Production Facilities Glossary

Absorption. n. [Geophysics]. The conversion of one form of energy into another as the energy
passes through a medium. For example, seismic waves are partially converted to heat as they
pass through rock. n. [Production Facilities]. The property of some liquids or solids to soak up
water or other fluids. The natural gas dehydration process uses glycols (liquids) that absorb the
water vapor to finally obtain dehydrated gas. In the same way, light oil, also called absorption
oil, is used to remove the heavier liquid hydrocarbons from a wet gas stream to obtain dry gas.

Absorption oil. n. [Production Facilities]. A light liquid hydrocarbon used to absorb or remove
the heavier liquid hydrocarbons from a wet gas stream. Absorption oil is also called wash oil.

Acid Gas. n. [Production Facilities]. A gas that can form acidic solutions when mixed with
water. The most common acid gases are hydrogen sulfide [H2S] and carbon dioxide [CO2] gases.
Both gases cause corrosion; hydrogen sulfide is extremely poisonous. Hydrogen sulfide and
carbon dioxide gases are obtained after a sweetening process applied to a sour gas.

Adsorption. n. [Production Facilities, Enhanced Oil Recovery]. The property of some solids and
liquids to attract a liquid or a gas to their surfaces. Some solids, such as activated charcoal or
silica gel, are used as surfaces of adhesion to gather liquid hydrocarbons from a natural gas
stream. To complete the process, the solids are treated with steam to recover the liquid
hydrocarbons.

As delivered BTU. n. [Production Facilities]. The number of BTUs in a cubic foot of natural
gas. The natural gas heat energy (BTU) will depend mainly on its water content at the delivered
pressure and temperature conditions.

As-delivered BTU. n. [Production Facilities]. The number of BTUs in a cubic foot of natural
gas. The natural gas heat energy (BTU) will depend mainly on its water content at the delivered
pressure and temperature conditions

B
Battery. n. [Production Facilities]. The installation of similar or identical units of equipment in a
group, such as a separator battery, header battery, filter battery or tank battery.

Battery Site. n. [Production Facilities]. A portion of land that contains separators, treaters,
dehydrators, storage tanks, pumps, compressors and other surface equipment in which fluids
coming from a well are separated, measured or stored.
Blanket Gas. n. [Production Facilities]. A gas phase maintained above a liquid in a vessel to
protect the liquid against air contamination, to reduce the hazard of detonation or to pressurize
the liquid. The gas source is located outside the vessel.

Blowdy. n. [Production Facilities]. A phenomenon in which free gas leaves with the liquid phase
at the bottom of the separator. Blowdy can indicate a low liquid level or improper level control
inside the separator.

Blowing The Drip. n. [Production Facilites]. Opening the valve on a drip to allow natural gas to
blow or clear the pipe of all liquids.

Bottomhole Heater. n. [Production Facilities]. A device installed at the bottom of a well to

increase the temperature of the fluid coming from the reservoir. Bottomhole heaters are used in
low API gravity crude oils to reduce the fluid viscosity, thus reducing the high friction forces
normally associated with these types of fluids.

Brine. n. [Geology]. Water containing more dissolved inorganic salt than typical seawater.

n. [Drilling]. Saline liquid usually used in completion operations and, increasingly, when
penetrating a pay zone. Brines are preferred because they have higher densities than fresh water
but lack solid particles that might damage producible formations. Classes of brines include
chloride brines (calcium and sodium), bromides and formates.

n. [Drilling Fluids]. A general term that refers to various salts and salt mixtures dissolved in an
aqueous solution. Brine can be used more strictly, however, to refer to solutions of sodium
chloride. We prefer to use brine as a general term. The emulsified calcium chloride [CaCl 2]
solution (or any other saline phase) in an oil mud is referred to as "brine" or "brine phase." The
oil/brine ratio, abbreviated OBR, is used to compare solids content and salinities of oil muds.
Clear brines are salt solutions that have few or no suspended solids

n. [Well Completions]. A water-based solution of inorganic salts used as a well-control fluid

during the completion and workover phases of well operations. Brines are solids free, containing
no particles that might plug or damage a producing formation. In addition, the salts in brine can
inhibit undesirable formation reactions such as clay swelling. Brines are typically formulated and
prepared for specific conditions, with a range of salts available to achieve densities ranging from
8.4 to over 20 lbm/gal (ppg) [1.0 to 2.4 g/cmo]. Common salts used in the preparation of simple
brine systems include sodium chloride, calcium chloride and potassium chloride. More complex
brine systems may contain zinc, bromide or iodine salts. These brines are generally corrosive and
costly.

n. [Production Facilities]. Water containing salts in solution, such as sodium, calcium or

bromides. Brine is commonly produced along with oil. The disposal of oilfield brine is usually
accomplished by underground injection into salt-water saturated formations or by evaporation in
surface pits.

