“What If?” Analyses

“What If?” Analyses

Definition(s)


 “What If?” Analyses

These consist of a structured series of considered questions dealing with aspects of the design, construction and operation of an installation and determine the general consequences of any deviation from the norm. Source: Approved Code of Practice for Managing Hazards to Prevent Major Industrial Accidents, Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, Department of Labour, New Zealand, July 1994. Regulatory Guidance
w.t

w.t

Definition(s)


w.t

Abbreviation for pipe wall thickness. Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global Standards
Wafer Check Valve

Wafer Check Valve

Definition(s)


Wafer Check Valve

Variety of check valve that has a two-piece disk, hinged down the diameter of the pipe. Flow pushes the valve into the open position. When there is no flow, a spring pushes the disk shut to prevent back flow. Source: IADC UBO / MPD Glossary, December 2011. Global Standards
Wall Opening

Wall Opening

Definition(s)


Wall Opening

“Wall opening” means an opening at least 750 mm high and 300 mm wide in a wall, partition, or bulkhead. Source:  Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Occupational Health & Safety Requirements, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada, December 2000. Regulations Source: Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/87-612, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. Regulations
Wall, Diversion

Wall, Diversion

Definition(s)


Wall, Diversion

A wall made of concrete, earthwork or other noncombustible material, built for the purpose of protecting employees by diverting the flow of hazardous substances. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations  
Wall, Retaining (Dike)

Wall, Retaining (Dike)

Definition(s)


Wall, Retaining (Dike)

A wall made of concrete, earthwork, or other noncombustible material, built for the purpose of protecting employees by confining hazardous substances. Source: Petroleum Safety Orders--Drilling and Production, Definitions, California Code of Regulations, 8 CCR § 6505, December 2012. Regulations  
Wall-Heating

Wall-Heating

Definition(s)


Wall-Heating

In non-reactive systems subjected to an external fire, boiling occurs at or near the walls of the vessel, commonly referred to as wall-heating. Source: API STD 521, Pressure-relieving and Depressuring Systems, Fifth Edition, January 2007 (Addendum May 2008). Global Standards  
WAN

WAN

Definition(s)


WAN

Wide Area Network. Source: ANSI/ISA–99.00.01–2007, Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems, Part 1: Terminology, Concepts, and Models, 29 October 2007. National Standard
Warm-Up Time

Warm-Up Time

Definition(s)


Warm-Up Time (not applicable to spot-reading apparatus) (times)

Time interval, with the apparatus in a stated atmosphere, between the time when the apparatus is switched on and the time when the indication reaches and remains within the stated tolerances (see Figures 1 and 2). Source: IEC 60079-29-1, Explosive atmospheres – Part 29-1: Gas detectors – Performance requirements of detectors for flammable gases. Global Standards
Warning

Warning

Definition(s)


Warning

Condition requiring no immediate attention or action. Warnings are presented for precautionary reasons to bring awareness of changed conditions which are not immediately hazardous, but may become so if no action is taken. Source: IMO resolution A.1021(26), Code on Alarms and Indicators, 2009, 18 January 2010, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory Guidance  

Warning

Condition requiring immediate attention, but no immediate action by the bridge team. Warnings are presented for precautionary reasons to make the bridge team aware of changed conditions which are not immediately hazardous, but may become so if no action is taken. Source: IMO Resolution MSC.302(87), Performance standards for bridge alert management, 17 May 2010, International Maritime Organization. Regulatory Guidance
Warships <Definition of warships>

Warships

Definition(s)


Warships <Definition of warships>

For the purpose of this Convention, 'warship' means a ship belonging to the armed forces of a State bearing the external marks distinguishing such ships of its nationality, under the command of an officer duly commissioned by the government of the State and whose name appears in the appropriate service list or its equivalent, and manned by a crew which is under regular armed forces discipline. Source: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982. Legislation
Washout Pit

Washout Pit

Definition(s)


Washout Pit

Pit located at a truck yard, tank yard, or disposal facility for storage or disposal of oil and gas waste residue washed out of trucks, mobile tanks, or skid-mounted tanks. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. Regulations
Waste

Waste

Definition(s)


Waste of oil, gas, or sulphur

Waste of oil, gas, or sulphur means:
  1. The physical waste of oil, gas, or sulphur;
  2. The inefficient, excessive, or improper use, or the unnecessary dissipation of reservoir energy;
  3. The locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, operating, or producing of any oil, gas, or sulphur well(s) in a manner that causes or tends to cause a reduction in the quantity of oil, gas, or sulphur ultimately recoverable under prudent and proper operations or that causes or tends to cause unnecessary or excessive surface loss or destruction of oil or gas; or
  4. The inefficient storage of oil.
Source: Oil and Gas and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf, 30 CFR 250 (2013). Regulations  

