Glossary
Browse the IADC Lexicon alphabetically or by category. Get comprehensive definitions of drilling industry terms.
B Class Bulkhead or Deck
Definition(s)
B class bulkhead or deck
B class bulkhead or deck means a bulkhead or deck that- Is made of approved noncombustible material;
- Prevents flame from passing through it for 30 minutes if subjected to the standard fire test.
Back Allowable
Definition(s)
Back Allowable
“Back allowable” means the authorization for production of an underproduction resulting from pipeline proration. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsBack-up Line
Definition(s)
Back-up Line
A length of wire rope used for holding the leverage arm or handle of a tong to prevent tong rotation. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Back-up Post
Definition(s)
Back-up Post
A post, column or stanchion to which a back-up line is secured. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Background
Definition(s)
Background
“Background” means, for purposes of ground water abatement plans only, the amount of ground water contaminants naturally occurring from undisturbed geologic sources or water contaminants occurring from a source other than the responsible person’s facility. This definition does not prevent the director from requiring abatement of commingled plumes of pollution, does not prevent responsible persons from seeking contribution or other legal or equitable relief from other persons and does not preclude the director from exercising enforcement authority under any applicable statute, rule or common law. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsBACT
Definition(s)
Best available control technology (BACT)
Best available control technology (BACT) means an emission limitation based on the maximum degree of reduction for each air pollutant subject to regulation, taking into account energy, environmental and economic impacts, and other costs. The Regional Supervisor will verify the BACT on a case-by-case basis, and it may include reductions achieved through the application of processes, systems, and techniques for the control of each air pollutant. Source: Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf, 30 CFR 250 (2013). RegulationsBail
Definition(s)
Bail
A cylindrical steel bar, similar to the handle or band of a bucket, only much larger, that supports the swivel and connects it to the hook. The links that attach the elevators to the hook may also be referred to as bails. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Bailer
Definition(s)
Bailer
A long cylindrical container, fitted with a valve at its lower end, used to remove water, sand, mud, or oil from a well. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations
Barrel Of Oil
Definition(s)
Barrel Of Oil
"Barrel of oil" means forty-two United States gallons [158.99 liters] of oil after deductions for the full amount of basic sedi ment, water, and other impurities present, ascertained by centrifugal or other recognized and customary test. Source: Oil and gas Conservation, North Dakota Administrative Code, Chapter 43-02-03, April 2012. RegulationsBarrel Of Oil
“Barrel of oil” means 42 United States gallons of oil, after deductions for the full amount of basic sediment, water and other impurities present, ascertained by centrifugal or other recognized and customary test. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsBarrel(BBL)
Definition(s)
Barrel
"Barrel" means 42 U.S. gallons. Source: Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Definitions, Alaska Admin. Code tit. 20, § 25.990, December 7, 2012. RegulationsBarrel
“Barrel” means 35 gallons (baril). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, C.R.C., c. 1517, February 2013. RegulationsBarrel
"Barrel" means 42 (U.S.) gallons at 60 F at atmospheric pressure. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. RegulationsBarrel
“Barrel” means a quantity of liquid equal to forty-two U.S. gallons. Source: Division of Mineral Resources Management - Oil and Gas, Ohio Administrative Code, Chapter 1501:9, January 2012. RegulationsBarrel
Unit for volume of oil, the standard barrel contains 42 gallons.. Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global StandardsBarrel
Barrel or Barrel of Oil―forty-two United States gallons of oil at a test of 60º F with deductions for the full percent of basic sediment, water and other impurities present, ascertained by centrifugal or other recognized and customary tests. Source: Natural Resources, Office of Conservation – General Operations, Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part XIX, March 2013. RegulationsBarrel
BARREL shall mean 42 (U.S.) gallons at 60° F. at atmospheric pressure. Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. RegulationsBarrel
"Barrel" means forty-two United States gallons [158.99 liters] measured at sixty degrees Fahrenheit [15.56 degrees Celsius] and fourteen and seventy-three hundredths pounds per square inch absolute [1034.19 grams per square centimeter]. Source: Oil and gas Conservation, North Dakota Administrative Code, Chapter 43-02-03, April 2012. RegulationsBarrel
“Barrel” means 42 United States gallons measured at 60 degrees fahrenheit and atmospheric pressure at the sea level. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. RegulationsBarrel
For the purpose of these sections, a "barrel" of crude petroleum is declared to be 42 gallons of 231 cubic inches per gallon at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. RegulationsBarrel
A liquid measure of 42 U. S. gallons (158.9 liters). Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. RegulationsBarrera
Definition(s)
Barrera
Componente o práctica que contribuye a la confiabilidad total del sistema evitando el flujo no deseado de fluidos.
