Drilling Dictionary

8/17/2019 Drilling Dictionary

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air hoist n: a hoist operated by compressed air; a pneumatic hoist. Air

hoists are often mounted on the rig floor and may be used to lift joints of

pipe and other heavy objects.

API American Petroleum Institute n: a trade association and standards organization

that represents the interests of the oil and gas industry. It offers publications regarding

standards, recommended practices, and other industry related information. Address:

122 ! "treet #$; $ashington, %& 2'; (22) *+2+

IADC International Association of Drilling Contractors n: a trade association that

represents the interests of members of the drilling segment of the oil and gas industry. It

offers publications regarding recommended industry practices and training materials.

Address: 1'+1 -ar /en -lace., 022; ouston, /3 44+; (2+1) '4+4141.

annular blowout preventer na 5ell control device, usually installed above the ram

preventers, that forms a seal in the annular space bet5een the pipe and 5ell bore or, if

no pipe is present, over the 5ell bore itself.

annulus n: the space around a pipe in a 5ell bore, sometimes termed the annular space.

B

babbitt v: line 5ith a 6abbitt metal. n: a lead7tin alloy 5ith some copper and antimony.

backbite v: reverse baclash of tongs, left on a pipe or collar, during the pipe spinning

operations.

back off v: to unscre5 one threaded piece (such as a section of pipe) from another.

back-in unit n: a portable servicing or 5orover rig that is selfpropelled, using the

hoisting engines for motive po5er. 6ecause the driver8s cab is mounted on the end

opposite the mast support, the unit must be baced up to the 5ellhead.

bail n: 1. a cylindrical steel bar (similar to the handle or bail of a bucet, only muchlarger) that supports the s5ivel and connects it to the hoo.

bailer n: a long, cylindrical container fitted 5ith a valve at its lo5er end, used to remove

5ater, sand, mud, drilling cuttings, or oil from a 5ell in cabletool drilling.

ball-and-seat valve n: a device used to restrict fluid flo5 to one direction. It consists of

a polished sphere, or ball, usually of metal, and an annular piece, the seat, ground and

polished to form a seal 5ith the surface of the ball. 9ravitational force or the force of aspring holds the ball against the seat. lo5 in the direction of the force is prevented,

5hile flo5 in the opposite direction overcomes the force and unseats the ball.

ball-out v: to plug open perforations by using ball sealers.

barite n: barium sulfate, 6a"; a mineral fre


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density of drilling mud. Its

relative density is .2 (meaning that it is .2 times

denser than 5ater). "ee barium sulfate, mud.

barium sulfate n: a chemical compound of barium, sulfur, and o>ygen (6a"), 5hich

may form a tenacious scale that is very difficult to remove. Also called barite.

barrel (bbl) n: 1. a measure of volume for petroleum products in the ?nited "tates. ne

barrel is the e


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blowout preventer (6-) n: one or more valves installed at the 5ellhead to prevent the

escape of pressure either in the annular space bet5een the casing and the drill pipe or in

open hole (for e>ample, hole 5ith no drill pipe) during drilling or completion operations.

blowout preventer control panel n: controls, opens and closes the blo5out

preventers. "ee blo5out preventer.

blowout preventer control unit n: a device that stores hydraulic fluid under pressure

in special containers and provides a method to open and close the blo5out preventers.

blowout preventer stack (BOP stack n: the assembly of 5ell control e and

made up of several specialty components.

bottomhole plug n: a bridge plug or cement plug placed near the bottom of the hole to

shut off a depleted, 5aterproducing, or unproductive zone.

bottomhole pressure n: 1. the pressure at the bottom of a borehole. It is caused by the

hydrostatic pressure of the 5ellbore fluid and, sometimes, by any bacpressure held at

the surface, as 5hen the 5ell is shut in 5ith blo5out preventers. $hen mud is being

circulated, bottomhole pressure is the hydrostatic pressure plus the remaining circulating

pressure re, of a tool joint. "ee tool joint.

brake n: /he braing device on the dra55ors or airhoist to stop a

load being lifted. It is a device for arresting the motion of amechanism, usually by means of friction, as in the dra55ors and

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airhoist braes.

brake band n: a part of the brae mechanism consisting of a fle>ible steel band lined5ith a material that grips a drum 5hen tightened. n dra55ors, the brae band acts on

the drum to control the lo5ering of the traveling bloc and its load.

break circulation v: to start the mud pump for restoring circulation of the mud column.

6ecause the stagnant drilling fluid has thicened or gelled during the period of no

circulation, higher pump pressure is usually re


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bushing n: 1. a pipe fitting on 5hich the e>ternal thread is larger than the internal

thread to allo5 t5o pipes of different sizes to be connected. 2. a removable lining or

sleeve inserted or scre5ed into an opening to limit its size, resist 5ear or corrosion, orserve as a guide.

C

cable n: 1. a rope of 5ire, hemp, or other strong fibers. 2. braided 5ire used to conduct

electricity, often called po5er cable.

caliper log n: a record sho5ing variations in 5ellbore diameter by depth, indicating

undue enlargement due to caving in, 5ashout, or other causes. /he caliper log also

reveals corrosion, scaling, or pitting inside tubular goods.

carrier rig n: a specially designed, selfpropelled 5orover or drilling rig that is driven

directly to the 5ell site. -o5er from a carrier rigs hoist engine or engines also propels therig on the road. A carrier rig may be a bacin type or a drivein type.

casing n: 1. steel pipe placed in an oil or gas 5ell to prevent the 5all of the hole from

caving in, to prevent movement of fluids from one formation to another and to aid in 5ell

control.

cased hole n: a 5ellbore in 5hich casing has been run.

casing centrali#er n: a device secured around the casing at regular intervals to center it

in the hole.

casing cutter n: a heavy cylindrical body, fitted 5ith a set of nives, used to cut andfree a section of casing in a 5ell.

casing coupling (collar n: a tubular section of pipe that is threaded inside and used to

connect t5o joints of casing.

casing crew n: the employees of a company that specializes in preparing and running

casing into a 5ell.

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casing gun n: a perforating gun run into the casing string.

casing hanger n: a circular device 5ith a frictional gripping arrangement of slips and

pacing rings used to suspend casing from a casing head in a 5ell.

casinghead n: a heavy, flanged steel fitting connected to the first string of

casing. It provides a housing for slips and pacing assemblies, allo5s

suspension of intermediate and production strings of casing, and supplies

the means for the annulus to be sealed off. Also called a casing spool.

casing point n: the depth in a 5ell at 5hich casing is set, generally the

depth at 5hich the casing shoe rests.

casing pressure n: the pressure in a 5ell that e>ists bet5een the casingand the tubing or the casing and the drill pipe.

casing spider n: see spider.

casing slip n: see spider.

casing string n: the entire length of all the joints of casing run in a 5ell.

casing shoe n: see guide shoe.

casing tongs n pl: large 5rench used for turning 5hen maing up or breaing out

casing. "ee tongs.

casing-tubing annulus n: in a 5ellbore, the space bet5een the inside of the casing and

the outside of the tubing.

catch samples v: to obtain cuttings for geological information as formations are

penetrated by the bit. /he samples are obtained from drilling fluid as it emerges from the

5ellbore or, in cabletool drilling, from the bailer.

cathead n: a spoolshaped attachment on the end of the catshaft,around 5hich rope for hoisting and moving heavy e


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cement n: a po5der consisting of alumina, silica, lime, and other substances thathardens 5hen mi>ed 5ith 5ater. D>tensively used in the oil industry to bond casing to the

5alls of the 5ellbore.

cement bond n: the adherence of casing to cement and cement to formation. $hen

casing is run in a 5ell, it is set, or bonded, to the formation by means of cement.

cement bond surve! n: an acoustic survey or soniclogging method that records the


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chain tongs n pl: a hand tool used to tighten or loosen pipe, consisting of a handle and

chain that resembles the chain on a bicycle.

change house n: a small building, or doghouse, in 5hich members of a drilling rig or

roustabout cre5 change clothes, store personal belongings, and so on.

channeling n: 5hen casing is being cemented in a borehole, the cement slurry can fail

to rise uniformly bet5een the casing and the borehole 5all, leaving spaces, or channels,

devoid of cement. Ideally, the cement should completely and uniformly surround thecasing and form a strong bond to the borehole 5all. "ee cement channeling.

chemical cutoff n: a method of severing pipe in a 5ell by applying high pressure jets of

a very corrosive substance against the 5all of the pipe. /he resulting cut is very smooth.

chemical cutter n: a fishing tool that uses highpressure jets of chemicals to sever

casing, tubing, or drill pipe stuc in the hole.

chemical flooding n: a method of improved oil recovery in 5hich chemicals dissolved in

5ater are pumped into a reservoir through injection 5ells to mobilize oil left behind after

primary or secondary recovery and to move it to5ard production 5ells.

choke n: a device 5ith an orifice installed in a line to restrict the flo5 of fluids. "urfacechoes are part of the &hristmas tree on a 5ell and contain a choe nipple, or bean, 5ith

a smalldiameter bore that serves to restrict the flo5. &hoes are also used to control the

rate of flo5 of the drilling mud out of the hole 5hen the 5ell is closed in 5ith the blo5out

preventer and a ic is being circulated out of the hole. "ee choe manifold.

choke line n: a line, or pipe, that runs from the blo5out preventer stac to the choe

manifold through 5hich fluid from the hole is flo5ed 5hen the 5ell is shut in 5ith theblo5out preventer.

choke manifold n: the arrangement of piping and special valves,

called choes, through 5hich drilling mud is circulated 5hen the

blo5out preventers are closed to control the pressures

encountered during a ic.

christmas tree n: the control valves, pressure gauges, and

choes assembled at the top of a 5ell to control flo5 of oil and7or

gas after the 5ell has been drilled and completed. It is used 5henreservoir pressure is sufficient to cause reservoir fluids to rise to the surface.

circulate v: to pass from one point throughout a system and bac to the starting point.

or e>ample, drilling fluid is circulated out of the suction pit, do5n the drill pipe and drill

collars, out the bit, up the annulus, and bac to the pits 5hile drilling proceeds.

