OTTAWA, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Canadian scientists have completed a genetic sequencing of the A/H1N1 flu viruses that have appeared in Mexico and Canada and confirmed that they are of the same strain, public health officials said Wednesday.
The sequencing, which took place at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg and was completed in less than a week, has eliminated a genetic mutation to explain why Mexican cases of the virus have been more severe than in other countries.
"We are continuing our analysis, but essentially what it appears to suggest is that there is nothing at the genetic level that differentiates this virus that we've got from Mexico and those from Nova Scotia and Ontario that explains the apparent differences in disease severity between Mexico and Canada and the United States," Frank Plummer of the National Microbiology Laboratory told a news conference on Wednesday.
Scientists cannot yet say why the cases in Mexico have been much more severe than elsewhere, but one theory is that the patients had underlying medical conditions that increased their susceptibility to the virus.
This is the world's first sequencing of the new virus, marking a "significant milestone" in studying the virus, the scientists said.
The findings will help scientists eventually understand how the virus originated, how it spreads and how it may change over time, laying foundation for the development of a vaccine, scientists said.
The lab has submitted the sequencing to GenBank, a public database where genetic sequencing information can be studied and compared by scientists around the world, Plummer said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Tuesday a total of 1,490 laboratory tested H1N1 flu cases from 21 countries, including 30 deaths.
In Canada, the number of confirmed cases rose to 165 on Tuesday. All cases appear to be mild, with the exception of a girl who was hospitalized in Edmonton, Alberta, due to severe symptoms.
Swine influenza (swine flu) is an acute viral infection of the respiratory tract in pigs, caused by type A influenza virus. The mortality rate is low in pigs and recovery usually occurs within 7–10 days. Swine-origin influenza viruses also occur in wild birds, poultry, horses and humans, but interspecies transmission is considered a rare event. So far three influenza type A virus subtypes have been found in pigs: H1N1, H1N2 and H3N2.
Can swine influenza infect humans?
Yes. Human infections with swine influenza have been detected occasionally since the late 1950s usually in persons with direct exposure to pigs (e.g. people working in pig farms, etc.). In Europe, since 1958 a total of 17 cases have been reported. In the US in 1976, an outbreak of swine influenza virus infections in humans was detected among recruits in a military camp in Fort Dix, New Jersey. A link to pigs was presumed but never established. Instead there was extensive human-to-human transmission, with over 200 infections resulting in 12 hospitalisations and one death.
What are the symptoms of swine influenza in humans?
Symptoms of swine influenza in humans are usually similar to regular human seasonal influenza symptoms, involving fever of sudden onset and respiratory symptoms; diarrhoea might also occur. However, severe complications could occur even in normally healthy persons who become infected with the virus.
How do humans become infected?
Most commonly, swine influenza is transmitted through direct contact or close proximity with pigs. Secondary cases following human-to-human transmission have been reported in the past but they have been very rare.
Can swine flu be transmitted to humans by eating pork and pork products?
No. The swine influenza virus is not transmitted by eating properly handled and cooked pork and pork products. The swine influenza virus is killed by cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160°F/70°C. To date, there is no epidemiological evidence to suggest that the virus could be transmitted through eating contaminated pork or pork .
Is there a vaccine against swine influenza?
Yes, there is a vaccine available for pigs against swine influenza, but there is no vaccine to protect humans from swine influenza (but see Q7, below).
Is the seasonal influenza vaccine effective against swine influenza?
There are certain similarities between the H1N1 human influenza viruses (covered by the seasonal vaccine) and the new H1N1 swine influenza viruses so one can not rule out some cross-protection. However, investigations need to be undertaken to determine whether this is the case. Those investigations are under way, but will take quite some time.
Can swine influenza in humans be treated?
Most swine influenza viruses have been susceptible to antiviral medications such as neuraminidase inhibitors (oseltamivir and zanamivir) and older antiviral drugs (amantadanes). The virus that is now being detected is susceptible to neuraminidase inhibitors but resistant to amantadanes.
Why does the current situation present a new problem?
The novel influenza virus (human swine influenza A(H1N1)) that has now been found contains genes from pig, bird and human influenza viruses, in a combination that has never been observed before anywhere in the world. In addition there is every indication that this virus has been transmitting from human to human and the resulting illnesses have been severe in a substantial number of cases in Mexico.
Source: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Engineering is the discipline and profession of applying technical, scientific and mathematical knowledge in order to use natural laws and physical resources to help design and implement materials, structures, machines, devices, systems, and processes that safely realize a desired objective. The American Engineers' Council for Professional Development (ECPD, the predecessor of ABET) has defined engineering as follows:
“[T]he creative application of scientific principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under specific operating conditions; all as respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property.”
One who practices engineering is called an engineer, and those licensed to do so may have more formal designations such as European Engineer, Professional Engineer, Chartered Engineer, or Incorporated Engineer. The broad discipline of engineering encompasses a range of more specialized subdisciplines, each with a more specific emphasis on certain fields of application and particular areas of technology.
Glossary of Engineering Terms
0-9
#
Symbol used for pounds (lbs) especially with reference to flange rating e.g. 150# is understood to mean 150 lbs.
17.4ph
A martensitic steel that hardens structurally during treatment which results in the achievement of considerable hardness.
3.1B Certificates
Material Certificates as described in BS EN 10204 Metallic products. Types of inspection documents.
316L
A low carbon grade of 316 stainless steel.
EU Directive 94/9/EC
EU Directive 94/9/EC - known as ATEX - covers equipment and protective systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
IEC 61508
International best practice standard concerning specification; design; installation; testing and maintenance of safety systems.
IEC 61511
International standard detailing requirements for end users and integrators of safety instrumented systems.
ISO 4406
ISO 4406 is a hydraulic cleanliness rating system based on the number of particles larger than 5 and 15 µm in a 1-ml fluid sample.
ISO 9001
A quality assurance standard issued by the International Organization for Standards.
Standard is titled; Quality systems - Model for quality assurance in design/development, production, installation and servicing.
S660 - Settlement Rule
UK tax rule that aims to stop you passing income to someone else in the family or giving income or assets to someone else on the basis that you will have it back later in an effort to reduce your overall income tax bill.
A
AARH
Arithmetic Average Roughness Height. Method of determining surface roughness.
Absolute Pressure
The measurement of pressure relative to the pressure in a vacuum. It is equal to the sum of the pressure shown on a pressure gauge and atmospheric pressure.
Accuracy
The closeness of the agreement between the result of the measurement and the conventional true value of the quantity.
AF - Across the Flats
Measurement between 2 parallel faces on a nut. Indicates the size of spanner or socket required to tighten or loosen the nut.
AGA - American Gas Association
Promoters of gas use in the US and publishers of widely used calculations for gas density (AGA 8) and gas flow (AGA 3).
ALARA
As Low As Reasonably Achievable. Most often used in reference to chemical or radiation exposure levels.
ALARP
As Low As Reasonably Practicable. Applied to the reduction of risk by taking measures to reduce risk until the cost of further measures is grossly disproportionate to the benefits they would deliver.
Alliance Contract
A contract that generally relates to a specific and discrete set of services such as design or maintenance.
Anneal
The process of using heating and slow cooling to toughen steel (or glass) by reducing its brittleness and internal stresses.
Annubar
A device that uses Pitot tubes to measure the gas flow rate within a pipeline.
ANSI - American National Standards Institute
A private non-profit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardisation and conformity assessment system.
API
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient.
API - American Petroleum Institute
A trade association founded in 1919 sponsored by the oil and gas industry to develop Recommended Practices for the industry.
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange established to achieve compatibility between various types of data processing equipment.
ASME
American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Professional organisation focused on technical; educational and research issues of the engineering and technology community.
ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials.
ATEX
EU Directive 94/9/EC covering equipment and protective systems for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
AWG - American Wire Gauge
A standarised method for specifying the properties - including diameter - of electrical and electronic wire.
B
BA
A device which ensures that the wearer has a continuously available supply of uncontaminated air through a face mask; helmet or mouthpiece.
Often referred to as a BA set.
BASEEFA (2001)
British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres - UK based testing institute and Notified Body.
BAT
Best Available Techniques
Often refered with respect to pollution reduction. More onerous than ALARP.
Battery Limits
The perimeter surrounding the processing area and included process equipment of a process plant.
Baud Rate
Serial communications data transmission rate expressed in bits per second.
bbl – Barrel
A volumetric unit of measure for crude oil and petroleum products. Derived by the original use of spent whiskey barrels to hold oil in the 1800s.
One barrel equals 42 U.S. gallons, equivalent to 158.978 litres.
BFB
Bubbling Fluidised Bed
BHAB
British Helicopter Advisory Board
BLEVE
Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion
Blowout
Uncontrolled flow of gas and/or oil or other well fluids from a well during drilling.
BOD
Basis of Design
BOD - BiologicaL Oxygen Demand
The amount of oxygen used for biochemical oxidation by a unit volume of water at a given temperature and for a given time.
Used as an index of the degree of organic pollution in water.
BoE - Barrel of Oil Equivalent
A measure of gas. A BoE has similar energy content as a barrel of Oil. Approx 167 MMscf depending on calorific value of the gas.
BOM - Bill Of Materials
A listing of materials for a job. The result of a Material Take Off.
BOP - Blow Out Preventor
Hydraulically or mechanically actuated valve installed at the wellhead to control pressure within the well.
BOPD - Barrels of Oil per Day
Unit of measurement of crude oil produced by a well or a field. The volume of a barrel is equivalent to 42 US gallons (0.16 metres cubed).
BOSIET
Basic Offshore Induction and Emergency Training - mandatory course required prior to visiting UK offshore Oil & Gas installations.
BPSD
Barrels per Stream Day - A unit of flow measurement used on refineries.
BSI - British Standards Institution
Responsible for the preparation of UK National Standards prefixed BS *** and publication of harmonised standards in the UK prefixed BS EN ***.
BTU - British Thermal Unit
A unit of energy i.e. the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water 1 degree Fahrenheit when the water is near 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
BU
Business Unit
Bus Bar
A conducting bar that carries heavy current to supply several electric circuits.
Byte
Eight related bits of data or an eight-bit binary number. Also denotes the amount of memory required to store one byte of data.
C
Calibration
The process of adjusting an instrument so that its reading can be correlated to the actual values being measured.
Capex
Capital Expenditure
CAT
Carbon Abatement Technology
Includes improving the efficiency of and co-firing of power plant with low carbon alternatives such as biomass. Also CCS.
Cat Cracker
A refinery unit used to break up large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller ones.
The conversion operation takes place at very high temperatures (500 degrees Celcius) in the presence of a catalyst.
Cavitation
A condition of liquid flow where a liquid vaporises and the vapour bubbles subsequently collapse.
Can produce surface damage to pumps; valves etc.
CCC - Compressor Controls Corporation
US based manufacturer of antisurge devices for centrifugal compressors.
CCR
Central Control Room
CCS
Carbon Capture and Storage. Three methods of capture used are pre combustion; post combustion and oxy-firing.
Storage of captured CO2 usually in depleted oil reservoirs.
CEMEP
European Committee of Manufacturers of Electrical Machines and Power Electronics
CEN - Committee European de Normalisation
One of the European Standards Bodies that produces harmonised standards in all fields except electrotechnical and telecoms.
CENELEC
European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation
CESI
Testing institute and Notified Body based in Italy.
Also provide power system studies and consultancy to power producers; electrical utilities; large-scale users of electricity and Financial Institutions.
Cessation of Production
One of the first significant mile stones in platform decommissioning.
CFD
Computational Fluid Dynamics
A mathematical modelling technique.
CFR - Cost and Freight
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
CHP
Combined Heat and Power
CIF - Cost Insurance and Freight
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
CIP - Carriage and Insurance Paid To
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
CNS
Central North Sea
COD - Chemical Oxygen Demand
The quantity of oxygen used in biological and non-biological oxidation of materials in water.
Used as a measure of water quality.
Cold Work
The carrying out of any task or the use of any tool or equipment which will not produce a source of ignition.
COMAH
Control of Major Accidents and Hazards - Onshore equivalent of the offshore safety case document.
Condensate
A term used to describe light liquid hydrocarbons separated from crude oil after production and sold separately.
COSHH
UK regulations set up in 1994 for Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.
CPD - Continued Professional Development
The planned acquisition of knowledge; experience; skills and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional duties throughout the working life.
CPT - Carriage Paid To
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
CPU
Central Processing Unit
CRA
Corrosion Resistant Alloy.
CRI
Cuttings Re Injection.
Name given to the process of injecting drilling debris back in to the well.
CRO
Control Room Operator
Crude Unit
The refinery processing unit where initial crude oil distillation takes place. The crude unit makes the first rough distillation cut.
The lighter products produced in this process are further refined in the cat cracker or the reforming unit. Heavier products which cannot be vaporised and separated in this process are distilled still further in the vacuum distillation unit or the coker.
CSA - Canadian Standards Association
Publishes standards for equipment requirements
CSB
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
Independent US federal agency responsible for investigating the causes of accidents due to hazardous materials in commerce and industry.
CTC - Cost to Company
Used in relation to employment - Includes holidays; training; salary; sickness pay etc.
CTR - Cost Time Resource
Common term used for a booking code
CUI
Corrosion Under Insulation
A major cause of pipeline leaks.
CV - valve flow coefficient
A measurement of valve capacity.
The number of gallons per minute of room temperature water that will flow through the valve with a pressure drop of 1 psi across the valve.
CVI
Close Visual Inspection
D
D&ID
Duct and Instrument Diagram - the HVAC equivalent of a P&ID
An air distribution diagram which typically includes HVAC equipment; instrumentation; connections to other systems; duct sizes etc
DAF - Delivered at Frontier
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
DCS - Distributed Control System
A control system with multiple processors connected by a network.
DDP - Delivered Duty Paid
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
DDU - Delivered Duty Unpaid
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
DEMKO
Testing institute and Notified Body based in Denmark.
DEQ - Delivered Ex Quay
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
Derrick
Metal tower erected vertically above a well for the purpose of lifting and lowering tubes and tools into the well.
DES - Delivered Ex Ship
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
DIN - Deutsche Industrie Normen
German industrial standards.
Doghouse
Small house located on the floor of a drill rig used as an office by the driller
Downstream
Generic term that includes oil refining; petrochemicals; synthetic gas and fertilizer production facilities.
Downshore activities are oshore based.
DSEAR
Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations - UK implementation of ATEX 137
DSV - Diving Support Vessel
A dedicated vessel for assistance of subsea diving and installation work.
DTI
The UK's Department of Trade and Industry
Duplex
Name given to a family of stainless steels which have a near equal mix of austenite and ferrite.
Duplex stainless steels exhibit high strength and excellent corrosion resistance.
DOL
Direct On Line - A type of motor starter for induction motors.
This is the simplest form of starter comprising a switch (typically an electromagnetic contactor) and an overload protection relay.
E
E&C - Engineering & Construction
Usually in reference to a contract e.g. an E&C contract
EA - Environment Agency
The leading public organisation for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales
ECITB
The Engineering Construction Training Board - The UK's National Training Organisation for the engineering construction industry
ED - Explosive Decompression
Phenomenon whereby seals of a valve (or similar) absorb high pressure gas and when the system is depressurised the seals release their pressure causing failure.
EEMUA
Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association
EMC
ElectroMagnetic Compatibility
EN – EuroNorm
Standard issued by CEN/CENELEC normally prefixed by the national issuing body e.g. BS EN
ENVID
Environmental (Hazard) Identification
Conducted like a HAZID but with the aim of identifying environmental issues
EOR
Enhanced Oil Recovery (Techniques)
Name given to a variety of techniques applied to mature oil fields to enhance the quantity of oil produced.
EPA - Environmental Protection Agency
A US government agency that issues emissions standards and monitoring policies for environmental pollutants in air; water and soil.
EPC
Engineering Procurement and Construction
Usually in reference to a contract e.g. an EPC contract
EPCD
Engineering Procurement Construction and Drilling
Usually in reference to a contract e.g. an EPCD contract
EPIC
Engineering Procurement Installation and Construction.
Usually in reference to a contract e.g. an EPIC contract
EPS
Engineering Procurement and Supervision.
Usually in reference to a contract e.g. an EPS contract
ESD - Emergency Shutdown System
An automatic system for shutting down plant in a prescribed orderly manner to prevent escalation of a potentially hazardous situation
ESP - Electric Submersible Pump
Sub sea pump using electricity as its primary power
Exia
Explosion protection by means of the concept of Intrinsic Safety where protection is maintained with up to 2 component or other faults
Exib
Explosion protection by means of the concept of Intrinsic Safety where protection is maintained with up to 1 component or other fault
EXW - Ex Works
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
F
FAS - Free Alongside Ship
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
FAT - Factory Acceptance Test
A test of equipment carried out at supplier's factory prior to shipment of equipment - usually witnessed by purchaser
FCA - Free Carrier
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
FEED - Front End Engineering and Design
A study used to analyse the various technical options for new developments with the objective to define the facilities required.
FGD
Flue Gas Desulphurisation
FGD typically achieved by fitting scrubber units to plant to reduce its sulphur dioxide emissions.
FHA
Flexible Hose Assembly
A complete hose with end fittings and any associated accessories.
FIELD bus
A communications protocol often used with SCADA systems.
FLAGS
Far North Liquids and Gas System
Name given to subsea pipeline running from the Brent field to the St Fergus terminal in NE Scotland.
Flameproof
The common name for hazardous area protection type EExd.
Flash Point
Flash Point Temperature is the lowest temperature at which a liquid releases sufficient vapour that can be ignited by an energy source
Floatel
A vessel moored alongside a platform to provide accommodation for platform workers - a floating hotel
Flowline
Pipeline carrying reservoir fluid on the seabed from a well to a riser
FM - Factory Mutual
North American insurance company who provide certification of industrial and commercial products
FMEA
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis
Identifies failure modes - their causes and effects - the safeguards already incorporated and the potential additional measures that could be considered
FOB - Free On Board
Incoterm used to describe responsibilities for carriage; risk and cost.
FPAL - First Point Assessment Ltd
Oil and gas industry steered company with objective to identify opportunities for cost reduction and performance improvement throughout the supply chain.
FPF
Floating Production Facility
FPSO
Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel - a floating facility installed above or close to an offshore oil and gas field to receive; process; store and export hydrocarbons.
Fractionation
The separation of crude oil into its more valuable and usable components through distillation.
FTA
Fault Tree Analysis
A method of calculating the probability of an event from the probabilities or frequencies of its causal events.
Fugitive Emmissions
Emissions (air pollutants) released to the air other than those from stacks or vents.
They are often due to equipment leaks; evaporative processes and windblown disturbances.
G
GA - General Arrangement
Common name given to a drawing showing the general arrangement of a piece of equipment
GHG
Green House Gases
GOR
The ratio of produced gas to produced oil.
GOSP
Gas Oil Separation Plant
GPA - General Platform Alarm
Alarm indicating an event serious enough to require personnel to assemble at their muster point
Greenhand
Someone who is new to the offshore oil industry - more commonly used on drill rigs.
Sometimes referred to as green hat on production platforms.
H
HART
Highway Addresable Remote Transducer
Open protocol that supports two way digital communications for process measurement and control devices.
Hastelloy
A widely used nickel-molybdenum-chromium alloy.
Offers excellent resistance to wet chlorine, hypochlorite bleach, ferric chloride and nitric acid.
HAVS
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
A potentially debilitating disorder resulting from prolonged exposure to vibration - specifically to the hands and forearms while using vibrating tools.
Hazid - Hazard Identification
The process of identifying credible hazards for a Quantified Risk Assessment (QRA)
HAZOP
Hazard and Operability Review
HC
Hydrocarbon
A chemical compound that consists only of hydrogen (H) and carbon (C).
HHV
Heating Value is defined as the amount of energy released when a fuel is burned completely in a steady-flow process and the products are returned to the state of the reactants.
The heating value is dependent on the phase of water/steam in the combustion products. If H2O is in liquid form the heating value is called HHV (Higher Heating Value).
HIPS
High Integrity Protective System - or sometimes High Integrity Protection System
An automatic safety system with a SIL level of 3 or more
HLO
Helicopter Landing Officer
HLV
Heavy Lift Vessel
HMI - Human Machine Interface
A dated term superseded by SCADA
Hot Work
This includes welding or the use of any flame or electric arc or the use of any equipment likely to cause heat or flame or spark.
HP - High Pressure
Often used with reference to a utility or vent line e.g. HP air supply
HPU
Hydraulic Power Unit
HSE
Health Safety and Environment
HSE - Health and Safety Executive
Authority responsible for the regulation of almost all the risks to health and safety arising from work activity in Britain.
HUET
Helicopter Underwater Escape Training
Part of the Basic Offshore Induction and Emergency Training course where participants swim from an inverted helicopter submerged in a swimming pool.
HVAC
Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning
Hydrotest
A pressure test of piping; pressure vessels or pressure-containing parts; usually performed by pressurising the internal volume with water.
HYSYS
HYprotech SYStems process modeling software by AspenTech
Used for steady state simulation; design; performance monitoring; optimization and business planning for oil & gas production; gas processing and petroleum refining industries.
I
ISO 9001
A quality assurance standard issued by the International Organization for Standards.
Standard is titled; Quality systems - Model for quality assurance in design/development, production, installation and servicing.
I/O - Input Output
Term used for signals entering (Inputs) and exiting (Outputs) a control system
IAEA
International Atomic Energy Agency
Works for the safe secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.
ICP
Independent Competent Person
ID
Internal Diameter
IEA
International Energy Agency
IEC - International Electrotechnical Commission
Body composed of 60 plus countries that issues standards for all electrical electronic and related technology
IEEE
US based non profit technical professional association.
Incoloy
A nickel-chromium alloy.
Noted for good strength and excellent resistance to oxidation and carburisation in high-temperature atmospheres.
Inconel
A nickel-chromium-iron alloy.
Noted for having high temperature strength while maintaining excellent corrosion resistance.
INERIS
French based Notified Body
IP
Ingress Protection
IPPC
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control.
EU directive 96/61/EC of 1996 which aims to minimise pollution from various point sources throughout the European Union.
IR 35
Term given to UK legislation which aims to remove opportunities for the avoidance of tax and Class 1 National Insurance Contributions by the use of intermediaries in circumstances where an individual worker would otherwise be an employee of the client.
IS - Intrinsic Safety
Method of explosion prevention by limiting the energy stored in electrical circuits
ISC - Integrated Service Contract
A contract likely to include design and project services; maintenance; upgrades as well as reliability and integrity management.
More extensive than an Alliance Contract.
ISSeP
Notified Body based in Belgium
ISSOW
Integrated Safe System of Work
An electronic system designed to improve and enhance paper-based Permit to Work (PTW) systems. Widely used in the UK North Sea.
IST
Integrated Systems Test
ITB - Invitation to Bid
Invitation from a potential Client to bid a project.
J
Jacket
Steel structure placed on the seabed with a deck supporting drilling and/or production facilities.
JV - Joint Venture
A collaboration between two or more companies in a contract.
K
KEMA
Notified Body based in the Netherlands
L
LAN - Local Area Network
A data communications network which is geographically limited (typically to a 1 km radius) allowing easy interconnection of devices.
Ethernet is an example of a standard LAN.
LCIE
French based Notified Body.
LED
Light Emitting Diode
LEL - Lower Explosive Limit
Below the LEL a mixture of substance and air lacks sufficient fuel (substance) to burn.
LER
Local Equipment Room
LHV
Heating Value is defined as the amount of energy released when a fuel is burned completely in a steady-flow process and the products are returned to the state of the reactants.
The heating value is dependent on the phase of water/steam in the combustion products. When H2O is in vapor form the heating value is called LHV (Lower Heating Value).
Linearity
The closeness to which a curve approximates a straight line or the deviation of an instrument's response from a straight line.
LNG - Liquefied Natural Gas
Natural gas (mainly methane) refrigerated to reach liquid phase suitable for transportation in specialised vessels or by pipeline.
LOA
Letter of Authorisation
LOGIC
Leading Oil & Gas Industry Competitiveness
An industry funded organisation that works with companies throughout the O&G industry to stimulate collaboration and improve competitiveness.
LOI
Letter of Intent
LOLER
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations
UK regulations that aim to reduce risks to people’s health and safety from lifting equipment provided for use at work.
LOM
Spanish based Notified Body
LOPA - Layers of Protection Analysis
A semi-quantitative risk analysis technique.
LOPA results are intended to be conservative (overestimating the risk) and usually adequate to understand the required safety integrity level.
LOS
Line of Sight
Typically used with reference to telecommunication devices.
LP - Low Pressure
Often used with reference to a utility or vent line e.g. LP air supply.
LPG - Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Butane and propane mixture separated from well fluid stream. LPG can be transported under pressure in refrigerated vessels
LSA Scale
Low Specific Activity scale found adhering to pipe and equipment internals is mainly due to radium-226 produced from the decay of naturally occurring uranium-238.
Can present decommissioning problems.
LTI - Lost Time Incident
Accident resulting in personnel not being able to work as a result of their injury is called an LTI
LtO
Licence to Operate
Lump Sum
Contract term generally denoting fixed price covering all services provided.
LWD
Logging While Drilling
M
Mud
Mixture of water and special additives circulating within the well for the purpose of cooling the drill-bit; removing rock cuttings and transporting them back up to the surface.
Also prevents the well wall from caving in and maintains sufficient pressure at the well bottom to avoid hydrocarbon blowout.
Manifold
A pipe spool in which a number of incoming pipes are combined to feed to a common output line.
MAWP
Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
The maximum pressure allowed in a piece of equipment e.g. vessel or pipe at its designated temperature.
MCC
Motor Control Centre / Switchboard
Mercaptan
Molecules containing sulphur with a low molecular weight and therefore very light.
MIPEG
An electronic load indicator and monitoring system fitted to cranes - can store data for future analysis and maintenance planning based on the actual crane usage.
Manufactured by Norwegian firm Datainstrument AS.
MMI - Man Machine Interface
A dated term superseded by SCADA
MOB - Man Over Board
Some offshore platforms issue personnel with MOB detectors when performing over the side work.
These detectors automatically emit a signal when imersed in the sea thereby allowing possible faster rescue.
MOC
Management of Change
MODBUS
This Protocol is a messaging structure developed by Modicon in 1979.
It is used to establish master-slave/client-server communication between intelligent devices.
MOL - Main Oil Line
Name often given to the oil export line from a platform.
Often used as a prefix to the main export pumps e.g. MOL Pumps-
Monel
A nickel-copper alloy which combines high strength with high ductility - these usually being a trade off in metals selection.
Also offers excellent general corrosion resistance. Commonly used in seawater applications.
MOU
Memorandum of Understanding
MOV
Motor Operated Valve
MPI
Magnetic Particle Examination. A form of NDE used to detect surface cracks on castings.
MTBF - Mean Time Between Failures
The time interval between 2 failures of a component. The reciprocal of the failure rate.
MTO - Material Take Off
A count of all materials needed to complete a task
MTTR - Mean Time To Repair
The average time taken from the failure of a system until it is successfully restarted.
Mux – Multiplexer
A switching device that sequentially connects multiple inputs or outputs in order to process several signal channels with a single A/D or D/A converter
MWD - Measurements While Drilling
The evaluation of physical properties (usually including pressure; temperature and wellbore trajectory in three-dimensional space) while extending a wellbore.
N
NACE - North American Corrosion Engineers
Responsible for standard MR0175 outlining material requirements for sour applications
Naphta
An oil distillate. Naphta is an intermediate product between gasoline and kerosene.
It is known as a light product because of the low molecular weight of the hydrocarbons making it up.
NAS
US National Aeronautical Society
Produced Hydraulic Fluid Cleanliness Standards NAS 1638 widely used for land based equipment.
Natural Gas
Petroleum in gaseous form consisting of light hydrocarbons often found in association with oil.
Methane is the most dominant component.
Navaid - NAVigation AID
Beacon; wave off light etc installed on a platform or rig to warn ship and aircraft of installation
NB
Nominal Bore
Term used when specifying a pipe size.
NCS
Norwegian Continental Shelf.
NDE
Non Destructive Examination e.g. magnetic particle inspection; x-ray etc.
NDT
Non Destructive Testing e.g. magnetic particle inspection; x-ray etc.
NEMA
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
Leading US trade association which sets standards relating to electrically powered instrumentation.
NFPA
National Fire Prevention Association
North American non profit organisation
NGL - Natural Gas Liquification
The name given to the process and the associated plant required to make Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).
NIC
National Insurance Contributions
NMR
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
A technology used for well logging - amongst other things it allows reservoir fluids (oil gas and water) to be measured.
NOGEPA
The Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association
NORM
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material
Notified Body
Independent Testing Laboratory recognised to perform tests; audit quality systems and issue reports and certificates of conformity
NOx - Nitrogen Oxides
The term used to describe the sum of nitric oxide (NO); nitric dioxide (NO2) and other oxides of nitrogen which play a major role in the formation of ozone.
NPSH - Net Positive Suction Head
Minimum suction pressure required by a pump to prevent cavitation
NPT - Normal Pressure and Temperature
NTP is used in many thermodynamic calculations and tabulations and is defined as 20 degrees Celsius and 1 atmosphere of pressure.
NPV - Net Present Value
The cost of a product or system calculated in the present-day currency
Found by subtracting a project’s initial investment from the present value of the cash inflows discounted at a rate equal to the firm’s cost of capital.
NUI - Normally Unmanned Installation
Usually used with reference to satellite oil or gas platforms
O
O&G
Oil and Gas
O&M
Operating and Maintenance
Usually in reference to a contract or budget e.g. an O&M contract.
OCA
Offshore Contractors Association
Octane Number
A measurment of a fuel's resistance to spontaneous ignition.
The higher the octane number the greater fuel's resistance to spontaneous ignition.
OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer
OGP
The International Association of Oil & Gas producers.
Formed in 1974 to develop effective communications between the upstream industry and the complex network of international regulators.
OILC
Offshore Industry Liaison Committee
UK based Trades Union representing offshore workers.
OIM
Offshore Installation Manager
The person in charge of a platform or rig.
OLF - Norwegian Oil Industry Association
A professional body and employer's association for oil and supplier companies engaged in the field of exploration and production of oil and gas on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
OPEC
Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries - a permanent inter-governmental organization currently made up of 11 oil producing and exporting countries.
Its aim is to co-ordinate and unify the petroleum policies of the Member Countries and to determine the best means for safeguarding their individual and collective interests.
Operator
Term used to describe a company appointed by venture stake holders to take primary responsibility for day-to-day operations for a specific plant or activity.
OPEX
Operating Expenditure
OPITO
Offshore Petroleum Industry Training Organisation
The UK's National Training Organisation for oil and gas extraction.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The department of the US government with the responsibility to ensure safety and healthful work environments.
OSPAR
The Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic - the OSPAR Convention.
It replaces the Oslo and Paris Conventions but decisions; recommendations and all other agreements adopted under those Conventions continue to be applicable.
P
P&ID
Piping and Instrument Diagram
PAPA
Prepare to Abandon Platform Alarm
PCD - Pitch Circle Diameter
The diameter of an imaginary circle drawn through the bolt hole centres on a flange; flywheel; coupling etc
PCG - Professional Contractors Group
A UK based body which seeks to represent contractors. Primarily IT based.
PDMS
Plant Design and Management System
Software package used for plant design and creation of 3 dimensional models.
PED
European Union Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC).
PES - Programmable Electronic System
A system for control; protection or monitoring based on one or more progamable electronic devices.
The system comprises all elements e.g. power supplies; sensors; actuators; communication paths etc.
PFD
Process Flow Diagram
PFD
Probability of Failure on Demand
PFEER
Prevention of Fire Explosion and Emergency Response.
UK legislation relating to offshore installations which covers the area excluded by DSEAR.
PID - Proportional Integral Derivative
The 3 types of control action making up a 3 term controller. Commonly used for valve control.
PIG
A device used for cleaning a pipeline or separating two liquids being moved down the pipeline.
Intelligent pigs are fitted with sensors allowing measurement of corrosion and identification of pipeline defects.
Pilot
UK Government's Oils and Gas Industry Task Force set up in 1998 to ensure that the UK's oil and gas industry remains competitive.
PLB - Personel Locator Beacon
Device issued to each traveler when traveling offshore on a helicopter.
It automatically emits a signal when submersed in the sea thereby giving potential for speedier rescue in event of helicopter ditching.
PLC - Programmable Logic Controller
Computer based monitoring and control package where control actions are primarily based on equipment and alarm status.
PMC
Project Management Consultancy
Used in relation to a contract e.g. a PMC contract.
PMS
Power Management System
POB - Persons on Board
Used in reference to the number of people allowed on offshore installations
Port
A communications connection on an electronic or computer based device
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment
Collective term used for coveralls; gloves; hard hat; protective foot wear; accessories etc designed to create a barrier against workplace hazards.
Ppm
Parts Per Million
Profibus
Vendor-independent open fieldbus standard increasingly used in process control.
Standardised in IEC 61158 and EN50170
PSC
Production Sharing Contract
PSD
Process Shutdown System
psi - Pounds per square inch
A unit of pressure measurement.
If psia then the unit of pressure used when the zero reference is full vacuum and if psig the zero reference is atmospheric pressure.
PSU
Power Supply Unit
PSV - Pressure Safety Valve
A spring loaded pressure relief valve actuated by the static pressure upstream of the valve and characterised by rapid opening.
PTB (DE)
Physikalish Technische Bundesanstalt - Notified Body based in Germany
PTW - Permit to Work
A permit-to-work system is a formal written system used to control certain types of work that are potentially hazardous.
It allows work to start only after safe procedures have been defined and they provide a clear record that all foreseeable hazards have been considered.
PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
A thermoplastic often used for piping systems.
PVC is stronger and more rigid than the other thermoplastic materials.
Q
QRA
Quantitative Risk Assessment
A method for quantifying major accident hazards (estimation of scenario frequencies) and their potential effects.
R
RAL Number
The RAL catalogue is an international color standard that defines colours according to numbers and names e.g. RAL7032 is a flinty grey colour.
RBI
Risk Based Inspection
Redundancy
The existence of more than one piece of equipment any of which could perform a given function.
These multiple pieces of equipment are used to help improve the reliability and availability of the system.
Reimbursable
A type of contract where contractor is re-imbursed for all time taken to carry out and complete the assignment.
Reproducibility
The closeness of agreement among repeated measurements of an output for the same value of input made under the same operating conditions over a period of time.
Resolution
The smallest change in input which produces a detectable change in output i.e. the smallest increment of change that can be detected by a measurement system.
ReWheel
To change out the internals (bundle) of a compressor to alter its throughput capabilities.
RF - Raised Face
Description of the mating face of a flange.
RFI - Radio Frequency Interference
Noise induced upon signal wires by ambient radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation with the effect of obscuring an instrument signal.
RFQ
Request for Quotation
RGIT
RGIT Montrose are a provider of safety training.
The term - RGIT - has become synonymous with the offshore safety course - BOSIET.
RHS
Rectangular Hollow Section
Term used in structural steel work
Riser
Steel or flexible pipe which transfer well fluids from the seabed to the surface.
ROCE - Return On Capital Employed
The ratio of operating profits generated to the amount of operating capital invested.
In effect it is a measure of how productively a company manages its assets.
ROV - Remote Operated Vehicle
An underwater robot
RSI - Repetitive Strain Injury
Injury occurring from repeated physical movements which causes damage to tendons; nerves; muscles and other soft body tissues.
Repeated movements can be simple and not necessarily strenuous e.g. keyboard use etc.
RTD - Resistance Temperature Detector
Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTD's) provide temperature measurement through changes in electrical resistance.
RTJ - Ring Type Joint
Description of the mating face of a flange where the mating face has a machined groove into which the gasket is inserted.
RTU
Remote Telemetry Unit
S
SADIE
Safety Alert Database and Information Exchange
Run by UK based Step Change
SAP
Systems Analysis and Program Development
Software company based in Germany perhaps best known for their purchasing software suite.
SAT - Site Acceptance Test
A test of equipment carried out at site following installation of equipment but prior to commissioning.
SCADA
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition - A term commonly used to describe a PC based software package that allows operator control of a process from a PC and has the PC collecting and storing process information.
Often used with PLCs.
SCE
Safety Critical Element
scf - Standard Cubic Feet
Pronounced scuf - a measurement of gas e.g. 20 MMSCF/hr being 20 thousand cubic feet per hour
SD&P
Simultaneous Drilling & Production
A technique of drilling a new well on a platform while it continues to produce oil or gas.
SEP - Sound Engineering Practice
PED classification whereby equipment is required to be designed and manufactured according to 'sound engineering practice'.
SEP equipment must not bear the CE mark.
SEPA - Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Public body responsible for the protection of the environment in Scotland.
SIL - Safety Integrity Level
A discrete level (1 to 4) for specifying the safety integrity requirements of the safety functions to be allocated to a loop.
SIL 4 being most onerous.
SME - Small to Medium Enterprise
Designation given to a UK company with less than 50 employees.
SMS
Safety Management System
SNS
Southern North Sea
SOLAS
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) requirements stipulate minimum equipment to be provided in liferafts.
Liferafts are provided on offshore installations, helicopters etc.
SoR
Statement of Requirements
Sour
A sour fluid is a fluid that contains hydrogen sulphide (H2S) at 10 ppm or more.
SOV
Solenoid Operated Valve
SOx - Sulphur Oxides
Sulphur oxide gases (principally Sulphur dioxide - SO2) are formed when fuel e.g. coal and oil; containing sulphur is burned.
Spud
To spud a well - to start the actual drilling of a well.
Standby Vessel
Rescue vessel that is always within 5 miles of the rig or platform.
Close standby i.e. closer than 5 miles is provided if activities on the asset increase the risk of man overboard.
Stellite
Cobalt based alloy commonly applied as coating to valve trims to provide high resistance to wear; corrosion and high temperatures.
Step Change
An industry initiative to improve safety performance; awareness and behaviours throughout the UK oil and gas industry.
Stonewall
The maximum stable flow and maximum head condition for a centrifugal compressor.
STOP
Safety Training and Observation Programme
DuPont initiated scheme designed to create a culture of spotting potential hazards before they cause an accident.
STP - Standard Pressure and Temperature
STP is used in many thermodynamic calculations and tabulations and is defined as 0 degrees Celsius and 1 atmosphere of pressure.
String
The entire length of casing; tubing or drill pipe used in a drilling operation.
Surge
An unstable operating condition when the flow through a compressor is decreased to the point that momentary flow reversals occur.
Can lead to major damage of compressor.
SWL
Safe Working Load
SWOT
Strengths; Weaknesses; Opportunities and Threats
A technique employed for analysing a competitive situation or proposal.
S660 - Settlement Rule
UK tax rule that aims to stop you passing income to someone else in the family or giving income or assets to someone else on the basis that you will have it back later in an effort to reduce your overall income tax bill.
SLD
Single Line Diagram
A schematic diagram showing the electrical connection from the main service entrance to all of the facility’s electrical distribution panels and electrical loads.
T
TAR – Turnaround
Term given to a planned outage of plant for maintenance; modification etc.
TBA
To Be Advised
TBC
To Be Confirmed
TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
The suite of communications protocols used to connect devices on the internet or similar network.
TEG - Triethylene Glycol
A colourless odourless non volatile hygroscopic liquid whose major application is as a drying agent for natural gas.
Synonyms for TEG are triglycol; 2.2-(Ethylene-dioxy) diethanol and ethylene glycol dihydroxydiethyl ether.
Temporary Refuge
A safe area where workers can take temporary refuge during a potentially dangerous plant upset.
THP
Tubing Head Pressure
Throughput
The total amount of raw materials processed by a refinery or other plant in a given period.
TMR
Triple Modular Redundant
Toolpusher
The Foreman in charge of drilling rig operations and crew members.
TOR
Terms of Reference
TR
Temporary Refuge
Area on a platform; usually within accommodation block; designed to give temporary refuge to personel during emergency situations e.g. fire; gas leak etc.
Transducer
An element or device that receives information in the form of one quantity and converts it to information in the same or another quantity or form.
Trim
Name given to the internals i.e. plug and seat of a valve.
Rather than replace a complete valve the trim is often replaced utilising the existing body and actuator.
TUPE
Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations.
UK regulations designed to safeguard employees’ rights when the business in which they work changes hands between employers.
Turnkey
A type of contract where contractor carries out and completes his assignment for a fixed fee; opposite of a reimbursable contract.
TUTU
Topside Umbilical Termination Unit
Provides interface between topside equipment e.g. hydraulics and umbilical.
TUV
Notified Body based in Germany and Austria.
U
UFL - Upper Flammable Limit
The concentration of flammable gas in air at atmospheric pressure above which combustion will not occur.
The figure is expressed as a percentage by volume.
UKAEA
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) was incorporated as a statutory corporation in 1954.
Pioneered the development of nuclear energy in the UK.
UKCS
United Kingdom Continental Shelf
UKOOA
United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) is the representative organisation for the UK offshore oil and gas industry.
Its members are companies licensed by the UK Government to explore for and produce oil and gas in UK waters.
UL - Underwriters Laboratories
North American based independent not-for-profit product-safety testing and certification organisation.
Umbilical
Flexible cables carrying electrical and instrument wiring; hydraulic tubing and chemical tubing.
UPS
Uninterruptible Power Supply
A UPS sits between a power source and a device (e.g. a computer) to prevent undesired features of the power source (outages; surges etc.) adversely affecting the performance of the device.
Upstream
Generic term that includes oil and gas production facilities; pipelines; gas processing and liquefied natural gas production facilities and receiving terminals.
Can be on or offshore based.
USGPD
US Gallons Per Day
V
Vantage
An internet based tool used to track status of survival certs; medicals etc for UK offshore workers.
VAT - Value Added Tax
A UK tax charged on products and services.
VESDA
Very Early Smoke Detection and Alarm
Trade name which has become synonymous for all types of aspirating smoke detection systems.
Visbreaker
A thermal cracking process unit in a refinery used to break up large molecules into smaller ones.
It is applied to the residue of vacuum distillation as part of the overall conversion process.
Viscosity
A measure of a fluid's resistance to flow.
VOC
Volatile Organic Compound.
VPN - Virtual Private Network
The use of encryption to provide a secure connection through an otherwise insecure network e.g. typically the Internet.
The encryption may be performed by firewall software or possibly by routers.
VSD - Variable Speed Drive
An electrical system that allows a motor to be controlled to run at different speeds.
VTA
Vendor To Advise
VTT
Notified Body based in Finland
W
WAN - Wide Area Network
A network usually constructed with serial lines extending over distances greater than one kilometre.
Wildcat
A well drilled in unproven territory.
Wobbe Index
A comparative measure of thermal energy flow through a given size of orifice. A measure of the interchangeability of gases used for combustion.
Gases which have the same Wobbe index can replace each other without a change in the relative air-fuel ratio at the same fuel metering settings.
Workover
To carry out remedial operations on a producing well with the intention of restoring or increasing production.
WTI - West Texas Intermediate
A specific grade of crude oil that is a benchmark commodity of the U.S. oil industry.
X
Xmas Tree
Collective name given to the valves pipes and associated fittings assembled at the top of a completed well used to control the flow of oil and/or gas.
Another name for the wellhead.