British Thermal Unit. n. [Production Facilities]. A measure of heat energy required to raise the
temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. British thermal unit is abbreviated
as BTU.

BTU. n. [Production Facilities]. Abbreviation for British thermal unit.

C
Carry over. n. [Production Facilities]. See: Carryover

Carryover. n. [Production Facilities]. A phenomenon in which free liquid leaves with the gas
phase at the top of a separator. Carryover can indicate high liquid level, damage of the separator
or plugged liquid valves at the bottom of the separator.

Compression ratio. n. [Production Facilities]. The ratio of the volume of an engines cylinder at
the beginning of the compression to its volume at the end of the compression process. For
example, a cylinder with a volume of 20 cubic inches before compression and 1 cubic inch as its
final volume after compression has a compression ratio of 20:1.

Compressor. n. [Production Facilities]. A device that raises the pressure of air or natural gas. A
compressor normally uses positive displacement to compress the gas to higher pressures so that
the gas can flow into pipelines and other facilities.

Compressor plant. n. [Production Facilities]. A facility consisting of many compressors,

auxiliary treatment equipment and pipeline installations to pump natural gas under pressure over
long distances. A compressor plant is also called a compressor station. Several compressor
stations can be used to repressurize gas in large interstate gas pipelines or to link offshore gas
fields to their final terminals.

Cut oil. n. [Production Facilities]. A crude oil that contains water, normally in the form of an
emulsion. The emulsion must be treated inside heaters using chemicals, which will break the
mixture into its individual components (water and crude oil).

Cycle condensate. n. [Production Facilities]. A condensate (liquid hydrocarbon) produced at

surface from cycle gas.

Cycle gas. n. [Production Facilities]. A gas that is compressed and injected back to the reservoir.
In gas-condensate reservoirs, after the liquids or condensate are recovered at the surface, the
residue gas (dry gas) is returned to the reservoir to maintain pressure. This prevents retrograde
condensation, which will form unrecoverable liquid hydrocarbons in the reservoir.
Cycling plant. n. [Production Facilities]. An oilfield installation used when producing from a
gas-condensate reservoir. In a cycling plant, the liquids are extracted from the natural gas and
then the remaining dry gas is compressed and returned to the producing formation to maintain
reservoir pressure. This process increases the ultimate recovery of liquids.

D
DEA unit. n. [Production Facilities]. A treating system used to remove hydrogen sulfide [H2S],
carbon dioxide [CO2] and carbonyl sulfide from a gas stream. The acid gases are absorbed by the
diethanolamine (DEA), and sweet gas leaves at the top of the absorber.

Defoaming plates. n. [Production facilities]. In a separator, a series of inclined parallel plates or

tubes to promote coalescence, or merging, of the foam bubbles liberated from the liquid.

Dehydrate. vb. [Production Facilities]. To remove water from a substance. The substance may
be crude oil, natural gas or natural gas liquids (NGL).

Fluid dehydration is needed to prevent corrosion and free-water accumulation in the low points
of a pipeline. In the case of gas, it is especially important to avoid hydrate formation and also to
meet pipeline requirements. Typical maximum allowable water vapor content is 7 pounds of
water per million standard cubic feet. In colder climates, this threshold value could be 3 to 5
pounds per million standard cubic feet. Water vapor can also affect the sweetening and refining
processes of a natural gas.

Dehydration of crude oil is normally achieved using emulsion breakers, while gas dehydration is
accomplished using various liquid desiccants such as glycols (ethylene, diethylene, triethylene
and tetraethylene) or solid desiccants such as silica gel or calcium chloride [CaCl2].

Dehydrator. n. [Production Facilities]. A device used to remove water and water vapors from
gas. Gas dehydration can be accomplished through a glycol dehydrator or a dry-bed dehydrator,
which use a liquid desiccant and a solid desiccant, respectively.

