Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Bias
Definition(s)
Bias
presence of any factors that can unfairly influence examination items, examination scores or certification results Note 1 to entry: Bias can occur at many points, such as when developing examination items, scoring examinations or making certification decisions. Source: ISO/IEC TS 17027:2014, Conformity assessment – Vocabulary related to competence of persons used for certification of persons, Global StandardsAttribute
Definition(s)
Attribute
Property or characteristic of an object that can be distinguished quantitatively or qualitatively by human or automated means. [SOURCE: ISO/IEC 15939:2007, modified – “entity” has been replaced by “object” in the definition.]. Source: ISO/IEC 27000:2014, Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems — Overview and vocabulary, Third Edition, January 2014. Global StandardsAttribute
Inherent characteristic of a person. EXAMPLE Visual acuity; sensitivity to others; openness. Source: ISO/IEC TS 17027:2014, Conformity assessment – Vocabulary related to competence of persons used for certification of persons, Global StandardsAttestation
Definition(s)
Attestation
issue of a statement, based on a decision following a review, that fulfilment of specified requirements has been demonstrated [SOURCE: ISO/IEC 17000:2004, 5.2, modified — Notes to entry have been removed.] Source: ISO/IEC TS 17027:2014, Conformity assessment – Vocabulary related to competence of persons used for certification of persons, Global StandardsApproval of Persons
Definition(s)
Approval of Persons
procedure based on predefined factors and an issuance of a documented statement by which the governmental or other designated body recognizes persons to perform specific activities Note 1 to entry: Certification or other conformity assessment procedures can be a prerequisite for approval. Source: ISO/IEC TS 17027:2014, Conformity assessment – Vocabulary related to competence of persons used for certification of persons, Global StandardsAdverse Impact of Examinations
Definition(s)
Adverse Impact of Examinations
Unanticipated examination results for a specific group of persons.- Note: 1 to entry: Examples of specific groups of persons include groups based on race, gender, age, ethnic origin, language or religion.
Accommodation of Special Needs
Definition(s)
Accommodation of Special Needs
Modification of assessment methods or its administration made to account for the effects of a disability without altering the validity of the assessment. Source: ISO/IEC TS 17027:2014, Conformity assessment – Vocabulary related to competence of persons used for certification of persons, Global StandardsAbility
Definition(s)
Ability
An individual’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and behavioral attributes that enable him or her to perform his or her work consistently, precisely, and reliably.
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors, Competence Assurance-Guidelines for Building a Successful Program Revision April 2015. IADC GuidelinesAbility
capacity to perform an activity. Source: ISO/IEC TS 17027:2014, Conformity assessment – Vocabulary related to competence of persons used for certification of persons, Global StandardsReasonably Foreseeable Misuse
Definition(s)
Reasonably Foreseeable Misuse
use of a product, process or service in a way not intended by the supplier, but which may result from readily predictable human behaviour Source: ISO/IEC Guide 51:1999, Safety aspects – Guidelines for their inclusion in standards, Global StandardsIntended Use
Definition(s)
Intended Use
use of a product, process or service in accordance with information provided by the supplier Source: ISO/IEC Guide 51:1999, Safety aspects – Guidelines for their inclusion in standards, Global StandardsProtective Measure
Definition(s)
Protective Measure
NOTE Protective measures include risk reduction by inherently safe design, protective devices, personal protective equipment, information for use and installation, and training. Source: ISO/IEC Guide 51:1999, Safety aspects – Guidelines for their inclusion in standards, Global StandardsHarmful Event
Definition(s)
Harmful Event
occurrence in which a hazardous situation results in harm. Source: ISO/IEC Guide 51:1999, Safety aspects – Guidelines for their inclusion in standards, Global StandardsContributing-factor
Definition(s)
Contributing-factor
A condition that may have contributed to an accident event or worsened its consequence (e.g. man/machine interaction, inadequate illumination). Source: IMO resolution A.1075(28), Guidelines to assist investigators in the implementation of the Casualty Investigation Code, 4 December 2013, Regulatory GuidanceQMS
Definition(s)
QMS
Quality management system. Source: API STANDARD 16AR, Standard for Repair and Remanufacture of Drill-through Equipment, First Edition, April 2017. Global Standards Source: API SPEC Q1, Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Manufacturing Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry, Ninth Edition, June 2013 (Errata 2, March 2014). Global Standards Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsTopsides
Definition(s)
Topsides