Waste

"Waste" means and includes:
  1. Physical waste, as that term is generally understood in the oil and gas industry.
  2. The inefficient, excessive, or improper use of, or the unnecessary dissipation of reservoir energy.
  3. The locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, operating, or producing of any oil or gas well or wells in a manner which causes, or tends to cause, reduction in the quantity of oil or gas ultimately recoverable from a pool under prudent and proper operations, or which causes or tends to cause unnecessary or excessive surface loss or destruction of oil or gas.
  4. The inefficient storing of oil.
  5. The production of oil or gas in excess of transportation or marketing facilities or in excess of reasonable market demand.
Source: Control of Oil and Gas Resources, North Dakota Century Code, Title 38, Chapter 8, February 2013. Legislation  

Waste

“Waste” includes:
  1. the inefficient, excessive or improper use or dissipation of reservoir energy,
  2. the locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, operating or producing of any well or wells in a manner that results or could result in reducing the quantity of oil or gas ultimately recoverable from any pool,
  3. the inefficient storing of oil or gas, whether on the surface or underground,
  4. the producing of oil or gas in excess of transportation or marketing facilities or of reasonable market demand, and
  5. the locating, drilling, equipping, operating or producing of a well or wells in a manner that causes or could cause unnecessary or excessive surface loss or destruction of oil or gas (déperdition).
Source: Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, C.R.C., c. 1517, February 2013. Regulations  

Waste

“Waste”, in addition to its ordinary meaning, means waste as understood in the petroleum industry and in particular, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes
  1. the inefficient or excessive use or dissipation of reservoir energy;
  2. the locating, spacing or drilling of a well within a field or pool or within part of a field or pool or the operating of any well that, having regard to sound engineering and economic principles, results or tends to result in a reduction in the quantity of petroleum ultimately recoverable from a pool;
  3. the drilling, equipping, completing, operating or producing of any well in a manner that causes or is likely to cause the unnecessary or excessive loss or destruction of petroleum after removal from the reservoir;
  4. the inefficient storage of petroleum above ground or underground;
  5. the production of petroleum in excess of available storage, transportation or marketing facilities;
  6. the escape or flaring of gas that could be economically recovered and processed or economically injected into an underground reservoir; or
  7. the failure to use suitable artificial, secondary or supplementary recovery methods in a pool when it appears that such methods would result in increasing the quantity of petroleum ultimately recoverable under sound engineering and economic principles.
Source: Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Act, S.C. 1988, c. 28, Canada, current to May 26, 2013. Legislation 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 Guidance Source: Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. O-7, Canada, current to April 29, 2013. Legislation  

Waste

Waste:
  1. Any substance which constitutes a scrap material or an effluent or any other unwanted surplus substance arising from the application of any process; and
  2. Any substance or article which requires to be disposed of as being broken, worn out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled.
Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors, Appendix 2 to Health, Safety and Environment Case Guidelines for Offshore Drilling Contractors, Issue 3.3.2, February 2010. IADC Guidelines  

Waste

The words POOL, PERSON, OWNER, PRODUCER, OIL, GAS, WASTE, CORRELATIVE RIGHTS and COMMON SOURCE OF SUPPLY are defined by the Act, and said definitions are hereby adopted in these Rules and Regulations. From C.R.S. 34-60-103 (2012): "Waste", as applied to gas, includes the escape, blowing, or releasing, directly or indirectly into the open air, of gas from wells productive of gas only, or gas in an excessive or unreasonable amount from wells producing oil, or both oil and gas; and the production of gas in quantities or in such manner as unreasonably reduces reservoir pressure or unreasonably diminishes the quantity of oil or gas that ultimately may be produced; excepting gas that is reasonably necessary in the drilling, completing, testing, and in furnishing power for the production of wells. "Waste", as applied to oil, includes underground waste; inefficient, excessive, or improper use or dissipation of reservoir energy, including gas energy and water drive; surface waste; open-pit storage; and waste incident to the production of oil in excess of the producer's aboveground storage facilities and lease and contractual requirements, but excluding storage, other than open-pit storage, reasonably necessary for building up or maintaining crude stocks and products thereof for consumption, use, and sale. "Waste", in addition to the meanings as set forth in subsections (11) and (12) of this section, means:
  1. Physical waste, as that term is generally understood in the oil and gas industry;
  2. The locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, operating, or producing of any oil or gas well or wells in a manner which causes or tends to cause reduction in quantity of oil or gas ultimately recoverable from a pool under prudent and proper operations or which causes or tends to cause unnecessary or excessive surface loss or destruction of oil or gas;
  3. 
Abuse of the correlative rights of any owner in a pool due to nonuniform, disproportionate, unratable, or excessive withdrawals of oil or gas therefrom, causing reasonably avoidable drainage between tracts of land or resulting in one or more producers or owners in such pool producing more than his equitable share of the oil or gas from such pool.
Source: Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Practice and Procedure, Code of Colorado Regulations, 2 CCR 404-1, February 2013. Regulations    