Gas dehydrators are designed to handle only water and gas vapors. If liquid water or oil enters
the dehydrator, the device cannot work properly.

Desiccant. n. [Production Facilities]. A substance used in a gas-dehydration unit to remove water

and moisture. The desiccant can be liquid, such as methanol, glycol (ethylene, diethylene,
triethylene, and tetraethylene). Dessicants also can be solid, such as silica gel or calcium chloride
[CaCl2].

The most common gas-dehydration system (glycol dehydrator) uses liquid desiccants such as
diethylene, triethylene and tetraethylene, which are substances that can be regenerated.
Regeneration means that the water absorbed by these substances can be separated from them.
Some liquid desiccants such as methanol or ethylene cannot be regenerated.

Solid desiccants are also used for gas dehydration. They are placed as beds through which wet
gas is passed. The main limitation of the use of solid dessicants is that they absorb only limited
quantities of water. When the desiccant saturation point is reached, the solid dessicant must be
replaced. Another limitation is that sometimes water cannot be removed from it.

Desulfurize. vb. [Production Facilities]. To remove sulfur or sulfur compounds from an oil or
gas stream.

Downstream pipeline. n. [Production Facilities]. A pipeline that receives natural gas or oil from
another pipeline at some specific connection point

Drip. n. [Production Facilities]. A small vessel in a pipeline to receive water and heavy
hydrocarbons that drop out of a gas stream. Drips are normally installed in the lower points of
flow lines and must be blown periodically to remove liquids.

n. [Production Testing]. The water and heavy hydrocarbons that condense from the gas stream
and accumulate in the lower points of the flowlines.

Drip accumulator. n. [Production Facilities]. A device used to collect water and heavy
hydrocarbons that drop out of a gas stream in a pipeline.

Dry bed. n. [Production Facilities]. A hygroscopic solid such as silica gel, calcium chloride
[CaCl2] or other materials used in dry-bed dehydrators to absorb water and water vapor from a
gas stream.

Dry bed dehydrator. n. [Production Facilities]. See: Dry-bed dehydrator

Dry oil. n. [Production Facilities]. A treated oil that contains small amounts of basic sediments
and water (BS&W). Dry oil is also called clean oil. Antonyms: Wet oil.

Dry-bed dehydrator. n. [Production Facilities]. A device that removes water and water vapor
from a gas stream using two or more beds of solid desiccants, such as silica gel or calcium
chloride [CaCl2]. Wet gas is passed through the solid material, which absorbs the water, and then
dry gas is collected at the top of the device.

The main limitation of this device is that the solid desiccant absorbs only limited quantities of
water. When the desiccant saturation point is reached, it must be replaced and sometimes water
cannot be removed from it.

E
Evaporation pit. n. [Production Facilities]. A hole dug to contain brine for disposal by
evaporation. Some evaporation pits are lined with plastic or asphalt to keep water from filtering
through and contaminating nearby free-water aquifers.

F
Flare. n. [Production Facilities]. The burning of unwanted gas through a pipe (also called a
flare). Flaring is a means of disposal used when there is no way to transport the gas to market
and the operator cannot use the gas for another purpose. Flaring generally is not allowed because
of the high value of gas and environmental concerns.

n. [Production Facilities]. An arrangement consisting of a vertical tower and burners used to burn
combustible vapors. A flare is usually situated near a producing well or at a gas plant or refinery.
A flare is also called a flare stack.

Flare. n. [Production Facilities]. A vapor or gas that is burned through a pipe or burners.

Free water knockout. n. [Production Facilities]. See: Free-water knockout

Free-water knockout. n. [Production Facilities]. A vertical or horizontal separator used mainly

to remove any free water that can cause problems such as corrosion and formation of hydrates or
tight emulsions, which are difficult to break.

A free-water knockout is commonly called a three-phase separator because it can separate gas,
oil and free water. The liquids that are discharged from the free-water knockout are further
treated in vessels called treaters. Free-water knockout is abbreviated as FWKO.

FWKO. n. [Production facilities]. A vertical or horizontal separator used mainly to remove any
free water that can cause problems such as corrosion and formation of hydrates or tight
emulsions, which are difficult to break.

A free-water knockout is commonly called a three-phase separator because it can separate gas,
oil and free water. The liquids that are discharged from the free-water knockout are further
treated in vessels called treaters. Free-water knockout is abbreviated as FWKO.

