Numbers

3D Seismic, Three Dimensional Seismic

Exploration technology, three dimensional seismic (3-D) images show the height, width and depth of underground formations.

A

Abandoned Well

A well no longer in use, whether dry, inoperable or no longer productive, and the previous operator has intentionally relinquished its interest in the well.

Abstract number

Abstract number assigned to the survey where the proposed surface location lays. The Texas General Land Office assigned the number to the surveyed parcel at the time of patenting (Example: A-1234). The term _abstract_ refers to an original land survey describing an area transferred from the public domain by either the Republic of Texas or the State of Texas. These surveys are recorded in the "State Abstract of Land Titles," which is maintained by the Texas General Land Office. Each survey so recorded is assigned an abstract number, which is unique within the county in which the survey falls. Because Texas has never performed a uniform statewide land survey, these original surveys called "Patent Surveys " constitute the State's Official Land Survey System.

Acre Feet

Unit of volume; one acre of producing formation one foot thick. One acre foot equals 7,758 barrels, 325,829 gallons or 43,560 cubic feet.

Adjacent Estuarine Zones

This term embraces the area inland from the coastline of Texas and is comprised of the bays, inlets, and estuaries along the gulf coast.

Administrative Penalty

Statutory penalty imposed by the RRC for violation of a rule.

Administrative Procedure and Texas Register Act (APTRA)

The statute setting out procedures to be followed by state agencies for rulemaking and contested cases.

Allocation

Charging scrubber oil/skim hydrocarbons recovered by the plant/salt water disposal system operator and charged back to the producing properties connected to the plant/salt water disposal system.

Allowable

Amount of oil or gas which a well, leasehold or field may product per month under proration orders of the RRC.

API

The abbreviation for the American Petroleum Institute.

API Gravity

Specific gravity measured in degrees on the American Petroleum Institute scale. Ratio between equal volumes of liquid hydrocarbons (condensate) and water.

API Number

This is a unique, permanent, numeric identifier assigned for identification purposes to a wellbore. It consists of 10 digits, the fIrst 2 digits are the state code, the next 3 digits are the county code, and the last 5 digits are the unique number assigned to identify the wellbore.

Application for Future Re-Entry of Inactive Well Bore and 14(b)(2) Extension Permit (Form W-1X)

Statewide Rule 14 requires that any dry or inactive well be plugged within one year after drilling or operations cease. An Unbonded Operator may apply for an extension to this deadline by filing Form W-1X, $300 filing fee, and evidence of H-15 testing showing that the well is not a threat of pollution. Additionally, if the well has been inactive for 36 months or longer, then the W-1X filing must be accompanied by an Individual Well Bond or Individual Well Letter of Credit covering the estimated plugging cost of that specific well (calculated at $3.00 per foot of total well depth). Bonded operators are automatically considered for 14(b)(2) extensions without the filing of a W-1X or well bond.

Associated Reservoir

Oil and gas reservoir with a gas cap. Gas production from these reservoirs is generally restricted in order to preserve the gas cap energy thereby increasing ultimate recovery.

B

BBL

Abbreviation for barrel. In the energy industry, a barrel is 42 U.S. gallons measured at 60 ° Fahrenheit.

BCF

The abbreviation for billion cubic feet of gas. (see "cubic foot of gas")

BCF/D

The abbreviation for billion cubic feet of gas per day.

BHP

The abbreviation for bottom-hole pressure.

Basic Electric Log

Any wireline survey run for the purpose of obtaining lithology, porosity, or resistivity information.

Basic Sediment & Water (BS&W)

Impurities and water contained in the fluid produced by an oil well.

Bay Well

(SWR 14) Any well under the jurisdiction of the Commission for which the surface location is either:
(a) located in or on a lake, river, stream, canal, estuary, bayou, or other inland navigable waters of the state; or
(b) located on state lands seaward of the mean high tide line of the Gulf of Mexico in water of a depth at mean tide of not more than 100 feet that is sheltered from the direct action of the open seas of the Gulf of Mexico.

Blanket Performance Bond (Form P-5PB(2))

Commission approved form used by organizations filing a bond as their Financial Assurance under Financial Assurance Option 2 above.

Blind Nipple

Nipple (pipe with threads at both ends) that can be blocked off from formation pressure and give a false valve pressure measurement.

Block

The number or letter used in description of a group of surveys identified as a _block_ on the Texas General Land Office county patent survey maps (Example: 101 or A). A block is a defined set of original land surveys. A block has an identifying name and/or number, and surveys within it are usually consecutively numbered sections. Land grants from the State of Texas to railroad companies were often patented in blocks and sections. The term block is also used as a unit of a subdivision, i.e., subdivision/block/lot.

