603

Carbonate Porosity
BASIC
| FABRIC SELECTIVE 1 INTERPARTICLE INTRAPARTICLE INTERCRYSTAL MOLOIC BP FRACTURE WP BC M O CHANNEL* CH FR

POROSITY TYPES
I W O T FABRIC SELECTIVE I

VUG*

VU8

FENESTRAL

FE CAVERN' C V SH 6F

SHELTER

CROITHFRAMEWORK

''Cavern oppllit to mon-tiid or largor p w t t of chonntl or vug thaptt.

| FABRIC

S E L E C T I V E OR N O T 1

3S

BRECCIA BR

Ki /

BORING BO

BURROW BU

SHRINKAGE SK

Pray, L. C. and P. W. Choquette, 1970, Geologic Nomenclature and Classification of Porosity in Sedimentary Carbonates: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Bull. 54, p. 207-250.

604

Appendix

COMMON GEOLOGICAL MAP SYMBOLS

STRUCTURE SYMBOLS

WELL SYMBOLS

^26

STRIKE AND DIP

LOCATION DRY HOLE

ff)

HORIZONTAL

BEDS

OIL WELL GAS WELL

OVERTURNED BEDS CONTACT WITH DIP ANTICLINE SYNCLINE DIP SLIP FAULT STRIKE SUP FAULT

GAS AND OIL ABANDONED OIL WELL CONDENSATE WELL ABANDONED GAS WELL DRY (SHOW OF OIL) DRY (SHOW OF GAS) SHOW OF OIL AND GAS INJECTION WELL SLANT HOLE f"x" at bottom) DISCOVERY WELL

THRUST FAULT (barbs on side of upper plat*)

PROPOSED WATER INJECTION WELL COMPLETED WATER INJECTION WELL PROPOSED GAS INJECTION WELL COMPLETED GAS INJECTION WELL DRILLED AS SALT WATER DISPOSAL WELL CONVERTED TO SALT WATER DISPOSAL WELL PROPOSED WATER SUPPLY WELL COMPLETED WATER SUPPLY WELL CORE TEST WELL PROPOSED CONVERSION WELL

Appendix

605

COMMON GEOLOGICAL SYMBOLS FOR ROCKS

SHALE SANDSTONE LIMESTONE CONGLOMERATE DOLOMITE


* f if t

GRANITIC BASEMENT ROCKS SCHIST

COAL

MICRO FOSSILS PLANT FOSSILS


Oh

wmm

ANHYDRITE-GYPSUM SALT (POTASSIUM) CALCAREOUS SHALE CALCAREOUS SANDSTONE SANDY SHALE -SILTSTONE

CONCRETIONS

1?
1 /^

.
1 /-N 1

OOLITIC LIMESTONE SHELLY LIMESTONE CHERTY LIMESTONE BENTON ITE

r? I? I V
1 A

606

Appendix
siliciclastic rock symbols

miscellaneous rock symbols

A A
carbonate rock symbols quartz sand anhydretic

quartz sandstone

argillaceous
1

chalky

feldspathic sandstone

calcareous

crystalline

arkosic sandstone carbonate rock symbols

carbonaceous

II

LZL
limestone sucrosic

cherty
1

_Z"

\7
dolomitic limestone

dolomitic

micaceous crystalline with recognizable particles calcareous dolomite

7_~7
dolomite fossils

salt hoppers
i I i

very sandy mudstone

itr.

ii
sandy slightly sandy

oolites

wackestone lithoclasts packstone

sltty IT

pelletoids

grainstone

quartz cement

boundstone

Appendix
structure symbols

607

sedimentary structure symbols

roundness of grains

crossbeds

A?
crossbeds with angle chevron crossbeds

-obored

angular sub angular subrounded

burrowed

tracks and trails climbing crossbeds plant roots festoon crossbeds vertebrate tracks planar crossbeds irregular bedding graded bedding \ no apparent bedding nodular bedding asymmetrical ripples teepe structure interference ripples symmetrical ripples birdseye fabric convolute bedding load structure mud cracks rain drops pull-apart slump and contorted bedding

rounded

o
-h
ash

v
mica feldspar

G
glauconite

H
hematite phosphate nodule limonite pyrite euhedral quartz crystal anhedral quartz crystal

