Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Operating Draft
Definition(s)
Operating Draft
“Operating draft”, with respect to a mobile offshore platform, means the vertical distance in metres from the moulded baseline to the assigned waterline, where the platform is operating under combined environmental and operational loads that are within the limits for which the platform was designed to operate (tirant d’eau d’exploitation). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsOperating Condition
Definition(s)
Operating Condition
“Operating condition”, with respect to a mobile offshore platform, means the condition of operating at the operating draft (condition d’exploitation). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsOperating Condition
The condition when a unit is on location, for the purpose of carrying out its primary design operations, and the combined environmental and operational loadings are within the appropriate design limits established for such operations. The unit may be either afloat or supported on the sea bed, as applicable. Source: Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Mobile Offshore Units, Part 1, Regulations, June 2013, Lloyd’s Register, Global StandardsOffshore Production Site
Definition(s)
Offshore Production Site
“Offshore production site” means a production site within a water-covered area that is not an island, other than an artificial island, or an ice platform (emplacement de production au large des côtes). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. RegulationsOffshore Loading System
Definition(s)
Offshore Loading System
“Offshore loading system” means the equipment and any associated platform or storage vessel located at an offshore production site to load oil or gas on a transport vessel, and includes any equipment on the transport vessel that is associated with the loading system (système de chargement au large des côtes). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. RegulationsOffshore Installation
Definition(s)
Offshore Installation
Regulation 3 defines an ‘offshore installation’ for the purpose of these Regulations. This definition replaces that formerly contained in section 1 of MWA12 as the definition of an offshore installation for the purposes of health and safety law. Existing Regulations which refer to installations (for example SCR4) are amended by these Regulations to use the new definition. Regulations, such as PFEER,10 refer to the definition given in MAR. Any variation from it will be explained in the guidance on those Regulations. Source: A Guide to the Offshore Installations and Pipelines Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995, Guidance on Regulations (UK HSE L70), Second Edition, 2002. RegulatoryOffshore Installation
“Offshore installation” means an installation that is located at an offshore production site or offshore drill site, and includes an accommodation installation and a diving installation (installation au large des côtes). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. RegulationsOffshore Installation
The Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations (MAR) 1995 (the 1995 Regulations) introduced a new definition of an ‘offshore installation’ and modified the definition of ‘person in control’. Further details are set out in the guidance to MAR, regulation 3. Source: Health Care and First Aid on Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works, Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First-Aid) Regulations 1989, Approved Code of Practice and Guidance (UK HSE L123), Second Edition, 2000. Regulatory GuidanceOffshore Installation
A general term for mobile and fixed structures, including facilities, which are intended for exploration, drilling, production, processing or storage of hydrocarbons or other related activities or fluids. The term includes installations intended for accommodation of personnel engaged in these activities. Offshore installation covers subsea installations and pipelines. The term does not cover traditional shuttle tankers, supply boats and other support vessels which are not directly engaged in the activities described above. Source: Offshore Standard DNV-OS-C101, Design of Offshore Steel Structures, General (LRFD Method, Det Norske Veritas, April 2011. Global StandardsOffshore Installation
“Offshore installation” has the meaning given in article 4(2) and (3) of this Order. Source: The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (Application outside Great Britain) Order 2001, UK S.I. 2013/214, 2013. RegulationsOffshore Installation
In this Order “offshore installation” means subject to paragraph (3) of this article, a structure which is, is to be, or has been, used while standing or stationed in water, or on the foreshore or other land intermittently covered with water—- for the exploitation, or exploration with a view to exploitation, of mineral resources by means of a well;
- for undertaking activities falling within article 8(2);
- for the conveyance of things by means of a pipe;
- for undertaking activities that involve mechanically entering the pressure containment boundary of a well; or
- primarily for the provision of accommodation for persons who work on or from a structure falling within any of sub-paragraphs (a) to (d), together with any supplementary unit which is ordinarily connected to it and all the connections.
- a structure which is connected with dry land by a permanent structure providing access at all times and for all purposes;
- a well;
- a mobile structure which has been taken out of use and is not yet being moved with a view to its being used for any of the purposes specified in paragraph (2) of this article;
- any part of a pipeline; and
- a structure falling within article 10(c).
Offshore Installation
“Offshore installation” includes any part of an offshore installation whether or not capable of being manned by one or more persons. Source: The Offshore Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973, UK S.I. 1973/1842, 1973. RegulationsOffshore Installation
“Offshore installation” means an offshore installation within the meaning of the 1971 Act which is within- tidal waters and parts of the sea in or adjacent to Great Britain up to the seaward limit of territorial waters;
- waters in any area designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964. Note: 1964 c. 29;
- inland waters within Great Britain.
