Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Skim Cut
Definition(s)
Skim Cut
Re-facing of a machined surface within allowable tolerances and surface finish of the CPD or API specification.
Source: API STANDARD 16AR, Standard for Repair and Remanufacture of Drill-through Equipment, First Edition, April 2017. Global StandardsSkim Hydrocarbons
Definition(s)
Skim Hydrocarbons
Oil and condensate which accumulate during produced water disposal operations. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsSkimming Pit
Definition(s)
Skimming Pit
Pit used for skimming oil off saltwater prior to disposal of saltwater at a disposal well or fluid injection well. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, 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. RegulationsSkip
Definition(s)
Skip
Path of the ultrasonic beam in the OCTG from the point of entry on the surface to the back surface and reflecting to the front surface again. Source: API RP 5A5, Field Inspection of New Casing, Tubing, and Plain-end Drill Pipe, Reaffirmed August 2010. Global StandardsSkip
“Skip” means a stage, cage, basket or wet bell in which a diver may be lowered to or raised from an underwater work site (skip). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Diving Regulations, SOR/88-600, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Area Petroleum Diving Regulations, SOR/95-189, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsSkirted Spudcan
Definition(s)
Skirted Spudcan
Spudcan with a peripheral skirt. Source: ISO 19905-1:202, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Site-specific assessment of mobile offshore units – Part 1: Jack-ups. Global StandardsSL
Definition(s)
SL
Security level. Source: DNVGL-RP-G108, Cyber security in the oil and gas industry based on IEC 62443, DNV GL, September 2017. Global StandardsSL-T
Definition(s)
SL-T
Security level target. Source: DNVGL-RP-G108, Cyber security in the oil and gas industry based on IEC 62443, DNV GL, September 2017. Global StandardsSLA
Definition(s)
SLA
Safe Landing Area. Source: NOGEPA Guideline 14, Helideck Operations and Procedures Manual, Netherlands, Version 2, December 2011. Global StandardsSlack Pipeline
Definition(s)
Slack Pipeline
Maintaining column separation at a location with an extreme drop in elevation so that the pressure does not exceed the maximum operating pressure (MOP). Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global StandardsSlamming
Definition(s)
Slamming
Impact load on an approximately horizontal member from a rising water surface as a wave passes. The direction of the impact load is mainly vertical. Source: Offshore Standard DNV-OS-C101, Design of Offshore Steel Structures, General (LRFD Method, Det Norske Veritas, April 2011. Global StandardsSlant-Leg Unit
Definition(s)
Slant-Leg Unit
Jack-up with legs that can be inclined at a significant angle to the vertical. NOTE The inclination angle is typically about 5°. The benefit is that the jack-up behaves more like a braced frame and less like a portal frame, with accompanying reductions in leg axial forces and moments. Source: ISO 19905-1:202, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Site-specific assessment of mobile offshore units – Part 1: Jack-ups. Global StandardsSLB
Definition(s)
SLB
Strength Level Blast. Source: API RP 2FB, Recommended Practice for the Design of Offshore Facilities Against Fire and Blast Loading, First Edition, April 2006. Global StandardsSlewing
Definition(s)
Slewing
Rotation of the upper-structure for movement of loads in a horizontal direction about the axis of rotation. Source: API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Seventh Edition, December 2014. Global StandardsSlick Joint
Definition(s)
Slick Joint
Riser joint of standard length without attached buoyancy.
Source: API Specification 16Q, Design, Selection, Operation, and Maintenance of Marine Drilling Riser Systems, Second Edition, April 2017. Global StandardsSlick Joint
Special riser joint designed to prevent damage to the riser and control umbilical where they pass through the rotary table. NOTE Usually included in C/WO risers and is sometimes named “cased wear joint”. Source: API RP 17G, Recommended Practice for Completion/Workover Risers, Second Edition, July 2006 (Reaffirmed April 2011). Global StandardsSlick Line
Definition(s)
Slick Line
“Slick line” means a single steel cable used to run tools in a well (câble lisse). 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. RegulationsSlick Spot
Definition(s)
Slick Spot
"Slick spot" means a small area of soil having a puddled, crusted, or smooth surface and an excess of exchangeable sodium. The soil is generally silty or clayey, is slippery when wet, and is low in productivity. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsSliding
Definition(s)
Sliding
Horizontal movement of a spudcan. Source: ISO 19905-1:202, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Site-specific assessment of mobile offshore units – Part 1: Jack-ups. Global StandardsSlim Hole Completion
Definition(s)
Slim Hole Completion
A well that is completed without tubing. Usually, only small diameter casing is set and cemented. After perforating, formation fluids are produced out of the casing. Source: API BULLETIN E3, Environmental Guidance Document: Well Abandonment and Inactive Well Practices for U.S. Exploration and Production Operations, First Edition, January 1993 (Reaffirmed June 2000). Global StandardsSling
