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UNIVERSITY

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The Petroleum Dictionary

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THE

Petroleum
Dictionary
By

LALIA PHIPPS &OONE

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS

NORMAN

42.7, <?
'

Copyright 1952 by the University of Oklahoma Press


Publishing Division of the University

Composed and

printed at

Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

by the University of Oklahoma Press


First edition

Dedicated
to the early-day oilfielder

who

created a language appropriate to his needs,

and

to his

many

who have preserved and

sons

enriched that language

Preface

MY ATTENTION
in 1925

my desk to
Among the
tion?"

when

first

attracted to the language of the oil field

supply the personal data necessary for public-school records.


questions to be answered was

The answer was

muster:

was

Curri e, Texas, school a third-grade pupil came to

at a

"My

father

more shocks were

is

delivered with

a roughneck!"

in store for

me.

all

"What

is

the pride a nine-year-old could

was somewhat taken aback, but

was destined

your father's occupa-

to teach not only the

children of roughnecks, but also those of pumpers, roustabouts, toolies,

swivel nec\s, and derric\ monkeys. Childhood in a Methodist parsonage

me

had not prepared

among

for life

people engaged in such unusual oc-

cupations.

For a few months


fell

from the

legitimate

oil field.

It

who had never known any

But gradually

and apt means of expression.

vividness fascinate

was not

study of

was constantly astonished by the expressions

lips of near-infants

but that of the

its

the University of

language.

Thomas

or language

language as a

Its freshness, its peculiarities,

member

of the faculty of

to a graduate class in

modern Eng-

need for technically-trained workers

a definite

to record

the language of various industries, including the petroleum industry.


spite the fact that

my

problems in doing

field

sex

scientifically so) in the

and

work,

tionary of oil-field terms.

and

considered undertaking a serious

Pyles, then a

Oklahoma, suggested

was

life

to accept the

to this day.

until early in 1947 that

oil-field

lish that there

me

came

that

my

I felt I

had been

was

peculiarly fitted to prepare a dic-

interested

language since 192 5.

in chemistry; furthermore,

De-

family responsibilities offered grave

(though

must admit un-

had had a thorough grounding

had become an

"oilfielder" myself: I lived in

the heart of the old East Texas oil field for sixteen years,
vii

married an

oil-

PREFACE
fielder, I

Vlll

taught the children of

oilfielders,

who

in turn followed the occupa-

tion of their fathers

and worked in the major

homa, and

knew

already

had friends and

The

relatives

obstacles

undertook the

and pipelining and

employed in the other branches of the industry.

possibilities for securing reliable, extensive

unlimited. Therefore

Texas and Okla-

fields of

the language of production

information seemed almost

task, blithely disregarding the

many

might encounter.

Had I been inclined to discontinue the project, I could not conscientiously

have done

The enthusiasm with which both

so.

men, from roustabouts

able
I

was the task

dialect

and of

me at work, even after

had

set

retired oil-

and the

to executives, offered information

encouragement of students of
sary incentive to keep

and

active

active

folklorists afforded the necesI

began

to realize

how formid-

myself.

had already recorded more than a thousand colorful oil-field expres1 began the serious business of adding

sions as a hobby. In the spring of 1947

terms to that collection, and

moment

of this writing.

have continued collecting materials to the

For a year

was forced

my work

to limit

to the

^Oklahoma City region: I interviewed retired oilmen and students at the


University of Oklahoma who had lived and worked in the oil field, and I
visited the Oklahoma City oil fields and talked with the workers there. In
the summer of 1948 I received a grant from the American Council of
Learned

Societies

which enabled

me

go

to

to other oil fields in the

Mid-

Continent and Gulf oil-producing regions. Before the dictionary was completed,

visited the

workers from

major

all levels

of

fields of Texas and Oklahoma. I interviewed


employment and from all branches of the in-

dustry and examined field reports and well logs.

For purposes of
glossaries,

stories, legends,

works

verification, I

handbooks, catalogues,

examined

scores of books, including

histories, technical

anecdotes, ballads, newspapers,

are referred to

whenever

term

works, novels, short

and house organs. These

have included in

this

list is

to

be

found in one of them.


I

have concentrated most of

my

attention

on the four major branches of

the industry: exploration (which includes prospecting

and

drilling), pro-

duction, pipelining, and refining. But offshore activ ity, an important de-

velopment in exploration, production, and transportation which promises


to provide a
U~~~~

worth-while linguistic project within

only incidentally.

The

itself,

has been treated

terminology of marketing (a major branch) and of

PREFACE
minor branches of the industry

carbon black, recycling, reclaiming,


has been collected when possible. A
sec-

ondary production, and servicing

few names (and nicknames) of towns,

oilmen, companies, and

fields, wells,

geological formations have been included.

Both technical and nontechnical words are included in the dictionary

which

For words which are used

constitutes the principal part of this book.

which occur

in various senses or

recorded

all

in various grammatical categories,

such variations as

have been able to

have

In view of

collect.

the fact that earlier lexicographers have with few exceptions taken an

and colloquial expressions,


upon nontechnical usage.

apologetic attitude toward slang

centrated

my

attention primarily

have included terms of chemistry, physics, geology, and other related

though they

subjects that pertain directly to the petroleum industry, even


retain their original meanings.

have

also included terms

ings.

The

sential

with special usage

which have acquired new mean-

in petroleum engineering, as well as those

was whether the term

final test for inclusion

is

considered

es-

by the workers in the petroleum industry.

All entries, including


are listed in

common and

one vocabulary.

speech, only one entry


ally

have con-

is

If

made;

proper words, phrases, and

word

if it is

used as a noun, the verb entry

is

is

initials,

used as more than one part of

generally used as a verb

made and

Phrases are entered under the principal word,

e.g., in

and occasion-

noun usage

the

a bind

is

indicated.

entered under^J

bind.

There

are approximately 6,000 entries.

Of

general usage, 2,468 have appeared in previous

these, 904

and

lists,

have come into

2,254 a PP ear here

for the first time.

By

far the greater portion of the definitions has

been arrived

at inde-

pendently. However, some of the highly technical terms seemed to require


definitions formulated by petroleum specialists. Consequently

sented verbatim as

many

of these definitions as

permission of the publisher or the author.

For those

entries

it

appears after the

saries relating to the oil industry


cal

publication date.

Terms which

reference

last definition in

listed in

is

made

to the

have discovered in

is

given

that series.

one or more

with a definition comparable

with the one given here, reference

have pre-

definitions are followed

when one

which have previously been

found necessary, with the

Many

by references which appear in square brackets;


for a series of definitions,

list

glos-

to or identi-

with the

earliest

my own field work

are

PREFACE
labeled heard or reported.

However,

sarial publication, reference is

such a term appears in a nonglos-

if

made

to that publication for purposes of

substantiation.

The problems encountered

in the completion of this dictionary arose

principally

from the nature of the language. The petroleum industry over-

many

other industries (as will be discussed in the section entitled

laps

"Origins"); consequently, there

troleum and other industries.

is

The

overlapping in the terminology of peonly criterion

have been able to apply

consistently has been the usage of the terms by oil-field workers in activities
essential to the

intelligible to

may

petroleum industry, though the same terms

other occupational vocabularies as well. In order to

make

occur in

the definitions

an oilman, they must frequently be put in the vernacular of

make them

the oil field; in order to

intelligible to the

non-oilman, extensive

must be given. Furthermore, the absence of authoritative


etymologies has often made it necessary to rely upon folk etymologies
cross references

which, though interesting and seemingly plausible, are often contradictory

and always questionable.


I

who

my

wish to acknowledge

work

explained their

to

indebtedness to the

me

in their

many

hospitable oilmen

language.

have been with

them when they staked

locatio n,

out samples and cored,

when

they flanged a well up.

have seen tanks slopover rods part wells go dead,

and I have seen pipe


it all

to

it

th ey spudded in,

they acidized,

when

bed and

possible for

stills

me

when

they cooked

they fished, and

lines put to

me and made

when

own

when

down cold. Oilmen explained

to record the vernacular of their

industry.

To

the following

their time

extend special thanks for their

many

services

and

Garland White and John Lee, Gulf Pipe Line Company, Worth-

am, Texas; Walter Wilbourn, Gulf State Oil Company, Wortham, Texas;
T. M. Lawson, Lawson Steam Company, Levelland, Texas;

J.

W.

Terry,

Stanolind Oil Company, Levelland, Texas; Charles Bishop and Glen Allen,
retired oil-field workers,

Ardmore, Oklahoma; A.

Norman, Oklahoma; Woodrow Hood, pumper,


J.

Phipps and

ing Company, Houston, Texas;

W.

J.

W. W.

Hitchcock, Sinclair Refin-

Edwards, independent operator,

Houston, Texas; R. H. Hilbert, Shell Oil Company, Houston, Texas; Ralph

Company, Houston, Texas; Jim Ford,


York Oil Field Supply Company, Houston, Texas; Joy Steelman, Texaco
Company, Houston, Texas; Carrol Harvey and L. A. Brauer, Gulf Oil
Collins, Distillation Production

PREFACE

XI

Company, Houston, Texas; and Adson Williams, Texaco Company,


Humble, Texas.
To the American Council of Learned Societies, I am deeply grateful
for a study-aid grant which helped to make possible the field work for
this project. And I offer sincere thanks to the directors and staff members
of the libraries of the University of Oklahoma, the University of Texas,
and the University of Florida.
I

M.

am

indebted particularly to E. H. Criswell, University of Tulsa, and

C. Boatright, University of Texas, for their generous contributions and

their

and

its

Society

who

to

thank the Publica-

editor; the

Southwest Review

continued encouragement. Furthermore,

tions of the

Texas Folklore Society and

editor,

and

gave

wish

Allen Maxwell; the Publications of the American Dialect


editor,

its

me

its

G. P. Wilson; and

all

the authors

and publishers

permission to quote from their books.

For reading and

criticizing the manuscript, I

A. C. Morris, M. E. Valk, and H. R. Warfel,

who

all

wish

to

thank F. C. Hayes,

of the University of Florida.

many years editor of the oil pages of


the Daily Okjahoman and the Oklahoma City Times, was also most helpful in reading and correcting the manuscript. His many additions are
among those labeled "reported." For checking the accuracy of the colloquial
expressions, I am grateful to James Littrell and Edward Anderson, veteran
Claude V. Barrow,

oilfielders,

Finally,

friend
vice

and

to

it is

Thomas

has been for

my husband Joe Floy

Boone, also a veteran

a pleasure to acknowledge
Pyles, student of

and encouragement.

leaned heavily upon

him

He

my

great indebtedness to

American language,

has been

my

oilfielder.

mentor

my

for his constant ad-

since 1946,

for inspiration arid guidance.

and

have

Contents

PREFACE

Vll

part one: The Language

of the Oil Field

The Language

of the Oil Field

Origins

part

Development

13

Characteristics

21

two The
:

Petroleum Dictionary

Explanatory Note

41

The Dictionary

45

bibliography

333

Xlll

PART ONE

The Language

of the Oil Field

The Language

THE LANGUAGE from

of the Oil Field

of the oil field

of

all

the oilfielders

who

1859 to those

those

The

"brought in" the Drake well in

u p" wells

are currently "flanging

the Gulf of Mexico.

a composite of the contributions

is

who

typical oilfielder himself,

days be a college graduate, thinks of himself

an adventurous,

and

in off shore locations in

though he may nowais

often thought of

as

quick-thinking, resourceful, rough-talking, and

fearless,

picturesque worker. Certainly his language reflects these qualities, and

perhaps the non-oilman finds

him

interesting chiefly because of the lingo

with which he describes his work and spins his yarns.


linguistic pioneer as the early

orders,

make

his reports,

and recount

propriate to his industry,

which only

his experiences in a

recently has

He

pioneering stage into the stage of specialization.


conventional
linguistic

mode

concern

of expression, by

is

He

is

as

much

American frontiersman: he must give

what

is

his

language ap-

emerged from the


is

uninhibited by a

"right" or "wrong." His only

for graphic, vivid expression,

and

this

he achieves by

a specialized language.

Both the needs which

call the

originators themselves are


is

small

wonder

conservative

and

terms of

many and

this

language into being and the

of varied natures. Consequently,

it

that the resulting vocabulary

is

paradoxical. Evidences of

creative influences exist side

by

side: conservatism result-

ing in the preservation of old terms that have outlasted the activities and

machinery they represent, and creativeness, in the


speech, in the wealth of synonyms, nicknames,

ment, and in the adaptability of the language to


hand, there

is

a large body of four-letter

the oilfielder's desire to shock, but


tions.

On

the other hand, there are

fresh, lively figures of

and terms of disparageall situations.

On

the one

words whose use grew out of

which have

lost their original associa-

euphemisms more suggestive and more

THE LANGUAGE

shocking than the words they replace. Linguistic economy


the

many

evident in

is

clipped forms used in giving orders and keeping records; yet

many

there are probably as

long,

cumbersome, time-consuming compounds

used for the same purposes. Often the most flippant expressions
the most dangerous activities.
those slowly. Yet

a vocabulary that loses

It is

refer to

few terms, and

rapid growth parallels that of the petroleum industry

its

itself.

It

may seem

strange that lexicographers were slow in recording this

The

particular linguistic species.

reason for the scarcity of scholarly in-

vestigation lies partly in the nature of

its

originators

and

users.

Petroleum

men

have always been segregative and disposed to discuss their work and

their

problems

among

themselves only.

and sometimes almost

The

location of oil fields in isolated,

during the formative years of

inaccessible, places

the industry helped further to restrict the use of

scouts, wildcatters,

their hearers

with

vernacular to oilfielders.

thirties

their language.

Although most

oil-field

lingo

times shocking to the uninitiated,

may seem

incomprehensible and some-

for the

most part made up of familiar

it is

elements of the English language.

problem

its

many communities had been introduced to


and roustabouts who first startled and then entertained

But by the nineteen

to solve, a

new

When

a worker

task to perform, a

new

is

faced with a

tool to master, or a

new
new

command to give, he is forced to use the language with which he is familiar.


But he must use it in a new way therefore, either he borrows terminology
;

from other

industries or occupations or he creates a practical, self-explana-

tory expression

from

his native linguistic store.

usually does, combine the

two methods. The

Of

course,

he may, and

result, a sizable

body of old

words with new meanings, assumes an important place in occupational


argot, a

word

stock that arises because there

old vocabulary in a

Few words
conform

to

new

is

a definite

need for

it

an

guise.

of foreign origin occur,

and when they do they are made

English phonetic patterns and are frequently respelled,

to

e.g.,

Slumber Jay (see the dictionary). These words, as well as those of English
origin, undergo various linguistic changes: they are compounded with
other words, they acquire prefixes or suffixes or both, they appropriate

synonyms by nicknaming and euphemizing, and they undergo semantic


change.

The manner

in

which many of

these changes occur

hazard than systematic. Linguistic usage

is

is

more hap-

governed primarily by the

THE LANGUAGE

whim

of the workers

no one

who

invent and employ the language. For instance,

hesitates to use a locution because

rather than to a verb

an

attached to a

-er suffix is

noun

or for any other

(e.g., barreler, oil fielder, stooler),

reason concerned with prescribed linguistic behavior.

As

speech, a term goes out of use only because the action

expresses or the

device

it

practical

names

is

no longer

existent or because a

term has supplanted

more

it

descriptive or

Interviews with oilfielders from the Southwest, from

this

New

language.

York, Penn-

and West Virginia, from Ohio and Indiana, and from California
most of the terminology of one region

indicate that

regions. All the written sources

principle

more

it.

Geographical boundaries can hardly be said to exist in

sylvania,

in standard

tjie

lang uage

basically the

is

understood in

is

all

have consulted corroborate the same

same

in all the fields in the

United

States^JT here are variations, particularly irTslang and colloquial expressions

and in place names, but these

difficulty to

The
ing,

are actually so slight as to offer

workers transferring from one region

vocabulary of the

oil field

has

grown by borrowing,

compounding, clipping, and using

English language.

It is

cupational vernacular.
tivities that

no serious

to another.

figuratively

adapting, coin-

words already in the

characterized by the qualities typical of every ocIts

differences are attributable primarily to the ac-

are peculiar to the oil field.

Although

it is

not for a

moment

to

be supposed that the principal significance of a study of the language of the


oil field is to

be found in

that matter, in

doubt that

its

influence

upon

much of it has actually

extended

close observation of this specialized

sight into the principles

The

and

influences at

or for
there can be no

the general vocabulary

any of the points discussed in

this section

itself

into general use.

language gives one a clearer

work

in the

growth of

all

in-

lan-

may observe at first hand a living, changing, vigorous


speech that produces new forms, new meanings, and new combinations to
meet the needs of its speakers. The manner in which the language of the
oil field has grown is not unique; language has ever developed so. The
guage.

student

principles of

its

development are those which conditioned the growth of

the standard language of literature before linguistic development

was

re-

tarded and inhibited by the schoolmaster.


1
For details see Thomas L. Crowell, "Universality of Petroleum Terminology,"
American Speech, Vol. XXIV (1949), 201-206; and Frederick R. Pond, "Language of
the California Oil Fields," American Speech, Vol. VII (1932), 263.

THE LANGUAGE

Origins
very extensive and constantly increasing body of technical terms

The

and slang used in the

oil field is

Some terms

English words.

are

derived almost entirely from native

borrowed from related

industries; others

are adapted

from unrelated

usage;

others are actually created (as in standard English)

isting

still

industries

and

activities

and involve

figurative

from

ex-

forms by compounding, clipping, blending, and commonization.

Needless to

language of the

say, the

oil field for

nates in the specific activities of oilfielders.


to close a well in,

lift

that activates the

it

When

pump.

ducing again, a worker

If the

it is

well

is

told to\h ic\ the well

is

terms originated

starts the

when

it

is

pump er,

aft or

with

commanded
If

the well

is

fluid so that

in (closing the valves

he stops the motor

pumping

necessary to start a

In either case he

the greater part origi-

worker

(filling the hole

the petroleum) or by shutting

head or well head)

at the casing

he stops the flow of that well by some means.

flowing, he stops production by filling

the gas cannot

When

bounce

well pro-

off the engine.

engine by the appropriate means; however, both

the engines were equipped with a

huge flywheels

which workers turned by standing on the spokes and kicking down. Thus,
hjc^ing a well off and bouncing off an engine in a specific manner came to

mean

starting

an engine by any means (the position of the adverb

governed only by idiom)


oil

When one is

flowing through the pipe,

if

he

is

a pipeliner;

merely gets busy. Here a

specific order

in the expression get the

rago ut,

Danger

life.

not a pipeliner, he

is

only one meaning: 'Jxujry."

one might add,

effective. She's

West Texas means the weight inmore weight on the drilling line than the derrick
The derrick is in danger of collapsing, and everyone runs for

something

say the very least.


original use

is

start

is

The cry headache!

different:

he

off is

or the hand's around to

shows that there

will support.
his

there

if

may

has undergone extension. However,

signals are quite specific and,

Long Beached
dicator

told to get on the line, he

it

is

The

meant

results in the

falling that

same

might

cry fire in the hole!

that an explosive

action, but the

is

quite

one a headache,

to

of a different nature. In

its

easily give
is

danger

had been

set off

and everyone must

ORIGINS
find shelter, but in present-day pipelining

The

ing and everybody must get busy.

Although commands and danger

it is

a signal that the boss

implication

is

signals are primarily functional, they

are also descriptive. Other expressions are purely descriptive,

macaroni

e.g., to

ma\e

blow up from too much pressure: the

to cause a pipe line to

is

com-

is

self-evident.

pieces. To shoc\ macaroni is to


much the same manner that grain

macaroni (pipe) breaks into

stand pipe in

the corner of the derrick in

is

the farm.

To

by rapping on the

rattle tubes is to clean the distillery tubes

outside of the tube

and forcing

through the

air

inside.

shocked on

To jungle up

is

to

camp out in the woods (jungle) and rest up (this might well be a phrasal
blend). The expression was common during the early days of pipelining
and

is still

the activity

When
requires

recognized, but so far as

any

its

can determine, neither the term nor

in current usage except in anecdote.

is

oil-field activity duplicates the

work

of another industry or

machinery, the oilman borrows the terminology of that indus-

along with the activity or machinery which called

try

example, the very close relationship between


led to extensive borrowings

oil

had seeped

into the wells

salt

gallery, or drift,

much of the

was common

to all

mining

unscrupulous promoter was as likely to jump a claim in the

he was in
to

move

salt

dirt

mining or any other mining venture.

it

min-

An

industry as

was necessary

closely related specifically to salt

ing are such terms as salting a well (putting


of enticing buyers), borer,

given oil-well
titles

When

oil

activities.
oil

as

salt-mining

by shovel, the term used for such action was mucking, a word

adopted from general mining. More

the

pro-

first oil

wells of Penn-

terminology, as well as that of general mining, was transferred to

The term

mining

salt

and "ruined" them. Inasmuch

both products were obtained from the same source,

ing.

For

into being.

from mining terminology. The

duced commercially in the United States came from the


sylvania: oil

it

mining and

with them into the

Not much

because salt-well drillers

first oil-well drillers,

new

progress

and they took

are the titles

who

first

already bore

their old designations

industry.

was made

dent that the machinery used in


drilling. In fact, there

was

But since Pennsylvania

is

ment on dry land found

min-

a worthless well in hopes

and digger. Borer and digger

drillers, possibly

were the

oil in

little

in the oil industry before

salt

mining was

became

evi-

machinery of a suitable type anywhere.

near the coast,

their

it

far too light for oil-well

way

many

sailors

to the oil fields.

who

sought employ-

Following

close

behind

THE LANGUAGE

these transplanted sailors

came

which they

the heavy nautical machinery to

were accustomed and which was

easily

adapted to use in the

oil field.

So

there was a wholesale taking over of workers, machinery, and language.

The
tor

cathead was taken over with

and

its

all its

appurtenances, including

name. The top of the derrick became the crow's

record, the log; the device

on which

lines

its

opera-

nest; the well

and ropes were wound, the

reel;

any portion of the derrick or equipment that resembled the nautical mast, a
mast; any narrow walk, a catwalk; and any small opening, particularly one
opening into a boiler or tank, a hatch. Getting the machinery ready

was and

drilling

up and the part

called rigging

still is

to start

of the machinery

came to be known as the rii


two decades, the industry has grown

that operated the drilling devices

Particularly during the past

such proportions that


ly,

much

now

it

overlapping terminology

are used by oil-field workers


definite place in

to

overlaps several other industries; consequentis

to

be found. Inasmuch as these terms

in oil-field activities,

they certainly have a

any study of that language. Possibly the greatest number

of overlapping terms

is

to be

found in transportation, communication, and

construction.

The

means

early

fore, the

nicknames

companied them
b<-

driver, a

mule

of transportation

was primarily mule power;

mules and

common

for

to the oil field.

peeler or

their drivers

mule migh t be

there-

to teamsters ac-

called a hardtail ; his

mule skinner. Mule skinner must have been more

popular, for the skinner has been retained in cat skinner, truck skinner,

and derrick skinner, as well as in the place name Skinners' Rest, a camping
place for early-day mule skinners. In trucks, the vehicle without a bed is

k nown

as a bob-tail ;

one with

its

engine over the front wheels, a cab-over:

a trailer bed, a float; a trailer or a truck bed with

tandem.
gear

Oil-field truck drivers are called variously

jammer and

gravel

hog or by the

on the front of the truck

receives

its

specific title

name from

two

sets of

wheels, a

by the general

junk

hustler.

titles

The guard

a similar guard

on the

front of a railroad engine, the cowcatcher.

In the petroleum industry, most of the terminology of the communication division

is

the

same

some of the terminology

as that of utility
is

specific.

companies in general; however,

A telegraph operator is a brass pounder;

pounder was to become a bonus


man, a pounder so accurate and so fast that he earned a bonus and could
operate the bonus wires (wires carrying only coded messages). Telephone

in earlier days the ambition of every brass

ORIGINS
repairmen are whoop and holler men, so called from the signals with which
they establish contact.

The

telephone

telewire twister. Helpers of

all

uncertain: one field worker says


for the helper

another says

must

it

stay

derives

communication
tion

He

it is

a combination of

to protect

possum

belly (a

called a
is

for the lineman;

who

canopy stretched over and

workers from the current)

There

activities.

the trac\ walker,

lines in

is

ground and hunt,

on the ground and hunt material

is,

does not walk at

an airplane and reports leaks

common

is

to all

on the other hand, one communica-

employee of the petroleum industry whose


is

gang

in a pipe-line

from the grunts and groans the helper emits under

the load he carries. Similarly,

around insulators

man

linemen are grunts. The origin of grunt

and

title

all

duties are unique.

but rides over the pipe

pump

to the nearest

station

by para-

chute or by wireless.

Construction terms pertaining to excavation are almost as essential to


the oil industry as drilling terms, for actual drilling activity c annot begi n
until necessajy pitsjiave

rowed terms

been prepared and ro ads built

are push bucket, to build pits,

and

ing device manipulated by a crane that pulls

and digging

synonymous.

pits are related processes,

so

making

this

the bor-

Push bucket

name: an excavat-

toward the motor. Building

but the terms are by no means

making an excavation and


embankment around it. Digging

contract to build pits includes

using the dirt so removed to build an


pits is

it

Among

to dig pits.

seems to be a misnomer for the equipment given

pits

the excavation only

and spoiling (throwing away) the

dirt

removed.

By

far the greatest portion of the

language of the

compounding. The ease with which


seen in both the

compounds

that

oil field is

this process is

conform

derived from

accomplished

to general usage

may

be

and those that

no standard whatsoever. Nouns compounding two simple un-

conform

to

inflected

nouns are

attic

hand, attitude valve, circus rule, grief stem, per-

Nouns
compounded with nouns of agency are collar cor\er, oil puncher, and s\y
hoo\er. Similar compounds with the noun of agency used as the first element are breather roof and -\er\er pump. Compound nouns formed from a
simple adjective and a noun are green hand, high power, hot roc\, old man,
and roughneck- Nouns derived from a verb and its object are cut oil, drill
mit man, pot man, smut hound, stroke department, and swivel nec\.

hole,

dump

gas,

Compounds

dump

oil,

grab sample, load

oil,

pipe grab, and push pole.

derived from verb-adverb and adverb-verb combinations are

THE LANGUAGE

10

used both as nouns and as adjectives.

breakup, come-along,
run-down, by-pass,

Some

packpff, roustabout, run-around,

fill-up, hide-out,

and

never-slip,

offset.

compound

Practically every sort of

of these are bac\-out, blow-by,

is

possible by using any part of

speech in any kind of combination. Genitives and uninflected nouns give

pumper's paradise,

devil's

brew,

driller's seat

and

hand, devil's pitchfor\, devil's spoon, devil's

stool, Devil's

Den,

devil's

Dad

miner's inch, and

tar,

lantern.

Some
heating

triple

compounds showing

a variety of combinations are orchard-

flange, dish-bottom tan\, one-lung engine,

oil, telltale

basket, straight-hole test, dry-hole

hurry-up sand, poor-boy packer and dual-zone well.

cumbersome but

are phrasal; they are

open-end

money, one-armed Johnny, once-run


colorful

Still

and

other

oil,

compounds

descriptive.

Auger-

sinker-bar guides, dead-in-a-hurry , go-to-hell wagon, scarcely-ever-get-oil

company (synonym
his brains

\noc\ed

for hardly-able or poor-boy

out,

and so-long sand

company), mechanic with

are representative of this type of

compound.
In the language of the

some

(usually

much

oil field,

compounds

longer and more

which they replace)

exist side

that are long

difficult to say

and cumber-

than the simple words

by side with simpler compounds, clipped

forms, abbreviations, and words formed from abbreviations. Frequently,


of course, the longer locutions originated in facetiousness

and

are

used

still

with humorous intent; the shorter ones originated on the whole in practicality

and

The
most

are used in giving orders

use of prefixes

and

entirely to the de-

fixed to a

noun

to

form

and keeping

agency

Again the

re- prefixes

and the

word may be

is

limited

De- may be

much

the

a verb with the ^-prefix

same pattern

verbs: recondition, releg, repressure,


verbs.

The noun

and

al-

pre-

suffix to

and the

a noun, as in defoamer, dehydrator, desalter,

destin\er. Re- follows

and rerun from

-er suffix.

and deparaffin; it may also


form a verb, as in de-

a verb as in de-asphalt

root

form

suffix to

vocabulary

suffixes to increase the

and

be prefixed to a noun that has acquired a


colorize.

records.

retip

reboiler

is

to

and

produce the following

from nouns; and

compounded

recycle,

in the

same

manner.

The

suffix -er

may

be compounded with a verb to form a noun of agency

as in barker, borer, drifter, driller, recorder, settler, starter,

But

it is

just as

commonly compounded with

noun

and sweetener.

as in barreler, holer,

ORIGINS

II

incher,

and stooler.

A noun so formed may undergo a second compounding

with another part of speech as in blue whistler, water witcher, dog catcher,
eye rester, pipe stabber, slip puller, and

Among

clipped forms are

wax

sweater.

lab (analytical laboratory), forams (for-

aminifera), reefer (refrigerator car for loading wax), scope pole (telescope
pole), tarp (tarpaulin), Tel.

department), and

X lab

and

Among

(experimental laboratory).

(American Petroleum

Institute),

D.B. crew (doodle bug crew),

a sap),

but

and

just

TD

base

mud),

BS&W true

the original terms. Mirt

o.d. (outside

much

like

from the navy, meaning

been opened contains the same grade

Neither are B.S. and

anything out of order),

(as soon as possible,

(total depth). S.o.s. looks

a signal adopted

it is

o.b. (oil

and abandon), asap

job (plug

(moving

ab-

B.O. (abbreviation for bac\-

out, but also used as a slang expression to denote

P&A

many

the

which they stand

breviations used in the field in preference to the terms for


are A.P.I.

and telephone

Tel. department (telegraph

oil as

such an abbreviation,

that a tank

which has

the one being closed.

abbreviations; they are

in rotary tools),

diameter),

pronounced

euphemisms

for

mort (moving out rotary

pup (pick up pump), Howco (Halliburton Oil Well Cementing


Company), sap (soon as possible), woes (waiting on cement to set), and
woo (waiting on orders) were created from initials.
In the field, many shortened forms occur on two levels, standard and

tools),

slang.

For example, A.P.I, may be

cation of oil-field

either

an indication of standard

equipment or a descriptive expression having nothing

whatever to do with equipment or the American Petroleum

A.P. I. becomes a symbol for what


son or thing.

do

so,

a fellow worker

The

is

is

Institute.

Thus,

expected on any occasion of any per-

comes on the job drunk and he

a worker

If

specifi-

is

accustomed to

apt to remark, "That's A.P.I, for him!"

blends are for the most part humorous. Petrolecrat

is

a blend of

petroleum and aristocrat and was applied to members of the Osage Indian
tribe

who were

blend of

oil

receiving an income

from

oil.

Geoilogist appears to be a

and geologist but may be merely

a corruption, conscious or

otherwise, of geologist.
takes his girl

and

worker

his liquor

However, some blends

who

takes puskey on the jobjyith

him

an offense for which he might lose his job.

serve as technical names. This

is

true of Micro-

Choice {micrometer and cho\e), Dieselectric (diesel and electric), and

Rapiduction (rapid and production).

The names

of

many

early manufacturers of oil-field

equipment

live

on

THE LANGUAGE
in the

12

common names

of the products

such companies have ceased to


-?

exist.

which they introduced, long


For example, there

after

crummy

are

wrenches or simply crummies, which originally bore the name of the manufacturer,

Forgy,

Crumbey. Forgy handle (from the name of the salesman, William

who

introduced the jack in the

commonization and may

refer to

oil fields

of the East) has undergone

any similar device. Folk etymology

is

and forced handle.


in existence and has

responsible for the variants foggy handle, jor\y handle,

The Red Devil Manufacturing Company is still


much oil-field equipment. But, so far as I can determine, the only
product of this company which bears the name red devil is an air-driven
ha mmer used for knocking off rivet head s. The term has been extended
produced

to all similar

hammers, regardless

of manufacturer.

Further commonization tendencies

worth
its

(v.t.)

hold

In the

is

cleaned for an

offices

may

and George White balance.


oil

load by a

of the Gulf Oil

showing only the "over" or

be seen in such terms as butter-

When

Company

in

making

his

is

butterworthed,

a Mr. Butterworth.

Houston, Texas, any balance

"short," but not both,

White balance because one George White, an


pany, was adept at

a ship

method devised by

early

is

said to be a

books seem to balance in

this

doubt that the expression has been written before; however,


used in the Gulf Oil Company, and

George White himself has been

The

am

sure that

all

manner.

it is

widely

connection with

lost.

names of oil-field ghost towns, though somewhat less


came through the vernacular. Usually the name Ragtown I s reserved for the tent section of a boom town, but a community "near
Healdton, Oklahoma adopted the name for the entire town when oil was
discovered there. Spindletop took its name from the spindle shape of the
salt dome that produced enough oil to flood the market in the early nineteen hundreds. ]a\ehamon, Texas, was named for its founder, Jake L.
Hamon, a railroad promoter who built his own town in order to have a
right of way and a terminal for shipping oil out of Desdemona.
origin of the

obvious, doubtless

George

employee of the com-

DEVELOPMENT

13

Development

large

number

of specialized oil-field locutions originate in figurative

usage.

Many

such expressions have already been discussed under

"Origins." Others will appear in subsequent sections. Like slang, they are
largely the result of
tions, to find a

to amuse by calling up incongruous associamanner of expression, and to attract attenthese expressions could not have come into

an attempt

new and

fresh

tion by shocking. Certainly

new term

being without group acceptance, for the launching of any


type

is

dependent upon audience appeal. Some have

cal terminology,

while others

make

use of taboo words. All are colorful.

has been pointed out that the basic words themselves are old, but

It

meanings and forms may be new. As

their

naculars, figurative terms are created

worker

sees

some resemblance between the

in actual appearance, in sound, in

some

produced, in which case the term


the resemblance
it

may

is

true of other industrial ver-

on the spur

and an experience he has had outside the

son

of this

their origin in techni-

oil field.

trait

may

of the

moment when

task, device, or

problem

This resemblance

at

hand

may

lie

or characteristic, or in the effect

be descriptive.

On

the other hand,

be elusive and the term farfetched; yet for some rea-

appeals to those people

who

hear

it,

and

it

becomes an important part

of the language.

The metaphors which

from shape

are derived

are

many.

wooden

block through which a rod line passes becomes a doll head, because at a
looks like one. After the rod line has been activated back

short distance

it

and

opening through which

forth, the

doll face,

doll

head

and the block,


is

it

passes acquires the shape of a real

that of a "Buster

Brown"

haircut.

Sometimes the

supported by two leg-like structures which strengthen the

re-

semblance.

Elephant ears are large pieces of leather used by pipeliners


their

arms from pipe burns. Whiskers are the

tattletale (a

flaw detector). In a like manner, a woodpecker hole

a rope socket through

The

which the cable

passes.

to protect

bristle-like structures

pigtail

is

is

on

a hole in

any coiled pipe.

pigpen, though, has nothing to do with the pigtail, or the pig (a pipe-

line scraper) either, for that matter. It

is

the fence-like structure around the

THE LANGUAGE

14

An

crow's nest.

attic or

umbrella

is

a cave-catcher (a tool for the purpose

of catching debris in a drill hole), so called because

When

umbrella.

it is

lowered into the well,

it

looks like an inverted

looks like a closed umbrella;

it

when it is put into operation, it opens slightly to form a cone which points
downward with its edges firm against the sides of the well. It protects the
lower portion of the well by catching whatever may fall into the hole in
on the outer

the cone rather than

surface.

Other terms derived from shape but differing greatly from

and wagon

nals in size are rat hole, specs, stinger,

slanting hole about twenty-five feet deep into

square pipe that drives the

The term

tions.

from reducing the


rat hole
it is

is

the

stem)

come

to

rat hole is a

grief stem (the

lowered while making connec-

while coring. Closely related to the

which looks much

hole,
is

is

The

to include also the small hole resulting

size of the drill hole

mouse

smaller. Its purpose

It is also

drill

rat hole has

top.

which the

their origi-

hold the

drill

called the hurry-up hole, because

like the rat hole except that

pipe rather than the grief stem.

it is

an aid

to

making connections

quickly.

employed

Specs, or spectacles, are

rod lines to the jack


to a pair of

huge

pump and

spectacles

is

to

lift

two purposes:

for at least

cable-tool drill bits.

stinger looks like an

The term
The wagon

is

socket.

top

is

round

immense

insect sting. It

is

lifting device.

the extension

on a

also used to designate a part of the wire-line rope

gin pole.

shape

connect

unmistakable, with the ear pieces serving in

one case as the connecting device and in the other as the

The

to

The resemblance

is

much

larger than the canvas covering,

wagon

only generally suggestive of the original

safety net spread in refinery

stills

height from injury in the event of a

men working

to protect

fall

and

to

top. It

is

and

its

a huge,

at a great

prevent those working

at

lower levels from being struck by falling objects.

number

of terms originate in sounds.

extension (usually an ordinary tin can, but


tion)

on an exhaust

the exhaust,
for each

pipe.

to tell at

barker, or squealer,

may

is

an

be any kind of connec-

This extension changes the sound escaping from

and the operator

motor

it

is

enabled by using a different type of barker

long distance which well

is

not running properly.

A crybaby, jackbird, or

mockingbird warns the operator that some part of

the engine needs oiling.

When bearings become dry, they make a persistent,

piercing noise that becomes increasingly shrill until they are oiled.

The

sound

and

is

not so beautiful as a bird's song, but

it

is

as penetrating

DEVELOPMENT

15
certainly as disturbing as the crying of a baby. It
gets

demands and

a cry that

immediate attention.

When a pumper
is

is

says she's cluc king right along, he

producing. In a flowing well there

is

means

that the well

a clucking noise that accompanies

flowing, possibly caused by the check valve. This noise resembles the soft,

regular clucking of a hen to her chicks.

A hammer in a line is a knocking sound in a steam line caused by mixA pig like the farm animal in two

ing steam and vapor with liquid.


respects

and

it

it

makes

lines to

is

"burrows" through a pipe


a grunting noise. It

line as a pig

burrows in the ground,

a self-propelling device released in pipe

is

remove any obstruction (usually

paraffin)

By following

ing noise until the pig stops, a pig chaser (the pipeliner
pig)

of

is

able to locate

who

an obstruction.

The sound made by the drilling tools


the hole when the limit of the line's

(of a cable-tool rig) at the


elasticity

alternate stroke rather than

on every

Still
ties.

lengthen the drilling

let

other metaphorical terms arise from the similarity between activi-

The term

driller acquires the

same manner

synonyms

borer, weevil,

that the insect pests,

from which

possibly derived, bore through the farmer's crops.

and ultimately

ground

The term

we have

much

The buflglg is an amphibi-

equipment through marshes and water. The churn


as often called a yo-yo; so today

in

his various titles are

ous tractor used in laying pipe in marshes and in transporting

yo-yos.

out screw,

line.

boll weevil, partly because the driller bores a hole in the

the

on each

stroke, suggesting the footfalls of a

one-legged man. This sound warns the driller that he must


is,

bottom

has been reached, came

very early to be calle d peg leggi ng. In this case the tools begin to hit

that

grunt-

its

follows the

drill

men and

was formerly just

spudders, rigs, and trucks called

yo-yo has also been compounded, as in yo-yo driller and

yo-yo stic\ (a device used to loosen or tighten the

set

screw that holds the

temper screw) The motion of the rotary rig gave

the

name coffee grinder.

The

similarity

between the

hole gave the cement

timber

is

known

man

it

filling of a cavity in a tooth

the

nickname

dentist.

and in a bore

Handling heavy pipe and

as wrestling because of the physical effort

expended.

worker wrestles pipe wjiea^e loads or un4oads.it.


-

A number of striking metaphors defy classification. For example, when


one says that grease has eaten up a piece of machinery, he means
opposite: the machinery

is

worn out because no

just the

grease has been put

on

it.

THE LANGUAGE
when

Similarly,

l6
a worker

mean

phrase does not

in the doghouse, contrary to general usage the

is

that he

miserable or unhappy; he

is

very likely

is

comfortably and idly sitting in his favorite "hangout" spinning yarns with
his fellow workers.
shelter

change

The doghouse

from the weather or

any small house on a

is

as a place

their clothes, or rest

lease

where workers may hang

used as a

their coats,

while inactive. Lease records are often kept in

the doghouse.

A good worker

But a snapper (one who looks

down and

he \eeps his head

hits the ball;

an easy job)

for

loafs

and wastes

topping the tan\s out the easy way (running them over).

and

his sac\ full (get tired of his job) soon


is

go down the cree\ with the

likely to

A
drills.

dishonest driller

steal hole

crewman

hit the suitcase

When

nection too tight.

he says he

When

is

pull

sand (quit) he

by reporting more footage than he

green

it

any rotary

a well

to be

is

her on the beam.

is

To

makes

her on the hoo\

it

it is

stop a well, one

if

may hang

the well

is

same engine)

tie

order

off the

it

pumping

says

let

her rip or

a can on her

an engine, throw a cob in the wheel.

knows

is

hang

bump-off post (a

of one well without afif it is

at the drilling stage, or

her up or off or sew the button on, he


is

and

on the pump, the order

the tools are run in the hole to keep anything

Sand

which case

also

at capacity, the

to be put

possible to stop the

orders for starting any engine are

task he

in

in derision

it

mean to make a conmaking progress in drilling,

may

driller is

allowed to flow

given. If

fecting other wells activated by the

for stopping

by

turning to the right.

her go full force

device that

To

green.

it

oil

he doesn't get

(be fired)

often puts grass or leaves around

the other pulled

if

If

An inexperienced one may pull a bit before it is worn,

a rival

let

may

oil

his rear up.

a jack well,

hang

han g her on the wrench

from
tail

If

falling in. Typical

and

kic k her off;

a worker

that he

is

is

one

told to seal

to finish

whatever

occupied with as quickly as possible.

that wears the drilling bit off

may

on one

side only

is

called h illside

worn is said to have


been m ule-footed because it is shaped like a mule's foot. Buckwheat batter,
chocolate roc\s, clover-seed sand, and sugar sand take their names from
the substances they resemble most. But hurry-up sand gets its name because
sand, though

it is

it

be miles from a

hill;

and a

bit so

very difficult to drill in and, consequently, wears out bits so fast that in

order to have one always ready the tool dresser

ing (sharpening and shaping) them.

is

kept busy hurriedly dress-

DEVELOPMENT

17

Oil on the brain and


speculators

fever are

oil

names

for the disease of eager oil

who have been "bitten by the oil bug." If a driller has

bronchitis,

he does not need the assistance of a physician; he needs experienced workers to help

him

drill his well.

His bronchitis

who have enough

is

caused by the inefficiency of

make them think they


know all about the work, but not enough to make them dependable).
The courtesy card of gasoline-rationing days was a rubber hose to be
used in siphoning casing-head gasoline into one's car. The gasoline thus
siphoned was known as midnight ethyl, a very powerful fuel and one
broncs (workers

experience to

almost always secured under cover of night. Moonlighting

is

term applied

today to any illegal activity engaged in at night.

Any pit on a lease (a


company and belonging

management

part of an oil field under the


to

or worry bo x, depending

upon who

is

have a habit of throwing old or unusable tools into the

having
last

them.

to use

time

saw

When questioned about

lt~was~in the big tooI~box.^

it,

of one

may become the big^tool bo x


speaking. The workers themselves

one landowner)

such a

The

tool, th ey

tool

keep fro

pit to

"T he

answer,

pusher (the foreman

over the rig builders and the drilling cfewj~thinks of the pit as the worry
box, because his duty

is

to

keep the workers supplied with proper

constant disappearance of which

Hyperbole
anecdotes.

is

the source of

tools,

much worry.
humor derived from

the

the source of

is

much

For a number of reasons

of the

it is

oil-field

not advisable for a driller to give

out specific information about the well he

is

drilling;

however,

oil scouts,

innocent bystanders, and well-wishers cannot refrain from asking questions, particularly

about the depth of a bore hole.

who

directed to the driller himself,

"deep as hell" or occasionally "deep as a


dressed to an assistant,
driller.

His answer

is

who

is

The first

answers (in every


tree."

inquiry

field I

The second

is

usually

have visited)
inquiry

is

ad-

informed of the noncommittal answer of the

no more

satisfactory:

"Deep

as hell!

We

passed hell

three days ago!"


It is

impossible to discuss here

body of figurative terms in


tinent to touch briefly

all

the factors contributing to the large

this occupational

language. But

on the influence of two of

it

seems per-

these factors that illustrate

adequately the method of figurative adaptation. Both also show something


of the process of vocabulary growth.
First, the

terminology.

animal world has exerted a tremendous influence upon

The names of birds, insects, and beasts, both wild and

field

domesti-

THE LANGUAGE
have found their place in the vernacular. As in the metaphorical

cated,

usage discussed above, the similarity between the actual animal and

namesake may be found

its

in partial resemblance, in behavior, or in some-

thing that merely pertains to or suggests the animal. There are the grass-

hopper pumping
City.

and Grasshopper

unit, the grasshopper counterbalance,

The grasshopper pumping

much like a moving grasspumping beam is equipped with

unit looks very

hopper, and the counterbalance with the

a head-like structure, a stirrup for attaching the rod. Grasshopper City,

Pennsylvania, one of the

named

wells. Strangely

to

my

great oil fields in the United States,

enough, the head-like structure referred

knowledge ever been

horse head
if

first

because of the ludicrous, grasshopper-like movements of

if

is

is

so

many

above has not

called a grasshopper head; instead,

the upper portion

the structure

to

was

its

it

is

square like a horse's head, or a mule head

curved.

The derrickma n

is

more often

called a

mon\ey

or a derrick

mon\ey,

and the platform on which he works, a monkey board; but the protective
belt which he wears is an insurance cheater. It is difficult to understand

<h

why the figure is dropped in one instance and maintained in others.


ly the

ly

derrickman resembles the circus monkey in his

and

rapidly, in his comfortable familiarity

the derrick,

and

is

Actual-

climb sure-

with the upper portions of

which is remimonkeys are kept.

in the appearance of his insurance cheater

niscent of the harness

Spider

ability to

and

applied to

spaces for serrated slips

leash

on which uncaged

numerous

circus

devices: the circular iron device with

which surrounds and grips the casing or

drill pipe;

a type of funnel with five outlets resembling legs, used for changing the

charging belt of clay

filters;

and any web of pipes or wires within the

two instances the resemblance

finery plant. In the first

alone; in the third instance the resemblance

Some

devices bear the

are goosenec\,

dog

in the spider web.

and

pigtail.

In addition there are

dragon's blood (bright red powder

tests), turtlebac\ (a

coupling on a rod line and also the

oxygen

worn by

oil-field

workers), horse coc\ (anything so

name

of a

to the swivel) ,

and

shaped: a kind of swedge used to ream out a pipe or hole, the


drilling bit, a riveting bar,

and a rotary-hose connection

a mule's foot (a knot in a rag line that fastens


is

fish

scales),

protective metal hat

mule foot

re-

to the spider

of parts of animals. In general usage there

legs, cathead,

scales (lime, rust, or

used in titration

names

lies

is

also used as a verb.

it

to a rope socket)

The term

DEVELOPMENT

10.

Terminology suggesting the animal world


tion to

mouse

is

just as widespread. In addi-

and pigpen already mentioned, there are

hole, rat hole,

boar's

The

duck's nest, crow's nest, doghouse, mousetrap, and duc\ wal\.

nest,

names for lead tongs used on the derrick floor are derived from
favorite farm names for mules, Pete and Maud. The source of these

favorite

the

terms

is

probably

unknown

to the

younger generation of

oil-field

Often the point of resemblance between an animal and a


in

one single

trait

or characteristic.

field

workers.

term

lies

For example, any worker who searches

hound after the true hound that smells out its


prey. The term is compounded to distinguish various workers: there are
lease hounds (workers who procure leases) and roc\ hounds (geologists,
whose business it is to find likely locations for drilling). From roc\ hound
are derived the terms roc\sy, or roxy, and pebble pup (an assistant geologist). Hound loses its specialized meaning in smut hound, a name for any
out information

is

labeled

worker in a carbon-black

new

fueling light
it

works

pany

is

and medium

"like a beaver."

Similarly,

plant.

an

aircraft is appropriately

in oil-field

its

namesake can

manner of
terminology. However, the
digs in the

Workers wHo have supervision over

compounded

Consequently,
terrapin.

we

titles to

tell

2
lie.

Com-

Sailor;

Any machine

a doodlebug becomes a doodlebug


term, has been extended to include

any prospecting eq uipment or cre w, whether

their

the Beaver, for

namesake of the comic-strip pet of Popeye the

neither the fictitious animal nor

who

named

in re-

A welder is called a dauber after the mud dauber.

recording device perfected by the Halliburton

electric

called a jeep, a

or worker

Company

type of mobile unit employed by the Shell Oil

it

others

digs like a doodlebug or not.

may have

the

indicate their superiority to the

word stud

common

find such terms as stud horse, stud drille r,

in

"herd."

and stud

very powerful motor becomes an elephant, a stubborn motor,

donkey and a mobile

unit, a goat.

Appellations reflecting size or strength of animals are found in such

terms as bear
^

with

strength
ers)

cat, bull, calf,

hrgejlow. Bull

and

is

and endurance;

The derivation of
when the term

oil field

it is

jeep
is

name

also used in the

bull pen (the enclosure

term bull wheel deserves

duc\, dra\e, and gosling.

prefixed to the

where

g.p. ("general

bear ca t

is

equipment noted

names
from

purpose")

applied to the recording device.

a well
for

its

bullies ( manual labor!

refinery bullies

special attention, for

from

of

it

is

may smoke) The


.

must have been

de-

not applicable in the

THE LANGUAGE

20

rived the term calf wheel,

and performance but

pumping

which

similar to the bull wheel in appearance

is

somewhat

Duc\, and

The term

is

the Drake, the medium-sized

the smallest unit, the Gosling.

weevil illustrates the ease with which one

tended to various locutions. In early


the lubricator

sizes of three

Country Manufacturing Company are

the largest unit

titles:

The comparative

smaller.

units produced by the Oil

indicated by their
unit, the

is

on the rock

bit

and

oil-field

days

word may be

was applied both

it

to the driller, particularly the

new

exto

driller.

new hand was ordered to fill the weevil (put grease


Not understanding what was expected of him, the worker went into the doghouse and ate his lunch. Thus he came to be known as
a weevil and the term was soon transferred to all new workers. In the early
As

the story persists, a

in the lubricator)

nineteen hundreds the term weevil was almost entirely supplanted by the

term

boll weevil?

which today

retains the original

Any

has undergone further extension.


line
is

may

meaning

grease cup or

oil

of weevil but

pipe on a steam

be called a boll weevil. In California a Texan or a rotary

driller

new or clumsy worker who makes foolish


The last meaning has the widest acceptance,
derivecl a number of compounds. The easiest task performed

given the same name, and any

mistakes

called a boll weevil

is

and from

it

are

by a drilling
derrick floor

Any

crew
is

is

assigned to the boll-weevil, and his position on the

called the boll-weevil corner (usually the bac\-up corner).

error that endangers the safety of other workers

been avoided

is

called a boll-weevil sliwt.

and could

no matter who

is

easily

have

at fault. Further-

more, the names for equipment said to be foolproof have come to be com-

pounded with the term;


tongs,

In early

work

boom towns

to secure

enough

tion, his interest in

ment

so

we

find boll-weevil lubricators, boll-weevil

and boll-weevil tubing heads.

was most

to eat.

difficult for a

Inasmuch

as there

food was intensified.

reflect this interest

of oil-field workers.

it

and

at the

man

doing strenuous

was almost no other

Many names

recrea-

for oil-field equip-

same time show something of the

Almost without exception the foods

tastes

so represented in

oil-field

terminology are "heavy." There are few words for green vegetables

among

these names, but there

is

seasoned foods. There are soup and


3

Mody

an abundance for protein and highlyhell's

broth (both nitroglycerin). Meats

C. Boatright in his unpublished manuscript "Oil Field Lingo" says the

inexperienced roughneck

is probably called boll weevil after the cotton pest that


reached the region around Beaumont about the same time Spindletop came in.

CHARACTERISTICS

21

include bull,

meat

calf,

substitute,

cow,

and

fish, pig, rabbit, turtle,

he can find

refining terminology, a charge of dynamite

goat. If one prefers a

egg (a

in cheese (paraffin),

it

cast-iron tank in

terminology),

drilling

in

macaroni (pipe), or spaghetti (one-inch pipe or rods). Vegetables are

and cabbages (bearings on the pitman).


more common. There are derric\ apples, often merely

scarce: there are beans (chokes)

Fruit namesakes are

apples (small particles of anything that sometimes

fall to

the derrick floor),

apple butter (belt dressing), pineapples (cones on rotary bit), and water-

melons (weights used

may

to control the

be of any shape).

tastes,

chokes on heat exchangers or rod

were shaped somewhat

originally they

terminology

If field

lines;

like watermelons, but today they


is

any indication of changing

then confections are losing favor. Until the

one could find both candy and doughnuts

among

late

nineteen twenties

oil-field

equipment, but

today candy (a portion of a dart bailer originally called candy bottoms)

almost unheard of; the doughnut (tubing ring)


chief ingredients for bread are

found in certain

is still

soil

an

essential.

is

The

formations called buck-

wheat batter and corn-meal pebbles, both derived from the remarkable
similarity

between the formations and the foods named. Catsup (a red

And coffee

cant for pipe fittings) and tabasco sauce (acid) serve as relishes.
(a mistake that

draws the penalty of treating the gang

lubri-

and spring

to coffee)

water (acid) serve as drinks.

Characteristics

The language of the

oil field

has already been characterized somewhat

in the preceding chapters. Every factor contributing to

growth, and

its

use has

marked

linguistic principles that

language

As

also,

and

it

in

its

origin,

its

some unmistakable way. Yet the same

govern standard English govern

this specialized

a consideration of these principles seems pertinent.

in standard English, the

until the complete phrases in

meaning

of

some verbs

which they occur

is

not clear at

are considered.

To

get

all

and

to ma\e are such verbs. The expressions to get granite and to get a bone
mean to encounter hard rock. To get the fob done, to get it canned, and to
get it \ellied retain the casual significance of get and mean to complete a
a task of any sort. The casual significance is present but not so easily seen in

get after her wild ass, get off center, get on the line,

and get the rag

out,

,-L

THE LANGUAGE
all

meaning

22

work

to start

which may apply

any task or

to

meaning

or to hurry. In addition to the general


activity,

whether

be in or out of the

it

oil

means specifically to start oil flowing in a pipe line.


To have is the basic meaning of get in to get a ball on, to get one's jelly down,
and to get production; but the specific meanings of the respective phrases
field, to

get on the line

mud on the drill, to quit one's job, and to find a leak in a pipe-

are to collect
line. Still

another meaning

is

evident in to get out of the weather (to escape

bad weather).

ma\e means to form in the phrases to ma\e a


nection, to make a hole (and its synonym to ma\e footage), to make a
with a pencil, to make macaroni, and to make a spool. However, the

con-

not the predominant one in actual usage except in the

first

If

taken

literally, to

of forming

is

example, which means to

mean

phrases

depth of a

ma^

up

cause a line to blow

up and break

and

into pieces,

To

means to form by screwing parts of the drill pipe or


together, and is used in the expression to make it up one more

specifically

meaning

successful,

screw the pipe one more turn.

to

oilmen say

it

makes a

a worker proves himself efficient

well,

and the well

down

the kelly

is

to drill to the

is

If a drilling

in turn

and dependable, he

In other phrases the meaning of the verb

make

other

one's clothes (like a spool) preparatory to leaving location.

string of tools

wrinkle,

The

idea

depth in drilling a well, to cheat in recording the

to gain

drill hole, to

up

to roll

the sections of a drill pipe together.

fit

hole

is

venture

said to

is

When

makes oil.

make a hand.

derived mostly from context to

end of

a joint; to

make

location

is

to

make the rounds is to inspect the wells or


machinery under one's care; to make through is to penetrate the formation;
to make a pull is to pull pipe out of a well; and to make a trip is to pull
lay out the spot for drilling; to

pipe out

of,

and run

To spud
one

is

back

into, the well.

originally

starting a meal, a job, a

though the term

and

it

which

meant

to indicate initial drilling opera-

has undergone extension to designate the beginning of any activity.

tions,
If

in,

is

used in

many

game, or a drink, he
situations, its

is

spudding

meaning remains

in.

fixed.

Generalization in the phrases to -flange up and in a bind has been

more

drastic

words.

To

so drastic, in

flange

specific idea

to

Al-

definite

screw the

is

fact, that

up always

both terms

may

retains the general idea of finishing, but the

often vague and difficult to determine. Originally

final

much

well be called counter

it

connection into place in the completion of a well.

meant

Now,


CHARACTERISTICS

23

up

in addition to the original usage, one flanges

games, and

his drinks.

enough, the term

tell

may

meeting

to conclude

him

When

one says he

may need

contractor

is

may have

a toothache.

in a bind,

may mean

The nouns roustabout and

is

a roustabout

is

is

pulling rods or tiibing

skilled laborer. In drilling,

the boiler, or

is

applied to the laborer

the well, or he

United

is

at

odd

compounded with

The

he

may do

activity of

is

in

who

assisted in

may

is

o il

States. In the

refi nery

may work on

a unit

work around
company as a semi-

general

oil

be either an unskilled laborer

unskilled he does the

is

works

may

undergone generalization.

also

river craft in the

highly skilled, and his duty

their activities.

when an oilman

occasion,

common

labor of the

jobs about the rig. Needless to say,

he aspires to be a tool dresser or a roughnec\.


roustabout

may

pulled from the well, or someone

dog have

however, he

or a highly skilled one. If he

title

derrickman

lose a bit, a

laborer. In production,

from

it

in

any

in

be in any kind of trouble.

producing wells and around the property of the

fields, fires

"go broke," but

to

applied to several different types of workers. In the

an unskilled

him

him

in a bind.

name

and unloading of

term

may
may

what the

bird

Orisinalfor oustabout was the

field the

he

fast as it is

No matter

trouble of any kind, he says he

the loadin g

to put

to "finish."

workers, a driller

have trouble racking pipe as

may mean

person

a.

up," "fire" him, or "ruin"

way. Used intransitively, the phrase

mean simply

successfully or unsuccessfully

it

only by context; to flange up

a favorable position or to "shut

just as logically

his meals, his jobs, his

be flanged up, as well. Strangely

used with both good and bad connotations to flange up

may mean

a business deal

one can

is

the

On

the other hand,

the

if

word head {head roustabout) he


,

to supervise several drilling

any roustabout

is

crews and

called roustabouting.

Bird dog has undergone more extensive generalization. Moreover, the


verb derived from

it

has been subjected to similar changes.

The basic mean-

ing in bird dog originates in the inherent ability of dogs of this particular

breed to "smell out" game. Early in the history of the industry, geologists

were called bird dogs because they were supposed


custom of tasting and smelling the

mud

from

to "smell out" oil.

drill holes

made

Their

the term

doubly appropriate. In time the term came to be applied to any helpful

who served as a guide to "lease hounds," because he pointed out


who might be hard to find. As a reward for his activities he often
received a bird-dog fee. Now the term refers generally to any person who
person

residents

THE LANGUAGE

24

other companies, he

may

pening, or he

may

still

To

dogging.

what he

is

doing

When

dog

anyone

known

as bird dogging.

solicits business,

to

hap-

he

The

verbal

said to be bird

is

means to follow someone closely enough to see


meaning seems to be general) an assistant often
;

assists, since it is his

so that he can replace

him when

business to learn his superior's

it is

slowly in order to see that a very difficult job


is

is

also

(this

bird dogs the one he

work

what

be only a curious hanger-on.

further.

bird

dog information

bird

attach himself to his boss to find out

All the activities of the bird dogs are


idea goes

may

information for any purpose: he

ferrets out

bird dogging, although the

trait

When

necessary.
is

completed

he exhibits in

one works

satisfactorily,

more

this case is

he

like that

of the bulldog.

The noun job, another counter word, seldom occurs alone. It is usually
compounded with another word from which it takes its specific meaning.
In hot job, poor -boy job, and rabbit job the general meaning of job as a
piece of work is retained, but the respective compounding elements describe that piece of work as one for which the worker is not sure of receiving pay, one for which stock,

or part of the wages, and one that

might

refer to

promises are given in place of

interest, or

done in a hurry. In each case the term

is

any kind of work. In blow

compounding element

all

job, collapse job,

work

identifies the

to be done.

and cup

job, the

blow job

entails

cleaning with steam; a collapse job, removing collapsed pipe from the drill
hole;

and a cup

polish job

is

job, replacing

worn cups on

the traveling valve.

The term

a metaphor used to designate any activity that has for

pose securing patronage. For example, a contractor


bosses, or his wife

may

carry

on

may

its

pur-

"play up" to the

this activity.

Again, the word job serves as a counter term for any piece of machinery
or equipment.

A highly

satisfactory piece

one, a bad job. In barge job, piling job,


is

to a rig. In these

compounds, job

is

is

a pretty job; an unsatisfactory

and sparkplug

qualified to

mean

job, the reference

a rig

mounted on a

barge for off-shore drilling or wor\-over, one mounted on a stationary

foundation for off-shore drilling, or one motivated by


job,

it

electricity.

In float

designates a truck with a float trailer attached; in gin job, a truck

equipped with a gin pole


jac\\nife job

is

to aid in loading

a gin pole (which

may

and unloading.

A lay-down

or

be a rig mounted on a truck or

the drilling rig itself) that can be raised or lowered as required.

Evidence of the conservatism of petroleum terminology

may

be seen in

CHARACTERISTICS

25
the preservation of such

words

as the participial adjective

proven and the

noun tour. In standard usage proven tends to give way to proved, but it is
commonly used by oilmen to mean "known to be capable of producing oil."
Both the meaning and the pronunciation of tour are archaic. In standard
usage it has been almost entirely replaced by the word shift. When it has
been preserved,

it is

generally pronounced to rime with moor, but in the

always rimes with hour and

oil field it

Paradoxical as

may

it

often spelled tower.

is

seem, the conservative tendencies discussed above

by side with creative tendencies

exist side

The oilman

pronounced.

important and just as

just as

constantly alert to the need for exact

is

and phrases which can be applied

to

number

or task. Consequently, the language has an unusually large

synonyms

for practically every

Petroleum

who

used

it

American

itself

settlers

noun and

has been called by

in their rites,

who

it

used

for medicinal purposes,

(because the Seneca Indians popularized

its

sell

tucky in

petroleum for medicine).


1818, salt

miners named

it

When

it

it

it

fires.

To

early

became Seneca Oil

use as a medicine), Mexican


first to bottle, label,

ruined the

devil's tar.

landowners rich in the twentieth century,

early religious sects

eternal

mustang liniment, and Kier's Roc\ Oil (Kier was the


and

of

verb.

many names. To

was burning waters or

it

words

one particular type of device, worker,

salt

But when

it

wells of

made

Ken-

scores of

was renamed blac\ gold, flow-

ing gold, and liquid gold. In every case the epithet reflected the special
significance of the mineral to the

may

driller

bear any one of

how

the type of rig he uses,

conducts himself on the job,


his associates think of

There

is

one

who named

more

it.

than- fifty titles,

depending upon

well he operates the rig of his choice,

how much

how he

experience he has had, and what

him. 4

an unusually large number of synonyms for the word

well.

the use of the proper synonyms, a well can be identified according to


it

produces,

ner

it

how much

it

produces, and by what

produces. In addition, something of the

the drill hole

and the

means and in what mandepth, and location of

size,

relation of the location to the

region can be shown, and

it is

purpose in drilling the well

is

By

what

known

possible to indicate

oil

pools in the

whether the primary

exploration, development, proving, or off-

setting.
4

have discussed more than forty of these synonyms for

gencer, Vol.

VI

(1949),

1.

driller in

The

Intelli-

THE LANGUAGE
Well
or gas.

the general term for any hole drilled for the production of oil

is

may

It

26

be in the process of being drilled by any means,

completed successfully or unsuccessfully,


oil

by any method, or

may

it

it

may

it

may

be

be producing either gas or

be abandoned. However, well

more often

is

reserved for a venture, that has been completed and has proved productive.

well that

is

called a driven well.

Shallow wells excavated with hand

fanner wells, hand-dug wells, and

tools are called

*~

sunk by driving a casing without the aid of any boring

is

or drilling device

farmer well

also applies to

tools or not.

oil pits;

any shallow well whether

self-drilling well is

but the term

dug with hand

it is

one in which an occasional flow of gas

motivates the drilling tools and increases the depth of the hole.
In early days a well was labeled a mystery

was withheld from the


information

little

is

released,

process of being drilled

it

quires a six-inch pipe or smaller,


rig.

is

information about

it

called a tight hole. If a

becomes a semitight

well.

well in the

a hole, a bore hole, a drill hole, or a venture. If the

is

bore hole requires a ten-inch pipe or larger,

with a slim-hole

when

public; today such a well

The

it is

it is

called a big hole;

and

called a slim hole

is

if it re-

often drilled

part of the bore hole below the casing

is

the small

hole.

Surface wells are sunk through the clay to the rock and go only to the

Roc\

gravel.

wells are deeper than surface wells

and go through the rock.

Post hole wells are shallow wells, without any indication whether they are

more

or less shallow than surface wells. If the boring

is

in "unproven" ter-

ritory, the well is called a wildcat, a shot-in-the-dar\, or a blue

But

tory well.
pool,

is

If the

is

at the limits of

called a semiwildcat.

it is

wildcat

the well

if

One

an

that

is

oil

s\y explora-

pool or very near a

known

neither a semiwildcat nor a

a development well.

boring

an Oil Cree\

is

unsuccessful, the well

Humbug,

a water hole, a

is

said to be a dry hole, a blan\,

powder

hole, or a dud.

These may

may even
Dry holes made to

actually be dry, but they are just as likely to flow water or gas, or

yield

some

oil,

though not in commercial

quantities.

who pour crude oil on the surface of the


are known as salted wells. Producing wells

look like producers by workers


oil pit

or in the drill hole

that begin to flow

salt

itself

salt

water and are

called a grease hole or a starter,

and any grease

water are said to have gone to

called salt water wells.

A new producing well


hole

is

is

a producer or payoff.

A well producing oil is an oiler; one producing

CHARACTERISTICS

T]
gas

sure
is

a gasser.

is

is

A gasser that starts producing violently because of gas presits

"blowing in"

much

pressure, the

called a blower, a roarer, or a blue whistler, because

accompanied by a whistling sound, and,

there

if

is

gas appears blue.

The

first

may

well in an area

be a discovery well or a pool-opener, and

the second one a confirmation well. Location within a pool affords

more

offset;

one on an oil-property boundary

drilled far

enough down

it is

well. In order to save the bore hole

be drilled beside

said to

blow wild and

on the other hand, the pressure of a pool

gas or air

When
natural,
is

is

and

oil

an outpost;

it

oil that it

is

and the derrick of such

and whipstoc\ed into

it

duction cannot be maintained, an input well

well

where

the boundaries of a pool,

pool, a pinch-out.

not be brought under control,

may

an

an extension well; one

producing well has such a large flow of gas with the

If a

If,

field,

the flank to hit the "water line"

water meet, an edge well; one beyond

and one defining the

is

a line well; one drilled at the

line,

edge of a pool for the purpose of extending the

well

still

synonyms: a well drilled opposite one on an adjoining property

can-

called a wild

a well, a relief

to let the gas escape.

so depleted that flush pro-

is

may

be drilled, through which

injected to restore the pressure.

a well produces without acidizing or shooting,

and the

pumped,

oil

may

it is

flow or

may

be

lifted

pumper; otherwise

it is

said to be a

by means of a pump.

If

the

a flow, flowing, or fountain

it is

well.

The
it

exact size of a well

is

determined by the number of barrels per day

produces, not by the diameter or depth of the

600 barrels,

it is

called a 600-barreler. If the flow

called a strong well or a bear cat; but

if

the flow

one, a marginal well, or a stripper, unless there

of commercial value, in

from two sands


well.

One

at the

which

case

it is

drill hole. If it
is

is

is

large, the well

small,

too

it is

little

called a teaser.

more than

its official

quota

is

may

be

called a light

production to be

well producing

same time, regardless of the amount of

that produces

produces

oil, is

a twin

an over-produced

well.

The manner
If

which flowing wells flow supplies still more synonyms.


natural flow and spouts oil by its own pressure, it is called

in

one has a large

a gusher or a whale.

Sometimes the term spouter

often refers to a gas well, although originally

did not require pumping.

If

the spouting oil

is

it

is

used, but spouter

more

referred to any well that

accompanied by a large flow

THE LANGUAGE

28

of gas, then the well


trolled gas well.

called a roarer, but roarer also refers to

is

Wells flowing intermittently are said

and gurgling

are called belching, burping,

Many

to

an uncon-

flow by heads and

wells.

verbs in general usage undergo semantic specialization in

field usage.

Thus

out landing

means

dope, to

it;

sharpen a drilling
intransitively

means

the verb bloc\

a certain area; carry

One

complete the leasing campaign in

to

run casing intermittently with

connections or "dope" with

oil

and shape

bit

(which

to

to the proper size.

it

drilling, with-

and

oil;

Head

standard) and transitively (which

is

oil-

is

is

dress, to

used both

not standard)

"The well headed oil for forty minutes." As an


intransitive verb it has come to have the special meaning "to flow intermittently." Mill may be used intransitively as in the expression "the well was
milling at a certain depth," or transitively, meaning to grind pipe out of
the way so that drilling can be resumed. To pull a well means either to remove the pump rods or tubing from a well in the process of cleaning it out
in the oil field.

says,

for further production, or to

ing the well.


cialized

transitive

and

at the

may run

casing,

although the

last

specifically to

show

he means that there are signs of


the water sand

and

oil

purpose being to shut

oil.

oil.

To

it

When

tester,

or even run a

to force a

weight

remove an obstruction.

to

one says a well

showin g,

is

squeeze means to force cement into

sand by means of a pipe

off the flow of

a spe-

said to be run; thus

mean

used primarily to

is

through racked pipe by dropping or pushing

To show means

is

run rods, run tubing, run

term

abandon-

to

same time acquires

meaning. Anything lowered into the well

the crew
rabbit,

Run becomes

withdraw the casing preparatory

let

down

to that level, the

water but not the flow of

oil.

In addition to the foregoing type of figurative verb which shows specialization, there are purely metaphorical verbs.

flowing well clucks;

samples of formations are cooked out; pipes, as well as workers, swarm;

and wasteful

The

refiners scalp petroleum.

conversion of nouns to verbs, a

phenomenon which has been of


Old English period,

increasing importance in standard English since the


results in

an appreciable number of verbs peculiar

to oil-field terminology.

Verbs derived from the designations of persons employed in the

fields are

poor boy, roughnec\, and roustabout. Verbs derived from the names of

Thus

to

to control the flow of that well

by

implements which perform the task indicated are bean and


bean a well bac\, down,

to,

means of

in field vernacular

a choke,

which

or

up means

is

a bean.

To

thief.

bean a well

down

CHARACTERISTICS

20,

mean

to

pay for the drilling of a well by giving the workers only

enough money

to

buy food (beans) and promising them an

may

also

well.

To

tank

thief a

to take a

is

sample of

oil

from

interest in the

a tank by

means

of a

sampling device called a thief.

Some

verbs derived from nouns indicate a resemblance in action to the

shape of the object from which the noun

with a small

to rat hole (to drill

bit

\nife (to fold up a derrick to facilitate

and

other),

to

derived.

Examples

are:

moving

it

from one

location to an-

to crater (said of a well that collapses because the escape of gas

from the well has

an underground hole). Verbs which have

left

combination of two nouns are

basis a

itself is

preparatory to rotary drilling), to jac\-

diamond core

(to cut a core

from the formation with

to bloc\-squeeze (to shut off the

as their

to boiler house (to falsify a report),

formation in a

tain depths), to flash test (to determine at

diamond

bit),

hole between cer-

drill

what degree

of heat a petroleum

product will produce a flash), and to eyeball (to sight a pipe to

test it for

straightness or length).

The

sense-relationship

they are derived

means
usage

is

more

between some verbs and the nouns from which


difficult to

determine. Accident used as a verb

to complete a task despite difficulties that


is

said to have originated

when

this

a foreman directing the laying of

remarked that the

the Big Inch pipe line

seem insurmountable;

line

would never be completed

except by accident and immediately accidented the line over a range of

To

is

to

mix one batch

put different grades of

oil

or gasoline through the

mountains.

batch

of petroleum with another or to

same pipe

line in suc-

cession.

As

in standard English, the old-type adverb-verb

disappeared from

oil-field parlance. Backjill, offset,

compound has

ream, and upset are used regularly as transitive verbs; input


as

an adjectival

much

greater increase in the scope of the verbal idea

Mud

off

and

mud up

are used in a like

simply to continue the drilling activity; to

are

synonymous and

to be seen in

it

drill

may

is,

collect

bridge up

manner. Here the

adverbs are merely intensifiers, but such instances are rare.


is

is

A well may bridge, that

debris to stop the flow of oil or drilling fluid, or

or bridge over.

used only

is

participle.

the use of the verb-adverb combinations.

enough

nearly

over-produce, under-

To

by and to

drill

drill

ahead

around

self-explanatory: to drill past an obstruction.

The

adverb in always has the connotation of starting a flow in such expressions

THE LANGUAGE
as

swab

first

in,

wash

30

and come

in, drill in,

in.

Spud

in,

however, refers to the

operation of drilling a well in standard usage, and to the beginning of

any other

activity in slang usage.

process in the

compounds

Up

flange up,

indicates completion of the indicated

mud

and

up, button up,

rig up.

The verb is the heart of the many useful phrases which have found their
way into the language. Without some of them it would be difficult for the
oil-field worker to make himself understood. These phrases form regular
patterns for the most part.
are collar-pecker ring

off,

Those composed of

verb, object,

have the \elly down, sew the button on, tong

pipe up, top a tank out, get the rag out, and get a ball on.

bounce

object combination gives us


stalk,
its

and adverb

off

an engine,

put on pump, run out of hole, and jack

The

bump

verb-adverb-

off well,

off the brake.

The

put in

verb plus

object results in clear a well, knife a well, set casing, lose bottom, lose

circulation, lose return,

ma\e

oil,

make

a pull,

ma\e a

shock macaroni, strap pipe,

make footage, make

well,

tail rods,

hole,

throw a double, twist her

and wrinkle a joint. Adverb-verb compounds such as offset, underream,


and upset are used not only as verbs but also as nouns and adjectives. Set

tail,

phrases composed of a finite verb and an infinitive are


force,

and

settle to boil.

go

let die, let

full

Similarly formed are the verb-adjective phrases

go dead and go wild.

As

one rarely hears a simple present or

in standard English,

preterit

verb form. In the spoken language and in field reports, activities are re-

corded for the greater part in progressive forms. Thus a crew

spudding

in,

moving

in, starting for, fishing,

tearing

may

be

down, squeezing,

block-squeezing, whipstocking, or setting casing. Only the concluding activities are

regularly referred to in the simple preterit.

her up, sealed her

off,

One

hears

we flanged

and buttoned her up; but the well was finaled or


is most

buttoned. In looking forward to such an activity, the going to future

common, and one

hears

we

are going to flange her up, seal her

off,

or

button her up.

The

discussion of any phase of this specialized language leads inevitably

to the subject of vocabulary

particular.

new

Such terms

growth

in general,

as stool pigeon

and semantic change

and holiday detector

in the industry because the devices so

named

in

are entirely

are new. Since the turn

of the century, rotary drilling has almost entirely replaced cable-tool drilling,

and the search

for

new

oil

pools has led to the drilling of wells in the

ocean and the reopening of old pools. Every development has been ac-

CHARACTERISTICS

31

companied by new equipment and a corresponding set of new terminology.


Jarhead, Johnson-bar idiot, clutcher, rope choker, and other terms remain
only in anecdote, for the rivalry between rotary crews and cable-tool crews
exists. But seed bag, donkey pump,
and other expressions have been retained in the language though the devices which brought them into being have been replaced.

out of which such terms grew no longer

With the development of the petroleum industry, specialization has become a necessity. It is no longer possible for one man to direct exploration,
drilling, production, repair, and marketing. Each worker is responsible
for

one particular part of the whole process of getting petroleum into mar-

ketable condition.

industry

The

clear-cut.

is

line of

demarcation between major branches of the

Naturally this specialization has resulted in a cor-

responding semantic specialization.

one branch, but

A swamper,

common

to

more than

have a different meaning for each.

likely to

it is

for example,

term may be

is

generally a truck driver's helper.

load and unload the truck, opens gates, and sees that the load

Arthur T. King in Oil Refinery Terms defines a swamper

is

as

He

helps

But

secure.

an

and

office

laboratory janitor in a petroleum refinery, so called "possibly because he


uses so

much

water." Similarly, in drilling activities the term go-devil

refers to a squib for setting off a

but in pipelining a go-devil


walls of the pipes.
it is

Gas

is

a popular

a non-liquefying vapor

The change

charge of explosive used to shoot a well,

a self-adjusting scraper used to clean the

is

in the social

term for gasoline, but

to a refinery

man

coming from petroleum.


and educational

status of the

workers has been

an important contributing factor in vocabulary changes. In early days

men were

for the

most part

transients.

They

led isolated lives

oil-

and con-

ducted themselves on their rare trips to town in such a way that they gave
all oil

and

workers a reputation for roughness.

all

had

to

social stratum,

depend

and a

largely

upon

slang.

Few

were technically educated,

Today oilmen come from every

significant percentage are college graduates

learned and are using

much

who

have

technical terminology.

Some of the most colorful oil-field language

is

to be

found in the deroga-

tory

names

way

of remaining in the language, sometimes long after the circumstances

which

for workers, companies,

called

them

and

tools.

Derogatory terms have a

into being have disappeared or the disparagement in-

tended or implied has been

lost.

occasionally given in fun, but

In the

oil-field

more often they

vernacular such names are


are a

mark

of derision or

THE LANGUAGE

32

disparagement and more or

Workers who

much

are held in

less

accurately express the feelings of the creator.

contempt for any reason become the victims of

of this type of terminology. Field workers generally deride college-

trained

men who come

by the use of various uncompli-

to the oil fields

mentary names. Engineers are called brainstorms, educated


guessing department,

slip stic\ artists,

and the

stress

and

gassers, the

strain department.

Geologists are pebble pups, roc\ hounds, roxies, wrinkle chasers, smellers,
or witchers, depending

on

their experience

and dependability. Geophysicists

are generally called doodlebuggers. Drillers are brake riders, brake weights,

hoggers, Johnson bar idiots, farmers, Sears


thetics.

The contempt

which the

in

and Roebuck^

rotary driller

and the

drillers,

or syn-

cable-tool driller

held one another until the late nineteen twenties resulted in such pungent
epithets as jarhead, rope choker,

and yo-yo

for the cable-tool driller,

and

auger man, chain breaker, clutcher, clutch stomper, swivel nec\, and twister for the rotary driller.

Executives and "bosses" in general also receive their share of the nick-

names. Representatives from main


intendents are designated the

may

Man

offices are

or

czars or wheels. District super-

Kingfish;

be designated simply Man. Employees

supervisors of a lower rank

who

cause they are friends or relatives of the boss are

secure their positions be-

known

as connections or

Those who maintain very friendly relaknown as meat augers, drapers, or grapers.
A refinery employee who in his own estimation knows everything is called
a fire-wall lawyer. Any clumsy worker who has no aptitude for oil-field
work is called a farmer, cotton picker, or a pea picker. One who always
looks for a "snap" job is a snapper; one who is caught sleeping on the job,
an eye rester; one who works only long enough to draw one pay check, a
payday boy; one who is always wanting to work overtime, an overtime hog;
parasites regardless of their skill.

tions with their superiors are

a.

a machinist, a nutbuster;

Some

they seem.
is

and

a carbon-black employee, a

The Dog Bone

Outfit, a field

name

for the

Western Company,

derived from a part of the trade-mark which can be seen at a great dis-

W. Trucking Train
M. English Trucking Company taken directly

tance a dog bone forming the center of the trade-mark


:

is

smuthound.

of the nicknames for companies are probably not so malicious as

nickname

from

for the

a jingle used

J.

by employees

to describe the

company:

M. English trucking train


One old boomer and not a damn

J.

chain.

CHARACTERISTICS

33
Can't Ta\e

derived from the

You
The

expression originated

was

so difficult to

It is

work

among

the truck drivers

or pays

company).

(or porboy

Comical Abscess Company

is

variant

Then

hausted.

is

Any company

said to be a poor-boy

humorous corruption

of Chemical Process

in anecdote,

and perhaps

of a certain poor-boy

drilling operations until all resources

would shut down

they

company

said the

hardly-able oil company.

is

Company. The Crapshooter Company exists


existed in reality. As the story goes, the owners
pany would proceed with

Transfer.

secondhand or makeshift equipment,

workers in stock rather than money

its

who

for that they could not stay long.

that operates on~a shoestring, uses

company

Union City

the

initials of

com-

were ex-

operations, go to town, spend the

night shooting craps, and with their winnings continue drilling. Finally
they struck

oil,

and

since the completion of the well

named

proceeds from crap games, the well was

the promoters were called the Crapshooter

The
field

unpopularity of certain tasks

names

had been assured by

the Crapshooter Well

and

Company.

expressed most forcefully in the

is

for the tools used in such jobs.

One

hears idiot stic\ and idiot

spoon (or ignorant stic\ and ignorant spoon) for shovels or spades used on
a pipe line.

There

the ignorant

is

end

(the heavy end) of a forgy stic\,

wrench, or pipe and the ignorant end (the end that

There

is

also the ignorant slip of

is

not read) of a tape.

one major company. In

this

organization

each employee regardless of his rank must punch a time clock.


to

do

he must sign an

so,

affidavit

If

he forgets

{ignorant slip) that he was at

that particular day before he receives his pay.

The

slide rules

work on

used by en-

gineers are referred to as guessing sticks, slip stic\s, physics sticks, tent
rules,

and

The

circus rules.

ruler used by engineers

of the circus.

town

Hence

it is

not

for the engineers are

is

divided into tenths,

The word tents is in turn symbolic


uncommon to hear the circus is coming to

which in rapid speech becomes

tents.

coming on the

job.

Tools and makeshifts of poor-boy companies become poor-boy tools


in

most

cases;

nym poor-boy
the

end of

however,
packer.

a pipe

packer

is

lowered

force to

make

Many

descriptive than

its

syno-

to the

is

bottom of the

drill

hole and

set

a watertight connection. This provides

the operator with an inexpensive packer

pipe in case the well

more

is

A shirt-tail packer is a piece of canvas wrapped over

which

down with enough

shirt-tail

and insures the recovery of the

a dud.

of the four-letter

words considered taboo

in polite conversation

THE LANGUAGE
are

found

34

compounds

in various

euphemisms

in the oil field, together with

coined or adopted as substitutes. For example, the word ass

used for bac \ in any of

which

are in turn

B.S. are in reality

and appears in

senses,

its

euphemized

to

ass

ass

wor\,

The initials
who thought

bac\ wagon and bac\ work^.

euphemisms adopted by company

officials

on

the original metaphorical expression should not appear

From

generally

is

wagon and

the initials arose secondary

euphemisms: bottom

their books.

settlings, basic

sediment, and bottom sludge.

Whether

the

euphemism

side the oil region

for loafing, seducing the canine,

who have

used primarily by those

catching the dog; any worker

dog

catcher,

expects of

When

it,

and

who

is

may
is

fails to

said to

the effect of such a "disease"

Euphemisms

oil

is

called a

accomplish what

dog chaser
foreman

its

is

with his

job, his pay, his

employer, or

have the red butt (euphemized


that the

Other "diseases" might well be placed in

and

dog and

are chasing the

be designated dog chasers or dog catchers.

dissatisfied

everything in general, he

fever, bronchitis,

to the refining influence

loafs continuously

an entire crew

if

the group

a worker

been subjected

More common euphemisms

of a college education.

or

heard out-

is

uncertain. In the oil field the expression seems to be

is

worker wants
this category:

to red)

to quit his job.

bra\e fever, itchy

on the brain.

are often

more

suggestive than the original expression,

for example, in the phrase passionate physician.

liquid

known

as,

as the

doctor solution was used in the process of removing the sulphurous odor

from petroleum products. The

Company

Sinclair Refining

in

Houston,

Texas, found that by heating the solution the process could be speeded up

was renamed the hot doctor

so the liquid
for

an imaginative worker

solution. It took only a short time

to derive passionate physician

from the expres-

name is in current use in the Houston plant.


Another type of euphemism seems to have arisen from some feeling
reluctance to use the common name. Thus came into being such phrases
sion,

and

this

of
as

Blue S\y Peddlers for swindlers, smokehouse smut for obscene jokes,
soiled doves for prostitutes,

and Swedish powder

was

originally applied specifically to

tion

no longer

It is

for snuff.

Copenhagen

The

term

snuff, but this distinc-

exists.

not surprising that the vernacular of any large industrial group

should in course of time extend into general use. This extension


so

last

common

that

we may

regard

it

is,

in fact,

as a characteristic of industrial vernacu-

CHARACTERISTICS

35
lars in general.

The language

of the oilfielder

certainly

is

some of the locutions which he originated have become

no exception, and
a part of standard

colloquial English.

Some
listed

in

oil-field

terms that have enriched the general vocabulary are

naphtha, octane number,

gauge,

oil

oil

sand,

tum

originated as technical terms and are

coal

oil, filling

more

or less generally used.

pipe

Gas and

ethyl, gasoline,

oil test, oil tester,

gas

petrola-

gas fixture, gusher,

fitter,

line, wildcatter,

oiler,

and

used as such. Anti\noc\,

still

station, gas field, gas fitting,

oil field, oil slic\, oil smeller, oil spring,

are

Cymogene,

dictionaries of standard English.

and wildcatting

terms which were included

in the vocabulary of standard English before the petroleum industry


into existence, have acquired
gasoline,

and

oiler,

an

new meanings

came

gas in colloquial usage means

oil well.

Despite the fact that they do not appear in dictionaries of standard


English,

many

other oil-field terms are understood by most people whether

they live near oil-producing regions or not.

petroleum industry are

and

oil

company,

oil

oil

Common

terms relating to the

exchange, oilman,

oil operator,

promoter. Those dealing with petroleum regions are oildom,

land, oil region, oil territory,

and

known names

Gas engine, gas tan\,

for workers.

oil

oil

zone. Oilfielder and pipeliner are welloil

boom,

oilstove,

and

oiltan\, terms not directly related to the industry but nonetheless dependent

upon it for their origin, are commonly used. And although its exact origin
is unknown, the term courtesy card seems first to have designated the consumer's thirty-day credit permit issued by

oil

companies owning and op-

erating filling stations.

Communities

in oil-producing regions are naturally

to the influence of oil-field

idiom than are other

specialized idiom used by non-oilmen

use of technical terms.

soon forget

it

when

is

areas,

more

susceptible

but even there the

limited almost entirely to the slang

Workers who have used the vernacular

for years

they are no longer associated with the machinery and

activities that require a specialized vocabulary.

They,

too, limit their use

of oil-field terms to slang that can be applied to

many

circumstances.

common

most

The

expressions of this kind (get the rag out, spud in, flange up,

button up, in a bind, and others) have already been discussed. 5


5

For the expressions

bail out, drill by, drill

"Patterns of Innovation in the

XXIV

(1949), 36.

Language

around, and s\id one's rig, see my


American Speech, Vol.

of the Oil Field,"

THE LANGUAGE

To

36

attempt to ferret out information by

use of the

term swabbing in the same sense

oil-field

To

outside the industry.

which

gas,

in

its first

talk endlessly about politics," originated

standard, but the

is

probably not heard

is

about anything,

more

is

petroleum industry,

gasser. In the early days of the

"to

from the same term meaning

who

an application of the

likely

meant

transfer of usage

but the noun gasser, applied to a person

inflate a balloon;
lessly

pumping

when

duced great quantities of gas was considered worthless,

to

talks end-

term

oil-field

a well that pro-

was

it

said to be

The analogy between such a well and a


The noun pop-off is synonymous with gasser.

gassing and was called a gasser.

loquacious person

In the

oil field

obvious.

is

the term

used specifically to refer to pop valves, as dis-

is

cussed in King's Oil Refinery Terms; in general usage

"smart aleck"

who

This expression

engages in a great deal of senseless


recorded as

is

W.

slang in James

oil-field

designates a

it

talk, or

popping

off.

Winfrey's "Oil

Patch Talk." 6
I

have found cash on the barrel-head recorded only in The American

Thesaurus of Slang. The expression


but

it

is

Charles
the oil

used generally

Morrow Wilson

field.

is

to describe

listed there as a

in Oil Across the

In the early eighteen

term of commerce,

any cash transaction. According to

sixties,

World, the term originated in

when Major Adams, manager

the Clapp farm near Oil City, Pennsylvania, sold his

of

first

thousand barrels

of oil for cash, he kicked the nearest oak barrel upright

and counted the

$10,000 in oil-smudged bills

on the barrel-head.

The terms one-armed Johnny and

to get off center

ferred to the vernacular of other occupations,

vocabulary as well.

equipment used

The

clean out tanks.

ners of Texas
edge, a

The one-armed Johnny

is

up waste

to pick

also called a

the engine
the term

my

which

is still

informant,

it

had

a standard piece of oil-field

water, or any other fluid, and to

oil,

one-armed Johnny and never,

was used

to be

to drill oil wells.

moved

before

it

would

called the expression into being

used to

who

the general

to

my

off center originated in the oil field in the

a one-cylinder steam engine

stopped on center,

is

have been trans-

latter, to

hand pump used by farmers and cotton

portable

pump. To get

and the

is

mean

to get started in

any

is

When

days

when

the engine

start again.

Now

no longer used, but

activity.

According to

both a rancher and an oilman, the term has been

transferred to ranching.
6 In Publication
of

gin-

knowl-

the Texas Folklore Society, Vol.

XIX

(1944), 138.

CHARACTERISTICS

37

When

I stride

oil,

possibly analogous to

general usage nothing to do with

"when

oil at all; it is

strike gold," has in

an expression of wishful

thinking and pertains to the desire for sudden unearned wealth from an

unexpected source.

mand)

is

To ream

out (meaning to give someone a severe repri-

used by non-oilmen, too, as

is its

synonym

to eat out.

Poor boy, or porboy, an expression originally used to designate an oil


promoter or drilling company with

little

financial backing,

generally to designate any small business concern or

its

is

now

used

owner. There are

poor-boy short-order lunchrooms, service stations, and laundries, and the

managers of poor-boy establishments usually

Although
is

soliciting business

call

themselves poor boys.

by oiling (flattering) prospective customers

the chief stock in trade of poor boys, the use of the term, as well as the

activity

it

names,

is

general.

In the dictionary which follows, the reader will see further examples
of the forces

and

language of the
developed

and

life

it.

Its

characteristics discussed here.

oil field is

eminently usable,

usefulness extends far

For the most

made

so by the

part, the

men who

beyond the industry into the speech

of every American, regardless of his status or profession.

It is

naturally-formed language, innocent of conscious or pedantic restriction,

governed only by the personality and


trol

which has served

tinctively

American

taste of the oilfielder

a con-

himself

to enrich, not to restrain, the language. It

speech, both in nature

a vivid speech, a refreshing, often

and

in development.

humorous one,

offering to

wealth of insight into the character of the industry and

its

its

is

a dis-

And

it is

hearers a

workers.

PART TWO

The Petroleum

Dictionary

Explanatory Note

MATERIAL in
list.

this dictionary

has been arranged in one alphabetical

Words, abbreviations, phrases, and some complete

sentences,

mostly of the nature of proverbs, have been included.


All information within a vocabulary entry

is

arranged in the following

order
i.

Entry word or words


i.

Separate entries are

made

words which have the same spelling

for

but which do not have the same derivation.


2.

Only one entry

is

made

for a

word used

as

more than one

part

of speech.
3.

Phrases are entered under the principal word.

4.

General subjects (such

as well, tan\,

oilman) are entered by

category, followed by references to specific entries.


11.

Pronunciation
1.

Pronunciation

is

given only

when

it

varies

from

that of standard

English.
2.

The
and

in.

pronunciation appears within brackets after the entry


is

word

indicated by respelling.

Part of speech
1.

The

pronunciation

is

followed by an abbreviation indicating the

part of speech.
2. If

the entry

is

word used

as

more than one

part of speech, an

abbreviation indicating the part of speech precedes the definition


or definitions to
3. If

the entry

is

which

a phrase,

it

refers.

no part of speech
41

is

given.

THE DICTIONARY

iv.

4.2

Restrictive labels
1.

Entries that are restricted in use to a particular branch of the in-

dustry are labeled slang, drilling, refining, pipelining, and so on.


2. If

the restrictive label applies to the entire entry, the label precedes

the definition.

C
3. If

the restrictive label applies to only one definition,

after the

number

of that definition

appears

it

and precedes the definition

itself.

v.

Definitions
1.

Definitions are

numbered

consecutively regardless of the part of

speech.
2.

Occasionally folk etymologies are incorporated into the definitions.

vi.

Synonyms
The most common synonyms

1.

2.

vii.

common synonyms

Less

are listed as such.

appear as cross references.

References
1.

Most

definitions are followed by references to various publica-

tions relating to the petroleum industry.

within square brackets.

If

These references appear

one reference

is

used for a

series of

definitions, that reference appears after the last definition in the


series.
2.

The

reference

is

indicated by a symbol. Symbols appear to the

of the entries in the general bibliography

left

which immediately

follows the dictionary.


3. If

term has been previously

listed in

one or more glossaries of

the oil industry with a definition comparable to or identical with


the one given in this dictionary, reference

with the
4.

is

made

to the glossary

earliest publication date.

A term which I have

discovered in

heard or reported. However,

glossarial publication, reference

page reference

is

given for

my own

field

work

is

labeled

such a term appears in a non-

if

is

made

to that publication.

fiction, nonfiction,

dates are given for trade journals

The

and technical works;

and newspapers.

NOTE

43

A term used universally in the sense given here

is

not followed by

a reference. It should be noted, however, that such terms


special signification in the oil industry,

and

have

have therefore

provided definitions derived from petroleum industry usage.

A
ABANDON BOREHOLE

absorption plant

The

See junk a hole, lose a hole.

line

abandoned beach

The
an

oil

tion of

[BA,

n.

damage

to the casing, flood-

[LDO]

Abandoned; an abbreviation used

[LDO,

drilling reports.

tester

oils.

in

absorption system
The system of manufacturing natural
(casing-head) gasoline by the absorp-

p. 428]

(Pensky-Martens)

The Abel

tion process (q. v.).

used by
the Pensky-

tester

is

The

n. pi.

accident,

section of a refining unit in

the gases or vapors

heavy absorbing

fluid

which

nat-

complete a task that seems to be


impossible. The Big Inch (q.v-) is said
to have been accidented across the mountains of Pennsylvania by builders who
were unable to recognize the impossible.

are passed over a

and subsequently

in the manufacture of casing-head gaso-

See bubble tower. [POR]

absorption,

[WIL,

n.

such

which
as

it

The

loses its original iden-

adherence of a gas on the

and

which oil and gas mimore porous formations

collect in quantity.

accumulator,

mineral particle within a liquid. [POR]

1.

[A]

n.

vessel in

which

fluids

under high

pressure are stored. Placed between the

oil
oil

n.

process by

grate into the

surface of a solid; the suspension of a

absorption
A heavy

p. 161]

accumulation,

physical transformation of a sub-

stance in

v.t.

To

enter into solution with the fluid; used

tity,

which

separated from natural


gas by absorption. See absorption process.
is

[D]

absorbers,

The

part of a refinery in

ural gasoline

[POR]

line.

[POR]

absorption tower

English companies while


Martens tester, a modified form of the
Abel, is used by German companies.

The

from

line can later be recovered. Mineral seal


absorption oil is generally used. [FO]

device used to determine the flash

point of

process of extracting gasoline

natural gas by passing the gas through


a medium which is capable of absorbing
the gasoline, and from which the gaso-

abd.

p. 155]

The

ing of the well hole, or landslides.

Abel closed

oil.

absorption process

discontinuance of the operation of


well for any reason, e.g., exhausoil,

plant in which casing-head gasorecovered from wet gas (q. v.)

the liquid fractions are absorbed in

An area which has in some geological


age bordered an ocean, sea, or lake. [PE]
abandonment,

is

pumps

and presses, the accumulator


maintains a constant pressure in a pipe

used to extract gasoline

from natural gas by absorption. [D]


45

acetone

46

and absorbs pulsations from the pispumps. 2. The storage tank in


a natural-gasoline manufacturing plant
that receives condensed natural gasoline.

cemented with limestone. By means of


high-pressure pumps he forces hydro-

[POR]

p. 32]

line

tons of the

acetone, n.
An inflammable liquid product

H 6 0)

and various organic compounds;


used in the manufacture of chloroform
and as a solvent for certain organic comtates

[LDO]

brilliant illuminating gas

used

for

(C 2 H 2 );

underground

when combined with


ing. [LDO]

lighting and,
oxygen, for weld-

oil,

number being determined by

the milligrams of neutralizer required to

neutralize each

gram

of

oil.

[D]

The

part of a refinery

where weak

sul-

phuric acid is extracted from sludge and


reconcentrated for further use. [D]

Spent sulphuric acid which has been


used in refining petroleum. [D]

Acid that is unchanged when mixed


with other substances. Lubricating oils
may contain free mineral acid or free
fatty acid, which tend to corrode metal
surfaces, or free petroleum acid. Free
sulphuric acid has been almost entirely
eliminated in petroleum distillates by
acid

the specific

acid sludge

acid, free

modern methods

of potassium hydroxide

necessary to neutralize the acidity of

acid-restoring plant

acetylene, n.

number
The amount

acid

(C 3

of destructive distillation of ace-

pounds.

chloric acid into the formation, thus dissolving the lime out of the sand. [BA,

of refining.

acid tar

See sludge. [KI]


acid treatment

treatment by which asphalt is rein order to improve its end products. [D]

moved from petroleum

[POR]
aclinic, adj.

blow case

Without

See egg. [D]

sloping.

[LDO]

acre-foot

acid egg
See egg. [PE]

An

acre of land one foot

wide and

43,560 feet long. [PE]

acid heat test

The increase in temperature produced


by adding commercial sulphuric acid to a
petroleum distillate under standard test
conditions. [D]

activation, n.

acidity, n.

adamantine

The
an

oil.

percentage of free acid (q.

v.)

in

[POR]

refining.
catalyst

who
fields

or

power of a
upon the prod-

drill

type of drill which has a cutting


edge set with steel shot; used in very
hard formations. Also known as a shot

[NO]

force

acidizer, n.

oil

drill.

hydrochloric acid into the


pores of a producing formation so that
the limestone is dissolved. The oil or gas
may consequently flow more freely into
the bottom of the well hole. [LDO, p.
464]

reactive

uct being refined. [KI]

acidize, v.t.

To

The

upon crude

highly-trained chemist or engineer


takes the place of the shooter in

where the productive zones are

agitator, n.
1. refining. A vertical cylindrical tank
used in refining petroleum. [NO] 2.
production. A well that flows after production has been started by means of a

pump. [LDO,
airplane

An

p. 449]

oil

early

name

for a white, straight-

reduced heavy neutral

oil.

[A]

alternating flux

47

blowing machine
machine used to force fresh air to
the bottom of a hand-dug oil well so that
workers will not be overcome by gas.
air propeller or

[POR]

pumping
Pumping oil

air

lift

principle.

air

scrubber

presence of a catalyst to form a product


with a very high octane number. [KI]
alky, plant

An abbreviation for alkylation plant.


[Reported]
all

wells by

means

of the air-

[D]

browned up

slang. Completely out of order.

[Heard]

Allegheny formation

container in which air

is

purified.

[PE]

The second formation in the Pennsylvania series of strata in the bituminous


coal districts of the

A lab
A clipped form of analytical laboratory.

Northern Appalachian

[POR]

field.

[Reported]

alligator lace

albertite, n.

except that a pin is pushed


through the eyes of the lace to hold it
together; lacing clamps. [NO]

A
A very heavy hydrocarbon similar to
ordinary asphalt but only partly soluble
in turpentine and imperfectly fusible
when heated; named for the locale in
which it is produced: Albert County,
New Brunswick. [A]
hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons found in petroleum
whose carbon and hydrogen atoms are
aliphatic

joined in chain form.

The

paraffin (meth-

ane, ethane, propane, etc.)

and

olefine

(ethylene, propylene, butylene, etc.)


ries

are

the

hydrocarbons.

se-

most important aliphatic


SYN. Chain compounds.

[POR]

are

alkali-sulphur

when

washed with

petrole-

alkali.

[D]

compounds

Sulphur compounds in petroleum in


which some or all of the hydrogen content of hydrogen sulphide has been replaced by organic radicals. [POR]
alkali test

The addition of caustic soda to determine the purity of kerosene. [POR]

wash

treatment with a solution of caustic


soda; used to purify kerosene. [D]
alkylation, n.

refining. A method by which an isois united with an olefine in the

paraffin

which

modern

similar to a

is

wrench

wrench with extended jaws

that re-

semble alligator jaws. [NO]


allocation, n.

The amount

a field

[DO, Oct.

duce.

is

allowed to pro-

29, 1947]

allowable, n.

The

percentage a well

produce of

its

maximum

is

allowed to

potential pro-

duction. [FO]
all

rubbered up
expression

descriptive

of

electric

which are completely covered

lines

liquor left as waste

um products

alkali

alligator

An

alkali liquor

The

lace

zipper

to in-

sure the safety of workers. [Reported]

aloes rope

kind of rope used in


manufactured from the

special

drilling;

oil-well
aloe.

[POR]
along the bedding

The

length of the stratification; the

direction of the stratification. [PE]

alternating flux

residual material resulting

from the

petroleum in alternating
The change is alternated from low-

distillation of
stills.

temperature, low-pressure stills until all


products of fuel and lubricating quality
have been taken off, leaving a heavy,
gummy, black residue which is used for
paving. [KI]

alternating
alternating

48

stills

anchor,

stills

A series of stills varying in pressure and


temperature through which petroleum is
it is necessary to refine it. [KI]

run when

refining.

petroleum

with an aluminum soap.

oil

thickened

[KOT]

aluminum chloride
in

Used as a catalyst in refining oil and


removing odor and color from cracked

gasoline.

A length of tubing extending below the working barrel of a pumping well. 4. In shooting a well, the small
tin tube that supports the lowest shell to
proper height in the sand. [NO]
nections. 3.

aluminum base grease


\J

n.

device for fastening down the


device for preventcasing of a well. 2.
ing a blowout of the Christmas tree con1.

[POR]

always-ready wrench
A wrench with both ends shaped somewhat like the grip end of an alligator
wrench. [NO]

anchor bolt V*

The bolt or stud embedded in the


anchor, used to hold the anchor clamp,
or cable, or the derrick footing to the
anchor. [PE]
aniline point

refining.

amalie, n.

A
a

trade

motor

liquid petrolatum;

oil.

American
j

name for
[POR]

which shows

oil

name given to a medicinal


product of refined petroleum about 1850.
trade

[NO]
American

American system

another row hoed


pleted;

used for cleaning out oil wells.


See also bailer and sand pump. [D]
bailer

when

slip

a task of

any kind
farm

amortize, v.t.
To repay a debt in any way; to clear
off a debt by repayment in regular in-

[LDO]

line

on

a geological

[Re-

Any worker who makes an


instrument to

Expansions and elevations in the

split

crest

of definite anticlines or continuous folds.

[D]
anticlinal theory of oil

theory evolved by

I.

C. White in

According to this theory, if oil, gas,


and water occur in a dome, they will
accumulate in distinct horizons accord1882.

[LDO,

p. 321]

anticline, n.

fold or arch of rock strata, dipping

in opposite directions

analyzer, n.

An

anticlinal bulge

radio

ported]

[PE]

map which

[LDO]

ing to their respective specific gravities.

Texas; so

Amos and Andy of


fame bought many leases there.
called because

2.

com-

termi-

nology. [Heard]

The

amortization, n.
The refunding of a loan and interest,
customarily in equal annual installments.
Often in mining finance the discharging
of a debt by any means. [LDO]

1.

is

from

transferred

indicates the axis of a fold.

Amos and Andy Field


An oil field in Clay County,

and injure

anticlinal axis or line

of drilling

See cable system. [D]

stallments.

The

ankle buster
A rig with peddle clutches; so called
because when the jaws of the clutches be-

Said

American pump

products

lower the aniline point, the higher the


aromatic content. [KOT]

come worn they often


workers. [Heard]

paraffin-oil

Kerosene of American origin (British).


[A]

made on

test

their aromatic content.

analysis.

sound waves.

from an

axis.

[D]

antifriction bearing

refining.

duce

friction.

ball

bearing used to re-

[KOT]

aromatic base

49
antiknock,

n.

Either tetraethyl lead or organic diphenylamine which prevents detonation

an internal-combustion engine when


combined with the fuel of the engine.

in

[KI]

antiknock additive
See gasoline additive. [KI]

trade

name

apex,

[POR]

is

mean

a blowout. [D]

A.P.I.
1.

An

abbreviation for the American


Institute, which sets the stand-

Petroleum

ards for oil-field equipment. [POR] 2.


slang. Used derogatorily in the expression "that's A.P.I, for him," referring to
a worker who has made a mistake. [Reported]

A.P.I, chain
A chain made according to the standard set by the American Petroleum Institute. [KI]
gravity specified by the

Petroleum

Institute.

Appalachian

The

American

located east of the

Ap-

Ohio and Kentucky. [POR]


Belt dressing; so called because
sembles apple butter. [Reported]

it

re-

apple knocker
Jones

reamer.

2.

An

inexperi-

enced Illinois oil-field worker. The term


is used more generally in the Southwest.
3. A^tool used to jar ca sing when pulling.
[Reported]
apples, n.

pi.

See derrick apples.

apron dressing

An

oil

[POR]

trade

name

for a

hole so that the solution is 2 to 3 per cent,


it keeps the grit from the bit in suspension during the drilling so that these
solid particles do not foul the action of
the drill-bit. During circulation this mixture forms a viscous or jelly-like substance
but becomes fluid as soon as drill action

[PE]

ceases.

araeo-pignometer, n.
A weighing device for determining
the specific gravity of oil when a very
small quantity is to be tested. [POR]

aragotite, n.

unusual kind of bitumen found in

the Sulphur Springs districts and in the

arch,

smoke

firebrick arch above the grates of a

which when heated to incandescence oxidizes the volatile hydrocarbons,


causing smokeless combustion. [POR]

boiler

apple butter

silica

mines of Lake, Yolo, and


Santa Clara counties, California. [A]

field

oil fields

lubricant consisting of

quicksilver

[KI]

palachian Mountains and extending to

1.

drill-bit

and aluminum used as


a colloidal reagent and containing 95 per
cent colloidal matter. When mixed with
water and mud in the bottom of the bore

An

A.P.I, gravity

The

1.

mixture of

n.

highest point at which ore or


found in place between the walls
of the vein. Sometimes incorrectly used
to

[POR]
n.

gelatin-like clay. 2.

The

rock

aquadag, n.
Very finely divided Acheson graphite
containing tannin and ammonia which
when mixed with water produces a fluid
aquagel,

for gasoline containing

v.).

of plates used in the

construction of a tank. [D]

lubricant.

antiknock gasoline
anti\noc\ (q.

apron ring
The bottom ring

used to soften leather aprons.

Arkansas gravel
The rails from which roads were

built

The

trees

into the oil fields of Arkansas.

were cleared from the new roadbed, then


the logs were quartered and used on the
road.

arms,

[HOO,

Parts
etc.

p. 154]

n. pi.

of the

bull-wheel,

band-wheel,

[NO]

aromatic base
A crude petroleum having a strong
odor (sulphur) and testing high in the

artificial vaseline

50

benzine fraction. May also designate the


petroleum itself. [KI]
artificial vaseline

variant of

German

vaseline (q. v.).

[POR]
asap [a sap]

word coined from

the initial letters

on work
and requisition orders of the Sinclair
Refining Company, Houston, Texas. A
of as soon as possible. Appears

^S

asphalt cutback
refining. Asphalt cement liquidized
by the addition of gasoline, kerosene, or
some other volatile petroleum distillate.

[KOT]
asphalt emulsion
refining. An emulsion of asphalt and

[KOT]

water.

asphaltenes,
refining.

n. pi.

The bituminous components

nautical term. [Reported]

in

ashpit, n.

phalt), soluble in carbon disulphide but

The compartment

a boiler

of

or

boiler furnace directly beneath the fire

chamber. [POR]

made by

the

American

asphalt, n.

brown

or black

bitumen obtained

both in its natural state and


from petroleum. [D]
asphalt,

Petroleum that yields asphalt but


no paraffin. [FO] 2. Oils in which

p.

and

mem-

related se-

200]

asphalt base course


refining. The foundation for a road
surface in which gravel and sand and
other solid substances are

with asphaltic material.

bound together

[KOT]

asphalt base oil


Oil obtained from petroleum that
yields an asphalt residue when refined.

[KOT]
asphalt cement
refining. An asphaltic fraction of disused to bind gravel, sand, and
other materials in making asphaltic pavement, or to fill paving joints in concrete
tillation

highways.

[KOT]

asphalt content
The percentage of asphalt in the substance tested.

[POR]

oil

oil.

obtained

Used when

is needed for heating plants,


railway engines, etc. [KI] 2. An
oil used to reduce the consistency or
viscosity of hard asphalt to the point required for use; a thinner. [POR]

a heavy oil
boilers,

asphaltic

or

[BA,

steam-refined fuel

to,

or essentially

composed

of,

asphalt. [D]

the heavier constituents are mostly


ries.

Similar

blown

bers of the naphthalene

[KOT]

asphalt flux

asphaltic, adj.

See blown asphalt.

1.

as-

as a residue

asphalt base
little

(especially

insoluble in paraffin naphtha.

1.

Society of Mechanical Engineers. [PE]

products

from asphalt-based crude

A.S.M.E. specifications
Specifications

petroleum

armor coat

refining. A thin protective coat of asphalt for roads and highways. [KOT]

asphaltic concrete
refining. A road topping composed of
proportioned quantities of graded aggregate and heated asphalt. The mixture
is prepared at a plant, transported to the
road under construction, and spread
while it is still hot. [KOT]

asphaltic limestones

Limestones impregnated with asphalt.


[D]
asphaltic non-skid treatment
refining. A seal coat covered with an
aggregate to provide rough texture.

[KOT]
asphaltic sands

natural deposit of asphalt and loose

sand grains. Such sand

much

may

as 12 per cent soft asphalt.

yield

as

[D]

asphaltine, n.

Any

of the soluble or insoluble asphalt

products recovered

from

asphalt-based

atreol

51

heavy pipe or equipment on the derrick

petroleums and used for roofing, flooring, paving, waterproofing, etc. [D]

floor; a dolly (q. v.).

asphaltite, n.

ass

occurring naturally in hydrocarbon complex, insoluble


in water, but soluble in carbon disulphide, benzoil, etc. [A]
dark-colored

asphalt mastic
A mixture of asphalt cement and mineral material which, when heated, becomes a thick mass and may be poured

and troweled. [POR]


asphalt prime coat
refining. A base coat of low viscosity
liquid

which covers the

asphalt

and dusty particles


oil film and serves

new

construction.

as a

foundation for

[KOT]

terial of

low

To augment

The abbreviation for the American


Society for Testing Materials. [PE]

viscosity

the existing surface

used to waterproof

and

for further construction.

to condition

it

surface.

[KOT]

name

for a variety of re-

also

called

150

fire

[NO]

test.

asymmetric anticline

An

anticline without plane or

which

try

symme-

lacks proportion in the parts.

[PE]
a.t.

commonly used abbreviation


acid treatment (q. v.). [KI]
Atlantic

A
or

for

Ocean

salt-water well that produces

no

A
to

keep

government oil leases in effect. It


was required that at least $100 a year be
spent on such work, which might inearly

clude road building, derrick construction, or actual drilling operations. [LDO,


p. 363]

wagon
small

trade

petroleum;

fined

oil.

[BB,

little

p. 486]

for liquid petrolatum.

[POR]

atolin, n.

assessment work

[KI]
astral oil

A name

See asphalt. [D]

ass

meets the approval of the


for Testing Materials.

American Society

atoleine, n.

n.

The work required by law

of

test

test that

[KOT]

asphalt surface treatment


refining. The application of a layer
of asphaltic material no more than threefourths of an inch thick to any type of

asphaltum,

norm

for Testing Materi-

[KI]

als.

The

asphalt stock
refining. Asphaltic
material
from
which various grades of asphalt are pre-

pavement

American Society

the

[KOT]

asphalt rock
A limestone or sandstone impregnated
with natural asphalt or with petroleum
of asphalt base. See rock asphalt. [D]

pared.

distillation

Distillation according to the

A
ma-

the sensitivity of a gravi-

A.S.T.M.

A.S.T.M.

variant of atoleine.

petroleum product produced by the

on certain petroleum distillates. Properly refined and


combined with ammonia, it produces the

action of sulphuric acid

active

principle

atreolate. It

cohol and

wheeled truck for moving

[POR]

atreol, n.

is

lanolin. [A]

is

of

atreol

ammonium

soluble in water

^-'

meter by the application of a force contrary to the force of restitution. [PE]

A.S.T.M.

liquid asphaltic road

heavy pipe

astatize, v.t.

asphalt primer
refining.

as lifting

or machinery by hand. [Reported]

loose

of the roadbed with

work

Heavy work such

solid,

v-'

[Reported]

and

miscible with petroleum

al-

and

attapulgus

52

attapulgus, n.
refining. A type of clay found in the
town of Attapulgus, Texas. Oil authorities believe it is an Indian word brought
west by the Five Civilized Tribes. [KI]

automatic choke

refining.
device that automatically
provides the correct mixture of fuel and
air for starting

The

2.

derrick board of a rotary rig.

See crow's nest. [Heard]

attic

refining.

attic, n.
1.

hand

worker in a drilling or a production


who is employed in the derrick; a
derrichjnan (q. v.). [Heard]
crew

Applied to persons; the attitude valve


said to be open when one is pleased and
closed when he is displeased. [Reported:
Sinclair Refining Company, Houston,
Texas]

mechanism

that

auto-

the spark advance according to engine speed. [KOT]

matically varies

automatic rabbit
Washers attached to the rods of a
pumping well to keep the well free of
paraffin accumulations. [Heard]

AUTOMOBILE,

attitude valve

and warm-up. [KOT]

automatic (mechanical) spark control

n.

See Detroit vibrator, gas buggy, hotwater six.

is

Atwood cracking process

A method of producing light gasolines


and illuminating oils from heavy oils,
paraffin, etc. by cracking at atmospheric
pressure and returning the heavy vapors
for further cracking.

[POR]

avgas, n.
Aviation gasoline. [Reported]
aviation gasoline
refining.

ax

A drilling tool used on rotary rigs


boring in soft ground. [LDO]
auger master
A nickname

being

of four-inch iron from


twenty-eight to forty feet in length; one
of the drilling tools used between the bit
and the jars. [NO] 2.
drill stem. [BA,

n.

rich oil

laid off.

meaning

that

men

are

[Reported]

and natural-gas region

district of

in

Ohio. [POR]

automatic cathead
See cathead; a cathead which, when
properly engaged, operates automatically.
[PE]

longitudinal plane about

only a line at the center. In plan, the axis

shows

at the surface as

marked on maps
[H,

a line,

and

is

as the anticlinal axis.

p. 118]

axle grease
refining. A grease composed of petroleum oils, rosin oil, and hydrated lime.

[KOT]
axle oil

A
a

Lima

expression

geology.

p. 105]

especially

which folding has taken place. In a circular dome, there is no plane of folding,

[MIT]

auger stem
1. A round bar

the

made
[KOT]

gasoline

axis, n.
for a rotary driller. [BB,

auger-sinker-bar guides
Guides made of four bars of iron fitted
to the auger stem to increase its girth and
render it impossible for the drill to de-

Auglaize,

falls4^-

An

when

p. 489]

viate.

The smaller power-plant machines


such as feed-water pumps, condensers,
condenser pumps, heaters, etc. [POR]

for aircraft engines.

auger, n.

auxiliaries, n. pi.

natural, black, lubricating oil with

medium

viscosity

and a low cold

test,

used on roughly-finished machines or on


the axles of cars. syn. Black summer oil.

[POR]

axman,

n.

A worker who reports


for

a fellow worker

improper performance of

[Reported]

his

job.

back twist

53

B
pression in

babbitt, n.

