API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 10 B: FOR TESTING WELL CEMENTS

The industry-standard document that provides guidelines for testing methods for cements and cement formulations for use in
well cementing.

API SPECIFICATION 10A _ CEMENTS AND MATERIALS FOR WELL CEMENTING

The industry standard document that specifies requirements for API well cements and specification-testing methods.

Abandonment costs

The costs associated with abandoning a well or production facility.

Abnormal events

A term to indicate features in seismic data other than reflections. Although the term suggests that such events are not common,
they often occur in seismic data.

Abnormal pressure

A subsurface condition in which the pore pressure of a geologic formation exceed ori s less than the expected.

Absolute age

The measurement of age in years. Its the objetive of the geochronology, and measure the decay of radioactive isotopes
,especially uranium , strontium, rubidium, argon and carbón. Also can be use the rings of the trees and seasonal sedimentaru
deposits (varves).

Relative age

Determination if a given material is younger or older than other surronding material on the basis of stratigraphic and structural
relationships, such as superposition, or by interpretación of fossil content.

absorption band

The range of wavelengths of energy that can be absorbed by a given substance.

Abyssal

Pertaining to the depositional environment of the deepest area of the ocean basins, the abyss. The depositional energy is low,
the abyssal plain is flat and nearly horizontal, and fine-grained sediments are deposited slowly by waning turbidity currents or
from suspension in the water. The water is thousands of meters deep (> 2000 m) [6520 ft], so the water is cold and sunlight is
minimal.

Aquifer

A body of rock whose fluid saturation, porosity and permeability permit production of groundwater.

Alluvium

Material deposited in an alluvial environment, typically detrital sediments that are poorly sorted.

Allogenic

Pertaining to minerals or rock fragments that formed in one location but were transported to another location and deposited.
Clastic sediments in a rock such as sandstone are allogenic, or formed elsewhere.

Allochthonous

Pertaining to materials, particularly rock masses, that formed somewhere other than their present location, and were
transported by fault movements, large-scale gravity sliding, or similar processes. Autochthonous material, in contrast, formed
in its present location. Landslides can result in large masses of allochthonous rock, which typically can be distinguished from
autochthonous rocks on the basis of their difference in composition. Faults and folds can also separate allochthons from
autochthons.

angular unconformity
A surface that separates younger strata from eroded, dipping, older strata and represents a gap in the geologic record.

Anisotropic

Having directionally dependent properties. For a crystal of a mineral, variation in physical properties observed in different
directions is anisotropy. In rocks, variation in seismic velocity measured parallel or perpendicular to bedding surfaces is a form
of anisotropy. Often found where platy minerals such as micas and clays align parallel to depositional bedding as sediments
are compacted, anisotropy is common in shales.

Anomaly

An entity or property that differs from what is typical or expected, or which differs from that predicted by a theoretical model.

apparent dip

The maximum inclination of a bedding plane, fault plane or other geological surface measured from a vertical cross section
that is not perpendicular to the strike of the feature.

Aulacogen

In plate tectonics, a failed rift arm.

Azimuth

The angle between the vertical projection of a line of interest onto a horizontal surface and true north or magnetic north
measured in a horizontal plane, typically measured clockwise from north.

bed thickness

The thickness of a layer or stratum of sedimentary rock measured perpendicular to its lateral extent, presuming deposition on
a horizontal Surface.

Diagenetic

Pertaining to diagenesis, which is the physical, chemical or biological alteration of sediments into sedimentary rock at
relatively low temperatures and pressures that can result in changes to the rock's original mineralogy and texture.

Depocenter

The area of thickest deposition in a basin.

Earthquake

The sudden release of accumulated stress in the Earth by movement or shaking.

Erosion

The process of denudation of rocks, including physical, chemical and biological breakdown and transportation.

Eustatic sea level

Global sea level, which changes in response to changes in the volume of ocean water and the volume of ocean basins.

Estuary

A semi-enclosed coastal environment of deposition in which a river mouth permits freshwater to contact and mix with seawater.