Source: Resolución Número 40687 de 18 Jul 2017 Por la cual se establecen los criterios técnicos para proyectos de perforación exploratoria de hidrocarburos costa afuera en Colombia. Columbia Ministerio de Minas y Energia, RegulationsBarrier
Definition(s)
Barrier
Envelope of one or several well barrier elements preventing fluids from flowing unintentionally from the formation into the wellbore, into another formation or to the environment.
Source: ABS Guide for Classification and Certification of Managed Pressure Drilling Systems, September 2017. Global StandardsBarrier
Functional grouping of safeguards or controls selected to prevent a major accident or limit the consequences- Note 1 to entry: Barriers can be subdivided into hardware barriers or human barriers and are supported by management system elements.
- Note 2 to entry: Adapted from IOGP Report No. 415.
Barriers
Obstacle to prevent flow whose performance can be verified.
Source:API SPECIFICATION 19TT, Specification for Downhole Well Test Tools and Related Equipment, First Edition, October 2016. Global StandardsBarrier
A risk control that seeks to prevent unintended events from occurring, or prevent escalation of events into incidents with harmful consequences. For process safety, further reference to barriers can be found in OGP Reports No. 415 and No. 456. Source: IOGP Report No. 510, Operating Management System Framework for controlling risk and delivering high performance in the oil and gas industry, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, June 2014. Global StandardsBarrier
Component or practice that contributes to the total system reliability by preventing formation fluid or gas flow. Source: API RP 96, Deepwater Well Design and Construction, First Edition, March 2013. Global Standards Source: API Bulletin 97, Well Construction Interface Document Guidelines, First Edition, December 2013. Global StandardsBarrier
In this RP, barriers are defined as components or practices that contribute to the total system reliability to prevent or stop formation fluid or gas flow. Source: API RP 96, Deepwater Well Design and Construction, First Edition, March 2013. Global StandardsBarriers
“Barrier” means any fluid, plug or seal that prevents gas or oil or any other fluid from flowing unintentionally from a well or from a formation into another formation (barrière). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-315, February 2013. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-317, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. RegulationsBarrier
Barriers as mentioned in the first subsection, can consist of either physical or non-physical measures, or a combination. The requirement for independence as mentioned in the second subsection, means that it should not be possible for multiple important barriers to be impaired or malfunction simultaneously, e.g. as a result of a single fault or a single incident. Barriers can also be measures designed to prevent or limit the spread of acute pollution. Source: Guidelines Regarding the Management Regulations, Norway, updated December 2012. Regulatory GuidanceBarrier
Technical, human or organizational safeguards that are put in place to prevent, mitigate or control health, safety or environmental risks. Incident Reporting and Investigation Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, November 30, 2012. Regulatory GuidanceBarrier
Element forming part of a pressure-containing envelope which is designed to prevent unintentional flow of produced/injected fluids, particularly to the external environment. Source: API RP 17A, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems—General Requirements and Recommendations, Fourth Edition, Reaffirmed 2011. Global StandardsBarrier
One or several barrier elements that are designed to prevent unintended flow of formation fluid. Source: API RP 17G, Recommended Practice for Completion/Workover Risers, Second Edition, July 2006 (Reaffirmed April 2011). Global StandardsBarriers
The term barrier is defined as meaning any fluid or any plug or seal that prevents hydrocarbons or any other fluid from flowing unintentionally from a formation, into another formation, or unintentionally flowing from a well. Source: Drilling and Production Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, March 31, 2011. Regulatory GuidanceBarriers
Barrier means any fluid, plug or seal that prevents petroleum or any other fluid from flowing unintentionally from a well or from a formation into another formation. Source: Drilling and Production Guidelines, The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, March 31, 2011. Regulatory GuidanceBarriers
A functional grouping of safeguards, such as primary containment, process equipment, engineered systems, operational procedures, management system elements, or worker capabilities designed to prevent LOPC and other types of asset integrity or process safety events, and mitigate any potential consequences of such events. A set of barriers is also often referred to as a risk control system. Source: OGP Report No. 456, Process Safety – Recommended Practice on Key Performance Indicators, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, November 2011. Global StandardsBarrier
Measure which reduces the probability of releasing a hazard’s potential for harm or which reduces its consequences. (Barriers are Controls or Defences.) The hierarchy of barriers is:- prevention,
- detection,
- control,
- mitigation,
- emergency response.
Barrier
A functional grouping of safeguards and controls selected to prevent the realization of a hazard. Each barrier typically includes a mix of: plant (equipment), process (documented and ‘custom and practice’) and people (personal skills and their application). The selected combination of these ensures the barrier is suitable, sufficient and available to deliver its expected risk reduction. Source: OGP Report No. 415, Asset integrity – the key to managing major incident risks, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers, December 2008. Global StandardsBarrier
Measure which reduces the probability of realizing a hazard’s potential for harm and which reduces its consequence.- NOTE Barriers may be physical (material, protective devices, shields, segregation, etc.) or non-physical (procedures, inspection, training, drills, etc.)