Blowout Prevention

Casinghead equipment that prevents the uncontrolled flow of oil, gas and mud from the well by closing around the drillpipe or sealing the hole.

Bonded Operator

An organization that files financial assurance with their organization report under Financial Assurance Option 1 or Option 2. (See Financial Assurance Options)

BOPD

The abbreviation for barrels of oil per day.

Bradenhead Completion

A head, screwed into the top of the casing, used to confine gas in the well until release through an outlet into a pipeline.

Bridge Plug

A downhole tool (composed primarily of slips, a plug mandrel, and a rubber sealing element) that is run and set in casing to isolate a lower casing interval while testing an upper section.

Brine Well

Well that produces brine for heavy mud production.

BTU

Abbreviation for British Thermal Unit(s). The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit under standard conditions of pressure and temperature.

C

Cable Tool Drill

Drilling that operates on a combination hammer suction principle.

Cased

Descriptive of wellbore in which steel pipe, called casing, is run and cemented.

Casing

Pipe cemented in the well to seal off formation fluids or keep the hole from caving in.

Casing Tubing Annulus

Space between the surface casing and the production casing.

Casinghead Gas

Gas found naturally in oil and produced with the oil.

Centralizers

A device that is secured around the casing in the hole and provides a uniform cement sheath around the pipe. Centralizers are run along the string of casing at various intervals.

Christmas Tree

The system of pipes, valves, gauges and related equipment that is located on the well at ground level and that controls the flow of gas and other petroleum products produced from the well.

Circulating Oil

see Frac Oil

Commenced Date

The date the well is spudded.

Commission

The Railroad Commission of Texas.

Common Reservoir

A pool or accumulation of oil or gas that is produced in more than one well.

Communication between reservoirs

see Packer Leakage Test

Completion Date

(A) The date the well is capable of producing by turning a valve or flipping a switch.
(B) for a gas well, the date the well is capable of producing (into the sales line if available).

Completion Date (Back of G-1/W-2)

The date the well bore has been drilled to total depth and:
  (a) plugged,
  (b) cased and cemented, or
  (c) workover operations are completed.

Completion Depth

The approximate depth of completion for each field listed on the permit. This depth must be less than or equal to the total depth; it cannot be deeper than the Total Depth.

Condensate

Any liquid hydrocarbon recovered by surface separators from natural gas.

Contiguous

Two or more tracts of land that are touching at any point, regardless of the size of contact.

County

The county of the surface well site. If a proposed bottomhole location is in another county, the bottom hole county must also be listed on the permit.

Crude Oil

Liquid petroleum as it comes out of the ground as distinguished from refined oils manufactured out of it.

Cubic Foot of Gas

As a unit of volume, 1,728 cubic inches. As applied to water, 7.48gallons. As applied to natural gas, the volume of gas which, when saturated with water vapor at 60ºF and at a pressure of 30 inches of mercury occupies one foot.

D

Daily MCF Gas

Gas measured in final 24 hours of test in units of a thousand cubic feet.

Deliverability

Volume of gas that the well is capable of producing into the sales line in a 24-hour period under normal operating conditions.

Development Well

A well drilled to a known producing formation in a previously discovered field.

Diagonal

Farthest distance between two points on a proration unit.

Directional

The intentional deviation of a wellbore from vertical. Although wellbores are normally planned to be drilled vertically, many occasions arise when it is necessary or advantageous to drill at an angle from the vertical.

Directional Survey

A survey run by a survey company to measure the deviation at a given depth and the direction of the deviation (to locate bottom of wellbore).

Discovery Date

Date assigned to discovery of a new field.

Discovery Well

The first oil or gas well drilled in a new field. The discovery well is the well that is drilled to reveal the actual presence of a petroleum-bearing reservoir, Subsequent wells are development wells.

Disposal Well

Well used for disposal of saltwater into an underground formation.

Disposition

The method of accounting for oil or gas production removed from the lease or adjusted production figures to reflect actual stock on hand.

Dissolved Gas

Commonly referred to as solution gas. (Refer to solution gas)

Distance From Proposed Location To Nearest Lease or Unit Line

Distance (in feet) from the proposed location to the nearest point on the lease line or pooled unit line. If there is an unleased interest in a tract of the pooled unit that is nearer than the pooled unit line, the nearest point on that unleased tract boundary is used.

