Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
100-Year Flood Plain
Definition(s)
100-Year Flood Plain
An area that is inundated by a 100-year flood, which is a flood that has a one percent or greater chance of occurring in any given year, as determined from maps or other data from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), or, if not mapped by FEMA, from the United States Department of Agriculture soil maps. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. Regulations401 Certification
Definition(s)
401 Certification
A certification issued by the commission, under the authority of the Federal Clean Water Act, §401, that a federal permit that may result in a discharge to waters of the United States is consistent with applicable state and federal water quality laws and regulations. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsA 60 Bulkhead or Deck
Definition(s)
A 60 bulkhead or deck
A 60 bulkhead or deck means an A class bulkhead or deck that- Is insulated with approved insulation, bulkhead panels, or deck covering;
- If subjected to the standard fire test for 60 minutes, has an average temperature rise on the unexposed side of the insulated bulkhead or deck of less than 139 °C (250 °F) above the temperature before the standard fire test and has a temperature rise at any point on the unexposed surface, including any joint, of less than 180 °C (325 °F) above the temperature before the standard fire test.
A Class Bulkhead or Deck
Definition(s)
A class bulkhead or deck
A class bulkhead or deck means a bulkhead or deck that.- Is made of steel or other equivalent material; and
- Prevents the passage of flame and smoke for 60 minutes if subjected to the standard fire test.
A.S.M.E.
Definition(s)
A.S.M.E.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
A.S.T.M.
Definition(s)
A.S.T.M.
American Society for Testing Materials. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Abandon
Definition(s)
Abandon
Abandon, in relation to a well, means to seal the well in order to render it permanently inoperative, and abandonment has a corresponding meaning. Source: Health and Safety in Employment (Petroleum Exploration and Extraction) Regulations 2013, SR 2013/208, New Zealand, as of May 2013. RegulationsAbandon
"Abandon" means to plug a well in accordance with 20 AAC 25.112 and without the commission's approval of well suspension under 20 AAC 25.110. Source: Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Definitions, Alaska Admin. Code tit. 20, § 25.990, December 7, 2012. RegulationsAbandoned
Definition(s)
Abandoned
“Abandoned”, in relation to a well, means a well or part of a well that has been permanently plugged (abandonné). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-315, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-317, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. Regulations Source: Drilling and Production Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, March 31, 2011. Regulatory GuidanceAbandonment
Definition(s)
Abandonment
Abandonment is characterised by the severance of ties between the shipowner and the seafarer. Abandonment occurs when the shipowner fails to fulfil certain fundamental obligations to the seafarer relating to timely repatriation and payment of outstanding remuneration and to provision of the basic necessities of life, inter alia, adequate food, accommodation and medical care. Abandonment will have occurred when the master of the ship has been left without any financial means in respect of ship operation. Source: IMO Resolution A.930(22), Guidelines on Provision of Financial Security in Case of Abandonment of Seafarers, 17 December 2001, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceAbandonment
Act of personnel onboard leaving an installation in an emergency. Source: ISO 13702:2015, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Control and mitigation of fires and explosions on offshore production installations — Requirements and guidelines, Second Edition, August 2015. Global Standards Source: ISO 15544:2000, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Offshore production installations – Requirements and guidelines for emergency. Global StandardsAbandonment
Abandon, in relation to a well, means to seal the well in order to render it permanently inoperative, and abandonment has a corresponding meaning. Source: Health and Safety in Employment (Petroleum Exploration and Extraction) Regulations 2013, SR 2013/208, New Zealand, as of May 2013. RegulationsAbate
Definition(s)
Abate
“Abate” means to investigate, contain, remove or mitigate water pollution. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsAbatement
Definition(s)
Abatement
“Abatement” means the investigation, containment, removal or other mitigation of water pollution. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsAbatement Plan
Definition(s)
Abatement Plan
“Abatement plan” means a description of operational, monitoring, contingency and closure requirements and conditions for water pollution’s prevention, investigation and abatement. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsAbnormally Geo-pressured Strata
Definition(s)
Abnormally Geo-pressured Strata