Evaporite

A class of sedimentary minerals and sedimentary rocks that form by precipitation from evaporating aqueous fluid.

Exploration

The initial phase in petroleum operations that includes generation of a prospect or play or both, and drilling of an exploration
well. Appraisal, development and production phases follow successful exploration.

Facies
The overall characteristics of a rock unit that reflect its origin and differentiate the unit from others around it. Mineralogy and
sedimentary source, fossil content, sedimentary structures and texture distinguish one facies from another. Mineralogy and
sedimentary source, fossil content, sedimentary structures and texture distinguish one facies from another.

Felsic

Pertaining to minerals or igneous rocks composed of minerals such as quartz and feldspar that are relatively light in color and
density. The word comes from the terms feldspar and silica. Granite is a felsic igneous rock. (Compare with mafic.)

Formation

The fundamental unit of lithostratigraphy. A body of rock that is sufficiently distinctive and continuous that it can be mapped.
In stratigraphy, a formation is a body of strata of predominantly one type or combination of types; multiple formations form
groups, and subdivisions of formations are members.

Fracture

A crack or surface of breakage within rock not related to foliation or cleavage in metamorphic rock along which there has been
no movement.

Flower structure

Folded structures associated with strike-slip faults. In areas where strike-slip faults occur in converging crust, or transpression,
rocks are faulted upward in a positive flower structure. In areas of strike-slip faulting in diverging crust, or transtension, rocks
drop down to form a negative flower structure. Flower structures can form hydrocarbon traps. The term "flower structure"
reflects the resemblance of the structure to the petals of a flower in cross section.

Fossil

Preserved remnants of plants or animals, such as skeletons, shells, casts or molds, tracks or borings, and feces.

Barite

A dense sulfate mineral that can occur in a variety of rocks, including limestone and sandstone, with a range of accessory
minerals, such as quartz, chert, dolomite, calcite, siderite and metal sulfides. Barite is commonly used to add weight to drilling
fluid. Barite is of significance to petrophysicists because excess barite can require a correction factor in some well log
measurements.

Basement

The rock layer below which economic hydrocarbon reservoirs are not expected to be found, sometimes called economic
basement. Basement is usually older, deformed igneous or metamorphic rocks, which seldom develops the porosity and
permeability necessary to serve as a hydrocarbon reservoir, and below which sedimentary rocks are not common. Basement
rocks typically have different density, acoustic velocity, and magnetic properties from overlying rocks.

Basin

A depression in the crust of the Earth, caused by plate tectonic activity and subsidence, in which sediments accumulate.
Sedimentary basins vary from bowl-shaped to elongated troughs. Basins can be bounded by faults

Bathyal

Pertaining to the environment of deposition and the organisms of the ocean between depths of 200 m [656 ft], the edge of the
continental shelf, and 2000 m [6560 ft]. The bathyal environment is intermediate between the neritic environment and the
abyss.

Birefringence

The division of an incident wave into two waves of different velocities and orthogonal polarizations.

Biostratigraphic
Earth history, combining the principles of paleontology and stratigraphy. In the petroleum industry, biostratigraphy often
denotes the use of terrestrial (pollen and spores) and marine (diatoms, foraminifera, nannofossils) microfossils to determine
the absolute or relative age and depositional environment of a particular formation, source rock or reservoir of interest.

Bentonite

A material composed of clay minerals, predominantly montmorillonite with minor amounts of other smectite group minerals,
commonly used in drilling mud. Bentonite swells considerably when exposed to water, making it ideal for protecting formations
from invasion by drilling fluids. Montmorillonite forms when basic rocks such as volcanic ash in marine basins are altered.

Bouma sequence

A characteristic sequence of sedimentary structures occurring in sedimentary rocks deposited in areas of deep water
sedimentation by turbidity currents, which form deposits called turbidites. In theory, a complete Bouma sequence comprises
sediments that fine upwards, consisting of a lowermost layer of coarse, chaotic clastic sediments deposited under conditions
of high depositional energy overlain by successively finer grained and better stratified sediments like sands and muds
deposited under calmer conditions that are labeled as Units A though E.

