Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Infill Well
Definition(s)
Infill Well
“Infill well” means a well in a compulsory pooled proration or spacing unit to be completed in a pool in which an existing well drilled pursuant to the compulsory pooling order has been completed and not plugged and abandoned. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsIdentical Ownership
Definition(s)
Identical Ownership
“Identical ownership” means leases or pools have the same working, royalty and overriding royalty owners in exactly the same percentages. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsDiverse Ownership
Definition(s)
Diverse Ownership
“Diverse ownership” means leases or pools have different working, royalty or overriding royalty interest owners or different ownership percentages of the same working, royalty or overriding royalty interest owners. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsRadius Of Exposure
Definition(s)
Radius Of Exposure (ROE)
ROE is defined in Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Part 1, Chapter 3, Rule 3.36, b) 3); see A.4.5. Other methods of calculating ROE may apply, depending on local regulations. Source: API SPEC 6A, Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment, Twentieth Edition, October 2010 (Addendum November 2012). Global StandardsRadius Of Exposure
"Radius of exposure" means that radius constructed with the point of escape of poisonous (hydrogen sulfide) gas as its starting point and its length calculated by use of the Pasquill-Gifford equations. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsRadius Of Exposure
“Radius of exposure” means the radius constructed with the point of escape as its starting point and its length calculated using the following Pasquill-Gifford derived equation, or by such other method as the division may approve:- for determining the 100-ppm radius of exposure: X = [(1.589)(hydrogen sulfide concentration)(Q)](0.6258), where “X” is the radius of exposure in feet, the “hydrogen sulfide concentration” is the decimal equivalent of the mole or volume fraction of hydrogen sulfide in the gaseous mixture and “Q” is the escape rate expressed in cubic feet per day (corrected for standard conditions of 14.73 psi absolute and 60 degrees fahrenheit);
- for determining the 500-ppm radius of exposure: X = [(0.4546)(hydrogen sulfide concentration)(Q)](0.6258), where “X” is the radius of exposure in feet, the “hydrogen sulfide concentration” is the decimal equivalent of the mole or volume fraction of hydrogen sulfide in the gaseous mixture and “Q” is the escape rate expressed in cubic feet per day (corrected for standard conditions of 14.73 psi absolute and 60 degrees fahrenheit);
- for a well being drilled, completed, recompleted, worked over or serviced in an area where insufficient data exists to calculate a radius of exposure but where hydrogen sulfide could reasonably be expected to be present in concentrations in excess of 100 ppm in the gaseous mixture, a 100-ppm radius of exposure equal to 3000 feet is assumed.
Radius Of Exposure
That radius constructed with the point of escape as its starting point and its length calculated as provided for in subsection (c)(2) of this section. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsPublic Road
Definition(s)
Public Road
“Public road” means any street or road owned or maintained for public access or use. Source: API SPEC 6A, Specification for Wellhead and Christmas Tree Equipment, Twentieth Edition, October 2010 (Addendum November 2012). Global StandardsPublic Road
“Public road” means a federal, state, municipal or county road or highway. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsPublic Area
Definition(s)
Public Area
“Public area” means a building or structure that is not associated with the well, facility or operation for which the radius of exposure is being calculated and that is used as a dwelling, office, place of business, church, school, hospital or government building, or a portion of a park, city, town, village or designated school bus stop or other similar area where members of the public may reasonably be expected to be present. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsPublic Area
"Public area" means a dwelling place, a business, church, school, hospital, school bus stop, government building, a public road, all or any portion of a park, city, town, village, or other similar area that can reasonably be expected to be populated by humans. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsPublic Area
A dwelling, place of business, church, school, hospital, school bus stop, government building, a public road, all or any portion of a park, city, town, village, or other similar area that can expect to be populated. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsPotentially Hazardous Volume
Definition(s)
Potentially Hazardous Volume
“Potentially hazardous volume” means the volume of hydrogen sulfide gas of such concentration that:- the 100-ppm radius of exposure includes a public area;
- the 500-ppm radius of exposure includes a public road; or
- the 100-ppm radius of exposure exceeds 3000 feet.1
LEPC
Definition(s)
LEPC
“LEPC” means the local emergency planning committee established pursuant to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. section 11001. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsGPA
Definition(s)
GPA
“GPA” means the Gas Processors Association. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsEscape Rate
Definition(s)
Escape Rate
“Escape rate” means the maximum volume (Q) that is used to designate the possible rate of escape of a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide, as set forth in 19.15.11 NMAC.- For existing gas facilities or operations, the escape rate is calculated using the maximum daily rate of the gaseous mixture produced or handled or the best estimate thereof. For an existing gas well, the escape rate is calculated using the current daily absolute open flow rate against atmospheric pressure or the best estimate of that rate.
