Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Well Workover Incentive Tax Rate
Definition(s)
Well Workover Incentive Tax Rate
“Well workover incentive tax rate” means the tax rate NMSA 1978, Section 7-29-4 imposes on gas or oil produced from a well workover project. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsWell Workover Project
Definition(s)
Well Workover Project
“Well workover project” means a procedure the operator of a gas or oil well undertakes that is intended to increase production from the well and that the division has approved and certified. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsWell-Bore
Definition(s)
Well-Bore
“Well-bore” means the hole drilled by a bit in order to make a well (trou de sonde). 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. RegulationsWell-Bore
“Well-bore” means the interior surface of a cased or open hole through which drilling, production or injection operations are conducted. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsWell-Bore
“Wellbore” means the hole made by drilling or boring. [Mich. Admin. Code R 408 (2013)]. Source: Oil and Gas Drilling and Servicing Operations, Michigan Administrative Code R 408, February 8, 2013. RegulationsWell-completion Operations
Definition(s)
Well-completion operations:
Well-completion operations mean the work conducted to establish production from a well after the production-casing string has been set, cemented, and pressure-tested. Source: Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf, 30 CFR 250 (2013). Regulations Well completion/well workover means those operations following the drilling of a well that are intended to establish or restore production. Source: Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf, 30 CFR 250 (2013). RegulationsWell-control Fluid
Definition(s)
Well-control fluid:
Well-control fluid means drilling mud, completion fluid, or workover fluid as appropriate to the particular operation being conducted. Source: Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf, 30 CFR 250 (2013). RegulationsWell-head Tank
Definition(s)
Well-head Tank
“Well-head tank” means a tank into which crude petroleum flowing or being pumped from an oil well is first discharged. Source: The Petroleum Rules, 1976, India, 1976. Regulations Source: The Petroleum Rules, 2002, India, 13th March 2002. RegulationsWellbay
Definition(s)
Wellbay:
Wellbay is the area on a facility within the perimeter of the outermost wellheads. Source: Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf, 30 CFR 250 (2013). RegulationsWellhead Protection Area
Definition(s)
Wellhead Protection Area
“Wellhead protection area” means the area within 200 horizontal feet of a private, domestic fresh water well or spring used by less than five households for domestic or stock watering purposes or within 1000 horizontal feet of any other fresh water well or spring. Wellhead protection areas does not include areas around water wells drilled after an existing oil or gas waste storage, treatment or disposal site was established. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsWestern Gulf of Mexico
Definition(s)
Western Gulf of Mexico:
Western Gulf of Mexico means all OCS areas of the Gulf of Mexico except those the BOEM Director decides are adjacent to the State of Florida. The Western Gulf of Mexico is not the same as the Western Planning Area, an area established for OCS lease sales. Source: Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf, 30 CFR 250 (2013). RegulationsWetlands
Definition(s)
Wetlands
“Wetlands” means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions in New Mexico. This definition does not include constructed wetlands used for wastewater treatment purposes. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsWidely-separated Locations
Definition(s)
Widely-separated locations
Widely-separated locations as the term applies to the location of lifeboats on self-elevating units, means locations on different sides or ends of the unit separated by sufficient distance or structure to protect the lifeboats in one location from a fire or explosion occurring at or near the lifeboats in another location on the unit. Locations across from each other at the apex of a unit with a triangular deck are not widely-separated locations unless there is a substantial solid structure between them. Source: Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, 46 CFR 107-109 (2013). RegulationsWildcat (Exploratory) Well
Definition(s)
Wildcat (Exploratory) Well
WILDCAT (EXPLORATORY) WELL means any well drilled beyond the known producing limits of a pool. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsWildlife Resources
Definition(s)
Wildlife Resources
WILDLIFE RESOURCES shall mean fish, wildlife, and their aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsWire Line
Definition(s)
Wire line
A special wire, strand, or wire rope of high strength steel used to convey a tool(s) into a hole (also called “well measuring wire” and “well measuring strand”). An electromechanical cable that is an electrical cable armored with high strength steel wires is also called a wire line. Source: API RP 54, Recommended Practice for Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations, Third Edition, August 1999 (2007). Global Standards\Wire line
“Wire line” means a line that contains a conductor wire and that is used to run survey instruments or other tools in a well (câble). 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. RegulationsWireline
Intervention using a continuous wire or cable. Source: NORSOK D-002, Well intervention equipment, Rev. 2, June 2013. Global StandardsWire Line Wiper
Definition(s)
Wire Line Wiper
“Wire line wiper” means a device used to wipe off oil, mud, or liquid from a wire line as it is pulled out of the well. Source: Oil and Gas Drilling and Servicing Operations, Michigan Administrative Code R 408, February 8, 2013. RegulationsWithdrawal Wells
Definition(s)
Withdrawal Wells
“Withdrawal wells” means those wells from which oil and/or gas is, or is to be, withdrawn. Source: Division of Mineral Resources Management - Oil and Gas, Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 1501:9, January 2012. RegulationsWork
Definition(s)
Work