Definition(s)
Sling
An assembly that connects the load to the material handling equipment. Source: API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Seventh Edition, December 2014. Global Standards Source: API RP 2D, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Cranes, Sixth Edition, May 2007. Global StandardsSling
An assembly typically manufactured from wire rope, chain, or synthetic material used for lifting when connected between a load and a lifting mechanism. Source: API SPEC 7K, Drilling and Well Servicing Equipment Upstream Segment, Fifth Edition, June 2010 (August 2010). Global Standards Source:API SPECIFICATION 7K, Drilling and Well Servicing Equipment, Sixth Edition, December 2015. Global StandardsSlip Area
Definition(s)
Slip Area
The slip area is contained within a distance of 48 inches along the pipe body from the juncture of the tool joint OD and the elevator shoulder. Source: API RP 7G, Recommended Practice for Drill Stem Design and Operating Limits, Upstream Segment, Sixteenth Edition, August 1998 (Addendum 2: September 2009). Global StandardsSlip Area
That part of the pipe body where there is visible evidence of the trip slips having been repeatedly set numerous times in the same area. See Figure 4. NOTE At the upper end, it is typically located approximately 560 mm (22 in) from the box-tool joint elevator shoulder, and extends from that point approximately 660 mm (26 in) toward the pin end. It can be located elsewhere depending on rig design and positioning of handling equipment. It does not include occasional setting of slips in other areas as a result of fishing operations, drill stem tests and similar applications. Source: API RP 7G-2, Recommended Practice for Inspection and Classification of Used Drill Stem Elements, First Edition, August 2009. Global StandardsSlip Bowls
Definition(s)
Slip Bowls
A cylindrical body with a tapered inner surface, either one piece or segmented, that supports the slips.
Source:API SPECIFICATION 7K, Drilling and Well Servicing Equipment, Sixth Edition, December 2015. Global StandardsSlip Joint
Definition(s)
Slip Joint
A tool having a sealed telescoping joint designed to accommodate tubing expansion and contraction.
Source:API SPECIFICATION 19TT, Specification for Downhole Well Test Tools and Related Equipment, First Edition, October 2016. Global StandardsSlip Joint
See Telescopic Joint. Source: API Specification 16Q, Design, Selection, Operation, and Maintenance of Marine Drilling Riser Systems, Second Edition, April 2017. Global Standards Source: API RP 16Q, Recommended Practice for Design, Selection, Operation and Maintenance of Marine Drilling Riser Systems, First Edition, November 1993 (Reaffirmed August 2001). Global StandardsSlip Joint
Riser joint having an inner barrel and an outer barrel with a means of sealing between them. NOTE The inner and outer barrels of the telescopic joint move relative to each other to compensate for the required change in the length of the riser string as the vessel experiences surge, sway, and heave. Source: ISO 13624-1:2009, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Drilling and production equipment – Part 1:Design and operation of marine drilling riser equipment. Global StandardsSlip-Type Casing Hanger
Definition(s)
Slip-Type Casing Hanger
Mechanism used to support a casing string in a casing head by gripping the pipe with wedge-type members. Source: API SPEC 6A, Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment, Twentieth Edition, October 2010 (Addendum November 2012). Global StandardsSlips
Definition(s)
Slips
The wedge-shaped pieces of metal with gripping elements used to prevent pipe from slipping down the well bore. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsSlit Trench
Definition(s)
Slit Trench
"Slit trench" means a pit or bermed area at the drilling site used for the temporary storage of drilling fluids and/or cuttings to provide access for equipment to remove the contents off site. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsSlope
Definition(s)
Slope
Slope of internal pressure over time, on a logarithmic-logarithmic scale, of a static regression curve.- Note: 1 to entry: The slope, although negative, is published and used as a positive number.
SLS
Definition(s)
SLS
Serviceability limit state. Source: API Standard 2RD, Dynamic Risers for Floating Production Systems, Second Edition, September 2013. Global Standards Source: ISO 19901-7:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Specific requirements for offshore structures – Part 7: Stationkeeping systems for floating offshore structures and mobile offshore units. Global Standards Source: ISO 19905-1:202, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Site-specific assessment of mobile offshore units – Part 1: Jack-ups. Global Standards Source: Offshore Standard DNV-OS-C101, Design of Offshore Steel Structures, General (LRFD Method, Det Norske Veritas, April 2011. Global Standards Source: ISO 19900:2013, Petroleum and natural gas industries – General requirements for offshore structures. Global StandardsSLT
Definition(s)
SLT
Standard Laboratory Temperature. Source: ISO 14692-1:2017, Petroleum and natural gas industries — Glass-reinforced plastics (GRP) piping — Part 1: Vocabulary, symbols, applications and materials, Second Edition, August 2017. Global StandardsSLT
Temperature as defined by a recognized standard with standard tolerance.- EXAMPLE: 23 °C ± 2 °C.