See

1.

Babbitt

for

kettle

metal.

[NO]

2.

melting Babbitt metal.

[BB,

p. 486]

See Babbitt metal.

antifriction

metal of

consisting
compositions, but
mainly of tin, copper, antimony, and
sometimes nickel; used for lining bearings. Named for the inventor, Isaac Bab-

[POR]

refining. A special flask with a long


graduated neck, used in testing spray oils
for unsulfonated residue. [KOT]

back band

A brake band on the drum of a bull


wheel or other hoisting drum. [POR]
back brake

The brake on

the sand-reel hoist. [PE]

[PE]

backfill, v.t.

To

fill

lost

pipe by reversing the

[LDO]

direction of the rotary table.

back-out, n.
1. A heavy

steel

point used to remove

rivets in steel construction. [KI]

adj. 2.

slang. Descriptive of a piece of machinery that is out of order. [Heard]

back pressure

mean

pressure control

or resistance to flowing fluid. [D]

back-pressure valve

the ditch after the pipe line has

backfilling, n.
refilling

of

specially constructed valve used in


pipe or tubing to prevent the return
of cement or slush through the injection
pipe. Since it can be opened without affecting the pressure, it affords free exdrill

laid.

The

off, v.t.

To unscrew

y*

Originally the backfilling was


done with shovels, but now the work is
done by machinery: a tractor with a
blade, a grader, a truck with a Mormon
board, or a machine made solely for the
purpose. [OPL, p. 8]

been

pipe has

Loosely used to

back-brake support
A prop that supports the bac\ bra\e
*/.).

responsible for

1. A type of excavator used in removing blasted rock from a pipe-line ditch in


new
rocky country. [OPL, p. 55] 2.
type of excavator equipped with a telescoping crane that reaches out to dig out
banks and road approaches. [Heard]

back

Babcock tube

(q.

gang
The crew of workers

backfilling

back hoe

white,

varying

bitt.

and

will collect

the pipe. [BA, p. 184]

been lowered. [Heard]

Babbitt metal
soft,

which water

down on

filling a pipe-line ditch after the

babbitting, n.

seep

the

with the dirt taken from

pipe-line
it.

The

ditch

process

which do not
exclude water from the ditch and building up the fill higher than the ground
includes discarding rocks

level so that settling will

not cause a de-

haust. [D]

back twist

turn given the drilling cable by


of a special wrench to counteract
its tendency to twist in the same direction as its lay. After running the tools

means

into the hole, the driller raises

them

clear

bottom and before clamping them


on gives the cable one turn, or back twist,

of the

in the direction opposite

100 feet of depth.

its

[POR]

lay for each

?r

back-up corner

54

back-up corner

The

bailer

new hand on

crown-block

The

derrick floor. Also called the boll-weevil

bloc/^

pulley at the top of the crownwhich hoists and lowers the

corner. [Heard]

bailer.

[PE]

position of a

man
The man on

the

bailer dart

back-up

justs the

back-ups,

A
A

short

worker

who

the derrick floor

bac\-up tongs (q.

ad-

of bac\-up tongs (q. v.)

says,

"I

was running back-

ups." [Reported]

back-up tongs
Tongs used to hold the lower
of pipe while the upper section
unscrewed. [PE]

back wagon
A euphemism

section
is

being

back work
Heavy lifting
given hard use.
wor\. [KI]

wagon

(q. v.)

and

of the well

bailing

drum

in

which the back is


euphemism for ass

unsatisfactory piece of machinery.

[D]

drum upon which


wound. The bailing

light, belt-driven

the bailing rope

is

drum may be fixed


may be outside the

in the derrick, or

it

derrick as in cable-

[POR]

bailing rope

line.

made

rope

of steel wires, used in

and lowering the

bailer.

See sand

[POR]

bailing tub

tank placed over the mouth of an


well to receive the contents of the
bailer; used at times in recovering oil by

means

of a bailer.

bail out,

pan

1.

[POR]

v.t.

drilling.

after every

cable tools.

To

clean out the well hole

run with a spudder or with


2.

slang.

To

clean out any-

thing: a room, a doghouse, a truck, etc.

bail, v.t.

To remove

cuttings, mud, and other


from a well by means of a bailer
or sand pump.
n. 2. The loop or eye on

the top of certain tools lowered into the

well through which the wire line passes.

[Heard]
bail the rathole

A sell

(q. v.). See sky hooks.

down
To clean out a producing well.

[Heard]

drilling bit. See

bald-headed derrick

long pipe fitted with a dart valve at


the bottom; used to remove mud, sand,
and water from a well. (See also sand
pump.) Occasionally used in place of a
oil.

worn

smooth. [Heard]

bailer, n.

in recovering

[Heard]

bald-headed, adj.
Descriptive of a

[D]
bail

pump

drilling.

used in a bubble tower to


control the flow of fluids. [Reported]

during

oil

A baffle plate

1.

of a bailer of

drillings that collect at the

bottom

[Heard]

debris

bottom of the

The removal by means


the water

raising

bad job

baffle

the

[PE]

tool drilling.

for ass

dolly (q. v.). [Heard]

An

dart valve in

bailing, n.

n. pi.

form

bailer.

v.). [S]

[NO]

top.

derrick without a run-around at the


T

Heard]

ball-and-ring

method

method by which

the melting and


softening temperatures of asphalt waxes
or paraffin are determined. [POR]

and seat
The replaceable parts

BAILER, n.
See American

ball

dart bailer,

and traveling valves used


wells. [POR]

pump, cavings filler,


dump, dump bailer, junk

basket, sand bucket, slush bucket.

of standing valves
to

pump

deep

Barret burette

55

Bamboo Inch

World War II by soldiers of Free


China to join a large desert spring with
an important Y-Force Operations Staff.
It was built in the 12,000-foot Kaoli-King
Mountains of the Yunnan Province and
was constructed of giant bamboo canes
caulked with asphalt; American troops
named the line after the Big Inch and
Little Big Inch lines in America. [WIL,
ing

refining.

An

abbreviation of British

Air Ministry Oxidation; a test made to determine the stability of highly refined
lubricating oils toward oxidation. [KOT]
oil

acetate,

named

for

its

odor; used

make

by

a connection. Replaced today

the A-frame

[OPL,
barn,

or

the

machine.

hoisting

p. 8]
n.

loid, etc.

warehouse or general storage place


and tractors etc., and also a
place where workers congregate after
work or at noon. [Heard]
barrel, n.

The standard measure

1.

[POR]

for

West Virginia Rule, adopted

By

oil.

in 1886,

a barrel holds forty liquid gallons plus

two

gallons in the buyer's favor.

p. 118]

2.

measure for

o~e~ three^,

five-,

or

[WIL,

land that

oil

indirares jts prnHnrl ivity: land

band wheel

is

said to-^

used

in

transmitting

power to the main crank


which drives the walking beam,
calf wheel, etc. The size of the band
wheel varies from nine to eleven feet or
more in diameter, depending upon special conditions. [POR]
belt-driven

Barbadoes Tar
trade

name

for

West Indian

petrole-

um. [NO]

according to the amount of oil prohoriduced daily. [NO] 3. refining.


zontal boiler shell equipped with fire
tubes for heating water. [KI]
tory,

producing well; the term is always tMpreceded by the number of barrels the
J
well produces, for example, a 600-barrel- J
er. [Heard; HOUS]
barrel house

combination saloon and dance

hall;

so called because bartenders

habitually

who

are out of

none. [POR] adv. [PO]

money

over V^

pipelinings An order to prize pipe off


ground so that the threads can be
treated with a sealing mixture. [WIL,
the

p. 70]

put drunken customers


into barrels

the house.

[HOO,

roll

them out

barrel.

barker, n.

Barret burette

special

sits

up-

wrench used

pump

tighten

to loosen or
valve seats in the working

Also called seat wrench. [KI]

refining.
in

of

p. 162]

wrench

barrel

barge job
A rig mounted on a barge for off-shore
drilling and wording over. [Heard]

An extension on an exhaust. Since the


extension alters the sound produced by
the engine, the worker in charge of a
group of engines can, by using extensions

and

barrel-type boiler
A locomotive-type boiler that
right like a barrel. [Heard]

A special type of burette used

making Bataafsche Petroleum Maats-

chappij
tion.

Descriptive of a well which has no casing, perforated pipe, or screen and needs

'er

!\

barreler, n.

barefooted, adj.

bar

twenty-barrel terri)

large pulley

shaft,

who

line

the pipe into place in order to

prizes

the

principally as a solvent for lacquers, cellu-

barman, n.
A worker on a screw pipe

for trucks

B.A.M. oxidation

Amyl

distance whether each engine

p. 181]

banana

determine from a
is running
properly. See squealer. [Heard]
of different lengths,

600-foot water pipe line built dur-

(B.P.M.)

[KOT]

aromatic

determina-

base

56

base, n.
1

a round file on the other. Often


mentioned to follow up the usual sells

side,

A compound which forms salts when

upon by acids. 2. The residuum


from the distillation of petroleums. Parafreacted

petroleum yields paraffin; asphalpetroleum yields asphalt. Some


petroleums yield both paraffin and as-

(q. v.) as a trick; the

with s\y hoo\s, pipe

is

led

is

in the

fin-base

class

tic-base

handed mon\ey wrenches, and cans


vacuum. [Heard]

phalt and are therefore called paraffinasphalt petroleums. [D]

basement complex

tained in sedimentary rocks are derived

differs

p. 48]

See base,

2.

The

thread on a joint of pipe which


from the other threads; often
called a bastard box or bastard connection. [Reported]

batch, n.

[POR]

euphemism

for B.S. or

bottom
v.). Also
bush wash. [Heard]
called

BS&W

settlings

(qq.

and

up small

pieces of debris

or broken tools lost in the hole by bend-

ing in or striking bottom. [PO]

one operation

effort to

[POR]

raw

v.t.

2.

grades of petrole-

improve the

Commonly

distilla-

called batching.

[KI] 3. pipelining. To put different


grades of oil or gasoline through a pipe
line in succession.

[OPL,

p. 123]

oil

equipped with a basket


(q. v.) in the upper part; used also to
obtain small samples to be treated or
tested. [PE]
drilling bit

bastard, adj.

nonviscous neutral oil used printo prevent the adherence of


molded materials to the molds; also used
cipally

as

lubricant

bastard sand,

and bastard

thread.

in

the

manufacture of

[POR]

rope.

batch

Descriptive of any tool, machinery, or


tank that is irregular in shape or size.
See bastard car, bastard connection, basfile,

oil for

refer to either the

To mix two

an

in

batch

basket bit

tard

refining.

um

type of fishing tool used in rotary

may

or the refined product.

tion of one.

drilling to pick

quantity of

in refining;

basket, n.

1.

basic sediment

of

An early name given a gray sand found


ninety feet below the surface in Forest
County, Pennsylvania. [NO]
bastard thread

base petroleum

stretchers, left-

bastard sand

The formation of igneous and metamorphic rocks beneath the sedimentary


rocks in which oil may be found and
from which many of the sediments conby erosion. [BA,

green hand

to believe that the bastard file

still

still

used in the batch system (q.

v.)

of refining. [D]

batch system

system in which one batch of oil is


or refined at a time, with no
continuous feed or outflow. [KOT]

[KI]

distilled

bastard box
See bastard thread.

battery, n.

bastard car
A tank car with compartments of

1.

ir-

regular capacity. [KI]

joint of

pipe

with

one irregular

thread. [Heard]

bastard

file

series of stills or boilers

operated

bastard connection

by the same connections and sometimes


set in continuous masonry. [D] 2.
group of storage tanks within one fire
wall. [Heard]

Baume
The

file

with a regulation

file

on one

by the

scale

measured
[D]

specific gravity of oil as

Baume

system (q.

v.).

beat the bushes

57

Baume system

system of determining the density


of oil invented by a French chemist,
sealed hollow tube with standBaume.
ardized graduations is floated in the oil,
and the density is indicated by the depth
to which the tube sinks. Thus a heavy oil
has a low reading, a volatile oil, a high
reading. [A]

B.D.
Barrels daily; an abbreviation used in
drilling reports.

[LDO,

p. 428]

Be.

An

bean a well down

Baume.

abbreviation of

bean, n.
A choke; a heavy nipple inserted into
and closing the flow line except for an
orifice in each stroke. The rate of flow
is regulated by the size of the choke
orifice. Customarily the size of the choke
orifice through which the well is producing is given in production reports.
For example one says, "Johnson Roe No.
1
is doing 793 barrels through a oneinch choke." [BA, p. 153] syn. choke,
choke nipple, cracked valve, and flow
bean. [PE]

To drill a well with the labor


workers who accept only enough
money to pay for their food, the balance
to be paid in an interest in the well. Such
a well is sometimes called a poor-boy well
and the drilling is called poor boying a
drilling.

bead, n.
One continuous circle welded around
a pipe. The first bead of a weld is called a
stringer bead.

bead machine
A machine
pellets are

beads,

in

which

made from

carbon-black

carbon. [Heard]

bean back,

pellets.

[Heard]

(q. v.).

beanery, n.

[Heard]

Any

n.
stick,

sneezing

bar, teetering log, tilting stick,

walking

beam, wiggle

stick,

wobbling

See bean back. [BB,

which the pumping rods


are attached to, and actuated by, the
walking beam. [POR]
device by

beam head
The rod end of a walking beam. See
horsehead, 2 and mule head. [PE]

beam pump
A pump equipped with

a beam. It

is

of the piston type, with a single cylinder

3 or 3/4 inches by 22 inches, and is built


for a working pressure of 400 to 600

pounds. The pump is connected directly


to the walhjng beam where the producer
uses a separate power at each well. [OPL,
139]

beam

eating place; not usually applied

an establishment that furnishes both


room and meals. [Reported]
to

bean her down

log.

beam hanger

p.

v.t.

reduce the rate of oil flow by means


of a choke, syn. bean her down, pinch
back, and pinch to. [BB, p. 490]

n.

See hump-back walking

well down. [Reported]

To

walking beam

BEAM,

p. 92]

n. pi.

Carbon

beam,

[OPL,

of

p. 490]

bean up

To

increase the rate of oil flow, op-

posite of bean bac\.

[PO]

bear cat
1.

heavily producing well.

tective belt

made

2.

pro-

of canvas. [BB, pp. 486,

beat, n.

The

wells tended by a

pumper. [WIN,

p. 139]

beater, n.

sledge

hammer

used in heavy beat-

ing. [KI]

beat the bushes


well

well

pumped by means

ing beam. [POR]

of a walk-

To look for business; said of a supplyhouse salesman, syn. Shake the trees.
[Reported]

Beaumont
Beaumont

An

early

oil

58
belly, n.

oil

term used in Texas for road

sag in

so called because the oil came from


the region near Beaumont, Texas. [KI]

ported]

Beaver,

belly

oil;

n.

A new

type of mobile service unit de-

veloped for Shell to refuel

medium-sized

aircraft.

a revolutionary

improvement

[SH, April, 1947,


becky,

light

The new

and

unit

is

in this field.

p. 27]

in the top of a traveling

layer of a stratified series.

stratification fault

with bearing and

inclination of the strata. [PE]

To

v.i.

discharge, rupture, or

diaphragm

the

blow out

at

of a refining unit; caused

by improper operation. [Reported]

well which flows by heads (q. v.).


[Reported]

excavation

made

in

a pipe-line

ditch to join the line already laid

and the

lowered. It must be deep


permit access to the entire
circumference of the pipe. [BA, p. 182]
just

enough

to

bell-hole

weld

weld that extends around the pipe.


four beads are welded around
each welded joint. [Heard]

At

least

bell nipple

A nipple shaped somewhat like a bell


and resembling the nipple of a baby's
bottle.

[PE]

bell socket

An
cover

[D]

clamp around

used to stop a leak.

so called because

it

is

halfway from the floor to the mon\ey


board (q. v.). [Reported]
belly brace

supporting device for a boiler; a


etc. [PE]

belly-buster

safety rope extending across the der-

rick for the derrickman.

1.

overshot fishing tool used to redamaged casing or bailer tubes.

an

Specifically

rich in

[ME,

p. 762]

or a region

oil belt

Property in an

oil.

oil

region

is

on the belt. [NO] 2. A band


used around some object; an endless
band connecting two pulleys and transmitting power from one pulley to the
said to be

other.

belt

[POR]

clamp
clamp used

belt together.

to fasten the

ends of a

[POR]

belt lace

bell hole

section

it;

[Heard]

belching well

The

see belly buster. 2.

pipe with a hole in

belt, n.

inclination of dip parallel to the bearing

belch,

protective rope used by a derrick-

prop, a circular iron band,

[D]

bedding fault

and

man;

n.

bedding, n.
A bed (q. v.). A bedding plane divides
one bed from another. [D]

band

settlings in that spot. [Re-

Tubing board;

clevis

block which helps support the block and


carries the odd line. [Reported]

bed,

1.

bottoms caused by ex-

still

and

belly board

n.

The

cess heat

lace

used to fasten the ends of a belt

together. See alligator lace.

[POR]

belt-line theory

The

oil-prospecting

theory

best place to drill for oil

between proved

wells.

[DE,

that

the

in the area

is

p. 99]

belt stretcher

A
belt

draw the ends of a


together in order to fasten them.

device used to

[POR]
belt theory

See belt-line theory. [DE,

p. 99]

bend, n.
A curved length of pipe,

A,at

specifically

bends, depending
upon whether the degree of the curve is
45, 90, or 180.
bend less than 45

designated

/%,

Vz

may

be called a spring. [D]

big hole

59
bender,

Big Benson Pipe Line

n.

pipeliner.

[WIL,

The first pipe line laid across the major


ranges of the Alleghenies. The line is
important in the history of American

p. 69]

bending shoe

A
is

device for supporting pipe

to be bent;

it

where

made from

is

it

a rein-

forced half-section of pipe twelve to eighteen inches long and has the same diameter as the pipe to be bent. [OPL, p. 71]

benzene, n.
A hydrocarbon

member
ries;

(C 6 H 6 ), the

of the aromatic or

initial

benzene

se-

used as fuel and as a paint remover.

[POR]

transportation of

oil:

was a six-inch
had been laid;

it

pipe, the largest line that

moved

over very difficult


than 15,000 wagons or
100 rail cars could carry at full capacity;
and, despite inadequate tools for handling
such heavy pipe, the line was begun in
February, 1878, and completed in May,

it

successfully

more

terrain

[WIL,

1879.

oil

p. 52]

Big Bertha

benzine, n.
refining.
cut of naphtha run which
is too poor in burning qualities to be used
in internal-combustion engines. It is
used as a cleaning fluid, or it may be rerun through a cracking plant to improve its volatility. [POR]

1. Large, cumbersome, short-handled


chain tongs. 2. An oversized gun perforacolorful name for an
tor. 3. refining.
engine no longer in use. [Reported]

Big Calcutta

pipe line built during World War


linking India and China. The longest
of the wartime pipe lines, it made possible the delivering of oil to beleaguered
II

benzine-naphtha, n.
A heavy fraction of petroleum made
by treating and redistilling crude naphtha.

[A]

benzinum,

n.

petroleum distillate composed primarily of hydrocarbons of the methane


series. [A]

China and so helped


[WIL, p. 181]

product distilled from coal and used


to dilute bottom sediments so that they
can be run. [P]

Berea sandstone, Berea

grit

of the principal oil-bearing forma-

tions of Ohio,

composed

sandstone and

grit.

of fine-grained

[LDO]

beveler, n.

An

acetylene torch that cuts pipe

bevels

it

for

and

welding in one process.

[Reported]

The

natural-gas

built

by a force of some

in

the early nineteen

Oklahoma

by

$100,000,000
struction

approximately
Continental Con-

the

Company

for the Insull

Com-

Texas CorporaCarbon, Southwestern


tion, Columbia
Development Company, and Standard

panies,

Cities

New

Oil of

Service,

Jersey. It supplies natural gas

about fifty towns,


communities. [WIL,
to

cities,

and

industrial

p. 137]

big ditch
See buried ditch. [DO, June 25, 1948]

City.

[DO, February

of the world's largest producing

oil pools. It

[WIL,

B.H.P.

big hole

abbreviation for bra\e horsepower.

1.

that

includes the

oil fields

of Kil-

Longview, Van, and Gladewater.

gore,

29, 1948]

An

was

it

workmen

One

Oil activity in the Witcher area north-

[POR]

American

greatest

pipe line;

Big East Texas

be-Witchered play
east of

the war.

thirties at a total cost of

One

win

Big Chicago

10,000

benzol, n.

to

p. 8]

Originally the part of a bore hole


cased; the uncased part was desig-

is

Big Hole Ben

60

nated the small hole. [NO] 2. A bore


hole requiring a ten-inch pipe or larger.
[Reported]

feet

Big Hole Ben

big sand

legendary oilfielder who received


because he would not work on
casings smaller than ten inches. [Re-

name

his

ported]

bight,

To
rope.

Big Red

cavy

v.)

(q.

shale formation 339

below the Pittsburgh

coal.

[NO]

An early name given the sandstone


formation encountered at 600 to 800 feet
in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. [NO]
big shot

by gripping with a

fasten

In

Any

pipelining.

v.t.

cable-tool

coils of a shaft

drilling,

coil of

when

the

rope are pulled they bight

the revolving shaft

and pull the

from

[NO]

the bore hole.

tools

from the main

has a rank higher than superintendent. [SA, p. 200] syn. Pressure.


[WIN, p. 139; SA, p. 300]

big tool box

pit

on a

^V
lease into

Big Inch

throw

A twenty-four-inch pipe line built during World War II which transported


crude oil from Longview, Texas, to
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and there
branched into smaller lines leading to

use. [Reported]

refineries in the East. [RI]

official

who

office

tools

which workers

that are old or difficult to

big trough

portion of the

Anadarko basin
November

western Oklahoma. [DO,

in
16,

1947]
billy club

Big Inchers
pipelining. 1.
Inch Pipe Line.

The builders of the Big


2. The combined system

See knock

In trouble of any kind; a common dis[Heard; WIN,

crude oil and the Little Big Inch Pipe


Line for carrying products. [WIL, pp.

p. 139]

165, 169]

binder, n.

and gas-producing sandstone

Pocono formation

of

tress signal in the oil field.

Big Injun
oil-

in

Pennsylvania.

[NO]

device for tightening a chain around


a load of pipe; a cheater (q. v.) is used
on the binder. [Reported]
bindle, n.

big lime
1.

Specifically,

an early name for Moun-

tain or Greenbrier limestone.

[NO]

2.

Generally, any highly productive lime


formation, such as Big Lime of eastern
Ohio fields, of western and southwestern
Texas fields, and of southwestern Clay

County

fields,

West

Virginia.

[POR]

ly

Big Moses
A famous

Farm

clothing.

gas well brought in

in Tyler County,

on Spen-

West

Vir-

"blew wild" for a year


during which time the escaping gas was alternately ignited by lightning and extinguished by high winds

and

half,

rains.

[WIL,

p. 128]

[OK]

bindlestiff, n.

transient

bindle (q. v.).

bird dog, n.

An

were so

ginia, in 1887. It

and a

bundle carried by a transient, usual-

containing both cooking utensils and

1.

cer

[Heard]

bind, in a

of the Big Inch Pipe Line for carrying

An

stick.

oilfielder

who

carries

[OK]

<j

\-"

early term for geologists,

who

they were supposed to be able to "smell out" oil. 2.


helpful person who serves as a guide and
called because

information center for a broker {lease


hound). He is most valuable in pointing
out residents who might be hard to find.
3. Any person who ferrets out information and bird dogs it to other companies.

bitumen

6i
4.

snooper or hanger-on who watches


activities with the intention of

oil-field

getting information.

v. 5.

To

engage

any of the activities of a bird dog. 6.


follow someone, closely to see what
he is doing. An assistant often bird dogs
in

To

his superior, his business

work so
perior when

being to learn

that he can replace his su-

the

it

necessary. 7.

is

To

one's time in finishing a job; that

take time to think about the job


a particularly difficult one,

and

take
is,

to

if it is

to see that

completed. 8. To solicit
business; said of a supply-house represatisfactorily

it is

or

sentative

November,

contractor.

[1-5,

LAM,

who

bird dogs (q. v.).

short-core barrel used in cable-

tool drilling to cut short cores; so called

because the operation is similar to that


used in cutting out biscuits. [POR] 2.
slang. A clumsy derrickman who drops
pipe and so leaves biscuit-like marks on
the derrick floor. [BB, p. 489]

^y

bit, n.

cutting tool used in drilling oil wells

by either the cable-tool or the rotary


method. To drill a certain number of

number

bits

means

bits

have been dulled in the drilling pro-

cess.

Bars

scissor-like

jaws

used

to

sheets, etc. for tank-repairing crews.

[KI]

gage or gauge

bit

An

mine when
size.

known diameter used


during dressing to deterhas reached the correct

iron ring of

to test the bit


it

[D]

hook

tool for straightening a bit lost in

the hole. [D]

that the specified

One who collects


The job

used drill bits for a


not strictly legal,
for drill-bit companies do not sell their
bits but rent them and want them back
to "retip" them. Poor-boy companies
sometimes co-operate with hustlers for
the sake of cheaper retips. Also called
retipper. [Reported]
rebuilder.

is

bit oil

Whiskey given
men. [Reported]

by

bit sales-

bit

from the

oilfielders

of

[NO]

bit puller

A
drill

tool for

removing the

stem. [Reported]

disk

bit,

bit

with two or more rolling

which do the

discs

cutting; a special bit used

in certain formations

the rotary method.

when

drilling

by

[POR]

rock

bit,

rotary bit with knurling cutters for


hard rock. [POR]

rams

Very heavy hammers made of tough


steel

used to

hammer

the bit into proper

shape. [PE]

blank

The

steel

are set in

blanks before the diamonds

them

for

diamond

drilling.

[POR]

basket

See basket

bit

bits,

bit

with

straighten or bend angle-iron plates, steel

bit hustler

biscuit cutter

biters, n. pi.

bit

one

act of

[Reported]

1.

1. One who repairs or keeps the bits in


proper shape. 2. A machine for sharpening or repairing the drill bits. [PE]

1947, p. 12; 6-8, Reported]

bird dogging

The

bit dresser

bit.

[PE]

bitumen,

bit breaker

1.
special piece of equipment in the
rotary table used to connect or discon-

nect the drill stem. 2.


device used in
rotary drilling to unscrew the drill bit
from the drill collar. [LDO]

n.

general name for various solid


and semisolid hydrocarbons. 2. In the
asphalt trade, a mixture of native or py1.

rogenous hydrocarbons and their nonmetallic derivatives

which are soluble

carbon disulphide. [D]

in

bituminous

62

bituminous, adj.
1. Containing much organic or carbonaceous matter, generally in the form
of tarry hydrocarbons which are usually
as bitumen.
bituminous odor. [D]

described

2.

Possessing

swine stone. [D]

bituminous sandstone
Any rock formed of coherent or cemented sandstone. Asphaltic sandstone
a loose-textured sandstone containing

asphalt.

[D]

bituminous shale

asphalt-free

rather generally applied to any

is

dark-colored lubricating

and

oil

of moderate

viscosity, suitable for

such heavy

lubrication as that of railroad-car journals, gears, cables, etc.

[D]

black sands
Sandstones of a dark brown, almost
black color, giving rise to the name,
which has been applied to the sands in
the Bradford, Allegheny, and Gaines

[NO]

fields.

black satin glass


Lampblack. [POR]
blackstrap, n.

containing hydrocarbons or
when rich in such
substance it yields oil or gas on distillation. Also called pyrochist or oil shale.
shale

bituminous material;

[D]

[NO]

dark, heavy

oil

used for lubricating

mine-car wheels. [A]

summer

black

black diamond slate


A name given by drillers to a slate encountered 416 feet down in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1876.

oil

natural, black, lubricating oil used

for roughly finished machines or for the


axles of cars. It has a

and

low cold

test.

medium

viscosity

Also called axle

oil.

[POR]
blank, n.

A dry

black gold

A common

name

was

a well that
ture held

men

for

off

In describing
to bring under

0\lahotnan

"Nafor eleven days while


said,

black gold rode the winds." [DO,


vember 12, 1947]

No-

black gold of Transylvania

An

name

early

for petroleum.

[WIL,

p. 40]

blackjack, n.

Crude

oil

used to lubricate mine-car

wheels. [D]

Black Magic

A heavy oil-base drilling fluid which


hardens like cement and blocks off water
but does not block off petroleum, in
which it will dissolve. Now patented under the trade name Blac\ Magic. [KI]
black

variety of petroleum produced

from what

blanket,

n.

very heavy, two-layer canvas,


which has the double duty of retaining
1.

the filtering clay


filtering

When

process

and of finishing the


of

is

known

as blac\ oil sands.

highly refined

oil.

become discolored by impurities or has run the


amount to be expected of it, it is removed and the process is transferred to
another filter while another blanket and
the blanket begins to

charge of clay are provided. 2. A very


heavy canvas tightly fitted over circular,
drumhead-like sections that are used in
the wax-sweating press. As wax containing oil passes over or through, the lowered temperature causes the wax to solidify while the oil drips away. These deposits of wax are allowed to build up
until

maximum

deposits

and then the flow

oil

hole (q. v.). [BB, p. 486]

oil.

difficult

control, the Daily

1.

of a

sold as black oil

from an
term

wax crackwhen obtained


wax distillate. The

The residuum

2.

still;

flash

bituminous limestone
A limestone impregnated with bituminous material and emitting a fetid odor
when rubbed. Also called stin\ stone and

is

[NO]
ing

are

obtained,

of wax-laden oil

is

turned into another press. The wax is


then broken loose blanket by blanket

blending

63
with spud bars until the deposit is discharged, at which time the process is be-

shallow, square, flat-bottomed steel tank


with a closed steam coil and an open-air

gun

coil at the

again. [KI]

drilling contract covering a

large

For example, the entire Osage Reservation was leased to one company be-

bleed,

in severalty.

was
[FO]

allotted to the Indians

down

displace oil in a bore hole with acid

on the formation.

in order to get acid

blank flange

[Reported]

A flange that is not drilled but


wise completed. [D]

is

other-

blank liner

casing without perforations. [BB, p.

blank

To

off,

v.t.

case off

bleeder line
A drain extending from the bottom of
a crude-oil storage tank through which
basic sediment and water are drawn off.
[Heard]
bleeding,

an

oil

sand with blank

1.

The

n.

testing of a tank of oil for water

pipe. See case off. [BB, p. 490]

and sediment by drawing

blasting, n.

tom. [D]

1.

An

[NO]

early term for shooting a well.

liquid

from

2.

[POR]

[Heard]

off.

bleed a well

To

oil.

v.t.

See bleed

area.

fore the land

bottom; used in the bleaching

and blending of lubricating

blanket lease

method

of loosening or shat-

tering masses of solid matter by

explosive compounds.

means

of

Where petroleum

2.

The

from a gas
a tank of

act
line,

oil.

off at the bot-

of

draining

off

and

B.S.

or water

[POR]

bleeding core
See weeping core. [Reported]

occurs in a dense, hard rock, explosives

must sometimes be used, the effect being


to set up a subterranean disturbance
which may thus be the means of giving
freer movement to the oil. [POR]

bleed into a line

To let a substance such as a malodorant


or a coloring drip into a line of oil. This
is
a variation from the usual meaning
of bleed. [Reported]

blasting oil

bleed

Nitroglycerin. [D]

blau or blue gas


1. A mixture of volatile hydrocarbons,
such as propane, butane, the pentanes,
etc. in solution under pressure. The pressure solution is put into steel cylinders

and

is

The

gas

thus

made

used for illuminating, heating,


and power purposes. [D] 2. A gas obtained from cracking petroleum prod-

ucts.

[KOT]

bleached

is

called sun-

[POR]

To

various petroleum products to

secure a desired end product, especially


oils.

[D]

n.

Blending.

blended fuel

two or more

oil

which

is

a mixture

of the other types of fuel

(residual, distillate, or cracked).

[KOT]

blending, n.

The

bleacher, n.
1. In early refineries, the bank in which
the oil was allowed to stand for a time
before it was shipped. [NO] 2.
large,

2.

v.t.

To mix

refining. Fuel

Oil decolorized by the action of chemioil.

blend,

of

oil

cals or sunlight; the latter

bleached

release pressure

a pressure vessel.

available for transport.

is

off, v.t.

To

from a well or
drain off liquid
from a gas line or water and B.S. from
a tank of oil. [WIN, p. 139]
1.

addition of one

oil to

that the mixture or blend


in all

its

natural

parts.

is

another so

homogeneous

By blending 40 per cent


which has a Baume

gasoline

gravity of 80 with 60 per cent naphtha of

blind

64

59 gravity, a motor gasoline of 66 gravity


is produced. Endless examples of blending can be given for motor fuels, lubri-

refining.

make an

solid piece of steel

on

airtight closure

a pipe or

all lines

lead-

on a cable-tool rig. The


milled teeth of the tool act as cutters in
rasping off the burred portion of a taper
pin or rope-socket neck. [Heard]
blind flange

(also called a

Red Sand-

for the Big

County,

Pennsylvania.

the end of a

a blind end
dead end). See bull plug.

n.

quality

fluorescent

and

its

oils.

[D]

products,

petroleum

of

especially

lubricating

v.i.

from the earth by


Used in the expression the oil was blowing to describe the
action of a gusher. [WIL, p. 38]
Said of

means

box

The flange used to close


The flange produces

The

blow,

fishing tool

pipe.

n.

name

Clarion

stone,

used to

[Reported]

blind a still off


To put blinds (q. v.) on
ing to a still. [Reported]

blind

local

bloom,

blind, n.

still.

The
[NO]

[POR]

cants, etc.

blood-rock,

oil

expelled

of natural gas.

blow a

line

down

To remove

an obstruction from a gas


by taking the pressure off the
line in order that any frozen substance
can melt and then by putting pressure on
again. [Heard]
line first

blow a well clean

To open

[D]

the casing head

upon comple-

tion of a well so that the escaping gas

blind off the tower


refining. To put blinds (q. v.) in the
openings of a tower still so that it can be
repaired or cleaned. [Reported]

blow out

may

the accumulated drill cut-

Wells with insufficient gas pres-

tings.

sure are bailed (q. v.).

[LDO,

p. 440]

blow barrel

blind splice

To

all

fifty-five-gallon oil

drum

connected

by removing the hemp core to accommodate


the ends of the strands. [D]

which the fireman


washes clothes. Also called blow off,
blow out, and blow box. [WIN, p. 139]

block,

blow-by,

To
an

join the ends of a steel cable

v.t.

complete the leasing campaign in

area.

When

the lease

hound

(q. v.)

and steam

to water

in

n.

pipelining. The escape of fuel vapors


at the rings of the pump motor. [OPL,

secures a lease, he says that he has the

p. 305]

land blocked up. [BA, pp. 38, 95]

blow down a

To

boiler

block and tackle


Two blocks with sheaves in them. The
blocks are equipped with ropes and are

from

the back

of a boiler in an endeavor to

blow the

used in hoisting. [POR]

tom

minerals,

salt, alkali, etc.

out of the bot-

form a thick
which would lower the efficiency
the boiler. See continuous blow-down.
so that they will not

deposit

block off

To

shut out water by means of mud,


cement, Blac\ Magic, or other material.
See mud off. [KI]

of

[KI]

blower,
1.

block-squeeze,

force steam or air

v.t.

n.

An ejector. 2. A gas well, correspond-

shut off the formation from a bore


hole between two certain depths. [DO,
October 28, 1947]

ing to a gusher among oil wells. 3. A


mechanical fan used for ventilating a
building, a shaft, etc.; the blower or fan
for a forge. 4. A steam blower run into

block valve

a well to dissolve paraffin or to clean the

To

See gate valve. [KI]

well. [1-2,

NO;

3,

PE;

4,

Heard]

blow wild

65

blow

To
of oil

blown petroleum

in, v.i.

and

gas.

just after, distillation.

blow

cock

off

A
still

valve with a plug valve designed to


used in blowing off mud from a

be

which residual hydrocarbons


reduced by being blown through
many bubble trays on the way to the top
to cool so that only the desired grades of
vapor will reach the top and go into the
condensing chamber. The number of
trays and the temperature of the liquids
flowing from tray to tray govern the
still

[A]

air propeller.

blowing

petroleum residuum through which

a jet of air has been passed during, or

[PO]

blowing machine
See

begin to flow with violent ejection

in

boiler.

[POR]

are

quality of the fuel

coming from

the

blow one

spend or help spend someone's


money for him. An expression used by
early cats (q. v.). [Reported]

blow one's top

To

still

and fractionating tower. [KI]

in

To

lose one's temper. [Reported]

Said of a well that begins to produce


salt water which usually underlies the
oil sand and signifies the end of profitable
oil production. [S]

blowout, n.
1. A sudden or violent escape of gas
and air or gas and oil. [D] 2. refining.
A sudden, violent outburst of any vessel
under pressure, such as a pipe, a still, or
a gas line. [K]

blow job

blow

blow

itself into

water

cleaning job to be done with steam.


[Reported]

out,

v.i.

To go

out of control as a result of a


violent eruption of gas or gas and oil.

[PO]

blow

line

high-pressure air line used to clean


out pipe lines which have been coated
by the oils passing through them. The
heavier the oil, the more often must the
line be blown. [KI]

blowout box

box, a barrel, or any similar device

which

clothes are cleaned by steam.


Nearly every rig has such a box in which
the workers clean their greasers (q. v.).
in

[Reported]

blown asphalt

An

asphaltic petroleum residue

blown

blowout preventer

moderately high temperature to increase the yield of asphaltum


and give a more viscous product which
is least affected by atmospheric changes.

head used in rotary


prevent gas pressure from
forcing the circulating mud-fluid out of

[POR]

blow the cobs out

with

air at a

blown

Semisolid or solid products obtained


primarily by the action of air upon
originally fluid

native bitumens

(vegetable)
Vegetable oil blown by passing a
stream of heated air through it. The oxidation increases the body or viscosity of
the

oil.

oil

[POR]

race a motor. [Reported]

blow the soot out

To

race a motor. [Reported]

which

are heated during the blowing process.


Also called condensed oils. [D]

blown

to

the hole. [D]

To

oils

special casing

drilling

blow wash
Water blown into a batch of oil to
cause the sludge to separate from the oil.
[Reported]

blow wild
Said of a well from which the gas
escapes so violently that the well cannot

66

blue-cores
be controlled. Often when a well blows
wild it burns. [Heard; DO, January 11,
1948]

boardinghouse chicken

Hash. [Reported]

Narrte for

Ames

the

in Ohio.

limestone above the

[NO]

blue elephant
See elephant. [BB,

p.

Board of Trade
The name given

488]

at

The name
sand

in

given to the lower second


County, Pennsylvania.

Butler

mixture of heavy

oils

and

paraffin

produced from heavy oil and paraffin by


cooling and pressing for separation of
hard paraffin scale. It is refined and fractioned into lubricating

oils.

wildcat {q. v.). [P, p. 172]

top in 1901

won

for the field the epithet

a pumping well is said to


be bobbing right along. [Heard; WIN,
p. 139]

bob-tail, n.
1.

2.

The name is derived from


made by the well

blows in and from the blue color


of the gas, which is produced by pres-

[WIN,
sand

A name

short wheel-base truck equipped

[Reported]

poles.

A cable-tool drilling string used to drill

[ST,

have com-

p. 139]

p. 130]

bob-tail off,

To drop

it

bluff

with winch and gin

in a well after the rotary tools

the whistling sound

sure.

v.i.

To pump;

pleted the hole to the top of the sand.

blue whistler

bob,

ported]

Swindletop. [T, p. 123]

gas well.

[Reported]

A float-type gauge usually read on a


gauge board fastened to the tank. [Re-

blue sky peddler VAn unscrupulous oil promoter. A group


of such promoters operating at Spindle-

when

boar's nest

bob gauge

[POR]

blue sky exploratory well

p. 188]

A unit made up of a helter-skelter arrangement of pipe work and equipment.

oil

obtained in the distillation of ozokerite.


In the Scottish shale-oil industry, the oil

Noveminterests

were represented, the organization functioned primarily as an oil exchange. [GI,

[NO]
blue

Pennsylvania, in

Although mercantile

Titusville,

ber, 1865.

Monday Sand

Blue

to the first trade ex-

change in an oil region, which was organized by merchants and oil shippers

blue gas
See blau or blue gas.

boardinghouse mystery

blue-cores, n.

\,\_/

Stolen chicken. [Heard]

is

v.t.

when the float


disconnected, the truck becomes a bob-

tail.

a float (q. v.)

[Heard]

bob-tail rig

given to the

sand encountered in drilling in Butler County,


Pennsylvania.

first

[NO]

B.O.

An abbreviation for bac\-out (q. v.)


generally used in place of the full term.
[KI]

very compact rig made


is limited. In the
early days of the industry a 43-foot bobtail was used in West Virginia; the regular rig was 83 feet long. [NO] 2. See bobdrilling.

for use

1.

where space

BOARDINGHOUSE,

n.

See beanery, greasy spoon, onion hotel,

ptomaine

cafe, stooler.

tail, 2.

[Heard]

body, n.
A term used

to indicate the consistency

or the fluidity of a lubricating

are heavy-

and light-bodied

oil.

oils,

There

depend-

boll-weevil stunt

6y
ing upon whether they are heavy and

and

viscous or light

The measure
the number of

fluid.

expressed in
seconds which a given quantity of the oil
at a given temperature flows through an
of fluidity

aperture.

is

[POR]

variety of canned coal,


oil

and

[D]

gas.

boil, v.i.

bubble violently; said of oil from


is allowed to escape too rapid-

which gas
ly as

it

flows

the action
oil

is

from the

well. Occasionally

so violent that

some

of the

sprays out of the tank. 2. refining.

To change

a liquid to vapor

[BA, pp.

plication of heat.

BOILER, n.
See barrel-type boiler,
tive-type boiler,

boiler

The

Long

by the ap-

155, 201]

kettle,

locomo-

horsepower
unit by which

boiler-generated

is measured. One unit equals the


evaporation per hour of 34/4 pounds of
water from a temperature of 212 F. into
steam at 212 F. [LDO]

v.t.

*^

To

and

most

contained in

v.i.

spray over the side of a storage


tank; said of burning crude oils and the
heavier refined and fuel oils. After the
oil has been burning some time in the
tank it boils over: hot oil from the burning surface works its way down to the
layer of water which is present in nearly
every tank, and the hot oil causes the
water to flash into steam, which throws
a wave of burning oil up and over the
side of the tank. [OPL, p. 189]
boil up,

v.i.

tidy

up. Early pipeliners usually

tively, and that one suit was washed


between jobs. The boiling-up process in-

any

boilerhoused if its manufacturer made


claims for it that were not substantiated
in use. [WIN, p. 139] 2. To est imate to
guess. Said of oil scouts who get their
information from the pot man (q. v.)
rather than from the driller. [Reported]

or oil pipe

boiler rockers

Horse and mule teams used in early oil


to move machinery and to pull
trucks and cars out of the mud. [K, p.

fields

103]

1.

Originally an inexperienced driller


2. An inexperienced worker in

or borer.

which the

final

and heaviest fraction of the petroleum


driven off in the process of distillation.
Also called end point and dry point. [D]

Texas

capacity. 3. In California, a

driller or a rotary driller. 4.

grease cup

on a steam line which lubriwhatever machinery it leads to.


[Heard]

cates

boll-weevil corner

The

position of a

bac\-up
[Heard]

the

new hand,

corner

on the

usually

rig

floor.

boll-weevil lubricator

shop-made device that injects lubrioil into the steam line on a drilling rig. Sometimes shortened to boll

cating

weevil.

boiling point, final

volved two steps in which the pipeliners


bathed themselves and then washed their
clothes in their bath water. Another practice of oil pipeliners was to jungle up
(q. v.). [Heard]

and submitted an estimated report instead of an exact one. A rig might be

is

lightest fluid

To

boll weevil

at

drop

from

[POR]

boil over,

fake or alter. The term originated


with the alleged practice of pumpers who
gauged their tanks in the boiler house

The temperature

first

possessed only one suit of clothes respec-

power

boilerhouse,

which the

the vaporization temperature of the

To

John, pot.

at

the end of the condenser. This represents

the fluid.

valuable as a source of

To

The temperature

of distillate falls into the receiver

volatile

boghead coal
A dark brown

1.

boiling point, initial

[WIN,

p. 138]

boll-weevil stunt

A foolish blunder in any kind of work, \>


particularly a

blunder

other workers.

[WIN,

that
p. 138]

endangers

68

boll-weevil tongs
boll-weevil tongs
Short, very strong

and heavy tongs.

Even a boll weevil (q. v.) cannot fail to


use them correctly. The term boll weevil
applied to all accessories improvised in
the drilling locale. [PE]

placed by mechanical devices.


could operate these lines were
bonus men. [Reported]

boom,

is

Any

Men who
known

as

n.

where there

place

is

a great deal

of activity; usually spoken of in the pe-

boll-weevil tubing head

troleum industry

tubing head so called by one manufacturer because it does not require an


experienced man to land it. [WIN, p.

as

an

oil

boom. [WIN,

p. 138]

boom

138]

derrick

hoisting machine with a supported

mast and a swing boom. Also called a


bolster stakes
pipelining. Upright stakes at the edges
of the truck bed which aid in fastening
the load securely. [OPL, p. 165]

bomb,

n.

very strong metal case in which


samples are obtained from stills under
pressure by fastening the case to an outlet from the still and turning the liquid
into it. [KI]

bond,

v.i.

To

blend or mix well; said of oils.


union of elements or substances which blend or weld satisfactori1.

[KI]

ly.

n. 2.

[POR]

bone, n.
A formation in which drilling
cult.

[BB,

p.

[POR]

crane.

is diffi-

boomer,

transported over rough roads. [POR]


follower of an oil boom: a promoter, gambler, procurer, prostitute, or
bootlegger. [K, p. 110] 3.
worker who
follows flush production. [BG, p. 31]
it is

2.

boom town

town

1.

n.

The

pump for increasing the vacuum

boot, n.

through which

outer portion of a valve

which

stem and other working por-

valve at the bottom of a tank car


contents are transits

ferred to other vessels, tanks,

So

called because of

tions. 3.
welder's protective headgear;
a cover for protection. [PE]

boot cap

bonus man

on the boot

first-class

telegraph

operator.

The

term originated in early pipelining days:


when a very good operator sent messages
on the bonus wires (q. v.) he earned a
bonus. The term now applies to any fast
telegraph operator. [Reported]

bonus wires
Telegraph
centers

also in

auxiliary station in a pipe line; the

Also called a skirt, an openend basket, and an overshot. [Reported]


fish (q. v.).

The

rapidly as a

Used

or pull in the line. [PE]

outer portion of a fishing tool


tool to slip over the

protects the

oil.

booster station

which allows the

2.

grown

speaking of any town that has developed


rapidly. [ST, p. 51]

auxiliary

bonnet,

that has

result of a discovery of

An

488]

n.

combination device used to tighten a chain or line about a loaded truck


or wagon to hold the load in place when
1.

its

stills,

etc.

shape. [KI]

threaded metal cap that is screwed


after the valve has been
tested during the filling of a tank. Casing-head gasoline hauled in tanks is
easily ignited;

sure that

if

therefore, shippers

make

the valve should be opened

by the jars and twists of a freight haul the


inflammable liquid will not escape. [KI]

boot jack
lines

on which

all

between

important

messages were sent

in code to increase the speed;

now

re-

forked fishing tool with which


attempt to recover lost drills; so
called because of its bootlike shape. [NO]
drillers

bottling

69
borehole

boot-jack off

To

splinter or divide so as to suggest

a boot jack in appearance. In cable-tool


drilling, if the jars strike together on both
downward and upward strokes, they are

soon battered or boot-jac\ed. [NO]

works

pump

A pump

for use in a bored well.

[D]

borer, n.

An

name

early

for a driller; originally

applied to salt-well borers.

[BOW,

p. 11]

boring bar
bootleg, v.t.
To handle goods or deals surreptitiously or through other than regular or legal
channels. [Reported]

bootlegger, n.
One who handles
goods. [Reported]

bootleg

deals

or

revolving or stationary bar carrying

one or more cutters or drills for boring;


a bar of steel fitted with an automatic
feed screw, a cutter head, and a means
of support for boring engine or compressor cylinders; a portable machine for
boring cylinders, driven either by power
or by

bootleg packer
A makeshift packer.

When

it

is

im-

practical to set a string of casing to shut

water between the lowest upperwater sand and the first oil sand, and at
the same time it is necessary to run tubing through the open hole to the oil
off

sand,

it

is

often a practice to

make an

upturned, truncated cone of canvas or


leather, the small end of which is the size
of the outside of the tubing. This end is
wired to the tubing with the large end
of the cone turned upward in the well
so that material caving off the walls of
the open hole above it will form a packer.

[POR]

boot socket
See boot jack. [PE]
bore, n.
1. A hole made by boring. 2. The diameter of an engine piston or the inside
diameter of the cylinder bore.
v.t. 3. To
make a hole or perforation with a boring
instrument. 4. To cut a circular hole by
the rotary motion of a tool, as to bore for
water, oil, etc. [D]

rock-boring

chisel.

[D]

borehole, n.

hole made with a drill, an auger, or


other tools to explore strata for minerals,
for water supply, for blasting purposes,
for proving the position of old workings
or faults, or for letting off accumulations
of gas or water. Also called an oil well.

[D]

labor.

[D]

boring journal
A book which contains an accurate
record of the day-to-day progress of the
boring work. See log and dopebook.

[POR]
boring rod
A segmented rod. At the lower end

is

a device for drilling rock or boring in

the earth. [D]

borings,

n. pi.

ground by
and washed up with the matter
from the bottom of the borehole. [PE]
Particles (usually fine rock)

the bit

BOSS, n.
See big shot, crumb boss, Czar, farm
boss, head knocker, Head Roustabout,
high power, Kingfish, lease boss, Man,
nipple-chaser, Old Man, party chief, pot
man, pressure, pusher, riding boss, rousty
foreman, spread foreman, stroke department, wheel.

bottled gas
Liquefied petroleum gases, such as
butane or propane, sold in pressure containers for domestic uses. [Reported]

bottleneck, n.

bore bit

manual

1.

work

small passage.

2.

that delays other

duction of

oil.

slow piece of

work

in the pro-

[PE]

bottleneck pipe

pipe tapered to the connection so


is no sharp edge to catch on
the pin when being racked. [Heard]
that there

bottling

An

works

illicit

saloon.

[NO]

bottom
bottom,

To

70

bottom

v.t.

complete the drilling process, as

was bottomed at 2,786


[DO, January 22, 1948]

the well
chat.

bottom draw
refining. The

heaviest

feet in

product

of

fractionation. [BA, p. 236]

bottom-hole

money

See dry-hole money.

[LAN,

p. 86]

bottom-hole packer

type of packer used at the bottom

term generally applied to the emulsions of oil, water, and mud which settle
out of the crude in storage and which
have no value as a petroleum base. B.S.
from Pennsylvania crude is, however, an
emulsion of water and amorphous wax
which when properly freed from foreign
matter forms an excellent base for the
light yellow and darker grades of petroleum. Also called basic sediment. [D]

bottom sheets

of the casing. [D]

The

bottom-hole pressure

The

pressure within the

There are two methods

oil reservoir.

ing calculations based on measurement


of the tubing pressure, weight of the fluid

column, size of the tubing, the oil-gas


ratio, and the gravity and viscosity of the
oil. [H, p. 275]

bottom-hole pressure bomb


A bomb-shaped instrument for taking
the pressure at the bottom of the bore
hole. [PE]

bottom-hole sampler

An
the

instrument for taking samples from


well. [PE]

bottom of the

bottom-hole temperature

bomb

bomb-like instrument for registering the temperature at the bottom of the


well. [PE]

bottoms,
1.

distillate left in the bot-

tom of a still after distillation, or that


part of crude which does not vaporize
and pass through the condenser. [NO]
refining. The cut of oil taken off the
lowest section of any tower. [Reported]
3. The worthless sediment in the tanks

2.

and

pits. Also called B.S. and


[Reported]

BS&W.

The

layer of rock

which

serves as the

base of the greater strata that includes


the bottomsets and the upper layers. The

term

is

also used to designate a sedimen-

tary formation. [PE]

bot-

See B.S. [Heard]

still

bottom of
and decomthe heavier components or to
to the

to prevent overheating

position of

increase the yield of light hydrocarbons.

[POR]
bottom up,

v.t.

To

flange up (q. v.) in the sense to


set the last joint before beginning production. 2. To check the total depth of a
well by comparing the length of the pipe
pulled from the well with the measuring line. [Heard]
1.

bottom water
Water in oil

wells that lies below, and


separated from, the productive sand.

is

[D]

boulder sand
ty,

stray sand in Butler

Pennsylvania.

bounce,

Coun-

[NO]

v.t.

cable-tool drilling. To cause the drill


to bounce. The jars are not opened to
leave the lower part of the tools resting
for an instant on the bottom, as was done
by the old method, but are kept drawn
out all the time. This is called drilling
by the spring of the rope or bouncing
the

bottomsets, n.

which form the

or tank. [D]

bottom steam
The steam admitted

A name for

still

The crude

steel plates

tom of an oil still


bottom sludge

of taking bottom-

hole pressure: (1) placing pressure bombs


at the bottom of the well and (2) mak-

settlings (B.S.)

drill.

[NO]

bounce him out

To ask the boss for more pay, more


waste (q. v.), or any other item; to make
a strong plea after two or three requests
have failed. [Reported]

break fever

71

bounce

To

off

an engine

kick off an engine, particularly a gas engine that is started by kicking downward on the flywheel. [Heard]
start or

pipe and put it in the rat hole independent of the cathead. [Reported]

B. P.

Bac\ pressure; an abbreviation used

[LDO,

in

bouncing pin

drilling reports.

refining. Part of the apparatus used


making the octane test on gasoline on
the C.F.R. engine. [KOT]

B. R.
Building rig; an abbreviation used in

in

boweevil,

[OK]

weevil.)
n.

The

tapered part of the inside of the


which the slips fit. [Reported]

spider in

bowl-gudgeon,

n.

A small variety of gudgeon used on the


bull wheel.

box,

[NO]

n.

[LDO,

drilling reports.

bradenhead,

worthless fellow. 2.
novice in
work. (A corruption of boll

oil-field

bowl,

1.

~-<^

n.

p. 428]

p. 428]

n.

In oil-well drilling, an iron or steel


head screwed into the top of the casing.
The inner pipe projects through it and
is packed with some pliable substance,
preferably rubber. The bradenhead is
used to confine gas between the tubing
and casing or between two strings of
casing, and has an outlet through which
gas may be piped away. More commonly called stuffing-box casing head. [D]

bradenhead gas

coupling with threads on the inside.

vapors are condensed. [POR]

Natural gas enclosed or confined by a


bradenhead. The term applies to all the
gas that lies above the oil through which
the drill must go to reach the lower and
more profitable oil sands. [D]

box, look

brain, n.

[D]
box, condenser

A box

in

which the petroleum

distillate

refining. A small, glass-covered case


placed over the ends of pipes coming
from the stills through which the character of the distillate may be observed.

[POR]
box, quarter

form

on the bearon large shafts.

of ta\e-up used

ings of large engines or

The

bearing liner is divided into four


each of which can be adjusted independently to take up wear or to align

parts,

the shaft.

[POR]
of preventing leakage

An

[WIN,

p. 138] 2.

Any

brains department
1. The engineering department. [WIN,
2. Any administrative group.
p. 138]
[Reported]

brainstorm,

An

n.

engineer. [Heard]

BRAKE,

n.

See back brake, Johnson bar, water

brake drum
around

a polish rod or valve stem. The point at


which the rod stem passes through the
partition is provided with a small an-

nular cavity which is packed tight with


a fibrous material which clings tightly
to the moving rod stem. [POR]

refining. The portion of the brake


is attached to the wheel and pro-

which

vides the rubbing surface.

line

Mechanical rigging used to pick up

[KOT]

brake fever

The ailment

of a

pires to be a driller.

disease

bozo

engineer.

brake.

box, stuffing

A means

1.

technically trained employee. [Reported]

is

roughneck

who

symptom

as-

of the

the roughneck's constant dashes

to grab the brake, a job of the driller.

syn. Itchy fever, clutch fever. [Reported]

JfV

break horsepower

72

brake horsepower
The power developed by an engine, as
measured at the crankshaft or flywheel by
the friction brake or some other device.

v.

BREAK,

[D]

See
jack

brake rider

To

6.

disconnect a joint. Also to

brea\ down.
Reported; 6,

[1, 2, 3,

wringer-neck.
jack-boot

off, crater,

derogatory name given to the rotary


because of his dependence on the
brake. [Reported]

ring her neck, twist

breakbone fever

brake shoe

confined to the

A common
breakdown,

n.

which can be pressed against the brake

refining.
chemists to

An

drum

to stop the wheel.

of

[KOT]

brake weight

A name

for a beginning driller

which

workers. He was so called because he did


not know enough about drilling to make
rapid progress; consequently, he spent
most of his time hanging on the brakes.

that opens

See cross. [D]


brass, n.

term often used for the brass or


liner of a bearing; an alloy of
copper, tin, and zinc. [POR] 2. A boss.
bronze

Also called VIP. [Reported]

brass pounder
telegraph operator. [Reported]

brea, n.

Sand or

soil

impregnated with petrole-

um

seepages after volatile constituents


have been evaporated; a term in common

usage in California where the pressure of


brea is considered one of the most reliable
surface indications of petroleum. [D]

The

1.

An

vernacular

name

for a plainly

belt of geological disturbance. 2.

interpolated streak or bed of slate or

shale

[NO]

oil fields).

analysis of crude oil

refining.
the

at

The

and

by

the

contact point or switch

closes the ignition circuit

correct

time for

igniting

fuel.

[KOT]
break

it

up

give a complete analysis of crude


oil. By this breakup the refinery predetermines the value of the crude oil and
the proportions of gasoline, kerosene, etc.
to be expected from its distillation. [KI]

breakout, n.
1. See breakout tongs.
[BB, p. 487]
v. (brea\ out) 2. To pull pipe, rods,
or casing from the well and to unscrew
the pipe into lengths permitted by the
height of the derrick. This action also

includes fastening and loosening the


hoisting pulley grip and standing the
pipe, tubes, or casing within the derrick

tower ready for replacement. [KI]

breakout block

block of steel

made

of a drill bit to hold

break, n.

marked

boota pin,

To

branch pipes

v.

proportions of gasoline, kerosene, etc. to be expected from its distillation. [KI]

breaker point

1.

jump
whip off.
off,

predetermine

originated during World War II when it


was difficult to get experienced oil-field

[Heard]

5,

term for dengue fever (not

the brake

stationary portion

off,

Heard;

4,

14, 1947]

n.

twist-off,

driller

The

NO;

DO, October

where

a driller expects to find a con-

tinuous sandstone.

3.

Sometimes loosely

used to indicate the interval between one


type of sand and the next. 4. pipelining.
Specifically, a break in a pipe line caused
by an explosion or by pipe which has
been pulled apart. 5. refining. The actual separation of oil

from acid sludge.

it

fit the square


with the rotary

to

table while breaking the joint.

[POR]

breakout deuce
pipelining.

A command

to alternate their turns

to

tongmen

on the pipe so

that the pipe will turn continuously;


while one turns the pipe the other fastens
his tongs preparatory to turning. This
alternating motion is continued until the
connection is so tight that they must
pull together in order to turn the pipe.

[WIL,

p. 69]

brimstone

73

breakout

man

oil (q. v.), also

The man who

adjusts the heavy tongs

which loosen the


as

joints of the drill

stem

taken out of the hole. [S]

it is

and

pi.

A term applied locally

to small faults

hard ones, such

to soft layers within

as shale breaks.

is

F., vis-

Any sudden change

in

[POR]

variety of gas mixer.

[NO]

bridge, n.
1.

[NO]

collection

of

debris

To become

2.

v.i.

in

well.

plugged by

debris lodged at a distance from the


bottom of a well. Also bridge over and
bridge up. [PO]

bridging, n.

topography, as from plains to hilly country.

as bric\ oil,

brickyard mixer

breakout tongs
A heavy pipe wrench used to connect
and disconnect drill pipes. Also called lay
tongs. [D]
breaks, n.

known

nonviscous oil, flash point 340


cosity about 80 at 70 F. [POR]

The plugging
which

leaves

of a well by a method
open holes between the

breakup, n.
See breakdown. [KI]

plugs. Also called bridge plugging. [Re-

breather roof
A tank roof; a modification of the cone

bridle, n.

ported]

roof and similar in construction, except


that the roof supports are so designed that

when

the roof

is

resting

upon them

it

has the form of an inverted cone, lower


at the center than at the tank shell. [OPL,
p. 186]

breathing, n.
Intermittent flowing of

1.

usually called heading

wells,

oil

and flowing by

Many wells accumulate oil or


water in the hole until gas has been confined long enough to build up a sufficient
pressure to flow the well. [POR] 2. The
expansion and contraction of the light
constituents of oil in a tank according to
heads.

the rise

and

fall

of the temperature.

[ME,

beam

hanger.

[WIN,

p. 138]

bridle irons

term introduced into the oil indusby the early rig builders, who used it
in connection with a flat strip of iron
try

bent to support timber. Today the purpose of the bridle irons is to hold the cap
on the jack-post boxes down or against
the

upward movement created by


pumping a well. [POR]

drill-

ing or

bridle reins

See bridle irons. [Reported]


brief, adj.

Fast; applied to a person

who works

rapidly. [Reported]

Briggs standard

A list of pipe sizes, thicknesses, threads,

p. 763]

breathing loss
Gas lost by evaporation. [BB,

etc.

p. 489]

compiled by Robert Briggs about 1862

and subsequently adopted

as

standard.

oils,

generally

[D]
breathings, of the earth

The escaping of gas from a flowing


well in labored pantings and breathings
caused by irregular obstructions or by
unequal flow of oil in the bottom of the
hole.

[NO]

brick oil
One grade

oils,

to

meaning

clear

or free

from moisture. [KOT]

A
is

a pale, nonviscous

oil,

or

oil, possessing
a gravity of 34 Be., a flash point of 340
F., a fire test of 400F., a cold test of 20

and a

Applied

refining.
lubricating

bright stock

a light-bodied lubricating

F.,

bright, adj.

viscosity of 80 Saybolt. Paint

heavy, dewaxed lubricating oil with


it must be blended
back for use in motors. [POR]
a viscosity so high that

brimstone,

n.

Sulphur, or burning stone, so called


because while it resembles stone it will

bring the well in

74

was first collected from solidified


around volcanoes, and differs
from the sulphur deposits found around
hot springs. [POR]
burn.

It

B.S. or

deposits

bring the well in


To reach oil and start the well flowing. [Heard; WE, p. 24]
briquet,

asphalt with coal dust

and press the material

or coke (slacked)

blocks

formula
[D]

b.s.

An

emulsion of

which the water

called

briquets.

The

usual

6 to 9 per cent asphalt.

calls for

briqueting asphalt
An asphalt used as a binder for slack
coke in making briquets. See briquet.
[KI]

and water from

the emulsion is heated. [NO] 2. The


waste and water that settle to the bottom
of storage tanks and must be drained off.
The task of cleaning the waste from tanks
is one thoroughly disliked by most worka euphemism, and when oil
companies began to hire female book-

number of euphemisms for


came into being: bottom sediments, bad sediments, and bad settlings.
See BS&W, basic sediment, and bottom
keepers

B.S. itself

settlings.

[Heard]

BS&W
Basic sludge and water; abbreviated in
reports to BS&W. The waste collects

all

in the bottoms of field tanks, but

British oil

concoction first made


ingredient was Seneca Oil.

in 1828.

One

[NO]

bronc,

ism for the original term B.S.


[BA,p. 159]

weevil (q. v.); more frequently applied to a person with only slight experience. See bronchitis. [Reported]
bronchitis, n.

The ailment

afflicting a driller
v.).

(q.

when
[Re-

production crew. [BB,

An

abbreviation for British

the temperature of one pound of water


by one degree on the Fahrenheit scale.

[POR]
bubble bucket

[OK]

brown nose
One who flatters

his boss.

See draper

graper. [Reported]

brown nosing
The art of flattering

thermal

The B.T.U. may be taken as the


amount of heat that is necessary to raise
unit.

bronze John
sun.

p. 159]

B.T.U.

ported]

The

(q. v.).

gang

B.S.

n.

he must employ broncs

some

goes into the pipe lines, and the purchasing company usually deducts from 1 to
2 per cent for
before paying for
the oil it has bought. Possibly a euphem-

BS&W

broken, adj.
Mixed; said of shale, lime, or any
other formation of a mixed character.
[DO, October 19, 1947]

and

oil

will not separate until

ers. B.S. is

v.t.

To compound
into

1.

drilling. A bucket used to catch a


sample of returns. An experienced tester
can tell whether there is gas or oil at the
depth he is testing by the speed of the
return and by its general appearance.

[Reported]
one's boss.

[Re-

ported]

bubble cap

natural solid or semisolid product


from the action of air upon
fluid bitumens. [POR]

refining. A metal cap which has a


small slot or opening allowing vapor
bubbles in a bubble tower to contact cool
liquids and go higher to collect in larger
bubbles nearer the top of the tower. [KI]

Br. sh.

bubble-cap tray

brown petroleum

resulting

Brown

shale;

drilling reports.

an abbreviation used in

[LDO,

p. 428]

refining.

perforated steel tray used

in place of the baffle

pan

in a fractionat-

build a rabbit house

75
ing tower for distilling petroleum prod-

[KOT]

ucts.

bubble deck
refining. The steel plate or tray with
cooling caps where stilling vapors bubble
then rise to bubble from deck to deck
to the top of the tower. Also called bubble
plate and bubble tray. [KI]

bubble plate

One

of a series of platforms in a re-

lug and

lug-loader.

buck the line


1. To work under adverse

conditions,

loaded body. See


[KI]

bad weather or rough country. 2.


To make an extra effort when a deadline
must be met or when quitting time is
as in

near. [Reported]

buck tongs
To work

as

common

laborer

on a

fining tower; a shallow tray that catches

pipe-line crew. [K, p. 129]

the liquid products of condensation. See


bubble deck. [F, p. 207]

buck up

bubble point

line.

The temperature at which distilling


products form bubbles of vapor on the
bubble caps of the bubble tower. [KI]

buckwheat batter

bubble tower

830 feet in Clarion County, Pennsylvania.


[NO] 2. Generally, any blue slate. [BB,

A closed cylindrical tower arranged


with shelves which retain a portion of
absorbing oil through which distilled
caused to bubble, thus separating
heavier fractions of gas from the
lighter. [POR] Also called fractionating
column, fractionating tower, and dephlegmating tower. [BA, p. 233]
gas
the

is

To

tighten the connection in a screw

[Reported]

Specifically, a

1.

ers to a blue slate

An

amphibious tractor used in laying


etc.; an

buffalo grips

The clamps on

munication

great ambition

(usually at

the expense of others) for a higher posi-

[Reported]

body

dump

truck resembling

On

either side

of the upper part of the bucket

body

is

the ball part of a ball-and-socket joint

which lifts the bucket and holds it in


place by means of the socket joint of the
truck chassis. Thus supported, the bucket
the dumping or loading
truck may handle several
buckets by leaving the empty ones to be
filled while it empties and returns the
carried

site.

One

bug,

lines.

and com-

[Reported]

n.

An

automatic telegraph instrument for


sending pipe- line reports; a vibroflex
sending machine. [Reported]

A blower used to repel insects annoying the laborers around the drill rig. [PE]
An

for a

a large inverted pyramid.

is

especially in stringing electric

bug roost

bucket, n.

a come-along (q. v.)


without pinching. Used

bug blower

v.t.

To show
tion.

1,-

pipe in shallow water, marshes,


army expression. [Reported]

bubble towers; so called because they are


over, and higher than, other products of
the same distillation. [KI]

See bubble deck and bubble plate. [KI]

drill-

depth of

buffalo, n.

to hold a line

buck,

at a

p. 488]

bubble tower overhead


Vapor or liquid streams flowing from

bubble tray

name given by

found

to

oil-camp term for bed. [Reported]

bugs, n. pi.
Seismograph crews; short for doodlebugs, the oil-field term by which the
crews are known. [Heard; DO, January

11, 1948]

build a rabbit house

sell (q. v.)

sonable than

that

many

is

slightly

more

rea-

others since there are

(q. v.) in the oil field, which,


however, do not need houses. [Reported]

rabbits

build a pit

76

build a pit
To dig a pit and use the excavated dirt
to build a bank. The pit is dug if no
bank is built. [Reported]

jobs about the field that

[BA,

unskilled

semiskilled

laborers

who

around the

refinery.

[Re-

work

flatboat which was used to


crude petroleum down Oil
Creek to the Allegheny River before 1900.
It was called a bulk boat because it carried oil in bulk, untrammeled by barrel,
can, or other container. The oil ran from
the well in a rough, V-shaped board
trough to a crude tank, which was a hole
in the ground eight to ten feet deep and
eight to twelve feet in diameter, lined
with pine planks. The top of the tank
was even with the surface of the ground.
When a pond freshet came, the oil was
pumped through a wooden pipe to the
bulk boat and started on its way. [POR]

bull nose

See cab-over. [Reported]

transport

bull, n.

term

so

or

at jobs

p. 32]

ported]

bulk boat
An open

used

compounding

in

many oil-field
named is usually

names

do not require
2. A crew of

skilled labor.

of

bull-li\e because

it

devices.

the

A device

characterized as
has great strength and

endurance. Bull pump, bull rope, and


bull wheel are among such names. [POR]

bull

See bulldog spear.

place (usually an enclosure)

the laborers of

where

can smoke.

refinery

[Reported]
bull plug

A plug which is

temporarily screwed
end of an unfinished pipe line
keep out dirt, small animals, etc. [D]
A plug used on any type of line or

1.

into the
to
2.

pipe. [Reported]

bull

pump

direct, single-acting pump with the


steam cylinder placed over the top of a
shaft or slope and the piston rod attached
to the pump rods. The steam lifts the
piston and the pump rods, and the weight
of these produces the down stroke. [D]

bull rope
1.

bulldog casing-spear

pen

The rope which

connects the bull

wheel to the band wheel. [NO] 2. cabletool drilling. The rope from which the
boring tools are suspended and with
which they are worked. [D] Originally

[NO]

bulldog nose
See cab-over. [Reported]

a nautical term.

bulldog spear

bullet-shaped piece of steel used to

fish drill pipe or well casing.

The

sharp

corrugations of a sliding wedge hang to


the inside of the pipe like the grip of a
bulldog and cannot be released until the
tool is brought to the surface. Originally

bulldog casing-spear, but now


shortened to bulldog spear or casing
called
spear.

[POR]

pump. [BB,

p. 487]

earth-moving machine.

3.

2.

large,

bully. [Re-

ported]
bull

gang

Part of the production crew; the bull


gang and the roustabouts dig ditches,
lift pipe and lumber, and perform other
1.

Extra-heavy chain tongs used to handle


the heaviest jobs. [Heard]

bull

wheel
large,

horizontal,

wooden

spindle

on which the drilling line is wound and


from which the tools are suspended in
the hole during drilling operations. The
bull wheel is at the side of the derrick
opposite the

bulldozer, n.
1.

bull tongs

Samson

post.

[NO]

bully, n.
1.

Any

nec\ (q.

bump,
1.

oil-field

v.).

worker. [S]

2.

A rough-

[PO]

v.t.

To cause to boil violently.


men bump the charge when it is

refining.

Boiler

necessary to free petroleum

from water;

burping well

77
is called bumping, slang. 2.
use seniority to get a job to which

the process

To

someone with
[KI]

SA,

To

3.

less

seniority

is

entitled.

discharge a worker. [Heard;

down

let

the polish rod so that the

string of suc\er rods attached to

bump

bottom of the

the

it

can

well. This ac-

if there is sand, mud,


which may enter the valve
and hinder proper pumping, for the

to be desired

is

pole thirty feet long

main

sill

which connects

with the engine block. [NO]

bur, n.

bump down

tion

A
the

200]

p.

To

bunting pole

rotary drilling

[Heard]

bit.

buried ditch
A local term for a buried prehistoric
river or ravine, such as the Bartlesville
groove in the Ceres field, Noble County,

Oklahoma. [DO, May

2,

1948]

or paraffin

bumping will dislodge the foreign substance. With proper spacing, the rods

bump down when

will

the engine

is

burn a
1.

bit

To

too

drill

To

drilling.

fast.

2.

cable-tool

get a bit too hot in the

forge. [Heard]

speeded up. [Heard]

burn a pole

bumped heads

To slide down a pole. When a linesman on a pipe-line crew lets his climbers

Convex

or concave heads used with

known

or tanks. Sometimes

boilers

as

bump
To

carried

is

on without

jars.

pumping

stop the

burner,

2. refining.
very tall stac\ (q. v.) for consuming
waste fumes. [Reported]

pumping
other

affecting

it

possible to

of one well without

wells

activated

1,

487, Oil City, Pennsylvania, 1898.)

to

which

all

waste

oil

by a

is

material
treater

is

then burned.

The temperature

at

which

a volatile

an open vessel will ignite and continue to burn when a flame is held close

oil in

to

surface.

its

test

which determines

the safety of kerosene and other illuminants. See fire test. [D]
v.t.

To complete, as to bundle up a job.


To complete a block of leases; all lease

contracts

and

abstracts are assembled in

one bundle or portfolio. [Reported]

bung down,

drill a well. [P, p. 174]

refining.

burning test
See

fire test.

[NO]

burning waters

poetic

name

for petroleum; used

by

the Japanese as early as the seventh century a. d. [F, p. 26]

v.t.

bunker fuel
ships.

pit

burning point

of their

May

pit

for kerosene. Also

[Heard]
sell

bundle of 3,500 bbls. of


at less than $1.00 per
(Derricks Handbook^ of Petrole-

To

name
[D]

oil:

1.

1.

burning

oil.

separated from the


piped, and where it

A portion of a total amount of


"Executive Board of P.P.A. decide to
before

oil

called coal

by the

bundle, n.

2.

n.

welder. [Heard]

A common

same engine. [Heard]

bundle,

burning

stop the

um, p.
[NO]

1.

of a jac\ well.

bump-off post
A device which makes

bbl."

gets splint-

[N]

[Heard]

oil

and

when

a well

off

no part

out of the pole, he slides

n.

device used to loosen the tools

drilling

slip

or burns the pole,

[Heard]

ers.

bumper,

v.)

(q.

down,

dished heads. [POR]

burping well

[KOT]

fuel oil used

on steam-

well that flows by heads (q. v.).

[Heard]

Burton process

78

Burton process

The term was

cracking process which increases the

from crude. [POR]

yield of gasoline

bushing,

n.

A pipe fitting used


a fitting of larger

tighten the plates against pressure loads.


to connect a pipe to

size;

with internal and external threads to


[N]

for B.S. (q. p.).

[LDO,

n.

refining.
saturated hydrocarbon
(C 4 10 ), boiling point 32 F.; hence a
gas at ordinary atmospheric conditions.
The main constituent of Shell butane

[KOT]

fuel.

The name

of the first gushing well

The

oil field

in Penn-

which was
sunk on the Archy Buchanan farm by
the Foster Oil Company, yielded a daily
production of seventy barrels. [POR]
sylvania in 1874.

well,

butyl alcohol
refining. A series of alcohols with the
chemical formula C 4 9
and a boiling point between 182 and 243 F.

H OH

[KOT]

butted and strapped joint


A joint produced by the ends of two
pieces of pipe which are united by a

and riveted

sleeve

Butts Well (No. 1)


struck in the Bradford

p. 455]

butane,

See head up. [KI]

a hollow plug

suit the different diameters.

bushwash, n.
A euphemism

first used to indicate the


completion of the last connection on a
line. [Heard]. 2. refining. To put bolts
on removable plates in order to close or

to

it.

be inside or outside and


or double-riveted. [D]

The

may

strap

may

be single-

butylene, n.
refining.
Unsaturated hydrocarbon
with the chemical formula C 4 8 and a
boiling point between 21 and 34 F.

[KOT]
by heads

butterfly, n.

device

for

directing

pumping

power-shackle line around an obstacle in


a horizontal plane.

term descriptive of the intermittent


the well flows by

flowing of a well:
heads. [D]

[LDO]
by-pass

buttermilk sand

driller's name for a sandstone found


depth of about 914 feet in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. [NO]

at a

butterworth,

To
oil

clean a ship's hold for loading with


is

named

loop.

v. 3.

rotary drilling.

To

drill

by

v.t.

(q. v.).

The

inventor, a

Mr.

by means of cold steam

process

n,

secondary passage that permits


equalizing the pressure on both sides of
a large valve. [LDO] 2. pipelining. See
1.

for

its

mainor whipstoc\ (qq. v.). 4. slang.


tenance man is said to have been bypassed when a foreman secures what he
needs without consulting him. [Heard]

Butterworth. [Heard]

by-pass type

button, n.
A block nailed on the rig floor in
which to set the bit while the stem is
screwed into it. [Heard]

refining.
filter installation in which
the oil is circulated from the pump
through the filter and returned to the
crankcase. [KOT]

button pole

by-pass valve

The

extension to a gin pole (q. v.)

also called a stinger.

button up,
1.

To

[Heard]

v.t.

finish

any process on a pipe

line.

filter

A small pilot valve used in connection


with a larger valve to equalize the pressure on both sides of the disk of the
larger valve before the valve is opened.
[D]

calf reel

79

C
when

of the well

The

abbreviation

centigrade;

for

thermometer with 100

being

divisions,

the freezing point of water

and 100 the

boiling point. [D]

cabbage head

The

bearings on the pitman. [Heard]

cable, n.
1.

Cable-laid rope; a fiber cable con-

sisting

of

handed.

2.

or for aerial

cable

hawsers laid up leftrope used for hoisting


trams. [D]

three

steel

drill.

[Heard]

cable tools
Tools used in the Pennsylvanian or
percussion system of drilling. The apparatus used in drilling deep holes, such
as artesian wells, with a rope instead of
rods to connect the drill with the machine on the surface. A heavy bit is raised

and dropped

cable-laid rope

wire cable

made

several ropes

of

An

rope
is composed
of strands of hawser-laid
rope, twisted right-handed. [D]

called

posed of strands.

fiber cable-laid

oil-well drilling,

from

made
manila hemp. [POR]

inches in diameter; usually

cable slide

which the
descend very quickly from
cable car in

a very high
the cable,
earth's

cliff

driller

may

a tower

on

or point. Fastened to

along on the

the car slides

decline to the foot of the rise.

hen

cage,
1.

of a fine grade of

its

is

name

for an egg. Also


and rooster bullet (not
the oil fiekT). i Heard]

oil-camp

limited to

cables, n. pi.

Ropes used in

and pounds

the rocks. [D]

c ackle berry

com-

twisted together, each rope being

in the hole,

cab-over, n.
A truck with the engine set under the
cab. Also called snub nose, bulldog nose,
and bull nose. [Heard]

cable drilling
Drilling with rope.

l
2 to 2

horizontal; the other

above a crank attached to


the bandwheel shaft. Also called standard, percussion, or American rope system. [D]
directly

is

way down through

drill

See churn

end

fruit

a heavy string of tools is suspended from


a flexible manila or steel cable to which
a reciprocating motion

is

imparted by

suspension from a waltzing

One end

of the

beam

is

beam

its

(q. v.).

above the mouth

n.

slipped into the borehole in rod-boring

to prevent vibration of the rods. 2.

The

container for the ball in a ball valve such


as that found in the pump ordinarily

used in

oil

production. [D]

cajun, n.

Louisiana or Texas oilman. [PO]


~

cake, n.
Bread.

[OK]

calf line

A well-known drilling system in which

*^

A structure of elastic iron rods which

[PE]
cable-tool drilling system

The
raise

cable used

and lower

on a

casing.

cable-tool rig to

[ME,

p.

763]

calf reel

The
cable

reel that winds in or pays out


on casing entering or leaving the

borehole. [PE]

calf
calf

wheel

80

wheel

The

horizontal
drum at the left of and beyond the Samson post, placed half in the derrick and
half in the belt house. It is usually operated by chain and sprockets from the
main shaft of the rig and is used to raise
and lower casing. Drilling and settingcasing operations may be carried on at
the same time: casing is set with the
calf wheel and drilling is done with the

cable-tool drilling.

camera,

n.

To run a camera is to
impression of the fish (q. v.)
in order to determine the kind of tool
necessary to engage it. Also called \oda\
and impression bloc\. [Heard]
fishing tool.

make an

camp, n.
A community

built

headquarters of a

[NO]

bull wheel.

an adamantine cutting edge for use in


hard formations. [Heard]

[WIN,

California derrick

derrick with a large safety platform


around the crow's nest. [Heard]

can,
1

up around

major

oil

the

company.

p. 138]

v.t.

To

preserve pieces of a core in sealed

oil. 2. To seal a tank closed; a


gauger says he has canned a tan\ when
he has closed it. 3. slang. To discharge
a worker. [Heard]

cans of
California-style rig

rig

with a belt house wide enough


workers to walk through it.

to permit

[Heard]

Canadian pole system


caliper, n.

field

name

for

the Schlumberger

section gauge. [Reported]

in place of rope.

call whistle

type of

summons used

in the Sin-

Refinery at Houston, Texas, and in

clair

other similar plants.

ployee

is

system of oil-well drilling which


from the American system in that
wooden rods screwed together are used

differs

needed, a

When

a certain

call is sent to

em-

a central

and the operator of the air-compressor station blows the worker's code
number. Also used as a fire alarm.
office,

The Canadian

particularly

suitable

drilling rig similar to the cable-tool

stead of wire lines.

same

the bit and receives the debris resulting


from the action of the cutter. Its action is
not unlike that of the diamond drill and
necessitates the use of a

powerful water

The

cutter, which takes the place


diamond crown, has a number of
long teeth which produce a chipping ac-

flush.

of the

when rotated by hollow flushing


rods in a constant flow of water. Used in

tion

a system of oil-well drilling

which

origi-

wire

lines.

calyx

A
may

drill

special

type of rotary drill which

be used as a coring or noncoring


drill. It is equipped with a serrated cutting edge for use in soft formations and

it

wooden rods
Modern outfits

uses

in-

use

[LDO]

canal, n.

See canal ditch. [PO]

canal coal
See cannel

coal.

[D]

canal ditch
The trough into which the drilling
fluid from the hole is turned in rotary
drilling. [BB, p. 486]
canal wrench

A shovel or spade for digging a pipe


by hand. [Heard] 2. A wrench. Those
who use this implement dignify it by
calling it a tool or a wrench. Skilled
mechanics call it emblem of ignorance
(q. v.). Also called idiot stic\, ignorant
1.

nated in Australia. [A]

for

Canadian rig

calyx, n.
long, cylindrical vessel of the

makes it necessary to
have some positive method of rotating
the bit. [POR]

rig except that

is

and is
regions where

excessive caving

[Heard]

diameter as the core barrel which guides

pole

useful, all-round prospecting rig

line

spoon. [KI]

Carboniferous
candy bottoms

device on the valve which lets sand


(bailings) into the bailer. [Heard]

end.

cannel coal

noncoking, tough, clean,

massive,

block coal with


dull
cross

both gas and oil. Also called cap roc\.


[N] 2. A fitting that goes over the end
of a pipe to close it, producing a dead

fine,

even, compact grain,

and commonly conchoidal


fracture. It has a typical low fuel

an

3.

oil

fitting that closes the casing in

or gas well.

To

v.t. 4.

a cap, as to cap a pipe or


well.

an

cover with
oil or gas

[D]

luster,

high percentage of hydrogen,


a long yellow flame, a

ratio,

easy ignition,

black to

brown greasy

ate ash. It

is

streak,

essentially a

and

solidification

and moder-

rock derived by

partial

distillation

capillarity, n.

refining.
of a liquid
solid (as oil

capping,

or

oxidation of water-laid deposits consisting of, or containing, large quantities of


plant spores and pollen grains and more

The

elevation of the surface

which is in contact with a


in a lamp wick). [D]

n.

The name given

1.

which the flow

to the

method by

of a spouting oil well

is

products are placed in containers of some


sort, sealed, and prepared for shipment.

stopped or restricted. When a very strong


discharge of petroleum is expected, strong
valves are attached to the casing which
permit the flow to be controlled, and in
order to prevent these valves from being
blown away they are firmly anchored to
the ground by means of long heavy bolts.
2. The impervious beds overlying an oil
sand. See cap rock. [D]

[Heard]

cap rock

comminuted remains of low orand animals. Has


frequently been distilled for oil. [POR]
or less

ders of water plants

canning plant

The

section of the refinery in

which

can of vacuum

A common
ply houses.

sell (q. v.) in oil-field

sup-

[Reported]

cant hook
A tool with a movable iron hook near
the bottom, used for moving heavy timbers and pieces of machinery. Originally
a nautical term.

[POR]

cants, n. pi.

Segments of the bull wheel or band


wheel. [N]

A comparatively impervious stratum


immediately overlying an oil-bearing
rock.

[NO]

carbenes,

n.

Constituents of bitumens which are


soluble in carbon disulphide but not in

carbon tetrachloride. [POR]

carbonaceous, adj.
Containing carbon or

coal, especially

shale or rock containing small particles

of

carbon

distributed

throughout

the

whole mass. [D]


can't stain water

Said of a well that produces nothing


but water, syn. Not even a rainbow.
[Heard]

can up,

v.t.

to get up steam in a
way: to dip oil from a large
container and throw it on the wood fire
in the boiler firebox. The dipper was a
can nailed to the end of a long stick. 2.
Now, to get up steam. [ST, p. 74]
1.

Originally,

particular

cap, n.

The

top of the rock covering a deposit of oil or gas, nearly always free of
1.

carbon black
1. A pigment which is made by one of
three processes from natural gas or by
one process from oil. It greatly resembles
lampblack or soot, and is used as an ingredient in ink and as a rubber reinforcing agent for which there is no satisfactory substitute. [Reported] 2. See lampblack. [D]

Carboniferous, n.
The youngest of the systems into which
the Paleozoic stratified rocks are divided;
also the corresponding period of geological time.

[D]

Carboniferous system

82

Carboniferous system

The name given

case

the deposits of car-

limestone resting upon the


Devonian system and overlaid by the
Permian system; a source of oil and naboniferous

[LDO]

tural gas.

oil

trade

kerosene.

name
[NO]

cash on the barrel-head


A term allegedly originating in the
oil field in

carbon knock
A knock or pounding

for five-gallon cans of

the eighteen sixties

Major Adams, manager


in a

gauge or a

gasoline engine caused by incandescent

carbon deposits in the cylinders. The


heated carbon causes fuel to detonate or
explode and also causes preignition.

Farm

when

old

Clapp

the

near Oil City, Pennsylvania, sold

his first

As

of

thousand barrels of

oil for cash.

the story goes, he kicked the nearest

oak barrel upright and counted the $10,000 on the barrel's head. [WIL, p. 39]

[POR]
carbon

casing, n.
oil

A trade name for kerosene used around


1850-55.

[N]

carbon residue
Carbon left after the oil has been
strongly heated and volatilized in the
absence of

air.

[KOT]

car oil
Black lubricating oils described as low
cold-test black oil. [D]
carry,

v.t.

To run

casing

intermittently

drilling without landing

it.

while

[D]

drill a

no water

is

drill

a borehole in

which there

is

carrying handle
The handgrip on the side of the stuffing box and polish-rod unit. [Reported]

carrying interest
type of drilling contract by

which

the developers assume complete charge


of the property but share with the land-

owners or leaseholders the returns from


any oil discoveries made. [LDO, p. 386]

cased hole

A well in which the water is eliminated while drilling by means of casing.


[NO]
case
1.

off, v.t.

To

to steel or iron pipe

and

re-

pairing of a pipe line without disturbing


the road surface. Workers drill a hole
through the roadbed with an auger, put
the casing through, and then push the
oil line through the casing. [Heard]

casing anchor-packer
A type of packer. [D]

fishing tool for recovering parted

strings of casing.

[D]

present. \S]

water present. [S]

term applied

crossings to facilitate the laying

borehole in which there

carry a wet hole

To

casing bowl

carry a dry hole

To

1.

used in a well to prevent caving of the


walls or ingress of water, or both. [N] 2.
pipelining. A kind of pipe used at road

shut off water from the borehole

by means of casing. [H, p. 308] 2. To run


pipe through the formation. [FO]

casing clamps
Two heavy steel bars (about 1 Vz inches
by 12 inches, or several feet long in some
cases), each formed in a semicircle with
projecting ends. The two, bolted about
a casing, rest upon a foundation and

form a support

for the casing.

casing cutters
Instruments used in the
casing prior to raising
after the

it

[POR]

oil fields to

cut

to the surface

completion of a well. [A]

casing dog
An instrument used in well-boring
provided with serrated pieces, or dogs,
which slide on a wedge to grip severed
casing. Also called bulldog and casing
spear. Dog is used in combination with
other words to describe various mechanical devices usually consisting of a tooth

or claw

which

holding. [D]

is

used for gripping or

casing tester

83
casing elevators

well-boring device consisting of two


semicircular clamps with a chain link
on each, hinged together at one end and
secured by a latch at the other. Used to
raise

and lower

casing. [A]

casing head
1. A fitting used at the top of the casing of a well to separate oil and gas, to
allow pumping and cleaning of the well,

It may have several lateral outlets


through which the oil is led away to
reservoirs by means of pipes. A heavy
mass of iron is used in well-boring which
is screwed into the top of a string of casing to take the blows produced when
driving the pipe. Also called a drive head.
[D] 2. Casing-head gasoline; natural gasoline. [Heard]
etc.

casing-head gas
1.

named

Natural gas rich in vapors; so

because

it is

from the

usually collected or separated

oil at

the casing head. Frequent-

combination gas or wet gas. The


gas used in making gasoline by the absorption or compression process. [POR]
2. Gasoline with a large butane and propane content. [PO]
ly called

casing-head gasoline

The

gasoline

extracted

from

casing-

head gas by compression, absorption, or


refrigeration. See natural gasoline.

[POR]

casing-head pressure
See shut-in pressure. [BA,

casing pole
A device used to tighten pipe connections by hand. [Heard]
casing pressure

The pressure built up between the


casing and the tubing when they are
packed off at the top of the well. Pressure is usually measured by placing a
pressure gauge on one of the side outlets
on the casing head. [POR]
casing ripper

A tool containing expanding knives


which can be lowered into a drill hole
to cut longitudinal

slits

in the casing.

[D]

casing shoe

An extension of hard steel with a sharp


edge fastened to the bottom of a string
of casing; used in well-boring to cut
through the formation as the casing is
forced down. [D]
casing snubber

An

apparatus that guides the casing

to the desired position.

[PE]

casing spear

used to recover lost


lowered into the well the
tool enters the open end of the casing
and grips it when it is raised. Also called
bulldog spear, for it will not let go once
it is made fast. See casing dog. [D]
fishing

casing.

As

tool

it is

casing spider
A heavy steel piece with a large, coneshaped hole provided with slips to hold
casing suspended.

[POR]

p. 153]

casing splitter
casing hook
A heavy hook, usually attached to the
traveling pulley block, which engages
the links of the casing elevator. [D]
casing knife

A tool for cutting off casing in the hole.


[D]
casing line

The

steel

position in the borehole at


is

casing spool
A calf wheel (q.

for splitting cas-

v.).

casing substitute
A connection used in fishing with the
rotary drill. [D]

to be set. [Heard]

device for removing oil

More

casing point
casing

implement used

[NO]

casing swab
wire line used to hoist and

lower casing. [POR]

The

An
ing.

which

from a

well.

often called a swab. [Heard]

casing tester
A device used

to

determine the loca[D]

tion of a leak in the casing.

casing

wagon

casing

wagon

K dolly

84
customer to be supplied with gas
was the Abell House, an inn in
Fredonia, New York, in 1821. [WIL,
first

{q.v.). [ST, p. 147]

lights

cast, n.

The

fluorescence or

bloom

of

an

oil;

the colors of surface reflection seen in

most heavy petroleum

oils.

p. 27]

catchall, n.

[POR]

castor machine oil


A petroleum lubricating oil thickened
with aluminum-base soap. [POR]

extracting broken imple-

for

tool

ments from

drilled wells.

[D]

catch can

A container for catching hot rivets;


used in tank construction. [Heard]

cat, n.
1.

knot or lump made from the

separated strands of the drilling line and


used to hold it in the rope socket. The
drilling line is inserted in the wood-

hole (q. v.) and is brought


around to the side. Then the lump is
formed from the end strands of the line,
often reinforced with soft rope, molten

pecker

lead, or babbitt metal. [LDO, p. 395] See


mule's foot. 2.
field term for the cater-

pillar tractor.

[OPL,

p. 58]

3.

An

early

term for a pipeliner; more often old

The

origin of the

haps

it is

cat.

word is obscure: perclipped form of tomcat. The

were either
unmarried or left their families behind
while they moved rapidly from one job
pipeliners designated old cats

They generally spent more


time jungling up (q. v.) than they did
bucking tongs (q. v.). [Heard] 4. An
abbreviation for catalyst; used more often
than the full term. [KI]
to another.

tool

which prevents the casing from

dropping back into the well while it is


being pulled; also prevents caving below the casing. [BB, p. 487]
catching the dog
See seducing the canine. [Reported]

catch tray
See take-off

tray.

[Heard]

cat cracker
1. A building without walls or roofs
where molecules of oil are fractured by

means of a catalyst. [F, p. 207]


form of catalyst cracker. [KI]

2.

A short

cat distillation
An abbreviation of catalyst distillation
(q. v.). [KI]
catfish, n.

An

epithet for one

who

says nothing significant.

talks a lot

and

[Heard]

cat head

catalyst, n.

The chemical agent

in the presence of

which petroleum products are cracked.


See cracker and catalyst cracker. [D]

An oil-camp
ported]

name

for a biscuit. [Re-

cathead, n.

catalyst cracker

A still employing both heat and catalyst


in the cracking process

octane gasoline.

catcher, n.

More

which makes high


often

called cat

cracker. [D]

winch head on the draw-works


countershaft in a rotary rig. [D]
cathead a derrick up
1.

To

pull the derrick

a cathead. 2.

To

tighten

up by means of
up a derrick.

[Heard]

catalyst distillation

See catalytic cracking. [KI]

catheader, n.

The man who

catalytic cracking

operates the cathead

on

cracking process in which heat is


used in the presence of a catalyst. [BA,
p. 206]

a rig-building crew. [Heard]

catastrophic lights

has charge of the cathead when drill pipe


is being run or pulled. [BA, p. 31]

A name applied to early gas

lights.

The

cathead man
The roughneck on a rotary crew

who

CD.

85
cathodic protection

method

of protecting a pipe line

from corrosion by applying electric currents to the line in such amounts as to

mercially

known

known

sodium hydroxide. [POR]

soda,

chemically

The

1.

partial or

complete falling in

formation that caves into the hole. [N]


v. 3. To fall in, as the walls of a well or
a mine; also cave-in. [D]

than the heavy cables


used on well equipment; used to raise
and lower lighter tools about a rig during rotary drilling. [KI]

cave-catcher
See bootleg packer. [Heard]

cat plant

cave-in, n.

line smaller

A
by

plant in which crude

See cave, n. [D]

refined

oil is

catalytic cracking (q. v.).

[ME,

p. 763]

cavey, adj.

and kittens

cats

Large and small caterpillar tractors:


sixty-horsepower and larger tractors are
called

Any

of a well; also called cave-in. [D] 2.

cat-line, n.

as

cave, n.

neutralize the stray currents caused by

corrosion and oil-friction. [BA, p. 188]

as

smaller ones, \ittens.

cats;

[Re-

ported]

variant of cavy (q. v.). [BA, p. 98]

cavings

filler

device that works on the same principle as a sand pump (q. v.) on a plunger
:

that trips

and

fills.

[Heard]

cat's ass

A
ass

claw-hitch knot; one throws a cat's

when he

or

ported]

cat skinner

The

driver of a bulldozer or caterpillar

tractor.

[Heard]

catsup, n

nickname

for

an employees'

trans-

wagon
trailer

with tracks similar to those

of a tractor; used in ginning heavy


terial

on the derrick

floor.

ma-

its

original

volume when
salt

c.c.

C clamp

C-shaped clamp. [Heard]

[Heard]

C.C.P.

catwalk, n.

Any narrow

walk, particularly one on

top of tanks. [Heard]

refining. Burned limestone,


oxide, or quicklime. [KOT]

An

abbreviation for critical compres-

sion pressure, (q. v.).

C.C.R.

caustic lime

calcium

caustic potash

very strong alkali similar


to caustic soda; also called potassium
hydroxide. [POR]
refining.

times

An abbreviation for cubic centimeter


or centimeters. [POR]

portation bus. [Heard]

said that in such ground "the hole does


not stand up." Bentonit^ is such a formation: a soft, porous, moisture-absorbing
formation that may swell up to six or

eight

cattle truck

cat

Descriptive of a formation that caves


falls off into the well. It is commonly

soaked in fresh water (much less in


water). Also cavey. [BA, p. 98]

See red lead. [Heard]

cavy, adj.

gets a snarl in a line. [Re-

caustic soda
refining. Strong reactive alkali, com-

An

abbreviation for critical compres-

sion ratio (q. v.).

Cd. or Crd.
Cored; an abbreviation used in
ing reports.

[LDO,

drill-

p. 428]

CD.
Corrected depth; an abbreviation used
in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p. 428]

86

cellar

center bit

cellar, n.

An

excavation 8 feet by 8 feet by 10


feet deep, or larger on deeper wells made
when a well is prepared for drilling.
;

[POR]
cement,

To

cement through a pipe

to the

bottom of the string of casing so that it


emerges from the lower end of the pipe
and pushes around the pipe holding it
in place.

The

force

of

air

cleans

cement from the pipe and opens

it.

the
[KI]

cemented up

name

for the lowest of the

few

feet

long with a sharp steel cutting edge on


the lower end. Now called a bit. [NO]

The iron or steel parts of the shaft on


which the walking beam moves. [NO]
central jack plant

central

Descriptive of a cement job when the


is inside the pipe or tubing when

should be outside. [Heard]

pumping

station

pump

which

fur-

a large

num-

ber of small, shallow wells in the

same

nishes the

power

[LDO,

area.

cement
it

early

center irons

v.t.

force

An

drilling tools: a bar of iron a

to

p. 452]

centrifuge, n.

machine which separates liquids of


by centrifugal

different specific gravity

cementer, n.
1. A cementing company, specifically
the Halliburton Oil Well Cementing
Company of Duncan, Oklahoma. [Heard
West Texas, Oklahoma City, and Duncan, Oklahoma, fields] 2. Any worker
on a well-cementing crew except the
truck driver. 3. (The Cementer) House
organ of the Halliburton Oil Well

Cementing Company. [Reported]


cementing, n.
The cementing of the casing into the
hole to shut off the water and caving
strata and to prevent the oil and gas
from migrating or blowing out; the construction of a barrier between the exlower portion of the casing
and the wall of a well to exclude all
water from the drill hole. [D]
terior of the

Wax

obtained by the use of the centrihas a higher melting point than


that obtained by cold settling (q. v.).

fuge;

it

[D]
cetane, n.

refining. A saturated liquid hydrocarbon used as a primary reference fuel


when determining the knock tendencies
of Diesel fuels.

[KOT]

cetane number
A measure of the ignition properties of
Diesel fuel, determined by a measuring

which

device

registers the ignition prop-

by numbers. [KI]

erties

cetene, n.

hydrocarbon found in petroleum


United States. [POR]

in the

cement
the lining tubes which allows
collar or circle of

centrifuge stock

cementing collar

force; a separator. [D]

just inside
less

room

for the rods to play or for the oil to


escape. [PE]

cementing shoe

C.F.R.

An abbreviation for Co-operative Fuel


Research. [KOT]
C.F.R. engine

except that the collar is at the top of the


tubing while the shoe is at the bottom.

refining. A special engine developed


by the Co-operative Fuel Research to determine the knock tendency of gasolines.

[PE]

[KOT]

tool

cement

A
v.).

much

like the

cementing collar

man

worker engaged in cementing


[Heard]

eg.
(q.

Coring; an abbreviation used in


ing reports. [LDO, p. 428]

drill-

chat

87
charge,

C.G.

An

abbreviation for center of gravity.

[POR]
C.G.S.

An

abbreviation

for

the

centimeter-

gram-second system. The unit of length


is the centimeter, the unit of weight is
the gram, and the unit of time is the
second. This system is extensively used
in scientific work. [POR]

n.

load of petroleum in any container around a refinery, such as a tank,


a tank car, still, or a fractionating tower.
v.t. 2. To load a tank, a tank car, a
still,
etc. with petroleum products or
with any substance that has to do with
the refining process. Loading devices are
called charging devices. [KI]
1.

charging belt
refining.

chain breaker

rotary driller; so called because the


rotary drill is driven by chains which

often pull in two. [Heard]

from

The

chain-operated station
marketing. A filling station operated
with others of its kind and/or with stations under the same ownership, either
by an oil producer or by a multiunit operator independent of any producer.

charging jitney

[SHU,

filters

p. 148]

who

early

name

operates the

for the bac\-up

man,

backup tongs and runs

the spin-up chain. Also called a

slinger.

[Heard]

chain tongs,

n. pi.

pipe fitter's tool; a lever with a serrated end provided with a chain to enlace the pipe. The chain is wrapped
around the pipe to hold the lever in
place, and the teeth on the end of the
latter grip into the pipe, thus affording
a powerful leverage to screw or unscrew
the joints. [N]

early

mechanical device which


from the ovens
to the charging belt that

and conveys

it

carries the fire-purified clay to the spider,

which

in turn loads or charges nearby

or conveyer belts. See spider. [KI]

refining. Oil that

is

to be treated in a

particular unit. [BA, p. 228]

chase the go-devil


To walk along a pipe line to determine
the position of an obstruction in the line
by marking where the go-devil stops.
See scraper-chaser. [Heard]
chase the pipe
To raise and lower pipe in the hole to
let mud out so that the pipe can be
brought out dry, a pumping motion.
[Heard]

chase the threads

chalk rock

An

refining.

takes the burning hot clay

charging stock

chain slinger

An

belt that receives clay

dump

truck and conveys it to


the top of the clay ovens where it is fed
into the flames for purifying. [KI]
the

name

for soft, white lime-

stone, diatomaceous shale, etc. [D]

To

clean out the threads of a pipe by

any means so that


[Heard]

it

will screw easily.

channel process

process used in the manufacture of


carbon blac\ by which gas is fed direct-

burners from the wells through


valves which decrease the pressure and
gasometers which equalize the rate of
flow. [Heard; LDO, p. 605]
ly to the

channel test

The Knopf

chasing the canine


See seducing the canine. [Reported]

chasing the dog


See seducing the canine. [Reported]
chat, n.
1.

mixed
spike test

made on

gear
lubricants to show the lowest temperature at which the lubricant can be used
without channeling. [KOT]

formation of coarse sand and

which yields oil in some


[DO, October 21, 1947] pi. 2.

fossils

regions.

Small stones used in paving. 3. Coarse


sand and mixed fossils found in some
oil wells.

[POR]

cheap
cheap

oil

cherries, n. pi.

oil

Oil that has been topped or has had


the

removed (mostly

lightest fractions

[BOW,

gasoline).

p. 95]

1.

form

See have a hole in the wall, make a


hole with a pencil, pad the log book,

or mouth,

1.

short length of pipe slipped over

wrench so

that

more

leverage

may

be obtained without resorting to a


larger wrench. The user is therefore
"cheating" on the written guarantee of
the wrench manufacturer. [KI]
pi. 2.
Safety glasses or goggles. [Reported]

checkerboard,

To

lease only a portion of each section

checkerboarding, n.
A new method by which wildcatting is
financed, devised by James E. O'Neil. He
leased scattered farms and ranches so
distributed as to benefit his

company

if

any drilling play was started thereabouts.


raise the

money
some

for drilling a well

were
and drilling contractors and
workers were often persuaded to take
their pay in stock. This system, also
called poor boying, led to the opening of
in the middle,

of these leases

resold,

many new

fields.

[T, p. 133]

An

automatic nonreturn valve: a valve


fluid to pass in one direction but automatically closes when
the fluid attempts to pass in the opposite
direction. [D]

which permits a

paraffin

saturated with

cheesebox,

from the press which


[POR]

is

oil.

n.

vertical, cylindrical still

distillation of kerosene.

[NO]

end,
so

away on one side


scoop. By reason of

chicken-farm sand

A Bartlesville sand;

so called because
discovered it took his profits from a chicken farm to make a fortunate venture in the Bartlesville, Okla-

the

man who

field. [Heard] 2. The Bartlesville


sand discovered at Nicoma Park, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Geologists
were unable to identify the sand im-

homa,

mediately; therefore it was so named because the well was drilled on a small
poultry farm. The name is applied in
several fields producing

early

from

this

zone.

[Reported]

Chic Sale concession


A public toilet to which ten cents' admission was charged. It is said that because of the shortage of such facilities
many oil-boom towns, these concessions did a flourishing business. [ST, p.
56]
chillers, n. pi.

A
wax

used in the

it

run

from the

to chill the
oil.

wax and

[POR]

The temperature at which flakes of


wax begin to form in a liquid; the temperature at which a lubricating
gins to congeal. [POR]

oil

be-

[D]
ring

A ring for

still

name

piping system through which the


distillate is

chill point

chill

cheesebox

An

it

separate

cheese, paraffin

cut

a modified

in

check valve

The

is

is

The lower

resembles a
its
shape, the device as it turns
works around and behind the fish that
has become partly embedded in the wall
of the hole and engages it (as the regular
horn socket would not). This ability to
reach out and grasp a lost tool led to the
name. [D; POR] 2.
California boll
weevil (q. v.). Also called prune picker.
[Reported]
that

1.

v.t., v.i.

instead of the entire section.

To

which

of the horn socket.

peculiar

cheater, n.
a smaller

CI

fishing tool

CHEAT ABOUT FOOTAGE

steal hole.

[OK]

Beans.

cherry picker

for cheesebox (q. v.).

the protection of the

welded

connections, located inside the casing or


tube. [PE]

clay revivifying system

89

chimney,

circulate, v.t.

n.

tubelike device inserted in


refining.
a hole of a tray in a typical bubble tower.
Each tray has a number of such holes,
and the chimneys, covered and surrounded by bubble caps (q. v.), project
a few inches above the tray. [BA, p. 233]

To keep up
and out

a constant flow of

of a well

when

mud

in

securing samples

The

or waiting for cement.

bit rotates

but does not drill. The field term is logging. [Heard; DO, October 29, 1947]
circulation, n.

chinch trapeze

The

springs of

camp

camps.

cots in oil

[Heard]

The passage of water, with or without mud, through a rotary borehole. [D]
circus is

chisel tongs

pipelining. Pipe wrenches used in


screwing pipe into a line; so called because a square metal key, or chisel, is
placed in the jaws of the tongs to grip
the pipe. [SA, p. 200]

chocolate rocks

Bands of red shale occurring between


and Third Oil Sands in the

the Second

Creek, Pennsylvania,
called putty roc\s. [NO]
Oil

See

The ruler used by engineers; so called


because it is divided into tenths. In rapid
speech tenths becomes tents, a term symbolic of the circus.

[Heard]

city-lot drilling
drilling of offset wells

acreages.

choke,

bean,

[SHU,

choke
city of flowing gold

choke nipple

in 1918.

A common name
[HOU,

for Ranger, Texas,

p. 38]

[LDO]
C.L.
Center

Christmas tree

An

on small

p. 44]

nipple, cock, cracked valve, flow bean.

See bean.

town

Also

field.

n.

automatic

to

circus rule

The
CHOKE,

coming

Engineers are coming on the job. The


engineers are so called because their
measures are in tenths, pronounced tents.
[Heard]

assembly of valves and

fittings

line;

an abbreviation used in

[LDO,

drilling reports.

p.

428]

located at the casing head of an oil well

clam-shell shovel
An excavating shovel

[POR]

to control the flow.

Christmas-tree assembly
A Christmas tree with all the attachments made. [POR]

churn
1.

drill

from a

drill

head

is

electricity, or

raised by

steam.

means

of a

rope or cable and

is allowed to drop,
thus striking successive blows which pulverize the rock and deepen the hole.

Also called cable

drill or

well

drill.

[D]

The

See dart. [Heard]

mineral oil used as a solvent for na[D]

tural gases.

circular base

which

claw,

n.

device used with a hydraulic jack


in pulling pipe; a very early term. [NO]
clay, n.

A
v.).

refiner's

The

term for

trade

name

fuller's earth

is

(q.

attapulgus; also

called percolating clay. [KI]

circle, n.

jack

clapper, n.

mounted on four wheels and

driven by gasoline,

The

on pipe

claroline, n.

stationary drill operated

derrick. 2. Portable drilling equipment,

usually

used

lines. [F, p. 131]

is

made

of steel for a

used to tighten or discon-

nect tool joints.

[NO]

clay revivifying system

method by which clay is cleaned


wedge burner. [D]

further use. See

for

clay

wash

clay

wash

90

to

or odor of an oil

other clay. [D]


clean, adj.

A term used in the transportation of


petroleum products that do not soil the
and

tanks. Gasoline, kerosene,


fuel

considered

are

oils

[LAM, November,
CLEAN,

clean

liquids.

tubes, scrub,

blow a
blow down

bail out,

clean,

wash, water wash.

v.t.

use a sand

ings, etc.

[Heard;

pump

to

remove

DO, October

14,

cav-

1947]

To remove from the bottom of the


hole the material pounded into mud by
the bit. [S] 3. refining. To knock the
coke formations off bubble trays of fractionating towers. To clean the entire sys-

2.

tem

To

that

If

storage

makes up the thermal

stills.

leases to

of his

pay for drilling a well, he says

He must

then

be responsible for the balance of the

cost.

he failed to clear the

well.

p. 96, n. 1]

Clem,

The

n.

cartoon authority of the Sinclair

refinery at Houston, Texas,

who

acts as

a fire-wall lawyer (q. v.) in the management-labor films that are shown regu-

His business

larly.

is

to

to solve their problems.

tell

foremen how
a worker

When

does something that is not "according to


Clem," he is sure to be told that Clem
will hear about it. [Heard]

Cleveland flash tester


refining. An apparatus used to make
determination on products such as

lubricating

oils.

[KOT]

poles.

p. 32]

clinch or clink bolts

clean-out machine
reverse-circulation rig

which

drills

into the oil sand after the rotary rig has


drilled to the sand. [Reported]

light string of drilling tools. 2.

used to remove the


packed sand that accumulates in the
bottom of the hole and impedes the production of oil. [BA, p. 164]
set of special

climbers,

n. pi.

Spurs to assist linesmen in climbing


[Heard]

Cross bolts under spear bolts to prevent the pump rods from stripping. [D]
C-link, n.

clean-out string
tools

fitting used to connect or disconnect


chains or wire ropes; so called because of
its shape. [CC, 16th ed., p. 4004]

clinograph, n.
An instrument for making and recording a straight-hole test during drilling.

[LDO]

clean pair of sox


A trip home. [Heard]

clinometer, n.
An instrument which

clean up,

slope of the

1.

oil well.

enough

sell

clean-out crew
A group of production workers who
clean accumulated mud, sand, or paraffin
from wells with a light drilling rig. [BA,

1.

[DO,

flash

[KI]

tanks.

pay for the drilling of an

a lessee fails to

[BA,

clean drilling
Drilling with mud (q. v.) instead of
with oil; oil is used when coring with a
diamond bit. [Heard]
clean out,

the

18, 1947]

clear the well

a boiler, butterworth, chase the threads,


crumb, doodle, flush, knife a well, rattle

To

To empty
November

1947, p. 5]

bail, bail down,


down, blow a well

1.

clear storage

distillate

y.t.

See
line

mixed with circulating mud: The well cleaned up to flow


576 barrels. 2. To use a swab to clean out
all fluid so that the well will produce
pipe-line oil, or oil that is acceptable to a
purchasing agent. [Heard]
gins to flow oil not

improve the color


with fuller's earth or

method used

v.i., v.t.

Said of a

new

oil

well

when

it

be-

strata.

measures

ground or the dip

[LDO]

the

of the

cluck

91
close in

clip, n.

U-shaped piece with threaded ends


and a bar provided with nuts to clamp
over two or more pieces and bind them
together. A clamp to fasten the end of a
rope or wire line. [POR]

To

stop the flow of an oil well. See

well

and shut

in.

[Heard]

natural depression in the earth's sur-

which

it

management company

offer for sale,

able security.

and has not

[LDO,

that does not

issued,

redeem-

p. 889]

fold in

Sand
good

that

too closely grained to

form

[D]

closure, n.
vertical

anticlinal crest

distance between the


and the highest point at

the base of the fold. [RI]

A
which the limbs have been

compressed until they are

is

oil reservoir.

cloth oil

closed fold

oil.

close sand

The

company

closed-end

lands producing

to,

p. 810]

close nipple
nipple whose length is about twice
the length of a standard pipe thread and
is without any shoulder; an all-thread

which water drains and from

cannot escape except by evapora[D]

tion.

Royalties relating to tracts near, but

not adjacent

nipple. [D]

closed basin

close-in royalties

closed anticline
A dome. [Heard]

face into

choke that controls the


kill. [BA, p. 59]

close the

[LDO,

close a well in
kill a

To

flow of a well. See

parallel.

[D]

term given to one of the

distillates

which has a specific


gravity of 0.875 and is sold for oiling
wool. [POR]
of crude petroleum

closed-in pressure

See shut-in pressure. [BA,

cloud point

p. 153]

The temperature

closed-in production

Production shut

off,

at which wax begins


and create a cloudy appearoil which is cooling from dis-

to congeal

but available.

ance in

[PO]

tillation.

closed pressure

cloud test

The pressure on a gas well that has


been closed long enough to attain a maximum, the time varying from twenty-four
hours to several days, or until the pressure does not increase more rapidly than
1 per cent in ten minutes before the pressure is gauged. [POR]

short,

shaped

cast-

fitting for

pipes. It

is

or

The temperature
waxes or other
crystallize

when an

malleable-iron,

U-

untying two parallel

U-bend or
from the U-

often loosely called

return bend, but it differs


bend in that the arms are joined together
by a union, while the arms of the Ubend are welded. [D]

or

at

which

paraffin

solid substances begin to

separate

oil is chilled

from

solution

under definite spe-

[D]

cified conditions.

clover-seed sand

A
at a

closed return bend

[KI]

driller's

name

depth of 1,660

Pennsylvania.

club

feet in Butler

[NO]

man

pipelining.

[WIL,

p. 69]

cluck,

v.i.

To

found
County,

for a sandstone

flow.

collar-pecker (q. v.).

The term

cluc\

is

onomato-

poetic: the flowing of a natural well

closed structure
See good structure. Also called dome.
[BA, p. 59]

is

accompanied by a sound which is suggestive of a hen's clucking and is possibly caused by the check valve. [Heard]

clutch

92

where

clutch, n.

device to connect and disconnect a


well and, with little or no delay, the two
parts of a rotating shaft or a pulley and

[POR]

a shaft.

clutch dog
a position clutch.

[Heard]

ers

rotary driller; so called because of

many

clutches

which he must op-

When

re-

made

C0 2

of steel; also called

bottles.

precaution against fires which may


break out at any time in a refinery. [KI]

cock, n.

[Heard]

erate.

stored or stilled.

Bottle-shaped carbon dioxide contain-

clutcher, n.
the

is

bottles

c.o.

The engaging dog on

it

duction by heat continues without steam,


the thick coating or film on the walls of
a still is changed to coke. Also called
pressure coat (q. v.). See coke. [KI]

device for regulating the flow in a


which may be rotated

pipe; a taper plug

clutch fever
See brake fever. [Heard]

in a

body with

parts

corresponding to

those in the plug. [D]

clutch release bearing


The bearing that transmits the clutch
pedal pressure to the revolving clutch
plates for disengaging the clutch. [KOT]

derogatory name for a rotary driller; so called because he uses clutches to


control the engine. [Reported]

cmtd.
Cemented; an abbreviation used

[LDO,

in

p. 428]

CO.
Cleaning out; an abbreviation used in
drilling reports.

mistake, the customary penalty for


is coffee for the crew. [SA, p. 200]

which

coffee grinder

clutch stomper

drilling reports.

coffee, n.

[LDO,

p. 428]

rotary .[Heard]

cofferdam, n.
A double bulkhead provided in tank
steamers to isolate the oil cargo from the
engine and boiler space or from the holds
used for other cargo, and to prevent leakage into adjacent compartments. [D]
coffin hoist

pipelining.

ratchet to

lift

of ditches ; usually used with

coal oil
1.

to

American

such as kerosene. Pehave nothing to do with


[POR] 2. Petroleum, or kerosene

illuminating

refined

oils

oils

from

it.

[NO]

Coal Oil Johnny


John W. Steele, who inherited and
squandered a fortune in oil properties;
so named by the newspapers, which published sensational stories about his esca-

pades,

from

out

[Heard]

misnomer applied

troleum
coal.

lines

an A-frame.

because he derived his wealth

oil.

[GI, p. 116]

coil

A
etc.

drag
tool to pick up pebbles, bits of iron,
from the bottom of a drill hole. [D]

coke, n.
A by-product obtained by treating dryrun tar at high temperatures with sulphuric acid; also called acid co\e. A soft
solid coke containing free carbon complex, heavy hydrocarbons, free sulphur,
and sulphuric acid; used for the same
purposes as coal coke. [KI]

coarse aggregate
refining. Aggregate in which the
largest particles have a diameter greater
than % inch. [KOT]

coker, n.

coat, n.

refining. An apparatus filled with


coke moistened with oil; used to purify
gases. [D]

A
oil

covering or coating deposited by an


or petroleum product in a container

refining.

unit that

makes

coke.

[Heard]

coke scrubber

collar

93
coking, n.

The

process of distilling to dryness a

petroleum product, tar or crude, when


an appreciable layer of carbon (coke) is
formed on the bottom of the still. [D]
refining. Asphalt emulsion.

colasmix,

[KOT]

n.

mixture of colas and road


refining.
materials which is applied to the surface of a road during construction.

[KOT]
cold, adj.
Idle.

When

a refinery unit

cold.

it is

is

[Heard; BA,

not in
p. 228]

cold bends

wash away

cold test

A name given a test made on lubricating oils to ascertain their power of withstanding low temperatures without solidifying or depositing paraffin. [NO]
collapse job

The removal of collapsed pipe from


The repair of collapsed casing

a well. 2.

by forcing a fishing tool through the


damaged pipe. Such procedure is often
necessary in regions where reclaimed
pipe is run without proper testing. [DO
January 18, 1948]
collar, n.
1.

refining. Plant mixes which may be


spread and compacted at normal atmospheric temperatures. [KOT]

coupling.

in a standard-type filter

The term

usual application, refers to the separation of par-

press.

affin

pressing, in

wax from some form

distillate.

its

of lubricating

[D]

grease

made without
[KOT]

heat-

ing, such as axle grease.

The

2.

separation, by virtue of difference

sleeve in certain types

certain type of flange,

known

which is attached
and beading. [D]

flange,

as a collar

by

peening

collar-bound pipe

pipe held fast in the hole by

drill

sediment which packs between the


lars. [BB, p. 488]

col-

collar buster
fishing tool used to part a string of
casing above the point at which it is
frozen. [D]

collar

clamp

split

clamp that can be attached

a leak.

temperature employed,
from an enveloping liquid petroleum

collar corker

uct, solid at the

usual application, the


term refers to the separation of amorits

phous wax at low temperature from a


naphtha solution of filtered, steam-refined stock. [D]

to

a pipe collar for the purpose of stopping

in specific gravity, of a petroleum prod-

medium. In

of flanges, such as a riveted flange. 3.

cold settling

The

collar;

cold-set grease
refining.

such as
threaded pipe

special type of coupling,

a Kimberley

leum medium

was

invented by a Mr. Butterworth, and the


process is known as butterworthing. See
butterworth. [Heard]

cold-laid mixture

cold-pressing or pressing, n.
The separation by filtration of a solid
petroleum product from a liquid petro-

the impurities. This meth-

od, used to clean the holds of ships,

1.

pipelining. Bends in pipe caused by


stretching the pipe beyond the yield point
of steel. One tractor can bend six- or
eight-inch pipe. Two tractors are used
for pipe up to twenty-inches in diameter.
One of the tractors provides the necessary weight to hold the pipe in place
while the other pulls it. [OPL, p. 70]

combination of steam and


water. Steam is forced into a container
to cut oil and other residue from the
walls while water is sprayed on the walls
to

colas, n.

operation

cold steam
refining.

end

[POR]

One who
line.

stops collar leaks

on a pipe

[Heard]

collar

end

The end

of casing or tubing

equipped with a collar

(q. v.).

which
[Heard]

is

collar flange

94
combination

collar flange

flange with sufficient collar

back

to allow

to pipe

on

its

to be securely attached

it

by peening or riveting. [Heard]

collar-pecker

A pipeliner. See hammerman.

[Heard]

To

loosen

the collar by

collar pipe
To rack pipe in such a way that every
other row fits behind the collars of the
preceding row. Racking pipe in this way
saves a great deal of space. [Heard]

pounder

The

pipeliner

tongmen who

keeps time for the

are screwing the line to-

gether. In order to keep the

men work-

ing together, he either beats time on the


pipe or calls A-hee! A-hol, or both.

[Heard; F,

p. 94]

color, n.

1.

from
22,

small showing of

oil in

the borehole. [Heard;

1948]

show

2.

refining.

the extent to

samples

DO, January
test made to

which a petroleum

product will transmit or

reflect light.

[KOT]
colorimeter, A.S.T.M.

An

apparatus (which has not generbeen accepted in the United States)


for determining the color of lubricating
oil. [D]
ally

colorimeter, Saybolt

The

apparatus (accepted in the United


States) for determining the color of light
oils.

[KOT]

combination collar

A
v.).

reducing connection; a sloper (q.


[Heard]

combination

driller

who

can run either a cabletool or a rotary-tool rig; said by other


drillers to be "not worth a damn for
nothin'." [Heard]
driller

cable-tool rig.

[LDO]

combination plant
A refinery where both compression
and absorption are used to recover the
combination rig
rig

comprising

cable-tool

both

complete

and a complete rotary

outfit

[D]

outfit.

combination socket
A fishing tool. [D]
come-along,

n.

device used to grip guy lines so


that they may be tightened. [WIN, p.
type of fast-working rod-line
138] 2.
1.

who

equipped with both a

and a

rotary rig

hammering. [Heard]

collar

outfit

drilling rig

liquid fractions. [BA, p. 155]

collar-pecker ring off


pipelining.

stretcher;

named

so

which causes

action

it

the ground.

[Heard]

come down,

v.i.

because of its fast


to crawl along on

refining. 1. Said of a unit when it is


taken out of operation for any reason:
the unit comes down when the fires are
shut off or when the flow of oil is
stopped. See come off stream. [Heard]

come in, v.i.


To become profitable; a well comes
when it begins to produce. [POR]
come

off

in

stream

refining. To become inactive; said of


a unit that stops operation for any reason. The flow or stream of oil is shut off.

[Heard]

come out of the hole


1. To remove tools or pipe from the
well. [Heard] 2. To remove drilling
tools, rods, or

tubing from the well. [BB,

p. 490]

come unwelded
To lose control

of one's temper.

[Heard]

come

up, v.i.
refining. 1.

To

reach certain

tests;

ap-

plied to petroleum products. 2. Said of

combination gas

a refining unit that

Natural gas rich in oil vapors; wet


gas. Also called casing-head gas. [D]

operation.

The

is

being prepared for

process involves drying

out and getting up temperatures. [Heard]

condensate

95

Comical Abscess Company


A nickname for the Chemical Process
Company. [Heard]

commence

An

or complete lease

which stipulates that a


well must be started or completed within a twelve-month period or extended
annually by the payment of rentals. In
early days, leases carried only the "complete" clause; the "commence" clause
was later added to protect the operator
who starts operations but is unavoidably
lease

oil

delayed in completing them.


837]

commission agent
marketing. The

local

[LDO,

p.

compound

oils

which
mal or vegetable oils
or adhesion. [POR]
Mineral

oils

who

mixed with

ani-

to increase viscosity

compr.
Compressor; an abbreviation used in

[LDO,

drilling reports.

p. 428]

compression ignition

The ignition of fuels brought about


by the high compression of air which
results in high temperature, as in the

[KOT]

case of Diesel engines.

compression plant
1. A plant where

representative

are

gases are reduced to

liquid fractions by compression

and

cool-

performs all
the duties in operating the bulk station.

ing.

[BA,

unit

where gases are put under pressure

[SHU,

with absorption
plant. [Heard]

of a refiner or jobber
p. 148]

p. 155]

2.

gas-concentration

used in a recycling

oil;

commission station
marketing.

station

owned by

multi-

unit concerns but operated by managers

with a proprietary

interest.

[SHU,

common rail injection system


An injection system employing
high-pressure fuel

pump. The

p. 149]

pipe,

cylinder

by

valve.

and

is

opening

The pressure of the gases in the cylinder at the end of the compression stroke.

[KOT]
a single

fuel

is

car-

ried to the injection nozzles in a single

common

compression pressure

admitted to the
fuel nozzle

the

[KOT]

compression process

The process of extracting gasoline from


natural gas by compressing the gas and
cooling it. [BA, p. 155]
compression ring

Comp.

ring used to prevent the blow-by of

gases into the crankcase.

[KOT]

Completed; an abbreviation used in


drilling reports.

[LDO,

compressor station

p. 428]

A pump

compass saw

A
ing.

type of

saw used

station (q. v.).

[DO, Novem-

ber 14, 1947]


for circular saw-

concreter, n.

[NO]

complete, v.i.
To be finished. Said of a well:

It

com-

cementer. [Heard]

condemned,

adj.

Descriptive of land judged unsuitable

pleted for 8,600,000 feet of gas a day.


[DO, October 14, 1947]

for oil speculation.

COMPLETE,

condensate,

v.t.

See accident, block, bottom up, final,


finish up a job, flange up, get it canned,
get it kellied, get the job done, get the
rag out, hang her on the beam, hang her
on the wrench, have the kelly down,
seal her off, seal her up, secure, set to
carry, sew the button on.

1.

[HOO,

p. 42]

n.

liquid

produced by a refinery

from vapors that come from a well in


the form of gas. [POR] 2. A liquid produced by a refinery from vapors which
have been produced by heating
[BA, p. 202] 3. Steam condensed to boiler feed water again.
in turn

a liquid.

condensate well

96

hydrocarbon which is
gaseous in the ground, but when produced condenses into fluid. A.P.I. Baume
gravity ranged from 60 upward. [Re[Heard]

4.

ported] See also

distillate.

condensate well

oil with an espehigh gas-oil ratio. See also conden4. [FO, p. 96]

well that produces

cially
sate,

condensation,

The

n.

An

apparatus which liquefies vapors


by only cooling. [D]

condenser, Liebig

straight, simple condenser used to


convert vapors to liquid or solid con-

[KOT]

dition.

constantly

con-

denses the vapors and returns them to


the original distilling flask or into the
lower levels of a fractionating tower.

[KOT]
v.t.

To prepare a borehole for any activity.


Conditioning a hole for running casing
might include reaming, pumping out
mud,

or any activity the particular hole

requires.

[DO, October

conductor,
1.

14,

1947]

2.

wooden box

eight to

The

first

string of pipe,

usually sixteen, twenty, or twenty-four


inches in diameter. [Heard]

conductor box
See conductor,

conductor-hole,

1.

[NO]

n.

shaft similar

to a

common

water

well sunk to hold the conductor (q. v.).

[NO]
cone,

n.

The

part of a rotary bit that bites into


the formation. [Heard; DO, November
14,

1947]

tober 17, 1947]

conformable, adj.
lie

upon one another in unbroken and parallel order, showing that no disturbance
occurred while their deposition was taking place. If one set of beds rests upon the
eroded or upturned edges of another,
showing a change of condition or a break
between the formations of the two sets
of rocks, the beds are said to be unconformable.

[POR]

A federal law, introduced


Tom Connally of Texas,

by Senator
prohibiting

shipping by interstate commerce crude


in

oil

violation

of state orders.

Some-

times called the hot-oil act. [Reported]

connate water
Water which was deposited simultaneously with solid sediments and
which has not since its deposition existed
surface water

as

ture.

or

atmospheric mois-

[D]
n.

The joining of two lengths of pipe.


2. The lengthening of a drill pipe by the
addition of a new joint. Several steps are
1.

Originally a

[NO]

of two hardused in hard rock. [D]

composed

confirmation well
The second producer in a new field.
The first producer is often called the discovery or the discovery well. [DO, Oc-

connection,

n.

twelve inches square, used as a well casing.

steel cones;

Connally Act

condenser, reflux
A condenser which

condition,

rotary drill

Descriptive of beds or strata that

[KOT]

condenser,

A
ened

n.

conversion of a vapor to a liquid

or solid.

cone, rock-bit

involved: (1) the \elly (or grief stem,


q. v.) is disconnected from the drill pipe,
(2) a new joint is attached either to the
kelly or to the drill pipe, and (3) the
kelly is reconnected preparatory to further drilling. [Heard]

connection foreman
A gang foreman on a pipe-line crew.

[WIL,

p. 69]

connection gang
The workers on a production crew
who connect the pipes and valves and
install most of the equipment. [BA, p.
32]

control head

97
connection order

ly yields a

The

authority for a pipe-line foreman


to connect the tanks to the pipe line and
for the gauger to run the oil. [OPL, p.
128]

connections,

n. pi.

or relatives in the

Influential friends

employ

of a

company. [Heard]

consistency, n.
The degree of solidity or fluidity of
bituminous materials. [KOT]
contact,

v.t.

product of given

volatility.

[POR]
continuous sample
A sample secured by catching drippings at regular intervals for a definite
period of time (for example, a day) and
mixing them. [Heard]

continuous system
A system in which a quantity of

oil

flows or is pumped continuously until


the refining process is completed. [KOT]

2.

200-mesh clay to purify the oil. (Also n.)


To treat petroleum with acid by bring-

continuous treating
Refining by a continuous operation in
which unrefined oil enters the apparatus
and after successive operations comes out

ing the two into contact. [KI]

refined.

contactor, n.

contract, n.

1.

To run

The

acid-treated stock through

for contacting
tact, 2.

equipment used

vessel or piece of

two

substances. See con-

Any
p.

[KOT]
job, small or large.

[Heard; SA,

200]

[KI]

contractor's hole

contactor treating process


A process by which petroleum intermediates are purified by agitation with
chemicals or by physical absorbents in a
specially constructed apparatus

known

as

an agitator or washer. [KI]

continuous battery

number

still

of cylindrical

horizontally, each successive

stills

lying

still

being

heated to a greater degree than the preceding one. Pressures are also proportionally raised. At each still the higher
volatile contents of the charge are drawn
off until only the lowest fraction is left.
[KI]

continuous blow-down

The

act of flowing

the water in a boiler

tinuous stream of

scum off the top of


by means of a con-

air.

The scum,

rule, contains minerals that

as a

might be de-

posited on the inside of the boiler, thus

lowering

its

efficiency.

[KI]

continuous process of distillation


A petroleum distillation process in
which crude oil flows slowly by gravitation through a series of stills or retorts,
each placed slightly lower than the preceding one. Each still has a carefully
maintained temperature, and continuous-

Originally, a drilling term for a borehole drilled by a contractor whose chief


concern was not to find oil but to make
money by completing the drilling contract as quickly as possible. Such a contractor ran and pulled tools with the
throttle wide open. Later applied to the

which

the gear shift fitted


runs at full speed. The
expression to have 'er in the contractor's
hole first meant to run in high gear with
the throttle wide open. Now the expression refers to any task performed in a
hurry. [BB, p. 488]

slot

into

when an engine

control casing head


1. A fitting attached to the top of casing to control a flow of oil that may occur between two strings of casing or
around the wire line when cable-tool
drilling operations are taking place. 2.
casing head equipped with valves or
gates by which an unexpected flow of oil
may be diverted into flow lines either

with or without withdrawing the

tools.

[S]

control head

A fitting at the
oil or

gas which

top of a well to control


flow during drill-

may

ing operations. [POR]

controlled production

98

controlled production

Production of

oil

pressure control.

copper-dish test

[POR]

six floating

docks

used in laying the pipe lines across the


English Channel during World War II.
Army and navy engineers named the
docks Conundrums presumably because
they were considered so by the Nazi air
reconnaissance. Each dock was ninety
feet long and sixty feet wide and was
loaded with seventy miles (1,600 tons)
of tubing wound on giant drums. Oversize electric winches were used to unwind the tubing and lay the line. [WIL,
p. 184]

it

which the

gasolines to

content.

show

the

[KOT]

name used by

drillers around 1883


found at a depth of 174 feet in
Clinton County, Pennsylvania. [NO]

copper sweetening process

The process of sweetening or desulphurizing by the use of copper. [KI]


cordage, n.
A term applied to both fiber and
wire rope used in drilling. [D]

corduroy,

To

v.t.

oil-field

equipment can be

oil field.

[WIL,

trans-

Not confined

ported over them.

to the

p. 110]

core, n.
1.

sample of formation taken from

a well being drilled by

low

drilling bit.

made

times

hemp,
3.

oil

steel

lay logs across dirt roads so that

[NO]

means of a
2.

The

To

hol-

central

which forms a cushion

for the strands. In wire ropes

original

separation of sludge acid takes place. [D]

cooking

gum

part of a rope,

n.

lead-lined vat in

it is

of wire, but usually

jute, or like material.

some-

it is

[POR]

of
v.i.

take a sample of the formation for

testing; to use a core bit. [KI]

Gasoline. [Heard]

core barrel

cook out samples

To evaporate water from samples of


mud and slush in order to determine the
formation at the depth from which it was
pumped; to dry out over a flame. [Heard]

Texas term for a Louisiana


worker; also coony. [Reported]

The part of a drill used for sampling


formations in well drilling which holds
the core.

[POR]

core-barrel bit

A type of bit adapted for drilling in


hard sand, compact clay, etc. [NO]

coon ass

coony,

reaches the radiant section, thus

reducing the amount of heating required


of the radiant section. [BA, p. 231]

cooker,

made on

for a rock

heavy

convection section (of a still)


A chamber containing coils near the
radiant section; used to preheat the oil

test

copper-dish

copper rock

Conundrums, n. pi.
The name given to

before

by the application of

oil-field

core bit

The
n.

part of the core drill that cuts out


from the formation. [D]

a sample

See coon

ass.

core catcher
cope,

An

n.

asphaltic substance, so

Spanish explorers
coast in

who

named by

visited the

1543 and found

it

Texas

floating

refining.

gum

Gum obtained by the copper-

dish method.

[KOT]

fits

inside the core bit to


it

has been cut.

on

the water. [RI]

copper-dish

device that

hold the core after


[Heard]

core

drill

hollow

designed for extracting


to gain geological
information. See also diamond drill, shot
cores

drill,

drill

from the hole

and

calyx.

[POR]

Cottonseed

99
core extractor

1.

correlate,

special jack used to

push a core

out of a core barrel. [POR] 2. A device


in a core barrel which holds the core
securely until
face.

it

is

brought

to the sur-

To

of strata over a considerable area.

determination of the geological

relationship of

core

lifter

An
left

instrument used to bring up cores


by an annular bit in a boring. [D]

series

[LDO]

correlation, n.

The

[Heard]

v.t.

determine the continuity of a

two separated

areas pri-

marily by examining fossils and


graphic positions. [LDO]

strati-

correlation shooting

core

To make

oil

The grade
which has

of oil described as paint

a 36

Baume

compounded with
linseed oil. [POR]

gravity

oil,

and

core-pusher plunger
A plunger used to extract the core

from the core


[POR]

barrel in

good condition.

lining of a core barrel; used in

diamond

drilling.

[POR]

coring time

The time consumed in taking cores


from the zone of the well. The time is
expressed in feet per hour or minutes
per foot. [PE]

corkscrew, v.t.
To drop a string of tubing in a well
so that it hits bottom and spirals into the
casing. [Heard]
n. 2. A string of pipe,
such as drill pipe, which has been twisted
by the application of too much weight.

[Reported]

corrugated friction socket


A fishing tool. [D]

common

oilfielder.

[Heard]

leg of a derrick. [Reported]

corn-meal pebble
A name used by drillers for a certain
type of formation which looks like corn
meal.

[NO]

corrected
Oil

oil

whose reported gravity has been

adjusted. Gravity standard is always set


at 60; for high temperatures, one point
is subtracted for each 10 above 60; for

low temperatures, two points are added


below 60. [Reported; DO,

for each 10

February

17, 1949]

2.

who

has neither the intelligence nor the training to become


skilled in the petroleum distillation processes. The term arose in East Texas
during the oil boom when farm labor
was employed in large numbers because
of the shortage of oil distillers. [KI]
laborer

cotton-picking, adj.
Used to describe anything considered
worthless; often heard in the expression
get your cotton-picking hands off.
[Heard]

Cottonseed Willie Withers


A transient oil-field worker with a
penchant for spinning yarns everywhere
he goes he is surrounded by a ring of
listeners. He is considered bad luck by
employers because he is usually injured
after working only one or two tours, after which he draws compensation and
goes on to another field. He has been seen
in the oil fields of Carmi (Illinois), Dalhart (Texas), and Duncan (Oklahoma)
and has been reported in East Texas,
Kansas, and Michigan fields. Tales about
his activities are rife. According to one
story, he once dropped a sledge hammer in a borehole, and the crew fished
for days before it was recovered. Then
the driller handed Cottonseed his check
;

corner post

The

[PE]

corrosion and gumming test


A test to determine by evaporation the
free acid in an oil. [POR]

cotton picker
1. A clumsy

core shell

The

drillings or

is

soya bean, or

corn,

seismographic

shots with correlated detonations.

coughing

100

made by

Philbrick and Atwas named for the


Louis Napoleon and was

and the hammer, saying that neither his


services nor the hammer would be needed
any further. Cottonseed dropped the

coup

hammer back

used as a lubricator.

in the hole and, in field

vernacular, sold out. [Reported]

coughing,
1.

on

The

n.

made by the steam pump


rig when drilling is in prog-

Used in the expression the


coughing right along, meaning the drilling is difficult. [Heard]
v.i. 2.

mud hog

is

counterbalance, n.
A weight attached to a moving part,
such as a crank, a pulley rim, a walking
beam, etc. to balance the weight and thus
reduce vibration and stresses. [POR]

counter-current pipe exchanger


A heat exchanger made of pipe in

which the direction

of the cold oil

posite that of the hot

counter
See

oil.

is

op-

[POR]

sill

[NO]

subsill.

countersink, n.
1. A tool used to chamfer the

country;

mouth

of a hole. 2. An operation that makes


use of such a tool. [POR]

1852.

in

d'etat of

coupon,

noise

a rotary

ress.

this

wood

It

[NO]

n.

pipelining. 1. The circular piece of


pipe cut out of a line after a connection
has been welded to transfer the oil from
one line to another. The coupon, whether
knocked free or left partly attached to
the wall of the pipe, is an obstruction
that eventually causes the newer type of
scraper to become lodged in the line.
sample of welded
[OPL, p. 101] 2.

pipe to be tested for strength. [Heard]

course, n.

ring of welded tank. [OPL, p. 123]

courtesy card
1. A consumer's credit card issued by
oil companies owning filling stations. 2.
slang. A half-inch gas hose used to siphon gas from one car to another. A
common activity during the depression
of the nineteen thirties when the expression got your courtesy card with you?

was

general. [Heard]

courtzilite, n.

countersunk, adj.
1. Having a shape made by the use of
a countersin\. 2. Applied to a type of
plug which has an opening depressed to
receive a square wrench. [POR]

type of asphaltum allied to gilsonite.

[A]

Cousin Ben

The rod hanger on

the

end of the

[Heard]

stirrups.

coupled pipe
pipelining. Pipe held together by some
means other than welding. There are
several varieties of threaded couplings:

the

common

threaded coupling, the Vic-

taulic coupling, the Dillon coupling,

and

the Rolagrip coupling. These are used


where there is need for throwing curvature into the line without bending the

coupled line is often used on oil


lines in gathering systems or on short,
temporary lines. [OPL, p. 56]

pipe.

coupling, n.
1. A threaded sleeve used to connect
device used to join two
two pipes. 2.
rope ends without splicing. [POR]

coup-oil, n.

The

first

coal oil offered for sale in

cover, n.
1. Shale or any other formation which
hundreds of feet thick and prevents oil
from seeping upward and disappearing,
unlike cap rock, which is, in its ordinary
sense, usually very hard and may consist of a limestone or shale bed only a few
is

feet

in

2.

patrol a pipe line.

Main

thickness. [D,

pipelining.

To

I,

42]

v.t.

lines are usually covered once or


twice a week; gathering lines less often
pipe
or only when a leak is suspected.
line that has been shut down is covered
line may
when operation is resumed.
be covered on foot, by automobile, or by
airplane. [OPL, p. 123] 3. To shoot a
sand in an effort to recover oil (1900).

trunk

[MU,

p. 133]

cramp

i oi

cowcatcher,

cracker, n.

n.

The bumper and guard on

the front

of the truck; a railroad term. [Heard]

Cow-Run Sand

name
Dunkard

driller's

stone, or

for

Oil

Mahoning SandSand. [NO]

cow sucker

A heavy piece of iron attached to the


end of the drilling cable to facilitate the
descent of the latter when the tools are
disconnected. See watermelon. [D]

C.P.
Casing pressure, or cement through
perforations; an abbreviation used in
drilling reports.

crack,

[LDO,

length (usually 100 feet) of manila


and the
wire line to furnish the desired elasticity.

[D]

cracking, n.
The production of low-boiling-point
hydrocarbons suitable for motor fuel in

commercial quantities from distillates or


residuals of high molecular weight. [N]
cracking, liquid phase

Decomposing petroleum
state.

break up, through the application


heat and pressure, complex hydrocarbons in petroleum into lighter hydrocarbons of simple molecular formulas.
Gasoline with a high boiling point may
be thus treated and the point lowered to

make an improved burning

gasoline.

crack a valve
To open a valve a very

little.

[Heard]

distillate

distillate of a

cracking unit.

cracked-distillate rerun plant

The

plant in

which cracked

distillate

yield of gasolines and light


increased over that obtained by

which the
oils

is

simple distillation. Includes the Burton


process, the Greenstreet process, and the

Rittman process. [POR]


cracking of

[D]

The
[POR]

liquid

process of high-temperature and


high-pressure petroleum distillation by

To

cracked

oils in a

[KOT]

cracking distillation

p. 428]

v.t.

of

is

cable inserted between the tools

oil

name given

to the

method by which

hydrocarbons of one composition are reduced to lower members of the same


series, or converted into other hydrocarbons during distillation. The method
originated about fifty years ago in the
old Pennsylvania refineries and means
just what the term indicates: a part alteration, as distinguished

from the more

decomposition which would


disrupt the molecule largely into carbon and permanent gas. Cracking simply
alters the molecules to an extent which
produces an amount of low-boiling fractions that cannot be obtained by simple
complete

rerun. [KI]

cracked fuels
Fuels consisting predominantly of
cracked residuum which may or may
not be blended with crac\ed distillate.

[KOT]

distillation.

[POR]

cracked gases
Gases

down or
[KOT]

resulting

from

the

cracking of petroleum

breaking
oils.

cracking plant

A plant where petroleum oils are


crac\ed in the manufacture of crac\ed
gasoline.

[KOT]

cracked gasoline
Gasoline obtained by cracking heavier
oils.

[KOT]

cracked valve
1. A flow bean or choke. [Heard] 2. A
valve which has been opened or cracked.
[KI]

cracking stock
Material that

is

to

be crac\ed. [BA,

p. 228]

cramp,
Used

n.

in

the expression in a cramp.

syn. In a bind. (q. v.). [Heard]

102

crankcase breather
crankcase breather
A screened opening which admits

crest, n.

[KOT]

into the crankcase for ventilation.

The

air

crankcase ventilation
Circulation of air through the crankcase to remove volatile diluents. [KOT]

which

of the cylinder

next

is

to the crank; the skirt of the piston.

p. 118]

line

of various

joining the crests

arches; called in general usage the axis.


p. 118]

cretaceous, adj.
Pertaining to the period between the

and the Tertiary; descriptive of


the soft formations deposited during the
Jurassic

[POR]
Crapshooter Company
A Kansas poor-boy company.
that

[H,

crest line

[H,

crank end
The end

top of any arch cut at right angles

to the axis of the fold.

in

officials

It is said

company secured

the

funds for drilling operations by shooting

According to legend, the comfirst producing well was called


the Crapshooter Well. [Heard]

period of larger reptile life; also, the system of strata deposited in the Cretaceous

[LDO]

period.

crevice oil

craps.

occurring

Oil

pany's

in

Florence, Colorado,

erroneously called shale


crater, n.
1.

The heavy

lubricating oil used to

(mud

is

used to lubri-

v.i. 2. To cave in;


modern bits).
form a crater. When the gas pressure

cate

in a borehole

is

such that

it

blows out

around the surface pipe when the well


is

closed in, the well

is

said to be crater-

Sometimes the cavity

ing.

by the

left

escaping gas is so large that the derrick


falls in. 3. slang. To break, or to fail in
any way. 4. To finish a short job; she's
cratered means the job is finished. [1, 2,

Heard;

3,

WIN,

p. 138; 4,

goes off production.


ly

The

damaged through

slips

is

usual-

operation;

how-

barrel

handling the barrel itself with


may have the same result. [Heard]

creekology, n.
A system of operation developed by

Mike Benedum,

the

[D]

device for indicating the

and location of

number
[NO]

crevices in oil sand.

crimp, n.
A deformation in the pipe wall due
to faulty bending. [OPL, p. 70]
critical

compression pressure (C.C.P.)

The

lowest compression pressure at


which a given fuel will ignite in a given
compression-ignition engine. [KOT]
critical

compression ratio (C.C.R.)

The

Heard]

crease cups
To crush the working barrel of a
pumping well so that oil does not pass
through easily, in which case the well

ever,

oil.

in

Sometimes

crevice-searcher, n.

lubricate a rock bit


to

as

shale,
oil field.

famous wildcatter.

lowest compression ratio at which


a given fuel can be ignited in a given
compression-ignition engine. [KOT]
critical

The
cal

density

density at the point

change

where a

physi-

in a substance takes place; for

example, the density at which crystallization begins. [D]


critical

The

pressure
pressure

necessary

to

raise

the

temperature of a substance to the point


of

transition;

pressure

the

that

will

It

a combination of superstition, hunch,


and sound knowledge of geographical

liquefy a gas at

its

critical

temperature.

is

formations.

man

with

Benedum
a nose for

known as
oil," and when
is

"a
it

found, he can be seen in the field


"with mud on his boots." [TR, February

is

24, 1948]

[D]
critical

Any

temperature

temperature marked by a transition; the temperature above which a substance can exist only in the gaseous state
regardless of the amount of pressure. [D]

crown

io3
crossover tee

crooked hole
A borehole which

not vertical; caused


by hard strata or by an overloaded bit.
is

[LDO]
crooked shale

field

difficult.

term for the

formation

is

The

line of dip.

The

inclined so that drilling is


weight on the drilling line

must be held up

or the bit will follow the

dip in the formation. When the formation is very crooked, only five or six
feet can be drilled during one tour if the
hole is kept straight. [Heard]

be exposed at the surface; refers to

[D]

strata.

cropping out

The

fitting

made along

natural exposure of bedrock at


The part of a vein which ap-

the surface.

pears at the surface

is

called the cropping

lines similar to

the crossover, but having at one

cross-pein sledge

sledge in

which the pein extends

crowbar connection

A connection that is prized


forced into place. [Heard]
The

row

of wells

along the boundary of a lease in order


to get a neighbor's oil. In order to counteract this practice, there is an unwritten
requirement that no well may be drilled
less than 200 feet (in some cases 300

from the boundary

[BA,

p. 93]

croppings,

crowfoot bar

croquet balls

up and

line

practice of putting a

feet)

n. pi.

at

[NO]

right angles to the handle.

or the outcrop. [D]

Portions of a vein or bed exposed at


the surface. [D]

end two

openings in a tee head whose plane is at


right angles to the plane of the crossover
bend. [D]

crowding the

crop out

To

sheets

1.

of

the

lease.

brace placed in the upper part of

a boiler to stay

some

part.

[NO]

2.

Croquet-sized balls of black carbonate


used to neutralize impurities in the water
used in steam boilers. [Reported]

heavy steel bar four or five feet in length


with two prongs, or toes, at the heavier
end, which is curved for pulling spikes
and heavy nails; called crowbar in gen-

cross, n.

eral usage. [KI]

pipe fitting with four branches ar-

ranged in pairs, each pair on one axis


and the axes at right angles. When the
outlets are otherwise arranged the fittings
are called branch pipes or specials. [D]
cross-fold theory of locating oil

An

unscientific theory

which assumes

if

structures intersect

much more

be produced. [DO,

p. 46]

oil

will

crossover, n.
small fitting such as a double
offset, or one with a U-shape with ends
turned out. It is made in small sizes only
and is used to pass the flow of one pipe
past another when the pipes are in the
same plane. [D] 2. A few feet of pipe
connecting a coil in a pipe still to a coil
in another still or fractionating tower.
[KI]

LA

The

first

type of elevator used on wells;

so called because

it

gripped the rod with

a device that looked like a crow's foot.

The

tool

crown,

a simple structure or fold will


produce oil, then where two folds or
that

crowfoot elevator

1.

The

crown

is

now

obsolete.

[Heard]

n.

top of a derrick. [D]

2.

The

block. [D]

crown block
The group

of timbers at the top of a


derrick which support the bearings for
the various pulleys. [D]

crown pulley
The pulley

at the top of the derrick


over which the drilling line passes. [NO]

crown sheets
1. The upper steel plates in an oil still.
[D] 2. The sheet of steel forming the
upper part of the firebox in the

[POR]

boiler.

crow

nest

104

The worker who

crow's nest

The

platform that surrounds the derrick at thribble-board height. The duck's


nest (q. v.) includes both the platform

and

fencelike safety structure.

its

The

who

use the terms crow's nest


and attic call the fence the pigpen. 2. The
platform on a jackknife derrick used for

workers

racking pipe. It is not the top platform.


[Heard] See attic.

name

for unrefined petroleum, or

petroleum in a natural state, not altered,


refined, or prepared for use by any pro2. The dark, gummy subwhen the high fractions have

[POR]

cess.

stance left

been run

off in the distillation process.

[KI]

crude naphtha
Unrefined petroleum naphtha. [D]
oil

Petroleum; designated crude to

from the refined


factured from it. [NO]
tinguish

it

crude petroleum
Raw petroleum
well. [D]
crude shale

Crude

as

it

oils

dis-

manu-

from

flows

the

crumb,
1.

To

obtained from shale satu-

who

teamsters

in the oil navy.

succeeded the

[WIL,

p. 42]

upon

the

work

or rights

[OK] 2. To clean rocks and


from a pipe-line ditch. [Heard]

worker who sweeps out the tents


and cleans up the tables in an oil camp.
Most oilfielders consider such work the
lowest job in an oil field, if not in all

The

charge often

n.

who is not one of the


does not pay for his share

worker

gang, that

is,

Crusader,

n.

A wooden sailing ship of 643-ton register, one of the first sailing vessels to be
converted into oil carriers in 1885. The
Crusader was fitted with forty-seven independent tanks arranged in three su-

Crusader Pipe Line


rental pipe line built

Arkansas,

with private

from the Smackover,

pool to the Mississippi


never carried oil, but it
was reconditioned, and parts of it were
used to transport natural gas. [WIL, p.

The

oil

line

72]

crusher

oil

which has been recommended


summer black oil and 50 per cent 26 Baume
steam-refined cylinder stock. [POR]
oil

for crushers, containing 50 per cent

crusher run

creation.

1.

An

crumb boss
1.

crummy,

River.

v.t.

infringe

a pipe-line ditch of

caved dirt, loose rocks, stumps, etc.


with a hand shovel. Also called mucking. [Heard; OPL, p. 67]
all

of others.
dirt

n.

finances in 1925

crude skinners
oil

equip-

oil

oil

Early

crumming,

oil-field

perimposed tiers an arrangement which


was found to work satisfactorily. [A]

rated with petroleum. [D]

boatmen

name of a manufacturer of
ment. [Heard]

of the drinks, and so on. 2. Sometimes


applied to a boll weevil who is not liked
by the other workers. [Heard]

crude mineral oil


Petroleum. [D]

crude

crummies, n. pi.
Chain tongs; used when tubing is run.
The word is derived from Crumbey, the

The removal from

crude, n.
1.

cleans rocks and dirt


from the pipe-line ditch. [Heard] Also
crum boss (archaic). [WIN, p. 138]

epithet

made

the lice (crumbs)

is

derived from the

that he

commands

which may

infest the

beds. [Heard; K. p. 207] 2. pipelining.

refining.

The

total

unscreened prod-

uct of a stone crusher.

[KOT]

crybaby
See jackbird. [Heard]
C's

The hydrocarbons. C 4 's is the symbol


generally used to designate butanes and

cut ditch

io 5
butenes; C 5 's, pentanes, pentenes, and
pentadienes; C 6 's, hexanes, hexenes, and
hexadienes; C 7 's, heptanes, heptenes, and

C8

heptedienes;
tadienes,

bon content

octenes,

octanes,

's,

and xylene.

Named

oc-

for the car-

in the chemical formulas.

[PE]

Csg.
Casing; an abbreviation used in
ing reports. [LDO, p. 428]

maze

called because the rig

by the
was said

[Reported]

cup grease

lubricant used for shafts, generally

lime soap impregnated

consisting of

with mineral

oil.

grease adapted for use on railroad

[POR]

To

take care

cut, n.

1.

fraction of gasoline or other pe-

troleum product. If the fraction is taken


from the upper part of the product, it is
a high cut. If the fraction is taken from
the lower part of the product, it is a low
cut. 2. The percentage of impurities in a
sample of oil.
v.t. 3. To separate petro-

leum products

traveling valve.

worn cups on

of

When

the oil

is

the

cut with

into fractions. 4.

duce the density of rotary

v.i.

5.

To show

and water and has a rusty red color,


the pumper knows there is a cup job to

purities in oil. 6.

be done. [Heard]

p. 158; 4,

soil

cup viscosimeter

specially-graduated glass receptacle


oil

passed through

[KOT]

the viscosimeter tube.

who

lease broker or trader

afford to maintain an

office.

cannot
[Reported]

Curbstone Exchange

An

informal

dealers,

and

meeting of producers,

speculators

at

Oil

much

as $500,000

one day. [GI,

exchanged hands in

p. 182]

cure the title


To complete work on a

down

12,

re-

fluid.

the percentage of im-

To

cut ditch (q. v.).

BB, p. 489;
Heard; 5, BB,

2,

3,

Heard, BA,

p. 490; 6,

DO,

1948]

cut a spoke
refining. To close a valve a fraction.
[Reported]

A residual oil which has been thinned


with lighter substances such as kerosene
or naphtha so that it will pour. This is
the paving asphalt used in Oklahoma.
[KI]

City,

Pennsylvania, in 1871. The oilmen congregated on the sidewalk in front of the


office of Lockhart, Frew and Company,
discussed the news, told stories, and
bought and sold oil. It was said that often
as

POR;

To

mud

cut-back asphalt

curbstone broker

[1,

June

used to measure the

or allow for, expan-

[POR]

cup job

The replacement

of,

sion of a line. [Heard]

have more handles than a cultivator.

to

[D]

cushion a line

Wilson

of handles manipulated

So

oil shale.

curve for the stripped earth


The curve of the earth as measured exclusive of the top caps of the upper and
higher eminences. [PE]

curves.

A Wilson rig which was operated with


a

curly shale
Any folded or distorted

curve grease

See chain slinger. [Heard]

driller.

[LAM,

oil lease valid.

1947, p. 13]

drill-

slinger

cultivator

make an

land, or

November,

cut-back products
Petroleum or tar residuals which have
been fluxed, each with its own or similar
distillates. [D]
cut-back tank
A tank in which naphtha and an

as-

phalt are blended. [KI]

cut ditch
title:

to track

heirs, secure a title to a piece of

1.

most

To

drill; specifically, to drill in

effective

manner.

driller

who

the

can

cut

down

derrick

is a superior worker
he can get
done despite obstacle or accident.
do any job quickly and well. 3.

cut ditch
the job

To

2.

To

clean out the ditch that carries the


mud and cuttings to the slush

drilling
pit.

[Heard]

06
cuttings, n. pi.

The rock
reducing to

[POR]
cycle, cracking

down derrick
To dismantle a wooden

A series of operations or processes for


cracking petroleums into lighter products, or the series of changes in composi-

cut

derrick.

[Heard]

tion

cut hole

To

which take place during


[POR]

drill.

[DO, October

15, 1947]

cyclone,

cut point
The point during distillation at which
the fraction to be cut reaches the right
degree of temperature and elevation in
the still or tower for the proper fraction
to be run off at the given level. [KI]
cut rock

hard formation. [Heard]

Divisions of petroleum distillate

made

cutter, n.

A small amount of acid which removes


water from crude oil by generating an
intense heat. [Heard]
cutter, inside

[DO,

1948]

cutting lubricant

lubricant used to oil

cutting and drilling tools.

cutting
Oil

April, 1946, p. 1]

cylinder oils
Oils used to lubricate the cylinders
and valves of steam engines. [POR]

An

still

early type of refining

and cool

steel-

[KOT]

Also

[NO]

fraction of petroleum

which

is

re-

cycled to produce crude petrolatum; a


bright stock for blending with neutral

motor

oils

and other

lubricants.

[BA,

p. 240]

cylinder stock, lubricating


A viscous stock used in the manufac-

[POR]

cymogene, n.
At one time the lightest product obtained from petroleum; it was used as a
local anesthetic

and

is

now employed

as

a refrigerant in certain types of refriger-

ating machines. [D]

oil

which

still.
still.

cylinder stock

ture of cylinder oils (q. v.).

fishing tool; see collar buster.


11,

portion of a furnace-black unit


that produces artificial agitation of the
air stream carrying particles of furnace
black, the purpose of which is to cause
the black particles to drop out. [HP,

called cheesebox or cheese box

according to temperature, gravity, or percentage of the amount distilled. [D]

January

n.

The

cylinder

drill in a

cuts, n. pi.

these opera-

tions.

cut oil
A mixture of water and oil that can
be separated only by chemicals. [POR]

To

from a drilled
removed in the process of
form with machine tools.

particles bailed

well; metal

will readily emulsify

with

water; used to cool and lubricate the tools


when machining metal. [KOT]

Czar

The
v.).

big boss or strode department (q.

[Heard]

DCLSP

107

D
dance hall

d.a.

An

abbreviation

commonly used

for

d.a.

and

a.t.

abbreviation commonly used for


de-asphalting and acid-treating unit (q.
v.). [KI]

lantern used by oil-field


workers. Originally called Dad's lantern,
because the pumper who used the light
was older either in years or in length of
service than most oilfielders and was
usually called "Dad."

At

first,

the

name

was printed on the light, but later models


bear the names of their manufacturers.
Field workers call them all Dad lanterns,
or dead lanterns (q. v.). [Heard]

Dad's struck

[WIN,

of

semitrailer

D.

&

it

is

pulled.

p. 138]

A.

Dry and abandoned; an abbreviation


used in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]

ile

dart, n.

prong that

bailer.

by

When

and

dump

formed her suitor that he need not call


upon her any more. She added, "I don't
have to marry you now. Dad's struck ile!"

datum plane

[AS, p. 77]
n.

of defioculated

Acheson graphite: a very

finely-divided,

air-floated

and,

graphite used

more

lubrication

for

mixing with mineral

particularly,

oils

or water.

[POR]
dampproofing,

An

levels to

pushed up

valve.

[BA,

p. 108]

equipped with a dart valve


bottom of the bailer. [PE]

bailer

An engineering term for a horizontal


plane which forms a basis for measuring heights and depths. [PE]

n.

welder.

[WIN,

p. 138]

daylight, n.

The daylight shift, which works from


8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; also called daylights, day tour, or day tower. [ME, p.
763]

n.

asphalt used to coat concrete be-

low ground

in the

dauber,
the initial letters

for

is

water and cuttings rush in through the


hole left by the displaced ball. When
the bailer is raised the ball closes the
hole and the bailer is raised with its load
to the top. Also called clapper, clapper

and hangers-on when a well comes


The phrase is said to have originated
when a blacksmith's daughter coldly inin.

word coined from

dart

the ball so that the

drill-

ers

dag,

from the bottom


bottom of a

the bailer touches the bot-

tom of the hole the


which in turn pushes

valve,

favorite catch phrase used

projects

of a ball or half-ball in the

dart bailer

bed

lantern
dry-cell

large, flat

about on the highway as

unit

An

Dad

The

truck; so called because the trailer dances

de-asphalt (q. v.). [KI]

prevent seepage of

moisture. Also called dampproofing asphalt. [KI]

dampproofing asphalt
See dampproofiing. [KI]

D.B. crew
See doodlebug crew. [Heard]

DCLSP
Digging cellar and slush pits; an abbreviation used in drilling reports. [Reported]

D.D.
D.D.
deeper; an ab-

(or drilled)

Drilling

breviation used in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p. 428]

which a

position in

single-cylin-

the piston is at either end of the stroke


and the center of the crank is exactly on

the center line that passes longitudinally

through the cylinder.

When

valves are

necessary to place the engine

it is

on

dead center. [POR]

dead end

The

tem of

closed

end of

[POR]
made fast

pipes.

drilling line

a pipe or a sys-

2.

to

The end
some

of a

stationary

part of a rig. [Heard]


v.i. 3. To stop: a
primary stripper takes off just enough

vapors so that the stream to the secondary


stripper

dead end

will

[OGJ, November

at

that

6, 1947, p.

108]

point.

in.

worker

[ME,

who

transports nitroglycer-

p. 763]

dead lantern

A Dad
rived

(q. v.); possibly dethat name. The term is pre-

sumably used only by comparative newcomers to the oil field; the association of
the lantern with "Dad" has been lost.
[Heard]

dead

dead

a tubing line that does not


tied to

line

move, usually

one side of the derrick.

not in use.

4.

The

3.

pipe

salt-water line

marking the boundary between oil or gas


and salt water. [1, NO; 2, Heard; 3, 4,

NO]
dead

name

given to products obtained

in the distillation of coal tar, consisting

of carbolic acid, naphthalene, etc.

Such

products are heavier than water and come


off at 340 F. or above. Most petroleum

produced from a well is accompanied by


gas, and even though the gas and oil are
run through a separator, usually some
gas remains entrained or trapped in the
oil.

When

gas leaves the oil as

this

stands at

in

rest

the

it

gas

the

tanks,

bubbles which constantly break the surface give the oil an animate appearance.

Such

oil is

known

as live

oil.

When

oil

does not carry entrapped or formation


gas, it is called dead oil. [N; P]

well which is not producing either


because of a temporary shutdown or because the source of oil is exhausted. [BB,

deadwood, n.
Roof or coil supports, swing pipes,
any permanent material in a tank

man

etc.;

that

displaces volume. [D]

dealer, n.

retailer, or

one

who

car-

stock of refined petroleum prod-

ries a

ucts to sell to

[SHU,

consumers at

retail price.

p. 147]

dealer clinic

marketing.

An

for retail operators.

de-asphalt,

educational

[SHU,

meeting

p. 168]

v.t.

To remove

asphalt

from an

asphalt-

residual petroleum. [KI]

Any

buried anchor that supports a


2. A timber or masonry block
buried in the earth, to which a pulling
line may be attached so that it serves as
an anchor. [POR] 3.
hole, complete
with anchor and eye and four feet of
seven-inch pipe, used to support a drill1.

2).

oil

1.

marketing.

line

short loop or a short piece of line


with loops in both ends. 2. The part of
1.

1,

p. 486]

lantern

from

(q. v.

dead well

dead-in-a-hurry, n.

v.).

dead-man hole

engine cannot start automatically:

1.

pushover post (q.

A place to bury a dead man

The
der

4.

[Heard]

dead center

set

ing mast.
[Heard]

guy wire.

de-asphalting and acid-treatment unit

section of the distillery apparatus in

which asphalt

is

removed from

asphalt-

residual petroleum. [KI]

debloom,

To

v.t.

bleach

oils

by exposing them to the

degassing tower

109
sunlight in shallow pans. The ultraviolet
rays of the sun bleach out the coloring
matter permanently, as is not always the
case

when

oils are

deeper than hell


A typical answer

to a question

about

the depth of a borehole. [Heard]

chemically bleached.

deep

[POR; NO]
deblooming agents
and yellow
Mononitronaphthalene
sometimes added to mineral
oils to mask the fluorescence. [D]

coal-tar dyes

oil

In the early days of the petroleum industry, oil found at a depth of 300 feet
or more. Now a well of such a depth is
called a shallow well. [NO]

deep pay
debutanizer, n.

pressure-distillate stabilizer

reduce the vapor pressure in pressure distillates.

[NB,

in yield of an oil or gas


yield

is

rapid,

becoming more steady

until settled pro-

decline curve, in

reached.

yield is plotted against time, shows


graphically the change in rate of pro-

which

duction.

[POR]

decline curve

graph which shows the daily pro-

duction of a well, a property, or a field.


Inevitably every graph shows an ultimate falling off in production. [BA,
p. 143]

pump

A pump

for oil wells.

Many pumps

designed for oil wells are small in diameter so that they can be lowered into
the well casing. They contain valves and
working parts in series, all within a single
cylinder. The pump is at the lower end
of a string of tubing and is operated
through the tubing. by a string of sucker
rods. [D]

deferred production
Oil production held back in the producing formation by the pressure control.

decolorize,

[LDO]

deep-well

called flush pro-

is

duction. For a while the decline


is

sand. [PO]

Oil sand lying at a depth of 2,500 feet


or more.

The decrease
well. The first

oil

deep sands

p. 351]

decline, n.

duction

Deep, productive

used to

[POR]

v.t.

To remove

suspended, colloidal, and

dissolved impurities

leum products by

from

deflegmation (dephlegmation),

filtering,

absorption,

acid treatment, or redistillation. [D]

n.

See deflegmation tower. [KI]

liquid petro-

deflegmation (dephlegmation) tower


At one time the name for a fractionat-

now

deep as a tree and a long rope


One of the noncommittal answers a

ing tower. As a rule

when he is asked how deep


he has drilled. Also deep as a tree, deeper
than hell. See deep as hell. [Heard]

cooler for vapors

deep as hell

deflegmator (dephlegmator), n.
See deflegmation tower and dephleg-

driller gives

answer

typical

to a question

about

the depth of a borehole. Every oil field


has its story about a driller who says his
well is as deep as hell, to which his assistant

adds,

Why, we

"You

can't

believe

passed hell day before yester-

day!" [Heard]

deepen,

To

[DO, March

certain

type

of

it is

applied to

fractionating-tower

coming from the

frac-

See dephlegmating
tower and dephlegmator. [KI]
tionating

process.

mator.

defoamer,

n.

treatment which prevents


bubbling. [Heard]

oil

from

degassing tower

v.t.

drill.

him!

14,

1949]

The refinery tower in which


freed of removable gases. [PE]

oils

are

no

dehydration

dehydration, n.
The removal of water and sedimentary
matter from oil by chemical treatment.

deodorized naphtha
Naphtha from which the odor has
been removed; an excellent cleaning

[LDO]

fluid.

dehydrator,

n.

An

apparatus in which water is removed from oil. This may be accomplished by (1) settling and gravitational
centrifugal separation,
separation, (2)
(3) boiling off the water, or (4) the use
of electric currents of high voltage which

down

break

the emulsion

and permit

[KI]

deparamn, v.t.
To remove paraffin from
lines.

wells

and

[Heard]

dephlegmating tower
Another name for the bubble tower
(q. v.).

umn

Also called the fractionating

col-

and the fractionating tower. [BA,

p. 233]

gravitational settling. [D]

dehydrocyclization, n.
The over-all conversion of heptane to
toluene, involving first the production of
heptenes and eventually the conversion of
methylcyclohexane to toluene. [KE]

dehydrogenation,

n.

refining process

lower

which converts the

hydrocarbons ethane, propane,


and the butanes into the corresponding

defines ethylene,
butenes. [KE]

propylene,

and the

dephlegmator, n.
1. A column or tower with baffles, used
in a petroleum refinery to arrest and retain the oil spray which is carried over
mechanically by the vapor during distillation. The heavy oil that would otherwise be carried over in the form of a
spray

would contaminate

the light distillaboratory instrument used to

lates. 2.

obtain a finer degree of fractionation in


the test oil under distillation, or a better

and more complete separation of the


compounds. The

various hydrocarbon
delimit,

To

v.t.

fix a

a field

is

dephlegmating tower prevents


boundary.

The boundary

of

where dry
dry holes have

fixed in direction

When

holes are found.

defined the field in all directions, the


boundaries of the field are set. [BA, p.

heavier

fractions

column

is

turns

an emulsion.

compon-

[KOT]

the

corre-

which aids in the separacomponents and rethe flask. [POR]

a trap

depletion, n.

rate of separation of the

all

tion of the heavy

138]

The

those

sponding to the temperature of distillation) from being carried over. Such a

demulsibility, n.
ents of

(except

1.

them

The

to

exhaustion of a supply of ore,

the loss sustained through the


progressive removal of a mineral deposit.
etc.;

oil,

dense carbon
Powdered carbon. [Heard]

Since there

dense-graded aggregate
Graded mineral aggregate which contains enough small particles to reduce to
a minimum the void spaces in the com-

is

no recuperation

or rehabili-

such
wasting assets from the
moment production begins. 2. The writing off of assets because of depreciation
tation of

oil,

reserves

are

gas, or other reserves,

or exhaustion.

[POR]

[KOT]

pacted aggregates.

derrick, n.

densimeter,

n.

cific

apparatus for determining the spegravity or relative density of a sub-

stance.

[D]

cement man

cause his duty

an

is

(q. v.); so called be-

to

fill

cavities.

[Heard]

oil

dentist, n.

The

structure over the borehole of


well which supports the tackle for
drilling, pulling, or running tools. 2.
hoisting tool with a tackle on the end of
1.

An

beam. [NO]

DERRICK,
See

n.

bald-headed

derrick,

California

Ill
derrick, Drake's yoke, gin pole, lay-down
job, oil-well derrick,

pulling machine,

production derrick,

pumping

derrick.

derrick apples
Small parts of the derrick that sometimes
ers,

fall to

the floor: nuts, bolts, wash-

and even
and falls

mud

dries

(which shrinks as
[Heard]

brew

devil's

desiccator, n.

refining. An apparatus used to cool


material in a dry atmosphere. [POR]
destinker, n.

A dehydrater that removes water and


odor from wax. [Heard]

it

to the floor).

destructive alkylation

Simple alkylation which is accompanied by decomposition of hydrocar-

derrick floor

The

structure on which the drilling or


crew works; the lowest working
on an oil derrick. [Heard]

bons.

[KE]

repair
level

derrickman, n.
The worker in a drilling or producing crew who racks pipe in the derrick.
Also called derrick mon\ey, derrick
skjnner, mon\ey, sky hooker, and tower
bird. [Heard; BA, p. 39]

DERRICKMAN,
See

attic

n.

hand, biscuit cutter, derrick

monkey, derrick skinner, monkey,

sky-

destructive distillation

The process of superheating hydrocarbons in an airtight vessel. Also called


cracking. [A]
destructive hydrogenation
A form of dehydrogenation which allows the production of distillates with a
lower average boiling point and molecular weight and with a smaller number
of carbon atoms per molecule than the
feed stock. [KE]

hooker, tower bird.


detective, n.

derrick monkey
See derrickman. [BB,

See stool pigeon and

DERRICK PLATFORM
crow's nest, double board,
duck's nest, eighty-board, foble board,
forble board, fourble board, kelly board,
monkey board, outside monkey board,
rod basket, rod board, run-around, safety
board, safety platform, stabbing board,
thribble board, triple board, tubing board,

See

water

attic,

detergent and dispersant additives


Chemicals that change the composition of petroleum by the addition of carbon. [Reported]

detonation, n.

sill

in a

motor produced by
motor fuels. [}]

beneath the derrick

floor.

[NO]

Ford automobile. [Heard]

derrick wheel

hand wheel which

headache post or
well and

is

is

development, n.
Work which

actively

looks

attached to the

to a cable-tool drilling

controlled by a wire or rod

extending to the throttle of the engine.

[POR]

[POR]
development well
A well which helps

to determine the
an oil pool. [DO, January 29,
1948] Also called pool well and inside

limits of

well. [Reported]

desalter, n.

unit used to
oil.

[Heard]

toward

bringing in production, such as the building of rigs or tankage or the drilling of


wells; the process of taking on form.

crude

in-

sill

derrick skinner
derrickman. [Heard]

knock

ferior grades of

[BB,

Detroit vibrator

table.

derrick

tattletale.

p. 487]

p. 489]

remove the

salt

from

devil's

brew

Nitroglycerin.

[HOU,

p. 104]

Devil's

Den

Devil's

Den

112

diamond black

petroliferous district of the

trick

field

in

California.

The

McKitoil

pro-

type of lampblack produced by im-

combustion

perfect

duced there has a gravity of 23 Baume.

escaping from

oil

[POR]

diamond core,

v.t.

devil's

To extract a
mond drill (q.

hand

fishing tool. [Heard]

from some
[NO]

gases

(1884).

means of a
[DO, October

core by
v.).

dia28,

1947]
devil's pitchfork

fishing tool equipped with flexible

prongs.
devil's

spoon

pipeliner's shovel.

[Heard]

devil's tar

Petroleum. In 1818 David Beatty was


drilling a well for salt water in

Wayne

County, Kentucky; however, the well


produced a dark-colored liquid for which
neither he nor his neighbors saw any use
and to which they gave the name devil's
tar. The oil ran down the Big South
Fork of the Cumberland River and covered the surface of the water for thirtyfive miles. It caught fire and inflicted
heavy damage to property along the
banks.

[POR]

Devonian,

The

oils

Lubricating oils from which the


has been crystallized and removed.

wax

[KOT]
point

The temperature

at

which moist

air

reaches a point of saturation and begins


to condense or form dew at a given pres-

[POR]

diamond point

hard

steel

point with which refinery

gouge

from

rivets

[KI]
diarrhea, verbal

Indecent

stories.

[ST, p. 102]

(q. v.).

[LDO,

refining. Kieselguhr; a silicious skeleremains of minute organisms;

ton, or the

an abrasive.

as

[KOT]

dick grip
The rod clamp which holds the stuffing box while it is being packed. Also
called grip, polish rod clamp, and \elly
driver. [Heard]
die, v.i.

To

cease producing: the well flowed

for one

hour and died. The

oil

may

(q.

v.);

an abbreviation
chemists.

may

be ex-

lifts

the

be lost, or the well may have


bridged over (collected enough debris to
block the passage). [WO, October 21,
oil

commonly used by petroleum

p. 427]

diatomaceous earth

hausted, the gas pressure that

d.f.

[KI]

system

system of rotary, water-flushed


drilling; used chiefly for boring through
very hard formations and for exploration work. The boring is executed by a
steel crown, which is studded with black
diamonds, with the aid of a powerful
water flush. [POR]

used

dewaxed lubricating

Diesel fuel

drilling

A variant of log

ming. [KI]

sure.

diamond

diary, n.

[LDO]

dewax, v.t.
To remove as much wax as possible
from lubricating oils to prevent gum-

dew

by percussion. Black diamonds (borts)


are set in the head of the boring tool.
Used in prospecting and development
work when a core is desired. [D]

rivet holes in sheet or construction steel.

n.

era,

riod.

drill

construction crews

fourth period in the Paleozoic


preceded by the Silurian and succeeded by the Carboniferous. 2. The system of strata deposited during this pe1.

diamond

type of rotary rock-drill with which


drilling is done by abrasion rather than

[POR]

1947]

directional

JI 3

used as an insulator and cooler


in a transformer; so called because it does
not conduct electricity. It must be comoil

pletely free of moisture.

[KI]

test

die nipple
tool

employed in recovering

drill

pipe; used to thread casing for the pur-

pose of connecting fittings to close a wild


well (the Mary Sudik Well No. 1 in the
Oklahoma City field furnished an outstanding example). It acts as a die, cutting threads on lost pipe or tool stems.

[POR]
Diesel engine

lubricating oil used in Diesel en-

for

gums

show

their solvent properties

[KOT]

or nitrocellulose.

dimer, n.
A product formed by the union of two
identical define molecules in the polymerization refining process. [KE]

Dinkey,

n.

owned

small, shuttle-railway engine

by the Mid-Continent Refinery Company;

now

museum

piece

in

the

modern

plant. [KI]

The

angle of an anticline.

dip-arrow

[POR]

map

A crude type of map used in rapid field

Diesel fuel

fuel oil with a gravity range between


27 and 30 F., suitable for use in Diesel

engines.

solvents to

dip, n.
oil

gines. [J]

oil

oil with unburned motor fuel from the combustion


chamber. [KOT]

A test made on such products as lacquer

made on insulating and transformer oils to show their abilities to


withstand electric stress. [KOT]

motor oils
The thinning of crankcase

dilution ratio

dielectric strength

ng

dilution of

dielectric, n.

An

drilli

[POR]

Diesel oil
A heavy fuel

work

for indicating the approximate loca-

tion of structures; used to record results

of reconnaissance work. [D]

diplomatic overhead
1. A bribe. 2. Contraband petroleum.
oil

used in Diesel engines.

[W]

[P, p. 178]

dipper, n.
dig, v.t.

To

drill.

See spoon. [Reported]

[Heard;

DO, October

15,

dipping rod

1947]

See divining rod.

dig a pit

To make

an excavation and throw the

away. See spoil dirt and build a


[Heard]

dirt

pit.

valve in a gas main, so arranged as


water and tar and thus form

to dip into

a seal. Also called a seal pipe. [D]

digester, n.

chamber of pipe in a thermal


A
cracking still which is part of the line of
pipe from the heater. In cracking petroleum there are three important factors:
heat, time, and temperature. The digester furnishes the time element by holding the liquid in the same heat for the
large

proper amount of time. See crack. [KI]


digger, n.

A very early term for a


used extensively in the Gulf
[Heard]

dip pipe

driller; still
fields.

dip shooting

A method of seismographical discharge


for

determining the

inclination

of

structure. [PE]

directional drilling

The
the

practice of slanting a hole

straight

course

first

taken

from

(1)

by

whip stocking

(q. v.) or (2) by using a


knuckle-joint drilling tool to accomplish

the same purpose. Some Gulf Coast saltdome oil traps have been reached in this
way more easily than by straight-course

directional hole
drilling,

114

and offshore formations have


oil wells drilled on the

been tapped by

adjacent shore. [RI]

directional hole

borehole

drilling (q. v.).

produced by directional
[BA, p. 133]

A term used in the transportation of


petroleum products that leave a residue
Crude oil,
and asphalt are such
products. [LAM, November, 1945, p. 5]
in the transportation tanks.
oil,

Dirty Gertie
A famous soiled dove

(q. v.)

named

who

pretended to be a schoolgirl
and stood on street corners with books
under her arm until she made a pickup.
This was considered a "dirty trick"
hence the name. [Heard; ST, p. 57]
Gertie

1. A product of distillation, or the fluid


condensed from the vapor driven off in
the still. Gasoline, naphtha, kerosene,
and light lubrication oils are examples of

DISCHARGE, v.t.
See bump, give one his 403, give one
his time, go down the creek with the oil,
put the skids on one, run off.
n. suit-

oil. 2. A term for a


heavy gasoline or a kerosene with a
Baume gravity of 45 to 50. Much used
in California and elsewhere on the Pacific Coast as an engine fuel. [POR] 3. The
hydrocarbon fluid produced from natural gas, heavier in weight than condensate, and generally run into the tanks
with the crude oil. A.P.I. Baume gravity
ranged from 50 upward. [Reported]

crude

distillate fuel oils

Fuel

discovery, n.

The

first finding of any mineral deincluding petroleum. Such a well


in a fixed area determines certain rights

oils

which are

directly or indirectly

distillates

derived

from crude

petro-

leum. [POR]
distillate
1.

wax

The heavy

which

distillate

of the crude

part of the
The neutral
oil distillate before the separation of the
paraffin; the basis of paraffin wax. Immediately follows the gas oil. [POR]
paraffin

case parade.

they are the result of

since

distillates

distillation of

dirty, adj.

residual fuel

distillate, n.

carries

wax

the

greater

in solution. 2.

posit,

with respect to taxes in some cases and


with respect to the manner of production control in restricted fields. Also
called a discovery well. [D]

fever,

breakbone

fever,

bronchitis, clutch fever, itchy fever, oil


fever, oil

on the

brain, red ass, red butt.

dish-bottom tank
A tank with a concave or saucer-like
bottom, which makes easier the draining off of

fluid, either

water or petrole-

um. [KI]
dished heads
See

bumped

heads.

[POR]

disposal well

A well into which salt water is pumped


from producing wells. [DO, October 14,
1947]

The

process

of separating a volatile

from a heavier fluid by


and condensation. [POR]

fluid or fluids

evaporation
distillation,

discovery well
See discovery. [Heard]
DISEASE, n.
See brake

distillation, n.

azeotropic

process of distillation used partic-

ularly for the isolation of aromatic hydrocarbons in a high degree of purity.


This process is based on the fact that
many organic compounds form minimum-boiling azeotropic mixtures with
hydrocarbons, paraffin hydrocarbons giving the lowest-boiling mixture and
aromatic hydrocarbons the highest-boiling mixtures. By this means it is possible
to separate paraffin and aromatic hydrocarbons boiling so close together that
their separation by straightforward fractionation would be practically impossible.

[KE]

distillation,

A
still

batch

system of distillation by which each


is
charged separately and the oil

u5
down completely in
new charge of batch is

run
a

the

still

taken

before

in.

This

course an intermittent process,


every batch is finished the
still must be cleaned out, charged, and
started over again. Either the distillates
are cut at the desired points as the process proceeds, or a fractioning condenser
is,

of

since

after

column

used.

is

distillation,

[POR]

POR]
dixie grip

device that fastens the polish rod to

do,
distillation.

[POR]

v.t.

To

produce

oil:

Nelson No. 3 did 3


[DO, October 31,

barrels of oil a day.

1947]

distillation, destructive

See destructive

distillation.

[POR]

See fractional

distillation.

[POR]

vacuum
vacuum distillation. [KOT]

distillation,

apparatus (W.B.D.)
An apparatus used to determine quantitatively by distillation the actual amount
of moisture in a petroleum product.

distillation

[KOT]

made

are

curves of gasoline
Curves made by plotting the percentage distilled versus the temperature, information obtained from the A.S.T.M.
distillation.

[KOT]

A flask in which

oil is distilled.

[KOT]

distillation loss

In a standard laboratory distillation,


between the volume of
liquid originally introduced into the distilling flask and the sum of the recovery
the difference

[POR]

distilling

tube

See fractionating column.


ditch, n.

See canal ditch. [PO]

sales

docosane, n.
Hydrocarbons (C 2 2H 46 ) obtained from
Pennsylvania petroleum. [POR]
doctor,

v.t.

To rework

1.

a well in order to in-

[NO]

2.

refining.

To

by adding or subtracting certain


properties. For example, plumbite and
an elementary sulphur are used extentreat

in testing or

sively

treating sour gaso-

[KI]

doctor solution
A solution used to free gasoline, kerosene, and other petroleum products of
sulphur. It is usually an alkaline solution
of sodium plumbite and free sulphur.
[D]
doctor test

qualitative

method of detecting uncompounds in petrole-

desirable sulphur

um

distillates.

[D]

doctor treatment

The treatment
ucts

ditcher, n.

which

purchaser fur-

nishing his own container and doing his


own hauling. [SHU, p. 147]

line.

distillation flask

at

at the plant, the

crease production.

distillation

residue.

dock price
marketing. The price

distillation, fractional

See

old but still extant superstition, for discovering mineral veins, springs of water,
and even oil. Replaced by scientific equipment the seismograph and the torsion
balance. Often called a doodlebug. [D;

the walking beam. [Reported]

continuous

See continuous process of

doctrine

of sour petroleum prodwith sodium plumbite. [KI]

A ditch- or trench-digging machine


which operates both digging and traversing mechanisms on its own power. [HI]

doctrine of correlative rights


The belief that every owner of oil and
gas in a field has a proportionate right
to the reservoir energy and that such a

divining rod
A rod (usually made of witch hazel
and forked in shape) used, according to

right entitles

him to protection against


wasteful practices by his neighbors. [BA,
p. 147]

dodecahydro

116

dodecahydro, naphthalene
Naphthalene obtained from petroleum
which has a specific gravity of 0.802 and
a boiling point 153 to 158 C.

[POR]

dutch oven (q.

dodecatylene,

from

of the

grips

place.

[POR]

Dog Bone

and holds

certain tools in

nickname

it is released by a spring
goes out of the pipe into the
open hole where it picks up the fish at
one side of the hole. Used particularly
for catching fish that lean to one side.

Western Com-

the

dog bone forming

center of the trade-mark

dog catcher
One who
canine (q.

the

W. [Heard]

[Heard]

dog legs

To

is

v.).

guilty

of

seducing the

A wage scale for

A
which turns the

shaft with a

four teeth or cogs on

one

member which engage matching

slots

on the second member. [KI]

keep lease records, hang one's coat,


change clothing, or get out of the weathto

The

cooplike structure near the


derrick floor where the driller or tool

Texas

(q. v.)

field,

[P, p. 176]

head
wooden block through which

the

rod line passes. [Heard]


dolly, n.

Any

device equipped with rollers


for moving heavy pipe or
equipment. 2.
moving sheave on the
end of a pulling unit (q. v.) used to tail
pipe back into the hole. 3.
dolly wrench
1.

and used

n.

small house on a lease; a place

dressers keep their

mule skinners

based on
the number of driving reins they could

manage.

series of three or

2.

pipe. See wrestle.

See cheater. [Heard]

in the early East

[Reported]

dog clutch

er.

and move

dog wrench

doll

Any

lift

[Heard]

See dog catcher. [Reported]

doghouse,

term applied to short bends or kinks


which resemble the hind
of a dog. [D]

in wire cable

dollar a line

dog chaser

clutch

it

dog pipe

for

great distance: a

1.

by leaving part

man. [Heard]

cable-tool jar used as a fishing tool;

when

legs

Outfit

pany; derived from the part of the company trade-mark that can be seen at a

shift

for the next

dog-leg jar

steel or iron

which

an easy

work

so called because

n.

attachment used by
a machinist in lathe work. 2. A ringshaped piece with a setscrew on one side
which grips the bar of metal and a tail
on the other side which is used to give a
rotating motion corresponding to that of
the face plate. 3. A tempered steel piece

News about oilInformation contained


[Heard]

it

To make

leum. [POR]

office. 5.

Oil-field gossip. 2.

in a well log.

dog

n.

Hydrocarbon (C 12 H 2 4) of the benzine


group obtained from Pennsylvania petro-

1.

pumper's
[D]

field activities. 3.

n.

obtained
Paraffin
(C 12 2 6)
Pennsylvania petroleums. [POR]

dog,

v.).

doghouse dope
1.

dodecane,

inactive workers. 4.

working

clothes. 3.

small, single-room, stove-heated build-

ing (often separated from the main


building of a gas or gasoline station to
assure safety from fires) provided for

(q. v.). [Heard] 4. A low frame with


wheels or rollers, designed to support
heavy loads to be moved, as, for example,

the casing dolly,


of the casing as

which supports the end


it is

taken into the der-

from the walkway. Also called ass


wagon, bac\ wagon, and push-away
buggy. [POR]
rick

'

double core-barrel

ii 7

wrench

dolly

device used to aid in picking up


flush pipe with the elevators; more often

shortened to dolly. [Heard]

cause of the outward resemblance of his


equipment to a fake doodlebug. [BOO]

dope,

An

on pipe

n.

anticline; in oil regions

often in-

it

Also called
closed structure. See good structure. [D]
the presence of

dicates

oil.

domestic kerosene
A very high grade of kerosene made
for the domestic market.

donkey,

[KOT]

small steam pump used on pipe


Also called a don\ey pump {q. v.).
[NO] 2. slang. A tractor used on a lease.
[Heard]

model of the handy little


pump used on temporary jobs around
the oil lease and elsewhere. Today commonly called a one-armed Johnny. It
early

sometimes exhibited such donkey-like


traits as stopping without apparent reason and refusing to start again no matter
what expedients were used or how much
harsh language was directed toward it.
The name, first used in wrath and derision, continued in use after the faults of
the pump had been corrected and it had
become wholly trustworthy. [POR]

doodle, v.t

~%f
and rocks from a
The dirt is also crumbed

clean out dirt

pipe-line ditch.

doodlebug,

n.

doodlebug crew

The workers who dig seismograph


holes.

compound used by

pipe

fitters.

[Re-

ported]

dope pot

container in which mastic is melted


which treating material for dop-

in

ing a line

is

heated. [Heard]

dopes for Diesel fuels


Materials such as amyl nitrite and
ethyl nitrate added to Diesel fuel to improve

the

ignition

(prevent

quality

[KOT]

Diesel knock).

dopes for gasolines


Materials added in small amounts
gasoline to increase the octane

to

number

and thus help to prevent knocking. Ethyl


is most commonly used. [KOT]

fluid

dormant spray

spray

refined

oil

(usually a light pale oil)

from petroleum; used when

trees are

oil.

well log. [DO, October 19, 1947]

not in flower or

leaf.

the

[KOT]

worn mass

of rock. [BB, p. 488]

r/

divining rod used in prospecting


2.
seismograph. [POR] 3.
machine used for digging seismograph
holes.
v.i. 4. To prospect for oil with
any device from a divining rod to the
newest geophysical equipment. [Heard]
1.

[Heard]

n.

dornick, n.

out. [SA, p. 200]

for

dopebook,

and

donkey pump

To

a protective coating.

A small container filled with a graphite

n.

lines.

An

dope bucket

1.

n.

substance used at connections and


to prevent leakage. 2. Creosote
used to coat pipe. [OK]
v.t. 3. To oil
connections. 4. To treat a pipe line with
1.

dome,

drill

[Heard]

doodlebugger, n.
1. A worker who runs a doodlebug
(q. v., 3). Also called a doodlebug.
[Heard] 2. A geophysicist, so called be-

do something

motto for

if

you do

oil-field

it

wrong

workers.

[WIN,

p. 139]

double, n.

two-joint length of pipe.

[BA,

p.

127]

double board
A working platform

for the derrick-

man;

it

so called because

is

as

high in

the derrick as a double (q. v.). [Heard]

double core-barrel drill


A core drill with an inner tube suspended on ball bearings which remains

double deck

118

stationary while the outer tube revolves.

designed to bring out a core from


a delicate material with a minimum of
breaking or other damage. [D]
*y
It is

double deck

rotary so

The

floor of a derrick.

[Heard]

down time

period

when

there

is

no work

in

progress. [Heard]

made

that the center re-

mains stationary while the outside turns.

dowser,

[WIN,

a divining rod in
syn. Diviner, oil
smeller, oil wizard. 2.
divining rod
used in prospecting for oil. [AS, p. 178]

which the cordouble-planked from

carpenter-built rig in

or

ners

legs

top to bottom.

are

[NO]

tee (pipe fitting) made with easy


curves between the body and the branch;
i.e., the center of the curve between the
run and the branch lies outside the body.
This is in contradistinction to the short
fillet between the body and the branch

backfill
its

cold

[Heard]

corner

A pipe in a fractionating column which


carries liquid

from one

tray to the

one

beneath. [Heard]

down-flow spout
See

down

The

pipe. [KI]

pipe
outlet portion of the

trays of a bubble tower.

still

When

on the

the oil in

the tray reaches the proper level

on the

bubble caps, these pipes allow


it to flow to the next tray. Also called
down-flow spout. [BA, p. 233]
slots of the

p. 83]

dozer, n.
A shortened form of bulldozer (q.

v.).

D.P.

An abbreviation for
An abbreviation of

1.

v.). 2.
v.).

drivepipe (q.
drill pipe (q.

[Reported]

dragon's blood
bright red

powder used for


[POR]

titration

in testing benzol.

drag up

To

quit a job

[WIN,
DRAIN,

and ask

for a time check.

p. 138]
v.t.
off.

n. leak-off.

drain water out of light bulbs


An early-day sell (q. v.). [Reported]

Drake,

Descriptive of an idle refining unit.

down

divining rod operated by a dowser.

[BA,

See bleed, bleed

pipelining. To put a pipe line in


bed. [WIL, p. 164]

down

dowsing rod

tests

n.

1. A tubing ring which fits in the casing head to support the string of pipe.
2. refining. The baffle in the heat exchanger; so called because of its resemblance to a doughnut. [Heard]

down

oil.

of standard tees. [D]

do up the

uses

for

[Heard]

double sweep tee

doughnut,

prospecting

double rig

n.

One who

1.

p. 139]

double extra heavy


A term for a very thick pipe. Also
more correctly called double extra
strong. [D]

vv

downstairs, n.

n.

The largest portable pumper, No. 32 14,


made by the Oil Country Specialties
Manufacturing

Company.

and Duck. [CC,

1942, p. 1804]

See

Goslin

Drake's yoke

The first oil derrick in America, designed and built by E. L. Drake at Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1858. The derrick
was twelve feet square at the base with
four timbers thirty feet long, gradually
narrowing to three feet square at the
top. It was assembled on the ground and
then raised to the proper position. So
named by the men who helped Drake
raise

it.

[GI, p. 55]

vV^
%^

ii9

drape around

To

draper, n.
A derogatory term for a
drape around. [Heard]

flatterer.

See

v.t.

To

1.

ship, as to market. 2.

To

tubing, rods, or tools.

dry hole. [NO]

drill a

draw-down potential
The production potential determined
level of the liquid

and the pressure

of the fluid in a series of intervals in


which the well is permitted to produce
slowly. [PE]

in

To draw

one's time; to quit. [Heard]

draw out

To

pull the tools out of the hole (ob-

solete).

dress,

[NO]

sharpen a bit and bring it to the


required diameter or gauge. Also dress
out, freshen,

and sharpen. [NO]

dresser, n.
clipped

Also called

toolie.

of tool dresser (q. v.).

[KI]

[POR]

dribble blending

system of blending oils by allowing


the products to be dribbled together drop
by drop at a given temperature. Some
oils will not blend in any other manner.
[KI]
drift, n.
1.

A passageway parallel to an oil sand.

The floating mist of a spray


pond which may be carried away by the
refining.

[NO]

2.

metallic

DRILL, v.t.
See bean a well down, bounce, bung
down, burn a bit, by pass, cut, cut ditch,
cut hole, cut rock, deepen, dig, draw a
blank, drill ahead, drill around, drill by,
drill in, drill out, drill up, fan out screw,
farm out, get, get a bone, jar, jig, kick

make

make

a well,

rat hole, rotate,

hole,

run a screw,

plow

set tools

oil,

on

rubber, sink, ten-spot, turn to the right,


work ahead, worry her down.

Descriptive of any material that will


flake off or that can be drilled.

[Heard]

ahead

drill

To

continue drilling operations. [DO,

June

10, 1947]

drill

around

See

drill

by and whipstock. [Heard]

DRILL BIT
See adamantine
bore

bit,

calyx
bit,

2.

set of tools.

used for boring in hard material;


the ordinary miner's drill is a steel bar
with a chisel-shaped end, which is struck
with a hammer. 3. The tool composed
of a bit and stem for drilling oil wells.
[POR]
v.t. 4. To bore for oil or gas by
means of drilling. Also drill in.

drillable, adj.

form

Dresser coupling
A sleeve and packing made to join
plain-end pipe; invented by a Mr. Dresser.

drill-

tool

hole,

v.t.

To

1.

pull a well (q. v.) (obsolete).

by the

itinerant laborer. [HI]

drill, n.

[DER]

draw

An

)(

draw a well

To

Drig. or Drg.
Drilling; an abbreviation used in
ing reports. [LDO, p. 428]

[DER]

draw a blank

drifter, n.

with-

draw. Replaced today by pull: one pulls

To

3.
long tapered punch used in
tank-building to drive into rivet holes
and bring them in line. 4.
tool of
peculiar construction used in oil wells
for straightening bulged casing. [POR]
v.t. 5. To make a crooked hole in drilling. [BB, p. 490]
air.

used contemptuously. Also drape up. [Reported]


flatter one's boss;

draw,

drill bit

drill,

core

drill,

basket

bit,

bit,

boring bar, boring rod, bur,


center

drill,

bit,

expansion bit,
four-wing pattern

eccentric

fresh bit, geohorse cock, junk bit,


bit, mud bit, paddy,

bit,

Mother Hubbard

drill,

fishtail bit, follower,

bit,

physical jetting

cone, core-barrel

diamond
bit,

drill

by

rock

bit,

drill,

shot

120
rock

rotary

drill,

sidehill,

drill,

star bit, starter, tap drill,

drill

rotary

bit,

spudding bit,
3-way bit.

drill past

drill collar

The

fitting

which attaches the

cylindrical core of rock cut

penetrated.

material secured
biscuit-like

from

form by

down

See run

drill;

a record of

sample of

2.

driller's seat

The

right front seat of the crew car.

driller's stool

two- or three-step

[POR]

drill

A
bit

out

of
is

hole.
set,

Every time a

levels for

extractor
drill-

wells; drill tongs. [D]

hole
well in the boring stage. [PE]

drill in

the next string

must, of course, be smaller in diameter.

wooden platform

working

device for withdrawing the

from

drill

to a point

string of casing

affords three

the driller. [Heard]

a well in broken,

a special tool used

in cable-tool drilling.
drill

log
See log, 1. [PE]

which

out by diamond or shot


the strata

yellow hammer.

ter,

driller's

bit to

core
solid,

v/art hog, weevil, well digger, wildcat-

[Heard]

the drill pipe in rotary drilling. [PO]


drill

snake, stud driller, synthetic driller,


tallow boy, teacher, tool shiner, twister,

er,

by

To

an obstruction in the
borehole. 2. slang. To outdo someone:
one drills by another when he gets the
other's job, when he wins in a card game,
when he steals another's girl, or when
he succeeds in any activity at the expense
of another, syn. Drill around. [Heard]
1.

prune picker, rigger, rig runner, rope


choker, rotary runner, Sears and Roebuck driller, sheepherder, shot-gun drill-

1.

2.

To

See

drill into the oil

sand.

[LDO]

drill.

[S]

drilled

drilling, n.

dry

Descriptive of a drill hole in

only enough water


cuttings

soft

and

against overheating.
drilled to the third

is

to

which

used to keep the


protect

[LDO,

the

drill

p. 412]

rock

Stared out of countenance: "A stranger calTTiardTy turn a corner without being drilled to the third rock by a pair
of keen, inquisitive eyes, followed by
the inquiry: 'Do you wish some firstrate oil territory sir?'" [T, p. 27]
driller, n.

The man who has charge of drilling.


[NO] Also called borer, digger, teacher,
jar head, swivel nec\,

and rope choker.

DRILLER, n.
See auger master, boll weevil, borer,
brake rider, brake weight, clutcher, clutch
stomper, combination driller, digger,
gypsy driller, hard-rock driller, hogger,
horse thief, jarhead, Johnson-bar idiot,
lever man, mail-poucher, ol' roundy,

A term denoting the different processes


employed in the discovery and extraction of petroleum and natural gas. The
two systems in general use are (1) the
percussion s ystem in which a sharppointed instrument strikes the ground
in a series of blows, and (2) the rotary
system which permits the extraction of
a core or allows the disintegrated material to be washed away. [POR]
,

drilling control
1.

The

control of the rate of feed, ac-

complished by hand or by automatic


means. 2. A machine which automatically controls the rate of

feed in drilling.

[POR]
DRILLING

CREW

See bit dresser, breakout man, cathead


man, chain slinger, C slinger, dresser,
dry watchman, farmer, fieldman, firefloor man, gaffer, lead-tong man,
pipe racker, pipe stabber, rotary helper,
roughneck,
roustabout,
sharpshooter,

man,

121
slip puller,

stud horse, stud terrapin, tool

dresser, toolie, tool pusher, torpedo

man,

drill

stem

per five acres or one well per twenty

[BA,

acres.

p. 150]

well shooter.

DRILLING TOOL

drilling engine

See auger, auger stem, cable tools,


clean-out string, drilling jar, drill jar,
drill pipe, drill rod, drill stem, eye-box,

An

engine used in drilling wells.

[POR]

grief stem, greyhounds, horizontal bore,

drilling in

The

through the
an oil

of drilling

process

cap rock into the

reservoir of

oil

[POR]

pool.

drilling-in unit

small drilling rig used to clean out


borehole (which has been drilled
down to the oil sand with another rig),
then used to drill into the oil sand. Also
the

called a

drilling-in

November

rig.

[Heard;

joint, lie key, milling


scow, pole tool, reamer, rimmer, rope socket, set of tools, shoe-nose
shell, shoe shell, spring pole, spud, spudder, square joint, standard tool, stem,
string,
surface string, temper screw,
temple screw.

mud

tool,

drill jar

See drilling

DO,

12, 1947]

To

machine

[POR]

to

have drilled

DRILLING METHOD
See American system

of drilling, cable

Can-

adian pole system, clean drilling, diamond drilling, dry-land operation, Fabian system, Fauvelle, free fall, Galician,
inclination drilling, jigging

kicker-board

down, jump

method, kicking

down, multiple drilling, percussion system of drilling, petroleum drilling, pole


drill, rod and drop-pull system, rope
boring, rope drilling, rotary
rotary system,
straight-ahead

drilling,
drilling,

wash-boring, water flush.

motion

To

refers

only

to

of

cable

effective

[LDO]

drilling pattern

The proportion
number of acres;

[PO]

drill

as

many

wells as are al-

pipe

drill

pipe used as an auger stem in

"^ Y
for example,

one well

drill-

treated steel. [D]

drill-pipe protector

An

antifriction device of rubber or


attached to each joint of a drill

steel

[LDO]

pipe.
drill

rod

A vertical rod bearing a drilling tool;


used for boring wells. [D]
A

sleeve
device used with reversible ratchet

drills.

drill

of drilled wells to the

modern

ing methods this pipe may be required


to connect in a single string of eight
thousand feet or more. The quality must
be of the best seamless, alloy, heat-

drill

The up-and-down motion


usually

off.

drilling a rotary well. In

drilling, cable-tool drilling system,

tools;

accumu-

out

The

drilling motion.

cuttings have

lowed in a given area. 2. To drill through


a plug in the borehole. [Heard]

portable rig used in drilling wells.

drilling

when

barely touch bottom, the tools are said

1.

See log.

borehole with drill cutin or plug off. In cable-

lated in the hole until the drilling tools

drilling journal

drilling,

mud

tool drilling,

drill

the

fill

tings; to

with a short stroke, usually


placed above the auger stem in a string
of tools; used to impart a sharp blow to
dislodge the tools. Also called drill jar.
[D]
jar

drilling

jar.

drill off

drilling jar

knuckle

jar, kelly,

[NO]

stem

cable-tool

drilling.

steel shaft to

which the

nections are screwed

1.

The heavy

bit jars

to

and con-

complete

122

drill-stem test

an auger
rotary drilling. The string of
heavy tubing which extends to and rostring of tools; sometimes called

stem.

2.

tates the bit.

[POR]

A test to determine
of a

new

the size of the flow

producer by attaching a

sand can flow into the pipe. The rate of


production is estimated from the amount
of oil that flows into the pipe in a given
time. [S]

device used in

making

a drill-stem

which keeps the drilling fluid from


the producing sand and permits the gas,
oil, and water from the producing sand

up
drill out, 1.

1.

name given
to

an apparatus

to

natural-gas

wells

to

at-

extract

from the mains any liquid, such as oil or


water, that may accompany the gas. It
usually consists of four iron tubes placed

two being connected


During the passage of

vertically, the inner

by a

cross tube.

gas through this apparatus, the liquid


becomes separated and accumulates in a
tube called a tail piece from which it is
blown out from time to time. 2. Any
opening arranged to take a liquid from
a line carrying gas, as in condensation
from a steam line. 3.
small tank in a
gas line into which such liquids as water
and gasoline drip as they drain to the

low

places.

[NO]

[BA,

p. 157]

dripper, n.

which

is

too dark

is

filter

aside for charging into the

set

in succession. 2. Natural gaso-

line recovered

from gas

lines.

[POR]

well that dribbles.

drive clamps
Heavy clamps that reinforce and protect the drill stem when used for driving pipe; the pipe is fitted with a hollow
drivehead to receive the blows. [LDO]

I,

283]

drivehead, n.
See casing head. [NO]

driven well

well which is sunk without the aid


any boring, jetting, or drilling device,
by driving a casing with a drive point
on the end. [D]
of

drivepipe, n.
1.

pipe which

is

driven or forced

into a borehole to shut off water or pre-

vent caving. 2. A thick tube or casing


fitted at its lower end with a sharp steel
shoe; used when heavy driving is necessary to insert the casing.

[NO]

drivepipe ring

device for holding the drivepipe


it is being pulled from a well. [D]

driver and driven

gasoline that condenses in a drip

(q. v.).

X\

and
next

while

drip gasoline

The

Filter drainage

in color to be included in filtered stock

drive-down socket
A blind box (q. v.). [D,

[Heard]

drip, n.

tached

which

passed to remove the moisture.

See driving cap. [NO]

placed in the well after it was drilled in.


This is done as a rule just before the
well is brought into production. [KI]

See

tanklike structure through


is

[Heard]

the plug

To use a well drill to open the drill


\j hole by destroying the plug which was

drill

A
gas

drivecap, n.

to flow into the drill pipe. [B, p. 135]


drill

gasoline trap in a gas line. [Heard]

1.

test

drip pot

drips, n. pi.

drill-stem tester

drip pocket

drill-

stem so that the


and water from the producing

tester to the drill

gas, oil,

barrels a week for two years no matter


what was done to increase production.

[AS, p. 112]

drill-stem test

stem

Well at Oil Creek is a famous example.


It produced exactly two and one-half

The Dripping

That part of a mechanism supplying


the energy and that to which the energy
is given, for example, driver wheels and
driven wheels. [POR]

dry gas

123

drowned,

drive shoe

1.

protecting end attached to the

bottom of drivepipe and casing. 2. The


cutting edge of a drivepipe. [NO]
driving cap
A cap of iron

fitted

to the top of a

an oil well, to receive the


blow and protect the pipe. [D]

pipe, as in

Drk. or Dk.
an abbreviation used in

Derrick^;

[LDO,

ing reports.

drop, v.
1. See follow down. [Heard]

two pipes

the threads of

a connection

is

drill-

p. 428]

2.

perfectly.

To fit
When

being made between two


upper is said to drop

joints of pipe, the

when

it settles correctly in
the collar
threads of the lower so that the two can

adj.

Descriptive of a well in which water


is present in sufficient quantity to make
production unprofitable, or in which

water actually forces back the


producing horizon. [D]

by water under approximately the same V/X^


pressure: as the oil is removed, the water ^
pushes more into its place until water
finally reaches the well and drowns it
'

[NO]

To

bring a wild well (q. v.)

out.

under control by pumping


formation. [Heard]

1.

To

lower the

float so that

it

to facilitate unloading. 2.

connect a

float

from a

truck.

forms a

To

dis-

[Heard]

drum,
1.

2.

a tank.

n.

metal container or barrel for the

[Heard]

transportation of oil. 2.
barrel-shaped
winding cylinder with flanges on which
a drill or hoisting line

drop a pole
To gauge a

well.

[Heard]

drop-leg

device used principally on gas lines


to remove water condensation. See drip

[Heard]

drop point

The

temperature at which a piece of

wax will drop


under specific
conditions. Also called dropping point
and melting point. [KI]
material such as asphalt or

from

drop

a standard support

test

refining.

test to determine the


an insecticide. The flies
are made dormant by a cold temperature,
and minute drops of poison are put on
each fly, after which it is placed in an
observation container and pampered with
good food and warmth. Then the num-

deadliness

of

ber of deaths per second


p. 215]

is

recorded. [F,

let

the gin pole

fall.

[Heard]

is

wound. [A]

drumming shed

A building in which hot asphalt is


poured into the drums or other containers and allowed to cool and harden.
[KI]

dry-cleaning fluid
A light hydrocarbon product which
usually has a comparatively narrow boiling range; used in dry-cleaning establishments.

dry

[KOT]

distillation

Destructive distillation: a system in


which the temperature is carried high
enough to decompose the heavier components of the crude as well as to carry
over the lighter fractions, as in ordinary
distillation.

[POR]

dry gas
1.

Natural gas obtained from sands

that produce only gas.

There

amount
Gas from which

liquid

preciable

drop the pole

To

fluid into the

drop a line
To gauge

pot.

the

drown out
1. To flood. Water drowns out a well
when it replaces oil that has been removed from the reservoir. This occurs
when the oil under pressure is surrounded

drop a

ramp

oil in

L^

drowning, n.
The mixing of oil and water in the
manufacture of nitroglycerin. [NO]

be screwed together. [PO]


float

of gasoline.

the

have been recovered. [BA,

is no ap[POR] 2.

fractions

p. 155]

dry hole

124

dry pipe

dry hole
- 4_

In general, any well that fails to


produce gas or oil in commercial quantities. The well may flow water or gas
or may even yield some oil to the pump.
The expression is somewhat loosely used
in the oil field, syn. Duster , dr y well
well from which water is
[POR] 2.
1.

excluded by means of casing. [NO] 3.


well into which water is put to thin
the drill cuttings, to keep the bit from
overheating, and to soften the formation. [H, p. 235]

dry hole clears a


clouds

An

dry point

[HOO,

ly

p. 33]

money

a test well

made
is

to

an operator

dry. If the well

is

producer, he receives nothing. For example, an operator who has only $10,000 might make arrangements to drill a
wildcat costing $50,000. If he can find
jour operators with acreage in the area
to be tested by such a wildcat, he prob-

would be

ably

successful in persuading

each of the four firms to put up $10,000


in dry-hole money. [LIN, Vol. XIII, No.
1

[Heard]

a; a producer

The temperature
aphorism.

contribution

when

it out. 3. production. Pipe


(tubing) pulled from a producing well
in which flow of oil has been stopped
temporarily by some condition at the
bottom of the hole, such as a leak in the
pipe or debris under the standing valve.

fore breaking

it

oil-field

dry-hole

title,

1. A pipe which
conveys dry steam
from the dome to the steampipe in a
locomotive. [POR] 2. drilling. A drill
pipe which has been emptied of mud by
working it up and down in the hole be-

(January, 1948), p. 12]

dry run

Drilling activities

quire

float

barges

run or operation.

sticky product of distillation closely

from an earlier
without the use of steam.

allied to fuel oil, secured


distillation

[KI]

dry sand

A
which do not
or

other

re-

offshore

16,

1947]

Barite or other minerals which may


be mixed with water to form drilling
mud. [DO, October 5, 1947]

h" ?f

non-productive

sandstone

in

oil

[D]

[POR]

oil

long period of unproductive

dry string
Said of pipe from which the mud has
it is pulled from

been emptied before


the well. [Heard]

dry watch

period of time a rig which has


down is watched. v.i. 2. To
serve as watchman on a rig that has been
shut down (usually the job of an older

been shut

hand). [Heard]

dry watchman

\ V^

The watchman who guards

Oil which has been subjected to various

which

heat and filtering processes to remove


any moisture left in it. [KI]

p.

dry out samples

dry well

See cook out samples. [Heard]

drill-

ing. [Reported]

1.

dry natural gas


A gas which does not contain any considerable amount of easily separated gasdry

trial

dry spell

mud

oline.

run; a

dry-run tar

fields.

equipment. [DO, November

dry

test

[Heard]

dry-land operation

\y

which a still finalwhich no more

at

liquid is distilled or given off. The temperature of the heaviest fraction, commonly called the end point. [POR]

dry-hole plug
See plug. [NO]

at

becomes dry or

is

shut

138]

See dry hole.

down

or stacked.

rig

[WIN,

dust-laying oils

125
D.S.

ductility, n.

Drill stem;

an abbreviation used in

drilling reports.

D-shovel,

n.

[LDO,

p. 428]

[POR]

short-handled
shaped end. [NO]

shovel

with

a D-

dud,

n.

well which

Drill-stem test; an abbreviation used

dual completion

from two
same time, using tubing for one zone and annulus
for the second. Such a well is said to be
dually completed. [DO, November 14,
well drilled to produce

separate horizons at the

1947]

dummy,

n.

weight attached to the counterbalance which serves to equalize the weight


on the beam and thus prevents a strain
on the motor. [Heard]

dump,

n.

dump

See

dump

dual system

which has only enough cable


and machinery to complete the
well and drill into sand after the rotary.
rig

Also called standard tool drilling-in outfit. [D]

To

well that produces from

Dubbs

two zones

Dubbs process

bailer

bailer used

to

cement the bottom

of a well; also used to bail fluid out of

the well.

[POR]

The

space around the casing of a


mud from return circulation
collects. 2.
place to dump the bailer.
Also called a mud box. [Heard]
1.

where

dump

A
ber

gas

low-grade gasoline. [OGJ, Decem1947]

6,

dump

[KOT]

pipe

very heavy, viscous oil obtained


from cracking by the Dubbs process.

[KOT]
Duck,

lines.

refining. Samples which have been


which have no further value,
to be thrown away so that the containers
can be reclaimed for further use. [Heard]

dump

A
into

duck's nest

derrick platform. [K, p. 220] 2.


an oil-burning boiler on which

chamber

and

ignites.

[Heard]

for the fire in a boiler.

763]

duck walk
shower rack. [Heard] L(J

3.

The

[ME,

p.

tank

very early

which

oil

name

for a storage tank

was dumped from

barrels

to await the arrival of boat customers.

[SM,

target in
hits

[NO]

dump samples
tested or

n.

The medium-sized portable pumper,


No. 22^2, made by the Oil Country Specialties
Manufacturing Company. See
Goslin and Drake. [CC, 1942, p. 1,804]

oil

Oil handled in barrels, not run through

Dubbs residuum

still.

cracking process particularly suited

to California-type crude.

oil

fuel

refining. Blended fuel, the major porwhich is Dubbs residuum. [KOT]

1.

dump

rig

time. [PE]

tion of

down

shut

dump box

dual-zone well

same

[Heard]

[Heard]

tools

bailer.

still

refining.

at the

produce. [K, p.

in reports. [Reported]

fails to

58]

D.S.T.

The elasticity of asphalt; measured in


centimeters at a given rate of speed.

p. 60]

duster, n.

An

unproductive gas or

oil well.

[NO]

dust-laying oils
Crude oils, heavy asphalt oils, tars, solutions of petroleum asphalt in gas oils,

dutchman

126

liquid asphalt, and emulsions of oils and


water; used for laying dust on roads. [D]

Dutch oven
The forechamber (an

dutchman,

bination for gas-fired boilers) that pro-

n.

plate used to bring two


alignment. 2.
piece of
pipe with a collar in which another piece
of pipe has been left. Since second-hand
pipe is often sold by weight, a dealer
must know whether he is buying dutchmen, since the pipe inside the collar is

vides

worthless. [Heard]

487]

1.

filler

flanges

into

an

incandescent

lighting gas instantly

shut

off.

auxiliary

surface

when

it

com-

for re-

has been

Also called doghouse. [D]

dynamite,

n.

A solidified
eccentrics

lubricant used for greasing

on the rotary engine. [BB,

p.

E
eagle screams, the
The pay checks are in. Also the eagle
flies and the ghost walks. [Heard]

One who
in

an

is

always talking to his boss


to get his favor; possibly

from the

nautical expression.

name

n.

for the petroleum discovered

in Galacia as early as 1506.

[BOW,

The

re-

See spot

To

board

from pool

with.

Oilfielders

moving

to pool often say they

have

open up for business


boom. [E, p. 86]

these proprietors

wherever there

is

one up

To worry

one; a job eats one up

cannot handle

it.

[WIN,

if

he

p. 138]

tilt

inclination

of

large

blocks

of

paraffin.

To

[NO]

rebuke in an angry manner (not

A modified
floor

it liberally with sand and


then scraping the sand off; originated in
East Texas where it was once common
for housewives to clean the floors of their
homes in this manner. [Heard]

by sprinkling

made from crude


[SHU,

p. 138]

type of chisel used in drill-

ing; one end of the cutting edge extends

from the center of the bit than


Such a bit renders underreaming unnecessary and is very useful in

farther

the other.

hard rock. [D]

echometer,

n.

An

East Texas gas


the East Texas field.

[WIN,

eccentric bit

East Texas floor washing


A method for cleaning a derrick

Gasoline

eat out
limited to the oil field).

wax

Crude

moments
that do not
time and lazy

eat after

eat

earth or land. [PE]

earth

during operations

his attention.

p. 21]

earth oil
Petroleum. [POR]
earth

box where a

eaten after the same restaurant or boardinghouse proprietors for years, since

[Heard]

earthbalm,

or

take a few

bench. [KI]

effort

transferred

rest

need

handle. [PE]

ear banger

Any handy bench


employee may

finery
of

ear, n.

easy bench

oil

p. 158]

from

appliance used in the measurement


of sounds. In oil production, depths are
so measured. [PE]

elemental sulfur

127

Edeleanu extract

egg,

Oil extracted by the solvent


refined oil in solvent refining.

from un-

[KOT]

Edeleanu process

The

refining of oil by

means

of the

selective solvent action of liquid sulfur

dioxide.

The

raffinate

refined portion of the oil

which the extract


by sulfur dioxide
cess (q. v.).

small cast-iron tank of heavy confrom which the sulphuric acid

struction

from

has been dissolved


in the Edeleanu pro-

oil

[KOT]

1^
edge water
Water that ELlds the

A hydrocarbon (C 2 oH 42 ) which is a
petroleum of the paraffin series. [POR]
eighty-board, n.
A platform in the derrick at the height
of four joints of pipe. A jorble board
(q. v.). [BB, p. 486]

'

oil and gas in the


higher structural positions in oil and
gas wells, usually encroaches on a field
after much of the oil and gas has been
recovered and the pressure has considerably lessened. [D]

ejector, n.

An

n.

fitting that

adjacent pipes.

makes an angle between

The

angle

is

always 90

electric log

educated gasser
An engineer. [Heard]

Any electric device used in determining the nature of the formation; always
called the log. [DO, November 11, 1947]

educated stick
slide rule.

[Heard]

logging

electric

The determination and

education pipe

The exhaust

identification

pipe extending from a


low-pressure cylinder to the condenser

of

[D]

ous geological strata to a current of


tricity. See divining rod. [PE]

education tube
See education pipe. [PE]

zones,

formations

by

the

of the distinct resistance of vari-

switch

oil

elec-

oil

used for submerging certain

types of electric switches, circuit break-

The

oil

geological

medium

An

pressure at a given point on


the face of the oil-bearing formation in
a well. Because of the great thickness of

some

the

electric

effective pressure
1.

air

unless otherwise stated. [D]

and water meet. [NO]

The

forced down one pipe into the vein at


the bottom, and the oil rushes up in a
steady stream through the other. [NO]

oil

with two pipes which are

is

)r~

well far enough down the flank of


the oil pool to hit the water line where

pump

air

inserted into the tube of the well.

elbow,

edge well

particularly

in

Cali-

and motor starters. When the switch


jaws open under the oil, the oil chills
and breaks down the arc. The oil is light,
moistureproof, and carbon-free. [POR]
ers,

fornia, the effective pressure in the low-

zone may be as much


hundred pounds per square

er part of the oil


as

several

inch more than the effective pressure in


the upper part. For that reason the
term mean effective pressure is used to
indicate the average effective pressure on
the series of oil sands comprising the
productive zone. 2. Pressure in an engine
cylinder

which

used in the process of treating is blown Q


by compressed air to the agitator. [POR]
2.
charge of dynamite. [Heard]
eicosane, n.

[KOT]

Edeleanu

n.

1.

creates effect.

[POR]

electrolog, n.

The copyrighted name given

the elec-

logging device of the Lane Wells


Company; a blend of electric and log.
[Heard]
tric

elemental sulfur
refining. Sulfur in the original ele-

mental condition, for example, flowers of


sulfur.

[KOT]

hs

128

elephant
elephant, n.

pumping

which stands directly over the well and does not require a
walking beam. Also called blue elephant.
[BB,

p.

unit

488]

dency of
[D]

under service conditions.

oils

pipelining. Pieces of leather used by


the slabber to protect his hands in laying
screw pipe. Two slits are cut in the leather

emulsified asphalt (asphalt emulsion)


The emulsion of asphalt cement in
water containing a small amount of
emulsifying agent. [KOT]

for the arm. [Heard]

enamel,

elephant ears

The

third producing well in Titusville,

Pennsylvania; so

n.

Elephant Well

named

because

it

pro-

duced what was at that time (1860) an


enormous yield 75 to 80 barrels a day.

dressing prepared of resinous material dissolved in a petroleum solvent


of high aromatic content and then diluted to the desired consistency. [KOT]

end, n.

[GI, p. 69]

refined product of petroleum. Such


product is considered a completed
product, although it may be further
blended or cracked. Gasoline, kerosene,
etc., are the lighter ends, but each may
be cut or rerun. [KI]

elevator bail

device which latches around the


pipe by means of steel loops. [WIN, p.
138]

elevator latcher, unlatcher, or grabber


The derrickman. [Heard]

endless belt

elevators, n. pi.

spliced together carefully.

emulsification test
test made to obtain information in
the laboratory about the emulsifying ten-

ing,

which raises and lowers tubcasing, and drive pipe from and

belt,

the ends of

which have been

[POR]

device

into a well. [D]

endless rope
See endless

endo,

emanations, n. pi.
Gaseous discharges. [D]

cifically

labor, spe-

one used in ditch-digging. Picks

and shovels are so called by the machinists around the Mid-Continent Refinery, in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, because,
they say, only one who is ignorant would
continue to use such equipment. See
canal wrench, idiot stick, and ignorant
spoon. [KI]

emergency pipe line


See war line. [WIL,

emery sand
A name used by

p.

238]

drillers for a fine,

hard

ers live;
p. 138]

camp

owned houses where workalso called po'-boy camp. [WIN,

Privately

To
is

slide

to lay

it

end point

The maximum temperature


on the

indicated

thermometer during
standard laboratory distillation. [D]
endrop,

distillation

n.

spray refined from petroleum; used


during the preharvest season to delay
fruit-drop and permit growers to spread
fruit-picking over a longer period than
nature ordinarily allows.
blend of
end, fruit, and drop. [SH, April, 1947,

sandstone found at a depth of 935 feet


in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. [NO]

employees'

[Heard]

anything endways; to endo


end to end. [Heard]
n.
2. A chant sung by workers while moving pipe by hand. [HI]
1.

pipe

emblem of ignorance
Any tool used in manual

belt.

v.t.

p. 25]

ENGINE,

n.

See Big Bertha, Dinkey, drilling engine, gas engine, kerosene engine, longtail, mail pouch, Maud, mechanical steed,

monkey-motion engine, Old Maud, onelung engine, petroleum engine, rotary

exhausted well

129
engine, single-barrel engine, T-head en-

engine

Refined or unrefined petroleum distillate similar to naphtha but often of


higher distillation range. [POR]
n.

See brain, brainstorm, circus, educated


gasser, hoghead, mud engineer, service
engineer, slip-stick artist, switcher with
his brains knocked out, tank-gauging engineer.

ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
See brains department, guessing department, stress-and-strain department.

engineering era of

The
time

highly

trained

mark

the

technicians

began to replace practical operators and


new, improved equipment and heavier
machinery made it possible to produce
a large

volume

[LDO,

of time.

engine

An

of oil in a shorter space


p. 369]

used for lubricating the external


bearings of large steam and gas engines;
an oil of medium viscosity, the grade
varying with different sizes of engines
and engine speeds. Should not be confused with cylinder oil, which is much

Engler

[POR]

distillator

type of flask used in Engler distillation. [KI]

Eocene,

time.

The

The burning oil from seepages in


Baku; described in the thirteenth century by Marco Polo. [BOW, p. 2]
ethane, n.

Hydrocarbon of the paraffin series


(C 2 H 6 ) which forms a constituent of
natural and illuminating gas. Under normal conditions it is a gas with a boiling
point of 135 F. [POR]

shortened term for tetraethyl lead

(q. v.) or for ethyl gasoline. [KI]

ethyl gasoline

gasoline

to

which

tetraethyl

lead

been added to meet the specifications set by the Ethyl Corporation of


America. [KI]
fluid has

An

abbreviation

upset

external

for

ends. See external upset tubing. [PE]

Evangeline Oil Field


Louisiana's first major

oil

field.

p. 72]

>M*

[RI

earliest

epoch of the Tertiary

strata

deposited at that

equipment of identity
Any equipment carrying a number by
which it is called and requisitioned.

most

volatile fractions.

[POR]

evaporation test

A test applied to volatile petroleum


products to determine the completeness
or rapidity of evaporation. [D]
EVASIVE ANSWER
See deep as a tree and
as hell,

deeper than

excavator,

n.

2. The
[LDO]

[Heard]

See boilerhouse, guestimate, pencil.


eternal fires

tion of the

test various distillation points before the


general distillation; similar to the process developed by Engler in Germany.
[KI]

period.

[POR]

Losses of gasoline caused by exaporadistillation

sampling process by which small


quantities of petroleum are distilled to

1.

oil.

v.t.

evaporation losses

Engler

ESTIMATE,

E.U.E.

oil

oil

heavier.

of determining the sulphur

ethyl, n.

oil

years 1920-35; said to

when

method

content in petroleum

distillate

ENGINEER,

Eshka method

gine, twin engine.

A
v.).

n.

pipe-line shovel.

exchanger,

a long rope, deep

hell.

[Heard]

n.

short term for heat exchanger (q.

[KI]

exhausted well
A well which has produced most or all
of its supply of oil and is no longer profitable. [DO, October 14, 1947]

exhaustion
exhaustion,

The

130
n.

process of extracting

stance whatever

expander,

is

from a sub-

removable. [D]

n.

device for expanding the end of a


tube in a tube plate or casing in a well.

[D]

drill-bit

may

that

gum

jack-squib,

line

squib,

brew, gelatin
hell's

broth,

rack-rock,

[POR]

grade of kerosene which is good but


domestic grade.

slightly inferior to the

[KOT]
extension producer

expansion gas
increase in

volume

of a gas caused

well
of a

limits

which extends the known


field. [DO, November 14,

by changes in temperature or pressure.

1947]

The expansion is said to be adiabatic


when no heat is taken from or added to
the gas when expanding and isothermal
when the gas is held at constant tem-

extension well
See extension producer. [Heard]

perature by the addition of heat.

[POR]

expansion joint

device

shell,

export kerosene

coil

cooling coil in a refrigeration system; pipe coil containing the expanded

The

dynamite,

squib, torp, torpedo.

The

gas.

devil's

oil,

dynamite,

be adjusted for

holes of various sizes. [D]

expansion

EXPLOSIVE, n.
See blasting

shot, soup, squib, squib shot, taw, time

expansion bit

exploration crew
A commission or group of geologists.
[PE]

used in connecting long


permit linear expansion

external upset tubing


Regular tubing inserted in the hole
with the large end down (contrary to
general practice) to receive the smaller
end. [PE]

lines of pipe to

extraction, n.

or contraction. [D]

expansion line
The line on a graph or diagram of
pressures and volumes which shows the
pressure variation during the period of
expansion. A line drawn by an indicator
during the expansion stroke of an engine.

[POR]

provide for expansion or


contraction. [D]

expansion ring
The hoop or ring of the U-section
which is used to join lengths of pipe and

[D]

ture.

extract oil

An

oily

material dissolved

hand

extension used as leverage on a


pipe wrench; so called because it replaces
a worker. Three workers are usually required to break out pipe; with the extra
hand, only two workers are necessary.
syn. Cheater. [Heard]

and

exploration, n.
involved in looking for
2.

Descriptive

standard pipe.

use of minerals.

measuring mineral deposits.


ploitation. [D]

re-

An

1.

exploitation, n.

The recovery and


[LDO]

from

[KOT]

extra heavy

allow expansion. [D]

The work

undesirable residue
of a complex mix-

the

from the desired part

extra
or a coil in a

line of pipe to

1.

process of separating by solvents

distillation

fined oil in solvent refining.

expansion loop
Either a U-shaped bend

or

The
or

Ex-

2.

pipe thicker than


Descriptive of valves

of

fittings suitable for a

working

pres-

sure of 250 pounds per square inch. 3.


Used in place of extra strong, the correct
term for a class of pipe which is heavier
than standard pipe but not so heavy as
double extra strong pipe. [D]

farm boss

J3 1

man

extra

eyeball,

substitute.

sight a pipe to test it for straightness or length without the use of instru-

extraneous, adj.

ments. [KI]

Descriptive of thermal cracking into


which light hydrocarbons are introduced.

[KE]
extraneous gas
A gas which comes from a spring
tinct to itself of the deposit in

eye bolt
A rod or bolt threaded

at

one end and

looped at the other; used to hold or join


a part in place and to screw into a metal
dis-

part of a

machine

produc-

eye-box,

n.

[PE]

tion.

v.t.

To

[Heard]

1.

for hoisting.

drilling tool. 2.

or eye in the small end.

extra strong

[POR]

box with a hole

[NO]

heavier than standard pipe and


not so heavy as double extra strong pipe.

eye rester
A worker who, when he is caught
napping, says he was not asleep but was

[POR]

just resting his eyes.

The name
which

for a certain class of pipe

is

F&FA.

Fabian system
See free

to

To

since been

explode; for example, a torgo when it does not ex-

to

p. 135]

office force;

applied derisively by
white-collar jobs.

all

[PO]

fan shooting

method

of shooting jor oil (q. v.)


electric charges in the

shape of a fan so that the detonations


will register the pattern

on a geological

seismograph. [PE]

fan spread

term used on

orders in a reconditions are to


be adjusted for certain tests. [Reported]

meaning

still

which was organized

in 1854 but almost

universally distrusted until

when

The

that

Fancy Stock Company


The epithet applied to the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company of New York,
the middle

Professor Benjamin Sillman's analysis of the Titusville oil was


made public. This report proved to be
a turning point in the establishment of
the petroleum industry. [GI, pp. 37-43]

1855

drill

by sending out

fall, v.i.

of

rapidly.

boys

workers to
[Heard]

[Re-

fan out screw

CABLE-TOOL DRILLING. To

field

finery

and fiddling around.

ported]

quickly by letting out the temper screw

[MU,

fair-haired

The

which has

go

jails

plode.

originated

[POR]

fail to

pedo

Fooling

father of free-fall

others

all

this system,

modified.
fail

The

systems;

drilling

from

fall.

[Heard]

v.).

lateral

spread of fan shooting (q.

[PE]

farewell sand
is

Supposedly the lowest zone where


found in paying quantities. [POR]

oil

farm boss

One who

supervises production after

the wells have been brought in. So called

because the pumpers and other maintenance men are under him, and his unit
is a lease which was probably a farm at

one time. [BO]

farmer

132

farmer,

n.

disparaging nickname for an inexperienced member of a drilling crew.

[ME,

763]

p.

farmer's

oil

worthless

black substance resemis derived from blue

which

bling

oil,

shale.

[Heard]

farmer's sand
1. Oil sand which has not yet been
reached; always the sand that one will
reach if he can drill "just one more foot."
2. The productive sand which allegedly
would have been reached if a dry hole had
been drilled deeper; named for the tendency of farmers upon whose land unsuccessful wells have been drilled to
think that oil would have been reached
if the drilling had been carried deeper.

[PO]

One

line of shear many feet below the original trend. [POR]

fault block

bed of rock

of the shallow,

hand-dug wells

which were abandonee!" during the depression in the oil industry (Warren

hemmed

in

by

faults.

[POR]
fault breccia

The

breccia

in a shear

which

zone

of thrust faults.

is

frequently found
in the case

especially
[POR]

fault dip

The

inclination of the fault plane or

shear zone, measured


plane. [POR]

from a horizontal

escarpment or scarp

fault

farmer well
1.

continuous rock stratum or vein become


separated. 2. The point at which a geological stratum either breaks off or is
sheared off by the settling of a section of
the stratum. In many formations a stratum will drop suddenly along a straight

An

escarpment or

cliff

resulting

from

a fault or a dislocation of adjacent rocks.

[POR]

County, Pennsylvania, 1860-61). [NO]


2. Any shallow well. [BB, p. 486]

fault line, trace

farm

of a fault with the surface of the earth

1.

out, v.t.

To

drill

out an area.

wells have been put

down

The

intersection of the surface or plane

many

or with an

as are allowed,

fault plane

When

as

an area has been farmed out or drilled


out. [Heard]
n. (farm-out) 2. A type
of sublease made on semiproven acre-

artificial reference.

surface along

[POR]

which dislocation or
[POR]

faulting has taken place.

age which occasionally proves expedient for a large company. [LIN, Vol. XIII,

fault strike

No.

the fault surface, or the shear zone, with

(January, 1948)]

mixture in which excess asphalt


cement is clearly apparent. [D]

The limit to which metals will work


before they are no longer able to resist
the weight and force of tension. [PE]
fat-lux test
test

by which the

fatty oils in liquids

[POR]

fault, n.
1.

break in the continuity of a body

of rock, attended

of the intersection of

[POR]

fault terrace

formed by two parallel fault


on the same declivity, thrown in
the same direction. [POR]
terrace

scarps

fatigue, n.

direction

a horizontal surface.

fat asphalt

are determined.

The

by a movement on one
one

side of the break so that parts of

Fauvelle, n.
A system of drilling invented in 1846
by an Englishman, Beart, and a French
engineer, Fauvelle, which provided for
the continuous removal of debris from
the well by means of a water flush or
current of water. All the waterflush systems now in use are modifications of this
system, which has long ceased to be
used in its original form. [POR]

female connection

f.b.p.

field

33

commonly used

abbreviation

for

full boiling point. [KI]

pipe with threads on the inside. Also


box coupling and female coupling.

called

[Heard]
feather bar
A bar machined to a thin edge to

wedge

into small crevices. It

is

believed

and its name were invented


by an employee of Mid-Continent Oil
Company, Tulsa, Oklahoma. [KI]
that the bar

fence-jack, n.

device used to tighten the line of

[NO]

pull-rods; a come-along.

feathered, adj.

Thinned;

fence gang
The crew that repairs fences after a
pipe line is laid or repaired. [Heard]

said of oil that

is

cut by gas.

ferry, n.

[S]

horse-drawn

slide or

sled used in

early days to transfer pedestrians across

fee, n.

Land operated

for oil or gas

under a

contrasted with
land operated under a lease. Estates in
fee and estates in tail are quite different
right of ownership

as

law. The former means


ownership by purchase; the latter means
ownership by inheritance. [POR]

according to

feed water
Boiler water supplied to

make up

the engine, the turbine, or other auxiliary

An open heater
which the steam comes into

is

[HOO,

p. 178]

Furnish fuel and water; an abbreviation used in drilling reports. [Reported]

fiber grease

soda-base grease of fibrous nature.

[KOT]

An
more

feed-water heater
A device used to heat feed water by
means of the exhaust steam taken from
machinery.

streets.

F.F.&W.

field, n.

for

[POR]

evaporation.

muddy

one in

direct con-

with the water. A closed heater is


one in which the water is conveyed
through the steam space in pipe coils and

oil

or gas territory with

wells.

[BA,

two or

p. 138]

fieldman
The worker who secures contracts for
the company and sees that work is proceeding properly. Sometimes called a
trouble shooter. See head roustabout.
[Heard]

tact

does not come


with the steam. [POR]
therefore

into

contact

sense

cable-tool

of

driller

touch by which the


determines delicate

points regarding the operation of drilling. He puts his fingers on the drilling
cable so often that he is sometimes called
a rope cho\er. [S]
feel

ahead

To

used to force oil through


gathering lines. Also called gathering
pumps. [BA, p. 175]

drill

Specified contract prices for drilling a


well.

[LDO,

field

tank

p.

372]

See lease tank. [BA,


field

p. 157]

tankage
collective

term for

field tanks (con-

tainers of 100- to 1,000-barrel capacity).

a small hole. See rat hole.

[F,p. 112]

[Heard]
field

feeler, n.

pump

A pump

field rates

feel, n.

The

field

length of pipe run into the drill


hole to test the ability of the hole to take
casing. [BB, p. 488]

work

Operations carried out in the field or


on the ground, as contrasted with work
done at or near the main office. A term
used by engineers and geologists. [POR]

fifth

134
through the

fifth, n.

The name given by

drillers to

one of

most important gas-producing sands


Washington County, Pennsylvania. Its thickness varies from ten
the

Easyer,

in

Produces

to fifty feet.

oil in

many

other
the

of Pennsylvania. Also called

parts

third oil sand.

rock

weight.

Cylinder stocks from which wax has


been removed by filtering. [KOT]
filtered stock

earth or

fuller's

other filtering

through any

medium. [POR]

filter flask

flask used in the laboratory for


ing by suction. [KOT]

filter-

n.

The

portion of the hydrocarbons which


within the lower part of the gasoline fractions. The portion is not of
marked volatility but is volatile enough
to assist while the gasoline engine is
warming up. Without this fraction a
gasoline would be deficient at the inside percentage points on distillation, being especially pronounced in the 20 to
50 per cent area. [POR]
distill

the boll weevil


put oil in the lubricator of an
engine. [Heard]
fill

To

oil

you'll find

it

enough holes and


sometime

A motto of Robert Garland, who admitted that he had a wonderful record


of dry holes. [GL, p. 247]
Oil in the borehole.

[DO, October

22,

1947]

film of survey

The original negative that comes from


the camera in electric logging. [Heard]

machine used
other wax from a

to separate paraffin or

pressure extraction.

The pressure squeezes

To pass through or percolate. v.t.


2. To separate suspended matter.
n. 3.
The name of the apparatus used to puri1.

fy oil or other liquids.

[POR]

refineries, etc.

device used to separate dust from


air as it enters a compressor or an engine

[POR]

gravity
in

by

[POR]

final, v.t.

To complete: "No. 1 well was finaled


flowing 444 barrels of oil in 24 hours."
[WO, October 21, 1947]
See end point.

which the liquid flows

[KOT]

find, n.

newly discovered

oil deposit.

[DO,

January 31, 1948]


find

bottom
loo\ for bottom (q.

[Reported]

v.).

aggregate
Aggregate in which the largest particles have a diameter of less than % inch.

fine

[KOT]
fines, n. pi.

or mineral too finely

to be treated in the

same way

powdered

as ordinary

coarse material. [D]


finger, n.

A bracket-like projection which catches


and holds pipe

filter, air

filter

fluid or semifluid

out the fluid content and leaves cakes of


wax or other material in the press. Used
in cotton-oil mills, sugar factories, oil

Rock

filter, v.i.

cylinder.

press

To

fill-up, n.

filter,

filter

final boiling point

Fill the earth full of

own

Lubricating stock that has been filtered

[NO]

name used by drillers for the first


rock below the second sand in Butler
County, Pennsylvania. [NO]
fill,

its

filtered cylinder stocks

through
fifty-foot

medium by

[POR]

in position against the

finger board while

making connection.

Sometimes it is attached to the finger


board to form an acute angle; however,
it is often hinged to the finger board
so that it can be pushed out of the way
when not in use. [PO]

fisherman

i35
finger board

perature at which

board located in the derrick to support tubing stands or accessories during


drilling. See hayrack. [POR]
finish, v.t.

To

prepare

for

oils

specified

use.

(Finishing, n.) [D]


finish a well

To

(j-

when

close to the

To

operate the motor; formed by


analogy with the expression fire the boil-

became

er,

finishing pro-

pay (100

feet or less)

and

bank built around a well, a tank,


or a battery to prevent the spread of fire.

a well in hard formation


where no casing or screen is set at or
near the bottom. [POR]

finest fuel oil;

made

for a

num-

ber one burner. [KI]

final

connections. See

flange up. [Heard]


fire, n.

warning that the boss

is

coming.

[OK]

V^C

the hole

signal that the boss

is

in his

\>

firing line

fireman
The roughneck on a rotary crew who
fires the boiler. Also called man on the
pot and boilerman. [BA, p. 31]
n.

See man on the pot, pot-boiler, pot


fireman, pot man, smoke eater.

1
method of laying pipe. The pipe is
assembled, welded, and laid in 200-foot
sections, a technique similar to that of
firemen coupling long stretches of hose
in assembly-line fashion. [F, p. 135] 2.
The welders who complete welding on a
pipe line behind the first bead. [Heard]

first arrival

The

coming and

everyone must get to work; transferred


from the danger call used during dynamiting. [Heard]

FIREMAN,

who

estimation knows everything. The


"do-nothings" who sit on the fire wall

finish

the hole.

about a refinery

own

constitute his "court." [Heard]

finished distillate

up a job
To make the

lawyer

A man

finish

fire in

the boiler. [Heard]

fire

[Heard]

fire in

were

boilers

wall

fire

fire-wall

when

the well has been drilled

[Heard]

See

obsolete

the pot

To

finish barefooted

The

will ignite. Also

[NO]

the motor

fire

fire

The

includes drilling with a reverse rig, running tubing, and acidizing (West Texas).

To

oil

test.

replaced by motors. [Reported]

complete a well.

cess begins

burning

called

sound waves that arrive

first

at

the seismograph. [PE]


first

mountain sand

name given by

drillers to Connoand Kinzura Creek sand-

quenessing
stone.
first

[NO]

sand

The first oil-bearing sand. Also called


gas sand in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
[NO]
fish, n.

point
The temperature at which a petroleum
product will burn continuously. See

fire

flash point.

[POR]

[BOW,

p. 91]

fire test

The

The name given

out.

an

v.i.

to

any

2.

process of determining the tem-

fish for:

article

which

<\

well and must be fished


To attempt to recover lost ""H

oil

from an oil well.


v.t. 3.
"The crew was fishing bit."

or broken tools

boiler placed over a fire; used to


oil.

lost in

To

fire still

refine crude

is

[POR]
fisherman,

n.

One who
[NO]

fishes for lost or

broken

tools.

%^

fishing

136

worm, sand

fishing, n.

The

recovering of lost or broken wellboring tools or of pipe, junk, or foreign


matter lost in a well. [D]

fishing tool with a toothed edge,

made from
[LDO]

a short length of casing.

tools

lost

casing from

or

borehole.

have a stronger stroke than


those used in drilling. [D]
jars

used to cut threads inside a


casing or any other hollow part which
may be lost or broken in the hole. [POR]
tool

fishing time

The

time spent in recovering lost or


tools. Usually such time is at the
expense of the contractor, except when

broken

the job results


special

from reaming

work. [LDO,

or other

p. 372]

fishing tool

Any one of many kinds of tools from


the delicate grab, which is designed to
up a small piece of valve leather or
a broken sucker-rod rivet from the pump
chamber, to the ponderous string of iron
pick

weighing

tools

tons,

which can unscrew

a set of tools at a great depth.

bell socket, bit

casing-spear, bulldog spear, camera,

casing bowl, casing dog, casing spear,


casing splitter, casing substitute, catchall,

coil drag, collar buster,

combination

socket, corrugated friction socket, devil's

hand,

spear,

[Heard;

DO, November

18, 1947]

The support on which


v.) rests.

Fish

the ]ac\

(q.

[Heard]

Pond ^-c>^~
name

for the Mexia. Tex as, oil


because the discovery well
was located on the banks of the "Fish
Pond," the favorite fishing spot near
Mexia. However, the name is doubly apt
because drillers lost much time fishing
for lost tools, increasing the cost of drilling and delaying production. [Heard]
local

field; so called

fish scales

Lime, rust, or oxygen scales resembling fish scales which form on pipe and
other equipment. [PE]
fishtail bit

drilling bit with a shape similar to


that of a fishtail; used in soft formations (sand, gravel,

and

clay).

[NO]

fitting, n.

hook, blind

box, bonnet, boot jack, boot socket, bull-

dog

twist

washdown

Any piece (except a coupling or a


valve) which may be attached to a pipe
to conduct or provide an outlet. [D]

[NO]

FISHING TOOL
See basket,

tubing spear,

fish plate

fishing tap

grab,

fish job

tools.

used with fishing tools to recover

These

tool

twist-drill spear,

Work on a drilling or production rig


that requires fishing for lost or broken

fishing jars
Jars

tractor,
drill,

whipstock, widemouth socket.

fishing basket

hitch, side-door basket, slip

socket, socket, spear, taper tap, tool ex-

devil's pitchfork, die nipple,

dog-

leg jar, fishing basket, fishing jars, fish-

ing tap, friction socket, grab, half-turn


socket, horn socket, impression block,
impression box, jack latch, jar-knocker,
jar socket, jar-tongue socket, knocker,
latch jack, lazy tongs, milling tool,
mousetrap, offset, open-end socket, oval
socket, overshot, red and yellow basket,
feed basket, rope grab, rope spear, rope

FITTING, n.
See bushing, cap, casing head, Christ-

mas

tree, closed

ing

head,

return bend, control cashead, cross, crossover, cross-over tee, crowbar connection,
doughnut, drill collar, drivehead, driving cap, elbow, jump-over, nipple, offset,
reducer, tee, turnbuckle.
control

five-foot stick

A stick used as a measuring gauge to


determine the depth of a well by measuring the drilling line as it is pulled from
the well. syn. Knowledge stick. [Heard]
five-spot flood system

system whereby a well

is

sunk in

i37
the approximate center of four near-by
wells so that it will strike new sources of
oil in the same region. As the oil begins

run from

well, water

forced
into the four other wells which in turn
forces the rest of the oil within the locality to flow from the last well bored. At
times the water may be forced into the
new well to force the others to produce.
to

this

is

[TI]

flange, n.

projecting rim, edge,

plate to close a pipe or

an

lip,

or rib; a

[D]

orifice.

flanged joint

joint in pipe

made by

flanges bolted

together. [D]

flanged pipe
Pipe provided with flanges so that the
ends can be held together by bolts. [D]
flange union

fixation, n.

The

Abel

flash,

process by

which a gas

or fluid

rendered stable in consistency to prevent evaporation or volatilization. [POR]


is

fixed-bed catalytic cracking


See static catalytic cracking. [KE]

bolts for use

up
To make

1.

To

well. 2.

is

fixed carbon

Organic matter or residual coke obtained by burning hydrocarbon products


in a covered, airtight vessel. [D]

on threaded

pipe.

[D]

flange

the

fixed-bed unit
A cracking unit in which the catalyst
stationary. [Heard]

fitting consisting of a pair of flanges

and

oil field,

finish

on a
any piece of work in

slang.

3.

the last connection

To

finish anything:

a meal, a meeting, or a game. 4. To


silence someone. 5. To discharge a work-

)r

v.i. 6. To "go broke"; to fail in any


way. The expression has both good and
bad connotations, and the specific meaning depends upon the context. [Heard;
K, p. 101]

er.

flank, n.

fixed gas

The

Gas which does not condense at the


working temperature. The fixed gases
that remain after all liquefiable fractions
have been removed in the gas plant are
used as fuel or are sent to the polymer
section. [BA, p. 236]
fixed oils

which decompose or change in


chemical composition upon distillation.
The vegetable and animal oils are examples. [POR]
Oils

fizz, n.

gas leak. [Heard]

side of a fold. [H, p. 118]

flank play

The

search for shallow production in

and around the edges of older

fields.

[Heard]
flank well

A well on one edge of


[DO, October 26, 1947]

known

pool.

flare, n.

Burning dry gas. When there is no


immediate market for dry gas which has
been with oil, it is burned in flares in
the oil field. [Heard; L, p. 36]
flash, n.

flag, v.i.

To work under

an assumed name.

[Heard]

1. The sudden ignition of petroleum


products. See flash point. [KI]
v.t. 2.

To

<V 5
refining. Smoke stacks used in burning waste gas. The term was first applied to burning gases. [Heard]

and
go out immediately, as contrasted with
fire, which means to flash and continue
to burn until the inflammable material is
consumed. [KI]

flame propagation

flash,

flambeaux,

The

n. pi.

which

flame spreads
through a combustible mixture. [POR]
rate

at

ignite suddenly or

explosively

Abel

special flash tester used

products in foreign countries.

on

certain

[KOT]

flash,

Cleveland

138

Cleveland
open-cup flash tester used in the
United States for making flash-test determinations on lubricating oils. [KOT]
flash,

An

flash,

open cup
which the vapors given

off in heating are

ing

on

tests

fuel oils.

mak-

[KOT]

A process during which heated


der pressure suddenly vaporizes.

oil

un-

[LDO]

test that

ignite briefly.

[NO]

To

flash at a leak.

said to

line

When

have flashed out. [Heard]

The degree

of Fahrenheit temperature

which a petroleum product will flash.


There must be enough vapor to cause
momentary ignition but not enough to
cause continuous burning. There are a
number of standard methods of obtainat

ing this result (the Abel, the Cleveland,


the Tagliabue, and others), which may
be divided into two classes: the open cup

and the closed cup. All of them give


somewhat different results. [D]
flash-test, v.t.
1. To test a petroleum product to determine at what degree of heat it will

n.

and

make

it

roof. See steep-roof

flat

rig.

n^X
down

tear

or dismantle a derrick

[Heard]

flatter, n.

forge tool.

[NO]

v.t.

See brown nose, drape around, drape


up, gather grapes.
n.

See ear

banger,
meat auger.

oil

and catches

flash point

2.

The

test

made

the flash point of an

oil.

to deter-

[KI]

gold

brick,

graper,

n.

process of refining by

fleet

angle

The

side angle at which a rope approaches the sheave; the angle between
the center line of the sheave and the
center line of the rope. Experience has
proved that the best service is obtained
when this angle does not exceed one

and one-half degrees. [POR]


float, n.
1.

The

which

floating part of

an apparatus

indicates the height of liquid in

A tool used by
smoothing the
surface of cement, concrete floors, and
a tank or other vessel. 2.

the

cement

finisher

in

pavements. 3. A device inside the casing


shoe used to float pipe in the hole. [POR]
4. A removable semitrailer truck bed
{dance hall). To drop a float is to disconnect a float from the truck to make
an unloading ramp. [Heard; WIN, p.
138]

flash vaporization

by cable
one position.

See polish job.

from a fractured

To

FLATTERY,

flash out

refining.

for

FLATTERER,

determines the temperature


at which enough vapor comes off to

which the

oil

heated to a high temperature and allowed to flash into vapor which is subsequently cooled, the various cuts being
is

oval rather than

asphalt roofing treated to

suitable

FLATTER,

flashing test

mine

is

tools striking repeatedly in

flatten out

flashing, n.

flash.

borehole which

asphalt. [KI]

Gasoline that comes from crude oil


without being heated beyond the temperature at which it leaves the well; natural gasoline. [KI]

fire, it is

hole

An

Pensky-Martens

flash gasoline

leaks

p.

flat-roof asphalt

closed-cup flash tester used for

[BA,

[BB, p. 486]

allowed to escape.

[KOT]

flat

condense.

they

as

circular in cross section; caused

flash test in

flash,

recovered
203]

float collar

A collar used on casing during cementing operations. The back-pressure valve


with which it is fitted permits casing to

flotation oil

!39
be floated into the well and serves as a
stop for the cementing plug.

[LDO]

Resembling wool; descriptive of a


cloudlike mass of precipitate in a solu-

floater, n.

flock or floe, n.

float in casing

lower casing into a well by means

of a cast-iron float valve

which

is

drilled

out after the casing has been cemented.

To

-float

in pipe,

the

driller

drives

watertight plug in the casing shoe, fills


the hole with water, and then runs the
casing. If this fails to provide enough
buoyancy, the driller fills the hole with

mud. [POR]

floating roof

A roof which is not carried above the


tank on structural steel supports, but
on the surface of the oil
up and down inside the tank

actually floats
shell

as

the

oil

simplest form,

it is

level

changes.

a large, flat

pan

In

its

slight-

diameter than the diameter


of the tank shell, provided with a sys-

ly smaller in

tem of

flexible "shoes" to close the space

between the edge of the roof and the


tank shell. [POR]
truck with an attached float

trailer.

[Heard]
float

on the

solution,

mass of

especially

produced by precipitation. [D]

that

floe test

qualitative test applied to illuminat-

ing

oils for

detecting substances rendered

[NO]

insoluble by heat.
flog, v.t.

beat steel

to

separate riveted or

flogging

hammer

maul used for riveting or


flanging steel plates; also used to separate
riveted or welded seams. [KI]
rivet

flooding, n.
1. The drowni ng ou t
of a well by
water; often results from drilling too
deeply into the sand. [NO] 2.
process
by which oil is sometimes driven from
the sand into the well by either designed
or natural conditions. [POR]

floor block

A snatch

bloc\. [Heard]

floorman

man who works on the floor of a


derrick either on the drilling or the production crew. [Heard]
floor oil

nonviscous neutral oil having the


properties as concrete-form oil.

same

compound is of the same grade.


Such oil ordinarily gives a good finish
and prevents dust from rising. [POR]

used largely for determining

the viscosity or consistency of semisolid

bituminous materials.

Hotels or rooming houses in a


town. [ST, p. 55]

boom

Floridin, n.

from Quincy and Jamieused in decolorizing pe-

Fuller's earth

Florida;

son,

troleum products. [POR]

float viscosity
test

in

flop joints

line

pipelining. To operate with boosters


between terminal and initial stations.
This method can be used when each station pumps about the same amount of
oil. [OPL, p. 275]

floating

Floor

float job

small, tufted, or flakelike

welded seams. [KI]

A boat on which Ben Hogan {see


Wickedest Man in the World) placed
and entertainers
his gambling tables
when the reform wave swept Parker,
Pennsylvania. He anchored the boat just
outside the jurisdiction of the county
authorities and continued his business
with profit. During the three years he
remained there he is said to have made
$210,000. [GID, p. 107]

rides

Any
matter

To

Floating Palace

and

[D]

tion.

hanger-on. [Heard]

To

flocculent, adj.

[KOT]

flotation oil

An
ore

oil

used for flotation purposes in


usually pine oil, tur-

separation;

flotation process

140

pentine, or a coal-tar derivative, although

flowing well

petroleum products have been used successfully. [D]

1. An oil well containing enough pressure to blow or lift the oil to the surface. [NO] 2. An oil well which has

flotation process

concentration process of separating


valuable minerals from gangue by floating them on the surface of water and
other solutions.

[LDO]

been repressured. [Heard]

FLOW INTERMITTENTLY
See

breathe,

gurgle,

head,

flow

burp,

head flow,

by

heads,

pulsate,

spit

oil.

flow,

To

v.t.

let

or cause a well to flow or pro-

[DO, October

duce.

14,

flow-line pressure

The

1947]

jl

flow a well hard


To open the choke and let the well
flow at capacity; used particularly in
speaking of gas w ells the temperature
of the gas Is" higher when the well is
flowedTn this manner. [Heard]

flow bean
A removable

steel orifice or restriction

The

flow meter
A measuring device (orifice) installed
in oil lines to measure the flow of oil in
barrels. [Heard]

flow by heads

line
p.

490]

flow chart
The complete chart of the refining procrude from the time it reaches the
refinery until it is shipped out as a
finished product. The chart gives a graphcess of

like picture of the

whole refining process

for that charge, or run. [KI]

flow head

type of packed casing head designed


on wells which are being flowed

for use

by

artificial

means. [POR]

oil.

[Heard;

DO, December

7,

1947]

flowing plant
A name sometimes applied to a compression plant where air or gas is compressed for use in the gas-lift

pumping. [POR]

A short piece
outside

which

of pipe

the flow

method

of

is

the

same

connections
but is bored to a much smaller size to
restrict the flow; used to control a flowing well. [POR]
size

line

flow point

The temperature

which noncrystal-

at

hydrocarbons such

as

asphaltum be-

gin to flow or become fluid enough to


give a visible flow; the measure of fluidity.

[POR]

flow rate

The

velocity of the flow of oil or gas in

a pipe.

[DO, November

16, 1947]

flow sheet
A diagram showing the sequence of
manufacturing or refining operations in
the production of such compounds as
petroleum oils and waxes. [POR]
flow string
See oil string. [Heard;

flowing gold

Crude

from the Christmas


and gas separator. [POR]

pipes leading

tree to the oil

flow nipple

flow intermittently. [BB,

side

flow lines

placed in the flow line to control the rate


of flow of gas and oil from the well. The
name is said to have originated with the
bean bag which was placed outside the
flow pipe or tubing in early days to pack
off or restrict the flow within a well
casing. Also called bean, crac\ed valve,
cho\e, choker, and flow nipple. [POR]

To

downstream
[POR]

pressure on the

of the flow nipple.

LDO,

p.

410]

flow tank

The settling tank to which the oil is


piped from the well. Also called settling
tan\ and lease tan\. [D]
flow test
1.

The

oil will

lowest temperature at which


flow or pour without disturbance

flush production

141
conditions. [D]
specified
determine the potential production of a well by opening the flow
bean completely. [Heard]
[Heard]

slipping through

flow treater

it is

and

under

To

v.t. 2.

be lowered within a well tube; its long


friction
surfaces prevent fluid from

fluid-tamping, n.

The

filling of a

well with water

when

shot, so that the force of the explosion

An elaborate, patented device containing several compartments and a heater;


one pumper calls it the "Rice Hotel" because of its many rooms. [WIN, p. 138]

will be kept

flow well
See flowing well. [Heard]

fine

flue gases

flunkey, n.

refining. Gases which pass out the


chimney of any type of furnace as products of combustion. [POR]

roustabout. [KI]

mud
Mud filled

[POR]

it.

from passing up

the hole

[NO]

(1904).

fluid unit

cracking unit using a catalyst so

it flows
with or against the
stream. See fluid. [Heard]

fluffy

that

term

often

incorrectly

used

for

fluorescence, n.

The
and puffed up with gas

the

ability of some materials to change


wave length of light reflected from

bubbles or air; if the condition is serious,


it may be necessary to seal off the air
pocket in the well. [TR, February 12,

their surface,

1948]

vert invisible light rays or vibrations into

fluid, n.

Any

substance that will flow: steam,


gas, air, chemical clay, pellets, salt, etc.

light.

In

some

producing reflected

from those

of the original

cases the matter will con-

bands and streams of color, making the


substance appear self-luminous. Thus X
rays

become

visible only

when

they strike

a fluorescent substance such as tungstate

[D]

or calcium.

fluid catalyst

The

thus

colors different

cracking.

The

in

catalyst

state of division

stream, behaving

The

surface of oil sometimes

shows variable bands of

catalyst used

fluid

may

catalytic

be in a fine

and move with the

much

oil

like a fluid, or

called bloom.

colors,

often

[POR]

flush, v.t.

To

clean out a line of pipe by letting


sudden rush of water. [POR] 2.
drilling. To displace acid with oil at
the end of an acid treatment. [Heard]
1.

be in a granular state and move


against the oil stream. Also called moving bed. [KE]

in a

fluid inclusion

flush joint

A liquid enclosed in a cavity (usually


very minute in a mineral). [POR]

Pipe so threaded that when two lengths


are screwed together the point of their

fluid level

joining has the same thickness as the


pipe itself. [LDO]

it

may

The amount of oil or other fluids in a


well bore, as "The fluid level was at 3,000 feet," meaning that the top of the
fluid was 3,000 feet from the top of the
casing. [Reported]
instrument devised by H. Joshua
determining the fluidity of

Phillips for
oils at

various temperatures.

fluid-packed pump
A small diameter

pipe with no collar. [Heard]

flush production

The

pump

[POR]
designed to

an

well during the


before the
output has settled down to what may be
regarded as usual for the field or district in which it is drilled. Flush production is said to be over when the gas
pressure will no longer flow the well.
yield of

early period

fluidmeter, n.

An

flush pipe

[POR]

oil

of production,

fluted

142

swedge

fluted

wedge

footage, n.

-y

or dented casing in a hole. [D]

The number of
fied time. [LDO]

flux, n.

footpiece, n.

tool used for straightening

crooked

flying connection

connection made in the mouse hole


or hurry-up hole; so called because the
time required for making connections is
lessened.

foaming,

[Heard]
n.

trade

for a preparation used

[POR]

jorble board (q. v.). In the oil field

often applied also to a double board or a


thribble board, but never to a
v.).

monkey

[Reported]

foot shoe

Steam. [PO]

foggy handle
device used in breaking out pipe

on

has been suggested


that the term arose because the handle
often slips and hits the workers, making
them "foggy." This could well be one of
the widow-makers (q. v.) A more plausible etymology is that the term is a corruption of forgy handle (q. v.). [Heard]
a cable-tool rig.

It

To

special shoe designed to help float a

string of casing while

into a well.

it is

being lowered

[POR]

foot's oil

An oil containing only low-meltingpoint wax of little market value. It has


too high a cold test and too low a viscosity for a lubricating product. [D]
n. pi.

A common

abbreviation of joraminimarine animals). [BA,

fera (microscopic

forble board [foble board]

"^

board or platform located in a derrick at a suitable elevation to permit a


worker to attach and detach the eleva-

from the drill pipe when it is being handled in stands of four joints
each. Also fourble board. [POR]
tors

forced draft
A system of mechanical draft by which
the air is blown into the ashpit above
atmospheric pressure. [POR]

fog, n.

follow

flow from the tubing. [PE]

foble board

board (q.

when

p. 68]

name

in smothering oil fires.

oil to

forams,

foamite, n.

The

gas-pressure diffuser which,

inserted into the oil in a well, causes the

method

of extinguishing oil fires by


spraying with a foaming liquid. [D]

thinner used to reduce the consistency or viscosity of hard asphalt to


the point required for use. [POR] 2.
heavy, tarlike oil used as a fuel in steam
production (usually in stationary boilers).
v.t. 3. To soften rock asphalt with
heavy residual oil. [KI]
1.

feet drilled in a speci-

down
lower casing

forced production

The working of a mine or well to


force a greater output than can be maintained. [D]

force feed
A system of lubrication in which

pumped
[POR]

is

to

oil

the individual bearings.

pump

as the drilling advances so that the bottom of the casing

force

above the drilling tools. This prois carried out if the water has
made the hole cavy. [BA, p. 117]

leading to a higher elevation or to an


hand pump. [POR]
elevated tank. 2.

is

just

cedure

follower, n.

small-gauge drill used in the borehole after the upper part has been completed with the starter (q. v.). [D]

1.

A pump that forces liquids into a line


A

forgy handle
A term commonly used to designate
the handle on the Barnett lever jack;
named for the first salesman (William
Forgy) to introduce the jack in the oil

'1/
C

Fort

143
of the East. Also called foggy
handle, forced handle, forced sticky and
for\y handle. [POR]
fields

fork, n.

An

used

appliance

in

free-fall

sys-

tems of drilling which serves to hold up


the string of tools during connection
and disconnection of rods. [D]
See forgy handle. [POR]

A single line

so arranged that spinning

and tonging of pipe can be carried on


simultaneously, syn. Split line. [Heard]

forked stick
A forgy handle (q. v.). By folk etymology, forgy handle became in field
terminology forced
turn became forced

handle,
stic\.

which

in

[Heard]

forky handle

knobstones,

lightning rock,

Lime, mountain sands,


rock,

sand,

oil

zone,

oil

Mississippi

mud

seed,

oil

rock,

oil

shales,

oil

one-hundred-and-forty-foot

sand,

rock asphalt, rubber rock,


sand, sand, sand
rocks, sandstone, second mountain sand,
second sand, seventy-foot rock, shale,
shallow sands, sheet sand, shells, shoerock,
salt

rock,

sand, salt-water

string sand, sixth sand, sixty-foot rock,


slate, slate

and

shells, soapstone,

so-long

sand, source rocks, stink stone, stray sand,


stray third sand, sugar sand, suitcase
sand, surface sand, swinestone, tar sand,
thief sand, third mountain sand, thirty-

See forgy handle. [POR]

foot sand, thousand-foot shell sand, tight


n.

mappable

layers)

diggin',

Helderberg limestone,
hillside sand,
horseback, hundred-foot
sand, hurry-up sand, kerosene shale,
shale,

pithole grit, putty rocks, red beds, red

forked line

gumbo, gusher sand, hard

beds,

heaving

open sand, pay, pay dirt, pay horizon, pay


lime, pay rock, pay sand, pay streak, pay
zone, Pencil Cove, pink clover-seed sand,

forked handle

formation,

Worth spudder

sand, tough diggin',


twenty-foot rock, twohundred-foot rock, unconsolidated sand,

formation,
unit: a layer (or

of rock

which extends

group of
entirely

under consideration and


has sufficient width of outcrop to be
mapped. Formations may consist of single

across the area

Trenton

tight

rock,

velvet.

ledges or beds of rock, but are generally


made up of two or more closely related
beds. [POR]

formation packer
A packer set between tubing and casing and used to isolate two different
zones. [Heard]

FORMATION, n

formation pressure

See

Allegheny

formation,

asphaltic

asphalt rock, basement complex,


bastard sand, Berea sandstone, Big Injun,
sand,

big lime, Big Red, big sand, bituminous


limestone, sandstone, and shale, black
diamond slate, black sand, blood-rock,
blue-cores, Blue

Monday

sand, bluff sand,

bone, bottom

sets, boulder sand, buckbuttermilk sand, carboniferous system, cave, chalk rock, chat,
chicken-farm sand, chocolate rocks, copper rock, corn-meal pebble, cover, cowrun-sand, crooked shale, deep pay, deep

wheat

sands,

batter,

dry sand, emery sand, farewell

sand, farmer's sand,

fifth, fifty-foot

rock,

first mountain sand,


first sand,
fortyfoot rock, fossil rock, fourth sand, Gantz,
gas sand, gas zone, glass rock, granite,
grassroots, green-briar limestone, gum-

The pressure at
when a well

posit

the level of the oil deis

shut

in.

syn. Reser-

voir pressure. [BA, p. 153]

formation shut-off

The

prevention of seepage into the casthe casing seats the casing


shoe so firmly that no water or gas or oil
can leak past the shoe and get into the
casing, cementing may not be necessary.
ing.

When

[BA,p. 113]

form

oil

Oil used to keep concrete forms


sticking to the concrete. [POR]

from

Fort Worth spudder

A portable drilling rig used in prospecting for oil or in completion activities; a bob-tail rig.

[Heard]

forty-foot rock

144

4-F bar

forty-foot rock

>

name used by

drillers

The common heavy

for certain

sandstones between the mountain sands


and the first sand in Clarion County,
Pennsylvania. [NO]

of

fossil oil

four-foot gas

An

early

fossil

rock

name

for petroleum.

[NO]

A common name

for

Ames

limestone.

year 1930.

that time the United

per cent of the


world's population, was producing nearly two-thirds of the world's total output
of petroleum. Also, civilian consumers
in foreign countries required more oil
in that year than ever before. [WIL, pp.
91-92]
6.3

The

well drilled to the famous


third sand on Oil Creek in Pennsylvania.
first

was completed

in May, 1861, by CapA. B. Funk and was so named because it flowed about 300 barrels a day.
tain

was the deepest oil well of the period,


reaching pay at the then unprecedented
depth of 460 feet. Prior to this sensational strike, the total petroleum production, all coming from the small area in
western Pennsylvania, was about 1,300
barrels. When the 300 barrels from Captain Funk's gusher were added, overproduction and depression of prices resulted. The well continued to flow for
six
months, then
suddenly stopped,
It

choked with

cap.)

paraffin.

flowing well.

[POR]

2.

In Butler, Armstrong, and Clarion


Pennsylvania, the name used
by drillers for the third oil sand. [NO]

counties,

four-wing pattern bit

tip

shaped

like a

well drilled by S. L. Fowler, a farmwho, in order to finance a well on his land, organized the Fowler Farm Oil Company in
er near Burkburnett, Texas,

May,

1918.

His

drilling

was

when he

failed to strike oil at 500 feet, the

depth

of other producing wells of that area,

he continued drilling. He finally struck


oil on July 24, 1918. The well was so
productive that the first report claimed
that oil was running down the cotton
rows. [FO, p. 56]

FPO
Field purchase order; an abbreviation
used in reports of the Stanolind Oil Company. [Reported]

major product (gasoline, kero-

oil, etc.) which may be separated


v.t. 2. To break
from petroleum. [POR]

sene, gas

p. 127]

down petroleum

fourble board [foble board]


See forble board. [Reported]

Four Corners
The name usually given

activity

labeled Fowler's Folly because

fraction, n.

four-joint length of pipe. Also called

[BA,

with a

[PE]

Fowler's Folly

1.

bit

drill

cross.

(Not

[NO]

fourble, n.
joble.

of free play in a drilling

p. 395]

Fountain Well

It

[LDO,

fourth sand

At

with about

States,

[OK]

cut in four-foot lengths.

Four inches
line.

foundation year

1.

Wood

four-inch jar stroke

[NO]

The

crowbar. Because

and weight, workers use it as


little as possible, which may account for
the name. [KI]
size

its

tions.

its

various frac-

[KI]

fraction,
1.

into

An

petroleum

elementary compound (or

series

tersection

compounds) whose boiling point lies


within a certain range. For example, if

named;

10 per cent of the oil is given off at a


temperature of 150 F. during the distillation test, then this is an arbitrary

the

first in-

at which stores and other


buildings are located in a boom town.
Almost every oil town has a spot so

Corners.

sometimes
Heard]

shortened

to

The

of

fraction of that oil

and contains the hy-

French creeker

145
evaporating at that temmay be determined
arbitrarily or may include any number

drocarbon
perature.

oils

The

fraction

compounds

of the

Each condensate
tion.

[BA,

[POR] 2.
from fractiona-

desired.

resulting

the refinery

column

An apparatus arranged to separate the


various fractions of petroleum by single
distillation, the condenser or "column"
being tapped off at different points along

ly,

length to separate the various fracin the order of their condensing


temperatures. [POR]

fractional distillation
1.

An

petroleum

liquids

different boiling points. 2.

trouble
hurried-

hence

the

desulphurizing process which con-

sists

of distilling over copper oxide. [A]

fray-sleeve, n.

type of brace or bitstock.

[NO]

free acid

See acid,

free.

free carbon

Organic matter in

which have

tars

which

is

in-

An

analytical

by which the various fraccomponents of a fluid are separ-

free fall
1. An arrangement in deep drilling by
which the bit is allowed to fall freely to
the bottom at each drop or downstroke.

distillation

tions or

is

oil

soluble in carbon disulphide. [D]

operation used extensively in


distillation to separate a mix-

two or more

ture of

there

Frasch process

its

tions

When

it is

name. [Heard]

p. 203]

fractional

stills.

necessary to dump
these valves are opened

and

ated by a process of distillation in the


order of their boiling points. Petroleum
refining is based on such distillation since

components of petroleum
naphtha, kerosene, etc.) are
driven off in groups and separated by
distillation. Also called fractionation.
the various
(gasoline,

[POR]

The

2.

process

of operating

the drill;

often called Russian, Canadian, or Galician free

[POR]

fall.

3.

The drop

tools in cable-tool drilling. [D,

I,

of the

220]

free water

Water which rapidly


oil.

separates

from

[Heard]

freeze, v.t.

Said of pipe fixed in the drill hole


it cannot be pulled out. [D] 2.
To permit drilling tools, casing, or drilling pipe to be fastened in a well by caving walls or sand and mud settlings so
that they cannot be pulled out. 3. To
lower the temperature until a liquid
1.

fractionate,

so that

v.t.

See fraction,
fractionating

[D]

2.

column

See bubble tower. Also called fractionating tower and dephlegmating tower.

[BA,

p. 233]

solidifies.

fractionating tower
See bubble tower. Also called fractionating column and dephlegmating tower.

[BA,

fractionating tray
of a

of trays supporting

Any method by which petroleum


separated into

different

its

by precipitation,

is

components

crystallization,

or dis-

[LDO]

freezing point
The temperature at which oil ceases to
flow when the bottle is inverted. [D]

French creeker

A
some

flatboat 80 to 120 feet long

distance

from

and

15

with a capacity of 1,000


to 1,200 barrels of oil; used in the transto 20 feet wide,

Jf"

Relief valves set

such action takes places in


it is said to be frozen off.

the separator,

[Heard]

fractionation, n.

fraid valves

gas lines in which water


Unheated gas that is turned into
the lines from a well may cause the water
to freeze. If

number

the bubble caps. [KI]

tillation.

freeze off
Said of
freezes.

p. 233]

One

[POR]

Frenchies

146

portation of

[AS,

in the eighteen sixties.

oil

p. 114]

Frenchies,

n. pi.

Employees of the Schlumberger Well


Surveying Corporation. See Frenchmen.
[Heard]

Man

Ben Hogan, the


the World (q. v.), in

of

associate

Wickedest

in

sporting-house enterprises in the


Pennsylvania oil region during the eighteen sixties. See Lizzie Toppling. [GID,
his

drilling bit

which has been newly

dressed (q. v.). [D,

I,

tf<
Said of any tool or machinery that
does not work properly. [Heard]

fsg.

1.
Gas used for heating, lighting,
power, etc., as distinguished from gas
used in the manufacture of gasoline. 2.
Residue gas from a natural-gasoline fac-

[POR]

tory.

fuel nozzle

mechanism which introduces

Oil that has been recently produced

with old

oil.

[NO]

the

fuel into the cylinder of a Diesel engine

bustion

as contrasted

drill-

fuel gas

and mixes

p. 225]

oil

air.

it

thoroughly with the com-

[KOT]

fuel oil

Any

naphtha-free product of petroleused for the production of power or


heat. Fuel oils from petroleum of the
Mid-Continent area range from the distillate series down to and including any
product which can be made liquid by
steam heat and for which no better market outlet can be obtained. From an-

um

friction, n.

The point at which a frozen pipe


held by cavings. [LDO]

is

frictionless fluid

Petroleum. [Heard]
friction-pulley, n.

The wheel connected to the band


wheel; used to bring the sand-pump reel
into play.

frozen up

fresh bit

fresh

frozen pipe
A term applied to pipe held immovable in a hole by cavings which have
settled around the outside of the pipe.

n. pi.

Employees of the Schlumberger Well


Surveying Corporation; so called because
the company originated in France and is
owned by Frenchmen; more often heard
in California and Louisiana, but sometimes heard in other states. Also called
Frenchies and Frogs. [Heard]

[Heard]

Fishing; an abbreviation used in


ing reports. [LDO, p. 428]

p. 64]

Frenchmen,

off.

[LDO]

French Kate

An

frozen off
See freeze

[NO]

other standpoint, fuel oils are the distillates heavier than illuminating oils and
lighter than lubricating oils, ranging
from 25 to 30 Baume. [POR]

friction socket

fishing tool used to grasp a tool lost

in the hole.

[NO]

Frogs, n. pi.
1.
Employees of the Schlumberger
Well Surveying Corporation. See Frenchmen. [Heard] (Not cap.) Short for frog
hoard. [Reported]
frost

up

Said of line in which the expansion of


gas causes the water to freeze, syn. Freeze
off.

[Heard]

fuel

oil,

bunker

Oil used in the naval or marine services.

[POR]
fuel

Diesel
high-grade fuel

oil,

tarry

deposits,

purities;

gines.

from water,
and other im-

oil free

paraffin,

used as a fuel for Diesel en-

[POR]

fuel oil distillate

heavy residual

oil left after

the crude for gasoline

topping

and kerosene.

It

gage, metal

47

generally, although not always, includes


the next fraction the kerosene called

full-hole tool joints

gas oil. Light fuel oil distillates average


34 to 36 Baume, while the heavy or
"reduced" fuel oils may average 22 to
28 Baume. [POR]

those of regular tools. [Heard]

fuel ratio

miscible.

The amount of heating capacity in a


fuel as compared to another fuel taken

furfural, n.

as a standard.

full boiling

[D]

of temperature at

funnel, separatory

which

An

liquids

used

which are not

[KOT]

extract of corn shucks, wheat, oat

used with sulphuric acid as

asphalt

and other petroleum products.

[KI]

furnace, muffle

A furnace so arranged with pots or


pigeon holes that the flame does not come
into direct contact with the material being heated. [POR]

fuller, n.

forge tool.

fuller's

[NO]

earth

clay of porous texture


used in the filtering and decolorization

nonplastic

[POR]

oils.

furnace distillate
See straw

filter installation

Distillate fuels

through which

the oil flowing to the bearings


passes

parts

[BA,

distillate.

p.

240]

furnace fuels

full-flow-type filter

special glass-stoppered funnel

for separating

to a full boil.

[KI]

of

having wider threads than

a selective solvent in curing or treating

any given fraction comes

joints

hulls, etc.;

point

The degree

Tool

all

and other

before reaching the parts.

[KOT]

and

residuals or blends

of oil that are used for fuel.

furnace

[KOT]

oil

Any oil used as the fuel in a vaporizing burner.

G
cury whose height is proportional to the
pressure per unit area. The result may
be given either in terms of pounds per
square inch or in inches of mercury

gaffer, n.

roustabout. [BB, p. 489]

gage,

n.

standard measure of dimensions,


An instrument
for measuring sizes of standard manufactured materials. 3. A gauge to deter1.

measured from surface

to surface.

[POR]

distance, or capacity. 2.

mine

pressures.

ascertain

v.t. 4.

To measure

the content or

pipe, barrel, keg, etc.

[D]

capacity
5.

To

or

of a
deter-

mine the quality of a product shipped.


[OPL, p. 216] Also gauge.
gage, mercury
A gage consisting of a column of mer-

gage, metal
A standardized thickness of metal
known as a gage or gauge number; sometimes used in ordering sheets or strips.
There are many of these gages, applying
to metal less than one-quarter inch in
width, but the U. S. Standard Gage is
generally employed for the plates and
sheets used in the construction of tanks.

[POR]

gage pressure

148

gage pressure

The

ling,

pressure

in

pounds per square

shown by

the pressure gage. This


shows that the pressures above are greater than the atmospheric pressure; it does
inch, as

not show the absolute pressure.

The

is

pressure

is

approximately equal to the

minus

absolute pressure

14.7.

[POR]

[WIL,

small projecting hatch, usually


is

located in the roof

A small

aperture, usually with a self-closing cov-

which permits the gaging of the tank


without the necessity of removing the
manplate.
[D] Also gauging
larger
er,

n.

of

sylvania.

[POR]

garbet rod
A short rod on the lower end of the
traveling valve of a well pump. It is attached to the standing valve and is used
to pull the valve out of its seat when
repairs are necessary.

1.

gain, n.

The

socket.

mud-sills have gains cut

them for the reception


and the subsills. [NO]

into

Galena

of the production

[POR]

gas, n.

nipple.

sill

p. 53]

the gas- and oil-producing


sands of the Amity Quadrangle in Penn-

of the tank near the manplate. 2.

'er

pipelining. An order for the crew or


gang to get on the transportation truck:
"Gang 'er, men, we're going home!"

One

cylindrical in form, three to four inches

which

gang

Gantz,

gaging nipple

in diameter,

[SA,

gang. [PO]

gaging, n.
See gaging nipple. [POR]

size.

p. 200]

gang pusher
The man in charge

gager, n.
See gauger. [D]

1.

p. 179]

gang, n.
A maintenance crew of any

latter

measured from vacuum and


is equal to the gage pressure plus the atmospheric pressure plus 14.7. The gage
pressure

Texas; cleaned out by the Texas

Rangers in 1925. [RI,

of the main-

oil

combination of heavy, lubricating,

natural

oil

and lead

soap.

[NO]

fluid

which constantly tends

to

occupy a greater space as a result of the


repulsion existing between the molecules.
2. The vapor which comes from petroleum or wells. [D] 3. A popular term
for gasoline (not used in this sense by
refinery workers). [KI]
v.i. 4. To yield
gas. [BB, p. 490]

gas, blast furnace

Galician

method
method.

See
Canadian pole system and kicker-board
drilling

cable-tool

method. [LDO,

p. 375]

within the cylinders of a gas engine.


by-product of the furnaces. [POR]

gallery, n.

tunnel driven through the borehole


sand to increase the drainage

to the oil

capacity

of

well. Also

Adapted from
[BA,

general

called

mining

drift.

terms.

p. 171]

The burning

or peeling of pipe threads.

p. 30]

gamblers, bootleggers,
and other questionable characters at Luretreat

gas, carbureted

Gas which has been treated with oil


vapor to increase its luminosity. [POR]

dry or natural
Natural gas free or nearly free of

gas,

oil

gas a hole

To make

Gander Slue

and gasoline vapor. [POR]

galling, n.

[OPL,

Gas obtained from the waste gases


from blast furnaces. It is very
clean and can be burned successfully only
issuing

for

gases in a
er or not

[Heard]

a gas test for combustible

manhole
it

is

to

determine wheth-

safe to send in workers.

gas

149

gas drive

gas anchor

extended below a pumping barrel of a deep well pump to prevent the pump -from becoming gasbound. [POR]
special pipe

gas and

oil

separator

flow tank equipped with a float and


control valves for separating gas from

[LDO]

oil.

A scale

weigh gas or

or balance used to
its

specific gravity.

[POR]

gas engine

An

which
most com-

internal combustion engine

One

of the

monly used prime movers furnishing


power in petroleum production. [D]

1.

superior lampblack collected by in-

troducing a cold iron surface into a luminous gas flame. See carbon black. [D]

Having some property

lar to gas. 2.

Lacking

model-T Ford which workers depended upon to get to and from


work. In addition, each one was usually
given a fancy girl's name, such as Jezebel,
Lil' Liza Jane, Lizzie, and 01' Maud.
early

of gas; simi-

solidity: fluid,

but

not liquid. [POR]

gas factor

The number

gas buggy

The

system of repressuring by which


gas is compressed and forced
down input wells to push the oil to producing wells. Practical only in large
areas. [BA, p. 168]

gaseous, adj.

gas black

surplus

uses gas as fuel.

gas balance
to obtain

lift

of cubic feet of gas pro-

duced with each barrel of


gas-oil ratio.

gas

oil.

Also called

[POR]

field
tract or district yielding natural gas.

[D]

[ST, p. 25]

gas gage

gas cap

gas overlying an oil


structure which contains more gas than
the

deposit

oil

of

can dissolve. [BA,

p. 62]

gas carbon

solid

carbon which coats the interior


manufacture

of gas retorts; used in the

of carbon rods or pencils for the electric

arc

and

ies.

[D]

for the plates of voltaic batter-

The coke formed


called to distinguish
in coke ovens.

from

that

formed

[D]

Descriptive of

gasholder

large, inverted steel

tank or bowl

thin sheet of composition or metal


make a joint water-, gas-, or
steam-tight. [POR] 2. slang.
pan1.

used to

mud

or water

[DO, November

device used to

mixed
gas

14, 1947]

show

the presence of

gas-distillate, n.

natural gas rich in gasoline hydrocarbons. [DO, November 14, 1947]

producer is a gas well producing rich or wet gas; sometimes called


a wet gasser. [Reported]

lift

Gas energy which causes a new oil


well to flow. The natural supply of compressed gas, which is stored with and
absorbed in the oil, expands and forces the
oil to rise to the surface of the ground
and into storage tanks. After the natural
gas energy has lessened to some extent
and the well will not flow any longer,
an artificial gas lift may be provided by
introducing high-pressure gas from an1.

methane. [D]

gas-distillate

manu[POR]

floated in a basin of water to hold

cake. [Heard]

gas detector

or mercury, open at one end, the other


end screwed into the vessel containing
the gas. [D]

gasket, n.
gas retorts; so

in
it

gas-cut, adj.
gas.

a bent, graduated tube containing water

factured gas for domestic use.

gas coke

with

An instrument for ascertaining the


pressure of gas, generally consisting of

gaslock

150

other source, such as a compressor plant.

There are three principal methods of gas


lift: continuous, periodic, and intermittent. Continuous gas-lift is usually employed where large production is desired.
Periodic gas lift is employed where wells
are allotted only a small production per
day and are started at comparatively long
periods either by controlled introduc-

by the natural accumulation of pressure in sufficient volume to

tion of gas or

flow the well only periodically. Intermittent gas lift is usually employed when
the well is a small producer. The injection of the gas is regulated at intervals

ranging from a few minutes to several

[POR]

hours.

v.t. 2.

To

raise the level

of oil in a well in which the gas pressure


has failed or become spent. [KI]

liquid produces seven cubic feet of gas.

[A]
gasoline, n.

An

name

indefinite

of boiling points
tillate

for a light distil-

petroleum covering a wide range

late of

down

gravities. Any disBaume may be con-

and

to 56

sidered gasoline at present, or any distillate having an end point higher than
470. There is no fixed definition because of the continuing necessity for

making deeper

cuts into the crude. Gaso-

one of the most valuable constituents of petroleum, and is used as a fuel


for automobiles,
tractors,
boats,
and
trucks; as a solvent in many manufacline

is

turing operations; as a cleanser;

etc.

[POR]

GASOLINE
gaslock, n.
The formation of bubbles of gasified
fuel producing a pocket of gas which prevents the fuel from flowing through the

amount

carbureter jets in sufficient


supply the engine. [KOT]

gas

oil,

to

oil,

An

heavy

moonlight

ethyl,

natural,

natural gasoline, navy gasoline

and new

navy gasoline, over, poly, gas, poly, gasoline, polymerized gasoline, raw gasoline,
reformed gasoline, regular, regular gaso-

light

product between
"heavy end" and paraffin distillate; distinguished from heavy gas oil, which is
obtained in subsequent reduction of
intermediate

paraffin

ethyl gasoline, flash gasoline, gas, mid-

night ethyl,

See heavy end.

gas

See aviation gasoline, casing head, casing-head gas, casing-head gasoline, cooking oil, cracked gasoline, cut, drip gasoline, dump gas, East Texas gas, ethyl,

distillate.

yields fixed gases.

So
[D]

prived of naphtha.

called
2.

because

line,

solidified

gasoline,

sour

gasoline,

specification gasoline, stabilized gasoline,

gasoline,

straight-run

sweet

gasoline,

wild natural gasoline.

it

Petroleum de-

gasoline, casing-head

See casing-head gasoline and natural

[NO]

gasoline.

[POR]

gas-oil ratio

The
by a

proportion of gas to

specific pool or

oil

produced

well; usually ex-

pressed in cubic feet per barrel of

oil.

[POR]

meter
gas

See cracked gasoline. [POR]


gasoline, straight-run

See straight-run gasoline. [POR]

gas-oil-ratio

much

gasoline, cracked

is

meter

gasoline, synthetic

used in determining
required to lift a certain

ber of barrels of

oil.

how
num-

[Heard]

gasol, n.

A product condensed from casinghead gas by the application of pressure


of 850 to 900 pounds per square inch at
ordinary temperature.
gravity of 0.5,

It

has a specific

and one pound of the

Artificial

gasoline

made from

sub-

stances other than petroleum or petrole-

um

products.

[POR]

gasoline additive
Material such as tetraethyl lead and
diphenylamine added to gasoline to improve its burning property. The additive inhibits gum formation and supposedly absorbs the knock. [KI]

gas zone

i5i
gasoline plant

The

stone

which gasoline is recovered from gas. There are three types


plant

in

of such plants: compression, absorption,

and combination (qq.

v.).

[BA,

p. 155]

and

trap especially designed

for trapping out or

removing

built

gasoline,

natural gasoline condensate,


and water from natural gas under pressure. The term is applied to receivers,
heat exchangers, piping, drip pockets,
light

oils,

condensers, run-down legs, scrubbers, and


various other types of equipment in the
natural-gasoline plant, the oil refinery,

and the

oil field.

[POR]

gasoline value
The value of intermediate distillates
such as kerosene and distillate fuel as
substitutes for crude in the production

[SHU,

of gasoline.

p. 86]

gas pressure

The

upon

to the first sand in Butler County,


Pennsylvania. [NO]
ers

gasser, n.
1. A well producing natural gas. 2.
braggart or one who talks too much.
[Reported]

gas spurts
Small mounds appearing above geological strata which contain organic matter. Said to be caused by the escape of
gas.

[POR]

gassy, adj.
Pertaining
gas.

impregnated

or

to

[DO, November

with

12, 1947]

gas tank

A device used for separating gas and


See gas trap. 2. A container for gasoline. [Heard]
1.

oil.

gas trap

chief cause of oil

movement

in the

drainage of wells. Gravity, hydrostatic


pressure, and rock pressure, forces foreign to the oil but brought to bear directly

from which natural gas is ob[POR] 2. A name given by drill-

gasoline trap

tained.

it,

are in part responsible for

the flow of oil into the well.

[POR]

gas-pressure regulator valve


A balanced valve with a diaphragm
to regulate the flow of gas, depending
upon the pressure to be maintained in a

[POR]

gas pipe line.

One
rate

of the

many

devices used to sepa-

and save the gas from the flow and

lines of producing oil wells. The


mixture of oil and gas is allowed to
flow through a chamber large enough
to reduce the velocity of the mixture to
the point at which the oil and gas tend

lead

to separate.

the

chamber

The
is

gas seeking the top of


off from the oil,

drawn

while the oil is discharged at the bottom. [D] Now more frequently called
oil and gas separator. [BA, p. 153]

gas producer

furnace in which coal is burned for


the manufacture of producer gas. Also

used to produce gas as needed for an engine.

[POR]

gas well
1. A deep boring from which natural
gas is discharged. 2. In oil and gas leases,
a well having such a pressure and volume
gas (taking into consideration its
proximity to market) that it can be
utilized commercially. [D]
of

gas regulator
See gas-pressure regulator valve.
[Heard]

GAS WELL

gas reversion

See blower, blue whistler, gasser, pro-

See polyforming. [KE]

ducer, relief well, roarer, wildcat.

gasworks

gas rock

field

name

Caddo Lake,

for the

Nacatoh sand

in

Louisiana. [RI, p. 96]

gas sand
1.

stratum of sand or porous sand-

plant in which gas

is

manufactured.

[POR]
gas zone

geological formation containing gas.

gate

152

gate, n.

1.

oil.

it

valve which controls the flow of


homemade movable barrier in

2.

the partitions of oil pits which can be


raised or lowered to control the amount
or depth of mud in each pit. [Heard]

sluice valve

with two inclined

seats

between which the valve wedges down in


closing; the passages through the valve
are in an uninterrupted line from one
end to the other, and the valve when
opened is drawn up into the dome or
leaving a straight passage
across the full diameter of the pipe. [D]
thus

recess,

oil

through gravity

expense of operating small

on the

lines

tanks, thereby avoiding the

lease

leases.

Many

fields,

field

pumps

particularly

the larger ones, require the combined


use of both gravity and lease-pumping

methods. [OPL,

gate valve

can receive

from

gauge,

p.

6]

n.

See gage.

gauge glass

glass tube set in gauge-glass cocks

whole being
connected to a boiler or other vessel for
the purpose of observing the liquid level.

in a vertical position, the

[POR]

gather grapes

To

play

atorily.

up

to a superior; used derog-

[Heard]

gauge hole

An opening in the hinged lid of a


tank through which samples of the oil
can be taken and the tank gauged. [BA,

gather grass for pipe rabbit


A sell (q. v.). [Heard]

p. 158]

gathering lines

gauge

1.

The

tanks at

[D]

2.

connecting production
wells to trunk pipe lines.
lines connected to the wells

oil

The

which carry the gas to the main pipe


lines in natural and casing-head gas systems. Gathering lines are usually smaller

than trunk lines and range from two to


eight inches in diameter; they are more
or less temporary facilities, the extent of

depending upon the


an area, pool, or field.
They are built speedily and are rapidly
extended when new wells begin to protheir

service

producing

duce.

life

of

[POR]

gathering
See

life

field

pump. [BA,

pipelining.

the

tank.

will sink

gauger,

Properly weighted, the line


oil. [KI]

through thick
n.

One who measures

the oil content


tanks and usually turns it into the
pipe line. 2. One who systematically determines the amount of oil in a pro1.

in

ducer's storage. [D]

gauge

tickets

Report sheets for the lease pumper.


p. 138]

gauging nipple
p. 175]

See gaging nipple.

gathering station
field station at the

main trunk

[LDO]

Gbo.
end

along a spur
line built to tap a particular district. In
either case, it serves as a feeder which,
with a number of similar stations, usually obtains a quantity of oil equal to the
capacity of the trunk lines. The gathering stations are connected to the trunk
lines by discharge lines which usually
range from four to eight inches in diameter. In some fields the topography
of the

to

measuring line let down into a tank


determine the amount of substance in

[WIN,

pump

line

pipes

line or

permits the location of a station so that

Gumbo; an abbreviation used


[LDO, p. 428]

in drill-

ing reports.

gear case

oil

Oil used to lubricate gears, such as the


transmission gears of an automobile.

heavy oil, strongly adhesive, which


should be as little affected by changes in
temperature as possible. [POR]

gear grease

A compounded grease with such


strong adhesive properties that it will

get one's sack full

153
not be thrown
"track."

off

by centrifugal force or

[POR]

varies

upon

whose composition
between wide limits, depending
explosive

use.

its

typical composition

is

62.5 per cent nitroglycerin, 25.5 per cent

sodium

per cent collodion


cotton, 8.7 per cent meal, and 0.8 per
plastic, waterproof, high
cent soda. 2.
explosive of great density, used prinnitrate,

2.5

cipally in close

to

water.

An

it is

exposed

[POR]

explosive.

Genesee

work where

Solidified nitroglycerin or

3.

name

for

petroleum.

[GI,

assumption that microgas-leakages occur above oil and gas deposits, the leakages being determined by soil, soil-air,
or comparable analyses. [LDO, p. 323]
geoilogist [ge-oil-o-gist]

nickname

for a geologist. ]BB, p.

489[
geoline, n.

water-circulation bit used in geo-

George White balance


1.
A balance whose

vaseline or petroleum.

[POR]

German

Rocks of one geological age. [POR]

forced

is

vaseline

compound

of dissolved paraffin or

[POR]

oils.

get, v.t.

reach by drilling: "Well abandoned

after getting granite."

[DO, January

18,

1948]

get a ball on
Said of mud which sticks to the
and impedes drilling. [BB, p. 490]

drill

get a bone

To

drill in

hard rock. [BB,

p. 490]

get after her wild ass


A command to get busy and finish a
job. [Reported]
get

geological horizon

GEOLOGIST,

total

through and shows only the net "over"


or "short," but not both; first practiced
by one George White, an early employee
of the Gulf Oil Company, v.t. 2. To
make books appear to balance. [Heard]

To

geochemical methods of prospecting


Methods of prospecting based on the

>

ceresin in colorless petroleum

p. 11]

logging.

electric

physical boring. [PE]

oil

early

in

geophysical jetting bit

gelatin dynamite

An

used

[Heard]

truck driver/ [Heard]

1.

detectors

to

gear jammer

graph unit. [POR] Also called by field


workers a jug or pot. 2. The name given

canned

it

To

complete a job. Also get


[Heard]

it

jellied.

n.

get

it

kellied

See bird dog, exploration crew, geoilogist, mud smeller, pebble picker, pebble
pup, rock hound, rocksy, roxy, sand
smeller, smeller, wrinkle chaser.

complete a job. Originated in the


phrase have the \elly down, meaning the
crew is ready to quit. [Heard]

geologize,

get off center

v.t.

To

determine by examination whether


or not a tract of land has favorable oil

[LDO,

possibilities.

geolograph,

p. 335]

n.

An

automatic drilling log which


records both the drill speed and the
stoppage intervals. [LDO, p. 401]

geophone,
1.

To

detector used for recording vibra-

equipment of a seismo-

The

start or to start again.

sion originated in the early days

expres-

when

Ajax engines were used: if the engine


was allowed to stop on center, it had to
be kicked off before

Now

refers to

get one's jelly

To

n.

tions; part of the

To

any

it

would

activity.

start again.

[Heard]

down

quit one's job. [Heard]

get one's sack full

To

get tired of one's job. [Heard]

on the

get

line

154

get on the line

loading and unloading. Also called gin

pipelining. To start oil flowing in a


pipe line. [Heard; OPL, p. 271] 2.
command to get busy. Also get on the

truc\. [Heard]

beam. [Heard]
get out of the weather
To get under shelter in bad weather.
[BB, p. 490]

To find

SA,

p. 200]

a leak in a pipe line. [Heard;


2.

To

find oil or gas produc-

When the run checks


operator is said to be in
when a well is completed it
tion. [Reported]
tion.

come

in, the
production;
is on produc-

to

hurry or get to work.

short term for gin-pole truc\.

small scow which was used to transport oil during the oil boom at Pithole,
Pennsylvania, about 1865. See guiper.
[T, p. 33]
girt, n.

horizontal support for derrick bars;

girth, n.

See
n.

[POR]

girt.

girth sheets

well flowing water but little or no


is thrown out by pressure
of gas in the earth. [NO]

oil.

[Heard]

[Heard]
geyser,

[Heard]

a small girder. [Heard]

get the rag out

A command

1.

gin truck

gipe, n.

get production
1.

gin popper
See gin pole,

The water

The
an

steel plates

oil still.

forming the

sides of

[D]

Gl-style pipe line

ghost walks
The pay checks have come. [Heard]

diameter

G.I.

foot lengths. It

surface line, usually three inches in

made up

hurry. [Heard; WIN, p. 138] 2.


load or unload by means of a gin
pole. Also gin it out. [Heard]

of fifteen to twentymalleable and easy to


attach and costs about $3,000 a mile. It
is built of flexible steel with couplings
consisting of two halves of a metal ring
lined with a rubber gasket and clamped
together with two bolts. The rubber
gasket gives added flexibility to the joined
pipe lengths and permits them to be
strung easily over any type of terrain,
across rivers, or elevated across roads.

gin

During

Gas

injection;

drilling reports.

an abbreviation used in

[LDO,

p.

428]

Gib Morgan
See Morgan, Gib.
gin,
1.

v.i.

To

To

1.

it

out

To unload

a truck

hoist or gin pole. 2.

by raising the

To move

anything

is

bombing

attack,

it

jumps and

bounces like a rubber hose, but rarely


breaks; if it does, repairs can be made

[WIL, pp. 186-87]

with a gin truc\. [Heard]

quickly.

gin job

give a going over

A truck with poles set up to aid in


loading or unloading. [Heard]

To reprimand severely;
[Heard]

gin pole

give her the turns


To screw the joints of a pipe line

small frame substituted for an


old derrick. 2.
frame over a derrick
used to pull up the crown-block. [Heard]
3.
pole used to support hoisting tackle.
1.

[POR]
gin-pole truck
A truck equipped with a gin pole for

gether.

[WIL,

to

ream

out.

to-

p. 53]

give more screw


CABLE TOOL DRILLING. To let OUt the
temper screw in order to lengthen the
jar

stroke,

which shortens

hole deepens.

[LDO,

p. 396]

as

the drill

give one his 403

the third,

To

give a worker his discharge notice.


See give one his time. [Heard]

give one his time


To discharge a worker. The expression
is derived from the W. P. A. layoff order. [Heard]
gland, n.

The outer portion of a stuffing box:


a tubular projection embracing the rod,
extending into the bore of the box, and
bearing against the packing. [D]
glass rock

A name given by drillers to the first


sand at Smith's Ferry, Pennsylvania, in
[NO]

1861.

valve

whose chamber

mately spherical.
ball

is

2.

is

approxi-

valve in which a

pressed against a seat to close

it.

[D]

"wise guy."

[OK]
for a lease tractor;

[Heard]

go dead

To

cease flowing; said of a well.

[DO,

October 22, 1947]


go-devil, n.

scraper with self-adjusting spring

which is inserted in a pipe line


K and carried forward by fluid pressure to
^ clear away accumulations from the walls
y of the pipes. Said to have been named by
Q Pennsylvania Dutch farmers who as\ sociated the device with witches and evil
spirits because of the rumbling or chugging noises the scraper makes as it problades

through the pipe. syn. Pig. 2.


device used to explode the nitroglycerin
in shooting an oil well. [NO]
gresses

go down the creek with the

tell

to the right as one turns a plow bolt. The


expression is now used contemptuously
to explain any operation that is easy for
a trained worker but difficult for a new
one. [Reported]

go fishing

To recover from the borehole lost or


misplaced equipment. See fish, n. [BB,
p. 490]
go

in blind

guess where to drill for oil without the aid of fortuneteller or wizard:
"He went in blind." An early term used
in oil-prospecting.

[NO]

go into the hole


lower a string of pipe or a tool into

most productive areas of


the John

of the

the Ranger, Texas, oil field:

York Survey.

[RI, p. 149]

Golden Groove
A narrow sector of the South Ceres
pool of Noble County, Oklahoma: the
northeast-southwest trend of the "shoestring" play which runs to the northeast
side of the Southeast Ceres pool. [DO,
April 28, 1948]

Golden Lane
1. The heaviest oil-producing area of
the Mexia, Texas, oil field. [RI, p. 173]
2. The Barton arch district of central

Kansas. 3. The Tampico


Mexico. [Reported]

district

of

Golden Trend

very productive series of pools in

Garvin and McClain counties, Oklahoma.

[DO, November

16, 1947]

oil

To be discharged for permitting the


storage tanks to run over. According to
veteran oil-field workers, the first penalty for

expression originally used to

One
name

also called a donkey.

1.

An

a new worker how to screw a nut or a


pipe; it means to turn the nut or pipe

Golden Block

goat, n.
derisive

oil.

goes on like a plow bolt

To

the cree\ with the

the well. See run. [BB, p. 490]

Gluckenheimer, Mr.

down

[Heard]

To

globe valve
1.

gone to water

55

such an offense was fifteen days'

pay; the second, thirty days' pay; and

gone to

salt

water

See gone to water.

gone to water
Descriptive of a well

drowned out by

water in the formation. [BA,

p. 140]

good

structure

156

good structure

An

go wild

anticline likely to contain a deposit

The

only perfect structure

of

oil.

of

moderate

is

one

size, relatively free of frac-

and composed of beds


from all directions toward the
crest which make a trap for the oil.
Called a closed structure or a dome; may
ture by faulting,

Said of a well which cannot be brought


under control. [ME, p. 763]

g.p.m. test,

To

v.t.

rising

natural gas in order to determine the gallons per thousand of na-

be longer than

determine the gallons per thousand of


natural gasoline contained in natural gas.

wide, or irregular in
shape. It is essential that the rocks dip
downward away from the crest in every
direction.

goo

it is

[BA,

graper (q.

v.).

derogatory

name

for a shovel.

line

on a

The connecting member


a rotary swivel. [POR]

still.

[NO]

of the hose

2.

on

fishing tool. 2.

An

implement for

when

it

parts

small drilling unit used in shallow


areas. Also called gopher rig. [Reported]

gradient, n.

abbreviation for gas-oil-ratio meter

(q. v.).

[Heard]

Goslin,

n.

portable pumper, No. 10,


Oil Country Specialties

Manufacturing Company. See Duck and


Drake. [CC, 1942, p. 1,804]
go-to-hell

refining. Aggregate in which there


a continuous grading from coarse to
fine in the sizes of mineral fragments.
is

[KOT]

GOR meter

The smallest
made by the

refining. An oil sample taken at a


given time, for example, at 2:00 p.m., for
laboratory tests. [Heard]

graded aggregates

n.

wagon

nitroglycerin truck. [Reported]

An

n.

catching the end of a cable


in the well. [NO]

n.

The vapor

go-up,

drill-

grab sample

gooseneck,

test to

[KI]

grab,

[Heard]

An

Evidently a corrup-

goo gulper. [Reported]

gopher,

n. 2.

Gravity; an abbreviation used in


ing reports. [LDO, p. 428]

goon spoon

1.

tural-gasoline content.

1.

test

Gr.

p. 58]

golliper

tion of

1.

ket seems to be fairly

"The oil maron the go-up."

to

an improved type

of casing perforator used principally in

Perforation

is

effected

by

bringing the star wheel into forcible contact with the interior of the casing.

[POR]

[NO]

Grahamite,
in a plant

Com-

go wagon
syn. Casing truck, casing

on plant

[Heard, Sinclair Refining


pany, Houston, Texas]
time.

dolly. [Reported]

Graham, n.
The name given
California.

n.

increase in activity:

government work
Private work done

Pressure drop. If the gradient from one


portion of an oil formation is greater
than that of another because the former
has been allowed to produce oil at a faster
rate, much of the oil from the second
portion of the formation will eventually
move to the first. [BA, p. 145]

n.

hydrocarbon, resembling

al-

which is
soluble in carbon disulphide and chloroform (but not in alcohol) and is fusible.
bertite

It

wagon, or

brittle

fic

in

its

jet-black

luster,

occurs in vein-like masses, has a specigravity of 1.145, and has conchoidal

fracture. [A]

grease

157

monkey

ploration to measure terrestrial gravita-

granite rock

very hard formation which is


most impossible to drill through. [S]

al-

tion.

A
it is

worked

p.

323]

gravity, n.

granny rag

A rag used in doping pipe;

[LDO,

measure of thickness or body of an


Also called

oil.

viscosity, (q. v.).

[KI]

back and forth around the pipe to spread


the dope evenly. [Heard]

gravity, A.P.I.
scale

developed by the

graper,

American Petroleum

Institute to express

The

n.

worker

who

[WIN,

grass gooser
A scuffle hoe (q.
peeler. [Heard]

grasshopper, n.
1. A tool used
slips

to his boss

p. 138]

and

One

joint,

join pipes

part of the

forming a

braced over
A pumping unit; a
counterbalance on a

cradle, while the other part

is

[POR] 2.
pump. 3. The
pumping unit. [Heard]
the top.

jack

around the

Pioneer Well (in Pennsylvania) in 1887,


because of the ludicrous movements of
the pumping arrangements: a network
of vibrating walking beams, joined together in every conceivable manner by

and links, or tied by ropes which


formed one of the most unusual sights
ever seen in any country. [NO]
bolts

grasshopper

An
1903.

rig, n.

inexpensive drilling rig in use in

[NO]

grassroots, n.

geophysical instrument used to determine the density of subsurface beds.

]LDO[
gravy tower

The

shift that begins

work

at

noon.

Gray's tester
An instrument used in determining
the flashing point of heavy oils. [D]

Gray vapor-phase

clay process for treating cracked dis-

in

tillates

which the vapor from the


tower

cracking

taken

is

through

the

towers. [NB, p. 556]

grease, n.

[NO] 2. A mixture of
1. Crude oil.
mineral oil with lime-and-soda soaps.
[D] 3. A short form of cup grease. 4.
Butter. [Heard]

pi.

Very shallow producing sands.


[Heard]
gravel hog

pendulum

[G]

Grasshopper City
to the region

(such

petroleum oils) have A.P.I, gravities


numerically greater than 10. [KOT]
as

gravity
to align

under the

A name given

the density of liquid petroleum products.


scale, water has a gravity of 10

In this

A.P.I. ; liquids lighter than water

Also called a pole

v.).

preparatory for welding.


tool

up"

"plays

for special favors.

gravity

truck driver. [Heard]

gravel-packed liner
A pipe strainer packed with gravel;
used to filter sand from the oil in the
well. [PE]
graveyard, n.
The midnight to 8:00 a.m. tour. [ME,
p. 763] Also called hoot owl. [KI]
gravimeter, n.
An instrument used in geophysical ex-

grease box or cup


A box or cup which contains lubricating fat or grease used on bearings. [D]

grease has eaten

it

up

Said of a piece of machinery that has


worn out because it has not been greased.

[Heard]

grease hole

A new
grease
1.

oil well.

[Heard]

monkey

The

oiler at a

pump

filling-station attendant. 3.

helper. [Heard]

station. 2.

machinist's

grease-mope

158

grease-mope,

n.

pipelining. The worker who carries


the grease bucket and the mope pole;
his duty is to apply grease to the threads
of the joints. [WIL, p. 70]

grease plant

An

department of certain

auxiliary
in

refineries

which lime-and-soda soaps

and various fatty products (such as inedible lard and tallow oils, horse oil, etc.)
are compounded with nonviscous paraffin oils or other petroleum products into
semifluid or pastry lubricants technically called greases.

[D]

greaser, n.

An

1.

afflicted

136]

oil well.

with

oil

n. pi. 3.

[Heard] 2. A person
on the brain. [OIL, p.

The

clothes in

which

oil-

work. [Heard]

fielders

Greaser, the

An extra train on the Pennsylvania


Railroad which ran in 1898 between
Pittsburgh and Dennison, Ohio; so called
because its patronage consisted largely of
oilmen. [NO]
worms

grease

The

absence of grease. The expression


the grease worms got it eat up means
that parts are worn out because they
have not been greased. [Heard]

greasy

money

Money that comes


2. Money made in

1.

ly.

and quick-

oil activities.

[K,

greasy spoon

California for petroleum.

boardinghouse. Also called onion


and ptomaine cafe. [ST, p. 30]

drill pipe having a tool joint at each end; used to


lengthen the drill string when less than
a regular stand is required. May consist
of one, two, or more lengths screwed

together.

[LDO]

stem
Heavy square

grief

pipe which works


through the square hole in the rotary
table and drives the drill stem; employed
in rotary drilling. Also called \elly, \elly
bar, \elly
joint.

The

joint, \elly rod,


origin of the term

who makes an unsuccessful


has also been suggested that
the manufacturers who perfected the pipe
so named it because they suffered grievous setbacks in producing a durable hollow square pipe. [Heard; POR]

to a driller

boring.

It

grind-out, n.

sample of

grind-out machine

which works on the principle


cream separator to show what per-

device

of a

centage of the oil tested is BS&W. Also


called sha\e-out machine. [Heard]
grip, n.

See dick grip. [Heard]

Kanawha County, West


[NO]
green hand

ground bed

boll weevil (q. v.). [Reported]


oil

high-quality petroleum. Refers to


the color of certain petroleums and not
to any absence of seasoning or maturing.

High-grade crudes have a greenish cast.


the name implies high quality.

Thus

from the grind-out or

oil

sha\e-out machine. [Heard]

green briar limestone


A name given by drillers to a limestone found at a depth of 1,860 feet in

green

and square
unknown.

is

Field workers say that it is so called because it brings grief to a worker who is
struck by it in making a connection, and

groceries, n.

Virginia (1890).

[NO]

greyhounds, n. pi.
"Make-up" lengths of

A
easily

p. 133]

hotel

[POR] 2. The second distillate produced


from refined shale oil. 3 A term used in

pi.

Lunch (not

restricted to the oil field).

[Heard]

A bed in which electricity is grounded:


formerly a bed of buried metal used extensively to attract electricity

away from

pipe lines; now being replaced by a carbon-base electrode, which has proved

more

satisfactory.

ground

[Heard]

roll

surface

wave

slow velocity. [PE]

of long duration

and

159

ground water

and

The

estimate.

v.t.

gummy

bottoms

To make

a rough

water which permeates rock


masses in an unbroken sheet, filling pores
and fissures. [D]

estimate. [Heard]

ground-water level

of a pipe, a tube, a casing,

The

below which the rock and

level

subsoil

down

to

unknown

depths are

with water. [POR]

filled

thin cement mixture forced into the

ground

water from seeping or flowing into an


excavation.
Frequently employed
in
shaft-sinking and borehole-drilling. [D]

The foundation used

and

for the jack

jack boards in laying pipe lines. [D]

[LDO,

drilling reports.

guiper, n.

piece

of

timber, usually

inches by 10 inches, in

which the

narrow barge

10

bull

wheel is set. The shaft of the wheel runs


through a hole in the post. [Heard]

in the eighteen sixties.

oil

lineman's

helper

who

carries

the

equipment and sends it up to the lineman


as he needs it. The derivation is unknown: one field worker claims he is so
called because he grunts and groans from
the load he carries; another says it is a
blend of ground and hunt, for the worker must stay on the ground and hunt
rail

blown

oil

produced from Texas pe-

troleum; 99.4 per cent of the bitumen


content is soluble in carbon disulphide.

gum,
1.

n.

hollow log used

of a well (1903).

as the first casing

[NO]

2.

mucilagi-

nous substance found in petroleum. [KI]

gum, gasoline
The residue

of

volatilized

gasoline.

[KOT]
n. pi.

odoriferous, tar-colored

guard for preventing

acci-

who may come

near

dents to persons

sistency of putty.

working machines. Standard guard rails


are generally made of one and one-

gumbo,

fourth inch pipe, one rail forty-two inches,


the other twenty-one inches above the

as clay,

[POR]

guessing stick
slide rule.

gum

gummy,

of the con-

[NO]

n.

relatively sticky formation, such

encountered in drilling. [D]

dynamite

gummy,

The engineering department. [Heard]

guestimate,

Any

mud

Explosive gelatine. [D]

guessing department

1.

p. 41]

Soil formations consisting of a

safety

p.

Gulf binder

gum-beds,

material for the lineman. [Heard]

guard

[AS,

144]

[POR]

grunt, n.

fifteen to twenty-five

with a capacity of twentyfifty barrels; used for transport-

long,

feet

guipper, n.
See guiper. [WIL,

p. 428]

grudging post

floor.

pi.

Planks set up perpendicularly to


guide the direction of the mall (1903).
[NO] 2. A contrivance which directs the
motion of rods in a pumping well. Also
called rod guides. [Heard]

ing

Gray sand; an abbreviation used in

[PE]

five to

gr. sd.

mouth

to guide

etc.,

or sustain another piece of equipment.

growler board

large

accessory inserted into the

1.

crevices of a stratum to prevent

Any

guides, n.

grout, n.

guide rib

[Heard]

gummy bottoms

n.

rough estimate;

adj.

Viscous but without lubricating power; resinous, sticky, but not oily. [POR]

a blend of guess

Mucilaginous residues
[PE]

in

petroleum.

gum
gum

160

test

gut, n.

test

which shows the amount of

test

1.

steam

line inside a larger pipe,

residue after the evaporation of a specified amount of gasoline. [KOT]

so placed to heat the fluid in the larger

gun

a conductor. [Heard]

barrel

shortened form of gun-barrel tan\

(q. v.).

[Heard]

small

made

used as

feet high;
oil,

diametric

wood with

of

tank,

about sixteen
a flow tank to receive
staves

water, and gas, which are separated


oil is taken into the oil

gun

barrel.

[POR]

on an engine,

split to

make

barker

and

gutter gas

An

up

to three

one part Portland cement.


The mixture, properly applied with an
parts sand to

air gun to the walls of a concrete tank,


makes it impermeable to water and oil.
[POR]

gun perforator

[DO, January

An
has

guy anchor
The support on which
attached. See dead

A
mast

well that flows naturally and


to blow the oil

enough gas pressure

[NO]

n.

mineral composed of water and calcium sulphate. Contains 32.5 per cent
lime. [POR] 2. A term sometimes ap-

Oklahoma refineries to the refrom lime neutralization in acid

plied in

gusher sand

fuse

Oil sand with sufficient gas content to


the oil to the surface; a sand from

lift

which gushers produce. [BB,

treatment. [KI]

gypsy

p. 488]

driller

driller

"V Gib Morgan

gushing gold
Petroleum.

is

See guy. [D]

n.

to the surface.

guy

ring on the head block of a derrick


to which the guy is attached [POR]

gypsum,

oil

a derrick

man. [D]

guy wire

well flowing by heads. [Heard]

gusher,

or a spar in place.

30, 1948]

gurgling well

boom

guy ring

device used to perforate casing by


steel bullets through the casing

shooting
walls.

intoxicating drink. [ST, p. 57]


n.

rope which holds the end of a


2. A rope attached to the top of a derrick and extending obliquely to the ground, where it
is fastened. Also called a guy wire. [D]
1.

in proportions as required,

muffler

the

guy,

mixture of cement, water, and sand

exhaust louder. See


squealer. [Heard]

originally

gunite, n.

insulating cover over

v.t. 3. To flow a
well as rapidly as possible. [DO, January
29, 1948]

there before the

tank. Also called

The

2.

gutted muffler

gun-barrel tank

[KI]

line.

[HOO,

p. 52]

<p [BG,

who

follows

(q. v.)

is

boom

towns.

a typical example.

p. 37]

H
Haas

An

tester

instrument used to obtain the


ing point of petroleum. [A]

half soles
flash-

Welded
of pipe.

patches covering a large area

[OPL,

p. 84]

hang her on

i6i

Either running tools into the well or


trip includes both
pulling them out.

[Heard]

activities.

used to grasp

lost tools

lying against the side of the well. [D]

half

wraps

Clamp-like

damaged

oil

used

devices
pipe;

worker

who

beats out a cadence for

work

by. [K, p. 129]

fishing tool with jaws bent in an incircle;

the pipeliners to

hand-dug well

half-turn socket

wrench

hammerman

half trip

complete

the

two

to

pieces

repair

make

well excavated with hand tools, an


method of securing oil which followed the even earlier practice of gathering oil from seepages and from the surface of water. Such wells were necessarily
very shallow. [D]
early

hand him the package

To

blacken a workman's face with a


v.). [KI]

new pipe which is placed over the old


pipe while oil is flowing. [Reported]

package (q.

Halliburton line

hand's around to West Texas, the


A danger signal: the well is about to
collapse. See Long Beach, 1. [Heard]

1. A heavy-duty pipe capable of withstanding great pressure; used in cementing wells. [Heard] 2. A steel measuring
line or wire used in measuring depth of

wells through a calibrated device.


steel

is

so treated that

Sometimes

it

The

will not stretch.

hand specimen

A
as a

1.

p.

adj.

connection loose
by hand. [WIN,
Cool enough to be handled.

to be taken off

139]

2.

handy

billy

A small

pump used to pick up


equipped with an extension
make the work easier. [Heard]
gasoline

est

upward emanation of gases will first


take place. As they ascend, these gases

liquids. It

deposit the mineral matter contained in

hang a well

the moisture they carry

and form an im-

pervious area above the crest of the anticline. Above this area the soil is low in
hydrocarbon content. Advocates of the
halo theory believe that the proper place
to drill is in the low-concentration area
within the halo. [BA, p. 76]

Hamel, n.
The name

applied to eight pipe lines


of the twenty in Operation Pluto (q. v.)
The name is derived from Hammicf{
and Ellis, the originators of the plan for
laying pipe undersea. The other twelve
pipe lines were designed by A. H. Hart-

[WIL, pp. 183-84]

hammer

used

[Heard]

high-concentration ring surrounding an anticline where the rocks have


been sharply folded and where the great-

ley.

is

Descriptive of a

enough

halo, n.

which

sample. [PE]

handy,

called piano string or piano

wire. [Reported]

piece of stone or rock

in a line

knocking sound in a steam line


caused by steam and vapor mixed with
liquid. [Heard]

to

is

off

To

stop a well. Sec bump-off post. Pertains to a jack well. [Heard]

hang her

To

off the

stop

bump-off

post.

bump-post

well

in

production. See

[Heard]

hang her on the beam


To finish a job. The

expression origi-

nated with the rod job: when the rods


have all been run back into the well, the
polish rod is fastened to the beam, and
the well begins to pump again. [Heard]

hang her on the hook

To

lift

erations.

bottom (so they


and shut down drilling op-

the tools off

will not stick)

[Heard]

hang her on the wrench


1. An order to run the tools into the
well and leave them suspended from the

hard asphalt
wrench

162

in order to

keep anything from

might cause a
fishing job. 2. To shut down any well;
to leave a well by itself. 3. To complete
any job. [Heard]
falling into the hole that

hard asphalt
which has

Solid asphalt

tration of less than ten.

normal pene-

[KOT]

hard-boiled hat
A safety hat. [Reported]

Hard

rock. [S]

n.

which must be driven


in with a hammer. [Heard] 2. A worker
from Tennessee. [PO]
1.

leg screw

oil company
name for a poor-boy company
[MU, p. 489]

hardly-able

field

(q. v.).

hard-rock driller

A driller who excuses a poor performance by claiming that the formation is


difficult to drill. [BB, p. 489]
hardy,

medicine of which petroleum

Harmonial,

is

the

[NO]

of a producing well drilled


James, an ardent spiritualist.
was said that a "spirit-guide" caused

Abram

him

to drill in that particular spot,

James named
spiritualism

his well in

which he

and

honor of the

professed. [GI, p.

166]

harness

v.) of a truck.

[Re-

ported]

have a hole in the wall


To claim more footage

in drilling than
has actually been drilled, syn. Make a
hole with a pencil and steal hole. [BB,
p. 490]

have one's ears moved back

To get a haircut; an expression used


by early pipeliners. [Reported]
To

the length of the kelly,


necessary to add another joint
of drill stem. 2. To put the kelly in the
rat hole preparatory to quitting the drilldrill

making

it

ing job.

3.

To

quit anything. [Heard]

n.

device in the derrick behind which


is racked to prevent it from swarming. The rack resembles the farm tool

pipe
for

which

it

was named. [Heard]

hay rake

corruption of hayrac\ (q. p.).

Hd. sd.
Hard sand; an abbreviation used
drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]

oil

Cylinder stock, generally of a glossy


black color, containing 5 per cent neat'soil.

maze

of upright pipes or wires near

or before a

still;

head,

more

specifically

ap-

plied to large pipes, five or more, ascend-

ing from a larger horizontal pipe and


ending in another still larger pipe over-

in

n.

The

pressure of a fluid upon a unit


area caused by the height of the surface
1.

[POR]

harp, n.

hat rack
The headache (q.

[Heard]

harness, v.t.
To bring under control. [S]

foot

workers. Originally a nautical expression.


See also manhead and topside, for other
nautical and related terms. [KI]

hayrack,

n.

The name
It

in the top of the tank allowing ventilation and an entrance for

1.

[NO]

chief constituent (1903).

by

n.

The opening

have the kelly down

n.

forge tool.

Harlem Oil

hatch,

hatchet knot
A knot which cannot be untied and
must be cut. [Heard]

hard diggin(g)
hardhead,

head, horizontal to the lower pipe. Petroleum products are cooled here for the
next operation. [KI]

of the fluid above the point at which the


pressure is taken. [D] 2. The circular
end plate of an oil still, a boiler, an engine cylinder, etc. 3. The action of a well
when it flows intermittently: "The well
kicked off to flow by heads." [POR]

heating

163

v.t.

4.

To

well headed

flow intermittently: "The


minutes."

oil for forty-five

[DO, October

5,

separator. 3.

used on a
cable-tool drilling rig to catch the weight
of the

beam

Any

2.

[Heard]

(q. v.).

(q. v.)

in case the wrist pin breaks.

structure

number of smaller pipes lead to consuming points. [D] 2. An apparatus serva

ing as a feeder-line connection to the


A well that flows by heads

1947]

headache, n.
1. The headache post

which

serves as protec-

tion from weight, particularly the frame


on the cab of a truck which protects the
top of the cab. 3. A cry of warning given
when anything falls from the derrick to
the floor. (The expression is used also in
baseball.)
[Heard] 4. A warning cry
from a mechanic who is working around

a distillery when he is about to drop a


heavy object such as a wrench. [KI]

head flow

The flowing
headgear,
1.

The

which remains at the surface.


Rotary gearing. [Reported]

one side of the derrick

floor. It

the driller leans against

it

is

beam

at

said that

when

escap-

ing gas or drilling worries cause his head


to ache. More likely the name is derived

from the fact that the post protects the


driller from a genuine headache by preventing the walking beam from falling
when the pitman is disconnected from
the crank. [POR] Also called a life pre-

[NO]

[WIN,

at the top of the

draw

p. 138]

district

Descriptive of one who works with all


strength: "Well, boy, you be back
here in the morning without a pain in
your body, 'cause you're g;onna keep your
his

hf-aH

rlnwn

srif)

your rear up

[WIN,

p. 138]

it

you

mak e

variation of

Head Roustabout
1.

field title for the district superin-

[BO] 2. (Not cap.) The name


one who oversees several drilling
[Heard]

tendent.
for
rigs.

head up,

v.t.

To

tighten the cover of a hatch so


that pressure tightness is assured within
1.

the tank or still. Since some petroleum


products are easily vaporized, all apertures must be completely closed. See butv.i. 2. To start, as the
ton up. [KI]
gas pressure heads up in a certain place.

heater, n.

on a gas lease through which


gas lines pass to prevent freezing
as the gas expands in the line. [Heard]
boiler

coils of

heat exchanger

The

cooling unit of a refinery. Hot


is cooled as it
through pipes surrounded by

liquid or vapor in tubes

elbow." [Reported]

stock for the

tees,

large pipe into

colder liquid,

which may be charging


still

that needs to be pre-

heated. [BA, p. 237]

header, n.
1.

p.

[NO]

passes

ers are

[WIN,

oil

admonition is "Keep your head


down and your butt up and don't let anything sunburn but your butt and your
this

superintendent.

138]

[Heard]

head down and rear up

*tEisjob."

2.

head knocker

oil.

post set under the walking

works.

[D]

illuminating oil, suitable for use


in the headlight lamps of locomotives; it
is usually of 150 F. fire test. syn. Signal

headache post

headboard, n.
The crossbeam

n.

part of deep-boring apparatus

An

See headache post and headache.


[Heard]

server.

of oil by heads (q. v.).

[RI, p. 57]

headlight

headache board

oil

which

sets of boil-

connected by suitable nozzles or

or similar large pipes,

from which

heating

Any

oil

oil

21, 1947]

used for

fuel.

[WO, October

heat

it

heat

it

164

To

loosen a pipe connection by hammering it. Also warm up. [Heard]

which goes naturally toward the lower


part of the still during distillation. [KI]

heavy

test

fuel

A very

heat test
applied to lubricating and trans-

former oils to determine their stability


toward heat and also to detect incomplete or improper refining. [D]

The amount

of heat obtainable

from

a fuel, expressed, for example, in B.T.U.


per pound. [POR]

heave hook
A heavy hook equipped with a swivel
shank for easy manipulation; used on a
traveling crane for lifting and carrying
steamboat

heavy weights. See

ratchet.

oils

Lubricating oils of high specific graviheavier than water. The specific


gravity equals 1.04, and most of the

ty,

heavy

heat value

[KOT]

viscous oil used as fuel.

heavy lubricating

lubricating

oils

distill

between

200 and 300 F. [POR]


hectare, n.

A measure of land equal to 2.471


used in

oil leases.

heel bolt
pipelining.

acres;

[LDO]

leg screw which holds


the braces of the cross arms to a telephone or light pole. [Heard]

[KI]

height of fold
heaver, n.

An

The

early

name

for

a pipeliner

who

pipe to put it in proper position for


screwing or tying in. [WIL, p. 53]
lifted

heaving shale

type of formation

which gives

rise

to extremely difficult drilling operations

in the Gulf Coast region of the

United

not confined to one layer of


shale; it has been found to prevail in
miocene, oligocene, and eocene beds. The
salt-dome formations are surrounded by
States. It

is

which

inclined shale layers

hole

when

the drill

fill

the drill

removed. The resupposed to form a

is

moval of the drill is


suction which aids the movement of the
shale. A continuous crumbling of the

The

such as fuel
A heavy
petroleum fraction stays near the bot-

tom

heavier

oil fractions

lubes, waxes,

of the

stills

and

asphalts.

or fractioning towers,

because it is the thicker part of the make


and has a higher boiling point than the
light ends. [KI]

A major petroleum product (a thicker, less volatile part of the make, such as
distillate,

lubricating

oil,

or

sludge)

p.

The height of the shell from the top of


the bottom sheet to the top of the upper
reinforcing angle; the maximum available height for liquid. [D]

Helderberg limestone

name given

in the

United States to

a division of the Silurian strata. It

source of petroleum in Ohio.


hell's

is

[POR]

broth
term for nitroglycerin. [HOO,

field

p. 182]

helper, n.
syn. Cheater, swamper. [Heard]

helraser or hell raiser


A magnetic device which gives a
strong lift to a metal tool when contact
is

made;

a fishing tool.

[POR]

heneicosene, n.
A hydrocarbon (C 2 iH 44 ) with a boiling point of 230 to 231, obtained from
Pennsylvania petroleum. [POR]

hen

heavy fraction

of the

height of tank

such shale. [POR]

oils,

from the bottom

118]

side of the hole indicates the presence of

heavy end

distance

trough to the top of the dome. [H,

fruit

Eggs. See cackle berry. [Reported]

hentricontane, n.
A hydrocarbon

(C 31 H 64

specific

i65
gravity 0.7997 at

70

from the

which was

F.)

hydrocarbons
found in certain Pennsylvania oil wells
by Professor Mabery. [POR]
separated

heptane,

solid

n.

(C 7 H 16

paraffin

[POR]

of goats
evasive answer to an inquiry con-

cerning the whereabouts of an oilfielder


(Texas). [WIN, p. 138]

hexane,

hydrocarbon
saturated
boiling point 156 F.) of the

(C 6 H 14

official

of high

company.

rank in a well-

[S]

highwater pants
Trousers with the legs rolled up. [BB,

H.F.O.
Hole full

of oil;
in drilling reports.

Hillman

test

made on

test

mine the

stability

kerosene to predeterof the color

during

[KOT]

storage.

pressure
force built up in a pipe line which
downward. [OPL, p. 275]

paraffin

slopes

sand
Sand that wears

obtained

an abbreviation used

[LDO,

p.

one

off the drilling bit

on

See mule-foot. [Heard]

side.

hircite, n.

428]

An amorphous, brown, resinoid, oxygenated hydrocarbon, soluble in sulphuric acid and partly so in alcohol.
[POR]

H.F.W.
Hole full of water; an abbreviation
used in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]
H.I.

hire in,

v.i.

To

accept a job and begin to work:


"Both workers hired in at the same ^

time." [Heard]

Height of instrument; an abbreviation


used in surveying. [D]

A roustabout who
high,

is

work

is

hard to find

when

to do. [Reported]

n.

p. 66]

high dip

strike

oil.

When

a well

workers say she has

[DO, November

comes

in,

hit the pay.

22, 1947]

[Heard]

slope or slant in the

An

angle greater than 5 per


a bed or stratum of the
earth's crust is inclined from the horizon. [POR]
terrain. 2.

To hit an obstruction in the borehole


caused by cavings; the bit can go no
farther.

Any downward
which

high end point


The high temperature required to
finish the less volatile petroleum products. Products such as gasoline and kerosene, which require a low temperature,
are said to have low end points. [KI]

high like a tree

An

field

hit a bridge

dome. [BA,

cent at

hit, v.t.

To

hide-out, n.
there

</-

hillside

(C 6 H 12 )
from petroleum. [POR]

1.

An

The

[POR]

hexylene, n.
A hydrocarbon

lifting

high power

hill

n.

series.

up

p. 487]

he went to Fort Worth with a load

An

as encouragement for those


heavy substances. [HI]

ers

drilling

saturated
hydrocarbon
boiling point 209 F.) of the
series.

hitch

expression used by pipe-line work-

hitch

on

To fasten the cable to the temper


screw after spudding in the well so that
the drilling tools can be activated by the
walking beam. [BB, p. 490]
hitch over
To run out the temper screw completely in order to change the clamp grip on
the cable. [BB, p. 490]
hitch

To

up
connect the rig and

drilling.

[NO]

make ready

for

\ji

"

hit

hard

it

166

hit it hard, boys, like

you

hold up nails

live

A common

expression among pipe-line


workers meaning get to wor\. [HI]
hit the ball

To work

hard or conscientiously; characteristic of a good worker, in contrast


to a snapper (q. v.). [SA, p. 200]
hit the suitcase

sand

Descriptive of coffee made on the job;


it is strong enough to hold up
nails, it is just right for oilfielders to

when

drink. [Heard]
hole, n.

The
HOLE,

drill

hole or well bore. [D]

n.

To quit a job; to fold up one's clothes


preparatory to leaving a job. See suitcase sand. [Heard]

See big hole, bore, borehole, cased hole,


conductor-hole, crooked hole, directional
hole, drill hole, driven well, flat hole,

hobo

hurry-up hole, kelly hole, mouse hole,

outfit

poor-boy company (q.

HOE,

v.).

[Heard]

n.

See grass gooser, pole peeler,


hoe, weed whore.

hogger,
1.

scuffle

holer, n.

n.

driller

who

reports

more footage

than he actually makes so that the next


driller has to make a good deal of footage before he can claim any depth at all.
2. A rotary driller; so called because he
drills with mud. [Heard]

hoghead,
1.

n.

a mud pump. 2.
engineer. [Heard]

The head on

engineer; a

mud

open hole, rat hole, sink hole, slim hole,


small hole, surface hole, swallow hole,
tight hole, tight well, venture, wet hole.

An

The second element of a compound;


used with numbers to indicate the capacity of a Chic Sale concession (q. v.), as a
nine-holer, a twelve-holer, etc. [Heard]
holiday, n.

An uncoated portion of a pipe line.


Occasionally the paint draws away from
a portion of the pipe when it dries and
leaves an exposed spot. The device used
to detect these areas
tractors as a tattletale.

hog

knot,
double half-hitch. [Heard]

hog

known

[OPL,

to con-

p. 65]

holiday detector
See tattletale. [Heard]

still

still; so called because of its low,


simple tower still in
squat shape. 2.
which the very light products, such as
benzine or gasoline, are separated by
steam. [D]
1.

is

hoist, n.

A common

field

To

v.t.

possess

tool for

straightening

crooked

borehole. [D]

homocline, n.
A monocline; a succession of beds dipping in one direction. [POR]

term for the draw

works. [D]
hold,

hollow reamer

money: "What are you

holding?" [OK]

hold-down-or-up, n.
A rocker on a pull-rod line which keeps
the rod straight with the well. [Heard]
hold the roll
To keep a pipe or a line from rolling
around while it is being put together;
an expression used among refinery pipe
fitters. [Heard]

honest jump
^-V-^jA day's work. "I gave 'era an honest
jump today"; "Another day, another dollar"; and "In a million days I'll be a
millionaire" are often heard in the oil
field at the

end of a working day. [WIN,

p. 138]

hoodoo unit
The Houdry cracking

unit; suggested

by the pronunciation of Houdry because


the unit was a source of worry and
trouble to operators. [Heard; Sinclair
Refining Company, Houston, Texas]

hot-ass

167

hook

off

See knock-off

hooks,

joint.

[POR]

n. pi.

pipelining. Tongs, syn. Spurs


climbers (q. v.). [Heard]
1.

or

horse cock,

production packer run on the botof tubing

which

fits

in against the

casing to force the flow up between the


tubing and the casing. [Heard; DO,

October

17, 1947]

hootenanny,

bit.

n.

swedge used

particular kind of

3.

a pipe or a hole. 2.

to

drilling

bar with a depression in one


fits over a rivet to hold it in

end which

place while

it

hose (q.

is

v.).

[Heard]

riveted.

[BB,

p.

4.

487]

n.

[Heard]

horse-cock a bit

To
the

dress a bit; to spread the

bit.

end of

[Reported]

horse collar

hoot owl

One name for


midnight

1.

ream out

mud

device for unstopping a sewer


line. 2. Any article for which the speaker
is unable to give the correct name.
1.

[NO]

Pennsylvania.

hookwall packer

tom

horseback, n.
A stratum of rock encountered at a
depth of nineteen feet, below the first
limestone
in
Westmoreland County,

the very unpopular 12:00

to 8:00 a.m. shift.

More

often

A safety clamp put on


which do not have recesses

drill

collars

for the slips.

[Reported]

called hoot-owl tour. See graveyard. [KI]

horse head

hophead,
A drug

1. The stirrup on a jack pump. The


pumping motion gives the stirrup the

n.

addict.

[HOU,

p. 157]

appearance of a horse's head. [Heard]

horizon, n.

An

oil-

2.

or gas-bearing zone.

[NO]

horizontal bore

in

Santa

Pennsylvania, in 1886.

to have been
Barbara County

[NO]

Horley Sedgley waterfinder


instrument used to ascertain the
percentage of water in a tank of oil.

[POR]

p.

horseshoe trip knife

tool used to cut

manila cable close


will not cut until
the rope socket. [Day, I,

the trip strikes

it

281]

horse thief

driller from a county in Pennsylvania (possibly Clarion) so called particularly by West Virginia oilfielders.

[Heard]

implement used to recover lost


especially broken drill pipe, in

well-boring.

of a conical socket
over the broken part and a
spring latch which grips the part as it
enters. Frequently a flaring mouthpiece
is riveted to the horn socket to convert
it into a bell-mouth socket. [NO]
It consists

slides

horny-handed sons of

toil

Farmers made rich by


85]

on the

hot-air plan

horn socket

which

circle

An

tools,

segment of the

to the rope socket;

horizontal segment
The horizontal plane between a measuring tape drawn across a tank and the
circular edge of the tank itself. [LDO]

An

steel

138]

drilling device said

successful

rod-end of a walking beam. [WIN,

oil.

[HOU,

p.

plan designed by certain Dublin,


Texas, schemers to make money from
the oil activity in Hogtown (later Desdemona) by selling stock in five refineries and a pipe-line company. The plan
was so called because the pipe-line company proposed to bring natural gas to
the town for fuel. Investors paid thousands of dollars for stock in companies
that never entered business. [FO, p. 55]
hot-ass, n.
1.

lazy bench (q. v.). [BB, p. 487] 2.

hot bottoms

lazy bench set over a steampipe.

[ME.

p. 763]

hot bottoms

Hot

spots in the shell of a

still

caused

by coke formations; the condition


quires a shutdown. [Heard]

re-

when

the national oil control bill

to oil in print. [KI]

hot doctor treatment


A treatment for sweetening petroleum

hot-oil act

products. The Sinclair Company heats


the doctor solution (q. v.) before treating the oil. Also called the passionate

hot-oil

physician

treatment.

[Heard, Houston,

Texas]

ing seven- or eight-inch channels, spaced

one to two inches apart, which run the


length of the house. Centered about three
inches below the channels and running
parallel with them are burner pipes, containing lava tips spaced four or five inches
apart, through which fifty to sixty cubic

per tip are burned every


twenty-four hours. One house may have
as many as 4,900 of these tips; a unit
may be made up of 56 hothouses; and a
plant may contain several units. [Reported]
feet of gas

hot job

which must be done in a


hurry. [Heard] 2. A job for which a
worker receives a promise of pay which
1.

is

See Connally Act. [Reported]

it

machine

A machine which heats oil and forces

through a

a treater

hothouse, n.
A house used in the production of
carbon black by the channel process.
Each house contains a table of reciprocat-

job

not certain to be kept. [BB,

p. 490]

line to

which

remove the

steam or chemicals. [Heard]


Hot-oil Murray
Colonel Cicero I. Murray, who on June
1932, was appointed by Governor
6,

William H. Murray of Oklahoma to enand prevent the running of hot oil (q. v.). [Reported]

force proration laws

hot-oil operator

An oil operator who produces more


than his daily allowable. [Heard; RI,
p.

321]

hot

rail

signal to refinery linesmen

them

ache, 3. [Heard]

hot reflux
Reflux admitted to the tower at the
temperature ordinarily maintained at the
top of the tower. [NB, p. 441]

hot rock
A worker

who

is

a smart aleck. [Re-

Plant mixtures, such as asphaltic conwhich must be spread and compacted in a heated condition. [KOT]

hot-shot truck
A truck used to make short
supplies. [Heard]

hot

contract

oil

Oil produced in violation of state


proration regulations. The expression
into use in 1933, when Governor
William H. ("Alfalfa Bill") Murray held
office in Oklahoma. In the late spring
of 1934 it was widely used in Congress

came

trips for

hot spot

covering land on
which the title is clouded. Sometimes
applied to a top lease (q. v.). [Reported]
lease

warning

of approaching danger. See head-

ported]

hot lease

paraffin;

uses hot oil instead of

hot-laid mixtures
crete,

was

being considered, and it became connected with violations of proration regulations in any state. [POR] Claude V.
Barrow, of the Daily 0\lahoman, believes he was the first to apply the term

1.

Soil containing alkali, acid, or salt,

or other elements
pipe.

[OPL,

which cause erosion

p. 109]

2.

refining.

of

spot

on the cylinder head of an engine which


superheated so that it reaches the fire
point of the fuel to be used in the engine.
The engine spot may function at higher
temperatures than the fire point of the
fuel being burned, but it must never fall
below that point. [KI]
adj. 3. Descripis

hustler

169
an area that has all the indications
one in which there
much activity. [DO, January 31, 1948]

tive of

of a productive field
is

hot sticks

Howcoite,

n.

An

employee of the Halliburton Oil


Well Cementing Company. [Heard]

H.P.

Tools attached to the ends of sticks;


used in working on "hot" electric wires
of more than 6,900 volts. [Heard, Sinclair Refining Company, Houston, Texas]

An

abbreviation

horsepower

for

Hub

of Oildom
The name given

to Oil City, Pennsyl-

hot tubes

vania, in 1865.

Hot spots in pipe stills caused by coke


formations. See hot bottoms. [Heard]

H.U.C.

hot water
Steam. [PO]

compression ratio (octane number).

An

[GID,

abbreviation

p. 52]

highest

for

useful

[KOT]

hot-water six

six-cylinder automobile.

hull out

[Heard]

To

hot well
1
A well or tank into which hot water
discharged from the condenser. [POR]
2. refining. A tank which holds the light
ends coming off the vacuum jug. [KI]
.

is

hound, n.
A worker who seeks information of
any kind. Used in the compounds lease
hound, roc\ hound, smut hound, etc.

hurry.

[WIN,

p. 138]

hump-back walking stick


A curved walking beam which
its

peak

at the

Samson

reaches

post. [Reported]

hump up

A command meaning straighten up and


get busy. [Heard]

hundred-foot sand

The name given

the

first

sand in Glade,

[Heard]

Butler County, Pennsylvania, in 1890.

house,

pumper, L.

1.

made
is

n.

company

which proAnything
such a company

or refinery

petroleum

duces

products.

to specifications of

referred to as a house brand. [KI] 2.

The

control

room

of a refinery

still.

[Re-

ported]

house brand
1.

trade-marked product of a

fining company.

[SHU,

re-

hurry-up hole
The hole where the kelly connection
is made; so called because it cuts in half
the time consumed in making connections, syn.

Mouse

hurry-up sand

produced by a particular company;


usually applied to gasoline. [KI]

found

p.

158]

2.

ucts)

n.

refinery operator

control

room

housing,

of the

who works

still.

in the

[Reported]

Howco,

[Heard]

A name

given by drillers to a sand


depth of 245 feet at Scio, Ohio,
in 1903. [NO] 2. cable-tool drilling.
A sand very difficult to drill because it
wears out bits so quickly that they must
be dressed rapidly. [Heard]
1.

at a

name

for the Halliburton Oil

Well Cementing Company. [Heard]

device used on early cable-tool rigs

to set the screw.

[Heard]

hustler, n.

n.

trade

hole.

hurry-up stick

n.

The

casing of a machine or a madevice for shutting off a


chine part. 2.
leak in a pipe or fitting.
1.

Baumgardner, who was


killed near Mungeon, Ohio, on July 11,
1893, was familiarly known as "Old
Hundred-Foot." [NO]
S.

Socalled "regular" gasoline (or other prod-

houseman,

or

high pressure. [POR]

boom-town panhandler: one who


begs for a loan to buy whiskey. [K, p.
247]

hydrated lime

170

hydrated lime
Calcium hydroxide; used
drilling
lost.

mud when

eration for the production of gasolines


to thicken

circulation has been

See lose returns.

[LDO]

hydraulic circulating system


A method of drilling by which mudladen fluid is circulated during drilling.

[POR]
hydraulic fluid
A fluid used in hydraulic systems. Low
viscosity, low rate of change of viscosity
with temperature, and low pour point
are desirable characteristics of the fluid,
which may be of petroleum or nonpe-

troleum origin. [TH]

jack in

ing part
water or

is

oil.

the

mov-

transmitted by a liquid, as

[POR]

specially treated lime which hardens under water; may be used to increase
the plastering quality of drilling mud.

[LDO]
n.

An

form of hydrogenacompounds as hydrospirit, hydronaphtha, hydro-butanes, and


hydro-lubes. [KE]
abbreviated
tion; used in such

hydrocarbon black
See lampblack. [A]

hydrocarbons (paraffin

series

(C n H 2n+2 )

series), n. pi.

petroleum hydrocarbons
including methane, propane,

of

butane, pentane,

etc.

[POR]

hydro-cracking, n.
See destructive hydrogenation. [KE]
hydrofining, n.

hydroforming process which

erated in such a

hydrogenation,
refining.

manner

high partial

1.

n.

process of

decomposing

by the introduction of hydrogen in


the presence of a catalyst at a high tem-

oil

perature. Theoretically, a barrel of gasoline can be produced from a barrel of


crude oil by this method, which originated in Germany in 1913 and has been
developed in the United States since

[LDO]

1927.

A blown

which pressure on

hydraulic lime

hydro,

hydroline, n.

hydraulic jack

of high antiknock value.

pressure of hydrogen is maintained in


the reaction zone. [KE]

that,

is

op-

while very

oil

which originated

in

Texas

petroleum; 99.6 per cent of the bitumen


content is soluble in carbon disulphide;
it contains 68 to 71
per cent bitumen
solution in 88 Baume naphtha, 57 to 64
per cent pure bitumen as saturated hydrocarbons, 1 per cent paraffin scale, 0.41
to 0.56 per cent sulphur, and 8.7 to 12.2
per cent ash-free residual coke. [POR]

hydrostatic squeeze test


A test which was used to detect leaks
in pipe lines in early days. Pressure in a

was built up to 1,000


pounds per square inch and held at that
point for twenty-four hours. If there were
any leaks, there was a loss of pressure at
the pumping station, and linewalkers degasoline pipe line

tected

were

the

weak

spots.

River crossings
pounds.

tested at a pressure of 1,200

[F, p. 105]

hygrometry, n.
Measurement

of the percentage of
moisture in the air, or the relative humidity of the air. Such a measurement is
of importance in computing oil vapor and
air mixtures, since the moisture in the

[POR]

little

air tends to displace the oil vapor.

hydroforming,

hypochlorite, n.
A chemical agent made by passing
chlorine gas into caustic soda; sometimes used in refining light petroleum

formation of aromatics takes place,


almost complete desulphurization results, and unsaturateds are converted into
other hydrocarbons. [KE]

n.

noncatalytic naphtha-reforming op-

oils.

[KOT]

illuminating

i7i

oil

I
i.b.p.

An

abbreviation

point (q.

v.).

for

initial

boiling

[KI]

The pulleys
[POR]

turn on, not with, the shaft.

idling jet

I.C.C. specifications

gasoline nozzle or jet placed in a

merce Commission. [PE]

compound carburetor to supply gasoline


when the engine is idling or running
slowly. [POR]

ice-machine oil
An oil of low cold

if

Specifications

of

the

Interstate

Com-

such as the light


from Texas
crudes; a light spindle oil of 26 to 27
Baume gravity, 60 to 100 second Saybolt viscosity at 70 F., 325 to 360 F.
lubricating

oils

test,

refined

and 0 to 4 F. cold test. The oil


has also been recommended for refrigerating machines. [POR]
flash,

i.d.

A common

abbreviation for inside di-

ameter. [Heard]
idiot

spoon

pipe-line shovel. [KI]

idiot stick
1.

line.

shovel or a spade used on a pipe


syn. Canal wrench, ignorant spoon.

[Heard] 2. A long-handled rake or shovel


used by semiskilled workers to clear the
ground near tanks that are to be repaired;
so called by skilled repairmen. [KI]
idle, v.i.

To run

you pick him with a pin,

he'll

ooze

oil

saying descriptive of old-timers


steeped in the traditions of the oil indus[F, p. 106]

try.

ignition quality

The

ability of a fuel to ignite

jection into a cylinder.

upon

in-

[KOT]

ignorant end
The heavy end of a forgy stic\,
wrench, or a pipe. [WIN, p. 138]

ignorant end of a tape


The end of a tape containing a ring
(the end that is not read). [Heard, Sinclair Refining Company, Houston, Texas]

ignorant slip

An

affidavit stating that

an employee

who

has forgotten to punch the time


clock has worked on a certain day. The
affidavit must be signed and presented
to the treasurer's office before the worker receives his pay.
[Heard, Sinclair
Refining Company, Houston, Texas]

slowly and without load with

the clutch released; said of an engine. It


may idle well or idle poorly, depending

ignorant spoon

on whether or not

[POR]

ignorant stick
See idiot stick. [Heard]

idlers, n. pi.

ile,

it

runs smoothly.

Pulleys, gears, or sprockets used to sup-

port and guide belts, chains, and ropes


or to communicate motion from the
driver to the driven, the idler being disconnected from the driving shaft. Also
used to tighten belts or chains or to maintain a uniform tension in the strands.

pipe-line shovel. [Heard]

n.

An
is still

early pronunciation of oil

which

frequently heard. [ST, p. 81]

ill-convenient, adj.

Inconvenient. [Reported]

illuminating

Any

oil

oil

heavier than gasoline which

immisci ble

172

is used for lighting purposes; may range


from 90 to 250 F. flash point. [D]

mixable, as

oil

syn. Impression box.

[LDO]

"make

a picture" of a

fish so that a suitable fishing tool

can be

made. A lead or wooden block containing wax, run on a horn socket, and allowed to rest on top of the lost tools.
[Heard]
impsonite,

An

n.

asphalt found in

like albertite

pentine.

company

outside

company, or
panies engaged in but a single branch of
the oil industry. [LDO, p. 312]

impression box
tool used to

oil

now, any small


individuals or com-

oil

and water. [D]

impression block

n.

any

Originally,

the Standard Oil group;

immiscible, adj.

Not

independent,

Oklahoma, much

but almost insoluble in tur-

independent station
marketing. A station which is independently owned and is not operated in
conjunction with others of its kind or
with stations under the same owner-

[SHU,

ship.

p. 148]

indications, n.

pi.

Substances found on the earth's surface which may indicate the presence of
petroleum. Examples are asphaltum, natural gas,

and

films of

oil.

[POR]

[A]

individual-pump injection system


An injection system in which a fuel

in, adj.

Completed; said of a completed well.

pump

is

used for each cylinder.

[KOT]

[NO]
induced draft
A draft produced by the drawing

In Beaumont, You'll See a Gusher

Gushing

An

companies in 1901. [RI,

The

unit of measure for pipe sizes.


inch or any numeral or fraction
of a numeral is used by petroleum men,
pipe is always meant, the numeral being the diameter in inches: "Bring me
five feet of two-inch." See Big Inch and
little inch. [KI]

When

incher, n.

induction period
The time during distillation when
there is no formation of gum in the oil.
[J]

infusorial earth

Kieselguhr: loose, porous earth composed chiefly of silicified skeletons of


microscopic organisms. [J]
inhibitor, n.

pipe or a pipe line; for example, the


great line built from Longview, Texas, to
Pennsylvania, called the Big Inch or the
Incher. [KI]

inclination drilling

An

agent which checks or makes im-

possible a chemical reaction. [J]


initial

boiling point

The temperature
drop of

See directional drilling. [SHU,


inclinomter, n.
An instrument

p.

48]

ser.

used

in

making

[LDO]

increase a spoke
refining. To open a valve. [Reported]

down with

which the first


from the conden-

[POR]
production

The number of barrels of oil


by a new well during the first

yielded

twentyfour hours after the well has been put


in proper condition for pumping or flowing.

n.

record disc put

at

distillate falls

initial daily

straight-hole test (q. v.).

[KOT]

p. 59]

inch, n.

indenometer,

ac-

tion of the flue gases in the chimney.

advertising slogan used by railroad

[POR]

a Halli-

initial

burton line to determine the straightness


of the hole. [Reported]

The

production
first

production of a well; com-

monly abbreviated LP.

Two

LP's are

re-

Iowa Plan

i73
ported for a well which has been shot or
acidized: LP. natural, and LP. after
shooting or LP. after acidation. [BA, p.
142]

injected gas

The

gas put into an oil-producing sand

for maintaining or restoring rock (formation) pressure or for storing. [POR]

inspissation, n.

The

evaporation of the lighter con-

petroleum which leaves behind the heavier residue, as for example,


in the formation of asphalt rock. [POR]
stituents of

insulated flange

A flange equipped with

pipelining.

sulating material to protect


tricity in

the

soil.

it

from

in-

elec-

[Heard]

injection rate

The number

of gallons or barrels of

acid forced into

well

per

minute.

insulating oil
Oil used to insulate and cool the core

[Heard]

and windings

injection well

insurance cheater

See input well.

[OGJ, November

6,

of transformers.

safety belt

worn by

[KOT]

the derrickman;

so called by the insurance company.

1947]

[Heard]
injector, n.

mechanism used

to spray fuel oil

the combustion chamber, to feed


water into a steam boiler, or (as a pump)
to exhaust gases

from

inorganic theory

theory that oil and gas do not originate in organic matter, but in hydrocarbonaceous, gaseous, volcanic emana-

[LDO]
well through which gas or air

dominating position in

ing the flush production stage of withdrawal, to restore depleted pressures in


sands from which much of the oil and
gas has been produced, and to store gas
that would otherwise be wasted. [C, p.

affin base.

Loss by evaporation. Storage in open

farm

losses

ticides are

made.

Insects are bred in the

entomological laboratory of the farm


and are used in experiments with repellents

and

in the

development of insect

24-26]

number
The measure

saturated

compounds

in the

Oil used as an insecticide. [}]

inside helper

room. [Heard]

[J]

See iodine number. [D]

Iowa Plan

tem

the control

sys-

of retail merchandising of petrole-

um products. The plan was


Standard Oil of Indiana

One who works

oil.

iodine value

pany-operated to the dealer-operated

insecticidal oil

refining.

of iodine absorption by
under standard test conditions; serves
an indication of the quantity of un-

marketing. The change from the com-

sprays. [F, p. 212]

or instrument

of

iodine

as
insec-

or pits results in enormous


gasoline vapors. [BOW, pp.

containers

oil

where

[KI]

invisible loss

37]

section of a refinery

312]

inversion, n.

tain the original reservoir pressures dur-

The

p.

intermediate base
Any mixture of the three regular bases.
See asphalt base, aromatic base, and par-

is

injected into oil sands in order to main-

insect

[LDO,

branches of

all

The doubling of strata so that a fold


seems turned upside down and the order of succession seems reversed. [POR]

input well

company which holds

large oil

the industry.

shale furnaces.

[POR]

tions.

company

integrated

into

emergency

originated by
meet the

to

of the anti-chain-store

ment. [SHU,

p. 166]

move-

LP.

174

LP.

wrench rods
an

abbreviation
used in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]
Initial

production;

rig-floor

who

worker

abbreviation for the Independent


Petroleum Association of America. [Re-

equipment. [Reported]

ported]

isoclinal, adj.

Irish

Dipping in the same

buggy

wheelbarrow. [Heard]

isomate,

The

Irish confetti

direction.

[POR]

n.

liquid product obtained by isomer-

[KE]

iso-octane, n.

rig is never a steel pile


slang. Steel.
vernacular, but an iron
oil-field

Hydrocarbon

showing

100

octane

value, used as a primary reference fuel

when determining

[arn] pile. [Reported]

the

octane

number

motor fuels. It is isomeric with normal octane, therefore it has the same
chemical formula (C 8 H 18 ). [KOT]
of

iron hat

up

handles heavy

izing a straight-run gasoline.

brick. [Reported]

iron, n.

in

to speed

iron wrestler [rassler]

I.P.A.A.

An

and

or tubing

the process of pulling wells. [Heard]

safety hat. [Reported]

iron horse

pipelining. To screw on a length of


pipe by means of long tongs. [WIL, p.

isopropyl alcohol
Alcohol (C 3 7 OH, boiling point 207
F.) which is manufactured from the unhydrocarbon propylene. Its
saturated
acetate is widely used in the lacquer in-

53]

dustry as a solvent.

The

front of a steel rig. [Reported]

on

iron

iron peddler
A supply salesman. [Reported]

[KOT]

itchy fever
See brake fever. [Heard]

iron pile

Any

type of rig, whether

it is

the best

of steel rigs or the poorest of poor-boy


(q. v.) rigs. [Reported]

iron roustabout
A tool with rotary

ITINERANT WORKER
See bindlestiff, boomer, drifter,
payday boy, three-day hand.
It's

jaws,

used

to

the

An

oil

floater,

that counts

oil-field

proverb. [WIL, p. 64]

J
jack, n.

mechanism, used in lifting oil to


the surface, which is installed at the
mouth of an oil well and transmits an
up-and-down motion to the string of
sucker rods. [D] 2. A well pumped by
this mechanism. [D]
1.

jack and circle

An

apparatus consisting of a powerful

jack

which moves

circle;

on

steel-toothed

used to tighten the joints in a

string of tools. Also called a circle jac\.

[D]
jackassable, adj.
Impassable; an expression used by mule

skinners to describe poor roads. [ST, p. ^"O


72]

jackbird
A connection which needs to be oiled;
so called because of the noise a "dry"
connection makes." Also called crybaby.
[Heard]

jack boards
drilling. Braces used to support pipe

1.

jacks, pipelining. 2.

early days.

[OPL,

Hand

p.

3.

device

used on a screw line, set with iron projections to enable the jack/nan to hold the
pipe steady. [Heard]

Vertical columns which support the


bearings of the draw works. [NO]

jack-pump,

shear off; said of cable tools that

part at the eye of the drill stem as a result of drilling

the

main

saddle or rest used in shacl{le-wor\

(q. v.).

with a slack

line.

The

short shaft set between two machines to provide increased or decreased


speed or flexibility. [POR]

jack-squib, n.

type of torpedo.

An annular space surrounding a cylinder through which a flow of water or


steam is passed to cool or warm the cylinder. A water jacket is placed around the
cylinder of a water-cooled engine, and a
steam jacket surrounds the cylinder of a
steam engine. [POR]
hammer
compressed-air tool used in bursting

concrete or stone. [Heard]

The support on which the walking


beam rests; shaped like an inverted V
and often
jack well
See jack,

To
up

like a jackknife.

v.i.

3.

To

[Heard]

[Heard]

side.

[Heard]

surveyor's tool See Jacom's

Jacom's

The

staff

upright support which pushes the

walking beam up and down on the oldstyle over-pull jack

fishing tool.

staff.

[BO]

fold

jack latch

frame. [Heard]

A single hanging or upright beam or


pipe with ladder rungs attached to each

A
which folds up,
easy moving.
v.t. 2.

lay such a derrick.

2.

Jacob's staff

rotary-rig derrick

or jac\\nifes, for

called the

Jacob's ladder

jackknife, n.

[NO]

jack
jacket, n.

1.

[NO]

jack shaft

socket. [P, p. 135]

[LDO]

line.

jack-saddle, n.

cable tools always break above the rope

jack

n.

pump

used to move oil from


gathering stations to tank farms or into
special

jack-boot off

To

jack posts

used in

tools

105]

Jakehamon

75

pump.

corruption

of Jacob's staff, originally a nautical term.

[POR]

[Heard]
jack lines

Power

lines

to the wells

extending from a pump


it activates. See power.

1.

jackman, n.
The worker on a screw pipe line who
carries the jack and places it under the
pipe for support while the connection

being made. [OPL,

Jamaica gin. [ST,

p. 59] 2.

In Okla-

homa, a concoction made from ginger


root and ginger bitters. Continued use of

[LDO]

p. 8]

jack off the brake

To

jake, n.

which

slack the bit. [Reported]

is

it

sometimes caused jake leg (q.

v.).

[Reported]

Jakehamon, n.
A town in Texas built by Jake L. Hamon, a railroad man, to provide a ready
outlet for oil produced in Desdemona,
Texas. [RI, p. 162]

jake head

176

jake head

jar socket

bum;

usually one

drunk on Jamaica

Ginger, a drink so powerful, according


to legend, that

double and

men

see

See skid-row

ty-

"makes married

it

feel single."

of

form

one rein

jeep, n.

boom town has


victims, who usually

Every

The name given to the electric logging


device used by the Halliburton Company
which originated about the time the
"Popeye" comic strip was featuring the

share of jake-leg
walk with a cane. [Heard]
its

to catch

by drink-

of paralysis caused
v.).

[NO]

side varieties.

jake leg

jars.

jar-tongue socket
A fishing tool used
of broken jars. [NO]

coon. [ST, p. 57]

ing ja\e (q.

one rein
There are center and

fishing tool used to catch

broken

jamin action

A theoretical conception regarding the


behavior of occluded gas in an oil-sand
reservoir. When the small gas bubbles
are propelled through the sand toward

"jeep" and took its name from that animal, because it, too, "could not tell a

the well by the prevailing drop in pres-

jeeper, n.

they suffer

sure,

jamin

The

causing a

1.

jamin action. [POR]

jeep

distortion,

resistance to flow, or

..

effect
resistance offered to flow

by

al-

ternating globules of liquid and bubbles


of gas in channels of capillary dimensions.

much used

term

from the sand


[POR]

reservoir.

or natural

n.

Coffee; a blend of Java

and mocha.

[OK]

jerk, n.
1.

drill

See

shiftless, irresponsible

by impact;
[D]

to use a drill jar.

worker.

2.

hanger-on. [Reported]

pump

power pump which stands beside


the rig and runs off the crank. The pump
is

n.

n.

pipelining.
device used in lifting
pipe out of the ditch. [Heard]

the

of

double-acting,

piston type,

jar, v.t.

To

operator of a jeep (q. v.). 2.


a truck bed. [Heard]

mounted on

jerker

jamoke,

The

jenny,

in discussions

of oil extraction

[Heard]

lie."

is

inside-packed,

working pres700 pounds, and operates

built for a

sure of 600 to

at a speed of fifteen to twenty-five strokes

jar.

per minute. [OPL, p. 139]

jarhead, n.

cable-tool driller; so called

rotary drillers,
driller in

who

by early

held the cable-tool

jerk line
1.

line

wheel crank

low esteem. [Heard]

which connects the bandto the drilling cable and

operates the spudding tools. Also called

jar-knocker, n.

fishing tool.

spud

[NO]

jars, n. pi.

In well-drilling,

the

connection

be-

tween the sinker bar and the poles or

made

two links
which slide on each other from six to
thirty-six inches and permit the tools to
fall on the downstroke, but jar them or
give them a sharp jerk on the upstroke
tending to loosen them from any crevices
or cavings. [NO]
cables

in the

[POR]

line.

2.

lead long. (q. v.)

extending from the cathead to the


tongs which are used in breaking out
pipe. [Heard]
line

form

of

jerk-line

swing

A knuckle-action device used


the direction of the rod line

one power

to

pump more

called rod-line swing.

jerk-rope, n.

See jerk

line.

[NO]

to change
and enable

wells.

[Heard]

Also

jerk shoe
A device used to guide the drilling
line

when spudding

in.

[Heard]

jet-black, n.

Lampblack. [D]
jet

air or gas.

jitney, n.

screw conveyor which moves the


spent clay in a filter to a conveyor belt
which in turn carries it back to the furnaces where it is burned free from the
impurities it has received from the oils
that have passed through
runs along a track from

it

To pump

joint

77

[Reported]

that
jet

jump

A pump

which moves

fluid

by bring-

ing it into contact with a rapidly moving stream of fluid of the same or different kind, the motion being imparted
through friction. [D]

Jew's or Jews' pitch


A name once given to petroleum tars
or bottom oils resembling the pitch common in Palestine at one time; generally
called asphalt today. Formerly used for
medicinal purposes. [POR]

use a spring pole in well-drilling.

[D]

down

An early method of well-drilling. The


up-and-down motion was supplied by a
green sapling about forty feet in length

and from eight

to ten inches in diameter,

with the butt embedded in the ground


or attached to an upright post. A second
post ten

to

fifteen

feet

from the butt

served as a fulcrum, allowing the pole


to pass about ten feet above the well. The
drilling tools were attached to the long
end of the pole, and force was applied
to the shorter end by two workers who

threw

their

weight upon the pole.

improvement

of

this

of hinging a small

An

system consisted

wooden

an entire

service

so

string. [KI]

jobber, n.

marketing. One who engages in the


purchase and sale of petroleum products
and maintains one or more bulk sta-

[SHU,

tions.

p. 147]

jockey stick

A wooden rod (usually one inch in diameter and eight feet in length) extending from the headache post to the wireline drilling clamps; used to prevent the
clamps from turning during the drilling
One end is fastened to the
clamps, and the other is hinged to the
headache post by running it through a
post. As the wire line rises and falls, the
stick rides

jigging

The conveyor

filter to filter

of a pipe.

jig, v.t.

To

may

it

it.

staging to

the derrick by one of its sides and suspending the other from the pole. Then
the workers stood on the staging and
brought the pole up and down by shifting their weight from one side of the

staging to the other. The spring of the


pole lifted
the implements, and the
downward motion of the pole caused the
stroke. The method was called jigging
because of its resemblance to the dance.
[AS, p. 17]

back and forth through the

two-inch pipe with a slight up-and-down


motion. [POR]

Johnny

ball

strain insulator

on an

electric line.

[Heard]

Johnny Newcome
An early name for
oil regions. [NO]

newcomer

to the

Johnson bar

brake on the derrick floor; named


its inventor. See brake weight.
[Heard]

from

Johnson-bar

idiot

rotary driller. See Johnson bar.

[Heard]
joint, n.
1.

The

part of a drilling or fishing tool

with which connection

is

made

other

member

of the string.

joint

consists

of

cone, a pin,

(box).

2.

and

to an-

complete

threaded truncated

a corresponding coupling

single piece of pipe or tub-

about twenty feet in length.


[D] pipelining. 3. A connection between

ing, usually

jointed pig

178

lengths. 4. One length of pipe.


slang. Generally, a measure of time:
the time usually required to drill down
a joint of drill pipe, as: "I'm already
three joints behind." [Heard]

two pipe

5.

jointed pig

which can turn corners or

scraper

go through

sections of a bent line.

up

pipelining.
together.

To weld two

[WIL,

joints of pipe

p. 164]

[D]

The box

in

journal-oil, n.

Refined petroleum which

is

used on

[NO]

An

iron tool with a J-shaped grooved

socket.

[PE]

to the

upper out-

jug handles
of petroleum from
condensing which
continues in the tank. The tank gets its
name from the shape of the pipes. [KIJ
of pipes

like

A term for the geophone

so called because

it

(q. v.)

resembles a jug. Also

called pot. [Heard]

the pin (the threaded end)

n.

connecting two or
above ground. [Heard]

series of fittings

more

lines

jump-spark system
high-tension electric system; an elecignition system in

which a high

ten-

sion current (10,000 to 20,000 volts) is


made to jump between two spark points
or

electrodes

and produce an

electric

spark in the midst of a combustible mixture. This is the system generally in use
today on automobile, airplane, and similar gasoline engines. Batteries with spark
coils or high tension magnetos supply

jump

[POR]

the saddle

The

pipe which curves in a wide, jugstill or tower, up


and over to the vacuum jug. The name,
which is derived from the shape of the
pipe, is said to have originated at the
Mid-Continent plant at Tulsa, Oklahoma.
[KI]

handle arch from the

which

it

moves. [S]

^^f^-

jungle up

To camp

out; an expression used by

early pipeliners

ing and

who were

made camp

tired of

work-

in order to rest up.

cats (q. v., 3) would


together and spend their time
boiling up, cooking, eating, and resting.

Three or four old

camp out

junk, n.
Debris or equipment
[BB, p. 487]

junk a hole
To abandon
stacles that
it

more

lost

in a well.

a borehole because of ob-

make

finishing or operating

costly than

its

apparent income

warrants. [PE]

jug hustler

The member

in

[Heard]

jug handle

sets

or a claim

[D]

axle

tank attached
shaped
which carry light ends
the still and begin the

who

mine

Said of the walking beam when its


jumps out of the open slot or bearing

jug, n.

slang.

his instru-

jump-drilling
See rope-drilling. [Heard]

the current.

J tool

2.

jump a pin
To break off

tric

which the upper bearing


of the band-wheel shaft is mounted
when the band wheel is used for light
pumping, syn. Step-box. [NO]

journals.

of a

up

stealth, fraud, or force.

journal-box, n.

1.

by

jump-over,

Jolly balance
spring balance used in determining
densities by weighing in water and air.

lets

jump a claim
To take possession

set

of a drilling or fishing tool. [BB, p. 490]

[Heard]
joint

the recorder (q. v.) to


ments. [Reported]

crew
and helps

of a seismograph

out a jug (q.

v.,

1)

junk basket

bailer used

to pick

up junk

iron,

kero sene engine

i79
screws, etc. that have fallen in the well.

junk hustler

A dump

The truck driver who handles


[WIN, p. 138]

junk

[Heard]

bailer (q. v.).

bit
tool used to clean out a well after

shooting, or to

remove collapsed or

junk

rig,

which

ered pipe. [Heard]

bits.

pile

sliv-

the

is

or

unit,

worn

machinery

of

piece

[Heard]

out.

K
Kauri butanol value

made on

lacquer solvents
to determine their solvent property for
special test

gums. [KOT]
kelly, n.

See grief stem. [Heard]


kelly board

platform located in the derrick at

the height of the kelly. [BB, p. 486]

kelly cock

valve

which

fits

in the top of the

kelly to permit the well to be shut in (q.


v.) if it

is

blowing. See blow,

v.i.

[Heard]

kelly driver

rod clamp. [Heard]

and from the heavy hydrocarbons that


belong to gas oil and lubricating oil. It
is obtained from petroleum oils; and the
range may be from 48 to 56 Baume.
There is quite a variation in specifications given by different authors, some of
whom give gravities as low as 45 and
as high as 57 Baume. Colors range from
straw

to

as the trade-mark.

KEROSENE, n.
See American

kelly hole

carbon

A pipe sunk slantwise to hold the kelly


while making connections, syn. Rat hole.
[Heard]

power kerosene,

kelly joint

kelly stopcock

device on top of the kelly joint used


blowout precaution. Also called \elly
coc\. [Heard]
as a

kerogen, n.
A term somewhat loosely used to
include the whole group of wax-like
substances that are intermediate between
the original organic material and the oil.
[D]
kerosene,

n.

Illuminating oil; a mixture of hydrocarbons freed from gasoline or naphtha

oil,

kerosene,

Gesner, the

[NO]

paraffin

case

oi',

export

oil,

coal

burning oil,
domestic

oil,

kerosene,

kerosine,

solidified kerosene.

kerosene

distillate or kerosene stock


product which follows the light
end or engine distillate and varies in
color, reaction to doctor, burning quality, flash, etc., according to the nature
of the crude. 2. Burning stock; burning
oil distillate. 3. In California usage, a
product having an amber color and a
gravity of 40 to 42 Baume. [POR]
1.

See grief stem. [PE]

Abraham

white.

Canadian chemist and geologist who


first produced the oil, originally called it
"keroselain," from two Greek words
meaning oil and wax; but when he obtained his patents he registered \erosene

kerosene engine

An internal-combustion engine using


kerosene or kerosene distillate as a fuel.
The kerosene may be either vaporized
in a special heated carburetor or injected
directly into the

the

form

combustion chamber in

of a spray at the

compression stroke.

[POR]

end of the

180

kerosene shale

key-seated, adj.

kerosene shale

Any bituminous
illuminating

from which

or oil shale

may

has been or

oil

be ob-

[POR]

tained.

Descriptive of a hole in

hangs

1.

distillate.

kerotenes,

The

vertical

of a hole. [D]

[D]

bit

2.

channeling of the walls


Grooves in the hub of a

pulley by which the pulley is attached to


the shaft. 3. The act of cutting a key seat.

kerosine, n.

A variant

which the

removed. [Heard]

it is

key-seating, n.

kerosene stock
See kerosene

as

form

of \erosene.

[POR]

n. pi.

Those portions of bitumens (asphalpyrobitumens) which are insoluble in


carbon bisulphide. [POR]
tic

key-well system
A system by which one well is drilled
specifically for pumping the water out
of the oil sand, thereby considerably in-

creasing production in the other wells.


kettle, n.

boiler; also called a pot.

[H,

[Heard]

p. 324]

kick, n.

key, n.

A type of wrench used to screw


and unscrew drill rods; also may support
the rods by resting on top of the casing
and allowing the rods to hang by an enlarged joint coming in contact with the
key. [D] 2. A hand-operated telegraph
instrument used in pump stations on
pipe lines. The dots and dashes are made
by pressure. [Heard]
1.

The

1.

starting

quality

of

gasoline.

Blended gasoline has more starting power than straight-run gasoline, particularly

casing-head gasoline is one of the conGasoline made from light fractions has more starting power than that
made from heavier fractions. [BOW, p.
if

stituents.

127]

v.i. 2.

To

flow

oil;

said of a well.

syn. Cluck. [Heard]

kicker-board method

key bed
See key rock. [D]

key horizon

The

strata

chosen to

work out

the

elevation at various points in order to

whether or not the bed is conformable with those in which oil may be
found.
Also \ey bed, \ey roc\, and
marker bed. [BA, p. 67]

A method of cable-tool drilling whereby the well is kicked down. See kicking
down, 1. Also called the Canadian pole
or Galician method. [LDO, p. 375]
kick hole

To

learn

kicking
1.

key paste

A paste made of molasses and graphite;


used in the cutting of keys, tools, pipe,
etc., when petroleum or its products are
present because it will not run off or
become neutralized by any petroleum
product. It washes away easily in water.

down
method

of

drilling

which

in-

volved the use of a short, elastic pole


made of ash or hickory, ten to fifteen feet
in length, and arranged over the well,
working over a fulcrum. Stirrups were
attached to the end of the pole, in which
two or three workers each placed a foot
and by a kicking motion brought down
sary to
2.

stratum so persistent and

identifi-

able over large areas as to be valuable


in deciphering structure; so called be-

cause

an early term. [WIL,

the pole and produced the action neces-

[KI]

key rock

drill a well;

p. 38]

it

is

the point above

uring begins. [NO]

which meas-

To

work

drill

a well
really

kick
1.

is

the bit (1903).

[NO]

v.i.

by any method. Today when


\ic\ing down, the driller
hole. [Heard]

making

off, v.i.

To

begin to flow; said of a well.

is

knock

101
v.t. 2.

To

cause a well to produce oil by


engine that operates the

the

starting

pump. The term was

first

used possibly

to designate the starting of the engine,

which was accomplished by kicking the


flywheel down, was later transferred to
a well activated by the engine, and finally was applied to any well. [Heard; DO,

gas flow

gasoline will run

from the bottom

of

the storage tank or blending tower for

which

it

charted. Because of the pos-

is

spark might ignite the gasois used almost exclusive-

sibility that a
line, air
ly.

ly.

kick up
l.To increase allowable. [Heard;

DO,

April 28, 1948] 2. refining. To raise the


octane rating of gasoline, as from 66 to
70, or from 72 to 82. To accomplish this,
gasoline additives are introduced, or the
gasoline is run through a cracking process. [KI]

kidney, n.
A kidney-shaped valve on a separator
which controls the gas pressure. [Heard]

refining.

type of liquid-level con-

used on accumulators and towers.


[Heard]

Rock

Oil

Kingfish, n.

One

January

[WIN,

p.

King

of the Wildcatters
Colonel A. E. Humphreys, who discovered the Mexia, Texas, oil field.
[HOO, frontispiece] 2. James McClurg
1.

Guffey. [GL, p. 149] 3. Thomas B. Slick.


M. L. (Mike) Benedum. 5. Edward
L. Doheny. 6. O. W. Killam. [Reported]

4.

king (spindle) pin


The pin and bearing that allow the
motion of the front wheels relative to
the axle for steering.

[KOT]

kitten, n.

A small

caterpillar tractor.

See cats and

[Heard]

kittens.

kitty, n.

A bonus check paid to Halliburton


salesmen through the district sales-bonus
plan begun in 1946. [Heard]
knee-buster,

n.

old-time Johnson drilling rig; so


called because the clutch often slipped
and hit the driller's knee, sometimes

breaking the bone. [Heard]

To remove

paraffin

from

a well with

a swab-like tool equipped with knives;


the tool works much like the go-devil

on the pipe-line. Paraffin is also often


removed with paraffin solvent. [Heard]

of these circulars bore the date

1,

1852.

[BOW,

p. 7]

kieselguhr, n.

See diatomaceous earth.


kill

district superintendent.

138]

knife a well

Petroleum sold by a chemist and druggist,


Samuel W. Kier, of Tarentum,
Pennsylvania; uniquely advertised by a
circular bearing the picture of an American greenback showing a salt-well derrick.

used international-

An

float

trol

Kier's

is

[KOT]

pressure

[KI]

kidney

often called lubricating.

ing viscosity which

The

the tank through a bootlike valve into

more

kinematic viscosity
A fundamental method of determin-

October 29, 1947]


kick the casing-head
To put air or gas pressure into the tank
car containing casing-head so that the

is

[Heard]

[KOT]

a well

To stop the flow of oil by filling the


hole with water or mud, in order to
force the oil back into the well and thus
bleed off the gas. Killing a well by filling it with mud-laden fluid to stop the

knitting needle
A device with which a sand line
be spliced. [Heard]

knobstones,

A name
formation.

knock,

may

n. pi.

Kentucky

in

for a local oil

[NO]

n.

The sound

in the cylinder of

nal-combustion

engine

caused

an interby the

\>
(j

knock

[82

bit off

too-rapid burning of

some

of the gases of

knock

the fuels. [KI]

test of gasoline

number
knock

made

test

to determine the octane

of gasoline.

To remove

the pin that fastens the bit

[Heard]

to the stem.

knot,
1.

n.

knock down

knocker,
1.

oil

a pipe.

separate oil

from water.

Heard

n.

resembles a knot on
obstruction of any kind in

[NO]

2.

One

sliding links of a drilling jar. 3.

mer. [BB,

p.

of the

ham-

2.

An

it

the borehole. [Heard]

KNOT,

See jar-knocker.

term for any kind

boll weevil's

of collar because

To

[KOT]

bit off

See

n.
cat,

cat's

hatchet knot, hog

ass,

knot, mule's foot.

486-87]

knowledge bench
knock-off block
A device used to unclamp a jack well

pump. The block is


placed between the \noc\-off joint and a
post and holds a tension upon the rod
line to the pumping jack, thus preventing the sucker rods at the well from pulling the jack and pull rods so far that
the well cannot be hooked on again.
[POR]
so that

it

(also called hoof^-off)

connect the

is

necessary to dis-

[POR]

line.

off the

To blow

three-tiered stool belonging to the

[OK]

ceases to

knock-off joint
A joint used to disconnect the rod line
from the pumping power. When a well
has been pumped off there is no need to
continue to operate the pump, but the
central power must run on to pump other
wells, and the provision of such a joint

knock

driller.

Christmas tree

off the

occurs on a well

Christmas tree

when

there

is

so

fittings;

sudden

or forceful an eruption of gas that

it

knowledge box
The box in which

the driller keeps his

orders and reports. [BB, p. 487]

knowledge

stick

used to measure the


depth of wells by measuring the line as
it is pulled out of the well. [ST, p. 129]
five-foot stick

knuckle-buster, n.
1. A
wrench. [Heard] 2. A valve
wrench which, because of its narrow hold
and close quarters, often slips, causing
bruised or skinned knuckles. [KI]

knuckle joint

A drilling tool so hinged that it can


be deflected at an angle; used in directional drilling. [BA, p. 133]
knuckle post

A
an

post used to support the bearing of

old-style

sand

reel.

[NO]

bursts the control valves. [BB, p. 490]

kosmos burner
knockout,

n.

A dehydrator

of gas ; a mechanical con-

denser which removes the water from


natural gas [PE]

knock

stick

commonly a piece of a
pick handle, used to knock the T screw
on the yoke at the lower end of the
temper screw while the walking beam
is in motion. The purpose of the blow is
to tighten or loosen the yoke on the main
screw, syn. Billy club. [POR]
short club,

burner for testing the candle power

of illuminating

oils.

[POR]

Kutter's formula
A formula for estimating the flow of
water in rivers and canals, and sometimes modified for estimating the flow
through long pipes with slow velocity

and entrance head. [POR]

K.V.A.

An
[POR]

abbreviation

of

kjlovolt-ampere.

law of capture

i8 3

L
richer than the land pitch in bituminous matter and is soluble in petroleum
spirit. [A]
is

Lime; an abbreviation used

[LDO,

reports.

in drilling

p. 428]

bore] n
A unit of land measure used in Texas.
[Heard]

labor

[la

1^

lamp, Hefner

standard lamp in which amylacetate


used for determining candle power.

is

[POR]

laborer, n.
1. A beginning pipeliner. 2. A new
employee at a refinery. See boll weevil,
farmer, pea picker, cotton picker. [Heard]

lampblack, n.
A product burned from natural gas or
oil under plates or rolls. [D]

lacquer, n.

lamp-burning

dressing for

wood

or metal

which

of nitrocellulose, resinous

consists

gum

(either synthetic or natural), a plasticizer,

and possibly some pigment,

all

in a special lacquer solvent

and thinned

down with lacquer


Lady Godiva

[POR]

soiled

dove

Oklahoma;

so

thinner.

(q. v.)

named

dissolved

ac-

cepted a dare to ride down Main Street


dressed only in beads and moccasins.
[ST, p. 57]

covering placed on a
pulley to increase its diameter, its driving power, or the efficiency of its wearing power. [NO]
jacket or

type of

sand-pump

reel.

type of screw bolt.

illuminating

oils

in

oil

land,

v.)

the term

is

v.t.

To

1.

fix

the casing definitely at a

given depth in the hole. [D] 2. To fasten


tubing boards at a certain place. [Heard]

landman,

n.

man whose business is to secure leases for his company. [BA, p. 85]
lease

Land of Boundless Gold, the


The very productive oil fields

of

South

Arkansas; said to have produced half

worth of

oil.

[HOO,

p. 164]

[NO]

latch jack

lag screw

lamp

a billion dollars'

lag reel

test

made on

which the oil is burned in a standard


lamp under standard conditions. [POR]

lagging, n.

The

test

Illuminating oil (q.


seldom used today. [D]

from Ragtown,
because she

[NO]

fishing tool designed to catch the

bail of a bailer.

laid length

The

length as measured after the pipe


placed in position; includes such items
as gaskets, the space between ends of
pipe in a coupling, the insertion of the
bell and spigot joint, or the central ring
of a C. J. hub. [D]

[NO]

on

latch

To catch a pipe

with elevators. [Heard]

is

1.

side.

an

Belonging to the sides or to one


n. 2. A branch to a pipe line or to

irrigation canal.

[POR]

law of capture

lake pitch

Asphalt from Pitch Lake, Trinidad.

lateral, adj.

It

The

rule of law, generally practiced

law of mass action

184

United States and Canada, by


which oil and gas belong to the man who
extracts them through the wells on his
property, although they may originally
have been laid in a formation underlying a neighbor's property. [BA, p. 145]
the

in

law of mass action

The

principle that the chemical action

of a reacting substance

any

moment

to

its

proportional at

is

active mass.

[PORj

laying cat
A side-boom caterpillar tractor used
in laying a pipe line.

strung. Their work has largely been supplanted by a pipe-laying machine, syn.
Tong gang. [Heard; BA, p. 179]

laying out of a line

The

direction or twist of the wires

When

wires in the strands are laid to the left


and the strands are laid to the right, it
called

regular-lay,

right-lay

layout, n.

wires in the strands are laid to


the right but strands are laid to the left,
called

is

regular-lay, left-lay rope.

When

wires in the strand and the strands


themselves are laid the same way, either
right or left, it is called a long-lay rope.

[POR]
lay an egg
1.

To

blast. 2.

To

shoot a well.

valves, pipes, etc. 2.

flow chart (q.


[KI]

in

chart of a refinery
process for any given charge. Also called

3.

To

LAY

1.

n.

on a rack

failure in business.

[NO]

and

dence that drilling


October '21, 194VJ

lay
is

it

complet ed.

1.

The

laying

down

rig. 2.

[WO,

of a jackknife der-

moving

or sliding a
gin pole which can be raised or

lowered. [Heard]

bed or stratum of rock. [POR]

lay in
To put a pipe line in

its bed. This opoften performed before daylight when the pipe has cooled off and

eration

PIPE LINE

pipelining.

Hand

Break-out tongs. [Heard]

1.

tools of early days.

[OPL,

p. 105]

The bench

to

floor

on which

may

rest

one side of the derrick

visitors

and workmen

while observing the drilling

operations. [POR] 2. Any bench in the


doghouse or about the lease on which
workers may rest. [Heard]

lazy board
1. A board placed under the last pipe
laid in a line to support it while the next
connection is made; used in mailing up
and breaking out pipe. [Heard] 2. A
board above the derrick floor from which
pipe is stabbed into the well. So called
because the stabber works spasmodically.

[OK]

is

has shortened to a certain degree.


p. 137]

uses.

lay tongs

1.

evi-

layer, n.

its

lazy bench

lay-down job
rick preparatory to

of

stovepipe.

v.t. 2.

pull drill pipe out of the hole in

single lengths

some

lay the line


To put the joints of a pipe together
to form a continuous line. [BA, p. 179]

2.

laydown,

v.)

See buck tongs, do up the backfill, lay


in, lay the line; lower in, set the iron,

acidize a well. [Heard]

To

plan for the assembly of a plant,

rope.

When
it

an alignment.

a distillery, or a set of equipment, pumps,

and strands composing a rope.

is

localization of

[PE]

1.

1.

The workers who make

pipelining.

The

lay, n.

p. 59]

the connections after the pipe has been

Lawrence condenser
refining. A flat box made from two
sheets of corrugated metal placed close
together and joined at the edges. [POR]

[OPL,

laying gang

[F,

lazy tongs

A
ing

device for extricating tools; a fishtool.

[NO]

i8 5
L. D. D.
Later drilled deeper; an abbreviation
used in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]

made.

leaded up
Descriptive

which con-

gasolines

of

[SHU,

p. 158]

leading, [ledding] n.

method

clearance.

of checking bearings for

The

and a
ground

caps are removed,

lead or fuse wire

is

laid over the

end of the bearings. The cap is


then replaced and tightened, after which
it is again removed from the shims, and
the flattened lead wire is measured with
a micrometer. [OPL, p. 315]
at each

lead [leed] line


1.

The

tanks. 2.

1.

contract for the possession

profits of lands for a

pipe line from the pump to the


cable for lifting and moving

tools, utensils,

and

of

payment of

accessories in drilling

3.

block meth od
on oil land by which the royalty is arranged on a sliding-scale basis, a
fixed rate of royalty being paid on all
oil produced up to a certain amount,
and afterwards a lower rate for all production in excess of this amount. [POR]

lease,

The production foreman


[Heard;

LDO,

lessor in favor of a lessee. 2.

5).

1.

The

legal estate in

[NO]

of property

lead [leed] tong


A wrench used to break out pipe.
[Heard]

lease

ployee of an

who

quired rating. [Heard]


leak-off, n.

pipelining.

lean
Oil

centrifugal

pump

drain.

p. 172]

oil

from which some

generally

lubricating

moved; used

of the heavy cut,

oil,

has

been

p. 101]

re-

in a casing-head gasoline

plant to absorb gasoline content


natural gas. [OGJ, November 6,

lease;

hand granted by a

The holding

the land so held.

from
1947,

1.

on

an eman inde-

secures oil leases;


oil

pendent operator.
syn.

Landman.

company
2.

or

dealer in oil leases.

[S]

methods

lease

a sample or a tank of

To add the amount of tetraethyl lead


necessary to raise the octane to the re-

[WIL,

hound
One who

1.

p. 31]

up

by

of a lease (q.

p. 438]

[POR]

uses the lead tong. syn. Pipe racker.

[Heard, BA,

>

lease boss

from

lead-tong man
The roughneck on a rotary crew

rr

lease

leasehold, n.

to the tank.

\S\
^J

F, p. 113]

lead [leed] pipe, n.


The pipe which continues the tubing

bottom of the well

is

ing purposes. 4. A legal document executed between the land owner as lessor
and another party as lessee, granting the
right to exploit the premises or mineral
or other products. [POR] 5. The property occupied by each producer. [Heard;

v.,

lead [led]
gasoline

rent. 2.

piece of land leased for min-

or repairing a well. [PE]

the

and

determinate period

The instrument by which such grant

Tetraethyl lead. [Heard]

tain tetraethyl lead.

power

lease, n.

on consideration

lead, n.

lease

Block: whereby a fixed royalty rate


all

oil

produced up

to

certain

amount

is charged, after which a lower


charged. [P] 2. Class: whereby a
different royalty rate is set for each well,
depending upon the relative value of the
product and the cost of production. 3.
Period: whereby the royalty rate is periodically lowered as the production of
the well decreases. 4. Uniformly digressive: whereby no royalty is paid on production less than that designated as a
minimum per week. [LDO]

rate

is

lease

A
erty

power

power plant on oil-producing propwhich operates one or more produc-

3~

:86

leaser

ing wells. At each well is a pumping


jack connected by means of a shackle
line or a rod line to an eccentric, attached
to a bandwheel, and revolved by motive

power, syn. Power. [POR]

procures

[D]

leases.

lease storage

[LDO,

syn. Field storage.

p.

498]

lease tank

and measured, the

oil

is

let die

syn.

A
left

Field

[Heard]

her go

To

which individual wires are


form strands, and
strands are laid to the left to form the
the right to

cable. See lay.

allow a well to overproduce until


the gas pressure is depleted and there is

let

cable in
to

V-

To

to

lift

[D]

[FO,
let

full

force

p. 116]

her rip

To
let

See Big Hole Ben, Clem, Coal Oil


Johnny, Cottonseed Willie Withers, Dirty
Gertie, French Kate, Gib Morgan, Lady
Godiva, Lizzie Toppling, Mail Pouch,
Paul Bunyan, Pithole's Forty Thieves,
Stonehouse Jack, Wickedest Man in the

\*

allow a well to flow at capacity.

on

To

load boats with

trough

made

rude

three, five, or

more

hours. [AS, p. 94]

out screw

To

sides or

reef or anticline.

[D]

wings of a saddle
2.

The

legs of a

derrick. [D]

LENGTHEN DRILLING LINE

lengthen the drilling line. In cablewhen the length of the


screw has been drilled it must be let out.
See peg-leg, v.i. [POR]
tool

drilling,

let the tools

See give more screw, let out screw,


make the kelly down, put in stalk, stab.
lense out

swing

A command

to shut a well
the tools in the hole. [Heard]

down with

leveling, n.

To

play out; a term applied to the end


of a formation, as sandstone that ends
between beds of shale or limestone. Also

The

principal

altitudes,

method

of

measuring

or the difference in elevation

between different

points, in order to ob-

said to pinch out. [BA, p. 55]

tain

lenses, n. pi.

establish a grade for the pipe line.

Unconformities. See shore

lines.

[H,

p. 147]

lensing, n.

was constructed from the creek to the tanks, and


as boats could be obtained and sales
made, the oil was let on and run two,

let

legs, n. pi.

(1865).

oil

of six-inch boards

World.

The two

r"'

allow a well to flow at capacity.

[Heard]

LEGENDARY FIGURE

1.

from the

the oil

formation. [Reported]

regular-lay cable

laid

interval.

n.

no more force

monkey wrench

sell (q. v.).

stratigraphic

specially-constructed viscometer in-

[POR]

is

tank. [BA, p. 157]

left-handed

from

it

gathering system,

pipe-line

leptometer,

sampled
taken by the

storage tank for oil produced

the wells on a lease. After

the

in

[D]

vented by Lepenau with two metallic


cylinders placed side by side in a water
bath and terminating below in stopcocks. Three sets of interchangeable jets
are provided for attachment to the stopcocks. Standard oil is placed in one cylinder, and the oil to be tested in the other.

leaser, n.

One who

variation

thickening of the bed, causing a

the profile of the

ground and to
[OPL,

p. 50]

LEVER, n.
See casing pole, cheater, dog wrench,
extra hand, helper, mope pole, nigger,

ligroin

[87
persuader, physics stick, pinch bar, snipe,

the roof vents. [OGJ,

star post.

p. 68]

leverman,

n.

rotary driller, syn. Clutcher, brake

rider, clutch

stomper,

and Johnson-bar

These expressions originated for


the most part with the cable-tool drill-

idiot.

who

ers,

deplored the coming of the

rotary system

and the rotary crews.

derrick, charge, cof-

gin
popper, hydraulic jack, jenny, little boom,
pipe jack, pipe trolley, rat-hole elevator,

winch.

specs, spectacles,

paraffin-base crude.

[BOW,

p. 99]

light distillate
in

key

1947,

fin hoist, elevator, gin job, gin pole,

Lid and Ham


Would-be telegraph operators
pipe-line company. [Reported]

6,

light crude

[Heard]

lie

LIFTING DEVICE
See boom, boom

December

Kerosene, natural gasoline, or other


low-boiling petroleum fractions. [J]
light ends

on which boring rods are hung

tool

when

they are raised or lowered in a


borehole. [D]

The

lighter fractions of

an

oil.

[KI]

light fraction

See light end. [KI]

an oil well
The number of years a well produces,
depending upon the rate of production,
the shifting of the formation, and other
of

life

The

conditions.

productive period varies

with the field, ranging from four years


in the Gulf district to about thirty years
in the eastern district.
life

[LDO]

preserver

An

for the

headache post

safety belt

worn by

the derrickman.

[Heard]

made on

determine the

er oils to
oil.

test

transform-

stability of the

[KOT]

lift, n.
1.

The

vertical

movement

of the drill-

[D] 2. The difference in elevation between the surface of the liquid


being pumped and the elevation at which
ing

it

tools.

discharged, as in gas-lift pumping.

is

[POR]
lifter

roof

2.

Any

pipe-line JL

crude petroleum which

has a high gravity on the

oxidation

on

1.
The name given by Professor B.
Silliman to a grade of petroleum in 1865.

light

life test

An

given by drillers to a sand-

lightning slingers
Telegraph operators
crew. [Heard]

[NO]

lifesaver, n.

A name

stone found at a depth of 520 feet in Butler County, Pennsylvania, in 1876. [NO]

light oil

name
[NO]

early

(q. v.).

lighting rock

light

Baume

scale.

one
well producing

little oil.

[NO]

petroleum

petroleum product having a boiling


point from 70 to 90 C. and a specific
gravity of 0.650 to 0.666 (85 to 80
Baume) a solvent for fatty oils used for
the carburetion of air in gas machines.
syn. Light oil. [POR]
;

light slushing oil

A nonviscous neutral oil of the same


grade as concrete-form oil. [POR]
ligroin, n.

vides the expansible vapor space to permit the air-vapor mixture above the
stored liquid to expand and contract,

name given to a special distillate


obtained after benzine, similar to kerosene but having a slightly higher boiling point; used in pharmacy and chemis-

thereby reducing loss of vapor through

try as a solvent.

type of storage-tank roof

which pro-

[POR]

like a goose
like a goose,
.

wakes up

in a

new world

every day

An

used

expression

stupid

or

describe

to

person.

forgetful

[WIN,

a
p.

138]

limb, n.

The

strata

on one

side of

an anticlinal

or synclinal axis. [D]

well which produces from a limestone formation. [N, 21, No. 49, Decem4, 1929, p.

77]

limestone, n.
1. The general name for sedimentary
rock composed essentially of calcium
carbonate. 2. The popular and technical

name

rocks which are composed


wholly or to a large extent of carbonate
of lime. Limestone oil-bearing formations contain from 10 to 30 per cent of
for

all

bulk in

their

oil.

[POR]

__

LINE, n.
cable-laid

rope,

line, bull rope,

calf

line,

casing
forked

cordage, dead line,


Halliburton line, jack line, jerk line,
jerk rope, luff line, rag line, middle line,
sand line, spinning line, split line or
rope, swing line, tag line, wire line, wire
line, cat-line,
line,

rope.

line

short board or other device used by

[Heard]
lined out
Descriptive of a still which is operating according to orders. [Reported]

short string of casing below the sur-

which is put into the well to prevent sand from falling into the bottom
of the well and to prevent oil from draining down and exposing the sand. It keeps
sand saturated and prevents the formation of scale that would retard the flow
of oil into the well.

of greatest inclination of a

stratum to the horizon. If the formation


is crooked shale, the weight of the drilling string must be held up or the bit will
follow the dip in the formation. Some
shale is so crooked that no more than
five or six feet can be drilled in one tour
if the hole is kept straight. [POR]

oil

may

over-

[NO]

tions.

linerider, n.

The

pipeliner

line for leaks;

who

inspects

the pipe

he usually rides in an au-

when

the nature of the line

permits. See linewalker.

[OPL,

p. 123]

line squib

type of torpedo.

[NO]

line-up, n.

An account of work in progress.


[Heard]
clamp

[Heard]
linewalker, n.

A pipe-line worker who originally


walked along a pipe line to detect leaks
and disturbances. Now generally replaced
by the linerider or the air patrol service
that spots leaks, washouts, fallen trees,

In order to speed repairs, informa-

tion

is

pump

brand of pipe which employs

dropped by parachute
[Heard]

to

each

station.

line well

^^S^V

A
oil

well drilled on the boundary line of


property. [BB, p. 496]

lining

The

up
first

welding two joints of


is handled by sideequipped with calipers of
is important that the two

step in

pipe together. Pipe

boom

line pipe
special

The

flow the top or enter through perfora-

etc.

line of dip

from

A tool used to line up pipe to be welded.

the derrickman to handle and guide


pipes and to swing traveling blocks.

line

also sub-

is

It differs

face

line-up

burner

The

pipe

test.

standard pipe in that it is always lapwelded, the couplings are longer, and
the ends of both couplings and tubes are
always reamed. [D]

tomobile

See bailing rope, bozo


cable,

The

Brigg's standard.

jected to a higher

liner, n.

lime producer

ber

and taper-thread couplings and

recessed

usually has greater length of thread than

proper

tractors
size. It

joints be in a straight line and that the


gap between the ends be of the right
width and uniform throughout. When
the two joints are in position, a line-up
clamp is placed around the ends to be
welded. [OPL, p. 58]

the

petroleum used

oil.

[POR]

liquefaction of gases

The conversion of gases to liquids by


subjecting them to pressure and then
tures.

them

The

to their critical

process

is

tempera-

carried out

com-

mercially with ammonia gas, sulphur


dioxide in refrigerating plants; also extensively used in refineries

gasoline plants.

and natural-

[POR]

well the containing vessel is


from the
atmosphere. The vapor given off contains a higher percentage of nitrogen
than the liquid air, which therefore becomes progressively richer in oxygen.

[POR]
liquid asphalt

An

asphaltic product so soft that

liquid

is

from casing-head

gas,

the gas

generally compressed and then cooled

under compression, syn. Drip

gas.

[POR]

petroleum gas
Liquefied condensates from natural gas
or from the casing-head gas of oil wells,

liquefied

made by

either the compression or the ab-

sorption process, alone or blended with

other petroleum products.

[POR]

liquid air

A liquefied gas composed of air. Its


major use has been in the making of explosives. The mixture is produced by
pouring liquid air over a porous mass
which contains charcoal. While the explosion must be set off by a detonator
within fifteen to thirty minutes after
adding the liquid air, there are no duds
remaining after the liquid air has completely evaporated, as in ordinary chemical

explosives. Success

of liquid-air ex-

plosives lies in the fact that the gas ordi-

narily contains a

much

lighter percen-

test

at

normal temperature.

bituminous material
Bituminous material which shows a
penetration at normal temperature, under a load of 50 grams applied for one

second, of

by the combination of the effects of compression and


cooling. In the manufacture of natural

its

consistency cannot be measured by the

Bituminous material which shows a


penetration at normal temperature, under a load of 50 grams applied for one
second, of more than 350. [POR]

to liquid

removed from the liquefier,


more or less rapidly, depend-

insulated against heat leakage

penetration

liquefied gas

air.

how

ing on

[KOT]

gasoline

is

vaporizes

liquefied bituminous material

Gas converted

oxygen than atmospheric

of

small fraction of liquid air produced by cooling and throttling highly


compressed air contains more than 30
per cent oxygen as compared with 21
per cent in atmospheric air. When the
it

as a substitute for

more expensive vegetable

cooling

tage

The

liquid air

linseed substitute

liquid gold

89

more than

350.

[POR]

liquid flow

The flow of liquids, generally given in


terms of gallons or cubic feet per minute, experimentally determined by dams,
vee notches, meters, or a Venturi tube.
The flow is influenced by the impressed
pressure (unbalanced), the viscosity of
the fluid, the temperature, and the orifice

through which

it

passes.

[POR]

liquid fuels

Petroleum and refinery residues such


from the dry distillation
of coal wood, and the tar oils obtained
by the distillation of coal tar, benzine,
and denatured, methylated, or wood alas shale oil, tar

cohol.

[POR]

liquid gas

Liquefied petroleum gas. 2. Bottled


such as propane, isobutane, or butane, which is shipped under pressure
and is used for heating or illuminating
purposes. [J]
1.

gas,

liquid gold

name

popular

for petroleum.
refining. Tetraethyl
lead; so called because of its cost. [KI]
1.

[HOO,

p. 50]

2.

liquid-level control

190

liquid-level control

combined float-chamber and control


valve which can be attached to a vessel

manner

in such a

as to control the level

of the liquid automatically.

[POR]

colorless to slightly yellowish, trans-

Lizzie Toppling
See Toppling, Lizzie.

Liner; an abbreviation used in drilling


[LDO, p. 428]

with a viscosity comparable

reports.

to that of lubricating oil (specific gravity


0.840 to 0.940 at 25 C.) ; used medicinal-

load, n.

parent

fluid,

[D]

ly.

liquid-phase cracking
A cracking process in which heat and
pressure are applied to an oil while it is
in a liquid state. [BA, p. 205]
litholine, n.

registered

name

for petroleum.

[POR]
little

and heavy

materials.

[Heard]

man

a driller

contrivance used to bind loads of

pipe, sucker rods, etc.

[NO]

string of pipe filled with

and liquid

mud

or oil

as a result of equalization of

pressure. [Heard]

load factor

may

example,
say to a worker who is hav-

ing trouble attaching the ^glevator s: "It


goes on like a horse collar, little man."
[Reported]

Man's Paradise

Burkburnett, Texas; so called because


the

Water or

2.

A new, awkward worker. For

was

from the explosion.

used to prime a well which is ready


to begin producing. [DO, October 14,
v.t. 3. To prime a well with
1947]
water or oil. [WO, October 21, 1947]
oil

loaded string

inch

Little

casing

Pipe smaller than sixteen inches in diameter. [Reported]


little

1. Water, mud, or oil used to force the


shot in a well to spend its force at the
bottom of the well and to protect the

load-binder, n.

boom
small side-boom used in lifting pipe

little

its

Lnr.

liquid petrolatum

steam, which has been deprived of


available energy. [POR]

ownership of the prospective field


hands of scores of individuals,

in the

each of whom possessed a town


two. [HOO, p. 43]

lot

or

The

ratio of the average

maximum power

to the

engines,

the

power taken

available at the

percentage

the

of

power absorbed by the average


[POR]

total

load.

load indicator
An instrument used to indicate the
load upon a line attached to the hoist in
a derrick; a pull rod or a sucker rod of
a pumping well. [POR]

loading racks
live oil

Oil that carries entrapped or formagas. The gas bubbles which con-

tion

stantly break the surface give the oil

animate appearance. See dead

oil.

an

[POR]

which must be steamed


can be piped. [POR]

before

it

oil

steam
Steam which comes direct from the
boiler and retains its full power of expansion; distinguished from exhaust

An

elevated

from

the top.

fill

tank

walk with valves and

connecting pipes used to

load

livered oil
Jelly-like

Standpipes (pivoted) used to

1.

cars. 2.

tank cars

fill

[POR]

oil

to prime a well which is


ready to begin producing. [DO, October

Oil used

10,

1947]

live

load water
Water used
acidizing.

to

prime

[DO, November

well

11,

after

1947]

long-tailed engine

191

LOAF, v.i.
See chasing the canine, chasing the
dog, dog

LOAFER,

seducing the canine.

it,

rester.

loafer rail

To

3.

v.t.

keep a

drilling log. [BB, p. 490]

LOG, n.
See boring journal, doghouse dope,
dopebook, driller's log, drilling journal,
geolograph, oil log, seismograph log,

n.

See dog catcher, eye

[Heard]

logging.

type of rail fitted with small spikes.

[NO]

swindle sheet.
log, v.t.

To

allow the bit to rotate but not to

drill,

in order to keep the hole in condi-

Loc.
an

Location;

drilling reports.

used

abbreviation

[LDO,

in

on cement.

tion for casing while waiting

p. 428]

[Heard]
location, n.
1. A placer-miner claim (1887) which
covered twenty acres, not just the space
required for one well. [T, p. 164] 2.
spot where a well is to be drilled. [POR]
3. The usual distance between wells in
fields where wells are spaced according

"Well A is three locanorth of Well K." The expression

logy, adj.

The condition of casing which has become difficult to raise or lower because
of outside friction. [POR]

Long Beach, v.t.


1. To put more

to a fixed distance:

line

tions

is

to antedate

said

pression.

[BA,

the

Hollywood

ex-

p. 98]

and

tric layers

is

disposed to

lie

in concen-

around the core rather than

in strands; particularly adapted for haul-

ing and rope-transmission purposes.

[POR]
lock nut
1. A nut placed on a parallel-threaded
portion of pipe at a joint in order to stop
leaks by means of a grommet, a gasket,
nut used to make a
or a packing. 2.
joint where the long screw or lock-nut
nipple has been run through the tank,
the lock nuts being used to wedge against

the tank

on

signal

may

either side.

be pulled in

which

is

when

dicator:

The term

is

derived

the

weight

passes

in-

the

mark, the indicator points to the


words hong Beach, California. [Heard]
safety

Long John
The

tubular boiler which

stationary,

was used

to furnish

power

for drilling

Drake's well; the boiler had originally


been used by steamers. [GI, p. 54]
long-length, adj.

pipelining.

term used in early pipe-

lining days to describe a pipe line ten or

more miles

[WIL,

long.

p. 89]

long residuum
A dewaxed,

filtered,

Pennsylvania

[KOT]

The
boiler

thjit__die_drick

oil.

very

viscous

long string

[D]

locomotive-type boiler

which warns

from printing which appears on the

locked-wire rope
A rope with a round, smooth surface,
the wires of which are turned to such a
shape that each one interlocks with the
others

weight on a drilling
than the derrick will support.
n. 2.

last string of

casing to be set in

a well; the string that reaches the pay

and
[POR]

self-contained

has only one pass for the hot gas.

sand. [Heard]
long-tail, n.

log, n.
1.

gives

detailed

drilling

the color, nature,

record which
thickness,

and

content of the formations encountered.


The dopeboo\ or doghouse dope. [D] 2.
Any electric log; the record of electric

cable-tool engine. Also called long-

tailed

engine,

Maud. [BB,

mail

pouch,

p. 488]

long-tailed engine

See long-tail. [BB,

p.

488]

and

Old

long-time burning

192

oil

long-time burning oil


A grade of kerosene suitable for continuous burning in wick-fed lamps for
prolonged periods without attention. It
is

often preferred

as

signal oil

and

is

largely used in railway signal lamps.

[TH]

taw
[Heard]

lose a

lose

bottom
when

look-box,

main marble.

(of hole)

the hole becomes so

Said

mudded

up that the driller can find no place


where the tools will work. [Heard; DO,
October

long tongs
Long-handled wrenches used to screw
parts of a pipe line together; an early
pipelining term. [WIL, p. 53]

to lose one's

is

15,

1947]

lose circulation
syn. Lose returns. [Heard]

lose everything but the boiler in the

y\^
>4n

hole

n.

device which provides means for


observing the stream of distillate from a
petroleum still. It is placed between the
condenser and the manifold through
which the stream is diverted into proper
tanks, syn. Run-down box. [D]

To

complete string of tools in

lose the

the borehole. [S]

lose her ass

Said of a well which loses circulation.


[Reported]
lose his ass

look for bottom

To

let

down

To go

an attempt to locate the bottom of the


borehole before the drilling process (or,
if tubing, the pumping process) begins
again. [Reported]
in

loop, n.

pipelining.

1.

section of a line

which

can be laid at any point along the main


line to increase flow and decrease pressure, syn. By-pass.
v.t. 2. To provide
a by-pass for a pipe line. [Heard; DO,

November

1947]

14,

warm

it,

lose returns

To

of the petroleum industry,


beans and cottonseed hulls were used to
fill such a crevice; one informant reports
that he used seven boxcars of hulls before he was able to pick up circulation
again. [Reported]
early days

loss

1.

p. 167]

lose a hole

See

drilling impossible.

[Heard]

lose a marble

To become, or act as
come, insane. [Heard]
lose a

the

well which has a fishing job that


p. 145]

2.

well which caves in and fills up, and


must be drilled again. [McT, p. 64]
lost oil

Oil ordinarily lost, but occasionally recovered by repressuring. [WIL, p. 146]

An

instrument used to determine the


oils, reading
in Lovibond "color" numbers. [POR]
color of refined petroleum

loving cup
if

one has be-

A
field

almost totally insane.

chamber

in every

taw

To become

show

[KOT]

Lovibond tintometer
a borehole because of con-

which make

lost hole.

asphalts to

cannot be cleaned up. [ST,

loose pipe
Pipe nominally two inches in diameter
and more than two feet in length. [OPL,

To abandon

on heating
test made on

lost hole

up.

loose line-herder
A truck driver. [Reported]

ditions

mud pumped into the boremud goes into a crevice. In the

lose the

hole; the

extent of volatilization.

LOOSEN A CONNECTION
See heat

broke. [Reported]

the drill stem (or tubing)

To

room

pot, the inevitable fixture

available to early-day oil-

workers, syn. Thunder mug. [ST,

p. 55]

VV\

lug

193
low-boiling fractions
1. The fractions of petroleum that rise
quickly to the upper reaches of the stills.
[BA, p. 201] 2. The lightest members
or fractions of petroleum which have
the highest vapor pressure and therefore
the lowest boiling point. [KI]

low

used
equipment. [Heard]
trailer

to

move heavy
'

low dip

dip of less than 5 per cent, which is


best recorded as so many feet per mile.

[POR]
low-end point

The

which do not reach

vaporizing

their

point until great temperature

and do not
still. [KL]

applied

is

top of a

rise rapidly to the

pipelining. The process of putting the


pipe in the ditch. [F, p. 144]

lowering-in-gang
The workers who finish the connections on a pipe line and lower the line
into the ditch. [Heard]

LOWER INTO THE WELL


float in

down, go
run a swab,

casing, follow

run casing, run

line, string.

on him." [Reported]

lower valve
See standing valve. [POR]
low-test gas
third-grade gasoline

[SHU,

p. 158]

L.P.

oils

Material from which lubricants are to

be made. [BA,

p. 228]

1.

material, especially

Any

abbreviation for low pressure.

gas

almost to the end of

oils

until

wax

still

appears.

re-

which follows

2.

3.

distillation,

petroleum

residue not rendered sticky by asphalt


or other resinous matter. [D]

To

fill

v.t.

mud-laden

a well with

stop the gas flow.

The

liquid

is

fluid to

introduced

chamber

into a length of casing or a

ar-

ranged above the well with valves which


close and allow it to feed against pres-

[POR]
lubricating grease

lubricant consisting of a solution of

lime soaps or lime-alkali-soaps in mineral oils; the mixture of wool-grease,


tallow, alkali soaps, etc. with mineral oils,
or, in the case of axle or

tar,

oils,

mica,

etc.

oil,

magnesium
[POR]

wagon

(talcum),

silicates

2, 3.

[POR]

Lucas, n.
A well-known gusher struck at Spindletop near Beaumont, Texas, in January,
1901, at a depth of 1,050 feet. Named for
the driller, Captain Anthony F. Lucas.
This well marked the advent of oil production in quantity in the United States.

[POR]

L.P.G.

pull.

Liquefied petroleum gas (q.

greases,

lignite tar, coal

special line

which was used

casing in early days because


v.).

[Re-

1.

lube, n.
of lubricant. [Heard]

Now

it

to pull

gave more

obsolete. [Reported]

lug, n.

ported]

form

friction,

fining.

distillate

grease, or

oil,

used to decrease

graphite,

luff line

[POR]

short

with the

p. 35]

lube stock

See lubricant,

cause a disaster; often heard in the


expression "Somebody lowered the boom

[BA,

lubricating oil

boom

To

An

greases.

of lime-soaps, rosin

into the hole, perforate run,

men
Men who work

sure as a lubricant, syn. Kill a well.

lowering in

lower the

and

lubricate,

finished product point of fractions

See

refining.

lubricant, n.

low boy

lube-house

large, ball-like

knob by which a

bucket is lifted and carried from the


loading to the dumping areas. The two

lug-loader

194

one on each side of the bucket, are


which the female
joints of the truck chassis close and by
lugs,

equipped with female

the male joints over

lug of the bucket. [KI]

which

dump body

the

supported in
2.

transit.

A connection.

(the bucket) is
See lug-loader. [KI]

[SI, p. 154]

trade

to

the

fit

n.

name

inducing

for a mechanical device

respiration

in

cases

of

asphyxia, drowning, and electric shock.

with

truck

A
for

lug-loader, n.

lungmotor,

joints

built

chassis

and

[D]

M
macadam aggregate
Aggregate the particles of which are
screened to a uniformly coarse size.

[KOT]

because he can chew an entire package


of tobacco in three chews. [Reported]

mail-poucher,

macaroni,

n.

Pipe; generally used in the expressions to shoc\ macaroni (to rack pipe),
rac\s of macaroni (lengths of pipe
stacked in the derrick), or string of
1.

macaroni (laid pipe line). One piece of


pipe is often referred to as a stic\ of
macaroni. [Heard] 2. Metal tubing with
a number of elbows and turns, measuring 54 inch to 2'/2 inches in diameter.
[KI] 3.
small drill pipe which can
enter pipe as small as 2 inches in diameter. [Heard]

n.

cable-tool driller; so called because

the engine he operated was called a mail


pouch and because the driller often used
Mail Pouch tobacco. [BB, p. 489]

main shaft
The band-wheel shaft. [D]
main sill
The sill which extends from
under the derrick

upon
yond

floor,

where

a point
it

rests

back to a point bethe location of the sand reel. It lies


the nose

sill,

at a slight angle to the center line of the

upon four mud sills, supports


Sampson post, and acts as the mainstay which ties the rig front together.
[POR]
rig, rests

the

macaroni tubing
See macaroni. [PE]

machine

major,
oil

lubricating oil used to reduce fric-

tion

between moving parts of machinery.

machine thread
fine thread

on a

bolt.

[Heard]

Magic City
Pithole, Pennsylvania (1865-66).

n.

^7^

large oil

make,

n.

company. [WIL,

p.

215]

~\-^

1. Actual production. [Heard] 2. The


amount, expressed in tons or gallons, of
products made by the run during the
distillation processes. A run of petroleum will be reported as "Make: 50,000

[J]

[SM,

gallons of gasoline,
kerosene." [KI]

40,000

gallons

of

p. 93]

make
To

a connection
fit another section of
into the stem in the hole. [S]

mail pouch
See

long-tail.

[BB,

p. 488]

Mail Pouch

friend

and companion of Cotton-

make
To

seed

Willie

Withers (q.

[WIN,

v.)

so called

a hand
be a competent,
p. 138]

drill

efficient

stem

worker.

Man

i95

make a hole with a pencil


To claim more footage than one
[BB,

drilled.

has

p. 490]

make and break

ignition
system of ignition used
upon some gas or gasoline engines which
depend alternately upon the completing
and the breaking of an electric circuit.

An

electric

make the kelly down


To put in or run in

a connection (the
connections are always single). After the
connection is made, one joint is drilled
and the kelly is again made down. [WIN,
p. 138]

make the rounds


To inspect the wells

[POR]

der one's care. [Heard]

make-and-break rotary
A rotary machine designed to make
and unmake screwed tool joints or casing. [POR]

make through
To penetrate

make a pull
To pull pipe
make
To

out of the well to change

[Heard]

bits or cones.

a spool
roll

up

one's clothes

to leaving a location.

The

preparatory

roll of cloth-

ing resembles a cable spool. Also spool

V^ \S

make time
To get a

job

done

string of tools. [D]


string of pipe

from

a well

make a well
To drill a well which becomes

a pro-

ducer. [BA, p. 32]

make footage
To drill. [DO, November 14, 1947]
make hole
vA^
To gain depth in drilling a well. [NO]
make it up one more wrinkle
To screw pipe another turn; a wrinkle
is

one turn of a thread. [Heard]

make location
To fix the spot for
make macaroni
To blow up as a

schedule. [Reported]

make-up wrench
The wrench used

in

making

the pipe

or tubing ready for the well. [PE]

male connection

pipe with threads on the outside;

also called spigot.

male

[Heard]

joint

which

joint

mallet

which
result of too

much

which breaks

into pieces. [Heard]

slips into,

or

is

covered

[Heard]

drill-stem test."

made

of

any tough, hard

log,

will dress fifteen to eighteen inches

square and ten to twelve feet long; used


in forcing down the casing or the drivepipe; similar to the mall used in driving
piles (1903).

1-A Miller made


[DO, October 14,

maltha,

[NO]

n.

black viscous material lighter than


and heavier than petroleum.

asphalt

1947]

MAKESHIFT,

make up time
To get back on

mall, n.

make oil ~^\^><^


To produce on: "No.
on

[Re-

together, as drill pipe or a

by, a female joint.

drilling. [S]

pressure; said of a pipe line

oil

in a hurry.

ported]

make a trip
To pull a

back into the hole. [Heard]

acidizers

say they are about to ma\e through a


formation when they start the acid into
the hole under pressure. Also brea\ formation and brea\ down formation.
[Heard]

make up
To screw

it

formation;

'em up. [Heard]

and run

or machinery un-

n.

[POR]

See boar's nest, bootleg packer, poorboy core barrel, poor-boy level, poor-boy

Man,

packer, shirttail packer.

and

n.

The foreman who


[WIN, p. 138]

pipelining.
fires.

hires

^4^
^

manak

196

manak, n.
The genuine brea

into Texas state law

found in
Uvalde County, California. [PE]
that

is

mandrel socket

An

implement used

grasp casing
which has collapsed or broken. [NO]

manhead,

to

n.

hole in or near the bottom of one


end of a horizontal tank which permits
inspection of the residual contents. Originally a nautical expression. [KI]

manhole,

n.

manifold,

many

branches or

[POR]

man on

the pot

8 or

more
[POR]

air-pressure drive developed near

first time
such a method was effectively used to
accelerate the production of oil. [POR]

marine-engine oil
Petroleum oil compounded with blown
rapeseed oil; used for lubricating the
crankshafts of marine engines. [KOT]

marine

An

oil

illuminating

used on ships; a

oil

burner for illuminating purposes,


consisting of a Bunsen burner (blue
flame) over which a thin cone of corium
oxide or other highly refractive material
is supported. The cone or mantle becomes

and
any gas

provides the light;


be used, regardilluminating value. [POR]

incandescent
therefore,
its

and

(225 F.)

gravity

specific

averaging 0.840. [POR]

marker,

n.

distinctive stratum

which

indicates

the depth reached in drilling.

manus

An

mantle burner

of

2-A inch
4-6 inch
6-8 incl.

Marietta process

test

p. 65]

less

0-10
10-20
20-25
25-30
30-35

refined petroleum distillate of high fire

fireman. 2. The post at the boiler


that furnishes power for the outfit [McT,
1.

Depth of Well in
Thousands of Feet
up to 2 inch

Barrels

n.

pipe header with

outlets.

as fol-

Marietta, Ohio; said to be the

hole in a boiler large enough to


hole
permit a man to enter. [POR] 2.
in a tank or tower through which a man
may enter or exit; may be buttoned up
or headed up with a plate to make it
pressure-tight. [KI]
1.

condensed

is

lows:

may

tester

marline, n.
A small rope

made

of

[BB, p.

two strands

loosely twisted together; used to tie the

end of a larger rope. syn. Soft rope.

[POR]
marlinespike
A round, tapered, sharp

steel

pin used

instrument for determining the


flashing point of petroleum. [POR]

in splicing the strands of a rope. syn.

manway,

marsh buggy

An

n.

See manhole. [KI]

marbles, n. pi.
1. Agates used for perforating pipe. 2.
Steel balls used as perforating shells.
[Heard; DO, October 30, 1947] 3. slang.
to lose one's marbles: to

become

insane.

[Heard]

marginal well
A term used

Splicing needle.

in Texas to refer to the


capacity of a well; similar to the expression stripper well. The definition written

[POR]

^"V\"

vehicle with large tires used pri-

marily

to

swampy

areas.

transport

crews

through

[Heard]

marsh gas

Y'

Methane (CH 4 ), the chief constituent


of plants growing in swamps often commonly misinterpreted as an indication
of the presence of petroleum. [POR]
;

mast, n.
A long pole or tube rising in a
position to support

vertical

some member

of a

drilling or hoisting machine, a ship, or

derrick,

Telescope pole and

syn.

[POR]

frame.

unusually large and powerful


valve. [S] 2. The master or principal
control valve, often placed inside a small
cellar level with the ground. [PE]
n.

mastic, n.
A mixture of fine mineral matter and
bituminous material; used in highway
construction and

for

application

in

heated condition. The material is prepared for use in paving by mixing hot

powder,
with such proportion of hot bitumen

ground

to a fine

(similar to that contained in the natural

rock) that the product contains about


15 per cent bitumen and 85 per cent
limestone. Gritted asphalt-mastic is composed of the material already described
and remelted fragments of limestone or
sand.

[POR1

Mastic which is melted and laid without being rolled or compacted under

[POR]

cial

joint

combination joint in which a speDresser leak clamp is used to rein-

Matheson

force a

vantage

that

is

joint. Its particular ad-

it

allows repair without

the necessity of shutting off the service


pressure, syn. Collarleak clamp, Dresser

and

sleeve,

Matheson

saddle.

[POR]

commonly used

Medium-curing

abbreviation

for

asphalt. [KI]

McMichael viscosity
A test made to show

the extent of

characteristics or

consistency of

fibrous

fiber-base greases

on

by obtaining the torque


around which the

a special spindle

lubricant rotates.

MEASURE,

[KOT]

n.

See barrel, batch, hectare, inch, labor,


outage, running gage, spoke.

tom, drop a

measure

v.t.

bot-

drop a pole, measure


run line, strap, strap

line,

out,

in,
in,

strap out of hole, strap pipe, string over,


tally pipe.

To measure the depth of a borehole


by measuring the line as it goes into the
hole. [PE]
To measure the depth of a borehole by
measuring the line as it is pulled out of
the hole. [PE]
MEASURING DEVICE
echometer,

See

wrought pipe made by enlarging


one end of the pipe to form a suitable
lead recess which is similar to the bell
end of a cast-iron pipe and receives the
male or spigot end of the next length.
Practically the same type of joint is used
on cast-iron pipe. [POR]

gage,

gravimeter,

knowledge stick, measuring stick,


mometer, story pole, strap, thumb

measuring

joint

Maud

[Reported]

measure out

Matheson and Dresser

Money; also called \elt, lettuce, folding


green, long green (lease broker terms).

measure in

mastic asphalt

pressure.

[J]

mazuma

m.c.

The extreme top of the drill tower.


Originally a nautical expression. [PE]

asphalt-rock,

Originated in the farm term for a mule.


pi. Large chain tongs. [Heard]

See residuum.

An

masthead,

oil

Mazout, Mazut, or Masut

master gate
1.

Mecca

97

seis-

rule.

stick

shovel or other tool

well to determine
penetrated. [PE]

how

let

down

in the

far the bit has

meat auger

worker

who

plays

up

to his boss.

[Heard]

Mecca

oil

Old Maud
p. 763] 2.

valuable lubricating oil which occurs in the Mecca oil rocks (Berea grit

term for backup tongs; used in


drilling,
production,
and pipelining.

and Bedford shales) of Trumbull County, Ohio (1876). [NO]

1.

or

field

cable-tool engine.

[ME,

mechanical

efficiency

198

mechanical efficiency

An

mercaptan,

power required
run an engine; equal to the power

to

indication of the

available at the flywheel, divided

actual

by the

power developed by the engine

[KOT]

cylinders.

mechanical steed

steam horse; an early drilling en-

n.

chemical compound, similar to


alcohol, in which sulphur replaces oxygen. Also called sulphur alcohol by
chemists in the industry, and stin\umnasty, because of the offensive odor.
[POR] Gasoline or oil containing this
property is called sour gasoline or sour
oil. [KI]
1.

gine. [Reported]

merchantable, adj.

mechanic with his brains knocked out

truck driver. [Heard]

Descriptive of

and quality

served by the pipe

medicated crude
A crude oil having a foul odor which
comes primarily from sulphuric acid.

merchant pipe

[KI]

metering

medicinal

and odorless lubricating


cosity;

oil

tasteless,

of low vis-

used medicinally as an internal

[KOT]

lubricant.

road asphalt of medium consistency,


liquefied with a kerosene naphtha so
that it hardens more slowly than rapidcuring asphalt but more rapidly than
slow-curing asphalt. [KI]

medium-curing cutback
Asphalt cement which

has
been
thinned with a kerosene-type distillate.
See medium-curing asphalt. [KOT]

An abbreviation for Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone plant: a plant which dewaxes oil


wax. [Heard]

melting point of asphalt

test used to determine the melting


point of asphalt, which shows its heat

resisting

properties;

p. 128]

amount
cylinder.
this

that measures

(meters)

the

of fuel injected into the engine

The fuel pump


[KOT]

usually serves

purpose.

drocarbons
odorless

(CH 4

the paraffin hyboiling point 256 F.),

and inflammable. [POR]

methyl alcohol

poisonous

liquid

(CH 3 OH),

known as methanol, which is


member of the alcohol series;
wood alcohol because it is

also

the lowest
also called

principally

derived from the destructive distillation

wood. [POR]

of

Mexican dragline

MEK plant
de-oils

[OPL,

methane or marsh gas


The lowest member of

medium-curing asphalt

and

line.

pump

A pump
colorless,

which has a gravity

Standard-wrought pipe (1903). [NO]

oil

highly refined,

oil

satisfactory to the refinery

also

called

soften-

See canal wrench. [Heard]

Mexican mustang liniment


An early name (1854) for petroleum
sold for medicinal purposes. [NO]
microcrystalline

Wax
residues

extracted

wax
from

which has

certain petroleum

a finer

and

less

ap-

ing point. See ball-and-ring method.

parent crystallin structure than paraf-

[KOT]

fin

melting point of grease

The temperature at which the first


drop separates from a mass of grease.

[KOT]
member,

A
tion.

n.

separate bed in a geological forma[H, p. 80]

wax (q. v.). It is usually opaque


and may vary from soft and plastic to
hard and brittle, and from white to dark
brown. [TH]

microspheroidal-cracking catalyst

A new catalyst which offers two improvements over earlier ones: it wears
better and thus can be recovered and
reused more often, and it eliminates

mineral pitch

199

some of the complicated equipment


previously required. [SH, April, 1947,

Lawdy, how

wish

had mine

H]

p.

(a) million days, a million dollars,

mict.

Moving
from the

term derived
[Reported]

in cable tools; a
initial letters.

popular saying often used by crewmen who are working hard and are goodnaturedly tired of the task at hand.
[Heard]
million-dollar tree

middle distillates
Burning oil used domestically and
[DO, November
Diesel engines.

in
12,

1947]

middle line

The

on the

center line of the three


tied to the

travel-

derrick floor; it is
ing block. [Heard]

middle

An

mill out

To cut out a part of a casing, as for a


whipstock. [Heard]

oil distillate

intermediate

kerosene and

distillate

between

lubricating-oil fractions.

[J]

middlings,

An

A tree at Pawhuska, Oklahoma, under


which Colonel E. Walters auctioned oil
leases; so called because of enormous
deals, often running into more than a
million dollars on a single lease, transacted there. [GL, p. 264]

n.

inferior type of refined oil.

midnight ethyl

[NO]

mill scale

pipelining.
thin layer of oxide covering new steel plates formed in the
steel-manufacturing process; it must be
removed before the plates are painted to
avoid an early failure of the paint coat.

[OPL,

\^\

Casing-head gasonne which is taken


by night when there is no one on guard.
In some states the use of casing-head
gasoline in automobiles is illegal. [Heard]

p. 181]

M.I.M.
1. Moving

in

materials;

an abbrevia-

tion used in drilling reports.

428]

2.

Moving

in

[LDO,

p.

machine; the machine

may
migration,

n.

1. The wandering of oil and gas from


one position to another as a result of
gravity, water, or capillarity. Such movement is frequently shown by a change

in the character of the

movement

oil. 2.

of oil or gas

Any

natural

underground.

[D]

To

grind pipe out of the way so


that drilling can be resumed. [Heard;
DO, January 22, 1948]
n. 2. A drilling
rig; so called by field workers. [Heard]
3. A milling tool. [MU, p. 56] 4. A type-

writer.

[Heard]

mill bastard

See bastard

mineral colza

A well-refined petroleum distillate,


normally boiling within the limits of
250 to 350 C, used as a burning oil
when a high flash point (above 250 F.)
is required. Largely used in lighthouse
illumination and in signal lamps, where

mill, v.t.
1.

be a small rig, a drilling-in unit, a


work-over unit, or equipment for remedial work. [Reported]

file.

[Heard]

sometimes compounded with fatty


Also known as mineral sperm and
mineral seal. [TH]

it

mineral jelly

A jelly derived from petroleum and


used in explosives as a stabilizer; nearer
the natural state than petroleum. [Heard]
mineral
1.

milling tool
1.

rotating cutting tool.

[POR]

2.

tool used in some fishing jobs to reduce the size of the end of a fish to en-

make

fast to

it.

oil

Crude petroleum and

its

products.

Liquid petrolatum. [D]

2.

able the driller to

is

oils.

[NO]

mineral pitch
Natural asphalt resulting from a slow
natural process or metamorphosis. [POR]

200

mineral right

mineral right
The ownership of the minerals under
a given surface, which includes the right
that surface to remove them.
be separated from the surface ownership, but must be so separated by distinct conveyance. [POR]

minseed

bloomless petroleum product; used


with linseed oil for cheapening pur-

to enter

poses.

May

mirt

mineral rubber

Blown

asphalt

exceedingly

[KOT]

1. An illuminating oil produced from


petroleum and having a high fire test. 2.
A cut between kerosene distillate and gas
oil, widely used as a solvent oil in gasoline-absorption processes. The oil is used

signal

lamps,

in

to 39

to 50

at

instru-

Baume, a viscosity of 45
100 F., on a Saybolt universal

ment. [POR]

See mineral colza.

[TH]

in these

ties

that there are oil possibili-

and lower

beds.

[POR]

mist

Moving in standard tools; a term


from the initials. [Reported]

de-

rived

mist extractor

device provided on lines to input


remove lubricating oil or moisture carried over from the compressors

wells to

spirit

ber

6, 1947, p.

102]

readily vaporized petroleum prod-

uct used extensively as a paint and varnish thinner; an intermediate fraction

between kerosene and gasoline. See petroleum spirit. [KI]

mineral tar
viscoid type of petroleum.

mix,

n.

In cold settling, a solution of filtered


stock in naphtha, so proportioned that

amorphous wax originally present in


the stock will be largely precipitated at
the

the refrigeration temperature employed.

[NO]

mineral turpentine
See petroleum spirit. [Reported]
miner's inch
1.

now known

(sediment, line scale, etc.) that might


clog the face of the formation and cause
excessive input pressures. [OGJ, Novem-

mineral sperm

the lime-

confusion arises by applying the


to the black lime and to the
stratigraphically underlying white lime.
It was formerly believed to be fruitless
to drill into the Mississippi lime, but it is

lighthouse

and in headlights of

oldstyle locomotives, has a gravity of 38.5

field,

term both

[TH]

mineral-seal oil

mineral

In the Mid-Continent

stone just below the Pennsylvania series.

Some

See mineral colza.

in

Moving in rotary tools; a term derived


from the initial letters. [Heard]

low

mineral seal

largely

[POR]

Mississippi lime
of

penetration (0 to 10).

illumination,

oil

Generally, the quantity of water that


from an aperture one inch

will escape

square through a two-inch plank, with a


steady flow of water standing six inches
above the top of the escape aperture, the
quantity so discharged amounting to
2,274 cubic feet in twenty-four hours. 2.
A local term which does not represent a
fixed and definite quantity. [D]

miner's sunshine
A soft grade of paraffin wax used by
miners for burning in lamps. [D]

[D]

mixed

base, crude

Oil containing members of the paraffin series and the asphalt series. [BA, p.
200]

mixed-phase cracking

cracking process designed to proto yield a


greater total of gasoline from crude oil.
[NB, p. 470]

duce antiknock gasoline and

mix mud
To make

a solution thick

enough

to

hold in suspension the particles of rock

pounded up by
drawn off by the
is

the bit.
bailer,

poured into the hole.

The mud

is

and fresh water


[S]

mope

201

mockingbird singing

monoclines, often in great quantity.

A connection needs oiling. The squeaking noise indicates the need for lubri-

[Heard]

cation.

mol,

n.

A measure of molecules by grams.


Mond

and

coals

[PE]

[POR]

mooching hammer
A wedge-shaped hammer used by the
tank inspector for hammering the seams
of tank or boiler plates to determine their
tightness. Possibly derived

fuel gas

producer gas

made from low-grade

lignites, the

generation of the

by-products are retained.

[POR]

Mond gas
A gas intermediate
air gas;

monkey,

between water gas


semiwater gas. [POR]

n.

derrickman; so called because he


must climb "like a monkey" to get to
his working position and then hang to
the derrick as tenaciously as a monkey.
are provided with a

Most derrickmen
harness

because

today,

companies demand

it.

the

insurance

from mooch.

[KI]

mooching knife

gas being so controlled that the various

and

pole

wedge-shaped,

knife-like,

tough

blade of steel for prying between plates


of steel tanks to determine the quality
of the steel-plate seams after completion
of the job or after tanks have been in
use for some time. Used with the mooching hammer. [KI]

moonlight,

v.t.

To

torpedo a well at night to evade


the patent; used before 1883. 2. To engage in any illegal activity at night. [NO]
1.

moonlight delivery

[Heard]

theft of

machinery or

tools

which

The platform on which

the

mon\ey

moonlighter,

n.

One who

while he is working; also


board and tubing board.
Differs from thribble board in that it is
one girt higher and sits out in the derrick; it is about four feet square, and
pipe is racked on each side. [Heard]

placed torpedoes in oil wells


at night to avoid paying the inventor
the fees required by patent (1865-80).

monkey-motion engine

to prevent

(q. v.) stands


called scaffold

[NO]
moonlight ethyl
1

one-cylinder engine. [Heard]

monkey

from

dis-

workers

to use drip gas

adjustable

[Heard]

the derrickman.

for their
at

wrench which can be


any nut within the range of

fit

capacity.

[POR]

monoclinal bulge
A dome which rises with apparently
irregular spacing on a monoclinal slope.

[POR]

Moonshine Hill
The name of the

knoll which became


Humble, Texas, oil field; so called
because moonshine liquor could be obthe

tained there. [Heard]

monocline,

mope

n.

geological

which dip

name given

to

strata

same direction. Oil is


from anticlinal strucbut may also be obtained from
in the

generally obtained
tures,

officials

theft. It is usually against

to

An

company

own purposes. 2. Gasoline stolen


night from tractors, barrels, or cars
during the rationing period of World
War II; accomplished by means of a
siphoning hose called a courtesy card.

worn by

monkey wrench

its

Drip gas secured by workers at night

lease rules for

[Heard]

made

covering the

strap

safety belt

takes place at night. [Heard]

monkey board

V_\>
^~^

pole

A lever, usually made from the body

of a small tree,

which

is

used in pipe-

construction work at the rear of


the back pipe jack to support the pipe;

line

\s

Morgan, Gib

202

removal of the jack when


lowering the pipe into the ditch. 2. A device used by the casing crew in the place
of endless rope to make up the casing
also used in the

[POR]

pipe.

who

legendary oilfielder

famous

is

which rival those attributed


to Paul Bunyan and which are often
erroneously credited to the latter. [BGJ

for tall tales

Mormon

board

broad board, reinforced and provided with handles and eye bolts; used
to back-fill pipe-line ditches by means of
teams, trucks, or tractors.

morning lower
The tour (q. v.) from

[POR]

tane number.

1.

8:00 a.m. to 12:00

initial letters.

Mother Hubbard
drilling

bit

bit
especially

in a hole that

which
wide seams. The
or in rock

is

bit

useful

muds up

for

easily,

hard and contains


is almost as wide

at the top as at the cutting point


steel is exceptionally thick,

sult that the bit so nearly

and the

with the
fills

re-

the hole

not likely to slip off into slanting openings. The watercourse is wide
and rounding. The sharp shoulders on
it is

the bit cause

mud when

it to cut its
pulling out.

way through
[POR]

Mother Hubbard packer


A homemade packer. See shirttail

the

pack-

[Heard]

[POR]

of sandstones forming the


uppermost part of the vertical sec-

or

tion of rocks in the oil belt. Also called


sand roc\s and Barren Oil-Measures.

mouse ahead

To

reduce hole; also to rat hole.

product obtained in the refining of


paraffin wax. [D]

buried pipe in which to put drill


pipe to make connection, syn. Hurry-up
hole.

[Heard]

mousetrap,
1.

n.

fishing tool, cylindrical in form,


at the bottom and fitted with an

open
inward opening valve; designed
out small metal parts that
a well. 2.

that

make

it

will

tool fitted

may

be

with a

fast to the

to fish
lost in
slip so

parted suck-

which may have fallen into a


well. Also called side door basket, rod
socket, and open end bas\et. [NO]
er rods

move in

To transport a rig and drilling equipment to a new location. [DO, October


move out
To remove

&
rig

and equipment from

a completed well. [Reported]

oil

Crude petroleum from which other

moving bed
See fluid catalyst. [KE]

crudes have been derived. [D]

mother substance
The organic source

mouse hole

4,1947]

mother liquor

327]

used in internal-combus-

[Heard]

Milling on tools; an abbreviation used


[LDO, p. 428]

mother

oil

mountain sands

[Heard]

in drilling reports.

er.

spirit

Fuel

tion engines. 2. Gasoline.

1.

that

[KOT]

[NO]

M.O.T.

to

The group

rotary tools; a term de-

from the

working

"knock tendetermine the oc-

testing the

dency" of gasoline

first

noon. [Reported]

mort
Moving out

motor method
A method for

motor

rived

the expression was


formed by analogy with the pot fireman,
who became a motorman when steam
rigs were replaced by modern rigs. [Re-

ported]

Morgan, Gib

motor fireman
A motorman;

moving system
of

oil.

[LDO,

p.

system of mobile mechanisms making up a gravimeter. [PE]

mud-laden

203

MRD
An

mudding-in,

Mechanical Research and Development: a division of


abbreviation

Halliburton

the

of

Oil

Well Cementing

Company. [Reported]

muck, n.
Waste materials

Muss. [Heard]
a

;lusn pits. syn.


in the slusri

v.t.

To

mining term. [OPL,

mucker,

shovel by hand;

ditch-digger. [Heard]

n.

mud, n.
1. The emulsion made by

r^-rs

a mixture of
water with the drillings in the hole;
used (1) to suspend cuttings so that
they will not drop to the bottom of the

well when drilling stops, (2) to plaster


the walls of the hole without appreciably
narrowing the hole's diameter, (3) to
counteract subsurface pressures, (4) to
cool the whirling bit, and (5) to bring
the cuttings to the top as the bit cir-

[POR] 2. Sand pumpings (West


Virginia). [NO]
culates.

barrel

An

instrument used in free-fall drilling to raise to the surface the debris


formed at the bottom of the well by the
action of the bit. 2. A diminutive bail1.

er.

clay.

used for boring wells

[D]

mud box

box under the derrick floor; used


mud and turn it to the slush pit.
2. A box or tool put around the drill
stem when a loaded string (q. v.) comes
out of the hole or when mud becomes
equalized. [Heard]
1.

to catch

mud

mud who

has

fluid

See mud. [BB,

mud

p.

487]

flush

rotary drilling.

mud

method by which

forced through the drill


stem to flush drill cuttings out of the
hole. [LDO, p. 400]
drilling

is

mud hog

A pump

used to circulate mud-laden


through the drill stem and the well
when drilling by the rotary method; so
called because of the
harsh chugging
sound made by the pump. [POR] 2. A
1.

fluid

ditch digger. [Reported]

mud-hog pump

popular type of
is

Mud

Hog.

pump whose

trade

[S]

mud hopper

bit
chisel-like tool

through

mud

name

[POR]

mud

engineer
specialist in drilling

an expert knowledge of chemistry and


engineering, an understanding of oiltechniques, and a thorough
drilling
grounding in petroleum engineering.
[Heard; SH, July, 1947, p. 14]

shovel. [BB, p. 487]

mud

of floating in and anchoring casing by the use of drilling mud.


The space between the casing and the
walls of the drill hole is filled with a
packing of mud; the casing is then
seated, and the mud is pumped out of it.
[LDO, p. 410]

n.

method

mud

p. 67]

n.

muck-stick,

fluid

collar

mud

hose
hose through which

to the borehole.

mud

mudded up

mud

mud

is

pumped

[Heard]

in

See mudding-in.

mud-laden

with valves which


permit the circulation of mud to keep
the top of the bit clean. [PE]
drill collar fitted

Descriptive of a well choked by


too thick to permit drilling. [S]

A funnel-shaped device with a shelf or


platform at the top large enough to hold
a sack of mud or cement; used to mix
mud and water for drilling mud. [Heard]

fluid

dense fluid of water and mechanically-mixed clay or earth which has a specific gravity of 1.20 or more and weighs
about ten pounds per gallon. The emulsion is circulated during rotary drilling.

[POR]

mud
mud

lubricator

204

mud scow

lubricator

device by which mud is used to


smother a strong gas flow by means of
lubrication in very much the same man-

type of drilling tool with the body


an ordinary bailer and a bottom equipped with a cutting edge; used to pene-

ner as a closed vessel which

trate

is

used to
an

lubricate against the steam pressure of

engine.

mud

A
mud
mud

[POR]

The
prepare

To

seal off

with

oil.

is

dam,

sill

generally used for this pur-

slip

Mud

flush.

mud-smeller,

[LDO,

p. 400]

An

n.

early geologist, so called because he

attempted to locate

oil

deposits by the

sense of smell. See rock hound.

pose today. [D]

p. 763]

mud

mud socket
An apparatus

on

cleaning sand or

mud from

oil

Oil produced as early as 1825 by digging


pits twelve feet or more deep, stirring
the sand with hoes after water had been
added, and collecting the oil that accu-

mulated on the surface. The


as a liniment.

oil

was used

[NO]

mud pump
See mud hog. [POR]
mud rim
See ashpit. [Heard]

mud

ring

ring of steel plates flanged on both


edges and connected by rivets through
these flanges to the wrapper sheet on
one side and to the fire-box sheet of a
heat still on the other. Since it is at the

bottom of a vertical still, it is muddied


by the flowing bottoms and the dirt contained in them. [KI]

mud

mud's college education


preparation of mud for drilling.
It is treated with water, chemicals, and
weighing agents to keep it in shape for
the particular job at hand. Factors determining the type of treatment are spe-

The

cific gravity, viscosity,

gel strength, sand

tools

for

a borehole.

mud up
To be sealed off with mud; said of the
producing formation of a well. When
circulating mud seals off a formation or
prevents the driller from getting a true
test of the formation, the well is said to
be mudded up. The rotary rig is especially apt to seal off a formation in this
manner; therefore, the cable-tool rig is
considered more accurate for determining
the drilled formations. [BA, p. 99]

mud

volcano
hollow cone in a volcanic region
from which mud is ejected by and with

various gases. The usual quiet emissions


are interrupted at times by violent dis-

umns

[NO]

drilling

[ME,

[A]

charge and

rock

Soapstone.

of a build-

[NO]

etc.

drill-

a formation containing water,

the outside

p. 393]

lowest timber or

syn.

Cement pumped down


through casing and made to come up on
or

[LDO,

ing, a derrick, a

mud

off

mud

gas,

thick glacial drifts at the surface

of the earth.

mudsill, n.

mixer
mixing machine used to
for use in drilling. [POR]

rotary drilling.
ing

of

may

be accompanied by

col-

of flame. [A]

MUFFLER,

n.

See barker, gutted muffler, squealer.

mule-foot, v.t.
To shape like a mule's foot; used in
the expression to mule-foot a bit; to wear
off the bit on one side. [Heard]

content and its settling qualities, salt content, degree of acidity or alkalinity, and
the wall-building qualities desired. [SH,

mule head,

July, 1947, p. 14]

the

device

head (q.

n.

somewhat

v.)

similar to a horse

in appearance

same purpose. [Heard]

and serving

naphthalene

205

mule-head hanger
The wire and connections on the mule
head by which the pump rods are lifted
in the pumping operation. [PE]

mule peeler

mule

teamster. See
ported]

mule's foot
A knot in a rag

which

line

[Re-

skinner.

is

fastened

to a rope socket. The knot resembles a


mule's foot and fits into the socket in
such a way that the harder it is pulled
the tighter it holds. [Heard]

s\inner's

to

from the trade name

multiple integrator
An instrument for calculating the
fect of gravity. [PE]

munjack,

mus

macaroni. [Heard]

pickax with one point


used in digging near pipe

[Heard]

multiple drilling
practice of

mud

sometimes found on
2. Greasy mud
extracted from a well while boring into
greasy

crusts.

[POR]

mud; usually kept in a pool formed


by earth banked near a well. [KI]
oily

mushroom,

v.i.

To become battered; said of a drilling


bit which may be damaged when it enmustard

I,

225]

oil

homeopathic compound of oil of


alkali, and petroleum. [NO]

mustard,

spot.

[NO]

or muss, n.

mystery,

broken off;
or in any other close

ef-

n.

Indurated bitumen.

de-

for Skinner's

muley pick

The

may be
reach several horizons, or,
through the use of whipstocks, several
holes may be drilled at widely separated
points in the same formation. [FO]

c^

A term used in oil camps for macaroni;

pipelining.

the drilling rig.

counters a hard formation. [Day,

mule skinner's delight


shortened

of

to

drilled

bituminous

teamster of the early oil fields, a


"picturesque figure
who could flip a
fly from a mule's ear with a flick of the
whip and never touch the animal, and
[whose] profanity came down like the
waters of Lodore when a team was bogged." [HOO, p. 93]

light

location

Slant holes of different depths

1.

mule skinner

sometimes

from one

making

several wells

n.

about which information is


withheld from the public while it is being drilled. [NO]
well

mystify, v.t.
To withhold information concerning
a well that is being drilled. [NO]

N
naphtha,
1.

An

n.

artificial, volatile, colorless

respectively. 2.

liquid

obtained from petroleum. There are two


grades, light and heavy, the former used
as a solvent in the manufacture of paint
and varnish and as a cleaning fluid, the
latter blended with casing-head gasoline
to produce motor gasoline or used as a
turpentine substitute. The extremely
light and heavy naphthas overlap the
lower gasolines and higher kerosenes

One

gasoline, about 55

of the poor cuts of


to 58 gravity, often

used as a cleaning fluid. It has poor burning time and quality. [D]

naphtha gas

An

illuminating gas charged with the

decomposed vapor

of naphtha.

[POR]

naphthalene, n.
A hydrocarbon-forming, plate-like crystal having the odor of moth balls and

206

naphtha tops

always present to a considerable extent in


coal tar

and coal

[POR]

gas.

asphalt-base

[LDO]

crude

are

not

within

themselves particularly suitable as lubricants.

[POR]

naphthenic acid
Organic acids generally found in all
crude oils and their distillates. [POR]

narrow back

telephone repairman on a pipe-line


who can do only inside work. Also
called a wire twister. [Heard]

crew

narrow cut

small or narrow section taken from

any fraction

in the distilling process.

natural

An

oil

navy gasoline and new navy gasoline


Terms used by salesman to describe
certain grades of gasoline. Navy gasowas designated as that having a boiling point of 140 F., 20 per cent at 221
F., 50 per cent at 275 F., 90 per cent at
356 F., and end point at 428 F. When
line

November, 1919, the specifications


were revised, it became known to the
trade as new navy gasoline. These terms
were never used in any of the governin

ment

specifications.

is

The

gasoline as spe-

by the Federal Specifications Board


known as U. S. motor gasoline. [POR]

cified

necessary

well which produces without


acidizing or shooting. [BA, p. 122] 2.
Natural gasoline.
adj. 3. Descriptive of
a well which flows without being acidized, shot, or pumped. [Heard]

evil

packer. [Heard]

nervous as a whore in church


Descriptive

of

nester, n.

does not work in the oil crew;


clude the landowner. [Heard]

Sea.

is

the asphalt lake

in

the Caribbean

[KOT]

who

small boss

is

afraid of the big boss. [Reported]

natural asphalt
Asphalt occurring as such in nature.
notable example
on Trinidad Island

[WIL,

for petroleum.

p. 40]

[KI]

name

early

natural, n.
1.

York lawyer,

near Titusville, Pennsylvania, intending


to prospect for the mother deposit of
natural grease. [WIL, p. 34]

naphthene, n.
A hydrocarbon belonging to the asphalt
series. The predominating constituents
of

New

Bissel, a

leased twenty-five acres of creek-bed land

naphtha tops
See benzine.

George H.

Anyone who

lives

on an

oil lease

may

but
in-

neutral, n.

natural gas
A mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons

A low-viscosity oil which may be


blended with bright stock to produce the

in nature; in many places connected with deposits of petroleum, to


which the gaseous compounds are closely

viscosity

found

related.

[D]

natural grease
early

medium

neutral oil

natural gasoline
A product from wet gas of an oil-bearing reservoir, first produced by natural
condensing in gas pipe lines. It is now
manufactured in modern factories and
is prepared for use in motors of automobiles and airplanes and for general
purposes. [POR] Also called flash gasoline. [KI]

An

desired viscosity or a lubricant of


and fire test. [KI]

name

for crude

oil.

In 1854

1.
refined and thoroughly deodorized paraffin oil varying in gravity from
32 to 38 Baume (1887) [NO] 2. An

oil

test

low or medium viscosity and fire


which may be blended with bright

of

stock for desired viscosity. If the oil carries paraffin, it

late (q. v.).

may

be called

wax

distil-

[D]

never-slip, n.

A device on

a casing pole used in place

of tongs to

hold

the

while pipe

made

up. [Heard]

is

casing

securely

normal temperature

207

NEW EMPLOYEE
See apple knocker, boll weevil, boweevil, brake weight, bronc, cotton picker, green hand, oil Johnny, rookie, weevil.

[D]
than

length of heavy pipe


made and sold as part of a large wrench;
used to give added length and leverage to
the wrench, thus allowing more pressure
on the grip of the wrench. See cheater.
[KI]

The automatic firing


er. [WIN, p. 138]

control on a boil-

three- or four-way connection

on

which a winch line is fastened to assist


in moving a heavy object. 3. A wooden
block on a rod line. [Heard]
nigger rich
Descriptive of the financial status of

who

has made
enough money to gamble. [ST, p. 73] 2.
Anyone who gets a lot of money quickly.
[Reported]
a rope choker

(q.

v.)

nigger wool

A substance used as packing

to shut off

made of lead and


other substances which look somewhat
like broken screen wire. The name is due
to the resemblance to black, kinky hair.
water in a borehole,

A name
at

given to a type of asphalt

Soldier

Summit, Utah; the

composition is uncertain. 2. An insulating composition consisting of the impure


residuum obtained in the distillation of
paraffin. [A]
9 bar

device for holding a rivet in an


otherwise inaccessible place. [Reported]
nipple, n.

A tubular pipe fitting which is usualthreaded at both ends and is less than
twelve inches in length. Pipe more than
twelve inches long is called cut pipe.
1.

ly

nections

2.

The worker who

col-

and consyn. Pusher. [ME,

on the

rig.

p. 763]

nitrobenzene, n.
An aromatic derivative of benzene and
nitric acid; used as solvent in lubricat-

[KOT]

nitrogen base

compound

carbon,

of

hydrogen,
in crude

obtained in California.

oil

[POR]

Nobody

gets far with pipe lines or


refineries till the oil gets unloosed
out of the earth
A proverb quoted and proved .by M.
L. (Mike) Benedum, long king of the
independent oil prospectors. [WIL, p. 61]

nonane,

The

n.

ninth

member

of the paraffin or

saturated group of hydrocarbons


boiling point 301 F.).

(C 9 H.,

[KOT]

nonproducing royalty
Speculative mineral interests in land
known to be capable of producing
oil; classified as under-the-well, offset,

not

close-in,

or

wildcat

royalty.

income from such royalty


tionate share of all rentals

is

The

only

the propor-

and renewals

[LDO]

NONPRODUCING WELL

nigrate, n.

mined

joint.

cares for the nipples

of the mineral lease.

[Heard]

1.

standard

n.

foreman.

and

lects

top of a boiler, which serves as a steam


conductor. 2.
snubbing post around

1.

of

and nitrogen generally present

nigger head

length

p. 138]

ing-oil refining.

nigger boy

1.

piece of pipe materially shorter

nipple-chaser,
1.

detachable

the

[WIN,

nigger, n.

2.

See blank, dead well, disposal


dry hole, dud, duster, exhausted
geyser, hot well, injection well,
well, lost hole, Oil Creek humbug,

well,
well,

input
salted

well, salt-water well, semiwildcat, water


hole,

nonrefinable, adj.
Descriptive of certain types of heavy
crude oil and fuel oil. [BA, p. 177]

normal or regional dip


The direction in which

the strata of

a region normally dip. [BA, p. 66]

normal temperature
1.

The

prevailing existing temperature;

208

nose
generally pertains to

tests. 2.

temperature in which a

The room
[KOT]

neath the end of the main sill of a standard rig front. [POR] 2. The sill under
the headache post. [NO]

commonly

N.P.A.

run.

test is

nose, n.

certain type of monocline

Mid-Continent region. Lines


represent such a monocline

found

in the

drawn

to

resemble a slightly uptilted nose. The


structure grows out of normal dip conditions and is sometimes called a plunging anticline. [POR]

nose bag

1.
lunch carried on the job. 2. The
container for tools sent to a lineman
from the ground; so called because of its
resemblance to a nose bag. [Heard]

The National Petroleum


[KOT]

Association.

nub pipe

To

screw a nub into the end of pipe


broken out. The only advantage
of such a process is that the pipe will not
hang on a pin while racking (to hang a
pipe is considered a disgrace). [Heard]
as

it is

nujol, n.

One of the proprietary names for liquid


petrolatum. [POR]

nosepiece, n.

portable object, especially one hav-

ing to do with field


microscope. [PE]

examination by

number

2 muck-stick

long-handled, oval-shaped shovel.


[BB, p. 487]
\
v

nose
1.

nutbuster, n.

sill

machinist. [Heard]

unprofitable, the

o.b.

An

abbreviation for oil-base


v.). [KI]

mud

(q.

obispo, n.

short piece of timber placed be-

condensed or blown

OBSTRUCTION,

says

it

has\{\*
Q I

[Heard]

oil

originating

Salt water. See ocean.

[Heard]

[POR]
octane, n.
The eighth

n.

fish, friction,

frozen pipe,

O.C.

occurrence, n.
geology. The natural existence of a
substance in any particular place or in a
certain relationship to another substance,
as the occurrence of oil in limestone.

[LDO]

member

Salt water. When a well is brought in


containing enough salt water to make it

(C 8

H 18

number

designation adopted to show the


antiknock value of motor fuel: the percentage of iso-octane, in a blend of isooctane and normal heptane, which will
give the same antiknock characteristics
as the fuel

sample in question.

[KOT]

octane selector

The spark-advance
n.

of the paraffin or

saturated series of hydrocarbons


boiling point 258 F.). [POR]

octane

Operations commence; an abbreviation


used in drilling reports. [Reported]

ocean,

crew often

fmade a failure).
failure").
ocean (made

ocean water

in California petroleum.

See bridge,
junk, knot.

struck the
struck^

ly
it

control occasional-

provided on an automobile to enable


to utilize a given gasoline without

detonation.

[KOT]

209
octodecane, n.
Liquid paraffin (C 18 38 ) extracted
from petroleum; specific gravity about
0.850, boiling point- above 216 C. [POR]

o.d.

a well opposite one

diameter.

abbreviation

outside

for

[POR]

An

used to moisten the

oil

smell which reveals the presence of


oil. Many crude petroleums have a very
disagreeable odor which is generally
caused by the sulphur compounds contained as impurities. The same is true of
the crude benzines distilled from such
oils. Subsequent treatment of the oils in
the refining process, most commonly by
sulphuric acid, removes these odors, leaving a s weet product [POR]

felt rollers

the offset-type printing press

which

prints pictorial sections. It generally consists

n.

on an adjoining prop-

offset oil

of 95 per cent kerosene to

added 5 per cent

odor,

natural

[NO]

erty.

in

A common
/-

oil,

which

is

light filtered stock.

[POR]
offset well

See

offset, 2.

off -stream, adj.

Descriptive of pipes

which are empty


from a still.

or are not carrying products

Material within the pipes is also so called


when it is motionless. See on-stream.
[KI]

off structure

odor test

part of an anticline

[POR]

to yield

Not producing
oil;

the

normal amount of

a producing well

when

production
temporarily. [Heard]
the

said to be off
drops or ceases

is

which

not likely

is

p. 58]

Oil in hole; an abbreviation used in

[LDO,

p. 428]

oil, n.

An

unctuous combustible substance,


,

on warming,

off -color, adj.

liquid or easily liquefiable

Descriptive of a refinery-stream product which is darker than normal. [Reported]

soluble in ether, insoluble in water; in-

off -color

The

The

oils

such

as

oils and acids and mineral


petroleum products (includ-

ing lubricating

industry

Flattery.

[DO, January

1,

1948]

oils).

[POR]

2.

slang.

[Heard]

potential production for

by a

bloomless
oil from which the fluorescence or
bloom has been removed by bleaching or

oil,

An

official potential

as set

cludes fatty

carbon-black industry; a deroga-

tory expression.

state regulatory

a well
body. [BA,

chemical treatment. [POR]

blown

p. 149]

oil,

off -prime, n.

Oil oxidized by air blown through it


while it is hot. This process increases the

oil which is third rethe highest quality. [POR]

grade of lard

moved from

An

S-shaped fitting. [NO] 2. production. A well drilled opposite a well


on an adjoining property. 3. drilling.
fishing tool. [POR] 4. pipelining. A rise
made in pipe-line bed to gi ve slack to
1.

the line.

of animal and vegetable oils


such as rape, castor, and similar oils.
viscosity

[POR]

offset, n.

"

[BA,

drilling reports.

1.

oil.

O.I.H.

off, adj.

7~

Descriptive of a well located on the

crude method of testing the degree


of refining by the odor of the product.

[OPL,

p. 67]

v.t. 5.

'lcfdnll

medicinal
See medicinal

oil,

oil.

[POR]

natural
Oil containing no water or mud. [DO,
February 15, 1948]

oil,

210

neutral

oil,

neutral
See neutral

expression which came into use early in


the history of oil. [NO]

oil,

[POR]

oil.

THEORY OF

OIL,

oil

See anticlinal theory of

theory of
theory, organic

theory, creekology, cross-fold

locating

inorganic

oil,

oil

topped
from which the lighter naphtha,
gasoline, and kerosene fractions have
been removed by straight distillation at
low pressure and temperature. [POR]

oil

Oil

age
of motorization. [RI, p. 143]

which the gas

vertical cylinder in

frees itself

from the

checked and
freed gas

is

oil after its velocity

pressure

its

led

away from

the trap

back
The equipment used in
cars at the refinery. [POR]

oil

mud
Mud made with

filling

tank

oil

and used

to block

water, salt, etc., which might flow


into the well to the detriment of the oil.

See also o.b., block


Black Magic. [KI]

off,

mud

off,

and

bases

oil, as

for storage or lubrica-

oil

[POR]

The white-oak

anticlinal which
from Newell's Run, Ohio,
Roane County, West Virginia. [NO]

Oil Capital of the


Tulsa,

[GL,

classified

paraffin-base
oils according to

of the predominating solid


Mixed-base oils are those containing both paraffin and asphaltum.

[POR]
oil-bath-type air cleaner
oil in

removing

the
all

oil

sump.

the air, thus

of the abrasive dirt.

[KOT]

oil-bearing
Strata, a

dome, or

self-chosen

title.

p. 167]

car.

[D]

An

acceptance which corresponds to


warehouse receipt and is the title of
ownership passing from the seller to the
buyer on all the petroleum exchanges.

[NO]
cold test
test to determine the point at which
clouding or congelation sets in. [POR]
oil

company

company which
more branches of

or

is

engaged in one

the petroleum in-

dustry. [BA, p. 27]


oil

conservation

The economical production and


zation of oil. [LDO]

utili-

oil-control ring

containing an

sump washes

a sand containing oil

A
the

ring used to control the oil flow to


compression rings and the upper

cylinder.

[KOT]

oil-country pipe
Any pipe used in

oil-field operations.

or petroleum. [PE]

[DO, November

oil belt

Oil Creek Humbug


A dry hole (q. v.). (Often not cap.)

to

World

Oklahoma; a

car
See tank

as

the nature

air cleaner

ex-

oil

residuals.

The

The

box on the truck journals of


a railway car is packed with oily waste.

oil
oils,

or asphaltic-base

An

box for

tion.

off

oils

box

oil certificate

oil-base

Crude

boom

lowered.

is

through a pipe called the gas-release line.


Formerly called gas trap. [BA, p .153]

oil

from an excep-

tends

oil-and-gas separator

The

resulting

oil-break, n.

The age

is

boom

See boom.

oil,

oil

tionally large, rich oil strike. [LI, p. 22]

theory.

oil

bonanza

An

belt-line

oil,

district
including the supposed
course of subterranean rivers of oil; an

[NO]

12,

1947]

211
oildag, n.

large or small, usually consisting of sev-

Deflocculated

graphite suspended

in

used as a lubricating medium.

oil;

See

An

region

or an oil well; any locale in

field

oil

which an
oildom,

An

popular name for the oil


Pennsylvania. [NO] 2. An

early,

in

oilfielder

works. [BB,

486]

p.

n.

region.

oil

[NO]

1.

Dorado or oildorado M
An oil town. [NO] 2. Any

that yields great quantities of

I.BB,

oil.

drummer

salesman of petroleum products.

World.

cowboy

gauger; so called in the Humble


field at Sugarland, Texas, because he
rides horseback to tanks which are difficult to reach by road. [Reported]
oilfielder, n.

pipe or passage for conveying

also called oil groove.


oil

oil;

worker engaged in drilling, produc[Heard]

oil-field

An

[POR]

engineering

skinner

of oil; closely related to mechanical, civil,

may

and mining engineering (refining

oil-finder, n.

chemical engineering).

is

re-

[LDO,

p. 348]

producing

oil

well. 2.

An

oil-

[BB, p. 489] 3. An oil which provides a film around a mineral particle;


a term used in flotation. 4. An oilcan. 5.
fielder.

An
oil

engine-room greaser. [A]

exchange

where oil leases and


bought and sold. See Board of

central office

stocks are

Trade.
oil

fever

The

[NO]

Any

unscientific device used by early


prospectors to locate oil, as a divining rod, a doodlebug, a switch, or a twig.

[LDO,

p. 354]

oil flash

The

critical

temperature, in quench-

at which the oil flashes


from the steel bar when the latter is
withdrawn from the oil bath. [POR]

ing

steel

with

oil,

oil flotation

process in which oil is used in ore


concentration by flotation. [POR]

general

oil-producing

The

oil

used to displace another fluid

an oil flush which takes


place after a well has been acidized; used
to condition the hole. [Heard]
in a well, as

oil field

simple type of gravity filter, useful


where waste lubricating oil
be recovered for re-use. [POR]

plants

oil flush

"disease" of eager oil speculators.

syn. Oil on the brain.

1.

[Reported]

oil

oiler, n.
1.

driver.

oil filter

in

to

team

oil-field

The division of engineering concerned


with the production and transportation

lated

Appalachian

tion, or pipelining.

duct

field,

[RI, p. 66)
oil

Amos and Andy

oil-field

region

p. 486]

oil

[POR]

Lane, Golden Trend, Grasshopper City,


Oildom, oil diggin(g)s, oil patch, oil
ponds, Petroleum Graveyard of Texas,
pool, posthole territory, rock city, Spindletop, stripper field, Three Sands field,
wildcat field, Wildcat Jim, Wonder Field
of the

^
"3

Oil

big ditch, Big East Texas, big


trough, Devil's Den, field, Fish Pond,
Golden Block, Golden Groove, Golden

diggin(g)s

1.

wells. 2.

containing petroleum in com-

field,

derrick
See oil-well derrick.

oil

oil

any region having

two producing

OILFIELD

[POR]

oil.

as

mercial quantities.

device for removing excess water

from

many

district

dehydrator

eral individual pools;


as

[POR]
oil

oil flush

region,

\
I

212

oil fuel

See fuel
oil

See

[D]

oil.

gas

oil

made by

Illuminating or heating gas

[D]

distilling oil in closed retorts.

tar

coming from

oil

cracked at a

high temperature.
oil

1. An instrument of the hydrometer


type arranged for testing the specific
gravity of oils. 2. An oleometer. 3.
glass tube set in metal connections and
attached to a machine to make the

amount

in a
bearing reservoir, or a tank.

horizon

hydrometer

device used for measuring the gravan oil; consists of a weighted,

tube which will


heights corresponding

glass

various
gravity of the
oil in

oil.

float

to

at

the

[POR]

reserve

which

storage

Oil in pipe lines. 2. Working stocks


kept on hand at terminals, transshippoints,

and

refineries.

3.

Surplus

in tank farms. [BA, p. 177]

oil

oil

jack

1.

A
2.

oil.

wells.
oil

A mechanism
[POR]

for

pumping

lens.

[POR]

See

oil belt.

[POR]

oil-line

pump

A pump

[NO]

2.

An

oil-piping

for forcing crude petroleum


line.

syn. Booster

pump.

oil liver

A
oil

gelatinous mass
oils.

formed

in lubricat-

[POR]

log

record kept during the drilling and


which gives all data concerning the geological formation, depth,
drilling difficulties, and production.
of a well

life

oil lot

plot of ground large enough to hold


the foundations of an oil derrick, but
not large enough to cover sufficient res-

ervoir space for a commercial well.

[FO,

oilman,
1.

young oilfielder; a term used in


and formed by analogy with
broomcorn Johnny (a young man who
works in a broom factory). [Reported]
lagging
jacketed vessel which uses

Dur-

ing the Ranger-Burkburnett oil boom in


Texas, a group of swindlers devised and
put into effect the scheme of selling such
p. 133]

n.

One who

produces, refines, buys,

and sells oil. 2. An executive of a petroleum company. 3. An investor in the

Illinois

oil

in the

jackets to control the temperature.

[POR]

1.

system.

oil

Johnny

appearance to a glass
oil line

lots.

metal pitcher used for heating

oil

lenses

Small, irregular patches of oil-bearing


sands having a cross section similar in

1.

ment

an

is

theory oil
so called. [F, p. 114]
oil in

gives

[POR]

unavailable for use. In


in pipe lines and in tanks is

Oil

document which

[NO]

ing

ity of

closed,

legal

along a pipe
[D]

1. The height of oil in a well. 2. The


stratum in which oil is located. [POR]

oil

The

of oil content visible, as

case, a

[POR]
oil

1.

oil

gauge

crank

region.

oil

lease

operator the right to drill for oil. 2.


The land covered by such a document.

oil-gas tar

land

oil

oil fuel

petroleum industry. [Heard]


oil

navy

River flotillas or two to three hundred boats used in the eighteen sixties for
transporting oil down rivers. Oil was so
transported down Oil Creek to Oil City,
Pennsylvania, where it was transferred
to other river boats for transportation to

<*-/

oil rights

213
Pittsburgh and other major river towns.

[WIL,

promoter
pulp

Oil of Gabian
A name given in France to petroleum
which was used for medicinal purposes.

oil

[FU,

aluminum

p. 37]

oilometer,

An
.

oil

See promoter.

p. 41]

oil reservoir

or tank.

on the brain
The "disease"

(f

of those "bitten by the


r-0~
* oil bug." [OIL, p. 89]
1

oil

container for

oil

oil,

as a can, a barrel,

patch
oil field.

[WIN,

pavement rendered dustproof by

[POR]

oil pit

A
oil

hand-dug

[D]

well.

to

two small

areas at

pool

accumulation of oil in sedimentary


rock that yields petroleum on drilling.
The oil occurs in the pores of the rock
and is not a pool or a pond in the ordinary sense. [D]

oil

prince
heir to

an

oil

fortune.

[NO]

producer

An

firm which
operates oil wells and sells the crude oil.
[POR] 2. An oil-producing well. [Heard]
1.

oil

individual

or

production

The

al-

oil

sump

used to deliver

oil

from

the

to bearings or parts requiring

[KOT]

screen placed over the oil-pump inprevent large particles of dirt from
entering the lubricating system. [KOT]

puncher
nickname

for an oil broker or oilfollower who makes his deals and


plans in the lobby of a hotel. The term
originated in the Scharbauer Hotel in
Midland, Texas, which was a favorite
lease-exchange headquarters. [Reported]
field

refinery

manufacturing plant devoted to the


refining of oil and the manufacture of
oil products and by-products. [POR]
oil refining

The

quantity of oil produced, generally given in terms of barrels of oil produced in twenty-four hours (one barrel
equals forty-two gallons). [POR]

removing undesirable
from crude or partly-finished
generally a distillation process comprocess of

impurities
oils;

An

An

[POR]

pump
A pump

and

substance is diswhich acts as a thickener or

Sabine River in the


Gulf of Mexico, in the belief that the
relative quiet of these waters was caused
by the presence of oil. [NO]

oil

oil,

oil

ponds

The name given


the mouth of the

oil

solved in
stiff ener.

stearate,

the application of a heavy, thick, residual


oil.

palmitate.

oil

p. 139]

pavement

aluminum
The

oleate,

of

alumi-

let to

[POR]

An

consists

oil-pump screen

package

etc.

greases;

salts of the fatty acids

lubrication.

p. 19]

soap used in making

and

oils

uminum

oil

operator
See operator. [BA,

oil

nonfluid

num
n.

oil

oil

An aluminum

bined with a simple chemical treatment.

[POR]
regenerator
device used

oil

to economize heat during the process of refining. The heat absorbed in cooling one product is used for
heating another oil in the course of

manufacture to lessen the fuel requirement. Sometimes known as a heat ex-

[POR]

changer.
oil

region

An
and

oil-producing region. See oildom

oil field.

[Heard]

oil rights

A
oil

term under which the ownership of


under a given tract of ground is trans-

rock

oil

ferred

214

from one owner

to another

by

ing

oil

property,

it

purchase both

or

though

in

many

is

oil

common

and gas rights,


two substances

cases the

are disposed of separately.


oil

to lease

[POR]

royalty

share of the mineral deposits taken


from the ground which is paid to the
landowner or to the possessor of royalty
rights. The amount of the royalty varies

from one-fourth to one-eighth (the latter


amount is designated by law in many oilproducing states), and may be paid in
or cash.

[LDO]

oil-royalty interest

The proportion of all gas and oil produced on a piece of land, as designated
in the written lease, which the holder of
the lease delivers free of cost to the landowner or the owner of the royalty rights.

[LDO]
Porous sandstone which contains
[NO] 2. Any porous oil stratum; so called by oilfielders. [D]
1.

petroleum.

oil

An

apparatus affixed to the mouth


of an oil well which must be deepened
(the well may still be flowing in small
quantities); consists of a cap fitted to
the top of the well casing and a lateral
pipe which communicates with an oil
device made of two pieces
reservoir. 2.
of oval iron which, when bolted together, form a circle of the size of the
pipe let down into the pay sand. The de-

vice

fits

around the

drill string of tools

preventing the suddenly


freed oil from rushing past and wasting
before the tools can be brought out of
the well. [D]
at the top, thus

oil

un-

kerogen-bearing shale; contains


actual oil, but if it is subjected
to heat, a ton will yield from one pint

very

little

two

barrels of oil

and some

gas.

Wher-

ever there has been even a slight amount


of folding or faulting of the shale with
the consequent development of pressure

and heat, some of the kerogen has been


changed into a heavy, viscous oil, much
of it almost pure asphalt and part of it
only semiliquid. [POR] 2. A compact
rock, containing organic matter, which
yields oil. [D]
oil's

handmaiden

Geophysics, a science which is widely


used in the prospecting operations of all
countries. [LDO, p. 324]

oil-skinning

an oil company
who is expected to keep his employers
informed about new wells and other derepresentative

velopments in the

(about 210 gallons) of crude

five barrels

In

oil.

1862,

around

Titusville,

Penn-

sylvania, the standard rate for a twelve-

wagon haul

dollar

of crude oil

barrel,

with

an

was one

additional

twenty-five cent charge for the return


of each barrel. [WIL, p. 44]
oil slick

smooth-surface water area caused by

a film of
oil

oil.

smeller

faker

who

professes to be able, by

by any other nonwhere oilare to be found and to

a sense of smell

or

technical method, to indicate

bearing strata

locate places for successful well-boring.

syn. Diviner,
oil

oil

wizard, dowser.

[NO]

spring

scout

its

shale

mile

saver

1.

leakage of oil from


derground accumulation. [KOT]

The transportation of oil by horse and


wagon. The average wagon could carry

sand

oil

The slow

to

The

oil

seepage

oil

1.

is

[Heard]

Oil sand.

oil

rock

A formation from which petroleum


produced.
oil

seed

oil

lease or purchase. In leasing or purchas-

of

fields. [S]

spring of petroleum, maltha, or


other hydrocarbon, with or without the
admixture of water. [D]
oil still

device for heating and vaporizing

oil

215
crude or partly-finished oils where the
various hydrocarbons are separated by
differences in their ^boiling points. The
old-type

much

still

Cracking

flues.

a cylindrical steel shell,

is

but without

like a tubular boiler

oil-filled

generally consist of
tubes to which heat is applied

on the outside

stills

surface.

[POR]

screen of wire gauze used for separating solid matter and sediment from
oil to prevent the clogging of pipe lines

and passages. [POR]

The string of casing or tubing which


down to the oil sand and through

which the oil flows


Pay string. [Heard]

to the surface, syn.

ship

1.

oil producer, outpost, paying well,


pool opener, posthole, producer, pumprock well, sand well,
er, relief well,

sweetener,

oil.

steel

bore.

Tar produced from petroleum. [PE]

The

residue of

oil distilled

oil

gas.

pipe used to line a drilled well

tower-like structure used to support

the tools

when

the tackle

drilling a well

when

and

to

cleaning out a

completed well. [POR]

oil territory
oil

pumper,

true

[POR]

carry

See

test,

oil-well derrick

in closed

during the manufacture of

retorts

teaser,

twin, whale, wildcat, Wild Mary, Wild


Mary Sudik, wild well, world's deepest

oil-well casing

which transports

oil tar

2.

tery, natural, offset, offset well, oiler, oil


pit,

well.

tanker

well,

semiagitator, semitight, spouter, starter,


Stout Fella, stripper well, strong well,

string

is let

oil

belching well, blue-sky exploratory


burping well, condensate well, confirmation well, development well, discovery well, dripper, dual completion,
dual-zone well, edge well, extension producer, farmer well, flowing well, grease
hole, greaser, gurgling, gusher, handdug well, Harmonial, light one, lime
cat,

producer, line well, marginal well, mys-

oil strainer

oil

zone

region.

oil-well
oil test

A test by which the gravity, basic sediment, and water content in oil are determined. [Heard]

packing

packing inserted in an oil well between the pipe and the interior surface
of the boring to prevent surface water
from the sides of the hole from running

[Heard]

and to prevent oil from being forced out around the pipe by a
pressure of gas. [D]

oil thief

oil

into the well

oil tester

device by

which the

oil test is

made.

taking samples of oil


from a tank. Now simply thief. [NO]
device for

trap

oil

oily moisture

separator used in steam and ammonia pipe lines for the separation of
oil and greases from
monia gas. [POR]

oil

the steam or

am-

well which

either

waste mixture of heavy ends, moisand some wax, drained off wax
presses. The wax which did not adhere
is

produces

petroleum

by pumping or by natural flow.

[D]

OIL

ture,

to the blankets chilled in the

well

witch

See doodlebug. [BB, p. 487] syn. Oilfinder, spiritualist, muscle twitcher.

wax

oil

See agitator, barreler,

formation containing capillary or

well, bear

which are

petroleum that will move under


ordinary hydrostatic pressure. [A]

full of

beam

[KI]

zone

supercapillary voids, or both,

WELL

presses

difficult to separate at this stage.

Q
i

Oklahoma

216

gate

Oklahoma gate

farmer's gate, usually made of three


posts and wire, so constructed that one
end can be tied and the other fastened

with a hoop.

workers hate such

Oil-field

them down. When


farmer complains, the company is
and often

gates

leave

the
forced to install cattle guards. [Heard]

which are considered

Strata

Some

be

to

have eroded
or weathered more than others. [PE]
ages old.

strata

olo, n.

Petrolatum, a proprietary name. [A]

roundy

ol'

hog has found an acorn


An expression commonly heard when

old blind

an

oil-field

pected

under

sale,

salesman makes an unexmeaning he found it right

his nose. [Reported]

Old Greasy
The name given by boatmen to the
Kanawha River because of the petroleum
which was allowed

to flow into

it

(1808).

[NO]

rotary driller, a derogatory name.

[Heard]
once-run, n.
See once-run

once-run

oilfielder

who knows

all

of long standing; one


about the work. [Heard]

Man
The

big boss. See Man. [Heard] 2.


stand used to hold a portable drill or a hand-ratchet drill: a short
1.

(Not

cap.)

shaft with a foot

and

a bolt to hold

it

in

arm can be

adjusted with
a setscrew to obtain the desired position.
place.

radial

one-armed Johnny
A small hand pump which can be
tanks and to pick up waste

any

fluid

Old Maud or Maud


See long-tail. [BB,

on

[WIN,

lease.

oil,

water, or

Also one-armed

p. 139]

one-hundred-and-forty-foot sand
A name given by drillers to a sandstone found at a depth of 600 feet in
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.
Also called First Cow Run Sand. [NO]

one-lung engine

[POR]

one-cylinder engine. [Heard]

onion hotel

An

p. 488]

old oil
Oil on

oil

The second and last cut of the crude


shale oil when first distilled. [D]

Johnnie.

Old

oil.

operated with one hand; used to clean out

old hand

An

[KI]

sis.

old age

many

phalt in liquid form is dropped on a


blotter or on No. 1 filter paper. If it has
not been cracked, a brown circle forms
on the paper. If it has been cracked, there
is either a dark brown circle with a black
center or a black circle with a brown center and a brown belt around the circle.
This test was discovered by G. A. Olien-

oil-field

boardinghouse. [Heard]

on-stream, adj.

which storage has been paid

1.

Descriptive of a pipe or the product


it which is moving in the proper

for a certain length of time but not to

within

the day of transaction; when paid to the


day of transaction, it is called fresh oil.

direction for the stilling process.

[NO]

[KI]

olefin, n.

on structure

Any one

of a series of unsaturated hy-

(C n H 2n ), belonging
ethylene series. [POR]

drocarbons

to

the

spot test

made

to

er or not asphalt has

determine whethbeen cracked. As-

De-

Descriptive of a well located on the


part of an anticline which is likely to
yield

on

Oliensis spot

2.

scriptive of a refinery unit in operation.

oil.

[BA,

p. 58]

test

Descriptive of products which


within specifications. [Heard]

are

rder

2I 7

on the beam
must be pumped. [Heard]

open pressure
The pressure on a gas well which has
been open long enough to waste. [POR]

on the

open sand

1.

Descriptive of a well or field

which

line

Descriptive of a tank whose valves are


open to allow oil to flow into the line.

[Heard]

on the money

An

expression

meaning everything

is

on the pump
Descriptive of a well which must be
On the beam. [Heard; BA,

pumped, syn.
p. 144]

opalescence, n.

Milkiness or cloudiness; a term usually applied to an oil, particularly a lubricating oil, which contains visible wax.

[KOT]
opal

oil

petroleum

distillate similar

to vul-

can oil, but containing a larger percentage of rape oil. [NO]

open,

[D]

der the English Channel to Cherbourg


and Boulogne. During World War II
the line transported gasoline to the Allied
armies; now it supplies the armies of
occupation and the liberated countries.
See Hamel. [WIL, pp. 183-4]

operator, n.
1. refining.

The

subordinate to the astakes care of records


and reads the instruments. 2. One, either
proprietor or lessee, who actually operates a mine, an oil well, or a lease.
sistant stillman,

who

[POR]

O.P.M.
Other people's money. Harry F. Sinwho multiplied his profits by the

sepa-

[POR]

judicious use of credit,

An

instrument for determining the


an oil in which the flame
exposed to atmosphere. [POR]

of casing or tubing that has

collar (q. v.).

[LDO,

p.

The

to

determine the volume

from

a well in a

given time when the large valves are


wide open. [POR]

open-graded aggregate

mineral aggregate containing so few


small particles that the void spaces are
relatively large.

mining

upon

within

the fulfillment

of certain conditions set forth in the con-

[LDO]

[KOT]

vent frost from injuring the


called

smudge

ORDER,

trees.

Also

[D]

n.

stop the roll,

throw on the rope,

undress, wrap your


around her and give her an honest
twist her

part of a well. [D]

oil.

See asap, FPO, hot rail, sap. v. bar


'er over, break out deuce, fall, gang her,
get on the line, hang her on the wrench,
hold the roll, hump up, let the tools
swing, put the ring on her, ring that
joint,

open hole
The uncased

by the payment

lease or other property

a specified time, or
tract.

open-flow test
of gas that will flow

privilege, secured

orchard-heating oil
A product from California petroleum;
used in orange and lemon groves to pre-

See mousetrap. [Heard]

made

great

of a certain consideration, to purchase

405]

open-end basket

test

first

option, n.

open end

The end

was the

exponent of the use of O.P.M. in Oklahoma oil business. [GL, p. 233]

flash point of

oil.

clair,

which two walls are

open-cup tester

no

voids

sufficient

for

Operation Pluto
The world's most extensive undersea
pipe-line system, built by England and

n.

fault in

rated.

is

good storage

consisting of 20 three-inch lines laid un-

[Heard]

all right.

Sandstone containing
to provide

tail,

tails

roll.

Ordovician
Ordovician,

21!

outside location

n.

geologic age during which petrois believed to have originated.

An

The

oil

well outside the

con-

oil-field

where boring

leum
[POR]

cession or the usual range

organic acidity

outside monkey board


rack on the outside of a jackknife
derrick; used as safety board for the derrickman and as a place to rack pipe.
[Heard]

is

Acidity caused by the presence of organic acids. [J]

organic theory

The

theory that

and gas have their


and animal matter.

[LDO]
of Oil

An epithet applied to the Oil City


Derric\, the daily newspaper covering all
the important early developments in the
oil

on September
Pennsylvania. [GID,

industry. First issued

11, 1871, in Oil City,

oval socket

A fishing tool used to slip over the


ends of broken or lost pipe. syn. Overshot. [D]
over, n.

The fraction of gasoline distilled and


passed over by the condenser. [POR]
over-all length

p. 51]

O.S.
Oil sand; an abbreviation used in drill-

ing reports.

[LDO,

p.

428]

Osterstrom liquid-phase

oil

origin in vegetable

Organ

taking place. [PE]

clay process used in treating cracked

distillate is headed
without vaporizing and
under pressure through a bed of adsorbent and back into a short coil in the pipedistillates; the

cracked

as a liquid, flows

vaporizes as it issues from the pipeand is then fractionated in a tower.


[NB, p. 558]

still,

The length of a pipe line before the


connections are made, includes the length
of the threads. The laid length is the
length without the threads. [Heard]
over-all (thermal) efficiency

measure of the ability of an engine


convert the energy of gasoline to
power. It is equal to the energy contained
in the fuel consumed per unit of time
divided by the power output of the engine expressed in the same units. [KOT]
to

still,

over and short


1.

O.T.D.
Old

total depth;

in drilling reports.

on hand caused by expansion, contraction, losses, or faulty measurement. 2.


The difference between the bookkeeper's
statement and the oil actually on hand.

p. 428]

the actual contents. [D]

2.

The

quantity

overburden,
1.

al

overlies

good stone

covering a body of useful mineral.

[D]

oil well situated on the edge of a


which contains other wells within

the deposit limits. [PE]

overhead, n.
1. An overhead product (q.
lightest

outside helper
refining. The lowest operating
a unit crew. [Reported]

n.

The waste which

in a quarry. 2. Worthless surface materi-

outpost, n.

An

oil

[D]

a tank during storage or

transportation.

field

between the caland the oil actually

an abbreviation used

1.
method of gauging a barrel, a
tank, or a tank car: the difference between the full and rated capacity and

from

difference

[LDO,

outage, n.

of oil lost

The

culated stocks of

substances, fractions

which come

man on

ministrative

ported]

off

v.). 2.

or

any tower. [KI]

costs

or

expenses.

The

ends,
3.

Ad[Re-

packing

219
overhead product

product taken from an oil


the form of vapor or gas. [D]

still

in

over-the-top vapor
The vapor which goes out of the flash
tower toward the chamber where it will
congeal into high-octane gasoline. [KI]

over-point, n.

The temperature at which the first


drop comes over into the flask during
distillation. [D]

overtime hog
An employee who tries to work overtime; one who is always ready and willing to go out on a job. [DI, p. 98]

over-produced well
A well which has been permitted

over water

to

produce more than its official allowable.


[Heard; DO, November 14, 1947]

name

field

[LDO,

for top water

(q. v.).

419]

p.

O.W.D.D.
override, n.

Old well

fractional interest assignment

made

by the owner of the lease which reduces


the value of the working interest. It has
nothing to do with the landowner's royalty, and is entirely dependent upon the
life of the lease. If the lease fails to pay
the rentals or is forfeited under any
other condition embodied in the lease,
the override

would

also terminate

be forfeited, syn. Overriding


[DO, January 31, 1948]

and

royalty.

drilling deeper;

an abbrevia-

tion used in driling reports.

[LDO,

p.

428]

O.W.P.B.
Old well plugging bac\; an abbreviation used in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p.

428]

oxidation oven
Laboratory apparatus for determining
the rate at which atmospheric oxygen
combines with an oil. [POR]

overriding royalty
See override. [LDO]

oxidized asphalt
See blown asphalt. [KI]

overshot, n.

oxidized still
A blowing still. See also blown asphalt.

fishing tool used in rotary drilling.

[KI]

[D]

oxygenated
overshot guide
A guide for a fishing

pack,

tool.

blown

oils.

[POR]

[PE]

packer, n.

v.t.

To

prevent water seepage by forcing


packers or other material into the spaces

between two
package,

oil

Oils partly oxidized, as

sizes of pipe.

[LDO,

p. 404]

n.

A cloth bag or sack filled with soot with


which a worker's face was smeared when
he was caught sleeping on the job. This
custom passed away when the later, more
highly developed refinery-labor program
began. [KI]

1.

and

seed-bag; used to seal off a cave

to confine the flow of a well to the

tubing when there is not enough gas


pressure to produce through the casing.
2.

tool

used to

fill

the space in a well

between two strings of pipe or between


the wall and the pipe. [NO]
packing,
1.

terial

n.

name for a
make a joint

general

used to

yielding

ma-

tight, as the

220

packoff

sheet rubber used for gaskets or the


braided hemp or metallic rings used in
some joints to allow considerable to incessant motion. [D]

paper, water-finding
Sensitized paper used in gauging to
show the amount of water in an oil-storage tank. [KOT]

packoff, n.

paraffin, n.

A device

used to control the flow of a


well. See also put the packoff on one.
[Heard; WIN, p. 139]
1.

pack the collar

corruption of pec\ the collar. The


commonly called a collar pec\er or collar pounder, pecks or
pounds the collar of a pipe to set the
time for the hookmen. [SA, p. 200]
pipe-line pusher,

paraffin acid

Acid formed by oxidizing

well drill with cutters that ex-

pand on pressure. [D] 2. A straight-hole


reamer set above the bit to keep the hole
straight.

3.

An

Irish

pipeliner.

[Re-

ported]

pad the log book


To put down more depth on
book than the
painter's

driller

the log

naphtha

colorless crystalline substance in nat-

[POR]

The mixed-base crude oils of the MidContinent and Southern fields; contain
both paraffin and asphaltum. [POR]
paraffin base
1.

The residuum from

paraffin-base oils

solid paraffins

The

tary rocks.

[POR]

n.

small rectangular tank (of about 50to 100-barrel capacity) for retaining wax
ready for the filters in which dark sediments and oil are filtered out so that wax
comes clean for regular paraffin trade.
[KI]

P&A job
Plug and abandon job; an abbreviation used in reports. [Reported]

of

The oil that contains paraffin. adj. 3.


Descriptive of a crude oil which contains

pale oils

pan,

distillation

crude oil which carries solid paraffin and


hydrocarbons but practically no asphalt.
2.

Paleozoic age
The most productive geologic age in
American petroleum-bearing sedimen-

with

paraffin-asphalt petroleum

fats which produce palmitic acid


on saponification and are contained in
large quantities in palm oil. [D]

products of reduced asphalt-base


crude from the bottom of the tower. The
overhead is light-lube distillate, and the
side streams are medium-lube distillate
and heavy-lube distillate. All are classed
as neutral oils. [BA, p. 247]

paraffin

a concentrated solution of nitric acid.

makes. [Reported]

ural

-V

white,

paddy, n.
1.

waxy substance resembling


obtained from petroleum,
white, waxy,
coal tar, wood tar, etc. 2.
inodorous, tasteless substance, harder
than tallow, softer than wax, with a specific gravity of 0.890; contained in many
oils, including petroleum from which it
is separated by distillation. [D]
1.

spermaceti,

but

little

asphalt.

[D]

Paraffin-base crude oils; so called be-

cause they carry


paraffin

wax

from

2 to 6 per cent

in solution,

a fairly high

percentage of gasoline and kerosene, and


only a little sulphur, oxygen, or nitrogen. They have a very low specific gravi-

Examples are the well-known Pennand West Virginia, Ohio,


and Kentucky crudes. The Midwest
crudes are largely paraffin with only a
ty.

sylvania oils

slight asphalt content, while the oils of

the
as

Rocky Mountain regions are nearly

pure as the Pennsylvania

varieties.

[POR]
paraffin butter
1.

native paraffin used in

candles. 2.

petroleum

One

making

of the last products of

distillation.

[D]

paraffin cheese

See cheese, paraffin. [POR]

paraflow

221
paraffin dirt

to 20

Gulf Coast region believed


to be formed by the action of escaping
gas on peat or humus. It probably does
not contain any true paraffin. [POR]

flash

Soil of the

paraffin distillate
1.

crystalline

pressing; used as

wax and

bolt. 3.

gravity, 300

and

ready

the base for paraffin

rerunning. [POR] 2.
obtained after gas oil in

The

[POR]

wax

paraffin-scale

The crude wax


less

See paraffin knife and spud bar.


[Heard]

from

paraffin-

wax

term applied to the

tained

residuals obtained

from

wax

paraffin distillate or

paraffin slop

carbons (85.6 to 74.1 per cent) and have

the combination of

a specific gravity of 0.92 to 0.94.

Those

[POR]

hydrocarbons or paraffin series


hydrocarbons composing
the lighter and more volatile constituents
of all petroleums. They are of the saturated sulphuric acid or fuming sulphuric
acid type and are extremely resistant to
all chemical reactions. Examples of this
series of

series are

methane, ethane, decane, un-

etc.

[POR]

tool similar to the pipe-line go-devil;

paraffinnic acid

by chromium trioxide mixby air when


and exposed to light. [POR]

nitric acid or

warm

also easily oxidized

paraffin oil
1.

pressing

[D]

after the first

from

affin-base petroleum. [KI]

paraffin

sweated

wax

wax

from oil by a
and sweating the
oil out of the slack wax from the presses.
The oil sweated from the slack wax is
paraffin

of

called foot's

freed

heating

oil.

[POR]

paraffinum, n.
A mixture of solid hydrocarbons chiefly of the methane series; usually obtained
by chilling and pressing the distillates
from petroleum of a high boiling point
solid presscake so ob-

clear,

wax-free

wax

distillate.

paraffin

rating

and

wax

colorless

from

wax, crystalline when sepasolution, odorless, tasteless,

slightly greasy to the touch; consists

of a mixture of solid hydrocarbons, the

1. An acid (C 2 4H
48 2 ) obtained from
the oxidation of paraffin by concentrated

is

oil.

tained. [A]

used to remove paraffin from a producing well. The process is known as faffing a well. syn. Paraffin scraper. [Heard]

ture. It

ob-

wax and refuse oil


stilling of a wax or a par-

and purifying the

paraffin knife

wax

crystalline substance resulting

process

paraffin

decane,

soft

the hot or cold pressing of

base petroleums; contain 4)4 to 14 per


cent hard paraffin scale, consist to a predominating degree of saturated hydro-

derived from the paraffin oils of Ohio


and Pennsylvania yield only a small percentage of residual coke and contain little

color-

oil,

[POR]

paraffin scraper

paraffin fluxes

containing

matter, paraffin wax, etc.

paraffin slack

The

Say-

paraffin scale

distil-

lation.

sulphur.

to 450 F.

from 40

liquid petrolatum or jelly.

for

paraffin oils.

additional

The

viscosity

Crystallized crude paraffin wax. [D]

product

Should be distinguished from the wax distillate produced


by steam reduction of fuel oil, which is
a semiamorphous substance requiring
product

Baume

point,

oil
2.

obtained by

treated oil

obtained by cracking, ranging from 30

better grade being

methane

series.

[POR]

paraflow, n.
A condensation product of aliphatic
and aromatic hydrocarbon which, when
blended with a relatively high pour-point
lubricating oil, will cause a decided lowering of the pour point and improve the
viscosity-temperature coefficient and the
viscosity index, without the removal of

222

parasite

wax

by the comparatively
methods now used. [POR]

expensive

parasite, n.

relative or a friend of a

can transport maximum loads with a


of power. [WIL, p. 1]

minimum

company

of-

whose position is maintained only


by virtue of a connection or suction (q.
v.). [Heard]

ficial

pay
The portion of an oil- or gas-bearing
sand in which the mineral may be found
in commercial quantity, syn. Pay sand,
pay streak. [POR]

parianite, n.

payday boy

Asphalt from Pitch Lake, Trinidad.


[A]

to

paroline, n.

pay

name

proprietary
latum. [A]

for liquid petro-

party chief
1. The foreman
of
a
seismograph
crew. 2. The foreman of an electric logging crew. [Reported]
passionate physician
A hot doctor (q. v.) unit.

The

expres-

sion originated in the Sinclair Refining

Company, Houston, Texas; said by


workers there to be a coinage of "Swede"
Olson, a former employee. [Reported]
pass production
To drill below a deposit of
tural gas.

[LDO,

A man who

works only long enough

make one payday.

[DI, p. 98]

dirt

An

earth formation in

which there

is

a paying yield of oil. Originally a mining


term. More often called pay, pay horizon

pay lime, pay sand, and pay zone. [KI]

pay horizon
See pay. [Heard]

paying well
A well which

yields oil or gas in commercial quantities, that is, in quantities


calculated to return to the owner the
cost of the well and the operating ex-

penses.

[POR]

pay lime
oil

or na-

See pay. [KI]

p. 434]

payoff, n.

pastry lubricant
See grease and grease plant. [D]

1.

patch, n.

field

small plate with a gasket welded


over a corroded spot in a pipe line. [OPL,
p. 84]

used for quick or tempo-

[NO]

early pipelining

term for an

Irish

mucker; a ditch digger. [Reported]

Paul Bunyan

An

v.i. 2.

[DO, October

to begin producing; a

worker may say the well


[Heard]

pay

out,

To

is

paying

v.i.

produce enough

oil to

pay the

n. 2.
[T, p. 143]
well yielding oil or gas in sufficient commercial quantities to pay the drilling

and operating expenses. [NO]

patty, n.

An

cost of drilling.

soft rivet

rary repairs.

producing well.

off.

1.

patch bolt

14, 1947]

oilfielder

who

brags. Originally a

pay rock

A geological formation containing paying quantities of petroleum deposits.


[KI]

oil field who was


from the lumber camp.
"Paul Bunyan did that" is an expression
commonly heard after a difficult job has

pay sand

been completed in

A stratum of oil sand sufficiently thick


(about five feet) to render a well profitable; a porous layer in the formation
filled with oil, gas, or salt water. [NO]

mythical hero of the


transferred

short

time. [Re-

ported]

Paul Bunyan underground

An

oil

pipe line; so called because

it

Oil rock producing profitable wells.

[NO]
pay streak

pendulum

223

pay string

The

string of pipe

which reaches

and through which the


[Heard]

oil

is

oil

secured.

subsurface geological formation in


oil is found. [KI]

P.B.
Plugging bac\; an abbreviation used

[LDO,

p. 428]

p.d.
1.

Pressed distillate (q. v.); a common


2. Pressure distillate (q. v.).

abbreviation.

[KI]

pea picker

An awkward

worker.

The

expression

originated in East Texas. See farmer

and

[Heard]

cotton picker.

dishwasher in a pipe-line camp. [Re-

ported]

let out screw rapidly enough to keep


pace with the tools when he is drilling
with a wire line, the tools will go beyond

the line's elasticity, and the continued


jerking will eventually part the cable.
When the limit of elasticity has been
reached, the tools usually begin to hit
only on each alternate stroke. So called
because the action at the bottom of the
hole is suggestive of the unequal footfalls of a one-legged man. [POR]

peg model

A model of an oil field, pegged with


long round sticks to represent wells, and
gas,

peavie, peavey, or peavy, n.


type of cant hook; originally a lum-

bering term.

[NO]

machine used

To

estimate production or details of a

Pencil Cave

The name given


places

pebble pup (puppy)

Lime

known

geological student. [BB, p. 489]

geologist's assistant.

[BA,

p. 29]

rig builder. 2.

The wrench used

by a rig builder. [Heard]

peg,

side- wall

[Reported]

off (q. v.).

[Heard]

Peg-Leg,

n.

The Bradford and

Greenbrier

called because of

in

familiarly
Little

and West

limestone

is

its

disposition to cave

Foster Brook Rail-

drilling.

[NO]

pencil pusher

A
v.t.

allowable for a well. [DO,


October 28, 1947] 3. To designate a
miner's claim by placing pegs at the
corners of the claim. [POR]
2.

The

ments during
sample-taker.

v.i.

To drill
To set the

1.

layers

Big Lime and the

of Ohio, Pennsylvania,

Virginia.

which

Greenbrier

the

into the borehole in pencil-shaped frag-

pecker punch

two

into

as the

to the shale

separates

one of the most readily identified formations from which to estimate depths
of lower sands. The dividing shale is so

pecker neck

[Heard]

report. See boiler house.

some

1.

making carbon-

in

pencil, v.t.

limestone

1.

relative locations of oil,

black pellets. [Heard]

pebble picker
See rock hound. [Reported]

2.

show

to

and the various formations. [POR]

pelletizer, n.

Pease's electric tester


An instrument in which petroleum
vapor is ignited by an electric spark passing above an oil cup which rests in a
water bath. [A]

hit only

marked

pearl diver

v.i.

on alternate strokes; said


of drilling tools. If the driller does not

which

in drilling reports.

peg-leg,

To

pay zone

road, built in 1877; so called because the


train ran on a single rail. [GID, p. 114]

clerk or office worker. [Heard]

pendulum

[pinlun], n.

device fastened to the counterbalance which, by its weight, pulls the


counterbalance over to keep the motor

turning and to pull the rod line back


and forth; used to equalize the weight
on the beam. [Heard]

224

penetration

perforate,

penetration, n.

v.t.

To

consistency of an asphaltic material or grease expressed as the distance


a special vertical needle or cone pene-

lower a gun (a mechanical instrument loaded with cartridges) into a well


and discharge it at a desired depth to

under

perforate the casing so that the oil in

The

a sample of the substance

trates

penetration macadam
A wearing course consisting of alternate layers of crushed stone and asphaltic

[KOT]

binder.

penetrometer,

An

Pennsylvania crude,

The

oil,

asphalt

or crude oil
petro-

and

in Pennsylvania

rounding oil-producing

by

sur-

[NO]

states.

Pennsylvania system of drilling


See cable-tool drilling.

flash

determinations on fuel

oils.

(C 15 H 32 )

separated

drocarbons (C 5
F.).

r:>,

of the saturated hy-

point

boiling

97

[POR]

or oil), as permeable rocks.

Permian

p. 552]

series

geological

nently in the

fields

of

Kansas and

northern Oklahoma. [POR]

permit

man

who

seismograph crew
of landowners
on their land. [Heard]
of a

secures permission

to shoot (q. v.)

perpetual

oil

royalty

which

royalty

is

permanently

valid.

[LDO]
persuader,

n.

bar, pipe, or

wrench used

for forc-

clipped

form

of petroleum. [BB, p.

489]

petcock, n.

method by which lubriwere decolorized. [NB, p.

original

563]

percussion system of drilling


See drilling, free fall, and churn
syn. Cable-tool drilling.

occurring promi-

series
oil

pet, n.

percolation, n.
oils

(water

[POR]

ing. [BB, p. 487]

percolating clay
See clay. [KI]

The

Any

pepper, n.
See acid sludge. [NB,

cating

A joint made up with threaded pipe


and coupling, both threaded straight (no
taper) One end of the pipe is left square,
and the other is beveled to a knife edge
at mid-thickness. Has been used in the
Baku region of Azerbaijan. [D]

n.

member

oil

[POR]

The member

from Pennsylvania petroleum and from


commercial paraffin. [POR]

fifth

and odorless

refined, colorless,

Easily penertated by solution


closed-

pentacosane, n.
A hydrocarbon (C 25 52 ) separated
from Pennsylvania petroleum. [POR]

The

11, 1947]

oil

used by perfumers and pharmacists.

pentane,

perforated section of casing.

permeable, adj.

[POR]

pentadecane, n.
A hydrocarbon

[RI]

[LDO]

Pensky-Martens tester
The apparatus used in making
cup

in.

Perkins joint

paraffin-base

sulphur-free,

leum produced

The

[DO, November

n.

instrument used to determine the

seep

perforation, n.

perfumery

consistency of a grease or
penetration (q. v.). [POR]

may

the formation

[POR]

specified conditions.

[POR]

drill.

A small

valve by which water or steam


be drained away or allowed to escape. Samples of petroleum products may
also be taken through such an outlet.
Sometimes mistaken for the automatic-

may

control

valve

(q. v.). [KI]

called

pop or pop-off

petroleum bloom

225
petroleum,

Pete, n.
1.

2.

nickname

See pet. [BB,

for lead tongs. [Heard]


p.

489]

Pete, n.
"Pete Petroleum," the cartoon symbol

by
John Moodie and used by the
Shell Oil Company. He is shaped like a
drop of petroleum and is comparable to
Bill (steel billet) and Reddy Kilowatt
(electricity). [SH, September, 1947]
for the petroleum industry, created
illustrator

petralol, n.

name

proprietary
latum. [A]

for liquid petro-

name

for liquid petro-

petrocene,

earth

oil,

Genesee

n.

and needle-like

crystals,

obtained by the distillation of petroleum


residue at red heat. [A]
petrol, n.

Petroleum and

cifically gasoline

derivatives, spe-

its

(British).

v.t.

provide with gasoline (British).

petrolatum,

2. To
[LDO]

Rock

oil,

mineral

natural

grease,

fluid,

gushing
liquid gold, medi-

Oil,

oil,

frictionless

green

oil,

mustang liniment,
mother oil, mud

tar,

natural

oil,

Oil

of

Gabian, Pennsylvania crude, Pennsylvania oil, pet, Pete, petrol, petroleum


crude, rainbow gold, rock oil, rock tar,
roily oil, sand oil, seep oil, Seneca oil,
shale oil, shine, show, Sicilian oils, slush
staining, sweet crude, sweet oil,
oil,
Tennessee oil.

petroleum asphalt

n.

Asphalt refined directly from petroleasphalt used in highway con-

and odorless substance obtained from petroleum and suit-

um. Most

able for medicinal use. See liquid petro-

struction

tasteless, colorless,

[POR]

is

of this type.

[KOT]

petroleum benzine

petrolatum, liquid
See liquid petrolatum. [POR]

cut in

the

naphtha; in the

petrolatum stock

The

oil,

Oil, grease,

Kier's

mineral

greenish-yellow hydrocarbon with

latum.

eternal fires, fill-up, flow-

fossil

cated crude, Mexican

a pearly luster

n.

See Bardaboes Tar, black gold, black


gold of Transylvania, blackjack, black
oil, burning waters, crevice oil, crude,
crude mineral oil, crude oil, crude petroleum, crude shale oil, deep oil, Devil's

oil,

latum. [A]

1.

PETROLEUM,

tar,

proprietary

inflammable, liquid, oily mixture


of a great many hydrocarbons found in
the earth. The quality and quantity of
the deposits or pools vary almost as widely as the locations in which they are
found. [D]

ing gold,

petro, n.

11.

An

consists

of

redistillation

of crude

German pharmacopoeia,

the colorless, nonfluorescent

petrolatum;
varies from light yellow to dark green in
color, according to the nature of the materials used in its manufacture. [POR]

portions of petroleum possessing a specific gravity of 0.640 and distilling almost entirely between 55 and 75 C.

petrolax, n.

petroleum black

base

for

A proprietary
latum. [A]

light

all

name

for liquid petro-

[POR]
Soot produced by burning oil; used
and printing inks in place of
the bone blacky obtained from animal
matter. Also used in the manufacture of

for paints

petrolecrat, n.

An Osage Indian; so called because


each headright received an annual in-

electrical carbons.

come

petroleum bloom

of a

royalties.

few thousand
[FO,

dollars

from

oil

p. 69]

petrolene, n.

A
tained

liquid-hydrocarbon

from bitumen

mixture

of asphalt. [D]

ob-

[POR]

The fluorescence or irridescent cast


seen in light reflected from the surface
of certain petroleum hydrocarbons and
resin

oils.

[POR]

226

petroleum briquet

petroleum drilling

petroleum briquet

briquet consisting of petroleum, soft

soap, resin,

and soda-lye wash. [POR]

In general, one of two methods of drilling a well: the percussion method, by

means

petroleum butter

heavy

of a

or

repeatedly,

See petrolatum. [POR]

A petroleum formation which resembles in its general features the famous


Alberta coal of Nova Scotia. It resembles
neither coal nor asphaltum in appearance or properties. [NO]
petroleum coke

The residue obtained by distillation of


petroleum; used in metallurgy and in
the making of battery carbons. [D]

An

1.

inflammable, volatile liquid ob-

from petroleum and used

Processes for increasing the yield of


gasoline by distillation at high pressure

number

of hydrocarbons

See gas
untreated

oil

obtained

[POR]

[POR]

vaporize the compounds of a

cut

is

made

Each cut

is

still

higher

made

at

temperature determined by the commercial demand for certain groups of

petroleum distillates
Groups of hydrocarbon compounds
driven out of the crude by the application of heat in the distilling process.
Typical commercial distillates are gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, gas oil, fueldistillates,

lates, in

and

that order.

in

had proved futile. The


County in 1921

oil

in Mitchell

perseverance

the

of

discovery

justified the

[SH,

wildcatters.

January, 1947, p. 9]

petroleum grease
A lubricant produced from
toms (q. v.).

still

bot-

Petroleum House

hotel

(1873).

in

Oil

City,

Pennsylvania

[NO]

petroleum

jelly

compounds. [POR]

oil

Petroleum Graveyard of Texas


A name given to the Permian Basin
ties

during the process of distillation at the


end of each commercial grade of distillate. When all the hydrocarbons included
under the commercial specifications of
gasoline have been driven off, the next
group under kerosene is collected by
raising the temperature of the still to
boiling point.

oil

oil.

1921 after exploratory tests in 46 coun-

petroleum cut
See petroleum fraction.

oil

ing between the kerosene and lubricating

petroleum gas

natural,

con-

light gas oil or similar distillate ly-

carbons are

petroleum crude

may be

[POR]

tained in one fraction.

distillates.

[POR]

petroleum fraction
A group of hydrocarbon compounds
distilled from petroleum between specified high and low temperatures. Theoretically, a fraction would be one single
definite compound, but in practice, a

or temperature or both.

The heavy hydrobroken down into gasoline

as

Naphtha. [D]

solvent. 2.

petroleum fuel

petroleum-cracking processes

a well.

cutter or a boring

petroleum ether
tained

petroleum coal

The

and dropped
method, by

bit.

railroad car carrying a tank or tanks


designed for the transportation of petroleum in bulk; a tank car. [POR]

from

rotary

means of a rotating
[POR]

petroleum car

fractions.

bit raised

the

lubricating-oil distil-

[POR]

greasy material of jelly consistency


removed from Pennsylvania petroleum
and used in the manufacture of ointments. [KOT]

petroleum naphtha

The

first

fraction obtained

tion of crude

oil,

troleum product.

what

on

distilla-

or any low-boiling pe-

The

expression

loosely used. [D]

is

some-

pick-up

227
petroleum pipe line

long line of pipe through which


crude oil is pumped from a well; a cheaper

and more

satisfactory

means

of trans-

port than tank cars. The long main lines


running between gathering points and
refineries are fed by gathering lines from
the wells to the main lines. All main
lines have stations and pumps at intervals of 35 to 40 miles, and a telegraph
system is used to check operations, much

like a railway system.

petroleum substitutes
Petroleum distillates

which have
proved to be satisfactory substitutes for
certain of the more expensive animal and
vegetable oils, such as turpentine, linseed

[POR]

oil, etc.

petroleum tailings

The

thick, viscous residue obtained

by

the distillation of crude petroleum after


gasoline, kerosene, and sometimes heavier
distillates

[POR]

have been removed. [D]

petroleum vapor
petroleum pitch

An

asphalt

Artificial

resulting

from the

mineral oils;
petroleum asphalt (q. v.).
There are four types: straight petroleum
distillation or oxidation of

also

known

as

asphalt, cut bac\,

blown (oxidized), and

Dubb's (sulphurized) petroleum asphalt.

Petrolian,

for natural gas.

[WIL,

The

The name

of a

newspaper published in

Oil City, Pennsylvania, in 1867.

[NO]

petroliferous, adj.

[POR]

Yielding or containing petroleum. [D]

petroleum producer

An

name

early

p. 130]

individual

operates oil wells

petroline, n.

or corporation

and produces

which
petrole-

solid substance analogous to parobtained in the distillation of Rangoon, Burma, petroleum. 2.


Scotch
burning-oil with a flash point of 126 F.
1.

affin,

um. [POR]
petroleum production

The amount

[D]

of oil supplied

by a well

or wells, estimated in terms of barrels


per 24 hours. [POR]

petronol, n.

proprietary

name

for liquid petrola-

name

for liquid petrola-

tum. [A]

petroleum refinery

A manufacturing plant where

petrosio, n.
the vari-

ous petroleum products are made from


crude petroleum. A complete refinery
markets all the products, from gasoline
to the lubricating oils, asphaltum, and
coke.

[POR]

process of separating crude pe-

troleum into its various commercial


products, and the purification of these
products. [D]

petroleum

spirit

physics stick

pentine
substitute,
turmentine,
and
white spirit. Used as a paint thinner. [D]

still

still

for separating the

hydrocarbon

products from crude petroleum. [D]

suction created in the well as the

bailer

is

to

as

fill

pick up,

To

lowered, which causes the bailer


it is pulled. [Reported]
v.t.

absorb heavy ends from a well


with gas and bring them to the surface
so they may be distilled out of the gas
which is then sent back into the well to
1.

petroleum

cheater (q. v.). [Reported]

cable-tool drilling. A means by


which the driller measures a drill hole
and ascertains whether the tools are
striking bottom or are swinging over
the drill hole, in which case the temper
screw must be let out. [LDO, p. 396] 2.

The

white or clear petroleum


Also called mineral spirit, tur-

refined

distillate.

proprietary

pick-up, n.

petroleum refining

The

tum. [A]

228

pick-ups

repeat the process. See recycle. [KI] 2. To


reach a certain depth in drilling, as "The
Chimney Hill was picked up at 8,965

[DO, June

feet."

pie

book of meal

tickets in

an

oil

camp.

who

attempts to find the


point of stoppage in a pipe line by walking over the pipe-line bed and marking
the spot where the pig stops, syn. Scrappipeliner

er-chaser.

[Heard]

[WIN,

on

[NO]

who

has decided to

around the
or crow's nest on a derrick. [Heard]
structure

pigtail, n.

piling job

(Texas).

v.i.

To

play out. See lense out. [Heard]


n. 2.
well that marks the limits of
an oil pool; a poor producer or a nonproducer on the edge of an oil pool. [DO,
1.

October 26, 1947]

of oil or gas obtained

an

oil

adj. 3. Descriptive

from

[DO, November

pinchpenny,

the thinning

deposit: pinch-out pro2,

1947]

n.

[Heard]

pinhead,

bit.

[Heard]

n.

pipelining.

junior clerk. [Heard]

very small leak in an

oil line.

[Re-

ported]

pink clover-seed sand


The sand below the clover-seed sand,
found at a depth of 1,600 feet in Butler
County, Pennsylvania. [NO]

drilling rig

mounted on

platform

(q. v.). [Reported]

small hole drilled

pinking, n.

A light knocking in an engine caused


by poor quality of gasoline (British).

pilot hole

preparatory to

drilling the large one. [BB, p. 486]

[POR]
pink

slip

pilot plant

unit for injecting gas into wells for

[DO, January

18, 1948]

pin, n.

A sharp

lever

pinhole, n.

1. A coil in a refinery pipe; used to


condense vapors. [ME, p. 763] 2. A small,
curved pipe extending from the boiler
to the gauge to reduce vibrations, syn.
Worm. [Reported]

repressuring.

pinch out,

pineapple, n.
A cone on a rotary

pigpen, n.
fencelike

nail-pulling

An epithet applied to an oil company


seeking to reduce operating expenses.

me

leave the oil fields. [Heard]

The

slang.

[HI]

duction.
rig.

p. 138]

pig iron finally bit


Said by a worker

1.

screwed.

v.t.

flanks of

pig iron
Any heavy object around a drilling

is

short,
bit,

reduce the flow of oil by closing


the choke: "The well has been pinched
to ten barrels of oil per hour through
tubing choke." [Heard; DO, November

pig chaser

stem

The

2.

end of a

pinch bar

See go-devil; so called because of the


grunting noise it makes as it is pushed
through the pipe and because it "roots
along." Also called bug. [Heard]

drill

[POR]

16, 1947]

Pig, n.

attic

at the top

objects together; a coupling

To

p. 56]

[Reported]

The

heavy screw

pinch,

[MU,

fishing tool.

book

pin.

which the

25, 1948]

pick-ups, n.

two or more
or a dowel

shaft of metal used to fasten

discharge notice. Possibly in general


usage today. [Heard]

Pintsch gas
Gas obtained by cracking gas

[KOT]

oil.

pipe line

229
pipe

Pintsch gas tar

tarry residue
oil in

gas

from

the cracking of

the manufacture of Pintsch gas.

[KOT]
wrench

pin

with a wrench on one end and


a pin on the other, which, inserted in
tool

the holes of a

up

ratchet,

The pin may

ratchet.

turn

will

the

also be used to line

may

sheets of steel so that rivets

be

buggy
low frame on wheels used

to tail

pipe (q. v.). Also called dolly. [Heard]

pipe

dog

hand

tool

used to rotate a pipe with

an accessible end;

consists of a small,
short steel bar, the end of which is bent
at a right angle to the handle and then
quickly returned, leaving only enough

inserted in corresponding holes. [KI]

space between the jaws to slip over the


wall of pipe. [D]

pipage, n.
pipelining. The fee charged for transporting oil by pipe line. Also pipeage.

pipe fingers
A finger board (q.

[WIL,

pipe gang

p. 88]

pipe, n.

long conducting passage, as a


tube, especially one used as a conductor
1.

of water,

To

oil,

transport

or other fluids.

oil

v.t.

2.

by pipe. [POR]

v.).

refining. A crew of
[Reported]

[Reported]

men under

a pipe

fitter.

pipe grab

clutch for catching and raising a


well pipe. [D]

PIPE, n.

See bend, bottleneck pipe, casing, concoupled pipe, coupon, double,

ductor,

down

corner, down-flow spout,

down

pipe, drill pipe, drive pipe, dry pipe, dry


string,

dutchman, education

pipe, educa-

tion tube, expansion loop, external upfeeler,


female connection,
flanged pipe, flow lines, flow nipple,
flow string, flush joint, flush pipe, fourble,
gum harp, header, incher, joint, jug
handle, kelly hole, line pipe, liner, little

set tubing,

inch, loaded

string,

long string,

loose

macaroni tubing, manimerchant pipe, nubbing pipe, oil-

pipe grip

An implement consisting of an iron bar


with a curved end and a chain of square
links to hook on the jaws of the curved
end; chain tongs. Used in steam and
pipe-fitting. [D]
pipe jacks

A wooden or steel tube about four feet


long with projecting pins arranged to
support the end of a joint of pipe while
it is being stabbed and screwed into the
coupling of a pipe line. [D]

pipe, macaroni,
fold,

country pipe, oil string, oil-well casing,


pay string, Perkins joint, pigtail, pipe
nipple, pipe riser, production string, protection string, rifled pipe, runback, scraper

trap,

screen,

screen pipe, seal pipe,

short, sleeve, slick joint,

Smith

Stiff, soil

pipe line

lines

Smith, stovepipe, stovepipe casing, strainer, surface pipe swamp-

[N]

er,

swamp

pipe,

swamp

pole,

swing

pipe,

tank breather tubes, tubing,


tubular goods, wash pipe, water string,
tail

pipe,

wet

string,

worm.

pipe bender

The

pipeliner

who

lines

up

the pipe to

be welded, syn. Pipe man. [Heard]

conduit of pipe, sometimes


of miles long, through

which petroleum is conveyed from an oil


region to a market or to reservoirs for refining. The whole equipment, including
pumps, stations, tanks, and telegraph

pipe, spaghetti, spool, spring, stand pipe,


step, stick, Stiff

line or

many hundreds

is

commonly included

in the term.

PIPE LINE

See

Bamboo

Inch,

Line, Big Calcutta,

Big Benson Pipe


Big Chicago, Big

Inch, Crusader Pipe Line, Gl-style pipe


line, Hamel, Operation Pluto, Paul Bun-

yan underground, PIT, Quartermaster


Corps Line, Trans-Panama Line, Trunk
line,

war baby, war

line,

WEP.

pipe -line

230

and tank-farm stocks


Petroleum which has been removed
from the producing properties and is
held on tank farms, in tanks along pipe

pipe-line

and in the

lines,

pipe-line

A
lings

lines themselves.

[POR]

The amount

of oil

moved by

clamp which fastens over the coupon a pipe line to reinforce the

and at other points where the line


subjected to severe stress, syn. River

ings

clamp. [POR]

pipe-line walker

A man who

walks along a pipe


This work
done principally by airplane. [KI]

gauger

line

now

pipe nipple
A very short length of pipe. [POR]
pipe prover
An apparatus for testing the tightness
of a pipe line or a system, usually

pipe-line

a pipe

[Heard]

line.

to detect leaks or breaks.

clamp

screwed connections; used at river crossis

pipe-line run

by hy-

draulic pressure. [D]

One who gauges the contents of a


tank in a pipe-line pumping station and
checks the contents to see that they are
acceptable crude oil. [KI]

RACK

PIPE

See finger board, hay rack, hay rake,


pipe fingers.

pipe racker

Pipe-Line Harley

Henry Harley,
first

the

the president of
great pipe-line company, the Alle-

gheny Transportation Company (1871),


which controlled nearly 500 miles of pipe

The roughneck on a rotary crew who


racks pipe. Also called pipe stabber. [BA,
p. 31]
pipe riser

line in Pennsylvania, to Tidioute, Irvine-

Oil City, Shamburg, Pleasantville,


and Titusville. [GID, pp. 69, 70, 91]
ton,

run of

pipe. Also riser.

pipe saddle

An

pipe-line oil

vertical

[POR]

clean crude

oil,

acceptable by the

transporter or purchaser; contains

little

iron fitting used to clamp pipe


is tapped at some point not
in a tee or when a new connection is

when

a line

[NO]

desired.

emulsion, etc. Generally transporters will not handle oil cut (q. v.)
more than 3 per cent. [Reported]

pipe stabber
See pipe racker. [BB,

pipeliner, n.

pipe

water,

1.

An employee
company. [Heard]

pipe-line helper. 2.

of a pipe-line

PIPELINER, n.
See barman, bender, Big Incher,
club man, collar

corker,

collar

cat,

pounder,

A type of still in which the oil is


heated as it passes through the tubes.
Also called tube still. [BA, p. 231]
pipe stretcher

A sell

pecker,

connection foreman,
crumb boss, crum boss, fence gang,
gauger,
grease-mope,
hammer man,
heaver, jackman, laborer, laying gang,
linerider, linewalker, lowering-in gang,
mucker, paddy, patty, pig chaser, pipe
bender, pipe-line gauger, pipe-line walker, point man, real pipe hand, rider,
ridgerunner,
right-of-way
gang, rod
burner, rope man, scraper-chaser, sitter,
stabber, stiff, stringer, swabber, swab
man, tong gang, wiper, wrencher.
collar

p. 489]

still

(q. v.).

[Heard; ST,

p. 14]

pipe swing
An arrangement of two ells and a
nipple which permits pipe to be swung
in any direction. [Reported]
pipe tongs

A
pipe.

hand

tool for gripping or rotating

[NO]

pipe trolley
A device used in place of a pipe buggy
to

lay

ported]

pipe

when

tearing

down. [Re-

Pitot

231
pitch pipe

pipe vice

An

apparatus to hold pipe while


being cut or threaded. [POR]

it is

The

slope given to a pipe for drainage


Steam pipes are given con-

of the water.

siderable pitch

pipewalker, n.
See pipe-line walker.
pipe with a string on

faulty pipe

been

tied as a

pipe

worms

warning. [Heard]

[POR]
pithole
1.

which
See

pipe wrench

rusty or corroded spot on a pipe


become a leak if neglected.

will

[OPL,

pit.

Pithole

fissure.

wrench generally with serrated


jaws which are designed to grip with
increasing pressure as the handle is
pulled. There are many types, such as
the alligator

Stillson,

[D]

the horizontal so

avoiding the shocks of water hammer.

it

on which a string has

24's, 36's, etc.

from

that the condensed steam will drain out


freely in the direction of steam flow, thus

Rust. [Heard]

the Trimo,

18's,

pipe yard
A yard where all kinds of pipe used in
drilling and production can be obtained.

[LDO,

gauge

was named

for

p.

80]

2.

Creek,

deep rock

Pennsylvania,

the pitholes there; be-

cause of their great depth and the steam


that arose from them, constantly accompanied by foul odors, they were never
completely explored. Some believed that
the pitholes were entrances to hell and
the odor was that of brimstone; others
believed that they indicated the presence
of petroleum. Oil was discovered there
in 1864. [AS, p. 177]

p. 384]

piping system
A complete layout of connected pipe.

pithole grit
One of the oil-bearing strata of Pennsylvania and Ohio; also known as Berea

[POR]

grit.

PIT
An army

Pithole's Forty Thieves


abbreviation for Pipeline, In-

vasion Type, a portable line. The first


such line was the quickly adaptable

Quartermaster Corps Line (q.

v.).

[WIL,

p. 191]

PIT, n.

See big tool box, burning pit, pumping pit, reserve pit, settling pit, slush
pit, small pit, sump, sump hole, worry
box.

social club formed in 1863 in Pithole,


Pennsylvania, by well superintendents.
Distant stockholders, disgruntled because of delays in drilling and returns on
their
investments, often called their
superintendents in Pithole "slick rascals,"
"plunderers," or "robbers." The favorite
pastime of the club members was to convince others that thieving was the purpose of the club. [GI, p. 138]

pit leak

pit-car oil

See summer-black

oil.

[A]

pitch, n.
1.

[POR]

The residuum from the distillation


oils. 2. The residuum in the re-

of rosin

torts after the distillation of coal tar. 3.

The residuum from

the distillation of

1. A small leak in a pipe line usually


caused by corrosion. [OPL, p. 78] 2.
Leakage from oil pits caused by impounding-wall failure or theft. [KI]

pitman,
1.

n.

connecting rod designed to con-

vert reciprocating motion

into

relative

Natural asphalt, particularly that of Pitch Lake in Trinidad.


[D]

motion and vice versa. 2. A member


which connects the walking beam with
the main crank. [NO]

pitch, straight-run

Pitot gauge
An instrument used to indicate the

crude petroleum.

4.

See straight-run pitch. [POR]

232

Pitot tube

a current of liquid or gas


flow; often used in oil fields for oil and
velocity of

gas wells.

[POR]

[POR]

Pittsburgh flux
A condensed or blown

over

originating

and

drilling equipment.

[Reported]
play, n.

An

exploratory venture; usually a


venture. [DO, October 23, 1947]

1.

new

To

prospect for oil; to play the


south side of a new pool. [DO, January
11, 1948]

v.t.

2.

play cage

compartment

baby cockroaches

for

or other insects used in the entomological laboratory of a refinery. [Heard; F,

common

Pipe-line oil; a

[LDO,

abbreviation.

p. 428]

plot, n.

Pipe line; an abbreviation used in


ing reports. [LDO, p. 428]

drill-

factory or manufacturing works.

[POR]
plant,

v.t.

To

well

salt a well:

(1862).

to put oil in a dry

[NO]

2.

pipelining. See

string, 3.

surface

plow deep
The depth now
way leases for pipe

more

made mechanically by mix-

proportioned quantities of aggregate and asphalt at a central plant, conveying the completed mix to the point
of placement, spreading it, and finishing the pavement.

[KOT]

plant table
A small board mounted on a tripod by

means

of a swivel or a ball-and-socket

joint;

used for mapping a surface geo-

logical structure. [RI]

cement

asphaltic substance of jamlike con-

reinforced with asbestos fibers


and used for the coating of roofs, especially where there is a break or where an
asphalt roof must be flashed at a chim-

hole.

which

detailed geo-

work. [D]

specified in right-oflines.

The

pipe

must

oil
drill

when

there

[DO, February

is oil

in the bore-

15, 1948]

plug, n.
1. The
ordinary plug or pipe plug
with an exterior pipe thread and a projecting head (usually square) by which
it is screwed into the opening of a fitting,
etc. [D] 2. In oil wells, a device or substance used to stop encroachment water.
Lead wool is sometimes used. [POR]
v.t. 3. To fill an abandoned well with

sand.

[NO]

4.

To

stop the flow of water,

gas, or oil in a well, usually

of a

wooden plug

clay.

[D]

sistency,

ney. [KI]

details,

be deep enough that it will not interfere


with farming. [F, p. 130]

To

ing

An

map, usually without

plow

plant-mix surface

plastic

serves as a guide for

logical or topographical

plant, n.

living quarters for the crews as well as

P.L.O.
oil

P.L.

1.

from which a well is drilled


on some jobs includes space for

p. 216]

Ohio petroleum. [POR]

n.

piling

for contractors

patches
Small circular pieces welded
isolated pits. [OPL, p. 841

pit

in

The

offshore;

Pitot tube
A tube bent at right angles to determine the velocity of flowing gas or
liquid. The open end of the tube directed
against the stream converts velocity head
into static head or pressure which can be
read by a gauge. The reading can then
be used to determine the velocity in feet
per second by using the formula for acceleration caused by gravity and correction.

platform,

plug back,

To

by means

or core, cement, or

v.t.

shut off the lower formation in


a borehole with impervious materials
in order to produce from a sand that has
1.

polymer

233
been drilled through. [Heard;

DO, Oc-

is used between the


and the reciprocating beam.
spring-pole method. [D]

a rigid connection

n. 2. The act of shuttober 14, 1947]


ting off a borehole. [POR]

drilling tools

plug bit
To keep

pole peeler
A scuffle hoe used to clean the grounds
on a lease. [Heard]

drilling tools out of a bore-

hole so long that the drilling


[Reported]

mud

sets.

Also called

pole tool

Any

plug gang
refining. The still cleaners who remove coke from heaters and units. [Reported]

plugged

which have
been so coated with carbon from the distillation

still

tubes

that the material can-

process

not run through them. [KI]

plug pusher

pipe-line

plumb bob
The end

of a gauge line used as a


weight. [Heard]

called

[NO]

Any activity carried on to secure patronage; for example, the efforts of a contractor to win contracts by flattering the
officials concerned. [Heard]
polish rod

line of the axis.

[H,

p.

of

Pumping; an abbreviation used


[LDO, p. 428]

in drill-

ing reports.

pocket, n.

cavity or an especially porous, lensbed of small dimensions which yields


a sudden but temporary flow of gas, oil,
like

[NO]

pointed out
a

practical drilling.

drill

hole that has

[LDO,

p. 392]

man

[POR]

clamp which grips the

pumping

The

well.
n.

process

in

rod

polish

[POR]

of

pyrolysis,

the production

which

re-

of gasoline

in

higher yield and of higher octane number than can be obtained by subjecting
the same oil to a conventional thermalcracking or reforming operation. Also
known as gas reversion. [KE]
1. An
abbreviation of polymerized
gasoline (q. v.). 2. An abbreviation of
poly, gasoline (q. v.). [KI]

poly, gasoline

[WIL,

p. 69]

lubricating

A patented name for a particular brand


of gasoline. See also polymerization

polarine, n.

pole

made

on the string

poly, gas
of

been reduced to a size too small for

well; the top joint,

rods.

polyforming,
sults

pipeliner.

pumping

pumping

of a

Pmpg.

rod with a polished surface


through the stuffing box

passes

polish-rod clamp

120]

point

steel

which

of polished brass or steel,

whose ends dip and

flattened fold

Descriptive

[KOT]

A term applied to a fraction (boiling


point 130 to 160 C.) obtained in the
refining of petroleum. [A]

of a

plunge along the

or water.

n.

stirring rod used in a refining labo-

polishing oil

A
pump. Also

plunging anticline

n.

part of the sand

reins.

with rods.

polish job
[Re-

telephone operator.

ported]

plunger,

policeman,
ratory.

off

Descriptive of

tool used in drilling

[POR]

oil

for motors. [A]

drill

system used in well-boring in which

and

gasoline additive. [KI]

polymer,

n.

product obtained by polymerization.

polymerization

234

Examples range from a


diisobutylene,

as

to

rubber-like material.

polymerization,

light liquid

such

polyisobutylene,

[TH]

made

and

fitters

made

they

all

when

move out

of

n.

which an

at-

change unsaturated
smaller molecules into larger ones by
means of heat and a catalyst. [POR]
to

polymerized gasoline
Gasoline which is produced by polymerization (q.

pipe

the pool. [Reported]

ucts without distillation by


is

shift

fitters;

promotions are

process of refining petroleum prod-

tempt

pipe

shift breakers are trained so that

v.).

pool-opener, n.
The first producing well in a
[DO, October 15, 1947]

pool.

poor boy
1.

An

oil

pany with

promoter or drilling comfinancial backing. [FO,

little

v.t. 2. (Poor-boy, porboy). To


a well on a shoestring. [LAN, p.

p. 96]
drill

[KI]

new

14]

pond,

n.

poor-boy core barrel

See trap. [KI]

pond freshet

An

from

artificial flood

used in early days

increase the depth of a creek tem-

to

Water was stored in pits during the rainy season and was released
during the dry season; by this method
porarily.

homemade

core

fashioned

barrel

a piece of pipe. [Heard]

poor-boy job

job

for

which

stock,

interest,

promises are given in place of


of the wages. [Heard]

all

the transportation of oil could continue


the year round regardless of the season.

poor-boy level

When

ferably a whiskey bottle. [Reported]

dams were opened, oil boats


loose from their moorings and

the

were cut
plunged helter-skelter down the creek.
There were many collisions and jams
and much oil was lost. Sightseers came
prepared to dip up the

and

was

it

their

start

said that
in

oil

that spilled,

many

people got

the oil industry by this

practice (1865).

[NO]

bottle

containing a bubble; pre-

poor-boy or po' boy outfit


A company or individual drilling a
well on shoestring capital. Evidence of
such an outfit: secondhand tools, a rusty
boiler, faulty bits "that must be dressed
pretty near every screw," and "dollara-day wages and a promise." [BO]
poor-boy packer

pony packer

Any

or

or part

type of packer used inside tubing.

[NO]
pony rod

A short sucker rod used to make up the


proper length, syn. Sub. [Heard;

WIN,

See bootleg packer and cave catcher.


[Heard]

pop, or pop-off, n.
1. A vent.
[Heard]

2.

An

automatic-

control valve for releasing pressure in a


boiler. [KI]

p. 138]

pony sill
The structure

popping

off

Senseless talk

that

gine-block in a derrick.

supports

the

en-

[NO]

[WIN,

from

a smart aleck.

p. 138]

popping of gas
pool, n.
1.

The

belt of oil-producing territory;

an

area of porous, oil-producing, sedimentary rock. [NO] 2.


deposit of petrolewhose limits are defined by dry holes.

um

refining.
group of relief workers
always in the plant. When they are not
needed for relief work, they work as

3.

"flaring," burning, or

wasting of

gas at a well head. [RI]

pop the

still

To

put too
[Reported]

much

pressure

on a

pop valve
See pop. Also called pop-off. [KI]

still.

power, rated

235
pore space
The open space, or voids, between the

potential test

individual grains of a rock mass; oil


sands contain 10 to 25 per cent pore

tential of a well;

[POR]

space.

flow

set the daily

pot fireman

The

fireman.

percentage of voids in oil-bearing shales and rocks; the volume of pore


space expressed as a percentage of the
total volume of rock mass. One of the

pothole, n.

principal factors in determining recov-

which

oil.

used to

allowable. [Reported]

porosity, n.

erable

for determining the po-

test

See pore space. [POR]

porous, adj.
Capable of holding

p. 138]

circular hole, deeper than

as a rule, cut out of solid rock

it is wide
by the ac-

running or cascading water


and turns, grinding the
stones like a mill. [PE]
tion

pot
oil.

[WIN,

[DO, Novem-

of

circles

man

1.

foreman.

ber 12, 1947]

on the

portable drilling machine


A light, compact, modified cable-tool

pour point

2.

fireman. See

man

pot. [BB, p. 489]

The

[LDO]

lowest temperature at which an


pour or flow when chilled without disturbance and under definite spe-

portable rig

cified conditions.

drilling outfit

mounted on wheels.

derrick, usually of bolted steel seg-

ments, which can be assembled on

oil will

pour

many

[D]

test

test

made

to

determine the tempera-

which a petroleum product

locations. [S]

ture at

possum

run; usually applied to the heavier ends.

belly

canopy stretched over and around


insulators by workers for protection

from the

[D]

powder hole

current. [Reported]

farmer well (q.

v.,

An

2). [BB, p. 486]

or

posthole rig
A secondhand,

known

rig; also

boy

rig.

patched-up

as a

hobo

drilling

rig or poor-

field of

posthole wells. [BB, p. 486]

posthole well
See farmer well,

2.

pot, n.

boiler or kettle.

[Heard]

pot-boiler, n.

fireman, syn. Pot fireman. [Heard]

potential, n.

The estimated oil yield of a well, a field,


a state, or a country, arrived at by allowing all wells in one oil field or in all
fields to flow at full capacity for a specified time.

[LDO]

v.).

[BB,

p.

486]

n.

engine furnishing power for two


wells. [D]

more

power, band wheel

diameter pulley wheel and


with eccentrics, the whole assembled with the shaft vertical and the
pulley horizontal; used to operate pull
large

shaft

[Heard]

posthole territory

dry hole (q.

power,

posthole, n.

will

rods to
may be

pump

jacks,

pumped by

it.

thus several wells

[POR]

power, geared
A machine designed to pump several
wells at one time by means of rod lines
from one central location. A pulley is
geared to a vertical shaft which operates eccentrics.

[POR]

power, rated
The power rating given by the manufacturer of an engine or motor; generally the power developed at the most efficient output, not the

power. [POR]

maximum

horse-

po wer

236

distillate

power

preignition, n.

distillate

untreated kerosene condensate


and heavier fuel down to 28 Baume;
used as fuel in internal-combustion en-

Any

1.

gines.

2.

heavy-end power

distillate

cut between kerosene and gas oil; usually set aside for rerunning, but often sold
under a variety of names for light-horse-

power-engine

fuel.

[D]

with distillation
between 150 and 260

C. and of good antiknock value; used as

known
power

spark-ignition engines. Also

as vaporizing oil.

rig used

in

early days. [Reported]

practical operator

oilman whose

prairie-dog plant
A small refinery generally made up of
secondhand equipment. [BA, p. 193]
precipitation
test

cants to

show
which

the

crankcase lubri-

amount

of asphaltic

will separate out by the


addition of a light petroleum hydrocarbon. [KOT]

material

precipitation test
test for asphaltic constituents

of heavy
stocks.

made

and cylinder

[KOT]

preheat,

To

lubricating oils

v.t.

To

heat oil before it is distilled. 2.


heat gas or oil before using it as fuel.

[LDO]
preheater, n.

Any apparatus in which heat (usually


heat that would otherwise be wasted) is
applied to a material prior to its injection into the main heating apparatus.
[LDO]

[LDO]

pressure, n.

An

from the main

official

company

(usually pi.).

office of

[WIN,

an

p. 138]

oil-field train-

and who often depended upon his wits


in competing with others. [LDO, p. 369]

number
made on used

a spud bar. [KI]

distillate

The oil which comes from the presses


when paraffin wax is recovered. [D]

oil

ing was limited to practical experience

1.

dumper
The refinery worker who opens the
wax presses and wedges the wax loose

See cold-pressing.

Pulled pipe; an abbreviation used in


drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]

early

by

pressing, n.

P.P.

An

distillate

press

pressed

A drilling rig run by a gasoline engine,

from wax

from the blankets with

[TH]

rig

which replaced the steam

v.t.

extract oil

a sweating process. [KI]

volatile kerosene

a fuel for

press,

To

power kerosene
limits essentially

The ignition of a charge in the cylinder of an internal-combustion engine before the piston cycle has been completed;
caused by red hot carbon deposits, badly
cooled spots in the cylinder head, or hot
spark plugs. [KOT]

pressure (circulation) lubricating

system

system in which lubricating oil is


pressure to the important
engine parts requiring lubrication, and
then circulates to the storage reservoir.

pumped under

[KOT]
pressure coat
See coat. [KOT]

pressure control
The adjustment of pressures within a
well to obtain the most efficient and economical utilization of the energy in the
natural gas under pressure in the oil
sands. By proper pressure control, both
the ultimate flowing production and the
ultimate oil recovery from a sand are increased, and the amount of water which
may enter a well is controlled. This can
be accomplished by holding pressure at
the well-head

when

the flow

is

directed

through tubing, by raising and lowering


the tubing, by changing the size of tubing, by installing a flow nipple or restricting the opening at the bottom of
the tubing, or by using a combination
of the different methods. [POR]

promote a well

237
prime white

pressure distillate

The

untreated distillate product of


thermal cracking (q. v.). [TH] 2. The
gasoline portion of the run from a thermal unit. [KI]
1.

pressure

in

filter

which the

liquid to be

fil-

is forced through filtering material


by a pressure greater than its own weight

tered

in the

filter.

kerosene of a prime white color intermediate between white and standard


white. [D]

producer,

filter

[POR]

oil

oil.

n.

well producing gas,

[DO, November

or gas

and

oil leases

are

oil,

14, 1947]

Producers Form 88
The form on which most
written. [BA, p. 95]

pressure (force-feed) lubricating

system

system in which oil is metered under pressure by a mechanical lubricator


to the parts to be lubricated. [KOT]

pressure gauge
A gauge which will directly record
gaseous or liquid pressure within an apparatus.

[KOT]

pressure maintenance

The

repressuring of

from the

oil royalty
mineral interest in proven territory
from which there is a return or income;

classified as flush, semiflush, settled, and


semisettled producing royalty. [LDO]

heavy, black tar

pressure

stills,

which

coming from the


and

solidifies easily

must be heated

to a high temperature to
pour; one of the heavy fractions. [KI]

pressure tar
The very heavy black residuum from

The

n.

yield or output of

an oil or gas
well or a group of wells. [D] 2. The
branch of the oil industry that brings the
oil to the surface of the earth and loads
it for shipment to the refinery. [KI]
1.

pressure-still tar

properties.

producing

production,

oil fields

beginning of operation in order to maintain the original pressure. [BA, p. 167]

producers' stock
Petroleum on producing
See lease storage. [POR]

PRODUCTION CREW
See bull gang, clean-out crew, connection gang, derrickman, floorman, gaffer,
gang pusher, hide-out, pumper, roust-

about.

the cracking process in a high-pressure


still

or tower. [KI]

pressure up

To

connections before acidizing;

test

the process involves (1) getting


sure and (2) testing. [Heard]

pretty job
A highly satisfactory
chinery. [Heard]

primary water
Water originating
p.

up

pres-

of

ma-

factured.

in the oil zone.

[H,

contrast to a drilling derrick,

1904, the best

manu-

The
string.

is

smallest string of casing. See pay

[BA,

p. 153]

promote a well

primer, n.
asphalt cement used for coating

[KI]

which

on substructure. [Heard]

production string
oil; in

[NO]

concrete-roof

[POR]

production derrick
A derrick set on concrete blocks, in
set

prime, adj.
A grade of

laid.

duction at successive periods of time;


made particularly for the purpose of
studying the rate of decline of wells and
pools.

piece

308]

An

production curves
Curves plotted for individual wells,
pools, or fields, showing the rate of pro-

surfaces

before

felts

are

To

sell

a portion of the secured leases

in order to obtain

enough money

a well. [BA, p. 96]

to drill

promoter

238

promoter, n.
The oilman who sells stock and promotes the drilling of new wells. [BA, p.

is

capable of producing

oil.

[DO, Oc-

tober 21, 1947]

proved reserves

38]

Oil deposits in developed fields.

propane,

The

n.

third

[F,

p. 246]

member

of the paraffin or

(C 3 8 ,
saturated hydrocarbon series
boiling point 49 F.), a gas under normal atmospheric

conditions.

proven, adj.

Land bounded by producing

known

territory

[POR]

ing

wells;

to be capable of produc-

[D]

oil.

propylene, n.

An

(C 3 H 6

unsaturated hydrocarbon

proven structure
,

boiling point 54 F.); a gas under normal atmospheric conditions. [KOT]

comes

proration, n.

known to have oil deposits;


when the discovery well (q. v.)

Territory
so called

in.

[BA,

p. 138]

system of restricting oil production


in order to retard lowering of the pres-

proven territory
Territory which has been

sure and to defer the incidence of the


decline curve. [BA, p. 143]

established as productive or nonproduc-

Proration Hill

drilling.

A site near Kilgore, Texas, where the


National Guard established headquart-

prove up

Governor Sterling resorted


to martial law to force oil operators, who
were disregarding the orders of the Railroad Commission, to limit production.
ers in

1931.

former)

the

by actual

[POR]

To show

conclusively that a territory


capable of producing oil and to set the
limits of the pool. [OGJ, November 6,

is

1947]

prune picker

[RI, p. 320]

1.

prospect, n.

Any

(especially

tive

definitely

job for a seismograph crew.

Each

Any

California driller. [ST, p. 162] 2.

California oil-field worker. [Heard]

prospect is numbered: if the crew is number 5, then the first prospect for that
crew is number 51, etc. [Reported]

pipelining. An abbreviation for pressure in pounds per square inch. [WIL,

prospect,

p. 271]

v.t.

p.s.i.

search for oil. 2. To determine


the value of known deposits. [LDO]

p.s.t.

PROSPECTING DEVICE

(q. v.). [KI]

See dipping rod, divining rod, doodlebug, dowsing rod, fan shooting, oil finder, rod, water witcher, wiggle stick,
witch, witching stick, witch stick.

ptomaine cafe

1.

To

PROSPECTOR,

n.

See dowser, exploration crew,


er, oil smeller, oil

oil find-

witch, witcher.

protection string
The middle string of pipe in a well,

which
casing.

serves as a protective liner for the

Sometimes

[DO, January
prove,

called

salt

string.

18, 1948]

v.t.

To show

conclusively that a territory

An

abbreviation for pressure-still tar

A boardinghouse.
puke,

[ST,

p. 30]

v.i.

1. To flow by heads (q. v.). Also belch,


burp. [Reported] 2. refining. To expel
a product rapidly from every outlet of
the run-down tank where water is admitted and thus increase the still pressure. See puking. [KI]

puking,

n.

refining. The boiling over of a still;


the crude charge mixes with the distillate and generally contaminates the contents of the

run-down

tank. [D]

pump, low down

2 39
pull rods

pull, v.t.

To withdraw

from a well. 2.
To clean a pumping well: to remove the
pump rods and tubing and clean out or
repair the pump, tubing, or rods. [DO,
1.

casing

October 30, 1947]

[BA,

recover casing and equipment from


which is abandoned because it

does not produce in paying quantities.

See pull a well. [Heard]

To

collapse a derrick. [Heard]

pulsate,

To remove

pipe

from

[POR]

a well.

member

crew of packers in a
carbon-black plant whose job is to sack
the completely processed black. [HP,
of a

2.

A portable derrick, pole, or mast which


provided with pulleys, a winch, and
the necessary apparatus to pull tubing
a well.

[POR]

by means of a pump.
produce oil by means of

raise oil
2.

pump;

To

said of a well.

[DO, Novem-

slang. To elicit information of any kind. [Heard]

a connection

too tight.

typical expression in such a case

is:

around the

bit.

[Reported]

pull lines
lines of rods

which are connected

by clamps or shackles and extend to a


pumping jack from a central power.
Also called shackle lines. [POR]
pull-out, n.

The

separation of a pipe line in the


usually caused by a sudden
change of temperature which makes the

coupling;

line contract.

moval of a
hole.

v.t.

To

ber 14, 1947]

"You pulled it green, Bud. It may be


handy for Paul Bunyan, but not for
me." [WIN, p. 138] 2. To pull a bit before it is ready (worn out). In derision a
rival crewman often puts green grass or

1.

Fr. pulseur. [Reported]

pump,
1.

by

used

electric logging;

3.

green

To make

The

from

See pulling machine. [Heard]

leaves

alternator

electric

[Heard]

pulling unit

[PE]

pulseur, n. [pulser]

An

is

The

Schlumberger crew in

pulling machine

from

pipelining. 1. Pressure. [WIL, p. 143]


small group of waves which are

said to indicate a reflection.

April, 1946, p. 4]

it

v.i.

pulse, n.

puller, n.

1.

of a

See flow by heads. [PE]

pull casing

or rods

the packing gland

tighten

pump. [Reported]

pull a well in

pull

up

pull

[POR]

[Heard]

field expression.

pull tubing

a well

To

p. 162]

pull the pin

Get started; a

pull a well

To

The rods connecting the jacks on individual wells with the central power.

[BB,

[OPL,

p. 94]

drilling string
p.

489]

2.

from

The

re-

a bore-

PUMP,

n.

beam pump, blue elephant, bulldozer, bull pump, deep-well pump, donkey, donkey pump, Drake, Duck, ejector,
field pump, force pump, gathering pump,
See

Gosling, grasshopper, handy-billy, jack-

pump,
pump,
pump,
armed
pump,

pump, jet pump, metering


mud-hog pump, mud
oneoil-line pump,
oil pump,
Johnny, rod-line pump, sand
slush pump.
jerker

mud

hog,

pump, centrifugal

A pump

with a high-speed propeller

which

utilizes centrifugal force.

pump,

jet

[POR]

An ejector used for discharging a


stream by means of a small, high-pressure

jet.

[POR]

pump, low down

horizontal

hand pump. [POR]

pump,

reciprocating

240

pump, reciprocating

A pump
ly

whose parts move


forward and back. [POR]

alternate-

pumping gear

pump, rotary

A pump
is

positive

upon

which has rotating parts but


in action and does not depend

centrifugal force.

A reduction gear used to operate the


walking beam of a pumping well. [POR]
pumping jack

[POR]

device used over relatively shallow

wells for operating the

pump, simplex

either by the walking beam or a jack.


Also called pumping rig. [BA, p. 162]

one-cylinder

[D]

jack, jack.

pump, single-acting

A pump cylinder

which discharges one

pumping-out pan

time during the cycle or revolution.

pumpage, n.
The amount raised by pumping,
pumpage of an oil well. [D]

pump by heads
To pump a well

pumping
as the

at irregular intervals.

[Heard]

machinist

who works

only

on

pumps. [Heard]
n.

An

apparatus used in pumping. 2.


well which produces by pumping.

An oil
3. An oilfielder who

looks after a pumping well or a group of wells. Also called

man. [NO]

shimming

on
the end
case

of plunger; serves as a protection when


rods part or the plunger bumps the bottom of the well. 3. The cage used to expand cups and to replace the jam nut.

[Heard]

pumping,

n.

production.

1.

The

from

usual

method

of

nonflowing well.
Pumping apparatus consists of a working barrel fitted with a plunger and ap-

extracting oil

propriate valves.

pumping

machine designed to operate two


wells from one prime mover.

more
[POR]

or

pumping rig
See pumping

derrick. [BA, p. 162]

pumping unit
A pumping

jack

power unit

combined with a

for operating a single

pump-

[LDO]

pump kettle

fist

The lower end of a plunger


pump. [D] 2. The jam nut on

settling or

jack
See pumping jack. [POR]

[Heard]

1.

Sometimes called
[Heard]

pit.

pump

lease of flowing wells.

pump

pit into which the flow from


turned and in which the initial
separation of water and oil is effected.
is

ing well.

pumper's paradise

pit

open

wells

doctor

pumper,

An

pumping power

pump

lease

shallow, open-top condenser box.

[D]

[POR]

1.

pump by lines
Pump

connected to a central power, syn.

pump. [POR]

[LDO]

derrick

smaller derrick which replaces the


drilling derrick; the well may be pumped

convex, perforated diaphragm fixed


bottom of a pump table to prevent
the entrance of foreign matter; a strain-

at the

er.

[D]

pump

lift

distance to which the pump can


suck up water vertically from a well.
Theoretically the distance should be
about 34 feet at sea level, but in practice
the limit is about 26 feet. [POR]

The

pump man
An assistant to the chief
tanker who must know the

mate on a
contents of

every tank and must undergo a rigorous


course of training before he assumes the
responsibility of his job. [F, p. 163]

put on

241

pump off
To pump the
a well. When a

entire oil content

pumped

well has been

must be shut, down until


accumulates. [Reported]
off, it

from

more

building well. 3. Short for tool pusher


(a drilling superintendent)
also called
head pusher. [Heard]
;

oil

pushover post

pump rod
The rod

rocker used to line up the pull rods

on jack wells with the

[Heard]

rigs.

or system of rods connecting

the walking

beam

of a derrick or jack at

the surface with the

pump

push pole

piston below.

makeshift gauge pole with which a


estimates roughly the amount of
in a tank. [Heard]

pumper

[D]

oil

pump

station

1.

pumping

plant stationed along

push tongs

the course of a pipe line to force the oil

through the
of any kind,

line.

2.

pumping

water supply,

as

oil

plant
gather-

To
n.

p. 112]

of tongs.

screw joints of pipe by

[WIL,

p. 69]

have charge of a production gang

or a drilling crew. [BB, p. 490]

third-rate oilfielder.
2.

To

pipelining.

means

push tools

[POR]

ing, etc.

punk,
1.

pump

[Heard; MI,

handy man on a

pipe-line

job. [Reported]

pup, n.
Pic\-up pump; an abbreviation used

puskey, n.
A blend of puss and whis\ey. When a
worker takes a girl and his whiskey on
the job with him, he says he has brought

some pus\ey. [Reported]

in reports. [Reported]

pup
1.

joint

which

short joint, similar to a pony rod,


is screwed into a barrel so that

put a head on a stem


To ruin a stem by drilling on
the bit has twisted off. [Heard]

damage the barrel. If


attached directly to the
barrel, there is danger of creasing the
cups. [Heard] 2.
short joint of casing.

put a unit on stream

[WIN,

put a well on
To open the choke and
ducing. [Heard]

the slips will not


the

slips

are

p. 138]

push a gang

To

work

any crew. The


is called gang
pusher. Usually the members of the gang
direct the

product flowing through a

start a

on stream. [Heard]

[WIN,

To line up pipe preliminary


screwing or welding the joints to-

pipelining.
to

p. 138]

[WIL,

gether.

See dolly. [Heard]

To make

ditch; so called because the device actual-

pushes against the dirt


[Heard]

ly

p.

763]

2.

p. 69]

put in stalk

push bucket
A scoop on a dragline which pulls
toward the machine in excavating a

[ME,

start a well pro-

put her in the bell

push-away buggy

pusher, n.
1.
A foreman,

after

of

foreman of such a group


are called roustabouts.

To

unit. See

it

it

moves.

a drill-pipe connection.

[Heard]

put

it

To

on the other guy


play a prank on someone. [Heard]

put on

To

pump

install a

pump

at the

mouth

well; to start a well producing by

syn.

Nipple

chaser.

One who knows

rig-

of a

1947]

of a

means

pump. [Heard; DO, November

II,

put on the feed bag

242

put on the feed bag

To

eat:

the favorite indoor sport of

early oil-field workers.

[ST,

p. 29]

put the skids on one


To discharge someone. [Heard]
putty rocks

put slack in the line

To

See chocolate rocks.

pipe into the ditch


as possible in order to avoid a break
when low temperatures cause contraction. About eight inches of slack per
1,000 feet should be sufficient for a normal variation of about 70 F. This is
secured by putting skids under the pipe
about every 150-200 feet. [OPL, p. 67]

put the bee on

To

ask for

money

or to

borrow from

an acquaintance with no intention of

re-

turning the loan. [Reported]

put the packoff on one


1. To put the blame for an error on
someone else. 2. To silence a smart aleck.
[Heard; WIN, p. 139]
put the ring on her

A command

to

put the gauge on the

drilling bit of a cable-tool rig to

certain

it is

[NO]

much

force as

make

the right size. [Heard]

pyrene,

n.

trade

made

name

for a fire extinguisher

of carbon tetrachloride.

[LDO]

pyrogenic distillation

cracking distillation carried out at


high pressures, or
both, to obtain greater yields of the
lighter hydrocarbons composing gaso-

high temperatures,

line.

[POR]

pyrolysis, n.

A cracking reaction carried out under


very high temperature conditions (above
about 1,300 F.), used in the production
of benzene, toluene, and higher aromatic
hydrocarbons from aromatic hydrocarbons of straight-run and cracked gases
and from low-boiling naphthas. [KE]
pyrolytic cracking
See thermal cracking. [BA,

p.

207]

Q
QRC
A

abbreviation for the quic\ ram


change blow-out preventer manufactured by the Cameron Company. [Reported]
field

down during the glacial and


man periods. [LDO]

Queen City
The name

early hu-

given to Titusville, Penn-

sylvania, in 1870

when

the

town emerged
become the

Quartermaster Corps Line

from the oil-boom

A light, very pliable surface pipe line


adapted to combat needs, developed by
Sidney Smith, manager of the products
pipe-line department of the Shell Oil

commercial, financial, and cultural capi-

Company. Ten
lines

were

World War

or

built
II.

more

of these surface

across

Africa during

One building crew often


many as thirty miles of

completed as
pipe line in one night. [WIL,

p.

187]

quaternary, n.
geology. A part of the formations laid

tal

stage to

of the oil region. [GID, p. 89]

Queen of the Neches


The name given to Beaumont, Texas,
in 1901 by Beaumonters. The town grew
to a boisterous metropolis within three

months

as a result of the

Lucas gusher.

[RI, p. 60]

quenching bath

bath of

oil

or water solution used

for hardening steel.

[POR]

railway journal-box grease

243

QUIT A JOB

QUIT PRODUCING

See drag up, draw

down,

get one's jelly

in,

hit the suitcase sand,

spool 'em up, spool

make

a spool,

See blow itself into water, die,


go dead, let die.

drown

out,

clothes.

R
R. or

Rmg.

Reaming;

and-mon\ey -board
an

drilling reports.

abbreviation

[LDO,

p.

used

in

428]

R. A.
Right angle (referring to location)
an abbreviation used in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p. 428]

WIN,

rack-rock,

An

method.

n.

explosive for shooting wells.

The coils of a still; so called because


the coils are heated primarily by radiation.

Any tool forced through a pipe to remove foreign matter; usually a piece of

radioactive well-logging

which is dropped through pipe


standing in the derrick or pushed through
pipe lying on the rack. [Heard]

[NO]

radiant section

rabbit, n.

steel

[Heard;

p. 138]

[BA,

p. 231]

A method of surveying wells in which


equipment receiving radioactive pulsations

the

used to give information about


of the strata. [PE]

is

make-up

rabbit job

job that

done

is

rapidly. [Reported]

The annular
member of
[POR]

side

To become

ring forming the outa ball or roller bearing.

lines into

rag line
1.

angry. [Reported]

loading

tank cars.

oil

from pipe

[NO]

from

[KOT]

The

rope used on a cable-tool rig

until the first string oi pipe

rack, n.
device for

refined portion of oil resulting

solvent refining.

race one's motor

raffinate, n.

race, n.

inch Manila rope.


line. [Reported]

Ragtown
The tent

2.

section of a

is

set;

a three-

canvas measuring

boom

town. [ST,

p. 129]

rack back

To

stand pipe in the derrick. [Heard]

rag wheel
syn. Sprocket wheel. [A]

rack equipment
1. Equipment carried in the racks of a
panel truck. 2. The regular equipment
of a Schlumberger crew carried in the
racks of a panel truck. [Reported]

rack pipe

To

on a horizontal rack or
pipe on derrick floor. Two
methods of racking pipe in the derrick
are the hay-ra\e method and the fingerto

stack pipe

stand

railway grease
A collective term for

way

five types of rail-

lubricant: axle or

grease, rod
grease,

grease,

and gear

box grease, cup


and curve

track

grease.

[POR]

railway journal-box grease


A special grease used for packing the
journal boxes of cars. Today largely replaced by oil-soaked waste. [POR]

rai

nbow

rainbow,

The

244
joint of drill pipe to the drilling string.

n.

peculiar coloration

which forms

on water when petroleum flows into


See rainbow on the slush pit. [PE]

it.

Petroleum. [RI, p. 208]

[D]

pit

The

variegated colors of a film of oil


as seen in the slush pit; usually taken as
an indication that the well is a potential

rat-hole bailer

sell (q. v.).

[Reported]

rat-hole elevator

producer. [S]

rammer,

borehole reduced in size by


WIN, p. 138] syn. Kelly
hole.
v.i. 3. To prepare for rotary drilling by drilling with a small bit and leaving a seat for the casing. 4. To reduce
the size of the borehole and feel ahead.
2.

rainbow gold

rainbow on the slush

[D]

coring. [Heard;

An

n.

A tool used to make the borehole round


and smooth. [NO]

move

elevator used to

rat hole

pipe to the
pipe is
without weight. [Reported]

and the mouse

picked up

hole.

The

rattle tubes

R.&T.
Rods and tubing; an abbreviation used
in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]
rapid-curing asphalt
A road asphalt treated with a gasoline
naphtha so that it will cure or harden
quickly. [KI]
rapid-curing cutback
Asphalt cement thinned down with a
gasoline- or naphtha-type distillate.

[KOT]

To

jar loose the inner coating of dis-

tubes by rapping on the outside


while forcing air through the inside.
[KI]
tillery

raw gasoline
The gasoline produced from

processed

wet natural gas. syn. Wild natural gasoline. [NB, p. 498]


r.c.

An abbreviation for rapid-curing asphalt (q. v.). [KI]

rasp, n.

An

instrument for reducing the size

box or

on

before
fishing tools are placed in the borehole.
of the

collar

Rum,
the

rat, v.i.

See rat hole,

4.

[DO, May

and

tobacco, the motto of


social

group

casion a jokester told a minister that the


1,

1948]

by which each well is alproduce only a specified por-

restriction

lowed

to

productive capacity, syn. Pro-

tion of

its

ration.

[BA,

p. 147]

fix

[GI, p. 138]

hand

real pipe

rate, v.t.

To

meant "Religious Counsels Treaswhereupon the minister preached


sermon eulogizing the organization.

initials

ured,"

ratable taking

pipeliner

efficiently.

the

normal capacity of a

unit.

[PE]

ream,

rated potential
The official productive capacity of a
well. [BA, p. 149]

slanting hole about 25 feet deep


into which the grief stem is lowered to
lubricate or adjust the swivel or to

add

who works

steadily

and

p. 200]

v.t.

To make

down

rat hole

[SA,

the borehole round by


turning the bit constantly. [NO] 2. To
enlarge a borehole already drilled to permit the entrance of casing. Also ream
1.

1.

cards,

Swordsman's Club, a

organized in Pithole, Pennsylvania, in


1865 by leading citizens. On one oc-

[D]

R.C.T.

lost tools

or

ream

out.

[D]

ream down
See ream.
1947]

[Heard;

DO, October

31,

red engine

245

reamer [rimmer],

1.

straighten a borehole.
splitter.

any refining operation

ucts obtained in

n.

drilling tool used to enlarge or

[NO]

2.

casing

[NO]

compared

as

oil

to the original

amount

of

material. [D] 2. drilling. Material taken

from the

reaming out

severe reprimand;
eating out. [Heard]

comparable

to

borehole by drill-stem test,


swabbing, bailing, or circulation; usually
applied to mud, oil, samples of formation, water, and gas. [Heard; DO, No-

vember

12, 1947]

ream out
1.

See ream

2.

slang.

To

scold angrily.

WIN,

syn. Give a reaming. [Heard;

p.

rectification, n.

See fractionation. [NB, p. 273]

138]

recycle,

reboiler, n.

return stock to the still for redistillation. [KI] 2. To repressure an oil


well with natural gas. [POR]
1.

A vessel with a coil (generally filled


with steam) used for evaporating ends
(q.

v.)

[Re-

out of side cuts (q. v.).

ported]

recondition,

To

v.t.

prepare a borehole for deepening.

[DO, October

14, 1947]

reconnaissance, n.
A preliminary geological survey. [D]

v.t.

To

recycle stock
refining. A portion of a charge which
has not been properly stilled and is to be
returned to a still for reprocessing. [KI]

red-and-yellow basket
See catch-all; the term is derived from
the song "A Tisket, a Tasket." [Reported]

recorder,

n.

The member

who

of a seismograph

crew

and

takes

operates the instruments

the recordings. [Reported]

RECORDER,

Slumber
recover,
1.

To

log,

electrolog,

seismograph

recorder,

electric

See red butt. [Reported]

Red Barn

n.

See detector,
Schlumberger,

red ass

Jay, snitch.
v.t.

pull a lost piece of equipment,

A barn on the Ira G. Yates ranch in


Pecos County, Texas. When oil was struck
on the ranch, the barn (the only lodging
available for oilmen) was given a sheetiron roof, painted red, and converted
into a rooming house. [RI, p. 296]

as a

red beds

To

A sticky red shale belonging to the


Wichita formation of the Permian series.
[DO, October 31, 1947]

broken tool, from the borehole. 2.


regain drilling mud, load water, or
load oil used in the drilling process. 3.
To get oil, gas, or water from the oilproducing formation; generally applied
to oil, gas, or water obtained by sampling
or testing.

[Heard;

DO, November

12,

1947]

The
fied

so-called

worker

who

syn. Red, red

recovered acid

"disease" of a dissatisis

ass.

ready to quit his job.


[Reported]

red devil

Sulphuric acid which has been collected and reused after purification. [D]

recovered

red butt

An
the

oil

hammer for knocking


The name is taken from
manufacturer's name for his tool and
air-driven

off rivet heads.

used lubricating oil which has been


collected and reused after purification.

from the noise and vibration which annoy the handlers. [KI]

[D]

red engine oil


A petroleum product used to lubricate
bearings and sometimes cylinders of en-

recovery, n.
1.

refining.

The

total

amount

of prod-

246

redistillation

and compressors;
machine oil and filtered

a blend of red

gines

mixwith 5 to 20 per cent un-

ture of red oil

blown
gine

stocks, or a

fixed oil products; a series of en-

[POR]

oils.

reducing

A still

redistillation, n.

The

product which

of a

distillation

has already been distilled.

[KOT]

still

of the "cheesebox" or horizontal

equipped with perforated-bottom


coils. [D]

type,

steam

reducing

red lead

reducing elbow
An elbow which decreases in diameter
toward the small end; used as a reducer
on a turn. [POR]

and stabbing

Any pipe tee with openings of two


sizes; may reduce on the run or on the

red-neck, n.
An expressman who hauled barrels of
oil to railway shipping points in the
early days of the petroleum industry.

reducing taper elbow


A reducing elbow whose curved body
uniformly decreases in diameter toward
the small end. [D]

[T, p. 33]

Redwood-Baringer water finder

red

device for determining the water


content in a tank of oil. [A]

lubricant

for

called dope, goo,


salve.

pipe

fittings.

catsup,

Also

branch. [Reported]

[Heard]

oil

naphthenic-base lubricating oil, red


in color, not so highly refined as motor
oils, used on all types of line shafting
and oil-lubricated bearings. See neutral
oil.

[KOT]
an abbreviation used in

Redrilling;

[LDO,

p.

428]

drillers

to the red

Panama Conglomcalled red beds. [NO]

shale underlying the


erate (1880).

Now

v.t.

lighter

oils

of greater

reduced crude

recovering small
named for the

for

debris;

refrigerator car for loading

wax.

[Reported]

See reduced

The

auxiliary

drum

for the large

drum

wax

Sweated wax which has been filtered


and decolorized with fuller's earth. [A]
refinery, n.

The
fining

plant and equipment used in reoils.

[D]

oil

oil.

refining, n.

[D]

reduced oil
Oil from which the more volatile hydrocarbons have been eliminated by
partial evaporation, usually by steam. [D]
reducer, n.
fitting

and

reefer, n.

refined

To

use smaller casing with


each succeeding string as drilling operations proceed. The space between the
two sizes of casing is filled with packing
(q. v.). [Heard; LDO, p. 404]

tool

which handles the heavy work. [PE]

reduce casing
drilling.

fishing

reel, n.
off

gravity or viscosity. See top. [D]

one end

[KOT]

manufacturer. [Heard]

name given by

distill

pieces of cone

red rock

To

viscosimeter adopted in the United


Kingdom for making determinations on

reed basket

drilling reports.

reduce,

viscosimeter

petroleum products.

Redrig.

Redwood

which decreases

to the other.

[D]

in size

from

The manufacture

of petroleum prodby a process of distillation from


crude petroleum in which successive
components are vaporized and separately
ucts

condensed. The resultant distillates are


then redistilled or chemically purified to
yield the finished products of commerce.
Does not include blending. [D]

reins

247
refining agent

The

reforming,

material or substance used in re-

fining another substance. [PE]

REFINING
See

alkylation,

catalyst

A.S.T.M.

distillation,

cracking,

catalytic

continuous process of distillation, continuous system, cracking, cracking distillation, cracking (liquid phase), dehydrocyclization, dehydrogenation, destructive
alkylation,

destructive

distillation,

de-

structive hydrogenation, distillation, dry


distillation,
cess,

Dubbs

Engler

process,

Edeleanu pro-

distillation, fixed-bed cataly-

cracking, fractional distillation, fractionation, hydro-cracking, hydrofining,


tic

hydroforming, hydrogenation, mixedphase cracking, petroleum-cracking process, pyrogenic distillation, pyrolysis, pyrolytic cracking, static catalytic cracking,

steam distillation, steam refining, straightrun distillation, superfractionation, thermal cracking, thermal distillation, vac-

uum

A distillate fraction of a certain boiling


introduced into fractionating equipment to bring about a cooling effect; results in a more intimate
contact between the vapors, thus assuring more efficient fractionation. [KOT]
2. A' return flow. [POR]
is

reflux exchanger

cylinder

product of

which must be

petroleum

distillation

order to produce a high-octane fuel second to gasoline. When it is first run the stock is not
of great value, but the restilling brings
it within a naphtha range, after which it
is cracked to improve the octane rating.
[KI]
restilled in

refractive index

An

index used in the detection of


oils. [D]

rosin in mineral

refractometer, n.
An instrument for determining the
index of refraction of a mineral. [D]

regeneration of doctor solution


The process by which the doctor solution (q. v.) is purified. [PE]

some

lead.

[SHU,

p. 158]

regular gasoline

The

gasoline

made

to

the specifica-

tions for flash point, fire point, etc., of

the selling

pumps

company and

of the

sold out of the

manufacturing company.

[KI]
regulator, pressure

which often

projects above

The vapors

passing

through the cylinder are cooled by oil


passes through the tubes continuously; the oil is in turn heated by the
vapors. [BA, p. 233]

which

reflux line

pipe line leading from the condensing chamber back to the bubble or fractionating tower from which gasoline
has come in the form of vapor. [KI]

reformed gasoline
Gasoline made by cracking
run gasoline or other suitable

[KOT]

p. 470]

reforming stock

A shortened form of regular gas: a


house brand (q. v.); usually contains

reflux, n.

the bubble tower.

utilizes a

naphtha as a

or

regular, n.

distillation.

range which

which

gasoline

charging stock. [NB,

process, batch system,

distillation,

n.

cracking process

straight-run

METHOD

Atwood cracking

valve with a diaphragm which conflow of gas by depending upon


the pressure on the low side for control.
trols the

[POR]
Reid vapor pressure
A measure of the pressure exerted on
the interior of a special container (Reid
vapor pressure apparatus) by the tendency of the product to vaporize. [KOT]

Reid vapor-pressure test


A method for determining the
sure of vapor;

straight-

distillates.

named

for

its

pres-

inventor.

[PE]
reins, n. pi.
1.

The

links of a pair of jars.

[D]

2.

releg a derrick

248

part of the
part of the sand pump. 3.
temper screw. The nut in which the

made

two pieces, each


fastened to the lower end of one of the
long bars (reins) on each side (1888).
screw travels

is

in

[NO]

2.

replace part or

demands

when

the depth

usually consists
of driving four-inch pipes inside the regular derrick legs. [Heard]
relegs, n. pi.

Reinforcers for the legs of the drill


tower. [PE]

disconnecting hook and stirrup.

v.t.

To use a retipped bit.


refining. To redistill certain
portions of the first run to obtain a better end-product. Redistilled gasoline or
kerosene is a higher octane product and

more

an amount
[OPL, p. 46]

well drilled beside, and whipstocked


wild well, thus making it possible to bring a wild well under control and at the same time to save
the old hole and the derrick. [Heard;

DO, January

11, 1948]

retainer or plug.

[PE]

REMOVAL OF

See collapse job, half

trip,

round

trip,

REMOVE

PIPE
See come out of the hole, draw, draw

make

a pull,

make

a trip, pull,

her on the bank, strip a well.

is

[D]

pit in

which reserve

drilling

reservoir, n.

Porous rock which serves

1.

gas

or

depository.

liquids or gas

may

2.

an

as

oil

where

place

be stored, either the

natural reservoirs below the surface or


the artificial reservoirs upon the surface

reservoir energy

paratus. [PE]

[POR]

The energy

in a pool

force

1947]

which

in the extraction of petroleum;


sult

from

a large

amount

water or earth pressure,

etc.

assists

may

re-

of gas,

from

[FO]

The

2.

pressure at the oil-pool level when the


well is shut in; the well-head pressure
plus the pressure of the

v.t.

increase the pressure in a forma-

pumping in air or gas to


oil. [DO, November 14,

147]

reservoir gas-oil ratio


The number of cubic feet of gas per
barrel of oil originally in a reservoir.

1.

difference between the assigned

value of the medium and the results of


various tests made for the same laboratory operation without changing the ap-

tion by

oil.

reservoir pressure

repeatability, n.

out more

mud

oil

The gas pressure in an oil or gas formation, syn. Reservoir pressure. [BA, p.

PIPE

trip.

To

is

of the earth. [D]

removable cementer
A removable cement

1.

oil

[D]

reserve pit

repressure,

internal-

redistilled

stored. [Reported]

well

The

burned in an

engine;

Redistilled

into, a cratered or

set

easily

heat-resistant.

rerun

valve

out, fish,

more

2.

combustion

able.

relief

v.t.

drilling.

1.

safety valve used to limit pressure

considered safe or desir-

to

effort to

out.

rerun,

is

relief irons

an

it;

[Heard]

relief

in

See eat out, give a going over, ream

reinforce a derrick

The
[NO]

of the gas taken

p. 168]

REPRIMAND,

of the well

all

rejuvenate a depleted field; accomplished


by means of gas, air, or water drive. [BA,

releg a derrick

To

To

from a producing sand

and gas

column of

oil

in the well. [BA, p. 153]

reservoir rocks
Rocks such as

sandstones

and some

richest hill

249
limestones with minute pores or voids
in

which

found. [BA,

oil is

retort, n.

p. 41]

on earth

Oil

clay kiln.

through

filtered

is

fuller's earth or clay until it is clear of

residual, adj.

discoloration, impurities, etc. When


the clay becomes saturated with impuri-

all

Characteristic of, consisting of, or per-

taining to residuum; descriptive of the


left after the removal of certain

material

an

constituents of

oil

mixture. [D]

or

viscous

residuum obtained in refinery operations.

[KOT]
residue, n.

The

1.

matter remaining after


from crude main a standard laboratory distillasolid

the extraction of the oil


terial

tion.

The amount

2.

remaining in the
the distillation

residues, n.

The

is

of original liquid

distilling

flask

when

completed. [D]

the constituents boiling below 300

F.

have been removed. The material is then


treated for the removal of paraffin wax,
vaseline,

and lubricating

the

of asphaltic base

asphaltum,
tire

residuum,

The

is

oils,

and,

sold for fuel

oil.

in

[POR]

n.

thick, viscous residue obtained

return bend
1. The curved connection between the
pipes in a refinery-unit coil which can
be removed when the pipes are to be
cleaned. See header, 1. [BA, p. 231]
returns, n.

The
passes

pi.

part

up

of

the

circulation

which

to the surface in the process of

drilling or setting casing; used in the ex-

pression lose returns,

meaning

to lose the

gasoline, kerosene,

The

act of

pumping oil through the


up through the drill

casing and back

stem;

opposite

rotary

to

circulation,

which pumps oil through the drill stem


and back up through the casing. [Reported]

reverse dip
The angle made by strata which do
not dip in the same direction; an indication of an anticline. [BA, p. 66]

by

the distillation of crude petroleum after


distillates

Obsoles-

the

crudes,

In topping plants the en-

etc.

residue

where the

fire.

reverse circulation

and semisolid matter ob-

tained by distillation of crude oil after

case

removed by

liquid forced into the hole. [Heard]

pi.

solid

sent through the kiln

[POR]

cent.

residual fuel oil

Topped crude petroleum

ties, it is

impurities are

and sometimes heavier

reverse rig

drilling

rig

equipped with a reand some power

verse gear, as a steam rig

have been removed. [D]

rigs.

[Reported]

resin, n.

The

saponifiable materials

found in

oil

(except the fatty and sulphuric acids);


also erroneously applied to solid bitu-

mens. Resin

frequently produced by
the oxidation or polymerization of teris

[POR]

penes.

retainer, n.

rubber plug seated in casing by pressure to hold cement in place until it sets.

[DO, January

8,

1948]

To

recondition a bit for a rotary rig, as

bit in cable-tool drilling.

Retipper. [Heard]

screen of a shale sha\er

n.

name. [SH,

(q. v.); a descriptive trade


July, 1947, p. 12]

Rice Hotel

A treater; named by workers in southern Texas for the Rice Hotel in Houston
because of its many compartments. [BO]
richer than four foot
Descriptive of a
ported]

retip a bit
to dress

Rhumba, n.
The vibrating

richest hill

up a

good

bull's ass

oil

sand.

[Re-

on earth

title

first

field

and

later

given to the Spindletop


challenged by the Beau-

250

rich oil

mont

field.

The name

also claimed for

is

Signal Hill, California, and for several


mining towns in Nevada and Montana.

[Reported;

HOO,

rich oil
Oil from which some of the lighter
cuts (probably gasoline) have been re-

moved. [OGJ, November

ill

Wilson,

rig, cultivator

drill-

ing-in unit, drilling machine, dual sys-

tem, Fort Worth spudder, grasshopper


iron pile, jackknife, junk pile, knee
buster, mill, piling job, portable drilling
machine, portable rig, posthole rig,
pumping rig, reverse rig, rope rig, shirttail rig, shot-hole rig, slim-hole rig, standard rig, well rig, winter rig.
rig,

p. 34]

ride polly
To pretend to be

combination

1947, p. 101]

6,

in order to

draw

compensation from an insurance policy.


[Heard]

RIG BUILDER
See catheader, pecker neck, rig

fixer,

rigger, tool pusher.

down
To tear down

rig
rider, n.

often than he

vember

2,

rides.

who

walks more
[Heard; DO, No-

pipe-line inspector,

rig fixer

1947]

rig builder. [Reported]

ride the blocks

rig floor

To ride up or down in the derrick on


the traveling bloc\ (q. v.)\ said of a

5,

derrickman.

a rig. [Heard]

The

floor of a derrick.

[DO, October

1947]

[Reported]
rig front

ridge-runner, n.

The

Any one who

does not drill for oil;


a term used by drillers. [K, p. 42] 2.
1.

pipe-line rider. 3.

shirker. 4.

Anyone

who

attempts to ferret out information


about a well. [Reported]

riding boss
pipelining.

boss

who makes

spection tours in a car

his in-

(generally fur-

nished by his employer); so called from


early days to distinguish him from the

walking
riffle
1.

off

boss. [F, p. 135]

board

See weir,

4. 2.

A board

used to skim

wax. [Reported]
pipe

rifled

pipe for conveying heavy oils, rifled


helical grooves which make a complete turn through 360 about every ten

with
feet.

[D]

rig, n.

All the boring and pumping equipment, including the derrick, used in locating and securing oil. [NO] 2. An oil
1.

derrick. [D]

RIG, n.

See ankle buster, barge job, bob-tail


Canadian rig, combination outfit,

rig,

part of a standard

pumping

or

cable-tool drilling outfit located adjacent


to

the derrick, including the

the

sills,

Samson post, the walking beam, the pitman, the band wheel, and the bandwheel shaft. In a modern outfit a reduction gear may replace the band wheel
and other parts. [POR]
rigger, n.

1.

rotary driller. [Heard]

[MI, pp. 100-101]

2.

rig

refining.
One who moves equipment, operates the
winch truck, the gin poles, and the
booms, lifts sheets for tank construction,
builder.

and
er

3.

erects all steel structures.

makers do the actual

(The

boil-

fabrication.)

[Reported]
right off the reel
1. Originally descriptive of sand line
unspooled into the hole for bailing. 2.

Now
talk.

descriptive of straight, fast,

[ST,

rough

p. 138]

right-of-way gang
The pipe-line workers

who

clear trees,

brush, or other obstructions from a pipeline right-of-way so that trucks may be


driven to otherwise inaccessible areas.

[BA,

p. 179]

road-mix surface

251
right regular-lay cable
cable in which individual wires are
laid to the left to form strands, and
strands are laid to the right to form the
cable. See lay. [D]"

rig irons

The

ring her neck


See twist off; derived by folk etymology
from wring her nec\. [BB, p. 489]

appliances neces-

and operate the bull wheel,


band wheel, the pitman, and the walking beam. [D]
the calf wheel, the

rig runner

To

for a pipe-line

ring that joint

An

pipelining.

man

rig the derrick

assemble and install all the tools,


machinery, equipment, and appliances
necessary to drill a well. syn. Rig up.
[Heard; LDO, p. 389]
rig time

hammer-

with a ham-

If the connection is too loose, there


a dead metallic sound; if the connection is tight enough, there is a clear ringing sound. [WIL, p. 70]
is

ringworm corrosion
Worm-shaped

Actual working time. [Heard]

An
to

and

get machinery

and condition for drilling; a term used by drillers. The opera-

lead,

corrosion. [PE]

clamp

river

up
Originally,

order for the

(q. v.) to test a joint

mer.

To

1.

rhythm

beat out the

crew running hooks on a screw pipe-line


job; a duty of the hammerman or the
collar pec\er. [Heard]

rotary driller, syn. Rotary runner.

[Heard]

rig

dressed to proper size.

drill is

ring off

steel or cast-iron

sary to install

which a
[POR]

iron weight, sometimes lined with

which

is

clamped around the por-

tools in position

tion of a pipe line that crosses a stream

tion embraces (1) the installation of the

to keep the line on the bottom of the


stream. [Heard]

and the machinery and (2) the establishment of a


supply of fuel and water. [NO] 2. Now,
to get machinery and tools ready for any

boiler, the engine, the tools,

rimmer, n.
A reamer

rivet catcher
(q. v.)

rimrock, n.
Inward-facing
ley.

In

some

(1865).

cliffs

A perforated cup attached to the valve


stem above the valve in a well to catch
any broken rivets that may work out of

[NO]

surrounding a

sections such a feature

characteristic

surface

dome; however,

expression

valis

of

a
a

most of the Mid-Continent area there is little relation between


structure and topography. [BA, p. 65]
in

ring anticline

type of fold characterized by a depressed basin surrounded by a higher


area outside the anticline. [H, p. 124]

ring gage
1. A ring used in the measurement of
crushed materials, the size being indicated by the diameter of the ring opening through which the material passes.
2.
ring used to determine the point at

Extra-strong pipe; so called because


often used at river crossings. [OPL,

it is

p. 25]

[Heard]

job.

river pipe

the sucker-rod joint.

[NO]

Rng.
Running; an abbreviation used
ing reports. [LDO, p. 428]

in drill-

road auger

A boring or tunneling device forced


through roadbeds or railroad crossings
by a jack and turned by hand labor.
[OPL,

p. 72]

road binder
tar, or residuum used to
road fragments on a road

Asphalt, cold
consolidate
surface.

[D]

road-mix surface

surface

made mechanically by mix-

road

252

oil

ing aggregate and asphaltic binder in


place on the road, spreading a uniformly coated aggregate, and compacting the
mixture by rolling. [KOT]

rock

road

struction, etc. 2.

oil

Any

residuum, particularly that


from asphalt-base petroleum, used in
road paving or repair. [POR]

road

oil

Asphaltic residual

such

oil

with

volatilize

or

in

oil

or a blend of

which do not
used for dust-laying

distillates

readily;

construction of various

highways.

steam or compressed-air recipro-

hammer used

cating

types

of

[KOT]

road

oil, nonasphaltic
nonhardening petroleum distillate
or residual oil which has a sufficiently
low viscosity to be applied without pre-

heating; used for dust-laying.

[KOT]

for driving a bit

into stone; used in quarries, railroad con-

Any

designed to

drill

penetrate rock. [D]

rocker

arm

device used in place of the pitman

on some pumping

asphaltic

oil,

drill

1.

[Heard]

units.

rock gas
See natural gas. [D]

rock hound

A geologist; so called because he is


supposed to be able to scent oil in the
ground. [POR]
rock

oil

Petroleum; so called to distinguish

from
etc.

linseed

oil,

castor

banana

oil,

it

oil,

[NO]

roarer, n.

gusher; applied to gas wells.

]NO]

rock pressure
See

rock, n.

reservoir

pressure.

pressure

and

shut-in

[POR]

Any

consolidated or coherent, relahard, naturally-formed mass of


mineral matter; stone. 2. Solid, naturally-

rocksy or roxy, n.
A shortened form of roc\ hound

formed matter of mineral composition,

v.).

1.

tively

as clay, sand, granite, gravel, etc.

[D]

rock, sedimentary

See sedimentary rock. [POR]

rock asphalt
An oil sand from which the oils, gasoline, kerosene, and gas oil have been
evaporated, leaving residual oil in the
pores. The best-known deposit is near
Uvalde, Texas. [KI]

rock beat

pivoted weight used to pull back


the plunger of a rod-line pump (q. v.)
on the suction stroke, syn. Dummy.

[Heard]

rock bit

A special drill made of very hard metal;


used in cutting through hard rock.
[POR]
rock city

region southeast of Warren, Pennhaving a surface formation of


huge blocks of rocks 40 to 50 feet thick.
sylvania,

[NO]

(q.

[BB, p. 489]

rock tar
Crude petroleum. [POR]

rock the well

To

manipulate the gas flow in a well

in such a

The

manner

that

begins to flow.
start a well
two to five times

pressure required

it

to

flowing by gas lift is


that required when the well
operation, since the

column

is

in

normal

of fluid in

being unsaturated, is much


the mixture of oil and
gas that flows after regular production
has been established. To keep this starting pressure at as low a point as possible
to avoid forcing oil back into the formation,
the casing head is sometimes
equipped to reverse the flow down into
the

well,

more dense than

the well.
first

Thus

down

it is

possible to force gas

the tubing

and then down

between the tubing and the casing. Several of these reversals of the gas may be
required to get the well started. The
process is so called because of its backand-forth character. [POR] 2. To shift

rod-line

253
weights to equalize the load on the rods
so that the motor will start and the well
will begin to pump. [Reported] 3. To

open and close a well intermittently in


order to augment the pressure. [PE]

rock up

The

increase

in

pressure caused by
it has been allowed

closing a well in after


to flow.

[Heard; BA,

deeper boring than a surface well

pipe-line welder. [Reported]

rod clamp
the hard-

named

inventor. [PE]

A
it is

device to hold the stuffing box while


packed. Also called polish-rod clamp.

[Heard]

rod, n.

rod elevator

An implement

1.

[Heard]

1.

rod burner

[NO]

ness of metals by various tests;


its

See rod basket,

Rockwell hardness machine


A machine which indicates
for

pulled from the well. May be either stadetionary or removable. [Heard] 2.


vice used in the upper part of the derrick
for suspending sucker rods when they
are pulled from the well to permit repairs to the well or to some of the equipment of the well. syn. Sucker-rod hanger,
sucker-rod jack. [POR]

rod board

p. 153]

rock well
(1865).

pump

used by a pipe-line

welder to tack pipe lengths together,


hold them firmly in place, and ready

them

steel block provided with an opening and latching device for the entrance
of the sucker rod and two long links to

for the joint welder. [F, p. 132] 2.


sucker rod (q. v.). [POR] 3. See rod,
connecting. 4. See divining rod.

pumping. [POR]

rod, connecting

rod guide

The rod

that connects the cross of

an

engine or locomotive to the crank or


crankpins on the drivers and converts

suspend from the elevator hook when


running sucker rods into a well for

An

appliance attached to the drilling

into the rotary

rod in oil wells which serves to prevent


the rod from oscillating or knocking
against the sides of the borehole; used
also on pumping rods. [D]

[POR]

rod hanger

motion of the piston


motion of the crank or
wheels; similar to a pitman (q. v.).
the reciprocating

rod, eccentric

The rod that connects the eccentric of


a steam or gas engine to the valves or
valve motion; a connecting link between
the rotating and reciprocating motions.

long rod used in taking


a storage tank or a tank

of

screw-jointed rods.

from

oil

samples

rod-line

car.

[POR]

An

rod and drop-pull system


An early method of cable-tool drilling
by which the bits were attached to a
series

string of rods for pulling

wells

rod thief

rod line

[POR]

from

A device high in the derrick of a producing well to hold rods straight during pulling jobs; a midget hay ra\e
(q. v.). [Heard]

[LDO,

p.

375]

pump

outside-packed

The plunger end

1.
small basket-like cage in which
the derrickman stands while he guides
the rods to the rod hanger as they are

to

power and the

is

connected

to-

ward

the well so that the weight of the


sucker rods on the downward stroke of
the

pump

in

power needed

rod basket

pump hooked

the rod line between the


well.

pumping

a power. [Heard]

the well will supply the


to

fill

the

pump.

If it is in-

convenient to insert the pump in the rod


line leading to the well, it can be set anywhere at the end of a rod line from the
power, and a pivoted weight called a

rod-line rocker

254

roc\ beat or a dummy


the plunger back on the suction stroke.
This type of pump can also be connected
directly to the power. [OPL, p. 139]

can be used to pull

rod-line support; so called because

motion it makes as the


line moves back and forth, syn. Holddown-or-up. [Heard]
of the rocking

See jerk-line swing. [Heard]

rod packing
fibrous

passes through the cylinder

head to

prevent the leakage of steam or gases


along the rod. Material contained in a
stuffing box packs the polish rod of a

pumping

well.

fit

ex-

and are held

rolling

See

dog

slips.

[LDO,

p.

373]

rolling rope

rolling tailboard

material or rings placed


around the piston rod at the point where
it

are then spread until they

actly into the perforation

pipelining. Rope used in making a


pipe connection; tongs are put on when
the slack is out of connection. [Heard]

rod-line swing

which

tightly in place. [KI]

rod-line rocker

inserting a flared or cone-shaped roller


turned by power mandrels into the ends,

An unloading device on the back of a


truck bed which revolves to facilitate the
moving

of heavy pieces of machinery.

[Heard]
pipe
screw one joint of pipe into another by means of a rolling rope (q. v.).
The joint is rolled until the turning becomes difficult; then it is screwed with
heavy pairs of pipe tongs, each operated
by four to six men. [BA, p. 180]
roll

To

[POR]

rod rollers
Wheels over which the rod line runs
to prevent the line from dragging and
to lessen weight on the power. [Heard]
rod walk

A walkway at the side of the engine


house of a pumping rig; so called because
at one time sucker rods were laid on the
walkway as thev were pulled from the
well. [Heard]
rod

wax

roll-welding, n.

A system of pipe-line welding in which


the line-up

gang

lines

stalk of about six joints

a dolly, after which a crew of welders


and laborers complete the welds at each

point while the pipe

light yellow, pasty mass, consisting

an emulsion of high-boiling oils and


solid hydrocarbons which collects in
considerable quantities around the rods
and casing in some of the Pennsylvania
wells. Also called suc\er-rod wax. [D]

up and tacks a
and places it on

is

rolled so that they

need not change position. [OPL,

p. 59]

of

Rig on ground; an abbreviation used


in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p. 428]

oil

To

repute at Currie, Texas,


during the oil boom
in the summer of 1927.
ill

built

rookie, n.

A new

hand; so called in the nineteen

World War
oil field.

usage.

Not

[Heard]

which has formed a more or

complete emulsion with water. [D]

roll a

house of

twenties after
limited to the

roily oil
less

which was
and burned
[Heard]

R.O.G.

Crude

Roof Garden

tube
spread the end of a pipe or metal

tube so that it will wedge tightly into


the metal perforated tube sheets through

which the pipes

or tubes are run

and

will

then support the pipes in groups as in a


steam boiler. The pipes are spread by

rooster bullet
See cackle berry. [Reported]
rooter, n.

pipelining. A compact, lever-controlled


rock plow for opening a first furrow
through surface rock or hard earth; it
is followed by a standard tractor-drawn
ditch digger or trench hoe. [WIL, p. 96]

rope spear

255
rope drive, American

rooter plow

machine used in rocky soil to open


up the ditch and bring rocks to the surface ahead of the ditcher. [OPL, p. 55]

same rope being wrapped around the


pulleys or sheaves until the proper

rope and drop-puli method

method of drilling. See


[LDO, p. 378]

percussion

rope drilling.

rope-drive system in which the rope


strands are in a continuous length, the

up the stretch of the rope,


same time the rope is trans-

carriage to take

and

rope boring

num-

ber of strands is obtained for transmitting


the power. This system uses a tension
at the

ferred across to the beginning side of


the sheave pulleys, thus completing the

See rope drilling.

rope bucket

[POR]

circuit.

See rope socket. [BG,

p. 22]

rope drive, English


rope choker

Probably the
nickname originated in the name-calling
feud between the cable-tool drillers and
the

cable-tool

driller.

rotary drillers. It

is

said

began

cable-tool drillers first

that the

to call the

rope-drive system in

rate endless rope

take

of the machines or sheaves can be adjusted and thus change the distance be-

Resenting the insult which had been cast

rope grab

drillers retaliated

by calling the cable-tool drillers ropechokers. It has also been claimed that
the cable-tool driller

human

of his almost

is

so called because

association

and

re-

lationship with the Manila rope or rag


line.

[ST, p. 5]

rope chopper

up rope

rope cracker
See cracker,

1.

[S]

of drilling in the

bit attached to the

end

ground

of a rope

given a twisting motion. Somejump drilling, because the


bit is raised and dropped. Also called
cable system (q. v.). [D]

which

also as rope spear.

[D]

tool for cutting drilling rope as near

as possible to the top of a string of lost

order that a second string of

tools

in

tools

with extra-heavy

jars

may

be run

[NO]

n.

spinner on a screw pipe line. The


rope is wrapped about the pipe two or
three times and the pipe is spun into the
line until the connection is tight, at
which time the tongmen are called in
to finish the connection. [OPL, p. 8]

rope rig

rope drilling
with a

known

rope knife

The

device for fastening ropes together.

method

tool for recovering ropes lost in the

borehole;

ropeman,

[NO]

[POR]

in the

[NO]

rope clip

centers.

in to jar loose the first string.

device for cutting

well.

sepa-

There is no provision to
the stretch of the ropes unless one

up

tween

work, the rotary

which a

used for each groove

in the sheaves.

rotary drillers swivel nec\s to show their


scorn for the new methods of drilling.
at their

is

is

times called

rig in

which the

string of tools

is

suspended by a rope (1903). [NO]

rope sheave
A grooved pulley for hoisting
power transmission. [POR]

or

rope socket
rope drive

system of power transmission in


which ropes are used in place of flat leather belts. Manila ropes are used for inside

drives

and

steel

cables

span outdoor drives. [POR]

for

long-

The

part of a string of tools

connected to the drilling

line.

which

is

[NO]

rope spear

fishing tool with prongs to engage

a lost rope or line.

[NO]

worm

rope

256

worm
An implement

rotary runner

rope
1.

of tubing. 2.

fishing tool in the shape

[NO]

of a corkscrew.

1.

machine used for

rotary
well.

oil

The

2.

drilling

turntable used

to

rotate the pipe in a rotary rig. [D] 3.


rotary fault: a fault in which straight

and
outside the dislocated zone which were
parallel before the displacement are no
on opposite

lines

rotary bit
cutting point of the drill pipe

accomplished through

is

rotation of the bit rather than through


the churning movement. Some of the

rotary bits are wedge-shaped; others are


hard cones or rollers which also revolve
as the bit turns.

rotary swivel
See swivel neck. [POR]

rotary system

sides of the fault

longer parallel, i.e., one side has suffered


a rotation relative to the other. [POR]

The
when drilling

[FO]

rotary bushing

detachable metal lining to hold the


it will turn the
drill pipe. syn. Kelly driver. [Reported]
kelly joint firmly so that

for

drill

tool that rotates as

it

drills in rock.

rotary drilling

method of drilling that


column of drill pipe

hydraulic

which depends

of drilling

effectiveness

on

a rotating, auger-

type bit and a constant circulation of mud


remove the drillings and plaster and
consolidate the walls of the hole. [D]

rotary table
The geared rotating table which propels the drill stem in rotary drilling.

[POR]
rotate, v.t

To

1.

drill. 2.

To

raise the bit off the

bottom of the borehole and continue the


drilling motion in order to keep mud
circulating. [Heard; DO, January 11,
1948]

rotating and circulating

The

action of

making hole with

the

the bottom;

such procedure is
necessary in order to keep the hole and
mud in condition while waiting for orders or equipment. [Heard]
off

rough hand

consists of rotating a

which a rotary drilling bit attached at


the bottom, and through which a current
of mud-laden fluid is circulated by means
of special slush pumps. [POR]

method
its

to

bit

rotary

rotary driller. [BA, p. 31]

rotary shoe

A casing shoe with a serrated edge;


used in rotary drilling. [D]

rotary, n.

an

for taking a rope out

See roughneck. [Heard]

to

rotary engine

Any

whose parts have


motion without the intro-

type of engine

a truly rotary

duction of reciprocating parts.

[POR]

rotary helper
A roughnec\ (q. v.); the name
recent origin. [Heard]

flexible

is

of

for

sions.

[POR]

roughing-cut

cutting

Mud

line.

[D]

[POR]

1.

or coolant with

heat-removing

cut.

tools

qualtities;

during the

[POR]

n.

A member of a drilling crew.

v.i. 2.

To work

as a

member

[POR]

of a drill-

ing crew. [BB, p. 490]

rotating table

operating the

oil

compound

used for lubricating the

roughing

pipe connecting the slush

to the swivel, syn.

drilling.

heavy series of cuts taken by


on the raw material to
reduce it to the approximate size before
the final finishing cut is taken to dimenfirst

roughneck,

rotary machine

The

The

a machine tool

exceptional

rotary hose

pump

roughing cut

and driving

drill

parts

pipe in rotary

Round Mound

A
[ST,

nickname
p. 191]

for the Spindletop field.

run barefoot

257

round

rubber rock

trip

The

and subsequent run-in


pipe in rotary drilling. [PO]

of the drill

roustabout, n.
1

who

semiskilled laborer

assists

the

foreman in the general work around


producing oil wells and around the property of an oil company. The name was
originally given to the laborer

who

as-

loading and unloading of


river craft. [POR] 2. refining. An unskilled laborer. 3. drilling.
common
laborer who fires the boiler, does odd
jobs about the rig, and aspires to be a
v.i.
tool dresser or a roughneck. [KI]
sisted in the

4.

pull-out

To work

common

as a

or semiskilled

[Heard]

laborer.

structure

permeated with gas; so

because the gas pressure makes


the drilling tools bounce. [K, p. 57]

called

run, n.
1. The length of a screw;
generally, the distance that can be
drilled before the drill must be sharp-

drilling.

more

ened and the hole sand-pumped. [NO


pipelining. 2. Oil piped from one place
to another, as a pipe-line run from a well.

The amount of oil taken from a producer's tank by a pipe line during a specified time, as a day, a month, etc. refin3.

The

ing. 4.

total

amount

tillation of a specified

rousty foreman
production. The head roustabout, who
is responsible to the production foreman.
[Heard; LDO, p. 438]

of oil fed to a

during a specified time.

still

v.t.

well.

6.

To

lower

amount

5.

of

One

dis-

oil.

[D]

tools or pipe into a

[D]

run a rabbit

To

test

casing or tubing for roundness

and presence of foreign substance by


roxy, n.

variant spelling of roc\sy (q. v.).


[BB, p. 489]

royalty, n.
1.

The

forcing a piece of steel (or other substance of the proper size) through the
pipe.

[Heard]

run-around,

part of the oil or gas paid to

the landowner or to one who has acquired possession of the royalty rights.
2. The amount paid by the lessee or operator to the owner of the property
worked, based on a certain percentage
of production. A royalty right can be

bought and sold without surface


[D]

rights.

n.

platform surrounding the derrick at


any height. The platform at the top is
usually called a water table, and the lower one a crow's nest or duck's nest. In
some localities the terms are used indiscriminately. [Heard]

run a screw

To

drill

deep enough

er screw out to

its

to

run the temp-

full length. [S]

royalty interest

The

share of minerals reserved, free

of expense, to the lessor.

run a swab

To

[POR]

out

lower a swab into a well to clean


water, and sediment. [S]

oil,

R.P.

Roc\

pressure;

in drilling reports.

an abbreviation used

[LDO,

run a tank

To pump

p. 428]

a tank to

remove the con-

tents into a pipe line or a

R.P.M.
Revolutions per minute. [POR]

rubber, n.
A shortened form of stripper rubber
(q. v.). [Heard]

rubber neck

A
of

dresser coupling; so called because

its

flexibility.

[Heard]

still.

[KI]

runback, n.
Pipes through which the condensate
is

returned to the

drawn

off.

still

when

it

is

not

[D]

run barefoot
Said of a producing well that is uncased in the productive sands. [BB, p.
490]

run casing

258

run casing

To

lower casing until it lands upon a


casing seat or stratum firm enough to
sustain the weight and shut off any flow
of water or gas above that point. [S]

run

[WIN,

the daylight shift.

p.

138]

run derrick

The

1.

p. 138]

oil

known

[OPL,

run-down,

[WIN,

discharge a worker.

To measure oil in the producer's tank


and run the oil from the tank to the
pipe line. The oil is said to be run from
the lease, and the amounts of oil received
are

[Heard]

erect a derrick.

is

off

To
run

run days
To work

To

the rig. Idle time spent at the rig


called down time. [Heard]

Gather

as runs. syn.

oil.

p. 128]

n.

an

distillation of

the solid residuals.

[POR]

down to
The whole

oil
2.

run on choke

To

limit the flow of oil

choke or valve usually


bean. [Heard]

process of refining. [Reported]

by means of a
called

flow

run-down box
run out of hole

See look box. [Heard]

To

run-down legs
The part of

a gasoline

through which the gasoline

trap (q. v.)


passes.

[POR]

run-down storage
See run-down tank.

[BOW,

run the backs

p. 91]

run-down tank

tank in which a

product
is first received; a receiving tank. Also
run-down storage. [D]
distillation

Said of a well which has or gives evidence that the oil structure (rock) is in
a point. The well shows that the oil

high in

is

this point.

[PE]

run in
1

etc.

To run

hole.

The

n. (runreturn of the drill pipe to the

[PO]

run line
To run
steel

or insert pipe, tubing, liquid,

into a well or pipe. [PE]

in) 2.

line

pipelining. To hold the tongs on the


pipe in place while the next pipe is
screwed into the line. The worker who
performs this task is called the bac\-up
man, and the tongs he holds, the backlast

up tongs. [Heard; K,

run high

structure

reduce a hole to a size too small for


The size of the hole
decreases with each successive string of
casing, and two or more unexpected
water sands or cavy streaks may bring
about such a condition. [BA, p. 116]

practical drilling.

p. 129]

run the bottle

To run

a straightness

test;

in the first

an acid bottle or ink and


degree paper were used to measure the
of such tests

direction of the angle off drilling. [Reported]

run ticket

record of the

[Heard; SM,

oil

run from tanks.

p. 140]

run to coke
a depth-measuring device:

with a metering instrument.

To

crude fractions

distill all

the solid coke.

down

to

[POR]

[Heard]

R.U.
running gage

Rigging up; an abbreviation used in

gage taken on a tank during receiving and/or discharging. [Reported].

running time
Rig time: the

drilling reports.

[LDO,

R.U.R.
Rigging up rotary;

actual

working time

at

p. 428]

an

abbreviation

used in drilling reports. [LDO,

p.

428]

safety platform

259
R.U.S.T.
Rigging up standard

rust bucket
tools;

an abbrevia-

tion used in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p.

A refinery
tion

and

is

428]

[Reported]

S. or Sd.

safety belt

Sand; an abbreviation used in drilling

[LDO,

reports.

sack

expression of independence.

a worker says, "I've got

When

my

sack full,
anyhow," he means that it does not matter if he is fired, for he has no use for
his particular job.

[Heard;

WIN,

p. 138]

saddle, n.

shortened form of jac\-saddle or


pipe-saddle. [NO] 2. A device placed over
a pipe-line leak and pulled down tight
with a U-bolt; so called because it fits
as a saddle does ahorse. [Heard]
1.

saddle, pipe

A
on

made

fitting

in parts for

clamping
an

a pipe to stop a leak or provide

outlet.

To

worn by

the derrick-

securely in the derrick.

v.i.

catch

[NO]
saddle bearing
The bearing on which the walking

beam

rides

post.

[WIN,

as it rocks

on the Samson

p. 138]

of joints.

See bear

[POR]

cable slide,
hard-boiled hat, hat rack,
headache, headache board, headache post,
insurance cheater, iron hat, life preserver,

guard

cat, belly buster,

rail,

life saver,

monkey

strap, never-slip,

safety belt, safety slide,

wagon

tin

hat,

QRC,
turtle-

top.

saddle reef
See

levee or dike mi.de of banked earth


enclosing a basin which holds any oil
that may escape from the tanks. As a
rule, steel tanks are surrounded by such
walls as a precautionary measure. See
fire wall.

[PE]

safety joint

special joint

the drill collar

saddle flange
A flange shaped for bolting on a convex
surface; used to repair a leak in a pipe.
[D]

anticline.

same number

SAFETY DEVICE

safety earth wall

on an obstruction: "A boat


laden with 1,500 barrels of oil saddlebagged on a pier of Oil Creek bridge."

An

him

safety board
A board in a derrick on which the
derrickman stands when handling elevators. There are single, double, triple,
and quadruple boards, placed at suitable
heights for stands of drill pipe of the

back,

[POR]

saddlebag,

leather belt
to hold

[LDO]

full

An

A
man

p. 428]

unit which is in poor condialways in need of repair.

legs.

[D]

S.A.E. classification
Classification by the Society of Automotive Engineers. [PE]

which is inserted above


and can be unscrewed

to reclaim the drill pipe in case the bit

becomes stuck. [LDO]


safety latch
A latch provided in a hook or an elevator to assure that it will not become detached prematurely. [POR]
safety platform
A platform on a derrick for workers
handling elevators, casing rods, etc. in

260

safety slide
the

There are single, double,


quadruple, and crown platforms.

derrick.

triple,

[POR]
safety slide
See son of a bitch.

[LDO]

See pop or pop-off. [POR]

(1890).

sag, n.

The

1.

clamp.

axis

anticlinal

One

3.

between

two

two-piece pipe
of the irons on which the

p. 66]

2.

walking beam rocks. [Heard]

1.

special
2.

catalyst

Sodium

not

chloride

A well that flows salt water after the


petroleum contents have been exhausted.
The appearance of salt water is generally
a signal that the petroleum production
is nearing an end. [POR]
sample,
1.

To

v.t.

obtain samples of

and tank

salt, n.

chloride.

[NO]

salt-water well
fire wall.

[Heard]

domes. [BA,

See Atlantic Ocean, ocean, ocean water.


salt-water sand
The Sub-Olean Conglomerate sand of
southern Pennsylvania; so called because
it is
heavily charged with salt water

safety valve

safety wall
See safety earth wall and

SALT WATER

sodium
removed

from crude oil. [Heard] 3. Any salt resulting from the reaction between an
acid and an alkali. [KOT]

oil

from tanks

[PE]
n. 2. A small
used in determining prop-

cars.

amount of oil
erties and grade. [POR]
sample bucket

The

from
There is usually only one such bucket on a rig, to
avoid the possibility that one might be
used which contains a little oil, thus recontainer in which samples

the borehole are washed.

salt, v.t.

To

1.

introduce fraudulently an en-

richment of values in a prospect. 2. To


sell or promote such a prospect. [POR]
salt

domelike structure formed of rock

which the core

strata in

or central por-

tion is rock salt; such domes are found


in Gulf Coast fields, where they often
form reservoirs of oil. [D]

salted well
Either a dry well or one not yet drilled
which the owners present to prospective investors as a producing well after a small quantity of oil
has been poured into the slush pit, the
borehole, a pit of water, or into all.
to the pay sand,

[Heard;

sulting in a false

show

in the samples.

[Reported]

dome

HOO,

p. 152]

sample-catcher
1.

One who

takes samples for exami-

box through which mud


and sediment pass on the way to the
slush pit; the samples are caught on a
screenlike structure which permits the
water to escape and simplifies the drying
of the sample. 3. An implement or apparatus for shaking mud and sediment
so that part of the water is removed from
the sample. [Heard]
nation.

2.

sample-grabber
See sample-jerker. [KI]

salt

sand

A name given by drillers to Pottsville


Conglomerate, which consists of three
or four members separated by shales and
occasionally by thin coal beds. [NO]
salt

sample-jerker

One who

mark made on the kelly joint to inwhen a sample has been caught in

Said of a well having an accumulation of rock salt which must be drilled


out or shot as part of a cleanout or re-

dicate

work

this

job.

[Heard]

from

sample mark

up

takes samples of oil

tanks and tank cars. [KI]

the sample-catcher (q.


taken when the kelly

mark. [Reported]

v.,
is

2)

a sample

drilled

down

is

to

sand

26l
sampler, n.
A connection on a manifold or vessel
used to sample oil for laboratory tests.
[Reported]

about 1845. It was worth five cents more


per gallon than mud oil (q. v.). [NO]

cylinder with a valve at the bot-

tom lowered

makeshift trough built on the mud


trough for catching samples; today the
mud trough has been replaced to a certain extent by flow lines. [Reported]
or Samson post
upright post which supports the

Samson

An

pump

sand
1.

sample trough or box

tester

walking beam and communicates motion


from the engine to a pump or to a string

into a drill hole from time


remove the accumulated slime
resulting from the action of the drill on
the rock.
v.t. 2. (sand-pump) To remove slime from the drill hole with a
sand pump. [NO]
to time to

sand-pumpings,

n. pi.

Samples of sandstone chips pumped


up. Also called mud. [NO]

[NO]

of cable tools.

sand reel
sand,

n.

Any

1.

or moderately consoli-

loose

dated bed consisting chiefly of sand (often pi.). 2. Sandstone (a technical usage
in petroleum regions).

[NO]

mation (which may or


of sand) in which oil

may

p.

31]

for-

not consist
found. [BA,

To become

4.

v.i.

is

3.

with

filled

sand; said of a well that fails to produce


because of a heaving sand formation.

[Heard; RI,

p. 72]

sand box

A drum

lower the sand

ly

to

re-

p. 23]

its

on which sand

used
gripping power. [Heard]

fishing tool

to increase

is

sand hog

may

foot of oil sand will contain approximate-

one gallon of

sand

oil.

[POR]

sill

The

support for one end of the shaft

[NO]

sand-smeller

geologist; a derogatory

name. [BB,

p. 489]

pocket or receptacle on tubing or


casing where crude oil flows so that the

sand

n. pi.

The oil-storage formations of an oil


field. With ordinary porosity one cubic

of the sand reel (1903).

sand hitch

[NO]

drillers to the sandencountered: the third kind of


rock (the first sandstone) is known as
the first sand roc\; the fifth kind, the
second sand roc\; and the seventh kind,
the third sand roc\. Also called mountain
sands (Oil City, Pennsylvania). [NO]

sand bucket
A. sand pump or bailer used
move cuttings from a well. [BG,

fitted

or bailer.

stones

sands,

trough

separate

pump

sand rocks
A term given by

with baffles and used


sand and water from the
yield of wells producing large quantities
of sand and water with the oil. [LDO]
to

operated by a friction drive


to raise or

from the band wheel; used

settle

out of

it.

[PE]

sandstone, n.
Any rock formed of coherent or
mented sand. [D]

ce-

sand lens
See shoestring sand.

sand

[LAN,

p.

220]

line

A wire line used in well-boring to


lower and raise the bailer or sand pump
which frees the borehole from drill cuttings.

sand
Oil

[NO]
oil

which was pumped from wells

sand tester

A perforated section of tubing with


one packer above the perforations and
another below the perforations; so arranged that when it is run on a string
of drill pipe the tubing will permit a
sample of oil or gas to be recovered from
the sand body while fluid may stand in
the hole.

[POR]

sand thickness

262

sand thickness

The

thickness of a producing forma-

tion; the thicker the

sand (which varies

from

5 feet in shallow fields to 500 feet


in East Texas fields), the greater the pro-

duction.

[LDO]

saturation hydrogenation
A type of hydrogenation which is confined to the production of paraffins or
naphthenes from the corresponding ole-

aroma tics. [KE]

fines or

saver, n.

An

sand trap

tubular connection placed below the


working barrel in a well pump to receive oil and liquids and exclude sand.
See sand hog. [POR]

oil-saver (q. v.).

[NO]

saxol, n.

name

for liquid petrola-

name

for liquid petrola-

Saybolt color
A method by which

light oils are tested

proprietary

tum. [A]
saxoline, n.

sand up
See sand,

4.

[Heard;

DO, October

A
29,

proprietary

tum. [A]

1947]

sand well

An

well that produces from oil


sand; such a well is expected to outlast
a well that produces from limestone. [N,
oil

December

4,

Soon as possible; an abbreviation used


on work orders and requisition sheets.
Originally a nautical term written S.A.P.
[Reported]
saponification, n.

which the fatty subcombined with

process by

stances of petroleum are

an

apparatus which has been uni-

United States for


determining the color of light oils.
versally adopted in the

sap, n.

The

Saybolt colorimeter

The

1929, p. 77]

[KOT]

for color.

alkali to

form

[KOT]
Saybolt furol viscosity
A method usually employed in determining the viscosity of fuel oils. Saybolt
furol viscosities of 43, 62, and 102 would
correspond to 400, 600, and 1,000, respectively,

soap. [D]

scale.

on

the

Saybolt

Universal

[KOT]

saponified oil

The

state of oil

when

s.c.

fatty acids are

by the application of heat in


contact with water, acids, or alkalies.

liberated

See acid

fatty.

[POR]

Crude

paraffin obtained in petroleum-

by

refining

Lampblack; also called gloss blac\.


[D]

scale
oil.

[Heard; RI,

p.

filtering

from

the heavier

[D]

oils.

saturated core
core containing

abbreviation for slow-curv.). [KI]

scale, n.

satin gloss

A common

ing asphalt (q.

wax
wax from which most

of the
content has been sweated out. [D]

oil

314]

saturated hydrocarbon
A hydrocarbon in which all of the
valence bonds of the carbon atom have
been fulfilled. [KOT]

proportion of

oil in

Sands usually show from


cent saturation.

To remove the most valuable constituents and waste the residuals. [POR]

[LDO]

an

sand.
50 to 85 per

company
name for a poor-boy company
[MU, p. 24]

scarcely-ever-get-oil

saturation, n.

The

scalp, v.t.

field

(q. v.).

oil

scare line

flare line (q. v.).

[Heard]

screw conveyer

263
scatter sheave

crown

scraper-chaser, n.

A
in

crown block with five sheaves, one


the center and four set around it.

who

worker

and

the surface

follows a pipe line on


detects the location of

the scraper (q. v.) by sound, especially

[Reported]

where pipes are shallow. See ridge-runscavenging stroke

The
burned

gas.

The

first

A
n.

Slumber Jay

logging device;

electric

(q. v.).

v.t. 2.

To

record

by means of a Schlumberger. [Heard]

Schlumberger engineer
The foreman of a Schlumberger unit;
only engineers become foremen. [Re-

A common

type of chisel tongs; so

hands open

called because the

[SA,

p.

[Heard]

scrub the walls of a well and, with the


aid of benzene, dislodge accumulations.

[NO]

[POR]

S-shaped clamp. [Heard]

screen test

extension of a telescope derrick;

a clipped form. [Heard]

made on

asphalt emulsion
determine quantitatively the
amount of coarse emulsion present.
test

(colas)

to

[KOT]

scout, n.
1. A man sent to obtain information
concerning a mystery (q. v.). [NO]
2. The engineer who makes preliminary
examinations of promising oil prospects;

usually a versatile individual


something about geology,

about drilling, and


3.

piece of perforated pipe set in the

pay sand to keep the sand out of the


pipe. [Heard]
screen pipe
A liner with protected perforations.

scope pole

An

much

who knows
something

about

drillers.

inspector in a settled pro-

v.t. 4. To do
duction field. [Heard]
reconnaissance work. 5. To obtain information about areas being drilled by

[POR]

screw,

n.

bodv provided with a


groove or thread and used for

cylindrical

helical

fastening or for transmitting energy. The


groove or thread advances a fixed distance for every revolution of the screw.
The distance between the threads is the

screw pitch, and the distance advanced


is the lead. A screw has been drilled when
the temper screw has been let out to its
full length.

SCREW,

[NO]

v.t.

See buck up, give her the turns,

scraper, n.

round brush about three feet long,


of steel and used to scratch or

made

like scis-

200]

S clamp

others.

used

scratcher, n.

scissor tongs

[POR]

line;

a scraper or a swab.

screen, n.

ported]

The

remove

to insert or

the geological formation in a borehole

An

short section of pipe at the begin-

ning or the end of a section of

often used indiscriminately for any electric logging device. More often spelled

sors.

[D]

scraper trap

[POR]

Schlumberger,
1.

ner.

piston stroke that clears out the

up, push
tongs, roll pipe, set up, thread up, tie on,
tong, tong pipe up.

it

SCRAPER,

screw conveyer

n.

See automatic

rabbit,

bug,

go-devil,

jointed pig, paraffin knife, paraffin scraper, pig, rabbit.

make

up one more wrinkle, make

equipped with rotating


knives, rollers, and rubbers, for cleaning
paraffin from an oil line. [NO]
device,

An apparatus by which materials may


be transported by the action of a helical
screw. [D]

screw pitch

264

screw pitch

The

screw (q.
scrub,

sea duty

Work on

distance between the threads of a


v.).

[POR]

clean gasoline with various substances (steam or chemicals). [KI]

scrubber, n.
1. An apparatus for washing and removing ammonia and light hydrocarbons from gas. [D] 2. A drip or separator for

separating gas
tank. [Heard]

from

fluid,

syn.

pressure vessel
mechanically entrained solids

in

large

are dropped out of

which

and liquids
natural or manufac-

tured gas. [KI]

To

secure against a flow or escape of

tower-like vessel near

fastened open or closed by means of a


lead seal and tape on which appears the
serial number of the company to whom
the oil is sold. [Heard]
v.t.

See blank

block

mud

block squeeze,
plug back, seal

off,

off,

spoon.

off,

the

top of

An oilfielder who attempts to stir up


trouble; an agitator. Originally a nautical expression. [Reported]

the gas is held, solid and liquid refuse


drop out, leaving the gas relatively free

seal her off

A waterproofing asphaltic treatment


used on paved surfaces. [KOT]
1.

these substances. See also scrubber

tank. [KI]

off,

can, case off,

seal coat

scuffle

2.

adjust a valve, which may be sealed


open or closed by a gauger. The valve is

which a stream of gas flow enters, is


caught and held momentarily, and then
is allowed to escape on the opposite side
from which it entered. During the time

from

[D]

To

sea lawyer

scrubber tower

1.

gas, air, or liquid, as a gas well.

SEAL,

scrubber tank

[HN, Septem-

seal, v.t.

v.t.

To

Volume

offshore rigs.

ber-October, 1948, p. 13]

hoe

scraper similar to a hoe except that

is straight; used to clean the


derrick floor or to scrape weeds and
small growth off the lease yard. [Heard]

the blade

To

finish a job, particularly the

fill-

ing of a tank. 2. To finish anything. 3. To


put a seal on a tank as an indication that
it has been accepted by the gauger for a
refinery. 3. To shut off water from the
oil

string in a well. [Heard]

seal her

up

Originally, to seal a tank preparatory to turning oil into a pipe line. 2.


1.

scuttle,

v.i.

To come down

(q. v.) unexpectedly;


said of a refining unit. Originally a nautical

[LDO,

S.D.P.L.
Shut down for pipe

S.D.W.O.
Shut down waiting
p.

any

to finish

task.

[Heard]

seal pipe

term. [Heard]

S.D.
Shut down; an abbreviation used in
drilling reports.

Now,

See dip pipe. [POR]

Sears and Roebuck

p. 428]

tool

of

"mail-order"

performance

and endurance. [Heard]


line.

[LDO,

p.

428]

Sears and Roebuck driller

A
for orders.

[LDO,

428]

sea drag
A cone-shaped canvas bag which is
attached at the top to an iron ring; used
in putting storm oil in the water. [D]

driller

of

unknown

quality.

[ST,

p. 162]

SEAT,
See

n.

driller's seat, driller's stool, easy


bench, knowledge bench, lazy bench.

seat

wrench

See barrel wrench. [KI]

seizing

265
sea

wax

petroleum residuum or asphaltum


found along the Gulf of Mexico from
the Sabine River to Corpus Christi. [NO]

secondary production
1.

duction

recovery method by which prois increased by returning gas or

dog on

time sheet. Others say a

his

York

secretary at the

Company

Oil Field Service

of Houston, Texas, modified

the earlier expression to avoid using it


on the reports of foremen. Also chasing

the canine, chasing the dog, catching the


dog. [Reported]

injecting air to maintain reservoir presby using water drive to flush

seedbag,

out the oil. [SHU, p. 51] 2. The amount


of oil obtained by the method described
in 1 above. Also called secondary recovery. [Reported]

seed and fastened around the tubing in


an oil well to form, by the swelling of
the flaxseed when wet, a watertight pack-

1.

sures, or

secondary water
Water occurring in strata separate from
the oil zones and entering the oil zones
from artificial causes. [H, p. 130]

second mountain sand


A name given by drillers
land Conglomerate.

to the Gar-

[NO]

secure,

oil-bearing

(1890).

from the

left

ported]

sediment,

material other than water (usually sand or dirt) which settles naturally
below oil in a tank. [D]
n.

See alternating

flux,

basic

sediment,

bottoms, bottom settlings, B.S., BS&W,


bushwash, cut, gummy bottoms, muck,
petroleum tailings, pitch, pressure tar,
residue, sludge (general), tailings, tankage, tank bottoms, tower bottoms,

wax

the extraction of the tubing.

Now,

[NO]

and con-

a specially designed

structed packer. [CR, p. 202]

surface.

the earth's

oil

segment,
1.

oil to

[POR]
[Heard]

oil.

n.

The

between an

surface included

arc of a circle

and a chord.

2.

The

air

space above the surface of a fluid in a


straight line on
horizontal tank. 3.
the oil level and a circular arc above

[POR]

SEISMOGRAPH CREW
See bug, D.B. crew, doodlebug, doodlebugger, jug hustler, permit man, recorder,

shooter,

seismograph log
The diagram registered by the seismograph, or by seismographic apparatus,
of the action of ground movements. [PE]

One who

sedimentary rock
sandstone conglomerate, shale, or limestone.
water-laid deposit,

described by tank sides.

seismograph recorder

tailings.

flax-

n.

Any

SEDIMENT,

to

for a time. Prob-

nautical expression. [Re-

with

2.

Crevice
to a stopping point; said of

filled

ing which prevented percolation down


the sides of the borehole from upper to
lower strata. When the tubing was pulled
up, the upper fastening of the bag broke
and emptied, thus offering no resistance

seep

any job that can be


ably

sand

v.t.

To come

bag

seepage, n.
The flow or leakage of

second sand

The second
[NO]

n.

Originally, a

as

sand,

[POR]
seducing the canine
Loafing on the job; killing time; a
euphemism said by some oilfielders to
have originated when a worker insisted
on drawing the picture of a man chasing

observes, reads,

and records

the actions of the seismograph. [PE]

seismometer,

An

n.

instrument

used in geophysical
survey to detect and measure movements
in the earth.

[LDO]

seizing, n.

The binding of operating parts through


failure of lubricants or overheating.

[D]

266

self-contained
self-contained, adj.
Descriptive of thermal cracking
which the process operates entirely
recycle light hydrocarbons

the cracking

itself.

in

on

[KE]

[DO,

n.

proprietary

Seneca

borehole in which the gas pressure


such that the drilling motion conis
tinues after the engine is stopped. Such
a well drilled itself in on Jacob Mildren's
farm in Pennsylvania in April, 1870: the
well burned to the ground with the
tools in the hole, but the occasional flow
of gas raised the tools a number of feet,
and when they fell back with great force
they increased the depth of the hole. It
was said that the well drilled 100 feet
before the tools were recovered. [BG, p.

name

for liquid petrola-

oil

Petroleum which was bottled and sold


as medicine before 1795; named for the
Seneca Indians. [NO]
S.E. No.

An

abbreviation

of

steam

emulsion

number. [Reported]
separator, n.

1.

machine

aid of water or

with the
materials of different

for separating,
air,

specific gravities. 2. An apparatus for


separating the oil mechanically carried
over by the vapor in distillation. 3.
closed steel vessel or tank of special design having interior baffles and automatic regulating valves used to separate gas
in large volumes from oil as they flow

52]
sell, n.

mythical tool after which a boll


1.
prankish
weevil (q. v.) is sent. [S] 2.

activity or

command. [Heard]

SELL, n.

See bastard file, can of vacuum, lefthanded monkey wrench, pipe stretcher,
rat-hole bailer, sky hook.

v.t. bail the


house, drain
water out of light bulbs, swab the steam
exhaust, swab the engine.

1.

oil pool.

tum. [A]

sell

semprelin,

produced in

self-drilling well

rat

bored at the limits of an


October 14, 1947]

hole,

build

rabbit

from

a well. [POR] 4. slang.


handcleaning machine used in reclaiming
pipe-line pipe; so called because, since
only a robust man can operate it, it
"separates the men from the boys."

[Heard]
separator, cutting-oil

out

To become

angry or frightened and

leave a derrick. 2. To move away from


machinery or from a derrick floor that
is

breaking or tearing up. [Heard; K,

p.

222]

machine for separating


from chips and metal cutestimated that 30 pounds of

centrifugal

cutting
tings. It

oils
is

cuttings will retain one gallon of cutting


oil.

[POR]

separator, oil

separator placed in the exhaust line

of a steam engine to

semiagitator, n.

pumping well which must be


pumped intermittently, but occasionally
flows after

LDO,

it

poses.

[POR]

has been agitated. [Heard;

p. 449]

semitight well
A well about which little information
has been released. [DO, October 19,
1947]

semiwildcat, n.
1. A well being bored at the limits of
an oil pool or very near a known pool.
[PE]
adj. 2. Descriptive of a well being

remove the cylinder

when

the steam is to be
used in a condenser for heating purlubricating oils

service engineer

petroleum engineer. [Reported]

set, v.t.

1.

To

fix casing definitely in

a well.

cement or other
mixtures which were at one time semiliquid, but which have become solid.
n.
3.

adj. 2. Descriptive of

tool used to calk a boiler seam, to

finish a rivet heat, or to sink a nail be-

low the surface

in

wood. [D]

sew the button on

267

back

set

settle to boil

[WIN,

stand of pipe.

An

refining.

p. 138]

expression

signifying

most of the original entrained water


in the charge has been distilled off and
that

set casing

See

set,

To

1.

[Heard]

that the temperature


300 F. [D]

on the bank

set her

pull the pipe out of the hole. [Re-

ported]

An

The

drilling

tools.

The

drill

actually one solid bar, but

is

is

made

not

To

tear

down

a jackknife derrick; pos-

from

set it

To
pipe and thereby

end of normal

drilling;

the completion activities.

mark

tools to

one phase of
[Heard]

set

gas pocket, causing the

bounce. [Heard]

up

1.

To

tools.

shoe

tighten the joints of a string of


2. To screw pipe together

[NO]

with tongs. [BB,

setter, n.

on rubber

drill into a

the

See cementing shoe. [PE]

support the derrick floor.


[NO] 2. An iron or metal tool for setting
or adjusting various parts or gadgets
about the machinery. [PE]
1.

[Heard]

pipelining. Descriptive of a line that


has been completed and is ready to transport oil. [WIL, p. 165]
set tools

set pipe

set

off.

out of the way.

[Heard]

To cement

bled

which oil is pumped.


from the water, which

pit into

separates

set to carry

set out
sibly derived

is

open

oil

in

[NO]

several pieces.

probably passing

settling pit

The

set of tools

is

joist to

p. 490]

seven, n.
A pay sheet with the official number
777, the official work-order sheet used by
the Stanolind Oil and Gas Company. A
worker may say, "I have a seven for a
certain job." [Heard]

set .the iron

To

lay a pipe line;

[WIL,

an early expression.

p. 56]

setting point
The temperature at which liquids congeal and become solid or semisolid. In
many petroleum oils this point is determined by the paraffin content, which
becomes solid when the temperature is
reduced to a certain degree. [D]

seven-spot flooding system


A system of forcing a new well, which
has been bored at approximately the same
distance from six surrounding wells, to
produce by hydraulic force. Water is
flooded into the six wells so that the
water pressure will force the oil in the
locality to flow from the new well. The
process may be reversed to make the six
wells produce. [PE]

settled production

The production

of

an

oil well,

which,

from the normal progressive annual diminution, will last a number of


apart

years.

[D]

seventy-foot rock
A name given by drillers to a white
sand found at a depth of 825 feet in
Pennsylvania
County,
Westmoreland
(1890).

[NO]

settler, n.
1.

in

separator; a tub, pan, vat, or tank


effected by

which a separation can be

[D] 2. One of the parts of a


petroleum refinery. [NO]
settling.

sew the button on


1.

Originally,

to

make

nection on a pipe line.


plete

any

job.

[Heard]

2.

the last con-

Now,

to

com-

S.G.

268

S.G.

Show

an abbreviation used in

gas;

[LDO,

drilling reports.

p. 428]

shackle line

connected clamps, or
extended to a pumping jack
from a central power plant. Also called
rod line and pull line. [POR]
line of rods,

shackles,

shackle-rod system

A pumping device whereby a dozen or


more rods extend from all sides of a
powerhouse and are supported on posts
many

to operate as

wells.

[Heard; RI,

p. 35]

n.

shake-out, n.
A sample of oil taken from the grindout machine to determine the percentage
of BS&W; so called because the machine
"shakes the sample out." [Heard]

shake-out machine

sample-catching machine which


shakes the water out by centrifugal force
and determines the percentage of BS&W
in oil, the essential requirement being
less than 1 per cent. [Heard]

shake the trees


solicit

business;

said

of

an

oil-

supply-house salesman who must


obtain orders for equipment to keep his
job. [Reported]
field

1. A crumbly, easily drilled formation.


[Heard] 2. A fine-grained, fissile, argillaceous, sedimentary rock characterized
by rather fragile and uneven laminae
and commonly by a somewhat splintery
fracture; often incorrectly called slate by
miners, quarrymen, well-drillers, and
others. [D]

grounds
name for Woodford

shale, coffee
field

Oil produced from bituminous shale.


2. Oil occurring in crevices in shale.

Slush

oil {q. v.).

less

than

[LDO]

Sh.&L.
Shale and lime; an abbreviation used

[LDO,

p. 428]

One

[NO]

of the corner supports placed in-

side the derrick for pulling pipe. It

usually one joint high

and

is

used to

is

prevent the well from being pulled in


until the derrick can carry. [Heard]

sharpshooter,
1.

long,

n.

narrow shovel used

for hard

digging. [Heard] 2. drilling. The worker who has charge of the explosives.

[Heard]

shear release
A nail plug that breaks when the
sure

pres-

too great; serves as a relief valve.

is

[Reported]

shear zone
The zone within which the

movement
sheave,

of the rocks

is

lateral

evident. [PE]

n.

wheel with a grooved circum-

which a rope is turned,


transmitting power or for
hoisting or hauling. 2. Any grooved
ference over
either

for

wheel or pulley. [D]


sheepherder,

n.

A Wyoming

driller.

[PO]

sheet, n.

steel plate

used in the construction


stills, etc. [D]

shale. [Re-

shale oil

3.

[Heard]

years.

of tanks, boilers,

ported]

1.

1,000 feet.

1.

shale, n.

[D]
[D]

many

share pole

A collective name for connected wells,


pumping powers, and pumping jacks.
[NO]

the oil fields for

shallow sands
Oil sands with a depth of

in drilling reports.

shackle-work,

To

shale shaker
A device through which mud from a
well passes to the slush pit, and in which
part of the water is removed. "He used
to sell shale shakers" is an expression
commonly used to describe an executive
of an oil company who has been around

sheet sand
A continuous layer of sandstone underlying a wide area. [BA, p. 55]
shell, n.
1.

torpedo used in shooting

oil wells.

shoestring sand

269

hard, thin band of rock encountered


[D] 3. The can containing the nitroglycerin with which a well
[NO]
is shot. 4. The body of a tank.

2.

in well-boring.

shell buckle

device for fastening surface rods to-

gether. [Reported]

pump

shell

simple type of sand

pump

shirttail

packer

A homemade

packer of early oil-field


canvas wrapped around
the casing. Sometimes called a poor-boy
packer because it was used in place of
cement, which would make reclaiming
the casing difficult and sometimes impossible. The shirttail packer allowed
complete recovery. [Reported]

made from

days

consist-

ing of a hollow cylinder fitted with a


valve at the bottom; used with a water
flush in cleaning out a well. [LDO]

shirttail rig

rig

which

is

moved

to a

new

loca-

tion as soon as a specified depth has been

[Heard]

drilled.

shells, n. pi.

Thin bands of hard, flaggy,


grained sandstone (1880). [NO]

fine-

shock

To

v.t.

break

down

electric discharges.

shell

A
the

water-cut

[BA,

oil

with

p. 159]

still

container for heating crude oil as


step in the refining process. The

first

method

is

now

obsolete. [F, p. 205]

Shepard canes

The Shepard

shock macaroni

To rack pipe, particularly pipe that is


stood in the derrick. So called because
the activity is similar to the collecting
and

earth-resistivity

meter

used in pipelining; so called because the


device is equipped with two canelike

setting

field.

up

of sheaves of grain in the

[Heard]

shoe, n.

expression used by one who quits


his job on a drilling well meaning "I'm
through." [PO]

1.
The bottom wedge-shaped piece
which is attached to tubing when it is
being sunk through quicksand. 2. A heavy
steel ring the end of which is beveled on
the inside and then hardened; used as a
shoe on the bottom end of a string of
casing. [D] 3. A part of a crosshead on a
compressor. [D] 4. The lowest board on

shield, n.

a skid-derrick. Also called rig shoe.

rods.

[OPL,

p. Ill]

she's clucking right along

See cluck. [Heard]


she's deep

enough

An

continental nucleus; a mass of preCambrian rock which serves as a nucleus


to the formation of a continent, as the

nucleus of Brazil. [PE]

SHIFT, n.
See graveyard, gravy tower, hoot owl,
morning lower, tour, tower, trick.
shift-breaker

An

employee who works a rotating


See swing man. [Heard]

shift or tour.

shine, n.

showing of oil; heard in such ex"Never got a shine in that

pressions as

[Heard]

shoe
toe joint

The joint of pipe to which the shoe


screwed. [Heard]
shoe-nose shell

cylindrical tool cut obliquely at the

bottom for boring through hard


[D]

cuttings, syn.

Sand pump. [D]

well anywhere." [Heard]

shipper, n.

bars

One who removes oil from


[NO]

the custody

clay.

shoe-shell
A tool with a valve opening upward,
used in deep borings for removing drill

shoestring sand
Sandstone that

of the pipe lines.

is

is

a lens representing

formed on or near the beach of an


ancient sea or on some shoal on the sea
bottom. Such a lens may be several

shonkinite

270

miles long and completely filled with oil


or gas or both. The shoestrings vary in
width to a maximum of about half a mile.
The greatest known length is about 15

and most

miles,

of the strings are less than

50 feet thick, though occasionally they


are double that size.

[POR]

shoot pipe

To

means of a perwhich the discharge is a load

perforate casing by

forator in

of bullets with steel jackets. [Heard]

shoot the hole


To put a charge of nitroglycerin down
a well. [McT, p. 64]

shonkinite, n.

The

igneous rock, the black


lava or lava-like rock which has the appearance of having been superheated.
The name is derived from "Shonkin," the
Indian name for the Highwood Mountains of Montana where the rock was first
tip of the

shoot the well


To cause an explosion of nitroglycerin
at the depth of the pay sand to break and
crack the oil rock and enable the oil to
flow more rapidly from the pores. [NO]
shore line

discovered. [PE]

shoot,

To

lens

v.t.

other
high explosive in a hole to shatter the
rock and increase the flow of oil. [NO]
nitroglycerin

explode

or

dislodge frozen tools by shooting.

The method was first used by H. H.


Dennis in 1860. [MU, p. 132]
shooter
1.

One who

shoots oil wells with nitro-

glycerin to loosen or shatter

an

oil-bear-

ing formation. [D] 2. seismograph. One


who loads the hole and shoots dynamite.

To

send

short length of casing. [F, p. 72]

An

electric current generated by the


action of the soil on the pipe metal that
travels only a short distance. The current causes erosion at the area where it
leaves the metal. [OPL, p. 110]

short stake
A short payday; a term used by old
cats. [Reported]

1.

oil
electric charges into the earth

by means of metal stakes driven into the


earth's surface. Such charges are reflected by the chosen strata back to other
stakes at desired distances
tain

shot, n.

[Heard]

shoot for

p. 147]

short, n.

short-line current flow

shoot a string of tools

To

stratigraphic reservoir; also called

and unconformity. [H,

patterns.

and in

cer-

The time consumed by

the charge in reaching the strata

and

re-

turning reveals the depth. [KI]

term used in geological surveying


a complete instrumental read-

mean

to

ing,

including distance, vertical angle,

and direction. [D] 2. An acid job. When


an acidizer says he 'has got a shot," he
means that he has an acid job to perform. [Heard]

3.

glycerin dropped

bottom of a well
of petroleum. [PE]
the

cartridge of nitro-

on the formation

at

to facilitate the flow

shooting needle

blasting needle; a metallic rod used

in the

stemming

of a drill hole to leave

a cavity through which the charge may


be fired. The needle may also be used to
set off the charge. [D]

shooting system

The method of locating the point of


explosion and the line of the seismometer. [PE]
shoot

it

See shoot the hole; shoot the well. [S]

shot-detector distance

The
located

shot

distance at

from the

which the detector


discharge. [PE]

is

drill

An

earth-boring drill which uses steel


shot as an abrasive. See adamantine drill.

[NO]
shotgun, n.
A steam cylinder on the leg of a derrick; used in early days to break out pipe.
[Reported]

27 I

shotgun

driller

scriptive of

BA,

careless, inefficient driller.

disturbance

superficial

occasioned
lower in the hole.

by an explosion much
[PE]
shot-hole rig

light, portable drilling unit sometimes used by a seismograph crew.

[Heard]
shot-in-the-dark, n.

[NO]

devil's spoon, D-shovel, excavator,

goon

spoon, idiot spoon, idiot stick, ignorant


stick, measuring stick, Mexican dragline, muck-stick, number 2 muck-stick,
sharpshooter.
n.
first

appearance of

well, usually indicated

oil

from a

by a rainbow on

water coming from the well, distinguished from the films formed by lubricating oils used in drilling. [D] 2. Any
appearance of oil too small to measure
in barrels or too insignificant to produce.
[Heard]
v.i. 3. To promise oil. [NO]

showings,

presence in a well, or in the bailings, of small quantities or recognized


indications of

shrinkage,

The

oil.

n.

2.

by evaporation dur-

The

settling of earthen

1.

v.

To

close the control valves of a flow-

ing well so that oil ceases to flow.


pumping well is shut down. [Heard; BA,
p. 165]

adj. (shut-in) 2. Descriptive of

a closed well. [D]

The pressure at the casing head or


well head when all valves are closed.
Also closed-in, casing-head, or well-head
pressure. [BA, p. 153]

shut-in production

The amount

of oil a well

is

capable

of producing above the amount it is allowed to produce; the difference between

the well's potential

and allowable. [BA,

p. 165]

shut-in storage
Oil left in the wells after it has been
discovered and is known to exist in
large commercial quantities.

[LDO,

p.

498]
shut-off, n.

That which shuts off. When a well


water from behind the casing,
cement or mud is used to effect a shutoff. [POR]
S.I.

Shut

[POR]

shut

cold, off-stream.

leaks

[D]

loss of oil

ing shipment.
fills.

operation. [BA, p. 165]

n. pi.

The

1.

Work

shut-in pressure

n.

See canal wrench, clam-shell shovel,

The

4.

blind a still off, blind off the tower, bump


a well off, cap, come down, come off
stream, dump a still, hang a well off,
hang her on the hook, hang her on the
wrench, kill a well, plug, pump off,
throw a cob in the wheel.

1.

rock and carefully secured.

1.

(shutdown)

SHUT-DOWN, adj.
See cold, down

v.t.

To set a pipe on a projecting rim of


earth or rock in the borehole. The lower
end of the conductor is shouldered in the

show,

n.

shut-in

wildcat. [P, p. 172]

SHOVEL,

[Heard;

idle refinery unit.

Any suspended

shot-hole disturbance

shoulder,

an

p. 228]

that has been temporarily halted. [D] 5.

[Reported]

Sicilian oils

down
To suspend

in;

an abbreviation used in

ing reports.
the

production of a

[LDO,

drill-

p. 428]

Sicilian oils

pumping well by stopping the engine


that activates the pump. [Heard] 2. To

The first oils of the petroleum group


used before the Christian era in Agri-

suspend any

gentum,

oil-field

operation, as

drilling of a well or the

of an

office.

[BA,

p. 165]

the

management

adj. 3.

De-

Sicily. They are mentioned as


illuminating oils in manuscripts dating
to 75 b.c. [POR]

sideboard

272

sideboard

side shot

An

extension for increasing the capacity of a container. Boardinghouse proprietors advise roughnecks to put sideboards on their plates because they serve
themselves so generously. Possibly transferred from farm terminology (i.e., the
sideboards of a wagon). [Reported]

side

[Heard]

cut of oil taken off-stream between

and the bottom sections of the


tower, syn. Side cut, side draw, side runoff, and side stream. [Heard]

See side cut. [BA,

To

cut of

oil

taken off-stream between

and the bottom

sections of the

or

from

that of the straight

drill or string

sight derrick

To

build a derrick. [S]

and lamp

light

oil

petroleum

olive

oil.

combined with

oil

20 to 50 per cent fixed

oils, as

lard oil or

[KOT]

subdivision

of

the Paleozoic age.

mouse

trap

[POR]

side

draw
cut.

[BA,

long time ago; comparable to "since


Heck was a pup." [Heard]
single-barrel engine

one-cylinder engine, syn.

Monkey-

underreaming below the

To

cas-

ing. [S]

side irons

the supports for those bearings. [S]

side run-off

See side bottoms. [Heard]

put

down

a drill hole. [Dl

See sinker bar.

[LDO]

sinker bar
A bar added to the drill tools to give
the required force to the upward jar. It
is never allowed to pound upon the drill.

sinker-bar guides
Bars of iron (usually four)

fitted

to

the drill tools to increase their girth and


make it impossible for the drill to deviate.

which make up
the walkjng beam and

iron or steel parts

drill or

[NO]

p. 234]

sidehill, n.

the bearings for

Ragtown boom

sinker, n.

side-door elevator
An elevator with a hinged part at one
side that opens to receive casing or tubing.

since the

motion engine. [Heard]

or open-end basket. [Heard]

The

broken

which has become permanent-

sink, v.t.

fishing tool; also called

bit for

p. 234]

lodged in the hole. syn. Whipstock.


[D] 2. slang. To get the better of someone, syn. Drill around. [WIN, p. 138]

side-door basket

mak-

[LDO]

(q. v.). See also dog. [KI]

See side

station.

Silurian, n.

dog

sure different

or

useful in

side

A heavy steel bar with wedge-shaped


jaws for gripping and wedging steel
plates together or into place. The jaws
are turned at right angles to the heavy
bar handle, allowing an angle of presdog

drill past a

of casing

tower. Also called side draw


stream. [Heard; BA, p. 234]
side

is

side stream

signal
side cut
the top

traverse

method

ly

bottoms

the top

level

ing side shots. [D]

1.

attached to the side of a cater-

pillar tractor.

side

mapped

The hand

side track

boom

A boom

branch traverse made from a more

accurately

[D]

sink hole

1.
vertical hole worn by water into
limestone rocks along a point or fracture and usually connected to an underground channel. The caving of the roof

skimming

273

may

cause

more depression and

the for-

mation of a pond. 2. The course of a joint


marked by a row of sink holes. Also
called sin/^ and swallow hole. [D]
prorated; an abbreviation
used in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428] 2.
(SIP, sip) Shut in pressure; the pressure
when the well is completely shut in.
[Reported]
sit

Shut

in,

on a well

To

remain

One

of the shaped plates

while

is

geologist or

sitter, n.

An

early term for the pipeliner who


on the pipe being tied in to weight
the screw fulcrum. He was preferably a
heavy man. [WIL, p. 53]
sat

six-size candle

paraffin-wax candle one-sixth of a


in weight, about
inches in diameter, and 8% inches in length. The
candle is composed of 50 per cent paraffin

pound

wax and 50

per cent stearic acid. The


paraffin gives lighting qualities, while
the stearic acid contributes hardness.

form of the shell; so called because an individual drawing or sketch


is required for each plate. [OPL, p. 178]

Skidmore crucible

A crucible used
son carbon

test.

skid-row tycoon

loafer picked up for extra work and


paid at the end of the day; a true s\idrow tycoon will not work as long as
he has any money at all. [Heard]

skid shoe

A piece of angle iron placed behind the


wheels of a truck to keep it from rolling.
[Heard]
skid the rig
1.

To move

a rig from a lost hole to a


[POR] 2. slang. To get the

new

An oil sand recognized at Pleasantville,


Pennsylvania, as early as 1869. [NO]

better of another.

sixty-foot rock

skim,

name

given by drillers in Butler


County, Pennsylvania, to the first rock

below Ferriferous Limestone (1880).

[NO]

The number

of barrels per day a well

will produce; not to be confused

which

is

its

with

diameter.

Also s\id the derric\.

[Heard]
v.t.

To remove

all of the kerosene fraction


and, in some cases, part of the gas oil.

[D]

size of the hole,

n.

and pumping arrangement


whereby unwanted oil or trash is removed from the surface of a liquid. [Refloat

ported]

p. 160]

size of a

wrench

The

length of a wrench in inches (all


wrenches are called by size) See twenty.

[Heard]
plate used in

[POR]

skimming pit
A pumping

pit in

The skimming

of traps through

making

steel pipe.

which

the water

is

bled off from the bottom and the oil is


skimmed off from the top into another
pit.

skelp, n.

location.

skimmer,

size of a well

four.

the Conrad-

ported]

sixth sand

[BA,

making

in

[KOT]

A rig complete on rollers so that it


can be moved in an upright position
(when the borehole is completed) to another location. A conventional derrick
must be torn down and rebuilt. [Re-

[POR]

around the

outside edge of riveted storage tanks cut


to special shapes in order to match the

skid rig
at the site of a well

being drilled; usually said of a


an engineer who sees the
drilling process to a finish. [Heard]
it

sketch plate

circular

S.I.P.
1.

pit

it

effected
oil

predetermined
[Heard]

reaches

pit.

is

which

by means

flows

levels

when
in

the

skimming plant

274

skimming plant

and equipped to
recover only the light products from
refinery designed

crude

oil.

[D]

v.).

Skinner's Rest

A camping place for mule skinners at


Hogtown, now an oil ghost town. [HOO,
p. 107]

See bonnet. [Heard]

leakage

[WIN,

p. 53]

A name

1.

can

to natural gas so

readily

be detected.

and

shells).

[NO]

An

2.

A name given to the disagreeable peneoff

by an Ontario

crude oil which results from a peculiar


combination of a sulphur compound and
the hydrocarbons of the oil. [POR]

sky-hooker, n.
See derrickman. [BB,

p. 489]

sky hooks
nonexistent tool for which boll weean initiation prank.

vils (q. v.) are sent as

[Heard]
slab, n.

and

others.

slate

and shells
name given by

[D]

drillers to a certain

sleeper, n.

shrewd manner of defrauding the


patentee of the torpedo. The operator orders a small shot to be put in the well
on a certain day; then he secures another amount from a moonlighter and
secretly lowers it into the well. When
the ordered shot is exploded, the operator gets the benefit of both the legal and
the illegal shot but pays royalty on only
the legal shot (1903).

slack barrel

a joint or to couple

slate

name

formation frequently encountered. [NO]

steel plate with a


welded over a corroded
spot in a pipe line. [OPL, p. 84]

moderate-sized

gasket,

from

incorrect

n.

trating odor given

given by drillers to a cer-

tain stratum of rock (differs

well-drillers,

oil.

given to shale by miners, quarrymen,

p. 138]

skunks,

wax and

[POR]

slate, n.

oil

malodorant added

that

[WE,

slack wax
A mixture of paraffin

slam or slap hammer


A sledge hammer. [Heard]

skirt, n.

skunk

slack-water navigation
Navigation made possible in shallow
streams by means of pond freshets (q.

which

specially

is

made

barrel for shipping

wax; usually contains 235 to 245 pounds


net wax and 19 to 20 pounds tar. [D]

[NO]

sleeve, n.

A length of pipe which

is

used to cover

two lengths

of pipe.

[D]
slick, n.

type of chisel.

[NO]

slack loops

slick joint

Loops of pipe supported by skids in


the pipe-line ditch. The skids are placed

A joint of pipe that can be packed


used under pressure. [Reported]

150 to 200 feet apart, and the pipe between the skids sags into the ditch. [OPL,

slick

rod

See polish rod. [Reported]

p. 67]

slack off

To

off;

let

down

pipe with a winch.

[Heard]
slack the rope
pipelining. To release the tension on
the spinning ropes after a connection on
a screw line is made tight. [WIL, p. 69]

SLIDE RULE
See circus rule, educated
ing stick, slip stick.

stick, guess-

Sligh oxidation

test

cating

made on

oils

stability

highly refined lubri(such as motor oils) to show

towards oxidation.

[KOT]

sludge

275
slim hole
A reduced hole which finishes about
5Vz inches and takes a 4% -inch bit; a
West Texas drilling method. The surface
and inner casing are less than one-third
the usual size. [Reported; FO, p. 119]

hole
sas.

fin slop.

The

A jackknife rig in Kan-

side

[Reported]

pump

[OPL,

or

through

oil

p. 318]

[POR]

floorman on a drilling or service

slips, n. pi.

more

wedgeform with a

pieces of steel of

shaped design, circular in


roughened, toothlike exterior surface;
used on fishing tools, tubing hangers,
and other devices that are to be attached

to either the interior or the exterior of

casing or tubing. So called because they


slip up or down on a wedge-shaped surface.

[POR]

slip'

socket

liquid product of petroleum


not up to quality. Generally
such oils are put aside for redistillations.
[D] 2. BS&-W (q. v.). [Reported]

[NO]

slop over
To flow very slowly by small heads:
"The well was slopping over at the rate
of one barrel of oil an hour." [DO,
January 22, 1948]
slop tank
A container for slop, paraffin slop, or
slop

oil.

slop the line

2.

Descriptive of any condition

that

To bungle

a job. [Reported]

slosh, v.t.

To
slosh

polish rod. 2.

An

engineer's slide

[Heard]

slip-stick artist

engineer. [Heard]

slip-type elevator
Slips for

holding pipe without

collars.

[Reported]

overdisplace a certain grade of oil

Steel line

one by. [Reported]

slow-curing asphalt
A road asphalt liquefied with a gasoil naphtha so that it cures more slowly
than other asphalts liquefied with gasoline and kerosene naphthas. See mediumcuring asphalt and rapid-curing asphalt.
[KI]
sludge, n.

S.L.M.

1.

measurement; an abbrevia-

tion used in drilling reports.

428]

[Heard]

in the pipe line; used in the expression

slip stick

An

is

causes off-test materal to be produced.

corrugated
fishing tool. 2.
1.
socket on a cable tool which serves the
same purpose as the overshot on a rotary.

rule.

which

run. [Reported]

Any

1.

1.

is

slop oil
1.

crew. [Reported]

in a refinery through

slop (q. v.)

which

slip puller

or

cut the flow of slop (q. v.) to a slop

tank. [Reported]

The sewer

hold or grip taken by a device upon


a pipe or tubing by means of serrated

Two

may be burned as
always an unfinished

slop line

steel slips.

is

swedge with threads on the outwhich fits two sizes of pipe. [Heard]

To
gas

slip grip

oil,

slop her

leakage of
valves.

petroleum

also called paraf-

residue

but it
product. [KI]
fuel

slip, n.

The

after the

worked once;

with which a slim

drilling rig
drilled. 2.

is

Petroleum residue
has been

sloper, n.

slim-hole rig
1.

slop, n.

[LDO,

p.

Any

waste product obtained during

the refining of a material.

obtained

[KOT]

from

drill

2.

The mud

hole in boring.

sludge, crankcase

276

sludge, crankcase

black,

of oxidized lubricating

oil,

composed

carbonaceous

and water. [KOT]

material,

sludge acid

tarry waste product of petroleum;

also called acid sludge or sludge.

[NO]

sludge buggy
A small mobile cart used in a refinery

away and dispose of spent treating


and chemicals. [Reported]

to cart

acids

sludger, n.

sand
[Heard]

pump

used to remove debris.

used in

slush bucket
A hollow cylinder used to draw sludge
from the bottom of a well. [RI]

slushing

One

oil

of several types of oil or grease

used to protect metal parts exposed to


the weather. [POR]

slush
1.

oil

The waste

(water, sand, mud, and


a well in the clean-

removed from

ing-out process. [Heard] 2. An inferior


oil obtained from certain shales (1870).

slush pit

portion of water.

different grade

a header

line,

mud

[NO]

slug, n.

Drilling

3.

rotary drilling. [Heard]

oil)

[POR]

water.

viscous emulsion

is

is

When

oil

of a

sent through a pipe

injected into the line: a

A
the

by a drilling well into which

pit

mud

syn. Slush

and cuttings are discharged.


pond and mud pit. [POR]

slug of water about three feet long which


separates the grades. [Heard; BOW, p.

slush

80]

used to circulate the


laden fluid in rotary drilling. [D]

Slumber Jay
1.

An

electric

logging device; original-

Schlumberger after its German


inventor, a name which was given a
French pronunciation upon its sale to a
Frenchman. Its subsequent introduction
into American oil fields resulted in its
v.t.
present spelling and pronunciation.
ly called

To

operate the specific electric logging


device used in the Schlumberger method.
2.

[BA,

p. 132]

Any

thin, slippery

mixture (mud,

or any other material)

clay,

com-

bined with water and used to coat a surwater mixture of the


face. [POR] 2.
ingredients used in making cement
which is converted into cement when
passed completely through the balance

of the process.

slush,
1.

small hole
1.

The

part of the hole

low the casing.


is no room to

be-

The pit in which drilling mud is mixed


and into which slush (q. v.) is emptied.
syn. Pit and slush pit. [Heard]
1.

Usually a device activated by pow-

it moves so fast
often tears things up. 2.
type of
cathead; so called because it reduces the

er;

that

so called because

it

crew by one man. [Reported]

S.M.B.
State mining bureau; an abbreviation
used in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]

smeller, n.
1.

prospecting wizard; also called

oil smeller.

Smith

[POR]

See
cover and daub with a water-

proof material.

is

small pit

Stiff

n.

2.

Waste

oil

and

smoke,

[NO]

2.

geologist.

Stiff

v.t.

To

which

well in which there


case off the water while
2.

[NO]

drilling.

size of the

slurry, n.
1.

mud-

smart aleck

slump, n.
A change in the altitude of an outcropping bed caused by slipping downhill. [D]

fire

pump

A pump

Smith. [WIL, p. 186]

n.

Steam.

[WIN,

p. 138]

[PO]

snub

277

smoke

eater

a snake can

smokehouse smut
Indecent

stories, syn.

Bull

and verbal

tions." [ST, p. 162] 2.

Any worker from

West

asbestos rope that

Virginia. 3.

smoke point
The temperature

at which a petroleum
product will smoke with heat but will
not burn; a standard test in the industry, since many buyers purchase by this
point, syn. Smoke test. [KI]

adj.

Descriptive of a worn bit, especially


the teeth are worn away; refers to the
drilling age of the bit as well as to the
if

absence of teeth. Also smooth-mouthed.


[Reported]

rubber cover stretched over


an electric conductor in a refinery for
the protection of workers during repairs.
5.
device slipped over the end of a
cable to facilitate pulling it over the der-

A solid

lubricant such as graphite, talc,


or ground soapstone added to the lubricating oil and applied to the bearings to

by filling up
and working down the

relieve the heating surfaces

the rough spaces

smooth-mouthed,

oil.

[D]

smut hound

A worker in a carbon-black
[Heard]

plant.

snakes in hole

The condition of a borehole which


caves in and freezes the tools. [Heard]
snap, n.
easy

job,

but one that requires

[Heard]

skill.

snapper,

n.

worker who is always looking for


light duty. [Heard]

sneezing bar
A walking beam

heavy swivel hook for lifting and


pulling heavy objects about the shop and
carrying them by means of a crane. [KI]

cheater;

wrench

fasten the elevators secure-

ly on the pipe. The elevators are fastened


well enough to lift the pipe from the
rack, but not well enough to carry it, with
the result that the pipe falls. Snagging
pipe is very dangerous and makes the
derrickman unpopular and the recipient
of much verbal abuse. [Reported]

1.

to

be so

an extension used on a
more leverage. [Heard]

time,

tattletale. 2.

ports.

which records drilling


and drilling depth. See
One who makes drilling re-

device

down

[Heard]

snitcher, n.

pipelining.

which
pipe

An

electrical

spots flaws in

line.

snub,

[WIL,

p.

detector

the coating of a

164]

v.t.

To run
while

said

to give

snitch, n.
time,

snag one

driller;

(q. v.). [ST, p. 141]

snipe, n.

snag hook

snake, n.
1. A Virginia

oil

fail to

sure-grip cable splicer (1940).

See smooth. [Reported]

See orchard-heating

[Heard; Reported]
v.t. 7. pipelining.
To move heavy pipe by pulling it along
the ground. [WIL, p. 86]

1.
single rope sheave set in a housing which provides a latch link to be
opened for admission of a rope without
the necessity of threading the end of the
rope through the block. [POR] 2.
small, sturdy pulley used to move machinery and equipment. [Heard]

adj.

smother a well
To drown a well. [Reported]

To

rick. 6.

snatch block

rough edges. [POR]

smudge

An

n.

it

cools. 4.

smoother,

The

retains the lead in a bell joint until

diarrhea. [ST, p. 102]

smooth,

"no one but


bore through the forma-

called because in that state

fireman. [Heard]

oil is

[LDO]

tubes in high-pressure wells

flowing through the casing.

278

snubbing post

soiled

snubbing post

dove

prostitute. [ST, p. 57]

post in the back-up corner for holding the safety line on the back-up tongs
so that they cannot get out of control.

soil pipe

[Heard]

drilling methods, the soil pipe

snub nose

driven by means of a heavy block of

wood,

See cab-over. [Heard]

S.O.

Show

oil;

an abbreviation used in

[LDO,

p.

surface pipe of an

oil well.

In early

was

first

[NO]

as in pile-driving.

solar oil

snuse, n.
Snuff; a field term. [Reported]

ing reports.

The

drill-

1. Gas oil from petroleum of the Gulf


and Mid-Continent fields; generally exported to Great Britain. [D] 2. A middle

fraction of refined petroleum. [Reported]

428]

solidification point

soap, n.

salt

formed when

the freed acid


brought into contact

of saponified oil is
with a metal. See acid fatty.

[J]

[POR]

solidified gasoline

soap stock

amorphous
light-colored,
Sweet,
waxes used in the manufacture of soap
and in the saturation of waxed papers.
[D] 2. Oil and fatty acids which are byproducts of refined or hardened oils.
[Reported]
1.

soapstone,

The temperature at which a substance


changes from a solid to a liquid state.

by treatment with
having undergone treatment with hydrochloric acid at a high
Gasoline jellied

stearic acid after

kerosene
Kerosene jellied by

stearic acid;

n.

given by drillers to an argillaceous shale, the second rock encountered in drilling. Also called mud roc\.

The name

[NO]

soft diggin(g)

used

transported.
solidified

Locked wire rope; a

easily

Two

of

the

best

for solidifying petrole-

for use in grates are: (1) the absorpby a porous material, pref-

tion of the oil

erably

itself

combustible,

as

dry peat,

and (2) the production of a jelly-like


emulsion by the addition of soap or a
fatty oil and alkali to form a soap. [POR]

An

soft-laid line

be

petroleum
petroleum.

solid injection

Soft rock. [S]

may

[POR]

known methods

um

with

treatment

as a counterirritant or

as a safety illuminant;

Jellied

socket, n.
device fastened to the end of a
1.
rope by means of which the rope may
be attached to its load; also called rope
fishing tool designed to ensocket. 2.
circle and grip a solid object. [D]

[LDO]

temperature.
solidified

system

injection system in

which

fuel

is

forced into a cylinder in a solid stream


by a fuel pump. [KOT]

field term.

[Heard]

so-long sand

soft line

Sand which has little or no producand defines a field; so called because

See soft rope. [Heard]

tion

soft rope
1.

it is

Marline or marlin.

2.

Any

raveled

rope; also called soft line. [Heard]

[Heard]

S.O.G.&W.
Show of oil,

solting point
gas,

and water; an

breviation used in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p. 428]

ab-

boom in that
nearly at an end.

an indication that the

particular area

is

Melting point (q. v.); possibly from


Spanish soltar, "to loosen, cast off, untie."
[KI]

Southwestern Terminus

279
solubility test

on asphalts

made on

test

plied

asphalts to

show

the

extent of solubility by various solvents,


as carbon disulphide, carbon tetrachloride, or petroleum ether. [KOT]

soluble oil

been added so that it will make a stable


emulsion when mixed with water; used

and

for cooling iron

steel cutting tools.

[KOT]

BA,

in

sense.

this

[Heard;

p. 122]

soup wagon

wagon

or truck used to haul liquid

[POR]

sour, adj.
Descriptive
of
petroleum products
having a bad odor which results from
sulphur content. [Heard]

[LDO,

oil

found.

is

p. 327]

sour dirt

solvent extraction
refining of petroleum
of a selective solvent

dissolve certain constituents

and

except

n. 2. Nitroglycerin.

source rock
A formation in which

solvent bright stock


Bright stoc\ (q. v.) (obsolescent).
[KI]

means

nitroglycerin.

Oil to which various ingredients have

The

acid

to

[Heard]

oils

by

which

will

of the pe-

troleum

oil

fect the

remaining constituents.

will not appreciably af-

[KOT]

impregnated

dirt

with

sulphates.

Since sulphur is often associated with


petroleum in the salt domes of the Gulf
Coast field, sour dirt is often considered
an indication of oil in that region.

[POR]
solvent naphtha
1. Coal tar and wood naphtha. 2. A
petroleum product of high solvent pow-

sour gas

er.

resulting

[J]

power
made to show the solubility of
lacquer solvents for gums that are used
in the lacquer industry. [KOT]
solvent

test

solvent treatment

out of

oil.

dirt

is

dissolved

covered with rubber, used


by Schlumberger crews; a down-thehole electrode peculiar to Schlumberger;
from French sonde, "sinker." [Reported]

son of a bitch
1.

car used to

p. 488]
ported]

2.

14, 1947]

Sour Gas

An

Law

early

name

make

in

dead

a quick descent

an emergency. [BB,

man

(q.v.).

[Re-

containing

Gasoline

refers

sour

oil

Oil treated with sulphuric acid but


not neutralized with alkalies or absorbents. 2. Oil which does not pass the
1.

doctor

test (q. v.). [J]

Sour Spring
top Hill;

Mound

soup,

tion

v.t.

acidize a well.

to nitroglycerin,

Soup generally
and is not ap-

first

name

so called because

seeps. [RI, p. 51]

To

com-

sulphur

doctor treatment, and sweet gaso[KI]

test,

pipelining.
signal that a tank just
opened is the same grade as the one being closed. [Reported]

1.

Law

line.

Reputedly the

s.o.s.

refers

for the Stripper

(q.v.). [RI, p. 281]

to the odor, not to the taste. See doctor

n.

A sinker bar

from a derrick

October

pounds or mercaptans. The term

[Reported]

sonde [sund],

gas having a bad odor, generally


from a sulphur content. [DO,

sour gasoline

which

process by

for Spindleof

the oil

Southwestern Terminus

The site of the last pipe-line connecmade to Glenn Pool, Oklahoma, by


the Prairie Oil and Gas Company in
August, 1906. [RI,

p. 91]

280

spacing

spacing, n.
In locating wells, the distance from
center to center of location.

[POR]

spaghetti, n.

1.

term for rods and tubing


often called macaroni).

field

(tubing

is

more

tion. Different consumers, such as the


army, the navy, and the air forces, buy
gasoline according to such specifications.
The most common examples are those
gasolines refined for summer or winter

burning. [KI]

one-inch pipe or tubing


that came into popular use after proration
was introduced. [Heard]

ciety for

spark-knock,

specifications standard

2.

Specifically,

v.i.

To

specifications,

A.S.T.M.
of

Specifications

American

the

detonate as the result of rapid combustion of fuel in high compression


motors. [NB, p. 135]

individual firms for their

spark-plug job

but

Any power

rig.

[Heard]

Royalty that has been sold at a profit


by several successive owners and has
become so inflated in price that little or
no chance for profit remains. The expression probably originated in the days

[BO]

of horse-drawn transportation.
n.

cutting of sand. The expression is


not confined to oil regions (1875). [NO]

S.P.B. solvent
special boiling-point

from

light oils.

drilling reports.

made

product

[KOT]
used

abbreviation

[LDO,

in

[NO]

device for connecting a jack well


it

2.

re-

device for lifting a cable-tool drill-bit;


so called because it is shaped like spec-

[BO]

spectacles, n. pi.
tools;

now

[NO]

spent, adj.
1. Empty,
Having lost

as a refinery tank.

usefulness, as oil

[POR] 2.
which no

longer has the power to lubricate,


which no longer filters. [KI]

or clay

spider, n.

special, n.

term commonly used

finery laboratory tags

when

to

mark

the

still

trying to reach certain tests. See


up. [Heard]
pi. 2. See cross. [D]

reis

come

1.

Technical products (q. v.)


a term
used by the Shell Oil Company, Incor-

circular iron device,

porated, Pacific Territory.

[KOT]

specification gasoline
to a certain specifica-

with spaces

which surrounds and

grips the casing or drill pipe. [D] 2.


type of funnel with five outlets, relegs, for

charging the charging

belt of the clay filters. 3. Pipes of

made

for serrated slips,

sembling

special products

Gasoline

shortened to specs.

1. A fishing tool designed to enter a


hollow object and expand and thus attach itself firmly. [D] 2. A straight iron
rod hung on the sand line; used to clean

1.

and a pump; so called because


sembles huge spectacles. [Heard]

Implements for carrying

p. 428]

spear, n.

1.

products,

These specifications are the result of the


combined efforts of the United States
Bureau of Mines, the United States Bureau of Standards, the American Society
for Testing Materials, and the American Petroleum Institute. [POR]

tacles.

Spdg. or Spd.
Spudding; an

the tubing.

own

when

specs

A
A

Standard specifications for the various


These specifications may be set by

oils.

such specifications are lacking,


it is
common practice to adopt the
United States government specifications
relating to that particular grade of oil.

spavined royalty

spawl,

So-

Testing Materials. [POR]

lines

many

of such close proximity that they

seem

to be intertwined.

mon

around a

Such are com-

4. Coiled or
crossed steampipes that run into a still
at short distances from each other. These

refinery.

281
pipes are arranged so that steam may
be forced into the still for rapid distribu-

tion of the heat. 5.


series of copper
wires placed around batch agitators and

grounded for collecting static


and grounding it. The wires

electricity

also dis-

sipate static within the agitator to

keep

from forming too great a charge, which


would jump when the door is opened
and cause a fire. 6. Any web of pipes or
it

wires within the refinery grounds.

webs are found near the

The

and also
where refined

stills

near the pumping station


products are pumped to the storage tanks
or loading stands. [KI]

spider-web the rig

To

S-P interval
The interval between sound waves.
[PE]

spin-up chain
See spinning chain. [Heard]
spit oil

To

flow by heads (q.

v.).

[SM,

p. 53]

splicing needle

field

term for marlinespi\e

(q. v.).

[Heard]

account
marketing. The handling of more
than one brand of gasoline. [SHU, p.
split

139]

string the derrick full of lines.


split line or

[Heard]

The male end


external

end with
Matheson and

of pipe (the

threads).

See

dresser joint. [D]

neutral

wax

oil

setup
arrangement or disposition of the
seismograph instruments in a manner
split

which

distillate.

rope or line which branches into


two pieces each going to a different tool,
or being used for a different purpose.
syn. Forked line and forked rope. [Reported]

spindled distillate
fin or

rope

spigot end of pipe

spool

carries the paraf-

[POR]

An

spindle oil

related

One of the grades of refined petroleum. [NO] 2. The lighter portion of the

the group of detectors are equidistant

lubricating distillates suitable for lubrication of light-running machinery.

[POR]

The

An oil field near Beaumont, Texas,


which, though small, is a rich field. Some
say the name is derived from the spindle
shape of the salt dome. Others, particularly Beaumonters, say the term was
transferred from the local name given
an inverted cone-shaped tree on a bluff
near the town. Also called Swindletop,
Round Mound, and The Richest Hill on
Earth. [Heard; BA, p. 354; RI, p. 51]
spinning chain
A device used on rotary rigs in screwing pipe together. [Heard]
spinning line

the discharge in order that

[PE]

it.

spoilbank,

n.

taken from a trench and


one side by a ditch-digging
machine. [HI]
dirt

thrown

Spindletop

from

to

to

spoil dirt

To

excavate dirt for a pit and make


of it. See dig pits and build pits.

no use

[Heard]
spoke,

n.

The measure

of the

amount

of

oil.

and refinery valves are turned


by wheels, and each wheel spoke that
Pipe-line

reaches a certain point represents a certain degree the valve is opened. The
valves are opened a certain

number

of

spokes to permit a predetermined amount


of oil to run through the pipe. [KI]
spool, n.

turning by friction used on


making up drill pipe. Also
called spinning rope or chain. [Reported;

1. A flanged joint which may be placed


between the blow-out preventer and the

WIN,

drilling valve; a spacer. 2. refining.

line

some

rigs in

p. 138]

An

282

spool

extension of pipe flanged on each end


and used to blind off or block a line.

termine whether
[KI]

[Reported]

spot time

spool,

v.t.

To remove
crown

block.

the derrick line

from the

spot weld

To

1.

quit a job. [Heard]

spot.

2.

by

To weld

p. 82]

quit a job. [Heard]

spout,
spooler, n.

A drum
that

repair pitholes or pit leaks

welding the faulty


only one spot. [OPL,

spool 'em up

To

A short rest an employee may take


during working hours. See easy bench or
lazy bench. [KI]

[Heard]

spool clothes

To

has been cracked.

it

is

To
or reel; anything with a line

reeled.

[AS,

v.i.

flow violently; said of a gusher.


p. 93]

[Reported]

spouter, n.

spoon,

n.

[Reported]

[D]

sport-model bit

three-cone slush-lubrication

bit.

[Re-

ported]

2.

oil

spray bar

spot, n.
1.

An

well with uncontrolled flow.


gusher, but not so strong a
term; in general, a well that does not
require pumping (1865). [NO]
1.

bailer.

drilling

November

location.

[Heard;

DO,

v.t. 2. railroading.
2, 1947]
To place a railroad car in the proper
place for loading or unloading. 3. To spot

An attachment on the rear of an oiltank or water-tank truck for spraying


roads. It

is

by spraying

or block squeeze: to shut water off at a


certain spot or area within the borehole.

sprayer, n.

[KI] 4. To cement, acidize, or shoot a


well in one certain spot. A section of the
hole is spotted for treatment by use of
fluid and packers.
[Reported] 5. To
locate a drilling site. [DO, October 17,
1947]

of the oil

spot market
marketing. The market on date of
sale or delivery; may apply to any class
of delivery: tank car, tank wagon, commercial consumer, or service station.

[SHU,

p. 146]

common

of waste oil in

sump

practice to dispose

holes

lease roads

A refinery tank in which


is

it.

[Heard]

every particle
air in small

exposed to the

streams (1887).

spray

and elsewhere

with

[NO]

oil

petroleum product of low

usually similar

to

lubricating

viscosity,
oil,

used

combat various pests which attack


trees and other plant life. [KOT]
to

spray wash
Water sprayed through a batch of oil
to cause sludge to separate from oil. [Reported]

spread, n.

spotted, adj.

1.

slang.

layout:

"Many

po' boys

Descriptive of oil territory in which


one well may be a good producer, while
the next one may be dry. [NO]

houses."

spot

leases covers portions of six townships."

test, v.t.

To

an asphalt to determine
has been cracked. Cracked
asphalts are less valuable than uncracked
asphalts; therefore, buyers use this method to ascertain the quality.
n. 2. The
test by which buyers of an asphalt de1.

whether

test

it

have a nicer spread than the company

[WIN,

an area under

[DO, October

p. 138] 2.

lease:

The

extent of

"The spread

of

14, 1947]

spreader

An organic substance, such as blood


albumen, mixed with spray oil to make
it spread more uniformly and cling more
permanently. [KOT]

squeeze

283
spread foreman
pipelining.
tire

crank. [D]

The

supervisor of an en-

laying gang. [Heard]

spudding

1. A point where water or oil emerges


from the ground in sufficient quantity

away, as contrasted with a seep,

from which there is no stream. [POR]


v.t. 3. To
2. A slight bend of pipe.
bend pipe slightly. [D]

spring pole

1.
tool used to work the drill and
other implements in sinking a well; resembles an old-fashioned well sweep.
[NO] 2.
pole which activates hand
tools used in percussion drilling. [Reported]

spring water
Acid (HCL or muriatic acid) used in
acidizing wells. [Heard]
spud,

n.

having a long curved blade


used to work around and recover tools
from a boring well. [D] 2. Formerly, a
narrow spade such as might be used in
digging postholes. Now, a tool used in
initial drilling of any type. [BO] 3. An
1.

tool

method

which a line
move the cable up and down.

initial-drilling

used to
[Reported]

is

tool

v.t. 4.

in

To work

the boring

by means of the bull wheel alone


an oil well. [D]

in starting

spud bar
1.

wide, flathead bar for scraping

bottom sediment from tanks. It is sharper and broader than the spud bar used by
the pressmen in wedging the wax from
the blankets of the sweater or press. 2.
short, wide-blade, light bar used in
wedging the pressed wax from the blan-

kets of the

spudder,
1.

wax

press. [KI]

n.

tool

modern

used in spudding. [BB,]

2.

cable-tool rig; a yo-yo (q. v.).

[Heard]

spudding,
1.

The

The

first

500-600 feet of

bit

spring, n.

to flow

2.

[McT]

drilling.

broad, dull drilling tool for work


ing in earth down to the rock. [D]

spudding in

The first operation of drilling a well


generally performed by cable method.
The

rise and fall of tools is accomplished


by use of a jerk line which is attached
at one end of the main crank and at the

other to the drilling cable as the latter


is paid off from the bull wheel. [POR]

spudding pulley

An iron wheel 36-40 inches in diameter


which forms part of the

metal ring to

initial

step

in

drilling,

per-

fit

the crank pin

and

when

spudding. [POR]

spudding shoe
A device which provides

a ready

means

of connecting the jerk line to the cable.

[NO]
spud

drilling

See spud

in.

[LDO,

p. 392]

spud in

To commence

1.

drilling.

Strictly

speaking, a rotary well does not spud in;


the term has been carried over from
cable-tool usage. [NO] 2. slang. To begin any activity. [Heard; K, p. 101]

spy, n.

See scout. [Heard]

square joint

\elly (q. v.).

[Heard]

squealer, n.

An extension on an exhaust pipe to


change the "tune" of a motor so that
one well can be distinguished from the
other by sound. Also called barker.
[Heard]
squeeze,

v.t.

cement into the water sand


sand (the formations of least
resistance) at the pay zone, by means of
compressed air, through a pipe let down
to the level. Cement will not set in oil
force

and the

formed with a spudding bit actuated by


a jerk line from the wrist pin of the

[NO]

act as a bearing for the jerk line

To

n.

rig.

spudding ring

oil

squeeze job

284

sands; consequently it does not stop the


flow of oil. Since cement does set in
water sands, it cuts off the flow of water.
[KI]

squeeze job

The operation in which cement is


forced by pressure through a pipe into
the water-producing sands at the level
of the oil-producing strata. [KI]
tool

with a rubber or leather edge


hard surfaces,

for scraping or cleaning

or for spreading and distributing liquid


material into the superficial interstices
of roadways.

stabbing salve
See red lead. [Heard]
stabilize, v.t.

To

um

separate light gases

from

or gasoline; the liquid left

[POR]

Gasoline after

it

sure

is

has been subjected to

which the vapor

fractionation, in

reduced to a specified

pres-

maximum.

[TH]
stabilizer, n.

small charge of powder exploded


in the bottom of a drill hole to spring
the rock, after which a heavy shot is
fired. 2.
springing shot. [D] 3.
vessel
used in well-boring which contains explosive and a time fuse and is lowered
into the well to detonate the nitroglycerin
charge. [NO] 4.
pipe-line scraper with
automatic spring blades. [BB, p. 487]
v.t. 5. To use a small torpedo to fire the
main torpedo. [NO]

squib shot
A small charge (five or
nitroglycerin. [Reported]

which specification
made, so constructed that

tower-still in

gasoline

is

high-octane gasolines do not escape,


while highly volatile propanes and butanes are removed in certain previously
specified proportions. [POR]
stabilizing

column

See fractionating tower. [PE]


stable emulsion

An emulsion whose components will


not separate readily during long standing or storage. [KOT]
stab pipe

six quarts) of

S.R.

To add a
[Heard; F,

new

length of pipe to a string.

p. 73]

stack, n.

Straight-reaming; an abbreviation used


in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]

2.

ss.

and objectionable gases or

Sandstone; a conventional abbreviation


not in use among drillers. [NO]
stab, v.t.

To

petroleis stable.

[POR]

squib, n.
1.

casing.

stab

[BB, p. 486]

stabilized gasoline

squegee or squeegee

the derrickman stands to

guide pipe while making connecengage proper-

A flue or chimney of any description.

vertical duct for carrying off

smoke

for creating

a draft pressure over a fire. The discharge capacity of a stac\ depends upon
the relative inside and outside temperatures, the height of the stack, and the
cross-sectional areas.

[POR]

tions so that the threads


ly.

stack, oil

[PO]

stabber, n.
1.

The worker who

attends

to

the

alignment of the unscrewed joint with


the first screwed joint of the pipe line.
[D] 2. The pipeliner who ranks next to
the gang foreman. [BA, p. 179]

stabbing board
A board across the derrick on which

A stack smaller in diameter than that


used with coal. Fuel oil requires a smaller percentage of excess air than coal, and
the draft required is also less. [POR]
stack area

The

cross-sectional area of the

opening

generally given in square


feet; determines the size of the gas colof

stack,

umn. [POR]

standing valve

285
stack draft

fixed oils are castor

The

pressure created at the base of the


stack by the difference in weight between the inside heated gas and the outside cold air; given in terms of water-

column height supported,


of water." [POR]

or in "inches

and

olive

Any number

gases

discharged

by a

smokestack, consisting largely of carbon


dioxide, carbon monoxide, free oxygen,
and nitrogen, with small quantities of
free

hydrogen and methane. [POR]

joints,

as

one
be

may

piece of pipe. In a well, a stalk

depending on the

height of the derrick. [OPL, p. 59]


stand, n.

pipe. 2.

stack gases

oil,

of joints of pipe screwed

welded together, yet handled

or

1.

[Heard]

cottonseed

oil,

[POR]

stalk, n.

one or more

stacked, adj.
Descriptive of a jackknife derrick that
has been torn down and set aside.

The burned

oil.

number of joints
The number of

or sections of
joints, usually

three or four, handled as a unit when


pipe or casing is run into or pulled from
a well. syn. Stalk. [D]

standardizing system
The dual system (q.

v.)

of drilling.

[D, p. 269]

stack height
The height measured above the grates
in feet; determined largely by the draft
required and by the nature of the gases.

standard
syn.

rig.
set of

standard

[POR]

standard tools
Cable tools. [BA,

stack rating

standard white

The

rating given in terms of standard

boiler horsepower.

[POR]

polish rod (q. v.). [Heard]

[Heard]

p. 99]

A kerosene slightly inferior to water


white in color and in lamp-burning
qualities.

staff, n.

tools.

[POR]

standard white

oil

stage development

An application of the principle of segregating sands of different pressures in


which the vertical footing to be opened
to production in all wells is limited to
an amount arrived at by agreement. [PO]

kerosene of standard white color,


generally called export \erosene; prime
white oil. [NO]

stand by

To
oil

tical

stagger wells

wait until needed; said of tanks of


supplies. Originally a nauterm. [Heard]

and other

[POR]

stand-by time
Time when workers are at the job but
are not actually working; waiting time.
[Heard]

staining, n.

standing, adj.

To

arrange wells in rows in such a


that those in one row are placed
opposite the spaces in the next row.

manner

See show and rainbow. [DO, October


16, 1947]

Descriptive of work that has been


stopped for a considerable time; an expression used by drillers. [POR]

stainless oils

Neutral
colorless)

oils

(usually light-colored or

compounded with

lard oil or

standing gage
A gage taken when a tank
service.

machinery since they do not stain


and can easily be washed out. They
are also used for lubricating spindles on
other machinery and for shafting. Other

standing valve

textile

fabric

is

not in

[Reported]

neats-foot oil; used in lubricating certain

valve that stands fixed at the lower

end of the working barrel of a deep well

pump. [POR]

286

stand pipe
stand pipe

The

1.

side of the derrick

pump

along the

and joining the slush

to the rotary hose.

[D]

2.

drive-

pipe (q. v.) used to seal out or case off


water intrusion during spudding operations. [LDO, p. 393]
star bit

A drilling bit for


ening the

winnings and
convinced that an

their

vertical pipe rising

reaming and

drill hole.

[D,

I,

straight-

place for a civilized

static catalytic

A cheater

(q. v.). 2.

A tool to engage

chain tongs while the weight of the drill


pipe in the hole is carried by slips resting in the rotary. [Heard; WIN, p. 138]
start, v.i.

stake location for a well. To begin


actual drilling is to spud in (q. v.). [DO,

November

to live.

[GI,

cracking

type of catalytic cracking in which


the catalyst remains stationary in the
reaction chambers or cases. Also called
fixed-bed catalytic cracking.

[KE]

chain
chain suspended from the rear

steel

wagon to make contact with


the pavement and ground a charge of
static electricity and thus prevent fire.
of a tank

[POR]
static

To

man

static
1.

region was no

p. xxii]

227]

star post

the oil region,

left

oil

head

The depth of the fluid level in


when it is not pumping. [LDO]

a well

27, 1947]

stay bolt
startability, gasoline

The

ability of gasoline to

vaporize and

bolt for tying together the walls of

a steam-boiler firebox.

ignite readily to enable easy starting of

an automobile engine. [KOT]

START AN ENGINE
See bounce off engine, get
kick off.

gage known as a follower. [D] 2. A


producing well: "New Texas field gets
three starters; all were offsets." [DO,
October 15, 1947]

428]
steal hole

To

begin drilling operations with a


depth to be drilled, as start

for 3,500 feet or start for the


sand. [Heard]

Woodbine

START OIL FLOWING


bring the well in, clean
up, come in, kick off, put a unit on
stream, put a well on, put on pump, wash
in, well kicked off natural,
in,

start

An
oil

more footage than has been


[BB, p. 490]

report

drilled.

steal oil

To

from one
without a permit from
the railroad commission (Texas). 2. To
treat oil in a tank that has been sealed
off; i.e., the gauger has put a seal on a
tank to show that he has accepted the oil
transfer oil or waste

lease to another

specified

States,

line.

Stdg.
1. Standardizing. 2. Standing; abbreviations used in drilling reports. [LDO, p.

1.

start for

up
See come

term for a tong

off center,

1.
drill used for making the upper
part of a hole, the remainder of the
hole being made with a drill of small

See blow

boll weevil's

[Reported]

starter, n.

To

[POR]

stayline, n.

up. [Heard]

back to the

expression used by get-rich-quick


promoters of the early days who took

for a refinery.

[WIN,

p. 138]

steamboat ratchet

A
steel,

heavy
six

body of
diameter,

barrel, or barrel-like

to

eight inches

in

supported by a heave hook. It is equipped


with both right- and left-hand turns so
that the bolts or nuts may be tightened
or loosened. [KI]

steam-bottom still
A still in which the bottom steam

is

ad-

steep-roofing asphalt

287
mitted to the oil to reduce the temperature and prevent decomposition. [POR]

Grease cooked in steam-jacketed ket-

[POR]

steam-cylinder oil
Oil used to lubricate cylinder walls,

and

pistons,

steam

The

valves.

[KOT]

distillation

introduction of steam into a

during petroleum

distillation

still

lower
being disto

the boiling point of the oils


tilled by adding the vapor pressure of

and

the steam,

to

minimize cracking.

[D]

steam emulsification

The

One

use of steam to emulsify

oil for

compounding

test

test

used in

sion, demulsibility, or emulsification test


is

required. [KI]

steamer,

which employs steam, or

treater

a chemical, to dissolve paraf-

fin that stops a flow line, sticks rods, or

down production;
move any other foreign
cuts

particularly

BS&W

also used to re-

matter from

(q. v.).

oil,

[Heard]

steam gravity

The

than
silica.

.65

[POR]

package used for

tenance, contains

which
ing oils and
[POR]

stance

(q. v.) ; so called because


of the grinders in the machine. [Heard]
v.t.

distilling

with steam.

steam trace

steam line insulated with an oil line


keep the oil line hot so that pumping

made

easier.

for main-

no glue or other

sub-

will contaminate lubricatis

not subject to leakage.

oils;

be

oil, or a compound
are used extensively for quenching

table
oils

may

oil,

As the specific heat of oil


heat conductivity are much lower than those of water, the oil does not
chill so rapidly, and there is less chance
of extreme hardness or brittleness and
hence less chance of cracks and flaws
developing as a result of excessively rapid
its

contraction.

[POR]

steel toes

steam-refined asphalt
Asphalt which has been refined in the
presence of steam during distillation of
the crude oil. [KOT]

is

wooden

the
less

vegeof these. Fish

and

to

shipment; has

Hardening or quenching

steel springs.

To purify by
[KOT]

oil

steel-hardening oils

[POR]
steam piano
A mud hog

sulphur

and a small amount

steel barrel

taken at the receiving house just as the


distillate comes from the condenser.

steam-refine,

to .95 per cent,

.04 per cent,

a petroleum product, animal

gravity of a steam of distillate

[POR]

oils.

a much longer life than


barrel formerly used, costs

n.

steam and

lubricating

sucker-rod
A special carbon steel sometimes given
a normalizing treatment in which it is
heated and then allowed to cool slowly.
The elements other than iron are about
as follows: carbon .35 to .55 per cent,

of

when an emul-

all oils

fats

steel,

less

and vegetable

such as tallow, suet, palm oil, castor and


rape oils. It has a corrosive effect on
many metals and forms the greasy salts
known as the stearates, which are used
as soaps in the manufacture of greases.
The acid is obtained by breaking down
stearin and then neutralizing the acids
freed by the decomposition. Used in

manganese

certain tests. [KI]

steam emulsion

of the fatty-free acids occurring

naturally in animal

steam-cooked grease
tles.

stearic acid

[Reported]

Safety shoes

worn

in

the

oil

field,

equipped with steel reinforcements in


the toes. [Heard]
steep-roofing asphalt
Asphalt which has been oxidized, or
blown, until it has reached such a consistency that it will not run on a steep
roof. [KI]

288

stem
stem,
is

Smith

Stiff

n.

iron rod to which the bit


attached in deep drilling by the rope

The heavy

method. [NO]

couplings, perfected by Sidney Smith of

Oklahoma; can be carried by two


while a third fastens the coupling.

Tulsa,

men
stem,

n.

pipelining.

Also called Smith


joint of pipe.

[WIL,

One
[NO]

find the elevation of a point by


the bottom stadia hair to the
upper stadia hair; properly used for
measuring side shots only, not control

To

moving

stations.

[POR]

p. 186]

The

1.

vertical interval

measured on

the rod subtended between two stadiahairs; a dislocation of the strata. [D]
series of closely associated parallel
2.

box
The box

in

down
To reduce

or amount.

See alternating

blowing

oil

oil is

batch

still,

still,

battery,

catalyst cracker, cat crack-

still,

tower

n. 2.

reduction in size

shell

still,

still,

still,

vacuum

[DO, March

still

[D]

still.

oxidizing and thickening

for

The two-speed

the cab of a truck.

See cheesebox

When

one says that

means that the


pencil.
truck has a two-speed axle. 2.
joint of pipe.
[Reported] 3. pipelining.
[WIL, p. 70]

a truck has a stic\, he

still.

[POR]

still.

continuous
A still in which the oil is pumped continuously from one still to the next, each
still,

still

of

vaporizing a specific cut or fraction

oil.

The

first still

fractions, the next

stiff, n.

worker who lines up


pipelining.
pipe on the dollies under the supervision
of a foreman. Stiffs are followed by tac\
welders. [F, p. 132]

from

A device used as leverage to facililoading and unloading. 2.


brace at
the rear of a service truck to keep it from
rolling into the rig. [Reported]

first

heavier series,

takes off the lightest


still

receives the oil

and distills off the next


and so on until the oil is

reduced to the residual. [POR]

cracking

still,

high-pressure, high-temperature

for cracking

1.

the

finally

leg

[POR]

coking

See tar

axle shifting lever in

[POR]

cheesebox

still,

still,

stick, n.

still.

blowing

still,

20, 1948]

still,

batch

asphalt residuals by blowing.

venture outside, but near, a proven

pipe

steam-bottom
still, thermal still,

still,

tar

still,

tube

still,

See batch

size,

petroleum

still,

stripping

still,

still,

anything in speed,

step-out, n.
field.

where

cheesebox, cheesebox still, continuous


still, cylinder still, fire still, hog

reducing

of pipe or in the load of electricity. [PE]

part of a refinery

STILL, n.

still,

which the band-wheel shaft


is mounted when the band wheel is used
for light pumping. [NO]

1.

The

1.

heated to drive off the hydrocarbon vapors. [POR] 2. A cracking still. [Reported]
v.t. 3. A shortened form of
distill. [KI]

battery

step

step

still, n.

er,

[POR]

faults.

of the four upright derrick posts.

step or interval, n.

tate

[WIL,

stile, n.

step, v.t.

stiff

Stiff.

p.

212]

1.

lightweight pipe with iron

rigid,

tion.

oils.

See cracking

[POR]

still, fire

See

fire still.

[POR]

still

distilla-

289
lubricating oil

still,

which

still

hydrocarbons

stocks

previous distillation has removed the gasoline, the burning oils, and the wax distillates. [POR]
a

after

The waxy

reducing
A still in which the temperatures are
reduced by a steam supply to prevent

which

cracking or decomposition.

A boom

1.

because of

similarity to the stinger of

its

insect. 3.

[Heard]

stink
still.

on a truck. [WIN, p. 138]


extension on a gin pole; so called

The

2.

sect.

tar

See tar

bomb

An

[POR]

individual gas odorizer used on

[WIN,

isolated houses.

tower

still,

See tower

vacuum

See
still

[POR]

still.

See bituminous limestone.


still.

residue in

shale oil

is

the

still

crude
used as

after

distilled to dryness;

carbon for electrical purposes,


and for making moulder's blacking.
About 3 to 4 per cent of the best crude
as

fuel,

oil is left as still


still

co\e.

[POR]

heaviest distillate

crude shale
grease-making. [D]
of

tillation

from the

dis-

used

oil;

in

stills

in

tor in

1.

which

A worker

in charge of the

oil is refined. 2.

An

p.

still

temperature; a heat exchanger.

[POR]

2.

Any

A lubricant obtained from petroleum,


used in shoe-stitching; usually supplied
in three grades: water white, fine white,
light straw.

[POR]

Stk.

Strea\; an abbreviation used in

ing reports.

[LDO,

drill-

p. 428]

setting

applied to a

still.

support and insulation

[POR]

steam

Any

An

oil to be finished into some speciproduct, as cylinder stoc\. [D] 2.


material that is to be processed. [BA,

p. 228]

stock

An

oil

used on rags and cotton waste


prevent dust and lint which would
create weight; generally a pale yellow
oil having a flash point of about 300 F.
and a cold test of 30 F. [POR]
oil

stocks, n.

which the heat

supplied
by steam in reducing gasolines and kerosenes; generally redistillation from a raw
distillate obtained from the crude. [POR]
still

1.

fied

to

The brickwork

iron connecting the

stock, n.

preheater
A closed tank and pipe-coil arrangement by which incoming crude oil is
heated by the condenser water to save
fuel ordinarily necessary to raise the crude

still

The

walking beam. [D]

of stirrup-shaped fittings
used in the rig and elsewhere. Also called
D-lin\. [NO]

still

still

to the

number

of a

opera-

charge of a refining unit. [BA,

35]

to

drilling.

1.

pitman

and

stillman, n.

refining.

stirrup, n.

stitching oil

grease

The

[LDO]

stinkumnasty, n.
See mercaptan. [KI]

[POR]

coke

The

p. 138]

stinkstone, n.

vacuum

still,

dis-

[D]

part of a wire-line rope


socket shaped like the stinger of an in-

[POR]

still.

usually yellow,

end of petroleum

stinger, n.

an

steam bottom

See steam-bottom
still,

[POR]

product,

indicates the

tillation.

still,

still,

wax

still

the lubricating

distills

in

is

pi.

Petroleum in storage awaiting transfer of ownership or utilization. Producers' stocks include petroleum held on
producing properties (lease storage).

stock tank

290

Pipe-line

and tan\-jarm stocks consist of


petroleum that has been removed from
the producing properties but has not been

enough welding rod. 3. A mechanical


guide which tells exactly what the driller
is doing every minute and prevents boil-

delivered to refineries or to other consumers and is held on tank farms, in


tanks along pipe lines, and in the lines

erhoused (q.

themselves. [D]

fraction of petroleum. [Heard]

such

products

as

cleaning

[KOT]

when

the

oil

is

flowed

pumped. [POR]

stopcock that can be locked open

or closed; used by pipe-line companies


at the
tions.

Stoddard solvent

or

stop lock

Stoddard aromatics
A special test showing the aromatic
content of

control gas pressures in oil wells

stated intervals

storage container for a charge or a

solvent.

To

reports. [Reported]

v.)

v.t.

by closing the well in except during

stock tank

stop-cock,

cleaner's solvent; a well-refined pe-

bottom of tanks or on
[Heard]

stop the roll


See hold the

line connec-

[Reported]

roll.

troleum fraction boiling between 300


and 400 F.; primarily used in dry cleaning. [J]

stoke or centistoke, n.
The unit of kinematic

A valve on the top of a steam boiler


used to close the main steam outlet.
[POR]

viscosity.

[KOT]

storage, n.
Facilities for storing oil, earth,

stoker's oil

cement, or

A special signal oil used by stokers


and coal trimmers; an illuminant used
in marine service in the fireroom and
coal bunkers.

[POR]

stomp clutch

in

To

put the clutch in with the foot.


is performed by the rotary
driller, who is often called clutch stomper. [Reported]

The

stop valve

action

steel.

wood,

[POR]

storage losses
Loss of the light ends of crude oil
and petroleum distillates by evaporation,
leakage,

expansion,

from storage

tanks.

contraction,

etc.,

[POR]

storage tanks, oil


Tanks formerly made of wood, later
of steel with wood covers, and later still
of steel with vapor-tight steel roofs. Constorage tanks are satisfactory for

Stonehouse Jack

crete

Robert Vance, one of the first of the


many ruffians to be driven out of Titus-

fuel oils, but not for distillates or crudes

Pennsylvania, in January, 1866, before the town became an incorporated


city on April 2, 1866. [GI, p. 175]

storm

Oil used in sea drags, spread over the


water to prevent waves from breaking.

stooler, 4, 8, etc.

ville,

containing volatile hydrocarbons. [POR]


oil

which

Practically

any

boardinghouse equipped with as


many stools as are indicated by its name.
[Heard]

water, will

do

stool pigeon

Either a gauge pole with measuring


marks, or a stick without measuring
marks; used by roustabouts to estimate
the amount of oil in a tank. (A gauger

holiday detector (q. v.); so called


by the contractors, who coat a pipe line,
since it points out holidays which they
must return to enamel or treat. 2. An in1.

strument used by a pipe-line inspector to


determine whether the welder has used

it

oil,

is

lighter than

for this purpose, provided

has a low cold

test.

[POR]

story pole

uses a

gauge

line.)

[Reported]

Stout Fella

Morgan Petroleum's No.

Stout,

straight-run pitch

291
gusher in the Oklahoma City field in
1936 that threatened to be more destructive than Wild Mary Sudi\ (q. v.). It
took 66 hours to bring the well under
control; meanwhile, it had sprayed more
than 1,000 residences and the state capital and covered the North Canadian
River, which caught fire. [RI, p. 260]

straight

dog

long, heavy bar for

plates together

other.

The bar

and

wedging

in line with

steel

one an-

has jaws which are paral-

and extend straight


out from the end, allowing for a different angle of pressure from that allowed by the side dog (q. v.). [KI]
lel

to the bar handle

260]

straight-hole test

stout post
See Samson post. [Reported]

1.

stove distillate
A gasoline used in stoves. [POR]

the hole

[KOT]
Light, riveted pipe of large diameter,

used in starting a well.

up from

riveted,

Casing built

2.

rolled

steel

sometimes used for the

3.

To

string

v.

one
a time, a method used during

pipelining.

joint at

iron

or

first

[LDO]

of casing inserted in a well.


t.

with an indenometer at any


whether
straight; used as a guide in

is

such a

test.

drilling.

v.t.

To make

2.

[Heard]

straight-pein sledge
A sledge on which the pein
with the handle. [NO]

reaming
method of reaming

is

in line

straight

stovepipe, n.

sheets;

test

directional

stove oil
Petroleum oil removed in the distilling
process between kerosene and gas oil;
usually boils between 500 and 700 F.

1.

specified distance to determine

lay pipe line

poor weather conditions when pipewelders must protect their welding arcs
with shields. [WIL, p. 96]

stovepipe casing

which the

436]

straight-run distillation
A continuous distillation of the
ucts of petroleum in the order of
boiling points without cracking or
pounding with other products.

method

Light, riveted pipe of large diameter,

in

reamers are of uniform thickness for


cutting out straight holes, or are tapered
for enlarging tapered holes. [LDO, p.

from the

stovepipe welding

Also called straight-run fractional

method
line.

of

making up

joint of pipe

is

joints in a

laid

on skids

high enough above the ground to permit the welders to work entirely around
it. The pipe is lined up with the end of
the pipe already laid and tack-welded
to

it

at just

enough points around the

circumference to hold it in place. The


tack-welders are followed by the regular
welders who complete the welding of the
joint solidly to the line.

[BA,

p. 181]

St. Quirinas's Oil

The

oil

of Tegernsee in Bavaria; used

medicinally (1436).

[BOW,

straight-ahead drilling
Continuous drilling
culty. [S]

p. 3]

lation.

lightest to the heaviest.


distil-

[POR]

straight-run gasoline
1.

gasoline distilled at atmospheric

pressure without cracking or compounding with other products by straight-run


distillation. This is the original method
of distilling the natural gasoline fractions contained in the crude

oil,

all

of

the fractions having closely related boiling points. 2. Gasoline in which the ele-

mentary compounds run in a continuous


chain from the most volatile to the
heaviest in the range of fractions.

[POR]

straight-run pitch

A
without

This

tion of the hydrocarbons in order of their


volatility

their

com-

involves the successive distilla-

used in starting a well. [D]

pipe

prod-

diffi-

pitch run in the initial process of

distillation to the consistency desired

subsequent fluxing. [POR]

with

straight-run product

292

straight-run product
A product of straight-run distillation
(q. v.). See also top and skim. [BA, p.

posited. An individual bed is called a


stratum, and the dividing plane, a bed-

ding plane. [D]

204]

stratigraph, n.

strain bolt

bolt for

wooden

pull rods.

[NO]

sectional view taken through the


earth at a given point to show the nature
of the geological strata. [POR]

strainer, n.

wire-wrapped perforated
Slotted or
pipe which is run into oil sand when a
well

is

finished.

[LDO]

stratigraphic correlation

The determination

of the equivalency

or nonequivalency in age of

separated

rock outcrops accomplished by means of


strap, n.

used in measuring the


circumference of a steel tank to deterv.t. 2.
mine its liquid capacity. [KI]
To measure the circumference of a pipe
with a strap to determine the liquid
capacity. 3. To measure the depth of a
well. See strap in and strap out of hole.
[POR] 4. To determine the capacity
per vertical inch of a storage tank. [BA,
1.

similarity, etc.

lithologic

fossils,

[POR]

steel tape

stratigraphic trap

[DE,

escape.

which

cannot

oil

p. 99]

stratigraphy, n.

The branch

which

of geology

treats

of the formation, composition, sequence,

and

p. 175]

natural reservoir within a layer of

porous rock from

correlation of the stratified rocks as

parts of the earth's crust.

[POR]

strap in

To
hole.

measure pipe
[Heard]

as

it

is

run into the

pipe standing in the

drill

derrick; the depth of the hole will be


the length of the pipe plus the length of

the \elly (q. v.). To strap in and out of


hole serves as a double check. [Heard]

The worker who takes the measurements of fluids in a tank. [OPL, p. 191]
strap pipe

To measure

drill

pipe

by

derrick

height. [Heard]

Stratford process

clay process for treating cracked dis-

which the vapor ascends the


tower countercurrently to a
stream of descending clay slurry. [NB,
in

treating

p. 558]

stratified

beds.

in distinct,

The

distinction

generally

between

caused by differences in the


material or in the size of the material dethe beds

is

straw

oil

light

oil

belonging to the gas-oil

division of distillates, used as a natural-

absorbent

for

rubbing

and

polishing and as a high-grade fuel oil;


contains very little olefin, about 2.5 per
gravity
about 32
cent paraffin wax;
Baume, cold test 38 F. [POR]

stray sand
1. Sand which the driller did not expect to encounter and of which there was
no geological record at the depth en-

countered.

[DO, February

1,

1948]

2.

The sand below the shales, known locally as stray. The sand above the shales
is considered Berea. [NO]
stray third sand

rock

Rock deposited
parallel,

petroleum fraction from which


Diesel oil, domestic heating oil, etc., can
be made. Also called furnace distillate.
[BA, p. 240]

gasoline

strapper, tank

tillates

distillate

strap out of hole

To measure

straw

fine-grained,

muddy

gray sand from

12 to 25 feet thick, appearing

20 feet

above

(1875).

[NO]

the

regular

from
third

15 to

sand

293
streak, n.

strip

To

p. 54] 4.

term used

rock of unusual hardness at certain horizons (1902).


to indicate

[NO]

out

lower casing to the bottom

of the drill hole. Also run casing.

[LDO,

p. 405]

stringer, n.

stream,

The

n.

1.

flow

through

pipes at varying

towers during the


refining process. As varying heights represent varying grades of the petroleum
ends, a stream at a given level represents
a certain product: may be gasoline coming from the very high pipe outlets, or,
if drawn off at a iower level, kerosene or
gas oil. [KI]
heights on the

still

directs the laying

on the
[OPL, p. 54] 2. A
horizontal timber which is a supporting
member of a structure. [POR]
surface of the ground.

stringer bead

The

first

[Heard;

weld on a new pipe

LAM, November,

line.

1947, p. 8]

string of casing

strength, ultimate
The breaking strength of material.

who

pipeliner

of pipe along the right of way,

number

of steel or iron pipes of a

required diameter and with the necessary couplings. [D]

[POR]
string of tools

stress-and-strain department
The engineering department of the
Halliburton Oil Well Cementing Company, Duncan, Oklahoma. The term is
engineering and
generally applied to
geological departments where there is
brainwork and to mechanical departments where there is strong-arm work.
[Reported]

stretch, n.
1.

The

distance a string of pipe will


it leaves the bottom of the

stretch before

hple.

[LDO]

2.

field

term for tension.

See string. [S]


string over

To measure the depth of a well. See


measure in and measure out. [LDO, p.
417]

string rods

line of surface rods,

connected rigid-

transmission of power used for


operating small pumps in adjoining
ly for the

shafts

from

string

up

a central station. [D]

To

[Reported]

prepare block and lines for pulling


or running pipe or tools. [Heard]

strike, n.

strip, v.t.

1.

The

course, or bearing, of the out-

crop of an inclined bed or structure on a


level surface;

the direction, or bearing,

an

of the horizontal line in the plane of

inclined

stratum,

joint,

fault,

cleavage

plane, or other structural plane, perpen-

dicular to the direction of the dip. [D]


2. The discovery of an oil deposit resulting

from the

To find
To make
3.

activity.

drilling of a well.

oil in drilling

successful

a well.

[D]

distillation

all

the

to lubricating oils.

connections; origi-

and nautical term mean-

ing dismantle. [Reported]


strip a still

To remove
still.

manhead

the

plates

from

[Reported]

v.t.

[NO]

4.

strip a well

To

venture in any

and tubing from a well


remove accumuwhich is holding the rods

pull rods

alternately in order to

[Heard]

lated paraffin

series of drilling tools

for lowering into the hole.

To remove by
down
2. To unscrew

nally a military

string, n.
1.

1.

light fractions

arranged

[NO]

2.

and cutting down or stopping production, syn.

Knife a well. [Heard]

All

v.t. 3. To
pipe of one size. [BB, p. 488]
lay pipe on the surface of the ground,
end to end along the right of way. [OPL,

strip out

To
at

pull tubing

the

same

and rods from a well

time.

When

the

pump

is

r*

stripper

294

sanded up and the rods are stuck, the

the vapors returned to the bubble tower.

tubing is stripped off over the rods and


broken out. [Heard]

syn. Stripper. [BA, p. 257]

stripper, n.

The

marginal well (q. v.). A stripper


produces only a relatively small amount
and is generally pumped empty once or
twice a day. Possibly the term is derived
from the phrase "stripping a cow," i.e.,
taking the last few drops of milk after
the milking is finished. [POR] 2. A
stripping tower (q. v.) in a refinery. [Reported] 3. A rubber device used to strip
pipe or rods dry as they are pulled from
a well. [Heard]
adj. 4. Descriptive of
an area in which there are many strippers. [DO, January 18, 1948]
1.

field of old wells that

little oil.

[Heard]

stripper

Law

produce very

operator of a stripper plant (q. v.)


[RI, p. 281]

stripper plant

A plant where natural gasoline


duced from gas. [MI, p. 78]

is

pro-

stripper rubber

rubber disc surrounding the drill


pipe and so placed that it cleans the mud
and slush off the pipe as it is brought out
of the hole. [Heard]

tilling

still

used in the
process. [PE]

[WIN,

farm

bosses,

p. 138]

strong well
A well with a high

fluid level; the high-

er the fluid level, the stronger the well.

[Heard]
structure, n.

That part of the geological region


which pertains to the altitude of the
rocks, the nature and amount, if any, of
the deformation they have undergone,

and the distribution and mutual

relations

strut, n.

compression

member

or column.

stuck, adj.
Descriptive of an employee

work

overtime.

Stuckey of the

[WIN,
I.

who must

p. 138]

F. C.

M. M. Stuckey, head of
Columbia's Andean Pipeline Company,
who, together with M. M. Austin, presipipelining.

dent of the Ajax pipe line in the United

The

still

etc.

stripper operator

the district superin-

[POR]

A law passed in Texas in 1933 which


permitted owners of gas in all common
reservoirs of more than 300,000 acres to
use up to 25 per cent of a well's openflow capacity for other purposes, including the manufacture of natural gas. [RI,
p. 281]

stripping

big bosses:

tendent, the tool pushers, the

of the structural features. [D]

stripper field

stroke department

first

or primary dis-

stripping tower
A tower similar to, but smaller than,
the bubble tower and so attached to the
bubble tower that the side draw from
the bubble tower enters its stripper compartment above the top tray. Here the
lightest fractions are stripped out and

directed the construction of the


Iraq Petroleum Company pipe line from
the Kirkuk oil field to Hadillia by way
of Fatha. The line branched at Hadillia,
one line traversing British-mandated territories to the Mediterranean port of
Haifa, and the other crossing Frenchmandated Syria to the port of Tripoli.
The line, completed in 1934 despite difficult terrain, was at that time the longest
pipe line in the world and had the potential capacity of about 30 million barrels of crude oil per year. [WIL, p. 104]
States,

stuck rods
Rods frozen in the well with paraffin;
sometimes they are steamed in the well,
but if it is possible to remove them, they
are steamed on the racks. [Heard]
stud, n.

A term used as a prefix to indicate the


crew member in authority, as stud drill-

sucker-rod hanger

295
er,

sublimates,

[Heard]

Solid condensates obtained by the distillation of certain substances.


sublimate is a crystal or powder obtained by

stud duc\, stud horse, stud terrapin;


derived from the supposed superiority
of the "stud" to the "common herd."

[POR]

distillation.

stud, n.

short rod threaded on both ends;


is usually screwed into the solid
body of a machine, while the other has
a nut to hold some part in place. [POR]

n. pi.

sublime,

To

v.t.

one end

and condense certain substances that cool into crystal or powder


instead of liquid. [POR]

stud bolt
See stud. [KI]

submergence,

The
which

stud driller

The main

driller

distill

on a

rig,

who

a gas-lift line

used in
sees

that the tool pusher's orders are carried


out and gives orders to the other drillers.

Usually he works daylights. [Heard]

n.

distance in a vertical direction to

submerged; a term

is

pumping

gas-lift

to describe the

ratio or percentage of the length of the


gas-injection line that extends below the

surface of the liquid.

[POR]

subsill, n.

stud horse

tool pusher; so called

by the

driller.

[Heard]

A sill running parallel to the mainsill


and resting on the mudsill. [NO]
substitute or sub, n.

stud-horse bolt

The

bolt that holds

the

band-wheel

bearings. [Reported]

implement used

to connect a tool

to another

ferent type of thread.

stud terrapin

A variation

An

with one thread

with a

dif-

[NO]

substructure, n.
of stud horse: a head roust-

about or a boss. [Heard]

The foundation

of a derrick. [Heard]

subsurface geology
stuff, n.

Royalty.

[DO, February

The
15, 1948]

box

stuffing

The

tion

[POR]
stuffing-box casing head
See bradenhead. [NO]

stumblebum, n.
A boom-town panhandler.

[KI, p. 247]

The accumulation of oil and gas in


porous rocks underground: the storage
of gas which has been brought from
points
distant
during the summer
months

sucker rod used to make up


the proper length, syn. Pony rod. [Heard]
2. Any kind of adapter between two sizes

[WIN,

in

some

anticline near the point

of winter consumption.

[POR]

sucker pole
A $uc\er rod

[WIN,

1.

well.

A short

of pipe.

p. 432]

(q. v.).

p. 138]

sucker rod

sub, n.
1.

[LDO,

subterranean storage

part of a pumping-well connecthrough which the polish rod passes.


2. The chamber that contains packing
and maintains a fluid-tight joint about a
piston rod where it enters a cylinder.
1.

study of the arrangement of sub-

surface rocks.

p. 138]

subcooling condenser
A condenser which cools vapors coming from distillation below the temperature for condensation. [PE]

The pump rod of an oil or


[NO] 2. A rod with screw

tions at

artesian

connecboth ends, joined to other rods

to form a string which extends into a


well to the working parts of the pump
and actuates the pump. [POR]

sucker-rod hanger
A device in the upper part of a derrick

from which the sucker rods are suspended when they are pulled from the

sucker-rod joint

296

well to permit repairs to the well or to


of the equipment of the well. Also

some

called sucker-rod ]ac\.

[POR]

sucker-rod joint

A specially designed screw joint, made


standard by the American Petroleum Institute, to connect suc\er rods. [POR]

edge of a field is discovered by a rig encountering the producing sand below the
salt water horizon, the crew says it has
hit the suitcase sand or the Gulf of Mexico. The term is said to have originated

Hogtown (now Desdemona), Texas,


where the sand was very hard and the
at

bits

sucker-rod-line swivel weight


A weight by which the cable is brought
from the top to the bottom of the tower
when the line is needed after it has been
out of use. Also called a watermelon (q.
v.). [PE]

with a winch. [Heard]

ejectors, siphons, and other apparatus used to draw in a fluid and deliver it at a pressure or head greater

pumps,

2. slang. "Pull." One


use of suction is said to be a
parasite (q. v.). See connections. [Heard]

than before. [POR]

who makes

suds, n. pi.

mass of

air

bubbles retained by the

film of a viscous fluid such as oil or a


soap-and-water solution; froth. [POR]

sugar sand

A name given by
sand encountered in

drillers to a certain

drilling.

test

made on

determine

its

ability for the


oils.

lubricating crude to

composition and its suitmanufacture of lubricating

[KOT]

use the expression upon the completion


of a producing well to mean that their
services

are

no longer

profitable.

hydrogen
compound

of sulphur and
hydrogen having an unpleasant odor
which occurs frequently in crude petroleum and at oil wells. [POR]

gaseous

wholesale layoff of

oilfielders.

When

a group of workers lose their jobs or a


field is defined and many workers are
laid off, the suitcase

parade begins. For

reason unproductive sand


called suitcase sand. [Heard]
this

sulpho compounds
Compounds formed by sulphuric-acid
treatment of petroleum lubricating oils
which form curdled masses when
brought into contact with water, and

which are often the source of emulsions


with the lubricating oils. The compounds
generally contain some sodium from the
neutralizing treatment. [POR]
sulphonic acids
Acids resulting from the addition of
S0 2 to a hydrocarbon, usually by treatment of the oil with strong sulphuric
acid. [D]

is

often

suitcase sand
1. Unproductive sand that marks the
edge of a productive field. When the

[P, p. 135]

sulphur dioxide
A gas formed by the burning or

oxi-

dizing of sulphur that is often present at


oil wells; used in ice machines as a refrigerating

suitcase parade

p.

To
Crews may

(hit the suitcase sand) 2.

v.

sulphur-bottom corn
Corn whiskey (East Texas).

[NO]

suitability distillation

that

[WIN,

condition created in a closed ves-

by a partial vacuum caused by the


removal of air or gas; the operation of
sel

dressings

pack up and move elsewhere.

suction, n.

138]

sulphide,

suck pipe

1.

many

[Heard]

sucker-rod wax
See rod wax. [D]

To pick up pipe

required so

tool dressers refused to stay.

medium and

also in

some

pe-

troleum-refining processes. [D]

summer-black

oil

black lubricating oil of 540 F. fire


test, used as a heavy tempering oil and
as a waterproofing for cement. [A]

summer

oil

heavy railway-car and engine oil


with a flash point of above 140 C. which
solidifies below -5 C. [POR]

swab down

297

sump,

n.

small reservoir near the derrick


into which the drilling mud is emptied.
2. An earth reservoir, made by excavating and banking, into which oil from
one or many wells is allowed to run. syn.

hole
See slush

sunned

A
for

pit.

p. 331]

surface hole

The

portion of a borehole that extends


the surface of the earth down past

from
the

first

water sand. [Heard]

[D]

oil

name for crude petroleum, or


product which is sometimes in-

[LDO]

surface pipe
See surface casing. [Heard]

trade
a

creased in density and fitted for use as


a lubricant by exposing it to the sun as

on the surface of a tank of


water to remove the more volatile
portions by evaporation. [D]
a thin layer

warm
sun

[LDO,

surface or field mapping


Topographical mapping.

sump

surface sand
A name given by drillers to a sandstone found at a depth of 90 to 180 feet
in Vanango County, Pennsylvania ( 1 883)

[NO]
surface string

The

test

determine the stability of the


color of an oil when exposed to sunlight.
test to

[BB,

string of casing in a well.

first

p. 488]

surface well

[J]

superfractionation,

One

petroleum

[NO]

re-

2. Special apparatus in
passed over hot coils and

which steam

is

superheated.

[KOT]

The

top of the ground

the

soil, clay,

on top of the strata. 2. The area at


which one material may come in con-

etc.,

tact

with others.
[D]

3.

The

top plane in a

liquid.

surface casing

casing extending
above the surface of the earth
down past the first water sands so that
surface water and the first spring water
are held out of the well. [KI]

from

n.

steel

to

and rubber device run on

the bottom of a well

to

lift

fluids. [NO] 2. A rod provided with a


plunger, used to clean dirt from line
pipe. [D] 3.
three-rubber device about
20 inches long, used to clean a pipe line
in which there is no paraffin. [Heard]
v.t. 4. To lift from a well most of the
oil in the casing by means of a swab:
the oil flows up through the valves of
the swab as it is lowered. This method
produces more oil than ordinary pumping, but is generally employed only as
a temporary production method. [BA,
p. 163] 5. To clean out a well. [Heard;
BO] slang. 6. To elicit information. 7.

surface, n.
.

swab,
cable

of the parts of a

water; an abbreviation used in


[LDO, p. 428]

Salt

drilling reports.

1.

superheater, n.
finery.

S.W.

[KE]

fractions.

1.

well sunk through the clay to the


goes down only to the gravel
(1865). [NO]

rock;

n.

A refining process by which fractionating columns having efficiencies equivalent to that of 50 to 100 theoretical plates
are operated for the separation of particular hydrocarbons from light gasoline

this system.

[D]

Pit.

from

structural theories of oil resulted

1.

short string of
just

surface geology
A system of prospecting for

oil whereby the geologist studies surface indications and topography. The anticlinal and

To

gossip.

swabber,

[Heard]
n.

pipeliner.

[WIL,

p. 69]

swab down

To
Swab

recover
dry,

ported]

all fluid

swab the

from
hell

the hole. syn.

out of

it.

[Re-

swab

in

swab

in

To

298

swarm when

start

flowing by means of a

oil

swab. [BB,

p. 490]

fall

swab-man,

A
line

n.

worker who crawls through a pipe


and cleans, scrapes, and polishes it.

[F, p. 138]

cup on a swabbing

See also swab the steam exhaust


and bail the rat hole. [Heard]
sell.

swab the steam exhaust

A sell.
swage,
1.

or

used to straighten collapsed


casing.

[LDO]

and designed

to

fit

two

v.t.
syn. Sloper. [Heard]
the diameter of a pipe by

2.

[Heard; BA,

sizes of pipe.
3.

To

sweat,

tool

on the out-

joint threaded at both ends

reduce

hammering.

[LDO]

n.

To

be-

5.

(in

a person or

support of a derrick.

p. 101]

1.

in

p. 428]

v.t.

To remove

oil

from

paraffin

wax by

a process of heating in shallow pans. Oil,

which

lighter

is

and

separates

Wax

is

separate

from

sink hole. [D]

used

abbreviation

[LDO,

in

floats

weight than wax,


off

sweated after the

removed by the

swallow hole

sway brace
The diagonal

drilling reports.

n.

tool

To

fluctuates, etc. 3.

lose control of one's temper. 4.

swb.
Swabbing; an

See sky hooks. [Heard]

damaged

side

comes granular or

thing that swarms. [Heard]

[Heard]

tool.

swab the engine

short of expectations; said of equipthat fails, drilling mud that be-

ment

come worried and irritated.


a swarm) The condition of

swab rubber

they are racked improperly

and become so tangled that the derrickman cannot manage them easily. 2. To

liquid

solid

when
oil

[POR]
amorphous

presses.

and

crystalline

heated.

has been

paraffin

To

2.

wax

by the

gradual application of heat. [D]

swamp, v.t.
To work as

a helper.

The

originated with

swamper

(q. v.).

expression

[Heard]

sweated scale

wax

The crude gray or nearly white


and moisture-free wax coming from

oil-

be rushed with work; not limited


to the oil field. [Heard]

the
sweaters before final filtration for semirefined grades. [D]

swamper,

sweating pan

swamped,

adj.

To

n.

truck driver's helper who maintains all the necessary tools on the truck
and directs the driver over difficult ter1.

rain. 2.

Any

helper. [Heard] 3.

jani-

tor in a petroleum-refinery office or lab-

Originally a pipe used


also the worker who
porter in a
uses the pipe. [Heard] 5.
saloon (obsolete). [BO]
oratory.

[KI]

for leverage;

4.

now

swamp

swamp

pipe

cheater (q. v.). [Heard]

pole

swamper

1.

tank fitted with heating and cooling


used to separate paraffin waxes of
different melting points. [KI]

sweating surface
The surface on which paraffin wax is
caught after heating and cooling have
taken place. The vessel is cooler inside
than outside, where wax sweats or condenses as it comes into contact with the
cooling surface. The surface is enclosed
within the sweating tanks. [KI]

sweat over
or cheater (qq. v.).

To liquefy material by heat until it


sweats or melts away. Temperatures of
from 120 to 126 F. are required to melt

[Heard]

swarm,

coils,

v.i.

To become unmanageable;

pipes

wax. [KI]

swing

299
swedge,

n.

An

1.

implement

damaged

collapsed or

straightening

for

pipe.

[NO]

2.

device for reducing the end of a pipe to


fit a smaller connection. Also, less com-

monly

called swage.

of a

nipple having one end smaller than

straighten pipe with a swedge.

Swedish powder
Originally,
Copenhagen snuff; now,
any kind of snuff. Used by employees in
refineries where smoking is forbidden
except in restricted areas. [Heard]

Descriptive

petroleum

of

products

and consequently have no bad odor;


odor only, not to

sweet crude
Crude oil containing

taste.

per-

[Heard]

or

no

sul-

2.

To

treat gasoline

with an

remove undesirable
chemical compounds. [Heard]
alkaline solution to

sweetener, n.
A producing well used as bait to induce prospective buyers to invest in a
company. [NO]

sweetening

swinestone, n.
Bituminous limestone. [D]

n.

pivoted
a

device with arms which


horizontal plane, used to

which

distillates or

[D]

SWEETENING TREATMENT
See copper sweetening process, doctor
Frasch process, hot-doctor

line to a

[POR]

well.

swinging gauge
A method of gauging a tank of oil.
By subtracting the outage gauge from
the reference point (mark on the gauging
hatch), the amount of oil in the tank is
determined in feet and inches. [OPL, p.
'

232]

swinging spider

A
ing

still

other petroleum products are improved in odor.

treatment,
treatment.

n.

Spindletop field; so called because


of the many fraudulent oil-stock companies that operated there. [FO, p. 20]

change the direction of a rod

v.t.

connect a large amount of undeveloped land with an interest in some


dividend-paying well as a sweetener (q.

in

1. The section of the log book where


the workers' time is recorded. 2. An employee's expense account. [Heard]

radiate in

To

still

v.t.

swindle sheet

swing,
little

phur. [POR]

sul-

The

that are comparatively free of sulphur

[NO]

no

November

put in one's time. A worker may


say, when signing the time sheet, "Well,
I swindled them today." [Heard]

Swindletop,

sweet, adj.

v.).

or

To

[Heard]

1.

little

18, 1947]

swindle,

swedge out

sweeten,

sweet oil
Crude oil containing

phur. See sweet crude. [DO,

the other; a reducing nipple. [D]

tains to

sweet gasoline

move bad

swedged nipple

To

sweet gas
Gas with no foreign or sulphurous
odor. [DO, October 14, 1947]

Gasoline that has been treated to reodors. See also doctor test,
doctor solution, and sour gasoline. [KI]

[Heard]

swedged, adj.
Reduced in diameter by the use
blacksmith's swedge or swage. [D]

line

kept moving while drilling

process.

swing

by which the

cable-tool device
is

in

[LDO]

line

line or section of pipe inside a

which can be
of a cable.

BS&W

casis

tank

by means
raised above

raised or lowered

The

pipe

(q. v.) so that

out. [Reported]

is

good

oil is

pumped

swing

man

swing

man

300
swivel-bailing, n.

A worker who replaces

Rapid, uninterrupted drilling. [Heard]

other operators

they are off duty. The rotating


shift causes a gap in the regular line-up,
and since operation in a refinery must be

when

continuous, a worker must be employed


who is trained for several positions. He

next in line for promotion, and since


is qualified for more than one position, he is a very valuable employee, syn.

is

he

swivel neck
1. A forged steel connection used between the rotary-drilling hose and the
top of the grief stem. Its design permits
the drill pipe to be rotated in the hole
while water is circulated to remove cuttings.

[POR]

in derision

2.

by

rotary driller; so called

cable-tool drillers.

[Heard]

Shift-breaker. [Heard]

swivel off

swing pipe

To come

device whereby the pipe bearing the

outlet

valve

in

tank is continued
tank to provide

through the

shell of the

against

collection

the

water which

settles

and freezing of
from the oil. [NO]

unscrewed, as the drilling

cable swivels off at the rope socket. [D,


I, p. 281]

swivel wrench

tool extractor. [Heard]. 2. A


heavy wrench made to fit the
square of a drill bit and provided with a
swivel device for suspension by a hoisting line so that the bit may be easily
1.

special

switcher, n.

The worker who

switches the flow of

when one is full;


he may shut the well in while the tank is
being emptied. [Heard]
oil

into another tank

switcher with his brains knocked out


A petroleum engineer; so called by a
roustabout. [Heard]

switch

oil

Insulating

oil

used in

electric switches.

n.

wrench with the handle curved

the letter S.

like

[NO]

synclinal, adj.
Characteristic of, situated in, or forming a syncline; the opposite of anticlinal

[POR]

syncline, n.

swivel, n.
drilling.

s-wrench,

(q. v.).

[J]

[POR]

handled.

1.

short piece of casing

with one end belled over a heavy ring,


the other end threaded, and a large hole
through both walls. 2. A highly-developed
universal joint and hose coupling which
forms the connection between the slush
pumps and the drill stem. [D]

The low

um
like

point, or valley, in a petrolegeologic structure of rolling or wave-

form. [POR]

synthetic driller
An inexperienced driller; often shortened to synthetic. See weevil and brake
weight. [Heard]

T
T. A.
Temporarily abandoned; an abbreviation used in drilling reports. [LDO, p.

tack, v.t.

428]

An adhesive asphaltic film used in gluing new asphaltic surface to old pavement. [KOT]

tabasco sauce
Acid used in acidizing wells. [Heard]

To weld

in spot. [Heard;

OPL,

p. 58]

tack coat

301

take-off tray

tag.

An

abbreviation for Tagliabue.

[POR]

Tagliabue closed tester

An

apparatus for

making

n. 2. One of the false piston rods projecting through the cylinder head of a
large engine to support the heavy pis-

[POR]

ton.
flash

tests

on kerosene and similar products. [KOT]


Tagliabue viscosimeter
An American viscosimeter now little
used and replaced in most American
laboratories by the Saybolt Universal in-

tail

shoe

The
outer

cross head or slider carrying the


end of the tail rod. [POR]

tail sill

The
[NO]

sill

on which the

strument. The Saybolt Universal readings can be converted into tag. by multiplying S.U. by 0.28 at 100 F., by 0.51 at
212 F. [POR]

take, n.

tag line

take a core

rope or cable with certain


gripping devices, used in machine shops
where heavy equipment is handled.
[KI]
tail

utility

chain

The end

of a

winch

line; a short

chain

with a hook. [Heard]


tail

house

The house
runs

for

which the distillate


and distribution to the

into

test

storage tanks. Also called cut house or

junction house.

The

work

final

readying

[POR]

work

tailing-in

it

of finishing a well

and

for regular production. [PE]

tailings, n. pi.

The

1.

inferior leavings or residue of

any product; foots, bottoms. 2. A shortened term for wax tailings or gum, the
last distillate passing off before coking
of dry-run crude or tar. [D]
tail

pipe

To pick up one end of a pipe and


guide it to the desired position. It may
be tailed to a rack or back into the hole.
[Heard]
n. 2. refining. A pipe leading off from the worm (q. v.). [NO]
1.

tail

post

post

sand
tail
1.

reel.

which supports the

rods

To

guide sucker rods being pulled


up one end and carryto the desired position. [Heard]

or run by picking

ing

shaft of the

[NO]

it

Oil

[BA,

taken,

or

rail

post rests.

bought, from a

lease.

p. 174]

To

obtain a solid segment of strata

by means of a core

bit. [S]

take a hitch on
To pick up something with a winch
or any other lifting device. [Heard]

take a picture
To make an impression of a fish (q.
v.). When none of the standard fishing
tools work, the driller must make a tool
to fit the fish. He does this by taking
a picture of the situation: lowering an
impression block into the hole and
pounding it down on top of the object
for which he is fishing. [BA, p. 118]

take a strain on pipe


To take hold of pipe and pick up the
slack. [Heard]
take a stretch on pipe

To estimate how much pipe in the


hole can be salvaged by measuring the
actual length that the pipe stretches
when the rig ta\es a strain. Dynamite is
lowered to the depth to which the
stretch indicates that the pipe is free,
and the pipe is shot off. The free pipe
is then pulled from the well. [Heard]
take off
To begin drilling. [Heard]
take-off post

The
ment

post or

arm

that transmits

move-

working beam. [PE]

to the

take-off tray

The

place

is taken from
[Reported]

where any cut

a tower, syn.

Catch

tray.

two buckets

takes

302

takes two buckets of dope to go to the

bottom

typical

dog

answer a

onlookers

or

driller gives

who

a bird

how

asks

deep

the well is, meaning that it takes two


buckets of dope to treat the joints in the
well. [Reported]

take-up screw
A screw for iron pull-rods or wire

cable-tool drilling. To feel the drill


rope or cable. By this method an experienced driller can determine how the
tools

drilling

are

what

operating,

for-

being penetrated, when it is


necessary to change drilling bits or drilling speed, whether further casing opera-

mation

is

[LDO,

tions are necessary, etc.

p. 397]

tally pipe

To measure

Two

for reinforced concrete

fuel oils or crude oil are stored.

[POR]
tank, crude-oil storage

large steel tank, with or without a

is

stored in the field, at pipe-line stations,

tank farm, or at the refinery.


is generally used for
this purpose; however, there are larger
tanks made both of steel and of conat the

55,000-barrel tank

The

crete.

concrete tanks are of the reser-

and are provided with closed

voir type

[POR]

tank, cylindrical

A cylinder-shaped tank with round


heads and a length greater than its diameter; may be of the horizontal or vertical type, overhead or underground.
[POR]
tank, earthen storage

pool at a new well to take care of the


crude oil until steel tanks can be erected.

moving

a rig. [Heard]

[POR]

Tube and tan\

process (q. v.). [PE]

large vessel or receptacle

wood, metal, or concrete,


gas, or other fluid

is

put

[NO]

oil in a

tank, flow

A tank into which crude

tank, n.

TANK,

made

tank

which

of wheels, one behind the

t.&t.p.

tank.

in

stored.

made

which

v.t. 2.

of

oil,

To

and

oil

flows

from

allowed to settle. Silt, water,


and emulsions are separated from the
a well

is

point before it is delivered to


the pipe lines for transport to the reoil at this

fineries.

[POR]

n.

See acid blow

case, acid egg, agitator,

bailing tub, bleacher, cut-back tank, dish-

bottom tank, drip


tankage,

pot,

dump

tank, egg,

flow tank, gas

and

oil

separator, gas holder, gas tank, hot well,

run-down tank, scrubber,


scrubber tank, settler, stock tank, storage tank, tower, trap, volume tank,

jug, lease tank,

working tank.
portable tank in

tank, fuel-oil

A tank in which fuel oils are stored.


Tanks carrying heavy residual fuels are
provided with steampipe coils to liquefy
the oil in cold weather and with vent
pipes to allow the escape of light fractions

which

all

the plates

and

gases.

[POR]

tank, gasoline

An

tank, bolted

A
in

An emergency storage tank made of


banks of earth or dikes which form a

other, used in

[POR]

pipe with a tape. [Heard]

n.

sets

the field.

tank, concrete

tops.

tallow [taller] boy


A tool pusher; so called in early cabletool days by workers who believed that
he was useful only for carrying tallow,
which was used as a special lubricant,
to the rigs. [Reported]

tandem,

oil in

vapor-proof roof and with a capacity in


barrels of 42 gallons, in which crude oil

talk to the rope

field

crude

[NO]

rope.

1.

are bolted together rather than riveted;


generally used as emergency storage for

especially

tight

tank,

preferably

with welded seams, for storing gasoline


and similar light hydrocarbons. The tank

tang-gauging engineer

33

may

be of the underground or level type;


however, buried tanks show the least
loss by evaporation because of the more
constant temperature maintained on the
gasoline.

[POR]

tank of variable capacity, with sliding counterweighted upper sections for


maintaining uniform pressure on the enclosed gas. Gases and vapors are stored
in such a tank, which is also used as a
"breather" with an oil-storage tank to
receive discharge vapors. [POR]
tank, gauging

A tank used

Settlings in storage tanks that are bled

waste
[Heard]

off as
etc.

oil,

BS&W

measure large quantities


wells and pipe lines.
The tank is filled, the level is measured
by a gauging rod, and the contents are
then delivered to the pipe-line company.
to

from

tank-breather tubes
Outlet pipes for the escape of air and
vapor while a tank is being filled or while
the vapors are expanding during a heated
period; a wasteful process, since an entire tankful of vapor is expelled at every
filling,

and water vapor is drawn


is emptied. [POR]

A cylindrical metal tank mounted on


railway trucks for transporting liquids
or gases in bulk. [D]
tank-car price
marketing. A price used from the
class or method of delivery in tank cars.

[SHU,

tank, vapor-tight

crude storage tank or


tank
which is protected against leakage of oil vapor by
metal roofs and tight connections between the tank and the roof. There are
several patented vapor-proof roofs designed to remain tight and at the same
time allow for movement caused by expansion and contraction. [POR]

when

tank car

tank coils
Steam coils used

large, vertical,

in

the tank

[POR]

(q. v.), paraffin,

tank, gasometer

of crude oil

tank bottoms

p. 146]

to heat

heavy

oils.

[POR]

refinery-distillate

tankage,

The

storing of

dome
short cylindrical bonnet placed

on

the top of a horizontal tank or tank car


to allow for inspection of the contents,
to provide space for expansion, and to

provide a

filling

[POR]

connection.

tanker, n.

A
n.

oil in a tank. 2. The


price charged or paid for tank storage.
1.

tank

ship

steel

with most of the hull

divided into oiltight compartments into


which crude oil or refined products are

pumped

capacity of one or more tanks.


[D] 4. The waste residue deposited in
separating vats or tanks. [A]

for transportation. There are


and lake-plying
ocean-going,
tankers and barges on inland streams
which may be towed or may move un-

tank balloon

der their

3.

The

Diesel,

own

large fabric balloon connected to a


storage tank to receive and conserve the

tank farm

gasoline vapors driven off when


the tank is heated by the sun. The vapors
are thus returned to the tank when it

for

light

cools again.

[POR]

tank barge

A barge or scow divided into compartments for carrying bulk crude oil
or fuel oil. A barge may be towed by
another vessel, or it may be provided
with auxiliary power. [POR]

1.

power. [BA,

An area which has been set aside


the storage of petroleum in large

steel reservoirs. 2.

ing

p. 192]

all

Such an

area, includ-

tanks and equipment.

[POR]

tank gauge
A gauge used to indicate the contents
remaining in tanks. [POR]

tank-gauging engineer
A worker who computes the tan\ table
(q. v.) to determine the volume of oil
in barrels at various depths. [Reported]

tankies

34
tap, pipe-thread

tankies, n. pi.

Tank

builders.

[Reported]

tank mix

An
oil,

oil spray made by mixing spray


water, and a spreader in a tank at

the place of application.

The
tion

'shortage" of

oil,

tank station
A station on a pipe
are located. [D]

or the

amount

of evapora-

line

where tanks

tank strapper
A worker who measures the

[D]

in a

oil

tank to determine the amount being run


from each lease. His report includes the
depth of the tank in feet, the circumference of the tank in feet, the thickness
of the wall, and the deadwood measure-

and

inches.

[POR]

tank table

chart showing the number of barat various depths for each

A truck with a tank for carrying petroleum or petroleum products. [D]

tank-transportation

vehicles

were

tank-wagon man

gasoline-truck driver; so called because kerosene was originally delivered


in horse-drawn

wagons. [BA,

p. 36]

marketing. The price


truck.

[SHU,

at

which

cur-

made from tank wagon

or

p. 147]

tap, n.
tool

1.

fish pipe.

[Heard]

2.

Any

thick, sticky oil residue. 2. dis-

The

substance closely allied to


a strictly dry-run
product, the intermediate from which
paraffin distillate was obtained before the
general adoption of tower stills. [D] 3.
Asphaltic paint for pipe. [HI]
tar,

represents

oil;

bituminous
dark-colored liquid

or

semifluid,

ordinary solvents such as carbon disulphide, benzol, petroleum ether, etc. When
distilled

[D]

bottoming

tap used to tap a thread


at the bottom of the drill hole. [POR]

it

produces pitch. [POR]

tar distillate
1.

used to cut internal threads.

A full-threaded

used to

tool

often soluble in water but insoluble in

tank-wagon price
rent sales are

tar, n.

fuel

tank truck; so called because the

wagons. [KI]

tap,

1.

tilling.

wagon

tank

taper tap
tapered tool used to cut threads in a
nut or a hole. [POR]

tank truck

first

taper rope
A rope with a gradually diminishing
diameter from the upper to the lower
end. The diameter of the rope is decreased by dropping one wire at a time
at regular intervals. Both round and flat
ropes may be tapered and such ropes are
intended for deep-shaft hoisting, with a
view to proportioning the diameter of
the rope to the load to be sustained at
different depths. [D]

of oil

tank. [Reported]

The paper ribbon on which the seismograph record has been inscribed over
a period of time. [PE]

A steamer for carrying oil in bulk.

rels

used to drill a tapped hole, the


diameter being slightly greater than
the diameter of the tap at the bottom of
the threads but smaller than the outside
diameter of the tap. [POR]
drill

tape, n.

tank steamer

feet

drill

drill

from a tank as a result


and leakage. [POR]

ments in

tap

[KOT]

tank outage
lost

taper-thread tap used to tap pipe


connections, cut with the standard Briggs
taper pipe thread. [POR]

distillate

still.

[D]

affin

and heavy

2.

from a

distillate
oils

tar or

residuum

from which

par-

are obtained.

[Re-

separated

into

ported]
tar oils
1.

Coal-tar

distillates

telegraph cord

305
commercial

following

the

crude, naphtha, light


creosote

oil,

derived from

fractions:

crude carbolic

oil,

oil.

[POR]

tar.

[Heard]

(sing.)

2.

Oil

An

abbreviation for true boiling point

(q. v.). [KI]

T.D.

An abbreviation for total depth.


ported]

tarp, n.

t.b.p.

shortened form of tarpaulin.

[Re-

[Heard]
teacher, n.
tar plug

plug located in or near the bottom


of a still for pumping out the residuum
remaining after distillation. [D]

so

driller;

by roughnecks.

called

[Heard]

TEAMSTER,

n.

See crude skinner, mule peeler, mule


tar pool

skinner, oil-field skinner.

natural deposit of heavy, viscous,

asphaltic

oil.

teaser, n.

[Reported]

A
sand
Sand which

tar

well

enough
yields

tarry

[Re-

oil.

some oil but


commercial value.

yielding

to be of

[Heard; BA,

not

p. 32]

ported]

technical products
tar spring

A
[FO,
tar

oil.

p. 10]

still

A
the

Special boiling products, as cleaners'

water spring with a seepage of

still

first

in

which heavy residuum from

distillation

is

distilled again.

naphtha, Mineral Spirits, etc.; a term


used by the Shell Oil Company, Incorporated, Mid-Continent and Eastern Ter-

(The

ritory.

Shell Oil

Company,

term special boiling point for

[Reported]

Incor-

porated, Pacific Coast Territory, uses the


of products.)

this class

[KOT]

tar test

test

made

to detect tarry matter in

cylinder-oil stocks

and other

obtained

oils

The

from

the petroleum residuals.


includes the precipitation test,

test

and con-

of dissolving 5 per cent of the oil

sists

sample in 95 per cent of freshly


petroleum ether. [POR]

distilled

receptacle for collecting the tarry


liquid which separates from the gas when
leaves the condensers.

[D]

bolt fastening the adjuster to the ad-

an adjuster

field

name

for a

weight indicator.

2.

n.

shortened form of torpedo.


ported]

[Re-

Tbg.
Tubing; an abbreviation used in
ing reports.

A walkjng beam
TEL,

tee bolt.

[NO]

[LDO,

p. 428]

drill-

Tel.

(q. v.).

[Heard]

n.

t.e.l.,

pipelining. The nickname


for a holiday detector. See holiday, syn.
Stool pigeon. [OPL, p. 64]

taw,

tee bolt

(q. v.).

tattletale, n.
1.

pipe fitting with one single side outright angles to the run. [D]

teetering log

[Heard]

let at

juster board;

tar well

it

tee, n.

an abbreviation of tetraethyl lead


[FU, p. 280]

and Tel. department

Telegraph and telephone department,


the communication department of the
Gulf Pipe Line Company, Houston,
Texas. [Reported]

telegraph cord
The wire that makes connection between the telegraph wheel and the engine. [BA, p. 102] Also called telegraph

and telegraph rope. [NO]

telegrapher

306

TELEGRAPHER, n.
See bonus man,

Ham,

brass pounder,

Lid and

lightning slinger.

smoke

32 millimeters, during a
kerosene. [KOT]

test

on

tender, n.

telegraph wheel
A metal pulley in front of the headache post with which the driller starts,

and controls the speed of the engine. It is connected to the engine by a


running
wire (the telegraph cord)
around it and back to the engine. [BA,

pipelining.

shipment of

oil.

[F, p.

sulphur.

[NO]

102]

Tennessee

stops,

oil

Oil containing

ten-spot,

To

much

v.t.

one well to every ten

drill

acres.

[RI, p. 218]

p. 102]

telescope pole
See mast and

tent rule

frame. [Heard]

slide

rule, a

telewire twister
A telephone repairman on a pipe

a corruption of tenth

rule;

name

often given to a slide rule

by nonengineers because
line.

it

is

divided

into tenths. [Reported]

[Heard]

term of
telltale, n.

device in an oil tank which indicates when the tank is full. [BB, p. 488]
telltale flange

opening in an
tion or testing. [D]

remove all of its hydroscopic


moisture and most of its water of crystal[D]
oil

Oil used for tempering hot metal.

temper screw

The
late

part of a drilling rig used to reguthe force of the blow of the drill

bit:

a screw

hanging from the walking

to feed the drilling tools in

cable-tool drilling. Originally, a

term used

in mechanics to designate a screw or pin


to bring a point against a bearobject.

The temper screw used

in drilling cable-tool wells has the

which

landowner.

original

royalty interest

it

returns to the

[LDO]

gravimetric anomaly corresponding

it brings or keeps the bit in


the hole against the uncut surface. [NO]

1
To examine, or attempt by means of
a reagent to determine, the temperature
.

at

which

light

hydrocarbon

corruption of temper screw (q. v.).

[Heard]

tendency to soot

The difference between the height of


the flame when it begins to smoke and

[POR]

2.

oils

evolve

To examine

petroleum and petroleum products before marketing to


determine various
physical or chemical qualities, as specific gravity, flash point, sulphur content,
percentage of basic sediment or water,
viscosity, color, and, in the case of paraf-

melting point. [LDO]


n. 3. An oil
[D] 4. A well drilled in an undeveloped area to determine the nresence
or absence of oil. [Reported]
fin,

test.

test

burner

burner used in testing the candle

power
tester,

A
there

temple screw

[PE]

test, v.t.

same

function:

after

explosive vapors.

[KOT]

employed
ing or an

and

valid

to great irregularities of terrain.

sufficient to

beam used

is

oil still for reserva-

temper, v.t.
To dry fuller's earth at a temperature

tempering

royalty

terrain correction

An

lization.

oil

The term during which

of illuminating

oil.

[POR]

casing

device for
determining whether
is water leakage in the casing.

[LDO]
test pile

offshore drilling.

temporary

pile

driven to determine the weight the


ground will support; the first step in
making a platform (q. v.). [Reported]

thickened

37
tetracosane, n.
A very heavy,

along both sides of the engine block


solid, saturated paraffin

hydrocarbon (C 24

H 50

melting

point
50 to 51 F., specific gravity 0.790 at 60
F.).

[POR]

tetradecane, n.
A heavy, liquid, saturated paraffin hydrocarbon of the kerosene group (C 14
45 Baume, boiling point 252 C).
30 ,

[POR]
tetraethyl lead
A chemical [Pb(C 2 5 ) 4 ] added to
gasoline to give it antiknock properties.

[KI]

tetrahydroterpene, n.
A naphthene (C 10 20

boiling point
162 to 167 F.) found in some grades
of Russian petroleum. [POR]
,

solid

hydrocarbon (C 34

fi6 ,

melt-

ing point 71 to 72 F., specific gravity


0.800 at 80 F.) found in Pennsylvania

[POR]

petroleum.

Texas style of racking pipe


A method of racking drill

pipe on
only one side of the derrick, in contrast
to the California style, in which pipe is
racked on two sides of the derrick. Also
called Texas and Oklahoma style. [Reported]

compound (C 32

H 22

first

obtained

[POR]
do

me

An

^f

expression of approval, said when


a connection is screwed up tight. [WIN,
p. 138]

that's

oil

drillers,

and

tool dressers, syn. Oil seed. [Reported]

thermal alkylation
1. An alkylation proceeding in the
absence of catalysts. 2. Specifically, the
alkylation of isobutane with propylene,
butenes, or pentenes; effected by the use
of concentrated sulphuric acid or anhydrous hydrofluoric acid as the catalyst.
The products are named in terms of the
olefines used in their manufacture: propylene alkylate, buten alkylate, or penten

alkylate.

[KE]

thermal cracking

name

given to the earliest method


which depended almost solely on temperature, pressure, and time
factors. Also called pyrolytic cracking.
Both terms are used to distinguish the
older methods from catalytic cracking
(q. v.). [BA, p. 207]
of cracking

thermal

An

distillation

term for heat

early

distillation.

[KI]

thermal efficiency
ratio of heat used

number

compared

to

of heat units contained

in the fuel. [D]

thermal

A
v.).

that'll

by roughnecks,

geologists

The

by Morton in 1873 from Pennsylvania


oil. Also called Viridine and petrocene.

grows

pieces of rock that

Oil-bearing samples taken from the


core; a derisive expression addressed to

the total

thallene, n.

[KOT]
them

tetraricontane, n.

oils

still

still

used in thermal

distillation (q.

[KI]

thermal unit

specified unit for

mating amount of

comparing or esti[D]

heat, as B.T.U.

thermoviscosity, n.

high

pipelining. Descriptive of a job well


done; an early expression. [WIL, p. 69]

that well ain't diggin(g)

A viscosity
as kerosene.

test made on
[KOT]

light oils such

the 32

The

32

hours rest that occurs once


months when changing

Advice given by one who believes the


driller is doing the job wrong. [WIN,

every

p. 138]

thickened oils
with small
Mineral oils thickened
amounts of vulcanized rubber or dis-

T-head engine

An

engine with the valves located

shifts.

three

[BB, p. 489]

308

thief

aluminum

solved in

soap; used as lubri-

cants. [A]

thread, a finer thread than the U.S.A.


Standard, for screws and nuts of equal
size.

[POR]

thief, n.

1.

device used in taking a sample


definite predetermined location

from a

body of

in the
2.
3.

To

take a sample of

Used

compounds,

in

oil

[NO]

a material.

with a

v.t.

thief.

as thief hole, thief

hatch, thief sand. (qq. v.). [D]

hatch

thief

The opening through which the samples may be taken with a thief. [POR]
thief hole

gauge

[EA,

hole.

p. 158]

rod

thief

oil

samples

car.

[POR]

long rod used in taking

from a storage tank or tank


sand

thief

stratum of sand which absorbs

from

richer strata.

[ME,

oil

To
fluid.

reduce the density of rotary


Also cut. [BB, p. 490]

third

mountain sand

The

third oil-bearing sand.

mud

A name

given by

the

drillers to the

Fifty-foot

protective device to screw on pipe


threads while pipe is not in use. [Heard]

thread up
To screw a nut or a pipe. When a boll
weevil does not know which way to
turn a nut or a pipe, an old hand may
say, "Goes on just like
a plow bolt,
Sonny," meaning that it turns to the
right as does a plow bolt. [Heard]
three-day hand
A worker who is not interested in a
regular job but in a short sta\e, or pay
check. [Heard]

rock

Sand and the

Blue Monday Sand in Butler County,


Pennsylvania (1880). [NO]

Three Sands Field


An early Tonka wa, Oklahoma, field;
so called because production was found
in three sands. [Heard]

Thompson machine

machine used to test the lubricating value of an oil and obtain the coefficient of friction

thread protector

three gauges of steam in the stacks


hyperbolic expression meaning that
the boiler is flooded with water. [Heard]

[NO]

thirty-foot sand

between

The standard machine screw and bolt


thread used on general machinery; a
"Vee" thread. The sides diverge at an
angle of 60, and the tops and bottoms
are flattened, the width of the flat being
one-eighth the pitch. [POR]

p. 764]

down

thin

thread, U.S.A. Standard

when used with

various

3-way

A
that

bit
to a fishtail bit except
has three blades. [Reported]

bit similar
it

bearing metals. [POR]

thousand-foot shell sand


The name given by drillers to the Butler Gas Sand near Karns City, Pennsylvania (1890).

A
BA,

three-joint length of pipe.

A safety

spiral-shaped groove cut

[Heard;

p. 127]

thribble board

[NO]

thread, n.
of a screw.

thribble, n.

on the face

[POR]

derrick board as high as three

joints of pipe.

boiler sheet: a ring of steel plates

thread, pipe
The Briggs taper thread used for pipe
ends and pipe fittings. [POR]

forming

thread, S.A.E.

throttle, n.

The Standard Automobile Engineers

[Heard]

throat sheet
the

boiler proper

connection

between the

and the barrel

boiler. [KI]

valve of any kind. [Heard]

time squib

309
throttle-happy, adj.

ticket, n.

Descriptive of a roughneck who is so


anxious to become a driller that he assumes control of the drilling rig at the
slightest opportunity. He is often said
to

have bra\e jever. syn. Clutch-footed,

brake-happy. [Reported]

throw a cob in the wheel

To

shut

down an

An

official

report of a gauger. [Heard;


16, 1947]

DO, November

a can on her tail


To speed up an engine; possibly
from the expression tie a can on a dog's
tail. 2. To discharge a worker. [Reported]
tie

1.

tie in

engine. [Heard]

To connect pipe lines. [WIL, p. 8]


To make the last connection on a pipe

1.

throw a double
To work two consecutive

2.

tours (q. v.)

[Heard]

throw

To
ly

tie in

his voice

who

is

violent-

and unnecessarily demanding. [Re-

ported]

To

let

work;

of the

to

disconnect the bull


2.

Later,

throw on the rope

A command

to start the

wheel in order to pull the tools out


of the hole. Also \ic\ on the rope. [MU,

bull

throw the hole

off

To

cause the borehole to be crooked;


any area
with a sloping or erratic formation. Such
an area is called croo\ed-hole country.
said of crooked-shale country or

[Reported]

Descriptive of sand that

is

lacking

in porosity. 2. Descriptive of a well

which no

about

drilling information has been

[Heard; BA,

p. 32]

formation which is not easily peneby acid. Tight spots are portions of
a formation that have little porosity.
[Reported]
trated

tight hole

hole drilled with a worn bit.


well about which no in2.
formation is released. 3.
hole in which
there are snakes (q. v.). [Heard]
1.

[LDO]

sand with few pores or with pores

so filled with clay or cementing material


that oil or water does
it.

not pass freely

[POR]

tight well

pipe elevator. [Heard]

thumb

tight sand

through

thumb buster

[Heard]

p. 32]

lines.

tight formation

wheel by throwing off the rope.


to stop any process. [Heard]
cable-tool.

connections on a pipe line

and flow

fuel

released.

rope

Originally,

1.

do most

[BO]

off the

p. 138]

on

1.

else

[WIL,

tight, adj.

characteristic practice of a snapper

(q. v.).

throw

on one
someone

tie

run.

pipelining. To screw one length of


pipe to another. [WIL, p. 53]

throw-off hooks
Disconnecting hooks. [NO]
off

on

or

is

pipe

To make

scream; said of one

throw

line before oil

rule

well about which

mation

long slender pole used in measuring

the contents of tanks or tank cars. The


thumb marks and holds the spot to

is

released.

no

drilling infor-

[Heard]

tilting stick

walking beam

(q. v.). [ST, p. 141]

which the surface

TIMESAVER,

the stick

See flying connection, hurry-up hole,


hurry-up stick, iron roustabout, lineburner, mouse hole, smart aleck.

tank.

of the oil comes when


forced to the bottom of the
variant of rule of thumb. [KI]
is

thunder mug
A chamber pot. Also
[ST,

p. 55]

called loving cup.

n.

time squib

squib attached to a time fuse.

[NO]

Timken

310

film strength

as

while going into the hole. [Heard] 2. To


screw pipe together by means of tongs.
[BB, p. 490]

the

tongs, n.

Timken

test

film strength

made on

gear lubricants, such

E. P. gear lubricants, which shows


amount of pressure the film of oil
will withstand before it is ruptured.

[KOT]

pi.

Wrenches used

to

screw up pipe of

large diameter. [D]

Timken wear test


A test made on gear

tongue,
lubricants such as

E. P. gear lubricants which shows their


abrasive effect on gears. [KOT]

n.

bailer dart; so called because of

its

shape. [Reported]

too deep
tin hat
protective metal hat worn by oilfield workers, especially workers on a

The

[Heard; F.

rig.

p. 67]

tinhorn gambler
A boom-follower who poses as a
gambler but makes most of his money
by hijacking. [ST, p. 73]

tinhorn millionaire

One who
oil.

has

made

1.

The

1.

front

and the back

v.t. 2.

To

put tongs on a pipe. "You can toe 'em or


heel 'em" means "You can put tongs on
either end." [Reported]
tong, v.t.
pipelining. To turn a joint of pipe
with tongs. [Heard; WIL, p. 70]

tong bucket
bucket-shaped
is

tong

ballast

thrown

driller's assistant at

[D]

2.

an

oil

well;

The workman

keeps the tools in good condition.

tool extractor

A
tools

fishing tool used to recover boring

which are broken

or detached in the

Also called
swivel wrench. [D]
borehole.

tool

grab

and

tool grab

into

moved up

tool extractor (q. v.). [D]

tool dresser.

[POR]

tool joint

connection between joints: a specialdesigned and threaded screw joint


used in connecting tools and drilling
stems in oil wells. A standard tool joint
ly

tong gang
See laying gang. [BA,

p. 179]

tong key

is

sharp

steel projection in the

tong

grips the pipe. [D]

handles the tongs.

Two men

line

who

operate the

large tongs, and the man who works


nearest the pipe is known as the butt

man. [OPL,

specified

Institute.

by the American Petroleum

[POR]

too loose

n.

worker on a screw pipe

p. 8]

tong pipe up

To

The

[NO]

to balance

the tongs so that they can be


and down easily. [Reported]

1.

DO, Novem-

toolie, n.

which scrap iron

used in drilling and

ber 15, 1947]

a junior driller.

ends, respectively, of a pipe.

tongman,

Any implement

servicing a well. [Heard;

who

pipelining.

which

tool, n.

tool dresser

toe and heel

The

expression of dissatisfaction meanis too hard, too uncertain,


too far from town, or generally unsatisfactory. [Reported]

a quick fortune in

[ST, p. 65]

An

ing that a job

hold the pipe with lead tongs

Descriptive of a cable too slack to lift


from the bottom of the hole. [S]

the bit

tool pusher

foreman who oversees the rig


and the drilling crew, supervises
a number of wells, keeps supplies and
equipment on the job, and sees that all
work is done properly. [POR] 2. A car
1.

builders

torpedo war

311
equipped with a tool rack driven by a
tool pusher. [Heard; S, p. 336]

The

um

tool rack

low, wooden, box-like frame fitted


on the back of automobiles to carry tools.

[Heard; S]

residual products of crude petrole-

removal by distillation or
other artificial means of an appreciable
quantity of the more volatile componafter the

[KOT]

ents.

topping,

tool shiner

topped crude petroleum

tool dresser;

so called because he

sands the rust and rough edges from the


The expression originated in Mertzon, Texas. [ST, p. 163]

pin.

n.

The removal by

1.

heavier crudes;

[D]

The

2.

from

[S]

complete

1.

the petroleum

component
where

no mixing. The lighter pioducts,


such as naphtha and kerosene, may be
skimmed off, to remove by distillation
from the heavier crudes the comparathere

the crude petroleum

heavier

is

small percentage of benzene or


[D] 3. To reach
the top of a formation: "Black lime topped at 3,515 feet." [Heard]
tively

light engine distillate.

oils

(fractional) of the
except for a heavy residual
fraction. [BA, p. 204]

whole

To skim

To

fill

topping plant

refinery designed to

and kerosene

the gasoline

remove only
fractions.

[POR]
Toppling, Lizzie
A rival of French Kate

(q. v.).

[GID,

p. 107]

tops, n. pi.
light

distillate

from

topping

plant; contains the gasoline fraction of

a tank; to prepare a tank for the

pipe-line gauger.

distillation

oil

The
top a tank out

the removal of tops.

and burning oil fractions


and using the
for fuel oils. [POR] 3. The

light gasoline

Descriptive of a cable so tight that the


bit will not hit the bottom of the hole.

that rises to the top in a vessel

i.e.,

practice of distilling only the

too tight

top, v.t.

distillation of the

comparatively small percentage of benzene or light engine distillate from the

crude

oil.

[D]

[Heard]
topside, n.

top a tank out easy or top a tank out


the easy way
To run a tank over. [Reported]

Any
level.

place above the ground or ground


Originally a nautical term. [KI]

top water
top dressing
Oil used to

a well. In the
early days of the industry worthless oil
territory was often disposed of at an
exorbitant price after it had been treated
to a top dressing with natural crude oil
from a well in a neighboring district.
salt (q. v.)

[NO]

Water which enters an oil or gas well


from a sand above the productive sand.
[D]
torp, n.

shortened form of

torpedo.

[Re-

ported]

Descriptive of a method of catching


a tank sample of equal parts. [Reported]

torpedo, n.
A shell exploded in a well to remove
v.t. To exobstructions or reach oil.
plode a shell in a well. [NO]

topographic correction

torpedo

top-middle-and-bottom, adj.

See terrain correction. [PE]

man

well-shooter (q. v.).

topographic high

torpedo war

The higher
[LDO]

v.)

elevation, regardless of age.

The

between moonlighters (q.


B. Roberts, the inventor of

conflict

and

W.

[NO]

torque

312

up

the torpedo for opening


oil-bearing

in

crevices

veins

rock. Oil

and

along the pipe

pro-

ports leaks by wireless or parachute. [Re-

ducers considered Roberts' fee exorbitant


and resorted to moonlighting. The dispute ended in 1880, when the United
States Supreme Court upheld the Roberts patent.

[GID,

p. 73]

amount

of

movement obtained by

of twist in edges.

[POR]

1.

2.

spelled

variant of tour (q. v.). [Heard]


distillery tank. [KI]

tower bottoms
very thick, very poor material

left

in distillery towers as refuse. [KI]


still

A still provided with, or connected to,


one or more separating or dephlegmating towers which affords selective condensation of vapors. [D]
toxicity test

test

its

fly

spray to determine

destructive

effect

on

[KOT]

T.P.

Tubing

pressure; an abbreviation used

in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p.

428]

pipe

leaks. 2.

and

don-

kittens,

tractor fuel

Motor fuel having a higher boiling


range and lower gravity than gasoline.
v.t.

To pump

a petroleum product from


one tank to another for retreating or

from

the

still

at

which

to the frac-

tionating tower. [KI]

heat,

to

tion,

and

oil

Now,

and protect the

to reduce oxidation.

insula-

[KOT]

sufficient ad-

herence to cling to the teeth at high


speeds and sufficient fluidity to enter the
tooth spaces freely and flow around the
gears. Grease is generally used in winter in place of oil, since grease is easily
sheared by the teeth at very low tem-

[POR]

transmission oils
Oils used in automobile transmission;
generally consist of steam-refined cylinder oil having a flash point of 610 F., a
fire test of 710 F., and a cold test of
30 F. [POR]

An

inspecting them for


an inspector who travels

across

lines

soften

transmission grease
A semifluid grease having

who walked

Originally, a

along

cat, cats

key, dozer, goat, kitten, laying cat.

Trans-Panama Line

trackwalker, n.
1.

n.

See buffalo,

peratures.

made on

quantitatively
flies.

transgressive overlap
The cap or caps overlapped by the
process of transgression. [PE]

derrick hand. [Heard]

tower

own;

Oil used in transformers to conduct

n.

tower bird

The

TRACTOR,

transformer

The high

its

The maximum temperature

Pronounced and often

shift.

truck without a bed of

gasoline goes

tower. [D]

tower,

transfer-line temperature

rock. [S]

tour, n.

tractor, n.

blending. [KI]

tough diggin(g)

Hard

Company, Hous-

ton, Texas]

transfer,

the application of torsion to the shaft;


the

ported, Gulf Pipeline

re-

[KOT]

[POR]

torsional deflection

The amount

by airplane and

bobtail (q. v.) truck. [Heard]

torque, n.
The turning or twisting effort exerted
by an engine or motor in turning shafting or wheels, given in pound-feet or
pound-inches. With a given horsepower,
the torque decreases with an increase
in speed and increases with a decrease in
speed.

lines

worker

emergency

pipe-line

the Isthmus

World War

II

of

system laid

Panama during

as a supply artery

from

tricosane

3r3
the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The

line is

46 miles long and is laid through dense


jungle which provides protection from

photography and espionage. During the war the lines carried petroleum
products to war fleets; now they carry

travel time

The time at which the latest wave


curred in the diverse rocks. [PE]

re-

aerial

supplies

[WIL,

United

the

for

States

Navy.

method by which crude oils are


piped from wells to refineries through
pipes at high pressures. This means of
transportation is much cheaper and more
satisfactory than railroad tank car. Re-

pumping

stations are installed at in-

along the

ing up the

oil

one

purify petroleum intermediates by


by physical
absorbents, in a
specially
constructed
type of apparatus

An

much

the

same man-

apparatus for
[Reported]

tremps,

trap, n.

service

which

field

1.

basin or

pond

in

which

is

The top product, generalpumped back to be stilled. 2.

scrubber tank or scrubber tower (q.


v.). [KI] 3. geology. That portion of
reservoir rocks where oil collects and is
held by water in the lower pore spaces.

[BA,

p. 41]

trap, gas

closed steel tank

which

receives gas

from
and automatically
discharges the gas and liquid into sepand mixed

oil,

separates the gas

or other liquids,

oil

arate delivery pipe lines.

[POR]

part of the jack used for wrenching

and unwrenching

tools.

[NO]

traveling block
The block, containing sheaves and
provided with clevis and hook, which is
connected to a load hoisted or lowered
in a derrick. [POR]

1.

part of a plunger in a deep well


traveling bloc\.
[P] 2. slang.

[Heard]

[Reported]

lines.

tremp work

The

pipelining.

act of cutting in or

cutting out tremps (q. v.). [Reported]

trend play

method

of oil-prospecting which
comparing sands of two pools,
drawing a line through them, and drilling on the line. [Heard; T, p. 77] 2. The
search for shallow production in and
around the edges of an older field.
[Heard; DO, June 22, 1942]
1.

consists of

Trenton rock

An

formation at a depth of about

oil

Indiana (1892).

[NO]

Triassic, n.

geology.

1.

The

Permean and the


mations laid

period between the

Jurassic. 2.

down during

Hard

this

for-

period.

[LDO]
trick, n.

traveling valve

pump.

and secure maximum


communication

available

6,000 feet in Birdseye, Dubois County,

traveler, n.

from

re-

finery collects.
ly oil,

term for transposi-

are put in to transpose the

position of wires

petroleum or seepage from a

water

n. pi.

pipelining.
tions,

refining.

separating

oil.

ner as oil except that compressors are


used in place of pumps. [POR]

spilled

an agitator

as

treater, n.

from

last.

known

or washer. [D]

Natural gas
through extensive

from the

pipe-line systems in

To

agitation with chemicals, or

station pick-

line,

also transported

is

[NO]

treat, v.t.

tervals

The apparatus to which the foot was


applied in drilling by jigging down (q.
v.).

p. 186]

transportation, pipe-line

lay

treadle, n.

work

shift.

[Reported]

tricosane, n.

(C 23 H 48 ) obtained from
[POR]

solid

troleum.

pe-

3M

tridecane
tridecane, n.
Paraffin

(C 13 H 2 8)

extracted

from

gravel hog, junk hustler, loose-line herder, mechanic with his brains knocked

Pennsylvania petroleum. [POR]

out.

trimer, n.

Trucking Train
A nickname for the J. M. English
Trucking Company; usually heard in the

refining. A product formed by the


polymerization of three identical olefine molecules. [KE]

jingle

M. English trucking train


One old boomer and not a damn

trimo wrench
A pipe wrench. [POR

"J.

[Reported]

chain."

trim the tanks

To pump

oil

or sea water into or out

truck skinner

A truck

of tanks to secure a distribution of weight

and improve the handling or speed of


the ship. [F, p. 159]

Trinidad asphalt
Asphalt obtained from the large natural deposit in Trinidad. [POR]

driver.

[Heard]

true boiling point


The temperature at which a combination of several substances with different
boiling points will boil; usually employed adjectively, as: true-boiling-point
distillation, true-boiling-point curve, etc.

trip, n.

[KI]

Either pulling a string of pipe or tools


out of a hole or running a string into a
hole. Both processes together are called a

true

round

trip.

cal

triple

board

[Heard]

See thribble board. [Heard]

Trumble plant

fishing tool for recovering lost cas-

which can

be recoverec
operating the trip release if the casing
proves immovable. [LDO]
ing,

itself

A plant in which distillation is carried


on by a continuous process, i.e., the oil
is heated in a pipe or tubular heater and
is

then fractionated in a tower.

[KOT]

trunk line

trouble shooter

pumping well in which mechanipumping is the only force, as when

gas offers no appreciable assistance in


bringing in the oil. [LDO, p. 449]

trip spear

pumper

worker whose duties depend on the

1.

The main

artery through

which

oil

needs of the company for which he


works and who is on call for duty wherever there is trouble. [Heard]

gathered in various fields is moved toward its ultimate destination: refineries,


water terminals connecting pipe carriers, or railroad loading racks. The lines

trough,

are fairly

n.

The low
[H,

place

on the

fold; the basin.

p. 118]

TRUCK,

main

wagon,

cattle

truck,

dolly, float job, gin job, gin-pole truck,

gin truck, go-to-hell wagon, go wagon,


hot-shot truck, lug loader, marsh buggy,
pipe buggy, push-away buggy, sludge
buggy, snub nose, soup wagon, tank
wagon, tractor, what's it.

TRUCK DRIVER
See

structures built of

line

on which trunk

2.

tariffs

The
have

been issued. [POR]

n.

See back wagon, bobtail, bulldog nose,


cab-over, casing

permanent

pipe 4 to 16 inches in diameter.

dead-in-a-hurry,

gear

jammer,

T.S.D.
Temporarily shut down; an abbreviation used in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p.

428]

tube,

v.t.

To
down

line

a deep borehole by driving


iron tubes. [NO]

tube and tank process


A method of decomposition patented

turbine

3J5

by the Standard Oil Company. More


often t.&t.p. [PE]
tube clamp
A clamp or
pipe,

clip for

gripping a tube or

a jawed tool used in


lowering well tubes. [D]

especially

and

hoisting

tube packing
A bag of flaxseed, or ring of rubber,
made to occupy the space between the
tube of an oil well and the bored hole
to prevent a flow of water to the oilbearing stratum. [A]

tubercular lease
A contract covering land on which the
title is clouded and requires "curing."
(The latter is a term used by attorneys.)
[Reported]

tube

still.

[BA,

The last string of pipe placed in an


well and used after oil has ceased to
flow naturally.
working barrel is
1.

screwed on the end of the tubing and


lowered to a point near the bottom of
the well.

The pump

barrel

operated by means of sucker


tube lining of boreholes;

inside the

working

The
[NO]

tubing block

A sheave block used to travel tubing by


means

of a wire-line hoist.

[POR]

tubing board
derrick platform on which the derrickman stands to rack tubing. Originally the platform was made of three 3x 12-

inch boards laid across the

girts.

[Heard]

tubing-catcher, n.
device used to prevent tubing from
slipping back into the well while it is
being pulled. [D]

tubing gas
Gas coming
oil string or

to the surface

tubing with the

through the
oil. [PO]

tubing-hanger

tubing spear
An implement used to seize tubing
when it is unscrewed or broken off.

[NO]
tuboscope, n.
An instrument for examining the interior of drill pipe and checking the pipe
alignment on the outside. [LDO, p. 421]
tubular goods
All classes of pipe, casing, and tubing
used in drilling or operating oil or gas
wells. [D]

projection

from the band wheel.

ropes that drive the bull wheel.

act of pulling tubing


repairs.

[Heard]

from the

[POR]

tunnel bearing grease

grease for lubricating the main engine and propeller shaft of ships in the
shaft tunnel; comes in 56-pound blocks
which fit into the openings provided in
the tunnel bearings. [POR]

turbine

oil

well-refined,

specially-selected

pe-

or mixture of such with


a bright stock; used for lubricating steam

troleum

distillate

turbines. These oils show high resistance to emulsification with water and to
oxidation under conditions of use. [TH]

turbine oils
non-emulsifying petroleum machine oil of medium viscosity which is
sprayed on reduction gears by a rotary

pump. [POR]
turbine
mineral

tubing job

make

tug rim
A grooved pulley, generally equipped
with two grooves and bolted to the side
of the band wheel, for carrying the bull

Oils

See tubing-catcher. [POR]

hole to

[NO]

being pulled.

The

device used to prevent the tubing


slipping back into the well while it is

[NO]

oil

casing.

tubing ring

p. 231]

tubing, n.

is

steam

tug pulley

still

See pipe

rods. 2.

oils,

oils,

for
oils

steam

lubricating

steam turbines;

of the non-emulsifying type.

Since the oils are used in closed circulating systems, they must be free from
acids and sediment or any other sub-

turbulent flow

316

would lead to the formation


and froth. For small turbines

stance that
of soaps

about 150 inches Saybolt


Universal with a flash point of 420 F.
For larger turbines an oil with low viscosity but a considerably higher flash
the viscosity

point

is

is

[POR]

used.

turbulent flow

An irregular flow of oil in a pipe line


caused by sharp bends in the line; increases internal friction of the line

makes necessary a higher pressure

and

to op-

erate the line. [BA, p. 185]

trade

1.

The

for a petroleum-tur-

n.

repairs

made

in a clean-out job

complete overhauling of
equipment. [Reported] 3. The trip from
the oil fields to the refinery and back;
(q. v.). 2.

refers to trucks

general repair job. See turnaround,


[Reported]

turn to the right

To

drill;

the rotary turns to the right

in the drilling process. [Heard]

turpentine substitute
Petroleum spirits. The term is misleading, since the product is not a turpentine

substitute,

but,

like

turpentine,

is

used as a paint thinner. See tur-min-tine.

[POR]

1.

name

pentine substitute; a blend of turpentine


and mineral. [POR]

turnaround,

A
2.

turtleback, n.

tur-min-tine, n.

The

turnover job

and tankers

that trans-

like

coupling on a rod line shaped


The metal hat
by oil-field workers. [Reported]

a turtle's back. 2.

worn

twenty-foot rock
A name given by drillers to a rock between the Sixty-foot Rock and Mountain
Sands in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

[NO]
twenty-four,

n.

oil to the refinery and bring


back manufactured petroleum products.

24-inch pipe wrench. Pipe wrenches


are usually named according to their
length in inches, as a thirty-six, forty-

[LAM, November,

eight, etc.

port crude

1947, p. 7]

[Heard;

turnaround speed

twin, n.

The time required by an oil tanker to


load and unload. [SHU, p. 120]

twin engine

turnback,

made by

constructing

the starter joint of three thicknesses of

and allowing the innermost


extend six to eight inches beyond

p. 138]

See twin well. [Heard]

n.

casing shoe

WIN,

two-cylinder engine. [Heard]

twin well
1.

One

of

two

wells

drilled

steel sheets

similar circumstances in the

tube to
the other two. The projection is then
turned back over the outside tube and
riveted. This improvised shoe is not so
rigid and durable as the forged steel shoe,
but it is more easily driven because of its
smaller external diameter. [D, I, p. 237]

[DO, October

turnbuckle,
1.

2.

A fitting for a connected well.

[NO]

line-tightener.

turn into the line


To begin marketing the oil from a
well; to start the oil running into the
pipe line from the field tanks. [Heard;

BA,

p. 123]

2.

under
pool.

well that

produces oil from two separate sands.


[Heard] Also called twin. 3.
well
drilled as a close offset to another well
on the same location; also triplet well
and quadruplet well. [Reported]

twist drill

n.

31, 1947]

same

on a string of tuba hole in a tool that has been


so battered that it fills the hole. [NO]
fishing tool used

ing to

drill

twist-drill spear

A fishing tool.

[NO]

twister, n.

driller, specifically a rotary driller.

[BB, p. 489]

underground storage

317
twist her tail

stone found at a depth of about 800 feet

A command to start an engine.


twist off
1. To break the

[Heard]

drill

ringer-nec\. [D]

turning

it

two sharpshooters wide and two


sharpshooters deep
In hand-ditching, the size of the pipesharpshooter is a long, narline ditch.
row shovel used in hard digging. [OPL,

two-well jack

bottom of the drilling


by placing too much weight on it or

bit

[NO]

two-mile hands
Workers who are unwilling to work
farther than two miles from town.
[Heard]

p. 55]

on the bottom

To wear

Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania

(1890).

pipe in the hole,


usually by torsional stress. [D] slang.
2. To fail in an attempt. The term is reserved for a failure that is the fault of
the speaker. If the failure is the fault of
another, the expression is I've been drilled
around. [WIN, p. 138; BO] 3. To be discharged. [Heard]
n. (twist-off) 4.
drill pipe broken in the hole. Also called

twist off

in

off the

too rapidly. [Reported]

two-hundred-foot sand
A name given by drillers

to a sand-

type of central jac\ plant (q. v.),

whereby two wells are operated on a


short, direct pull line, and directly offset and counterbalance each other. [LDO,
p. 452]

U
U

on older folded beds and not parallel to


them; said to be unconjormable on the

bend
See return bend. [PE]

ultimate production
The total production of a well or a pool
in a given time or during its production
life.

[POR]

ultimate strength
The breaking strength of a material.

[POR]
umbrella, n.
A combination cave-catcher which is
used as a bridge for a time bomb and
supports the shot tamp that holds down
the charge when exploded. So called because of its shape: it opens toward the
top of the well to catch gravel, broken
stones, or other substances used in tamping to form a bridge. [Reported]

unbedded deposits
Mixed deposits without former
nite strata.

defi-

n.

lack of continuity between strata;


a discordance in attitude with underlying rocks caused by an overlap or a lapse
1.

in deposition, during which the rocks


beneath were deformed or partly eroded
away, or both. 2. A surface separating

two series of rocks and indicating a pronounced duration of time between the
formation of the two series. [POR]
unconsolidated sand

loose,

underclay,

caving sand.

[LDO]

n.

cap of clay underlying a layer of


[PE]

underground storage
Depleted or exhausted oil sands which
serve as storage reservoirs for crude oil

adj.

Descriptive of younger beds laid

unconformity,

coal.

[PE]

unconformable,

older beds. [BA, p. 67]

down

or gas.

[LDO,

p. 499]

underream

318

underream,

To

v.t.

enlarge a drill hole below the cas-

[D]

ing.

unsaturation, n.

underreamer [underrimmer]

unsaturated, n.
An unsaturated hydrocarbon. [KE]

The

n.

chemical comadd other elements without


giving up any of their constituents. [J]
ability of certain

used for enlarging the hole below a drive shoe, etc. [D]

pounds

under-the-well, n.

UNSCREW,

tool

A
v.).

type of nonproducing royalty

rings

under water
p.

under wraps
Descriptive

about which

well

of

break

is

released. [RI,

out,

swivel

collar-pecker

off.

v.t.

drill rapidly.

really unspooling
[ST, p. 138]

is

no information

or

off, strip,

When drilling of a
well continues at a rapid rate without
mishaps and delays, a driller may say he
To

419]

v.t.

break,

unspool,

See edge water. [LDO,

little

See

(q.

[LDO]

to

it.

Also swivel-bail.

p. 76]

unstring the block

undeveloped land

Land not known


November,
undress,

to

have

oil.

[LAM,

[WIL,

p. 70]

union,

n.

1.

take the lines

down

at the comple-

1947, p. 11]

v.t.

pipelining. An order to take all tongs


off the pipe and remove all tools preparatory to lowering the pipe into the ditch.

The

To

tion of a trip (q. v.). [Heard]

unsulfonated residue
A portion of an oil, such as spray oil,
which is not acted upon when the oil is
agitated with a definite amount of concentrated sulphuric acid under specified
conditions.

device used to connect pipes. 2.


joining or uniting of two or more

tools, pipes, etc. 3.

The

connection

made

by such a joining. [D]


unitization, n.

The

operation and development as a


an oil pool in which
various producers and owners have hold-

[KOT]

untest stock

steam-refined stock which has been


mixture of light ends
and distillate from which the naphtha
content is usually removed in a steam
still;
steam-refined stock diluted with
naphtha for filtering or cold-settling. [D]

partially reduced; a

single property of
ings.

up,

v.t.

To

increase production: "The parish


were upped from 6,811 barrels to
382,766 barrels daily." [DO, January 18,

[LDO]

fields

unitize, v.t.

To

operate an

(q. v.).

[Heard;

oil

pool by unitization
29, 1947]

1948]

DO, October

uplift, n.

unit lease
Oil-bearing property having more than
two owners but operated as a single holding. [DO, October 29, 1947]
unravel,

To
ahead

let

The

elevation

of any extensive area

of the earth's surface relative to another


area; the opposite of subsidence.

[POR]

upper valve
v.t.

out the drilling line; to drill

unsanitary, adj.
Descriptive of a

See traveling valve. [POR]

upper water

(q. v.). [Reported]

tool

or

piece

of

equipment considered unsafe or dangerous to use. [Reported]

field

[LDO,
upset,

To

name

for top water

(q.

v.).

p. 419]
v.t.

increase

the diameter of a rock

vapor lines

319
drill

by blunting the end; also applied


and tubing. [D]

to casing

upset end joint

A reinforced joint in a rotary drill.

[D]

Irregularities in tubes or rods in the

proprietary
latum. [POR]

n.

The

block or mass of rock on the side


which has been displaced upward; refers to a relative displacement,
not to an absolute displacement. [D]
of a fault

upthrust, n.
1.

An

of an area of the
which usually results in

elevation

earth's surface

[LDO,

p.

428]

usoline, n.

greater spaces of the ends. [PE]

Descriptive of

U.R.
Underreaming; an abbreviation used
in drilling reports.

upset wrinkles

upthrow,

[D]
adj.
2.
such an elevation. [D]
faulting.

name

for liquid petro-

U.S.P.

An abbreviation for United States


Pharmacopoeia, a board which has established the requirements for the purity
of medical products. [POR]
U-tube, n.
U-shaped tubing. [PE]

V
vacuum

distillation

valve, Christmas tree, cracked valve, dip

below

pipe, float valve, fraid valve, gas regula-

atmospheric pressure, which lowers the distilling temperaDistillation

ture.

[POR]

vacuum

A
um,

still

valve, regulator
still

working under

heavy lubricating oils. Since distillation under vacuum permits distillation at a lower temperature, it does not decompose the lubricating distillate. The vacuum is maintained by pump. [POR]

throttle, traveling
valve gate.

The number of affinity points determining the number of atoms an element


can hold in chemical combustion; the
valence of an atom. [POR]

lid,

cover, ball,

upper

valve

which

wedge which
and opens as it is advanced or
withdrawn from a V-shaped seat. Also
valve with a sliding

closes

called straight-way valve.

[POR]

valve positioner
device which indicates where the
from the control room.

valve is controlled
[Reported]

vaporizing oil
See power kerosene. [TH]

[POR]

vapor lines
n.

See back-pressure valve, block valve,


blow-off cock, boot, by-pass valve, check

[POR]

valve gate

or slide, which opens and closes a passage to control the flow or supply of
liauids, gases, or other shifting material.

VALVE,

valve,

regulates the pressure

of either intake or discharge.

valve, n.

valve,

valve, regulator

valence, n.

contrivance, as a

(pressure), relief valve,

safety valve, standing valve, stop valve,

a partial vacu-

as in the distillation of

Any

gate valve, globe valve, kidney,


lower valve, master gate, pet cock, pop
tor, gate,

refining. Pipes

from the

[BOW,

which carry vapors

fire stills to

p. 96]

the cooling tanks.

vapor lock

320

vapor lock

verifier, n.

excessive accumulation in tubes of


unexploded vapor which stops the flow

1.
tool used in deep boring for
detaching and bringing to the surface
portions of the wall of the borehole
from any desired depth. 2. In gas-testing,
an apparatus which measures the amount
of gas required to produce a flame of a
given size; a gas verifier. [D]

An

of fuel in an engine. [PE]

vapor-phase cracking
A cracking process which yields a gasoline with high antiknock and blending
properties. [NB, p. 471]

V.I.

vapor pressure

force caused by the constant motion


of the molecules in a fluid and their impact on one another which tends to make

the molecules

apart.

fly

Baume

turpentine substitute of 52
gravity. Both are used by varnish

2.

common abbreviation for viscosity


index. [Reported]
vibrating screen

[POR]

varnish-makers' naphtha
70
1. Deodorized naphtha of 58 to

Baume.

manufacturers. [POR]

A method used to determine how much


of a frozen pipe

spear

cap or layer of silt deposited in a


of water during the course of a
year. [PE]

used in apply-

ing iodine, ichthyol, salicylic acid, etc.,


in the treatment of skin diseases. Also
vasogen. [POR]

Vaseline, Vaselin, or Vaselene, n.


1.

trade

name

for a yellowish, trans-

petroleum product
semisolid
used in ointments and pomades, as a
form of
lubricant, etc. 2. (not cap.)
petrolatum. [D]
lucent,

Generally applied to an endless belt


in the shape of a trapezoid. Across
the thickness of the belt it appears to

made

free.

is

When

the fishing

jarred, the casing vibrates

if

the

vis., n.

shortened form of viscosity (q. v.).

[KI]

viscosimeter, n.
An instrument for testing the viscosity

an

of

oil.

[POR]

viscosity, n.

A unit of measure of the body of an oil


according to the number of seconds in
which a given quantity of the product
flows through an aperture at a given
temperature. [D]
viscosity, practical-measurement

The measurement

V-belt, n.

have a

is

taken hold above the point


where the pipe is frozen. [LDO]

body

vaseline

[LDO]

spear has

varve, n.

vasegen, n.
Oxygenated

shale shaker (q. v.).

vibration, n.

shape. [PE]

of

viscosity

with

instruments which have been


standardized by governments and technical societies. Generally, such instrupractical

ments are of the

orifice type, in

which

ducing from more than one sand. 2. The


oil sands above the producing sand. [Re-

allowed to flow through an orifice of standard diameter at a given temperature. The time in seconds required
for a standard quality of oil to flow
through the orifice is taken as the vis-

ported]

cosity

vent, n.

has

the oil

velvet, n.
1.

The

See

shallow

flare.

oil

sands of a well pro-

[DO, November

18, 1947]

no

is

an

number

arbitrary unit

which

direct relation to the absolute vis-

cosity or shearing force in dynes.

[POR]

venture, n.

viscosity, specific

A well which is being drilled and is


not yet known to be productive. [Heard;
DO, October 31, 1947]

The force (given in absolute units)


necessary to move a layer of liquid one
square centimeter in area over a parallel

wall hook

321

same size, one centimeter


with a velocity of one centimeter

surface of the
distant,

per second. The unit is poise. Generally,


the viscosity of "water is taken as unity
at zero degrees centigrade, and the viscosity of other liquids is referred to
this resistance. For water at zero degrees
centigrade the specific viscosity is 0.018086.

verted into a vaporous state, or the relative amount of heat required to vaporize
the liquid.
volatile liquid is one which
readily vaporizes at comparatively low
temperatures or forms great volumes of

vapor at a given temperature. [POR]


volatility test

[POR]
viscosity-breaking, n.

cracking process; a rapid decom-

position, usually

fractional distillation test

made by

standard methods in which the initial


boiling point and the end point are noted.

[POR]

conducted at low crackvolcanic burner

ing temperatures (830 to 870 F.), to


reduce the viscosity or pour point of a
heavy, straight-run fuel oil. [NB, p. 470]

A device designed to increase the production of a well by intensely heating

the fluid at the bottom (1877).

of a derrick

The

side of the derrick in front of the

because the opening is


shaped like an inverted V. [Reported]
driller; so called

volatile spirits

name given to gasoline before its


value was discovered. It was considered
a dangerous curse to the petroleum industry, because it often contaminated
kerosene, causing lamps and lanterns to
explode. [F, p. 42]
volatility, n.

The

ease with

which a

liquid

is

con-

[NO]

volcanic treatment

The
[NO]

use of a volcanic burner (q. v.).

volume tank

A tank or vessel in which gas is forced


through a liquid; an apparatus for washing gas; a scrubber. [Reported]
vulcan

oil

petroleum

distillate

treated

with

sulphuric acid, washed and mixed with


rape oil. [NO]

W
wagon top

walking-beam stirrup

safety net placed in

stills

while

men

both those working at a great height from injury by


falling and those working at lower levels
from falling objects. [Reported]
are

working

to protect

wait on

To

await; used in reports in the ex-

pressions waiting on orders, waiting

swab

line, etc.

[DO, November

on

14, 1947]

walking beam

An oscillating beam or lever used to


transmit reciprocating vertical motion
to the drilling tools. Used also on pumping wells. [D]

A
beam

device used to attach the waltzing


to the pitman. [NO]

walk out
1. To walk along

a prominent bench
or contour to plot geological strata within a given area. [D] 2. To walk off the

job on strike (general). [KI]

walkway, n.
1. The walk along

the side of the belt

house of a drilling or pumping well.


[POR] 2. The walk along the tops of
tanks.

[OPL,

p. 137]

wall hook
A tool used to straighten pipe dam-

wall-hook packer

322

aged or lost in the well so that it may


be engaged and recovered by a fishing

[LDO]

tool.

wall-hook packer
A packer which supports
the walls of the casing.

itself

against

[POR]

takes samples

from the walls

A gauge rod for measuring the outage of a barrel, tank, or tank car; a
gauge pole or stick. [D]
war baby
The Bayou

it is

live oil (q. v.) into the well

brought

washing

oil

oil, or a mineral seal


having a low olefine content, which
does not cloud below 25 F. and quickly
and completely separates from the water
with which it is mixed and shaken. It is
used in stripping toluol from waste

purified gas

gases.

[POR]

Pipe Line System built by


the Shell Pipe Line Company in 1942.
[SH, April, 1947, p. 11]

wash out
To displace

war

tober 16, 1947]

line

pipe line built during World War


also called emergency pipe line. [WIL,

p. 238]

warm up
To loosen

connections by beating them


with hammers, syn. Heat it. [Heard]

WARNING,
See
to

in the hole, hand's

around

West Texas, headache, Long Beach.

wart hog
See tool dresser. [Reported]

wash,

v.t.

To

purify gas by passing it through


or over a liquid. 2. To cleanse or purify
by agitation with a liquid which may
contain such cleansers as acid, alkali, or
1.

clay.

[D]

wash-around,

One mud

oil

in a borehole, as salt

water washes out production. [DO, Oc-

washout,

n.

hole in a pipe at the tool joint;


usually results in a twist-off (q .v.). [Reported]

wash pipe

pipe of small diameter run inside


and used to carry water for
washing out the well. [LDO]
the liner

n.

fire, fire

wasp's nest
Light bread; an expression used in
camps. [Reported]

waste, n.
1
A mass of cotton or wool threads or
fibers used to clean machinery or to
absorb and hold lubricating oil for certain types of bearings. 2. Loss for which
there is no compensation. [POR]
.

[Reported]

system of drilling in which the cutwashed to the surface by water


forced down through the drill pipe.
[Reported]

The sulphuric acid used to remove


moisture from oil before the oil is treated
with additional quantities of acid. [J]

tings are

water blanket

washdown

water-bound, adj.
Confined by water. [D]

spear

fishing tool used in rotary drilling.

[D]

washer,
1.

An

oil

water acid

n.

cycle.

wash boring

agitator.

oil

wantage rod

II;

An

in, thus saving oil which


might otherwise be wasted in the sudden flow. [S]

as

of a borehole. [PE]

2.

[NO]

wash in
To pump

wall sampler

One who

washed; a scrubber. [D]

n.

apparatus in which gases are

See load water. [DO, January 31, 1948]

water boy
Used in the expression "He came up
from water boy," to mean that an employee has worked his way up in a com-

water

3 23

pany from a very low

position. See shale

certain petroleum constituents

shaker. [Reported]

as illuminating gas.

water brake

water

hydraulic device on the drum shaft


which removes part of the load from
the brakes while going in the hole. Also

[WIN,

called yo-yo.

p. 138]

refining.
sludge so that
oil. [Reported]

of coagulating
can be separated from

water cone

which

in

the

strata

affects the capillary action of the

variations in the pressure, in the strata,

and

in the wells. [PE]

water cushion
water drive
To run water
to

18, 1948]

into the oil sand to drive


it

water finder
instrument for ascertaining the
of water in a tank containing

amount
oil.

[D]

tions are favorable

and

drilling costs are

low. [H, p. 325]

system of well-boring in which percussion drills are used with water which
is forced
to the bottom of the hole

through the drill rods. The water jet


improves the cutting action of the tools
and washes the debris up and out of the
hole. [D]

The cloudy appearance of a petroleum


product which indicates that it has been
contaminated by water. [F, p. 104]
water hole
1. A dry hole (q. v.). 2. A well which
produces anything but oil. [Heard]

The

made by

forcing steam through


may be used
usually carbureted with

a mixture of hydrocarbons;

but

side wall of a firebox

water

on a locomo-

[POR]

line

The

point in a structure where oil


and water meet. 2. The line within and
above which oil occurs and outside and
below which water occurs. [BA, p. 62]
1.

watermelon,

n.

weight placed on a rod line to


prevent it from spooling or unthreading
the winch when the rod is released. The
number of watermelons required to keep
the line under control is determined by
their weight. [Heard] 2. A heat exchanger or weight used on gas-lift wells
to prevent the gas choke from freezing.

[WIN,

p. 138]

device to cut off water from the


levels of an oil well or to separate

lower

two

distinct flows of oil

strata.

waterproofing,

Hot
crete

from

different

[NO]
n.

or cold asphalt used to coat con-

below ground, in basements,

etc.

[KI]

water gas

as a fuel,

(q. v.);

fishing

water packer

water flush

gas

from

terminology
where, as in seining, one makes a water
haul when he fails to catch fish. 2. An
unsuccessful attempt of any kind. Now
transferred to general usage. [Heard]

1.

water-flooding system
A system of development in which
one type of well is used to force water
into the formation while another is used
to extract the oil. The method is used
in very shallow fields where sand condi-

failure to catch the fish

tive-type boiler.

through the oil sand


the pumping well. [Heard; BA, p. 169]

An

water leg

See load water. [DO, January

the oil before

pitch pipe.

water haze

See water-coning. [POR]

water-coning, n.
The water elevation

and

water haul
1.

method
it

in a line

[POR]

transferred

water break

and used

[LDO]

hammer
hammer

See

seal

is

water seal
A seal formed by water which prevents
the passage of gas. [D]

water shut-off

32 4

wax-house

water shut-off
See shut-off. [PE]

water-soluble oils
Oils which can form a
emulsion with water. [D]

permanent

wax

water string

string of casing, often the last

one

to shut off water above the oil sand.

set,

wax

water-supply pipe to the drill rods and


permits complete rotation of the tools.

[LDO]
The

top runaround on a derrick;


crow's nest. [Heard] 2.
The set of beams that sustains the motion
of the drill tower. [PE] 3. The level of
water that stands in a field. [PE]

called

v.t.

To remove

sulphur compounds from

gasoline or kerosene by the doctor (q. v.)


treatment. [KI] 2. refining. To remove

from

the last traces of acid

oil

by means

of water percolation through the agitator.

[NO]

1.

grade of color in

best grade

of

oil.

refined

[POR]
oil;

standard white and prime white.

2.

above

[NO]

press

machine used to squeeze the free


from crude paraffin distillate. The
wax is then placed in shallow pans and
oil

wax

slop

A heavy cut of oil


to cylinder stock.

wax

sweater

unit for sweating


[Reported]

wax

formed by the de[D]

W.B.D.

wearing surface

The
that

vertical

An

for further use.

See water witch,

edges of a drilling bit

become misshapen and cause the

water witcher
2.

[BB,

p.

489]

weather,

Crystallized paraffin suspended in the


of which it is one fraction and com-

monly separated from

the oil in a sweat-

ing plant. [D]


distillate

neutral oil distillate before the separation of paraffin wax; the primary base
for paraffin wax and neutral oils. [D]

[D,

I,

v.t.

To

expose reclaimed pipe to the


weather in order to condition it properly
1.

the pipe
shell

n.

oil

out of wax.

structive distillation of petroleum.

225]

wax

oil

tailings
residual product

instrument for finding an underground water deposit. 2. One who


uses such an instrument. Also called
water witcher. [BB, pp. 487, 489]

wax,

obtained by running

[POR]

bit to stick in certain formations.

water witch
1.

[Reported]

refining. An abbreviation for water


by distillation. [KOT]

water white

The

MEK plant.

subjected to high temperatures to sweat


out the remaining oil. [POR]

water table

water- wash,

plant

See

A universal joint fitted

usually

[D]

tured.

with a hose coupling which joins the

1.

oil

The immediate base from which paraffin wax and neutral oils are manufac-

wax

[D]

water swivel
rotary drilling.

man

refining. The worker who operates


the filter presses used to extract paraffin.
[BA, p. 35]

is

which

The

outside surface of

covered with a hard oxide


varies

in

thickness

from

1/32 to 1/16 inch. This shell cannot be


removed by pipe-cleaning machines if
the pipe is cleaned immediately after the
pipe is removed from the ground; but
after it has been weathered for several
months, the oxide will scale off the pipe,
leaving a slightly pitted but pure metal
surface. [OPL, p. 106] 2. To expose wild
casing-head gasoline to the air, or to

3 25
heat it as with steam, to allow the lighter
vapors to escape into the air. [POR]

weave,

v.i.

Said of a pipe line which zigzags in


the pipe-line ditch. When the skids are
pulled from under the loops of pipe and
the pipe drops into the ditch, the line is
held in place by the backfilled portion
and is forced to weave from one side of
the ditch to the other. [OPL, p. 67]

wedge burner
high, wedge-shaped furnace at or
near the top of the burner into which is
dumped clay saturated with oily im-

from

the clay
it

til

From

filtered oil.

strained

from high

the top

unreaches the blazing levels lower in


is

meant by

the order, he went into the


doghouse and ate his lunch. The new
worker came to be known as a weevil,
and the term was soon transferred to all
inexperienced hands. [Heard]

weevils got

levels

weigh

wedges,

n. pi.

feed

slips (q. v.).

[Re-

ported]

weight indicator
rotary drilling. An apparatus for recording and indicating the tension upon
a drilling line. [POR]
weir, n.
Slop. 2.

1.

weed

fields. 3.

who

its

cleans the yard

tanks. [BB, p. 489]

weeping core
A core which becomes covered with
tear-like trops of fluid

to the surface.

when

it is

brought

A formation

yielding such
a core is usually found to be low in oil
productivity, syn. Bleeding core. [POR]

weevil, n.

was

lubricator

on

a rock bit. 2.

A new

Any new worker. The term is


have originated when a new hand

told to

cator).

process for

A
A

removing wax

for the inventor of the

term used in Mid-Continent


refining

still;

named

for

its

barrier or obstruction in

a distillation tray to hold the liquid so

will run off at a predetermined


Liquids thus retained and run off

it

system of obstructions designed to

re-

and thus precipiimpurities which might damage the

pump. Also
weir

fill

the weevil

(i.e.,

the lubri-

Not understanding what was

called riffle board. [KI]

distillate

An

unfinished or heavy distillate for


heavy heating fuels. It may be rerun, and
a better burning distillate
it becomes
after the sludge is removed. [KI]
well, n.

hole drilled into the earth to obtain

The boring is called a


well or a producer when oil or gas is discovered in commercial quantities; before such a discovery, the boring is a
drilling well or a venture. If the well does
not produce oil or gas in commercial
oil,

driller. 3.

said to

named

inventor. 4.

tate

hoer: one

around a well and

1.

slop;

tard the flow of fluids

weed whore

[Re-

are generally of the naphtha range. 5.

term for

field

scales the

fluid.

to offset a pipe weight. [Re-

itself;

level.

mud

ported]

that

p. 30]

the use of

weight a brake
rotary drilling. To put a heavy
weight on the brake so that the line will

process.

adj.

MU,

mud

ported]

wedged,

Descriptive of tools that are frozen


in a well. 2. Descriptive of a worker who
is in trouble of any kind. syn. In a bind.

up

weight per gallon of drilling

from

1.

eat

who does not


know how to cope with the ignorance
of new workers. [Reported]

furnace. The strainers are large,


heavy, grate-like iron plates over which
revolving scrapers spread the clay so that
it will not form lumps or clinkers as it
drops through the apertures. Clay is thus
kept to proper gauge and is thoroughly
cleansed of the impurities it has absorbed
from the filtering oil. The widening
strainers make the burning easy and
thorough. IKI]
the

[Heard;

him

Descriptive of a driller

To gauge by

purities

well

gas, water, etc.

well

326
though

quantities,
is

it

called a dry hole.

WELL,

may

yield water,

it

[POR]

n.

See Big Moses, Butts Well (No. 1),


elephant well, Fountain Well, Fowler's
Lucas,

Folly, gas well,

bores water or

1.

The

for boring wells. [Heard]

tube-shaped apparatus used in


oil well. 2. The tube used to

an

line a well.

[Heard]

well digger

open hole of a well for

[LDO]

A royalty-holding farmer who anxious-

oil wells. 2.

well casing
drilling

filter

liner in the

well-wisher, n.

One who

machine

shutting out sand.

well borer

well-tube

nonproducing

well, oil well.

1.

well-spacing, n.
A system by which the number of wells
to be drilled in a given area is limited.
[DO, October 22, 1947]

driller; generally called a

digger in

watches the drilling of a well from


beginning to end. [Reported]
ly

WEP
War Emergency Pipeline, a government agency sponsored by eleven major
oil companies which supervised the conand operation of the Big Inch
Big Inch pipe lines. [WIL,

struction

and the

the Gulf region. [Heard]

Little

p. 167]

well drilling

The

process of drilling a water, gas, or

oil well.

West

[Heard]

Virginia Rule

rule adopted in 1886

measure of a barrel
well flower [flow-er]
A device sometimes used on the tubing
below the packer in place of a perforated
pipe or anchor.

meaning

gallons in favor of the buyer.

p. 118]

effort
p. 153]

well kicked off natural


expression

more

Descriptive of wells without casing, no


being made to shut out surface
water. See small hole. [NO]

well-head pressure

An

[WIL,

set the

wet, adj.

[NO]

See shut-in pressure. [BA,

plus 2

which

as 40 liquid gallons,

wet gas
that a

well

flowed without agitation by swabbing


and without acidizing. [DO, February

Gas from the separator which carries


considerable amounts of the light gasoline fractions. [Heard; BA, p. 155]

17, 1948]

wet hole
well-rejuvenating, n.
The reworking of a well to renew or
increase production. [LDO]

A borehole drilled into a sand containing enough water to meet drilling needs.

well rig
An assemblage of all the equipment
used to drill, case, and finish a well. [D]

ing process

well rigging
See well rig.
well-shoot,

To

fire

v.i.

a charge of explosive in a well


oil, or gas.

to increase the flow of water,

there

is

a surplus of water, the drillis

retarded. [H, p.

235]

wet natural gas


Natural gas containing readily condensable gasoline which can be extracted
in quantity sufficient to warrant the installation of a plant.

Also called wet gas.

[D]

wet ship

[LDO]

loaded tanker; so called because the


low freeboard is washed by the

ship's

well shooter

The worker who explodes nitroglycerin


in wells to shatter the producing sand

and improve

If

productivity. [BA, p. 32]

seas. [F, p. 189]

wet string

string of pipe

which

is

filled

with

wiggle

327
oil, water, or drilling fluid when
pulled from the well. [Reported]

whale,

it

is

n.

gusher; an expression used in West

[NO]

Virginia.

[Heard] 2.
square; so called because one type of square is equipped with
a spirit level. [BB, p. 487]

level.

WHITE-COLLAR WORKER
See fair-haired boy, pencil pusher, pinhead.

what's-it, n.

A three-wheeled, blunt-nosed vehicle


resembling a motorcycle, with a streamlined automobile for a sidecar. It has a 60horsepower engine, a top speed of 100
miles per hour, and it makes 35 to 50
miles per gallon of gasoline. Used for
transportation on company grounds by
the Sinclair Refining Company, Houston, Texas. [Reported]

white

oil

n.

oil coming from the fracbelow the volatile fuels. [POR]

very clear

tions just

whiteruss, n.
Liquid petrolatum. [A]

white scale
See paraffin

white
wheel,

Stick

scale.

[TH]

spirits

See petroleum

[POR]

spirits.

An

executive of an oil company. See


also stroke department. [Reported]

man

whoop-and-holler

whip

off

To

break

off;

said of casing. If the

telephone repairman in a refinery.


[Reported; Sinclair Refining Company,
Houston, Texas]

cement holding the casing fails to set


properly, the casing is whipped off by
the drill pipe as it is pulled from the well.

Wickedest Man in the World


Ben Hogan, the most notorious man

[Reported]

in the oil region,

1.

n.

fishing tool used to straighten


which is leaning into the wall.

loose pipe

[D]

2.

who

followed oil-boom
days of the industry
and established palatial sporting
houses in Pennsylvania at Pithole, Tidioute, Titisville, Parker's Landing, Petrolia, Bullion, and Bradford. See also
French Kate. [GID, p. 64]
activities in the early

whipstock,

tool used

to direct the drill

past an obstruction in the well. [NO] 3.


tool used to drill a directional hole; a

beveled bar of steel placed in the bottom


of the hole at the point where deviation
from a straight hole is desired. The upper
end is a long taper resembling the buggy
whipstock for which the tool is named.

[Heard; BA,

p. 133]

v.t. 4.

To make

use of a whipstoc\. [Heard]

Wickedest

Town

of

Them

All

The name by which Tar port, Pennsylvania, was known during the oil rush
of 1878. [GID, p. 117]

widemouth socket

well borer's fishing tool having a


fitted with a bellmouth nearly
the full bore of the casing which grips
the ends of broken poles lost at the bottom of a well. [D]
socket

whiskers,

n. pi.

pipelining. The bristle-like structures


on a holiday detector (q. v.) that flash
a signal when an unprotected spot of
the line is discovered. [Reported]

wide open
Descriptive of a well that

whisky jack

hydraulic jack; so called because it


generally uses a solution of water and
alcohol.

whisky
1.

setters

stick

and

widow-maker,

allowed

n.

Any extremely dangerous

[NO]
level,

is

to flow at capacity. [BA, p. 145]

used especially by engine


rig

builders;

from

spirit

wiggle stick
1. A walking beam
488]

2.

divining rod.

tool.

(q. v.).

[DON,

[Heard]

[BB,
p. 45]

p.

W.

I.

H.

W.

I.

H.

Water

328
winch,

in hole;

drilling reports.

an abbreviation used in

[LDO,

428]

p.

An

company organized
velop unproven ground far from

to de-

oil

[D]

tual point of discovery.

the acwell

2.

drilled for oil or gas in virgin territory.

[Heard]

hoisting machine; a geared drum


with handles for hand lifting. [POR]

windjammer,

wildcat, n.
1.

n.

v.t. 3.

To

in virgin territory.

drill for oil or

[NO]

gas

Used
and

adj. 4.

1.

n.

of

teller

[Heard]

2.

tall

refining.

(general).

tales

An

air

compressor.

[Reported]

wind

oil

Speculators' oil; oil futures (1883).

[NO]

in such combinations as wildcat well

wildcat

[DO, October

field.

window,

14, 1947]

1.

wildcat field

pipe;

An epithet applied
Texas,

field;

County,
so called because the formato the Jones

tion is so irregular that the outcome of


a drilling venture is always uncertain.

[Heard]

given the Tatum, Oklahoma,


[Reported]

title

wildcatter, n.

One who drills


[NO]

for

oil

unproven

in

2.

which evaporates too rapidly


commercial value. [Heard]

Gasohave

to

Wild Mary
Mary Sudik. [GL,

p.

297]

Wild Mary Sudik


A name given the Mary Sudik No. 1
well, a gusher in the Oklahoma City oil
field. The well blew in on March 26,
and was not brought under coneleven days. Its actions were so

trol for

spectacular that the well gained interna-

fame;

it

showered

oil

on farms

for

a radius of five or six miles, and a strong


north wind carried the oil as far south
as

Norman, twelve

miles

away. Also

Wild Mary. [Heard; RI,

called

wild natural gasoline


A product of wet natural

p.

260]

[NB,

aperture in the

which exposes the under-

lying strata. [PE]

winged substitute

device sometimes placed above the


prevent it from glancing off, or
above the reamer to hold it in place.

type of

gudgeon

for the bull wheel,

used with the larger rig irons.

[NO]

winter black oil


A heavy automobile and engine oil
made from petroleum residuals and
thinned with a liquid petroleum distilused as a lubricant for shafting,
tempering, or slushing. [POR]

late;

Winter Garden

house of ill repute opened at Mexia,


Texas, during the oil boom and later
closed by the Texas Rangers. [Heard;
RI, p. 179]

winter rig

partly-enclosed derrick designed to


from the weather. [NO]

protect workers

wiper, n.
early pipe-line employee. [F. p. 95]

wire line

drilling cable.

[Heard]

wire-line coring

wild well
oil

directional drill-

winged hollow reamer

An
gas.

p. 498]

An

An

wing gudgeon

line

tional

earth's surface

all

[NO]

wild gasoline
1. Casing-head gasoline. [D]

1930,

necessary in
[Reported] 2.

ing.

bit to

territory.

See Wild

n.

opening milled in the side of a

A reamer for straightening tools which


have fallen over in the well. [MU, p. 64]

Wildcat Jim
field.

An

well whose flow has not been

brought under control. [D]

Taking
(q. v.).

making a trip
core barrel and the core bit

a core without

The

3 29

end of the drill pipe,


and the core is cut and removed by an
overshot dropped on a wire line while
are attached to the

the string of pipe remains in the hole.

[Reported]

work-over

Wonder

Field of the World


given the Burkburnett, Texas,

title

[HOO,

field.

W.O.O.

or

p. 51]

woo

Waiting on orders; an abbreviation


used in oil-field reports. [Reported]

wire rope

flexible cable made of iron or steel


wires twisted into a strand, a number
of strands then being twisted to form the
rope. There may be a hemp core to supply lubricant to the wires. [POR]

woodpecker hole

hole in the

which the cable

rope

through

socket

passes. [S]

wool stocks

wire strand
1. A group of wires twisted to form a
stiff, strong rope which is suitable for

Sun-bleached neutral oil compounded


with lard oil to make a rich, creamy
emulsion. [D]

guys or other supports, but not for pulleys. 2. One portion of a wire rope (q.

work ahead
To drill: "Crew was running

[POR]

v.).

wire twister

14,

linesman. See narrow back. [Heard]

1947]

work

witch, n.

derricks

To work

divining rod or device used by nonscientific prospectors to discover underground oil. Also called witch stic\, oil
witch, and doodlebug. [BB, p. 487]

bit basket

working ahead." [DO, October

before

in the derrick; said of a der-

WIN,

rickman. [Heard;

p. 138]

working barrel
The steel chamber

in which the plungand valves operate in a deep-well


pump; the body of the pump used in oil
er

witcher, n.

One who
derground

uses a witch to discover un-

oil.

[BB,

p. 489]

The

forerunner of the doodlebug (q.


syn. Divining rod and dowsing rod.

[BA,

p. 83]

to,

the lessee.

[POR]

One

See witch and witching

stick.

[BB,

p.

487]

of the tanks at a gathering station

for receiving oil

from the

field.

[OPL,

p. 261]

witness, n.
1. An onlooker.

2.

drone. [Heard]

W.O.
Wor\-over; an
drilling reports.

abbreviation

[LDO,

wobbling log
A walking beam

used in

p. 428]

work off
To grow more feeble,
jars wor\ off. [NO]
work-over,

(q. v.). [BB, p. 488]

Waiting on cement; an abbreviation


used in drilling reports. [Heard]

as the drilling

n.

well which has been cleaned out


and put back into production; originally
applied more particularly to wells producing from loose sand or gravel. [POR]
2.
well which is deepened, acidized, or
shot in an attempt to secure or improve
production; always refers to a second attempt to make a producer.
adj. 3. Used
1.

w.o.c.

To

of the minerals

obtained by, and belonging

working tank

witch stick

woes,

[NO]

working interest
The share or portion

witching stick
v.).

wells.

v.t.

wait on cement to

initials.

October

21, 1947]

pres.

part.

set;

coined from

Wocsing.

[WO,

in such combinations as

wor\-over

To

job, etc.

wor\-over

v.t. 4.

recondition a well; to

rig,

(work over)
go into the

world's deepest well

330

hole with drilling tools a second time.


[Heard] 5. To lease: "Practically all the
county has been worked over by land-

men and buying

[DO, Novem-

crews."

ber 16, 1947]

world's deepest well


Superior Oil

No.

Company

of California

Pacific Creek, a well drilled in

Wyoming, by the SuCompany and abandoned as

Sublette County,

perior Oil

dry at 20,521 feet on June

18, 1949.

[Re-

n.

1.

of pipe for condensing va-

coil

[NO]

pors. Also called a pigtail.

2.

An

inexperienced worker. See boll weevil.


[BB, p. 488]

worry box
The big tool box

(q. v.) so called because missing tools are a source of worry


to the tool pusher. [Heard]
;

worry her down

To

wrench

four,

bar.

wrench bar

ported]

worm,

wrench, back-up tongs, barrel wrench,


Big Bertha, break-out, break-out tongs,
bull tongs, canal wrench, chisel tongs,
dolly wrench, key, knuckle buster, lefthanded monkey wrench, long tongs,
make-up wrench, Maud, monkey wrench,
pecker neck, persuader, Pete, pin wrench,
pipe dog, pipe tongs, pipe wrench, scissor
tongs, seat wrench, swivel wrench, Swrench, tongs, trimo wrench, twenty-

[NO]

wrench

circle

cable-tool drilling. An implement


for holding the point of the wrench bar
when screwing or unscrewing tools.

[NO]
wrencher,

n.

pipeliner

of a wrench.

well under

drill a

difficulties.

screwing and unscrewing

tool for

tools.

who

screws pipe by means

[WIL,

p. 53]

wrench monkey

[Heard]

See grease monkey. [Heard]

W.P.
Wording pressure; an abbreviation
used in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]
wrapper,

wrestle,

handle heavy material such


or timber. [Heard]

of strands of manila rope

tied together at

wringer-neck,

one end and

taper five or six feet in length to the


other end; so called because the rope is

wrapped around the manila cable just


above the clamps to hold them in place.

wrap your

tails

her an honest

around her and give


roll

pipelining. An order meaning to wrap


the spinning rope around the joint of
pipe and screw it into the line by spinning the rope. [WIL, p. 69]

derived

possibly

from the expression "Be careful or you


will wring her neck." (Engine and wells
are always feminine gender.) By folk
etymology, also spelled ringer-nec\.

wrinkle a joint of pipe


To put threads on a joint of
[Heard]

wrench,

n.

pipelining.

n.

alligator

number

bend made

in a pipe

of very small crimps.

The

by

pipe

heated to a bright red and pulled until


is formed in the heated section.
One wrinkle will change the direction
of the line about five degrees. Sharper
is

nut or a pipe; provided with a handle or lever with which


v.t.
to turn and screw the part. [POR]
2. To make or break pipe connections
with such a tool. [Heard]
tool to grip a

WRENCH,

pipe.

wrinkle bend
a

See

n.

twist-off (q. v.)

[Heard]

[NO]

as pipe

n.

number

which are

1.

v.t.

To

wrench,

always-ready

a wrinkle

bends are

formed

by

making

more

wrinkles. Wrinkle bends are not satisfactory on crude-oil pipe lines. [OPL,
p. 71]

yo-yo

33 1
wrinkle chaser

geologist.

tion used in drilling reports.

[LON,

p. 160]

[LDO,

p.

428]

w.s.o.

W.S.R. or W.O.S.R.

Water shut

off;

an abbreviation used

in drilling reports.

[LDO,

p. 428]

W.S.O.O.K.
Water shutoff O. K.; an abbreviation
used in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]

W.S.O.N.G.
Water shutoff no good; an abbrevia-

Wait on standard rig; an abbreviation


used in drilling reports. [LDO, p. 428]

wye,

n.

pipelining.

Y-shaped connection

in-

where two lines come together


or where the scraper is to be inserted.
stalled

[Heard]

X
Xlab
An

abbreviation

for

experimental

laboratory. [Reported]

Y
yards, n.

An

yield point

pi.

enclosed or open storage area for

equipment. [Heard]

oil-field

yellow dog
1.

yoke,

lamp used

teapot-shaped

at night

on

early drilling rigs. [ST, p. 129] 2.


babbitt ladle; so called because the lamp
for

was named was formerly


the same purpose.
[Heard]

which

it

used for
adj. (yellow-dog)

3.

One who

follows

in the footsteps of his father, as a yellow-

dog

driller.

yellow

[Reported]

hammer

driller;

so called in Ohio. [ST, p.

162]

yellow

The limit of apparent elasticity; the


point of strain. [PE]

2.

n.

part of the temper screw.

[NO]

fishing tool with a ropelike hitch

which is dropped over the head of lost


equipment to hold it firmly while it is
recovered from a well. [KI]

You

Can't

Take

It

nickname given to the Union City


Transfer (coined from the initials U.
C. T.) because truck drivers claimed the
company was so difficult to work for that
no employee could stay long. [Reported]

You

wax

viscous, semisolid substance of

high

boiling point obtained by the distillation


of petroleum-still residuum. [D]
yield, n.

The amount of oil


any means. [LDO]

1.

or gas obtained by

hired out to work, didn't you?


There's a fellow uptown living on a
cracker a day that wants your job!
A typical response to a worker's com-

plaint.

[WIN,

yo-yo,

n.

1.

p. 138]

spudder for drilling the bore-

yo-yo driller
hole
it

down

332

to the rock; so called because

has an up-and-down motion like a toy

mechanical

Yo-yo.

2.

used to

drill in (q. v.). 3.

standard

rig

truck winch.

yo-yo pipe

To make frequent trips (q. v.). Derrickmen consider yo-yoing pipe a legitimate excuse for quitting a job. [Reported]

[Heard]

yo-yo stick
yo-yo

driller

The

driller

on a

cable-tool crew, [BB,

p. 489]

zero

oil

Any

oil

which congeals

at 0 F.

[POR]

zero pour

test

to

determine the lowest tem-

perature at which an

oil will

flow and,

device used to tighten or loosen the


that holds the temper screw.
[Reported]

setscrew

chert, and other rocks. Many large wells


have produced from thick zones which
are only partly composed of oil sands.

[T, p. 180]

therefore, lubricate. [PE]

zone of saturation
An area which contains

zone, n.

supercapillary voids, or both,

term used

to distinguish the sections

of interlarded sand, shale, conglomerate,

full of

water that will

capillary or

which are

move with

nary hydrostatic pressure. [D]

ordi-

Bibliography

Archer, William John (ed.). Petroleum Glossary.

American Petroleum and Transport Company,

AS

Asbury, Herbert.

The Golden

ca's First Oil Field.

Industry. 2 vols.
Ball,

New York,

An

York, Pan-

1922.

Informal History of Ameri-

Alfred A. Knopf, 1942.

Raymond Foss, and William Allen Hamor. American Petroleum

Bacon,

BA

Flood,

New

Max W.

New

York, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1916.

This Fascinating Oil Business.

New

York, The Bobbs-

Company, 1940.
BB Berrey, Lester V., and Melvin Van den Bark. The American Thesaurus
of Slang (pp. 486-90) New York, Thomas Y. Crowell Company,
Merrill

1947. (Glossary)

BG

Boatright,

Mody

tions of the

C. Gib Morgan, Minstrel of the Oil Field, Publica-

Texas Folklore

Society, Vol.

XX

(1945), 1-104. (Legends

written in oil-field vernacular)

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