Caliche

A crust of coarse sediments or weathered soil rich in calcium carbonate. It forms when lime-rich groundwater rises to the
surface by capillary action and evaporates into a crumbly powder, forming a tough, indurated sheet called calcrete. Caliche
typically occurs in desert or semi-arid areas.

Cataclasite

A type of metamorphic rock with shearing and granulation of minerals caused by high mechanical stress during faulting or
dynamic metamorphism, typically during episodes of plate tectonic activity.

Catagenesis

The physical and chemical alteration of sediments and pore fluids at temperatures and pressures higher than those of
diagenesis. Catagenesis involves heating in the range of 50° to 150°C [122° to 302°F]. At these temperatures, chemical
bonds break down in kerogen and clays within shale, generating liquid hydrocarbons. At the high end of this temperature range,
secondary cracking of oil molecules can generate gas molecules.

Chronostratigraphy

The study of the ages of strata. The comparison, or correlation, of separated strata can include study of their relative or absolute
ages.

Convergence

The movement of tectonic plates toward each other, generating compressional forces and ultimately resulting in collision, and
in some cases subduction, of tectonic plates. The boundary where tectonic plates converge is called a convergent margin.

core gamma log

A log obtained in the laboratory by moving the core past a gamma ray detector. The log can be of the total gamma ray in API
units, or of the spectral response in weight concentrations of thorium, uranium and potassium.

Correlation

A connection of points from well to well in which the data suggest that the points were deposited at the same time
(chronostratigraphic) or have similar and related characteristics.

Cratón

A stable area of continental crust that has not undergone much plate tectonic or orogenic activity for a long period. A craton
includes a crystalline basement of commonly Precambrian rock called a shield, and a platform in which flat-lying or nearly flat-
lying sediments or sedimentary rock surround the shield. A commonly cited example of a craton is the Canadian Shield.

Decollement
A fault surface parallel to a mechanically weak horizon or layer, or parallel to bedding, that detaches or separates deformed
rocks above from undeformed or differently deformed rocks below. Decollements, or decollement surfaces, are typical of
regions of thrust faulting such as the Alps.

Geophysics

The study of the physics of the Earth, especially its electrical, gravitational and magnetic fields and propagation of elastic
(seismic) waves within it.

Geology

The study of the Earth-its history, structure, composition, life forms and the processes that continue to change it.

Geochemistry

The study of the chemistry of the Earth and within solid bodies of the solar system, including the distribution, circulation and
abundance of elements (and their ions and isotopes), molecules, minerals, rocks and fluids.

Glauconite

A green silicate mineral found in sedimentary rocks and formed on continental shelves characterized by slow sedimentation
and organic matter, such as fecal pellets, present in an oxidizing environment.

Igneous

Pertaining to one of three main classes of rocks (igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary). Igneous rocks crystallize from
molten rock, or magma, with interlocking mineral crystals.

Isochron

A line joining points of equal time or age,

Isotropic

Directionally uniform, such that the physical properties of the material do not vary in different directions.

Kaolinite

The kaolin group that forms through the weathering of feldspar and mica group minerals.

Kerogen

The naturally occurring, solid, insoluble organic matter that occurs in source rocks and can yield oil upon heating. Kerogen is
the portion of naturally occurring organic matter that is nonextractable using organic solvents. Typical organic constituents of
kerogen are algae and woody plant material. Kerogens have a high molecular weight relative to bitumen, or soluble organic
matter. Bitumen forms from kerogen during petroleum generation. Kerogens are described as Type I, consisting of mainly algal
and amorphous (but presumably algal) kerogen and highly likely to generate oil; Type II, mixed terrestrial and marine source
material that can generate waxy oil; and Type III, woody terrestrial source material that typically generates gas.

Lacustrine

Pertaining to an environment of deposition in lakes, or an area having lakes. Because deposition of sediment in lakes can
occur slowly and in relatively calm conditions, organic-rich source rocks can form in lacustrine environment.

