Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
Opportunity
Definition(s)
Opportunity
Potential top line business enhancements created by voluntary sustainable water management actions. (GEMI, 2012). Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsMunicipal Supply
Definition(s)
Municipal Supply
Supply of drinking quality water by, or on behalf of, a public organization. Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsLand Take
Definition(s)
Land Take
The area of land that is ‘taken’ by infrastructure itself and other facilities that necessarily go along with the infrastructure, such as filling stations on roads and railway stations. (European Commission) Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsImportant Water Areas
Definition(s)
Important Water Areas
The specific ecological, socio-cultural, and economic areas of a drainage basin that, if impaired or lost, would have an adverse impact on the environmental, social, cultural or economic benefits derived from the watershed in a significant or disproportionate manner. This includes areas that are legally protected or under a conservation agreement, areas that have been identified by local or indigenous communities as having significance for cultural, spiritual, religious or recreational values, and areas that are recognized as providing important ecosystem services. (AWS, 2013) Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsFracture Stimulation or Hydraulic Fracturing
Definition(s)
Fracture Stimulation or Hydraulic Fracturing
A stimulation technique used to create a fracture in the reservoir formation to increase productivity of the well. NOTE Proppant is used in the fracturing fluid to hold the fracture open, thus maintaining a high conductivity path into the wellbore. Source: API RP 96, Deepwater Well Design and Construction, First Edition, March 2013. Global StandardsGroundwater Recharge Area
Definition(s)
Groundwater Recharge Area
That area of the land surface where precipitation or other sources of recharge area water recharge an aquifer. Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsGroundwater Depression Area
Definition(s)
Groundwater Depression Area
That area of an aquifer where abstraction has had an impact on the stored depression area quantity of water by lowering hydraulic heads. Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsFlow Back
Definition(s)
Flow Back
The fracture fluids that return to surface after a hydraulic fracture is completed and prior to the well being brought into production. Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsExisting Water Users
Definition(s)
Existing Water Users
Individuals, groups of individuals, organizations or other species that currently make use of water within the project’s area of Influence. They are also ‘Stakeholders’. Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsEnvironmentally Responsible Water Use
Definition(s)
Environmentally Responsible Water Use
Maintains or improves biodiversity and ecological processes at the responsible water use watershed level. (AWS, 2013). Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsEnvironmental Flow
Definition(s)
Environmental Flow
The water regime provided within a river, wetland or coastal zone to maintain ecosystems and their benefits. (eFlowNet) Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global StandardsEcosystem Services
Definition(s)
Ecosystem Services
The benefits (direct and indirect) that people derive from ecosystems. Ecosystem services comprise:- natural products (provisioning services) such as water, fish and timber;
- natural functions (regulating services), such as flood control, waste assimilation and climate regulation; and
- other social benefits (cultural services) such as recreational, aesthetic and spiritual benefits.