District Office

The Commission designated office for the geographic area in which the property or act subject to regulation is located or arises.

Downstream

This term is used in describing operations performed after those at a point

Drill-down

In the Production Query application, the results data contains links that when clicked, become another filter in the search criteria.

Dry Gas

Natural gas that does not have a significant content of liquid hydrocarbons or water vapor.

Dry Hole

Any well that fails to discover oil or gas in commercial quantities.

E

ECAP (Electronic Compliance and Approval Process)

An internet based permitting system developed by the Railroad Commission in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Oil and Gas Industry.

Electric Logs

Recording that indicates the well's rock formation characteristics by different responses to electric current.

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)

The use of any process for the displacement of oil from the reservoir other than primary recovery.

Ethane

A colorless odorless gaseous hydrocarbon with the characteristics of the predominant molecule, CH3CH3.

Exploratory Well

Any well drilled for the purpose of securing geological or geophysical information to be used in the exploration or development of oil, gas, geothermal, or other mineral resources, except coal and uranium, and includes what is commonly referred to in the industry as "slim hole tests," "core hole tests," or "seismic holes".

Extraction Loss

The reduction in volume and energy content of natural gas resulting from the removal of natural gas liquid constituents.

F

Farmout

Assignment or partial assignment of an oil and gas lease from one lessee to another lessee.

Field

Area of oil and gas production with at least one common reservoir for the entire area.

Field Name

A name assigned by the Commission too a geographical area in which a number of oil or gas wells produce from one or more continuous reservoir. The term generally refers to the surface area but also incorporates surface and the underground productive formations. In a single field there may be several separate reservoirs at various depths.

Field Rules

Spacing and production rules for the common reservoir in an area.

Financial Assurance Option 1

An Individual Performance Bond, Letter of Credit or Cash Deposit filed in conjunction with an annual Organization Report (Form P-5). The amount of the Bond or Letter of Credit is calculated by multiplying the total depth of all wells operated by the company times $2.00 per foot. This option is not available to new organizations, nor to organizations who are engaged in any activities other than producing oil and gas wells.

Financial Assurance Option 2

A Blanket Performance Bond, Letter of Credit or Cash Deposit filed in conjunction with an annual Organization Report (Form P-5). The amount of the Bond or letter of Credit is determined by the total number of wells an organization has: 0 - 10 wells, $25,000; 11-99 wells, $50,000; 100 or more wells, $250,000. This option is available to all operators.

Financial Assurance Option 3

A fee of $1,000 filed in lieu of a bond or letter of credit in conjunction with an annual Organization Report (Form P-5). This option is only available to organizations who are able to show 48 months of an acceptable record of compliance with Commission rules, and is not available to new organizations except under certain limited circumstances (such as business reorganization and name changes). This option is only available if the Commission determines that bonds under Option 1 or 2 are not available at reasonable prices.

Financial Assurance Option 4

A fee of 12.5% of the bond amount that would otherwise be required under Financial Assurance Option 1 or Option 2 (whichever is less), filed in lieu of a bond or letter of credit in conjunction with an annual Organization Report (Form P-5). This option is available to all operators.

Flare

The burning of gas in the field as a means of disposal when there is no market for the gas and the operator does not elect (or cannot) use the gas for a non-wasteful purpose. Flaring of gas is regulated.

Formation

A separate layer of rock or group of intermingled beds.

Frac

High pressure or explosive method of fracturing rock formations

Frac Oil

Any oil or liquid hydrocarbon used in fracturing a formation to stimulate a well, as distinguished from the oil that is normally produced by the well.

Fuel and Shrinkage

The difference between the amount of gas produced at the wellhead and the gas that enters a pipeline that can be associated with providing energy to on lease equipment or removal of solution gas. The losses include but are not limited to those from the separation process and field use, as well as fuel, flare gas and plant liquids extraction.

Fullwell Stream (Wet gas)

Combined production of gas and condensate before the condensate has been separated from the gas.

G

G-10 Test

Well status report filed at operator's discretion or in response to a specific Commission request

Gas

see Natural Gas

Gas Formation Production

The volume of gas produced from a formation measured in MCF, regardless of disposition, including test gas and/or flared gas. (Does not include gas lift gas if gas lifting.)

Gas Lift

The process of raising or lifting fluid from a well by means of gas injected down the well through tubing or tubing casing annulus. Injected gas aerates the fluid to make it exert less pressure than the formation pressure, consequently forcing the fluid out of the wellbore.

