Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Surface Water Supply Area
Definition(s)
Surface Water Supply Area
SURFACE WATER SUPPLY AREA shall mean the classified water supply segments within five (5) stream miles upstream of a surface water intake on a classified water supply segment. Surface Water Supply Areas shall be identified on the Public Water System Surface Water Supply Area Map or through use of the Public Water System Surface Water Supply Area Applicability Determination Tool described in Rule 317B.b. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSurface Water Intake
Definition(s)
Surface Water Intake
SURFACE WATER INTAKE shall mean the works or structures at the head of a conduit through which water is diverted from a classified water supply segment and/or source (e.g., river or lake) into the treatment plant. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSpill
Definition(s)
Spill
In sections 25 to 28, “spill” means a discharge, emission or escape of petroleum, other than one that is authorized under the regulations or any other federal law or that constitutes a discharge from a vessel to which Part 8 or 9 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 applies or a ship to which Part 6 of the Marine Liability Act applies. Source: Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. O-7, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. LegislationSpill
“Spill” means a discharge, emission or escape of petroleum, other than one that is authorized under the regulations or any other federal law or that constitutes a discharge from a vessel to which Part 8 or 9 of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 applies or a ship to which Part 6 of the Marine Liability Act applies. 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 GuidanceSpill
Any discharge of petroleum (including but not limited to crude oil, natural gas, condensate, lubricants, hydraulic oils, fuels, petroleum based synthetic drilling fluids, or any other refined petroleum product ) that enters the sea shall be reported as a spill. Note: AIANL 160, 161; AIANS 165, 166; Newfoundland Offshore Area Oil and Gas Operations Regulations Section 6; DPR 76(1); INST 70; GR 27, 28. Source: Incident Reporting and Investigation Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, November 30, 2012. Regulatory GuidanceSpill
SPILL shall mean any unauthorized sudden discharge of E&P waste to the environment. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSubsurface Disposal Facility
Definition(s)
Subsurface Disposal Facility
SUBSURFACE DISPOSAL FACILITY means a facility or system for disposing of water or other oil field wastes into a subsurface reservoir or reservoirs. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsStratigraphic Well
Definition(s)
Stratigraphic Well
STRATIGRAPHIC WELL means a well drilled for stratigraphic information only. Wells drilled in a delineated field to known productive horizons shall not be classified as “stratigraphic.” Neither the term “well” nor “stratigraphic well” shall include seismic holes drilled for the purpose of obtaining geophysical information only. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsStormwater Runoff
Definition(s)
Stormwater Runoff
STORMWATER RUNOFF shall mean rain or snowmelt that flows over land and does not percolate into soil and includes stormwater that flows onto and off of an oil and gas location or facility. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsRespondent
Definition(s)
Respondent
RESPONDENT shall mean a party against whom a proceeding is instituted, or a protestant who protests the granting of the relief sought in the application as provided in Rule 509. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsReserve Pits
Definition(s)
Reserve Pits
Reserve Pits―temporary earthen pits used to store only those materials used or generated in drilling and workover operations. Source: Natural Resources, Office of Conservation – General Operations, Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part XIX, March 2013. RegulationsReserve Pits
RESERVE PITS shall mean those pits used to store drilling fluids for use in drilling operations or to contain E&P waste generated during drilling operations and initial completion procedures. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsRemediation
Definition(s)
Remediation
REMEDIATION shall mean the process of reducing the concentration of a contaminant or contaminants in water or soil to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with the concentration levels in Table 910-1 and other applicable ground water standards and classifications. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsGenerator
Definition(s)
Generator
