Oil & Gas Glossary 1.0

The maximum volume of natural gas that can be processed through an absorber at a specified absorption oil rate, temperature, and pressure without exceeding pressure drop or any other operating limitation.

Also called absorber. See absorber.

Estimates of productive capacities of crude oil developed by the American Petroleum Institute Committee on Reserves and Productive Capacity represent the maximum daily rates of production which can be attained under specified conditions on March 31 of any given year.

2. a device within some hooks that acts as a shock absorber in eliminating the bouncing action of pipe as it is picked up.

A vertical, cylindrical vessel that recovers heavier hydrocarbons from a mixture of predominantly lighter hydrocarbons. Also called absorption tower. See absorb.

A cylindrical, accurately machined, metallic section that forms the working barrel of some reciprocating pumps. Liners are an inexpensive means of replacing worn cylinder surface, and in some pumps they provide a method of conveniently changing the displacement and capacity of the pumps.

2. to recover liquid hydrocarbons from natural or refinery gas in a gas-absorption plant. The wet gas enters the absorber at the bottom and rises to the top, encountering a stream of absorption oil (a light oil) traveling downward over bubble-cap trays, valve trays, or sieve trays. The light oil removes, or absorbs, the heavier liquid hydrocarbons from the wet gas.

A small mud tank with a capacity of 10 to 15 barrels, usually with 1-barrel or H-barrel divisions, used to ascertain the amount of mud necessary to keep the wellbore full with the exact amount of mud that is displaced by drill pipe. When the bit comes out of the hole, a volume of mud equal to that which the drill pipe occupied while in the hole must be pumped into the hole to replace the pipe. When the bit goes back in the hole, the drill pipe displaces a certain amount of mud, and a trip tank can be used again to keep track of this volume.