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Circulating fluid n: see drilling fluid, mud.

Circulating head n: an accessory attached to the top of the drill pipe or tubing to form aconnection 5ith the mud system to permit circulation of the drilling mud.

Circulating pressure n: the pressure generated by the mud pumps and e>erted on the

drill stem.

circulation n: the movement of drilling fluid out of the mud pits, do5n the drill stem, up

the annulus, and bac to the mud pits. "ee normal circulation, reverse circulation.

Circulation valve n: an accessory employed above a pacer, to permit annulustotubing

circulation or vice versa.

Clean out v: to remove sand, scale, and other deposits from the producing section of the

5ell to restore or increase production.

Cleanout tools n pl: the tools or instruments, such as bailers and s5abs, used to clean

out an oil 5ell.

Clutch n: a coupling used to connect and disconnect a driving and a driven part of amechanism, especially a coupling that permits the former part to engage the latter

gradually and 5ithout shoc. In the oil field, a clutch permits gradual engaging and

disengaging of the eible steel tubing, often hundreds or thousands

of feet long, that is 5ound onto a reel, often dozens of feet in diameter. /he reel is an

integral part of the coiled tubing unit, 5hich consists of several devices that ensure thetubing can be safely and efficiently inserted into the 5ell from the surface. Also called

reeled tubing.

coiled-tubing unit n: the e


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Coiled-tubing work over n: a 5or over performed 5ith a continuous

steel tube, normally .4' inch to 1 inch (1.@ to 2.' centimeters) outside

diameter, 5hich is run into the 5ell in one piece inside the normal tubing.!engths of the tubing up to 1*, feet (,+44 meters) are stored on the

surface on a reel in a manner similar to that used for 5ire line. /he unit is

rigged up over the 5ellhead. /he tubing is injected through a control head

that seals off the tubing and maes a pressuretight connection.

Collar n: 1. a coupling device used to join t5o lengths of pipe, such as casing or tubing.

A combination collar has lefthand threads in one end and righthand threads in the other.

2. a drill collar.

Collar locator n: a logging device used to determine accurately the depth of a 5ell; thelog measures and records the depth of each casing collar, or coupling, in a 5ell.

Collar locator log n: see collar locator.

Come out of the hole v: to pull the drill stem out of the 5ellbore to change the bit, to

change from a core barrel to the bit, to run electric logs, to prepare for a drill stem test,

to run casing, and so on. Also called trip out, tripping out (/).

Compan! hand n: see company representative.

Compan! man n: see company representative.

Compan! representative n: an employee of an operating company 5ho supervises the

operations at a drilling site or 5ell site and 5ho may coordinate the hiring of logging,

testing, service, and 5or over companies. Also called company hand, operator8s

representative, or company man.

Complete a well v: to finish 5or on a 5ell and bring it to productive status. "ee 5ell

completion.

Completion fluid n: lo5solids fluid or drilling mud used 5hen a 5ell is being completed.It is selected not only for its ability to control formation pressure, but also for the

properties that minimize formation damage.

Compound n: 1. a mechanism used to transmit po5er from the engines to the pump,

the dra55ors, and other machinery on a drilling rig. It is composed of clutches, chainsand sprocets, belts and pulleys, and a number of shafts, both driven and driving. v: to

connect t5o or more po5er producing devices, such as engines, to run driven eture inside the engine cylinders is ignited by the heat that occurs 5hen the fuelair

mi>ture is highly compressed by the engine pistons.

Compressor n: a device that raises the pressure of a compressible fluid such as air or

gas. &ompressors create a pressure differential to move or compress a vapor or a gas.

Conductivit! n: 1. the ability to transmit or convey (as heat or electricity). 2. an

electrical logging measurement obtained from an induction survey, in 5hich eddy currents

produced by an alternating magnetic field induce in a receiver coil a voltage proportionate

to the ability of the formation to conduct electricity. "ee induction log.

conductor casing n: generally, the first string of casing in a 5ell. It may be lo5ered into

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a hole drilled into the formations near the surface and cemented in

place; it may be driven into the ground by a special pile driver (in such

cases, it is sometimes called drive pipe). Its purpose is to prevent thesoft formations near the surface from caving in and to conduct drilling

mud from the bottom of the hole to the surface 5hen drilling starts.

Also called conductor pipe, drive pipe.

Conductor hole n: the hole 5here the cre5 starts the top of the 5ell.

conductor pipe n: the largest diameter casing and the topmost

length of casing. It is relatively short and encases the topmost

string of casing.

cone n: a conicalshaped metal device into 5hich cutting teeth

are formed or mounted on a roller cone bit.

Connection n: 1. a section of pipe or fitting used to join pipe to

pipe or to a vessel. 2. a place in electrical circuits 5here 5ires

join. E. the action of adding a joint of pipe to the drill stem as drilling progresses.

consultant n: a person 5ho contracts 5ith an oil company to supervise the operations at

a drilling site or 5ell site 5ho may coordinate the hiring of logging, testing, service, and

5orover companies.

contract n: a 5ritten agreement that can be enforced by la5 and that lists the termsunder 5hich the acts repenses bet5een operator and contractor, and the type of eisting 5ellbore. "ee core bit. 2. a spot sample of the contents of an oil or

oil product storage tan usually obtained 5ith a thief, or core sampler, at a given heightin the tan.

Coring n: the process of cutting a vertical, cylindrical sample of the formations

encountered as a 5ell is drilled.

coring bit n: a bit that does not drill out the center portion of the hole, but allo5s this

center portion (the core) to pass through the round opening in the center of the bit andinto the core barrel.

corrosion n: any of a variety of comple> chemical or electrochemical processes, such asrust, by 5hich metal is destroyed through reaction 5ith its environment.

corrosion inhibitor n: a chemical substance that minimizes or prevents corrosion in

metal eisting 5eight or force.

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n pumping units in oil production, counter5eights are used to offset the 5eight of the

column of sucer rods and fluid on the upstroe of the pump, and the 5eight of the rods

on the do5nstroe.

Coupling n: 1. in piping, a metal collar 5ith internal threads used to join t5o sections of

threaded pipe. 2. in po5er transmission, a connection e>tending bet5een a driving shaft

and a driven shaft.

Crane n: a machine for raising, lo5ering, and revolving heavy pieces of eperience is authorized to operate the

crane and 5ho may be in charge of the roustabout cre5.

Crank n: an arm eyed at right angles to a shaft and used for changing radius of rotation

or changing reciprocating motion to circular motion or circular motion to reciprocating

motion. n a beam pumping unit, the cran is connected by the pitman to the 5aling

beam, thereby changing circular motion to reciprocating motion.

Crank arm n: a steel member connected to each end of the shaft e>tending from each

side of the speed reducer on a beam pumping unit.

Crankshaft n: a rotating shaft to 5hich connecting rods are attached. It changes up and

do5n (reciprocating) motion to circular (rotary) motion.

Crew n: 1. the 5orers on a drilling or 5orover rig, including the driller, the

derrichand, and the rotary helpers. 2. any group of oilfield service 5orers.

Crooked hole n: a 5ellbore that has been drilled in a direction other than vertical.

Crossover sub n: a sub that allo5s different sizes and types of drill pipe or other

components to be joined.

crown n: 1. the cro5n bloc or top of a derric or mast. 2. the top of a piston. E. a high

spot formed on a tool joint shoulder as the result of 5obble.

crown block and water table n: an assembly of sheaves or pulleys

mounted on beams at the top of the derric. /he drilling line is run over

the sheaves do5n to the hoisting drum.

crown saver n: a device mounted near the dra55ors drum to eep the

driller from inadvertently raising the traveling bloc into the cro5n bloc.A probe senses 5hen too much line has been pulled onto the drum,

indicating that the traveling bloc may strie the cro5n. /he probe

activates a s5itch that simultaneously disconnects the dra55ors from its

po5er source and engages the dra55ors brae.

