Oil & Gas Glossary 1.0

Determination of the relative percentages of substances, e.g., the suspended solids in a drilling fluid that pass through or are retained on a sequence of screens of decreasing mesh size. Also called sieve analysis.

The determination of the percentage of particles that pass through several screens of graduated fineness

A measure of fineness of a woven material, screen, or sieve; e.g., a 200-mesh sieve has 200 openings per linear inch. A 200-mesh screen with a wire diameter of 0.0021 in. (0.0533 mm) has an opening of 0.074 mm, or will pass a particle of 74 microns. See micron.

Laboratory analysis of a core sample to determine porosity, permeability, lithology, fluid content, angle of dip, geological age, and probably productivity of the formation.

The recording of information about subsurface geologic formations, including records kept by the driller and records of mud and cutting analyses, core analysis, drill stem tests, and electric, acoustic, and radioactivity procedures. See acoustic log, core analysis, driller's log, drill stem test, electric well log, mud analysis, and radioactivity well logging.

N: a cylindrical sample taken from a formation for geological analysis. Usually a conventional core barrel is substituted for the bit and procures a sample as it penetrates the formation. v: to obtain a formation sample for analysis.

2. small quantities of well fluids obtained for analysis.

A pipe that is perforated and often arranged with a wire wrapping to act as a sieve to prevent or minimize the entry of sand particles into the wellbore. Also called a screen pipe.

The amount of the pore volume of a reservoir rock that is filled by water, oil, or gas and measured in routine core analysis.

An examination of reservoir fluid in a laboratory under various pressures, volumes, and temperatures to determine the characteristics and behavior of the fluid.

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.

The point marking the end of one stage of a process. In filtrate analysis, the endpoint is the point at which a particular result is achieved through titration.

A chemical analysis process where drops of a standard solution are added to another solution or substance to obtain a response: color change, precipitation, or conductivity change, for measurement and evaluation.

The recording of information derived from examination and analysis of formation cuttings made by the bit and of mud circulated out of the hole. A portion of the mud is diverted through a gas-detecting device. Cuttings brought up by the mud are examined under ultraviolet light to detect the presence of oil or gas. Mud logging is often carried out in a portable laboratory set up at the well.

The average pressure within the reservoir at any given time. Determination of this value is best made by bottomhole pressure measurements with adequate shut-in time. If a shut-in period long enough for the reservoir pressure to stabilize is impractical, then various techniques of analysis by pressure buildup or drawdown tests are available to determine static reservoir pressure.

The conventional method of formation testing. The basic drill stem test tool consists of a packer or packers, valve or ports that may be opened and closed from the surface, and two or more pressure-recording devices. The tool is lowered on the drill string to the zone to be tested. The packer or packers are set to isolate the zone from the drilling fluid column. The valves or ports are then opened to allow for formation flow while the recorders chart static pressures. A sampling chamber traps dean formation fluids at the end of the test. Analysis of the pressure charts is an important part of formation testing.