Oil & Gas Glossary 1.0

Any law relating to the pressure, temperature, or volume of a gas.

A general term often used to refer to any type of log being run in a well. See log.

A general term often used to refer to any type of log being run in a well.

A general term for colloidal dispersions, as distinguished from true solutions.

In general, the higher the valence of an ion, the greater the loss of stability to emulsions, colloidal suspensions, etc., these polyvalent ions will impart

The erratic, nonlinear flow of a fluid, caused by high velocity. Characterized by random eddying flow patterns superimposed on the general flow progressing in a given direction.

A method of determining the amount of pressure that is allowed to appear on the casing pressure gauge as a kick is circulated out of a well. In general, it is determined by slowly pumping mud into the well while it is shut in and observing the pressure at which the formation begins to take mud.

A worker on an offshore rig who handles the equipment and supplies that are sent to the rig form the shore base. The head roustabout is very often the crane operator. a worker who assists the foreman in the general work around a producing oilwell, usually on the property of the oil company. A helper on a well servicing unit.

In general, the term "pool" is synonymous with the term "reservoir"; however, in certain situations, a pool may consist of more than one reservoir.

The filtration characteristics of a drilling mud. In general, these qualities are inverse to the thickness of the filter cake deposited on the face of a porous medium and the amount of filtrate allowed to escape from the drilling fluid into or through the medium.

The reservoir drive mechanism in which oil is produced by the expansion of the underlying water and rock, which forces the oil into the wellbore. In general, there are two types of water drive: bottom-water drive, in which the oil is totally underlain by water; and edgewater drive, in which only a portion of the oil is in contact with the water.

A device that detects vibrations in the earth. It is used in studying the earth's interior and in prospecting for probably oil-bearing structures. Vibrations are created by discharging explosive in shallow boreholes, by striking the surface with a heavy blow, or by vibrating a heavy plate in contact with the ground. The type and velocity of the vibrations are recorded by the seismograph indicate the general characteristics of the section of earth through which the vibrations pass.

A hand tool consisting of a handle and chain that resembles the chain on a bicycle. In general, chain tongs are used for turning pipe or fittings of a diameter larger than that which a pipe wrench would fit. The chain is looped and tightened around the pipe or fitting, and the handle is used to turn the tool so that the pipe or fitting can be tightened or loosened.

Drilling for oil or gas in an ocean, gulf, or sea, usually on the Outer Continental Shelf. A drilling unit for offshore operations may be a mobile floating vessel with a ship or barge hull, a semisubmersible or submersible base, a self-propelled or towed structure with jacking legs (jackup drilling rig), or a permanent structure used as a production platform when drilling is completed. In general, wildcat wells are drilled from mobile floating vessels or from jackups, while development wells are drilled from platforms or jackups.