Waste

“Waste” includes the following:
  1. The inefficient, excessive, or improper use or dissipation of reservoir energy, and the locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, operating or producing or any oil or gas well in a manner which results or tends to result in reducing the quantity of oil or gas ultimately to be recovered from any pool;
  2. the inefficient storing of petroleum; and the locating, spacing, drilling, equipping, operating or producing of any oil or gas well in a manner causing or tending to cause unnecessary or excessive surface loss or destruction of petroleum or natural gas;
  3. producing petroleum or natural gas in such a manner as to cause unnecessary channelling of water or gas or both, or coming of water;
  4. the submerging with water of any stratum or part thereof capable of producing petroleum or natural gas;
  5. the creation of unnecessary fire hazards;
  6. the escape into the open air, from a well producing both petroleum and natural gas, of gas in excess of the amount which is necessary for efficient production from the well; and
  7. permitting gas produced from a gas well to escape into open air.
Source: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Rules, 1959 (As amended from time to time), India, as amended as of May 2013. Regulations
Waste Management and Operation Plan

Waste Management and Operation Plan

Definition(s)


Waste Management and Operation Plan

Waste Management and Operations Plan―a plan as identified and required in §515. Source: Natural Resources, Office of Conservation – General Operations, Louisiana Administrative Code, Title 43, Part XIX, March 2013. Regulations  
Waste Material

Waste Material

Definition(s)


Waste Material

“Waste material” means any garbage, refuse, sewage or waste well fluids or any other useless material that is generated during drilling, well or production operations, including used or surplus drilling fluid and drill cuttings and produced water (déchets). Source: Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-315, February 2013. Regulations 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 Guidance Source: Environmental Protection Plan Guidelines, The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, and National Energy Board, Canada, March 31, 2011. Regulatory Guidance Source:  Offshore Waste Treatment Guidelines, The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, and National Energy Board, Canada, December 15, 2010. Regulatory Guidance Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Drilling and Production Regulations, SOR/2009-317, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. Regulations  
Waste Oil

Waste Oil

Definition(s)


Waste Oil

"Waste oil" shall include, but not be limited to, crude oil or other hydrocarbons used or produced in the process of drilling for, developing, producing, or processing oil or gas from wells, oil retained on cuttings as a result of the use of oil-based drilling muds, or any residue from any oil storage facility on a producing lease or on a commercial disposal operation or pit. The term "waste oil" shall not include any refined hydrocarbons to which lead has been added. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. Regulations  

Waste Oil

Waste oil as mentioned in the third subsection, means used lubricants and similar oils (used in engines, gear boxes, hydraulic systems, transformers, switches etc.) that can no longer be used as originally intended. Source: Guidelines Regarding the Activities Regulations, Norway, updated December 2012. Regulatory Guidance
Waste Oil Residue

Waste Oil Residue

Definition(s)


Waste Oil Residue

"Waste oil residue" means that portion of waste oil remaining after treatment and after the saleable liquids and water have been extracted. Waste oil residue is a type of waste oil. Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. Regulations
Waster

Waster

Definition(s)


Waster

"Waste" means:
  1. As applied to the production of oil, in addition to its ordinary meaning, "shall include economic waste, underground waste, including water encroachment in the oil or gas bearing strata; the use of reservoir energy for oil producing purposes by means or methods that unreasonably interfere with obtaining from the common source of supply the largest ultimate recovery of oil; surface waste and waste incident to the production of oil in excess of transportation or marketing facilities or reasonable market demands." [52 O.S.A., 86.2]
  2. As applied to gas, in addition to its ordinary meaning, shall include economic waste; "the inefficient or wasteful utilization of gas in the operation of oil wells drilled to and producing from a common source of supply; the inefficient or wasteful utilization of gas in the operation of gas wells drilled to and producing from a common source of supply; the production of gas in such quantities or in such manner as unreasonably to reduce reservoir pressure or unreasonably to diminish the quantity of oil or gas that might be recovered from a common source of supply; the escape, directly or indirectly, of gas from oil wells producing from a common source of supply into the open air in excess of the amount necessary in the efficient drilling, completion or operation thereof; waste incident to the production of natural gas in excess of transportation and marketing facilities or reasonable market demand; the escape, blowing, or releasing, directly or indirectly, into the open air, of gas from well productive of gas only, drilled into any common source of supply, save only such as is necessary in the efficient drilling and completion thereof; and the unnecessary depletion or inefficient utilization of gas energy contained in a common source of supply." [52 O.S.A. §86.3]
  3. The use of gas for the manufacture of carbon black or similar products predominately carbon, except as specifically authorized by the Commission, shall constitute waste.
  4. The flaring of tail gas at gasoline, pressure maintenance, or recycling plants where a market is available.
Source: Corporation Commission, Oil and Gas Conservation, Oklahoma Administrative Code 165:10, February 2013. Regulations
Wastewater Treatment Unit

