Oil & Gas Glossary 1.0

Equipment operated hydraulically or by compressed air for making up and breaking out drill pipe, casing, tubing, and rods.

1. to force pipe or tools into a high-pressure well that has not been killed (i.e., to run pipe or tools into the well against pressure when the weight of pipe is not great enough to force the pipe through the BOPs). Snubbing usually requires an array of wireline bocks and wire rope that forces the pipe or tools into the well through a stripper head or blowout preventer until the weight of the string is sufficient to overcome the lifting effect of the well pressure on the pipe in the preventer. In workover operations, snubbing is usually accomplished by using hydraulic power to force the pipe through the stripping head or blowout preventer.

A drilling rig in which the source of power is one or more internal-combustion engines and in which the power is distributed to rig components through mechanical devices (such as chains, sprockets, clutches, and shafts). Also called a power rig.

A gearbox or other device serving to relay the power of a prime mover to auxiliary equipment.

Specialized tools used to run equipment in a well, such as a wireline running tool for installing retrievable gas lift valves. Various tubing-type running tools are also used.

The large wrenches used to make up or break out drill pipe, casing, tubing, or other pipe; variously called casing tongs, pipe tongs, and so forth, according to the specific use. Power tongs are pneumatically or hydraulically operated tools that serve to spin the pipe up tight and, in some instances, to apply the final makeup torque.

The power supplied to a drilling rig by diesel engines driving electric generators; used widely.

A surface unit similar to a pumping unit but having no individual power plant. Usually, several pump jacks are operated by pull rods or cables from one central power source. Commonly, but erroneously, beam pumping units are called pump jacks. Compare beam pumping unit.

The gathering of pressure data and fluid samples from a formation to determine its production potential before choosing a completion method. Testing tools include formation testers and drill stem test tools.

A mechanical drive using a driving chain and chain gears to transmit power. Power transmissions use a roller chain, in which each link is made of side bars, transverse pins, and rollers on the pins. A double roller chain is made of two connected rows or links, a triple roller chain of three, and so forth.

Abbreviation: power take off.

Rating given by a manufacturer of an engine operating at most efficient output.

An internal-combustion engine or a turbine that is the source of power for driving a machine or machines.

A hydraulically powered device used in lieu of a rotary to turn the drill pipe, tubing, or casing in a well.

To set tools in casings.

A building for storing tools

Tongs that are actuated by air or hydraulic fluid and are used for making up or breaking out sucker rods

2. in power transmission, a connection extending longitudinally between a driving shaft and a driven shaft. Most such couplings are flexible and compensate for minor misalignment of the two shafts.

The lowest extremity of the tool to which accessories or other tools can be coupled.

A device employed to catch debris from drillable tools, perforators, and so on

1. a device that mechanically or hydraulically forces pipe or tools into the well against pressure.

A portable servicing or workover rig that is self-propelled, using the hoisting engines for motive power. Because the driver's cab is mounted on the end opposite the mast support, the unit must be backed up to the wellhead. See carrier rig.

A manifold system of valves, usually situated at the power source, which may be operated manually (or by remote control) to direct pressurized fluid to closing devices at wellhead.

A device, similar to a pumpdown ball, used to manipulate hydraulically operated downhole tools.

N. a tool used to shape, form, or finish other tools or pieces of metal. For example, a threading die is used to cut threads on pipe.

A short, threaded tubular coupling used for making connections between pipe joints and other tools.

2. gauge or measure pipe by means of a mandrel passed through it to ensure the passage of tools, pumps, and so on.

Rubber seals that energize by pressure only, not mechanical force; plugs and wash tools

A device attached to the catshaft of the drawworks that is used as a power source for unscrewing drill pipe; usually located opposite the driller's side of the drawworks. See cathead.

A type of portable service or workover rig that is self-propelled, using power from the hoisting engines. The driver's cab and steering wheel are mounted on the same end as the mast support; thus the unit can be driven straight ahead to reach the wellhead. See carrier rig.

A drillable tool configuration allowing the opening of formation pressure, during drillout, prior to cutting through the tools slips.

A spherical object used to pump down the drill string or tubing to trip, release, or otherwise operate certain hydraulic-type tools.

Abbreviation: a generic term for pressure setting assembly; a tool that is used to set permanent tools on electric wireline, through explosive force.

A device that is attached to the shaft of the drawworks and used as a power source for screwing together joints of pipe. It is usually located on the driller's side of the drawworks. Also called spinning cathead. See cathead.

A hydraulically operated tool that is run in above the fishing tool and anchored to the casing by slips. It exerts a strong upward pull on the fish by hydraulic power derived from fluid that is pumped down the fishing string.

2. the system of tubulars, packers, and other tools installed beneath the wellhead in the production casing; that is, the tool assembly that provides the hydrocarbon flow path or paths.