Generator is a device for creating a fire-extinguishing medium by pyrotechnical means. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1270, Revised Guidelines for the approval of fixed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems equivalent to fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems, as referred to in SOLAS 74, for machinery spaces, 4 June 2008, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceGenerator
Generator―any person or entity who generates or causes to be generated any E and P Waste. Source: Natural Resources, Office of Conservation – General Operations, Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part XIX, March 2013. RegulationsGenerator
Person who generates oil and gas wastes. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsGenerator
Any person, by generation site, whose act or process produces hazardous oil and gas waste or whose act first causes a hazardous oil and gas waste to become subject to regulation under this section, or such person's authorized representative. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsEvaporation Pits
Definition(s)
Evaporation Pits
EVAPORATION PITS used to contain produced waters which evaporate into the atmosphere by natural thermal forces. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsPercolation Pits
Definition(s)
Percolation Pits
PERCOLATION PITS used to dispose of produced water by percolation and evaporation through the bottom or sides of the pits into surrounding soils. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSkimming/Settling Pits
Definition(s)
Skimming/Settling Pits
SKIMMING/SETTLING PITS used to provide retention time for settling of solids and separation of residual oil for the purposes of recovering the oil or fluid. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsProduced Water Pits
Definition(s)
Produced Water Pits
PRODUCED WATER PITS used to temporarily store produced water prior to injection for enhanced recovery or disposal, off-site transport, or surface-water discharge. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsProduction Pits
Definition(s)
Production Pits
PRODUCTION PITS shall mean those pits used after drilling operations and initial completion of a well, including pits at natural gas gathering, processing and storage facilities, which constitute: Skimming/Settling Pits SKIMMING/SETTLING PITS used to provide retention time for settling of solids and separation of residual oil for the purposes of recovering the oil or fluid. Produced Water Pits PRODUCED WATER PITS used to temporarily store produced water prior to injection for enhanced recovery or disposal, off-site transport, or surface-water discharge. Percolation Pits PERCOLATION PITS used to dispose of produced water by percolation and evaporation through the bottom or sides of the pits into surrounding soils. Evaporation Pits EVAPORATION PITS used to contain produced waters which evaporate into the atmosphere by natural thermal forces. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsProduction Pits
Production Pits―either earthen or lined storage pits for collecting E and P Waste sediment periodically cleaned from tanks and other producing facilities, for storage of produced water or other exploration and production wastes produced from the operation of oil and gas facilities, or used in conjunction with hydrocarbon storage and solution mining operations as follows.- Burn Pits―earthen pits intended for use as a place to temporarily store and periodically burn exploration and production waste (excluding produced water) collected from tanks and facilities.
- Compressor Station Pits―lined or earthen pits intended for temporary storage or disposal of fresh water condensed from natural gas at a gas pipeline drip or gas compressor station.
- Natural Gas Processing Plant Pits―lined or earthen pits used for the storage of process waters or stormwater runoff. No produced water may be stored in a natural gas processing plant pit.
- Produced Water Pits―lined or earthen pit used for storing produced water and other exploration and production wastes, hydrocarbon storage brine, or mining water.
- Washout Pits―lined earthen pits used to collect wash water generated by the cleaning of vacuum truck tanks and other vessels and equipment only used to transport exploration and production waste. Any materials other than E and P Waste are prohibited from being placed in such pits.
- Well Test Pits―small earthen pits intended for use to periodically test or clean up a well.
- Emergency Pits―lined or earthen pits used to periodically collect produced water and other E and P Waste fluids only during emergency incidents, rupture or failure of other facilities.
- Onshore Terminal Pits―lined or earthen pits located in the coastal area used for storing produced water at terminals that receive crude oil and entrained water by pipeline from offshore oil and gas production facilities.
- Salt Dome Cavern Pits―lined or earthen pits located in the coastal area associated with the storage of petroleum products and petroleum in salt dome caverns.