Gas Well

Any well:
(a) which produces natural gas not associated or blended with crude petroleum oil at the time of production;
(b) which produces more than 100,000 cubic feet of natural gas to each barrel of crude petroleum oil from the same producing horizon; or
(c) which produces natural gas from a formation or producing horizon productive of gas only encountered in a wellbore through which crude petroleum oil also is produced through the inside of another string of casing or tubing. A well which produces hydrocarbon liquids, a part of which is formed by a condensation from a gas phase and a part of which is crude petroleum oil, shall be classified as a gas well unless there is produced one barrel or more of crude petroleum oil per 100,000 cubic feet of natural gas; and that the term "crude petroleum oil" shall not be construed to mean any liquid hydrocarbon mixture or portion thereof which is not in the liquid phase in the reservoir, removed from the reservoir in such liquid phase, and obtained at the surface as such.

Gatherer

Includes any pipeline, truck, motor vehicle, boat, barge, or person authorized to gather or accept oil, gas, or geothermal resources from lease production or lease storage.

Gathering Line

A pipeline that transports gas from the point of production to a transmission line or main.

Geological Marker

Specified geological signature indicating a named producing horizon.

Geothermal Energy and Associated Resources

(A) All products of geothermal processes, embracing indigenous steam, hot water and hot brines, and geopressured water;
(B) Steam and other gases, hot water and hot brines resulting from water, gas, or other fluids artificially introduced into geothermal formations;
(C) Heat or other associated energy found in geothermal formations;
(D) Any by product derived from them.

Geothermal Resource Well

A well drilled within the established limits of a designated geothermal field.
(a) A geopressured geothermal well must be completed within a geopressured aquifer.
(b) A geopressured aquifer is a water-bearing zone with a pressure gradient in excess of 0.5 pounds per square inch per foot and a temperature gradient in excess of 1.6o F per 100 feet of depth.

GOR

The abbreviation for gas-oil ratio. This is calculated using the formula, cubic feet of gas divided by barrel of oil produced.

H

H2S

Abbreviation Hydrogen Sulfide; see Hydrogen Sulfide Gas

Horizontal Drilling

Drilling which is not vertical.

Hydrocarbon

An organic chemical compound of hydrogen and carbon, called petroleum. The molecular structure of hydrocarbon compounds varies from the simplet, methane (CH4), a constituent of natural gas, to the very heavy and very complex. Octane, for example, a constituent of crude oil, is one of the heavier, more complex molecules.

Hydrogen Sulfide Gas

Sour smelling natural gas with a high percentage hydrogen sulfur content.

I

Identifiable Slug of Liquid Hydrocarbons

Volume of liquid hydrocarbons that is received at the disposal facility where the origin of such liquid hydrocarbons can be clearly identified.

Inclination Survey

A survey that measures the angle of the deviation of the well from the vertical.

Independent Producer

An energy company, usually in the exploration and production segment of the industry and generally, with no marketing, transportation or refining operations. A non-integrated producing company in the oil industry.

Individual Performance Bond (Form P-5PB(1))

Commission approved form used by organizations filing a bond as their Financial Assurance under Financial Assurance Option 1. See Financial Assurance Option 1

Individual Well Bond (Form P-5IWB)

Commission approved form used by Unbonded Operators filing a bond for an inactive well in connection with a Form W-1X (where required).

Individual Well Irrevocable Documentary Letter of Credit (Form P-5IWLC)

Commission approved form used by Unbonded Operators filing a letter of credit for an inactive well in connection with a Form W-1X (where required).

Injection Well

Well used to inject fluids (usually water) into a subsurface formation by pressure.

Intermediate Casing

The string of casing set in a well after the surface casing The casing is sometimes called protective casing.

Irrevocable Documentary Blanket Letter of Credit (Form P-5LC)

Commission approved form used by organizations filing a letter of credit as their Financial Assurance under Financial Assurance Option 1 or Option 2 above.

J

K

Kelly bushing

Drilling rig equipment that fits inside the rotary table and is also used as a reference point on logs to calculate depth.

 

L

Lease

(A) The tract of land included in the proration units of a well(s).
(B) A legal document executed between landowner or lessor that grants the right to exploit the premises for minerals or other products.

Lease and Fluid Fuel System Disposition

The volume of gas which is used, sold, or given to others for field operations. lease drilling fuel, compressor fuel, etc.

