When it comes to the oil and gas industry language there is so much to know and understand. The oil and gas industry I think has the strangest and most bazaar terminology YET its so different and almost gives the sector a fun and lighthearted aspect.
Abandon means proper plugging and abandoning of a well in compliance with all applicable regulations, and the cleaning up of the well site to the satisfaction of any governmental body having jurisdiction with respect and to the reasonable satisfaction of the operator.
Abandon further means to cease efforts to find or produce from a well or field.
Additionally it means to plug a well completion and salvage material and equipment.
Abatement implies the act or process of reducing the intensity of pollution. It is the use of some method of abating pollution.
Annulus is the space between the casing and the wall of the borehole
Appraisal Well is when a well is drilled as part of an appraisal drilling program in order to carry out and determine the physical extent, reserves and likely production rate of a field.
Associated Gas is a well drilled as part of an appraisal drilling program which is carried out to determine the physical extent, reserves and likely production rate of a field.
Barrel is a unit of volume measurement used for petroleum and its products
bbl is one barrel of oil; 1 barrel
bcf is one billion cubic feet.
Bcm is one billion cubic meters
Block is an acreage sub-division measuring approximately 10 x 20 kms, forming part of a quadrant.
Blow-down is when condensate and gas is produced simultaneously from the outset of production.
Blow-out is when well pressure exceeds the ability of the wellhead valves to control it. Oil and gas “blow wild” at the surface.
Blow-out preventers (BOPs) are high pressure wellhead valves, designed to shut off the uncontrolled flow of hydrocarbons.
Borehole is the hole as drilled by the drill bit.
Braden head is casing head
Casing is a pipe cemented in the well to seal off formation fluids or keep the hole from caving in.
Casing string is the steel tubing that lines a well after it has been drilled. It is formed from sections of steel tube screwed together.
Central estimate is a range of exploration drilling scenarios from which the following activity levels, based on recent historical experience, are adopted as the central estimates.
Christmas tree is the assembly of fittings and valves on the top of the casing which control the production rate of oil.
