Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Supporting Hull Structure
Definition(s)
Supporting Hull Structure
Supporting hull structure means that part of the ship structure on/in which the shipboardfitting is placed and which is directly submitted to the forces exerted on the shipboard fitting. The hull structure supporting capstans, winches, etc. used for the normal towing and mooring operations mentioned above should also be subject to this guidance. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1175, guidance on shipboard towing and mooring equipment, 24 May 2004, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceShipboard Fittings
Definition(s)
Shipboard Fittings
Shipboard fittings mean bollards and bitts, fairleads, stand rollers and chocks used for the normal mooring of the ship and similar components used for the normal towing of the ship. Other components such as capstans, winches, etc. are not covered by this guidance. Any weld, bolt or other fastening connecting the shipboard fitting to the supporting hull structure is part of the shipboard fitting and subject to any industry standard applicable to such fitting. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1175, guidance on shipboard towing and mooring equipment, 24 May 2004, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceEvaporation Pits
Definition(s)
Evaporation Pits
EVAPORATION PITS used to contain produced waters which evaporate into the atmosphere by natural thermal forces. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsPercolation Pits
Definition(s)
Percolation Pits
PERCOLATION PITS used to dispose of produced water by percolation and evaporation through the bottom or sides of the pits into surrounding soils. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, 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. RegulationsProduced Water Pits
Definition(s)
Produced Water Pits
PRODUCED WATER PITS used to temporarily store produced water prior to injection for enhanced recovery or disposal, off-site transport, or surface-water discharge. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsProduction Pits
Definition(s)
Production Pits
PRODUCTION PITS shall mean those pits used after drilling operations and initial completion of a well, including pits at natural gas gathering, processing and storage facilities, which constitute: 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. Produced Water Pits PRODUCED WATER PITS used to temporarily store produced water prior to injection for enhanced recovery or disposal, off-site transport, or surface-water discharge. Percolation Pits PERCOLATION PITS used to dispose of produced water by percolation and evaporation through the bottom or sides of the pits into surrounding soils. Evaporation Pits EVAPORATION PITS used to contain produced waters which evaporate into the atmosphere by natural thermal forces. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsProduction Pits
Production Pits―either earthen or lined storage pits for collecting E and P Waste sediment periodically cleaned from tanks and other producing facilities, for storage of produced water or other exploration and production wastes produced from the operation of oil and gas facilities, or used in conjunction with hydrocarbon storage and solution mining operations as follows.- Burn Pits―earthen pits intended for use as a place to temporarily store and periodically burn exploration and production waste (excluding produced water) collected from tanks and facilities.
- Compressor Station Pits―lined or earthen pits intended for temporary storage or disposal of fresh water condensed from natural gas at a gas pipeline drip or gas compressor station.
- Natural Gas Processing Plant Pits―lined or earthen pits used for the storage of process waters or stormwater runoff. No produced water may be stored in a natural gas processing plant pit.
- Produced Water Pits―lined or earthen pit used for storing produced water and other exploration and production wastes, hydrocarbon storage brine, or mining water.
- Washout Pits―lined earthen pits used to collect wash water generated by the cleaning of vacuum truck tanks and other vessels and equipment only used to transport exploration and production waste. Any materials other than E and P Waste are prohibited from being placed in such pits.
- Well Test Pits―small earthen pits intended for use to periodically test or clean up a well.
- Emergency Pits―lined or earthen pits used to periodically collect produced water and other E and P Waste fluids only during emergency incidents, rupture or failure of other facilities.
- Onshore Terminal Pits―lined or earthen pits located in the coastal area used for storing produced water at terminals that receive crude oil and entrained water by pipeline from offshore oil and gas production facilities.
- Salt Dome Cavern Pits―lined or earthen pits located in the coastal area associated with the storage of petroleum products and petroleum in salt dome caverns.