Lease Condensate

see Condensate

Lease Name

Name that describes specific total lease/pooled unit/unitized acreage established for RRC regulatory purposes such as obtaining drilling permits and filing completion reports. All contiguous lease/pooled unit/unitized acreage must be identified with the exact same lease name. Lease names may contain up to 32 characters. Preferred formatting is for last names to be listed first, for example: Smith, John rather than John Smith.

Liquid Hydrocarbons

Chemical combinations of varying hydrogen and carbon ratio such as are mixed in and compose crude oil.

Load Oil (Also called frac oil, work oil, or circulating oil)

see Frac Oil

Location Plat

Plat which shows the location of all leases involved in the commingling application. The plat should show the approximate location of LA.C.T. units, meters, tank batteries, and any other separation, metering, or storage facilities involved in the application.

Log

A systematic recording of data used to ascertain downhole information about a well.

Long String

Last string of casing set in the well, covering the productive zone.

Low Temperature Extraction (LTX) Unit

Condensation of gas into a liquid by refrigeration.

M

Mcf

One thousand cubic feet of natural gas measured at standard pressure and temperature conditions (see "cubic foot of gas"). The term is commonly used to express the volume of gas produced, transmitted or consumed.

Metering and/or Flow Diagram

A diagram which shows all meters, separators, and other production equipment. The purpose of the diagram is to show where production from each well is separated, metered, and/ or commingled.

MMbo

Million barrels of oil.

MMBtu

One million British thermal units, 252,000 Kilocalories or 293 Kilowatt Hours.

MMcf

One million cubic feet.

Mud

Drilling fluid used to lubricate the drill string, line, the walls of the well, flush cutting to the surface and create enough weight to prevent blowouts.

Multiple 49(b)

Rule governing gas well production from an oil reservoir gas cap.

Multiple Completion

The completion of a single well into more than one producing horizon. Such a well may produce simultaneously from the different horizons, or alternatively from each.

N

Natural Gas

A naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases in porous formations beneath the earth's surface, often in association with petroleum. The principal constituent is methane.

Natural Gasoline

Gasoline manufactured from casinghead gas or from any natural gas.

Nearest Well Distance

Distance to the nearest oil or gas well applied for, permitted, or completed on a lease in the same field and reservoir.

Net Oil

The amount of oil produced by a lease exclusive of its BS&W content.

NGL, Natural Gas Liquids

Hydrocarbon liquids extracted from natural gas.

O

Odorant

Any malodorous substance added to natural or LP gas in small concentrations for the purpose of making the presence of the gas detectable.

Offshore

Wells that are in the Gulf of Mexico, between barrier islands and the three-league line.

Offshore Well

Any well subject to Commission jurisdiction for which the surface location is on state lands in or on the Gulf of Mexico, that is not a bay well. (see bay well)

Oil Well

Any well which produces one barrel or more crude petroleum oil to each 100,000 cubic feet of natural gas.

On Hand, Beginning of Month

The closing stock on hand from the previous month's production report.

On Hand, End of Month

The balance arrived at when the "On hand, beginning of month" figure is added to the current month production and then the disposition volume(s) for the month is subtracted.

Open flow Test

A test made to determine the volume of gas that will flow from a well during a given time span with minimum restrictions.

Operator

A person, acting for himself or as an agent for others and designated to the Commission as the one who has the primary responsibility for complying with its rules and regulations in any and all acts subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission.

Operator of Record

The operator of the lease, according to Commission records, that is responsible for compliance with all commission rules and regulations.

Organization Report (Form P-5)

Annual filing required under Statewide Rule 1. A six-digit number is assigned to an organization name by the RRC with the initial filling of the form P5. The P-5 number is synonymous with a gatherer and operator number. An organization report contains information about the organization including the name, street address and mailing address of the organization, the plan of the business organization, and officers, partners or owner information.

Overproduction

Production in excess of the lease or well's monthly allowable.

P

P-5 Filing Fee

An annual fee between $100 and $1,000 remitted in connection with the filing of a new or annual renewal Organization Report. Note: this fee is separate and apart from any fees submitted as a form of financial assurance under Option 3 or Option 4. This fee is required of all operators and is based upon the operations conducted under that operator's name according to the schedule set out in Statewide Rule 78.

Packer Leakage Test

Pressure test conducted to demonstrate that there is no communication between the zones. Instructions for conducting this test are on the back of Form W-6

Packer/Tubing Completion

Multiple completion involving one or more strings of tubing. One or more packers are used to prevent communication between zones.

Perforation

The shooting of holes in casing and cement to allow formation fluids to enter the well bore.

Permeability

Ability of rock to transmit fluids through pore spaces.