"Abnormally geo-pressured strata" means subsurface zones where the pore pressure exceeds a gradient of 0.50 psi/ft. Source: Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Definitions, Alaska Admin. Code tit. 20, § 25.990, December 7, 2012. RegulationsAbnormally Pressured
Definition(s)
Abnormally Pressured
Means that the formation/reservoir pressure exceeds the hydrostatic pressure of a seawater column with reference to LAT. Source: NORSOK D-010, Well integrity in drilling and well operations, Rev. 3, August 2004. Global StandardsAcceptable
Definition(s)
Acceptable
'Acceptable', in relation to a risk, means a level of risk for which the time, cost or effort of further reducing it would be grossly disproportionate to the benefits of such reduction. In assessing whether the time, cost or effort would be grossly disproportionate to the benefits of further reducing the risk, regard shall be had to best practice risk levels compatible with the undertaking. Source: DIRECTIVE 2013/30/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 12 June 2013 on safety of offshore oil and gas operations and amending Directive 2004/35/EC LegislationAcceptable
For the purpose of interpreting the standards referred to in subsection (2), “acceptable” means appropriate. Source: Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/87-612, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. RegulationsTranslations
Acceptable Standard
Definition(s)
Acceptable Standard
“Acceptable standard” means an applicable standard that is acceptable to the Minister (norme acceptable). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations, SOR/88-600, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Area Petroleum Diving Regulations, SOR/95-189, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsAcceptance Criteria
Definition(s)
Acceptance Criteria
Defined limits placed on characteristics of materials, products, equipment, processes, or services. Source: API Specification 16A, Specification for Drill-through Equipment, Fourth Edition, April 2017. Global StandardsAcceptance Criteria
Defined limits placed on characteristics of materials, equipment, processes, or service.
Source: API STANDARD 16AR, Standard for Repair and Remanufacture of Drill-through Equipment, First Edition, April 2017. Global StandardsAcceptance Criteria
Specified limits of acceptability applied to process or product characteristics. Source: API Technical Report 17TR7, Verification and Validation of Subsea Connectors, First Edition, April 2017. Global Standards Source: ISO 16530-1:2017, Petroleum and natural gas industries - Well integrity – Part 1: Life cycle governance, First Edition, March 2017. Global Standards Source: API Spec Q2, Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Service, Supply Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries, Upstream Segment, First Edition, December 2011. 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 StandardsAcceptance Criteria
Acceptance criteria (definition at Rule 2(a)) means the upper limit of acceptable risk related to major accidents and risk related to the environment. Major accident means an accident involving several serious personal injuries or deaths or an accident that jeopardises the integrity of the facility. Environmental risk means the risk of pollution. Source: Guidance Notes on Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules, 2008, Oil Industry Safety Directorate (India), 2012. Regulatory GuidanceAcceptance Criteria
Defined limits placed on characteristics of materials, products or services . Source: API SPEC 6A, Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment, Twentieth Edition, October 2010 (Addendum November 2012). Global Standards Source: API SPEC 16A, Specification for Drill-through Equipment, Third Edition, June 2004 (Errata/Supplement November 2004). Global Standards Source: API SPEC 16C, Specification for Choke and Kill Systems, First Edition, January 1993 (Reaffirmed 2001). Global StandardsAcceptance Criteria
Specified limits of acceptability applied to process, service, or product characteristics. Source: API Spec Q2, Specification for Quality Management System Requirements for Service, Supply Organizations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries, Upstream Segment, First Edition, December 2011. Global StandardsAcceptance Criteria
Specified limits of acceptability applied to process or product characteristics. Source:ISO/TS 29001:2010(E).Global StandardsAcceptance Criteria
The limits for the risk to be acceptable (Arbo Regulation Article 3.2). Source: NOGEPA Industrial Guideline No. 7, Rescue at Sea, Netherlands, Version 0, January 2008. Global StandardsAcceptance Criteria
“Acceptance criteria” means criteria used to express a risk level that is considered acceptable for the activity in question, limited to the high level expressions of risk. Source: Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules, 2008, India, 18th June 2008. RegulationsAcceptance Criteria
Defined limits placed on characteristics of materials, products, or services. Source: API SPEC 16RCD, Specification for Drill Through Equipment—Rotating Control Devices, Upstream Segment, First Edition, February 2005. Global StandardsAccepted
