Oil and Gas Terminology

Question 1

Shale

Answer 1

A fine-grained sedimentary rock formation that contains trapped oil and gas.

Question 2

Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

Answer 2

A method of extracting oil and gas from shale formations by injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals to create fractures in the rock.

Question 3

Unconventional Resources

Answer 3

Oil and gas resources that cannot be produced using conventional methods, such as shale gas, tight oil, and coalbed methane.

Question 4

Reservoir

Answer 4

A porous and permeable underground rock formation that contains and stores hydrocarbons.

Question 5

Wellbore

Answer 5

The hole drilled into the earth for the purpose of exploring for or producing oil and gas.

Question 6

Casing

Answer 6

Steel pipe that is inserted into the wellbore to provide structural integrity, prevent the collapse of the borehole, and isolate different formations.

Question 7

Perforating

Answer 7

The process of creating holes in the casing and cement to allow oil and gas to flow into the wellbore.

Question 8

Completion

Answer 8

The process of preparing a well for production after it has been drilled.

Question 9

Workover

Answer 9

Any operation performed on a well after it has been completed and put into production.

Question 10

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

Answer 10

Techniques used to increase the amount of oil that can be recovered from a reservoir, such as water flooding, gas injection, or chemical injection.

Question 11

Drilling Rig

Answer 11

The equipment and machinery used for drilling oil and gas wells.

Question 12

Drill Bit

Answer 12

The cutting tool at the end of the drill string that breaks up and cuts through the rock formations.

Question 13

Drilling Mud

Answer 13

A mixture of fluids and additives used to lubricate and cool the drill bit, control formation pressures, and remove cuttings from the wellbore.

Question 14

Formation Evaluation

Answer 14

The process of analyzing the characteristics of rock formations encountered during drilling to determine their potential for hydrocarbon production.

Question 15

Well Logging

Answer 15

The process of recording and analyzing information about the subsurface formations and fluids encountered during drilling.

Question 16

Directional Drilling

Answer 16

The practice of deviating the wellbore from a vertical orientation to reach specific targets or access reservoirs that are not directly below the surface location.

Question 17

Horizontal Drilling

Answer 17

A type of directional drilling where the wellbore is drilled horizontally or at a high angle to maximize exposure to the target formation.

Question 18

Offshore Drilling

Answer 18

The process of drilling for oil and gas in bodies of water, such as oceans, lakes, or gulfs, using specialized equipment and techniques.

Question 19

Production Tubing

Answer 19

The tubing or pipe that is installed inside the casing to allow for the flow of oil and gas from the reservoir to the surface.

Question 20

Artificial Lift

Answer 20

Various techniques and equipment used to increase or maintain the flow of fluids from a well when the natural reservoir pressure is insufficient.

Question 21

Separators

Answer 21

Equipment used to separate the different phases (oil, gas, water) of the fluids produced from a well.

Question 22

Storage Tanks

Answer 22

Containers used for temporarily storing oil, gas, or other fluids produced from a well.

Question 23

Gathering Systems

Answer 23

The network of pipelines and facilities used to collect and transport oil, gas, and produced water from multiple wells to processing facilities or transmission pipelines.

Question 24

Pipelines

Answer 24

The interconnected system of pipes used for transporting oil, gas, or other fluids over long distances.

Question 25

Natural Gas Processing

Answer 25

The process of removing impurities and separating the various components (methane, ethane, propane, etc.) from raw natural gas to produce pipeline-quality gas and other valuable products.

Question 26

Refineries

Answer 26

Industrial facilities where crude oil is processed and refined into various petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel.

Question 27

Flaring

Answer 27

The controlled burning of natural gas or other hydrocarbons during oil and gas production operations.

Question 28

Venting

Answer 28

The release of natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons into the atmosphere during oil and gas production operations.

Question 29

Environmental Regulations

Answer 29

Laws and regulations governing the environmental impact and management of oil and gas operations, including air emissions, water use, and waste disposal.

Question 30

Safety Standards

Answer 30

Guidelines and requirements established to ensure the safe and responsible conduct of oil and gas operations, protecting workers, the public, and the environment.

Question 31

Cementing

Answer 31

The process of pumping cement slurry into the space between the casing and the wellbore to secure the casing in place and seal off permeable formations.

Question 32

Well Testing

Answer 32

The process of evaluating the production potential of a well by measuring the flow rates, pressures, and other characteristics of the fluids produced.

Question 33

Artificial Lift Systems

Answer 33

Mechanical devices or systems used to increase or maintain the flow of fluids from a well when the natural reservoir pressure is insufficient, such as rod pumps, gas lift, or electrical submersible pumps.

Question 34

Gas Compression

Answer 34

The process of increasing the pressure of natural gas to facilitate its transportation through pipelines or for other processing operations.

Question 35

Pipeline Transmission

Answer 35

The transportation of oil, natural gas, or other fluids through a network of interconnected pipelines over long distances.

Question 36

Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE)

Answer 36

The policies, practices, and regulations related to protecting the health and safety of workers, the public, and the environment in oil and gas operations.

Question 37

Wellhead

Answer 37

The assembly of equipment at the surface of an oil or gas well, including valves, fittings, and control instruments used to monitor and regulate the flow of fluids from the well.

Question 38

Permian Basin

Answer 38

A prolific oil and gas-producing region located in west Texas and southeastern New Mexico, known for its significant shale and tight oil formations.

Question 39

Eagle Ford Shale

Answer 39

A major shale formation in south Texas that has been a significant source of oil and gas production through hydraulic fracturing.

Question 40

Barnett Shale

Answer 40

A natural gas-producing shale formation located in the Fort Worth Basin of north Texas, which was one of the first major shale plays to be developed through horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Question 41

Haynesville Shale

Answer 41

A natural gas-rich shale formation located in east Texas and northwest Louisiana, known for its high-pressure and high-temperature reservoir characteristics.

Question 42

Spindletop

Answer 42

The salt dome near Beaumont, Texas, where the first major oil gusher in the United States was discovered in 1901, marking the beginning of the modern oil industry in Texas.

Question 43

Austin Chalk

Answer 43

A geological formation in east-central Texas that has been a significant source of oil and gas production.

Question 44

Wolfcamp Shale

Answer 44

A highly prolific shale formation within the Permian Basin of west Texas and southeast New Mexico.

Question 45

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) Tax Incentives

Answer 45

Tax credits and exemptions offered by the state of Texas to encourage the use of enhanced oil recovery techniques.