c
pull-over flame structure scour and fill

_n_
styolite

O
quartz siderite

fractures

s
sulfur

slickensides flute cast

-Dgroove cast * striation parting lineation

V
volcanic glass vug filling vein or fracture filling

tectonic breccia

solution breccia

608

Appendix
sample and mud log symbols poor oil stain good to / - excellent oil stain tarry or gummy oil dead oil

reaction o oilacid in

faint cut fluorescence strong cut fluorescence poor stain, faint cut fluorescence

r r
hydrocarbon 0 Oder t

gas indication salt water sulfurous salt water fresh water sulfurous fresh water

X
|-L S + +_ Hj5

core symbols

core recovered core unrecovered core partially recovered core recovery unknown apparent dip from core oriented core dip

18?
Az <

180 sidewall core

Appendix
porosity symbols trace poor fair good excellent (1-5%) (5-10%) (10-15%) (>15%) continuous sequence of source rock symbols

609

1 II III (III

analyzed organic lean

P F

analyzed organic rich

vitronite value

V trace vuggy (1-5%) L poor vuggy (5-10%) U fair vuggy III good vuggy (10-15%) till excellent vuggy (>15%) \X visibly connected (1-5%) X poor moldic (5-10%) tt fair moldic
good moldic (10-15%)

analyzed
samples

' excellent moldic

(>15%)

Modified from American Association of Petroleum Geologists Sample Examination Manual by R. G. Swanson.

610

Appendix

Drill Stem Test Symbols


drill stem test symbols

drillstem test

H2S
minor oil recovery sulfur odor

oil to surface

minor gas show

I
X

6500
casing point

4200
plug back depth

400
gas flow rate to surface perforated interval fresh water discovery

completion zone salt water recovery

Appendix

6ll

Flow Sheet Symbols


valve
check valve

*
relief valve

air cooler

heat exchanger control valve shutdown valve choke

level controller M

pressure controller

temperature controller

compressor

punip compressor

fire tube

(til)
punip
Fl' ^ '

flowmeters

pump

pressure vacuum valve

flame arrester

Land Subdivisions (United States)

prime meridian

Appendix
I
BASELINE^ LINEi CIMARRON MERIDIAN TOWNSHIPS NORTH TOWNSHIPS NORTH TWTSN.-RNGS. E.C.M. INDIAN MERIDIAN

613

6
Ml ES

^-"
t 6

5 4 3

L \

/ /

X
4

2
1

1
IIS
2

3
1 |

TOWNSHIPS SOUTH RANGES WEST

TOWNSHIPS SOUTH RANGES EAST

\
BASE LINE

2
1 5

5 _L
MERIDIAN

3 4

LAND SUBDIVISION
--

REGULAR SECTION
1 MILE-

REGULAR ^

TOWNSHIP
6 MILES
m

10

II

12

10

17

16

IS

14

19

20

ft

22

23
26

24

30

29

28

27

51

32

33

34

IB

3a

WELL LOCATION: 1500' SNL & 1000 EWl OF N W / 4 , SEC. 24-18N-I2W

Note: The order of sections is reversed in Canada

614

Appendix

10

11

12

10

11

12

Appendix

615

Eastern United States


Map Code 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 4 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 5 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 2 36 37 38 39 Geologic Feature Adirondack uplift Apalachicola embayment Appalachian basin Appalachian overthrust Arkoma basin Baltimore Canyon Black Warrior basin Blake Plateau Canadian Shield Cape Fear arch Cincinnati arch Desha basin Eastern Interior basin Eastern Ontario basin Eastern Overthrust Findley arch Forest City basin Georges Bank Gulf Coast Salt Dome basin Hatchetigbee anticline Illinois basin Jackson Dome Lake Superior syncline La Salle uplift McAlester basin Michigan basin Mississippi embayment Mississippi Interior Salt Dome basin Mississippi River delta Monroe uplift Nashville dome Newark basin Ocala uplift Ozark uplift Sabine uplift South East Georgia embayment South Florida embayment South West Georgia embayment Tuscaloosa trend White Mountains Wiggins anticline Wisconsian arch Map Location B 11 E 10 D9 C,D 10 D 7,8 C 11 D9 Ell A 7,8,9,10 D 11 C9 D8 C9 B 11 C,D 10 C10 C7 B12 E8 E9 C8 E8 A8 E8 D7 B9 D8 E8 E8 D8 D9 C 11 E10 D7 E7 E 10 F10 E2 E8 A12 E9 B8