Person

Any natural person, corporation, association, partnership, receiver, trustee, guardian, executor, administrator, and a fiduciary or representative of any kind.

Pit

Hole dug out of the surface for temporary storage of fluids during drilling operations.

Plug

(A) Any object or device that serves to block a hole or passageway (as a cement plug in a borehole).
(B) Seal off formations to stop open communication of formation fluids within a well.

Plug and Abandon (P&A)

To place a cement plug or plugs in a wellbore and/or capping the well with a metal plate during abandonment.

Plugback

To cement off lower section of casing; to block liquids from rising in casing to a higher section being tested.

Pollution

Unauthorized contamination of surface or subsurface water or land.

Pooled Unit

Unit created by combining separate mineral interests under the pooling clause of lease or agreement.

Porosity

Percentage of the rock volume that can be occupied by oil, gas or water.

Potential

Amount of oil a well is capable of producing within a specified 24-hour period.

PPM

Parts per million.

Processing Plant

A plant to remove liquifiable hydrocarbons from wet gas or casinghead gas.

Producer

The person or company, whether proprietor or lessee, actually operating the oil well or lease. See Operator.

Producing Property

A producing oil lease or gas well assigned an identification number by the Commission and which is used in reporting production.

Product

Includes refined crude oil, crude tops, topped crude, processed crude petroleum, residue from crude petroleum, cracking stock, uncracked fuel oil, fuel oil, treated crude oil, residuum, casinghead gasoline, natural gas gasoline, gas oil, naphtha, distillate, gasoline, kerosene, benzine, wash oil, waste oil, blended gasoline, lubricating oil, blends or mixtures of petroleum and/or any and all liquid products or by products derived from crude petroleum oil or gas, whether hereinabove enumerated or not.

Production Casing

Last string of casing or liner set in a well and inside which is usually suspended in the tubing string.

Propane

A gaseous hydrocarbon with the characteristics of the predominant molecule CH3CH2CH3.

Proration Unit

Acreage allocated to a well for the purpose of determining an allowable.

PSI (pounds per square inch)

An English system of measure of the amount of pressure on an area that is 1 inch square.

PSIA

Pounds of pressure per square inch absolute, using absolute zero as a base.

PSIG

Pounds of pressure per square inch guage, using atmospheric pressure as a base.

Purpose Of Filing

The reason the drilling permit application is being filed. (i.e. new drill, recompletion, reentry, reclass, field transfer or amended permit.)

Q

Quad

One quadrillion (1,000,000,000,000,000) British Thermal Units (BTU)

R

Rat Hole

Hole adjacent to well bore for storage of the kelly joint when not in use.

Reclamation Plant

Plant that treats and reclaims waste oil.

Regular Permit

As applies to a W-1, Application to Drill.Permit to drill, plug back or deepen that does not require an exception.

Reserve Pit

Pit used to collect spent drilling fluids, cutting and wash water.

Reservoir

A porous, permeable sedimentary rock containing commercial quantities of oil and gas.

Resident Agent

For RRC purposes, this is an entity, whether an individual or an organization, upon whom may be served any process, notice or demand required or permitted by law to be served.

Residue Gas

Gas remaining after processing for the extraction of liquids.

Rotary Drill

The now prevalent method of drilling oil wells , replacing cable tool drilling (q.v.) In essence, the principle of rotary drilling is the rotation of drill pipe, fastened to the bottom of which is a bit (or cutting tool), usually of the roller bit design.

RRC Identification Number

The 6-digit identification number assigned by the Railroad Commission to each gas well.

S

Sales Line

Transport line used by 1st purchaser.

Salt Water Disposal Well (SWD)

A well used for the purpose of injecting produced water back into the ground.

Scrubber Oil

(A) Oil accumulated in the operation of casinghead natural gasoline plants. Sale of such oil is regulated in Texas under Rule 56 of the Statewide Rules of the Texas Railroad Commission.
(B) Liquid hydrocarbons which are accumulated prior to compression of the gas in lines gathering casinghead gas to a gas processing plant.

Secondary Recovery

Hydrocarbons produced in one well bore by increasing reservoir pressure with water in another well bore.

Section

The number that further describes an abstracted surveyed parcel or a surveyed parcel further divided into numbered abstracted areas. A section typically refers to a square land survey measuring exactly one mile on each side. Some land transferred from the public domain by the state of Texas was surveyed and patented in units of square miles. The Texas General Land Office officially considers these units sections. Also, it was common that larger land grants, such as school lands and capitol lands, were subsequently surveyed into square mile units for the convenience of sale; these surveys are also called sections. In addition, the term "section" is commonly used to describe surveys in a group that have been assigned consecutive survey numbers, even though some of them do not have the proper shape or size to truly be sections.

