Oil Deciphered: Terms used by Industry professionals and What they Mean

The oil and gas industry, like any other industry, has its own jargon and a variety of technical terms. Often different terms are used for the same thing in different parts of the world, or even in regions of a country, according to the proximity that may exist between several oil fields. However, within their microcosms, their own terms make a lot of sense and take on the appearance of being part of another language. A "bed of salt" can mean "dehydrate" elsewhere, and so on. To clear up the confusion with so many terms available for one thing, below is a list of the most common terms used in the oil and gas industry.

Abandon

Serving primarily as a verb, this term describes procedures detailing the proper connection of a well in accordance with all relevant regulations. Furthermore, this term refers to the proper cleaning and sanitation of the area surrounding the well and the well itself to satisfy the requirements of any Government body that has jurisdiction over the area where the well is located, as well as to satisfy the requirements of the well operator. This term can also mean the cessation of all efforts to locate or take advantage of a well, as well as to connect it and manage to collect and complete any recoverable material and solid capital.

Absorption

This term refers to the absorption of the liquid components of natural gas, which is mainly used by aging gas processing plants and in numerous refinery-type gas plants. This process is accomplished by passing the gas through the correct looking oil. Oil removes liquid contaminants from natural gas, but it is not as efficient as the cryogenic process.

Amine

This term refers to the organic base that is used in the refining process to remove acid gases that can be generated within the processing streams.

Amine Unit

This term refers to a wheeled unit that uses amine to remove contaminants from natural gas. Gas containing contaminants must be purified before it can be transported through pipelines.

Artificial lift

Refers to a means of pumping or extracting oil from a well through a rod, pipe, or downhole centrifugal pump.