Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Emergency Pit
Definition(s)
Emergency Pit
“Emergency pit” means a pit that is constructed as a precautionary matter to contain a spill in the event of a release. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsEmergency Pit
"Emergency pit" means a pit used for the storage of excessive or unanticipated amounts of fluids during an immediate emergency situation in the drilling or operation of a well, such as a well blowout or a pipeline rupture. This does not include a spill prevention structure required by local, state, or federal regulations. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsDivision-Approved Facility
Definition(s)
Division-Approved Facility
“Division-approved facility” means a division-permitted surface waste management or injection facility, a facility permitted pursuant to 20.6.2 NMAC, a facility approved pursuant to 19.15.35.8 NMAC or other facility that the division specifically approves for the particular purpose. The division shall not approve any facility not otherwise permitted unless it finds that the facility’s use for the specified purpose will protect fresh water, public health and the environment and comply with other applicable federal or state statutes, federal regulations, state rules and local ordinances. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsClosed-Loop System
Definition(s)
Closed-Loop System
“Closed-loop system” means a system that uses above ground steel tanks for the management of drilling or workover fluids without using below-grade tanks or pits. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsAlluvium
Definition(s)
Alluvium
“Alluvium” means detrital material that water or other erosional forces have transported and deposited at points along a watercourse’s flood plain. It typically is composed of sands, silts and gravels; exhibits high porosity and permeability; and generally carries fresh water. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsVertical Well
Definition(s)
Vertical Well
“Vertical well” means a well that does not have an intentional departure or course deviation from the vertical. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsVertical Well
Vertical well—A well with a single vertical well bore. Source: Oil and Gas Wells, Pennsylvania Code, Title 25, Chapter 78, December 2012. RegulationsTerminus
Definition(s)
Terminus
“Terminus” means the farthest point attained along the well bore or lateral. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsTerminus
The farthest point required to be surveyed along the horizontal drainhole from the penetration point and within the correlative interval. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsStandard Project Area
Definition(s)
Standard Project Area
“Standard project area” means a project area that; 1. is described in Paragraph (2) of Subsection L of 19.15.16.7 NMAC; 2. consists of a single spacing unit; 3. consists of two or more spacing units within a single section that collectively comprise: (a) the entire section, a half-section or half-section equivalent, or a quarter section or quarter-section equivalent; or (b) the north, south, east or west half of a half-section or half-section equivalent or of a quarter section or quarter-section equivalent; or 4. consists of a combination of two or more otherwise standard project areas, if the resulting area is substantially in the form of a rectangle; provided that a project area consisting of three 40-acre units within a single section and excluding the fourth spacing unit is not a standard project area. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsProducing Area
Definition(s)
Producing Area
“Producing area” means the portion of a project area that lies within a window formed by plotting the measured distance from the project area’s outer boundaries, inside of which a well bore can be drilled and produced in conformity with the setback requirements from the outer boundary of a standard spacing unit for the applicable pool. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsPenetration Point
Definition(s)
Penetration Point
“Penetration point” means the beginning of the completed interval of a horizontal or other directional well or lateral. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsPenetration Point
The point where the drainhole penetrates the top of the correlative interval. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsNon-Standard Project Area
Definition(s)
Non-Standard Project Area
“Non-standard project area” means a project area that is not a standard project area. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsKick-Off Point
Definition(s)
Kick-Off Point
“Kick-off point” means the point at which a directional well is intentionally deviated from vertical. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsDirectional Well
Definition(s)
Directional Well
“Directional well” means a well bore that is intentionally deviated from vertical with an intentional azimuth. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsDeviated Well
Definition(s)
Deviated Well
“Deviated well” means a well bore that is intentionally deviated from vertical but not with an intentional azimuth. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsCompleted Interval
Definition(s)
Completed Interval
“Completed interval” means that portion of a well bore or lateral that is: (1) cased, cemented and perforated; (2) an open hole; or (3) isolated by a packer or other non-permeable means and open to the formation. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsAzimuth
Definition(s)
Azimuth
“Azimuth” means the deviation in the horizontal plane of a well bore expressed in terms of compass degrees. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsPooled Working Interest
Definition(s)
Pooled Working Interest
“Pooled working interest” means a working interest or unleased mineral interest that is pooled by division or commission order and not by voluntary agreement of the owner of the interest, except for an unleased mineral interest on federal, state or tribal lands. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsInfill Well
Definition(s)
Infill Well
“Infill well” means a well in a compulsory pooled proration or spacing unit to be completed in a pool in which an existing well drilled pursuant to the compulsory pooling order has been completed and not plugged and abandoned. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsIdentical Ownership
Definition(s)
Identical Ownership
“Identical ownership” means leases or pools have the same working, royalty and overriding royalty owners in exactly the same percentages. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsDiverse Ownership
Definition(s)
Diverse Ownership
“Diverse ownership” means leases or pools have different working, royalty or overriding royalty interest owners or different ownership percentages of the same working, royalty or overriding royalty interest owners. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsRadius Of Exposure
Definition(s)
Radius Of Exposure (ROE)
ROE is defined in Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Part 1, Chapter 3, Rule 3.36, b) 3); see A.4.5. Other methods of calculating ROE may apply, depending on local regulations. Source: API SPEC 6A, Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment, Twentieth Edition, October 2010 (Addendum November 2012). Global StandardsRadius Of Exposure
"Radius of exposure" means that radius constructed with the point of escape of poisonous (hydrogen sulfide) gas as its starting point and its length calculated by use of the Pasquill-Gifford equations. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsRadius Of Exposure
“Radius of exposure” means the radius constructed with the point of escape as its starting point and its length calculated using the following Pasquill-Gifford derived equation, or by such other method as the division may approve:- for determining the 100-ppm radius of exposure: X = [(1.589)(hydrogen sulfide concentration)(Q)](0.6258), where “X” is the radius of exposure in feet, the “hydrogen sulfide concentration” is the decimal equivalent of the mole or volume fraction of hydrogen sulfide in the gaseous mixture and “Q” is the escape rate expressed in cubic feet per day (corrected for standard conditions of 14.73 psi absolute and 60 degrees fahrenheit);
- for determining the 500-ppm radius of exposure: X = [(0.4546)(hydrogen sulfide concentration)(Q)](0.6258), where “X” is the radius of exposure in feet, the “hydrogen sulfide concentration” is the decimal equivalent of the mole or volume fraction of hydrogen sulfide in the gaseous mixture and “Q” is the escape rate expressed in cubic feet per day (corrected for standard conditions of 14.73 psi absolute and 60 degrees fahrenheit);
- for a well being drilled, completed, recompleted, worked over or serviced in an area where insufficient data exists to calculate a radius of exposure but where hydrogen sulfide could reasonably be expected to be present in concentrations in excess of 100 ppm in the gaseous mixture, a 100-ppm radius of exposure equal to 3000 feet is assumed.