- For new gas operations or facilities, the escape rate is calculated as the maximum anticipated flow rate through the system. For a new gas well, the escape rate is calculated using the maximum open-flow rate of offset wells in the pool or reservoir, or the pool or reservoir average of maximum open-flow rates.
- For existing oil wells, the escape rate is calculated by multiplying the producing gas/oil ratio by the maximum daily production rate or the best estimate of the maximum daily production rate.
- For new oil wells, the escape rate is calculated by multiplying the producing gas/oil ratio by the maximum daily production rate of offset wells in the pool or reservoir, or the pool or reservoir average of the producing gas/oil ratio multiplied by the maximum daily production rate.
- For facilities or operations not mentioned, the escape rate is calculated using the actual flow of the gaseous mixture through the system or the best estimate of the actual flow of the gaseous mixture through the system.
Dispersion Technique
Definition(s)
Dispersion Technique
“Dispersion technique” is a mathematical representation of the physical and chemical transportation characteristics, dilution characteristics and transformation characteristics of hydrogen sulfide gas in the atmosphere. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsArea of Exposure
Definition(s)
Area of Exposure
“Area of exposure” means the area within a circle constructed with a point of escape at its center and the radius of exposure as its radius. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsArea of Exposure
"Area of exposure" means an area within a circle constructed with the point of escape of poisonous gas (hydrogen sulfide) as its center and the radius of exposure as its radius. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsArea of Exposure
The area within a circle constructed with the point of escape as its center and the radius of exposure as its radius. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 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.
Workover
an operation in which a well is re-entered for the purpose of maintaining or repairing it. Regulation 2, DCR. Source: Oil & Gas UK, Guidelines on subsea BOP systems, Issue 1, July 2012, Global StandardsWorkover
“Workover” means an operation on a completed well that requires removal of the Christmas tree or the tubing (reconditionnement. 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 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 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. RegulationsTertiary Recovery Project
Definition(s)
Tertiary Recovery Project
“Tertiary recovery project” means an EOR project that:- occurs subsequent to a secondary recovery project’s completion;
- involves the application, in accordance with sound engineering principles, of carbon dioxide miscible fluid displacement, pressure maintenance, water flooding or other division accepted and approved tertiary recovery method that can reasonably be expected to result in an increase, determined in light of the facts and circumstances, in the amount of oil that may ultimately be recovered; and
- encompasses a pool or portion of a pool the boundaries of which can be adequately defined and controlled.
