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GLOSSARY OF OILPATCH TERMS

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

 
Fault
A displacement of subsurface layers of earth or rock that sometimes seals an oil-bearing formation by placing it next to a non-porous formation.
 
 
Fertile Material
In nuclear technology, a term describing a substance that is not capable of sustaining a chain reaction, but which can be converted into a fissionable material in a nuclear reactor.
 
 
Fire Flooding
An enhanced oil recovery method in which air or oxygen is injected into the reservoir to support controlled combustion, thereby increasing the temperature and lowering the viscosity of heavy oils to facilitate recovery by pumping. Also referred to as wet combustion.
 
 
Fish
Any undesirable object accidentally lost in the well bore which must be removed before drilling continues.
 
 
Fission And Fusion
Fission is the splitting of atomic nuclei and fusion is the combination of two atomic nuclei. In both processes, the total mass of the resultant particles is less than the total mass of the original nuclei. The lost mass is released as energy.
 
 
Flat Life
That period in the producing life on an oil or gas reserve during which production is maintained at a constant rate, before decline commences.
 
 
Flue Gas Desulfurization
A method of removing the sulfur oxides from the gas emitted in the burning of coal by bringing the flue gas in contact with a chemical absorbent, which reacts with the S02 to produce a slurry containing dissolved or solidified sulfur.
 
 
Force Majeure
A standard clause which indemnifies either or both parties to a transaction whenever events reasonably beyond the control of either or both parties occur to prevent fulfillment of the terms of the contract. Standard force majeure clauses specify eventualities such as war, storms, "Acts of God," fires, etc., but are not strictly limited to the eventualities expressly listed. In energy trade, force majeure has been invoked when changes in government policy make the terms of a contract financially damaging to one of the parties.
 
 
Forest Biomass
Biomass derived from forest matter. This includes residues from forest harvesting and from the pulp and paper and wood products industries, also wood harvested specifically as an energy source, possibly from plantations of rapid-growth species dedicated for fuel production.
 
 
Formation Water
Salt water underlying gas and oil in the formation.
 
 
Fracturing
A method of breaking down a formation by pumping fluid at very high pressures.
 
 
Frontier Areas
Those areas which have potential for oil and natural gas but no history of production. In Canada, these include the Mackenzie Delta/Beaufort Sea area, the Arctic Islands and the Atlantic and Pacific offshore areas.
 
 
Fuel Efficiency
When a fuel is burned, the amont of useful output energy, expressed as a percentage of the theoretical energy content of the fuel. Fuel efficiency for a heating fuel is less than 100% to the extent that heated air is used in combustion and to the extent that exhaust venting is necessary. In other applications, fuel efficiencies are less than 100% partly because of waste heat generation.
 
 
Fuel Reprocessing
The processing of used nuclear reactor fuel to recover the unused fissionable material.
 
 
Fungible
Interchangeable. Products which can be commingled for purposes of pipeline shipment are called fungible products.
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