G
Gas Processing Plant. n. [Production Facilities]. An installation that processes natural gas to
recover natural gas liquids (condensate, natural gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas) and
sometimes other substances such as sulfur. A gas processing plant is also known as a natural gas
processing plant.
Gaswell Gas. n. [Production Facilities]. The gas produced or separated at surface conditions
from the full well stream produced from a natural gas reservoir.

Gaswell liquids. n. [Production Facilities]. The liquids separated at surface conditions from the
full well stream produced from a natural gas reservoir.

Gathering lines. n. [Production Facilities]. The pipes used to transport oil and gas from a field to
the main pipeline in the area.

Gathering System. n. [Production Facilities]. The flowline network and process facilities that
transport and control the flow of oil or gas from the wells to a main storage facility, processing
plant or shipping point. A gathering system includes pumps, headers, separators, emulsion
treaters, tanks, regulators, compressors, dehydrators, valves and associated equipment.

There are two types of gathering systems, radial and trunk line. The radial type brings all the
flowlines to a central header, while the trunk-line type uses several remote headers to collect
fluid. The latter is mainly used in large fields.

The gathering system is also called the collecting system or gathering facility.

Glycol absorber. n. [Production Facilities]. In a glycol dehydrator unit, the cylinder composed
of various perforated trays in which wet gas and glycol are put in contact.

Glycol dehydrator. n. [Production Facilities]. A unit used to remove minute water particles from
natural gas if dehydration was not attained using separators. A glycol dehydrator unit is usually
composed of an absorber and a reboiler.

The wet gas enters at the bottom of the absorber. As the wet gas percolates upward, it releases its
water into the glycol solution and dry gas is obtained at the top of the absorber.

When the glycol solution becomes saturated with water, the glycol solution is pumped through a
reboiler, also called a reconcentrator, which boils the glycol-water mixture and separates the
glycol from the water. After separation, the glycol can return to the absorber to contact additional
wet gas.

Gravity segregation. n. [Production Facilities]. The tendency of fluids to stratify into different
layers because of gravity forces. In gravity segregation, the heaviest fluid settles near the bottom
and the lightest fluid rises to the top. Gravity segregation occurs inside reservoirs as well as in
separator facilities.

Gun Barrel. n. [Production Facilities]. A settling tank used for treating oil. Oil and brine are
separated only by gravity segregation forces. The clean oil floats to the top and brine is removed
from the bottom of the tank. Gun barrels are found predominantly in older or marginal fields. A
gun barrel is also called a wash tank.
Hatch. n. [Production facilities]. An opening in the top of a tank through which samples are
taken or inspection is made.

Header. n. [Geophysics]. The location, acquisition and processing parameters, and other
pertinent information attached to a well log, seismic record and traces.

n. [Production Facilities]. In a gathering system, a pipe arrangement that connects flowlines from
several wellheads into a single gathering line. A header has production and testing valves to
control the flow of each well, thus directing the produced fluids to production or testing vessels.

Individual gas/oil ratios and well production rates of oil, gas and water can be assigned by
opening and closing selected valves in a header and using individual metering equipment or
separators.

Heater. n. [Production facilities]. Equipment that transfers heat to the produced gas stream.

Heaters are especially used when producing natural gas or condensate to avoid the formation of
ice and gas hydrates. These solids can plug the wellhead, chokes and flowlines.

The production of natural gas is usually accompanied by water vapor. As this mixture is
produced, it cools down on its way to the surface and also when the mixture passes through a
surface production choke. This reduction of fluid temperature can favor the formation of gas
hydrates if heaters are not used.

Heaters may also be used to heat emulsions before further treating procedures or when producing
crude oil in cold weather to prevent freezing of oil or formation of paraffin accumulations.