Crude oil n: unrefined li


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ducts, columns, and the lie to pass through the grating.

Cuttings n pl: the fragments of roc dislodged by the bit and brought to the surface inthe drilling mud. $ashed and dried cuttings samples are analyzed by geologists to obtain

information about the formations drilled.

D

dail! drilling report n: a record made each day of the operations on a 5oring drilling

rig and, traditionally, phoned, fa>ed, emailed, or radioed in to the office of the drillingcompany and possibly the operator every morning.

dampener n: an air or inert gas device that minimizes pressure surges in the output line

of a mud pump. "ometimes called a surge dampener.

da!light tour (pronounced Bto5erB) n: in areas 5here three eighthour tours are

5ored, the shift of duty on a drilling rig that starts at or about daylight. &ompare

evening tour, morning (graveyard) tour.

da! tour (pronounced Bto5erB) n: in areas 5here t5o 12hour tours are 5ored, a periodof 12 hours, usually during daylight, 5ored by a drilling or 5orover cre5 5hen

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densit! n: the mass or 5eight of a substance per unit volume. or instance, the density

of a drilling mud may be 1 pounds per gallon, 4.+ pounds7cubic foot, or 1,1@+.2ilograms7cubic meter. "pecific gravity, relative density, and A-I gravity are other units of

density.

densit! log n: a special radioactivity log for openhole surveying that responds to

variations in the specific gravity of formations. It is a contact log (i.e., the logging tool is

held against the 5all of the hole). It emits neutrons and then measures the secondary

gamma radiation that is scattered bac to the detector in the instrument. /he density log

is an e>cellent porositymeasure device, especially for shaley sands. "ome trade names

are ormation %ensity !og, 9amma9amma %ensity !og, and %ensilog.

derrick n: a large loadbearing structure, usually of bolted construction. In drilling, the

standard derric has four legs standing at the corners of the substructure and reaching to

the cro5n bloc. /he substructure is an assembly of heavy beams used to elevate the

derric and provide space to install blo5out preventers, casingheads, and so forth.

derrick floor n: also called the rig floor.

derrickhand n: the cre5 member 5ho handles the upper end of the drill string as it isbeing hoisted out of or lo5ered into the hole. n a drilling rig, he or she may be

responsible for the circulating machinery and the conditioning of the drilling or 5orover

fluid.

derrickman n: see derrichand.

desander n: a centrifugal device for removing sand from drilling fluid

to prevent abrasion of the pumps. It may be operated mechanically orby a fastmoving stream of fluid inside a special coneshaped vessel,

in 5hich case it is sometimes called a hydrocyclone.

desilter n: a centrifugal device, similar to a

desander, used to remove very fine particles, or silt, from drilling fluidto lo5er the amount of solids in the fluid.

diamond bit n: a drill bit that has small industrial diamonds

embedded in its cutting surface.

dies n: a tool used to shape, form, or finish other tools or pieces of metal. or e>ample,

a threading die is used to cut threads on pipe.

die insert n: a removable, hardsteel, serrated piece that fits into the ja5s of the tongs

and firmly grips the body of the drill pipe, drill collars, or casing 5hile the tongs are

maing up or breaing out the pipe.

diesel-electric power n: the po5er supplied to a drilling rig by diesel engines drivingelectric generators.

diesel engine n: a highcompression, internalcombustion engine used e>tensively for

po5ering drilling rigs. In a diesel engine, air is dra5n into the cylinders and compressed

to very high pressures; ignition occurs as fuel is injected into the compressed and heated

air. &ombustion taes place 5ithin the cylinder above the piston, and e>pansion of the

combustion products imparts po5er to the piston.

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diesel fuel n: a light hydrocarbon mi>ture for diesel engines; it has a boiling range just

above that of erosene.

dipmeter log n: see dipmeter survey.

dipmeter surve! n: an oil5ellsurveying method that determines the direction and

angle of formation dip in relation to the borehole. It records data that permit computation

of both the amount and direction of formation dip relative to the a>is of the hole and thus

provides information about the geologic structure of the formation. Also called dipmeter

log or dip log.

directional drilling n: 1. intentional deviation of a 5ellbore from the vertical. Although5ellbores are normally drilled vertically, it is sometimes necessary or advantageous to

drill at an angle from the vertical. &ontrolled directional drilling maes it possible to reach

subsurface areas laterally remote from the point 5here the bit enters the earth.

directional hole n: a 5ellbore intentionally drilled at an angle from the vertical. "ee

directional drilling.

displacement fluid n: in 5ell cementing, the fluid, usually drilling mud or salt 5ater,that is pumped into the 5ell after the cement is pumped into it to force the cement out of

the casing and into the annulus.

dissolved gas n: natural gas that is in solution 5ith crude oil in the reservoir.

dissolved-gas drive n: a source of natural reservoir energy in 5hich the dissolved gas

coming out of the oil e>pands to force the oil into the 5ellbore. Also called solutiongas

drive. "ee reservoir drive mechanism.

doghouse n: a small enclosure on the rig floor used as an office and7or as a

storehouse for small objects. Also, any small building used as an office or for

storage.

dogleg n: 1. an abrupt change in direction in the 5ellbore, freed. It is used most often as a

deflection tool in directional drilling, 5here it is made up bet5een the bit and a bent sub

(or, sometimes, the housing of the motor itself is bent). /5o principal types of do5nholemotor are the positivedisplacement motor and the do5nhole turbine motor.

drawworks n: the hoisting mechanism on a drilling rig. It is

essentially a large 5inch that spools off or taes in the drilling line and

thus lo5ers or raises the drill stem and bit.

drawworks brake n: the mechanical brae on the dra55ors that

can slo5 or prevent the dra55ors drum from moving.

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drawworks drum n: the spoolshaped cylinder in the dra55ors around 5hich drilling

line is 5ound or spooled.

drill v: to bore a hole in the earth, usually to find and remove subsurface formation fluids

such as oil and gas.

drillable adj: pertaining to pacers and other tools left in the 5ellbore to be broen up

later by the drill bit. %rillable e


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drilling fluid n: circulating fluid, one function of 5hich is to lift cuttings out of the5ellbore and to the surface. It also serves to cool the bit and to counteract do5nhole

formation pressure.

drilling hook n: the large hoo mounted on the bottom of the traveling bloc and from

5hich the s5ivel is suspended.

drilling mud n: a specially compounded li


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drive bushing n: see elly bushing.

drive chain n: a chain by means of 5hich a machine is propelled.

drive-in unit n: a type of portable service or 5orover rig that is selfpropelled, using

po5er from the hoisting engines. /he drivers cab and steering 5heel are mounted on the

same end as the mast support; thus the unit can be driven straight ahead to reach the

5ellhead.

drive pipe n: see conductor casing.

drum (rope n: a rotating cylinder 5ith side flanges on 5hich 5ire or other rope used inmachine operation is 5rapped.

dr! hole n: any 5ell that does not produce oil or gas in commercial


19/54

electric well log n: a record of certain electrical characteristics (such as resistivity and

conductivity) of formations traversed by the borehole. It is made to identify theformations, determine the nature and amount of fluids they contain, and estimate their

depth. Also called an electric log or electric survey.

elevator links n pl: cylindrical bars that support the elevators and attach them to the

hoo.

elevators n pl: on rotary rigs and top drive rigs, hinged steel

devices 5ith manual operating handles that cre5 members latch

onto a tool joint (or a sub).

engine n: a machine for converting the heat content of fuel into

rotary motion that can be used to po5er other machines.

&ompare motor.

erosion n: the process by 5hich material (such as roc or soil) is 5orn a5ay or removed

(as by 5ind or 5ater).

evening tour (pronounced Bto5erB) n: the shift of duty on a drilling rig that generallystarts in the afternoon and runs through the evening. "ometimes called afternoon tour.

