Oil and Gas Terms Beginning with “P” — Page 3

A succession of genetically related parasequences that form a distinctive stacking pattern, and that are typically bounded by major marine flooding surfaces and their correlative surfaces. Parasequence sets are usually… Read more →

Completion of or flow from less than the entire producing interval. This situation causes a near-well flow constriction that results in a positive skin effect in a well-test analysis. Read more →

An incompletely drilled portion of the productive interval. Read more →

The proportion of exploration and production costs each party will bear and the proportion of production each party will receive, as set out in an operating agreement. Read more →

A specialized apparatus used in the particle-plugging test. The PPA is used to determine the ability of particles in the drilling fluid to effectively bridge the pores in the filtermedium and, therefore, the ability of… Read more →

The weight, or net volume, of solid particles that fall into each of the various size ranges, given as a percentage of the total solids of all sizes in the sample of interest. Particle size can be determined by sieve… Read more →

A specialized apparatus used in the particle-plugging test. The PPA is used to determine the ability of particles in the drilling fluid to effectively bridge the pores in the filter medium and, therefore, the ability of… Read more →

A test performed in a specialized filtration-type apparatus (particle-plugging apparatus) to determine the effectiveness of additives to prevent fluid loss into a permeable medium. Read more →

The weight, or net volume, of solid particles that fall into each of the various size ranges, given as a percentage of the total solids of all sizes in the sample of interest. Particle size can be determined by sieve… Read more →

The degree of solubilization of a solute into each of multiple immiscible phases at equilibrium. For example, a water-soluble surfactant injected as part of an enhanced oil recovery flood will partially solubilize, or… Read more →

A crew that acquires a survey or geophysical data. Read more →

The ultimate leader of a survey crew. Read more →

The actual leader of a survey crew. The party manager reports to the party chief. Read more →

(noun) In production logging, a single traverse of a logging tool through the wellbore, either upward or downward, during which measurements are recorded. Multiple passes at different logging speeds and flow conditions… Read more →

The margin of a continent and ocean that does not coincide with the boundary of a lithospheric plate and along which collision is not occurring. Passive margins are characterized by rifted, rotated fault blocks of thick… Read more →

A reservoir or portion of a reservoir that contains economically producible hydrocarbons. The term derives from the fact that it is capable of "paying" an income. Pay is also called pay sand or pay zone. The overall… Read more →

The point at which all costs of leasing, exploring, drilling and operating have been recovered from production of a well or wells as defined by contractual agreement. Read more →

The maximum positive or upward deflection, also known as the crest, of the seismic wavelet. The trough is the maximum negative amplitude or downward deflection of the wave. Seismic interpreters commonly pick or… Read more →

A type of short-path multiple, or multiply-reflected seismic energy, having an asymmetric path. Short-path multiples are added to primary reflections, tend to come from shallow subsurface phenomena and highly cyclical… Read more →

A standard laboratory instrument used to measure interfacial tension. The method is particularly applicable to relatively high interfacial tensions, but with care can measure down to approximately 1 mN/m. A drop of the… Read more →

To disperse a substance into a colloidal form or to disperse a clay in water to form a colloidal suspension. Read more →

A clay that has been treated during manufacturing to enhance its dispersion.Reference:Garrett RL: "Quality Requirements for Industrial Minerals Used in Drilling Fluids," Mining Engineering 39, no. 11 (November 1987):… Read more →

A product that enhances dispersion of a substance (such as clay) into colloidal form. Peptizing agents for drilling-mud clays are sodium carbonate, sodium metaphosphates, sodium polyacrylates, sodium hydroxide and other… Read more →

The creation of holes in the casing or liner to achieve efficient communication between the reservoir and the wellbore. This process is integral to the optimal creation of hydraulic fractures. Geomechanical analysis is… Read more →

To create holes in the liner or casing under conditions in which the hydrostatic pressure inside the casing or liner is greater than the reservoir pressure. When the perforation is made, there will be a tendency for the… Read more →

To create holes in the liner or casing under conditions in which the hydrostatic pressure inside the casing or liner is less than the reservoir pressure. When the perforation is made, there will be a tendency for the… Read more →

The section of wellbore that has been prepared for production by creating channels between the reservoirformation and the wellbore. In many cases, long reservoir sections will be perforated in several intervals, with… Read more →

A wellbore tubular in which slots or holes have been made before the string is assembled and run into the wellbore. Perforated liners typically are used in small-diameter wellbores or in sidetracks within the reservoir… Read more →

An acid treatment placed in the wellbore over the interval to be perforated. Because of the overbalance conditions at the time of perforating, the perforating acid is forced into the newly formed perforation tunnel to… Read more →

(noun) A shaped explosive device, typically consisting of a metal case, explosive liner, and detonating cord, that is loaded into a perforating gun and detonated downhole to create a high-velocity jet capable of… Read more →