Plugging Pits
Definition(s)
Plugging Pits
PLUGGING PITS used for containment of fluids encountered during the plugging process. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsWorkover Pits
Definition(s)
Workover Pits
WORKOVER PITS used to contain liquids during the performance of remedial operations on a producing well in an effort to increase production. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsBasic Sediment/Tank Bottom Pits
Definition(s)
Basic Sediment/Tank Bottom Pits
BASIC SEDIMENT/TANK BOTTOM PITS used to temporarily store or treat the extraneous materials in crude oil which may settle to the bottoms of tanks or production vessels and which may contain residual oil. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsEmergency Pits
Definition(s)
Emergency Pits
EMERGENCY PITS used to contain liquids during an initial phase of emergency response operations related to a spill/release or process upset conditions. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsFlare Pits
Definition(s)
Flare Pits
FLARE PITS used exclusively for flaring gas. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsBlowdown Pits
Definition(s)
Blowdown Pits
BLOWDOWN PITS used to collect material resulting from, including but not limited to, the emptying or depressurizing of wells, vessels, or gas gathering systems. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSpecial Purpose Pits
Definition(s)
Special Purpose Pits
SPECIAL PURPOSE PITS shall mean those pits used in oil and gas operations, including pits at natural gas gathering, processing and storage facilities, which constitute: Blowdown Pits BLOWDOWN PITS used to collect material resulting from, including but not limited to, the emptying or depressurizing of wells, vessels, or gas gathering systems. Flare Pits FLARE PITS used exclusively for flaring gas. Emergency Pits EMERGENCY PITS used to contain liquids during an initial phase of emergency response operations related to a spill/release or process upset conditions. Basic Sediment/Tank Bottom Pits BASIC SEDIMENT/TANK BOTTOM PITS used to temporarily store or treat the extraneous materials in crude oil which may settle to the bottoms of tanks or production vessels and which may contain residual oil. Workover Pits WORKOVER PITS used to contain liquids during the performance of remedial operations on a producing well in an effort to increase production. Plugging Pits PLUGGING PITS used for containment of fluids encountered during the plugging process. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSpecial Field Rules
Definition(s)
Special Field Rules
SPECIAL FIELD RULES shall mean those rules promulgated for and which are limited in their application to individual pools or fields within the State of Colorado. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSolid Waste Disposal
Definition(s)
Solid Waste Disposal
SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL shall mean the storage, treatment, utilization, processing, or final disposal of solid wastes. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSolid Waste
Definition(s)
Solid Waste
SOLID WASTE shall mean any garbage, refuse, sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply plant, air pollution control facility, or other discarded material; including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial operations, commercial operations, or community activities. Solid waste does not include any solid or dissolved materials in domestic sewage, or agricultural wastes, or solid or dissolved materials in irrigation return flows, or industrial discharges which are point sources subject to permits under the provisions of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act, Title 25, Article 8, C.R.S. or materials handled at facilities licensed pursuant to the provisions on radiation control in Title 25, Article 11, C.R.S. Solid waste does not include:- materials handled at facilities licensed pursuant to the provisions on radiation control in Title 25, Article 11, C.R.S.;
- excluded scrap metal that is being recycled; or
- shredded circuit boards that are being recycled.
Solid Waste
Any waste identified in 40 CFR, §261.2. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsSimultaneous Injection Well
Definition(s)
Simultaneous Injection Well
SIMULTANEOUS INJECTION WELL shall mean any well in which water produced from oil and gas producing zones is injected into a lower injection zone and such water production is not brought to the surface. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSensitive Wildlife Habitat
Definition(s)
Sensitive Wildlife Habitat
SENSITIVE WILDLIFE HABITAT shall mean:- mule deer critical winter range (being both mule deer winter concentration areas (that part of the winter range where densities are at least 200% of the surrounding winter range density during the same period used to define winter range in 5 out of 10 winters), and mule deer severe winter range (that part of the winter range where 90% of the individuals are located during the average 5 winters out of 10 from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up)) (west of Interstate 25 and excluding Las Animas County);
- elk winter concentration areas (west of Interstate 25 and excluding Las Animas County);
- pronghorn antelope winter concentration areas (west of Interstate 25);
- bighorn sheep winter range;
- elk production areas (being that part of the overall range occupied by the females for calving) (west of Interstate 25 and excluding Las Animas County);
- Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and plains sharp-tailed grouse production areas (being an area that contains 80% of nesting and brood rearing habitat for any identified population);
- greater sage-grouse and Gunnison sage-grouse production areas (being an area that contains 80% of nesting and brood rearing habitat for any population identified in the Colorado Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan (CDOW, 2008) or the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Range-Wide Conservation Plan (May 2005), respectively);
- lesser prairie chicken production areas (being an area that includes 80% of nesting and brood rearing habitat);
- black-footed ferret release areas;
- Bald Eagle nest sites and winter night roost sites; and
- Golden Eagle nest sites.