Definition(s)
Accepted
Accepted, in relation to an environment plan, means a plan accepted by the Regulator under regulation 11. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Environment) Regulations 2009 (Statutory Rules 1999 No. 228 as amended), Australia, prepared on 1 January 2012. RegulationsAccepted DSMS
Definition(s)
Accepted DSMS
Accepted DSMS means a DSMS that has been accepted by NOPSEMA under regulations 4.5 or 4.6. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety) Regulations 2009 (Select Legislative Instrument 2009 No. 382 as amended), Australia, prepared on 1 January 2012. RegulationsAccepted Field Development Plan
Definition(s)
Accepted field development plan
Accepted field development plan means a field development plan that has been accepted by the Joint Authority under regulation 4.05, as varied from time to time under regulation 4.10. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Resource Management and Administration) Regulations 2011 (Select Legislative Instrument 2011 No. 54 as amended), Australia, prepared on 1 January 2012. RegulationsAccepted Well Operations Management Plan
Definition(s)
Accepted well operations management plan
Accepted well operations management plan means a well operations management plan that has been accepted by NOPSEMA or responsible Commonwealth Minister under regulation 5.07, as varied from time to time under regulation 5.13. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Resource Management and Administration) Regulations 2011 (Select Legislative Instrument 2011 No. 54 as amended), Australia, prepared on 1 January 2012. RegulationsAccess Road
Definition(s)
Access Road
“Access road” means any road used as primary ingress and egress to the wellhead, tank battery, and associated equipment used in the production of a well. Source: Division of Mineral Resources Management - Oil and Gas, Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 1501:9, January 2012. RegulationsAccident
Definition(s)
Accident
“Accident” means a fortuitous event that results in the death of or injury to any person involved in a diving operation (accident). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations, SOR/88-600, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Area Petroleum Diving Regulations, SOR/95-189, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsAccident
Accident includes the contraction of a disease. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Australia, amended 2012. LegislationAccident
Accident means an event that. (a) causes any person to be harmed; or (b) in different circumstances, might have caused any person to be harmed. Source: Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Public Act 1992 No 96, New Zealand, as of 1 July 2011. LegislationAccident
“Accident” means an incident that results in a hazard causing harm to a worker. Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Occupational Health & Safety Requirements, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, December 2000. RegulationsAccident
Event or chain of events which cause, or could have caused, injury, illness and/or damage (loss) to assets, the environment or third parties. Source: ISO 17776:2000, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Offshore production installations – Guidelines on tools and techniques for hazard identification and risk assessment. GlobalStandardsAccident
See Incident. As low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) To reduce a risk to a level which is ‘as low as reasonably practicable’ involves balancing reduction in risk against the time, trouble, difficulty and cost of achieving it. This level represents the point, objectively assessed, at which the time, trouble, difficulty and cost of further reduction measures become unreasonably disproportionate to the additional risk reduction obtained. Source: OGP Report No. 6.36/210, Guidelines for the Development and Application of Health, Safety and Environmental Management Systems, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, July 1994. Global StandardsAccident
An event that causes any person to be harmed, or in different circumstances might have caused any person to be harmed. Source: Approved Code of Practice for Managing Hazards to Prevent Major Industrial Accidents, Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Department of Labour, New Zealand, July 1994. Regulatory GuidanceAccidental Event
Definition(s)
Accidental Event
“Accidental event” means an unplanned or unexpected event or circumstance or series of events or circumstances that may lead to loss of life or damage to the environment; événement accidental. Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsAccidental Load
Definition(s)
Accidental Load
Load caused by accidental occurrence. Source: API RP 17L2, Recommended Practice for Flexible Pipe Ancillary Equipment, First Edition, March 2013. Global Standards Source: API SPEC 17L1, Specification for Flexible Pipe Ancillary Equipment, First Edition, March 2013. Global StandardsAccidental Load
Load(s) which are imposed on the C/WO riser system under abnormal and unplanned conditions.- EXAMPLES Loss of vessel station-keeping and heave compensator lock-up.
