Glossary

Wellhead Fundamentals

Accumulators - (also known as cumy units), a
de vice used in a hydraulic system to store
energy or, in some applications, dampen
pressure fluctuations.
Adapter - a device to provide connection
between two other parts.
Adapter Spools - a flanged spool used to
adapt from one size and/or pressure rating to
a different size and/or pressure rating.
Adjustable Choke - an adjustable valve used
to control the amount of flow and the
pressure of a well bore.
Annulus, Annular Space - the space
surrounding pipe suspended in the well bore.
The outer wall of the annulus may be an open
hole or it may be larger pipe.
API -American Petroleum Institute.
Headquarters of the API Division of
Production are at 300 Corrigan Tower Bldg.,
Dallas, Texas.
Back Pressure- Pressure resulting from
restriction of full flow.
Bean - also known as a positive choke or a
fixed choke are not adjustable and require the
flow path be isolated and bled off in order to
change out or maintain in any way.
Blocks, Crown and Travelling - the block and
tackle on a rig that raises and lowers the drill
string.
Brine - water saturated with or containing a
high concentration of common salt (sodium
chloride); hence, any strong saline solution
containing such other salts as calcium
chloride, zinc chloride, calcium nitrate,
etc.B143
Bypass - to avoid a section of equipment
while maintaining flow or without stopping
progress of the operation.
Casing Pipe - used in a well bore to seal the
well bore from formation as well as provide a
pressure support for the production string of
pipe.
Christmas Tree - also known as the
production tree, refers to the valves, flanges
and associated equipment that make up a
production tree.
Circulation - the movement of drilling fluid
from the suction pit through pump, drill pipe,
bit, annular space in the hole, and back again
to the suction pit. The time involved is usually
referred to as circulation time.
Coiled Tubing - a continuous string of pipe
that is used in conjunction with a coiled tubing
unit to per form well intervention operations.
Corrosion - the adverse chemical alteration
on a metal or the eating away of the metal by
air, moisture, or chemicals; usually an oxide is
formed. Deterioration of a metal due to a
reaction with its environment.

Blow Out Preventer B.O.P - a device that can Fittings - the small pipes and valves that are
be used to quickly seal the top of the well in used to make up a system of piping.
the event of a well control event.

Blowout - an uncontrolled escape of drilling

fluid, gas, oil, or water from the well caused by
the formation pressure being greater than the
hydrostatic head of the fluid in the hole.
 Glossary
Wellhead Fundamentals
Flange - a connection profile used in pipe
work and associated equipment to provide a
means of assembling and disassembling
components. Flange Up -the act of making the
final connection on the piping system. Also, in
oil field slang it refers to the completion of
any operation. Frequently refers to quitting a
job.
Flow Lines - the surface pipes through which
oil travels from the well to storage.
Formation Pressure - Pressure at the bottom
of a well that is shut in.
Gate Valve - a type of valve that incorporates
a sliding gate with a hole machined into it in
order to block fluid flow or allow the flow to
pass through the hole that is machined into
the gate.
Hydrostatic Head - the pressure exerted by a
column of fluid, usually expressed in pounds
per square inch. To determine the hydrostatic
head at a given depth in psi, multiply the
depth in feet by the density in pounds per
gallon by 0.052.
Joint - A length of pipe - usually from 20 to 30
ft. long.
Kelly Or Kelly Joint - A heavy square pipe or
other configuration that works through a like
hole in the rotary table and rotates the drill
stem.
Kicks - a flow of formation fluids into the
wellbore. They are caused when the pressure
in the well is less than the formation fluid.
Kicks can cause a blowout.
Kill A Well - to overcome pressure in a well by
use of mud or water so the well is unable to
flow on its own.
Kill Line - a line connected to the annulus
below the blowout preventers for the purpose
of pumping into the annulus while the
preventers are closed.
Lost Circulation - the result of drilling fluid
escaping into the formation by way of crevices
or porous media.
Lubricator - a series of spools or joints used
to cover the additional stroke needed in coiled
tubing or snubbing operations that require a
long set of tools or additional length as
needed in fishing operations.
Manual Choke - an adjustable choke that is
operated by hand using a hand wheel to open
and close or otherwise adjust the setting of
the choke.
Master Valve -the lowest valve in a
production or frac stack. Master valves are the
last line of defense against a blow out and
should only be used in emergency situations.
Mud - A water- or oil-base drilling fluid whose
properties have been altered by solids,
commercial and/or native, dissolved and/or
suspended. Used for circulating out cuttings
and many other functions while drilling a well.
Mud is the term most commonly given to
drilling fluids.
Open Hole - the uncased part of the well.
Pressure - Force per unit area. In the oilfield,
measured as Bottom Hole Circulating
Pressure, Bottom Hole Static Pressure,
Circulating Pressure, Final Squeeze Pressure,
or Surface Pressure.
 Glossary
Wellhead Fundamentals

Production Tree - a series of gate valves

spools and a production style choke that is
used during the production process of an oil
or gas well. Production trees are installed on
top of the well head after intervention work is
completed.

Ring Gasket - a type of gasket that is made of

steel used to seal between two flanged
connections.

Connections that require a ring style gasket

must be torqued both evenly and to a specific
lbs. /ft. Riser - refers to the iron used from the
ground to the frac head in tracking
operations.

Riser - A pipe through which liquid travels

upward.

Sling - a wire-rope or synthetic loop for use in

lifting heavy of equipment.

Slips - wedge-shaped toothed pieces of metal

that fit inside a bowl and are used to support
tubing or other pipe.

Snubbing - the act of forcing pipe down hole

under pressure.

Spool - a type of flow iron that incorporates a

flange style connection at either end of the
straight joint and very thick walls for safety
against high pressure and/or wash.

Wellhead - the topmost point, or surface

point, of a well. It is a structure built over
the bore hole of a well, consisting of a
series of specialized spools, hangers and
valves. Among other things, it provides a
means of well control.