Litofacies

A mappable subdivision of a stratigraphic unit that can be distinguished by its facies or lithology-the texture, mineralogy, grain
size, and the depositional environment that produced it.

listric fault

A normal fault that flattens with depth and typically found in extensional regimes. This flattening manifests itself as a curving,
concave-up fault plane whose dip decreases with depth.

Map
representation, on a plane surface and at an established scale, of the physical features of a part or whole of the Earth's surface
or of any desired surface or subsurface data, by means of signs and symbols, and with the means of orientation indicated.
Reservoirs are often represented by a series of maps for each of the layers distinguished within the reservoir.

natural gas

A naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon gases that is highly compressible and expansible.

normal fault

A type of fault in which the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall, and the fault surface dips steeply, commonly from
50o to 90o.

Overmature

Pertaining to a hydrocarbon source rock that has generated as much hydrocarbon as possible and is becoming thermally
altered.

Orogeny

A major episode of plate tectonic activity in which lithospheric plates collide and produce mountain belts, in some cases
including the formation of subduction zones and igneous activity.

Palynology

The study of fossilized remnants of microscopic entities having organic walls, such as pollen, spores and cysts from algae.
Changes in the Earth through time can be documented by studying the distribution of spores and pollen.

passive margin

The margin of a continent and ocean that does not coincide with the boundary of a lithospheric plate and along which collision
is not occurring. Passive margins are characterized by rifted, rotated fault blocks of thick sediment,

Petrology

The study of macroscopic features of rocks, such as their occurrence, origin and history, and structure (usually by examining
outcrops in the field) and their texture and composition (by studying smaller samples more closely).

Petrography

The examination of rocks in thin section. Rock samples can be glued to a glass slide and the rock ground to 0.03-mm thickness
in order to observe mineralogy and texture using a microscope.

Resistivity

The ability of a material to resist electrical conduction. It is the inverse of conductivity and is measured in ohm-m. The resistivity
is a property of the material, whereas the resistance also depends on the volume measured.

Reflection

Generally, the return or rebound of particles or energy from the interface between two media

reservoir pressure

The pressure of fluids within the pores of a reservoir, usually hydrostatic pressure, or the pressure exerted by a column of water
from the formation's depth to sea leve

seismic wave

A periodic vibrational disturbance in which energy is propagated through or on the surface of a medium without translation of
the material. Waves can be differentiated by their frequency, amplitude, wavelength and speed of propagation. Seismic waves
are waves of elastic energy, such as that transmitted by P-waves and S-waves, in the frequency range of approximately 1 to
100 Hz. Seismic energy is studied by scientists to interpret the composition, fluid content, extent and geometry of rocks in the
subsurface.
Stratigraphy

The study of the history, composition, relative ages and distribution of strata, and the interpretation of strata to elucidate Earth
history. The comparison, or correlation, of separated strata can include study of their lithology, fossil content, and relative or
absolute age, or lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and chronostratigraphy.

salt dome

A mushroom-shaped or plug-shaped diapir made of salt, commonly having an overlying cap rock. Salt domes form as a
consequence of the relative buoyancy of salt when buried beneath other types of sediment. The salt flows upward to form salt
domes, sheets, pillars and other structures. Hydrocarbons are commonly found around salt domes because of the abundance
and variety of traps created by salt movement and the association with evaporite minerals that can provide excellent sealing
capabilities.

Shale oil

Oil obtained by artificial maturation of oil shale. The process of artificial maturation uses controlled heating, or pyrolysis, of
kerogen to release the shale oil.

Tectonics

Also known as plate tectonics, the unifying geologic theory developed to explain observations that interactions of the brittle
plates of the lithosphere with each other and with the softer underlying asthenosphere result in large-scale changes in the
Earth.

Turbidite

Sedimentary deposits formed by turbidity currents in deep water at the base of the continental slope and on the abyssal plain.

thermal maturity

The degree of heating of a source rock in the process of transforming kerogen into hydrocarbon. Thermal maturity is commonly
evaluated by measuring vitrinite reflectance or by pyrolysis.