Service Well

Any well used in conjunction with the production of hydrocarbons but not the actual producing well. (i.e., disposal, injection, or brine production)

Sidetrack

To drill around broken drill pipe or casing that has become permanently lodged in the hole .

SIWH

Stabilized shut-in well head pressure.

Skim Hydrocarbons

Oil and condensate accumulations that result from salt water disposal skimming operations.

Skim Oil/Condensate

Oil or condensate recovered from a salt water gathering system prior to injection or other disposal of the water. In Texas a monthly skim oil report (Form P-18) is required to be filed by salt water gathering systems with the RRC reporting the quantities and disposition of oil/condensate skimmed from water during the month.

Solution Gas

Gas which is dissolved in oil in the reservoir under pressure.

Sour Gas

See Hydrogen Sulfide Gas

Sour Gas

(SWR 79) Any natural gas containing more than 11/2 grains of hydrogen sulfide per 100 cubic feet or more than 30 grains of total sulfur per 100 cubic feet, or gas which in its natural state is found by the Commission to be unfit for use in generating light or fuel for domestic purposes.

Spot Market

Short term, non-regulated, arms length contract sales of natural gas, crude oil, refined products, or liquid petroleum gas.

Spud Date

Date that drilling begins.

State ID Number

In Texas, this is a number for identification purposes issued by the Department of Public Safety to persons who do not drive. This is an eight-digit number.

Storage Gas

A gas that is stored in an underground reservoir.(see underground hydrocarbon storage)

Storage Tank

Tank for the accumulation of oil pending transferal to a pipeline company or other purchaser.

Stratigraphic Cross Section

Series of electric logs that illustrate formation correlation with one formation as a datum.

Structural Cross Section

Series of electric logs that illustrate subsurface structure by placing the logs relative to sea level.

Substandard Acreage

Amount of acreage that is smaller than the standard proration unit for a field.

Supplemental Officer Listing (Form P-5S)

Statewide Rule 1 requires entities in control of an organization to be shown on the annual Organization Report filing. If the organization has more officers than the three that will fit on Form P-5, the organization will attach Form(s) P-5S showing the additional officers.

Surface Casing

Outer casing cemented in the top of the wellbore that protects fresh water formations from contamination.

Survey

Annual or semi-annual filing of well status report that is initiated by the Commission (computer generated on 81/2 x 11 size with green print) and mailed to operators of wells. Operators are required to test their wells and report well status to the Commission on the survey

Survey Name

The name of the original grantee or the name of the company, individual or eleemosynary institution that is common among a formed group of surveys as shown on the Texas General Land Office (GLO) county patent survey map or the GLO State Abstract of Land Titles. A survey is a certified measured description of a piece of land. The term sometimes refers to the land itself. In Texas, original surveys were performed as part of the patenting process whereby land was transferred from the public domain. These "patent surveys," recorded at the Texas General Land Office, constitute an official land grid for the State and are the basis for subsequent land surveys.

Survey/Section Lines

Perpendicular distance (in feet) from one of the two nearest non-parallel survey/section lines to the proposed location. A description of the survey/section line used to calculate the perpendicular distance.

Sweet Gas

All natural gas except sour gas and casinghead gas.

T

Tank Battery

Tanks for oil storage before delivery to a refinery.

Test Oil

Amount of oil produced as a result of completing a well. (Oil is produced against a future allowable.)

Test on an Inactive Well More than 25 Years Old (Form H-15)

The operator of any well inactive more than 12 months must show that the well is not a threat of pollution before any extension under Statewide Rule 14 can be granted. This is normally accomplished by conducting a successful fluid level or mechanical integrity test and reporting the results according to the directions on Form H-15. This testing is required with all W-1X filings and for any wellbores which are 25 years old or older.

Texas Offshore

This term embraces the area in the Gulf of Mexico seaward of the coast line of Texas comprised of:
(A) The three league area confirmed to the State of Texas by the Submerged Land Act (43 United States Code §§1301-1315); and
(B) The area seaward of such three league area owned by the United States.

Therm

A unit of heat equivalent to 100,000 British Thermal Units (Btu).

Tidal Disposal

Discharge of produced water or other waste materials into tide influenced waters.

Tolerance

The amount of scrubber oil/skim hydrocarbons that may be recovered before the plant/ salt water disposal system operator must allocate to the producing property.