Tertiary Recovery Project
An EOR project using a tertiary recovery method (as defined in the federal June 1979 energy regulations referred to in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, §4993, or approved by the United States secretary of the treasury for purposes of administering the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, §4993, without regard to whether that section remains in effect) including those listed as follows. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsTermination
Definition(s)
Termination
“Termination” means the abandonment, completion or suspension of a well’s operations (cessation). 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. RegulationsTermination
“Termination” means the operator’s discontinuance of an EOR project. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsTermination
Occurs when the approved fluid injection program associated with an EOR project stops or is discontinued. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsStripper Well Incentive Tax Rates
Definition(s)
Stripper Well Incentive Tax Rates
“Stripper well incentive tax rates” means the tax rates set for stripper well properties by NMSA 1978, Sections 7-29-4 and 7-31-4. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsStripper Well Property
Definition(s)
Stripper Well Property
“Stripper well property” means an oil or gas producing property that the taxation and revenue department assigns a single production unit number (PUN) and:- if an oil producing property, produced a daily average of less than 10 barrels of oil per eligible well per day for the preceding calendar year;
- if a gas producing property, produced a daily average of less than 60,000 cubic feet of gas per eligible well per day during the preceding calendar year; or
- if a property with wells that produce both oil and gas, produced a daily average of less than 10 barrels of oil per eligible well per day for the preceding calendar year, as determined by converting the volume of gas the well produced to barrels of oil by using a ratio of 6000 cubic feet to one barrel of oil.1
Secondary Recovery Project
Definition(s)
Secondary Recovery Project
“Secondary recovery project” means an EOR project that:- occurs subsequent to the completion of primary recovery and is not a tertiary recovery project;
- involves the application, in accordance with sound engineering principles of carbon dioxide miscible fluid displacement, pressure maintenance, water flooding or other division accepted and approved secondary recovery method that can reasonably be expected to result in an increase, determined in light of the facts and circumstances, in the amount of oil that may ultimately be recovered; and
- encompasses a pool or portion of a pool the boundaries of which can be adequately defined and controlled.
Secondary Recovery Project
An enhanced recovery project that is not a tertiary recovery project. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsRoutine Maintenance
Definition(s)
Routine Maintenance
“Routine maintenance” means repair or like-for-like replacement of downhole equipment or other procedure an operator performs to maintain the well’s current production. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsRecovered Oil Tax Rate
Definition(s)
Recovered Oil Tax Rate
“Recovered oil tax rate” means the tax rate set forth in NMSA 1978, Section 7-29-4, on oil produced from an EOR project. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsRecovered Oil Tax Rate
The tax rate provided by the Tax Code, §202.052(b). Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsProduction Restoration Project
Definition(s)
production restoration project
“Production restoration project” means returning to production a gas or oil well, including an injection well that has previously produced, which had no more than 30 days of production in a period of 24 consecutive months beginning on or after January 1, 1993 the division has approved and certified. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsProduction Restoration Incentive Tax Exemption
Definition(s)
Production Restoration Incentive Tax Exemption
“Production restoration incentive tax exemption” means the severance tax exemption for natural gas or oil produced from an approved production restoration project found in NMSA 1978, Section 7-29-4. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsPrimary Recovery
Definition(s)
Primary Recovery
“Primary recovery” means the displacement of oil from an oil well or division-designated pool into the well bore by means of the natural pressure of the oil well or pool, including artificial lift. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsPrimary Recovery
The displacement of oil from the reservoir into the wellbore(s) by means of the natural pressure of the oil reservoir, including artificial lift. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsProject Area
Definition(s)
Project Area
“Project area” means a pool or a portion of a pool that EOR operations directly affect. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsProject Area
“Project area” means an area the operator designates on form C-102, well location and acreage dedication plat that comprises; (1) one or more complete, contiguous spacing units (in one section or in more than one section) that are developed by the horizontal well; or (2) an entire voluntary or statutory unit for an approved enhanced recovery or pressure maintenance project, an approved state exploratory unit, or a participating area in a federal unit. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsProject Area
The geographic area in which a related group of cathodic protection wells is drilled. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsProject Area
The geographic area in which an exploratory survey involving one or more seismic holes or core holes is carried out. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsFlow System
Definition(s)
Flow System
“Flow system” means the flow meters, auxiliary equipment attached to the flow meters, fluid sampling devices, production test equipment, the master meter and meter prover used to measure and record the rate and volumes at which fluids are- produced from or injected into a pool;
- used as a fuel;
- used for artificial lift; or
- flared or transferred from a production installation (système d’écoulement).
Expansion Or Expanded Use
Definition(s)
Expansion Or Expanded Use
“Expansion or expanded use” means a significant change or modification as the division determines in:- the technology or process used for the displacement of oil from an oil well or division-designated pool; or
- the expansion, extension or increase in size of the geologic area or adjacent geologic area that could reasonably be determined to represent a new or unique area of activity.