Heater treater. n. [Production Facilities]. See: heater, treater

Horizontal separator. n. [Production Facilities]. A vessel, with its cylindrical axes parallel to
the ground, that is used to separate oil, gas and water from the produced stream. The horizontal
separator can be a two-phase or three-phase separator.
 Horizontal Separator

Hydrogen sulfide. n. [Drilling, Well Workover and Intervention, Production Facilities, Well
Completions, Drilling Fluids,Well Testing]. [H2S]

An extraordinarily poisonous gas with a molecular formula of H2S. At low concentrations, H 2S

has the odor of rotten eggs, but at higher, lethal concentrations, it is odorless. H 2S is hazardous to
workers and a few seconds of exposure at relatively low concentrations can be lethal, but
exposure to lower concentrations can also be harmful. The effect of H 2S depends on duration,
frequency and intensity of exposure as well as the susceptibility of the individual.
Hydrogen sulfide is a serious and potentially lethal hazard, so awareness, detection and
monitoring of H2S is essential. Since hydrogen sulfide gas is present in some subsurface
formations, drilling and other operational crews must be prepared to use detection equipment,
personal protective equipment, proper training and contingency procedures in H 2S-prone areas.
Hydrogen sulfide is produced during the decomposition of organic matter and occurs with
hydrocarbons in some areas. It enters drilling mud from subsurface formations and can also be
generated by sulfate-reducing bacteria in stored muds. H2S can cause sulfide-stress-corrosion
cracking of metals. Because it is corrosive, H 2S production may require costly special production
equipment such as stainless steel tubing.

Sulfides can be precipitated harmlessly from water muds or oil muds by treatments with the
proper sulfide scavenger. H2S is a weak acid, donating two hydrogen ions in neutralization
reactions, forming HS- and S-2 ions. In water or water-base muds, the three sulfide species, H 2S
and HS- and S-2 ions, are in dynamic equilibrium with water and H + and OH- ions. The percent
distribution among the three sulfide species depends on pH. H2S is dominant at low pH, the HS-
ion is dominant at mid-range pH and S2 ions dominate at high pH. In this equilibrium situation,
sulfide ions revert to H2S if pH falls. Sulfides in water mud and oil mud can be quantitatively
measured with the Garrett Gas Train according to procedures set by API.

L
Lean glycol. n. [Production Facilities]. In a glycol dehydrator, glycol that has been boiled and no
longer contains any water. When the glycol is lean, it can be pumped back to the absorber for
reuse.

Liquified Natural Gas Carrier. n. [Production Facilities]. A sea vessel used to transport
liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The term is commonly abbreviated as LNGC

Liquid Desiccant. n. [Production Facilities]. A hygroscopic liquid used to remove water and
water vapor from a gas stream. Some liquid desiccants are glycols (diethylene, triethylene and
tetraethylene), which are substances that can be regenerated. Regeneration means that the water
absorbed by these substances can be separated from them. Some liquid desiccants, such as
methanol or ethylene, cannot be regenerated.

LNGC. n. [Production Facilities]. Abbreviation for liquefied natural gas carrier, which is a sea
vessel used to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Loose emulsion. n. [Production Facilities]. An emulsion with large and widely distributed
droplets. A loose emulsion can be easy to break.

M
Mist. n. [Production Facilities]. Small liquid droplets (moisture or liquid hydrocarbons) in a gas
stream. In separators, mist extractors are used to collect mist.

Mist extractor. n. [Production Facilities]. A device used to collect small liquid droplets
(moisture or hydrocarbons) from the gas stream before it leaves the separator. The two most
common types of mist extractors are wire-mesh pads and vanes. Once the small droplets of liquid
are collected, they are removed along with the other liquids from the separator.

Multiphase pump. n. [Production Facilities]. A pump that can handle the complete production
from a well (oil, natural gas, water and sand, for example) without needing to separate or process
the production stream near or at the wellhead. This reduces the cost associated with the surface
facilities.
Using multiphase pumps allows development of remote locations or previously uneconomical
fields. Additionally, since the surface equipment, including separators, heater-treaters,
dehydrators and pipes, is reduced, the impact on the environment is also reduced.

Multiphase pumps can handle high gas volumes as well as the slugging and different flow
regimes associated with multiphase production. Multiphase pumps include twin-screw pumps,
piston pumps and helicoaxial pumps.

O
Oil and gas separator. n. [Production Facilities]. See: separator

P
Pipeline. n. [Production Facilities]. A tube or system of tubes used for transporting crude oil and
natural gas from the field or gathering system to the refinery.

Pipeline capacity. n. [Production Facilities]. The quantity (volume) of oil and gas required to
maintain a full pipeline. The static capacity of a pipeline is usually expressed as a volume per
unit length (for example, bbl/ft). Nevertheless, the fluid volume passing through a pipeline in a
specific time period will depend on initial pressure, flow characteristics, ground elevation,
density and delivery pressure.