Tolerance Acreage

Small amounts of acreage assigned to a proration unit after the unit is already established.

Total Acres

Number of contiguous acreage in lease. If pooled, this should be total acreage in pooled lease.

Total Depth

The maximum depth reached in a well or depth that will be drilled. This is the true vertical depth, not the measured depth. For recompletion permits where the well is being plugged back, the depth where the cast iron bridge plug is set should be indicated as total depth.

Transmission Line

Pipelines used to transmit natural gas or other fluids.

Transportation or to Transport

The movement of any crude petroleum oil or products of crude petroleum oil or the products of either from any receptacle in which any such crude petroleum or products of crude petroleum oil or the products of either has been stored to any other receptacle by any means or method whatsoever, including the movement by any pipeline, railway, truck, motor vehicle, barge, boat, or railway tank car. It is the purpose of this definition to include the movement or transportation of crude petroleum oil and products of crude petroleum oil and the products of either by any means whatsoever from any receptacle containing the same to any other receptacle anywhere within or from the State of Texas, regardless of whether or not possession or control or ownership change. (See gatherer in general terms section and transmission line in section pertaining to oil and gas well production reporting)

Transporter

The person or company actually moving crude oil or gas well liquid from the lease.

Transporter or transporting agency

Includes any common carrier by pipeline, railway, truck, motor vehicle, boat, or barge, and/or any person transporting oil or a product by pipeline, railway, truck, motor vehicle, boat, or barge.

Tubing

String of pipe set inside the well casing, through which the oil is produced.

Tubingless Completion

Two or more strings of tubing or production casing cemented in the hole. The cement between the strings of pipe prevents communication between zones.

U

Unbonded Operator

An organization who files financial assurance with their organization report under Financial Assurance Option 3 or Option 4. (See Financial Assurance Options)

Underground Hydrocarbon Storage

The use of sub-surface geologic formations for storing liquid, liquefied or gaseous hydrocarbons, such as natural gasoline, propane and natural gas.

Underproduction

Production that is less than the allowable assigned to a proration unit.

Unitization

Joint operations to maximize recovery among separate operators within a common reservoir.

Unitization Tract

Land subject to a unitization agreement.

V

Vertical Wellbore

A wellbore drilled as nearly vertical as possible by normal, prudent, practical drilling operations under a permit indicating a surface location only and without intentional deviation from the vertical in accordance with the provisions of Statewide Rule 11 (a) and (b).

W

Waterflood

Injecting water in one well causing oil not recovered by primary production to migrate another well.

Well Number

A numeric or alpha numeric designation for a well. The Commission uses a very specific 6 digit well number format; A/N_N_N_N_A_A. All well numbers are right justified to the fourth position so that well number 1 really reads as _ _ _ 1 _ _.
* All well numbers must contain at least one numeric character.
* Well numbers cannot contain any characters other than numbers and letters no punctuation marks such as a dash (-).
* The last 2 places can only contain letters; these are generally used to designate injection/disposal wells (1W, 1 W, 2SW), or multi-completions (1 U, 2 L, 3 C).
* The Commission will automatically right justify numeric only well numbers to the correct position.

Well Separation Extraction Loss

Gas equivalent volume of the condensate production calculated by laboratory or determined by using a value of 1.1 MCF per barrel.

Well Spacing Pattern

Railroad Commission approved and administered well spacing rules for a field which determine the proximity that well can be drilled to one another in order to conserve resources and protect correlative rights.

Well Type

Type of activity the well is anticipated to perform.
* Oil (either the field is only classified as an oil field or only the oil spacing and density rules will be met)
* Gas (either the field is only classified as a gas field or only the gas spacing and density rules will be met)
* Oil or Gas (both oil and gas spacing and density rules must be met)
* Injection (water/salt water/gas/steam injection, disposal)
* Storage (LPG, gas, underground)
* Service (testing tools, slim hole test, monitor, demonstration, observation, geothermal)
* Water supply
* Catholic protection
* Exploratory test (core, stratigraphic, seismic, sulfur, uranium)

Wellbore Profile

This term is used only for W-1's filed through the ECAP system to indicate if the wellbore is planned to be vertical, sidetrack, directional sidetrack, horizontal, or horizontal sidetrack.

Wet Gas

Natural gas containing liquid hydrocarbons in solution.

Wildcat Well

The popular name for an exploratory well.

Work Oil

see Frac Oil

X

Y

Z

Zone

Interval of subsurface formation.