Accidental Load
Accidental loads are loads caused by accidental occurrences. Source: API SPEC 17J, Specification for Unbonded Flexible Pipe, Third Edition, July 2008. Global StandardsAccidental Loads
Definition(s)
Accidental Loads
Accidental loads are loads caused by accidental occurrences. Examples include 1000-yr wave and current loads, operational malfunction, and loads from impacts/collisions. Source: API Standard 2RD, Dynamic Risers for Floating Production Systems, Second Edition, September 2013. Global StandardsAccidental Loads
Loads imposed on the riser system from unplanned conditions/occurrences during a reduced extreme environmental event or by survival environmental events. EXAMPLE Loads resulting from loss of vessel station-keeping and tensioner lock-up are examples of accidental loads Source: API Standard 2RD, Dynamic Risers for Floating Production Systems, Second Edition, September 2013. Global StandardsAccidental Loads
Accidental loads are loads which occur as a direct result of an accident or exceptional circumstances, e.g., loads due to collisions, dropped objects and explosions, etc. See also 4.16. Source: Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Mobile Offshore Units, Part 4, Steel Unit Structures, June 2013, Lloyd’s Register, Global StandardsAccidental Loads
Accidental loads are project-specific, and should be verified by a special risk analysis for the actual application. Accidental loads can include dropped objects, snag loads (fishing gear, anchors), abnormal environmental loads (earthquake), etc. Source: API RP 17A, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems—General Requirements and Recommendations, Fourth Edition, Reaffirmed 2011. Global StandardsAccidental Loads
Accidental loads (or low probability of occurrence loads) are loads related to abnormal operations or technical failure. Accidental loads are defined as events with a probability less than 10−2 and larger than 10−4. EXAMPLES Loads caused by vessel tensioner system failure or motion compensator system failure, e.g. loss of top tension or heave compensator lock-up, loss of dynamic positioning system (drive-off or drift-off) are examples of accidental loads. Loads caused by emergency operation, loss of buoyancy, change in intended pressure difference, unintended change in ballast distribution, fire, explosions, collision impact from infrequent vessel/riser interference, dropped objects and extreme environmental conditions are also accidental. Source: API RP 17G, Recommended Practice for Completion/Workover Risers, Second Edition, July 2006 (Reaffirmed April 2011). Global StandardsAccidental Loads
“Accidental loads” means loads which the facility can be subjected to in the event of incorrect use, technical failure or an undesirable external effect. Source: Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules, 2008, India, 18th June 2008. RegulationsAccidental Loads/Actions
Definition(s)
Accidental Loads/Actions
Loads/actions to which the facility can be exposed as a result of incorrect use, technical failure or undesirable external influences. Source: Regulations relating to design and outfitting of facilities, etc. in the petroleum activities (the Facilities Regulations), Norway, April 2010 (amended December 2012). RegulationsAccidente Mayor
Definition(s)
Accidente Mayor
Todo acontecimiento repentino, como una emisión, un incendio o una explosión de gran magnitud, en el curso de una actividad en una instalación con riesgo de accidentes mayores, en el que estén implicadas una o varias sustancias químicas peligrosas y que exponga a los trabajadores, a la población, a los bienes, a Ia infraestructura o al ambiente a un peligro grave, inmediato o diferido.
Source: Resolución Número 40687 de 18 Jul 2017 Por la cual se establecen los criterios técnicos para proyectos de perforación exploratoria de hidrocarburos costa afuera en Colombia. Columbia Ministerio de Minas y Energia, RegulationsAccommodation
Definition(s)
Accommodation
Place where personnel onboard sleep and spend their off-duty time.- Note: 1 to entry: It can include dining rooms, recreation rooms, lavatories, cabins, offices, sickbay, living quarters, galley, pantries, and similar permanently enclosed spaces.