All activities to be performed within relevant contract(s) issued by designer, owner, operator, contractor, fabricator or manufacturer. Source: API RP 17G, Recommended Practice for Completion/Workover Risers, Second Edition, July 2006 (Reaffirmed April 2011). Global StandardsWork
Force applied through a distance. Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global StandardsWork
Work has the meaning given by clause 3 of Schedule 3 to the Act. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Safety) Regulations 2009 (Select Legislative Instrument 2009 No. 382 as amended), Australia, prepared on 1 January 2012. RegulationsWork
Work means work offshore that is directly or indirectly related to the construction, installation, operation, maintenance or decommissioning of a facility. Source: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Australia, amended 2012. LegislationWork Place Label
Definition(s)
Work Place Label
“Work place label” means, in respect of a controlled product, a label prepared by an employer pursuant to this Division. Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Occupational Health & Safety Requirements, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, December 2000. Regulations Source: Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/87-612, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. RegulationsWork Place Material Safety Data Sheet
Definition(s)
Work Place Material Safety Data Sheet
“Work place material safety data sheet” means, in respect of a controlled product, a material safety data sheet prepared by an employer pursuant to subsection 10.33(1) or (2). Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Occupational Health & Safety Requirements, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, December 2000. RegulationsWork Place Material Safety Data Sheet
“Work place material safety data sheet” means, in respect of a controlled product, a material safety data sheet prepared by an employer pursuant to subsection 11.35(1) or (2); fiche signalétique du lieu de travail. Source: Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/87-612, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. RegulationsWork, At Work
Definition(s)
Work, At Work
For the purposes of these Regulations and of Part I of the 1974 Act, the meaning of “work” and “at work” shall be extended, in relation to the provision of first-aid and other medical assistance, the provision of advice in connection with health, and the provision of information in connection with all the foregoing, so that all persons employed or self employed are treated as being at work whether or not they are on duty, if they are on—- an offshore installation;
- a vessel engaged in pipeline works; or
- a vessel from which any of the following activities in connection with an offshore installation are being carried on, that is to say construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, maintenance, cleaning, demolition, dismantling and any activity immediately preparatory thereto.
Work, At Work
Explanatory Note: The definitions of “work” and “at work” in section 52 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 are extended by regulation 4 in relation to first-aid and other matters specified in the regulation. All employees and self-employed persons are treated as being at work while they are on an offshore installation, a vessel engaged in pipeline works or a vessel engaged in specified activities in connection with an offshore installation. Source: The Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First-Aid) Regulations 1989, UK S.I. 1989/1671, 1989. RegulationsWorkable Coal Seam
Definition(s)
Workable Coal Seam
Workable coal seam—One of the following:- A coal seam in fact being mined in the area in question under the act and this chapter by underground methods.
- A coal seam which, in the judgment of the Department, reasonably can be expected to be mined by underground methods.
Workforce
Definition(s)
Workforce
A collective term for the human resources of the company, including all employees and contractors, and all managers and workers. Source: IOGP Report No. 510, Operating Management System Framework for controlling risk and delivering high performance in the oil and gas industry, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, June 2014. Global StandardsWorkforce
Members of the workforce includes members of the workforce who are:- identifiable before the safety case is developed; and
- working, or likely to be working, on the relevant facility.
Workforce
“Workforce” includes every person who is for the time being working on or from an offshore installation under a contract of service or a contract for services, other than the installation manager, a body corporate or an unincorporated body of persons. Source: The Offshore Installations (Safety Representatives and Safety Committees) Regulations 1989, UK S.I. 1989/971, 1989. RegulationsWorking Area
Definition(s)
Working Area
“Working area” means any area of an installation that a person may occupy during the normal course of duties, and includes a control room, a workshop, machinery space, storage area and paint locker (zone de travail). 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. RegulationsWorking Area
vertical projection of all possible load positions. Source: Rules for Classification and Construction, IV Industrial Services, 6 Offshore Technology, 9 Guideline for Personnel Transfers by Means of Lifting Appliances, Edition 2011, Germanischer Lloyd SE, Global StandardsWorking Day
Definition(s)
Working Day
"Working day" means a calendar day other than Saturday, Sunday, or a state holiday. Source: Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Definitions, Alaska Admin. Code tit. 20, § 25.990, December 7, 2012. RegulationsWorking Interest Owner
Definition(s)
Working Interest Owner
“Working interest owner” means a person who owns a working interest; détenteur. Source: Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1988, c. 28, Canada, current to May 26, 2013. Legislation Source: Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. O-7, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. LegislationWorking Interest Owner
“Working interest owner” means the owner of an operating interest under an oil and gas lease who has the exclusive right to exploit the oil and gas minerals. Working interests are cost bearing. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 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.