Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Surging
Definition(s)
Surging
A rapid increase in pressure downhole that occurs when drill stem is lowered too fast or when the mud pump is brought up to speed after starting. Source: API RP 59, Recommended Practice for Well Control Operations, Second Edition, May 2006. Global StandardsSurplus Acreage
Definition(s)
Surplus Acreage
Substandard acreage within a lease, pooled unit, or unitized tract that remains unassigned after the assignment of acreage to each applied for, permitted, or completed well in a field, in an amount equaling or exceeding the amount established for standard or optional drilling units. Surplus acreage is distinguished from the term "tolerance acreage,"in that tolerance acreage is defined in context with proration regulation, while surplus acreage is defined by this rule only in context with well density regulation. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsSurveillance
Definition(s)
Surveillance
Continual, checking, supervising, critically observing or determining the status in order to identify change from the performance level required or expected- Note: 1 to entry: Examples of well physical characteristics include tubing wall thickness measurements, visual inspections, sampling.
Surveillance
periodic monitoring, during the periods of certification, of a certified person’s performance to ensure continued compliance with the certification scheme [SOURCE: ISO/IEC 17024:2012, 3.22]. Source: ISO/IEC TS 17027:2014, Conformity assessment – Vocabulary related to competence of persons used for certification of persons, Global StandardsSurveillance
Set of activities, except reassessment, to monitor the continued fulfilment by accredited CABs of requirements for accreditation NOTE Surveillance includes both surveillance on-site assessments and other surveillance activities, such as the following: a) enquiries from the accreditation body to the CAB on aspects concerning the accreditation; b) reviewing the declarations of the CAB with respect to what is covered by the accreditation; c) requests to the CAB to provide documents and records (e.g. audit reports, results of internal quality control for verifying the validity of CAB services, complaints records, management review records); d) monitoring the performance of the CAB (such as results of participating in proficiency testing). Source: ISO/IEC 17011:2004, Conformity assessment – General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies. Global StandardsSurveillance Period
Definition(s)
Surveillance Period
Interval of time (calendar time) between the start date and end date of RM data collection. NOTE For more detailed definitions and interpretations, see Annex C. Source: API STD 689, Collection and Exchange of Reliability and Maintenance Data for Equipment, First Edition, July 2007. Global StandardsSurvey
Definition(s)
Survey
A specific visual or nondestructive examination of one or more platform components. Source: API RP 2SIM, Structural Integrity Management of Fixed Offshore Structures, First Edition, November 2014. Global StandardsSurvey
An examination of a piece of equipment or a vessel in accordance with the appropriate Classification Society rules, guides, standards or other criteria of the Classification Society / Certifying Authority or in accordance with other specific standards. The examination may be required under classification or certification, or requested as a result of damage sustained by the piece of equipment or vessel. Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors, Appendix 2 to Health, Safety and Environment Case Guidelines for Offshore Drilling Contractors, Issue 3.3.2, February 2010. IADC GuidelinesSurvey
Signifies a systematic and independent examination of a vessel, materials, components or systems in order to verify compliance with the rules and/or statutory requirements. Surveys will be carried out on the vessel, at the construction or repair site as well as at sub-suppliers and other locations at the discretion of the Society, which also decides the extent and method of control. Source: Rules for Classification – Offshore units, DNVGL-OU-0101, Offshore drilling and support units, DNV GL, July 2015. Global StandardsSurvey Acquisition Data
Definition(s)
Survey acquisition data
Survey acquisition data means:- for a seismic survey — each type of data mentioned in an item in Part 1 of Schedule 3:
- presented on a medium and in a format specified in the item; or
- presented on another medium or in another format that the Titles Administrator has authorised the petroleum titleholder to use; or
- for any other type of survey — each type of data mentioned in an item in Part 2 of Schedule 3 and presented in accordance with subparagraph (a) (i) or (ii).