To prepare the drilling rig for making hole; to install tools and machinery before drilling is started.

2. in wireline, trying to pull out of the well faster than the wireline tools are being blown upwards by unexpected pressure.

An internal mechanism employed in certain tools to lock cones to the mandrel

A cylindrical metal ring used to guide, and centralize, packers or tools inside casing.

A tool used to set drillable or permanent tools, such as packers, retainers, plugs; can be mechanical, electric, or hydraulic.

A slip employing tungsten-carbide "buttons" in lieu of conventional wicker-type teeth to set tools in very hard casing.

2. to lower or raise tools in or out of a well with pressure inside the well. The term comes from the fact that a lubricant (grease) is often used to provide a seal against well pressure while allowing wireline to move in or out of the well.

An assembly of tools made up on drill pipe that is lowered into the hole to retrieve lost or stuck equipment. Also call a fish assembly.

2. to lower or raise tools in or out of a well with pressure inside the well. The term comes from the fact that a lubricant (grease) is often used to provide a seal against well pressure while allowing wireline to move in or out of the well.

Pertaining to packers and other tools left in the wellbore to be broken up later by the drill bit. Drillable equipment is made of cast iron, aluminum, plastic, or other soft, brittle material.

A slot in the edge of the barge hull of a jackup drilling unit over which the drilling rig is mounted and through which drilling tools are lowered and removed from the well being drilled.

The process whereby a volume of fluid equal to the volume of steel in tubular and tools withdrawn from the wellbore is returned to the wellbore.

Descriptive of any tool or device that can be pumped down a wellbore. Pump-down tools are not lowered into the well on wireline; instead, they are pumped down the well with the drilling fluid.

A flared-end sub run on the end of the tubing string to permit easy access of wireline tools into the tubing ID.

A flared-end sub run on the end of the tubing string to permit easy access of wireline tools into the tubing ID.

A wire rope used to support the drilling tools. Also called the rotary line.

A bell-shaped hole dug beneath a pipeline to provide room for use of tools.

A wireline pressure setting tool for setting permanent downhole tools.

The column, or string, of drill pipe with attached tool joints that transmits fluid and rotational power from the kelly to the drill collars and bit. Often, especially in the oil patch, the term is loosely applied to both drill pipe and drill collars. Compare drill stem.

The column, or string, of drill pipe with attached tool joints that transmits fluid and rotational power form the kelly to the drill collars and bit. Often, especially in the oil patch, the term is loosely applied to both drill pipe and drill collars. Compare drill stem.

A large, specially designed, self-propelled workover rig that a person drives directly to the well site. Power from a carrier rig's hoist engine or engines also propels the rig on the road. While a carrier rig is primarily intended to perform workovers, it can also be used to drill relatively shallow wells. A carrier rig may be a back-in type or a drive-in type. See back-in unit, drive-in unit.

A short length of pipe (a nipple) installed on top of the blowout preventer. The top end of the nipple is flared, or belled, to guide drill tools into the hole and usually has side connections for the fill line and mud return line.

The machine used to impart rotational power to the drill stem while permitting vertical movement of the pipe for rotary drilling. Modern rotary machines have a special component, the rotary or master bushing, to turn the kelly bushing, which permits vertical movement of the kelly while the stem is turning.

A fine, very hard, gray crystalline powder, a compound of tungsten and carbon. This compound is bonded with cobalt or nickel in cemented carbide compositions and used for cutting tools, abrasives, and dies.

The employee directly in charge of a drilling or workover rig and crew. His main duty is operation of the drilling and hoisting equipment, but he is also responsible for downhole condition of the well, operation of downhole tools, and pipe measurements.

A machine designed specifically for sucker rod pumping. An engine or motor (prime mover) is mounted on the unit to power a rotating crank. The crank moves a horizontal member (walking beam) up and down to produce reciprocating motion. This reciprocating motion operates the pump. Compare pump jack

A high-compression, internal-combustion engine used extensively for powering drilling rigs. In a diesel engine, air is drawn into the cylinders and compressed to very high pressures; ignition occurs as fuel is injected into the compressed and heated air. Combustion takes place within the cylinder above the piston, and expansion of the combustion products imparts power to the piston.

A device run on cable-tool drilling line, a service machine, or sand line of a rotary rig to drill up tools, remove downhole debris, and so on.

Generically, a pressure gauge usually used in lines or manifolds. Many companies make pressure gauges. Cameron, now Cooper Oil Tools, makes many types of gauges.

An opening at floor level in a side of a derrick or mast. The V-door is opposite the drawworks and is used as an entry to bring in drill pipe, casing, and other tools from the pipe rack. The name comes from the fact that on the old standard derrick, the shape of the opening was an inverted V.