structures and equipment placed on a supporting structure (fixed or floating) to provide some or all of a platform’s functions Note 1 to entry: For a ship-shaped floating structure, the deck is not part of the topsides. Note 2 to entry: For a jack-up, the hull is not part of the topsides. Note 3 to entry: A separate fabricated deck or module support frame is part of the topsides. Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsStructure Orientation
Definition(s)
Structure Orientation
position of a structure in plan referenced to a fixed direction, such as true north. Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsStructural Reliability Analysis
Definition(s)
Structural Reliability Analysis
procedure for the determination of the level of safety against failure of a structure or structural component Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsStructural Integrity Management System
Definition(s)
Structural Integrity Management System
structured methodology, consisting of a multi-step cyclic activity, including feedback, intended to assure the life and functionality of a structure Note 1 to entry: Typical steps include data collection, data evaluation, development of an inspection strategy, development and execution of an inspection programme, and consequent remedial works. Note 2 to entry: Structural integrity management is also known as SIM. Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsStructural System
Definition(s)
Structural System
load-bearing components of a structure and the way in which these components function together. Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsScour
Definition(s)
Scour
removal of seabed soils caused by currents, waves and ice Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsRobustness
Definition(s)
Robustness
The ability of a structure to tolerate damage without failure. Source: API RP 2SIM, Structural Integrity Management of Fixed Offshore Structures, First Edition, November 2014. Global StandardsRobustness
Ability of a structure to withstand accidental and abnormal events without being damaged to an extent disproportionate to the cause Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsReference Period
Definition(s)
Reference Period
period of time used as the basis for determining values of basic variables. Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsOffshore Structure
Definition(s)
Offshore Structure
structure used for the development and production of offshore petroleum and natural gas fields in offshore areas Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsNormal Conditions
Definition(s)
Normal Conditions
permanent, variable and environmental actions associated with operating conditions of the platform Note 1 to entry: Normal conditions are sometimes referred to as persistent conditions. Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsFixed Structure
Definition(s)
Fixed Structure
structure that is bottom founded and transfers most of the actions on it to the seabed. Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsDurability
Definition(s)
Durability
ability of a structure or structural component to maintain its function throughout its design service life Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsCompliant Structure
Definition(s)
Compliant Structure
structure that is sufficiently flexible that applied lateral dynamic actions are substantially balanced by inertial reactions Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsAppurtenance
Definition(s)
Appurtenance
part of the structure that is installed to assist installation, to provide access or protection. Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsAir Gap
Definition(s)
Air Gap
To physically separate or isolate a system from other systems or networks (verb). Extended Definition: The physical separation or isolation of a system from other systems or networks (noun). Source: NICCS™ Portal Cybersecurity Lexicon, National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (https://niccs.us-cert.gov/glossary) as of 11 November 2015, Global StandardsAir Gap
The clearance between the highest water surface that occurs during the extreme metocean conditions and the underside of the cellar deck. Source: API RP 2SIM, Structural Integrity Management of Fixed Offshore Structures, First Edition, November 2014. Global StandardsAir Gap
Clearance between the highest water or ice surface that occurs during the extreme environmental conditions and the lowest exposed part not designed to withstand wave or ice. impingement Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsAbnormal Value
Definition(s)
Abnormal Value
Design value of a parameter of abnormal severity used in accidental limit state checks in which a structure is intended not to suffer complete loss of integrity.- NOTE: Abnormal events have probabilities of the order of 10−3 to 10−4 per year. In the limit state checks, some or all of the partial factors are set to 1.0.
Abnormal Value
Design value of a parameter of abnormal severity used in accidental limit state checks in which a structure is intended not to suffer complete loss of integrity.- Note: 1 to entry: Abnormal events are typically accidental and environmental (including seismic) events having probabilities of exceedance of the order of 10−3 to 10−4 per annum.