&ompare daylight tour.

e"ternal cutter n: a fishing tool containing metalcutting nives that is lo5ered into the

hole and over the outside of a length of pipe to cut it. /he severed part of the pipe can

then be brought to the surface. Also called an outside cutter. &ompare internal cutter

)

fastline n: the end of the drilling line that is affi>ed to the drum or reel of thedra55ors, so called because it travels 5ith greater velocity than any other portion of the

line. &ompare deadline.

fingerboard n: a rac that supports the stands of pipe being staced in the derric or

mast. It has several steel fingerlie projections that form a series of slots into 5hich the

derricman can place a stand of drill pipe or collars after it is pulled out of the hole and

removed from the drill string.

fire flooding n: a thermal recovery method in 5hich the oil in the reservoir is ignited,

the heat vaporizes lighter hydrocarbons and 5ater pushes the 5armed oil to5ard aproducing 5ell. Also called in situ combustion. "ee thermal recovery.

fish n: an object that is left in the 5ellbore during drilling or 5or over operations and

that must be recovered before 5or can proceed. It can be anything from a piece of scrapmetal to a part of the drill stem.

fishing n: the procedure of recovering lost or stuc e


20/54

fishing-tool operator n: the person (usually a service company employee) in charge of

directing fishing operations.

fitting n: a small, often standardized, part (such as a coupling, valve, or gauge) installed

in a larger apparatus.

float collar n: a special coupling device inserted one or t5o joints above the bottom of

the casing string that contains a chec valve to permit fluid to pass do5n5ard but not

up5ard through the casing. /he float collar prevents drilling mud from entering the

casing 5hile it is being lo5ered, allo5ing the casing to float during its descent and thus

decreasing the load on the derric or mast.

float shoe n: a short, heavy, cylindrical steel section 5ith a rounded bottom that isattached to the bottom of the casing string. It contains a chec valve and functions

similarly to the float collar but also serves as a guide shoe for the casing.

flood v: 1. to drive oil from a reservoir into a 5ell by injecting 5ater under pressure into

the reservoir formation. "ee 5aterflooding. 2. to dro5n out a 5ell 5ith 5ater.

flow n: a current or stream of fluid or gas.

floor crew n: those 5orers on a drilling or 5orover rig 5ho 5or primarily on the rig

floor. "ee rotary helper.

floorhand n: see rotary helper.

floorman n: see rotary helper.

flowing well n: a 5ell that produces oil or gas by its o5n reservoir pressure rather thanby use of artificial means (such as pumps).

flow line n: the surface pipe through 5hich oil or gas travels from a 5ell to processing

e


21/54

frac fluid n: a fluid used in the fracturing process (for e>ample, a method of stimulating

production by opening ne5 flo5 channels in the formation surrounding a production 5ell).?nder e>tremely high hydraulic pressure, frac fluids (such as distillate, diesel fuel, crude

oil, dilute hydrochloric acid, 5ater, or erosene) are pumped do5n5ard through

production tubing or drill pipe and forced out belo5 a pacer or bet5een t5o pacers.

/he pressure causes cracs to open in the formation, and the fluid penetrates the

formation through the cracs. "and grains, aluminum pellets, 5alnut shells, or similar

materials (propping agents) are carried in suspension by the fluid into the cracs. $hen

the pressure is released at the surface, the fracturing fluid returns to the 5ell but leaves

behind the propping agents to hold open the formation cracs.

fuel tanks n pl: fuel storage tans for the po5er generating system.

fracture n: a crac or crevice in a formation, either natural or

induced. "ee hydraulic fracturing.

fracture acidi#ing n: a procedure by 5hich acid is forced into a

formation under pressure high enough to cause the formation to crac. /he acid acts on

certain inds of formations, usually carbonates, to increase the permeability of the

formation. Also called acid fracturing.

fracture pressure n: the pressure at 5hich a formation 5ill brea do5n, or fracture.

fracturing fluid n: a fluid, such as 5ater, oil, or acid, used in hydraulic fracturing. /he

fluid carries propping agents that hold open the formation cracs after hydraulic pressure

dissipates. "ee acid fracturing, hydraulic fracturing, propping agents.

free-point indicator n: a device run on 5ireline into the 5ellbore and inside the fishingstring and fish to locate the area 5here a fish is stuc. $hen the drill string is pulled and

turned, the electromagnetic fields of free pipe and stuc pipe differ. /he freepoint

indicator is able to distinguish these differences, 5hich are registered on a metering

device at the surface.

friction n: resistance to movement created 5hen t5o surfaces are in contact. $hen

friction is present, movement bet5een the surfaces produces heat.

full-gauge bit n: a bit that has maintained its original diameter.

full-gauge hole n: a 5ellbore drilled 5ith a fullgauge bit. Also called a truetogauge

hole.

G

gamma ra! log n: a type of radioactivity 5ell log that records natural radioactivity

around the 5ellbore. "hales generally produce higher levels of gamma radiation and canbe detected and studied 5ith the gamma ray tool. "ee radioactivity 5ell logging.

gas anchor n: a tubular, perforated device attached to the bottom of a sucerrod pump

that helps to prevent gas loc. /he device 5ors on the principle that gas, being lighterthan oil, rises. As 5ell fluids enter the anchor, gas breas out of the fluid and e>its from

the anchor through perforations near the top. emaining fluids enter the pump through a

mos


22/54

gas cap n: a freegas phase overlying an oil zone and occurring 5ithin the same

producing formation as the oil. "ee reservoir.

gas-cap drive n: drive energy supplied naturally (as a reservoir is produced) by the

e>pansion of the gas cap. In such a drive, the gas cap e>pands to force oil into the 5ell

and to the surface. "ee reservoir drive mechanism.

gas-cut mud n: a drilling mud that contains entrained formation gas, giving the mud a

characteristically fluffy te>ture. 9as cut mud may cause a lo5ering of mud 5eight.

gas drive n: the use of the energy that arises from the e>pansion of compressed gas in

a reservoir to move crude oil to a 5ellbore. Also called depletion drive. "ee dissolvedgas

drive, gascap drive, reservoir drive mechanism.

gas in*ection n: the injection of gas into a reservoir to maintain formation pressure by

gas drive and to reduce the rate of decline of the original reservoir drive. ne type of gas

injection uses gas that does not mi> (is not miscible) 5ith the oil. D>amples of these

gases include natural gas, nitrogen, and flue gas. Another type uses gas that does mi> (is

miscible) 5ith the oil. /he gas may be naturally miscible or become miscible under high

pressure. D>amples of miscible gases include propane, methane enriched 5ith other light

hydrocarbons, methane under high pressure, and carbon dio>ide under pressure.reert less pressure than the formation does; the resulting higher formation

pressure forces the fluid out of the 5ellbore. 9as may be injected continuously or

intermittently, depending on the producing characteristics of the 5ell and thearrangement of the gaslift e


23/54

manual dipping and sampling 5ithout loss of vapor. E. a condition that can occur 5hen

gascut mud is circulated by the mud pump. /he gas breas out of the mud, e>pands,

and 5ors against the operation of the piston and valves.

gas well n: a 5ell that primarily produces gas. !egal definitions vary among the states.

gear reducer n: see speed reducer.

gel n: a semisolid, jellylie state assumed by some colloidal dispersions at rest.

geologist n: a scientist 5ho gathers and interprets data pertaining to the formations of

the earths crust.

+eronimo n: see safety slide.

go in the hole v: to lo5er the drill stem, the tubing, the casing, or the sucer rods into

the 5ellbore.

gone to water adj: pertaining to a 5ell in 5hich production of oil has decreased and

production of 5ater has increased (for e>ample, Jthe 5ell has gone to 5aterK).

gooseneck n: the curved connection bet5een the rotary hose and the s5ivel. "ee

s5ivel.

gravel n: sand or glass beads of uniform size and roundness used in gravel pacing.

gravel packing n: a method of 5ell completion in 5hich a slotted or perforated liner,

often 5ire5rapped, is placed in the 5ell and surrounded by gravel. If open hole, the 5ell

is sometimes enlarged by underreaming at the point 5here the gravel is paced. /hemass of gravel e>cludes sand from the 5ellbore but allo5s continued production.

guide shoe n: 1. a short, heavy, cylindrical section of steel filled 5ith concrete and

rounded at the bottom, 5hich is placed at the end of the casing string. It prevents the

casing from snagging on irregularities in the borehole as it is lo5ered.

gu! line anchor n: a buried 5eight or anchor to 5hich a guy line is attached.

gu! wire n: a rope or cable used to steady a mast or pole.

,

hang rods v: to suspend sucer rods in a derric or mast on rod hangers rather than to

place them horizontally on a rac.

hard hat n: a hard helmet 5orn by oilfield 5orers to minimize the danger of being

injured by falling objects.

headache n: (slang) the position in 5hich the mast on a mobile rig is resting horizontallyover the drivers cab.

he" kell! n: see elly.

23


24/54

hoist n: 1. an arrangement of pulleys and 5ire rope used for lifting heavy objects; a

5inch or similar device. 2. the dra55ors. v: to raise or lift.

hoisting components n pl: dra55ors, drilling line, and traveling and cro5n blocs.

Au>iliary hoisting components include catheads, catshaft, and air hoist.

hoisting drum n: the large, flanged spool in the dra55ors on 5hich the hoisting cable

is 5ound. "ee dra55ors.

hoisting line n: a 5ire rope used in hoisting operations.