616

Appendix

V
^ 1

K
J

r>
13

1
" ^

f {

- \

A -
1

>

L
64

<
1

13

/
36 /

s3

20

/ 61 8 93 61
M

^7
'

\ )'
~ \

\
n

77

/ (v j
' SI V
\

1"
84

f
16

1 2

C \

~66

63 90

>

v
f \

70

77 66

\
\ \

Ie

90

C87 \67
73

66 68

"~?
63

f ' J / 85

r
60
72

78 1 \

<

"

4C

C
\

8 0 30

1
44

24

15

10

48 63

2^

48

7 /
1

"/
62 71
41 72

/
50
1

1
28 1 1
. ) 91

<c
D

t
!2

~1
50

17

>
\

72

_ 53/
\ \

1
49 86 _ \

ss

3 5

17

<
2> 7 "
47^

83

14 58
42

1
25 j

I
0 100

45

V46

N
?00
1

33
\ 88 \ 6

rL^-*

300 400

400

MILES 200 KM

88
\

8I

Appendix

617

Western United States


Map Code 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 Geologic Feature Alberta basin Anadarko basin Arbuckle Mountains Ardmore basin Arkoma basin Austin Chalk trend Bend arch Big Horn basin Black Hills Black Mesa basin Blue Mountain uplift Bridger basin Cascade Ranges Central basin platform Central Kansas uplift Central Nebraska basin Central Oklahoma platform Chadron arch Coastal Range Crazy Mountain basin Dalhart basin Delaware basin Denver-Julesburg basin Dodge City embayment East Texas Salt Dome basin Elsinor fault Eocene basin Forest City basin Fort Worth basin Front Range Great basin Green River basin Gulf Coast Salt Dome basin Hanna basin Hardeman basin Harney basin Hollis basin Hugoton embayment Kaiparowitz basin Laramie basin Las Vegas basin Llano uplift Los Angeles basin Los Animas arch Marathon uplift Marfa basin Mexia-Talco fault Mexican highlands Midland basin Nemaha ridge North Park basin Olympic uplift Ouachita Overthrust Ouachita Mountains Palo Duro basin Paradox basin Pedregosa basin Permian basin Permo-Triassic basin Piceance basin Map Location A 2,3 D5 E6 E6 D5 E,F 5,6 E5 B4 B5 D3 B2 C3 B1 E4 C5 C5 D6 C5 B 1 B4 D5 E4 C4 D5 E6 D 1,2 C2 D6 E6 C,D 4 C3 C3 E,F 6 C4 D5 B2 D,E 5 D5 D3 C4 D4 E5 D1 D 4,5 E4 E4 E6 D3 E 4,5 D6 C4 A1 D,E 6 D,E 6 D4 D3 E3 E 4,5 C2 C4

618
Map Code 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 63 91 92 93

Appendix
Map Location B~4 D4

Geologic Feature Powder River basin Raton basin Rocky Mountain overthrust Sacramento basin Salina basin San Andreas fault San Fernando basin San Gabriel basin San Jacinto fault San Joaquin basin San Juan basin San Luis basin San Pedro basin Santa Barbara basin (channel) Santa Maria basin Sierra Grande uplift Sierra Nevada Sioux uplift Snake River downwarp South Park basin South Texas Salt basin Tucumcari basin Tyler basin Uinta basin Uncompahgre uplift Val Verde basin Ventura basin Vicksburg trend Washakie basin Washita fault blocks Western Overthrust Wichita Mountains Williston basin Wind River basin