Wastewater Treatment Unit

Definition(s)


Wastewater Treatment Unit

A device (such as a hydrostatic test water treatment unit) that:
  1. is a tank or tank system comprising part of a wastewater treatment facility that is subject to regulation under either §§402 or 307(b) of the Clean Water Act, 33 USC §§1342 or 1317(b); and
  2. receives and treats or stores an influent wastewater that is a hazardous waste, that generates and accumulates a wastewater treatment sludge that is a hazardous waste, or treats or stores a wastewater treatment sludge that is a hazardous waste.
Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. Regulations
WAT

WAT

Definition(s)


WAT

Wax appearance temperature. Source: API RP 17A, Design and Operation of Subsea Production Systems—General Requirements and Recommendations, Fourth Edition, Reaffirmed 2011. Global Standards  
Watch circle

Watch circle

Definition(s)


Watch circle

Area of predetermined size in which the drilling rig maintains its intended position (station) in order to not exceed equipment or reaction time limitations. NOTE If the rig moves to the edge of the watch circle, then attention is heightened. Source: API RP 96, Deepwater Well Design and Construction, First Edition, March 2013. Global Standards  

Watch circle

The rig offset perimeter around the well location for which special procedures are to be initiated to prepare to disconnect the drilling riser or actually implement the disconnect to prevent damage due to excessive offset. Source: API SPEC 16D, Specification for Control Systems for Drilling Well Control Equipment and Control Systems for Diverter Equipment, Upstream Segment, Second Edition, July 2004. Global Standards  
Water

Water

Definition(s)


Water

“Water” means all water including water situated wholly or partly within or bordering upon the state, whether surface or subsurface, public or private, except private waters that do not combine with other surface or subsurface water. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. Regulations
Water (Bulk Shipment)

Water (Bulk Shipment)

Definition(s)


Water (Bulk Shipment)

A device (such as a hydrostatic test water treatment unit) that:
  1. is a tank or tank system comprising part of a wastewater treatment facility that is subject to regulation under either §§402 or 307(b) of the Clean Water Act, 33 USC §§1342 or 1317(b); and
  2. receives and treats or stores an influent wastewater that is a hazardous waste, that generates and accumulates a wastewater treatment sludge that is a hazardous waste, or treats or stores a wastewater treatment sludge that is a hazardous waste.
Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. Regulations
Water Availability

Water Availability

Definition(s)


Water Availability

The hydrologic capacity of a water source (surface water body, groundwater, municipal water) to sustain additional water demands after considering other current water uses and water conditions. (GEMI, 2012) Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global Standards
Water Balance

Water Balance

Definition(s)


Water Balance

The relationship between input and output of water across a defined system boundary, e.g. a watershed or the project site boundary. If input > output, then storage within the system increases; if input < output, then storage decreases. (DRET, 2008). Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global Standards
Water Condensate Pit

Water Condensate Pit

Definition(s)


Water Condensate Pit

Pit used in conjunction with a gas pipeline drip or gas compressor station for storage or disposal of fresh water condensed from natural gas. Source: Oil and Gas Division, Texas Administrative Code, Title 16, Chapter 3, February 2013. Regulations
Water Consumption

Water Consumption

Definition(s)


Water Consumption

The difference between water withdrawal and water discharge to/from the same source (or watershed). Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global Standards
Water Containment

Water Containment

Definition(s)


Water Containment

“Water contaminant” means a substance that could alter if released or spilled water’s physical, chemical, biological or radiological qualities.  Water contaminant does not mean source, special nuclear or by-product material as defined by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Source: Oil and Gas, New Mexico Administrative Code Title 19, Chapter 15, January 2013. Regulations
Water Deluge System

Water Deluge System

Definition(s)


Water Deluge System

“Water deluge system” means a system capable of deluging a space with water from fixed heads; système déluge. Source: Canada Oil and Gas Installations Regulations, SOR/96-111, Canada, current to May 1, 2014. Regulations Source: Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Installations Regulations, SOR/95-191, Canada, current to May 31, 2012. Regulations
Water Demand

Water Demand

Definition(s)


Water Demand

The total water requirements of a project. Source: Identifying and assessing water sources: Guidance document for the onshore oil and gas industry, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA), 2014. Global Standards