Survey acquisition data
Survey acquisition data means:- for a seismic survey — each type of data mentioned in an item in Part 1 of Schedule 3:
- presented on a medium and in a format specified in the item; or
- presented on another medium or in another format that the Titles Administrator has authorised the greenhouse gas titleholder to use; or
- for any other type of survey — each type of data mentioned in an item in Part 2 of Schedule 3 and presented in accordance with subparagraph (a) (i) or (ii).
Survey Acquisition Report
Definition(s)
Survey acquisition report
Survey acquisition report means a report that includes:- the name of the survey; and
- the title under which the survey was conducted; and
- the name of the titleholder; and
- the name of the contractor that conducted the survey; and
- the name of the vessel or aircraft that conducted the survey; and
- a map of where the survey was conducted; and
- the dates on which the survey started and ended; and
- details of all data acquisition equipment and systems used; and
- details of all positioning and navigation equipment and systems used; and
- the number of lines of data acquired in the survey and the number of data acquisition points along each line; and
- navigation data for the survey, in the form of:
- for a 2-dimensional survey — line ends and bends; or
- for a 3-dimensional seismic survey — a full fold polygon outline; or
- for other 3-dimensional surveys — a polygon outline; and
- the geometry of the acquisition parameters; and
- the results of any onboard data processing; and
- the results of any system tests, calibrations and diagnostics.
Survey Interpretation Report
Definition(s)
Survey interpretation report
Survey interpretation report means a report that includes the following information:- the name of the survey;
- the title under which the survey was conducted;
- the name of the titleholder;
- a description of the objectives of the interpretation;
- for a seismic survey:
- a list of the surfaces interpreted; and
- a justification of the surfaces interpreted, including synthetic seismograms if available; and
- the velocity field used to convert time to depth (including ASCII data) and the basis for the velocity field; and
- if available, time slices to describe the environment of deposition;
- a bathymetric map of the survey area;
- an index of the maps created during the interpretation.
Survey Processing Report
Definition(s)
Survey processing report
Survey processing report means a report that includes:- the name of the survey; and
- the title under which the survey was conducted; and
- the name of the titleholder; and
- the dates on which processing of the survey started and ended; and
- the name of the processing contractor; and
- the purpose of the processing; and
- a summary of the data acquisition parameters; and
- details of all the processing sequences and techniques used; and
- a sample Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) header from the final data set; and
- listings of all processed data; and
- for a 3-dimensional survey:
- a description of the position of the survey polygon; and
- a calculation for the 3-dimensional line numbering convention.
Survey Staff
Definition(s)
Survey Staff
Personnel authorized to carry out surveys and to conclude whether or not compliance has been met. Source: Rules for Classification – Offshore units, DNVGL-OU-0101, Offshore drilling and support units, DNV GL, July 2015. Global StandardsSurvivability
Definition(s)
Survivability
Protection required by a barrier or equipment item to ensure continued operation during a major incident. Source: OGP Report No. 415, Asset integrity – the key to managing major incident risks, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, December 2008. Global StandardsSurvival
Definition(s)
Survival
For purposes of fire and blast consideration, survival means demonstration that at least one escape route and the temporary refuge or safe mustering area are maintained for a sufficient period of time to allow platform evacuation and emergency response procedure, in accordance with the safety philosophy defined by the owner/operator of the platform. Source: API RP 2FB, Recommended Practice for the Design of Offshore Facilities Against Fire and Blast Loading, First Edition, April 2006. Global StandardsSurvival Condition
Definition(s)
Survival Condition
“Survival condition”, with respect to a mobile offshore platform, means the condition of the platform when it is subjected to the most severe environmental conditions determined pursuant to section 45 (condition de survie). 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. RegulationsSurvival Condition
A condition during which a unit may be subjected to the most severe environmental loadings for which the unit is designed. Drilling or similar operations may have been discontinued due to the severity of the environmental loadings. The unit may be either afloat or supported on the sea bed, as applicable. Source: Offshore Standard DNV-OS-C101, Design of Offshore Steel Structures, General (LRFD Method, Det Norske Veritas, April 2011. Global StandardsSurvival Condition