,ook n: a large, hooshaped device from 5hich

the elevator bails or the s5ivel is suspended. Itturns on bearings in its supporting housing.

hoisting s!stem n: the system on the rig that

performs all the lifting on the rig, primarily the

lifting and lo5ering of drill pipe out of and into the

hole. It is composed of drilling line, traveling bloc,

cro5n bloc, and dra55ors. "ee also hoisting

components.

hook load n: the 5eight of the drill stem and associated components that are suspended

from the hoo.

hopper n: a large funnel or coneshaped device into 5hich dry components (such as

po5dered clay or cement) can be poured to later mi> 5ith 5ater or other li


25/54

coupled and placed in the 5ell. ne pump functions as an engine and drives the other

pump (the production pump). /he do5nhole engine is usually operated by clean crude oil

under under pressure (po5er oil) that is dra5n from a po5eroil settling tan by a triple>plunger pump on the surface. If a single string of tubing is used, po5er oil is pumped

do5n the tubing string to the pump, 5hich is seated in the string, and a mi>ture of po5er

oil and produced fluid is returned through the casingtubing annulus. If t5o parallel

strings are used, one supplies po5er oil to the pump 5hile the other returns the e>haust

and produced oil to the surface. A hydraulic pump may be used to pump several 5ells

from a central source.

h!drocarbons n pl: organic compounds of hydrogen and carbon 5hose densities, boiling

points, and freezing points increase as their molecular 5eights increase. Although

composed of only t5o elements, hydrocarbons e>ist in a variety of compounds, becauseof the strong affinity of the carbon atom for other atoms and for itself. /he smallest

molecules of hydrocarbons are gaseous; the largest are solids. -etroleum is a mi>ture of

many different hydrocarbons.

h!drogen sulfide cracking n: a type of corrosion that occurs 5hen metals are e>posed

to hydrogen sulfide gas; it is characterized by minute cracs that form just under the

metals surface.

h!drostatic pressure n: the force e>erted by a body of fluid at rest. It increases directly

5ith the density and the depth of the fluid and is e>pressed in many different units,

including pounds per s


26/54

reservoir pressure. 2. gas injected in gaslift operations.

in*ection log n: a survey used to determine the injection profile, that is, to assignspecific volumes or percentages to each of the formations taing fluid in an injection 5ell.

/he injection log is also used to chec for casing or pacer leas, proper cement jobs,

and fluid migration bet5een zones.

in*ection water n: 5ater that is introduced into a reservoir to help drive hydrocarbons

to a producing 5ell.

in*ection well n: a 5ell through 5hich fluids are injected into an underground stratum to

increase reservoir pressure and to displace oil. Also called input 5ell.

in*ector head n: a control head for injecting coiled tubing into a 5ell that seals off the

tubing and maes a pressure tight connection.

inland barge rig n: an off shore drilling structure consisting of a barge on 5hich the

drilling e 2+4; ouston, /3 4421; (2+1) '4+ 4141; fa> (2+1)

'4+'+@.

*ar n: a percussion tool operated manually or hydraulically to deliver a heavy up5ard ordo5n5ard blo5 to fish stuc in the borehole. v: to apply a heavy blo5 to the drill stem by

use of a jar or bumper sub.

*ar accelerator n: a hydraulic tool used in conjunction 5ith a jar and made up on the

fishing string above the jar to increase the po5er of the jarring force.

26


27/54

*erk line n: a 5ire rope, one end of 5hich is connected to the end of the tongs and the

other end of 5hich is attached to the cathead.

*et n: 1. a hydraulic device operated by a centrifugal pump used to clean the mud pits, or

tans, and to mi> mud components. 2. in a perforating gun using shaped charges, a

highly penetrating, fastmoving stream of e>ploded particles that forms a hole in the

casing, cement, and formation.

*et cutoff n: a procedure for severing pipe stuc in a 5ell by detonating special shaped

charge e>plosives similar to those used in jet perforating. /he e>plosive is lo5ered into

the pipe to the desired depth and detonated. /he force of the e>plosion maes radiating

horizontal cuts around the pipe, and the severed portion of the pipe is retrieved.

*et cutter n: a fishing tool that uses shaped charges to sever casing, tubing, or drill pipe

stuc in the hole. "ee jet cutoff. &ompare chemical cutter.

*et gun n: an assembly, including a carrier and shaped charges, that is used in jet

perforating.

*et-perforate v: to create holes through the casing 5ith a shaped charge of high

e>plosives instead of a gun that fires projectiles. /he loaded charges are lo5ered into thehole to the desired depth. nce detonated, the charges emit short, penetrating jets of

highvelocity gases that mae holes in the casing and cement for some distance into the

formation. ormation fluids then flo5 into the 5ellbore through these perforations. "ee

bullet perforator, gunperforate.

*ournal bearing n: a machine part in 5hich a rotating shaft (a journal) revolves or

slides. Also called a plain bearing.

*oint of pipe n: a length of drill pipe or casing. 6oth come in various lengths.

*unk n: metal debris lost in a hole. Gun may be a lost bit, pieces of a bit, pieces of pipe,

5renches, or any relatively small object that impedes drilling or completion and must be

fished out of the hole. v: to abandon (as a nonproductive 5ell).

*unk basket n: a device made up on the bottom of the drill stem or on 5ireline to catch

pieces of jun from the bottom of the hole. &irculating the mud or reeling in the 5ireline

forces the jun into a barrel in the tool, 5here it is caught and held. $hen the baset is

brought bac to the surface, the jun is removed. Also called a jun sub or jun catcher.

*unk mill n: a mill used to grind up jun in the hole. "ee mill.

*unk retriever n: a special tool made up on the bottom of the drill stem to pic up jun

from the bottom of the hole. Cost jun retrievers are designed 5ith ports that allo5

drilling fluid to e>it the tool a short distance off the bottom. /his flo5 of fluid creates an

area of lo5 pressure inside the tool so that the jun is lifted and caught in the retriever

by the higher pressure outside the tool. "ee jun, jun baset.

K

kell! n: the heavy sagonal steel member suspended from the

s5ivel through the rotary table and connected to the topmost joint of drill

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pipe to turn the drill stem as the rotary table turns.

kell! bushing n: a device fitted to the rotary table through 5hich theelly passes and the means by 5hich the toris of the hole. A eyseat results from the

rotation of pipe on a sharp bend in the hole. 2. a groove cut parallel tothe a>is in a shaft or a pulley bore.

kick n: an entry of 5ater, gas, oil, or other formation fluid into the

5ellbore during drilling. It occurs because the pressure e>erted by the

column of drilling fluid is not great enough to overcome the pressure e>erted by the fluidsin the formation drilled. If prompt action is not taen to control the ic, or ill the 5ell, a

blo5out may occur.

kick fluids n pl: oil, gas, 5ater, or any combination that enters the borehole from a

permeable formation.

kick off v: 1. to bring a 5ell into production; used most often 5hen gas is injected into a

gas lift 5ell to start production. 2. in 5orover operations, to s5ab a 5ell to restore it to

production. E. to deviate a 5ellbore from the vertical, as in directional drilling.

kickoff point (.OP n: the depth in a vertical hole at 5hich a deviated or slant hole is

started; used in directional drilling.

kill v: 1. in drilling, to control a ic by taing suitable preventive measures (for

e>ample, to shut in the 5ell 5ith the blo5out preventers, circulate the ic out, and

increase the 5eight of the drilling mud). 2. in production, to stop a 5ell from producing

oil and gas so that reconditioning of the 5ell can proceed.

/

land rig n: any drilling rig that is located on dry land.

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latch on v: to attach elevators to a section of pipe to pull it out of or run into the hole.

latch sub n: a device, usually 5ith segmented threads, run 5ith seal subs on the bottom

of a tubing string and latched into a permanent pacer to prevent tubing movement.

la! n: 1. the spiral of strands in a 5ire rope either to the right or to the left, as vie5ed

from above. 2. a term used to measure 5ire rope, signifying the linear distance a 5ire

strand covers in one complete rotation around the rope.

la! down pipe v: to pull drill pipe or tubing from the hole and place it in a horizontal

position on a pipe rac. &ompare set bac.

lead-tong hand (pronounced JleedK) n: the cre5 member 5ho operates the lead tongs

5hen drill pipe and drill collars are being handled. Also called leadtong man.

lead tongs (pronounced JleedK) n pl: the pipe tongs suspended in the derric or mast

and operated by a chain or a 5ire rope connected to the maeup cathead or the breaout

cathead.

lifting sub n: a threaded device placed in the end of tubulars, such as drill collars to aidin lifting; also called hoisting plug0

liner n: 1. a string of pipe used to case open hole belo5 e>isting casing. A liner e>tends

from the setting depth up into another string of casing, usually overlapping about 1

feet (E.' meters) above the lo5er end of the intermediate or the oil string. !iners are

nearly al5ays suspended from the upper string by a hanger device. 2. a relatively short

length of pipe 5ith holes or slots that is placed opposite a producing formation. ?sually,

such liners are 5rapped 5ith specially shaped 5ire that is designed to prevent the entryof loose sand into the 5ell as it is produced. /hey are also often used 5ith a gravel pac.