Plugging Pits
Definition(s)
Plugging Pits
PLUGGING PITS used for containment of fluids encountered during the plugging process. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsWorkover Pits
Definition(s)
Workover Pits
WORKOVER PITS used to contain liquids during the performance of remedial operations on a producing well in an effort to increase production. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsBasic Sediment/Tank Bottom Pits
Definition(s)
Basic Sediment/Tank Bottom Pits
BASIC SEDIMENT/TANK BOTTOM PITS used to temporarily store or treat the extraneous materials in crude oil which may settle to the bottoms of tanks or production vessels and which may contain residual oil. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsEmergency Pits
Definition(s)
Emergency Pits
EMERGENCY PITS used to contain liquids during an initial phase of emergency response operations related to a spill/release or process upset conditions. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsFlare Pits
Definition(s)
Flare Pits
FLARE PITS used exclusively for flaring gas. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsBlowdown Pits
Definition(s)
Blowdown Pits
BLOWDOWN PITS used to collect material resulting from, including but not limited to, the emptying or depressurizing of wells, vessels, or gas gathering systems. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSpecial Purpose Pits
Definition(s)
Special Purpose Pits
SPECIAL PURPOSE PITS shall mean those pits used in oil and gas operations, including pits at natural gas gathering, processing and storage facilities, which constitute: Blowdown Pits BLOWDOWN PITS used to collect material resulting from, including but not limited to, the emptying or depressurizing of wells, vessels, or gas gathering systems. Flare Pits FLARE PITS used exclusively for flaring gas. Emergency Pits EMERGENCY PITS used to contain liquids during an initial phase of emergency response operations related to a spill/release or process upset conditions. Basic Sediment/Tank Bottom Pits BASIC SEDIMENT/TANK BOTTOM PITS used to temporarily store or treat the extraneous materials in crude oil which may settle to the bottoms of tanks or production vessels and which may contain residual oil. Workover Pits WORKOVER PITS used to contain liquids during the performance of remedial operations on a producing well in an effort to increase production. Plugging Pits PLUGGING PITS used for containment of fluids encountered during the plugging process. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSensitivity Analysis
Definition(s)
Sensitivity Analysis
Process to determine how outputs of a methodology differ in response to variation of the inputs or conditions. Sample Usage: The sensitivity analysis showed that the population variable had the largest effect on the output of the model. Annotation:- When a factor considered in a risk assessment has uncertainty, sensitivity analysis examines the effect that the uncertainty has on the results.
- A sensitivity analysis can be used to examine how individual variables can affect the outputs of risk assessment methodologies.
- Alternatively, sensitivity analysis can show decision makers or evaluators the impact or predicted impact of risk management alternatives.
Sensitivity Analysis
Sensitivity analysis means an analysis to determine the effect of changes in individual input parameters on the results of a given model or calculation method. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1002, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for fire safety, 26 June 2001, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory Guidance Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1212, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for SOLAS chapters II-1 and III, 15 December 2006, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSafety Margin
Definition(s)
Safety Margin
Safety margin means adjustments made to compensate for uncertainties in the methods and assumptions used to evaluate the alternative design, e.g. in the determination of performance criteria or in the engineering models used to assess the consequences of fire. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1002, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for fire safety, 26 June 2001, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSafety Margin
Safety margin means adjustments made to compensate for uncertainties in the methods and assumptions used to evaluate the alternative design, e.g. in the determination of performance criteria or in the engineering models used to assess the consequences of a casualty. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1212, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for SOLAS chapters II-1 and III, 15 December 2006, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidancePrescriptive Based Design
Definition(s)
Prescriptive Based Design (or Prescriptive Design)
Prescriptive based design or prescriptive design means a design of fire safety measures which comply with the prescriptive regulatory requirements set out in parts B, C, D, E or G of SOLAS chapter II-2. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1002, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for fire safety, 26 June 2001, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidancePrescriptive Based Design (or Prescriptive Design)
Prescriptive based design or prescriptive design means a design of safety measures which comply with the regulatory requirements set out in parts C, D and E of SOLAS chapter II-1 and/or chapter III, as applicable. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1212, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for SOLAS chapters II-1 and III, 15 December 2006, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceDesign Fire Scenario
Definition(s)
Design Fire Scenario
Design fire scenario means a set of conditions that defines the fire development and the spread of fire within and through ship space(s) and describes factors such as ventilation conditions, ignition sources, arrangement and quantity of combustible materials and fire load accounting for the effects of fire detection, fire protection, fire control and suppression and fire mitigation measures. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1002, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for fire safety, 26 June 2001, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceDesign Fire
Definition(s)
Design Fire
Design fire means an engineering description of the development and spread of fire for use in a design fire scenario. Design fire curves may be described in terms of heat release rate versus time. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1002, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for fire safety, 26 June 2001, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceAlternative Design and Arrangements
Definition(s)
Alternative Design and Arrangements
Alternative design and arrangements means fire safety measures which deviate from the prescriptive requirement(s) of SOLAS chapter II-2, but are suitable to satisfy the fire safety objective(s) and the functional requirements of that chapter. The term includes a wide range of measures, including alternative shipboard structures and systems based on novel or unique designs, as well as traditional shipboard structures and systems that are installed in alternative arrangements or configurations. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1002, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for fire safety, 26 June 2001, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceAlternative Design and Arrangements
Alternative design and arrangements means measures which deviate from the prescriptive requirement(s) of SOLAS chapters II-1 or III, but are suitable to satisfy the intent of that chapter. The term includes a wide range of measures, including alternative shipboard structures and systems based on novel or unique designs, as well as traditional shipboard structures and systems that are installed in alternative arrangements or configurations. Source: IMO MSC.1/Circ.1212, Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for SOLAS chapters II-1 and III, 15 December 2006, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory GuidanceSpecial Field Rules
Definition(s)
Special Field Rules
SPECIAL FIELD RULES shall mean those rules promulgated for and which are limited in their application to individual pools or fields within the State of Colorado. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSolid Waste Disposal
Definition(s)
Solid Waste Disposal
SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL shall mean the storage, treatment, utilization, processing, or final disposal of solid wastes. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSolid Waste
Definition(s)
Solid Waste
SOLID WASTE shall mean any garbage, refuse, sludge from a waste treatment plant, water supply plant, air pollution control facility, or other discarded material; including solid, liquid, semisolid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial operations, commercial operations, or community activities. Solid waste does not include any solid or dissolved materials in domestic sewage, or agricultural wastes, or solid or dissolved materials in irrigation return flows, or industrial discharges which are point sources subject to permits under the provisions of the Colorado Water Quality Control Act, Title 25, Article 8, C.R.S. or materials handled at facilities licensed pursuant to the provisions on radiation control in Title 25, Article 11, C.R.S. Solid waste does not include:- materials handled at facilities licensed pursuant to the provisions on radiation control in Title 25, Article 11, C.R.S.;
- excluded scrap metal that is being recycled; or
- shredded circuit boards that are being recycled.
