|  Definitions, Sources and Explanatory Notes |
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|  Category:   | Natural Gas Production                     |
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|  Topic:      | Gulf of Mexico Federal Offshore Production |
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|   Definitions |  |
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| Key Terms                               | Definition                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
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| Crude Oil                               | A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities. Depending upon the characteristics of the crude stream, it may also include: Small amounts of hydrocarbons that exist in gaseous phase in natural underground reservoirs but are liquid at atmospheric pressure after being recovered from oil well (casinghead) gas in lease separators and are subsequently commingled with the crude stream without being separately measured. Lease condensate recovered as a liquid from natural gas wells in lease or field separation facilities and later mixed into the crude stream is also included; Small amounts of nonhydrocarbons produced with the oil, such as sulfur and various metals; Drip gases, and liquid hydrocarbons produced from tar sands, gilsonite, and oil shale. Liquids produced at natural gas processing plants are excluded. Crude oil is refined to produce awide array of petroleum products, including heating oils; gasoline, diesel and jet fuels; lubricants; asphalt; ethane, propane, and butane; and many other products used for their energy or chemical content. |
| Dry Natural Gas                         | Natural gas which remains after: 1) theliquefiable hydrocarbon portion has been removed from thegas stream (i.e., gas after lease, field, and/or plant separation);and 2) any volumes of nonhydrocarbon gases have beenremoved where they occur in sufficient quantity to render thegas unmarketable. (Note: Dry natural gas is also known asconsumer-grade natural gas. The parameters for measurementare cubic feet at 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 14.73 poundsper square inch absolute.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Dry Natural Gas Production              | The process of producing consumer-grade natural gas. Natural gas withdrawn from reservoirs is reduced by volumes used at the production (lease) site and by processing losses. Volumes used at the production site include (1) the volume returned to reservoirs in cycling, repressuring of oil reservoirs, and conservation operations; and (2) gas vented and flared.  Processing losses include (1) nonhydrocarbon gases (e.g., water vapor, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen sulfide, and nitrogen) removed from the gas stream; and (2) gas converted to liquid form, such as lease condensate and plant liquids. Volumes of dry gas withdrawn from gas storage reservoirs are not considered part of production. Dry natural gas production equals marketed production less extraction loss.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Federal Offshore                        | Located in Federaldomain, seaward of the coastline.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Lease Condensate                        | A mixture consisting primarily of pentanes and heavier hydrocarbons which is recovered as a liquid from natural gas in lease separation facilities. This category excludes natural gas plant liquids, such as butane and propane, which are recovered at downstream natural gas processing plants or facilities.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Natural Gas Liquids                     | Those hydrocarbons in natural gas which are separated from the gas through the processesof absorption, condensation, adsorption, or other methods in gas processing or cyclingplants. Generally such liquids consist of propane and heavier hydrocarbons and are commonly referred to as condensate, natural gasoline, or liquefied petroleum gases.Where hydrocarbon components lighter than propane are recovered as liquids, thesecomponents are included with natural gas liquids.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
| Natural Gas, Wet After Lease Separation | The volume of natural gas remaining after removal of lease condensate in lease and/orfield separation facilities, if any, and after exclusion of nonhydrocarbon gases wherethey occur in sufficient quantity to render the gas unmarketable.  Natural gas liquidsmay be recovered from volume of natural gas, wet after lease separation, at natural gasprocessing plants.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
| Production                              | The volume of natural gas withdrawn from reservoirs less (1) the volume returned to such reservoirs in cycling, repressuring of oil reservoirs, and conservation operations; less (2) shrinkage resulting from the removal of lease condensate; and less (3) nonhydrocarbon gases where they occur in sufficient quantity to render the gas unmarketable. Volumes of gas withdrawn from gas storage reservoirs and native gas, which has been transferred to the storage category, are not considered production. Flared and vented gas is also considered production. (This differs from "Marketed Production" which excludes flared and vented gas.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| Production, Wet After Lease Separation  | The volume of natural gas withdrawn from reservoirs less (1) the volume returnedto such reservoirs in cycling, repressuring of oil reservoirs,and conservation operations; less (2) shrinkage resultingfrom the removal of lease condensate; and less (3)nonhydrocarbon gases where they occur in sufficient quantityto render the gas unmarketable. Note: Volumes of gas withdrawnfrom gas storage reservoirs and native gas that has beentransferred to the storage category are not considered part ofproduction. This production concept is not the same as marketedproduction, which excludes vented and flared gas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
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| For definitions of related energy terms, refer to the   EIA Energy Glossary. |
|  	Sources |
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|  | Based on data reported on Form EIA-23L, "Annual Report of Domestic Oil and Gas Reserves (County Level Version)".Natural Gas Survey Forms and Instructions
 	Explanatory Notes
  Related data and background information are published in the      U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves Annual Report. |