B,C,D 2,3 B1 C6 C,D 1 D1 Dl D1 Cl

D3 D4 D1 D1 D1 D4 C1 B,C6 B2,3 D4 F6 D4 E6 C3 C3 E5 Dl F6 C4 C3
B,C,D 2,3

D5 B5 B4

622

Appendix

Unit Conversion Factors


Length 1 km = 0.62137 mile = 3281 ft = 1000 m 1 mile = 1.60935 km = 5280 ft = 8 furlongs 1 m = 32808333 ft = 39.3700 in = 1.09361 yd 1 foot = 0.3048006096 m 1 cm = 0.3937 in = 108 A = 1000 ft = 393.7 mil 1 in = 2.54000508 cm = 25400 p. = 25400 jtm 1 |j.m = 1 |x = 10"6 m 1 ft/s = 18.288 m/min Area 1 km2 = 247.1044 acres = 0.3861006 mile 2 1 mile2 = 640 acres = 2.589998 km2 1 acre = 0.4046873 ha = 4046.873 m2 = 43560 ft2 1 m2 = 10.76387 ft2 = 1550 in2 1 ft2 = 0.09290341 m2 1 cm2 = 0.001076387 ft2 = 0.15499969 in2 = 154999.7 mil2 1 in2 = 6.4516258 cm2 = 106 mil2 Volume 1 m3 = 6.28983 bbl = 264.173 gal = 35.31333 ft3 = 1000 liters 1 bbl = 0.15899 m3 = 42 gal = 5.61458 ft3 = 158.99 liters 1 liter = 0.26417022 gal = 61.02329 in3 = 1 dm 3 1 gal = 3.785434 liters = 231 in 3 = 3785.434 cm3 1 ft3 = 28.31701 liters = 1728 in3 = 7.48052 gal 1 quart = 946.3529 cm3 = 0.25 gal I acre foot = 1233.49 m3 = 43560 ft3 = 7758.37 bbl Mass I1 = 1000 kg = 2204.6223 lb = 1.1023 sh tn 1 sh tn = 2000 lb = 907.1849 kg = 0.90719 t 1 kg = 2.204622341 lb (avoir.) 1 lb (avoir.) = 45359243 g = 7000 gr 1 g = 0.00220 lb = 0.035274 oz = 15.4324 gr Density 1 kg/dm3 = 1 g/cm3 = 62.428 lb/ft3 = 8.3304 lb/gal 1 lb/ft3 = 0.0160 g/cm3 = 0.1334 lb/gal 1 lb/gal = 0.1200 g/cm3 = 7.4940 lb/ft3 Oil gravity in degrees API 141 5 M "API = c G ' 60/ Op - where "Spec. Grav. /aa F" means specific gravity of oil at 60F referred to water at 60F Viscosity 1 mPa s = 1 cP = 6.895 x 106 lb s/ft2 1 lb s/ft2 = 0.1450 x 1CT6 cP = 0.1450KT6 mPa s 1 mPa s = 1 cp = density cSt Pressure 1 kPa = 0.1450 psi = 0.0102 kg/cm2 = 0.0100 bar = 0.0098 atm 1 psi = 6.8948 kPa = 0.0703 kg/cm2 = 0.0689 bar = 0.0680 atm 1 kg/cm2 = 98.0665 kPa = 14.2223 psi = 0.9806 bar = 0.9678 atm 1 bar = 100 kPa = 14.5030 psi = 1.0197 kg/cm2 = 0.9869 atm 1 atm = 101.325 kPa = 14.6959 psi = 1.0333 kg/cm2 = 1.0133 bar Pressure gradient 1 kPa/m = 0.0476 psi/ft = 0.0102 kg/cm2/m 1 psi/ft = 21.0207 kPa/m = 0.2311 kg/cm2/m 1 kg/cm2/m = 98.0665 kPa/m = 4.3349 psi/ft psi/ft = 0.433 x density (g/cm3) psi/ft = 0.0069 x density (lb/ft3) psi/ft = 0.0519 x density (lb/gal) kPa/m = 98066 x density (g/cm3) bar/m = 0.0981 x density (g/cm3)

Appendix
Hydrostatic pressure Hydrostatic pressure (kPa) = Mud density (kg/dm 3 ) x 9-80665 x Depth (m) Hydrostatic pressure (psi) = Mud density (lb/gal) x 0.0519 x Depth (ft) Temperature F = 1.8C + 32 C = 0.555 x (F - 32) R = (Rankine) = F + 459.67 K (kelvins) = C + 273.16 Concentration 1 gr/U.Ss gal 0.017118 g/liter 1 gr/U.S. gal (in ppm) 17.118 divided by the density in g/cm3 1 g/liter 58.417 gr/gal 1 g/liter (in ppm) 1000 divided by the density in g/cm3 3 1 g/liter = 1 kg/m = 0.3505 lb/bbl 1 lb/bbl = 2.8530 g/liter = 2.8530 kg/m3 ppm = mg solute/kg solution

623

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