Pipeline gas. n. [Production Facilities]. A sufficiently dry gas that will not drop out natural gas
liquids (NGL) when entering the gas pipeline; also, gas with enough pressure to enter high-
pressure gas pipelines.

Pipeline oil. n .[Production Facilities]. Oil whose free water, sediment and emulsion content
(BS&W) is sufficiently low to be acceptable for pipeline shipment.

Pipeline patrol. n. [Production Facilities]. An inspection of a pipeline to check for leaks,

washouts or other abnormal conditions. A pipeline patrol is commonly performed using
airplanes.

Pressure storage tank. n. [Production Facilities]. A tank designed for storing volatile liquids
such as gasoline and liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), which generate high internal pressures. A
pressure storage tank is commonly spherical. Other types include spheroidal or hemispherical
vessels. Some pressure storage tanks can support several hundred pounds per square inch of
internal pressure. A pressure storage tank is also called a pressure-type tank.
 R
Raw natural gas. n. [Production facilities]. Gas produced from the well, unprocessed natural gas
or the inlet natural gas to a plant. The raw gas still contains natural gas liquids (condensate,
natural gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas), water and some other impurities such as nitrogen,
carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and helium. The raw gas must be processed in a gas processing
plant to make the gas commercial.

n. [Production testing]. Gas coming directly from the wellbore containing nonhydrocarbon
contaminants and hydrocarbons that can be liquefied.

Residence time. n. [Production Facilities]. See: Retention time

Retention time. n. [Production Facilities]. The amount of time a liquid stays in a vessel. The
retention time assures that equilibrium between the liquid and gas has been reached at separator
pressure. The retention time in a separator is determined by dividing the liquid volume inside the
vessel by the liquid flow rate. The retention time usually varies between 30 seconds and 3
minutes. If a foaming crude is present, the retention time could be increased by four times its
normal values. Synonym: Residence time

Rich glycol. n. [Production Facilities]. In a glycol dehydrator, glycol that contains water released
by wet gas while percolating upward in the absorber.

Roll a tank. vb. [Production Facilities]. To agitate a tanks contents with gas or air injected
through a roll line. This procedure is performed to settle out impurities or obtain a more
homogeneous mixture of the chemicals added to oil, such as when chemicals used to break
emulsions. The procedure is also used to mix chemicals before a stimulation treatment of an oil
or gas well.

Roll line. n. [Production Facilities]. A thin, perforated pipe placed around the internal
circumference of a tank. The purpose of the roll line is to agitate the contents of a tank.

S
Separator. n. [Production Facilities]. A cylindrical or spherical vessel used to separate oil, gas
and water from the total fluid stream produced by a well. Separators can be either horizontal or
vertical.

Separators can be classified into two-phase and three-phase separators (commonly called free-
water knockout). The two-phase type deals only with oil and gas, while the three-phase type
handles oil, water and gas. Additionally, separators can be categorized according to their
operating pressure. Low-pressure units handle pressures of 10 to 180 psi [69 to 1241 kPa].
Medium-pressure separators operate from 230 to 700 psi [1586 to 4826 kPa]. High-pressure units
handle pressures of 975 to 1500 psi [6722 to 10,342 kPa].

Gravity segregation is the main force that accomplishes the separation, which means the heaviest
fluid settles to the bottom and the lightest fluid rises to the top. Additionally, inside the vessel,
the degree of separation between gas and liquid will depend on the separator operating pressure,
the residence time of the fluid mixture and the type of flow of the fluid. Turbulent flow allows
more bubbles to escape than laminar flow. Synonym: oil and gas separator

SNG. n. [Production Facilities]. Abbreviation for synthetic natural gas

Solid desiccant. n. [Production Facilities]. See: dry bed. Synonym: dry-bed dehydrator

Spherical separator. n. [Production Facilities]. A ball-shaped vessel used for fluid separation. A
spherical separator can be used for two-phase or three-phase separation purposes.

Spherical separators are less efficient than either horizontal or vertical cylindrical separators and
are seldom used. Nevertheless, their compact size and ease of transportation have made them
suitable for crowded processing areas.

Spot sample. n. [Production Facilities]. A sample of liquid or sediments obtained at a specific

depth inside a tank using a thief or a bottle. Spot samples are analyzed to determine the gravity
of the oil and BS&W content of the fluid in the tank.

Stage separation. n. [Production facilities]. An operation in which the well stream is passed
through two or more separators that are arranged in series. The first separator is called first-stage
separator, the second separator is called second-stage separator and additional separators are
named according to their position in the series. The operating pressures are sequentially reduced,
so the highest pressure is found at the first separator and the lowest pressure at the final
separator.

The objective of stage separation is to maximize the hydrocarbon liquid recovery and to provide
maximum stabilization to the resultant phases (liquid and gas) leaving the final separator.
Stabilization means that considerable amounts of gas or liquid will not evolve from the final
liquid and gas phases, respectively, in places such as stock tanks or gas pipelines. Additionally,
stage separation reduces the horsepower required by a compressor, since the gas is fed at higher
pressures.

STB. n. [Production Facilities]. Abbreviation for stock tank barrel.

Stock tank. n. [Production Facilities]. A storage tank for oil production after the oil has been
treated.
Stock tank barrel. n. [Production Facilities]. A measure of the volume of treated oil stored in
stock tanks. A stock tank barrel is commonly abbreviated as STB.

Strap. vb. [Well Completion]. To measure a running string or assembled components while
running in or out of the wellbore.

vb. [Production Facilities]. To measure the dimensions of an oil tank, such as external diameter
and height, using a steel tape. Once the measurements are recorded, they may be used to prepare
tank tables, which describe tank capacity.

Strapping. vb. [Production Facilities]. See: strap

Strapping tape. n. [Production Facilities]. A graduated tape use to measure, or strap, producing
tanks. The measurements are used to generate a tank table, which describes tank capacity.

Surge tank. n. [Production Facilities]. A vessel placed in a flowline through which liquids or
gases are flowed to neutralize sudden pressure surges.

Sweetening. n. [Production Facilities]. A process used to remove hydrogen sulfide [H2S] and
carbon dioxide [CO2] from a gas stream. These components are removed because they can form
acidic solutions when they contact water, which will cause corrosion problems in gas pipelines.

In a sweetening process, different types of ethanolamine can be used, including

monoethanolamine (MEA), diethanolamine (DEA), diglycolamine (DGA) and
methyldiethanolamine (MDEA). Hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are absorbed by the
ethanolamine and sweet gas leaves at the top of the absorber.

The ethanolamine is heated and acid gas (hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide gases) and water
vapor are obtained. The water is removed while the acid gas can be flared or further treated in a
sulfur recovery unit to separate out elemental sulfur. Finally, the lean ethanolamine is returned to
the absorber.

Synthetic Natural Gas. n. [Production Facilities]. A gas obtained by heating coal or refining
heavy hydrocarbons. Synthetic natural gas is abbreviated SNG.

T
Tank. n. [Production Facilities]. A metal or plastic vessel used to store or measure a liquid. The
three types of tanks in an oil field are drilling, production and storage tanks.

Tank battery. n. [Production Facilities]. A group of tanks that are connected to receive crude oil
production from a well or a producing lease. A tank battery is also called a battery.
In the tank battery, the oil volume is measured and tested before pumping the oil into the pipeline
system.

Tank bottoms. n. [Production Facilities]. The settlings -- sediment, dirt, oil emulsified with
water and free water -- that accumulate in the bottom of storage tanks. The tank bottoms are
periodically cleaned up and settlings can be disposed of or treated by chemicals to recover
additional hydrocarbons. Tank bottoms are also called tank settlings or tank sludge.

Tank calibration. n. [Production Facilities]. See: strap

Tank dike. n. [Production Facilities]. A structure constructed around an oil tank to contain the oil
in case the tank collapses. The volume or space inside the tank dike should be greater than the
volume of the tank. A tank dike is also called a fire wall.

Tank table. n. [Production Facilities]. A table that shows the tank capacity in barrels as a
function of the liquid level inside the tank. A tank table is also called a tank capacity table or
gauge table.

Tankage. n. [Production Facilities]. The capacity of all the tanks in a field

Tanker. n. [Production Facilities]. A ship designed to transport crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), synthetic natural gas (SNG) or refined products. Tankers
with 100,000 deadweight tons of capacity or more are called supertankers (very large crude
carriers or ultralarge crude carriers). A tanker is also called a tank ship.

TAPS. n. [Production Facilities]. Abbreviation for Trans-Alaska Pipeline System

Test separator. n. [Production Facilities]. A vessel used to separate and meter relatively small
quantities of oil and gas. Test separators can be two-phase or three-phase, or horizontal, vertical
or spherical. They can also be permanent or portable.

Test separators sometimes are equipped with different meters to determine oil, water and gas
rates, which are important to diagnose well problems, evaluate production performance of
individual wells and manage reserves properly.

Test separators can also be called well testers or a well checkers.

Thief. n. [Production Facilities]. A device that can be lowered into a tank to obtain samples
(liquid or sediments) at different depths. The samples are analyzed to determine the gravity and
BS&W content of the fluid into the tank.

Thief hatch. n. [Production Facilities]. An opening in the top of the stock tank. The thief hatch
allows tank access for a thief or other level measuring devices.

Three phase separator. n. [Production Facilities]. See: Three-phase separator

Three-phase separator. n. [Production Facilities]. A vessel that separates the well fluids into gas
and two types of liquids: oil and water. A three-phase separator can be horizontal, vertical or
spherical. This type of separator is commonly called a free-water knockout separator because its
main use is to remove any free water that can cause problems such as corrosion and formation of
hydrates or tight emulsions, which are difficult to break.

The liquids (oil, water) leave the vessel at the bottom through different valves, and the gas leaves
the vessel at the top, passing through a mist extractor to remove the small liquid droplets in the
gas.

Tight emulsion. n. [Production Facilities]. An emulsion with small and closely distributed
droplets. A tight emulsion can be difficult to break. Antonym: Loose emulsion

Trans-Alaska Pipeline System. n. [Production Facilities]. An 800-mile [1287-km], 48-in. [122-

cm] pipeline that transports more than 1 million barrels of oil from Deadhorse (near Prudhoe
Bay) to Valdez, Alaska, USA. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System was completed in 1977 and it is
often abbreviated as TAPS.

Treater. n. [Production Facilities]. A vessel used to treat oil-water emulsions so the oil can be
accepted by the pipeline or transport. A treater can use several mechanisms. These include heat,
gravity segregation, chemical additives and electric current to break emulsions.

There are vertical and horizontal treaters. The main difference between them is the residence
time, which is shorter in the vertical configuration compared with the horizontal one.

A treater can be called a heater treater or an emulsion treater.

Two phase separator. n. [Production Facilities]. See: Two-phase separator

Two-phase separator. n. [Production Facilities]. A vessel that separates the well fluids into gas
and total liquid. A two-phase separator can be horizontal, vertical or spherical. The liquid (oil,
emulsion) leaves the vessel at the bottom through a level-control or dump valve. The gas leaves
the vessel at the top, passing through a mist extractor to remove the small liquid droplets in the
gas.

U
ULCC. n. [Production Facilities]. Abbreviation for ultralarge crude carrier.

Ultralarge Crude Carrier. n. [Production Facilities]. A supertanker with 500,000 deadweight

tons of capacity or more. The term is commonly abbreviated as ULCC.
 V
Vapor recovery unit. n. [Production Facilities]. A system composed of a scrubber, a compressor
and a switch. Its main purpose is to recover vapors formed inside completely sealed crude oil or
condensate tanks.

The switch detects pressure variations inside the tanks and turns the compressor on and off. The
vapors are sucked through a scrubber, where the liquid trapped is returned to the liquid pipeline
system or to the tanks, and the vapor recovered is pumped into gas lines.

Vertical separator. n. [Production Facilities]. A vessel with its cylindrical axes perpendicular to
the ground that is used to separate oil, gas and water from the production stream. The vessel can
be a two-phase or three-phase separator.

Very large crude carrier. n. [Production Facilities]. A supertanker with a capacity between
100,000 and 500,000 deadweight tons. The term is commonly abbreviated as VLCC.

VLCC. n. [Production Facilities]. Abbreviation for very large crude carrier.

W
Wet gas. n. [Geology]. Natural gas that contains less methane (typically less than 85% methane)
and more ethane and other more complex hydrocarbons. Antonym: Dry gas.

n. [Production Facilities]. Natural gas that contains water.

n. [Production testing]. Natural gas containing significant heavy hydrocarbons. Propane, butane
and other liquid hydrocarbons can be liquefied.