Alaska Administrative Code › Title 20 - Miscellaneous Boards and Commissions › Chapter 25 - Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission › Article 8 - Definitions › 20 AAC 25.990 - Definitions

Current through May 31, 2024
In this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise,
(1) "abandon" means to plug a well in
				accordance with
				20 AAC 25.112 and without the commission's approval of well
				suspension under
				20 AAC 25.110;
(2)
				"abnormally geo-pressured strata" means subsurface zones where the pore pressure
				exceeds a gradient of 0.50 psi/ft;
(3) "API" means the American Petroleum
				Institute;
(4) "API 5K" means an
				API-defined BOP configuration with a rated working pressure of 5,000 psi and as
				described in API RP 53, adopted by reference at
				20 AAC 25.527(c);
(5) "API number" means the number assigned by
				the commission under
				20 AAC 25.040(b) for a well or well branch
				consistent with the API well numbering convention;
(6) "API RP" means API recommended
				practices;
(7) "barrel" means 42 U.S.
				gallons;
(8) "BHA" means bottom-hole
				assembly;
(9) "BOP" means blowout
				preventer, which is a casinghead assembly equipped with special gates or rams or
				other pack-offs that can be closed around the drill pipe, tubing, casing, or
				tools, and that completely close the top of the casing to control well
				pressure;
(10) "BOPE" means blowout
				prevention equipment;
(11)
				"bottom-hole location" means the subsurface point at the greatest measured
				penetration of a well or a well branch;
(12) "casing stub" means the remnant of a
				casing string when the upper portion of the casing has been cut and
				recovered;
(13) "commission" means
				the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission;
(14) "complete" means to equip and condition a
				well as an oil, gas, or service well so that it is capable of producing or
				injecting fluids; in the case of a well branch in a previously completed well,
				"complete" means to equip and condition a well branch so that it is capable of
				contributing to the well's production or injection of fluids;
(15) "completion operation" means work
				performed in a well after the casing and cementing of the wellbore; "completion
				operation" includes plugging, perforating, stimulating, testing, and equipping
				the well to produce or inject fluids;
(16) "conductor casing" means a casing string
				set before surface casing; depending on well configuration, "conductor casing"
				can be either the first or second string of casing set in a well and usually
				supports a diverter system;
(17)
				"day" means a calendar day;
(18)
				"development well" means a well drilled to a known productive pool;
(19) "displacement method" means pumping a
				cement slurry or other material into a well through a drillpipe or other tubular
				string and recovering displaced fluids on the surface;
(20) "diverter system" means an assembly of
				nipples, valves, and piping attached to a well's structural or conductor casing
				for venting a gas kick away from the drill rig;
(21) "downsqueeze method" means pumping a
				cement slurry or other material into a well through a drillpipe or other tubular
				string and forcing displaced fluids into a downhole formation;
(22) "drilling fluid" means any fluid used for
				the purpose of drilling a well;
(23)
				"drilling operations" means the penetration of ground below the setting depth of
				structural or conductor casing, using a drilling rig capable of performing the
				permitted well work, and for purposes other than setting structural or conductor
				casing; "drilling operations" includes the running of casing, cementing, and
				other downhole work performed ancillary to formation evaluation, and operations
				necessary to complete and equip the well so that formation fluids can be safely
				brought to the surface;
(24)
				"drilling unit" means an area of a pool
(A)
				established by the commission under
				AS
				31.05.100, either by order or by
				regulation;
(B) to which no more than
				one oil or gas well may be drilled; and
(C) from which no more than one oil or gas well
				may produce;