Offshore Installation
“Offshore installation” shall be construed in accordance with regulation 3. Source: The Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995, UK S.I. 1995/738, 1995. RegulationsOffshore Installation
offshore installation Subject to the provisions of this regulation, in these Regulations the expression “offshore installation” means a structure which is, or is to be, or has been used, while standing or stationed in relevant waters, or on the foreshore or other land intermittently covered with water— (a) for the exploitation, or exploration with a view to exploitation, of mineral resources by means of a well; (b) for the storage of gas in or under the shore or bed of relevant waters or the recovery of gas so stored; (c) for the conveyance of things by means of a pipe; or (d) mainly for the provision of accommodation for persons who work on or from a structure falling within any of the provisions of this paragraph, and which is not an excepted structure. (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the excepted structures are— (a) a structure which is connected with dry land by a permanent structure providing access at all times and for all purposes; (b) a well; (c) a structure or device which does not project above the sea at any state of the tide; (d) a structure which has ceased to be used for any of the purposes specified in paragraph (1), and has since been used for a purpose not so specified; (e) a mobile structure which has been taken out of use and is not for the time being intended to be used for any of the purposes specified in paragraph (1); and (f) any part of a pipeline. (3) For the purposes of these Regulations there shall be deemed to be part of an offshore installation— (a) any well for the time being connected to it by pipe or cable; (b) such part of any pipeline connected to it as is within 500 metres of any part of its main structure; (c) any apparatus or works which are situated—- on or affixed to its main structure; or
- wholly or partly within 500 metres of any part of its main structure and associated with a pipe or system of pipes connected to any part of that installation.
Offshore Installation
In regulation 2 (interpretation) of the Offshore Installations (Emergency Pipe-line Valve) Regulations 1989 (Note: S.I. 1989/1029.) for the definition of “offshore installation” there shall be substituted the following definition: ““offshore installation” means an installation within the meaning of regulation 3 of the 1995 Regulations other than an installation which is—- used exclusively for flaring, or
- used exclusively for the loading of substances into vessels or for their reception and storage prior to such loading and which normally has no persons on board”.
Offshore Installation
In regulation 2 (interpretation) of the Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First-Aid) Regulations 1989 (Note: S.I. 1989/1671.) for the definition of “offshore installation” there shall be substituted the following definition: ““offshore installation” has the same meaning as in regulation 3 of the 1995 Regulations”. Source: The Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (Management and Administration) Regulations 1995, UK S.I. 1995/738, 1995. RegulationsOffshore Installation
In this section— “offshore installation” means any installation which is an offshore installation within the meaning of the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971, or is to be taken to be an installation for the purposes of sections 21 to 23 of the Petroleum Act 1987. Source: UK Offshore Safety Act 1992, 1992 c. 15 (February 2013). LegislationOffshore Installation
Offshore installation includes process platform, unmanned wellhead platform, drilling rig, modular rig, FPSO, FSU, SBM etc. Source: Guidance Notes on Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules, 2008, Oil Industry Safety Directorate (India), 2012. Regulatory GuidanceOffshore Installation
“Offshore installation” means a mobile or fixed installation including any pipeline attached thereto, which is or is to be, or has been used, while standing or stationed in relevant waters with a view to explore or exploit petroleum and natural gas. Source: Petroleum and Natural Gas (Safety in Offshore Operations) Rules, 2008, India, 18th June 2008. RegulationsOffshore Installation
A buoyant or non-buoyant construction engaged in offshore operations including drilling, production, storage or support functions, and which is designed and intended for use at a location for an extended period. Source: Rules for Classification – Offshore units, DNVGL-OU-0101, Offshore drilling and support units, DNV GL, July 2015. Global StandardsLower Explosive Limit
Definition(s)
Lower Explosive Limit
Concentration of flammable gas or vapour in air, below which the gas atmosphere is not explosive. [IEV 426-02-09, modified]. Source: IEC 61892-7, Mobile and fixed offshore units – Electrical installations – Part 7: Hazardous areas. Global StandardsLower Explosive Limit
“Lower explosive limit” means the lower limit of flammability of a chemical agent or a combination of chemical agents at ambient temperature and pressure, expressed- for a gas or vapour, as a percentage per volume of air, and
- for dust, as the weight of dust per volume of air.