Radius Of Exposure
That radius constructed with the point of escape as its starting point and its length calculated as provided for in subsection (c)(2) of this section. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsPublic Road
Definition(s)
Public Road
“Public road” means any street or road owned or maintained for public access or use. Source: API SPEC 6A, Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment, Twentieth Edition, October 2010 (Addendum November 2012). Global StandardsPublic Road
“Public road” means a federal, state, municipal or county road or highway. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsPublic Area
Definition(s)
Public Area
“Public area” means a building or structure that is not associated with the well, facility or operation for which the radius of exposure is being calculated and that is used as a dwelling, office, place of business, church, school, hospital or government building, or a portion of a park, city, town, village or designated school bus stop or other similar area where members of the public may reasonably be expected to be present. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsPublic Area
"Public area" means a dwelling place, a business, church, school, hospital, school bus stop, government building, a public road, all or any portion of a park, city, town, village, or other similar area that can reasonably be expected to be populated by humans. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsPublic Area
A dwelling, place of business, church, school, hospital, school bus stop, government building, a public road, all or any portion of a park, city, town, village, or other similar area that can expect to be populated. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsPotentially Hazardous Volume
Definition(s)
Potentially Hazardous Volume
“Potentially hazardous volume” means the volume of hydrogen sulfide gas of such concentration that:- the 100-ppm radius of exposure includes a public area;
- the 500-ppm radius of exposure includes a public road; or
- the 100-ppm radius of exposure exceeds 3000 feet.1
LEPC
Definition(s)
LEPC
“LEPC” means the local emergency planning committee established pursuant to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. section 11001. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsGPA
Definition(s)
GPA
“GPA” means the Gas Processors Association. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsEscape Rate
Definition(s)
Escape Rate
“Escape rate” means the maximum volume (Q) that is used to designate the possible rate of escape of a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide, as set forth in 19.15.11 NMAC.- For existing gas facilities or operations, the escape rate is calculated using the maximum daily rate of the gaseous mixture produced or handled or the best estimate thereof. For an existing gas well, the escape rate is calculated using the current daily absolute open flow rate against atmospheric pressure or the best estimate of that rate.
- For new gas operations or facilities, the escape rate is calculated as the maximum anticipated flow rate through the system. For a new gas well, the escape rate is calculated using the maximum open-flow rate of offset wells in the pool or reservoir, or the pool or reservoir average of maximum open-flow rates.
- For existing oil wells, the escape rate is calculated by multiplying the producing gas/oil ratio by the maximum daily production rate or the best estimate of the maximum daily production rate.
- For new oil wells, the escape rate is calculated by multiplying the producing gas/oil ratio by the maximum daily production rate of offset wells in the pool or reservoir, or the pool or reservoir average of the producing gas/oil ratio multiplied by the maximum daily production rate.
- For facilities or operations not mentioned, the escape rate is calculated using the actual flow of the gaseous mixture through the system or the best estimate of the actual flow of the gaseous mixture through the system.
Dispersion Technique
Definition(s)
Dispersion Technique
“Dispersion technique” is a mathematical representation of the physical and chemical transportation characteristics, dilution characteristics and transformation characteristics of hydrogen sulfide gas in the atmosphere. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsArea of Exposure
Definition(s)
Area of Exposure
“Area of exposure” means the area within a circle constructed with a point of escape at its center and the radius of exposure as its radius. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsArea of Exposure
"Area of exposure" means an area within a circle constructed with the point of escape of poisonous gas (hydrogen sulfide) as its center and the radius of exposure as its radius. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsArea of Exposure
The area within a circle constructed with the point of escape as its center and the radius of exposure as its radius. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsWorkover
Definition(s)
Workover
Remedial work done to the equipment within a well, the well pipe work, or relating to attempts to increase the rate of flow. Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global StandardsWorkover
“Workover” means a procedure the operator undertakes that is intended to increase production but is not routine maintenance and includes:- re-entry into the well to drill deeper, to sidetrack to a different location, to recomplete for production or to restore production from a zone that has been temporarily abandoned;
- recompletion by re-perforation of a zone from which gas or oil has been produced or by perforation of a different zone;
- repair or replacement of faulty or damaged casing or related downhole equipment;
- fracturing, acidizing or installing compression equipment; or
- squeezing, cementing or installing equipment necessary for removal of excessive water, brine or condensate from the well bore in order to establish, continue or increase production from the well.