Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Drilling (Hoisting) Line
Definition(s)
Drilling (Hoisting) Line
A wire line used in the main rig hoisting system. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsDivision
Definition(s)
Division
“Division” means the division of oil and gas resources management, department of natural resources. Source: Division of Mineral Resources Management - Oil and Gas, Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 1501:9, January 2012. RegulationsDivision
“Division” means division of oil and gas, Ohio department of natural resources. Source: Division of Mineral Resources Management - Oil and Gas, Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 1501:9, January 2012. RegulationsDivision
“Division” means Division of Mineral Resources Management, Ohio department of natural resources. Source: Division of Mineral Resources Management - Oil and Gas, Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 1501:9, January 2012. RegulationsDivision
“Division” means Division of Mineral Resources Management, department of natural resources. Source: Division of Mineral Resources Management - Oil and Gas, Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 1501:9, January 2012. RegulationsDivision
“Division” means the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Oil Conservation Division. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsDivision
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsDerrick Ladder or Mast Ladder
Definition(s)
Derrick Ladder or Mast Ladder
Any fixed ladder providing access to any location in or on the derrick or mast. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsDerrick Crown Platform (Runaround, Water Table)
Definition(s)
Derrick Crown Platform (Runaround, Water Table)
A continuous platform that provides access to the crown block assembly and warning lights. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsDead Line Stabilizer
Definition(s)
Dead Line Stabilizer
A device attached to the mast or derrick for restricting lateral movement of the dead line. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsDead Line
Definition(s)
Dead Line
The line (which does not travel) from the crown block sheave to the anchor. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsDBBS
Definition(s)
DBBS
Double block and bleeder system. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsCrown Block Assembly
Definition(s)
Crown Block Assembly
An assembly of mechanical parts mounted on top of a derrick tower or mast, consisting of a framework to which a number of sheaves are fastened over which hoisting lines are reeved. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsCorrosive
Definition(s)
Corrosive
A substance that causes visible destruction of, or irreversible alterations in, living tissue by chemical action at the site of contact. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsContractor’s Standby
Definition(s)
Contractor's Standby
A half hitch in a wire line secured by a wire line clamp(s). Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsCirculating Hose (Bumper Hose)
Definition(s)
Circulating Hose (Bumper Hose)
A hose for high pressure circulation between the high pressure side of the mud pump and the bottom of the standpipe. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsCatwalk (Derrick Walk or Mast Walk)
Definition(s)
Catwalk (Derrick Walk or Mast Walk)
A walkway extending from the derrick and/or mast to a point beyond the outer end of the drill pipe and casing storage rack at a well, the purpose of which is to facilitate the handling of such pipe between the rack and the derrick and/or mast. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsCathead, Automatic
Definition(s)
Cathead, Automatic
A clutch operated metal mechanical device consisting of a wheel having a flanged or flat surfaced rim or a spool shaped drum mounted on a shaft to which the end of a wire or fiber rope or chain is attached. The rotating cathead imparts a pulling power to the line attached to it. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsBreaking Line (Break-out Line, Make-up Line, Jerk Line, Snap Line)
Definition(s)
Breaking Line (Break-out Line, Make-up Line, Jerk Line, Snap Line)
A wire rope or fiber rope or chain, one end of which is secured to a tong handle and the other end attached to or wound on a mechanical device to impart a pulling power on the tong leverage arm or handle. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Pressure Relief Device
Definition(s)
Pressure-relief device
Device actuated by inlet static pressure and designed to open during emergency or abnormal conditions to prevent a rise of internal fluid pressure in excess of a specified design value.- NOTE: The device may be a pressure-relief valve, a rupture disk device, or a buckling pin device.
