Category: Oil and Gas business

A pejorative term often used to describe the supermajor non-state owned oil and gas companies. Expressions are often used about “being in the pocket of big oil”.

Water occurring in a producing formation below the oil or gas in that same formation

A device for guaranteeing that during bleeding, the gas is exhausted away from the well head zone

A blowdown is the act of releasing / purging natural gas from a section of pipeline so work can be done safely. A loud noise occurs when the natural gas, which is compressed into the pipe at very high pressure, escapes through the opening. As the natural gas rushes through the blowdown valve, a gas plume extends upward of 30 to 60 meters (100 to 200 feet). This gas release is similar to letting air out of a car tire: the most forceful rush of air occurs at the very beginning, then the flow gradually slows down. The first 30 to 60 minutes of the blowdown are the loudest, but the entire blowdown may last up to three hours. After the natural gas is released, a funnel-shaped air expeller is placed on top of the blowdown valve opening. This machine is used to draw any remaining gas out of the pipe to make it absolutely safe for activities such as welding.

High volume compact pump located at the bottom of the well

A core sample of rock so highly permeable and saturated that oil drips from it.

A large valve at the top of a well that may be closed if the drilling crew loses control of formation fluids. Casinghead equipment that prevents the uncontrolled flow of oil, gas or mud from the well. By closing this valve (usually operated remotely via hydraulic actuators), the drilling crew usually regains control of the reservoir and procedures can then be initiated to increase the mud density until it is possible to open the BOP and retain pressure control of the formation.

The hole drilled for the purpose of producing oil and gas, or to inject water or other fluids. The wellbore includes the openhole or uncased portion of the well