Breed
To form fissile nuclei, usually as a result of neutron capture, possibly followed by radioactive decay.
Biological shield
A mass of absorbing material (e.g. thick concrete walls) placed around a reactor or radioactive material to reduce the radiation (especially neutrons and gamma rays respectively) to a level safe for humans.
Best available technology
Means state of the art measures considering comparable options, technological advances, technical / economic feasibility, time limits for installation and the nature and volume of…. (e.g. the discharges and emissions concerned).
Production weighted decline rate
Production-weighted decline rate of oil and gas fields is somewhat different, especially since 1985, compared to the average decline rate. The reason for this change is the introduction of new technologies, most notably horizontal drilling and fracturing techniques, in many major fields. Using new technologies, it was possible to halt the decline in many giants …
Decline rates; Decline of production of an oil field; Decline curves; Average decline rate; Average production decline rate
The evolution of decline rates of oil fields over past decades includes the impact of new technologies and production techniques and clearly shows that the average decline rate for individual giant fields is increasing with time. These factors have significant implications for the future, since the most important world oil production base – giant fields …
End of Plateau; Plateau production
The end of the plateau phase of a field is the point where production enters the decline phase. Production profiles of giant fields generally have a long plateau phase, rather than the sharp peak often seen in smaller fields. Higher decline rates must be applied to giant fields that enter decline in the future as …
Conventional oil field
Conventional oil fields refer to reservoirs that dominantly allow oil to be recovered as a free-flowing dark to light-coloured liquid. Heavier crude oils that require special production methods are excluded.
Giant oil field; Super giants
Giant oil fields are the world’s largest. There are two ways to define a giant oil field. One is based on ultimately recoverable resources (URR), and the second is based on maximum oil production level. The URR definition considers giants to have more than 0.5 Gb of ultimately recoverable resources. The production definition assumes a …
Availability factor for a power plant; Availability factor for a wind turbine
The availability factor for a power plant has historically meant the probability that when you needed it to be working, it was ready. For example, hydropower plants are often used for providing peak power, and may be used only 25% of the time. However, if, in a given year, the power plant successfully produces power …
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Cooling degree day
Term referring to the number of units (degrees) that the average outdoor temperature falls below or exceeds a base value (usually 65° F) in a given period of time. Each degree that the mean daily temperature is above the base value is called a cooling degree day (CDD) unit. Each degree that the mean daily …