Solid Waste
Any waste identified in 40 CFR, §261.2. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsSimultaneous Injection Well
Definition(s)
Simultaneous Injection Well
SIMULTANEOUS INJECTION WELL shall mean any well in which water produced from oil and gas producing zones is injected into a lower injection zone and such water production is not brought to the surface. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSensitive Wildlife Habitat
Definition(s)
Sensitive Wildlife Habitat
SENSITIVE WILDLIFE HABITAT shall mean:- mule deer critical winter range (being both mule deer winter concentration areas (that part of the winter range where densities are at least 200% of the surrounding winter range density during the same period used to define winter range in 5 out of 10 winters), and mule deer severe winter range (that part of the winter range where 90% of the individuals are located during the average 5 winters out of 10 from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up)) (west of Interstate 25 and excluding Las Animas County);
- elk winter concentration areas (west of Interstate 25 and excluding Las Animas County);
- pronghorn antelope winter concentration areas (west of Interstate 25);
- bighorn sheep winter range;
- elk production areas (being that part of the overall range occupied by the females for calving) (west of Interstate 25 and excluding Las Animas County);
- Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and plains sharp-tailed grouse production areas (being an area that contains 80% of nesting and brood rearing habitat for any identified population);
- greater sage-grouse and Gunnison sage-grouse production areas (being an area that contains 80% of nesting and brood rearing habitat for any population identified in the Colorado Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Plan (CDOW, 2008) or the Gunnison Sage-Grouse Range-Wide Conservation Plan (May 2005), respectively);
- lesser prairie chicken production areas (being an area that includes 80% of nesting and brood rearing habitat);
- black-footed ferret release areas;
- Bald Eagle nest sites and winter night roost sites; and
- Golden Eagle nest sites.
Sensitive Areaa
Definition(s)
Sensitive Areaa
SENSITIVE AREA is an area vulnerable to potential significant adverse groundwater impacts, due to factors such as the presence of shallow groundwater or pathways for communication with deeper groundwater; proximity to surface water, including lakes, rivers, perennial or intermittent streams, creeks, irrigation canals, and wetlands. Additionally, areas classified for domestic use by the Water Quality Control Commission, local (water supply) wellhead protection areas, areas within 1/8 mile of a domestic water well, areas within 1/4 mile of a public water supply well, ground water basins designated by the Colorado Ground Water Commission, and surface water supply areas are sensitive areas. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsSeismic Operations
Definition(s)
Seismic Operations
SEISMIC OPERATIONS shall mean all activities associated with acquisition of seismic data including but not limited to surveying, shothole drilling, recording, shothole plugging and reclamation. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsRestricted Surface Occupancy Area
Definition(s)
Restricted Surface Occupancy Area
RESTRICTED SURFACE OCCUPANCY AREA shall mean the following:- rocky mountain bighorn sheep production areas;
- desert bighorn sheep production areas;
- areas within 0.6 miles of any greater sage-grouse, Gunnison sage-grouse, and lesser prairie chicken leks (strutting and booming grounds);
- areas within 0.4 miles of any Columbian sharp-tailed grouse or plains sharp-tailed grouse leks (strutting grounds);
- areas within 1/4 mile of active Bald Eagle nest sites, Golden Eagle nest sites, or Osprey nest sites;
- areas within 1/2 mile of active Ferruginous Hawk nest sites, Northern Goshawk nest sites, Peregrine Falcon nest sites, or Prairie Falcon nest sites;
- areas located within 300 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of any stream segment located within designated Cutthroat Trout habitat; and
- areas within 300 feet of the ordinary high-water mark of a stream or lake designated by the Colorado Division of Wildlife as “Gold Medal.”