E. in jet perforation guns, a conically shaped metallic piece that is part of a shaped

charge. It increases the efficiency of the charge by increasing the penetrating ability of

the jet. . a replaceable tube that fits inside the cylinder of an engine or a pump. "ee

cylinder liner.

liner completion n: a 5ell completion in 5hich a liner is used to obtain communication

bet5een the reservoir and the 5ellbore.

liner hanger n: a slip device that attaches the liner to the casing. "ee liner.

location n: the place 5here a 5ell is drilled. Also called 5ell site.

log n: a systematic recording of data, such as a drillers log, mud log, electrical 5ell log,

or radioactivity log. Cany different logs are run in 5ells to discern various characteristics

of do5nhole formation. v: to record data.

log a well v: to run any of the various logs used to ascertain do5nhole information abouta 5ell.

logging devices n pl: any of several electrical, acoustical, mechanical, or radioactivity

devices that are used to measure and record certain characteristics or events that occur

in a 5ell that has been or is being drilled.

long string n: 1. the last string of casing set in a 5ell. 2. the string of casing that is set

at the top of or through the producing zone, often called the oil string or productioncasing.

29


30/54

lost circulation n: the ample, a fish.

lost time incident n: an incident in the 5orplace that results in an injury serious

enough that causes the person injured to be unable to 5or for a day or more.

lubricator n: a specially fabricated length of casing or tubing usually placed temporarilyabove a valve on top of the casinghead or tubing head. It is used to run s5abbing or

perforating tools into a producing 5ell and provides a method for sealing off pressure and

thus should be rated for highest anticipated pressure.

1macaroni string n: a string of tubing or pipe, usually E7 or 1 inch (1.@ or 2.'

centimeters) in diameter.

make a connection v: to attach a joint or stand of drill pipe onto the drill stemsuspended in the 5ellbore to permit deepening the 5ellbore by the length of the pipe.

make up v: 1. to assemble and join parts to form a complete unit (for e>ample, to mae

up a string of drill pipe). 2. to scre5 together t5o threaded pieces. &ompare brea out. E.

to mi> or prepare (for e>ample, to mae up a tan of mud). . to compensate for (for

e>ample, to mae up for lost time).

makeup adj: added to a system (for e>ample, maeup 5ater used in mi>ing mud).

make up a *oint v: to scre5 a length of pipe into another length of pipe.

makeup cathead n: a device that is attached to the shaft of the dra55ors and used as

a po5er source for maing up joints of pipe. It is usually located on the drillers side of

the dra55ors. Also called spinning cathead.

makeup tongs n pl: tongs used for scre5ing one length of pipe into another for maing

up a joint. &ompare breaout tongs. "ee also tongs.

male connection n: a pipe, coupling, or tool that has threads on the outside so that it

can be joined to a female connection.

mandrel n: a cylindrical bar, spindle, or shaft around 5hich other parts are arranged orattached or that fits inside a cylinder or tube.

manifold n: 1. an accessory system of piping to a main piping system (or another

conductor) that serves to divide a flo5 into several parts, to combine several flo5s intoone, or to reroute a flo5 to any one of several possible destinations.

mast n: a portable derric that is capable of being raised as a unit, as

distinguished from a standard derric, 5hich cannot be raised to a 5oring

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position as a unit. or transporting by land, the mast can be divided into t5o or more

sections to avoid e>cessive length e>tending from truc beds on the high5ay.

master bushing n: a device that fits into the rotary table to accommodate the slips and

drive the elly bushing so that the rotating motion of the rotary table can be transmitted

to the elly.

master valve n: 1. a large valve located on the &hristmas tree and used to control the

flo5 of oil and gas from a 5ell. Also called master gate.

mechanical *ar n: a percussion tool operated mechanically to give an up5ard thrust to a

fish by the sudden release of a tripping device inside the tool. If the fish can be freed by

an up5ard blo5, the mechanical jar can be very effective.

mechanical log n: a log of, for instance, rate of penetration or amount of gas in the

mud, obtained at the surface by mechanical means. "ee mud logging.

mechanical rig n: a drilling rig in 5hich the source of po5er is one or more internal

combustion engines and in 5hich the po5er is distributed to rig components through

mechanical devices (such as chains, sprocets, clutches, and shafts). Also called a po5er

rig. &ompare electric rig.

mill n: a do5nhole tool 5ith rough, sharp, e>tremely hard cutting surfaces for removing

metal, pacers, cement, sand, or scale by grinding or cutting.

miscible drive n: a method of enhanced recovery in 5hich various hydrocarbon solvents

or gases (such as propane, !-9, natural gas, carbon dio>ide, or a mi>ture thereof) are

injected into the reservoir to reduce interfacial forces bet5een oil and 5ater in the pore

channels and thus displace oil from the reservoir roc. "ee chemical flooding, gasinjection.

mi"ing tank n: any tan or vessel used to mi> components of a substance (as in the

mi>ing of additives 5ith drilling mud).

mi" mud v: to prepare drilling fluids.

monitor n: an instrument that reports the performance of a control device or signals if

unusual conditions appear in a system.

monke!board n: the derrichands 5oring platform. As pipe or tubing is

run into or out of the hole, the derrichand must handle the top end of the

pipe, 5hich may be as high as @ feet (24 meters) or higher in the derric

or mast.

morning report n: see daily drilling report.

morning tour (pronounced Jto5erK) n: a 5or shift that generally beginsat or near midnight. "ee graveyard tour.

motorhand n: the cre5 member on a rotary drilling rig, 5ho is responsible for the care

and operation of drilling engines. Also called motorman.

motor n: any of various po5er units, such as a hydraulic, internal combustion, air, or

electric device, that develops energy or imparts motion. &ompare engine.

motorman n: see motorhand.

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mousehole n: shallo5 bores under the rig floor, usually lined 5ith

pipe, in 5hich joints of drill pipe are temporarily suspended forlater connection to the drill string.

mousehole connection n: the procedure of adding a length of

drill pipe or tubing to the active string.

mud n: the liture of hydrochloric and7or hydrofluoric acids and surfactants used to

remove 5all cae from the 5ellbore.

mud cake n: the sheath of mud solids that forms on the 5all of the hole 5hen li


33/54

mud return line n: a trough or pipe that is placed bet5een the

surface connections at the 5ellbore and the shale shaer.

mud tank n: one of a series of open tans, usually made of steel

plate, through 5hich the drilling mud is cycled to remove sand and

fine sediments.

mud weight n: a measure of the density of a drilling fluid e>pressed as pounds per

gallon, pounds per cubic foot, or ilograms per cubic metre. Cud 5eight is directly related

to the amount of pressure the column of drilling mud e>erts at the bottom of the hole.

multiple completion n: an arrangement for producing a 5ell in 5hich one 5ellbore

penetrates t5o or more petroleumbearing formations. In one type, multiple tubing

strings are suspended side by side in the production casing string, each a different length

and each paced to prevent the commingling of different reservoir fluids. Dach reservoir

is then produced through its o5n tubing string. Alternatively, a small diameter production

casing string may be provided for each reservoir, as in multiple miniaturized or multiple

tubingless completions. "ee dual completion.

2

natural gas n: a highly compressible, highly e>pansible mi>ture of hydrocarbons 5ith a

lo5 specific gravity and occurring naturally in a gaseous form.

neutron log n: a radioactivity 5ell log used to determine formation porosity. /he logging

tool bombards the formation 5ith neutrons. $hen the neutrons strie hydrogen atoms in

5ater or oil, gamma rays are released. "ince 5ater or oil e>ists only in pore spaces, a

measurement of the gamma rays indicates formation porosity. "ee radioactivity 5ell

logging.

night toolpusher n: an assistant toolpusher 5hose duty hours are typically duringnighttime hours. Also no5n as a tourpusher.

nipple n: a tubular pipe fitting threaded on both ends used for maing connections

bet5een pipe joints and other tools.

nipple up v: in drilling, to assemble the blo5out preventer stac on the 5ellhead at the

surface.

nitro shooting n: a formationstimulation process first used about 1 years ago in

-ennsylvania. #itroglycerine is placed in a 5ell and e>ploded to fracture.

normal circulation n: the smooth, uninterrupted circulation of drilling fluid do5n thedrill stem, out the bit, up the annular space bet5een the pipe and the hole, and bac to

the surface.

no##le n: 1. a passage5ay through jet bits that causes the drilling fluid to be ejectedfrom the bit at high velocity.

nuclear log n: see radioactivity log.

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nuclear tracer n: a gas, li liture of hydrocarbons that can be refined to yield

gasoline, erosene, diesel fuel, and various other products.

oil-base mud n: a drilling or 5orover fluid in 5hich oil is the continuous phase and

5hich contains from less than 2 percent and up to ' percent 5ater. /his 5ater is spread

out, or dispersed, in the oil as small droplets. "ee oil mud.

oil-emulsion mud n: a 5aterbase mud in 5hich 5ater is the continuous phase and oil is

the dispersed phase.

oilfield n: the surface area overlying an oil reservoir or reservoirs. /he term usually

includes not only the surface area, but also the reservoir, the 5ells, and the production

etension) any reservoir that yields oil,

5hether or not it is sandstone.

oil saver n: a gland arrangement that mechanically or hydraulically seals by pressure. Itis used to prevent leaage and 5aste of gas, oil, or 5ater around a 5ireline (as 5hen

s5abbing a 5ell).

oil spotting n: pumping oil, or a mi>ture of oil and chemicals, to a specific depth in the

5ell to lubricate stuc drill collars.

oil string n: the final string of casing set in a 5ell after the productive capacity of the

formation has been determined to be sufficient. Also called the long string or production

casing.

oilwell n: a 5ell from 5hich oil is obtained.

oil #one n: a formation or horizon of a 5ell from 5hich oil may be produced. /he oil zone

is usually immediately under the gas zone and on top of the 5ater zone if all three fluidsare present and segregated.

open formation n: a petroleumbearing roc 5ith good porosity and permeability.

open hole n: 1. any 5ellbore in 5hich casing has not been set. 2. open or cased hole in

5hich no drill pipe or tubing is suspended. E. the portion of the 5ellbore that has no

casing.