Pressure Relief Device (PRD)
A device designed to open and relieve excess pressure (e.g. safety valve, thermal relief, rupture disk, rupture pin, deflagration vent, pressure/vacuum vents). Source: OGP Report No. 456, Process Safety – Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, November 2011. Global StandardsPressure Relief Device
A device for relieving pressure, such as a direct spring-loaded safety valve, rupture disk, or shear-pin set safety valve. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsOECD
Definition(s)
OECD
Organization for Economic Coordination and Development. Source: OGP Report No. 456, Process Safety – Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, November 2011. Global StandardsOECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Source: Guidelines Regarding the Activities Regulations, Norway, updated December 2012. Regulatory GuidanceOECD
OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Source: Mining Regulation of the Netherlands, WJZ 02063603, Netherlands,16 December 2002. RegulationsBlind
Definition(s)
Blind
A device such as metal plates inserted in flanged joints, blind flanges, and caps or plugs installed on the ends of pipe lines, used to prevent liquids, gases, or vapors from passing through a pipe line or nozzle. Valves are not blinds. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Bailer
Definition(s)
Bailer
A long cylindrical container, fitted with a valve at its lower end, used to remove water, sand, mud, or oil from a well. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Near-Miss
Definition(s)
Near miss
“Near-miss” means an event that would likely cause an event set out in paragraph (a) of the definition of “incident”, but does not due to particular circumstances (quasi-incident). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-315, February 2013. 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 Guidance Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-317, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsNear miss
All incidents that, if under slightly different circumstances, would likely have had potential to result in the following on an installation, vessel or aircraft shall be reported as near misses: • An occupational injury/illness which could be classified as at least a lost/restricted workday injury • Unauthorized discharge or spill • Hydrocarbon release • Fire/explosion • Major impairment/damage to safety or environmentally critical equipment. Note: OSH (NL) 15.4, OSH (NS) Element 2, Part 15, Section 15.4; INST 70; DPR 1(1) definition of ”incident” and “near-miss”; DPR 76. Examples of near misses include, but are not limited to the following: • Missing or ineffective safety or environmentally critical barrier This would include, but not be limited to failures in personal protective equipment and failures in management system elements such as control of work, management of change, maintenance, competence assurance, etc. Note: A barrier is a technical, human or organizational safeguard that is put in place to prevent, mitigate or control health, safety or environmental risks. Barriers can be equipment, personnel or procedures identified during both major and on-site risk assessments which must be implemented to reduce risk to as low as reasonably practicable. This includes the design, maintenance and inspection of equipment, implementation of operating and maintenance procedures and training and competency of personnel. Barriers can also be those elements of a management system that are put in place to reduce risk by seeking to identify and improve deficiencies within a management system. • Dropped objects in areas where personnel could be present. • A large object drifting in an uncontrolled manner in dangerous proximity to an installation. • Free fall of elevating devices. Note: OSH (NL) Part 4; Section 15.4. • Unplanned musters in response to the emergency shutdown of a facility for false alarms. 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 GuidanceNear miss
An event or chain of events that has not resulted in recordable injury, illness or physical damage or environmental damage but had the potential to do so in other circumstances. Source: OGP Report No. 456, Process Safety – Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, November 2011. Global StandardsBail
Definition(s)
Bail
A cylindrical steel bar, similar to the handle or band of a bucket, only much larger, that supports the swivel and connects it to the hook. The links that attach the elevators to the hook may also be referred to as bails. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Back-up Post
Definition(s)
Back-up Post
A post, column or stanchion to which a back-up line is secured. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Back-up Line
Definition(s)
Back-up Line
A length of wire rope used for holding the leverage arm or handle of a tong to prevent tong rotation. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Auto Ignition Temperature
Definition(s)
Auto Ignition Temperature
The minimum temperature to which a flammable or gas mixture in air must be heated in order to initiate self-sustained combustion. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Drilling
Definition(s)
Drilling
All exploration, appraisal and production drilling and workover as well as their administrative, engineering, construction, materials supply and transportation aspects. It includes site preparation, rigging up and down and restoration of the drilling site upon work completion. Drilling includes all exploration, appraisal and production drilling. Source: OGP Report No. 456, Process Safety – Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, November 2011. Global StandardsDrilling
Includes redrilling and means digging a hole in earth formation with a power-driven drill bit for the purpose of exploring for or developing of oil or gas. Drilling includes those operations that are concerned with the completion of a well. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsA.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
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
Anchor, Deadline
Definition(s)
Anchor, Deadline
A means of holding the deadline to the derrick or substructure. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Alteration (Pressure Vessel)
Definition(s)
Alteration (Pressure Vessel)
An alteration is any change to the item described on the manufacturer's data report which affects the pressure containing capacity or the pressure vessel. Nonphysical (re-rating) such as an increase in the maximum allowable working pressure (internal or external) or design temperature or the addition at loading not considered in the original design, shall be considered an alteration. A reduction in the (minimum) design metal temperature such that additional mechanical tests are required shall also be considered an alteration. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Air Intake Shut-off Valve
Definition(s)
Air Intake Shut-off Valve
A device located between the engine air filter and the intake manifold, designed to shut off the diesel engine's combustion air in the event engine runaway occurs. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations