PRODUCTION FACILITIES GLOSSARY EXERCISE

A-E
............................... : 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
............................... : 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.
...............................: 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.
............................... :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.
.............................. :The installation of similar or identical units of equipment in a group, such as
a separator battery, header battery, filter battery or tank battery.
.............................. : 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.
............................... :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.
.............................. : 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.
............................... :Opening the valve on a drip to allow natural gas to blow or clear the pipe of
all liquids.
............................... :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.

............................... :Water containing more dissolved inorganic salt than typical seawater.
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.
............................... :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.
............................... :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.
................................: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.
................................: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.
................................: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.
................................: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).
................................:A condensate (liquid hydrocarbon) produced at surface from cycle gas.
................................: 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.
................................: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.

................................: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.
................................:In a separator, a series of inclined parallel plates or tubes to promote
coalescence, or merging, of the foam bubbles liberated from the liquid.
................................:To remove water from a substance. The substance may be crude oil, natural
gas or natural gas liquids (NGL).
................................: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.
................................: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.
................................:To remove sulfur or sulfur compounds from an oil or gas stream.
................................:A pipeline that receives natural gas or oil from another pipeline at some
specific connection point
................................: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.
................................:. A device used to collect water and heavy hydrocarbons that drop out of a
gas stream in a pipeline.

................................:A treated oil that contains small amounts of basic sediments and water
(BS&W). Dry oil is also called clean oil.
................................: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.
................................: 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-N
................................: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 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. It is commonly called a three-phase separator because it can separate gas, oil
and free water.
................................: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.
................................:The gas produced or separated at surface conditions from the full well stream
produced from a natural gas reservoir.
................................:The liquids separated at surface conditions from the full well stream produced
from a natural gas reservoir.
................................:The pipes used to transport oil and gas from a field to the main pipeline in the
area.

................................: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.
................................: In a glycol dehydrator unit, the cylinder composed of various perforated trays
in which wet gas and glycol are put in contact.
................................: 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 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.
................................: 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.
................................: An opening in the top of a tank through which samples are taken or inspection
is made.
................................: The location, acquisition and processing parameters, and other pertinent
information attached to a well log, seismic record and traces..
................................:Equipment that transfers heat to the produced gas stream.
................................: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.

................................: 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.
................................: A sea vessel used to transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The term is
commonly abbreviated as LNGC
................................: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.
................................:Abbreviation for liquefied natural gas carrier, which is a sea vessel used to
transport liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
................................:An emulsion with large and widely distributed droplets. A loose emulsion can
be easy to break.
................................:Small liquid droplets (moisture or liquid hydrocarbons) in a gas stream. In
separators, mist extractors are used to collect mist.
................................: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.
................................: 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.

P-Z
................................:A tube or system of tubes used for transporting crude oil and natural gas
from the field or gathering system to the refinery.
................................: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.
................................: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.
................................:Oil whose free water, sediment and emulsion content (BS&W) is sufficiently
low to be acceptable for pipeline shipment.
................................:An inspection of a pipeline to check for leaks, washouts or other abnormal
conditions. A pipeline patrol is commonly performed using airplanes.
................................: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.
................................: 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.
................................: Gas coming directly from the wellbore containing nonhydrocarbon
contaminants and hydrocarbons that can be liquefied.
................................: 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
................................:In a glycol dehydrator, glycol that contains water released by wet gas while
percolating upward in the absorber.
................................: 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.
................................: 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.

................................: 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.
................................: Abbreviation for synthetic natural gas
................................: Synonym of dry-bed dehydrator
. ................................: A ball-shaped vessel used for fluid separation. A spherical separator can be
used for two-phase or three-phase separation purposes.
................................: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.
................................: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.
................................: Abbreviation for stock tank barrel.
................................: A storage tank for oil production after the oil has been treated.
................................: A measure of the volume of treated oil stored in stock tanks. A stock tank
barrel is commonly abbreviated as STB.
................................: 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.
................................: A graduated tape use to measure, or strap, producing tanks. The
measurements are used to generate a tank table, which describes tank capacity.
................................: A vessel placed in a flowline through which liquids or gases are flowed to
neutralize sudden pressure surges.
................................: 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.
................................:A gas obtained by heating coal or refining heavy hydrocarbons. Synthetic
natural gas is abbreviated SNG.

................................: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.
................................:A group of tanks that are connected to receive crude oil production from a
well or a producing lease.
................................: 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.
................................: 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.
................................: 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.
................................: The capacity of all the tanks in a field
................................:. 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.
................................: Abbreviation for Trans-Alaska Pipeline System
................................: A vessel used to separate and meter relatively small quantities of oil and gas.
It can be two-phase or three-phase, or horizontal, vertical or spherical. They can also be permanent
or portable. It can also be called well testers or a well checkers.
................................: 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.
................................: An opening in the top of the stock tank. The thief hatch allows tank access
for a thief or other level measuring devices.
................................: 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.
................................: An emulsion with small and closely distributed droplets. A tight emulsion
can be difficult to break. Antonym: Loose emulsion
................................: 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 TransAlaska Pipeline System was completed in 1977 and it is often abbreviated as TAPS.
................................: 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.
................................: 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.
................................:A supertanker with 500,000 deadweight tons of capacity or more. The term
is commonly abbreviated as ULCC.
................................: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.
................................: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 threephase separator.
................................:A supertanker with a capacity between 100,000 and 500,000 deadweight tons.
The term is commonly abbreviated as VLCC..
................................: Natural gas that contains less methane (typically less than 85% methane) and
more ethane and other more complex hydrocarbons.
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.