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open-hole completion n: a method of preparing a 5ell for production in 5hich no

production casing or liner is set opposite the producing formation. eservoir fluids flo5

unrestricted into the open 5ellbore.

open-hole fishing n: the procedure of recovering lost or stuc e


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specially fabricated filling in paced fractionation columns and absorbers.

packing assembl! n: the arrangement of the do5nhole tools used in running andsetting a pacer.

packing elements n pl: the set of dense rubber, 5ashershaped pieces encircling a

pacer, 5hich are designed to e>pand against casing or formation face to seal off the

annulus.

pack-off n: a device 5ith an elastomer pacing element that depends on pressure belo5

the pacing to effect a seal in the annulus. ?sed primarily to run or pull pipe under lo5 or

moderate pressures. Also called a stripper.

pack off v: to place a pacer in the 5ellbore and activate it so that it forms a seal

bet5een the tubing and the casing.

paraffin n: a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon having the formula &n2nO2 (for e>ample,

methane, &; ethane, &2*). eavier paraffin hydrocarbons (for e>ample, &1+E+) form a

5a>lie substance that is called paraffin. /hese heavier paraffins often accumulate on the

5alls of tubing and other production e


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perforation depth control log (PDC log n: a special type of nuclear log that

measures the depth of each casing collar. Lno5ing the depth of the collars maes it easyto determine the e>act depth of the formation to be perforated by correlating casing

collar depth 5ith formation depth.

perforator n: see perforating gun.

permanent packer n: a nonretrievable type of pacer that must be drilled or milled out

for removal.

permeabilit! n: 1. a measure of the ease 5ith 5hich a fluid flo5s through the

connecting pore spaces of a formation or cement. /he unit of measurement is themillidarcy. 2. fluid conductivity of a porous medium. E. ability of a fluid to flo5 5ithin the

interconnected pore net5or of a porous medium.

petroleum n: a substance occurring naturally in the earth in solid, litures of chemical compounds of carbon and hydrogen,

5ith or 5ithout other nonmetallic elements such as sulfur, o>ygen, and nitrogen. In some

cases, especially in the measurement of oil and gas, petroleum refers only to oilHa liisting hole that is to be opened (made larger in diameter). /he pilot bit merely

guides, or pilots, the cutters on the hole opener into the e>isting hole so that the holeopening cutters can enlarge the hole to the desired size.

pilot mill n: a special mill that has a heavy tubular e>tension belo5 it called a pilot or

stinger. /he pilot, smaller in diameter than the mill, is designed to go inside drill pipe or

tubing that is lost in the hole. It guides the mill to the top of the pipe and centers it, thuspreventing the mill from bypassing the pipe. Also called a piloted mill.

pinch points n: the sections 5here body parts or other materials may be pinched.

pipe ramp and pipe on rack n: an angled ramp for dragging drillpipe, casing and other materials up to the drilling floor or bringing

such e


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pipe ram n: a sealing component for a blo5out preventer that closes the annular space

bet5een the pipe and the blo5out preventer or 5ellhead.

pipe ram preventer n: a blo5out preventer that uses pipe rams as the closing

elements. "ee pipe ram.

pipe tongs n pl: see tongs.

pipe upset n: that part of the pipe that has an abrupt increase of dimension.

pipe wiper n: a fle>ible disshaped device, usually made of rubber, 5ith a hole in the

center through 5hich drill pipe or tubing passes. It is used to 5ipe off mud, oil, or otherliclude bottom 5ater, tosidetrac, or to produce from a formation higher in the 5ell. -lugging bac can also be

accomplished 5ith a mechanical plug set by 5ireline, tubing, or drill pipe.

plug-back cementing n: a secondary cementing operation in 5hich a plug of cement is

positioned at a specific point in the 5ell and allo5ed to set.

plunger n: 1. a basic component of the sucer rod pump that serves to dra5 5ell fluids

into the pump. 2. the rod that serves as a piston in a reciprocating pump. E. the device ina fuelinjection unit that regulates the amount of fuel pumped on each stroe.

pole mast n: a portable mast constructed of tubular members. A pole mast may be a

single pole, usually of t5o different sizes of pipe telescoped together to be moved or

e>tended and loced to obtain ma>imum height above a 5ell. %oublepole masts giveadded strength and stability. "ee mast.

polished rod n: the topmost portion of a string of sucer rods. It is used for lifting fluidby the rodpumping method. It has a uniform diameter and is smoothly polished to seal

pressure effectively in the stuffing bo> attached to the top of the 5ell.

pol!cr!stalline diamond compact (PDC n: a dis (a compact) of very small synthetic

diamonds, metal po5der, and tungsten carbide po5der that are used as cutters on -%&

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bits.

porosit! n: 1. the condition of being porous (such as a roc formation). 2. the ratio ofthe volume of empty space to the volume of solid roc in a formation, indicating ho5

much fluid a roc can hold.

portable mast n: a mast mounted on a truc and capable of being erected as a single

unit. "ee telescoping mast.

possum bell! n: 1. a receiving tan situated at the end of the mud return line. /he flo5

of mud comes into the bottom of the device and travels to control mud flo5 over the

shale shaer. 2. a metal bo> under a truc bed that holds pipeline repair tools.

power generating s!stem n: a diesel, !-9, natural gas, or gasoline engine along 5ith a

mechanical transmission or generator for producing po5er for the drilling rig.

power wrench n: a 5rench that is used to mae up or brea out drill pipe, tubing, or

casing on 5hich the torpelled.

preventer n: shortened form of blo5out preventer. "ee blo5out preventer.

preventive maintenance n: a system of conducting regular checs, routine

maintenance and testing of e


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mineral deposits, scraping or chemical injection to prevent paraffin buildup, and various

measures taen to control corrosion and erosion damage.

production packer n: any pacer designed to mae a seal bet5een the tubing and the

casing during production.

production rig n: a portable servicing or 5orover unit, usually mounted on 5heels and

selfpropelled. A 5ellservicing unit consists of a hoist and engine mounted on a 5heeled

chassis 5ith a selferecting mast. A 5orover rig is basically the same, 5ith the addition

of a substructure 5ith rotary, pump, pits, and au>iliaries to permit handling and 5oring

a drill string.

production test n: a test of the 5ells producing potential usually done during the initialcompletion phase.

production tubing n: a string of tubing used to produce the 5ell.

production well n: in fields in 5hich improved recovery techniimum potential rate of flo5.

propping agent n: a granular substance (sand grains, aluminum pellets, or other

material) that is carried in suspension by the fracturing fluid and that serves to eep the

cracs open 5hen fracturing fluid is 5ithdra5n after a fracture treatment.

pulling unit n: a 5ellservicing outfit used in pulling rods and tubing from the 5ell. "ee

production rig.

pulsed neutron logging device n: a measuring instrument run inside casing to obtain

an indication of the presence or absence of hydrocarbons outside the casing, todetermine 5ater saturation in a reservoir behind casing, to detect 5ater movement in the

reservoir, to estimate porosity, and to estimate 5ater salinity.

pulsed-neutron surve! n: a special cased hole logging method that uses radioactivity

reaction time to obtain measurements of 5ater saturation, residual oil saturation, andfluid contacts in the formation outside the casing of an oil 5ell.

pump n: a device that increases the pressure on a fluid or raises it to a higher level.

Narious types of pumps include the bottom hole pump, centrifugal pump, hydraulic pump,

jet pump, mud pump, reciprocating pump, rotary pump, sucer rod pump, and

submersible pump.

pump barrel n: the cylinder or liner in 5hich the plunger of a sucer rod pumpreciprocates.

pump-down adj: descriptive of any tool or device that can be pumped do5n a 5ellbore.

-umpdo5n tools are not lo5ered into the 5ell on 5ireline; instead, they are pumped

do5n the 5ell 5ith the drilling fluid.

pumping unit n: the machine that imparts reciprocating motion to a string of sucer

rods e>tending to the positive displacement pump at the bottom of a 5ell. It is usually abeam arrangement driven by a cran attached to a speed reducer, coupled to a motor.

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pump *ack n: a surface unit similar to a pumping unit but having no individual po5er

plant. ?sually, several pump jacs are operated by pull rods or cables from one centralpo5er source.

pump rate n: the speed, or velocity, at 5hich a pump is run. In drilling, the pump rate is

usually measured in stroes per minute.

pup *oint n: a length of drill or line pipe, tubing, or casing shorter than range 1 (1+ feet

or *.2* meters for drill pipe) in length.

pusher n: shortened form of toolpusher.

5

rack n: 1. frame5or for supporting or containing a number of loose objects, such as

pipe. "ee pipe rac. 2. a bar 5ith teeth on one face for gearing 5ith a pinion or 5orm

gear. E. a notched bar used as a ratchet. v: 1. to place on a rac. 2. to use as a rac.

radiation logging n: see radioactivity 5ell logging.

radioactivit! log n: a record of the natural or induced radioactive characteristics of

subsurface formations. Also called nuclear log. "ee radioactivity 5ell logging.

radioactivit! well logging n: the recording of the natural or induced radioactive

characteristics of subsurface formations. A radioactivity log, also no5n as a radiation log

or a nuclear log, normally consists of t5o recorded curves: a gamma ray curve and a

neutron curve. 6oth help to determine the types of rocs in the formation and the types

of fluids contained in the rocs.

ram n: the closing and sealing component on a blo5out preventer. ne of three typesHblind, pipe, or shearHmay be installed in several preventers mounted in a stac on top of

the 5ellbore. 6lind rams, 5hen closed, form a seal on a hole that has no drill pipe in it;pipe rams, 5hen closed, seal around the pipe; shear rams cut through drill pipe and then

form a seal.

ram blowout preventer n: a blo5out preventer that uses rams to

seal off pressure on a hole that is 5ith or 5ithout pipe. It is also called

a ram preventer. amtype preventers have interchangeable ram

blocs to accommodate different .%. drill pipe, casing, or tubing.

range of load n: in sucer rod pumping, the difference bet5een the

polished rod pea load on the upstroe and the minimum load on the

do5nstroe.

rate of penetration (5OP n: a measure of the speed at 5hich the bit drills into

formations, usually e>pressed in feet (meters) per hour or minutes per foot (meter).

rathole n: 1. a hole in the rig floor, some E to feet (@ to 12meters) deep, 5hich is lined 5ith casing that projects above the floor,

into 5hich the elly and the s5ivel are placed 5hen hoisting

operations are in progress. 2. a hole of a diameter smaller than the

main hole and drilled in the bottom of the main hole. v: to reduce the

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size of the 5ellbore and drill ahead.

rathole connection n: the addition of a length of drill pipe or tubing to the active stringusing the rathole instead of the mousehole, 5hich is the more common connection. /he

length to be added is placed in the rathole, made up to the elly, pulled out of the

rathole, and made up into the string. &ompare mousehole connection.

rathole rig n: a small, usually trucmounted rig, the purpose of 5hich is to drill ratholes

for regular drilling rigs that 5ill be moved in later. A rathole rig may also drill the top part

of the hole, the conductor hole, before the main rig arrives on location.

ream v: to enlarge the 5ellbore by drilling it again 5ith a special bit.

reamer n: a tool used in drilling to smooth the 5all of a 5ell, enlarge the hole to the

specified size, help stabilize the bit, straighten the 5ellbore if ins or doglegs are

encountered, and drill directionally.

reciprocating motion n: bacandforth or upanddo5n movement, such as that of a

piston in a cylinder.

reciprocating pump n: a pump consisting of a piston that moves bac and forth or upand do5n in a cylinder. /he cylinder is e


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currently circulating. or e>ample, it may store heavy mud for emergency 5ellcontrol

operations.

reservoir n: a subsurface, porous, permeable or naturally fractured roc body in 5hich

oil or gas are stored. Cost reservoir rocs are limestones, dolomites, sandstones, or a

combination of these. /he four basic types of hydrocarbon reservoirs are oil, volatile oil,

dry gas, and gas condensate. An oil reservoir generally contains three fluidsHgas, oil,

and 5aterH5ith oil the dominant product. In the typical oil reservoir, these fluids become

vertically segregated because of their different densities. 9as, the lightest, occupies the

upper part of the reservoir rocs; 5ater, the lo5er part; and oil, the intermediate section.

In addition to its occurrence as a cap or in solution, gas may accumulate independently of

the oil; if so, the reservoir is called a gas reservoir. Associated 5ith the gas, in most

instances, are salt 5ater and some oil. Nolatile oil reservoirs are e>ceptional in thatduring early production they are mostly productive of light oil plus gas, but, as depletion

occurs, production can become almost totally completely gas. Nolatile oils are usually

good candidates for pressure maintenance, 5hich can result in increased reserves. In the

typical dry gas reservoir natural gas e>ists only as a gas and production is only gas plus

fresh 5ater that condenses from the flo5 stream reservoir. In a gas condensate reservoir,

the hydrocarbons may e>ist as a gas, but, 5hen brought to the surface, some of the

heavier hydrocarbons condense and become a lipand

and provide the principal driving energy. $ater drive reservoirs depend on 5ater and roc

e>pansion to force the hydrocarbons out of the reservoir and into the 5ellbore. Also

called natural drive energy.

reservoir oil n: oil in place in the reservoir; retained in a reservoir as residual gas

saturation is an inverse function of the pressure, due to the physics of gas.

reservoir pressure n: the average pressure 5ithin the reservoir at any given time.%etermination of this value is best made by bottomhole pressure measurements 5ith

ade


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reverse circulation n: the course of drilling fluid do5n5ard through the annulus and

up5ard through the drill stem, in contrast to normal circulation in 5hich the course isdo5n5ard through the drill stem and up5ard through the annulus. "eldom used in open

hole, but freisting formation 5hen it has fallen off

substantially or ceased altogether.

rig n: the derric or mast, dra55ors, and attendant surface eiliary etending to each corner

of the derric or mastHthat is, the area immediately above the substructure on 5hich the

rotary table, and so forth rest.

rig up v: to prepare the drilling rig for maing hole, for e>ample, to install tools and

machinery before drilling is started.

rod blowout preventer n: a ram device used to close the annular space around the

polished rod or sucer rod in a pumping 5ell.

rod hanger n: a device used to hang sucer rods on the mast or in the derric.

rod pump n: see sucer rod pump.

rod string n: a sucer rod string, that is, the entire length of sucer rods, 5hich usually

consists of several single rods scre5ed together. /he rod string serves as a mechanical

lin from the beam pumping unit on the surface to the sucer rod pump near the bottom

of the 5ell.

roller chain n: a type of chain that is used to transmit po5er by fitting over sprocets

attached to shafts, causing rotation of one shaft by the rotation of another. /ransmission

roller chain consists of offset lins, pin lins, and roller lins.

rotar! n: the machine used to impart rotational po5er to the drill stem 5hile permittingvertical movement of the pipe for rotary drilling. Codern rotary machines have a special

component, the rotary or master bushing, to turn the elly bushing, 5hich permits

vertical movement of the elly 5hile the stem is turning.

rotar! bushing n: see master bushing.

rotar! drilling n: a drilling method in 5hich a hole is drilled by a rotating bit to 5hich a

do5n5ard force is applied. /he bit is fastened to and rotated by the drill stem, 5hich alsoprovides a passage5ay through 5hich the drilling fluid is circulated. Additional joints of

drill pipe are added as drilling progresses.

rotar! helper n: a 5orer on a drilling or 5orover rig, subordinate to the driller, 5hose

primary 5or station is on the rig floor. "ometimes called floorhand, floorman, rig cre5

member, or roughnec.

rotar! hose n: the hose on a rotary drilling rig that conducts the drillingfluid from the mud pump and standpipe to the s5ivel and elly; also called

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the mud hose or the elly hose. It is a steelreinforced, fle>ible hose that is installed

bet5een the standpipe and the s5ivel or top drive.

rotar! shoe n: a length of pipe 5hose bottom edge is serrated or dressed 5ith a hard

cutting material and that is run into the 5ellbore around the outside of stuc casing, pipe,

or tubing to mill a5ay the obstruction.

rotar! speed n: the speed, measured in revolutions per minute, at 5hich the rotary

table is operated.

rotar! support table n: a strong but relatively light5eight device used on some rigs

that employ a top drive to rotate the bit. Although a conventional rotary table is not

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end to the surface. /o e>it by the safety slide, the derrichand grasps a handle on it and

rides it do5n to the ground. Also called a 9eronimo.

salinit! log n: a special nuclear 5ell log that produces an estimate of the relative

amounts of oil, gas, or salt 5ater in a formation. /his log is electronically adjusted to

reflect gamma ray emissions resulting from the collision of neutrons 5ith chlorine atoms

in the formations.

samples n pl: 1. the 5ell cuttings obtained at designated footage intervals during

drilling. rom an e>amination of these cuttings, the geologist determines the type of roc

and formations being drilled and estimates oil and gas content. 2. small


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original reservoir drive. 2. 5aterflooding of a depleted reservoir. E

Drilling Dictionary

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