Offshore Drill Site
Definition(s)
Offshore Drill Site
“Offshore drill site” means a drill site within a water-covered area that is not an island, an artificial island or an ice platform (emplacement de forage au large des côtes. Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. RegulationsNew Installation
Definition(s)
New Installation
“New installation” means an installation that is constructed after the coming into force of these Regulations (nouvelle installation. Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Certificate of Fitness Regulations, SOR/95-187, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsMobile Offshore Platform
Definition(s)
Mobile Offshore Platform
“Mobile offshore platform” means an offshore platform that is designed to operate in a floating or buoyant mode or that can be moved from place to place without major dismantling or modification, whether or not it has its own motive power (plate-forme mobile au large des côtes). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. RegulationsMarine Activities
Definition(s)
Marine Activities
“Marine activities” means activities related to position keeping and collision avoidance of mobile offshore platforms including mooring, dynamic positioning and ballasting (activité maritime). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsManned Offshore Installation
Definition(s)
Manned Offshore Installation
“Manned offshore installation” means an offshore installation on which persons are normally present (installation habitée au large des côtes). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. RegulationsMajor Damage
Definition(s)
Major Damage
“Major damage” means damage that results in uncontrolled pollution or loss of or serious threat to life (dommage majeur). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsMachinery Space
Definition(s)
Machinery Space
“Machinery space” means a space on an installation where equipment incorporating rotating or reciprocating mechanical equipment in the form of an internal combustion engine, a gas turbine, an electric motor, a generator, a pump or a compressor is located (zone des machines). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsSecretary
Definition(s)
Secretary
"Secretary" means the duly appointed and qualified Secretary of the Commission or any person appointed by the Commission to act as such Secretary during the absence of the Secretary, his inability, or disqualification to act. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsSecretary
“Secretary” means the Secretary of the Board; secrétaire. Source: National Energy Board Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. N-7, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. LegislationSecretary
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Australia, amended 2012. LegislationSecretary
"Secretary" means the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor. (A) May be referred to as the Assistant Secretary. Source: State of Wyoming Occupational Safety and Health Rules and Regulations for Oil and Gas Well Drilling, Revised January 8, 2013. RegulationsSecretary
The chief executive of the Department of Labour. *Indicates that the definition has been extracted from the HSE Act. 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 GuidanceSecretary
Secretary means the chief executive of the department. Source: Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Public Act 1992 No 96, New Zealand, as of 1 July 2011. LegislationIntact Condition
Definition(s)
Intact Condition
“Intact condition” means, with respect to a floating platform, that the platform is not in a damaged condition (condition intacte). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsHazardous Area
Definition(s)
Hazardous Area
Three-dimensional space in which a combustible or explolsive atmosphere can be expected to be present frequently enough to require special precautions for the control of potential ignition sources- Note: 1 to entry: Hazardous areas are typically defined by local, national or international standards (e.g. the National Electric Code (NEC) in the United States).
Hazardous Area
Three-dimensional space in which a flammable atmosphere can be expected to be present at such frequencies as to require special precautions for the control of potential ignition sources. 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 StandardsHazardous Area
“Hazardous area” means an area classified as hazardous in the Recommended Practice referred to in subsection (2) (zone dangereuse). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsHazardous Area
Area in which an explosive atmosphere is present, or may be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction, installation and use of equipment. Source: IEC 60079-14:2013, Explosive atmospheres – Part 14: Electrical installations design, selection and erection, Edition 5.0, November 2013. Global StandardsHazardous Area
Area in which an explosive gas atmosphere is present, or may be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction, installation and use of apparatus.[IEV 426-03-01, modified] Source: IEC 61892-7, Mobile and fixed offshore units – Electrical installations – Part 7: Hazardous areas. Global StandardsHazardous Area
Area in which an explosive atmosphere is present, or may be expected to be present, in quantities such as to require special precautions for the construction, installation and use of equipment- Note: 1 to entry: For the purposes of this standard, an area is a three-dimensional region or space.
Hazardous Area
Hazardous area: as defined in the standard NEN-EN-IEC 60079-10, “Electrical apparatus for explosive gas atmospheres”, Part 10: Classification of hazardous areas; July 1997; Source: Mining Regulation of the Netherlands, WJZ 02063603, Netherlands,16 December 2002. RegulationsHazardous Area
A hazardous area is an area on the unit where flammable gas-air mixtures are, or are likely to be, present in sufficient quantities and for sufficient periods of time such as to require special precautions to be taken in the selection, installation and use of machinery and electrical equipment. Source: Rules and Regulations for the Classification of Mobile Offshore Units, Part 7, Safety Systems, Hazardous Areas and Fire, June 2013, Lloyd’s Register, Global StandardsFloating Platform
Definition(s)
Floating Platform
“Floating platform” means a column-stabilized mobile offshore platform or a surface mobile offshore platform (plate-forme flottante). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsDrill Site
Definition(s)
Drill Site
Drill site In these Regulations, “drilling installation”, “drilling rig”, “drilling unit”, “drill site”, “installation”, “production installation”, “production operation”, “production site” and “subsea production system” have the same meaning as in subsection 2(1) of the Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations. 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. RegulationsDrill Site
“Drill site” means a location where a drilling rig is or is proposed to be installed (emplacement de forage). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-118, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Certificate of Fitness Regulations, SOR/95-187, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsDrilling Unit
Definition(s)
Drilling Unit
"Drilling unit" means an area of a pool- established by the commission under AS 31.05.100 , either by order or by regulation;
- to which no more than one oil or gas well may be drilled; and
- from which no more than one oil or gas well may produce.