“Survival condition”, with respect to a mobile platform, means the condition of the platform when it is subjected to the most severe environmental conditions determined pursuant to section 44; condition de survie. Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsSurvival Condition
A severe storm condition during which a unit may be subjected to the most severe environmental loadings for which the unit is designed. Drilling or similar operations may have been discontinued due to the severity of the environmental loadings. 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 StandardsSurvival Craft
Definition(s)
Survival Craft
Survival craft means a craft capable of sustaining the lives of persons in distress after abandoning the unit on which they were carried. The term includes lifeboats and liferafts, but does not include rescue boats. Source: Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, 46 CFR 107-109 (2013). RegulationsSurvival Craft
Survival craft has the same meaning as defined in SOLAS regulation III/3. Source: IMO Resolution A.1023(26), Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (2009 MODU Code), 2009. Global StandardsSurvival Craft
Craft capable of sustaining the lives of persons in it from the time of abandoning the installation. Source: ISO 15544:2000, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Offshore production installations – Requirements and guidelines for emergency. Global StandardsSurvival Craft
Survival craft is a craft capable of sustaining the lives of persons in distress from the time of abandoning the ship. <Chapter III, Part A, regulation 3>. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.47(66), adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, 4 June 1996, International Maritime Organization. LegislationSurvival Draft
Definition(s)
Survival Draft
“Survival 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 subjected to the most severe environmental conditions determined pursuant to section 45 (tirant d’eau de survie). 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. RegulationsSurvival Draft
“Survival draft”, with respect to a mobile platform, means the vertical distance in metres from the moulded baseline to the assigned waterline, where the platform is subjected to the most severe environmental conditions determined pursuant to section 44; tirant d’eau de survie. Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsSurvival Event
Definition(s)
Survival Event
A survival environmental condition with a return period between 100 years and 10,000 years. NOTE There can be several survival events. Source: API Standard 2RD, Dynamic Risers for Floating Production Systems, Second Edition, September 2013. Global StandardsSurvival Probability
Definition(s)
Survival Probability, R(t)
Likelihood of the continued functioning of an item, as given by Equation (1): R(t ) = Pr (T > t ) (1) where Pr is the probability that T, the time to failure of an item, is greater than t, a time equal to or greater than 0. Source: ISO 20815:2008, Petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries – Production assurance and reliability management. Global StandardsSurvival Suit
Definition(s)
Survival Suit
Protective suit made of materials which reduce body heat-loss of a person wearing it in cold water. Source: ISO 15544:2000, Petroleum and natural gas industries – Offshore production installations – Requirements and guidelines for emergency. Global StandardsSuspect Areas
Definition(s)
Suspect Areas
Areas showing substantial corrosion and/or are considered by the surveyor to be prone to rapid wastage. Source: Rules for Classification – Offshore units, DNVGL-OU-0101, Offshore drilling and support units, DNV GL, July 2015. Global StandardsSuspend
Definition(s)
Suspend
"Suspend" means to plug a well in accordance with 20 AAC 25.110 and to reserve the option later to re-enter and- redrill the well; or
- complete the well as an oil, gas, or service well.
Suspend
Suspend, in relation to a well, means to render the well temporarily inoperative, and suspension has a corresponding meaning verification scheme has the meaning set out in regulation 54. Source: Health and Safety in Employment (Petroleum Exploration and Extraction) Regulations 2013, SR 2013/208, New Zealand, as of May 2013. RegulationsSuspended
Definition(s)
Suspended
“Suspended”, in relation to a well or part of a well, means a well or part of a well in which drilling or production operations have temporarily ceased (suspension de l’exploitation). 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. RegulationsSuspended Casing
Definition(s)
Suspended Casing
Suspended casing: casing that does not completely run to the surface of the earth. Source: Mining Regulation of the Netherlands, WJZ 02063603, Netherlands,16 December 2002. RegulationsSuspended well
Definition(s)
Suspended well
Well that has been temporarily isolated from the producing reservoir- Note: 1 to entry: Components above the isolation device are no longer considered flow-wetted.